Reading Empowers CES Slime Squad
To celebrate Read Across America Day and promote the reading of electronic books, the teachers of Centreville Elementary School challenged the students to read 10,000 books on a website called myOn.com. As an incentive, students were promised to have a special assembly where they could pour slime on the administrators.
How to Age in Place Safely
Local experts suggest techniques and programs that can help seniors stay in their homes longer.
The AARP reports that nearly 80 percent of adults age 65 and older want to remain in their current homes as long as possible. That population is growing. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, the population 65 years or older numbered 39.6 million in 2009. By 2030, that number will grow to about 72.1 million. While people are living longer and healthier lives, there are still barriers to aging in place, including medication management, self-care, socialization and transportation. But there are innovative strategies and initiatives to help combat these roadblocks.
Commentary: Meetings To Review Legislative Actions
On April 3, I will be hosting my first of three Post-Session Legislative Wrap Ups. Please join me to discuss what happened this past session as well as to discuss the ongoing budget battle and Medicaid expansion.
2014 Generation-to-Generation Gala
Senior Services of Alexandria hosted their annual Generation-to-Generation Gala last Saturday evening at the Mark Hilton in Alexandria. The 2014 honorees were Patty Moran and her daughter Kate along with Lonnie Rich and Marcia Call and their daughter Sara Rich.
Accessibility on a Different Level
New lower-level in-law suite becomes primary living space.
How can you tell when in an-law suite is outperforming the usual requirements? Well, for starters, when the owners themselves decide to occupy the new accommodation as their primary living space.
‘Camp David’ at Arena Stage
World premiere explores 13-day peace process orchestrated by President Jimmy Carter.
Arena Stage is presenting the world premiere historical drama “Camp David,” the story of how President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat came together to forge a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
Notes from the Producer: The Thousandth Night
The script of “The Thousandth Night” by Carol Wolf arrived in the mail unsolicited and unexpected almost 20 years ago, and I immediately knew I wanted to produce it.
Happy Birthday, Reston and R.E.S.
Independent Progressive
Reston is a special place. It is the product of a remarkable vision which has been largely realized despite obstacles, even opposition. Robert E. Simon, Jr. inherited well from his New York developer father. He owned Carnegie Hall and sold it. With the proceeds, he bought 6,750 acres of land in Fairfax County. While arranging financing for his planned community, he was turned down by a large corporation which was and still is a household name.
Cox’s Spring Special Offers Nearly 600 Free Episodes
Cox Communications customers can enjoy an all-access free pass to some of the most popular TV shows with the opportunity to catch up on past episodes of shows they love, plus get exclusive On Demand sneak peeks, all in the Spring FreeView On Demand from now until April 20.
Basheer & Edgemoore Wins National Community of the Year Award
Basheer & Edgemoore has been the recipient of a Silver Award at the National Sales and Marketing Awards for 2014. Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Basheer & Edgemoore succeeded as a Silver Award Winner in the Community of the Year category.
Reston Celebrates 50/100
A historic year: 50th anniversary of Reston and 100th birthday of its founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr.
This landmark year of 2014 will honor two very special events in the history of Reston, the innovative, award-winning, planned community and New Town that was brought to life in 1964 by the vision of its founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr. (Bob Simon). The first Reston residents moved into their homes at Lake Anne that year, and 50 years later, Bob Simon is celebrating his 100th birthday in the community he created.
Chess Champions
FCPS students sweep team titles at Virginia Scholastic Chess Championships.
Students from three Fairfax County public schools won team championships in all four K-12 divisions at the Virginia Scholastic Chess Championships held recently in Roanoke. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students also won individual championships in the K-3 and K-5 divisions. The K-3 individual champion was Pranav Prem of Hutchison Elementary School. The K-3 team from Greenbriar West Elementary School won the team title in its age group; team members are Siddhaarth Balamuthaiya, Alice Cao-Dao, Richa Misra, Kaavya Karthik, Jason Seo, Aditya Vasantharao, Rakendu Malladi, Ganesh Rayavarapu, Nikhil Vallikat, James Tress, and Vasudha Koneru. McNair Elementary School won second place in the K-3 team competition, and Floris Elementary School captured third place.
Aldrin Elementary, Giant Announce Partnership
Aldrin Elementary and Giant of North Point announced their business partnership with a school assembly, on March 6. This is the first official school partnership for Giant. Aldrin's fifth and sixth grade chorus performed a special song and kindergartners created a video highlighting their recent field trip to Giant. The video showed how they integrated the school curriculum into their own virtual Giant Market. The audience and speakers included Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza, local government officials, Aldrin school administrators, the Reston Rotary Club, Giant and PTA representatives. As part of the partnership, Giant is providing volunteers to work with students, money for the Weekend Food Programs and educational field trips. Aldrin will support Giant by supplying student artwork for store display, communicating the partnership throughout the community and inviting Giant staff members to Aldrin school events.
Dance-A Thon, Concert to Help Feed a Child
Over 150 people of all ages attended a two hour A Cappella concert last Saturday, March 29, at Floris UMC to benefit the Feed A Child campaign. Attendees were entertained by three groups performing a range of music, from pop to rock to gospel. The evening was MC’d by Floris UMC members Anna Lopynski and Kathryn Berlin. The Feed A Child campaign was a youth initiative by area students under 25 years old to raise $20,000 in support of the children of the Child Rescue Centre and patients of Mercy Hospital, both located in Bo, Sierra Leone. It kicked off on Feb. 16 and concluded March 30. The $20,000 fundraising goal was exceeded, and all of the money raised will go directly to feeding, educating, clothing and attending to the medical needs of children in Bo.
Workshops Held For Herndon Metrorail
Meetings held to gain input on pedestrian and bike facility improvements.
With the incoming Metrorail Silver Line, Fairfax County has begun seeking public input on bike and pedestrian access to Herndon's Silver Line Metro station. The first of two workshops was held at Herndon Middle School at Locust Street on March 26. The meeting was open to the public.
Week in Reston
“Your driver’s license has been suspended. You will be arrested. You will be deported. We are on our way to your home right now.” These are just a few of the many threats scammers have made against hundreds of Fairfax County residents over the past several weeks. Police warn the public not to fall prey to them and, instead, to call and report them. These telephone scammers are described as demanding, aggressive, threatening and easily angered when callers don’t immediately agree to their demands of “overdue tax balances.” Some have also had heavy accents. Typically, callers demand between $4,000-$6,000 in immediate payment of unpaid tax bills. These scams are sophisticated and involve false names, numbers and phony IRS badge numbers. Suspects often continue to call and harass the recipient. So police urge residents to:
Herndon Middle to Present ‘13!’
Students rehearse for spring musical.
“The show is a lot of fun, it pokes fun at how difficult it is to go through middle school,” said Bryan Case. Case is a music teacher at Herndon Middle, and is music director for the upcoming spring musical “13!” which will be preformed at the school’s auditorium on Locust Street. Written by Jason Robert Brown, the musical premiered in 2007. The story follows young Evan Goldman as he grapples with his parents' divorce, prepares for his impending Bar Mitzvah, and navigates the social circles of a new school. “The show was cast in January and they have been rehearsing tirelessly since then,” said Carin Procopio, president of the Herndon Middle School Theatre Boosters group.
Herndon High in National Business Plan Competition
The Business Management Virtual Enterprise class at Herndon High recently placed first in best sales presentation, first in website design, second in company business card, and fifth in human resource case study during a trade show at Virginia Wesleyan College. The students created the company V-LO Chip, Inc. Their chip is the size of a stamp and can be placed on any item which would allow one to locate a lost, stolen, or misplaced object using a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. It can also be used for medical purposes to locate disoriented loved ones suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Team members include Paria Ahmadi, Daniel Cozza, Eduardo Delgado, Bobby Emmons, Bailey Hubble, Anthony Lieu, Stephanie Paendong, Nathan Petrelli, and Sam Sepassi. Team officers also played a part in the success of the competition but did not attend; they traveled to New York City on March 31, to represent Virginia in the National Business Plan competition. Officers are Steven Barbaro, Andrew Ipinza, Robert Koss, Travis Langtry, Andrew Maccini, Sara Pena, and Han Phan.
Donate to Diva Central
To the Editor: On Saturday, March 8, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Reston Community Center’s annual Diva Central Event. Since RCC’s creation of this program twelve years ago, Diva Central has provided a chance for young ladies in our surrounding community the opportunity to shop and select a beautiful prom outfit, complete with gown, wrap, purse, shoes, and jewelry, absolutely free, relieving some of the financial burden of what we all know can be a lavish, and therefore, expensive event.
Churchill Road Elementary Receives Safe Community Coalition Grant
Churchill Road Elementary School received a $1,000 grant from the Safe Community Coalition (SCC). Debra Maes, Churchill Road’s Environmental Studies Educator, said that the grant will be used to help maintain the cold frames built by the fifth grade students. These cold frames protect the plants from freezing. They have been particularly useful this winter with the colder than average temperatures and have allowed the students to transplant their lettuce, broccoli and sugar pea seedlings from the greenhouse into the raised beds before nighttime temperatures rise above freezing.