Arbor Terrace of Herndon Wins 2013 Excellence Award
Arbor Terrace of Herndon was presented with a Senior Advisor Excellence Award for receiving consistently high ratings from residents and their families in 2013. SeniorAdvisor.com is a consumer reviews web site established by A Place for Mom (APFM), the nation’s largest senior living referral service, as a way for seniors and their families to share feedback on senior living communities and services. The inaugural Senior Advisor Excellence Award identifies the top senior living communities who have received an overall average rating of at least 4.5 stars on the site. The award winners were recognized for having the best customer ratings and reviews out of more than 100,000 senior care providers currently on SeniorAdvisor.com. Winners of the Excellence Award are located all over the country and represent the top tier of independent living, assisted living, and Alzheimer’s care communities on the SeniorAdvisor.com website. This exclusive designation places the winners in the top one percent of senior living communities nationwide according to consumers.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Visits the Korean Bell Garden
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has announced that Kim Moon-Soon, Governor of the Gyeonggi Province of the Republic of Korea, donated $10,000 for the long-term maintenance of the Korean Bell Garden during his recent visit to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna. Governor Kim has a long standing relationship with the people of Fairfax County and has been an active part of the creation and completion of The Korean Bell Garden. The bell garden was fully funded by donations from the Republic of Korea and the Gyeonggi Province. This is the only traditional Korean garden with a bell in the western hemisphere and the only Korean bell on the east coast. The two--ton “Bell of Harmony” was donated by Governor Kim and the Gyeonggi Province in 2011 and is the jewel of the Bell Garden. The bell combines images of nature from both Korea and Virginia as a symbol of the Korean-American population in this region.
Herndon Community Center Celebrates 35 Years
Celebration held at Herndon community center .
“It is the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department and the Herndon Community Center staff’s honor to provide engaging, healthy and recreational programs and events,” said Abby Kimble, marketing specialist for the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department. On Tuesday, March 26, the Herndon Community Center celebrated its 35th anniversary. Throughout the day visitors enjoyed free admission to the Herndon community center and there were demonstrations and activities for all ages.
Week in Vienna
Help Stop Hunger Now The community is invited to a Stop Hunger Now event on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., at Madison High. Volunteers are needed to help assemble rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal-packages. These packages will then be shipped around the world to support school feeding programs and crisis relief. All ages are welcome.
Reston Marathon Held Despite Weather
Hundreds participate in race held at Reston.
Despite a continued rain, the Reston Runners held their annual marathon on Sunday, March 30 at South Lakes High School. Reston Runners is a club of 900+ members who share an interest in running, walking, and fitness. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Reston Runners Community Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to area high school students. “This is our second annual marathon and half marathon event,” said Neil Knolle, a long time member of the Reston Runners. The race began and ended at South Lakes High School track at 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston. The marathon course follows two gently rolling and scenic half marathon loops around Reston utilizing the roads and Reston's paved path system. Approximately 500 people registered for the full marathon and 250 people registered for the half marathon. The marathon had length of about 26.2 miles and the half marathon a length of 13.1 miles.
Madison Science Olympiad Team First in region, Third in State
James Madison Science Olympiad is a still developing group, gaining competitive recognition as the years go by. They have received fifth place in 2012, third place in 2013, and third place this year in 2014 in the state competitions. In the regional competitions they have gotten first both this year and last year.
Herndon High Cadets Win Spicer Cup
After four months of intense competition, Herndon High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps' (NJROTC) Rifle Team has won the Spicer Cup. The four-person team consisting of Cadets Marshall Wilkins (senior), Ashley Lightner (senior), Allison Maxwell (sophomore), and Caroline Ivie (freshman) defeated finalist West Potomac High School in the Championship Match. This is the ninth year that Herndon has won since the inception of the competition eleven years ago.
Governor Proposes New Budget
Commentary
In Virginia a governor can serve two terms, but the terms cannot be successive. All newly elected governors of Virginia take office at the beginning of a biennial budget cycle where the outgoing governor has proposed a budget for that cycle. Since the General Assembly is considering the budget when the new governor comes into office, the new governor can attempt to influence the legislature’s consideration of the budget.
Week in Great Falls
Town Hall Meeting on Deer Issues Great Falls Citizens Association will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Grange, as a Part II - GFCA Deer & Forest Health Program. Part one of this program was held in March when Commonwealth and Fairfax County experts discussed the role of deer in forest degradation, Lyme disease and car collisions. The April 8 program will look at possible solutions * Kristen Sinclair, Fairfax County Park Authority, who will outline deer control in county parks; * Kevin Rose, certified wildlife biologist with the VA Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, who will discuss Commonwealth hunting requirements and non-lethal forms of deer control; and * Jerry Peters, Great Falls resident and founder of Green Fire, who will describe his neighborhood's bow hunting program and the impact on local deer herds. There will be ample time for questions and answers during this public program.
A McNair Elementary Student Heads to State Finals
Siddharth Krishnakumar, a fifth grader from McNair Elementary School in Herndon, will compete in the Virginia state finals of the National Geographic Bee on April 4 at Longwood University in Farmville. Krishnakumar joins the other 100 finalists among Virginia’s fourth- to eighth-grade students who won their school-level geography bee championships, which qualified them to take a written geography exam to select the state finalists. The winner of the state finals will advance to the national competition, which will be held on May 19-21 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Herndon High Senior to Go to London and Paris
Han Phan, Herndon High School senior and outstanding Career and Technical Education student, was selected to accompany an educational trip to London and Paris. The trip is provided by Education First Educational Tours and will have stops in England and France. The 10-day trip will begin on July 8, in London and will move through multiple locations before ending in Paris on July 18. Phan has been enrolled in Career and Technical Education courses for all four years, including Advanced Information Systems, Accounting, Design Multimedia Web Tech, Entrepreneurship 1 and 2, and Business Management and Virtual Enterprise.
Celebrating Indian Culture
The Academy of Christian Education, an academically accelerated school in Reston celebrated India Culture Day to help students learn about the Indian culture. Students learned about the customs, history, food, clothing, art and dance of India. Through a very busy hands-on day students enjoyed games, presentations and activities. The Academy of Christian Education accepts students age 3 through 4th grade.
Week in Herndon
“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:
Virginia Champions
Longfellow Middle’s Mathcounts Team defends the title.
Longfellow Middle’s Mathcounts Team successfully defended its title as Virginia’s Mathcounts Champion during competition that took place recently in Richmond. The team of Franklyn Wang, William Sun, Scott Becker, and Aaditya Singh make up the Longfellow Mathcounts team, which is coached by Mary Jo Clark. Wang was the top individual finisher and earned top honors in the Countdown Round. Finishing second in the individual standings was William Sun; Scott Becker finished in sixth place. Wang and Becker will compete for Virginia at the national competition in Orlando in May. Longfellow math teachers Vern Williams, Barbara Burnett, and Jay Gorgia serve as assistant coaches for the team.
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.
Week in McLean
Fundraiser Supporting Franklin-Sherman Elementary
A fundraiser for the Franklin-Sherman Elementary School PTA has been announced by HBC Realty Group’s (Keller Williams Realty) Community Charity Champions. Come to dinner on Tuesday, April 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pulcinella Italian Host in McLean to support the Franklin-Sherman Elementary School PTA. Enjoy dinner and know that approximately 70 percent of the proceeds from food and drink will go to the organization, as long as the diner brings the flyer for the event. Contact HBC Realty Group at 703-734-0192 or visit www.HBCRealtyGroup.com to receive a flyer.
Herndon High Presents Fashion Show
Show held in honor of teacher Julie Pickering.
On March 27, Herndon High School held its annual fashion show at the school auditorium. The fashion show was titled “Celebrate” and had scenes of holidays throughout the year. The show was put together with Herndon High Marketing Department chair David Petruzzi, Maggie Russell and many volunteers and models.
Paladar Latin Kitchen and Bar Coming to Tysons
The bold and fresh flavors of Latin America will be coming to Tysons when Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar opens its second location in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on May 9. Paladar, a Cuban term for small, soulful and comforting restaurants that people run out of their homes, will be located at Leesburg Pike and Old Gallows Road in Tysons. The restaurant will feature an American interpretation of the vibrant flavors of Central and South America and the Latin Caribbean, with a special nod to the cuisine of Cuba. The Rum Bar will offer a selection of over 50 rums.
Fairfax County Senior Centers
Senior Centers for Active Adults offer opportunities to make friends, stay on the move, and learn new things. Fairfax County residents age 55 and older may join any of the 13 senior centers sponsored by the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Senior centers offer classes, health and wellness programs, computer and internet access, trips and tours, and opportunities to socialize with others and stay connected with your community. There is an annual membership fee of $48 for attending the senior centers. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/srctrs.htm for more.
Boomers Find Answer to Fitness at Senior Centers
Business is booming at Arlington’s six senior centers as more and more 55+ residents register with the Office of Senior Adult Programs and find a wide array of fitness programs available. Several community centers also offer strength training and weight rooms for 55+ only and sports such as pickleball, volleyball and women’s basketball. Ice skating, table tennis, tennis, golf, cycling and line dancing are also offered.