Snow and Tail
I am the human member of our own community center. It is called the barn. I share it with three Arabian mares, some winter birds, and too many mice. On snowy mornings, like the ones in these photos, I must traverse a too steep slope to feed some very impatient horses. I start the journey armed with my pitchfork poised like a staff for balance. While breakfast satisfies the hungry muzzles stretched toward me, I grab a hammer and begin to crack the ice in their water buckets. These are not average barn buckets. They are bright yellow and hang in each stall like spring daffodils blooming on the end of a double snap. Actually, they must be art because I found them at MOMA in New York City. I still wonder how buckets for horses could find their way into a museum shop but, they were spectacular and now they are mine.
Fundraiser Supporting the Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center
Tuesday, March 11th, 2014 in McLean, VA
McLean, VA. – A fundraiser for the Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center has been announced by HBC Realty Group’s (Keller Williams Realty) Community Charity Champions. Come to dinner on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 from 5 to 8 pm at Pulcinella Italian Host in McLean to support the Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center! Enjoy dinner and know that approximately 70% 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.
Volunteers Needed to Help Older Adults
Meals on Wheels needs drivers in Fairfax. Call 703-324-5406, TTY 711, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and link to Volunteer Solutions or email VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Herndon ES Celebrates International Night
School and PTA host event to celebrate culture.
“This is an annual event held in partnership with the PTA,” said Herndon Elementary Principal Ann Gwyn. “It is all about celebrating the many cultures here in Herndon Elementary.” The International Night event was held Feb. 20. Foreign foods dishes were brought in and were available to sample. “We start planning this event in November, it is a very popular event,” said school PTA president Amanda Geary.
Young Proposes $634.8 Million Budget
City Manager Rashad Young submitted his proposal for a $634.8 million General Fund Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2015 before City Council Tuesday, Feb. 25, reflecting an increase of 1.6 percent over last year's budget while maintaining current real estate and personal property tax rates. “Expenditures are growing at a faster rate than revenue,” said Young in detailing his proposed budget during a press briefing earlier in the day. “The challenge always is how to put together this big jigsaw puzzle to meet the needs of the different constituencies and stakeholder groups.”
Column: Medicaid Expansion Takes Center Stage
During last Thursday’s budget debate, the General Assembly considered the budgets proposed by each chamber. The biggest sticking point continues to be Medicaid expansion, which the Senate budget included but the House budget did not. I vigorously support Medicaid expansion because it’s critical to the 400,000 individuals who could obtain health insurance coverage and would create as many as 30,000 new healthcare jobs. As required by federal law, Medicaid currently covers “mandatory eligibility groups” such as children and pregnant women and gives states the flexibility to cover “optional eligibility groups.” In Virginia, this includes a small fraction of disabled adults not needing long-term care services and working parents with incomes less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). All childless adults making less than 138 percent of the FPL and many more disabled adults and working parents would now be eligible for coverage. The expansion would allow individuals with incomes below $16,105 (or $32,913 for a family of four) to qualify.
Tasting Soul Food
ArtSpace Herndon hosts event on African American cuisine.
“It is our distinct pleasure today to host a Black History Month event,” said Lawrence Verbiest, executive director of ArtSpace Herndon introducing the coordinator for the event, Elise Abby Arrington. For four years now Arrington has helped arrange an event to commemorate Black History month. Last year, Arrington helped coordinate a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation with other local high school students at ArtSpace Herndon.
Obituary: Thomas Edward Braswell, Jr.
Thomas Edward ("Ed") Braswell, Jr., died in Alexandria on Feb. 23, 2014, at the age of 93. Mr. Braswell served as chairman of the Alexandria Planning Commission for over 30 years, beginning in the 1960s. In that role, Mr. Braswell was a key figure in the preservation of the historic character of Old Town Alexandria, as well as its historic homes and neighborhoods. In particular, Mr. Braswell worked to defeat the "Beggs Plan," an urban renewal initiative in the 1960s that would have bulldozed several blocks of historic buildings on King Street, as well as most of historic neighborhood north of King Street in the vicinity of City Hall. Mr. Braswell assisted in the creation of Alexandria's Board of Architectural Review and the enactment of strict height limitations on new development, both of which have been instrumental in the preservation of Old Town Alexandria's historic character.
2014 African American Heritage Festival
Arlington County celebrated its African-American heritage at the 22nd annual Feel the Heritage Festival on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Carver Community Center.
Holidays Are Over, But Need Still Exists
Commentary
We live in a community comprised of people from many diverse backgrounds. What a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. We are able to live in culturally vibrant communities, teach our children how to live in a multicultural world and we are able to learn tolerance and respect for others. God wants every individual to know that he is loved and valued. Jesus said in Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving Horses at Frying Pan
Farm Park provides a riding experience for children.
Children of all ages love horses. But keeping a horse is difficult when pasture and riding land are scarce. Here in Herndon, Frying Pan Farm Park and Spirit Open Equestrian have joined together so that children can ride and, for a short time, pretend the horses are their very own.
Volkswagen Donates Van to Children’s Science Center
The Children’s Science Center will use the van for its traveling Museum Without Walls programs in Northern Virginia.
The Children’s Science Center is now the owner of a brand new 2014 Volkswagen Routan minivan thanks to a donation by the Volkswagen Group of America. Volkswagen executives handed over the keys to the 2014 Routan to Children’s Science Center board members on Monday, Jan. 17 in front of the company’s headquarters in Herndon.
Letter to the Editor: An ‘A’ for Snow Removal
To the Editor: A week late, but after this last snow storm, I meant to give Alexandria an “A” for its efforts with respect to Snow Emergency Routes/Primary Road and transit/city school bus routes.
Column: No Sneaking into Newsrooms
Consider for a moment if Alexandria City Council and surrounding jurisdictions decided to join the federal government and sent agents, inspectors or political operatives into newsrooms of local newspapers, broadcasting houses and every online outlet. Can't happen most of the journalistic professionals would probably be spouting.
Week in Great Falls
Loebig Chiropractic & Rehab and The American Red Cross will be hosting a community blood drive in Great Falls at the office of Dr. Glenn Loebig, 754 Walker Rd, Great Falls on Tuesday, April 15, 1 – 6 p.m. The need for blood locally remains constant, and donations are needed to offset recent blood shortages. People can donate a pint of blood every 56 days and each donation can help save up to three lives. Blood donations help a variety of patients, including those going through cancer treatments, surgical patients and premature babies, among many others. Donors are encouraged to eat a meal prior to giving blood and drink plenty of water. Blood donation requirements include a photo ID, a minimum weight of 115 pounds and minimum age of 17. A 16-year old may donate blood with written parental consent and there is no upper age limit for donating blood. Many health conditions and medications do not prevent someone from donating blood. Call 703-757-5817 with any questions.
Obstructing Traffic on Walker Road
To the Editor: The letter from Dudley Losselyong [“More on ‘Wrong Direction’,” Great Falls Connection, February 12-18, 2014] regarding the "unbelievable" narrowing of Walker Road suggests that the project is attributable to folks who want to "make Great Falls like the place they were moving away from" i.e. McLean, Reston, and Vienna. I think it's more like West Virginia and the abuse of tax dollars.
News Brief: Shooting at North Payne and Wythe
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the area of N. Payne Street and Wythe Street on Sunday, Feb. 23. At approximately 6:30 p.m., police responded to for multiple calls of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he is listed in stable condition. Detectives and crime scene investigators continue to work in the area.
Great Falls Farmers Market Plans for March
The Farmers’ Almanac forecasts a very cold March. We believe. This Saturday has a forecast high of 36 degrees, for example. At a vendors meeting after the market last Saturday, the vendors unanimously agreed to pay the extra fees to rent the Grange for the month of March – pending Fairfax County Park Authority approval. We will not know their answer before this paper goes to press, so please check our website (www.GreatFallsFarmersMarket.ORG), our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/GreatFallsCommunityFarmersMarket), or our street signs, which will be updated as soon as we know where we will be.
Historic Cornwell Farm Open to the Public March 8
HBC Realty Group, Keller Williams Realty has announced that Historic Cornwell Farm will be open to the public on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People wanting to see the home can come on this day and take in the history and architecture all while supporting a worthy local charity. Proceeds from the day go to support LiftMeUp! Therapeutic Riding Program. For more information and questions contact Laura Smith at 571-331-7709, Info@LiftMeUp.org or Karen Briscoe at 703-734-0192, Karen@HBCRealtyGroup.com.
Molster Family Stable Awaits Special Permit Decision
Great Falls residents divided over the Molsters’ special permit application to teach horse riding lessons on their property.
When Sharon and Charles “Chip” Molster first began teaching horse riding lessons at their home on Blacks Hill Road in 2009, they found their customers loved having an opportunity to learn riding so close to home there in Great Falls.