Medicare, Caregiving Seminars
Fairfax County is offering Medicare 101—a two-three hour program on Medicare basics. Find more information and register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/vicap.htm or call the numbers below.
Crafts, Plays, Dance: Fun Events for Fall
Below is a partial listing of some autumn events happening in the local area: Oct. 12—The Fairfax Fall Festival, held throughout the streets of downtown Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There’ll be crafts galore, plus food, music and fun for children.
Burke to Celebrate History Day
Modern-day Burke has quite the colorful past; from surviving the Civil War to becoming the weekend getaway for the residents of the nation’s capital. Complete with hotels and horse racing, Burke provided a popular destination for those living in the Washington D.C. area at the turn of the 20th century. And, in the not too distant past, citizens of Burke fought back—and won—after Burke was selected as the site for the second Washington Area jet airport, forcing the United States government instead to relocate to the current site now known as Dulles International Airport. To celebrate the oft-changing Burke, the community’s own historical society holds Burke History Day Saturday, Oct. 12, in Downtown Burke, featuring exhibits, children’s activities and presentations about the people, places and events throughout the years that the place as we know it today.
Bulldozing Tactics
To the Editor: Things didn't go the way she wanted. The "wrong" candidate was endorsed. Hell to pay. A petulant state senator stamps her foot, threatening retribution.
Facts About Rec Center Still Needed
To the Editor: I am writing in response to Bob Simon's letter ["Facts About the Rec Center," July 24-30, 2013] regarding the Rec Center planned for Reston by the Reston Community Center (RCC). While I understand Bob thinks that there has been misinformation about the Rec Center, I feel there has not been enough information available about the center, primarily around the finances. The current proposal commits Reston taxpayers to paying the full capital and operating expenses of this $33 million center, while other centers are supported in full by the county
Commentary
Where Is the Outrage?
Aaron Alexis exercised his constitutional right to bear arms when he carried his shotgun and pistols to work with him at the Washington Navy Yard where he proceeded to shoot 12 other people before the police shot him in what the Washington Post termed a “rampage.” The pattern is becoming all too familiar: You get ticked off at someone or something; you get yourself a really big gun that a lot of people are spending a lot of money and time to ensure you can purchase as easily as possible; you vent your anger by shooting a lot of people; and you get put out of your misery when the police shoot you. If it sounds like a familiar story line, it’s because you’ve heard it many times—Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, and now the Washington Navy Yard to name just a few of the sprees in recent years.
Farmers Market Takes Festival Holiday and Lake Anne Down
Independent Progressive
What a marvelous season 2013 has been at the Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne! And there is much more to come after a one-day break for Multicultural Festival day this Saturday, Sept. 28.
Celebrating Arts in Herndon
ArtSpace Herndon hosts 5th annual Paint Herndon.
“Over 325 people attended the ArtSpace Herndon annual Paint Herndon,” said Robin Carroll. A former director of ArtSpace Herndon, Carroll helped organize this year’s Paint Herndon event, an annual birthday of the ArtSpace Herndon. Held this year on Saturday, Sept. 21, all scheduled activities went on as planned as rain held off until the reception and award ceremony. The cornerstone of the event is the painting competition, which is designed in the spirit of a “day painting” competition and challenges artists to create works of art in a short period of time. “The art was amazing,” said Emmanuelle Marie Carnogursky. A resident of Herndon, Carnogursky also participated in the painting competition, submitting three finished oil paintings. “I have been painting with oil since the age of 14 … I got right to painting as soon as I had my canvas stamped, it was a lot of fun.” Two other big activities at the ArtSpace Herndon event were the VW “Doodle Bug” and the animals available for adoption from Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. The Doodle Bug, a Volkswagen Beetle wrapped in white vinyl to enable a dry-erase canvas, was on display at ArtSpace Herndon for guests to demonstrate their artistic talent on the car. Volkswagen of America has an office in Herndon, and staff from their office drove the vehicle to ArtSpace Herndon.
Becoming a High School Diplomat
"How to Apply" The HSD application is now available at highschooldiplomats.com, and all parts must be postmarked and sent by January 8th, 2014. The program runs from July 29 to August 9, 2014. Questions can be directed to Celine Zapolski, the American HSD director, at celinezepolski@highschooldiplomats.com.
R. Dennis McArver, Chairman of the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Dies
The Arts Council of Fairfax County is mourning the passing of its chairman, R. Dennis McArver. McArver, a Vienna resident, legal professional and civic arts activist, died Sept. 14. He was born in 1936. "We have lost a dear friend and a strong leader," said Linda S. Sullivan, president and CEO of the Arts Council. "Dennis embraced his role as chairman of the Board with such enthusiasm and vigor and was a tireless advocate for the council and all the arts in Fairfax County," Sullivan continued.
Cycling for Campus Safety
Gran Fondo to raise funds for VTV Family Outreach Foundation.
Bicyclists ride to promote campus safety
Area Divers to Represent the U.S. at Junior Pan American Championships
Grayson Campbell, a sophomore at Madison High School, and Max Flory, a seventh-grader at Robinson Secondary School, will represent the United States at the Junior Pan American Diving Championships from Sept. 26-29 in Tucson, Ariz. More than 100 divers from nine countries will participate.
Week in Vienna
Candidates Meet & Greet Forum in Vienna
Social Action Linking Together (SALT) and four co-sponsor groups will host “Fairfax County (NOVA) Candidate Meet & Greet Forum” on Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 to 11 a.m. in Patriot Hall at The Vienna American Legion Post 180. The address is: 330 Center St. N., Vienna. The phone number is 703-938-9535. Representatives of the sponsoring groups will moderate the forum. The public is invited.
Honor Flight Network Brings 90 Veterans to WWII Memorial
On Saturday, Sept. 20, mostly on the spur of the moment, I drove out to Dulles Airport to join my daughter and 4 of her children to greet WWII and Korean War veterans flown to Washington by the Honor Flight Network. My daughter had received an email earlier in the week from a home-schooling friend to invite her to the event.
Fall Fun Abounds in Vienna
Festive events, the arts, and family activities keep the season busy.
The Vienna-Oakton Connection offers a snapshot of fall fun around the area. Look for our holiday fun guide in November, with details of the Church Street Holiday Stroll, breakfast or lunch with Santa, holiday bazaars, and the Wolf Trap Sing-a-long. In the meantime, grab a sweater, swish your shoes in falling leaves and enjoy the crisp, sunny air. And don’t forget school fall festivals and book sales, as well as The Barns of Wolf Trap, which presents performances almost daily. Over at Waters Field, there are VYI football games all day and under the lights … and the football fun is free. The Vienna Farmers’ Market, in the church parking lot across the street from Waters Field, is open through the end of October.
Supporting Growing Hope
Optimist Club of Greater Vienna hosts eighth annual Walk & Family Fun Day for Growing Hope.
Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Vienna Town Green, 144 Maple Avenue East. Activities: *3-mile fundraising walk on W&OD trail, musical entertainment by Donaldsons’ Run, games, moonbounce, facepainting, balloon artistry. Dunk tank featuring teachers, government officials and Optimists volunteers, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. *Food and refreshments available for sale; proceeds to Growing Hope.
Tour Houses to Represent Four Centuries
Ticket sales for Holiday Homes Tour to start in early October.
Ticket sales for the McLean Woman’s Club annual Holiday Homes Tour will begin on Oct. 1 at three retail stores in McLean, Vienna and Great Falls and will continue through Thursday, Dec. 5, the day of the tour. The stores are Mesmeralda’s Gifts of McLean (1339 Chain Bridge Road), Karin’s Florist (527 Maple Ave., E., Vienna) and Great Dogs of Great Falls (9859 Georgetown Pike). Tickets will also be sold on Dec. 5 at the tour houses and at a free “MarketPlace” at Trinity United Methodist Church, in McLean (1205 Dolley Madison Blvd.). The latter event will start at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., concurrent with the tour. Tickets for the tour will cost $25 before Dec. 5th and $30 on that date.
McLean Theatre Company Launches New Season
The 2013-14 season opens with the exclusive concert performance of “The Last Five Years.”
he award winning McLean High School Theatre Company (MTC) introduces 2013-14 season—beginning with an exclusive concert performance of Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years,” Sept. 28, the family-favorite, “Annie,” the hilarious satire “Bald Soprano” as the Virginia High School League (VHSL) competition entry, the modern American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Performances appear in the Burks Auditorium or Black Box Theater and are led by Artistic Director Amy Poe. Advance tickets are available at www.mcleandrama.com or directly at www.brownpapertickets.org.
McLean Orchestra Begins ‘A Season of Festivity’
The McLean Orchestra has announced its 42nd season, A Season of Festivity. Embarking on Maestra Miriam Burns' second season as music director and conductor, the McLean Orchestra will offer five classical concerts with an illustrious array of soloists, including pianists, jazz vocalists, bagpipers, organists, dancers and more.
Small Church, Rich History
McLean’s Shiloh Baptist Church celebrates 140th anniversary.
Late in the 19th-century, three figures converged in Northern Virginia, leading to the creation of one of McLean’s first African American churches. Cyrus Carter was a local pastor whose goal was to establish four black churches in Northern Virginia. The plan was to organize churches in Chesterbrook, Vienna, Arlington and in west McLean where Shiloh Baptist Church now stands. In 1873, Carter was able to broker a deal with local landowner, Charles Elgin, and Shiloh Baptist Church was born. “At the time, there were no black churches. Although this is where the majority of African Americans were living in those days, who were free,” said Pastor Robert Cheeks. “They migrated to this area as D.C. was beginning to grow. This was a predominantly African American community,” he said. Carter recognized the need for the community to have a place to worship. And after securing the necessary property, which still stands at the intersection of Lewinsville and Spring Hill Roads, Carter and the new congregation needed a place to worship while they raised money to start building a church. “It was difficult in that time, right after slavery, for people to save their money,” said long-time member Archie Borgus. But they were able to raise the capital, and the cornerstone was laid in 1887.