Hannah Smith and John Forys Wed
Alden and Dorian Smith of Burke are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Hannah, to John.
Local Leaders Predict Hot Topics in 2013
We asked local movers and shakers to tell us what headlines they’d like to see in the New Year, what issues will dominate the political agenda, what their New Year’s resolutions are, and their Express Lane experiences. If our prognosticators are correct, the top three issues that dominated the headlines last year will again dominate this year. In order of priority: transportation, transportation and transportation.
Connolly: Good News in Phase One, Phase Two
Q&A with U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) on challenges and opportunities of 2013.
Q: What do you consider to be the number one issue affecting our community? A: Protecting and growing Northern Virginia’s economy and our vibrant public-private partnership with the federal government remains my number one priority for Northern Virginia. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that oversees government contracting, federal workers, information technology, and other related areas, I continue to work in a bipartisan manner to maintain the balance between government functions performed by our dedicated federal workforce and those best served by the private sector.
Ireland’s Embassy Hosts Wild West Irish Tours and Dervish’s Cathy Jordan
Kevin Conmy, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Ireland welcomed guests at a reception held on Thursday, Dec. 13 to highlight The Gathering, a community-led initiative that encourages overseas visitors who are Irish-born, Irish-bred or Irish in spirit to join Irish people for family reunions and cultural, sporting and other events during 2013, and which is being promoted by the Springfield-based tour company Wild West Irish Tours.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Names President/CEO
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) Board of Directors appointed Debra Harrison as its president/CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Her appointment comes following the unanimous recommendation of the search committee chaired by board member John Lockhart following a four-month national search.
Robinson Grad Is in Sully’s Comedy Show
Sully’s Restaurant is the place to be on Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m., when Robinson Secondary grad Matt Mero joins headlining comedian Rob Maher in an evening of comedy. Sully’s is at 14511 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in Chantilly; cover charge is $5.
Robinson Boys’ Basketball Finishes Runner-Up at Pohanka Tourney
Rams beat Wilson, South County, lose to Mountain View in final.
The Robinson boys' basketball team lost to Mountain View in the championship game of the Pohanka Chantilly Basketball Classic.
Letter: Burke Centre Becomes One of Fastest Growing Amtrak Stations
Amtrak recently posted rider numbers for 2012 and 2011 for every station in the nation. While ridership increased nationally 3.5 percent, Virginia’s ridership increased a whopping 8.3 percent and boasted the third (“Lynchburg Train,” stopping at Burke Centre) and fourth (“Newport News Train,” stopping at Woodbridge) fastest growing of the country’s 46 passenger services.
South Lakes Girls Participate in the ‘White House Codeathon’
On Monday afternoon, Dec. 17, South Lakes High School seniors Nicole Rappaport, Abby Studen, Becky Oswalt and Tatevik Markaryan went to the White House to participate in what Todd Park, assistant to the president and U.S. chief technology officer, called the “first codeathon in White House history.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday celebration to Highlight Community Service
Reston Community Center will hold the 28th Annual Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on Jan. 19 and 20, 2013. The focus of this year's celebration will be on community service. 2013 Keynote Speaker: Julian Bond, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, RCC Hunters Woods, at 1 p.m.
Reston Lions Induct New Members
James Ryan, vice district governor of District 24-A, inducted five new members into the Reston Lions Club at its Holiday Party held at the Hidden Creek Country Club, Wednesday evening, Dec. 19.
Shots Heard Around the World
Newtown, Conn., joined a list topped by Blacksburg, Va., of the scenes of the most tragic mass murders in our history. This list contributes to the United States having 80 percent of all firearm deaths among the 23 populous, high-income countries in the world. Over a million people have been killed with guns in the United States since 1968 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. In one year, 31,593 people died from gun violence and 66,769 people survived gun injuries. These statistics are from the Brady Campaign that has even more shocking numbers with documentation at its website, www.bradycampaign.org.
Column: 2013—Year With a Silver Lining?
As I sit looking out on Lake Anne on a gray post-Christmas day, I look back on 2012 and begin to feel optimistic about 2013. But, unlike past years, when my prognostications tended to be overly optimistic—e.g., predicting Reston’s achieving town status (as originally intended by Robert Simon) and escaping the oppression of Fairfax County. This year I’m sticking to cold, hard, objective analysis.
Herndon Named Virginia’s ‘Best Place to Raise Kids’
The Town of Herndon has received another national recognition—this time on Bloomberg/Business Week’s 2013 ranking of the Best Places to Raise Kids.
Classified Advertising January 2, 2013
Read the latest ads here!
Challenges Facing Dranesville in 2013
Supervisor John W. Foust (D-Dranesville) discusses New Year’s expectations.
In 2013, we will again confront many challenges, at the county level as well as in the McLean, Great Falls, Herndon, Falls Church and Vienna communities in the Dranesville District. I will continue to address our challenges by seeking input and suggestions from my constituents and by working with my excellent staff to provide leadership. Some of the more significant issues I expect to deal with in 2013 are discussed below.
Express Lanes Completed, Metrorail Arrives in 2013
Something to celebrate for area motorists.
In 2012, the completion of the 495 Express Lanes and progress made on Phase One of the Dulles Metrorail were something to celebrate for area motorists faced with lane closures and detours for the past few years.
Week in Vienna
At around 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28. an officer came across a minivan that had crashed into a barrier at the end of a service road off of Chain Bridge Road near Glengyle Drive in the Vienna area. The officer summoned for rescue and it was determined that the driver was deceased.
Letter: Shared Responsibility To Protect Poor
I do not question Mr. Cuccinelli’s right to express his opinion regarding any matter he wishes to opine upon. However, I do question the honoring of Mr. Cuccinelli by the Catholic church and the omission of the Catholic press in bringing his critique of the church, namely the Catholic bishops in the church, to the attention of the faithful in northern Virginia.
Viewpoints: What are your plans for 2013?
The main event of 2013 will be to commemorate the unveiling of the plaque honoring the Freeman Store's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. This is scheduled for Saturday, April 6. The Freeman Store is the only building in the Town of Vienna that is on the National Trust's register.