Backwards Thinking
Considering that I’ve been cancer-centric now for nearly five years, one would have thought I might have learned and totally embraced an alternative concept: forward living – and less thinking about past causes and their possible current effects. Certainly cancer causes physical manifestations and symptoms that are diagnosable and indicative of trouble. But it’s the unseen effects that in some cases cause as many difficulties. What I am referring to is the mental and emotional toll a terminal diagnosis and short term prognosis can have on the patient’s perspective on life and living, and what’s presumptively thought to be left of it.
Preserve 3-2-1 for Housing
Housing for all income levels near transit supports vibrant communities and job growth, reduces traffic.
In the latest edition of The Herrity Report, Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed "redirecting developers’ $3 per square foot contribution for buying rent-controlled housing units into a trust fund to pay for public school renovation and construction."
Letter: Grateful Locally
Your Op Ed piece ["Shop Locally, Shop in Fairfax," Connection, Nov. 21-27, 2013] prompted me to share my story of how important small businesses are in my community.
A "Scancer" Update
Since you asked, or rather indulged me the past few weeks by wading through my two "Scanticipation" columns anticipating a result, I am happy to finally share that result with you: "Stable and better." These are the exact words e-mailed to me by my oncologist in response to my post-Thanksgiving inquiry about my CT Scan completed on the 27th.
Editorial: Happy Holidays, Safely
SoberRide safety net, 1-800-200-TAXI.
Holiday party season is well under way, along with winter weather advisories. It’s up to individuals to make good decisions about celebrations that involve alcohol and how to handle transportation.
Column: Busy Time!
President Franklin Roosevelt once tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to always be later in November, but he was stopped by merchants who wanted maximum time to sell their goods before Christmas. In those days holiday shopping started the day after Thanksgiving rather than the increasing practice of starting on Thanksgiving evening. However the schedule is arranged, the last month of the year turns out to be very busy for most everyone, but especially for members of the legislature.
Column: Unmet Needs Can Lead to Tragedy
The recent tragic stabbing of State Senator Creigh Deeds by his son who then took his own life brings to attention the importance of the mental health system and its very fragile condition in Virginia.
Column: Trading a Pontoon Boat for a River Boat
Once we had closed the Reston Farmers Market regular season and assisted in organizing the extended Fall Farmers Market at Lake Anne, co-Market Master Fran and I decided a change of scenery was in order. We traded in our pontoon boat on Lake Anne for a river boat cruising up the Danube with old friends.
Tribute: In Memory of Earl E. Shaffer
Arlington attorney affected many in his decades of service.
The recent passing of Earl E. Shaffer, attorney at law, marks the end of an era. Most everyone knew Shaffer in some capacity — either as an attorney, acting Commonwealth’s Attorney or a substitute judge — because he served in all three capacities during his decades-long career. Shaffer touched many people’s lives throughout his tenure as a professional and public servant.
Commentary: WMCCA Opposes Rezoning of Tennis Club
As a follow-up to the well-attended November General meeting, on Nov. 24 WMCCA sent a letter to Francoise Carrier, chair, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
"Scanticipation" Not So Much
As much as last week’s column, "Scanticipation" was about my looking forward – in a non-foreboding way, to my scheduled CT Scan on the 27th and the presumptive positive (not negative) results, having to write a column for this week before having received those results makes this writing effort particularly challenging.
Editorial: Who Will Be Hurt?
Innovations, changes and cuts designed to help the budget should be subject to analysis of how they will affect those on the short end of the economic and digital divide.
As Fairfax County faces a tight budget year and Fairfax County Public Schools consider significant cuts, clearly some changes are going to affect services on the ground. As various proposals emerge, there should be some specific analysis of how changes, innovations and cuts would affect the poorest one-third or so of the county’s residents specifically.