People

Up Where the Air Is Rare

Chantilly yearbook adviser is in Virginia High School Hall of Fame.

Mary Kay Downes has won her share of awards over the years; but now, she’s seemingly reached the pinnacle. On Oct. 15 in Charlottesville, she was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.

Edwin “Bumps” Myers, Jr.

Obituary

Edwin “Bumps” Myers, Jr., 82, of Huntersville, N.C. died on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House.

Bocce Court Construction to Continue

Reston Association motion to rescind courts failed.

Residents at Cabots Point lost the battle against bocce ball courts for now. Reston Association voted advancing on their plans to add the game court to the park at their Oct. 23 Board of Directors meeting.

Langley High Teacher Receives National Award

Leah Puhlick a recipient of the Yale Educator of the Year Award.

Katherine Tan may have graduated from Langley High School last year, but one teacher has made an impact on her to this day. The Yale University freshman nominated her former Advance Placement [AP] chemistry teacher, Leah Puhlick, for this year’s Yale Educator of the Year award - and she was one of this year’s recipients.

Liberty Printing House

New business finds freedom in Herndon.

The freedom of the press means more to Samer Zaiber and Ahmed Al-Sammarraie than to most. As immigrants from Iraq who have been stalked and threatened for their work with American funded projects, the owners of Liberty Printing House brought their ideas of freedom to a country that takes pride in the word.

Batter, Up

Former Lake Braddock baseball player Nick Balenger recognized for injury recovery.

Nick Balenger’s promising athletic career all but disappeared in an instant. In 2012, the former Lake Braddock pitcher suffered a spinal cord injury while swimming in Hawaii.

Potomac Day

South Lakes Senior Selected to All-American Marching Band

Fairfax County students chosen for 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl performance.

Reston South Lakes senior Samantha Gifford was recognized by the U.S. Army for her selection to the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band on Friday, Oct. 24. The selection ceremony was held in the theater at South Lakes High School (SLHS) in Reston.

Help at a Touch of a Button

Local residents say it will keep them safer.

A car accident changed Kenneth Kelley’s outlook on life, but not in the expected way. He was an entrepreneur who was working to bring a new product that he thought would be lifesaving to market.

Arlington Strong

Wardian leads local runners in 39th Marine Corps Marathon.

It’s been a busy month for Michael Wardian. The 40-year-old Arlington resident took to the starting line of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon to run his third marathon in 21 days with a 50-mile race added to the mix.

A Horse Named Maurice Gets Last Laugh

Comfortably ensconced in a folding chair while keeping watch over the gathering area for horses involved in the Potomac Day Parade last Saturday, Ted Cain basked under a warm sun, on a gorgeous fall morning.

Vienna Teen Conducts Free Self-Defense Workshop for Peers

Charlotte Heffelmire teaches safety strategies and tactics in November.

Charlotte Heffelmire is a Black Belt from Vienna, a McLean High School senior who is a classical musician and a philanthropist. She hopes to attend a military academy and study to become a doctor. This past summer, she completed a training program at the F.B.I. - "Future Agents in Training" - at F.B.I. facilities in D.C. and Quantico.

Vienna Man Guilty of Wire Fraud

Bilked investment clients out of more than $1 million.

A Vienna man is facing possible decades in prison after pleading guilty last week in federal court to defrauding clients that he advised about financial investments. He is Ismail Elmas, 49.

Sarah Connolly named Parent Liaison of the Month

Each month a school-based parent liaison will be recognized for his or her service to the staff and families of FCPS. The November recipient of this recognition is Sarah Connolly, parent liaison at Aldrin Elementary School.

Reston Lions Host District Conference

District Governor James Ryan, a member of the Reston Lions Club, leads representatives attending the Fall Conference for Virginia Lions of District 24-A held at the Sheraton Reston Hotel on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18. Over 200 attended.

The Connection