People

Backpacks Donated At Herndon Hutchison Elementary

Community reaches out to families of young students.

Thousands of students in the Virginia and D.C. Metro area will be returning to schools this fall. In Fairfax County, public schools open Sept. 2.

Great Falls, Virginia: Landmarks of Local Aspirations

Capturing and preserving the ever-evolving story of our the village.

There are certain old-timers in Great Falls whose families are filled with memories that span generations and even centuries in this area, connecting them deeply with the local story.

Representing Herndon in State Assembly

Delegate Tom Rust (R-86) serves the residents of Herndon, and parts of Oak Hill, Chantilly, and Sterling in the Virginia General Assembly. He has resided in the Town of Herndon all his adult life and remembers when Dulles Airport was nothing but forest; now he is looking forward to seeing the Silver Line constructed to Herndon.

Obituary: Robert Knight, of Reston, Dies

Aug. 29, 1940 - Aug. 16, 2014.

On Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, Robert Knight, of Hamilton, Va., passed away. He was husband to Andrea Knight, father of Kim Knight (Brad) Jones and Kyle (Kolynn) Knight, grandfather of Andrew Jones and Knox Knight.

100 Books of Summer

To say Alina Bujnowski loves to read is an understatement. With more than 130 books under her belt in the past three months, the 5-year-old super reader has out-read every other child during Great Falls Library’s summer reading program.

The Closet Turns 40

Aaron Sawyer tours around the back of a small Herndon thrift store, pointing out the volunteers who have dedicated years upon years to sifting through piles of trash-turned-treasures to sell or give away to other communities. The Closet of the Greater Herndon Area manager said the nonprofit, which started as a way for five local congregations to combine their clothing closets, is now town institution.

Hometown Hero

Lesley Pappalardo, a slender brunette, stopped her car in front of a home with smoke billowing out of its windows in late June. Worried that someone was still inside, she opened the door to find an elderly man lying on the ground of the burning building and his dogs waiting for help.

Croner Inducted into URISA’s GIS Hall of Fame

Potomac geographer receives national honor.

Potomac's Charles M. Croner, Ph.D. is a geographer and survey statistician extraordinaire — a U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leader who will be inducted into the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association's (URISA) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Hall of Fame in New Orleans this September for significant and original contributions to his profession.

Accotink Church Reverend Prepared to Perform Same-Sex Marriage

Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael was part of statewide effort.

“I would expect most people wouldn’t want to get married on the spot by a minister they don’t even know,” said Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, minister of Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke. Sammler-Michael, himself from Fairfax, was one of 30 clergymen around Northern Virginia and 60 across the state that had been organized and planned to be present at local courthouses on Thursday, Aug. 21.

West Springfield Teacher Honored

Josh Masley, 13-year veteran, inspires students through technology and engineering.

It wasn’t enough just to use the classroom’s 3D printer to fabricate Spartan helmets out of plastic. Then students of West Springfield High School Technology and Engineering teacher Josh Masley presented the helmets to teachers and faculty as gifts. “He’s teaching his kids to appreciate other people in the building,” said Johnny Pope, an assistant principal at the school. “They have some intrinsic motivation about what they're doing.”

Century Bike Tour Held At Reston Pavilion

Over a thousand from D.C. metro area attend bike event.

On Aug. 24, Reston Bicycle Club held its 32nd annual century bike tour. The event began and ended at Reston Town Center. “We had approximately 1,165 riders,” said Ed Robichaud, a resident of Reston and member of the RBC bike club. The Reston Bicycle Club (RBC) was formed in 1982 to promote cycling in the Reston and surrounding areas. RBC is a volunteer, nonprofit club, with over 700 members.

Herndon Planning Committee Holds Parking Conference

Committee receives input from Herndon residents.

The Town of Hendon Planning Commission met Aug. 21 to solicit comments on whether parking requirements in the downtown should be reduced or remain as currently required.

Springfield Celebrates 13th Annual BridgeWalk

Local leaders renew Army Community Covenant.

On a minimally muggy, late night on Aug. 22, hundreds of Springfield community members walked south across Veterans Bridge and over Old Keene Mill Road.

Middle Eastern Food Festival Returns for 22nd Year

Festival hosted by Holy TransfiguratiMelkite Greek-Catholic Church features, food and sweets, family activities and traditional culture.

Food and festival-lovers alert! The annual Labor Day weekend Middle Eastern Food Festival is upon the McLean/Vienna area once again. And if you’ve wondered how a Northern Virginia foodfest can go through 200 pounds of lamb, 400 pounds of beef, 450 pounds of chicken, 180 pounds of butter and 12,000 pieces of sweets, this is your opportunity to find out.

Fairfax County’s Success Story

Economic success: 50 years in the making.

If you are a newcomer to Fairfax County, allow me to welcome you to one of the most dynamic communities anywhere in the world to live and work. It was the vision of many people to create this kind of community, so please allow me to offer a quick history lesson.

The Connection