People

Helping the Earth and Having Fun

Visitors flock to Vienna’s sixth annual Green Expo.

The Vienna Community Center recently hosted the sixth annual Green Expo, in which some three dozen, earth-friendly exhibitors showed those attending how to achieve a green lifestyle. There were spiffy cars that use alternative fuel, plus people providing information about everything from water conservation to ways to protect the environment, how to recycle and even opportunities to go on eco-adventures.

Reston Community Orchestra Holds Season Finale

Concert features two young pianists.

The afternoon of Sunday, May 18, at Reston Community Center CenterStage, the Reston Community Orchestra (RCO) preformed their final concert of the 2013-2014 with a performance featuring two young pianists. Pianists Mark Dang and Matthew Geier performed Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in D Major.” The program also included Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite #2” and selections from “Forest Gump.” Conducting the orchestra was Dingwall Fleary, a maestro who has directed Reston Community Orchestra for 16 years.

Giving Circle of Hope Honors 2013 Nonprofit Partners

Connections for Hope Partnership of Herndon receives first ever Impact Grant Award of $25,000.

Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston was the venue on May 14 for the Giving Circle of Hope’s annual gathering to showcase the nonprofit partners to whom the organization’s members have chosen to award grants for the coming year. Each fall, eligible members of the Circle – persons who have contributed at least $1 per day for the year to the Grant Fund – review applications and vote to award grants for specific projects that help people in need in Northern Virginia.

Vienna Public Works Day Draws Crowds

Preschoolers have opportunity to climb on heavy equipment.

To a young child, there’s no question --- the bigger, the better. Witness the euphoria and unbridled enthusiasm of hundreds of preschoolers who climbed onboard heavy equipment, from front-loaders to ditch-diggers, at the Town of Vienna’s annual (and very popular) Public Works Day open house on May 15. Kids had the opportunity to sit in police vehicles, crawl into the animal compartment of the police department’s animal control truck, get tattoos, and grab loads of complimentary packaged snacks, as well. The congenial staff of the Public Works Department was there on-hand to boost the children into equipment cabs and ensure their safety.

Column: Post-Game Analysis

While I enjoy watching college athletic competitions, I do not watch many professional sports on television. For sure I do not watch any of the post-game shows. Panels for these shows seem carefully selected to ensure controversy and banter to fill the time slot.

Vienna Man Going to Federal Prison

Given nearly seven years for McLean teen’s death.

Kyle Alifom, 20, of Vienna was sentenced last Friday to nearly seven years in federal prison in connection with the death of a 16-year-old McLean girl. The victim was Emylee Lonczak, a McLean High student whose body he hid after she overdosed on heroin. Charged with tampering with evidence, Alifom was convicted of that offense Feb. 10 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. A statement of facts filed with his plea made it clear that – not only did he try to prevent anyone from finding Lonczak – he also did nothing to obtain medical help for her while she was still alive.

Few Roll Through Town

Bike to Work Day sees low participation due to heavy rain.

Bike to Work Day was a washout at many event locations this year.

Biking to Work Despite Rain

Bike To Work Day highlights alternative travel in Fairfax County.

On Friday morning rainy weather hit Northern Virginia, yet volunteers at 14 bike stations throughout Fairfax County still assisted bicyclists for the annual Bike To Work Day. Coordinated by Commuter Connections and Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), the Bike to Work Day event attracts participants from around the Washington metropolitan region. This year’s theme was “Get your workout before you get your work in.”

Rebranding Their Passion

10th annual Technology and the Arts Awards presented.

Think S.T.E.A.M, not S.T.E.M. That was the message Leidos Director of Advertising, Branding and Creative Chris Green told a group of student artists at the 10th Annual Technology and the Arts Competition Awards at the ASCE World Headquarters in Reston on May 14.

Books for a Bargain at the Great Falls Sale

Literary pickings made their way from the shelves of Great Falls families’ homes to the tables of the Great Falls Book Sale last weekend, for a biannual fundraising event held by the Friends of the Great Falls Library.

How Clever!

Forestville Elementary students will compete at international Odyssey of the Mind finals.

One local elementary school is a champion at brainy sports. One of Forestville’s 11 Odyssey of the Mind teams is going to the World Finals in Iowa for the third year in a row after landing first place at the national-level competition in Rocky Mount recently. The finals will take place from the 28th through the 30th at Iowa State University.

Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day

Fewer deaths as military operations wind down, but 22 veterans a day die of suicide.

In Arlington over the coming Memorial Day weekend, the organization TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, will hold its 20th annual Military Survivor seminar and Good Grief camp for young survivors, children of all ages. TAPS offers support to anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died in the military, whether from combat, suicide, terrorism, homicide, negligence, accidents or illness. http://www.taps.org/

GI Film Festival 2014

VMI story told in “Field of Lost Shoes.”

A standing room only crowd packed the Old Town Theatre May 19 for the GI Film Festival’s world premiere of “Field of Lost Shoes,”

DAR Presents Junior ROTC Medal

Marsha Price of Providence Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), presented the DAR ROTC Bronze Award to Cadet Major Tanya Kumar at the Air Force Junior ROTC Pass-in-Review ceremony on May 10.

In Support of Stratford Hall

The Alexandria Committee of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association held its annual fundraising reception in support of Stratford Hall at the home of Leslie Ariail on Sunday afternoon, May 18.

The Connection