People

Alexandria to Host GI Film Festival

Sinise, Arquette set to honor troops.

Gary Sinise, David Arquette and Adam Driver are just three of the celebrities who will be in attendance as the GI Film Festival heads to Alexandria May 19-25.

Two New Members Added to Town Council

Two new residents will join the town council in July.

Jennifer Baker and Stephen Lee Mitchell were voted into their new positions during the town election on May 6 at the community center.

Potter’s Fire Issues Holiday Challenge

Fife and Drum Corp highlight fundraising event.

Members of Herndon High School (HHS) Band participated in the American Originals Fife and Drum Corps performance in a kickoff celebration for a fundraiser sponsored by local ceramics business Potter’s Fire on May 10. The Potter’s Fire Throwdown is a contest to challenge other businesses in Herndon to decorate their storefronts for the patriotic holidays from May 10 to the 4th of July. The business with the best decorations will win a trophy designed at Potter’s Fire. Donations for the event will be divided between The Fisher House Foundation and The Pride of Herndon Marching Band. “Every dime will be going back to charity,” said Mike Faul, owner of Potter’s Fire.

Author Shares Work at Potomac Public Library

Hannah Barnaby discusses her new young adult novel “The Wonder Show” on May 17.

Many young children and teens dream of running away. Hannah Barnaby’s new young adult novel, “Wonder Show,” follows a young girl named Portia Remini as she runs away from her children’s home and joins the Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show in an effort to find her father.

Navy Band Performs at Herndon High School

Senior students have opportunity to play with U.S. Navy band.

Herndon High School hosted the United States Navy Band the evening of May 9. The band performing was the U.S. Navy Concert band, based in Washington, D.C. This is the fourth time Herndon High School (HHS) has hosted a performance with the Navy Band. “It is a wonderful opportunity that the Navy Band gives freely of their time and talent to encourage the musical growth of our children,” said Rhonda Reeves-Long, a member of the school band’s boosters group.

Strawberry Festival Returns Saturday

Potomac United Methodist Church hosts 24th annual event.

The Strawberry Festival is back. The Potomac United Methodist Church event features the some of the best chocolate-covered strawberries one will ever taste as well as an opportunity to spend a day shopping for one-of-a-kind items at the boutique, searching through Home Treasures for that perfect piece for one’s home, or sampling the home-baked goodies from the bake sale.

Spring Songbirds Arriving

Local bird groups and bird walks help beginning birders see colorful birds.

Avian enthusiasts (birders/bird watchers) and general nature buffs have eagerly awaited the birds’ arrival and are now out in force hoping to see some of their feathered friends.

Supporting Baseball in Cuba

Herndon area sixth graders Jack Connell and Thomas Latham, members of Floris UMC’s Crossroads youth program, recently coordinated the donation of over 125 items of gently used baseball uniforms. The clothing—jerseys, pants and caps—will be taken by the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission to Cuba on May 22, where they will be given to local youth. The boys were told about Cubans’ love of baseball by mission team coordinator and Floris member, Aldo Gonzalez. On Opening Day, they invited their team and the CYA league to help the mission group’s efforts to support the local Cuban community.

The Fighter

Longtime congressman celebrated by Alexandria Democrats.

During his first run for Congress, then-Mayor Jim Moran assembled a campaign team that was hungry to oust incumbent Republican Stan Parris. Mame Reiley ran the operation, which included a young communications consultant named Joe Trippi. As the race headed toward Election Day, Reiley and Trippi became concerned that Moran's campaign signs kept disappearing from Eisenhower Avenue. So they set up a sting operation with a video camera to catch the culprit, who turned out to be Jim Moran.

Colvin Run Elementary Holds Fun Run

Inspired by the gorgeous day, and by the camaraderie of family and friends, participants in the 9th Annual Colvin Run Elementary School Fun Run, a Family Event for Charity, ran and walked the equivalent of 720 miles in a one hour period last Saturday morning. Each Fun Run participant collected pledges or flat donations for the charity of their choice. Organizations benefiting included those that support the environment, animal welfare, medical research, treatment of disease, children and families in need, affordable housing, hospice, and more.

House Historian

Family and friends remember Ruth Lincoln Kaye.

Alexandria's premiere house historian, a woman who pioneered the industry and fiercely protected her research, died April 30. She was 95. "She had a curious and inquisitive mind," recalled her son, Arthur Lincoln Kaye. Kaye was known throughout the city as a sort of walking history book, a woman who possessed an extensive institutional memory and a razor-sharp wit.

Love for Becky on Mother’s Day

Inaugural Mothers for Mental Health event at Turner Park attracts 200 people.

Dozens of people came to Turner Park for an intimate Mother’s Day festival.

Elizabeth Hazlett Scott

Elizabeth Hazlett Scott, 86, of Chambersburg, Pa., formerly a long-time resident of Potomac, died May 10, 2014 to begin her journey to join the love of her life, Richard U. Scott, and her son, Timothy Powell Scott.

Denise Marie Schaefer

Denise Marie Schaefer, 38, died suddenly on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Beloved wife of Geoffrey Schaefer; mother of Hailey and Katelyn Schaefer; daughter of John and Marcia Wilson; sister of Stephanie and Jessica Wilson; granddaughter of Nancy Gordon; niece of Alan (Betsy) Gordon and Susan Dorrow; daughter-in-law of Harry and Nanci Schaefer; sister-in-law of Greg (Robin) and Aaron Schaefer.

Wedding in the Park

A wedding party explores Glen Echo Park on May 10. Heather and Mike Bonsiero planned to be married at the park.

The Connection