People

Certificates of Congratulations Given at Council Session

Pride of Herndon Marching Band and John Mosesso recognized.

“We have several presentations this evening and we are very excited about all of them because this is the stuff that makes living in Herndon the great place that it is,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel. Merkel was speaking at the Jan. 14 Herndon Town Council Public Session, and she invited town councilmember Melissa Jonas to read the official Certificate of Congratulations for the Herndon High School's “Pride of Herndon” Marching Band.

Vienna Mayor to Retire in 2014

After 14 years at the helm, M. Jane Seeman will not seek re-election.

IT WAS 1996 when M. Jane Seeman stepped in to fill her husband’s unexpired term on the council after his death. She ran and won seats on the council in 1997 and 1999. When then-mayor Charles Robinson approached Seeman about running for mayor in 2000, she had some trepidation. “I was thinking I wasn’t capable at all,” Seeman said. “I felt as if I swallowed a rock. “If you really believe in something, you have to step forward and do it. I believe in Vienna and that’s what this was all about.” Seeman was diagnosed with lung cancer in spring, 2013, but her decision to turn the reins of the town over came a year before her diagnosis. Other than the cancer, she called herself a “healthy” person. Throughout Seeman’s administration and in the years before, the town’s emphasis was on maintaining Vienna’s way of life, a small-town feel with a family focus, Seeman said. “It’s paid off. We have all these young families moving to Vienna, raising their kids here.”

Continuing the Struggle for Equality

Lynne Garvey-Hodge delivers message of women’s equality at Workhouse Arts Center.

The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center hosted the first of its five-part lectures series "American Women: The Long and Winding Road," on Jan. 8.

Imagining a Transformed Springfield

Executive Director of Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce shares her thoughts on 2014.

Last year may have been a big year for Springfield, but according to Nancy-jo Manney, the executive director of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, 2014 will be even better.

A National Memorial for Suffragists

Leaders raise money, advocate for Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in Lorton.

Not far down the road from where suffragists were imprisoned at the Occoquan Workhouse for picketing at the White House for the right to vote, members of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association, in partnership with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, are continuing efforts to build a memorial at Occoquan Regional Park to honor those women.

Democratic Women of Clifton to Host ‘Our Children: Fostering, Mentoring and Adoption’ Program

The Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia will host a program titled Our Children: Fostering, Mentoring and Adoption in Virginia on Sunday, Jan. 19, from 3-5 p.m. at the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Rd., Clifton, with special guests: Nannette Bowler - Director of the Department of Social Services for Fairfax County, Paul D. McWhinney - Director of Family Services for Virginia Department of Social Services, and Dr. Beverly Howard - Coordinator of Fairfax Families4Kids. They will talk about their work at the local and state level working and advocating for the welfare of children and specifically with fostering, mentoring and adoption. The attendees will hear how they can become involved and make a difference in the lives of children.

Fairfax Academy Hosts MCT Festival

Eight annual MCT Fest displays students’ talents, leadership.

Students enrolled in Fairfax Academy’s Music Computer Technology (MCT) class impressed parents and teachers by hosting and performing original compositions at the Eighth Annual MCT Fest on Jan. 8 in Fairfax.

Chocolate Lovers Valentine Features ‘Old’ Fairfax High

The annual Chocolate Lovers Festival valentine this year features the original Fairfax High School building, drawn by Fairfax artist Jackie Liedl.

Education, Transportation, Mental Health

Del. Bulova unveils his legislative priorities.

Greetings from Richmond! The 2014 General Assembly is now in full swing. In addition to considering nearly 2,000 bills, we will adopt Virginia’s biennial budget, which must be balanced as required by Virginia’s constitution. Thanks to everyone who has contacted me about issues throughout the year. This session I have introduced 13 bills and several budget amendments. Below is a summary of issues and initiatives I will be working on during the 2014 session.

Brooke Hardin to Lead Development and Planning Department

The City of Fairfax announces the appointment of Brooke Hardin as the city’s director of the Community Development and Planning Department. Hardin, who has served as the city’s Planning Division chief since 2011, will begin his role immediately.

Fairfax County Launches Sex Trafficking Prevention Campaign

Sex trafficking education materials also added to school curriculum.

In order to raise awareness to the fact that sex trafficking can happen anywhere, even in Fairfax County, a new prevention campaign and website raising awareness of this issue launched on Jan. 13.

Keeping Homeless Out of the Cold

FACETS hypothermia prevention shelters continue for winter 2014.

Temperatures in Fairfax County have reached record lows over the past week and FACETS is continuing to run its hypothermia prevention shelters this winter. The shelters are hosted at churches throughout the area, and are intended to prevent hypothermia-related deaths, said Single Services Team Leader Abby Dunner. FACETS worked with other organizations to ensure that nobody was left in the cold during the bone-chilling weather last week.

Tags from the Edge

Under the cover of darkness, soldiers and civilian contractors are taking to the walls of the Kandahar military base in Afghanistan. They're using spray paint and stencils, along with their sense of humor and expression, to make the beige concrete walls a little more colorful.

Obituary

Allan R. Plumley, Jr.

Allan R. Plumley, Jr. died on Dec. 26, 2013 at Virginia Hospital Center, in Arlington, due to complications following a fall. He was 80 years old. A fourth generation lawyer, Mr. Plumley was born in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 14, 1933, and raised in Wilmington, Del., where his father, a patent attorney, was an executive with DuPont.

Caring for People with Alzheimers, Dementia

As the number of senior citizens in Fairfax County continues to rise, so does the need for assisted-living facilities — and especially those focusing on people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. That’s why Artisan Land Group LLC wants to build just that in Chantilly.

The Connection