Burke Target Employee Killed by VRE Train
A cashier at the Burke Target was hit by a Virginia Railroad Express Train traveling from Washington to Manassas on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Churches, County Organize Blanket Drive to Aid Syrian Refugees
Blankets collected in Northern Virginia’s Blanket Drive for Syrian Refugees will soon be arriving in Turkey, where a local relief agency will distribute them to Syrian refugee families in the Adana refugee camp. More than 18,000 blankets were collected. These blankets were donated by residents of Northern Virginia through grass-roots efforts organized by local elected officials in conjunction with the Fairfax County Interfaith Council. Residents were asked to drop off clean and folded blankets at locations throughout Northern Virginia. In Fairfax County, seven meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) served as donation collection points, as well as two Islamic Centers, and offices of several members of the county Board of Supervisors. Chairman Sharon Bulova joined volunteers at one LDS meetinghouse and publicly thanked the church for its efforts in supporting the effort.
City of Fairfax News
News in the Fairfax area.
Hybrid Tax Repeal On Its Way
Commentary
The General Assembly is now in full swing with action on major bills starting to move through. The first bill I introduced was the repeal of the $64/year tax on hybrid vehicles – HB4. In the last few days, the Senate approved the repeal of the Hybrid Tax. A vote by the full house comes later this week.
Into the Budget Fray
Bulova highlights accomplishments, challenges in annual address.
Despite the lingering impact of an anemic economy, and the regional ripple effects of federal sequestration, Fairfax County residents will see some concrete signs of progress this year.
Roundups for 1/22/14
The editor presents the roundups for the week of 1/22/14.
Two-Alarm Apartment Fire Displaces Family
The Alexandria Fire Department, assisted by Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Metro Washington Airports Authority Fire Departments, responded to the report of smoke and fire showing from a top floor balcony of a townhouse on Jan. 19 at approximately 11:20 a.m.
Free Tax Preparation for Qualifying Residents
The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation to qualifying residents. Taxpayers are eligible if their income is below approximately $35,000 for individuals and $51,000 for families. Expert volunteers from Community Tax Aid, Inc. will ensure that taxpayers apply for all applicable credits and deductions, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, which people often don’t realize they are eligible to receive.
‘Broadway Magic’ To Be Shown at Herndon High
A “crazy colorful, an explosion of fun” show.
“When you guys land, land on the balls of your feet, don’t land with your feet flat. Then pivot on right foot, but sing the melody,” Dana Van Slyke said. Herndon High School’s Choral Director Van Slyke was speaking to students in the school auditorium practicing choreography for a song from the musical “South Pacific.” The cast and crew conducted a weekend recital to prepare for the annual cabaret show. “The cabaret show is about an hour and a half production of songs from classical musicals all the way to contemporary shows,” Van Slyke said.
Del. Comstock Shares Her Notes on Opening Week
A new beginning, a new chairmanship and a new legislative session.
It is always an honor to be part of the oldest continuous legislative body in the western world. On Jan. 8, we began a new session with a new Administration. The session is always kicked off early in the morning (7 a.m.) with the annual Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast. In keeping with tradition, outgoing Governor McDonnell and incoming Governor McAuliffe and senior government officials attend. This year I had the honor of offering the prayer for State Legislators at the Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast also features guest speakers every year and everyone was moved by the powerful testimony of Thomas Haynesworth, a truly inspirational man, who was exonerated in 2011 after being wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years for crimes he did not commit. Mr. Haynesworth spoke of his faith sustaining him throughout this unjust ordeal.
‘This Is the Town’s Building’
Vienna Community Center will receive addition, renovation.
For nearly half a century, Vienna’s community center has served its residents. Whether hosting classes, meetings or special events, it’s one of the most heavily used buildings in town. Since its dedication on April 17, 1966, it’s been renovated three times. But the last time was in 1998 and, now, it’ll be repaired again, and enlarged, as well.
Norine McGraw Swaminatha
Obituary
On Thursday, Jan. 2, Norine Mcgraw Swaminatha, 65, a 34-year resident of the Town of Vienna passed away at home. Beloved and devoted wife to Kris Swaminatha, mother to Tara Swaminatha (Robert Kaplan), Sheela Myers (Stephen), Meara DeRose (Paul) and Neala Swaminatha and sister to Regina McGraw; grandmother to Arin and Molly Kaplan, Emily and Mason Myers, and Vinny and Lucy DeRose; The Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Jan. 10 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Vienna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Norine's memory to the American Brain Tumor Association (on Norine's page at http://hope.abta.org/goto/Norine, by phone 773-577-8750, or by mail at 8550 Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 550, Chicago, Illinois, 60631-3225).
Floris United Methodist Opens Doors to Area Homeless
Members of Floris United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Herndon have participated in programs assisting the area’s homeless for years, mostly through food and clothing donations and by volunteering to serve meals at shelters and seasonal food pantries and kitchens. Last year a number of the congregation who have given their time to those efforts decided to see if FUMC would take their involvement to the next level by agreeing to literally open the church doors for one week as part of the annual Hypothermia Prevention and Response program coordinated by local non-profit FACETS. The response by FUMC leadership and worshipers alike was overwhelmingly positive.
Musical Approach to Family
"La Cage aux Folles" arriving at Alden Theater.
Musical director John Edwards Niles will have an orchestra of 10 to perform the score of 16 songs. Choreography is by Duane Monahan.
Comstock Image Versus Record
To the Editor: Regarding the Connection article "Comstock runs for Congress," Connection, Jan. 15, the Virginia legislature gerrymandered the 10th Congressional District to ensure that Del. Barbara Comstock (R-34) lived in that district so that when Congressman Frank Wolf retired, she would be in a position to run for his seat. In her two terms as a delegate in a body dominated by her party, she has focused on a number of "mom and apple pie" issues like lyme disease (she's against it) and more slots for Northern Virginia students at state universities (she's for that but proposes no way to pay for the increased cost to the universities). In the meantime, she voted against the historic, bi-partisan transportation funding compromise last year, and also opposed the state budget that included greater funding for higher education and teacher pay raises. She also voted numerous times to allow greater access to guns. Yet, when speaking in McLean, she invariably fails to mention these votes and skirts any questions.
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