Richmond Diary
Governor McAuliffe Sets the Stage
Each year the Governor of Virginia addresses a joint assembly of the House of Delegates and the State Senate in a speech not unlike the President’s State of the Union address except that the Governor provides a “State of the Commonwealth” as well as his recommendations for legislative action. Last week I heard the 35th such speech since I have been a member of the House of Delegates. I think Gov. Terry McAuliffe made the best of any of the speeches I have heard over my career in the legislature.
Churchill Road Team Excels at Langley Invitational
The Churchill Road Science Olympiad Team participated at the Langley Invitational on Dec. 15. Under the direction of mentors Jennifer Ezzell (5th grade teacher) and Rajee Ramesh (parent), the Churchill Road team was the top-ranking elementary school team, placing fourth overall among the 21 middle and elementary teams. The sixth graders Ian Palk and Christopher Sole placed first in the Solar System category. The team members are looking forward to the Regionals later this spring.
Young Speaks about Civil Rights, King’s Legacy
“A Continuing Legacy” speaking series came to McLean Community Center’s theater.
HALFWAY THROUGH, the former U.N. ambassador opened the event up to questions from audience members. Chuck Smith of Reston asked how he thought President Obama could deal with vast income inequality within the U.S. due to a majority of the income being owned by the super rich. Young responded that it was difficult for any leader, himself included, to deal with 1 percent controlling all of the country’s money, but that the president could still work to enable the poor with economic opportunity. He cited his own history of using international investment to fight poverty, and said that the same approach could be applied to African countries with slow economies and high poverty.
‘This’ Opens in Vienna
Vienna Theatre Company presents comedy-drama exploring challenges of a certain-age.
On Jan. 24, the Vienna Theatre Company debuts “This,” a drama with a humorous take on the tribulations of life at about 40 years old … give or take a year or two in either direction.
‘Helping Hungry Kids’
Saturday food drives at Herndon and Reston grocery stores provide weekends meals for area students.
Every Saturday leading up to Feb. 17, customers walking into the Fox Mill and North Point shopping center Giant grocery stores will be able to provide food for hungry elementary school children in Herndon and Reston. The Helping Hungry Kids program kicked off its Stuff the Bus food collection program Jan. 18, at area grocery stores, complete with shopping carts and a stack of food ready to be purchased for generous customers. Volunteers at the front of the store handed out flyers to customers and asked them to help by purchasing $11 bags filled with child-sized portions of items like macaroni and cheese, granola bars and sugar-free applesauce. “A lot of the people who come here just take the bag and prepare it themselves,” said Colleen Cavitz, a Chantilly resident who has been volunteering each month for three years.
Broadway Night Comes to South Lakes High School
South Lakes students prepare for musical show.
This past weekend students in the South Lakes High School were rehearsing and preparing for the ninth annual Broadway Night show at 7 p.m. Jan. 24-25 (weather depending) at the school’s Little Theatre. Cast and crew were at the school making sure everything was ready for opening night. “This is my first year doing costume design, but my third year doing production for the play,” said South Lakes senior Allison Scheler.
Vandal Damages Windows of Council Chamber Building
Police arrived at the Herndon Town Council Chamber building Friday night, Jan. 17, to find that several large windows around the outside of the building had been smashed. Witnesses reported seeing a tall black male throw an object at the Council Chamber building in downtown Herndon at 10:45 p.m. before taking off running toward Grace Street.
Cornerstones and GRCC Reveal Best of Reston Honorees
Reston’s business and nonprofit leaders were among those gathered for 23rd Annual Best of Reston Kickoff Reception.
In a colorful, well-lit lit room of the Google Reston Town Center office, a shining bronze statue of 99-year-old Reston founder Bob Simon sat about 10 feet away from the man himself.
Police Identify Body Found in Creek off of Locust Street
A resident reported finding the body of an adult male in downtown Herndon.
Herndon Police determined late Friday, Jan. 17, that a body found in a creek bed at the intersection of Locust and Center streets in downtown Herndon was that of 30-year-old Damien Patrick Scanlan.
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.
Donation Supports Box Turtles
Great Falls BSA Venturing Crew 364 presented a $250 check to the Fairfax County Park Authority on Dec. 11, providing a lifetime sponsorship of eastern box turtles at Riverbend Park. These turtles are used to educate children at the park and local Fairfax schools about wildlife and conservation. Their population in the wild has been declining in Northern Virginia. Presenting the check to Riverbend Park Naturalist Julie Gurnee is Natalie Gilbert, president of Venturing Crew 364. Joining in the presentation are: Camille Speer, the Crew's past president and adult advisors, Bill Canis and Gary Pan. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America and provides opportunities for young men and women to participate in high adventure activities, serve their communities and become responsible and caring adults.
Outstanding Service
At the Reston Lions Club Holiday party held on Dec. 19, at the Hidden Creek Country Club, five members of the club were presented Melvin Jones Fellow plaques for dedicated humanitarian services. The awards were by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The recipients with Club President Don Leas, are, from left, Gerry Washburn, Bob Meissner, Leas, Jim Ryan, Mike Moseley and Jack Gazlay. Melvin Jones was one of the founders in 1917 of Lions Clubs International which now has 1.35 million members in 206 countries. The Reston Lions Club supports sight and hearing programs and more in the Reston and Herndon areas
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.
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.
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