Story
U.S. 1 Transit Study: Time to Speak Up
Last week, Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transit held the last public hearing on the U.S. 1 Multimodal Transit Study. This study will determine the most appropriate road configuration, mode of transit and accompanying land uses for the U.S. 1 corridor for the next 30 years. As the study ends, public input is absolutely critical.
Story
Facing Off in County Board Rematch
Democrat Alan Howze campaigning for comeback victory.
Things did not go well in Alan Howze in the previous election.
Story
Commentary: Working Towards a County Budget
The County Executive has released his recommendations for the fiscal year (FY) 2015 operating budget. I wanted to let you know some of the highlights that were in it, as the County Council begins our business of working to approve a final budget. The recommended budget stays within the charter limit and totals $4.97 billion for FY 2015, which begins July 1. The budget funds education beyond what is required by the State Maintenance of Effort Level law, puts more police on the beat, and reduces the County's property tax rate.
Story
Colvin Run Mill Goes Back to 1810
Staff look forward to restoration of mill.
Last year Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls entered a contest to win grant money through the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The result was a fourth-place finish among 24 historic sites in the contest and a $75,000 grant for Colvin Run Mill, the largest grant in the site’s history. This money is now being used to fund restoration of the mill. Fairfax County spent about $1 million restoring the mill between 1968 and 1972, but stopped before finishing when funds ran out.
Story
Neil Simon's Touching, Sweet "Chapter Two" Arrives at Reston's CenterStage
Neil Simon has a "trademark witty, snappy dialogue, and relatable characters that audiences enjoy ", said Joshua Redford, artistic director, Reston Community Players (RCP) . Shortly the RCP will bring Simon's "wide appeal to local audiences" with his "Chapter Two." "Chapter Two" follows the life of George Schneider, a recent widower trying to make his way in a new and rather bumpy world of dating after a long marriage. George is "still coming to terms with his wife's death, who stumbles into a new relationship. He's caught between wanting to move ahead but being unable to let go...with his trademark charm and dry, acerbic wit." said Jeff Breslow who plays George.
Story
Going Into Lyrical Woods
NextStop Theatre Company presents ‘Into the Woods.’
There was a cheerful bustle taking place as NextStop Theatre company members were rehearsing Stephen Sondheim's striking musical "Into the Woods." Smooth voices were warming up as the keyboard began to bring musical life into the rehearsal hall. "Into the Woods" is a big 17-member cast production directed by Evan Hoffman, with a 10-piece orchestra and a score of nearly 30 numbers, under the musical direction of Elisa Rosman. The show continues NextStop's poised move into its first year as Northern Virginia's newest professional theater company. The cast includes top notch musical theater talent who have performed at Signature, Ford's, Keegan, Toby's and many others.
Story
Historic Potomac Home Goes on the Market
The house’s origins date back to late 1700s, say owners.
Adam Garfinkle and Scilla Taylor are aficionados of historical architecture, particularly when it comes to their homes. They enjoy restoring and uncovering the hidden stories of bygone eras, and they found a wealth of inspiration in their Potomac home at 9901 Glen Road.
Story
B’nai Tzedek Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
Gala honors its founders.
In 1988, the movie “Field of Dreams” inspired viewers with the motto, “If you build it, they will come.” Armed with this philosophy, and encouraged by a few residents who were also passionate about establishing a new synagogue in Potomac, Symcha and Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt set off on a mission to create, in Weinblatt’s words, “a place where members grow Jewishly and take their Jewish journey, where they could deepen their ties to Judaism and discover its beauty and relevance.”
Story
Officer Presgrave Hangs Up His Hat
HPD Captain retires after 41 years of service.
In 1972, American soldiers were fighting in the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal broke and NASA received their first pictures from Mars from an orbiting probe. That August was also Police Captain Robert Presgrave’s first month as an officer for the Herndon Police Department. More than 41 years later, he is retiring from the everyday business of keeping the town a safer place. “There are a thousand stories I can write,” he said. “If I could write like an author, I’d write a book.”
Story
SingStrong for a Cause
Professional a cappella singers preform at South Lakes High School.
For three days at South Lakes High School in Reston, the music of the human voice was celebrated with the sixth annual SingStrong International Charity A Cappella Festival. This event featured five concerts, an auction, and over a dozen classes and coaching sessions from professional musicians.
Story
Commentary: Schools, Medicaid at Issue in State Budget
Last week, the initial skirmish over the state budget erupted in the Virginia legislature. The proposed House and Senate budgets are significantly different in how they address elementary-secondary education. Virginia provides about 23 percent of Fairfax County’s public school funding. The federal government pays about 5 percent and the remainder comes from Fairfax County, which is largely funded by real estate taxes. The only Northern Virginia County with lower real estate taxes is Arlington County.
Story
In the Race Against Autism
Annual “Autism Speaks” 5k Race/Fun Walk returns July 4.
Potomac will be teeming with runners and walkers celebrating the 4th for a special cause — Autism Speaks.
Story
A Spiritual Journey: Yoga in Daily Life Goes to Rio+20
The eco-warriors carried signs painted with slogans. The Occupiers protested corporate excesses. Scientists, farmers, mayors, business executives, and think tanks — they all came to Rio de Janeiro for two weeks in June to participate in the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Story
Bishop Ireton Girls’ Lax Wins First WCAC Championship
Cardinals beat Norfolk Academy in VISAA state quarterfinals.
The Bishop Ireton girls' lacrosse team advanced to the VISAA state semifinals.
Story
City in Violation of Its Charter
Citizens hampered from accessing departmental rules and regulations.
While Alexandria’s ordinances are enacted in public by the City Council and are readily accessible to the citizenry, usually in the form of “The Code of the City of Alexandria, 1981,” departments and offices across city government also promulgate official rules and regulations, but they are neither publicized nor readily accessible by the citizenry. This directly violates the express wording of the city’s charter.
Story
'Xanadu' Is Zany Spoof of the 1980s
Signature's production should not be missed.
Don't bother telling “Xanadu” that's it's based on one of the worst movies of all time. It's already in on the joke, reinventing itself as an outlandishly zany spoof of the 1980 movie about a muse descended on skates from Mount Olympus to inspire the creation of a roller disco in Venice, Calif.
Story
Commentary: Continuing the Conversation
For the second year in a row, Alexandria is holding an unusual exhibit of art. Its purpose is both a celebration of creativity and the artist's own special vision, and an opening gambit to begin the conversation on what mental health is, what it means to have a mental illness and how those with intellectual and developmental disabilities see and deal with the world around them.
Story
TC Girls’ Varsity 8 Wins Bronze at Canadian Nationals
Racing on choppy waters and under stormy skies, the T.C. Williams girls’ varsity 8 stormed past the competition to capture the bronze medal at the 67th Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta.
Story
Dinner Music
Focus Music brings folk and acoustic music to Potomac’s Tami’s Table.
Tami’s Table Café and Wine Bar, located at 12944-E Travilah Road, Potomac is the scene to check out.
Story
Burke Family Touched by Children’s National
Smith family gets involved in Race for Every Child after son undergoes two open heart surgeries.
After raising $712,000 last year, Children’s National Health System has set a goal of raising $1 million through the 2nd annual Race for Every Child in September.