Filmmaker Turns Camera on Reston
Rebekah Wingert-Jabi wins Peabody Award, begins work on documentary about Reston.
Rebekah Wingert- Jabi has lived all across the world. She moved to Reston as a child, attended college in Minnesota and California, studied abroad in China and lived in the Middle East. She became interested in still photography at a young age, and while in China she got a video camera and became fascinated with the idea of moving images.
Foundation Prepares to Promote Mental Health
Josh Anderson Foundation to sponsor events across county for mental health and depression awareness.
Before Fairfax County students finish the school year and head to summer break, they first must deal with exams, both final and for AP classes. This can lead to a lot of stress over the final two months of school, pressure the Josh Anderson Foundation is determined to relieve.
Family PASS to Host Soiree
Fundraiser will help serve families facing homelessness.
A mother of four children, Josephine Rivera didn’t have many options after becoming a victim of domestic abuse. After her husband was arrested, she was forced to support those children, ages 8 to 18, on an $8 an hour salary, and she soon found herself homeless.
Update on State Session
Favola, Comstock, Foust provide General Assembly results.
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31), Del. Barbara Comstock (R-34) and Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) addressed a crowd at the Great Falls Grange Tuesday, March 12, on the results of the latest General Assembly session.
Rotary Presents Youth Service Awards
Three local students honored for ‘service above self.’
The McLean Rotary Club presented its annual Youth Service Awards to three local students at their Tuesday, March 12, meeting. McLean High School senior Jung Wook "James" Choi, Langley High School junior Rebecca Pifer and Potomac School senior Britt Nelson were each awarded $250 scholarships in recognition of their efforts serving the community.
Facing STEM Challenges Head On
Thomas Jefferson senior Katherine Ho of McLean awarded scholarship from Siemens Foundation.
For many students, AP classes are a chore, something taken to help college standings or boost GPA and the AP Exams are dreaded all year long. For Katherine Ho of McLean, challenges and problem solving have been part of her life for a long time.
MCC Moves Forward With Renovation Plan
Board approves $6.1 million expansion, will examine possible future downtown land swap.
The McLean Community Center Governing Board voted at their Feb. 27 meeting to go forward with a $6.1 million renovation of its Ingleside Avenue facility.
Chamber Installs 2013 Board
John Brough of Chain Bridge Bank named new chairman.
Meet the Board The 2013 Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors members are: * Chair: John Brough, Chain Bridge Bank * First vice-chair: Marcus Simon, EKKO Title LLC * Treasurer: Monish Banga, Ross Langan and McKendree, LLP * Secretary: Joe Mastaler, PBMares, LLP * Immediate past chair: Merritt J. Green, General Counsel, PC * Ryan Cash, Capital One Bank * Raj Mehra, Middleburg Bank * Rick Makely, Giant of McLean * Gita Bhandari, M and T Bank * Dane Scott, Seasons 52 Fresh Grill and Wine Bar * Sheri Sylvester, AdZig Logo Promotions * Jon Wilkins, Bank of Georgetown * George Sachs, McLean Community Center * Brian Callery, Edward Jones * Karen Briscoe, Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Realty Group * President: Marcia S. Twomey
VDOT Decides Fate of Trees
Tree closest to Walker Road to be removed, remaining tree to be pruned.
“In the end, it was the overwhelming opinion of various expert arborists that one tree, the one closest to the corner, was too ill and in danger of falling to risk trying to save.” --Bob Vickers, Great Falls tree commissioner
Nike Park Opens Artificial Turf Field
Field is joint effort between county and community.
The artificial turf field at Great Falls Nike Park was officially opened Saturday, March 3.
Foundation Plans for Art Center
Community Center for the Arts possible at Turner Farm.
The Great Falls Foundation for the Arts was founded in 2007 with the goal of eventually bringing an arts center to the community. Since then, they have run a school, working studio space and a gallery space on Walker Road, all while planning for the future.
Fairfax Connector Proposes New Routes
Public input meeting held to solicit feedback on new bus routes.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation kicked off the public input process for their new bus routes in McLean Thursday, Feb. 1. The Fairfax Connector routes will be altered to take advantage of the opening of Metrorail stations in Tysons Corner and Reston in December, with the new routes expected to begin the same day as the stations open.
Change to Intersection Raises Concerns
Residents object to potential traffic signal at Hunter Mill and Crowell.
The Hunter Mill District Land Use Committee heard a request from Oakcrest School Tuesday, Jan. 15, to amend the special exception that would allow them to alter the intersection at Hunter Mill Road and Crowell Road, an alteration that has raised objections from nearby residents.
Program Tackles Drinking Culture
McLean High School hosts first ‘Perils of College Drinking Culture’ presentation of year.
Exploring Perils of Drinking Culture:The Jan. 17 program at McLean High kicks off the latest series of “The Perils of College Drinking Culture” in the area. The program will also be held: * Thursday, May 16, at Westfield High School in Chantilly. * Wednesday, May 22, and Wednesday, July 31, at the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. The program will be at the Ernst Community Cultural Center, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Va. All events will be from 7 to 9 p.m., and admission is free. More information can be found at www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.
Tysons Service District Created
New tax district will help fund Tysons Corner improvements.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted eight to two to create a Tysons Corner Service District, which is expected to raise money to help cover the estimated $3.1 billion in new roads and public transit development planned for the area.
Tysons Service District Created
New tax district will help fund Tysons Corner improvements.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted eight to two to create a Tysons Corner Service District, which is expected to raise money to help cover the estimated $3.1 billion in new roads and public transit development planned for the area.
McLean Chocolate Festival Returns
New venue allows for more attendance, vendors.
The McLean Rotary Club will welcome chocolate lovers from all over Sunday, Jan. 27 at McLean High School for the second annual McLean Chocolate Festival.
Town Center Lights Christmas Tree
Santa and Mrs. Claus, Reston Chorale appear at annual tree lighting.
Having just moved to Reston in July, Bill and Marie Jones and their two children weren’t aware of the annual festivities that happen at Reston Town Center every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, just after dark. They thought they were headed to town center for an evening of ice skating and frozen yogurt.
Reston Hosts Holiday Parade
Local groups participate in annual Reston Town Center parade Nov. 23.
Thousands of people spent the early part of their Black Friday spread out along Market Street for the annual Reston Holiday Parade. Organizations from across the area made their way down .3 miles of the road carrying balloons, performing and interacting with the crowd.
Schools Using Diversity for Student Benefits
Immersion, ESOL programs aim to take advantage of area cultures.
As Fairfax County has experienced massive growth in its international population, its effects have spread to its educational institutions. Forty-four percent of the Fairfax County Public Schools students come from homes that speak a language other than English, which includes 160 different languages.
Author Examines Life by the Letter
Joe Reynolds publishes collection of letters on variety of topics.
In an era of e-mails, text messages and tweets, the art of writing a letter hasn’t been lost on McLean resident Joe Reynolds. It’s something he was raised on, his father and grandfather wrote him letters while he was at college, a tradition that he continued while his three children were away at school.
Final Tree Decision Yet to Come
Final tests to be run on white oaks at Georgetown Pike-Walker Road intersection.
The trees at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road will be subject to at least one more test to determine if they propose a safety hazard to drivers. The Virginia Department of Transportation had decided Sept. 18 to remove the trees as part of a mass removal of potentially hazardous trees, but announced Sept. 28 that they would wait for the community to hire an arborist.
Star Crossed Lovers Take Stage at Langley
Theatre department presents ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
During Langley High School’s inaugural theater tech class, several students had a vision: Shakespeare’s character Juliet giving her famous speech on a scaffolding. The school’s upcoming production of "Romeo and Juliet" took on a new look after that idea, transforming the setting of the play from an Italian city to an apocalyptic future city.
Thieves Market Offers Holiday Gift Ideas
Antique furniture, art, home furnishings available at 60 year old family owned business.
Since 1952, the Cohen family has operated the Thieves Market, featuring a wide variety of furniture, jewelry, art and other household goods that might be difficult to come by in other places. In their 60 years of existence, dignitaries from around the world have shopped their selection of 18th and 19th century American and European antiques, porcelain, bronzes, furniture, candlesticks, Persian and Oriental rugs, mirrors, chandeliers and more.
Gift Ideas in Great Falls
Maison et Jardin, Maison du Vin offer gift ideas for holidays.
While places like Tysons Corner might draw the large crowds and big numbers during the holiday shopping season, plenty of local residents are able to find gifts much more locally. The shops at the Great Falls commercial center offer a wide variety of items from locally owned businesses.
Haddad Studio to Present ‘The Nutcracker’
Annual show celebrates 21st year.
The Margaret Haddad Studio of Classical Ballet will present its 21st edition of "The Nutcracker" the weekend after Thanksgiving. Featuring 49 children, guest artists from several ballet companies and adult volunteers, the annual performances will take place at The Madeira School.
Veterans Honored at Freedom Memorial
Annual ceremony features Marine Color Guard, student performances.
More than 150 people gathered at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial Monday, Nov. 12, to participate in the community’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. More than 100 students from Village Green Day School, Great Falls Elementary School and Langley High School also attended.
LEAP Awards $5,000 to Homeowners
Marti Fucile and Eric Shor receive award to make home more energy efficient.
Living on Lake Audubon, Marti Fucile and her fiancé Eric Shor have learned to love their view of the lake. But as environmentally-friendly homeowners, they also know the reality that comes with the high ceilings and large windows in their townhouse.
Used Book Shop Offers Gift Ideas
Lake Anne shop has been "where books and people meet" for more than 30 years.
Whenever he comes to Lake Anne, Jeremy Thompson of Reston has a place he always stops. A place he calls an "increasing rarity" in today’s world.
Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic, HealthWorks Merge
Merger aims to triple number of low-income, uninsured people served.
The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic, which served nearly 2,000 low-income patients without health insurance last year, has merged with HealthWorks for Northern Virginia. Founded 10 years ago, the clinic was founded at Herndon Middle School.
Fairfax Republicans Come Together for Election
What started as a night of hope for the Fairfax County Republican Committee ended on something of a sour note, as Republican presidential, senate and congressional candidates were not able to oust incumbents.
Serving More Than a Village
Alisa Cozzens named Rotary Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
The Great Falls Rotary Club named its first Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Alisa Cozzens, executive director of Serve A Village, a Great Falls based nonprofit. Cozzens moved to South Africa as a teenager, and though her travels since have taken her to Northern Virginia, she still continues outreach to the area.
Raising Funds to Stop Hunger
Lutheran Redeemer hosts fundraisers for Nov. 10 Stop Hunger Now event.
As McLean prepares to package 250,000 meals for needy people throughout the world, members of the Lutheran Redeemer Church helped raise funds last weekend for the event. The church hosted a fun run around the parking lot for those in costume Saturday morning, and an opera concert Sunday afternoon.
Skate Park Opens at Lake Fairfax
New park is 15,000 square feet, offers variety of features.
The Fairfax County Park Authority opened the Lake Fairfax Skatepark Saturday, Oct. 27, welcoming hundreds of skaters to one of the biggest parks in the area. The 15,000 square-foot features a large bowl on one end, and more than a dozen other features made of concrete with steel edges.
Discussing Budget Morality
United Christian Parish hosts discussion on intersection of budgets and social services.
The United Christian Parish in Reston hosted a forum featuring one of the “Nuns on the Bus” Thursday, Oct. 25 for a discussion on the intersection of morality and budgets: Sister Marge Clark, one of a group of nuns that have toured the U.S. meeting with elected officials and locals about morality and budgeting. Clark is the author of the Faithful Budget, which is created by an inter-religious group that determines basic domestic human needs.
Examining Trees at Riverbend Park
New Riverbend Tree Walk shows diversity of species at park.
Visitors to Riverbend Park have a new way to explore the 400-plus acres of land along the Potomac River. Local resident Tabitha Eagle, with the help of Bob Vickers of the Fairfax County Tree Commission and staff at Riverbend, helped mark a mile-long trail that identifies 20 different tree varieties within the park.
Express Lanes Move Closer to Opening
Express Lanes open new operations center in Alexandria, prepares for opening.
As the construction equipment and debris is cleared from the new two left lanes going both ways on the Virginia side of the Beltway, the 495 Express Lanes are coming closer to opening. The variable-priced toll lanes will run over most of the Virginia section of the Beltway, and the $2 billion project has included the new lanes, as well as the rebuilding of bridges and overpasses along the way.
Bach to Rock Opens in Herndon
Music studio features lessons, recording equipment, DJ school.
Bach to Rock, a music school for students of all ages, has opened its newest location at Worldgate Centre in Herndon. The school features lessons for a variety of instruments, as well as recording facilities and the Beat Refinery, Bach to Rock’s instructional DJ school.
Home Tour Shows Life on the Edge
Annual home tour features homes next to Reston's features.
This year’s Reston Homes Tour featured the usual assortment of houses featuring exceptional architecture, interior design and other unique designs, but this year’s theme also focused on the adjacent areas. “Living on the Edge,” the theme, was designed to highlight how various Reston residents are making do while living near some kind of community feature.
MPA Hosts Annual ArtFest
Nonprofit recognized by Arts Council, holds annual festival.
The McLean Project for the Arts celebrated a banner weekend this weekend: they were recognized by the Arts Council of Fairfax County Friday, Oct. 12 and ended the weekend with their annual ArtFest Sunday in McLean Central Park.
Spring Hill Welcomes Japanese Students
Elementary school participates in exchange program.
Over the summer, 13 students and four staff members from Spring Hill Elementary spent more than a week in Yokohama, Japan. On Tuesday, Oct. 9, several students and parents from Yabe Elementary in Japan returned the favor, arriving to great fanfare from students, staff and parents.
Sharing Great Falls Ghost Stories
GFHS Oktoberfest features tales of local hauntings.
After moving into one of the oldest houses in Great Falls, Jinny Beyer began thinking something was amiss in her home. For the first six months they lived there, every night at 2 a.m. sharp, Beyer would wake to what she felt was a presence in the room.
Family of Four Found Dead in Herndon
Police make discovery during welfare check, believe husband killed family before turning gun on himself.
A Herndon family of four was found dead in their home on Point Rider Lane the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 25. Fairfax County Police responded after a co-worker of one of the family members reported that they had not been to work this week.
Lake Anne Hosts Annual Multicultural Festival
Event features day of international culture, food.
Saturday, Sept. 22 marked the first time Jesse Ekland and Alicia Morales attended the Reston Multicultural Festival as a couple, but they used it to celebrate their anniversary anyway. That’s because it served as a catalyst for their relationship.
Keeping Tysons Corner Moving
Event provides updates on 495 Express Lanes, Dulles Metrorail.
In the next 15 months, Tysons Corner will see almost $5 billion in new transportation projects come online.
Seniors Group Takes Next Step
County approves proposal, next event set for Oct. 2 at Great Falls Park.
The Great Falls Senior Center Without Walls held its latest event Tuesday, Sept. 11 and had their proposal approved the same day by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The center seeks to join 13 other facilities in the County that are dedicated to meeting the needs of the senior community.
Friends and Newcomers Award Scholarships
Four local students awarded funds for college education.
The Great Falls Friends and Neighbors Club awarded scholarships to four local students Tuesday, Sept. 18, as part of their annual community outreach.
Finding Fall Fun in Great Falls
Spooktacular, horse shows highlight fall in Great Falls.
Many of Great Falls’ signature features will be in use this fall, including the Village Green and Turner Farm. The Great Falls Village Green will be the site of this year’s annual Spooktacular, where pets, children and parents alike can show off their costumes for the whole community.
Celebrating Public Art in Reston
IPAR kicks off new exhibit at Reston Museum.
In his founding principles for Reston, Robert Simon mentioned the need for public art several times. The Initiative for Public Art-Reston presented a history of public art in Reston Saturday, Sept. 15, celebrating several major art projects that form the core of Reston.
Multicultural Festival Comes to Lake Anne
Annual event features food, culture and more from variety of nations.
Lake Anne will host Reston’s annual Multicultural Festival Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is designed to celebrate Reston’s diversity, with live performances, arts and even a book fair. A signature part of the festival the past few years has been a naturalization ceremony for recent immigrants to the United States.