Stories for September 2014

New Voter Identification Requirements

There are new requirements for voter identification that voters must bring with them to the polling place.

Junior Committee: Work Horses

Young local equestriennes anchor Washington International Horse Show.

Mary Elizabeth Cordia of Alexandria Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the leading metropolitan indoor horse show in the U.S. This six-day event is held annually in October at Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ in Tysons

New festival gathers a crowd in Lerner Town Square.

A traveling festival new to Tysons Corner brought people into the urban center from all over the region. The Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival broke new records for Tysons’ festivals this year, attracting more than 4,000 visitors to the new Lerner Town Center on Saturday.

Former Delegate Vince Callahan Dies at 82

Represented McLean, Great Falls in House of Delegates for 40 years.

Former delegate Vincent Callahan Jr., who spent 40 years representing McLean, Great Falls and Tysons Corner in Virginia House of Delegates, died on Sept. 20.

Preparing for the Worst

MCA holds ‘Emergency Preparedness’ panel

McLean residents learned how to prepare themselves for future catastrophes at McLean Citizens Association’s first fall event. MCA held an Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery panel with several county emergency officials on Sept. 17, teaching residents how to be proactive in an emergency.

Local Group Gives Scholarships to Women

Great Falls Friends and Neighbors gave out $10,000 in scholarships to college women to kick off the start of the school year. Six women from George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, ranging in ages and opportunities, were presented scholarships during a luncheon at Riverbend Country Club on Friday, Sept 19.

Students, Parents and Teachers Plea for Later Start Times

Students, parents and advocacy groups flooded the School Board’s public comment period with pleas to approve later start times for students next year during Sept. 19 meeting.

Portrait of a Graduate Approved

The Portrait of a Graduate has been drawn. This “portrait” - a part of the plans for the proposed strategic plan - was passed unanimously at Thursday’s Fairfax County School Board meeting after the board discussed it for more than an hour.

Board of Supervisors Approves 50+ Community Action Plan

Vote is “the beginning, not the end” for Herrity.

Supervisor Pat Herrity’s so-called “Silver Tsunami” population in Fairfax County isn’t getting any younger. The data haven’t changed: the amount of people over 50 should increase by 40 percent between 2005 and 2030, and those 70 and older should shoot up 80 percent in the same period.

Supervisors Break Ground on New Public Safety Headquarters

The Fairfax County Police and Fire Departments are getting a new home. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and Supervisor John Cook broke ground on what will be a $142 million, eight-story headquarters.

Fall Fun 2014

Upcoming family-friendly events in the area.

Post-Chemo Weak

For the past year, every three weeks I have been infused with a chemotherapy drug called Alimta, “the last miracle drug,” to quote my oncologist, and a drug with which I hadn’t previously been infused.

Studying Butterflies at Churchill Road

Churchill Road second graders are about to begin their study of monarch butterflies. Students in Cheryl Bamdad’s class welcomed some very tiny monarch caterpillars.

Foust Bridging Political Divide

Democrats hope Foust’s reputation as a “bridge-builder” connects with voters.

Straightening his tie, John Foust is preparing for yet another “meet-and-greet” event at the Clifton home of Democratic supporters Terry Matlaga and Kevin Bell.

Editorial: Deadly Medicaid Debacle

Literally killing poor people who could have health care, while refusing to give Virginia’s economy a boost.

The poor people of Virginia are so seriously harmed by the actions of the Virginia General Assembly in refusing to expand Medicaid at little additional cost to the Commonwealth that those harmed should have some legal recourse.

Classified Advertising September 17, 2014

Read the latest ads here!

McLean Home Sales: August, 2014

In August 2014, 88 homes sold between $4,200,000-$130,000 in the McLean and Falls Church area.

McLean Home Sales: August, 2014

Longfellow Principal Wins State Award

Carole Kihm named Outstanding Middle School Principal by VASSP.

Carole Kihm, principal at Longfellow Middle School, remembers her love for educating children and pre-teens when she was in high school. Her lifelong love for education paid off when she was named Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals earlier this year.

Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest

A little rain didn’t deter hundreds of locals from trekking out to Tysons for a new festival last weekend. The Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest became more crowded when the downpour turned into a drizzle.

Deer Archery Program Enters Sixth Season

Continued overabundance brings bow-hunters back to parks.

Even at 72, the animated Disney classic “Bambi” can still soften the hardest hearts when it comes to appreciating the innocence and natural beauty of deer. But the reality in Fairfax County is that an unnaturally high density of Bambis and mothers of Bambi is an ongoing threat to biodiversity and road safety.

A Different Path to a 4-year Degree

NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions Program gives students opportunities to attend their dream schools.

Noor Naveed immigrated to the United States from Pakistan with her family shortly after the 9/11 attacks. The family settled in Northern Virginia and, years later, Naveed graduated from Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria. She dreams of becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Letter: Supporting Comstock

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: I recently attended the VA 10th District Town Hall that was hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. Only one candidate embodied the forward thinking, bipartisan leadership that we need to get the job done in Congress and that’s Delegate Barbara Comstock.

Later High School Start Times for 2015?

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza will propose later high school start times at the Fairfax County School Board’s business meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18, for the Board’s formal consideration at its business meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Letter: Thank You Letter to the McLean Community

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: On the afternoon of Aug. 24, McLean & Great Falls Celebrate Virginia presented An Afternoon with the Madisons at the McLean Community Center.

Scared, Hopefully Not to Death

One of my greatest fears (or regrets, if I am in fact the cause of my own decline) is that my own stubbornness, stupidity, “male blockheadedness” and/or refusal to believe/pay attention to signs, symptoms, indications and instructions/health advisories from my oncologist about my health will lead to my premature death.

Commentary: Protecting Those Threatened by Domestic Violence

September marks 20th Anniversary of Violence Against Women Act.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – landmark legislation in which our nation committed new prevention and response resources so that our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends would no longer have to suffer in silence through domestic abuse.

Weichert, Realtors Recognizes McLean/Dolley Madison Office, Top Associates

McLean/Dolley Madison office was recognized for outstanding performance in August - Bruce L. Green, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced.

Rocket Launch at Churchill Road

During the second week of school, groups of Churchill Road sixth graders conducted a scientific experiment using the rockets they built in science class.

Area Premiere of Whodunit Farce

McLean Community Players present ‘The Game's Afoot.’

Be the first in Northern Virginia to see the prolific D.C. area playwright and Helen Hayes Award recipient Ken Ludwig's farcical whodunit, "The Game's Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays." It is receiving its area premiere from the McLean Community Players.

McLean Kids Series Opens at Alden

Grey Seal Puppets of Charlotte, N.C. will open The Alden in McLean’s 2014-2015 McLean Kids Performance Series with “The Emperor’s New Clothes” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Local Real Estate: July, 2014 Top Sales in Great Falls and McLean

In July 2014, 16 Great Falls homes sold between $2,200,000-$512,500, and 116 homes sold between $3,022,000-$188,000 in the McLean and Falls Church area.

Local Real Estate: July, 2014 Top Sales in Great Falls and McLean

Full Day Monday Challenges Discussed

The implementation of “full day Mondays” has been anything but easy for area elementary schools. The challenges that Fairfax County Public Schools faced to bring more hours to elementary students’ school year was addressed by Superintendent Karen Garza and several board members during a school board meeting on Sept. 4 at Jackson Middle School.

Neighbors Feeding Neighbors 5k

Approximately 5 percent of the people who live within Northern Virginia’s boundaries, 90,000 people, struggle with poverty. This is according to local nonprofit Food for Others. Food for Others is creating a 5K to bring Tysons together as a community and raise money through the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Tysons 5k Race held Oct. 19.

Portrait of a Graduate Discussed

The heart of the school system’s new strategic plan is closer to being approved. The Fairfax County School Board discussed the five component Portrait of a Graduate - with some asking for a component emphasizing a caring quality - at Monday’s work session.

Teen Center Preps for Fall

The McLean Teen Center held their Back-to-School Night on Friday to gear students up for fall - and a host of fall activities.

Classified Advertising September 10, 2014

Read the latest ads here!

Board of Supervisors Approves 2014 Budget Carryover Package

FCPS full-day Mondays at discussion forefront.

When students at the 142 public elementary schools around Fairfax County stayed there the full day on Monday -- the first time in about four decades -- they likely weren’t worried about the cost. That’s between the school board and board of supervisors. Grown-up stuff.

‘Recession Ripple Persists’ at Realtors’ Summit

Private sector job growth key to strengthening regional economy, housing demand.

“There’s no question the primary economic driver of this region has always been Uncle Sam,” said David Versal, senior research associate at the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. “That said, we’re not Detroit.”

Editorial: Change Is Coming, Right?

Legislators on changing the culture of cash and gifts in Virginia: Crickets.

With former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen facing what could be decades in prison after their convictions for corruption, a reasonable person might reasonably expect that members of the General Assembly would be gearing up to make some big changes.

The Langley School Opens New Middle School Facility

The Langley School officially opened the doors of its new Middle School building during a special student assembly and ribbon-cutting on the first day of school, Wednesday, Sept. 3.

McLean Woman’s Club Donates $5,500 to Local Nonprofits

At its monthly meeting on Sept. 2, the Woman’s Club of McLean donated a total of $5,500 to four local nonprofits:

Time Sensitive

As much as I don’t want to be cognizant of date, time and place, relative to February 27, 2009 when Team Lourie first received the stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis on yours truly, I am (a terminal diagnosis will do that to you). Moreover, as often as I write about the need to live forward, rather than die backward (if you know what I mean), I still struggle with the application.

AAUW Used Book Sale Sept. 19-21

The McLean Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will hold its 45th Annual Used Book Sale at the McLean Community Center (MCC) on Friday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and, Sunday, Sept. 21 from noon to 4 p.m.

Letter: The Donors (Money) Behind Comstock, Foust

Letter to the Editor

Please find below some interesting facts about our 10th district candidates. I retrieved this information from Opensecrets.org, a nonprofit website dedicated to adding transparency to the money behind our candidates.

Letter: Comstock Masters Business Issues

Letter to the Editor

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the candidates for the 10th Congressional District had their first debate before the Fairfax and Prince William Chambers and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. The contrast couldn’t have been more stark.

Letter: Programs To Be Proud Of

Letter to the Editor

In her letter in the (“Opposing Medicaid Expansion,” Connection, August 20 – 26, 2014) Elinor Bartlett made it clear that she strongly opposes Medicaid expansion in Virginia. Fine, but while I strongly support her right to hold and express such a view, I cannot accept her use of irrelevant, unsupported, and factually wrong statements about Social Security and Medicare in support of her position.

Letter: ‘The Wizard’ 114 Years Old

Letter to the Editor

I enjoyed the article on the Claude Moore Farm bookshop very much (“The Bookshop Worth Exploring,” McLean Connection, September 3-9, 2014).

Extreme Politics

Foust, Comstock stake out opposing positions during first debate in hyper-partisan 10th district Congressional race.

Forget first-debate politeness. Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust — the candidates vying to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia’s 10th Congressional district — sustained the hyper-partisan tenor of their campaigns during a debate-style forum hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce in Herndon last week.

Langley Volleyball Coach Shifflett Reaches 300 Wins

Andrejev’s 17 kills lead Saxons over South Lakes.

The Langley volleyball team defeated South Lakes on Monday night, giving head coach Susan Shifflett her 300th career victory.

The Broad-winged Hawks Are Coming

Every Autumn, in addition to literally billions of songbirds, a million or more avian raptors (hawks, eagles, and falcons) migrate from their nesting and breeding areas all over North America to their winter homes, mostly in Central and South America. Raptor enthusiasts and hawk counters often head for mountain ridges and other concentration points in hopes of seeing some of the birds fly by.

Classified Advertising September 3, 2014

Read the latest ads here!

Taking On the ‘Silver Tsunami’

Herrity to present 50+ Plan to Board of Supervisors next week.

“It’s here,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). “We’re already living in it.” Between 2005 and 2030, the number of individuals 50 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent in Fairfax County and the number 70 and older is projected to grow by 80 percent. Herrity attributes the changes to both the aging of Baby Boomers, and the general increase in life expectancy.

Tysons to Host Silver Line Music and Food Truck Festival

Next week, Tysons Partnership will ring in another inaugural festival with music and D.C.’s tastiest food trucks. The first Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Lerner Town Square, bringing people together with a day of bands and more than 20 food trucks from the area.

Senior Centers in Fairfax County

A list of senior centers in Fairfax County.

Quilting Studio Adds to Dream Home

At 72, Wanda Rogers engages in an early American craft she first learned from her grandmother.

Quilting takes patience; ditto the steps entailed in setting up a quilting studio all of one's own. Such are the reflections of Wanda Rogers, 72, who is now tapering off a 51-year professional career, and increasing precious hours spent in the pursuit of a mountain-state handicraft she learned from her mother and grandmother.

Newcomers Guide: Year-round Festivals 2014-2015

A list of annual community events in the area.

I Scream

…for ice cream; from Brigham’s in Boston, the local New England establishment of my youth where I spent dollars – although it was likely cents back in those days – many afternoons, evenings and weekends.

$12 Million Suit Against Fairfax County Police

2013 shooting victim’s family seeks damages in wrongful death case.

The year-long silence surrounding the police shooting of John Geer has been broken — but not by Fairfax County Police or the U.S. Department of Justice. John Geer was shot to death by Fairfax County Police on Aug. 29, 2013.

Register Now for MPA’s Fall Art Classes

McLean Project for the Arts offers a variety of professionally taught art classes for adults, teens and children including Family Art Workshops, artist talks and workshops, and tours to area museums and galleries.

Homeowners Encouraged to Plant Trees

McLean Neighborhood Tree Program receives support from the McLean Community Foundation.

Homeowners who enjoy trees can now plant a tree in their front yard this fall or next spring with the help of the McLean Trees Foundation (MTF).

Nominations Sought for Business and Community Awards

If you know a business, an organization or individual that has gone above and beyond for the Greater McLean community and/or its residents, please let Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce know about them and their accomplishments. With your nomination, include the category for which you are submitting the nomination and a brief write-up (150 words or less) describing why you are nominating this person/organization.

Marshall Senior Blackstone Commits to Cornell University

Q&A: Catcher named 2014 VHSCA 5A state baseball Player of the Year

Marshall catcher Mitch Blackstone plans to play Division I baseball.

Letter: The "Land of the Freebies and Home of the Knaves"

Letter to the Editor

I came from a family of Democrats. My grandfather's tavern in upstate New York was a frequent meeting place for Democrats including the late Congressman Sam Stratton who used to speak there regularly. But the Democrat party has lately come to represent “the Land of the Freebies and Home of the Knaves” instead of “the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”

Letter: Foust for Congress

Letter to the Editor

Judging from the billboard-sized signs in Great Falls, you’d think Comstock had voters there locked up. But duck beneath the signs, knock on some doors, and you hear a different story.

Letter: ‘Real Jobs’ and ‘Real Taxes’

To the Editor

In Leesburg on August 21, Supervisor John Foust, in discussing his opponent Delegate Barbara Comstock, said "I don't think [Comstock's] even had a real job."

Letter: Facing Homelessness

To the Editor

In his opinion piece (“Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children,” Connection, August 13-19, 2014), Dean Klein, the Director of Fairfax County’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, clearly enumerated the reality for hundreds of homeless families and their children in the County.