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Great Falls Exxon Station to Close

Community concerned about losing one of two gas stations, TD Bank preparing application for site.

The Exxon station at the corner of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike will cease pumping gas Sept. 1, and will cease all operations by March of next year. Starting Sept. 1, the underground fuel tanks will be removed, which will cease pumping gas. The current service operator will maintain services until February 2013, then they will move to the Shell service station across the street.

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Herndon Hosts Classic Car Show

Automobiles, live music, swing dancing come to downtown.

Downtown Herndon went back in time by more than a half century Sunday, Sept. 8, for the 12th annual AARP Dulles Classic Car Show.

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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.

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Reston Nature House Hosts Energy Fair

Alternative energy on display at Reston fair.

Environmental enthusiasts from Reston and beyond gathered at the Walker Nature Education Center Sunday, July 14, for the first Reston Energy Fair.

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South County Student Awarded Scholarship

Tyrone Simpson receives $5,000 from Northern Virginia Urban League.

The Northern Virginia Urban League awarded $50,000 in scholarships to local high school students at its annual Community Service and Scholarship Awards Dinner Friday, April 19. The organization, whose mission it is to enable disadvantaged youth to achieve economic and academic success, awarded one scholarship to South County Secondary School senior Tyrone Simpson.

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Route 7 Widening Plans Updated

Intersection improvements, increased pedestrian and bicycle facilities highlight $300 million project.

The Virginia Department of Transportation held an update meeting regarding the Route 7 Widening project Wednesday, Nov. 6. The estimated $300 million project will widen Route 7 from four lanes to six for 6.9 miles from Jarrett Valley Drive to Reston Avenue.

Donner Finds Inspiration

Great Falls resident releases Bible study for Gospel of Luke.

For almost 20 years, Great Falls resident Leesa Donner has been studying the Bible. During her career as a broadcast journalist and while raising her two sons, the Bible has always been a source of inspiration.

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Closet Hosts Community Picnic

Thrift store kicks off fall shopping season.

The Closet Thrift Store in Herndon hosted a community picnic on Saturday, Sept. 22, paying thanks to their customers, donors and volunteers that have supported the shop during their almost 40-year mission.

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Great Dogs of Great Falls Offers Variety of Services for Pets

When it came time to choose a second career, Linda Waitkus wasn’t sure what to do. After 30 years of retail experience, including managing the Bloomingdale’s at Tysons Corner, she looked in several directions. But it wasn’t until she went to a meeting of a local women’s club that she got an idea.

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Rotary Club of Great Falls Launches Foundation

Foundation will allow for tax deductible donations.

In their first two years, the Rotary Club of Great Falls has experienced almost unprecedented growth, quickly becoming one of the fastest growing clubs in Rotary International. Now they have taken the next step to reach deeper into the community, founding a 501(c)3, the Rotary Club of Great Falls, Virginia Foundation.

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Simon’s Likeness to Benefit Cornerstones

Bronze bust of Robert Simon to be auctioned off to assist with affordable housing.

As Reston approaches its 50th year, and its founder approaches his 100th year, Robert Simon’s vision for his community is still very much intact. Part of his vision included people of all income levels living side by side.

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Beach Mill Bridge Postponed

Replacement of temporary bridge will begin June 2013.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has postponed the scheduled replacement of the bridge over Nichols Run on Beach Mill Road. Originally scheduled to close from Aug. 13 to December, construction has been pushed back, and will start after the 2012-13 school year lets out.

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Garden Club Hosts ‘Big Dig’

Reston Garden Club performs beautification project at Reston library.

When members of the Reston Garden Club planned their “Big Dig” project at the Reston Regional Library, one of their main goals was to beautify the traffic islands in the parking lot. By adding dozens of plants to previously barren patches of dirt Monday, Nov. 5, the club achieved several goals.

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IPAR Unveils Latest Project at Reston Hyatt

Aluminum statue to be placed in front of Hyatt at Reston Town Center.

The Initiative for Public Art-Reston gave a preview of its latest project Wednesday, June 26, with a presentation of the sculpture that will soon be placed in the park across from the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston Town Center.

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Herndon Mayor Merkel, New Council Sworn In

2012-14 Herndon Town Council to take office July 1.

The 2012-14 Herndon Town Council, as well as newly elected Mayor Lisa Merkel were sworn in at the Herndon Municipal Center Thursday, June 21. Connie Hutchinson, Sheila Olem and Grace Wolf are returning members, joined by Dave Kirby and Charlie Waddell who return from previous terms on the council and Melissa Jonas, who previously served on the town’s Planning Commission.

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McLean Presents ‘A View From the Bridge’

McLean Theatre Company puts on Arthur Miller’s tale of 1950s immigrants.

When McLean High School’s McLean Theatre Company decided to present Arthur Miller’s "A View From the Bridge," the wide open spaces of the regular auditorium just wouldn’t do. For the performances, they decided to use the more intimate confines of the school’s black box theater. The result is a play, a tale of poor Italian immigrants living in the shadow of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, that happens within a few feet of the audience at all times.

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Federal Shutdown Hurts Claude Moore Colonial Farm

Despite being privately funded and operated, farm closed for eight days because of shutdown.

On Monday, Sept. 30, volunteers and staff at Claude Moore Colonial Farm were preparing for their busiest month of the year, with thoughts of a looming federal government shutdown far from their minds. After all, in 1995 and 1996 the property was unaffected by similar shutdowns.

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.

Swimmers Take to Lake Audubon

Reston Masters Swim Team hosts 24th annual lake swim.

For 24 years, the Reston Masters Swim Team has hosted a lake swim Memorial Day weekend, 22 of them taking place at Lake Audubon. The event is one of the only times each year that swimming is allowed in the lake. Shirley Loftus-Charley has participated in every one of those swims, dating back to her time living in Reston. Despite her decades of experience, this year was a first for her.

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New Downtown Herndon Mural Under Construction

Commissioned by Arts Council, Keith Naquin prepares mural on Ice House Café.

Downtown Herndon has been a bit more colorful in recent months, and artist Keith Naquin is a major reason why. Over the summer, the retired Herndon High School teacher turned the gray wall behind the NAPA Auto Parts building into a scenic, pastoral mural. Now he’s moved onto his second project, transforming the red brick wall of the Ice House Café.