Citizens Oppose Residential Studios Proposal
Amendment would allow for low-income residential studios in many residential districts.
The McLean Citizens Association hosted a public forum to address the county’s proposed Residential Studios Zoning Ordinance Amendment Wednesday, Oct. 30.
McLean Casts its Vote
Residents will choose new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, delegate, sheriff.
On the first Tuesday of November last year, the halls of Langley High School were filled with lines of people waiting to cast their vote for president. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the lines weren’t quite as long, but voters throughout McLean went to their respective precincts throughout the day.
Classified Advertising, October 30, 2013
Read the latest ads here!
Langley Girls Shine in Golf State Qualifier
The Langley HS girls golf team had an excellent performance at the State Qualifier on Oct. 22, where nine of the 13 girls on the team performed. Sophomore Maria McQuade and senior Rachel Zmuda advanced to the state tournament. Bob Hayne coaches the team.
Langley High Orchestra Thrills Audience
In a night full of spooky music, costumes and theatre, the Langley High School Orchestra presented a thrilling concert to a full house on Thursday, Oct. 24. The Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras opened the concert with film scores from “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” boosted by several band members in Superman and Batman costumes.
Community Debates Library’s Future
Public meeting in Great Falls raises concerns about the foundation of education in Fairfax County.
The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees committee on The Future of the Library, officially the “Evaluation and Communications” committee, held a public meeting in Great Falls on Monday, Oct. 21. The committee was appointed by the library board last month after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, on the initiative of Dranesville Supervisor John Foust, asked the library board to obtain input from the public and library staff before making any new, comprehensive changes to the library’s current operational structure and staffing. Library Director Sam Clay was in attendance and addressed the meeting. Director Clay and the board will be making a presentation to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 19.
Letter: Strongly Opposed to Cutting Food Aid
Last week, Elizabeth Berry wrote a letter expressing concern over a bill passed by the House of Representatives that would cut food aid for nearly 3.8 million people, and asked that I oppose this legislation. I strongly oppose it. The cuts recommended by the House would eliminate free school meals for 280,000 children and aggravate an already difficult situation for many families in Virginia struggling to put food on the table. We must protect nutrition assistance programs because it’s our responsibility to ensure the neediest among us have access to food when times are hardest.
Editorial: Vote Nov. 5 or Before
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
For voters in Virginia, it is hard to overstate how important it is to go out and vote next week. All Virginia voters will see statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, plus one delegate race. In addition, there are a few local races in Alexandria and Arlington, a bond question in Fairfax County and a referendum question about the housing authority in Arlington.
Column: Excuse Me, Pardon Me, Excuse Me…
If it wasn’t a coincidence, it was the next thing to being one. What it was, was the hiccups; occurring after chemotherapy infusion number one and again after chemotherapy number two. The first episode lasted only a few days and annoyed my wife, Dina, way more than it annoyed me. The first hiccuping episode was fairly constant; however it was not exhausting – and I wasn’t having any trouble sleeping because of them. Nor was I making any disturbing sounds or having any difficulty breathing – when caught in mid-hiccup, and/or eating because of the herky-jerky movements/spasms of my diaphragm. In general, it was a fairly benign effect. In the big picture, it didn’t seem particularly important that it was the hiccups I was having, so I never called my oncologist. It was the hiccups after all. It might as well have been a skinned knee. Jeez. And sure enough, within a couple of days, I was “hiccuped out.”
Sheriff’s Race Heats Up
Kincaid, Wolfe trade barbs over guns, vandalism.
Like many of her neighbors, Vienna resident Jane Li said she didn’t know Fairfax County had a sheriff’s department until a few weeks ago.
Voters to Decide on $250 Million Bond
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Fairfax County voters will be asked to approve a $250 million school bond. If approved, the schools plan to use the money to:
Making Voters Feel Welcome, No Matter Their Language
County election officials have stepped up outreach efforts and volunteer recruitment efforts.
“I was touched with the Korean community’s efforts to help us translate materials and provide volunteers. … And so we're trying to encourage other pockets. My next target is Vietnamese. We’ve also printed recruitment brochures in Farsi, Arabic, Chinese Korean, French, and Spanish.” — Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief elections officer
Democrats Lead in Polls as Voters Head to the Polls for Election Day
Hotly contested race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Democrats have the wind at their backs heading into Election Day next week, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli struggles to overcome a deficit in the polls.
Elections Matter if We Mean Business
As campaigns across Virginia make their final push to engage voters, disaffection about the election is capturing headlines and salting conversations from kitchen tables to online chats. According to news reports, many voters, especially younger voters, have tuned out or turned off the whole statewide campaign scene claiming fatigue from 2012, disgust with the negative advertising or cynicism about whether any of it really matters to them. Considering that state decisions affect so many aspects of our lives, the reaction is alarming.
Colors of Democracy
Something seems different. Actually, 59,629 things seem unusual. Why such a specific number? It is the almost exact number of registered voters in Virginia’s 34th House of Delegates district (the same district that Great Falls is a part of). And what is so precisely different about these voters? Their shifting political tendencies.
Two Art Talks Scheduled at Great Falls Library in November
The public is cordially invited to attend two special evenings at the Great Falls Library on Thursdays, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
Great Falls Senior Center to Host Holiday Potluck
The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC) is hoping to repeat the success of last year when it holds its second holiday potluck celebration for area seniors. The center is wrapping up its program year with this social occasion. Once again, the theme is “Celebrating and Sharing This Wonderful Season.”
A Test of Leadership
I attended a debate On Tuesday, Oct. 22, between Barbara Comstock and Kathleen Murphy, candidates for State Delegate for the 34th District. After all the nasty flyers I've been receiving, it was good to hear the candidates respond to each other face to face and debunk some false claims. But more striking than the answers was the conduct of the audience. Most of the hundreds of attendees were polite and respectful. But five or six Murphy supporters were scattered throughout the audience hissing, jeering and laughing every time Ms. Comstock spoke. Although Kathleen Murphy refused to ask her own supporters to behave, Ms. Comstock, the moderator, the host and the ushers eventually were able to silence them.
Langley Wins ‘Cosby Cheer for the Cure’
The Langley cheerleading junior varsity team won first place at the “Cosby Cheer for the Cure” invitational in Richmond, held Saturday, Sept. 28 to benefit breast cancer. The team was also led to place second out of 10 teams by coaches Greg O'Brien and Nina Palazzolo at the 6th annual Spirit Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Stone Bridge High School.
Commentary: Dollars and Sense—Stewardship of FCPS
As many have become aware, the Fairfax County School Board’s budget discussions for the 2015 fiscal year have begun early. It is unfortunate that it has taken a combination of a $140 million deficit and demonstrable efforts by FCPS’ new Superintendent Karen Garza to bring full attention of the stakeholders, including the School Board, to education policy and funding.