<sh>RCC Cuts Teen Budget
<bt>The proposed budget for the Reston Community Center (RCC) FY2004 budget is $6.2 million, up slightly from $5.9 million expended in FY2003, but the RCC staff is proposing to cut the budget for the RCC Teen Department by 17 percent from $300,568 to $248,000, it was revealed in an RCC finance committee meeting Monday night. Earlier this year, RCC had to cut short its slate of Teen programs, including Panthers After Hours, SOS and the cheerleading and step teams, after the department unexpectedly ran out of money two months before the end of the fiscal year. Two finance committee members, Marion Bonhomme-Knox, the committee chairman, and John Lovaas, expressed outrage at what they characterized and ill-explained cuts. "Why do we need to cut the budget for the teen program," Bonhomme-Knox asked. Ruth Overton, the board chair, said the cuts only affected "unnecessary costs not the actual programs."
Renata Wojcicki, the RCC controller, defended the proposed cuts. "These were things in the budget that were not necessary and not fair to the taxpayers, I've seen it."
Lovaas disagreed, insinuating that the Teen Department was being unfairly singled out for budget cuts. "At a time when we need to be reaching out to teens, we are slashing the budget by 17 percent," Lovaas said. "I hope we will see the same sorts of squeezes in other departments, like aquatics. This is an outrage."
Denny Kern, the RCC executive director, agreed with Overton and Wojcicki's characterization of the cuts. "No, there is not a trip to New York City or Myrtle Beach, S.C. No, we are not going to buy Adidas tennis shoes for the entire cheerleading team. No, we are not going to deliver pizza to Panthers After Hours," he said, defending the cutbacks. The final proposed budget will be presented to the board on Sept. 8. The finance committee was not able to take action on Monday night because, after Lovaas left, it did not have a quorum and could not vote on the proposal.
<sh>Festival Seeks Volunteers
<bt>Reston Festival 2004, which will take place the weekend of July 10–11, 2004. Organizers are seeking volunteers to join the planning committee for their first meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square. Visit www.restonfestival.com or call 703-435-6577 for more information.
<sh>Scholarship Offer
<bt>The Oasis School, a private all-girls school in Reston, is offering a scholarship for the upcoming school year. “In these difficult economic times, many people have expressed interest in having their daughters attend Oasis but find it difficult to finance a private school education,” says Janelle Blanchard, founder and head of school that opened last year with five students. “We decided to help in a small way by assisting a student who would otherwise not be able to attend Oasis.”
Oasis School will hold an open house on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. The school, which serves girls in the fifth through eighth grades, is located at 11480 Sunset Hills Road. The open house, according to school officials, will be an opportunity for scholarship applicants and others to visit the school and learn more about its philosophy and curriculum.
Scholarship applications can be obtained by calling Oasis School at 703-338-3307 or 703-437-1444. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 25, and a decision will be made before the opening of school on Sept. 3.
<sh>Candidate Forums Set
<bt>Leading up to the fall election, Reston Impact will host a series of candidate forums on Comcast Cable.
Monday, Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m.
Hunter Mill District School Board candidates: Stuart Gibson (Incumbent) and Arthur Purves.
Thursday, Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor candidates: Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D) and Doug Bushee (R).
Thursday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.
Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors candidates:
Mychele Brickner (R) and Gerry Connolly (D).
Monday, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.
32nd District State Senate candidates:
Sen. Janet Howell (D) and David Hunt (R).
<sh>Reston Association Upcoming Calendar
<bt>Wednesday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.
Covenants Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Design Review Board Panel Meeting
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Design Review Board Panel Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 7:00 p.m.
Facilities Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Design Review Board Panel Meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Cluster/Condo Information Exchange Advisory Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 4, 8:00 a.m.
Architectural Board of Review
Monday, Sept. 8, 7:00 p.m.
Board Administration Committee Meeting