Dear Newcomers:
Hello and welcome to Herndon, one of Northern Virginia's more important addresses and one of the region's most desirable places to live, work and play. I am Charlie Waddell, a 10-year resident of the town and one who is active in the community. I enjoy living in Herndon and all that the town has to offer. I'd like to share with you some of these things that make Herndon a special place to live.
From its beginnings, as a small farming development in the early 19th century, the town has developed into an important center of commerce and community; artfully blending the heritage of the downtown historic district with contemporary life of the 21st century. Herndon is home to more than 22,000 people yet it retains the charm and character that has distinguished it for more than a century.
Herndon's tradition as a small town continues today with its Summer Concert Series. Every Thursday evening during the summer, one can find residents as well as visitors spreading out blankets on the Town Green to enjoy musical fare ranging from folk and contemporary to jazz and rock. Friday evenings during the summer one may also find many of those same patrons at Herndon's Friday Night Live, also held on the Town Green. Friday Night Live can best be described as a musical celebration of passing of another week and the enthusiastic welcoming of the weekend. Another of Herndon's traditions that continues to be observed is the Thursday Farmer's Market. Local farmers and produce growers hold an open-air market every Thursday morning from May until October in the parking lot behind the Depot Visitor's Center next to Old Town Hall.
Herndon has much to celebrate about its community and its residents; and celebrate it does. Every year, at the end of May and the beginning of June, the Town holds its three-day Herndon Festival. The Festival is a combination of old-time carnival and modern trade fair where the children can enjoy a host of rides and a variety of foods while the parents can interact with the local businesses and merchants. The Forth of July is a special time in the Town of Herndon. During the daylight hours on the Forth at the Herndon Community Center you can spend the day enjoying many family activities, including an old-fashioned Forth of July afternoon concert. The day's festivities are capped off by the traditional fireworks display to the accompaniment of patriotic music in the evening. It's an event that many families look forward to year after year.
Herndon is more than just tradition and heritage. Herndon is home to many citizens who work hard but who also enjoy a high standard of living. The many outdoor parks and recreational areas as well as the first-class recreation center located in the center of town are evidence of this quality of life. The Herndon Recreation Center boasts an Olympic-sized pool and offers an ample agenda of sports and other recreational activities on a year-round basis. Runnymede Nature Center is one of the town facilities where citizens enjoy programs and events such as the annual Nature Fest. The Herndon Centennial Golf Course features 18 beautifully landscaped holes, a driving range, practice greens and golf instruction by PGA Professionals.
Being an incorporated town, Herndon has its' own government. Since it is small town — 4.28 square miles— Herndon is blessed with an efficient and accessible town staff and Town Council. Citizen access to services or their elected officials is both convenient and local. I frequently attend Town Council and Planning Commission hearings to learn what is being planned for Herndon's neighborhoods or to offer comment on ways to further improve the quality of life we enjoy in the town.
One of the most important things that make living in Herndon special to me is the townspeople; my friends and my neighbors. We enjoy the small-town atmosphere and the spirit of community that it affords us. Several times a year my neighbors and I get together for cookouts or neighborhood block parties. Every year in August, the National Night Out Against Crime is observed in more than a dozen communities in Herndon. It is actually a town-wide block party involving the Police Department and citizens of the community. The participating neighborhoods host block parties and during the evening, these block parties are visited by Police and town officials in a motorcade composed of an assortment of classic automobiles and antique military vehicles.
I've lived in Herndon for the past 10 years. I've found many friends here and have had many wonderful experiences while living here. I've seen change and through my community involvement, I have helped to facilitate a few of those changes. I am proud to be a part of Herndon and look forward to meeting those who choose to make Herndon your new home. You will find that there are no strangers here, just friends you haven't made yet. Welcome to Herndon, we're glad you're here.
Charlie D. Waddell
President, Dumbarton Square Homeowners Association
Chairman, Herndon Community Association Coalition
Member, Herndon Crime Prevention Council