Free Rides
Free cabs rides will be available to would-be drunk drivers the evenings of Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31. Offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, the Halloween SoberRide program will operate beginning 8 p.m.-4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Area residents, 21 and older, celebrating with alcohol can call 1-800-200-TAXI and receive a no-cost ride home, up to a $50 fare. AT&T wireless users can call # TAXI for the same service. The SoberRide program is being offered throughout Washington, D.C., and the counties of Montgomery, Prince George’s, Arlington, Fairfax, eastern Loudoun and Prince William. For more information visit www.soberride.com.
St. Joseph's School Hosts Book Fair
The St. Joseph's School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will hold its annual Book Fair fund-raiser for the first time in the new parish hall, 750 Peachtree St., Herndon, on Nov. 6-10. The times are Saturday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 9, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; and
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Featuring nearly 1,000 different titles, the Book Fair will offer mostly recent releases of children's books ranging in ages from kindergarten through eighth grade, including popular favorites such as "Magic Tree House," "Lizzie Maguire," "Spongebob Squarepants," "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and the entire five-volume set of the "Harry Potter" series. Some children's classics will also be on hand, as well as children's holiday books and some for the adults, too.
All proceeds will go to purchase books for the new school library, which opened during the 2003-2004 school year. The school sold over 3,000 items at the Book Fair last year.
For more information, call 703-430-7048.
'Take Back' Rally
The campaign of James Socas, Democratic congressional candidate in Virginia's 10th Congressional District, will sponsor a "Citizen's Rally to Take Back Our Country" on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Herndon Town Green. The event will provide a platform for citizens to deliver testimonials of their support for the 2004 Democratic ticket including James Socas for Congress and John Kerry for President. Immediately following the rally, a fleet of 25 trucks, representing Truckers for Socas and Kerry, will lead a procession of cars along a route to Manassas , via Rt. 28 and Rt. 50.
Musical entertainment will be provided by the Swing States Road Show band.
Airports Authority To Hold Hearing
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, will conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the authority regulations regarding the possession of weapons on airport property. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4 at the Hyatt Dulles in Herndon.
The authority’s current regulation on weapons requires passengers checking firearms to deactivate the weapons to the extent possible. The proposed change would require the passenger to transport the firearm unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container to which only the passenger retains the key or combination. The proposed regulation amendments would also clarify that agents of the Airports Authority may possess a weapon to be used under authority direction for an authority purpose. Other persons, such as armored car guards, would be permitted to possess a weapon on airport property for a legitimate airport purpose with prior, written approval of the airport manager. The Hyatt Dulles is located at 2300 Dulles Corner Boulevard in Herndon. Any person may appear and be heard for or against the proposed amendments. Speakers are requested to limit their remarks to five minutes.
Written comments on the proposal may be addressed to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Office of the General Counsel, 1 Aviation Circle, Washington D.C. 20001. Written comments must be received not later than Nov. 5, 2004, to be assured of consideration.
Comments and questions may be e-mailed to airportsregs@mwaa.com. The complete text of the proposed amendments is available on the Authority Web site at http://www.mwaa.com/authority/publications or from the Office of the General Counsel, 703-417-8615.
Elden Street Players
The fall play season has begun for The Elden Street Players, who will open the season with "Thumbs," a comedy-thriller from Rupert Holmes.
The play takes place in a small ski-country town in Vermont where a stalking serial killer has a penchant for removing victim's thumbs.
Shows run at 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, through Saturday, Nov. 13. One Sunday show will be held, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
All shows are at the Industrial Strength Theatre, 269 Sunset Business Park Drive in Herndon. Tickets are $15 adult, $12 senior/student. For information and reservations call 703-481-5930.
Herndon Festival Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for the Herndon Festival planning and entertainment committees. Interested members of the community and civic groups from throughout the town are invited to assist the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department in the planning and execution of the 25th annual Herndon Festival to be held June 2 - 5, 2005.
The first meeting of the planning committee is Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Herndon Town Council's conference room, 765 Lynn Street. All are welcome to attend.
Volunteers are also needed to serve on the Entertainment sub-committee, which will meet once or twice to consider possible performers and make suggestions to the festival executive committee.
For more information about the planning committee call the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6800, ext. 2123. Those interested in the Entertainment sub-committee should call 703-435-6800, ext. 2120.
Construction To Affect Elden Street
Construction work required for the completion of the new Safeway on Elden Street between Grant Street and Post Drive is under way. One lane heading eastbound will be eliminated for approximately 60 days. Traffic will be slowed, but should flow smoothly. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays. For more information, contact Hardaway Construction at 1-540-295-5768.
Sewer Reconstruction Project
A contractor for the Town of Herndon will be repairing the sewer system at the locations listed below. Restoration is necessary to meet current standards and eliminate maintenance problems.
The construction will take place with advance notice to all businesses and residences that will be affected. Effort will be made to complete this project with minimum inconvenience to residents, businesses and motorists.
For more information, call the Department of Public Works at 703-435-6860 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., weekdays.
Sewer reconstruction locations are: Elden Street between Van Buren Street and after Herndon Parkway; Charlton Place -- all; Dranesville Road between Madison Forest Drive and Fillmore Street; Missouri Avenue between Alabama Drive and Stuart Court; Stuart Court -- all; Virginia Avenue -- all; Cordell Way -- all; Reneau Way -- all; Tamarack Way -- all.
Senior Cinema at Community Center
Seniors can enjoy an afternoon of refreshments and a movie for free. Senior Cinema will be held every first and third Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Herndon Community Center. All movies are rated PG or PG-13.
Senior Cinema schedule is:
* Nov. 4: "Welcome to Mooseport," starring Gene Hackman.
* Nov. 18: "Paycheck," starring Ben Affleck.
* Dec. 2: Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," starring Jim Carrey.
* Dec. 16: "A Christmas Story."
For more information, call 703-435-6868 or register on-line at www.herndon-va.gov. The Herndon Community Center is located at 814 Ferndale Avenue.
Town Calendar
Thursday, Oct. 28.
Closing day Farmer's Market, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals, 7: 30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 31.
Halloween.
Day light savings time ends.
Week of Nov. 1 to Nov. 5 is leaf collection week north of the bike trail.
Monday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Planning Commission public hearing.
Tuesday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Election day.
Town Council work session.