Corrections
In the "Bids for Golf Course Way Off" story, which ran in the Feb. 2-8 Herndon Connection the term "membership fees" was improperly used. The Herndon Centennial Golf Course is not a private membership course, it is a public facility with daily fees for usage.
Public Meeting on Proposed Toll Road Increase
A representative of the Commonwealth Transportation Board will hold a meeting Saturday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m., in Herndon to hear public comment regarding proposed Dulles Toll Road toll increases.
At the request of Mayor Michael O'Reilly, Kate Hanley, former chairman of the Fairfax County Board and the Northern Virginia District representative to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, has agreed to hold a public meeting in the Herndon Council Chambers to receive input from area residents.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board will hold a public meeting in Richmond Wednesday, Feb. 16, to receive comments on the proposal to increase the tolls on the Dulles Toll Road to fund the state’s share of rail to Dulles.
Due to the concern that the majority of the users of the Toll Road live in Northern Virginia and may not be able to provide comments on this matter, Hanley has offered to hold a meeting beforehand.
The purpose of the meeting will be to provide information and hear comments from the public. In addition Commissioner Julia Connally (At Large Urban Representative) will be at the meeting.
The Herndon Council Chambers are located at 765 Lynn St.
Driver Arrested in Multiple Crashes
After damaging 12 vehicles and three townhouses in several crashes Feb. 3, Jose Pleitez, 24, of Herndon, was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
According to Fairfax County Police, at approximately 9:18 p.m., a man was driving a 1999 Ford Expedition northbound on Mager Drive near Parcher Avenue in the Herndon area.
The driver, Pleitez, allegedly struck nine parked cars in the 2100 block of Mager Drive. One of the crashes caused a parked vehicle to hit a townhouse and another car that subsequently struck a third car. Another parked vehicle struck two townhouses.
Although no one was injured from the crashes, estimates of damage is around $6,000 for the townhouses and approximately $20,500 for the damaged vehicles.
Pleitez was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was held on a $2,500 secure bond.
Children's Book Drive
Boy Scouts from Troop 1570 will be collecting children’s books — new and used — for a literacy project in the Herndon community. Donations of elementary-school-aged books will be collected at the following locations:
* Saturday, Feb. 26, noon to 4 p.m.: Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St.
* Sunday, Feb. 27, noon to 4 p.m.: Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive.
Look for the Boy Scouts with collection boxes at the entrances to these locations and put your gently used children’s books to a good cause. Call Aaron at 703-709-9772 with any questions.
Herndon Festival Vendors Needed
The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department is actively soliciting vendors for the 2005 Herndon Festival K9/2K Doggie Expo, taking place Saturday, June 4, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Acceptance into the event is limited with priority given to local businesses and residents. The selection of vendors will be at the discretion of the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department.
Booth fees are as follows:
* Private Business:
Early Bird, Feb.1-March 31: $50
Regular, April 1-31: $75
Late, May 1-28: $100
* Nonprofit Organizations:
Early Bird/Regular, Feb. 1-April 31: $25
Late, May 1-28: $50
For more information, call the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6800, Ext. 2109 or e-mail Kimberly.Wood@herndon-va.gov for an application.
Herndon Relay for Life
A kick-off event for the second annual Herndon Relay for Life will be held Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., in the lobby of the Herndon Municipal Center.
The Herndon Town Council will present a resolution to the organizers of the second annual Herndon Relay for Life that will be June 11 and 12, at Herndon High School.
Last year’s event involved more than 700 participants and raised more than $120,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Families, friends, neighbors, classmates, church members and co-workers can join together to create eight to 15-member teams that raise funds prior to the event, then walk or run relay style around the track for the duration of the event. Each team is offered a campsite and encouraged to stay overnight, keeping at least one team member on the track at all times.
Relay for Life not only raises funds to fight cancer but also raises awareness about cancer prevention and the programs and services offered by the American Cancer Society. While the relay is underway, a festival-style atmosphere is created by team members camping out, enjoying entertainment, food, games. At dusk, candles are placed around the track and lit during the Luminaria Ceremony to honor cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer.
Individuals interested in participating in this year’s program are welcome to attend the Feb. 16 event.
For more information regarding the Herndon Relay for Life, go to www.herndonrelay.org or call 703-689-9798.
Good Neighbor Award Nominations
The Town of Herndon and the Cultivating Community Committee are seeking nominations for the Good Neighbor Award by March 25.
The purpose of this award is to recognize those people who go beyond the call of duty to act as good neighbors in their respective neighborhoods: the neighbor who helps others with repairs or who takes care of common property needs; the neighbor who looks over your property while you are away; the neighbor who looks after your children and pets; the neighbor who helps you out in a crisis; the neighbor who commits helpful or charitable acts toward other neighbors; the neighbor who participates in volunteer activities and who does special things to make your neighborhood a better place.
The winner will receive recognition by Town Council at a public meeting in April. Eligibility for the Good Neighbor Award includes:
* Must be a resident of Herndon.
* Act(s) for which the person is nominated must not be performed as an element of paid employment.
* Contributions to the neighborhood may have occurred over the course of many years, but the judges will give special consideration to recent good deeds.
Residents may nominate a family member, friend or neighbor who makes noteworthy contributions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.
To nominate an individual for the award, please attach to a nomination form a description of why you believe that person exemplifies the qualities of a good neighbor. In 300 words or less, answer the question: "What makes this person a good neighbor?" Some of these qualities may include:
* Contributions to the community beyond the scope of normal citizen responsibilities.
* Concern for their neighbors' well-being or overall quality of life in their neighborhood. This concern may be demonstrated by care of property, helpful or charitable acts toward neighbors or participation in committees or volunteer activities that contribute to positive changes in the neighborhood.
Nominations must be made prior to March 25, forms are available on the Town of Herndon Web site, www.herndon-va.gov — click on What's New. Forms are also available at the Herndon Municipal Center and the Neighborhood Resource Center. For more information, call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2010.
Townwide Cable Construction
Verizon will be laying fiber optic cable throughout the town over the next three months. This upgrade will bring high-speed voice and data service to all residences in Herndon.
Work will be performed both in the public right of way and within prescribed easements on private property by Verizon's contractor, Ivy H. Smith. Residents will be notified by door hangers and signs when work will be performed in their neighborhood.
According to Verizon, similar upgrades have taken place successfully with minimal disruption to residents in Falls Church, Annandale, Springfield and Leesburg. For more information, call Ivy Smith at 1-800-768-8831.
Proposed Work Schedule Through February:
* Feb. 9: Worchester Court, Pembrook Street, Merlins Lane, Herford Street, Bicksler Court, Clark Street, Montalto Drive, Devon Street, Woodshire Lane, Ashburn Street.
* Feb. 11: Worchester Street, Merlins Lane, Dranesville Road, Pembrook Court, Windcroft Glen, Queens Row Street, Trinity Gate Street, Clarke Street, Devon Street, Bicksler Drive, Criton Street, Cavendish Street.
* Feb. 14: Old Hunt Way, Huntsman Place, Crest Drive, Dranesville Road, Third Street, Royal Elm Court, Bennett Street, Coomber Court, Thurber Street, Philmont Drive, Ridgegate Drive, Judd Court, Monroe Street.
* Feb. 17: Jenny Ann Court, Iron Ridge Court, Third Street, Traper Crest Court, Dranesville Road.
* Feb. 21: Grant Street, Young Dairy Court, Barker Hill Road, Monroe Street, Hidden Park Place, Cooper Station Road, Dominion Lodge Lane, Grant Street.
* Feb. 23: Grant Street, Fillmore Street, Dranesville Road, Park Avenue, Tyler Street, Third Street, Moffet Forge Road.
* Feb. 25: Van Buren Street, Park Avenue, Monroe Street, Second Street, Third Street, Charlton Place, McDaniel Court.
* Feb. 28: Knight Avenue, Charles Street, Saber Lane, Queens Court, Charles Court, Knight Lane, Kings Court, Stanton Park Court, Cavalier Drive.
Budget Hearings Scheduled
The Town of Herndon is in the process of preparing the upcoming fiscal year 2006 budget, including the FY '06-11 capital improvement program (CIP). The Town Council and Planning Commission will be holding several work sessions and public hearings to give an opportunity for interested citizens to present ideas or issues for consideration while the budget is being developed. All public hearings are held in the Council Chambers; work sessions are held in the conference room, both located at 765 Lynn St.
A budget summary will be mailed to all Herndon residents during the first week in April, at which time it is anticipated that the complete recommended budget document will be available for public review. Information will be posted on the town's Web site, www.herndon-va.gov, as it becomes available. A copy of the proposed budget will be available for review at the Herndon Fortnightly Library.
The complete budget schedule is as follows:
* Monday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Planning Commission work session to discuss the CIP.
* Monday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission public hearing on the CIP.
* Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and CIP.
* Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing to allow public testimony on proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing — consideration and adoption budget and entire CIP.