Register to Vote
Residents wishing to vote in the upcoming May 2 town council election must be registered to vote by Monday, April 3.
There are 10 candidates for the six-seat Town Council and two candidates for mayor for the 2006-08 term.
Steve J. DeBenedittis and Michael L. O'Reilly, the Town of Herndon's incumbent mayor, are running for mayor. Candidates for council seats include Carol A. Bruce; Dennis D. Husch; Connie Haines Hutchinson; David A. "Dave" Kirby; Steven D. Mitchell; J. Harlon Reece; Jorge Rochac; Robert R. Rudine; William B. "Bill" Tirrell; and Charlie D. Waddell. Bruce, Husch, Mitchell and Reece currently serve on the 2004-2006 Town Council.
Voter registration and absentee ballot applications are available through the Fairfax County General Registrar's office at 703-222-0776 or on-line at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb. Forms are also available in the Town Clerk's office, 777 Lynn Street, 703-435-6804. The Herndon Community Center, at 814 Ferndale Avenue, will be the only polling place open for the election.
Residents who wish to vote by absentee ballot via mail must submit a ballot application by Thursday, April 27; the deadline for in-person absentee voting is Saturday, April 29. Completed absentee ballot applications may be mailed or delivered in person to the General Registrar, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA 22035-0081 or faxed to 703-324-3725. In-person absentee voting is only available at the General Registrar's Office beginning Monday, April 3.
Sugarland Run/Runnymede Park Clean Up
Residents interested in experiencing the great outdoors while also benefiting the environment are encouraged to attend the Sugarland Run/Runnymede Park Clean Up.
Scheduled for Saturday, March 18 from 8 a.m. to noon, residents who volunteer will help clean garbage and debris that has gathered over the winter in the 58-acre park. Hot dogs and other snacks will be available.
Historical Membership Meeting
The Herndon Historical Socitey will hold its bimonthly meeting on Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Depot. The speaker will be Dave Swan, president of the Friends of Runnymede Park, exhibiting "Runnymede Park: A Year Through the Lens."
Swan lives within walking distance of the park and he can be found there frequently, photographing the plants and animals that he encounters. Come enjoy an armchair visit to Herndon’s 58-acre nature park and learn a little bit about its history as Swan shares his favorite photographs of Runnymede throughout the seasons. Historical Society meetings are free, and they are always open to the public. Visitors and new members are most welcome. For additional information call Society President Carol Bruce at 703-437-7289.
Youth Artwork
In celebration of Youth Art Month, young artists from nine local elementary schools will be displaying their artwork at the Worldgate Shopping Centre in Herndon during the month of March. Each year the Council for the Arts of Herndon, in conjunction with the Worldgate Centre, encourages elementary school students to celebrate their creativity by sharing it with the community. This year, more than 100 aspiring artists created intricate and highly-skilled works, including hand-made baskets and books, pottery, self-portraits, and paintings covering a rainbow of subjects.
Participating schools include Dranesville Elementary, Floris Elementary, Hutchison Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, McNair Elementary, Clearview Elementary, Crossfield Elementary, Fox Mill Elementary and Nysmith School for the gifted.
A reception is scheduled for March 28 for the Youth Art Month participants and their families from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Worldgate Centre. The event is free and open to the public and will feature refreshments and a certificate bequeathing ceremony. The Council for the Arts of Herndon invites all Herndon residents to attend and applaud the area's youngest artists.
Herndon a 'Preserve America' Town
First lady Laura Bush announced the first round of Preserve America grant recipients last week from Capitol Hill. An honorary chair of Preserve America, Bush announced the $3.5 million allocation of funding and acknowledged a number of new Preserve America Communities. Herndon was named as one of 18 additions to the Preserve America Community roster.
Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy America's priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of area communities. For more information, including a complete list of grant recipients, criteria and application forms for various initiative programs, visit www.PreserveAmerica.gov.
Women and Teen Health
Congregation Beth Emeth is hosting its 4th Annual Women and Teen Health Seminar Sunday, March 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event has something for everyone, from those in their teens to those in their "golden years." The event's featured speaker is scheduled to be Leslie Morgan Steiner of The Washington Post. She will be speaking about her new book, "Mommy Wars." The recently released book focuses on the choices women make about careers and family after having children. Other featured presentations include exercise and yoga for teens, cancer prevention and staying active during retirement. An exhibitor's hall will also display information and demonstrations from Stretch-N-Strength Pilates, Lifetime Fitness, Clinique Cosmetics of Nordstrom, Mothers & More, Inova Healthsource, The Women's Center, Leisure World, Life With Cancer Program, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. Door prizes and refreshments will also be available. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Call 703-860-4515, ext. 101 or visit www.bethemeth.org/womenshealth.htm, to register. Congregation Beth Emeth is located at 12523 Lawyers Road in Herndon. This event is open to the public.
Volunteers Sought
Neighbors United/Vecinos Unidos of Herndon seeks volunteers to provide homework assistance to youth ages 7 to 14 after school at its two Herndon sites. Tutors are needed Monday through Thursday from 4:15 to 6 p.m., and the schedule is flexible. Volunteers 16 and up are welcome. Call 703-376-8475 or e-mail info@vecinosunidos.org.
Town Calendar
Saturday, March 18
Housing Maintenance Workshop, 10 a.m., Neighborhood Resource Center
Runnymede Park/Sugarland Run clean up, 8 a.m. to noon
Monday, March 20, 7 p.m.
Architectural Review Board/Heritage Preservation Review Board public hearing
Planning Commission work session
Spring Begins
Tuesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
Town Council work session
Thursday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals
Saturday, March 25
Opening Day Golf Tournament, Herndon Centennial Golf Course