‘Yellow House’ on Market
The Town of Herndon announced its intent to sell the Yellow House, which served as an historic landmark to travelers on the W&OD Railroad and, later, to people entering Herndon using the trail. The Yellow House, which dates to approximately 1870, served as a schoolhouse in the late 1800s. It then hosted the Fortnightly Library Club for a brief period before becoming a private home. It has been moved twice from its original location, once during World War I and then again by the Town of Herndon to a temporary location in April of 2006. The Town assumed ownership of the house in 2007. As part of the sale, the house, currently resting on supports, will be affixed to a .23-acre parcel of land, also a part of the sale, at the intersection of Oak and Pearl Streets.
The new owner will have the responsibility for restoring the house to a single family detached unit configuration and for preserving and maintaining its cultural attributes. Any contract to sell the Yellow House will take effect by approval of the Town Council. Written offers are being accepted until Jan. 15. Information packets for the sale are available from the Office of the Town Manager, 777 Lynn Street, 703-787-7368 or art.anselene@herndon-va.gov.
Gammon Wins Educator Award
Rachel Carson Middle School band director Linda Gammon received the Virginia Music Educator of the Year Award on Nov. 16. In her second year as band director at Rachel Carson, Gammon was also named one of the "Fifty Directors Who Make a Difference" by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine.
Student Designs Friends’ Ornament
South Lakes High School student Matt Blackerby designed an ornament that Herndon Friends picked to help their efforts in providing health insurance for children in need. The ornaments are $15, and the money from the sales, after a $1 deduction for materials, will go to the Medical Care for Children Partnership. Proceeds from 22 ornaments sold buy one child’s insurance for a year. For more information call 703-968-2971 or e-mail jrosenthal2@cox.net.
Madrigals To Perform
The Herndon High School Madrigals singers will perform at the Great Falls Grange, located at 9818 Georgetown Pike on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. The Herndon High School Madrigals have been performing throughout the community for the past 13 years under the direction of Dana Van Slyke. This program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be offered. For more information, contact 703-759-2378, or visit www.gfhs.org.
Orchestral Music at HHS
The Herndon High School and Herndon Middle School Orchestras, directed by Bette Gawinski, will perform contemporary and classical seasonal selections at their winter concert on Wednesday, Dec. 19, in the Herndon High School auditorium. Special guests include members of the Herndon High School Wind Ensemble, who will perform with the Symphonic Orchestra. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome. See www.herndonorch.org.
Kitten and Cat Adoption
The Commonwealth Cat Rescue of Oakton is sponsoring a cat and kitten adoption extravaganza on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Herndon Fortnightly Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dozens of kittens and their mothers will be available for adoption in the library’s large meeting room. For more information contact Chris Haslam at 703-568-3900.
Leaf Collection Extended
Leaf collection throughout the Town of Herndon has been extended through Dec. 21, due to lateness of the leaf falling season this year. Citizens may pile leaves by the curbside without bagging them during that period. Any leaves collected after Dec. 21 must be bagged for pickup. Leaves should be raked as close as possible to the curb, without blocking storm drains or sidewalks or impeding vehicular traffic.
Herndon Police DWI Operation
In an effort to make Herndon’s neighborhoods safer, the Herndon Police will conduct sobriety checkpoints and DWI targeted patrols during the month of December. The police are asking the community for assistance in making this a safe holiday season, and asking the residents and visitors to not drink and drive.
Neighborhood College Registration
Registration for the Herndon Neighborhood College, the Town of Herndon’s community leadership program, is taking place now. The seven-week program, Jan. 28 to March 10, features activities that build organizational, problem solving and leadership skills. Participants apply the skills to strengthen their neighborhoods.
The 2008 session will be held on Monday evenings, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and will feature a light dinner. There will also be a workshop on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The classes will be held at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, located at 1086 Elden Street.
The 2008 program will mark the eighth year where participants will learn to run meetings, influence local government programs, impact the decision-making process and access Town and Fairfax County services among other things. There is no charge to attend the Neighborhood College.
Town Holiday Schedule
The Town of Herndon offices and services are impacted by the winter holidays as follows:
Town offices are open on Friday, Dec. 21, but closed Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1.
Refuse collected on Monday will still be collected on Dec. 24, but refuse collected on Tuesday will be collected on Thursday, Dec. 27. Refuse collected on Monday and Tuesday will be collected on Monday, Dec. 31 for both Monday, Dec. 31, and Tuesday, Jan. 1. Recycling collected on Wednesday will be collected as usual.
The Herndon Community Center will be open on Friday, Dec. 21. It will also be open on Monday, Dec. 24, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be closed on Tuesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
The Herndon Centennial Golf Course will be open Friday, Dec. 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25.