Aubrey Stokes, IT change management, in Herndon since 2000: "It's the sense of community. A good example is Friday Night Live! (weekly summer concert series). I can talk to anybody there. Things are changing rapidly as far as construction of new homes and the Metro, but I think Herndon is always going to have some sense of a small town feel. That's something I'd like to perpetuate. The town has so many amenities, like the dog park."
Photo by Mercia Hobson
John Teynon, (center) cyclist, 10 years in Herndon: “Herndon has a mix of everything. It's great for families, and the cycling community is excellent. They make me better. Being part of a group will elevate anybody's level. I've lost 25 pounds since joining.”
Photo by Mercia Hobson
Dan Sullivan, assistant farm manager, Frying Pan Park, 10 years: "I like working at Frying Pan Park in Herndon because there's a certain level of authenticity. It's just like walking onto someone's farm. There are tractors going by; horses going out. Today we are training our draft horses."
Photo by Mercia Hobson
Tim Field, police Commander, 20-plus years: "Describe Herndon? There's a small town feel inside a large town. I grew up on Grant Street and lived in Herndon until I was 16. The place I wanted to live then was Reston. It was new, modern, and all the cool kids lived there. Later in life, after school and marriage, I lived there, in Reston with my family. Thought I'd be there forever. Then an opportunity came, this house on the market. Here in the Town of Herndon, I can fly my American flag every day; nobody can tell me otherwise. I'm two minutes to the W & OD Trail. Twenty minutes to work. Ten minutes to Dulles Airport. I can exercise. I can work. I can travel. And at the end of the day, I can look forward to coming home to the town. Sit'n on my porch; sip'n lemonade, or whatever is within the legal limits. Herndon is home."
Photo courtesy of Sarah Betti
Sarah Betti, volunteer and graduate student in nuclear physics, 22 years as a lifelong "Herndonite": "From the time spent as a preschooler at the Herndon Community Center to attending Herndon High School, and everything in between – my participation in Herndon/Reston Youth Softball, being in debate contests for the Herndon Optimist Club, going to the Friday Night Live! concerts in the summer and reading books from the Herndon Fortnightly Library, the opportunities I have been afforded growing up in the Town of Herndon have impacted my life, in so many ways. Now, as an adult, the ever-growing list of events, activities, clubs, and Herndon sponsors continues to grow. For those new to our town, ‘Welcome.’ You will see how living in the Town of Herndon can shape your life to do so much good - Cheers."
Photo courtesy of NextStop Theatre
From left: Matt Thompson, left, Managing Director of NextStop Theatre in Herndon, has lived in Herndon for a decade. He is pictured with Evan Hoffman, Producing Artistic Director of NextStop Theatre – born, raised, and works in Herndon. Matt Thompson: "What is so great about Herndon? Amid a Northern Virginia landscape that feels increasingly impersonal and corporate, everything you'll encounter in Herndon is lively, local, and absolutely authentic."
Evan Hoffman: "A remarkable and unique sense of community and character."
Jacob Savage, intern, 22 years in Herndon: “What makes Herndon so great? What strikes me most, are the opportunities. No matter what I looked into, in my current profession or others, there were a lot of options. I’m thankful for that.”
