McLean Outlook: Saving Trees While Building Houses
Developers at the third annual McLean Tree Forum surprised some audience members with their appreciation for trees.
Great Falls: What's Coming?
In the pipeline for Great Falls …
Several times a year, the Connection will map coming land use issues; to let us know about projects we’re missing, email kmoore@connectionnewspapers.com
Reston: Holy Septic! Plans Change
Reston’s Richard Sheehe asked on Feb. 18 if Reston residents could be assured that the county would suspend work on preliminary designs to move the county’s Septage Receiving Site from Colvin Run in Great Falls to a maintenance portion of Lake Fairfax Park in Reston.
Herndon: How to Spend $55 Million
Herndon Town Council will hold a public meeting on budget on April 26.
Town Manager Arthur A. Anselene presented the Proposed FY 2017 Herndon Budget to the Town Council Tuesday night, April 12.
Student Teacher Returns to Herndon, Arrested
Former Coates Elementary teacher arrested after attempting to have sexual activity with a 13-year-old boy.
Kathleen Antonina Capitano, 24, arrived at a hotel in Herndon Saturday, April 16, to have sex with a 13-year-old boy she met while student teaching last year at Coates Elementary School, according to Fairfax County Police.
McLean: Share Honors Volunteers
Share of McLean was established in 1969 by coalition of faith communities to help meet emergency needs of those in need.
Great Falls: Women Juggle Work, Families, Education
Great Falls Friends and Neighbors committed to assisting working women pursuing higher education.
George Mason’s Libby Dissauer understands students who juggle raising a family while pursuing an education, who have to decide whether to pay rent, buy food, get gas or pay tuition.
Great Falls: Eyesore Improves, Bank Coming
Construction on TD Bank scheduled for Fall; opening of two-lane drive-thru bank anticipated for February.
The community called the site of the old Exxon Station, with environmental cleanup underway, an “eyesore.”
Best of Reston, Best of Inspiration
Bob Simon’s Reston honored at Silver Anniversary of Cornerstones partnership with the Reston Chamber of Commerce.
Olivia Wolfe, Hannah Becker and Kacey Hirschfeld ensured that their childhood friend Amy Boyle was honored with them Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency Reston ballroom.
McLean Citizens Association Calls for Tax Increase with Restraint.
Three Cents This Year: But ‘Enough is Enough’
Nine board members of the McLean Citizens Association wanted the civic association to tell the Board of Supervisors it wants no real estate tax increase.
Two Herndon Teen Heroes Honored
Herndon teenager honored for saving more than 30 families during the blizzard on Jan. 24.
Herndon Town Council and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue honored Herndon teenager Roberto Morales Castillo for heroism that saved the lives his family and up to 30 other families the day of the blizzard on Jan. 24, 2016.
Herndon’s Downtown: Get Involved
See proposals at the Town’s new website at www.herndon-va.gov; click on the “Latest News” tab.
Herndon residents have a chance to get involved in the future of their town’s downtown.
Great Falls and McLean: Challenge of Infill Development
McLean, Great Falls may face new hurdles with passage of law restricting proffers.
Great Falls was called Forestville until 1953, said Bill Canis, vice president of the Great Falls Citizens Association.
Reston: RN Golf Changes Course
Rescue Reston remains cautious after RN Golf lays approach shot short of Supreme Court.
Rescue Reston remains cautious, despite notification from Reston National Golf Course attorneys that it won’t continue its appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Herndon’s Downtown: ‘Game-Changing Project’
See proposals at the Town’s new website at www.herndon-va.gov; click on the “Latest News” tab.
Two companies, The Stout & Teague Company and Comstock Development, responded to the Town of Herndon’s Request for Proposals to redevelop 4.675 acres of land in historic downtown into “an attractive, mixed-use downtown.”
Four-Cent Tax Rate Increase, with Side of Vitriol
Reconsideration hours later gives same result; board will consider putting meals tax to referendum in November.
Tuesday morning, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted for a four-cent tax rate increase, advertising a tax rate of $1.13 per $100 of assessed value.
Reston: Fighting for Founder’s Village Center
Jefferson Apartment Group’s proposal for Tall Oaks to occur after market and economic viability study in April.
Reston Association Board member Eve Thompson has been so surprised by the Jefferson Apartment Group’s response to community input on Tall Oaks Village Center that she coined a new land use term.
Reston: Barking Up the Wrong Tree?
Reston Association to hear Longwood Grove community’s problems with barking dogs.
Moira Callaghan and more than 80 people from Longwood Grove wrote Reston Association to ask for help with “nuisance barking” coming from Baron Cameron Dog Park.
Herndon: Principal of the Year
Fairfax County Public Schools named Herndon Middle School Principal Justine Klena the 2016 Outstanding Principal.
McLean: Maffitt Hall Saved
Plans to renovate McLean Community Center back on track.
Following intervention from the county attorney, everybody on the Capital Facilities Committee and the McLean Community Center Governing Board got to vote.
McLean: Bomb Threat
Students sent home after reported bomb threat at McLean High School; nothing suspicious found.
Fairfax County Police’s first responders reported to McLean High School Monday, Feb. 29 for a “reported bomb threat,” according to police tweets. “School is closing, kids to be bussed home.”
Great Falls: Awaiting Brooks Farm Decision
Planning Commission scheduled to make recommendation to Board of Supervisors at this Thursday’s hearing.
Great Falls awaits the Planning Commission’s decision on the potential rezoning of Brooks Farm off Springvale Road.
Lake Fairfax Neighbors Oppose Septage Proposal
Reston’s Richard Sheehe spent more than 90 minutes hearing engineers and county officials try to convince Reston residents why moving a Septage Receiving Site to a portion of Lake Fairfax Park would be ideal.
Herndon: Water Meters, Automated Splash
The Town of Herndon will replace existing residential water meters in the middle of March and upgrade to an automated meter reading (AMR) system.
Construction Begins in Herndon
Mayor Lisa Merkel began to “seriously consider running” for Town Council in 2009, when a project to redevelop the Busch Motors property was voted against. On Monday, Feb. 22, Herndon’s downtown revitalization began at the corner of Elden and Monroe.
McLean and Great Falls: Supreme Court Inspires Case Day at Langley
Justice Antonin Scalia remembered at Langley during Case Day, which he helped originate.
United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin “Nino” Scalia helped former Langley teacher James Catlette develop Case Day into an annual academic gift to each Langley graduating class.
County Budget Presented, About $300 More per Household
County Executive: Revenue growth is insufficient to fund all priorities. Schools still $68 million short.
County Executive Ed Long recommended a four-cent increase to the real estate tax rate.
Reston Pleads for Governor’s Veto
Reston Association and Reston 20/20 weigh in on proffer controversy.
Reston Association and the Reston 20/20 Committee asked Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to veto a bill about proffers that passed the Virginia General Assembly.
Great Falls: Could Bond Referendum Save Marmota Farm?
Price tag is clear and visible on old dairy farm; negotiations underway to turn property into 11-house subdivision.
Betty Nalls Swartz rolls the windows down when she drives along Old Georgetown Pike by the Grange, Old Schoolhouse and Lift Me Up therapeutic riding program. Marmota Farm, 22.78 acres and once a dairy farm, “still smells like a farm,” she said.
Herndon: Downtown, New Town Website and More
The Town of Herndon extended its deadline for proposals for the downtown development until Feb. 19.
Virginia Cigarette Tax Remains Lowest in Nation
Opportunity for increase in cigarette tax blows up in smoke.
Dale Stein and the McLean Citizens Association couldn’t even raise a match before legislators in Richmond extinguished a possible increase in the cigarette tax for Fairfax County.
Snowzilla Summit Ahead
Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.
“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during the recent blizzard.
Proffers in Danger?
Richmond caught the attention of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week specifically with House Bill 770 (Gilbert) and Senate B 549 (Obenshain), bills Sharon Bulova says will place “significant restrictions” on development, specifically citing “unreasonable proffers.”
McLean’s Family Feud?
What could constitute conflict of interest where best interest of McLean community is at stake?
By suspending discussion and asking the county attorney to intervene, chair Dennis Findley and the McLean Community Center’s Capital Facilities Committee turned a possible happy ending about Center renovation into a family squabble.
Virginia Cigarette Tax Remains Lowest in Nation
Opportunity for increase in cigarette tax blows up in smoke.
Dale Stein and the McLean Citizens Association couldn’t even raise a match before legislators in Richmond extinguished a possible increase in the cigarette tax for Fairfax County.
Fairfax: Connect or Not Connect?
Commission hears two hours of testimonies, mostly against 164-foot monopole in Fairfax neighborhood.
William Stefan asked the Fairfax County Planning Commission to pardon his nerves, evident in his voice as he talked about his Fairfax home of 23 years.
Snowzilla Summit Ahead
Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.
“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during last week’s blizzard.
Reston: South Lakes, Storm Water and Collaboration
RA approves funding for independent study of stormwater flows between Cedar Cove Cluster and Wakerobin Lane.
When the Board of Supervisors approved a 40,000 square foot addition to South Lakes in October 2015, Terry Maynard of Reston 20/20 emphasized a failing stormwater management plan for the adjoining neighborhoods of Wakerobin Lane and Cedar Cove.
McLean: Saving the Community Hall; Preparing for Closure
McLean Community Center likely to be closed for renovations in 2017 from April through November.
The McLean Community Center’s Central Financing Committee transformed a week of public worry into a probable solution for the center’s beloved and well-used Maffitt Hall community room.
Brooks Farm: Decision Awaits in Great Falls
Planning Commission scheduled to make recommendation on proposal for 20 homes this week.
Twenty one hours and 37 minutes after he started his day on Thursday, Jan. 21, Great Falls Citizens Association president Eric Knudsen told the county’s Planning Commission the importance of Great Falls to the entire county and to the Chesapeake Watershed.
Oak Hill/Herndon: What's Coming?
Sites and developments to look at in Herndon area.
Sites and developments to look at in Herndon area.
Great Falls: What's Coming?
In the pipeline for Great Falls ...
Several times a year, the Connection will map coming land use issues; to let us know about projects we’re missing, email kmoore@connectionnewspapers.com.
Best of Reston Winners Announced
Honorees for silver anniversary event announced.
More than 750 people attended last year’s Best of Reston Awards for Community Service.
McLean and Great Falls: Delegates, Senators Meet Constituents
McLean delegates and senators discuss guns, foster care, nursing, student debt, Judge Jane Roush and more.
Alexandra Reed Lajoux advocates for youth in foster care without a home, “sans domicile fix, as the French say.”
McLean: Crashes Diminished
Dangerous McLean intersection at Old Dominion and Bellview fixed.
Numerous car accidents, including one fatality, prompted neighbors around the intersection of Bellview Road and Old Dominion Drive to action.
Calls to Widen American Legion Bridge
Each weekday, nearly 300,000 vehicles cross the American Legion Bridge, and each day traffic backs up into McLean, Great Falls and beyond.
Residents List Priorities for General Assembly
Residents tell legislators of priorities ahead of the 60-day session of the General Assembly.
Barbara Quesada, parent of a Franklin Sherman Elementary School student, reminded the General Assembly delegation from Fairfax that Nova Firearms opened its new store right next to the McLean elementary school.