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Ryan Dunn

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Herndon Rotary Club Opens Little Free Library

Rotary club holds dedication ceremony in downtown Herndon.

Despite cool weather, the Town of Herndon residents and members of the Herndon Rotary Club assembled at downtown Herndon for the dedication and unveiling of the Rotary Club of Herndon’s first Little Free Library on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Little Free Library is a neighbor-to-neighbor sharing of books, and was made possible with the support of local businesses and the Rotary Club of Herndon

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Herndon High Holds Fall Band Concert

Herndon band performs free concert at school before trip to Norfolk.

Herndon High School band welcomed the community to attend a free concert the evening of Nov. 12 at Herndon High School auditorium. The concert was held to thank the community for generous support during the annual Tag Day fundraiser.

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Reston Association Prepares For Winter

Snow summit held to share information and ideas.

Representatives from Reston Association, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and Fairfax County attended the first “Snow Summit” Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Reston Association Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive. The event was open to public and was held to prepare Reston Association members for the upcoming snow season.

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ArtSpace Herndon Displays Skies Exhibit

Painting exhibit on display until Nov. 30.

Herndon’s community art gallery ArtSpace Herndon opened a new painting exhibit to the public in November. The exhibit “Skies” by artist Bobbi Pratte is a collection of landscapes, painted in locations across the United States and Europe, with focus on the sky.

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Reston Langston Hughes Hosts Fall Concert

Middle school chorus and orchestra display young talent.

Parents and family members had the opportunity to hear the young talent of students at Reston Langston Hughes Middle School at the October fall concerts. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, school chorus director Sarah Stanley led a performance of seventh and eighth grade students.

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Herndon Community Center Turns 35

Herndon Community Center celebrates anniversary, holds open house.

Herndon Community Center hosted an open house Saturday, Nov. 8. Both the community center and Herndon Parks and Recreation Department welcomed everyone to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Herndon Community Center.

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Steady Election Turnout in Reston and Herndon

Voters aware of new photo ID requirement.

Midterm elections were held throughout Virginia on Nov. 4, with voting stations open at locations throughout the commonwealth’s 95 counties. “There will be approximately 2,500 election officers working at the county’s 238 precincts,” stated Lisa M. Connors, public information officer for Fairfax County.

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Herndon Trinity Presbyterian Holds Fall Festival

Families attend fall festival outdoor event.

Herndon’s Trinity Presbyterian Church held a children’s fall festival the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 26. The fall festival activities included a cupcake walk, art and craft event, and trunk or treating.

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Herndon Middle Presents Play On History Of Herndon

Play presented at Hendon and Virginia Theatre Association conference.

Eighth grade students in the class of Herndon Middle School drama teacher Scott D. Pafumi performed a one act play on the history of Herndon on Oct. 23 at Herndon Middle School. The one act play covered the period from 1858 to the present.

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South Lakes Senior Selected to All-American Marching Band

Fairfax County students chosen for 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl performance.

Reston South Lakes senior Samantha Gifford was recognized by the U.S. Army for her selection to the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band on Friday, Oct. 24. The selection ceremony was held in the theater at South Lakes High School (SLHS) in Reston.

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Washington West Film Festival Held In Reston

Film festival hosted at Bow Tie Cinema.

The 4th Annual Washington West Film Festival was held Oct. 22-26 at Reston and other locations within Northern Virginia. Hosting the opening night film and reception was Reston Bow Tie Cinema at Reston Town Center.

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Reston Cornerstones Holds Annual Community Walk

Record breaking crowd attend October walk in Reston.

On Oct. 19, 300 participants attended the annual Cornerstones community walk from Embry Rucker Community Shelter to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and back. The distance was about two miles and was an opportunity to help provide basic and essential items, such as pillows, dishes and food for those who moved into stable housing through Cornerstones’ Rapid Re-Housing Challenge.

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Herndon Frying Pan Park Holds Farm Harvest Days

Families from around the area visit Herndon farm park.

Hundreds of families took the advantage of mild fall weekend weather to attend the Frying Pan Farm Park’s Farm Harvest Days held Oct. 18 -19 in Herndon.

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Fractured Shaft Stops Colvin Run Mill

Tours and interpretations of the Great Falls historic site continue.

Grinding with the main stones at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site has come to a stop for the next few months. Miller Mason Maddox found a crack in the main axle of the site’s water wheel, which catches the water flowing through the millrace and powers the mill.

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Oktoberfest Held At Reston Town Center

Visitors attend weekend-long festival in Reston.

Despite overcast weather, the 2014 Oktoberfest was held again at Reston Town Center with Alpine Dancers, exhibitors, Oktoberfest fare, beer and carnival rides.

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Reston Association Hosts Home and Garden Expo

Guests learn about home care and Reston Association services.

Reston Association hosted a home and garden expo at Reston Association headquarters. “We look forward to hosting this event annually as we see it as a service to the community,” said Cate Fulkerson, Reston Association CEO.

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Herndon ArtSpace Expressions Portrait Exhibit Opens to Public

ArtSpace Herndon Portrait Exhibit kicks off ArtsWeek Herndon.

Finalists were recognized at the ArtSpace Herndon Expressions Portrait Exhibit during the Saturday, Oct. 11 artists reception. The art exhibit displays more than 20 portrait pieces composed by 18 artists.

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Town Of Herndon Holds Homecoming Parade

Herndon’s community spirit beats back drizzle.

Despite rain and chilly weather, 50 units and nearly 1,500 participants marched in the Oct. 11 Herndon homecoming parade. Orchestrating the event was the Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department and many volunteers.

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Reston South Lakes High Hosts Back To School Night

Parents meet teachers at South Lakes High School in Reston.

Representatives of community groups and clubs set up booths in the early evening of Oct. 2 at Reston South Lakes High School. The school was hosting a back to school night, and several local organizations wanted to publicize some of their upcoming events.

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Jill’s House Holds Open House

Non-profit welcomes visitors during annual open house.

On Oct. 5, Jill’s House was open to visitors to tour the 42,000-square-foot center. A non-profit organization providing respite care for children with special needs, Jill’s House serves more than 500 families.

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Herndon Hosts HernDOG Bark Bash

Inaugural dog event held at Bready Park.

Herndon Parks and Recreation hosted their inaugural dog event at Bready Park on Sunday, Oct. 5. “I always thought Herndon should have a dog event,” said Dave Zakrzewski, a town of Herndon employee who helped coordinate the day’s activities.

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Blessing Of Animals Held At Herndon

Ceremonies at St. Joseph’s and St. Timothy’s in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

“We attend every year, it is a special event,” said Herndon resident Mary Vrabel. Vrabel was with her two pet dogs, Shadow and Sasha, at St. Joseph’s Church in Herndon for the annual pet blessing on Oct. 4.

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Herndon NatureFest Held At Runnymede Park

Families learn about local wildlife and nature.

The Friends of Runnymede Park and the Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department hosted the annual NatureFest on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Runnymede Park. Nearly 700 local residents and neighbors enjoyed learning about birds, bees and butterflies, recycling and native plants, and life in a meadow or stream.

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Reston Hosts 2014 Multicultural Festival

Celebration of diversity and community held at Lake Anne Plaza.

”We are here to celebrate all the local cultures of Reston,” said Kevin Danaher, community events director for the Reston Community Center. On Saturday, Sept. 27 Lake Anne Plaza hosted the annual Reston Multicultural Festival.

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Reston Hosts Walk To End Alzheimer’s

More than a thousand attend fundraiser event at Reston Town Center.

On Sept. 28, more than a thousand persons gathered at Reston Town Center to participate in the 2014 Walk To End Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter coordinated the event.

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Herndon High Hosts Showcase Of Bands

Twenty-eight schools attend high school marching competition.

On Sept. 27, Herndon High hosted the Northern Virginia Regional Showcase of Bands, an opportunity for 28 local high school marching bands to display their skills and abilities. The showcase featured high school marching bands from throughout the region, presenting their field shows, in which the bands march and make formations on the field while playing music.

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Fairfax County Reviews Bus Service

Fairfax County Department of Transportation begins project to reshape bus network.

Fairfax County Department of Transportation changed or canceled the services and routes of buses with the opening of the Silver Line metro. Now the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has begun its Comprehensive Transit Plan (CTP), a 10-year aspirational plan for Fairfax Connector and Metrobus service.

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Dulles International Airport Holds Plane Pull

Seventy teams participate in fundraising event for Special Olympics Virginia.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, Dulles Airport held its annual plane pull. The Dulles Day plane pull, which began in 1993, featured 70 teams of 25 people competing to pull an 82-ton 757 FedEx Cargo Jet 12 feet in the shortest amount of time. Now in its 22nd year, Dulles Day is a festival that includes live music, airplane displays, tours of the runways, kids play areas, a dunk tank and more.

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Herndon’s H.K. Lee Recognized

Martial arts instructor receives award at ceremony.

Herndon’s H.K. Lee Academy of TaeKwonDo Grandmaster H. K. Lee received a special Presidential Commendation from the President of the Republic of Korea, Geun-Hye Park. Grandmaster Lee was the first distinguished recipient to receive the Korean President’s Commendation at the opening ceremony of The World TaeKwonDo Won in Muju, Republic of Korea on International TaeKwonDo Day, Sept. 4.

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Herndon Celebrates Lighting Of W&OD Trail

Herndon is first municipality to light a section of the W&OD trail.

Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel and the Herndon town council celebrated the completion of installation of lights along the W&OD trail with a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The ceremony was held on the W&OD Trail near the intersection with Lynn Street in downtown Herndon, near the caboose.

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Dranesville Elementary Holds Back to School Night

Parents and teachers reconnect at school event.

Herndon Dranesville Elementary hosted its annual Back to School Night on Monday, Sept. 15 for parents to meet the teachers and individuals who support their children. The event was for parents and guardians only so families could understand the aspects of their child’s education.

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Senator Warner Visits Downtown Herndon

Herndon business owners speak with Senator Mark Warner.

United States Senator Mark Warner made a visit to downtown Herndon on Friday, Sept. 12. The purpose of the visit was to connect and chat with some local business owners and staff.

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Dalya Luttwak Exhibits at GRACE

Sculpture exhibit on display in Reston until Nov. 1.

Since 2007, artist Dalya Luttwak has been working on a series of sculptures depicting the root systems of various plants. Some of these sculptures are on display at Reston GRACE located on the corner of Market St. and St. Francis in the Reston Town Center.

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Reston Town Center Hosts ChalkFest

IPAR ChalkFest brings hundreds of spectators and artists to Reston.

Amazing art lined the streets of Reston Town Center during the Reston ChalkFest event. Adults, teens and children had an opportunity to color the bricks of Reston’s Market Street between Library Street and Presidents Street.

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‘Parked Outside the Door’ Opens at ArtSpace Herndon

Photo exhibit examines relationships with vehicles and buildings.

Photographer John Petro’s exhibit “Parked Outside the Door” has opened at art gallery ArtSpace Herndon. In the exhibit, Petro explores two fundamental constructs of ingenuity, vehicles and buildings. While traveling America, Petro captured scenes of mobility and permanence.

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Businesses Change Hands at Reston Lake Anne Plaza

Some businesses move on despite redevelopment plans.

Located between Baron Cameron and Sunset Hills Road, Lake Anne Plaza and the adjacent neighborhood are the nucleus of the original Reston development. An important part of Reston’s development is its five village centers and town center.

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Riverbend Park Hosts Virginia Indian Festival

Park prepares for 17th annual Virginia Indian Festival.

Riverbend Park in Great Falls will be hosting its 17th annual Virginia Indian Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6. Members of eight tribes will gather on the banks of the Potomac River from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Herndon Elementary Holds Open House

Parents, teachers and students meet before school begins.

Herndon Elementary School (HES) held an open house on Aug. 29 as an opportunity for teachers, parents and students to meet and connect. Fairfax County Public Schools opened Sept. 2, so students could visit their classrooms and get oriented.

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Exhibit Of Konko Opens at ArtSpace Herndon

ArtSpace Herndon shares story of a Ghana village and a literacy program.

ArtSpace Herndon brings the story of the village of Konko with an exhibit that opens Aug. 26.

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Reston Association Begins Meetings On Pony Barn Pavilion

Reston Association seeks community input regarding redevelopment.

Surrounded by a secluded wood at the intersection of Steeplechase and Triple Crown Road in Reston is the Pony Barn Picnic Pavilion, a 2006 square foot picnic pavilion near Glade Stream.

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JamBrew Indie Concerts Return to Herndon

While Herndon Friday Night Live concludes music does not yet stop.

Friday Night Live, the Herndon outdoor concert series concluded on Aug. 22 with performances by bands Almost Journey and The Fuzz. “We have had a great year so far for Friday Night Live,” said founder Doug Downer.

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Lifelong Herndon Resident Honored for Community Service

Delegate Tom Rust presents resolution recognizing Elma Mankin.

“I was born here 90 years ago, I have been here all my life although I have traveled extensively,” said Elma M. Mankin. “When I was growing up Herndon was a small town.

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Backpacks Donated At Herndon Hutchison Elementary

Community reaches out to families of young students.

Thousands of students in the Virginia and D.C. Metro area will be returning to schools this fall. In Fairfax County, public schools open Sept. 2.

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Century Bike Tour Held At Reston Pavilion

Over a thousand from D.C. metro area attend bike event.

On Aug. 24, Reston Bicycle Club held its 32nd annual century bike tour. The event began and ended at Reston Town Center. “We had approximately 1,165 riders,” said Ed Robichaud, a resident of Reston and member of the RBC bike club. The Reston Bicycle Club (RBC) was formed in 1982 to promote cycling in the Reston and surrounding areas. RBC is a volunteer, nonprofit club, with over 700 members.

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Herndon Planning Committee Holds Parking Conference

Committee receives input from Herndon residents.

The Town of Hendon Planning Commission met Aug. 21 to solicit comments on whether parking requirements in the downtown should be reduced or remain as currently required.

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Mural Dedication Held in Herndon

Art mural by Keith Naquin on view at Station Street in Herndon.

Associates and friends of the Council for the Arts of Herndon (CAH) assembled to celebrate the dedication of a mural at the Dominion Animal Hospital at 795 Station Street in Herndon. The mural, painted by former Herndon High School art teacher Keith Naquin, is a 95-foot long piece of art, and was commissioned by the CAH. Almost 100 persons attended the outdoor dedication ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Totally Trucks Event Held In Reston

Event shows vehicles used by Reston Association.

Trucks on display included a dump truck, trash truck, back hoe, Bobcat and a moving tractor. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Fairfax County Police, and USPS also had vehicles at the event.

National Night Out Held In Herndon

Neighborhoods In Town of Herndon get acquainted with police force.

Neighborhood block parties were held throughout the town of Herndon on Aug. 5 in celebration of National Night Out. In 1984, National Night Out started as a way to promote crime prevention through neighborhood camaraderie.

Great Turnout For Herndon’s Tavern Golf Tournament

Golf event raises money for The Council for the Arts of Herndon.

"This year's tourney was easily one of the best ever,” said Jimmy Cirrito, owner of Jimmy's Old Town Tavern.

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Governor Proclaims Teen Cancer Awareness Week

Cancer support group witnesses signing of proclamation in Herndon.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe in the company of cancer survivors and friends signed a proclamation in the town of Herndon proclaiming the third week of January as Teen Cancer Awareness week in Virginia.