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Column: 2013—Year With a Silver Lining?

As I sit looking out on Lake Anne on a gray post-Christmas day, I look back on 2012 and begin to feel optimistic about 2013. But, unlike past years, when my prognostications tended to be overly optimistic—e.g., predicting Reston’s achieving town status (as originally intended by Robert Simon) and escaping the oppression of Fairfax County. This year I’m sticking to cold, hard, objective analysis.

Herndon Named Virginia’s ‘Best Place to Raise Kids’

The Town of Herndon has received another national recognition—this time on Bloomberg/Business Week’s 2013 ranking of the Best Places to Raise Kids.

Challenges Facing Dranesville in 2013

Supervisor John W. Foust (D-Dranesville) discusses New Year’s expectations.

In 2013, we will again confront many challenges, at the county level as well as in the McLean, Great Falls, Herndon, Falls Church and Vienna communities in the Dranesville District. I will continue to address our challenges by seeking input and suggestions from my constituents and by working with my excellent staff to provide leadership. Some of the more significant issues I expect to deal with in 2013 are discussed below.

Express Lanes Completed, Metrorail Arrives in 2013

Something to celebrate for area motorists.

In 2012, the completion of the 495 Express Lanes and progress made on Phase One of the Dulles Metrorail were something to celebrate for area motorists faced with lane closures and detours for the past few years.

Week in Vienna

At around 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28. an officer came across a minivan that had crashed into a barrier at the end of a service road off of Chain Bridge Road near Glengyle Drive in the Vienna area. The officer summoned for rescue and it was determined that the driver was deceased.

Letter: Shared Responsibility To Protect Poor

I do not question Mr. Cuccinelli’s right to express his opinion regarding any matter he wishes to opine upon. However, I do question the honoring of Mr. Cuccinelli by the Catholic church and the omission of the Catholic press in bringing his critique of the church, namely the Catholic bishops in the church, to the attention of the faithful in northern Virginia.

Vienna’s Top Stories of 2012

From devastating wind storm to parking garage, Vienna saw diversity in its news stories of 2012. Trees toppled on houses and cars during the June 29 derecho that ravaged the region and thousands of Vienna-area residents were without power for days as emergency crews worked to repair downed power lines. Vienna heard business news, as well, with the founding of a new Vienna Business Association and the proposed Church Street parking garage.

Vienna in 2013

A look at the new year through the vision of elected officials, citizens.

Q: What are the most important issues or challenges facing Vienna businesses today? What is the Town Business Liaison Committee doing to promote Vienna businesses?

Town Budget Receives Award

For the 19th consecutive year, the Town of Vienna has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. This award, for the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget, is the highest form of recognition for governmental budgeting.

Charities Receive Funds at Holiday Celebration

The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna presents donations to The Committee for Helping Others and Our Daily Bread.

Last month, The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV) pulled off their 14th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship, hosted by Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Vienna. This month, the SCOV was ready to present the funds collected at the well-attended service to representatives of the two charitable organizations chosen by SCOV as this year’s recipients of the collection.

Bob Gilbert Exhibits at Great Falls Library

Great Falls artist Bob Gilbert is exhibiting in the Great Falls Library from Jan. 2 to Feb. 1. He will be displaying over 30 original oil paintings of Manhattan. The paintings range in size from 11x16 to 36x72 inches. Most of them will be 24x30 and 24x36. All of them will be for sale at Gilbert’s solo exhibit.

Happy New Year, Keep in Touch

Reflecting and reinforcing the sense of community.

As local, weekly newspapers, the Connection’s mission is to bring the news you need about your community, to give you the information you need to enjoy the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to call attention to unmet needs, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record milestones and events in community and people’s lives. To succeed at any of that, we need your help.

Advice for Seniors on Fitness in the New Year

Suggestions for making and keeping exercise resolutions.

Mary Garner’s New Year’s resolution is to increase the intensity of her workout routine. The 69-year-old retiree plans to seek the advice of a fitness trainer to create a plan to achieve her goal.

The Quest for Youth and Beauty

Spending billions of dollars to improve one’s appearance.

Hiba Hakki reclines on an exam table as a physician picks up a syringe with his latex-gloved hand and points it at her face. He inserts the needle into the flesh around her eyes. She cringes slightly. This is a Botox injection, just one of the cosmetic procedures Hakki undergoes for the sake of beauty.

Hiba Hakki, with her husband plastic surgeon Ayman Hakki, M.D., is among those who use …

Living Up to New Year Resolutions

Benefit of cardio workout plan includes weight loss and decreased heart disease risk.

During Martin McKay’s annual physical examination shortly before the holidays, his doctor suggested that he consider intensifying his cardiovascular exercise routine.

Lines of My Life

Like most people, I have material, so to speak, that I use repeatedly (ad nauseam, some might say). Most are lines from “The Three Stooges,” “M*A*S*H,” “Star Trek” (the original) and “Seinfeld.” As I entered into the cancer world, I continued to use this material – where/when appropriate, as many of you regular readers know. However, as my time in the cancer conundrum has continued (thank God!) and evolved, I have found myself uttering and muttering à la “Popeye the Sailor Man,” amusing myself, mostly, but always with the best of intentions: my survival. A few examples follow. (My answers are in quotes.)

Coming in From The Cold

A night at Burke United Methodist Church’s hypothermia prevention shelter.

Musa L. gently draped a blanket over his wife, and promised her the new year would be better for both of them. She was sleeping on a foam pallet at the Burke United Methodist Church. Musa and his wife were among nearly 40 homeless adults seeking shelter from the frigid temperatures at the church on Friday, Dec. 21.

Readers of the Pack

What Fairfax County residents read in 2012.

According to Mary Mulrenen, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax County readers selected many of the same fiction and non-fiction favorites that caught the attention of book-lovers nationwide. Dr. Seuss, science-fiction and, once again, lawyers (John Grisham’s 25th legal thriller) topped the charts.

Should Virginia’s Governor Be Able to Run for Reelection?

Longstanding ban on second consecutive term to be reconsidered this year.

Virginia is the only state that limits its governor to a single, four-year term, a vestige of the distrust Americans had for executive power during the American Revolution. Now, more than two centuries later, the commonwealth may finally be ready to ditch the longstanding term limit and allow Virginia’s governor to run for reelection.

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