Entries in Living in LoCo for October 2007
Halloween Traffic & Who Has What Treats
Happy Halloween! Are you working from home today or planning to leave early to have trick-or-treat time with your little one? Well, if you are, you're not alone. There is a story in today's Metro section about familes around the area who adjust their schedules so they don't miss prime candy time tonight. In other Halloween news, there is a fun story about what some people in Loudoun are handing out at their homes tonight. Read full entry and discussion »
Drivers Wait for Light to Come On
As part of our ongoing series to answer questions about roads in Loudoun, a reader asked about the progress to change from 4-way stops to traffic lights at the intersections of Ashburn Village Blvd. & Waxpool Road and Ashburn Village Blvd. & Shellhorn Road. Charles Acker from the Loudoun County Transportation Department gave an update this week, and there is progress in at least one of these intersections. Read full entry and discussion »
Homeless Debate Continues with GSA Response & Petition
UPDATE: The GSA is removing the "drop-in" services from the Ashburn Road thrift store and offices. Read the full story and details. The debate continues over the Good Shepherd Alliance facility in Ashburn which is under construction and slated to provide services for the homeless, along with operating a thrift store and housing the organization's offices. Executive director Lyle Werner, the GSA board, and supporters have responded to their detractors in the community. Read full entry and discussion »
Famous Author Donates $1,000 to Miller
Stevens Miller, the challenger for the Dulles District Board of Supervisors seat, is getting financial support from famous author John Grisham, who has donated $1,000.00 to his campaign. And no, Grisham does not live in the Dulles area or even in Loudoun. He has a home and office in Charlottesville, but apparently is quite opinionated about building and development in Northern Virginia. Miller said his wife, Elizabeth, "always has her nose in a book" and after reading Grisham's novel "The King of Torts" said they should talk to Grisham about the campaign. Miller explained that in the book, Grisham writes about a character "Bennet the Bulldozer" who is known for "relentless slash and burn development in the Northern Virginia suburbs. Chapter five has quite a bit of specific detail." Read full entry and discussion »
"Book Thief" Goes to Thousands
The Loudoun County Public Library has picked a winner. The Book Thief, this year's title chosen for the One Book-One Community project, has been so popular that local branches gave out 7,000 paperback copies of the book in a mere three days this September. One Book was founded by and is paid for through an endowment from Irwin Uran, a local philanthropist who passed away in June and is well remembered for his generosity. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 11:14 a.m. on October 25, 2007
Homecoming First in South Riding
Although the much-needed rain forced a one-day delay of Freedom High School's Homecoming, it did nothing to diminish the spirits or festivities that took place last Saturday. This year marks the first 'real' homecoming for Freedom High School, which graduated its first senior class in June. Read full entry and discussion »
Loudoun's Homeless? Some Say NIMBY!
UPDATE: Meeting Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m. at Ashburn Elementary School. An email about a homeless shelter that is under construction on Ashburn Road is pinging to in-boxes like mad this week. Clearly some residents are A-N-G-R-Y. I got half a dozen forwards of two letters that originated with residents in Ashburn Village, including a note from Broad Run District Supervisor Lori Waters to constituents. Read full entry and discussion »
Greenway Toll Inquiry Squelched
I talked with 32nd House district candidate Lynn Chapman (R) early this afternoon about the letter the State Corporation Commission sent him in response to his request to re-open the toll increase application and look into the financials for operators of the Dulles Greenway. Read full entry and discussion »
Soccer Parents & Parking Tickets
Soccer moms and dads in Ashburn were alerted to follow the rules after a sheriff's deputy handed out warnings for illegal parking this past weekend. Starting Oct. 27, cars will be ticketed and some could be towed for lane violations like parking along yellow curbs in front of the school and in places where there are "No Parking" signs. With upwards of a thousand kids (and their parents, siblings and other relatives) attending games throughout the day, parking is at a premium at Cedar Lane Elementary School, and this just goes to show that it has gotten out of control. Read full entry and discussion »
Found: Knife at Playground
I recently found a knife in a community playground. A group of us were running around with our kids and when they got to one of the playsets, I noticed something dark and shiny on the ground. Thinking it was trash and that I'd get it out of the way of little feet, I picked it up. This was no butter or steak knife. Instead, we had stumbled upon a 7-inch steel "pocket knife" with a partly serrated edge on a blade over 3-inches long. And while technically not a switchblade, it is designed for one-handed release. Oddly enough, this is the second time this year that I have found a non-utensil knife in a park -- the first was in a little league baseball field this spring. Read full entry and discussion »
VP Cheney In Leesburg Sunday
Were you one of the few people who got a glimpse of our elusive veep when he was in town yesterday? Secret Service had been spotted around the county in days leading up to Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Loudoun -- at the Leesburg airport and all around the ... Read full entry and discussion »
Gold Cup By the Numbers
Saturday, October 20, marks the 70th running of the International Gold Cup, the fall steeplechase at Great Meadow, just outside The Plains. But this is more than just a 4-mile horse race -- for many Loudouners and friends, this is the party of the season. Member's Hill boasts top-tier gourmet spreads and spirits that will be judged and awarded prizes. Rail tents along the North and South sections of the course hold some of the more diverse tailgate parties (yes, you can bring your own everything!) that mix gatherings of family, friends, alumni groups, business associates, and often singles looking to mingle. Read full entry and discussion »
New Games & Names in Politics
The "Not Larry Sabato" blog has launched a new feature, "Not Eve Marie Barner," which hits on Loudoun's political scene in this pre-election frenzy, and the LC2007 group has added animated features poking fun at their political targets. Read full entry and discussion »
Candidate Forum in Lansdowne
When the Lansdowne on the Potomac homeowners board brought up the idea of inviting candidates to speak to the community at a meeting a few months ago, two residents came forward to volunteer. Over the last two months, Beverly Bradford and Dave Nemetz have worked to coordinate and organize Wednesday's candidate forum for the Broad Run and Catoctin districts. Read full entry and discussion »
A Day at AOL - Layoff Roundup
Emails were sent last night to AOL employee corporate accounts (not AOL email, since that was banned for office use by Falco when he became CEO), notifying them about meetings in conference rooms today. Those who did not get the email were spared the paperwork, but are wondering how jobs will be divvied up. Those who got called in knew what to expect "when the axe came down," said one staffer this morning. Silicon Alley Insider has been running a live comment blog with updates from insiders on how things are going. Among the highlights, a t-shirt of Burns & Smithers (nicknames for Falco and COO Ron Grant around the Dulles campus) with text about how the layoff was leaked. Read full entry and discussion »
AOL's Falco Says 2,000 Layoffs
See the full memo to staff that says layoffs are starting tomorrow. Northern Virginia offices, including Dulles, are reported to be impacted with 750 layoffs out of 1,200 total in the U.S. Over the next couple of months, AOL will lay off 2,000 people out of a worldwide workforce of 10,000, according to an email sent by CEO Randy Falco today. These staff reductions have long been rumored throughout the company and in the blogsphere. The severance packages outlined show from 2 to 12 months of compensation, depending on each worker's current level of compensation, job category, and "separation date," which could be the day of the layoff or a date in the future. In previous years, AOL has give some workers up to 60 days from the date they left the company to mark as their separation date, which adds two months. Needless to say, the lower you are on the totem pole, the lower the amount of money. Executive level workers will get a year of severance, medical benefits and job placement assistance. Read full entry and discussion »
Redskins Arrest Brings Attention to Ashburn
Friday night Nick's Corner Grill in Brambleton was the site of the latest off-field Redskins news. A practice squad player, lineman Kiliona (Kili) E. Lefotu, was sent taken to the Loudoun County Detention Center after allegedly shoving another patron and using threatening words and gestures after a few hours or drinking. He was also charged with being drunk in public when arrested in the parking lot by sheriff's deputies. Read full entry and discussion »
Fire Stations Host Open House Fun
Two volunteer fire stations in the county are hosting open houses this weekend and next, where residents can explore safety equipment, take part in silent auctions, jump in the moon bounces, get station tours and even take a ride on a fire trucks. Volunteer Trisha Davidson manages Ashburn's monthly pancake breakfasts. Volunteer firefighters from your neighbhorhoods will be on hand to answer questions and hand out goodies, like ice cream and cotton candy, that have been donated by local sponsors. The festivities are free, but along with the monthly pancake breakfasts (fabulous!) and photo fundraisers, the open house events are a major way that the public safety personnel reach out to the public to raise awareness and funds. Read full entry and discussion »
One AOL Exec Departs
Update: There are reports this afternoon that Lance Miyamoto, head of AOL's HR department, has resigned. Even Miyamoto's bio page on the corporate site has been taken down. He has apparently been replaced by Dave Harmon, acting executive vice president of human resources. Yesterday afternoon I got more than a few pings from AOL employees who had noticed the piles of moving boxes on pallets in the CC5 garage this week. In the hyper-sensitive atmosphere of change since the executive and advertising business move to NYC was announced, many staff have been distracted by questions of whether they will stay or go. Valleywag.com has a photo of the boxes from earlier this week, along with a chart, supposedly from an employee who has tracked AOL's big layoffs over the years. Read full entry and discussion »
Reunion Organizers ISO You
Who doesn't love a high school reunion? Talking about old times and inside jokes with only those who would "get it." Reliving the glory days, or the angst of teenage awkwardness only to show those bullies you've made it. Seeing who's hot and who's not. Sending a wink and a smile to an old flame. Dancing to music that would embarrass your kids... Well, if this is your idea of fun, the Broad Run High School class of 1982 is looking for classmates to attend the 25 year reunion this month. BRHS graduate and Loudoun local Phil LoPresti said he thinks there were about 140 people in the class. Small beans compared to today's mega classes of upwards of 400 or more seniors. Read full entry and discussion »
Road Update: New Stop Sign at Gum Spring & Braddock
Dulles District Supervisor Steve Snow sent a note out to area constituents today with some good news. VDOT is installing a new 4-way stop today at Gum Spring Road and Braddock Road in the Dulles South area of the county. While a stop sign is better than nothing, drivers who have been navigating the 4-way stop at Gloucester and Claiborne may have noticed that digging has begun for the new stop lights. It is a much needed improvement to manage the amount of traffic that goes through that area at rush hour. Read full entry and discussion »
South Riding News: Oktoberfest, Water Rules & Cheerleading Success
South Riding hosted the 8th annual Oktoberfest on September 29, bringing brews, knocks and brats along with traditional German music and dancing to the Town Green. After so many years of attending this very popular event, many residents could be heard singing and dancing along with the band. Volunteers and staff were surprised when the food began to run out and the wine glasses were sold out late in the afternoon, but it also became clear, when the beer ran dry, that this was no ordinary South Riding event. Read full entry and discussion »
Digging Through Trash Issues
Saturday's front page Washington Post story about local trash companies violating rules came as no surprise to people in Loudoun who have been questioning inconsistent service. Loudouners are talking trash about the latest news with landfill and recycling violations. (Photo/Marcoullier) When AAA lost its contract with some Eastern Loudoun communities and was replaced by New Vision in the past two years, the homeowners associations were deluged with complaints. Most were about late pick-ups, some after 6 p.m., and truck drivers going too fast through residential areas. The associations attributed the issues to growing pains and were assured by the trash company that things would be ironed out. Read full entry and discussion »
Here's What You Say - Live at Dulles Town Center
10:30 AM Sitting here live at the Dulles Town Center and talking with people as they're coming by the "booth" area. Most think that we're the mall information center (which we're blocking) and Laura Milner, our advertising/marketing person is doing her best to guide people around. But before they get away, she makes sure they know that we are a news and entertainment resource for the county. There is a giant screen TV with amazing photos from award winning photographers Tracy Woodward and Bill Snead. We have a raffle for two of our sponsors, Hooked (a sushi place) and Fox Cinema 16 in Brambleton and people coming by to ask if they can win the 42" Vizio LCD plasma (where the photos are on display). I feel like a NASCAR driver with all those mentions... but hey, if we can't talk about our friends and our cool stuff, what else is there to do! Beverly from Potowmack Farm restaurant came by to say hi. They're in Lovettsville and she's enticing us with talk of their new menu, which includes antelope! Read full entry and discussion »
LIVE! from Dulles Town Center
I'll be out at the Dulles Town Center Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon for the Loudoun Expo, a Chamber of Commerce Event. Feel free to stop by and say hi. And if you want to tell me what you think about Loudoun -- how it can be improved or what you love about living here, things we should know about or experiences that are unique to the area, I'll collect comments for a live blog and could include yours. Read full entry and discussion »
Rt. 28 Project Completed in 3 Months
Thursday morning around 10:30 a.m., local officials cut the ribbon to open the new Innovation Drive interchange at Rt. 28, a $5.17 million project that was completed in just under three months, much faster than the original six-month build plan. Many of you know this intersection for its former role of holding up both north and southbound on Route 28 because of the old traffic light. Now there are two lanes for drivers exiting to 28 Northbound from the Dulles Toll Road, so there shouldn't be that painful merge that would back traffic up into the toll booths. The far right lane has until the Rt. 606 exit for drivers to move left into through lanes. Read full entry and discussion »
Fast Car Draws Crowd
Sometimes it is good to get out and drive around. You might find little gems, like a real NASCAR vehicle parked in your neighborhood. One of Kevin Harvick's #29 speedway cars was on display in Ashburn today. Harvick's sponsor, Shell, is hosting customer appreciation days throughout the area, and the stop at Ice Rink Plaza was one of two for Loudoun this week. Saturday, fans will find the car at the Shell station in Lansdowne from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read full entry and discussion »
Chicken Makes Appearance at Debate
A chicken was the big attraction at Wednesday night's Broad Run and Dulles District political debate. The event, hosted by Loudoun's League of Women Voters, began at 7 p.m. at Stone Bridge High School. As participants and observers approached the building, they were greeted by a chicken in a cage with signage saying "It's sNOw joke, I'm afraid to debate." Read full entry and discussion »
Here's How Politics Are Personal
This is one example of how our local politics has gotten so personal and ugly: He said, she said, he said emails with personal insults for all the consituency to hear (or read about); Republican party infighting among candidates, operatives and residents; a good old-fashioned stand-off, and a police report too. First tangle: At yesterday's Board of Supervisor's meeting, resident Sally Mann read an email that had been obtained through her Freedom on Information Act (FOIA) request for some of Supervisor Jim Burton's (Blue Ridge) correspondence. Given that Burton and many of the folks who had written to him were unhappy that Mann was entitled to access to the correspondence, this move was sure to stir the pot. Read full entry and discussion »
Facelift to Brighten Regal Cinema
The dark crevices of Sterling's Regal Cinema are undergoing change. A little over four weeks ago a wall went up to divide the front lobby and concession area of the theater in Countryside. Today giant slabs of concrete were jack hammered into pieces small enough that a crew of half a dozen men could heave them into a truck. The truck is parked on what used to be the front sidewalk leading to the theater, and the interior (temporary) wall still stands while serious renovation work goes on behind the scenes. Read full entry and discussion »
Posted by Tammi Marcoullier at 5:06 p.m. on October 1, 2007
New Church in Ashburn & Mosque Tours in Sterling
For almost 20 years, Ashburn's faithful Catholics have been talking about building a new church in Loudoun. On any given Sunday, you can see families walking from the Ashburn Farm and Broadlands neighborhoods to the current school facility that is between the two communities. The Fraizer family even chose the location of their home in Ashburn Farm in anticipation of having this church directly in their neighborhood. Read full entry and discussion »
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