Herndon on a Holiday High News, Page 5
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HomeLifeStyle Page, 6 Friends Kenneth Vo, Daniela Bruno and Alexa Smith, age 12, stand first in line for a chat with Santa during Santa, Stars and S’mores held in Runnymede Park in Herndon. Classifieds, Page 6 Classifieds, v Entertainment, Page 8 v Opinion, Page 4 Herndon on a Holiday High News, Page 5 Connector Requested in home 12-12-19 home in Requested Time sensitive material. material. sensitive Time Bus Strike Ends Postmaster: Attention News, Page 3 WSS ECR Postal Customer Postal permit #322 permit Easton, MD Easton, PAID Holiday Entertainment Postage U.S. Calendar, Page 8 STD PRSRT Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection by Mercia Hobson/The Photo December 11-17, 2019 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com See why News millions trust us for Home Herndon Family Escapes Fire & Auto. Two-story home engulfed in flames. Kyle Knight Ins Agcy Inc I’m here to help life go right, by saving you hree children and two Kyle Knight, Agent time and money when you combine your adults safely exited their 11736 Bowman Green Drive home and auto insurance. T Herndon home after it Reston, VA 20190 CALL ME TODAY. caught fire early Monday morning, ACROSS FROM RESTON TOWN CTR. firefighters said. Fairfax County WWW.KYLEKNIGHT.ORG Fire and Rescue, along with 703-435-2300 Loudoun County Fire & Rescue State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company responded to the house fire shortly State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Bloomington, IL before 3 a.m. in the 1100-block of Silver Beech Road in the Herndon area located near Route 7. Firefighters said when they ar- rived, they found a two-story, single-family house with fire on several levels. There were no re- ported firefighter or civilian inju- ries. The cause of the fire is un- known. Photo Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department —Mercia Hobson Fire engulfs Herndon home early Monday morning. Bulletin Board Submit civic/community announce- venue. A portion of the casino Amphora Diner, 1151 Elden Street, ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/ proceeds will benefit the INCspre Herndon. The purpose of this Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome. 501(c )3 educational foundation. luncheon is to celebrate the Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two Don your cocktail or business attire, Christmas holiday together as a weeks before event. gather your staff and join the crowd Chapter, so there will be no speaker at EXO. Ticket prices: Members: $75. or reports from Chapter officers and THURSDAY/DEC. 12 Would you like to contribute a raffle chairs; however, there will be Greater Reston Chamber Holiday prize? Contact Carrie Pulliam at entertainment and the Chapter Celebration. 6-9 p.m. At EXO [email protected] to officers elected in November 2019 for Reston, 1879 Oracle Way, Reston. contribute. the 2020 year will be installed. There will also be door prizes Delicious food, martinis, casino MONDAY/DEC. 16 entertainment, and lots of fun with provided by the Chapter. If you wish your Chamber friends at a unique NARFE Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. At See Bulletin, Page 7 2 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ December 11-17, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Herndon Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Connector Bus Strike Ends Workers reserve Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection right to walk off again if negotiations fail. By Mercia Hobson The Connection ate Sunday night, Amalgamated Transit Union announced the LFairfax Connector bus strike ended. Normal service was ex- pected on Monday. “We still have items to negotiate, but our riders come first and fore- most for us. We are going back to work be- cause their support and that of elected offi- cials and allies have helped us make sig- nificant advances at the table,” said ATU In- ternational President John Costa. “Our strike was a victory, sending a loud and clear message to Transdev that we won’t toler- ate their unlawful tactics at the bargaining table. We do reserve the right to walk off the job again if the good faith bargaining by Transdev disappears.” According to Amalgamated Transit Union, the strike began Thursday, when more than 500 Local 1764 Transdev work- ers walked off the job. Fairfax Connector is a privatized transportation system in the region, managed by the French multina- tional corporation Transdev. On Nov. 9, workers overwhelmingly voted to autho- Elmostafa El Gadoumi, Amalgamated Transit Union Varinderpal Singh Kahlou of Chantilly, Amalgamated rize the strike if necessary. At the time, Local 1764 Transdev worker. Transit Union Local 1764 Transdev worker. Local 1764 was in contract negotiations with Transdev, with workers “frustrated tan Area Transit Authority ser- privatizing the operation at the over poor treatment and unfair labor prac- vices. Employees there had Cinder Bed Road Bus Garage tices,” stated Amalgamated Transit Union been on strike for more than and is considering privatizing in a media release. Their current contract 45 days. However, according the operations of the Metro expired on Nov. 30. to Amalgamated Transit Silver Line. … The disruption Union: “Strong support has of service has created signifi- BUS DRIVER Varinderpal Singh Kahlou of been growing for the Fairfax cant hardships for transit rid- Chantilly stood with fellow picketers at the Connector and Cinder Bed ers in Northern Virginia ... The Connector Garage in Herndon on the Day Road strikes from riders, allies Commission urges WMATA Two of the strike, Friday, Dec. 6. “The strike and elected officials, many of management to take a more is affecting me financially, and we are stand- whom are very concerned active role by resolving the la- ing in the cold so health-wise too. We have about privatization. On Thurs- bor contract at the Cinder Bed been here since 3 a.m., and we will be here day, the Northern Virginia Bus Garage so that that bus until 6 p.m. The company is hostile towards Transit Commission, which service can be restored to pas- its employees, and we want a fair contract appoints a Board Member to sengers as quickly as with increased pay, sick and vacation pay. WMATA on Virginia’s behalf, possible...the Commission … If these companies are not capable of passed a resolution further urges WMATA to evaluate the running this Department, why not the pressuring WMATA on effect of a two-tier wage and County take over and stop wasting taxpay- privatization.” benefit structure between its ers’ dollars.” According to the Resolution: own employees and During the strike, Transdev could only “In exchange for providing contractor’s employees in cur- operate 15 routes on a Sunday service; $154 million annually to the rent and future contracting.” meaning 84 percent of service was shut- Washington Metropolitan Elmostafa El Gadoumi is a down. ATU International President John Area Transit Authority for Local 1764 Transdev worker for Costa had said earlier, on Nov. 9, “Transdev State of Goods Repair needs, the Connector. He and fellow has no place in Fairfax Connector, WMATA, the Virginia General Assembly Local 1764 Transdev workers or any other transit system...They care imposed a 3 percent cap on stood united on the picket line about one thing, making profits.” increases to WMATA’s annual Friday in Herndon. “We are Local concern about the privatization of operating budget. .. WMATA’s fighting for fair insurance,” said services has not solely been related to the management has used, or is Gadoumi. As he turned to go Connector strike. Employees at the Cinder considering using, a variety of back to the picket line, Bed Bus Garage expressed concern about strategies to reduce annual Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1764 Transdev work- Gadoumi stopped. “Tell our cus- the privatization of Washington Metropoli- operating costs, including ers picket in Herndon Friday morning, Dec. 6. tomers, we love them,” he said. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ December 11-17, 2019 ❖ 3 Opinion Oak Hill & Herndon www.ConnectionNewspapers.com @HerndonConnect An independent, locally owned weekly newspaper delivered to homes and businesses. Published by Local Media Connection LLC 1606 King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 Free digital edition delivered to your email box. Go to connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe NEWS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] Kemal Kurspahic Strikers walking by the Capitol Hill, including Editor ❖ 703-778-9414 Annabelle Dennen, 14, Great Falls and Cate Photos contributed [email protected] Coetzee, 14, Great Falls. Strikers on the streets of D.C. Mercia Hobson Community Reporter [email protected] ‘Fridays for Future’ Protests Continue Andrea Worker Contributing Writer on the climate crisis as demanded by science, [email protected] Great Falls youth join the strike. and they have vowed to come back every Fri- Jean Card day until they see it. Production Editor utside of the Library of Congress, DC, and some from our Great Falls commu- It is a cold December day, but that doesn’t [email protected] strikers and a golden retriever sit nity. Some have come after a day in school, deter them. As the light fades over Washing- in playing protest music. Their some have skipped school to be present. ton, two strikers take their shoes off and dance O ADVERTISING: colorful signs read “School Strike They are striking, as they do every Friday, on the sidewalk to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start For advertising information For Climate” and “Fridays For Future.” It is a with the DC branch of Fridays For Future, an The Fire/” [email protected] scene that repeats itself every Friday. The group international organization founded by Greta 703-778-9431 was of many ages and were from Maryland, Thunberg. They are there to demand action —Cate Coetzee Debbie Funk Letters to the Editor Display Advertising/National Sales 703-778-9444 [email protected] more rewarding opportunities ing, when there are families just a sible for destroying the lives of Supporting and, eventually, upward mobility.