PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Elkton, MD Herndon PERMIT #31 Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Requested in home 7-31-08 Acoustic Don Browning of Winchester, Jam plays along on his guitar at one of the recent acoustic jam sessions at Frying Pan Farm ”E,” Page 10 Park. Browning who works at the park said that this was his first time attending the session, saying, “I thought I would give it a try.” Classifieds, Page 17 Classifieds, ❖ Sports, Page 14 ❖ Real Estate, Page 13 Real Estate, ❖ Faith, Page 13 ❖ Opinion, Page 8 Express Bus To Lose /The Connection Funding News, Page 3 ‘Lose the Tuning Up Training Wheels’ Music Skills News, page 3 News, Page 3 Photo by Robbie Hammer Photo July 30-August 5, 2008 ❖ Volume XXII, Number 31 www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Herndon Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2008 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Herndon Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Herndon Connection Editor Steven M. Mauren News 703-917-6451 or [email protected] Toll Road Express Bus To Lose Funding Wiehle metro station was originally sup- State to halt posed to open. money in 2010. “I don’t believe, at least for the county staff, that this was a surprise. [The bus ser- By Julia O’Donoghue vice] was supposed to build a transit mar- The Connection by Photo ket for rail, which was really our vision,” said Hill. eston resident Jane Baniewicz has taken the express commuter Julia O’Donoghue BUT THE LOSS of express bus funding has Rbus along the Dulles Toll Road left the county in a bind. With the future of five days per week since they Dulles rail murky, the Fairfax Board of Su- started running the service in 1999. pervisors has requested that the Metropoli- Her employer in downtown D.C. offers a tan Airports Authority provide the extra subsidy to employees who use public tran- money for the Dulles corridor service until sit, so it beats a carpool, she said. the rail station opens at Wiehle Avenue. “It is a great service. I think it goes back /The Connection Through a spokesperson, the airports and forth to Reston until midnight,” said authority said they “hadn’t addressed” the Baniewicz, while standing at the Wiehle issue of express bus service yet. transit station at 7:30 a.m. July 28. The county is also looking at all of its Erin Williams, another Reston resident, options, said Rick Stevens, Fairfax County’s also had nothing but good things to say Dulles Rail Project manager. about the toll road bus. People board an express bus to the Pentagon at the Wiehle Avenue “That is two years away. We haven’t even “I like it, absolutely. I ride it every day,” transit hub. State transportation officials plan to cut funding for the thought about it. … As to what you could said Williams who pulled out a book out to bus in 2010. do to make up that money,” said Stevens, read during the ride. She did not have time who did think local government would have to crack it during her wait at the station, With gas prices skyrocketing, the county Toll Road. But next year, Virginia plans to to make up some of difference on its own. since the express bus arrives about every expects to see seven percent growth in ex- transfer operation of the Dulles Toll Road “The county funds most of the other con- five minutes during the morning rush hour. press bus ridership overall, according to a to the Metropolitan Washington Airports nector bus service. … I think the additional As quickly as the express buses pull up, letter written by Katharine Ichter, director Authority and, in 2010, the money will be funds need to be made up by the county,” so too, does a new line of passengers form of the Fairfax County Department of Trans- needed to help fund the Dulles Rail project, said Stevens. to board them at Wiehle Avenue. The park- portation said Corey Hill, the commonwealth’s chief Ichter may have a different opinion. In ing lot was filled to the brim on a late July of public transportation. her letter to Hill, the county director said morning and at least 20 people had gath- SO IT was with much disappointment that “I couldn’t give it to [the county] anymore Fairfax would not be able to maintain the ered in the 10-minute window it took for Fairfax County learned Virginia’s Depart- because I won’t have it. … The rail project same level of express bus service in the the 7:55 a.m. express bus bound for the ment of Rail and Public Transportation is the number one priority for the toll rev- Dulles corridor should it have to compen- Pentagon to show up. planned to reallocate $6.6 million of the enue and the county staff is aware of that,” sate for the funding gap on its own. In June, Fairfax County estimated the express bus service’s funding in July of said Hill. “We will not be able to rely on our gen- express bus service in the Dulles corridor 2010, well before Metro rail extension to He added that Fairfax County and the eral revenues because the county is facing — which goes to the West Falls Church Wiehle will be completed. commonwealth had also discussed an end a $350 million shortfall,” wrote Ichter in a metro station, Crystal City and the Penta- Virginia’s public transit office had been to the state subsidy. Virginia’s public trans- June 17 letter. She added that a reduction gon — serves about 8,000 residents and providing the money — which accounts for portation department has been providing in service or increase in fare would result provides at least 15,000 one-way trips for half of the express bus service’s total bud- the funding since 1999 and was expecting in a drop in participation, despite the in- individuals daily. get — through fees collected on the Dulles to stop the transfer around 2009, when the crease in gas prices. Hitting the High Notes Students make joyful It ran June 23-July 18, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. noises at band and “I’d recommend it to others because it’s fun,” said Lucy. “The teachers are really nice Photo by Photo orchestra camp. and you can actually get up to a higher level of playing; I went from beginning band to By Bonnie Hobbs cadet.” The Connection A Greenbriar East Elementary sixth- Bonnie Hobbs grader, Nick Reid is in his first year of saxo- or Lucy Klene, who’s played clarinet phone and also came to the camp for the Ffor a year, Franklin Middle School’s first time. “My mom said it would give me Band and Orchestra Camp was a a head start on the saxophone,” he said. “I chance to improve her skills. It was also all learned all the notes on it, and my favorite / The Connection about the new. piece of music was ‘Lamb Chop Rock.’ It’s a “I like playing clarinet and wanted to get mixture of two songs — ‘Mary Had a Little more practice,” said Lucy, a rising seventh- Lamb’ and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.’ The grader at Franklin. “I’ve learned some high camp was cool.” notes and some new music and made a ton The camp’s symphonic band director, of new friends.” Brian Steffens, plays French horn and di- She was one of 657 students from 95 el- rects band at Stone Hill Middle in Ashburn. From left, Amanda Yi and Kara Blackmon, both of Floris Elementary, and ementary and middle schools who partici- Katy Lambert of St. Joseph’s Middle School, play the song, “Pop Cul- pated in Franklin’s 21st annual music camp. See Music Camp, Page 9 ture,” in concert band. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Herndon Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2008 ❖ 3 Week in Herndon News Police Investigate Fatal Crash Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Tuesday morning, July 29, on Herndon Parkway. At 9:56 a.m., officers responded to a motorcycle crash on Herndon Parkway Inspiring the Dream near Cavendish Street. Preliminary investigation by the Herndon Police Crash Reconstruction officers is that the driver, Scott T. Norman 31-year-old male of Herndon was traveling eastbound Diamond Dream on Herndon Parkway approaching Cavendish Street. Police said Norman lost control, crossed over the median and struck a bar- Foundation gives rier. Norman was pronounced dead at Reston Hospital. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Herndon Po- the magic of lice Department by phone at 1-703-435-6846. baseball. Harrison Indicted in Son’s Death By Andrew Dodson The Connection by Photo A Fairfax County Grand Jury indicted Miles Harrison on July 21 for manslaughter in the altimore Oriole Hall of July 8 death of his son, Chase Harrison. The Famer Al Bumbry is a Dodson Andrew child had been left in the back seat of the winner. His baseball ca- family’s vehicle when Harrison had parked at B reer saw rookie of the his workplace in Herndon. year honors in 1973 and a World Harrison was taken into custody by the Fairfax Series championship in 1983. To- County Sheriff’s Office and held pending a bond day though, he takes his love for of $5,000. /The Connection the game and shares it with the A court date has been set for Aug. 27. Harrison younger generation. “I’ve always enjoyed helping Gas Station Robbery Reported kids with baseball,” said Bumbry.