Frying Pan Farm Park is a fully operational farm, growing vegetables and raising livestock, includ- ing chickens and goats. NewcomersNewcomers && CommunityCommunity GuideGuide 2016-20172016-2017 Oak Hill ❖ Herndon Photo by Renée Ruggles/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comLocal Media Connection LLC Oak Hill/Herndon Connectiononline at ❖www.connectionnewspapers.com Newcomers & Community Guide 2016-17 ❖ 1 Sterling l 46301 Potomac Run, Unit 150, 20164 • Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm 21800 Towncenter Plaza 1051 Edwards Ferry Road Sterling, VA 20164 Leesburg, VA 20176 703-450-5453 703-771-4688 www.sterlingappliance.com 2 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ Newcomers & Community Guide 2016-17 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Newcomers & Community Guide Welcome to Fairfax County By Sharon Bulova Northern Virginia Com- County Schools: Chairman, Fairfax County Board of munity College are lo- Supervisors cated just down the road for affordable higher Teaching for 21st Century elcome to Fairfax County, education opportunities one of the greatest places in many different subject What’s new at different ways to design instructional Win the nation to live, fields. Our business- practices to support the development of work, play and raise a friendly economy en- these essential skills. family. Fairfax County is home to a thriv- sures career opportuni- Fairfax County We are also working to define contem- ing business community, vibrant enter- ties for both our older porary teaching and learning practices tainment and shopping destinations, a and younger residents. Public Schools. while better integrating technology. For world class university, beautiful parks, and On the local government level, the Fairfax example, through a a diverse population of engaged residents. County Board of Supervisors is constantly By Dr. Karen K. Garza pilot program we are Whether you are a long-time resident or are hard at work to ensure quality public ser- Superintendent, Fairfax County calling FCPSOn — new to the county, I hope you’ll take some vices for our residents. Our 10-member Public Schools this year we begin time to visit some of our most popular spots Board of Supervisors strives to maintain evaluating how digi- to enjoy what Fairfax County has to offer. positive community engagement, while elcome to the 2016-17 tal resources can best Tysons Corner and Fair Oaks Malls, Reston strategically planning for the future with W school year in Fairfax scaffold that model — Town Center, Fairfax Corner, Springfield land use and infrastructure decisions. County Public Schools. and how we provide Town Center and the Mosaic District are Some recent accomplishments include With each new school year, we have teachers and students great places to shop, eat and spend time updating many of our police policies, es- the wonderful opportunity to build with the tools and with friends. For cultural destinations, tablishing a Diversion First program for upon our previous successes and con- policies needed to fa- George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate people with mental illness who become in- tinue to improve our work with our cilitate the use of that and Wolf Trap National Park for the Per- volved with law enforcement, and success- students. technology. forming Arts are two of my favorites. And fully extending Metrorail to Tysons and We are continuing to look to our Por- One change you will see this school for enjoying the arts along with community Reston, with Phase 2 of the Silver Line cur- trait of a Graduate and our strategic plan year is a new central website and a new gatherings like Springfest and Brewfest, the rently under construction all the way to in shaping our future work. Our most FCPS logo. Our new website will better Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton is a must. Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County. pressing challenge is making this vision serve everyone — it is mobile responsive, For fresh air and exercise, I recommend our Fairfax County offers opportunity and a reality for every child in our system. features more modern design — and extensive network of trails, parks and quality services for residents of all ages. How do we refine what we do to ensure search will work. As we modernized our RECenters. People from all over the globe have made that all of our students graduate well- website, we also believed it was time to While there are a lot of fun things to do Fairfax County their home, enriching our prepared for this rapidly changing reimagine the FCPS logo. While the pre- in Fairfax County, our community is notori- community with their diverse cultures and world? We acknowledge that this is a vious logo has served us well for 40 years, ous for our “work hard, play hard” ethic. entrepreneurship. Please visit daunting challenge, but there is no we heard from many that it was time to Time Magazine has described us as the epi- www.fairfaxcounty.gov or www.fxva.com to school system in the United States more transform our logo to one reflective of center of the Washington region’s job boom learn more about what Fairfax County has well-prepared and well-equipped to ef- who we are now and who we aspire to and one of the great economic success sto- to offer you and your family. fectively respond to these important is- be in the years to come. ries of our time. Fairfax County is home to As chairman of the Board of Supervi- sues. Our new logo includes a tie to our eight Fortune 500 company headquarters, sors, I am elected at-large by Fairfax The goals of education can no longer legacy, while representing our role as a more than 8,400 technology firms, and over County residents. My office is here to simply be to provide the basic literacy catalyst — sparking curiosity, learning 116.2 million square feet of office space. serve you. If you have any questions or skills for the majority of the students, and excellence for our students, employ- Fairfax County has one of the best public concerns, please email me at while reserving the teaching of skills for ees and community. school systems nationwide with a gradua- [email protected] or give my higher order 21st century thinking for a I wish all students, teachers, parents tion rate topping 90 percent. Our school office a call at 703-324-2321. I hope you select few. As we learn more about the and the entire FCPS community a very system is the 10th largest in the country will sign up to receive my monthly Bulova skills our students will need for success successful and fulfilling school year in with nearly 187,000 students and 196 Byline newsletter that will keep you up- in this changing world, we recognize the FCPS where all are engaged, inspired, schools and centers. After high school to-date on what is happening in your com- need to innovate — to consider new and and thrive. graduation, George Mason University and munity! Welcome to your new home. ‘Insider’s Tip’ to New Businesses visors uses to fund the full Fairfax County Economic Development Authority helps in range of high-quality public services for which Fairfax starting or expanding business in the county. County is well-known. Building the commercial tax base means By Gerald L. Gordon (FCEDA), works with everyone who wants to We have a complete database that residents don’t have to President and CEO, Fairfax County start or expand a business in the county. of office space options in every Courtesy photo pick up all the costs of provid- Economic Development Authority For aspiring entrepreneurs, we host “En- part of the county, and we can Gerald L. ing those services. trepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in help you navigate that process Gordon, Ph.D. The FCEDA has been work- f you are new to Fairfax County, wel- Fairfax County” workshops almost every so you become an established ing for more than 50 years with Icome to one of the world’s most in month. Some 4,000 people have attended part of the business community. entrepreneurs and owners of businesses teresting places to live and work. If one of these workshops since 2003 and you Why do we do this? The Fairfax County of every size to enlarge the commercial you are new to the county and are inter- will find a wealth of local, state and federal Board of Supervisors charged the FCEDA tax base and make the Fairfax County ested in being part of our dynamic busi- resources to help you map out starting a with building a business community — help economy one of the strongest anywhere. ness community, here is an “insider’s tip” business here. If you need office space, the companies create jobs and fill office space Visit www.fairfaxcountyeda.org to see that you will want to know: The Fairfax FCEDA helps businesses find the office space — to build the commercial tax base. This how the Economic Development Author- County Economic Development Authority they need so they can grow in the county. generates revenue that the Board of Super- ity can help you. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ Newcomers & Community Guide 2016-17 ❖ 3 Newcomers & Community Guide About the Connection s your local, weekly KEEP IN TOUCH newspaper, the A ❖ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Email Oak Hill/Herndon to Connection’s mission is to de- [email protected] or submit online at liver the local news you need, www.connectionnewspapers.com/ to try to make sense of what is contact/letter/ happening in your community, ❖ Digital replica editions of this week’s papers are available at to gather information about the www.ConnectionNewspapers.com/ best things in and around your PDFs community, to advocate for ❖ Past issues of the Connection back to 2008 are available at http:// community good, to provide a connectionarchives.com/PDF/ forum for dialogue on local con- ❖ Advertising information, Special cerns, and to celebrate and Section details here www.connectionnewspapers.com/ record achievements, mile- advertising stones and events in the com- ❖ Sign up for a free digital munity and people’s lives.