Oak Hill residents might want to drive up the road a few miles on Labor Day to check out the Herndon Labor Day Festival, from 12PM-6PM on Labor Day. Wine from local wineries, brew from local microbreweries, food vendors, a culinary stage, plus craft vendors will mean that you will not have to labor much and enjoy fine food and crafts. The festival will be held on the town green. Details here.
In addition to the earthquake experienced on Tuesday, primaries were held for the general election in November. One of the principle primaries here in Fairfax was the primary for Sheriff. Incumbent Sheriff Stan Barry (D) was unopposed, but will face Bill Cooper (R). Cooper, who retired recently, won the Republican primary with more than 76% of the vote against Wes Kammerer. From a McLean Connection article:
Cooper said his priority is to “keep Fairfax families safe” and would do that by helping track down the county’s more than 4,000 outstanding fugitive warrants and combat the growing gang problem.
The August 23 earthquake made quite a shake locally, registering at 5.8 on the Richter scale. A Chantilly teacher happened to be at the quake epicenter when the quake occurred, and provided her experience on the Chantilly Patch web site.
“It was pretty intense,” she said.
“I was walking up a hill, and it was like the ground was rolling. I had to struggle to keep my balance. It sounded like rolling thunder,” Prescop said. “It was very loud. The power plant is just around the corner from me so I thought maybe something was wrong with that.”
The magnitude 5.8 earthquake experienced yesterday was the most powerful earthquake in our region since 1944. Fortunately it caused very little damage, although some places of business closed. Northern Virginia Community College closed its campuses for the day.
How did it shake here in Oak Hill? A video being filmed locally in Chantilly, Virginia at G&C Tire and Auto in Chantilly captures the earthquake.
If Oak Hill were incorporated, perhaps it could be as proactive as the Town of Herndon, which is planning unique bicycle lanes for the Herndon-Monroe Silver Line Metrorail station, planned for completion in 2016.
For the south side of Herndon Parkway, the town is considering adding a two-way “cycle track,” in lieu of on-street bike lanes, between the lanes of car traffic and new, wider sidewalks for people traveling on foot. Trees and other plantings would liven up the street and be used as a buffer between cyclists and pedestrians.
“There are a lot of people who really aren’t comfortable biking in the street,” said Elizabeth Gilleran, director of Community Development. “Having the separate cycle track actually affords that sense of comfort,” she said, encouraging more people to travel by bike.
As for the area around the future station, think urban density comparable to the Vienna metro station, or more:
As Fairfax County has been doing in its station areas, Herndon plans to allow developers to rebuild the area as a more dense, more urban community that offers places to live, work, shop and dine, all within walking distance of the Metro station.
Thunderstorms and the lightning that accompanies them generally do not cause property damage, but there are exceptions. Thursday thunderstorms destroyed a house in Herndon off the Herndon Parkway. From the Fairfax Fire Department:
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a house fire, Thursday, August 18, 2011, at approximately 5:55 p.m. in the Herndon area of Fairfax County. The single-family home is located at 1112 Artic Quill Road.
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire showing from the roof, rear, and front of the two-story home upon arrival. Firefighters conducted an exterior fire attack and were able to bring the fire under control in approximately 20 minutes. Additionally, firefighters entered the interior of the home to put out hot spots in the attic and second floor and conducted overhaul operations. Three adults have been displaced. Red Cross is assisting the family. There were no injuries.
Damage estimate is to be determined.
The accidental fire was caused by a lightning strike.
From the Washington Post:
Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd., Herndon, is offering a program to address addiction, co-dependency, anger and other self-destructive behaviors, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Celebrate Recovery is a faith-based 12-step program. Child care is provided. 703-793-0026 or recovery@florisumc.org.
Hundreds of unemployed workers marched outside Congressman Frank Wolf’s Herndon district office — they singled him out for voting against a Homeland Security funding measure that could have brought 20,000 jobs to D.C. Courtesy of: Jonathan Wilson
…Our DC has targeted Wolf for voting against Homeland Security funding that they say could have brought 20,000 jobs to D.C.; their “Where’s Wolf” campaign has continued for six separate protests, including one at Wolf’s church in Vienna Aug. 15.