Letter to the Editor: Slicing Up the Transportation Pie

How should various authorities spend more than $189 million in new government dollars for local transportation?

  By Eileen Curtis, President, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce A recent breakfast gathering of the transportation cognoscenti of the region, hosted by the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, posed this question: How will our various Northern Virginia jurisdictions split up the pie of new transportation money?   County leaders or their representatives from Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington and Loudoun comprised the panel of presenters. Perhaps the most interesting information, however, came from the discussion sheets provided to the audience. To preface what we found on the sheets, readers need to recall that several years ago, voters approved the formation of a Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, which until now has had…

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Celebrating the Lenten Season

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” - Daniel 9:3

Letter to the editor: “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry” – Luke 4:1-2.   The Lenten tradition of the Church takes its inspiration from Jesus' 40 days of solitude, prayer, and fasting in the wilderness. Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. This year Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with services, February 13 and ends on …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Herb Kemp for Delegate

Residents of the 86th district should consider Herb Kemp for delegate.

To the Editor: I encourage all Virginia 86th District residents to sign a petition to ensure Herb Kemp is included in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly Delegates Primary. I have known him and his family for many years and the people of the 86th would be in exceptional hands and he would represent you with integrity and passion. Check out his site to learn more and lend your support: http://www.herbkempfordelegate.com. Thanks, Cheryl Pepper

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Too Big To Ignore — The Dodd-Frank Act

The Dodd-Frank Act was intended to be transformative in such a way that hasn’t been seen since the Great Depression.

While there has been much discussion about the “Fiscal Cliff” and the Affordable Care Act aka “Obamacare,” there has been a lack of coverage on a bill that affects nearly every citizen of the world: the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.  How does this 2,000-plus page law affect you? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the financial industry employs about 6 million people but as an industry it touches all of us.  The Dodd-Frank Act was intended to be transformative in such a way that hasn’t been seen since the Great Depression.  To understand the intent of the transformation, it helps to revisit a little history.  The Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall Act) was meant to separate commercial banking …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: In Wake of Newtown We Need to Discuss Teen Suicide

Mental and emotional health needs to be taken seriously.

To the Editor, In the wake of the recent tragedy in Connecticut I want to take this opportunity to talk about Teen Suicide. As a former high school health teacher I am keenly aware of the significance of this problem in our society. In the United States, Suicide is the No. 2 cause of death for youth between the ages of 15 and 24. The Centers for Disease Control did a nationwide survey of high school students and found that 16 percent of the students had seriously considered suicide, 13 percent had reported creating a suicide plan, and 8 percent had reported attempting suicide in the 12 months preceding the survey. Most (81 percent) of the youth who commit suicide are male and the most prevalent (45 percent) method of committing suicide is …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Allen vs. Kaine – Clear Contrast, Critical Turning Point

Making the choice in the Allen vs. Kaine senate race.

We highlight issues including environmental and climate science that others tend to ignore. The records and goals of Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen provide a clear choice. 1. ENERGY Allen: Opposes most “green energy” initiatives Supports offshore drilling, which would seriously threaten:  - Virginia’s robust coastal economy, tourism and natural resources. - the largest military seaport in the world—Norfolk and the entire Hampton Roads metro area - other federal security and scientific operations Kaine: First Va. Governor to establish a state energy plan. The plan calls for use of all Virginia energy sources -- coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, hydropower, biodiesel, wind and solar; would reduce Virginia’s rate of growth in …

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Ann H Csonka

8:50 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

REPEAT: Compare the striking differences, then VOTE FOR TIM KAINE – FOR LIVABILITY AND LEGACY It is obvious to us that Tim Kaine's attitude, abilities and objectives will better serve Virginia and the nation.   more ›

Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Watch for Democratic Signs Disappearing

Sixty two signs have gone missing.

Dear Editor, The surest sign of a loser is when he becomes desperate and loses his grip on reality. The Republican Party has essentially given up on Herndon finding that when voters understand the issues, Republicans can't be taken seriously. From voter suppression to employers threatening employees to pizza joint owners threatening customers, this is the story of today's Republican Party. Locally, over the years I'm sure you've noticed political signage at the Herndon public permitted places. It seems that this year you have to look quickly before all the Democratic signs mysteriously disappear. Of course, as entitled human beings, Republicans don't need to follow rules; not even the eighth commandment. Because, even a first grader knows …

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Ann H Csonka

4:02 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

Hey, Bob -- Ridiculous, yes. But surely not new. You don't recall the widespread vandalism of certain Town election political signs, particularly in 1988 and 1990?   more ›

Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: HHS Renovations are Needed

Falls Church group UPROAR is seeking to jump ahead of Herndon in priority for renovations.

Dear Editor, Herndon High School is scheduled for a much-needed renovation/addition project to address both the deteriorating building conditions and rapidly growing student enrollment, with construction projected to start in about five years. However, a group of Falls Church H.S. parents that calls itself UPROAR is working hard to have the School Board review the renovation queue list and have their school move ahead of Herndon H.S. and many other schools in this FCPS renovation priority list. The renovation priority list has Herndon H.S. at #25, Oakton HS at #30, and Falls Church HS at #45, with Herndon being on the list for planning funds in the 2013 bond package. Of course, if Falls Church gets bumped up, these schools (plus numbers 31…

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VonZipper

6:20 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

Stephanie - irresponsible letter and comments about FCHS. This is a horrible portrayal of information for the readers of the Herndon Patch. You need to send an apology to FCHS parents. You are simply wrong. FCHS parents have not worked with "the School Board review the renovation queue list and have their school move ahead of Herndon H.S. and many other schools in this FCPS renovation priority …   more ›