Community news
Cuccinelli issues
opinions on abortions
Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli has said the state may impose stricter regulations on facilities that provide abortions, as well as the medical personnel who provide the procedure.
Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion Aug. 20 regarding abortion providers in response to requests from two conservative state delegates. The attorney general's opinion does not mandate any action; it represents his interpretation of existing law based on statutes and court decisions.
The state may impose licensing requirements or regulate the type of equipment or drugs used, according to the opinion, but may not impose regulations that attempt to keep a woman from seeking an abortion.
One of the legislators who requested Cuccinelli review the issue, Prince William County Del. Robert Marshall (R-Dist. 13), was a co-patron of a bill this year that would require clinics that provide abortion services to meet the same standards as outpatient surgical centers, rather than the lower level medical clinic standards that currently apply. The bill did not make it out of committee.
"The state has long regulated outpatient surgical facilities and personnel to ensure a certain level of protection for patients," said Brian Gottstein, a Cuccinelli spokesman. "There is no reason to hold facilities providing abortion services to any lesser standard for their patients."
If the Virginia Board of Health chose to impose such regulations, 17 of Virginia's 21 abortion providers likely would have to close, according to a statement on NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia's website.
"Abortion providers in Virginia are already regulated and held to high state and federal standards, and legal abortion is among the safest medical procedures in the United States," the statement reads. "This opinion is clearly a solution in search of a problem, and a blatant attempt to chip away at women's ability to access reproductive health care."
I-66 HOV ramps to open
for off-peak hours
All drivers soon will be able to use ramps on Interstate 66 that are now restricted to high-occupancy vehicles only.
Once new signs are installed, the ramps at Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road will be open to all drivers during nonpeak hours. They will remain HOV-only during rush hour.
"This is a victory for Northern Virginia commuters," said U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Dist. 11), who requested the change in May.
Connolly, who called the closed access "nonsensical," thinks the move will reduce congestion on local roads by making it easier for traffic to get on I-66.
NVCC career training day set for Sept. 8
Northern Virginia Community College is playing host a free Career Training Open House on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Ernst Cultural Center on NOVA's Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike.
Attendees can learn about more than 50 affordable career training programs in health care, business, information technology, trades and more. Workshops will cover financial aid and scholarship resources.
Public agencies that provide resources for career training, such as SkillSource and Virginia Employment Commission, will supply information and answer questions.
In addition, NOVA representatives will discuss both credit and continuing education training programs.
For more on the Career Training Open House, go to http://www.nvcc.edu.
Movie to benefit
VFW Post 8469 in Fairfax
SEVERE CLEAR, a documentary shot by Marine Lieutenant Mike Scotti during the invasion of Iraq, will be screened at 7: 30 p.m. Thursday at the Fairfax Corner 14, 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax. Shot on a mini-DV, the film originally was meant to be shared only with Scotti's family and friends. Upon his return, however, the footage found its way to director Kristian Fraga at Sirk Productions.
Fraga took the 60 hours of film and in five years created a narrative arc that has been compared to "Full Metal Jacket."
The film won an award for cinematography at the Rome Film festival. Money raised from the screening will go to Blue and Gray VFW Post 8469 in Fairfax Station. Tickets are available at www.movietickets.com.
Registration ongoing for annual Halloween parade
The annual Vienna Halloween Parade will take place Oct. 27. Registration for the event is open. This year's theme is "Pride of Vienna- Sportsmanship Through Players, Coaches and Fans" with Mark Meana and Bill Cervnak serving as this year's co-grand marshals.
Those looking to participate can submit completed 2010 Parade Packets by Sept.30. Packets are available on the town's website at www.viennava.gov.
Special pickup requests must be submitted by Oct. 1
Residents must request a special pickup by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1 to receive a special pickup this year. This is a service for Town of Vienna residents only. No orders for special pickups will be taken from October through January because of leaf collections.
For information on collectable items, or to schedule your special pickup, call the Special Pickup hotline at 703-255-5727.
Herndon High parking
permits available
Parking permits will be available for purchase in the Security Office from 8 a.m. to noon Sept.1 and 2. Students must bring a copy of their driver's license, completed parking application signed by parents and student and $200 check payable to Herndon High School. Applications can be found at www.fcps.edu/HerndonHS.
Permits also will be available for purchase in the cafeteria during lunches the first two weeks of school.
Herndon Labor Day Festival scheduled for Sept. 6
The Town of Herndon will play host to a day of music, crafts, and food from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 6 on the Herndon Town Green.
The event features wine and beer from local vendors. Admission for designated drivers is $8. For adults, admission is $15. Children and minors are admitted free. Bringing pets is
discouraged.
A schedule of the day's events, vendors and entertainment can be found on the town's website at www.Herndon-va.gov.
Road paving in progress
The annual asphalt repaving project is planned to improve the safety of the town streets. This schedule is subject to change depending upon weather conditions and/or unforeseen mechanical breakdowns. Message boards, flyers and handouts and the town's website will be utilized to keep the public informed of any changes. For more information, call the Herndon Maintenance Facility, Public Works at 703-435-6860.
Work began Monday on a number of town streets. Future paving on Van Buren Street between Elden and Monroe streets and northbound lanes from the intersection of Spring and Van Buren streets to the W&OD trail are pending.
Residents can check this page for updates and changes to the schedule.
During milling and paving operations, vehicular access and parking will be restricted along these streets. Notices will be provided door-to-door, as well as no parking signs will be posted to advice residents of parking restrictions and disruptions.
Residents should pay attention to message boards for information and use alternate routes during milling and paving to avoid delays. Call 703-435-6860 for more information.
Reston board directors seek volunteers
Reston Association Board of Directors seeks applicants to fill vacancies on its Fiscal, Elections and Communications advisory committees. Interested applicants can apply by sending a brief statement of interest by Sept. 13, to fax number (703) 435-6516, e-mail cate@reston.org or mail to Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square, Reston 20190, ATTN: Board Committee Application.
Festival on the Square scheduled for Oct. 16
A day of family fun and entertainment at Reston Heights will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16. The day begins with a Reston Interfaith Walk to End Homelessness. Stay for the activities, music and the Z-Car Club Show. Those attending should meet at 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive.
An article in the Aug. 18 edition of Fairfax County Times ("Scarred by charges, teacher allowed to return to classroom") incorrectly referred to Bill Cummings as a spokesperson for Sean Lanigan. Cummings is a friend of the Lanigan family.