| Can't
Take The Heat? |
| Get
Out of Washington, D.C. |
| Way back before air conditioning, Washington, D.C., residents,
including senators, congressmen and presidents, would leave
their steamy homes and offices in the capital city and head
for the hills. |
| The hills in Loudoun County, that is, where the air was
cooler, cleaner and the nights were more refreshing, and where
you could get a good night's sleep. |
| Loudoun Countyäthe farther west the betteräwas vacation
heaven for the sweaty population of Washington. |
| Oddly, air conditioning hasn't changed things all that much.
The August of 2001 has proved that Washingtonians, along with
people from Fairfax, Montgomery and even Loudoun counties,
think that it's just too hot here. |
| Unfortunately, it's just too hot everywhere. I tried to
escape the sweltering weather in Herndon by taking off for
a week to the normally cool and dry Michigan. Today it's 90
degrees with humidity to match. If I didn't know better I
would think I was back home in Virginia. |
| But I've got one leg up on some of these Michiganders: I've
got air conditioning. In Michigan? You bet. I'm no fool and
figured out that even if I used the air conditioning two weeks
a year it was a great investment. |
| So do my friends and neighbors: I've had a lot of visitors
this week. |
| I'm not the only one to leave the Washington area this August.
Vice President Cheney is fly fishing someplace, and President
Bush left to spend most of August on his Texas ranch, where
the weather is only 100 degrees. |
| OK, so I don't get the part of the 100 degrees, but Bush
and Cheney might as well leave Washington in August because
who cares about politics in August? Matter of fact, who really
cares about politics in September? |
| Hey, Mr. VP and Mr. President: See you in October. |
| The president has been severely criticized by the media
for taking long vacations: This vacation is 31 days long. |
| The Washington Post really blasted President Bush's vacation
schedule. "By the time President Bush returns to Washington
on Labor Day after the longest presidential vacation in 32
years," The Washington Post reported, "he will have spent
all or part of 54 days since the inauguration at his parched
but beloved ranch. That's almost a quarter of his presidency. |
| "Throw in four days last month at his parents' seaside estate
in Kennebunkport, Maine, and 38 full or partial days at Camp
David, and Bush will have spent 42 percent of his presidency
at vacation spots or en route." |
| I personally don't know why that would be a bad thing. After
all, most Americans don't live in Washingtonäactually only
a fraction of them doäand being away from the White House
would make for a great way of seeing people around the country
in their own settings. |
| I still like Cheney's idea of fly fishing, no matter where
it is. |
| |
| Visine
for Herndon |
| The famous Herndon eyesoreäthe old Citgo gas station on
the corner of Station and Elden streetsämay soon be a thing
of the past. |
| While the proposal to turn the corner into a three-story
office and retail facility has a long way to go before it
becomes reality, it ultimately will be up to the Herndon Town
Council to approve the project. |
| The proposal has been submitted to the Town of Herndon staff
for review, the beginning of a long and arduous journey through
the different boards and hearings until the seven town council
members stand in judgment. |
| The council's judgment has not always been the subject of
favorable reviews by the taxpaying public in Herndon. But
this project should be a no-brainer. |
| The proposal was submitted by former Herndon Town Councilman
Steve Mitchell, who has proved his worth as a developer. Mitchell
was the driving force and prime developer of the buildings
along Station Street, an area which should be the blueprint
of other downtown development. William H. Lauer is Mitchell's
partner. |
| Dennis Beese, the architect of the project, was quoted last
week in an Observer story as saying, "The existing eyesore'
and embarrassment to the Town of Herndon will be replaced
with a building that will enhance the historic area." |
| Beese added that the building's design was influenced by
the style of Louis Sullivan, a turn-of-the century architect
known for his integration of ornament and structure who pioneered
some of the Midwest's most famous buildings. Beese was quoted
from a letter he had written to the Herndon town staff. |
| Lauer said in the Observer story that the historic design
of the building would fit well with the surrounding architecture
and environment. "It's an authentic clock-tower building from
the 20s," he said. |
| While the process of approval for this development will
be serious, let us hope that the Town Council refrains from
throwing road blocks in the way. |
| Most residents are just plain sick and tired of that old
eyesore, and finally we have a plan to improve it. |
| And that's Our Town this week. |
