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Donna Manz

Stories by Donna

Vienna Hosts Two Book Sales

Historic Vienna, Inc. and Friends of Patrick Henry Library offered more than 30,000 used books over April’s first weekend.

It was a big weekend over April 2 and 3 for Vienna-area book fairs. Both Historic Vienna, Inc. and Friends of Patrick Henry Library opened their doors to hundreds of residents and book dealers and offered thousands of inexpensive used books.

Vintage Radio Plays Come to Life in Vienna

Vienna Theatre Company reproduces two mysteries with humor and hard-boiled crime-solving.

The 18-month closure of the Vienna Community Center – renovation time – precipitated some scurrying around by groups that regularly used the center for programming and special events.

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Spring Fun Has Sprung in Vienna

From food festivals to ViVa! Vienna! and things in between, warm weather events blossom in the Vienna area.

Some days, more than others, it appears that spring has finally sprung. Fortunately, events are planned and announced long before the last snowflake has fallen, giving the community things to look forward to …

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Vienna: Fun Things To Do in the Area on Spring Break

You don’t have to fly to have fun.

Not everyone wants to get on an aircraft during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Fortunately, if you live in the Vienna area, there are lots of fun things to do that other Americans pay to do (hint: no hotels, no flights).

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Vienna: Umbria Olive Oil on Area Tables

From the rolling countryside of Umbria to the neighborhoods of Vienna, local oral surgeon brings the best of the best to local tables.

What do you call Washingtonian Magazine’s “Top Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon” living out his alter-ego dream in a parallel universe --- overseeing production of 100 percent pure Italian olive oil and importing the finished product to the U.S?

Vienna: On the Way to Forever Homes

The Korffs of Vienna foster dogs who wait for a family to love them.

For many families, watching the family pup frolic and play around is fun.

Vienna: From Green Bean to ‘Green’

Caffe Amouri wins Virginia Green Restaurant of the Year award.

From cold cups made of corn starch rather than plastic, fettucine coffee stirrers (big hit with little kids), windows that open in warm weather, and coffee grounds set out in a bin for free use by local gardeners, all underscore Amouri’s commitment to sustainability.

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Optimists Present $29,000 Donation to Growing Hope

At Feb. 3 dinner meeting, check presentation and installation of new members.

Northern Virginia, in support of local families confronting childhood cancer.

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Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Honors Volunteers

Fire department, Auxiliary recognizes selfless service in 2015.

Approximately 130 friends of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department came out on Feb. 6 to salute the department’s volunteers and staff for service to the community in 2015.

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Vienna: Cool Things to Do in Winter

When children are off from school in cold weather, there’s still fun to be found.

The children are off from school --- again. It’s winter and it’s cold, and, possibly, snowy. You’ve done the library (Patrick Henry and the Oakton Library), the movies (huge selection at Tysons AMC) and have taken the kids bowling (Bowl America is full of youngsters during “break”).

What to Do This Winter in Vienna

Fun to Fun Fundraisers coming up.

The thought of snow sends Northern Virginians into survival mode, discouraging the scheduling of mega-events.

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Vienna Athlete ‘Slides’ Towards 2018 Winter Olympics

Veronica Day competes in skeleton, nationally and internationally.

While watching the 2010 winter Olympics bobsled and skeleton runs staged in Canada, James Madison High School graduate Veronica Day joked to her college roommate they they, too, should learn to bobsled.

Vienna: What’s on Radar for 2016

Local officials look out over the horizon in the new year in Vienna.

What does 2016 look like to elected officials and the business community serving the greater-Vienna area?

Vienna: New Year’s Hopes, Resolutions

What are your hopes and resolutions for 2016?

Independence Days

For many area seniors, aging-in-place is a strike for self-reliance.

Irene Coyne, 77, fills her days with activities, from crafting jewelry and knitting to volunteer work at a multitude of nonprofit organizations, such as Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

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2015 in Vienna, The Year That Was

Community center renovation was community’s biggest newsworthy story.

Not much in the way of earth-shattering events happens in Vienna and not much changes there every year …

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December Events in Vienna Add Sparkle to the Holidays

From music to ice skating, area makes most of the colder months.

Most holiday fairs have passed by early December but special events and activities remain.

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Where to Find Last-minute Gift Ideas in the Vienna Area

From memorial contributions to over-the-top “wow,” The Connection looks at unique gifts for the holidays

What makes a gift one-of-a-kind? When it is customized to the recipient’s interests and joys. Here are a few last-minute gift ideas, from the noble to the sublime …

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Church Street Holiday Stroll Still Sparkles in the Rain

Hundreds of families enjoy the outdoor and indoor festivities.

A cold drizzle may have dampened the attendance numbers at the annual Church Street Holiday Stroll but it did not dampen the spirits of the guests and strollers who braved the weather conditions on Nov. 30.

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Vienna: Festive Fun Guide for the Holiday Season

From caring and sharing to Santa and shopping, Vienna-Oakton celebrates.

From food drives and coat drives to festive holiday events and activities, there is something for every age group living in the Vienna-Oakton area. Keep this calendar close by …

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Vienna Music Teacher Brightens Day of Underserved Children

Taffy brings performing arts to children in need locally

There are scores of kids you do not read about in the newspapers; they’re not award-winning students or scholarship-bound athletes.

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Television and Big-Screen Comic Comes to Vienna

Comedian and inspirational speaker Mack Dryden headlines benefit for Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna.

When the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCPV) hosts a fundraiser, it does so big-time, pulling in professional artists esteemed in their fields.

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Vienna: Family Fall Fun

From Oktoberfest to the much-anticipated annual halloween parade, Vienna offers a diversity of entertainment.

When the air turns crisp, colorful leaves fall, pumpkins and a halloween parade take over, it’s fall in Vienna.

Family Fun Day at Vienna Town Green

Optimists of Greater Vienna host fundraiser on behalf of Growing Hope.

On the morning of Sept. 19, the Vienna Town Green was filled with live music, laughter and children running around “dunking” local familiar-faces in a dunk tank, jumping in a bounce house, getting faces painted or fingers finger-printed, getting a balloon animal, or nibbling on free refreshments while listening to Donaldson’s Run perform classic rock and pop … all courtesy of the Optimists of Greater Vienna and its fundraising campaign on behalf of Growing Hope and childhood cancer research.

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Vienna Commemorates 9/11

American Legion Post 180 of Vienna hosts annual “A Day to Remember” program.

On a morning much like that of Sept. 11, 2001, the Vienna community commemorated the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States.

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Vienna: Family Fun Day for ‘Growing Hope’

Optimists’ annual event comes to the Town Green on Sept. 19.

The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna hosts its 10th annual Family Fun Day on behalf of “Growing Hope,” in support of children diagnosed with cancer and their families, on Saturday, Sept. 19 on the Vienna Town Green.

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McLean: Middle Eastern Food Festival Returns for Labor Day Weekend

Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church in McLean hosts food and fun for families.

Labor Day weekend marks the “unofficial” end of summer and launches the football season.

'Fiddler on the Roof' Comes to Vienna

Vienna Youth Players brings beloved musical to life.

The musical is an extravaganza of haunting song and spirited dance, focusing on preservation and loss of “traditions” and changing times, and is a departure from the more contemporary pieces the Vienna Youth Players has done.

Vienna Art Center Hosts Young Chinese Art Students

Children from Hope Chinese School Fairfax and from Beijing participate in art center’s evening workshop.

The Vienna Art Center, on Thursday, July 23, hosted a group of young Chinese art students, most from the Northern Virginia area but some from Beijing, as well.

Vienna Art Center Hosts Young Chinese Art Students

Children from Hope Chinese School Fairfax and from Beijing participate in art center’s evening workshop.

The Vienna Art Center, on Thursday, July 23, hosted a group of young Chinese art students, most from the Northern Virginia area but some from Beijing, as well.

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Vienna: Cigar & More Truly Offers ‘More’

New specialty tobacco shop features premium cigars, shoe-shine, and history.

There’s a bespoke new store in Vienna, right on Maple Avenue, and here’s the unique aspect of Cigar & More: it is cigars and more.

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Vienna Arts Society and Soldiers on the Mend Collaborate on July Exhibition

Volunteer artists work with soldiers suffering from PTSD to express themselves visually.

Art, says Vienna Arts Society (VAS) artist Shari MacFarlane, is very healing. The process of creating art from experiences is healing.

Vienna: The Artful Gift Shop Locks Its Door

Handcrafts shop closed on June 27.

Five Vienna businesses closed down in June – Extreme Pizza, Johnny’s Pizza, Lili the First, Out-of-Sight Wines, and The Artful Gift Shop.

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Stroke Comeback Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Community

Virginia House of Delegates recognizes mission of Center.

The Stroke Comeback of Vienna, focusing on communication challenges of stroke survivors, celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 16 with community on-hand, and, with a Commonwealth of Virginia House resolution lauding the Center’s mission and achievements.

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Vienna Optimists Celebrate Anniversary with Free Food and Fun

The Optimists Club of Greater Vienna celebrated its 60th anniversary serving the youth of the community in-style, with a colorful and musical bash on the Town Green on the afternoon of June 14.

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Afternoons on Church Street in Vienna Debuts May 31

Vienna Arts Society hosted kids’ activities, artworks.

Afternoons on Church Street kicked off its debut on a steamy-hot Sunday, May 31, from 1 to 5 p.m., with exhibits and children’s activities planned and hosted by the Vienna Arts Society [VAS].

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Enjoy Vienna Summer

Activities and events abound from June through September.

Activities and events abound from June through September.

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Culinary Kids Compete in Cook-off in Vienna

Culinaria Cooking School debuts competition for young cooking champion.

Calling all culinary kids in Vienna ---- Culinaria Cooking School premieres its first-ever kids’ cook-off competition on June 28.

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ViVa! Vienna! Returns for Three-Day Memorial Day Weekend

Rotary Club and Town of Vienna partner to offer family fun, food, and live entertainment.

Vienna’s most family-friendly, fun-filled festival returns for Memorial Day weekend. ViVa! Vienna!, a celebration of food, live entertainment, amusement rides, and more than 300 merchandise and service vendors, kicks off on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. with food vendors, amusement rides, and live entertainment. Vendors open their booths on Sunday, when Church Street closes down to vehicular traffic. The Historic Church Street corridor turns into a rollicking community-centric party.

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Bike Rodeo Tests Skills, Offers Fun and Safety Tips

The annual Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation rodeo is different from most community events. The police department worked with the children participating as they navigated the obstacle course.

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Recognizing Helping Hands

Vienna Optimists honor sixth-grade students with Helping Hands Awards.

It is not often that elementary school students are recognized for outstanding contributions to school and community at an evening banquet in their honor.

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Taste of Vienna Serves Up Food and Fun

Sponsored by Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, the annual food-fest draws hundreds throughout the day.

The 2015 Taste of Vienna was the chilliest food-fest since its inception – and cloudy, as well - but the weather did not appear to keep away local and not-so-local folks from coming by to sample signature dishes of popular restaurants, and, if you were a kid, to bounce in the bounce house.

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Vienna Rotary Honors ‘Service Above Self’ Recipients

Awards presented to outstanding VPD, VVFD and town employees.

The Rotary Club of Vienna awarded 2014 M. Jane Seeman Service Above Self awards to outstanding members of the Vienna Police Department, Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, and Town of Vienna staff on April 22.

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Greater Vienna Optimists Honor Local High School Juniors

Youth Awards of Excellence renamed in honor of founder TR Cook.

The Optimists’ slogan is, “bringing out the best in kids.” On April 15, the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna recognized outstanding high school juniors from George C. Marshall, James Madison, and Oakton high schools at its newly-renamed TR Cook Awards of Excellence presentation at Madison.

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Historic Vienna, Inc. Used-book Sale Draws Hundreds of Buyers

When the Vienna Community Center opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, book lovers moved in, snaking their way around the hallway.

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Vienna Volunteers Honored

Individuals, businesses, recognized for contributions to community.

More than 35 volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the Vienna community at the 14th Annual Mayor’s Volunteer Reception held on April 14 at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s Flame Room.

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Shepherd’s Center Volunteers Honored

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV), Executive Director Michelle Scott honored SCOV’s 237 volunteers, recognizing outstanding contributions with a pin presentation to several of the service organization’s members.

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Vienna Idol Returns for Fourth Year

Auditions open to vocalists and musicians through May.

Growing bigger every year with stakes growing higher, as well, Vienna Idol kicked off its qualifying rounds – auditions – in early April. Local musical talent is vying for a $1,000 grand prize in 2015.

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Taste of Vienna Serves Up Food and Family Fun on April 25

Thirty restaurants bring their signature dishes to grounds of Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Thirty local restaurants have signed up to participate in the 4th Annual Taste of Vienna celebration, coming up on April 25, on the grounds of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department [VVFD]. Taste of Vienna is sponsored and hosted by the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

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Springtime Events Popping Up in Vienna

From flowers to festival to family fun, there’s something for everyone.

The Egg Roll on the lawn of Freeman House typically marks the start of Vienna’s springtime events. That’s this weekend. April gets a bit more jam-packed with family fun and Memorial Day weekend flaunts one of Northern Virginia’s biggest events, the Rotary Club’s ViVa! Vienna! covering the three-day weekend.