Thursday, March 21, 2013
In Israel, President gives candlesticks and goblet created by Zachary Oxman to Israeli Prime Minister's children.
President Barack Obama is in Israel, where on Wednesday he exchanged gifts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among the gifts: Sabbath candlesticks for Netanyahu's daughter and a Kiddush (ceremonial wine) goblet for his son created by artist Zachary Oxman. Oxman, 44, is a native Restonian who now lives and works in Bethesda, Md. He is the sculptor who created the "Bronze Bob" statue of Reston founder Robert E. Simon that sits on a Lake Anne Plaza park bench. Oxman has created other works for foreign leaders before. Oxman's Judaica collection first came to the attention of the Clinton administration, who asked him to create menorahs. For the Obama administration, Oxman has made gifts presented to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Read the full text of President Barack Obama's speech made at his second inauguration.
Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery Inaugural Address Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 Washington, DC Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that…
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Heading downtown for Barack Obama's second swearing-in and other activities? Patch will tell you what you need to know.
While the crowds may not be as intense as in 2009, when an estimated 1.8 million people came to DC for President Barack Obama’s inauguration, there’s still a lot of info you need to know to survive the day. From Metro closures and changes to where to eat and how to stay warm, Patch has you covered. Transportation Check out Patch’s inauguration travel guide. What to Bring Essentially, you should bring yourself, an ID and as few other items as possible. There’s an extensive list of prohibited items, including backpacks, strollers (in certain areas) and more. See the list of prohibited items at inauguration and related events here. Weather and Staying Warm Right now, forecasts indicate that Monday’s weather will be downright cold with …
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Metro offers several route suggestions to get to the National Mall, the parade route and to the White House on Inauguration Day.
Whether you are attending the inauguration on the National Mall, taking in the parade along Pennsylvania Avenue or cheering the President's return at the White House, you can expect to do a lot of walking on Inauguration Day. Between metro station closures, parade route street closures and bus route changes, you will be using your own two feet to get you where you want to be once you arrive downtown on Metro. See also: Guide to Taking the Metro to the 2013 Presidential Inauguration. To help, Metro has created a list of walking directions from various locations near to the National Mall area: Arlington Cemetery (1.5 miles to Mall) Walk 0.7 miles toward the Lincoln Memorial (away from Arlington Cemetery). Go around the left side of the …
Friday, January 18, 2013
Metro, the Secret Service, the official inauguration committee and others are on Twitter to help you navigate the 2013 presidential inauguration weekend.
Twitter can be a great way to get information on the go about inauguration weather, traffic, Metro transit, events and more on inauguration weekend. President Barack Obama's second inauguration is this Monday, Jan. 21. He'll be sworn in privately on Sunday. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of Twitter accounts you may want to follow if you’re heading into Washington for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, the parade, balls or any related events that weekend. Herndon Patch is on Twitter, too. Follow @restonpatch for local news and info on inauguration day and beyond. WMATA – Metro Rail and Bus @wmata - The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s official Twitter account. @metroinaug - WMATA has also …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Constituents should act quickly to request tickets from their Congressman or Senator for President Obama's Jan. 21 inauguration.
Interested in attending the presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, in January? There are a limited number of tickets, so your best bet is to request them now from your member of Congress. Each Senator and Representative receives a limited quantity of free tickets that they may distribute to the public at their discretion. Congressman Gerry Connolly's (D-11th) office is accepting requests for tickets and will likely enter requests into a lottery. You can fill out a form on the congressman's site here. Congressman Frank Wolf's (R-10th) office is also accepting requests for tickets. You can find a form to fill out here. Although Patch could not find a form on Congressman Jim Moran's (D-8th) website, his office is also likely taking …
Monday, November 12, 2012
President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery on Veterans Day.
President Barack Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2012. Here is an excerpt of the president's remarks: On behalf of the American people, I say to you that the memory of your loved one carries on not just in your hearts, but in ours as well. And I assure you that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. For it is in that sacrifice that we see the enduring spirit of America. Since even before our founding, we have been blessed with an unbroken chain of patriots who have always come forward to serve. Whenever America has come under attack, you’ve risen to her defense. Whenever our freedoms have come under assault, you’ve responded with resolve. Time and again, at …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Virginia is still too close to call as precinct results roll in.
Update 10:04 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 - With all Virginia precincts finally reporting, President Barack Obama received 1,868,191 votes from Virginia voters, according to final but unofficial data from the Virginia State Board of Elections. That's 50.57 percent of the vote. Gov. Mitt Romney received 1,767,692 votes, or 47.85 percent. The three third-party candidates on the ballot received a combined 1.42 percent of votes, and write-in candidates the remainder. The race was too close late Tuesday night, even hours after multiple national news outlets called the race nationally. ------------- Original post, Tuesday, Nov. 6 updated 2 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were re-elected Tuesday night, …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Candidates discussed the Middle East, defense and more.
With Election Day fast approaching, President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney faced off in the third and final Presidential Debate Monday night. The debate, hosted by Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., focused mainly on foreign policy, including conflicts in the Middle East, the civil war in Syria and the Sept. 11, 2012, killings of four American officials in Libya. Romney congratulated Obama for successfully killing Osama bin Laden, but ultimately questioned his policies on the Middle East, charging that the unrest in Egypt and Libya had created a “rising tide of chaos.” He said America needed an expansive plan to handle the situation. “We can’t kill our way out of this mess,” Romney said. “We’re going to have to put in place a very …
Monday, October 22, 2012
New poll out Friday puts Virginia votes in 'toss-up' status with Romney ahead of Obama 50 percent to 47 percent in Virginia.
Can Bruce Springsteen help President Obama win Virginia? The popular singer will perform in a free concert Tuesday in Charlottesville on the president's behalf. He did the same for the president last week in Ohio, considered another must-win state in the election. The fight for Virginia votes is getting more intense. With Election Day two weeks from Tuesday, Virginia is becoming one of the most important swing states in the presidential election, and the candidates are pulling out all the stops in trying to win the state on Nov. 6. "I consider it one of the three crucial states," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington-based newsletter, counting the others as Ohio and Colorado, the …
Jayne Byrnes
3:00 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Jayne Byrnes I took a class taught by Laney at her home in Reston. She's a great artist and a truly fun person. I'm very glad the apple fell right next to the tree! more ›