
(Updated on April 4) John Farrell, an attorney and longtime Reston resident, has officially withdrawn his candidacy in the crowded race for District 7 in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Farrell, who is currently running for a seat on Reston Association’s Board of Directors — a body he currently serves on — said the move was motivated by the inclusion of another candidate in the race.
In an email to FFXnow, Farrell said he is endorsing Karen Keys-Gamarra for the seat.
When Karen Keys Gamara announced her candidacy, I knew we had our candidate. She has spent her career representing kids in need of services before the courts More than 18,000 residents in HD 7 have already voted for Karen multiple times. We know her, we know her values and her commitment to our future and our children’s future. We’ve also seen her in action, fighting for our community and standing firm against efforts to force a far right agenda on Fairfax County schools.
Farrell said he entered the race in an effort to fight for Robert Simon’s founding principles for Reston.
Karen Keys-Gamarra, an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, announced her bid to succeed Del. Ken Plum in early March.
Plum announced his intention to retire in late February following more than four decades in public office.
Keys-Gamarra has served on the school board since 2017. She is currently chair of the comprehensive planning development committee, a member of the Board Audit Committee, and a liaison to the Title I Parent Advisory Committee, the Fairfax County Planning Commission, and Educate Fairfax.
She also works as an attorney who handles family law matters, and she serves as a court-appointed guardian and litem in Northern Virginia.
She will face fellow candidates Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth and Mary Barthelson in the June 20 primary for District 7, which extends from Route 7 north of Reston down to Waples Mill Road near Oakton.
Early voting for the primary begins on May 6 and the Democratic primary is set for June 9. The general election is slated for Nov. 7.
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Camps are just the beginning of what’s in store at Art House 7 this summer. We’re thrilled to offer an array of exciting classes for both kids and adults!Rediscover your creativity with some of our AH7 favorites, such as drawing, hand-sewing, modern embroidery, and our popular 3-week Jump into Crochet classes. But that’s not all! We’ve added some fresh and exciting options to our summer class selection, guaranteed to spark your imagination.
To enhance your artistic journey, we have intensified some of our Ceramics: The Wheel classes to a full 3-hour duration. This extended time allows for more creativity and skill development in each class session. If you’re eager for a captivating twist, give Contemporary Still-Life Drawing & Painting a go. Or why not try an immersive outdoor painting adventure? We have a unique opportunity for you to bring your painting skills to life while learning and creating in the great outdoors with our Landscape Painting: Studio and Plein Air class!
We invite you to visit our website and explore our full Summer Session schedule, brimming with a diverse range of classes and camps. Classes and camps begin June 20th. Unleash your inner artist, broaden your horizons, and embark on a summer adventure like no other. Let’s make this a summer to remember at Art House 7!

Potomac Harmony Chorus has a new director! We’re ready
to kick off the season with new music, a new approach, and YOU!
Potomac Harmony is one of 500 choruses in Sweet
Adelines International. We’re a vibrant,
contemporary, inclusive, welcoming, and open community of women singers who
perform four-part harmony, barbershop style, committed to a high level of
achievement through teaching, mentoring, personal growth, and performance. Our vision is to entertain, educate, and
enrich lives through musical expression while promoting the barbershop art
form.
Potomac Harmony recently had our first performance
with our new director, receiving rave reviews! We invite you to stop by any Wednesday
evening and be part of the fun and harmony!
Army Birthday Festival – Free and Fun
Make Saturday, June 10, 2023 a great day!
Come celebrate the Army Birthday Festival at the National Museum of the U.S. Army from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Rain or Shine!
• Experience outdoor and indoor fun activities, for all
Unveiling of West Ford historical highway marker
Gum Springs will be celebrating 190 years of its founding by freedman West Ford on Saturday, June 17, 2023. To kick-off the celebration, there will be an unveiling of a Virginia historical highway marker for West Ford on Fordson Road