Letter: Herndon Is A Welcoming Community; Don't Tear Down Chamber

Editor's Note: Barbara Glakas is a member of the Herndon Historical Society and writes the monthly Remembering Herndon's History column for Herndon Patch. She is speaking on her own behalf and not as a representative of HHS or Herndon Patch.

To the Editor,

I was sad to read the op-ed from Councilwoman Donielle Scherff, “Herndon Needs To Face Shared History And Current Reality,” 7/22/24.

The town of Herndon is a welcoming community and has celebrated its diversity in a variety of ways. And diversity and inclusiveness is not only about ethnic diversity, but also about religious, age, ability, political and gender diversity. The councilwoman seems to base her whole assertion that Herndon needs to be more inclusive based on the selection of music that is played at the Friday Night Live (FNL) concerts on the town green. The Chamber of Commerce’s FNL concert series is probably the biggest and most successful summer event in Herndon. The Chamber is a non-profit, and they get to determine their own music line-up, just like Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern gets to determine its own live music line up on Thursday nights. That music might not be for everyone, but that does not mean that Herndon is not inclusive.

The Herndon Festival boasted a variety of cultural music, as does Herndon’s July 4th celebration. The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department ran both of those events and could be encouraged by the town council to plan even more events that highlight diversity.

The town council has wisely set up a $60,000 Community Cultural Festival Fund, in which non-profits can apply for up to $15,000 from the town as start-up money to organize new festivals. In the last couple of years, Herndon has had a Juneteenth Festival, a Pride Festival and a Pakistani Day. And in the works is a “?Que Pasa?” Latino Festival, and a Multicultural Festival. We do not need to tear down our Chamber of Commerce and their Friday Night Live concerts in order to celebrate diversity in other ways. We should be able to do it all.

I chose to live in Herndon many years ago because of its diversity and its respect for all.

Barbara Glakas

Herndon, VA