I just wanted to get reall feed back from people that have lived, been to, or have family or friends living in the Orleans Village apartments and townhomes. I have lived there my entire life, and wanted to hear stories from people about the good and the bad. I hope people can take this as a good opportunity to discuss about certain things in that neighborhood.

The kids that live there are animals.

Cut up the seats in my brand new school bus.

I haven't driven out of Holmes in 10+ years, but I doubt like hell they're any better now.

You own a schoolbus? Isn't gas expensive?

I was probably one of those kids that cut up your seats. I am grown now, and want to apologize for any misfortune that I have caused you. I hope that becasue of a few bad mistakes, you dont have to judge all the kids in that neighborhood by that one mistake.

it is just a thought.

RESton Peace Wrote:
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> You own a schoolbus? Isn't gas expensive?

No dear, FCPS owns it. But it is assigned to me and I'm the only one who drives it. So we commonly use the adjective "my" when referring to the bus that is assigned to us. You shouldn't take things so literally!

The "gas" is free, thank goodness because I burn about 25 gallons A DAY! Actually it is diesel fuel, which is a lower distillate than gasoline. Oddly enough, diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. The County buys huge amounts of the stuff through the Washington Area Council of Governments, so the price is much lower than it is on the street.

Good thing, those big yellow buses only get about 6 miles per gallon!

wow Wrote:
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> I was probably one of those kids that cut up your
> seats. I am grown now, and want to apologize for
> any misfortune that I have caused you. I hope
> that becasue of a few bad mistakes, you dont have
> to judge all the kids in that neighborhood by that
> one mistake.
>
> it is just a thought.

So it was you! Let's meet so I can slap the shit out of you!

Just kidding, wow, if anybody understands youthful indiscretions and believes in "redemption", it is I. I ran away from a foster home when I was 14 and lived on the streets for years. I committed crimes to survive and was convicted and jailed for it. But, 20+ years later, I consider myself a good citizen of our great County!

bus driver Wrote:
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> So it was you! Let's meet so I can slap the shit
> out of you!
>
> Just kidding, wow, if anybody understands youthful
> indiscretions and believes in "redemption", it is
> I. I ran away from a foster home when I was 14
> and lived on the streets for years. I committed
> crimes to survive and was convicted and jailed for
> it. But, 20+ years later, I consider myself a
> good citizen of our great County!

I was a teenage runaway for 32 years. I was a boozer, a user and a loser. Now I'm back in school, and while the faces have changed, the problems are all the same.

Jeri Blaaaaaaank Wrote:
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> I was a teenage runaway for 32 years. I was a
> boozer, a user and a loser. Now I'm back in
> school, and while the faces have changed, the
> problems are all the same.

Nice Strangers with Candy reference.

bus driver Wrote:
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> gasoline. The County buys huge amounts of the
> stuff through the Washington Area Council of
> Governments, so the price is much lower than it is
> on the street.
>

You really don't want to be buying your diesel on the street. I hear the street dealers put all kinds of stuff in their shit. Plus, like you said, the street price is really high.

I ran away from home at 47 and lived on the streets for years. I'm 64 now and going to school to be a chiropracter. The future is looking bright these days!

Bob Wrote:
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> Jeri Blaaaaaaank Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I was a teenage runaway for 32 years. I was a
> > boozer, a user and a loser. Now I'm back in
> > school, and while the faces have changed, the
> > problems are all the same.
>
> Nice Strangers with Candy reference.


who watches that garbage?

what a loser Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bob Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Jeri Blaaaaaaank Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I was a teenage runaway for 32 years. I was a
> > > boozer, a user and a loser. Now I'm back in
> > > school, and while the faces have changed, the
> > > problems are all the same.
> >
> > Nice Strangers with Candy reference.
>
>
> who watches that garbage?


Ummm, nobody, since it hasn't been on the air for like 6 or 7 years or something like that.

But if you watched any show on Comedy Channel around 2000 or so, you probably saw commercials for it. That's where I heard that quote a thousand times.

I am very grateful to have everyone post here. Not to be a dick, but I hope that we can stick to thoughts about the Orleans Village/Lincolnia area. I also like the idea of people posting personal and life transforming stories. I think, that is a huge part of what Orleans Village is about. I too, was a knuckle head. I got involved in drugs and gangs. Grew up in a broken home. But know, I am a high school graduate. Attending a University, and going to graduate in 2010. And thank you, for forgiving me for messing up your bus.

People, please continue with the stories of transformation, and your thoughts about Orleans Village, Virginia Village, and Morning Side.

Peace

What is so unique about Orleans Village.

It's just another aging garden apartment complex, filled with immigrants, legal and otherwise. No different from the dozens of of other shabby complexes in Fairfax County.

I'd stay away from the place around dinner time. Get seven or eight international "cuisines" cooking at the same time and I imagine the stench would gag a maggot!

Oh, and the roaches.......

yeah not so good of a place to bring up kids.
and make sure your front doors are locked.
10 years ago it may have been kinda nice.
but since, gang population has taken over pretty much.
and from what i have heard, they have rivals in the complex across, Virgina Village.


i wouldnt do it.
i would look more towards fairfax city or so if i were you.

Couple of gang shootings, stabbings and general tom foolery in the last five years. It has gotten better, but the local demographic hasnt changed much. Vehicle tamperings, crimes of opportunity.

Most of the gang violence (if not all) stays within the gang circles. I personally would not live there if I had a choice, but there are much worse neighborhoods in the metro area.

You can call the local police department substation for crime stats - I would highly encourage anyone looking at an apartment there to do just that.

I am gald to hear the different prospective that people have about Orleans Village. I was born and raised in the apartment complex, and have seen and lived the things that the people before have stated. It is true, there is violence, gangs, and other crime. But, it is still home to those that live there. It may be hard to others to understand, when you are on the outside looking in. But when you are in the inside and looking out, it is a different picture. I challenge those to try to put themselves in the shoes of families that live there. The every day struggle, the everyday happiness, and the everyday humanity, these families go through. Walk around, talk to people, and see. You will never understand the good, if you do not understand the bad.

There is also a history of youth, community, immigrant activism that has grown in that neighborhood, to try to combat the violence and injustice. If you have any questions about that, ask.

peace

I have a question, what has been the effect on the health of the community, of having an Arby's so close by? That food is good but it will kill you.

I dont know. But if you have any other question or comment about the serrounding community we can discuss it.

I am still very interested in hearing stories from peoople that have been through ruff situations. Stories about losing friends to violence, drugs, and car accidents due to alcohol. I find when people express there stories, it helps them overcome the pain and emotional scars.

I also want to hear from people that have been in, or around Orleans Village and see what they truly think.

I also want to have a serious discussion on certain gang issues, that as a community, can talk and write about.