Friday, July 31
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 31-Aug. 9, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 30
Burke: Residents of Olde Forge-Surrey Square Rally for Playground
The original public playgrounds in Olde Forge-Surrey Square -- dating back to the 1960s -- were past repairs and upgrades. For the sake of safety and continued fun for children and their parents, they needed to be replaced.
Fairfax Station: Saving the Whitehall Family Farm
Growing responsibly and benefitting veterans
As Fairfax resident Jeff Waters guided his nimble four-wheeling cart over a bumpy dirt path through the woods on his family’s 200-plus-acre farm, he said confidently, “It’s a lot closer to being done than it looks.”
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission Subcommittees Report
“It is well past time for the Fairfax County Police Department to start providing timely, honest and effective communications with everything it does.” When former director of Fairfax County public affairs Merni Fitzgerald delivered the final report and recommendations of the communications subcommittee of the Fairfax County ad hoc commission to review police practices, commissioner Joseph Cammarata responded immediately to those words in report’s introduction.
Fairfax: Special Grand Jury Begins Hearing Testimony in John Geer Case
Since shooting John Geer dead in the doorway of his Springfield home on Aug. 29, 2013, PFC Adam Torres of the Fairfax County Police Department has remained at work, albeit out of the field, but undisciplined by police and unprosecuted for any criminal wrongdoing.
Fairfax County School Board Honors Retiring Leaders, Adopts Budget Review and Audit Plan
In their last meeting of the summer, Fairfax County School Board members began by remembering former superintendent Dr. Robert Spillane, who recently died, and recognizing outgoing members of the school system’s leadership team.
Wednesday, July 29
Burke: Illinois De-Commit Ohanian Faces Uncertain Future
Bishop O'Connell rising junior softball player and Burke resident Patty Maye Ohanian de-committed from the University of Illinois this summer.
Column: On A Tangent
Not that I live day-to-day or even month-to-month, but I do live – in my head anyway – quarter-to-quarter; that interval representing the usual and customary time between my recurring diagnostic scans. The time when the rubber hits my road.
Thursday, July 23
Burke: Terra Centre Elementary School Renovation Nearly Completed
Molly Field, of Burke, is going on her 13th year as a Terra Centre Elementary School parent. Her third of three children will be in sixth grade there this fall. And though the educational experience hasn’t been lacking for her, friends have referred to the school as “The Shire,” a subtle dig at the mid-1970s design to be more efficient and environmentally friendly by using a green roof and sealing off many opportunities for natural light in favor of heating and cooling cost savings.
Springfield Athlete to Compete in Special Olympics World Games
Karen Dickerson has run 16 marathons, well on the way to reaching her goal of completing one in every state in America. At 29, Dickerson has been a Special Olympics athlete for 18 years.
Burke & Springfield: New Giant Draws from Virginia Farms
Last month, a new 50,000-square foot Giant Food grocery store opened in the Kings Park Shopping Center at 8970 Burke Lake Road in Springfield.
Wednesday, July 22
Burke: Lake Braddock Grad Owens Plays in Ripken League All-Star Game
Former ECU middle infielder to play at Virginia Tech.
Vienna River Dogs infielder and 2014 Lake Braddock graduate Jack Owens played in his first Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League all-star game.
Column: 'Abyssful' Ignorance
Hopefully not. But you never know – per last week’s column, until you know. And the preferred pattern seems to be that waiting to be spoken to in person, a week or so post-scan, is the best the process can be; or at least, that’s the process that suits the doctor/HMO.
Children’s Science Center Lab Opens in Fairfax
Hands on STEM experience at the mall.
The Children’s Science Center Lab opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax on Monday, July 20.
Monday, July 20
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 24-Aug. 2, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Editorial: What’s Special about Your Community?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guides.
The Connection’s annual Newcomers and Community Guides will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Thursday, July 16
Burke Home Sales: June, 2015
In June, 2015, 96 Burke homes sold between $660,000-$140,000.
Burke Home Sales: June, 2015
Baptist Youth Campers Repair Lorton Homes
Jeff Moten started the week with 31 teenagers on his lawn. Baptist youth from around Virginia arrived at his Lorton property around 9 a.m. on Monday, July 13. By 10, they had cleared much of the natural overgrowth in his front and back yards, begun stripping his home’s roof and removing debris from a rear room where the floor had collapsed.
Burke: Volunteers and County Workers Recognized at Best of Braddock Awards
Thanks to Jim Watkins, a striking statue of a barracuda emerging from the water now graces the Commonwealth Swim Club. Watkins and other volunteers, members of the club, have helped maintain and repair areas of the facility, including restoration of the storm runoff channel, new lighting and landscaping.
Woman Reportedly Robbed and Shot in Fairfax
Fairfax County Police said detectives are currently investigating a robbery and shooting that took place on Kenerson Drive in Fairfax. Around 11:50 p.m. on July 11, a man and woman reportedly drove up to their home after spending the evening at a casino.
Fairfax County Police Release Updated In-Car Video Program Guidelines
In a January 2015 informational video, Fairfax County Police said around 600 of the department’s cruisers, spread across all eight law enforcement districts, were equipped with in-car video recording devices.
Wednesday, July 15
Column: 'Scant' Know For Sure Anymore
After six years, four months and two weeks since being diagnosed with stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer (the “terminal” kind), I can say with certainty that I have no sense of what my next CT scan, scheduled for July 15th, will indicate. Previously (multiple scans over multiple years), I’ve felt something in my upper chest/lungs where the largest tumors are located and the subsequent scan showed nothing of consequence.
Q&A: West Springfield’s D’Anna Committed to IUP Hoops
All-region post player enjoys country music, scary movies.
Q&A with IUP commit Maura D'Anna.
Q&A: Woodson Grad Breslin to Play Soccer at R-MC
Goalkeeper enjoys eating calamari, watching ‘Braveheart.’
Q&A with Woodson graduate Brian Breslin.
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 17-26, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Tuesday, July 14
Editorial: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need.
Backyard Vegetable Gardens Feed Multicultural Cuisines
In Fairfax County, tomatoes are a staple of local gardens along with peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, beans and herbs like mint, oregano and cilantro.
There’s nothing like a juicy red tomato fresh out of the backyard garden to brighten up a summertime salad or a sandwich — or a bittermelon, aronia berries or “paradise apple,” as persimmons are known in Bulgaria. The multi-cultural population in Fairfax County has grown roots in the backyard vegetable garden.
Unscheduling Summer Play
Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.
What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.
Friday, July 10
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 10-19, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 9
Burke, Fairfax, Lorton and Springfield: Synchronized Swimmers Compete in North Carolina
Lake Braddock graduate and Springfield resident Connie Polnow has been doing synchronized swimming since she was 9 years old. Her teammate and rising West Springfield freshman Angie Borkowski has only been at it for a year. But together, they were among 29 members of the Northern Virginia Nereids squad who participated in the United States Synchronized Swimming Junior Olympics between June 29 and July 4.
Muslims at the Fairfax Islamic Center Break Fasts Together
One voice carries a melody in Arabic through the two-story hall of the Islamic Center Northern Virginia Trust, as over a hundred men bow their heads to the carpeted ground.
Clifton Film Festival Returns to Workhouse Arts Center
Fairfax resident Dani Weinberg thought she wanted to be a journalist. That was until she joined the crew of her high school’s television program “Good Morning Robinson.” Combined with her photography for the Robinson Secondary School newspaper, Weinberg started getting “really into film.”
Rabid Fox Found Near South Run RECenter
Less than a month after a woman was injured by a rabid raccoon, police responded to reports of a fox “acting abnormally” in the same area: the South Run/Burke Lake Trail near the South Run RECenter.
Burke Library Reading and Art Program Kicks Off
The Burke Centre Library Teen Advisory Board is hosting a Teen Art Competition this summer as part of the library’s annual summer reading program. This year’s theme is Read to the Rhythm.
Fairfax: City of Fairfax Band Children’s Concert July 16
Each year, the City of Fairfax community band gives its youngest fans a chance to try their hand at the shiny, twisty and just plain loud instruments in the ensemble.
Wednesday, July 8
Q&A: Rowlett Competes in Under Armour All-America Game
Robinson grad to play lacrosse at University of North Carolina.
Q&A with Robinson grad and Under Armour All-American Jack Rowlett.
Column: My Manifesto, Sort Of
Being diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer (no, they’re not all “terminal”) is “a heck of a thing,” to extrapolate a bit from Jim Valvano’s memorable 1993 ESPY Awards speech given a few months before he succumbed to his cancer.
Commentary: Legislation Combats Sex Trafficking
On July 1, legislation that I sponsored, HB1964, went into effect. This new law is Virginia’s first stand-alone human trafficking statute and creates stricter penalties for traffickers, greater protections for sex trafficking victims, and provides needed tools for prosecutors and law enforcement to stop human trafficking in Virginia.
Letter: Celebrating Marriage Equality
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Today, we rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal right of same sex partners to legal marriage in the cases of Obergefell v. Hodges, Tanco v. Haslam, DeBoer v. Snyder, Bourke v. Beshear.
Letter: Questioning VDOT On I-66 Plan
Letter to the Editor
The following is a statement by the 66 Alliance at the Virginia Department of Transportation’s public information meeting on the “Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Project” at the Arlington Public Library on June 17.
Commentary: Braddock Nights Concerts Kick Off July 10
Summer concerts series Friday evenings at both Royal Lake and Lake Accotink Parks.
Most people have fond, nostalgic memories of visits to the park. Perhaps celebrating family picnics and reunions, playing little league baseball games, enjoying quiet evenings in nature or even fishing and hiking with friends and family.
Fairfax: ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ Plus Magic
Robinson senior has title role in “Mary Poppins.”
Featuring a cast and crew of nearly 50, Westfield Summer Stage is bringing the beloved Disney musical, “Mary Poppins,” to life. And playing the lead role is a rising senior at Robinson Secondary School.
Tuesday, July 7
A House by the Sea
Design ideas for beach homes.
As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.
Editorial: Yes to Nonpartisan Redistricting
Politicians shouldn’t be choosing voters.
Virginia’s Congressional map is unconstitutional because African American voters are packed into District 3, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The problem will have to be remedied by drawing new boundaries.
Thursday, July 2
Coming Home to Queen of Peace in Springfield
Residents with disabilities move into new group house on Gresham Street.
Ten months ago, the unassuming single-level house on Gresham Street in north Springfield was a private residence. Today it’s the permanent home of four individuals with disabilities, and a fifth is on the way.
Burke Optometrist Celebrates 30th Anniversary
In 30 years, Dr. Rick Katz has had over 100,000 patients. In some cases, he’s helped five generations of the same family to see better.
Fourth of July Weekend Fun in Fairfax County
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend: July 3-5, 2015.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Wednesday, July 1
Column: Quality of Life
Throughout my nearly six and a half years of cancer treatment, starting at the initial Team Lourie meeting on February 27, 2009, when my oncologist suggested I take that vacation I’ve always dreamed of (to which I exclaimed “WHAT!?”), my quality of life has always been important to him.
TJ Grad Hits Bulls Eye Against Lyme Disease
As a Thomas Jefferson High School student in 2010, Temple Douglas recognized the possibility for a better Lyme Disease test. Several members of her family had Lyme disease and “I recognized the need,” she said.
Leaving Fairfax With Something to Remember
Tawny Hammond led shelter to place 95 percent of animals in adoptive homes.
At some point in life, every person should hear gratitude the way the members of the Board of Supervisors expressed theirs to Tawny Hammond.