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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Health Curriculum To More Closely Align with State
School Board approves recommendations from advisers, with amendments.
Though it was the second packed house in as many months, it may be early yet to call crowded Fairfax County School Board meetings a trend.
Fairfax County: Police Release Use of Force Review
Review explained at latest Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission meeting.
Nearly a year ago, Fairfax County sought an outside opinion on its police department’s use of force. That July 2014 assignment went to the Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum.
Burke: Lake Braddock Secondary School Commencement held June 17
Purple robes flooded the floor of the George Mason University Patriot Center basketball arena as Lake Braddock Secondary School graduates processed to their seats.
Springfield: New Giant Opens at Kings Park
Kings Park-area residents have been waiting for the return of their neighborhood grocery store.
Burke: Police Investigating Sexual Assault of 17-Year-Old Female
A 17-year-old female was walking on the Roberts Parkway Bridge, near Premier Court, between 1 and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 when she was reportedly offered a ride by a man in a silver sedan, Fairfax County Police said.
Fairfax: Retired Educators Award Scholarships to Aspiring Teachers
Rebecca Edmiston has had a number of inspiring music teachers in her life, including her mother Pat. They’re big reasons why Edmiston, a graduating senior from Lake Braddock Secondary School, is choosing to attend Liberty University and study to become a music teacher herself.
Springfield: Dead Fairfax Woman Found in Huntsman Lake
Police are investigating a the death of Leslie P. Brassfield, 22, of Fairfax, whose dead body was found Sunday in Huntsman Lake in the Springfield area.
Fairfax County: New Americans Take Oath
Since 2009, the Fairfax County Asian American History Project has sponsored a yearly naturalization ceremony for new Americans. At the ceremony Friday, June 12 at the Fairfax County Government Center, 100 new Americans hailing from 38 countries took an oath of allegiance.
Burke and Springfield: New Giant in Kings Park to Open June 19
Less than a week after the opening of a new Wegmans grocery store in Alexandria, the Landover, Maryland-based Giant Food is answering with an all-new store in the Kings Park Shopping Center, set to open at 6 a.m. on Friday, June 19.
Burke: Robinson Film Students Enter Local Competitions
Imagine a world where computerized conscience implants humans advice on right and wrong. That’s the premise of “Voice of the Goddess,” a science fiction concept film by Robinson Secondary School seniors Zaq Brinsfield and Isaiah King.
Fairfax County: Questioning Family Life Curriculum
The Fairfax County School Board’s May 7 meeting drew a passionate and boisterous crowd that filled the Luther Jackson Middle School auditorium and spilled out into the main lobby. That night the board voted in favor of adding “gender identity” to its nondiscrimination policy for students, employees and applicants for employment.
Mount Vernon: New Wegmans Opens in Alexandria
Nearly 2,000 in line for June 14 opening morning.
At any other Wegmans grocery store in Virginia, Woodbridge resident Braden Cheney’s job wouldn’t exist. A 2000 graduate of W.T. Woodson High School, Cheney is manager of The Pub, a full-service restaurant and bar operating within the store.
Burke Triplets set to Graduate from Lake Braddock Secondary
Logan Shock is the athletic one, Madison Shock is the pretty one and Austin Shock is the smart one, they said, basically in unison. All their lives, none of them has ever entered school feeling alone.
Clifton: Wined Up Toys
Clifton Wine Festival returns for eighth year.
With 15 participating wineries, tasting some from each at the eighth annual Clifton Wine Festival sounds overwhelming. One of the festival organizers, Holly Turner of Burke, doesn’t think making the rounds will be a problem.
Fairfax County: Moving on ‘Move Over’
Police crackdown, educate about law protecting emergency roadside vehicles and drivers.
Fairfax County Master Police Officer Joe Moore’s front and rear-mounted radar machines whistle and beep with varying frequency as cars barrel past on Interstate 66 around the Fairfax County Parkway.
Burke: Robinson Students Compete in National History Tournament
Robinson eighth grader Megan Sullivan didn’t have a history final - she’s taking Civics - but spent a lot of time studying literary history in the last month.
Fairfax: Northern Virginia Training Center Property Put on Market
Facility for people with disabilities scheduled for March 2016 closure.
According to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, 63 residents still live and receive treatment at the Northern Virginia Training Center, located in Fairfax alongside Braddock Road.
Fairfax County Police and Fire Join for New Training
Generally, if 2nd Lt. Karen Maslona was handling a live crime scene, a “warm zone” with a potentially active shooter, medical personnel wouldn’t be allowed in the area until the situation is completely neutralized.
Fairfax: Panel Discussion to Follow Film on College Rape Crime
“The Hunting Ground” tells the story of a number of college students who survived sexual assault. After a free screening on the campus of George Mason University, sponsored by Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41), there will be a panel discussion by several experts on the subject matter.
Memorial Day Ceremony Held at Burke Centre Conservancy
U.S. Navy Capt. Matthew Kosnar of Burke was the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony held at the Burke Centre Conservancy.
Fairfax County School Board Passes $2.6 Billion Budget for 2016
Employees receive step pay increase but lose portion of planned market scale adjustment.
$7.6 million: That’s how much Fairfax County Public Schools said the School Board needed to cut to meet the goals set out in its Fiscal Year 2016 Advertised Budget.
Ride of the Patriots Rolls Back Through Fairfax
For the 17th year, the Fairfax Harley Owners Group and Patriot Harley-Davidson are sponsoring a Memorial Day weekend group motorcycle ride to honor service men and women, veterans, prisoners of war and those missing in action from all wars.
Fragile X Walk at Burke Lake Draws Over 200
Like many parents and children, one of Burke Centre resident Monica Peña’s biggest challenges with her son Nicolas is communication. Unlike most children, “Nico” was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome at birth.
McAuliffe Signs Bill to Get Food Trucks Rolling in Virginia
Food trucks, those compact mobile restaurants that have become wildly popular on the streets of Washington, D.C., are getting closer to expanding their tread-print in Virginia.
Fairfax: Del. David Bulova Announces Re-Election Campaign
Del. David Bulova (D-37) announced his campaign to seek re-election to the Virginia General Assembly at a May 17 event held at Brion’s Grille in Fairfax.
Fairfax County: Police Commission Holds Public Forum
Deborah Moronese of Vienna said a disagreement with her son over his use of Wi-Fi in their home prompted him to call Fairfax County Police.
Corazon Foley Announces Bid for Springfield Supervisor
Burke resident Corazon Foley has taken her mission to establish a permanent activity center for seniors in Burke and West Springfield to the next level.
New Girls Golf Program Begins at Burke Lake Golf Course
Erin Herbig of Clifton admits signing her daughters up for golf lessons was a decision to benefit the whole family, not just the girls Summer and Kolby.
Fairfax County School Board Adds "Gender Identity" to Nondiscrimination Policy
Discrimination is bad, and everyone should have a safe environment in which to learn. These sentiments were common to the Fairfax County School Board members and the hundreds of parents who packed the auditorium and front lobby of Luther Jackson Middle School for the board’s May 7 meeting.
Burke: Celebrations honor the late Father Richard Martin
Church of the Nativity parishioner Jill Chastain and her family donated to Operation Starfish’s developmental work in Haiti for 15 years before she finally went on a work trip with Father Richard Martin.
Burke and Springfield: Independent Carey Campbell Enters Braddock Supervisor Race
Carey Campbell announced he has entered the race for Braddock District supervisor as an Independent, joining incumbent Republican John Cook and Democrat challenger Janet Oleszek.
Dr. Seuss-themed 23rd Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards
Wesley Pan of Great Falls-based Boy Scouts of America Troop 55 was humble about receiving the Youth Volunteer Group award. “We’re just happy to help the community and make a difference,” he said.
What’s Coming in Burke?
Sites and developments
The project by Henley Construction Company, Inc., includes renovating the 68,500 square feet of the previous school building, as well as 20,500 square feet of additional space.
Students Celebrate Burke School’s 75th Anniversary
Virginia Lee Fowler Hyer is the oldest of seven girls who used to live in the “top of the hill” home now referred to as the Silas Burke House. She attended Burke School from 1944 through 1949 and on April 23, crossed the building’s threshold again to witness a program celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Fairfax County School Board to Consider Nondiscrimination Policy Change
When the members of the School Board reconvene on May 7, they’re scheduled to act on whether or not to add “gender identity” to the list of nondiscrimination categories for all Fairfax County Public Schools students, employees or applicants for employment.