Stories for November 2015

South County Defense Excels in 6A North Semifinal Victory

Stallions will host Westfield in region championship game Dec. 5.

The South County football team defeated Robinson 20-15 in the 6A North semifinals on Saturday.

Weekend in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Springfield

Weekend fun in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton and Springfield.

Area Roundups

News briefs

Associate Artists at the Workhouse: People's Choice Award Winners

The Associate Artists at the Workhouse announced the winners of the November 2015 People's Choice Award for the current exhibition during the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Youssef Zeroual of Weichert, Realtors’ Burke/Fairfax Station Office Recognized for Success in October

Bruce Green, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced that sales associate Youssef Zeroual of the Burke/Fairfax Station office was individually recognized for his exceptional industry success during the month of October.

Children's Classic Comes to Life, and the Story Behind the Madness is Revealed ...

Have you ever had a dream so whimsical that it swept you away to another world?

“Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers” Revisited at History Conference

The 11th annual Fairfax County History Conference was held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, titled “Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers - Part I.”

Classified Advertising November 25, 2015

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Burke: Robinson to Face Undefeated South County in 6A North Semifinals

Rams RB Foncha rushes for 157 yards, 3 TDs in win over Chantilly.

The Robinson football team will travel to face South County at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the 6A North region semifinals.

Lorton: South County to Host Robinson in 6A North Semifinals

Q&A: RB Ramsey enjoys father’s gumbo on Thanksgiving.

South County will host Robinson at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the 6A North region semifinals.

Burke: Lake Braddock Football to Host Westfield

Q&A: Burins RB Atkins commits to Vanderbilt.

Lake Braddock running back Lamont Atkins committed to Vanderbilt on Sunday.

Area Roundups for Burke, Fairfax, Lorton and Springfield

The inaugural Turkey Trot for Parkinson’s is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 26 at Burke Lake Park. Events including a five-kilometer run/walk and one-mile “Gobble Wobble” walk are set to begin at 9 a.m.

250 Brave Cold in 23rd Burke CROP Hunger Walk

Jennifer Weiner’s wristband read 11,188 steps. That’s how many it took the Springfield resident to complete the 3.7-mile Burke CROP Hunger Walk on Nov. 22. Weiner is Rabbi Educator for Congregation Adat Reyim, which sent more than a dozen volunteers to the fundraiser for the 14th straight year.

Remodelers, Suppliers Join Forces to Help Clifton Woman

Sun Design Remodeling and partners donate services to upgrade deck and wheelchair ramp for local woman with spina bifida.

A coalition of local remodelers and home improvement suppliers are set to repair the deck and wheelchair ramp surrounding the home of Dixie Dawson, a long term Clifton resident with spina bifida.

Editorial: Celebrate, Shop, Dine Locally

Every day can be “small business day.”

There is a joy to participating in community traditions and celebrations during the holidays, from walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to shopping in local stores, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced

Transportation Strategy Update Launched

NVTA launches work on a six-year TransAction program.

Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) chose an appropriate location to announce the launch of the organization’s TransAction update efforts last week.

Creating Great Families Through Adoption

More than 800 children in foster care in Virginia are ready and waiting to be adopted.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. With that in mind, meet two families expanded through adoption; two families whose kids describe their family as "awesome."

860 Virginia Children Need Homes

“Parental rights terminated.” “Available for adoption.” “Floundering in an imperfect system.” These words describe many children who are currently living in foster care in Virginia.

Quiet Riot: ‘C’mon Feel the Noise’

County passes new noise ordinance, will revisit effectiveness in 18 months.

The Board of Supervisors is at peace with the county’s new Noise Ordinance.

Fairfax County Updates Teacher Safety Training In Wake of Woodson Fire

Science teachers across Fairfax County Public Schools have begun mandatory updated safety training in the wake of an Oct. 30 fire at Woodson High School that injured five students and a teacher, and caused $7,500 in damage.

Fairfax Station: Temple B’Nai Shalom recognizes veterans with special Shabbat dinner and service

Lt. Col. Jacob Kramer was concerned after finding a Star of David in a moving box. The Springfield resident was previously stationed in Morocco by the U.S. Army.

Springfield: Sangster Elementary School honors veterans with annual musical program

Springfield resident Tim Swicord’s parents met at West Point, the United States Military Academy, and then both served in the U.S. Army.

Lorton: Volunteers Clean Segment of Pohick Creek

Community members Helen Fransell, Don Fransell and Joe Chudzik of Mason Neck volunteered in a clean up of a section of Pohick Creek in Lorton, organized by the Mason Neck Lions Club.

Clifton and Chantilly: Athletic Fields Named for Local Sports Icons

Clifton resident Jeff Stein was among three local sports icons recognized Nov. 7 with athletic fields being named after them. Stein’s name now marks Soccer Field #3 at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly.

Man Shot in Lorton Home

Police responded to a report of a person shot at a home in the 9200 block of Forest Greens Drive in Lorton shortly before 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Letter: Del. Hugo’s Thank-you

To the Editor

Thank you so much to the many volunteers, family, constituents, and friends who worked on our campaign. We won with over 65 percent of the vote.

Lorton Author Releases Memoir

Westbow Press has released Tracey Casciano’s new book, “Out of the Darkness, Into the Light: A Story of Faith and Forgiveness After Child Abuse.”

Soccer Champs

The SYA Cardinals ’01 Red Boys Travel Soccer Team competed in the CASL Boys Jr. Showcase in Raleigh, N.C. the weekend of Nov. 14-15.

Football Roundups

Six of the top eight seeds advanced to the 6A North region football quarterfinals, while No. 4 Madison and No. 8 West Springfield had their seasons come to an end.

Lake Braddock Wins Girls’, Boys’ XC State Titles

The Lake Braddock girls’ and boys’ cross country teams won state championships on Nov.13 at Great Meadow.

Area Roundups

This Thursday, Nov. 19, Fairfax County Police will be joining other state and local law enforcement officers to help save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws.

Fairfax County Arts Council Awards Grants to Arts Organizations

The Arts Council of Fairfax County has awarded $379,125 in operating support grants to 44 nonprofit arts organizations in Fairfax County.

Classified Advertising November 18, 2015

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Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: October, 2015

In October, 2015, 76 homes sold between $1,295,000-$206,000 in the Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton area.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: October, 2015

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving

The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy.

Weekend in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Springfield

Fun events in your neighborhood.

Gen. McInerney to Address GOP Women of Clifton

Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, USAF (Ret.) is the keynote speaker for the Wednesday, Nov. 18 meeting of the Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) at Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Road, Fairfax Station.

Democratic Women of Clifton Participate in Holiday Gift Drive

Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia (DWCNV) will participate in two holiday projects:

Deer Management Group Donates Venison to Lorton Food Pantry

Abena Kodua of Lorton likes her chili spicier. But she had no problem polishing off a bowl, homemade by Fairfax Station resident and hunter Robert Flanagan with ground venison, rather than beef, chicken or turkey.

Fairfax County: Garza Presents Budget Task Force Report to School Board

Transparency and methodology of budget review questioned.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza is attempting to scale a towering projected budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2017. On Nov. 9, she presented School Board members the report of budget cuts recommended by a 36-member task force she summoned earlier this year.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer opportunity.

Artist Teacher Exhibition Opens at Workhouse Arts Center

The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Fine Arts Office, in collaboration with the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, presents the Artist Teacher Exhibition, an art exhibition recognizing the creative endeavors of FCPS artist-teachers, beginning Saturday, Nov. 14.

Area Roundups

The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber) announced that the application period for the 2016 Greater Washington Innovation Awards is now open through Jan. 22, 2016.

Arts Awards Presented

Public-private partnerships, innovation, and collaboration emerge as strong themes during 2015 Arts Awards ceremony.

On Friday, Oct. 30, the Arts Council of Fairfax County presented its fourth annual Arts Awards to a full house.

Classified Advertising November 11, 2015

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Fairfax: Woodson Football Earns First Playoff Berth Since 2009

No. 15-seed Cavaliers to face No. 2. Lake Braddock on Friday.

The Woodson football team closed the regular season with a 38-14 victory over T.C. Williams on Nov. 7.

Fairfax To End Veteran Homelessness

Every veteran has a story, and a path to housing.

Jameel Mubaarik of Reston is a 63-year-old Army veteran and mechanical engineer, a former Reston homeowner.

South County Overcomes 20-Point Deficit to Capture Conference 7 Championship

Undefeated Stallions beat Lake Braddock in OT, secure region's No. 1 seed.

The South County football team remained undefeated with a 33-30 overtime victory over Lake Braddock on Friday.

Springfield: Capital Area Food Bank raises awareness of local hunger with Empty Bowls events

Kady Wohlfarth of Alexandria spent two months of her off days from the Alexandria Wegmans prepared food section to create 100 clay bowls. Hers accounted for one-third of the bowls at the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser and awareness-raising event for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Coming: Children’s Connection 2015

Get ready to send your submissions soon.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children.

Weekend in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Springfield

Weekend events in your neighborhood.

Fairfax Station: ‘Steady’ Voting on Election Day

While most voters were likely fast asleep, chief election officer Sing Lee of Kingstowne was at Silverbrook Elementary School in Fairfax Station setting up voting stations at 4:30 a.m. An event in the school’s gymnasium the night before election day kept his team out until the morning. But it was critical to get the precinct open by 6 a.m. on Nov. 3.

Lorton: Albo Urges for Grant Funding to Remove Abandoned Ship

The 50-foot, steel-hulled landing craft resting in shallow water about 110 feet offshore in Belmont Bay once hauled materials for construction of the nearby Fairfax Yacht Club in the 1980s. When the job was completed, the WWII-type landing craft was abandoned. Over the years, the name of the company responsible for the barge was lost.

Lorton, Springfield Area Roundups

What's going on in your neighborhood?

Six Area Students Compete in Siemens National Finals

Six students in the Northern Virginia area are competing in the 2015 Siemens Foundation STEM Competition. These regional finalists recently advanced through the semifinal round, and now have a chance to compete at the National Finals taking place on Dec. 4-8 in Washington, D.C., where grand prize winners walk away with $100,000 scholarships.

Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia host panel on domestic violence.

Domestic Violence: Focus on Prevention

Last month, in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia (DWCNV) hosted a panel of experts to discuss trends, causes, treatment and prevention of domestic violence in Northern Virginia.

‘Jabberwock’ at South County High

South County High School Theatre department prepares to bring the community more comic relief at the start of this festive season, with the presentation of its fall production of “Jabberwock” at Dale S. Rumberger Auditorium, Nov. 12-14.

Fairfax Station Teen Named Cadet NCO of the Month

Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va. announced that Cadet Sergeant Timothy Arndt, of Fairfax Station, was officially named Fishburne Military School’s Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer of the Month for October.

Timeless Masterpiece of Broken Hearts

Virginia Opera’s “La Boheme” at Center for the Arts.

Soon, Northern Virginia audiences will be able to be transfixed by Puccini’s mesmerizing masterwork “La Boheme.”

Fairfax County: Republicans Celebrate the Victorious

And honor the defeated

Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said he much preferred this night to the one when he was elected to his first term. A close race with his opponent meant waiting around until late into the evening. This year, Cook defeated Democrat Janet Oleszek by a more handy margin of about six percent of the vote.

Fairfax County: Palchik Upsets Incumbent Reed for Providence School Board Seat

With 58.22 percent of the vote in unofficial election results, Dalia Palchik of Annandale defeated the incumbent Providence District Fairfax County School Board representative Patty Reed, who garnered 41.31 percent.

Fairfax County: Hough Edges Incumbent Velkoff for Third At-Large School Board Seat

Fairfax resident Jeanette Hough said her race for the Fairfax County School Board started with a phone call to Springfield District representative to the board Elizabeth Schultz. “What are we going to do about the school board?” Hough remembers asking. “We’re being ignored as parents and taxpayers.”

Democrats Claim Victories in Local Elections

But General Assembly stays in the red column.

“We didn’t win the war tonight, but we did come out ahead in some of the important local battles, and that’s a good start.”

Fairfax Library Foundation Raises $197,000 at A Library Jubilee

The Fairfax Library Foundation hosted A Library Jubilee! Soiree in the Stacks on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Woodrow Wilson Library in Falls Church.