Stories for February 2016

Burke, Fairfax Station, Springfield and Mount Vernon legislators reflect on battles won, lost and tabled after General Assembly “Crossover”

Tuesday, Feb. 16 marked “crossover,” the milestone during the current session of the Virginia General Assembly session in Richmond where bills passed by the House of Delegates move to the Senate for debate and either approval or rejection, and vice versa.

Springfield Veterinary Holistic Center offers extension to conventional medicine

Bettejeanne “BJ” Hammond much prefers the term “body work” to massage. “Open wine and get out the candles, that’s what people think of massage,” she said. “They think it’s to relax, but it’s so much more than that.”

Commentary: Electronic Textbooks, Sunshine and Other Bills Moves

As we pass the midpoint of this General Assembly session, many bills are moving. After a 30-minute debate, the Senate approved my bill prohibiting the use of electronic textbooks in public schools without a plan to provide school broadband and digital devices to every student required to use an electronic textbook.

Fairfax Station: A Life-Changing Hobby

What started out as a part-time hobby has changed my life forever. Growing up in Ireland, I never imagined leaving home, coming to the United States and starting a small business.

Service Dogs are More than Just a Helping Hand

To a dog owner, there’s nothing like the greeting at the door after a long day at work.

Art of Driving Scholarship Expands Eligibility Outside Fairfax County

After the first few years being open only to Lake Braddock Secondary School Students, the Art of Driving college scholarship in honor of Lake Braddock student Ashley Thompson expanded to all Fairfax County High Schools.

Fairfax County Schools to Close March 1 for Super Tuesday

Concerns about parking and traffic, as well as new guidance from the Virginia Department of Education caused the Fairfax County School Board to reconsider closing schools for the March 1 Presidential primaries.

Editorial: Bad Bills

General Assembly has potential to do lots of damage in a short period.

From pressing for use of a barbaric form of execution, the electric chair, to codifying discrimination, to stripping localities of the major tool for ensuring infrastructure is in place for new development, to hiding more and more critical public information from the public, the Virginia General Assembly is poised to do harm to the Commonwealth.

Classified Advertising February 24, 2016

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Burke: Lake Braddock’s Butler Scores 40 in Final High School Game

Bruins fall to Stonewall Jackson in opening round of regionals.

James Butler scored 40 points in Lake Braddock's loss to Stonewall Jackson in the opening round of the regional tournament on Tuesday.

West Potomac to Face West Springfield in Conference 7 Championship Game

Coach Houston making third trip to conference final in 12 years with Wolverines.

West Potomac beat Woodson on Saturday.

County Budget Presented, About $300 More per Household

County Executive: Revenue growth is insufficient to fund all priorities. Schools still $68 million short.

County Executive Ed Long recommended a four-cent increase to the real estate tax rate.

Commentary: Regional Gas Tax, Digital Divide, and Identity Protection

The fifth week of the General Assembly Session brought some long days and nights as we rushed to complete work on bills before our mid-session deadline called “Crossover.”

Lorton: Cultural Diversity Sculpture

Work by Foon Sham on display at Workhouse Art Center.

Arts Council of Fairfax County Strauss Fellowship recipient, and internationally-renowned artist Foon Sham, who lives in Fairfax County, has created the large scale detailed work entitled “Culture House.”

Free Community Education Helps Take Stress out of Tax Season

If you cringe when you think of tax season, you’re not alone. Each year Northern Virginia business owners rally to get their W2s and 1099s mailed by the Jan. 31 deadline while employees and independent contractors begin gathering their documents to take to their tax preparer.

Lake Braddock Graduate Recognized as International Expert

Fairfax Station native and Lake Braddock Secondary School graduate Candace P. Sharkey received the Richard J. Kerr Government Award from the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) at its annual Achievement Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

FCPS Open Enrollment for Two-Way and World Languages Immersion Programs

Fairfax County Public Schools' online registration for the countywide lottery for two-way and world language immersion programs will open on Monday, Feb. 22.

FCPS Students Win Awards in 2016 Scholastic Writing Competition

Fairfax County Public Schools students at 22 schools won regional awards in the 2016 Scholastic Writing Awards Competition.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: January, 2016

In January, 2016, 49 homes sold between $1,230,549-$130,000 in the Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton area.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: January, 2016

Clifton Woman Aids Refugees During Impromptu Trip to Greece

As Kathy Hertz saw women and children being pushed to the front of the overcrowded dinghy approaching the shore, she thought, “This is what I’m seeing on TV. Oh my God, this is real.”

Tire Fire at Lorton Landfill Causes Estimated $600,000 in Damage

Firefighter units from across Fairfax County responded to a large tire fire at the Fairfax County Landfill in Lorton on Feb. 6 around 11 p.m., a release from the Fire and Rescue Department said.

Fairfax County: Parents, Community Supporters Rally to ‘Invest in Kids’

Emotional independent outbursts and communal chants of “Fund our schools” and “Invest in kids” echoed through the grand amphitheater just beyond the entrance to the Fairfax County Government Center.

Editorial: Freedom of Information on Life Support in General Assembly?

Last week, the Assembly passed SB 202, which undid a major push eight years ago to ensure that all of our public spending was ‘online’ and searchable by ordinary citizens. This, of course, meant disclosing the salaries of public employees over a certain income level.

Editorial: Fairfax Presses Ahead with Diversion First

When police encounter someone in mental health crisis, they can transport them to Merrifield Crisis Response Center instead of jail.

Natasha McKenna died a little more than a year ago on Feb. 7, 2015.

Diversion First Program Launched

Fairfax County officials announce Diversion First program designed to help individuals get treatment not jail time.

Kevin Earley said he’s living proof that Diversion First works. Earley has been living with bipolar disorder and had his last episode in 2007.

Uncovering the Roots of Slavery

Local student creates slave index to help descendants trace family history.

A local college student is spending much of her senior year scouring the last wills and testaments of residents of Northern Virginia.

ServiceSource Helps People with Disabilities

Nonprofit ServiceSource helps people with disabilities.

In one section of the ServiceSource Chantilly Center, music therapist Myra Goodrich leads a group of budding musicians playing a cheerful song.

Touching Many Hearts

Minecraft for a Mission – Touching Heart and their “Kids on a Mission” raise funds for children in foster care.

They say that charity begins at home. Helen Yi and Taylor, the mother and daughter co-founders of Touching Heart, a nonprofit aimed at educating and inspiring children to empathize with the needs of others and to take action to assist them, have no argument with that statement.

‘Star Wars’ Fans Flock to Local Classes

Movie's popularity leaves fans wanting to feel "The Force."

Beams of neon light flash around a dark room. Young Star Wars fans from a galaxy not so far away wield light sabers and move with carefully choreographed steps.

Time To Plan for Kids’ Summer Camp Adventures

Local camp fair offers sampling of summer programs.

Under a blanket of February frost, summer might seem light years away, but it’s closer than one might think.

West Potomac Dominates Early in Win Over South County

Wolverines improve to 9-1 in last 10 games, sit in 2nd place.

The West Potomac boys' basketball team defeated South County 59-45 on Friday.

Burke and Fairfax Station: Three couples making businesses and marriages run hand-in-hand.

Some find it harder than others to keep their work and personal lives separate. In the case of three Burke businesses, their owners have completely merged the two, and been living happily ever after.

Fairfax County: Public Safety Committee meets to discuss Ad Hoc Police Review recommendations and the Diversion First initiative

Just over a year since Natasha McKenna died following multiple shocks from a taser, while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention center, her name was never raised during the Feb. 9 meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting. Two audience members stood on one side of the Government Center conference room, holding posters bearing a picture of McKenna’s face and text including “Black Lives Matter.”

Fairfax County: Training Center Residents Relocated

They’re all gone. As of August 2015, there were still 55 residents with mental or physical disabilities receiving services at the state-owned and operated Northern Virginia Training Center on Braddock Road.

Clifton’s Ping Pong Tournament a Smash Hit

The staccato of plastic meeting wooden table and rubber-clad paddle in rapid succession filled the Clifton Town Hall as little orange balls whizzed back and forth, competitors across a range of ages and skill levels vying for the title of Ping Pong Champion.

Nearly 3,000 Pounds of Food Donated During Clifton Stuff the Bus Event

As shoppers hustled in the sliding doors at the Giant Food in Clifton, many on last-minute errands in preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl 50, five-year-old Selena Padeway was eager to hand them another shopping list.

Lorton: More than a Game

In Lorton, Monopoly tournament tests skills against chance.

Almost 100 players gathered at the Woodbridge Moose Lodge 583 in Lorton on Saturday, Feb. 6 for the ninth year to play a friendly but serious game of Monopoly.

Letter: Failure to Perform

To the Editor

I am a student at Lake Braddock Secondary School and was displeased by homeowners in my community who failed to remove their cars from the streets knowing that plows would be coming through or shovel their sidewalks.

Area Roundups

Volunteers are needed to drive cancer patients to treatment for The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program in Northern Virginia.

Classified Advertising February 10, 2016

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Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton 2015 Home Sales

In 2015, 70 homes sold between $2,195,000-$10,000 in the Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton area.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton 2015 Home Sales

Virginia Cigarette Tax Remains Lowest in Nation

Opportunity for increase in cigarette tax blows up in smoke.

Dale Stein and the McLean Citizens Association couldn’t even raise a match before legislators in Richmond extinguished a possible increase in the cigarette tax for Fairfax County.

Editorial: Limiting Local Authority

Assembly rushes bill limiting proffers without addressing who will pay for infrastructure.

In Virginia, a Dillon Rule state, local governments have only the powers explicitly granted by the General Assembly. And what the assembly gives, the assembly can take away.

Stylish Valentine’s Day Table Settings

Flowers and candles create romantic designs.

Fresh flowers and candles are an easy way to add elegance and romance to a Valentine’s Day table. From dramatic to understated, local tastemakers offer suggestions for setting the mood for a memorable dinner.

Bringing Order to Household Chaos

Clever design solutions for hiding clutter.

Wires, cable boxes, soccer cleats, pet bowls and other items are life’s necessities, but they can be unsightly and disrupt the aesthetic of an elegant living space.

Fairfax County School Board Approves $2.67 Billion ‘No Cuts’ Budget

Calls for general salary raises and additional $40 million for teachers, lowering elementary class sizes.

Members of the Fairfax County School Board have taken the next step in realizing Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza’s vision of no additional cuts in the Fiscal Year 2017 school system operating budget. T

Area Students Shine in MATHCOUNTS Competition

The Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competition was held on Saturday, Feb. 6, at George Mason University.

Snowzilla Summit Ahead

Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.

“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during the recent blizzard.

Honoring Black History

Fairfax County’s Cable Network presents programs in celebration of Black History Month.

Fairfax Public Access (FPA) will air a special series of movies and documentaries throughout the month of February in recognition of Black History Month.

Proffers in Danger?

Richmond caught the attention of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week specifically with House Bill 770 (Gilbert) and Senate B 549 (Obenshain), bills Sharon Bulova says will place “significant restrictions” on development, specifically citing “unreasonable proffers.”

Fairfax Station and Mount Vernon: Arcadia’s veteran farmers-to-be report for first weekend training

Clifton Hoffler is embarking on his third career. A resident of the Greenbelt, Md. area, Hoffler spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq twice, before transitioning into government sales. In 16 months, he will be a certified culinary chef.

Wood Ranch in Springfield Town Center highlights new meat, veggie options

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill partner, managing chef and “Sultan of Smoke” Alejandro Benes is working to blend barbecue traditions, as well as cuts of meat.

Clifton: Stuff the Bus Until Feb. 15

U.S. Rep. Comstock and Supervisor Smith to visit Clifton Giant for Stuff the Bus on Feb. 6.

Stuff the Bus, Fairfax County’s annual campaign to increase food donations and awareness for local, nonprofit food pantries, started in the middle of January and runs each weekend until President’s Day, Feb. 15.

Fairfax County: Election Officers Still Needed for March Primary

Cameron Sasnett has one message for people concerned about the integrity of elections -- at least from a procedure standpoint: Get involved as an election officer.

Fairfax County: In-Custody Death Investigated

Paul Guida died Oct. 17, 2015, while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The 68-year-old Falls Church resident was charged with violating a protective order. He had been held without bond since Oct. 1, 2015.

Combined Commissions for Women Host Human Trafficking Awareness Event in Fairfax

Thirty years ago, “Jen” was lured into a pornography ring and sexually abused by a man who initially pretended to be her friend.

Burke, Lorton, Mount Vernon and Springfield: Kegs of Kerri’s Cure special ale kick within hours

Golden afternoon sun gleamed in through windows and lit up cold, grey cinder blocks, faces already beginning to blush after a beer or two, and lush flowers atop large barrels in memory of Kerri Rose. Rose and her husband Matt, Mount Vernon residents, own Forge Brew Works in Lorton. In August of 2015, she was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer. Kerri was also pregnant.

Commentary: Firearm Compromise, Equal Rights Amendment Passes

The third week of the General Assembly saw a major agreement emerge on firearm violence issues, and action on several of my bills.

Fairfax’s Ober Wins 50, 100 Free

Fairfax junior Anna Ober won the 50- and 100 freestyle events at the Conference 6 championship swim and dive meet on Jan. 30 at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington.

Snowzilla Summit Ahead

Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.

“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during last week’s blizzard.

Racing for Cure

Project CUREage hosts Fun Run at Burke Lake Park.

Neither chilly temperatures nor snowy trails could deter nearly 100 runners who participated Sunday morning in a Fun Run at Burke Lake Park to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Area Roundups

Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Lorton, Clifton and Springfield briefs.

Classified Advertising February 3, 2016

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Another Opportunity to Talk About It

Super Bowl Sunday is Sunday, Feb. 7, and often more about the parties than the game.

Editorial: Economic Development in Virginia

The General Assembly prides itself in providing a pro-business climate, but refuses infusion of more than $3 billion annually.

Hundreds of bills before this year’s General Assembly session focus on “business climate,” providing incentives for businesses to locate and expand here, extending tax exemptions and tax credits, encouraging international trade, reducing regulation and many other approaches perceived as pro-business.

Marking American Heart Month

Month-long observance raises awareness about cardiovascular disease and the role of aerobic exercise in preventing it.

Music is thumping, sweat is dripping and hearts are pounding. In a packed aerobic dance studio, students move in the name of health.

Volunteer Fairfax Seeks Nominations, New Deadline Feb. 9

Awards recognize the contributions of volunteers in the community.

Nominations are open for the 2016 Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards.

Lorton, Fairfax Station, Clifton: Neighborhood Development Outlook Update January 2016

Ox Road Estates Adare Drive, an infill project of ten single-family homes is under construction.