Mount Vernon: Commission Delays Vote on Farm Alcohol Zoning Amendment
Comments may be sent prior to planning’s Nov. 30 meeting
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has deferred action on a zoning ordinance amendment that would affect the establishment and expansion of farm breweries, distilleries and wineries in the county.
Springfield: Key Center Teacher Publishes Counting Book
If Barney, the big purple dinosaur, motivates one of his students to learn to count, Ka’ala Rapoza won’t stand in the way. But Rapoza, 37, also recognizes the need to balance age-appropriate teaching tools with the skill being learned.
Fairfax County: Commonwealth’s Attorney Begins Review of FCPD Report on Deputy-Involved INOVA Shooting
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh said he has received the completed criminal investigation from Fairfax County Police into the Aug. 15 fatal shooting of Yovani Amaya Gomez, 29, by Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy MDS Patrick McPartlin outside Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Fairfax County: Planning Commission Delays Vote on Farm Alcohol Zoning Amendment
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has deferred action on a zoning ordinance amendment that would affect the establishment and expansion of farm breweries, distilleries and wineries in the county.
Fairfax County: FCPS Testing Water Quality in Schools
Drinking water at 40 public schools in Fairfax County has been tested for safety, a release from FCPS said.
Fairfax County: School Board Formalizes Search for New Superintendent
Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) has been contracted by Fairfax County Public Schools to search for a new school system superintendent. Dr. Karen Garza announced on Sept. 19 she would be leaving that role to become president and CEO of the Columbus-based education organization Battelle for Kids.
Burke, Fairfax Station and Lorton: Sangster Elementary hosts annual Veterans Day assembly
For about a third of the families at Sangster Elementary School in Burke, military and mobility is a way of life.
Tysons: Warby Parker to Open First Virginia Eyeglasses Store
Warby Parker, a popular online eyeglasses retailer, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Virginia on Nov. 19 at Tysons Corner Center mall.
Fairfax County: Volunteers compile more than 7,500 pounds in donated food for Lorton Community Action Center and Britepaths.
Wanda Jeter of Lorton has been a volunteer with the Lorton Community Action Center for 20 years. As single mother who’s struggled to provide for herself and four children, she’s also been a client.
Burke, Fairfax Station and Springfield: ‘Crazy’ Lines on Election Day Morning
Ipads, communication keep things moving quickly.
At 5:45 a.m., Colleen Dewing was queued up for a lifetime first: voting. The West Springfield High School senior needed to fulfill her civic duty early in order to take a shift right away at the senior class’ annual bake sale outside the school.
Mount Vernon: Accident Victim’s Friends Plan Memorial Service
Amari Newton, 18, of Alexandria was killed in a car crash in Brunswick County, Virginia on Nov. 5, Virginia State Police said. Newton was a 2016 Mount Vernon High School graduate.
Fairfax County: No to Trump And Meals Tax
Beyer, Connolly re-elected.
With final numbers still coming in from around the country, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump carried a strong lead early Wednesday morning over Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton.
Clinton and Kaine Carry Virginia, Trump Seizes Key Battlegrounds
Comstock, Connolly, Beyer re-elected; meals tax voted down; bonds voted up.
MEALS TAX referendum would have allowed Fairfax County supervisors to enact up to a four percent tax on prepared foods and beverages.
Fairfax County: Autopsy Report Yet to Come for Deputy-Involved Shooting
Administrative investigation to follow.
Law enforcement officials are still waiting to receive the final autopsy report for Yovani Amaya Gomez, 29, who was shot dead by Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy MDS Patrick McPartlin outside Inova Fairfax Hospital on Aug. 15 of this year.
Fairfax County: Breaking Down the Bonds
County seeks authorization to finance transportation and parks projects, and human services and community development facilities
Fairfax County will try to make the most of voters’ time on election day Nov. 8, having them weigh in not only on the Presidential and Congressional elections, but also proposed Constitutional amendments, a referendum and bond questions.
Fairfax County: Garza FCPS Departure Impacts Stuart Name Change Working Group
Responding to a student-led group petitioning to change the name of J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, the Fairfax County Public Schools board voted over the summer to create a working group that would consider the community concerns and look into the logistics of a potential name change.
Supervisors to Vote on Civilian Review Panel Dec. 6.
Draft item discussed at Oct. 25 Public Safety Committee.
By its Dec. 6 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors should have the opportunity to vote on creating a Civilian Review Panel for police oversight, a first in Fairfax. The independent panel was one of the more controversial of the 142 recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission created by board chairman Sharon Bulova in 2015. The civilian review panel would “review completed police internal administrative investigations of civilian complaints concerning allegations of abuse of authority and serious misconduct,” according to the draft action item.
Clifton: At-Risk Youth Teach Sheriff’s Deputies Horsemanship Skills
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program partners with Alternative House and Sheriff’s Office for pilot program.
Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputies tread carefully as local youth led them around an obstacle course they’d designed, blindfolded. Others were taught horse safety by their young coaches.
Lorton: Fair Winds Launches ‘Buy a Vet a Beer’ Campaign
Some simply say “Thank you for your service.” Others are more personal, listing a name, service branch and years served, or names of loved ones who were killed in the line of duty. Regardless of the content, each note for active duty or retired veterans on the wall at Fair Winds Brewing Company in Lorton comes with the same thing: a free beer and a hearty thanks.
Fairfax County: Room to Improve for Fairfax County Public Schools on SAT
Scores above Virginia, national Levels, but achievement gap remains
On average, Fairfax County Public High Schools performed better on the SAT college placement exam in 2016 than the Commonwealth of Virginia overall average.
Clifton Primitive Baptist Church Re-Opens on Clifton Day
Oldest African American church in Fairfax County had been closed a decade.
Chuck Rusnak of Clifton stood in the middle of the Clifton Primitive Baptist Church, on all-original wooden floors laid in 1871 for an All-African American Church built on land donated by an emancipated slave.
Fairfax County: Lockard Named Interim Superintendent
Dr. Steven Lockard will take over for Dr. Karen Garza as Fairfax County Schools superintendent for the interim period while the School Board searches for her replacement.
Fairfax County: Meals Tax Statement Debated During Joint Budget Meeting
Text prepared by Board of Supervisors and FCPS board chairs.
There continues to be division, at least among several members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board, on whether voters should approve a referendum allowing the government to levy up to a four percent additional tax on prepared foods and beverages at restaurants, as well as ready-to-eat foods from grocery and convenience stores.
Fairfax County Public Schools Beat Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate
The Virginia Department of Education has released graduation rates for school systems around the Commonwealth. Fairfax County Public Schools had 92.3 percent of its 2016 class graduate on time, compared with the state average 91.3 percent.
Mount Vernon: Quander Road School provides flexible, family-like special education experience
Within the first week of the 2016-2017 school year, teachers at the Quander Road School in Mount Vernon had already finished their jobs for five students. For that select group, they were ready to return to their base high school and transition back to a less restrictive educational experience.
Clifton: Whitehall Farms Opens Second Fall Fun Days
Pumpkin. Slingshot. The imposing medieval-esque wooden structure Whitehall Farms business owner Jeff Waters built by hand stands ready to launch seasonal gourds 250 to 300 feet past a grazing area of chickens into a vast grassy expanse. Next year, Waters said, there will be a proper trebuchet.
Art, craft and food festival Clifton Day returns Oct. 9
In 2005, Frank Burdell of Fairfax started blowing glass. He was driving back from Niagara Falls with his family when they stopped randomly in Corning, New York and decided to take a few short classes in blowing, fused glass and etching.
Fairfax County: Call for Civility in Schools’ LGBTQ Discussion
School board Board also receives Opening of Schools report, votes on challenged materials review committee.
Robert Rigby stood before the Fairfax County School Board on Sept. 22 wearing a red polo shirt, typically a sign of unity at board meetings among parents and community members who have opposed recent policy updates in the school system surrounding students who identify as transgender.
Burke, Fairfax, Lorton, Springfield: Volunteers pack 10,000 meals at Burke Presbyterian Church
As Nancy Rosene of Fairfax screeched clear packing tape across the top of a cardboard box filled with dozens of meals worth of dried and dehydrated food, she was highly conscious of where she was and what she was doing.
Fairfax County: Students learn IT and job skills, earn tech internships.
On a scorching week day in late summer, rising Fairfax County seniors Kenneth Smith, Amy Wong and Tasmia Dia were taking cumulative review tests in their summer course. This wasn’t exactly summer school, though.
Fairfax County: Changes in Voting from 2012
Electoral board highlights key dates and procedure updates.
Clinton or Trump? Meals Tax or no Meals Tax? These are just a two of the weighty decisions on the ballot for this fall’s election. To help people prepare for this cycle, leaders of the Fairfax County electoral board held a meeting with media to highlight some changes from the 2012 Presidential election.
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Garza Resigns
Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Karen Garza has announced her resignation, just months after the FCPS board renewed her contract through June 30, 2020.
Fairfax County: Supervisors Approve Independent Police Auditor
Unanimous vote follows Ad Hoc Commission recommendations for more transparency and oversight of Fairfax County police.
With a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of an independent police auditor office, following recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.
Fairfax: Roadside Protest for McKenna and Martinez Deaths
The Northern Virginia chapter of the group Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) organized a demonstration at 4 p.m. on Sep. 14 along Lee Highway in Fairfax, calling for justice for Natasha McKenna and Giovanny, or Jovany, Martinez.
Clifton: Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program to hold tenth Polo Classic fundraiser
Once a week for the last seven years, César Dulanto of Lake Ridge, Va. has come to Clifton to trade his wheelchair for a saddle. Dulanto, 13, has been been wheelchair-bound since the age of two with cerebral palsy. He used to have difficulty just sitting up in a chair. And, he said, “I used to be so shy.”
Amazon ‘Lockers’ Come to Springfield Town Center
Springfield Town Center is one of 15 mall locations across the east coast now offering Amazon’s “Locker” service as a quicker alternative to home delivery of items.
Fairfax County: Supervisors to Vote on Independent Auditor Office
Board item reviewed by public safety committee
At its Sept. 20 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission to create an office of independent police auditor.
Fairfax County School Board Postpones Decision on New Sponsorship Policy
Fairfax County Public Schools are far from becoming a David Foster Wallace novel.
Fairfax Namesake School District in California Celebrated
While there can only be one Fairfax County Public Schools system, members of the FCPS board and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors congratulated the namesake Fairfax School District in Bakersfield, Calif. on its 125th anniversary.
Lorton 17-year-old Dies after Sep. 7 Shooting
Maurice Anderson Berger, 17, of Lorton was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body on the sidewalk on the 9700 block of Hagel Circle the night of Sep. 7.
Fairfax Station, Lorton: Students return, principals stress inter-student encouragement
South County High School senior Dominique Butler remembers skipping class as a freshman. But when she saw how it was affecting her chances at going to college, she turned things around. When she saw freshmen from her neighborhood on the first day of school, she made sure they wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did.
Fairfax: Dead Man’s, Deputy’s Name Released in Inova Shooting
Police, sheriff investigations continue.
Jovany Martinez is the 29-year-old Hispanic man who died after being shot by a Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputy Monday night Aug. 15 outside Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Fairfax County: Aiming To Reduce Deer Population
Second Deer Management Program discussion
With an ecosystem struggling to support a deer population several times what’s considered to be healthy for a habitat, Fairfax County is preparing once again to initiate its deer management program.
Burke, Clifton, Fairfax Station, Lorton Springfield: Area Roundups
Rallies for Back to School and Refugees
Springfield Town Center is hosting a pep rally to celebrate students returning to school. The event is scheduled for the Grand Court area of the mall from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m on Saturday, Aug. 20.
Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton hosts first Brewfest
Shamara Wilkins of Lorton ventured out of the priceless shade just long enough to get a refreshing top up on her beer-tasting glass from Lorton-based Forge Brew works.
Fairfax: Man Dies After Being Shot by Fairfax Sheriff’s Deputy Outside Inova Hospital
Hispanic male was discharged patient who was escorted by security to bus stop before the incident.
Early Tuesday morning, Aug. 16, a man died after having been shot by a Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy outside the green garage area at Inova Fairfax Hospital the previous evening.
Fairfax County Police Release Name of 2-Year-Old Victim in Murder-Suicide
Despite pleas from the girl’s family, Fairfax County Police have released the name of the young victim who was found dead along with the body of Roy Eugene Rumsey, 58, in an upstairs bedroom at the scene of a house fire in Fairfax on July 27.
Stars of Summer
Northern Virginia Swimming League holds individual championships
Olympic swimming started with an expected bang in its opening weekend in Río, with Katie Ledecky and the men’s four by 100 freestyle relay, that included Michael Phelps in the second leg, captured gold medals for Team USA.
Ginny Thrasher's Golden Gun
Springfield’s Ginny Thrasher wins Olympic gold in air rifle.
Before she left for the Río Olympics, 19-year-old sharpshooter Ginny Thrasher of Springfield was just looking to get experience in her first games. “I was looking more towards 2020 as a realistic option,” she had said.
Fairfax County Police Receive National Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies recognized compliance with 484 standards.
In a hearing in Baltimore’s inner harbor on Saturday, July 30, the Fairfax County Police Department received a formal recognition of its national accreditation from the Gainesville, Va.-based Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, CALEA.