Beware of Phone Scam
Dozens of senior citizens have been victimized by telephone scammers in recent weeks, and Fairfax County police are urging residents not to give out or verify financial information over the phone. In the latest scam, victims are receiving calls from someone pretending to be from a utility company, delivery service or sweepstakes. Residents are told their service will be discontinued unless they pay by phone immediately. Frightened at the thought of no heat, power or phone, for example, victimized seniors provide their account numbers and payment information over the phone.
Police Dispatchers Serve as Vital Links
Frequently the first, and sometimes the only, contact citizens may have with the City of Fairfax Police Department is the professional voice answering a call in the department’s Communications Center. Eight full-time and two part-time dispatchers, normally working in shifts of two, staff the center.
Unprecedented Interference With the Election Process
I am extremely upset by the recent interference of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee in the election process in Fairfax County. The term of one of the Republicans on the Electoral Board is expiring. By law, and by historical precedence, the chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee has the prerogative of requesting the Circuit Court to fill this position with a selection of his choice.
Promoting Peace Among Youth
Twelve young adults receive 2013 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County.
At a reception held at the Clifton Community Hall on Sunday, March 3, the Herndon Friends Meeting presented the 2013 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County to 12 exceptional area young adults.
Letter: We Need A Real Leader in Virginia
According to a Feb. 25 article in “Politico,” two prominent Republican CEOs lambasted GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Republican Governors Association, saying his hard core socially conservative policies will make Virginia less attractive for business, and he is out of the Virginia mainstream.
Woodson Boys’ Basketball Reaches State Semifinals
Cavaliers’ season ends with loss to Henrico in Richmond.
The Woodson boys' basketball team won 25 games this season.
Column: E-male
My oncologist is a man. He has e-mail. He works for an HMO that encourages/advertises its connectivity and responsiveness – electronically, to its members. If I want to get medical answers in a reasonable amount of time – save for an emergency, typing, “mousing” and clicking is the recommended methodology. No more phone calls, preferably. Though pressing keys on a keyboard rather than pressing buttons on a phone might have felt counter-intuitive at first as a means of receiving prompt replies, it has proven over these past few years to be a fairly reliable and predictable information loop. Not in minutes necessarily, but more often than not during the same day – and almost always by the very next day. In fact, I’ve received e-mails from my oncologist as late as 9:18 p.m. (time-stamped) after a sometime-during-the-day e-mail had been sent.
Putting a Face on Homelessness
462 homeless interviewed during Registry Week, an intense effort to document Fairfax County’s chronic homeless.
"We have to step up to this question. … Are we going to walk away from this tonight and say, 'That's just the way people live?’ Well, it's not the way people should live." —Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill)
The Snowquester Hits the Area
Snowstorm’s impact downgraded, but slushy roads still a problem.
The National Weather Service Wednesday downgraded its Snowquester forecast from 8-10 inches to about 4-6 inches in the region. At 3:18 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, the NWS predicted total snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches in Fairfax County before the storm fizzles out later that night, and north winds with gusts up to 45 mph in some areas, making driving hazardous.
South County Falls in Region Semifinals
South County went from the No. 7 seed in the Patriot District tournament to the region final four.
Robinson Reaches Region Final Four
Robinson's season ends with loss to Wakefield in region semifinals.
Wakefield Boys’ Basketball Finishes Region Runner-Up
Warriors qualify for state tournament, will travel to Richmond.
Wakefield will face Mountain View today in the state quarterfinals.
Woodson Wins Region Title with Epic Comeback
Cavaliers erase 19-point fourth-quarter deficit against Wakefield.
Woodson will face Battlefield on Friday in state quarterfinals.
Rescued Cats and Dogs Bring Loyalty to Families
Families grow with adopted pets.
The ASPCA estimates that nationwide, somewhere between five and seven million “companion animals” wind up in shelters each year. Of that number, 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized ... each year. The prominent humane organization also figures only about 20 to 30 percent of cat and dog pets were acquired from rescues and shelters.
Fairfax Station Area Roundups
Fairfax County police charged a Centreville man with several offenses—including felony hit-and-run—after he allegedly tailgated and struck another vehicle driven by a Lorton man and then fled. He is 25-year-old Juan Carlos Gudiel.
Halley Elementary Races for Technology
The Crosspointe subdivision around Halley Elementary School will be awash in color Saturday, March 9, with a color misting, obstacles and a road course for more traditional runners and walkers, offering professional ChronoTrack timing system for accuracy. The school's Parent Teacher Organization invites everyone to join the festivities to raise money for classroom technology during its Halley Race for Technology 5k and Color Fun Run.
Capital Area Food Bank Receives $99,245 From Giant
As a result of the 25th annual Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive, Giant Food of Landover, Md., presented a check in the amount of $99,245.70 to the Capital Area Food Bank in Lorton. Through the Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive, Giant customers donated more than $168,000 to support hunger relief efforts of five Feeding America food banks.
Skanska Honored for INOVA Lorton Healthplex
On Jan. 18, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Fairfax Tree Commission honored Skanska USA’s Washington, D.C., office with the 2012 Land Conservation Award for Small Commercial Project in a ceremony held at the Fairfax County Government Center.
A Lesson of Love
For Kolleen Raitz of Lorton, twelve-and-a-half-year-old springer spaniel Lanny acts as more than just a lifelong friend, but as the reason she decided to pursue a career as a dog trainer. “She's special for so many reasons, but mostly because of the profound effect she has had on my life and the lessons she has taught me over the years. She is, without a doubt, the single most important thing that has ever happened to me. She has taught me everything, from patience and forgiveness to self-control and being able to believe in myself
Putting a Name and Face on Chronically Homeless
At 4 a.m., under a full moon, more than 200 volunteers fanned out across Fairfax County on Monday, Feb. 25, to identify the more than 300 people who are literally homeless, living in cars, on the street or in the woods around the county. Coordinated by the Fairfax-Falls Church Partnership to End Homelessness, the weeklong effort is part of the 100,000 Homes campaign, an intensive approach to identify and find homes for the chronically homeless.