Fairfax Station/Lorton/Clifton News

Fairfax Station/Lorton/Clifton News

Subscribe

Board Advertises Higher Tax Rate

Rate gives board flexibility, options in determining final budget.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 Tuesday to advertise a higher real estate tax rate that could add about $100 to annual tax bills, which will be on top of the $332 county homeowners will see this year as a result of higher real estate assessments. Setting the advertised tax rate formally begins the two-month public process to adopt the Fiscal Year 2015 budget, and the rate represents the maximum potential tax rate for FY2015.

Tease photo

Lorton Landfill May Operate Until 2040

Debate over EnviroSolutions application continues.

South County Federation members began discussing the closure of the Lorton landfill with EnviroSolutions, the landfill’s owner, in 2006.

Tease photo

Virginia Laws Help Local Governments Conceal 911 Calls from Public

Police agencies refuse to release audio from 911 calls, prompting questions about transparency.

When city officials in Alexandria released the audio of a 911 call in a high-profile murder case, many people interpreted the move as a step forward for transparency in a commonwealth known for opaque government.

Tease photo

‘Zipping Along and Flying on the Ice’

Two local teens competing in synchronized skating Nationals.

Emily Dillard and LaDan Nemati attend two different high schools; but on the ice rink, they’re teammates. Dillard’s a freshman at Fairfax High and Nemati’s a freshman at Paul VI. And on Feb. 27, they and Team Ashburn will compete in the Synchronized Skating National Competition in Colorado Springs.

Tease photo

Delegate Filler-Corn Up Close and Personal

Eileen Filler-Corn meets constituents over bagels and coffee

Residents of the Burke area visiting local bagel and coffee shops may have found themselves meeting a busy state legislator over the last couple weeks. Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) has been holding office hours at locations such as Caribou Coffee and Einstein Brothers Bagels in order to connect with constituents and listen to their concerns

Tease photo

Heading to Junior Olympics

Q and A with Fairfax Station resident and air rifle competitor Caitlyn Ford.

Robinson Secondary School senior Caitlyn Ford, a member of the school’s rifle team, will be heading to Colorado in April to compete in the Junior Olympics.

Tease photo

Superintendent Visits Twain Middle School

The stop is the next to last on Garza’s Listening Tour

The school board has already approved their FY 2015 budget, but concerned teachers and parents continue to voice their concerns as the process to receive county funding moves on. The budget was among several topics addressed at Twain Middle School on Feb. 17, a stop on Superintendent Karen Garza’s listening tour.

Tease photo

Snowstorm Hits the Area

School closures and road conditions among major concerns

Fairfax Station resident Lia Keith said she was lucky this year in terms of snow days. “They plowed our road early, which is unusual,” Keith said. “I was also off work and didn’t have to go in until Thursday, which was fortunate.”

Tease photo

Helping Those With Disabilities

Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program serves hundreds

Although it’s been bone-chillingly cold this winter, volunteers still show up for their weekly shifts at the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program in Clifton. “The horses still need to be fed, even when it snows,” said NVTRP interim executive director Kelsey Gallagher.

Tease photo

Money on the Shelves: Jurisdictions Take Variety of Approaches to Funding Libraries

Some have recovered from the recession, others are still struggling.

What is the future of the neighborhood library?

Tease photo

Eleven Candidate In Epic Democratic Primary to Replace Moran

Successful candidate could emerge with 10,000 votes.

The Democratic primary is shaping up to be the most competitive election in recent memory, one with an unprecedented number of candidates.

Tease photo

School Board Votes For Longer SLEEP

Money saved from annual bus route review will be earmarked for implementation of later start times.

According to SLEEP, a local group advocating for later high school start times in Fairfax County, 72 out of 92 counties in Virginia have a high school start time of 8 a.m. or later.

Tease photo

County Teachers Federation Honors Supervisor Herrity

Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) was honored Jan. 11 by the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT). He received the organization’s 2013 President's Award for "consistent advocacy, proactive communications and support of (FCPS teachers) over the past year."

Tease photo

Learning about Foster Care and Adoption

Children need permanent families in Fairfax County.

In Fairfax County, there are 265 children in Foster Care. That number may sound like a lot, said Nannette Bowler, director of Fairfax County Department of Family services, but that number was at over 3,000 children 10 years ago.

Republican Women of Clifton to Welcome U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa

The Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) welcomes U. S. Rep. Darrell Issa from California’s 49th Congressional district as guest speaker at its February meeting. Issa is recognized for his success as a Congressional watchdog of taxpayer dollars and serves as the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, charged with protecting the interests of U.S. taxpayers and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. The meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, and the social hour will begin at 7 p.m. when refreshments will be served. President Alice Butler-Short will open the business meeting at 7:30 p.m., after which Representative Issa will deliver comments and entertain questions.