The Median Has No Message
Political signs banished from roadsides as campaign season heats up.
Some people call them flowers of democracy. Others call them weeds of political pollution. Whatever one thinks of the campaign signs and placards that appear along the roads of Fairfax County, expect to see a lot fewer of them. Last month, county officials launched a new program in which nonviolent inmates at the county jail hit the streets four days a week to remove illegal signs. With apologies to Marshall McLuhan, the message is no longer in the median. Anger and resentment has been rising over the issue of roadside political signs for years, and campaigns frequently go to war with each other to see which side can plant or steal or deface the largest number of placards. Unlike Prince William County, which had an agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation that allows the local government to collect the signs and fine violators, Fairfax was caught in a bind. Part of the Virginia code made it illegal for the county to remove the signs in Fairfax County until after an election.
2013 National Jamboree
A group of boy scouts from McLean and Fairfax Station had the privilege of attending the 2013 National Jamboree—held for the first time ever at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, or “The Summit” in Mount Hope, W. Va. Years of preparation went into making The Summit ready to host 40,000 scouts from all over the U.S. for 10 days. The Summit had a huge variety of activities for scouts to enjoy. These activities included mountain biking, scuba, BMX, rock climbing, shooting sports, and the most popular activity there—the zip-lines! At any given moment the zip-line had up to a 3-hour wait.
Energy and Passion at Workhouse Stage
The Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre to present “Fame, The Musical.”
Youthful sensibilities are coming to the Workhouse stage. Chronicling the fictional lives of a variety of determined performing arts students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, "Fame, The Musical" will transport audiences with its exuberance, courtesy of the Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre.
Local Families, Au Pairs Help Support Children in Need
Fairfax County Local Childcare Coordinators (LCCs) Dariece Rau, Kimberly Nelson, Christine Bodziak, Shawna Levins, Cinzia Putzeys and Debora Smith, along with area au pairs and their host families, enjoyed cool refreshing yogurt and other treats at Yolly Molly Café in Fairfax to support Cultural Care’s Kids First Foundation Sunday, Aug. 4. The families and au pairs came from Fairfax, Clifton, Centreville, Fairfax Station and Springfield, all with a mind to support child advocacy groups and other non-profits benefiting children in need worldwide. Currently, Kids First supports: Share Our Strength, one of America’s leading not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to end childhood hunger; Jeevitha Anathashrama, an orphanage in India; and Dom Dietzcka, an orphanage in Poland.
Candidates Agree on Amendment for Voting Rights, Disagree on Executive Order
Restoration of civil rights on the agenda for next governor.
Should nonviolent felons have their right to vote automatically restored? What exactly is a nonviolent felony? What kind of process can be considered automatic?
VA Adopts: Campaign for 1,000
Governor McDonnell promotes adoption, foster care during Fairfax County tour.
The atmosphere was festive as more than 100 people—including adoptive parents, children and state and local officials—gathered in the Fairfax County Government Center atrium Tuesday, July 30 to welcome Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) during the statewide tour to promote his “Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000” initiative.
Four Years Prison for Fairfax Station Man
He planned to have sex with a minor.
A 67-year-old Fairfax Station man was sentenced last week to more than four years in federal prison. The punishment followed George Ronald Marion’s conviction for crossing state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, plus possession of child pornography.
Lynn Mayer to Lead Fairview Elementary
With strong ethicacy, she is focused on what’s best for the students.
Lynn Mayer of Fairfax was named the new principal of Fairview Elementary in Fairfax Station on July 1. The school originally built on Ox Road in 1899 inherited one third of the Clifton Elementary students when it closed two years ago.
Teenage Sisters Spend Summer Dancing
Brittany and Caitie Belle Yevoli take part in a five-week intensive program with The Washington School of Ballet.
Rather than while away hours at the mall or the pool like most girls their age, a pair of teenage sisters from Fairfax Station chose to spend the majority of their summer dancing. But forget Selena Gomez and the Cupid Shuffle—Brittany, 14, and Caitie Belle Yevoli, 13, trained for five weeks alongside students from around the world as part of The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) “Summer Intensive” program.
Quilt Show Displays ‘Sacred Threads’
Some 231 handmade quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing were displayed during the biennial Sacred Threads exhibition, July 10-28, at Floris United Methodist Church in Oak Hill. Three Fairfax residents had quilts in the show.
Apple Federal Credit Union Seeks Donations for Back-to-School Supply Drive
Apple Federal Credit Union has kicked off its Collect for Kids Program by joining community-based organizations to help get backpacks and supplies into the hands that need them most. Apple branches are accepting new back packs and monetary donations made at the branches and from Apple’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AppleFederalCreditUnion), and will match donations up to $5,000 until Aug. 15. According to the Fairfax County Public School System, for the 2011-2012 school year, 9.7 percent, or one in 10 children under age 18 live in poverty. The system also reported that 46,117 students, or 26.29 percent of their student enrollment, were eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Unlocking the Door to Affordable Housing
County considers establishment of residential studio option to assist with housing affordability.
Like most areas that have seen explosive growth in the past 30 years, Fairfax County’s stock of affordable housing has dwindled as it’s grown into one of the nation’s wealthiest counties.
Roessler Named County Police Chief
New police chief vows focus on diversity.
Edwin C. Roessler, named Fairfax County's police chief at Tuesday's Board of Supervisor's meeting, promised to launch a Diversity Council in an effort to recruit, promote and respond to Fairfax County's increasingly diverse community.
Fairfax County Animal Shelter Temporarily Suspends Intake of Dogs
Canine influenza suspected culprit after dozen dogs become ill.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter has temporarily suspended its intake of dogs, after one dog died of pneumonia and about a dozen more dogs have exhibited symptoms of an unspecified upper respiratory illness.
Nereids Synchronized Swimmers 9th in Nation
The Northern Virginia Nereids synchronized swimming team just returned from the Age Group National Synchronized Swimming Championship in Riverside, Calif.