Making Schools Safer
Two Northern Virginia Democrats take part in panel to consider school security.
Do Virginia schools need more guns? That question is at the heart of a debate that’s now reaching a fever pitch in the commonwealth, especially after a man with a Bushmaster assault rifle blasted his way into a Connecticut elementary school and killed 20 children and six adults before killing himself. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell responded to the tragedy by creating a School Safety Task Force, which is considering a proposal for every school in Virginia to have an armed school resource officer.
Searching for ‘The New Virginia Way’
Need to change the way Virginia supports people with disabilities.
In light of Virginia’s settlement with the Department of Justice over Virginia’s state institutions for people with disabilities, also known as training centers, it is time for us to enter “The New Virginia Way.”
Wonderful Tunes, Wonderful Voices
The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington comes to the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.
Continuing to expand its Performing Arts Series, the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) is bringing the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (GMCW) to the local area for an evening of entertainment of Broadway show tunes, pop music and traditional choral music.
Local Dancers Perform With Renowned Group
Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance Gala at Mason.
The celebrated Mark Morris Dance Group will soon bring its energy and style, its live music repertoire and several local dancers to enthrall audiences at the Mason Center for the Arts.
Presenting Living History
The Manassas National Park Battlefield heralds in the new year with a living history lesson.
Workhouse Joins in Statewide Preservation Project
The Workhouse Prison Museum/Workhouse Arts Center has been selected to participate in a statewide project designed to help improve care of collections for museums, libraries and archives.
Fairfax Families4Kids
Fostering bonds with children.
Nationwide, more than 463,000 children live in foster care. In many states, including Virginia, the number of foster youth has tripled in the last 25 years. As of Sept. 30, 2011, nearly 5,000 youth were in foster care in Virginia, according to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Physical abuse is the most common reason children enter foster, but it’s not the only reason. Often there’s emotional abuse, sexual abuse and the parent or caretaker’s inability to provide a safe environment due to substance abuse.
A Family Made Whole
After a tragic loss, Reston couple creates a family through adoption.
The Granvilles look like a made-for-TV family. On a bright October afternoon, Chris, a computer engineer, is teasing his teenage son, Kenny, about what kind of pet to adopt, while Tiffany sits on a sofa, cradling Elijah, Kenny’s baby brother, who has just woken up from an afternoon nap. “Fish? No way,” Kenny, 15, says. “They just go ‘round and ‘round in a bowl.” Kenny is lobbying hard for a dog or—at the very least—a guinea pig or hamster.
Workhouse to Host a Family Volunteer Day
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Workhouse Arts Center is hosting Volunteer Fairfax’s fourth annual Day of Service on Jan. 21, 2013 at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road in Lorton (free admission).
Robinson Offers Pair of Children’s Shows
Presenting “Waking Sleeping Beauty” and “The Lorax” this weekend.
The only thing better than one children’s show is two children’s shows, and Robinson Secondary’s Production Company class, RoProCo, is presenting a double bill this weekend.
Boy Scouts Collect 3,200 Pounds of Food
Boy Scouts of America Troup 1104 did volunteer work at their annual food drive event on Saturday, Nov. 10. Troop 1104, along with Cub Scout Pack 1861, collected over 3,200 pounds of food for families in need at the event.
Stafford Company Expands to Fairfax County
Professional Lifestyle Innovations LLC (PLInnovations), a local health and fitness company, is expanding its services to Fairfax County, specifically to serve new customers in Fairfax Station, Clifton and Lorton. Based out of Stafford, Va., the company recently launched its new website, www.plinnovations.com. PLInnovations’ website allows clients to purchase and download fitness plans designed for personalized, in-home fitness training.
Comedic Wit and Wisdom Fills the Workhouse
Once it was a place with the clanging noise of jail bar cells closing, but now laughter regularly wafts through the Workhouse. The source is the liveliness and vigor of stand-up comics of distinct genres and attitudes filling the seats as comedy nights are now a fixture at the Workhouse.
Republican Women of Clifton Launches 2013 Speaker Program.
The Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) will launch its 2013 speaker program with former Congressman Artur Davis talking about the recent election. The meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, which is a new location for RWC events in 2013. Members and guests are invited to the social hour that will begin at 7 p.m. when refreshments will be served.
Area Roundups
South County High School Class of 2015 Student Government Association will be hosting the Fifth Annual Mr. Stallion, a male beauty pageant, on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Twelve young men, including 2011 winner Mark Gavino and 2012 winner Brent Bainwol will be competing in this year's event.