What Would $155 Million Bond Package Buy?
New fire stations, library renovations, park improvements and more on Nov. 6 ballot.
On a recent Saturday afternoon, Monique Bell of Oakton was helping her 5-year-old daughter McKenzie sort through a dozen Halloween craft books at the Reston Regional Library. The library, one of the busiest branches in Fairfax County, has a collection of more than 215,000 volumes and circulates more than a million books a year.
Two Poor Teachers Expand in Area
A kitchen and bath remodeling company brings a one-stop-shop right to customers' front doors.
On a sunny afternoon in the parking lot of a Fairfax County shopping center, Jeff Pregman is giving a tour of his mobile showroom, a $100,000 former bookmobile that now houses an impressive selection of tiles, counter tops, faucets, flooring, light fixtures and more. Pregman is the General Manager of Two Poor Teachers, a Class A contracting company founded in 1999 that specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. The tour is interrupted on several occasions over the course of an hour by folks peering in the windows or knocking on the door. “I love it,” says Pregman. “People see this big vehicle that says it’s a design center. They come up to see what’s what and they are blown away by what’s inside. We do get a bit of business this way.”
Editorial: Pick Your Own Election Day
It's called “absentee voting in person,” and there are a lot of reasons why you should.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The deadline to register to vote is past, although in Northern Virginia, it's clear that a very high percentage of eligible voters are registered. Four years ago in the presidential election of 2008, there were 5,034,660 voters registered in Virginia, and 3,752,858 actually voted. Just in the month of September 2012, Fairfax County saw more than 6,000 newly registered voters, for a total of 646,881 active voters. Arlington registered more than 3,300 new voters in September, with more than 130,000 active voters total. Alexandria added more than 1,300 new voters last month alone, with 81,847 active voters.
Two Years Later, the Search Goes On
Homicide detectives are still seeking leads in a two-year long investigation of the murder of Yong Suk Yun, 61. He was killed on Oct. 7, 2010, in his Fairfax Station home at 5781 Ladues End Court. Yun owned the Dr. Wash in Chantilly and detectives believe Yun’s murder stemmed from a robbery.
Civitan Clubs Host Annual Burke Lake Picnic
Over 300 people attended the recent picnic at Burke Lake Park for individuals with intellectual disabilities, their staff, and their families. The picnic was a combined effort of the Area 3 Civitan Clubs, including the Arlington, Fairfax, Greater Loudoun and Tysons Clubs, and the Fairfax County Department of Therapeutic Recreation, assisted by 13 members of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity at George Mason University. Members from the CFS Proud Hearts and MVLE Broadway Stars Civitan Clubs were also in attendance.
An ‘Eye-opening’ Banquet in Burke
A "hunger banquet" highlights poverty in the world.
Thirty youth from area middle and high schools gathered on Sept. 18 at their local church in Burke to experience a “hunger banquet” to increase their awareness of poverty and hunger in the world, Haiti and in Northern Virginia. When these students from Lake Braddock, Robinson and West Springfield gathered for their weekly meeting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were unaware of what was in store for them. Their leaders divided the students randomly into three groups—seating four students at an elegant dining table, nine students in a circle on folding chairs and the remaining 25 on cardboard laid out on the floor. The three groups represented the distribution of wealth in the world—10 percent in the high-income level, 20 percent in the middle-income level and the remaining 70 percent at the lowest level of wealth.
Fairfax Crowd Gives Obama Enthusiastic Welcome
President scores points talking about jobs, women’s rights … and Big Bird.
After a bruising debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama did some boasting Friday, Oct. 5 at a campaign rally at George Mason University.
Editorial: Last Week to Register to Vote
To vote on Election Day, you must be registered at your current address no later than Oct. 15, 2012. Registered voters should have received a new voter card in the mail by now. You can check your registration status online by visiting the State Board of Elections website at www.sbe.virginia.gov. There you can also download a voter registration form and mail or fax it to your elections office address.
Perkins, Four Independents Challenge Connolly in 11th District
This will be the first election using new district maps based on 2010 Census data. Virginia's 11th congressional district includes the City of Fairfax, most of Fairfax County and the eastern portion of Prince William County. The Towns of Clifton, Haymarket, Occoquan, and Vienna are also located in the 11th District. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D), who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2008, represents more than 650,000 residents.
County Gets Election Ready
Fairfax County prepares voters for new election measures.
"The good news in Fairfax County is that almost everyone who is eligible is registered to vote," said Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief election official. "Our problem in Fairfax County is not voter apathy, and it’s not getting people to register. What we don't have is every registered voter registered at their correct address."
Walk to Feed the Hungry
Sept. 29 was a "Day to Serve" in Springfield, Burke and Fairfax areas.
Early in the year Elder Jack Gerard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) reached out to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray to invite them to collaborate with the LDS Church in a regional "Day to Serve" to benefit all of the communities in this wide swath of the country.
South County Middle School's First Year
South County Middle School students kick off first year as “mustangs.”
“We really, really like kids here,” said Rita Clarke, one of the front office staff at the brand-new South County Middle School in Lorton. And it shows.
GOP Women of Lorton Host Former Congressman
Artur Davis addressed a Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) gathering at the home of one of its members in Lorton. The former Congressman from Alabama explained why he left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP.
Fall Fun Festivals
Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. will present the 20th annual Fall For Fairfax KidsFest this weekend at the Fairfax County Government Center. Enjoy exciting, interactive and educational programs, entertainment and activities. Fall For Fairfax KidsFest is specially designed for families with elementary and pre-K aged children. There will be three stages of free entertainment, including the Inova Health Stage and the Fall for Fairfax Kids Stage.