Stories for April 2012

Stories for April 2012

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Friday, April 27

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Area Welcomes Discovery

A famed pace Shuttle finds home in Chantilly.

The Washington area kept its eyes to the sky on Tuesday morning April 17, for a special over-flight by the Space Shuttle Discovery docked to its 747 carrier aircraft. The Discovery is moving to its new home at the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The Discovery has flown 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, and was the longest-serving orbiter in NASA’s shuttle program.

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Local Man Bikes in Police Unity Tour

The motto of the Police Unity Tour (PUT) is "We Ride for Those Who Died."

Audition Workshop Set for Westfield Summer Stage

Westfield Summer Stage celebrates 12 years of summer musicals with the classic musical comedy, “Anything Goes,” to be performed in late July at Westfield High. Auditions will begin in a few weeks, so an audition workshop for prospective cast members will be held Monday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m., where material for the vocal and dance auditions will be taught.

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Spotlight Shines on Local Talent

Alliance Theatre To Present Musical Showcase

Shining a spotlight on the local community’s youth, The Alliance Theatre presents its inaugural Musical Showcase, Friday-Saturday, May 4-5, at Mountain View High. The event is a fund-raiser for Mountain View to purchase additional lighting, sound and window covers for its auditorium.

Centre View Roundups -- April 25

Smoking Materials Cause Fire Fairfax County fire investigators say “discarded smoking materials” caused an accidental townhouse fire, April 12, in Centreville. The incident occurred around 3:25 p.m. at 5213 Prairie Willow Way. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear and deck area of the three-story, end unit.

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Fund-Raiser Planned for Animal Shelter

Wine-tasting event is May 5.

Like a Statue of Liberty for animals, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is a place of refuge for animals needing care. They often arrive ill or injured, and many have been abused, neglected or abandoned.

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Come to the ‘State Fair’ at Liberty Middle School

Featuring a cast and crew of 90, Liberty Middle School presents the classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “State Fair.” Show times are Thursday-Friday-Saturday, May 3, 4 and 5, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Centre View Calendar -- April 25

To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.

Thursday, April 26

Local PUT Fund-raisers

On Thursday, April 26, Glory Days Grill — at 13850 Braddock Road in the Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center — will host a Bartenders Night from 6-9 p.m.

Local Residents Nominated for Volunteer Service Awards

Volunteer Fairfax, along with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, will honor 117 local volunteers during the 20th Anniversary Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards sponsored by UnitedHealthcare.

Clifton Sisters Engaged

Steven and Elizabeth Birk of Clifton are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughters, Michelle Elizabeth and Kristin Margaret.

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Bat Or Award Presented to Chantilly Scout

Madeleine LeBeau, a member of local Junior Girl Scout Troop 6730, received the Bat Or (Daughter of Light) Award in a ceremony at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, on Friday, April 20.

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Letter: Exchange Student Appreciates Year

My name is Sara Segalini. I am an exchange student from Italy. I'm having a lot of fun here in Virginia and I'll never forget this year in the U.S.

Letter: Bullying Behavior

Without question, the involvement of a community is vital to dealing with bullying among youth.

Letter: Investment in America's Youth

Have parents and their baseball-oriented sons from ages 15 to 18 given much thought to the advantages of playing American Legion Baseball — a program that is extremely active in the Northern Virginia District 17 of the American Legion?

Foster, Foltz To Be Honored

Both nominated as Community Champions.

Volunteer Fairfax and Supervisor Pat Herrity will honor Ned Foster of Springfield District with a Community Champion award during the 20th Anniversary Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards sponsored by UnitedHealthcare.

Two More Weeks to Chantilly Day

Fun, food, music, a car show, children’s fair and parade — they’ll all be part of the first-ever Chantilly Day.

Audition Workshop Set for Westfield Summer Stage

Westfield Summer Stage celebrates 12 years of summer musicals with the classic musical comedy, "Anything Goes," to be performed in late July at Westfield High.

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Spotlight Shines on Local Talent

Shining a spotlight on the local community’s youth, The Alliance Theatre presents its inaugural Musical Showcase, Friday-Saturday, May 4-5, at Mountain View High.

Wednesday, April 25

Northern Region Well Represented at Capital Classic

West Springfield’s Battle, T.C. Williams’ Huggins win MVP honors.

Coming off the bench didn't stop West Springfield senior Logan Battle from earning MVP honors during the 39th Annual Capital Classic.

Classified Advertising

Read the latest Employment, Home & Garden and Classified ads!

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Northern Region Sports Notes (April 25-May 1)

Girls sporting pink look at district lax playoffs; McLean boys tennis unbeaten; Templin leads Saxons softball over Marshall.

This week the undefeated McLean High boys' tennis team, under head coach Aavo Tomkov, had a challenging slate of competition versus Liberty District opponents. The Highlanders (8-0), earlier in the week on Tuesday, April 24, were scheduled to travel to cross-town and Liberty District rival Langley High (7-1).

Connection Wins Public Service Award for Homeless Coverage

VPA Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service; plus 44 other awards.

The Connection Newspapers was awarded the Virginia Press Association Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service last Saturday, April 21, "for exhaustive coverage of homelessness in the newspaper's circulation area."

Column: Really?

Having recently upgraded my cell phone, I have finally, due to its larger keys and simplified data-entry process, learned how to enter “contacts” and their phone numbers as well as select some of these key contacts for speed-dialing.

Three Run for Mayor

Vice Mayor Lisa Merkel, Councilmembers Jasbinder Singh, Bill Tirrell seek election.

With current Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis deciding not to seek re-election, three current councilmembers will seek his spot in the town’s May 1 election. Vice Mayor Lisa Merkel and Councilmembers Jasbinder Singh and Bill Tirrell look to succeed DeBendittis, who was first elected in 2006.

Nine Run for Town Council

Candidates seek six seats on Town Council for two-year term.

Nine candidates will vie for six seats on the Herndon Town Council in the May 1 election. With three current councilmembers declaring their candidacy for mayor, three current members as well as five new candidates will run.

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Taste of the Town Celebrated

Annual restaurant showcase benefits Council for the Arts of Herndon.

Samantha Hendrie of Herndon knew she didn’t have to worry about dinner for her family Thursday, April 19, she just had to bring them to Worldgate.

Friday, April 20

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Local Real Estate: March 2012 Sales in Upper $600s

Local Real Estate: March 2012 Sales in Upper $600s

Classified Advertising

Read the latest Employment, Home and Garden and classified ads!

Thursday, April 19

Student Sleuth Takes the Stage at Rocky Run Middle

Presents “Brenda Bly: Teen Detective.”

Granted, says Theater Director Julie Wharton, “Nobody’s ever heard of this show, ‘Brenda Bly: Teen Detective,’ but it’s funny and the characters are charming.” And soon, local residents will be able to enjoy it, too, at Rocky Run Middle School.

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Police Unity Tour Fund-Raisers Set

The 16th annual Police Unity Tour (PUT) ride will be May 10-12, and Centreville’s Kevin Whalen is already busily raising funds for the cause.

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Commemorating A Young Life

Erin Peterson honored in song and dance.

A day before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, two local victims — Westfield High grads Erin Peterson and Reema Samaha — were honored and remembered at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Centreville.

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Car Show Slated for April 29 in Clifton

Besides being a longtime Clifton resident and its former mayor, Jim Chesley is also a classic-car aficionado. He’s president of the Custom Cruisers of Northern Virginia, and the group is putting on a car show to benefit a children’s hospital.

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‘Flight 905 Heavy’ at Dulles

The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop its Boeing 747 carrier, prepares to end its last flight at Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, April 17. The shuttle will become part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The flight was referred to as “flight 905 heavy” on the air traffic control channel.

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College Day At Lees Corner

Friday April 13 was "College Day" in the Chantilly Pyramid and all faculty and staff were encouraged to wear a shirt from their alma mater and to engage their students in discussions about college and careers. The effort was part of a "Crayon to College" initiative, acknowledging research that suggests that the earlier students start thinking about possible careers, the better they plan their educational paths. Here, some administrators and faculty of Lees Corner Elementary School pose for a group shot in their spirit wear.

Centre View Crime Report -- April 19

Activities reported by the Sully police department through April 13.

Centre View Calendar -- April 19

To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.

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College Day at Greenbriar West

Friday, April 13, was "College Day" in the Chantilly Pyramid. All faculty and staff were encouraged to wear a shirt from their alma mater and take five-plus minutes to share their college experience with their students. At Greenbriar West Elementary School teachers started the day in class meetings by sharing where they went to college, what they studied, and things they wished they had known before going to college. The goal was to show the children that the goal of attending college is realistic for them.

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Sports Notes From Around the Region

Highschool, youth, college news.

On Wednesday April 11, at Madison High School, the undefeated McLean High boys’ tennis team defeated Madison 8-1. Madison was competitive in all three doubles matches and three of the singles matches against a deep and impressive Highlander team.

Centreville High Sports Notebook

Wildcat Classic golf event set for April 30.

General Dynamics and the Wildcat golf team invite the community to the 8th Annual Wildcat Classic on Monday, April 30 at 1:30 p.m. at Westfields Golf Club in Clifton. The registration fee for this year’s event is $400 per foursome and $100 per individual. Registration includes greens fees, cart, range balls, on-course challenges, a tournament goodie bag, and admission to the awards reception and tournament banquet.

Chargers Defeat Hornets in Softball

Sallberg fans 11 Herndon batters

The Chantilly High girls' softball team, earlier this week on Tuesday, April 17, won a Concorde District road game at Herndon High, 6-0.

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Culinary Classes for Children

Little gourmands cook up fun in the kitchen.

"If you lick your hands you have to wash them," said instructor Beth Bigler as she teaches a class of kindergartens students how to make vegetable pizzas. "Are these pickles?" asks a 6-year-old student as she clutches a dark-green, cylindrical vegetable in her tiny fingers.

Roundups

Roundups

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Fund-Raiser Set for Centreville Boy

Kyle Hahne, 7, is a baseball-loving second-grader at Cub Run Elementary. The Centreville boy is also battling leukemia.

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In Baseball, Concorde District Title is up for Grabs

No clear cut favorite as the six teams gear up for final month of regular season.

Back and refreshed from spring break week, the local high school baseball teams opened up the Concorde District portion of their schedules last week. For the final month of the regular season, the six Concorde teams, including Centre View area schools Centreville, Chantilly, and Westfield, will go head to head to determine regular season final standings and seedings for the postseason district tournament set to begin May 15.

Alarm Over Fire Code at Shelters

Fairfax County officials respond to concerns about fire code violations at local shelters.

Spring fever hit the region early this year. Last week’s record-high temperatures had residents flocking outdoors to play, bike, jog and picnic.

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It’s OK, Come ‘Into the Woods’

Audiences throughout the country are currently enjoying two TV shows and a movie based on fairytales, so Chantilly High’s upcoming play, "Into the Woods," should receive an enthusiastic reception here.

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Raising Money To Educate Children in India

Priya Khanna is still in high school, but she’s the chairman and CEO of a nonprofit organization, The Hollow Trunk.

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Chargers Off to Fast Start in Concorde Baseball

Chantilly, following successful spring break showing, wins first two district encounters.

The winning ways for the Chantilly High baseball team have continued, from the Chargers' strong showing at a spring break tournament to its more recent victories in Concorde District games. The Chargers, under head coach Kevin Ford, won both of their district games by one run last week. On Tuesday, April 10 at Westfield High, Chantilly edged the Bulldogs, 4-3. Then in a home game last Friday night, April 13, the Chargers defeated Oakton High, 3-2.

Wednesday, April 18

Pleading for Restoring Funding for Human Services

Residents, agencies testify to need for community services.

After three years of deep budget cuts and declining revenue, Fairfax County is showing signs of fiscal equilibrium as property values and revenues begin a slow uphill climb.

Addressing ‘College Drinking Culture’

The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" forums continue through May.

It’s college decision time for Fairfax County seniors, and college-bound students and their parents are encouraged to attend an upcoming program that deals with binge drinking on college campuses. "The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" will be presented by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department, in April and May at locations across the county.

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Community Aims to Fill Empty Bowls

Floris United Methodist Church hosts annual Food For Others event.

More than 500 people gathered at the Floris United Methodist Church Friday, April 13 to help raise money and awareness for hungry people in the area. The annual Empty Bowls event, which raised money for local food bank Food For Others and hosted by the Giving Circle of HOPE, allowed guests to enjoy soups, snacks and deserts from local eateries, as well as take home a handmade bowl made by local potters, all for a $20 donation.

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ADAMS Hosts Interfaith Seder

Event brings together people of faith to discuss faith, freedom.

Andrea Barron was part of the first Jewish-Arab Seder 25 years ago, which was held in Washington, D.C. organized by local Jewish leaders to promote peace.

Tuesday, April 17

Column: “Meagulpa”

As a veteran of the chemo wars, I should have been better prepared mentally for the food/taste challenges often caused by the infusion of such cancer-fighting chemicals, but I wasn’t.

Saturday, April 14

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Reston Raiders Compete in National Ice Hockey Championships

12-under team trades pins with players from other states.

The Reston Raiders won their first game, 4-2, over a team from Arizona at the USA Hockey 12 and Under Tier II National Championships, which ran March 28 through April 1 at the twin rink Ashburn Ice House and SkateQuest Reston facilities.

Friday, April 13

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Fairfax County Real Estate: Top Sales by Town in February 2012

Fairfax County Real Estate: Top Sales by Town in February 2012

Thursday, April 12

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CVHS To Present ‘Radium Girls’

In Orange, N.Y., from 1924 to the late 1930s, the U.S. Radium Corp. employed hundreds of women to paint the faces of watches and clocks.

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Working on Campus Safety

Reema Samaha’s Family Still Grieves

A 2006 Westfield High grad, Reema Samaha was a talented dancer and actress. The daughter of Mona and Joe Samaha of Centreville, she was also one of the victims at Virginia Tech. Below, her father reflects on his feelings, five years after that tragic day.

Virginia Tech Tragedy: Five Years Later

Erin Peterson’s family then and now.

For Celeste and Grafton Peterson, on April 16, 2007, the world as they knew it changed forever. That was the day their daughter — and only child — Erin was killed in the massacre at Virginia Tech.

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Kidney Walk To Raise Funds, Awareness

Chantilly resident Jummy Olabanji has the distinction of being an on-air reporter with WJLA, the local ABC TV affiliate; and in 2002, she was part of the first class to graduate from Westfield High.

Centre View Calendar -- April 11

To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.

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Gershwin Songs, Dazzling Dancing

Westfield presents the musical, “Crazy for You.”

Featuring a cast and crew of 50, Westfield High presents its Cappies entry, the George Gershwin musical, “Crazy for You.”

Interest in Budget Slows as Economy Picks Up

Employee compensation, human service funding compete for attention.

Rising property values, a relatively low unemployment rate, and the lack of hot-button issues — such as full-day kindergarten — have reduced public involvement in Fairfax County’s proposed $6.7 billion budget compared to recent years, according to county leaders.

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Design with Children in Mind

BOWA Builders share tips for design that works for the whole family.

Whether it’s a closet, the kitchen or a study area, there are numerous ways to incorporate child-friendly design into any space, and children today are becoming more and more involved in the process. Even if the child is toddler-aged, simple tasks, such as picking colors, themes or bedding, can help them feel that they are part of the process.

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From Home to Dream Home: Split Foyer to French Colonial

Sun Design Remodeling’s design solution for Mulligan home tops category in “Contractor of the Year” Awards.

Tastes change; so, too, an owner’s requirements of their home. In the early 1960s, for instance, no floor plan concept seemed better suited to the demands of modern life than the split level — which deployed half-levels to apportion interior space into sleeping zones, family gathering rooms and service areas.

Home Work

‘Why Is My Home Rotting Away?’

"Mike, why is my house rotting away!?" This is the kind of question brimming with alarm and horror that builders and remodelers often hear. "How old is your house?" I asked. "It’s only 15 years old." "Ray, your house is not rotting away, but the skin of your house might be."

Roundups

Roundups

Kidney Disease Facts

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time.

County To Honor Police Volunteers

Meet the Fairfax County Police Department’s volunteers on Friday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in the Fairfax County Government Center Board Room.

County Shelter Receives Awards

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter received accolades from the Metropolitan Council of Governments for two programs and a large-scale animal rescue in 2010 - 2011

Public’s Help Sought in Exposure Cases

Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the men responsible for at least nine, reported indecent exposures in the Sully Police District.

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Centreville High Sports Notebook (March 19 through April 6)

Wildcats' track opens with tri-meet at Oakton.

The Centreville High track and field teams opened their season in a tri-meet at Oakton High against division rivals Oakton and Chantilly on March 28. Wildcat coach Givon Holmes used the meet for an opportunity to look at the talent of new team personnel, as many athletes were participating in events for the first time.

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Centreville Softball in Winning Mode Under Dutton

Wildcats sport winning record going into Friday's Concorde home game with Herndon.

All things considered, coming off a three-win season in 2012, being under a new head coach, and playing a tough schedule over the season's first half, the Centreville High girls' softball squad has been quite impressive thus far this spring.

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Chantilly's Gembarowicz Tosses Softball Perfect Game

Charger pitcher fans 19 in spring break tournament win.

The Chantilly High girls' softball team received perhaps the best pitching outing by a Northern Region player thus far this season when senior Emily Gembarowicz, during the Chargers' spring break trip to Myrtle Beach last week, tossed a perfect game, no-hitter in her team's 6-0 win over Jamestown High (N.Y) on the morning of April 3.

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New Life as a Texas Ranger for Snyder

Former Westfield baseball star is no longer part of Orioles' organization.

Westfield High graduate Brandon Snyder, the first round baseball selection of the Baltimore Orioles in the 2005 first year player draft, made the 25-member Texas Rangers roster which broke spring training camp to begin the new season last week.

Wednesday, April 11

Classified Advertising

Read the latest Employment and Classified Ads!

Column: Look What I Saw, Really

A male patient sitting directly across from me being infused with his unique chemotherapy cocktail, a bit too far for a conversation, but certainly close enough for a knowing/empathetic glance.

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Cleaning Herndon’s Streams and Paths

Herndon Environmental Network hosts first group cleanup.

Charlotte Anderson, 12, knew there would be plenty to pick up while picking up trash along the stream in downtown Herndon, near the Fortnightly Library. But Anderson didn’t expect the first thing found to be a shopping cart, considering the site is almost a mile away from the closest grocery store.

Tuesday, April 10

Editorial: On Funding the Silver Line

Commonwealth will collect the dividends, but refuses to invest; Northern Virginia pays.

Northern Virginia localities should together commission a study now to determine how much growth is stimulated by the opening of the Metro stations in Tysons and along the toll road out to Dulles, how many new jobs created, quantify how much that growth leads to increased income and sales tax, and how much revenue (taxes) would get shipped off to Commonwealth coffers.

Friday, April 6

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Federal Prosecutors Uncover Schoolyard Prostitution Ring in Suburban Fairfax County

U.S. Attorney: Underground Gangster Crips led prostitution ring that spanned Northern Virginia.

The high school girls were threatened with violence if they attempted to leave. They were sexually exploited by customers of the sex trafficking operation as well as the men who ran the prostitution ring.

Thursday, April 5

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Reenacting ‘Stations of the Cross’

As a time-honored tradition, each year 8th graders in the St. Timothy School National Junior Honor Society perform a play for the entire school reenacting the "Stations of the Cross" — the final steps that Jesus took on his journey to the cross. This year's play was directed by 8th graders Beth Ghyzel and Chelsea West, costumes were made by Madison Ojeda, and Jesus was played by Daniel Caracciolo. The play was overseen by faculty members Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Young, and Mrs. Toohey.

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Chess Competitors at Poplar Tree Elementary

Students from Poplar Tree Elementary School participated in the Virginia Scholastic and Collegiate Chess Championships earlier this month in McLean. The tournament was organized by the Virginia Chess Federation. These students placed 9th in the tournament. Pictured with Principal Sharon Williams are: Austin Song, Asrith Biradavolu, Richa Misra, Sunny Ahuja, Alice Cao-Dao, Aarav Bajaj and Pravalika Putalapattu.

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Maxwell Read Goes to State Geography Bee

Maxwell Read, a sixth-grade student at Greenbriar West Elementary School, won the school-level competition of the Nation Geographic Bee on Dec. 15 and advanced to the State Level this week. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 24th annual National Geographic Bee. The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

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‘Many Cultures, One School’

Poplar Tree Elementary School students, staff, and parents recently celebrated Heritage Night with the theme “Many Cultures, One School.” Students from Mrs. Reynolds’s Kindergarten class, Miss Beverage’s third grade class, and Miss Rowland’s fourth grade class performed as well as three students from Chantilly High School. Following the performances, students went to different stations to work on crafts from around the world.

Centre View Calendar -- April 4

To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.

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Supervisors OK Pohanka’s Plan in Chantilly

Pohanka Honda is coming to Chantilly. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently gave its building proposal a checkered flag, clearing the way for it to build a Honda dealership here.

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Two Grieving Mothers Seek Answers

Kim Nelson goes to bed at night hoping she’ll someday see her daughter again; Gil Harrington knows she’ll never be able to because her own daughter is gone forever. Saturday, March 31, they were together in Fairfax seeking information about what happened to their girls and doing what they could to prevent similar tragedies from befalling someone else’s child.

Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy, Tax Crimes

A Fair Oaks man was sentenced last week in federal court to two years in prison for secretly conspiring to act as an agent of the Pakistani government in the U.S., without telling federal authorities about this affiliation, as required by law. He is Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of the Penderbrook community.

Centre View Roundups April 4

Free Carseat Inspections Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, April 5 and April 19, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed. However, because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.

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Lawson Honored as Officer of Quarter

Police officers don’t have to be out on the streets to make a difference in their communities. School Resource Officers (SRO)s make an impact every day, and for all he’s done in that capacity, PFC Steve Lawson was honored recently as the Sully District Station’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee’s Officer of the Quarter.

Remembering Erin Peterson

Joyful music will fill the air when the Fifth Annual Erin Peterson Fund Gospel Celebration is held Sunday, April 15, at 4 p.m., at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Centreville. Erin worshiped with her family here and, after she died in the April 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy, her own family and her church family celebrated her life together.

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Bull Run Elementary Is K-5 Team Champ

Bull Run Elementary School Chess Team won the 2012 Virginia Scholastic K-5 team Chess Championship. Fourth grader Eli Kirtley led the way with six victories in six games, good enough to make him the individual 2012 Virginia K-5 Chess Champion.

Easter Egg Hunt for the Visually Impaired

The Alexander Graham Bell Chapter of the Pioneer Volunteers and the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind held its 33rd annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 31 for the visually impaired at the Centreville Moose Lodge, Chapter 2168, in Fairfax. The beeping eggs, built by the Alexander Graham Bell Chapter of the Pioneer Volunteers, emit a variety of tones for visually impaired children to hone-in on, allowing them to use their ears and sense of touch to find the eggs.

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Fairfax Residents Awarded Inspiring Champions Award

The Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter recognized thirteen individuals as Inspiring Champions at a special reception on Feb. 29 at its corporate offices in Fairfax.

Letter: It Takes Community To Prevent Bullying

As a private, not-for-profit agency focusing on bullying prevention and intervention in northern Virginia since 2009, we at Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Inc. are pleased to see your recent pieces focusing on this critical issue for youth. We have been encouraged by the Fairfax County Public School System’s

At the Libraries

Thursday/April 5 Small Wonders. 11 a.m. Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville. Stories and activities. Age 13-23 months with adult. 703-830-2223.

Westfield’s Dezelick Receives National Honorable Mention

When it comes to talent, those who’ve seen Westfield High senior Colby Dezelick perform — first as a dancer with Encore Theatrical Arts Project in Chantilly and then as an actor on the Westfield stage — know he’s got what it takes to succeed. And now it’s official.

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County Aims to Prevent Substance Use and Abuse

Alcohol use down, painkiller and inhalant use on the rise.

Twenty-one questions in the 2010 Fairfax County Youth Survey dealt with substance abuse. The survey asked about lifetime use of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, as well as use in the past month of 13 different substances.

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Basketball’s Capital Classic Showcase Set for April 21

Preliminary game will feature Westfield’s Zach Elcano and former Chantilly player Kethan Savage.

The 39th Annual Capital Classic high school basketball event, set to take place on Saturday, April 21, will consist of a full day of All Star hoops games at T.C. Williams High in Alexandria.

Centreville High Sports Report

Wildcat girls improve to 4-0 in lacrosse.

On Monday, March 26, the Centreville girls varsity lacrosse team improved its record to 4-0 by beating the Edison Eagles, 18-5. Sophomore Caroline Bollman (2 goals/1 assist) started the Wildcats moving toward victory with a nice feed from junior Carly Sane (6 goals/2 assists).

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The Winding Baseball Trek Towards Becoming a Cincinnati Reds’ Fan

With Opening Day here, its’ fun to follow more than one major league team.

I did not grow up as a Reds’ fan. In fact, Cincinnati’s great Big Red Machine caused me great heartache when, as a 12-year old boy growing up in Northern Virginia, I watched on TV as my favorite team, the Red Sox, lost to Sparky Anderson’s crew, 4-3, in Game 7 of the 1975 Fall Classic. I had been ecstatic after Carlton Fisk’s 12th inning game-winning home run had given the ‘Sox a 7-6 win in Game 6. But following the Game 7 loss, in which my favorite player, the great Carl Yastrzemski, flew out to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fenway Park, I was in tears – a broken kid.

Classified Advertising

Read the latest Employment, Classifieds and Home and Garden ads here!

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Centreville Girls Enjoying Four-Game Win Streak

Wildcats preparing for next week's start of Concorde soccer play.

The Centreville High girls' soccer team, following a breakthrough 2011 season a year ago which saw the Wildcats go 13-3 and advance all the way to the Northern Region tournament semifinals before their season ended with a Final Four loss to eventual state champion McLean, is off to a solid start this spring. Centreville, after beginning the season with a 2-0 road loss at W.T. Woodson High (Patriot District) on March 13 and then playing visiting Yorktown High (National District) to a 1-1 tie two days later, is currently on an impressive four-game win streak with the victories coming over visiting T.C. Williams (Patriot), 5-0, on March 19; at West Springfield (Patriot), 1-0, on March 23; a 2-1 triumph on March 27 over guest McLean (Liberty District), the same Highlanders' squad which ended the Wildcats' hopes of qualifying for the state AAA playoffs last year; and a decisive victory at Wakefield High (National), 8-0, last Thursday night. (See Centreville High Sports Notebook for details of the Wakefield game.)

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Chantilly Softball Preparing for Concorde Schedule

The Chantilly High girls' softball team is spending the current spring break week competing at the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand Tournament in South Carolina. There, the Chargers were scheduled to play three games.

Tuesday, April 3

Council Responds to County Water Ordinance

Councilmembers decide to address legislative ordinance issues with county.

The Herndon Town Council unanimously passed a response to the Dec. 6, 2011 Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ decision to regulate water sales and rates from non-county providers.

Column: Infusing Is Semi Amusing

So here I go again; heavy-duty chemotherapy for the first time in nearly three years. As such, I thought I’d try and write another column while actually sitting in the Barcalounger at The Infusion Center (as I did three years ago: “Chemo-Cocktailing at the Depot” was that column’s title) and see what my pen has to say.