Saturday, March 30
Classified Advertising March 27, 2013
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Thursday, March 28
Editorial: More Obstacles to Transparency
General Assembly puts more information out of public reach, but other factors also limit access.
The first paragraph of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, passed by the General Assembly in 1968, states that all public records "shall be presumed open." It doesn’t add, “except when we don’t want to,” although that provision does seem to be available in many cases. Individual government entities have a variety of ways of making it hard for the public to access public information.
Column: 14.8 Percent
That is the percentage of diagnosed lung cancer patients who survive beyond five years, according to The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2009, in a graph published in the Feb. 26, 2013 Washington Post’s weekly Health & Science section. As a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivor beginning his fifth year post-diagnosis, charting my prospects in such a cold and impersonal manner is both chilling and arguable. “Chilling” in that facts speak for themselves and are hardly made up of whole cloth, to invoke one of the late Jack Kent Cooke’s more famous quotes. And “arguable” in that charts, statistics, etc., may very well measure the mean, but it sure doesn’t measure the man (this man, anyway). Meaning, from my perspective: sure, the chart is scary as hell, but I’m not sure I’m on it, if you know what I mean? (I know you know what I hope.)
Better Training, More Technology
The bipartisan commission released findings, recommendations regarding long lines on Election Day.
"The commission has identified a variety of improvements and efficiencies to ensure access and convenience for voters in future elections.” —Sharon Bulova
Sully District Station Honors its Own
MPO Mary Hulse is Officer of the Month.
MPO Mary Hulse is an example of a police officer doing her job and doing it well. And at the March 13 meeting of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee, she was honored as that station’s Officer of the Month.
Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence
Rocky Run Middle wins state honor for fourth time.
Rocky Run Middle School has just won the 2013 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. But according to school Principal Matt Eline, “We were just doing what we do all the time.”
Mathcounts: First in Regionals, Second in States
Rocky Run’s team has stellar year.
Rocky Run Middle School’s MathCounts team didn’t win the state championship this year. But it did capture second place, which is a big achievement, in itself.
Roundups
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, March 28, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary.
Racing to Help Others
Some 1,100 people participated in the Rev3 Run Rogue 5K and 1K, Saturday, March 23, at Fairfax Corner, raising an estimated $10,000 each for Life with Cancer and Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure.
Russian Women’s Choir Performing at CVHS
Centreville High’s Choral Department is hosting a Russian women’s choir while it visits the U.S. called Vita in Canto, the choir will perform a free, one-hour concert next Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m., in the school theater. The choir is from the Ural University of Economics in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Training Key In School Safety
FCPS security coordinator addresses citizens committee.
Keeping students safe is Jim McLain’s job. After retiring as a Fairfax County police commander in 2001, he joined Fairfax County Public Schools; and for 12 years now, he’s been one of its two security coordinators.
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary Founded by Julie Sussman of Centreville’s Rocky Run community, Social Change was born in March 2011. Sussman’s idea was to get people together in a fun and informal way to discuss their favorite causes, share food and wine, visit with old friends and make new ones.
Rita’s Fundraiser for Second-Grader
Contributions also accepted online.
Tara Sankner, an 8-year-old second-grader at Lees Corner Elementary was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, and the community is rallying ’round to show its support. She and a fundraising and support team called “Pray for Tara” wore special, pink T-shirts and participated in last Saturday’s, March 23, Rev3 Run Rogue 5K and 1K at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
Governor Approves Conditional Budget for Medicaid Expansion
Vote-swapping operation traded transportation votes for Medicaid money.
Half a million uninsured Virginians may be eligible for Medicaid under an agreement now being worked out in Richmond — a deal in which Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell agreed to include Medicaid expansion as part of the budget if Senate Democrats supported a transportation package.
Wednesday, March 27
‘They’re Not Bad Kids; They’re Just Teenagers’
Westfield SRO talks about keeping students safe.
Authorities say children are safe in Fairfax County schools, but it requires continual vigilance to keep them that way. So the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee recently hosted a community meeting on the topic.
The Facts about MathCounts
Open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, MathCounts involves solving various types of complicated math problems.
Column: Residents Can Craft Own County Budget
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is in the process of developing the FY 2014 budget and my colleague, Supervisor John Cook, came up with a great tool, a budget simulation that will assist you in creating your own proposed budget.
Chantilly Takes State Forensics Championship
In a close competition, the Chantilly Forensics team won the Virginia AAA title on Saturday, March 23.
Fairs and Festivals 2013-2014
Information on fairs and festivals taking place in 2013-2014.
Centreview School Notes March 27
School notes for Centreville and Chantilly natives.
Clifton’s Easter Egg Hunt
The Town of Clifton held its Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, in the town park thanks to the efforts of the Clifton, Fairfax and Fairfax Station au pairs with Cultural Care Au Pair.
Animal Shelter Is Seeking Senior Citizen Volunteers
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is looking for people with spare time who’d like to help improve the quality of life for homeless animals here.
Tuesday, March 26
Easter Bonnet Creation Contest
Easter Bonnet Creation Contest Girls and boys 12 and under are invited to don their most original, most humorous or best international-theme home-made Easter bonnet creation and join in the Fair Oaks Mall Children's Easter Bonnet Parade contest on Saturday, March 23 from 10-11:30 a.m. A judges panel will award three grand prizes: most original home-made Easter bonnet creation; most humorous home-made Easter bonnet creation; and, best international-theme home-made Easter bonnet creation.
Monday, March 25
Putting Fun in Fundraiser
Students from Lees Corner Elementary School and Oak Hill Elementary School played their annual sixth grade basketball game in the Chantilly High School gymnasium on March 8. The event is a fundraiser for each school and features girls and boys teams, pep bands and cheer squads.
Mildred DeBell: 95 Years Young
Friends, family gather for birthday celebration.
Most people grow older each year — and then there’s Mildred DeBell. Although technically she did gain another year on Saturday, you’d never know it by the way she looks or acts.
National Honor for Chantilly Academy
Student team wins CyberPatriot V competition.
Five students captured a national championship last weekend for Chantilly, but not in athletics. They did it with computers to emerge victorious in the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberPatriot V National Finals.
Schools
School Notes
Email announcements to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos are welcome. The following students were named to the dean’s list at Virginia Tech for the fall semester: Mary A. Garifo is a freshman majoring in environmental resource management in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Daniel W. Garmon is a sophomore majoring in economics, business in the Pamplin College of Business.
Friday, March 22
Classified Advertising March 20, 2013
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Centreville Home Sales: February, 2013
In February 2013, 49 Centreville homes sold between $630,000-$159,000.
Centreville Home Sales: February, 2013
Chantilly Home Sales: February, 2013
In February 2013, 12 homes sold between $875,931-$155,000 in the Chantilly area.
Chantilly Home Sales: February, 2013
Thursday, March 21
Centreview School Notes March 21
School notes for residents from the Centreville and Chantilly areas.
Centreview Bulletin Board March 21
Information for events in the Centreville and Chantilly areas.
A Roundabout or a Traffic Signal?
Braddock/Pleasant Valley intersection to be improved.
Pretty much everyone agrees that the intersection of Braddock and Pleasant Valley roads in Centreville is a pain. It’s tiny and congested, with especially long waits for drivers during rush hours.
‘How Does This Help Us?’
Some residents say fixing congested intersection may lead to other problems.
At Monday night’s meeting about plans to fix the Braddock/Pleasant Valley roads intersection, VDOT’s Bill Cutler said early cost estimates for the project are in the $3 million to $4 million range. But, he added, utility relocation, environmental problems and land-acquisition costs could raise the price.
Editorial: Say Yes to Health Coverage
Governor, state panel must accept coverage for 400,000 Virginians without health insurance.
More than 140,000 residents of Fairfax County have no health insurance. That’s more than 13 percent of the slightly more than 1 million people who live in the wealthiest county in the nation. Arlington and Alexandria have similar percentages of uninsured.
Column: Just Wondering
Having never attended medical school (and not really having had the grades or commitment to do so), and having only completed 10th grade biology and freshman year astronomy, and rarely even driven by a medical school growing up, my understanding and/or instincts regarding how a medical professional plans and/or prepares for his day is as foreign to me as sugar-free chocolate (if I’m going down, I’m going down swinging; in truth however, considering the anti-cancer, alkaline diet I’m following, I do need to swing a little less frequently).
The Sound of Music
Enhancing your child’s music education during Music in Our Schools Month and beyond.
From the powerful sounds of a high school band to the soothing melodies sung in a kindergarten music classroom, local music educators are using the month of March to raise awareness of the benefits of learning music.
Wednesday, March 20
Ruby Tuesday Holding Fundraiser for WFCM
If area residents eat a meal at a particular Chantilly restaurant next week, they can help feed hungry families in the local community. That’s because Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) and Ruby Tuesday are partnering to make it happen.
Rocky Run Students Honored for Writing
Two Rocky Run Middle seventh-graders were honored in the recent 2013 Scholastic Writing Awards Competition sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.
Rocky Run Captures Chess Championship
The eight-member Rocky Run Middle School Chess Club won the Virginia Scholastic Chess Championship, the weekend of March 9, at Longwood University in Farmville.
International Night at Chantilly High
International Night was held at Chantilly High School on March 13.
Thursday, March 14
Classified Advertising March 13, 2013
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Letter: CVHS Needs Volunteers
The Centreville High School PTSA is hosting the 2013 CVHS All-Night After-Graduation Party on June 18, 2013 at Dave & Busters.
Recycle, Reuse, Remodel
Remodeling often affords an opportunity to re-purpose existing materials by donating to those less fortunate. Ask your remodeler if there is a plan or policy for saving materials for re-use rather than sending it to a land fill. Every project is different. And some materials are more easily removed and saved than others. Here are a couple of organizations that accepted used materials.
World’s Fanciest Rummage Sale Coming April 7
Rumor has it that the “world’s fanciest” rummage sale will feature some of the crystal light fixtures and other items recently replaced in the remodeling of the Ritz-Carlton Tysons.
‘How to Fall in Love’
Hopkins & Porter, Inc. will be offering "How to Fall in Love with Your Home Again,” a free design and remodeling seminar on Thursday, March 21, 6-8 p.m. This seminar will include a complimentary supper with opportunity to discuss one's own project with professional staff.
Virginia Garden Week to Feature NoVa Gardens
80th Historic Garden Week, April 20-27, 2013
Historic Garden Week 2013 will feature approximately 200 private homes and gardens open on 32 separate tours throughout the state of Virginia over eight consecutive days. It is the largest ongoing volunteer effort in Virginia and represents the coordinated efforts of 3,400 club members. One hundred percent of tour proceeds are used to enhance Virginia’s landscape. For 80 years, the grounds of the commonwealth’s most cherished historic landmarks have been restored or preserved with help from proceeds from Historic Garden Week including Mount Vernon, Monticello and the grounds of the Executive Mansion in Richmond.
Wednesday, March 13
TC Boys’ Soccer Beats Chantilly in Season Opener
Titans senior Terell Williamson scores game’s lone goal.
The T.C. Williams boys' soccer team is the defending Patriot District champion.
Column: Writing What Four
As far as anniversaries go–and I hope this one “goes” a lot further; acknowledging, dare I say celebrating my four-year survival anniversary from “terminal” stage IV (inoperable, metastasized) non-small cell lung cancer, a diagnosis I initially received on Feb. 27, 2009, along with a “13-month to two-year prognosis” from my oncologist, is certainly column-worthy.
Editorial: Hybrid Hijinks
Discouraging innovation in high-tech Virginia.
Consider this as a possible scenario (although perhaps we should have saved this for April 1): Fewer people are smoking, and many of those who do are smoking less. Virginia’s cigarette tax, the lowest of any state at 30 cents a pack, is a declining revenue source. Higher cigarette taxes are proven to reduce smoking. Under current logic in the commonwealth, there would be two courses of action to raise revenue: a) cut the cigarette tax, and b) charge non-smokers a fee to make up the difference and to compensate for the fact that they don’t pay cigarette taxes.
Two Compete in Governor’s Cyber Challenge
Two Chantilly Academy students, Anirudh Badge and Weyland Chiang, placed 2nd and 10th in last weekend’s Gov. Robert McDonnell's First Annual Governor's Cyber Challenge at George Mason University.
‘They See Science as a Joy’
New way of teaching yields many benefits.
Two representatives of the VISTA program, Arthur Polton and Andre Radloff, watched and listened to Centreville Elementary fourth-graders’ presentations on the best ways to preserve Virginia’s ecosystem.
"Record, Remember And Report”
CID officer advises citizens about homeland security.
Fairfax County’s Police Department has been around for more than 70 years, but its Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) wasn’t created until after the 9/11 tragedy. “Five detectives and one supervisor were in a lunchroom in the Massey Building when we first discussed it,” said CID Det. Doug Comfort.
Celebrating Native American Day
The entire second grade of Lees Corner Elementary School and a bevy of volunteers held Native American Day on March 1 as a capstone to months of learning about Native Americans. The Native American unit is a critical part of the second grade curriculum and the second grade team — Veronica Turner, Vicki McGorty, Melissa Carbonara and Leslie Barnes — thought that the event would be a good way to celebrate the students’ hard work.
Three Times the Celebration
Whalen brothers receive Eagle badges together.
When Boy Scouts make the rank of Eagle, families usually have just one child at a time being honored. But in the case of the Whalen family of Centreville’s Walney Glen community, good things come in threes.
Racing To Help Others
After beating breast cancer, Centreville’s Vanessa Spiller is ready to take on the world. She runs and challenges herself in endurance events and, on March 23 at Fairfax Corner, she’ll be racing in the second annual Rev3 Run Rogue 5K.
Lives Are on the Line
Upcoming 5K Raises Money for Cancer Patients, Research
BethAnn Telford and Vanessa Spiller are at different points in their cancer journeys. Spiller is in remission from breast cancer, and Telford is still battling brain cancer as hard as she can.
Upcoming 5K Raises Money for Cancer Patients, Research
BethAnn Telford and Vanessa Spiller are at different points in their cancer journeys. Spiller is in remission from breast cancer, and Telford is still battling brain cancer as hard as she can.
Saving Virginia’s Ecosystem
Today’s youth are part of Virginia’s rising population, so it seems fitting that they investigate how this increased growth impacts the state’s ecosystem. That was the task given to 47 students of Centreville elementary fourth-grade teachers Mary Ann Settlemyre and Kate Charlton. Last summer, both teachers took the month-long VISTA (Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement) program at GMU.
Friday, March 8
Classified Advertising March 6, 2013
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Thursday, March 7
Mental Health Counseling Professors Honored
Cultural sensitivity at the heart of their work.
Fred Bemak and his wife Rita Chi-Ying Chung, who are both professors at George Mason University in Fairfax, recall being in Haiti shortly after the catastrophic earthquake of 2010. They were there to provide mental health counseling to those traumatized by the natural disaster.
Column: E-male
My oncologist is a man. He has e-mail. He works for an HMO that encourages/advertises its connectivity and responsiveness – electronically, to its members. If I want to get medical answers in a reasonable amount of time – save for an emergency, typing, “mousing” and clicking is the recommended methodology. No more phone calls, preferably. Though pressing keys on a keyboard rather than pressing buttons on a phone might have felt counter-intuitive at first as a means of receiving prompt replies, it has proven over these past few years to be a fairly reliable and predictable information loop. Not in minutes necessarily, but more often than not during the same day – and almost always by the very next day. In fact, I’ve received e-mails from my oncologist as late as 9:18 p.m. (time-stamped) after a sometime-during-the-day e-mail had been sent.
Putting a Face on Homelessness
462 homeless interviewed during Registry Week, an intense effort to document Fairfax County’s chronic homeless.
"We have to step up to this question. … Are we going to walk away from this tonight and say, 'That's just the way people live?’ Well, it's not the way people should live." —Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill)
The Snowquester Hits the Area
Snowstorm’s impact downgraded, but slushy roads still a problem.
The National Weather Service Wednesday downgraded its Snowquester forecast from 8-10 inches to about 4-6 inches in the region. At 3:18 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, the NWS predicted total snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches in Fairfax County before the storm fizzles out later that night, and north winds with gusts up to 45 mph in some areas, making driving hazardous.