Stories for August 2015

Chantilly: A Glimpse of the Horizon

Homes, shops, restaurants and a Wegmans are proposed.

With the downturn in the office market, developers are looking at vacant parcels of land in the Westfields area of Chantilly as a place for residential and other uses, instead.

Chantilly: Step into History

Sully Plantation, restored in 1975, is celebrating its 40 years.

For a walk through 19th century plantation life in Northern Virginia, area residents can visit Chantilly’s Sully Historic Site for guided tours and other programming.

Centreville: Much To Enjoy About Living Here

Things to do, places to go and a sense of community.

Residents have a number of notable places and activities at their fingertips.

Centreville/Chantilly: Moving Forward with Local Road Projects

What’s planned for I-66, Routes 28 and 29, Stone, Walney, etc.

Several local road projects are either underway, in the pipeline or nearing completion.

Fairfax County: Meet the Candidates for County Board

All politics is local, in Fairfax County, too: Who runs for Board of Supervisors in November?

You may be surprised – or dismayed – to learn that the 10 men and women who occupy Fairfax County Board of Supervisors wield enormous power and influence over your everyday lives.

Chantilly Home Sales: July, 2015

In July, 2015, 31 homes sold between $1,180,000-$54,000 in the Chantilly area.

Chantilly Home Sales: July, 2015

Centreville Home Sales: July, 2015

In July, 2015, 124 Centreville homes sold between $990,000-$157,000.

Centreville Home Sales: July, 2015

Torres Trial Date Set for December

Bond denied for former police officer charged with murdering John Geer.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on Aug. 19, former Fairfax County Police officer Adam Torres entered the circuit courtroom for his arraignment, dressed in a baggy, blue-green prison jumpsuit. Torres was indicted the previous Monday by a special grand jury for killing Springfield resident John Geer in August, 2013.

Column: 'Bulky Boy'

Although this title invokes the nickname of one of my three male cats – Andrew, to be specific – he is in fact not the point of th is column.

Chantilly Crime Report for the Week of 8/26

The following incidents were reported by the Fair Oaks Police Station.

Chantilly Still Learning to Play Without its All-Star

Chargers finished 6A North region runner-up in 2014.

As Kyler Zampiello (class of 2015) prepares to play in her first field hockey game at James Madison University, the Chantilly Chargers are preparing to play their first game without her. A first-team all-region selection in 2013 and 2014, Zampiello led the Chargers from the goal.

Bite Me Cancer Marks 5th Anniversary

Fundraising underway for research.

Bite Me Cancer celebrates its 5-year anniversary this month with its founder, Nikki Ferraro, who graduated from James Madison University this past May. Ferraro started Bite Me Cancer at 17 years old after being diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer during the spring semester of her junior year of high school.

SYA Annual Board Meeting Rescheduled

The Southwestern Youth Association annual Executive Board of Directors Election Meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Centreville and Chantilly Crime Report for the Week of 8/26

The following incidents were reported by the Sully District Police Station.

Strand To Lead Unified Prevention Coalition

Whitney Strand has been appointed as the new executive director of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC). Strand has served as program director of the countywide coalition that works to prevent substance abuse and keep Fairfax County youth and young adults safe and drug free.

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: I am writing with concerns about the intersection of Stringfellow Road and Chantilly High School. I transport my daughter to work at the Kindercare child care center daily and have seen and had near misses with high school kids as they try to cross the road not at the crosswalk or with the crossing guard.

Letter: Welcome from Police Chief Ed Roessler

Newcomers Guide

Dear Community Members: The Fairfax County Police Department was established on July 1, 1940 and today we have an authorized strength of 1,372 sworn law enforcement officers who protect and serve the communities of the County. On average, officers respond to over 400,000 calls for service each year.

Classified Advertising August 19, 2015

Read the latest ads here!

Fairfax County: Policy Changes Recommended on Mental Health and Crisis Intervention

About half of the inmates in the Fairfax County Jail have a mental health illness or substance abuse disorders. The Mental Health and Crisis Intervention Team subcommittee of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission included this information from County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid in the introduction to its list of policy change recommendations to the full commission on Aug. 17.

Fairfax County: Former Police Officer Charged with John Geer Murder

Adam Torres indicted by special grand jury.

Adam Torres has been charged with murdering John Geer. Though Torres shot the unarmed man once in the chest nearly two years ago, the then-Fairfax County Police officer remained on the department’s payroll until being terminated July 31, 2015.

Centreville Wildcats ‘Aren’t Done Yet’

State runners-up face challenge of filling starting positions.

The Centreville football program graduated a lot of talented players after back-to-back state final appearances.

Oak Hill: Sharing Stories and Emotions in Quilts

The Sacred Threads quilts exhibition comes every two years to Oak Hill’s Floris United Methodist Church. Within each work, the artists tell stories of love, loss, joy, hope, healing and inspiration. The display ran July 10-26.

Column: Accommodate or Exacerbate

As a diagnosed-as-“terminal” cancer patient (is that better, Rebecca?), I feel I am due some accommodations. However, when offered or given, I am hesitant to accept (not always, though; I’ll be honest).

Chantilly: A Summer of Cybersecurity

Chantilly High School partners up with Northrop Grumman to educate students about the field of cybersecurity.

Some students walked into the Chantilly High School cafeteria thinking the camp would be easy. Others walked in because their parents made them. The room slowly grew in size as both groups of youths converged. Every day for one week, these students, grades 7-12, were given the opportunity to learn about computer vulnerabilities, internet ethics, and types of software. Welcome to the world of cybersecurity.

Chantilly Brief: SYA Schedules Annual Board Meeting

The Southwestern Youth Association will hold its annual Executive Board of Directors Election Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3. The meeting will be held at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Centre View: Community To Honor Frey

Supervisor Frey to retire.

Armando Trull will be the featured speaker on Sept. 18 when Centreville Immigration Forum sponsors a dinner to honor retiring Supervisor Michael R. Frey.

Centre View: Shopping with the Sheriff

Program benefits school-age children temporarily living at the Katherine K. Hanley shelter in Fairfax.

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office continued an annual tradition of collaborating with Target Department Store to provide back-to-school shopping opportunities for children in homeless families.

Checking the Back-to-School Healthcare Blocks

Local governments, clinics offer free immunizations for all and physical exams for the uninsured.

As the lazy days of summer wind down, beach trips, lemonade stands and lax bedtimes give way to alarm clocks, textbooks and backpacks. Public health officials say that a back-to-school list should include more than pencils and paper. For many, the first order of business is a well-child physical, a dental exam and required immunizations.

Editorial: Sea Changes in Policing?

Report offers blueprint for transforming aspects of policing, jail and services for people with mental illness.

Yesterday, for the first time in the history of Fairfax County Police Department, a Fairfax County Police officer was charged in a shooting death.

Centre View: Roundups

Centre View Roundups.

Brief: Candidates Face Off on ‘Inside Scoop’

Forum will broadcast live on Aug. 31.

For the first time, the non-partisan Meet and Greet Candidates Forum for certified candidates, both for the State Senate and the House of Delegates, will be broadcast live on a special extended edition of Inside Scoop on Aug. 31, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Centre View: Wegmans Grocery Store Proposed

Residents are pleased, but worry about traffic troubles.

The Wegmans grocery store in Fair Oaks has proved to be a hit with local residents. And now plans are afoot to bring a Wegmans to Chantilly, too.

Centre View: ‘It’s Like a Giant Family’

Fair Oaks, Sully districts celebrate National Night Out.

Take some firefighters, law-enforcement personnel and local residents; add in food, fun, handshakes and conversation in a relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere. Mix well, and the result is National Night Out.

Centre View Area Roundups

Week of Aug. 12

Week of Aug. 12.

Chantilly: Exploring with ‘Dozi the Alligator’

CHS grad pens his first children’s book.

Everyone craves a little adventure sometimes. Chantilly High School alumnae Daniel Boris’ first children’s book. “Dozi the Alligator Finds a Family.” explores this topic through rhyme and illustrations.

Centre View: 18,000 Pounds Of Food Collected

The Minnieland Academy — with two schools in Centreville — has concluded its six-month “Kids Feeding Kids” food drive.

Centre View: Study: Customer Satisfaction at NOVEC

The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative ranks second highest in customer satisfaction among midsize electric utilities in the United States South region and second highest among the 140 largest electric utilities in the nation according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2015 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study released last month.

Chantilly: Dickenson Earns Rank of Eagle Scout

Troop 30 of Centreville honored John Dickenson who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony on Aug. 2.

Column: B.D. Versus A.D.

If my experiences as a cancer patient/ “terminal” “diagnosee” are at all typical, then the following generalization might in fact be true: certain situations and/or feelings that were once tolerated before diagnosis are nearly impossible to tolerate after diagnosis: traffic, waiting in lines, rudeness, compromise, sacrifice, delayed/deferred gratification, to list just a few. Life becomes so much more precious, that wasting some of it – or the perception of wasting some of it – on unpleasant, unrewarding, aggravating, stressful, menial tasks, obligations, duties, etc. becomes almost too much to bear; on a consistent basis, anyway.

Dickenson Earns Rank of Eagle Scout

Troop 30 of Centreville honored John Dickenson who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony on Aug. 2.

Obituary: Charles Thomas Cleary

Charles Thomas Cleary (a.k.a. “brothercharles”) of Oak Hill and Chantilly died on July 31, 2015, at the Capital Caring Halquist Memorial Intake Center hospice in Arlington, surrounded by loving friends and family.

Centreville: 18,000 Pounds Of Food Collected

The Minnieland Academy — with two schools in Centreville — has concluded its six-month “Kids Feeding Kids” food drive. The company delivered more than 18,000 pounds of food and replenished the shelves at area shelters and food banks.

Letter: What’s Meant By ‘Farm?’

Letter to the Editor

These comments are in response to the article on Whitehall Farms. While it’s easy to love chickens, corn mazes and veggies, the reality of “farms” is quite different. Wineries, breweries and liquor distilleries are all considered “farms” too.

Westfield Football Eyeing State Championship

Four-time region runners-up return strong defense.

For years, Westfield football has been recognized as one of the strongest teams in the state of Virginia, reaching the region championship game in each of the last four years, losing thrice to 2014 6A state runner-up Centreville, who also competes in Conference 5.

Home’s Makeover Enhances Family Life

With time constraints, Sun Design converts large, dated house into residence that satisfies everyone’s agenda.

Meet Roger Lataille, senior design consultant at Sun Design Remodeling and — more importantly — a remodeling resource homeowners turn to, and return to, whenever they need expert advice, hands-on support and commitment.

Editorial: 'Our Community Deserves Better'

Strongly worded recommendations for police on transparency and public trust; FCPD has miles to go.

Outrage over the shooting death of John Geer of Springfield on Aug. 29, 2013, by a Fairfax County Police officer led the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to form of the Ad Hoc Police Practice Review Commission, which began meeting in March 2015. The Communications Subcommittee was the first to give recommendations to the full commission, and the report pulled no punches.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Springfield Communities Join Public Safety Agencies for National Night Out

A well-known tunnel-bridge on Colchester Road connects an area of Fairfax Station with the rest of the county, both geographically and mythically. Its link to historic reports of a vandal in a bunny costume has gotten it plenty of attention, including actual acts of vandalism on and around the structure.

Fairfax County Seeks Partner to Develop Training Center Property

Deadline for offers on the surplus land is Sept. 1.

Potential buyers have until September to make their offers to purchase the roughly 80 acres of property along Braddock Road where the Northern Virginia Training Center currently sits.

Now Showing: Sensory-Friendly Films

Dancing, shouting, singing welcome at special screenings for children, families affected by autism.

July is the hottest month for Hollywood’s cavalcade of blockbuster films, as studios compete for audience dollars and crash into each other to be the first to release their tent pole films, such as “Avengers,” “Jurassic World,” “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation,” and “Fantastic Four.”

Clifton Resident Jacoby Commits to Naval Academy

Rising sophomore attackman/midfielder plays for Episcopal.

Episcopal rising sophomore Connor Jacoby is committed to play lacrosse at the Naval Academy.

Young Swimmers Make Splash at Annual NVSL All-Star Meet

Watts, Cruz set NVSL records.

The NVSL recently held its annual All-Star meet.

SYA Greater Fairfax Senior Babe Ruth Team Advances to World Series

Oregon tournament will be last time many team members play together.

The SYA Greater Fairfax Senior Babe Ruth team advanced to the World Series.

Column: Back on Track

Having reread last week’s column a time or two now, I’ve realized that I neglected to update you regular readers – especially those of you who read my most recent pre- and post-scan columns: “Abyssful” Ignorance and Scant Know For Sure Anymore – on the previous week’s scan results. Once again, I have defied the odds – maybe statistics would be a better word?

Helping Aging Parents

Event will highlight resources available for long-term care planning.

Antonio M. Taguba says his life changed forever during a family reunion in 2006, starting with an announcement from his mother.

Teams in Training

Getting in shape while raising money for charity.

Rain poured from a gray March sky. Drenched racers wound their way through Washington, D.C. before spilling across the finish line at R.F.K. Stadium, their running shoes heavy and soaking wet.