Stories for November 2015

“Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers” Revisited at History Conference

The 11th annual Fairfax County History Conference was held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, titled “Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers - Part I.”

Classified Advertising November 25, 2015

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Editorial: Celebrate, Shop, Dine Locally

Every day can be “small business day.”

There is a joy to participating in community traditions and celebrations during the holidays, from walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to shopping in local stores, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced

Transportation Strategy Update Launched

NVTA launches work on a six-year TransAction program.

Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) chose an appropriate location to announce the launch of the organization’s TransAction update efforts last week.

Creating Great Families Through Adoption

More than 800 children in foster care in Virginia are ready and waiting to be adopted.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. With that in mind, meet two families expanded through adoption; two families whose kids describe their family as "awesome."

860 Virginia Children Need Homes

“Parental rights terminated.” “Available for adoption.” “Floundering in an imperfect system.” These words describe many children who are currently living in foster care in Virginia.

Quiet Riot: ‘C’mon Feel the Noise’

County passes new noise ordinance, will revisit effectiveness in 18 months.

The Board of Supervisors is at peace with the county’s new Noise Ordinance.

Letter: Learning and Empathy

Letter to the Editor

After reading a letter to the editor by Shumaila Ahmad, “Hatred and Ignorance,” I was inspired to add my support and thoughts.

Letter: Need Is Great

Letter to the Editor

In response to the article regarding the WFCM Holiday Food Program, I would like to take time emphasizing the importance of not only this specific program, but also others like it.

News Brief: NOVEC Collecting Toys for Tots

The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative's non-profit volunteer organization, NOVEC HELPS, is collecting new, unwrapped toys through Thursday, Dec. 10, for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

News Brief: Humidifier Causes Fire

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department units responded to a townhouse fire Wednesday, Nov. 18, at approximately 5:50 p.m., at 13605 Lavender Mist Lane.

Serving Those Who Served: Chantilly High Honors Veterans

Each year, Chantilly High and members of its National Honor Society (NHS) honor area veterans, and it’s something both the hosts and guests eagerly anticipate.

Centreville: ONC Needs Clothes, Toys

And volunteers.

Each year at Christmastime, the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, Our Neighbor’s Child, provides new clothes and toys for families in need in the local area. But the need is so great that ONC can’t do it without help from the local community.

Police Honor Officer Alexander: ‘This Honor Is Well-Deserved'

PFC Michelle Alexander is Officer of the Month.

PFC Michelle L. Alexander was recently recognized for a job well done.

Fairfax County Updates Teacher Safety Training In Wake of Woodson Fire

Science teachers across Fairfax County Public Schools have begun mandatory updated safety training in the wake of an Oct. 30 fire at Woodson High School that injured five students and a teacher, and caused $7,500 in damage.

Classified Advertising November 18, 2015

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Centreville Snapshot: National Merit Breakfast

Twenty-two seniors were awarded National Merit Scholar certificates on Friday, Oct. 23 at Centreville High School. Two of the recipients are also National Merit Semifinalists. The National Merit Semifinalists are Emily Angelotti and Grace Chu. The commended students are (in alphabetical order) Brent Bailey, David Bennett, Elizabeth Earls, Christian Gehman, William Holincheck, Christopher Hurt, Michael Kastanowski, Jedrick Kim, Joseph Kim, Yevin Kim, Seung Joo Lee, Michelle Nguyen, Rafael Olivas, Patrick Pankratz, Jarod Raedels, Katherine Ryan, Elizabeth Vanyan, Adam Waldmiller, Rebecca Yoo, and Daniel Zhang.

Centreville Snapshot: Foundation Supports CVHS Best Buddies Club

Tom Healy of the Elizabeth Ann Healy Foundation presents a $2,500 check to Centreville High School’s Best Buddies club at the end of half time during the Nov. 6, football game against Robinson Secondary School.

Chantilly Snapshot: Honoring Veterans

Poplar Tree Elementary School hosted its annual Veterans’ Day assembly, presenting each veteran with a book that will be added to the library and dedicated to that veteran. Each person autographed their book with a message to the students.

Chantilly Brief: Help CYA Deliver Holiday Cheer

For the third straight year, Chantilly Youth Association (CYA) is looking for would-be Elves and Santa’s Helpers-in-training to help make the season brighter for children fighting cancer and their families.

Ad Fontes: ‘A Blessing to Be In Our Own Building’

Ad Fontes Academy now united on one campus.

It’s been a long time coming, but Ad Fontes Academy can finally be described as a school united.

Chantilly Home Sales: October, 2015

In October, 2015, 20 homes sold between $850,000-$79,900 in the Chantilly area.

Chantilly Home Sales: October, 2015

Centreville Home Sales: October, 2015

In October, 2015, 78 Centreville homes sold between $1,360,000-$137,000.

Centreville Home Sales: October, 2015

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving

The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy.

Fairfax County: Garza Presents Budget Task Force Report to School Board

Transparency and methodology of budget review questioned.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza is attempting to scale a towering projected budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2017. On Nov. 9, she presented School Board members the report of budget cuts recommended by a 36-member task force she summoned earlier this year.

Classified Advertising November 11, 2015

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Support WFCM Holiday Food Program

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ (WFCM) Holiday Food Program helps those in need in Western Fairfax County with food for the holidays.

Chantilly: Witty Dialogue, Humor in Classic Whodunit

Comedic mystery, “The 39 Steps,” at Westfield High.

Featuring a cast and crew of 35, Westfield’s High’s upcoming play, “The 39 Steps,” is an adaptation of a classic, Alfred Hitchcock movie. And Director Susie Pike says it’s going to be something special.

Letter: Recognize ‘LifeChanger’

Letter to the Editor

Support your LifeChanger of the Year nominee.

Chantilly: Klein and Dudzik Wed

Meredith Klein and Drew Dudzik were married on June 20, 2015 at St. John Neumann in Reston.

Alliance Theatre Offers Original Play

“Shutter” is written, directed by Leslie Anne Ross.

Tough, gritty, honest and absorbing — that’s The Alliance Theatre’s upcoming production of “Shutter.” An original work written and directed by Leslie Anne Ross, it’ll be performed Nov. 13-22 at Mountain View High.

Taking a Stand against Hunger

Community helps fill Our Daily Bread’s food pantry.

The power of community was on full display Sunday afternoon as some 1,500 people came together on a Fairfax High athletic field to help Our Daily Bread (ODB) feed local families in need.

Centreville: Vignettes of All Stages of Love

Centreville High presents “Almost, Maine.”

A series of distinct vignettes that together work as a whole — that’s Centreville High’s upcoming play, “Almost, Maine.”

Fairfax To End Veteran Homelessness

Every veteran has a story, and a path to housing.

Jameel Mubaarik of Reston is a 63-year-old Army veteran and mechanical engineer, a former Reston homeowner.

Karl's Overtime Goal Gives Westfield Field Hockey Team Region Championship

Bulldogs will face loser of today's 6A South final in state semis Nov. 13.

The Westfield field hockey team defeated T.C. Williams 1-0 in overtime Thursday to win the 6A North region championship.

Springfield: Capital Area Food Bank raises awareness of local hunger with Empty Bowls events

Kady Wohlfarth of Alexandria spent two months of her off days from the Alexandria Wegmans prepared food section to create 100 clay bowls. Hers accounted for one-third of the bowls at the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser and awareness-raising event for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Coming: Children’s Connection 2015

Get ready to send your submissions soon.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children.

Fairfax County: Republicans Celebrate the Victorious

And honor the defeated

Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said he much preferred this night to the one when he was elected to his first term. A close race with his opponent meant waiting around until late into the evening. This year, Cook defeated Democrat Janet Oleszek by a more handy margin of about six percent of the vote.

Fairfax County: Palchik Upsets Incumbent Reed for Providence School Board Seat

With 58.22 percent of the vote in unofficial election results, Dalia Palchik of Annandale defeated the incumbent Providence District Fairfax County School Board representative Patty Reed, who garnered 41.31 percent.

Fairfax County: Hough Edges Incumbent Velkoff for Third At-Large School Board Seat

Fairfax resident Jeanette Hough said her race for the Fairfax County School Board started with a phone call to Springfield District representative to the board Elizabeth Schultz. “What are we going to do about the school board?” Hough remembers asking. “We’re being ignored as parents and taxpayers.”

Democrats Claim Victories in Local Elections

But General Assembly stays in the red column.

“We didn’t win the war tonight, but we did come out ahead in some of the important local battles, and that’s a good start.”