Stories for September 2016

Mount Vernon: Quander Road School provides flexible, family-like special education experience

Within the first week of the 2016-2017 school year, teachers at the Quander Road School in Mount Vernon had already finished their jobs for five students. For that select group, they were ready to return to their base high school and transition back to a less restrictive educational experience.

Clifton: Whitehall Farms Opens Second Fall Fun Days

Pumpkin. Slingshot. The imposing medieval-esque wooden structure Whitehall Farms business owner Jeff Waters built by hand stands ready to launch seasonal gourds 250 to 300 feet past a grazing area of chickens into a vast grassy expanse. Next year, Waters said, there will be a proper trebuchet.

Art, craft and food festival Clifton Day returns Oct. 9

In 2005, Frank Burdell of Fairfax started blowing glass. He was driving back from Niagara Falls with his family when they stopped randomly in Corning, New York and decided to take a few short classes in blowing, fused glass and etching.

Fairfax County: Call for Civility in Schools’ LGBTQ Discussion

School board Board also receives Opening of Schools report, votes on challenged materials review committee.

Robert Rigby stood before the Fairfax County School Board on Sept. 22 wearing a red polo shirt, typically a sign of unity at board meetings among parents and community members who have opposed recent policy updates in the school system surrounding students who identify as transgender.

Editorial: Independent Police Auditor Marks History

Kudos to Board of Supervisors for unanimous approval of independent police auditor; now on to the Civilian Review Panel.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to create the position and office of independent police auditor on Tuesday, Sept. 20, creating the first civilian, independent oversight of law enforcement in Fairfax County. The unanimous vote demonstrated the board’s commitment to the ongoing process that began early in 2015 when Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova established the 32-member Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.

Snapshot: Chantilly Homecoming Court

Members of the Chantilly Homecoming Court gather at the Chantilly-Herndon football game on Friday, Sept. 23: (From left) Lindsay Barnes, Siobhan Reardon, Jill Cymerman, Alexis Weeren, Caroline Barnes, TJ Walter, Zach Cummins, Karim Shoorbajee, and Ken Roberts.

Centreville’s Jesse Kraft Leads Coates Elementary

With 21 years in education, former Providence Elementary principal moves into new role.

With 21 years in education, Jesse Kraft, age 42, of Centreville was named the new principal of Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School on River Birch Road in Herndon, on July 7. He is replacing former principal Toni Rose who moved into administration with Fairfax County Public Schools. He will be overseeing 740 students with a staff of about 95, including five full-time ESOL teachers. Coates is a part of the Westfield Pyramid.

Centreville Snapshot: Talk on Addiction

On Saturday, the Chris Atwood Foundation conducted an educational program at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13421 Twin Lakes Drive, Centreville about substance misuse and Addiction.

Forum To Chew on Meals Tax

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will sponsor a Meals Tax Forum at the auditorium of Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The forum will feature panelists on both sides of the issue. The panel will also take written questions from the audience. Questions may also be submitted in advance by writing to league@lwv-fairfax.org.

State of the Race: 10th Congressional District

National political and media attention focus on race for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

As LuAnn Bennett, the Democratic challenger for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat, spoke to supporters at a political “house party” in Herndon, a New York Times reporter stood to one side, taking notes.

Centreville/Chantilly: Fall Festival for All

90-acre autumn wonderland at Cox Farms.

The 90-acre autumn wonderland that is Cox Farms is holding its 44th annual Fall Festival. The festival is open daily through Oct. 31 and Nov. 4-8 at 15621 Braddock Road, off Pleasant Valley Road in Centreville.

Chantilly Snapshot: Combat Wounded

Peterson Companies has partnered with Wounded Warriors Family Support, a national non-profit veterans’ organization, and are implementing the organization’s national parking program (Combat Wounded signs) at several of their shopping centers including Fairfax Corner, East Market, and Fair Lakes Center.

Chantilly Letter: Importance of Veterans ID Card

Letter to the Editor

Our veterans have sacrificed much to protect us. It is only fitting that we help protect them as best we can on the home front.

Chantilly Brief: Field Hockey To Host ‘Pink Out’

Last year with a matching donation the teams raised $1,000 to help women in the community battling breast cancer.

Chantilly Brief: Flu Shot Express Clinic Offered

MinuteClinic will hold a Flu Shot Express Clinic inside the CVS Pharmacy at 24795 Pinebrook Road in Chantilly on Friday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. During the clinics, additional providers will be on hand to administer flu shots and to expedite the patient vaccination process.

Got a Hankering for Craft Beer?

Chantilly’s first annual BrewFest will quench that thirst.

Take six breweries, four bands, four food trucks, add a large dash of fun and the result is Fairfax County’s first-ever Craft BrewFest.

Walk to Prevent Suicide

Walk supports survivors of suicide loss and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The Out of the Darkness Walks are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s largest fundraiser, producing millions for suicide prevention programs, and works to unite those who have been affected by suicide, and create communities that are “smart about mental health.”

Homework Overload

Some educators say less can be more, stress balance when it comes to homework.

Paula DeMarco dreads one time of day the most: weekday evenings at 5:30. It’s the time she has set aside for her children begin their homework. That means no screen time, music or other distractions.

‘Sextortion’ Victims Are Mostly Men

Photos, video used to demand money from victims.

Detectives of the Major Crimes Division of Fairfax County Police report a trend in an unsavory type of financial scam. Sexual extortion scams, commonly referred to as “sextortion,” involve meeting someone the victim believes is a real person online who coaxes him or her into feeling a sense of connection and intimacy, and then sending risque photos or video.

First Lady Comes to GMU, Campaigns for Clinton

Speaks on Hillary Clintons 'lifelong record of public service.'

Excitement filled the air when First Lady Michelle Obama addressed an enthusiastic crowd, last Friday, Sept. 16, at GMU’s Johnson Center. Speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, she urged everyone to vote and called Clinton the only qualified candidate in the race.

Fairfax County: Students learn IT and job skills, earn tech internships.

On a scorching week day in late summer, rising Fairfax County seniors Kenneth Smith, Amy Wong and Tasmia Dia were taking cumulative review tests in their summer course. This wasn’t exactly summer school, though.

Fairfax County: Changes in Voting from 2012

Electoral board highlights key dates and procedure updates.

Clinton or Trump? Meals Tax or no Meals Tax? These are just a two of the weighty decisions on the ballot for this fall’s election. To help people prepare for this cycle, leaders of the Fairfax County electoral board held a meeting with media to highlight some changes from the 2012 Presidential election.

Classified Advertising September 21, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Walking to End Alzheimer's

Northern Virginia walk set for Sept. 25

When Paula Dierkes was growing up in Arlington, she would often hear family stories of a grandfather who sat on his front porch screaming at his neighbors and asking for his shotgun. She recalls a grandmother who shut out her family, literally, by closing doors and windows when they came to visit.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Garza Resigns

Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Karen Garza has announced her resignation, just months after the FCPS board renewed her contract through June 30, 2020.

Fairfax County: Supervisors Approve Independent Police Auditor

Unanimous vote follows Ad Hoc Commission recommendations for more transparency and oversight of Fairfax County police.

With a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of an independent police auditor office, following recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.

Forum To Chew on Meals Tax

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will sponsor a Meals Tax Forum at the auditorium of Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The forum will feature panelists on both sides of the issue. The panel will also take written questions from the audience. Questions may also be submitted in advance by writing to league@lwv-fairfax.org.

Homecoming at Chantilly

Chantilly Homecoming Court: (Back row, from left) Zach Cummins, TJ Walter, Ken Roberts, Karim Shoorbajee, (middle row, from left) Caroline Barnes, Siobhan Reardon, Jill Cymerman, Alexis Weeren, (front row, from left) Colton Anderson, Lindsay Barnes, Claire Jones, Pierre Johnson, and Kate Wozniak.

Chantilly: Running on the Runway

Dulles Day began with a “Run on the Runway” at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. About 2,500 runners gathered behind the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center. The course took runners onto Dulles Runway 1-Right and past a widebody United Airlines aircraft.

Chantilly: One, Two, Three … Pull

The Dulles Day Festival and Plane Pull at Washington Dulles International Airport attracted thousands of visitors for the airport’s annual free open house on Saturday, Sept. 17. This year’s event featured nearly 100 teams pulling two jet aircraft in a competition to support Special Olympics Virginia that originated at Dulles more than 20 years ago.

Centreville: Planning OKs More Pumps

MACS Retail LLC wants three more service pumps and a 3,520-square-foot quick service food store added to the Sully Shopping Center gas station at 5135 Westfields Boulevard in Centreville.

Fairfax Raises $521,509 for MDA

Letter to the Editor

For over 30 years, during Labor Day Weekend, the men and women of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, in conjunction with the Fairfax County Professional FireFighters and Paramedics - IAFF Local 2068 and the personnel in the Department of Public Safety Communications, have collected for the Greater Washington Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the Fill the Boot Campaign.

Chantilly Home Sales: August, 2016

In August, 2016, 33 homes sold between $950,000-$74,900 in the Chantilly area.

Chantilly Home Sales: August, 2016

Centreville Home Sales: August, 2016

In August, 2016, 104 Centreville homes sold between $1,008,980-$149,000.

Centreville Home Sales: August, 2016

Fairfax: Roadside Protest for McKenna and Martinez Deaths

The Northern Virginia chapter of the group Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) organized a demonstration at 4 p.m. on Sep. 14 along Lee Highway in Fairfax, calling for justice for Natasha McKenna and Giovanny, or Jovany, Martinez.

Clifton: Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program to hold tenth Polo Classic fundraiser

Once a week for the last seven years, César Dulanto of Lake Ridge, Va. has come to Clifton to trade his wheelchair for a saddle. Dulanto, 13, has been been wheelchair-bound since the age of two with cerebral palsy. He used to have difficulty just sitting up in a chair. And, he said, “I used to be so shy.”

Fairfax County: Supervisors to Vote on Independent Auditor Office

Board item reviewed by public safety committee

At its Sept. 20 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission to create an office of independent police auditor.

Fairfax County School Board Postpones Decision on New Sponsorship Policy

Fairfax County Public Schools are far from becoming a David Foster Wallace novel.

Fairfax Namesake School District in California Celebrated

While there can only be one Fairfax County Public Schools system, members of the FCPS board and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors congratulated the namesake Fairfax School District in Bakersfield, Calif. on its 125th anniversary.

Suicide Prevention: Everyone’s Business

Letter to the Editor

On behalf of the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN), I thank you for the Connection’s compassionate and informative editorial printed in observance of Suicide Prevention Week, titled Take One Action to Prevent Suicide.

What’s Permissible When Planning a Home Renovation?

Complete due diligence upfront to research any ordinances or restrictions that may affect the project.

Unfortunately, homeowners and contractors often forget important steps during this project feasibility phase, which sometimes leads to wasted time and money or abandoned projects. To ensure you sidestep those mistakes, start with this checklist to look into to help minimize setbacks while planning and executing your next renovation.

Vienna Sunroom Brings Light, Awards

Family entertainment suite, larger breakfast area, private second level decking among stand-out custom features

To Sanjay and Deepika Sardana, who have occupied a Colonial style-home in Vienna for 14 years, the great achievement of their new sunroom addition is how well it meets their requirements regarding views, available light and interior design.

Comfort Zone

Local furniture maker combines style and comfort

John W. Smith treks through a maze of sleek chairs and stately sofas in a large, sunlit showroom tucked in an industrial warehouse center in Fairfax. He pauses at a dining chair, upholstered in beige linen and framed with espresso hardwood.

Classified Advertising September 14, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Snapshot: Always Remember

Each year on Sept. 11, the front lawn of West Centreville Fire Station 38 is adorned with multitudes of small, American flags.

Brief: Authority Seeks Ideas on Center

The Fairfax County Park Authority is holding a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15, in an effort to find partners interested in shaping a vision for a Sully Woodlands Stewardship Education Center.

Centreville Letter: Shared Stories of Sacrifice

Letter to the Editor

On Sept. 12, Muslims around the world celebrated Eid-ul-Adha, the Islamic holiday which commemorates the spirit of sacrifice of Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael.

Snapshot: Together

Union Mill Elementary School fourth grade teacher Melissa Kees receives support from her teammates as they don wigs to show their support in her battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Chantilly: Fast-Food Restaurant Proposed

Chantilly Place Shopping Center needs county’s OK for drive-through window.

A new, fast-food restaurant is planned for the Chantilly Place Shopping Center on Willard Road, east of Route 28. It just needs Fairfax County’s approval for a drive-through use associated with it.

Policing with Compassion

Building trust between residents and police.

Most residents aren’t even aware that Fairfax County has a Communities of Trust (COT) Committee. But it held a Town Hall Meeting last Saturday, Sept. 10, at Centreville Baptist Church with the theme, “Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity and Peace.”

Fairfax: Dead Man’s, Deputy’s Name Released in Inova Shooting

Police, sheriff investigations continue.

Jovany Martinez is the 29-year-old Hispanic man who died after being shot by a Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputy Monday night Aug. 15 outside Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Celebrating Women's Equality

Architect unveils the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial design at Occoquan Regional Park.

To celebrate the 96th anniversary of Women's Equality Day on Friday, Aug. 26, which recognizes the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote, the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area held a Women's Equality Day Lecture at Gunston Hall in Lorton.

Suicide Loss ‘Club’

Commentary

When I was 15 years old, I received my first “membership card” to suicide loss. I got the platinum membership card because not only was my loss to suicide, but it was also a parent.

Centreville/Chantilly: Targeting Deer

The Fairfax County Deer Management Archery Program begins on Saturday, Sept. 10 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Overseen by the Fairfax County Police Department and in collaboration with the Fairfax County Park Authority and NOVA Parks, the archery program is conducted in parks and other locations throughout Fairfax County.

Chantilly: Cycling 192 Miles for Cancer Research

To honor a friend who died last fall.

Over the weekend of Aug. 6-7, Chantilly resident Paul Meng cycled 192 miles across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as part of the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), to benefit cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.