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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

‘The Victims Don’t Choose that Lifestyle’

Local police detectives discuss human trafficking

When it comes to human trafficking, no part of the U.S. is immune to it – even Fairfax County.

‘A Much-Needed Project’ to Relieve Traffic in Centreville

Plans for Route 28 widening are moving along.

Eventually, the pandemic will subside, and rush-hour traffic – with all its headaches and frustration – will resume on Route 28 in Centreville.

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‘The County’s in Dire Need of these Kinds of Facilities’

Affordable senior apartments proposed for Centreville

There’s good news on the horizon for local senior citizens looking for affordable housing.

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Providing Hope to Neighbors Facing Eviction, Homelessness

Centreville Presbyterian Church raises rent-relief funds for WFCM.

It’s tough being poor – and it’s even worse if you’re cold and homeless.

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Bates Is Named Sully District’s Officer of the Quarter

His “Experience, dedication and hard work” paid off on patrol.

MPO Scott Bates has been named the Sully District Police Station’s Officer of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2020.

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‘No Accountability, No Guts, No Leadership’ in Centreville

Residents decry Fairfax County’s lack of action on Route 28 Bypass project.

Imagine your neighbor decided to build a second garage and use your side yard for its driveway.

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Snowflake Trail Fun by Cub Run RECenter

The Fairfax County Park Authority is offering a free scavenger hunt with video clues in the Cub Run Stream Valley.

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Reflecting on 2020, Looking to the Future in Centreville

Centreville Immigration Forum still has more work to do.

Despite the pandemic, the nonprofit Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF) and its Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC) are pressing on, as best they can.

Lt. Laitinen Gives Sully Police Station Update

Warns residents to lock their cars to prevent thefts

At the Dec. 2 meeting of the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), Lt. Josh Laitinen, the assistant station commander, gave local residents an update on crimes in the community.

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Rocky Run Middle School Collects Presents for ONC

Each year, the nonprofit Our Neighbor's Child (ONC) collects new, unwrapped toys to deliver to hundreds of families in need in Centreville and Chantilly.

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Connecting People on Opposite Sides of Route 28

New Braddock/Walney Roads overpass links Chantilly and Centreville

It’s been a long time coming – but once again, drivers traveling from the Walney Road/Cabell’s Mill Drive intersection in Chantilly will be able to cross Route 28 to reach Braddock Road in Centreville.

Poplar Tree Road Bridge Now Open

The Poplar Tree Road extension and bridge over Route 28 in Chantilly has just opened, connecting Walney and Stringfellow roads on the east side of Route 28 with Stonecroft Boulevard and Westfields Boulevard on the west side.

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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, Churches Feed Families for Thanksgiving

With the help of volunteers, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) distributed Thanksgiving Food Boxes to 600 local families in need.

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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, Volunteers Distribute Food to Neighborhoods

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM), in coordination with the Sully District supervisor’s office, recently distributed 1,200 food boxes from Farmers to Families to area families in need.

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‘Residents Won’t Just Hear the Noise – They’ll Feel It’ in Chantilly

Supervisors approve new homes under Dulles flightpath

The writing was already on the wall in July when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors refused to adopt the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s (MWAA) 2019 noise contours for Chantilly’s Land Unit J.

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Sully District Police Collect Toys for Children

For more than three decades, the Sully District Police Station’s Motor Squad has been collecting Christmas presents donated by the community.

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Starting Braddock Park’s Master Plan Revision

Park Authority holds public-information meeting

The Fairfax County Park Authority is updating its master plan for Braddock Park at 13451 Braddock Road, bordering both Centreville High and Twin Lakes Golf Course.

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Free Flu Shots, Food for People in Need in Chantilly

Continuing to serve the community in every way it can, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) recently held a free food-distribution and flu-vaccination clinic at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly.

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‘System Is Broken When Bad Plans Get So Far’ in Chantilly

Supervisors OK home construction under airport flight path

Determined to place homes underneath Dulles International Airport’s flight paths, Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors recently approved developer K. Hovnanian’s plan to build 442 residential units there.

Apparent Murder-Suicide in Centreville

Fairfax County police detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau are investigating a possible murder-suicide in Centreville.

Fairfax County Leaders ‘Strategically Eliminated Citizens’ Voices’

Residents vent to Helmer, Marsden about Braddock, Old Lee Roads

Upset that neither Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors, nor VDOT, seem to care about residents’ objections to proposed “fixes” for Braddock and Old Lee Roads, Kathleen Leggette hosted her own, town-hall meeting.

Controversy over Road Plan in Centreville

Fairfax County’s current Comprehensive Plan calls for realigning Braddock and Old Lee Roads in Centreville to cut through Rock Hill District Park, with Braddock ending in a T at Old Lee.

New I-66, Routes 28 and 29 Traffic Changes

The ramp from I-66 West to Route 28 North has just been replaced by a new ramp about 150 feet east of (prior to) the old exit ramp as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.

‘No Way to Mitigate Roar of Jet Engines Overhead’ in Sully District

Divided Planning Commissioners OK Stonebrook proposal

Imagine living directly beneath an arrivals path at Dulles International Airport, where jumbo jet aircraft zoom just 950 feet above the homes, 24 hours a day.

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Carved Pumpkin Creations for Halloween in Centreville

Noel Dickover has been designing and carving Halloween pumpkins for 22 years.

Dog Perishes in Fair Oaks Townhouse Fire

An early-evening fire in a Fair Oaks townhouse displaced one person and took the life of a dog.

Chantilly Man Charged with Killing Father

Believing he stabbed his estranged father to death, Fairfax County police have charged Alexander Bellini, 28, of Chantilly, with murder.

‘A Diagnosis of Cancer Changes Everything’

Nonprofit Bite Me Cancer Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Led by Chantilly High grad Nikki Ferraro, Bite Me Cancer just celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

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‘Though Things Were Hard, He Persevered’: Memorial Brick Installed to Honor Juwaan Espinal

Juwaan Espinal’s life was cut short at age 22, but he left a lasting impact upon all who knew and loved him.

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‘Good Way to Bring the Community Together’: Centreville, Chantilly Celebrate National Night Out

Because of the pandemic, this year’s annual National Night Out celebration was shifted from the first Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday in October.

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Centreville Day Celebration Begins Oct. 17

Variety of events will be both virtual and in-person.

The 28th annual Centreville Day will be different this year, due to COVID-19, but the community may still participate and enjoy some fun activities.

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Bull Run Post Office Road: ‘That Road Is Narrow and Very Dangerous’

Supervisors OK large-truck ban

Bull Run Old Post Office Road is a winding, two-lane, country road, not intended to carry the heavy traffic an arterial road, such as Route 29, does.

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Honoring Heroes Virtual 5K Challenge Planned

Event to raise money for Wreaths Across America.

Despite the current pandemic, two local Scouting troops will remember the sacrifices of America’s fallen soldiers by raising money to lay wreaths on their graves.

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Centreville and Chantilly Look Toward the Future

Homes and transportation projects are on the horizon.

With an eye toward the future, several land-use and transportation projects are in the works in Centreville and Chantilly.

‘We Believe We’ll Have a Voice, But We Don’t’ in Centreville

Residents furious about Braddock, Old Lee funding decision.

When VDOT held a Feb. 13 information meeting about safety and operational changes proposed for the Braddock/Old Lee roads intersection in Centreville, five alternatives were presented.

Erin Peterson Fund Golf Tourney is Sept. 24 in Clifton

Westfield High grad Erin Peterson was an18-year-old honor student, with her whole life ahead of her, when she and 31 others died in the April 16, 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech.

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19 Years Later, Lest We Forget in Centreville

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

‘An Inspiring Leader and Tireless Advocate’ in Sully District

Karen Campblin named Sully District Community Champion.

Fair Oaks resident Karen Campblin has a passion for helping others and improving her community.

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‘We Hear Things We Never Want to Hear’ in Sully District

What it’s like being a Fairfax County dispatcher.

In times of crisis, dispatchers are a lifeline between callers needing help and the first responders who can provide it.

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‘Music-Driven Classes in Fun, Team Environment’ in Fair Lakes

Row House fitness studio opening soon

People looking for a different – and safe – form of exercise may well find it in Row House, a boutique, indoor, rowing fitness studio in Fair Lakes.

‘Be Twice as Good, Work Three Times as Hard’

Centreville High grad is now a singer-songwriter in NYC.

When she attended Centreville High, Lexis Yelis was known as Alexis Acar. But as soon as she graduated in 2012, she moved to New York City to pursue her singer-songwriter career.

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Dairy-Box Distribution Helps Local Families

Thanks to the De Lune Corp. of Springfield, last Tuesday, Aug. 18, some 1,400 local families in need received a box of free dairy products.

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‘Hard Work and Dedication to the Community’ in Sully District

Kyler Racey named Sully’s Officer of the Quarter

Officer Kyler Racey is the Sully District Police Station’s Officer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2020.

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‘There Are Too Many Unanswered Questions’ in Centreville

Since 1938, Luck Stone Corp. has operated its quarry along Route 29 in Centreville.

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Centreville Fire Station 17 Paramedic is Honored

Technician Julianne Tomesheski, of Centreville Fire Station 17, C-Shift, has been honored with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Emergency Medical Services Award.

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‘Lock Your Car; Leave No Valuables Inside’ in Sully District

Police warn about scams and thefts from vehicles.

Still holding the meetings of the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) online, due to the pandemic, three of the officers recently updated the community about the latest trends in local crimes.

‘To Cripple an Airport, Allow Homes to Encroach’ near Dulles

Debate over residential use under airport flight paths rages on.

Poised to approve the construction of 853 new homes directly underneath Dulles International Airport flight paths, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors finally considered the updated, aircraft-noise contours data for that area.

Malicious Wounding Charged after Stabbing at Chantilly Church

Fairfax County police have charged a local man with three felonies following the stabbing of an associate pastor, Saturday afternoon, at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly.

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‘An Unmitigated Disaster which Is Entirely Avoidable’ in Chantilly

Plan to build homes under flight path sparks outcry.

Yet another controversial residential project is being proposed for Chantilly’s Westfields area.

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Rubinstein Honored as Sully District Officer of the Quarter

It’s pretty special for a police officer to be selected as his station’s Officer of the Quarter.