A New Face at Laurel Ridge
Tonya Cox takes the helm as principal.
Born in Norfolk and raised in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County, Tonya Cox figured she’d either go into education like her mother or ministry like her father. Then, while in college, she substituted for her mother, during spring and summers, and was hooked.
Hunger for Awareness
Amos Desjardins runs 500 miles for hunger awareness.
Runner Amos Desjardins, of Alexandria, is running 500 miles in Virginia to raise awareness for hunger and food insecurity. Del. David Bulova (D-37) said that he feels fortunate to be able to join him for part of his run through the 37th district.
Full Day Monday Challenges Discussed
The implementation of “full day Mondays” has been anything but easy for area elementary schools. The challenges that Fairfax County Public Schools faced to bring more hours to elementary students’ school year was addressed by Superintendent Karen Garza and several board members during a school board meeting on Sept. 4 at Jackson Middle School.
Portrait of a Graduate Discussed
The heart of the school system’s new strategic plan is closer to being approved. The Fairfax County School Board discussed the five component Portrait of a Graduate - with some asking for a component emphasizing a caring quality - at Monday’s work session.
Classified Advertising September 10, 2014
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Board of Supervisors Approves 2014 Budget Carryover Package
FCPS full-day Mondays at discussion forefront.
When students at the 142 public elementary schools around Fairfax County stayed there the full day on Monday -- the first time in about four decades -- they likely weren’t worried about the cost. That’s between the school board and board of supervisors. Grown-up stuff.
‘Recession Ripple Persists’ at Realtors’ Summit
Private sector job growth key to strengthening regional economy, housing demand.
“There’s no question the primary economic driver of this region has always been Uncle Sam,” said David Versal, senior research associate at the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. “That said, we’re not Detroit.”
‘ARTS by George!’ to Kick Off New Season
A great evening of arts and entertainment for a great cause at Mason.
Kick-off the local arts and entertainment season celebrating the arts and benefiting student scholarships at this year's George Mason University "ARTS by George!" gala.
Gaelic Football Comes to Fairfax
The sport combines elements of soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball and American football.
“What sport are they playing? It’s not soccer,” said a park visitor, watching people use their hands to throw and bounce a soccer ball on an open field, on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Providence Park in Fairfax.
Attending Classes in a Foreign Country
Fairfax Academy student will spend school year in Korea.
Normally, Serena Gregory would have just begun her last year at Chantilly High, caught up in the excitement of new classes, old friends and the thrill of being a senior.
Obituary: Hayes Roosevelt Woods, 77, Dies
Hayes Roosevelt Woods, 77, of Sanford, N.C., passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 at Duke Hospital, in Durham, N.C. Hayes went to Lee County Training School and New Hope School. His last job was in the city of Fairfax.
Letter: Focusing on Suicide Prevention
Letter to the Editor
To kick off National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 8-12), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is announcing its goal to reduce the annual suicide rate in the United States 20 percent by 2025.
Editorial: Change Is Coming, Right?
Legislators on changing the culture of cash and gifts in Virginia: Crickets.
With former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen facing what could be decades in prison after their convictions for corruption, a reasonable person might reasonably expect that members of the General Assembly would be gearing up to make some big changes.
Time Sensitive
As much as I don’t want to be cognizant of date, time and place, relative to February 27, 2009 when Team Lourie first received the stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis on yours truly, I am (a terminal diagnosis will do that to you). Moreover, as often as I write about the need to live forward, rather than die backward (if you know what I mean), I still struggle with the application.
Extreme Politics
Foust, Comstock stake out opposing positions during first debate in hyper-partisan 10th district Congressional race.
Forget first-debate politeness. Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust — the candidates vying to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia’s 10th Congressional district — sustained the hyper-partisan tenor of their campaigns during a debate-style forum hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce in Herndon last week.
The Broad-winged Hawks Are Coming
Every Autumn, in addition to literally billions of songbirds, a million or more avian raptors (hawks, eagles, and falcons) migrate from their nesting and breeding areas all over North America to their winter homes, mostly in Central and South America. Raptor enthusiasts and hawk counters often head for mountain ridges and other concentration points in hopes of seeing some of the birds fly by.
Classified Advertising September 3, 2014
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Taking On the ‘Silver Tsunami’
Herrity to present 50+ Plan to Board of Supervisors next week.
“It’s here,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). “We’re already living in it.” Between 2005 and 2030, the number of individuals 50 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent in Fairfax County and the number 70 and older is projected to grow by 80 percent. Herrity attributes the changes to both the aging of Baby Boomers, and the general increase in life expectancy.
The Ball Kid Experience
Local tennis kids were ball kids for the major players at CitiOpen.
Ever wonder what it takes to be a ball kid at one of the major tennis tournaments?
Runfest 2014 Set for Sept. 14
Lace up your shoes! It’s time to get ready for the Paul VI Catholic High School (PVI) Runfest 2014.