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Preventing Sports Injuries

How to keep kids safe while they’re having fun.

As students prepare to return to school, one activity many look forward to is sports. While the benefits of athletic activities are numerous, however, so are injuries.

Editorial: Brightening Outlook for End of Summer

Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.

The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.

Area Roundups

Weekly happenings in the area.


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Chess Phenomenon Combines Talent and Hard Work

Greenbriar West Elementary student places second in international chess tournament.

Aasa Dommalapati, 10, of Centreville, a rising fifth grade student at Greenbriar West Elementary School in Fairfax, won the silver medal in the Girls Under 10 category at the 2014 Pan-American Youth Chess Festival held in Mexico.

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‘Don’t Be Afraid to be Different’

Robinson grad performs in “Shrek the Musical.”

A big green ogre, a princess, a wisecracking donkey and a love-struck dragon – they’ll all be onstage when The Alliance Theatre’s Summer Stars program presents “Shrek the Musical.” And right there with them will be Robinson Secondary graduate Spencer Boyd.

Jewish Community Center Announces Fall 2014 Course Schedule

The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) has announced the Fall 2014 course schedule for the Adult Learning Institute (ALI).


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The End of an Era

After 33 years, Robinson’s Chip Rome retires.

It’s the end of an era at Robinson Secondary: Legendary Theater Director Chip Rome has retired. In 1981, he became the fourth drama teacher the school hired that year, and he more than provided stability. He spent all 33 years of his FCPS career there.

Week in Fairfax

Weekly happenings in Fairfax.

Commentary: Fairfax County Takes Steps To Improve Senior Services

Fairfax County is actively working to improve services to seniors and make the County friendlier to those growing older in our communities. One of the most prominent advancements has been the 50 + Action Plan developed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in partnership with the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging and the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging.


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A Night at the Aquarium for Fairfax Youth

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington members take a private overnight tour of Baltimore's National Aquarium.

Ten students from the Fairfax branch (Murraygate chapter) of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington got a sneak peak of Shark Week by spending the night among them at the Baltimore Aquarium at the seaport in Baltimore. They spent a “night at the museum” as part of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program sponsored by COX Communications last Friday, July 25.

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Springfield Shortlisted for FBI Headquarters

Other locations are Greenbelt and Landover.

Springfield could very well be the next site of the FBI headquarters. The General Services Administration and FBI announced Tuesday that Springfield was included on the shortlist for the new FBI headquarters.

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Laurel Hill Master Plan Meets Final Approval

Construction expected to begin this fall.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve the plan to develop the site of the former Lorton prison.


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Foreign Nationals Immersed in Local Lifeguarding

For some, it starts out on two wheels.

Every day, Vasyl Smolii uses two different routes when he bikes to and from work at the Belle View pool in Alexandria. Coming down the hill on Belle View Boulevard is an easy ride in the morning but going back up in the evening is not as easy on the bicycle Smolii rents from his sponsor High Sierra Pools, an Arlington-based pool management company. "I must buy this bike for the summer," said 19-year-old Smolii from Ukraine.

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Serving Families For 90 Years

Pushing the boundaries has led to success, says Northern Virginia Family Services CEO.

An organization does not thrive for 90 years by chance. Northern Virginia Family Services, a county institution, has impacted families throughout the region for nearly a century with no sign of slowing down.

Column: “CanSir”

When it comes to being a cancer patient, even more so a multi-year cancer survivor, I have always erred on the side of caution. And by caution, I mean being respectful to the disease, courteous of its comings and goings, mindful of its potential damage and afraid of its intangibles. And by intangibles, I mean the unexplained and the inexplicable, and most fearfully, its power and unpredictability. Therefore, my behavior toward it has been intended to be as polite as possible; never to be perceived – in any way imaginable – as arrogant, presumptuous, in control, all-knowing and most especially, victorious.


Editorial: Finally, Marriage Rights Protected in Virginia

On July 28, 2014, in affirming that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, Circuit Judge Henry F. Floyd writes: “We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws.

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Governor's Mansion, Confidential

Defense team in corruption case to detail crumbling McDonnell marriage.

When he takes the stand in his own defense, former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell will read jurors an email that he wrote to his wife as their marriage was said to be crumbling.

Becky and LuLu: A Special Bond

The relationship between dog and girl is strong, the bond never to break. I, personally, grew up — and am still growing up with — wonderful dogs. First, there was Leroy. I was born into the middle of his reign on the Randolph household kingdom, and he helped to raise me, the princess of his kingdom.


Ferreting for Fun

Local ninth grader appreciates playful nature of Steve and Skippy.

Commonly known for their playfulness and pungence, ferrets have earned themselves the moniker of “the clowns of the animal kingdom” from sources like Animal Planet. City of Fairfax resident Brandon Henry, 13, of Robinson Secondary has greatly enjoyed this aspect of his two ferrets, Steve and Skippy, for the past two years. “I asked for them two years ago for Christmas, and ended up receiving them as a gift from my parents,” Henry said. “At the time, my sister always called random things ‘Steve,’ so I decided to name one of the ferrets ‘Steve,’ and the other one was always hopping around, so I named it ‘Skippy.’”

Letter: Dog Training - Chasing Lulu

Letter to the Editor

Krazy for K9s 4H club is a group for children 9 through 19. It’s a fun, free club for anyone in the age range that has a dog and wants to train it. We do many activities at different destinations, like Give Together Day, the 4H fair and Reston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.