Editorial: Safe Fourth
Talking and planning are the best safety measures; SoberRide offers a safety net.
Independence Day is a national celebration, and for many, that celebration includes alcohol. The summer overall and July 4 in particular are times of greater risk for drinking and driving.
What’s Offensive about Redskins Pride?
Absolutely nothing, if you’re state Sen. Chap Petersen.
A lifelong Redskins fan, Fairfax state Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34) has had it up to here with all the talk about the need to change the name of his beloved football team. He vented his frustration and indignation on his blog — Ox Road South — but said he was leery of tackling what he deemed the forces of political correctness in the "War Against the Redskins" until June 18, when the Federal Patent Office blocked the team’s Redskins trademarks, declaring that the name was "disparaging" to Native Americans at the time the trademarks were registered — as far back as 1967. That action pushed Petersen off the sidelines to lead an offensive attack.
"One Less Thing"
Forrest Gump knew when he voiced over: "Mama got the cancer and died on a Tuesday. I bought her a new hat with little flowers on it. And that’s all I have to say about that." And if you watched the movie as often as I did (it was one of my mother’s favorites), you may also recall "Mama always said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on."
County Chamber Honors Brain Injury Services
The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber) honored Brain Injury Services with the 2014 Nonprofit of the Year award. This category was part of the 2014 Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Awards presented at the Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Luncheon on June 17, 2014.
Call for Pet Photos & Stories
The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish on July 23, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by Wednesday, July 16.
Fairfax Home Sales: May, 2014
In May 2014, 99 Fairfax homes sold between $1,350,000-$154,000.
Fairfax Home Sales: May, 2014
Class of 2014 Graduates from Robinson
The Patriot Center was packed on June 17 as the Class of 2014 celebrated their graduation from Robinson Secondary School.
Medicaid Expansion Supporters Rally in Lorton
Budget without Medicaid expansion being reviewed by Governor.
day before Virginia legislators reconvened in Richmond and passed a budget without Medicaid expansion, advocates gathered in Lorton to show their support for expanding health care coverage to 400,000 Virginians.
Landfill Decision Deferred to July 29
Board Chairman Sharon Bulova looking for compromise.
The decision has already been delayed before, but the future of the Lorton landfill will remain uncertain as the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to defer the decision to July 29.
First Responders Honored for Going ‘Above and Beyond’
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosts First Responders Benefit Lunch.
Being a first responder is stressful enough, but the first responders who were honored at this year’s Above and Beyond: First Responders Benefit Lunch excel at their jobs and more.
Fairfax County Retired Educators Award Scholarships
Seven aspiring educators from Fairfax County receive awards.
Aspiring educators from across Fairfax County were honored for their accomplishments and presented with scholarships to help them begin their teaching careers at a luncheon and ceremony held by the Fairfax County Retired Educators on June 12 in Fairfax. Every year, FCRE awards students interested in teaching careers with $2,000 scholarships. This year, the seven students were either graduates or soon-to-be graduates of high schools throughout Fairfax County, including Robinson, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, Marshall, Mclean and James Madison.
Despite Low Unemployment, Veterans Need Assistance
“Supporting our Region’s Veterans” report identifies suggestions for improvement.
Although veterans in Northern Virginia are more educated than those nationwide and are less likely to live below the poverty line and be unemployed, a new report has found that individual anecdotes from veterans in the area demonstrate that there are still areas that need improvement.
Patchwork of Approaches to Affordable Housing in Northern Virginia
Jurisdictions use a variety of strategies to prevent homelessness.
Affordable housing means different things to different people at different times. For government officials, it's a phrase that means that a family spends no more than 30 percent of its income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage as well as taxes and utilities
Robinson Boys’ Lax Wins State Championship
Rams beat Langley in 6A state final.
The Robinson boys' lacrosse team beat Langley in the state final.
Class Dismissed
Fairfax High School Class of 2014 graduates 570 seniors.
Smiles flashed and medals clanked as 570 Fairfax High School seniors strode across their school’s field house stage Tuesday, June 17, eager to collect their diplomas. By the numbers, this latest graduating class boasted 204 Virginia Department of Education Early College Scholar Candidates, 97 National Honor Society members and 66 Honor Graduates. In his opening speech to the audience, Principal David Goldfarb asked each graduate to "acknowledge that [they] had some help on [their] journey" from "people who carried [them] along the way.
City Council Honors PVI Hoops Teams
The Fairfax City Council recently recognized Paul VI’s boys and girls basketball teams for winning both the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and Virginia Division 1 titles. It was only the second time in WCAC history that both the boys and girls teams won the conference title in the same year.
‘A World-Class Place to Live, Work, Dine’
Fairfax Circle Plaza will be redeveloped.
The Fairfax City Council has taken the first step toward revitalizing the Fairfax Circle Plaza. At its May 27 meeting, the Council approved a huge, new, mixed-use project there, entailing a grocery store, retail businesses and multifamily housing.
Korean-Language Students Translate City Brochure
Nine students from the Fairfax Academy’s Korean 4 class have translated the City of Fairfax Commission for Women’s brochure into Korean. Guided by their teacher, Song Johnston, they spent five weeks translating, proofreading and revising the document. This brochure may now be used by the City to help Korean speakers when they visit the area. This is the second time the Korean 4 class has taken on such a project. Three years ago, the students translated information from the Historic Blenheim Civil War Interpretive Center into Korean and made a photo book from it, using pictures they personally took at the center. They then donated the book to the City of Fairfax.
Woodson Graduates 540 Seniors
Math teacher Dan Schaefer receives Teacher of the Year Award.
The class of 2014 graduated from W.T. Woodson High School, Tuesday, June 17 at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax. Five hundred forty students walked on stage to receive their diplomas, with poise and confidence typical of high school seniors.
Meals Tax: Tasty or Revolting?
Supervisors digest task force’s final report on hot-button issue.
After hours of simmering debate, the Meals Tax Referendum Task Force’s presentation to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday was a mere amuse-bouche, whetting the appetite of board the for the group’s 170-page multi-course written report.