Editorial: Virginia Proves Elections Matter
Health and economic issues are entwined.
Some people continue to assert, either with their words or by simply abstaining, that voting just doesn’t matter. Here in Virginia, nearly every day we prove that is incorrect. All of Virginia’s elected representatives who are elected by the entire state are of the same political party. They are all Democrats: Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and Virginia’s two U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
Riding for the Fallen
More than 100 officers cycle through Virginia, for cause.
Police officers from all over the country vowed to "ride for those who died" this week. Police Unity Tour Chapter IV - also known as the Virginia chapter - challenged officers on a three day bicycle tour from Richmond to D.C. in memory for fallen officers. Before the last stop at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the group of 122 officers and loved ones of fallen police stopped for lunch at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center Monday in Fairfax as a tribute to the county most the officers served.
Northern Virginia Family Service Holds 16th Annual Gala
Local donors and supporters recognized at event.
The evening of Friday May 9 at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the nonprofit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) held their 16th Annual Road to Independence Gala. The festive event gave community and business leaders an opportunity to celebrate the impact of NVFS on families and children in need. It also recognized donors and supporters dedicated to giving back to the community in which they live making NVFS services possible.
Seventeen of Fantastic 50 Companies in Virginia Hail from Fairfax County
Seventeen Fairfax County companies are part of the 2014 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Fantastic 50 rankings of the 50 fastest-growing businesses in Virginia. Chantilly-based First Line Technology, which sells products to first responders and the military, received a Virginia Vanguard Award for having the highest growth rate among companies in the manufacturing category.
County Hosts Nearly 100 Outdoor Festivals
With a population of more than one million residents, it has long been known that Fairfax County is the most populous jurisdiction in the National Capital Region. However, what may surprise both residents and visitors is that the County is also home to nearly 100 annual outdoor festivals, most of which have very strong arts and cultural components.
Opinion: BOS Budget Falls Short for FCPS
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) continues to state that education is its top priority but its actions clearly do not match its words -- not when county spending next year will increase by 3.6 percent while Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) budget is projected to increase by just 1.6 percent over last year’s adopted budget. Overall, FCPS will receive 52.4 percent of the county’s budget, down from 52.7 percent this year. While this percentage change seems small, that equates to more than $12 million that FCPS would have received.
Communities to Discuss School Start Times
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will hold eight community meetings—one per cluster—in May and June to gather feedback from students, parents, employees, and community members on proposed adjustments to school start times. Participants are welcome to attend the meeting that is most convenient for them.
Still Curious, But Maybe Not Dying
Although one never knows, especially if that one is living in "cancerville." And by "cancerville" I mean, euphemistically speaking, anywhere where one of us diagnosed with cancer is living. Living being the operative word. Still, as my column from a few weeks ago entitled, "Dying With Curiosity" discussed, cancer patients are often besieged by their subconscious, changing fact into fiction and manipulating feelings into inevitabilities. If only there was a switch to turn off the mind games that don’t exactly mind their "man-ners" or "women-ers" for that fact, I’d flick it in a second. Cancer creates physical problems – as we all know, but I have to tell you, it’s the mental problems that can be just as deadly.
Empty-Nesters Spread Their Wings
A Springfield couple creates a personalized interior custom-suited to support everyday pleasures, using the existing footprint.
A sunny space; an uplifting view; a generous footprint that includes a sizeable breakfast zone, a food preparation island and easy access to a large back deck.
C-Section Boom in Northern Virginia
Region has some of the highest rates of cesarean-section deliveries for low-risk pregnancies.
Behind the closed doors at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church and the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, a quiet change has been taking shape over the last few decades.
Classified Advertising May 7, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Me & My Mom 2014 — Mother’s Day Photo Gallery and My Mother: an Appreciation
"A tribute to my mother, Lorena W. Mayhew, a superb seamstress..."
Shirley M. Bailey, 84, of Burke submitted this poem “as a tribute to my mother, Lorena W. Mayhew, a superb seamstress, who kept her four children well dressed during the Depression and even later with her superb skills as a seamstress.
City Council Approves Spending $8.1 Million
It’s full speed ahead for some major projects in the City of Fairfax. On April 22, the City Council approved spending $8.1 million to develop and improve City-owned downtown properties and to renovate and expand the Police Department’s Firearms Training Center.
City of Fairfax Adopts Budget
Real-estate tax rate is lowered by two cents.
The Fairfax City Council adopted the City’s FY 2014-15 budget last week, lowered the existing real-estate tax rate by two cents and gave raises to the city employees. In a special meeting, last Wednesday, April 30, the Council set City residents’ new real-estate tax rate at $1.04 per $100 assessed value, effective Jan. 1, 2015.
22 Years in Prison For Child’s Death
A Fair Lakes woman has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for murdering an 11-month-old boy in Vienna, nearly three years ago. She is Carol Nadine Lutsky, 22, of Summit Manor Court.
Woman Convicted of Tax and Wire Fraud
Fair Oaks tax preparer filed false returns with the IRS.
Thuy Tien Le, 40, pleaded guilty last week in federal court to preparing false income tax returns and committing wire fraud. She admitted that she did so while running her Fair Oaks-based, tax-return preparation business called T2 Advantage Services LLC. She was convicted last Wednesday, April 30, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
The Things My Mom Taught Me
Growing up my mom went from asking me what was one nice thing I did for someone to inspiring me to think differently and change the community and even the world around me. That has led me to my purpose in life. To go beyond help or charity and work towards fundamentally changing the lives of others. She would always remind me that the success of our family did not come on our own. It was the grace of God, the support of friends, and the encouragement of a community.
A Rolling Tradition
Annual event brings thousands of motorcyclists, spectators to streets of Fairfax for Memorial Day celebration.
When it first began, the Ride of the Patriots was a few friends getting together to honor Memorial Day and those who served, riding down to Washington, D.C. to join the national Rolling Thunder parade.
Mason Presents Artistic Discovery
Center for the Arts at George Mason University announces season of great performances.
The arts are an integral part of the quality of life in Fairfax County. The coming 2014-2015 season for the Center for the Arts at George Mason University will once again provide diverse arts and entertainment of national and international quality for the community. For George Mason University President Dr. Angel Cabrera, "our responsibility is to serve others, to enrich the life of our community culturally and economically. We encourage lifelong learning, and the programming at the Center for the Arts is one of the ways in which we live out that mission.
Del. Filler-Corn Meets Scout Troop 698 of Burke
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) recently met with Scout Troop 698 of Burke to discuss the important role civics and community participation plays in government and community development. Del. Filler-Corn and the group even played Virginia jeopardy, testing the Scouts knowledge of the House of Delegates and everything Virginia.