Choosing a Home for the Golden Years
Many options for retirement communities in the region.
Jim Harkin, 81, and his wife, Phyllis, 80, have little free time these days. Jim spends his days protecting and photographing wildlife on the 60-acre campus at The Fairfax, a Sunrise Senior Living Community, in Fort Belvoir. He helped build, refurbish and maintain more than 20 birdhouses on the grounds, including homes for tree swallows and purple martins.
Active Seniors Compete for Glory
fter 11 days of more than 50 events held Sept. 7-19, the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics finished with a golf event at Forest Greens Golf Course in Triangle, Va. Other events ranged from cycling, swimming and pickle ball to Mexican train dominos and Scrabble.
Diverse Needs, Desires Drive Mobility Solutions
Seniors increasingly seek innovative plans that embrace both the present and the future.
Russ Glickman was a traditional full-service remodeler until the late 1990s when he abruptly added a host of accessibility certifications to a long list of building industry credentials. The service extension was less about opportunity than a personal call to apply what he’d learned from personal experience in helping his son, Michael, who was born with cerebral palsy.
Column: “Mor-Tality” or Less
Meaning, in my head anyway, the future and what there is left of it. More specifically, I mean life expectancy. When you’re given a “13-month to two-year” prognosis—at age 54 and a half, by a cancer doctor, your cancer doctor—the timeline between where you are and where you thought you’d be when becomes as clear as mud.
Residential Studios Put on Hold
Supervisors establish committee, plan additional public outreach.
At the recommendation of Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-At-Large) and Supervisor Michael Frey (R-Sully), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday deferred its Nov. 20 public hearing on a proposed residential studios (RSUs) amendment to conduct additional community outreach.
Now What?
Fairfax County braces for “domino effect” of federal government shutdown.
“We live in a ‘company town’ and the company is the federal government, so most of us have family and friends who are federal employees or contractors impacted by this shutdown,” Long said in a memo emailed to county employees Tuesday. Long said his biggest concern was the “domino effect” the shutdown will have on the local economy, and “the short-term uncertainty that will impact business decisions.”
Social Justice Matters
SALT forum gives candidates a chance to tell voters where they stand on social justice issues.
But one group also thinks voters should know where candidates stand on social justice issues when they go to the polls Nov. 5. “Our elected officials have a great deal of influence on the common good, so it’s reasonable that we find out where candidates stand on these issues,” said John Horejsi, founder of SALT (Social Action Linking Together), a non-partisan, faith-based advocacy group started in 1983.
Leadership Fairfax Honors Community Leaders Who Make a Difference
Leadership Fairfax (LFI) has chosen the 2013 Northern Virginia Leadership Awards (NVLA) recipients via a panel of community and business leaders evaluating nominations submitted by Leadership Fairfax alumni and the general public. The award recipients will be honored at the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Westwood Country Club in Vienna.
Minority Chambers of Commerce to Host Candidates’ Forum
The recently formed alliance of Northern Virginia Minority Chambers of Commerce will give members of the fast growing minority business community the opportunity to meet with the commonwealth’s gubernatorial and statewide candidates at the first-ever joint Candidates’ Forum, Sunday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus.
On the Job and Hot on the Trail
Finding people is fun for new, police bloodhound pups.
“We’ll get them out here and acclimate them to the noises — gunfire, [vehicle] brakes and birds,” said Masood. They’ll also be exposed to airplanes, wind, rain, heat, car horns honking, plus obstacles such as fences. And they’ll learn how it feels on their paws to walk in the woods, through brush, on cement, carpet, tile floors, etc. That way, said Clarke, “When they get out on the street, when they’re almost a year old, they’ll be ready.”
Paul VI Freshman Takes Silver at National Skating Competition
Clifton ninth-grader LaDan Nemati earned the silver medal at the Solo Ice Dance National Championships at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. last weekend. The 14-year-old Nemati bested most of the field of 25 skaters from across the country who qualified to compete at the bronze level with an elegant performance of the "Willow Waltz."
Week in Fairfax
Richard Walker, 32, of Fair Oaks, was killed last week after his car crashed into a tree on Popes Head Read. The tragedy occurred last Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 1:52 p.m., near the Fairfax County Parkway. According to Fairfax County police, preliminary investigation indicates that he was driving a 2012 Mercedes sedan westbound on Popes Head Road “at an excessive speed” as he approached a curve. He was unable to negotiate the curve, ran off the road to the right and struck a tree.
Fairfax Library’s Book Sale a Success
The City of Fairfax Regional Library’s book sale was a huge success last Friday through Sunday. Its Children’s Book Sale the previous weekend was the best in the last three sales. On Friday, 1,600 people attended.
Mosby Woods Elementary Turns 50
School holds two-day celebration with family picnic, fun and games.
Mosby Woods Elementary School celebrated its 50th anniversary last Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26 and 27 in Fairfax. The PTA-sponsored event featured a family picnic, time capsule, and fun and games.
Charming, Smart, Comedic
Cabaret duo “Marcy and Zina” arriving in Fairfax.
"Neurotically optimistic songs about love and life" are coming to Northern Virginia audiences as the award-winning Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich pull into the Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center (JCCNV). You may not know their names right off hand, but Kristin Chenowith, Audry McDonald and Michael Feinstein regularly sing their compositions.
The City of Fairfax to Host Fall Festival
Crafts, arts, carnival, four stages of music and entertainment, lumberjack competition.
Crafts, children’s activities, rides, music and food will fill the downtown Fairfax streets during the Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12 (Rain date: Oct. 13). Entry is free, fees are charged for various rides and children activities.
Crash Kills Man, Causes Baby’s Death
A car crash early Sunday morning on the Fairfax County Parkway killed a Manassas man and caused a pregnant woman to deliver her baby early. Authorities say the newborn did not survive. The incident happened Sept. 29, at 1:40 a.m., just north of Braddock Road.
‘Give Them Strength, Fortitude and Compassion’
Criminal Justice Academy graduates 43 officers.
The graduates of the 60th session of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy included the police department’s first Asian female, a former fire department deputy chief and a Bulgarian immigrant whose family tended vineyards. The ceremony was Sept. 20 in GMU’s Harris Theatre, and Circuit Court Clerk John Frey swore in 43 new officers. There were 26 county police officers, 13 sheriff’s deputies, two Town of Vienna police officers, one Town of Herndon police officer and one county fire investigator.
Track Star Mentors Amputee Athletes at Prosthetic Center
Paralympic track and field champion Heinrich Popow visited Fairfax Friday, Sept. 27, to provide demonstrations and instruction to area above-knee amputees interested in returning to running and becoming more active since the loss of their legs. The training session involved local amputees trying out a first of its kind sports prosthesis developed specifically to help make that goal a reality.
Willkommen! Guten Tag!
Bulova puts “fun” in fundraiser at Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.
Oktoberfest arrived early as more than 300 friends, family and high-profile Democrats gathered at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center Sept. 22 for the 27th annual German-themed political fundraiser hosted by Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Guests enjoyed German beer, a traditional German oompah band and a smorgasbord of Bavarian food, including bratwurst, sauerkraut and German wines, during the afternoon event.