Fairfax Local

The Chocolate Lovers Festival Committee is again supporting the Fairfax Kiwanis Meals for Young Minds Program with multiple, food drop-off locations during the festival. This program provides meals to local, elementary-school students who don’t have food to eat on the weekends.

Virginia Opera's Special Gift for Valentine's Weekend

“Salome” at George Mason University Center for the Arts.

Salome, a name that conjures unforgettable impressions: passion, desire, murder. The opera "Salome" is based upon a once shocking Oscar Wilde literary work. This Valentine's weekend the Virginia Opera is presenting a production about how love's obsession in the wrong hands can lead to the most unfortunate, unforeseen consequences.

Chocolate Cookbook and Valentine

It’s always fun to bring home souvenirs from the Chocolate Festival, and two of them are the official, Chocolate Lovers Festival Cookbook and the annual, commemorative Valentine.

‘It’s Such a Good Fit’

Naomi Project joins Our Daily Bread to help struggling mothers.

For the past 19 years, the nonprofit Naomi Project of Northern Virginia has worked with high-risk, pregnant women and new mothers to help them have healthy pregnancies and babies. It’s now become a program of the nonprofit Our Daily Bread (ODB) and, on Jan. 22, the two groups celebrated their union. “It’s a natural offshoot of what we’re already doing with moms,” said ODB spokeswoman Heather Webb. “This is another way that we can help them build families and get on a better financial footing.”

Pancakes, Candy, Fudge, Ice Cream and More

Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival is Feb. 7-8.

Get your sweet tooth ready – the 23rd annual City of Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival is this weekend, Feb. 7-8. Featuring delicious, chocolate fun for both children and adults, the event includes a Taste of Chocolate, a Chocolate Challenge, musical performances, a chocolate movie – “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” – fairy tales, a fire-safety puppet show, face-painting, a Chocolate Caper mock trial, cupcake-decorating, magic, juggling and open houses in historic buildings.

Del. Filler-Corn’s ‘CARE Act’ Passes the House

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D–41) HB 1413 passed the full House of Delegates on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. HB 1413 or the “CARE Act” addresses the important role of the informal and family caregivers and improved communication with them and medical providers. Specifically, the bill looks to improve healthcare and reduce preventable hospital revisits by having hospitals formally acknowledge a patient’s family caregiver at the time of admission and provide critical home care instruction before discharge.

Del. David Bulova and Sen. Chap Petersen Hold Town Hall in Fairfax

Over 100 constituents and community members attended the annual joint town hall meeting held Jan. 31 by Del. David Bulova (D-37) and State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34).

Robinson Middle in Fairfax Takes on Rydell High in ‘Grease’

Though none of the actors are in high school, Katie Jenkins believes her cast will have no problem bringing the students of the famed, fictional Rydell High to life.

Hayfield’s Overstreet Wins Conference 6 Bars Title Despite Back Trouble

Fairfax’s Barborek qualifies for regionals in all-around, wins beam title.

The 6A North region championship meet is scheduled for Feb. 11 at Lake Braddock.

Citizens to the Rescue

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy accepting applications.

The Fairfax County Citizens Fire and Rescue Academy, a free nine-week program to learn about the work of firefighters and paramedics, will begin its next session March 12, with the deadline for online applications closing on Feb. 16.

Strong Defensive Effort Propels Woodson Past Lake Braddock

Experienced Cavaliers look for third consecutive region title.

Woodson limits Lake Braddock to 14 first-half points.

GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt

Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.

Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.

Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX

Majority say they would have called a run play from 1-yard line.

Lake Braddock football coach Jim Poythress sticks up for Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

A Chat with the Event Chairman

Leslie Herman is this year’s Chocolate Festival committee chairman, and she and her committee of more than a dozen people have been hard at work on the event since the fall. They represent several of the organizations involved in the festival events, including the Fairfax Bar Association, Fairfax City Regional Library, Friends of Fairfax, GMU Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Independence Day Celebration Committee, Kiwanis Club of Fairfax, Fairfax County Retired Educators, Patriot Harley Owners Group, Woman’s Club of Fairfax and the City of Fairfax.

Fairfax Connection