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.
Joining Fairfax One
New maintenance supervisor comes from Afghanistan.
Fresh from the cold, brown hills of Afghanistan for the past three years, Bill Reynolds is still getting acclimated to his warm, bright, comfortable new work environment at the helicopter hangar off of West Ox Road. A native Texan, Reynolds is a cheerful, grateful man and says he’s “tickled” to be doing a job he loves “a little closer to home”.
Sweet History Tour of Historic Fairfax
New this year is a Sweet History Walking Tour of Old Town Fairfax’s Historic District. It’s slated for Friday, Jan. 31, from 4:30-6 p.m., and allows participants to step back in time for a peek at Fairfax’s past. The tour begins at the Ratcliffe-Allison House, 10209 Main St. The City’s oldest standing house, it was built in 1812. Furnished with period pieces, this home depicts the lives of everyday residents in 19th-century Fairfax.
Reboot for Youth
Local high school students provide computers to families in need.
Technology plays a prominent role in classrooms throughout Fairfax County, but the reality is that many students are still unable to afford personal computers of their own to use for basic things like homework. But a team of students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) has made it their goal to eradicate cost as a barrier to technology for low-income families.
Rodney V. Colbert Named Deputy Fire Chief
Fire Chief Richie Bowers has selected Battalion Chief Rodney V. Colbert for promotion to deputy fire chief, effective Jan. 24. Chief Colbert will be assigned as the Chief Training Officer. Since July of 2011 he has been assigned as a field battalion chief in the Operations Bureau.
Fairfax’s Annual Chocolate Lovers Festival Feb. 7-8
Heaven for chocolate aficionados – that’s the City of Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival. And this year’s 23rd annual extravaganza is set for Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 7-8. The scrumptious and fun-filled weekend features everything from a competition to see who can make the most beautiful and creative chocolate sculptures, cakes and cupcakes to a chocolate-themed movie and a luscious sampling of chocolate treats from area vendors. It’s also a chance to buy mouthwatering presents for Valentine’s Day.
Chocolate Festival Event Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 7
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fire Station 3, 4081 University Drive Join the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax for its Chocolate Lovers Pancake Breakfast. The menu features pancakes (regular and chocolate chip) and sausage. Coffee, juice and milk also will be served.
A Children’s Classic Comes to Life
Fairfax Academy student has lead role in “Beauty and the Beast.”
A beloved children’s story comes to life when Centreville High presents the Disney musical, “Beauty and the Beast.” And playing one of the lead roles is senior Nick Ingargiola, who attends the Fairfax Academy for musical theater. “The actors have just blown me away,” said Director Mike Hudson. “We had a preaudition last May, and we had no idea we’d get this level of talent. About half the kids are choral students, but we’re also blessed with theater students who can sing.”
Open Houses, Exhibits during Festival
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., This building was constructed in 1873 with bricks made at the Farr property across Main Street. The oldest brick, two-story, school building remaining in Fairfax cost just $2,750 to build. Stop in for chocolate treats while learning about the City’s colorful history; free admission.
Eileen Filler-Corn Holds First Mid-Session Office Hours in Springfield
Though Del. Eileen Filler-Corn made headlines in the first week of the General Assembly for her proposed legislation on how sexual assault on college campuses is reported, she was game for any topic at her first mid-session office hours.
Fairfax County Supervisors Defer Decision on Salary Adjustment
How should a county supervisor be compensated for his or her service? That question continues to be up for discussion, as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to defer voting on a compensation adjustment that would take effect Jan. 1, 2016.
Schools to Expand by $856 Million
Capital Improvement Plan approved, rising enrollment causes concerns about classroom space.
Five more school buildings and renovations for several existing ones may be approved by 2020. The Fairfax County School Board approved the $856 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the Jan. 22 meeting to set priority on the projects the school system wants done in the next five years.
Computers, Radios, Vehicles, Firearms Center Renovation
Pardiny makes his pitch for budget funds.
Everyone wants a piece of the City of Fairfax budget pie, including the Police Department. Below are some of the items its leader requested during a Dec. 2 joint work session of the City Council and Planning Commission. The first thing on Police Chief Carl Pardiny’s FY 2016 CIP list was money for information technology. “We’re replacing the department’s 22 servers and office computers, plus the mobile laptops used by the officers in their cruisers,” he said.
Two Years Probation for Fairfax Resident
Created phony stamps; defrauded Postal Service.
A local man has been sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service. He is Brian Kim, 38, of Fairfax. This past summer, he pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding the U.S. Postal Service. He admitted doing so by counterfeiting and selling approximately $76,000 in postage stamps at two packaging centers he owned and operated in Northern Virginia. One’s in Fairfax and the other is in Arlington.
Board of Supervisors Recognizes Global Arts Initiative
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized the Arts Council of Fairfax County for its new Global Arts Initiative for which the organization received an Arts Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).