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).
Filler-Corn Announces Legislative Agenda
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) recently unveiled the legislation she has introduced for consideration by the 2014 General Assembly. Among Delegate Filler-Corn’s legislative priorities are education, public and campus safety, workforce development, childcare safety, creating the new Virginia economy and looking out for our seniors.
Art Gives Comfort to Hospice Patients
”People who dedicate their time to hospice patients are extremely kind and generous,” said Sophia Youn, creator of heARTpiece, a program at Optum Palliative and Hospice Care in Fairfax, formerly Evercare Hospice, that encourages meaningful interaction between volunteers and patients through art.
Bleachers, HVACs, Tile, Paving, Walls and Roofs
Noonan explains the City schools’ needs.
At the recent, joint meeting of the Fairfax City Council and Planning Commission, Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan detailed the City Schools’ five-year CIP. “We have outstanding students and teachers and world-class facilities,” he said. Yet several needs still exist, including the following:
VRE Announces Operations Board Officers
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board instilled its 2015 slate of officers at its monthly meeting. The following were unanimously approved by the Operations Board in December and took on their new roles: Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock), as chairman; Gary Skinner, Spotsylvania County Supervisor, as vice chairman; Paul Smedberg, City of Alexandria Councilor, as secretary; Maureen Caddigan, Prince William County Supervisor, as treasurer.
Fairfax Firefighters Provide Coats for Underprivileged Children
The City of Fairfax Firefighters, IAFF Local 2702, the City of Fairfax Fire Department and the City of Fairfax School Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, teamed up to provide brand-new winter coats to over 50 children at Daniels Run and Providence elementary schools in partnership with Operation Warm, a national non-profit dedicated to warming the hearts, minds and bodies of children in need.