Fairfax People

Opening Doors to Hope

Previously homeless individuals share stories at FACETS Opening Doors Breakfast.

FACETS clients Carol Brown and Sandara Perry, sharing their stories to a crowd gathered at the FACETS Opening Doors breakfast on April 24, confirmed the unfortunate fact that homelessness and poverty do exist in Fairfax County.

Fairfax County Honors ‘Superheroes’

22nd Annual Fairfax County Service Awards presented.

Maybe they don’t wear capes and flashy uniforms, but local volunteers are superheroes. That was the theme for the 22nd Annual Fairfax County Service Awards, where more than 100 volunteers were recognized for their work with breakfast Friday, April 25, at The Waterford in Springfield. More specifically, this year’s theme was "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact," which was reflected in the comic book-inspired table decor and introductions by master of ceremonies Jeff Goldberg, Virginia Bureau Chief for ABC7 and News Channel 8.

Turbo Tutoring Awards Scholarships

Westfield High Senior receives check, from Turbo-Tutoring, to donate to children living at My Sister's Place in D.C.

‘A Leader Innovates, Develops, Inspires’

Challenger John Norce wants to be Fairfax’s mayor.

Born in New York, John Norce has only lived in Fairfax since 2002 and has never before run for political office. But he wants to become the City’s next mayor and believes he’s the best person for the job. “I enjoy and embrace leadership opportunities,” he said. “I was president of a local insurance association, am involved with Make-A-Wish and have coached youth sports for 27 years.” Norce came to Virginia in 1984, graduating from the University of Richmond in 1988 with a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. He now owns an insurance general agency in Fairfax.

‘Mayor Has to Know, Understand the City’

Fairfax’s Scott Silverthorne running for re-election.

Scott Silverthorne was raised in a political family, so it’s no wonder he’s been involved in leading the City of Fairfax for two decades. He served 18 consecutive years on the City Council, is now completing a two-year term as mayor and is running for re-election. His father was a Fairfax planning commissioner, councilman and mayor. Meanwhile, Silverthorne attended City schools, graduated from Fairfax High and obtained a degree in marketing from Radford University. He’s worked in government relations and, most recently, he’s done executive-search consulting. But politics has always been in his blood. “In 1990, at age 24, I was the youngest person ever elected to City Council,” said Silverthorne. “The top six vote-getters win, and I was the top vote-getter in eight of the nine elections I was in. I left in 2008 because I thought it was time for new blood, Mayor Lederer wasn’t leaving and I’d accomplished all I’d wanted on City Council.”

Fairfax City Council Candidates Speak Out

Besides voting for mayor, Fairfax residents will choose six City Council members in the May 6 election. All Council candidates except Cristina Gaines responded to The Connection’s questionnaire.

Our Daily Bread Celebrates 30 Years

Fairfax-based nonprofit Our Daily Bread (ODB) invites the public to its 30th anniversary celebration. An evening of art and performances, “Do You See What I See?” will be held Friday, May 2, from 7-10 p.m., at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Hwy. in Fairfax.

French Students Visit Robinson

American and French students learn language, culture through exchange program.

For Monica Jugnet, a French teacher at Robinson Secondary School’s International Baccalaureate Program, teaching French is more than just advising students on grammar or learning verb conjugations. Exchange programs like the one taking place at Robinson this week is what makes learning a language worthwhile, she says.

Disarming Musical

‘The Fantasticks’ comes to the Workhouse.

With over 20,000 performances in New York City since it opened in 1960 and countless numbers of regional, community and school-based productions, the melodic and oh, so mellow musical, "The Fantasticks" is coming to the Workhouse.

Area Roundup in Fairfax

This spring and summer, people may learn about the life and personalities of the City of Fairfax by taking 90-minute, guided walking tours through the Old Town Fairfax National Register Historic District.

Celebrating Women’s History

At the March 25 Fairfax City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Silverthorne proclaimed March 2014 as Women’s History Month in Fairfax.

Bittersweet to the Core

Hub Theatre presents area premiere of the ‘Failure: A Love Story.’

"Failure, A Love Story" by Phlip Dawkins "is unique, funny, whimsical and has so much heart," said Helen Pafumi, Hub artistic director.

CustomInk Celebrates Grand Opening

On Friday, CustomInk, the "design online" custom T-shirt company, hosted an open house event at its new Fairfax headquarters.

Come, Take a Trip to 19th Century Fairfax

Civil War Day is April 26.

Antebellum Virginia will come to life during Fairfax Civil War Day. Featuring wagon rides, cannon firings, house tours and a soldier encampment, it’s set for Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Historic Blenheim, 3610 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer opportunities in Fairfax County.

Fairfax Connection