News for Wednesday, February 8, 2012

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TC’s Huggins Shines During Senior Night Victory

Titans looking to cut out mental lapses with postseason approaching.

T.J. Huggins finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds during the final regular season home game of his career, helping TC improve to 12-9, including 8-5 in the Patriot District. With the district tournament beginning Feb. 14, head coach Julian King said the Titans have the talent to compete in the postseason but the team has to cut out mental lapses.

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Sports Briefs: TC Boys’ Indoor Track Wins Districts

The T.C. Williams boys' track and field team won the 2012 Patriot District championship, beating defending champion Annandale by 17 points last week at Episcopal High School.

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Whelden, Paduda, Jeney Win Titles for Yorktown

Patriots finish third at National District wrestling meet.

Yorktown heavyweight Charlie Whelden has battled the injury bug throughout his high school career. On Feb. 4, a partially torn meniscus in his right knee wasn’t enough to keep "Ox" from capturing a National District championship.

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Washington-Lee Wrestling Finishes District Runner-Up

Two Generals win individual National District championships.

The Washington-Lee wrestling team’s "light guys" made sure the Generals were well represented at the 2012 National District tournament.

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Wakefield’s Majano Wins Third Consecutive District Crown

Battle-tested senior has sights set on state championship.

Wakefield senior wrestler Henry Majano took another step toward his ultimate goal of winning a state championship, adding another accolade to his already impressive resume.

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Lee Duo Returning to Regionals

Leah Michetti and Katie Stewart are heading back to the Northern Region gymnastics meet.

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Liberatore Leads Bruins to District Gymnastics Title

Senior wins all-around championship after back-to-back runner-up finishes.

After her routine, Caitlin Liberatore cracked a wide smile when judges revealed a score of 9.575. It was enough to win the event, but was it enough to win the all-around crown?

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Whitman Girls Bust Out of Offensive Slump

After recent struggles, Vikings score 75 in win against Springbrook.

Whitman girls’ basketball coach Pete Kenah sat at a desk and opened the team’s scorebook after a Feb. 3 contest against Springbrook. Two days earlier, the Vikings shot 3 for 28 in the first half against Richard Montgomery en route to a 54-40 loss. Forty-eight hours later, Whitman’s offensive effort against the talented Blue Devils left the scorebook littered with ink.

Sports Briefs: Whitman Boys Lose To Springbrook

The Whitman boys’ basketball team trailed by 18 at halftime and lost to Springbrook 62-34 on Feb. 3 at WWHS.

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Sports Briefs: West Po’s Thompson Headed to Regionals

West Potomac’s Monica Thompson took a chance at the Patriot District gymnastics meet by attempting a vault she had never thrown during competition. The result helped earn the sophomore an all-around berth to regionals.

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Mount Vernon Wins District Wrestling Championship

Seniors Floyd, Marino improve combined record to 94-3.

Led by seniors Dusty Floyd and Cody Marino, Mount Vernon amassed a 39-3 record in dual meets during the 2011-12 season. On Saturday, the Majors continued their dominance, finishing 39 points ahead of runner-up Washington-Lee at the National District meet.

In Session

Although he hasn’t been reading them while driving, state Sen. George Barker (D-39) has been receiving a flood of emails about distracted driving.

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House on a Hill

Contemporary in Oakton transformed into welcoming southern colonial.

Hunstville, Ala. is a pretty small town-- yet it has three historic districts and more homes in the national register than most places twice its size. Growing up in such a community, Gina Jones is understandably attracted to welcoming porches and grand foyers--hallmarks of the antebellum style.

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Remodeling: An Opportunity To Follow One’s Passion

Adding that personal touch.

Having remodeled thousands of projects over the past 25 years, our clients' reactions tell us that some of the most successful projects often address a specific passion or interest. Folks seem to be spending more and more time at home not only working, but also enriching their lives through personal interests.

South Lakes Wrestling Breaks Through for Third Place District finish

Forrest brothers, Ryan and Josh, both gain individual titles.

The South Lakes High wrestling team put together its best postseason showing in recent memory when the Seahawks earned a third place team finish at last Saturday’s Liberty District Championships. The two-day event (Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4) took place at Langley High School.

Editorials: Access to Activities for Home Schoolers; Action in Richmond; Changes in Gun Laws

Families who home-school their children in this area take a burden off crowded schools, and off taxpayers who pay on average between $12,000 and $16,000 per year per child in school depending on where in Northern Virginia.

Two Students Receive $10,000 Scholarships

Eight local area businesses are helping make the dream of a college education a reality for two high school seniors.

Week in Springfield

Things happening in the Springfield area.

Week in Lorton

Things happening in the Lorton area.

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"Art" kicks-off Inaugural Season of Workhouse Theatre.

Fairfax County's newest professional, non-profit theater company, the Workhouse Theatre opened its inaugural season with "Art" by award-winning playwright Yasmina Reza at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.

Week in Fairfax

Things happening in the Fairfax area.

Grand Slam for Special Olympics

Fairfax Adult Softball hits home run during annual bowling tournament.

Supporters of Fairfax Adult Softball, Inc. (FAS) united on Sunday, Jan. 29 for the 12th annual Bowling Tournament to benefit Northern Virginia Special Olympics and Fairfax County Park Authority field improvements. More than 240 participants contributed their time and spirits to raise nearly $13,000 in this year’s tournament.

Fair Oaks Mall Presents 3rd Annual Active-Kidz Camp & Activities Fair

Fair Oaks Mall will present the 3rd Annual Active-Kidz Camp and Activities Fair on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 from noon to 5 p.m.

Engineering Firm Honors David Bulova as Legislator of the Year

On Feb. 3, Del. David Bulova (D-37) was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Virginia, the state’s largest engineering firm association, at their 2012 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, as Legislator of the Year for his work promoting dam safety during the 2011 Virginia General Assembly session.

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Volunteers Support Greenspring’s Oral Rehydration Project

Greenspring residents, staff assemble 5,300 kits for children suffering across the globe.

The statistics are startling. More than 1.5 million children across the globe die each year because of dehydration associated with diarrhea.

Green Dot Card Scam

Fairfax County police investigating slew of scams targeting seniors.

When a 70-year-old Burke woman answered her phone this week, the caller told her she’d won 3.5 million dollars and a brand new Mercedes. But there was a catch.

Letter: Coming Forward On Child Sex Abuse

Letter to the Editor

I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse and a mother of four. I was very happy to see the article "Scandal Highlights Child Sex Abuse" [Connection, Feb. 2-8, 2012] by Victoria Ross which addresses an important issue that is close to my heart.

McDonald’s Announces 2012 Hispanic Scholarship Program

The McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Greater Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund (HCF), will be honoring exceptional Hispanic students in the Greater Washington, D.C., area with the 3rd Annual McDonald’s Hispanic College Fund Scholarship Program.

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Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Help American Cancer Society

Last October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department donned pink shirts to help the American Cancer Society increase awareness of breast cancer.

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Reston Community Center Exhibits Artwork

Upcoming art exhibits at Reston Community Center’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery and at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods will feature four Washington, D.C. area artists and an abstract artist known for her colorful works inspired by nature.

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Kyle Brightwell Earns a Spot as Percussionist for Boston Symphony Orchestra

Reston native Kyle Brightwell is proof that, with hard work and perseverance, dreams can come true.

Board Approves Redevelopment

The Arlington County Board approved a plan to redevelop a 1.13-acre, block-long site in the commercial heart of Clarendon with two office buildings and ground floor retail.

Lori Tansey Martens’ focus is on International Ethics

Lori Tansey Martens’ Helping Businesses Navigate Ethics Globally

Ethics is a familiar topic in the news — from charges that a political candidate has ethics violations to the savings and loan crisis in the 1990s to the very current banking and mortgage financial break-down. The establishment of business ethics came into its own arena in the late 1980s, both within major corporations as well as in academia.

Apple Honors Jamestown

Apple Inc. selected Jamestown Elementary School as an Apple Distinguished Program for the 2011-12 school year. Jamestown is one of 49 schools nationwide recognized by Apple.

Nottingham Wins Video Contest

Earth Charter International selected Nottingham Elementary School’s "It Starts With One" video as the first winner of its first-ever international video contest.

Community Input Sought On School Overcrowding

The number of Arlington County school children continues to increase and Arlington Public Schools is looking at a variety of ways to meet this growing need, including expanding its footprint on school property, and on county property for potential joint-use facilities.

Board Approves Improvements

The Arlington County Board on Jan. 21 approved funds to renovate High View Park playground and to support nine other parks projects.

Week in Reston

Things happening in the Reston area.

Keeping People in their Homes

Reston Interfaith addresses housing with Connections for Hope.’

Within the Connections for Hope facility is the office of Martin Rios, Reston Interfaith's Certified Housing Counselor. "Keeping people in their homes, by any means possible, is the ultimate goal of Reston Interfaith," said CEO Kerri Wilson.

Column: Occupy Movement and the Church

Recently the media has reported on an increasing show of church support for the Occupy Movement. This increase comes against the backdrop of evictions of Occupy protesters encamped in city parks and squares across the United States.

Anna Shade, 99, of Reston, Dies

Anna M. Shade, a long time resident of Reston, passed away while residing at Monroe House.

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Third Annual “Cecily’s Advocacy” Parenting Workshop at McLean School

Workshop Teaches How To Adjust to Learning Differences

“Learning Differences: What Works?” will be the subject of the third annual “Cicely’s Advocacy” workshop on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the McLean School, 8224 Lochinver Lane in Potomac. This workshop kicks-off with a keynote address by dyslexia researcher and expert, Thomas G. West who will speak about “Amazing Shortcomings, Amazing Gifts.

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Welcome to Crystal Couture 2012

Crystal Couture 2012 opened to the public on Feb. 7 in the food court at 1750 Crystal Drive in Crystal City and will run through Feb. 11.

Column: Short Changing the Education

Last week I addressed the House of Delegates to express concern that Governor McDonnell’s proposed budget short changes the education of our children (http://youtu.be/-VbOv_uJXOU).

Week in Herndon

Things happening in the Herndon area.

Column: Virginia Assembly—From Bad to Worse

Last year, our legislators exemplified the ethically-challenged behavior so commonplace in Richmond. Several turned up in France sipping fine wines claiming to be studying uranium mining, all expenses paid by a corporation seeking Assembly approval to mine uranium and make billions.

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Norovirus Outbreak Spreads to Schools, Community

February is peak season for virus outbreaks.

Repeated bouts of diarrhea, severe nausea and acute onset are symptoms of the calici family of viruses. Commonly referred to as the stomach flu, the norovirus is particularly active in February and has already contributed to outbreaks throughout the Arlington County Public School system.

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Reston Residents Nominated for Western Web Series

Husband and wife, Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan, in competition for Best Web Series.

Awards for drama, directing and acting tend to bring to mind the Oscars and Emmys, Hollywood and Broadway, not the Internet and Reston. Nonetheless, the web series, "Thurston," created by Reston residents, husband and wife, Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan, has been nominated for the 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards for Best Web Series in the drama category.

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Long-Time Potomac Residents Share Their Stories.

Eyewitnesses to Potomac’s Past

“Each of our speakers is a history book,” Dana Semmes told the standing-room-only crowd at the Shanghai Café in the Potomac Oaks Shopping Center. “They will share with us memories of Potomac long ago in the ‘30s, ‘40s and 50s.”

Not Another Valentine’s Day

Some alternatives to the usual fare.

Roses, chocolates and Hallmark Cards are standard Valentine’s Day fare. Gifts with a personalized element, however, are all the more significant for impressing that special someone.

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‘Mini-Mester’ Day Challenges Holy Child Students

Teachers present their dream courses.

If you had the opportunity to design a new urban plan for Potomac Village, what would you change? Twelve junior and senior students from the Connelly School of the Holy Child were given this challenge Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, during a surprise “mini-mester” day. After an explanation of what city planning is all about by teacher Cindy Kahan, the girls were assigned to “dream big with no constraints.

Flourishing After 55

Flourishing after 55.

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Waterfront Plan Challenged in Court

Five Old Town residents file lawsuit asking court to overturn controversial upzoning.

Five Old Town residents are set to file a lawsuit this week challenging the controversial waterfront small-area plan, which the City Council adopted last week on a party-line five-to-two vote last month.