News for Thursday, March 1, 2012

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Examining Causes of Domestic Violence

What it is, the dangers and what to do about it.

There have been three homicides in the Sully District since Capt. Purvis Dawson became commander of the Sully District Police Station, in April 2010 — and all three had domestic components.

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It’s ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ at Franklin Middle

Featuring a cast and crew of 125, Franklin Middle School presents the musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Show times are Wednesday, March 14, at 2:45 p.m., and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 15, 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. each night Tickets are $8 at the door and during school lunches.

Centre View Calendar March 1-7

To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.

Centre View Roundups March 1-7

VDOT will re-open the third lane on eastbound Route 50 between Stonecroft Boulevard and Route 28 which closed to traffic last weekend as part of the Route 50 widening project in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. The one-mile lane closure has caused lengthy delays on eastbound Route 50 and surrounding roads, this week, during the morning rush. The lane will re-open by March 5, weather permitting.

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Fire Ravages Centreville Home

Damage estimated at $750,000

Nine-year-old William Wilson was outside playing football with his dad, Monday evening, in Centreville’s Hunt Chase Estates community, when they saw smoke coming from the house next door and the occupants fleeing.

Man Pleads Guilty: Robbery, Using Gun

Reynard Lazaro Prather, 23, of Oxon Hill, Md., has been convicted for his role in the May 2010 murder of workman Jose Cardona at a Centreville home. Last Wednesday, Feb. 22, in federal court in Alexandria, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and using a firearm in the commission of that crime.

Centre View Crime March 1-7

Assault -- Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy/Lees Corner Road. Feb. 7, 2:40 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop and arrested the driver, a 50-year-old female of Clifton. She allegedly became belligerent and fought the officer. She was subsequently charged with assault on police officer, open container and driving while intoxicated.

Letters: Political Posturing

My reason for writing is to express my distaste with the Senate Democrats in Richmond regarding the state budget issue. Virginia has been nationally ranked as one of the best managed states in the country because our attitude for cooperation and strong bipartisanship. Last week, however, the state budget was blocked in the Senate by the Democrats which may turn into a repeat of what happened in 2004 and 2006, where political stalemates endangered our state with a government shutdown.

Letters: More Jobs Needed

The Centreville Labor Resource Center, the 3-month-old project of Centreville Immigration Forum, is open and operating.

Bulldogs Are Getting It

In September 2008, I wrote a letter to the editor titled “Bulldogs Just Don’t Get It.” My detailed essay described my frustration with the behavior of the Westfield High School student body during various athletic events. I had no idea how many other people felt the same way I did until folks I had never met thanked me for having the courage to write a letter exposing the behavior that they, too, detested.

Crime Solvers Seeks Culprits

Fairfax County Crime Solvers is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect(s) who broke out numerous windows of a mosque under construction. An employee of the construction company called police Jan. 30 after discovering the damage around 6:45 a.m. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community mosque, at 4555 Ahmadiyya Drive in Chantilly, had been secured by the construction company the day before, Jan. 29, around 4:30 p.m.

Centreville Man Pleads Guilty to Soliciting

A Centreville man who used to be the band director at Robinson Secondary School was convicted in court Tuesday, Feb. 28, of computer solicitation of a child under age 15. He is Michael Keith Cook, 43 of Climbing Rose Way.

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Chantilly Day Plans Marching Along

Community event is slated for spring.

Plans are marching along for the first-ever, Chantilly Day. The celebration is set for Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the parking lot of the Sully Place Shopping Center in Chantilly.

Bicycle Master Plan Meeting March 6

Area residents can help set the course to make Fairfax County a bicycle-friendly community by attending a public meeting on the countywide Bicycle Transportation Master Plan. It’s slated for Tuesday, March 6, from 6:30-9 p.m., at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. People may drop in anytime, and there’ll be a presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Nominees for 2012 Helen Hayes Awards

MetroStage, Signature, Synetic among nominees.

Nominees for the 2012 Helen Hayes Awards were announced Feb. 27 with Signature Theatre, Synetic Theatre and MetroStage among the 25 theatre companies nominated in 26 categories.

Orange Line Connection Feb. 29 to March 6

Orange Line Connection

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'Heaven Can Wait' at LTA

Joe Pendleton is in for the fight of his life — literally. A professional boxer and pilot, his soul is mistakenly “collected” from his body some 60 years too soon after a plane flight gone awry in the comedy “Heaven Can Wait,” now playing at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.

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Life's a Beach at 'Dixie Swim Club"

Port City shines with new production.

They met long before the phrase “BFF” was part of the American lexicon, but for five college teammates, the comfort and frustrations of “best friends forever” are rays of sunshine in the Port City Playhouse production of “The Dixie Swim Club,” now playing at Alexandria's Lab Studio Theatre at Convergence.

Arlington Calendar for Feb. 29-March 6

Know of something missing from our community entertainment Calendar? Send it to The Arlington Connection, e-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with any questions. Photos are welcome.

Spotlighting Teen Dating Violence

The George Huguely trial in the death of Yeardley Love has captivated the attention not just of our region, but of the nation. Love was 22 and a student at the University of Virginia when she became a victim of teen dating violence. Appropriately, this February marked the annual Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The continuing story of Love and Huguely’s relationship reminds us that we each have a role to play in ending teen dating abuse and domestic violence in our community; the consequences are too real to be ignored. But, there is hope as our community has already made impressive strides toward a future where our youth better understand how to create healthy relationships.

"Flourishing After 55"

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs for March 11-17.

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Developing Intergenerational Dialogue

Drama students from Yorktown High School interviewed senior Arlingtonians residing at the Goodwin House and Culpepper Gardens retirement communities on Monday, Feb. 25.

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Yorktown Hosts Eighth Annual Row for Humanity

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, the atrium on the third floor at Ballston Common Mall in Arlington was buzzing with action as six erg machines were almost constantly in motion.

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Local Runner Raises Funds for Cancer Research

Abbe Steel to run in Boston Marathon.

Even with the increasingly difficult qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon, lifelong Arlington resident Abbe Burdetsky Steel is preparing to run the race as part of the 23rd annual Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.

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Register for Diamond Derby Race in Crystal City

Diamond derby race day March 10. <sh>Diamond derby race day March 10.

March 10 promises to be a day of cycles and stunts as competitors of all levels vie for prizes and cash rewards at Diamond Derby, a first of its kind event for Crystal City.

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Tapping into the Beer Market

Great Lakes Brewery expands to Northern Virginia. <hd1>Great Lakes Brewery expands to Northern Virginia. <hd1>Great Lakes Brewery expands to Northern Virginia.

The Great Lakes Brewery of Cleveland, Ohio is set to enter the Northern Virginia market with an ambitious agenda of tap takeovers and samplings across the region. With a suite of gold medal awards in the lager, porter and ale categories, area beer aficionados can hardly wait for a chance to fill their glass.

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Local Real Estate: Sales in $600’s, January 2012

Local Real Estate: Sales in $600’s, January 2012

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State Senate Committee Kills Effort to Overturn King's Dominion Law

School boards were encouraged by support from governor, but couldn't win over Senate committee.

The Senate Committee on Education and Health voted today to kill an effort overturning the King's Dominion Law, which mandates that school divisions across Virginia begin classes after Labor Day.

Potomac Calendar for Feb. 29-March 6

To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Call 703-778-9412.

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Three Women Artists Exhibit at The Art Gallery

Show will raises funds for ALS Association.

This month The Art Gallery of Potomac presents a show titled Visions of the Earth. It will be a three-woman art show depicting the earth and using materials from the earth to represent their lives, their surroundings and experiences. The show is also a fundraiser for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and a portion of proceeds be donated to the ALS Association.

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Potomac Neurosurgeon Releases ‘Operation Love’

For Bernie Stopak, it’s 25 years between CDs.

As a neurosurgeon for more than 40 years, Dr. Bernie Stopak of Potomac performed hundreds of surgeries on the brain. Now, at age 75, his latest "operation" is related more to the heart. His newly released CD is a personal and intimate song collection reflecting his own journey through the intricacies and emotions of love and relationships. This CD is titled "Operation Love."

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Arlington Real Estate: Solds in the $900’s, January 2012

In January 2012, 122 Arlington homes sold between $4,200,000-$55,000.

In January 2012, 122 Arlington homes sold between $4,200,000-$55,000.

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Potomac Real Estate: Sales in January 2012 between $700K-$880K

In January 2012, 17 Potomac homes sold between $1,725,000-$425,000.

Potomac Real Estate: Sales in January 2012 between $700K~$880K

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Column: Black History Is American History

Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center celebrated along with other neighborhood centers, our collective American story with the annual "Black History is American History" program

Column: Keeping Focused on Economic Issues

As Black History Month comes to a close, I believe that we need to reflect on where we are as a Commonwealth and a nation. I am proud to share a slice of black history as the first African

Column: Inova Leverages Information Technology

Quick — can you name all the medications you’ve taken in the last six months? How many times a day did you take each medication? How many milligrams was each dose?

Free Tax Help for Qualifying Residents

The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation assistance to qualifying residents.

Playground Winners Announced

The Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network, Alexandria/Arlington Smart Beginnings, and ACTion Alexandria teamed up to launch the Project Play Spruce Up Grants Competition to help residents improve local playgrounds and ensure that every child in Alexandria has a quality place to play.

Guilty Plea to Defrauding School

Terence Wilson, 35, of Alexandria, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23 to stealing more than $250,000 from an Alexandria-based nursing school.

Police Investigate Assault

Alexandria Police are investigating a burglary and assault that occurred in the 1100 block of Archer Court.

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Changes to Waterfront Zoning Put on Hold While Challenges Are Considered

As challenges to small-area plan multiply, upzoning has been put on hold.

Think the waterfront plan passed? Think again.

In Session

What happens if a jury finds a murderer guilty but comes to an impasse on sentencing?

Council Notebook

Yea, though members of the City Council walk through the valley of the shadow of Beauregard, they seem to fear no evil.

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Outgoing County Executive Tony Griffin Presents Final Budget Proposal

$6.7 billion proposal is a 6.1 percent budget increase.

Appearing before members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for the last time, outgoing county executive Anthony Griffin had the luxury of taking the long view.

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Governments Across Virginia Hope to Kill Local Aid to the State Program

Jurisdictions hope to kill funding scheme created at height of recession.

In the darkest days of the global financial crisis, leaders in Richmond were willing to do almost anything to balance the budget.