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Miracles Continue in Mattie's Memory

A day of fun in honor of a brave boy raises money to help families battling cancer.

When Vicki Sardi-Brown sees a butterfly, she knows her son is near. Mattie, her 7-year-old son with husband Peter Brown, bravely faced an uphill battle with multifocal osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer, for 14 months, much of that time spent at Georgetown University Hospital.

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Music, Food, Entertainment and Fun

Israel Street Festival this Sunday at Fairfax Corner.

The Fairfax Corner shopping center is the place to be this Sunday, May 19, from noon-5 p.m., when the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia holds its 2013 Israel Street Festival. Music, food, children’s activities and a martial-arts demonstration are among the highlights.

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BIG Fun Ride

Tall, short, stocky, thin, disabled or not, children love to play—and that’s the premise behind Chessie’s BIG Backyard in Lee District Park in Alexandria. It’s a family recreation area that opened last summer and is fully accessible.

Key Middle Officer Honored

Rudy Coffield is the FCPS 2013 Distinguished School Resource Officer.

n full policeman’s regalia—bus driver hat and all—Master Police Officer (MPO) Rudy Coffield is an imposing figure. The meticulously assembled uniform commands respect: His gleaming badge, crackling radio and holstered firearm immediately convey an unwavering attention to detail, rule, law and purpose.

Fairfax County a ‘Trailblazer’ in Using Social Media

Sign up for Technology Town Hall on June 1.

The digital and information revolutions have changed nearly every aspect of our lives. With the increasing popularity of smartphones, tablet computers and laptops, many Americans are connected to the Internet almost constantly. This rapidly increasing ubiquity of the Internet has helped people connect across geographic and cultural barriers.

Week in Herndon

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce recognized Del. Tom Rust (R-86) at their annual Legislative Awards Recognition Dinner for his support on initiatives that have helped move Virginia forward. Rust received an “A+” rating for supporting pro-business legislation during the 2013 General Assembly session.

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Quick Takes

Q&A with Pastor King Rhodes.

Pastor King Rhodes is founder and senior pastor of His Church International Christian Center (HCICC) in Springfield, and has been involved in Christian ministry and community outreach for more than 20 years. As a longtime advocate for foster youth, Rhodes and his ministry help support the mission of Fairfax Families4Kids, a foster-mentoring program for teens in Fairfax County. On Saturday, May 18, Rhodes’ church will sponsor the organization’s 5-K Walk during Foster Care Appreciation Month.

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Spring Farm Day at Frying Pan Farm Park

Spring Farm Day was held at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and although the weather was overcast, the event was well attended.

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‘Day Prom’ Celebrated

Eight high schools participate in daytime prom for special needs students.

Prom is pretty intimidating as it is: date, hair, dress, food, limo, flowers, dancing... gasp. But the annual event is also a privilege, a rite of high school passage that bonds students through shared experience for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, many students with special needs will never share that experience with their peers. Their physical or intellectual disabilities can make participating in such a large and emotional gathering overwhelming, uncomfortable, and in some cases, simply impossible.

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Area Students Receive Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarships

Recipients are first in their families to attend college.

Every year, The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA), a non-profit organization based in Northern Virginia, gives out scholarships to Latino high school students for post-secondary education. The alliance identifies itself as “a group of area residents committed to helping its students achieve their highest academic potential.”

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Ride of the Patriots

It's time for the annual Ride of the Patriots, a Memorial Day tradition in the City of Fairfax.

Odds are, residents of the City of Fairfax will hear them before they can see them. Each year, more than 4,000 motorcyclists descend on the city, gathering at Patriot Harley Davidson from across the country, coming together to share stories, compare notes from the road and honor those who have served the country.

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Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy Places in National Competition

The past couple months have been an eventful time for Virginia Christian schools as they worked hard to prepare for the regional and state Old Dominion Association of Church Schools (ODACS) and the national American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) competitions of 2013. Twenty-eight students from Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy were able to participate in these competitions all the way to the national level.

Brief: Week in Burke

Armed Robbery in Burke Area

Police made an arrest in an armed robbery case that occurred Wednesday, May 8. Around 10:50 p.m. a woman entered the Shell gas station, located at 6054 Burke Commons Road, displayed a handgun and demanded cash from a store employee.

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Robinson Boys’ Lax Finishes Concorde Runner-up

Rams bounce back with regional win over Lake Braddock.

The Robinson boys' lacrosse team will face McLean at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Business Matters

Former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley is looking for a new gig. Ever since United Bankshares announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire all the outstanding stock of Virginia Bancorp back in January, the writing has been on the wall.

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Uncertainty Haunts Jefferson-Houston Groundbreaking

Questions linger as officials prepare ceremonial shovels.

City leaders and school officials are about to break out the ceremonial shovels and turn the earth at Jefferson-Houston School, the long-troubled facility near the King Street Metro station.

Council Notebook

It's official. The Alexandria City Council is against expanding operations at a hazardous materials facility on the West End of the city near the Van Dorn Metro station and just a few hundred feet from Tucker Elementary School.

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Mount Vernon Estate Wins $100,000

George Washington's home snags second place in Partners in Preservation contest.

After all the votes were counted, George Washington did not win — at least not this time.

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Office Vacancy Hits Historic High in Alexandria

City officials blame Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

The crush of rush hour traffic at Mark Center is not the only headache caused by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Schools?School Notes

Francis C. Hammond 1 Middle School Principal Benjamin G. Costa announced his resignation to pursue other career goals. Former Alexandria City School Board Member and ACPS Principal Blanche Maness will become the acting principal at Hammond 1, effective immediately.