News

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.

Burke Sweethearts Take the Long Road to the Altar

Chris Rowson, Kellie McDonald engaged.

Chris Rowson, 29, and Kellie McDonald, 27, from Burke, got engaged on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Fairview Elementary School in Fairfax Station, where the couple were both students. McDonald was in shock when Rowson proposed, as she had suspected that he would do it in February during a planned trip to Florida. But despite being “taken off guard,” she said that it could not have been a more perfect time and place.

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.

Board Approves Supervisor Cook's Proposal on Electronic Data

Last Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a board matter submitted by Supervisor John C. Cook (R-Braddock). The submission directs the County Executive to provide the Board with a recommended policy to govern the County's collection and retention of electronic data. With advances in technology comes the ability of the government to collect and retain significant amounts of electronic data.

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.

GOP Women of Clifton Support Tragedy Assistance Program

At its 2015 officer installation and annual Christmas celebration, the Republican Women of Clifton (RWC), presented a check for $3,300 to TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors of our Fallen Heroes. The check was received by Brian Bauman, Director of Special Events, who said the money will be used to support the Grief Camp for children of fallen heroes.

‘An Evening in Prague’ at GMU

New musical work for a special evening with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.

"Orchestral music is such a fantastic art form, " said Chris Zimmerman, music director, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) in a recent interview. "And, I am committed to performing music by living composers" and full-scale masterpieces of the great classic composers.

Business: Cedar Knoll Inn To Reopen in Mount Vernon

Renovations will need to meet zoning restraints.

The Cedar Knoll Inn restaurant, located on the banks of the Potomac river, and a few minutes drive on the Mount Vernon Parkway from George Washington’s estate, closed this past November.

‘The Journey to be Free’ in Alexandria

It was standing room only in City Council Chambers as the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. poster exhibition program began on Monday afternoon. The contest, originating in 1990 by the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black History, Inc. (ASPBH, Inc.), highlights the artwork of Alexandria City Public School students.

Herndon Residents Air Concerns to Legislators

Town Hall meeting addresses concerns about elections, Dulles Toll Road.

Education, town elections and transportation. Those and more were the topics Herndon residents asked about during the town hall meeting with Del. Tom Rust (R-86) and state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) on Jan. 17.

The Connection