Listening Tour Concludes at Lake Braddock
Superintendent listens as community members voice their concerns.
Lake Braddock Secondary School hosted Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza for the final stop of her listening tour.
Chantilly One-Act Heads to States
The cast and crew of Chantilly High’s production of “Vocal Work” will compete Saturday, March 8, at the VHSL State One-Act Play Competition in Charlottesville. Written and directed by Chantilly Theater Director Ed Monk, it’s a comedy set in a sound studio. The audience sees a hectic day in the life of Amanda, working at her sound studio which specializes in creating radio spots. According to the show’s publicity blurb, “The schedule is screwed up, the mattress girls have yet to be cast, the car girl doesn't know how to sound sexy, the diarrhea ad isn't finished, and time is running out.” Chantilly won the Concorde Conference Championship with “Vocal Work” on Jan. 30. In the Northern Region competition on Feb. 8, Chantilly came in second behind West Springfield High. Both schools then advanced to the state finals, where they’ll compete against additional high schools.
Pedestrian Killed On Richmond highway
William Godfrey Jr., 68, of Alexandria was struck as he crossed Richmond Highway near the Backlick Road intersection on Feb. 20. A 58-year-old woman driving a Honda Civic struck Godfrey as she was traveling north on Richmond Highway. Godfrey was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol may have been a factor on the part of the pedestrian, police said.According to Fairfax County’s pedestrian safety information website, 10-20 people on average are killed every year, with another 300 injured. In 2012, there were 201 pedestrians involved in accidents in Fairfax County, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. As of July 2013, there were 98 pedestrians involved in crashes. In June 2013, a pedestrian crossing two lanes of still traffic Richmond Highway was hit by a marked police car traveling in the southbound left turning lanes. According to police, the 60-year-old Alexandria man was not in a crosswalk. The man received non-life threatening injuries. Fairfax County operates a Fairfax County Pedestrian Program. The following information is advice given from their Pedestrian Safety portion of the website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pedestrian/pedsafety.htm
‘Mamma Mia, Here I Go Again’
Chantilly’s Emily Price has come a long way. In 2006, at age 14, she played Dorothy in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Now 22, she’s performing in the Broadway national tour of “Mamma Mia!” The hit musical will be at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., March 4-9. In the story, a young woman named Sophie is getting married in Greece. She wants to learn who her father is, so she invites three former suitors of her mother’s to the wedding. “I play Ali, one of Sophie’s best friends, who’s come to the Greek island as a bridesmaid,” said Price. “Ali’s quirky, funny and excited to be reunited with Sophie. I love it; I get to jump around and have a blast every night with wonderful performers. The audience loves the show — we always get a great reaction.” Price was drawn to acting as a child. “I was shy, so this was a great outlet for me,” she said. “I also fell in love with the idea of diving into someone else’s shoes and getting into their feelings and lives on stage.” Her first show was Alliance’s “Oliver” in 2003, followed by “The Music Man” in 2004. “I grew up with [Alliance founder] Elaine Wilson as my director,” said Price. “She allowed the ensemble members to work together to create something artistic. I remember having a lot of fun — it was like theater camp for me. I was also a counselor during their summer production of ‘Willy Wonka.’”
Fifth Graders Create Animated Movie
While many movie lovers will be watching to see who wins the Oscars in Hollywood this weekend; a world premiere movie debuted here in Potomac. Ninety-eight Beverly Farms Elementary School fifth graders and their parents sat down to watch an animated film on Monday, Feb. 24. Their eyes were glued to the screen with good reason: they created the film themselves. The film is titled “The Extraordinary Fifth-Grade Field Trip," a 14-minute film composed of 6,438 drawings. Each second of the movie equals 10 drawings. Inspired by their reading of adventure stories and tall tales, the students gave free rein to their imagination as each came up with his or her own animated field trip adventure. Working with artist-in-residence Leila Cabib, each student designed a storyboard illustrating the key scenes of their animated segment and then created and filmed numerous sequential drawings to bring the story to life.
A Purr-fect Marriage
Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA) found the purr-fect marriage of volunteerism and the ardor to support the humane treatment of animals when the organization was founded in 1974. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, FMCA continues to live its motto, “Dignity for Animals.” In matrimony, the 40th is known as the Ruby Anniversary from the belief that the precious stone possesses an eternal inner flame and symbolizes passion. With the same zeal, FMCA’s volunteers devote hours of focus and care fostering animals until they can find their “forever homes.” The group also conducts cat adoption clinics on Saturdays at the Germantown PetSmart and operates a trap/neuter/return/place (TNR/TNP) initiative to help reduce animal overpopulation in feral colonies in Montgomery County.
‘To Honor Our Beginnings’
Since the Center for Alexandria’s Children opened in 2007, a number of dedicated individuals has kept its child abuse education and prevention programs running, growing and thriving. Three of these individuals will be honored at its Fifth Annual Gala Benefit on Friday, Feb. 28, at Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town. The organization hopes to raise more than $120,000 at the gala, which is its biggest fundraising event of the year. Center staff, volunteers and affiliates will take some time at the event to honor some key players in the Center’s history.
Looking for Homes
Dogs and cats, rabbits and birds are just a few of the animals that may be adopted at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
"Penelope's Pesky Pen," performance at the Athenaeum
Dancers from the Jane Franklin's Dance company performed on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Athenaeum in "Penelope's Pesky Pen." They will be performing there again in a children’s show on March 16, at 4:30 p.m.
Westfield High To Present One-Act Play Festival.
Postponed because of snow, Westfield High’s Winter One-Act Play Festival has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 9 in the school theater. On the bill are comedy, drama and even a full-length musical. Here’s what’s on tap:
Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit Starts March 1
Woodlawn, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will showcase the work of skilled needlers from across the country, including objects created by First Ladies and First Family members, during the site’s annual needlework show that begins on Saturday, March 1. “After celebrating the 50th anniversary of the needlework show last year, we wanted to do something special that would build on that excitement and success this year,” said John Riley, interim director of Woodlawn. “This year’s program will feature a blend of contemporary and historic needlework that is as impressive in its craftsmanship as it is in its historical significance.” In addition to hundreds of high quality needlework items on display throughout the Woodlawn mansion, the work of First Families on loan for the special exhibit, “Needlework and the White House: A First Family Tradition,” includes a rug by Barbara Bush, napkins embroidered by Edith Roosevelt, and Dolley Madison’s pin cushion. Visitors will also see needlework ornaments from the 1991 White House holiday display.
Feb. 5, 2014 (Fairfax Station, Va.) --- Today, Rob Wasinger (R-VA) launched his campaign for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat.
“In launching this campaign, I promise a conservative resurgence,” declared Wasinger. “From Fairfax to Winchester, Manassas to Leesburg, Loudoun and McLean, and all points in between, with the good people of Virginia’s tenth congressional district, we will put an end to the corruption of the cronies and the lobbyists, and restore the basic freedoms of limited government of, by and for the people.”
Celebrating and Remembering Haiti
Community Coalition for Haiti is holding an event to Celebrate and Remember Haiti. This is an opportunity to remember, respect, reflect and revel 25 years of service by the CCH and its predecessor organization. The CCH is looking forward to honoring all those who have served and supported CCH over the years and to celebrate the future and rebuilding of Haiti. They will also take time to recognize the work of Karen Carr in furthering the mission and vision of CCH during her 10 year tenure as Executive Director. You are invited to join a casual evening March 1, 5-8 p.m. for food, drinks, music, a silent auction and memories from the past 25 years. The event is being held at the Inova EPIC Training Center 8111 Gatehouse Rd, Falls Church.
Petersen Report: Senate Addresses Health Care
Last Thursday, Feb. 20, we rolled out "Marketplace Virginia," an idea conceived by Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan). "Marketplace" takes the $2 billion in taxes paid by Virginians under the Affordable Care Act and keeps it in Virginia, where it can provide insurance for the 400,000 Virginians not currently covered.
Seeing How Slaves Lived
In observance of African American History Month, Mount Vernon Estate offers a Slave Life specialty tour once a day throughout the month of February. The tour provides insight into the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. The tour includes living quarters, working gardens as well as reproduction clothing, tools, furniture, cookware, ceramics, and children’s toys of the many enslaved individuals who lived there. Inclusion of the slave quarters provides a complete history of what life was like on the plantation; both those who owned it as well as those who toiled there. While there, visitors may run into the last serving valet to the late General Washington, Christopher Sheels (portrayed by Jonathan Wood). He walks the plantation as one of the important people from Washington’s world. More than 300 slaves “contributed heavily to the success of Mount Vernon,” Wood said. Seeing a live actor portray the character of one of the enslaved individuals guides visitors toward an understanding that Washington, while a great national hero, was also a conflicted individual. “General Washington did not free his slaves until his death” and the display of the slave quarters is a “part of telling his whole story,” Wood added.