Alexandria: New Season Focuses on Symphonic Traditions
Where have all the symphonies gone? To the Silver Screen! Contemporary symphonic film composers are carrying on the tradition of Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Puccini by writing music that accompanies theatrical genres.
Letter: Preserve History
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: The Military Order of the Stars and Bars at its convention held on July 10, 2015 in Alexandria passed the following resolution: Resolved that: History should not be abolished or wielded in the pursuit of vengeance. It is a tool that is to be used to build a better future. The Confederate heritage community acknowledges that the battle flag has been inappropriately used and abused by certain hate groups. We will not surrender to hate, or abandon our heritage.
Letter: Reflect on This Monument
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: While we realize that there has been no official call to remove or move the memorial to Alexandria’s fallen Civil War soldiers, we write to express our point of view, which is of deep appreciation for this historic monument and the story it tells.
Alexandria and Mount Vernon: Keeping Guns from Criminals
Focusing on private gun sales.
What are you going to do about gun safety and gun violence? These were words I heard over and over again from constituents last year when I first ran for Congress. They couldn’t understand why in the world I would want to be part of a Congress they largely viewed as dysfunctional. And the next words out of their mouth would be an impassioned plea, dysfunction be damned, to reach across party lines and find a compromise — any incremental step — that would begin to make our society safer from horrific shootings.
Arlington Author Shifts from Screenplays to Novels
Matthew Sullivan’s “The Orphans” launches a trilogy.
When author Matthew Sullivan decided two years ago to write his debut book, “The Orphans,” it wasn’t the first time he had crafted a story for the public.
Letter: Solemn Sentiment
Letter to the Editor
Calls to take down the statue of the Confederate soldier at the corner of Washington and Prince streets may be understandable, but ultimately misguided. In the wake of the Charleston shootings, the efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag from state houses, license plates and other venues is completely justified. The flag had been captured by racist elements and made deeply offensive to many Americans.
Letter: Reduce Power Plant Pollution
Letter to the Editor
Alexandrians deserve to learn of a recent act of political courage and wisdom on the part of U.S. Rep. Don Beyer.
Great Falls: Seneca Hill Animal Hospital Hosts Dog Days 2015
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing quite like a barbecue and a swim to relax and have fun. That’s exactly what happened at Seneca Hill Animal Hospital, Resort and Spa last Sunday – except that this one was for the dogs.
Great Falls Sixth Graders Visit Japan
Japanese Immersion class meets Japanese Prime Minister, U.S. Ambassador.
Great Falls Elementary School’s (GFES) sixth grade Japanese Immersion Program (JIP) participants returned from their cultural exchange trip to Japan on July 9.
Centreville: Troop Honors New Eagle Scouts
Troop 30 of Centreville honored Devlin McDonnell and ColtonSorrells who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in an awards ceremony on June 28. Devlin, who just graduated from Westfield High School, and Colton, a rising senior at Westfield, were both recognized for their achievements and leadership in the ceremony at the troop's chartered organization, Centreville Presbyterian Church.
Chantilly: Crime Report for the Week of July 15
The following incidents were reported by the Fair Oaks District Police Station. BURGLARY, 3000 block of Saint Regents Drive, July 2. A resident reported someone entered the residence and took property.
Centreville Roundups for Week of July 16
Meeting on Route 28 Safety Study Residents are invited to attend a public inormation meeting at Centreville Elementary School, on Monday, July 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. to learn about the results of a traffic operational and safety study to identify short-term recommendations to improve traffic operations on Route 28 (Centreville Road) from south of I-66 to Liberia Avenue. The study analyzed traffic data to identify locations where low cost improvements may be made to the corridor.
McLean: Summer on a High Note
Spring Hill Elementary School Orchestra Director’s Strings Camp remains McLean’s summer tradition.
Every summer, Spring Hill Elementary School orchestra director Ruth Donahue runs an orchestra summer camp for children to improve their music skills.
Centreville: Commendation for ‘Job Well Done’
APO Tony Gul is honored as Officer of the Month.
Auxiliary Police Officer Tauheed “Tony) Gul” was recently honored as the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee Officer of the Month. And in the letter nominating him, his supervisor, Lt. Tim Burgess, explained why. “APO Gul has demonstrated strong teamwork traits, contributing significantly to community activities in the Sully District,” wrote Burgess. “He volunteered 298 hours of time in 2014, including events like Touch a Truck, DWI checkpoints and patrols.”
Marta Sniezek: All-American
It’s not easy being the second youngest member of a family of 11.
For Marta Sniezek, ranked one of the top basketball players in the country, her parents and her siblings are her motivators in a family where success is a blueprint.
Centreville: Music, Laughter and a Flying Car
Alliance Theatre presents “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
When eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts rescues an old race car from a junk heap, he decides to restore it with his children’s help. Little does he know then that it has the magical ability to fly and float. And once word gets out, an evil baron tries to get the car for himself.
Healing Wall Puzzle Unveiled in Vienna
Vienna Arts Society exhibits art work from soldiers suffering from PTSD.
The Vienna Arts Society hosted a "Puzzled Again" reception on Saturday, July 11 at the Vienna Art Center with an exhibit of the Healing Wall puzzle. The artwork is from 24 soldiers on the mend at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The original puzzle, from 2014, was also exhibited, and the artwork will be on display through July 31 at 115 Pleasant Street, NW, Vienna.
Letter: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: A few weeks ago the House passed HR 2042, the Ratepayer Protection Act. Sounds great, right? Wrong. The Ratepayer Protection Act is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and attacks EPA’s ability to curb climate change. Specifically, the Act goes after the Clean Power Plan, set to be finalized this summer, which would require states submit carbon reduction plans to the EPA.
Centreville: ‘She Started Shoving Me’
Kathy Smith assaulted while campaigning; woman arrested.
Add political campaigning to the list of things that can be hazardous to one’s health. At least that’s what Fairfax County Board of Supervisors hopeful Kathy Smith found out last Saturday. “I’m OK,” she said afterward. “But it was a scary situation.” So scary, in fact, that a local woman was arrested and charged with assaulting her and preventing her from making a 911 call.
Vienna Enjoys Summer on the Green
The Town of Vienna offers up free concerts during the summer on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at the Vienna Town Green, 144 Maple Avenue, East, Vienna. On Sunday evening, the Bluegrass group Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band performed to a delighted crowd. The concerts are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna and Whole Foods of Vienna. Visit www.Viennava.gov; in the event of inclement weather, call 703-255-7842.