Lake Fairfax's Real Jonathan Swift
Kentucky native strikes gold with nonfiction pirate tale.
Robert Prather has spent years trying to figure out the real Jonathan Swift - the man behind the legends of pirates, treasure and mystery. After his most recent visit to Alexandria and Lake Fairfax - two areas that Swift called home during his time - he is piecing together the third edition of The Strange Case of Jonathan Swift and the Real Long John Silver.
The Soap Engineers Are a Hit at Lake Anne
Business combines science with a love for pampering.
All of Janette Lew’s and Brooke Goad’s best ideas start with wine. The two created The Soap Engineers, a local company that features high quality bath and body products, after the two chatted over happy hour about their mutual love for making handmade bath salts and fizzies.
McLean Artisans Are Ready for the Holiday Season
Shop supports national and local artists.
Shannon Denny Price has seen her shop, The Artisans, move three times in the last 25 years. As a veteran of the holiday season, the shop co-owner has already begun filling the store with holiday decor as well as gifts and stocking stuffers of all price points. Christmas trees, themed wreaths and ornaments will all be available for purchase.
Centreville: It’s Time for Turkey Trot
A great way to burn calories before Thanksgiving dinner is to participate in the Virginia Run Turkey Trot. This year’s 26th annual 5K race and 2K fun walk will be held Thursday morning, Nov. 27.
Chantilly Roundups
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, Nov. 20, from 5 p.m. to dusk, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
State Gardens to Host Holiday Open House in Great Falls
Local business will have Christmas trees, themed wreaths and ornaments.
State Gardens is more than plants, according to co-owner Laura Murray. The shop is home to hundreds of giftables for any occasion, particularly the holidays.
1,000 celebrate the life of Hannah Graham at West Potomac High School in Mount Vernon
West Potomac softball coach Craig Maniglia knew Hannah Graham starting when she was seven years old, through being her coach on the varsity softball team. He was one of 17 speakers at a closed memorial for Graham in the West Potomac High School auditorium on Nov. 15.
Centreville: Four Helpings of Comedy and Drama
Centreville High’s One-Act Play Festival.
Comedy, drama and four plays for the price of one are all on the bill at Centreville High. Its One-Act Play Festival is set for this Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at 7:30 p.m. in the school theater. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Crestwood Students in Springfield Sponsor Injured Owl
After a week-long “penny drive” fundraiser, Crestwood Elementary School fifth grader Paola Gonzalez finally got to meet her real-live school mascot. The students raised $760 between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14 to sponsor a 1 and a half-year-old barred owl through the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia.
Lorton’s Pohick Church Hosts 55th Colonial Christmas Mart
Turkey salad, green beans, cranberry sauce, stuffed celery, pumpkin pie, coffee and tea: Anita Stribling has helped serve the same holiday meal for 300 people for 52 years.
Lorton Boy Donates Arrowhead to Smithsonian
Ten-year-old Noah Cordle of Lorton became an overnight celebrity in August after literally stumbling upon a thousands of years-old arrowhead while on vacation in Long Beach Island, N.J. The Asbury Park Press first broke the story and soon national newspapers and television programs were hounding the Cordles for interviews.
Fairfax County-wide Nonprofits Offer Gift Ideas and Civic Engagement
In over 20 years as manager of Burke Lake Park, Charlie Reagle has seen a lot of benches installed. So many in fact that he’s running out of water view locations. And though many people choose to honor deceased family members with a bench, he’s had plenty donated in tribute to the living. One pair of sisters gave a bench as a birthday gift to their mother; it had two plaques, one of which was at ground level so the mother’s dog could see it.
Centreville: Life with Cancer Helps Families
An interview with Vanessa Spiller.
Most years, the Virginia Run Turkey Trot is dedicated to a community resident who’s died of cancer in the months preceding the race. But this year, it’s being held in honor of those affected by cancer.
Renovation Keeps Rolling at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria
New wing showcased at Nov. 14 ribbon-cutting.
Thomas Jefferson senior Thomas Rogers is big on the laser cutter. “You can cut anything you want,” said the McLean resident, “like exact designs on sheet metal.” Rogers was enthusiastic about the device, but wouldn’t fire it up during the Nov. 14 tour of the Science and Technology Governor’s School’s new two-story wing with 14 research spaces.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors makes two rail-facilitating moves; Arlington ends streetcar project.
As the Silver Line Metororail project progresses towards its second phase opening date of 2018, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors are helping pave the way.
Potomac: Whitman Girls’, Boys’ Soccer Teams Win Championships
Whitman soccer had phenomenal weekend.
The Whitman girls’ and boys’ soccer teams each captured a state championship during the weekend at Loyola University in Baltimore.
Editorial: Why Shop Small? Shop Large Locally
Small business Saturday isn’t enough; don’t wait until then, and don’t stop after that.
There is a joy to shopping in local stores at the holidays, to participating in community traditions and celebrations, to walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced.
Potomac: Humane Group Seeks Forever Homes
Friends’ luncheon raises funds.
“There’s no better way to go than adoption,” said Dottie Fitzgerald at the Friends of Montgomery County Animals’ fall luncheon with boutiques at TPC at Avenel on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Potomac: Pardon My Turkey
But is that a bird in your hand?
Each year before Thanksgiving, the President of the United States “pardons” a live turkey presented to him by the National Turkey Federation.
Potomac: More Colorful Than a Courtroom
Potomac jewelry artist traded corporate law for colorful fabric.
Few of the more than 400 artists and crafters featured in this weekend's Sugarloaf Craft Festival got their start in a courtroom.