Education, Transportation, Mental Health
Del. Bulova unveils his legislative priorities.
Greetings from Richmond! The 2014 General Assembly is now in full swing. In addition to considering nearly 2,000 bills, we will adopt Virginia’s biennial budget, which must be balanced as required by Virginia’s constitution. Thanks to everyone who has contacted me about issues throughout the year. This session I have introduced 13 bills and several budget amendments. Below is a summary of issues and initiatives I will be working on during the 2014 session.
Brooke Hardin to Lead Development and Planning Department
The City of Fairfax announces the appointment of Brooke Hardin as the city’s director of the Community Development and Planning Department. Hardin, who has served as the city’s Planning Division chief since 2011, will begin his role immediately.
Program Works to Restore Greenery
Trees still available for planting in communities along the Interstate 95 Corridor.
In an effort to restore greenery to areas that lost trees during construction of the 95 Express Lanes project, Transurban and Fluor, private partners of the project, launched "1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days" to encourage community members to plant trees in areas along the 95 corridor.
Fairfax County Launches Sex Trafficking Prevention Campaign
Sex trafficking education materials also added to school curriculum.
In order to raise awareness to the fact that sex trafficking can happen anywhere, even in Fairfax County, a new prevention campaign and website raising awareness of this issue launched on Jan. 13.
Garza Proposes $2.5 Billion Budget for FY 2015
Proposed Fairfax County public schools budget would cut 731 positions, increase class size.
At the Jan. 9 School Board Meeting, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza released the proposed budget of $2.5 billion for FY 2015. The budget proposal requires an additional $98.1 million, or 5.7 percent increase compared to FY 2014, from Fairfax County, which the school system says is due to uncontrollable factors such as enrollment growth, retirement rate increases and the structural deficit. The FY 2015 proposed budget is an increase of $59.4 million from last year’s approved budget.
Keeping Homeless Out of the Cold
FACETS hypothermia prevention shelters continue for winter 2014.
Temperatures in Fairfax County have reached record lows over the past week and FACETS is continuing to run its hypothermia prevention shelters this winter. The shelters are hosted at churches throughout the area, and are intended to prevent hypothermia-related deaths, said Single Services Team Leader Abby Dunner. FACETS worked with other organizations to ensure that nobody was left in the cold during the bone-chilling weather last week.
Sharpshooting Berglund Leads Spartans in Blowout Victory
Senior guard scores 30 points, makes 13 of 14 attempts.
The West Springfield girls' basketball team improved to 13-0.
Virginia Supreme Court Opens Access to Audio Recordings of Oral Arguments
Policy change overturns blackout instituted in 2008.
Members of the Virginia Supreme Court have a New Year’s Resolution — become more transparent.
T.C. Williams Gymnastics Hoping for Team Success
Titans have grown from Girard’s solo act during freshman season.
The T.C. Williams gymnastics team has four competitors this season after having just one two years ago.
W-L Gymnastics Winning Despite Loss of ‘Fab Four’
Hatcher twins, freshman Shea lead Generals.
Washington-Lee is the two-time defending region gymnastics champion.
South Lakes’ Aghayere, Rendle Dominate Boards in Victory
Madison’s Koshuta scores 28 points in defeat.
The South Lakes girls' basketball team defeated Madison 60-52 on Jan. 10.
Oakton’s Weaver Leads Gymnastics Team to Victory
Sophomore wins all-around competition.
The Oakton gymnastics team won a home meet on Jan. 9.
Encore Presents ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’
Final performances of the Encore Stage & Studio Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Tags from the Edge
Under the cover of darkness, soldiers and civilian contractors are taking to the walls of the Kandahar military base in Afghanistan. They're using spray paint and stencils, along with their sense of humor and expression, to make the beige concrete walls a little more colorful.
Obituary
Allan R. Plumley, Jr.
Allan R. Plumley, Jr. died on Dec. 26, 2013 at Virginia Hospital Center, in Arlington, due to complications following a fall. He was 80 years old. A fourth generation lawyer, Mr. Plumley was born in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 14, 1933, and raised in Wilmington, Del., where his father, a patent attorney, was an executive with DuPont.
Caring for People with Alzheimers, Dementia
As the number of senior citizens in Fairfax County continues to rise, so does the need for assisted-living facilities — and especially those focusing on people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. That’s why Artisan Land Group LLC wants to build just that in Chantilly.
Multiple Challenges
Mount Vernon district entering “a transformational era.”
This is the third and final part in the series on the accomplishments of 2013 and the priorities for 2014 for Mount Vernon. In this part, community leaders, appointed county officials and the district police commander offer their perspectives.
Gerhard Honored as Officer of Month
As the Sully District Police Station’s crime-prevention officer, PFC Tara Gerhard normally knows in advance who’ll be honored as the station’s Officer of the Month at Citizens Advisory Committee meetings. But until the Jan. 8 meeting began, that name was kept under wraps. That’s because the person honored last Wednesday was she.
Affordable Housing for Low and Moderate Income Reisdents
Fairfax County Public Information Officer. Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA). Patterson stated that her agency does not have studies available that analyze the market for affordable independent rental housing for seniors in the Mount Vernon area.
Alexandria Registrar Tom Parkins' Retirement
Alexandria Registrar Tom Parkins, second from right, was given a bi-partisan send off into retirement Dec. 12 as the Alexandria Democratic Committee and the Alexandria Republican City Committee came together at Port City Brewing Company to honor Parkins' 13 years of overseeing elections in the city.