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Promoting Giving at Forestville

Forestville PTA donates Thanksgiving dinners to sister school in Herndon.

The Forestville Elementary PTA has collected more than 80 Thanksgiving Baskets this year for distribution to families in need at Dranesville Elementary in Herndon. The Annual Food drive is part of a 10 year partnership between the two "Sister Schools" and is a favorite Forestville seasonal tradition.

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Best of Both Worlds, Holiday Gifts and Local Connections

Holiday on Parade at The Saddlery, Great Falls Nails & Spa, and Great Dogs of Great Falls.

The Saddlery at 731-E Walker Road in Great Falls is well-stocked with reasonably priced holiday gifts that range from Patricia Barta custom designed Greek leather and cubic zirconia magnetic clasp bracelets to equestrian themed items like Breyer horses, including the 2013 holiday horse, "Holiday on Parade."

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Speaking a Language of Art

Camille Speer Of Great Falls wins award for filmmaking.

Camille Speer, a resident of Great Falls and a senior at Langley High School, discovered her passion for producing films in the Fairfax Academy Professional TV Production class.


$8 Million Shortfall in Arlington

Budget official says the forecast is difficult but manageable.

Arlington County is facing a $8 million shortfall heading into the next budget season, which will unfold over the next few months as County Board members consider the county manager's proposed budget early next year.

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Warhawks Welcome Return of 6-Foot-2 Koshuta

Post player missed sophomore season due to torn ACL.

The Madison girls' basketball team opens its season tonight at Oakton.

The Holiday Blues: Cope and Prevent

Mental health experts say being realistic and seeking support can help you avoid holiday stress and depression.

While the holiday season is filled with parties, shopping, decorating and other festive activities, mental health experts say it often brings unwelcome guests as well: stress and depression. While they can be difficult to manage when one is in the midst of a bout, with a few strategies one may be able to prevent both before they ruin the holiday season.


Combating Holiday Stress

Local experts suggest turning to yoga and meditation to relax.

Marybeth Montoro says her entire body relaxed as she lay stretched out on a yoga mat for savasana, a relaxation pose, at Pure Prana Yoga Studio in Alexandria, while her yoga instructor guided the class through a breathing practice.

Staying Fit During the Holidays

Staving off extra pounds during the season of sweets.

Patty McAndrews works out with a trainer twice a week at of TRUE Health and Wholeness in Arlington. She found that restarting her fitness regimen about two months ago has strengthened her abdominal muscles and toned her body.

Holiday Recipe Makeovers

Strategies for keeping traditional treats healthy

When Alice Jenkins saw her doctor two months ago, he diagnosed her with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and suggested she change her diet and lose about 30 pounds. Lawson, 45, started a diet program and has lost nine and a half pounds, but now that she’s in the midst of the holiday season, she’s concerned about losing the strides that she’s made with her dietary changes. "I have a large family and we get together a lot during the holidays," said Lawson, who lives in Alexandria. "There is always sweet potato pie, macaroni and cheese, and deep fried turkey."


"Scanticipation" Not So Much

As much as last week’s column, "Scanticipation" was about my looking forward – in a non-foreboding way, to my scheduled CT Scan on the 27th and the presumptive positive (not negative) results, having to write a column for this week before having received those results makes this writing effort particularly challenging.

Every Tweet Counts

How Republican Brian Schoeneman earned wrath of his party by making sure every vote counted in county.

On the morning of Nov. 6, the day after the general election, it appeared that Republican Mark Obenshain had eked out a razor-thin victory over Democrat Mark Herring to become Virginia’s next Attorney General. Like most hotly-contested political battles, the close race generated even closer scrutiny.

Editorial: Who Will Be Hurt?

Innovations, changes and cuts designed to help the budget should be subject to analysis of how they will affect those on the short end of the economic and digital divide.

As Fairfax County faces a tight budget year and Fairfax County Public Schools consider significant cuts, clearly some changes are going to affect services on the ground. As various proposals emerge, there should be some specific analysis of how changes, innovations and cuts would affect the poorest one-third or so of the county’s residents specifically.


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Annual Holiday Design Event Supports Garden Club Programs

Arlington’s Rock Spring Garden Club held its fourth annual Holiday Design Event on Thursday, Nov. 21, attracting a sold-out crowd of more than 200 to watch experts demonstrate how to craft a variety of floral arrangements for Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

Letter: Time To End TCW's Marching Mandate

Letter to the Editor

One of the most common explanations for why talented Alexandria musicians drop out of band before high school is a little known but antiquated school mandate that in order to participate in T.C. Williams High School band programs students must join the marching band.

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Obituary: Grace Jarman Dawson, 93

During the 1960s as a volunteer 4-H club leader, Grace Dawson played a key role in the acquisition and early development of Frying Pan Park.

On Wednesday Nov. 27, 2013, Grace Jarman Dawson, 93, died peacefully at home in Purcellville, Va. She was born on June 3, 1920 in Crozet, Va. to Mattie and George Jarman, one of seven children.


Wakefield Returns Three Starters from State Playoff Team

Warriors must overcome loss of leaders Moore, Nega.

The Wakefield boys' basketball team opens the season on Dec. 7 against T.C. Williams.

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Inexperienced Titans Looking To Get Program Back on Track

Coach King wants group effort until standout players emerge.

The T.C. Williams boys' basketball team opens its season at Wakefield on Dec. 7.

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving in Potomac

So many needs, so many great organizations, give locally where your heart leads you.

The holidays are about giving. They are about children. The holidays are about sharing, about joy, about alleviating suffering for others. The holidays are about being thankful and about faith and appreciation.


Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving in Alexandria

So many needs, so many great organizations, give locally where your heart leads you.

The holidays are about giving. They are about children. The holidays are about sharing, about joy, about alleviating suffering for others. The holidays are about being thankful and about faith and appreciation.

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Majors Motivated by Pain of Season-Ending Loss

Shannon, Porter are Mount Vernon’s top returning athletes.

The Mount Vernon girls' basketball team will open its season at Centreville on Dec. 3.