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Good Sheperd

Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services BEL13VE Gala nets more than $218,000 toward mission of reducing homelessness and promoting self sufficiency

Autism Speaks Volumes for Student Volunteers

Fairfax County Public Schools use latest techniques to teach autistic students. v

In many ways, the three best friends—Anna Kate Martin, Devin Martin and Sarah Carmen—are typical sixth-grade girls.

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A Day of Service at Kilmer Middle

Students learn how to make a difference in their community and the world.

On Wednesday, April 17, students, teachers, and administrators experienced the first official Day of Service at Kilmer Middle School. The program saw the day’s usual lesson plans replaced with community service activities of all sorts. While the activities ranged in variety from packaging food, to writing letters of advocacy, to creating digital PSAs and so much more, the objective was the same for each—to teach youths about their ability to make a difference in their community and the world.


Fenn Convicted of Child Porn Charges

A former special-education teacher at Poplar Tree Elementary has been convicted in federal court of two, child-pornography charges. He is Robert C. Fenn, 27, of Emerald Chase Drive in Oak Hill.

Week in Vienna

Week in Vienna

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DC United Nods to Great Falls’ Pride Blue

The Great Falls U10 Girls Pride Blue team participated in the Arlington Spring Invitational Tournament March 8-9 and played against several local teams from Reston, Alexandria and Arlington.


Langley Softball Star Heads to Drexel

Ashley Panetta committed to becoming a Drexel Dragon and playing D-I softball for Drexel University beginning in the 2013-2014 season on Wednesday, April 17, at a signing party with teammates, parents, her school’s athletic director and friends.

Week in McLean

Week in McLean

Comstock, Wolf to Host Human Trafficking Forum in McLean

Delegate Barbara Comstock (R-34) will host a town hall meeting on Friday, May 3, with U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10), Del. Tim Hugo (R-40), the Richmond Justice Initiative and a panel of local experts, federal and state officials to educate the community about human sex trafficking in Virginia and both how the commonwealth is cracking down on this growing crime and how residents can further increase awareness of the threat posed in the area.


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Runners Line Up to Stop Child Abuse

Great Falls neighbors join in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which helps explain why 300 runners gathered at 9 a.m. at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, grouped in teams with names like "Peggy's Posse," "Kids4Kids" and—a favorite—"Team Baxter" (named after organizing member Kim Roellig's dog) on Saturday, April 13.

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Troop 673 Turns Out Two New Eagle Scouts

Cody Matthew Jones, son of Martin and Carol Jones, and Addison Speer, son of Harvey and Susan Speer, both of Great Falls, are the two newest Eagle Scouts of Troop 73, sponsored by the United Methodist Men.

Letter: Social Media Sharing … With Caution

Everybody knows where the verbs “like,” “share,” “friend” and “favorite” belong today: Facebook and Twitter. With a click of a button, pictures that appeal to you are immediately shared to your followers. A couple shares later, that tweet or post becomes viral. And if it’s something false or defamatory, you’re now responsible for spreading an awful rumor.


Massive Resistance from an Eyewitness

Civil rights pioneer explains segregation to diverse group of students.

As the students assembled in a conference room at Campbell Elementary School, it was clear that the Rev. James M. Kilby had his work cut out for him. How would a 71-year-old civil rights pioneer explain massive resistance to this diverse crowd of students — a group that included not only whites and blacks but also Hispanics and Indians?

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Spring Break With Orphans of China

Vienna 16-year-old gives $5000 to four orphanages while visiting the country.

A 16-year-old from Vienna, Charlotte Heffelmire, raised and donated $5,000 to Chinese orphanages while in the country over spring break.

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Forestville Team in World Finals

Forestville Elementary School’s Odyssey of the Mind team will compete at the world level for the second year in a row. Last week, at the Virginia state Odyssey competition held in Aldie, Va., the Forestville Division 1 team co-coached by Jeff LeLoup and Alex Newman won second place in their category, qualifying them to move to the 2013 World Finals competition being held May 23-25 at Michigan State University.


Entertainment

Calendar

Don Quixote Virginia Ballet Company and School will present the classic full-length Don Quixote Ballet. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus in the Ernst Community Cultural Center Theater. Ticket prices for reserved seating are $30 for adults and $20 for children, students and seniors, plus a $3 fee per ticket. Tickets may be purchased online at www.virginiaballetcompany.org. Group pricing is available for groups of 10 or more for the same performance. For additional information and group rates call 703-249-8227. A limited number of general admission tickets is available for the working stage rehearsal on April 26, 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus a $2 fee per each ticket and may be purchased online at www.virginiaballetcompany.org. Tickets for the working stage rehearsal must be purchased in advance. For additional information call 703 249-8227.

Great Falls Girl Competes for Miss Virginia Title

Alexis Watkinson, the daughter of Diane and Troy Watkinson of Great Falls, is a state finalist in the National American Miss Virginia Pageant.

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Teen Theater Explores ‘Responses’

Dodgeball Theater’s “Respond” addresses teens’ need for connections, dangers of isolation.

How do teens respond to the changes in their lives? Dodgeball Theater’s Teen Ensemble explores this in their latest production “Respond,” which addresses teens’ need for connections with others and the dangers of isolation. “People often marginalize the artistic vision of young people,” says Haley Murphy of Great Falls, co-director of Teen Ensemble. “We really want to maximize it.” Each year the ensemble, now in its fifth year, develops and performs an original work that combines monologues, movement pieces, scenes and other theatrical elements, including film.


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Making Life ‘Greener’ in Vienna

Vienna Green Expo showcases community conservation options.

During the 5th Annual Vienna Green Expo on Thursday, April 18, three Vienna businesses were recognized for incorporating green practices into their business. The Vienna Town/Business Liaison Committee awarded Maple Avenue Market, Vienna Paint and Caffe Amouri with the 2013 Vienna Green Business Recognition Award.

Military Notes

Marine Corps Pvt. Remy D. Bourdeaux, a 2012 graduate of Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, earned the title of United States Marine after graduating from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S. C.