County to Complete Road Projects
Projects that came in under-budget free up $11.2 million.
Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists received a bonus Tuesday, April 9, when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reallocated $11.2 million in existing funds to complete more than 12 planned pedestrian and road improvement projects.
Animal Control Officer Nabs Elusive Shih Tzu
Officer’s dogged pursuit saves sly pup from life on the streets.
Just 13 pounds of matted fur and fluff, “Biscuit,” a sly shih tzu, evaded capture in the Franconia area for nearly two years, porch-surfing and stealing cats’ food to survive.
Police Receive Alarming Number of Tax Fraud Reports
As annual tax returns are being calculated and submitted in a last-minute furor across the country, Fairfax County Police have received an alarming report of 75 to 100 cases of tax identification fraud in recent weeks. Detectives are warning residents of the scam and urge them to take precautions to prevent being victimized.
Robinson Students Commit to 26 Acts of Kindness
The number 26 is in honor of the 20 students and six staffers killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Even if only 10 percent of Robinson Secondary School’s almost four thousand students accept the Student Government Association (SGA)’s 26 Acts of Kindness Challenge during the month of April, that would still mean 10,400 random acts of kindness and courtesy added to the world. Not a bad achievement.
Burke Rotary, Library Foundation Partner to Provide Community Scholarships
Fairfax Library Foundation will be able to provide more scholarships to the community this year—thanks to the Rotary Club of Burke. The Burke Rotary, an affiliate of Rotary International since 1984, has contributed a $3,000 gift to fund additional undergraduate scholarships for the foundation’s scholarship program in 2013.
Theresa Marie Patchan “Terre” of Burke Dies
Theresa Marie Patchan “Terre” of Burke died Wednesday, April 3, unexpectedly at her home.
Positive Reactions to Huchler’s Promotion
New deputy police chief praised inside and beyond city.
The Alexandria Police Department recently named a new deputy chief, David Huchler, to its ranks. Huchler, 44, is a 21-year veteran of the department and a respected choice outside the department as well.
Bulletin Board 4/10/2013
Email announcements to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is noon the Thursday before publication. Photos are welcome. Every Friday in April 5k Fridays Race Series. 6:30 p.m. in Crystal City. Organized by Pacers Running Store, runners can enjoy a professionally timed and certified course. $20/race or $60/series. Visit http://runpacers.com/race/crystal-run-5k-fridays/ to register.
Second Chances
Helping ex-offenders who have no place to turn.
Consider these facts: One in 31 Americans is in prison or jail or on probation or parole. Some 2,000 citizens have managed to find jobs in northern Virginia and this is a low seven percent increase over last year.
Preparing for the Dance
All week long, members of Los Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble are rehearsing for their upcoming performance on April 20 at the Gunston Arts Center Theater One. Los Quetzales is a non-profit arts organization, comprised mostly of teenagers, children and adults, performing traditional dances of Mexico, and wearing traditional costumes representing different regions.
Letter: Letters to the Editor: Safeguards in Place For Streetcar Project
To the Editor: Michael Pope’s article: “Streetcar; Desire or Disaster?” [Arlington Connection, April 3-9] is unbalanced, misleading and factually incorrect. Let me set the record straight.
‘Everyone Feels Included’
Marymount University hosts 16th Special Olympic games.
“Who cares who wins, it’s the interactions with the players that make this so special.” — Dr. Douglas Ball, professor of education at Marymount University and faculty sponsor for the Council for Exceptional Children. Athletic all-stars sunk shots and hit the court in a show of sportsmanship at the 16th Marymount University Special Olympic Games, held Saturday April 6. Bleachers were filled with cheering fans in a show of support for the 10 Northern Virginia teams.
Competition For Streetcars?
Debate about public-private partnerships will have lasting consequences in Arlington.
Arlington County will make "best efforts to promote robust competition" and "strive to have more than one proposal" under consideration for the public-private partnership to construct a streetcar on Columbia Pike. But opponents fear that guidelines, approved after a contentious County Board meeting last year, do not require competition.
Arlington School Notes
School Notes
Email announcements to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Photos are welcome. Ava Oaxaca, a senior at H-B Woodlawn in Arlington, will perform the Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone by Andre Waignein with the George Mason University Wind Symphony on April 14 at 2 p.m. Oaxaca won the 2012 John Philip Sousa Foundation National Young Artists Solo Competition. The award is a solo performance with a large university or military band ensemble. Her performance with the George Mason University Wind Symphony will take place at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall, on GMU’s Fairfax campus.
Arlington Calendar 4/10/2013
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.
‘The Last Five Years’
From first date to final goodbye, Jason Robert Brown chronicles the emotional highs and lows of a young couple’s failed marriage in the award winning musical “The Last Five Years,” now playing at Shirlington’s Signature Theatre.
Entertainment
Calendar
Megan Dominy and Bradley Foster Smith in Imagination Stage’s “From Here to There.” ‘From Here to There’ Imagination Stage brings Natasha Holmes, director and cofounder of Tell Tale Hearts Children’s Touring Theatre Company, from the United Kingdom to mount a new production of “From Here to There”, a play about building bridges, involving puppetry, comedy, live music, and poetry.
“Flourishing After 55”
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington’s Office of Senior Adult Programs for April 21-27. Arlington senior centers: Aurora Hills, 735 S. 18th St.; Walter Reed, 2909 S. 16th St.; Culpepper Garden, 4435 N. Pershing Dr.; Langston-Brown, 2121 N. Culpeper St.; Lee, 5722 Lee Hwy.; Arlington Mill at Fairlington, 3308 S. Stafford St.; also Madison Community Center, 3829 N. Stafford St.; TJ Comm. Center, 3501 S. 2nd St.
Bulletin Board
Email announcements to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Tuesday/April 23 Open House. 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Har Shalom. Tour the building, visit classrooms and meet the staff. 11510 Falls Road. Call 301-299-7087.
Cleaning Up the River
Hundreds turn out to collect trash, recover recyclables.
Volunteers on Saturday, April 6 removed trash at 600 sites throughout the Potomac watershed during the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 2013 Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. The Potomac Conservancy organized volunteer efforts at the River Center at Lock 8, Fletcher's Boathouse and Theodore Roosevelt Island.