Halley Elementary Races for Technology
The Crosspointe subdivision around Halley Elementary School will be awash in color Saturday, March 9, with a color misting, obstacles and a road course for more traditional runners and walkers, offering professional ChronoTrack timing system for accuracy. The school's Parent Teacher Organization invites everyone to join the festivities to raise money for classroom technology during its Halley Race for Technology 5k and Color Fun Run.
Saving Buddy
He first appeared on our patio several years ago, a large gray and white cat, bedraggled and hungry, sitting on a chair, waiting for a handout.
Capital Area Food Bank Receives $99,245 From Giant
As a result of the 25th annual Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive, Giant Food of Landover, Md., presented a check in the amount of $99,245.70 to the Capital Area Food Bank in Lorton. Through the Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive, Giant customers donated more than $168,000 to support hunger relief efforts of five Feeding America food banks.
Skanska Honored for INOVA Lorton Healthplex
On Jan. 18, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Fairfax Tree Commission honored Skanska USA’s Washington, D.C., office with the 2012 Land Conservation Award for Small Commercial Project in a ceremony held at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Letter to the Editor: Civil Rights Complaints Filed against Police
Recently the Virginia Citizens Coalition for Police Accountability, Inc. (CCPA) sought to determine if the Alexandria City, Arlington and Fairfax County police departments were the subject of citizens claiming their civil rights had been violated.
Column: U.S. 1 Funding Secured and Transportation Deal
This week, the General Assembly ended with a budget and two major policy changes — a historic transportation bill and a Medicaid expansion process that I will discuss next week.
Column: Transportation Agreement and Medicaid Expansion
The Virginia State Senate passed a transportation plan after Gov. Robert McDonnell agreed to sign off on a Medicaid expansion conference committee to come up “with a concept to ensure that significant reforms are attained prior to any potential expansion of Medicaid.”
Mount Vernon Bulletin Board Feb. 27
Bulletin board for the Mount Vernon area.
A Lesson of Love
For Kolleen Raitz of Lorton, twelve-and-a-half-year-old springer spaniel Lanny acts as more than just a lifelong friend, but as the reason she decided to pursue a career as a dog trainer. “She's special for so many reasons, but mostly because of the profound effect she has had on my life and the lessons she has taught me over the years. She is, without a doubt, the single most important thing that has ever happened to me. She has taught me everything, from patience and forgiveness to self-control and being able to believe in myself
Mountain View Winter Departmental Awards
Mountain View High School presented its winter departmental awards Feb. 1 to the following students:
3-D Printing, Palliative Care Programs at Library
The Chantilly Regional Library is holding two, upcoming programs of interest to the local community. This Saturday, March 2, at 2:30 p.m., NovaLabs Makerspace is doing a program on 3-D Printing for ages 10 through adults.
BZA Approves Play-and-Party Site for Chantilly
Kid Junction is coming to town.
If all goes well, sometime in May, local children will have a place to go where they can climb, play dress up, use their imaginations in a pretend town setting and even celebrate their birthdays. That place is Kid Junction and it will open in Chantilly.
Alexandria Entertainment Calendar Feb. 27
Entertainment calendar for the Alexandria and Mount Vernon areas.
Week in Fairfax
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Pat Herrity’s (R-Springfield) plan and design for a Fairfax County license plate. Besides allowing residents to show pride in their community, proceeds from the license plates’ sales will go to the World Police and Fire Games, which the county is hosting in 2015.
Centreview Entertainment Calendar Feb. 28
Entertainment calendar for the Centreview area.
Riverbend Opera to Open New Season
"The music of opera takes me to beautiful places in my imagination, with swirling passions and languid times of reflection," said John Turner (McLean) in describing his love for the art form. He is one of the artistic forces behind Fairfax County's own Riverbend Opera Company. With its 2013 season, Riverbend will have a double-bill of one-act works by Giacomo Puccini. Puccini's operas are some of the most performed such as "La Bohème," "Madame Butterfly" and "Tosca." Each of the one-acts, "Il tabarro" and "Suor Angelica" has "almost achingly beautiful music" said Turner.
Why a Change Is Needed for School
Fairfax High has a building capacity of 2,412 students and a current enrollment of 2,659—meaning a 110-percent building utilization. But if nothing changes, it’s projected to have 3,011 student bodies by the 2017-18 school year and a 125-percent building utilization. Lanier’s capacity is 1,307 students, and it presently has a 1,239 student population using 95 percent of its building. But if left as is, it’s projected to have an enrollment of 1,421 by 2017-18 for a 109-percent building utilization.
‘It’s All about Our Children’
Parents discuss three school-boundary scenarios.
The goal of the Fairfax High/Lanier Middle School boundary study is to remove 300 students from Fairfax and 150 from Lanier and send them elsewhere to relieve overcrowding at those two schools. But how best to do it has not yet been decided. So more than 200 people came to Lanier’s cafeteria last Wednesday, Feb. 20, to learn more about the three boundary scenarios proposed and express their opinions about them. Centreville and Chantilly residents also attended, because the changes will affect many of their children, too.
Training a Guiding Eyes Dog
Mixed emotions of raising and letting go.
When Guiding Eyes for the Blind dropped off Saki at Bridget Kennerley’s house, they made sure to tell her what to expect from the young golden retriever on that first night. What they couldn’t tell her, however, was how different her life would be every night after.
Centreview Bulletin Board Feb. 27
Bulletin board for the Centreview area.