People

Springfield Boy Scout Builds Trail on Quantico Base

Springfield Boy Scout Aeris Taylor, a 17-year-old senior at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md. built a new walking/running trail on Marine Corps Base Quantico, which was named the "Semper Progredi" (translating to "Always Forward").

Springfield's Zeponic Farms to Receive National Recognition for Outstanding Green Business

Zeponic Farms has been chosen as a recipient for national recognition from The SCORE Foundation.

Springfield: Last Day at Franconia Station

Sunday, Sept. 18, was Master Technician Mike Macario's last day with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue after more than 39 years serving the residents of Fairfax County.

Alexandria: Summa Cum Laude Sponsor Award

At the 2016 National Junior Classical League Convention held at Indiana University in July, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Upper School Latin Teacher Ian Hochberg was awarded the Summa Cum Laude Sponsor Award for his service at the local, state, and national levels of the Junior Classical League (JCL).

Alexandria Snapshot: Service Dogs Take a Plunge

Canine Partners for Life, based out of Cochranville, Pa., is a nationally growing organization.

Cybersecurity: Critical Industry

Commentary

The Internet is a tremendous catalyst for economic growth and provides for easy access to information. It is already an essential tool that we would find impossible to live without. As we become more dependent upon this interconnectivity, we are increasingly more vulnerable. Virginia’s leaders on both sides of the aisle recognize the critical importance of a strong cybersecurity policy.

Mount Vernon: Forum To Chew on Meals Tax Referendum

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will sponsor a Meals Tax Forum at the auditorium of Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.

Alexandria People at Work: Stetanova’s Secret – Plenty of Coffee

Kremena Stetanova opens the Caboose Cafe and Bakery on Mt. Vernon in Del Ray Monday and Thursday and leaves at 2:30 p.m. Other days are regular hours. "Well first I turn on the lights and make sure there is plenty of coffee. That's the biggest thing, then put out the muffins."

Alexandria Snapshot: Learn To Be Energy Smart

A new retail showroom and lab — The Energy House and Solutions Center — opened Sept. 10 at 4603A Eisenhower Ave. It showcases state-of-the-art products for weatherization, insulation, solar, HVAC and more. The center also offers plans to save money and simple steps to become energy efficient. See http://energyhouse.us/ solutions-center.

Alexandria: Swann-Daingerfield Hosts Nursing School’s 40th Reunion

The elegant Federal style mansion on the corner of Prince and S. Columbus streets has also been called stylistically “Italianate,” “Second Empire,” “Greek Revival” and “almost Spanish Baroque.”

Alexandria Snapshot: Adding a Swamp Chestnut Oak

Mayor Allison Silberberg and Dr. Richard T. Olsen, director of the National Arboretum which donated the Swamp Chestnut Oak to the city, plant it in Oronoco Bay Park on Monday, Sept. 19.

Alexandria Obituary: Barbara Fox Mason

The founder and former executive director of The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC), Barbara Fox Mason, died on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. For 26 years, Mason worked to create programs beyond preschool services for poor and underserved communities in Alexandria and Arlington.

Alexandria: Preserving the Preserve

Jodie Smolik leads Winkler Botanical Preserve.

By her own account Jodie Smolik is a very fortunate woman.

Alexandria: Paving the Way for Stormwater Fee

New fee for residential and commercial properties to be based on permeability.

It might be time to plant some more trees and green up the home. A new stormwater service fee proposed by city staff could be directly tied to the permeability of residential and commercial properties. The fee is the proposed solution to an unfunded mandate by the state requiring one quarter of the city retrofitted for stormwater treatment by 2028.

Alexandria: Last Stop

Sandy Modell retires from DASH.

Thirty-two years after she started driving buses part time in Harrisonburg in college, Sandy Modell is retiring from her position as CEO and general manager of DASH, the Alexandria transit company. For 28 years, Modell led DASH through massive expansions. Since Modell started, the company has grown from one million passengers on 17 buses to four million passengers across 85 buses.

The Connection