People

Fairfax: Small City, Big Scandal

Mayor arrested in sex-for-meth police sting.

If someone tossed a live, hand grenade in the middle of Fairfax, it potentially wouldn’t have caused as much damage or such utter shock and amazement as the news that Mayor Scott Silverthorne was arrested. And not for a traffic infringement, but for a felony involving group sex with men in exchange for drugs.

Great Falls Snapshot: Taking Art Walk

Friday evening, Aug. 5, Arts Studios & Galleries, with 27 artists, hosted First Friday Art Walk in the Village, offering Great Falls art admirers an opportunity to enjoy the arts, meet artists at work and enjoy music while strolling through the Village Green.

Stars of Summer

Northern Virginia Swimming League holds individual championships

Olympic swimming started with an expected bang in its opening weekend in Río, with Katie Ledecky and the men’s four by 100 freestyle relay, that included Michael Phelps in the second leg, captured gold medals for Team USA.

Mount Vernon: Swimming with Engie, for Cancer Research

Fundraiser benefits Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

When Engie Mokhtar of Kingstowne woke up from a blackout on the floor of her kitchen, she didn’t think much of it. She cleaned up, went to bed, and went to swimming practice with the Alexandria Masters team the next morning.

From Iran to Mount Vernon

Retired plastic surgeon writes autobiography.

Mount Vernon resident Dr. Khosrow Matini’s autobiography, “Fortunate Plastic Surgeon: An Autobiography and My View About the United States,” weaves his journey from a youth in the often volatile country of Iran to a plastic surgeon in the United States.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Making a Difference

United Community Ministries (UCM) hosted a group of 20 graduating seniors from West Potomac High School during the final two weeks of their high school careers.

Mount Vernon: Anderson Named SLES Scholarship Winner

The Stratford Landing Elementary School PTA has announced its 2016 scholarship winner: Kelsey Anderson, a Stratford alumnus who recently graduated from Episcopal High School. Anderson held a 4.35 GPA and her work gained accolades from many faculty members.

Mount Vernon: A Musing

My father, a gifted church organist/choirmaster, loved making pun-based jokes. He specialized in first-syllable reversals, swapping first letters to create a joke. For instance, he might suggest that we go to a restaurant over looking the Ratomac Piver (sigh).

Alexandria: Paws to Read

Encouraging confidence in reading through puppies.

Maggie doesn’t talk back. Caroline Schofield, a second grader, can read to Maggie without judgment or being corrected. Maggie lays next to Caroline, occasionally wagging her tail and resting her head against the girl’s left while Caroline reads from a book.

Alexandria: Seniors at the Wheel

Accident highlights need for alternative travel options for elderly.

According to police, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2, Leonard Wainstein, a 92-year-old Fairfax resident, was looking for a parking spot at a bank in Old Town Alexandria.

Alexandria People at Work: The Many Faces of Firefighting

On a normal day Durant Cephers would be working at Firehouse 206 on Seminary Road. But it is Aug. 6 and he is on S. Albert Street at the Friendship Firehouse 150th anniversary event.

Kelvin Terrell writes “Karma: The War of Love.”

His first romance novel.

Alexandria actor/producer Kelvin Terrell hopes to use profits from his first novel “Karma: The War of Love” to start a scholarship foundation for the city’s youth.

Janet Barnett: ‘Get Involved in Community Service’

Offering advice for those seeking to be active in the city.

Janet Barnett likes being involved in her community. She caught the bug when her children, Susan and Louis, were in the Alexandria school system and she became a volunteer for the PTA. “I didn’t have as many opportunities then as I do now,” she said.

Alexandria: Barbara Ross Dies

Former deputy director of Planning and Zoning helped shape city.

Barbara Ross, former deputy director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, died Aug. 9 at her home in Alexandria. She was 70 years old.

Alexandria Column: Squad of Volunteers Arrives with a Vroom

Commentary–AWLA

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) welcomes all kinds of volunteer help, but some assistance arrives with extra fanfare.

The Connection