People

Mount Vernon: Storck Launches Supervisor Campaign

Currently serving his third term as a member of the Fairfax County School Board, Dan Storck kicked off his campaign to replace a retiring Gerry Hyland (D) as the next Mount Vernon District supervisor.

Mount Vernon: Police Searching for Suspects in Huntington-area Homicide.

Fairfax County Police found 64-year-old Santos Rafael Zelaya inside a residence with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a department release.

Some Gave All: Police Memorial in Alexandria Dedicated to Fallen Officers

Police memorial dedicated to fallen officers.

Judy Birney was just 12 years old when her father, youth detective Conrad Birney, was killed responding to a bank robbery in 1972. She went on to follow in her father’s footsteps, serving as an Alexandria police officer until 1999. On March 28, she joined more than 350 people for the dedication of the Alexandria Fallen Officers Memorial honoring the sacrifice of her father and 17 others who died in the line of duty.

Obituary: ‘The Original Ballyshaner,’ Judge O'Flaherty

Judge Daniel O’Flaherty dies at 89.

To anyone appearing in his courtroom, his name invoked fear. But those who knew Judge Daniel O’Flaherty, knew him as a kind and quiet man, a proud Irishman devoted to his family and the City of Alexandria.

Commercial Community Appearance Awards in Fairfax

Three buildings and grounds are honored.

Three City of Fairfax buildings and their grounds were honored recently with 2014 Commercial Community Appearance Awards. Their owners/managers received certificates at the Feb. 10 City Council meeting.

Northern Virginia Film Fest, April 13-19 at Angelika Film Center

“Creating a slice of Hollywood in Northern Virginia” is what the inaugural Northern Virginia International Film Festival is setting out to become for local and independent filmmakers and audiences, according to Fernando A. Mico, festival director.

Column: Join in Fight against Child Abuse

Commentary

A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in our country, one of the worst records among industrialized nations that results in the death of between four and seven children each day. These tragic fatalities are just the tip of the “iceberg” of consequences our community faces due to child victimization.

Creative Aging Festival Coming in May

Includes 114 performances, poetry readings, art exhibits, lectures, classes and more.

A Creative Aging Festival will take place throughout the month of May at 100-plus local venues in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria. The month-long festival includes 114 performances, poetry readings, art exhibits, lectures, classes and more.

County Adult Centers Offer Seniors Activities, Social Interaction

In 2014, the attendance at Fairfax County senior centers was 277,342.

At the Kingstowne Center for Active Adults, volunteer Frank Bauer sees zumba and yoga classes “flowing into the main room sometimes,” he says, revealing how popular those classes are at the center, which caters to seniors 55 and older. This Kingstowne center, one of 14 senior centers throughout Fairfax County, offers classes and activities to keep seniors active.

Fit for the Golden Years in Potomac

Fitness programs for seniors are part of a trend

One night each week, Sue Thompson can be found dribbling a basketball down the court, leading her team, the Nova United, to victory. Thompson, who is in her 60s, is one of the youngest players in her league, the National Senior Women’s Basketball Association.

Nysmith School Students Interview War Veterans

Richard Graff didn't hesitate to describe his darkest days while serving in World War II. "Every combat soldier has to get used to the bodies," he said. "Whenever I think back to that one day when I didn't think I would have another day, you bet, I'm glad to be here," Graff said.

72-year-old Filmmaker Debuts Alzheimer’s Documentary

When Barbara Klutinis’ husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she had no idea how she was going to get through the ordeal ahead of her. After joining a support group and hearing the stories of others going through the same thing, Klutinis realized she was not alone. Inspired by the experience, she decided to make a documentary about the lives of couples coping with the disease. The film, “The Sum Total of Our Memory: Facing Alzheimer’s Together,” will screen at the NOVA International Film Festival Friday, April 17, 1 p.m., at the Angelika Film Center in Fairfax.

Helping Hands

Senior Services of Alexandria

Five years ago, Mary Lee Anderson was asked if she could help Senior Services of Alexandria set up an information database. Since that time, what was supposed to be a part-time commitment has turned into a second career for the international telecommunications corporate executive.

Arlene Hewitt Sets the Pace for Seniors in Alexandria

A recipe for activism at any age.

She is four feet 10 inches tall and 84 years old. She tutors children who cannot read; she champions health insurance for the uninsured in Alexandria; she meets with mayors and senators; she takes 90-year-old gentlemen out to dinner; she wants to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Alexandria; and she never lets more than a few days go by without chatting with her children or grandsons, usually via email or skype.

Aging in Place

Finding out about the latest services and programs.

Alexandria is a great place to be a senior – there are so many different services and organizations with programs designed to help older residents remain in their homes and age in place safely and in a healthy environment.

The Connection