People

Hope Spreads through Education

Years after couple wanted to collect school supplies for their village in Uganda, Arlington Academy of Hope has built a school, clinic there.

When Joyce Wanda won a visa to move to the United States from Uganda 18 years ago, she and her husband packed up and left everything they'd ever known with the hope of some day doing something to help those who remained there.

Talking with Birds

One Arlington family discusses the joys of adopting several birds and a rabbit.

Thirteen-year-old Julia Adde delights in having her pet parrot, Boo Boo sit with her while she does her homework. Boo Boo, an eclectus parrot, was the fourth and most recent bird to join the Adde household.

Recalling Marilyn Shockey

Countless fairy tales begin with “Once Upon a Time” and tell the story of princesses, pirates, dragons, knights, and wolves. The fables often finish with the words “The End.” This month, the area theater community is mourning the loss of long-time Potomac resident and local playwright, singer, songwriter and actress Marilyn Shockey.

Tips on Growing Plants from Seed

Advice from Master Gardener Gary Cahn.

The Hoe ‘n Hope Garden Club welcomed Montgomery Country Master Gardener Gary Cahn into member Sarah Funt’s home on Tuesday, Feb. 3 to share his expertise on how to start vegetable and annual seeds indoors.

Churchill’s Faerber Captures Trio of Diving Championships

Junior wins metros, regions and states.

Churchill diver Elaina Faerber prefers to spend half of each meet by herself. Maybe the junior will listen to some mellow country music, maybe she’ll pick Gavin DeGraw. She spends the other half laughing and dancing with friends, trying not to get caught up in the moment.

These Moms Know How To Pack a Lunch

A solution to plastic sandwich bags launches a business.

It started with three Potomac moms sitting around a kitchen table in 2008, bemoaning the fact that children’s lunches these days consume a whole lot of plastic.

All in the Family for Alexandria

SSA to honor generations of giving.

’Twas the night before Christmas, literally, when a man walked into the Senior Services of Alexandria office and handed an envelope to then-executive director Janet Barnett. The year was 2007 and the man was Ron Bradley. “Ron asked how he could help the seniors of Alexandria,” Barnett said. “When I explained that the city did not provide meals to seniors on holidays, Ron stepped in with $10,000 to fund a holiday meals program. But he had a condition — that they could not be ordinary meals. He wanted our seniors to enjoy a festive meal just like we do at home.”

Play Monopoly and Help Others

Annual tournament raises close to $8,000 for Lorton Community Action Center.

On a cold, snow-approaching Saturday, nearly 100 men, women and children hunkered down to play three rounds at the 8th Annual Ron K.’s Monopoly Tournament hosted at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.

Gayle Reuter: Fostering Del Ray’s Small Town Feel

Helping to celebrate Del Ray.

You won't go far in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood before seeing signs of Gayle Reuter. If it's a rare quiet day, you might see her on her front porch just off "The Avenue" or at a local restaurant or business — always with a smile and a friendly greeting. More likely you will see her working, always managing to make a difference in the wonderful neighborhood she helped create.

From Veterinarian to Art Photographer

The Art Guild of Clifton hosted its first art show of 2015 by highlighting the photographs of Jamie Netschert. Netschert started taking photographs as an undergraduate student at Weber State University where he received a degree in Zoology.

Mount Vernon's Robert A. Clark: World War II Navy Carrier Ace

Robert A. (Bob) Clark, 91, born Jan. 17, 1922, New York, N.Y., retired U.S. Navy carrier fighter ace and 48-year resident of Mount Vernon, died on Jan. 21, 2015, of pneumonia.

Pet Connection 2015

Adorable pet photos submitted by our readers.

Saving Sarge

Sarge, a 2-year-old brown tabby, was found recently by an exterminator in a crawl space of a foreclosed home. He is partially blind and deaf. A good Samaritan took him from the exterminator and rushed him to the veterinarian who then called a local cat rescue group, Helping Homeless Felines. "He was almost dead" said Val Garcia, president of the local rescue group. "I saw the vet records and can confirm the seriousness of his condition. I ended up fostering Sarge initially to help him heal."

Meet LuLu of Fairfax

Do you ever feel like your dog’s trying to tell you something? You might see these clues in body language, hear how a dog barks, or maybe your dog will get an object that represents what it wants, such as a leash.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter Gets Creative to Save Lives

Since 2013, Fairfax County has been the largest jurisdiction in the United States with a placement rate of animals above 90 percent. Last year alone, nearly 2,500 animals were adopted, which is nearly double the adoptions just two years earlier.

The Connection