People

Vinehaven Under Construction

Homes will fit character of downtown.

The three-level, 17 properties currently being built at the corner of Vine and Center streets will be finished as soon as early next year.

Northwest Federal Launches Six Ton Challenge

Northwest Federal Credit Union has set a goal to collect 12,000 pounds of non-perishable food items – or six tons of spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, canned juice and cereal boxes – by Aug. 15 for its annual food drive.

Oak Hill Resident in ‘Shrek the Musical’

A big green ogre, a princess, a wisecracking donkey and a love-struck dragon – they’ll all be onstage when The Alliance Theatre’s Summer Stars program presents “Shrek the Musical.”

Preserving Great Falls Giants

Residents encouraged to contribute to planting of white oak trees.

When the early settlers came to what is now Great Falls and cleared the land for farms, they often left one type of tree to provide shade: the white oak.

Great Falls Creamery Opens

Local family runs business.

Great Falls Creamery, the newest ice cream shop in town, opened earlier this summer to give locals an in-town option for their favorite scoops.

From Great Falls to South Africa

Two local high school students, Julia Chirite from Langley High School and Arthur Tisseront from Thomas Jefferson, will travel to South Africa this September as participants in the World Youth Rhino Summit, an international anti-poaching and conservation initiative sponsored by the Kashmir World Foundation where the two students currently intern at.

Snake? Snake?!

Lewis family cares for four-foot female corn snake.

Indiana Jones may not enjoy slithering serpents all that much, but the Lewis family, on the other hand, welcomed corn snake Cory into the house 10 years ago, and has been caring for her ever since.

Roaches Approaching

Pre-K teacher entertains class with Hisser and Norman.

Switching two letters makes a world of difference between how cockroaches are typically described and how Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Kareen Lawson of Burke describes them. Whereas most anyone else would hit the insects with the label “pest,” not to mention with an old magazine, Lawson’s term for her two Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Hisser and Norman, is instead “pets.”

Becky and LuLu: A Special Bond

The relationship between dog and girl is strong, the bond never to break. I, personally, grew up — and am still growing up with — wonderful dogs. First, there was Leroy. I was born into the middle of his reign on the Randolph household kingdom, and he helped to raise me, the princess of his kingdom.

Ferreting for Fun

Local ninth grader appreciates playful nature of Steve and Skippy.

Commonly known for their playfulness and pungence, ferrets have earned themselves the moniker of “the clowns of the animal kingdom” from sources like Animal Planet. City of Fairfax resident Brandon Henry, 13, of Robinson Secondary has greatly enjoyed this aspect of his two ferrets, Steve and Skippy, for the past two years. “I asked for them two years ago for Christmas, and ended up receiving them as a gift from my parents,” Henry said. “At the time, my sister always called random things ‘Steve,’ so I decided to name one of the ferrets ‘Steve,’ and the other one was always hopping around, so I named it ‘Skippy.’”

Grants to Support Animal Welfare

2014 Barkdull Memorial Fund winners announced.

On May 13, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Margery Barkdull Memorial Fund for Animal Welfare announced four winners for the 2014 grant process from a group of 12 applicants. The winners are Friends of Homeless Animals, receiving $2,000; Prince William Humane Society, receiving $3,000; The Wildlife Rescue League, receiving $3,000; and The Wolf Trap Foundation, receiving $2,000. Each of these organizations are dedicated to the welfare of animals.

Reading Retriever

Samson serves as one-dog audience to young readers at local libraries.

Since his puppy days, Golden Retriever Samson has been an eager participant in a program custom-made to display the most admirable qualities of man’s best friend. He and volunteer Tricia Lowney of Fairfax Station, his owner, have participated in the popular “Read to the Dog” program at four local libraries since 2012.

Meet Best Friends of Fairfax

Canine companions bring happiness into owners’ lives.

Close friends and neighbors, Judy Schnoeblen and Laura Gunson of Fairfax, only become closer through their dogs, Hunter and Archie, who are also very close companions.

The Connection