People

Fuse Box Lighting Up the Wammie Awards

Five teenagers from Alexandria up for Best New Artist at this year's Wammie awards Sunday, Feb. 16.

Among the eight acts up for new artist of the year at this year's Washington Area Music Association Wammie Awards, most won't have to worry about getting up for high school the next morning. Fuse Box, five talented musicians who discovered their love of music at a young age, have been playing together in some form or another for several years, and as a fully-fledged band for nearly four years.

Sadie’s Gift

Inspired by one child’s struggle with cancer, Burke community prepares for fifth annual "family-friendly" blood drive to give other children hope.

Erin and Ethan Lauer of Burke vividly remember the history-making snowstorm that buried the region with more than three feet of hard, wet snow exactly four years ago this week. Dubbed "Snowmageddon" by local and national media, the blizzard shut down most businesses, schools, and the federal government for weeks. Snowmageddon, meteorologists said, rivaled the snowfall production of any other major snowstorm in recorded history. The ferocious storm came in two rounds. When the second wave hit, temperatures plummeted into the high teens and winds gusted over 40 mph. The Lauers held little hope that friends and neighbors would dig out of the ice and snow to attend a Valentine’s Day blood-drive for their infant daughter, Sadie, who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer called Neuroblastoma when she was just 3-months-old. The family was in for a surprise.

Superintendent Comes to West Springfield

Karen Garza continues listening tour.

Superintendent Karen Garza continued her listening tour of Fairfax County Public Schools this week with a stop at West Springfield High School on Feb. 4. Garza was joined by Springfield District School Board member Elizabeth Schultz.

‘Gazpacho for Nacho’

Key Middle School Spanish teacher publishes bilingual children’s book.

Colleagues and friends of Key Middle School Spanish teacher Tracey Kyle describe her as a creative and engaging teacher who is always thinking of new ways to teach. Now, Kyle has taken her creativity one step further by writing "Gazpacho for Nacho." The book was published by Two Lions, a division of Amazon Publishing, in January.

Learning about Foster Care and Adoption

Children need permanent families in Fairfax County.

In Fairfax County, there are 265 children in Foster Care. That number may sound like a lot, said Nannette Bowler, director of Fairfax County Department of Family services, but that number was at over 3,000 children 10 years ago.

Republican Women of Clifton to Welcome U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa

The Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) welcomes U. S. Rep. Darrell Issa from California’s 49th Congressional district as guest speaker at its February meeting. Issa is recognized for his success as a Congressional watchdog of taxpayer dollars and serves as the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, charged with protecting the interests of U.S. taxpayers and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. The meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, and the social hour will begin at 7 p.m. when refreshments will be served. President Alice Butler-Short will open the business meeting at 7:30 p.m., after which Representative Issa will deliver comments and entertain questions.

An Evening of Enduring Music and Song

"MJO's Simply Swingin' with Sinatra and Friends."

It will be a memorable evening for the golden age of pop standards and tin pan alley as the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) and vocalist Steve Lippia bring the Great American Songbook to life at George Mason University's Center for the Arts. It will feature music that has "depth and weight ... the kind of event that will stay with you long after it's over," said Jim Carroll, MJO artistic director.

Will Terms Go from Two Years to Four?

City ponders change to how long officials may serve.

The Fairfax City Council is pondering whether the terms of office for the mayor, council members and members of the School Board should be changed from two to four years. And during last week’s Council meeting, they voted to place the matter on a Nov. 4 advisory referendum.

Councilman Stombres Not Seeking Another Term

Time for ‘new energy and a fresh perspective.’

While enjoying his time as a member of the Fairfax City Council, Steven Stombres will not be running for re-election. He made the announcement last Tuesday, Jan. 28, during the Council’s regular meeting.

Freeze-o-ree Tradition Continues

Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 1849 from Springfield recently enjoyed its annual Freeze-o-ree campout at Catoctin Mountain Park, Md. With temperatures in the low 20s during the day and nighttime low of 5 degrees and a wind-chill of minus 15, fourteen stalwart Scouts - some as young as 11 years of age - and 12 adults embraced the challenge. Troop 1849 has been doing this mid-winter campout at Catoctin Mountain Park nearly every winter for over 30 years.

Burke Resident Eric Fischer to Perform in Oberlin Conservatory Recitals

Eric Fischer '14 of Burke has earned the honor of performing in Oberlin Conservatory’s Danenberg Honors Recitals. Over the course of two nights on Feb. 7 and 15, a range of student musicians will perform in the annual Danenberg Honors Recitals in Warner Concert Hall.

Lewis West Marshall, of Reston, Dies

Lewis West Marshall, Sr. M.D., F.A.C.P. passed away on Jan. 23.

Column: Closing the Income Gap

Between 2007 and 2012, the median wages of Virginia’s highest income earners rose by eight percent while the lowest income families’ wages shrank by 10 percent, according to an analysis by the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. The gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to widen in Virginia as it has throughout the nation. A growing underclass of unemployed, under-employed and under-paid creates a challenge for the state and the nation. Too many people are faced with the monthly decision of paying for the rent, utilities, food, prescriptions and school supplies without enough money to cover them all. Public and private relief organizations are strained to keep their food pantries and clothing closets stocked to meet the increased demand.

Column: Jim Moran—Straight Talking Progressive

Congressman Jim Moran (D-8) announced last week that he will not seek re-election in 2014. He is retiring after 22 years on the Hill. He is the senior Virginia Democrat on the Hill, and is one of only two solid progressives from Virginia. The other is Rep. Bobby Scott.

Groundhog Day Held At Frying Pan Park

Families visit groundhog burrow.

"They are like little lawnmowers, so when it is spring, they eat everything they can," said Frying Pan Park naturalist Shannon Morley. "When it is summer, they eat everything they can. And when it is fall they still eat. But in winter they rest or hibernate." Morely was giving a presentation to families on groundhogs that reside on the park grounds.

The Connection