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Parkway Overpass Now Open

As of Thursday, Nov. 15, VDOT shifted traffic onto the new Fairfax County Parkway bridge over the Fair Lakes Parkway and Monument Drive. The new bridge spans from south of Fair Lakes Parkway to north of Monument Drive. With the new overpass, motorists won’t encounter a traffic signal for the five-mile stretch between Popes Head Road and Route 50. The work is part of a $69.7 million interchange project set for completion next spring. It’s being built to ease traffic congestion at the intersection of these two, heavily traveled thoroughfares.

40 Years Prison for Centreville Murder

Man killed his ex-girlfriend’s sister.

Despite the fact that Man Ha Park left his wife and daughter to run off with another woman, they both testified on his behalf before he was sentenced for murdering that woman’s sister. But neither their pleas nor tears could save him from being sentenced to 40 years in prison for a killing so brutal that the prosecutor called the crime scene “a blood bath — worse than in many horror movies.” The offense occurred June 6, 2011 and was actually a triple stabbing. The murder victim was Centreville resident Mihwa Kim, 49. During Park’s preliminary hearing, Sept. 7, 2011, the ex-girlfriend, Shanna Kim, 52, testified that Park stabbed both her and her sister and then tried killing himself, as well. She said he was armed with two long knives — a kitchen knife and a sushi knife. The tragedy happened inside the Elms of Centreville apartment complex, across Braddock Road from the Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center. Shanna Kim had known Park four years and he’d lived with her and her sister in that apartment — where Mihwa’s husband and 14-year-old daughter also lived — until Park moved out, May 29, 2011.

Remembering Bonnie Huneke - Virginia Run Turkey Trot To Be Run in Huneke’s Honor

Time doesn’t heal — you just call it the new normal.” - Stephen Huneke, widower

Each year, the Virginia Run Turkey Trot is run in honor of a community resident who’s died of cancer, and this year’s Thanksgiving Day event is in memory of Bonnie Huneke. She died Oct. 27, 2011 of breast cancer at age 50. Sixteen-year residents of Centreville’s Virginia Run community, she and her husband Stephen, a government contractor and retired Army major, were married 21 years; their children are Elizabeth, 31, Craig, 26 and Mary, 19. Bonnie’s first husband, Army CWO3 Billy Bolin, preceded her in death. “She was one of those super-friendly people who never met someone she didn’t like,” said Stephen Huneke. “Every day, she’d be out walking our golden retriever and met a lot of neighbors that way.” Bonnie also loved planting flowers and gardening; and as the children grew, she and Stephen enjoyed attending their athletic events in SYA and in high school. She also volunteered at Virginia Run Elementary, Stone Middle and Westfield High and worked at Westfield’s blood drives, too. An active person, she used to be an avid runner until a bone tumor on her right knee, 18 years ago, forced her to have a prosthetic knee. Because of that, several times over the last 15 years, doctors had to remove scar tissue on her knee.

Remembering Bonnie Huneke - Virginia Run Turkey Trot To Be Run in Huneke’s Honor

Time doesn’t heal — you just call it the new normal.” - Stephen Huneke, widower

Each year, the Virginia Run Turkey Trot is run in honor of a community resident who’s died of cancer, and this year’s Thanksgiving Day event is in memory of Bonnie Huneke. She died Oct. 27, 2011 of breast cancer at age 50. Sixteen-year residents of Centreville’s Virginia Run community, she and her husband Stephen, a government contractor and retired Army major, were married 21 years; their children are Elizabeth, 31, Craig, 26 and Mary, 19. Bonnie’s first husband, Army CWO3 Billy Bolin, preceded her in death. “She was one of those super-friendly people who never met someone she didn’t like,” said Stephen Huneke. “Every day, she’d be out walking our golden retriever and met a lot of neighbors that way.” Bonnie also loved planting flowers and gardening; and as the children grew, she and Stephen enjoyed attending their athletic events in SYA and in high school. She also volunteered at Virginia Run Elementary, Stone Middle and Westfield High and worked at Westfield’s blood drives, too. An active person, she used to be an avid runner until a bone tumor on her right knee, 18 years ago, forced her to have a prosthetic knee. Because of that, several times over the last 15 years, doctors had to remove scar tissue on her knee.

Bulletin Board

The Chantilly Academy Auto Technology and Auto Collision Repair classes are looking for used cars as donations to the program. Contact Ann Booker at 703-227-3041 or Kenny Brown at 703-222-7466. Northern Virginia Neighbors Club. A non-profit organization offering an opportunity to meet new friends. Activities include book clubs, card games, crafts, fitness, gardening, mah jong, needleworks, rummoli, theater and more. Meet members at one of the monthly luncheons, coffees or mixers. Email nvn156@yahoo.com.

Gingerbread Activities at Deer Park Elementary

The Gingerbread Man will help K-2 students at Deer Park Elementary learn about school geography and the staff members when local author Laura Murray comes to share her book, “The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School,” Dec. 12, at 9 a.m.

CVHS Students Named Top Achievers

The following Centreville High School students have been recognized as top achievers in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Handling ‘Everything under the Sun’

Animal Control officer talks about his job.

Although Fairfax County is a bustling, suburban area with lots businesses, homes and concrete, it still has its share of animals — many of them wild. And both they and people’s pets keeps the police department’s animal control officers busy. Andy Sanderson has been a police officer for 20 years and an animal control officer for 15, and he recently shared his knowledge and expertise with members of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee. He said residents may call 703-691-2131 to report an incident and that animal-control officers are on call from 6-12:30 a.m. for emergencies.

Week in Alexandria

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? King Street Gardens Park Foundation chairman Rodger Digilio has an idea — buy a brick.

Mount Vernon Bulletin Board: Nov. 21, 2012

Upcoming events

Brief: Police Investigate Attempted Robbery at Bank of America

Alexandria Police are investigating an attempted bank robbery that occurred at the Bank of America, located at 600 N. Washington St.

Animal Control Saves Owl

For four days, Animal Control Officers received calls and responded to the Richmond Highway intersection near Sacramento Drive to investigate the reports. Finally, on Friday, Nov. 16 officers were able to rescue the owl at around 11 a.m.

51st Annual Mount Vernon Unitarian Church Holiday Shop

Fifty artisans presented their work during the annual Holiday Shop at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church on Windmill Lane on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Losing Wetlands

Lecture explains loss of acres of Dyke Marsh.

Speaking at a Friends of Dyke Marsh quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14, Virta, a cultural resources manager, described the authorized uncontrolled dredging and dumping in Dyke Marsh, without regard to the environmental consequences.

Taste Trumps Nutrition

Film highlights food business gone awry.

The American Association of Universty Women (AAUW) put a spotlight on food during its program at the Heritage Presbyterian Church last Thursday, Nov. 15.

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