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Tax and Wire Fraud: Three Years Prison

Fair Oaks tax preparer filed false returns with the IRS.

Although she received a sentence below the state guidelines, a former Fair Oaks tax preparer will be spending the next three years in prison. She is Thuy Tien Le, 40, who learned her punishment last Friday, July 18, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

Tax and Wire Fraud: Three Years Prison

Fair Oaks tax preparer filed false returns with the IRS.

Although she received a sentence below the state guidelines, a former Fair Oaks tax preparer will be spending the next three years in prison. She is Thuy Tien Le, 40, who learned her punishment last Friday, July 18, in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

Wrapping up Joy for Christmas

Students, Scouts, police brighten holiday at Hanley Shelter.

The children living in the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter may not have many possessions; but on Christmas Day, they had presents.

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‘Don’t Be Afraid to be Different’

Robinson grad performs 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.” And right there with them will be Robinson Secondary graduate Spencer Boyd.

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Vienna Community Center to Be LEED Silver

Town Council approves fee to seek certification.

If all goes well, the new and improved Vienna Community Center will make its debut on its 50th anniversary in April 2016.

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‘The Future’s Bright’ For Worker Center

CIF celebrates its independent nonprofit status.

American Independence Day is July 4; but as far as the Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF) is concerned, Independence Day was last Friday, Aug. 1. That’s when it became a full-fledged nonprofit, no longer under the auspices of Virginia Organizing.

Burke Filmmaker’s Work Will Help Others

Zinn’s documentaries going to schools, hospitals and rehab centers.

Monica Zinn is just 21, but she’s already made two documentaries with the potential to change people’s lives for the better. And now, both have been selected for distribution to K-college schools, hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation programs in English-speaking countries worldwide.

Bleachers, HVACs, Tile, Paving, Walls and Roofs

Noonan explains the City schools’ needs.

At the recent, joint meeting of the Fairfax City Council and Planning Commission, Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan detailed the City Schools’ five-year CIP. “We have outstanding students and teachers and world-class facilities,” he said. Yet several needs still exist, including the following:

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Pancakes, Candy, Fudge, Ice Cream and More

Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival is Feb. 7-8.

Get your sweet tooth ready – the 23rd annual City of Fairfax Chocolate Lovers Festival is this weekend, Feb. 7-8. Featuring delicious, chocolate fun for both children and adults, the event includes a Taste of Chocolate, a Chocolate Challenge, musical performances, a chocolate movie – “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” – fairy tales, a fire-safety puppet show, face-painting, a Chocolate Caper mock trial, cupcake-decorating, magic, juggling and open houses in historic buildings.

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Big Changes Planned for Lotte Market in Fairfax

New façade, better parking, less big trucks and traffic.

For many years, the Lotte market in Fairfax has been a popular grocery store, especially with its Asian customers. But its exterior has been an eyesore to the public.

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Chantilly: ‘I’m Just Thrilled To Be Here’

Blakley takes helm at Sully District Police Station.

Right from the start, Bob Blakley planned to become a police officer. Born in Clearwater, Fla., he joined the Police Explorers in 10th grade. And when his family moved to Georgia the next year, he started an Explorer post there. “People say it’s a calling,” said Blakley. “I just knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

‘These Were Not Just Names, but People’

City of Fairfax honors local, fallen veterans on Memorial Day.

Sure, Memorial Day is a holiday from work and school – a time when friends and family gather for fun-filled picnics, barbecues and pool parties. But the celebration is made possible by something much more serious – America’s many, selfless veterans. And Monday morning, May 25, some 60 people gathered in the Veterans Amphitheater outside Fairfax City Hall to pay them tribute.

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‘An Awesome Experience’

Chantilly High student attends Governor’s German Immersion Academy.

Chantilly High senior Kate Meyer is such a fan of German culture and language that she spent three weeks of her summer immersed in it. She attended the Virginia Governor’s German Immersion Academy at Washington and Lee University in Lexington.

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Restaurants and Apartments Planned for Church Street

Now vacant lot proposed for redevelopment.

Arrington Properties LLC owns the site at 120 Church St. N.W. in Vienna and it has plans to redevelop with a building containing both residential and commercial uses. Details were presented during the Oct. 20 meeting of the Vienna Town Council.

City of Fairfax to Tackle Affordable Housing

Basically, the City of Fairfax’s affordable-housing policy is a work in progress. The City does have a policy but, as its leaders are finding out, it could use some tweaking. It has a flexible policy that between 5 and 12 percent of the total units built should be designated as affordable. But it makes a difference whether these homes are earmarked for those making 80 percent of the City’s median income of $107,000, or 60 percent.

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Chantilly Students Win National Art Medals

Diana Tsoy honored for photography, Jason Ly for printmaking.

Senior Diana Tsoy won a silver medal for her photography portfolio and classmate Jason Ly won a silver medal for printmaking.

It’s Almost Time for Fairfax Fall Festival

Crafts, food, music, children’s rides and lumberjacks.

There’s something for everyone at the Fairfax Fall Festival. This year’s event is slated for Saturday, Oct. 11 (rain date, Oct. 12), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offers everything from crafts to food, music, children’s activities, rides, four stages of entertainment and lumberjacks.

City Approves Money for Charrette

Focus will be on Fairfax’s downtown development.

It’s full speed ahead for a planning workshop, or charrette, the City of Fairfax will hold in November. It’ll do so along with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and the focus will be on the downtown area. It’s a hands-on, design-oriented event and will involve both professionals and residents.

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Green Light for MAC Zoning

Town Council approves Maple Avenue ordinance.

It’s taken a great deal of time, effort, research and wrangling; but last Monday, the Vienna Town Council approved the ordinance defining the Maple Avenue Commercial Zone regulations. The ordinance is now set to be formally adopted Oct. 20.

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Bring an Appetite; Come to Town

Third annual Taste of Vienna is Saturday, April 26.

Grab your taste buds and come downtown. It’s almost time for the Taste of Vienna, and there’ll be food and fun galore. The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VVFD) will host the third annual Taste of Vienna on Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. It is in the fire department’s parking lot at 400 Center St. South and will be held, rain or shine. The event showcases the variety of foods offered by the town’s many restaurants. Admission is free, and the proceeds from attendees’ food and beverage purchases will directly benefit the town’s fire department. As the first fire station in Fairfax County, VVFD members have been serving Vienna residents for more than 100 years. But besides protecting lives and property in and around the town, volunteers must spend many hours raising money to keep it functioning. Combining operational and administrative personnel, the station has more than 100 members, and the dollars from the Taste of Vienna are truly needed.