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‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’

“Hairspray” takes the stage at Robinson Secondary.

Robinson Secondary’s Cappies production is “Hairspray,” and Director Chip Rome is more excited about this show than he’s been about any show in “quite some time.”

When she was 17, Chantilly’s Nikki Ferraro was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer. It wasn’t what she’d planned, but she attacked it head-on and continued fighting for others battling the same disease.

Remembrance Cabaret for Reema Samaha is June 15.

The annual Remembrance Cabaret for Reema Samaha is a time when people honor the memory of a talented young woman who died in the Virginia Tech tragedy. It’s also an evening packed with singing, dancing, comedy sketches and fun.

Chantilly’s Gabe Luebbe Receives National Honor

Senior named to Army All-American Marching Band.

Not only is Gabe Luebbe a talented and accomplished musician, but he’s now been named a member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.

‘Sassy, Modern Twist’ on a Classic Play

Westfield High presents Shakespeare’s comedy, ‘Twelfth Night.’

A love triangle, comedy, colorful costumes, plot twists and swordfighting — it’s all there in Westfield’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

Eat Pizza To Help Local Girl

Paisano’s holding fundraiser for Tara Sankner.

A fundraiser being held by a local pizza chain won’t cure Tara Sankner’s cancer — but it’ll certainly help her parents pay for her medical bills. Called “Let’s Take Care of Tara,” it began Sept. 3 and will run through Sept. 30 at all Paisano’s and Bella Pizza locations. This is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and Paisano’s owner and founder, Fouad Qreitem — who has children, himself — wants to do all he can to help this local family. “I would love to see Tara get into remission,” he said. “I met Tara and her mother, Tammy, and they didn’t ask for anything. But I could tell they were a family struggling and in need.” Tara, 8, is now a third-grader at Lees Corner Elementary. Her dad Craig is a letter carrier with the U.S. Post Office in Oak Hill and her mom is a medical biller at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. And in February, their only child was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a treatable but inoperable form of brain cancer. “It would be a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Qreitem. “I have two daughters, 8 and 12, and cannot imagine my family being faced with this situation. So I want to help Tara and her family.”

‘Finished on Time, Within Budget’

End of the road for parkway interchange project.

It’s been a long time coming, but the Fair Lakes interchange is just about done. And last Thursday, Sept. 12, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell joined local officials here to cut the ribbon on a project improving travel for drivers on the Fair Lakes and Fairfax County parkways, plus Monument Drive. “It’s great to celebrate these achievements,” he said. “The Fairfax County Parkway has been a lifeline of this county for so long. This was a marvelous story of VDOT and our private-sector construction teams working together, and it will benefit this county for a long time.”

Caring for People with Alzheimers, Dementia

As the number of senior citizens in Fairfax County continues to rise, so does the need for assisted-living facilities — and especially those focusing on people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. That’s why Artisan Land Group LLC wants to build just that in Chantilly.

Back to the Classroom

School begins again for local students.

More than 181,000 students headed back to their classrooms Tuesday morning, Sept. 6, for the start of the 2012-13 school year. They toted backpacks, lunchboxes and assorted supplies and greeted the new year with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Kid Fest in Clifton

Food, fun, music and games in the park.

Music, games, food and an all-around good time – that’s what’s in store for those attending Kid Fest in Clifton. It’s slated for this Saturday, Sept. 15, from noon-5 p.m., in the town park.

‘A Forklift on Steroids’

Firehouse Subs gives firefighters $10,000 toward search tool.

When disasters nearly anywhere in the world trap people in buildings and under rubble, Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team is often called to find and rescue them. Now, thanks to a new piece of equipment called a telehandler, the team will be even better prepared for the task.

‘Thank You for Risking Your Lives’

Colin Powell Elementary honors veterans.

America officially celebrated Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, and so did the students, teachers and staff of Colin Powell Elementary. They invited local veterans to the school, plus fire and police personnel, for their eighth annual Veterans Day Celebration.

‘All I Want for Christmas’

Encore dancers present annual holiday show.

A great way to kick off the holiday season is by seeing Encore Theatrical Arts Project’s new show, “All I Want for Christmas.” This song-and-dance extravaganza aims to delight audiences of all ages.

‘They’re Coming to America’

Rocky Run students ‘become’ immigrants at Ellis Island.

Sitting on the floor, jammed together in a narrow locker area, the Rocky Run seventh-graders pretended they were immigrants packed into a boat from Europe to America. They watched a video of the approach to New York Harbor while listening to Neil Diamond sing, “Coming to America.”

Let’s Hear it for the Girls

Six Centreville High female athletes will play NCAA sports.

Move over, boys. Six Centreville High student-athletes last week signed National Letters of Intent to play sports in NCAA Division I colleges — and all of them are girls.

‘A Few of My Favorite Things’

‘The Sound of Music’ presented by Centreville Presbyterian Church.

The hills may not be alive with “The Sound of Music,” but Centreville Presbyterian Church will be when its community theater presents this classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

Hilarious, Mixed-Up Bedtime Stories

Chantilly High presents children’s play, Feb. 1-3.

Mixed-up tales and laughs galore are in store for those attending Chantilly High’s upcoming children’s play, “Bedtime Stories.” Show times are Friday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 2, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door or at www.chantillyhsdrama.com.

Mathcounts: First in Regionals, Second in States

Rocky Run’s team has stellar year.

Rocky Run Middle School’s MathCounts team didn’t win the state championship this year. But it did capture second place, which is a big achievement, in itself.

Politicians Get an Earful

Residents tell LeMunyon, Petersen what’s important to them.

Transportation, guns in schools and Medicaid were among the top issues discussed last week at a town hall meeting in Chantilly.

Taking Command

Sully District police commander glad to be at station’s helm.

For police Capt. Ed O’Carroll, taking command of the Sully District Station was like coming home again. He served as a shift supervisor of the evening squad when the station opened in May 2003; and for four months now, he’s been in charge.

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