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Locals Receive Governor’s 2013 Fire Service Awards

Stilwell, Hollingsworth, Wais and Rosenthal are honored.

Four local people were among those honored last Saturday, Feb. 22, with Governor’s Fire Service Awards for 2013. They were feted during the Virginia Fire and Rescue Conference at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. This year marked the 12th anniversary of these awards, which formally recognize excellence in Virginia’s Fire Services. Award recipients included Renee Stilwell, Capt. George Hollingsworth, Hassibullah Wais and Philip Rosenthal. Below are the details of why they were honored:

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Fairfax Council: Three Men, Three Women

Silverthorne re-elected mayor; incumbents, Miller, Loftus win.

Tuesday, May 6, was a great night for incumbents and women in the City of Fairfax. Mayor Scott Silverthorne and all four current City Council members were re-elected, and two women replaced the two men – Dan Drummond and Steve Stombres – who’d stepped down from the Council.

Remembering Jeffrey By Helping Others

Angel Kisses 5K/2K is set for Mother’s Day.

Superheroes do some pretty amazing things, such as thwarting villains and saving people. In life, Chantilly’s Jeffrey Virostek only got to pretend to be a superhero; but in death, he’s become a real one. He was only 4 in September 2003 when he succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). But a fund his parents started in his name has enabled many nonprofit organizations to help other children in their battles against cancer.

City of Fairfax Adopts Budget

Real-estate tax rate is lowered by two cents.

The Fairfax City Council adopted the City’s FY 2014-15 budget last week, lowered the existing real-estate tax rate by two cents and gave raises to the city employees. In a special meeting, last Wednesday, April 30, the Council set City residents’ new real-estate tax rate at $1.04 per $100 assessed value, effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Local Man Going to Prison Again

27 months incarceration for cheating government.

True, Henry Washington Yeh’s parents helped him file a fraudulent tax return. But it was his fault, in the first place, for involving them in his illegal activities. And last week in federal court, he was the only one of the three Vienna residents sentenced to prison – 27 months. For Yeh, it wasn’t the first time a family member ended up in legal trouble because of him. And when he goes to prison, that won’t be for the first time, either. In Philadelphia in October 2009, Yeh was convicted of drug distribution and later sentenced to 15 months behind bars.

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New Life Proposed for Old Apartments

Modern, multifamily homes, townhouses planned in the City.

When Oak Knolls Realty Corp. acquired the Oak Knolls Apartments a year ago, more than 30 of the units weren’t habitable. “There was water damage and they hadn’t been maintained property,” said land-use attorney Lynne Strobel, representing the new owner. “Now they’ve undergone extensive renovations and 100 percent of the units are habitable.”

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Honoring County’s Devotion to Animals

Shelter’s renovation and expansion are celebrated.

Residents, politicians and even four-footed alumni flocked to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate completion of its renovation and expansion. It was a long time in coming, so it made the event even sweeter.

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Honoring County’s Devotion to Animals

Shelter’s renovation and expansion are celebrated.

Residents, politicians and even four-footed alumni flocked to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate completion of its renovation and expansion. It was a long time in coming, so it made the event even sweeter.

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Motion, Distance, Flame Retardants and More

Students participate in Madison High’s science fair.

Madison High’s Feb. 5 science fair brought out the curiosity and creativity in the students participating in it. Below, some of them explain their projects:

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Theater Workshops Offered from the Professionals

Broadway comes to Fairfax with the arrival of actress Candi Boyd, currently appearing on Broadway in the play, “Jersey Boys.” On Sunday, March 9, she’ll present a musical-theater workshop, “Broadway: Behind the Curtain,” at Fairfax High – and it’s open to all area high-school students. It’ll run from noon-4:30 p.m. in the auditorium, with a limited number of spots available. Tickets range from $10-$40, depending on level of participation. The event’s a fundraiser for Fairfax High’s theater program, and school Theater Director Erich DiCenzo hopes to make it an annual tradition. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to have exposure to professional and talented artists,” he said. “Anyone with any interest in this field is welcome. Attendees don’t have to be theater students.”

Trying to Stay Strong Through the Grief

Woodson High community mourns two students.

Tears, sad faces, hugs, stunned silences, churning emotions and unanswered questions – all are part of the reaction of the Woodson High students in the wake of last week’s tragedies: Two of their classmates have died.

‘I Have to Protect Society from You’

Requejo sentenced to five years in prison.

Even if Eduardo Requejo was sexually molested himself, as a child, that didn’t give him the right to do it to anyone else. That was the message Judge Brett Kassabian gave him last Friday in Fairfax County Circuit Court. He then sentenced Requejo, 23, of Fairfax, to five years in prison for sexually molesting an 8-year-old girl.

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‘Mamma Mia, Here I Go Again’

Chantilly’s Emily Price has come a long way. In 2006, at age 14, she played Dorothy in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Now 22, she’s performing in the Broadway national tour of “Mamma Mia!” The hit musical is at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., March 4-9. In the story, a young woman named Sophie is getting married in Greece. She wants to learn who her father is, so she invites three former suitors of her mother’s to the wedding. “I play Ali, one of Sophie’s best friends, who’s come to the Greek island as a bridesmaid,” said Price. “Ali’s quirky, funny and excited to be reunited with Sophie. I love it; I get to jump around and have a blast every night with wonderful performers. The audience loves the show — we always get a great reaction.”

Roundups for May 24

Cabaret in Reema’s Honor The Remembrance Cabaret for Reema Samaha is this Saturday, May 26, at Westfield High. The show starts at 7 p.m., but the doors open at 6 p.m. for a bake sale and silent auction. It’s an evening of songs, dances and comedy sketches in memory of Westfield High grad and Virginia Tech victim Samaha.

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Rocky Run Girl Power

Seventh-grade eCybermission team is second in Virginia.

The boys on Rocky Run Middle School’s eighth-grade eCybermission team won the Virginia state championship, but the girls of the seventh-grade team are no slouches, either. They, too, did their school proud, finishing second in the state.

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‘Whatever I Do Will Only Make Me Stronger’

Robinson student wins Hispanic Leadership Alliance scholarship.

Born in Bolivia, Lucia Maldonado came to the U.S. at age 7 with her mother and younger sister. Now 18, she’s about to graduate from Robinson Secondary School and is the recipient of a Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) scholarship.

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McLean High Wins Four Cappies

Takes home trophy for Best Play.

McLean High took home five awards – including the one for Best Play – at Sunday night’s 13th annual Cappie Awards at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. McLean’s other victories were for Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Play for its production of "A View from the Bridge," as well as Returning Critic and Critic Team.

Local Schools Win Six Cappie Awards

Paul VI takes Lead Actress in a Musical honor.

Woodson High won three awards, and Fairfax, Paul VI and Robinson Secondary, one each, at Sunday night’s 13th annual Cappie Awards at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

‘Your Character Will Lead You to Success’

Westfield High graduates nearly 700 students on June 18.

Turning their tassels and tossing their caps into the air, nearly 700 Westfield High students graduated on Wednesday, June 18, in GMU’s Patriot Center.

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Colleagues Mourn GBW Instructional Assistant

After four decades there, Agnes Gordon dies at age 79.

After 43 years at Greenbriar West Elementary (GBW), instructional assistant Agnes Gordon decided she’d retire after school ended in June. So her friends and colleagues were prepared to say goodbye to her.