"bonnie schipper" | Search

All results / Stories

Tease photo

‘Kids Can Be Themselves Here’

Vienna Teen Center celebrates 15th anniversary.

A place to hang out with friends after school, play sports and games, do arts and crafts and just have fun – that’s the Vienna Teen Center. Called Club Phoenix, it’s on the bottom floor of the Vienna Community Center, and it just celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Tease photo

Teens Learn about Future Careers

Madison High teens participate in job-shadow program.

Medicine, business, computer security – 16 Madison High students learned about these careers and more during a recent, job-shadow program. Sponsored by FCPS and the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, it enabled the students to experience various occupations firsthand. The teens listed their top three career interests and the Chamber matched them with businesses. Afterward, they shared their experiences with The Connection.

‘Mayor Has to Know, Understand the City’

Fairfax’s Scott Silverthorne running for re-election.

Scott Silverthorne was raised in a political family, so it’s no wonder he’s been involved in leading the City of Fairfax for two decades. He served 18 consecutive years on the City Council, is now completing a two-year term as mayor and is running for re-election. His father was a Fairfax planning commissioner, councilman and mayor. Meanwhile, Silverthorne attended City schools, graduated from Fairfax High and obtained a degree in marketing from Radford University. He’s worked in government relations and, most recently, he’s done executive-search consulting. But politics has always been in his blood. “In 1990, at age 24, I was the youngest person ever elected to City Council,” said Silverthorne. “The top six vote-getters win, and I was the top vote-getter in eight of the nine elections I was in. I left in 2008 because I thought it was time for new blood, Mayor Lederer wasn’t leaving and I’d accomplished all I’d wanted on City Council.”

Tease photo

How to Fix I-66?

More lanes, bus rapid transit, rail, spot improvements proposed.

It’s said that nothing’s certain but death and taxes – but most of the time, traffic congestion on I-66 can be added to that list. So VDOT’s seeking input from the public on how best to alleviate it.

Tease photo

Practicing What They Preach

Local theater teachers perform ‘Into the Woods.’

Six drama teachers headline the cast of the City of Fairfax Theatre Company’s summer production of "Into the Woods." They include Fairfax High’s Wendy Knight and Paul Rubenstein and Woodson High’s Terri Hobson.

Tease photo

Do Your Best; Raise the Bar

Chantilly High named a Virginia Honor Band.

Being designated a “Virginia Honor Band” is the most prestigious title bestowed upon school bands by the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association. And Chantilly High’s band has just received this recognition for the 12th time.

Tease photo

‘Proud of Our Young People at Woodson’

It was standing room only last week in Woodson High’s auditorium when some 1,100 people, mainly parents, gathered for comfort and advice in the aftermath of two student deaths.

Tease photo

Westfield High Garners 10 Cappie Awards

Victories include Best Musical, Actor, Choreography and Orchestra

For the second year in a row, Westfield High won 10 Cappies for a musical production at Sunday night’s 13th annual Cappie Awards Gala at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Challenges of a Lean Economy

Could Meals Tax Be Answer To Fund Schools?

The school budget, roads and money were the main topics Monday night, Jan. 20, when Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) gave his annual, “State of Sully” address.

Three Plays for Price of One

Centreville High One-Acts take the stage.

Two dramas and a comedy are on tap for Centreville High’s annual One-Act Play Festival. Presented will be “13 Ways to Screw up a College Interview,” “10,000 Cigarettes” and “The Lottery.”

Road Projects Take Step Forward

Supervisors approve six-year transportation funds.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week approved $1.4 billion to fund transportation projects for FY 2015 to FY 2020.

Tease photo

‘The Cast Fills This Story with Magic’

Westfield Summer Stage presents “Beauty and the Beast.”

Tease photo

Centreville UMC Mission Work Helps the Community

Provides food, household items, diapers, English classes.

Most churches are involved in various missions, and Centreville United Methodist Church (CUMC) is no exception. Describing the church’s congregation as “generous and mission-driven,” its mission director, Michelle Formica, recently discussed several of the church’s missions.

Tease photo

Fairfax City Manager Unveils Proposed FY19 Budget

Recommends a rise in the real-estate tax rate.

Tease photo

Townhouses Proposed for Davies Property in City of Fairfax

Council concerned about density, visitor parking and green space.

Tease photo

Come One, Come All to Centreville Day

Fun-filled, community celebration is this Saturday.

A fusion of community camaraderie, history and fun for all ages, the 24th annual Centreville Day celebration is this Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP).

Tease photo

Fairfax Rotary Club Celebrates 85 Years

Serves people at home and abroad

“It’s about the Rotary motto, ‘Service above Self,’” explained Tuininga. “We also donate financially to the Boys and Girls Scouts programs and to the Fairfax Police Youth scholarship.” The Rotary Club of Fairfax had just 16 members when it was chartered in 1931 by local businessmen and community leaders. Today, it’s 75 members strong, has a long history of service to the City and just celebrated its 85th anniversary.

Looking Towards the Future

Mountain View High holds winter graduation.

Mountain View High is a school of second chances, and its students make the most of them.

Tease photo

Building Obstacles Fosters Learning

Daniels Run students make “American Ninja Warrior” creations.

Inspiration can come from many places and, for Daniels Run Elementary teacher Vicky Novak, it was spurred by a conversation between two of her first-grade students.

Tease photo

Sully Police Discuss State of the Station

‘You Really Live in a Safe Community’