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Rescued Cats and Dogs Bring Loyalty to Families
Families grow with adopted pets.
The ASPCA estimates that nationwide, somewhere between five and seven million “companion animals” wind up in shelters each year. Of that number, 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized ... each year. The prominent humane organization also figures only about 20 to 30 percent of cat and dog pets were acquired from rescues and shelters.
250 Brave Cold in 23rd Burke CROP Hunger Walk
Jennifer Weiner’s wristband read 11,188 steps. That’s how many it took the Springfield resident to complete the 3.7-mile Burke CROP Hunger Walk on Nov. 22. Weiner is Rabbi Educator for Congregation Adat Reyim, which sent more than a dozen volunteers to the fundraiser for the 14th straight year.
Burke Church Volunteers Assemble Birth Kits for Haiti
Meg Hanrahan of Burke and Melinda Engelbrektsson of Fairfax Station have each faced life-threatening complications with childbirth. Thanks to the medical resources available to them and “the grace of God,” said Engelbrektsson, they and their children survived. Many women in third world countries including Haiti don’t have the same opportunity.
Riding and Thriving
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program holds annual Polo Classic.
At 3 years old, Blythe Champion was diagnosed with herpes encephalitis, a rare and aggressive central nervous system infection. The infection put her into a coma; when she woke up, she was blind. Eventually Champion regained her central vision, but never peripheral.
Fairfax County: Room to Improve for Fairfax County Public Schools on SAT
Scores above Virginia, national Levels, but achievement gap remains
On average, Fairfax County Public High Schools performed better on the SAT college placement exam in 2016 than the Commonwealth of Virginia overall average.
Filler-Corn’s HB 2404 Passes with Amendments
Bill would create PANDAS advisory council.
Overnight, Alexandria resident Carol Quick’s 9-year-old son developed an eating disorder — an obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety.
Hunters share venison chili at Lorton Community Action Center
Bob Flanagan of Fairfax Station and Tom Dalton of Springfield serve up samples of two styles of chili, just like a vendor at a grocery store. Except their chili — each man is responsible for one pot, either sweet and spicy or mild and chunky — is made with local venison. And the grocery store is actually the Lorton Community Action Center food pantry.
Fairfax County and Springfield Communities Celebrate the Life of Karen Brown
Springfield resident Sam Martin remembers Karen Brown as the exemplary neighbor. “She was a wonderful friend who wouldn’t drive by the house without stopping,” he said. “She was always welcoming you in, and a fantastic cook.”
Committed to Peacemaking
Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County reception honors activists and advocates.
Suraya Sadeed said hearing more than 20 stories of students promoting peace in and out of their schools made her believe “there is still hope for a brighter future.”
‘Day Prom’ Celebrated
Eight high schools participate in daytime prom for special needs students.
Prom is pretty intimidating as it is: date, hair, dress, food, limo, flowers, dancing... gasp. But the annual event is also a privilege, a rite of high school passage that bonds students through shared experience for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, many students with special needs will never share that experience with their peers. Their physical or intellectual disabilities can make participating in such a large and emotional gathering overwhelming, uncomfortable, and in some cases, simply impossible.
Key Middle Officer Honored
Rudy Coffield is the FCPS 2013 Distinguished School Resource Officer.
n full policeman’s regalia—bus driver hat and all—Master Police Officer (MPO) Rudy Coffield is an imposing figure. The meticulously assembled uniform commands respect: His gleaming badge, crackling radio and holstered firearm immediately convey an unwavering attention to detail, rule, law and purpose.
Snow Place Like Home in Burke, Fairfax Station, Mount Vernon and Springfield
Residents, volunteers come together to dig out after Jonas drops over 20 inches.
Compared to Wednesday night’s sneak-attack dusting that caught Virginia Department of Transportation crews unprepared and commuters stuck in hours of slick rush hour gridlock, Fairfax County Supervisors think the full force of Winter Storm Jonas was weathered about as well as possible.
Mount Vernon: Not Willing To Wait
Elected officials and candidates discuss Bus Rapid Transit and Metro expansion timetables.
Waiting at least 11 years for implementing a Bus Rapid Transit system along the Route 1 corridor and 25 years to extend the Metrorail Yellow Line to Hybla Valley is too much time.
League of Women Voters Hosts Forum on Firearms, Domestic Violence and Suicide in Burke
Among intimate partner homicides in Fairfax County in 2009 and 2010, firearms were the fatal weapon 60 percent of the time, nearly double the next closest implement: knives. Fairfax County domestic violence coordinator Sandra Bromley shared this and further information at an information forum on gun use in domestic violence and suicide held at Pohick Library on March 22.
Fairfax Station, Springfield and Burke students at Sangster Honor Veterans
When Rachel Heyne sang “Let Freedom Ring” on Veterans Day with her classmates in the Sangster chorus, the message touched her.
Fairfax County: Public hearing on yard waste bags follows premature administrative change
North Springfield resident Asher Grady has his leaf collecting down to a science. And with the mature trees around his quarter-acre lot, he needs to. Each fall, he said, he goes through between 60 and 80 bags of leaves, spending between eight and 12 hours to rake and bag them.
Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke helps seniors age in place with free rides program
It was the first time Fairfax residents Marilyn Hanick and her husband Robert ever asked for any help. She can drive herself to doctor’s appointments at her Fair Oaks area hospital, but for the couple to get Robert to Tysons Corner for appointments for eye injections, his back and hearing problems make it much more difficult.
Fairfax, Mount Vernon, Springfield: Families host children from underserved New York City communities
At 11, Rickay Martin of Queens has already done Washington, D.C. With her host family, the Thompsons of Springfield, she’s visited The Spy Museum, The White House, George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon: Storck Emphasizes School Board Experience in Supervisor Race
Christine Morin of Lorton remembers when South County Secondary School opened in 2005. She found out Fairfax County said they had no plans to build a South County middle school, as the system had previously promised, which was a reason Morin and her family moved to Laurel Hill from Burke.