"X%20%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD1%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD4889%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD4785%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDlachrymatory/"

The Arts in Loudoun, Jan. 14-20

Mount Vernon High School teacher Matthew Thompson, who teaches chemistry and IB environmental systems, received a Friends of Trees Award from the Fairfax County Tree Commission for his efforts coordinating an effort to plant 465 native trees on the MVHS campus on April 20. Thompson’s efforts brought together students, teachers, administrators, sports teams, club members, community members, local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and members of the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, he worked with the local non-profit group, Fairfax ReLeaf, which provided many trees towards the effort. To cover additional expenses, Thompson was able to solicit over $1,800 in donations from local businesses to help fund the project.

John Burkarth Wins Special Olympics Gold Medal

John Burkarth of Herndon won his first national tournament and became the Virginia gold medallist in the Special Olympics 2013 held in Galloway, N.J., Oct. 18-20. Burkarth was tested in six different shot-making skills and scored 64-86-59 for a total score of 209, first place in the top division of the individual skills competition. Burkarth celebrated with medals, smiles and high fives at the end of the three-day Special Olympics North America Golf Invitational Tournament at the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway. A field of 176 golfers from 23 programs representing the United States and Canada competed in one of five levels of competition—individual skills (Level I), 9- and 18-hole alternate shot team play (Levels II & III), and 9- and 18-hole individual stroke play (Levels IV & V).

A Musical Crossroads at Signature Theatre

As part of its continuing commitment to developing new works, Signature Theatre presents a one-weekend-only concert of “Crossing,” a musical by Matt Conner and Grace Barnes. The concert will have four performances, all held on the weekend of Oct. 20-21 in the MAX.

News Brief: Comment on Deer Management Plan

The comment period for the National Park Service’s White-tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Assessment for Harpers Ferry and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal national historical parks ends March 20.