Following in His Dad’s Footsteps
Ben Sisson is county’s Volunteer Rookie Firefighter of the Year.
Ben Sisson is just 20, but he’s just been honored as Fairfax County’s 2012 Volunteer Rookie Firefighter of the Year. He received the recognition and a plaque last Tuesday, Feb. 12, along with other volunteer firefighters, during a ceremony before the Board of Supervisors.
Pancakes, Coffee and Donations
Centreville IHOP Holds Leukemia, Lymphoma Fundraiser
Pancakes and syrup make a tasty meal; but at the Centreville IHOP, they’re also a way to raise money. And that’s what happened Feb. 5 when the restaurant held a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Officer of the Year
Shields honored at Sully District Station.
It takes a great deal to become a police station’s Officer of the Year, but PFC Joe Shields has what it takes. And last Wednesday, Feb. 13, he received that honor for 2012 during a meeting of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee.
Man Pleads Guilty to Murder
Walker killed Centreville woman in January 2012.
One year ago, Benjamin Luke Walker walked into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center’s pre-release center and confessed to killing his roommate, a 22-year-old Centreville woman.
Inventors Need Community’s Votes
Rocky Run X-BOTS team vies for innovation award.
A team of students mainly from Rocky Run Middle School is vying for an award for an app it created to help senior citizens. And area residents can help the students win by voting for their creation.
Neil Simon Comedy at CHS
Theater students present “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”
If it’s a Neil Simon comedy, it’s bound to be hilarious. And that’s what Chantilly High’s presenting this week in its production of Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”
Debbie Bendorf, 38, Loses Cancer Fight
Cancer doesn’t care if a person is a wife and mother loved by friends and family, is only 38 and isn’t finished living, yet.
‘These Are a Few of My Favorite Things’
Springfield man is starring in “The Sound of Music.”
The hills may not be alive with “The Sound of Music,” but Centreville Presbyterian Church sure will be when its community theater presents this classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
‘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.
‘Go Live the Life You Dreamed’
Principal Jagels addresses graduating seniors.
Addressing Mountain View High’s winter graduates last Tuesday, Feb. 5, Principal Dave Jagels asked them to take a moment and think back to kindergarten.
Pathways to a Successful Future
Local students can enroll in Cybersecurity and Engineering Technology programs.
In the coming weeks, freshmen, sophomores and juniors in Fairfax and Woodson high schools and Robinson Secondary School will be planning their class schedules for fall. And before they do, Joan Ozdogan, career experience specialist at Chantilly Academy—a Governor’s STEM Academy—wants them to know about two new programs they might want to take.
A Study in Courage And Compassion
Centreville woman battles cancer; needs community’s help.
Just 38, Centreville’s Debbie Bendorf is a wife, a mother of three young boys and a person fighting the battle of her life against a rare form of cancer. She loves her family, is loyal to her friends and doesn’t complain or ask for anything special for herself — which is why the community is trying to help her and her family.
Giving from the Heart
SYA raising money for family of Westfield coach/administrator.
On the surface, it was a basketball tournament like any other. Boys in colorful uniforms competed against each other in a school gym, while moms sold concessions outside in the hallway. But the whole event, Saturday, Feb. 9, at Westfield High had a much more special and serious purpose.
‘Take Every Day as a Blessing’
Debbie Bendorf may be fighting a tough foe that doesn’t play fair, but that’s not going to stop her from living her life as best she can or spending every minute possible with her family.
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.
‘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.”
A Ticket to Hollywood
Fairfax Academy student Maddie Assel is on American Idol.
Fairfax Academy student Maddie Assel is a bubbly, outgoing, 17-year-old. She’s busy with school, friends, college visits and—oh, yes, she’s also a contestant on American Idol.
Teens Charged in Fire Bomb Incident
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department investigators have charged 15 Herndon and Chantilly juveniles with the manufacture and use of fire bombs or other explosive devices.
Chantilly Students Sparkle at Science Fair
Chantilly High’s 29th annual Science Fair was held Wednesday, Jan. 23. The event showcased 442 projects from nearly 600 students.
The winners of Chantilly High’s 29th annual Science Fair Competition, held Jan. 23, are listed below.
From Serious to Hilarious
Centreville High presents its One-Act Play Festival.
Comedy, drama and everything in between are on tap during Centreville High’s One-Act Play Festival. It’s slated for Friday, Feb 15, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets, good for both days, are $5 at the door.
Bank Approved For Centreville Site
BB&T is coming to Sully Station Shopping Center.
It’s official — at long last, something is being built on the vacant pad site at the right end of the Sully Station Shopping Center. That something will be a BB&T Bank, which got a thumbs-up, last Tuesday, Jan. 29, from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
‘How Far Should Science Push?’
Westfield High presents “Flowers for Algernon.”
The past two years, Westfield High won a slew of Cappie awards with musicals. But this time, its Cappies show is “Flowers for Algernon,” a thought-provoking drama with a serious message.
CHS Advances To Regionals
School’s thespians win the VHSL One-Act Play District Competition.
Chantilly High’s Theater Department is on a roll; it captured first place in last week’s VHSL One-Act Play District Competition and is now headed to regionals.
Economic Uncertainty Casts Shadow Here
Frey gives details in State of Sully talk.
Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) gave his State of Sully address last week, talking mainly about Fairfax County’s economy and transportation issues.
Recreation, Imaginative Play and Fun
Kid Junction plans to open site in Chantilly.
A place where children can engage in creative play and have birthday parties, too – that’s Kid Junction. And Kreative Minds LLC – the three people who’d own what would be Kid Junction’s first franchise in Virginia – hope to open it in Chantilly.
Choral Cabaret To Be Held Feb. 9 at Centreville High
Live entertainment, refreshments, gift baskets, a raffle, silent auction and an evening of fun are all in store for those attending Centreville High’s Choral Cabaret.
‘She Will Be Missed Every Day’
Family mourns Centreville icon, Marguerite Buckley, 94.
Marguerite Buckley lived a long, full life — but that doesn’t mean her family was ready to say goodbye to her when she died Jan. 8, at age 94.
Food Pantry, Thrift Store Moves to New Locations
WFCM is still on Metrotech Drive, but in two new spots.
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) has moved – but not far.
A Ticket to Hollywood
Centreville High senior Maddie Assel is on “American Idol.”
Centreville High senior Maddie Assel is a bubbly, outgoing, 17-year-old. She’s busy with school, friends, college visits and — oh, yes, she’s also a contestant on “American Idol.”
‘Peanuts’ Comic Strip Comes Alive
Fairfax High presents, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder—the whole “Peanuts” gang—shows up for Fairfax High’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Katcham Receives McDonnell Award
Honored for his long-time community service.
Jim Katcham has been serving his community for years, so it’s only fitting that he was honored Monday night with the James D. McDonnell Award for dedicated and outstanding community service.
‘They Treat Him Like One of Their Own’
Centreville High football players mean the world to Juwaan.
Juwaan Espinal, 15, was born with cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound. But that doesn’t mean he can’t live a life as full of joy and meaning as possible.
Gaining Confidence for SATs
Educators offer prep seminar.
For high-school students, a great deal rides on doing well on the SAT test. But it can be both a daunting and an intimidating experience. And that’s where Westfield High counselor Dan Harris and English teacher Gregg Greentree come in. Together, they’ve developed an SAT prep course.
Sharing People’s Stories Is Filmmaker’s Passion
Local grad Monica Zinn working on second movie.
Monica Zinn is an independent documentary filmmaker. This Burke resident already has one successful film under her belt and is hard at work on another. She graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in 2011, but attended the Fairfax Academy from 2009-11, and that’s where her talent began to blossom.
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.
Bull Run Elementary Heritage Night
Students and parents at Bull Run Elementary showed their cultural pride last Thursday, Jan. 17, at the school’s Family Heritage Night. The event included ethnic food, a “museum” displaying items from various countries, plus songs and dances by students wearing outfits reflecting their heritage.
CAC Honors Auxiliary Officer
Thad Palmer praised for his dedication.
APO Palmer was honored as that station’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Officer of the Month.
Defining the Dream Of Martin Luther King, Jr.
CPMSAC presents annual celebration Jan. 20.
Each year, the Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement (CPMSAC) Committee celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s event is slated for Sunday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m., at Westfield High.
And They’re off to Washington, D.C.
Two local groups will perform at Obama’s inaugural balls.
While most people will have to watch President Barack Obama’s inauguration celebration on TV, Army Sergeant Major (retired) Keith Jarman of Centreville will be there in person.
‘He’s Centreville’s Family Doctor’
Beloved physician, Richard Bowles, retires after 42 years.
Physician Richard Bowles Retires after 42 Years
History’s ‘More Than Boring, Old Facts’
Rocky Run seventh-graders “visit” the Westward Movement.
Rocky Run seventh-grade history teacher Maggie Brown stacked the desks in her classroom on top of each other. She then covered them with brown paper to simulate a sod house and had her students sit on the floor inside it.
Looking Back on a Satisfying Career
Richard Bowles always knew he’d someday be a doctor. “My dad was a doctor and I used to ride on calls with him,” he said. “I think he had a big influence on me. I was around medicine all my life and I looked up to him, so there was never any question about what I wanted to do.”
Robinson Offers Pair of Children’s Shows
Presenting “Waking Sleeping Beauty” and “The Lorax” this weekend.
The only thing better than one children’s show is two children’s shows, and Robinson Secondary’s Production Company class, RoProCo, is presenting a double bill this weekend.
Will Justin Wolfe Be Freed?
Family, friends await court’s action.
In March 2001, Centreville High grad Danny Petrole, 21, was shot and killed outside his Bristow townhouse. The crime involved drug-dealing and money, and the shooter — Chantilly High grad Owen Barber IV, who pleaded guilty — received 38 years in prison.
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. Prior to the Jan. 9 start of the Virginia General Assembly session, Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th) and Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34th) met with some 65 constituents.
Should There Be Guns in Schools?
“If we don’t pay for the fixes now, we’ll pay for it later with the lives of our children.” —Joe Samaha, father of Virginia Tech victim Reema Samaha.
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.
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.
Should There Be Guns in Schools?
State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34) and Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67) covered many subjects during last week’s town hall meeting. But the topic of guns in the schools proved to be the hot-button issue of the evening, quickly inflaming passions on both sides.
‘Horses in Need of Heroes’
Centreville girls benefit equines via charity.
Caring and compassion can reside in people of all ages. Just 13, Centreville’s Katie Puckett showed that when she created a charity called Horses in Need of Heroes.