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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

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Demand for Help Grows Each Year

WFCM celebrates 25th anniversary.

In 1987, a dozen churches in Centreville, Chantilly and Fair Oaks were inundated with people walking in and asking for food and money. Eventually, the pastors discussed it among themselves and devised a plan.

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Crafts, Plays, Dance: Events for Fall

Below is a partial listing of autumn events happening in the area:

Jail Plus Restitution for Fairfax Woman

Fairfax resident Erin Cullen was sentenced Friday, Sept. 21 to 30 days in jail for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was also ordered to pay her share of the more than $700,000 lost by financial institutions because of her role in a $1.5 million mortgage-fraud scheme. Authorities said she and others joined together to defraud financial institutions into making fraudulent mortgage loans. The players included a mortgage broker, an unqualified straw buyer, an executive from a title company and several intermediaries who prepared and approved fraudulent loan documents.

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Family Fun At Cox Farms

Cool, crisp weather, apple cider, pumpkins and changing leaves are sure signs of autumn. In the local area, it also means it’s time for the annual fall festival at Cox Farms.

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Get Ready for Clifton Day

45th annual festival is Sunday, Oct. 7.

Live bands, moonbounces, handmade crafts, Civil War re-enactors, food galore, pony rides and a unicyclist — all these things and more will be part of the 45th annual Clifton Day. The festival is slated for Sunday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Rain date is Oct. 14.)

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Giving Back to Task Force One

Firehouse Subs gives firefighters $10,000 toward search tool.

When disasters nearly anywhere in the world trap people in buildings and under rubble, Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team is often called to find and rescue them. Now, thanks to a new piece of equipment called a telehandler, the team will be even better prepared for the task. “It looks like a forklift on steroids,” said Battalion Chief Chris Schaff, program manager for the team, called Virginia Task Force One (VA-TF1). “It gives you the ability to pick up stuff and also be able to boom out and reach out over a rubble pile while training.”

Eight Months Prison for Fairfax Man

Fairfax resident Peter Kim has been sentenced to eight months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay his share of the more than $700,000 lost by financial institutions because of his part in a $1.5 million mortgage-fraud scheme.

No Bail for Wolfe

He’ll be retried in October by Fairfax County’s head prosecutor.

More than 10 years have passed since Chantilly High grad Justin Wolfe has been inside a Prince William County courtroom. The last time, June 26, 2002, he was sentenced to death for ordering the March 2001, execution-style killing of Centreville High grad Danny Petrole.

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Walk, Dance, Play, Help

WFCM fundraiser is Sept. 29 at the nZone.

Local residents can have a good time while helping people in their own neighborhoods. On Saturday, Sept. 29, from 9-11 a.m., Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is holding a “Help the Homeless” Community Walk, Zumba Class and Family Fun event.

Buying Pizza Can Help Fight Thyroid Cancer

When Nikki Ferraro was a Chantilly High School junior in April 2010, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. But while undergoing treatment, she gathered about 30 friends and organized a Relay for Life team.

Smaller School with Pilot Programs

Stone Middle principal discusses what’s new this year.

When Scott Phillips first came to Stone Middle School some 11 years ago, it was jammed to the rafters with 1,350 students. Then Liberty Middle opened in 2002, and Stone’s enrollment dropped significantly.

Door-to-Door with Chantilly Voters

Volunteers mobilize for Obama campaign.

About 10 volunteers from President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign met outside Rocky Run Middle School on Saturday before fanning out into Chantilly’s Poplar Tree Estates neighborhood to canvass the residents.

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Help Feed Hungry Children

Last year, Centreville Elementary created a backpack program at the school to help feed students in need when school’s not in session. Through this program, children identified by CES as requiring some food assistance are given a small bag with enough food to get them through the weekend. The goal on Sept. 29 is to fill 700 bags with food for these students.

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‘A Forklift on Steroids’

Firehouse Subs gives firefighters $10,000 toward search tool.

When disasters nearly anywhere in the world trap people in buildings and under rubble, Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team is often called to find and rescue them. Now, thanks to a new piece of equipment called a telehandler, the team will be even better prepared for the task.

Bereavement Group To Meet

Rachel Crossett was just 6 in July 2001 when she died of cancer after a long fight. Her death devastated her mother, Meg Crossett; but with a husband and other children to care for, she had to be strong and carry on.

For Justin Wolfe, It’s Good and Bad News

State won’t appeal overturned convictions, but Prince William plans to retry him.

For Justin Wolfe and his family, the past week has been a rollercoaster of emotions. On Friday, Sept. 7, the state attorney general’s office said it won’t appeal his overturned convictions in a murder-for-hire, death-penalty and drug-dealing case.

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Hoping for a Traffic Signal

Willow Springs parents describe transportation troubles.

It’s not a done deal, yet. But if the traffic volume at the intersection of Braddock Road and Willow Springs School Road warrants it, a traffic signal will someday be installed there. And it can’t come soon enough for Willow Springs Elementary parents and schoolbus drivers.

Kid Fest in Clifton

Food, fun, music and games in the park.

Music, games, food and an all-around good time – that’s what’s in store for those attending Kid Fest in Clifton. It’s slated for this Saturday, Sept. 15, from noon-5 p.m., in the town park.

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Why CBC’s Members Love Their Church

During the Saturday, Sept. 8, open house at Centreville Baptist Church, members toured the new addition and talked about why their church is special to them.

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‘A Place for People With a Purpose’

Centreville Baptist Church celebrates new worship center.

Centreville Baptist Church has a new worship center, bookstore, classrooms and area for gatherings and fellowship. But the Rev. Billy Ross knows it means much more than just a new addition to the facility.

The Background: Drugs, Murder and Money

When 21-year-old, Centreville High grad Danny Petrole was slain in his car in front of his Bristow townhouse, March 15, 2001, it stunned the community and devastated his family. It also led police to discover a drug ring of major proportions operating in the Centreville/Chantilly area.

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Kid Fest in Clifton

Food, fun, music and games in the park.

Music, games, food and an all-around good time—that’s what’s in store for those attending Kid Fest in Clifton. It’s slated for this Saturday, Sept. 15, from noon-5 p.m., in the town park.

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Willow Springs Parents Hoping for a Traffic Signal

Parents describe transportation troubles.

It’s not a done deal, yet. But if the traffic volume at the intersection of Braddock Road and Willow Springs School Road warrants it, a traffic signal will someday be installed there. And it can’t come soon enough for Willow Springs Elementary parents and schoolbus drivers. In the meanwhile, the Wink-o-matic flashing lights on Braddock—telling drivers nearing that intersection to slow from 45 to 25 mph—have been reinstated after having been removed during the summer.

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Teachers Are Excited about New School Year

The bells have all rung and the students returned to their classes this week. But school started earlier for their teachers, who spent part of their summer working on lesson plans and readying their classrooms for the new school year.

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Lesson Plan For Success

Teachers are excited about the new school year.

The bells have all rung and the students returned to their classes this week. But school started earlier for their teachers, who spent part of their summer working on lesson plans and readying their classrooms for the new school year.

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School Begins Again for Local Students

More than 181,000 students headed back to their classrooms Tuesday morning, Sept. 6, for the start of the 2012-13 school year. They toted backpacks, lunchboxes and assorted supplies and greeted the new year with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

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Back to the Classroom

School begins again for local students.

More than 181,000 students headed back to their classrooms Tuesday morning, Sept. 6, for the start of the 2012-13 school year. They toted backpacks, lunchboxes and assorted supplies and greeted the new year with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Centre View Roundups, Sept. 5 2012

Centre View Round-ups, Sept. 5, 2012: Youth Group Volunteer Arrested; Back-To-School Safety; Free Carseat Inspections; Park Authority to Meet; Charitable Donations Still Accepted; Draft Bicycle Master Plan

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Cool Cars in Clifton

The 13th Annual Labor Day Car Show in Clifton was Monday, Sept. 3. All proceeds went to Life with Cancer and the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program.

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Ready for Some Football

Centreville High inaugurates new, artificial-turf fields.

When the Centreville High football team beat Lake Braddock last Friday, 28-27, it underscored the Wildcats’ intention to successfully defend their regional title. It was also the inaugural game on their new, artificial-turf field.

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Restaurant Fund-Raiser Benefits Best Buddies

Event scheduled for Sept. 16.

Piero’s Corner Italian Restaurant will host a Best Buddies fund-raiser Sunday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. for its busboy, Eric Latcheran of Chantilly, and his friend Ryan Gutkowski of Clifton. The restaurant is at 9959 Main St. in Fairfax.

‘I Was Born to Be an Educator’

Franklin band director retires after 28 years.

Lawrence Walker was at Franklin Middle when it opened in 1984.

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Paul VI Runfest 5K Sept. 16 in Fairfax

After a two-year hiatus, the Paul VI Catholic High School (PVI) Runfest 5K will return Sunday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., to the City of Fairfax. Previously run over 10 consecutive years, it was last held in fall 2009.

Centreville’s Civil War Past

Travel back in time via the Stuart-Mosby Museum.

Few communities are lucky enough to have a Civil War museum in their midst; Centreville is one of them.

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Creative Thinking and Engineering

Philip Everard is only 8, but says he’s been building with LEGOs ever since he was born. “We had [the large] Duplo LEGOs then,” he said. “My brother would put them in my hand and guide me.”

Hands-On Fun While Learning

Children attend LEGO camp in Clifton.

Sure, LEGOs are child’s play — but they’re also much more. And Clifton’s Cam Meyer, 15, recently shared his knowledge of what these colorful building pieces can do during a Lego camp held in the town’s meeting hall.

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Clifton Car Show on Labor Day

Proceeds to benefit charities.

Featuring street rods, custom and antique cars, muscle and classic cars, and motorcycles, the 13th Annual Labor Day Car Show is Monday, Sept. 3, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., in Clifton.

Another Death-Row Victory for Wolfe

Federal judge vacates murder and drug convictions, plus sentences.

Message from the court system to Prince William Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert: Be fair and play by the rules, or convictions you’ve obtained by skirting the boundaries of what’s right may eventually be overturned.

Looking Ahead: Many Projects Are on the Horizon

New and exciting projects are on the horizon in the Sully District. Below are some of them:

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Supervisor Michael Frey’s View of Centreville

Michael Frey has lived in Centreville’s London Commons community for more than 20 years and has been the Sully District supervisor since the district was created in 1992. So Centre View asked him to explain what he believes makes Centreville so special.

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Food, Fun And Festivities

Neighbors, firefighters and police celebrate National Night Out.

It could have been just an ordinary Tuesday night — families eating quiet dinners in their homes, behind closed doors. But instead, last Tuesday, Aug. 7, residents of Centreville’s Sully Station II community joined together in four neighborhoods for outdoor block parties.

‘Born to Be an Educator’

Franklin band director retires after 28 years.

Lawrence Walker was at Franklin Middle when it opened in 1984. But now, after 30 years with Fairfax County Public Schools — 28 of them at Franklin — the school’s band director has retired.

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Making Beautiful Music

Students participate in Franklin’s Band and Orchestra Camp.

Take 710 students, 35 teachers and musical instruments of every size and shape and you get Franklin Middle School’s Band and Orchestra Camp.

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Clifton Car Show on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2012

Featuring street rods, custom and antique cars, muscle and classic cars, and motorcycles, the 13th Annual Labor Day Car Show is Monday, Sept. 3, 2012 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., in Clifton.

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Learning History Firsthand

Veterans tell Rocky Run students about WWII.

Each year, WWII comes alive for seventh-graders at Rocky Run Middle School. That’s because, besides what they learn about it from their textbooks, they get to hear firsthand from those who lived through it.

Realizing a Dream

Garrett begins job of deputy fire chief.

Since he was a boy, William Garrett knew he’d grow up to be a firefighter. Although he and his family have lived in Centreville six-and-a-half years, he was born and raised in Alexandria’s Gum Springs community — and that’s where the spark was ignited.

Chantilly Pain Clinic Owner Is Convicted

Oxycodone distribution, healthcare, tax fraud.

The owner and president of a pain clinic in Chantilly was convicted Friday, Aug. 3, in Federal Court of conspiring to distribute and actually distributing oxycodone, a controlled drug.

Creative Thinking, Problem Solving and Engineering

Philip Everard is only eight, but says he’s been building with LEGOs ever since he was born.

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Hands-On Fun while Learning

Children attend LEGO camp in Clifton

Sure, LEGOs are child’s play—but they’re also much more. And Clifton’s Cam Meyer, 15, recently shared his knowledge of what these colorful building pieces can do during a LEGO camp held in the town’s meeting hall.

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They Gather To Do Good

Social Change group raises money for charities.

When ordinary people work together for a good cause, extraordinary things can happen. And that’s been the case so far with a local group called Social Change.