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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

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‘There’s Always a Void’

Two grieving mothers seek answers here.

Kim Nelson goes to bed at night hoping she’ll someday see her daughter again; Gil Harrington knows she’ll never be able to because her own daughter is gone forever. Saturday, March 31, they were together in Fairfax seeking information about what happened to their girls and doing what they could to prevent similar tragedies from befalling someone else’s child.

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Anyone for Bike Riding?

Fairfax County’s creating a Bicycle Transportation Plan.

Besides being fun and good exercise, bicycle riding can also help improve transportation in Fairfax County. So the county’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is holding a series of meetings to further develop a countywide Bicycle Transportation Plan.

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Residents Speak Out about Bike Plan

Fairfax County’s creating a bicycle-transportation network.

With help from Toole Design Group and Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), Fairfax County is currently developing a bicycle master plan.

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Students Shine in Pyramid Art Show

Students from Fairfax High and its feeder schools displayed their portfolios and individual works, March 21, in the Fairfax Pyramid Art Show.

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Fair Lakes Girl Honored at Ball

She’s a leukemia survivor.

Skyler Hundley, a 9-and-a-half-year-old fourth-grader at Poplar Tree Elementary, lives with her parents, John and Stacey, twin sister Jordan and little brother Christian, 5, in Fair Lakes. An active girl, she likes riding her bike and scooter, jumping on a trampoline and playing CYA soccer.

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Fairfax Woman Runs Half Marathon

Raised money for LLS in honor of her brother.

Fairfax resident Mary McLaughlin ran the Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon with two goals in mind – to raise as much money as she could for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and to honor her brother’s memory. And on March 17 in Washington, D.C., she did both.

Centreville High Celebrates Its Diversity

Centreville High celebrated its cultural and ethnic diversity, Friday, March 23, with an International Night showcasing student talent.

Fairfax Assists in Murder Investigation

On July 14, 1996, Thelma Scroggins was found dead in her home on Batna Road in Lignum (Culpeper County), Virginia. Scroggins was shot multiple times and died as a result of her injuries. Raymond Morrogh, the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney, has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office along with the assistance of the Fairfax County Police Department is currently investigating the death of Scroggins.

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Clifton Man Also To Be Honored

Two battles with lymphoma.

David Timko became the executive director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Washington, D.C., chapter in 1987 and, the following year, helped create the fund-raising Leukemia Ball. Little did he know then that he’d someday be one of the event’s patient heroes.

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Budget, Budget, Toil and Trouble

Fairfax County funding is less than desired.

To the average person, $6.7 billion seems like lots of money. But for Fairfax County — home to more than 1 million people — it’s still not enough to fund everything its residents want. But county representatives say they’re doing the best they can in a difficult economy.

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Anyone for Bike Riding?

Fairfax County’s creating a Bicycle Transportation Plan.

Besides being fun and good exercise, bicycle riding can also help improve transportation in Fairfax County. So the county’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is holding a series of meetings to further develop a countywide Bicycle Transportation Plan.

To Soldiers from Chantilly with Love

Chantilly High National Honor Society students spearheaded a communitywide drive to collect snacks and toiletries to send to U.S. soldiers overseas.

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Residents Speak Out about What They Want in Bike Plan

Local residents had their say recently about Fairfax County’s plan to create a practical and workable bicycle-transportation network.

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Fairfax County’s Creating Bicycle Transportation Plan

Besides being fun and good exercise, bicycle riding can also help improve transportation in Fairfax County.

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Chantilly Students Are On A Roll

Ninety are honored for their achievements.

Some 90 students were honored recently for their academic growth and achievement at Chantilly High’s second-quarter On-A-Roll ceremony. But it meant much more than the certificate they received.

Centre View Roundups March 21

Fatal Crash in Chantilly A 56-year-old Ashburn man died Tuesday following a car crash on the Fairfax County Parkway near Franklin Farm Road. The incident occurred March 20 shortly before 1 p.m. Fairfax County police say the man was driving southbound on the parkway and, for unknown reasons, left the roadway just past Franklin Farm Road and struck the sound wall.

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Local Girl Scout Troops Celebrate 100th Anniversary

Last Monday, March 12, was the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, and that afternoon, seven troops that meet at Virginia Run Elementary gathered to celebrate the centennial together.

Virginia Tech Found Culpable in 2007 Massacre

Sued for wrongful death by Erin Peterson’s parents.

All the money in the world won’t bring back their daughter Erin, but Celeste and Grafton Peterson at least have the satisfaction of knowing that Virginia Tech was officially found partly culpable in the April 16, 2007 massacre that killed 32 students.

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Ryan Dillon Dies at 22

Life stacked the deck against Ryan Dillon. He was autistic and had bone cancer and lived just to age 22.

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Remembering Ryan Dillon

Burke resident dies at age 22.

Life stacked the deck against Ryan Dillon. He was autistic and had bone cancer and just lived to age 22.

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Run a Race, Help Save Lives

5K in honor of two local women.

After surviving breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation, Centreville’s Vanessa Spiller is doing well and hopes to soon receive a clean bill of health from her doctor. Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford was diagnosed with a Stage III brain tumor in 2005, and is still fighting for her life.

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Two Capture Regional Acting Awards

Chaz Coffin is an award-winning actor. Not only did he receive a Cappie last year as part of the ensemble in Westfield High’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” but he’s now the proud owner of a WATCH

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A Meal and a Play: ‘Maid for Dogs’

Clifton Dinner Theater presents original comedy.

Actors are often advised not to perform with children or animals because they’ll be upstaged. But in The Clifton Dinner Theater’s play, “Maid for Dogs,” the animals — gray, standard poodles — are well-behaved and the show is hilarious.

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5K in Honor of Two Local Women

After surviving breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation, Centreville’s Vanessa Spiller is doing well and hopes to soon receive a clean bill of health from her doctor. Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford was diagnosed with a Stage III brain tumor in 2005, and is still fighting for her life.

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Food, Fashion and Fun in Fair Oaks

Salvation Army fund-raiser includes lunch, silent auction.

Food, stylish clothing and fun are on the menu for the Fairfax Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s upcoming fund-raiser. It’s slated for Friday, March 30, at the Waterford in Fair Oaks (across from Fair Oaks Mall).

Centre View Roundups March 15-22

St. Baldrick’s Day Celebration On Saturday, March 17, Centreville’s eighth annual St. Baldrick’s Day celebration will be held at Fast Eddie’s in the Newgate Shopping Center at Routes 28/29.

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Chantilly Students Create Care Packages for Soldiers

Life lessons don’t always come from books. National Honor Society (NHS) students at Chantilly High are learning that firsthand, showing care and compassion by collecting items to send to U.S. soldiers overseas. Students at other Chantilly Pyramid schools are collecting, too, as part of the America's Adopt-A-Soldier program.

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A Place for Artists in Clifton

The Art Guild of Clifton is forming.

The members of the Art Guild of Clifton don’t yet have a permanent space or funding, but both are in the works. They’ve got participating artists, talent and enthusiasm and, on Saturday, March 17, they’re having a grand opening in the Town of Clifton.

Food, Fashion and Fun in Fair Oaks

Salvation Army fund-raiser includes lunch, silent auction.

Food, stylish clothing and fun are on the menu for the Fairfax Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s upcoming fund-raiser. It’s slated for Friday, March 30, at the Waterford in Fair Oaks (across from Fair Oaks Mall).

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Run a Race, Help Save Lives

5K in honor of two local women.

After surviving breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation, Centreville’s Vanessa Spiller is doing well and hopes to soon receive a clean bill of health from her doctor.

Hot Music, Cool Vibe

Local students performing in Chantilly Invitational Jazz Festival.

The sounds of smooth, cool jazz will fill the air during the 32nd annual Chantilly High Invitational Jazz Festival. It’s slated for Friday-Saturday, March 16-17, in the school auditorium, 4201 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly.

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A Meal and a Play at Clifton Dinner Theater

Actors are often advised not to perform with children or animals because they’ll be upstaged.

Shaving Away Childhood Cancer

St. Baldrick’s Fund-Raiser Is March 17

Every year, 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. It also kills more children in Canada and the U.S. than any other disease. So the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has dedicated itself to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. And a group of determined and enthusiastic local residents is helping.

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Chantilly Library: The Renewal Project

“A wonderful place for our community."

Just as the writing of a book begins with an idea, so did the renovations of the Chantilly Regional Library. It started around 2004, when then Branch Manager Bonnie Worcester and her staff first discussed how to improve customer service there.

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Chantilly Library Turns a Page

Ribbon-cutting signals start of new chapter.

When the ribbon was cut last week to celebrate the changes at the Chantilly Regional Library, it marked the beginning of a new era there. It was also the culmination of years of planning and work.

Centre View Roundups March 8-14

Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, March 8, and March 22, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed.

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Trophy Time For Westfield

Thespians win VHSL One-Act Play State Championship.

There’s rejoicing at Westfield High. The school’s thespians captured a state championship Saturday, March 3, at the VHSL One-Act Play competition in Charlottesville.

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Alliance Theatre’s ‘Laughing Stock’

A comedic look at putting on a show.

Everything that can go wrong does go wrong in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “Laughing Stock.” But that’s the way it’s supposed to be as the local thespians portray members of a theater company putting on three different plays during their summer season.

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Hot Music, Cool Vibe at Chantilly

Invitational Jazz Festival is March 16-17.

The sounds of smooth, cool jazz will fill the air during the 32nd annual Chantilly High Invitational Jazz Festival. It’s slated for Friday-Saturday, March 16-17, in the school auditorium.

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Examining Causes of Domestic Violence

There have been three homicides in the Sully District since Capt. Purvis Dawson became commander of the Sully District Police Station, in April 2010 — and all three had domestic components.

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It’s ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ at Franklin Middle School

Featuring a cast and crew of 125, Franklin Middle School presents the musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Show times are Wednesday, March 14, at 2:45 p.m., and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 15, 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. each night Tickets are $8 at the door and during school lunches.

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A Place for Artists

The Art Guild of Clifton is forming.

The members of the Art Guild of Clifton don’t yet have a permanent space or funding, but both are in the works. They’ve got participating artists, talent and enthusiasm and, on Saturday, March 17, they’re having a grand opening in the Town of Clifton.

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Alliance Theatre’s ‘Laughing Stock’

A hilarious look at putting on a show.

Everything that can go wrong does go wrong in The Alliance Theatre’s production of "Laughing Stock." But that’s the way it’s supposed to be as the local thespians portray members of a theater company putting on three different plays during their summer season.

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Examining Causes of Domestic Violence

What it is, the dangers and what to do about it.

There have been three homicides in the Sully District since Capt. Purvis Dawson became commander of the Sully District Police Station, in April 2010 — and all three had domestic components.

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It’s ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ at Franklin Middle

Featuring a cast and crew of 125, Franklin Middle School presents the musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Show times are Wednesday, March 14, at 2:45 p.m., and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 15, 16 and 17, at 7 p.m. each night Tickets are $8 at the door and during school lunches.

Centre View Roundups March 1-7

VDOT will re-open the third lane on eastbound Route 50 between Stonecroft Boulevard and Route 28 which closed to traffic last weekend as part of the Route 50 widening project in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. The one-mile lane closure has caused lengthy delays on eastbound Route 50 and surrounding roads, this week, during the morning rush. The lane will re-open by March 5, weather permitting.

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Fire Ravages Centreville Home

Damage estimated at $750,000

Nine-year-old William Wilson was outside playing football with his dad, Monday evening, in Centreville’s Hunt Chase Estates community, when they saw smoke coming from the house next door and the occupants fleeing.

Man Pleads Guilty: Robbery, Using Gun

Reynard Lazaro Prather, 23, of Oxon Hill, Md., has been convicted for his role in the May 2010 murder of workman Jose Cardona at a Centreville home. Last Wednesday, Feb. 22, in federal court in Alexandria, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and using a firearm in the commission of that crime.

Centreville Man Pleads Guilty to Soliciting

A Centreville man who used to be the band director at Robinson Secondary School was convicted in court Tuesday, Feb. 28, of computer solicitation of a child under age 15. He is Michael Keith Cook, 43 of Climbing Rose Way.

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Chantilly Day Plans Marching Along

Community event is slated for spring.

Plans are marching along for the first-ever, Chantilly Day. The celebration is set for Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the parking lot of the Sully Place Shopping Center in Chantilly.