Public Hearing Scheduled in Burke to Discuss Potential VRE Fare Increase
Increased operation costs are forcing the Virginia Railway Express to consider a 4 percent fare increase.
Citizens Hold Meeting on Burke Lake Golf Park
Though not typically a winter sport, talk of golf is heating up a chilly February.
Randolph-Macon Professor presents on African-American Art at the Workhouse in Lorton
How do we articulate the challenges of our experience in life? Randolph-Macon College art history professor Dr. Evie Terrono explores this question through the eyes of African-American artists, spanning from the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement to modern day.
Lorton Community Action Center to Hold 8th Monopoly Tournament
Aspiring Donald Trumps and Warren Buffetts will have their chance to compete for pretend real estate stardom, all for a good cause, as the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) and Ron Kowalski Real Estate Group host the eighth annual Monopoly tournament in Lorton.
New Aldi to Open on Backlick Road in Springfield
German grocery fills vacancy left by Fischers True Value.
For years, the family-owned Fischers True Value hardware store on Backlick Road was a Springfield mainstay.
‘Stuff the Bus’ in Springfield Brings in 1,200 Pounds of Food for Koinonia
For the past five years, Fairfax County has put together “Stuff the Bus: Helping Fairfax Families” food donation events in collaboration with local grocery stores, nonprofit organizations and Fastran buses with drivers from MV Transportation.
Faces of Gum Springs, Alexandria
Residents reflect on their historic community.
Of the current residents of Gum Springs, several hundred are descendants of the original families who bought land and settled in one of northern Virginia’s oldest and historically black communities.
Police Investigating Body Found in Ditch in Mount Vernon
Fairfax County Police are investigating the death of a man found in a drainage ditch in a wooded area near the 7500 block of Vernon Square Drive.
Burke, Fairfax Station, Springfield and Mount Vernon: Describe your ideal Valentine's Day Date
Sev Kerat, senior at South County High School, Springfield resident: “We’d go ice skating, or something else active to move about and set the mood. Doing an activity makes me feel relieved instead of uptight.”
Sixth Friends of Sadie Blood Drive in Burke Draws More Than 200 Donors
For the sixth year in a row, Burke resident Amy Dozier celebrated Valentine’s Day by helping manage a blood drive. Her daughter Madeline, barely a tween for the first Friends of Sadie drive in 2010, is now a 16-year-old sophomore at Robinson Secondary School. She’s old enough to drive and old enough to donate blood for the first time.
Grace Presbyterian in Springfield Hosts Holy Land Film Series
For more than three generations, peace has eluded Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, an area known as the Holy Land.
Stuffing the Bus in Clifton and Lorton
For members of the South County High School JROTC program, Saturday’s “Stuff the Bus” food donation event was as much about community service as it was about “service learning.”
Fairfax County Supervisors Approve Model Airplane Field at I-95 Landfill in Lorton
Robert Freas of Fairfax Station can’t fly his model aircraft in his backyard. In fact, he has to drive to a field about 50 miles away for a facility that meets Academy of Model Aeronautics standards for planes like his. The fixed-wing fliers Freas and members Northern Virginia Radio Control (NVRC) club pilot can go up to eight feet long.
First Art Steffen Scholarship Awarded to student in Centreville
For nearly three decades, Edward Arthur “Art” Steffen taught at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Uber prominent at state Sens. Marsden and Saslaw joint town hall in Falls Church.
Though over a dozen taxicabs sat in the parking lot of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, inside it was clear everyone drove themselves.
Fort Hunt Elementary School in Mount Vernon celebrates diverse student body.
Fort Hunt sixth grader Elizabeth Hutchison was looking forward to principal Thomas Fitzpatrick’s soda bread. With her family also representing Ireland, she planned to bring some herself, as well as some shamrock decorations, to the elementary school’s second annual Dance Around the World winter festival.
Matthew Charged In West Potomac Alumna Hannah Graham Murder
Suspect faces life in prison.
Nearly five months after the disappearance of University of Virginia sophomore and West Potomac High School alumna Hannah Graham, the primary suspect in her death investigation has been indicted by a grand jury in Albemarle County.
Mount Vernon and West Potomac High School Students Attend Amundson Institute
Earlier this month, six students from West Potomac and Mount Vernon High Schools traveled to Richmond to experience state government first-hand.
Fairfax County Judge Orders More John Geer Materials Released
Family’s lawyer’s motions supported.
Though extensive, the thousands of pages of documents, dozens of audio files and handful of videos released last month by Fairfax County, documenting the shooting death of Springfield resident John Geer, aren’t exhaustive.
Construction Nearing for New Bridge at Woodlawn Park in Alexandria
Fairfax County expects the contractor Accubid Construction Services, Inc. to be moving forward soon with replacing the pedestrian bridge at Woodlawn Park.
Storck Talks Schools at Mount Vernon Town Hall
These things Dan Storck knows: Elementary school students are now in class the full day on Monday and older students will start later beginning next school year. The Mount Vernon school board member lead with these recent accomplishments in his presentation at the Mount Vernon Town Hall Meeting on Saturday Jan. 31.
Teen Sex Trafficking Information Forum Held at West Springfield High School
Amy DiGiulian of Springfield came to the meeting for general information on human trafficking. “I had an overall concern,” said the mother of students at Robert E. Lee High School, Key Middle School and Garfield Elementary School.
Del. David Bulova and Sen. Chap Petersen Hold Town Hall in Fairfax
Over 100 constituents and community members attended the annual joint town hall meeting held Jan. 31 by Del. David Bulova (D-37) and State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34).
Robinson Middle in Fairfax Takes on Rydell High in ‘Grease’
Though none of the actors are in high school, Katie Jenkins believes her cast will have no problem bringing the students of the famed, fictional Rydell High to life.
Silas Burke House Stays, Sunrise Gets Closer
New language in rezoning application passes to supervisors.
Though once home to Burke’s enterprising namesake Silas, the stately white house he built circa 1824 and the property overlooking Burke Lake Road aren’t actually owned by the county.
Fairfax County Goes Public with Geer Documents
FCPD report confirms John Geer was shot while unarmed, hands raised.
Of the seven eyewitness accounts of the shooting death of John Geer, only one describes Geer quickly bringing his hands down to his waist. That was the perspective of PFC Adam Torres, the officer who shot Geer in the chest, killing him in the doorway of his home on Aug. 29, 2013.
Army Force Reduction Coming: Fort Belvoir community voices concerns
Members of the Fort Belvoir community —civilians, active duty, retirees of each military branch — gathered Jan. 23 to learn about the future of the garrison. The listening session titled “Army Force Structure and Stationing” was one stop on a 30-installation tour to gather community input for the Army senior leadership as it prepares to further reduce the size of the force.
Mount Vernon High School Hosts ‘Care Packing’ for Deployed Soldiers
There are all kinds of flash mobs. Instead of a marriage proposal or elaborate dance routine, more than 200 Mount Vernon High School students and members of the community descended on the school’s cafeteria on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to assemble care packages for deployed soldiers.
The Changing Face Of Mount Vernon
Land use (re)development highlights.
A look at land use changes and proposals targeting the Mount Vernon area.
Barbara Birra, charter member of Yacht Haven Garden Club in Mount Vernon, turns 100.
At 100, longtime Yacht Haven resident Barbara “Bobbie” Birra still lives independently, enjoys gardening, playing Bridge, being part of her church community and exercising.
ECHO Volunteer and Springfield Resident Turns 90
Mary Stuart of Springfield has been volunteering at ECHO for over a decade. She works in the linens and housewares departments of the faith-based charity (Ecumenical Community Helping Others), putting together donated sheets, towels and bathmats for clients.
The Changing Face of Springfield
Land use (re)development highlights.
GSA: The largely vacant warehouse off Loisdale Road in Springfield is currently in the running to become the new headquarters of the FBI.
Sixteen-year-old South County Student Battles Brain Cancer, Wins $1,000
While spending a month in Philadelphia, Catherine and Serena Lommasson of Lorton found the best cheesesteak in town. Beck’s Cajun Cafe, a vendor in the train station won their favor with andouille sausage added to the iconic sandwich.
The Changing Face of Fairfax Station, Lorton and Clifton
Land use (re)development highlights.
In largely residential areas, land use officials in the offices of Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and Jeff McKay (D-Lee) say to expect to see more “infill” redevelopment in the future.
Derelict Barge Remains in Belmont Bay, South of Lorton
This ship hasn’t come in: A 50-foot, steel-hulled landing craft resting about 110 feet offshore in Belmont Bay has held its position for years. The WWII-type landing craft was used as a barge to haul materials for constructing the Fairfax Yacht Club in the 1980s.
Eileen Filler-Corn Holds First Mid-Session Office Hours in Springfield
Though Del. Eileen Filler-Corn made headlines in the first week of the General Assembly for her proposed legislation on how sexual assault on college campuses is reported, she was game for any topic at her first mid-session office hours.
The Changing Face of Burke
Land use (re)development highlights.
Terra Centre Elementary School renovation: The project by Henley Construction Company, Inc., includes renovating the 68,500 square feet of the previous school building, as well as 20,500 square feet of additional space. Completion is expected around June this year.
Friends of Sadie Blood Drive Enters Sixth Year in Burke
Sadie Lauer’s Neuroblastoma is in remission. She still has a tumor, buried near the top of her lungs, however it has no active cancer cells. Aside from “late effects” of her chemotherapy treatment, Sadie is a happy, healthy five-and-a-half-year-old girl.
Fairfax County Supervisors Defer Decision on Salary Adjustment
How should a county supervisor be compensated for his or her service? That question continues to be up for discussion, as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to defer voting on a compensation adjustment that would take effect Jan. 1, 2016.
Fairfax County Delivers Geer Documents
Thirty days after a court order by Fairfax Circuit Court judge Randy Bellows, Fairfax County has produced documents concerning the shooting death of John Geer.
West Potomac High School Receives Grant To Support At-Risk Students
The Virginia Department of Education awarded West Potomac High School a $68,000 grant, to be used this school year to benefit 50 students with college and career preparation.
Could Fairfax County End Veteran Homelessness in 2015?
Chairman Bulova, Fairfax County take on national Mayors Challenge.
The transition from serving in the armed forces to civilian life is often not simple. While in Fairfax County there are more than 12,000 veteran-owned businesses, indicating a significant measure of success, for others the path is far more difficult.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bulova Releases 2015 State of the County Address
Despite a projected shortfall of nearly $100 million facing Fairfax County going into the FY 2016 budget, Board of Supervisors chairman Sharon Bulova remains encouraged by a 2014 that she said was full of accomplishments.
Planning Commission to Decide on Silas Burke House Property
The fate of a nearly 200-year-old house and its property may be decided in about a week. When the Fairfax County Planning Commission meets on Jan. 29, redevelopment of the Silas Burke property is on its agenda to make a decision regarding amending the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
South County High School Students Perform with United States Navy Band
A dozen members of the South County High School band program got a taste of what it’s like to perform with one of the country’s premier service ensembles.
Clifton Lions Club Donates Over $30,000 in December
The 65-member Clifton Lions Club has just about matched its headcount with donation recipients in the last year: 58.
Human Trafficking Forum To Be Held at West Springfield High School
Fairfax County Police refer to the definition of teen sex trafficking as “the act of manipulating or forcing anyone under the age of 18 to engage in a sex act in exchange for anything of value (money, drugs, shelter, food, clothes, etc.).”
General Assembly Session Approaches
Delegates, senators, community leaders reflect on priorities.
With the sentencing of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell fresh on their minds, many northern Virginia members of the delegation to the state General Assembly expect ethics reform to be a focal point at the session beginning Jan. 14.
Clean-up of Tire Dump in Lorton Ongoing
In early December 2014, the Fairfax County Fire Marshal issued a notice of violation to AAAACo Used Auto Parts in Lorton for more than 1,000 used tires on their property and overflowing into Giles Run, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department spokesman Dan Schmidt.
Scott Surovell (D-44) Announces Bid for State Senate
Del. Scott Surovell (D-44) used his blog and e-newsletter to make his intention known: Less than a week after Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) announced she would not look to serve another term, Surovell declared he would run for the vacant seat on Sunday, Jan. 18.