Stories for August 2012

Burke/Fairfax Calendar, Aug. 30-Sept. 9

To have community events listed, send to south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416 with questions. Deadline for calendar listings is two weeks prior to event.

Local Real Estate: June 2012 Sales, $700,000~$749,900

Jarrell Leads Woodson Field Hockey

Cavaliers fell short of regional tournament in 2011.

Meg Jarrell, 22, is in her first season as head coach of the Woodson field hockey team.

Classified Advertising Aug 29, 2012

Read the latest Classified ads here!

The Small Town of Fairfax County

I was at the beach this summer with my dad’s side of the family who live in a small, close-knit rural town. They were talking about how even in their close community a man lost several teeth because they couldn’t find a doctor who was willing to come in on a Sunday. At that point I realized how Fairfax actually is a close community even if it isn’t small or rural, and that we not only have some of the best doctors in the world, but also some of the most caring.

Schroeder Receives Service Above Self Award

The Rotary Club of Fairfax recently recognized Rotarian Rick Schroeder with the Service Above Self award. The annual award recognizes a member of the club who has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary.

Letter: Beware Sequestration Economy

If you think the local economy is looking anemic now, just wait until we get sequestration (the legal inevitable result of our legislators reaching no agreement about our national budget).

Fairfax Resident Elayna Tursky Chosen for Jewish Heritage Internship

Fairfax resident Elayna Tursky has been chosen to participate in the Lipper Internship Program at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Lower Manhattan. Tursky is one of 15 interns this semester who will learn how to teach twentieth century Jewish history and the Holocaust to young people. Since the Lipper program started in 1998, interns have worked with over 50,000 students from around the Northeastern United States.

Love Letter Cabaret

The Jewish Community Center to present new performing arts series.

A fresh performing arts series will be opening with "Just Between Us: A Piano, A Mic and A Memory" featuring local performer Marilyn Hausfeld and pianist Alex Rybeck. This will be the premier performance before the two head up to the New York City Theater District to perform at the "Don't Tell Mama" cabaret club in the Big Apple.

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.

Burke Centre Fall Festival Sept. 8-9

Affordable family fun and flash mob (maybe…)

Burke hosts its biggest block party on Sept. 8 and 9 as the community welcomes friends and neighbors of all ages for the 35th annual Burke Centre Fall Festival. The event will be held at the Burke Centre Conservancy’s (BCC) Festival Grounds, 6060 Burke Centre Parkway.

Feedback Sought on Emergency Communications

Fairfax County online survey now available.

After filing a report last week with the Federal Communications Commission on Verizon’s 911 outages, Fairfax County officials are looking at how to improve their own communications during emergencies. The county wants to know how it can better communicate with residents and businesses in a disaster like a derecho, hurricane or terrorist attack. Officials are seeking feedback in a short, online survey.

Area Roundups

Football Stadiums Raise Banners Against Underage Drinking

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) high school football stadiums will sport new banners this fall encouraging parents and adults in the community to report underage drinking parties to the police.

‘Senior Prank’ Filmed in Area

Local talent recruited for "The Senior Prank."

The community has rallied together behind the new local film in progress "The Senior Prank." Director Donald Leow, who also directed previous film "For the Glory," has brought in cast and crew from all over the country, while recruiting local talent for his film as well. Many members of the Fairfax community have gathered to be extras, show their talent on screen, help with tech, or just support the film.

Fairfax Home Sales: July, 2012

In July 2012, 83 Fairfax homes sold between $943,232-$125,000.

Fairfax Home Sales in July, 2012

Char-a-oke Anyone?

$1 million raised for Fairfax County Public Schools Education Foundation.

Listen, baby… "Ain't no mountain high. Ain't no valley low. Ain't no river wide enough, baby. If you need me, call me. No matter where you are. No matter how far."

911's Complete Failure

Fairfax County says Verizon "failed completely" during June 29 derecho.

"It’s like the captain of the Titanic telling passengers the ship hit an iceberg when the bow is on the bottom of the ocean floor." —Steve Souder, Fairfax County 911 Director

Letter: Separate and Unequal - II

Your editorial in the titled "Separate and Unequal ?" [The Connection, July 25-31, 2012], addressed the "eye-popping" disparately low admission of Black and Latino students to Thomas Jefferson High School, and the complaint that this was "in voilation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin."

Opinion: First Day of School Coming Up

And never too early for parents to get involved.

The first day of school in most of Northern Virginia is Tuesday, Sept. 4. We don't agree with having the General Assembly dictate the first day of school, requiring the start date to be after Labor Day, but starting school after Labor Day does seem more hospitable than the Aug. 27 start in many other areas.

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Names Interim Executive Director

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Galen Wixson as its interim executive director through December of 2012. Galen currently serves as the executive director of The Guitar Foundation of America where he has guided the organization through a transition to a new governance and management model, leading to several new program initiatives.

FCPD Traffic Safety Efforts Recognized

The Fairfax County Police Department was recently recognized by two prestigious law enforcement organizations which evaluate police traffic safety programs across the commonwealth and the nation.

Column: Diagnosed But Not Sick

Having/being diagnosed with cancer/a terminal disease is neither fun nor funny; however, unless I find some humor or wishful thinking in how I approach this situation, I don’t suppose I’ll be approaching it much longer. To me, it’s always been mind over matter, and even though these matters are rather serious, I still don’t mind.

Welcome to the City of Fairfax!

Creative, historic and fun.

As a Fairfax native, I’ve seen many changes in and around the City of Fairfax. In my role as mayor, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share my personal thoughts about our community—and what makes this a special place to live, work, play and raise and family.

How To Register, Vote and Vote Early

Election Day is Nov. 6, but you can vote as early as Sept. 21.

How important is it for Virginia voters to turn out on or before Nov. 6? As a critical “battleground” state, Virginia will be key in determining who will be the next President of the United States. Who will represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate is also too close to call. Since polling shows that there are very few undecided voters in the Commonwealth, every eligible voter will want to be sure to cast a ballot.

Opinion: Mindless Slashing

Automatic cuts set to kick in January would harm Northern Virginia more than any other region.

While reducing the federal deficit is critical to the nation's economic health in the long run, the knee jerk, slash and burn method based only on cuts that is coming at us like a freight train will do immense damage to the economy nationally. But no place would feel the pain more intensely than Northern Virginia.

A Year in Fairfax County

A sampling of some of the cherished, annual events of the county.

Letter: Labor Outsourcing Is Not the Problem

To the Editor:

President Obama thinks he can score points on Mitt Romney by pointing out that companies acquired by Bain Capital outsourced jobs to other countries. The implication is that there is something unpatriotic in contracting for foreign labor. That is a strange position in this era of globalization, which Obama claims to favor.

My Favorite Places

Lisa Whetzel, executive director of Our Daily Bread in Fairfax

Lisa Whetzel, executive director of Our Daily Bread in Fairfax, shares her favorite local places.

State Senator Shares Places-to-See

Q&A With Chap Petersen

Virginia State Senator Chap Petersen (D-34) represents central and western Fairfax in the Virginia State Senate. He grew up and lives in Fairfax City.

South Fairfax County Calendar, Aug. 22-Sept. 2

Events in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station and Springfield.

Go ahead, plan your weekend now. The Connection brings you a list of events in southern Fairfax County. Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416. All submission are due by Friday at 5 p.m., one week prior to the event. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Be a Braddock Insider

What every newcomer should know about living, working and playing in the Braddock District.

Braddock is very much a district of neighborhoods, a rarity in busy and booming Fairfax.

My Favorite Places

State delegate shares tips on places to see, things to do.

Getting to Know Area High Schools’ Sports

Getting to Know Area High Schools’ Sportshttp://connection.www.clients.ellingtoncms.com/admin/news/story/add/

Classified Advertising Aug. 22, 2012

Read the latest Home and Garden, Employment and Classifieds here!

Column: Life in the Cancer Lane

Having been there and done that now for three and a half years certainly helps. And however familiar it may be and/or has become, it doesn’t exactly help to pass the time or affect the results, unfortunately. Cancer sucks! That much is clear. Now and in the future.

Nearly 800 Jobs Added to the Local Economy

Information technology firms and professional service companies see growth.

Information technology firms continue to do well in a sluggish economy, according to a new report from the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). During the second quarter of 2012, the FCEDA provided services and resources to 33 businesses that are adding almost 800 jobs in Fairfax County. Most of these businesses are in the information technology and professional services sectors and four are foreign-based firms using a Fairfax County location to expand in North America.

Minority-Owned Businesses Prosper in Fairfax County

Companies generate more than $1 billion in revenue and provide more than 1,000 jobs.

Businesses owned by Hispanics, African-Americans and women shine in Fairfax County, according to the latest national rankings for largest or fastest-growing companies. "Fairfax County is proud to be a community in which companies of all descriptions can and do succeed to a greater extent than in the rest of the region, the state or the country," said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, which supports and monitors the growth of local businesses. Eleven Fairfax County-based companies are among the 500 largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the nation based on revenue — more than the total in 40 states, according to a recent report by HispanicBusiness.com. The Fairfax County companies are among 22 from Virginia on the 2012 Hispanic Business 500 list.

Time for School

Advice on how to transition from a laid-back summer to a hectic academic year.

When Ellen Feldman’s 5-year-old son started school for last fall, one of the biggest adjustments for the single mother of two was having to adhere to a schedule. “All of a sudden we went from being able to do things on our own time frame to having to wake up and be at a certain place at a certain time,” said Feldman. “Sending my son off to school for the first time was exciting, but also difficult.”

Editorial: Starting School Prepared

First day of school is Sept. 4; local nonprofits provide school supplies and weekend food.

With school beginning in a few weeks, area charitable organizations have been collecting contributions of new backpacks, calculators, other school supplies, money and gift cards and winter coats to help the tens of thousands of truly needy Northern Virginia students.

Classified Advertising Aug. 15, 2012

Read the latest Classified, Home and Garden and Employment!

Tiny Dancers Receives Top Honors

Tiny Dancers, located in the heart of Fairfax City, has been voted Best Ballet or Dance Studio in the July 2012 issue of Washington Family Magazine.

Transcending Fear With Messages of Hope

Fairfax Station Sikh temple holds candlelight vigil to honor victims of Wis. shootings.

It was an evening of unity, resilience and hope as more than 300 people of all faiths gathered for a candlelight vigil at the Sikh temple in Fairfax Station on Thursday, Aug. 9, less than a week after a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in Wis., killing six and injuring three.

‘Primary’ Numbers: 7100 + Upgrade = 286

Fairfax County Parkway gets new number, upgrades as “primary” road.

Since 1987, the Fairfax County Parkway has been known as Route 7100 for the estimated 75,000 motorists who travel the 32-mile parkway each day.

Pakistani-American Community to Celebrate Anniversary

The Pakistani-American community will celebrate the 65th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence at the Pakistan Festival on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville.

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.

Column: A Pill a Day…

Hopefully will keep the cancer at bay. (I’d say “away,” but let’s be realistic, three and a half years past a NSCLC diagnosis, there is no way, generally speaking, that stage IV lung cancer disappears into the ether; it’s classified as stage IV for a reason.

Letter: No Enemies on TJ Admissions Front

To the Editor:

FCPS is not being honest, straightforward or holding itself accountable for the fact that too few of these disadvantaged kids are achieving as well as others relative to their populations and too few are fostered appropriately so they can be identified for and take advantage of advanced curricula, including advanced academic programs (AAP) and thence TJ and high school honors, AP and IB programs. The leaders in this system have had years to figure out how to make serious improvements, but they have hidden and spun or not even bothered to gather data and have excluded individuals and groups that could be partners in resolving this situation. Thus, we have a segregated system, as the data show.

Letter: TJHS Story in Numbers

The point is that inborn talent is not the real issue for TJHS-level success. Nor is there any educational program magic pill that will solve this. The key is student long-term personal commitment to scholastic achievement and hard work—(the old "20 percent inspiration, 80 percent perspiration" adage).

Week In Fairfax

Creative Thinking, Problem Solving and Engineering

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

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.

Backpack Campaign in Full Swing

200 backpacks still needed to meet Our Daily Bread’s goal.

The start of the new school year is less than a month away, and back-to-school sales are cropping up everywhere.

A Chef Who Makes House Calls

Dave and Casey Dexter, like all fathers and teenage daughters, have had their disagreements, but now they run a business together: GuestChef.

Taking Back Their Neighborhoods

Communities host crime-fighting events during 29th Annual National Night Out.

From block parties to pool parties, picnics and parades, Fairfax County residents gathered with friends, neighbors and local police on Tuesday, Aug. 7, in recognition of the 29th Annual National Night Out campaign.

Classified Advertising Aug. 8, 2012

Read the lastest Classified, Employment and Home and Garden ads!

Should Virginia Compensate for Dark Days of Eugenics?

Del. Patrick Hope (D-44) asks governor and General Assembly to form a task force.

The number of victims is unknown in Virginia’s system of forced sterilization, a dark chapter that stretched from the 1920s into the 1970s.

Column: Derive to Survive

Now that I can taste food again, or rather have food taste like normal again, my attitude is much improved.

Child Care Meeting Draws Vocal Crowd

Debate focuses on discrepancy in state, county regulations.

Judging by the crowd and the occasional calls for order, the topic under discussion in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center was a hot one.

Week in Fairfax

News in Fairfax.

Precautions to Avoid Problems With Coyotes

City of Fairfax Police Animal Control Officers are advising City residents to take precautions to avoid problems with the City’s small resident coyote population.

BBQ, Republican-Style

George Allen talks jobs, energy and education at Braddock district fundraiser.

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen was energetic as he shook hands, posed for photos and made small talk with Republican supporters Saturday at Supervisor John Cook’s 3rd annual Big Braddock BBQ for volunteers at Burke Lake Park.

To Geek or Not To Geek, That is the…Verb

Library launches novel campaign to get people talking.

Ruth geeks fairy tales. Katie geeks wildlife. Benjamin geeks hobbits.

Storms Provide Wake-Up Call

Dust off emergency plans; sign-up for Fairfax County alerts.

I’ve been thinking a lot about emergencies lately—a derecho, four days without power in a heat wave with two small kids, and a flooded kitchen floor will do that to you. So will a magnitude 5.8 earthquake such as the one we experienced last August.

Classified Advertising (Aug. 1, 2012)

Read the lastest Employment, Home and Garden and Classified ads!

Column: Choosing My Words, Respectively

It has been brought to my attention by some regular Kenny-column readers – who are friends, too, and whose opinions I value, that my most recent batch of “cancer columns” (as I call them) were not funny; in fact, they were more depressing and negative than anything, and not nearly as uplifting and hopeful as many of my previous columns have been.

Weekly Entertainment (Burke/Fairfax/Lorton/Springfield)

Entertainment in Burke/Fairfax/Lorton/Springfield.

Getting a Body Like an Olympian

Local fitness gurus offer gold medal advice for achieving a toned, muscular body.

Muscular legs, toned abs and buffed biceps are hard to miss in London this week, but is it possible for the average sports fan to achieve a body like an Olympian? Local fitness experts say "maybe."

Taking Care of One’s Teeth

American Dental Association says many Americans don’t know basic oral care.

Here’s a pop quiz: How often should a person replace their toothbrush? "Once a year," said Terrie Andrews of McLean.

Beating Bad Breath

Dental experts offer solutions for chronic halitosis.

When Amanda Welch’s boyfriend asked her to marry him last spring, she accepted his proposal on one condition: that he find a cure for his bad breath.

Editorial: Readers Respond on TJ Admissions

"Stop making smart 8th graders feel inferior because they are not admitted."

Readers responded to last week's editorial, which cited a civil rights complaint about the apparent lack of access to gifted and talented programs and admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.