Springfield Days – the Ultimate ‘Staycation’ May 31-June 3
Event features food, fun, entertainment for pets and people.
Everyone has their favorite Springfield Days event, whether it’s the cardboard boat regatta, the amusement rides, the petfest or the farmers market. Whatever it is, the annual community-wide celebration has something fun, entertaining and exciting for everyone.
Governor Signs Voter ID Bills
McDonnell directs state to send every voter a new voter card before Election Day.
Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) signed watered-down versions of Virginia’s Republican-backed voter identification bills on Friday, adding the Commonwealth to the growing list of states adopting stricter voting standards.
Planning to Vote?
Nearly 200,000 voter registration cards mailed this week.
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, if you are planning to vote in the June 12 primary elections in Fairfax County, check your new voter registration cards mailed out this week.
SMILE Carnival Earns Katelyn Sparks her Gold Award
Katelyn Sparks, a South County Secondary School freshman, recently achieved the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for something she does every day - SMILE.
A ‘Perfect’ Mother’s Day
Fairfax moms create gift bags for mothers in homeless shelters.
Every week, Julie Miner and Kristin Wilson Keppler would run into each other at Fairfax Presbyterian Church’s preschool and exchange "mommy" pleasantries.
Mulan Comes to Burke
Northern Virginia Players present Disney classic.
Northern Virginia Players will present Disney’s Mulan Jr. beginning Saturday, May 25 at Burke Community Church. The heartwarming tale begins when the Huns have invaded China, and it’s up to misfit Mulan and her mischievous sidekick Mushu to save the Emperor. Mulan is a celebration of culture, honor and the fighting spirit, includes musical favorites such as "Honor to Us All."
Opening Doors for People in Need
FACETS celebrates volunteers, donors at annual benefit breakfast.
Surrounded by nearly 350 business executives, politicians and community leaders in the chandeliered ballroom of the Waterford, Frank Somers - dressed in jeans, sneakers and a denim work shirt - looked a little out of place.
Dolce Veloce Opens in Fairfax
Casual, elegant wine bar is located at 10826 Fairfax Boulevard.
When Guiseppe "Joe" Ricciardi and his wife Sharon were dating, they loved going to restaurants that served good wine and small plates of food.
Grassroots Government 101
First Braddock ‘Citizen Governance Conference’ draws future decision-makers.
Sitting in a conference room discussing issues such as land use, aging and transportation may not seem like the perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. But the opportunity to have a voice in the future of the Braddock district drew nearly 75 residents to the first Citizen Governance Conference, hosted by Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) at Frost Achievement Finance Park on May 5.
County Launches Project To Combat Lyme Disease
After an unseasonably warm winter, Fairfax County health officials are bracing for a proliferation of tick infestations as well as a potential surge in new cases of Lyme disease.
Housing Discrimination Alert
Officials step up education, outreach efforts to reach immigrant communities about "fair housing" rights.
Housing discrimination cases have been on the rise in Fairfax County in the past few years. And the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs (OHREP), the agency that enforces fair housing laws in the county, is shining a spotlight on the problem through seminars for housing providers, realtors, community groups and other interested parties. "Sadly, housing discrimination is alive and well and we’ve seen an uptick in complaints during the past six years," said Kenneth Saunders, executive director of OHREP.
‘West Side Story’ At South County
Classic update of "Romeo & Juliet."
South County Secondary School Theatre Department is ready to rumble as the popular musical, "West Side Story," hits its stage this month. Set in the mid-1950s, the play tells the story of two rival gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, who fight for the same territory in New York City.
Teens Promote Diversity
Students find creative ways to promote diversity through volunteering.
Joanna Shows remembers what it was like to be held back, just because she was a woman.
Value of Volunteer Hours: $4.5 million
Legacy of Community Service? Priceless.
"Volunteers aren't paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless." Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous sentiment was echoed by numerous community and civic leaders who gathered at the Waterford in Springfield Friday, April 27, to celebrate 118 Fairfax County volunteers during the 20th annual Volunteer Service Awards hosted by Volunteer Fairfax.
Welcome Back in City of Fairfax Elections
City of Fairfax elects incumbents, DeMarco for council seats; Silverthorne, longtime council member, elected Mayor.
Cheers, tears, hugs and a standing ovation greeted City of Fairfax Mayor-elect R. Scott Silverthorne as he took the stage at Old Town Hall Tuesday night after winning the seat his father, former Mayor Frederick W. Silverthorne, occupied in 1978.
Volunteer Police Officers Saluted at Ceremony
West Springfield, Franconia volunteers receive awards.
"We need a big golden arch, like McDonald's, and a sign that says more than one million served." Fairfax County Police Chief, Col. David Rohrer, was referring to the milestone achieved by the county’s Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) during a recent ceremony honoring FCPD volunteers.
University Mall Begins $30 Million ‘Transformation’
Fairfax center will double in size and include new Giant Food store.
After five years of planning, shovels will be ready to hit the ground this June for the $30 million top-to-bottom transformation and expansion of the University Mall Shopping Center in Fairfax.
Fairfax Celebrates Arts
City of Fairfax Mayor’s Ball attracts hundreds.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Sherwood Center on Friday, April 20 to attend the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Ball, and to celebrate the opening of the 27th year of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival.
Supervisors Endorse Advertised Budget
Highlights include restored funding for human services, libraries, employee pay.
"Morning has broken, like the first morning…" Cat Stevens sang it in his 1971 hit, and Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova used it to sum up the board’s 8-2 vote, endorsing the advertised 2013 budget during the April 24 budget session.
FANFARE Eatery Opens at Fairfax Corner
New sports-themed eatery created by owners of Glory Days Grill.
A lot of feathers were ruffled during the grand opening celebration of FANFARE, Fairfax Corner’s newest sports-themed eatery.
Alarm Over Fire Code at Shelters
Fairfax County officials respond to concerns about fire code violations at local shelters.
Spring fever hit the region early this year. Last week’s record-high temperatures had residents flocking outdoors to play, bike, jog and picnic.
Pleading for Restoring Funding for Human Services
Residents, agencies testify to need for community services.
After three years of deep budget cuts and declining revenue, Fairfax County is showing signs of fiscal equilibrium as property values and revenues begin a slow uphill climb.
Addressing ‘College Drinking Culture’
The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" forums continue through May.
It’s college decision time for Fairfax County seniors, and college-bound students and their parents are encouraged to attend an upcoming program that deals with binge drinking on college campuses. "The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" will be presented by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department, in April and May at locations across the county.
Franconia Fifth Grader Honored for Saving Nephew’s Life
Cynthia Almendarez, 10, called 9-1-1 when nephew, 2, stopped breathing.
On the morning of July 13, 2011, Franconia Elementary fifth-grader Cynthia Almendarez was at home with her mother and 12-year-old sister when she noticed something odd. Her 18-month-old nephew, Christopher, who was usually cruising around the house and making typical toddler sounds, was quiet and gasping for breath.
Fairfax County Parkway Overpass Opens
Donegal Lane access shuts down.
On Tuesday, April 10, VDOT closed Donegal Road in Springfield as part of phase III of the $23 million Fairfax County Parkway project.
Fairfax County Board Opts In for Phase 2 of Dulles Rail
Obstacles still ahead for $2.7 billion project.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, April 10, to approve the county’s participation in Phase 2 of the $2.7 billion Dulles Metrorail Project.
Ed Long Named County Executive
Long, former deputy county executive, begins April 25.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Edward L. Long Jr. as county executive on Tuesday, April 10. Long, who will replace Anthony H. Griffin on April 25, has more than 34 years of experience with the county, and retired as deputy county executive and chief financial officer in May 2011.
Herrity Recovering Well from Open-Heart Surgery
“Famous sense of humor” intact, friends say.
After undergoing open-heart surgery last week, Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) is recovering well, and his “famous sense of humor is intact,” according to friends and family members.
Cook Announces Braddock Citizen Governance Conference
Conference scheduled May 5.
Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) announced plans for an all-day conference designed to turn residents into decision-makers who play a key role in determining the future of the Braddock district.
Interest in Budget Slows as Economy Picks Up
Employee compensation, human service funding compete for attention.
Rising property values, a relatively low unemployment rate, and the lack of hot-button issues — such as full-day kindergarten — have reduced public involvement in Fairfax County’s proposed $6.7 billion budget compared to recent years, according to county leaders.
Eggstravaganza!
Jubilee Christian Center event features music, moon bounces and egg rolls for every age.
Ever since Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth American president, organized an egg roll down the hilly lawn of the Capitol building in 1810, egg rolls have become an Easter tradition.
Destination Smile Offers Free Clinic April 27
Journey to perfect smile begins at Destination Smile.
It was all smiles last year when Lorton dentists Kristina Biggs and Flavia Tingling celebrated the first anniversary of their dental practice by donating dental care to dozens of uninsured children in the area.
Fairfax County Overpass Opening
Donegal Lane access shuts down April 10.
On Tuesday, April 10, the Virginia Department of Transportation is permanently closing the intersection of Donegal Lane and the Fairfax County Parkway, and simultaneously opening the overpass carrying the new alignment of Rolling Road over the parkway.
Fasten Your Seatbelts
VDOT officials say I-495 Express Lanes will be just that.
Predictable, safe and reliable is not how most motorists would describe driving on the obstacle course known as the Capital Beltway.
City of Fairfax Council Candidates
The Connection asked all City Council and City of Fairfax mayoral candidates to provide answers to the following questions, and to limit their answers to 100 words or less. The bonus question was optional.
Mayoral Candidates
R. Scott Silverthorne and Gerald T. "Jerry" O’Dell run for office.
First elected in 2002, Robert F. Lederer, the five-term mayor of Fairfax City, announced in December that he will not run for another two-year term, and will retire in June. R. Scott Silverthorne, a current city councilman and Gerald T. "Jerry" O’Dell are vying for the seat. The Connection contacted O’Dell repeatedly, through email and phone, and he did not respond to questions. Here are Silverthorne’s responses:
Lehman H. Young, Sr. 1916-2012
Community remembers civic leader, WWII pilot and business owner.
It was 1958, during one of the worst blizzards to hit Northern Virginia, and Deborah Young, just five years old, remembers her father, Lehman, bundling her up and sitting her on the seat of their old blue 1951 Ford, between him and her mother, Marie.
In Bloom at Greenspring
Senior gardeners prepare green thumbs for National Garden Month.
Gardeners at Greenspring retirement community in Springfield are ready for spring.
Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future
Group reenacts Silent Sentinel protest during Women’s History Month.
Nearly 100 years ago, a group of women stood in front of The White House and launched a revolution without guns or bloodshed.
Robinson Goes to World Choir Games
Thousands of the world’s best singers will arrive in Cincinnati for the 2012 World Choir Games this July, a competition that kicks off with Olympic-style fanfare.
A Mission of Mercy Helps Hundreds
More than 800 residents receive free dental services during two-day event.
The triage center at Saturday’s Mission of Mercy Dental health clinic resembled a modern-day MASH unit.
A Voice for Children
"Promise-keepers" advocate for Fairfax County’s abused, neglected children.
Each child who comes before Judge Thomas Mann’s Fairfax courtroom is loveable and vulnerable. There is the precocious three-year-old whose parents are drug-addicted. A seven-year-old boy whose mentally-ill mother left him home alone to care for his infant sibling.
Gov. George Allen Goes Home Again on Super Tuesday
Former Virginia Governor George Allen spoke Tuesday morning to an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Conference, then headed to Loudoun County to meet with Republican primary voters and election workers at polling places on Super Tuesday in Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William Counties.
Nonprofits Awarded United Way Grants
23 local organizations receive MORE THAN $280K to continue work.
The United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) awarded 27 grants totaling $288,013 to 23 local nonprofits during the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, March 6.
Girl Scouts Celebrate 100th Anniversary at Springfield Mall
Event draws more than 2,000 participants.
To mark the 100th anniversary of Girls Scouts of the USA, the South Central Fairfax Association of the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC) hosted a celebration that drew more than 2,000 participants to Springfield Mall on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Dancers Demand Right to ‘Move Like Jagger’
Fairfax Supervisors table dance hall regulations after dance fans kick up a fuss.
After dance fans protested by blog, email, Facebook and local radio, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors sidestepped discussion Tuesday of a law regulating dancing in restaurants, tossing the measure back to the planning commission for revisions.
Fairfax Supervisors Vote to Increase Advertised Tax Rate by 1 cent
Each 1 cent increase raises taxpayer bill by $45.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 6-3 Tuesday, March 6, to advertise the real estate tax rate for FY 2013 as $1.08 per $100 of assessed value. The current FY 2012 rate is $1.07.
Sense & A Sense of Civility
Cotillion teaches etiquette and social savvy to children and teens.
Ankles demurely crossed, the 5th and 6th grade girls sit posture-perfect in their colorful party dresses, white-gloved hands resting in their laps as they await an offer to dance.
Nourishing Body and Soul
Fourth annual fundraiser draws 300 attendees.
Professional and student artists have been busy shaping and decorating nearly 500 bowls for the fourth annual Empty Bowls event, hosted by Our Daily Bread, a nonprofit that works to eliminate hunger, homelessness and poverty in Fairfax County.
The Art of the Deal
Lorton’s Matthew McFarland takes top spot in 5th annual Monopoly Tournament.
Matthew McFarland, 14, outplayed, outwitted and outlasted nearly 100 other Monopoly fans during the fifth annual Monopoly Tournament at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton on Saturday, Feb. 25.