Friday, August 29
Kamara Carries Edison to Victory in Season Opener
Junior running back torches Mount Vernon for career-high 166 yards, two touchdowns.
Edison defeated Mount Vernon 26-6 on Thursday night.
Former Delegate Gladys Keating Remembered by Colleagues, Friends
Keating served 22 years and raised five children.
On Aug. 19, former delegate from the 43rd House District of Fairfax County Gladys Keating died of congestive heart failure. She passed peacefully, with family, at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.
A County of 186,785 Students
Welcome to the 2014-15 school year. The start of a new school year is always an exciting time for students, parents, and educators. Our dedicated staff has been working hard to prepare for another school year that builds on our tradition of excellence at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Thursday, August 28
Classified Advertising August 27, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Mount Vernon Home Sales: July, 2014
In July 2014, 115 homes sold between $2,970,000-$105,000 in the Mount Vernon area.
Mount Vernon Home Sales: July, 2014
Wednesday, August 27
What’s on the Ballot; How to Vote
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2014, but you can vote as early as Sept. 19.
Every year is Election Year in Virginia. This year, every Virginia voter will choose one member of the U.S. Senate and their member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Welcome to Fairfax County
Welcome to Fairfax County, the best place in the country to live, work and play. Fairfax County is home to a fantastic public school system, top tier business and shopping opportunities, compassionate human services, and some of the best parks and open spaces in the D.C. Metropolitan region.
About the Connection
As your local, weekly newspaper, the Connection’s mission is to deliver the local news you need, to try to make sense of what is happening in your community, to gather information about the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record achievements, milestones and events in the community and people’s lives.
Fairfax County’s Success Story
Economic success: 50 years in the making.
If you are a newcomer to Fairfax County, allow me to welcome you to one of the most dynamic communities anywhere in the world to live and work. It was the vision of many people to create this kind of community, so please allow me to offer a quick history lesson.
Mount Vernon Field Hockey Looking for Improvement in 2014
Majors finish runner-up in Pool C at UTL tournament.
The Majors finished 2-0-2 at the UTL tournament at Lee High School, Aug. 25-26.
Editorial: Back to School - Good Steps, Good Intentions
The first day of school in Fairfax County is Tuesday, Sept. 2, but Monday, Sept. 8 is the beginning of something important. For the first time in decades, elementary school students will have a full day of school on Mondays instead of being sent home hours early. This action makes so much sense in for families with children in elementary school. The ability of Superintendent Karen Garza to facilitate this change to go into effect right away is remarkable, and we hope a promise for more changes ahead.
Newcomers Guide: Area Nonprofits
A list of nonprofits in the community.
A list of nonprofits in the community.
Wednesday, August 20
Running Back Adusei-Poku to Lead Mount Vernon Offense
Linebackers strength of Majors defense.
Mount Vernon will open the season against Edison on Aug. 28.
Letter: Avoid Stone Dust Surface
Letter to the Editor
Since 2009, a group of Mount Vernon residents has worked together expending thousands of hours of volunteer time and many thousands of dollars in an effort to create an off-leash dog area (OLDA) at Westgrove Park. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) allowed the OLDA to initially be established on an interim basis upon approval by the Planning Commission and payment of $3,000 as a contribution toward installation of a peripheral fence.
Mt. Vernon: Children’s Issues Dominate Hispanic Town Hall
On Saturday, Aug. 16, I held my third town hall meeting of the year and my first ever Hispanic Community Town Hall. I was also joined by the first Democratic elected Latino State Delegate — Alfonso Lopez — who represents South Arlington and Bailey's Crossroads.
Editorial: Accountability for Police in Northern Virginia
There is more transparency in the police shooting in Ferguson last week than in police shootings in Northern Virginia.
This is not Ferguson, and tanks do not roll down the streets of Northern Virginia driven by police officers pointing sniper rifles at residents.
Removing Barriers to College
Local services help students complete college paperwork, remove barriers.
LaQuita King relocated across the state from Chesapeake, Va., to Alexandria in the summer of 2013, moving into an apartment with her aunt and three cousins. King had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. So far, that hasn’t happened.
All Write For Now
And so it goes, every three months or so; a CT Scan, a week or so of waiting, and then a face-to-face appointment with my oncologist to learn/discuss the results. Thankfully, the results continue to be amazing. My doctor has told me that I’m his third miracle; stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer patients generally don’t live beyond two years. I’m in year six.
Classified Advertising August 20, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, August 14
Ross Enters First Season as West Potomac Head Coach
Wolverine athletes eager to prove themselves.
First-year West Potomac head coach Jeremiah Ross was a three-year starter at right tackle for Fresno State.
Safety at a Crossroads in Poor Communities Across Northern Virginia
Less affluent neighborhoods in Northern Virginia suffer from higher pedestrian fatalities.
A national database of pedestrian crashes compiled by Governing Magazine shows 95 pedestrian fatalities in Northern Virginia between 2008 and 2012. While 26 of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in wealthy neighborhoods, where the per capita income is more than $53,000, a much larger number happened in poor communities like this stretch of Route 1 in Mount Vernon.
Wednesday, August 13
Take Precautions against Rabies
Animal Shelter offers advice to reduce the risk.
Rabies is a deadly virus that infects animals and may be a risk to humans, as well. The most commonly reported rabid animals in Fairfax County include foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats. But even pets aren’t automatically immune to this disease and must be vaccinated against it.
Organized for School Year
Local organizers offer suggestions on dealing with the summer mess.
When summer comes to a grinding halt in a few weeks, a new school year will begin. From alarm clocks and school bells to piles of homework assignments and sports schedules, maintaining a coordinated household can be difficult, however. Local organizers are offering simple suggestions to help make the transition from summer to the start of the school year seamless.
Write Now, I Just Don’t Know
The biggest writing problem that I have, other than the ones you regular readers generally know about, is writing a current column on the weekend immediately preceding the next Wednesday’s publication date, when I am still waiting on results from my most recent CT Scan. This isn’t like putting the cart before the horse, this is more like putting the horse in the cart and pulling it.
Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children
Nearly 700 children live in emergency homeless shelters in Fairfax County at some point during the year.
Summer vacation is wrapping up; kids everywhere are gearing up for the return to school. Stores are filled with school supplies; back-to-school advertising fills our TVs, radio and mailboxes. Many families are hustling from store to store getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and haircuts. As children, while we hated to see summer end, we fondly remember the yearly ritual and the excitement and anticipation of getting all those new things.
Need Help with Repairs?
Trust and pride are two reasons that people — especially seniors — don’t always reach out to us to help them with home repairs. But it’s for those very reasons that people should. Rebuilding Together Alexandria is a nonprofit that focuses on neighbors helping neighbors.
Helping Children To Get Ready for School
At Inova Alexandria Hospital, our staff is collecting school supplies to help area children arrive at school in September prepared to hit the books. We’ve teamed up with Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) Family and Community Engagement Center and the non-profit Community Partners for Children for the 23rd annual ACPS School Supply Drive.
Helping Seniors and Their Pets
Two of Alexandria’s service organizations, Senior Services of Alexandria and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), have developed a unique partnership to help the area’s senior citizens.
New Board To Lead Volunteer Alexandria
Volunteer Alexandria has added new members to its board of directors which will be led by President Frank Fannon and Vice President David Chamowitz.
Police Warn of ‘Spoofing’ Fraud
The Alexandria Police Department is warning citizens that one or more suspects have been fraudulently “spoofing” the City of Alexandria Non-Emergency Line phone number to demand money and threaten arrest if payment is not made.
Classified Advertising August 13, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, August 7
Crime
The following information was provided by the Mount Vernon District Police Station
Letter: Congratulations On OLDA Success
To the Editor
Reading and Writing and Dogs — Oh My!
“Reading with the dog was fun […] she put her head down looking at the book! It was funny.” — Penny Ruth, rising 1st grader.
Principals Visit Island in Chesapeake Bay
Environmental lessons will be incorporated in classroom teaching.
From July 30 to Aug. 1, 24 principals from elementary and middle schools in Fairfax County embarked on a journey to Port Isobel, located near the island of Tangier Island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay.
Traffic Changes on I-95
Left-turn Lanes to Close at Franconia-Springfield Parkway Interchange
On Aug. 8, or shortly around this date, all left turns from Franconia-Springfield Parkway and left turns to and from I-95 north and south will close to allow for widening of the ramps connecting the I-95 HOV Lanes and Franconia-Springfield Parkway.
Greenspring Recognized for Awarding 32 Scholarships
Students receive $10,000 each for college or trade school.
Greenspring Village recently awarded 32 student dining services employees scholarships of $10,000 each, and was recognized for this achievement at a recent Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Fairfax Considering Changes to Rules on Food Trucks
Planning Commission continues food truck discussion.
Fairfax County is considering a change to the zoning rules concerning the operation of food trucks within the county. Under new rules, vendors would pay under $200 for licensing and would require permission from property owners.
School Board Funds Full Day Mondays
School system has over $38 million surplus.
The Fairfax County School Board voted at its last meeting to approve funding for full day Mondays for elementary-school students. The board voted back in June to approve ending half-day Mondays, but voted to fund the move, which will cost $7,639,300 at its July 24 meeting.
Planning Commission Tables Residential Studio Amendment
Discussion on affordable housing likely to continue.
Although more than 15 public meetings and seven committee sessions have been held since Oct. 13, the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously last week to table the proposed Residential Studio Amendment, which would have provided apartments to residents working low-income jobs.
Income Growth in Fairfax and Alexandria Lags Behind State and National Averages
Loudoun is the one bright spot in the region.
Paycheck growth in Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria are lagging behind the state and the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Wednesday, August 6
Crime Solvers Hold 5K, Raise Money
In the second year, the race has gained momentum, more runners, and two vendors.
Early Saturday morning, runners and walkers alike descended onto Fairfax Government Center for the second annual Crime Solvers 5K and helped raise money for Fairfax Crime Solvers. “[We’re] just a partnership to keep our community safe,” Fairfax County Crime Solvers President and Chairman, Jody Donaldson said.
Police Conduct Training Exercise
Landmark Mall was the site of a joint Alexandria and Arlington Police training exercise on Wednesday morning, July 30.
Stride Right
Not that I’ve felt that my attitude toward being diagnosed with stage IV (“terminal”) non-small cell lung cancer at age 54-and-one-half was ever to be considered as model behavior, but I do believe, after the initial shock wore off, eventually I assimilated its effects into my routine reasonably well. Not without a million bumps and bruises along the way, however, both physically and emotionally; nevertheless, though time has not healed all that has preceded this column, I’ve managed to find and maintain an extremely delicate balance between “joie de vivre” and “c’est la vie.”
Preventing Sports Injuries
How to keep kids safe while they’re having fun.
As students prepare to return to school, one activity many look forward to is sports. While the benefits of athletic activities are numerous, however, so are injuries.
Marking 240th Anniversary Of Friendship Firehouse
The 100 block of N. Alfred Street was closed off early on Saturday morning, Aug. 2, for the annual Friendship Firehouse anniversary festival.
Editorial: Brightening Outlook for End of Summer
Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.
The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.
The British and the Slaves – July 1814
This is the fifth of a series of articles telling how Alexandrians were affected 200 years ago by the War of 1812. For earlier articles in this series, go to alexandriagazette.com.
Two Views on Mentoring at Community Lodgings
In 2011, Community Lodgings decided to set up two mentor groups for the teens participating in the After-School program.
The ‘Divine’ Miss M’s’
Each of the personages I’m recalling deserves individual stories. Their services to Alexandria have meant a great deal to not only the government structure but to each and every citizen.
Foster Care for Animals
Danielle Cook can’t remember the last time she slept uninterrupted through the night. She has lots of mouths to feed — newborn kittens and puppies, depending on her for survival.
Obit: Holly Victoria Burnett
Holly Victoria Burnett, a diabetic who struggled for many years to battle the irregularities of her blood glucose readings, died in her Arlington home on July 19, 2014. She was 49 years old.
Brightening Outlook for End of Summer
Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.
The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.
Friday, August 1
A Night at the Aquarium for Fairfax Youth
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington members take a private overnight tour of Baltimore's National Aquarium.
Ten students from the Fairfax branch (Murraygate chapter) of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington got a sneak peak of Shark Week by spending the night among them at the Baltimore Aquarium at the seaport in Baltimore. They spent a “night at the museum” as part of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program sponsored by COX Communications last Friday, July 25.