Stories for November 2015

“Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers” Revisited at History Conference

The 11th annual Fairfax County History Conference was held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, titled “Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers - Part I.”

Classified Advertising November 25, 2015

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Mount Vernon: West Potomac Football Suffers Playoff Loss to South County

Q&A: Lineman Opoku, RB Annan discuss semifinals, other teams and next season.

The West Potomac football team finished 8-4 in 2015, losing to South County in the 6A North region quarterfinals.

Mount Vernon: Arcadia Farms Offers Veterans More Purpose in Life

Beads of sweat on Laron Murrell’s forehead glisten under his grey wool beanie as he digs his hoe into the live earth. On one side, the Woodlawn Plantation mansion stands, a relic from 1800. The plantation overlooks Fort Belvoir, situated across Route 1 bustling on a gleaming Monday morning in November.

Editorial: Celebrate, Shop, Dine Locally

Every day can be “small business day.”

There is a joy to participating in community traditions and celebrations during the holidays, from walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to shopping in local stores, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced

Transportation Strategy Update Launched

NVTA launches work on a six-year TransAction program.

Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) chose an appropriate location to announce the launch of the organization’s TransAction update efforts last week.

Creating Great Families Through Adoption

More than 800 children in foster care in Virginia are ready and waiting to be adopted.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. With that in mind, meet two families expanded through adoption; two families whose kids describe their family as "awesome."

860 Virginia Children Need Homes

“Parental rights terminated.” “Available for adoption.” “Floundering in an imperfect system.” These words describe many children who are currently living in foster care in Virginia.

Letter: More Trails, Please

Letter to the Editor

Among the many benefits of living in the Mount Vernon area, my family and I count the Mount Vernon Estate as among the top.

Letter: Dumfries Honors Toddy Puller

Letter to the Editor

Town of Dumfries Mayor Jerry Foreman presented state Senator Linda “Toddy” Puller a Town Resolution at her home in Alexandria, honoring her years of service as a delegate and senator for the State of Virginia.

Letter: Herrity is Silent

Letter to the Editor

One of the most pressing issues facing the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is our proposed appointment of a Citizen Review Panel that would accept and investigate citizen allegations to the Chief of Police and/or the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Column: Importance of Virginia’s Port

Commentary

Last week, I joined the Virginia Senate's Finance Committee in Portsmouth for briefings on Virginia’s economy, revenue projections and other important issues facing the state legislature.

Cappies Review: Finding Treasure on ‘Treasure Island’

It's the 1700s, pirates are sailing the high seas, and there's treasure to be found.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Scholarship

Dr. Douthard R. Butler, chairman, Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, officially recognized and presented on Oct. 15 a scholarship check in the amount of $2,000 to Gabrielle Lozama who graduated from South Lakes High School in Reston and is now a first year student at Virginia Tech with a double major — multi-media journalism and fashion merchandise and design. The Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (www.northernvirginiabcc.org). based in Gum Springs

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Food Collection

To mark Oct. 25 as World Pasta Day, Gold’s Gym Alexandria on Richmond Highway issued a “World Pasta Day Challenge” to its members during October, encouraging them to donate boxes of pasta to help stock the Food Pantry at United Community Ministries.

Mount Vernon: State Group Honors Hyland

The Virginia Association of Counties presented its highest award to former VACo President and current Fairfax County Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland on Nov. 8 during VACo’s 81st Annual Conference in Bath County.

Mount Vernon Brief: One Dead, Two Injured in Hybla Valley Shooting

Police identified Marquel Davis, 22, of Audubon Avenue in Alexandria, as the man who died in a Hybla Valley shooting on Nov. 18. His cause and manner of death have yet to be determined by the medical examiner.

Quiet Riot: ‘C’mon Feel the Noise’

County passes new noise ordinance, will revisit effectiveness in 18 months.

The Board of Supervisors is at peace with the county’s new Noise Ordinance.

Mount Vernon High School U.S. Marine Corps JROTC hosts Veterans Day program

Mount Vernon High School senior Elisa Solomon is a Cadet Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at her school. She’s also a poet. The young officer stood at the podium in the center of the school’s Michael M. Skinner Field House on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 and read her original work “The Superheroes.”

Fairfax County Updates Teacher Safety Training In Wake of Woodson Fire

Science teachers across Fairfax County Public Schools have begun mandatory updated safety training in the wake of an Oct. 30 fire at Woodson High School that injured five students and a teacher, and caused $7,500 in damage.

Classified Advertising November 18, 2015

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Mount Vernon Brief: ATM Skimmer Uncovered

An off-duty police officer called Fairfax County Police Department when he noticed a fraud device (skimmer) on an ATM in the Huntington area on Friday, Nov. 13.

Mount Vernon Brief: Join Fox Trot Fundraiser

The Fort Hunt PTA is hosting its 14th Annual 1-Mile Fox Trot Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Fort Hunt Park. Warm-up begins at 7:45 a.m.

Mount Vernon Brief: Lamp Causes Condo Fire

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department units responded to a townhouse condominium fire Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 8642 Village Square Drive.

Mount Vernon Brief: Seeking Donations for Victims

The Fairfax County Police Department Victim Services Section is kicking off its Second Annual Holiday Gift Card Drive in an effort to provide holiday help for children of domestic and sexual violence.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Civil Rights Icon

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, an icon in the Civil Rights movement, visited with the fourth graders at Ft. Hunt Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 16. He met with the students for almost an hour, talking about working with Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., Bloody Sunday and the Selma March, and the March on Washington.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Annual Tree Sale

West Potomac High School Booster Club continues its Christmas Tree Sale tradition for 30th year at Carl Sandburg Middle School.

Mount Vernon: Grant to Promote Tourism in Peru

The Running Strong for American Indian Youth board of directors approved a $16,000 grant request to promote cultural tourism and economic development in a remote area of Peru. Running Strong for American Indian Youth is located at 8301 Richmond Highway, Suite 200.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Veterans Day at Waynewood Elementary

Macy Lindbloom, SCA president, leads the Pledge of Allegiance with Principal James Meier at her side during Waynewood Elementary School’s celebration of Veterans Day.

Mount Vernon Brief: 17-year-old Charged in August Murder

On Oct. 29, police announced a 17-year-old from the Huntington area was charged with the murder of Khalid Aboumalik, 42.

Mount Vernon Brief: 17-year-old Charged in August Murder

On Oct. 29, police announced a 17-year-old from the Huntington area was charged with the murder of Khalid Aboumalik, 42.

Mount Vernon Home Sales: October, 2015

In October, 2015, 98 homes sold between $1,400,000-$111,000 in the Mount Vernon area.

Mount Vernon Home Sales: October, 2015

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving

The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy.

Mount Vernon: West Potomac Ground Game Dominant in Playoff Victory

Sophomore Cleveland rushes for 291 yards, 4 touchdowns against West Springfield.

No. 9 West Potomac defeated No. 8 West Springfield 40-19 on Friday in the opening round of the 6A North football playoffs.

Alexandria/Mount Vernon Weekend Fun: Nov. 13-22

Events in Alexandria and Mount Vernon, Va.

Fairfax County: Garza Presents Budget Task Force Report to School Board

Transparency and methodology of budget review questioned.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza is attempting to scale a towering projected budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2017. On Nov. 9, she presented School Board members the report of budget cuts recommended by a 36-member task force she summoned earlier this year.

Meet the Chef: Alexandria's Evening Star Cafe

Menu accesses all flavors in user friendly experience.

"Smell the nutty aroma of the brown butter." Foam quickly bubbles up the sides of the saucepan as Keith Cabot, executive chef at Evening Star Cafe on Mount Vernon, adds the cold liquid to the caramelized hot butter cooked on high heat.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Annual Quilt Raffle

For about 54 years, the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church Quilters have produced a showpiece quilt for auction at the annual at the annual Holiday Shop.

Mount Vernon: West Potomac to Face West Springfield in Playoffs

Wolverines lost to Spartans 28-9 during regular season.

West Potomac will travel to face West Springfield in the opening round of the 6A North region playoffs on Friday.

Mount Vernon Snapshot: Volunteers Clean up Jeff Todd Way

Volunteers from the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce board, Mount Vernon Paint Co., Mount Vernon High School football team, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and friends and family of Jeff Todd came together on Nov. 7 to clean up trash on Jeff Todd Way.

Mount Vernon Brief: Arcadia Program Seeks Applicants

The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture is a nonprofit organization based on Woodlawn Estate operating a farm, mobile market, food hub and farm-to-school programs.

Classified Advertising November 11, 2015

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Alexandria/Mount Vernon Snapshot: Time Pressure

Brigid Schulte visited Burgundy Farm Country Day School for the 2015 Lois and Eric Sevareid Forum Nov. 3 to discuss time pressure on parents and the research she did in this area for her bestselling book “Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play when No One has the Time.”

Fairfax To End Veteran Homelessness

Every veteran has a story, and a path to housing.

Jameel Mubaarik of Reston is a 63-year-old Army veteran and mechanical engineer, a former Reston homeowner.

Springfield: Capital Area Food Bank raises awareness of local hunger with Empty Bowls events

Kady Wohlfarth of Alexandria spent two months of her off days from the Alexandria Wegmans prepared food section to create 100 clay bowls. Hers accounted for one-third of the bowls at the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser and awareness-raising event for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Coming: Children’s Connection 2015

Get ready to send your submissions soon.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children.

Mount Vernon Viewpoints: Why was it important to you to come out and vote today?

“These guys decide how resources are shared, apportioned. School resources is an important issue for me. Your no or yes makes a big difference.”

Mount Vernon: Surovell Victorious In 36th

Del. Scott Surovell (D-44) will be switching to the Senate side of the capitol building in Richmond, after he defeated Republican challenger Jerry Foreman for the 36th District senator job. Foreman finished with 3,684 votes, over 31 percent, to Surovell’s 7,934 votes, over 68 percent.

Mount Vernon: Storck Elected District Supervisor

With almost 57 percent of the vote Mount Vernon School Board member Dan Storck defeated businesswoman and Republican Jane Gandee.

Mount Vernon: Voting ‘Slow But Steady’ at West Potomac

Doris McBryde of Mount Vernon had a simple goal as chief election officer at the West Potomac High School polling center: “Get people to vote, as expeditiously as possible.”

Mount Vernon: Geotechnical Drilling at Dyke Marsh

In preparation for restoring up to 100 acres of Dyke Marsh, the The National Park Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a short drilling project in the last week of October.

Fairfax County: Republicans Celebrate the Victorious

And honor the defeated

Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said he much preferred this night to the one when he was elected to his first term. A close race with his opponent meant waiting around until late into the evening. This year, Cook defeated Democrat Janet Oleszek by a more handy margin of about six percent of the vote.

Fairfax County: Palchik Upsets Incumbent Reed for Providence School Board Seat

With 58.22 percent of the vote in unofficial election results, Dalia Palchik of Annandale defeated the incumbent Providence District Fairfax County School Board representative Patty Reed, who garnered 41.31 percent.

Fairfax County: Hough Edges Incumbent Velkoff for Third At-Large School Board Seat

Fairfax resident Jeanette Hough said her race for the Fairfax County School Board started with a phone call to Springfield District representative to the board Elizabeth Schultz. “What are we going to do about the school board?” Hough remembers asking. “We’re being ignored as parents and taxpayers.”

Democrats Claim Victories in Local Elections

But General Assembly stays in the red column.

“We didn’t win the war tonight, but we did come out ahead in some of the important local battles, and that’s a good start.”

Fairfax Library Foundation Raises $197,000 at A Library Jubilee

The Fairfax Library Foundation hosted A Library Jubilee! Soiree in the Stacks on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Woodrow Wilson Library in Falls Church.