Bulova: ‘This Will Be a Challenging Budget’
Fairfax County average homeowner will see tax bill increase $330 under County Executive’s proposed $7 billion budget.
Fairfax County Executive Edward Long, Jr. unveiled a $7 billion budget proposal Tuesday that reflects his "cautious and deliberative approach to budgeting," a result, Long said, of continuing uncertainty over federal spending and sluggish commercial tax revenues.
Letter to the Editor: A State ‘Religion?’
To the Editor: Public opinion on the subject of marriage is being systematically “stamped-out” in Virginia. Where it conflicts with the will of the State, conscience holds no bearing — so says the Obama faction. This causes me to think a mistake was made (inadvertently, I’m sure) when the editorial, written by Mary Kimm, was published in the Feb. 20 edition of the Gazette. It was placed under the subject heading, “Opinion,” which surely offends the worldview of those (like Obama) who’ve gone to such great lengths to ensure there is no opinion, beyond that of the State. In response to her curious recital, I submit the following observations: Homosexuality is religion. It is dark, humanist religion. The religion of those who hate God. It is agnosticism (Gk., ignorance), deliberately carried into practice, by those “in pursuit of a vain thing.”
Hollywood Comes to Fairfax
How to use Hollywood-style portrait techniques to photograph adoptable animals.
Animals at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter were given the celebrity treatment on Feb. 23 when a team from the non-profit Shelter Art Foundation taught shelter staff and volunteers how to use Hollywood-style portrait techniques to photograph their adoptable animals.
Giving Bianca a Second Chance
A Fairfax County Animal Shelter happy ending.
Bianca, a nine-year-old, female, German shepherd mix dog, had been living her life on the end of a chain in a rural part of Virginia. In late January, an unknown stray dog approached Bianca and attacked her. Bianca’s owner came outside and in an attempt to stop the attack he hit both dogs with a shovel, striking Bianca over the head and injuring her. Rather than pursue vet care, the owner drove Bianca to the local pound and surrendered her. For the next 36 hours, Bianca sat with no medical care, until a sympathetic staff person called the shelter’s rescue partner at the Highland County Humane Society in rural Virginia.
‘We Will Not Tolerate Unsafe Driving’
Police want motorists to get the message from their new cruiser.
There’s a new weapon in the Fairfax County Police Department’s arsenal, but this one has four tires and an engine. It’s a new cruiser covered with messages warning people not to drive impaired or distracted. It was unveiled on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Sully District Station, and the station’s commander, Capt. Ed O’Carroll, explained its significance.
Commentary: Schools, Medicaid at Issue in State Budget
Last week, the initial skirmish over the state budget erupted in the Virginia legislature. The proposed House and Senate budgets are significantly different in how they address elementary-secondary education. Virginia provides about 23 percent of Fairfax County’s public school funding. The federal government pays about 5 percent and the remainder comes from Fairfax County, which is largely funded by real estate taxes. The only Northern Virginia County with lower real estate taxes is Arlington County.
Letter to the Editor: Letting Domestic Violence Victims Down
To the Editor: State Senate Bill 510 — prohibiting individuals who have been convicted of the misdemeanors of stalking, sexual battery, or assault and battery of a family member, from possessing a firearm for a period of five years following their conviction, after which their gun rights would be automatically restored — passed the Virginia State Senate with bipartisan support. It then went to a sub-committee in the House of Delegates, where it quickly died.
Mount Vernon Pets
The Mount Vernon Gazette presents it's winter/spring pet edition, featuring readers' pet photos
Grand Champions
On Feb. 22, at Gar-Field's Dance Invitational in Woodbridge, the Carl Sandburg Middle School Dance Team competed in the middle school category against local dance teams from Fairfax County Public Schools and Prince William County Schools.
The Mardula Pet Parade
Francis and Susan J. Mardula of Alexandria have volunteered for 21 years at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Susan Mardula writes: Our lives have truly been enriched by the animals we have adopted over the years and by the wonderful animal caring people we met through our volunteer work.When my husband and I first met, we each had pets with “S” names. We continued the tradition over the years.
Column: Amusings
Many people wonder about George Washington's Grist Mill, which is on Mount Vernon highway up near Route 1. In fact, many people have no idea where his Grist Mill was/is. Even more people have no idea what the heck a Grist Mill is in the first place. So, I will humbly educate you (I went to Trinity College, and am qualified). A Grist Mill is where crops such as wheat, corn, oats and a few unavoidable dandelions are ground into powder, to be used for some purpose that escapes most people.
Mount Vernon Pets
’The Mount Vernon Gazette presents it's winter/spring pet edition, featuring readers' pet photos.
School Notes
Timothy Bryan Long graduated with a master of business administration degree through Averett University's Graduate and Professional Studies Program. Christopher Fry, who studies electrical engineering, and Jocelyn Griser, who studies mathematics, were named to the dean’s list at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Shannon Frydenlund was named to the president’s list at Clemson University. Shannon, a graduate of West Potomac High School, is majoring in elementary education. Leah Griser, Sophia Naide and Phoenix Wilson have been named to the honors list at Mary Baldwin College. Anna Dixon, who majors in nursing, and Carolyn G. Lucas, who majors in theatre, were both named to the dean’s list at DeSales University. Victoria Polchinski received academic honors from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University by making the university's dean's list for the fall 2013 semester. Matthew Heller, a fourth-year student in the ASL-English interpretation program in RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, made the dean's list for the fall 2013 semester. Kathleen Wyskoczka was named to the deans' list/honor roll at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Wyskoczka is a junior pre-mild/moderate disabilities K-6 major in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Michael Patrick Flynn was named to the dean’s list at Texas Lutheran University.
West Potomac’s Thompson Qualifies for States
Senior will compete on vault in Virginia Beach.
West Potomac's Monica Thompson will compete at the state gymnastics meet.
Mount Vernon Home Sales: January, 2014
In January 2014, 61 homes sold between $1,785,000-$95,000 in the Mount Vernon area.
Mount Vernon Home Sales: January, 2014
Money on the Shelves: Jurisdictions Take Variety of Approaches to Funding Libraries
Some have recovered from the recession, others are still struggling.
What is the future of the neighborhood library?
Letter to the Editor: Still an Idea Worth Pursuing
To the Editor: On Feb. 6, my letter in the Gazette made the suggestion that the county and state should recycle all of the sand we find in our street gutters that was spread to improve traction for vehicles during snowy weather. My letter apparently struck a nerve with my down-the-street neighbor Paul Siegel who replied in last week's Gazette. Mr. Siegel sarcastically characterized my suggestion as the "independent invention of recommended Action C1-2 in Chapter IV of the Little Hunting Creek Watershed Management Plan of 2004" that was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2005. He conceded that, 9 years later, recommended Action C1-2 has not been acted upon.
Obituary: Richard Alan DeMello
On Feb. 11, 2014, Richard died at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was a loving husband for 42 years of Sharon (Henault) DeMello; loving father of Shawna Dillon (James Dillon); cherished member of the Henault family; a friend to so many. Richard is survived by a brother, Leon and a sister, Karen DeMello. Richard was an electronics engineer in communications for the Department of Defense, Navy.
Winter Fun
Families, children, and teens took full advantage of the snow. Some took this time to build snow men in front of their homes. While others engaged in the other activities. A local mother and son chose to go sledding together.
Winter Landscapes
White Oaks Park in Alexandria offered quiet reflection after the snowstorm hit the area last week. Fallen leaves float in the ice-covered water. White Oaks Park is in the wooded area of Alexandria on Devonshire Road.