Army of Appointees Helps Keep County Running
Newcomers & Community Guide
The following individuals have been appointed by Supervisor Gerry Hyland to serve on various county boards, commissions and authorities as representatives of the Mount Vernon District.
The Forces That Shape Mount Vernon
Transit study to relieve Route 1 corridor traffic gridlock; boundary studies to relieve overcrowded schools.
The decision several years ago by the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to massively expand the Fort Belvoir military base on Route 1 near Woodlawn Plantation will continue to be felt by the Mount Vernon community in many ways and for years to come.
Community Leaders Outline High Priority Local Issues
Community leaders and elected officials detail the issues they see as important in the Mount Vernon area.
Rev. Charles Brock Named as St. James’ Rector
The Rev. Charles F. Brock, most recently associate rector at St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church in Annandale, has accepted a call to be rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Mount Vernon, beginning Sept. 2.
Welcome to Mount Vernon
Welcome to Mount Vernon, an area steeped in history and full of exciting activities.
Editorial: About the Gazette, a Connection Newspaper
The paper you're reading, the Mount Vernon Gazette is one of 15 papers published by the independent, locally owned Local Media Connection LLC, serving the suburbs of Metropolitan Washington in Northern Virginia and Potomac, Md.
Shaping a Route 1 Bypass Proposal
Plan includes “Equestrian Underpass.”
According to supporters of Woodlawn Stables, the Federal Highway Administration has offered an alternative bypass proposal that would allow the riding academy to continue operation, preserve more acreage and build new barn facilities on the remaining property.
Commentary: Feds Approve Voting Law Changes
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice approved Virginia’s voting law changes for use in the Nov. 6 election. Many are questioning why DOJ approved the changes.
Letter: Expand Use of Sworn Testimony
August is a good month to take a step back and think about what improvements can be made in the discourse occurring in the civic arena. In August, the Board of Supervisors (BOS), Planning Commission (PC), Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), and Park Authority (FCPA) are all in recess along with the MVCCA.
Letter: Supports Natural Resource Parks
I write to clarify the position of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia on the development of Westgrove Park, in response to Jay Spiegel's Aug. 15 letter to the Mount Vernon Gazette.
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.
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.
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.
Riverside Estates Median Clean-up
Residents of Riverside Estates volunteered on May 4 to do a little clean-up on the median strips bordering the residential community off Old Mount Vernon Road. Throughout the morning volunteers cleared weeds and trash in the flower beds and added mulch to the shrubs and bushes along the roadside.
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.”
$30,000 to Community Lodgings
Walmart funds after-school programs for teens.
No sooner had Community Lodgings Executive Director Bonnie Baxley been presented a check for $30,000 from Walmart store manager William Hunsucker, she asked for more. “Do you have any tents?” she queried.