Mount Vernon: Dig Pink Rally
A Dig Pink Rally, supporting breast cancer research, is being sponsored by West Potomac High School Volleyball, 6500 Quander Road, at its Oct. 13 games against Mount Vernon: 5 p.m. (Freshman), 6 p.m. (JV), and 7:15 p.m. (Varsity). The rally will include a Memory/Honor Wall, bake sale, and a Ft. Hunt volleyball players serving contest. The volleyball teams welcome everyone to cheer on the local high school players and wear pink.
Mount Vernon: Quander Road School provides flexible, family-like special education experience
Within the first week of the 2016-2017 school year, teachers at the Quander Road School in Mount Vernon had already finished their jobs for five students. For that select group, they were ready to return to their base high school and transition back to a less restrictive educational experience.
Mount Vernon: West Potomac Freshman Verbally Commits to Auburn Softball
On a recent unofficial visit to Auburn University, West Potomac High School freshman Claire Davidson committed verbally to play softball at the college. At the end of the 2016 season, Auburn was the SEC conference champion and finished second in the NCAA national championship.
Mount Vernon Letter: Pay To Fix Meals Tax Brochure
Letter to the Editor
In my letter to the Gazette two weeks ago, I discussed a brochure sent to Fairfax County residents at the behest of the Board of Supervisors (BOS) discussing the Meals Tax Referendum and pointing out that the brochure only set forth reasons to support the Referendum and no reasons to oppose it.
Mount Vernon Letter: Meals Tax Or Slush Fund?
Letter to the Editor
Recent discussions of the proposed meals tax can be stated as three large problems.
Mount Vernon Letter: Costs of Capital Projects
Letter to the Editor
There are two capital projects in the Mount Vernon District being proposed for the upcoming Bond Referendum.
Mount Vernon Letter: Food for Thought
Letter to the Editor
The meals tax has come forward at this time as a possible way of providing much-needed income to the schools. Broadly speaking, the schools have cut budget for 10 years and held teacher salaries flat through most of that period. (I believe 2016 is the one exception to that trend thanks to the leadership of Karen Garza.) Now Fairfax County schools have larger class sizes and lower paid teachers than surrounding systems.
Mount Vernon: Strip Mall Transformation
Approval recommended for 375 residential units and 7,500 square feet of retail on 5 acres in place of aging strip.
Novus Property Holdings has been seeking to redevelop a 5.2 acre property in the Penn Daw Community at the intersection of Richmond HIghway and Fairview Drive for the past four years, said Sara Mariska, who represents the developer.
Mount Vernon: Hospital Praised as Community Anchor
Celebrating Community Day and 40th anniversary of Mount Vernon Hospital.
Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital partnered to co-sponsor Community Day and the hospital’s 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24. This is the fourth year the chamber sponsored a Community Day to recognize and celebrate local businesses, non-profits and Mount Vernon and Lee residents. Since Mount Vernon Hospital was planning to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the chamber decided to join celebrating Community Day simultaneously with Mount Vernon hospital.
Editorial: Independent Police Auditor Marks History
Kudos to Board of Supervisors for unanimous approval of independent police auditor; now on to the Civilian Review Panel.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to create the position and office of independent police auditor on Tuesday, Sept. 20, creating the first civilian, independent oversight of law enforcement in Fairfax County. The unanimous vote demonstrated the board’s commitment to the ongoing process that began early in 2015 when Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova established the 32-member Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.
Walk to Prevent Suicide
Walk supports survivors of suicide loss and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The Out of the Darkness Walks are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s largest fundraiser, producing millions for suicide prevention programs, and works to unite those who have been affected by suicide, and create communities that are “smart about mental health.”
Homework Overload
Some educators say less can be more, stress balance when it comes to homework.
Paula DeMarco dreads one time of day the most: weekday evenings at 5:30. It’s the time she has set aside for her children begin their homework. That means no screen time, music or other distractions.
‘Sextortion’ Victims Are Mostly Men
Photos, video used to demand money from victims.
Detectives of the Major Crimes Division of Fairfax County Police report a trend in an unsavory type of financial scam. Sexual extortion scams, commonly referred to as “sextortion,” involve meeting someone the victim believes is a real person online who coaxes him or her into feeling a sense of connection and intimacy, and then sending risque photos or video.
First Lady Comes to GMU, Campaigns for Clinton
Speaks on Hillary Clintons 'lifelong record of public service.'
Excitement filled the air when First Lady Michelle Obama addressed an enthusiastic crowd, last Friday, Sept. 16, at GMU’s Johnson Center. Speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, she urged everyone to vote and called Clinton the only qualified candidate in the race.
Mount Vernon Letter: Shameful Propaganda
Letter to the Editor
In last week's Gazette, my letter was published in which I explained that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) had mailed to residents the previous week a brochure discussing the Meals Tax Referendum that is on the November ballot (which if approved would create a new 4 percent tax on meals prepared by food establishments).