Friday, July 31
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 31-Aug. 9, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 30
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission Subcommittees Report
“It is well past time for the Fairfax County Police Department to start providing timely, honest and effective communications with everything it does.” When former director of Fairfax County public affairs Merni Fitzgerald delivered the final report and recommendations of the communications subcommittee of the Fairfax County ad hoc commission to review police practices, commissioner Joseph Cammarata responded immediately to those words in report’s introduction.
Fairfax: Special Grand Jury Begins Hearing Testimony in John Geer Case
Since shooting John Geer dead in the doorway of his Springfield home on Aug. 29, 2013, PFC Adam Torres of the Fairfax County Police Department has remained at work, albeit out of the field, but undisciplined by police and unprosecuted for any criminal wrongdoing.
Fairfax County School Board Honors Retiring Leaders, Adopts Budget Review and Audit Plan
In their last meeting of the summer, Fairfax County School Board members began by remembering former superintendent Dr. Robert Spillane, who recently died, and recognizing outgoing members of the school system’s leadership team.
Wednesday, July 29
Q&A: McLean’s Norton Committed to Indiana as Sophomore
Catcher is superstitious, listens to 30-song playlist on game days.
Q&A with McLean rising senior catcher Bella Norton.
Column: On A Tangent
Not that I live day-to-day or even month-to-month, but I do live – in my head anyway – quarter-to-quarter; that interval representing the usual and customary time between my recurring diagnostic scans. The time when the rubber hits my road.
Tuesday, July 28
Summer Reading Made Fun at Dolley Madison Library
Children break free of their parent’s hand and saunter into the library, chin up and grinning from ear to ear, and trade their Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) summer reading logs for a coupon booklet.
A View from Wiehle-Reston: D.C. Gets Closer
Taking a train from Reston: Commuters express satisfaction and some criticism.
These are some of the mixed emotions coming to light in conversations with commuters reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the new Silver Line Metro operation.
‘Impressive’ Change
Commuters discuss conveniences of Silver Line.
July 26 marked the first anniversary of the Metro’s Silver Line opening.
Happy Birthday Silver Line, and Many More
Reactions to the $3 billion project up and down the line.
”Herndon is ready,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel, regarding Herndon’s future Silver Line stop. Merkel dubbed Herndon, “A Next Generation Small Town.”
Happy Birthday Silver Line, and Many More
Reactions to the $3 billion project up and down the line.
”Herndon is ready,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel, regarding Herndon’s future Silver Line stop. Merkel dubbed Herndon, “A Next Generation Small Town.”
Tony Lucca and ZZ Ward Rock Tysons Plaza
Fans of all ages gathered on the Tysons Corner Plaza last Friday for good music, laughs and stunning views of the sunset.
Wednesday, July 22
Column: 'Abyssful' Ignorance
Hopefully not. But you never know – per last week’s column, until you know. And the preferred pattern seems to be that waiting to be spoken to in person, a week or so post-scan, is the best the process can be; or at least, that’s the process that suits the doctor/HMO.
Great Falls: Langley Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Brewer Retires After 21 Seasons
Brewer totaled 288 wins, 4 state titles with Saxons.
Long-time Langley boys' lacrosse coach Earl Brewer retires after 21 seasons with the Saxons.
Tuesday, July 21
Week in Great Falls
Weekly happenings in Great Falls
Enjoying OCEAN at McLean Central Park
Jennifer Cutting’s orchestra enchants McLean residents.
Jennifer Cutting’s Celtic OCEAN Orchestra mesmerized the audience at the McLean Central Park this Sunday, blending rock ‘n’ roll rhythms, Celtic jigs, and Classical influences into one exhilarating performance.
Great Falls: Claude Moore Colonial Farm Hosts 2015 Market Fair
Visitors from all over attended the 18th Century Colonial Fair, immersing themselves in the colonial times through food, merchandise and traditional activities.
Opinion: After One Year, Silver Line is Changing the Face of Northern Virginia
If you were among the thousands descending upon Tysons Corner Center this summer for the grand opening of the new Hyatt Hotel, which included a concert and fireworks, you experienced firsthand the transformation taking place there and throughout the Dulles Corridor thanks to the arrival of Metro’s Silver Line.
Mary Anne Hampton Named 2015 ‘Friend in Deed’
Friends of the McLean Community Center recognize the ‘go to’ Board member.
The Friends of the McLean Community Center (FMCC) organization has named Mary Anne Hampton the recipient of its 2015 “Friend in Deed” award.
Meet Best Friends of McLean
Best friends of McLean
Monday, July 20
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 24-Aug. 2, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Editorial: What’s Special about Your Community?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guides.
The Connection’s annual Newcomers and Community Guides will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Thursday, July 16
McLean Home Sales: June, 2015
In June, 2015, 142 homes sold between $8,300,000-$229,000 in the McLean and Falls Church area.
McLean Home Sales: June, 2015
Wednesday, July 15
Column: 'Scant' Know For Sure Anymore
After six years, four months and two weeks since being diagnosed with stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer (the “terminal” kind), I can say with certainty that I have no sense of what my next CT scan, scheduled for July 15th, will indicate. Previously (multiple scans over multiple years), I’ve felt something in my upper chest/lungs where the largest tumors are located and the subsequent scan showed nothing of consequence.
Q&A: McLean Lacrosse Standout Koehl Headed to Louisville
Former Highlander hates losing, loves pizza, chocolate.
Q&A with McLean High School graduate Elise Koehl.
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 17-26, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Tuesday, July 14
McLean: Summer on a High Note
Spring Hill Elementary School Orchestra Director’s Strings Camp remains McLean’s summer tradition.
Every summer, Spring Hill Elementary School orchestra director Ruth Donahue runs an orchestra summer camp for children to improve their music skills.
Marta Sniezek: All-American
It’s not easy being the second youngest member of a family of 11.
For Marta Sniezek, ranked one of the top basketball players in the country, her parents and her siblings are her motivators in a family where success is a blueprint.
Great Falls: Woman of the Year
Raising more than a quarter of a million dollars for cancer research with 17 local events.
Katie Simmons Hickey’s daughter Rylie, 3, delivered the knockout punch in Hickey’s fundraising film for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Editorial: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need.
Backyard Vegetable Gardens Feed Multicultural Cuisines
In Fairfax County, tomatoes are a staple of local gardens along with peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, beans and herbs like mint, oregano and cilantro.
There’s nothing like a juicy red tomato fresh out of the backyard garden to brighten up a summertime salad or a sandwich — or a bittermelon, aronia berries or “paradise apple,” as persimmons are known in Bulgaria. The multi-cultural population in Fairfax County has grown roots in the backyard vegetable garden.
Unscheduling Summer Play
Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.
What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.
Friday, July 10
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 10-19, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 9
Fairfax: City of Fairfax Band Children’s Concert July 16
Each year, the City of Fairfax community band gives its youngest fans a chance to try their hand at the shiny, twisty and just plain loud instruments in the ensemble.
Wednesday, July 8
Q&A: Marshall Grad Brooke Headed to Coastal Carolina
Right-hander earned Conference 13 Pitcher of the Year.
Q&A with former Marshall pitcher Will Brooke.
Column: My Manifesto, Sort Of
Being diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer (no, they’re not all “terminal”) is “a heck of a thing,” to extrapolate a bit from Jim Valvano’s memorable 1993 ESPY Awards speech given a few months before he succumbed to his cancer.
Commentary: Legislation Combats Sex Trafficking
On July 1, legislation that I sponsored, HB1964, went into effect. This new law is Virginia’s first stand-alone human trafficking statute and creates stricter penalties for traffickers, greater protections for sex trafficking victims, and provides needed tools for prosecutors and law enforcement to stop human trafficking in Virginia.
Letter: Celebrating Marriage Equality
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Today, we rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal right of same sex partners to legal marriage in the cases of Obergefell v. Hodges, Tanco v. Haslam, DeBoer v. Snyder, Bourke v. Beshear.
Tuesday, July 7
Celebrating the Fourth in McLean
Despite the gloomy weather, around 1,000 people attended the annual fireworks celebration by the McLean Community Center on Saturday, July 4 at Cooper Middle School in McLean.
A House by the Sea
Design ideas for beach homes.
As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.
Editorial: Yes to Nonpartisan Redistricting
Politicians shouldn’t be choosing voters.
Virginia’s Congressional map is unconstitutional because African American voters are packed into District 3, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The problem will have to be remedied by drawing new boundaries.
Thursday, July 2
Coming Home to Queen of Peace in Springfield
Residents with disabilities move into new group house on Gresham Street.
Ten months ago, the unassuming single-level house on Gresham Street in north Springfield was a private residence. Today it’s the permanent home of four individuals with disabilities, and a fifth is on the way.
Fourth of July Weekend Fun in Fairfax County
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend: July 3-5, 2015.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Wednesday, July 1
Column: Quality of Life
Throughout my nearly six and a half years of cancer treatment, starting at the initial Team Lourie meeting on February 27, 2009, when my oncologist suggested I take that vacation I’ve always dreamed of (to which I exclaimed “WHAT!?”), my quality of life has always been important to him.