New Retirement Building and Community Center Open in McLean
75 apartments in Vinson Hall Independent Living all booked.
New senior living apartments in town will serve as home for 75 retired government workers. After a decade of design and construction, the Navy Marine Coast Guard and Vinson Hall Retirement Community held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new independent living apartment building and community center on Jan. 22.
Langley Alumna Ranks High at Air Force Academy
Sophia Vasiliadis named Wing Commander of school.
Four years ago, Sophia Vasiliadis was about to graduate from Langley High School and unsure of the direction she wanted to take in life. Since then, it has been up, up and away. Today, the 22-year-old student at the Air Force Academy (AFA) is now leading the entire student body as the new Cadet Wing.
Schools to Expand by $856 Million
Capital Improvement Plan approved, rising enrollment causes concerns about classroom space.
Five more school buildings and renovations for several existing ones may be approved by 2020. The Fairfax County School Board approved the $856 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the Jan. 22 meeting to set priority on the projects the school system wants done in the next five years.
McLean Festival Finds a Sweet Spot
Chocolate Festival gets ‘smoother and smoother’ every year.
Chocolate covered bacon, chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate gelato... And the list goes on. The fourth annual McLean Rotary Chocolate Festival attracted hundreds of sweet tooths to the community on Sunday, Jan. 25, to indulge in their favorite treats.
McLean Outlook: Developing the Community
Completion of community centers, pedestrian improvements.
McLean community leaders will be busy this year. Between the looming pedestrian improvements and downtown development residents have a lot to look forward to.
Demolition at Langley Begins
Three-year renovation project will update local school.
Phase one of Langley High School’s renovation project has begun. The building, built in the 1960s, will receive its first major overhaul in an effort to update the building to create a more effective learning environment for students.
Chocolate Lover’s Paradise in McLean
Chocolate Festival returns on Sunday, Jan. 25.
One day every year, McLean Community Center is a chocolate lover’s dream. The McLean Chocolate Festival will host 17 vendors selling decadent artisan chocolate goods on Jan. 25, ranging from candies to chocolate dipped bacon.
McLean Residents Air Concerns to Legislators
Town Hall meeting held in McLean Community Center.
Six local state legislators listened to the concerns of a room full of people last Saturday. Several delegates and state senators took part in a Town Hall meeting on Jan. 17 at the McLean Community Center to talk about some of their bills and find out what issues their constituents thought were important.
Deadline for School Audit Committee Changes
Citizens Association wants community members added to School Board committee.
McLean Citizens Association (MCA) wants the county School Board to add community members to the audit committee. MCA voted on a resolution Jan. 7- stemming on a resolution made by Fairfax County Public School board members recently - to make changes to the audit committee by July 1.
The $2.4 Billion Question
FCPS Superintendent presents next year’s budget.
Fairfax County Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza is proposing a $2.4 billion budget for the 2015-16 school year. The proposed Fairfax County Public Schools’ budget includes funds for full-day Mondays, teacher compensation and later high school start times while still finding room for $55.4 million in cuts.
Kathleen Murphy wins 34th District
Voters turn up despite snow storm.
Kathleen Murphy was greeted with cheers by more than a hundred supporters as she entered her victory party at McLean Community Center. The democrat won the 34th District seat of the state House of Delegates, 6,406 to 6,082, on Tuesday after Republican Craig Parisot conceded the race.
Jones Branch Connector Hoped to Relieve Tysons traffic.
The proposed Jones Branch Connector may be the answer to some of the congestion issues on Route 7. During the public hearing on Dec. 10 at Spring Hill Elementary for the pending transportation project, Project Manager John Dresser said it would be a pressure valve for the increasingly heavy traffic through Tysons Corner during rush hour.
Parisot: Running with Purpose
Colleagues say delegate candidate Craig Parisot’s ‘got his priorities straight.’
Craig Parisot can juggle. Whether that means candy canes or work-life balance, he catches everything that comes his way. With a growing new family, a growing list of leadership roles in the community and an active campaign as the Republican candidate for Delegate of the 34th District, this is a job that requires both hands.
Langley Principal Leaves for South County
Matthew Ragone created “Saxon Country,” says school family network committee co-chair.
For six years, he was the glue that brought Langley High School (LHS) together. LHS Principal Matthew Ragone has left the school to boost South County High School’s academics as its new principal.
Fighting for Common Sense
Colleagues say Kathleen Murphy is compassionate and dedicated.
According to her friends and colleagues, Kathleen Murphy is dedication and compassion personified. The cancer survivor and former military child is turning her experiences into action by running for a second time for the state House of Delegates 34th district - this time with more wisdom.
Garza on School Matters
School system superintendent addresses citizens’ concerns.
Dressed in a black skirt suit and a maroon blouse, Dr. Karen Garza was ready to take on questions and comments from concerned area residents. At the last event of McLean Citizens Association, the Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent was invited to talk to residents about pressing education matters like overcrowded classrooms and budget concerns at the McLean Community Center on Dec. 1.
Voice of McLean for 100 Years
McLean Citizens Association celebrates 100th anniversary.
The oldest civil organization in the county celebrated it’s 100th anniversary, in turn celebrating the milestones McLean has achieved since 1914. The McLean Citizens Association has served as the voice of the people for 100 years and is the face behind McLean Day, Dolley Madison Library, McLean Community Center and hundreds of resolutions passed on the county level.
McLean Artisans Are Ready for the Holiday Season
Shop supports national and local artists.
Shannon Denny Price has seen her shop, The Artisans, move three times in the last 25 years. As a veteran of the holiday season, the shop co-owner has already begun filling the store with holiday decor as well as gifts and stocking stuffers of all price points. Christmas trees, themed wreaths and ornaments will all be available for purchase.
Parisot Wins Republican Primary
More than 1,400 area Republicans show up to vote.
With Barbara Comstock filling in the 10th Congressional district’s seat, two candidates are closing in on her current position. Democrat Kathleen Murphy and Republican Craig Parisot, both now officially endorsed by their parties, are vying for the 34th House of Delegates seat via special election to be held Jan. 6, 2015.
Charlotte’s Story of Survival
Five time open heart surgery survivor raises funds for medical causes.
When Charlotte Woodward was born, her mother thought she was the most wonderful baby in the world. And she still thinks so. Charlotte, who is 24 today, was born with high functioning down syndrome and has been subjected to nearly a lifetime of heart problems. Despite the adversity she has faced, she is raising money through bake sales just to give back to those who have helped her.
Herndon's Malaria Meltdown
Local teen educates peers on the disease.
Kritika Singh wants to eradicate malaria for good - one mosquito at a time. The 16-year-old McLean resident and CEO of Malaria-Free World hosted the inaugural Malaria Meltdown conference at Nysmith School of the Gifted on Sunday to educate her generation on the dangers third world countries face with the disease.
Steady Flow of Voters in McLean
U.S. Senate elections bring voters out to McLean High School.
Voter lines were short to nonexistent at McLean High School on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voters trickled steadily into the school through the early morning hours to decide who will be their U.S. Senator. “So far, as of 8:12, we have had 174 (voters),” said Chief Election Officer Vicki Ream Herrmann.
High Schools to Start Later Next Year
School Board approves later start times.
Phyllis Payne has been fighting for more sleep for a decade. On Oct. 23, it all paid off. The co-founder of Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal - or SLEEP - saw the Fairfax County Public School Board approve to move high school start times ahead by 30 minutes, 11-1.
Franklin Sherman Celebrates 100 Years
Centennial bash for school with historic roots in McLean.
Kim Todd remembers how she felt at home at Franklin Sherman Elementary School in the late 1970s. Nearly 40 years later, she is serving as the school’s Parent Teacher Association centennial coordinator and has seen three of her children enter the school as she had. The school celebrated its centennial year carnival style with the community on Sunday with a petting zoo, cotton candy and fair-style rides and games.
Langley High Teacher Receives National Award
Leah Puhlick a recipient of the Yale Educator of the Year Award.
Katherine Tan may have graduated from Langley High School last year, but one teacher has made an impact on her to this day. The Yale University freshman nominated her former Advance Placement [AP] chemistry teacher, Leah Puhlick, for this year’s Yale Educator of the Year award - and she was one of this year’s recipients.
Dulles Now Screening for Deadly Virus
Local hospitals to treat ill passengers arriving from Africa.
Dulles International Airport was one of five airports in the nation to begin screening for Ebola last Thursday. The Center for Disease Control and Protection trained staff to check all passengers arriving from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to check for signs of illness to prevent more passengers from infecting others during their daily interactions.
Texting While Driving Examined at Langley
Langley High School students learn safety through simulator.
Hanna Hunt was behind the wheel, phone in hand. When a text popped up, she had a choice. Would she answer it? Hunt, a senior at Langley High School, was playing a simulated driving game during lunch, so when she “crashed” her car earlier that day, she walked away with zero consequences. The simulator was a part of the school’s theme of the year - road safety - in partnership with AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign to give students a reality check on Oct. 16 for how texting on their phone affects their driving.
Transportation Issues Dissected
Citizens association hosts update on roadways and sidewalks.
Traffic congestion. Roadway construction. Lack of sidewalks. All these and more were among the concerns McLean residents had for the Fairfax Department of Transportation director Oct. 14 during McLean Citizen’s Association’s transportation update.
Marriage Equality in Fairfax and Beyond
County courthouse marries all couples.
Wearing matching hot pink outerwear and short, spiky hair in front of the Fairfax County Government Center on Oct. 6, Yvonne Landis and Melodie Mayo of Falls Church were the first same sex couple to say “I do” in the county.
Tysons Rezoning Consternation
MCA debates details of proffer agreements for two businesses.
Like most McLean Citizen Association board members, President Sally Horn is concerned how new Tysons businesses will affect McLean. Members debated two Tysons rezoning resolutions on their contribution to the urban center — stating their hope that the money would be kept in Tysons.
MPA Hosts Annual ArtFest
Annual festival melds festival atmosphere and local art.
Artist Julie Lansaw has been showcasing her paintings depicting her travels on paint and canvas at McLean Project for the Arts ArtFest since its first year. The local artist said it is the best way for neighbors to socialize and buy work in the area. The eighth annual MPAArtFest attracted thousands of art and music lovers to McLean Central Park Sunday to enjoy the crisp autumn day with drawing lessons, local art and apple cider donuts.
Beer, Bourbon and BBQ in Tysons
New festival gathers a crowd in Lerner Town Square.
A traveling festival new to Tysons Corner brought people into the urban center from all over the region. The Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival broke new records for Tysons’ festivals this year, attracting more than 4,000 visitors to the new Lerner Town Center on Saturday.
Former Delegate Vince Callahan Dies at 82
Represented McLean, Great Falls in House of Delegates for 40 years.
Former delegate Vincent Callahan Jr., who spent 40 years representing McLean, Great Falls and Tysons Corner in Virginia House of Delegates, died on Sept. 20.
Preparing for the Worst
MCA holds ‘Emergency Preparedness’ panel
McLean residents learned how to prepare themselves for future catastrophes at McLean Citizens Association’s first fall event. MCA held an Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery panel with several county emergency officials on Sept. 17, teaching residents how to be proactive in an emergency.
Local Group Gives Scholarships to Women
Great Falls Friends and Neighbors gave out $10,000 in scholarships to college women to kick off the start of the school year. Six women from George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, ranging in ages and opportunities, were presented scholarships during a luncheon at Riverbend Country Club on Friday, Sept 19.
Students, Parents and Teachers Plea for Later Start Times
Students, parents and advocacy groups flooded the School Board’s public comment period with pleas to approve later start times for students next year during Sept. 19 meeting.
Portrait of a Graduate Approved
The Portrait of a Graduate has been drawn. This “portrait” - a part of the plans for the proposed strategic plan - was passed unanimously at Thursday’s Fairfax County School Board meeting after the board discussed it for more than an hour.
Longfellow Principal Wins State Award
Carole Kihm named Outstanding Middle School Principal by VASSP.
Carole Kihm, principal at Longfellow Middle School, remembers her love for educating children and pre-teens when she was in high school. Her lifelong love for education paid off when she was named Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals earlier this year.
Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest
A little rain didn’t deter hundreds of locals from trekking out to Tysons for a new festival last weekend. The Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest became more crowded when the downpour turned into a drizzle.
Full Day Monday Challenges Discussed
The implementation of “full day Mondays” has been anything but easy for area elementary schools. The challenges that Fairfax County Public Schools faced to bring more hours to elementary students’ school year was addressed by Superintendent Karen Garza and several board members during a school board meeting on Sept. 4 at Jackson Middle School.
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors 5k
Approximately 5 percent of the people who live within Northern Virginia’s boundaries, 90,000 people, struggle with poverty. This is according to local nonprofit Food for Others. Food for Others is creating a 5K to bring Tysons together as a community and raise money through the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Tysons 5k Race held Oct. 19.
Portrait of a Graduate Discussed
The heart of the school system’s new strategic plan is closer to being approved. The Fairfax County School Board discussed the five component Portrait of a Graduate - with some asking for a component emphasizing a caring quality - at Monday’s work session.
Teen Center Preps for Fall
The McLean Teen Center held their Back-to-School Night on Friday to gear students up for fall - and a host of fall activities.
Tysons to Host Silver Line Music and Food Truck Festival
Next week, Tysons Partnership will ring in another inaugural festival with music and D.C.’s tastiest food trucks. The first Silver Line Music and Food Truck Fest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Lerner Town Square, bringing people together with a day of bands and more than 20 food trucks from the area.
Top Issues Facing McLean Community
As Tysons Corner booms and the new Silver Line stations become more successful, McLean will be undergoing changes over the next few years. The McLean Citizens Association and other community leaders will be working to ensure the new Metro stations are successful, Tysons becomes a community, traffic reduces on Route 7 and update Mclean itself.
Afternoon with the Madisons
Interactive play “An Afternoon with the Madisons” was shown exactly 200 years from the date that British soldiers set Washington D.C. ablaze to give locals a history lesson at the free event at McLean Community Center’s Alden Theater Sunday.
Top Issues Facing McLean Community
As Tysons Corner booms and the new Silver Line stations become more successful, McLean will be undergoing changes over the next few years. The McLean Citizens Association and other community leaders will be working to ensure the new Metro stations are successful, Tysons becomes a community, traffic reduces on Route 7 and update Mclean itself.
Super H 5K Funds Paraplegic Rehabilitation
Harry Freedman wear his baseball cap low over his eyes. He speaks quietly, recounting the accident that made him start a 5K eleven years ago. It was just another day of work for him at Auto Recyclers of Leesburg until an 18 ton front loader backed up onto him, crushing his leg.
Spring Hill Recreation Center to Expand
Center will close on Sept. 18 for major renovations.
Spring Hill’s Recreation Center will be undergoing a $10 million facelift.
Serving Families For 90 Years
Pushing the boundaries has led to success, says Northern Virginia Family Services CEO.
An organization does not thrive for 90 years by chance. Northern Virginia Family Services, a county institution, has impacted families throughout the region for nearly a century with no sign of slowing down.
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