Friday, August 29
What’s on the Horizon for Town of Vienna
On the horizon for local residents are a transportation project, a plan to help W&OD trail users and Church Street businesses, plus a major expansion and renovation of the Vienna Community Center.
Marshall High Welcomes New Principal
The school looks forward to “utilizing new building to its full potential.”
This year, Marshall High School welcomes its new principal, Jeff Litz, along with new additions constructed in the school’s $55 million renovation.
Vienna Stands Above the Rest
Year-round activities and events create small-town feel and sense of community.
Laurie DiRocco was voted in as Vienna’s new mayor this year. Months before her death, former Mayor M. Jane Seeman had previously announced she would not run for re-election in 2014. The Connection chatted with Mayor DiRocco about Vienna, what makes it special and what issues confront the town.
A County of 186,785 Students
Welcome to the 2014-15 school year. The start of a new school year is always an exciting time for students, parents, and educators. Our dedicated staff has been working hard to prepare for another school year that builds on our tradition of excellence at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Thursday, August 28
Classified Advertising August 27, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: July, 2014
In July 2014, 121 homes sold between $1,656,725-$202,000 in the Vienna and Oakton area.
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: July, 2014
Wednesday, August 27
What’s on the Ballot; How to Vote
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2014, but you can vote as early as Sept. 19.
Every year is Election Year in Virginia. This year, every Virginia voter will choose one member of the U.S. Senate and their member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Welcome to Fairfax County
Welcome to Fairfax County, the best place in the country to live, work and play. Fairfax County is home to a fantastic public school system, top tier business and shopping opportunities, compassionate human services, and some of the best parks and open spaces in the D.C. Metropolitan region.
About the Connection
As your local, weekly newspaper, the Connection’s mission is to deliver the local news you need, to try to make sense of what is happening in your community, to gather information about the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record achievements, milestones and events in the community and people’s lives.
And Another Thing I’m “Righting” On
Not only did last week’s CT Scan indicate shrinkage, where necessary – and stability, where hoped for – it also accomplished these hoped-for goals after only two months of chemotherapy (still infused every three weeks) rather than the normal three months of chemotherapy. So depending on how the calendar/treatment schedule actually fell, I probably received two fewer infusions than usual, yet all the radiological indications – and interpretations – continue to be encouraging; after five and a half years, no less. I think I’m entitled to use the word amazing – and lucky, too.
Middle Eastern Food Festival Returns for 22nd Year
Festival hosted by Holy TransfiguratiMelkite Greek-Catholic Church features, food and sweets, family activities and traditional culture.
Food and festival-lovers alert! The annual Labor Day weekend Middle Eastern Food Festival is upon the McLean/Vienna area once again. And if you’ve wondered how a Northern Virginia foodfest can go through 200 pounds of lamb, 400 pounds of beef, 450 pounds of chicken, 180 pounds of butter and 12,000 pieces of sweets, this is your opportunity to find out.
Fairfax County’s Success Story
Economic success: 50 years in the making.
If you are a newcomer to Fairfax County, allow me to welcome you to one of the most dynamic communities anywhere in the world to live and work. It was the vision of many people to create this kind of community, so please allow me to offer a quick history lesson.
Oakton Field Hockey Bounces Back
Cougars overcome early deficit to beat Osbourn Park.
Oakton will face Madison on Sept. 3.
Vienna Chambers and Business Resources
Many organizations in Vienna are here to serve your business and help connect you with the resources you need to make your business successful and to help it grow. Below are a list of business associations and chambers, in no particular order. Find a comprehensive online listing of county business resources at http://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/business-resources.
Editorial: Back to School - Good Steps, Good Intentions
The first day of school in Fairfax County is Tuesday, Sept. 2, but Monday, Sept. 8 is the beginning of something important. For the first time in decades, elementary school students will have a full day of school on Mondays instead of being sent home hours early. This action makes so much sense in for families with children in elementary school. The ability of Superintendent Karen Garza to facilitate this change to go into effect right away is remarkable, and we hope a promise for more changes ahead.
Newcomers Guide: Area Nonprofits
A list of nonprofits in the community.
A list of nonprofits in the community.
Wednesday, August 20
Editorial: Accountability for Police in Northern Virginia
There is more transparency in the police shooting in Ferguson last week than in police shootings in Northern Virginia.
This is not Ferguson, and tanks do not roll down the streets of Northern Virginia driven by police officers pointing sniper rifles at residents.
Getting Drenched to Help Others
The Ice Bucket Challenge has a simple premise, but it’s doing a great deal of good. To raise money to fight ALS, people all over the country have been making videos of themselves getting buckets of ice water dumped on their heads.
Learning and Having Fun with LEGOs
Camp teaches children engineering principles.
Sure, LEGOs are great to play with, just for fun. But they can also be used to teach children real-world concepts in physics, engineering and architecture.
A Summer with Suzanne Farrell
Lily Campbell dances at Kennedy Center’s three-week exclusive dance training program.
Ever since she could remember, Lily Campbell has been a dancer. Now 15 and a rising sophomore at James Madison High School, Lily just finished the three week 22nd Annual exclusive training program with Suzanne Farrell at The Kennedy Center.
Removing Barriers to College
Local services help students complete college paperwork, remove barriers.
LaQuita King relocated across the state from Chesapeake, Va., to Alexandria in the summer of 2013, moving into an apartment with her aunt and three cousins. King had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. So far, that hasn’t happened.
Vienna Police Department to Participate in Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative
In conjunction with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.) and state and local law enforcement agencies, the Vienna Police Department will again participate in a one-day initiative to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from area homes.
Letter: Opposing Medicaid Expansion
Letter to the Editor
Four years ago, a practical doctor said something like this: “So let me get this straight. We’re going to be gifted with a healthcare plan we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don’t, which purportedly covers at least 10 million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that didn’t read it (but exempted themselves from it), supported by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all financed by a country that’s broke. So what the “blank" could possibly go wrong?”
All Write For Now
And so it goes, every three months or so; a CT Scan, a week or so of waiting, and then a face-to-face appointment with my oncologist to learn/discuss the results. Thankfully, the results continue to be amazing. My doctor has told me that I’m his third miracle; stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer patients generally don’t live beyond two years. I’m in year six.
Officer Kiley Receives Charles A. Robinson Respect for Law Award
On June 18, the Vienna Optimist Club held their annual banquet to honor the 2013 Charles A. Robinson Respect for Law Enforcement Award recipients at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Vienna. Officer Patrick “Pat” Kiley was chosen as the Town of Vienna Police Department’s Optimist Club award winner.
Classified Advertising August 20, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, August 14
Oakton’s Rizzo Committed to South Carolina
Q&A: Infielder led Cougars in batting average as freshman.
Oakton's Joe Rizzo is committed to the University of South Carolina.
Safety at a Crossroads in Poor Communities Across Northern Virginia
Less affluent neighborhoods in Northern Virginia suffer from higher pedestrian fatalities.
A national database of pedestrian crashes compiled by Governing Magazine shows 95 pedestrian fatalities in Northern Virginia between 2008 and 2012. While 26 of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in wealthy neighborhoods, where the per capita income is more than $53,000, a much larger number happened in poor communities like this stretch of Route 1 in Mount Vernon.
Wednesday, August 13
Take Precautions against Rabies
Animal Shelter offers advice to reduce the risk.
Rabies is a deadly virus that infects animals and may be a risk to humans, as well. The most commonly reported rabid animals in Fairfax County include foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats. But even pets aren’t automatically immune to this disease and must be vaccinated against it.
Heads Up Football Flourishing in Fairfax County
Program reduces concussion risk by teaching players to take the “head” out of tackling.
It wasn’t that long ago when youth football coaches believed a player’s toughness was measured by his ability to play through the pain. Concussions and other serious injuries were just “part of the game.”
Organized for School Year
Local organizers offer suggestions on dealing with the summer mess.
When summer comes to a grinding halt in a few weeks, a new school year will begin. From alarm clocks and school bells to piles of homework assignments and sports schedules, maintaining a coordinated household can be difficult, however. Local organizers are offering simple suggestions to help make the transition from summer to the start of the school year seamless.
Write Now, I Just Don’t Know
The biggest writing problem that I have, other than the ones you regular readers generally know about, is writing a current column on the weekend immediately preceding the next Wednesday’s publication date, when I am still waiting on results from my most recent CT Scan. This isn’t like putting the cart before the horse, this is more like putting the horse in the cart and pulling it.
Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children
Nearly 700 children live in emergency homeless shelters in Fairfax County at some point during the year.
Summer vacation is wrapping up; kids everywhere are gearing up for the return to school. Stores are filled with school supplies; back-to-school advertising fills our TVs, radio and mailboxes. Many families are hustling from store to store getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and haircuts. As children, while we hated to see summer end, we fondly remember the yearly ritual and the excitement and anticipation of getting all those new things.
U.S. Rep Wolf (R-10) Announces Service Academy Appointments
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) announced the 10th District’s Class of 2018 appointments to the nation’s service academies, as well as those selected for Academy prep schools.
Week in Vienna
Suspect in credit card theft, volunteers needed, town council meeting and farmers markets.
The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna Launches New Website
The Board of Directors of the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV) has announced the launch of their newly designed website at www.scov.org.
Letter: Back to School With Asthma
Back to school season is upon us! For many families, there’s more to do than sign up for activities and shop for supplies: 2,277 kids in Alexandria, 3,155 in Arlington, 417 in Fairfax City, and 23,441 in Fairfax County have asthma.
Prison, Restitution for Vienna Man
Sentenced for defrauding the IRS.
Nobody likes paying taxes. But most people don’t go to the lengths Michael F. O’Connor went to in cheating the IRS.
Homes Evacuated after Gas-Line Rupture
Event closes Chain Bridge Road in both directions.
A rupture of a 2-inch, natural gas line last week forced several homes in Oakton to be evacuated and brought afternoon traffic on heavily traveled Chain Bridge Road to a standstill.
Charity Event to Help Fight Brain Cancer
The Northern Virginia Wiffle Ball World Series raises $40,000.
The charity event was sponsored by the 2 Young Foundation [2YF], an organization dedicated to raising money for the fight against brain cancer, and Van Metre Homes.
Letter: Fit Academics Into the Fun
Finding ways to fit academics into the fun is imperative to making sure children are prepared for the coming school year which begins in just a few short weeks.
Classified Advertising August 13, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, August 7
Income Growth in Fairfax and Alexandria Lags Behind State and National Averages
Loudoun is the one bright spot in the region.
Paycheck growth in Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria are lagging behind the state and the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Wednesday, August 6
Crime Solvers Hold 5K, Raise Money
In the second year, the race has gained momentum, more runners, and two vendors.
Early Saturday morning, runners and walkers alike descended onto Fairfax Government Center for the second annual Crime Solvers 5K and helped raise money for Fairfax Crime Solvers. “[We’re] just a partnership to keep our community safe,” Fairfax County Crime Solvers President and Chairman, Jody Donaldson said.
Stride Right
Not that I’ve felt that my attitude toward being diagnosed with stage IV (“terminal”) non-small cell lung cancer at age 54-and-one-half was ever to be considered as model behavior, but I do believe, after the initial shock wore off, eventually I assimilated its effects into my routine reasonably well. Not without a million bumps and bruises along the way, however, both physically and emotionally; nevertheless, though time has not healed all that has preceded this column, I’ve managed to find and maintain an extremely delicate balance between “joie de vivre” and “c’est la vie.”
Preventing Sports Injuries
How to keep kids safe while they’re having fun.
As students prepare to return to school, one activity many look forward to is sports. While the benefits of athletic activities are numerous, however, so are injuries.
Tysons West Meets Expanding Community Needs
The JBG Companies and JBGR Retail have closed on the sale of the current phase of its Tysons West mixed-use development.
McLean Native Gives In-house Concert in Vienna
Joel Stein sings, plays guitar, composes, records and owns music licensing company.
Joel [Henry] Stein grew up in McLean to a family who loved music in the home.
Vienna Community Center to Be LEED Silver
Town Council approves fee to seek certification.
If all goes well, the new and improved Vienna Community Center will make its debut on its 50th anniversary in April 2016.
Week in Vienna
Missing man, farmers markets, bike lanes, town council meeting and police.
Vienna is Where Softball Holds High Court
Pure Performance Softball Training Center coaches girls and young women on softball techniques and strategy.
Tucked away in a concrete industrial park on Mill Street is a unique training facility for women and girls.
Editorial: Brightening Outlook for End of Summer
Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.
The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.
Staff Gets Go-Ahead to Negotiate Pact
Town and Park Authority will formalize trail-realignment agreement.
Relocation of a portion of the W&OD Trail is just one part of the Vienna Community Center expansion and renovation project – but it’s an important part.