Stories for July 2015

Stories for July 2015

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Friday, July 31

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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Vienna: Riverdogs Advance to Cal Ripken League Semifinals

Vienna to face three-time defending champion Baltimore Redbirds.

The Vienna Riverdogs will face the Baltimore Redbirts in the CRCBL semifinals.

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.

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‘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.”

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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.”

Vienna Art Center Hosts Young Chinese Art Students

Children from Hope Chinese School Fairfax and from Beijing participate in art center’s evening workshop.

The Vienna Art Center, on Thursday, July 23, hosted a group of young Chinese art students, most from the Northern Virginia area but some from Beijing, as well.

Vienna Art Center Hosts Young Chinese Art Students

Children from Hope Chinese School Fairfax and from Beijing participate in art center’s evening workshop.

The Vienna Art Center, on Thursday, July 23, hosted a group of young Chinese art students, most from the Northern Virginia area but some from Beijing, as well.

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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.

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Vienna: Koshuta Twins Overcame ACL Injuries

Kelly will play basketball at Virginia Tech, Joe to play football.

The Koshuta twins each suffered an ACL injury while at Madison, but each will play a sport at Virginia Tech.

Tuesday, July 21

Week in Vienna

Weekly happenings in Vienna.

Remembering Mac

This is my favorite picture of Mac, our family dog, and me. The picture was taken in 2011, shortly before I left for my freshman year in college.

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.

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Vienna: Cigar & More Truly Offers ‘More’

New specialty tobacco shop features premium cigars, shoe-shine, and history.

There’s a bespoke new store in Vienna, right on Maple Avenue, and here’s the unique aspect of Cigar & More: it is cigars and more.

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New Pure Barre Studio Coming to Vienna

A studio workout routine fit for anybody that also works to give back to the community.

A new boutique fitness studio is coming to town. Nicholette Dunleavy and her husband Michael Dunleavy are opening a Pure Barre studio in Vienna.

Monday, July 20

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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

Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: June, 2015

In June, 2015, 173 homes sold between $2,368,591-$200,000 in the Vienna and Oakton area.

Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: June, 2015

Wednesday, July 15

Q&A: Madison’s Favero Committed to BYU Baseball

Pitcher nicknamed ‘Shooter’ after ‘Happy Gilmore’ character.

Q&A with Madison rising senior Matt Favero.

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.

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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

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Healing Wall Puzzle Unveiled in Vienna

Vienna Arts Society exhibits art work from soldiers suffering from PTSD.

The Vienna Arts Society hosted a "Puzzled Again" reception on Saturday, July 11 at the Vienna Art Center with an exhibit of the Healing Wall puzzle. The artwork is from 24 soldiers on the mend at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The original puzzle, from 2014, was also exhibited, and the artwork will be on display through July 31 at 115 Pleasant Street, NW, Vienna.

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Vienna Enjoys Summer on the Green

The Town of Vienna offers up free concerts during the summer on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at the Vienna Town Green, 144 Maple Avenue, East, Vienna. On Sunday evening, the Bluegrass group Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band performed to a delighted crowd. The concerts are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna and Whole Foods of Vienna. Visit www.Viennava.gov; in the event of inclement weather, call 703-255-7842.

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.

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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.

Friday, July 10

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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

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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

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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.

Q&A: O'Connell Grad Sweeney to Play Softball at Mount St. Mary's

Vienna resident roots for Nationals, enjoys ‘classic baseball movies.’

Q&A with former Bishop O'Connell pitcher Erin Sweeney.

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

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Vienna Celebrates the Fourth

Fireworks on the third, Family Fun on the fourth.

Vienna celebrated the Fourth of July in the Town Green with family-friendly activities. Red, White and Blue on the Green was part of a two-day Independence Day celebration, which started Friday with Rocking Independence Eve at Yeonas Park.

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Vienna Arts Society and Soldiers on the Mend Collaborate on July Exhibition

Volunteer artists work with soldiers suffering from PTSD to express themselves visually.

Art, says Vienna Arts Society (VAS) artist Shari MacFarlane, is very healing. The process of creating art from experiences is healing.

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Vienna: A Journey of Faith

The Boone family of Oakton honors daughter by giving others a chance at football victory.

Youth football in Vienna and Oakton is an all-encompassing family affair, with players’ parents and grandparents running the concession stand and the chain gangs while cheerleading sisters wave pom-poms and younger brothers hustle during half-time to get the players water.

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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

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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.

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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.