Stories for March 2021

Westfield Bulldogs Beat Oakton Cougars, Reach Season Finale

The Westfield Bulldogs and the Oakton Cougars played in a Concorde District game on March 26 in Chantilly: With the 56-12 win Westfield improved to (3-2) (2-1), and Oakton fell to (1-5) (0-4).

Green Summer

Alexandria delegation works with the governor to legalize marijuana on July 1.

Alexandria is about to become the capital of marijuana in Virginia. The city's legislative delegation is at the center of an effort poised to legalize weed this summer, years ahead of an agreement that was struck behind closed doors at the end of the General Assembly session in February.

Greenheart Juice Shop Opens in Vienna

Healthy juices, foods and attitudes highlight the new place along the bike trail.

Greenheart Juice Shop

Opinion: Commentary: zMOD Approved at Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

What happened?

Opinion: Column: Time Will Tell

Ordinarily, I'd be writing this column this weekend – after this week's events.

Herrity Explains His ‘No’ Vote on zMOD in Fairfax County

Today (Tuesday, March 23) the Board of Supervisors passed a modification of its Zoning Ordinance (zMOD) by a vote of 7 to 3.

Town of Vienna Police Arrests Burglary Suspect

On Monday, March 15, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Vienna Police Department started receiving calls about a male pulling on doors, possibly trying to enter businesses in the area.

Seven Displaced After Vienna House Fire

On Tuesday, March 16, at 6:04 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched for a reported house fire in the 9700 Meadowlark Road in Vienna.

Possible Tower of Trouble Ahead for Wireless Developer in Vienna-Great Falls Area

Sides clash over Rt. 7 proposed telecommunications facility

How best for everyone concerned to correct cellular coverage holes in the Vienna-Great Falls Route 7 area is one issue.

Opinion: Commentary: Pandemic Shows Workers Need a Voice in Fairfax County

As county employees, we work tirelessly to provide essential services, often behind the scenes, to make sure our county continues to run and families get what they need during this difficult time.

A Lawsuit Challenges TJ Admission Changes

Parents sue to stop TJ’s admission policy changes, alleging anti-Asian race discrimination.

The Fairfax County School Board and Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Brabrand face a new lawsuit filed against them last week in United States District Court in Alexandria.

Opinion: Column: A Shot in the Arm

Literally and figuratively.

County Highlights

Actions and words by Fairfax County leadership and citizens

In our new series, County Highlights, the Connection spotlights actions and comments by Fairfax County officials, public servants, and local citizens who call the County's 406 square miles home.

Opinion: Editorial: We Still Need Your Help

We all need community newspapers; community newspapers need your help.

A year later, Covid continues to be the most compelling, most local issue that we face.

Creating Healthy Mother-Daughter Relationships

Local authors and therapists offer thoughts and guidance.

As a middle school student, Sofie Jacobs was at times mocked by other girls for her fastidious study habits and the good grades she received as a result.

She Keeps On Giving

Cynthia C. Polk is always on the move in fundraising and helping her communities in Sterling and Vienna.

This wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur and First Lady of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World, Inc. (IBPOEW) is always on the move in fundraising and helping her communities in Sterling and Vienna.

James Madison High Alumna Publishes Award-winning Book

Normandy D. Piccolo is author of ‘Why is Kristyn A. Kutter?’

Normandy D. Piccolo, James Madison High alumna, published writer, book reviewer, advertising copywriter, and freelance journalist, is the author of a book selected for the 2021 In the Margins Book Award: School Library Journal Top 10 Fiction/Non-Fiction and the Fiction Recommendation List for 2021.

Madison Warhawks Beat Westfield Bulldogs, Improve to 3-0

The Westfield Bulldogs traveled to Vienna for a conference football game with the Madison Warhawks on March 12.

Calendar: Vienna, McLean, Great Falls

Honoring Women on Front Lines of Pandemic

The Fairfax County Commission For Women celebrates Women’s History Month 2021.

Opinion: Column: “Cancerversary”

I realize I'm cancer-centric, especially in these columns, but for some reason that centricity didn't acknowledge my February 27th cancer anniversary.

Opinion: Commentary: What is ‘Fair’?

Equity costs - and paying that price will not be fair, but it will be just.

If Black people had a dollar for every individual, organization, and company that publicly professed a commitment to antiracism and racial equity while holding up progress in the name of “fairness,” we could have closed the racial wealth gap ten times over.

Fairfax County Planning Commission Recommends Denial of Flag Limitations

It's not a done deal.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 11-0 to recommend denial to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to replace the current zoning ordinance establishing specific regulations for flags and flagpoles in the New and Modernized Zoning Ordinance (zMOD Updates) countywide.

Opinion: Commentary: Step into Nature for Improved Health

New research into the health benefits of being in nature prompted the Wall Street Journal reporter Betsy Morris to do a story titled, "For Better Health During the Pandemic, Is Two hours Outdoors the New 10,000 Steps?"

Starting from a Clean Slate

Compromise on expungement: automatic for some misdemeanors, petition for some felonies.

Marijuana convictions will be automatically expunged under a bill now under consideration by Gov. Ralph Northam, although convictions for crack cocaine will require missing a day of work and probably hiring a lawyer to go to court and seal the record. The legislation is a compromise crafted late in the General Assembly session by House Majority Leader Charniele Herring of Alexandria and state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36), who clashed repeatedly over the last year about how the process should work.

Fairfax County Supervisors Foust and Alcorn on Years 1 and 2: COVID-19

Changing the pandemic's course through the lens of an equitable recovery

Year 1: Covid-19 comes to a close on March 10, 2021.

Vienna Police Highlights Feb. 26, 2021 – March 4, 2021

The following summary contains various incidents of general interest as well as vehicular crashes handled by the Town of Vienna Police Department from Feb. 26, 2021 – March 4, 2021.

Vienna Theatre Company Brings Virtual ‘Dear Elizabeth’ to the Stage

Dramatic highs and lows of devoted lives lived through letters

A thirty-year love affair expressed through written and mailed letters will be brought to dramatic life by the Vienna Theater Company.

Opinion: Column: Back to Abnormal

Well, those last two weeks were kind of fun, (comparatively speaking) to the dozen or so previous weeks.

Fairfax County Readies for Public Employee Collective Bargaining

Holds collaborative meetings with union reps to write rules

Most Fairfax County public employees who provide vital services in education, safety, healthcare, and sanitation like others in counties, cities, and towns across the Commonwealth, will gain a new right on May 1, 2021.

Wellbeing: A Schedule Can Anchor Your Day

How creating a daily routine can ease anxiety during times of uncertainty

Her days were overwhelmingly stressful.

Opinion: Editorial: Brain Injury Awareness: A Personal Story

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.

In 2007, my kids and I were at a fireworks show in Vienna that was so grand we were in awe of each burst.

Housing Values Increase and This Will Soon Be Felt in Tax Bills

The county juggles the tax rate, but higher tax bills are on the horizon.

Home Assessments Increase