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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.

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.

Vienna Connection