Fairfax County Budget Reflects ‘Increasing Needs, Decreasing Revenues’
"We as a board spend a lot of time talking about helping people in need, I can only say that when it came time to tax them, they were sadly forgotten." —Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield)
Autism Speaks Volumes for Student Volunteers
Fairfax County Public Schools use latest techniques to teach autistic students. v
In many ways, the three best friends—Anna Kate Martin, Devin Martin and Sarah Carmen—are typical sixth-grade girls.
A Day of Service at Kilmer Middle
Students learn how to make a difference in their community and the world.
On Wednesday, April 17, students, teachers, and administrators experienced the first official Day of Service at Kilmer Middle School. The program saw the day’s usual lesson plans replaced with community service activities of all sorts. While the activities ranged in variety from packaging food, to writing letters of advocacy, to creating digital PSAs and so much more, the objective was the same for each—to teach youths about their ability to make a difference in their community and the world.
Week in Vienna
Week in Vienna
Runners Line Up to Stop Child Abuse
Great Falls neighbors join in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which helps explain why 300 runners gathered at 9 a.m. at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, grouped in teams with names like "Peggy's Posse," "Kids4Kids" and—a favorite—"Team Baxter" (named after organizing member Kim Roellig's dog) on Saturday, April 13.
Spring Break With Orphans of China
Vienna 16-year-old gives $5000 to four orphanages while visiting the country.
A 16-year-old from Vienna, Charlotte Heffelmire, raised and donated $5,000 to Chinese orphanages while in the country over spring break.
Making Life ‘Greener’ in Vienna
Vienna Green Expo showcases community conservation options.
During the 5th Annual Vienna Green Expo on Thursday, April 18, three Vienna businesses were recognized for incorporating green practices into their business. The Vienna Town/Business Liaison Committee awarded Maple Avenue Market, Vienna Paint and Caffe Amouri with the 2013 Vienna Green Business Recognition Award.
Vienna Woman’s Club Supports Homeless Female Veterans
Club fundraises on behalf of Final Salute, Inc.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are more than 13,000 homeless female veterans living in the United States; half of them are single mothers. Only about half of the 500 transitional housing programs accept women. These homeless female veterans have fewer resources than male veterans do.
What Housing Slump?
Real estate experts explain the rise in luxury condominium sales
When a retired couple decided it was time to leave their sprawling suburban home, they wanted to downsize without giving up luxury. As a result, they purchased a high-end condominium and hired Bethesda, Md., based interior designer Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Interior Design to create a serene and sophisticated space.
Karen Garza Hired as Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools
FCPS Board lauds Garza’s “openness” and “willingness to engage” community.
The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved educator Karen Garza of Texas to be the next superintendent of the 181,000 student district at its April 18 school board meeting.
Classified Advertising April 17, 2013
Read the latest ads here!
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: March, 2013
In March 2013, 69 homes sold between $1,498,850-$194,900 in the Vienna and Oakton area.
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: March, 2013
Editorial: Value-added Evaluation?
TJ admissions illustrate growing gap between “haves” and “have-nots.”
More than 181,000 students attend Fairfax County Public Schools. So why do the 480 students who were accepted for next year’s freshman class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology seem so important? Fairfax County Public Schools have a single elite magnet school, Thomas Jefferson, and TJ is frequently referred to as the top high school in the country. Dramatic disparity in the makeup of admissions at TJ is an indicator of disparity in early identification of students as gifted and talented, of access to advanced classes and enrichment, and in the basic education that the Fairfax County Public school system offers to all of its students.
Column: A False Sense of Security
Not that there’s anything wrong with that; in fact, as a four-year, stage IV, non-small-cell lung cancer survivor, it’s amazing to have any security, false or otherwise, whatsoever.
‘We Have Not Forgotten’
Residents rally in Vienna to support stricter gun control measures.
Less than six miles from the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, more than 100 people gathered on the Vienna Town Green Saturday, April 13, to urge Congress to support stricter gun control measures.
Countdown to College Decision Day
Local college counselors offer advice on making the right choice.
As the May 1 national college decision day looms, the day students must shell out hefty deposits to secure their spots at colleges and universities, students like Daniels are feeling pressure.
Patrick Henry Library Book Sale Draws Community
Two-day spring sale sells donated books of every genre.
t took a year of planning and collecting, approximately 15 volunteers and more than 2,000 books to carry off the spring book sale hosted by Friends of Patrick Henry Library. The two-day sale, spread over April 13 and 14, took over the front lawn, the event room and an area of the children’s department. When the book sale opened to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, a waiting line had already formed.
Silver and Gold at Vienna Long & Foster
Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc.’s, commercial division honored 19 brokers from the Virginia Commercial office, located at 8227 Old Courthouse Road in Vienna.
Teaching and Having Fun
Marshall High students became teachers for a day at Westbriar Elementary.
It is 9:15 a.m. and a cop, a nurse, and a pilot walk into the main office at Westbriar Elementary School. In reality, they are elementary school students dressed up for their potential careers and for Junior Achievement Day. On Friday, April 5, members of the Marshall High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) visited students at Westbriar to teach them basic concepts in economics and finance.
Letter: A Misreading of History
That a few local schools are named for Confederate generals bothers Kiran Hampton [“Alarmed by School Names,” Connection, April 11-17, 2013]. The US Army and Navy have named forts and ships after Confederate heroes. The Veterans Administration provides headstones for Confederate graves. That wouldn’t have happened if they were traitors. No Confederates were convicted of treason. Hampton’s shame that Virginia fought with the Confederacy suggests a misreading of US history.