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Culinary Classes for Children

Little gourmands cook up fun in the kitchen.

"If you lick your hands you have to wash them," said instructor Beth Bigler as she teaches a class of kindergartens students how to make vegetable pizzas. "Are these pickles?" asks a 6-year-old student as she clutches a dark-green, cylindrical vegetable in her tiny fingers.

Alarm Over Fire Code at Shelters

Fairfax County officials respond to concerns about fire code violations at local shelters.

Spring fever hit the region early this year. Last week’s record-high temperatures had residents flocking outdoors to play, bike, jog and picnic.

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Langley Lacrosse Snaps Madison Girls' Unbeaten Streak

Saxons win riveting Liberty District contest, 13-11.

The Langley High varsity lacrosse team defeated the reigning Virginia State champion Madison Warhawks on their home turf in Vienna, 13-11, in a Liberty District showdown last Friday night between two of the state's top-ranked girls programs.


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Madison Girls Looking to Get on a Soccer Roll

3-2-1 Warhawks aiming for their first district win this Friday night at Marshall.

With the second half of the high school girls’ soccer season having started up with district play last week, the Madison High Warhawks, while having played stretches of good soccer at 3-2-1, are still working to achieve bigger and better things.

Pleading for Restoring Funding for Human Services

Residents, agencies testify to need for community services.

After three years of deep budget cuts and declining revenue, Fairfax County is showing signs of fiscal equilibrium as property values and revenues begin a slow uphill climb.

Addressing ‘College Drinking Culture’

The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" forums continue through May.

It’s college decision time for Fairfax County seniors, and college-bound students and their parents are encouraged to attend an upcoming program that deals with binge drinking on college campuses. "The Perils of the College Drinking Culture" will be presented by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department, in April and May at locations across the county.


Freeman Store Unveils Historic Designation

Church Street building recognized for role in Civil War.

Historic Vienna, Inc. volunteers, Town officials and other Fairfax County elected officials will gather at Freeman Store on April 21, 2 to 3 p.m., to unveil the plaque designating Freeman Store’s historic status. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Virginia Senator Chap Petersen, Del. Mark Keam and Mayor M.

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‘The Fantasticks’ Plays in Vienna

Longest-running musical in country opens April 20 for three weekends.

The longest-running show in New York City – 50 years old and going strong – comes to Vienna on April 20. It’s not the off-Broadway edition, but, it’s the next best thing. "The Fantasticks," as brought to life by the Vienna Theatre Company [VTC], opens for three weekends at the Vienna Community Center with evening and matinee performances. The storyline centers on the chicanery used by two fathers to "match" their children in marriage

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Hilton McLean Hosts Wedding Giveaway

Ten couple vie for free wedding package, honeymoon in Barbados.

On April 4 at the Hilton McLean, ten couples vied to win a wedding package valued at $28,000. And all each couple had to do was to convince a panel of judges, through video or live performance, that they deserved to win the contest. An earlier essay competition narrowed the finalists to ten.


The Forestville School Bell

The school bell that is now situated in front of the new Great Falls fire station has a history dating back to 1889. George and Alice Hicks Gunnel sold one acre of land to the Forestville School Trustees in 1889 so that they could build a new schoolhouse on Georgetown Pike in the current location of "The Old Schoolhouse."

Janet O’Dell, of Great Falls, Dies

Janet Rae O'Dell, of Great Falls, passed away on March 13, 2012 from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., she moved to the Washington area in 1972.

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Forestville Goes to World Finals

Forestville Elementary students win State Odyssey of the Mind Finals and head to 2012 World Finals.

The Forestville Elementary Odyssey of the Mind team won at the Virginia State Finals in Newport News on Saturday, April 14, and will be competing in the 2012 World Finals being held May 23-26 on the campus of Iowa State University.


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Lacing Up for Gianna

Langley basketball team comes together in support of their coach’s daughter.

Throughout our high school years we have our takeaways. The people and the moments that when we are young guide us, and when we are older follow us. In 1981, at Langley High School there were two teachers who believed in an overly chatty girl with a bigger interest in her social life than studying for her next exam.

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Spring Art Festival Returns

Festival to be held at the Village Green Day School Saturday and Sunday.

The Sixth Annual Great Falls Spring Art Festival and Sale, a showcase for art created locally, will be held next weekend, April 21 and 22, at the Village Green Day School, 790 Walker Road, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

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Community Aims to Fill Empty Bowls

Floris United Methodist Church hosts annual Food For Others event.

More than 500 people gathered at the Floris United Methodist Church Friday, April 13 to help raise money and awareness for hungry people in the area. The annual Empty Bowls event, which raised money for local food bank Food For Others and hosted by the Giving Circle of HOPE, allowed guests to enjoy soups, snacks and deserts from local eateries, as well as take home a handmade bowl made by local potters, all for a $20 donation.


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Reston Celebrates 48th Birthday, Simon’s 98th

Lake Anne hosts annual Founder’s Day activities.

Reston founder Robert Simon officially founded the community that bears his name in his 50th year, in 1964. Forty-eight years later, Simon celebrated his 98th birthday at the Lake Anne Plaza Saturday, April 14.

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Rotary Reaches 100 Members

Great Falls Rotary Club welcomes 100th member, 10 months after founding.

The Great Falls Rotary Club celebrated reaching its 100th member Thursday, April 12, achieving the milestone in record time. They reached 100 members in 10 months, growth that has attracted the attention of Rotary International.

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Gardeners Donate Produce to Share

Gardening program aims to provide fresh food for food bank clients.

As the weather warms, local gardeners are heading back to their plots. Share, a local nonprofit, will be using some of what they produce to provide fresh food to their clients. Open since 1969, Share operates a weekly food bank out of the McLean Baptist Church, as well as clothing, furniture and other family assistance.


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McLean High Hosts ‘Smash’ Viewing

Students discuss realities of careers in show business.

Executives from the television show "Smash" visited McLean High School Monday afternoon, showing theater students clips from the show and hosting a discussions about the realities of life in show business. Alan Paul, associate director at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C. spoke to students about what they could expect if they hoped to work onstage or onscreen for a living.

Column: “Meagulpa”

As a veteran of the chemo wars, I should have been better prepared mentally for the food/taste challenges often caused by the infusion of such cancer-fighting chemicals, but I wasn’t.