Vienna/Oakton Local

Vienna/Oakton Local

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End of an Era for Town Council

Mike Polychrones steps down, moves to North Carolina.

For nearly two decades, Mike Polychrones has been a fixture on the Vienna Town Council. But Tuesday morning, after voting in the Town election, he and his wife Patti headed south to their new home in North Carolina. His last Council meeting was April 28 and, at its outset, he was honored by Mayor Laurie Di Rocco and Del. Mark Keam (D-35). Di Rocco gave Polychrones a plaque “in recognition of dedicated service” from 1996-2003 and 2004-2014, and Keam read a resolution from the Virginia General Assembly thanking him for all he’s done.

Storm Hits the Area

The pictures taken during the storm last Wednesday, April 30, at the intersection of Old Courthouse Road and Wolftrap Run.

County Chamber Moves to Tysons

FCCC makes new location official with ribbon-cutting party.

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) members loyalty runs river deep. More than 400 people braved the flooding Potomac and heavy traffic due to severe thunderstorms to celebrate the Chamber’s Open House and ribbon cutting in Tysons Corner on Wednesday.

Timely Discussion On Drug Abuse

To the Editor: Through columns on your newspaper website like "Avoidance Better Than Arrests, Prison, Death" my attention has been drawn to your spotlight on forums focused on drug prevention in high schools. With the increase in use of drugs for recreational use among youths, this is a timely and well-covered issue in your newspaper.

Patrick Henry Library Hosts Book Sale

Shoppers browsed among 4,000 donated books.

The semi-annual book sale sponsored by Friends of Patrick Henry Library took place on May 3 and 4 at the library, indoors and out. Hundreds of local residents turned out to browse through the more than 4,000 books organized by genre at the library. All books for sale were donated by the community. For kids, it was an opportunity to choose inexpensive books from a vast array. From New York Times best-selling authors to esoteric geo-political topics, there was a genre for pretty-much everyone.

First Bears Are Seen in Vienna

Fairfax County police received the first seasonal reports of bear sightings in Fairfax County on Saturday, April 26 in Vienna. A bear was reportedly struck on the Dulles Toll Road; then a resident called around noon, reporting a bear in his backyard in the 1600 block of Fremont Lane, just behind the busy roadway. Officers do not know whether or not this bear was the one that was struck. According to Animal Control Officers, it’s not unusual to see black bears this time of year, and residents shouldn’t panic or feel alarmed when they see one. It’s likely that this bear has already moved through the area. Bears typically avoid humans; but in their search for food, it’s not uncommon to see one. Most often, bears will keep moving through an area once they fail in their attempts to find food.

Tysons Corner Doctor Named Sports Chiropractor of the Year

The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP™) recently held its annual sports sciences symposium in Orlando, Fla. During the symposium they announced the annual winner of the “Sports Chiropractor of the Year” award; Dr. Anne P. Sorrentino of McLean. She is only the third woman ever to receive this honor.

Bike Rodeo Tested Skills, Good Riding Habits

Police Department teaches safety with fun.

It was an ideal spring day for the Vienna Police Department’s bike rodeo on May 3. The sky was sunny and clear and it was warm but not too hot to be riding around the pavement of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s parking lot. The event, held from 9 to noon, was not crowded, either, but the kids who steered through the obstacle course enjoyed themselves.

‘I’m Just Grateful My Son Is Still Alive’

Useful information about substance-abuse dangers.

Part Two If anyone knows about substance abuse, it’s Sarah McDade who, admittedly, has been to hell and back with her son. And she shared his story during a recent, substance-abuse forum at Madison High. Called “Protecting Against the Realities of Substance Abuse,” it was put on by Parents Reaching Out To Educate Communities Together (P.R.O.T.E.C.T.), a task force of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County. “My son had his own set of horrors,” said McDade. “I kept an eye on him and found out where he was going – and it didn’t matter. My son was already a drug addict at 15; he started with alcohol and went to marijuana. He had his first arrest, with two other boys. But the county evaluated him and said he didn’t have a substance-abuse problem.” Then when he was 16, he fell in the street. “He had a .27 blood-alcohol content, and .3 and above can kill you,” said McDade. “But my son was bullied and wanted to fit in; he thought drinking and using marijuana made him cool. He could be charming and he also had ADHD, and he bamboozled the psychiatrist we got him into prescribing him more drugs. Looking back, he probably peddled half of them.”

Patricia W. MacVeagh Dies

Obituary

Patricia W. MacVeagh -- beloved wife of Charles "Pete" MacVeagh, sister of J. Wayman Williams, Jr., mother of Chip and Martha, and friend to many -- passed into the care of Our Lord on Monday, April 28, 2014. Pat was an avid horsewoman and photographer, and was a charter member of the Vienna Photographic Society. Memorial Service on Friday May 9, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Road, Vienna. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to SaratogaWarHorse.com, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRFInc.org), or LiftMeUp.org.

Week in Vienna

Felony Hit-Run Is Charged Vienna police have charged a 53-year-old Vienna man with felony hit and run and reckless driving. He is Danilo Amaya-Hernandez of Glengyle Drive. He was arrested in connection with an incident that happened April 27 at 9:56 a.m. on Maple Avenue near James Madison Drive W.

Tease photo

Madison Girls’ Lax Learns From Season’s Toughest Challenge

Warhawks fall to national power St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.

The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes girls' lacrosse team defeated Madison 13-8 on Monday.

Tease photo

Shine’s OT Goal Lifts McLean Girls’ Soccer Over Madison

Highlanders remain undefeated, improve to 6-0-3.

The McLean girls' soccer team remains undefeated.

Florally Clueless, but Want to Send Flowers?

Let professional florists help make your thought count this Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (Yes, it is. The big day for Mom is Sunday, May 11. Mark your calendar now.) What are you planning to give? If it’s flowers, you are on the right track. Women love receiving flowers, and flowers are still the most popular gift choice for Mother’s Day. According to the Society of American Florists, Mother's Day accounts for one-fourth of the floral purchases made for holidays. About 75 percent of you bought flowers or plants as gifts for Mother's Day 2013. But choosing flowers can be a bit risky if you’re of the florally clueless variety. How can you tell?

Week in Vienna

A bike rodeo for children, preschool through sixth grade, is slated for Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m.-noon, in the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department parking lot, 400 Center St S., Vienna. Advance registration is not needed. Under the guidance of a veteran cyclist, the rodeo will help children who already know how to ride a bike develop safety skills including breaking, balancing, basic road rules and how to handle obstacles. Children must have a helmet to participate. Free bike and helmet checks will be available. Jointly sponsoring this event are the Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Dept., Vienna Police Dept., Safe Routes to School, Spokes Etc. and Bikes@Vienna. Participating elementary schools include Cunningham Park, Flint Hill, Louise Archer, Marshal Road, Vienna, Westbriar and Wolftrap.