Stories for December 2015

Classified Advertising December 30, 2015

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Editorial: Merry Christmas

The pages of the Connection have been full of holiday spirit for more than a month. Menorah lightings, group and individual efforts to help the needy, stories of giving, secular celebrations, religious celebrations.

Classified Advertising December 23, 2015

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Fairfax County School Board Opens the Door for School Name Changes

No decisions made to affect current school names.

The Fairfax County School Board did not change any names of schools at its Dec. 17 regular business meeting.

Letter: A Big Thank You

Letter to the Editor

Letter

Great Falls 2015: Year in Review

Vision for the Grange, Foust and Murphy re-elected, Exxon cleanup and more.

McLean/Great Falls: A Year in Review

Highlights of 2015

Top McLean/Great Falls Sports Moments from 2015

Langley, McLean win multiple championships.

The year 2015 included championship glory for multiple McLean/Great Falls high school sports teams, and one team just missed taking home a state title.

McLean/Great Falls: Cooper Middle Students Attend Kindergartners’ Holiday Party

On Thursday, Dec. 17 Cooper Middle school students visited Pine Spring Elementary for their annual holiday party.

Fairfax County: McAuliffe Proposing More for Education

Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D, left) unveiled his budget proposal for $1 billion in public and higher education investment at Mark Twain Middle School in Alexandria on Dec. 16, as part of the total state budget he plans to roll out on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Classified Advertising December 16, 2015

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McLean/Great Falls: Our Military Kids, Responding to the Need

McLean based organization helps thousands across the country, especially at Christmas.

McLean’s Linda Davidson co-founded Our Military Kids with 11 grants in 2004. “When I started, it was a volunteer program offering to support families in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.,” she said.

All Are Welcome Aboard the STEAM Train

New ways to promote STEM disciplines at Colvin Run Elementary School.

“Learning for Learning’s Sake.” That is the gift that Susan Blackwell, the Science Resource teacher who runs the STEAM Lab at Colvin Run Elementary School (CRES), gives to every student at CRES every week.

Colvin Run Receives Playground Shade Structure

Colvin Run Elementary had the Ribbon Cutting ceremony to commemorate the installation of FCPS’ first playground shade structure.

Week in Great Falls

Senior Center to Host Trivia Game Luncheon

The Great Falls Senior Center will host a Trivia Game for Seniors - and lunch - on Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. upstairs at The Great Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike.

Great Falls Farmers Market Applauds Local Talent

Saturday, Dec. 12, was our first day this winter inside the Grange and we were excited to have two young culinary talents join us: Annie Santos of Annie's Goodies, and Steven Kurtz of Whippourwill.

‘Messages of Light’ from the Faith Traditions of Great Falls Residents

The Great Falls Historical Society holds holiday gathering.

At our annual holiday celebrations over the last few years, we have noted the increasingly diverse community that Great Falls has become, as families from cultures around the world have journeyed by plane to Great Falls - as compared with travel by foot or horse-and-carriage more than 100 years ago – to live and work nearby.

Partnership Launches ‘Build a Village’ Campaign

Goal to end homelessness in Fairfax County by 2018 looms; more than 400 children are among the homeless here.

Dozens of business leaders, elected officials and advocates for ending homelessness gathered Monday, Dec. 14 in the offices of Piedmont Fund Services in Herndon to launch the “Build a Village” campaign.

Lessons in Charitable Giving

Conversations, modeling behavior and hands-on actions can help teach children about benevolence and compassion.

Matthew Mamalian’s holiday shopping list included some items that might seem atypical for a 12-year-old middle school student: shampoo, socks, soap and a few snacks.

Great Falls: Newman Enters Third Season as Langley Boys’ Coach

The Langley boys' basketball team lost its first two games of the season.

Weekend in Vienna, McLean, Great Falls

Weekend happenings in your neighborhood

Editorial: Safety Net for Holiday Celebrations

It’s an opportunity to talk about responsibility, alcohol and planning ahead.

The holiday party season is here, and we will almost all be celebrating in some way. Some ways will involve celebrations that include alcohol.

Ideas for Decking the Halls

Local designers create opulent holiday designs.

From traditional to glamorous, fresh to faux and high-end to old school, local tastemakers tell how they create dazzling holiday design extravaganzas.

Citizen Speakers Turn Out for J.E.B. Stuart High Name Change

School Board to take action Dec. 17

J.E.B. Stuart High School senior Whitten Rutledge is proud of his school, mostly.

Tysons Gets New Name, Post Office

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11), working with Tysons Partnership and the U.S. Postal Service, secured the formal rebranding of the U.S. Post Office building on Spring Hill Road in Tysons.

Fairfax County Companies Designated as Best Workplaces for Commuters

Ten companies in Fairfax County were honored as Best Workplaces for Commuters.

Langley Orchestra Kicks Off the Season

Langley High School’s Orchestra kicked off the year on Dec. 1 at South Lakes High School.

Classified Advertising December 9, 2015

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Week in Great Falls

Weekly happenings in Great Falls.

STEM Night at Great Falls' Forestville

Forestville Elementary School held “Creative STEM” on Friday, Nov. 6.

Celebration of Lights in Great Falls

Hundreds of people attended the 25th Annual Celebration of Lights and Great Falls Holiday Fest on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Great Falls Village Center in Great Falls.

Unique Gift Ideas Found in Great Falls

For finding the perfect holiday gift for that special someone, Adeler Jewelers offers custom-designed jewelry for every occasion.

Great Falls Group Sells White House Ornaments Sale to Help Artemis House

Great Falls Friends and Neighbors continue the tradition of selling the White House Ornaments -- available in the retail stores in Great Falls -- that help their efforts each year to raise funds for the local Artemis House Shelter.

Letter: Climate Scientists Warnings Go Unheeded in Congress

To the Editor

In this vituperative political age of partisanship, it is no wonder that 86 percent of voters disapprove of Congress, a body in which the national good seems to be trumped by political ideology, grandstanding, name-calling, pandering, and distortion of the truth—all of which gets in the way of common-sense governance.

Bless Brittany’s Tree in Great Falls

GFCA Legacy White Oak Tree planting project widens its canopy of interest.

Brittany Geserick-Beschen’s love for white oaks has deep roots.

Conservatory Ballet’s The Nutcracker Spreading Holiday Cheer

More than 85 area students make holiday magic come to life performing in Conservatory Ballet’s 43rd annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

Weekend Events in Vienna, McLean and Great Falls

Weekend events in your neighborhood

Merry and Fit

Support groups help members maintain fitness during season of indulgence.

Just after 7:30 on a recent Sunday morning, the steady beat of Cold Play’s "Viva la Vida" pulsed through the warm, sleepy air.

Voter Services Chair Recognized by Supervisors

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors presented the Barbara Varon Award to Sidney Johnson, Voter Services chair of the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA), on Nov. 17.

County Limits Dog Tethering

“Man’s best friend deserves legal protection,” said Peggy Marshall, who adopted her best friend, Bianca.

Environmental Quality of Life

Advisory Council issues 512-page vision for county environmental policy.

Flooding will rise in concern in Fairfax County as a result of climate change, warned Stella Koch, chairperson of the county’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council.

Adam Torres trial for murder of John Geer postponed until April 2016

Former Fairfax County police officer Adam Torres was charged with second-degree murder in August this year for shooting Springfield resident John Geer in August 2013. The trial was scheduled to begin on Dec. 14, but a continuance was recently granted to the defense, pushing it back until April 18, 2016.

Fairfax Chamber to Become the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber) Board of Directors approved the rebranding and restructuring of the Fairfax Chamber to the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Langley Senior Duenkel Signs with JMU

Langley High School’s Halle Duenkel on Nov. 13 signed a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at James Madison University.

Week in Great Falls

Land use and zoning issues to be discussed

Great Falls Rugby Hosts Annual Benefit Tournament

Sunday, Nov. 22, was a beautiful, chilly and unusually busy day in Great Falls, as Great Falls Rugby hosted its second annual tournament to benefit MedStar National Rehabilitation Center's spinal cord injury programs

Area Roundups

Happenings in Great Falls

Great Falls Azzurri Blue Capture Second Straight NCSL Divisional Championship

The GFSC Azzurri Blue, a U12 travel soccer team based in Great Falls, recently capped off a fall 2015 season by winning the U12 National Capital Soccer League Division III title.

Classified Advertising December 2 , 2015

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Great Falls: Langley Girls’ Basketball in Search of Championships

Saxons graduated one starter from team that won 21 games.

The Langley girls' basketball team is in search of its first conference/district title since 1988.

MxLean/Great Falls: Langley High Choral Department Presents Renaissance Feaste

The Langley High School Choral Department will present its annual Renaissance Feaste on Friday, Dec, 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at Capital Church, 10233 Leesburg Pike, Vienna.

Great Falls: Weekend Events

Great Falls to Host Holiday Fest

The Great Falls Holiday Fest, will be on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6. There will be shopping, art, food, lights and Saint Nicholas, too!