Friday, July 31
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 31-Aug. 9, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 30
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission Subcommittees Report
“It is well past time for the Fairfax County Police Department to start providing timely, honest and effective communications with everything it does.” When former director of Fairfax County public affairs Merni Fitzgerald delivered the final report and recommendations of the communications subcommittee of the Fairfax County ad hoc commission to review police practices, commissioner Joseph Cammarata responded immediately to those words in report’s introduction.
Fairfax: Special Grand Jury Begins Hearing Testimony in John Geer Case
Since shooting John Geer dead in the doorway of his Springfield home on Aug. 29, 2013, PFC Adam Torres of the Fairfax County Police Department has remained at work, albeit out of the field, but undisciplined by police and unprosecuted for any criminal wrongdoing.
Fairfax County School Board Honors Retiring Leaders, Adopts Budget Review and Audit Plan
In their last meeting of the summer, Fairfax County School Board members began by remembering former superintendent Dr. Robert Spillane, who recently died, and recognizing outgoing members of the school system’s leadership team.
Wednesday, July 29
Column: On A Tangent
Not that I live day-to-day or even month-to-month, but I do live – in my head anyway – quarter-to-quarter; that interval representing the usual and customary time between my recurring diagnostic scans. The time when the rubber hits my road.
Tuesday, July 28
Riverbend Park’s Summer Attraction: Kayaking
Riverbend Park is a popular outdoor destination as its fishing and hiking trails exhibit the diverse wildlife in Great Falls, yet kayaking is the biggest hit during the summer months.
River Bend Swimmers Excel at All-Star Meet
Sunday, July 26 at Westwood Country Club was not a usual swim meet. It was the All-Star meet, where the best of the best competed in a total of 48 individual events.
A View from Wiehle-Reston: D.C. Gets Closer
Taking a train from Reston: Commuters express satisfaction and some criticism.
These are some of the mixed emotions coming to light in conversations with commuters reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the new Silver Line Metro operation.
‘Impressive’ Change
Commuters discuss conveniences of Silver Line.
July 26 marked the first anniversary of the Metro’s Silver Line opening.
Happy Birthday Silver Line, and Many More
Reactions to the $3 billion project up and down the line.
”Herndon is ready,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel, regarding Herndon’s future Silver Line stop. Merkel dubbed Herndon, “A Next Generation Small Town.”
Happy Birthday Silver Line, and Many More
Reactions to the $3 billion project up and down the line.
”Herndon is ready,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel, regarding Herndon’s future Silver Line stop. Merkel dubbed Herndon, “A Next Generation Small Town.”
Sew What?
Visiting Miss Cathy’s Sewing Camp in Great Falls.
Scintillating seams and life lessons abound during a two-week sewing camp helmed by Cathy Moran — local business wiz, born teacher, and mother to four vivacious red-heads — as part of The Great Falls Foundation for the Art community summer programs.
Wednesday, July 22
Column: 'Abyssful' Ignorance
Hopefully not. But you never know – per last week’s column, until you know. And the preferred pattern seems to be that waiting to be spoken to in person, a week or so post-scan, is the best the process can be; or at least, that’s the process that suits the doctor/HMO.
Great Falls: Langley Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Brewer Retires After 21 Seasons
Brewer totaled 288 wins, 4 state titles with Saxons.
Long-time Langley boys' lacrosse coach Earl Brewer retires after 21 seasons with the Saxons.
Tuesday, July 21
Opinion: After One Year, Silver Line is Changing the Face of Northern Virginia
If you were among the thousands descending upon Tysons Corner Center this summer for the grand opening of the new Hyatt Hotel, which included a concert and fireworks, you experienced firsthand the transformation taking place there and throughout the Dulles Corridor thanks to the arrival of Metro’s Silver Line.
Summer With Books in Great Falls
Great Falls Library promotes summer reading program.
Getting children to pick up a book over the summer is no easy feat. But the Fairfax County Public Libraries aim to do just that in their Summer Reading Program running from June 19 to Sept. 5.
People and Pets in Great Falls
People and Pets in Great Falls.
Monday, July 20
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 24-Aug. 2, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Editorial: What’s Special about Your Community?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guides.
The Connection’s annual Newcomers and Community Guides will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Thursday, July 16
Great Falls Home Sales: June, 2015
In June, 2015, 26 Great Falls homes sold between $1,700,000-$470,000.
Great Falls Home Sales: June, 2015
Wednesday, July 15
Q&A: Langley Grad West to Play Football at Lafayette
Running back listened to Lil Wayne before games.
Q&A with Langley High School graduate Tyler West.
Column: 'Scant' Know For Sure Anymore
After six years, four months and two weeks since being diagnosed with stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer (the “terminal” kind), I can say with certainty that I have no sense of what my next CT scan, scheduled for July 15th, will indicate. Previously (multiple scans over multiple years), I’ve felt something in my upper chest/lungs where the largest tumors are located and the subsequent scan showed nothing of consequence.
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 17-26, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Tuesday, July 14
Great Falls: Seneca Hill Animal Hospital Hosts Dog Days 2015
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing quite like a barbecue and a swim to relax and have fun. That’s exactly what happened at Seneca Hill Animal Hospital, Resort and Spa last Sunday – except that this one was for the dogs.
Great Falls Sixth Graders Visit Japan
Japanese Immersion class meets Japanese Prime Minister, U.S. Ambassador.
Great Falls Elementary School’s (GFES) sixth grade Japanese Immersion Program (JIP) participants returned from their cultural exchange trip to Japan on July 9.
Great Falls: Woman of the Year
Raising more than a quarter of a million dollars for cancer research with 17 local events.
Katie Simmons Hickey’s daughter Rylie, 3, delivered the knockout punch in Hickey’s fundraising film for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Editorial: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need.
Backyard Vegetable Gardens Feed Multicultural Cuisines
In Fairfax County, tomatoes are a staple of local gardens along with peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, beans and herbs like mint, oregano and cilantro.
There’s nothing like a juicy red tomato fresh out of the backyard garden to brighten up a summertime salad or a sandwich — or a bittermelon, aronia berries or “paradise apple,” as persimmons are known in Bulgaria. The multi-cultural population in Fairfax County has grown roots in the backyard vegetable garden.
Unscheduling Summer Play
Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.
What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.
Friday, July 10
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 10-19, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Wednesday, July 8
Column: My Manifesto, Sort Of
Being diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer (no, they’re not all “terminal”) is “a heck of a thing,” to extrapolate a bit from Jim Valvano’s memorable 1993 ESPY Awards speech given a few months before he succumbed to his cancer.
Commentary: Legislation Combats Sex Trafficking
On July 1, legislation that I sponsored, HB1964, went into effect. This new law is Virginia’s first stand-alone human trafficking statute and creates stricter penalties for traffickers, greater protections for sex trafficking victims, and provides needed tools for prosecutors and law enforcement to stop human trafficking in Virginia.
Letter: Celebrating Marriage Equality
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Today, we rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal right of same sex partners to legal marriage in the cases of Obergefell v. Hodges, Tanco v. Haslam, DeBoer v. Snyder, Bourke v. Beshear.
Tuesday, July 7
Great Falls Celebrates July 4th
5K run, parade attract hundreds on a rainy Saturday.
The rain wasn’t enough to keep people away from Great Falls’ Independence Day celebrations. More than 100 people lined up at the Freedom Memorial early Saturday morning to kick off the festivities with the annual 5K race.
A House by the Sea
Design ideas for beach homes.
As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.
Editorial: Yes to Nonpartisan Redistricting
Politicians shouldn’t be choosing voters.
Virginia’s Congressional map is unconstitutional because African American voters are packed into District 3, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The problem will have to be remedied by drawing new boundaries.
Thursday, July 2
Fourth of July Weekend Fun in Fairfax County
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend: July 3-5, 2015.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Wednesday, July 1
Column: Quality of Life
Throughout my nearly six and a half years of cancer treatment, starting at the initial Team Lourie meeting on February 27, 2009, when my oncologist suggested I take that vacation I’ve always dreamed of (to which I exclaimed “WHAT!?”), my quality of life has always been important to him.
Week in Great Falls
Historical Society to Hold Great Falls History Trivia Contest and Farmers Market to Serve July 4 Breakfast
Obituary: Clarissa ‘Lynne’ Simmons, 72, of Great Falls, Dies
Lynne Simmons, of Great Falls, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at the age of 72 after a three year battle with multiple myeloma/plasma cytoma cancer.