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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.

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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.

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.

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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.


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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.

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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.


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.


On Interns Past and Lessons Learned

Harlem, 1991. Pre-gentrification. It was an unlikely location for a book club. But every week, I hopped the subway and headed to the Children's Aid Society Center at 103rd and Columbus to lead a group of young teens in book discussions.

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Board of Supervisors Recognizes Jacqueline Cheshire

On June 23, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a unanimous resolution to recognize Great Falls resident Jacqueline Cheshire for her years of service work as a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI).

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Langley High School in Nebraska

Langley High School’s Science Olympiad Team was honored by the Board of Supervisors and Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-34) Tuesday, June 23.


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July 4th Safety

From swimming to fireworks, safety precautions for a festive Independence Day.

It was a near accident at camp last summer that sparked action by one parent. Elementary school-aged campers splashed in the pool. Everyone was having fun. Then tragedy almost struck.

Fairfax County: Deferring to Noise

New standards will wait until after the November election.

The Board of Supervisors wants to spend more time with noise. Last Tuesday, June 23, the Board deferred action on the proposed changes to the county’s noise ordinance until Nov. 17, 2015.

Editorial: Open Letter to Elected Officials and Candidates

Spend some of your campaign dollars in newspapers.

Here at the Connection, our email boxes are filling up with messages from people running for office. It’s not surprising, since in November, virtually every state and local office in the commonwealth is on the ballot.


Crafters And Re-enactors Visit Colvin Run Mill

Great Falls Parks prepare summer activities

On Sunday, June 7 Colvin Run Mill Historic Site was active with several events at the historic park. Colvin Run Mill was in action with grain grinding demonstrations, and visitors could see millers turn corn into meal and grits, or wheat into flour using the now restored, water-powered grist mill.

Scouts Create New Trail at Riverbend Park

More than 60 volunteers cleared a new safety trail at Riverbend Park on Saturday, June 13.