Stories for October 2012

Classified Advertising Oct 31, 2012

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Week in Great Falls

On Monday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m., the Great Falls Freedom Memorial Committee will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the site of the Freedom Memorial (behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike). The speaker will be James Roberts, who served as an anti-submarine warfare and nuclear weapons officer in Vietnam. In 1995, he founded The American Veterans Center, “honoring the sacrifice and guarding the legacy of America’s veterans.”

Editorial: In Wake of Sandy, Still Plan to Vote

Variety of choices in political landscape.

Hurricane Sandy means that the week preceding the election will not be what we were expecting. This editorial is being written Sunday night, Oct. 28, as forecasters predict five inches of rain and 65-mile-per-hour winds over the next two days. With some predicting that power could take a week or more to restore, we have to worry about the likely condition of the Eastern seaboard will be on Election Day, Nov. 6. Absentee voting in person had been cancelled for Monday, and most government offices were closed in anticipation of the storm. What will this mean for voter turnout, for access to voting places on Election Day?

George Allen v. Timothy Kaine for Senate

Voters have stark choice between candidates to replace U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D).

Candidates for U.S. Senate George Allen and his Democratic challenger Timothy M. Kaine have powerful things in common. Both were popular governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia; both have long political resumes; and both men are passionate about the success of their adopted home state.

Happy Halloween

Haunting events to round out your trick-and-treat filled evening.

Get all the treats and tricks, fright-in-the-night and boo!-filled fun to be had out of Halloween this fall with a little help from some Fairfax County seasonal events.

Serving More Than a Village

Alisa Cozzens named Rotary Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

The Great Falls Rotary Club named its first Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Alisa Cozzens, executive director of Serve A Village, a Great Falls based nonprofit. Cozzens moved to South Africa as a teenager, and though her travels since have taken her to Northern Virginia, she still continues outreach to the area.

Raising Funds to Stop Hunger

Lutheran Redeemer hosts fundraisers for Nov. 10 Stop Hunger Now event.

As McLean prepares to package 250,000 meals for needy people throughout the world, members of the Lutheran Redeemer Church helped raise funds last weekend for the event. The church hosted a fun run around the parking lot for those in costume Saturday morning, and an opera concert Sunday afternoon.

Skate Park Opens at Lake Fairfax

New park is 15,000 square feet, offers variety of features.

The Fairfax County Park Authority opened the Lake Fairfax Skatepark Saturday, Oct. 27, welcoming hundreds of skaters to one of the biggest parks in the area. The 15,000 square-foot features a large bowl on one end, and more than a dozen other features made of concrete with steel edges.

10th District Candidates Speak at Great Falls Grange

Rep. Frank Wolf, challengers Kristin Cabral, Kevin Chisholm hold forum.

Democratic challenger Kristin Cabral faced off with Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) at the Great Falls Grange Tuesday, Oct. 23, in a community forum designed to answer questions about the next two years of the 10th district.

Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

Children carve pumpkins for a good cause at Wildfire in McLean.

Armed with knives and other sharp implements, more than 50 children butchered, chopped, gouged and chiseled with glee at Wildfire restaurant on Saturday, leaving a slimy trail of orange guts across the tables.

‘Spirited Away’ at Langley High

School’s orchestra concert showcases Asia culture and music.

The Langley High School Orchestra presented "Spirited Away: A Celebration of Asian Culture and Music" to a full house on Oct. 25.

Virginia Honors Choir to Feature 13 Langley High Students

The 2012 VMEA (Virginia Music Educators Association) Honors Choir will feature 13 Langley High School seniors out of the 131 senior choral students selected from the entire state of Virginia.

Socialism or Recovery?

I normally do not write about politics, but this year for me the need is compelling, since the American people will need to decide whether they want our country to continue to shift dramatically toward socialism, or whether they want our country to begin to recover from many years of overspending, taxing and borrowing.

After the Storm

Thousands of residents without power as clean-up efforts continue and residents deal with downed trees, closed roads and schools in wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy battered the region Monday night, shutting down Fairfax County schools, governments, roads and voting precincts.

Fairfax County Braces for Sandy’s Arrival

Threat of flooding and high winds prompts officials to close schools, government offices and absentee voting.

As Hurricane Sandy barreled down the East Coast on Sunday, it’s beginning to look like the weather – not politics – will deliver the biggest October surprise this year.

Storm Related Closings

Current list of weather related closings that Connection Newspapers is aware of.

Area Schools Closing in Face of Weather Threat

Threat of flooding, high winds from Hurricane Sandy prompts decision.

Better safe than sorry. Based on that philosophy, Fairfax County Public Schools announced early Sunday afternoon that all FCPS schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday because of the continuing threat of flooding and hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Sandy, a “rare hybrid storm” expected to make landfall on Monday.

Opinion: Be Part of the Children's Connection

Call for student artwork and writing; deadline Dec. 3.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families.

Lawmakers Debate Eminent Domain Ballot Question

Some argue amendment fails to increase property owner’s protections, but may shut down popular parades.

"A shop owner could complain they lost revenue, that festival vendors are taking their business away….What if someone decided to make that an issue and seek compensation for lost profits under (the amendment)? The Town of Vienna can’t afford to reimburse every shop owner..." — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) "(The amendment) is fair…If they run a road and cut off your driveway to the point that no one can get into your restaurant and ruin your business, you should be compensated." —Del. Dave Albo (R-42)

Obama Fires Up Fairfax Crowd With ‘Romnesia’ Quips

President delivers second GMU gender-pitch aimed at women voters.

Lillie Reynolds, a single mother from Herndon with four daughters, stood in line for nearly five hours to hear President Barack Obama speak for 25 minutes at a campaign rally at George Mason University on Friday, Oct. 19.

Voters to Determine Fate of Amendment to Limit Use of Eminent Domain

Measure will allow property owners to seek damages for loss of profits and access.

Nowhere is the debate about eminent domain more intense than the foot of King Street in Alexandria, where city officials threatened to take land owned by the Old Dominion Boat Club using the power of eminent domain for flood mitigation.

The Passover Amendment: Should Legislators Meet on Religious Holidays?

Former Del. David Englin (D-45) was behind amendment now before voters.

Every year, the Virginia General Assembly convenes several weeks after the session to react to the governor’s vetoes.

Bringing Community Market to Great Falls

Open since July, Salud Healthy Pantry offers "best of the best" in health food.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Denise Rodriguez became enchanted with the idea of community markets after growing up around the bodegas her father ran.

Local Artists Show Off Studios

Annual studios tour shows artists’ workspaces.

Fourteen years ago, David Cowdrill was visiting a pottery in Maine, when a door opened for him, literally and figuratively. The potters opened up their workshop to him, showing him how to create ceramics, and Cowdrill, an engineer by trade, found a new opportunity.

Examining Trees at Riverbend Park

New Riverbend Tree Walk shows diversity of species at park.

Visitors to Riverbend Park have a new way to explore the 400-plus acres of land along the Potomac River. Local resident Tabitha Eagle, with the help of Bob Vickers of the Fairfax County Tree Commission and staff at Riverbend, helped mark a mile-long trail that identifies 20 different tree varieties within the park.

Express Lanes Move Closer to Opening

Express Lanes open new operations center in Alexandria, prepares for opening.

As the construction equipment and debris is cleared from the new two left lanes going both ways on the Virginia side of the Beltway, the 495 Express Lanes are coming closer to opening. The variable-priced toll lanes will run over most of the Virginia section of the Beltway, and the $2 billion project has included the new lanes, as well as the rebuilding of bridges and overpasses along the way.

Classified Advertising Oct 24, 2012

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Langley Orchestra to Present an Asian Theme Concert

The Langley High School Orchestra is presenting “Spirited Away: an Asian Theme Concert” on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Langley Auditorium.

Great Falls Traffic, Road Initiatives Considered

VDOT will hold a public meeting on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Great Falls Elementary School to discuss the project plan for the bridge on Beach Mill Road over Nichols Run.

The Old Brogue Visits the Local Farmers Market

Farmers Market Guest Chef Harvest event underway.

The Great Falls Farmers Market’s Guest Chef program began last Saturday with a visit by The Old Brogue’s Master Chef John Conway.

The Old Brogue Visits the Great Falls Farmers Market

Farmers Market Guest Chef Harvest event underway.

The Great Falls Farmers Market’s Guest Chef program began last Saturday with a visit by The Old Brogue’s Master Chef John Conway.

Barn Dancing in Great Falls

Having fun, supporting children.

Members of the Great Falls Optimist Club enjoyed a night out while attending the club’s 7th Annual Barn Dance in Great Falls on Saturday night. The event featured dinner, a raffle and auction, and music by Bennie Potter and Western Electric. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Great Falls Children’s Fund and Childhood Cancer Charity.

Country Fair at St. Francis Episcopal Church

St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls held its annual country fair on Saturday, Oct. 6.

St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls held its annual country fair on Saturday, Oct. 6, and the community came out for a quilt show, music, hayrides and games.

“Hey Beez; Beez, It’s Me”

It was my father all right – in a dream. Standing five feet away, approximately, in a well-lit, local convenience store with which I am extremely familiar. This was no case of mistaken identity. Besides, he was wearing those blue, terrycloth shorts of his that my mother always hated. So yes, I called out to him, surprised as I was to see him, locally as it were.

What Would $155 Million Bond Package Buy?

New fire stations, library renovations, park improvements and more on Nov. 6 ballot.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Monique Bell of Oakton was helping her 5-year-old daughter McKenzie sort through a dozen Halloween craft books at the Reston Regional Library. The library, one of the busiest branches in Fairfax County, has a collection of more than 215,000 volumes and circulates more than a million books a year.

Classified Advertising Oct. 17, 2012

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Two Poor Teachers Expand in Area

A kitchen and bath remodeling company brings a one-stop-shop right to customers' front doors.

On a sunny afternoon in the parking lot of a Fairfax County shopping center, Jeff Pregman is giving a tour of his mobile showroom, a $100,000 former bookmobile that now houses an impressive selection of tiles, counter tops, faucets, flooring, light fixtures and more. Pregman is the General Manager of Two Poor Teachers, a Class A contracting company founded in 1999 that specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. The tour is interrupted on several occasions over the course of an hour by folks peering in the windows or knocking on the door. “I love it,” says Pregman. “People see this big vehicle that says it’s a design center. They come up to see what’s what and they are blown away by what’s inside. We do get a bit of business this way.”

Editorial: Pick Your Own Election Day

It's called “absentee voting in person,” and there are a lot of reasons why you should.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The deadline to register to vote is past, although in Northern Virginia, it's clear that a very high percentage of eligible voters are registered. Four years ago in the presidential election of 2008, there were 5,034,660 voters registered in Virginia, and 3,752,858 actually voted. Just in the month of September 2012, Fairfax County saw more than 6,000 newly registered voters, for a total of 646,881 active voters. Arlington registered more than 3,300 new voters in September, with more than 130,000 active voters total. Alexandria added more than 1,300 new voters last month alone, with 81,847 active voters.

Letter: Vote Yes for Area Parks

As Connection readers know, the upcoming election is a pivotal one. What readers may not be aware of is that a park bond referendum question is on the ballot for Fairfax County residents. I'm writing to ask readers to vote YES for the 2012 park bond.

Vienna/McLean/Great Falls Events Calendar, Oct. 17 - Nov. 28

Get out and about with these great events in Vienna, McLean, and Great Falls.

Children’s Pumpkin Carving Class at Wildfire Supports Food for Others

Get ready for Halloween and join Wildfire at Tysons Galleria for a Kid’s Pumpkin Carving Class on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 3 to 4 p.m.

Charlotte Barnwell McCutchen, 67, Dies

Great Falls resident for 16 years and accomplished neurologist dies in San Diego, Calif.

Charlotte Barnwell McCutchen, M.D., died Sept. 11, 2012 in San Diego, Calif., age 67, of complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. She was a resident of Great Falls for 16 years, from 1984-2000.

Week in Great Falls

Halloween Spooktacular at Great Falls Village Centre

Continuing a decades-long tradition, the merchants of the Great Falls Village Centre and Great Falls Friends & Neighbors are now teaming up with the Celebrate Great Falls Foundation and the Great Falls Shopping Center to provide a family-friendly night of trick-or-treating for children up to age 12 (6th grade) and their families on Wednesday, Oct. 31, rain or shine.

A Three-way Race in 10th District

Kristin Cabral, Kevin Chisholm oppose Frank Wolf in new-look 10th district.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) is attempting to be re-elected for a sixteenth term come Nov. 6, but he will face two challengers in Kristin Cabral (Democrat) and Kevin Chisholm (Independent).

MPA Hosts Annual ArtFest

Nonprofit recognized by Arts Council, holds annual festival.

The McLean Project for the Arts celebrated a banner weekend this weekend: they were recognized by the Arts Council of Fairfax County Friday, Oct. 12 and ended the weekend with their annual ArtFest Sunday in McLean Central Park.

Sharing Great Falls Ghost Stories

GFHS Oktoberfest features tales of local hauntings.

After moving into one of the oldest houses in Great Falls, Jinny Beyer began thinking something was amiss in her home. For the first six months they lived there, every night at 2 a.m. sharp, Beyer would wake to what she felt was a presence in the room.

“Subjectively Speaking”

In my opinion. It’s what I think. It’s what I feel. It’s what I think I feel. It may not be something I know, but it’s certainly something that I hope I know. And if it’s not exactly something that I know, then I hope it’s something I believe.

Classified Advertising Oct 10, 2012

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Lighting the Night for a Cause

This is the APL Dumpling Gang’s second year walking in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk.

Editorial: Cancer Awareness

Success with breast cancer awareness should help other cancers.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Anyone connected to media of any variety already knows this. A massive marketing success, we all know that pink shows support for breast cancer prevention, especially in October.

Citizens Urged to Speak Up On Transportation Funding

County looks for public’s opinions and suggestions on funding options.

What issue could be so important that the mayors and chairs of 38 jurisdictions within Virginia’s “Urban Crescent,” the area stretching from Northern Virginia to Richmond and Hampton Roads, could set aside political affiliations and sometimes conflicting agendas to sign off on a letter sent collectively to the governor, lieutenant governor and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia? Long question, short answer: transportation.

McLean, Great Falls Market is Up in 2012

The residential real estate market is up 26.8 percent in McLean and Great Falls in terms of total number of sales. This represents a significant increase for the first three quarters of 2012 over the same time period for 2011.

Promoting Clean Water at Forestville Elementary

Forestville Elementary School and the Forestville PTA hosted the Wyland Foundation's Clean Water Learning Center last week in Great Falls. The 1,000-foot mobile classroom featured science exhibits, computer models and running rivers.

Village Green Hosts Fall Festival

Students spend day on moon bounces, magic show.

The Village Green Day School in Great Falls hosted their annual Fall Festival Wednesday, Oct. 3. For student Grady Robbins, this meant a special surprise when he got to school.

Colvin Run Students Honored

Students take first, second place in annual Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial essay contest.

The Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial named the winners of their second annual essay contest Saturday, Oct. 6, hosting several participants at the Great Falls Library. Two Colvin Run Elementary School students, Maren Kranking and Sherwin Momenian were named first and second place winners, respectively.

Oakton Field Hockey Shuts Out McLean

Miller, Prosser score for Cougars.

Oakton field hockey defeated McLean, 2-0, on Oct. 8.

Fairfax Crowd Gives Obama Enthusiastic Welcome

President scores points talking about jobs, women’s rights … and Big Bird.

After a bruising debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama did some boasting Friday, Oct. 5 at a campaign rally at George Mason University.

Column: “Less Fluid, Most Nodules Stable, Minimal Growth.”

Given how I feel now, three-plus years later, and considering the results of this most recent scan, the future may simply be what it is: not now, but later. At least, that’s the way I see it, subjectively speaking. (Now whether “subjectively speaking” is just a euphemism for “unrealistic” is likely a topic for a “future” column.)

Classified Advertising Oct. 3, 2012

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Editorial: Last Week to Register to Vote

To vote on Election Day, you must be registered at your current address no later than Oct. 15, 2012. Registered voters should have received a new voter card in the mail by now. You can check your registration status online by visiting the State Board of Elections website at www.sbe.virginia.gov. There you can also download a voter registration form and mail or fax it to your elections office address.

County Gets Election Ready

Fairfax County prepares voters for new election measures.

"The good news in Fairfax County is that almost everyone who is eligible is registered to vote," said Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief election official. "Our problem in Fairfax County is not voter apathy, and it’s not getting people to register. What we don't have is every registered voter registered at their correct address."

Sun Design to Sponsor Great Falls Studios Tour

Home remodeling company embraces community art as novel way to showcase its own design capabilities.

Great Falls Studios, a community arts organization with more than 100 artist members in Great Falls, announced this week that the home remodeling company Sun Design has agreed to sponsor the art group’s Ninth Annual Great Falls Studios Tour, Oct. 20 and 21.

Tree Removals Postponed

The Virginia Department of Transportation has postponed the removal of two white oak trees at the corner of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road, allowing the community to hire an arborist to examine the two trees.

Bank Design Examined

Proposed TD Bank would be located at site of Exxon Station.

Members of the team representing TD Bank made another presentation in Great Falls Tuesday, Sept. 25, providing details about the future of gas stations in Great Falls, as well as an update on the architecture of the proposed building that would be erected on the current site of the Exxon station.

Sanford Leads Madison Football Past Langley

Langley’s Mun rushes for 221 yards, 2 TDs in defeat.

The Madison football team defeated Langley, 24-21, on Sept. 28.