Monday, June 30
Local Real Estate: May, 2014 Top Sales in Great Falls and McLean
In May 2014, 20 Great Falls homes sold between $2,900,000-$517,800, and 92 homes sold between $4,000,000-$156,111 in the McLean and Falls Church area.
Local Real Estate: May, 2014 Top Sales in Great Falls and McLean
Friday, June 27
Youth Suicide Prevention Training Offered Online
Interactive training helps adults deal with serious issues.
Following several incidents in the community involving youth and suicide, Laura Yager, the director of partnership and resource development for the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, said the community has recognized the need for youth suicide prevention.
Food Truck Changes Considered in Fairfax County
Public Hearings are July 30 and Sept. 9.
Instead of bringing a brown-bag lunch to work or venturing out for fast food, Fairfax County residents may soon have a different option. On June 17, the Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with a proposal to make changes to food truck regulations. The proposal will allow food trucks to operate at office buildings, construction sites, and commercial and industrial properties. Public hearings on the proposal will be held in front of the Planning Commission on July 30 and Sept. 9 in front of the Board of Supervisors.
Thursday, June 26
Classified Advertising June 25, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Keeper of Our Local Story
The Great Falls Historical Society has carved as its mission, to keep the local story of life in Great Falls, Virginia over the centuries.
Helping Schools Visit Park
Raylynn Oliver, on behalf of the Great Falls Friends and Neighbors presented a check for $545 to Friends of River Bend President Tim Hackman, Vice President John Hughes-Caley and Board Member Odiorne Beebe.
Letter: Protecting Great Falls Trees
I commend the Great Falls Connection for doing everything to protect and expand the White Oaks in Great Falls [Protecting the White Oak, Great Falls Connection, June 18-24, 2014].
Memories of a Bittersweet Year
Langley Class of 2014 graduates, remembering the two who died.
They said their goodbyes with a little bit of old and a little new.
Opinion: Small Acts of Kindness
Evidence of the long-lasting effects of kindness to others in daily life.
A foster child alumni recently told me that what helps her to keep moving forward are the happy memories she has stored in her heart. Curious, I asked if she would share a few with me.
Observatory Groundbreaking, Pavilion Ribbon Cutting
Turner Park’s facelift
Years after money first began being raised to revitalize the land for a park, the pavilion had a ribbon cutting and the roll-top observatory had its groundbreaking on the drizzly Saturday morning.
Dancing for a Cause
Colvin Run dance raises funds for Alzheimer’s research.
In the historic Colvin Run Community Hall, local team Step and Swing for Elaine held a fundraiser in memory of Elaine Krawitz, who died last July of dementia.
Wednesday, June 25
Editorial: Safe Fourth
Talking and planning are the best safety measures; SoberRide offers a safety net.
Independence Day is a national celebration, and for many, that celebration includes alcohol. The summer overall and July 4 in particular are times of greater risk for drinking and driving.
What’s Offensive about Redskins Pride?
Absolutely nothing, if you’re state Sen. Chap Petersen.
A lifelong Redskins fan, Fairfax state Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34) has had it up to here with all the talk about the need to change the name of his beloved football team. He vented his frustration and indignation on his blog — Ox Road South — but said he was leery of tackling what he deemed the forces of political correctness in the "War Against the Redskins" until June 18, when the Federal Patent Office blocked the team’s Redskins trademarks, declaring that the name was "disparaging" to Native Americans at the time the trademarks were registered — as far back as 1967. That action pushed Petersen off the sidelines to lead an offensive attack.
"One Less Thing"
Forrest Gump knew when he voiced over: "Mama got the cancer and died on a Tuesday. I bought her a new hat with little flowers on it. And that’s all I have to say about that." And if you watched the movie as often as I did (it was one of my mother’s favorites), you may also recall "Mama always said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on."
County Chamber Honors Brain Injury Services
The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber) honored Brain Injury Services with the 2014 Nonprofit of the Year award. This category was part of the 2014 Outstanding Corporate Citizenship Awards presented at the Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Luncheon on June 17, 2014.
Monday, June 23
Call for Pet Photos & Stories
The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish on July 23, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by Wednesday, July 16.
Thursday, June 19
Great Falls Home Sales: May, 2014
In May 2014, 20 Great Falls homes sold between $2,900,000-$517,800.
Great Falls Home Sales: May, 2014
Patchwork of Approaches to Affordable Housing in Northern Virginia
Jurisdictions use a variety of strategies to prevent homelessness.
Affordable housing means different things to different people at different times. For government officials, it's a phrase that means that a family spends no more than 30 percent of its income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage as well as taxes and utilities
Wednesday, June 18
Meals Tax: Tasty or Revolting?
Supervisors digest task force’s final report on hot-button issue.
After hours of simmering debate, the Meals Tax Referendum Task Force’s presentation to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday was a mere amuse-bouche, whetting the appetite of board the for the group’s 170-page multi-course written report.
Langley High Renovation Moves Forward
Three phases of renovation will span three and a half years.
The plan for renovation of Langley High School was presented to parents by Langley High School Principal Matthew Ragone and Mr. Brady Rauch, Fairfax County Public Schools Coordinator, Design and Construction, at a presentation in the LHS auditorium on Wednesday morning, June 11.
Week in Great Falls
Dancing, exhibit and art workshop.
Protecting the White Oak in Great Falls
Village-wide Legacy White Oak program announced.
Bill Canis is an advocate for Great Falls’ mighty white oak.
The Petunias Are Back
The faces behind the village’s beautification project.
Three times a week, George Benza drives around the village with 250 gallons of water and a sprayer in the back of his pickup truck.
Great Falls’ Summer on the Green
Concerts on the Green Series to run through Aug. 17.
On Sunday afternoon, a crowd gathered on the Great Falls Centre Green to enjoy the summer sunshine and the bluesy jazz stylings of GRAMMY winner Daryl Davis.
Letter: Contamination Monitoring Continues
I want to take this opportunity to provide your readers, a status report on the ongoing effort to remediate the groundwater contamination from the former Exxon station on the west side of Walker Road at Georgetown Pike, and to recognize citizens working on this issue.
Gifts for New Grads
Local tastemakers offer suggestions from the sentimental to the practical.
After the tassels have been turned and the diplomas received, it is usually time for a graduation celebration. Whether you’re shopping for someone who is heading to college or venturing out into the workforce, choosing a present for the graduate in your life can be perplexing, but local tastemakers are here to help, offering suggestions for graduation presents that range from the practical to the sentimental.
Preserving Local Memory
The Great Falls Historical Society’s role in village life.
At our first Board meeting of the newly elected 2014-2015 Board, members asked about the “strategy” and “long-term vision” of the Great Falls Historical Society.
After Graduation: Dorm Room Set-Up
Local organizers show how to maximize storage in small spaces.
After graduation comes off-to-college season. Often this means parents making design choices for their children or parents and their soon-to-be-college freshmen searching for supplies that will serve dual purposes, particularly when it comes to storage. For those who find themselves in a dorm room design conundrum, local organizers offer tips and tools for creating stylish yet space-saving designs for new college students.
Editorial: More Affordable Housing Needed
Anticipated job growth to exacerbate problem.
In Northern Virginia, affordable housing means more than human services or helping those who are less fortunate. It means more than housing the chronically homeless, although that is not optional.
A Dream Come True, Sort Of
Growing up in the 60s, if you loved sports, as I did/still do, you spent hours listening to games on a transistor radio. There certainly wasn’t “Cable” television back then; heck, there wasn’t even color television, let alone “HD,” “interactive,” or whatever else television technology has evolved into. And of course, there were no “big screen” television sets either. We had a 19" Zenith black and white television and we received three channels: 4, 5 and 7 (in Boston), and as much as sports was/is important in Boston/New England, viewing options, given the limited VHF/UHF band frequencies, meant listening to games on radio – AM radio. Games were regularly televised on weekends, more so if the home team was playing on the road. As the decades have passed, so too have transistor radios, black and white televisions and limited viewing on only three channels. Between “Cable,” computers, and more recently, the introduction of hand-held devices, access to and familiarity with sports has grown exponentially. Add in the explosion of sports-talk radio and the abundance of sports-themed content on television (regardless of whether the games are at home or on the road) and one could be in his “man cave” for hours on end “channeling” his – or her – passion, for any team, in any city, at almost any time.
Friday, June 13
Me & My Dad 2014 — Father's Day Photo Gallery
My father died in 1989. At the first wedding I photographed afterwards, my son Steven who was assisting me, nudged me aside during the Father-Daughter dance. He noticed that I was weeping and that I couldn't see to focus because of the tears in my eyes. I still miss my father. My father was a quiet man, a gentle man. I never heard him raise his voice. He worked two full time jobs when I was growing up and I didn't see him very much but somehow he managed to teach me lessons I still haven't forgotten.
Thursday, June 12
School Calendar Changes Examined
Fairfax County considers ending half-day Mondays, at the cost between $4 to $7.6 Million.
Changes could be coming soon to school schedules in Fairfax County, under a new plan announced by Superintendent Karen Garza at a work session on May 28.
Fundraising and Connections Help Former Lieutenant Governor Emerge Victorious
Don Beyer edges out six competitors in crowded filed of candidates.
When asked about animals rights, former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer quotes author Peter Singer. He describes his wife as the "sine qua non" of his life. During his victory speech in the hotly contested Democratic primary to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), he quoted St. Augustine and Winston Churchill. He reads widely and has five policy proposals for every issue before Congress.
Wednesday, June 11
Summer Fairs and Festivals Calendar 2014
Your guide to this summer's hottest events in the area.
Your guide to this summer's fun festivals and events.
Cappies Awarded for High School Theater
The 15th Annual Cappies Awards Gala for high school theater was held Sunday, June 8 at The Kennedy Center. Nine Cappies went to West Potomac High School for “Spamalot,” including the coveted Best Musical award. The Best Play award went to Langley High School for “The Children’s Hour.” The Cappies’ show season extended from October 2013 to May 2014, and Cappies shows were attended, on average, by 45 student critics. This year’s event included 58 public and private high schools from Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince William counties, the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria and Manassas, and Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by Judy Bowns, Janie Strauss and Ed Monk.
A Porch with a View
When a Great Falls homeowner decided she wanted to breathe new life into her large covered porch after a long, cold winter, she called on Anna Kucera, owner and principal designer of Gracious Living by Design in Alexandria, Va., to give the space a fresh look in time for warm-weather gatherings.
Creating Private, Restful Retreat
Designers offer suggestions for decorating the perfect bedroom.
While most people crave a good night’s sleep, it remains a dream for many. A bedroom that is both chic and comfortable can help the overworked find that restful slumber.
Column: Something New – or Old, to Consider
And therein lies the anxiety. Although, all things considered – and as you regular readers know, I like, maybe even need, to consider all things – the medical assessment of the most recent CT scan of my upper torso and thorax/lungs showed a new object in my left lung, “approximately the size of a silver dollar,” according to my oncologist. What this object is, exactly, cannot be determined at this juncture; technology prevents such clarity, unfortunately. Nevertheless, its appearance and location are possibly cause for concern, possibly not.
Teens Talk Depression
Teen-to-Teen Mental Health Summit focused on destigmatizing depression.
What if mental illness and suicide didn’t have a stigma?
Bollywood Bash!
Langley club brings Northern Virginia schools together.
Dozens of students from across Northern Virginia came together Saturday night - to dance bhangra and raise money for rural India.
A Music ‘Out of This World’
Langley High School Orchestra presents its final concert of the year.
The Langley High School Orchestra performed its final concert of the year on Tuesday, June 3, in the Langley HS Auditorium.
Eat. Drink. Pay?
Fairfax County task force debates voters’ appetite for another meals tax referendum.
It has been 22 years since Fairfax County asked voters to approve a tax on restaurant meals, an issue that ignited protests, caused deep divisions among community leaders and threatened to melt down several political careers. The reverberations of that epic failure — what many consider the third rail of county politics — continue to echo in the ears of county politicians.
Week in Great Falls
Great Falls Senior Center to Host Barbershop Quartet
Comfort Women Memorial Highlights Human Trafficking
New Peace Garden a beacon of hope for victims.
When members of the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues unveiled a new memorial on May 30, they also illuminated the issue of local human trafficking in Northern Virginia. Elected officials including Supervisor John Foust, Japanese and Korean representatives, and human rights activists gathered to remember the women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery during WWII. Now the memorial stands sunlit on the back lawn of the Fairfax County Government Center, as a reminder for today’s community to take a stand against these crimes against humanity in their own neighborhoods.
World Champions
Great Falls’ Lego Robotics Team brings home first place at World Festival.
Where some might see colorful bricks, the six members of Team Positive Aftermath see Legos as the building blocks of the future.
Celebrate Great Falls on July 4th
The 4th of July Hometown Celebration and Parade in Great Falls will be held on Friday, July 4 at Great Falls Village Centre.
Why Education Needs Its Foundation
More than 100 business leaders attend luncheon.
Approximately 33 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools kindergartners are living in poverty.
100,000 Homes Fairfax Wins Blue Ribbon Partnership Award
The 100,000 Homes Fairfax campaign was presented with a Blue Ribbon Partnership award from the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships (OP3) as part of its "Celebrate Partnerships" awards ceremony held on May 29.
Opinion: Transitioning to Summer
Summer is a time of change — always welcomed by students. The break during the hottest months gives a chance for kids to de-stress and prepare for their next grade on their short path to adulthood. After five summers at FACETS, I’ve had the opportunity to watch many children make this transition. What’s fun for kids though, can be a huge struggle for their parents. Finding appropriate and affordable care, providing enough meals during the day, and incurring the extra costs of entertaining children can be an enormous challenge for families that FACETS serves.
Opinion: Clearing the Air on New Carbon Standards
The EPA‘s new proposal to safeguard the air we breathe and contain a primary driver of climate change by reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants is the lynchpin to reducing our carbon footprint. As co-chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, we welcome action on carbon pollution and look forward to working with all stakeholders in a responsible manner to advance a 21st century energy economy for America.
Fairfax County is Home to 10 Companies on 2014 Fortune 500 List
Ten Fairfax County-based companies, in industries ranging from defense and technology consulting to financial services and hospitality, hold spots in Fortune magazine’s list of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States. The 2014 Fortune 500 is available online.
Monday, June 9
Empire Strikes Back: Establishment Beats Tea Party at Republican Convention
Party insider Ed Gillespie seizes nomination at convention in Roanoke.
When conservative preacher E.W. Jackson took the stage at the Roanoke Civic Center to introduce Tea Party favorite Shak Hill at the Republican convention last weekend, hundreds of conservatives from across Virginia took to their feet. They waved placards.
Thursday, June 5
Classified Advertising June 4, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Poverty in the Classroom: Low-Income Students Scattered Through Northern Virginia
Where are the region's highest poverty schools?
When Carla Castro-Claure was approaching the age when she would soon attend Kindergarten, her mother became increasingly concerned about Hybla Valley Elementary School.
Wednesday, June 4
Column: Have You Had a Taste of Asia?
Two years ago, the Taste of Asia event was created through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Great Falls Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award
Caitlin Dalrymple, Maddie Navin and Rachel Zmuda, all of Girl Scout Troop 1057 in Great Falls recently celebrated the completion of their Gold Awards, the Girl Scouts’ highest honor.
Great Falls Scouts Honor Heroes
Troop 55 Boy Scouts celebrate Memorial Day weekend with Baden-Powell Hike.
On May 25, 16 Boy Scouts and Adult Scouters from the Great Falls Troop 55, chartered by St. Francis Episcopal Church, honored our nation’s heroes by participating in the 7.2 mile Baden-Powell Hike in Washington, D.C.
A Delight With a Message
‘Bat Boy: The Musical’ at 1st Stage.
There is a charming, big-hearted, rock musical with a message of tolerance and acceptance having a highly appealing production at Tysons' 1st Stage.
Art on the Green
Great Falls Studios annual spring show flourishes at new location.
Dozens of works of art, ranging from paint to glassblowing, took over the village green last weekend.
Langley High Seniors Wrap Up 4U Campaign
Provide support and encouragement for underclassmen through campaign.
As the much-anticipated graduation season gets in full-swing for the Class of 2014, a lingering feeling of nostalgia can push some people to reflect on their school years—what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve learned.
Healthy Cooking with Children
Local foodies say cooking with children can establish a lifetime of healthy habits.
From creating dough for freshly baked bread to squeezing lemons for a neighborhood lemonade stand, Michael Roll enjoys spending time in the kitchen with his children transforming ordinary food into nutritious culinary creations, particularly during the summer. He says that when parents cook healthy meals with their children they model behavior that can last a lifetime.
Saluting the Seniors
Ceremony in Fairfax recognizes high school seniors who are enlisting in the military.
As high school nears its end for the many seniors of Fairfax, Loudon and Prince William counties, students are faced with countless options of what will be their next step in life.
Team On Going
In anticipation of my next face-to-face appointment with my oncologist, the first in three months (as per usual) and considering a breathing issue I’ve been experiencing the last month or so, my wife, Dina (original Team Lourie member) asked if I wanted my brother, Richard (the other original Team Lourie member), to attend. Not that he wouldn’t attend if asked (he’s local); it’s more that I’m wondering if he really needs to attend, as in whether there will be life-changing, cancer-related decisions where all hands need be on deck. Of course, a week before the appointment I have no legitimate clue – nor have I received any suggestions from my oncologist – that anything of substance/recent changes that have occurred (I have also recently completed my quarterly diagnostic scans and am awaiting those results as well) will be discussed; and that’s the point of this column: how frequently, how/when does the patient/survivor know when team members should be present at these appointments?
Editorial: On Voting in the 8th
Vote this week at your convenience in person absentee, or be sure to vote on Tuesday.
Chances are that if you are a registered voter in the 8th Congressional District, your mailbox has been letting you know that many candidates are running in next week’s Democratic primary.