Thursday, October 27
Fairfax County: Breaking Down the Bonds
County seeks authorization to finance transportation and parks projects, and human services and community development facilities
Fairfax County will try to make the most of voters’ time on election day Nov. 8, having them weigh in not only on the Presidential and Congressional elections, but also proposed Constitutional amendments, a referendum and bond questions.
Fairfax County: Garza FCPS Departure Impacts Stuart Name Change Working Group
Responding to a student-led group petitioning to change the name of J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, the Fairfax County Public Schools board voted over the summer to create a working group that would consider the community concerns and look into the logistics of a potential name change.
Week in McLean
Shepherd’s Center Needs Volunteers to Help Area Seniors
Shepherd’s Center Needs Volunteers to Help Area Seniors
Wednesday, October 26
Great Falls Cycle Studio and Dylan Kurtz Pedal for Paws
Today he has problems with his mobility and pain that at one time consumed him. It wasn’t until he joined his wife, Donna, in her volunteer work with paws4people, that he realized how assistance dogs were changing lives.
Searching for Man or Woman of the Year
Katie Simmons Hickey of Great Falls is looking for candidates to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Katie Simmons Hickey is Women of the Year in Great Falls.
Leadership vs Rhetoric
Letter to the Editor
Congresswoman Comstock worked across party lines to pass a 5-year transportation bill—the first of its kind in 10 years—which brings $6.2 billion to the Commonwealth. She also supported bipartisan bills to replace No Child Left Behind, provide resources to combat the heroin epidemic, and bolster our national security.
Experience to Get Things Done
Letter to the Editor
If not for Comstock and her allies in Congress, we would have lost the $150 million federal share of Metro funding. Federal employees would have been targeted for pay freezes, attrition, and unjust terminations.
Classified Advertising October 26, 2016
Read the latest ads here!
Tuesday, October 25
Race Tightens in Heated 10th District
Comstock, Bennett crisscross Northern Virginia in all-out effort to reach key voters.
In the final, frantic days of the one of the most unpredictable and unprecedented elections in modern history, both candidates spent the blustery fall weekend crisscrossing the sprawling, diverse 10th district - meeting residents, rallying volunteers and campaigning hard for voters’ support.
Bulova: Vote Yes
A legally binding commitment 70 percent would go to Fairfax County Public Schools.
I was elected chairman in 2009, just as the Great Recession settled over this country like a stubborn storm cloud. The market value of property in Fairfax County plummeted, resulting in historic reductions in both residential and commercial tax revenues. At the same time, more people than ever turned to the county for assistance. Former County Executive Tony Griffin’s prediction, in the throes of the Recession years, that “this will be our new normal” has proven prescient.
Monday, October 24
The Arc of Northern Virginia Stages Motown Experience Gala
250 guests wine and dine to Motown hits while supporting people with disabilities.
About 250 guests attended the Arc of Northern Virginia's Motown Experience Gala on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner. With the goal of raising between $115,000 to $200,000, the event included a silent auction, live auction and special outreach appeal.
The Arc of Northern Virginia Stages Motown Experience Gala
250 guests wine and dine to Motown hits while supporting people with disabilities.
About 250 guests attended the Arc of Northern Virginia's Motown Experience Gala on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner. With the goal of raising between $115,000 to $200,000, the event included a silent auction, live auction and special outreach appeal.
Friday, October 21
Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness Supports Meals Tax
After careful consideration, the Fairfax – Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has decided to fully support the proposed 4 percent Fairfax County Meals Tax.
American Elections: French Perspective
I am a French student who chose to come to study close to Washington DC for what I thought would be one of the most interesting elections in the history of Uncle Sam’s country.
Column: No to the Meals Tax
A food tax is not a silver bullet.
I have been opposed to the meals tax from the start, but what has concerned me most over the last several months has been the tactics used to try to convince our residents to vote for it and the county’s failure to deal with its spending problems. I would like to offer some clarity on these points and why I am against the meals tax.
Vote Yes: Immigrant Families Rely on Schools for More Than Education
Fairfax County Public Schools are more than just a place to learn. Growing up in Burke, I saw firsthand how our schools created a sense of community and neighborhood camaraderie. Schools are where we could go to borrow a book, where we could watch and play sports, and where we could perform a play or listen to a concert.
Column: Yes to the Meals Tax
Reduces dependence on property tax.
As a businessman here in Fairfax and a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, I write on behalf of a coalition of thousands of homeowners, parents, teachers, firefighters, police, friends and users of our libraries and our parks and recreation facilities, and those who belong to churches and non-profit organizations working to ensure that Fairfax County also protects those in need [www.yesmealstax.org].
Letter: Supporting Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
I’m writing to encourage Fairfax County voters to support the county meals tax referendum on the ballot in November.
Letter: Meals Tax: A Better Option
Letter to the Editor
After reviewing Fairfax County’s proposed 4-percent meals tax, the Class Size Counts (CSC) board voted to support the Nov. 8 referendum because it decided that it would be better to raise money for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through a tax on prepared foods rather than through additional increases to County property taxes.
Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.
Thursday, October 20
Fairfax County: Room to Improve for Fairfax County Public Schools on SAT
Scores above Virginia, national Levels, but achievement gap remains
On average, Fairfax County Public High Schools performed better on the SAT college placement exam in 2016 than the Commonwealth of Virginia overall average.
Wednesday, October 19
Brightview Great Falls, Madeira School Partner for Off-Campus Internships
Brightview Great Falls, a popular senior living community in Great Falls, is partnering with The Madeira School, an all-girls day and boarding school in McLean. Volunteers from the tenth grade will experience a variety of roles and job responsibilities at the community during the fall and spring semesters in what is known at Madeira as Sophomore Co-Curriculum.
Great Falls Letter: Time to Make Hard Choices
Letter to the Editor
I grew up in Los Angeles, lived in Chicago and also New York. In each of these cities, there were always a myriad of new taxes and fees proposed with the promise of the resultant funds going to good causes - mostly schools.
Great Falls Letter: Taking Us for Granted
Letter to the Editor
Now that Barbara Comstock has belatedly Dumped Trump it is time to move on to another important issue. In reading her most recent newsletter, I noted that Comstock did not seem to have an office in Fairfax County.
Great Falls: Horses Need No Cajoling to Stay on Land
About 58 acres of scenic vista just north of the Great Falls Village Center will be preserved for the next eight years at 9809 Arnon Chapel Road. “It represents one of the last large intact portions of former farmland that once characterized the area and is home to a well-loved horse boarding and riding facility, Stone Ridge Farm,” said Dranesville District Planning Commissioner John Ulfelder.
Great Falls: Christmas Trees Cut Only for Taxes
Dranesville Planning Commissioner John Ulfelder described the enjoyment a 22.13-acre contiguous parcel of land at 910 Utterback Store Road gives Great Falls.
Supervisors Debate Meal Tax in Great Falls
Foust, Herrity present pro & cons of the proposed tax; Great Falls residents join debate.
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Great Falls Citizens Association hosted debates on two major ballot issues: the proposed Virginia Constitutional Amendment on “Right to Work” and the Fairfax County Meals Tax, a referendum which will be on the November 8 election ballot. The Meals Tax is a tax imposed on the purchase of all prepared or ready-to-eat foods and beverages. It would require all restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, movie theater concessions, and any other food service businesses selling prepared food to collect the tax, at a proposed 4 percent rate of the amount charged for the food.
Great Falls: Seminar for Aspiring Eagle Scouts
On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Powhatan Scout District held its Fall "Life to Eagle" Seminar for aspiring Eagle scouts. The two-hour briefing detailed the requirements for mounting an Eagle Scout service project and for the application that scouts must file afterwards to reach Eagle rank. Pictured: Eagle Scout Greg Gersony, Troop 673 (Great Falls) fields a question on his 2015 Eagle project, a safety and recreation trail in Riverbend Park, together with Herndon Eagle Scouts Michael George (Troop 1570) and Matthew Lawley (Troop 157).
Great Falls Studios Welcome Community
Some 59 artists open their homes and studios to 500 visitors over weekend.
About 500 visitors and 59 artists took part in the 13th annual Great Falls Studios 2016 Art Tour last weekend, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 14-16, in Great Falls.
McLean, Great Falls Letter: Korean American Community Supports Comstock
Letter to the Editor
Congresswoman Barbara Comstock continues to earn the support of Northern Virginia’s Korean American community by consistently championing issues important to us.
Langley Marching Saxons Win US Bands Marine Corps Invitational
Langley Marching Saxons won first place at the US Bands Marine Corps Invitational in Annapolis, Md. on Oct. 1. The band had a great performance in its only third competition in the history of the Langley High marching band.
Friday, October 14
Free Halloween Car Rides Offered in Area
As a means of making the Washington-metropolitan area’s roadways a little less frightening this Halloween, free cab rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 29.
Oak Hill Remodeled Home Tour Set for Nov. 5
Gourmet kitchen, spa master bath among spotlight features in makeover.
A circa 1980's center hall Colonial enhanced by a gourmet kitchen, a spacious spa bath and a lower-level guest suite will be featured in a “Remodeled Home Tour” sponsored by Sun Design Remodeling on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Showcase Home Offers Design Inspiration
DC Design House was transformed by local designers to raise money for charity.
Those in search of interior design ideas now have a source of new inspirations, at least temporarily. The 2016 DC Design House is now open to the public and runs through Oct. 30.
Great Falls: Collecting ‘Bikes for the World’
On October 1, more than 20 Boy Scouts, adult leaders, and family members from Great Falls’ Troop 55, chartered by St. Francis Episcopal Church, worked with non-profit organization “Bikes for The World” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect and prepare 51 used bicycles for Central America.
Great Falls Letter: Standing with the Victims of Terrorism
Letter to the Editor
In a rare moment of broad bipartisan cooperation, Congress came together to pass the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.
Great Falls: Global Change Maker
Mireya Mayor of Great Falls receives Fulbright’s Global Changemaker Award.
Deep within the luscious, natural green abyss of Guyana’s rainforests stood a young explorer, eating rice and beans with a small group of locals.
Great Falls Studios 2016 Art Tour, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 14-16
The Great Falls Studios 2016 Art Tour, a self-guided driving tour to the creative spaces of artists working in Great Falls, “happens” on Friday, Oct. 14, Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct 16. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day: 58 artists are participating in 20 home-based or group studios and galleries. Step inside their creative spaces.
The Trump Question? Asked and Answered
Comstock and Bennett trade jabs during first debate in race for 10th Congressional seat.
At the first of two 10th Congressional District debates on Thursday, Oct. 6, Democratic challenger LuAnn Bennett was not shy about hanging the Trump albatross around the neck of freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock.
Paws4People Night at Mookie’s BBQ
Mookie's BBQ owner Brian Varani was influenced by 12-year-old Dylan Kurtz to host a Paws4People day. Mr. Varani's wife Megan said, "Dylan’s spirit of giving was contagious and a great reminder that no matter how busy and hectic life might get, you should always make time to give back."
Great Falls Home Sales: September, 2016
In September, 2016, 18 Great Falls homes sold between $2,065,000-$475,000.
Great Falls Home Sales: September, 2016
Fairfax County: Lockard Named Interim Superintendent
Dr. Steven Lockard will take over for Dr. Karen Garza as Fairfax County Schools superintendent for the interim period while the School Board searches for her replacement.
Wednesday, October 12
Classified Advertising October 12, 2016
Read the latest ads here!
Friday, October 7
From the Beginning to the End
982 participants signed up for 2016 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) opened Sept. 10 and ran through Sept. 21 with another record registration of 918 participants.
Park Authority Offers 50+ Web Portal
The Fairfax County Park Authority has launched a website specifically for residents age 50 or older.
Seminars on Downsizing
The Retiree Real Estate Education Association announces free public service seminars for October on Decluttering, Aging in Place, and Downsizing, given at McLean, Falls Church, and Marshall High schools. These are part of a series of eight free seminars on real estate issues unique to retirees.
Debating Pro & Con on Meals Tax
League of Women Voters hosts forum on Meals Tax issue.
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area sponsored a debate-style panel discussion on the Meals Tax issue which will go before county voters in the Nov. 8 General Election.
Fall Driving: Be Alert for Deer
Autumn is approaching and white-tailed deer will be on the move. Fall is the breeding season for deer.
Bike Sharing Stations Open up Transportation Options
Capital Bikeshare expands to Reston, Tysons area.
Near the corner of Union Street and Prince Street in Old Town, Alexandria, there is a row of red Capital Bikeshare bikes for commuters, tourists and locals to rent, to offer biking as a transportation option without the hassle of congestion or parking that plagues the area.
Interfaith Partners for Justice Address Needs of Returning Citizens
Interfaith Partners for Justice (IPJ), a cooperative effort of members of ten Northern Virginia faith communities, invites returning citizens (ex-offenders), people of faith and justice advocates to come together for a come-when-you-can afternoon of opportunities for voter registration and photo IDs, as well as a series of workshops, advocacy tables and conversations on the needs of returning citizens (often less hopefully and permanently called “ex-offenders”) on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, 2 to 5 p.m. at Lake Anne Community Center, 1609 A Washington Plaza in Reston.
Thursday, October 6
Editorial: Voting Never Mattered More
Consider voting absentee in person since more than 500,000 other voters are likely to turnout on Election Day.
With more than 655,000 active voters in Fairfax County, and as many as 500,000 voters turning out on Election Day, it’s a good time to consider voting early, and preparing for a longer-than-usual process if voting on Election Day.
Fairfax County: Meals Tax Statement Debated During Joint Budget Meeting
Text prepared by Board of Supervisors and FCPS board chairs.
There continues to be division, at least among several members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board, on whether voters should approve a referendum allowing the government to levy up to a four percent additional tax on prepared foods and beverages at restaurants, as well as ready-to-eat foods from grocery and convenience stores.
Fairfax County Public Schools Beat Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate
The Virginia Department of Education has released graduation rates for school systems around the Commonwealth. Fairfax County Public Schools had 92.3 percent of its 2016 class graduate on time, compared with the state average 91.3 percent.
Senior Living: Planning for Multigenerational Living
Making room for older family members.
Planning for multigenerational living has been on the rise in recent years. With life expectancies increasing and early baby boomers entering their golden years, this trend is expected to continue. As with any remodeling project, there are a number of factors to consider when planning a renovation for a growing household.
Senior Living: Regaining Mobility
Local orthopedic surgeons offer keys for successful joint replacement surgery.
Tired of the limited mobility and pain that have thwarted her love of foreign travel and fall hiking, Lynda S. Johnson, 72, scheduled a knee replacement surgery for later this month. She chose a doctor, found a pet sitter to watch her Cairn terrier, and enlisted her sister to live with her while she recovers. “I had been debating for months about whether to have it,” she said. “I was in so much pain, though, that I don’t really think I have anything to lose.”
Medicare Open Enrollment Nears
Tips to help Medicare beneficiaries get ready.
Medicare beneficiaries preparing for open enrollment this month may want to consider their current health needs and the many preventive services covered by Medicare.
Senior Living: Life at Vinson Hall — Living the Difference
Mary DeMaris is headed down on the elevator at Vinson Hall with her black case of art supplies, an artist headed to a still life class out of the building. “There is a club here for everything — poetry, art, choral group, photography, book, gardening,” she said.
Wednesday, October 5
Vienna, McLean, Great Falls: Electric Bike Expo at Tysons Corner Center Offers Safety Presentation
The national traveling experiential demo tour for electric pedal assist Bikes is coming to the Tysons Corner Center next weekend and will offer attendees an opportunity to test ride more than 100 different electric bikes models from a dozen leading brands.
McLean, Great Falls Real Estate: Enjoy ‘Best of Times’ in Decade
The McLean and Great Falls real estate market has experienced a robust number of sales in the 1st three quarters of 2016. The number of transactions is up 9 percent over 2015 same time frame.
McLean, Great Falls Letter: Voting for National Security
Letter to the Editor
As a West Point graduate, I learned long ago that strength is a key deterrent to any potential enemy. Given McLean's proximity to Washington and remembering very well the chaos of 9/11, national security is something that is always in the forefront of my mind. Terrorists and radical regimes seemingly want nothing more than to destroy our way of life, and Washington is a prime target for terrorists and state actors alike.
McLean, Great Falls Letter: Standing Up for Seniors
Letter to the Editor
Barbara Comstock has a proven record of fighting for the 10th District’s senior citizens and deserves the opportunity to keep working for us in Congress. Like she does on all issues, Barbara has set aside partisanship in favor of producing results. Her record speaks for itself.
McLean, Great Falls: Leading Voice Against Human Trafficking
Letter to the Editor
The horrors of human trafficking are an unfortunate reality for our community. Fortunately, we have a Congresswoman who is leading on this important issue. Barbara Comstock has fought against human trafficking since her time in the state legislature and will continue to do so as our representative in Congress.
McLean, Great Falls Letter: Championing Student Debt Relief
Letter to the Editor
Barbara Comstock has made student debt relief a major priority during her first term in Congress, and that’s why she’s earned my vote for re-election in November.
Great Falls Rallies Behind David Kim
Community responds to owner of Kim's Tailoring who had quadruple bypass surgery.
David Deuk Kim, 59, of Kim's Tailoring started to get chest pains on Aug. 23, 2016. He had been very healthy up to that point, having medical checkups every two years that came up fine. Longevity had run in his family -- his father lived to be 92; two uncles lived to be 94 and 93 -- so he didn't think there was a problem. The only warning was that his cholesterol was 140.
Great Falls Letter: Cutting Costs Instead of Raising Taxes
Letter to the Editor
I am writing in response to the MCA’s recent decision to support the Meal’s Tax referendum and similar measures across Fairfax County.
Dreams Come True in Great Falls
Havana Vintage celebrates 5 years in business.
While the weather was gloomy and dim this past Saturday, the doors to Havana Vintage Boutique were wide open and inside was anything but gloom. Cheerfully colored walls, luminous chandeliers, and the friendly faces of owner Nolkis Roman and her family greeted customers as they walked into the high-end consignment store to celebrate their five years in business.
Dee Leggett Exhibits at Great Falls Library
“Shapes and Colors of our Southwest National Parks" is an exhibit of photography capturing shapes and colors of the National Parks and Monuments in Arizona and Utah taken during Great Falls photographer and author Dee Leggett’s tour to the area with her husband in May.