Stories for January 2017

Victims of Tribe-For-Rent Scam to Get $15 Million Payout in Settlement Agreement

15,000 Virginia victims get $6 million worth of predatory loans absolved, $9 million in cash awards.

The commercial features images of teepees and a tribal drumbeat. The company billed itself as having ties to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. But Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says that was nothing more than a fraud, a scheme he calls rent-a-tribe.

Submit Photos to Pet Connection

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish the last week of February, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by Feb. 15.

Chief Withholding Name of Officer in Herndon Fatal Shooting

Officer files temporary restraining order for Roessler to not release name.

Fairfax County chief of police Edwin Roessler has yet to release the name of the 16-year veteran officer who fatally shot Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 32, at his Herndon-area home on Jan. 16 this year. On Feb. 7, FCPD said the unnamed officer has filed a temporary restraining order to keep the name from being released.

In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs

Getting to Know Winter Veggies at the Great Falls Farmers Market

The Great Falls Farmers Market has a campaign going to celebrate the winter harvest with a “Veggie Pack” and accompanying recipe – offered at a substantial discount to encourage local families to get to know the local winter crop offerings.

Letter to the Editor: Evil and Selfish

Re: "Protesting Vote Suppression", Letter to the Editor, Jan. 25-31. Congratulations to Nancy Blethen, for her accurate description, concerning the fallacies, of Gerrymandering.

Letter to the Editor: Time to Speak Up

I am writing this letter to applaud area lawyers and to question why the elected representative of this area, Barbara Comstock, has chosen to stay silent in the face of grave threats to our nation.

Reflections on Inauguration Day

So Much Happening, Don’t Blink

Demonstrations at Dulles in reaction to travel ban; fast moving General Assembly lacks transparency; other key issues.

As this date approaches, the General Assembly has a serious transparency issue, as it continues to kill most proposed legislation with unrecorded voice votes in subcommittee, with no accountability or record of how members voted.

Arrest Made in Shooting at Police Car in Great Falls

Suspect first apprehended in Herndon for waiving a gun.

Just before midnight on Jan. 22, several shots were fired at a marked police cruiser from another vehicle in the Great Falls area, Fairfax County police said.

Fairfax: Board Approves 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program

Five-year plan includes three new elementary schools and one new high school.

This year, Fairfax County Public Schools experienced one of the smallest annual enrollment increases in nearly a decade: 1,368 students, compared to the average of 2,400 since the 2008-09 school year, bringing the total to 187,202.

Comstock: Green Card Holders Are Legal Residents

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10) issued the following statement through her Twitter account on Jan. 29:

Anti-Immigration Ban Rallies Held at Dulles

Demonstrators, volunteer attorneys and elected officials welcome travelers, extend help detainees.

Demonstrations sprang up at airports around the United States over the weekend, following an Executive Order by President Donald Trump that blocks travelers from seven largely Muslim countries — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia — in the interests of more significant vetting and preventing would-be terrorists from entering the country.

Tex-Mex Coming Back To Great Falls Center

New Restaurant

Triny’s Tex-Mex Grill at Great Falls Center recently closed, but another will take its place. El Tio Tex-Mex Grill will open its fifth restaurant at the location.

Great Falls: New Monthly Dinner Raises Money And Support For Police Officers

Community News

A group in Great Falls raised over $5,000 for the organization Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) that supports the families of officers who have been killed on the job.

Artists on the Green Display Art at the Great Falls Library

Art exhibit

The exhibit highlights landscape and still life oil paintings that are the artists’ favorites. An opening reception is planned for Feb. 2, 6 - 9 p.m.

Wellbeing Notes

Bipartisan Agreement Forged in House Panel on Reducing Suspended Driver’s Licenses

Republicans work with Cabinet officials to craft changes to let more people keep drivers licenses.

After Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe called on lawmakers to find a way to restore driver's licenses to people charged with crimes that had nothing to do with driving, Republicans responded. Now both sides are crafting a compromise that could end up being a hallmark of the 2017 session.

Nominations Sought for Scholar-Athlete Honors

The National Capital Region Chapter of the National Football Foundation is accepting nominations for their 2017 Scholar-Athlete banquet.

Mental Illness Takes Center Stage in Richmond

Death of Fairfax County inmate among recent controversies prompting action.

The death of a woman who struggled with mental illness at the Fairfax County jail is among the many recent controversies in Virginia correctional facilities, a reform effort that spans from changing how deaths behind bars are investigated to how law-enforcement officers interact with suspects who suffer from mental illness.

In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs

Police Car Takes Fire while in Pursuit in Great Falls

Suspect first apprehended in Herndon for waving a gun.

Just before midnight on Jan. 22, several shots were fired at a marked police cruiser from another vehicle in the Great Falls area, Fairfax County police said.

Party-Line Vote Protects Child Labor at Tobacco Farms in Virginia

Republican-led House panel kills effort to craft new protections for kids in unrecorded vote.

In an unrecorded party-line vote, House Republicans killed a bill that would have cracked down on child labor at tobacco farms in Virginia.

Actor Brings Julia Child to Life for Seniors

Members of the Great Falls Senior Center were transported back in time to the ’60s to witness Julia Child rehearse for her infamous cooking show, “The French Chef.”

New Residential Development Proposed in Great Falls

Developer worked with the community to get approval for nine homes.

Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) and Benjamin Wiles, his staff aide who works on land-use issues, identified some of the developments within the Dranesville District that they will be focusing on over the next couple of months.

Week in Great Falls

The Keller Williams Realty Brokerage in McLean/Great Falls Sets a New Record

The Keller Williams Realty brokerage in McLean/Great Falls has set a new record for sharing its profits with agents.

South Lakes Secures Narrow Win Over Langley for a Second Time

It was a close and exciting game between the South Lakes Seahawks and the Langley Saxons on Thursday night.

Editorial: America in Black & White

Growing up in America in the 1950s and 1960s, many children watched television only in black and white. Some children believed that the world beyond where they could see was only black and white, devoid of color even though their homes, their neighborhoods, their schools, their crayon boxes were filled with colors.

Letter to the Editor: Protesting Vote Suppression

I am fed up with gerrymandering and other tactics politicians use to stack the votes in their favor!

Letter to the Editor: Stopping Gerrymandering in Virginia

As the new legislative year begins in Richmond, I hope more voters will join the effort to stop gerrymandering in Virginia.

Opinion: Counting on Our Reps in Congress

Sound the call to action; resist changes that are against the values and beliefs of most Virginia voters.

While most voters in the United States did not vote for Donald Trump for president, it was all the more so here in Northern Virginia.

Nominations Sought for Scholar-Athlete Honors

The National Capital Region Chapter of the National Football Foundation is accepting nominations for their 2017 Scholar-Athlete banquet.

Fairfax County: Public hearing on yard waste bags follows premature administrative change

North Springfield resident Asher Grady has his leaf collecting down to a science. And with the mature trees around his quarter-acre lot, he needs to. Each fall, he said, he goes through between 60 and 80 bags of leaves, spending between eight and 12 hours to rake and bag them.

Week in Vienna

Community News

What's going on in Vienna?

Vienna: Giving Voice to the Voiceless, Hope to the Helpless

Community volunteers share their work to support animal rescue efforts programs.

Most pet parents embrace their non-human family members as, well, as “family.” While the most common family pets are dogs and cats, there are people who count themselves as custodians of other creatures, from rabbits and snakes to rodents and birds.

Mission: Inauguration

Officer with Vienna, Langley High roots leads inaugural military ceremonial activities.

Brigadier General George M. Degnon, U.S. Air Force, has come along way from his native Vienna and his school days at Langley High School in McLean, but his next mission will play out practically in his old home backyard.

Week in McLean

Community News

What's going on in McLean?

McLean Community Center Seeks Board Candidates

Board seats open

Months before a scheduled 18-month renovation is to begin on its main facility, the McLean Community Center (MCC) is seeking candidates to run for seats on its 2017-2018 Governing Board. The board provides oversight and guidance for MCC programs and facilities, which include the Robert Ames Alden Theatre (The Alden) and The Old Firehouse Center. An agency of Fairfax County Government, the center is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave.

Oakton and Robinson: The Rivalry Ends

The Oakton and Robinson rivalry in Conference 5 continued with the last week’s meet: The Oakton girls lost their one win streak with a 33 point deficit, only scoring 141 points to Robinson’s 174.

An Apology to LGBTQ Community

My community involvement began in 1989 with my opposition to Family Life Education (FLE).

Vienna's Louise Archer Elementary Teams Excel at WordMasters Challenge™

Several teams representing Louise Archer Elementary achieved highest honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge™, a national vocabulary competition.

‘Poema de Andalucía’ at The Alden in McLean on Saturday, Jan. 28

New York City’s Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, one of the nation’s premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies, comes to The Alden at the McLean Community Center (MCC) for a single performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28.

‘Hungry Hearts Tour’ Comes to McLean

American Shakespeare Center’s “Hungry Hearts Tour” performing William Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” “Romeo and Juliet” and Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” at the Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean.

Share: Poverty is Not Seasonal

Donations received during the holidays enabled Share to help more people from Great Falls, McLean, Pimmit Hills and Vienna area than it has ever helped before.

Senate Panel Kills Effort to Allow Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Supporters say they’ll continue to press the issue, citing concerns over safety.

Undocumented immigrants in Virginia will not be getting a driver’s license anytime soon, although advocates for the idea say they will keep pressing lawmakers on the issue.

McLean: Renowned Hip-Hop Artist Challenges President-Elect’s Character

Chuck D speaks at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at the McLean Community Center.

“It is not about Trump,” he said. “This is about a polarized nation … the whole planet is watching every second of what goes down [in Washington, D.C.]. Character is at stake … That’s what’s going on right now.”

Bids for Renovation of McLean Community Center Came in Under Budget

Community News

Bids to renovate the McLean Community Center, which was built in 1975, have been submitted and are lower than anticipated. “The process is pretty straightforward,” says Teresa Lepe, spokesperson for the Building Design and Construction Division of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

McLean’s ‘Meeting Place’

Gov. Terry McAuliffe praises McLean Family Restaurant for ‘the best food in all of America.’

A family-owned restaurant in the Salona Village Shopping Center on Chain Bridge Road has been serving McLean for the last 47 years and has become a meeting place for the area’s high-profile elected officials, including Virginia’s governor.

Exploring Baseball History in Great Falls

A call to young historians: Join ‘The 1890s Baseball Team: "What History Reveals" project.

“The 1890s Baseball Team: What History Reveals,” has allowed me to share all of the skills I’ve acquired from my internship and from my classes in college with individuals who are interested in history too. On Jan. 11, 2017, I gave a presentation explaining how to find and use historical records to discover more about the lives of the players featured in an 1890 photograph of the local Forestville baseball team.

Week in Great Falls

Secret of getting most for your home

Become A Savvy Seller! Will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29, 1-4 p.m. at Keller Williams, 774-A Walker Rd., Great Falls. This free, no obligation seminar, is offered by Lyons McGuire Homes & Estates of Keller Williams Realty.

Online Virginia Lottery Sales? Don't Bet On It

House panel rejects bill that would allow for sale of lottery tickets over the internet.

A coalition of convenience store owners and religious conservatives worked to till an effort from the Virginia Lottery to allow for online gambling, thwarting an effort aimed at increasing sales among millennial gamblers. The bill, introduced by Del. Roxann Robinson (R-27), was defeated with an overwhelming vote by a House General Laws subcommittee Tuesday afternoon.

Obituary: John David (Jack) Trunnell

John David (Jack) Trunnell of McLean, Va. died on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016 after a brief fight with pancreatic cancer. He died peacefully, surrounded by his wife and five sons. He was 65.

Fabric Place Basement Alexandria Grand Opening

Let Horses Play Piano, Too

Horse Riding Lessons Allowed

Great Falls resident Kim Karanik navigated a three-and-a-half-year obstacle course to make riding activities and equestrian lessons more accessible and available to county children.

Lockard Channels Garza, Proposes $2.8 Billion FCPS Budget

FY2018 focuses on employee compensation and classroom resources.

Fairfax County Public Schools interim superintendent Steve Lockard is asking for $130.4 million more for the school system’s FY2018 operating budget than the previous year, a 4.9 percent increase, to a total of $2.8 billion.

Bicycle Advocacy Workshop in Springfield Feb. 4

Are you interested in making Fairfax County more bike-friendly?

Brewery Changes on Tap

Planning drafts zoning amendment.

There is increasing interest in Fairfax County in opening breweries for craft beer that might also serve beer and food.

Senate Panel Approves Crackdown on Internet Lenders in Virginia

Bill would subject unregulated loans to rules that apply to consumer-finance loans.

The Wild West of online lending is about to become a little tamer. That’s because a state Senate panel narrowly approved a bill that would subject internet loans to the same restrictions that currently exist for consumer finance loans, a move that would cramp the anything-goes culture of online loans in Virginia.

Vienna Police Highlights

January 6, 2017

The following summary contains various incidents of general interest as well as vehicular crashes handled by the Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department from Dec. 30, 2016 – Jan. 5, 2017.

Vienna: Viewpoints

What Is Your New Year’s Resolution?

Vienna, what is your 2017 New Year's resolution?

Vienna: ’Dignity Act’ Goes to Richmond

Nonprofit BRAWS brings their case before General Assembly members.

Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters, a 501(c)3 non-profit - led by founder Holly Siebold of Vienna. Siebold and several supporters of BRAWS were there to encourage the state delegates and senators to get behind House Bill 1593, calling for the repeal of taxes on certain feminine hygiene products, as well as toilet paper and adult diapers.

Planning for Summer Camp

Local camp fairs help families navigate the maze of summer camp offerings.

In an effort to confront religious intolerance, a group of local middle school students will attend a camp aimed at bringing together children from different religions and giving them the chance to come together, make new friendships, visit houses of worship, learn about other traditions and practice dialogue to confront Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.

Opioid Treatment Service Jan. 17

Addiction Help

As you are well aware, the heroin and opioid dependency problem is growing across the nation, the Commonwealth, and our community is not being spared. The CSB has adjusted resources to help meet this critical demand for people seeking treatment; a new program begins soon. We need your help spreading the word about it. The CSB is holding an open forum for anyone who is seeking help for a loved one or knows of someone who might need help.

Great Falls Home Sales: December, 2016

In December, 2016, 20 Great Falls homes sold between $2,470,000-$520,000.

Great Falls Home Sales: December, 2016

McLean: Preparing to Prosper in 2017

Q&A: Supervisor John Foust looks into year ahead.

Q & A with Supervisor John Foust: What are you looking forward to in 2017? Do you have any personal New Year's resolutions for yourself, or major milestones you anticipate reaching?

McLean: Comstock Sworn-In To The 115th Congress

Politics

“We live in exciting times for our region, where the innovation economy is constantly evolving and growing. I look forward to working in the new Congress with my colleagues to forge pro-growth policies that will boost the innovation economy even further." – Barbara Comstock

Making McLean Homes Tour, MarketPlace a Success

Community Support

The members of the Woman’s Club of McLean thank those who made their 50th Holiday Homes Tour and MarketPlace a success this year.

McLean Project for the Arts to Open Three New Exhibitions

Emerson Gallery: Construction Work

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) is opening three new exhibitions on Jan. 12, 2017 in the Emerson, Atrium, and Ramp Galleries, located at MPA@MCC (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean). These exhibitions will remain on display from Jan. 12 through March 4, 2017.

‘Hungry Hearts Tour’ Comes To McLean

American Shakespeare Center to present three pays at Alden Theater.

ASC’s “Hungry Hearts Tour” will be coming to the Alden for weekend of three different plays; Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” The Bard’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “Romeo and Juliet.” These plays “speak to everyone; the messages never get old as we focus on the language and its beauty,” said ASC tour manager Thomas Coppola.

Great Falls Grange Revisited

Community groups coming together to take over operations of the historic building.

“Great Falls doesn’t have a gravity point,” says Jorge Adeler, owner of Adeler Jewelers in the Great Falls Village Centre. “It doesn’t have a place that unifies the community … Great Falls never has enjoyed a place that we can call ours.”

Great Falls: Stormwater Management, Sewage Systems Discussed

Speakers Share Sewage Stats

Up to 167 homeowners in Great Falls are on the hook for following a Fairfax County Health Department regulation when it comes to monitoring their septic systems, but many are unaware.

Great Falls: Supper is Served in Support of SEALs

Service

This month’s MAM dinner on Monday, Jan. 8, was at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in the Great Falls Village Centre, where World War II Veteran Howard Jester, 90, was in attendance to support this month’s beneficiary organization: The Navy SEAL Foundation.

Senators to Alexandria: Clean Up Your Act by 2020 or Lose State Funding

Lawmakers poo poo city efforts to flush raw sewage.

Members of the Virginia state Senate say they’re tired of hearing excuses about sewage from city officials in Alexandria, and they’re pushing ahead with a plan that one senator calls “the nuclear option.” This afternoon, the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that sets a firm deadline for Alexandria to clean up its act — 2020. If city officials are unable to stop dumping more than 10 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River every year, Alexandria would lose all state appropriations until the problem is fixed.

Predatory Lenders Work Behind the Scenes to Avoid Regulation and Evade the Law

Campaign contributions and political connections used to sidestep crackdown.

Predatory Loans in the Crossfire: Lawmakers conflicted about how to handle high-interest loans.

Partnering to Reduce Northern Virginia Congestion

Legislators tour past, present and future transportation projects.

The blessing of traffic, Martin Nohe said, is that “there’s lots of great transportation projects to choose from.”

In Session: Briefs

It doesn’t take much rain to trigger Alexandria’s 19th century sewage system to start dumping raw sewage into the Potomac River — about 0.03 inches, to be precise.

New Year, New Order: Organizing an unruly linen closet

If retrieving an item from the top shelf of one’s linen closet sets off an avalanche of mismatched sheets and tattered towels, it might be time for a linen closet reorganization.

Commentary: Republican Repeal Plan Promises Health Care Chaos

Over the course of a normal week, my office receives thousands of letters, emails, phone calls, and tweets from Northern Virginians.

Editorial: About the Connection

Happy New Year. We need your help in 2017.

Tysons Tower to Be Renovated

Construction

Love Funding announced the closing of a $19 million loan that will help preserve and refurbish an affordable senior housing community in Vienna. Love funding is recognized as an expert in market-rate multifamily and affordable housing, healthcare facilities, and hospitals.

Week in Vienna

Located 15 miles outside of Washington D.C., Vienna is a unique town praised for its close community and traditional values.

Fairfax Lawmakers’ Last Call for Input

More than 80 speak at General Assembly public hearing.

“We’re not letting teachers do their jobs,” was the plea from Jo Neuber of Vienna, Co-chair of the organization Class Size Counts.

Organizing a Home Office

Design ideas for workspace order.

Whether located in a basement, spare bedroom or kitchen corner, one of the keys to creating a functional home office is organization.

Rep. Comstock Co-Sponsors Resolution Condemning Anti-Israel UN Vote

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock

“In an act of moral cowardice in the closing days of his administration, President Obama’s ‘reckless abstention’ [to use the words of former DNC Chair and current Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)] at the UN has demonstrated his legacy as the most anti-Israel President in modern history. President Obama took the longtime, bipartisan support for Israel that has been a hallmark of U.S. foreign policy for decades and scrapped it with this short-sighted action last month.

Fairfax: Candidates Forum on Monday, January 9, 2017

Fairfax Fairfax Regional Library from 7 - 9:00 p.m.

The Candidates Forum on Monday will provide an important opportunity for residents to ask questions directly of the candidates about their concerns for the City of Fairfax. The public will also be able to meet individually with the candidates at the end of the question-and-answer session.

McLean Project for the Arts New Exhibitions Opening January 12

Local artists; showcase construction work, sculptures and monoprints

Baltimore artist Mary Walker will exhibit wall-hung constructions that combine imagery and concepts from natural science, mechanics and the landscape. Found objects such as cable, screws, nuts and bolts are combined with painting, referring to the process of building and constructing.

McLean: Flagging Operation on Old Dominion Drive

Road work

A flagging operation will take place on Old Dominion Drive (Route 738) between Balls Hill Road and Van Ness Court Wednesday, Jan. 4 through Wednesday, Jan. 11 in order to replace several pipes and reshape a ditch, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

McLean & Great Falls Real Estate

2016: Best Year in Decade for McLean, Great Falls Market

Sellers in McLean and Great Falls experienced the “best of times” market conditions in 2016.

Chocolate Festival Returns to McLean Community Center

Community Fun

The Rotary Club of McLean is hosting its sixth annual McLean Chocolate Festival at the McLean Community Center on Sunday, Jan. 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chocolate vendors include: Seasons 52, Dave's Candy Kitchen, Fair Trade Winds, Fluffy Thoughts, Sweetbites Café, and more.

McLean: Man Killed in Crash on Lewinsville Road

Car Crash

Chad Cheatham, 33 of McLean, died in a single-car collision on Thursday, Dec. 29.

McLean to Celebrate Dr. King’s Legacy

McLean Community Center Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Chuck D.

On Sunday Jan. 15 the McLean Community Center will celebrate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by observing his birthday, a Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia public holiday.

Local Dancers Celebrate the Holidays with Military, First Responders, and Their Families

Theater

“This year’s tribute performance for military, first responders, and their families was one of my favorite,” shared Cynthia Donavin, who founded Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT) of Northern Virginia over 25 years ago. "I greatly appreciate all patrons and volunteers who help CBT make the arts accessible to all.”

Great Falls Garden Club Honors Reston Police Station

Community

The Great Falls Garden Club delivered 20 holiday tabletop greenery arrangements to show support and appreciation for the Fairfax County police officers at the Reston station.

Week in Great Falls

History Alive at Great Falls Senior Center

The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC) will have Mary Ann Jung, award-winning actress, Smithsonian scholar, writer and director recreate Julia Child, an American chef, author and television personality who brought French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, at the Jan. 17 event.

Great Falls: Holiday Light Contest Results Are In

Holiday Decor

The three winners of the Celebrate Great Falls Foundation’s Holiday Decorating Contest have been selected. Each of the three winners received $200 rewards.

Terrilynn Kelley of Weichert Realtors Great Falls Office Recognized for November

Real Estate

Kelley led her Weichert sales region, which comprises offices throughout Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Orange, Prince William and Warren counties, for new home dollar volume. Invite this talented neighborhood specialist in to learn about the real estate services that Weichert, Realtors has to offer.

For Schools: New Year, New Superintendent

New Year, New Superintendent for FCPS

New School Superintendent

Realistic goals and specific plans among keys to success.

Keeping Resolutions

Legislators To Hold Public Hearing

Editorial: Unsung Heroes of Fairfax County Police Reform

Personal involvement of Culosi, Beltrante key to success of police commission.

The call for reform and transparency in Fairfax County Police began long before the shooting death of John Geer in August 2013.

Commentary: Comstock Addresses Top Priority Issues

Congresswoman’s report to the 10th district residents.