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Alex McVeigh

Stories by Alex

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Great Dogs of Great Falls Offers Variety of Services for Pets

When it came time to choose a second career, Linda Waitkus wasn’t sure what to do. After 30 years of retail experience, including managing the Bloomingdale’s at Tysons Corner, she looked in several directions. But it wasn’t until she went to a meeting of a local women’s club that she got an idea.

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MCC, Park Authority Debate New Sign

Community Center board, Park Authority have mixed feelings about MCC sign.

The McLean Community Center has been working on changing and updating the sign at McLean Central Park, at the corner of Dolley Madison Boulevard and Old Dominion Drive for the past few years. But their plan for a new sign, on property owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority, might not be in keeping with the Park Authority's future plans for the park.

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Group Finds Homes for Abandoned or Displaced Pets

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation hosts weekly adoption events.

Since 2001, volunteers from the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation have gathered every weekend all over the area with one objective: to find homes for dogs and cats in need of rescue. The foundation holds 10 events per weekend, including two at the Petsmart in Tysons Corner.

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Brightview Specifications Presented to GFCA

Land Use and Zoning committee hears information on proposed assisted living facility.

The Great Falls Citizens Association’s Land Use and Zoning committee began hearing information on architectural specifications for the proposed Brightview assisted living facility. The facility, which was approved as a special exception by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last year, will be located off Colvin Run Mill where Thelma’s was previously located.

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RCA Names Citizen of Year

Nick Brown recognized for almost four decades of volunteer work.

When he moved to Reston in 1975, Nick Brown wasted no time getting involved with his community. Thirty-seven years later, he was named the Reston Citizen Association’s Citizen of the Year during a ceremony at the Reston Community Center Monday, Feb. 20.

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Making Their Mark at McLean Project for the Arts

Artist Renee Sandell hosts weekly gatherings during current exhibit.

Artist Renee Sandell is all about making her mark. In fact, she believes most of life is about people making their marks. That’s one of the reasons she has invited the community to participate in her exhibit, "Marking and Mapping: Finding Time, Space and Place," currently on display at the McLean Project for the Arts at the McLean Community Center.

Wolf Recalls Human Rights Crusades

Book tells his experiences with human rights violations around the world.

As a public servant for more than 30 years, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) has had his share of experiences. But it was a trip to Ethiopia in 1984 that he calls a "life changing experience," because it opened his eyes to human rights violations around the globe.

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Langley Comes Up Big for Marshes

Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) recognized Langley community for supporting student through cancer battle.

When Langley High School volleyball player Maureen Marsh began experiencing knee pain her freshman year, doctors told her it was just growing pains. But the pain persisted, and trainers eventually found a small lump on her knee. A bone biopsy on Oct. 15, 2009 confirmed something else: a rare form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma.

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Fashion Walks on the Wild Side at Langley High

Langley High School hosts annual fashion show.

The Langley High School auditorium was transformed into a scene from "The Jungle Book" Saturday night, as they hosted their annual fashion show, "Walk Into the Wild." Students, faculty and families strode on the runway showing the latest in jungle-themed fashions.

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Forum Examines Teen Dating Violence

Program addresses role of students, parents, bystanders.

Teenagers are often given statistics and lectures about what constitutes dating abuse, but the Feb. 9 program "What’s Love Got to do With it: Healthy Relationships and Dating" at McLean High School addressed the problem from a number of different angles.

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Students Conduct Kitchen Experiments

Village Green Day School hosts annual science fair.

Students at the Village Green Day School presented their annual Science Fair Friday, Feb. 10. The pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students spent the last few weeks experimenting and discovering what science their kitchens offer.

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Romney Addresses Technology Council

Presidential hopeful speaks on importance of innovation.

The Northern Virginia Technology Council welcomed Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney Friday, Feb. 10 at the Hyatt Regency Reston. The former Massachusetts governor spoke about his experiences in the world of business and the importance of allowing innovation to flourish.

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Center Seeks Donated Dresses

RCC collects for annual Diva Central dress drive.

The Reston Community Center is collecting gently used formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags and other accessories for students who would otherwise be unable to afford prom attire as part of their annual Diva Central dress drive.

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County Opens Proposal Process for Crescent Apartments

Requests for proposals are aimed to enhance affordable housing, aid in Lake Anne revitalization.

Fairfax County has started exploring opportunities to redevelop the Crescent Apartments, a 181-unit complex located just northeast of Lake Anne. The county began accepting Requests for Proposals Feb. 9.

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UPS Store Helps With Costs of Learning

Store presents $10,000 worth of books to local schools and learning centers.

There were piles of extra packages around the UPS Store in the South Lakes Village Center Friday, Feb. 10. The stacked white boxes weren’t being shipped around the country, instead they were filled with books destined for local learning centers.

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Best of Reston Named

Reston Interfaith, Chamber name annual award winners.

Four individuals and four organizations were named Best of Reston for 2012 at Google’s Reston headquarters Thursday. Feb. 2. The annual awards, which are awarded to those who serve their community, will be given at the 21st Best of Reston Awards April 12.

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Great Falls Seniors Group Seeks Input

Group looks for feedback from seniors with needs, interested volunteers.

The Great Falls Citizens Association’s Seniors Group is seeking input from the community’s senior population, as well as those who might be interested in volunteering to provide services to seniors. The group, which hosted a town hall meeting last year, hopes to work with community organizations such as the Great Falls Ecumenical Council, Share, Inc and other nonprofits.

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Extra Space Breaks Ground in Downtown McLean

Personal storage facility will be in office-like building, will contribute to downtown revitalization.

Fairfax County officials joined with members of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, the McLean Planning Committee and the McLean Revitalization Corporation to break ground on a new personal storage facility Wednesday, Feb. 1.

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Great Falls Plans for Future of Resources

Grange, Forestville Schoolhouse, Riverbend Park to be discussed at meetings this month.

As Great Falls prepares for its future, two meetings this month will help the community decide what the next generation holds for several major landmarks.

SCC to Host Dating Violence Forum

Event will examine teen dating violence from multiple angles.

The McLean-based Safe Community Coalition, which primarily serves the students in the Langley and McLean High School pyramids, will host a forum which will examine the issue of teen dating violence from a number of angles. The event, titled "What’s Love Got to do With it?: Healthy Relationships and Dating," will take place at McLean High School Feb. 9.

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Searching the Night Sky in Great Falls

Observatory Park hosts weekly viewings.

The winter skies are clear for the viewing at Observatory Park in Great Falls. Every Friday night through April 15 the park will host a viewing from 7 to 9:30 p.m. where prospective astronomers can bring their equipment to examine the night sky.

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Colvin Run Uses Service Learning

Volunteers package more than 25,000 meals at Stop Hunger Now event.

Colvin Run Elementary School Principal Stephen Hockett thought everything was all set for the school’s Stop Hunger Now event Saturday. Friday evening he was putting the finishing touches on the setup in the gym when the alert came out: Fairfax County Public Schools were closed Saturday.

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Langley Presents One Acts

Students direct, write 10 one act plays.

Students at Langley High School presented their annual One Act Plays Friday and Saturday, giving the students a chance to not only act, but write and direct the performances as well.

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Neighbors Engage in Crime Prevention

GFCA hosts forum for homeowners, police.

The Great Falls Citizens Association and the Fairfax County Police Department spoke with homeowners associations around the community Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Great Falls Library in an effort to improve communications between residents and the police, as well as discuss the idea of neighborhood watches.

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Panel Addresses College Drinking

Unified Prevention Coalition hosts event at McLean High School.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County and the McLean High School PTSA presented "Perils of the College Drinking Culture" Wednesday, Jan. 11. The program featured a panel of speakers who discussed the health and legal consequences of underage and binge drinking, as well as a short film.

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Great Falls Looks Ahead to 2012

Great Falls Looks Ahead to 2012

Last year saw progress on several issues around Great Falls, issues that will affect residents for generations to come.

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Fire Station Holds Onto History

Firefighters repair historic bell in front of station.

For more than 50 years, the original Great Falls fire station housed the men and women of the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department.

Great Falls Honors Those Who Serve

Freedom Memorial hosts annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

Langley senior Matthew Goudreau knows all about being in a military family. His mother was in the Navy and his brother is currently serving in the Marines on the USS Enterprise. So when the Thomas a Beckett Youth Choir and Ensemble, of which Goudreau is a member, was asked to perform at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial for Memorial Day, he was more than willing.

Swimmers Take to Lake Audubon

Reston Masters Swim Team hosts 24th annual lake swim.

For 24 years, the Reston Masters Swim Team has hosted a lake swim Memorial Day weekend, 22 of them taking place at Lake Audubon. The event is one of the only times each year that swimming is allowed in the lake. Shirley Loftus-Charley has participated in every one of those swims, dating back to her time living in Reston. Despite her decades of experience, this year was a first for her.

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