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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

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Carved Pumpkin Creations for Halloween in Centreville

Noel Dickover has been designing and carving Halloween pumpkins for 22 years.

Dog Perishes in Fair Oaks Townhouse Fire

An early-evening fire in a Fair Oaks townhouse displaced one person and took the life of a dog.

Chantilly Man Charged with Killing Father

Believing he stabbed his estranged father to death, Fairfax County police have charged Alexander Bellini, 28, of Chantilly, with murder.

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‘We’re Sort of God’s Emergency Room’ in Fairfax City

The Lamb Center: Providing hope and a future

This year’s fundraiser for The Lamb Center (TLC) was called “Hope and a Future,” and it was aptly named because that’s exactly what this Fairfax City nonprofit provides for its guests.

‘A Diagnosis of Cancer Changes Everything’

Nonprofit Bite Me Cancer Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Led by Chantilly High grad Nikki Ferraro, Bite Me Cancer just celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

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‘Though Things Were Hard, He Persevered’: Memorial Brick Installed to Honor Juwaan Espinal

Juwaan Espinal’s life was cut short at age 22, but he left a lasting impact upon all who knew and loved him.

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Fairfax’s Middleridge Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The Middleridge subdivision off Ox Road in Fairfax celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 27.

‘Families Are in Jeopardy of Losing their Homes’

Hugs, handshakes, traveling, and gathering with friends at large events are just some of the things the current pandemic has stopped.

Safety Kits Help Fairfax City Businesses

To protect the business community and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Fairfax City’s Economic Development Office and Economic Development Authority (EDA), will provide City businesses with Fairfax City ReConnected Safety Kits.

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‘High-Quality Care and Education for Children’ in Fairfax City

Main Street Child Development Center helps both students and parents.

Main Street Child Development Center provides affordable childcare for low-income families in Fairfax City and Fairfax County.

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‘Good Way to Bring the Community Together’: Centreville, Chantilly Celebrate National Night Out

Because of the pandemic, this year’s annual National Night Out celebration was shifted from the first Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday in October.

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Centreville Day Celebration Begins Oct. 17

Variety of events will be both virtual and in-person.

The 28th annual Centreville Day will be different this year, due to COVID-19, but the community may still participate and enjoy some fun activities.

Fairfax City Helps Restaurants Ready for Winter

Fairfax City is launching a Winter Preparedness Initiative Micro-Grant, this Friday, Oct. 9, as part of the Fairfax City ReConnected Outdoors Program.

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‘Stuff You Can’t Find Anywhere Else’ in Fairfax City

99 Ranch Market opens

When 99 Ranch Market, a leading Asian grocery store, recently opened its new store in Fairfax City, the pandemic meant just 50 people were allowed inside at a time.

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Bull Run Post Office Road: ‘That Road Is Narrow and Very Dangerous’

Supervisors OK large-truck ban

Bull Run Old Post Office Road is a winding, two-lane, country road, not intended to carry the heavy traffic an arterial road, such as Route 29, does.

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Honoring Heroes Virtual 5K Challenge Planned

Event to raise money for Wreaths Across America.

Despite the current pandemic, two local Scouting troops will remember the sacrifices of America’s fallen soldiers by raising money to lay wreaths on their graves.

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Centreville and Chantilly Look Toward the Future

Homes and transportation projects are on the horizon.

With an eye toward the future, several land-use and transportation projects are in the works in Centreville and Chantilly.

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‘I’m So Happy, Now That This Is Here’ in Fairfax City

Peachwave Frozen Yogurt opens.

Happily eating his cotton-candy-flavored frozen yogurt topped with blueberries, strawberries and Gummy Bears, Harry Ihnat, 3, was too busy to speak.

‘We Believe We’ll Have a Voice, But We Don’t’ in Centreville

Residents furious about Braddock, Old Lee funding decision.

When VDOT held a Feb. 13 information meeting about safety and operational changes proposed for the Braddock/Old Lee roads intersection in Centreville, five alternatives were presented.

Help Feed Local Families in Need

Britepaths is a well-known, Fairfax-based nonprofit that helps area residents, all year ’round, in a variety of ways.

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‘Old Town Just Feels Like Home’ in Fairfax City

Brooke’s Bridal & Ball opens

Brooke Ramos initially wanted to be a wedding planner.

Erin Peterson Fund Golf Tourney is Sept. 24 in Clifton

Westfield High grad Erin Peterson was an18-year-old honor student, with her whole life ahead of her, when she and 31 others died in the April 16, 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech.

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19 Years Later, Lest We Forget in Centreville

Each Sept. 11, the front lawn of West Centreville Fire Station 38 is adorned with multitudes of small American flags.

‘An Inspiring Leader and Tireless Advocate’ in Sully District

Karen Campblin named Sully District Community Champion.

Fair Oaks resident Karen Campblin has a passion for helping others and improving her community.

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Travel the World in Fairfax City

Upcoming Restaurant Week features global offerings.

While it may look and feel a bit different than usual, Fairfax City’s 3rd annual Restaurant Week still promises to provide fun experiences and delicious food.

From Parking Lot to Activity Space in Fairfax City

City to hold Park(ing) Day outside the mall.

Turning an ordinary parking lot into a space for outdoor fun and activities, Fairfax City will hold its second annual Park(ing) Day, next Friday, Sept. 18.

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‘We Hear Things We Never Want to Hear’ in Sully District

What it’s like being a Fairfax County dispatcher.

In times of crisis, dispatchers are a lifeline between callers needing help and the first responders who can provide it.

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Scout on the Circle Welcomes First Residents in Fairfax City

The new, mixed-use development, Scout on the Circle, has transformed its section of Fairfax Boulevard in Fairfax City.

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‘Every Department’s Designed with the Shopper in Mind’ in Fairfax City

New Giant opens at Scout on the Circle

Giant is already a food store familiar to Fairfax City residents; but now they have one to enjoy at 9400 Fairfax Blvd. in the new Scout on the Circle development. It opened Friday, Aug. 21, much to the delight of the shoppers there.

‘Our Families Need Internet Access Now’

Britepaths helping schoolchildren connect to online classes.

The ongoing pandemic is causing most students in the local area to attend school virtually this fall.

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‘Music-Driven Classes in Fun, Team Environment’ in Fair Lakes

Row House fitness studio opening soon

People looking for a different – and safe – form of exercise may well find it in Row House, a boutique, indoor, rowing fitness studio in Fair Lakes.

‘Commitment to Building Back Stronger than Ever’ in Fairfax City

City awards $10,000 grants to 48 small businesses.

A week after awarding $1 million in grants to help Fairfax City’s small businesses, its Economic Development Authority (EDA) is doing even more.

‘Be Twice as Good, Work Three Times as Hard’

Centreville High grad is now a singer-songwriter in NYC.

When she attended Centreville High, Lexis Yelis was known as Alexis Acar. But as soon as she graduated in 2012, she moved to New York City to pursue her singer-songwriter career.

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Dairy-Box Distribution Helps Local Families

Thanks to the De Lune Corp. of Springfield, last Tuesday, Aug. 18, some 1,400 local families in need received a box of free dairy products.

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‘To Promote the Arts and Provide Scholarships’ in Fairfax City

Spotlight on the Arts Mayor’s Gala is Aug. 29.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s Spotlight on the Arts Mayor’s Gala will have to be virtual.

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Pillar Falls off Fairfax City’s Old Town Hall

Heavy rains rotted one of the building’s wooden columns.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one sees it happen, it may or may not make a sound.

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‘Hard Work and Dedication to the Community’ in Sully District

Kyler Racey named Sully’s Officer of the Quarter

Officer Kyler Racey is the Sully District Police Station’s Officer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2020.

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‘There Are Too Many Unanswered Questions’ in Centreville

Since 1938, Luck Stone Corp. has operated its quarry along Route 29 in Centreville.

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City of Fairfax Theatre Co. Presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Shakespeare in the Park comes to Fairfax City.

Deep in an enchanted forest, four young lovers are brawling over each other’s affections while a troupe of actors prepares for the opportunity of a lifetime.

‘Supporting as Many Businesses as Possible’ in Fairfax City

City awards grants to all eligible applicants.

Fairfax City wants its small businesses to succeed, and it’s showing it in a tangible way by putting its money where its mouth is.

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Fairfax City Offering School Age Child Care

Will help working families, students, while FCPS is online.

While COVID-19 has forced FCPS to offer distance learning until it’s safe to do otherwise, Fairfax City is stepping up to provide working families with a School Age Child Care program for students in grades K-6.

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Centreville Fire Station 17 Paramedic is Honored

Technician Julianne Tomesheski, of Centreville Fire Station 17, C-Shift, has been honored with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Emergency Medical Services Award.

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‘Lock Your Car; Leave No Valuables Inside’ in Sully District

Police warn about scams and thefts from vehicles.

Still holding the meetings of the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) online, due to the pandemic, three of the officers recently updated the community about the latest trends in local crimes.

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‘We Don’t Have a Project Similar to This’ in Fairfax City

Fairfax City Council approves 50 new townhouses.

Courtesy of a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a rezoning, 50 townhouses will eventually be built on the site of a church moving from its current site in Fairfax City.

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Ellie’s Hats Reaches $100,000 Donation Milestone

The money goes to families of children with cancer.

Founded in 2014, Ellie’s Hats makes life a little brighter for children with cancer and their families.

‘To Cripple an Airport, Allow Homes to Encroach’ near Dulles

Debate over residential use under airport flight paths rages on.

Poised to approve the construction of 853 new homes directly underneath Dulles International Airport flight paths, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors finally considered the updated, aircraft-noise contours data for that area.

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‘Don’t Replace Natural Resources with Townhouses’ in Fairfax City

City residents weigh in on Northfax West project.

Before Fairfax City Council last week approved the new plan for Northfax West, nearly two dozen residents called in with comments during the online public hearing.

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‘It’s a Place Where We Can Support Growth’ in Fairfax City

Fairfax approves plan to revitalize Northfax West area.

It’s been years in the making, and last week, the Fairfax City Council greenlit a sweeping proposal to revamp and revitalize the City’s Northfax West area.

Malicious Wounding Charged after Stabbing at Chantilly Church

Fairfax County police have charged a local man with three felonies following the stabbing of an associate pastor, Saturday afternoon, at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly.

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‘An Unmitigated Disaster which Is Entirely Avoidable’ in Chantilly

Plan to build homes under flight path sparks outcry.

Yet another controversial residential project is being proposed for Chantilly’s Westfields area.