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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

Fairfax: Firearms Training Center Is Moving Forward

Will give local police a more modern firing range.

The current firearms training center for the City’s Police Department was built in 1985 of cinderblock and wood. It has six firing lanes, a small classroom, a weapons-cleaning area and a office that doubles as an armory.

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Chantilly: ‘A Great Addition to Our Community’

New townhouse development is coming to Chantilly.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors put out the welcome mat last week for a rezoning that’ll bring two dozen new townhouses to Chantilly. The community will be at Elmwood and Vernon streets and will be called Rockland Village Green.

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Centreville: Infusion of Cash for I-66/Route 28 Improvements

Agency allocates $300 million for I-66/Route 28.

Good news for drivers who take the I-66/Route 28 exits and entrances in Centreville — and in this area, that’s pretty much everyone. A fix for the congestion, especially during rush hours, just took a giant step toward becoming a reality.

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Fairfax: Students Win Silver Medals at Nationals

They participated in an FCCLA competition in California.

When local students Christian Heiche, Chloe Kim and Laura Stravach flew home from California recently, they did so with something new around their necks – silver medals.

A Tale of Drug-Dealing, Money and Murder

On March 15, 2001, Centreville High grad Danny Petrole, 21, was shot and killed outside his Bristow townhouse. The crime involved drug-dealing and money, and the shooter – Chantilly High grad Owen Barber IV, 21, who pleaded guilty in court – received 38 years in prison.

Wolfe Sentenced to 41 Years in Prison

Convicted of the March 2001 murder of Danny Petrole.

Except for the prosecutors, no one involved in Justin Wolfe’s murder sentencing last week left the courtroom happy. The victim’s family still grieves a son, Wolfe’s family continues to have a hole in it and Wolfe, himself, has decades more to serve in prison.

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WFCM Seeks Community’s Help Providing Backpacks

Hoping to furnish them for 2,000 local schoolchildren.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is once more collecting new backpacks for local students in need. It hopes to provide nearly 2,000 backpacks for qualified, low- income children attending 23 different schools in the Centreville, Chantilly and Westfield high school pyramids, plus Mountain View High.

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Fairfax City: Two Residents Honored with Mayor’s Awards

Fairfax City Mayor Scott Silverthorne honored two residents last week with special Mayor’s Awards.

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Fairfax City: Cops and Kids Having Fun

City of Fairfax police held their second annual Cops and Kids Day, on July 13. Children learned safety lessons, saw SWAT team, K-9 and motorcycle-riding demonstrations and enjoyed popcorn and ice cream.

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Chantilly: Pirates and Mermaids and Parrots, Oh, My!

Chantilly High presents funny and swashbuckling children’s play.

An 8-year-old boy’s pirate adventures on the high seas will elicit laughter in Chantilly High’s children’s show, “Pirates! Theodore Thud and the Quest for Weird Beard.”

Chantilly: Jason Deal Selected as Officer of Month

Each month, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Sully District Police Station honors one of the station’s officers for his or her outstanding service to the police and to the community. And Officer Jason Deal was selected as Officer of the Month for May.

‘76 Trombones Led the Big Parade’

Centreville resident has a leading role in “The Music Man.”

When fast-talking Harold Hill comes to River City, Iowa with a grand plan to create the finest band in America, the townspeople are thrilled. But straight-laced librarian Marian Paroo thinks it’s all just a scam.

Fairfax City: Paul VI Theater Director Katherine Miller ‘graduates.’

After 13 years at Paul VI High, Theater Director Katherine Miller is retiring – but don’t tell her that. “I’m not retiring,” she said, “I’m graduating.”

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Making History Come to Life

For Andrew Dilworth, Rocky Run’s “iWitness to History Day” came full circle. “I went to this program as a student here,” he said. “I’m a substitute teacher at Rocky Run this year and I was hired full-time as an eighth-grade civics teacher for the coming year.”

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Rocky Run Presents iWitness to History

Learning about the past from those who lived it.

Before Rocky Run Middle seventh-graders headed off for summer, they traveled back to the past via their school’s “World War II Oral History Day.” And this year’s event, the 15th annual, even had a new name, “iWitness to History Day.”

‘You’re the One that I Want’

Westfield Summer Stage presents the musical, “Grease.”

Break out the black leather jackets and poodle skirts — Westfield Summer Stage is presenting the musical, “Grease.” It features a cast and crew of more than 80 students from middle and high schools across the county, including Westfield, Centreville, Chantilly and Fairfax high schools.

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Fairfax City: Mayor Pledges Smart Growth, Greater Transparency

Mayor, City Council, School Board members sworn in.

A Safe Place To Buy and Sell

Sully District Police Station now has an Exchange Zone.

Purchases made online can sometimes be a dicey proposition. When it comes time to meet an unknown buyer or seller to exchange an item for money, it’s best to do so in a safe environment.

Helping People in Crisis

Police learn to de-escalate situations.

Mental illness is a bigger problem in the U.S. than most people realize, and police come in contact with many people suffering from some form of it.

Three Generations of Fairfax High School Grads

When Claire Higginbotham graduated June 15 from Fairfax High, she became the third generation in her family to graduate from that school.

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Fairfax: Giving Thanks for One More Miracle

Anonymous couple pays off the Lamb Center’s mortgage.

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The Lamb Center Celebrates Its New Fairfax Home

It took hard work, hope, planning, fundraising, faith and dedication; but at long last, the Lamb Center is in its new home.

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Fairfax City: Celebrating Half a Century of July 4 Festivities

Fairfax Fourth of July features parade, music, superheroes and fireworks.

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Mountain View Honors Students

Three seniors recognized during graduation ceremony.

During Mountain View’s spring commencement last week, three graduating seniors were honored with special awards from the faculty.

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Mountain View: ‘Struggle Develops Your Strength’

Mountain View grads share stories of perseverance.

Mountain View High is a school full of heart, and it’s openly on display at every graduation.

Fairfax: Uniting for a Good Cause

Community comes together to pack meals for hungry, local children.

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Fairfax: ‘Find Your Own Meaning’

More than 600 students graduate from Fairfax High.

Drinkwater, Pelegrin Honored

Sully names Officers of Month.

The Sully District Police Station and its Citizens Advisory Committee have recognized two Officers of the Month for April. They are Sgt. Justin Drinkwater and Auxiliary Officer Antonio Pelegrin.

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Helping Students onto a Better Path in Life

Mountain View celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Mountain View is a small high school, but the impact it’s had upon its students’ lives has been huge. And last Friday, June 17, it marked two decades of existence and achievement.

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Chantilly: ‘Caring, Creative, Fun, Kind and Inspiring’

Monk’s students explain his impact upon them.

Chantilly High’s Ed Monk is one of the most popular and effective theater teachers/directors around. And some of his seniors recently shared their thoughts about him.

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End of an Era at Chantilly High

Theater Director Ed Monk is retiring.

It’s the end of an era; Chantilly High Theater Director Ed Monk is retiring. He’s bringing down the curtain on his career here after 31 years with Fairfax County Public Schools — 26 of them at Chantilly.

Fairfax City: Greenfield Declared Winner in Historic Vote Recount

City Council race is finally decided.

Apartment Fire Kills Beloved Fairfax Resident

Community mourns Bill Patton, 74.

Fairfax City Council Race Ends up in Court

Judges order a recount to determine winners.

Fairfax’s First Fido Fest

City of Fairfax celebrates man's best friend

Chantilly High is Ready to Take the Stage

Chantilly High’s 30th annual Jazz & Pizzazz is this week.

Every year, Chantilly High’s springtime extravaganza, Jazz & Pizzazz, is a special event filled with singing, dancing and music. And the 2016 show promises to be another one to remember because it’s the school’s 30th annual.

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Broadway Tunes Comes to Centreville’s Stage

Annual, summer choral concert this week.

Come one, come all to the Centreville High Choral Department’s annual “Broadway Pops” concert. It’s this Thursday-Friday, June 9-10, at 7:30 p.m., in the school’s Skip A. Maiden Theatre. Admission is free.

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Fairfax City: In Gratitude and Remembrance

Memorial Day ceremony at Fairfax City Hall honors America’s veterans.

Fairfax: Looking Forward to the Cappies Gala

Fairfax, Paul VI theater directors are proud of their students.

Sully District: Tessema Named Officer of the Month

Police Officer Robel Tessema has been recognized as the Officer of the Month for March.

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Centreville: ‘I’m Doing OK; No One’s Hurt’

Two-alarm, Centreville house fire does $82,810 damage.

A two-alarm house fire in Centreville last week displaced a family of three and caused nearly $83,000 damage, according to fire officials.

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Centreville: Local Group Brings History to Life

Bull Run Civil War Round Table celebrates 25th anniversary.

The Bull Run Civil War Round Table invites the public to a special program to help celebrate its 25th anniversary on Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m., at the Centreville Regional Library.

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Relay For Life to Help Find Cure for Cancer

Local Relay For Life event is June 11.

On the surface, walking around a track over and over may not seem too productive. But when done during the Relay for Life, it can make a world of difference to people battling cancer.

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Ninth Annual Reema Remembrance Cabaret Set for June 4

Providing entertainment and raising funds for students' in need.

Singing, dancing, comedy sketches, a silent auction, food and fun will take center stage when Westfield High and Angel Fund host a free event celebrating life and community through the arts. It’s slated for Saturday, June 4, in the Westfield auditorium, 4700 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.

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Fairfax: Earth Day Artists Shine

The annual Earth Day Art Show was held April 27 in the City Hall atrium.

Fairfax: Cappie Nominations are Announced

Fairfax High gets 18 and Paul VI, 4.

The 2915-2016 Cappie nominations for high school theater were released Monday, with Fairfax High receiving 18 nods and Paul VI High, 4.

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‘The Chance to Be Like Other Teens’

Students attend Day Prom at The Waterford in Fair Oaks.

At last week’s prom, the students attending ate pizza, visited with friends, danced and sang along with the music. But this wasn’t just any prom — it was the Day Prom for special-education students with intellectual disabilities.

Chantilly: Cappie Nominations

Westfield gets 11 and Chantilly, 6.

The 2015-2016 Cappie nominations for high-school theater were released Monday, with Chantilly and Westfield high schools receiving 17 nods between them. Chantilly performed the play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” and Westfield put on the musical, “Footloose.” Centreville High didn’t enter this year’s competition.

Fairfax: Preparing for City’s Aging Population

The need for senior housing is becoming a consideration.

Like cities and towns everywhere, the City of Fairfax has a growing percentage of older residents.