Witches, Goblins and Pumpkins, Oh, My!
Vienna’s annual Family Halloween Party was Saturday, Oct. 18, outside the community center.
Follin Lane Project Is Still Worrisome
Residents question safety and need for long turn lane.
The Town of Vienna is moving full-speed ahead with its plan to widen Follin Lane from two to three lanes. And last Monday, Oct. 20, it awarded $59,000 to Urban Ltd. for additional engineering services associated with the project.
‘An Awesome Experience’
Chantilly High student attends Governor’s German Immersion Academy.
Chantilly High senior Kate Meyer is such a fan of German culture and language that she spent three weeks of her summer immersed in it. She attended the Virginia Governor’s German Immersion Academy at Washington and Lee University in Lexington.
It’s ‘Like a Dream Come True’
Fairfax Police Chief Carl Pardiny eager to groom future leaders.
Col. Carl Pardiny was born and raised in Pittsburgh, but has spent nearly his entire, adult life with the City of Fairfax Police Department. He started its K-9 and Bike Patrol programs and was twice selected as the Department’s Officer of the Year.
City of Fairfax is Virginia’s eCity
The City of Fairfax was named last week by Google Corp. as the eCity for the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was selected for inclusion on a list of “digital capitals of America” for 2014.
‘We Owed that to the Victim’
Police charge Jesse Matthew with 2005 Fairfax crimes.
The wheels of justice may turn slowly – but, apparently, they keep on turning. And now, nine years after a young Fairfax woman was attacked in her own neighborhood by an unknown assailant, a suspect has been charged with the crime.
Roundups
A car crash in Chantilly last week took the life of a 27-year-old Sterling man. Fairfax County police identified him as Jordan Douglas. The tragedy occurred last Wednesday, Oct. 15, shortly before 5 p.m.
Holiday Food Drive For Needy Families
Teaming Up To Help Needy
The holidays are almost here, with all the joy of family gatherings and tasty meals around the table.
Featured Artist
Lorrie Herman’s watercolor, “Le Fountaine Bleu,” was on display, Oct. 3-5, at the Vale Schoolhouse in Oakton during ValeArts’ 19th annual fall art show, “Transitions.”
18-24-Year-Olds Needed for Survey
To meet its grant requirement for a Virginia Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant, the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC) needs to gather at least 300 surveys in a 30-day time fra.m.e that ends Nov. 15.
Homecoming Parade for Westfield
Westfield High’s Homecoming Parade was Friday, Oct. 17, in Centreville.
Centreville Wildcats on Parade
Centreville High’s Homecoming Parade was Friday, Oct. 17, in Little Rocky Run.
‘Kids Can Be Themselves Here’
Vienna Teen Center celebrates 15th anniversary.
A place to hang out with friends after school, play sports and games, do arts and crafts and just have fun – that’s the Vienna Teen Center. Called Club Phoenix, it’s on the bottom floor of the Vienna Community Center, and it just celebrated its 15th anniversary.
‘Hands-On History’
Students participate in E.C. Lawrence archaeological dig.
Area students got to be part of history recently when they participated in an archaeological dig to find the remains of a home from the 1800s in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Centreville.
Qreitem: Business Citizen of Year
The Centreville Day Business Citizen of the Year is Paisano’s Pizza (and Bella Pizza) owner and CEO, Fouad Qreitem. He was honored by the Centreville Day Planning Committee at the Oct. 11 festivities.
‘A Side-Splitting Comedy’
Chantilly High presents “Funny Thing Happened on Way to Forum.”
Featuring a cast and crew of 45, Chantilly High presents “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
21st Annual Goblin Gallop Nears
Goblin Gallop To Benefit Families of Children with Cancer
When the leaves turn colors and the weather becomes crisp, Halloween soon follows. And that means it’s time for the Goblin Gallop. This year’s event, the 21st annual, is slated for Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
21st Annual Goblin Gallop is Oct. 26
Benefits families of children with cancer.
When the leaves turn colors and the weather becomes crisp, Halloween soon follows. And that means it’s time for the Goblin Gallop. This year’s event, the 21st annual, is slated for Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
‘It’s Hands-On History’
Oakton High student participates in archaeological dig.
Oakton High junior Corina Gribble got to be part of history recently when she participated in an archaeological dig to find the remains of a home from the 1800s in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Centreville.
Residents Receive Community Enhancement Awards
On Sept. 22, the Vienna Town Council presented Community Enhancement, Beauty and Sustainability awards to four sets of local residents.
CureSearch Walk at Fairfax Corner
Fairfax’s Tara Sankner is a friendly, softball-playing 9-year-old. She also has an astrocytoma, a treatable but inoperable form of brain cancer.
Children Have Fun at Safety Day
The City of Fairfax Police Department held Kids’ Safety Day on Saturday morning, Sept. 20, outside police headquarters.
‘I Realized I Could Conquer This’
Fairfax fire captain is Honored Hero in Light the Night Walk.
City of Fairfax Fire Capt. Joe Schumacher beat cancer not once, but twice. And he’ll soon serve as an Honored Hero for this year’s Light the Night Walks in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
It’s Officially Fire Prevention Week
The City of Fairfax officially proclaims Oct. 5-11 “Fire Prevention Week.”
Vienna Teen Honored for Poetry Writing
Megan Do just writes poetry in her spare time — and as a junior as Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, she has precious little of it. Yet one of her recent efforts won second place for poetry in a competition sponsored by the Writers of Chantilly.
Green Light for MAC Zoning
Town Council approves Maple Avenue ordinance.
It’s taken a great deal of time, effort, research and wrangling; but last Monday, the Vienna Town Council approved the ordinance defining the Maple Avenue Commercial Zone regulations. The ordinance is now set to be formally adopted Oct. 20.
Fairfax Fall Festival Means Family Fun
Children’s rides, crafts, food and entertainment.
When it comes to family fun, it’s hard to beat the Fairfax Fall Festival. It’s set for Saturday, Oct. 11 (rain date, Oct. 12), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and features a cornucopia of entertainment, including Journey and Bruce Springsteen tribute bands, a lumberjack competition, food, crafts and carnival rides.
Centreville Day 2014: Celebration Returns Oct. 11
Zombie Slouch 5K, parade, food, pets in costume, music and more.
Featuring everything from a charity 5K to a parade, music, history tours, a costume contest for pets and a swordsman, the upcoming Centreville Day celebration promises something for everyone. The 22nd annual event is slated for Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP).
Community Mourns Local Girl, 16
Missing since Sunday, Cara Golias was found dead in a park.
Just a month before her 17th birthday, friends, family members and classmates from Chantilly, Centreville and Fairfax are mourning the loss of a local girl. The body of Cara Lynn Golias, 16, of the City of Fairfax, was found Monday afternoon in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Clifton.
City Approves Money for Charrette
Focus will be on Fairfax’s downtown development.
It’s full speed ahead for a planning workshop, or charrette, the City of Fairfax will hold in November. It’ll do so along with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and the focus will be on the downtown area. It’s a hands-on, design-oriented event and will involve both professionals and residents.
Community Mourns Girl, 16
Missing since Sunday, she was found dead in park.
Just a month before her 17th birthday, friends, family members and classmates from Chantilly, Centreville and Fairfax are mourning the loss of a local girl.
‘15,000 Hot Dogs To Break Even’
Permit costs spur gas station’s request to sell alcohol, too.
Raj Gupta just wanted an OK to add hot dogs to his convenience store’s offerings at the Centre Ridge Exxon station.
Crafts, Festivals and Dancing
A sampling of local, fun events this fall.
Below is a partial listing of some fun and exciting autumn events happening in the local area:
It’s Almost Time for Fairfax Fall Festival
Crafts, food, music, children’s rides and lumberjacks.
There’s something for everyone at the Fairfax Fall Festival. This year’s event is slated for Saturday, Oct. 11 (rain date, Oct. 12), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offers everything from crafts to food, music, children’s activities, rides, four stages of entertainment and lumberjacks.
Help Feed Local People
Complete the Circle FoodRaiser is Nov. 9 at Fairfax High.
September is Hunger Action Month, and Our Daily Bread (ODB) and Food for Others are trying to help. They’re seeking community members to form teams, gather food items and come to the Complete the Circle FoodRaiser on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 1-2:30 p.m., on Fairfax High’s practice field.
‘I’m Going To Miss Everything’ Grimm To Leave CVHS
Centreville High’s principal leaving to helm Hayfield Secondary.
Martin Grimm never intended to leave Centreville High after serving just two years as its principal. But then the principal of Hayfield Secondary School died, and that changed everything.
Crafts, Festivals and Dancing
A sampling of local, fun events this fall.
A highlight of every autumn is the fall festival at Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Road, just off Pleasant Valley Road, in Centreville. It runs daily from Sept. 27-Nov. 4, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
First Glimpse at Centreville Day
Nominees sought for Centreville Day Citizen of the Year awards.
Centreville Day 2014 is just a few weeks away. The 22nd annual community celebration is set for Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mount Gilead Road.
Residents Have Their Say
Assisted-Living facility could pose traffic, drainage, noise problems.
As the number of senior citizens in Fairfax County continues to grow, so does the need for an assisted-living facility for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Cox Farms Ready To Host Visitors
Fall Festival for families, Fields of Fear for teens.
Whether area residents are in the mood for giant slides, rope swings, hayrides, baby animals, apple-cider doughnuts or a pumpkin slingshot, they’ll find all these things and more at Cox Farms.
Community Center Dollars and Cents
Rising construction, renovation costs create $2 million deficit.
When the Vienna Community Center greets the public in April 2016, it’ll be larger and more modern than the current facility and will boast a new, regulation-sized gym. But getting from here to there takes money.
‘You Just Have to Believe’
Local girl competes in national solo ice dancing championship.
Just 15, Paul VI sophomore LaDan Nemati has a full plate. From November-February, she skates with a synchronized skating team in Delaware; and during the spring, summer and early fall, she does solo ice dancing.
‘[This] Will Change Our Lives’
Community, Paisano’s unite to purchase an accessible van.
Last Friday, Sept. 12, was a night when dreams came true. On Centreville High’s football field, the Wildcats trounced West Potomac, 54-0. And on the sidelines at halftime, Centreville senior Juwaan Espinal, 17, was presented with an accessible van.
Attending Classes in Korea
Fairfax Academy student will spend school year there.
Normally, Serena Gregory would have just begun her last year at Chantilly High, caught up in the excitement of new classes, old friends and the thrill of being a senior. She’d also be playing volleyball, basketball and lacrosse for the Chargers. Instead, the former Korean-language student at the Fairfax Academy is now in another part of the world, spending the school year in Korea.
Remembering America’s Fallen Heroes
Each year, the firefighters of West Centreville Station 38 honor the firefighters who died in the 9/11 tragedy in New York by placing flags outside their station.
In Solemn Remembrance
Local bugler plays ‘Taps’ in honor of the Sept. 11 victims.
Throughout Virginia and the U.S., people commemorated last Thursday’s 13th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Locally, Theodore Smith, an 83-year old volunteer with Bugles Across America, did it in his own, special way.
‘In Charge of Your Own Little World’
Featuring 45 tables of trains and train accessories, a “train doctor” who repaired broken trains and an operating layout built by three boys, the Train Collectors Sale and Show was held Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Vienna Firehouse.
Residents Still Upset about Follin Lane
Want Town Council to become more involved before project starts.
The Town of Vienna plans to widen Follin Lane from two to three lanes, level the grade of the road at the Hine Street intersection and remove the brush.
A New Face at Laurel Ridge
Tonya Cox takes the helm as principal.
Born in Norfolk and raised in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County, Tonya Cox figured she’d either go into education like her mother or ministry like her father. Then, while in college, she substituted for her mother, during spring and summers, and was hooked.
Attending Classes in a Foreign Country
Fairfax Academy student will spend school year in Korea.
Normally, Serena Gregory would have just begun her last year at Chantilly High, caught up in the excitement of new classes, old friends and the thrill of being a senior.