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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

Celebrating Legacy of Martin Luther King

For 20 years now, the Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement (CPMSAC) Committee has celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Chantilly High Students Win State-wide Teen Stylin' Awards

Chantilly High students Mia Rickenbach and Diana Tsoy won design awards recently in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) Teen Stylin’ program. Both created dresses based on museum works of art.

Wrapping up Joy for Christmas

Students, Scouts, police brighten holiday at Hanley Shelter.

The children living in the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter may not have many possessions; but on Christmas Day, they had presents.

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Cookies, Cookies Everywhere

Centreville High SGA members brought in and packaged 6,240 cookies on Dec. 12 to donate to Our Neighbor’s Child for local families in need.

Library Has Some Helpful Friends

Everyone needs friends, even a library. And the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library provide an invaluable service by buying items the library needs, but Fairfax County doesn’t fund.

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Wrapping up Joy for Christmas

Students, Scouts, police brighten holiday at Hanley Shelter.

The children living in the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter may not have many possessions; but on Christmas Day, they had presents. The gifts were donated by a variety of groups, including the Fair Oaks District Police Station and Chantilly High’s photography students.

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‘What’s Better than Helping Someone Have a Home?’

Reston company’s employees help Habitat renovate a house.

Not everyone has the money to buy a home. But thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia (HHNV) and some willing volunteers from a company in Reston, a family will be able to buy a house in Centreville at an affordable price. On a recent weekday, 15 people were hard at work renovating and repairing it to make it livable. Built in 1971, it’s a two-story, three-bedroom house.

DiCenzo Has Bright Vision for Fairfax

Getting to know the high school’s new theater director.

As theater teacher and director at Fairfax High, Erich DiCenzo is exactly where he wants to be. "I have a bachelor of fine arts in musical theater and dance and was a professional actor for eight years, so this is a second career," he said. "I knew I wanted to perform forever, but not make it my living."

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Encore Dancers Present ‘Switching Christmas’

Fairfax High student is in new, holiday show.

When a precocious, young girl changes places with a playful elf at the North Pole, things are bound to go awry and only Santa can save the day.

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‘It’s Not OK to Turn a Blind Eye to Bullying’

Fairfax High students pledge to stand by each other.

Children of all ages get bullied and bully others, themselves. It’s not true of all children, but it’s true of enough of them that Fairfax County and City of Fairfax schools want to do something about it.

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Fairfax High’s Musicians Perform at VMEA Event

For the first time in Fairfax High’s history, the school band’s Wind Ensemble was chosen to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) convention. This year’s event was held Friday, Nov. 22, at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va.

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Actively Caring Comes to CVHS

Part of Bullying Awareness Week, AC4P recognizes acts of kindness.

Not bullying means more than just not taunting or hitting someone; it also means being kind and considerate. So it was fitting that members of Virginia Tech’s program, Actively Caring for People (AC4P), shared their message Monday, Nov. 18, during the first day of Cluster VII’s Bullying Awareness Week.

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It’s Time to Celebrate Christmas in Clifton

Parade, homes tour to be held on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Twinkling lights, the sound of caroling, a parade on horseback and beautifully decorated houses in a storybook setting – all that and more means Christmas in Clifton. And the public’s invited to join in the fun on Saturday, Dec. 7.

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Encouraging People to ‘Live Like Nick Did’

Memorial blood drive, Nov. 30, will honor Nick Franca.

If he’d lived, Nick Franca would be celebrating his 24th birthday on Dec. 4. But the Town of Clifton native and 2009 Centreville High grad died of a form of cancer called neuroblastoma, in May 2011, at age 21.

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‘Sassy, Modern Twist’ on a Classic Play

Westfield High presents Shakespeare’s comedy, ‘Twelfth Night.’

A love triangle, comedy, colorful costumes, plot twists and swordfighting — it’s all there in Westfield’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

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Local Students Offer Mark Twain Classic

Rocky Run Middle presents ‘Tom Sawyer.’

Featuring a cast and crew of 60, Rocky Run Middle will perform Mark Twain’s classic story of “Tom Sawyer.”

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Hersey Honored as Officer of the Month

Praised for dedication and professionalism.

MPO Julie L. Hersey was honored recently as the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee’s Officer of the Month for October. Nominating her for this award was her direct supervisor, 2nd Lt. Michael Reser.

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Church, School Provide Food for Students

Not everyone in Fairfax County has enough food to eat. And many students receiving free and reduced-price lunches in school go hungry over the weekend.

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Scouts, Volunteers Make Food Drive Successful

The Boy Scouts’ annual Scouting for Food drive was Saturday, Nov. 9.

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Schools Take Action Against Bullying

Chantilly, Centreville, Fairfax pyramids join forces in initiative.

Children of all ages get bullied and bully others, themselves. It’s not true of all children, but it’s true of enough of them that Fairfax County Public Schools wants to do something about it.

Musical with a Message

Journey ‘Into the Woods’ with Woodson High.

Fairytale characters come to life, but in different and unexpected ways in Woodson High’s upcoming musical, "Into the Woods."

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‘It’s a Slapstick Comedy – It’s Going to be Hilarious’

Paul VI performs ‘Christmas Carol: Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts.’

Sure, Paul VI is performing "A Dickens Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts."

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Stone’s Honor Students Walk for Homeless

They donate money and food to WFCM.

Sometimes, it takes a child to lead the way. And that’s true when it comes to the students in Stone Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

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‘People Will Have Fun Laughing’

Centreville High presents ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’

Get ready to laugh — Centreville High’s upcoming play, “Lend Me a Tenor,” is a zany comedy filled with mistaken identities and a rollicking good time for the actors and audience alike.

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‘Politics Is Nasty Stuff — It’s All Messed Up’

Teens’ impressions of the current election.

Students at Rocky Run Middle School aren’t old enough to vote, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have opinions about Virginia’s election. And the eighth-graders even participated last Thursday-Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, in a mock election at their school.

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‘Legend of the Bunnyman’

Music from rock musical being performed locally.

The Bunnyman has been a mysterious figure in local lore for more than 40 years, and now Clifton’s Jim Waters has written a rock musical about him called “Legend of the Bunnyman.”

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History for Sojourners

Centreville’s Newgate Tavern receives interpretive signs.

The Newgate Tavern played an important role in Centreville’s history, but the average resident knows little about it. Now, though, thanks to three interpretive signs just placed at its former site in the Historic District, people may visit and learn about what happened there.

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Alliance Theatre To Present Children’s Show

‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ takes the stage in November.

Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian the Crab and all the other characters from the popular story and movie are in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.”

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Centreville Day Citizen of Year

Harsh honored for work with Brain Foundation.

A Centreville resident since 1973 and someone who’s made a difference in the lives of others, Trudy Harsh was honored Saturday as the 2013 Centreville Day Citizen of the Year.

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‘Give them Strength, Fortitude and Compassion’

Criminal Justice Academy graduates 43 officers.

The graduates of the 60th session of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy included the police department’s first Asian female, a former fire department deputy chief and a Bulgarian immigrant whose family tended vineyards.

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Bridge on Route 29 Set for Replacement

Little Rocky Run span is 81 years old.

Work will begin in a few weeks to replace the Route 29 bridge over the Little Rocky Run stream in Centreville. Besides improving the bridge, itself, the project will also result in a new sidewalk and shared-use path.

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Chantilly’s Gabe Luebbe Receives National Honor

Senior named to Army All-American Marching Band.

Not only is Gabe Luebbe a talented and accomplished musician, but he’s now been named a member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.

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Cuccinelli Visits Old Stomping Grounds

Virginia Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Ken Cuccinelli came home to the Centreville/Clifton area Tuesday morning, Nov. 5, visiting some local precincts on Election Day.

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‘Legend of the Bunnyman’

Music from rock musical being performed locally.

The Bunnyman has been a mysterious figure in local lore for more than 40 years, and now Clifton’s Jim Waters has written a rock musical about him called "Legend of the Bunnyman."

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‘It’s a Really Fun Horror Story’

Robinson presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’

Horror, romance, music – and a hungry, man-eating plant – they’re all in Robinson Secondary’s production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

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Donating From the Heart

Redskin, pizza-chain owner team up to help local girl.

“Somebody helped me, so I’m happy to have the opportunity to help someone else and continue the cycle.” —Washington Redskin Pierre Garçon

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Halloween Fun at Goblin Gallop

The 20th annual Goblin Gallop was Sunday, Oct. 27, at Fairfax Corner.

Robinson Student Stars in Children’s Show

The Alliance Theatre presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.”

Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian the crab and all the other characters from the popular story and movie are in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” And a Robinson Secondary student has one of the starring roles. Performances are Nov. 9-24 (see box for details) at Mountain View High School, 5775 Spindle Court (behind Glory Days Grill) in Centreville. The musical features 10 adults and 35 students in grades three through 12, and Director Maggie Swan says they’re all really talented.

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Creating a Fantasy in Pumpkins

Halloween display ranges from zombies to cartoon characters.

Halloween is next Thursday, Oct. 31, and that means more than 1,000 people will flock to Noel Dickover’s home in Centreville to see the latest fantasy pumpkins he and his crew have created.

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‘As Long As I’m Able to Run …’

Telford preps for Marine Corps Marathon and ‘Over the Edge.’

BethAnn Telford has a brain tumor, but it doesn’t have her. Through the pain, the medication, the bad days and the setbacks, she not only keeps on going, she rises above it all and shines.

Clifton Moped Crash Kills Local Woman

A Centreville woman died last Tuesday evening, Oct. 15, following a motorcycle crash in Clifton. The victim was identified as Yumei Wang Barber, 37.

Focusing on Quality of Life Issues

Hugo runs for seventh term in Virginia House.

When asked why he’s running for reelection to the General Assembly, Del. Tim Hugo (R-40th) has a ready reply. “It’s an honor to serve,” he said. “We have an opportunity to help people improve their day-to-day lives and fix the problems in their neighborhoods and on their streets.”

Foltz vs. Hugo in 40th District

Jerry Foltz believes his views better represent the community’s.

Jerry Foltz may be a first-time political candidate, but he has a lifetime of experience working with diverse groups of people on serious issues. And now, he’s running as the Democratic candidate for the 40th House District.

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‘As Long As I’m Able to Run … ’

Telford preps for Marine Corps Marathon and “Over the Edge.”

BethAnn Telford has a brain tumor, but it doesn’t have her. Through the pain, the medication, the bad days and the setbacks, she not only keeps on going, she rises above it all and shines.

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Fairfax Marching Rebels Win Band Competitions

The school year has barely started and already Fairfax High’s Marching Rebels band is winning top honors for its musicianship and showmanship in competitions against other schools.

Honor Students Walk for Homeless

Students in Stone Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society will participate in a Help the Homeless Walk, next Thursday, Oct. 24, to raise money for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM).

Residents Learn about Police Honor Guard

Group’s supervisor speaks at CAC meeting.

The Fairfax County Police Honor Guard was established in 1980, and Sgt. Dave Kuhar has been part of it for the past 18 years. He’s now the Honor Guard’s supervisor and recently explained the group’s duties during a meeting of the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

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Beware of Spooky Forest

Chills and thrills await on the Clifton Haunted Trail.

Surely, the vampires, witches, goblins and ghouls lying in wait for their victims along the Clifton Haunted Trail aren’t real — or are they? One thing’s for sure — they’re deadly serious about scaring people.

The Other Side of the Story

The case for those favoring the roundabout.

In an Oct. 15 message to their constituents, Loudoun Del. David Ramadan (R-87) and Dulles District Supervisor Matt Letourneau explained why they’re fighting so hard to build a roundabout in Centreville.

Centreville Day Is Saturday, Oct. 19

Children’s games, music, parade, food and crafts.

Centreville’s Historic District is the place to be this Saturday, Oct. 19. That’s when residents will be treated to a parade, a 5K race, children’s activities, food, crafts vendors and live entertainment during the 21st annual Centreville Day celebration.