‘I Was Born to Be an Educator’
Franklin band director retires after 28 years.
Lawrence Walker was at Franklin Middle when it opened in 1984.
Paul VI Runfest 5K Sept. 16 in Fairfax
After a two-year hiatus, the Paul VI Catholic High School (PVI) Runfest 5K will return Sunday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., to the City of Fairfax. Previously run over 10 consecutive years, it was last held in fall 2009.
Centreville’s Civil War Past
Travel back in time via the Stuart-Mosby Museum.
Few communities are lucky enough to have a Civil War museum in their midst; Centreville is one of them.
Creative Thinking and Engineering
Philip Everard is only 8, but says he’s been building with LEGOs ever since he was born. “We had [the large] Duplo LEGOs then,” he said. “My brother would put them in my hand and guide me.”
Hands-On Fun While Learning
Children attend LEGO camp in Clifton.
Sure, LEGOs are child’s play — but they’re also much more. And Clifton’s Cam Meyer, 15, recently shared his knowledge of what these colorful building pieces can do during a Lego camp held in the town’s meeting hall.
Clifton Car Show on Labor Day
Proceeds to benefit charities.
Featuring street rods, custom and antique cars, muscle and classic cars, and motorcycles, the 13th Annual Labor Day Car Show is Monday, Sept. 3, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., in Clifton.
Another Death-Row Victory for Wolfe
Federal judge vacates murder and drug convictions, plus sentences.
Message from the court system to Prince William Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul Ebert: Be fair and play by the rules, or convictions you’ve obtained by skirting the boundaries of what’s right may eventually be overturned.
Looking Ahead: Many Projects Are on the Horizon
New and exciting projects are on the horizon in the Sully District. Below are some of them:
Supervisor Michael Frey’s View of Centreville
Michael Frey has lived in Centreville’s London Commons community for more than 20 years and has been the Sully District supervisor since the district was created in 1992. So Centre View asked him to explain what he believes makes Centreville so special.
Food, Fun And Festivities
Neighbors, firefighters and police celebrate National Night Out.
It could have been just an ordinary Tuesday night — families eating quiet dinners in their homes, behind closed doors. But instead, last Tuesday, Aug. 7, residents of Centreville’s Sully Station II community joined together in four neighborhoods for outdoor block parties.
‘Born to Be an Educator’
Franklin band director retires after 28 years.
Lawrence Walker was at Franklin Middle when it opened in 1984. But now, after 30 years with Fairfax County Public Schools — 28 of them at Franklin — the school’s band director has retired.
Making Beautiful Music
Students participate in Franklin’s Band and Orchestra Camp.
Take 710 students, 35 teachers and musical instruments of every size and shape and you get Franklin Middle School’s Band and Orchestra Camp.
Clifton Car Show on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2012
Featuring street rods, custom and antique cars, muscle and classic cars, and motorcycles, the 13th Annual Labor Day Car Show is Monday, Sept. 3, 2012 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., in Clifton.
Learning History Firsthand
Veterans tell Rocky Run students about WWII.
Each year, WWII comes alive for seventh-graders at Rocky Run Middle School. That’s because, besides what they learn about it from their textbooks, they get to hear firsthand from those who lived through it.
Realizing a Dream
Garrett begins job of deputy fire chief.
Since he was a boy, William Garrett knew he’d grow up to be a firefighter. Although he and his family have lived in Centreville six-and-a-half years, he was born and raised in Alexandria’s Gum Springs community — and that’s where the spark was ignited.
Chantilly Pain Clinic Owner Is Convicted
Oxycodone distribution, healthcare, tax fraud.
The owner and president of a pain clinic in Chantilly was convicted Friday, Aug. 3, in Federal Court of conspiring to distribute and actually distributing oxycodone, a controlled drug.
Creative Thinking, Problem Solving and Engineering
Philip Everard is only eight, but says he’s been building with LEGOs ever since he was born.
Hands-On Fun while Learning
Children attend LEGO camp in Clifton
Sure, LEGOs are child’s play—but they’re also much more. And Clifton’s Cam Meyer, 15, recently shared his knowledge of what these colorful building pieces can do during a LEGO camp held in the town’s meeting hall.
They Gather To Do Good
Social Change group raises money for charities.
When ordinary people work together for a good cause, extraordinary things can happen. And that’s been the case so far with a local group called Social Change.
Cleveland, Campbell Are Honored
Feted as Frey’s Lord and Lady Fairfax.
Every year, each member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors selects two people from his or her district to honor as exceptional citizens.
Coming to the Rescue
Residents feted for saving woman from burning home.
When a wheelchair-bound woman was rescued recently from her burning Centreville townhouse, an off-duty firefighter and a bevy of civilians came to her rescue. For their bravery, they were honored by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department with lifesaving awards.
Check One Off The Bucket List
Local woman to compete in Ironman World Championship.
Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford has participated in two Ironman competitions in Lake Placid, N.Y., and in several half-Ironman events.
Grill Causes Townhouse Fire in Fair Oaks
Fire officials say a fire Monday night at a Fair Oaks townhouse was accidental, but damage is estimated at more than $10,000.
‘76 Trombones Lead the Big Parade’…
Floris UMC presents ‘The Music Man.’
Professor Harold Hill is coming to town, and River City will never be the same.
1,550 Backpacks Are Needed
WFCM asks community to help local students.
It’s summertime outside, but Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is already focused on September. It’s collecting backpacks for students attending 23 elementary, middle and high schools in Centreville, Chantilly and Clifton.
At Long Last, A Traffic Solution
Braddock/Pleasant Valley intersection to be improved.
For years, Fairfax County has wanted to do something to alleviate the traffic tangle that ties up motorists during both the morning and evening rush hours at the intersection of Braddock and Pleasant Valley roads in Centreville.
Lemonade, Sugar + Water = Chicks
London Towne first-graders help orphanage in Africa.
Even the youngest children can help improve the world, and first-graders at London Towne Elementary proved that recently by raising money for an orphanage in Africa. They did so by selling lemonade, with the proceeds going to the orphanage to buy chicks.
Park Pleads Guilty In Centreville Murder
Killed his ex-girlfriend’s sister.
Slated for a jury trial in connection with a triple stabbing and murder inside a Centreville apartment, Man Ha Park, 54, instead pleaded guilty to crimes that could place him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Cockrell Counts His Blessings
Chantilly choral director retires after 26 years.
For the past 26 years, the name Glenn Cockrell has been synonymous with Touch of Class Show Choir, Jazz & Pizzazz and all-around musical excellence at Chantilly High. So his colleagues there, plus students and parents, were sad to learn he planned to retire at the end of this school year.
Check One off the Bucket List
Local woman to compete in Ironman World Championship.
Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford has participated in two Ironman competitions in Lake Placid, N.Y., and in several half-Ironman events. But for her, being accepted into the upcoming Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, is the top of the mountain.
Suspended Prison Sentence for Centreville Man
Former Robinson band director must register as sex offender.
When Michael Keith Cook was sentenced last week for computer solicitation of a child under age 15, he didn’t lose his freedom. But even before he set foot in the courtroom, he’d already lost something precious to him — his career as a school band director.
‘The Music Is Infectious’
Alliance Theatre presents “Legally Blonde, the Musical.”
Scott Olson has been a director and actor for 20 years, but he says the cast of The Alliance Theatre’s “Legally Blonde, the Musical” is something special.
Suspended Prison Sentence for Former Band Director
Former Robinson band director must register as sex offender.
When Michael Keith Cook was sentenced last week for computer solicitation of a child under age 15, he didn’t lose his freedom. But even before he set foot in the courtroom, he’d already lost something precious to him – his career as a school band director.
‘I Like the Kind of Man He Is’
Residents flock to Centreville High to hear president Obama speak.
They came, they waited and, more than three hours later, they entered Centreville High’s gym. Hundreds and hundreds of people from the local community, as well as from Loudoun and Prince William counties, stood in humid, 96-degree heat Saturday afternoon, July 15, to see President Barack Obama in person and hear him speak at a grassroots campaign rally.
President Comes to the Area
Obama rallies his supporters during the campaign stop at Centreville High.
Before President Barack Obama addressed the huge crowd inside Centreville High, Saturday afternoon, Jerry Foltz of Wellspring United Church of Christ gave the invocation.
Herrity, Hugo Respond to Obama’s Visit
Both Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and Del. Tim Hugo (R-40) held a joint press conference Saturday afternoon, speaking to local Romney supporters prior to President Obama’s campaign rally at Centreville High. Said Herrity: "It was nice to see so many people from Little Rocky Run stop by and pick up Romney signs and stand with us."
Losing 911
DPSC director discusses power-outage response.
When hurricane-force winds slammed into the local area two weeks ago, they felled trees and power lines and knocked out electricity to more than 1 million residents in Northern Virginia. Verizon supplied electricity and phone service to many of them, including Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC).
Clifton’s Old-Fashioned Fourth
The Town of Clifton celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade, flag ceremony and a potluck picnic in the park with moonbounces, tug-of-war, pie-eating and egg-toss competitions.
Telford in Contest to Enter Ironman
Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford was diagnosed with a Stage III brain tumor in 2005, and is still fighting for her life. But she works full time and, via her nonprofit fundraising organization, Team BT, she raises money for the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS).
Practicing What They Preach
Local theater teachers perform ‘Into the Woods.’
Six drama teachers headline the cast of the City of Fairfax Theatre Company’s summer production of "Into the Woods." They include Fairfax High’s Wendy Knight and Paul Rubenstein and Woodson High’s Terri Hobson.
Attending Governor’s School for Art
While many students began their summer vacations, two rising seniors at Chantilly High did something different: Yewon Kwon and Anne-Sophie Kim went to Radford University to attend the Governor’s School for Art.
‘I Had To Learn A Lot on My Own’
Westfield student wins Hispanic Leadership Alliance scholarship.
Centreville’s Joe Fletcher, 18, just graduated from Westfield High. But before he did, he won a scholarship from the Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA). His school counselor, Bill Sidener, wrote the recommendation for his award and, as far as he’s concerned, the HLA couldn’t have picked a better recipient.
‘Words … More Hurtful Than Fists’
Author discusses bullying with seventh-graders.
Ben Mikaelsen lives in Montana. But before the school year ended, he came all the way to Rocky Run Middle School to share with the seventh-graders his firsthand knowledge about bullying.
Sullivan Honored as Officer of Quarter
Award presented at CAC meeting.
Whether trying to outsmart a shooter or figure out where a lost child might go, Fairfax County police PFC Gerald Sullivan gives the effort his all. As a result, he was recently honored as the Sully District Station’s Officer of the Quarter.
Dangerous Weapons or Child’s Play?
Police warn public about replica firearms.
It was shortly before midnight when City of Fairfax police rushed to an apartment complex after receiving a report of a man there carrying a gun. He’d already pointed his weapon at several people when officers confronted him, had him drop the gun and arrested him. This incident happened awhile ago, and the weapon turned out to be a replica of a long-barreled, semiautomatic rifle.
Dads, Sons Discuss Serious Child’s Play
Besides police and sheriffs, some Fairfax fathers and sons also attended last week’s press conference on replica weapons. The sons hadn’t done anything wrong, but they regularly use these weapons to play a popular game called Airsoft.
When Dangerous Games Turn Deadly
Police warn public about replica firearms.
It was shortly before midnight when City of Fairfax police rushed to an apartment complex after receiving a report of a man there carrying a gun. He’d already pointed his weapon at several people when officers confronted him, had him drop the gun and arrested him.
‘Never Off Duty’
Firefighter reports Centreville blaze, helps rescue woman.
Bill Moreland, a captain with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, didn’t make it to a dinner date with his wife, last Friday. But he had a good excuse: He was busy helping save someone’s life.
Lanigan’s Friends, Colleague Respond to Settlement
Following news of the school system’s settlement to Sean Lanigan, a friend and neighbor of his, as well as a former Centre Ridge colleague gave their opinions of it to Centre View.
‘How a Community Comes Together’
A progress report on the Centreville Labor Resource Center.
It still has a long way to go, but things are definitely looking up for the Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC).