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Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

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Great Falls Studios Holds Online Art Auction This Week.

Funds raised support Studio Tour 2024

Great Falls Studios Holds Online Art Auction This Week.

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Rotary Banner Quilt Preserves Memory of Fellowships

An inspiration for future Rotarians.

An inspiration for future Rotarians.

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Back-to-School Festival Draws Nearly 3,000

Mount Olive Baptist Church in Centreville welcomes community members near and far.

Fun times

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FCDC Endorses Town of Herndon Council Candidates

Political endorsement in a ‘non-partisan’ election.

Vote

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74th Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair

Local 4-H members demonstrate their work.

Community news

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Comstock’s ‘Herndon Station’ Status Update

Herndon Town Council approves resolution for Comstock’s third extension, this to Sept. 10; first was approved Dec. 21, 2021.

Herndon Town Council approves resolution for Comstock’s third extension, this to Sept. 10; first was approved Dec. 21, 2021.

Reston Community Center 2024 Preference Poll

Reston Community Center (RCC) announced it is seeking interested candidates to run for this year’s Preference Poll to fill three three-year term position seats on its nine-member Board of Governors responsible for oversight of RCC.

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Providing Students Opportunities To Register To Vote

FCPS students advocate for the national High School Voter Empowerment Act.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) highlighted their July 31, 2024, TeacherDirect Bulletin with a reminder of the April 2, 2020, Code of Virginia amendment that added the provision, § 22.1-203.4 Public high schools; mandating that students have access to voter registration.

Herndon Eagle Scout Candidate Completes Service Project

On June 29, one week before his 18th birthday, Anthony Sasso of BSA Troop 1081 completed his Eagle Scout service project.

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12.5 Percent Fare Hike Hits Fairfax Connector Riders July 29

On Monday, July 29, fare increases for riding the Fairfax Connector began. Riders will pay 12.5 percent more.

Retired Centreville Teacher Publishes Young Adult Novel

Looks forward to receiving reviews from former students and staff members.

Author

USDA’s Free Summer Meal Services Ending

Where to turn? New USDA program SUN Bucks and local help available.

Where to turn? New USDA program SUN Bucks and local help available.

Virginia’s Tax-Free Sales Holiday August 2-4

Hurricane preparedness, school supply and certain energy saving products and more eligible.

Hurricane preparedness, school supply and certain energy saving products and more eligible.

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South Lakes Food Pantry HIts Major Distribution Weight Milestone

7th Annual "Do It Your Way 0.5K" fundraiser to commemorate achievement.

7th Annual "Do It Your Way 0.5K" fundraiser to commemorate achievement.

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Office Building Razed for Affordable Housing

Groundbreaking for Somas at McLean Metro

Groundbreaking for Somas at McLean Metro

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Fairfax County Awarded $50.5 Million for New Low-Emission Buses

Federal grant paves the way.

Federal grant paves the way.

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12.5 Percent Fare Hike Hits Fairfax Connector Riders July 29

Not small change, given increased consumer costs and decreased dollar buying power.

Not small change, given increased consumer costs and decreased dollar buying power.

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Reston Community Center 2024 Preference Poll

Candidacy Registration Begins August 1

Candidacy Registration Begins August 1

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Two Great Events Come to the Town of Vienna

Mr. Lilo and The Vienna Community Band and the Fairfax Jubilee-Aires

Mr. Lilo and The Vienna Community Band and the Fairfax Jubilee-Aires

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Supervisors Defer Decision on Data Center Zoning

Public hearing confirms, ‘The devil is in the details.’

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 to defer their decision on a proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment regarding data centers until their July 30 regular meeting. This unexpected move occurred late Tuesday evening, July 16, after a staff presentation, Q&A between the board and staff, and four-and-a-half hours of public testimony. The record would still be open for written testimony.

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School Board Changes Boundary Policy

Changes to boundary policy emphasize capacity, removes concern for impact on students.

Poised to observe its annual summer recess from July 19 to Aug. 19, 2024, during its meeting on the evening of July 18, the Fairfax School Board voted 9 to 2 on the main motion that the School Board amend Policy 8130 on Local School Boundaries, Program Assignments, and School Closings, as amended and detailed in the agenda item attachment.

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National eCYBERMISSION Competition Winners Hail from Fairfax County

Status update local STEM-In-Action Grant recipient team, the biodegradable and affordable diaper.

Status update local STEM-In-Action Grant recipient team, the biodegradable and affordable diaper.

Good Shepherd Housing School Supply Drive Underway

Monetary donations are also crucial.

The Good Shepherd Housing School Supply Drive is underway, a crucial initiative that will directly impact the lives of children in need. The nonprofit organization is collecting backpacks and school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year and would like to receive all donations by Aug. 1.

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Town of Vienna Holds Naturalization Ceremony.

The door opens for dreams to come true.

Naturalization

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More on Herndon/Comstock Redevelopment Project

Town Manager Ashton resigns.

Town Manager Ashton resigns.

NVFS Looks for Assistance with School Supply Drive

Participate now through July 24.

Participate now through July 24.

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Dedicated Traffic Officer Named for McLean

Dedicated Traffic Officer Named for McLean

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Data Center Zoning Amendment at Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, July 16

Data Center Zoning Amendment at Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, July 16

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Low-flow Level on Potomac River Kicks off Monitoring.

Low-flow Level on Potomac River Kicks off Monitoring.

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Highlights of Virginia LCV’s Scored Legislation Patroned by Lawmakers of the Fairfax County Delegation to the General Assembly

LCV’s positions and governor’s actions.

Gov. Youngkin vetoed 201 bills in 2024, including bipartisan environmental protection legislation. Virginia LCV classified scored legislation into five categories: energy and climate, good government, land conservation, land use and transportation, and water quality. Virginia LCV provided its position, whether supporting or opposing the bills, and compared such against Gov. Youngkin’s actions, whether he signed the bills into law or vetoed them.

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Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2024 General Assembly Conservation Scorecard Released

Fairfax’s state legislators sweep the Scorecard’s honor roll.

Of the 22 elected officials in the Virginia General Assembly who represent all, or a portion of, the citizens of Fairfax County, 19 achieved a perfect score of 100 percent, earning the honorary title of "Legislative Hero” from the Virginia LCV. The remaining three achieved a near-perfect score of 95 percent, earning them the title of "2024 Legislative Leader."

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Sheriff’s Office, ICE Square Off

Springfield rapist of Herndon child sentenced; found to possess child sexual abuse material says U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A June 27 press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia, reported that a “Honduran national who raped a 13-year-old victim was sentenced to five years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and assaulting a federal officer.”

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Schools: Community News at a Glance

School Board To Update School Boundary Policy Later This Month

Schools

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School Board To Update School Boundary Policy Later This Month

The Fairfax County School Board scheduled action to amend Policy 8130 on adjusting school boundaries at its meeting on July 18, 2024. The revised draft policy, Policy 8130.8, is subject to updates. Updated policy will focus more on capacity, staff discussions indicate.

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Winners of A. Heath Onthank Award

Three employees receive the county’s highest government honor award.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized Tajweer Beaufort, Leila Gordon, and Kim Young with the A. Heath Onthank Award, the highest government employee honor.

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Voters To Consider Bond Referenda Totaling $306 Million

Voters To Consider Bond Referenda Totaling $306 Million

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Highlights of Boundary Policy and Assignment of Students,

Part 4 of 4

Boundary assignments’ overarching goals are excellence, efficacy, equity; capacity is the primary benchmark.

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Dividing Lines: Reviewing School Boundary Adjustment Policy

Part 1 of 4 stories

Dividing Lines: Reviewing School Boundary Adjustment Policy

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GFCA’s Position Paper Calls for a Pause

Part of 4 stories

redistricting

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Matchup Set for Virginia Congressional District 10 Race

Suhas Subramanyam (D), Mike Clancy (R), and Dennis Aryan (I) will appear on the ballot in November for Wexton’s seat.

Matchup Set for Virginia Congressional District 10 Race

COMMUNITY NEWS AT A GLANCE

County’s Sheriff’s Office Is Recruiting.

County’s Sheriff’s Office Is Recruiting.

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StarKist, Cornerstones and Feed the Children Partner to End Hunger

2024 Summer Food and Resource Rally

On June 6, Cornerstones, StarKist, and Feed the Children gathered for the third annual summer food and resource rally at Cornerstones Food Rescue Empowerment Enterprise in Sterling. Three Fairfax County nonprofits — LINK Against Hunger, South Lakes High School PTSA Food Pantry, and Fellowship Square — and two in the Dulles corridor, Dulles South Food Pantry and Community Lodgings, participated.

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Governor Says Virginia Is Exiting Clean Car Commitment

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has no interest in a roadmap to a zero-emission future for vehicles in Virginia. Youngkin cites Attorney General Jason Miyares’ official opinion, which "confirms that Virginians are no longer legally bound to follow the emission standards of California.”

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Unremitting Data Center Demand Pushes County to Act

Balancing an economy that can’t happen without data centers with homeowners’ rights and quality of life.

The relentless march of data center growth in Northern Virginia has reached a reported 70 percent of the total number of data centers on our planet.

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Inaugural Herndon Pride Festival

Inaugural Herndon Pride Festival