Stories for February 2016

Springfield Veterinary Holistic Center offers extension to conventional medicine

Bettejeanne “BJ” Hammond much prefers the term “body work” to massage. “Open wine and get out the candles, that’s what people think of massage,” she said. “They think it’s to relax, but it’s so much more than that.”

Week in Reston

Scout Collects Home Welcome Kits for Formerly Homeless

Weekly happenings in Reston.

Smokey the Toy Poodle of Reston

We have a 10-year-old toy poodle by the name of Smokey. He is the smartest, nicest dog you'll ever meet.

Lake Fairfax Neighbors Oppose Septage Proposal

Reston’s Richard Sheehe spent more than 90 minutes hearing engineers and county officials try to convince Reston residents why moving a Septage Receiving Site to a portion of Lake Fairfax Park would be ideal.

Finding That ‘Special Someone’ at Lake Anne

Reston adoption fair matches cats, families.

On Feb. 21, the Feline Foundation of Greater Washington (FFGW) arranged chairs, tables and cages in preparation for their monthly Reston cat adoption fair in the Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne.

Breaking Ground for New Community at Reston Heights

Walkable residential, retail will span eight acres near future Metro.

The JBG Companies broke ground on VY, a 385-unit apartment community—along with 89,000 square feet of retail—in this next phase of the mixed-use neighborhood at Reston Heights.

Garage Fire Damages Reston Townhouse

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a fire on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 18 that started in the garage of a townhouse in the 11800 block of Mediterranean Court in Reston.

Art of Driving Scholarship Expands Eligibility Outside Fairfax County

After the first few years being open only to Lake Braddock Secondary School Students, the Art of Driving college scholarship in honor of Lake Braddock student Ashley Thompson expanded to all Fairfax County High Schools.

Commentary: Education as the Priority

All the important bills the General Assembly considered in the first half of its annual session pale in comparison to the most significant action it will take this week in adopting a $100 billion budget for the biennium.

Fairfax County Schools to Close March 1 for Super Tuesday

Concerns about parking and traffic, as well as new guidance from the Virginia Department of Education caused the Fairfax County School Board to reconsider closing schools for the March 1 Presidential primaries.

Editorial: Bad Bills

General Assembly has potential to do lots of damage in a short period.

From pressing for use of a barbaric form of execution, the electric chair, to codifying discrimination, to stripping localities of the major tool for ensuring infrastructure is in place for new development, to hiding more and more critical public information from the public, the Virginia General Assembly is poised to do harm to the Commonwealth.

Classified Advertising February 24, 2016

Read the lastest ads here!

Great Falls: Saxons Shoot Their Way to Conference 6 Title

Langley makes nine 3-pointers against South Lakes.

The Langley boys' basketball team won the Conference 6 championship.

Reston: Valentine’s on Ice

Skaters swirl across the outdoor rink, despite the sub-freezing chill, contrasting with a slow Saturday afternoon at the Reston Town Center (RTC).

County Budget Presented, About $300 More per Household

County Executive: Revenue growth is insufficient to fund all priorities. Schools still $68 million short.

County Executive Ed Long recommended a four-cent increase to the real estate tax rate.

Reston: Conference Champions

Paced by record-setting performances in the 500 meters, seniors Golden Kumi-Darfour and Skander Ballard led the South Lakes High School indoor track and field teams to Liberty Conference titles in both the boys and girls divisions Friday, Feb. 5 at the Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md.

Week in Reston

The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) Waste Water Collection Division staff completed their Septage Receiving Site Feasibility Study

Reston Community Center Hosts Taste of Arab World

A Diversity of Art at Reston Community Center.

Reston Community Center (RCC) hosted “A Taste of the Arab World” at Hunters Woods Friday, Feb. 12.

Reston Crime Reports

Notable incidents from the Fairfax County Police Blotter from Feb. 8-12.

Reston Pleads for Governor’s Veto

Reston Association and Reston 20/20 weigh in on proffer controversy.

Reston Association and the Reston 20/20 Committee asked Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to veto a bill about proffers that passed the Virginia General Assembly.

Commentary: Classrooms to Courtrooms

A report of the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) released last year included some eye-opening findings for Virginia: The Commonwealth leads the nation in student referrals to law enforcement, and minority students and students with disabilities are more likely to be suspended, expelled, or referred to law enforcement.

Commentary: Super Tuesday is Coming: Farewell Barack, Welcome Donald?

Independent Progressive

Have you heard? The United States will elect a new President this year.

FCPS Open Enrollment for Two-Way and World Languages Immersion Programs

Fairfax County Public Schools' online registration for the countywide lottery for two-way and world language immersion programs will open on Monday, Feb. 22.

FCPS Students Win Awards in 2016 Scholastic Writing Competition

Fairfax County Public Schools students at 22 schools won regional awards in the 2016 Scholastic Writing Awards Competition.

Reston Home Sales: January, 2016

In January, 2016, 70 Reston homes sold between $920,000-$134,985.

Reston Home Sales: January, 2016

Fairfax County: Parents, Community Supporters Rally to ‘Invest in Kids’

Emotional independent outbursts and communal chants of “Fund our schools” and “Invest in kids” echoed through the grand amphitheater just beyond the entrance to the Fairfax County Government Center.

Editorial: Freedom of Information on Life Support in General Assembly?

Last week, the Assembly passed SB 202, which undid a major push eight years ago to ensure that all of our public spending was ‘online’ and searchable by ordinary citizens. This, of course, meant disclosing the salaries of public employees over a certain income level.

Editorial: Fairfax Presses Ahead with Diversion First

When police encounter someone in mental health crisis, they can transport them to Merrifield Crisis Response Center instead of jail.

Natasha McKenna died a little more than a year ago on Feb. 7, 2015.

Diversion First Program Launched

Fairfax County officials announce Diversion First program designed to help individuals get treatment not jail time.

Kevin Earley said he’s living proof that Diversion First works. Earley has been living with bipolar disorder and had his last episode in 2007.

Uncovering the Roots of Slavery

Local student creates slave index to help descendants trace family history.

A local college student is spending much of her senior year scouring the last wills and testaments of residents of Northern Virginia.

ServiceSource Helps People with Disabilities

Nonprofit ServiceSource helps people with disabilities.

In one section of the ServiceSource Chantilly Center, music therapist Myra Goodrich leads a group of budding musicians playing a cheerful song.

Touching Many Hearts

Minecraft for a Mission – Touching Heart and their “Kids on a Mission” raise funds for children in foster care.

They say that charity begins at home. Helen Yi and Taylor, the mother and daughter co-founders of Touching Heart, a nonprofit aimed at educating and inspiring children to empathize with the needs of others and to take action to assist them, have no argument with that statement.

‘Star Wars’ Fans Flock to Local Classes

Movie's popularity leaves fans wanting to feel "The Force."

Beams of neon light flash around a dark room. Young Star Wars fans from a galaxy not so far away wield light sabers and move with carefully choreographed steps.

Time To Plan for Kids’ Summer Camp Adventures

Local camp fair offers sampling of summer programs.

Under a blanket of February frost, summer might seem light years away, but it’s closer than one might think.

Fairfax County: Public Safety Committee meets to discuss Ad Hoc Police Review recommendations and the Diversion First initiative

Just over a year since Natasha McKenna died following multiple shocks from a taser, while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention center, her name was never raised during the Feb. 9 meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting. Two audience members stood on one side of the Government Center conference room, holding posters bearing a picture of McKenna’s face and text including “Black Lives Matter.”

Fairfax County: Training Center Residents Relocated

They’re all gone. As of August 2015, there were still 55 residents with mental or physical disabilities receiving services at the state-owned and operated Northern Virginia Training Center on Braddock Road.

Week in Reston

Weekly happenings in Reston

Reston: Heading for State

The South Lakes girls 400 freestyle relay qualified for states with a time of 3:38.43 Saturday night, Jan. 30.

Reston: Virginia Polar Dip at Lake Anne

Event draws 204 jumpers and raises $95,000 for Camp Sunshine charity.

With air temperatures at 48 degrees, and water temperature at 36 degrees, some 204 jumpers took part in the ninth annual Virginia Polar Dip on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, raising $95,000 for the Camp Sunshine charity.

Reston Robotics Proves Resistance is Futile

On a crackling crisp morning Miranda and JohnAngelo stand waiting for a door minder to let them into Nova Labs in Reston.

Reston Crime Reports

Notable incidents from the Fairfax County Police blotter from Feb. 1-4.

Reston: Grand Opening

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage affiliated agents and staff, their friends, family and clients as well as members of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce attended the grand opening of the Coldwell Banker’s new location in Reston Town Center.

Reston Lions Honor Bland Contest Winners

Winners of the James A. Bland Music Competition, co-sponsored by the Reston Lions Club and the Reston Community Center, held on Tuesday, Feb. 2

Reston: Bob Simon’s Post Office

More than 50 people showed up with letters and packages to send out from the new Post Office at Lake Anne.

Reston: Mary Poppins, the Musical’ Arriving at CenterStage

With magical playfulness and practical common sense all charged up with about 30 unforgettable musical numbers, such as “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” be ready to welcome the next Reston Community Players production, “Mary Poppins, the Musical.”

Commentary: A Debatable Deal

Opponents of legislation to prevent gun violence have said for years that current laws on the books should be enforced before new laws were passed, but they quickly changed their minds when Attorney General Mark Herring moved to enforce Virginia’s law on recognizing concealed weapon permits from other states.

Classified Advertising February 10, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Reston 2015 Home Sales

In 2015, 1,153 Reston homes sold between $2,300,000-$79,900.

Reston 2015 Home Sales

Virginia Cigarette Tax Remains Lowest in Nation

Opportunity for increase in cigarette tax blows up in smoke.

Dale Stein and the McLean Citizens Association couldn’t even raise a match before legislators in Richmond extinguished a possible increase in the cigarette tax for Fairfax County.

Editorial: Limiting Local Authority

Assembly rushes bill limiting proffers without addressing who will pay for infrastructure.

In Virginia, a Dillon Rule state, local governments have only the powers explicitly granted by the General Assembly. And what the assembly gives, the assembly can take away.

Stylish Valentine’s Day Table Settings

Flowers and candles create romantic designs.

Fresh flowers and candles are an easy way to add elegance and romance to a Valentine’s Day table. From dramatic to understated, local tastemakers offer suggestions for setting the mood for a memorable dinner.

Bringing Order to Household Chaos

Clever design solutions for hiding clutter.

Wires, cable boxes, soccer cleats, pet bowls and other items are life’s necessities, but they can be unsightly and disrupt the aesthetic of an elegant living space.

Fairfax County School Board Approves $2.67 Billion ‘No Cuts’ Budget

Calls for general salary raises and additional $40 million for teachers, lowering elementary class sizes.

Members of the Fairfax County School Board have taken the next step in realizing Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza’s vision of no additional cuts in the Fiscal Year 2017 school system operating budget. T

Area Students Shine in MATHCOUNTS Competition

The Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competition was held on Saturday, Feb. 6, at George Mason University.

Snowzilla Summit Ahead

Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.

“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during the recent blizzard.

Honoring Black History

Fairfax County’s Cable Network presents programs in celebration of Black History Month.

Fairfax Public Access (FPA) will air a special series of movies and documentaries throughout the month of February in recognition of Black History Month.

Proffers in Danger?

Richmond caught the attention of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week specifically with House Bill 770 (Gilbert) and Senate B 549 (Obenshain), bills Sharon Bulova says will place “significant restrictions” on development, specifically citing “unreasonable proffers.”

Letter: Safeguarding Others in Time of Need

To the Editor

“To be successful, there must be strong community will.”

Fairfax Station and Mount Vernon: Arcadia’s veteran farmers-to-be report for first weekend training

Clifton Hoffler is embarking on his third career. A resident of the Greenbelt, Md. area, Hoffler spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq twice, before transitioning into government sales. In 16 months, he will be a certified culinary chef.

Fairfax County: Election Officers Still Needed for March Primary

Cameron Sasnett has one message for people concerned about the integrity of elections -- at least from a procedure standpoint: Get involved as an election officer.

Fairfax County: In-Custody Death Investigated

Paul Guida died Oct. 17, 2015, while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The 68-year-old Falls Church resident was charged with violating a protective order. He had been held without bond since Oct. 1, 2015.

Combined Commissions for Women Host Human Trafficking Awareness Event in Fairfax

Thirty years ago, “Jen” was lured into a pornography ring and sexually abused by a man who initially pretended to be her friend.

Snowzilla Summit Ahead

Board names Fairfax County Animal Shelter for Michael Frey.

“What a difference a week makes,” said County Chairman Sharon Bulova (D), in case anybody had moved on from the 29.3 inches of measured snow at Dulles Airport during last week’s blizzard.

Classified Advertising February 3, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Another Opportunity to Talk About It

Super Bowl Sunday is Sunday, Feb. 7, and often more about the parties than the game.

Editorial: Economic Development in Virginia

The General Assembly prides itself in providing a pro-business climate, but refuses infusion of more than $3 billion annually.

Hundreds of bills before this year’s General Assembly session focus on “business climate,” providing incentives for businesses to locate and expand here, extending tax exemptions and tax credits, encouraging international trade, reducing regulation and many other approaches perceived as pro-business.

Marking American Heart Month

Month-long observance raises awareness about cardiovascular disease and the role of aerobic exercise in preventing it.

Music is thumping, sweat is dripping and hearts are pounding. In a packed aerobic dance studio, students move in the name of health.

GRACE Celebrates Youth Art Month

Greater Reston Arts Center celebrates Youth Art Month with two exhibitions dedicated to the artistic achievements of the area’s youth.

Making More out of Less

Empty-nesters find a better plan for space, makes downsizing easier.

The transition was surprisingly easy. In the previous act, John and Mary Millette were living with two growing sons in a 5,000-plus-square-foot house in Charleston.

Meditation Workshops at Greater Reston Arts Center

Beloved Yoga is presenting Meditation Workshops at Greater Reston Arts Center, “Contemplating Art: Thought Experiments, Black Holes, and Meditation” inviting all to experience firsthand Einstein’s “Thought Experiments” that formulated his Theory of Relativity.

Commentary: A More Realistic Minimum

Northern Virginia jurisdictions are among the wealthiest in the country.

Commentary: Reports of Lake Anne’s Demise are Premature

Things were looking a little bleak at Lake Anne in December as winter officially began.

Reston: South Lakes, Storm Water and Collaboration

RA approves funding for independent study of stormwater flows between Cedar Cove Cluster and Wakerobin Lane.

When the Board of Supervisors approved a 40,000 square foot addition to South Lakes in October 2015, Terry Maynard of Reston 20/20 emphasized a failing stormwater management plan for the adjoining neighborhoods of Wakerobin Lane and Cedar Cove.

Reston: Around the World in a Day

Google at Ideaventions: Reston academy keeps promises.

Ideaventions Academy for Mathematics and Science in Reston which opened in the fall of 2015, has celebrated several achievements over the past months.

Awards recognize the contributions of volunteers in the community.

Nominations are open for the 2016 Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards.