School Calendar Changes Examined
Fairfax County considers ending half-day Mondays, at the cost between $4 to $7.6 Million.
Changes could be coming soon to school schedules in Fairfax County, under a new plan announced by Superintendent Karen Garza at a work session on May 28.
Summer Fairs and Festivals Calendar 2014
Your guide to this summer's hottest events in the area.
Your guide to this summer's fun festivals and events.
Letter: Where Are Your Kids?
For each of the past three gorgeous days, I’ve spent an hour or two hobbling along the pathways in my neighborhood, Lake Anne Village.
Column: A Sense of Community
As you may know, I grew up in a very rural part of Virginia—in Page County near the little town of Shenandoah in the Page Valley that is part of the grander Shenandoah Valley.
Column: Library Board and Masters Need to Rebuild Citizen Trust
Remember the uproar last year when the Fairfax Public Library administration got caught trying to introduce their “Beta Plan” for Fairfax County libraries of the future?
Week in Reston
Volunteers needed and scholarships awarded.
Reston Hospital Center Awards Scholarships to High School Seniors
In a ceremony on Thursday, June 5, Reston Hospital Center awarded 17 Northern Virginia high school seniors with scholarships in recognition of their excellence in education and passion for pursuing a career in healthcare.
Taste of Reston Returns to Town Center
Thousands expected at 24th annual event.
Get the knife and fork ready.
Reston’s Phase II Introduced
No plans made yet, said district supervisor.
Reston’s Phase II of its Master Plan is underway.
Cappies Awarded for High School Theater
The 15th Annual Cappies Awards Gala for high school theater was held Sunday, June 8 at The Kennedy Center. Nine Cappies went to West Potomac High School for “Spamalot,” including the coveted Best Musical award. The Best Play award went to Langley High School for “The Children’s Hour.” The Cappies’ show season extended from October 2013 to May 2014, and Cappies shows were attended, on average, by 45 student critics. This year’s event included 58 public and private high schools from Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince William counties, the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria and Manassas, and Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by Judy Bowns, Janie Strauss and Ed Monk.
Spring Concert at South Lakes
South Lakes Choral Department presents music skills.
Friends, families and local residents had the pleasure of hearing the South Lakes High School Choral Department perform on Tuesday, June 3 at the school’s Little Theatre.
Local Area Team Wins Third Place in Virginia State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament
In a tough competition of all the regional winners in the state tournament, the team came in third place.
Creating Private, Restful Retreat
Designers offer suggestions for decorating the perfect bedroom.
While most people crave a good night’s sleep, it remains a dream for many. A bedroom that is both chic and comfortable can help the overworked find that restful slumber.
Obituary
Marcella A. (Ridder) Urban, of Reston, Dies
Marcella A. Urban, Reston resident for more than five years, died peacefully at Sunrise Senior Living in Oakton on June 5.
Column: Something New – or Old, to Consider
And therein lies the anxiety. Although, all things considered – and as you regular readers know, I like, maybe even need, to consider all things – the medical assessment of the most recent CT scan of my upper torso and thorax/lungs showed a new object in my left lung, “approximately the size of a silver dollar,” according to my oncologist. What this object is, exactly, cannot be determined at this juncture; technology prevents such clarity, unfortunately. Nevertheless, its appearance and location are possibly cause for concern, possibly not.
Eat. Drink. Pay?
Fairfax County task force debates voters’ appetite for another meals tax referendum.
It has been 22 years since Fairfax County asked voters to approve a tax on restaurant meals, an issue that ignited protests, caused deep divisions among community leaders and threatened to melt down several political careers. The reverberations of that epic failure — what many consider the third rail of county politics — continue to echo in the ears of county politicians.
Comfort Women Memorial Highlights Human Trafficking
New Peace Garden a beacon of hope for victims.
When members of the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues unveiled a new memorial on May 30, they also illuminated the issue of local human trafficking in Northern Virginia. Elected officials including Supervisor John Foust, Japanese and Korean representatives, and human rights activists gathered to remember the women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery during WWII. Now the memorial stands sunlit on the back lawn of the Fairfax County Government Center, as a reminder for today’s community to take a stand against these crimes against humanity in their own neighborhoods.
Why Education Needs Its Foundation
More than 100 business leaders attend luncheon.
Approximately 33 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools kindergartners are living in poverty.
100,000 Homes Fairfax Wins Blue Ribbon Partnership Award
The 100,000 Homes Fairfax campaign was presented with a Blue Ribbon Partnership award from the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships (OP3) as part of its "Celebrate Partnerships" awards ceremony held on May 29.
Opinion: Transitioning to Summer
Summer is a time of change — always welcomed by students. The break during the hottest months gives a chance for kids to de-stress and prepare for their next grade on their short path to adulthood. After five summers at FACETS, I’ve had the opportunity to watch many children make this transition. What’s fun for kids though, can be a huge struggle for their parents. Finding appropriate and affordable care, providing enough meals during the day, and incurring the extra costs of entertaining children can be an enormous challenge for families that FACETS serves.