Stories for October 2012

Classified Advertising Oct 31, 2012

Read the latest ads here!

Editorial: In Wake of Sandy, Still Plan to Vote

Variety of choices in political landscape.

Hurricane Sandy means that the week preceding the election will not be what we were expecting. This editorial is being written Sunday night, Oct. 28, as forecasters predict five inches of rain and 65-mile-per-hour winds over the next two days. With some predicting that power could take a week or more to restore, we have to worry about the likely condition of the Eastern seaboard will be on Election Day, Nov. 6. Absentee voting in person had been cancelled for Monday, and most government offices were closed in anticipation of the storm. What will this mean for voter turnout, for access to voting places on Election Day?

George Allen v. Timothy Kaine for Senate

Voters have stark choice between candidates to replace U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D).

Candidates for U.S. Senate George Allen and his Democratic challenger Timothy M. Kaine have powerful things in common. Both were popular governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia; both have long political resumes; and both men are passionate about the success of their adopted home state.

Happy Halloween

Haunting events to round out your trick-and-treat filled evening.

Get all the treats and tricks, fright-in-the-night and boo!-filled fun to be had out of Halloween this fall with a little help from some Fairfax County seasonal events.

After the Storm

Thousands of residents without power as clean-up efforts continue and residents deal with downed trees, closed roads and schools in wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy battered the region Monday night, shutting down Fairfax County schools, governments, roads and voting precincts.

Fairfax County Braces for Sandy’s Arrival

Threat of flooding and high winds prompts officials to close schools, government offices and absentee voting.

As Hurricane Sandy barreled down the East Coast on Sunday, it’s beginning to look like the weather – not politics – will deliver the biggest October surprise this year.

Storm Related Closings

Current list of weather related closings that Connection Newspapers is aware of.

Area Schools Closing in Face of Weather Threat

Threat of flooding, high winds from Hurricane Sandy prompts decision.

Better safe than sorry. Based on that philosophy, Fairfax County Public Schools announced early Sunday afternoon that all FCPS schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday because of the continuing threat of flooding and hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Sandy, a “rare hybrid storm” expected to make landfall on Monday.

Bank Becomes Week-long Volunteer Hub

Capital One Financial Corporation’s “One Week” of service benefits local food bank.

Stacks of canned goods and cereal boxes filled a conference room at the McLean offices of Capital One—not what one would expect to find at a financial institution. However, on Monday, Oct. 15, employees were kicking off “One Week” of service by volunteering their time to sort and fill over 625 bags of food for the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC)’s food bank.

Fifteen-year-old Runs Marathon for Orphans

David Glass of Fairfax Station is determined to help change the life of an orphaned baby in China.

David Glass is a 15-year-old with a big mission, to help change the life of an orphaned baby in China. Glass, an 8th grader at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax Station, understands how important it is for someone to believe in a child without parents as he was adopted at age 12 from an orphanage in Beijing. This year he will be running in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC, with all of the funds he raises going to help “baby David,” a 6-month-old baby boy who was abandoned with cleft lip and palate.

Vienna Halloween Parade Keeps Them Smiling

Floats, emergency vehicles, bands and costumed children set the mood for festive evening.

The weather during the 66th Annual Vienna Halloween Parade on Wednesday, Oct. 24, did not merely cooperate, it begged the community to revel in its balmy temperatures and clear skies.

Area Roundups

The terrors of the Clifton Haunted Trail will be unleashed Saturday, Oct. 27, from 7-10 p.m., in the Town of Clifton’s Eight-Acre Park (rain date, Oct. 28). Tickets are $20 for adults and $10, children; there are no advance sales. Sturdy shoes are recommended; snacks and beverages are available.

South County High Presents An Absolute Turkey

French “bedroom farce” promises to tempt comedic palates.

Many think of mouthwatering turkey as Thanksgiving approaches, but a different kind of turkey is coming to Lorton this November. South County High School Theatre presents their fall production of “An Absolute Turkey” at Dale S. Rumberger Auditorium, Nov. 8-10.

Burke Artist Launches ‘Barn Sale without the Barn’

Think "Upscale Tag Sale" of original art, vintage jewelry and everything in between.

A year ago, I read an article about this new phenomenon called "Barn Sales." These various groups of women in the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia would put all this beautiful antique and vintage furniture for sale in differently-styled vignettes. The kicker was that these vignettes were set up in different stalls of a barn. Each had a different look: Victorian here, retro there, Hollywood regency there, farmhouse chic there, with antiques throughout. As I watched all these people waiting in line eagerly to buy all these vintage and antique and "freshened" goodies, two things occurred to me. 1. The art I was making at the time would look amazing in this venue. 2. Between me and Sharon, we knew where to find or how to make almost everything in the show. On the way home I looked at her and said, "Sharon, let's have a barn sale this fall." and she said, "Where are we going to find a barn in Burke?" And we just decided we didn't need a barn. Hence the tag "Branches: the Barn Sale Without a Barn".

Bulova, McDonnell Honored for Community Service Work

Chairman Sharon Bulova, on behalf of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Governor Bob McDonnell, were honored by the Arc of Northern Virginia, a non-profit organization that provides services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, at their annual Golden Anniversary Gala on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Opinion: Be Part of the Children's Connection

Call for student artwork and writing; deadline Dec. 3.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families.

Lawmakers Debate Eminent Domain Ballot Question

Some argue amendment fails to increase property owner’s protections, but may shut down popular parades.

"A shop owner could complain they lost revenue, that festival vendors are taking their business away….What if someone decided to make that an issue and seek compensation for lost profits under (the amendment)? The Town of Vienna can’t afford to reimburse every shop owner..." — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) "(The amendment) is fair…If they run a road and cut off your driveway to the point that no one can get into your restaurant and ruin your business, you should be compensated." —Del. Dave Albo (R-42)

Obama Fires Up Fairfax Crowd With ‘Romnesia’ Quips

President delivers second GMU gender-pitch aimed at women voters.

Lillie Reynolds, a single mother from Herndon with four daughters, stood in line for nearly five hours to hear President Barack Obama speak for 25 minutes at a campaign rally at George Mason University on Friday, Oct. 19.

Voters to Determine Fate of Amendment to Limit Use of Eminent Domain

Measure will allow property owners to seek damages for loss of profits and access.

Nowhere is the debate about eminent domain more intense than the foot of King Street in Alexandria, where city officials threatened to take land owned by the Old Dominion Boat Club using the power of eminent domain for flood mitigation.

Fairfax Field Hockey Beats Lake Braddock in Regionals

Sophomore Duke scores lone goal for Rebels.

The Fairfax field hockey team defeated Lake Braddock, 1-0, in the opening round of the Northern Region Tournament on Oct. 23.

The Passover Amendment: Should Legislators Meet on Religious Holidays?

Former Del. David Englin (D-45) was behind amendment now before voters.

Every year, the Virginia General Assembly convenes several weeks after the session to react to the governor’s vetoes.

Classified Advertising Oct 24, 2012

Read the latest ads here!

EnviroSolutions Awarded for Contributions

Waste disposal company recognized for support of Workhouse Arts Center.

The Arts Council of Fairfax County presented their Arts Philanthropy Award to EnvrioSolutions for its extensive financial suport of the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. EnviroSolutions committed approximately $750,000 in cash donations, more than $100,000 in in-kind donations and hundreds of staff hours.

Lorton/Springfield Calendar, Oct. 19-Oct. 31

Get up, get out and explore before October slips away. Isn't it time for that date night, checking out all those fall flea markets you said you wanted to, and enjoying the fall weather with the family? Take your picks: rummage/yard sales, flea markets, an exhibit, a George Washington vestryman election commemoration, an art workshop, a parenting discussion on raising grateful children, one last lingering Oktoberfest to catch, Halloween bowling, a haunted trail, a zombie race, a dance benefit and a concert.

“Hey Beez; Beez, It’s Me”

It was my father all right – in a dream. Standing five feet away, approximately, in a well-lit, local convenience store with which I am extremely familiar. This was no case of mistaken identity. Besides, he was wearing those blue, terrycloth shorts of his that my mother always hated. So yes, I called out to him, surprised as I was to see him, locally as it were.

Are You Ready to Be Scared?

Frights abound along the Clifton Haunted Trail.

Screams pierce the night in the middle of a dark and spooky forest, while scary creatures frighten all those brave enough to enter. “It’s only eight acres—w hat could possibly happen to you?” That’s the slogan of the Clifton Haunted Trail, and the bloody mayhem is once again ready to be unleashed.

Immigration Issue High on Latino Voters’ Agenda

GMU panel addresses the impact of Latino vote in Northern Virginia.

“The demographic shifts coming to Virginia will wipe out the effects of the short-sighted anti-immigrant politicking we see now.” —Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49)

Halloween Happenings

It’s back! This year’s haunted trail winds through Clifton’s eight-acre Buckley Park on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m. This year will include several new terrifying skits including re-enactments, popular scary movie scenes and plenty of frightening lighting and props. Parents should accompany children along the Trail. This year the Haunted Trail features several new and scarier skits from zombie land and the legendary headless horseman may ride by on his stallion from time to time.

Area Roundups

At his swearing-in ceremony in June, City of Fairfax Mayor R. Scott Silverthorne promised to give every resident an equal opportunity to participate in government.

What Would $155 Million Bond Package Buy?

New fire stations, library renovations, park improvements and more on Nov. 6 ballot.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, Monique Bell of Oakton was helping her 5-year-old daughter McKenzie sort through a dozen Halloween craft books at the Reston Regional Library. The library, one of the busiest branches in Fairfax County, has a collection of more than 215,000 volumes and circulates more than a million books a year.

Classified Advertising Oct. 17, 2012

Read the latest ads here!

Two Poor Teachers Expand in Area

A kitchen and bath remodeling company brings a one-stop-shop right to customers' front doors.

On a sunny afternoon in the parking lot of a Fairfax County shopping center, Jeff Pregman is giving a tour of his mobile showroom, a $100,000 former bookmobile that now houses an impressive selection of tiles, counter tops, faucets, flooring, light fixtures and more. Pregman is the General Manager of Two Poor Teachers, a Class A contracting company founded in 1999 that specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. The tour is interrupted on several occasions over the course of an hour by folks peering in the windows or knocking on the door. “I love it,” says Pregman. “People see this big vehicle that says it’s a design center. They come up to see what’s what and they are blown away by what’s inside. We do get a bit of business this way.”

Editorial: Pick Your Own Election Day

It's called “absentee voting in person,” and there are a lot of reasons why you should.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. The deadline to register to vote is past, although in Northern Virginia, it's clear that a very high percentage of eligible voters are registered. Four years ago in the presidential election of 2008, there were 5,034,660 voters registered in Virginia, and 3,752,858 actually voted. Just in the month of September 2012, Fairfax County saw more than 6,000 newly registered voters, for a total of 646,881 active voters. Arlington registered more than 3,300 new voters in September, with more than 130,000 active voters total. Alexandria added more than 1,300 new voters last month alone, with 81,847 active voters.

Column: Our Health Depends on the Air We Breathe

For too many Americans and Virginians, simply breathing the air can be dangerous. That’s especially the case for the 306,000 Virginia children and 96,000 adults who battle asthma, the 1.1 million with cardiovascular disease, the 154,000 with chronic bronchitis and the estimated 411,000 who live in poverty. But it is true for all of us and it’s that way because of soot in our air.

Letter: Vote Yes for Area Parks

As Connection readers know, the upcoming election is a pivotal one. What readers may not be aware of is that a park bond referendum question is on the ballot for Fairfax County residents. I'm writing to ask readers to vote YES for the 2012 park bond.

Defense, Running Game Lead Lake Braddock Past Robinson

Bruins have won four straight after 1-2 start.

The Lake Braddock football team beat Robinson, 32-7, on Oct. 12.

“Subjectively Speaking”

In my opinion. It’s what I think. It’s what I feel. It’s what I think I feel. It may not be something I know, but it’s certainly something that I hope I know. And if it’s not exactly something that I know, then I hope it’s something I believe.

Two Years Later, the Search Goes On

Homicide detectives are still seeking leads in a two-year long investigation of the murder of Yong Suk Yun, 61. He was killed on Oct. 7, 2010, in his Fairfax Station home at 5781 Ladues End Court. Yun owned the Dr. Wash in Chantilly and detectives believe Yun’s murder stemmed from a robbery.

Chilly, Fun Clifton Day

People from all over the area came to Clifton Day 2012.

Civitan Clubs Host Annual Burke Lake Picnic

Over 300 people attended the recent picnic at Burke Lake Park for individuals with intellectual disabilities, their staff, and their families. The picnic was a combined effort of the Area 3 Civitan Clubs, including the Arlington, Fairfax, Greater Loudoun and Tysons Clubs, and the Fairfax County Department of Therapeutic Recreation, assisted by 13 members of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity at George Mason University. Members from the CFS Proud Hearts and MVLE Broadway Stars Civitan Clubs were also in attendance.

An ‘Eye-opening’ Banquet in Burke

A "hunger banquet" highlights poverty in the world.

Thirty youth from area middle and high schools gathered on Sept. 18 at their local church in Burke to experience a “hunger banquet” to increase their awareness of poverty and hunger in the world, Haiti and in Northern Virginia. When these students from Lake Braddock, Robinson and West Springfield gathered for their weekly meeting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were unaware of what was in store for them. Their leaders divided the students randomly into three groups—seating four students at an elegant dining table, nine students in a circle on folding chairs and the remaining 25 on cardboard laid out on the floor. The three groups represented the distribution of wealth in the world—10 percent in the high-income level, 20 percent in the middle-income level and the remaining 70 percent at the lowest level of wealth.

Column: Volunteerfest Provides Opportunities for All Interests

I’d like to encourage all Fairfax County residents to consider participating in this year’s “VolunteerFest,” sponsored by Volunteer Fairfax on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. This year marks the 18th year for VolunteerFest, and more than 1500 County residents are expected to volunteer their time at dozens of sites around the County. Tasks include landscaping, sorting and collecting food at food banks, maintaining an outdoor classroom at an elementary school, helping seniors, cleaning libraries and sorting clothes at a thrift store that funds programs for people with disabilities. A full list of events can be found at http://www.volunteerfairfax.org/. Volunteer Fairfax is much more than “VolunteerFest,” however. For 37 years, this organization has been a tremendous resource for volunteering in Fairfax County. Through a variety of programs and services, Volunteer Fairfax strengthens the capacity of its nonprofit members and offers meaningful volunteer opportunities for local citizens. Moreover, all year long they match the skills and interests of volunteers and donors to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, helping to build a better community through service.

Woodson Football Beats TC for First 2012 Victory

Titans running back Robertson runs for 176 yards in defeat.

The Woodson football team defeated T.C. Williams, 28-21, on Oct. 6.

Classified Advertising Oct 10, 2012

Read the latest ads here!

Butler Leads Lake Braddock Volleyball to Victory

Senior has 22 kills in win over Spartans.

Led by Natalie Butler's 22 kills, the Lake Braddock volleyball team defeated West Springfield on Oct. 9.

Editorial: Cancer Awareness

Success with breast cancer awareness should help other cancers.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Anyone connected to media of any variety already knows this. A massive marketing success, we all know that pink shows support for breast cancer prevention, especially in October.

Fairfax Crowd Gives Obama Enthusiastic Welcome

President scores points talking about jobs, women’s rights … and Big Bird.

After a bruising debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama did some boasting Friday, Oct. 5 at a campaign rally at George Mason University.

South County Field Hockey Loses Weather-Shortened Game

The South County field hockey team is 10-5 with one regular season game remaining.

Column: “Less Fluid, Most Nodules Stable, Minimal Growth.”

Given how I feel now, three-plus years later, and considering the results of this most recent scan, the future may simply be what it is: not now, but later. At least, that’s the way I see it, subjectively speaking. (Now whether “subjectively speaking” is just a euphemism for “unrealistic” is likely a topic for a “future” column.)

Classified Advertising Oct. 3, 2012

Read the lastest ads here!

SoCo Receiver Jackson Burns TC

Stallions score 60 points in victory against Titans.

South County's David Symmes and William Jackson connected for three touchdown passes against T.C. Williams.

Editorial: Last Week to Register to Vote

To vote on Election Day, you must be registered at your current address no later than Oct. 15, 2012. Registered voters should have received a new voter card in the mail by now. You can check your registration status online by visiting the State Board of Elections website at www.sbe.virginia.gov. There you can also download a voter registration form and mail or fax it to your elections office address.

Perkins, Four Independents Challenge Connolly in 11th District

This will be the first election using new district maps based on 2010 Census data. Virginia's 11th congressional district includes the City of Fairfax, most of Fairfax County and the eastern portion of Prince William County. The Towns of Clifton, Haymarket, Occoquan, and Vienna are also located in the 11th District. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D), who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2008, represents more than 650,000 residents.

County Gets Election Ready

Fairfax County prepares voters for new election measures.

"The good news in Fairfax County is that almost everyone who is eligible is registered to vote," said Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief election official. "Our problem in Fairfax County is not voter apathy, and it’s not getting people to register. What we don't have is every registered voter registered at their correct address."

Walk to Feed the Hungry

Sept. 29 was a "Day to Serve" in Springfield, Burke and Fairfax areas.

Early in the year Elder Jack Gerard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) reached out to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray to invite them to collaborate with the LDS Church in a regional "Day to Serve" to benefit all of the communities in this wide swath of the country.