Stories for February 2015

Experienced Woodson Boys' Basketball Team Bounces Back from 3OT Loss in Conference 7 Final

Cavaliers beat Robinson in opening round of 6A North region tournament.

The Woodson boys' basketball team beat Robinson 70-55 Friday night.

Play Monopoly and Help Others

Annual tournament raises close to $8,000 for Lorton Community Action Center.

On a cold, snow-approaching Saturday, nearly 100 men, women and children hunkered down to play three rounds at the 8th Annual Ron K.’s Monopoly Tournament hosted at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.

Bird Feed Cafe in Fairfax Station

The night before the snowstorm Terrance Moran of Fairfax Station prefilled his bird feeder. Around 7 a.m. a cardinal perched on the deck rail and noticed that seed was available. After eating a few bites the cardinal took off.

Movement Determined to ‘Save the Park’

Since the beginning of February, the Movement has generated a petition with more than 8,900 signatures and counting to save the Park.

“When the anonymous letter showed up in our neighborhood mailboxes many of us began to wonder and worry. A few of us started talking and soon a meeting was scheduled with Pat Herrity and the Park Authority,” said Leigh Claypool, committee chair of the Save Burke Lake Park movement.

Letter: Breastfeeding is About Life

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: As a fairly new Virginia resident, I like reading your summaries of county and state government actions that impact us all, including the General Assembly’s crossover bills featured in your February 19-25 issue. I’d like to share one more. HB1499 protects mothers who breastfeed their babies in public; Del. Dave Albo is one of the co-patrons.

From Veterinarian to Art Photographer

The Art Guild of Clifton hosted its first art show of 2015 by highlighting the photographs of Jamie Netschert. Netschert started taking photographs as an undergraduate student at Weber State University where he received a degree in Zoology.

Fairfax County Swimmers Shine at States

Swimmers from 36 high schools from around Virginia competed in the Virginia High School League 6A state championship held in Richmond on Feb. 20.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova Bulova to Create Transparency Review Commission

Group would include citizens, legal community and other organizations.

When Alexandria resident Natasha McKenna was removed from life support and died on Feb. 8, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office posted a release on the county website.

Fairfax County Park Authority Passes on Commercial Proposal for Burke Lake Golf Park

Burke resident Meg Hanrahan likes Topgolf in Alexandria. “To go out on a date with my husband,” she said, “but it’s not some place I want to go when I want to mentally prepare to go out on a course and play 18 holes.”

Fairfax Station Woman Raises Support for Orphaned Ole Miss Student

At first, Fairfax Station resident Julia Ross only knew Alex Shields, a junior at the University of Mississippi, as the boy who dated her daughter Emma and friend to other students she knows.

Saving Sarge

Sarge, a 2-year-old brown tabby, was found recently by an exterminator in a crawl space of a foreclosed home. He is partially blind and deaf. A good Samaritan took him from the exterminator and rushed him to the veterinarian who then called a local cat rescue group, Helping Homeless Felines. "He was almost dead" said Val Garcia, president of the local rescue group. "I saw the vet records and can confirm the seriousness of his condition. I ended up fostering Sarge initially to help him heal."

Fairfax County Animal Shelter Gets Creative to Save Lives

Since 2013, Fairfax County has been the largest jurisdiction in the United States with a placement rate of animals above 90 percent. Last year alone, nearly 2,500 animals were adopted, which is nearly double the adoptions just two years earlier.

Finding Forever Families for Felines

Nonprofit helps Animal Shelters with overflow.

Jacquie Barker saw the problem with the normal animal rescue cycle. Ideally, animal rescue starts with the rescue, followed by a period of sheltering, and finally, adoption. But often rescue organizations’ efforts get stuck during the sheltering or fostering phase.

Fern and Otter Come to ‘Work’

“My dogs Fern and Otter, both adopted from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. They love to come to work with me at the shelter.

When Sam Met Frodo

“Sam and Frodo are both rescue cats. Frodo, the big orange guy with the furry feet, came from Home Alone Feline Rescue in 2011. He is part Maine Coon and part American bobtail. Lou and I had been thinking about getting a second cat as a companion for Frodo when I ran into Lee District School Board member Tammy Koufax at a community event in Springfield in August 2013..."

Bark and Call

Mobile Pet Grooming Comes to You

Marzi Sharifi started HoPPooH in Fairfax, a mobile pet grooming service, in 2013. With her two vans and groomer, Sara, HoPPooH—which means little dog or dog in Persian—will come to the pet owner’s door to groom and style man’s best friend…or his cat.

Column: Not So Late This Time

But real-time once again: February 20, 11 hours, approximately, after our regularly-scheduled, post-scan meeting with the oncologist at 10:00 this morning.

South County Boys’ Basketball Wins First Conference Championship

No. 7 (lowest) seed Stallions upset No. 1 Woodson in 3-OT classic.

The South County boys' basketball team won its first conference championship Tuesday night.

Editorial: Managing Mental Illness in Jails

Natasha McKenna’s death provides window on national concern.

A national report released on Feb. 11 highlighted the prevalence of people with mental illness incarcerated in local jails.

Fairfax County School Board Discusses New AAP Center at Poplar Tree

Board seeks more community feedback before taking action.

Greenbriar West Elementary School is far from the only Fairfax County Public School with an overcrowding problem.

Letter: Beneficial Choices

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor: The cab drivers who seek protection from the government against Uber and other ride-sharing companies have this all wrong. Cab drivers who are dissatisfied with their work hours or earnings are free to either remain cab drivers or to seek another way to earn money.

Just Pictures?

Randolph-Macon Professor presents on African-American Art at Workhouse.

How do we articulate the challenges of our experience in life? Randolph-Macon College art history professor Dr. Evie Terrono explores this question through the eyes of African-American artists, spanning from the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement to modern day.

Weichert, Realtors Recognizes Burke/Fairfax Station Office Associate

Bruce L. Green, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced Sales Associate Youssef Zeroual of the Burke/Fairfax Station office was individually recognized for his exceptional industry success during the month of January.

Dead or Alive: Virginia General Assembly Lawmakers Pick Their Legislative Highlights at the Crossover

HB1872: Would have required the Board of Education to arrange a special training program for principals working with struggling schools.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: January, 2015

In January, 2015, 48 homes sold between $2,100,000-$215,000 in the Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton area.

Clifton, Fairfax Station and Lorton Home Sales: January, 2015

Virginia General Assembly Reaches Crossover

Bills live, die or fold into other legislation before review by the opposite chamber.

As the current meeting of the Virginia General Assembly neared the one-month mark, legislators in the House of Delegates and Senate had to finalize work on bills they would send to their counterparts for consideration.

Citizens Hold Meeting on Burke Lake Golf Park

Though not typically a winter sport, talk of golf is heating up a chilly February.

Randolph-Macon Professor presents on African-American Art at the Workhouse in Lorton

How do we articulate the challenges of our experience in life? Randolph-Macon College art history professor Dr. Evie Terrono explores this question through the eyes of African-American artists, spanning from the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement to modern day.

Lorton Community Action Center to Hold 8th Monopoly Tournament

Aspiring Donald Trumps and Warren Buffetts will have their chance to compete for pretend real estate stardom, all for a good cause, as the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) and Ron Kowalski Real Estate Group host the eighth annual Monopoly tournament in Lorton.

Fairfax: Robinson’s DePasquale Escapes Defeat at Regionals

Lake Braddock’s Haskett wins third region championship.

Robinson wrestling placed third at the regional tournament.

Fairfax’s Barborek Wins 6A North Region Floor Title

Senior qualifies for states on floor, bars, vault.

Fairfax's Rachel Barborek won the region floor title on Feb. 11.

Column: Staying Ahead of the Feds

The federal government is not always wrong. At the same time, the state government is not always right.

The Virginia House and the Senate have penned similar but competing mid-point versions to the 2014-2016 biennial budget.

Black History Month Celebrations

Local students learn about the history and accomplishments of African-Americans.

Fourth grade student Eli West crafted a poem this month that was modeled after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous, “I Have a Dream” speech.

Stalled Labor Market Slows County Budget

Proposed budget calls for no real estate tax rate increase, but average homeowner would pay $184 more.

Supervisor Jeff McKay pointed out an irony in County Executive Ed Long’s proposed $3.8 billion budget. Three planning positions would be eliminated from the budget even though Long suggested the county needs more efforts to raise revenue from commercial and industrial venues.

Super-Insulation Talk Attracts Homeowners in Reston

How to lower electric, gas and water bills?

The Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne in Reston was the venue for a well-attended presentation by Rich and Marian Taschler on proper home insulation and its mostly unknown benefits. The program was offered under the auspices of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University.

Oh Deer! What Can the Matter Be?

The county Park Authority used aerial infrared surveys via fixed-wing airplanes to count the number of deer inside parks and within a small distance in the surrounding neighborhoods on Feb. 6, 2014 and Dec. 27, 2013, according to the 2014 Annual Report on the Environment for Fairfax County.

Column: Real-Time, Really Late

I’m not a night owl. More of an early bird, worms notwithstanding. But given the contents of last week’s column, “Scantsy,” I find it difficult to write about anything else while waiting for the results of my CT Scan.

Auditions to Be Held for Metropolitan School of the Arts

Students interested in attending the Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria and Lorton, can audition on Sun., March 1 at MSA Lorton Campus at 9601 Ox Road. Auditions are required as part of the 2015-2016 academy registration. The MSA Academy audition is for performing arts students from sixth to 12th grade.

Good Citizenship Honored

The Daughters of the American Revolution's Thomas Lee (Fairfax) chapter, in an event held at the Army Navy Club in Fairfax, awarded their 2015 Good Citizens award to Clifton resident and Robinson senior Elizabeth Telford. The award recognizes a high school senior who stands out among their peers and possesses the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.

Town of Clifton Holds First Table Tennis Games

The Clifton Betterment Association held its first table tennis tournament on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Clifton Town Hall. The competition was the brainchild of CBA members Michelle Stein, Lynne Strang, Steve Bittner and Jim Witt. Strang said it is a way to “provide a variety of activities, have fun and get fit” during the winter.

Woodson High School Inducts 2014-2015 Hall of Fame Athletes

W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax welcomed eight new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Grand Atrium Banquet Venue in Tysons Corner. This is the third Hall of Fame “class” for Woodson. The honors program was established in conjunction with the school’s 50th anniversary in 2012.

Nagle, Arya to Address GOP Women Meeting

Chet Nagle, Naval Academy graduate, Cold War pilot, CIA agent and author will speak at the January meeting of the Republican Women of Clifton on the conflict in the Middle East and vulnerability of the US electrical grid to EMP and cyber-attacks. This topic bears on the cyber theme of Nagel’s latest book Lazarus Man, which expounds on these issues using fact-based fiction. Golala Arya, Kurdish Iranian refugee, will contribute her insights on the conflict in Iran.

MATHCOUNTS Regional Winners Announced

The Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competitions were held on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Glasgow Middle School in Alexandria, and at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington. This year, because of the exceptionally large number of students participating, the Regional competition had to be split between two venues.

Sixth Friends of Sadie Blood Drive in Burke Draws More Than 200 Donors

For the sixth year in a row, Burke resident Amy Dozier celebrated Valentine’s Day by helping manage a blood drive. Her daughter Madeline, barely a tween for the first Friends of Sadie drive in 2010, is now a 16-year-old sophomore at Robinson Secondary School. She’s old enough to drive and old enough to donate blood for the first time.

Stuffing the Bus in Clifton and Lorton

For members of the South County High School JROTC program, Saturday’s “Stuff the Bus” food donation event was as much about community service as it was about “service learning.”

Fairfax County Supervisors Approve Model Airplane Field at I-95 Landfill in Lorton

Robert Freas of Fairfax Station can’t fly his model aircraft in his backyard. In fact, he has to drive to a field about 50 miles away for a facility that meets Academy of Model Aeronautics standards for planes like his. The fixed-wing fliers Freas and members Northern Virginia Radio Control (NVRC) club pilot can go up to eight feet long.

First Art Steffen Scholarship Awarded to student in Centreville

For nearly three decades, Edward Arthur “Art” Steffen taught at Fairfax County Public Schools.

Uber prominent at state Sens. Marsden and Saslaw joint town hall in Falls Church.

Though over a dozen taxicabs sat in the parking lot of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, inside it was clear everyone drove themselves.

Matthew Charged In West Potomac Alumna Hannah Graham Murder

Suspect faces life in prison.

Nearly five months after the disappearance of University of Virginia sophomore and West Potomac High School alumna Hannah Graham, the primary suspect in her death investigation has been indicted by a grand jury in Albemarle County.

Combining Health and Mental Health

Community Services Board provides emergency services, prevention and treatment.

One teenager who attempted suicide revealed that if anyone had asked him beforehand whether he was thinking of hurting himself, he would have said yes.

Fairfax County Judge Orders More John Geer Materials Released

Family’s lawyer’s motions supported.

Though extensive, the thousands of pages of documents, dozens of audio files and handful of videos released last month by Fairfax County, documenting the shooting death of Springfield resident John Geer, aren’t exhaustive.

Letter: Failing in Their Duties

Letter to the Editor

I applaud your editorial on the Geer murder (“No Justification for Secrecy, Delay on Geer Shooting,” Connection, February 4-10, 2015). The Connection has done yeoman’s work in keeping this tragedy in front of the public, unlike other newspapers which are johnnie-come-latelies.

Editorial: Not the First or Only Time

Secrecy around police shootings has been a problem for at least a decade.

The official position of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on the need for changes in policy after the shooting of John Geer by police in Springfield in August of 2013 appears to be that this is the first time police policies have been a problem: “Policies for handling police-involved incidents, which served us well for decades, were inadequate in this complicated situation.”

Column: ‘Scantsy’

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to characterize the feelings I regularly experience during the final few weeks leading up to my every-three-month CT Scan, and even more so the feelings I experience waiting the following week or so to see my oncologist to discuss the results.

Lorton: Burgess Overcomes Injury, Wins Conference All-Around Title

South County gymnastics wins first Conference 7 championship.

South County won the Conference 7 gymnastics title.

Fairfax: Young, Burda Lead Robinson Gymnastics to Conference 5 Title

Rams win second straight championship, third in four years.

Robinson gymnastics repeats as Conference 5 champions.

Launching a Successful Career Path

NASA astronaut addresses Paul VI students at Career Day.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, the Counseling Department at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax hosted its fourth annual Career Day for juniors and seniors. Former NASA astronaut Sandra H. Magnus was the keynote speaker. Magnus is a three-time recipient of the NASA Space Flight Medal, and was also awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

Lake Braddock Band Goes National

Lake Braddock Secondary School Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at the 2015 Music for All National Festival, presented by Yamaha, the nation’s most prestigious festival for school instrumental music ensemble. The 24th annual Festival will take place in Indianapolis, March 12-14.

Del. Filler-Corn’s ‘CARE Act’ Passes the House

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D–41) HB 1413 passed the full House of Delegates on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. HB 1413 or the “CARE Act” addresses the important role of the informal and family caregivers and improved communication with them and medical providers. Specifically, the bill looks to improve healthcare and reduce preventable hospital revisits by having hospitals formally acknowledge a patient’s family caregiver at the time of admission and provide critical home care instruction before discharge.

Robinson Middle in Fairfax Takes on Rydell High in ‘Grease’

Though none of the actors are in high school, Katie Jenkins believes her cast will have no problem bringing the students of the famed, fictional Rydell High to life.

Fairfax County Goes Public with Geer Documents

FCPD report confirms John Geer was shot while unarmed, hands raised.

Of the seven eyewitness accounts of the shooting death of John Geer, only one describes Geer quickly bringing his hands down to his waist. That was the perspective of PFC Adam Torres, the officer who shot Geer in the chest, killing him in the doorway of his home on Aug. 29, 2013.

Letter: An Open Letter to Virginia Delegates

Letter to the Editor

Many of you know our story well. We are the parents of Morgan Harrington. Morgan, a student at Virginia Tech, went to a rock concert in Charlottesville in 2009 and never came home. Her remains were found 100 days later.

Citizens to the Rescue

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy accepting applications.

The Fairfax County Citizens Fire and Rescue Academy, a free nine-week program to learn about the work of firefighters and paramedics, will begin its next session March 12, with the deadline for online applications closing on Feb. 16.

Free and Low-Cost Dental Care for Children

Special programs available as part of National Children's Dental Health Month.

Dental hygiene should start even before a baby’s first tooth emerges. That is one of the messages that dental professionals are hoping to convey this month.

Mental Health First Aid

County program offers insight into mental illness and teaches strategies for intervention.

Leslie Roberts recalls hearing a mother talk about getting her stepson admitted to a psychiatric hospital. “Her stepson was angry and acting out,” said Roberts. “She didn’t understand what her stepson was doing.”

Editorial: No Justification for Secrecy, Delay on Geer Shooting

Everything about this case erodes public trust and demonstrates police departments should not be allowed to apply “blanket” exemptions to release of information.

After waiting 17 months for any information about the investigation into the shooting death of John Geer, the information released last week is deeply troubling.

Strong Defensive Effort Propels Woodson Past Lake Braddock

Experienced Cavaliers look for third consecutive region title.

Woodson limits Lake Braddock to 14 first-half points.

GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt

Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.

Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.

Column: The Past Future is Now Present

Presumably, maybe even obviously, nearly six years into a “terminal” diagnosis, arrangements for a smooth transition of power should have been made already.

Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX

Majority say they would have called a run play from 1-yard line.

Lake Braddock football coach Jim Poythress sticks up for Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Be Part of the Pet Connection

The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish Feb. 25, 2015.