Clifton Haunted Trail Unites Town, Frightens Thousands
A strobe light pulses through dense fog, briefly illuminating rabbit corpses hung upside down under the arch of a bridge. As vines are brushed aside, a tall, white, hairy figure passes by quietly.
Burke, Fairfax: Cook, Kincaid and Silverthorn Host Domestic Violence Awareness Event
Fairfax County reports nearly 160 domestic violence arrests are made each month in the county. To bring more attention to this issue and in light of October being declared Domestic Violence Awareness month in Fairfax County, supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) hosted his third annual Stop Domestic Violence Community Awareness Event on Oct. 15 at Chuy’s restaurant in Fairfax.
Fairfax County: School Board Promotes Dyslexia Awareness
And adopts two-hour delay for March Primary.
Nine-year-old Maxwell Gebharts stood confidently on a step-stool to address the Fairfax County School Board Oct. 22. “My old school didn’t know I was dyslexic,” he said. “I was very sad and felt like I wasn’t keeping up with everybody.”
Fairfax County: League of Women Voters hosts Forum for Board of Supervisors Chairman and At-Large School Board
Chairman Candidates Debate Economy, Police, Schools
Continuing their series of meet the candidates events, the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax area gave citizens another opportunity at James Madison High School in Vienna to ask questions and visit with hopefuls for both Board of Supervisors chairman and Fairfax County School Board at-large member.
Fairfax County: Board of Supervisors Accepts Final Report from Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission
Civilian Oversight Board Proposed, Debated
Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission chairman Michael Hershman was clear about what his group was, and was not tasked to do.
Mount Vernon: Gandee Touts Business Background for Supervisor Seat
Holly Dougherty, executive director of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, said Jane Gandee is the reason that organization became involved with helping the homeless along Richmond Highway.
Mount Vernon: Storck Emphasizes School Board Experience in Supervisor Race
Christine Morin of Lorton remembers when South County Secondary School opened in 2005. She found out Fairfax County said they had no plans to build a South County middle school, as the system had previously promised, which was a reason Morin and her family moved to Laurel Hill from Burke.
Mount Vernon: Hyland Hospitalized After Meeting
Supervisor Gerry Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital after experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath during the Board of Supervisors Oct. 20 meeting, Fairfax County spokesperson Tony Castrilli said.
Fairfax Station: First Decoding Dyslexia 5K Held at Burke Lake
Raising awareness, advocating for more services in schools
When Fairfax resident Calvin Rizek was in first grade, he remembers not being able to read along with the class, but “just flipping pages, like everyone else.”
Sun shines on 48th Clifton Day
It was a big way to be welcomed to the neighborhood. Adam and Julianne Erbrecht moved to Clifton two weeks before the historic town’s massive annual festival Clifton Day.
Fairfax County: Sexual Violence Task Force Presents Recommendations
A Fairfax County task force established in March to review the state of sexual violence education and awareness presented a set of recommendations to the Board of Supervisors at their Sept. 29 meeting.
Fairfax: March Escapee from Inova Hospital Sentenced
Arlington man Wossen Assaye, 43, led law enforcement officials from several jurisdictions on a man hunt for hours on March 31, 2015, after escaping from custody at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Clifton’s Haunted Trail Set for Oct. 24
The historic town of Clifton is preparing to add a new set of ghost stories to its collection. One of its primary annual fundraisers, the Haunted Trail, is scheduled to return for another year on Oct. 24.
Fairfax County: School Board To Discuss Delay for Presidential Primary
To alleviate congestion and chaos at 165 of the 196 Fairfax County schools and centers that double as polling places, the Fairfax County Board of Elections requested the School Board look at delaying school two hours on March 1, 2016 for the presidential primary.
Fairfax County: Police Commission Calls for Auditor, Civilian Review Board
Unanimous recommendations head to supervisors in wake of John Geer shooting, transparency missteps.
After six months of meetings, the Ad Hoc commission created by Board of Supervisors chairman Sharon Bulova to review police practices has concluded its primary work. Chair of the commission’s Independent Oversight and Investigations subcommittee Jack Johnson presented that group’s final recommendations to the full commission on Oct. 8.
WheelHouse Mind and Body Studio Opens in Clifton
Kelly Layfield and Alyson Franca Pollard used to host yoga classes all around Clifton -- the town hall, large barn, any green open space -- but not longer.
Korean Coalition Candidates Night Showcases 30 Participants
Opponents for five elected positions met at Luther Jackson Middle School
Del. Mark Keam (D-35) encouraged his fellow Koreans present to take advantage of the great number of candidates for elected office about to appear before them at the Korean Coalition for Political Participation 2015 Candidates Night.
Cansler Lawyer Calls for More Investigations into Rose Hill Taser Incident
Elton Cansler of Alexandria was arrested on Sept. 24 for committing larceny and assaulting a police officer, an incident captured on two independent witnesses’ mobile phones during which the Fairfax County Police Officer used a taser to force him to comply with orders.
Decoding Dyslexia Virginia to Host First 5K Run for Dyslexia
Shannon Duncan of the Falls Church area isn’t a big runner herself, but when she sees a 5K road race, it always catches her eye
“They’re Not Alone”
New domestic violence victims screening tool launches in Fairfax County.
Fairfax County is taking a step forward to reduce the deaths among victims of domestic violence. According to the police department, county domestic violence hotlines receive over 240 calls each month.
Burke Residents Open Belle Jar Design Business in Clifton
Laura Jane Cohen and Heather Taylor’s business is a bit like the historic town of Clifton itself. They’re taking something that’s well-aged and restoring it for others to appreciate the character, charm and beauty of the piece.
Clifton: 48th Clifton Day Festival Oct. 11
Clifton town council member Deb Dillard has been helping run the Clifton Day festival for 16 years, including 10 organizing the kids park.
Fairfax County: Candidates Meet on Fairfax Public Access
Clerk, Sheriff and Soil & Water incumbents and challengers answer questions.
Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid wasted no time in bringing up the in-custody death of Natasha McKenna during her opening remarks. Kincaid said the loss of life, which occurred in February following an incident where a team of Sheriff’s deputies was attempting to transport McKenna to Alexandria police and deployed a taser on her four times, continues to weigh heavily on her.
Mount Vernon: Expanding Fort Belvoir Elementary
When Fort Belvoir Elementary School opens in 2016, an expanded campus will provide a base institution for all school-aged children of Fort Belvoir families. The expansion includes 20 general education classrooms, bringing the population capacity to 1,594 students, according to a release from Fairfax County Public Schools.
146 Fairfax County Schools Energy Star-Certified
New Auditor General also appointed at Sept. 24 meeting
In the last year and a half, Fairfax County Public Schools have been able to reduce the energy consumption in their buildings by 15 percent. That cut down resulted in savings of $4.5 million, according to a release Sept. 25 by the school system.
Fairfax County: West Nile Cases Even with Five-Year Average
There have been just three documented cases of West Nile Virus in Fairfax County so far in 2015, equaling the previous five-year average, according to Fairfax County Health Department public safety information officer John Silcox.
Fairfax Station and Clifton: Whitehall Farms Begins Fall Festival
In July, Jeff Waters’ three-acre corn maze was just a figment of his imagination. The stubby stalks were behind schedule but he never lost hope they would make it in time. When Whitehall Farms, LLC -- over 200 acres bordering on the Clifton, Fairfax Station and Fairfax areas -- opened its first annual Fall Fun Days festival on Sept. 19, the corn was plenty high to get lost in.
Burke: Law Enforcement Raising Awareness of Train Track Safety
Adil Gour has been crossing the Virginia Railway Express tracks in Burke for three years. “It’s convenient for me, instead of going all the way around,” Gour said. All the way around in this case means taking Guinea Road to Roberts Road and south.
Lorton: South County High Dedicates New Artificial Turf Fields
South County High School is the latest among county schools to have completed switching competition and practice fields from real grass to artificial turf.
Fairfax County NAACP hosts 70th Freedom Fund Awards
‘Your Vote, Your Power’
J.E.B. Stuart High School seniors Anna Rowan, Cassie Marcotty, Marley Finley, Abby Conde and Lidia Amanuel were bothered by the Confederate legacy of their school. Inspired by a history class with teacher Keith Bropst on the Massive Resistance anti-segregation policy, the girls set out to change Stuart’s name, mascot and colors.
Fairfax NAACP To Host Rally Seeking ‘Justice for Natasha McKenna’
Fairfax County NCAAP president Shirley Ginwright announced a rally will be held Sept. 27 to demand justice for Natasha McKenna, a 37-year-old woman with mental illness who died in February after she had been held in the Adult Detention Center.
Investigation Continues for Dead Body in Fairfax Station
Early on Sept. 9, Fairfax County Police announced through Twitter that officers had responded to the report of a dead body on the 9500 block of Crosspointe Drive.
Fairfax Station: Brothers Launch Handcrafted Greeting Card Company
Patrick Hulse, together with his brother Shane, has cracked the code: turning what he loves into a business. Patrick is a junior at the Rhode Island School of Design pursuing a degree in illustration. Shane is a freshman at New York University studying business. Last year, the South County High School graduates (Patrick 2013, Shane 2014) launched “Little Wishes,” a handcrafted greeting card company.
Fairfax County: ‘Reports and Tears Are Not Enough’
Protesters demonstrate for Natasha McKenna, social justice and improved mental health services at ad hoc police review commission public hearing.
Cayce Utley of Centreville said Natasha McKenna, the 37-year-old African American woman with mental illness who died in the Sheriff’s Office custody in February, must be “more than just a mistake, more than an accident. Black women aren’t your ‘Oops,’ they aren’t your teachable moments.”
Fairfax County School Board Reflects on First Day of Later Start Times
James Madison High School senior Ben Press provided firsthand testimony for the positive effect of new later start times for Fairfax County high school students. “Your investment in our health paid off, as can be seen in the better-rested faces of thousands of high school students across the county,” said Press, addressing the Fairfax County School Board in his new role as student representative at their Sept. 10 meeting.
Burke and Fairfax: Robinson Students Welcomed Back
New and returning students at Robinson Secondary School were welcomed on the first day with a corridor of cheerleaders, blaring music and an inflated ram tunnel leading to the front doors. And the smiling face of their principal, Matthew Eline, who joined the cheerleaders and held a sign saying “May I help you?”
Fairfax County: Garza Tours on the First Day of School
Though she visited several schools on the first day of the new year, Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent only received one welcome banner. That was from the articulate student leaders at Mantua Elementary School, who told her “sense of community” and “great teachers who encourage creativity” were among their favorite things about the school.
Lorton, Fairfax Station, Clifton: South County Welcomes Stallions
South County High School principal Matt Ragone has been having “a blast” since he got to the school in the middle of last year.
Mount Vernon: No Criminal Charges In McKenna Death
Tasers did not directly cause Natasha McKenna’s death, nor are any of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved with the case being charged with a crime. Those are the positions announced Tuesday, Sept. 8 by Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh.
Fairfax Station: Neighborhood Development Outlook Update
Fairfax Station: Neighborhood Development Outlook Update
Volunteers Clean Up Old Colchester Road
Ten volunteers offered up their Saturday morning to clean up Old Colchester Road in Lorton. The team, which included members of the Mason Neck Lions Club and Civic Association, Del. Dave Albo (R-42) and his son, collected 14 bags of litter, a tire and other assorted trash, according to environmentalist Joe Chudzik of Mason Neck.
Fairfax Police Helicopter Crew Live-Tweets
Fairfax County Police helicopters are neither birds nor planes, but their crew got slightly more avian as they “live-tweeted” experiences from inside the hangar and helicopter through Twitter on Aug. 26.
Torres Trial Date Set for December
Bond denied for former police officer charged with murdering John Geer.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Aug. 19, former Fairfax County Police officer Adam Torres entered the circuit courtroom for his arraignment, dressed in a baggy, blue-green prison jumpsuit. Torres was indicted the previous Monday by a special grand jury for killing Springfield resident John Geer in August, 2013.
Lorton: Warning Letter Sent to AAAACO Auto Parts
Twenty days. That’s how long AAAACO Auto Parts in Lorton has to respond to a letter sent by the Department of Environmental Quality stating they may be in violation of solid waste management regulations.
Fairfax County: Policy Changes Recommended on Mental Health and Crisis Intervention
About half of the inmates in the Fairfax County Jail have a mental health illness or substance abuse disorders. The Mental Health and Crisis Intervention Team subcommittee of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission included this information from County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid in the introduction to its list of policy change recommendations to the full commission on Aug. 17.
Fairfax County: Former Police Officer Charged with John Geer Murder
Adam Torres indicted by special grand jury.
Adam Torres has been charged with murdering John Geer. Though Torres shot the unarmed man once in the chest nearly two years ago, the then-Fairfax County Police officer remained on the department’s payroll until being terminated July 31, 2015.
Lorton: Community Members Call for More Giles Run Clean-up
Bill Niedringhaus was just scouting new hiking trails along Giles Run creek in the Lorton area. But in his November 2014 exercise, he discovered thousands of used tires and other discarded automotive parts in the area.
Clifton, Fairfax Station and Springfield Communities Join Public Safety Agencies for National Night Out
A well-known tunnel-bridge on Colchester Road connects an area of Fairfax Station with the rest of the county, both geographically and mythically. Its link to historic reports of a vandal in a bunny costume has gotten it plenty of attention, including actual acts of vandalism on and around the structure.
Springfield: No Foul Play Suspected in Huntsman Lake Death
The dead body of Leslie P. Brassfield, 22, of Fairfax, was found Sunday, June 14 in Huntsman Lake in the Springfield area.
Lorton and Mount Vernon: Bennett Joins Former Opponent Storck’s Supervisor Campaign
She didn’t beat him and now she’s joining him. Nearly two months since Dan Storck won the Democratic primary election for Mount Vernon District supervisor, his campaign announced former opposing candidate Candice Bennett has joined up as the Storck team’s director of communications.