Salisbury Helps Lead UA Army ROTC to Competition
South County graduate excels at the University of Alabama.
“My first year, I performed at a high level, physically; I could do more pushups and sit-ups than anyone, but tactically I was young and wasn’t up to par with them. When I heard I didn’t make the starting nine last year, it got to me. I went from being the alternate or 10th or 11th man to being one of the guys recognized for helping our team win the state competition this year.”
Lorton Area iBOT Brainiacs Go to World Festival
Sports
Lorton area First Lego League (FLL) team known as the iBOT Brainiacs, a team of students from Lorton Station Elementary and South County Middle Schools, coached by Carey Hancey-Shier, won top honors at the FLL Robotics State Tournament held at James Madison University.
Week in Fairfax
Community News
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the public hearing to consider an ordinance to amend and readopt Chapter 109.1 of the Fairfax County Code on the prohibition of plastic bags for yard waste was deferred indefinitely. The Board of Supervisors also voted unanimously to approve Supervisor Herrity’s motion to immediately communicate to the citizens, trash haulers, and lawn service companies that there is currently no approved ban in Fairfax County.
Providence Elementary Principal Issues ‘State of the School’ Report
Fairfax Education
In his first State of the School report, Principal Dan Phillips praised Providence Elementary School staff, students and parent community declaring, “Providence is a very, very special school.”
Fairfax: Two Alarm House Fire Displaces Family of Five
At approximately 10:10 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, units responded to a reported house fire in the 5000 block of Huntwood Manor Drive in the Fairfax section of Fairfax County.
Dramatic, Suspenseful, Colorful
“The Magic Marksman” from Virginia Opera at Fairfax’s Center for the Arts.
“It’s a suspenseful thriller, with passionate romance and the struggle between good and evil.” That is how Adam Turner, principal conductor, Virginia Opera, described “The Magic Marksman,” the Opera’s next offering at the Center for the Arts.
‘Gray Ghost’ Revisited
The exploits of Col John Mosby are being recounted in a 3-week course.
Mosby’s “Rangers” struck isolated Union detachments without warning, and usually captured most of the men and their horses. Then the Rangers would seemingly vanish into the countryside, not to be found by pursuing Union forces.
University Drive Extension Project Advances Slightly
Council votes to bring it to 30-percent design.
The Fairfax City Council has not completely approved the controversial University Drive extension...But the project inched forward slightly Tuesday night when the members voted to advance it to the 30-percent design stage.
Chocolate Lovers Unite in the City
Fairfax’s 25th annual festival is set for Feb. 4-5.
A quarter of a century is a long time; but there’s no expiration date on people’s love of chocolate. So it’s no surprise that the City of Fairfax is about to hold its 25th annual Chocolate Lovers Festival.
Commentary: Bills Moving Forward in Virginia General Assembly
News
The General Assembly Session is in full gear and legislation has begun to move through the process as we start to take action on 3,000 bills.
Residents Go to Richmond
Virginia News
With the Virginia General Assembly underway, many individuals and groups are traveling to the capital of the Commonwealth to lobby lawmakers.
Inauguration Day
Local officers provide security for inaugural events.
More than 100 officers from the Fairfax County Police Department assisted in security during Inauguration Day activities Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. as Donald Trump was sworn in as 45th President of the United States.
Area Roundups
No Ban on a Plastic Yard Waste Bag in County
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the public hearing to consider an ordinance to amend and readopt Chapter 109.1 of the Fairfax County Code on the prohibition of plastic bags for yard waste was deferred indefinitely.
Lake Braddock’s Atkins Selected Virginia Player of the Year
Atkins starts classes, football practice at University of Virginia.
Lake Braddock Secondary School’s former star football player, Lamont Atkins, was announced as the 2016-2017 Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year.
Burke Community Outlook 2017
Developments Underway in Burke Area
The Connection keeps a running list of land use projects being planned, under construction and nearing completion in the community. The list is updated quarterly.
Burke, Fairfax Station, Springfield: Reducing Braddock Road congestion to be discussed Feb. 6
Is Wider Better?
Next month, residents will hear an update on the status of the Braddock Road Multimodal Study. The purpose of the study is to examine ways to relieve traffic congestion along the major corridor from Guinea Road to the Beltway. Those could include intersection improvements, lane additions, pedestrian improvements, “and the issue of whether or not to do a transit center,” said supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock).
Burke: Friends of Sadie Blood Drive Returns Feb. 12
The eighth annual Friends of Sadie Blood Drive is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Bipartisan Agreement Forged in House Panel on Reducing Suspended Driver’s Licenses
Republicans work with Cabinet officials to craft changes to let more people keep drivers licenses.
After Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe called on lawmakers to find a way to restore driver's licenses to people charged with crimes that had nothing to do with driving, Republicans responded. Now both sides are crafting a compromise that could end up being a hallmark of the 2017 session.
Nominations Sought for Scholar-Athlete Honors
The National Capital Region Chapter of the National Football Foundation is accepting nominations for their 2017 Scholar-Athlete banquet.
Mental Illness Takes Center Stage in Richmond
Death of Fairfax County inmate among recent controversies prompting action.
The death of a woman who struggled with mental illness at the Fairfax County jail is among the many recent controversies in Virginia correctional facilities, a reform effort that spans from changing how deaths behind bars are investigated to how law-enforcement officers interact with suspects who suffer from mental illness.