
Programming Marathon at TJ
Area high schoolers impress instructors at the 24-hour computer programming marathon.
When a voice over the loudspeaker announced, “free swag outside,” a stampede of teenagers cleared out the Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHSST) gymnasium in less than a minute. Even after almost 20 hours of coding and programming, the students were at no loss for enthusiasm, especially for free paraphernalia decorated with the TJ Hackathon logo. Kim Holton, a volunteer whose son was participating in the hackathon, said, “They all seem really tired and they’re dragging, but they’re excited.”

South County Softball Sends Message to Lake Braddock
Stallions sophomore Yates has 4 hits, 4 RBIs.
The South County softball team pulled even in the loss column with Lake Braddock.

Lake Braddock Theatre Revisits ‘Rashomon’
Director and fight choreographer also worked on school’s 1994 production.
Nineteen years ago, Lake Braddock drama teacher R.L. Mirabal and local choreographer Casey Kaleba worked together on “Rashomon,” the staged version of Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 dramatic film rooted in Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s Japanese folkloric stories and "In a Grove."

A Beautiful Mind
Powerful play takes students inside the mind of autistic teen.
In 1996, Bernie DeLeo was exactly where he thought he should be. A former actor-turned-film producer and writer, DeLeo was living in New York City with his wife and young son. He had an agent, and had just gotten work on a sitcom—Life’s Work—starring Michael O’Keefe. But one weekend, while he was in Los Angeles, he got a call from his wife that irrevocably changed the course of his life. Charlie, his 3-year-old son, had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.
Art Competition Winners Announced
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) attends ceremony at Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.
More than 200 high school students and their parents and teachers gathered at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center last week to hear U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) and judges from across Virginia’s 11th Congressional District announce the winners of the annual Congressional Art Competition.

‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’
“Hairspray” takes the stage at Robinson Secondary.
Robinson Secondary’s Cappies production is “Hairspray,” and Director Chip Rome is more excited about this show than he’s been about any show in “quite some time.”

Lake Braddock Senior Receives Scholarship
Nathaniel Smith awarded $5,000 from Northern Virginia Urban League.
The Northern Virginia Urban League awarded $50,000 in scholarships to local high school students at its annual Community Service and Scholarship Awards Dinner Friday, April 19. The organization, whose mission it is to enable disadvantaged youth to achieve economic and academic success, awarded one scholarship to Lake Braddock Secondary School senior Nathaniel Smith.
South County Soccer Club Bonds in Bermuda
While other Elite Clubs National League soccer teams took a well-deserved break, one team went on the trip of a lifetime. FC Virginia U14s traveled to Bermuda over the Easter holiday, having the opportunity to experience island life while also playing against the full Bermuda women’s national team, and a high school team from Florida.
Runners Line Up to Stop Child Abuse
Great Falls neighbors join in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which helps explain why 300 runners gathered at 9 a.m. at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, grouped in teams with names like "Peggy's Posse," "Kids4Kids" and—a favorite—"Team Baxter" (named after organizing member Kim Roellig's dog) on Saturday, April 13.

What Housing Slump?
Real estate experts explain the rise in luxury condominium sales
When a retired couple decided it was time to leave their sprawling suburban home, they wanted to downsize without giving up luxury. As a result, they purchased a high-end condominium and hired Bethesda, Md., based interior designer Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Interior Design to create a serene and sophisticated space.
Burke Home Sales: March, 2013
In March 2013, 50 Burke homes sold between $771,000-$127,500.
Burke Home Sales: March, 2013

Local Real Estate: February 2013 Sales $650,000~ $699,999
Local Real Estate: February 2013 Sales $650,000~ $699,999

Local Real Estate: February 2013 Sales $700,000~ $749,999
Local Real Estate: February 2013 Sales $700,000~ $749,999
Breaking a Sweat for Homeless Pets
<On Sunday, April 14, the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, a nonprofit that assists the animal shelter, in conjunction with Metro Run & Walk and Olde Towne Pet Resort, held a race at Burke Lake Park to raise funds for the shelter. Over 200 people, many with their dogs, participated in the event and several dogs available for adoption also participat

‘A Fantastic Piece of Escapism’
Woodson High presents Tolkien’s classic, “The Hobbit.”
Welcome to Middle Earth, as envisioned by J.R.R. Tolkien in Woodson High’s production of “The Hobbit.” It’s the adventure of a peaceful homebody persuaded by a wizard to help a group of militant dwarves reclaim their treasure from a marauding dragon. “One of our biggest challenges was building a huge, dragon puppet,” said Director Terri Hobson. “There’ll be lots of caves, rocky hills and earth tones. And we actually have five girls who are being trees.”