Volunteer Fairfax Supports Veterans
Community blueprint allows communities to help.
By connecting military and veteran community nonprofits with the volunteer community, The Community Blueprint can draw from Volunteer Fairfax’s already sizeable volunteer base. At the project launch event, held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, William C. Basl of the Corporation for National and Community Service inducted 30 AmeriCorps members—many of them veterans themselves—who will be deployed in Community Blueprint cities across the country. During the event, ITT Exelis, a global aerospace, defense and information solutions company based in McLean announced its investment of $5 million over five years for the expansion of The Community Blueprint and deployment of AmeriCorps members in communities of need nationwide.
West Springfield’s Alcorta Breaks Glory Days Invite Record
Spartans win girls’ team championship.
West Springfield's Caroline Alcorta won the 20th Annual Glory Days Invitational on Oct. 13.
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.
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.
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.
West Springfield Volleyball Beats TC in District Opener
Senior middle blockers Davis, Schutzmeister make big plays for Spartans.
The West Springfield volleyball team won its Patriot District opener against T.C. Williams on Oct. 2.
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.
Continuing Care at Greenspring
Greenspring’s Continuing Care neighborhood receives a five-star rating.
The Continuing Care neighborhood at Greenspring retirement community received the highest score in the Five-Star Quality Rating System administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Erickson Living community, located in Springfield, earned a 5-star rating in the Overall Quality category in August 2012.
Greenspring Wii Bowlers Break Records
Greenspring residents earned five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Senior Olympics.
This year, 15 Greenspring residents competed in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) Wii bowling competition. Greenspring, a Gold Sponsor for the NVSO, hosted the competition for the fourth consecutive year at the specially designed community alley featuring six virtual bowling lanes. Overall, over 60 seniors from across Northern Virginia participated in the 2012 NVSO Wii bowling competition at Greenspring.