Stories for January 2017

Victims of Tribe-For-Rent Scam to Get $15 Million Payout in Settlement Agreement

15,000 Virginia victims get $6 million worth of predatory loans absolved, $9 million in cash awards.

The commercial features images of teepees and a tribal drumbeat. The company billed itself as having ties to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. But Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says that was nothing more than a fraud, a scheme he calls rent-a-tribe.

Submit Photos to Pet Centre View

The Pet Centre View, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish the last week of February, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by Feb. 15.

Chief Withholding Name of Officer in Herndon Fatal Shooting

Officer files temporary restraining order for Roessler to not release name.

Fairfax County chief of police Edwin Roessler has yet to release the name of the 16-year veteran officer who fatally shot Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 32, at his Herndon-area home on Jan. 16 this year. On Feb. 7, FCPD said the unnamed officer has filed a temporary restraining order to keep the name from being released.

In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs

To Move Or Not To Move: Local family moves mother into newly opened Kensington Falls Church.

One of the most heart-wrenching decisions that Denise Schossler, her two siblings and her 95-year-old mother had to make was whether or not to move her into an assisted living facility, leaving the home where she’s lived since 1954.

So Much Happening, Don’t Blink

Demonstrations at Dulles in reaction to travel ban; fast moving General Assembly lacks transparency; other key issues.

As this date approaches, the General Assembly has a serious transparency issue, as it continues to kill most proposed legislation with unrecorded voice votes in subcommittee, with no accountability or record of how members voted.

Arrest Made in Shooting at Police Car in Great Falls

Suspect first apprehended in Herndon for waiving a gun.

Just before midnight on Jan. 22, several shots were fired at a marked police cruiser from another vehicle in the Great Falls area, Fairfax County police said.

Fairfax: Board Approves 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program

Five-year plan includes three new elementary schools and one new high school.

This year, Fairfax County Public Schools experienced one of the smallest annual enrollment increases in nearly a decade: 1,368 students, compared to the average of 2,400 since the 2008-09 school year, bringing the total to 187,202.

Anti-Immigration Ban Rallies Held at Dulles

Demonstrators, volunteer attorneys and elected officials welcome travelers, extend help detainees.

Demonstrations sprang up at airports around the United States over the weekend, following an Executive Order by President Donald Trump that blocks travelers from seven largely Muslim countries — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia — in the interests of more significant vetting and preventing would-be terrorists from entering the country.

Oakton Beats Westfield in Second Overtime

The Oakton Cougars traveled to take on conference opponent Westfield Bulldogs in Chantilly on Jan. 10.

‘Brownie Mouse’ by Centreville author Debbie Joski Schmidt

Centreville author Debbie Joski Schmidt has released her first children’s book entitled, “The Adventures of Brownie Mouse, Story One: Brownie’s Brownie Shop.”

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).

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.

Meet Labor Resource Center's Jasmine Blaine

New director hopes to improve workers’ lives.

Jasmine Blaine, the director of the Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC) is helping connect day laborers with jobs.

Centreville Swim and Dive

Centreville Swim and Dive team, which is coached by Laura Benevento and Tea Leitch, started their season off strong with competitive swims against Chantilly, Oakton and Robinson.

Combined Effort in Afghanistan from Chantilly

NOVEC Offers Scholarships

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives are accepting applications for higher-education scholarships from high school and home school seniors who receive electricity from electric cooperatives.

Crime — The following incidents were reported by the Sully District Police Station.

Crime — The following incidents were reported by the Fair Oaks District Police Station.

Roundups: Centreville and Chantilly

‘Hard Work and Tireless Effort’

Police Det. Steven Kitzerow honored as Officer of the Month.

Det. Steven Kitzerow has been selected as the Sully District Station's Officer of the Month for December.

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.

In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs

Police Car Takes Fire while in Pursuit in Great Falls

Suspect first apprehended in Herndon for waving a gun.

Just before midnight on Jan. 22, several shots were fired at a marked police cruiser from another vehicle in the Great Falls area, Fairfax County police said.

Wildcats Claw Bulldogs

The Westfield Bulldogs and Centreville Wildcats faced off for a Conference 5 matchup in Clifton on Jan. 13.

Chantilly Charges Over Westfield

The Chantilly Chargers travelled to face the Westfield Bulldogs in a Concorde District matchup on Jan. 19.

New and Old Land Use Causes Line Up

Hearings set at Planning Commission in March and April.

The Board of Supervisors was scheduled to vote on the applications at its Board Hearing on Jan. 24, after this issue’s presstime. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the application in December.

Party-Line Vote Protects Child Labor at Tobacco Farms in Virginia

Republican-led House panel kills effort to craft new protections for kids in unrecorded vote.

In an unrecorded party-line vote, House Republicans killed a bill that would have cracked down on child labor at tobacco farms in Virginia.

Editorial: America in Black & White

Growing up in America in the 1950s and 1960s, many children watched television only in black and white. Some children believed that the world beyond where they could see was only black and white, devoid of color even though their homes, their neighborhoods, their schools, their crayon boxes were filled with colors.

Letter to the Editor: Protesting Vote Suppression

I am fed up with gerrymandering and other tactics politicians use to stack the votes in their favor!

Letter to the Editor: Stopping Gerrymandering in Virginia

As the new legislative year begins in Richmond, I hope more voters will join the effort to stop gerrymandering in Virginia.

Opinion: Counting on Our Reps in Congress

Sound the call to action; resist changes that are against the values and beliefs of most Virginia voters.

While most voters in the United States did not vote for Donald Trump for president, it was all the more so here in Northern Virginia.

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.

Fairfax County: Public hearing on yard waste bags follows premature administrative change

North Springfield resident Asher Grady has his leaf collecting down to a science. And with the mature trees around his quarter-acre lot, he needs to. Each fall, he said, he goes through between 60 and 80 bags of leaves, spending between eight and 12 hours to rake and bag them.

Chantilly Home Sales: December, 2016

In December, 2016, 17 homes sold between $1,100,000-$280,000 in the Chantilly area.

Chantilly Home Sales: December, 2016

Centreville Home Sales: December, 2016

In December, 2016, 78 Centreville homes sold between $1,075,945-$150,000.

Centreville Home Sales: December, 2016

Senate Panel Kills Effort to Allow Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Supporters say they’ll continue to press the issue, citing concerns over safety.

Undocumented immigrants in Virginia will not be getting a driver’s license anytime soon, although advocates for the idea say they will keep pressing lawmakers on the issue.

Online Virginia Lottery Sales? Don't Bet On It

House panel rejects bill that would allow for sale of lottery tickets over the internet.

A coalition of convenience store owners and religious conservatives worked to till an effort from the Virginia Lottery to allow for online gambling, thwarting an effort aimed at increasing sales among millennial gamblers. The bill, introduced by Del. Roxann Robinson (R-27), was defeated with an overwhelming vote by a House General Laws subcommittee Tuesday afternoon.

Chantilly High presents “Goldilocks on Trial”

A Children’s Show with Attitude

Picture Goldilocks and Baby Bear as a teenager and a preteen, respectively, and imagine Goldilocks being prosecuted for breaking into the three bears’ house. That’s the premise of Chantilly High’s upcoming children’s show, “Goldilocks on Trial.”

Centreville High Guitarists, Performers Present 30th Gumbo Concert

‘They Rise to Another Level’

Take some talented guitarists, add other musicians and singers and stir well, and the result is a Centreville High tradition: The school’s annual Gumbo Concert.

Roundups: Centreville and Chantilly

Cohen, Mangrum Wed

Dr. Courtney Cohen and Mr. James Mangrum were united in marriage on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at five o’clock in the afternoon at the Summer Moon house in Corolla, N.C.

The Golden Spoon Award in Clifton

Students from Michelle Yang's third grade class at Union Mill Elementary School in Clifton received the "golden spoon" for exhibiting good behavior during lunch in the Union Mill cafeteria.

All About Wellness in Chantilly

The Chantilly High School Leadership held a ZUMBA class on Friday, Jan. 13 as part of their Wellness Week.

Fabric Place Basement Alexandria Grand Opening

Let Horses Play Piano, Too

Horse Riding Lessons Allowed

Great Falls resident Kim Karanik navigated a three-and-a-half-year obstacle course to make riding activities and equestrian lessons more accessible and available to county children.

Lockard Channels Garza, Proposes $2.8 Billion FCPS Budget

FY2018 focuses on employee compensation and classroom resources.

Fairfax County Public Schools interim superintendent Steve Lockard is asking for $130.4 million more for the school system’s FY2018 operating budget than the previous year, a 4.9 percent increase, to a total of $2.8 billion.

Bicycle Advocacy Workshop in Springfield Feb. 4

Are you interested in making Fairfax County more bike-friendly?

Brewery Changes on Tap

Planning drafts zoning amendment.

There is increasing interest in Fairfax County in opening breweries for craft beer that might also serve beer and food.

Senate Panel Approves Crackdown on Internet Lenders in Virginia

Bill would subject unregulated loans to rules that apply to consumer-finance loans.

The Wild West of online lending is about to become a little tamer. That’s because a state Senate panel narrowly approved a bill that would subject internet loans to the same restrictions that currently exist for consumer finance loans, a move that would cramp the anything-goes culture of online loans in Virginia.

Planning for Summer Camp

Local camp fairs help families navigate the maze of summer camp offerings.

In an effort to confront religious intolerance, a group of local middle school students will attend a camp aimed at bringing together children from different religions and giving them the chance to come together, make new friendships, visit houses of worship, learn about other traditions and practice dialogue to confront Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism.

Senators to Alexandria: Clean Up Your Act by 2020 or Lose State Funding

Lawmakers poo poo city efforts to flush raw sewage.

Members of the Virginia state Senate say they’re tired of hearing excuses about sewage from city officials in Alexandria, and they’re pushing ahead with a plan that one senator calls “the nuclear option.” This afternoon, the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that sets a firm deadline for Alexandria to clean up its act — 2020. If city officials are unable to stop dumping more than 10 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River every year, Alexandria would lose all state appropriations until the problem is fixed.

‘What If a Garden Could Teach, Inspire Children?’

Lees Corner Elementary celebrates its outdoor classroom.

Lees Corner Elementary’s outdoor classroom.

Hoping to Improve Local Bicycling

FABB shares information, solicits community input.

The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) is an all-volunteer group that advocates for more bike lanes, bike trails and neighborhood connections.

Accomplishments in Sully District in 2016

Supervisor Kathy Smith's report on important 2016 milestones in Sully District and Fairfax County at large.

Predatory Lenders Work Behind the Scenes to Avoid Regulation and Evade the Law

Campaign contributions and political connections used to sidestep crackdown.

Predatory Loans in the Crossfire: Lawmakers conflicted about how to handle high-interest loans.

Roundups: Centreville and Chantilly

Partnering to Reduce Northern Virginia Congestion

Legislators tour past, present and future transportation projects.

The blessing of traffic, Martin Nohe said, is that “there’s lots of great transportation projects to choose from.”

In Session: Briefs

It doesn’t take much rain to trigger Alexandria’s 19th century sewage system to start dumping raw sewage into the Potomac River — about 0.03 inches, to be precise.

Chantilly Wins Conference Opener Against Centreville

The Chantilly Chargers and Centreville Wildcats met up for each team’s Conference 5 opener on Jan. 9 in Chantilly.

Westfield Girls Outscore Potomac Falls, 60-41

The Westfield Lady Bulldogs faced Potomac Falls in their last non-conference game in Chantilly on Jan. 3.

New Year, New Order: Organizing an unruly linen closet

If retrieving an item from the top shelf of one’s linen closet sets off an avalanche of mismatched sheets and tattered towels, it might be time for a linen closet reorganization.

Commentary: Republican Repeal Plan Promises Health Care Chaos

Over the course of a normal week, my office receives thousands of letters, emails, phone calls, and tweets from Northern Virginians.

Editorial: About Centre View

Happy New Year. We need your help in 2017.

Fairfax Lawmakers’ Last Call for Input

More than 80 speak at General Assembly public hearing.

“We’re not letting teachers do their jobs,” was the plea from Jo Neuber of Vienna, Co-chair of the organization Class Size Counts.

Organizing a Home Office

Design ideas for workspace order.

Whether located in a basement, spare bedroom or kitchen corner, one of the keys to creating a functional home office is organization.

For Schools: New Year, New Superintendent

New Year, New Superintendent for FCPS

New School Superintendent

Our Neighbor's Child Makes Deliveries for Christmas

Thanks to Our Neighbor’s Child, more than 800 local families in need received new toys and clothes for the holidays.

Making Spirits Brighter at Hanley Shelter

The Katherine Hanley Family Shelter serves homeless mothers and their young children.

Top Players in Centreville Area Named

The Washington Post and Conference 5 coaches selected their top offensive and defensive players.

Eight Teams Compete in Bulldog Bash in Chantilly

The 15th annual Ourisman Chantilly Toyota 2016 Bulldog Bash was hosted by Westfield High School Dec. 27-29.

Students from Centreville attend State Department Conference

Women’s Legislative Roundtable Previews Upcoming 2017 Legislative Session

Legal Services of Northern Virginia Launches Initiative

Keeping Resolutions

Realistic goals and specific plans among keys to success.

Keeping Resolutions

Personal involvement of Culosi, Beltrante key to success of police commission.

The call for reform and transparency in Fairfax County Police began long before the shooting death of John Geer in August 2013.

Commentary: Comstock Addresses Top Priority Issues

Congresswoman’s report to the 10th district residents.