Letter: Supporting Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
I’m writing to encourage Fairfax County voters to support the county meals tax referendum on the ballot in November.
Letter: Meals Tax: A Better Option
Letter to the Editor
After reviewing Fairfax County’s proposed 4-percent meals tax, the Class Size Counts (CSC) board voted to support the Nov. 8 referendum because it decided that it would be better to raise money for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through a tax on prepared foods rather than through additional increases to County property taxes.

Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.

Clifton: At-Risk Youth Teach Sheriff’s Deputies Horsemanship Skills
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program partners with Alternative House and Sheriff’s Office for pilot program.
Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputies tread carefully as local youth led them around an obstacle course they’d designed, blindfolded. Others were taught horse safety by their young coaches.

Fairfax County: Room to Improve for Fairfax County Public Schools on SAT
Scores above Virginia, national Levels, but achievement gap remains
On average, Fairfax County Public High Schools performed better on the SAT college placement exam in 2016 than the Commonwealth of Virginia overall average.
Centreville Letter: Heartfelt Thanks
Letter to the Editor
Given such glorious weather, it was impossible for Centreville Day to be anything other than successful. Centreville Day may not be a huge event, but it has a big heart.
Centreville Letter: Applauds HOME Act
Letter to the Editor
Many Fairfax County homeowners, like me, live in neighborhoods with community associations. We pay fees and assessments to the associations in addition to our county real estate taxes. I’m happy to do this, because the association ensures our community is maintained and property values are protected. It also provides services the county government doesn’t.
Centreville Letter: Support Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
After careful consideration, the Fairfax – Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has decided to fully support the proposed 4 percent Fairfax County Meals Tax.
Centreville Letter: Supporting Veterans
Letter to the Editor
The problems with veterans’ health care are well documented.

Chantilly Snapshot: ‘Best Open House’ Award
As part of Saturday’s open house at all Fairfax County Fire and Rescue fire stations, there was a competition among all the fire stations to win the "Best Open House" award. The award is given to a fire station in each of the seven battalions that best highlights this year’s Fire Prevention Week Theme along with being creative and making sure all visitors had a good time. For Battalion Three, Fire Station 15 in Chantilly won the award.
Chantilly Letter: Encouraging Trend
Letter to the Editor
Muslim athlete Rahaf Khatib has just made history by being the first woman in hijab to grace the cover of a U.S. fitness magazine.

Chantilly: That ‘It’ Moment
Mighty Marching Chargers compete at regional competition.
The 170-student strong Mighty Marching Chargers, Chantilly High School’s marching band, competed in the Bands of America Regional Championship at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Twenty-seven marching bands from nine states participated in the competition. The Mighty Marching Chargers placed fourth in their class and tenth in the finals round. They earned the highest score the band has ever earned in 15 years of competing in Band of America events.

Seeing the Childhood of an Iconic Character
Chantilly High presents “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Most people are familiar with the story of “Peter Pan,” but don’t know how he became the boy who never grew up. So Chantilly High is telling his prequel in its upcoming play, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

Gathering Against Hunger
They measure, weigh and package food for Stop Hunger Now.
Besides feeding the soul, churches can also feed the body — literally. And on Sunday, Sept. 25, members of Centreville United Methodist Church (CUMC) did just that.

ONC, Kim Recognized at Centreville Day
Each year, the Centreville Day Planning Committee recognizes individuals or organizations making a difference in Centreville. This year’s awards, presented by Supervisor Kathy Smith (D-Sully) on Saturday, Oct. 15, went to Yom Chu Kim, Citizen of the Year, and Our Neighbor’s Child (ONC), Nonprofit Citizen of the Year.
Centreville Snapshot: Pirates, Parade, Scouts and Fun
Centreville Day was Saturday, Oct. 15.
Free Halloween Car Rides Offered in Area
As a means of making the Washington-metropolitan area’s roadways a little less frightening this Halloween, free cab rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 29.

Oak Hill Remodeled Home Tour Set for Nov. 5
Gourmet kitchen, spa master bath among spotlight features in makeover.
A circa 1980's center hall Colonial enhanced by a gourmet kitchen, a spacious spa bath and a lower-level guest suite will be featured in a “Remodeled Home Tour” sponsored by Sun Design Remodeling on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Showcase Home Offers Design Inspiration
DC Design House was transformed by local designers to raise money for charity.
Those in search of interior design ideas now have a source of new inspirations, at least temporarily. The 2016 DC Design House is now open to the public and runs through Oct. 30.

Clifton Primitive Baptist Church Re-Opens on Clifton Day
Oldest African American church in Fairfax County had been closed a decade.
Chuck Rusnak of Clifton stood in the middle of the Clifton Primitive Baptist Church, on all-original wooden floors laid in 1871 for an All-African American Church built on land donated by an emancipated slave.