Classified Advertising March 27, 2013
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Editorial: More Obstacles to Transparency
General Assembly puts more information out of public reach, but other factors also limit access.
The first paragraph of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, passed by the General Assembly in 1968, states that all public records "shall be presumed open." It doesn’t add, “except when we don’t want to,” although that provision does seem to be available in many cases. Individual government entities have a variety of ways of making it hard for the public to access public information.
Column: 14.8 Percent
That is the percentage of diagnosed lung cancer patients who survive beyond five years, according to The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2009, in a graph published in the Feb. 26, 2013 Washington Post’s weekly Health & Science section. As a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivor beginning his fifth year post-diagnosis, charting my prospects in such a cold and impersonal manner is both chilling and arguable. “Chilling” in that facts speak for themselves and are hardly made up of whole cloth, to invoke one of the late Jack Kent Cooke’s more famous quotes. And “arguable” in that charts, statistics, etc., may very well measure the mean, but it sure doesn’t measure the man (this man, anyway). Meaning, from my perspective: sure, the chart is scary as hell, but I’m not sure I’m on it, if you know what I mean? (I know you know what I hope.)
Better Training, More Technology
The bipartisan commission released findings, recommendations regarding long lines on Election Day.
"The commission has identified a variety of improvements and efficiencies to ensure access and convenience for voters in future elections.” —Sharon Bulova
Sully District Station Honors its Own
MPO Mary Hulse is Officer of the Month.
MPO Mary Hulse is an example of a police officer doing her job and doing it well. And at the March 13 meeting of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee, she was honored as that station’s Officer of the Month.
Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence
Rocky Run Middle wins state honor for fourth time.
Rocky Run Middle School has just won the 2013 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. But according to school Principal Matt Eline, “We were just doing what we do all the time.”
Mathcounts: First in Regionals, Second in States
Rocky Run’s team has stellar year.
Rocky Run Middle School’s MathCounts team didn’t win the state championship this year. But it did capture second place, which is a big achievement, in itself.
Roundups
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, March 28, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary.
Racing to Help Others
Some 1,100 people participated in the Rev3 Run Rogue 5K and 1K, Saturday, March 23, at Fairfax Corner, raising an estimated $10,000 each for Life with Cancer and Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure.
Russian Women’s Choir Performing at CVHS
Centreville High’s Choral Department is hosting a Russian women’s choir while it visits the U.S. called Vita in Canto, the choir will perform a free, one-hour concert next Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m., in the school theater. The choir is from the Ural University of Economics in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Training Key In School Safety
FCPS security coordinator addresses citizens committee.
Keeping students safe is Jim McLain’s job. After retiring as a Fairfax County police commander in 2001, he joined Fairfax County Public Schools; and for 12 years now, he’s been one of its two security coordinators.
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary Founded by Julie Sussman of Centreville’s Rocky Run community, Social Change was born in March 2011. Sussman’s idea was to get people together in a fun and informal way to discuss their favorite causes, share food and wine, visit with old friends and make new ones.
Rita’s Fundraiser for Second-Grader
Contributions also accepted online.
Tara Sankner, an 8-year-old second-grader at Lees Corner Elementary was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, and the community is rallying ’round to show its support. She and a fundraising and support team called “Pray for Tara” wore special, pink T-shirts and participated in last Saturday’s, March 23, Rev3 Run Rogue 5K and 1K at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
Governor Approves Conditional Budget for Medicaid Expansion
Vote-swapping operation traded transportation votes for Medicaid money.
Half a million uninsured Virginians may be eligible for Medicaid under an agreement now being worked out in Richmond — a deal in which Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell agreed to include Medicaid expansion as part of the budget if Senate Democrats supported a transportation package.
‘They’re Not Bad Kids; They’re Just Teenagers’
Westfield SRO talks about keeping students safe.
Authorities say children are safe in Fairfax County schools, but it requires continual vigilance to keep them that way. So the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee recently hosted a community meeting on the topic.
The Facts about MathCounts
Open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, MathCounts involves solving various types of complicated math problems.
Column: Residents Can Craft Own County Budget
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is in the process of developing the FY 2014 budget and my colleague, Supervisor John Cook, came up with a great tool, a budget simulation that will assist you in creating your own proposed budget.
Chantilly Takes State Forensics Championship
In a close competition, the Chantilly Forensics team won the Virginia AAA title on Saturday, March 23.
Fairs and Festivals 2013-2014
Information on fairs and festivals taking place in 2013-2014.
Centreview School Notes March 27
School notes for Centreville and Chantilly natives.