School Notes
Wednesday/Nov. 28 CVHS Safe Teen Driving Seminars. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. and doors will be locked at 7 p.m. No one will be admitted after the doors are locked. All parents and students need to attend one of these sessions before the student will be issued a driver's license. It is preferred that your student attend during the quarter they have Driver's Education with Ferrick. Thursday/Nov. 29 ”Paying for College." 7 p.m. The "Paying for College" presentation that was cancelled on Oct. 29 has been rescheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29. The program will begin in the Centreville high School theater. This overview of how to pay for a college education is for families of students from Middle School through High School who are looking to educate themselves about all sources of funding including the Federal Student Loan and Work study Programs, college/university merit aid including scholarships and grants, state tuition assistance programs, private scholarships and much more. Contact Leftwich at caleftwich@fcps.edu. Centreville High School Wind Ensemble was awarded a State Level Recognition by the Foundation for Music Education in the “Mark of Excellence/National Wind Band Honors Project.” The award is based on the Wind Ensemble’s playing at the 2012 Performance Assessment, which was held in March. The performance was considered to be of high quality and worthy of recognition. Nationwide, 184 bands, orchestras and choirs entered their performances this year so it is a true honor for CVHS Wind Ensemble to be recognized. Amanda Karstetter, from Centreville, will join the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Ambassador Program. Students are selected to join the team each spring through a competitive application process. Karstetter, a junior majoring in humanities, science and enviornment and English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, volunteers with a faculty member for a minimum of two hours a week and volunteers for other various events hosted by the college. Ambassadors work closely with faculty, staff, parents, and alumni to expand the college’s outreach. Walter Ambrose III, of Centreville, recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Ambrose earned a BFA degree in Film.
CVHS Students Named Top Achievers
CVHS Students Named Top Achievers
The following Centreville High School students have been recognized as top achievers in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Be Part of Children's Centre View
During the last week of each year, the Centre View devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families. We publish artwork, poetry, essays, creative writing, opinion pieces, short stories, photography, photos of sculpture or gardens or other creative efforts. We ask that all submissions be digital so they can be sent through email or delivered on CD or flash drive. Writing should be submitted in rich text format (.rtf). Artwork should be photographed or scanned and provided in jpeg format. Identify each piece of writing or art, including the student's full name, age, grade and town of residence, plus the name of the school, name of teacher and town of school location. Please provide the submissions by Monday, Dec. 3.
Diversity Growing
Tune in to our series on immigration.
More than 28 percent of Fairfax County's population is foreign born; that's 317,000 residents. Consider Yesuf Beshir from Ethiopia, who two years ago settled in Springfield and now works for a government contractor. In May, he became an American citizen. “The main thing here is democracy, the right to vote,” Beshir said. These residents include nearly 20,000 who are self-employed business owners, truly job creators, large and small. One of these is Shami Walia who emigrated from India in 1982, and now owns Burke Cigar Shop, a popular cigar lounge that's become a neighborhood fixture. One part of our series will look at the business impacts of the foreign-born population.
Handling ‘Everything under the Sun’
Animal Control officer talks about his job.
Although Fairfax County is a bustling, suburban area with lots businesses, homes and concrete, it still has its share of animals — many of them wild. And both they and people’s pets keeps the police department’s animal control officers busy. Andy Sanderson has been a police officer for 20 years and an animal control officer for 15, and he recently shared his knowledge and expertise with members of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee. He said residents may call 703-691-2131 to report an incident and that animal-control officers are on call from 6-12:30 a.m. for emergencies.
Buy Now, Pay Later
Meaning: If I’m terminal, why deprive myself because of cost? If, in fact, I’m only living once – as the old saying goes, and somewhat less of a life than I had anticipated, shouldn’t I, at the very least, “Pull my pants down and slide on the ice,” as prescribed by Dr. Sidney Freedman in an episode of M*A*S*H, way back when?
Opinion: Embracing Our Diversity
If you can ever find the time to attend a federal naturalization ceremony in Fairfax County for new citizens, do it. It reinvigorates one’s patriotism and reminds us all how lucky we are to be Americans.
Opinion: Celebrating Diversity Through Culture
So, when people from different countries, diverse cultures, and dissimilar values migrate to United States, they try to adjust and adapt to the new culture. But the onus should also be on American people to welcome them, to make them comfortable and feel at home. What do we do to create awareness about different cultures? Unfortunately, I have not seen much effort on the part of the government.
Editorial: Diversity Growing
Tune in to our series on immigration.
This week, the Connection kicks off a series about immigration, diversity and the growing population of foreign-born residents in Fairfax County. County reporter Victoria Ross opens with a story that captures vignettes and statistics of the changing population. It is a topic consistent with the original Thanksgiving story. More than 28 percent of Fairfax County's population is foreign born; that's 317,000 residents.
Giving Thanks in Style
Area tastemakers offer ideas and inspiration for Thanksgiving table settings.
There’s more to an elegant Thanksgiving table than a perfectly roasted turkey and fluffy mashed potatoes. Local design experts say that with a little planning and a few natural elements, it is possible to set a Thanksgiving table that is as tantalizing as the food it holds.
Editorial: Shop Locally, Give Locally
Small business Saturday isn't enough; don't wait until then, and don't stop after that.
An effort to support locally owned businesses has resulted in the recognition of Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year that is Nov. 24. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a day of national zeal for shopping. Presumably the next day shoppers can focus on local shopping.
‘Thank You for Risking Your Lives’
Colin Powell Elementary honors veterans.
America officially celebrated Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, and so did the students, teachers and staff of Colin Powell Elementary. They invited local veterans to the school, plus fire and police personnel, for their eighth annual Veterans Day Celebration.
It’s Time for Turkey Trot
Raises money for Life with Cancer.
Each year around this time, many people’s thoughts turn to turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie — and the Virginia Run Turkey Trot. This year’s 24th annual 5K run and 2K walk will be held Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, at 8 a.m. at the Virginia Run Community Center in Centreville.
Centre View Roundups: Nov. 14, 2012
This week's roundups
ONC Questions and Answers
ONC’s Founder and Executive Director, Kelly Lavin, has put together a list of answers to some frequently asked questions:
Gearing Up for Holidays
Our Neighbor’s Child needs community’s help.
Now in its 21st year, the all-volunteer, nonprofit group has already started on its massive mission of providing holiday happiness for people in need in Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes.
Looking Back and Going Forward
CIF celebrates achievements, past director and future goals.
The Oct. 23 annual meeting of the Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF) came full circle. Members honored the past year’s accomplishments and the former director of its labor resource center, heard a budget update, installed four board of directors members and planned for the future.
Help Available at CLRC
Workers at the Centreville Labor Resource Center are ready to help residents clean up damage and debris from rain, wind or any other weather event.
Drug-Dealing Conspiracy Yields Prison Sentences
Pain clinic’s Boccone given 15 years; Brown gets five.
Before Paul Boccone was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison for crimes including distributing narcotics out of the Chantilly Pain Clinic, his attorney John Iweanoge tried rewriting history.
Chantilly Pain Clinic: The Case’s Background
Oxycodone distribution, healthcare, tax fraud.
On Aug. 3, the owner and president of a pain clinic in Chantilly was convicted in Federal Court of conspiring to distribute and actually distributing oxycodone, a controlled drug.