Federal Prosecutors Uncover Schoolyard Prostitution Ring in Suburban Fairfax County
U.S. Attorney: Underground Gangster Crips led prostitution ring that spanned Northern Virginia.
The high school girls were threatened with violence if they attempted to leave. They were sexually exploited by customers of the sex trafficking operation as well as the men who ran the prostitution ring.
Reenacting ‘Stations of the Cross’
As a time-honored tradition, each year 8th graders in the St. Timothy School National Junior Honor Society perform a play for the entire school reenacting the "Stations of the Cross" — the final steps that Jesus took on his journey to the cross. This year's play was directed by 8th graders Beth Ghyzel and Chelsea West, costumes were made by Madison Ojeda, and Jesus was played by Daniel Caracciolo. The play was overseen by faculty members Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Young, and Mrs. Toohey.
Chess Competitors at Poplar Tree Elementary
Students from Poplar Tree Elementary School participated in the Virginia Scholastic and Collegiate Chess Championships earlier this month in McLean. The tournament was organized by the Virginia Chess Federation. These students placed 9th in the tournament. Pictured with Principal Sharon Williams are: Austin Song, Asrith Biradavolu, Richa Misra, Sunny Ahuja, Alice Cao-Dao, Aarav Bajaj and Pravalika Putalapattu.
Maxwell Read Goes to State Geography Bee
Maxwell Read, a sixth-grade student at Greenbriar West Elementary School, won the school-level competition of the Nation Geographic Bee on Dec. 15 and advanced to the State Level this week. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 24th annual National Geographic Bee. The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
‘Many Cultures, One School’
Poplar Tree Elementary School students, staff, and parents recently celebrated Heritage Night with the theme “Many Cultures, One School.” Students from Mrs. Reynolds’s Kindergarten class, Miss Beverage’s third grade class, and Miss Rowland’s fourth grade class performed as well as three students from Chantilly High School. Following the performances, students went to different stations to work on crafts from around the world.
Centre View Calendar -- April 4
To have community events listed in Centre View, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412.
Supervisors OK Pohanka’s Plan in Chantilly
Pohanka Honda is coming to Chantilly. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently gave its building proposal a checkered flag, clearing the way for it to build a Honda dealership here.
Two Grieving Mothers Seek Answers
Kim Nelson goes to bed at night hoping she’ll someday see her daughter again; Gil Harrington knows she’ll never be able to because her own daughter is gone forever. Saturday, March 31, they were together in Fairfax seeking information about what happened to their girls and doing what they could to prevent similar tragedies from befalling someone else’s child.
Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy, Tax Crimes
A Fair Oaks man was sentenced last week in federal court to two years in prison for secretly conspiring to act as an agent of the Pakistani government in the U.S., without telling federal authorities about this affiliation, as required by law. He is Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of the Penderbrook community.
Centre View Roundups April 4
Free Carseat Inspections Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, April 5 and April 19, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed. However, because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.
Lawson Honored as Officer of Quarter
Police officers don’t have to be out on the streets to make a difference in their communities. School Resource Officers (SRO)s make an impact every day, and for all he’s done in that capacity, PFC Steve Lawson was honored recently as the Sully District Station’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee’s Officer of the Quarter.
Remembering Erin Peterson
Joyful music will fill the air when the Fifth Annual Erin Peterson Fund Gospel Celebration is held Sunday, April 15, at 4 p.m., at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Centreville. Erin worshiped with her family here and, after she died in the April 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy, her own family and her church family celebrated her life together.
Bull Run Elementary Is K-5 Team Champ
Bull Run Elementary School Chess Team won the 2012 Virginia Scholastic K-5 team Chess Championship. Fourth grader Eli Kirtley led the way with six victories in six games, good enough to make him the individual 2012 Virginia K-5 Chess Champion.
Easter Egg Hunt for the Visually Impaired
The Alexander Graham Bell Chapter of the Pioneer Volunteers and the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind held its 33rd annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 31 for the visually impaired at the Centreville Moose Lodge, Chapter 2168, in Fairfax. The beeping eggs, built by the Alexander Graham Bell Chapter of the Pioneer Volunteers, emit a variety of tones for visually impaired children to hone-in on, allowing them to use their ears and sense of touch to find the eggs.
Fairfax Residents Awarded Inspiring Champions Award
The Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter recognized thirteen individuals as Inspiring Champions at a special reception on Feb. 29 at its corporate offices in Fairfax.
Letter: It Takes Community To Prevent Bullying
As a private, not-for-profit agency focusing on bullying prevention and intervention in northern Virginia since 2009, we at Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Inc. are pleased to see your recent pieces focusing on this critical issue for youth. We have been encouraged by the Fairfax County Public School System’s
At the Libraries
Thursday/April 5 Small Wonders. 11 a.m. Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville. Stories and activities. Age 13-23 months with adult. 703-830-2223.
Westfield’s Dezelick Receives National Honorable Mention
When it comes to talent, those who’ve seen Westfield High senior Colby Dezelick perform — first as a dancer with Encore Theatrical Arts Project in Chantilly and then as an actor on the Westfield stage — know he’s got what it takes to succeed. And now it’s official.
County Aims to Prevent Substance Use and Abuse
Alcohol use down, painkiller and inhalant use on the rise.
Twenty-one questions in the 2010 Fairfax County Youth Survey dealt with substance abuse. The survey asked about lifetime use of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, as well as use in the past month of 13 different substances.
Basketball’s Capital Classic Showcase Set for April 21
Preliminary game will feature Westfield’s Zach Elcano and former Chantilly player Kethan Savage.
The 39th Annual Capital Classic high school basketball event, set to take place on Saturday, April 21, will consist of a full day of All Star hoops games at T.C. Williams High in Alexandria.