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Sunoco Plan Heads To Planning Panel

Alcoholic beverages sales still a concern.

It’s on to the Fairfax County Planning Commission now for Sunoco’s proposed changes to its gas station near the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. And along the way, two local land-use groups have opposed its intention to sell alcoholic beverages in its associated convenience store. Located at 4475 Daly Drive, by Willard Road, the existing Sunoco station — initially a Mobil station — has been at that site since 1989. But after Sunoco acquired more land, it decided to completely revamp the facility and its offerings.

Eat Pizza To Help Local Girl

Paisano’s holding fundraiser for Tara Sankner.

A fundraiser being held by a local pizza chain won’t cure Tara Sankner’s cancer — but it’ll certainly help her parents pay for her medical bills. Called “Let’s Take Care of Tara,” it began Sept. 3 and will run through Sept. 30 at all Paisano’s and Bella Pizza locations. This is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and Paisano’s owner and founder, Fouad Qreitem — who has children, himself — wants to do all he can to help this local family. “I would love to see Tara get into remission,” he said. “I met Tara and her mother, Tammy, and they didn’t ask for anything. But I could tell they were a family struggling and in need.” Tara, 8, is now a third-grader at Lees Corner Elementary. Her dad Craig is a letter carrier with the U.S. Post Office in Oak Hill and her mom is a medical biller at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. And in February, their only child was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a treatable but inoperable form of brain cancer. “It would be a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Qreitem. “I have two daughters, 8 and 12, and cannot imagine my family being faced with this situation. So I want to help Tara and her family.”

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School’s Picnic Brings Family Fun

London Towne welcomes students and parents.

Students at London Towne Elementary eased back into the school year with a back-to-school picnic. The family-friendly event was held the evening of Aug. 29 on the school playground. Among those attending were Emily Horning and sons William and Dimitri, in third and fourth grades, respectively. “We met William’s teacher and she was really nice,” said Horning. “London Towne is family-oriented, always coming up with new activities for the families to do. I’m amazed at how hard the teachers work. Even at this picnic, they were grilling hot dogs.”

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Robinson’s Lambert Named Business Teacher of the Year

Chantilly resident founded programming and FBLA clubs.

Earlier this summer, Robinson Secondary School teacher Cara Lambert received a pre-back-to-school surprise. The Virginia Business Education Association had named her the 2013 Al Roane Middle School Business Teacher of the Year. “It was exciting,” said Lambert. “This wasn’t my chosen career to begin with, but it’s a career that I love, so it’s nice to be recognized. Anyone would enjoy winning an award.”

Agility Cats Perform at National Cat Show

Reston woman’s Abyssinian cats are famous for athletic prowess.

Cat trainer and breeder Lisa-Maria Padilla, 52, of Reston, appeared with her blue Abyssinian cats at the National Capital Cat Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly over the weekend, Sept. 7-8. The show featured 450 cats from 40 pedigreed breeds from around the world — Sphynx to Burmese to Maine Coons to Persians — plus hybrids, crossbreeds and mutations. There were six all-breed categories, two specialty rings, household pets in eight rings, plus a display of feline agility. In addition to the cat judging, vendors sold feline products, jewelry, food, and artwork. Cats were also available for adoptions.

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Centreville Football Throttles West Potomac in Opener

Quarterback Walter throws three touchdown passes against Wolverines.

Centreville rushes for 300 yards against West Potomac.

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An Insider's Guide to the Arts in Northern Virginia

A selection of upcoming arts productions, happening right where you live.

There are more artists of every stripe making art in Northern Virginia than you may realize. Populating the bedroom communities, small towns, growing cities and metropolitan areas of Fairfax County, Arlington and Alexandria are your pick of dance, theatre, choral, symphonic, visual and performance, music and fill-in-the-blank groups. Look beyond Wolf Trap and Jammin' Java to the Torpedo Art Factory, the Workhouse Arts Center, and smaller, quality groups like ArtSpace Herndon and McLean Project for the Arts to cast their creative spell (that's only to name a few). Delve in and, we dare you, let your stereotypes of an artless string of suburbs dissolve. In place you'll get something much better than stereotypes: some culture.

Centreville Home Sales: July, 2013

In July 2013, 123 Centreville homes sold between $1,008,109-$146,500.

Centreville Home Sales: July, 2013

Chantilly Home Sales: July, 2013

In July 2013, 28 homes sold between $800,000-$200,000 in the Chantilly area.

Chantilly Home Sales: July, 2013

Chambers

Find a comprehensive online listing of county business resources at http://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/business-resources.

Editorial: About the Connection

As your local, weekly newspaper, the Great Falls Connection’s mission is to bring the local news you need, to gather information about the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record milestones and events in the community and people’s lives.

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Shedding Sunshine on the Secret World of Regulation in Virginia

Advisory panel rejects effort to open records of the State Corporation Commission.

Ever wonder what happens during deliberations that regulate payday lending? How about the effort to oversee your health insurance?

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Resurrecting The Post for a New Era

The Post has two upcoming gigs in Vienna and Alexandria.

Don’t let the minor chords fool you: The Post is made up of happy people. The band, originally started by guitarist Kate Jarosik and singer/pianist Chelsea Bryan during their time at the University of Virginia, took a brief hiatus after graduation but has started up again with some new musicians in Northern Virginia. Fresh off a successful stint through a Battle of the Bands at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, The Post is getting ready for a show there next Wednesday, Aug. 28 and another at St. Elmo’s in Alexandria Sept. 20.

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Outdoor Elegance Meets Cutting Edge Technology

A design/build team explores fine architecture in weather-resistant materials.

If anything in the summer of 2013 points to still evolving homeowner expectations, it may be the frequency with which locals are integrating screen porches, patios, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens into original landscaping schemes that artfully marry the house to its setting.

Geocaching Diversifies

Urbanites embracing new game.

Geocaching usually has been portrayed as someone with hiking boots and a walking staff gazing afar from a hilltop in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Not so anymore. Substantial numbers of those joining the sport are placing and hunting for caches in urban settings, and that includes Northern Virginia.