Food Pantry, Thrift Store Moves to New Locations
WFCM is still on Metrotech Drive, but in two new spots.
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) has moved – but not far.
A Ticket to Hollywood
Centreville High senior Maddie Assel is on “American Idol.”
Centreville High senior Maddie Assel is a bubbly, outgoing, 17-year-old. She’s busy with school, friends, college visits and — oh, yes, she’s also a contestant on “American Idol.”
Roundups
Fairfax County police detectives on Monday arrested a man in connection with the skimming of ATM cards at bank machines at local hospitals. He is Ioan Cicio, 39, of George C. Marshall Drive in Falls Church.
Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board for Jan.-April
Katcham Receives McDonnell Award
Honored for his long-time community service.
Jim Katcham has been serving his community for years, so it’s only fitting that he was honored Monday night with the James D. McDonnell Award for dedicated and outstanding community service.
News Briefs
As Democratic delegates fight to keep firearms further from school property, Republican Bob Marshall (D-13) is pushing legislation to bring more guns in. Marshall is the chief patron of HB 1557, which would require every school board in the state to designate one volunteer to carry a concealed weapon on school property. Training for selected volunteers would be provided by either the Virginia Center for School Safety or the NRA, of which he is a member.
Four Northern Virginia Senators Targeted
Redistricting effort puts Fairfax County seats in the spotlight.
Four Northern Virginia state Senators are targets of a Republican-led effort to draw new districts — Sen. George Barker (D-39), Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37), Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) and Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34). Democrats say the redistricting effort is a cynical attempt to take advantage of the absence of Sen. Henry Marsh (D-16), a prominent civil rights veteran, who was in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration on Monday. But state Sen. John Watkins (R-10) of Powhatan defended the effort as a way to create a sixth majority black Senate district in Southside. It passed the Senate on a 20-to-19 vote.
Making Schools Safer
Two Northern Virginia Democrats take part in panel to consider school security.
Do Virginia schools need more guns? That question is at the heart of a debate that’s now reaching a fever pitch in the commonwealth, especially after a man with a Bushmaster assault rifle blasted his way into a Connecticut elementary school and killed 20 children and six adults before killing himself. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell responded to the tragedy by creating a School Safety Task Force, which is considering a proposal for every school in Virginia to have an armed school resource officer.
Centennial Celebration
The members of the Chantilly-based Fairfax County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (FCAC DST), Inc., a public service organization, are participating in the sorority’s 100th Founders Day celebration.
Fairfax Families4Kids
Fostering bonds with children.
Nationwide, more than 463,000 children live in foster care. In many states, including Virginia, the number of foster youth has tripled in the last 25 years. As of Sept. 30, 2011, nearly 5,000 youth were in foster care in Virginia, according to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Physical abuse is the most common reason children enter foster, but it’s not the only reason. Often there’s emotional abuse, sexual abuse and the parent or caretaker’s inability to provide a safe environment due to substance abuse.
A Family Made Whole
After a tragic loss, Reston couple creates a family through adoption.
The Granvilles look like a made-for-TV family. On a bright October afternoon, Chris, a computer engineer, is teasing his teenage son, Kenny, about what kind of pet to adopt, while Tiffany sits on a sofa, cradling Elijah, Kenny’s baby brother, who has just woken up from an afternoon nap. “Fish? No way,” Kenny, 15, says. “They just go ‘round and ‘round in a bowl.” Kenny is lobbying hard for a dog or—at the very least—a guinea pig or hamster.
Area Residents Attend 57th Inauguration
Many brave crowds to witness history.
Local residents were among the hundreds of thousands who left their homes on a cold winter holiday, Jan. 21, to brave packed Metro trains and slow-moving security check points for a chance to celebrate and witness President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.
Defining the Dream Of Martin Luther King, Jr.
CPMSAC presents annual celebration Jan. 20.
Each year, the Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement (CPMSAC) Committee celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s event is slated for Sunday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m., at Westfield High.
Santa Delivers at Special Party
Easter Seals, Legion Post and Moose Lodge combine forces.
The American Legion Unit 85, Centreville Moose Lodge 2168 and Easter Seals serving D.C., Maryland and Virginia hosted their annual holiday party for children with disabilities and their families as well as families of veterans, active military and wounded warriors on Saturday, Dec. 8.
And They’re off to Washington, D.C.
Two local groups will perform at Obama’s inaugural balls.
While most people will have to watch President Barack Obama’s inauguration celebration on TV, Army Sergeant Major (retired) Keith Jarman of Centreville will be there in person.