Roundups
Fire Destroys Centreville House
Fairfax County firefighters responded to a single-family house fire, last Tuesday, Oct. 16, around 6:35 p.m., at 14927 Lee Highway in Centreville. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear and through the roof of the ranch-style home upon arrival. They fought the blaze from both inside and outside the house, but had to withdraw when a portion of the roof caved in.
Fantasy Pumpkins To Thrill and Delight
Centreville man creates Halloween enchantment.
n his daily life, Noel Dickover is a federal contractor for the State Department. He’s also a science-fiction junkie and an expert pumpkin carver. So as Halloween approaches, when he comes home at night to Centreville’s Westbrooke community, he busies himself designing and carving the 50 or so pumpkins that’ll be displayed in his front yard at 14223 Hartwood Court on Halloween night. The glowing spectacle attracts 500 to more than 1,000 visitors each year, and word of his creations has spread internationally. Dickover puts his patterns online for free and just asks anyone who does them to send him photos of their finished creations. “Last December, I was doing a technology event for nongovernmental organizations,” he said. “I was in Bucharest, Romania, and this guy comes up to me and says, ‘I know you — I did your Angry Birds pattern.’ I was just floored by that — that was awesome.”
‘It’s Just Good, Wholesome Fun’
Alliance Theatre presents musical comedy, : “Nunsense.”
When 52 of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, a convent in New Jersey, die after eating bad potato-leek soup, the remaining 19 nuns need to bury them. But first, they have to put on a talent show to raise enough money to do so. That’s the premise of “Nunsense,” The Alliance Theatre’s rollicking new musical comedy. It’s being performed weekends, from Nov. 2-18, at Mountain View High School, 5775 Spindle Court in Centreville. Show times are Friday-Saturday, Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 9-10, and Nov. 16-17, all at 7:30 p.m., plus Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16/adult; $14/child (12 and under); $14/senior citizens; go to boxoffice@thealliancetheatre.org.
Job Switch for Peter Noonan
Former Centreville High principal leads Fairfax City Schools.
Since coming to Fairfax County Public Schools in July 2001, Clifton resident Peter Noonan has been on an upward trajectory. He went from being an assistant principal to a principal to a school system assistant superintendent. But he left it all in July, yet continued moving upward, as he became the superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools. “I tossed my hat in the ring when then-Superintendent Ann Monday announced her retirement, the first part of the year,” said Noonan. “I thought it would be a great opportunity. I’d been a principal in the City of Fairfax, at Lanier Middle School, and already knew the relationship between the city and county so well. And I’ve aspired to be superintendent for a long time.” Unlike the huge FCPS, Fairfax City’s school system has just four schools — Lanier Middle, Fairfax High and Daniels Run and Providence elementaries — and it’s appealing to Noonan to “have influence over a smaller group of schools and work with a really great group of principals and teachers.”
Mountain View Teacher Hoffman Is Honored
Mountain View High math teacher Anne Hoffman received the Educator of the Year award Saturday from the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. She was honored during the opening ceremonies of the Oct. 20 Centreville Day celebration in Centreville’s Historic District. Mountain View Principal Dave Jagels presented her award; but first, he told those attending why Hoffman is so special and why the school chose her to receive this honor.
Calendar
CV110712-100 Ice Palace Fair Oaks Enchanted Ice Palace Holiday Tradition Thursday, Nov. 8 through Monday, Dec. 24 Open during all Fair Oaks regular and holiday hours Fair Oaks Grand Court, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Fair Oaks' Ice Palace holiday tradition features a 30-foot ice dome with falling snow, interactive multi-sensory elements, larger-than-life snow globes, Ice Throne and light show beneath twinkling icicles descending from Fair Oaks' 65-foot Grand Court atrium. New this year will be showcases of the beloved prehistoric herd from the family film Ice Age: Continental Drift. The 1,200 square foot Ice Palace will culminate with a visit to Santa and a special complimentary Ice Age gift. Fair Oaks will also celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah with a unique display adjacent to the Ice Palace featuring the history and significance of the dreidel (sevivonim). Free and open to the public. Visit www.ShopFairOaksMall.com or call 703-279-2708.
Helicopter Unit Helps Save Two Children
Thanks to a series of coordinated efforts among helicopter, K-9, and the Project Lifesaver program, an 8-year-old boy was rescued and delivered home safely. Police were alerted to a missing juvenile on Saturday, Oct. 13. The little boy, who is autistic, left his Clifton area home on his scooter around 2 p.m. Family and officers searched the home and neighborhood but did not find the missing boy. Fortunately, this family had registered their son with the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Program. He wears an electronic bracelet at all times that helps officers locate him in the event of an emergency. With the assistance of the FCPD helicopter, a K-9 team, Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputies and ground patrol officers, a faint transmitter signal was heard that led searchers to a heavily wooded area near Otter Run Court.
Man Charged: Drugs, Weapons Crimes
A Centreville man was among more than 100 people arrested recently as part of a nearly year-long operation by three law-enforcement agencies. He is Kevin Young of Bull Run Post Office Road in Centreville. He was charged with two counts of drug distribution and one count of possessing a firearm while in possession of schedule I or II narcotics. He was arrested Aug. 19, but police didn’t release that information until last week, when they released details of the operation. Participating were officers and detectives with the Fairfax County and Prince William County police departments, plus the Virginia State Police.
Centreville’s First Zombie Slouch
The first annual Zombie Slouch 5K Run and Walk was held Saturday, Oct. 20, in Centreville. Proceeds benefited the D
Westfield’s Walking To Help Homeless
Westfield High is holding a Help the Homeless Walk as part of its Homecoming Parade, this Friday, Oct. 19, at 4:15 p.m., and is inviting all its feeder schools in the Westfield Pyramid to join in.
Ready To Scare
Frights abound along Clifton Haunted Trail.
Screams pierce the night in the middle of a dark and spooky forest, while scary creatures frighten all those brave enough to enter. “It’s only 8 acres — what could possibly happen to you?” That’s the slogan of the Clifton Haunted Trail, and the bloody mayhem is once again ready to be unleashed.
19th Annual Goblin Gallop Is Oct. 28
Benefits families of children with cancer.
As Halloween draws near, it’s time for autumn leaves, pumpkins and the Goblin Gallop. And this year’s 19th annual event is Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
Visiting the Local Fire Station
As part of national Fire Prevention Week, Fair Oaks Fire Station 21 held an open house Saturday, Oct. 13.
‘Celebrating 220 Years of Community’
Centreville Day is this Saturday, Oct. 20.
Step right up and join the parade — or, at least, come watch it. And then head over to Centreville’s Historic District for the 20th annual Centreville Day celebration. The festivities are this Saturday, Oct. 20, and kick off with the Zombie Slouch 5K Run and Walk at 9 a.m., to benefit DC Candlelighters.
A Three-way Race in 10th District
Kristin Cabral, Kevin Chisholm oppose Frank Wolf in new-look 10th district.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) is attempting to be re-elected for a sixteenth term come Nov. 6, but he will face two challengers in Kristin Cabral (Democrat) and Kevin Chisholm (Independent).