Mom’s Quest for an Accessible Van
Ibis Espinal needs an accessible van — not for her, but for her 17-year-old son, Juwaan. A junior at Centreville High, he’s wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy.
‘He’s Not Special-Needs, But a Special Person’
Born with cerebral palsy and wheelchair-bound, Juwaan Espinal, 17, is unable to speak. But he literally squealed with delight and had a smile that wouldn’t quit, last week, when he got the surprise of his life.
Diamond Dreams Game
Westfield High School hosted the Kyle's Kamp Diamond Dreams game against Oakton High School on May 2.
Singing, Dancing and Silent Auction
Certainly, 2006 Westfield High grad Reema Samaha is known as one of the people who lost their lives in the Virginia Tech tragedy. But she was much more — a daughter, sister, friend and a talented dancer with a dazzling smile.
Earns Spot on U.S. Team
Joseph Szczur, a 14-year-old 8th grade student at Rocky Run Middle School, participated in the United States Indoor RC Aerobatics Model Airplane Team Trials which was held in Akron, Ohio in March. There were a total of 16 pilots competing in the competition, three which were Junior (18 years old or less). Joseph was the highest placing Junior pilot, qualifying him as U.S. team member along with the top three placing Open (18 years or older) competitors.
Selected for Junior Nationals
Janine Simmons, a graduating senior volleyball player at Centreville High School, will represent the Virginia Elite Volleyball Club and the Chesapeake Region as part of USA Volleyball’s A1 High Performance Program
Meeker, Cragg Engaged
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Meeker of Chesterfield, Va., are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Molly Anne Meeker to W. Kyle Cragg, son of Mr. Scott Cragg and Ms. Lynda Solis of Clifton.
Champions at Fundraising Tournament
More than 100 teams participated, raising $335,000. Stars Prime won six straight games through Sunday to become the 13U Kyle's Kamp Champions.
‘You Are Not Your Mistakes’
“She was one of the most disagreeable people I had ever met,” says paws4people Chairman and COO, Terry Henry, remembering his reaction to meeting Rebecca at Lakin Correctional Center, more than three years ago. Seeing her now with her earnest smile and a well-behaved puppy happily nestled in her lap, it’s hard to imagine the Rebecca he describes.
Letter: Project-Based Learning
To the Editor: It seems like every time you read an article regarding education there is talk of standardized high-stakes testing. Teachers spend hours planning and prepping lessons that ensure their students will select the correct answer on a lengthy multiple choice test. Students regurgitate this information one day late in the spring, when the only thing anyone can focus on is the looming summer months. When you think about what we want our students to be able to do when they exit high school, is being really good at test taking the first thing that comes to mind?
For ‘Dedication and Devotion to Duty’
PFC Rick Call is honored as Sully CAC’s Officer of the Month.
Honored for his police work that helped solve cases in Fairfax County and Washington, D.C., PFC Rick Call is the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee’s (CAC) Officer of the Month for April. He was presented his award by Lt. Bob Blakely, assistant station commander. A local high-school teacher contacted him about a female student who thought she’d been drugged and sexually assaulted. Call met with the student who told him she and a friend were picked up by a man in Centreville and taken to an indoor swimming pool in the District.
Do Your Best; Raise the Bar
Chantilly High named a Virginia Honor Band.
Being designated a “Virginia Honor Band” is the most prestigious title bestowed upon school bands by the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association. And Chantilly High’s band has just received this recognition for the 12th time.
5K Ice Cream Race at Bull Run
The first annual 5K Ice Cream Race will be held Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville.
Riding for the Fallen
More than 100 officers cycle through Virginia, for cause.
Police officers from all over the country vowed to "ride for those who died" this week. Police Unity Tour Chapter IV - also known as the Virginia chapter - challenged officers on a three day bicycle tour from Richmond to D.C. in memory for fallen officers. Before the last stop at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the group of 122 officers and loved ones of fallen police stopped for lunch at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center Monday in Fairfax as a tribute to the county most the officers served.
Northern Virginia Family Service Holds 16th Annual Gala
Local donors and supporters recognized at event.
The evening of Friday May 9 at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the nonprofit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) held their 16th Annual Road to Independence Gala. The festive event gave community and business leaders an opportunity to celebrate the impact of NVFS on families and children in need. It also recognized donors and supporters dedicated to giving back to the community in which they live making NVFS services possible.