Fine Tuning Songwriting Skills
Chantilly teen attends Grammy Camp in California.
This fall, junior Jason Saitta will be one of the leads in Chantilly High’s musical, “Evita.” But his summer was also none too shabby.
‘Read – A Need You Can Feed’
Church members read with London Towne Elementary students.
London Towne Elementary’s summer reading program was called, “Read — A Need You Can Feed.” And that need was met in two ways. When children came to brush up their reading skills, they were fed literally, getting to enjoy treats such as pizza, hot dogs, chips, juice and pudding. Their minds were also fed, as volunteers from Centreville Presbyterian Church (CPC) came to school and read stories with them.
‘My Crew Chief and Medic Saved Lives’
Vietnam veterans also share their stories.
Each year, Rocky Run Middle School invites veterans to participate in its annual World War II day. This year, it extended an invitation to veterans of more recent wars, as well, and they, too, enjoyed imparting their knowledge and reminiscences to the students.
Veterans Share Their Stories
Rocky Run Middle holds annual WWII Day.
A veteran of three wars, Russell O’Connell helped protect Gen. George Patton. Elmer Smith flew President Roosevelt to the “Big Three” meeting with Stalin and Churchill. And Ruth Erno was a Navy communications officer. They were among the more than 80 veterans who participated in June in Rocky Run Middle School’s annual World War II Day. It’s hosted each year by the seventh-grade class and organized by history teacher Jamie Sawatzky.
Guarding Against Identity Theft and Fraud
Police advise residents how to protect themselves.
With identity theft and fraud being such a major concern these days, police Investigator Tom Polhemus and Det. Mike Deane recently presented some ways local residents can protect themselves from becoming victims.
Roessler Named Police Chief
Supervisors appoint Lt. Col. Edwin C. Roessler Jr.
Effective Tuesday morning, a Centreville resident, Lt. Col. Edwin C. Roessler Jr., became Fairfax County’s new chief of police. He was appointed July 30 by the county Board of Supervisors.
WFCM Gears up for Backpack Collection
1,682 backpacks needed for local students.
It may seem early to think about returning to school, but Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is already busy collecting backpacks for local students attending 23 elementary, middle and high schools. “These backpacks are given to students whose parents can’t afford all the school supplies it takes to send a child to school, let alone backpacks,” said Jennie Bush, WFCM’s community outreach manager. “Often, these families must decide between putting food on the table and gasoline in the car.” So WFCM has partnered with Collect for Kids, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Kids are First to help these students. Kids R First provides the school supplies needed at each grade level, and WFCM contributes the new backpacks.
22 Years Prison for Handyman’s Death
Victim died protecting his boss’s son.
Jose Cardona wasn’t famous and didn’t hold an impressive, white-collar job. He worked as a handyman and gardener for a wealthy businessman in Centreville. But that didn’t make his life any less important than any other human being’s. And when the time came, he more than proved his value as a person by giving up his own life to protect that of his employer’s son.
School Notes
Steven Bowen was named to the spring 2013 dean's list at Creighton University. Grace McKnight, a rising senior at Chantilly and a member of the Chantilly Academy Air Force Junior ROTC program, has been selected to attend the Leadership Laboratory Activity. The encampment will take place at the end of June at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
‘It’s Irreverent … and Entertaining’
Westfield Summer Stage Presents ‘The Producers’
With a cast and crew of more than 100, Westfield Summer Stage presents the musical that won more Tony awards than any other show in Broadway history, “The Producers.” The curtain rises Friday-Saturday, July 19-20 and July 26-27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 21, at 2 p.m., at Westfield High, 4700 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Seats are reserved; tickets are $12 at www.westfieldtheatreboosters.com and $15 at the door.
‘For Service Beyond the Call of Duty’
Police MPO Gubesch is Officer of Month for June.
An 18-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department, MPO Mike Gubesch is the Sully District Station’s Officer of the Month for June. And he was honored recently at a meeting of the station’s Citizens Advisory Committee.
Celebrating the Fourth At Chantilly Mosque
Food, fun, politicians and gratitude.
There were hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelons, children’s games, politicians and speeches — a typical, American celebration of the Fourth of July. But this one last Thursday was at the Mubarak Mosque in Chantilly, home of the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Before Going Forward, Taking a Look Back
Centreville High seniors open elementary-school time capsule.
Before a group of Centreville High seniors graduated in June, they returned to their elementary school, Union Mill, to reunite with their classmates and take a trip down memory lane.
Road Projects Moving Forward
Frey updates Sully District Council.
Transportation was the topic last week when Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) addressed the Sully District Council of Citizens Associations, updating the panel and audience on local road projects. “We have a fair amount of transportation improvements coming in the next two years,” he said last Wednesday, June 26. “And for the first time in awhile, there’s some optimism that we’ll be able to [carry them out] because of the passage of the transportation bill.”
Eline Leaves Rocky Run
He’s named new principal of Robinson Secondary School.
Under Matt Eline’s leadership at Rocky Run Middle School, several teams of math and science students have won state and national championships, and the school, itself, received the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, three years in a row.