
Eagle Scout Candidate Cleans Little Rocky Run Stream Wetlands
Little Rocky Run Boy Scout Kevin Bishop chose as his Eagle Scout project a cleanup of the wetlands directly beside Bent Tree Apartments.
Local Venue Serves Up Laughs
Westfield grad is in Sully’s comedy show.
Sully’s Restaurant is the place to be on Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m., when Westfield High grad Allison Wruk joins headlining comedian Rob Maher in an evening of comedy.

How the Powerless Access Power
Immigrants make significant gains in influencing political system.
On Election Night Nov. 6, Keisy Chavez’s nerves were frayed. The Fairfax single mom had been campaigning hard for Democrats since the official launch of Latinos for Obama last April.
School Notes
Vocal musicians from 14 Fairfax County public schools have been named to the Virginia Honors Choir for 2012.
Military Notes
Francis J. Rechner has been awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend a host college or university.
Another Arrested in Handyman’s Death
Victim worked for local business-owner.
In June, Reynard Prather was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. On Dec. 7, Tasheik Champean, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and use of a firearm in a crime of violence causing death.
Fundraiser in Honor Of Ryan Lopynski
Goal is to purchase EKG machines
On April 26, 2009, Ryan Lopynski was a freshman at Virginia Tech with his whole life ahead of him. He’d come home to Clifton’s Hampton Chase community to see his family and look for a summer job. But while showering before going to see his sister’s basketball game, he suffered a fatal heart attack. The specific cause of his death is still unknown, although it was discovered posthumously that Ryan had an enlarged heart.

Going Casual for a Cause
Nearly 10,000 people and 130-plus organizations participate in Jeans Day 2012 to help end homelessness.
Nearly 10,000 residents representing 130 businesses, Fairfax County agencies, schools and organizations pulled on their favorite jeans Friday, Dec. 14 for the second annual Jeans Day—a powerful community initiative that aims to “Put the ZIP on Homelessness” through building awareness and fundraising.

Preventing Holiday Weight Gain
Nutritionists say merriment doesn’t have to lead to bulge.
Festive holidays are filled with sweet treats from eggnog and cider to fruitcake and chocolate bonbons.
Brief: Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Installs New Leadership
Brief: There were multiple transfers of the torch at the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Installation Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 6 at NVAR Headquarters in Fairfax
What Labor Center Means to the Workers
Finding safety and security.
More than Centreville Immigration Forum members and local dignitaries participated in the Centreville Labor Resource Center’s one-year anniversary. The workers did, too, and were happy to be there.
‘We’ve Created a Community Here’
Centreville Labor Resource Center celebrates one-year anniversary.
When the Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC) opened a year ago, it was with high hopes that it would become a safe and successful place for local day laborers to meet with employers to obtain jobs. It started slowly, at first. But as people became more familiar with the center and the caliber of its workers, word spread and more employers came there — instead of to the streets — to hire them.
Guilty Plea in Handyman’s Death
Second person convicted in May 2010 Centreville homicide.
Nothing will restore Jose Cardona to life or return him to his family. But his loved ones will at least have a measure of justice now that the second of the three men involved in his death has been convicted. In June, Reynard Prather was sentenced to 30 years in prison. And last Friday, Dec. 7, in federal court, Tasheik Ashanti Champean, 46, of Suitland, Md., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and use of a firearm in a crime of violence causing death.
Chantilly Students Make Honor Choirs
Several Chantilly High choral students were recently selected for two honor choirs.
‘The Food Was Fabulous’
Chantilly High team wins culinary challenge.
Five stars are given to America’s top restaurants, and at a recent culinary competition, a student team from The Chantilly Academy captured the top prize, the Five Star Award.