Celebrating Chantilly Day
The second annual Chantilly Day celebration was Saturday, May 4, in the Sully Place Shopping Center.
Walker Meets Conviction After 2012 Murder
He killed Centreville woman in January 2012
Right from the start, Benjamin Luke Walker admitted he’d done wrong. He took the life of a 22-year-old Centreville woman and, for that, he was sentenced to nearly a half-century behind bars.
Telford Receives Spirit Award
Fair Lakes resident honored at Race for Hope.
The annual Race for Hope in Washington, D.C., raises money for brain-tumor research and, for 10 years now, the Rabbi Joseph P. Weinberg Triumph of Spirit Award has been given at that event to a deserving recipient. This year, the award was presented May 5 at the race’s starting line to Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford. Although battling brain cancer, herself, she created her own fundraising organization, Team BT, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the National Brain Tumor Society and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure.
STEM Scholarships Presented
Systems Furniture Gallery sponsored the education awards given during the Saturday, May 4, Chantilly Day celebration. Owner Bob Kessler presented three, $1,000 STEM scholarships (science, technology, engineering and math) to local, graduating seniors.
PUT Riders Return Home
The annual Police Unity Tour bike ride was May 10-12, from Richmond to Charlottesville, Warrenton and Centreville and on to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. It raised money and awareness for the Memorial fund and National Law Enforcement Museum honoring federal, state and local law enforcement officers who’ve died in the line of duty.
Music, Food and Entertainment
Israel Street Festival this Sunday at Fairfax Corner.
The Fairfax Corner shopping center is the place to be this Sunday, May 19, from noon-5 p.m., when the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia holds its 2013 Israel Street Festival. Music, food, children’s activities and a martial-arts demonstration are among the highlights.
Responding to Explosive Situation
An example of a case in which the bomb squad is called.
The Centreville homeowner had been making homemade fireworks for several years. But when a July 15, 2007 explosion blew a hole in his roof — and the resulting fire caused $200,000 damage to his house – his hobby came to the attention of Fairfax County fire officials.
Kicking up Their Heels
Students enjoy Day Prom at The Waterford.
At last week’s Day Prom at The Waterford in Fair Oaks, it didn’t matter if some of the students attending couldn’t walk or talk. For a few hours, they were just like all the other students in their high schools — they were at their school prom.
Police Officers, Robots and K-9s
CAC learns about the bomb squad’s work.
Each month, members of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee learn about a different facet of the work done by the station’s police officers. In April, the topic was the bomb squad.
Tara Sankner: Princess for an Evening
Tara Sankner, 8, a second-grader at Lees Corner Elementary, is battling brain cancer. But for awhile last week, she got to feel like a princess. Family and friends — especially Tattoo Tom Mitchell of StillBrave Childhood Cancer Foundation — staged a flash mob for her.
Bicycling 230 Miles In Remembrance: Police Unity Tour Raises Awareness and Funds
Police Unity Tour is this weekend.
Centreville’s Kevin Whalen has bicycled in five Police Unity Tour (PUT) rides, but this year was going to be different. Then tragedy struck and changed his mind. He’s a federal agent with the Treasury Department, and his partner there, Tammy Anzenberger, is married to a Prince William County police officer. And that’s how Whalen learned about Chris Yung, who died in the line of duty on Dec. 31, 2012 — and in whose honor Whalen will ride this weekend.
Welcome to the World of Imaginary Friends
Chantilly High debuts new children’s play.
A little boy with a big imagination takes playgoers on a funny and exciting journey in Chantilly High’s new children’s show, “Imagine If.”
Clifton Spring Homes Tour
An English garden, 18th-century furnishings and a pool with waterfalls are among the delights awaiting all those attending the 41st annual Clifton Spring Homes Tour. It’s slated for Thursday, May 16, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and the fun includes a marketplace and silent auction at the Paradise Springs Winery. The silent auction ends at 5 p.m., but the marketplace goes until 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 on tour day; single-home admission is $10.
Honoring Jeffrey; Helping Others
Angel Kisses 5K/2K is this Sunday.
Jeffrey Virostek was 2 when he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). He went into remission after aggressive treatment and a bone-marrow transplant; and for nine months, he was able to just be a little boy again, playing with friends and enjoying his family.
Chantilly High has a new, state-champion team — and it’s not in athletics, but academics. On April 17, the economics team defeated 11 other top-ranked teams to win the Virginia championship in economi
Chantilly High wins state economics championship.
Chantilly High has a new, state-champion team — and it’s not in athletics, but academics. On April 17, the economics team defeated 11 other top-ranked teams to win the Virginia championship in economics for the school’s seventh time.
Fundraiser Yields $2,500
Event benefits Police Unity Tour
From May 10-12, Centreville’s Kevin Whalen will bicycle 230 miles in the Police Unity Tour (PUT) Virginia ride. It raises money and awareness for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial fund and the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., honoring and remembering officers who’ve died in the line of duty.
Get Ready for Chantilly Day
Second annual celebration is this Saturday, Ma
A family-friendly event full of entertainment, music, children’s activities, food and fun — that’s the second annual Chantilly Day. And it’s happening this Saturday, May 4, at the Sully Place Shopping Center, off Route 50 West in Chantilly.
Is Traffic Relief On the Way?
Residents examine designs to fix the I-66/Route 28 interchange.
As things are now, rush hour traffic on Route 28 in Centreville is more than the traffic signals at Braddock/Walney roads, the entrance to E.C. Lawrence Park and the ramp to I-66 East can handle. This situation results in traffic backups, delays and safety hazards.
Warner Named Officer of Month
PFC Jared Warner is the Sully District Police Station’s Officer of the Month. He was honored at the April 10 meeting of the station’s Citizens Advisory committee.
Rocky Run Student Wins Writing Contest
Peter Hwang is only in the seventh grade at Rocky Run Middle School, but he recently won the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) writing contest. He wrote an essay answering the question, “What would you say to the Founding Fathers?”
Lees Corner Sixth-Graders Help Stop Hunger Now
Children at Lees Corner Elementary are taking a bite out of world hunger. They raised money to purchase food and, last Wednesday, April 24, students in teacher Jeffrey Houser’s sixth-grade class packaged enough meals to feed 103,200 people.
Songs, Dances and a Message
Westfield High presents ‘Urinetown: The Musical.’
Westfield High’s new show, “Urinetown: The Musical,” is about a future time when a severe water shortage forces citizens to pay to pee. And, no pun intended, Director Susie Pike says her actors are “rarin’ to go.”
Songs, Dances and a Message 4/24/2013
Westfield High presents ‘Urinetown: The Musical.’
Westfield High’s new show, “Urinetown: The Musical,” is about a future time when a severe water shortage forces citizens to pay to pee. And, no pun intended, Director Susie Pike says her actors are “rarin’ to go.”
Track-a-Thon Tackles Brain Cancer
Students of all ages are invited to participate.
Area residents can get some exercise, have fun and fight brain cancer, all at the same time, by participating in Chantilly High’s annual Team BT Track-a-Thon. It’s slated for this Saturday, April 20, from 6-9 p.m., at the Chantilly High track. Team BT is the nonprofit fundraising organization of Fair Lakes resident BethAnn Telford, who’s battling a brain tumor, herself, and will be at the event. All proceeds go to Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure and the National Brain Tumor Society.
Tara Sankner, ‘Warrior Princess’
Second-grader battles brain cancer.
That’s because Tara, a second-grader at Lees Corner Elementary, is in the fight of her life, battling brain cancer. “My day depends on how she’s doing,” said mom Tammy Sankner. “If she’s having a good day, I’m fine.”
Celebrating Erin’s Life
Event promotes her legacy.
Erin Peterson was just 18 when she became a victim of the April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. But her parents, Centreville’s Grafton and Celeste Peterson, make sure the Westfield High grad’s legacy lives on. They established the Erin Peterson Fund to continue their daughter’s commitment to reaching goals through education and aiding people in need. They also began an annual Gospel Celebration in remembrance of her and to raise money for the fund.
30 Years Prison for Handyman’s Death
Champean sentenced for May 2010 Centreville homicide.
Jose Cardona was a handyman and gardener on a huge, Centreville estate. On May 17, 2010, he also became something else — a hero who died protecting his employer’s son from armed intruders.
Liberty Middle To Perform ‘Once Upon a Mattress’
“The audience will come away happy.”
Featuring a cast and crew of nearly 70, Liberty Middle School presents the musical comedy, “Once upon a Mattress.” Show times are Thursday-Saturday, April 18, 19 and 20, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door and during school lunches.
‘There’ll Be Some Impact to You’
VDOT gears up to begin Stringfellow Road construction phase.
The good thing about Stringfellow Road is that it connects Route 50 in Chantilly to Route 29 in Centreville — and even links to the Town of Clifton. It also provides access to four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, a regional library, two parks, several athletic fields, churches, shopping centers and highly populated residential areas.
Fundraisers Set for Police Unity Tour
Centreville’s Kevin Whalen is riding for his sixth year in the Police Unity Tour (PUT) Virginia ride, May 10-12. It’s 230 miles from Richmond to Charlottesville to Warrenton to Centreville, and to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Ready to Take on the World
Rocky Run students heading to FIRST Lego League championship in St. Louis.
After capturing the FIRST Lego League state championship, Rocky Run’s seventh-grade team, R2D2, is ready to take on the world. The five girls and two boys are heading to St. Louis to participate, April 24-27, in the world championship.
Carry on Erin Peterson’s Legacy
Annual Gospel Celebration of Life is Sunday, April 14.
Erin Peterson was a basketball star at Westfield High and was almost finished with her freshman year of college, on April 16, 2007, when she became one of 32 people killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. Just 18, she was sitting in her French class when her life ended.
‘These Citizens Are the Heroes’
‘These Citizens Are the Heroes’
A mother allegedly high on drugs — and driving 70 mph in a car containing an infant and a 6-year-old without a seatbelt — led to a three-car crash on March 11 that could have ended in tragedy. As it was, it sent five people to the hospital, resulted in the mother’s arrest and brought out the best in public-safety personnel and ordinary citizens who came to the rescue of the children and of police PFC Rockie Akhavan, who was trapped in his cruiser.
‘I Put It in God’s Hands’
Looking at her husband’s badly damaged police cruiser, with the rear end demolished and the passenger side caved in, affected Beverly Akhavan profoundly.
Zero Tolerance For Impaired Drivers
Police detail DUI-related crashes, arrests.
During last week’s ceremony honoring the officers and citizens who helped out after a devastating crash on I-66, police Lt. Rich Morvillo, assistant commander of the Sully District Station, presented some sobering statistics.
‘You Can Taste All the Seasonings’
New Coyote Grille restaurant arrives in Centreville.
Featuring a fusion of southwestern and Bolivian cuisine, Coyote Grille is Centreville’s newest restaurant. Area residents may already be familiar with its Fairfax location, but they may now dine there at 14101 St. Germain Drive in the Centrewood Plaza shopping center.
Westfield High Holds International Night
Featuring a variety of performers representing countries throughout the globe, Westfield High will hold its annual, International Night program this Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m., in the school theater.
Sully District Station Honors its Own
MPO Mary Hulse is Officer of the Month.
MPO Mary Hulse is an example of a police officer doing her job and doing it well. And at the March 13 meeting of the Sully District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee, she was honored as that station’s Officer of the Month.
Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence
Rocky Run Middle wins state honor for fourth time.
Rocky Run Middle School has just won the 2013 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. But according to school Principal Matt Eline, “We were just doing what we do all the time.”
Mathcounts: First in Regionals, Second in States
Rocky Run’s team has stellar year.
Rocky Run Middle School’s MathCounts team didn’t win the state championship this year. But it did capture second place, which is a big achievement, in itself.
Training Key In School Safety
FCPS security coordinator addresses citizens committee.
Keeping students safe is Jim McLain’s job. After retiring as a Fairfax County police commander in 2001, he joined Fairfax County Public Schools; and for 12 years now, he’s been one of its two security coordinators.
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary
Social Change Celebrates Anniversary Founded by Julie Sussman of Centreville’s Rocky Run community, Social Change was born in March 2011. Sussman’s idea was to get people together in a fun and informal way to discuss their favorite causes, share food and wine, visit with old friends and make new ones.
Rita’s Fundraiser for Second-Grader
Contributions also accepted online.
Tara Sankner, an 8-year-old second-grader at Lees Corner Elementary was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, and the community is rallying ’round to show its support. She and a fundraising and support team called “Pray for Tara” wore special, pink T-shirts and participated in last Saturday’s, March 23, Rev3 Run Rogue 5K and 1K at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.
‘They’re Not Bad Kids; They’re Just Teenagers’
Westfield SRO talks about keeping students safe.
Authorities say children are safe in Fairfax County schools, but it requires continual vigilance to keep them that way. So the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee recently hosted a community meeting on the topic.
The Facts about MathCounts
Open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, MathCounts involves solving various types of complicated math problems.
Clifton’s Easter Egg Hunt
The Town of Clifton held its Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, in the town park thanks to the efforts of the Clifton, Fairfax and Fairfax Station au pairs with Cultural Care Au Pair.
Mildred DeBell: 95 Years Young
Friends, family gather for birthday celebration.
Most people grow older each year — and then there’s Mildred DeBell. Although technically she did gain another year on Saturday, you’d never know it by the way she looks or acts.
National Honor for Chantilly Academy
Student team wins CyberPatriot V competition.
Five students captured a national championship last weekend for Chantilly, but not in athletics. They did it with computers to emerge victorious in the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberPatriot V National Finals.
A Roundabout or a Traffic Signal?
Braddock/Pleasant Valley intersection to be improved.
Pretty much everyone agrees that the intersection of Braddock and Pleasant Valley roads in Centreville is a pain. It’s tiny and congested, with especially long waits for drivers during rush hours.