Thursday, August 28
Classified Advertising August 27, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Arlington Home Sales: July, 2014
In July 2014, 281 Arlington homes sold between $2,000,000-$125,000.
Arlington Home Sales: July, 2014
Wednesday, August 27
What’s on the Ballot; How to Vote
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2014, but you can vote as early as Sept. 19.
Every year is Election Year in Virginia. This year, every Virginia voter will choose one member of the U.S. Senate and their member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Welcome to Fairfax County
Welcome to Fairfax County, the best place in the country to live, work and play. Fairfax County is home to a fantastic public school system, top tier business and shopping opportunities, compassionate human services, and some of the best parks and open spaces in the D.C. Metropolitan region.
About the Connection
As your local, weekly newspaper, the Connection’s mission is to deliver the local news you need, to try to make sense of what is happening in your community, to gather information about the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record achievements, milestones and events in the community and people’s lives.
And Another Thing I’m “Righting” On
Not only did last week’s CT Scan indicate shrinkage, where necessary – and stability, where hoped for – it also accomplished these hoped-for goals after only two months of chemotherapy (still infused every three weeks) rather than the normal three months of chemotherapy. So depending on how the calendar/treatment schedule actually fell, I probably received two fewer infusions than usual, yet all the radiological indications – and interpretations – continue to be encouraging; after five and a half years, no less. I think I’m entitled to use the word amazing – and lucky, too.
Wakefield Field Hockey Receives Confidence Boost
Warriors beat Woodbridge on first day of Under the Lights tournament.
The Wakefield field hockey team split its four games at the Under the Lights tournament.
Editorial: Back to School - Good Steps, Good Intentions
The first day of school in Fairfax County is Tuesday, Sept. 2, but Monday, Sept. 8 is the beginning of something important. For the first time in decades, elementary school students will have a full day of school on Mondays instead of being sent home hours early. This action makes so much sense in for families with children in elementary school. The ability of Superintendent Karen Garza to facilitate this change to go into effect right away is remarkable, and we hope a promise for more changes ahead.
Newcomers Guide: Area Nonprofits
A list of nonprofits in the community.
A list of nonprofits in the community.
Wednesday, August 20
Wakefield’s Wilson Working Toward Playing College Football
Q&A: Senior quarterback entering second season with Warriors.
Wakefield quarterback Riley Wilson has a strong desire to play college football.
Editorial: Accountability for Police in Northern Virginia
There is more transparency in the police shooting in Ferguson last week than in police shootings in Northern Virginia.
This is not Ferguson, and tanks do not roll down the streets of Northern Virginia driven by police officers pointing sniper rifles at residents.
Removing Barriers to College
Local services help students complete college paperwork, remove barriers.
LaQuita King relocated across the state from Chesapeake, Va., to Alexandria in the summer of 2013, moving into an apartment with her aunt and three cousins. King had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. So far, that hasn’t happened.
All Write For Now
And so it goes, every three months or so; a CT Scan, a week or so of waiting, and then a face-to-face appointment with my oncologist to learn/discuss the results. Thankfully, the results continue to be amazing. My doctor has told me that I’m his third miracle; stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer patients generally don’t live beyond two years. I’m in year six.
Thursday, August 14
Washington-Lee Football Poised to Defend District Title
Generals return running back Harris, strong offensive line.
The W-L football team won its first district title since 1975 last season.
Safety at a Crossroads in Poor Communities Across Northern Virginia
Less affluent neighborhoods in Northern Virginia suffer from higher pedestrian fatalities.
A national database of pedestrian crashes compiled by Governing Magazine shows 95 pedestrian fatalities in Northern Virginia between 2008 and 2012. While 26 of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in wealthy neighborhoods, where the per capita income is more than $53,000, a much larger number happened in poor communities like this stretch of Route 1 in Mount Vernon.
Wednesday, August 13
Take Precautions against Rabies
Animal Shelter offers advice to reduce the risk.
Rabies is a deadly virus that infects animals and may be a risk to humans, as well. The most commonly reported rabid animals in Fairfax County include foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats. But even pets aren’t automatically immune to this disease and must be vaccinated against it.
Heads Up Football Flourishing in Fairfax County
Program reduces concussion risk by teaching players to take the “head” out of tackling.
It wasn’t that long ago when youth football coaches believed a player’s toughness was measured by his ability to play through the pain. Concussions and other serious injuries were just “part of the game.”
Organized for School Year
Local organizers offer suggestions on dealing with the summer mess.
When summer comes to a grinding halt in a few weeks, a new school year will begin. From alarm clocks and school bells to piles of homework assignments and sports schedules, maintaining a coordinated household can be difficult, however. Local organizers are offering simple suggestions to help make the transition from summer to the start of the school year seamless.
Write Now, I Just Don’t Know
The biggest writing problem that I have, other than the ones you regular readers generally know about, is writing a current column on the weekend immediately preceding the next Wednesday’s publication date, when I am still waiting on results from my most recent CT Scan. This isn’t like putting the cart before the horse, this is more like putting the horse in the cart and pulling it.
Homelessness: Source of Trauma for Children
Nearly 700 children live in emergency homeless shelters in Fairfax County at some point during the year.
Summer vacation is wrapping up; kids everywhere are gearing up for the return to school. Stores are filled with school supplies; back-to-school advertising fills our TVs, radio and mailboxes. Many families are hustling from store to store getting supplies, backpacks, clothes and haircuts. As children, while we hated to see summer end, we fondly remember the yearly ritual and the excitement and anticipation of getting all those new things.
Obituary: Holly Victoria Burnett
Holly Victoria Burnett, a diabetic who struggled for many years to battle the irregularities of her blood glucose readings, died in her Arlington home on July 19, 2014. She was 49 years old.
MS Is BS Blues Fest
The 2nd annual MS Is BS Blues Fest got underway Saturday afternoon, Aug. 9, in South Arlington.
Flourishing After 55 (8/13/2014)
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Aug. 24-30.
Innovation Installation
The Ballston Business Improvement District unveiled “Beachfront Potential” and “Missed Connections,” on Thursday, Aug. 7.
Room for All
Local builders redesign a home with a wheelchair-bound boy in mind.
When the owners of an Arlington home approached Russ Glickman, founder of Glickman Design Build, for a home renovation, they had one primary goal in mind: making the home accessible for their elementary school-aged son, who is confined to a wheelchair, while ensuring the renovations were consistent with the home’s existing aesthetic.
In His Uncle’s Memory
Arlington resident joins in Johns Hopkins Ride to Conquer Cancer.
As part of the Capital Region’s first ever Ride to Conquer Cancer, Guckenberg will be cycling 150 miles throughout the D.C. metropolitan area’s countryside Sept. 13-14.
Boeing Backpack Drive Returns
The back lobby at Boeing in Rosslyn was humming with activity as employees filled 875 elementary school backpacks on Friday morning, Aug. 8.
W-L Football Poised To Defend District Title
Generals return RB Harris, strong offensive line.
Shortly after the Washington-Lee football team defeated Yorktown in the 2013 regular-season finale, securing the Generals’ first district title in nearly four decades, head coach Josh Shapiro said members of the W-L program weren’t the only ones enjoying the accomplishment.
Arlington Teasers: 8/13/2014
Teasers from this week's issue.
Classified Advertising August 13, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Thursday, August 7
From the Streets to Safety and Success
Before the CLRC opened in the Centreville Square Shopping Center, day laborers stood on the nearby street corners and outside the Centreville Regional Library and employers hired them from there. But many didn’t get work and, often, some who did were cheated out of their wages by employers refusing to pay them after the job was done.
Celebrate Arlington
From Aug. 6-10, the Arlington County Fair will be in full gear featuring live performances, competitions, carnival rides and more. The free event, which has been going on for more than 35 years, has a mission to “showcase the best of Arlington.”
WGCC Lightning Swimmers Win League Championship
The WGCC Lightning swimmers have just completed one of the most successful seasons in the team's history.
Renewal & Remembrance
Hundreds of lawn care and landscape professionals donated time and services on Monday July 28, to care for the grounds and trees of the historic Arlington Cemetery.
Income Growth in Fairfax and Alexandria Lags Behind State and National Averages
Loudoun is the one bright spot in the region.
Paycheck growth in Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria are lagging behind the state and the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Wednesday, August 6
Crime Solvers Hold 5K, Raise Money
In the second year, the race has gained momentum, more runners, and two vendors.
Early Saturday morning, runners and walkers alike descended onto Fairfax Government Center for the second annual Crime Solvers 5K and helped raise money for Fairfax Crime Solvers. “[We’re] just a partnership to keep our community safe,” Fairfax County Crime Solvers President and Chairman, Jody Donaldson said.
Stride Right
Not that I’ve felt that my attitude toward being diagnosed with stage IV (“terminal”) non-small cell lung cancer at age 54-and-one-half was ever to be considered as model behavior, but I do believe, after the initial shock wore off, eventually I assimilated its effects into my routine reasonably well. Not without a million bumps and bruises along the way, however, both physically and emotionally; nevertheless, though time has not healed all that has preceded this column, I’ve managed to find and maintain an extremely delicate balance between “joie de vivre” and “c’est la vie.”
Preventing Sports Injuries
How to keep kids safe while they’re having fun.
As students prepare to return to school, one activity many look forward to is sports. While the benefits of athletic activities are numerous, however, so are injuries.
Editorial: Brightening Outlook for End of Summer
Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.
The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.
Arlington Celebrates Public Art
Residents gathered with county officials and staff for the aligning of the shadows at Dark Star Park in Rosslyn on Friday morning, Aug. 1.
Brightening Outlook for End of Summer
Local pleasures to offset discouraging news.
The news here has been a bit discouraging, and that’s without considering the human tragedy and disaster of several different international situations.