Stories for December 2016

Children's Connection: Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Arlington — Artwork

Children's Connection: Long Branch Elementary, Arlington — Artwork

Children's Connection: Carlin Springs Elementary, Arlington — Artwork

Welcome to the Arlington Children's Connection

Dear Readers: This week, the Arlington Connection turns over its pages to the youth and students.

Children's Connection: Kenmore Middle School, Arlington — Edgar Allan Poe Projects, English 8

Kenmore Middle School, Arlington: Edgar Allan Poe Projects, English 8

Children's Connection: Westminster School, Annandale — Poems

Children's Connection: Kenmore Middle School, Arlington — Writing

Children's Connection: Nottingham Elementary, Arlington — Painting

Children's Connection: Nottingham Elementary, Arlington

Children's Connection: Yorktown High School, Arlington — Ceramics

Children's Connection: Yorktown High School, Arlington — Painting

Children's Connection: Yorktown High School, Arlington — Photography

Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy Cleared in Fatal Shooting

Commonwealth’s Attorney: homicide was justified self-defense.

In a decision released Dec. 16, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh cleared Fairfax County Master Deputy Sheriff Patrick McPartlin of any criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Yovani Amaya Gomez that took place Aug. 15 outside Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Police Out to Catch Drunken Drivers in Fairfax County

Grant funds new DWI Enforcement Squad.

A new squad of police officers has started patrolling the county and they have only one mission: to combat impaired driving.

Holidays in the Homeless Services Center in Arlington

Good cheer, warm and supportive environment

Walk into the Homeless Services Center at 2020-A 14th Street N and one immediately feels the good cheer.

Loverde Reflects on 17-Year Ministry

The Most Rev. Paul Loverde, 76, retired this month as the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Dec. 27-30

MLK Tribute Embraces Community Involvement in Arlington

Audition attracts potential participants.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Tribute is an extension of Arlington’s celebration of diversity.

Honoring America’s Veterans in Arlington

Wreaths Across America marks 25 years.

Who Spots the Spotters in Arlington?

County Board approves predatory towing reforms.

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously at its Dec. 13 meeting to approve new measures aimed at curtailing predatory towing practices in Arlington.

Tables Overflow for Project Christmas Angel in Arlington

Gift-wrapping for children of incarcerated individuals.

Susan Olson, chair of the Offenders Aid and Restoration Board (OAR), says this year they put the wish list for the children of incarcerated individuals on Amazon.

ACC’s Arlington Tech Creates Love of Learning

Students report newfound self-confidence and purpose.

Arlington Tech feels more like a Maker’s Studio than a high school.

Arlington’s Career Center Builds Success, Sensitivity

Many students report newfound self-confidence and purpose.

Carmen is from El Salvador. She is 21 years old. Five years ago, she arrived in the United States because her mother sponsored her to come.

Focusing on Experiential Outdoor Education in Arlington

Park Manager gives new look to Potomac Overlook Regional Park.

Doranne Pittz walks out the door of the James I. Mayer Center for Environmental Education and points off into the distance.

McLean Swim and Dive Defeats Yorktown

In Friday night action, the Patriot boys' and girls' swim and dive teams each won five of their 12 events.

Arlington's Washington-Lee Athletics Receives National Award

Washington-Lee High School received the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Quality Program Award at its annual conference in Nashville earlier this month.

Holiday Grief

Workshop helps others deal with loss.

The holiday season is bittersweet for Jeanne Rorke.

Letter to the Editor: Protect the Consumer Protection Bureau

Consumer protection groups have grown increasingly concerned about Republican promises to cut back on financial regulations next year.

Commentary: Fairfax Police Reform Is Well Underway

I endorse the Connection Newspaper’s recent editorial on the progress Fairfax County has made implementing the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission, on which I had the honor of serving as chairman of the Use of Force Subcommittee.

Commentary: Congress Coming Together to Find and Fund Faster Cures

On Dec. 8, I joined with a bipartisan group of House and Senate members, and the Speaker of the House, as the Speaker signed the 21st Century Cures Act.

Editorial: History in Police Reform Part 2

Civilian Review Panel — and they said it couldn’t be done ….

Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to establish a Civilian Review Panel, part of a two-pronged concept of independent oversight of law enforcement recommended unanimously by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.

Ad Hoc Commission Recommendations: 88 Percent Implemented

Public Safety Committee hears from Recruitment, Diversity and Vetting subcommittee chair.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is well on its way to implementing all recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. At the Dec. 13 meeting of the board’s Public Safety Committee, they announced 88 percent of the commission recommendations have been implemented or are soon to be so.

Arlington Home Sales: November, 2016

In November, 2016, 244 Arlington homes sold between $3,700,000-$106,000.

Arlington Home Sales: November, 2016

Classified Advertising December 14, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Crystal City's Synetic Theater Stages ‘Sleeping Beauty’

Story of a princess, an evil sorceress, and sleeping curse in this wordless Grimm Brothers' fairy tale.

Synetic Theater will present the wordless production of "Sleeping Beauty" from Dec. 7 to Jan. 8, 2017 in Crystal City.

Letter to the Editor: Exemplary Care Appreciated in Arlington

Amidst the holiday season that abounds with glittering decorative lights in the Arlington community, there is more that glistens beyond that.

For Rent in Arlington County

Airbnb and homesharing legalized

If looking for a place to stay in Arlington this weekend, there are at least 108 rooms available on Airbnb.

Candyland in Arlington

Families build gingerbread houses together at Arlington County event.

Sometimes, families need a chance to unwind.

Winter Wonderland in Clarendon

Winter Wonderland, an annual event hosted by the Market Common Clarendon, welcomed more than 500 people on Dec. 10.

Broaching That Conversation about Death in Arlington

Discussing end-of-life care and more.

Conversations surrounding a new baby are easy to have, rarely met with hesitation. On the other hand, conversations surrounding how a person wants to leave this world are difficult despite how important these discussions are.

An Early Visit from Santa at Potomac Overlook Regional Park

An Early Visit from Santa

‘Flourishing After 55’ in Arlington

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Dec. 11-17.

Arlington Sports Brief

Swim and Dive

The Yorktown Patriots split their Dec. 9 swim and dive meet against Reston's South Lakes High School Seahawks.

Free Holiday Cab Rides Help Prevent Drunk Driving

Combating that holiday period which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says is a “dangerous time to be on the road due to a high number of drunk drivers behind the wheel,” a local nonprofit organization will offer free cab rides to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during the winter holidays.

New Catholic Bishop: To Listen and Learn

A ministry to the faithful and the community beyond.

The Most Rev. Michael Burbidge assumed full authority last week as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

Open Floor Plan Provides Holiday Entertainment Solution

Open house helps homeowners looking for ideas.

It's one thing to talk a good game; quite another to put your ideas to the test by inviting a long list of perceptive critics to inspect your wares.

2017 Color of the Year: Greenery

Pantone says color will evoke reinvigoration.

When Reston-based interior designer Annie Elliott’s home office began to feel lackluster, she draped the windows with green Roman shades to infuse a burst of color into the muted space.

Quarterback Promotes ‘Phones Down. Touchdown.’ Initiative

Redskins’ quarterback urges region to put phones down while behind the wheel.

“If I get sacked in a game, I can get back up and move onto the next play — for the most part,” he said. “But when you text and drive, you might not get back up.”

Classified Advertising December 7, 2016

Read the latest ads here!

Supervisors Establish Fairfax County’s First Police Civilian Review Panel

As complement to police auditor, panel will review abuse and misconduct complaints.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 on Tuesday, Dec. 6 to establish a Civilian Review Panel to provide oversight of Fairfax County Police and to hear complaints of police misconduct or abuse of authority.

The Dilemma: What to Put in That Arlington Christmas Stocking

Christmas stockings can pose a number of challenges.

Seeing Red in Arlington

In November, Arlington voted blue but the country trended red.

Open Studios with Arlington Painter

Arlington painter Sue Grace showed several of her works at the Annual Holiday Open Studios on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Looming Arlington Expenditures

Transportation and schools dominate county’s early FY2018 budget projections.

Arlington Schools are overcrowded, Metro is crumbling, and with a tight budget season Arlington County will have difficulties in saving them both.

Planners Seek Public Comment on Lee Highway Plan

Survey deadline is Dec. 9.

So what does economic revitalization mean?

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing Honors Naughton, Leibson

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) paid tribute to 2016 APAH Affordable Housing Honorees, Timothy J. Naughton, CEO of AvalonBay Communities, and David C. Leibson and the Arlington Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness, at its annual fundraiser celebration at the Clarendon Ballroom on Oct. 6.

Commentary: Coming Together in Northern Virginia over Climate Change

As the Republican candidate in Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District, which leans hard left, I knew faced a steep challenge going into this November’s election.

Franchise Encourages Like-Minded Entrepreneurs in Arlington

New salon in Ballston to open in January.

Any Arlington resident that either drives or strolls through Ballston knows the neighborhood is booming. It’s an area of Arlington that rarely – if ever – sleeps.

Yorktown Swim and Dive Teams Split Weekend Doubleheader in Arlington

Yorktown Swim and Dive Teams Split Weekend Doubleheader

Day of Learning and Sharing in Arlington

Holiday Cleanup in Arlington

“Flourishing After 55” in Arlington

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Dec. 11-17.

Taking a Fantasy Flight to the North Pole from Northern Virginia

In spirit of season, community organizations and businesses donate hundreds of service hours and supplies.

One hundred twenty-five children with life-challenging illnesses, their families and a support team of doctors, nurses and volunteers, for a total of 216 people, arrived at Gate 7, Terminal D at Dulles International Airport, Dec. 3, and headed for the hottest destination of the season.

Updated List of Shelters for the Homeless

Shelter Information

NVRC has updated the list of shelters for the homeless, drop in centers and winter shelters in the region: Visit http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?NID=174