Week in Springfield
upervisor Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield) signed a proclamation designating Sept. 17 as United States Constitution Day in the Springfield District. The proclamation reminds citizens of the great heritage of the Constitution, which safeguards our liberties and freedoms. Constitution Week is observed annually Sept. 17-23. The photo shows Supervisor Herrity presenting the proclamation to Sue Kennedy, regent of Anna Maria Fitzhugh Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Melissa Porfirio Is Teacher of Year
Crestwood first-grade teacher “humbled” to be singled out for honor.
Melissa Porfirio, 38, of Springfield’s Crestwood neighborhood was named Virginia’s 2014 Region 4 Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Department of Education. The first- and second-grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary since 2005 will be honored on Friday, Oct. 11, at a banquet and awards program in Richmond.
Springfield’s Renaissance Man
Leonard Kalkwarf publishes book and wins five gold medals from the Senior Olympics.
Leonard Kalkwarf can best be described as a true Renaissance man; an avid history buff, the 85-year-old resident of Greenspring retirement community in Springfield is also an accomplished athlete, an ordained minister, and a published author. His advice to other seniors is simple: keep active and stay positive.
Up to Speed Tutors Puts Focus on Special Education
Lake Braddock graduate Brian Katkin started the company last spring.
When JS Tutoring folded in 2012, one of Arlington resident Brian Katkin’s students with a learning disability wanted to keep having sessions with him. They worked out an arrangement to continue working together, and soon Katkin decided to take on other students as well. Then on the first day of Spring Break the same year, he launched the company Up to Speed Tutors, with himself as the sole instructor.
A Loving Neighbor Remembered
Friends, family remember Navy Yard victim Martin Bodrog as “humble” and devoted to God, family and his beloved Boston Bruins.
Isabel Bodrog recalled an awkward moment in high school when her friends started complaining about their fathers. When it was her turn to talk about her father, Martin Bodrog, she searched for something to say.
Police Concerned about ‘Molly’/Ecstasy Use
Fairfax County Police Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCN) detectives have seen approximately 168 cases involving MDMA – also known as ecstasy or “Molly” – an average of eight per month between January 2012 and August 2013.
Opinion: Vote
It will matter who is elected governor.
Absentee voting has already begun; Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you’ve read this far, you care enough that voting is absolutely essential.
Medicare, Caregiving Seminars
Fairfax County is offering Medicare 101—a two-three hour program on Medicare basics. Find more information and register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/vicap.htm or call the numbers below.
Full Disclosure? Forms Plagued By Lack of Information, Absence of Oversight
Fairfax County goes so far as to redact disclosure documents.
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is in hot water for taking gifts without disclosing them, and legislators are talking about increasing disclosure requirements for family members. But here in Northern Virginia, personal financial disclosure forms are often incomplete and inconsistent.
Springfield Home Sales: August, 2013
In August 2013, 197 Springfield homes sold between $1,075,000-$135,000.
Springfield Home Sales: August, 2013
Springfield Area Roundups
Key Center is introducing two new classes during the 2013-14 school year to help students expand knowledge of their surroundings. Passport to Adventure will offer students the opportunity to become educated travelers. In an effort to learn about different countries, students will research specific travel destinations, including history, culture, famous people and events, and current events in each country. Classes will learn about famous and historical landmarks and experience aspects of each country’s music, food, and art. Also new is My Class, a course designed to strengthen students’ social skills while enhancing peer relations; encouraging self-management; and increasing academic, compliance, and assertion skills.
Lee High Graduate Helps Make Coast Guard Rescue
Former Springfield resident Lt. Brian Ward piloted a helicopter as part of a “textbook” response.
On Friday afternoon, Sept. 6, a garbled mayday call from a commercial fishing vessel roughly 40 miles off Cape Mendocino, Calif., meant Coast Guard Lt. Brian Ward would get a rare chance at a major rescue. The excitement for his four-man helicopter team was palpable. These cases only come along about once a month. But with extensive training on his side, Ward, a 2000 Robert E. Lee High School graduate, kept a cool head and executed a textbook, successful rescue mission as aircraft commander.
Car Show at Edison High
Junior class holds fundraiser with games, booths, bagpiper.
Edison High School’s junior class held a car show and community sale last Saturday, Sept. 14, as a fundraiser. The event brought out the community for games, booth vendors selling books and jewelry, inflatables and even a bagpiper.
Local Business Leaders Spotlight Opportunities for UK Companies
Fairfax County EDA organizes Sept. 26 seminar in London.
Fairfax County’s Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) officials announced Tuesday, Sept. 17, that local executives will speak at a London seminar to spotlight opportunities for British companies interested in homeland security business opportunities in the United States.
Robberies in Area May Be Linked; Suspects Sought
Police are investigating a series of robberies that have taken place over recent weeks. The most recent robbery took place on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at around 1 p.m. Two men entered the convenience store at 6550 Edsall Road, approached the clerk with items as if to pay, assaulted the cashier, took money and fled.