West Springfield Students Chalk4Peace
West Springfield children become "ChalkStars."
“I think peace means being happy and free. Everyone was drawing peace signs, so it was a peaceful event.” —Corbin Lathrop, 10
Court of Honor held at Springfield Church of Christ
Three scouts were honored from Troop 2215.
In 2007, a new Boy Scout troop was formed at the Springfield Church of Christ. Every scout in Troop 2215 was home-schooled. On Saturday, Oct. 6, three of the troop’s founding members—Erik Lyttek, Michael Marriott and Benjamin Washechek—were recognized in a Court of Honor. All three boys had earned the grade of Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in scouting. As Master of Ceremonies Hunter Stauffer explained, this is a significant achievement because only 3 percent of scouts reach this plateau.
Civitan Clubs Host Annual Burke Lake Picnic
Over 300 people attended the recent picnic at Burke Lake Park for individuals with intellectual disabilities, their staff, and their families. The picnic was a combined effort of the Area 3 Civitan Clubs, including the Arlington, Fairfax, Greater Loudoun and Tysons Clubs, and the Fairfax County Department of Therapeutic Recreation, assisted by 13 members of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity at George Mason University. Members from the CFS Proud Hearts and MVLE Broadway Stars Civitan Clubs were also in attendance.
An ‘Eye-opening’ Banquet in Burke
A "hunger banquet" highlights poverty in the world.
Thirty youth from area middle and high schools gathered on Sept. 18 at their local church in Burke to experience a “hunger banquet” to increase their awareness of poverty and hunger in the world, Haiti and in Northern Virginia. When these students from Lake Braddock, Robinson and West Springfield gathered for their weekly meeting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were unaware of what was in store for them. Their leaders divided the students randomly into three groups—seating four students at an elegant dining table, nine students in a circle on folding chairs and the remaining 25 on cardboard laid out on the floor. The three groups represented the distribution of wealth in the world—10 percent in the high-income level, 20 percent in the middle-income level and the remaining 70 percent at the lowest level of wealth.
Column: Volunteerfest Provides Opportunities for All Interests
I’d like to encourage all Fairfax County residents to consider participating in this year’s “VolunteerFest,” sponsored by Volunteer Fairfax on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. This year marks the 18th year for VolunteerFest, and more than 1500 County residents are expected to volunteer their time at dozens of sites around the County. Tasks include landscaping, sorting and collecting food at food banks, maintaining an outdoor classroom at an elementary school, helping seniors, cleaning libraries and sorting clothes at a thrift store that funds programs for people with disabilities. A full list of events can be found at http://www.volunteerfairfax.org/. Volunteer Fairfax is much more than “VolunteerFest,” however. For 37 years, this organization has been a tremendous resource for volunteering in Fairfax County. Through a variety of programs and services, Volunteer Fairfax strengthens the capacity of its nonprofit members and offers meaningful volunteer opportunities for local citizens. Moreover, all year long they match the skills and interests of volunteers and donors to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, helping to build a better community through service.
Butler Leads Lake Braddock Volleyball to Victory
Senior has 22 kills in win over Spartans.
Led by Natalie Butler's 22 kills, the Lake Braddock volleyball team defeated West Springfield on Oct. 9.
Editorial: Cancer Awareness
Success with breast cancer awareness should help other cancers.
October is breast cancer awareness month. Anyone connected to media of any variety already knows this. A massive marketing success, we all know that pink shows support for breast cancer prevention, especially in October.
West Springfield Volleyball Beats TC in District Opener
Senior middle blockers Davis, Schutzmeister make big plays for Spartans.
The West Springfield volleyball team won its Patriot District opener against T.C. Williams on Oct. 2.
Perkins, Four Independents Challenge Connolly in 11th District
This will be the first election using new district maps based on 2010 Census data. Virginia's 11th congressional district includes the City of Fairfax, most of Fairfax County and the eastern portion of Prince William County. The Towns of Clifton, Haymarket, Occoquan, and Vienna are also located in the 11th District. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D), who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2008, represents more than 650,000 residents.
County Gets Election Ready
Fairfax County prepares voters for new election measures.
"The good news in Fairfax County is that almost everyone who is eligible is registered to vote," said Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief election official. "Our problem in Fairfax County is not voter apathy, and it’s not getting people to register. What we don't have is every registered voter registered at their correct address."
Springfield-area Fondling Cases May Be Linked
A 17-year-old girl was grabbed from behind and fondled around 9 a.m. in the 5900 block of Erving Street on Thursday, Sept. 27. The woman was walking on the sidewalk when the assault occurred. Police believe this assault may be linked to two other similar incidents that took place in September. In each of these the suspect wore a plain, red baseball cap. She described the suspect as either Asian or Hispanic, mid 30s, around five-foot-eight with a black, close-cut beard. He wore a blue T-shirt, black cotton sweatpants with a white stripe on each side and a red baseball cap.
Walk to Feed the Hungry
Sept. 29 was a "Day to Serve" in Springfield, Burke and Fairfax areas.
Early in the year Elder Jack Gerard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) reached out to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray to invite them to collaborate with the LDS Church in a regional "Day to Serve" to benefit all of the communities in this wide swath of the country.
Letter: Supporting Albo’s Position
After watching the video of President Obama’s “You didn’t build that” harangue, I (as did most Americans) came to a very different conclusion than did Delegate Dave Albo’s detractors.
Letter: To Feel Better About 1040
I see in the Aug. 30 addition of the Springfield Connection (“‘Somebody Else’ Didn't Come”) that Dave Albo received his marching orders from the Karl Rove propaganda machine and has weighed in on the presidential election. Typically, while regurgitating a stock campaign line based on a distorted quote taken out of context, he managed to lard things up with a basic load of self-promotion.
Letter: Land Preservation Success
You often don’t hear stories of government actually working well, so I thought people would enjoy hearing about Virginia’s great successes in land preservation.