
Families, Community Advocate For Special Education Graduates
Supporters gathered at Fairfax County budget hearing on April 10.
Diana Martin, a Fairfax Station resident, was already losing sleep thinking about how she was going to balance the post-grad needs of her daughter Kenzie with her husband’s chemo and medical care. Now, she is even more concerned as funding for the programs that help special education graduates from Fairfax County Public Schools is included on a list of possible further reductions that County Executive Ed Long presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 18.

Promoting STEM in Schools, Budget Hearings
Nifty Fifty STEM education events continue as students advocate for STEM at Fairfax public hearings.
As part of an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM careers and to spark interest in math and science, scientists visited Fairfax County Public Schools last week to talk about their careers and to provide insight on the field.

Bumpy Ride on Area Roads
Repaving will occur when funds are available and weather is warmer.
It’s no secret that drivers traveling along Burke Centre Parkway as it turns into Lee Chapel Road at the intersection of Burke Lake Road are bound to run into a few potholes.

Economic Outlook Summit Hosted in Southeast Fairfax
Federal government jobs down, lower-wage jobs up
At this year’s Economic Outlook Summit, hosted by the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation, experts on the local economy and housing discussed the economic forecast for the Route One area and beyond.
Teens Are Most in Need of Foster Care Homes
Virginia's largest age group in need of homes is between 16 to 18-years-old.
At 54 years old, Julie wanted to be an adoptive parent for over a decade. But it wasn't until last year that she finally brought a child home. Single, she had recently left her federal government position and felt like she was ready. In May, she welcomed her 17-year-old foster son into her McLean home. "For me I was never a parent before," said Julie. "So I had to run fast and catch up."
Teens: Most in Need of Foster Care Homes
Virginia's largest age group in need of homes is between 16 to 18-years-old.
At 54 years old, Julie wanted to be an adoptive parent for over a decade. But it wasn't until last year that she finally brought a child home.
Fairfax Arts Programs Receive Federal Grants
Seven local organizations involved in the arts and literature are receiving a total of $230,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said.
Housing Expo Provides Insight on Finding a Home
Potential renters and buyers flock to 2014 NOVA Housing Expo.
Am I qualified to buy a home? What does my credit score need to be? Where is affordable housing located in Fairfax County? Those were just a few of the many questions that Gail Lee of the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development answered at the 2014 NOVA Housing Expo at Lee High School on March 27.

Special Education Graduates Could be Impacted by Possible Budget Cuts
Families will speak against these cuts at public hearing on April 10.
Lynn Ruiz’s daughter Lydia, who has Down syndrome, will be graduating from Fairfax County Public Schools this June. Ruiz, a Springfield resident, had originally planned for her daughter to participate in an employment program that helps students with special needs transition into adulthood.

Flight Trampoline Park Opens in Springfield
Kids and adults welcome for spring fun.
The area surrounding Interstate 95 off of Fullerton Road in Springfield isn’t exactly known for a variety of activities for fun. Filled with warehouses and industrial parks, the area has been in need of a fun activity for the whole family for some time now.

Lee High School Students Visit Port Isobel
IB environmental systems and societies students learn about the Chesapeake Bay.
Before beginning their trip to Port Isobel, an island in the Chesapeake Bay, students in Rachel Clausen’s International Baccalaureate (IB) environmental systems and societies class at Lee High School had to do something that today is almost unheard of: turn in their cell phones and watches and spend some time without technology.
March Madness, Then and Now
At this time of the March Madness, Steve Guback, a resident at Greenspring retirement community in Springfield has vivid memories of the 1959 tournament in which California beat West Virginia, the 1976 reigning, undefeated season of Indiana University, and the 1979 famed Magic Johnson vs. Larry Byrd showdown. He experienced these in person.

Springfield Art Guild Holds a Birthday Party
The reception room of the Richard Byrd Library in Springfield hosted a festive anniversary on March 12: The Springfield Art Guild (SAG) celebrated 45 years as an organization of artists in Fairfax County by honoring one of their founders and longest standing member, Judy Wengrovitz. Judy and her husband Sy spoke about life in Springfield 45 years ago and Judy's role in the founding of the Springfield Art Guild. Judy shared the story of the handful of artists who decided they needed to organize into a group. From their determination and vision, Springfield Art Guild was conceived and grown to over 100 members. It continues to add new artists to its rolls as a non-profit group.
Springfield Man Charged in Sex Crimes Investigation
An arrest was made as a result of an ongoing investigation conducted by detectives from the Child Exploitation Unit along with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations Washington.

Gartlan Center to Open March 27
CSB integrates primary and behavioral health care at Gartlan Center.
According to a 2006 study, people with a serious mental illness, on average, die 25 years earlier than the rest of the population. The study, conducted by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, found that about 60 percent of these deaths were due to conditions like cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.