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Life at Culpepper Garden
Award-winning retirement community celebrates 40th anniversary.
It is St Patrick's Day at Culpepper Garden in Arlington, and there is a party underway downstairs. As the accordionist touches the black and white keys, Marilyn Jarvis stands up and makes her way to the aisle, grabs a partner, Adrianna Bustamante, and begins tap dancing to "The Sidewalks of New York."
Tinker, Woodworker, Beekeeper, Santa Lives in Arlington
How one senior in Arlington spends his “retirement.”
Paul Dietz wears a quilted vest over a well worn plaid flannel shirt.A badge about scouting is on his sleeve. His uniform of baseball cap, work shoes, and pockets full of tools is topped off by a full white beard and the twinkly eyes to go with it.
Empty Bowls Event Raises $18,000
Our Daily Bread’s signature fundraiser benefits Fairfax County residents living below the poverty line.
As the Fairfax Saxophone Quartet played dulcet American swing standards to an audience of 300, the atmosphere inside the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center last Thursday night struck a balance between light-hearted and serious. While outwardly entertaining, with balloon animals, face-painting, live music and close to 400 colorful handmade bowls available to take home, the fifth annual Empty Bowls fundraiser highlighted a humbling reality: the large population of working poor in the Fairfax County area.
Great Falls Writer’s Group Exceeding Expectations
Local writers share experiences, dilemmas, resources.
The first meeting of the Great Falls Writer’s Group was held in August and group facilitator, local author Kristin Clark Taylor, reported via e-mail that, “because folks in the community are so thirsty to not only write, but to share their feelings about the writing process itself, we had to move the meeting to the large conference room—we had more than 30 attendees!” Taylor feels that it is “vital and extremely important” to hear a personal introduction from each person in order to maintain “an intimate, comfortable collective feel no matter how large our group becomes ... turns out we have doctors, lawyers, housewives, former and current NSA-types, teachers, retired teachers, published authors, men and women, young and old, and most important, everybody just wants to write!” Participant Nancy Hannan of Great Falls agrees that the group is “diversified … and willing to share,” and she looks forward to connecting with the group: “I write and find the energy from like-minded people a great asset. It helps the writing flow.” Great Falls resident Raymond Rollins says that the writer’s group is, “very much what I was hoping for,” and that like Hannan, Rollins is “energized by discovering how many similar souls there are in this community.”
Simple Luxuries Not Everyone Can Afford
Helping organizations need help year round.
After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, taxpayers begin scramble to get that end-of-the year charitable donation so they claim it on their tax returns. For people who want to benefit while helping people, two Oakton based organizations, Northern Virginia Family Service and The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia offer two ways to give.
County Adult Centers Offer Seniors Activities, Social Interaction
In 2014, the attendance at Fairfax County senior centers was 277,342.
At the Kingstowne Center for Active Adults, volunteer Frank Bauer sees zumba and yoga classes “flowing into the main room sometimes,” he says, revealing how popular those classes are at the center, which caters to seniors 55 and older. This Kingstowne center, one of 14 senior centers throughout Fairfax County, offers classes and activities to keep seniors active.
Final Weeks of College in Quarantine
McLean college senior, Volunteer EMT reflects on life in pandemic time.
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Inaugural Living Well Summit Piques Interest of County Seniors
Summit helps county residents improve with age.
Local residents can learn how to age gracefully Saturday, April 16, at the Living Well, Aging Well Summit in the Fairfax County Government Center.
Leading by Example
Equine Assisted Learning teaches critical life skills.
"The ability to be aware to have compassion; to be confident, but not arrogant; and to take joy in helping to create someone else's success."
Ferreting for Fun
Local ninth grader appreciates playful nature of Steve and Skippy.
Commonly known for their playfulness and pungence, ferrets have earned themselves the moniker of “the clowns of the animal kingdom” from sources like Animal Planet. City of Fairfax resident Brandon Henry, 13, of Robinson Secondary has greatly enjoyed this aspect of his two ferrets, Steve and Skippy, for the past two years. “I asked for them two years ago for Christmas, and ended up receiving them as a gift from my parents,” Henry said. “At the time, my sister always called random things ‘Steve,’ so I decided to name one of the ferrets ‘Steve,’ and the other one was always hopping around, so I named it ‘Skippy.’”
Class of 2015: Arlington Has New Tree Stewards
Tree Stewards volunteer to keep communities green.
Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria graduated a class of 20 new Tree Stewards on April 14.
Arlington: Four Yorktown Grads Work to Keep ‘Taste By Katie’ Alive
Young entrepreneur seeks help from community to fund new freezer.
One of the most popular items at “Taste By Katie” is the homemade ice cream Katie Gilman makes once a week, with flavors based on customer requests. But unless she raises enough money for a new freezer this month, her ice cream is off the menu.
Lake Braddock, Hayfield and TJHSST Win Japan Bowl
Competition tests students’ knowledge of history, language, culture and more.
Every year, high school students studying Japanese have a chance to participate in the National Japan Bowl, a competition that tests their knowledge of Japanese history, language, culture and more. Some of the country’s top language students make it to D.C. to compete; however, more than just classroom attendance is required in order to do well.
Sharing Health Tips in Springfield
Springfield Community Day brings together health and fun.
Northern Virginia Community College students got a chance to showcase their knowledge about health and fitness during Springfield Community Day held at the NVCC Medical Campus on Saturday, April 18. Sarah Young and her classmates Trista Johnson and Andrea Diaz, dispensed information about the importance of dental hygiene and urged everyone to visit the dentist every six months. “Toothbrushing can’t reach everywhere. A lot of dental issues you don’t feel or you don’t have pain until it’s too late and you lose that tooth,” said Young.
Izumi Sushi of Great Falls Reflects on Economic, Cultural Challenges of 2020
The restaurant, which serves Japanese and Chinese cuisine, is cautiously resuming its services.
Victoria Li, a senior at Langley High School, has grown up along with Izumi Sushi in Great Falls.
Together in Music
German exchange students and the McLean High philharmonic orchestra play a joint concert honoring retiring conductor Udö Monks.
After 21 years of collaboration, Mclean High School and the Detmold Youth German Orchestra came together to celebrate their cultural exchange program Thursday, May 21.
Fairfax United Methodists Put Faith in Action
Community effort helps those in need Sept. 24 on ‘Outreach Sunday.’
Enjoying Summer at the Reston’s Dog Park
Restonians and their dogs socialize at one of Reston’s many community facilities.
While many make the trip to the Reston’s only open-air, off-leash dog park a handful of times a year, many others make it part of their daily routine.