Latest stories

Latest stories

Subscribe


Cappies Awarded for High School Theater

The 15th Annual Cappies Awards Gala for high school theater was held Sunday, June 8 at The Kennedy Center. Nine Cappies went to West Potomac High School for “Spamalot,” including the coveted Best Musical award. The Best Play award went to Langley High School for “The Children’s Hour.” The Cappies’ show season extended from October 2013 to May 2014, and Cappies shows were attended, on average, by 45 student critics. This year’s event included 58 public and private high schools from Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince William counties, the cities of Falls Church, Alexandria and Manassas, and Washington, D.C. The event was hosted by Judy Bowns, Janie Strauss and Ed Monk.

Tease photo

Creating Private, Restful Retreat

Designers offer suggestions for decorating the perfect bedroom.

While most people crave a good night’s sleep, it remains a dream for many. A bedroom that is both chic and comfortable can help the overworked find that restful slumber.

Column: Something New – or Old, to Consider

And therein lies the anxiety. Although, all things considered – and as you regular readers know, I like, maybe even need, to consider all things – the medical assessment of the most recent CT scan of my upper torso and thorax/lungs showed a new object in my left lung, “approximately the size of a silver dollar,” according to my oncologist. What this object is, exactly, cannot be determined at this juncture; technology prevents such clarity, unfortunately. Nevertheless, its appearance and location are possibly cause for concern, possibly not.


Tease photo

Eat. Drink. Pay?

Fairfax County task force debates voters’ appetite for another meals tax referendum.

It has been 22 years since Fairfax County asked voters to approve a tax on restaurant meals, an issue that ignited protests, caused deep divisions among community leaders and threatened to melt down several political careers. The reverberations of that epic failure — what many consider the third rail of county politics — continue to echo in the ears of county politicians.

Comfort Women Memorial Highlights Human Trafficking

New Peace Garden a beacon of hope for victims.

When members of the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues unveiled a new memorial on May 30, they also illuminated the issue of local human trafficking in Northern Virginia. Elected officials including Supervisor John Foust, Japanese and Korean representatives, and human rights activists gathered to remember the women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery during WWII. Now the memorial stands sunlit on the back lawn of the Fairfax County Government Center, as a reminder for today’s community to take a stand against these crimes against humanity in their own neighborhoods.

Tease photo

Why Education Needs Its Foundation

More than 100 business leaders attend luncheon.

Approximately 33 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools kindergartners are living in poverty.


Tease photo

100,000 Homes Fairfax Wins Blue Ribbon Partnership Award

The 100,000 Homes Fairfax campaign was presented with a Blue Ribbon Partnership award from the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships (OP3) as part of its "Celebrate Partnerships" awards ceremony held on May 29.

Opinion: Transitioning to Summer

Summer is a time of change — always welcomed by students. The break during the hottest months gives a chance for kids to de-stress and prepare for their next grade on their short path to adulthood. After five summers at FACETS, I’ve had the opportunity to watch many children make this transition. What’s fun for kids though, can be a huge struggle for their parents. Finding appropriate and affordable care, providing enough meals during the day, and incurring the extra costs of entertaining children can be an enormous challenge for families that FACETS serves.

Opinion: Clearing the Air on New Carbon Standards

The EPA‘s new proposal to safeguard the air we breathe and contain a primary driver of climate change by reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants is the lynchpin to reducing our carbon footprint. As co-chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, we welcome action on carbon pollution and look forward to working with all stakeholders in a responsible manner to advance a 21st century energy economy for America.


Tease photo

Six Feet Over

City officials planning flood mitigation for the waterfront.

Every heavy rainstorm seems to bring a flood of news trucks, which arrive at the foot of King Street and set up television cameras. The images of flooded streets have become a regular feature for television news segments because the images are so shocking. Now city leaders are planning to raise the elevation of the waterfront to six feet, preventing flooding for most major storms.

Three Lessons Learned at My Father's Knee

Me and My Dad

My father was a quiet man, a gentle man. I never heard him raise his voice. He worked two full time jobs when I was growing up and I didn't see him very much but somehow he managed to teach me lessons I still haven't forgotten.

In Gratitude of our Community Partners

Last month Inova Alexandria Hospital celebrated our nurses for National Nurses Week May 6–12. While you would expect a company to recognize its own for outstanding work, I think it speaks volumes when members of the Alexandria community reach out to us to honor that outstanding work by supporting educational advancement opportunities for our nurses and staff.


Police Add Two Red Light Cameras

The Alexandria Police Department are using two additional cameras as part of the Red Light Photo Safety Program.

Tease photo

Empire Strikes Back: Establishment Beats Tea Party at Republican Convention

Party insider Ed Gillespie seizes nomination at convention in Roanoke.

When conservative preacher E.W. Jackson took the stage at the Roanoke Civic Center to introduce Tea Party favorite Shak Hill at the Republican convention last weekend, hundreds of conservatives from across Virginia took to their feet. They waved placards.

Tease photo

T.C. Williams Boys' Soccer Wins First Region Title Since 1974

Miezan's defense, Williamson's 4 goals lead Titans past Washington-Lee.

The T.C. Williams boys' soccer team beat Washington-Lee 5-2 on Thursday.


People: Style in the Streets

Classic Casual

A sense of style can be found anywhere. Down King Street and into the Carlyle area, people shared about their outfits where the style of choice was classic casual.

Tease photo

National Art Honors

Two St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School seniors earned national recognition in the 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Tease photo

Condos Bring New Residents To Old Town Waterfront

EYA, the developers of more than a dozen communities in Alexandria, have unveiled the newest addition to the Old Town riverfront, The Oronoco Waterfront Residences.


Tease photo

Knitting for a Good Cause

An elementary school knitting club.

Tease photo

1872 Society Honors Kathy B. Hirsch

The Inova Alexandria Hospital’s 1872 Society honored long-time TWIG volunteer Kathy B. Hirsch with the Julia Johns Award of Distinction on Tuesday evening, June 3, at the 22nd annual membership reception.