"how to keep one's financial affairs in order"

Girl Scout Presents ‘The Backyard History of Vienna’

Last week on Tuesday and Thursday nights, Nov. 11 and 13, Kara Coxe, a junior at James Madison High School, presented her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, “The Backyard History of Vienna” to the adult students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program at the Vienna Presbyterian Church.

The Best Holiday Gifts in the Vienna Area

Holiday gift guide features locally-owned businesses with high-quality merchandise and friendly customer service.

Why, yes, you can shop online or at the mall for holiday gifts …. or, you can get personalized, friendly service and distinctive, high-quality goods by supporting your Vienna-Oakton small businesses, typically owned by local people who give back to the community.

Toy Corner offers classic toys and games but still keeps a reserve of fun science …

Crime Solvers Seeks Public’s Help

Fairfax County Crime Solvers is seeking the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for firing a handgun outside in Oakton, resulting in one bullet penetrating a home.

Vienna Gets Festive

Holiday activities abound in December.

The Vienna area, from James Madison High School to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, offers a diversity of holiday fun for all ages. Some are free; most are not.

The Antioch Christian Church to Celebrate Homecoming

The Antioch Christian Church will Celebrate Homecoming Weekend on Sunday, Nov. 23. The church is located at 1860 Beulah Road in Vienna. One combined worship service will take place at 10:30 a.m.

Capitol Steps Performs at Shepherd’s Center of Vienna

The sold-out audience was rolling in the aisles when nationally recognized comedy troupe, Capitol Steps, appeared at the 2014 benefit performance for the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV). SCOV serves older adults in Oakton, Vienna, Merrifield, Dunn Loring and portions of Fairfax and Reston.

Oakton High School Presents 'Fahrenheit 451'

Featuring a cast and crew of 35, Oakton High presents the thought-provoking drama, “Fahrenheit 451.” The curtain rises Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 20, 21 and 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door only.

‘We Need to Keep Our Children Fed’

Vienna CROP Walk raises more than $30,000.

Many of those participating in Vienna’s 10th Annual CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk had done so for several years. Others, like resident Martha Nichols, were walking in it for the first time.

Vienna Travel Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Shillelaghs Travel Club of Vienna celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a gala luncheon at The Westwood Country Club that was attended by more than 175 members, vendors and guests. The atmosphere was “family reunion.”

Ready for Winter Skating Fun at Reston Town Center

Meteorologists around our region have been gleefully talking about the earlier-than-normal return of Polar Vortex-like weather for weeks, but the forecast for the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion this past weekend was appropriately chilly, with brilliant blue skies overhead, holiday decorations all round, and buckets of fun on the ice.

And the Bands Played On

Two local high schools reach finals.

“I was absolutely thrilled with [my students’] efforts” in “very difficult conditions for a marching band,” said Band Director Adam Foreman of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.

December at the McLean Community Center

The McLean Community Center is offering the following activities in December. Residents of the Center’s tax district, Small District One-A Dranesville, are eligible for discounts on fees. Unless otherwise indicated, all activities will be held at the Center, which is located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

Column: And The “Scancer” Is…

Unknown at this date – Saturday, November 15. In fact, it will be six days from now until we’ll know the results. As it is always scheduled, a week or so after my quarterly CT Scan, we will have our usual follow-up, face-to-face appointment with my oncologist.

A Colorful and Crazy Holiday Ride at McLean's Alden

“A Kodachrome Christmas” lands on The Alden stage Dec. 19-21.

The upcoming holidays will be made brighter this year by the hilarious, one-person show, “A Kodachrome Christmas,” at The Alden in McLean Dec. 19 through 21.

Letter to the Editor: Refreshing, Conscientious Election Coverage

To the Editor: In an area like ours, where national news usually stands at the forefront and many readers turn to national news outlets for the bulk of their election coverage, it is a source of great pride and inspiration to see the Great Falls Connection provide such outstanding coverage.

Arlington Opinion: Why Shop Small? Shop Large Locally

Small business Saturday isn’t enough; don’t wait until then, and don’t stop after that.

There is a joy to shopping in local stores at the holidays, to participating in community traditions and celebrations, to walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to being greeting by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced.