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State Accreditation Status a ‘Snapshot’

Schools in Mount Vernon and Lee districts receive warnings from VDOE.

“Test scores do not define our schools. They never have and never will,” said Mount Vernon school board member Dan Storck. Earlier this month the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released accreditation results based on student performance in the 2013-2014 school year. The ratio of Fairfax County Public schools receiving full accreditation to those not making the grade dropped from 94 percent a year ago to 89 percent.

A Taste of Outdoors

The feline residents of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter will soon be glimpsing blue sky and breathing some fresh air. A “catio” under construction on the shelter grounds will be the animals’ new playground — a fenced outdoor area with a specially curved top that will prevent escape.

Suzanne Scholte Fighting for Recognition in 11th District

Suzanne Scholte knows she has her work cut out for her. “This isn’t a race anybody's thinking is worth looking at,” she said at a meet and greet event in Montclair last weekend. “I think it was described as ‘Quixotic.’”

Clifton Day Turns 47

Festival returns with 200 vendors, crafts, food and music.

When Mike Belote of Manassas first brought his Ryder truck full of Pappy’s Wooden Dreams to Clifton Day more than 10 years ago, he almost didn’t make it out.

Herrity Calls for Heroin Problem Update

“Heroin is here, it’s on our doorstep, it’s in our communities and it often goes unnoticed,” said supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). Citing a 163 percent rise in heroin overdoses in Northern Virginia between 2011 and 2013, Herrity proposed a successful motion to the Board of Supervisors last week, asserting the County Executive report back to the board on just how bad the heroin problems in Fairfax County are and how they could be dealt with.

Editorial: Does Change in Voter ID Laws Matter?

More than 22,000 active voters in Northern Virginia are without the required ID.

For the current election, new, more stringent voter identification laws are in effect.

Woman Convicted of Embezzlement

Julissa Rauhut, 45, formerly of Springfield, was convicted Sept. 24 on five counts of wire fraud after embezzling over $186,000 from her employer from 2008 to 2011.

No One Injured in Burke Nursery Fire

Smoldering burlap ignited decorative dried corn stalks.

In nearly 40 years, there’s never been a fire at the family-owned Burke Nursery and Garden Centre. That is, until last Monday, Sept. 22. Owner Hope Schmid said they received a delivery of dried corn stalks about 11 a.m. that morning. By 3 p.m., the stalks had lit up, along with the large wooden lean in which they were being stored.

95 Express Lanes On-Road Testing Begins

Testing phase to be completed by end of year.

If all goes according to plan, the new 95 Express Lanes will make it more difficult for motorists expecting to leave their cars parked in traffic on I-95. The 29-mile stretch of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes — from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to around Edsall Road on I-395 in Fairfax County — should beef up the carrying capacity of current HOV lanes.

Westfield Grads Produce in MLB, NFL

A pair of Westfield graduates had recent big performances in the world of professional sports.

Yang, Heier Lead Oakton Volleyball to Victory

Cougars have won 6 of 7, will face Chantilly.

The Oakton volleyball team beat Centreville.

Cardinals ‘Claim’ Alexandria

Bishop Ireton football is 4-1, including wins over Episcopal, SSSAS.

The Bishop Ireton football team beat Episcopal and St. Stephen's & St. Agnes.

T.C. Williams Field Hockey Beats Rival West Potomac

Titans bounce back from season’s first loss, improve to 9-1-1.

The T.C. Williams field hockey team started the season with a 9-1-1 record.

Bruins Win Silver Bracket at Rebel Volleyball Invitational

Fairfax’s Powers, Pittman earn all-tournament honors.

The Lake Braddock volleyball team won the Silver Bracket title at a tournament at Fairfax High School.

Madison Volleyball Wins Rebel Invitational

Warhawks undefeated through 15 matches.

The Madison girls' volleyball team won a tournament at Fairfax High School.

Great Falls Studios Art Tour Set for Oct. 17-19

Now in its 11th year, the weekend trek brings art enthusiasts nose to nose with practicing artists.

One of the simple pleasures of the Great Falls Studios art tour is its easy accessibility.

Great Falls Writers Launch Speaker’s Series

Great Falls Park inspires Pamela Palmer’s Feral Warrior novels.

More than 30 people attended the first Great Falls Speaker’s Series at Great Falls Library on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to hear author and Herndon resident Pamela Palmer read from the latest book in her Feral Warrior series — “Wulfe Untamed” — and to learn about her storytelling process in a question-and-answer discussion.

Alexandria to New Orleans: The Human Tragedy of the Interstate Slave Trade, Part I

This is the first article in a four-part series.

Part I: On May 17, 1828, the following advertisement appeared in the Alexandria Phoenix Gazette: Cash in Market~ The subscribers having leased for a term of years the large three story brick house on Duke Street, in the town of Alexandria, D.C. formerly occupied by Gen. Young, we wish to purchase one hundred and fifty likely young negroes of both sexes, between the ages of 8 and 25 years.

Think Longscapes, Not Landscapes

Trees: What’s not to love? They provide amazing beauty, shade, and moisture to cool our homes and photosynthesis to provide food for wildlife and people. They filter our drinking water and air; trap nutrient-laden sediment run-off before it reaches the Potomac and the Bay; stabilize stream beds; sequester pollutants; increase biodiversity and property values; and, remove carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air.

New Voter Identification Requirements

There are new requirements for voter identification that voters must bring with them to the polling place.

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