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

An instructor demonstrates how to approach drawing a symbolic self portrait to the classroom.

West Springfield High School students Elizabeth Barto, Bonnie McClellan, Austin Morrison and Josh Elliot portray …

Valentine’s Weekend

Romantic events happening in the Fairfax County area.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day by heading off to one of these events this weekend.

It’s Time to Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus campaign continues in February.

Fairfax County residents can do more than just shop when they go to the grocery store this month.

Erin and Ethan Lauer of Burke vividly remember the history-making snowstorm that buried the region with more than three feet of hard, wet snow exactly four years ago this week. Dubbed "Snowmageddon" by local and national media, the blizzard shut down most businesses, schools, and the federal government for weeks. Snowmageddon, meteorologists said, rivaled the snowfall production of any other major snowstorm in recorded history. The ferocious storm came in two rounds. When the second wave hit, temperatures plummeted into the high teens and winds gusted over 40 mph. The Lauers held little hope that friends and neighbors would dig out of the ice and snow to attend a Valentine’s Day blood-drive for their infant daughter, Sadie, who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer called Neuroblastoma when she was just 3-months-old. The family was in for a surprise.

Commentary: Speak Up for Pollution Restrictions

Virginia is not immune to the dangers of climate change. In recent years, we have seen the damage sea level rise and storm surges have caused in our lowland areas. The science is clear that we must cut carbon to the levels scientists say are safe to address these issues.

Superintendent Comes to West Springfield

Karen Garza continues listening tour.

Superintendent Karen Garza continued her listening tour of Fairfax County Public Schools this week with a stop at West Springfield High School on Feb. 4. Garza was joined by Springfield District School Board member Elizabeth Schultz.

‘Gazpacho for Nacho’

Key Middle School Spanish teacher publishes bilingual children’s book.

Colleagues and friends of Key Middle School Spanish teacher Tracey Kyle describe her as a creative and engaging teacher who is always thinking of new ways to teach. Now, Kyle has taken her creativity one step further by writing "Gazpacho for Nacho." The book was published by Two Lions, a division of Amazon Publishing, in January.

Learning about Foster Care and Adoption

Children need permanent families in Fairfax County.

In Fairfax County, there are 265 children in Foster Care. That number may sound like a lot, said Nannette Bowler, director of Fairfax County Department of Family services, but that number was at over 3,000 children 10 years ago.

Republican Women of Clifton to Welcome U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa

The Republican Women of Clifton (RWC) welcomes U. S. Rep. Darrell Issa from California’s 49th Congressional district as guest speaker at its February meeting. Issa is recognized for his success as a Congressional watchdog of taxpayer dollars and serves as the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, charged with protecting the interests of U.S. taxpayers and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. The meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Fairview Elementary School, 5815 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, and the social hour will begin at 7 p.m. when refreshments will be served. President Alice Butler-Short will open the business meeting at 7:30 p.m., after which Representative Issa will deliver comments and entertain questions.

An Evening of Enduring Music and Song

"MJO's Simply Swingin' with Sinatra and Friends."

It will be a memorable evening for the golden age of pop standards and tin pan alley as the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) and vocalist Steve Lippia bring the Great American Songbook to life at George Mason University's Center for the Arts. It will feature music that has "depth and weight ... the kind of event that will stay with you long after it's over," said Jim Carroll, MJO artistic director.

Will Terms Go from Two Years to Four?

City ponders change to how long officials may serve.

The Fairfax City Council is pondering whether the terms of office for the mayor, council members and members of the School Board should be changed from two to four years. And during last week’s Council meeting, they voted to place the matter on a Nov. 4 advisory referendum.

Councilman Stombres Not Seeking Another Term

Time for ‘new energy and a fresh perspective.’

While enjoying his time as a member of the Fairfax City Council, Steven Stombres will not be running for re-election. He made the announcement last Tuesday, Jan. 28, during the Council’s regular meeting.

Column: Closing the Income Gap

Between 2007 and 2012, the median wages of Virginia’s highest income earners rose by eight percent while the lowest income families’ wages shrank by 10 percent, according to an analysis by the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. The gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to widen in Virginia as it has throughout the nation. A growing underclass of unemployed, under-employed and under-paid creates a challenge for the state and the nation. Too many people are faced with the monthly decision of paying for the rent, utilities, food, prescriptions and school supplies without enough money to cover them all. Public and private relief organizations are strained to keep their food pantries and clothing closets stocked to meet the increased demand.

Column: Jim Moran—Straight Talking Progressive

Congressman Jim Moran (D-8) announced last week that he will not seek re-election in 2014. He is retiring after 22 years on the Hill. He is the senior Virginia Democrat on the Hill, and is one of only two solid progressives from Virginia. The other is Rep. Bobby Scott.

Floris United Methodist Church To Host Chocolate Festival

On Saturday, Feb. 8, Floris United Methodist Church will hold its 23rd Annual Chocolate Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. One of the church’s largest community events, the festival features carnival games, large inflatables, face painting, balloon art, food and lots of chocolate. An entertainment and travel-themed Silent Auction and an expansive homemade bake sale table are other highlights of this event. It is free and all are welcome. The church is located at 13600 Frying Pan Road, in Herndon. For more information, go to www.florisumc.org/chocolate or call the church office at 703-793-0026.

The Melnick family are ready to prove that this was, indeed, Family Fitness Night. Dad …

Entrepreneur Finds Outlets for His T-Shirt Designs

BAMindful Designs started with doodling.

Whole Foods Market in Rockville showcased a collection of Potomac resident Bryan Morris’ t-shirt designs on Sunday, Jan. 19. While Morris has sold his t-shirts to friends, family and people he has met through his family’s business, this was the local artist’s first appearance as a vendor in a commercial setting.

Editorial: Pet Photos, Stories for Pet Connection

The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish Feb. 26. We invite you to send us stories about your pets, photos of you and/or your family with your cats, dogs, hamsters, snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whatever other creatures share your home or yard with you.

Commentary: The Potomac Master Plan: 12 Years Old

Potomac hugs the western edge of the county in a transition zone between the urban down-county and the rural Agricultural Reserve. Our Master Plan is firmly based on protection of the drinking water that serves over 4.3 million people in the region. Within the Master Plan boundaries are numerous streams that find their way by gravity into the Potomac River.

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