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Week in Fairfax
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m. So before bedtime Saturday night, set back the time on all those clocks, watches and electronic devices one hour.
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Letter: Vote ‘Yes’ on the School Bond
I am writing to help inspire your readers to vote “yes” on the 2013-2014 Fairfax County School bond referendum on Nov. 5th. If you vote yes you are supporting prudent reinvestment of money back into our world class school system that helps attract new businesses to Fairfax County, one of the best places to live and work in the U.S. Delaying capital improvements will result in a lower quality education to a growing student population. Our children deserve to have excellent facilities, resources and a highly educated and talented staff so they can be successful through college and in their working years.
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Letter: Taking Exception
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” That sage advice from four-term Democrat Sen. Moynihan trumps the quote from Santayana with which Rep. Gerry Connolly opened his tendentious Oct. 24 piece in the Connection. “The Damage Is Already Done,” your headline for Connolly’s bile-filled essay better describes his tenure on our county’s Board of Supervisors and in Congress.
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Local Mom Wins $2,529 for Twins’ Education
A local mother of 16-year-old twins has won $2,529 for her children’s college education from the Virginia529 College Savings Plan (Virginia529). Diane Alejandro of Fairfax received the prize for entering Virginia529’s “Turning Dreams into Reality” contest that was part of September’s College Savings Month celebrations.
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Teen Safe Driving Program Visits Inova
Representatives from the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program managed by the Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford’s philanthropic arm, stopped by Inova Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to highlight with leadership and staff some of the main causes of car crashes involving teenagers, including inexperience and distracted driving. Those in attendance also got to hear personal stories from those that work in the trauma unit who regularly witness the outcomes of these types of crashes.
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Donating From the Heart
Redskin, pizza-chain owner team up to help local girl.
“Somebody helped me, so I’m happy to have the opportunity to help someone else and continue the cycle.” —Washington Redskin Pierre Garçon
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Andrew Gause’s Martial Arts Donates $1000 to Kings Park PTA
Andrew Gause’s Martial Arts has teamed up with Kings Park Elementary School to help raise funds for various projects. Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, Master Gause goes to Kings Park Elementary once a week for five weeks and teaches basic martial arts skills to Kings Park students with all of the proceeds from the program going to the PTA.
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Two Challenge Filler-Corn in 41st District
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn challenged by Republican Fredy A. Burgos, Independent Christopher F. DeCarlo in the 41st district.
The House of Delegates has legislative power, with the Senate, to enact laws. Delegates serve a 2-year term and are eligible for re-election. The salary is $17,640 per year. A delegate must be at least 21 years old at the time of election and be a resident of the district he/she seeks to represent.
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Delegate—37th District
Republican Patrice Winter is challenging Democratic incumbent David Bulova in the 37th district.
As a health care provider, I have seen how Affordable Care Act has affected patients and even how companies are doing business. Seeing Virginians have access to high-quality and affordable health care is a top priority.
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Robinson Student Stars in Children’s Show
The Alliance Theatre presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian the crab and all the other characters from the popular story and movie are in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” And a Robinson Secondary student has one of the starring roles. Performances are Nov. 9-24 (see box for details) at Mountain View High School, 5775 Spindle Court (behind Glory Days Grill) in Centreville. The musical features 10 adults and 35 students in grades three through 12, and Director Maggie Swan says they’re all really talented.
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Area Roundups
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m. So before bedtime Saturday night, set back the time on all those clocks, watches and electronic devices one hour.
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Letter: The Damage Has Only Just Begun
Congressman Connolly’s recent op-ed [“The Damage Is Already Done,” Connection, Oct. 24] is a diversion from the Democratic-engineered train wreck known as Obamacare and officially referred to as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). While the damage from the shutdown was particularly painful for Virginians, it pales in comparison to the damage being inflicted on millions of hard working middleclass Americans across the country courtesy of the Democrats’ Obamacare.
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Democrats Lead in Polls as Voters Head to the Polls for Election Day
Hotly contested race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Democrats have the wind at their backs heading into Election Day next week, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli struggles to overcome a deficit in the polls.
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Hollywood comes to Alexandria
Bringing a little taste of Hollywood to Old Town, the seventh annual Alexandria Film Festival kicks off Nov. 7.
It might be Patti North's favorite time of year, but it's certainly one of the most stressful. As chair of the Alexandria Film Festival, North has spent moths preparing for this year's event, pulling together movies ranging from a few minutes to an hour or more in length from around the world and helping to line up Q&A sessions with as many filmmakers as possible during the festivals' four-day run.
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Week in Reston
Ice Skating Season Begins
The Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion officially opens for the 2013-2014 season with its annual fundraiser for the local non-profit organization, Reston Character Counts Coalition. On opening weekend, Nov. 2 and 3, the charity will receive 50 percent of skating rink proceeds. (Rain date: Nov. 9 and 10.) This benefit will help fund development programs offered by Reston Character Counts! Coalition, including the annual Essay and Poster Contest and sponsorship of Ethics Day at South Lakes High School. Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion weekend hours are Saturday, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Adult admission is $10, and for children under 12 and adults over 55, admission is $8. Skate rental is $5. The Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion is located at 1800 Discovery Street, Reston, and will be open every day, including all holidays, until March. Schedules, fees, and more information are available on the skating hotline, 703-709-6300, and online at www.restontowncenter.com/skating.
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Potomac Youth of the Year, 2013
Marissa Michaels of Holton Arms and Matthew Schick of Landon named Potomac’s Youth of the Year.
Marissa Michaels of Holton Arms and Matthew Schick of Landon named Potomac’s Youth of the Year.
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Time to Pay Attention to the Master Plan
The 4-year planning process for a new Reston is reaching its conclusion and the news is not good for those who value Reston traditions and values. Now is the time to pay attention to this slow-moving effort. Although there are positive elements in the new plan, particularly its stress on mixed residential and commercial redevelopment, it promises to bring in 40,000 new residents and 60,000 new office employees to the already congested areas around the new Metro stations. Reston Association and the Reston Community Association have each made pleas to Fairfax County that the plan provide for sensible re-development. Unfortunately, some of their points made have been dismissed and most ignored by a county apparently bent on getting more tax money from the property owners.
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Attorney General Needs to Uphold Justice
To The Editor: As Delegate Ken Plum knows, The chief law enforcement officer of Virginia is the governor. The attorney general serves as the action officer to carry out the governor's duties ["Science Goes on Trial in Virginia,” Reston Connection, Oct. 16-22]. The attorney general is obligated to enforce the laws of the commonwealth. However, all commonwealth attorneys do have discretionary powers on which possible violations of the law to prosecute; e.g., whether or not to prosecute a Class Four felony. Attorney generals also have a duty to bring justice and prove innocence when there is evidence of a miscarriage of justice. Del. Plum cites the case of a University of Virginia professor who appears to have violated a Commonwealth Law. The situation demanded an investigation into the possible use of proven, faulty research on climate change of which there are substantial reams of examples. Judges, not necessarily expert in science, decided that state taxpayer funds could be expended on research without oversight. Climate change has been politicized; rational discussion has been forced to take a back seat. Extreme, radical solutions have been proposed by the EPA; e.g., the War on Coal without consideration for the moral, economic and cultural values.
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John Burkarth Wins Special Olympics Gold Medal
John Burkarth of Herndon won his first national tournament and became the Virginia gold medallist in the Special Olympics 2013 held in Galloway, N.J., Oct. 18-20. Burkarth was tested in six different shot-making skills and scored 64-86-59 for a total score of 209, first place in the top division of the individual skills competition. Burkarth celebrated with medals, smiles and high fives at the end of the three-day Special Olympics North America Golf Invitational Tournament at the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway. A field of 176 golfers from 23 programs representing the United States and Canada competed in one of five levels of competition—individual skills (Level I), 9- and 18-hole alternate shot team play (Levels II & III), and 9- and 18-hole individual stroke play (Levels IV & V).
