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Sun Shines on Pohick Church Christmas Mart in Lorton
In recent years, it’s poured on people like Janice Cranel while they waited for the Pohick Church Christmas Mart to open. Rain or shine, they would still line up in front of the modest red brick building where colonial celebrities like George Washington, George Mason and their families attended services. “We come for the fellowship, the delicious luncheon, sweet ladies, arts and crafts, jewelry and Christmas decorations,” said Cranel.

Fairfax County: Volunteers compile more than 7,500 pounds in donated food for Lorton Community Action Center and Britepaths.
Wanda Jeter of Lorton has been a volunteer with the Lorton Community Action Center for 20 years. As single mother who’s struggled to provide for herself and four children, she’s also been a client.

Lee District Leaders Hold Legislative Town Hall
Elected officials Del. Mark Sickles (D-43), Sen. George Barker (D-39) and Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee) hosted a Lee District town meeting Jan. 28 at Island Creek Elementary School near the Kingstowne area of Alexandria.

Reshaping the Region
Commercial, residential and historic projects are changing the landscape.
The Richmond Highway corridor is the sight of many upgrades.

Face Paint, Pony Show at Burke Centre Festival This Weekend
Festival enters its 37th year.
Burke Centre Festival coordinator Jeannie Winslow is downright calm when estimating attendance this year. “Police guestimate we had 10,000 over the whole weekend last year,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get a few thousand more.”
Gathering in Opposition to Trump Immigration Policies
Leaders condemn ICE activity outside Rising Hope Church.
Speaking out against Trump immigration policies

Fairfax Station: Temple B’Nai Shalom recognizes veterans with special Shabbat dinner and service
Lt. Col. Jacob Kramer was concerned after finding a Star of David in a moving box. The Springfield resident was previously stationed in Morocco by the U.S. Army.

Mount Vernon Schools Host Virginia Secretary of Education
“Pre-ci-pi-ta-tion at-mo-sphere, pre-ci-pi-ta-tion at-mo-sphere.” Hybla Valley music teacher Carla Okouchi helped fourth grade students count out beats for a cross-discipline lesson on music and weather. The floor-seated students picked up white plastic recorders and tweeted a melody, with percussive accompaniment from maracas, wood blocks and tambourine.

Mount Vernon: Picnic with the President
Mount Vernon Neighborhood Friends raising money to upgrade fire suppression.
Lorne Campbell was told the historic property he bought on Robertson Boulevard was once part of an area where George Washington liked to have his pigs graze.

Stuffing the Bus in Clifton and Lorton
For members of the South County High School JROTC program, Saturday’s “Stuff the Bus” food donation event was as much about community service as it was about “service learning.”
Rising Hope Minister Invited to Joint Congressional Session
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner critical of ICE activity.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D) invited the Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon of Rising Hope Mission Church to be his guest for President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28.

Committed to Peacemaking
Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County reception honors activists and advocates.
Suraya Sadeed said hearing more than 20 stories of students promoting peace in and out of their schools made her believe “there is still hope for a brighter future.”
Mount Vernon: FCPS Transgender Regulations Head to Work Session
A public forum for Fairfax County Public Schools Board members to discuss how they should review new regulations concerning the treatment of transgender students has been canceled.

Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy Cleared in Fatal Shooting
Commonwealth’s Attorney: homicide was justified self-defense.
In a decision released Dec. 16, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh cleared Fairfax County Master Deputy Sheriff Patrick McPartlin of any criminal wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Yovani Amaya Gomez that took place Aug. 15 outside Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Discussing ‘Saturday Night in the Suburbs’
Lake Braddock seniors discuss sex, drugs and social media.
What really happens in the suburbs on Saturday nights? At an open forum at Lake Braddock Secondary School on Wednesday, May 1, community parents had the opportunity to have their fears and concerns over this question confirmed, assuaged, and in some cases, postponed. Special guests for the night were five high school seniors who had volunteered to discuss a range of topics—including illegal alcohol and marijuana use, depression and social media use—and field cross-examination from concerned parents.

Fairfax Station: First Decoding Dyslexia 5K Held at Burke Lake
Raising awareness, advocating for more services in schools
When Fairfax resident Calvin Rizek was in first grade, he remembers not being able to read along with the class, but “just flipping pages, like everyone else.”
‘Re-enactress Tea’ at Historic Clifton Home
Fairfax County History Commissioner Lynne Garvey-Hodge hosted former first ladies, Civil War wives and a Native American princess.
Amid a historically accurate buffet of fried cod balls, “Election Day” cake and biscuits and ham with zucchini relish, there stood a true culinary symbol of the afternoon: purple and pale gold-layered gelatin desserts served in stately glassware with a blackberry garnish.

Mount Vernon: Police Chief Provides Timeline on McKenna’s Death
Report sent to Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Natasha McKenna died while in the custody of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department on Feb. 8, 2015.

Sworn Officer Liaison Integral to Community Policing in North Springfield
Civic Association to hold community meeting on break-ins Oct. 5.
For North Springfield resident Jeff Schaefer, having a safe community starts with neighbors looking out for each other.

Mount Vernon: Las Vegas-themed Friends of UCM Spring Gala raises $185,000.
The sparkling red sequins and crown of spindly feathers moved gracefully with the long-limbed Vegas showgirl around supporters of the Mount Vernon area social services organization United Community Ministries as they play-gambled and silently bid on auction items at the casino-themed Friends of UCM 2016 Spring Gala.