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Fairfax County: Former Police Officer Charged with John Geer Murder
Adam Torres indicted by special grand jury.
Adam Torres has been charged with murdering John Geer. Though Torres shot the unarmed man once in the chest nearly two years ago, the then-Fairfax County Police officer remained on the department’s payroll until being terminated July 31, 2015.
Fairfax County Task Force to Recommend Sexual Assault Education Reforms
Fairfax County is examining how it prepares students to prevent and respond to sexual assault. In December, Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) brought forward a board matter concerning sexual assault culture. County staff responded in March with a report that assesses what Fairfax County Public Schools is doing in this area.

Fairfax County: Former Police Officer Torres sentenced to 12 months for killing John Geer
Torres released five days following sentencing due to time already served
For the first time in its three-quarters of a century in existence, a Fairfax County Police officer has been convicted and sentenced after an officer-involved shooting death.

Fairfax Station and Mount Vernon: Arcadia’s veteran farmers-to-be report for first weekend training
Clifton Hoffler is embarking on his third career. A resident of the Greenbelt, Md. area, Hoffler spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq twice, before transitioning into government sales. In 16 months, he will be a certified culinary chef.
Taking On the ‘Silver Tsunami’
Herrity to present 50+ Plan to Board of Supervisors next week.
“It’s here,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). “We’re already living in it.” Between 2005 and 2030, the number of individuals 50 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent in Fairfax County and the number 70 and older is projected to grow by 80 percent. Herrity attributes the changes to both the aging of Baby Boomers, and the general increase in life expectancy.
Springfield: Fun Run to Benefit Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO)
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Kirkwood Presbyterian Church of the West Springfield area will host a five-kilometer run and one-kilometer walk to benefit the local organization Ecumenical Community Helping Others, or ECHO.

Alexandria and Mount Vernon: Hundreds Pack Airplane Noise Meeting
Flight changes have caused deafening conditions at homes
At a meeting convened for community members to discuss airplane noise complaints, the irony of some struggling to hear over the sound of planes taxiing just outside the packed lounge at Reagan Washington National Airport’s historic Terminal A wasn’t lost on the audience of more than 300.

Virginia General Assembly Reaches Crossover
Bills live, die or fold into other legislation before review by the opposite chamber.
As the current meeting of the Virginia General Assembly neared the one-month mark, legislators in the House of Delegates and Senate had to finalize work on bills they would send to their counterparts for consideration.
Burke, Fairfax Station: Robinson Holds Graduation June 15
The students may have been graduating, but their principal assigned one more book for them to read. Robinson Secondary’s Matt Eline sent each 2016 graduate on their way with a copy of Brian Tracy’s “Achieve Any Goal.” He made goals the theme of his address to the young adults on June 15 at George Mason’s Eagle Bank Arena.

‘Recession Ripple Persists’ at Realtors’ Summit
Private sector job growth key to strengthening regional economy, housing demand.
“There’s no question the primary economic driver of this region has always been Uncle Sam,” said David Versal, senior research associate at the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. “That said, we’re not Detroit.”
Sweet Saturday
Cupcakes Actually in Fairfax offered free cupcakes as a gift with purchase.
“There was Black Friday, and that’s great for small businesses,” said Braddock District supervisor John C. Cook. But, he continued, “This makes it a really nice day to celebrate small, independent businesses where you get a different shopping experience, an alternative to going to the malls.”

Geer Lawyer Expects Hearing Before New Year On Springfield Shooting
Out of 128 requests for the production of documents made by the Geer family lawyer Michael Lieberman, all but two have been denied by Fairfax County.

Springfield: Shopping at Koinonia’s Christmas Wishes
Franconia and Kingstowne residents who receive financial and domestic services and assistance from the Franconia-based Koinonia Foundation got the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts at the nonprofit’s annual Christmas Wishes Program on Dec. 10.

Poll Position
Local academics following the 11th Districts race say there’s really no substitute for the strength of incumbency.
Despite low public opinion of President Obama and a minimally productive Congress, representative Gerry Connolly has plenty going for him as the incumbent seeking re-election in Virginia’s largely democratic 11th district.

Fairfax County: Supervisors Review Use of Force Guidelines
Public Safety Committee meets before June 21 vote: gun carry positions, release of information, body cameras discussed.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is standing by its Chief of Police and his department.

Police Arrest 20 for Heroin Use in One Day
Operation Save-a-Life offered low-level offenders the chance at recovery treatment rather than jail time.
On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Fairfax County Police served 20 arrest warrants, all for possession and or distribution of heroin.

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards $380,000 in Local Grants
Five of 36 grant awardees speak at “Cocktails & Conversation” event.
When Lorton residents Marcy Mager and husband David Lunter’s daughter Michell Merhige was killed in 2009, they wanted to establish a scholarship in her honor but knew handling the financial logistics would be tricky.

Burke: Residents of Olde Forge-Surrey Square Rally for Playground
The original public playgrounds in Olde Forge-Surrey Square -- dating back to the 1960s -- were past repairs and upgrades. For the sake of safety and continued fun for children and their parents, they needed to be replaced.

Fairfax Station: Saving the Whitehall Family Farm
Growing responsibly and benefitting veterans
As Fairfax resident Jeff Waters guided his nimble four-wheeling cart over a bumpy dirt path through the woods on his family’s 200-plus-acre farm, he said confidently, “It’s a lot closer to being done than it looks.”
Divided Fairfax County School Board Passes Salary Increase for 2016, to $32,000 from $20,000.
Just over a month after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to give the next board a $20,000-a-year pay raise, the School Board followed suit. In a 5-4 vote (three abstentions) at the April 9 meeting, the board approved raising the member salary from $20,000 to $32,000, with an additional $2,000 annually for the board chair.