Saturday, May 19, 2012
You may think twice about telling your kid to stop doodling.
If you've ever wondered what Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is scribbling under the microphone during those incredibly long public hearings, it turns out she's a lifelong doodler. In addition to her duties as a public official for 25 years, Bulova has run more than a few pens dry by making cartoon likenesses of her colleagues. The drawings tell a sort of truth — from a certain point of view. Once you see them, you'll never mistake the mustache of U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly (D-11) for another, or the familiar dome of Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "Since becoming Chairman, I don't draw and doodle as much as I used to," Bulova told Patch from her office in the Fairfax County Government Center. "I used …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Fun for the entire family from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Burke Lake Golf Center at Burke Lake Park is hosting a family-friendly open house Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to the Fairfax County Park Authority, the free event will feature demonstrations, door prizes, golf tips, skills contests and kids' events. Burke Lake Golf Center was named in Virginia Living's "Best Of Virginia 2012" issue as one of the top golf courses in the Northern region of the Commonwealth. Burke Lake Golf Center is a slightly wooded 18 hole, par 3 course, ideal for golfers of all playing abilities. There is also a lighted driving range with 40 hitting stations, a practice bunker and an 8,000 square-foot putting green. The course is open year-round, weather permitting. Hours vary with the season. The …
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Burke Lake Park
7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA
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Virginia Railway Express' board meets Friday.
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board meets Friday to discuss several issues of specific interest to area riders. WiFi VRE has considered adding WiFi to trains for some time, but dropped the plan in January due to cost and reliability of providing uninterrupted service. The board will begin the discussion anew on Friday. The agenda lists four possible technologies, with routers the preferred choice. The issue is listed for discussion only. Security Cameras VRE received a grant in 2004 from the Department of Homeland Security for the installation of security cameras at a limited number of VRE stations, which included: In 2010, cameras were added to the Manassas station as part of the parking garage project. In FY 2009, VRE …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate answered questions in appearance at AOL's Dulles office.
U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Kaine said the federal government should chip in for the Silver Line Phase 2 — but that the commonwealth also needs to pay a bigger share than the $150 million it has promised to ensure it gets built as scheduled. "What we are seeing in Washington is an anti-investment mentality," Kaine (D) told a group at AOL's Dulles headquarters Thursday. He said he worked with the Bush and Obama administrations to get $900 million for the first phase and the next phase has centered on who pays for it. "I believe it is a project of federal significance because it links Dulles with the most important capital city in the world," he said. "But when it comes to the state being a meaningful participant, Virginia has fallen short too. …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Former member of Congress held seat from 1995-2008 now held by Democrat Gerald Connolly.
Former GOP Congressman Tom Davis, who once represented Virginia's 11th Congressional District, has endorsed Chris Perkins, who is facing fellow Republican Ken Vaughn in a Republican primary election June 12. The winner will challenge incumbent Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-11th) and independent Mark Gibson in a race for the 11th Congressional District seat. The new 11th District stretches from Dale City to Reston, including all or part of Woodbridge, Lorton, Burke, Springfield, Fairfax, Vienna, Centreville and Annandale. When Davis was in office, the 11th District did not include areas south of Dale City or north of Vienna, but it included parts of Mount Vernon to the east and Clifton, Bristow and Haymarket to the west. (See a map here of…
The money has been raised, and artificial turf will be installed.
The fundraising efforts of several groups have joined forces to provide Robinson Secondary School with artificial turf for two athletic fields. Robinson’s Athletic Boosters raised $500,000 for the project, and the Braddock Road Youth Club contributed $400,000, according to Tom Lizardo of the Booster Club. "The total cost of the project including lights will be about $1.5 million," said Lizardo. Additional funding is being provided as follows: The final $150,000 was secured as part of the Board of Supervisor's third quarter review process. "Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust identified some additional monies that could be spent to help turf projects at schools throughout the county, and Supervisor Cook ensured Robinson was one of …
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Robinson Secondary School
5035 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA
/articles/it-s-official-turf-coming-to-robinson
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Superintendent Jack Dale proposes eliminating compensation adjustments in favor of meeting five-year state requirement within the next year
Though Superintendent Jack Dale presented his recommendation for adjustments to Fairfax County Public Schools' $2.4 billion advertised budget at a work session Monday, some school board members said they weren't satisfied his proposed changes fully met their priorities or produced a budget that best met the needs of the system. Dale returned to the board after the system's $1.68 billion transfer from the county Board of Supervisors, an amount 4.5 percent higher than what schools received last year but still short of the 8.4 percent increase board members asked for when they moved forward the approved advertised budget. Despite the school board's approval of the advertised budget in February, Dale and School Board Chairwoman Janie Strauss…
Monday, May 14, 2012
The candidate for U.S. Senate and former Virginia governor will answer questions in Dulles at AOL this Thursday. George Allen, Kaine's likely challenger, spoke at AOL May 4.
Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for the open Virginia U.S. Senate seat, will appear at the AOL campus in Dulles Thursday at 1 p.m. to speak with AOL employees and other guests. George Allen, a former U.S. Senator and former Virginia governor, appeared at AOL May 4, and Patch covered the forum, asked questions submitted by readers and invited a few readers to join the program. Patch will be covering the forum and inviting a few readers from each Patch to attend in person. If you'd like to attend the event, send an email to patchpolitics@aol.com with your name, address and telephone number. What Would You Like to Ask Tim Kaine? Tell Us in the Comments! Patch editors will be questioning Kaine at the event, and we'd like to know what we …
Fairfax County Library announces the title for the ninth annual community-wide adult reading program.
Fairfax County Public Library has chosen "The Submission" by Amy Waldman as the book for the ninth annual All Fairfax Reads. Waldman is a former New York Times journalist. In this, her first novel, she chronicles the debate around a fictional 9/11 memorial. “Moving . . . Eloquent . . . A coherent, timely and fascinating examination of a grieving America’s relationship with itself," said Chris Cleave in The Washington Post. Waldman will discuss the book on Thursday, Sept. 27, as part of the Fall for the Book festival. During this "one book, one community" project, Fairfax County adults are encouraged to read and discuss the same book. Discussion questions are available for book groups and others who are interested. Previous All Fairfax …
Republican primary election set for U.S. Senate candidates and 11th Congressional District; Democratic primary election scheduled for 8th Congressional District Democratic candidates.
In less than a month, Virginia voters will head to the polls for the Democratic and Republican primaries on Tuesday, June 12. Across Northern Virginia, voters will decide among candidates for the U.S. Senate as well as for the 8th and 11th Congressional districts. If your polling place is holding both a Republican primary and a Democratic primary, you can only vote in one primary. If you aren't registered to vote, you have until Monday, May 21 at 5 p.m. to register. Little known fact: If you are 17 years old now but you are turning 18 by the Nov. 6 general election, you can vote in the June 12 primary. If you plan to do this, call your voter's registration office ahead of time and be sure to bring official proof of your age. Polls will be…
Rob Jones
11:24 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
""We still have thousands of troops in Europe," he said. "That reflects an old reality. Let's scale back, and let's use technology and innovation to reduce some manpower needs."" Even better, how about replacing pandering politicians with robots. more ›