Cleaning out a desk drawer recently, I came upon two postcard-sized lists that I apparently had saved because they seemed to gibe with each other: How to Build Community, and 150 Ways to Show Kids You Care. From the print dates on them, both appear to be at least 10 [...]

 Congratulations to Betsy Washington of Lake Barcroft! Betsy received an Environmental Excellence Award from the Board of Supervisors last week for her outstanding work as an environmental educator and steward in the Lake Barcroft neighborhood. Betsy writes a monthly column for the Lake Barcroft newsletter, and provides hands-on assistance about [...]

Last week’s debate between former Governors Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R), produced few fireworks, but demonstrated clear differences between the two candidates for the United States Senate. The debate was sponsored by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and conducted by NBC’s David Gregory, moderator of Meet the [...]

 Virginia’s reputation as a “battleground” state in the presidential election is well-deserved and hard-earned. Much of Virginia’s economy depends on federal government contractors and Department of Defense installations all over the Commonwealth, a symbiotic relationship that has great import for our future here in Northern Virginia. But Virginia can’t be [...]

 Most people are familiar with groundbreakings, ceremonies that involve hard hats, fancy shovels, and a lot of photographs, to commemorate the beginning of major construction projects. In a novel twist on the traditional ceremony, the INOVA Health System held a bricklaying ceremony Monday to celebrate the beginning of construction on [...]

 There’s something unique about the sound of a school bus rumbling through a neighborhood. Lighter than a fire engine or a trash truck, but more robust than a delivery vehicle, that big yellow bus lumbering down the street can serve as an alternate alarm clock on nearly every school morning. [...]

 The subject line on County Executive Ed Long’s email to Fairfax County employees earlier this month was titled “Difficult News.” And it sure was. In his email, Mr. Long noted that local economic indicators point to much slower growth than we hoped, and he projected budget shortfalls for the next [...]

 This summer’s free concert series in the parks is winding down, with the final Ossian Hall celebration of Peruvian music and culture scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Spotlight by Starlight concerts at Mason District Park continue until Friday, August 31, so there is plenty of time to enjoy [...]

 In the late 1990s, best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich was prompted by a magazine editor to explore the plight of the working poor during a period of prosperity and low unemployment. Her two-year adventure as an entry level worker in cleaning, waitressing, and retail sales became a bestseller, Nickel and Dimed: [...]

 Summertime offers a more relaxed time to enjoy the variety of arts opportunities that surround us. Free concerts in Fairfax County parks are presented five nights a week – Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays – depending on which park, and which music genre, you choose. Add Saturday morning children’s [...]