By Justin Castillo August is already a fading memory. It’s the first day of school, and I just finished my first homework assignment of the 2016-2017 school year: Writing the Falls Church City Public Schools back to school column about recent developments and future plans. But before I do that, […]

If September marks new beginnings for students and families at all educational levels, it also marks new beginnings for some of our public safety personnel. Last week, the Fairfax County Police Department announced that Captain Christian Quinn, currently the commander of the Mason Police Station, has been promoted to Major, […]

Actions have consequences, and sometimes its parents or gadflies with too much time, and privilege, on their hands that can cause a degree of harm in a community that is hard to justify. It comes as no surprise that on the same day this week, three well-meaning and well-qualified public […]

Our county’s best-hidden landmark could use some TLC. The original Powhatan Springs, off Wilson Blvd. behind the Dominion Hills swimming pool, was once a vital watering hole for Indians, soldiers and presidents. But when I poked around the site Labor Day weekend, Arlington’s unusual freshwater spring appeared worse for wear. […]

By Nancy Cromwell Scott My husband, Jim Scott, who represented Falls Church in the Virginia House of Delegates, and I have taken many wonderful trips during our 44 years together. Perhaps most memorable have been our annual vacations in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, with old friends who have become […]

This weekend marks the traditional end of summer, even though meteorological summer still has three weeks to go. September heralds many new beginnings, as students in Fairfax County embark on a new school year. For the kindergartner or first-grader, taking the big yellow bus to school may be the first […]

On August 26, the Governor addressed the Joint Money Committees of the General Assembly. Most of you are aware the Virginia economy remains in a sluggish cycle, very much modeling the nation. Last February we adopted a balanced, two-year budget anticipating excess revenues from FY 2016 that would be rolled […]

The enthusiasm exhibited at Falls Church City Public Schools’ convocation Tuesday in the auditorium at George Mason High School was palpable and encouraging. Despite all the concerns that have arisen about the embattled project to renovate and expand the out-of-city Mt. Daniel Elementary School, the rough budget setback suffered at […]

“Soccer is a communist sport.” Hard to believe this comment came from an Arlington high school coach in the early 1960s, when that global game was still being overshadowed here by mainstream football, basketball and baseball. I flashed back to it when the Arlington School Board voted Aug. 18 to […]

By Nathan Hamme Recently the U.S. Justice Department announced a shift in policy around the use of private, for-profit prisons to secure federal inmates. The decree signaled a phasing out of these institutions over the course of an approximately five year period. Prompting this decision was an Office of the […]