Governor McDonnell Orders School Safety Review

In wake of Newtown shooting, Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to look at all resources to keep campuses from kindergarten through college safe.

In the wake of Friday's school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has announced a state plan to review school safety in Virginia at all levels. McDonnell said Monday he plans to identify statewide and locality, school division, college and university resource needs to "ensure that we are doing everything humanly possible to keep our children, young people and educators safe while they are in the classroom."  "Just as public safety is the bedrock responsibility of government, the safety of our young people must continue to be the top priority in our schools and our campuses," McDonnell said in a statement. In Fairfax County, there are regular safety and lockdown drills, and there was increased …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Letter to the Editor

Help Save Early Intervention Services in Fairfax

Letter to the Editor: The Infant and Toddler Connection, serving children in Fairfax County, seeks state help to meet a budget shortfall.

There are few things as valuable as early intervention for helping our youngest citizens become successful adults.   The Fairfax–Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has been dedicated since 1994 to providing early intervention services through the Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC).  These services include speech therapy, learning and movement therapy and physical therapy.   We have been honored to help so many children learn to speak first words and take first steps towards health development.  These services greatly decrease the cost for the county and state for long-term care, by helping children learn to be an independent as possible. What is the Crisis? The successful work of the Infant and Toddler Connection has been …

• Photos (1)

Gov. McDonnell to Speak Tuesday Evening at Republican National Convention

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to receive the formal nominee nod Tuesday evening at the Republican National Convention.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is expected to be formally nominated Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.  Romney and running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin originally were to be nominated Monday, but GOP Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who opened the convention Monday afternoon, immediately put it in recess until Tuesday, due to Hurricane Isaac.  The storm has shortened the convention. In a roll-call vote, convention delegates will formally put Romney and Ryan on the November ballot, to face President Obama and Vice President Biden. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell garnered a key speakers spot. He is scheduled to address the convention Tuesday night during primetime, before Ann Romney and …

• Videos (1)

Gov. McDonnell Endorses Mitt Romney

Will campaign for Romney in South Carolina.

"Gov. Bob McDonnell this morning endorsed Mitt Romney's bid for the Republican presidential nomination, calling him a "results-oriented conservative" who can appeal to Democrats and independents," reported the Richmond Times Dispatch. Romney is the only former governor among the top Republican candidates.  McDonnell believes the experience of being a governor provides candidates the executive experience needed for the job of President. McDonnell will fly to South Carolina this afternoon to campaign for Romney ahead of Tuesday's primary. Romney will be in Reston Feb. 10 for an address sponsored by the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Consumer Electronics Association at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Romney was in Fairfax City on Oct. …

• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)

Procurement Begins for GMU West Campus Connector

George Mason University Board of Visitors supports West Campus Connector Alternative 3, asks Advisory Group to revise portion restricting future development.

The West Campus Connector Advisory Group (WCCAG)  presented their recommendations to the George Mason Board of Visitors Wednesday.  Following two open houses and a public comment period to collect citizen input, the Advisory Group recommended Alternative 3—an underpass and a 90-foot buffer.  According to the plan, the area remaining between the buffer and the West Campus Connector would be restricted from further building or parking structures. The intent of the bypass is to keep eastbound traffic headed toward campus and westbound traffic leaving campus from entering the intersection of Braddock and Route 123.  A 10 to 30 percent reduction in congestion is expected. Tom Calhoun, George Mason University's Vice President of Facilities and …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Governor Attends Get Out the Vote Rally

Fairfax Republicans rally, disperse to go door-to-door.

About 100 people gathered in Springfield Saturday to hear from Governor Bob McDonnell and other Republicans holding or running for office in Virginia. The '72 Hour Rally' was sponsored by the Republican Party of Virginia and the Fairfax County Republican Committee.  "Getting out the vote in the next 72 hours is critical," said Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  "This is going to be a race with below 40 percent turnout, so every person who shows up [to vote] makes a bigger difference." A report Sunday on WTOP, not related to the rally, confirmed this.  George Mason University Public Policy Professor Mark Rozell told WTOP, "The party that is able to mobilized it's core constituency, the one that has the greater intensity on its side…

• Photos (11)

Burke Health and Rehab Opens $1.25 Million Gym

Renovation makes facility the largest in the Northern Virginia area.

Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center has officially opened a new $1.25 million rehabilitation gym. According to Mandy Gannon, administrator of the center, the gym went from a mere 900 square feet to a 4,200 square foot room with state of the art equipment.  “The renovation makes ours the largest rehab facility in the Northern Virginia area,“ she said. Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center was first opened in 1991 by Medical Facilities of America, a family-owned for profit corporation based in Roanoke, Virginia.  The company funded the renovation as part of its LifeWorks Rehab program. According to the company, “LifeWorks Rehab is a comprehensive, progressive inpatient rehabilitation service for patients who’ve had joint replacement or …

• Photos (3)

Burke Officials Weigh-In on VABC Privatization Plan

Governor's plan would shift retail sales of liquor from the government to the private sector

In an effort to bring more money to the transportation budget in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell has proposed privatizing state-controlled liquor sales. Currently, there are 332 government owned ABC stores in Virginia, two of which are located in Burke. Managers at the Burke VABC stores would not comment for this article, but local politicians do not support the privitization plan. Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34) said he doesn't support a plan that could significantly increase the number of liquor stores. Eileen Filler-Corn, the recently elected Democratic delegate from the 41st district, expressed concerns about the transition costs associated with going to private liquor sales. Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39) stated in her annual newsletter, "…

• Photos (1)