Stories for February 2025

Stories for February 2025

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Thursday, February 20

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Arlington Calendar

Arlington Calendar

Wednesday, February 19

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50 Years of Sweetness

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe milestone in Arlington.

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe customers crowd in front of pastry cases, stand in the free cupcake line and wait for a chance to offer Wolfgang and Carla Büchler congratulations for 50 years as a business in Arlington.

Supervisors React to Budget Prospects

Some comments were lightly edited for clarity.

Community News at a Glance: The 2025 Chief vs. Chief Adoption Bowl

Four days of free adoptions for dogs 45 pounds or more.

Community News at a Glance

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Fair Unemployment Benefits Strengthen Our Communities

As the session passed its halfway point, 22 of my bills have passed the Senate (including 16 with bipartisan support) and are being considered by the House of Delegates.

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Track Reunion In Alexandria

Track Reunion

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Banding Together in Alexandria

Center for Alexandria’s Children gala raises $194k to end child abuse.

Center for children

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Senior Services of Alexandria Announces 2025 Gala Honorees

Senior Services of Alexandria

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What’s Happening Outside?

What’s Happening Outside?

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Royal Flush for Opponents of ‘Casino Bill’.

Virginia Senate Bill 982 dead for 2025.

Casino Bill

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Is Help On The Way?

Thousands of federal employees and contractors fired or furloughed; more in the works.

Federal Workers

The Home Stretch

Column

Tuesday, February 18

Letter: Thanks for Reporting About Important Program

Thanks for Reporting About Important Program

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Remembering Local Victims of Jan. 29 Plane Crash

Remembering Local Victims of Jan. 29 Plane Crash

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Locals Come Together To Protest

Message: ’Musk Stole Your Data’

Message: ’Musk Stole Your Data’

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Bamboo: Food for Some, Problem for Many

National Zoo pandas enjoying area’s plants

National Zoo pandas enjoying area’s plants

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Penalties for Porch Pirates

Mail theft expected to rise to felony in Virginia

Mail theft expected to rise to felony in Virginia

Monday, February 17

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Senior Living: Flourishing After 55

55+ Programs are in person at 55+ Centers unless otherwise noted. A 55+ Pass is required to participate starting at a $20 annual fee. To join or register, go to registration.arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-4747.

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Decline in Federal Workers Would Hurt Real Estate

Reducing Fairfax County’s and Virginia’s federal workforce would further depress the declining commercial real estate market in Northern Virginia.

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Decline in Federal Workers Would Hurt Real Estate

Reducing Fairfax County’s and Virginia’s federal workforce would further depress the declining commercial real estate market in Northern Virginia.

Friday, February 14

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Airplane Crash 76 Years Ago Killed 55 at National Airport

World War II surplus flown into flight path by reckless pilot.

Airplane crash

Thursday, February 13

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Celebrate George Washington's Birthday in Old Town Alexandria on Feb. 15

Celebrate George Washington's Birthday in Old Town Alexandria on Feb. 15

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Help On The Way

Kaine and Warner offer tele-town hall meeting Monday.

Fear and uncertainty threaded throughout the Fairfax County federal workforce after an unexpected email with the subject line "Fork in the Road" arrived in their employee email inboxes on Jan. 28, as it did nationwide for over 2.3 million federal employees.

Tuesday, February 11

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Year of the Snake

Lunar New Year festival returns to Old Town.

Year of the Snake

Opinion: Message from Mayor Alyia Gaskins on Immigration Enforcement

Message from Mayor Alyia Gaskins on Immigration Enforcement

Friday, February 7

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Meeting on Georgetown Pike/Great Falls Library Pedestrian Refuge Improvements

Crosswalk project heads toward finalization

A community meeting on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Great Falls Grange brought the Georgetown Pike - Great Falls Library Pedestrian Refuge Improvements project closer to its construction start date.

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Surovell Defends His Casino Bill

Bill passed the Senate (24-Y 16-N) on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Opponents question source of $1.8B casino revenue prediction.

Volunteers Needed to Restore Park Habitat

Volunteer Opportunities

Black History Event Planned for Feb. 19

News Briefs

‘State of Centreville’ Set for Feb. 7

Roundups

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Ready Fairfax Takes Part in MLK Day of Service

A labor of preparedness.

A labor of preparedness.

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Bugs and Hisses, Osprey Platforms and Honored with Award

What’s next for Susan Laume?

Susan Laume just received the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Naturalist Volunteer of the Year Award for 2024.

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Liquid Chocolate Offerings Please People’s Palates

Fairfax City’s Chocolate Festival offered chocolate wines, beers, sodas and shakes.

Fairfax City’s Chocolate Festival offered chocolate wines, beers, sodas and shakes.

Inaugural Superbowl Soberride Launched

A local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX.

Thursday, February 6

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Valentines Day 2025: Love Is in the Air

Couples share their secrets to happiness.

Valentines Day 2025

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Bird-feeding Can Bring Winter Cheer

Bird-feeding Can Bring Winter Cheer

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Helicopter Involved Flew out of Fort Belvoir

Helicopter Involved Flew out of Fort Belvoir

Wednesday, February 5

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Tragedy on the Potomac

Local lives lost as first responders aid in recovery.

Local lives lost as first responders aid in recovery.

NVSO Elects New Chairman, Reveals Dates for 2025 Events

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) committee recently elected Rod Hupp of Falls Church 2025 Chairman.

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Fairfax Teen Named Division 1 Young Marine of the Year

Chingiz Bahadur of Fairfax, Virginia, has been named Division 1 Young Marine of the Year. He will compete with Young Marines from five other divisions for the title of National Young Marine of the Year to be awarded in April.

Fatal Hit and Run in Woodlawn

On Jan. 29 around 8:34 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Richmond Highway and Buckman Road in Woodlawn for two pedestrians who were struck by a vehicle.

City of Alexandria Offers Free Tax Preparation to Qualifying Individuals at Del Pepper Community Resource Center

The Department of Community and Human Services is offering free tax preparation services to qualifying individuals who live in the City of Alexandria on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. now through April 19 at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).

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Moving Past Mistakes and Making Better Futures

Meet Daily Point of Light Award Honoree Cheyenne Klapper.

Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

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Arlington Students for Climate Action Host Free Pop Up Shop

Students volunteer to help reduce waste, keep fast fashion from landing in landfills.

This year, the students took advantage of the pop up shop to also raise awareness and ask for donations for their trial composting project.

Senior Living: Flourishing After 55

55+ Programs are in person at 55+ Centers unless otherwise noted. A 55+ Pass is required to participate starting at a $20 annual fee. To join or register, go to registration.arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-4747.

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Arlington Calendar

Arlington Calendar

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Arlington Groups Rally to Support Immigrant Community

What more than a dozen people and organizations in Arlington are saying and doing about possible immigration enforcement.

“Many of the immigrants, even if they have legal status, are feeling immense stress, and this is taking a toll on mental health.” — Taris Karantonis, Chairman of the Arlington County Board

Register Now!

Senior Services of Alexandria and At Home in Alexandria Speaker Series Event

“Strategies for Addressing Solo Aging, Social Isolation, and Mental Health for Seniors”

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Virginia Budget on Track

Report on transportation and public safety funding.

On Budget Sunday this week, as Chairman of the Transportation and Public Safety subcommittee, I gave the report of the subcommittee.

Come One, Come All to the Mount Vernon District Town Meeting!

Come out and learn what we have in “common” at our 38th Annual Town Meeting.

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Can Data Centers Co-Exist with Responsible Development and Increased Energy Demands?

Northern Virginia has the largest data concentration center in the world, handling 25 percent of Internet traffic in the Americas and 13 percent of the total in the World.

Environmental Wins and Losses at Virginia General Assembly Crossover

Chesapeake Bay Foundation lauds advancement of climate-readiness measures

The Virginia General Assembly session has reached its midpoint, marking some wins and losses for key environmental measures.

Proposed Budget Features Environmental Gains

Plans demonstrate commitment to Chesapeake Bay restoration and a climate-ready Commonwealth

The proposed spending plans support a host of Chesapeake Bay Foundation initiatives including climate readiness following another year of record-breaking and costly extreme weather, investments in environmental education, and investments in cleaner water and air for future generations.

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Alexandria Calendar

Alexandria Calendar

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Fairfax County Calendar

Fairfax County Calendar

More Dates to Meet the Police Chief

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire continues to have conversations with members of the Alexandria community.

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67 Dead After Airplane Collides with Army Helicopter

Wreckage and passengers plunge into the Potomac River.

Wreckage and passengers plunge into the Potomac River.

IG Report: Process for Picking New FBI Headquarters Was Flawed

FBI

Tuesday, February 4

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Superintendent addresses immigrant enforcement.

Superintendent addresses immigrant enforcement.