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Tim Peterson

Stories by Tim

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Fairfax: City of Fairfax Band Children’s Concert July 16

Each year, the City of Fairfax community band gives its youngest fans a chance to try their hand at the shiny, twisty and just plain loud instruments in the ensemble.

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Mount Vernon: New Citizens Celebrate First Fourth of July

100 citizens naturalized at George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Journalists Alakbar Raufoglu and his wife Tamara Grigoryeva left their native Azerbaijan because the government was repressing them and their freedom of speech.

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Sending Carlos Silva Home to Brazil

Investigator Carlos Silva is going home to his sister and daughter in Brazil. He died Thursday, July 2 in an accident during a bicycling event at the World Police and Fire Games. Two other athletes were injured in the crash.

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Coming Home to Queen of Peace in Springfield

Residents with disabilities move into new group house on Gresham Street.

Ten months ago, the unassuming single-level house on Gresham Street in north Springfield was a private residence. Today it’s the permanent home of four individuals with disabilities, and a fifth is on the way.

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Lorton and Mount Vernon Area Roundups

A 2-year-old boy was pronounced dead at Inova Fairfax Hospital on June 18, Fairfax County Police announced Friday, June 19.

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Local Farms Supply Alexandria Wegmans

Five Virginia farms are currently supplying the recently opened Wegmans grocery store in Alexandria with fresh produce.

Mount Vernon: Police Investigate Death of Man Found in Kingstowne Pond

A dead man was reported June 27 in a pond on South Van Dorn Street near Kingstowne Village Parkway.

Mount Vernon: Hyland’s Office Apologizes for Using County Email to Endorse Storck

When retiring supervisor Gerry Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) announced an endorsement for Dan Storck as his replacement, the release came through the Mt_Vernon@fairfaxcounty.gov email. The endorsement followed Storck’s victory over Tim Sargeant, Jack Dobbyn and Candice Bennett in the June 9 Democratic primary election.

Mount Vernon: Former Owner of ‘Sub Shop’ Convicted for Arson and Insurance Fraud

A jury has convicted former Fort Belvoir-area resident Lawrence Wayne Reese, 56, of nine offenses including arson, use of fire in commission of another federal offense and multiple counts of fraud related to submission of a fraudulent insurance claim.

Mount Vernon: 95 Express Lanes Schedule Adjusted for July 4

Around the Fourth of July, patriotic celebration throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area comes with heavy gridlock. To help alleviate some of the traffic into, out of and around the region for the holiday weekend, the 95 Express Lanes schedule will be adjusted, according to an Express Lanes spokesperson:

Mount Vernon: Local Farms Supply Alexandria Wegmans

Five Virginia farms are currently supplying the recently opened Wegmans grocery store in Alexandria with fresh produce. Those include:

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Health Curriculum To More Closely Align with State

School Board approves recommendations from advisers, with amendments.

Though it was the second packed house in as many months, it may be early yet to call crowded Fairfax County School Board meetings a trend.

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Mt. Vernon: 500 West Potomac Seniors Graduate

Graduations have always made Margret Lingenfelter sad. “It really resonates with me and holds a weird place in my heart,” the West Potomac High School class of 2015 president said during her graduation remarks to fellow wolverines.

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Fairfax County: Police Release Use of Force Review

Review explained at latest Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission meeting.

Nearly a year ago, Fairfax County sought an outside opinion on its police department’s use of force. That July 2014 assignment went to the Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum.

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Mt. Vernon: Amphitheater Renamed for Retired Lee District RECenter Manager

Leon Plenty was general manager of the Lee District RECenter from 1982 until his retirement in December, 2014. At a ceremony on June 17, Plenty was recognized for his work with the renaming of Lee District’s amphitheater in his honor.

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Fairfax County: Questioning Family Life Curriculum

The Fairfax County School Board’s May 7 meeting drew a passionate and boisterous crowd that filled the Luther Jackson Middle School auditorium and spilled out into the main lobby. That night the board voted in favor of adding “gender identity” to its nondiscrimination policy for students, employees and applicants for employment.

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Mount Vernon and Lorton: New Gunston Hall Roof Completed

Approaching Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, the 18th-century plantation home of George Mason, its roof appears to gleam golden in the sunlight.

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Mount Vernon: New Wegmans Opens in Alexandria

Nearly 2,000 in line for June 14 opening morning.

At any other Wegmans grocery store in Virginia, Woodbridge resident Braden Cheney’s job wouldn’t exist. A 2000 graduate of W.T. Woodson High School, Cheney is manager of The Pub, a full-service restaurant and bar operating within the store.

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Mount Vernon: New Gunston Hall Roof Completed

The heavy slate tiles that previously topped the building where Mason may well have drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights were recently replaced — not by gold, but Alaskan Red Cedar.

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Mount Vernon: Moving on ‘Move Over’

Police crack down, educate about law protecting emergency roadside vehicles and drivers.

Police are trying to educate the public about the "Move Over" law, which is geared at protecting emergency roadside vehicles and drivers.

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Mount Vernon: Victors Emerge from Democratic Primary

Krizek for 44th District, Levine for 45th, Dan Storck for supervisor. jump

After polls closed at 7 p.m. and results from precincts started to trickle in over cell phone

Mount Vernon: Party To Mark Park’s 40 Years

The Friends of Huntley Meadows Park organization is hosting a party to celebrate the park turning 40, as well as the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Friends organization and 25th anniversary of the Friends of Historic Huntley organization.

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Mount Vernon: Good Shepherd Church Turns 50

Bishop Paul S. Loverde visited Good Shepherd Catholic Church to take part in a Jubilee Mass in celebration of its 50th anniversary on May 30.

Fairfax County: Primary Voting

While November’s elections are still months away, voters have the opportunity to select Democratic representatives for several races in the party’s primary on June 9.

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Fairfax County: Moving on ‘Move Over’

Police crackdown, educate about law protecting emergency roadside vehicles and drivers.

Fairfax County Master Police Officer Joe Moore’s front and rear-mounted radar machines whistle and beep with varying frequency as cars barrel past on Interstate 66 around the Fairfax County Parkway.

Mount Vernon: Primary Voting Information

While November’s elections are still months away, voters have the opportunity to select Democratic representatives for several races in the party’s primary on June 9.

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Fairfax: Northern Virginia Training Center Property Put on Market

Facility for people with disabilities scheduled for March 2016 closure.

According to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, 63 residents still live and receive treatment at the Northern Virginia Training Center, located in Fairfax alongside Braddock Road.

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Fairfax County Police and Fire Join for New Training

Generally, if 2nd Lt. Karen Maslona was handling a live crime scene, a “warm zone” with a potentially active shooter, medical personnel wouldn’t be allowed in the area until the situation is completely neutralized.

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Fairfax County School Board Passes $2.6 Billion Budget for 2016

Employees receive step pay increase but lose portion of planned market scale adjustment.

$7.6 million: That’s how much Fairfax County Public Schools said the School Board needed to cut to meet the goals set out in its Fiscal Year 2016 Advertised Budget.

Addo Approaches Year as Inova Mount Vernon CEO

Improving patient experience, acute care among top priorities.

Washington, D.C. native Deborah Addo took the reins of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in June 2014. In November, just a few months into her tenure, the new Mark and Brenda Moore Patient Tower was opened.

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Ride of the Patriots Rolls Back Through Fairfax

For the 17th year, the Fairfax Harley Owners Group and Patriot Harley-Davidson are sponsoring a Memorial Day weekend group motorcycle ride to honor service men and women, veterans, prisoners of war and those missing in action from all wars.

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McAuliffe Signs Bill to Get Food Trucks Rolling in Virginia

Food trucks, those compact mobile restaurants that have become wildly popular on the streets of Washington, D.C., are getting closer to expanding their tread-print in Virginia.

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Fairfax County: Police Commission Holds Public Forum

Deborah Moronese of Vienna said a disagreement with her son over his use of Wi-Fi in their home prompted him to call Fairfax County Police.

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Mount Vernon: Packing Food for Others

Public school students receiving free or reduced meals may face food insecurity challenges on the weekend as well.

Mount Vernon: New Wegmans Dedicated on Armed Forces Day

Members of the Hayfield Secondary School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps not only faced the pressure of raising the flag for the first time at the soon to be open Alexandria Wegmans. They also had to figure out the pole’s hidden crank mechanism located behind a locked door.

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Mount Vernon: Group Welcomes People 'As They Are'

Church fellowship group caters to people with mental health conditions

Pam McLaughlin of Mount Vernon displays a white paper mask she’s painted with a blend of various shades of blues and purples. Dark lines streak from the sides of the nose out to the ears like whiskers.

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Video Released of 2009 Officer-Involved Shooting

Dashboard camera recorded audio, not video of the shots fired.

Barrie Masters’ son David died Nov. 13, 2009. A Fairfax County Police officer shot and killed him while he sat, unarmed, and behind the wheel of his car. Last week, more than five years later, Fairfax County Police released the dashboard video from the cruiser of the officer who shot David Masters.

Crash on Richmond Highway Kills Pedestrian

Fifty-eight-year-old Sonia Granados was attempting to cross Route 1 just before Anderson Lane when she was struck in the roadway by a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse heading southbound. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Monday, May 11.

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Fairfax County School Board Adds "Gender Identity" to Nondiscrimination Policy

Discrimination is bad, and everyone should have a safe environment in which to learn. These sentiments were common to the Fairfax County School Board members and the hundreds of parents who packed the auditorium and front lobby of Luther Jackson Middle School for the board’s May 7 meeting.

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Republican Jane Gandee Enters Mount Vernon Supervisor Race

Focuses on ensuring pro-business climate.

A hundred supporters were on hand April 23 as Mason Neck resident Jane Gandee announced her campaign to replace Gerry Hyland (D) as Mount Vernon representative to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The event took place at the Mount Vernon Government Center.

Capital Murder Added To Matthew Charges

Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford announced Tuesday, May 5, that Jesse Matthew will face a capital murder charge in addition to abduction and first degree murder charges for the 2014 death of West Potomac alumna Hannah Graham.

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Embrace the Past: Hundreds of Mount Vernon Grads Set to Return for 75th Anniversary

Montebello resident Mike Skinner was a history teacher, basketball coach and sub school principal at Mount Vernon High School between 1955 and 1983. His name now adorns the school’s Michael M. Skinner Field House.

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Dr. Seuss-themed 23rd Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards

Wesley Pan of Great Falls-based Boy Scouts of America Troop 55 was humble about receiving the Youth Volunteer Group award. “We’re just happy to help the community and make a difference,” he said.

Fairfax County School Board to Consider Nondiscrimination Policy Change

When the members of the School Board reconvene on May 7, they’re scheduled to act on whether or not to add “gender identity” to the list of nondiscrimination categories for all Fairfax County Public Schools students, employees or applicants for employment.

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Mount Vernon: Looking Ahead

Development is underway along Route 1.

The former Penn Daw Plaza shopping center was rezoned as part of a 2012 Comprehensive Plan amendment for the Penn Daw area and is set to be replaced by a mixed-use development called One Kings.

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Trending in Mount Vernon

Waterfront, rebuilding and townhomes.

Chris White, an Alexandria-based Long and Foster agent, says business is booming for waterfront property in the Mount Vernon area. Whether it’s canals, creeks or the open river, “anything you can stick a boat into” is getting a lot of attention, he said. In particular, homes with dramatic river views, sellers of those in the $1-2 million range are getting close to their asking price.

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One Injured In Hotel Fire

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue investigators determined that an accidental electrical fire ignited a blaze that destroyed the Quality Inn & Suites hotel located at 8849 Richmond Highway.

Mount Vernon: More Money For Route 1

Improvement projects for corridor gather momentum.

Fairfax County elected officials were pleased with recent announcements from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and Commonwealth Transportation Board that included increased funding for transportation improvements along U.S. Route 1.

Mount Vernon: John Geer Protest

Adam Buchanan of Springfield was among a group of about 20 protesters in front of the Fairfax County Government Center prior to the Ad Hoc commission meeting on April 27. He began following the case of John Geer after some of his friends who lived nearby where Geer was killed told him about the incident. “I’m glad to hear about the grand jury,” Buchanan said, “but all these cases, why are people getting killed in these situations? What can be done to prevent this in the future?”

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Protest Precedes Police Meeting at Fairfax County Government Center

Themed subcommittees announced at second police review commission meeting.

Increased Fairfax County Police presence was noticeable at the rear of the room after three masked men entered the second meeting of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.