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Bonnie Hobbs

Stories by Bonnie

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Come One, Come All to Centreville Day

Fun-filled, community celebration is this Saturday.

A fusion of community camaraderie, history and fun for all ages, the 24th annual Centreville Day celebration is this Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP).

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Centreville Day: Parade, Pets, Music, Children’s Games

24th annual Centreville Day is Saturday, Oct. 15.

It’s time for sweaters, autumn leaves, pumpkin-spice lattes — and Centreville Day. This year’s event, the 24th annual, will be Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park, 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP).

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Got a Hankering for Craft Beer?

Chantilly’s first annual BrewFest will quench that thirst.

Take six breweries, four bands, four food trucks, add a large dash of fun and the result is Fairfax County’s first-ever Craft BrewFest.

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First Lady Comes to GMU, Campaigns for Clinton

Speaks on Hillary Clintons 'lifelong record of public service.'

Excitement filled the air when First Lady Michelle Obama addressed an enthusiastic crowd, last Friday, Sept. 16, at GMU’s Johnson Center. Speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, she urged everyone to vote and called Clinton the only qualified candidate in the race.

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Chantilly: Fast-Food Restaurant Proposed

Chantilly Place Shopping Center needs county’s OK for drive-through window.

A new, fast-food restaurant is planned for the Chantilly Place Shopping Center on Willard Road, east of Route 28. It just needs Fairfax County’s approval for a drive-through use associated with it.

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Policing with Compassion

Building trust between residents and police.

Most residents aren’t even aware that Fairfax County has a Communities of Trust (COT) Committee. But it held a Town Hall Meeting last Saturday, Sept. 10, at Centreville Baptist Church with the theme, “Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity and Peace.”

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Chantilly: From 80 Students to 625

Walker reflects on the camp’s strengths.

Lawrence Walker retired in 2012 after being Franklin Middle School’s band director for 28 years. But each summer, he returns to direct its Band and Orchestra Camp.

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Chantilly: ‘You Make Friends and Learn a Lot’

Franklin Middle holds 30th annual Band and Orchestra Camp.

Daniel Starykh has been playing trumpet for a year and came to Franklin Middle School’s 30th annual Band and Orchestra Camp so he could improve. Happy with his decision, he said, “My teachers are really nice and they help a lot.”

Chantilly: Frey To Lead Study Group

Dulles Suburban Area Study Advisory Group formed.

For the first time in 23 years, the Dulles Suburban Center is getting a thorough review. Work has already begun to document what’s there now and consider recommendations for potential land-use changes and future development. And now, Supervisor Kathy Smith (D-Sully) has established the Dulles Suburban Area Study Advisory Group to help with this task. She’s also named former Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey as its chairman.

Chantilly: Big Day for Eric Latcheran

Chantilly resident proud to wear Knights of Columbus uniform.

Eric Latcheran, 29, of Chantilly’s Poplar Tree Estates community, is a busy person. He holds down two jobs, performs in bands, has strong friendships — including a girlfriend — and raises money for Best Buddies, which promotes friendships with and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.

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Centreville/Chantilly: ‘Inspiration’ to Animal Shelter

Local girls raise money for the facility.

Tara Sankner and Shelby Mysel are two youths with big hearts and a love for animals. And for the second year in a row, they held a fundraiser for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

‘Getting Arrested … a Blessing’

Former gang member reveals what that life is really like.

According to police Capt. Bob Blakley, “Eighty percent of the property crimes in the Sully District are gang-related or done by their affiliates. And even a higher percentage of the violent crimes here are done at the hands of gang members – and that’s a huge problem. This year, we’ve had three, drive-by shootings into occupied dwellings, one in Chantilly and two in Centreville.”

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Centreville/Chantilly: Building Trust in the Community

Residents, police and firefighters join together during National Night Out.

Hot dogs, ice cream, water games, laughter and fun were all part of last week’s annual National Night Out celebration in the local area. It was held Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, and enabled community residents and public-safety personnel to meet each other, mingle and share some time together in a happy and relaxed atmosphere.

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Police Charge Clifton Man with Murder

Caterer dies from stabbing after E.C. Lawrence Park wedding.

Weddings are normally happy affairs that don’t end in tragedy. But an argument over folding chairs after a Saturday wedding in Chantilly’s Ellanor C. Lawrence Park resulted in a woman’s death and a man being charged with murder.

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Chantilly: ‘A Great Addition to Our Community’

New townhouse development is coming to Chantilly.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors put out the welcome mat last week for a rezoning that’ll bring two dozen new townhouses to Chantilly. The community will be at Elmwood and Vernon streets and will be called Rockland Village Green.

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Centreville: Infusion of Cash for I-66/Route 28 Improvements

Agency allocates $300 million for I-66/Route 28.

Good news for drivers who take the I-66/Route 28 exits and entrances in Centreville — and in this area, that’s pretty much everyone. A fix for the congestion, especially during rush hours, just took a giant step toward becoming a reality.

A Tale of Drug-Dealing, Money and Murder

On March 15, 2001, Centreville High grad Danny Petrole, 21, was shot and killed outside his Bristow townhouse. The crime involved drug-dealing and money, and the shooter – Chantilly High grad Owen Barber IV, 21, who pleaded guilty in court – received 38 years in prison.

Wolfe Sentenced to 41 Years in Prison

Convicted of the March 2001 murder of Danny Petrole.

Except for the prosecutors, no one involved in Justin Wolfe’s murder sentencing last week left the courtroom happy. The victim’s family still grieves a son, Wolfe’s family continues to have a hole in it and Wolfe, himself, has decades more to serve in prison.

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WFCM Seeks Community’s Help Providing Backpacks

Hoping to furnish them for 2,000 local schoolchildren.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is once more collecting new backpacks for local students in need. It hopes to provide nearly 2,000 backpacks for qualified, low- income children attending 23 different schools in the Centreville, Chantilly and Westfield high school pyramids, plus Mountain View High.

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Chantilly: Pirates and Mermaids and Parrots, Oh, My!

Chantilly High presents funny and swashbuckling children’s play.

An 8-year-old boy’s pirate adventures on the high seas will elicit laughter in Chantilly High’s children’s show, “Pirates! Theodore Thud and the Quest for Weird Beard.”

Chantilly: Jason Deal Selected as Officer of Month

Each month, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Sully District Police Station honors one of the station’s officers for his or her outstanding service to the police and to the community. And Officer Jason Deal was selected as Officer of the Month for May.

‘76 Trombones Led the Big Parade’

Centreville resident has a leading role in “The Music Man.”

When fast-talking Harold Hill comes to River City, Iowa with a grand plan to create the finest band in America, the townspeople are thrilled. But straight-laced librarian Marian Paroo thinks it’s all just a scam.

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Making History Come to Life

For Andrew Dilworth, Rocky Run’s “iWitness to History Day” came full circle. “I went to this program as a student here,” he said. “I’m a substitute teacher at Rocky Run this year and I was hired full-time as an eighth-grade civics teacher for the coming year.”

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Rocky Run Presents iWitness to History

Learning about the past from those who lived it.

Before Rocky Run Middle seventh-graders headed off for summer, they traveled back to the past via their school’s “World War II Oral History Day.” And this year’s event, the 15th annual, even had a new name, “iWitness to History Day.”

‘You’re the One that I Want’

Westfield Summer Stage presents the musical, “Grease.”

Break out the black leather jackets and poodle skirts — Westfield Summer Stage is presenting the musical, “Grease.” It features a cast and crew of more than 80 students from middle and high schools across the county, including Westfield, Centreville, Chantilly and Fairfax high schools.

A Safe Place To Buy and Sell

Sully District Police Station now has an Exchange Zone.

Purchases made online can sometimes be a dicey proposition. When it comes time to meet an unknown buyer or seller to exchange an item for money, it’s best to do so in a safe environment.

Helping People in Crisis

Police learn to de-escalate situations.

Mental illness is a bigger problem in the U.S. than most people realize, and police come in contact with many people suffering from some form of it.

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Mountain View Honors Students

Three seniors recognized during graduation ceremony.

During Mountain View’s spring commencement last week, three graduating seniors were honored with special awards from the faculty.

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Mountain View: ‘Struggle Develops Your Strength’

Mountain View grads share stories of perseverance.

Mountain View High is a school full of heart, and it’s openly on display at every graduation.

Drinkwater, Pelegrin Honored

Sully names Officers of Month.

The Sully District Police Station and its Citizens Advisory Committee have recognized two Officers of the Month for April. They are Sgt. Justin Drinkwater and Auxiliary Officer Antonio Pelegrin.

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Helping Students onto a Better Path in Life

Mountain View celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Mountain View is a small high school, but the impact it’s had upon its students’ lives has been huge. And last Friday, June 17, it marked two decades of existence and achievement.

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Chantilly: ‘Caring, Creative, Fun, Kind and Inspiring’

Monk’s students explain his impact upon them.

Chantilly High’s Ed Monk is one of the most popular and effective theater teachers/directors around. And some of his seniors recently shared their thoughts about him.

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End of an Era at Chantilly High

Theater Director Ed Monk is retiring.

It’s the end of an era; Chantilly High Theater Director Ed Monk is retiring. He’s bringing down the curtain on his career here after 31 years with Fairfax County Public Schools — 26 of them at Chantilly.

Chantilly High is Ready to Take the Stage

Chantilly High’s 30th annual Jazz & Pizzazz is this week.

Every year, Chantilly High’s springtime extravaganza, Jazz & Pizzazz, is a special event filled with singing, dancing and music. And the 2016 show promises to be another one to remember because it’s the school’s 30th annual.

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Broadway Tunes Comes to Centreville’s Stage

Annual, summer choral concert this week.

Come one, come all to the Centreville High Choral Department’s annual “Broadway Pops” concert. It’s this Thursday-Friday, June 9-10, at 7:30 p.m., in the school’s Skip A. Maiden Theatre. Admission is free.

Sully District: Tessema Named Officer of the Month

Police Officer Robel Tessema has been recognized as the Officer of the Month for March.

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Centreville: ‘I’m Doing OK; No One’s Hurt’

Two-alarm, Centreville house fire does $82,810 damage.

A two-alarm house fire in Centreville last week displaced a family of three and caused nearly $83,000 damage, according to fire officials.

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Centreville: Local Group Brings History to Life

Bull Run Civil War Round Table celebrates 25th anniversary.

The Bull Run Civil War Round Table invites the public to a special program to help celebrate its 25th anniversary on Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m., at the Centreville Regional Library.

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Relay For Life to Help Find Cure for Cancer

Local Relay For Life event is June 11.

On the surface, walking around a track over and over may not seem too productive. But when done during the Relay for Life, it can make a world of difference to people battling cancer.

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Ninth Annual Reema Remembrance Cabaret Set for June 4

Providing entertainment and raising funds for students' in need.

Singing, dancing, comedy sketches, a silent auction, food and fun will take center stage when Westfield High and Angel Fund host a free event celebrating life and community through the arts. It’s slated for Saturday, June 4, in the Westfield auditorium, 4700 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.

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‘The Chance to Be Like Other Teens’

Students attend Day Prom at The Waterford in Fair Oaks.

At last week’s prom, the students attending ate pizza, visited with friends, danced and sang along with the music. But this wasn’t just any prom — it was the Day Prom for special-education students with intellectual disabilities.

Chantilly: Cappie Nominations

Westfield gets 11 and Chantilly, 6.

The 2015-2016 Cappie nominations for high-school theater were released Monday, with Chantilly and Westfield high schools receiving 17 nods between them. Chantilly performed the play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” and Westfield put on the musical, “Footloose.” Centreville High didn’t enter this year’s competition.

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Chantilly: ‘We’ll Never Forget Vicky and Mike’

New memorial dedicated to Armel and Garbarino.

May 8, 2006 is a date seared into the hearts and minds of everyone who remembers the tragic events that happened that day at the Sully District Police Station. It was when a heavily armed teen took the lives of two police officers — Det. Vicky Armel, 40, and MPO Mike Garbarino, 53.

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Chantilly: ‘A World of Pure Imagination’

Chantilly High presents “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Willy Wonka, Charlie Buckett and a fleet of Oompa-Loompas will all burst upon the stage during Chantilly High’s upcoming children’s play, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The curtain rises Friday, May 20, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 21, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m. in the school theater. Tickets are $5 at the door or via www.chantillyhsdrama.com.

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Centreville Snapshot:Work of Young Artists on Display

Centreville High’s Pyramid Art Show was April 14.

Centreville High Student Competes in Pageant

Next stop: College and another contest.

Selected as a finalist in the Miss Teen 2016 pageant, Centreville High senior Shaylan Ferguson participated in early April in Southern Virginia. And while she didn’t win, she enjoyed the experience, learned a few things along the way and plans to keep on competing.

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Centreville High: Action, Swordfights and Tech Surprises

Centreville High presents “The Three Musketeers.”

Featuring a cast of 34 and a crew of 12, Centreville High’s dramedy, “The Three Musketeers,” is all set to burst upon the stage.

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Potential Development of Dulles Suburban Center

A study to determine this land’s future is currently underway.

It’s been 23 years since the Dulles Suburban Center had a thorough review. But all that’s about to change, as a study has just began to document what’s there now and review recommendations for potential land-use changes and development in the future.

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Chantilly: ‘Comedy with a Lot of Heart’

Chantilly High presents “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”

There’ll be laughs galore when Chantilly High presents the comedy, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” It’s the school’s Cappies show and contains a cast and crew of 52.

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Sixth Annual Centreville International Showcase is Set for April 30

Find music, dancing, food, and more.

Everything from Korean drumming to Irish dancing, Guatemalan music and food from around the globe — it’ll all be part of the 6th annual Centreville International Showcase. The evening of fun is set for Saturday, April 30, from 5:30-9 p.m.