Fairfax Dispatches: New Middle School, Food Pantries

News from all over Northern Virginia:

The Mount Vernon RECenter hosted its annual holiday ice show this past weekend. Skaters from across the district came to show off their ice dancing skills.



The Cougars participated in Wreaths Across America, helping to lay wreaths on the tombstones of fallen soldiers. Each wreath sold for $15, with $5 returning to Oakton's scholarship program. The PFC David Sharrett II Memorial Scholarship Fund, named for the Oakton grad who died while serving in Iraq in 2008, is awarded to football alumni.

On November 10th the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria upheld a decision by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to prevent construction of a cell phone tower at the Masonic Lodge on Fort Hunt Road. Cingular appealed the decision to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond last week.

FCPS Prepared for Inclement Weather

Yesterday brought the season's first snow to the Northern Virginia area and the Fairfax County Public School system is doing all they can to keep parents well informed this year. Information Specialist Mary Shaw said when inclement weather or other emergency situations hit, it may be necessary to close schools for the entire day, to open schools two hours late, or to close two hours early.

As Need Increases, Pantry Continues to Help

Food banks and pantries across the country are seeing an increase in demand for their services, but don't have enough supplies to meet that need. Despite the shortage trend and the affect it has had on the Annandale Christian Community for Action food pantry, ACCA continues to help those in need. 

Fairfax County firefighters distributed thousands of donated toys to organizations that help children at the Penn Daw Fire Station in Hybla Valley Wednesday morning.

September 2012 Opening for New Middle School

Fairfax County Schools made official what many residents had already suspected. The new middle school will open in September 2012 rather than January 2012 which is when construction will be complete