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Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

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Pathway Homes Presents Summer of the Arts Exhibit

Original works available for sale at Vienna Arts Society gallery.

Purple Piece, Organ, Lion Pride, City Lights, Violent Behavior. These are names of some of the 30 works of art presented in Pathway Homes' Summer of the Arts 2020 on display at the Vienna Arts Society gallery, located at 513 Maple Avenue West #1.

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Q&A on Back to School for Fairfax County

Superintendent takes questions at Virtual Town Hall.

FCPS hosted a virtual Town Hall Meeting on July 6, to answer questions about its two Return to School Plans: Full-time Online Instruction or In-Person Instruction with Social Distancing.

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Ready or Not, Here Comes Phase 3 in Fairfax County

Tracer data sparse; COVID clusters threaten.

Fairfax County, along with the rest of the state, is expected to enter the third phase of reopening on Wednesday, July 1.

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Fairfax County Supervisors Approve Paid Family Leave

Helping County employees meet family demands and employment responsibilities.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Paid Family Leave for County employees during its June 23, 2020 Board meeting.

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Remote or In-School Learning in Fairfax County

County families should respond by July 10.

School reopens for Fairfax County Public Schools students in eight weeks. That means that families in the 10th largest school division in the United States have until Friday, July 10, to respond with their enrollment choice for the entire 2020-21 school year.

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Scenario 1, 2 or 3: What Will It Be in Fairfax County?

2020-21 school plans presented to the County School Board.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) presented their preliminary recommendations for the 2020-21 school year to the Fairfax County School Board on Monday, June 15, during its work session.

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Fairfax County Police Department Officer Charged with Assault Against Community Member

Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Police Chief: ‘These acts are unacceptable.’

"The body-worn camera video I am releasing shows a Fairfax County police officer deploying force in violation of our use of force policies … They are criminal acts which violate our oath of office, and they ignore the sanctity of human life," said Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Police Chief, the day after one of his officers deployed an "electronic control weapon," multiple times on an African American male who did not appear to be a threat.

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A Call to End ‘White Silence’

Demonstrators converge at Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax.

After seven days of nationwide protests, escalating riots and looting by some in the fallout from the death of African-American George Floyd while being arrested by a white officer in Minneapolis, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Northern Virginia held protests at two northern Virginia police headquarters.

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Let’s Get This Right: Mask Up NOVA

It’s Phase One and Executive Order 63 for Northern Virginia’s reopening.

On May 29, The Northern Virginia Regional Commission announced that it produced a Public Service Announcement emphasizing the importance of wearing a face mask in public indoor spaces.

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Fairfax County School Board Celebrates Class of 2020

Superintendent Scott Brabrand releases Board decisions.

Superintendent Scott Brabrand dashed any remaining hopes of summer in-person commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020. After receiving results from high school students and parents on his Survey on Graduation Preferences, Brabrand said the School Board agreed on his recommended approach. They committed to celebrating the seniors "in the safest and most personalized manner possible."

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Fairfax County School Board Considers Fall 2020 Options

Three back-to-school scenarios presented.

What might school look like to children in Fairfax County Public Schools this fall — remote learning or social distance learning with masks and temperature checks? Which students would schools bring back first — the older ones or most vulnerable? And what might students face when they get there — a climb back to grade level or multi-age classes?

Fairfax County Supervisors Approve Budget Plan, Fairfax RISE

Highlights of May 12 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Some of the first words Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay Fairfax County Board of Supervisors said at the May 12 Board of Supervisors meeting were for county families; in particular, those who lost loved ones or had family members hospitalized with the coronavirus. "If we could keep them and their entire families in our thoughts and prayers," McKay said. "As a reminder, our County flag continues to fly at half-staff, throughout the County at our facilities, in honor of the residents who sadly died as a result of COVID-19 and in recognition of our many essential workers who are responding to the pandemic," he said.

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Hunkered Down to Opening Up in Virginia

Northern Virginia leaders urge regional approach to reopening state.

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Northern Virginia Reopening Should Occur When Metrics Met

Regional mayors and chairs send letter to Gov. Northam.

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‘Don't Forget About Us’ in Fairfax County

County supervisors hold public budget hearings.

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Fairfax County’s Sparse Budget Proposal

Supervisor Alcorn holds the second budget town hall.

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Who Earned the F in Best Practices?

Distance Learning goes awry for FCPS.

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Covering Fairfax County Concerns

Twitter Q & A with Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

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Revised Fairfax County Budget Reflects Pandemic Realities

County's updated budget proposal strikes millions in planned disbursements.

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Coalition to Fairfax County: Reduce Number of Inmates

County responds to NOVA Equity Agenda Coalition initiative.

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Amazon Gives $1 Million Locally to Fight the Impact of COVID-19

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards Block Grants.

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Forty Units Strong in Vienna

Cunningham Park Elementary Love Parade is a mobile greeting card of support.

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Global to Local: Coronavirus Defines Us

Week Two 03/15-03/21– feeding children is priority for FCPS.

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Opinion: Commentary: ‘Our Priority Is to Save Lives’

Governor Northam orders statewide closure of certain non-essential businesses: all public and private schools K-12 closed for the rest of the academic year.

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Fairfax County Supervisors Approve Issuance of Declaration of Emergency

Resolution empowers County Executive to make decisions.

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Global to Local: This Is Not a Test

Week one: 03/09-03/15: COVID-19 pandemic hits the area.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month 2020 in Fairfax County

Fairfax County Commission for Women honors “Valiant Women of the Vote.”

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“Invest in Fairfax,” Says Grassroots Coalition

Reaction to County Executive’s FY21 Advertised Budget

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Farmland Catapults to Economic Engine of Fairfax County

Tysons Partnership celebrates the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons.

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Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County Presented

Senior and junior high school students honored.

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Vienna and Hunter Mill Priorities Discussed

Supervisor Alcorn holds his first Vienna Town Hall meeting.

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K9 Doby – End of Watch: Feb. 22

Police canine served alongside law enforcement officers.

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Fairfax County Launches JET Task Force

Joint Environmental Task Force addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.

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Tremendous Needs Still Not Funded in Fairfax County

School Board adopts $3.2 billion budget seeking $172.2 million increase.

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Focus on Social Justice at First Baptist Church of Vienna

Church hosts its fourth annual Justice and Legislative Sunday.

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The ‘Olympics of the Violin’

Local teen takes to the stage at the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020.

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Fairfax County Studies State Budget

Board of Supervisors Legislative Committee: Tracking items of interest to County against Governor's proposed budget and specific legislation.

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Fairfax County: Proclamations and Resolutions, Board Matters and Votes

It’s Day One; Take Action for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

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Change in the Virginia Landscape

401st VA General Assembly reconvenes with a tsunami of filed legislation.

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Virginia Assembly – Week One

Highlights of some of the bills proposed.

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Environmental Benefits and Lower Electric Costs in Fairfax County

County awards solar power purchase agreement contracts.

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Leaving on a High Note: 31-Year Joy Ride

Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, retires.

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Environmental Priorities for Virginia

Virginia Conservation Network Hosts 2019 General Assembly Preview.

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Local Book Launch for One of the World’s Bestselling Authors

New thriller hits Herndon first at Herndon Middle School.

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‘The Greatest Humanitarian Crisis in the World’

Kicking off Blanket & Coat Drive for Syrian Refugees 2019

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First National Suffragist Memorial Breaks Ground

Site in Lorton to mark women’s struggle for right to vote.

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Horses Heal and Teach Life Skills

Equestrian program touches everyone involved.

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Reducing Veteran Isolation and Loneliness

Pilot program expands to Herndon-Reston.

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Hope and Hospitality in a Positive Environment in Falls Church

Ribbon-cutting for the new Bailey’s Shelter and Supportive Housing.

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