🌱 HS Student Raises $2000 for Habitat + Mark Twain Prize Event Raffle

Morning, Oakton. Danielle Fallon-O'Leary here with your Thursday edition of the Oakton Patch newsletter, filled with all the community information you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny. High: 54 Low: 35.
• Friday: Cooler with a few showers. High: 43 Low: 33.
• Saturday: Windy; a shower in the a.m.. High: 45 Low: 28.
• Sunday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 50 Low: 36.
• Monday: Cloudy with showers. High: 47 Low: 31.

Business owners and marketers in Oakton: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Oakton:

1. A local high school senior helped offset the cost of solar panels on a Warrenton home. James Jackson, a high school senior at Flint Hill School in Oakton, raised $2,000 for the panel installation—and even helped with the installations along with a few classmates. Jackson is also the grandson of Charles Wurster, who was a founding member of the Environmental Defense Fund. (WTOP)
2. The 120 Initiative, a collaborative effort from 18 institutions in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, has announced findings to reduce gun violence. Over 100 faculty members, including nearly two dozen from George Mason University, identified actions that could make an immediate impact, emphasizing that community-level solutions can work as well as broader ones. The top recommendation is to expand and build upon effective community engagement and violence interruption programs while acknowledging the need for further study and pairing measures with legislation. (Oakton Patch)
3. There isn't much time left for a chance to win two tickets to The Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize. The event, which will celebrate Adam Sandler, is set to take place on Sunday, Mar. 19. Interested parties can visit the ArtsFairfax website to purchase their raffle tickets for a chance to win. (ArtsFairfax via Instagram)

Coming up in Oakton:

Thursday, March 9

• Thursday Night Book Club at Oakton Library (5:00 PM)

Saturday, March 11

• Heroes Read Storytime at Oakton Library (10:30 AM)

Monday, March 13

• Detox your Mind at 10304 Lynnhaven Place (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a home in or around the Oakton area? Browse the latest real estate roundup for our area that includes a $1.85 million single-family home and an $825,000 plot of land perfect for a new build. (Oakton Patch)
• If you're looking for a cat, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter invites you to meet Lucy. According to the shelter, "Lucy is a cat who will make you feel so adored every day. She just LOVES her people!" Check out the photos of her adorable poses or contact the shelter to set up a meet-and-greet with Lucy today. (Fairfax County Animal Shelter via Instagram)
• Congratulations to Marshall High School senior Ilia Malinin. He was recognized by the Board of Supervisors from the town for landing the quadruple axle and for his victory at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Known as "the Quad God," Malinin has become regarded by many as "the next greatest skater." (Fairfax County Government via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• Pi Day Celebration! (March 14)
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Featured announcements:

• Foley Academy Irish Dance Spring Session Enrollment Open (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox soon with your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.