YEAR IN REVIEW: Top Stories from Falls Church in 2012

We have entered 2013 and left 2012 in the rearview mirror.

There were several big stories in 2012 in Falls Church and we have a quick review of the top stories of last year.

JANUARY: The Anglican congregation at The Falls Church was told they had to give up their space at the historic church by a judge. A Falls Church teen died from injuries he sustained in a car crash on Jan. 2.

FEBRUARY: President Barack Obama rolled into Falls Church to speak with a group of supporters at the James Lee Community Center to discuss his plan to revitalize the current housing market.

At a press conference at Falls Church High School, Brooke Bean signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at George Washington University. Bean made the All-District team each of her high school seasons. She also made the Regional Honorable Mention team in 2010 and the All-Region team in 2011, the All-Met team in 2011, and was the Co-District Player of the Year for 2011.

MARCH: A group of conservationists took the Great Wall Supermarket to court for selling live seafood like bullfrogs, crayfish and swamp eel.

A young artist with a visual impairment caught the attention of people with his vibrant, creative artwork and drive to beat the odds.

APRIL: The City of Falls Church community was rocked by allegations of sexual battery against Michael Gardner and followed the case closely as the young victims took the stand to testify all the way to his convictions on the charges.

Imagine the surprise when a Falls Church resident dug up a non-explosive military device in their yard while doing some yard work? Well, that happened and luckily no one was hurt.

MAY: As the case against Michael Gardner came to a close, his attorney said his client was ruined by allegations that he molested three young girls inside his City of Falls Church home.

Four Falls Church teens were charged with creating and using an explosive device after they blew up a mailbox.

JUNE: Who could forget June in Falls Church? Not only did the Derecho blow through leaving thousands without power, but James Rackowsi held police at bey for 28 hours as he refused to come out of his family’s home after firing shots through the front door.

JULY: Falls Church found itself trying to rebound after the Derecho left the area in the dark. Water boil advisories were issued and power slowly returned to the area.

The Eden Center was shocked after a murder-suicide left a popular musician dead and tons of questions unanswered.

AUGUST: A Fairfax County woman was sexually assaulted while walking alone one night and her injuries landed her in the hospital and the police looking for the alleged suspect.

While some people volunteer their time to specific causes, Dr. Gordon Theisz donates his time and office to future doctors studying at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

SEPTEMBER: Michael Gardner found out his fate as he was sentenced to 22-years in jail after he was convicted of molesting two girls inside his home.

Fairfax County police quickly said the more than 30 cars that had their windows shattered in the area of a Falls Church mosque was not a hate crime.

OCTOBER: Hundreds of people came out to support keeping Falls Church restaurant Anthony’s open after word the institution’s lease will expire in March and the building’s owner wants to sell the property to make way for a Harris Teeter in the city.

Unlike with the Derecho, Falls Church was able to assemble and prepare for whatever Hurricane Sandy had for the area.

NOVEMBER: The police were busy investigating robberies and assaults in November. Police investigated an attack of a woman inside the bathroom of a Falls Church library and police also investigated a report of a man robbed inside a bathroom in a bar.

DECEMBER: President Barack Obama made his way to Falls Church again, this time to speak with a family about how the Fiscal Cliff would affect them.

JEB Stuart High School became the center of attention when a 14-year-old boy was found to have a BB gun in school. Police swarmed the school, searching every area of the school to make sure there were no other weapons on the premises.

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