Bonnie Hobbs

With more than 25 years experience in journalism, I’ve written and edited newspapers in California, North Carolina and Virginia. In California, I worked for a weekly paper in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I’m from originally.

In North Carolina, I worked two years (1990-92) at the Sun Journal, a daily paper in New Bern. There, I covered county government, commercial fishing – which is a big industry there – and the Gulf War.

New Bern is near the Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock, so I did lots of stories on the effects the war had on the wives and children left behind while the husbands and dads were fighting in Iraq. As one elementary-school teacher told me, “If one child’s father or mother is killed, the security for the rest of the students is shattered.”

In addition, my photographer and I were lowered by helicopter onto the USS Iwo Jima as it returned to port in Morehead City after deployment. I got to interview the sailors and Marines aboard ship and experience, firsthand, their welcome back by local residents who greeted them in the water in hundreds of small boats to escort them home.

I also interviewed parents of Marines killed in the war, as well as a Marine pilot whose aircraft had been shot down overseas. He spoke about what went through his mind while parachuting into the desert and what happened to him while he was a POW. Luckily, it was toward the end of the war and he was eventually freed to return home.

I also worked three years for the Prince William Journal, covering the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, as well as a slew of criminal cases. And I’ve been with Centre View for almost 19 years, covering Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes. For the past few years, I’ve also covered Fairfax and some of Lorton and Fairfax Station for the Connection.

Recent Stories

Glebe View Townhouse Project at a Glance

Fairfax Presbyterian Church, at 10723 Main St. and Presbyterian Way in Fairfax City, has donated some 1.6 acres of its land for affordable homes, called Glebe View Townhouses, to be built there. Habitat for Humanity NOVA is the developer, and nonprofit Homestretch/Sacred Homes will own two of the houses. HomeAid will provide building materials and tradesman expertise at reduced prices.

People Coming Together for Good in Time of Need

Fairfax’s American Legion Post 177 helps hurricane victims.

After Hurricane Helene dealt a devastating blow to Western North Carolina – washing away homes and livelihoods and leaving many residents and businesses without drinkable water or electricity – American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax City just had to do something. So it began collecting items for the victims and then delivering them.

‘What Women Do Is Figure Out How to Make It All Work’

Advice for success given at Economic Empowerment Luncheon.

More than 120 people attended the Sept. 25 Women’s Economic Empowerment Luncheon at the Sherwood Center in Fairfax.

Music, Children’s Activities, Parade, Pets and Awards

32nd annual Centreville Day is Saturday, Oct. 19.

Come one, come all – the 32nd annual Centreville Day is Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in Historic Centreville Park. The free event is at 5714 Mount Gilead Road (off Braddock Road, across Route 29 from the IHOP) and offers fun activities for the entire family.

Fairfax City Looks Toward the Future

More multifamily homes and retail uses are planned.

While proud of its historic heritage, Fairfax City is continually modernizing and warmly welcoming new residents, businesses and commercial development.

Second-Degree Murder Yields 28 Years in Prison

Robertson is sentenced for violent killing of Fairfax man.

Although Aaron Robertson was sentenced last week to 28 years in prison for the brutal killing of Fairfax City’s Luis Barahona Reyes, the victim’s family and the prosecutor were hoping for more.