Tysons Corner, VA|News|
School Backpack Basics: A Weighty Issue
A new back-to-school backpack doesn't just have to look good - parents need to consider weight and comfort on your child's back when picking the right one.

<i><b>Basics</b></i>
E-mail: william.callahan@patch.com
Phone: 571-329-8171
Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
Birthday: October 9
<b><i>Bio</i></b>
Let's start by saying that most people who know me call me "Guv." My middle name is Gouverneur, after Gouverneur Morris, so Guv has been a nickname for as long as I can remember. Feel free to call me whatever makes you comfortable. I grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. After a fantastic four years in Virginia at the University of Richmond, I decided I wanted to stay south of the Mason-Dixon Line and thought the DC area would be the perfect location. In addition to working as a copyeditor and reporter on The Collegian at Richmond, I also worked as a reporting and copyediting intern at the Henrico Citizen, a local paper in Henrico County, just outside Richmond City. I honed my writing skills by minoring in English and studying abroad in Oxford, England, a place I'd very much like to visit again.
I greatly enjoy reading and writing, so if you have anything concerning you, let me know. I also love music, film and almost any form of coffee.
<i><b>My Beliefs</b></i>
<i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.</i>
<i>This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.</i>
<i><b>Politics</b></i>
<i>* How would you describe your political beliefs?</i>
My political views are rather neutral, and I'm not registered with a political party at the moment. I vote for who I believe is the best candidate.
<i><b>Religion</b></i>
<i>* How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?</i>
I was raised Episcopalian and went to a Catholic high school but have grown less religious as I've gotten older.
<i><b>Hot-button Issues</b></i>
<i>*What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?</i>
The budgets for Fairfax County services such as schools, libraries and the police department are and will continue to be a concern in a community as family-oriented as the greater Rose Hill area. I will also be keeping an eye on crime, both petty and more serious.
A new back-to-school backpack doesn't just have to look good - parents need to consider weight and comfort on your child's back when picking the right one.

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