Burke Sweethearts Take the Long Road To the Altar · City of Alexandria Councilor, as secretary;...

Burke Connection ❖ January 22-28, 2015 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Ending VeteransHomelessnessIn 2015?News, Page 3

Ending VeteransHomelessnessIn 2015?News, Page 3

PlanningCommission to

Decide OnSilas Burke

House PropertyNews, Page 8

PlanningCommission to

Decide OnSilas Burke

House PropertyNews, Page 8

Burke SweetheartsTake the Long Road

To the AltarNews, Page 8

Burke SweetheartsTake the Long Road

To the AltarPage 9

Chris Rowson and Kellie McDonald, from Burke, getengaged on Saturday, Jan. 17 on the grounds ofFairview Elementary School in Fairfax Station, wherethe couple first knew each other as students.

2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ January 22-28, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

The Virginia Railway Ex-press (VRE) OperationsBoard instilled its 2015

slate of officers at its monthlymeeting. The following wereunanimously approved by the Op-erations Board in December andtook on their new roles: Supervi-sor John Cook (R-Braddock), aschairman; Gary Skinner,Spotsylvania County Supervisor,

as vice chairman; Paul Smedberg,City of Alexandria Councilor, assecretary; Maureen Caddigan,Prince William County Supervisor,as treasurer. “Having such re-spected and knowledgeable pub-lic officials that really care aboutimproving transportation serve asVRE Operations Board officers isa recipe for VRE’s continued suc-cess,” said Doug Allen, CEO of

VRE.VRE is the tenth largest com-

muter rail service in the U.S. andis a transportation partnership ofthe Northern Virginia and Potomac& Rappahannock TransportationCommissions. It serves northernVirginia and Washington D.C. andits offices are based in Alexandria.For more information, visitwww.vre.org

The 2015 VRE Operations Board officers are (from left) Gary Skinner, John Cook, PaulSmedberg and Maureen Caddigan.

VRE Announces Operations Board Officers

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Just as the Virginia GeneralAssembly kicked off its2015 January session, state

Sen. Linda T. “Toddy” Puller (D-36) announced her decision to notrun for re-election later this year.

“It has been one of the greatesthonors of my life to serve thepeople of the 36th district in theSenate of Virginia,” Puller said ina Jan. 14 statement. “Now, withthe encouragement, love and sup-port of my family I have made thedecision to step down.”

The 23-year Assembly veteranfirst won a seat as delegate of the44th district in 1991. Eight yearslater she was elected to representthe 36th district as senator.

“Toddy’s public service careerhas been dedicated to uplifting allVirginians,” U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine(D-VA) said in a statement, “buther primary legacy will be the in-credible work she has done to sup-port Virginia veterans. Her tirelessadvocacy for initiatives such asproperty tax exemptions for dis-abled veterans and Virginia’sWounded Warriors Program willaid veterans for generations tocome.” Puller’s former seat in the44th district is currently held byDel. Scott Surovell (D-44).

“There is not member in the Vir-

g i n i aleg is la -ture whois morefocusedon mov-ing ours t a t egovern-ment toaddress

the concerns of our nation’s vet-erans and their families,” Surovellsaid of Puller in a statement.

“Whether it is government ser-vices, tax exemptions or helpingVirginians recognize the long-termconsequences that combat injurieshave on military families, SenatorPuller has lived her public life onthe frontlines fighting for re-sources for our community and thelarger community.”

Puller said she plans to fight ashard as ever for her constituentsand legislative agenda during thesession, and that she will still in-volve herself in her communityand Fairfax and Prince WilliamCounty local politics.

“I look forward to spendingmore time with my children andtwo grandsons,” she added.

— Tim Peterson

Puller Will NotSeek Re-election

Del. Scott Surovell (D-44)used his blog and e-news-letter to make his inten-

tion known: Less than a week af-ter Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) an-nounced she would not look toserve another term, Surovell de-clared he would run for the vacantseat on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Surovell joins Dumfries MayorJerry Foreman (R) in the running;Foreman released his plan Dec. 29,2014.

“The vacancy created by the de-cision of Sen. Toddy Puller not toseek re-election is a huge loss forour part of Northern Virginia,”Surovell said in his statement.“Over 23 years, Senator Puller wasa relentless advocate for U.S. 1,education, veterans and the lessfortunate.”

Though Surovell can’t beginfundraising for his campaign dur-ing the General Assembly session,his announcement put out theword for supporters and volun-

teers, expressing that he’s movingforward with everything he’s al-lowed.

“I am taking the steps necessaryto succeed Sen. Puller in the 36thDistrict of the Virginia State Sen-ate,” his statement said.

Surovell, 43, works as a triallawyer full time and lives in MountVernon. He’s an alumnus of WestPotomac High School and JamesMadison University.

— Tim Peterson

Surovell AnnouncesBid for State Senate

Del. Scott Surovell


NewsBurke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

See Homelessness, Page 4

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

The transition from serving in thearmed forces to civilian life isoften not simple.

While in Fairfax County thereare more than 12,000 veteran-owned busi-nesses, indicating a significant measure ofsuccess, for others the path is far more dif-ficult.

For a small number of veterans, unem-ployment, alcoholism, drug abuse or men-tal or physical disability causes them windup at rock-bottom: homeless.

In Fairfax County’s 2014 “Point-in-Time”count of homeless individuals living in theFairfax-Falls Church community, veteransmade up 8 percent of the total number of1,225 people. The next Point-in-Time snap-shot study will take place on Wednesday,Jan. 28, in coordination with the Metropoli-tan Washington Council of Governments.

Dean Klein, director of the county’s Of-fice to Prevent and End Homelessness, saidit’s difficult to maintain an exact head countbecause of the transient nature of the groupand, he believes, many veterans who arehomeless choose to not identify themselvesas veterans. He estimates that there areabout 150 homeless veterans in FairfaxCounty.

That population is the focus of FirstLady Michelle Obama’s Mayors Challengeto End Veterans Homelessness in 2015.Board of Supervisors Chairman SharonBulova announced recently that FairfaxCounty is joining the over 200 mayors andelected officials nationwide to take on thatchallenge.

“COULD WE HAVE ALL VETERANS INA HOUSE by end of 2015? Yes,” said MaryKeeser, a governance board member for theOffice to Prevent and End Homelessness,and founder of volunteer organizationAmerica’s Adopt A Soldier.

“Would that prevent them from becom-ing homeless again? No. We didn’t solve theroot problems. They need to go back andget training, jobs. Can we work on our pre-ventative measures? Absolutely.”

For any case of homelessness, there’s nomagic bullet.

“That’s sort of the end of the spiral,” saidBulova, “when someone has had difficultyduring their daily life, trying to cope withthings that they’ve experienced when theywere serving their country. It may be mari-tal differences, drinking, drug abuse, finan-cial difficulties. And trying to look at someof those root causes, where this all began,is important to ending homelessness.”

For “Jones,” a mid-30s veteran of the warin Iraq, the downward spiral was a resultof his Post-traumatic stress disorder. “Hecould not sleep, could not live with whathe saw,” said Keeser.

Jones ended up walking out on his wifeand children, his life, to live in the woodssouth of Fort Belvoir. One day he was ap-proached by a community member who alsohappened to be a veteran. That personearned Jones’ trust and convinced him toseek help from a Veterans Affairs caseworker.

Over the next six months, Jones receivedcounseling services through the VA and aHUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing(HUD-VASH) rental voucher helped securehim an apartment. He found a job throughAdopt A Soldier’s placement network andis working.

“It’s a long road to recovery,” said Keeser,“but he’s a real success story.”

THE TOTAL HOMELESS POPULA-TION, according to the Point-in-Time stud-ies, has dropped by about a third between2008 and 2014. But resolving homelessnessand homeless veterans remains a point offocus for the county, nonprofit service or-ganizations and their corporate partners.

The Mayors Challenge will propel workalready in progress.

“It’s intended to renew our commitmentto ending homelessness for veterans,” saidKlein, “to raise awareness and bring on newpartners.”

Fairfax County has a goal on the books ofending all homelessness by 2018.

“We already have a very strong effort inplace,” said Bulova. “When I was invited tojoin the Mayors Challenge, I felt pretty con-fident in doing that.”

The county attributes its decrease inhomelessness to various assisted housinginitiatives and support services, collabora-tive efforts across faith-based communities,state, federal and local governments, andpartnerships with businesses andnonprofits.

Klein cited three major areas whereprogress can and is being made:

* Having the right range of programs

available, whether for short-term or chroni-cally homeless individuals. “One extremeis high-needs people who need housing withvery extensive services. At the other end israpid re-housing programs,” or the infra-structure capacity to quickly re-house some-one who has just become homeless.

* Housing resources: Two major fund-ing streams for helping get people into hous-ing are the HUD-VASH rental voucher pro-gram from the federal government and theVA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Fami-lies program. “We’re already putting fund-ing towards acquiring or renovating, andsubsidizing housing for people who arehomeless or about to be,” said Bulova.

* Putting the effort together at the com-munity level. “In other communities wherewe’ve seen the mayor, or chairman, alongwith local leaders in public and private sec-tors, coming together to set the goals,” Kleinsaid, “their homelessness is ended.”

BUT SUBSIDIZING HOUSING FOR ANINDIVIDUAL in one of Fairfax County’s24,000 one-bedroom units ($1,408 permonth average rent, based on the 2013Rental Housing Complex Summary) alonewon’t win the war.

“If it was just about finding a roof, thatcould be easily done,” said JohnMacPherson, executive director of The

Chairman Bulova,Fairfax Countytake on nationalMayors Challenge.

Ending Veterans Homelessness in 2015?

America’s Adopt A Soldier stuff care packages for deployed troops onChristmas Day at Kilroy’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in RavensworthShopping Center in Springfield. (Center, from left, in white) Aiden,Gabrielle and Eva-Beth Levy of America’s Adopt A Soldier (left of Levy)Kilroy’s owner Phillip Thomas and (left of Thomas) Adopt A Soldierfounder Mary Keeser.

Photos courtesy of Mary Keeser

American troops deployed in Afghanistan receive care packages sentfrom America’s Adopt A Soldier event held in Springfield on ChristmasDay.

WinterhavenEach January, hundreds of homeless veterans

from around Virginia, Maryland and Washington,DC are brought to the Washington D.C. VA Medi-cal Center for a meal, haircuts and shaves, physicalexams, education services and coats. This year’sWinterhaven event will take place Jan. 24.

America’s Adopt ASoldier

The all-volunteer organization promotes “mak-ing a difference in the lives” of active-duty andretired service members through a variety of ef-forts. They send care packages to deployed troopsall year-long, collaborate on the Wounded WarriorPath To Strength and “give back” by hosting vet-eran-focused activities and educational events.Founder Mary Keeser said the organization alsocollects donated furniture to fill the living space offormerly homeless veterans who have just movedinto housing, and periodically helps cover costs likelegal fees that are added barriers to individualsmaking progress in helping themselves.

Veterans TreatmentDocket

Another collaborative initiative aimed at bothpreventing and alleviating veterans homelessnessis the Veterans Treatment Docket. This concept isa way to defer incarceration, relying instead onregular court appearances, treatment, being as-signed a probation officer and working with aveteran mentor.

The judge on the docket will be Penney S.Azcarate, Chief Judge, Fairfax County General Dis-trict Court, while the rest of the team will include:the Commonwealth attorney, Sheriff StaceyKincaid, Chief of Police Edwin Roessler, the Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs, pretrial services, theFairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board,the George Mason University school of law and amentor coordinator.


From Page 3

Lamb Center, a Fairfax- and faith-basednonprofit drop-in service facility for thehomeless.

“It’s not that simple. You have to find thefolks and in some cases coax them into thatsituation.”

For many homeless veterans, the pridethey once felt as leaders serving their coun-try switches to shame, leading to an aver-sion to asking for help when they were oncethe strong ones providing assistance.

Mental illness and PTSD can compoundor heighten that experience, making it moredifficult for a veteran to accept help.

“What you’d think just seems normal,getting into housing of any kind would bea good thing,” said MacPherson, “is notnormal to them.”

The Lamb Center has a representativefrom the VA visit regularly to advise guestson what services are available to themthrough the government. Some peoplecome back to the center for years,MacPherson explained, before revealingthey are a veteran.

“They just feel like they don’t qualify,” hesaid.

AT 21, JACOB FLORES WAS AT ANAPEX: He was married, owned a house andwas in charge of 12 other Marines. He cur-rently commands the Veterans of ForeignWars (VFW) Post 8649 in Fairfax Station.

“I got a high in the military,” said the Al-exandria city resident. “ I was at my primein my life; I felt like was in my 30s.”

But a number of issues, not the least ofwhich a divorce, brought Flores back toground level. He left the Marine Corps andleaned on his friends, family and commu-nity for support as he changed gears.

“For a lot of us, our high was that broth-erhood, all those men and women that wefought with,” said Flores. “It’s an elite group.You get this pride.”

Flores is studying management and con-

struction engineering at George MasonUniversity, financed by the G.I. Bill. He alsoworks two jobs — one at the Dewberry ar-chitecture firm and weekends bouncing ata sports bar — to make ends meet.

But, he said, many veterans have moredifficulty making the transition. One badbreak turns into another, and especially forthose with mental or physical disabilitiesas a result of their service, they can lose

their support system.“Some people miss those sections of the

next step of what they should do,” Floressaid.

“Financial matters can become a problem,they get bogged down and don’t haveenough money to pay bills or rent. It be-comes an avalanche.”

ONE OF THE PROJECTS Keeser and oth-ers have been working on is establishing acentralized veterans training and care cen-ter. Depending on the facility they end upusing, it could be residential or not, andwould offer “social grounding” services in-cluding nutrition, child life experts and job-oriented education.

“It’s the whole-person concept,” saidKeeser. “Financial management, mental-emotional-drug issues — people wouldleave there in a year and walk out of theclassroom environment to an actual job.”

Keeser said such a center would help pro-vide guests links to VA benefits, but for fund-ing they would need to rely on grants andpartners from the business community.

“We need to stop the bleeding,” she said.“Putting individuals in housing really turnssomeone around. And part of that movingforward is the job, the pride and the keythat opens the door.”

For more information or to get involvedwith the Fairfax-Falls Church CommunityPartnership on Ending Homelessness, visitthe county’s website www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless or the Office to Prevent and EndHomelessness Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/fairfaxhomeless.

Could Fairfax County End Veteran Homelessness in 2015?

Photo courtesy of Jacob Flores

Jacob Flores (center) leads the VFW Post 8649 in the 2014 Fairfax CityFourth of July Parade.

News

Despite a projected shortfall ofnearly $100 million facingFairfax County going into theFY 2016 budget, Board of Su-

pervisors chairman Sharon Bulova remainsencouraged by a 2014 that she said was fullof accomplishments.

“We can’t stop pedaling,” she said in aquestion-and-answer session following ascreening of her 2015 State of the Countyaddress video. “It becomes increasinglyharder, with reduced revenue stream frompast years. It just continues to be not easy.”

The chairman’s half-hour address, re-leased Wednesday Jan. 14, highlights trans-portation improvements around the county,including the opening Phase I of the MetroSilver Line, two new VRE stations, the BusRapid Transit and Metro extension hybridoption being looked at for the U.S. Route 1corridor and the December opening of theI-95 Express Lanes.

“With our current population at over 1.1million residents and growing,” Bulova saidin the address, “Fairfax County is planningahead when it comes to county services,redevelopment opportunities and transpor-tation options in our community.”

Bulova noted the effort to revitalize thehousing market through mixed-use urban

centers like Tysons Corner, the Mosaic Dis-trict, Reston Town Center and the newSpringfield Town Center.

When asked if the growth has yielded asimilar growth in non-residential revenue

for the county, Bulova responded that theyare seeing “some increase.” While some newdevelopment buildings aren’t full yet, shedidn’t express a concern for overbuilding.

Fairfax County Public Schools superinten-

dent Dr. Karen Garza appears in the video,highlighting the projected growth of theschool system to over 200,000 students by2020, its growing special needs populationand academic achievements that “continueto exceed their counterparts in the state.”

Garza also noted the adoption of the FCPS“Portrait of a Graduate” set of ideals as partof a long-term strategic plan for the schoolsystem that’s under development.

“Graduates should leave FCPS knowinghow to be a communicator, collaborator,ethical and global citizen, creative and criti-cal thinker, and goal-directed and resilientindividual,” she said.

FCPS is facing a significant deficit of itsown, as Garza outlined in the recent releaseof her 2015-2016 school year budget.

The county’s budget process will advancein February when the county executive Ed-ward Long brings forward an AdvertisedBudget.

Whether residents can expect a propertytax increase to cover the county’s shortfall,Bulova said, “We’ll see what he puts on thetable.”

The full video of the State of the Countyaddress has aired on Channel 16 and canbe viewed on the chairman’s homepage athttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman/.

Bulova Releases 2015 State of the County Address

Photo by Tim Peterson/The Connection

Board of Supervisors chairman Sharon Bulova speaks at the 2015 Stateof the County Address.


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News

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41)recently unveiled the legisla-tion she has introduced for

consideration by the 2014 GeneralAssembly.

Among Delegate Filler-Corn’s legis-lative priorities are education, publicand campus safety, workforce devel-opment, childcare safety, creating thenew Virginia economy and looking outfor our seniors.

Del. Filler-Corn was reappointed bySpeaker William Howell to the HouseTransportation Committee and House Finance Com-mittee for the 2015 General Assembly Session. Inaddition, she was newly appointed to the HouseCommerce and Labor Committee. This Committeeis responsible for all business, economic develop-ment, workforce development and employer rightsrelated legislation.

Among the bills introduced by Del. Filler Corn thisweek are:

❖HB 1343 - Campus Sexual Assaults - This billwould require campus and or local law enforcementto report reported instances of campus sexual assaultsto the local Commonwealth Attorney within 48 hoursof the reported incident.

❖HB 2047 - Child Care Safety – Currently, childproviders that care for 6 or less unrelated childrenare exempt from state safety regulations, this bill

looks to close that threshold gap toensure children are safe while in thehands of child care providers

❖HB 1552 Child Care Safety – Thisbill would require licensed child careproviders to go through an extensivebackground check which includes afingerprint check to ensure that theseproviders are fully vetted and are whothey say they are.

❖HB 1327 - This bill would permitindividuals 75 years or older or per-sons with a disability to go to the head

of the line on Election Day or when voting absenteebetween the hours of 9:30 to 4:30 when lines tendto be shorter.

❖HB 1413 - The CARE Act looks to improvehealthcare and reduce preventable hospital visits byrequiring hospitals to formally acknowledge apatient’s family caregiver at the time of admissionand providing critical at home care instruction.

❖HB 1668 - This bill would give students in allgrades the opportunity to be given an expedited re-take of the Standards of Learning (SOL) examination,in the event of their failure to pass the initial test.

This is a partial list of legislation. Details on all ofthese bills as well as the rest of the bills and budgetamendments Del. Filler-Corn introduced this weekand their status in the legislative process can be foundat lis.virginia.gov under Del. Filler-Corn’s name.

Filler-Corn Announces Legislative Agenda

Del. EileenFiller-Corn

Last Tuesday, the Board ofSupervisors approved aboard matter submitted by

Supervisor John C. Cook (R-Braddock). The submission directsthe County Executive to providethe Board with a recommendedpolicy to govern the County’s col-lection and retention of electronicdata. With advances in technologycomes the ability of the govern-ment to collect and retain signifi-cant amounts of electronic data.License plate readers are beingused locally for beneficial taskssuch as locating suspected crimi-nals or analyzing travel patterns.Tracking the location of cellphones is also being used in somelocalities as part of police surveil-lance operations. While FairfaxCounty uses license plate readers,the County has not publicly con-

f i r m e dwhether or notit uses cellphone locationtechnology.

“Technologycan providepowerful ben-efits to law en-

forcement and urban planners.However, it also raises significantcivil liberty concerns. Such datacould allow the government totrack the movements of innocentresidents without warrant or anyshowing of probable cause or pub-lic benefit. People may disagree onwhether local government shouldeven use such technology, and ifso under what rules, but it is theresponsibility of the Board to setthese important guidelines andprocedures.”

Supervisor Cook asked that theBoard direct the County Executiveto provide a recommended policywithin 90 days that would governthe use of electronic data in FairfaxCounty.

This policy would govern the useof license plate readers and cellphone location technology, as wellas the use, possession and reten-tion of collected data. Public in-put and Board discussions will fol-low once the County Executivesubmits his proposal. SupervisorCook believes government shouldact with great care when collect-ing and retaining data on the ac-tivities of private citizens. He looksforward to working on a policythat protects the civil liberties ofresidents while permitting govern-ment to perform its necessaryfunctions.

Board Approves SupervisorCook’s Proposal on Electronic Data

Fairfax County’s free FamilyCaregiver Telephone SupportGroup meets by phone on Tuesday,Feb. 10, 7-8 p.m. to discussCaregiving and Basic Tax Concerns.The guest speaker is an AARP TaxAide Program Specialist who willshare some basic tax information, aswell as when to get an accountant orattorney involved. Register before-hand at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices and click on Tele-phone Caregiver Support Group . Call703-324-5484, TTY 711.

The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programneeds volunteer advocates for residentsin assisted living and nursing facilities.Training is provided in March. Call 703-324-5861, TTY 711 or [email protected]. Findmore information on the program atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/ltc .

The Lewinsville Senior Center inMcLean needs an office assistantand instructors for the following classes:Current Events, Knitting/Crocheting,Certified Arthritis Exercise, Ballroom

Dance, Square Dance, and Tai Chi.For these and other volunteer oppor-tunities, call 703-324-5406, TTY711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on VolunteerSolutions.

The Gum Springs Senior Cen-ter in Alexandria needs a Spanishteacher on Tuesday, Wednesday, orThursday. For these and other volunteeropportunities, call 703-324-5406, TTY711 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer So-lutions.

Volunteer Events and Opportunities


Opinion

Finally, now that the Fairfax CountyPolice Department has taken stone-walling into the arena of the absurd,the Fairfax County Board of Supervi-

sors has at least said it is time for change. It isa step, but a step that continues the appear-ance of obfuscation if not outright ob-struction.

John Geer of Springfield was shotdead inside the doorway of his ownhome in Springfield on Aug. 29, 2013. Fol-lowing an argument with his longtime part-ner, police arrived at Geer’s home and spokewith him for more than half an hour while hestood in his doorway, unarmed, with his handsraised and resting on the frame. As he beganto lower his hands, by all accounts still atshoulder level, he was shot in the chest anddied in his house without receiving medicalattention.

It took more than 16 months, a $12 millioncivil suit by Geer’s family and a court order toget the first tiny bit of information on the shoot-ing, which came earlier this month. Policenamed the police officer who fired the shot thatkilled John Geer.

The short written statement by Police ChiefEdwin C. Roessler Jr. included some very trou-

bling references that appear to blame theshooting on the fact that Geer was a knowngun owner. At least 35 percent of Virginia resi-dents are gun owners; are they all more vul-nerable if for some reason police are called totheir homes?

Now Board of Supervisors ChairmanSharon Bulova has asked the CountyExecutive to locate “independent ex-pertise in the field of police department

operations and, specifically, in the area of poli-cies and procedures with respect to informa-tion disclosures in the case of police-involvedshootings.”

We agree with Supervisor Pat Herrity, whosays: “As elected officials it is our job to makepolicy, not hire an ‘outside expert’ to do ourjob for us. ... We currently have the resourcesof a professional staff at our disposal.” Herrityalso notes that the proposal does not containa provision for public input, and that manycounty residents have researched this topic andqualify as experts.

A few minutes of research shows, for ex-ample, that the National Association of PoliceChiefs, for example, has extensive documen-tation about best practices in a variety of po-lice shooting incidents. (Naming the officer

involved after 48 hours is among the recom-mendations.)

The problem goes beyond Fairfax County,and beyond police shootings.

The first paragraph of Virginia Freedom ofInformation Act, passed by the General Assem-bly in 1968, states that all public records “shallbe presumed open.” But the legislation includesan exemption that allows police to withhold“complaints, memoranda, correspondence,case files or reports, witness statements andevidence.”

Police officials in Fairfax, Arlington and Al-exandria have adopted what they call a “blan-ket” approach to using their exemption. Thatmeans they have decided to withhold any docu-ment they can without any analysis of whetherthey should, whether the case is open or closed,whether they are about a “police-involvedshooting” or information requested by a fam-ily about a homicide victim, or even about rou-tine police activity in a neighborhood. Not evendefense attorneys or victims of crimes can gainaccess to actual police reports.

This is about lack of accountability and de-nying the public access to information thatmust be made public.

Leaders of police departments here are en-gaged in serious and significant abuse of power.It’s time for elected officials to represent thepublic and impose change on those who wouldhide behind a culture of secrecy.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

Supervisors should take action, not defer to“outside expert,” on absurd and outrageousbehavior of police department.

Baby Steps, Not Enough

Editorial

By Tim Hugo

State Delegate (R-40)

Four years ago, I in-troduced my firstpiece of legislation

to address an issue that Ithought happened every-where but here in North-ern Virginia; sex traffick-ing. According to the Po-laris Project, a leading or-ganization in the globalfight against human trafficking,over 100,000 children are victimsof the sex trade in the UnitedStates each year. The PolarisProjectºranks Virginia 7th in thenation in the percentage of callsreceived reporting human traffick-ing.

Much progress has been madesince then to strengthen Virginia’shuman and sex trafficking laws. Asa member of the Virginia Houseof Delegates, I have worked withmy colleagues to enact harsherpenalties against those that woulddo harm to our children for profitand to increase public awarenessabout the issue. Legislation that Iintroduced in 2011, 2013, and

2014 made abduc-tion for the pur-poses of childprostitution afelony, increasedthe punishmentfor those solicitingminors for prosti-tution, and em-powered law en-

forcement to better track downand arrest suspected traffickers.

Unfortunately, these and othernew laws are not enough.ºSex traf-ficking is thriving in Northern Vir-ginia due to the area’s access tomajor highways and airports, theaffluence of the area’s economy, aswell as a large transient popula-tion. Nationally, it has become thesecond fastest growing crime in-dustry in the United States afterdrug trafficking.

Therefore, this year Ihaveºintroduced landmark legisla-tion, HB1964, which will for thefirst time in Virginia, create astandalone statute for sex traffick-ing. The continued gaps in

Virginia’s laws still do not suffi-ciently protect the victims or pun-ish the evildoers. HB1964 clearlydefines and establishes the offenseof sex trafficking as a class 2 felony,which includes the sex traffickingof a minor. It establishes manda-tory minimum sentencing for theperpetrator when a minor be-comes the victim of sex traffick-ing, and would criminalize the re-cruitment of minors and adults forcommercial sex.

I am hopeful that the passage ofthis and other human traffickinglegislation this session will providebetter protection for our youngpeople and punish those that seekto harm them. I would encourageyou to learn more about this is-sue; learn the warning signs forthose young people who might betargeted and trapped in this hor-rific crime. There are many greatorganizations both locally and na-tionally working to end the night-mare that hundreds of thousandsof young people are currently ex-periencing. Some of these organi-zations are:

Polaris Project http://www.polarisproject.org/

Richmond Justice Initiative http://richmondjusticeinitiative.com/

Shared Hope Internationalhttp://sharedhope.org/

Passing this landmark legisla-tion will not eradicate this hor-rific crime, but it will be a goodstep towards protecting ouryoung people. It has been myhonor and privilege to work withso many dedicated individuals,groups, law enforcement agen-cies and legislators. I will con-tinue to work with my colleaguesin the General Assembly to con-tinue this fight against humanand sex trafficking. One childtaken from his or her home, oneyoung person falling prey to thisevil, is one too many. By work-ing together, we can and willsend a message to those whowould seek to harm our children,that our kids are not for sale inVirginia; not now, not ever.

Delegate Tim Hugo representsboth western Fairfax and westernPrince Williams counties and iscurrently the Majority Caucuschairman for the Virginia Houseof Delegates.

Addressing Sex Trafficking in Northern VirginiaCommentary

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News

By Abigail Constantino

The Connection

People who dedicate their time tohospice patients are extremelykind and generous,” said Sophia

Youn, creator of heARTpiece, a program atOptum Palliative and Hospice Care inFairfax, formerly Evercare Hospice, thatencourages meaningful interaction betweenvolunteers and patients through art.

Youn, of McLean, minored in studio artat New York University, and started volun-teering in a hospice while in college. Shewanted to provide comfort to people whoare ill. She painted a series of rotatable artas a point of conversation. The paintingsgave a bit of autonomy to patients by beingable to rotate them. From there she wasinspired to make collaborative art with thepatients.

Youn conducts a workshop to train vol-unteers who help patients create their art,which range from paintings to sand art.Patients who have limited fine motor skillsor who suffer from dementia can still par-ticipate especially through the sand hand-print.

Volunteers have something they can do,“an active activity” where patients collabo-rate on equal footing with the volunteers,

said Youn. And patients benefit from thesocial interaction with the volunteers.

Youn plans to extend her program to ahospice in New York. For more informationabout heARTpiece go to http://ourheartpiece.com/.

“You have to have a kind and generous heart to volunteer withhospice patients...in a way they need it more,” said Sophia Youn, ofMcLean, founder of heARTpiece, a program at Optum Palliative andHospice Care in Fairfax.

Sand handprinting is a tactile wayhospice patients, especially thosewho suffer from dementia, canmake art.

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Art Gives Comfort toHospice Patients

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8 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ January 22-28, 2015 Burke Connection ❖ January 22-28, 2015 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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The Connection

Chris Rowson, 29, and KellieMcDonald, 27, from Burke, gotengaged on Saturday, Jan. 17at Fairview Elementary School

in Fairfax Station, where the couple wereboth students. McDonald was in shock whenRowson proposed, as she had suspected thathe would do it in February during a planned

trip to Florida. But despite being “taken offguard,” she said that it could not have beena more perfect time and place. It was 17years ago that McDonald moved with herfamily to Burke from Florida, and it was atFairview Elementary where she and Rowsonfirst got to know each other.

Though the couple went to Robinson Sec-ondary School in Fairfax and Radford Uni-versity in Radford, Va., they did not dateeach other until 2011, when both foundthemselves living in Arlington.

But Rowson has always noticed McDonald.“I used to peer at her and her dad at church,”he said.

“They definitely had instant chemistry,”said McDonald’s best friend Alexa Love. Lovehas known the couple since elementaryschool and also attended Robinson Second-ary School and Radford University.

Love and the couple’s families were privyto the surprise proposal, and Rowsonplanned it to coincide with a family gather-ing. Rowson’s little nephew, Caleb, was evenenlisted in the ruse to get McDonald to thepark at Fairview Elementary School, underthe pretext of launching a toy outside.

Rowson said that he knew McDonald wasthe one when she spent time with his familyand beckoned his father to sit next to her

instead of the recliner—she did it so natu-rally. “I had a feeling that she should be apart of it,” he said.

“She’s quiet at the perfect times and sheis outspoken at the perfect times...she is notof so many words but they’re always theright words,” said Rowson about his fiance.

McDonald is the executive director of Re-generative Orthopedics and Sports Medicinein Capitol Hill and Rockville. Rowson is asales director at DubLabs. McDonald said sheis thinking of an October wedding. Thecouple plans to move Alexandria with theirdog Huxley.

Chris Rowson proposes to Kellie McDonald on Saturday, Jan. 17 on thegrounds of Fairview Elementary School in Fairfax Station, where thecouple first knew each other as students.

Chris Rowson and Kellie McDonald, from Burke, get engaged on Saturday,Jan. 17 on the grounds of Fairview Elementary School, where the couplefirst got to know each other as students.

Burke Sweethearts Take the Long Road to the AltarChris Rowson, KellieMcDonald engaged.

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News

The fate of a nearly 200-year-oldhouse and its property may be de-cided in about a week. When the

Fairfax County Planning Commission meetson Jan. 29, redevelopment of the Silas Burkeproperty is on its agenda to make a decisionregarding amending the county’s Compre-hensive Plan.

The long-time privately owned Silas BurkeHouse sits on roughly five acres of land be-side Burke Lake Road, between Shiplett Bou-levard and Lee Chapel Road. The area iscurrently zoned residential, or R-1, whichlimits the density for any buildings withinthe parcel to one-to-two dwelling units peracre (du/ac).

However, the Planning Commission willconsider whether to amend the Comprehen-sive Plan to allow for a senior assisted liv-ing facility to be built on the property. Thenew proposed structure would include 82units and take up about 54,000 gross squarefeet, according to the commission’s staff re-port. This would require increasing the zon-

ing classification to R-3, or two-to-three du/ac.

In the staff report, the proposal accountsfor maintaining the historic and structuralintegrity of the Silas Burke House itself. Butthere’s also the acknowledgement the visualimpact of the property will be altered by theassisted living facility.

And while the property is currently onFairfax County’s Inventory of Historic Sites,it is only eligible to be listed in the NationalRegister of Historic Places. Because redevel-opment would decrease the land around thehouse, that would effectively remove thepossibility of it being added to the NationalRegister.

The Planning Commission’s agenda forJan. 29 and full staff report for the SilasBurke property are available online at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning/calen-dar/calendarjanuary15.pdf. The meeting isopen to the public and begins at 8:15 p.m.Public comments must be submitted aheadof time, however, by calling the PlanningCommission office at 703-324-2865 (TTY at703-324-7951), joining the speaker’s listthrough the office website or [email protected].

—Tim Peterson

Planning Commission to Decide on Silas Burke House Property

The Silas Burke House willbe the subject of a rezoning

discussion at the next FairfaxCounty Planning Commission

meeting Jan. 29.

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The Connection

According to Wendy LeBolt, Ph.D., inher new book “Fit 2 Finish – Keep-ing Your Soccer Players in the Game”

the cycle of success boils down to “Develop– Balance – Observe – and repeat” to keepour young athletes fit and on the field, andtaking their sport as far as their interest andskill can take them. Herndon resident LeBolthas some real skin in the game of soccer –literally. She’s played it at several levels.She’s coached it - holding the E and F coach-ing licenses through U.S. Youth Soccer. She’sstudied it. Her daughters play it. But evenwith all that life experience, LeBolt (likemany others, who perhaps still do), used tobelieve that young soccerplayers could become fit bysimply playing the game. Af-ter all, she reasoned, “thegame puts all the right de-mands on them. It’s the mostspecific training they can get,right?’

THEN SHE STARTED no-ticing all of the injuries. Allof the knee braces, kids onthe sidelines with crutchesand kids limping about onthe pitch. More research andshe discovered that the rateof injuries, especially for girlsand in particular anteriorcruciate ligament (ACL) in-juries was being called epi-demic. Parents from some ofthose teams that she ob-served started asking her tohelp. Why ask LeBolt? Well,aside from all that personalexperience and vested inter-est in the health and safetyof her own young daughter-players, she also brings morecredentials to the field thanany coach has strategies inhis or her playbook.

Starting with a bachelor’s in Biology fromThe College of William and Mary, adding anMEd in Exercise Science from The GeorgeWashington University (GWU), then impres-sively topping off with a Ph.D. in Physiol-ogy from the Medical College of Virginia,LeBolt has also been on the GWU faculty,teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology,Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology therefrom 1991 to 1999. She also practices pri-vately as an Exercise Physiologist. So itshould come as no surprise that she acceptedthis next challenge. She started what shecalls her “rescue mission” by asking a fewbasic, but far-reaching questions: Why areso many kids getting injured? Why are somany dropping out of sports? How do youget and keep all kids playing? What can you

do to help those who want to play hard andcompete further? How can you prepare kids,whole body and mind, for what the game –or any sport – asks of them? Those ques-tions, and the answers that LeBolt contin-ues to develop, led to the formation of hercompany, Fit2Finish, LLC, incorporated in2005.

The company specializes in designingsport-specific, age-appropriate and engag-ing training to improve the young athletes’performance, and more importantly, helpprepare their bodies for the demands of theirsport and reduce the risk of potentially de-bilitating injuries. For years, LeBolt has beenworking with coaches, parents and young-sters in group and individual settings andpresenting seminars and workshops from

injury prevention to propernutrition for the athlete, con-ditioning, and even tips forparenting the champion ath-lete and how to incorporatefitness into the lives oftoday’s busy families. Thereis even a “Gap Care” pro-gram designed to help thesidelined athlete return fromserious injury.

The training programs,seminars, workshops andindividual assistanceevolved to include a weeklyblog, an informativewebsite, a Facebook page,and links to videos demon-strating some of the trainingtechniques and exercisesthat LeBolt recommends orhas developed to meet spe-cific needs and circum-stances. Considering thatshe has hundreds of articlesand columns with her by-line, and writes weekly forSoccerwire.com, it seemedthe natural next step to con-dense a wealth of informa-tion into the handbook “Fit2 Finish – Keeping Your Soc-

cer Players in the Game.” Published in late2014, LeBolt’s “trainer’s manual” just hadits official launch. But don’t expect any fan-fare to accompany its arrival. As LeBolt said,“It’s not about the book, but what’s in it.That’s what’s really important.”

Aimed at the professional as well as thevolunteer coach, there is plenty for both totake away, not to mention the parents of theyoung players and even the players them-selves. And it really does serve as a manual,including sections with recipes for optimumnutrition, what to keep in your field first aidkit, and caring for and managing commonsport-related injuries. The writing style,laced with a bit of humor, makes the factsaccessible. As she says both in her writingsand during a recent interview with The Con-

nection, “Sports, playing and practice, stillhave to be fun. I refuse to lose the fun!” Hermission is to “help kids develop bodies theywill use well their whole lives…because theywant to.”

THE SCIENCE AND THE METHODOL-OGY outlined in the book and practiced aspart of the Fit2Finish mantra, have earnednumerous ringing endorsements, includingthat of the author of the book’s foreword,Diane Drake, head women’s soccer coach,George Mason University. Drake notes in herremarks that a disturbing number of youngfreshmen women entering her program ar-

Fit 2 FinishHerndon woman ups her game withbook on proper training for young athletes.

“Fit 2 Finish” author, coach, consultant and speaker Wendy LeBoltgives some instruction to a girls youth soccer team.

Herndon residentWendy LeBolt, Ph.D.,takes her years ofexperience, her ad-vanced degrees, andher passion seeingkids playing healthilyand happily condens-ing them into thebook “Fit 2 Finish –Keeping Your SoccerPlayers in the Game.”

rive already injured, particularly with over-use injury. Drake, and LeBolt both cite lackof preparation and improper training as themajor culprits leading to this unhealthy stateof affairs. LeBolt has set out to tackle bothand more in her book and through her com-pany. Fit2Finish, LLC, serves the greater D.C.Metro area, specializing in soccer, basket-ball, volleyball and lacrosse training. On thewebsite Fit2Finish.com there is access toLeBolt’s book, blog, training videos and linksto additional resources. Dr. LeBolt can becontacted for speaking engagements, con-sultations and more, etc. [email protected].

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THROUGH SATURDAY/JAN. 31Exhibit of Colorful Nutcrackers. 11

a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.Sully Historic Site, 3650 HistoricSully Way, Chantilly. See an amazingarray of nutcrackers, both old andnew, in a colorful case exhibit. Didyou ever wonder where the craze forcollecting nutcracker dolls camefrom? Nutcrackers have a fascinatinghistory. The first nutcrackers wereproduced to crack nuts moreeffectively and the oldest knownmetal example, on exhibit in Tarent,Italy, is from the third or fourthcentury B.C. The LeavenworthNutcracker Museum in Leavenworth,Washington, shows a bronze Romannutcracker dated between 200 B.Cand 200 A.D. German nutcrackers,made as decorative pieces, weredeveloped around 1500. Earlynutcrackers were in the shapes ofanimals, birds and people. Later, theywere made in the likeness of kings,soldiers, church leaders and rulingclass figures. Fine wood carvednutcrackers were created acrossEurope, especially in France andEngland by the 15th and 16thcenturies. Admission: $7/adult, $6/student, $5/senior or child.

THROUGH MONDAY/FEB. 2Drink This! The Workhouse

International Cup Show.Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 OxRoad, Lorton. Sunday-Tuesday 12-5p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday 11a.m.-6 p.m. Earthy wood-fired teabowls, translucent tumblers, andrichly textured mugs are among 76works selected by Welsh masterceramist Phil Rogers for the thirdannual Workhouse InternationalCeramic Cup Show, “Drink This!”

Calendar

Andy Ilachinski describes his colorful, powerful and magically manipulated images as“Synesthetic Landscapes,” referencing the psychological, creative – even mystical –experience of synesthesia, a joining of the senses (smelling sounds, hearing colors,feeling shape) to communicate a point of view to another through his photographs.View his photos through Feb. 9, 2015 at the Jewish Community Center of NorthernVirginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax.

THROUGH SUNDAY/FEB. 8Dressing for the Occasion: An

Exhibition of Costumes andTextiles Representing FairfaxPersonalities and Events.Exhibition. Fairfax Museum & VisitorCenter, 10209 Main Street, Fairfax.Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 703-385-8414.

THROUGH MONDAY/FEB. 9“Synesthetic Landscapes.” Jewish

Community Center of NorthernVirginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike,Fairfax. Andy Ilachinski describes hiscolorful, powerful and magicallymanipulated images as “SynestheticLandscapes,” referencing thepsychological, creative – evenmystical – experience of synesthesia,a joining of the senses (smellingsounds, hearing colors, feeling shape)to communicate a point of view toanother through his photographs.Showcase artists: Marcia Gordon,“Gems by Meg;” Piper Strong, MetalWorks/Judaica; and Joyce Zipperer,metal sculptor/mixed media/metalshoes and jewelry.www.jccnvarts.org.

The Bravura Ensemble - ChamberMusic Classics. 8 p.m. Old TownHall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax.The Bravura Ensemble is aWashington D.C.-based chambergroup devoted to performingchamber music repertoire rangingfrom 18th-century works to modern-day music. Clarinetist Albert Huntearned a Doctor of Musical ArtsDegree from The Juilliard School andhas performed around the world as asoloist and chamber musician. He hasalso played in orchestras such as theCleveland Orchestra, the New YorkPhilharmonic, and the Orchestra of

St. Luke’s. Violinist RachelleBetancourt is a member of theFrankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestrain Germany and is an internationalcompetition winner. She frequentlyperforms solo and chamber musicrecitals in the Americas and inEurope. Come join us for an eveningof chamber music featuring clarinet,piano and strings.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY/JAN. 22-24One-Acts Presented by South

County High School. 7 p.m. SouthCounty High School, 8501Silverbrook Road, Lorton. One-Actsdirected by junior and seniorthespians. Tickets will cost $5 pernight or $10 for all three nights.

Our Town. 7 p.m. Sovereign Grace Co-op Main Auditorium, 5200 Ox Rd,Fairfax. Become immersed in aclassic American story about trulyenjoying everyday life. $8 for adults;$5 ages 3-17. https://www.facebook.com/OurTownSovGraceCoop or emaildirector, Mrs. Mika [email protected].

THURSDAY-SUNDAY/JAN. 22-25Hairspray: The Broadway Musical.

Thursday and Friday- 7:30 p.m.Saturday: 2 & 8 p.m. Sunday: 3 p.m.Lake Braddock Secondary School,9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke. In1962 Baltimore, plump teenagerTracy Turnblad’s dream is to danceon The Corny Collins Show, a localTV dance program. When Tracy winsa role on the show, she becomes acelebrity overnight, and meets acolorful array of characters. Tickets:$12.

Send notes to the Connection at south@ connectionnewspapers.com or call703-778-9416. The deadline is the Friday prior to the next paper’s publication.Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Be Part of ThePet Connection

in FebruarySend Your Photos & Stories

Now [email protected]

or complete our online form atburkeconnection.com

Be sure to include your name,address and phone number, and

identify all people and pets in photos.Submission deadline is February 18.


www.calvaryfamily.com“Continuing the ministry of

Christ on earth”

9800 Old Keene Mill Rd.703-455-7041Sunday School

9:15 AM Worship Service

10:30 AM

Worship Gathering – Sunday 8:45 & 11 AMSunday School 10:10 AM

Sunday Evening – Realtime Worship& Youth 6 PM

Family Night – Wednesday 7:15 PMHome Life Groups & College/Young Adult Ministries

Visit our Website: www.jccag.org4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax

Bill Frasnelli, PASTOR 703-383-1170

JubileeChristian Center“Experience the Difference”

bbTo Advertise Your Communityof Worship, Call 703-778-9418

COMMUNITIES OF WORSHIP

Looking for a New Place of Worship?Visit Antioch Baptist Church!

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All Are Welcome!Sunday Worship 8, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.Sunday School for Children & Adults 9:30 a.m.Married Couples Sunday School 11:30 a.m.

6531 Little Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039

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Friday, March 6, 2015The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner

The Boys & Girls Clubs of GreaterWashington/Fairfax Region helphundreds of at-risk youth every dayright here in Fairfax County.

We invite your organization to consider sponsorshipopportunities for our 2nd Annual Boys and Girls Clubsof Greater Washington, Fairfax Region Casino Night.

Casino Night is a fun-filled evening featuring:• Full complement of staffed gaming tables including Texas Hold ’em, Black Jack and Craps, Roulette• Fabulous dinner buffet * open bar * amazing raffles, live and silent auction• Celebrity Emcee with music and dancing.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, Virginia 22102 • On the Silver Line

Friday, March 6, 20156:30-11:30pm

Tickets: $95.00 per person,$175.00 per couple

Special Overnight Guest Room Rateat the Ritz-Carlton for

Friday March 6, 2015 -- $119.00

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington/Fairfax Region help boysand girls of all backgrounds build confidence, develop character, and acquireskills fundamental to becoming productive, civic-minded, responsible adults.

BGCGW provides a safe and positive environment for our youth.

Tickets: www.bgcgw.org/fairfax/casino-night/

Boys & Girls Club Fairfax Casino Night

OF GREATER WASHINGTONFAIRFAX COUNTY REGION

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FRIDAY/JAN. 23Classic Tales. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre

Library, 5935 Freds Oak Rd., Burke.Come and join us for Classic Tales.Stories, songs, and activities. Age 3-5with adult. 703-249-1520.

Mpingo - Portraits for WindEnsembles. 8 p.m. Old Town Hall,3999 University Drive, Fairfax.Mpingo is the Swahili name for theblack wood used in making clarinets.This performance by Mpingo featuresmembers Larry Bocaner, NancyGenovese, Robert Little, ChristopherHite, and Steve Lawson performingon bass clarinet, basset horn, E-flat,B-flat, and A soprano clarinets.

SATURDAY/JAN. 24

Wag a Tale. 10:30, 10:45, 11, 11:15a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria.Need a little practice reading or justlove dogs? Register to read to one ofour therapy dogs. Ages 5-12.Paws to Read. 11, 11:15, 11:30,11:45 a.m. Lorton Library, 9520Richmond Highway, Lorton. Practicereading to a trained therapy dog. 15-minute sessions available.

MONDAY/JAN. 26Rainbow Readers. 10:30 a.m.

Kingstowne Library, 6500Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria.Celebrate the birthday of our branchbear, Princess Priscilla, with storiesand songs. For children ages 3-5years old with adult.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 28Alphabet Soup. 10:30 a.m. Burke

Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Rd.,Burke. Join us for stories andactivities about letters in thealphabet. Ages 3-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.

Preschool Storytime. 10:30 a.m.Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke LakeRoad, Burke. Stories, songs and funfor your preschooler. Birth-5 yearswith adult. 703-978-5600.

I’m Happy; I’m Sad. 11 a.m. LortonLibrary, 9520 Richmond Highway,Lorton. Stories and song aboutfeelings. Ages 3-5 with adult.

THURSDAY/JAN. 29Music and Movin’ With Miss

Susan. 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Cityof Fairfax Regional Library, 10360

North Street, Fairfax. Music andMovin’ with Miss Susan. Cosponsoredby Friends of the City of FairfaxRegional Library. Age 6 months-5years with adult.Book Bingo. 3 p.m. City of FairfaxRegional Library, 10360 NorthStreet, Fairfax. Book Bingo is back!Come join the fun. Everyone whoplays is a winner. Prizes are gentlyused books to treasure. We start ontime. Ages 7-12.

FRIDAY/JAN. 30Tiny Tots. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre

Library, 5935 Freds Oak Rd., Burke.Join instructor Susan Alverson formusic, movement and song. Ages 1-2years with adult. 703-249-1520.

View Drink This! The Workhouse Arts Center’s Interna-tional Cup Show on display through Feb. 2. Earthy wood-fired tea bowls, translucent tumblers, and richly texturedmugs are among 76 works selected by Welsh masterceramist Phil Rogers for the third annual WorkhouseInternational Ceramic Cup Show.

Calendar


Sports

Lake BraddockGymnastics WinsHome Meet

The Lake Braddock gymnastics team tookon five Conference 7 opponents and cameout on top during a home meet on Jan. 16.

The Bruins posted a first-place team scoreof 137.8. South County finished runner-upwith a score of 125.225, followed byWoodson (122.45), West Potomac (80.525),T.C. Williams (54.3) and Annandale(11.575).

T.C. Williams had only two girls compet-ing, while Annandale had only one gym-nast.

Lake Braddock freshman Jordan Clarkwon the all-around competition with a scoreof 35.8. Bruins junior Jordan Tautges fin-ished runner-up with a score of 35.575, fol-lowed by South County’s Faith Baxter(34.2), Woodson’s Ellie Dreyer (33.225)and Lake Braddock sophomore CaralynWiedeman (33.2).

Lake Braddock will host the Conference7 championship meet at 6 p.m. on Wednes-day, Feb. 4, and the 6A North region meeton Feb. 11.

T.C. Williams won the Conference 7 cham-pionship last season, and Washington-Leetook home the region title.

Squash TournamentComing to McLean

A junior squash tournament will be heldat The McLean Racquet and Health ClubFeb. 13-15.

Registration deadline is Feb. 10.It’s a silver tournament, which is recom-

mended for those players who have finishedin the upper half of a bronze tournament.

Age groups for boys and girls include U11,U13, U15, U17 and U19.

Early registration fee is $95. Registrationafter the deadline is $110. Register onlineat ussquash.com/tournamentsor contactHunt Richardson [email protected] or by calling202-365-1526 for more information.

Vienna Babe RuthOnline RegistrationOpen

Vienna Babe Ruth has unveiled a newwebsite along with a new online registra-tion process. Vienna-area ballplayers ages13 to 19 can register now for the Spring2015 season. Go to GVBR.org and click onthe red “Register Now” button. Registerbefore Feb. 1 for the early-bird discount.

Woodson Boys’Basketball Beats LakeBraddock, to Host TC

The Woodson boys’ basketball team de-feated Lake Braddock 74-56 on Tuesday

Photo by Louise Krafft/The Connection

Lake Braddock sophomore Caralyn Wiedeman placedfifth in the all-around competition during a gymnas-tics meet on Jan. 16.


Lake Braddock junior Jordan Tautges competes onbeam during a gymnastics meet on Jan. 16.


From left: South County’s Collea Burgess, Faith Baxter, Alicia Williams,Samaria Holland, Aneta Hicks and Mina Farah prepare to compete dur-ing a gymnastics meet on Jan. 16 at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Photo by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection

Eric Bowles and the Woodson boys’basketball team defeated LakeBraddock on Tuesday. The Cava-liers will host T.C. Williams onFriday.

night at Woodson High School in a rematchof last season’s Conference 7 and 6A Northregion championship games.

The win improved Woodson’s record to11-5, including 5-1 in the conference. TheCavaliers will host T.C. Williams at 7:30p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. The Titans defeatedWest Potomac 64-52 on Tuesday to improveto 5-1 in the conference. T.C. Williams wonthe season’s first meeting with Woodson,63-53, on Jan. 9 in Alexandria.

Woodson has won back-to-back regionchampionships.

Golden Girls SeniorWomen’s Softball

The Golden Girls Senior Women’s soft-ball league is looking for women ages 40and older to play in its four-team leagueon Wednesday nights and Saturday morn-

ings in Vienna.Learning skills, physical exercise, and

good sportsmanship are stressed, allwhile having fun. You are never too oldto p lay! For more in fo , go towww.goldengirls.org


News

Indulge in America’s favorite confec-tion at the City of Fairfax ChocolateLovers Festival Feb. 7 - 8, in Old TownFairfax. Scheduled events include:

❖Taste of Chocolate – purchase thechocolate creations of confectioners;

❖Chocolate Challenge & Silent Auc-tion – original chocolate sculptures by pro-fessional and amateur chocolatiers alikejudged by professional and celebrity judges;the Silent Auction will feature entries fromthe Chocolate Challenge as well as itemsfrom the local business community;

❖Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale &Face Painting❖❖❖– Regular and choco-late chip pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice,and milk. Cost is $6/adults and $4/childrenages 4-10. Children under the age of 3 willeat with a paying adult (limit one child perone paying adult).

❖Children’s Activities – featuringchocolate fairy tales, magicians, puppetshows, & music;

❖The Great Chocolate Caper and“Smarter Than a Lawyer” ❖❖❖– amock trial based on a popular children’sstory with a chocolate-related theme; thentest your skills against lawyers;

❖Chocolate Movie Night❖❖❖– seewhat your golden ticket will bring you withthe original Willy Wonka and the Choco-late Factory; come and enjoy stories and ac-tivities before the movie

❖Harley Eye Candy – an opportunityto sit on a Harley; bring your camera andhave your picture taken while sitting on theback of your favorite Harley;

❖Fairfax’s Historic Archives – viewsome of Fairfax’s most interesting histori-cal legal documents such as the 1739 LandGrant; a page from the polling done aroundthe county as citizens voted to Secede fromthe Union; the “Civil War” Rule book filledwith graffiti from the soldiers stationed

here; images of pages from GeorgeWashington’s Will as well as access to theroom where the original deed book is lo-cated; and

❖Historic Open Houses – visit LegatoSchool, the Fairfax Museum and VisitorCenter, The Ford House and Ratcliffe AllisonHouse.

A complete schedule of events will bepublished on www.chocolatefestival.net.The schedule is subject to change, andchanges will be posted on the event websiteas they occur.

❖❖❖ drop location for items for Mealsfor Young Minds (oatmeal packets; single-serving size boxes of cereal, chili cups, mac& cheese, tuna salad kits, pasta/meat cups;fruit cups, applesauce, cheese/crackers;100% fruit juice boxes, Capri Sun juicepackets; and shelf-stable milk)

Challenge Applications Accepted —George Mason University’s Department ofNutrition and Food Studies are sponsors ofthe ever-popular Chocolate Challenge attheir facility in Old Town Fairfax. The eventwill be held at the school’s Nutrition Kitchen(3950 University Drive)

Valentines, Advance “Taste” Tick-ets – Valentines, featuring a drawing of the“Old” Fire Station 3, drawn by Jackie Liedlof Local Color, are available in advance ofthe event. Limited edition valentines, thatinclude a coupon for five free “pogs” for theTaste of Chocolate, cost $5 each, and areavailable through January 30 (while sup-plies last) at: City Manager’s Office;City Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street –Room 316 (703-293-7120). If supplieslast, valentines (with the free taste pog cou-pons) will be sold for $5 during the festivalat the Taste of Chocolate in Old Town Hall.

For more information on the ChocolateLovers Festival, visitwww.chocolatefestival.net or call 703-385-

7858. A program schedule is posted on thewebsite, as well as a downloadable festival

Chocolate Lovers Festival Returns Feb. 7-8

program with a map of event locations willbe posted on the Festival’s website.

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The 2013 Chocolate Lovers Festival was held in the City of Fairfax atthe Old Town Hall. The annual event attracted thousands of peoplefrom around the region with samples of a variety of chocolate prod-ucts from area businesses and featured a chocolate sculpture con-test. This year's festival takes place on Feb. 7-8.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors rec-ognized the Arts Council of

Fairfax County for its new Global Arts Ini-tiative for which the organization receivedan Arts Works grant from the National En-dowment for the Arts (NEA).

The purpose of the Global Arts Initiativeis to promote and support Fairfax County’sdiverse arts traditions through direct fund-ing of ethnic and immigrant artists and artsprograms.

Through this pilot program, the ArtsCouncil will play a leadership role in sup-porting and showcasing the County’s diver-sity, introducing hundreds of thousands ofresidents to new art forms and outstandingarts programming taking place right in theirown community.

“We are so pleased to have been recog-nized by Chairman Bulova and the Boardof Supervisors for our new Global Arts Ini-tiative. This initiative will serve as a cata-lyst for future community building strength-

ening our ethnic and immigrant artists andarts programs,” said Linda S. Sullivan, presi-dent & CEO, Arts Council of Fairfax County.

As an expansion of the Arts Council’s ex-isting Project Support Grants program, thisnew initiative is designed to reach out todiverse audiences and support arts pro-gramming that reflect cultural traditionsfrom around the world through the creationand presentation of visual arts, dance, mu-sic, poetry, theater and multidisciplinaryfestivals.

The Global Arts Initiative has been madepossible in part through a NEA grant forwhich the Arts Council is currently seekingmatching funds from corporate sponsors.

Fairfax County artists and non-profit artsorganizations may apply to this new initia-tive by Feb. 18.

For more information or applicationguidelines visit http://artsfairfax.org/grants/applicants or call Rachelle Etienne-Robinson, Grants Coordinator, at 703-642-0862 x6.

Board of Supervisors Recognizes Global Arts Initiative

From left: Rachelle Etienne-Robinson, grants coordinator; Lisa Mariam,grants director; Jo Hodgin, vice chairman of the Arts Council Board ofDirectors; Leila Gordon, Arts Council board member; Linda S. Sullivan,president & CEO; Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Board of Supervisors;Joe Ritchey, chairman of the Arts Council Board of Directors; ChristinaEasterly, administrative assistant.

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Zone 2 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday Noon

703-778-9411

ClassifiedClassifiedZone 2: • Burke

• Fairfax • Springfield

• Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton

JDAVIS Construction is seeking qualified Small Business (SBA) contractors for their participation in the SP 653 Base Building project. At this time, we seek bidders in divisions 4 thru 6, 8 (Doors, Frames, Hardware) and 9 thru 13. Please

contact Missy Walker at [email protected] for project details. Documents are now available. Bids for this project are due by noon on Tuesday, January 27th, 2015.

All interested bidders please contact

DAVIS ConstructionAttn: Missy Walker

12530 Parklawn DriveRockville, MD 20852

Phone: 301-945-0489Fax: 301-468-3918

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

LEGAL NOTICEPursuant to Section 55-33, 50-35 and 50-36 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, the City of Fairfax Police Department will be disposing of the below listed unclaimed property, by public auction conducted by an independent auction service, convert-ed to department use or generally disposed of. Any person who feels they have a legal claim, with reasonable proof of ownership, should contact MPO Lynn Coulter of the City of Fairfax Police Department at 703-385-7829 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays until close of business Friday, February 13, 2015.

Below is a summary list of all items. For a complete list, please go to the City of Fairfax website: http://www.fairfaxva.gov/unclaimedproperty

73 - Assorted Bicycles

30 - Assorted Cell Phones

9 – Assorted Electronics

16 – Miscellaneous items

5 - Mopeds


21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements


21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

PRIVATE SWORD

COLLECTION FOR SALE

Antique swords from the United States and United Kingdom.

Call 703-371-1765

26 Antiques 26 Antiques

HDI COMPUTER SOLUTIONSJENNIFER SMITH ❖ Serving the Area Since 1995

➣ Speed up Slow Computers➣ Troubleshooting➣ Virus Removal➣ Computer Setup

(571) [email protected]

101 Computers 101 Computers

21 Announcements

ABC LICENSENative Foods California, LLC trading as Native Foods Cafe, 11050 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030. The above establish-

ment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Beer

and Wine on Premises license to sell or manufacture alcohol-

ic beverages. Daniel Dolan, member

NOTE: Objections to the issu-ance of this license must be

submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing

date of the first of two required legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or

800-552-3200.

Forming New Show Band,

wide variety of music and songs. Need

guitarist, rhythm, lead, bass, keyboards, horn section, male & female

vocalist, call Lee 703-400-5005.

26 Antiques

We pay top $ for STERLING, MEN'S WATCHES,

JEWELRY, COSTUME JEWELRY, FURNITURE,

PAINTINGS AND CLOCKS.Schefer Antiques

[email protected]

An expert is someone who knowssome of the

worst mistakesthat can bemade in his

subject and howto avoid them.

-WernerHeisenberg

Zone 2 Ad Deadline:

Wednesday 11 a.m.

703-778-9411

EmploymentEmploymentZone 2: • Burke



AUTO DETAILINGAuto Detailers, Car Washers & Managers

Diamond Detail is expanding into theAlexandria, VA Area Must have a validdriver's license, clean background andpositive attitude To apply online or for

more information visit our websiteWWW.DiamondDetail.com Or call our

employment line at 410-983-1008.

Guest Services StaffSeasonal

Welcome guests to the most visitedhistoric home in the US!

Apply to Guest Services position:www.mountvernon.org/employment

Saturday, January 24 at 9:00 A.M.Presentation begins at 9:20

Learn more about teaching at our school and findingjobs in private schools. Teachers of diverse back-

grounds and experiences are encouraged to attend.Register online: www.sssas.org/educator1000 St. Stephen’s Rd., Alexandria, VA 22304

703-212-2284

is hosting an

EDUCATOR OPEN HOUSE

BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

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An expert is someone who knows some of the worst

mistakes that can be made in hissubject and how to avoid them.

-Werner Heisenberg

EducationalInternships

Unusual opportunity to learn manyaspects of the newspaper business.Internships available in reporting,photography, research, graphics.Opportunities for students, and foradults considering change of career.Unpaid. E-mail [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6............................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4 ...........................Tues @ noon

E-mail ad with zone choices to:[email protected]

or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

EMPLOYMENTDEADLINESZones 1, 5, 6............................Mon @ noonZones 2, 3, 4 ...........................Tues @ noon

E-mail ad with zone choices to:[email protected] or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

ZONESZone 1: The Reston Connection The Oak Hill/Herndon ConnectionZone 2: The Springfield Connection The Burke Connection The Fairfax Connection The Fairfax Station/Clifton/

Lorton ConnectionZone 3: The Alexandria Gazette Packet

The Mount Vernon GazetteZone 4: Centre View North Centre View SouthZone 5: The Potomac AlmanacZone 6: The Arlington Connection

The Vienna/Oakton ConnectionThe McLean ConnectionThe Great Falls Connection

Newspapers & Online

HOW TO SUBMIT ADS TO


Zone 2 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday Noon

703-778-9411

Home & GardenHome & GardenCONTRACTORS.comconnectionnewspapers.com

Zone 2: • Burke



Recessed LightingCeiling FansPhone/CATVComputer Network CablingService UpgradesHot Tubs, etc…

Office 703-335-0654Mobile 703-499-0522

Licensed/Bonded/Insured

[email protected]

ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL

GUTTER CLEANINGGutters and Downspouts Cleaned

Small Repairs • Gutter Guards

PINNACLE SERVICESlic/ins 703-802-0483 free est.email [email protected]: lawnsandgutters.comFriendly Service with a Friendly Price!

GUTTER GUTTER

RCL HOME REPAIRSHandyman Services

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703-922-4190LIC. www.rclhomerepairs.com INS.

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

LicensedInsured

We Accept VISA/MC

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You have tried the rest - NOW CALL THE BEST!!Proudly serving Northern VA - 46 yrs. exp.

The HANDYMANA DIVISION OF NURSE CONSTRUCTION

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R.N. CONTRACTORS, INC.Remodeling Homes, Flooring,Kitchen & Bath, Windows,Siding, Roofing, Additions &Patios, Custom Deck, Painting

We Accept All Major Credit CardsLicensed, Insured, Bonded • Free Estimates • Class A Lic

Phone: 703-887-3827 Fax: 703-830-3849E-mail: [email protected]

www.rncontractors.com

Remodeling Bathrooms, Kitchens & Basements

Picture PerfectPicture Perfect

Exterior & Interior Repair, Painting, Carpentry,Wood Rot, Drywall, All Flooring, Decks

Licensed – Bonded – Insured“If it can be done, we can do it”www.pphionfine.com

•FREE Estimates•FAST & Reliable Service

•EASY To schedule•NO $$$ DOWN!

Handyman Services Available

(703) 590-3137(703) 590-3137

MOWING, TRIMMING, EDGING,MULCHING & TRIM HEDGES

PINNACLE SERVICES, INC.LAWN SERVICE

Friendly Service for a Friendly Price

703-802-0483703-802-0483

LAWN SERVICE LAWN SERVICE

Quality Tree Service & LandscapingReasonable prices. Licensed & insured

24 Hour Emergency Tree Service

25 years of experienceFree estimates

703-868-5358

Leaf RemovalGutter Cleaning

TREE SERVICE TREE SERVICE

Quality Tree Service& Landscaping

Reasonable prices. Licensed & insured.

24 Hour EmergencyTree Service

25 years of experience – Free estimates 703-868-5358

Fall Cleanup...Tree removal, topping & pruning,shrubbery trimming, mulching,leaf removal, planting, hauling,gutter cleaning, retaining walls,

drainage problems, etc.

HAULING

AL’S HAULINGJunk & Rubbish

Concrete, furn.,office,yard, construction debris

Low Rates NOVA703-360-4364

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ANGEL’S HAULING

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Junk Trash Removal, Yard/Construction

Debris, Garage/ Base- ment Clean Out,

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LANDSCAPING

JUNK HAULINGJunk, Rubbish,Homes, Offices,

Commerical,Yard/ConstructionDebris, Lot Clearout, 24 hrs day,

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Angeltreeslandscaping-hauling.com

Brush & Yard Debris Trimming & Topping

Gutters & Hauling

703-863-1086703-582-3709240-603-6182

News

The City of Fairfax Firefighters, IAFFLocal 2702, the City of Fairfax FireDepartment and the City of Fairfax

School Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan,teamed up to provide brand-new wintercoats to over 50 children at Daniels Run andProvidence elementary schools in partner-ship with Operation Warm, a national non-profit dedicated to warming the hearts,minds and bodies of children in need. Thecollaborative, community-based programhas impact far beyond the City of Fairfax.Firefighters across the USA and Canada arebringing this program to the communitiesthey protect. Firefighters for OperationWarm is a movement led by professionalfirefighters to combat the effects of child-hood poverty.

“With our poverty levels increasing, ourchildren and schools benefit from this pro-gram in more ways than one,” said DavidBusch, Vice President, Local 2702. “By na-

ture of our service to the community, we’reable to see the harsh effects poverty has onthese children first hand.” City of FairfaxFirefighters will go to each school to helppersonally fit each child with a new coat,and helping them to write their name inthe interior tag which reads, “Made Just forYou.” With monetary support from the com-munity, the firefighters are able to give thegift of warmth to these children right be-fore the harsh winter weather.

Specifically for the Firefighters program,Operation Warm has manufactured 90,000American-made coats, supporting over 200jobs. “This is so much more than a coat,”said Walter English, President, Local 2702.“Beyond warmth and dignity for children,American coat production targets a rootcause of poverty for so many families.”

Donate to City of Fairfax Firefighters forOperation Warm:www.operationwarm.org/fairfaxcity

From left — FM Jon Bullock, MT David Busch, School SuperintendentDr. Peter Noonan and Capt. Peter Rhoads.

Fairfax Firefighters Provide Coatsfor Underprivileged Children

Pho

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ntributed

CorrectionIn “General Assembly Session Ap-

proaches” [The Connection, Jan. 14],Del. Scott Surovell’s (D-44) first name

was incorrect.And Delegate Dave Albo is a republi-

can.

Send notes to the Connection [email protected] or call 703-778-9416. The deadline for submissions is the Friday priorto publication. Dated announcements should be sub-mitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

FRIDAY/JAN. 23Genealogy Help Desk. 2 p.m. City of Fairfax

Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax.Bring your family history stumpers to theexperts. Accomplished genealogists and librarystaff will be on hand to assist you. Ask at theVirginia Room desk or call 703-293-6227.

English Conversation Group. 10:30 a.m.Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway,Lorton. Practice speaking English with othersand improve your skills.

SUNDAY/JAN. 25Burke Historical Society Meeting. 4:30 p.m.

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, 6304 LeeChapel Road, Burke. BHS Fundraising Chair

Cindy Bennett will speak on the 1918 murder ofEva Roy in Burke. In addition, we’ll have a short“State of the Society” address and a very briefvideo about the history of Burke School.

MONDAY/JAN. 26Library Tech Help. 2 p.m. City of Fairfax

Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax.Get your library-related electronic resourcesquestions answered. Includes help with eBooksand compatible devices. Please bring yourlibrary card, eBook reader, and laptop.

Lorton Evening Book Conversations. 7 p.m.Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway,Lorton. Book discussion. Gone Girl by GillianFlynn. Adults.

TUESDAY/JAN. 27English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. City of

Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North Street,Fairfax. Practice speaking English with othersand improve your skills.

Bulletin Board


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Burke Sweethearts Take the Long Road To the Altar · City of Alexandria Councilor, as secretary;...

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