Opinion, Page 4 Seductive, Witty Tale of Generational...

online at www.connectionnewspapers.com September 25-October 1, 2019

Photo b

y Te

res

a C

astrac

ane/

Courtes

y of

1st S

tag

e

Postal CustomerECR WSS

Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.

Requested in home 9-26-19

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322

Opi

nio

n, Pag

e 4 v

Enter

tai

nm

ent, Pag

e 8 v

C

lass

ified

s, P

age

10

Senior LivingPage, 6

Seductive, Witty Tale of Generational

FrictionEntertainment, Page 8

How to Solve McLean High Overcrowding?Opinion, Page 4

County’s Long Term Plan Enters the Think TankNews, Page 3

Amanda Forstrom and Scott Sedar in ‘Trying’ at 1st Stage. The show runs through Oct. 20 in Tysons Corner.

2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ September 25 - October 1, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

BracesVIP .com

Dr. Allen S. Garai

Vienna 427 Maple Ave West

Vienna, VA 22180

703-281-4868

Great Falls

9912D Georgetown Pike

Great Falls, VA 22066

703-281-4868

“BEST ORTHODONTIST”

“TOP ORTHODONTISTS”

Thinking Invisalign: the choice is clear

•

• Experience (Invisalign over 15 years)

• Attending Faculty (Teaching lnvisalign at; Washington

Hospital Center Department of Orthodontics)

• Voted "Top/Best" Orthodontist in Northern Virginia

•

Complimentary Consultation

703.281.4868

[email protected]

www.BracesVIP.com

Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least twoweeks before event.

THROUGH OCT. 23How to Build a Better Budget. At

the McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. The McLeanCommunity Center (MCC) GoverningBoard invites residents of SmallDistrict 1A-Dranesville to engagewith planning Center’s fiscal year2021 budget. All meetings of theGoverning Board are open to thepublic. The preliminary consolidatedbudget will be posted on the Center’swebsite and available at the Center’sreception desk a week prior to thepublic hearing on Wednesday, Sept.25. Visit www.mcleancenter.org/news-items/404-board-holds-meetings-on-fy2021-budget-proposalfor more.

❖ The Public Hearing on the FY2021Budget, will be held at 7:30 p.m. onWednesday, Sept. 25.

❖ Residents may submit writtencomments through Monday, Oct. 21 -by mail to McLean CommunityCenter, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLeanVA 22101; fax 703-653-9435; oremail [email protected].

❖ The Board will approve the FY2021budget when it meets at 7:30 p.m. onWednesday, Oct. 23. The final budgetwill be approved by the FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors inspring 2020.

WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 25Community Conversations. 6:30-

8:30 p.m. at Marshall High School inTysons/Falls Church. Fairfax County

is planning for the next 10-20 yearsin the community and they want tohear from everyone. Share thoughts,insights, opinions and experiencesthat will be used to help furthershape a countywide strategic plan.Register via www.fairfaxcounty.gov/strategic-plan-community-conversations. Arrangements forchild care, transportation assistance,interpretation services andreasonable ADA accommodations canbe made by calling 703-324-5302,TTY 711, or by [email protected].

SATURDAY/SEPT. 28Community Shredding Day. 9 a.m.-

noon in the parking lot betweenPatrick Henry Library and WholeFoods, 133 Maple Ave East, Vienna.Gain peace of mind by bringingoutdated documents to an on-siteshredding service provided byTrueShred. Enjoy snacks and visitwith Ameriprise advisors and staffwho will also be collecting non-perishable items for donation to Foodfor Others. Free and open to thepublic. [email protected] or visitwww.ameripriseadvisors.com/matthew.t.felber/events for more.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 29Parish Picnic, Blessing of the

Backpacks, and Ministry Fair.After the 10 a.m. service at Church ofthe Holy Comforter, 543 BeulahRoad, NE, Vienna. Enjoy grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, old-fashionedgames, music, a bounce house, andfun activities for all ages. Bringbackpacks, bags, briefcases, or

Bulletin

See Bulletin, Page 5

McLean Connection ❖ September 25 - October 1, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsConnection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Mike Salmon

The Connection

When Jacob Stenstromwalked into LakeBraddock SecondarySchool, it was different

than when he was a student. He was nowtrying to learn the ways of the county andtaking part in the Fairfax County StrategicPlan Meetings was a start for the now-col-lege grad. “I want to be more active in mycommunity,” he said.

Stenstrom was among a cafeteria full ofpeople in attendance at the first of thecounty’s strategic plan meetings across thecounty to make a plan for Fairfax County inyears to come. This was the second seriesof such meetings that began in February,and this set of meetings will end this De-cember when the planners hand the planover to the Board of Supervisors for final-ization.

The planners, led by James Patterson,manager of countywide strategic planning,divided the county’s expectations into ninecategories as they wrestle this enormoustask into conceivable terms. The nine cat-egories, range from economic opportunityto safety and security, but in the first of sev-eral steps, everyone was looking at the is-sues from 30,000 feet – issues that will beput under a microscope further down theroad of this process.

“We want to get your input, are we onthe right track?” asked Patterson.

THE FAIRFAX COUNTY STRATEGICPLAN was subtitled “Shaping the FutureTogether,” and laid out nine subtopics im-

sion statement of sorts under each chaptertopic and then bullet points for each thatthe participants will evaluate. Under “Ef-fective and Efficient Government,” for in-stance, the goal read “Fairfax County is aplace where all people trust that govern-ment responsibly manages resources andprovides exceptional services.”

Every 20 minutes, stations shifted andattendees addressed another aspect of theplans.

IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, “there’s a lot ofthings that are working well but there arealso a lot of things that could be better,”said Steve Struthers of Accenture Company,a contractor that was brought on to facili-tate these discussions. All the strategies thatwere presented are “very preliminary,”Struthers said.

Burke resident Theresa Parillo was over-whelmed after looking at the book and at-tending a few of the discussions. “It’s hardto say no to any of this,” she said.

Although most things “county” are bud-get-dependent, the dollar topic is so far intothe future that the budget wasn’t part ofthe discussion. A rough draft of the wantsand needs will be put together in the No-vember-December time frame, and thenpresented to the Board of Supervisors afterthat, and it will be worked into the plansometime after that. The plan may go intoplace ten to twenty years from now, offi-cials said. “Strategic plans need to be lean,”said Struthers.

After growing up in Fairfax County,Stenstrom wants to stay here, but is look-ing at cost, which was one of the nine areasof concentration. “It made sense overall, Ilike that there’s a plan,” he said.

A series of meetings with public participation is underway.

Fairfax County Long Term Plan Enters the Think TankBooklet and form are an important way to gather feedback. Each group focused on one of nine topics.

Areas of DiscussionThe nine areas of discussion included:❖ Cultural and Recreational Opportunities❖ Economic Opportunity❖ Education and Lifelong Learning❖ Effective and Efficient Government❖ Health and Environment❖ Housing and Neighborhood Livability❖ Mobility and Transportation❖ Safety and Security❖ Self-Sufficiency for People with Vulnerabilities

James Patterson, manager ofcountywide strategic planning,explains the procedure of theevening’s planning activity. Early on, comment forms were

collected.

pacting everyone in the county. It was pre-sented in a booklet that each participanttook as they went to the various stations to

discuss the intricacies. There were surveycards to fill out at each station, and ques-tions to bring up that got the conversationgoing. All the data and comments will becompiled in the end.

“I see nothing in here that addresses eco-logical value,” said one man at the “Healthand Environment” station.

“People need to think of spending moneylike it’s their own money,” said another inthe “Effective and Efficient Government.”Station.

In the 36-page booklet, there was a mis-

Photos by Mike Salmon/The Connection


Opinion

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered

to homes and businesses.Published by

Local Media Connection LLC

1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314

Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to

connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe

NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]

Kemal Kurspahic Editor ❖ 703-778-9414

[email protected]

Andrea WorkerContributing Writer

[email protected]

Jean CardProduction Editor

[email protected]

ADVERTISING:For advertising information

[email protected]

Trisha HamiltonDisplay Advertising

[email protected]

Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444

[email protected]

David GriffinMarketing Assistant

[email protected]

Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431

Editor & PublisherMary Kimm

[email protected]@MaryKimm

Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon

[email protected]

Managing EditorKemal Kurspahic

Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,

Ali KhalighProduction Manager:

Geovani Flores

[email protected]

McLean

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

Sixteen-year-old Swedishclimate activist GretaThunberg sailed acrossthe Atlantic on a zero-

emissions sailboat to speak at theUnited Nations Climate ActionSummit this week. Thunberg hasa strong reputation as a climateactivist having staged weekly sit-ins outside the Swedish Parlia-ment resulting in a growing move-ment of youth climate activists holding theirown protests in more than 100 cities world-wide. Having a young person speak about cli-mate issues is appropriate considering thehigher-level interest shown by young peopleover adults on climate-related concerns. Afterall, it is their future that is being discussed.

Results of a Washington Post-Kaiser FamilyFoundation poll released last week found thatyoung people include climate change amongthe issues they think are most important fac-ing the country. Eighty-six percent of youththink that human activity is causing climatechange. Of considerable concern is the find-ing that 57 percent of the youth polled saidthat climate change makes them feel afraid. It

is their future, and they feel afraidof the future we adults are leav-ing them. The good news is that54 percent feel motivated to dosomething about it.

But young people fortunatelyare not alone in being fearful ofclimate change and motivated todo something about it. Theº2019Virginia Climate Crisis Forum heldat the First Baptist Church inVienna attracted nearly 300 activ-

ists to focus on climate justice. The forum wasmoderated by William Barber, III, son of thefamous Rev. Dr. William Barber II and KarennaGore, the eldest daughter of former Vice Presi-dent Al Gore. Reflecting the broad interest inthe issue, panelists included representatives ofthe Green New Deal of Virginia, People De-manding Action, Young Evangelicals for Cli-mate Action, the Faith Alliance for Climate So-lutions and others. Emphasis of the discussionwas on working together to repair a damagedclimate while ensuring that everyone mostimpacted — including low-income people,people of color, the vulnerable, and those onthe front lines—are part of every solution andnot disproportionally impacted.

Coming out of the Virginia Clean EnergySummit also held last week was an announce-ment by Governor Ralph Northam that the goalin Virginia is that by 2030, 30 percent ofVirginia’s electric system will be powered byrenewable energy resources and by 2050, 100percent of Virginia’s electricity will be producedfrom carbon-free sources such as wind, solarand nuclear.

In his Executive Order establishing the goals,the Governor expressed the concerns beingheard from the young people and in the vari-ous meetings on the issue: “Climate change isan urgent and pressing challenge for Virginia.As recent storms, heat waves, and floodingevents have reminded us, climate disruptionposes potentially devastating risk to Virginia.”Reflecting the concern about economic justice,the Governor’s Executive Order stated that“These clean energy resources shall be deployedto maximize the economic and environmentalbenefit to under-served communities whilemitigating any impact to those communities.”

Young people remind us that there areample reasons to be afraid of an unknownfuture with climate change. The best responseto that fear is to intensify the discussions suchas have been going on while taking positivesteps like that by the Governor to reverseimpact on climate change.

Afraid of an Unknown Future

By Elaine Tholen

I have been talking with fami-lies across the Dranesville dis-trict for months. In McLean,

the issue of the overcrowded highschool is a major topic of concern.McLean High School is over-capac-ity and at present there is no planin the current Fairfax County Pub-lic School’s (FCPS) Capital Im-provement Program (CIP) to alle-viate these overcrowded condi-tions.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/de-fault/files/media/pdf/adopted-FY2020-24.pdf

All short-term options to allevi-ate McLean’s overcrowding needto be explored, and all decisionsshould be made in an open, trans-parent and evidence-based way.Now is the time to act if we hopeto have anything in place for the2020-2021 school year.

The issues are real. In order toserve all of its students, McLeanhas 18 trailers on the site. Thereare safety, health and educationalconcerns this overcrowding cre-ates for students. As a teachermyself, I would like to point out

Commentary

that these conditions negativelyaffect our staff as well. Teachersare without classrooms. They areforced to move through crowdedhallways with carts, and work incramped classrooms and officespaces. This neither supports theteachers’ mission to teach our chil-dren to the very best of their abil-ity, nor does it provide an optimalenvironment for our children tolearn.

While we need to take actionvery soon, the move of anyMcLean students to the Langleypyramid needs to be based onsound data, and careful consider-ation of any future developmentand population expansion thatmay occur within the areas cur-rently designated for Langley HS.In the simplest terms: McLean iscurrently at 114 percent capacityand projected to be at 126 percentcapacity in school year 2023-24.ºAll the other area high schools(Herndon, South Lakes, Marshall)are either projected to be at orslightly over capacity in that sametime period.ºLangley is under ca-pacity now at 82 percent and pro-jected to be at 79 percent capac-

ity by the 2023-24 school year. Butit is critical that Langley’s capac-ity numbers be closely monitoredso that all neighborhoods cur-rently in Langley HS can staythere.

Any move of students betweenLangley and McLean would be justthe first step toward solving theMcLean overcrowding problem. Iask the Board to begin looking intothe initial planning for an additionto McLean HS. If there is discus-sion of putting a modular at theschool, while that may increasecapacity in the short-term, amodular cannot be viewed as apermanent solution.

To address the effects of over-crowding at McLean HS in theshort term, the FCPS School Boardneeds to act now. Janie Strauss,the current Dranesville SchoolBoard member, is proposing anamendment to the CIP to allowschool district staff to begin inves-tigating the movement of someMcLean students to Langley. Basedon my conversations withDranesville parents, it is clear thatthere is concern and a variety ofviewpoints over the potentialscope and methods to begin thismove.

The school board must plan tomaximize community inputthroughout this upcoming deci-

sion making processIn my view, the implementation

of the One Fairfax policy, adoptedby the Board of Supervisors andthe School Board in 2016, meansthat all students across our countydeserve to be in efficient, well runschool facilities without capacityissues. All of our students deservethe safest, most efficient andhealthiest environment possiblefor learning, and we need to takethe first steps for McLean HS.

Elaine Tholen is a candidate forDranesville seat on Fairfax CountyPublic Schools Board.

What Do You Think?Submit letters online to http://

www.connectionnewspapers.com/contact/letter/ or email [email protected]

How to Solve McLean High OvercrowdingTransparency and community input,data and timeliness needed.

Write The Connectionwelcomes views on any public

issue. The deadline for allmaterial is noon Friday. Lettersmust be signed. Include home

address and home and businessnumbers. Letters are routinelyedited for libel, grammar, good

taste and factual errors. Send to:

Letters to the EditorThe Connection1606 King St.

Alexandria VA 22314By e-mail:

[email protected]


whatever is used to carry school or workitems (or no bag needed). All arewelcome. More atwww.holycomforter.com.

2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.Reston Town Center, 11900 MarketStreet, Reston. Registration at1:30pm; Ceremony at 2:30pm; Walkat 3pm. All funds raised throughWalk to End Alzheimer’s further the

News

See Bulletin, Page 11

From Page 2

Bulletin Board

care, support and research efforts ofthe Alzheimer’s Association. TheAlzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit501(c)3 organization. Coordinator:Sonya Amartey, [email protected],https://act.alz.org

MON & WED/SEPT. 30-OCT. 23Community Emergency Response

Team Training. 7-11 p.m. at at theFire and Rescue Academy, 4600 West

Ox Road, Fairfax. The CommunityEmergency Response Team (CERT)Program trains county residents inbasic disaster response skills, such asfire safety, light search and rescue,team organization, and disastermedical operations. Using thetraining learned in the classroom andduring exercises, CERT members canassist others in their neighborhood or

Evrim Ozcan is poised to have a leg up on his peersas he starts his senior year. He skipped the usual sum-mer fare of camps, jobs, or beach trips to study 3-Dbio-printing at the SciTech program at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. He was among12 students from the Washington, D.C. area to re-ceive the Dr. Istvan Madras SciTech Scholarship forhis summer studies. SciTech is an innovative STEMeducational summer program that provides teens thechance to carry out research in a broad range of fieldsalongside accomplished Israeli researchers, while ex-periencing life in Israel. Some 63 students from sevencountries plus Hong Kong participated in thissummer’s program. They lived in a dorm on cam-pus, and spent weekends floating on the Dead Sea,hiking Masada, or rafting on the Jordan River. Atthe end of the program, they presented their researchbefore a professional plenary assembly.

Evrim is a member of Science & Engineering Re-search Center (SERC), the most competitive science

program at The Potomac School, making SciTech aperfect fit. “I chose the Technion summer programbecause it provided the perfect platform for me tocontinue my research in a strong scientific and cul-tural environment.”

Working with researchers at the Technion’s new 3-D Bio-Printing Center, Evrim explored the design anddevelopment of 3-D printed vascular tissue.

Closer to home, Evrim has done summer intern-ships at Harvard University, Brown University, theMIT Robotics Summer Program, and UCLA. AtPotomac School, he is on the robotics team, whichtwice made the semi-finals in the CREATE U.S. OpenRobotics Championship. And he has participated inthe Model UN program. Equally at home on the ath-letic fields, Evrim is on both the varsity track andtennis teams, and has been a tennis coach for youngchildren. Evrim is also involved in the school’s Ser-vice Learning Committee and has volunteered at theFairfax County Animal Shelter.

Potomac School Student DoesHigh-Level Research in Israel


By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

It was in third grade whenBarb Cram first discoveredher artistic talent. Her teacher

asked to use one of her drawingsas an example to teach a techniqueto other students.

Though she was lauded for herartistic talent from elementaryschool through high school, upongraduation, she says she put thatinterest on hold and engaged ineducational pursuits that she wastold were practical.

“When my generation as grow-ing up it was all about getting skillslike typing, bookkeeping and ste-nography so that you could get ajob after you graduate said Cram,now 72.

After a long career, which in-cluded a stint in the White House,Cram has reengaged with her cre-ative side. Now as President ofFalls Church Arts, she is helpingother retirees live out their passion, discover theirtalent or simply learn to appreciate art.

“Art can do so much for seniors. It’s like a vacationfor the mind,” she said. “Whether as an artist, ateacher, a docent or an art student, there’s place foreveryone.”

Retired clinical psychologist, Carolyn JacksonSahni, spent her career practicing in settings rang-ing from state universities to non-profit organiza-tions. Retirement has offered her the opportunity toexplore her creative interests.

“I have never been employed as an artist or in aspecific art related field, [but] art has always beenmy first love, said Jackson Sahni, who lives in Vienna.“I see art as our ultimate means of personal expres-sion. I have an overwhelming preference for beautyand nature. Art has been my way of indulging thispreference.”

Sahni says that art has given her the gift of livingout her dedication to life-long learning. “I believe in… growing, expressing and discovering, she said.“While I am not quite ready to accept the definitionof senior that I am, I cherish every day of my sev-enty-one years.”

Though she spent 32 years as a government em-ployee working in a variety of agencies including theNational Institutes of Health and The Department ofHomeland Security, Cynthia Miller had alwayswanted to explore visual arts. A few discouragingchildhood experiences left her afraid to try.

“I have been interested in art my whole life, butmy hands were frozen until I found my courage” shesaid. “I decided at age 70 that it was my time tolearn and explore my desires as an artist.”

Not only is Miller an artist, but she volunteers hertime as a docent, sharing her passion with others. “Ioften speak with others who are seniors with fewoutside interests,” she said. “They think I am bravein approaching my art as another career. I have alove of life, and feel I have a gift yet to develop andoffer to others.”

McLean resident Sallie Evans once worked as arecreation therapist, in retirement she works as anart instructor at Falls Church Arts teaching. “I love

teaching because it allows me to be an active par-ticipant when students experience the joy and abso-lute empowerment of making art. Teaching not onlychildren, but she leads art projects for Fall ChurchArt’s Memory Café, a social and recreational gather-ing of individuals with memory loss and theircaregivers, friends, and family.

Deborah Conn, 70, retired from a career in mar-keting and began taking lessons in watercolor at theArt League in Alexandria. These days she’s an activeand prolific artist. Her medium is watercolor, fre-quently on textured paper that she makes by crin-kling tissue paper and gluing it on the painting sur-face. Humans are the subjects of most of her work,but as one of the resident artists at Palette2 restau-rant in Shirlington, she sketches dogs for patronswhile they eat.

“I’ve been experimenting with making parts of mypaintings less defined so viewers can fill in with theirown mind,” said Conn, who teaches art out of herhome studio and works is an art curator. “In the lastten years or so, painting and art have become en-meshed in nearly every area of my life. Many of myclosest friends are artists.”

Senior LivingSenior Living

Sallie Evans of McLean loves teaching art and helpingstudents experience the job of creating art.

Exploring Art in RetirementSeniors get a chance to pursue their passion.

Cynthia Miller, who says that she enjoysexperimenting with angles and shades,describes her art as abstract explosion.

Pho

to

s co

urtesy o

f Falls C

hurch

A

rts


News

HBC Group at Keller Williams McLean is celebrat-ing the 10th Anniversary Partnership between KarenBriscoe and Lizzy Conroy serving the residential realestate community needs in Northern Virginia, Mary-land and D.C. Conroy joined the HBC Group asKaren’s partner in 2009.

“We are delighted that Lizzy joined us and lookforward to continuing the HBC Group legacy of im-pacting and improving people’s lives by assisting withtheir real estate needs.” said partner Karen Briscoe.

“I am fortunate to be a part of a remarkable team,”says Lizzy Conroy. “Celebrating my 10th anniversarywith the HBC Group makes me proud of the many

clients we have helped. This signifies a great mile-stone in the growth and longevity of the HBC Group.”

In 2019 the HBC Group has already reached morethan $81M in residential sales experiencing one ofits best years.

Founded by the late Sue Huckaby in 1977, the HBCGroup has sold more than 1,500 homes valued atmore than $1.5 billion. The team consistently sellsmore than one hundred residential properties annu-ally, ranging from multi-million-dollar luxury estatesto condominiums and townhomes. Primary marketareas include Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland,and Washington, D.C.

Huckaby Briscoe Conroy (HBC) Group atKeller Williams Celebrates Briscoe ConroyPartnership’s 10th Anniversary

Karen Briscoe and Lizzy Conroy celebrate their HBCGroup Partnership’s 10th Anniversary as one of themost successful residential real estate groups innorthern Virginia.

Party time to cel-ebrate HBC Group’s10 year anniversaryserving clients withtheir residentialreal estate needs.

Photos contributed


Calendar

See Calendar, Page 9

Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artworkencouraged.

ONGOINGSenior Olympics. The Northern Virginia Senior

Olympics features more than 60 events thatchallenge the mind as well as the body. Newgames this year: jigsaw puzzle and line-dancing.The public is invited, free of charge, to all NVSOevents. The games run through Sept. 28. Visitwww.nvso.us.

Countless Shades of Black. Through Oct. 12,Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at The FrameFactory Gallery, 212 Dominion Road N.E.,Vienna. Countless Shades of Black features localartist Alfredo Milian and Discovery Graphics.Free. Visit www.theframefactory1.com for aslideshow.

Pop-Up Selfie Scream Museum. Through Nov.3, on select dates and times at Tysons CornerCenter, Lower Level near Lord & Taylor. TheAmerican Scream Selfie Museum will featureinteractive exhibits that will make visitors laughand scream and the star of eye-popping selfies.The museum will feature an array of custom-built Halloween themed sets individuals caninteract with: sit on the Iron Throne and rule theSeven Kingdoms, stand in an ancient Egyptiantomb and face the Mummy; visit a gruesomemorgue; and more.$15-$18. Visitwww.american-scream.com for timed ticketsand schedule.

Oak Marr Farmers’ Market. 8 a.m.-noon atOak Marr RECenter, 3200 Jermantown Road,Oakton. Every Wednesday through Nov. 13, rainor shine. Vendors include produce, meats, eggs,cheeses, pies, cured and smoked meats,popsicles, sorbet, bread, croissants, falafelsandwiches, humus, and pesto. Call 703-281-6501 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/oak-marr for more.

McLean Farmers Market. Fridays, through Nov.15, 8 a.m.-noon at Lewinsville Park, 1659 ChainBridge Road, McLean. Sixteen local farmers andproducers will sell fresh produce and fruits;meats; breads and pastries; jams; dairy productsand eggs; herbs; flowers, coffee, and more. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/mclean.

Great Falls Farmers Market. Year-round,Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 Walker Road,Great Falls. Music, vendors, fresh produce, freshprepared food, delightful bakery, spices fromaround the world, wild-caught fish, grass-fed,free-range meats, organic-fed poultry and eggs.Email [email protected] formore.

Oakton Farmers Market. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1p.m. at Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 HunterMill Road, Oakton. Year-round weekly farmersmarket in Oakton. Local produce, meats/eggs,dairy, baked goods, and more. Admission is free.Visit community-foodworks.org.

Mah Jongg Cards. Order cards through Jan. 15,2020, from Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100Westmoreland St. 2020 Mah Jongg cards are $8for small cards and $9 for large cards. Officialcards and will be sent directly from the NationalMah Jongg League in late March/early April2020. Go to bit.ly/mahjonggcards2020 or [email protected] to order.

FRIDAY/SEPT. 2720th Anniversary Celebration. 4-8 p.m. at

Club Phoenix Teen Center, 120 Cherry St. SE,Vienna. Vienna’s rallying point for afterschoolgames, food, and good company will celebrateits 20th year with music, games, inflatables,food trucks, and special guest appearances. Freeand open to the public. Club Phoenix is openMonday-Thursday, 2:30-6:30 p.m. and Fridays,2:30-10 p.m. Visit www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?NID=80 or call 703-255-5736.

All That Jazz Dinner. 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Sunriseof McLean, 8315 Turning Leaf Lane, McLean.Food, fun, raffle ticket and All That Jazz.Proceeds of the dinner will be donated to theAlzheimer’s Association. Dinner: $25, adults;$15, children 12 and under. RSVP byWednesday, Sept. 24 [email protected] or703-734-1600.

After 7 Dance Party. 7-10 p.m. at The OldFirehouse, 1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.For 7th-10th Graders. The Old Firehousepresents After 7, a can’t-miss party that includesraffles, tournaments, catered food and drinks.With hip-hop, Top 40 and dance hall tracks plus

requests. $5 admission. Preregistration isrecommended. Visit www.mcleancenter.org orcall 703-448-8336.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/SEPT. 27-29ValeArts “Colorful Journeys.” Friday, 10 a.m.-

9 p.m. (reception, 7-9 p.m.); Saturday-Sunday,10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Historic Vale Schoolhouse,3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. 27th ValeArts FallShow will feature more than 150 original worksby nine local artists in various media, styles, andsizes. Three days fine art exhibition, a familyfriendly neighborhood event. Free admission.Visit www.valearts.com or call 703-860-1888.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 28Harvest Happenings. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at McLean

Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. Come to this indoor-outdoor festivaland enjoy live entertainment, crafts andactivities. Children can buy their own pumpkinsfrom the pumpkin patch (with the help of aparent/guardian) to decorate at the craftsstation. Free admission. Food will be availablefor purchase. Visit www.mcleancenter.org or call703-790-0123.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 29Teddy Bear 5K. 9-11 a.m. at Falls Church-McLean

Children’s Center (for parking and check in),7230 Idylwood Road, Falls Church. Teddy Bear5K & 1K Walk/Run in the Pimmit Hillsneighborhood west of Falls Church City. 5K at 9a.m., 1K at 10 a.m. Everyone receives a teddybear when they cross the finish line. $20-$40.Register at www.athlinks.com/event/2019-teddy-bear-5k-1k-walkrun-86494.

Anniversary Event: Torpedo Factory Artists@ Mosaic Gallery. 3-6 p.m. at TorpedoFactory Artists @ Mosaic 105 District Ave.,Fairfax. In celebration of Torpedo FactoryArtists’ Association’s 45th anniversary, memberartists have contributed 45 works of art. Ticketholders’ names are randomly called and thatperson chooses from one of the available piecesof original art. Preview artwork Sept. 18-29;Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Ticketholders may bring a guest for free. $200. ArtLovers Sweepstake: a $45 ticket gives buyers anopportunity to take home one of three works ofart, valued at $1,500 or more. Purchase ticketsat tinyurl.com/tfaacc19.

Fundraiser: Rise And Thrive. 4-7 p.m. in theNouvelle Clubhouse, 7911 Westpark Drive,Tysons Corner. Rise And Thrive Inc., an after-school mentorship program for young girls inthe Northern Virginia, will hose a fundraisingevent and networking opportunity for youngprofessionals. Featuring music, food, drinks, andcasual conversation, attire for the event iscasual. $10. Purchase tickets atwww.eventbrite.com/e/rise-and-thrive-inc-fundraising-launch-party-tickets-69819232203.Visit WeRiseAndThrive.com for more.

2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Reston TownCenter, 11900 Market Street, Reston.Registration at 1:30pm; Ceremony at 2:30pm;Walk at 3:00pm. All funds raised through Walkto End Alzheimer’s further the care, support andresearch efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit501(c)3 organization.Each registered walkerwith a wristband will receive a Promise Gardenflower. Blue represents someone withAlzheimer’s or dementia. Purple is for someonewho has lost a loved one to the disease. Yellowrepresents someone who is currently supporting

or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Orangeis for everyone who supports the cause andvision of a world without Alzheimer’s.Coordinator: Sonya Amartey, [email protected],https://act.alz.org

WEDNESDAY/OCT. 2Community Coffee. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the

Community Room of the Regency at McLean,1800 Old Meadow Road, McLean. The McLeanNewcomers and Neighbors will host a coffee formembers and for non-members who might beinterested in joining. Visitwww.McLeanNewcomers.org or [email protected].

THURSDAY/OCT. 3Strong Girls Celebration. 6-9 p.m. at The

Atrium at Meadowlark , 9750 MeadowlarkGardens Court, Vienna. Join in a night of funand help raise funds to support Girls on the Runof Northern Virginia. A joyous event thatensures more girls gain the skills they need to bestrong, confident, and healthy. $85. Visitwww.gotrnova.org or call 703-273-3153.

Selling Suffrage: Words and Symbols toWin the Vote and the ERA. 6-9 p.m. atTower Club-Tysons Corner, 8000 TowersCrescent Drive, Suite 1700, Vienna (entrance atback of building). Powerful arguments andcompelling visual images were essential inconvincing the American public to support votesfor women. The need to “sell” the Equal RightsAmendment has also faced communicationchallenges. Come hear experts and advocatesdescribe the written and graphic messages that

By David Siegel

The Connection

Opening its new season, 1st

Stage scores with the poi-gnant, yet subversivelycomic “Trying.” It is a two

actor tale about people at vastly differ-ent points in their lives. They are tryingto find ways to break through their self-erected walls; people who appear to bevastly incompatible.

Under Alex Levy’s refined direction, theacting in “Trying” has a polished gracegiving the deceptively lean bones of play-wright Joanna McClelland Glass’s “Try-ing” script an inviting glow.

“Trying” is set in Washington, D.C.from late fall 1967 through spring 1968.It is based upon the playwright’s ownreal-life memories.

The play focuses on Sarah Schoor, a25-year old from Saskatoon,Saskatchewan. She is eager to please hernew employer. She is the next in a longline of assistants who have found them-selves failures in the hands of the ver-bally abrasive, octogenarian JudgeFrancis Biddle. The fictional Biddle in“Trying” is based upon the real life Biddle(1886-1968) who served as FranklinDelano Roosevelt’s attorney general andwas chief judge at the Nuremberg trials.

Scott Sedar portrays Judge Biddle withimposing crankiness with verbal jabsmeant to strike fear into his new assis-tant. After all, he was a “Harvard Man.”Over time, Biddle’s physical frailness, hisinner hurts and overwhelming fears

about growing old are revealed. Along withhumor and a heart too.

As Sarah Schoor, Amanda Forstrom is awonder of well-articulated natural reactionsto Biddle’s pointed pronouncements. Ini-tially she has but two words at her disposal,“Yes, Sir!” in response to Biddle’s taunts andcommands. Ah, but Schoor finds hermeddle. She is no push-over. As the playcontinues it becomes Biddle’s turn to becaught short; calling her “too bold” as theytangle about the mundane, the importantand even a mutual distaste for grammati-cal split infinitives.

Adding to the shine of “Trying” is the mu-sic composed by Ethan Balis that softly un-derscores scene changes. Kathryn Kawecki’sgorgeous set is full of detailing for woodpaneled office of a once famous man. Add

in the multitude of props by CarolineOsterneck for added delightful nooks andcrannies. Moyenda Kulemeka’s handsomecostumes are terrific visual depictions ofeach character’s spirit.

The final curtain for “Trying” may havea bit of a tacked-on feel for some, butthe overall journey is a pleasure. Heart-warming is a fitting word to describe“Trying” at 1st Stage. It’s a winner.

Seductive, Witty Tale of Generational FrictionRegional premiere of‘Trying’ at 1st Stage

Photo by Teresa Castracane/Courtesy of 1st Stage

Amanda Forstrom and Scott Sedar in ‘Trying’ at 1st Stage. The showruns through Oct. 20 in Tysons Corner.

Where and When1st Stage presents “Trying” at 1523 Spring

Hill Road, Tysons. Performances to Oct. 20,2019. Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. withSundays at 2 p.m. Tickets: $42 (adults), $39for seniors. Students and military tickets $15.Call 703-854-1856 or visit www1stStage.org


From Page 8

Calendar

suffragists used to change publicopinion, and learn how thosemessages connect to later campaignsfor the Equal Rights Amendment.Heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer andsoft drinks will be served. $75. Visitsuffragistmemorial.org/ to register.

Celebrate “Hitchcocktober.” 7 p.m.at Angelika Film Center – Mosaic,2911 District Ave., Fairfax. Dial M forMurder (3D). Hitchcock’s 1954classic was originally shot in 3D butrarely seen in this format. EveryThursday night in October, a classicfilm by Alfred Hitchcock will befeatured, culminating with a showingof Psycho on Halloween. $14.50.Visit www.AngleikaFilmCenter.comfor more.

OCT. 3-27The Glow: A Pumpkin

Wonderland. Thursday-Sundaynights in Lake Fairfax Park, 140 LakeFairfax Drive, Reston. Enjoy animmersive Halloween stroll along atrail illuminated by thousands ofintricately carved pumpkins, manyhighlighting the Capital City’s mostfamous including pumpkin look-a-likes of iconic landmarks, musicians,movie stars, superheroes andprincesses. Autism Speaks Night onSunday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. withadjustments made for guests on theautism spectrum. Advanced ticketsare required. $16.99 for children;$22.99 for adults, atwww.glowpumpkin.com/washington-dc.

FRIDAY/OCT. 4OLGC Golf Classic. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at

Westfields Golf Club, 13940 BalmoralGreens Ave., Clifton. Join Vienna’sOur Lady of Good Counsel CatholicChurch for a fun-filled day withcontests, food and drink, andcompany to share it with. Register bySept. 23. $200. Visitwww.olgcva.org/fellowship/golf-classic or call 703-896-7425.

Raise the Region Gala. 6:30-10 p.m.at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner,7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean. Afundraiser for the CommunityFoundation for Northern Virginiasupporting their work to growphilanthropy to respond to need,seed innovation, and lead andconvene the community. The eveningincludes a cocktail reception, silentand live auctions, an elegant seateddinner, and the CommunityLeadership Award presentation.Black tie attire. $300. Visitwww.cfnova.org/ for tickets.

SATURDAY/OCT. 53rd annual DC-Metro Modern

Home Tour. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in areasincluding Arlington, Fairfax, andGreat Falls. The DC-Metro ModernHome Tour, a self-guided event,provides a day of local sight-seeingand open-house-style visits for loversof architecture, design, real estate,and anyone on the hunt for ideas andinspiration. $20-$50. Visitwww.dcmetromodernhometour.comfor tickets.

Tea Seminar: Exploring Teas. 1-3p.m. at Colvin Run Mill, 10017Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. Anadvanced workshop for those whohave attended past basic teaseminars. An exploration into uniqueteas - by process, terroir, and/orscarcity. Tea infused treats and atake home tea sampler included. $35per person. Use ID Code 731.1973.Register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call 703-222-4664.

Fall Festival by Joshua’s Hands 10am – 5 pm. Enjoy hay rides, carnivalstyle games, entertainment, crafts,

demonstrations, petting farm, oldfashioned spelling bee – prizes forall! Bring friends and wear yourjeans! Not just for kids! Everything isFREE (including lunch) there will beopportunities to support the work ofJoshua’s Hands. Auction at 2p.m.Donations cheerfully accepted. 8miles west of Leesburg on Rt. 9;38327 Charles Town Pike •Waterford, VA 20197

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/OCT. 5-6Book Sale. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;

Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (fill a bag for$5) at Patrick Henry Library, 101Maple Ave. E., Vienna. Featuringthousands of used books, CDs, DVDs,and books on CD. Free parking andadmission. Prices remain the same:hardbacks $2, trade paperbacks $1,pocket paperbacks 50 cents, kidsbooks 25 and 50 cents. CDs andvideos $1-$2. Credit cards accepted.All proceeds benefit the library.Email [email protected] orcall 703-568-0104.

SUNDAY/OCT. 6MPAartfest. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in McLean

Central Park; 1468 Dolley MadisonBlvd; McLean. The McLean Projectfor the Arts will host its annualMPAartfest. During MPAartfest,Central Park is transformed into alandscape of mini art galleries and

features live music throughout theday, a Children’s Art Walk, hands-onart studio, STEAM experiences, foodvendors, and more. Free admission.Visit www.mpaart.org or call 703-790-1953.

Barn Sale. Noon-4 p.m. at Lift Me Up!,9700 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.Support Lift Me Up! a local non-profit organization. Deals on saddlesto riding apparel to blankets andmore. Prices are as low as $1. Rain orshine. Donations accepted. [email protected] or visitliftmeup.org for more.

Vienna Hunger Stroll. 2-4 p.m. atCommittee for Helping Others, 133Park St. NE, Vienna. An alternative toVienna’s CROP Hunger Walk, the“Cafe Stroll” is less than a mile andstops at Bards’ Alley, Rita’s, and CafeAmouri. Proceeds support hungerrelief. Free, donations are encouraged.See crophungerwalk.org/viennava.

THURSDAY/OCT. 10Celebrate “Hitchcocktober.” 7 p.m. at

Angelika Film Center – Mosaic, 2911District Ave., Fairfax.North by Northwest(1959). Every Thursday night inOctober, a classic film by AlfredHitchcock will be featured culminatingwith a showing of PSYCHO onHalloween. $14.50. Visitwww.AngleikaFilmCenter.com for more.

MPAartfestThe McLean Project for the Arts will host its annual MPAartfest. During

MPAartfest, Central Park is transformed into a landscape of mini art galleries andfeatures live music throughout the day, a Children’s Art Walk, hands-on art stu-dio, STEAM experiences, food vendors, and more. Sunday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.in McLean Central Park; 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd; McLean. Free admission. Visitwww.mpaart.org or call 703-790-1953.

2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sept. 26Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Registration at

1:30pm; Ceremony at 2:30pm; Walk at 3 pm. All funds raised throughWalk to End Alzheimer’s further the care, support and research efforts ofthe Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit501(c)3 organization. Each registered walker with a wristband willreceive a Promise Garden flower. Blue represents someone withAlzheimer’s or dementia. Purple is for someone who has lost a loved oneto the disease. Yellow represents someone who is currently supporting orcaring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Orange is for everyone whosupports the cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. Coordina-tor: Sonya Amartey, [email protected], https://act.alz.org


Four AreaSchools ReceiveEnvironmentalEducationRecognition

Four Fairfax County publicschools have been recognized as2019 Virginia Naturally Schoolsby the Virginia Department ofGame and Inland Fisheries.Virginia Naturally Schools is theofficial environmental educa-tion school recognition programof Virginia.

Selected as 2019 VirginiaNaturally Schools are:

❖ Belvedere ElementarySchool (seventh year).

❖ Colvin Run ElementarySchool (fourth year).

❖ Daniels Run ElementarySchool (13th year).

❖ Lanier Middle School(eighth year).

These schools were recog-nized for their environmentaland stewardship efforts duringthe 2018-19 school year.“Environmental educationprepares students to tackletomorrow’s environmentalchallenges,” said Secretary ofNatural Resources Matthew J.Strickler. “I applaud theseVirginia schools for buildinghands-on, locally relevanteducation about the environ-ment into their curricula.”

Venture into Volunteering FairLooking for a way to give back? Explore volunteer opportunities at

the Venture into Volunteering Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly.

This is an opportunity to meet representatives of Fairfax County gov-ernment agencies and community organizations that need volunteers.It’s also a chance to be involved that very day by signing up to be avolunteer, by donating blood to the American Red Cross, or by bringinga non-perishable food item for the food drive on site. Call the Red Crossat 1-800-Red Cross to schedule an appointment for blood donation.

There will be door prizes for visitors to the fair.The Dulles Expo Center, which is donating space for the fair, is lo-

cated at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center in Chantilly. For additionalinformation about the fair, call 703-324-5406, TTY 711, [email protected], or visit the website atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/OlderAdults.

The Venture into Volunteering Fair is sponsored by the Fairfax CountyDepartment of Family Services, AARP Virginia, Fairfax 50+, the FairfaxCounty Park Authority, RSVP, Volunteer Fairfax and Volunteer Solu-tions.

Web: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/park-news/2019/z-ir140

Raise the Region Gala toBe Held Oct. 4

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia will hold 2019Raise the Region Gala on Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the HiltonMcLean, Tysons Corner,7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean.

The event will honor MG Carl H. McNair, Jr. (RET) with the Commu-nity Foundation for Northern Virginia’s 2019 Community LeadershipAward & Celebrate the Community Wealth Building Volunteers.

Cocktail Reception, Silent and Live Auctions, with Matt Quinn, Auc-tioneer. Black Tie Attire; Elegant Seated Dinner. For more information,go to www.cfnova.org/gala

Area Roundups


From Page 5

workplace following an event when professionalresponders are not immediately available tohelp. Emphasis on hands-on skill developmentand Fairfax County protocols and procedures.Instructor will provide syllabus with classschedule at first session. This training does notrequire any special physical strength or agility.Visit volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov/custom/1380/#/opp_details/184991 to register.

TUESDAY/OCT. 1Entrepreneurship 101. 8-10:30 a.m. in the First

Floor Conference Center at 8300 BooneBoulevard, Tysons. Starting a Business in FairfaxCounty – the workshop provides an overview ofstart-up basics (licenses and permits), workforceservices and training programs, and SBAresources including financing and certificationprograms. Free. Registration required atwww.vahcc.com/events.

SATURDAY/OCT. 5Mental Health and Wellness Conference. 8

a.m.-4 p.m. at Fairfax High School. The morningwill focus on social and emotional learning, witha keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett,founding director of the Yale Center forEmotional Intelligence. A special session forhigh school students, the Our Minds MatterTeen Summit, will take place in the morning aswell. Attendees are encouraged to stay forInova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will beheld from 12:30-4 p.m. Breakout sessions,exhibit tables, and resources will be available toall attendees throughout the day. Lunch will beprovided. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/mental-health-and-resiliency/mental-health-and-wellness toregister.

Fall Festival. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Church of theGood Shepherd (United Methodist), 2351Hunter Mill Road, Vienna. The second “FallFestival: Where Fun and Kindness Connect!”includes a food packing event, as well as a blooddrive, children’s program, moon bounce, first-ever animal blessing (noon) and food andrefreshments. Free, though canned fooddonations accepted. A Pet Blessing, a first-timeevent for the church, will take place at noon tocelebrate the feast day of St. Francis.Visitwww.GoodShepherdVA.com or call 703-281-3987.

SUNDAY/NOV. 3Low Cost Rabies Vaccine Clinic. 9-11 a.m. at

Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West OxRoad, Fairfax. Cost is $15 per pet, cash andcheck only. Dogs, cats, and ferrets may bevaccinated at the clinic. Dogs must be onleashes; cats and ferrets must be in carriers. Allpets will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination. Toobtain a 3-year vaccine, bring pet’s rabiescertificate (not tag) showing the current rabiesvaccination expiration date. 2019 county doglicenses will be sold for an additional $10 perlicense. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/communityassistance/rabiesclinics for more.

TUESDAY/NOV. 5Entrepreneurship 101. 8-10:30 a.m. in the First

Floor Conference Center at 8300 BooneBoulevard, Tysons. Starting a Business in FairfaxCounty – the workshop provides an overview ofstart-up basics (licenses and permits), workforceservices and training programs, and SBAresources including financing and certificationprograms. Free. Registration required atwww.vahcc.com/events.

SUPPORT GROUPSParent Support Partners, a service of the

Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, are all parentswho have received training and are qualified tooffer education, support and assistance at nocost to families or caregivers. They providereliable information that families can use indecision-making and are familiar with servicesand resources that can help families in distress.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/healthymindsfairfax or www.nami-northernvirginia.org/parent-peer-support.html.

Haven of Northern Virginia Support Group.703-941-7000, www.havenofnova.org [email protected].

Bulletin

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Though not exactly “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill,” (“The Beatles,” 1968) but for those of you regular readers still interested in the presumptive outcome - in my lifetime, of my 250 year-old home’s “structural integrity” - as it

may now have lift off, so to speak. (Hopefully Houston, we don’t have a problem.) A struc-tural engineer came by the house yesterday at my request and examined and measured the cracks in the concrete slab which “porches” the front of my house. After which he offered his professional opinion, a more detailed version of which will be emailed to me in a few days (copies of which I will forward to all the inter-ested parties). According to this engineer, there is a concrete solution which, cost notwithstand-ing (or even known yet) will secure my home’s structural foundation and assuage the appraiser.

The problem, as I understand it, concerns the possibility of my house falling down, from

across the porch. They are not embedded in the concrete (nor are they cracked or rotting). They are supporting the weight of the house, but apparently are on shaky ground. What has happened is, due to the improper preparation of the soil onto which this concrete slab was originally poured (100 years ago - or when-ever), the concrete has buckled under the pressure, and the house is tilting, sort of (and/or has the potential to slip further and fall). And if this happens, neither my wife nor I will be able to get up, whether we’re owners of Life Alert medallions or not.

There is a solution however, which doesn’t require “a pick and shovel and 20 men” (to invoke a Three Stooges reference). Nor will it require any heavy equipment and/or cabling of my house in some way to lift it off the ground in order to break up all the length, width and depth of approximately 150 square feet of con-crete (I don’t know about the cubic exactly). The plan seems to be for the house to be temporar-ily supported by wood beams as it is raised up a bit and then one foot square sections of the concrete surrounding each of the pillars will be broken up. According to the engineer, not a major undertaking. Then piers, which are struc-tural engineering jargon for whatever I need to have supporting the pillars, will be placed on the ground/ foundation beneath each pillar and

uncle: structural integrity. At least that’s as much as I can understand/explain, anyway. Orthotics for the house you might say.

Now whether my description of the repair is at all accurate, the engineer was clear. Though the repair is delicate, he agreed, nobody is reinventing the wheel here, and the solution as proposed is not that complicated. (As for the “structural integrity” of our 100 year-old stable, another concern of the appraiser, the engineer said “We don’t certify the structural integrity of 100 year-old buildings.” Now whether this out-building situation becomes a deal-breaker, I can only hope that reasonable minds prevail. Check back to this space for future updates.)

and starts (by the various external parties lining up to solve my homes structural problems) to

a bit at stake here, and I can’t afford (literally

65th birthday, my goal is to simplify my life and secure my future, not complicate my life and

would accomplish the former. I had no idea that it would lead to the latter.

Engineering a Solution

Opinion, Page 4 Seductive, Witty Tale of Generational...

Documents

Transcript of Opinion, Page 4 Seductive, Witty Tale of Generational...