Langley on Top of - Ellington...

Great Falls Connection ❖ January 20-26, 2016 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.com

Opinio

n, Page 8

❖

Entertainm

ent, 5

❖

Spo

rts, Page 16

❖

C

lassifieds, Page 18

Jamuary 20-26, 2016

Pho

to

by C

raig Sterbutzel/T

he C

onnectio

n

News, Page 6

Great FallsGreat FallsLangley on Top ofConferenceStanding

Langley on Top ofConferenceStandingSports, Page 16

Public Hearing,Public Access

News, Page 3

Student Art onExhibit at The Arts of

Great Falls SchoolNews, Page 6

Public Hearing,Public Access

News, Page 3

Student Art onExhibit at The Arts of

Great Falls SchoolNews, Page 6

Tavon Tarpley ledLangley with 22 pointsduring Friday’s winover Madison. Langleymoved into sole pos-session of first placein Conference 6.

Page 10

2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ January 20-26, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Great Falls Connection ❖ January 20-26, 2016 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

See Delegates, Page 17

By Ken Moore

The Connection

Alexandra Reed Lajoux advocatesfor youth in foster care withouta home, “sans domicile fix, as theFrench say.” The Fostering Fu-

tures advocate said 5,375 youth aged outof Virginia’s foster care system between2008 and 2015.

Reed Lajoux grew up in McLean, attendedChesterbrook Elementary, Longfellow Jun-ior HIgh, and McLean and Langley highschools.

“All the while, I had a permanent ad-dress,” she said. “This permanent addresswas mine to claim even in my 20s as I madethe transition to the working world and toa family of my own.”

In fact, 56 percent of the country’s 18-26year olds currently live with their parents,according to the Pew Research Center.

Youth in foster care aren’t so fortunate,said Reed Lajoux.

“Unfortunately, these kids don’t have anest to come back to,” said YusufJamaludeen, who mentors foster children.

THE TWO ADVOCATES spoke beforeMcLean’s delegates Marcus Simon (D-53),Rip Sullivan (D-48) and Kathleen Murphy(D-34), and senators Janet Howell (D-32)and Barbara Favola (D-31) at a Town Hallmeeting at the McLean Community Centeron Saturday, Jan. 16.

They were calling for support of legisla-tion called Fostering Futures that wouldleverage federal funds to help former fos-ter children who age out of the system with-out being adopted or reunited with family.

More than one in five teenagers who ageout of foster care without permanent con-nections will become homeless after 18; onein four will be involved in the criminal jus-tice system within two years of leaving thefoster care system, fewer than three per-cent will earn a college degree by age 25compared to 28 percent of all 25-year-olds;and only 58 percent will graduate highschool by 19 compared to 87 percent of all19 year olds, said Jamaludeen.

On the other hand, foster youth who re-ceive services after 18 are two-to-threetimes more likely to be enrolled in college,more likely to avoid homelessness, schooldropout or incarceration, and are morelikely to seek health and mental healthtreatment when needed.

“We can pay now or pay more more later,”Jamaludeen said.

MORE THAN 45 people attended thehearing Saturday, Jan. 16 at the McLeanCommunity Center.

“We are very eager to hear what’s on your

mind,” said Howell.“To hear your ideas and have conversa-

tion about what you think is important,”said Favola.

“I look forward to hearing from you,” saidRip Sullivan.

“To hearing your questions and findingout what you want me to be working on,”said Marcus Simon.

“I love serving this district,” said Murphy.

OF COURSE THE RALLY from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. in front of NOVA Firearms was on

many people’s minds. Organizers held therally in support of House Bill 422 sponsoredby Simon and Murphy to allow local gov-ernment to prohibit retail gun sales, gun-smithing services, or operating a sportsshooting range within 1,000 feet of a school.Favola has similar legislation in the senate.

Jonathan Sullivan, of McLean, voiced hissupport for common sense gun legislation.

“We live in a society where gun violencein schools is a reality. At Franklin Shermanthey practice emergency drills where theypractice huddling in a corner,” he said. “Just

think about that.”“So when NOVA Firearms opened up, I

thought this doesn’t make sense,” Sullivansaid. “My kids said, ‘Dad, we don’t feel safewith a gun store right out our window.”

Kris Gregory thanked McLean’s represen-tatives for their efforts thus far.

“Thank you for your persistence against

McLean delegates and senators discuss guns, foster care, nursing,student debt, Judge Jane Roush and more.

Public Hearing, Public Access

Yusuf Jamaludeen and Alexandra Reed Lajoux advocate for “Fostering Futures.”

Pho

to

by Jo

an

Brady

Photos by Ken Moore/The Connection

Sen. Jane Howell, Del. Marcus Simon (D-53) and Del. Rip Sullivan (D-48).

Sen. BarbaraFavola (D-31)

Del. KathleenMurphy (D-34)

FranklinSherman El-ementary par-ent JonathanSullivan advo-cated for com-mon sense gunlegislation.

April Georgelasdiscussed prob-lems with someVDOT“megaprojects.”

Great Falls Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]


News

By Ken Moore

The Connection

Each weekday, nearly 300,000 ve-hicles cross the American LegionBridge, and each day traffic backsup into McLean, Great Falls and

beyond.Vehicle speeds during the afternoon com-

mute slow to an average of 34.9 going to-wards McLean and 22.5 from McLean to thebridge, according to McLean Citizens Asso-ciation. Traffic backs up for miles.

Glenn Harris, vice president of theMcLean Citizens Association said it wasimportant for MCA to get on the record. “Iwould like to see MCA come out in favor offixing this enormous problem,” he said.“This isn’t exactly rocket science.”

Sally Horn said it was time to do some-thing. “It’s time for us to act. If we’re goingto say something, we should change it atthis juncture,” said Horn, past president ofthe McLean Citizens Association.

“This is a huge issue and has enormousimplications,” said Jim Roberts, head ofMcLean Citizens Association’s transporta-tion committee.

The McLean Citizens Association passeda resolution at its last meeting urging theCommonwealth of Virginia, the State ofMaryland and the U.S. Department of Trans-portation to “expeditiously develop andimplement a joint plan for the expansion ofthe American Legion Bridge and its connect-ing roadways, and the eventual construc-tion of an additional parallel bridge on theeastern side next to the existing span overthe Potomac River.”

This week, business groups fromHerndon, Reston, Springfield, and aroundNorthern Virginia, 20 in all, also call for anew Potomac River crossing west of theAmerican Legion Bridge, plus new man-

BUT THE RIVER CROSSING has causedintense debate and controversy for the lasttwo decades, and had its critics at the Jan.6 MCA meeting, as well.

MCA member Katie Probsturged caution. She suggested thatthe association not dictate thedefinite solution, but advocatethat something needs to be done.

“I feel like this is a huge deal tosupport. It seems like a rather bigissue,” she said, stating that shebelieved she needed more infor-mation and more time to under-stand all the implications.

“Do you realize you just votedfor adding two lanes to the Ameri-can Legion Bridge without anypublic input?” said AprilGeorgelas, who attended themeeting not as a member. “I’vebeen here for 40 years and I’venever seen anything like this.”

Georgelas said later thatMcLean has suffered from ongo-ing express lane construction onthe Beltway for years, and shedoesn’t welcome more.

Now, “the shoulder projectadded another lane of mergingHOT lane traffic into an alreadyoverburdened and dangerousmerging area of the Beltway up tothe American Legion Bridge, all

without public input,” Georgelas said.

RESIDENTS ON THE OTHER side of theriver in Potomac, Md. have advocatedagainst second river crossing in Montgom-ery County.

During a multi-year Master Plan process,ratified in 2004 by the Montgomery CountyCouncil, Potomac’s blueprint for landusesaid a second bridge crossing throughPotomac violates the responsibility ofPotomac as a buffer and protection to thePotomac River.

See Bridge, Page 5

McLean Citizens Association, many county business groups, call forwidening the American Legion Bridge, adding Express Lanes.

About Crossing the Potomac, Again

Photo by Ken Moore/The Connection

McLean Citizens Association meeting earlier in January where the influ-ential association backed widening the American Legion Bridge.

The American Legion Bridge can back traffic upinto Virginia anytime of the day or night.

Accident Ahead: McLean Citizens Association and many county businessgroups call for improvements to the American Legion Bridge in partbecause commuters clog McLean and Great Falls roads to circumvent theBeltway backup toward the bridge.


aged lanes in each direction overthe American Legion Bridge to270. Signers include the GreaterReston Chamber of Commerce,Dulles Regional Chamber of Com-merce, Greater Springfield Cham-ber of Commerce, Northern Vir-ginia Chamber of Commerce,Tysons Regional Chamber, andothers.

The American Legion Bridge isentirely in the State of Maryland.

MCA ACTED to encourage effortsbetween the Montgomery CountyCouncil and Fairfax County Boardof Supervisors, which wrote to theGovernors and Transportation Sec-retaries of Maryland and Virginiaon Oct. 19, 2015, “asking thestates to come together and focuson making improvements to ad-dress the severe congestion prob-lems at the American LegionBridge.”

A Potomac River Crossing Con-ditions study conducted by theVirginia Department of Transpor-tation (VDOT) and presented tothe Virginia Commonwealth Transporta-tion Board (CTB) in July of 2015, foundthat the American Legion Bridge suffersfrom the worst congestion of all bridgescrossing the Potomac River, and had theprojected largest growth in traffic volumethrough 2040.

In 2009, The Maryland State Highway Ad-ministration and VDOT concluded The WestSide Mobility Study in 2009. “VDOT staffrecommended in that study that the ‘toppriority’ for addressing Potomac River cross-ings should be extending the Express Lanesacross the American Legion Bridge to the I-270 interchange.”

“We want to put some pressure on thestate of Maryland,” said Rob Jackson at theJan. 6 MCA meeting.

“I don’t know why people are reluctant,”said Harris.

“It goes without saying,” said Mark Zetts,head of MCA’s planning and zoning com-mittee.

The advocacy group Northern VirginiaTransportation Alliance also recommendsupgrading the American Legion Bridge withfour conventional and two managed/HOTlanes in each direction, and extending theI-495 HOT lanes in Virginia to I-270 west-ern spur in Maryland.


From Page 4

However, members of the Mont-gomery County Council and theFairfax County Board of Supervi-sors jointly sent a letter to Mary-land Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Vir-ginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) onOct. 19, asking that the two states“come together and focus on mak-ing improvements to address thesevere congestion problems at theAmerican Legion Bridge.”

Improving the American LegionBridge should take priority over thepossibility of building another cross-ing of the Potomac River, they said.

“Montgomery County believesstrongly that our limited resourcesare best spent fixing the AmericanLegion Bridge, and we should notbe distracted by a divisive secondcrossing. That’s why we, as twobodies, are calling on our gover-nors to move forward with thisvital transportation improvementas quickly as possible.”

“The American Legion Bridge isthe major chokepoint in our re-gional transportation system andit must be fixed,” saidCouncilmember Roger Berliner,chair of the Montgomery Council’sTransportation, Infrastructure,Energy and Environment Commit-tee. “Adding an additional HOTlane in each direction will easecongestion and promote transit.Our two states must work togetherto make this happen.”

PROPOSALS for a possible newbridge west of the American Le-gion Bridge are not new, and nei-ther is opposition to the concept.

In 2000, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf(R-Va.), now retired, requested $2million to conduct a study on thefeasibility of a Techway bridgeover the Potomac River. Publicoutcry and preliminary analysis ofthe disruptions the bridge wouldcause prompted him to cancel thestudy seven months later.

In 2003, Maryland Gov. RobertEhrlich (R) and Virginia Gov. MarkWarner (D) announced their sup-port for a new Techway study be-cause they believed the secondcrossing would benefit “U-shapedcommuters” traveling from upperMontgomery County to westernFairfax County (e.g., fromGaithersburg to Reston). The Vir-ginia Department of Transporta-tion conducted a license platestudy on the American LegionBridge and found that only about8 percent of Virginia and Marylandcommuters would benefit from theTechway, because most commut-ers are traveling to destinations onor inside I-495 rather than to thesuburbs outside it.

Bridge

News


News

Great Falls Scouts CompleteHoliday Service ProjectThe Scouts of Troop 673 spent their last meeting of 2015 working ontheir annual holiday service project. They wrapped gifts and broughtin food for two Fairfax County families they are sponsoring for theChristmas holiday. The project is under the auspices of Our DailyBread-Fairfax, which works closely with Fairfax County public schoolsand other county agencies to identify several thousand individualsand families who need support for Thanksgiving and Christmas. TheScouts delivered the presents and food to their sponsored families,one with six kids who live in Fairfax, and the other a household ofseven children in Alexandria.

The Arts of Great Falls School andGallery held its seventh annualstudent art exhibition andawards ceremony on Saturday,

Jan. 16 at 756 Walker Road in Great Falls.The show included 51 pieces of art with stilllifes, landscapes, portraits, drawings andmixed media art by 17 adult artists who con-tributed 30 pieces and 12 youth artists whocontributed 21 pieces. Local artists Lori Golland Jay Pigeon judged the show, which wasdivided into youth and adult categories.

“We love the student art show becauseit’s the one time of the year when studentsof all skill levels can submit and display theirwork with fellow students,” said Julie Casso,executive director of The Arts of Great FallsSchool and Gallery and director of theschool. “It’s really nice when they can dothis one time in the year.”

The artwork will be exhibited throughJan. 30; the hours for exhibit viewing are

during the Artists’ Atelier open hours onWednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Sat-urdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Arts ofGreat Falls Gallery is at 756 Walker Road inGreat Falls Village Centre.

The Arts of Great Falls School offers weeklyworkshops and classes for adults and youth.Among the different adult classes nowthrough March are: Painting or Drawing thePortrait; Still Life Drawing and Painting; StillLife Plus Personal Painting Projects; EveningPainting in Oils; Abstracting the Still Life inAcrylics, and Portrait. For youth, the weeklyclasses include: Drawing and Painting forChildren; and Creative Drama. Workshopsstarting in February include Beginning Clas-sical Drawing and Painting and Intermedi-ate Classical Drawing and Painting. Visitwww.greatfallsart.org. Or contact Julie Casso,school director, at [email protected] 703-232-1575.

Award WinnersThe following artists won awards for their artwork:

BEGINNER CLASS:❖ First Place, “Looking Pretty,” by Lilyrose Golden,

8;❖ Second Place, “Colors of the Night,” by Elliott

Dell’Atti, 9;❖ Honorable Mention, “Question Mark,” by William

Wu.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS:❖ First Place, “Look Into My Eyes,” by Olivia Fox,

13;

Student Art on Exhibit at The Arts of Great Falls School❖ Second Place, “Color Study,” by Grace DeLuca,

16;❖ Honorable Mention, “Skulls & Roses,” by Miriam

Burch, 12.

ADULT RECOGNITION❖ First Place, “Fall Meadow,” by Cindi Berry;❖ Second Place, “Reflections of a Peach,” by Erin

Moore Thiebert;❖ Third Place, “Kitty,” by Linda Garden;❖ Honorable Mention, “Deep Down,” by Gwendolyn

Cohen;❖ Honorable Mention, “Pop,” by Robin Rosner.

Lilyrose Golden, 8, of Great Fallswon first place for “LookingPretty.”

Miriam Burch, 12, of Great Fallswon Honorable Mention for herwork.

Gracie DeLuca, 16, ofGreat Falls won secondplace for ‘Color Study.’

Art teachers atthe Arts of GreatFalls School.(From left):Judith St. Ledger-Roty, Jill Banks,Jennifer Duncan,Julie Casso andMichelaMansuina.

Donna Barnako ofGreat Falls withher piece, ‘Build-ing Bridges,Mending Fences.’

Pho

to

s by Steve H

ibbard/T

he C

on

nectio

n


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]

Abigail ConstantinoEditorial Assistant

703-778-9410 [email protected]

Ken MooreCommunity Reporter

[email protected]

Jon RoetmanSports Editor ❖ 703-752-4013

[email protected]@jonroetman

ADVERTISING:For advertising information

[email protected]

Salome Howard-GaiblerDisplay Advertising

[email protected]

Andrea SmithClassified Advertising

[email protected]

Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444

[email protected]

David GriffinMarketing Assistant

[email protected]

Editor & PublisherMary Kimm

[email protected]@MaryKimm

Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon

[email protected]

Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren

Managing EditorKemal KurspahicPhotography:

Deb Cobb, Craig SterbutzelArt/Design:

Laurence Foong, John HeinlyProduction Manager:

Geovani Flores

Special Assistant to the PublisherJeanne Theismann

[email protected]@TheismannMedia

CIRCULATION: [email protected]

Great FallsOpinion

The Virginia General Assembly began its 60-day 2016 session onWednesday, Jan. 13. Here in North-ern Virginia, residents are often far

more cognizant of national politics and gov-ernment than state and local government. Butthere are several reasons why, especially inVirginia, especially if you live in North-ern Virginia, you should pay attention.

In Virginia, localities have only thepower expressly given by the GeneralAssembly. So living in Fairfax or Arlington orAlexandria, your local governments and regu-lations are often not able to reflect the valuesand preferences of residents.

For example, for Fairfax County to have anysay about whether a gun store can operateadjacent to a school, where students can seecustomers coming and going with weapons,the General Assembly would have to vote togive the county that authority. While this hasbeen a hot topic here, and several legislatorshave introduced “authorizing legislation,” itwould be remarkable if the currently consti-tuted assembly would allow this to go forward.

Living in the wealthiest areas of the Com-monwealth also raises concerns. Localities havevery limited options for raising revenue. Therevenue that is actually based on someone’sability to pay, income taxes, is only collectedby the state; localities cannot claim any por-tion of income tax. Of course Northern Virginiais the economic engine of the state, and so itmakes sense that a significant portion of the

state budget would be funded with NorthernVirginia dollars. But it is unfair that the Gen-eral Assembly limits localities ability to accessother revenue choices to fund local necessitieslike schools.

There are dozens of other examples, andmost are complicated. But local officials are

elected, and if local government takesaction not supported by local voters,they will be voted out.

Because of gerrymandering of dis-tricts in both the House of Delegates and theVirginia Senate, the makeup of the General As-sembly is far more conservative than the Com-monwealth overall, as evidenced by Democratselected to all statewide offices. This makes thecontrol from Richmond all the more egregious.

Every resident is represented by one delegateand one senator in the Virginia General As-sembly. You can visit the General Assemblywebsite to find out who represents you, forcontact information, for session livestreamingand more.

http://virginiageneralassembly.gov

Vote Now forPresidential Primary

Who will be the next President of the UnitedStates also matters.

In order to vote in either of Virginia’s presi-dential primaries on March 1, voters must beregistered by Feb. 8. Voting “absentee in per-

son” (early voting available for myriad reasons,including anyone who will commute to workon Election Day) is already underway.

In Virginia, voters do not register by party.In the primaries for President, you can voteeither the Democrat or Republican ballot, butnot both. If you choose to vote the Republicanballot, you will be required to sign the follow-ing statement first:

Section 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia al-lows the political party holding a primary todetermine requirements for voting in the pri-mary. The Republican Party of Virginia hasdetermined that the following statement shallbe a requirement of your participation. STATE-MENT: My signature below indicates that I ama Republican.

For More ElectionInformation:STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS804-864-8901 Toll Free: 800-552-9745 FAX: 804-371-

0194email: [email protected]://www.sbe.virginia.gov

FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS703-222-0776, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/

elections/upcoming.htm12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Suite 232,

Fairfax, 22035; FAX 703-324-2205; [email protected]

For details on absentee voting in Fairfax County, seewww.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee.htm.

Pay Attention General Assembly actionmatters more in Virginia.

Editorial

We, the undersignedNorthern Virginia or-ganizations repre-

senting the vast majority of busi-nesses and employees of NorthernVirginia’s private sector and non-profit workforce, believe that astrong, efficient regional transpor-tation network is essential to ourregion’s future economic competi-tiveness, security, and quality oflife. We believe that unlockingNorthern Virginia’s transportationgrid requires a strategic regionalapproach.

We believe that achieving thebest solutions to our transporta-tion challenges requires a big pic-ture perspective — regionally aswell as statewide. Efforts to con-strain, either by law or regulation,the Commonwealth Transporta-tion Board’s ability to determinethe best investments for the state,are counter to the goals set forthin House Bill 2, 2014 legislation

designed to address thecommonwealth’s congestion re-duction and economic develop-ment needs.

The focus of the CommonwealthTransportation Board and theNorthern Virginia TransportationAuthority, our region’s designatedtransportation planning body,should be on the investment ofregional, state, federal, and privatesector transportation dollars forhighway, transit improvements,and intelligent transportation sys-tems that will:

❖ Move the greatest number ofpeople throughout the region;

❖ Reduce congestion and traveltime between major regional em-ployment centers and communi-ties;

❖ Increase reliability of the net-work region-wide while producingthe best long-term return on in-vestment;

❖ Promote regional economic

and Route 50 in Loudoun County.❖ Route 28 — upgrade to eight

lanes.❖ Fairfax County Parkway —

convert to limited access facility.❖ I-395 — convert HOV lanes

to express/managed lanes be-tween the Capital Beltway and the14th Street Bridge.

❖ Regional Express Bus network— implement in the I-66, I-95, I-395, I-495, Dulles and other ma-jor regional corridors.

We support performance-basedstatewide and regional transpor-tation plans that focus on new andexisting corridors of regional andstatewide significance, the evalu-ation of highway and public tran-sit projects utilizing the same cri-teria, and the prioritization of in-vestments first and foremost onthe ability to reduce congestionand improve travel time.

Brian M. Gordon, MPA, Apart-ment and Office Building AssociationLeo J. Titus, Jr. PE, Committee for

DullesPatricia Nicoson, Dulles Corridor

Rail AssociationMark S. Ingrao, Greater Reston

Chamber of Commerce Greater

Northern Virginia BusinessTransportation Coalition2016 policy statement.

Transportation Improvements Will Bolster Economydevelopment and growth; and

❖ Enhance regional security.We are concerned that the law

requiring the long-term benefits ofNorthern Virginia’s regional fundsbe distributed proportionallyamong jurisdictions impedes theability of the regional body to ad-dress the region’s most criticaltransportation needs.

We believe that regional trans-portation funds should be prima-rily focused and leveraged, whereappropriate, with federal, state,and private funds on projects oflarge-scale regional significance.These include:

❖ I-66 — construct new lanesand enhance transit from USRoute 15/Haymarket to TheodoreRoosevelt Bridge.

❖ New Potomac River Crossing— constructed west of AmericanLegion Bridge.

❖ American Legion Bridge —add new express/managed lanesin each direction.

❖ Metro — improve mainte-nance, operations, safety and railfleet.

❖ Bi-County Parkway — con-struct between I-66/Route 234Bypass in Prince William County See Transportation, Page 19


Open 7 Days a Week!9 am–9 pm!

Look Your BestAll Year Round

Other Services: Facial, ChemicalPeels, Massage, MicroPen, VenusFreeze, Venus Legacy, B-12 Shots,Kybella, Sclerotherapy, Whitening,Invisalign, Botox and Fillers

FREEZE TIMEREVERSE AGING

ThroughThermal Magnetic

Rejuvenation for Face,Neck and Body

Cannot be combined with any other offers.Expires 1/30/16

$150.00

Oxygenation Facial(New Customer)

(Value $210)

St. Francis Episcopal Church,9220 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, of-fers musical, educational, outreach andfellowship ministries in addition to wor-ship services, including a 7:45 a.m.worship service without music; 9 a.m.worship service, children’s chapel andchildren’s choirs; 10 a.m. Sunday schooland adult forum; and 11 a.m. worshipservice with adult choir. 703-759-2082.

The Jewish Social ServicesAgency (JSSA) offers a wide variety ofsupport groups for those with emo-tional, social, and physical challenges.www.jssa.org/growth-learning.

HAVEN of Northern Virginia of-fers a variety of free bereavementsupport groups, meeting on a weeklybasis. 703-941-7000 orwww.havenofnova.org.

McLean Bible Church FitnessClass at Body & Soul Fitness. Gain bal-ance, energy and strength at 9:45 a.m.Mondays and Fridays. Free childcare forregistered [email protected].

St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church,1830 Kirby Road in McLean, holds athird Sunday service every month at10:15 a.m. which allows children to playactive roles in the music and as greetersand ushers. Traditional services are ev-ery Sunday at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m.

Chesterbrook United MethodistChurch is at 1711 Kirby Road, McLean.Worship service is at 11 a.m. Sundayschool is at 9:30 a.m. for adults and chil-dren. 703-356-7100 orwww.ChesterbrookUMC.org.

Centering Prayer Group meets

Fridays, 9:30 a.m. at Andrew ChapelUnited Methodist Church, 1301 TrapRoad, Vienna. The hour includes a briefreading related to Centering Prayer, fol-lowed by a 20-minute prayer period.E-mail Martha Thomas [email protected] or call thechurch at 703-759-3509.

Unitarian Universalist Congre-gation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter MillRoad, Oakton, offers the Religious Ex-ploration (RE) program for all children,from pre-K toddlers through high schoolseniors, emphasizing exploration of allreligious traditions while developing apersonal spiritual path. The RE programoffers classes on Saturday afternoonsand Sunday mornings. 703-281-4230.

The Jewish Federation ofGreater Washington and the Jew-ish Outreach Institute offer theMothers/Parents Circle, an umbrella offree educational events and resources.Jewish rituals, ethics and the creation ofa Jewish home, regular meetings andgroup Shabbats and holidays. Partici-pants include Sha’are Shalom,Congregation Beth Emeth, TempleRodef Shalom and the Jewish Commu-nity Center of Northern Virginia.ShalomDC.org.

Trinity United MethodistChurch, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd.,McLean. Sunday worship services are at8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School foradults is at 9:30 a.m. and for childrenduring the 10:30 a.m. worship service.Youth Group for grades 7-12 meets Sun-days at 6 p.m. A 20-minute service ofHoly Communion is held each Wednes-day at noon. 703-356-3312 orumtrinity.org.

Faith Notes

Faith Notes are for announcements and events in the faith community.Send to [email protected]. Deadline is Friday.

10 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ January 20-26, 2016 Great Falls Connection ❖ January 20-26, 2016 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

www.vgdsva.com703-759-4049

790 Walker Road, Great Falls, Virginia

• Mommy & Me• Preschool Ages 2 & Up• Montessori Preschool• Private Kindergarten• Childcare• School Age Childcare K-6

OPEN HOUSEJanuary 22, 2016 9:30-11:00am

By Joan Brady

The Connection

A tall, striking figure in red,Nyrisha Beckman stands infront of a room of recent FairfaxCounty high school graduates;

not as a cautionary tale, but rather a trueinspiration.

Her journey has been one of unrelentingperseverance—of getting knocked downand picking herself up, of being her owncheerleader. Today, despite many obstacles,the home she owns with her fiancé displaysa wall of degrees including an associate’s,a bachelor’s and a master’s. Shortly, a sec-ond master’s will join the others.

Beckman wants these high school gradu-ates, who are Fairfax County foster carealumni, to know that they can do it too.Quoting one of her favorite poems,Beckman tells them, “Rest if you must, butdon’t you quit.”

And that determination was the exampleset by her older sister, Taneka, who says,“We couldn’t help how we were brought up.It was on each of us whether, as adults, wewere going to be a success or a failure.“

Placed in foster care for the first time atage 6, Beckman lived in two different fos-ter homes before returning to her mother’shome where she lived for the next few years.

About to start sixth grade, social servicesintervened again and she and her five un-derage sisters were removed from theirmother’s household for good. Beckman andthree of the sisters were taken in by an aunt.Beckman was grateful to be placed with afamily member and to have her sisters forsupport.

But for children living a precarious child-hood, there are often no adults to confidein and when things went south at her aunt’s,“We were afraid to go to the social worker.We stayed there until things got so bad thatwe ran away,” she said. By that time, shewas a 10th grader.

RUNNING AWAY did get her removedfrom her aunt’s house, but being split upfrom her sisters and living in four differentfoster homes over the next three yearswasn’t easy. “You were on eggshells in some-one else’s house. You never felt like youwere part of that family,“ she said.

Educational success can be elusive forchildren who spend time in foster care.“Children often have many moves from fos-ter home to foster home,” said MarilynDurbin, LCSW, BCD of Centreville and 25-year veteran of Fairfax County Foster Careand Adoption caseworker and supervisor.

“This can result in changing schools. Withthe educational disruptions, the trauma ofmoving and the trauma of the abuse and/or neglect that brought them into the sys-tem in the first place, learning can be diffi-

cult and sometimes impossible.”A recent study commissioned by the state

of Virginia found that children who agedout of foster care were 37 percent less likelyto have earned a high school diploma thantheir counterparts who were not in care.

Beckman and her siblings had an unclewho somehow managed to instill in themthe idea that education was the key to suc-cess. Even with all of the turmoil and diag-noses of ADD/ADHD and learning disabled,Beckman didn’t drop out of high school.

When she graduated, several of her oldersiblings were setting a good example bypursuing higher education. This sets theBeckman siblings apart. Fewer than twopercent of foster care alumni earn a collegedegree by age 25, compared to 28 percentof all 25-year-olds, according to the ChapinHall Midwest study.

WHEN BECKMAN began her freshmanyear at The State University of New York atBuffalo, in the city where she had grownup, she was 18. Having aged out of fostercare, she was on her own without the safetynet and support that parents often provide.

Beckman found herself far behind the restof her classmates academically. Shestruggled to keep up while working to en-sure she had a roof over her head and foodto eat. Going to school also meant less timeto hang out with her friends. It was toomuch. She dropped out after her freshmanyear.

With few options, Beckman joined theArmy National Guard where she served forfour years as a chemical specialist.

By 2003, she had fulfilled her militarycommitment and was juggling motherhoodwith several jobs in an effort to support theirlittle family.

“My inspiration was my son,” Beckmansaid, “I was working two – three jobs tosupport us. I knew I wanted Bryant to havea life where he had choices. To give himthat, I needed to go back to college.”

But her plans were derailed when her ap-plication to return to the University at Buf-falo was not accepted.

Instead of crumbling under the rejection,Beckman pressed on: “‘Cannot’ is simply notin my vocabulary.” She was determined notto let obstacles of money, childcare and aca-demic challenges keep her from succeed-ing. She got out a piece of paper and start-ing writing down her goals.

With college at the top of her list, she ma-triculated at Erie Community College. Un-able to afford evening childcare, Beckmanbrought her baby son with her to class. Asa result, some of Bryant’s earliest memo-ries are of classrooms with just one win-dow and the single sheet of paper he hadto entertain himself.

DESPITE THE SETBACKS, Beckman con-

tinued to push forward to achieve her goals. “Thatseed, planted by her uncle, might have been what ittook to help instill the resiliency she needed to fightto return to college,” said Jackie Stout, a licensedclinical social worker specializing in the treatmentof trauma and childhood issues using EMDR therapy.

Two years later when she re-applied to the Uni-versity at Buffalo, Beckman was armed with anassociate's degree from Erie Community College inbusiness administration and a 3.5 grade point aver-age.

Acceptance back into the University at Buffalomeant continuing to juggle a full-time job with moth-erhood and her full course load, Beckman remem-bers how supportive her professors were, even en-tertaining young Bryant while she took exams.

When she accepted her bachelor of arts, she wasready to start working toward her next goal. Theuniversity had awarded her with a full-ride scholar-ship to complete a master’s in Rehabilitation Coun-seling. Daniel J. Smith, adjunct professor, GraduateSchool of Education remembers Beckman from thosedays, “She wasn’t writing or researching on a gradu-ate level [when she started]. But she went back andforth with me on her papers, accepting criticism andnot giving up until she felt she had done her best. Bythe end of her third class with me, she was writingin the top 30 percent.” And today, he said, “her writ-ing is Ph.D. level.”

Smith didn’t know prior to being interviewed forthis article that Beckman had had a difficult child-

hood. He said, “I wish I had known, I wouldn’t havebeen so hard on her.” But then thought better of it.He shouldn’t have expected less of her than she ex-pected from herself, and that is to be the very bestthat she can be, he said.

In 2013, Beckman earned her master in rehabili-tation counseling. She says that over the thousandswho came to celebrate the graduates, she could hearher then 11-year-old son cheering for her. Bryant re-members that day too; both his pride in his motherand how loudly he screamed “MOOOOOM!” whenshe accepted her diploma.

In addition to raising her son and merging theirduo with her fiancé and his daughter, London, she isworking on her second master’s, works full-time dur-ing the week and has a part-time job on weekends.“[Nyrisha’s] heart is as big as the world,” her fiancé,Aaron Hall, said.

HER WILLINGNESS to help others without judg-ment is key to her success as an employment/workforce specialist for Linden Resources, Inc.Beckman is deployed to Fairfax County and works atthe Merrifield Behavioral Health Outpatient Program.

“Her success in matching clients with employmentis more than double the average. That’s unheard of,”said Lori Bell, Mental Health manager and Beckman’sdirect supervisor. “She is a superstar and ignites ev-eryone around her to strive to be the same.”

Modelling what it takes for success, NyrishaBeckman overcomes childhood of foster care.

Victor Not Victim

Photos by Joan Brady/The Connection

Aaron andLondon Hallwith Bryantand NyrishaBeckman.

See Success Story, Page 12

NyrishaBeckman withher sonBryant.

Our Lady ofGood Counsel School

Established 1957

Developing character,faith and life-long learnersin the Salesian tradition

We have been providing aquality Catholic educationfor over 50 years...

www.olgcschool.org

Find out whyOLGC School isthe right choice

for your children.

Come to ourOPEN HOUSE

Sunday,January 31st,10 a.m.–1 p.m.

8601 Wolftrap Rd.Vienna, VA 22182

703.938.3600

Full Day Grades K-8

Nationally recognizedfor academic excellence


From

Director of Mental Health Services LaVurne Will-iams can’t say enough about Beckman’s impact. “Youcan’t be in the same building with Nyrisha and notmeet her. Her personality is that magnetizing. Nyrishaworks with clients with struggles that contribute todifficulties finding and keeping employment. With-out jobs, they are unable to obtain housing and meetthe basic needs of themselves and their families. Sheworks tirelessly to figure out creative ways connecther clients with jobs. She changes the lives of every-one around her.”

Beckman says she uses her own experiences to helpher clients.

“You can’t take care of yourself without employ-ment and education. I can set an example. If I cando it, they can too.”

Friends, classmates, colleagues and supervisorsconfirm the value of Beckman.

“Everyone wants to be around her,” said TeresaZutter, director of Education at First Star GreaterWashington Academy, where Beckman volunteers.

“She has a ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’attitude which she uses to encourage others,” saidChauncey Strong, Chapter Liaison, Foster CareAlumni of America.

“She has a natural empathy,” said Krystal Edmead,graduate school classmate.

“She has shown me that whatever you want to do

in life, you can do, just stick with it,” said LillianImes Gates, a childhood friend.

“She is a go-getter, a very impressive self starter,”said Liesa Snodgrass, internship clinical supervisor

Beckman, reflecting on how she juggles a family,full and part-time work and her many volunteercommitments, posits that even the ADHD may havehelped her along the way, “Maybe it’s that hyperac-tivity that allows me to juggle and accomplish somany things,” she said with a smile.

She is sympathetic to the people who failed herduring her childhood. Her parents, a mother witha seventh-grade education and an untreated men-tal illness and a father who struggled with drug ad-diction, did the best they could, she says. Relativesand foster parents who failed her, were not prop-erly trained.

Every day, Beckman wears something red. To her,it is the color of energy and it helps to fuel her drive.It is also her mother’s favorite color, she notes.

Despite all of her success, Beckman is wistfulwhen she talks of her one stuffed animal, long agolost in one of those many childhood moves and ofthe pictures of her childhood never taken. She isunwavering in her resolve that Bryant and London’schildhoods be different, with mementoes kept safeand memories captured in pictures.

Now 36-years-old, Beckman doesn’t waste a singleminute, setting an example every day as to what itis to be a victor, instead of a victim.

Photo by Joan Brady/The Connection

Nyrisha Beckman at her desk.

Foster Child’s Success Story


News

By Christina Tyler Wenks

For Great Falls Connection

Cash often motivates students to do anything — even homework. Sixth-gradershave an opportunity to write for mon-etary prizes and fun. To encourage, in-

spire, and reward young writers, the Great FallsWriter’s Group (GFWG) hosts its second annual YouthCreative Writing Contest for sixth graders on Satur-day, Feb. 6. The contest is at the Great Falls Libraryat 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.

“What we’re doing with this contest is creatingexcitement among young people about the craft ofwriting.” said Kristin Clark Taylor, who foundedGFWG in August 2012.

In the contest’s second year, the GFWG expandsopportunity to all sixth-graders who reside in the22066 ZIP code or attend public school in Great Falls.Sixth-graders who attend Great Falls ElementarySchool, Forestville Elementary School and Colvin RunElementary School are asked to bring a currentprogress report with the child’s name and grade onit as proof of enrollment. Private-schooled sixth-grad-ers and home-schooled students must provide proofof residency within the 22066 ZIP code.

At the time of the contest, parents must providecontact information for notifying winners. Parentsare encouraged to bring a self-addressed stampedenvelope at the time of the contest to return originalworks after judging as a keepsake for their childrenand to cultivate more creative thought.

“Some of last year’s entries could have been de-veloped into much bigger stories,” said Laura MaloneElliott, a best-selling author who served as a judgeof the inaugural year’s contest.

“We’re reaching out and drawing in,” said Taylor.“Our ultimate goal is all of this is to make sure ouryoung writers come face-to-face with the fact thatthe words they create have value, impact and stay-ing power.”

Forestville Elementary School principal ToddFranklin says having no warning of the writingprompt and no parental or outside aid levels the play-ing field for participants. He sees the GFWG YouthCreative Writing Contest as an opportunity for stu-dents to display their skills and put their thoughts,feelings and perspectives on paper. He is sharingcontest information with other principals and edu-cators to encourage their sixth-grade students tobuild skills and confidence through opportunitiessuch as this.

“Writing across the curriculum is a region andcounty goal for us educators this year,” said Franklin.“Writing extends well beyond our language and read-ing curriculum and needs to be promoted and nur-tured across all subjects.”

The inaugural writing contest was administeredas an in-class writing assignment at Forestville El-ementary School last February. Students were inten-tionally not given advance notice of the assignment.

Sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Donlon challenged herstudents to think creatively. They were required todo the assignment for a class grade, but they couldchoose whether to enter the contest — and morethan 110 eagerly did.

Donlon believes the contest showcased writers ofall academic abilities. A few honorable-mentionawards went to students who must work harder tomake the grade than many peers, but the words car-ried weight and resulted in being a point or two fromreceiving a cash award.

“Last year’s contest winners included a number ofchildren who otherwise did not achieve high grades,”said Donlon. “The looks of pride and accomplish-ment on their faces as I read the winners was price-less!”

Feedback from students, parents and teachers per-suaded GFWG to expand the contest to the greaterGreat Falls community.

Sixth-graders who wish to participate must regis-ter online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0845a4a82ba4fa7-2016. The contest providesfour sessions accommodating 40 students each, tobe filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The biggest challenge is finding a space to accom-modate as many students as we can,” said MichaelCappitelli, contest committee chairman. “We’d liketo open it up to a much larger geographical area,but we are limited by space and the number of vol-unteers we have.”

Writing will be judged and scored upon its cre-ativity, originality, content and relationship to theprompt topic, grammar and story development. Inthe event of a tie, categories will be eliminated andscores recalculated to determine top scores. Studentswill be assigned a number to place on entries so judg-ing is done blindly and without names and schoolsattached.

Published authors, college professors and librar-ians are generously giving their free time betweenpersonal deadlines to judge entries.

First, second, and third-place winners will receivecash awards to be distributed in late spring. TheFriends of the Great Falls Library is contributing prizemoney.

GFWG members Michael Cappitelli, Pat Britz, KateSchwarz and Christina Tyler Wenks created the con-test and recruited judges. This year, Mary McKay,Myrna Stewart, Merrill Lishan and Nullie Stocktonjoin the youth writing contest committee as the con-test grows.

Great Falls Writers Grouphosts second annual YouthWriting Contest on Feb. 6.

Calling Great FallsSixth-Graders

More InformationWho: All sixth-graders in Great FallsWhat: Youth Writing Contest hosted by the GreatFalls Writer’s GroupWhen: Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m.,noon and 1:30 p.m.Where: Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls

Register online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0845a4a82ba4fa7-2016

Sign-up is first-come, first-served. Bring proof ofresidency within 22066 or proof of attending apublic school in Great Falls, pencils, loose-leafpaper, and a self-addressed-stamped envelope forreturning original work after judging.

A long line in a grocery storecan be tedious or lead to greatthings. Last year a chance meet-ing in one of those long linesallowed GFHoops the opportu-nity to change lives. GFHoopscommissioner Michelle Claudemet the Community Coalitionfor Haiti’s (CCH) Emelie Parkerin a long checkout line and thetwo began a conversation thatled to GFHoops’ first fundraiser,the Shots for Shots campaign.

The Shots for Shots campaignis a player shooting contest inwhich players compete againsttheir teammates and thenagainst other players in theirage group. The winners in GreatFalls receive a T-shirt and thechildren in Haiti are winnerswhen they receive their vacci-nations. Most children don’tthink getting a shot is much ofa prize but for a child in Haitithat vaccination means they cango to school, which gives thema “shot” at a better future.

Through GFHoops’ players’efforts CCH was able to meet itsvaccination goal, but in a coun-try where most families live on$2 per day GFHoops and CCHwere able to do much more. Withthe funds raised by the GreatFalls players CCH has been able

to launch a multi-prongedwellness program. Theprogram’s goals include provid-ing school-based health servicesinvolving mobilized wellnessclinics to reach rural schools andprovide curative and preventa-tive health screenings; commu-nity health and wellness days toprovide health education to com-munities where access to clinicsis too difficult; and building par-ent to parent networks in whicha core group of parents are iden-tified and trained to identifyhealth and wellness needs andtrain other parents on health andwellness interventions.

CCH has been working inHaiti since 1989. Their visionis to transform lives one by onethrough long-term communitydriven solutions in healthcare,education and community de-velopment. In other words,their philosophy is not to givea handout but rather give theHaitians a hand up. GFHoopsis excited to host the SecondAnnual Shots for Shots contestthe weekends of Jan. 23-24 and30-31, and use lay-ups duringthe half times of the GFHoopsbasketball games to give a handup to Haiti.

—Malia Kishore

GFHoops to Host Second Shotsfor Shots Campaign

Emelie Parkerof CCH andsome Haitianstudents intheir Shots forShots T-shirts.

Photo contributed

Senior Center Event to DiscussHuman Genome Project

The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC) speaker for February is CarlaL. Easter, Ph.D., chief of the Education and Community InvolvementBranch at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).Her topic will be The Human Genome Project. She played a major rolein the development of the NIHGRI/Smithsonian exhibition, Genome:Unlocking Life’s Code, and its accompanying website, and serves as aliaison to the K-12 and university community as a speaker on genomescience and career preparation and pathways. Dr. Easter also serves asan adjunct faculty member at the University of the District of Colum-bia department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The Feb. 2 event will be held at United Methodist Church Doylestown,10100 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and includeslunch. The event sponsor is the Rotary Club of Great Falls. The RotaryClub meets at the River Bend Country Club on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.for breakfast and the public is invited. For more information, visitwww.rotarygreatfalls.org.

Space is limited so reservations are a must. To reserve, email PollyFitzgerald at [email protected] or call 703-759-4345. Visitgfseniors.org.

Week in Great Falls


FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VIENNA

450 ORCHARD STREET, NWVIENNA, VA 22180

[email protected]

www.fbcv.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP, 7:45 AM & 11:00 AMCHURCH SCHOOL 9:30AM-10:30AMMIDWEEK SERVICES, WED. 7:00 PM

Visit These Houses of Worship

To Highlight Your Faith Community,call Karen at 703-917-6468

7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Sunday School: preschool - grade 2Music: grades 3 - 7

10:25 a.m. Sunday School Grades 3 to 6Music 4 years to 2nd grade

11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II5:00 p.m. Come Just as You Are Contemporary Service

Nursery care provided at 9:00 a.m. service

The Rev. James Papile, RectorThe Rev. Laura Cochran

703-437-6530www.stannes-reston.org

1700 Wainwright Dr., Reston

ST. ANNE’SEPISCOPALCHURCH • Reston

Welcoming, Diverse, Progressive

Select yourproducts from

our MobileShowroomand Design

CenterFully Insured &

Class A LicensedSince 1999

Free Estimates703-999-2928

From Now to WOW in 5 Days Guarantee

Visit our website: www.twopoorteachers.com

Home of the $6,850 Bathroom Remodel

TWO POOR TEACHERSKitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

10% downnothing until the jobis complete for the

past 17 years

10% downnothing until the jobis complete for the

past 17 years

News

Boy Scout Troop 55, sponsored by St. FrancisEpiscopal Church in Great Falls, promotedfive scouts to the Eagle Rank.

The new Eagle Scouts are AndrewDudzik, Corey Hodge, Joseph Kee and Paul Youssef,all attending Langley High School; and Nick Duniewho attends Fort Union Military Academy. Each ofthese Eagle Scouts demonstrated service to the com-munity, leadership and mentored other scouts. In ad-dition, they each planned and executed a complexproject as described below.

Andrew Dudzik’s project constructed a roof overSt. Francis Episcopal Church’s utility area to protectequipment. Andrew said, “The most important thingI learned is how to be a follower, as well as a leader.This shows respect for those that are in charge.”

Nick Dunie’s Eagle project constructed a foot-bridge over a stream and cleared the trail aroundthe new crossing. Dunie said, “I have been able toapply the leadership skills I learned in Scouting tomany other areas of my life.”

Corey Hodge led a team that implemented acommunity-wide collection of children’s books foran underprivileged elementary school in Ohio. Hodgestated, “I learned leadership and public speaking inBoy Scouts, and these are incredibly important skills.I credit Scouts for helping me with both.”

Joseph Kee is the 100th Eagle Scout for Troop55. Joseph’s project built two cook-top shelves forRestore in Chantilly. Kee said, “The most importantthing I’ve learned from scouting is how to cook. I’lluse these skills when I go to college this Fall.”

Paul Youssef’s project constructed a new stair-case in the parking lot at St. Thomas a Becket CatholicChurch in Reston to allow parishioners to avoidclimbing a muddy hill. Paul stated, “The most im-portant thing I learned from Scouting is discoveringwho I am. Scouting has provided a template for suc-cess and opportunities that no school, occupation,organization or amount of money could ever haveoffered me.”

Each Eagle Scout was recognized for their ac-complishments at a formal Court of Honor. GaryPan, the Scoutmaster for Troop 55, presided overthe ceremonies.

Boy Scout Troop 55 achieves its 100th Eagle Scout.

Great Falls Boy Scouts EarnEagle Scout Rank

Current and future Eagle Scouts. Bottom,from left, Patrick Ryan, Paul Youssef,Scoutmaster Gary Pan, Kevin Devlin andWesley Pan. Top from left, Drew Dudzik,Thomas Windus, Will Frank, WilliamMolster and Justin Meeker.

From left, Diane Perrino, CongresswomanBarbara Comstock, Eagle Scout PaulYoussef and Ash Youssef.

Photos contributed

Attorney/Accountant,Former IRS Attorney

Admitted to DC, MD, VA & NY Bars

All Types of Federal, State,Local & Foreign Taxes

Individual • BusinessTrusts • Estates • Wills

Amended & Late ReturnsBack Taxes • IRS Audits

• Civil LitigationBusiness Law • Contracts

Robert Beatson II

703-798-3590 or301-340-2951

www.beatsonlaw.com

lostdogandcatrescue.org

lost (adj): 1. unable to findthe way. 2. not appreciatedor understood. 3. no longer

owned or known

AdoptDonate

Volunteer

Award-WinningAward-

Winning

E-mail [email protected] for more information.

Newspapers & Online703-778-9431

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com/Advertising

SPECIAL CONNECTIONS CALENDARAdvertising Deadlines are the previous Thursday unless noted.

FEBRUARY2/3/2016.......................................Valentine’s Dining & Gifts I2/3/2016..Wellbeing – Nat’l. Children’s Dental Health Month2/10/2016..............................................................HomeLifeStyle2/10/2016......................................Valentine’s Dining & Gifts II2/17/2016..................................................A+ Camps & Schools2/24/2016.............................................................Pet Connection


Calendar

THURSDAY/JAN. 21“Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” 7:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center, 1234 InglesideAve. McLean. Experts from the ShakespeareTheatre, American Shakespeare Center andthe Folger Shakespeare Library are back togive you a guided tour of the world ofShakespeare in preparation for AmericanShakespeare Center on Tour’s ShakespeareWeekend at The Alden. Tickets: $6/$3 MCCdistrict residents; free with the three-play ASCweekend package. Single tickets available atthe box office only. http://www.mcleancenter.org/. 703-790-0123.

Zen Coloring. 7-8 p.m. Dolley Madison Library,1244 Oak Ridge Ave, McLean. De-stress andmeet new people while working on detailedcoloring pages for adults. Coloring pages andcolored pencils provided. Teens and Adults.703-356-0770.

FRIDAY/JAN. 22American Shakespeare Center on Tour’s

Shakespeare Weekend at The Alden:“Julius Caesar.” 8 p.m. McLean CommunityCenter, 1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean. In thisprofoundly moving, breathtaking and deeplyhuman play, Shakespeare shows us a world onfire; a world turned upside down; a worldwhere some of history’s most famous mencommit horrific crimes in the name ofpatriotism and honor. “Julius Caesar” is adazzling thrill ride of betrayal, violence andperhaps most surprisingly, love. $20-$35(three plays for $50-$88). http://www.mcleancenter.org/ or 703-790-0123.

Robyn Hitchcock. 8 p.m. The Barnes, WolfTrap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. One ofEngland’s most enduring contemporarysinger/songwriters, Robyn Hitchcock beganhis career performing folk rock in Cambridge.Come enjoy his performance with Emma Swift,who is an alt-country songstress and award-winning radio broadcaster. $25-$28. http://www.wolftrap.org or 703-255-1900.

McLean Art Society Meeting. 10 a.m.-noon.McLean Community Center, 1234 InglesideAve., McLean. Beverly Ress, a graphic artistwho does Botanical illustrations, will be thefeatured presenter. 703-790-0123.

Playdate Cafe. 10 a.m.-noon. Meeting Room,Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Toys and playspace for children.Coffee and conversation for grownups. Agesbirth-5. 703-757-8560.

Family Game Time. 3:30-5:30 p.m. MeetingRoom, Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Drop-in and play assortedboard games. All skill levels and ageswelcome. 703-757-8560.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/JAN. 22-24Henry IV, Part 1. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.

Sunday, 4 p.m. Green Hedges School, 415Windover Ave., Vienna. The Britches and HoseShakespeare Company is thrilled to announceits upcoming production of WilliamShakespeare’s play. The Britches and HoseShakespeare Company is a gender-blindtheater group devoted to creating innovativeproductions. $10. http://www.britchesandhoseshakespearecompany.com/

Hope on Ice. 3-9:30 p.m. Tysons Skate Rink,1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Communityice skating extravaganza benefiting AmericanCancer Society and honoring cancer survivors.DJ Civil, live music, entertainment andLuminaria on ice ceremony. First 50 cancersurvivors receive commemorative T-shirt. [email protected]. 703-673-8044.

SATURDAY/JAN. 23All Aboard! Ticket to Ride Game Event. 2

p.m. Barnes and Noble Tysons, 7851-L TysonsCorner Center, McLean. Customers of all agescan join booksellers and learn to play thepopular Ticket to Ride strategy board game.703-506-6756.

American Shakespeare Center on Tour’sShakespeare Weekend at The Alden:“The Importance of Being Earnest.” 2p.m. McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave. McLean. Oscar Wilde’s brilliantand wicked comic masterpiece defines wit andstyle. This “trivial comedy for serious people”is at once blissfully silly and outrageouslyshrewd. One-hundred twenty years after itsfirst performance, “The Importance of BeingEarnest” continues to delight audiences withits playful language, charming characters and

biting look at contemporary society, and ASCon Tour’s production will have you in absolutehysterics. $20-$35 (three plays for $50-$88).http://www.mcleancenter.org/ or 703-790-0123.

American Shakespeare Center on Tour’sShakespeare Weekend at The Alden:“The Life of King Henry V.” 8 p.m.McLean Community Center, 1234 InglesideAve. McLean. The story of England’s hero-kingand the greatest upset in European militaryhistory is Shakespeare’s finale to his greathistory plays. More than that, Henry V — atonce touching, heroic, savage and comic —explores the nature of greatness and itsconnection to theatre; and, perhaps more thanany other of Shakespeare’s works, it makes theaudience part of the story. $20-$35 (threeplays for $50-$88). http://www.mcleancenter.org/ or 703-790-0123.

Marcia Ball. The Barnes, Wolf Trap, 1645 TrapRoad, Vienna. Grew up in Vinton, La., shebegan playing piano at age five and debutedwith the country rock album Circuit Queen in1978. Since then, she has released more thana dozen records, including her Grammy-nominated collaboration with blues stars IrmaThomas and Tracy Nelson, Sing It! (1998).$35-$40. http://www.wolftrap.org or 703-

255-1900.The Imaginary Landscape: Workshop with

Carol Barsha. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. McLeanProject for the Arts, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. Participants will create a series ofsketches leading to a final composition –combining elements from the natural worldwithin an imaginary landscape. $60/$55.http://www.mpaart.org/events-2/. 703-791-1953.

Exploring the Psychic World. 1-2:45 p.m.Meeting Room, Dolley Madison Library, 1244Oak Ridge Ave, McLean. Noted psychic SherrySherry presents a program on psychicphenomena, the paranormal, and the spiritworld. Seating is limited. Registration ishighly recommended. Registration begins Dec.20. Adults. 703-356-0770.

SUNDAY/JAN. 24The Philadelphia Orchestra Chamber

Ensemble. The Barnes, Wolf Trap, 1645 TrapRoad, Vienna. Join esteemed players from oneof the nation’s finest orchestras, under thedirection of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in a rareevening of chamber music. The centerpiece ofthe performance will be Mozart’s ClarinetQuintet (K. 581), featuring principal

clarinetist Ricardo Morales. Tickets: $35.http://www.wolftrap.org/ or 703-255-1900.

TUESDAY/JAN. 26Pre-School Storytime. 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Meeting Room, Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Join us forstories, songs, and activities. Age 3-5 withadult. 703-757-8560.

Legos in the Library. 3:30-5:30 p.m. MeetingRoom, Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Get creative with legos.Legos provided. Ages 5-12. 703-757-8560.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 27Animals on the Move. 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Meeting Room, Dolley Madison Library, 1244Oak Ridge Ave, McLean. Learn aboutmigration, hibernation and active winteranimals, through interactive activities, storiesand songs. Presented by Riverbend Park andsponsored by the Friends of the DolleyMadison Library. Ages 3-5. 703-356-0770.

Pokemon League. 4:30-6:30 p.m. MeetingRoom, Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Drop-in and play Pokemonwith your friends! 703-757-8560.

THURSDAY/JAN. 28Grant-Lee Phillips + Steve Poltz. 7:30 p.m.

Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna. Jointhe two singers as they take a stage togetherto share some of their songs. $20. https://jamminjava.com/. 703-255-1566.

Genealogy Program. 7:30-9 p.m. KilmerMiddle School, 8100 Wolftrap Road, Vienna.Fairfax Genealogical Society monthly meetingand program. Speaker: Sharon Hodges onExpanding Research to Resources NotAvailable On Line. Free. 703-644-8185.

Send announcements to [email protected]. Deadline is Fridayfor the following week’s paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. Ongoing

Pigments of My Imagination. Jan. 4-March 31. Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Long timeGreat Falls resident Donna Barnako, hascreated over a dozen colorful andwhimsical small works. Her subjects arevaried, from pigs to puppies and cowboyboots.

Weekly Storytime. Wednesday andSaturday. 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 7851 LTysons Corner Center, McLean. Themesand Titles vary. Free admission.

“The Blues” Exhibition. Jan. 5-23.Vienna Art Center, 115 Pleasant St., NW,Vienna. Exhibition of VAS memberspaintings with the theme, “The Blues.”Free. 703-319-3971.www.ViennaArtsSociety.org.

53rd Annual James A. Bland Contest.Through Monday, Feb. 15. Vienna LionsClub invites elementary and high schoolvocalist and instrumentalists to present asong or piece for cash prizes. Forinformation and application, contactSusan Stiles at [email protected] or703-938-1142.

Gentle Yoga. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.Emmaus United Church of Christ, 900 EMaple Ave. E, Vienna. Saturdays, 9:30a.m. Unitarian Universalist Congregationof Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road,Oakton. Gentle Kundalini Yoga, one freeintroductory session, senior discounts.Increase your flexibility, improve yourbreathing and health, reduce your stress.Ravi Kaur has 15 years experienceteaching yoga. $15 per session.www.edimprovement.org. 571-213-3192.

“Poetry in Motion” Exhibit. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. From Feb. 2-27. Exhibition of VAS members paintingswith the theme “Poetry in Motion. Free.

Trail and Ales with Caboose Brewingand Grass Roots Fitness. Mondaysthrough Jan. 31. Caboose BrewingCompany, 520 Mill Street, NE Vienna.Come Run with us every Monday night.$1 Off All Pints! All paces welcome. Wewill run between 3-5 miles with optionsto go shorter or longer. You can walk orrun. Dog and stroller friendly. ContactJoann Meginley [email protected].

Tai Chi Beginners’ Practice. Saturdays,8-9 a.m. St. Luke’s Catholic SchoolGymnasium, 7005 Georgetown Pike,McLean. Weekly Tai Chi practice. Grouphas met for over 20 years. Free.FreeTaiChi.org. 703-759-9141.

Gail Péan, ‘Vineyard Dance:’ Péan’s impasto oil paintings - ‘ExcellentSchoolmasters’ - are on exhibit at Katie’s Coffee House/Old Brogue inGreat Falls, Jan. 1—31.

Photo contributed

American Shakespeare Center on Tour presents "Henry V" at the AldenTheatre on Saturday, Jan. 23.


Sports

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

Members of the Langley girls’ basketball team realized their defense stifled Madison during the

opening quarter of Friday’s matchup, butthe Saxons knew there was more work tobe done.

Langley held Madison without a field goalfor the first nine-plus minutes of the con-test and limited the Warhawks to just onepoint in the first quarter. The Saxons’ de-fense held strong for the final three quar-ters, as well, and Langley bounced backfrom its second loss of the season with a38-27 victory at Madison High School.

Aidan McWeeney produced Madison’s

first field goal when she dropped in a layupwith less than 7 minutes remaining in thesecond quarter, cutting Langley’s lead to 6-3. The Saxons led for the remainder of thecontest.

“We noticed, but we’re trying to keep ourdefense up,” Langley senior Paige Galianisaid about the Saxons’ defensive effort inthe first quarter. “We’re not really trying togive ourselves credit yet. We still have threemore quarters left.”

Madison twice cut the Langley lead toone, including when Megan Miskell’s bucketwith 7:37 left in the fourth quarter trimmedthe Saxon advantage to 24-23, but Langleyscored 14 of the game’s final 18 points.

The win improved Langley’s record to 12-2, including 5-1 in Conference 6. Three days

earlier, the Saxons lost to undefeatedFairfax, 51-39, in a battle for first place inthe conference.

Fairfax was the first team this season toscore more than 45 points against Lan-gley, which is allowing an average of 37per contest. The Saxons have held oppo-nents under 40 nine times and under 30three times.

Langley excelled using the 2-3 zone Fri-day.

“It was good to be back in 2-3,” Galianisaid. “We played a lot of 2-3 last year, sowe knew how to go about it, but this yearwe have been playing a lot of man. It wasgreat to be back in 2-3. Two-three is myfavorite defense, so I was really excited.”

Langley senior Stephanie Sipple said the

Saxons take pride in their defense.“Especially when [opponents are] usually

up in the 50s and 60s and we manage tokeep them to half of that,” Sipple said.“That’s a really big thing.”

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

The Langley boys’ basketball teamdominated Madison in the firsthalf of Friday’s showdown forfirst place in Conference 6, us-

ing its size advantage and on-point perim-eter shooting to build a 13-point lead.

While the Saxons appeared in control,head coach Scott Newman sensed the sec-ond half wouldn’t be easy.

“I said at halftime that I thought we weregoing to have to take a punch from them inthe second half,” Newman said. “They weregoing to make adjustments to their press.They did, they rattled us a little bit …”

Pressure defense and an aggressive men-tality helped Madison reduce its deficit toas little as two points in the fourth quarter,but an alert defensive play by leading scorerTavon Tarpley helped the Saxons hold offthe resilient Warhawks.

Down by three, Madison had a chance totie with less than 30 seconds remaining, butTarpley stepped in a passing lane andsnagged the steal. Langley made 2 of 4 free-throw attempts in the final 15 seconds andpulled out a 62-57 victory on Jan. 15 atMadison High School.

“I slid to the gap, I saw him throw theball,” Tarpley said, “I ran at it and I got it.”

The victory improved Langley’s record to10-4 and gave the Saxons sole possessionof first place in Conference 6 with a 6-0mark. Madison dropped to 11-2, including5-1 in the conference, and had its 11-gamewin streak snapped.

“It really boosts our confidence, but men-tality-wise, we’re still hungry,” Langley se-

nior Nate Shafer said. “We know it’s noteven close to where we want to be at theend of the season. We’re still hungry. We’regoing to go into every game like we’re theunderdogs.”

While Tarpley’s defensive play helpedLangley secure the win, the 6-foot-3 seniorguard was also a force at the offensive end.Tarpley, who transferred from Forest Parkto Langley prior to his junior season, ledthe Saxons with 22 points, doing most ofhis damage in the paint.

“It’s starting to click for Tavon,” Newmansaid. “He is a special player when he’s at-tacking the basket and he can be one of thebest perimeter defenders in the region whenhe wants to. He’s come so far, he’s matured,and his approach has improved. If he getshis defense going and he does what he doesbest, which is attack the basket, we’re dan-gerous.”

Shafer, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, finished

with nine points and 12 rebounds for Lan-gley. Junior guard Jay Goettman made a trioof 3-pointers and finished with nine points.Sophomore guard Colter Carton made apair of 3-pointers and scored eight points,and junior guard Grant Hughes made twofrom behind the arc and finished with sevenpoints.

Langley made eight 3-pointers.“We played great in the first half, I

thought, because not only did we pound theball inside, but when [Madison] collapsed,we kicked the ball out and we were stick-ing shots,” Newman said. “I think we’redangerous when we’ve got the inside andthe outside game going.”

Taiga Walker led Madison with 24 points,including 18 in the second half. The seniorguard showed emotion on several occa-sions, letting out passionate screams aftermultiple and-ones.

“I just think that we played with more

passion and aggression as a team,” Walkersaid about the Warhawks’ second-half per-formance.

Madison opened the third quarter withan 8-0 run and trailed 45-37 entering thefourth. A 3-pointer by Brett Wellde pulledthe Warhawks within five at 45-40, early inthe fourth quarter, and a jumper by Walkercut the Langley lead to 57-55 with 1:51 re-maining. Another Walker bucket cutMadison’s deficit to 59-57 with 46.3 sec-onds left, but the Saxons scored the finalthree points.

Galiani led Langley with 15 points.Sophomore guard Jordyn Callaghan scoredeight points junior guard/forward ArianaAulisi added six.

McWeeney led Madison with eight points.

Saxons’ Tarpleycomes up clutch invictory over Madison.

Langley Beats Madison for First Place in Conference 6

Senior guard Taiga Walker ledMadison with 24 points againstLangley on Friday.

Photos by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection

Langley’s Jay Goettman made a trio of 3-pointers against Madison onFriday.

Saxons hold Warhawks without field goal for nine-plus minutes.

Langley Defense Stifles Madison in Conference 6 Matchup

Photo by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection

Paige Galiani led Langley with 15points during the Saxon’s 38-27victory over Madison on Friday.


From Page 3

News

such entrenched opposition in the legis-lature,” she said.

“We will be in Richmond on Jan. 18 for avigil for victims of gun violence,” Gregorysaid, along with more than five busloads ofpeople who will then lobby for gun legisla-tion. In particular, they want localities tohave the right to regulate how close gunsstores can operate to school zones.

Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, whichmeans that localities have only the powersexpressly given to them by the General As-sembly.

“I’m incensed by what is happening withgun violence here in Virginia and across thecountry,” said Howell. “I keep hitting my-self in the face, and say, ‘Remember, you’rein Virginia, darling.’”

Murphy, Favola and Rip Sullivan attendedthe rally in McLean earlier in the day.

“We were just at a rally and we watchedvery quickly when hate is involved that com-mon sense goes out the window,” saidMurphy.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY is “off to arousing start,” said Rip Sullivan, with a“very partisan issue” involving Judge JaneM. Roush, who Republicans are trying tokeep off the Virginia Supreme Court, de-

spite an exemplary reputation and recordas trial attorney and Fairfax County CircuitCourt Judge, he said.

“Get involved,” he said. “She should re-main on the Virginia Supreme Court.”

By David Siegel

The Connection

“I have come to the conclusion thatone useless man is called adisgrace, that two are called a

law firm, and that three or more becomea congress. And by God, I have had thisCongress!” Nope, those are not thoughtsfrom contemporary political commentaryon some cable news network. Those arethe words of John Adams in “1776,” themusical production about the signing ofthe Declaration of Independence some240 years ago.

Performed by the McLean CommunityPlayers, “1776” uses quotes from the ac-tual letters of the participants to createa musical rendition of how strong tem-peraments, gathered together in the heatof summer, led to the Declaration of In-dependence. The dialogue by Peter Stonewith musical numbers by ShermanEdwards bring forth the passionate per-spectives of the likes of John Adams whotakes a center stage in “1776” and thedozens of others to what could have been

“just dusty history, but instead kicks awaythe cob webs” said director Annie O’NeillGalvin. The musical won three Tony Award,including for Best Musical.

In interviews at the McLean CommunityCenter, director O’Neill Galvin with castmembers Jeff Westlake (Ben Franklin),Brent Stone (John Adams), David Weaver(Joseph Hewes), Marissa Chapman (AbigailAdams), Shawn Cox (John Dickinson), BobCohen (Thomas McKean), spoke how theproduction “rings true” today.

It is a tale of fervent “struggles and com-promises by flawed, real human beings”over contentious issues that still vex, notedWestlake. Stone suggested that “many of theissues raised then, are still with us.”

Chapman noted the political importanceof Abigail Adams to the thinking of her hus-band John in a day when women were notoften visible, but could be viewed as mere“trophy wives.”

Veteran music director John Edward Nilesand a 10-piece band will set musical bear-ings to “1776” with its fifteen numbers. Thesongs include many involving John Adamsand his prickly personality such as “SitDown, John” or “But, Mr. Adams” as wellas the strong sentiments of “Molasses toRum” that indicts Northern hypocrisy aboutslavery delivered by James Myers as thedelegate from South Carolina, Edward

‘1776’ the musicalarriving at the Alden.

Rings True Still

Delegates, Senators Meet Constituents

Simon discussed a George Mason Univer-sity student whose debt started at $25,000but increased to $65,000.

He wants a student loan ombudsman of-ficer where debt and student loans can

be monitored.And he wants to add sexual orientation

to Fair Housing laws to prohibit discrimi-nation.

APRIL PINCH-KEELER is the CEO ofMVLE Working with Purpose, and advocatesfor people with disabilities and the employ-ment of people with disabilities.

“It’s amazing what people can do giventhe opportunity,” she said. “Medicaid reformhas to happen.”

Robert Stewart spoke on behalf of So-cial Action Linking Together and its legis-lative priorities, including medicaid expan-sion that could benefit as many as 400,000low income uninsured Virginians amongother issues.

Photos by Irish Eyes Photography by Toby/Courtesy of McLean Community Players

McLean Community Players in rehearsal for “1776:” John Adams(Brent Stone) convinces Thomas Jefferson (Scott Gustaveson) to writethe Declaration of Independence.

Rutledge.The set design by Bill Glikbarg and George

Farnsworth will include a very visible handmarked vote tally board giving visible ex-pression to tensions of “how close it all wasas voting for independence proceeded,”added O’Neil Galvin.

Where and WhenMcLean Community Players present “1776”

at the Alden Theater, McLean CommunityCenter, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean.Performances Feb. 5-21, 2016. Fridays andSaturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.Tickets: Call 866-811-4111 or visitwww.mcleanplayers.org


A constituent makes a point to Murphy, Sullivan and Simon.

April Pinch-Keeler is theCEO of MVLEWorking withPurpose, andadvocates foremploymentfor people withdisabilities.“It’s amazingwhat peoplecan do giventhe opportu-nity.”


Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

Monday Noon

703-778-9411

Zone 6: • Arlington • Great Falls

• McLean • Vienna/Oakton

Home & GardenHome & GardenCONTRACTORS.comconnectionnewspapers.com

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

DESIGN AND BUILD • COMPLETE HOME RENOVATION• Kitchen, Bath, Basement Remodeling • Electricity, Plumbing • Doors, Windows, CrownMolding, Hand Rails, Chair Rails, Interior, Exterior, Finish Carpentry • Interior, Exterior

Painting, Pressure Washing • Ceramic, Hardwood Flooring, Refinish Floors, Deck Reflooring• Build Deck, Fence, Patios, Retaining Walls • Concrete Driveway, Brick or Stone Sidewalk

• Building Maintenance • Residential, Commercial • Foreclosures, Realtors WelcomeServing Northern Virginia, D.C., Maryland • Licensed and Insured

HAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & CommercialHAND & HAND HANDYMAN LLCGeneral Remodeling • Residential & Commercial

703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409703-296-6409

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

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”

http://www.pphionline.com/

•FREE Estimates•FAST & Reliable Service

•EASY To schedule•NO $$$ DOWN!

Handyman Services Available

(703) 590-3187(703) 590-3187

Remodeling Homes, Flooring,Kitchen & Bath, Windows,

Siding, Roofing, Additions &Patios, Custom Deck, PaintingWe Accept All Major Credit Cards

Licensed, Insured, Bonded • Free Estimates • Class A Lic

RN. CONTRACTORS, INC.

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

www.rncontractors.com

IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS

J.E.S. ServicesYour neighborhood company since 1987

703-912-6886

Landscaping & Construction

All work Guaranteed

• Planting & Landscaping Design• Drainage & Water Problems• Concrete Driveways, Replacement or New• Patios and Walks • Masonry Work or Dry Laid• Paver, Flagstone, Brick, any style you choose• Retaining walls of all types

Free Estimates - Fully Licensed & Insured

LAWN SERVICE LAWN SERVICE

Custom Masonry703-768-3900

www.custommasonry.infoPatios, Walkways, Stoops, Steps, DrivewaysRepairs & New Installs•All Work Guranteed

BRICK AND STONE

MASONRY MASONRY

GOLDY BRICKCONSTRUCTION

Walkways, Patios, Driveways,Flagstone, ConcreteFREE ESTIMATES

Licensed, Insured, Bonded

703-250-6231

PAVING PAVING

Quality Tree Service& Landscaping

Reasonable prices. Licensed & insured.

24 Hour EmergencyTree Service

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

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

drainage problems, etc.

TREE SERVICE TREE SERVICE

CHESAPEAKE/POTOMAC

WINDOW CLEANINGResidential Specialist/Family owned/operated

Working Owners Assures QualityNo Hidden Fees/No Broken Window Springs

30 yrs Experience in local area

Licensed 703-356-4459 Insured

WINDOWS & GLASS WINDOWS & GLASS

Painting & DecoratingInterior & Exterior

* Drywall* Carpenting* Powerwash

* Gutters* Glass

Call George anytime - 703-901-6603

PAINTING PAINTING

Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday 11 a.m.

703-778-9411


• McLean • Vienna/OaktonEmploymentEmployment

Executive AssistantVP with established real estate developer in Arlington seeks assistant, experienced in related field with ability to efficiently administer multitude of details/tasks.

Requires discernment, resourcefulness,initiative, and solid organizational skills.

Professional phone manner, in addition to ability to create, edit and track

correspondence and communications essential. Candidate must be articulate,

team player, ready to engage in company’s success. Solid computer skills w/ability to

perform variety of basics skills (filing, scheduling, etc.) with excellence.

Competitive salary, excellent benefits. Send cover letter w/ resume to:

[email protected].

MANAGEMENT

Garden CenterManager Trainees

Assistant Managers

Meadows Farms Nurseries isnow hiring Manager Trainees

& Assistant Managers for Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax & Montgomery

Counties. Outside work with someheavy lifting.

Manager Trainees-No experience needed.Starting at $12.50/hr.

Assistant Managers-Previous experience mandatory.

Starting at $12.50-$15/hr.plus bonuses.

Benefits after 90 days include medical, dental, 401K, paid leave & tuition

reimbursement.

Email resume to:[email protected] fax resume to:703-327-2641

attn: PhyllisGreat Part-Time

Job Opportunities!Apply online:

www.MountVernon.org/employment

Historic TradesLearn a trade working for the Historic Tradesdepartment at the Gristmill, Distillery, PioneerFarm & Blacksmith Shop! Help tell the storyof George Washington the entrepreneur.Prior interpretive experience preferred.Contact Sam Murphy - [email protected] for more information.

Guest Services AssociatesProvide meaningful learning opportunities forMount Vernon’s one million annual guests!Through interpretive experiences, public pro-grams, services and events, we expand eachguest’s understanding of, and appreciationfor, our nation’s Founding Father. Applyonline today for immediate consideration!

Mansion Tour GuidesWelcome guests to the most visited historichome in America and give engaging walkingtours around the historic area. Call JeremyRay, Manager, Interpretive Operations, at703-799-8629 or email [email protected]

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is anEqual Opportunity Employer.

Smiling Faces Wanted at Bowl America

WE SELL FUNBE A PART OF OUR TEAM

Bowl America is now hiring Assistant Manager Trainees, Control Desk and Food Service staff, Mechanics and Party Hosts and Hostesses. Apply in person from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM at any Bowl America center or call your nearest Bowl America location from 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Positions available vary by location.

Saturday, January 23 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

VET ASSISTANTSmall animal hosp. Great Falls.

Will train. 703-757-7570 • www.ourvets.com

Home & GardenHome & GardenCONTRACTORS.comconnectionnewspapers.com


James C. Dinegar, GreaterWashington Board of Trade

Anthony Howard, LoudounCounty Chamber of Commerce

Virgil Frizzell, Northern VirginiaAssociation of Realtors

Jim Corcoran, Northern VirginiaChamber of Commerce

Mark Looney, Northern VirginiaTransportation Alliance

Lori Y. Lopez, Tysons RegionalChamber of Commerce

Pat Dean, Associated Builders andContractors, VA

James N. Larsen, Dulles AreaTransportation Association

Eileen D. Curtis, Dulles RegionalChamber of Commerce

Nancy-jo Manney, SpringfieldChamber of Commerce,

Ken Garrison, Heavy ConstructionContractors Association

Martha D. Marks, NAIOP,Northern Virginia Commercial Real

Estate Development AssociationJon Lindgren, Northern Virginia

Building Industry AssociationBobbie Kilberg, Northern Virginia

Technology CouncilDeborah Jones, Prince William

Chamber of CommerceKeith Merlin, Washington

Airports Task ForceThe Northern Virginia Transporta-

tion Coalition is a group of chambers ofcommerce and industry organizationsthroughout Northern Virginia thatshare a common belief that greaterinvestment in regional transportationinfrastructure is essential to sustainedregional prosperity.

TransportationFrom Page 8

To have community events listed inthe Connection, send [email protected]. Thedeadline for submissions is the Fridayprior to publication.

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 20Fairfax Commission on Aging.

Noon. Oakton Regional Library,10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Thepublic is welcome to attend and joinin the comment period that beginseach session.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/coa.htm. 703-324-5403, TTY 711 for meeting accessneeds.

McLean Newcomers andNeighbors Monthly Luncheon.11:30 a.m. Ristorante Bonaroti, 428Maple Ave., East, Vienna. EileenO’Grady, a nurse practitioner andwellness coach, will speak about theScience of Flourishing. $29. Forfurther information on the club, visitwww.McleanNewcomers.org. RSVPAnn Skelly at [email protected] Jan. 13. Prospective membersinvited.

Dyslexia, An Overview for Parents.7-8:30 p.m. Dunn Loring Center forParent Services, 2334 Gallows Road,Entrance 1, Dunn Loring. Workshoppresented by specialists from FCPSOffice of Special Education. Registerwww.fcps.edu/dss/osp/prc or 703-204-3941.

THURSDAY/JAN. 21Model Investment Club. 6-9 p.m.

Meeting Room, Dolley MadisonLibrary, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave,McLean. Learn about investingfollowing an investment club model.New visitors welcome. Adults. 703-356-0770.

Bulletin

Board

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Pills A-Poppin’

I ingest between 40 and 50 pills per day.It’s the first thing I do before breakfast, anoccasional thing I do before/during/afterlunch, and the last thing I do before dinnerand sometimes before bedtime as well. To sayI’m pill-centric would be an overstatement; Iwill admit to be pill-mindful though. EitherI’m arranging them, organizing them, count-ing them or ordering them. Whether it mat-ters or not to my health, I try never to be offmy schedule too much or be too many dayswithout my normal pill allotment/inventory. IfI leave the house at pill time, I will take pillswith me and swallow them accordingly. Ifpeople ask for any details, I offer as few aspossible and move on. Not that I’m uncom-fortable with any of the questions, it’s morethat there are infinitely more interesting top-ics of conversation.

Being away from home and routine doespresent some problems, however, especially ifthe trip involves planes. Trains and automo-biles are not the problem. Not having a dedi-cated travel case, like the “train” case mymother had for her cosmetics, I simply stuffmy 25-plus bottles into a plastic shopping bagand knot the handles at the top. No fuss, nomuss. Planes, or rather the carry-on rulesabout such things are another matter entirely.I have never inquired – or gone on the TSAWebsite, to determine pill procedures.Certainly I’m aware – post-9/11, of the limitsconcerning toiletries, etc., and the plasticbags into which it all must fit. Not wanting torisk having hundreds of dollars of expensivepills confiscated at the airport, I’ve alwayspreferred checking my bags (containing thepills) and avoided the potential nightmare. Asto the alternative solution of segregating 40-odd pills (into three-times-a-day packets)times however many days into some kind ofdaily packaging – and leaving the bottleshome instead – that has not been a solutionI’ve been able to conjure. Not that any of thisis an impediment, more like a challenge andinconvenience. And most definitely aconsideration.

Still, it’s a small price to pay – so to speak,to incorporate/assimilate a pill plan into myeveryday life. I mean, for all I know, and Iknow very little, these pills might actually beresponsible for my life-expectancy odds hav-ing been so badly beaten. Accordingly, I seeno reason to stop now, especially consideringthat the majority of the drugs I take aredesigned to build up my immune system.Which, when one understands that at itscore, cancer treatment weakens one’simmune system, enhancing its resilience iscrucial.

Recently, an entire new class of drugscalled Immunotherapy (“OPDIVO”) havebeen introduced. They have been designed –among other reasons, to stimulate the body’sown immune system to fight the cancer.Rather than the process occurring externallyand unnaturally as before, these new drugswill fight the cancer internally and naturally.It’s an extremely encouraging and excitingevolution in the cancer treatment world, andholds great promise for many of us cancerpatients burnt out (no pun intended) on thetoxic chemotherapy drugs of our past.

In the interim, since I am not now onImmunotherapy, as a prudent and logicaladjunct, I will continue to give myself and mybody every opportunity, dare I say advantage,in its efforts to keep the cancer at bay. Thepills are never really a problem, more so apiece of the puzzle. And the longer I live, themore convinced of it I become.

Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

Monday Noon

703-778-9411


• McLean • Vienna/OaktonClassifiedClassified

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

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

JEWELRY, COSTUME JEWELRY, FURNITURE, PAINTINGS AND CLOCKS.

Schefer Antiques703-241-0790

[email protected]

26 Antiques 26 Antiques

JENNIFER SMITH ❖ Serving the Area Since 1995

➣ Speed Up SlowComputers

➣ Virus Removal

➣ Computer Setup➣ Help with Windows 8

571-265-2038

HDICOMPUTER SOLUTIONS

[email protected]

101 Computers 101 Computers

21 Announcements

ABC LICENSEBVP Exxon, Inc. trading as BVP Exxon, 4746 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207. The above establishment is apply-ing to the VIRGINIA DEPART-MENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEV-ERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Arpit Se-thi, PresidentNOTE: 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 newspaper legal notices. Ob-jections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

For a free digital sub-scription to one or allof the 15 ConnectionNewspapers, go towww.connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe

Complete digital rep-lica of the print edition,including photos andads, delivered weeklyto your e-mail box.

Questions? E-mail:[email protected]

An expert is someone who knowssome of the

worst mistakesthat can bemade in his

subject and howto avoid them.

-WernerHeisenberg


www.GreatFallsGreatHomes.com

Jan & Dan LaythamDianne Van Volkenburg

Office: 703-757-3222Susan Canis

Associate Realtor9841 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066 • 703-759-9190Sally Marvin

Associate Realtor

Great Falls $1,625,000



Reston $1,165,000

Great Falls $1,550,000 Great Falls $695,000

Great Falls $829,000Great Falls $1,125,000

Great Falls $1,299,000Reston $453,500

Leesburg $315,000

Great Falls $1,599,999Mclean $2,199,500

Great Falls $2,299,000Mclean $3,900,000

LUXURY

CONDO

JUST

LISTED

LOFT

S AT

MIDTOWN NORTH

GULICK GROUP

BIILD TO SUIT

LAKE VIEWS

5 ACRE LO

T

11.64 ACRE LOT

IMMEDIA

TE

DELIVERY!

Langley on Top of - Ellington...

Documents

Transcript of Langley on Top of - Ellington...