georgetown, while combs pushes on a bit farther into the...
TRANSCRIPT
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com May 23-29, 2018
Opi
nio
n, Pag
e 8 v
Enter
tai
nm
ent, Pag
e 4 v
C
lass
ified
s, P
age
6Photo b
y Andrea
Worker
/T
he
Connec
tio
n
Postal CustomerECR WSS
Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.
Requested in home 5-24-18
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322
Uniting the World, One Song at a TimeNews, Page 2
Vienna Police HighlightsNews, Page 6
Biking to Work on Rainy Friday
News, Page 3
From left, Dan Combs of Vienna and Eric Lacey of Oakton, are often trail partners as they cycle to work across the Potomac, usually three times per week. Lacey stops pedalling in Georgetown, while Combs pushes on a bit farther into the District.
2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
See Mosaic Harmony, Page 6
By Andrea Worker
The Connection
Mark your calendars. Sunday, June 3,from 5 to 7:30 p.m. is when the Mo-saic Harmony Community Choir willperform their 24th annual Spring Con-
cert at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation ofFairfax (UUCF) at 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton… and on the evening of Tuesday, May 15, choir di-rector Reverend David K. North had his soulful squadpractically raising the rafters in the UUCF sanctuaryduring their rehearsal for the upcoming event.
Originally formed at the UUCF in 1993, the501(c)(3) Mosaic Harmony has been growing innumbers, in diversity, and in their efforts to “unitethe world, one song at a time.”
Rev. North, an ordained Baptist minister, has beenspearheading that mission for the last 22 years. Inkeeping with his energetic style of musical direction,North can barely sit still in his seat when he talksabout the group, the music and their one over-ridinggoal – “bring people together, regardless of race, age,gender, religion, sexual orientation, whatever differ-ences they think divide them. Music can unite them.And that starts with us. Everyone is welcomed here.”
OVER THE YEARS, North and the Mosaic Harmonyboard members continue to make good on that prom-ise. The choir of some 60-plus members, now countspeople from a multitude of faiths who come from allaround the DMV to become part of a “welcomingcommunity.”
North nearly glows with emotion when he tells astory that demonstrates that “welcoming and inclu-sive spirit.”
First he explains that choir members don’t have toaudition to join. They don’t even have to read mu-sic. Willingness to participate and be part of “bridge-building through music” is all the entry credentialsrequired. “If we start adding all these criteria,” saidNorth, “then we’re not a community any more. Com-munity means all kinds of people, with all kinds of
skills and levels of abilities.“So, we had one new member who had all the
spirit, but not all the voice.” North was moved whenhe saw the members of that range grouping gradu-ally re-position themselves to place the newbie intheir midst, where the realignment “gave a strengthto the new voice. And they did that on their own.Just folded our new member right in.”
Mosaic Board president – and choir member – NikkiBarnett Harrell seconds North’s characterization ofthe choir.
Barnett Harrell now commutes from Arlington tothe twice-monthly Tuesday rehearsals in Oakton, butwhen she first joined the group she was making thetrek from the District.
How did she become a Mosaic member, going froma mostly African-American urban background to apredominantly Caucasian suburban assembly?
“Just a little outside my general circle,” she admits.Barnett Harrell is one of many brought into Mosaicby other members, former members, or just fans ofthe choir, “people who were excited to introduce usto an environment where we can sing, and connectwith people of all different faiths and backgrounds.”
Mosaic Harmony Choirreadying to present annualSpring Concert.
Uniting the World,One Song at a Time
Photo by Andrea Worker/The Connection
Rev. David K. North, director of the MosaicHarmony Community Choir, directs byexample as he leads rehearsal for thegroup’s June 3 Spring Concert at theUnitarian Universalist Congregation ofFairfax in Oakton. “Feel the music – andhave fun!”
The MosaicHarmony Com-munity Choirperforms theiruplifting andinspirational“music to uniteus” at a recentconcert.
Photo courtesy of
David York
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsVienna/Oakton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
By Andrea Worker
The Connection
May is National Bike Monthand Friday, May 18, wasBike to Work Day (BTWD).If you thought any of the 17
pit stops set up around the County (includ-ing five new ones for 2018) would be va-cant because of the uncooperative weather,we can report that there were plenty ofhardy souls who pulled off the Washington& Old Dominion Trail for a chat, some nour-ishment and the t-shirt and other swag thatregistered participants received fromequally undaunted vendors and volunteers.
Jeff Palmer, manager of the Vienna SpokesBicycle shop was the official host of theVienna location. He has been participatingin the event since 2010.
“We get about 330 cyclists stopping by,though the numbers might be a little lessthis year with all the rain,” said Palmer, whosays the event is as much about advocacyas fitness.
“We need our elected officials to see theinterest there is in cycling, not just for rec-reation, but for transportation. We needtheir commitment to building and maintain-ing trails, and adding connection points sothat we can cycle safely and effectively fromhere to there. And please say ‘thanks’ toStarbucks for the coffee and Giant for thebananas and water!” he added.
Whatever their route, dozens of cyclistswho made the Vienna stop, just whereMaple Avenue intersects the W&OD trail,were traveling significant distances to getto their destinations.
SOME OF THOSE RIDERS:Dan Combs of Vienna, and Eric Lacey of
Oakton often meet up on the trail to cycletogether across the Potomac River via theKey Bridge. Lacey veers off in Georgetown,while Combs pedals a little farther into theDistrict. Both try to do the “bike to workthing” at least three times per week.
“A little rain isn’t so bad,” said Lacey, buthe admits that the winter weather sees himuse alternate transportation in to work. “Iam not that hardy,” he laughed.
Andrea Saavandi has been riding to workbetween Vienna and Arlington for about 8years. “I started on this rental bike, just tosee. Not too long before I had my own bike,”she said, as the owner of Bikes of Viennaand local event sponsor Tim Fricker didsome quick maintenance on her ride, pump-ing up a tire and just checking things out.
Ron Racinez does a shorter route thansome of his cycling compatriots, travellingbetween Reston and Vienna, but since start-
ing on this pedal-powered mode of trans-port in 2001, he’s racked up some seriousmiles. What does he think of the Bike toWork Day event? “Great, ... and a chanceto stop and visit with some others that youwouldn’t normally do.”
Ryan McKinney, who zips along betweenhome in Reston and work at the Langley
School in McLean where he has taught for15 years, sees cycling for transport as notonly a way to keep himself fit and feelinggood, but “it’s also important to show a goodexample to the students. Feeling healthy,staying healthy, it’s more than just sports atschool. It’s something you can do everydayas part of your life.”
Anne Pastorkovich of Fairfax has been aW&OD Trail user for years. She’s also a vol-unteer Trail Patrol member, and encour-ages other users – cyclists, runners, walk-ers, even horse riders – to be one, too.“Check it out and sign up atwww.wodfriends.org” she urged. “We aretrained to handle a lot of situations, helpwith minor repairs, give directions, andassist in case of emergency or injury.”Pastorkovich rides the Trail several timesa week and is happy to give back to keepthe Trail experience a good one.
In all, more than 17,000 MetropolitanWashington area residents were expectedto leave their cars at home and use old-fash-ioned people power to get where they weregoing. The annual event is co-sponsored byCommuter Connections, a program of theNational Capital Region TransportationPlanning Board at the Metropolitan Wash-ington Council of Governments (MWCOG),the Washington Area Bicyclists Associationand local governments like Fairfax County.
In a statement released during the event,MWCOG cited encouraging statistics fromthe 2016 Bike to Work Day survey, whichfound that 14 percent of the participantsthat year were first-time cyclists, while 28percent of the veteran cyclists reported in-creasing the number of times they ride perweek after joining in the Bike to Work Dayfun.
Visit www.commuterconnections.org/bi-cycling/ for more information, and stop byyour local bike shop for personal assistanceand to experience the friendly, and grow-ing, area cycling community.
Biking to Work on Rainy FridayRain doesn’t detercyclists on 2018 Biketo Work Day.
Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection
From left, Dan Combs of Vienna and Eric Lacey ofOakton, are often trail partners as they cycle to workacross the Potomac, usually three times per week.Lacey stops pedalling in Georgetown, while Combspushes on a bit farther into the District.
Andrea Saavandi started her cycling journey on arental bike, but now does her trip from Vienna toArlington on her own two wheels. At the Bike to WorkDay pit stop in Vienna, Tim Fricker, owner of Bikes ofVienna, was on hand to help any cyclists in need, andgave Saavandi’s ride a check over and a bit of air forthe tires.
Mark Repak from Spokes bicycle shop in Vienna, was popular with allthe day’s participants, as he handed out t-shirts to commemorate theBike to Work Day event to cyclists like Ron Racinez who makes theroundtrip from Reston to Vienna his normal route. Repak tries to ridethe trail about 3 times per week himself.
4 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Calendar
See Calendar, Page 5
Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOING“Trees, Trees, and Beyond.”
Through May 31 at MeadowlarkBotanical Gardens, 9750 MeadowlarkGardens Court, Vienna. Vienna ArtsSociety Exhibition. Free. Open 10-7p.m. in April; 10-7:30 p.m. in May.Visit www.ViennaArtsSociety.org orcall 703-319-3971.
Oakton Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1p.m. at Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Year-round weekly farmers market inOakton. Local produce, meats/eggs,dairy, baked goods, and more.Admission is free. Visit community-foodworks.org.
Great Falls Farmers Market.Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 WalkerRoad, Great Falls. Music, vendors,fresh produce, fresh prepared food,delightful bakery, spices from aroundthe world, wild-caught fish, grass-fed, free-range meats, organic-fedpoultry and eggs. [email protected] more.
The Golden Girls of NorthernVirginia, a senior women’s softballleague, is looking for players. Anywoman over the age of 40 isencouraged to join. All skill levels arewelcome. Games are on Wednesdayevenings and Saturday mornings inVienna, April-October. Otheractivities during the year. Visitwww.goldengirls.org.
Colvin Run Mill open 11-4 p.m. daily,closed Tuesday. 10017 Colvin RunRoad, Great Falls. Fairfax County’soperational 19th century waterpowered gristmill, offers recreationaland educational activities for all ages
through daily tours, school programsand special events. Fees: $7/adult,$6 students 16+ with ID, $5 children& seniors. Admission to park is freeexcept for some special events.
Fishing Rod Rentals. Riverbend Park,8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls.Rentals available during visitorcenter hours. Fishing tackle and livebait are available for purchase.Reservations required for grouprentals. $6/rental (2 hour max).Valid driver’s license required. Rod/reel combinations are perfect forbeginners and children. A Virginia orMaryland freshwater fishing licenseis required for those 16 years orolder. The park does not sell fishinglicenses. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/.
THURSDAY/MAY 24Fundraising Benefit. 6-9 p.m. at the
Tower Club, 8000 Towers CrescentDrive, Suite 1700, Vienna. TheWomen 2 Women Committee of theTower Club is hosting a fundraiser tobenefit the Turning Point SuffragistMemorial Association. The eveningwill feature a presentation byjournalists/authors Cokie Robertsand her daughter, Rebecca BoggsRoberts. All tickets ($95, +fees)entitle participants to a receptionfeaturing heavy hors d’oeuvres andtwo drink tickets. Visitwww.suffragistmemorial.org.
SATURDAY/MAY 26Vegetable Plant Clinics. 10 a.m.-
noon. At Nottoway Park, 9601Courthouse Road, Vienna. Learnabout growing nightshade plants(tomatoes, etc.). Fairfax CountyMaster Gardeners will add a focus onvegetable gardening to their PlantClinic program. Sponsored by VirginiaCooperative Extension. Contact the
VCE Fairfax County Master GardenerHelp Desk at 703-324-8556.
Model Railroaders Open House. 1-5 p.m. at the Vienna Depot, 231Dominion Road NE. NorthernVirginia Model Railroaders hold anopen house at the Vienna Depot eachmonth and on Vienna celebrationdays, including Viva! Vienna and theVienna Holiday Stroll. Freeadmission. Call 703-938-5157 or visitwww.nvmr.org.
SATURDAY-MONDAY/MAY 26-28ViVa! Vienna! Vienna celebrates its
annual three-day festival in the heartof historic Vienna along ChurchStreet. The festival, hosted for 33years by the Rotary Club of Vienna,features carnival rides, food, liveentertainment across three stages,and more than 300 arts and craft andother vendors. Free admission. Ridesrequire a specific number of tickets,which varies from ride to ride; ticketsare $1 each or $20 for a sheet of 24,or $35 for an all-day wristband.Parking in the historic area is verylimited. Visit vivavienna.org.
SUNDAY/MAY 27Model Railroaders Open House. 1-
5 p.m. at the Vienna Depot, 231Dominion Road NE. NorthernVirginia Model Railroaders hold anopen house at the Vienna Depot eachmonth and on Vienna celebrationdays, including Viva! Vienna and theVienna Holiday Stroll. Freeadmission. Call 703-938-5157 or visitwww.nvmr.org.
MONDAY/MAY 28Memorial Day Brunch and Cookie
Class for Children. 10 a.m.-noon
Fat Chance played to a hardy group seated on a wet lawnat Viva! Vienna! 2017.
ViVa! Vienna!Vienna celebrates its annual three-day festival Saturday, May 26-Monday, May
28 in the heart of historic Vienna along Church Street. The festival, hosted for 33years by the Rotary Club of Vienna, features carnival rides, food, live entertainmentacross three stages, and more than 300 arts and craft and other vendors. Free ad-mission. Rides require a specific number of tickets, which varies from ride to ride;tickets are $1 each or $20 for a sheet of 24, or $35 for an all-day wristband. Park-ing in the historic area is very limited. Visit vivavienna.org.
File pho
to
by D
on
na M
an
z/T
he C
on
nectio
n
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Select yourproducts from
our MobileShowroomand Design
CenterFully Insured &
Class A LicensedSince 1999
Free Estimates703-214-8384
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
Calendar
From Page 4
at Wildfire, Tysons Galleria, 3rd floor,McLean. A special Memorial Daybrunch where guests will enjoy abreakfast buffet, cookie decoratingclass and face painting. $20.00 peradult/child plus tax (gratuity notincluded). To make a reservation,call 703-442-9110.
Memorial Day Ceremony. 11 a.m. atGreat Falls Freedom Memorial,behind the Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Theannual Memorial Day ceremony willhonor those who gave “the last fullmeasure of devotion” in service offreedom. Longtime Vienna residentand World War II “civilian veteran”Rita C. Stead will give the keynoteaddress on the meaning of MemorialDay. The ceremony is open to all.Limited seating and shelter provided;attendees may bring portable chairs.Visit www.gffreedom.org for more.
FRIDAY/JUNE 1Summer on the Green: U.S. Navy
Band – Country Current. 6:30p.m. area residents can catch a newand diverse musical act at the TownGreen or at Chillin’ on Church. Bringblankets and chairs, but please leaveFido and any other pets at home. Theconcerts are free and open to thepublic. Visit www.viennava.gov formore.
Tysons Concert Series: MatKearney. 6:30-8 p.m. on the Plazaat Tysons Corner Center. TysonsCorner Center’s 5th annual freeSummer Concert Series offers avariety of musical guests and hasproven to be a popular event forfamilies, couples and teenagers. ThePlaza is located off of The TysonsCorner Metro Station of the SilverLine. Guests are encouraged to arriveearly. Visitwww.tysonscornercenter.com/events/SummerConcertSeries2018for more.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY/JUNE 1-3Tysons-Pimmit Book Sale. Friday,
11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m. Largeselection of books and media for allages and interests. Half price/$10 perbag sale on Sunday. Call 703-790-4031 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/friends-of-tysons-pimmit-regional for more.
SATURDAY/JUNE 2Used Book Collection. 9 a.m.-1:30
p.m. at SunTrust Bank, 515 MapleAve., E, Vienna. Used books, CDs,DVDs, software, children’s books,records, and recent books will beaccepted. No encyclopedias, VHS oraudiotapes. The Book Sale will beheld on Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the SpringHill Recreation Center. The saleproceeds benefit scholarships forwomen. Questions:[email protected] or 703-527-4206.
Spring Fair. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at PleasantGrove historic site and museum, at8641 Lewinsville Road, McLean. Freecommunity fair will feature “attictreasures” quality yard sale andantiques, a homemade bake sale,lunch, an artisan-made quilt raffle,and a Tom Sawyer clean-up day. Allproceeds are donated to PleasantGrove. Stop by Friday to drop offdonated “attic treasures.” Visitwww.HistoricPleasantGrove.org.
SUNDAY/JUNE 3Alden Summer Concerts: Tim
Kubart and the Space Cadets. 5p.m. in McLean Central Park, 1468Dolley Madison Blvd. Free parking atDolley Madison Library, 1244 OakRidge Ave. The Alden’s 2018 SummerSunday Concerts in the Park expandthis year to include a “welcome,summer” concert on Sunday, June 3,and then seven concerts from July 1through Aug. 12. Visitwww.aldentheatre.org for more.
TUESDAY/JUNE 5The C&O Canal. 12:30-2 p.m. at 1234
Ingleside Ave., McLean. Learn aboutthe C&O Canal, its history, its beautyand its uses. Presented by CaroleHerrick. One lesson for 1 hour, 30minutes. Cost is $7/$5 MCC districtresidents.
THURSDAY/JUNE 7Benefit of Chocolate. 6-8:30 p.m. at
Westwood Country Club, 800 MapleAve., Vienna. The Stroke ComebackCenter is hosting the Benefit ofChocolate cocktail reception tosupport its programs for survivors ofstroke and brain trauma. $100. Visitstrokecomebackcenter.org for more.
Author Event: Joseph Esposito.7:30-9 p.m. at Patrick Henry Library,
101 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. MeetJoseph A. Esposito, the author of“Dinner in Camelot.” Books availablefor sale and signing. Free admission.Call 703-938-0405 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/3931227 for more.
FRIDAY/JUNE 8Summer on the Green: Vienna
Idol Finale. 6:30 p.m. arearesidents can catch a new and diversemusical act at the Town Green or atChillin’ on Church. Bring blanketsand chairs, leave pets at home. Theconcerts are free and open to thepublic. Rain date is June 9. Visitwww.viennava.gov for more.
Tysons Concert Series: TheLegwarmers. 6:30-8 p.m. on thePlaza at Tysons Corner Center.Tysons Corner Center’s 5th annualfree Summer Concert Series offers avariety of musical guests, popular forfamilies, couples and teens. TysonsCorner Metro Station of the SilverLine. www.tysonscornercenter.com/events/SummerConcertSeries2018for more.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY/JUNE 8-9Used Book Sale. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at
Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Pre-sale open tomembers of the Friends of the LibraryThursday, June 7, 6-8 p.m.Membership purchased at the doorfor the pre-sale-night-only, $15.Thousands of lightly-used donatedbooks, CDs, DVDs in every category.Many like new. Great for carepackages, beach house, buildinghome library, literacy programs,traveling companions. Freeadmission. [email protected] call 703-757-8560.
‘Nature’s Palette’Cindy Dibbs takes every opportunity to enjoy and photograph nature whether
hiking in Great Falls National Park, Glacier National Park or strolling along thebeach. Her photos reflect the beauty of nature and she hopes the images will in-spire others to protect and treasure the valuable gift of nature. June 1-30 at Katie’sCoffee House, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls. Visit www.cindydibbs.com.
Bluebird by Cindy Dibbs.
6 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Within the Mosaic Harmony “family” she founda place where “it’s first and foremost about people,where differences are celebrated, and everyonehas the opportunity to find our common bondsas human beings.
“It’s infectious. It’s soul-freeing,” Barnett Harrelldescribed the atmosphere that has kept her en-gaged since 2009.
The choir performs throughout the region. InFebruary, they performed at the Church of JesusChrist of Latter-Day Saints D.C. Visitors’ Centerfor the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, andin April they joined forces with the WashingtonInternational Chorus and the World Children’sChoir for the program “Music Uniting the World.”They’ve even brought their high-energy act over-seas, performing in Rome last year.
“We’ve sung at large venues, retirement homes,hospitals and for clients of the Mental Health In-stitute, and a number of fundraisers throughoutthe year,” said Barnett Harrell, but the Spring Con-cert on June 3 is their signature event and con-clusion of their 2017-2018 season. The nonprofitraises funds to cover their operating expenses andfor the salaries of their musicians and director.The choir itself, the board members, “and every-one else who pitches in” are all volunteers.
The group is partially funded by the Arts Coun-cil of Fairfax County, with fundraisers, donationsand ticket and cd sales making up the rest.
From Page 2“We would love to offer even more perfor-
mances, and more outreach events,” North andBarnett Harrell both stated. “The more funds weraise, the more uplifting music we can share.”
So, what’s on the musical menu for the SpringConcert? Obviously songs and hymns that offerencouragement and demonstrate that “We’re Go-ing to Make It Together.”
Sometimes a bit of audience participation is in-volved.
“No one can resist David when he asks you toclap along, or even sing along,” says choir mem-ber Teresa McConnel of Fairfax. Listening to theup-tempo selections being rehearsed, it’s doubtfulNorth will have to do much coaxing to get theaudience engaged.
MOSAIC HARMONY’S REPERTOIRE drawsdeeply from the heritage of African-American spiri-tual music, combined with traditional and contem-porary gospel songs, including many composed byNorth himself, but the music is inspirational ratherthan religiously specific. “It’s for everyone,” he ex-plains, mindful that both his singers and his audi-ences have their own diverse beliefs.
“You don’t need to assimilate,” says North. “We’retrying to form a beautiful human picture from allof our individual pieces of the puzzle – together.”
To purchase tickets for the concert and to learnmore about Mosaic Harmony Community Choirvisit their website at www.mosaicharmony.org.
Mosaic Harmony Choir toPresent Spring Concert
The following summary contains vari-ous incidents of general interest as well asvehicular crashes handled by the Town ofVienna Police Department from May 11– May 17, 2018.
INCIDENTSFraud — 900 Block Lynnhill Court,
NE May 4 12 a.m. A resident reported anunauthorized charge made to one of hercredit accounts.
Fraud — CVS 337 Maple Avenue,East Between May 8 at 8:45 p.m. andMay 14 at 8:45 p.m. The pharmacistreported a possible prescription fraud.This case is being investigated.
Lost Property — 200 Block MapleAvenue, East May 10, 6 p.m. A citizenreported losing her wallet in the area ofthe shopping center.
Suspicious Event — Giant Food 359Maple Avenue, East May 12, 7 p.m. Acitizen reported that he and his friend,an employee at Giant, were beingthreatened by a man who was theemployee’s ex-boyfriend. Prior to theofficer’s arrival they advised the manhad blocked the employee’s vehicle. Thecitizen and the employee felt the ex-boyfriend was stalking them. There wasa friend of the ex-boyfriend who contin-ued to drive around the parking lotwhile the officers conducted their inves-tigation. The two reporting parties wereadvised how to obtain a protective orderagainst the ex-boyfriend. The ex-boy-friend apologized to the employee andher friend and agreed to have no furthercommunication with them.
Assault — Whole Foods Market 143Maple Avenue, East May 12, 8:29 p.m.A customer advised he was assaulted byanother customer when the manrammed him with a shopping cart. Thecustomer was advised of the warrantprocess should he wish to pursuecharges.
Suspicious Person — Shell Gas Station252 Maple Avenue, West May 12, 10:40p.m. An employee at the Shell stationreported a naked man who was actingaggressive, trying to get into the store.Officers located the man at the stationwearing only athletic shorts and socks.The man explained he was traveling fromout of state with a friend. The two hadbeen arguing and the friend just left theman at the gas station. The man at-tempted to get into the store to use theirphone and did not intend to scare theemployee. A few hours later, officerswere able to persuade the friend to cometo the police station to pick up the man.
Suspicious Person — Maple Avenueand Mashie Drive, SE May 13, 12:34p.m. A citizen reported a man lying inthe roadway. Officers located the manwho stated he was waiting for a bus totake him home. The man’s relativeswere notified and sent a cab to transporthim home.
Grand Larceny — Whole Foods Mar-ket 143 Maple Avenue, East May 13between 5 and 5:33 p.m. A customer lefthis bicycle at the bike rack unlockedwhile he went into the store. When hereturned, the bike was missing alongwith other personal property includinga credit card. The credit card was useda few hours later to make a purchase inD.C. This case is being investigated.
Trespassing — Patrick Henry Library101 Maple Avenue, East May 15, 5:19p.m. An employee reported a man in thelibrary who had been trespassed fromanother branch. An additional Notice ofTrespassing had been issued to ban theman from all Fairfax County Public Li-braries, however it had not yet beenserved. The man was escorted out of thelibrary where he was served with theNotice and advised he would be chargedwith trespass if he returned.
Domestic Assault — Park Street, NE
May 15, 8:08 p.m. A resident advisedthat she and her juvenile daughter werehaving an argument. The daughter be-came agitated and, in an attempt toleave the room, became physical withher mother. Rescue personnel re-sponded to assess, but both mother anddaughter refused medical treatment.Juvenile services will be consulted re-garding charges in this case.
Police Service — Total Health Con-cepts 115 Beulah Road, NE May 16, 1p.m. An officer assisted a therapist ingetting their patient to an area hospitalfor evaluation.
Arrest – Assault on Police Officer —600 Block Longview Court, NE May 17,12:58 a.m. A resident reported theiradult son was making suicidal state-ments. Officers arrived at the home andfound the son yelling and strugglingwith other family members. The sonthen became combative with officerswhile still fighting with family. The mancontinued to be combative and assaultthe officers. One officer used a Taserand they were able to take him into cus-tody. The 21-year-old man fromLongview Court, NE, Vienna was trans-ported to the Fairfax County AdultDetention Center where he continued tobe disorderly. He was charged with twocounts of Felonious Assault on a PoliceOfficer and will be held for a mentalhealth evaluation. Assist EMS — 300Block Moorefield Road, SW May 17,2:52 a.m. Officers assisted with a pos-sible overdose. Rescue personneltransported the resident to an area hos-pital for observation.
Animal Case – Quarantine — 500Block Highland Street, NW May 17,6:35 p.m. A resident reported that hiswife was injured after being attacked bytheir dog. The resident was advised ofthe 10-day quarantine. ACO Barker willfollow up on this case.
Vienna Police Highlights
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
As I sat on the couch Saturday morning withmy wife, Dina, and pretended not to watch orlisten – too attentively, anyway, to the “fairy tale”wedding of the former Meghan Markle and thecurrent Prince Harry, in Windsor Castle on May19, I was reminded of my own wedding, pro-posal, courtship and introduction to Dina, datingback to November 1976 when we first met. (I’lltry not to self-indulge too much; it’s boring Iknow.)
After graduating undergraduate school in May1976, I moved back home to Boston, and beganlooking for work. Upon receiving an offer fromthe now-defunct Prince Georges Post to write aweekly column, I returned back to Maryland inlate summer and moved in with my brother,Richard. Unfortunately, after meeting with theEditor-in-Chief, I was informed that due to arevenue shortfall, the tabloid was shrinking itspage count to 32 from 40, and with it my col-umn and budget for it was shrunk as well. At thatmoment, my Art Buchwald-type dream was over.
Though living with Richard in his one bed-room apartment and sleeping on his living roomcouch was not costing me much money, it washardly the ideal transition to post-college life Ihad anticipated. I needed to find a job and myown place to live. Soon after speaking with mycollege buddy, “Mot,” my housing and job statuswould change. I moved in with him into a grouphouse in Potomac, where one of his roommates,Rick, was a lunch manager at the Sir WalterRaleigh Inn Restaurant in upper Georgetown.
Always looking for daytime staff, I was imme-diately hired and within days began my new job.On my first day, I drove in with Rick. After park-ing behind the restaurant, we walked in the backdoor, through the kitchen and into the diningroom. Rick looked around at the various employ-ees doing their pre-lunch set-up, saw Dina to hisright and said: “Dina, train the new man.” Afterspending the morning together, she thought I wasweird; I thought she was stuck-up. Amazing howlittle has changed. Six months later we weredating.
I remember the exact circumstance when Itold Dina that I loved her. We were driving northon Connecticut Avenue past the Avalon Theatreheading into Chevy Chase Circle. While round-ing the Circle, it just hit me so I said it: “Dina, Ithink I love you.” I don’t recall how Dinaresponded but my ill-timed delivery didn’t seemto be a problem.
A few months after that, another awkwardprogression toward our getting married. We weresitting in a sub/pizza place called C.J.’s located inthe Cabin John Shopping Center having a casuallunch. While we were talking and eating, itstruck me that I wanted to ask Dina to be mywife. Without too much thought or preparation –and with no ring – I grabbed my paper placematand wrote a proposal on it – in the margins, if Irecall, and then slid it around toward Dina forher to read. Again, I don’t remember too muchabout her reaction other than her answer was“Yes.”
A year or so later, we were married – twice.Due to our differences in religion, we agreed tobe married by a judge, for whom Dina’s mater-nal grandmother had once worked. Five weeksafter the invitations had been mailed and fivedays before the wedding, we went to visit thejudge to discuss the service. After we made ourin-person introductions and exchanged pleasant-ries, the judge says to us with as serious a look ashe could muster: “I can’t marry you on Sunday.”
A moment of silence/horror passed betweenus. “What!?,” we murmured politely. Then hesmiles reassuringly and says: “I’m a Pennsylvaniajudge. I can’t legally marry you in Delaware onSunday. (Another collective gasp as we’re tryingto process what we’re hearing.) He goes on: “Justcome by my chambers on Friday and we’ll do itlegally. Then on Sunday, I’ll do it for show.” Theresult: two wedding-anniversaries, Oct. 20 and22, one year though: 1978.
Harry and Meghan may have their “fairytale,” but we have our funny tale; still being toldalmost 40 years later.
Oh Happy DazeSubmit civic/community announcements at
ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDAssistance League of Northern Virginia, a
volunteer nonprofit, invites community membersto join the organization to participate in itsReading Express program. Volunteers provideone-on-one tutoring to first grade studentsduring the school year. To learn more contactVP Membership Mary Gronlund [email protected] or Program Coordinator LynnBarron at [email protected].
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATIONChild turning 5 years old by Sept. 30? If so,
contact your child’s school to makearrangements for kindergarten enrollment. Mostschools begin getting information together nowfor parents of incoming kindergartners, andmany host an orientation or open house. Allkindergarten programs are full-day and locatedin FCPS elementary schools. Check your school’swebpage or contact the school directly forspecific enrollment information and dates oforientationor visit www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration.
THURSDAY/MAY 31Meet with Virginia WMATA
Representatives. 7-8:30 p.m. at theProvidence Community Center, 3001 VadenDrive, Fairfax. Virginia’s representatives to theboard of directors of the WashingtonMetropolitan Area Transit Authority will meetthe public in a forum sponsored by the NorthernVirginia Transportation Commission. The eventwill include a presentation focused on funding,governance and safety, followed by a question-and-answer session. The facility is withinwalking distance of the Vienna Metro station.Visit www.novatransit.org.
THURSDAYS/MAY 31-JUNE 14Adventures in Learning. Times vary, at
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of FairfaxProgram Building, 2709 Hunter Mill Road,Oakton. Sample of classes include: t’ai chi,intermediate/advanced bridge, “Over the AirTelevision,” world affairs, and Socrates cafe.Visit www.scov.org/files/ail/ail_schedule_2018_spring_040918.pdf details.
FRIDAY/JUNE 1Help Children Navigate Adolescence in the
Digital Age. 10 a.m.-noon at Dunn LoringCenter for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road,Entrance 1 - Room 100, Dunn Loring. What elsecan parents do to keep their teenager safe on theinternet? Join Richard Stegman, FCPSEducational Specialist, to learn the top internetdangers for teens and seven steps for gooddigital parenting. Free. Call 703-204-3941 orvisit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center.
WEDNESDAY/JUNE 6Grow Your Business. 6-8 p.m. at American
Prime, 1420 Spring Hill Road, McLean. JoinTysons McLean Orchestra to network with thetech, telecom, real estate and financial servicesexecs and the professional business communityat American Prime. Live music, raffles,discounted drinks tickets and a buffet. $30online; $40 at the door. Visitwww.eventbrite.com and search “Instrumentalto Business” for tickets.
MONDAY/JUNE 11Lunch N’ Life: Estate Planning. Noon at
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain BridgeRoad, Vienna. Join the Shepherd’s Center ofOakton-Vienna’s (SCOV) Lunch N’ Life eventwith guest speaker Collins Law Firm’s Phillip J.Kenny, JD, CFP, an experienced estate planner.Prepayment of $15 per person required byWednesday June 6. No refunds. To register, call703-281-0538. www.scov.org/announcements.
WEDNESDAY/JUNE 13Public Safety Program. 7:30 p.m. at McLean
Governmental Center Community Rooms, 1437Balls Hill Road, McLean. The June McLeanCitizens Association Public Safety Program willfocus on the Fairfax County Independent PoliceAuditor. The Auditor, Richard G. Schott, willprovide a presentation to explain hisresponsibilities and to answer questions. Visitmcleancitizens.org.
Bulletin
8 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ May 23-29, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
By John C. Cook
Braddock District Supervisor
Prom and graduation sea-sons are upon us, andthese are the biggestlandmarks in our teens’
lives so far. While it is certainly atime for celebration, it is also atime for parents to ensure thesafety of these young adults. Iwant to ask all parents to keep our communitysafe by not hosting parties teen parties withalcohol and speaking to your children aboutthe dangers of drunk driving.
The way parents raise their own kids in theprivacy of their homes is their business. How-ever, when other children are involved andgiven alcohol, it becomes a community con-cern and threat to public safety. Through amotion I presented, the Board of Supervisorsunanimously directed our Police Department
to arrest parents who host partiesfor minors where alcohol isserved. If you are caught hostingone of these parties then you willbe arrested and sent to jail.
There is no responsible way tohost a teen party with alcohol. Notonly are teens underage, but teenbrains are more negatively im-
pacted by alcohol than an adult’s. The devel-oping mind already has a tendency to take risksand not perceive consequences for their ac-tions. When one introduces alcohol to this situ-ation, the risky behavior goes into overdriveand puts our young people in a dangerousposition. Teens are also more likely to bingedrink, which creates an even greater risk totheir health in the short and long term. At itsworst, teen drinking can result in drunk driv-
ing, assault, drug use, teen pregnancy, injury,or even death. When parents provide youthwith alcohol, they are jeopardizing thesechildren’s lives.
Every year we hear stories about devastat-ing accidents caused by teens driving underthe influence after prom or graduation. It isnot something that just happens in other neigh-borhoods. These accidents happen in our ownbackyards. Nationally, 10,497 people died in2016 from drunk driving accidents. Fifteenpercent of those accidents were caused by driv-ers under 21. A single accident like this is onetoo many.
That is why it is up to us as parents to setgood examples to our children. We have toset clear rules and expectations for them tofollow in this season of celebrations. Talk toyour teens about the dangers of drinking.Make it clear that if they drink and drive orgo to these underage drinking parties they arerisking their future.
Keep Teens Safe for SummerCommentary
By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
State Delegate (D-36)
As the General Assemblyheads back into SpecialSession on May 23 to con-
tinue work on the biennium bud-get impasse, I looked back at howlong we’ve been fighting to ex-pand Medicaid — the major stick-ing point in our current budgetstandoff. Here’s what I wrote inSeptember 2014 — nearly fouryears ago!
“Recently the New York Times editorial boardwrote about the ‘health care showdown in Vir-ginia.’ Their comments were not favorable. ‘InVirginia, there are 400,000 low-income peoplewho can’t afford health care coverage but don’tqualify for federal subsidies,’ they wrote. ‘Ifthey lived across the state line in Maryland,West Virginia or Kentucky, which have ex-panded their Medicaid programs, they couldget the coverage they need.’ The reason theycannot; ‘a group of recalcitrant Republicans inthe House of Delegate’ have blocked Medicaidexpansion at every opportunity.”
Highly regarded retired editorial writer forthe Virginian Pilot, Margaret Edds, wrote aboutthe current impasse in Virginia two weeks ago.Drawing on her extensive command ofVirginia’s history, Edds points out that Virginiawas the last state to join Social Security in the1930s. She argues that there is a moral im-perative that “we cannot afford to take thisrisk” of not expanding Medicaid. She writesthat “designing a health care system that em-braces everyone is the right thing to do.” Restonresident, Elliot Wicks, in a recent letter to theeditor makes the same argument that closingthe coverage gap morally is the right thing todo.
In an unprecedented move, theVirginia Chapter of the AmericanAssociation of Retired People(AARP) called a press conferenceto announce that letters sent bythe Speaker of the House andother Republican lawmakers totheir constituents over age 60 con-tained “inaccurate informationabout changes in Medicare.”
These letters from Speaker Howell and otherlawmakers implied that expanding Medicaidin Virginia would hurt Medicare beneficiaries.“Expanding Medicaid to uninsured Virginianswon’t harm the Medicare program or its ben-eficiaries,” the AARP spokesperson said.
Revenues for the Commonwealth are ex-pected to fall short of projection for this yearby as much as $300 million. Ironically, Virginiais losing $5 million a day amounting now tothree-fourths of a billion dollars paid by Vir-ginians that could be returned to the statethrough Medicaid expansion. The money could
not be used to balance the budget in the cur-rent year, but in future years more than $200million that Virginia pays for indigent care fromits general tax revenue could be paid by Med-icaid.
State and local chambers of commerce, medi-cal and health care associations, and editorialboards of the major newspapers in the statehave endorsed Medicaid expansion. A majorcompromise in the form of Marketplace Vir-ginia, proposed by three Republican senatorsand endorsed by all Democratic legislators, hasbeen introduced. The compromise proposed inMarketplace Virginia addresses the Republi-cans’ stated concerns by including a provisionto discontinue the program if the federal gov-ernment reneges on its commitments. It is timefor Republicans in the House of Delegates toagree to the compromise. Their insistence onseparating Medicaid from the state budget is acostly stalling tactic that is hurting a large num-ber of Virginians and threatens to hurt evenmore if the budget stalemate continues.
While the players have changed—it’s nowSenate Republicans resisting Medicaid expan-sion—the song remains the same.
The More Things Change,the More They Stay the Same
Commentary
Send Father’s Day PhotosFather’s Day is Sunday, June 17, and once again this newspaper will publish a gallery
of Father’s Day photos.Every year at this time, we put out the call for photographs of fathers and their
children, grandfathers and their children and grandchildren.Send in photos with the following information: the town where you live, the names
of everyone in the picture, the approximate date the picture was taken, the ages of thechildren and a sentence or two about what is happening and where the photograph wastaken. Be sure to tell us your town name and neighborhood. Photos are due by June 12.
You can submit your photos online at www.connectionnewspapers.com/fathersday.You can also email photos to [email protected].
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
Andrea WorkerContributing Writer
Jean CardProduction Editor
ADVERTISING:For advertising information
Don ParkDisplay Advertising
Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444
David GriffinMarketing Assistant
Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431
Editor & PublisherMary Kimm
[email protected]@MaryKimm
Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon
Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren
Managing EditorKemal Kurspahic
Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,
Ali KhalighProduction Manager:
Geovani Flores
Vienna & Oakton