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SewerUnder Scrutiny

News, Page 3

GardenOf YourDreamsHome, Page 15

For Sale:$17 Million

Homes, Page 16

Serving Around the GlobeNews, Page 6

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NewsGreat Falls Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Alex McVeigh

The Connection

About two dozen members of the Great FallsCitizens Associationmet March 8 to discuss

solutions to the wastewater prob-lems in the commercial center ofGreat Falls, and will soon be send-ing out a poll seeking thecommunity’s input. As many of theseptic fields serving the propertiesaround the intersection ofGeorgetown Pike and Walker Roadare failing, in poor condition orapproaching the end of their lifecycle, the GFCA is looking for away to solve these problems,which could include installation ofa sewer line.

Former GFCA President RalphApton says that when he met withthe county more than a year ago,they said that a solution would beneeded soon.

“In August 2009, county officialsgave us a timeline, they said thatnothing would be critical for about10-12 years, then you’ll start see-ing serious problems,” Apton said.“But you can’t just wait 10-12years. It takes five years to plan,develop, construct. So you reallyhave five or six years. Two of thoseyears are gone, so we’re now downto about two to three years inwhich something has to be done.”

THE OPTIONS presented by theGFCA were: continuation of thecurrent situation, adding a sewer line or adding apretreatment facility and onsite disposal facilities,though most agree that leaving the systems as theyare is not an option.

“When we talk about the status quo, I don’t thinkit’s an option,” said Mike Kearney, owner of the OldBrogue. “Can we survive another 10-15 years? Sure,we can continue to Band Aid the problem. But in 20,40 years, that’s not the answer.”

Kearney mentioned the trucks that currently pumpand haul the failed drainfields close to the intersec-tion of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road, such asthe lot with the 7-11 buildings and the site of thefire station. Each truck can haul away 2,500 gallonsof wastewater, and the Great Falls Village Centrealone puts out around 10,000 gallons per day.

“That’s four full trucks per day going down WalkerRoad if one of our systems has a failure,” he said.

The Great Falls Business and Professional Associa-tion, which includes many of the property ownersaround the commercial center, released a statementabout their views on a possible sewer.

“In order to maintain a healthy and viable busi-ness district, the Great Falls Business and ProfessionalAssociation encourages the Great Falls Citizens As-

sociation to design and implement a community pollor petition in the near future in an effort to ask FairfaxCounty to remedy the wastewater problems by bring-ing in the force-main sewer to the commercial dis-trict of Great Falls,” the statement said.

GFBPA Vice President Michael Vandergrift said thatwhile they supported a sewer to help their businessflourish, they were not pushing for further develop-ment.

“In no way are we pushing for higher density,”Vandergrift said.

The GFCA will be sending out a poll to all resi-dents in the 22066 ZIP code to gauge thecommunity’s thoughts on the wastewater issue. Themain question is, will the community support a sewerline in Great Falls?

If they did, Fairfax County would have to set up asewer district. The district would encompass theproperties in the commercial center of Great Falls,and could go up Walker Road and encompass GreatFalls Elementary School as well.

Businesses supportive, residents divided onsewer system for Great Falls commercial center.

Sewer Under Scrutiny

See GFCA, Page 14

Fairfax County has determined that many of the septicfields around the Great Falls commercial center arefailing or approaching the end of their lifecycle. TheGreat Falls Citizens Association will be sending out a pollasking residents if they support a sewer to help resolvethe wastewater issues in Great Falls.

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Every state has an officialbird, but few cities ortowns have adopted bird

symbols of their own. NowGreat Falls is doing its bit tochange all that. From nowthrough June, the village willhost a series of art and photog-raphy events leading up to the“election” of the Great Falls bird.You can vote for your choice be-tween now and May 15 at thewebsite of Great Falls Studios,www.GreatFallsStudios.com.

In the interest of good civics,the Connection is profiling eachof the seven nominated bird“candidates.” This is the sixthof our profiles. The informationcomes from the website of theGreat Falls Citizens Association.

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.People in Great Falls who raisechickens (yes, we actually havechicken farmers here) fre-quently look over their shoul-ders for this dramatic hunterfrom the skies. Although it istrue that the Red-Shoulderedhas been known to take poul-try from time to time, it moreroutinely feeds on small mam-mals. In winter, however, itsometimes makes off with smallbirds at backyard feeders. Tosome observers, this violent rolein nature’s elegant scheme maybe disquieting. To others, it il-lustrates an exquisite specialty.

The Red-Shouldered is con-sidered a medium to large-

sized, broad-winged hawk. Itreaches up to 2 feet in length,has a wingspan of up to 43inches and is notable for barredreddish under parts. Amongother attractive markings: blackand white stripes on its wingsand tail. The male performswheeling courtship dances thatinclude steep dives. Its calls, aloud kee-aah among them, canbe heard throughout GreatFalls, where the species hasgrown more common in recentyears, according to localbirders. The hawk prefers ma-ture forests and lowlands nearwater and has found ideal habi-tat in our village, where itbuilds a stick nest, reusable(with repairs) from year to year,high in the crotch of large trees.For more information, go to:www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id.

Why it should be the GreatFalls bird. A talented, aggressivehunter that also looks well-tai-lored, is an ideal symbol for asuburb of Washington, wherematters of state often involvesharp talons, loud calls andsteep dives. It is also monoga-mous, which most politiciansconsider a plus. Kids like it be-cause the young at five days oldshoot their feces over the edgeof the nest. Bird poop on theground is a sign of an activenest, say the ornithologists atthe Cornell Laboratory of Orni-thology.

The Red Shouldered Hawk is a common predatoroften seen patrolling our skies in Great Falls. WaltLawrence of Great Falls photographed this one inflight against a forested backdrop.

Bird-Election Preview:Meet the Candidates


News

On Sunday, March 5,St. Francis EpiscopalChurch hosted the8th Great Falls Ecu-

menical Council Choir Sing, withperformances from seven localchoirs and local musicianMadeline MacNeil. Participatingchoirs were: The St. Francis SnowAngels, Andrew Chapel UnitedMethodist Church Choir, Voices ofWorkshop Community Choir,Great Falls United MethodistChurch Choir, Male Gospel Cho-rus of First M. Olive BaptistChurch, and Mt. Olive BaptistChurch Choir. This is the eighthyear of the Ecumenical Choir Sing.

Donate Sporting Goods to‘2nd Glance Gear’

Used but still useable sporting goods will be collected by 2nd

Glance Gear in Great Falls for the next four weekends. The group,started by twins William and Caroline Bean, 9, will donate allsporting goods collected to the Washington, D.C. Parks and Rec-reation Department.

The sporting goods will be collected from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. atthe MAX Youth and Performance Fitness Studio at 1137 WalkerRoad, which is at the intersection of Walker Road and Colvin RunMill Road.

They are looking for equipment that can still be used - no batswith dents, cracked helmets or equipment missing straps will betaken.

Needs include equipment for basketball, soccer, football, base-ball, softball, track and field, cheerleading and boxing, as well asjerseys and hats. Equipment for other sports will also be taken.

Bicentennial Celebration Plannedat Colvin Run Mill

Colvin Run Mill will celebrate its 200th anniversary on Sunday,April 10, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. During this first grind of theyear, watch as the miller harnesses the power of the 20-footwooden waterwheel to run the grinding stones and sample deli-cious cornmeal baked into muffins. There’ll be fun for the wholefamily – enjoy free tours of the mill and miller’s house, marchalongside costumed military re-enactors, try your hand at cornshelling and grinding, see the blacksmith fire up the forge, playold-fashioned games, and take your turn at chores. Local digni-taries will be on hand for a short ceremony at 1 p.m.

Restored to its 1811 appearance and operation, Colvin Run Millis an example of the cutting-edge industrial engineering of itsday. It is one of the last examples of America’s flourishing 19thcentury flour trade. In the early 1800s, over 40 mills operated inand contributed to the economic growth of Fairfax County. Cel-ebrate our shared history and make a visit to this landmark partof your family’s story.

Colvin Run Mill is located at 10017 Colvin Run Road in GreatFalls, VA. For more information call 709-759-2771 or visit onlineat http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm.

Liberty Swing Will Open atClemyjontri Park

Clemyjontri Park in McLean is known as a playground wherechildren of all abilities can play together. Now, due in large mea-sure to the generosity of several donors and the hard work of theFriends of Clemyjontri Park and the Fairfax County Park Founda-tion, Clemyjontri Park will feature the Liberty Swing, a uniqueapparatus which makes it possible for all children to enjoy thefreedom and delight of getting on a swing – even those in wheel-chairs.

On Saturday, April 16, at 9 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremonies willtake place at the park. The public is invited to join in the celebra-tion which recognizes donors who contributed toward the fund-ing of the $104,000 project. Representatives from both CapitalOne Bank and HITT Contracting, Inc. of Falls Church , will beamong those honored. Light refreshments will be served follow-ing the event.

Clemyjontri Park is located at 6317 Georgetown Pike McLean,Va. For more information, visit online at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/clemyjontri/. For information onhow you can contribute to this wonderful playground visit theFairfax County Park Foundation at http://www.fxparks.org/.

Colvin Run will also have a presentation on Actively Caring forPeople, a new character education and anti-bullying program atColvin Run. A panel of teachers, students, counselors and admin-istrators will discuss the program’s message, how students arerewarding each other for acts of kindness, and how the messagecan be carried into the larger community.

Week in Great Falls

The St. Frances SnowAngels sing as Music Direc-tor Virginia Sircy plays theorgan.

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LiftingEveryVoice

Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Choir, directedby Bob Leggett, performs at the “Lift Every Voice” Ecu-menical Choir Sing at St. Francis Episcopal Church. The240-seat sanctuary was at capacity.

The Voices of Worship Community Choir of Salem BaptistChurch performed “Freedom Medley” a medley of spiritu-als. The choir is directed by Felicia Kessel Crawley (notpictured).

The Great Falls United Meth-odist Choir, directed by Rob-ert “Mitch” Mitchell performsat the Great Falls EcumenicalCouncil Choir Sing.


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A Look Into Area’s FutureGreat Falls Group Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m.

will discuss: What will Northern Virginia Look Like in the Future?Charlie Grymes, Chairman of the Prince William Conservation Alli-

ance, contemplates how development will affect our communities, for-est, and streams. If we continue to grow as we have, how will thesenatural resources be affected? What will our neighborhoods look like?This forward-looking presentation draws upon geologic knowledge andhuman perspectives to guide participants in the stewardship of theirnatural environment.

The meeting will be held at the McLean Government Center, 1437Balls Hill Road in McLean.

10th District Academy DaySet for April 9

Area students interested in attending one of the nation’s service acad-emies are encouraged to attend to the 10th District Academy Day at 10a.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the Loudoun County School Board Officein Ashburn.

Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy,U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. CoastGuard Academy will be in attendance. In addition, representatives fromthe R.O.T.C., Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadetsand the DoD Medical Examination Review Board have been invited.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet individuallywith these representatives, as well as participate in panel discussions.

The 2011 Academy nomination season is now “open” for inquiriesfrom students considering attending one of the U.S. service academies.For more information about the congressional nominating process orAcademy Day, contact Ann Potocnak in Congressman Wolf’s Herndonoffice at (703) 709-5800 or by e-mail at [email protected].

The address of the Loudoun County School Board Office is: 21000Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20146.

Week in Great Falls

Artists and bird watchersgearing up for an election to pick an official

Great Falls bird symbol joined to-gether on Saturday to meet a liveRed-tailed Hawk at a special or-nithology event to help artistsdraw birds more accurately.

The bird-sketching sympo-sium, attended by about 25people, was held at the Artists’Atelier, a working studio for 16Great Falls artists in thecommunity’s Colvin Run area.It was sponsored jointly by theAudubon Society of NorthernVirginia and the art group GreatFalls Studios.

The meeting was led by RichBailey, naturalist at PotomacOverlook Regional Park, to-gether with Mary Mclean, a mas-ter naturalist with the AudubonNaturalist Society. They re-viewed natural history of localbirds, including the seven aviancandidates in the Great Falls birdelection, and provided birdwings, feathers and other arti-facts to help explain the basicsof how a bird works.

and talons, and beak and tosketch it.

The bird election continuesthrough May 15 in Great Falls,and residents can vote for thebird they think best representsthe community by going towww.GreatFallsStudios.com.

Naturalist Rich Bailey of Potomac Overlook RegionalPark holds a Red-tailed Hawk during a bird-sketchingsession associated with the election of a bird symbol torepresent Great Falls.

The red-tailed hawk is a perma-nent resident of a bird-rehabilita-tion facility at Potomac OverlookPark in north Arlington. One of itswings had been permanently in-jured in a collision with a vehicle.Artists were able to examine thebird’s feather configurations, feet

Live Hawk HighlightsBird-Sketching Event

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News

See Helping, Page 7

By Alex McVeigh

The Connection

South Africa has been apart of Great Falls resident Alisa Cozzens’ lifefor more than 40 years.

Her mother moved to a farm nearthe village of Magareng andCozzens and her brother soonfound a niche caring for the peopleof the village.

“Even when we came back to theUnites States, we would collectclothes, books, sporting goods andother items to send back to thevillage,” Cozzens said. “When mykids were doing Eagle Scoutprojects, their projects would begeared towards the village, and asmore people got involved, wewould shoot for bigger projects.”

Cozzens has now spread her

outreach across the world, andserves as executive director ofServe A Village, a nonprofit basedin Great Falls. Volunteers for theorganization make several tripsper year, each time bringing asmany donated items as possiblewith them.

IN MAGARENG, Serve A Villagehas helped collect items and win-terize an HIV/AIDS orphan daycare, send people to computercourses and outfitted soccerteams.

“We hope to make Magarenginto a model community, we’reworking on lowering the very highunemployment and HIV/AIDSeducation,” Cozzens said.

In addition to their work inMagareng, the organization col-lects for the Children’s Cancer

Hospital in Moscow, a mother andchild hospital in Kenya and a gen-eral hospital in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo. They alsoorganized donations of medicalsupplies to Haiti after the January2010 earthquake and are currentlylooking into ways to aid the peopleof Japan struck by last week’searthquake.

Christi Romney, who now servesas Serve A Village’s director ofoperations, first began working inSouth Africa after traveling therewhile doing her thesis in PublicHealth. She says Serve A Villagelooks for strong, on-the-groundleadership in the communitiesthey help.

“We want to see capable, pow-erful individuals who are capableof keeping our projects going inbetween trips. They have to knowthe communities,” Romney said.“That way it’s not just Americanscoming in and putting Band Aidson.”

Great Falls-based Serve A Villageworks to help communities aroundthe world.

Serving Around the Globe

Christi Romney, whonow serves asdirector of opera-tions for Serve AVillage, walks withchildren in Ugandaduring one of theorganization’sservice trips. ServeA Village helpscommunities allaround the world,including Africa,Haiti and Russia.

Photo Contributed


From Page 6

News

Karen Seneca of Reston has beeninvolved with the group since itsearliest days, since a mutual friendintroduced her to Cozzens. Shehas been on two previous trips toSouth Africa, and says she enjoysthe variety of service opportuni-ties.

“You can really branch out,whether it’s to the orphanage inRussia, or connecting with a goodfriend that helped us connect toareas in Haiti that needed helpafter the earthquake,” Seneca said.“It’s nothing grandiose, just help-ing a little at a time, but it doesmake a difference.”

Romney had a friend from Haitithat was able to inform Serve AVillage about communities thatweren’t receiving aid in the wakeof the earthquake, and they helpedship over pallets of first aid andhygiene supplies.

“We got an overwhelming re-sponse when we started collectingright after the earthquake,” Rom-ney said. “Now that the immedi-ate crisis is over, they need more

economic stimulation activities,like gardening and embroiderysupplies.”

Romney said that she spent themorning of Friday, March 11 work-ing with Serve A Village contactsto find out what the immediateneeds in Japan were.

Cozzens says that the volunteersthat go on the trips get as muchout of it as the people they arehelping.

“Once people have seen what it’slike over there, they feel different,they become personally involved,”Cozzens said. “Just being there,you see what we take for granted,you’re reminded of the basic needsthey have that aren’t being met.”

Romney still remembers her firsttrip to Kibera, a neighborhood inKenya, which is the second-larg-est urban slum in Africa.

“Seeing the tin roofs that go onforever and the people packed inthere, many who don’t have jobsor running water, really makes youfeel the overwhelming needs theyhave,” Romney said. “That’s animage I’ll never shake.”

Seneca says many volunteers

take the memories of their serviceback home with them, and itshapes their everyday life.

“Being around people in suchneed helps to create more kind-ness in your everyday life,” Sen-eca said. “It really changes yourlife. You don’t become so materi-alistic, you realize that thesepeople don’t have anywhere closeto the luxuries we do.”

Romney agreed, saying “you re-ally do see a change in the volun-teers after they make their firsttrip, and we’ve found the desireto help continues. They’re alwaysasking what else they can do.”

Cozzens says that 100 percentof everything collected goes tohelping the people they serve, noone involved with the organizationis paid.

SERVE A VILLAGE is planninga trip to South Africa at the end ofApril, and a trip to Kenya at thebeginning of May. More informa-tion on upcoming trips, as well asinformation on updates on theiroutreach to Japan, can be foundat www.servavillage.org.

Helping ‘a Little at a Time’

Spring ArtFestival Returnson April 9-10

Great Falls Studios presents theFifth Annual Spring Art Festival,Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at VillageGreen Day School, 790 WalkerRoad, in the center of Great Falls.

All of the artwork is created byGreat Falls artists, most of whomwork out of their home studios.You can also vote in person for thevillage bird as part of Vote 2011:Wings Across Great Falls.

This year’s show includes paint-ings, pottery, photographs, jewelry,drawings, art quilts, weaving, andwoodcarving, plus artful gifts andcards.

A drawing for four $50 “ArtBucks” door prizes will be heldSaturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Aportion of the sale proceeds willgo to the school. Admission is free.Call Linda Jones, 703-442-9251for more information.

“Returning Home To Number Fourteen,” watercolorpainting by Linda Jones.

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Community NewsFreelance OpportunityThe Connection Newspapers is looking forone or two writers to cover one or two newsstories a week. Work with award-winningeditor. On-the-beat training, nominal payper story. Please send resume, letter ofinterest to Kemal Kurspahic,[email protected].


Opinion

Last year, Komen Global Race for theCure conducted a study of breasthealth in the Washington Metropolitan area, showing that women diag-

nosed with breast cancer here are more likelyto die from breast cancer than the na-tional average.

One conclusion is that health care in-frastructure in the area is overly frag-mented, producing significant hurdles formany women, particularly women who arepoor or whose first language is not English.

In announcing grants to local organizationsand kicking off registration for the 2011 KomenGlobal Race for the Cure, the organization citedthe diverse population locally as a reason formore aggressive outreach here.

In Arlington, for example, there are womenfrom at least 128 different countries speakingat least 95 languages. The event brings almost50,000 runners and walkers to the NationalMall in June and raises millions of dollars forbreast cancer outreach and education.

Some women are afraid of the screening pro-cess, some are worried about cost, some don’thave a way to travel to medical appointments,some don’t know what resources are available,some don’t understand the benefits of early

detection or the urgency of follow-up,and many aren’t aware of the successof modern cancer treatments, believinga cancer diagnosis is a death sentence.

In the current environment, some immigrantwomen worry that accessing programs for theuninsured could lead to issues with immigra-tion.

Based on its findings, Komen announced lo-cal grants of about $4.5 million to improve bothpatient and provider education and to reducefragmentation to enhance capacity to screenand provide follow-up care.

Two grants will focus on provider education,helping doctors and other breast health pro-viders develop a better understanding of themyths, fears and needs of the different culturalpopulations of the women they serve. The

grants will encourage partnerships betweenproviders in the region so that patients can beeasily and efficiently referred from screeningall the way through to survivorship, limitingdifficulties with travel and work requirements,wait times, and financial assistance.

Eleven grants focus on patient education ina culturally competent manner to convey theimportance of screening, effectiveness of mod-ern treatments and survivorship. Among localorganizations receiving grants: Arlington FreeClinic, From Education to Access; Prevent Can-cer Foundation - Celebremos la vida!: Provid-ing Educational Outreach and Screening, inAlexandria; Vietnamese Resettlement Associa-tion - Breast Cancer Education, Screening andFollow up, in Falls Church; Nueva Vida - Com-prehensive Support Services for Latinas withBreast Cancer; American Association on Healthand Disability - Bridging the Gap: No WomanLeft Behind, in Rockville.

The 2011 Komen Global Race for the Curewill take place on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

You can run or walk the 5K, or even “SleepIn for the Cure,” and there are special activi-ties for children 12 and under.

For more, visit www.globalraceforthecure.orgor call 703-416-RACE (7223).

Global Race for the Cure is Saturday, June 4.Run, walk, sleep in or pitch in.

Racing for the Cure

Editorial

By Barbara

Comstock

State Del. (R-34)

The 2011 GeneralAssembly sessionwas one of the

most successful sessions inyears. The bipartisan measures wepassed have helped improve thelives and economic opportunitiesof all Virginians by making the firstsignificant investment in transpor-tation in a decade, helping busi-nesses to grow and create newjobs, laying the groundwork for abetter life for people with mentaldisabilities, reforming our highereducation system to increaseaffordability and access for Vir-ginia students, and passing a bud-get that is fiscally responsible andstructurally balanced.

Once again, we kept our spend-ing at 2006 levels, while not rais-ing taxes or fees, and cutting outunnecessary items such as theSenate’s proposal to spend $300million for a new “Taj Mahal” Gen-eral Assembly office building. Re-ports of our improving economyand the recent 6.5% unemploy-ment rate make Virginia amongthe most fiscally sound states inthe country.

The following provides detailson some of the key measures I fo-cused on this session:

JOBS. HB 1447, Researchand Development TaxCredit: We passed a Re-search and Developmenttax credit bill, whichbrought us in line with over30 states which already

have this credit. I was the ChiefCo-Patron of this bill to help com-panies bring new technologies tomarket. As The Washington Postreported, members of the North-ern Virginia Technology Counciland the Virginia BiotechnologyAssociation called the session andthis measure a “resounding win.”

HB 2197, Telework Tax Credit:My Telework bill, which passedoverwhelmingly, will grant em-ployers a tax credit for expensesincurred in developing and imple-menting telework arrangementsfor employees. The bill is both afamily-friendly work policy as wellas a transportation congestion so-lution. It was supported by theNorthern Virginia TechnologyCouncil, which has long been aleader in promoting telework poli-cies, as well as by the FairfaxChamber of Commerce and theVirginia Small Business Partner-ship.

HB 2052, Secret Ballot Protec-tion: Delegate Tim Hugo and I in-troduced legislation to require theuse of secret ballots in any union

election and to prohibit the socalled “card check” method ofunion elections which could forceunions on a workplace withoutindividuals having the right to votein private. Because of federal regu-latory agencies trying to imposeunionization by regulation, we in-troduced this measure to protectVirginia workers and workplaces.When the U.S. Congress tried toeliminate the right to a secret bal-lot through the card check bill,even liberal icons like GeorgeMcGovern called it “a disturbingand undemocratic overreach.”George McGovern has noted thatthere are many documented caseswhere workers have been “pres-sured, harassed, tricked and in-timidated into signing cards” thatthen lead to unionized work-places. While HR 2052 passed inthe House of Delegates with bipar-tisan support, the Senate Com-merce and Labor Committee didnot vote out this worker protec-tion measure.

TRANSPORTATION. HB 2527,Transportation Package: I co-patroned the transportation planpassed this year, which was thefirst significant transportation planin years. The plan will provideover $4 billion in much neededtransportation infrastructure fund-ing over the next three years with-

out raising taxes. This multi-fac-eted transportation package,which is the single largest infusionof funding in decades, will fundover 900 projects across the Com-monwealth, including work onwidening Route 7.

HB 2203, Revenue Sharing: Inrelation to this transportation ef-fort, I sponsored a bill on behalfof Fairfax County, which was in-corporated into the transportationpackage, and allows Fairfax toonce again be on an equal footingfor obtaining revenue-sharingfunds.

EDUCATION. HB 2510, HigherEducation Act of 2011: I was a co-patron of a major Higher Educa-tion bill, which was passed unani-mously in the General Assembly.This initiative will enable our in-stitutions to meet the goal of issu-ing an additional 100,000 degreesover the next 15 years, makingVirginia one of the most highlyeducated states in the nation andproviding our state with aworkforce that will attract topjobs. Based on this legislation, theUniversity of Virginia Board ofVisitors is poised to add nearly1,000 new spaces for in-state stu-dents that will help many of ourtop students in Northern Virginia

‘One of the Most Successful Sessions’

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Editor & PublisherMary Kimm

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Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren

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CIRCULATION: 703-778-9426Circulation Manager:

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CONNECTION NEWSPAPERS,L.L.C.

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Schools

On March 5 Colvin Run Elementary School teamconsisting of fourth graders Ela Pandellapalli, AndySharpe, Sofia Rojas, Eliza Pastore and EshPandellapalli participated in the NOVA WestOdyssey of the Mind regional competition held atFalls Church High School. In this competitionchildren are expected to come up with their ideasand strategy from beginning to end.

A total of 280 teams from Northern Virginiaparticipated in OOM regional competition. This

Colvin RunDragonspreparing toshow theirinnovation

Colvin Run Dragons Win 4th Place inRegional Competition

team from Colvin Run worked numerous hoursstarting from November on a contraption to waterplants without hurting your back that consisted ofmore than 10 moving parts and mostly all thesimple machines.

They introduced and promoted this invention atthe competition using the range of skills includingacting, singing and dancing. Overall, the teamstood 4th in the competition missing the 3rd placeby 1.5 points.

The Langley Model UN team received theSecretary General’s award, first place, at the ModelUN Conference held President’s Day weekend atDuke University, Durham, N.C. Langley’s team issponsored by LHS faculty member, SuzanneSchettini. In addition to the team award, twentytwo students received individual delegate awards.

BEST DELEGATE: Kimiya Hahighi, AriannaTalaie, Andrew Kil, Miriam Ahmed, Gray Decker,Mujtaba Wani, Lauren Meeker, Muskan Mumtaz,

Will Mannon.

OUTSTANDING DELEGATE: Cythnia Ding,Eliza Campbell, Alexcia Chambers.

HONORABLE DELEGATE: Andrew Havasy,Elisabeth Meiser, Inuk Kim, Alvin Kuai.

VERBAL DELEGATE: Myunghoon Kim, MatthewAnderson, Shams Haidari, Kushali Marawaha andSkye Tore.

Langley High School Model UN TeamEarns First Place

The LangleyModel UN team.

Contributed

132 Branch Road, S.E. • Vienna, VAVisit www.maplewoodgrill.com for Specials

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Serving Our Neighbors and Friends for Over 26 YearsServing Our Neighbors and Friends for Over 26 Years

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OpenSaturdaysfor Lunch

German - Hungarian Buffet DinnerWednesday, March 30th

Extensive selection of Entrees, Desserts & Coffee$30 excludes tax & gratuity

Reservations RecommendedBuffet Dinner will begin at 6:30pm

10 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ March 16-22, 2011 Great Falls Connection ❖ March 16-22, 2011 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

To have community events listed in the Connec-tion, send to [email protected] is Friday.

THURSDAY/MARCH 17Vietnam Veterans of America Inc.

Chapter 227 Meeting. 7:30 p.m.Neighbor’s Restaurant, 262D Cedar Lane,Cedar Lane Shopping Center, Vienna. DougSterner, a decorated Vietnam veteran andmilitary historian, will discuss peoplepretending to be decorated military veteranswith medals for combat exploits and acts ofheroism. Sterner is a strong advocate for theStolen Valor Act of 2005. The general publicand all veterans are invited. Free. 703-255-0353 or www.vva227.org.

Falls Church City GOP CommitteeMeeting. 7:30 p.m. American Legion Hall,400 N. Oak St., Falls Church. With PrinceWilliam Board of County SupervisorsChairman Corey Stewart, Michael Zak, authorof Back to Basics for the Republican Party &Mark Rhoads. 703-502-0161 [email protected].

FRIDAY/MARCH 18VTRCC Brown Bag University. 11:45 a.m.

Fairfax County Economic DevelopmentAuthority, 8300 Boone Blvd. Suite 450,Vienna. Free. www.vtrcc.org.

SATURDAY/MARCH 19Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of

Commerce 18th Annual Casino Night &Taste of the Town. 7 p.m. WestwoodCountry Club, 800 Maple Ave. East, Vienna.Cash bar, live auction, casino games andmore. $75. 703-281-1333 or Vtrcc.org.

Living Well and Thriving After Treatment.8 a.m.-3 p.m. Our Lady of Good CounselChurch in Vienna. “A One-Day Educationaland Healing Retreat for Cancer Survivors,”offered by the Northern Virginia chapter ofthe Oncology Nursing Society. Free. Registerat 703-558-6213 [email protected].

CASA Information Session. 11 a.m. BurkeCentre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke.Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates

(CASA) is hosting an informationsession for those who would like tolearn more about advocating forabused or neglected children. 703-273-3526, x22 [email protected].

Haven of Northern Virginia’sWidow/Widower SupportGroup. 2 p.m. Haven of NorthernVirginia, Inc., 4606 RavensworthRoad, Annandale. Six weeklymeetings, through April 30. Free.Register at 703-941-7000 orwww.havenofnova.org.

Richmond Roundup. 9 a.m. AmericanLegion Auxiliary Post 180, 330 CenterSt. North, Vienna. Michael Cassidy,Commonwealth Institute Presidentand CEO, on “Poverty in Virginia.”www.S-A-L-T.org.

Avoiding Divorce Court. 10 a.m. TheWomen’s Center, 127 Park Street, NE,Vienna. How to Negotiate or Mediatea Property Settlement Agreement. $45registration fee, $35 members.www.thewomenscenter.org.

SATURDAY/MARCH 26Hunter Mill Community Meeting

on the FY 2012 Budget. 9 a.m.Vienna Community Center, 120Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. One of twomeetings in the Hunter Mill district toreview the proposed FY 2012 budget.With Supervisor Cathy Hudgins andCounty budget staff, Hunter Millbudget committee members, andSchool Board representative StuGibson. Assistance with tax reliefprogram for senior and disabledcitizens also be [email protected].

TUESDAY/MARCH 22Virginia Lyme Disease Task Force

Hearings. 7 p.m. Immanuel BibleChurch main auditorium, 6911Braddock Road, Springfield. Anyonemay address Chairman Michael Farrisand other Task Force members at thehearing. The hearing is being held

because of the growing concerns ofVirginia residents about the spreadand nature of Lyme Disease. Open tothe public. Direct written commentsto [email protected].

Registration for Spring EnglishClasses for Adults. 7 p.m. St. MarkChristian Formation Center, 9972Vale Road, Vienna. Nine-weeksemester, meeting Tuesdays andThursdays at 8 p.m. $20, newstudents must also purchase theappropriate book. Optional basiccomputer skills class for intermediateand advanced ESL students. 703-626-3585 (English), 703-300-3936(Spanish) or 703-994-8510 (Korean).

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS). 6p.m. St Timothy’s Episcopal Church,432 Van Buren St., Lower Level,Herndon. A noncommercial networkof weight-loss support groups withtools and programs for healthy livingand weight management. Weeklymeetings are Tuesdays.www.tops.org.

Send announcements to [email protected]. Deadline is Thurs-day for the following week’s paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. For additional listings, visitwww.connectionnewspapers.com

THURSDAY/MARCH 17Further. 8 p.m. George Mason University Patriot

Center, 4500 Patriot Drive, Fairfax. FormerGrateful Dead members Phil Lesh and BobWeir. Tickets $49.50. Charge at 800-551-SEAT or www.livenation.com.www.furthur.net.

The Pretty Reckless and A ThousandHorses. 7:30 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 MapleAve. E., Vienna. jamminjava.com.

Book Discussion Group. 7:30 p.m. GreatFalls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, GreatFalls. Call for title. Adults. 703-757-8560.

FRIDAY/MARCH 18Family Piano Concert: Pianist Valery

Lloyd-Watts. 7 p.m. Vienna Baptist Church,541 Marshall Road S.W., Vienna. Adults $15,children and seniors $10, under age 2 free.703-734-0621 [email protected].

Deanna Bogart Band. 7:30 p.m. Jammin’Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna.jamminjava.com.

Rockin’ into Spring Dance. 8 p.m. McLeanCommunity Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. Live music by The Fabulous Hubcaps.Cash bar. Tickets $5-$20.www.mcleancenter.org.

From Bizet to Broadway. 8 p.m. The RichardJ. Ernst Community Cultural Center TheaterNorthern Virginia Community College, 8333Little River Turnpike, Annandale. TheNorthern Virginia Chorale and the NorthernVirginia Community College Annandale Chorale,under the artistic direction of Robert S. Webb Jr.Aida’s Triumphal Chorus, the Anvil Chorus fromIl Trovatore and more. Advance adult tickets$15, at the door $20. Age 12-24 $10, under age12 free. www.northernvirginiachorale.org or703-239-2180.

The Discovery Series: CuaretoLatinoamericano. 8 p.m. Wolf TrapFoundation for the Performing Arts, 1624 TrapRoad, Vienna. A string quartet performingselections of Latin American classical music. $35.www.wolftrap.org.

SATURDAY/MARCH 19Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of

Commerce Western Nite II and Taste ofthe Town. 7 p.m. Westwood Country Club, 800Maple Ave., E., Vienna. Western-themed nightwith casino games, cash bar, silent auction, raffleand more. Sample food from fifteen localrestaurants. Tickets $75 in advance or $85 at thedoor, and include two drink tickets and $20K ingaming cash. 703-281-1333 or www.vtrcc.org.

McLean Symphony Spring Family Concert. 3p.m. The Alden Theatre, McLean CommunityCenter, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Dukas’ TheSorcerer’s Apprentice, Holmberg’s Water Suite

for Glass Harp, Piano and Orchestra, Smetana’sThe Moldau, and compositions by local studentcomposers. Adults $25, Seniors and youth $20,under age 12 $5. 703-790-9223 or www.mclean-symphony.org.

Enter the Haggis. 8 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227Maple Ave. E., Vienna. jamminjava.com.

Northern Virginia Country Western DanceAssociation. Luther Jackson Middle School,3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Line dancelessons at 7:30 p.m., beginners two-step at 8p.m. Open dancing 8:30-11 p.m. Two step, waltz,line, swing, cha cha, and specialty dances.Couples and singles welcome. Admission $5-$12.www.nvcwda.org or 703-860-4941.

Historic Vienna, Inc. Antiques Appraisers.12-4 p.m. Freeman Store and Museum, 131Church St., N.E., Vienna. With appraisersJosephine Thrasher and Jim Johnson. $8.50 peritem for members of Historic Vienna, Inc. and$12 per item for non-members, with a maximumof two items. Reservations required at 703-938-5187. www.historicviennainc.org.

Paws to Read. 11 a.m. Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Practice readingaloud to a trained therapy dog. Call to register.Ages 6-12. 703-757-8560.

5th Annual Ticket to Art. 4:30 p.m. Vienna ArtCenter, 115 Pleasant St., NW, Vienna. Everyticket-holder can select an original artwork

valued at $125 or more in a raffle.Entertainment includes artistspainting to the music of the HigherGround Trio. Tickets $125. 703-319-3971 or www.ViennaArtsSociety.org.

SUNDAYMARCH 20Camp Grow! Open House. 2 p.m.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna.Open House for the park’s springbreak and summer camp program.Preview camp activities. Free andopen to the public. 703-255-3631.

Boys Will Be Boys, Crash BoomBang and Andrew Rohlk at 5p.m., Boys Will Be Boys, CrashBoom Bang and SamanthaDarnell at 8 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227Maple Ave. E., Vienna.jamminjava.com.

Washington Symphonic Brass. 4p.m. Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124Park St., N.E., Vienna. Gabrieli’s“Canzonas,” Tomasi’s “FanfaresLiturgiques,” works by Beethoven,Scheidt and more. Tickets $25, age 17and under free.www.amadeusconcerts.com.

MONDAY/MARCH 21Preschool Storytime. 10:30 a.m.

Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Stories, fingerplaysand activities. Age 3-5 with adult.703-757-8560.

TUESDAY/MARCH 22Turtle Time. 2 p.m. Great Falls Library,

9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.Meet a turtle, explore the world ofreptiles, and find out how to helpturtles in your neighborhood withRiverbend Park. Preschool. 703-757-8560.

WEDNESDAY/MARCH 23Flint Hill Elementary School’s 4th

annual Show What You KnowExpo. 6:30 p.m. Flint Hill ElementarySchool Gymnasium, 2444 Flint HillRoad, Vienna. A non-competitiveevent that encourages students toresearch topics outside of theclassroom. 703-242-0051 [email protected].

FRIDAY/MARCH 25“The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee

Williams. 8 p.m. 1st Stage Theater,1524 Spring Hill Road, McLean. $15-$25. 703-854-1856 orwww.1ststagetysons.org.

Ron Sexsmith “Late PlayerBloomer” CD Release andCaitlin Rose. 8 p.m. Jammin’ Java,227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna.jamminjava.com.

Artists’ Reception. 4-9 p.m. ViennaArt Center, 115 Pleasant St. N.W.,Vienna. With local artists JackieElwell, Elaine Florimonte, DebbieGlakas, Lisa Neher, Sarah Swart andBarbara Wagner. 703-319-3971.

Mason Dance Company 2011 GalaConcert. 8 p.m. George MasonUniversity Center for the Arts, 4400University Drive, Fairfax. Featuringwork by Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch,Robert Battle and Susan Shields.Tickets $20 adults, $12 students andseniors, available at the Center for theArts Box Office, open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or at 888-945-2468 or cfa.gmu.edu.

Entertainment

The Rockin’ into Spring Dance on Friday, March 18, 8p.m. at the McLean Community Center, 1234 InglesideAve. in McLean, will feature live music by the oldiesshow band The Fabulous Hubcaps. Refreshments,appetizers and a cash wine bar will be available.Tickets are $5-$20, available atwww.mcleancenter.org.

‘Pink Hills Near Certaldo’ by Michela Mansuino. There will be a 20thAnniversary Celebration and Artists’ Reception on Friday, March 25 from5-9 p.m. at the Hermitage Design and Gallery, 6831 Tennyson Drive,McLean. 703-827-0066 or www.hermitagedesigngallery.com.

Bulletin Board


SportsGreat Falls Connection Sports Editor Rich Sanders

703-224-3031 or [email protected]

By Rich Sanders

The Connection

A majority of thehigh school sportsyear is now behind us. There

have been thrilling footballgames, breath-taking autumnfield hockey playoff contests,as well as dramatic wrestlingand basketball matchups thathave brought us through thecold months and up to the fi-nal phase of the prep schoolsports calendar - the seem-ingly more laid back spring-time sports season.

Now, with all of the localhigh school sports teams com-peting outdoors, coaches and athletes are hoping thatthe Northern Virginia spring will cooperate with lotsof sunshine and good temperatures. Usually aroundthis area, spring time weather is fickle with cold tem-peratures and overcast skies, and even an occasionalMarch snow dusting. Over the years, many earlyspring season high school sporting events have beenplayed in temperatures anywhere from the 30’s to40’s. Baseball is my favorite sport but I can recallcovering countless high school games which seemedendless and to be moving at a snail’s pace because ofthe bitter cold weather conditions.

Many of the area prep school teams will travel towarmer areas over the upcoming spring break, suchas Florida or South Carolina. This will, quite likely,allow them to get in a full week of quality practicetime and games without having to endure cold tem-peratures. By the time they return to Fairfax County,the weather here will hopefully have turned the cor-ner and there will be blue skies and good reason todress in short sleeves.

Of all the high school sports seasons, the springtime athletic calendar seems to whoosh by in a flash.Once teams have gotten through the rocky firstmonth or so - often spending practice time indoorsbecause of the poor weather - spring break has comeand gone and they are in the heart of their respec-tive schedules with the postseason only a few weeksaway. The two or three weeks leading up to the play-offs are filled with lots of games, including make-ups from earlier season postponements, over a shortperiod of time.

FOR SENIORS, this is a bitter-sweet time in theirhigh school athletic careers because it marks the fi-nal stage of their playing careers as representativesof their home town schools. Whereas three-sport se-nior athletes can complete their fall and winter sportsseasons realizing they still have their spring sportsseason ahead, there is no such extension followingthe spring season. Seniors, as the spring sports sea-son begins winding down, have lots on their platessuch as finishing their season and high school play-ing careers strongly, winding up their scholastic work,finalizing college plans for the following fall and, ofcourse, preparing for graduation day when family

members and friends will celebrate what has beenaccomplished over their four years of the high schoollife.

Many student-athletes will go on to play sports incollege. Most will find that the college sports worldis more challenging than high school as coaches teachand insist that their freshmen improve their dedica-tion and all around play to a higher level. While ath-letics will remain fulfilling, perhaps even to a greaterextent, at the college level, the demands of balanc-ing time dedicated to their sports and excelling inthe classroom will be difficult but at the same timequite rewarding as student-athletes prove to them-selves what they are capable of accomplishing withhard work.

But there is really no rush to push things fasteralong than they are already moving for today’s highschool senior athletes. We’re not even at Easter yet,so the bulk of the spring sports season is still ahead.There will be lots of game-winning soccer goals, bril-liant catches in the outfield, and races won at thewire to fill up scrapbooks and a lifetime of sportingmemories.

While the spring sports playoffs in the monthsahead will be going up against all of the graduationparties, preparations for final exams, and summer-time plans, student-athletes will, make no mistake,still be able to focus on the task ahead and end theirrespective seasons and careers with a bang. Seniors,realizing it’s their final chance to shine as membersof their high school team, will give it everythingthey’ve got over the final few weeks of the seasonand on into the playoffs. District, regional, and evenstate playoff games will be played in spectacular fash-ion as athletes and their teams look to leave a last-ing mark on the school year and their playing ca-reers.

For area sports fans who have enjoyed high schoolsports over the course of the past fall and winterseasons, this is no time to put a halt to attendinghigh school sports events. There is a great springseason ahead as area school teams give it all they’vegot on their fields of play. Hopefully, the weatherwill cooperate. If it does, get ready for an exhila-rating, fast-moving spring season of high schoolsports action.

Pho

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Spring Sports - a Mix of Finality,Drama, and Determination for Seniors

As the spring moves on, temperatures warm up and thehigh school sports action gains more and more intenseand exciting.

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The final leg of the high school sports year goes byin a flash.

The Great Falls Madrid, aNCSL Div. 2, under-12 boys’soccer team coached by JoseVenegas of Hi Performance(HP) Soccer, competed in the2011 Richmond Jefferson CupSoccer Tournament over theweekend. The Madrid, cur-rently the No. 3-ranked U12boys’ team in Virginia, wentundefeated in the Superior Di-vision, playing against teamsfrom New York, South Carolina,and Charlottesville. An excitingweekend of soccer was onlyeclipsed by an even more ex-hilarating finish in the champi-onship game, as the Madridbrought home the Champion-ship Cup after winning on pen-alty kicks.

The Madrid started the tour-nament Saturday morning witha 1-1 tie against Empire UnitedBlue from Rochester, N.Y. Noone knew at the time that thegame would be a warm-up fora rematch in the championship.Madrid scored first on a greatstrike by Jacob Labovitz. Thedefense, led by goalie DariusMoazami, Daniel Hulett, An-drew Rummani, and MitchellPan, held strong until midwaythrough the second half whena bad skip off the wet grassskirted by the goalie.

Next up was CASL Elite 98from Charlottesville. A restedMadrid came out with gunsblazing. Anchored by a strongmidfield led by Michael Scully,Glebe Mackay, and LoganCushing, they were able to winthe middle and distribute theball well, resulting in a 6-1 win.Striker Jacob Labovitz put twointo the net, while LoganCushing, Chris Merklin, AdrianPaltoo, and Glebe Mackay eachhad one goal. The win put the

Madrid in the semi-finalsagainst undefeated GastonUnited Blue from South Caro-lina on Sunday morning.

A great team effort was on dis-play as midfielders GerrardoPaulette and Rohan Wendtstepped in and used their stronglegs and smart positioning toclose passing lanes. A 60-yardpunt by Darius Moazami landed10 yards from the other goal andtook a great bounce for JacobLabovitz to head into the goal.Then, a great follow-up fromChris Merklin allowed him toput a rebound off the goalie intothe lower left corner to putMadrid up 2-0. However,Gaston pressed the Madrid de-fense constantly, and was ableto close the gap with a scoremid-way through the secondhalf, making it 2-1. Regrouping,Madrid played possession balland moved it forward whereJacob Labovitz was able to notchhis fifth goal of the tournament.Madrid won 3-1 to move intothe championship game.

The championship game pit-ted the Madrid against Empireagain. Both teams battled for 60minutes to a 0-0 score at theend of regulation. Two five-minute overtime periods en-sued. Opportunities abounded,but still no score, so it was timefor penalty kicks. Through aherculean effort by DariusMoazami, who stopped three offive kicks, the Madrid pulled offan exciting victory with a 1-0win (2-1 on PKs) and a greatchampionship run.

The Madrid is made up ofplayers from McLean, Reston,Great Falls, Herndon, andAshburn.

—Kenneth Cushing

The U-12 Great Falls Madrid boys’ soccer team cap-tured the title at the Jefferson Cup in Richmond. Toprow, left to right: Darius Moazami, Glebe Mackay,Jacob Labovitz, Rohan Wendt, Logan Cushing, andGerardo Paulette. Bottom row: Adrian Paltoo,Mitchell Pan, Chris Merklin, Michael Scully, DanielHulett, and Andrew Rummani.

Great Falls Madrid WinsRichmond Jefferson Cup


get into our top schools. Other Vir-ginia colleges and universities willbe providing additional in-stateslots. The legislation also places agreater emphasis on high demandscience, technology, engineeringand math subjects through the for-mation of a public-private partner-ship that will engage the businessand professional community in le-veraging best practices for K-12and higher education.

HB 2204, Teacher Bonus: I in-troduced legislation this year thatwould have allowed local schooldivisions to have the flexibility touse any unexpended state fundsto provide a one-time bonus to allteachers of up to three percent ofthe annual base salary. The HouseAppropriations Committee incor-porated this into the proposedHouse budget at a bonus rate of2% where it obtained strong bipar-tisan support. This bill was mod-eled on a bonus given last year tostate employees when they iden-tified savings in the existing bud-get. While this year’s similar mea-sure for teachers had strong bipar-tisan support in the House, theSenate opposed providing flexibil-

From Page 8

ity to use this option, and it wasnot included in the final budget.

HELPING THE DISABLEDCOMMUNITY. SB 1486, Behav-ioral Health and DevelopmentalServices Trust Fund: The GeneralAssembly passed legislation tofund the transition of people withserious mental and developmen-tal disabilities from centralizedhospital-type settings into commu-nity-based care centers. The legis-lation permits $30 million to betransferred into the existing trustfund to finance the modernizationof community-based centers, andit also calls for the developmentof a transition plan where it is fea-

sible. The bill heads off a poten-tially costly federal lawsuit. How-ever, it is also clear that manyfamilies still will need services inan institutional setting. Therefore,I believe it is important that fami-lies and individuals have thesechoices as we continue to providefor some of the most vulnerablecitizens in our community.

I also had a number of reformmeasures and resolutions thatpassed that you can read about onmy website: www.Delegatecomstock.com. We nowhave resumed working in the dis-trict and we can be reached at:703-209-3787 or emailed [email protected].

Comstock

Opinion

WriteThe Connection welcomes views on any public issue.

The deadline for all material is noon Friday. Letters must be signed.Include home address and home and business numbers. Letters areroutinely edited for libel, grammar, good taste and factual errors.

Send to:

Letters to the EditorThe Connection1606 King St.

Alexandria VA 22314Call: 703-778-9410.

By e-mail: [email protected]

Visit These Houses of WorshipJoin A Club, Make New Friends, or Expand Your Horizons...

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Nursery care provided at 9:00 and 11:15 services

The Rev. James Papile, RectorThe Rev. Jacqueline Thomson

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ST. ANNE’SEPISCOPALCHURCH • Reston

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News

THE SEWER SYSTEM would use a pressurizedmain that is about four to six inches in diameter,and would run from the edge of the establishedsewer district, most likely down Walker Road toColvin Mill Road, a length of approximately twomiles.

The line would have to be pressurized — as op-posed to gravity-fed — because a gravity systemwould require it to go down the stream valleys,which would be more expensive, less convenientto residents who live on the stream valleys andraises environmental concerns. The pressurizedsystem would also likely preclude anyone wholives along the main from connecting a residen-tial system to the main. The line would be de-signed to handle about 40,000 gallons per day,which is the average volume generated at the com-mercial center.

DeForest Rathbone has a background in con-struction, plumbing and heating, and was one ofthe first master plumbers certified in FairfaxCounty. He says the sewer is the best way for GreatFalls to manage its wastewater.

“You’ve got such an inflow of sewage into [thepre-treatment facilities], that it’s impractical. Youneed to get this stuff down to the treatment plants,and you’re not going to get that with any modern,onsite facility,” Rathbone said. “To me there’s onlyone option, to get the sewage away from Great Fallsto a treatment facility that can handle it. Trying tomanufacture some sort of onsite treatment facilityis not the way to go.”

The concern with a sewer line is that it could leadto denser development and cause the semi-ruralnature of Great Falls to change.

“We saw what happened when places like Ster-ling Park and Manassas Park got a sewer line, a lotof development followed,” said Glen Sjoblom, co-chair of the GFCA’s Long Range Planning Commit-tee, and leader of the GFCA’s wastewater initiative.

Apton said that if a sewer was approved, the com-munity wants assurances that it will not be used toincrease development in Great Falls.

“This project has to look at what restrictions shouldbe put in. We want to be sure that the residents andcommunity have restrictions that prevent develop-ment,” Apton said. “We’re not against the sewer line,we just want to make sure that it doesn’t result inmassive development.”

The GFCA’s summary of the sewer proposal statedthat if a landowner near the sewer district wishedto hook their system up, it would be subject to countyordinance, and “probably be denied,” but possiblypermitted within 300 feet if a septic failure occurs.

Jeffrey Lindsay, a chemical engineer who has livedin Great Falls for 11 years, says once the sewer is in,it would only be a matter of time before it led tomore development.

“Sewer lines are always the strategy of last resort.If a sewer line doesn’t exist, you can’t find a way toconnect to it, or find a way to get around the ordi-nances,” he said. “In my travels, I’ve seen that oncea sewer line goes in, that’s the beginning of the end.These things start out with the best of intentions,but it comes down to who can persuade, who canlobby and who can get the exceptions.”

Cal DePalma agreed, saying that things that seemset in stone have a way of changing quickly.

“I remember when we gave the Grange over toFairfax County, and they said we could use it for free,”he said. “That lasted two years.”

Ruth Carver served on the first Fairfax CountyMaster Plan Task Force, and said while she is tradi-tionally opposed to higher density and more devel-opment in Great Falls, the problems at the commer-cial center would not go away.

“I am very conflicted. I spent a good part of the70s, 80s and the early 90s fighting sewer and den-sity increases in this part of the county,” she said. “Idon’t know what the best solution is, but I do knowthat to be a viable community, that we have to havea functioning business district.”

SUPERVISOR John Foust (D-Dranesville) says heis looking forward to seeing the results of the survey,and says the county will commit to a sewer if sup-ported by a community.

“I know the overriding point in just about anythingin Great Falls to preserve the semi-rural nature, that’swhat the community wants,” Foust said. “It’s goingto take a lot of back and forth with the landownersas to how we ensure that when we solve the sewerproblem we don’t create a development problem thatwill change Great Falls.”

The GFCA meets this week to try and put togetherthe ballot asking residents their opinions on thewastewater issue. They hope to mail them out to allof the approximately 5,500 homes in Great Falls thismonth.

According to the GFCA, the cost of the sewer line,estimated at about $4 million would be the responsi-bility of the landowners within the sewer district, asper county policy. They also believe that there couldbe a “logical sharing of the cost” between the com-mercial businesses and the six government facilities,Great Falls Elementary, the fire station, the library,the Grange, the old schoolhouse and the post office.

More information on alternatives and presenta-tions to the GFCA on the wastewater issue can befound at www.gfca.org.

From Page 3

GFCA to Conduct Poll onWastewater Issue

If residents approve of a sewer line forthe Great Falls commercial center, asewer district would have to be estab-lished, such as this possible version thatwould encompass the properties aroundthe intersection of Georgetown Pike andWalker Road, and could go up WalkerRoad to Great Falls Elementary Schools.

Pho

to

C

on

tributed


Home Life Style

See Garden Dreams, Page 17

By Jeanne Theismann

The Connection

It’s not just fashion that is influencedby Michelle Obama. Ever since theFirst Lady opened a vegetable gardenon the South Lawn of the White

House in 2009, landscaping trends havefollowed suit to include a variety of ediblesalong with the hardscaping elements to pre-pare and serve them.

“Edible plants and trees are very popularnow,” said Vanessa Wheeler, co-owner ofHollywood and Vines nursery and designcenter in Alexandria. “The trend is to com-bine the edible elements with easy, lowmaintenance and water-saving designs.”

No room for an orchard? The new ‘fruitcocktail’ trees produce several varieties offruits from a single tree.

“We have an apple fruit cocktail tree andone that produces apricots, plums, peachesand nectarines,” Wheeler said. “Since theyare all in the same family, the fruits willcross pollinate so you only need one tree ifthat’s all you have room for.”

Throughout the region, there is a stronggrowth in demand to incorporate eco-friendly, low maintenance plants into gar-den designs.

“No one wants to do heavy pruning andwatering,” said Rebecca Hughes, managerof the Burke Nursery and Garden Center.“And ground covers like pachysandra andperiwinkle are replacing mulch and tradi-tional grasses.”

Wheeler suggests drought-tolerant plantsto conserve water.

“Yucca and aloe plants are great water-conserving choices,” Wheeler said. “And anon-invasive bamboo is drought resistantand can grow in the shade.”

While visions of color dance in everygardener’s head, experts say that the area’slast frost date can be as late as Mother’sDay, so the immediate focus should be onlawn care and design preparation.

“Now is the time to decide what you wantto accomplish,” said David Watkins, man-ager of Merrifield Garden Center inMerrifield. “Are you looking for more color,more living space or simply more curb ap-peal?”

According to Watkins, incorporating morehardscaping into landscaping designs is arapidly growing trend.

“Patios with fire pits and outdoor grillsare very popular,” Watkins said. “Our vol-ume of work in that area has increased tre-mendously in the last few years, especiallywhen it comes to designing outdoor kitch-ens.”

According to Hughes, now is also the besttime to do your spring yard clean up.

“There was a lot of storm damage the last

Reaching for the Garden of Your DreamsLandscaping designtrends for 2011.

Landscaping TipsEDIBLE AND COLORFUL

There are blue potatoes, red carrots, yel-low carrots and purple cabbage. Cabbagescome in more colorful varieties each year,as do lettuce and the extremely colorfulSwiss chard. ‘Fruit cocktail’ trees produceseveral varieties of fruit on a single tree.

ECO-SCAPINGTransforming large tracks of turf into sus-

tainable landscapes is achievable with theright plants that require less water and pes-ticides. Choose native plants that are low-maintenance and attract wildlife and ben-eficial pollinators like butterflies, bees andbirds. Drought-resistant plants like yuccaand aloe require less water.

LOW MAINTENANCEUse plants that are native and require less

upkeep to maintain. Choose sun and shade-tolerant varieties that suit your location aswell as species that require less pruning.Ground covers can sometimes replace tra-ditional lawns to reduce upkeep.

CREATE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACESInvest in your own outdoor retreat. Fire

pits, gourmet grills and outdoor kitchenstop the list of trends in outdoor livingspaces. Much more than just a barbecue grilland a lawn chair, outdoor rooms can be cre-ated for a fraction of the price typically re-quired for indoor living spaces.

Spring azaleas are not far off.

“Hardscapes,” including patios, fire pits and outdoorliving areas, are in high demand in landscaping.

Merrifield Garden Center’s designers like to havephotos of their clients’ yards to help guide the design.

“Are you looking formore color, moreliving space or simplymore curb appeal?Now is the time todecide what you wantto accomplish.”

- David Watkins, manager,Merrifield Garden Center

Photos courtesy of Merrifield Garden Center


Fairfax County REAL ESTATEPhotos by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection

© Google Map data

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Address MLS# BR FB HB Postal City Price Type Lot AC Subdivision Listed by Agent

1 1005 FOUNDERS RIDGE LN FX7522772 6 9 3 MCLEAN $17,900,000 Detached 1.26 GARFIELD PARK Northern Virginia Homes John Darvishi

2 7201 DULANY DR FX7546728 8 10 4 MCLEAN $12,900,000 Detached 2.414 ELMWOOD ESTATES Long & Foster Fouad Talout

3 636 CHAIN BRIDGE RD FX7544964 10 8 1 MCLEAN $10,995,000 Detached 6.52 MCLEAN’S GOLD COAST Washing Fine Properties William Moody

4 1015 BASIL RD FX7232657 6 7 4 MCLEAN $9,997,000 Detached 2.4 EAGLECREST Washing Fine Properties William Moody

5 1028 TOWLSTON RD FX7535890 7 8 3 MCLEAN $9,200,000 Detached 1.931 DOUGLASS MACKALL Long & Foster Fouad Talout

6 11201 GUNSTON RD FX7324475 6 8 2 MASON NECK $7,995,000 Detached 5.131 STONE MANOR ON THE POTOMAC McEneamey Sue Goodhart

7 10250 AKHTAMAR RD FX7415831 7 5 5 GREAT FALLS $7,650,000 Detached 5 AKHTAMARS HAVEN Long & Foster Dan Laytham

8 10606 BELMONT BLVD FX7469424 4 3 1 LORTON $7,000,000 Detached 7.735 BELMONT BAY Long & Foster Pascale Karam

9 8033 WOODLAND HILLS LN FX7520765 10 8 4 FAIRFAX STATION $3,800,000 Detached 5.085 SHADOWALK Fairfax Realty Sharif Shaftik

10 11900 CUSTIS ACRES DR FX7386846 6 4 2 CLIFTON $3,300,000 Detached 8.216 TOWERING OAKS Remax Gateway Joseph Doman

11 5037 HUNTWOOD MANOR DR FX7472695 5 6 2 FAIRFAX $2,100,000 Detached 5.033 HUNTWOOD MANOR Long & Foster Christi Kay

Source: www.homesdatabase.com

1 1005 Founders Ridge Lane, McLean — $17,900,000

5 1028 Towlston Road,McLean — $9,997,000

11 5037 Huntwood Manor Drive,Fairfax — $2,100,000

10 11900 Custis Acres Drive,Clifton — $3,300,000

Most Expensive Houses on the MarketMost Expensive Houses on the Market

9 8033 Woodland Hills Lane,Fairfax Station — $3,800,000


311 Patrick St., SW, Vienna • $695,000 • Open Sun.1-4Sherry De Reuter, Long & Foster, 703-508-4634

When you visit one of these Open Houses, tell the Realtor you saw it in thisConnection Newspaper. For more real estate listings and open houses visit

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com, click the Real Estate links on the right side.

Call Specific Agents to Confirm Dates & Times.

OPEN HOUSESSaturday & Sunday, March 19 & 20

Great Falls754 Ellsworth Ave................$1,699,999....Sun 1-4 .....Dianne Van Volkenburg..Weichert............703-980 4553

1011 Cup Leaf Holly Ct. .......$749,500.00..Sun 1-4 .....Vivian Lyons .................. Keller Williams..703-406-9009

1078 Mill Field Court ...........$1,999,000....Sun 1-4 ..... Jane Price .....................Weichert .......... 703-628-0470

Reston1416 Church Hill Pl..............$282,000.......Sun 12-3 ...Kim House.....................Long & Foster...703-201-8660

2523 Freetown Drive............$514,900.......Sun 1-4 .....Denene Crabbs...............Century 21 .......202-487-4949

1389 Cameron Heath Dr ...... $TBD.............Sun 1-4 .....Glynis Canto...................Keller Williams..703-395-2355

2055 Winged Foot Ct ...........$389,000.......Sun 1-4 ..... Jane Price......................Weichert ........... 703-628-0470

Oak Hill13405 Alfred Mill Ct.............$615,000.......Sun 1 - 4 ...Kathleen Miller...............Samson Props..703-409-7637

Herndon12205 Thoroughbred Rd......$1,889,000....Sun 1-4 .....Ashley White..................TTR Sothebys..703- 893-1500

2621 Bastien Lane ............... $499,000.......Sun 1-4 .....Debbie McGuire.............Keller Williams..703-856-4766

Vienna1818 Watervale Way............$1,499,995....Sat 4-6 ......Mike Pugh......................Re/Max .............703-593-6320

9450 Deramus Farm Ct........$1,449,000....Sun 1-4 .....Dianne Van Volkenburg..Weichert ........... 703-980-4553

1609 Chathams Ford Pl........$949,900.......Sun 1-4 .....Pat Stack........................Weichert ........... 703-597-9373

10205 Wandering Creek Rd.$785,000.......Sun 1-4 .....Yasmin Abadian.............Long & Foster...301-983-1212

311 Patrick St., SW..............$695,000.......Sun 1-4 .....Sherry De Reuter ...........Long & Foster...703-508-4634

Ashburn21925 Gullane Way..............$549,900.......Sat 1-4 ......Olga Aste .......................Century 21........703-624-4199

21925 Gullane Way..............$549,900.......Sun 1-4 .....Diana LeFrancois ...........Century 21 .......703-930-6682

South Riding26016 Rachel Hill Dr............$465,000.......Sun 1- 4 ....Donny Samson........Samson Properties..703-864-4894

25259 Justice Dr .................$629,900.......Sun 1-3 .....Bobby Samson........Samson Properties..703-862-4714

To add your FREE Realtor representedOpen House to these weekly listings,

please contact Salome Gaiblerat 703-778-9421 or

[email protected] listings are due by Monday at 3 p.m.

From Page 15

Home Life Style

GardenDreams

Water elements add interest to any garden.

Annual flowers can addbrilliant color to yourgarden, but remember thatfrost is still possible untilafter mid-May, so stick topansies or other frost-tolerant plants until then.

“Many people are going ‘bare bones’ -starting over and replacing aging andstorm damaged areas. Landscapes do ageout at times.”

- Rebecca Hughes, Burke Nursery and Garden Center

Helibores arecolorful andreliable inearly spring.

Photo courtesy of Burke Nursery

Photos courtesy of

Merrifield Garden Center

two years, especially to dog-wood trees,” Hughes said. “Manypeople are going ‘bare bones’ -starting over and replacing agingand storm damaged areas. Land-scapes do age out at times.”

Experts suggest walking yourproperty and taking pictures ofareas that might need some workor design help.

“We love for customers to bringin photos,” Watkins said. “It makesit so much easier for us to help findeffective design solutions that staywithin a budget.”

Watkins acknowledges that anylandscaping project can be intimi-dating.

“People are afraid to jump inbecause they think they’ll end upspending tens of thousands of dol-lars,” Watkins said. “But not every-one needs a $30,000 project done.Sometimes $300-$500 spent onazaleas and some screening treescan get the results you are look-ing for.”

For some early spring color, pan-sies remain popular but there areother choices.

“For an early burst of color, thinkapricot trees, forsythia and winterjasmine,” said Peggy De Wilde,manager of trees and shrubs atCravens Nursery in Fairfax. “Andcontainer gardening allows youthe flexibility to move things in-doors if necessary to protect plantsfrom the elements.”

Don’t worry if you’re still think-ing snow instead of sod.

“If you haven’t started your plan-ning, you’re in the majority,”Watkins said. “But it’s never toolate to think about what you wantto do. There’s almost never a badtime to start landscaping.”


Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

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ABC LICENSEMichael Rocco Juliano and

Patricia Smith Juliano trading as Rocco’s Italian Restaurant,

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beverages. Michael Juliano, Owner

26 Antiques

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102 Instruction

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• McLean • Vienna/OaktonEmploymentEmployment

.

Nysmith SchoolPreschool - 8th Grade

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AP / Admin Assis’tBallston-based property mgt firm seeks

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Church Administrator

A church in McLean is looking for a full time Director of Operations to manage building use and maintenance, office and staff, and communications with

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The applicant should understand Micro-soft Office Suite, i.e. Excel, Access, Data-base and basic financial systems and should have a working knowledge of church financial packages (Shelby). Ap-plicants should also meet the minimal requirements for leadership at First Baptist.

If you are interested in being the Church Financial Secretary for First Baptist Vienna, VA, please send your resume to the following address below and contact Diana Smith-Jackson, at 703 938-8525

First Baptist Church450 Orchard Street N.W.Vienna Va. 22180

Licensed Therapist UMFS is seeking a full time Licensed

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Call Mrs. Shipe Between 11am & 4pmMAE’S DRESS BOUTIQUE

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

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EDUCATION TRAINING

Whew! Am I glad it’s today, February 28,2011. Not that there was anything imminentabout yesterday, February 27, 2011 – my two-year anniversary (some anniversary) and enddate of my original life-expectancy prognosisbut, when you’re given two years to live, thedate on which that anniversary arrives(although my oncologist has said that there’snothing particularly/inevitably accurate aboutsuch dates), is a day of reckoning, to be sure.And since I’m still alive, I reckon I’ll make noteof it, yet again – in arrears this week.

Not so much as an accomplishment, as in Idid it. More like a date of destiny that is nowbehind me. Now I can focus (or try to, any-way; let’s be honest here) on something else, afuture beyond a specific date. And just like myrear end is behind me and I don’t see it toomuch, maybe I can put this two-year anniver-sary date behind me and not see it too much -for what it was: the unexpected end of my life.(“I’m too young to die, too handsome; well,too young.” Curly Howard of The ThreeStooges.) Life goes on. Now what?

Perhaps I can – or will – consider the possi-bilities and stop trying to figure the probabili-ties? Perhaps I can forget about the past (mydiagnosis) and only focus on the present/future, live for today and take advantage of thegift of life that I’ve been given/earned? PerhapsI can get out of my own way (emotionally) andresume living a normal life (“normal” meaningone without cancer)? Perhaps I can finish thiscolumn with being sophomoric? I am a collegegraduate after all. I should know better. Justbecause I’ve lived this long doesn’t exactlymean I’ll live a lot longer.

In fact/in my reality, nothing is going tochange, except maybe for the worse. I need tokeep doing/thinking exactly as I have in thepast because whatever I’ve been doing/ think-ing has caused me to outlive my original prog-nosis and for my oncologist to characterize myhealth as “Amazing,” and to say that mytumors are in “partial stable remission,” if yourecall a previous column. All that has changed– and should change living forward, is my spe-cific focus. It’s no longer a date. Now the datesahead are endless, not nearing an end.

Having made it this far (lived this long)though, I feel unburdened somehow. There’sno deadline (pun intended) anymore. How-ever, just as difficult as it is to turn around anocean liner after it’s headed out to sea (theydon’t exactly turn on a dime), so too will it bedifficult for me to not be ever mindful of hav-ing cancer, and of having surpassed a date,random though it may semi have been, whenmy doctor told me my diagnosis and said thatI might not be alive in “13 months to twoyears.”

But I am alive, and oddly enough, a bitunsure; in fact, more unsure than I’ve been inalmost two years. For these past two years, I’vehad a goal, sort of, my life expectancy, as pro-vided by my oncologist: February 27, 2011.Having that date as a goal may have helpedcarry me/motivate throughout this ordeal. Andthough I may not have been exactly sure whatkind of certainty to associate with that datewhile pursuing it, having reached it yesterday –and passed it today, has given me pause toreflect, and to write these last two columns.

I sort of feel like a dog (or a cat) who chasessomething (some kind of toy, perhaps) andthen finally catches it. Having never previouslycaught the toy, the dog doesn’t know what todo with it. Its life has been the pursuit, not theactual realization of that pursuit. Not that Iever thought that reaching these two dateswould be cause for celebration (more like amiracle), but now that I’ve reached them, I’muncomfortable being here without having anydates ahead to pull me forward. I will admit toone thing, though, I sure don’t want to gobackwards.

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

February28, 2011


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Homeowners & Contractors

•Patios •Walkways•Retaining Walls

•Drainage Problems•Landscape MakeoversCall: 703-912-6886

Free Estimates

J.E.S ServicesLANDSCAPE & CONSTRUCTION

LAWN SERVICE LAWN SERVICE

MowingMulching & more!

Call Mark for free est,

703-868-7831

Prompt Reliable ServiceSeasonal plantings & garden

maintenance to suite yourpersonal taste

Stacey 703-242-2421Lic & Ins

Flower Garden DelightEst 1995

MASONRY MASONRY

New Installations & RepairsStone - Flagstone - Brick - Concrete

FREE ESTIMATES!!Lic. & Ins

www.pmasonry.com

Potomac Masonry703-842-7884

MASONRY MASONRY

GUTTER

PINNACLE SERVICES,

703-802-0483GROUP RATES

AVAILABLEFREE EST

•GUTTER CLEANING•SMALL REPAIRS•SCREENING•POWERWASHING

Gutter ResettingIce Damage Repair

Gutter Guards

M&O REPAIR

703-843-4792HAULING

ANGEL’STRASH REMOVAL

703-863-1086703-582-3709

•Junk & Rubbish •Furn.,Yard, Construction

Debris •Tree Leaf & Snow Removal

AL’S HAULINGJunk & Rubbish

Concrete, furn.,office,yard, construction debris

Low Rates NOVA703-360-4364

703-304-4798 cell

7 DAYS A WEEK

A&S LANDSCAPING

FALL CLEAN-UPPlanting • Mulching • Sodding

Patios • Decks • Driveway Sealing,Asphalt • Retaining Walls

Erosion Control • Drainage Solutions

703-863-7465

•Trimming •Leaf & SnowRemoval •Yard Cleaning

•Hauling •Tree Work

ANGEL’SLAWN MOWING

703-863-1086703-582-3709

PAINTING

PATRIOTPAINTINGwww.PatriotPainting.net

Wallpaper Removal,Carpentry,

Power Washing.Int/Ext Painting

Free Est. • Satisfaction Guar.!Lic./Ins. Int./Ext.

703-502-7840Cell

571-283-4883

ROOFING

Roofing & Siding(All Types)

Soffit & Fascia WrappingNew Gutters

Chimney CrownsLeaks RepairedNo job too small

703-975-2375

TREE SERVICE

ANGEL’S TREE REMOVAL

Angeltreeslandscaping-hauling.com703-863-1086703-582-3709

Brush & Yard Debris Leaf & Snow Removal

Gutters & Hauling

Specializing in CustomStone and Brick Walkways, Patios,

& Small and Large RepairsLicensed, Insured

• Free estimates • All work guaranteed •www.motternmasonry.comPhone 703-496-7491

MOTTERN MASONRY DESIGN

LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPING


www.GreatFallsGreatHomes.com

DanJanJan Dan

Anne MorrowBuyer Agent

Licensed in Virginia and Maryland

Jan & Dan Laytham703-759-7777 Office

703-444-1991 Home

Great Falls $1,299,000 Great Falls $1,825,000

Great Falls $1,075,000

Great Falls $799,000






Vienna $ 999,000

McLean $10,000,000



Great Falls $989,000

McLean $7,950,000

JUST

LIS

TED

50 ACRES

4 ACRES

5 ACRES

10 ACRES

homes, page 16

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