reston finding home in fairfax countyconnectionarchives.com/pdf/2012/112112/reston.pdfagnes school...

Reston Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2012 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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November 21 –27, 2012

RestonReston

Shreyaska Dahal of Herndon per-forms a traditional Nepalese dance

with her sister, Shritika, on theopening day of the 9th annual

Asian Festival held on the campusof George Mason University in July

2012. In today’s Connection, webegin an ongoing series on immi-

gration and diversity in FairfaxCounty. During the next month, weexplore the ways immigrants have

impacted the county, with a par-ticular emphasis on faith, politics,

education and culture.

FindingHome in

FairfaxCounty

Focus on Immigration, Page 8

Page 4

FindingHome in

FairfaxCounty

Focus on Immigration, Page 8

LEAP Awards $5,000To Homeowners

News, Page 16

LEAP Awards $5,000To Homeowners

News, Page 16

Getting UpTo Speed on

HealthcareNews, Page 3

Getting UpTo Speed on

HealthcareNews, Page 3

2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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NewsReston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Alex McVeigh

The Connection

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commercehosted a panel discussion Friday, Nov. 16at the Dulles Westin, to examine the ef-fects of the Affordable Health Care Act

on business owners. Virginia Secretary of Health andHuman Resources William Hazel joined Bridget Bean,director of the U.S. Small Business Administrationand Joanne Corte Grossi, regional director for theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, todiscuss ways that all businesses could be affected.

“In the wake of last week’s election coupled withVirginia’s recent decision on the health benefits ex-change, businesses of all sizes remain perplexed byhealth care reform, its complexity and its implemen-tation,” said C. Michael Ferrero, chairman of thechamber’s board. “It’s clear that help is needed tounderstand what impacts will be.”

Grossi said that health care costs are a constantconcern for small businesses.

“Small businesses on average pay 18 percent morefor the exact same health care, this is not ok whenhealth care is the number one issue small businessesput forth as an area of concern,” Grossi said. “In 1986,a White House conference on small business identi-fied health care as their number one concern, andwe still have this problem today.”

Hazel said his department has already put out feel-ers into the small business community to see whatpeople already know, and that they’ve found theyhave their work cut out for them.

“The Virginia Health Department has a task forcelooking at it. We’ve got focus groups, where we sur-veyed about 1,200 small business owners around thestate, and the state of understanding of the act ispretty dismal,” Hazel said.

Bean said her organization has already planned tomake education and outreach to business owners a

top priority next year.“At the Small Business Administration, we’re go-

ing to make this a principal issue for us starting in2013, we’re going to do a series of educational semi-nars with small businesses, chambers like this one,health care providers, so that we can really educatesmall businesses on their responsibilities,” she said.“In Virginia, it’s time to get actively involved, becauseit will impact businesses. Whether it’s figuring outwhat the state is doing or advocating on your ownaccount, you need to be part of the process.”

The U.S. currently spends the highest percentageof their gross domestic product on healthcare amongany nation, and Hazel said that the numbers do notfavor businesses, especially small ones.

“We spent 18.5 percent of our GDP on health carein the U.S.,” he said. “The challenge for business isthat the second most percentage of GDP in the worldspent on health care is Switzerland, they spend about11.5 percent on health care.”

More importantly, said Grossi, the money spentdoesn’t seem to be adding up to.

“Not only do we spend the most out of anyone inthe world, but we’re not getting the health outcomesfor it. We’re 45th in terms of life expectancy, 29th interms of infant mortality rate,” Grossi said. “That’sthe whole point of the Affordable Health Care Act.Not only are we spending more, but we have 51 mil-lion people without insurance. It’s about how do wesave money in the system, and provide better healthoutcomes. It’s about making true systemic changes.”

Getting Up to Speed onHealthcarePanel discussionaddresses small businessissues with AffordableHealth Care Act.

From left, panelists Bridget Bean, directorof the U.S. Small Business Association,Joanne Corte Grossi, regional director theU.S. Department of Health and HumanServices and William Hazel, the Virginiasecretary of health and human resources,during a discussion hosted by the GreaterReston Chamber of Commerce at theWestin Dulles Friday, Nov. 16.

From left, Bridget Bean,director of the U.S. SmallBusiness Association,Joanne Corte Grossi, re-gional director the U.S.Department of Health andHuman Services and Will-iam Hazel, the Virginiasecretary of health andhuman resources, speakduring a panel discussionat the Westin Dulles Friday,Nov. 16.

Photos by

Alex McVeigh/

The Connection

What are you thankful for?—Amiee Freeman

Viewpoints

Doris Tyler of Herndon,owner of Chesapeake Chocolates.

“My brother is returning from Ethio-pia after two years. We will be celebrat-ing Thanksgiving with the whole familyfor the first time in a long while. I amthankful for that.”

Toya Tanis of Fairfax,owner of New Family Naturals

“I am thankful for supportive family,friends and community.”

Krizta Major of Reston,student at South Lakes

“I’m thankful for my family and allthey do for me. I am also thankful formy friends.”

Sophia Latchinian of Reston,student at South Lakes

“I am thankful for my family andfriends and for music too.”

Connie Knott of Sterling,store clerk at Baby Blossom

“I’m thankful for my family. I am alsoreally thankful for old and new friends.They keep me young. My old and newfriends have really touched my heart.”

Connie Knott of Sterling,store clerk at Baby Blossom

“I’m thankful for my family. I am alsoreally thankful for old and new friends.They keep me young. My old and newfriends have really touched my heart.”


Interviews and RecommendationsAdmissions officers at pri-vate schools offer insightinto application process.

Instructor Laura Hoffman teaches a scienceclass at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School inPotomac, Md. Independent school officialssay interviews with applicants and theirfamilies help identify students who fit “thepersonality of the school.”

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By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

Mark Fischer sat with his parents in theplush reception area of one of theregion’s elite independent schools,biting his fingernails and tapping his

left foot while waiting to speak with an admissionsofficer for the interview portion of his application.

“Yeah, I’m a little nervous,” he said.Admissions directors say the interview is a chance

for both students and their parents to get to knowthe schools and for the school to become familiarwith the applicants. But what do admissions teamswant to learn from interviews with applicants andtheir families?

“We really just want to get to know you better andhear what you have to say about your school yearand thoughts for next year,” said Ann RichardsonMiller, director of admission and financial aid at TheMadeira School in McLean.

“We like to see that the student is curious aboutlife, what he or she is interested in and what theyare passionate about,” said Diane Dunning, directorof admission and financial aid at St. Stephen’s & St.Agnes School in Alexandria.

Tim Simpson, director of admission and financialso parents may wonder if theyshould hire education consultantsor coaches to help their childrenprepare for interviews.

Mark Sklarow, executive direc-tor of the Independent Educa-tional Consultants Association,says it’s not worth it: “A school istrying to get … an understandingof who that student really is,” hesaid. “They’ll try to get past anyplanned or scripted answers.”

Richard Moss of The HeightsSchool in Potomac agrees. “It isoften easy to tell when a studentis not interested based on theirknowledge of the school and thereasons for wanting to attend,” hesaid. “The interview with the par-ents is important because you geta sense of the kinds of peopleyou’re going to be working with.We want to make sure our parentsare on board with what our in-structors are trying to do.”

Admissions directors say parentsoften ask how their families shouldprepare for interviews. “This is anopportunity to soul search aboutwhy they are interested in theschool,” said Moss, adding he no-tices a lot about a prospective stu-dent during an interview. “Does astudent present well? Does he looksharp? Does he have a firm hand-shake? Does he thank you for hav-ing him? Does he look alive andengaged? Does he mumble?”

Sklarow says that while studentsshould not over-prepare, they

See Schools, Page 5

aid for Bullis School in Potomac, Md., adds thatschools value sincerity. “Does the student talk aboutthings that are important to them? Do they go intodetail so that I don’t have to dig? If I ask about aphysics class, does the student go into detail abouttheir own personal experience? It is always excitingfor me to hear different layers of a student’s experi-ences,” he said.

COMPETITION TO GET INTO independentschools can be fierce — some school admissionsteams accept only one out of every 10 applicants —


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should know what to expect. “Ev-ery school is not looking for thesame kind of student. Every schoolis not looking for the same answer.They are trying to figure outwhether that student fits the per-sonality of the school. They wantto know if this is a student who willfind friendships within the schooland fit into the school community.”

WHAT ROLE do the teacher rec-ommendations play in admissionsdecisions? “Teacher recommenda-tions give us a broader perspectiveon student effort and attitude, andoften provide us with a different per-spective than what the applicationalone might show,” Michael Cresson,director of admissions, BishopO’Connell High School in Arlington.

“Families would be surprised bythe thoughtful and insightful com-ments most teachers make on therecommendations,” Miller said.“Trust the teachers. They haveyour child’s best interest at heart.”

Charlotte Nelsen, director ofadmission for the Potomac Schoolin McLean said, “Potomac Schooltakes a particular interest in thecurrent teacher’s recommendationfor the applicant. We recognize ateacher has known the student farlonger than we have.”

Some experts say that reportsfrom a student’s current instruc-tors can raise red flags as well.“Teacher recommendations canshed light on the difficult aspectsof a student’s personality that youdon’t see on a report card,” saidMoss. “Report cards don’t neces-sarily tell you how hard a studentis working, how generous he is orwhat his true abilities are.

“We realize that teacher recom-mendations are subjective, butthey are important,” Moss contin-ued. “If a student is required, forexample, to get a recommendationfrom a current English teacher andthey have a terrible relationshipwith that teacher … they should… ask the previous year’s Englishteacher to write a supplementaryrecommendation, just so they canbalance out the negative one. Theone thing you don’t want to do isget a bad recommendation andsay, ‘Well this is a horrible teacherwho doesn’t like my son.’”

Julie Jameson, director of admis-sion and financial aid at St.Andrew’s Episcopal School inPotomac, concludes: “The inter-views and teacher recommenda-tions offer multiple perspectives andwonderful opportunities to learnmore about each applicant as partof the whole admission process.”

From Page 4

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Opinion

Diversity Growing Tune in to our serieson immigration.

This week, the Connection kicks offa series about immigration, diver-sity and the growing population offoreign-born residents in Fairfax

County. County reporter Victoria Ross openswith a story that captures vignettes and statis-tics of the changing population.

It is a topic consistent with the originalThanksgiving story.

More than 28 percent of Fairfax County’spopulation is foreign born; that’s 317,000 resi-dents.

Consider Yesuf Beshir from Ethiopia, who twoyears ago settled in Springfield and now worksfor a government contractor. In May, he becamean American citizen. “The main thing here isdemocracy, the right to vote,” Beshir said.

These residents include nearly 20,000 whoare self-employed business owners, truly jobcreators, large and small. One of these is ShamiWalia who emigrated from India in 1982, andnow owns Burke Cigar Shop, a popular cigarlounge that’s become a neighborhood fixture.One part of our series will look at the businessimpacts of the foreign-born population.

Fairfax County Public Schools are harbingersof change: 38,760 Fairfax County elementaryschool students, that is 44 percent of all el-ementary school students in public schoolshere, spoke a language other than English athome as of May 2009. And between them, theyspeak more than 100 different languages. An-other part of our series will look at the chal-lenges and opportunities in Fairfax CountyPublic Schools.

Consider Hutchison Elementary in Herndon,where 63 percent of students have limitedEnglish. And Crestwood Elementary in Spring-field, where 68 percent of students have lim-

ited English. At Lynbrook Elementary, also inSpringfield, 74 percent of students have lim-ited English. At Mount Vernon Woods, in MountVernon, 52 percent of students have limitedEnglish. At Dogwood Elementary in Reston, 56percent of students have limited English.

Tune in and let us know what you think.You can submit a letter to the editor at

connectionnewspapers.com/contact/letter/ — Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

Be Part of Children’sConnection

During the last week of each year, The Con-nection devotes its entire issue to the creativ-ity of local students and children. The resultsare always remarkable. It is a keepsake edi-tion for many families.

We publish artwork, poetry, essays, creativewriting, opinion pieces, short stories, photog-raphy, photos of sculpture or gardens or othercreative efforts.

We ask that all submissions be digital so theycan be sent through email or delivered on CD orflash drive. Writing should be submitted in richtext format (.rtf). Artwork should be photographedor scanned and provided in jpeg format.

Identify each piece of writing or art, includ-ing the student’s full name, age, grade and townof residence, plus the name of the school, nameof teacher and town of school location. Pleaseprovide the submissions by Monday, Dec. 3.

Some suggestions:Drawings or paintings or photographs of

your family, friends, pets or some favorite ac-tivity. These should be photographed or

scanned and submitted in jpeg format.Short answers (50 to 100 words) to some of

the following questions: If you could give yourparents any gift that didn’t cost money whatwould that gift be? What are you most look-ing forward to in the upcoming year? What isone thing that you would change about school?What do you want to be when you grow up?What is your favorite animal? What is yourfavorite toy? What makes a good parent? Whatmakes a good friend? What is the best or worstthing that ever happened to you? What is thebest gift you’ve ever given? Ever received?

Your opinion (50 to 100 words) about traf-fic, sports, restaurants, video games, toys,trends, etc.

Poetry or other creative writing.Opinion pieces about family, friends, mov-

ies, traffic, sports, food, video games, toys,trends, etc.

News stories from school newspapers.We welcome contributions from families,

public and private schools, individuals andhomeschoolers.

Email submissions for the Vienna/Oakton,McLean, Great Falls, Reston and Oak Hill/Herndon Children’s Connections [email protected].

Email submissions for Springfield, Burke,Fairfax, Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connec-tions to [email protected].

To send CDs or flash drives containing art-work and typed, electronic submissions, markthem clearly by school and hometown and mailthe CD to Children’s Connection, 1606 KingStreet, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Please send all submissions by Dec. 3. TheChildren’s Connection will publish the weekof Dec. 27, 2012.

Embracing Our DiversityFocus on Immigration

Connolly leads Pledge ofAllegiance for new citizens.

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ntributed

By U.S. Rep. Gerry

Connolly (D-11)

Special to the Connection

Newspapers

If you can ever find the timeto attend a federal naturaliza-tion ceremony in Fairfax

County for new citizens, do it. Itreinvigorates one’s patriotism andreminds us all how lucky we areto be Americans.

I’ve participated in several of thelarge swearing in ceremonies thatthe U.S. Citizenship and Immigra-tion Service holds each year inFairfax. After leading the Pledgeof Allegiance for the hundreds ofnewly-minted citizens and theirproud families, I have the honorof addressing them about what itmeans to be an American.

I tell them that America, a coun-try of immigrants, is a place ofopportunity where you can pursue

children clutch American flags,spouses hug, and tears well in theeyes of many of the family mem-bers in attendance.

These new Americans havehelped change the face of FairfaxCounty and the Northern Virginiaregion in many ways over the lastthree decades. The diversity of ourresidents has enriched the fabricof our society and their effortshave helped our economy grow.Today, Fairfax County has the sec-ond highest median family incomein the nation, some of the bestpublic schools in the nation, aquality of life second to none, andwe continue to create jobs in thecounty at a rate that outpaces mostother communities across the na-tion.

Here in Fairfax County we haveembraced the benefits that diver-sity brings to our community, andwe are better for it.

your dreams and raise your fami-lies without fearing thatsomebody’s government is goingto tell you what to think, how toexpress yourself, what to believe,or how to worship. Too often, wetake these rights for granted, but

many of our new neighbors do not.These new citizens come to

Fairfax from all over the world.Many come from places wherethey experienced violence or sup-pression of thought, or the sup-pression of their right to partici-pate in their government. Manyare professionals skilled in medi-cine, technology, and engineering,or entrepreneurs and small busi-ness owners who have workedhard and contributed to NorthernVirginia’s robust economy.

And when their day finallycomes and they recite their Oathof Allegiance to earn the title“American citizen,” their pride ispalpable, the mood is festive, andthe respect they show for theirnew flag and their new nation isinspiring.

The overall ceremony is an emo-tional and inspiring experience foreveryone in the room, as small

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NEWS DEPARTMENT:To discuss ideas and concerns,

Call: 703-778-9410e-mail:

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Kemal Kurspahic Editor ❖ 703-778-9414

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Chelsea BryanEditorial Assistant

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Alex McVeighCommunity Reporter ❖ [email protected]

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Victoria Ross County Reporter ❖ 301-502-6027

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Reston


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$4,950By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

Governor Bob McDonnellcame to Tysons Cornerlast week to participate in

a ceremonial ribbon cutting for theopening for the 495 Express Lanesthat took place on Nov. 17. Morethan 500 people turned out to cel-ebrate the opening of the first inVirginia high-occupancy toll(HOT) lanes with demand pricing.The level of the tolls will be indi-cated on digital signs when youenter the lanes, but the amount ofthe toll will depend on the num-ber of people on the road that cancontinue their speed at 55 milesper hour. Persons with three ormore in the car will not be as-sessed a toll as long as they havean EZ-Pass Flex that they can turnoff. All users of the road must havean EZ-Pass or EZ-Pass Flex. Formore details on how this technol-ogy-rich system works, go to495expresslanes.com.

Waiting for the governor on hisway from the hotel was a smallgroup of demonstrators carryingplacards protesting tolls the gov-ernor has proposed to put in placeon I95 south of Richmond. Theprotestors brought a trailer truckthat they had parked in the streetwith a billboard-size message onthe trailer protesting the tolls. Therealities of Virginia’s transporta-tion funding crisis were evidentthat day. Funding projects like thepublic-private project improve-ments to the Beltway are only pos-sible when tolls are collected topay back the private sector costswith a return on investments. Asunpopular as tolls are, as the dem-onstrators expressed, the unfortu-nate truth is that tolling will in-crease in the future.

Tolls are not new to the residentsof this area. The MetropolitanWashington Airports Authoritythat is building the Silver Line ex-tension of Metrorail just voted lastweek to raise the tolls on theDulles Toll Road to $2.75 total tohelp pay for the project. Improve-ments to traffic-congested I95 inNorthern Virginia will be financedthrough a HOT lanes arrangementjust like the Beltway. Tunnel im-provements in Hampton Roads aswell as roadway expansion arebeing paid for with tolls. Putting

Taking aToll onVirginians

Commentary

See Plum, Page 11

Every year between Christmas andNew Year’s, The Reston Connectionturns its pages over to the contributionsof local students. We are seeking art-work, photography, poetry, opinions,short stories and reflections. We wel-come contributions from publicschools, private schools and studentswho are home schooled.

E-mail to: [email protected], or mail (.jpgand text files on disc only) by Dec. 5, to1606 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314.Please be sure to include the student’sname, age, grade, school and town ofresidence along with each submission.For information, call 703-778-9410.

Be a Part of CHILDREN’S(& TEENS’) CONNECTION

8 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2012 Reston Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2012 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Residents Who Moved to Fairfax CountyDuring 2009

Population by Race/EthnicityFairfax County, 1970 and 2010

By Victoria Ross

The Connection

Rosemary Osei, 22, and Lillie Reynolds, 61,have been good friends for four years. Thetwo women, who help teach special needs

students at a Vienna elementary school, are some-times mistaken for mother and daughter.

They bonded over their faith — both are devoutChristians — and family values.

Recently, they attended a rally for PresidentObama at George Mason University. The 2012presidential election was the first time Osei wasexercising her right to vote as an American citi-zen, and Reynolds was proud of her.

“Voting is a powerful feeling,” Reynolds said. “It’sone of the best things about being an American.”

Although they have much in common, bothwomen said they’ve learned important lessons fromtheir differences.

“We both experience being Americans in differ-ent ways. Rosemary came here because she wantedto come here,” Reynolds said. “My family wasbrought here in chains. … We’ve both found a wayout of no way.”

Osei spent the first 12 years of her life in Ghana.In 2003, she and her younger brother, Reuben, re-united with her family in Centreville. She becamean American citizen on Aug. 25, 2012.

“In over nine years of living in the U.S., my proud-est moment was on Nov. 6, 2012, when I waited inline for over an hour to help re-elect the presidentof the United States. I am now proud to say I aman American citizen.”

LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS, Osei said she grewup seeing America as a land of wealth and oppor-tunity. She said there was always a celebrationwhen family friends would come back fromAmerica, because they brought armfuls of clothes,candy and toys. “It was something special andmagical to me,” Osei said.

“Although I lived a comfortable life in Ghana, Ibelieved that America would be a better place tolive. To me America represents freedom and jus-tice. Since the money is higher in America, I be-lieved my family and I would become rich and havemore money than we had in Ghana,” Osei said.

She said she was disheartened when — as a 7thgrader at Liberty Elementary School — she did notreceive the welcome she anticipated.

“In my country, when we saw white people, wewelcomed them. We wanted them to think well ofus and come back. I thought everyone would wel-come me when I came here,” Osei said. Instead,Osei said she felt out of place “as though I didn’tbelong because of the complexion of my skin color.”She said she often cried, and ate lunch in theschool’s bathroom. Within a month, the 12-year-old yearned to return to Ghana.

“I wanted to go back ‘home’ to my friends. I wasvery unhappy because I wasn’t being welcomed andaccepted for who I am as a person,” she said.

Reynolds said she understands that feeling alltoo well. She grew up in Mobile, Ala. in the 1950sand ’60s, during state-sponsored segregation, atime when laws forced blacks and whites to usedifferent drinking fountains, public parks, poolsand transportation.

“I have a lot of friends from Africa. They didn’tunderstand why I was so excited to be voting forPresident Obama the first time. I had to explain tothem that we didn’t always have the right to vote,and I didn’t think I’d live to see the day I couldvote for a black man,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said she remembers when she and hersister would walk to go shopping in downtownMobile. “You could buy the clothes, but you couldn’ttry them on because white people didn’t want totouch anything a black person wore,” she said.

Osei said it was eye opening to learn about theUnited States’ recent history of racial discrimina-tion. “When Lillie tells me stories about growingup in America as a black girl in the ‘60s, it breaksmy heart,” Osei said.

“It’s one thing to watch a movie on TV abouthow horrible African Americans were treated inthe past, but it’s another thing to know someonewho lived through those experience.

“I was in my 40s, my 40s,” Reynolds said, paus-ing, “before I stopped hating myself for beingblack.”

“My daddy was a smart man,” she said. “He wasa lumber-checker, and he was really good at math.He did everybody’s taxes in our part of town. Buthe couldn’t ride in the front seat of a car with awhite person or he’d get arrested. He was talkeddown to by white people, called ‘boy.’ … I alwaysfelt hurt and angry for him.”

Reynolds said her grandmother had a saying thatstuck with her “She would say nobody is betterthan you and you’re no better than anybody else.My family was smart. I grew up strong in one wayand beat down in another.”

“It took me to become an adult and to witness ablack man become president of the United Stateof America before I could really feel proud aboutbeing an American,” said Reynolds. “And make nomistake about it, I am proud to be an American,and proud to live here.”

BOTH REYNOLDS AND OSEI said they like liv-ing in Fairfax County, where they get to experi-ence the benefits of such a vibrant, diverse cul-ture.

“I am proud of so many things now. It makes meproud of America for how far we, as people, havechanged for the better,” Osei said. “Most of all Iam proud of Lillie for not allowing her past experi-ence turns her into a bitter person—an angry blackwoman—but instead she is a stronger, indepen-dent black woman, who treats everyone with re-spect.”

Lillie Reynolds and Rosemary Osei inReston Town Center in November.

Two women—one African-American andone from Africa—learn tosee America through eachother’s eyes.

A Way Out of No WayPho

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By Victoria Ross

The Connection

Part one of an ongoing series.

Yesuf Beshir spent nearlythree years gathering themountain of paperworkhe needed to leave Ethio-

pia and emigrate to America. Twoyears ago, he settled in Springfieldand now works as a governmentcontractor. In May, he became anAmerican citizen.

“The main thing here is democ-racy, the right to vote,” Beshir said.“You can be what you want inAmerica. You can be president. Ifyou want to be a doctor, you canbe a doctor. I tell my daughter thatthe possibilities in America are end-less.”

Shahinaz Hassan of Fairfax,originally from Egypt, also becamean American citizen in May. “I amhappy for today. Everything getseasier here,” she said.

In 1982, Shami Walia emigratedfrom India. He was 18 years old,and worked in “every job you canthink of” all over Northern Vir-ginia. “I didn’t have anything whenI came here, but I worked hard.”He now owns Burke Cigar Shop, apopular cigar lounge that’s becomea neighborhood fixture.

Rosemary Osei came toCentreville in 2000 from Ghana.The 22-year-old voted in her firstpresidential election this month,and works as a special needsteacher in Vienna.

Srikanth Ramachandran came toAmerica 14 years ago from India.In 2002, he founded the Fairfax-based Multivision IT company; by2007 the company employed 200people and had $32 million insales.

Andy Ton came from Vietnam.He now owns Andy’s Barbershopin Vienna, where customers line upout the door on the weekends. Del.Mark Keam (D-35), the first KoreanAmerican and the first Asian-bornimmigrant to serve in the VirginiaGeneral Assembly, is one of hisregular customers.

Individually, immigrants bringtheir own talents, culture, hopes,fears, sorrows, skills and needs.Collectively, they have perma-nently altered the fabric of FairfaxCounty.

In the span of one generation,Fairfax County has seen an explo-

Fairfax County has become an immigrant gateway—a place immigrantschoose as their destination.

Finding Home in Fairfax CountyFocus on Immigration

sion in its immigrant population.In 1970, more than 93 percent ofFairfax County’s population waswhite and middle-class. In the fallof 1970, a white 6-year-old childbeginning elementary school inone of the county’s developingtowns—Chantilly, McLean, Vienna,Herndon and Centreville (whichdid not yet have one major grocerystore or drug store)—could look tohis left, or look to his right, andsee a classroom full of childrenwho, at least 90 percent of thetime, looked like him and whospoke English.

By 2010, a child entering el-ementary school in Fairfax Countywould almost certainly encountera classmate who did not speak En-glish as a primary language, andwhose parents or grandparentsimmigrated from places such asVietnam, India, Korea or a countryin Africa.

According to the 2010 U.S. De-cennial Census, more than 46 per-cent of the county’s population areof a racial or ethnic minority, andnearly a third are immigrants.

“I think the migrant population

is creating a richness and diversityand really enhancing our culture,”said Frederic Bemak, PhD, direc-tor of the Diversity Research andAction Center at George MasonUniversity. He said residents noticechanges in obvious ways and subtleones.

“There’s a language change;there’s a cultural change; there’s achange as you walk down the streetin the communities, there arechanges in signs on the storefrontbecause some of them are in dif-ferent languages . . . or in churches,religious institutions. I hear it allday, ‘It’s not like it used to be.’ Well,it’s not, and that’s positive,” Bemaksaid.

In comparison—from 1990 to2010—the United States doubledthe number of migrants settling inAmerica.

“By 2020—and this is astound-ing—the children and adolescentsof migrants will comprise one thirdof the U.S. population… one-third,” Bemak said. “People don’tknow that, if we’re talking aboutchildren... that’s our future. And ifthat’s only 2020, imagine what

2040 be like.”Bemak argues that a healthy pro-

cess of acculturation and adjust-ment—when existing cultural fea-tures are combined, and new fea-tures are generated—is possible,but only when the non-immigrantculture reaches out.

“We know racism and discrimi-nation have an impact on people’smental health. We say ‘you’ve gotto figure out how to be here,’ [Thework] is simultaneously with thelarger communities. . . . Those is-sues have to be attended to at thesame time we help people adjust,adapt, acculturate,” Bemak said.

Bemak said he disliked the word“tolerance,” because it suggeststhat we’re just “tolerating” immi-grants. “We need to respect andcelebrate immigrants,” Bemak said.

Parents often notice the increas-ing inflow of diverse cultures attheir children’s schools. Robert E.Lee High School in Springfield, forexample, reflects the increasingdiversity of the community in itsstudent body. The school, whichopened in 1958 with nearly allwhite students, now has studentsfrom 42 countries who speak morethan 34 languages.

In the 2009-2010 school year,according to FCPS, Lee HighSchool’s student body was slightlymore than 30 percent white, 26percent Asian, 24 percent Hispanicand about 16 percent black.

“Go to a high school graduationand listen to the names being read.It’s not just Smith and Jones any-more,” said Lee High School par-ent Paula Montero, who came withher parents from El Salvador whenshe was 6 years old.

Statistics show the breathtakingbreadth of change in diversity andimmigration in Northern Virginia:

❖ From 2000 until 2010, FairfaxCounty gained 91,165 immigrants.In 2000, Fairfax County had237,677 foreign-born residents; in2010, the number of foreign-bornspiked to 328,842, according to theAmerican Community Survey andthe U.S. Census Bureau’s 2000Decennial Census,

❖ Forty-four percent of FairfaxCounty elementary school studentscurrently speak a language otherthan English at home. That’s nearly40,000 students who go home tohouseholds that speak one of morethan 100 languages.

❖ Among new residents who

moved to the county in 2009,nearly half were racial or ethnicminorities, and nearly one-thirdwere immigrants.

❖ In the decade from 1990 to2000, the increase in the numberof foreign born in Fairfax commu-nities included: Centreville, 323percent; Herndon, 168 percent;City of Fairfax, 88 percent, Spring-field, 78 percent; Burke, 63 per-cent; and McLean, 10 percent.

❖ 19,301 (6.4 percent) immi-grants in Fairfax County are self-employed business owners. This ishigher than the 4.1 percent of self-employed business owners who areU.S.-born Americans.

Between 1990 and 2000, FairfaxCounty became an immigrant gate-way—a place immigrants chooseas their destination upon enteringthe United States, according to a2006 Fairfax County demographicreport. The trend continues. In2010, Kiplinger called FairfaxCounty one of the nation’s topeight gateways for immigrants.

“Immigrants to this region comefrom nearly every country in theworld, and some localities arehome to people from more than100 countries,” said Audrey Singer,a senior fellow in metropolitanpolicy at the Brookings Institution.

OPPORTUNITIESAND CHALLENGES

According to scholars at theBrookings Institute, localities and

their residents typically respond inone of two ways to newcomers:they either accommodate diversityor deflect immigrants through poli-cies and procedures.

The rate and intensity of immi-grants settling in Fairfax Countyhave pushed community leaders toacknowledge the scope of diversityand address the benefits, as wellas the challenges, created by therapid influx of immigrants.

When R. Scott Silverthorne be-came the 10th person to serve asmayor of the City of Fairfax in June,he made diversity a talking point,promising to recognize and reflectthe city’s growing diversity throughrepresentation on the city’s boardsand committees.

“It’s no secret that our commu-nity continues to diversify,”Silverthorne said during his swear-ing-in ceremony.

“When former Mayor RobLederer graduated high school, ourminority population was just over2 percent. When I graduated highschool 10 years later, the minoritypopulation was 10 percent. Today,it’s 40 percent,” Silverthorne said,noting that in the Fairfax Countyschool system, more than 100 lan-guages are spoken. “I believe wehave turned a blind eye to thistrend.”

Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County’sChairman of the Board of Supervi-sors, has emphasized and cel-ebrated Fairfax County’s diverse

cultures in a number of ways. In2009, she supported Filipino advo-cate Corazon Sandoval Foley’s ef-forts to organize and host the firstNaturalization Ceremony in theFairfax County Government Center.

“Everywhere you look, there aresigns of diversity in our commu-nity,” Bulova said. “And it’s madeus a richer, stronger place. It’s im-portant that Fairfax County is rec-ognized as a community that wel-comes people from all back-grounds.”

One of the basic ways thatFairfax County reaches new immi-grants is by publishing materials inlanguages other than English, tai-lored to specific immigrant com-munities. For example, the FairfaxCounty Guide to Emergency Pre-paredness, as well as many othercounty brochures, is available in sixlanguages—English, Arabic, Farsi,Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The growing immigration popu-lation in Fairfax County has pre-sented some challenges. While thecounty’s “politics of place” may bewelcoming, the realities of rapidchange, in particular the chal-lenges and issues low-income im-migrants face, can be daunting.

According to a 2006 study, “Un-settling Immigrant Geographiesand the Politics of Scale,” the shift-ing of responsibility from the fed-eral government to localities for the

KhatiraAlvarez (left)of Springfield,and LauraSimon-Salzerof McLean,took the Oathof Allegianceand becamenaturalizedAmericancitizens at aceremony onJuly 10, held inthe HayfieldSecondarySchool audito-rium.

See Fairfax, Page 12

Photo by

Deb Cobb/

The Connection

In Upcoming WeeksDuring the next month, The Connection Newspa-

pers will feature stories, viewpoints and columnsabout the significant impact immigrants have inFairfax County.

❖ Part II focuses on immigration and Fairfax

County Public Schools;❖ Part III examines politics of immigration;❖ Part IV explores the religious and cultural

diversity immigrants bring to Fairfax County.We encourage your letters and thoughts as we

explore this topic.


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To Highlight your Faith Community,Call Karen at 703-917-6468

COMMUNITIES OF WORSHIPCOMMUNITIES OF WORSHIP

Sundays9:00 AM Sanctuary, Traditional Worship Service11:00 AM Connection, Contemporary Worship Service

other weekly services 5:30 PM Saturdays: Relax & Renew, Casual Worship Service

HerndonUnited Methodist Church

www.HerndonUMC.org

701 Bennett St., Herndon, VA703-707-6271

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

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

10:25 a.m. Sunday School Grades 3 to 12Music 4 years to 2nd grade

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

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

The Rev. James Papile, RectorThe Rev. Jacqueline Thomson

The Rev. Laura Cochran703-437-6530

www.stannes-reston.org1700 Wainwright Dr., Reston

ST. ANNE’SEPISCOPALCHURCH • Reston

Progressive & Welcoming

Send announcements [email protected] is Thursday for the followingweek’s paper. Photos/artwork encour-aged. For additional listings, visitwww.connectionnewspapers.com.

THURSDAY/NOV. 22Pre-Feast Bike Ride. 9:30-11 a.m., at

Fountain Square, Reston TownCenter. Join a leisurely six-mileThanksgiving morning bike ridetouring North Reston neighborhoodsusing lower-speed roads and [email protected].

FRIDAY/NOV. 23Gingerbread Man Mile. 8 a.m., at

Reston Town Center, 11900 MarketStreet, Reston. A fun-run and race forchildren and toddlers through highschool aged teens to benefit charityand needy children. Register.www.prraces.com.

Reston Holiday Parade. 11 a.m., atReston Town Center, 11900 MarketStreet, Reston. Macy’s-style balloons,musicians, dancers, antique cars andthe arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus ina horse-drawn carriage make a one-of-a-kind one hour parade, rain orshine. Santa stay for photos until4:30 p.m. and then lights up thehuge Christmas tree at 6 p.m. as5,000-plus spectators watch onFountain Square and sing carols.www.restontowncenter.com/holidays.

SATURDAY/NOV. 24 Turkey Trail. 11 a.m.-noon, at Walker

Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive,Reston. Ages 5-12 welcome. $4/childRA members; $6/child non-members.

Reservations by Nov. 20. 703-476-9689 or [email protected].

Thanksgiving Food Drive. 10 a.m.-1p.m., at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310Colts Neck Road, Reston, and theReston Interfaith Food StorageFacility. Meet at RCC Hunters Woods

and sort non-perishable fooddonations; register in advance, 200volunteer slots only.www.restoncommunitycenter.com.

Entertainment

Photo Contributed

The opening of Classical Ballet Theatre’s production ofThe Nutcracker

The NutcrackerClassical Ballet Theatre’s high-caliber dance performances and nonprofit outreach

and education provide affordable shows with original choreography. Their rendi-tion of The Nutcracker opens on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. andcontinues on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Ernst Community Cultural CenterTheatre, NVCC Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. $18-25. 703-471-0750, [email protected] or www.cbtnva.org/nuttea.

See Entertainment, Page 11


Reston Town Center presents the 22ndannual Reston Holiday Parade on Friday,Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. to launch the festiveseason with Macy’s-style balloons, mu-sicians, dancers, antique cars, and more.This one-of-a-kind, one-hour paradealong Market Street will also welcomethe arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in ahorse-drawn carriage. The Reston Holi-day Parade is held rain or shine, and since1991 it has been an annual tradition onthe day after Thanksgiving. The full day’sschedule is listed below, and more infor-mation is available atwww.restontowncenter.com/holidays.

“Come Out to Play!” is the paradetheme for 2012 with huge balloons,floats, and costumes inspired by all kindsof fun games, sports, and music. TheReston Holiday Parade attracts approxi-mately 10,000 spectators from near andfar to see at least seventy groups,amounting to approximately 500 partici-pants in the procession.

Special guest emcees will announce theprocession from two VIP grandstand lo-

cations on Market Street. Grand Marshalfor the 2012 Reston Holiday Parade isBruce Butler, who retired from his postas principal at South Lakes High Schoolin June. VIPs and dignitaries will alsotake part in leading the parade, includ-ing Reston founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr.Continuing another tradition, prior to the11 a.m. start, thousands of Reston TownCenter jingle bell lanyards will be handedout to children along the route as theywait for the parade to begin.

After the parade, Santa and Mrs. Clauswill stay for visits and photos until 4:30p.m. and will return to light up the hugeChristmas tree at 6 p.m. The tree light-ing will be emceed by DC-region radiopersonality icon, Cerphe, and attracts agathering of approximately 5,000 peopleto Fountain Square for a half hour SingAlong of traditional Christmas songs.Horse-drawn carriage rides begin at 6:30p.m.

Full information about Holidays areHere at Reston Town Center is availableat www.restontowncenter.com/holidays.

Reston Holiday Parade Set for Nov. 23

From Page 7

tolls on the interstate that brought outthe protestors is viewed as a way to financehighway improvements.

The General Assembly has shown no will-ingness to raise the gas tax or other sourcesof revenue to fix highway congestion thatin Northern Virginia has been found to bethe worst in the nation. The current gas tax

rate is the lowest in the country and con-tinues to produce less revenue as cars be-come more fuel efficient. Other sources ofrevenue are ear-marked for other govern-ment services. But the problem must beaddressed! I am totally open to workingwith the governor and other legislators inresolving this issue. Otherwise, the currentdirection is going to take an increasing tollon Virginians.

Plum

TUESDAY/NOV. 27 Inova Blood Drive. Noon-7:30 p.m., at the

Pavilion in Reston Town Center (near Williams-Sonoma), 11900 Market Street, Reston.Schedule an appointment at 866-256-6372 orwww.inova.org/donateblood. On siteregistration.

THURSDAY/NOV. 29The Early History of Reston—Translating

the Dream to Reality. 7-9 p.m., at the JoAnn Rose Gallery at the Reston CommunityCenter, 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston. A panelof early Reston-marketing experts present aprogram on the origins of Reston, the nation’sfirst large-scale planned community. 703-709-7700, [email protected] orwww.restonmuseum.org.

FRIDAY/NOV. 30Artist-led Creativity Challenge. 7-10 p.m., at

GRACE, 12001 Market St., Suite 103, Reston.Work in teams with limited materials to designunique, nature-based creations inspired byartworks in the current CAIRNS: Works by PamRogers exhibit; beverages and light snackincluded. $10 per person for members andresidents of Small District 5; $20, non-members/non-residents. www.restonarts.org/AdultPrograms.htm.

Towne Square Singers’ Holiday Concert:Decembers Past. 7:30 p.m., at Elden StreetPlayers’ Industrial Strength Theatre, 269 SunsetPark Drive, Herndon. Encores of favorite musicalnumbers from holiday shows of the past 30years, sung loud and clear for all to hear. $12.703-787-7300 or www.herndon-va.gov.

SATURDAY/DEC. 1Holiday Homes Tour of Herndon. 10 a.m.-4

p.m., at various homes in Reston. Tour Herndonhomes in high holiday fashion—tickets availableat Herndon Florist, ArtSpace, and HerndonCommunity Center. $15 in advance; $20 day of.703-435-6800 ext. 2222 or facebook.com/holidayhomestour.

Winter Open House. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at HerndonFortnightly Library, 768 Center Street, Herndon.Glass harpist Jamey Turner plays while shopperslook for crafts from the Council for the Arts ofHerndon; refreshments courtesy of theFortnightly Club and Friends of the HerndonLibrary. 703-437-8855 orwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.

Amadeus Concerts: Gloria. 4 p.m., at theReston Community Center, 2310 Colts NeckRoad, Reston. Sacred and secular holidayseasonal favorites make a varied, festive concert.$30. www.amadeusconcerts.com.

Global Campfire 2012. 4-6 p.m., at the WalkerCenter Fire Ring on Soapstone Road betweenGlade and Lawyers Roads, Reston. An awarenessevent featuring group sing-along, camp games,marshmallow roasting, a campfire, music fromAshleigh Cevalier and welcome from GlobalCamps Africa Founder Phil Lilienthal; bringchairs, blankets and flashlights for your group.www.GlobalCampsAfrica.org.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides. 4-9 p.m., atReston Town Center, 11900 Market Street,Reston. Enjoy carriage rides through RestonTown Center with pick up location on MarketStreet next to Talbots and all proceedsbenefitting local non-profit organization. $5;children under 5 free.

Holiday Tree Lighting and Sing-Along. 5-6p.m., at the corner of Lynn and Elden Streets,Herndon. Come for carols, a tree lighting and avisit from Santa. 571-323-5301 orwww.dullesregionalchamber.org.

From

Entertainment


integration, assimilation and so-cial welfare of immigrants hascaused frustration and some re-sentment.

In Fairfax County, slightly morethan half of those who are classi-fied as “foreign born” live belowthe poverty line. Minority stu-dents, according to FCPS records,are less likely to graduate fromhigh school on time. The on-timegraduation rate for the class of2010 was 95.6 percent for whitestudents, 94.5 percent for Asianstudents, 87.5 percent for blackstudents and 75.3 percent for His-panic or Latino students. On theflip side, Asian students make upmore than 60 percent of studentsadmitted through a rigorous admissions process toFairfax County’s elite magnet school, ThomasJefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Immigrants are less likely to have health care cov-erage. Although immigrants comprise about 30 per-cent of the county’s total population, they comprise63.5 percent of the county’s uninsured residents.

Immigrants are also more likely to experiencehousing discrimination. According to FairfaxCounty’s Office of Human Rights and Equity Pro-grams, the agency that enforces fair housing laws inthe county, discrimination cases have been on therise in Fairfax County in the past six years.

“Sadly, housing discrimination is alive and welland we’ve seen an uptick in complaints during thepast six years,” said Ken Saunders, executive direc-tor of Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs.

Although discrimination based on race remains anissue, Saunders reports that in recent years com-plaints received by his office are related to nationalorigin or involve disability-related issues.

In contrast to national trends, discrimination basedon nationality made up 25.6 percent of complaintsfrom 2008 to 2010. In comparison, about 9 percentof complaints to HUD fall under this category. Dis-crimination complaints, Saunders said, are not filedby one particular group.

“It runs the gamut. We have complaints from LatinAmericans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, individualsfrom the Continent of Africa,” Saunders said.Saunders said Office of Human Rights and EquityPrograms does a significant amount of education andoutreach to communities with limited English profi-ciency, by hosting seminars aimed at various ethnicgroups and by publishing and disseminating infor-mation in a number of languages.

VIBRANT CULTURETHROUGH IMMIGRATION

Most community leaders and residents in FairfaxCounty agree the benefits of diversity and immigra-tion outweigh the challenges.

“Fairfax County is proud to be a community inwhich companies of all descriptions can and do suc-ceed to a greater extent than in the rest of the re-gion, the state or the country,” said Gerald L. Gor-don, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Eco-nomic Development Authority.

In September, the county was recognized as a suc-cessful market for minority-owned businesses in sev-eral national business publication rankings. Busi-nesses owned by Hispanics, African-Americans andwomen generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and

provided more than 1,000 jobs,according to the Fairfax CountyEconomic Development Author-ity.

Eleven Fairfax County-basedcompanies were among the 500largest Hispanic-owned businessesin the nation based on revenue—more than the total in 40 states,according toHispanicBusiness.com.

The Fairfax County companiescomprise 22 from Virginia on the2012 Hispanic Business 500 list.In the Washington area, eightcompanies are from Marylandand two are from the District ofColumbia.

Together these companies gen-erated $655 million in revenue

and employed more than 3,000 workers in 2011,according to Hispanic Business.

CELEBRATING OTHER CULTURESThere are numerous ways to experience the cul-

tural diversity of Fairfax County, but perhaps one ofthe most accessible is by attending one of the county’sNaturalization Ceremonies.

“Immigrants bring talent and culture to our com-munity in many ways, and make us who we are,”said Bulova. “Every time I attend one of our Natu-ralization Ceremonies, I’m reminded of how impor-tant diversity is to Fairfax County.”

On May 25, 2012, Bulova presented the Certifi-cates of Naturalization to 75 new Americans in theFairfax County Government Center. The board roomwas packed with immigrants and their families fromevery corner of the globe—Afghanistan, The Congo,Costa Rica, Burma, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Ma-laysia, Morocco, Nepal, South Korea, the United King-dom, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

“Some of you have endured hardships to arrive atthis time and place,” Bulova said in her remarks.“All of you have invested your time, money and ef-forts to become citizens. Many of you came here toescape war or endless poverty. . . . You who are heretoday now officially have a seat at that table.”

Samuel DeVera, a captain with the county’s Fireand Rescue Department and a member of the FairfaxCounty Asian American Firefighters’ Association,gave the keynote address, telling the audience hispersonal story of coming to America from the Phil-ippines when he was 14 years old in 1983. Afterbecoming a paramedic in 1994, he received a Valoraward and, in 2010, scored first on the test to be-come a captain with the Fire and Rescue Depart-ment.

“Look at me. The one thing I can say is work hardto make you and your families better,” DeVera said.“If you’re vice president of the company, aim to bepresident. I’m not here to encourage you; I want tochallenge you.”

The room was quiet when U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly(D-11) stepped to the podium.

“My fellow Americans,” Connolly said with gravitas,pausing to let the meaning sink in. And when it did,75 immigrants, who had just raised their right handand taken the Oath of Allegiance to become Ameri-can citizens, erupted with applause and tears, wav-ing American flags and hugging family members.

“You now join us. . . . Every new wave of immi-grants refreshes us, makes us stronger,” Connolly said,leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Fairfax Becomes Immigrants’ Gateway

Focus on Immigration

Ellen Graves leads newly naturalized citizens in thePledge of Allegiance Saturday, Sept. 22 at Lake Anne.

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Viewpoints

Immigrants’ Experiences:Becoming Americans

On Sept. 22 at the Multicultural Festival on Lake Anne Plaza in Reston,25 people participated in a naturalization ceremony that made them Ameri-can citizens. Some of them talk about how they came to the U.S. and whythey chose to become citizens.

—Amiee Freeman

Saaeddine Zaghbani, currently livingin Burke, originally from Tunisia

“From today I can say I am an Americancitizen. It is a big honor. For me it is a greatopportunity. I can live my dream. My firststep as a citizen will be to vote freely. I havevisited 47 countries, lived in five of them.Here is where I want to stay.”

Bassam Ghazi, currently living inAshburn, originally from Lebanon

“I came here on a visit 25 years ago anddecided I would like to stay here. So, I gotmy green card. Now I will have time totravel and see more of the country.”

Seung Il Kim, currently living inFalls Church, originally from SouthKorea

“This is really a very special event. I havebeen a member of the community for a longtime, but not really. Until now I never hadthe rights or responsibilities of a citizen.”

Jose Zalles, currently living inWoodbridge, originally from Bolivia

“I came here as a very young person. Myparents came here first and then I followed.I grew up here. My parents already spokeEnglish. I never really felt the need tobecome a citizen until recently. Duringcollege I saw opportunities that were onlyavailable to citizens, so I thought it wastime for me to become one.”

Xiomara Artola, currently living inWoodbridge, originally from ElSalvador

“Since I was 18 I had thought aboutbecoming a citizen. But I was young then. Ihave lived here since kindergarten and Iwent to school here. Now that I am 23 I feltthat it was time to complete the naturaliza-tion process.”

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SportsReston Connection Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

South Lakes Girls’ BasketballEnters Season With ExperienceSeahawks return all butone player from last year’sdistrict runner-up team.

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

Six-foot-4 South Lakes center Abby Rendle ranthe floor during a recent scrimmage againstYorktown, received a pass from guard CaitlinJensen and attacked the basket. Rendle

scored and was fouled on the drive, and would com-plete the three-point play by making her ensuing free-throw attempt. Later, she blocked a Yorktown shotattempt at the other end of the floor.

What is it like having an athletic 6-foot-4 playmakeron the court?

“It has its advantages,” Jensen said.The South Lakes girls’ basketball team returns all

but one player from last year’s group that went 16-9and finished runner-up in the Liberty District. De-spite their regular season success, the Seahawks lostto Annandale in the opening round of the NorthernRegion Tournament, an area in which Head CoachChristy Winters Scott wants the team to improve.

“I’ve told [the Seahawks] that I just want our teamto get better,” she said. “Every day, every possessionof every game, every possession of every practice, Ijust want us to improve. . . . I think all of them areon the same page in terms of that hunger. They didn’tlike the taste in their mouth after that [loss] toAnnandale last year.”

Rendle and Jensen were the team’s top scorers assophomores last season. Winters Scott said eachplayer is receiving interest from Division I schools.Senior guard/forward Mary Severin is getting atten-tion from Division III schools.

South Lakes junior center Abby Rendle isan impact player at both ends of the floor.

South Lakes junior guard Caitlin Jensen is receiving interest from Division I colleges,Head Coach Christy Winters Scott said.

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Six-foot-2 sophomore Princess Aghayere shouldprovide depth inside, Winters Scott said, which willallow 5-foot-9 Severin and 5-foot-10 guard/forwardGabrielle Schultz to play near the perimeter.

Rendle said losing to Madison by 31 points is amotivator for this season.

“It wasn’t just losing,” she said. “It was kind ofembarrassing for us.”

South Lakes will open the 2012-13 season at homeagainst Westfield at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. After com-peting in the West Springfield Tip Off Tournament,the Seahawks will open Liberty District play at StoneBridge on Dec. 7.

Oakton AdvancesTo Division 6 FinalThe Cougars will face Westfieldin the region championship onSaturday, Nov. 24.

Oakton quarterback Kyle Downer, seen against LakeBraddock on Nov. 9, led the Cougars to a victoryagainst Centreville on Nov. 16 in the semifinal roundof the Division 6 Northern Region football playoffs.

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Oakton quarterbackKyle Downer’stouchdown tied the

score with no time remainingon the clock. Moments later, hestared into the crowd as thegame was decided on the fieldbehind him.

Brian Burns’ extra point gavethe Oakton football team a 14-13 victory against Centrevilleon Nov. 16 in the Division 6Northern Region football semi-finals at Centreville HighSchool. The Cougars will travelto face Westfield for the regionchampionship at 1:30 p.m. onSaturday, Nov. 24.

Trailing 13-7 in the closingseconds with the ball near theCentreville 5-yard line, Downersaid he ran for the tying touch-down after Centreville de-fended well against the pass.Downer credited right tackleJoe Cellini with throwing a keyblock on the play.

“I looked in the stands [dur-ing the extra point],” Downersaid in a phone interview. “[I]saw their reaction and saw ev-eryone storming the field.”

Oakton lost to Centreville,49-28, two weeks prior in the

regular season finale. Downercredited the Cougar defense forstepping up in the rematch.

Oakton will travel to face theWestfield Bulldogs in the regionfinal. Westfield won the regu-lar season matchup, 28-14, onOct. 19. Downer said the Cou-gars defense needs to eliminatebig plays and the offense needsto capitalize on its scoring op-portunities.

“We didn’t finish,” Downersaid about the Cougars’ regularseason loss to Westfield. “We’velearned how to finish, we’velearned how to control the balland we’ve done a pretty goodjob getting the ball in the endzone when we’ve needed to.”

Oakton won its first six gamesbut closed the regular seasonon a four-game losing streak.The Cougars entered thepostseason as the NorthernRegion’s No. 7 seed. Oaktonbeat No. 2 Lake Braddock, 20-13, in the quarterfinals on Nov.9, thanks to three rushingtouchdowns from Downer. Af-ter beating No. 3 Centreville,the Cougars will have to knockoff No. 1 Westfield to reach thestate playoffs.


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21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2013 BUDGETFairfax County Water Authority (Fairfax Water) is proposing a $143.4 million budgetfor calendar year 20131.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012, Fairfax Water will conduct a public hearing on itsproposed 2013 Budget in its offices at 8570 Executive Park Avenue, Fairfax. The publichearing will begin at 6:30 p.m.A copy of the proposed budget can be viewed on our Web site athttp://www.fairfaxwater.org/. Those wishing to speak at this hearing or desiringa copy of the proposed budget should call Ms. Eva Catlin at 703-289-6017.

Revenues are expected to be $143.4 million in 2013. Water sales are expected to provide$124.6 million. Approximately $18.8 million is expected from connection charges, invest-ment income and other sources.

The major areas of operation and maintenance expense are:

-- $1,000s --Category 2012 2013

Personal Services & Employee Benefits $46,473 $48,367Power and Utilities 11,345 11,686Chemicals 6,694 7,968Fuel 916 960Postage 547 460Insurance 1,300 1,107Supplies and Materials 3,976 4,233Contractual Services 8,749 8,657Professional Services 1,656 1,902Other 2,005 2,285

Sub-Total 83,661 87,625

Transfer to Improvement Fund (9,559) (9,613)

Total 74,102 78,012

Net revenues are expected to be appropriated as follows:

Debt Payment $39,374,000 Improvement Fund $11,000,000 General Fund $14,068,000

1 Fairfax Water’s Board will continue to monitor economic factors and review revenuesand expenditures at mid-year to determine if additional action is needed.

NOTICE OF WATER RATEPublic Hearing

At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2012, Fairfax Water will conduct apublic hearing on its proposed Schedule of Rates, Fees and Charges. Thehearing will be held in Fairfax Water’s offices at 8570 Executive Park Avenue,Fairfax, VA.

The proposed changes, to be effective April 1, 2013, include the following:

1. An increase in the Availability Charge from $3,700 to $3,850†.2. An increase in the Local Facilities Charge from $9,000 to $9,500.3. An increase in the Service Connection Charge from $1,000 to $1,050†.4. An increase in the Account Charge from $33 to $35.5. An increase in the Quarterly Billing Service Charge from $8.35 to $9.20†.6. An increase in the base Commodity Charge from $2.16 to $2.29 per 1,000 gallons of water.7. An increase in the Peak Use Charge from $3.20 to $3.45 per 1,000 gallons of water.8. An increase in the Turn Off / Turn On Charge from $46 to $50.9. An increase in the Fees for Use of Fairfax Water Fire Hydrants to include the increase in the

Commodity Charge and Peak Use Charge.10. An increase in the Installation of Sewer Use Meter Charge from $41 to $44.11. An increase in the Returned Payment Charge from $16 to $17.

A copy of the proposed changes can be viewed on our Web site athttp://www.fairfaxwater.org/rates/index.htm. Those wishing to speak at thishearing or desiring a copy of the proposed changes should call Ms. Eva Catlin at 703-289-6017.Interested parties also may submit written comments [email protected] or mail written comments to:

Fairfax WaterPublic Hearing Comments8570 Executive Park AvenueFairfax, VA 22031

All written comments must be received by close of business on Wednesday,December 12, 2012 to be included in the record of the public hearing.

†Charges reflect fees associated with a standard 5/8” residential meter. Changes in chargesfor larger residential and commercial meters are reflected in the Proposed Schedule of Rates,Fees, and Charges.

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Meaning: If I’m terminal, why deprivemyself because of cost? If, in fact, I’m onlyliving once – as the old saying goes, andsomewhat less of a life than I had antici-pated, shouldn’t I, at the very least, “Pullmy pants down and slide on the ice,” asprescribed by Dr. Sidney Freedman in anepisode of M*A*S*H, way back when? Imean, what am I waiting for? Godot? Itseems fairly clear, after having received thediagnosis: stage IV non-small cell lung can-cer, and the prognosis: “13 months to twoyears” back in late February, 2009, thattime was not exactly on my side.Nevertheless, I’ve tried to live my life like Iwasn’t dying (to bastardize Chris Allen’sdebut single). However, doing so is sort oflike serving two masters. I can’t live todaylike there’s no tomorrow if a part of me isliving as normally as I can today as a strat-egy for there being a tomorrow. It’s some-where between taking one step forwardand then two steps backward and/or doingthe Hokey Pokey. You’re getting nowherefast, but at least you’re getting somewhere.Huh?

I can’t tell you, although I attempt toevery week in these cancer columns, howconfusing the uncertainty of being a termi-nal cancer patient can be. I want to believethe means that I’m employing to survive isnot simply a fool’s errand/alternative to thesame fate that awaits us all. Moreover, Iwant to act responsibly and prudently inthe face of this killer disease. But sacrificingtoday for tomorrow, a tomorrow that 44months ago lost its guarantee, seemscounter-productive, almost counter-intui-tive anymore. There are certain conse-quences to actions – or inactions quitefrankly, that perhaps I don’t need to con-sider as I did when I was p.c. (pre-cancer).If I’m living on borrowed time, so to speak,I don’t need to pay the “vig” (vigorish).What’s the point of paying interest, meta-phorically speaking? What interest I shouldbe paying is for any and all things that bringme happiness now – while I’m alive andstill kicking. Later, apparently, is beingtaken care of, or so I’ve been told by myoncologist – if you know what I mean?(One of his suggestions to me at the initialTeam Lourie meeting was to: “Take thatvacation I’ve always dreamed of,” as in:since you’re dying sooner rather than later,there’s no time like the present, literally).

But I was always put off by that notionand the bucket with the lists. I neverwanted to check off any lists. I simplywanted to live like I always had, hopingthat the normalcy and familiarity of what Iwas doing would help sustain me throughthe inevitable dark days to follow. (Gene-rally speaking, a cancer diagnosis doesn’texactly spread joy in its wake.) I didn’twant to live like I was dying. I wanted tolive like I was/had been living. (“Denial,” asthey say, “is more than just a river inEgypt.”)

The only problem: being diagnosed witha terminal disease is a hell of a thing.Change is coming: mentally, physically,emotionally, spiritually and everything inbetween and all around, too; and controlof any and all of it becomes increasinglymore difficult. I know what I want to do,but sometimes the cancer has other ideas.And even though some of these ideas arenot mine, occasionally, they just might befor the best. Who knew? Live and learn.Thank God!

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Buy Now,Pay Later

An expert is someone who knowssome of the

worst mistakesthat can bemade in his

subject and howto avoid them.

-WernerHeisenberg


News

By Alex McVeigh

The Connection

Living on Lake Audubon, Marti Fucile andher fiancé Eric Shor have learned to lovetheir view of the lake. But as environmen-tally-friendly homeowners, they also know

the reality that comes with the high ceilings and largewindows in their townhouse.

Thanks to the Local Energy Alliance Program, anonprofit that advocates and coordinates energy sav-ings for homeowners, Fucile and Shor will get someassistance in their quest to become greener. Fucilewas one of the winners of LEAP’s Home EnergyMakeover Contest, winning $5,000 to use to maketheir home more energy efficient.

“We were formed to promote energy savings, whichleads to sustainability, which is directly tied to eco-nomic prosperity,” said Cynthia Adams, director ofLEAP, which opened an office in Fairfax this year.“When you save money on energy, you have it to putto use elsewhere. And there’s a lot more to it thanjust turning off your lights and lowering your ther-mostat.”

Contractors performed an energy audit when Fucilewas named a finalist, and they examined the housefor signs of energy waste.

“In this house, we wanted to stop the air move-ment, to stop what we call the stack effect,” saidMichael Hogan, a contractor with LEAP. “That’s whereair comes in through the bottom of the house, is con-ditioned, then it rises and goes out through the top.This house has perfect pathways for the air to moveupstairs, and we want to stop that, which will defi-nitely change the weather in this house.”

LEAP HAS A PROCESS by which they approvecontractors who meet their standards when it comesto home repairs and procedures that use environ-mentally-friendly techniques and the correct mate-rials in their work.

“Once we do our work, we’re not just saying ‘this

house is better,’ we take exact measurements onwhat is happening. This is building science, notbuilding voodoo,” said John Wolfe, a combustionsafety analyst with Energy Masters of Virginia. “Wecan back up everything we’re doing with hard data,and the person who comes behind us will get thatsame data.

Fucile said she heard about the contest after see-ing an ad in the Reston Association newsletter. Shefilled out the online assessment tool that comparesenergy use and other factors against similar housesin the area to determine inefficiencies.

“I knew this house was drafty, and that it wasn’t asefficient as it could be,” she said. “We’re definitelyanxious to make our footprint smaller and make thisplace more efficient.”

The work will be done on the townhouse some-time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

LOCAL OFFICIALS joined LEAP staff and severalcontractors for a tour of the townhouse Thursday,Nov. 8, to get a firsthand look at ways to save en-ergy.

“The County has a clear sustainable energy goal,and conservation is a major part of that,” said Su-pervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill). “A programlike this allows us all to walk away and think aboutour own home, and what the everyday citizens cando.”

Michael Sanio, member of the Reston AssociationBoard of Directors, says he is intrigued with the pos-sibilities of such a program.

“Within the RA, the LEAP program has initiated alot of discussions about what a program like this cando for our community,” said Sanio, who has a pro-fessional background in international sustainability.“We’re trying to make Reston a model forsustainability, and to not only protect our environ-ment, but start to repair the damage we’ve done.”

More information on LEAP, including their assess-ment tool for homeowners, can be found atwww.leap-va.org.

Greater Reston ArtsCenter (GRACE)teamed up with K3Construction Group tosponsor a Thanksgiv-ing Card Challengeamong the schools par-ticipating in theGRACE Art program(formerly known as theArt in the Schools).This is the seventh yearthat K3 has sponsoredthis program to selectartwork that will befeatured on their an-nual Thanksgivingcard, and the sixth yearthat schools participat-ing in GRACE Art pro-gram have been invitedto participate.

Twenty nine stu-dents from seven el-ementary schools, in-cluding: Academy of ChristianEducation, Dranesville El-ementary, Forestville Elemen-tary, Green Hedges School, OurLady of Good Counsel Catho-lic School, Terraset Elementary,and Westbriar Elementary, sub-mitted entries for this year’sChallenge. The school artteachers selected a maximumof five entries from their schoolto be entered in the challenge.All submissions were reviewedby a committee of K3 employ-ees, GRACE employees andGRACE Board of Directors toselect the most imaginative in-terpretation of the Thanksgiv-ing theme.

On Thursday, Nov. 15, anawards reception was held atGRACE to announce the winnerand acknowledge all of the par-ticipants. First place wasawarded to Patrick Nappi, a sec-ond grader at Westbriar El-

ementary. Patrick’s artwork isfeatured on the K3 Thanksgiv-ing card and will be mailed toover 1,300 of the area’s lead-ing businesses and associations.In addition, he received a giftcard, and 100 cards for him tosend to friends and families. Inaddition, Westbriar Elementaryreceived $250.

Second place was awarded toEstelle Kim, a sixth grader atDranesville Elementary. Thirdplace was awarded to JennaVigneault, a sixth grader atDranesville Elementary. All par-ticipants were recognized andreceived a certificate of partici-pation and ribbon.

Kathy McCormick, principaland vice president of BusinessDevelopment for K3 Construc-tion Group, presented a checkfor $1,000 to Jeanne Loveland,education director of GreaterReston Arts Center.

Westbriar Student WinsThanksgiving Card Challenge

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LEAP Awards $5,000 toHomeownersMarti Fucile and Eric Shor receive award to makehome more energy efficient.

From left, MichaelSanio of the RestonAssociation Board ofDirectors, SupervisorCathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill), home-owner Marti Fucile,Cynthia Adams of theLocal Energy AllianceProgram, and home-owner Eric Shor.Fucile and Shor wereawarded $5,000 tomake their LakeAudubon townhousemore energy efficient.

Photo by

Alex McVeigh/

The Connection

2012 Thanksgiving Card Challenge winners (fromleft): second place—Estelle Kim, Dranesville ES, firstplace—Patrick Nappi, Westbriar ES, third place—Jenna Vigneault, Dranesville ES.

Patrick Nappi, Westbriar El-ementary, winner of 2012Thanksgiving Card Challengewith his winning artwork.

reston finding home in fairfax countyconnectionarchives.com/pdf/2012/112112/reston.pdfagnes school...

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