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Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ February 21-27, 2013 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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February 21, 2013Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper

See Survivors, Page 3

See Don't Text This, Page 7

By Jeanne Theismann

The Gazette

The morning of Feb. 19,1945, dawned eerilyquiet as Private First Class

Carl Norton made his way towardthe shores of the remote Japaneseisland of Iwo Jima. But in an in-stant, 20-millimeterdual purpose gunsburied in the side ofMount Suribachi ex-ploded, eruptinginto one of thebloodiest battles inU.S. history.

“I was one of thefirst to make it ontothe island withoutgetting shot,” saidNorton, who knewhis odds of survival that day wereslim. “It was a terrible, terriblebattle, with two sides who hatedeach other willing to fight until thebitter end.”

Norton was badly wounded inthe ensuing skirmish and later

awarded a Purple Heart for hisheroics. Now 93 years old, hejoined 20 other Iwo Jima survivorsat the Sheraton Hotel in Arlingtonover the weekend to mark the 68thanniversary of the battle.

“Dad never spoke of Iwo Jimawhen we were growing up,” saidNorton’s daughter Becky Dunlop,

who lives with herhusband George inArlington. “But hecame to the dedica-tion of the WorldWar II Memorial in2004 as part of anHonor Flight and itwas then that wesaw him lighting upand beginning toshare his servicestories.”

Other survivors attending the re-union included Mount Vernon arearesident Harry Hink, a B-29 pilotwho landed four times on IwoJima.

“The most dreaded part of the

By Michael Lee Pope

The Gazette

Drivers may be textingapologies later this yearif Republican Gov. Bob

McDonnell approves legislationthat would toughen penalties forcomposing emails or messageswhile driving. This week, the Vir-ginia state Senate voted 28 to 12in favor of a House bill increasingthe fine for a first offense from $20to $250. The fine for a second orsubsequent offense would go upfrom $50 to $500.

“It doesn’t go far enough in my

opinion,” said Del. Scott Surovell(D-44), who introduced a versionof the bill earlier this year. “Ide-ally, I think Virginia should be ahands-fee state — meaning if youuse a phone while driving youhave to use a speakerphone or aBluetooth device or something likethat.”

Surovell began crafting the billlast year, when he was represent-ing the family of Kyle Rowley, aHerndon teenager who was killedwhen a texting motorist slammedinto his car. The 19-year-old col-lege student was on his way home

More than 600 Brownies and Girl Scouts from Alexandria, Mount Vernon andArlington registered and marched in the annual George Washington Birthdayparade on Monday afternoon, Feb. 18.

A Parade for George

Waynewood Elementary scouts fromPack 1504.

George and Martha Washington (DonDeHaven and Lari La Belle) are treatedto candy favors by the passing Scouttroops.

The St. Mary’s School Scouts raise theirhands and caps to offer a cheer forGeneral Washington on his birthday.

Mount Vernon District School Boardrepresentative Dan Storck appears asPresident Abraham Lincoln.

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Uncommon ValorSurvivors reunite for68th anniversary of Iwo Jima.

“To this day,whenever I seea Marine, I say‘thank you.’”— Mount Vernon arearesident and Iwo Jima

veteran Harry Hink

Don’t Text ThisBill outlawing vehicularcomposition heads to governor.

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2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ February 21-27, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


News

From Page 1

Survivors Reunite for 68th Anniversary of Iwo Jima

Mount Vernon resident Harry Hink, standing second from right, was anAir Force B-29 pilot during WWII and landed four times on the island ofIwo Jima.

Iwo Jima veterans gather at the Marine Corps Memorialto mark the 68th anniversary of the historic battle.

Iwo Jima survivor Lou Smith with his wife Mary.

Members of American LegionPost 24 in Old Town visit withWWII veterans during a reunionof Iwo Jima survivors in Arling-ton Feb. 15. Shown are HenryDorton, Commander BillAramony, Bob Rigger, JimGlassman and Ira Rigger.

Gen. Larry Snowden (ret.),recounts his time during theBattle of Iwo Jima at the Feb. 16symposium.

Harry Hink as ayoung B-29 pilotduring WWII.

Mount Vernon’sHarry Hink talksabout the Battleof Iwo Jima at asurvivors re-union Feb. 16 inArlington. His B-29 plane isdepicted in thefamous JohnShaw image “IwoJima - A Hard-won Haven.”

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Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

campaign over Japan was the kamikaze pi-lots,” said Hink, who flew 28 combat mis-sions in WWII and another 68 in Korea. “Itwas an unimaginable battle that wouldnever have been won without the courageof the Marines on the island.”

George Alden Sr. of Fort Worth, Texas, wasjust 17 years old when he enlisted in theMarines.

“I was wounded during that first day ofbattle,” recalled Alden, who was caught ina Japanese crossfire and shot five times ashis 5th Marine Division landed on RedBeach-2. “I lost track of time after that butremember a few days later seeing the flagbeing raised atop Mount Suribachi.”

The raising of the American flag by fiveMarines and one Navy Corpsman took placeon Feb. 23, 1945, and was immortalized ina Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by As-sociated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.

“I went in the day the flag went up,” saidLou Smith of Bellevue, Ky. “I never heardso much noise and cheering as when Ilooked up and saw that flag flying. But thenext morning I was hit with a hand gre-nade.”

Smith was one of 19,000 troops woundedin the 35-day battle that claimed more than21,000 Japanese lives. Additionally, ap-proximately one-third of all Marines killedin action during World War II were killedon Iwo Jima, where more than 100,000Americans fought and 6,821 died — 5,931of them Marines.

“No one knows exactly how many Iwo

survivors are still alive,” said Fairfax HighSchool history teacher Shayne Jarosz, ex-ecutive director of the Iwo Jima Associa-tion of America and organizer of the four-day reunion. “Just last week I got word thatfive more had passed away. It’s sad to real-ize that we are at the precipice of the endof an era.”

More than 250 people joined the veter-ans for the reunion, which included a sym-posium, dinner gala with music donated byRadio King Orchestra and a visit to the Na-tional Museum of the Marine Corps atQuantico.

“A docent was answering questions froma group of school children when he spottedDad,” said Norton’s daughter Rachel.“Everyone’s jaw just dropped as the chil-dren realized they were hearing about theBattle of Iwo Jima from someone who wasthere. Afterwards, they all lined up to shakeDad’s hand.”

While some have questioned if the battlefought for the island of Iwo Jima was worththe loss of thousands of American lives,Hink, a recipient of the Distinguished Fly-ing Cross and the Air Medal with six clus-ters, believes it was.

“Many American lives were saved becauseof that hard-fought victory,” said Hink, whoretired from the Air Force in 1970 and wenton to work for the Federal Aviation Admin-istration until 1987. “To this day, wheneverI see a Marine, I say ‘Thank you.’”

For more information on the Iwo JimaAssociation of America, visitwww.iwojimaassociation.org.


People

By Ed Simmons, Jr.

The Gazette

One of these chilly morningsyou might spot her cyclingfuriously on the GeorgeWashington bike path, flying

along like a comet. If you wave, she’ll dazzleyou with a smile and wave back.

If she doesn’t see you, though, you mayhear her cry out, “Provide! Provide!”

Working off the panicky stress of manag-ing Rising Hope’s ever-busier food pantryfor the poor, Sarah Heckman, 20-something,is calling out to God to help put food on theshelves.

Located on Russell Road, just off Route 1between Woodlawn and Hybla Valley, Ris-ing Hope is a Methodist mission churchwhere the Rev. Keary Kincannon is pastor,first starting the mission 16 years ago outof the back of his station wagon offeringfood to the homeless. Heckman has beenhis “Bread & Honey” Food Pantry managersince last summer. Formerly she and herhusband Craig were missionaries.

“The holiday was very successful in fill-ing our shelves,” she said. “But now thatthe holiday season is over we still need tokeep receiving food. The giving needs tokeep coming.”

Supplies in the Rising Hope pantry havebeen running “Very low,” she said, and thatworries her.

“The emotion is my motivation to advo-cate for them, to let people know that the

community needs their support.”The worst part comes when supplies run

out. “It kills me when a mother comes infor baby food; it kills me that we don’t haveany to give her.”

Meanwhile the numbers in need continueto rise rapidly.

“Just in the first two weeks of Februarywe’ve already had 48 new families. In thecold months people need to choose if theyhave heat or food.” The pantry is currentlyhelping about 350 families weekly.

“I almost feel frustrated that God wouldallow so many people to suffer, but I defi-nitely see God’s provision and know thathe will provide,” Heckman said.

Assuring herself, she expresses a highopinion of the charitable givers in the MountVernon area. “Seeing the way the commu-nity supported us during the holiday, I’vebeen feeling very hopeful for 2013.”

But then donations seriously dwindledand crisis set in. “I’m really hoping peoplewill be giving on a consistent basis,” shesaid.

Donations can be brought to Rising HopeTuesday through Fridays between 10 a.m.and 5 p.m. Marked by a large white cross,the mission is located at 8220 Russell Road;the zip is 22309.

As she copes with increasing numbers anddiminished supplies, “I constantly have toremind myself that I’m not the one in chargehere; these are God’s people and I’m hereto serve them and love them to the best ofmy ability.”

Hearing the Cry of the Poor “Provide!” prays Sarah Heckman.

Sarah Heckman, second from left, takes a break with her pantryvolunteers Karen Johnson, Bill Walters, Mena and Nichola Carter.

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Legislature Enters Final WeekOpinion

By Sen. Toddy Puller

State Senator (D-36)

Working for and with my constituentsin Richmond is always exciting, andthis year is no different. As we enterthe final week of the session, confer-

ence committees are meeting to iron out the differ-ences in House and Senate versions of several keybills.

I am eager to see the conferees working on thetransportation bill come to a common-sense solution.We need a solid transportation plan for the Com-monwealth and for my district. The roads and pub-lic transportation in Northern Virginia must be ableto keep up with, and expand with, our vibrant andgrowing communities.

Another bill I know everyone is watching is thebudget. Currently, the Senate version includes Med-icaid expansion, while the House version does not.This is one of the top three issues I have heard aboutfrom my constituents, and the message is overwhelm-ingly pro-expansion. Medicaid expansion should beallowed to go through and be in the final budgetthis year. With 400,000 Virginians covered by Med-

icaid, all of us will benefit inlower health care costs becausethese people will have access toproper medical care and willnot be forced to use the emer-gency room as their doctor’soffice. Expansion will also bring30,000 jobs to the Common-wealth.

Several of my budget amend-ments are currently being con-sidered by the conference com-

mittee on the budget. These budget amendments,from providing funds for more judges to funding criti-cal health care services, were included in the SenateBudget and will help provide real solutions to sev-eral issues in the 36th district.

My amendments now part of the Senate budgetare:

❖ $250,000 to eliminate waiting lists for personalassistance services to individuals with disabilities.

❖ $100,000 restored funding for participation inthe Interstate Commission on the Potomac RiverBasin.

See Final Week, Page 6

Commentary


Opinion

From Page 5

❖ $300,000 to fund the “Virginia Values Vet-erans” program, which encourages employersto hire veterans.

❖ Funding to unfreeze two circuit courtjudgeships in the 19th Judicial Circuit in FairfaxCounty.

❖ Funding for one general district judgeshipin the 19th Judicial Circuit in Fairfax County.

Final Week

Seeing Progress on U.S. 1By Scott A. Surovell

Delegate (D-44)

As we move to the end of the General As-sembly session, we are engaged in intensenegotiations on the major issues. Also, wehave had significant progress on U.S. 1.

Earlier this session, Senator Puller and I culmi-nated four years of work to build support for a U.S.1 study when the McDonnell Administration con-firmed that it is holding $2 million to fund the nextU.S. 1 improvement study. Last week, I met withover a dozen state, local and regional stakeholdershere in Richmond to discuss the next steps on plan-ning U.S. 1 improvements.

The study will have several elements. It will likelyfocus on the stretch of U.S. 1 from the OccoquanRiver to Alexandria’s southern boundary. Second,there is a consensus that we must consider all modesof transit — Metrorail, light rail and bus rapid tran-sit. Third, it will be based on the regional popula-tion, employment and household forecasts main-tained by the Washington Metropolitan Council ofGovernments (COG). Some of these estimates maybe larger than those in the Fairfax County Compre-hensive Plan. In addition, the study may include theimpact that increased density has on transit rider-ship, if funding permits. We should know more spe-cifics and timeframes in the next two weeks. We willissue a joint announcement and set up an informa-tional website.

Planning for a new U.S. 1 will be an academicexercise without money. The numerous potholes inour roads confirm that the state has none. Legisla-tors are negotiating transportation legislation as Iwrite this column and I have serious concerns. Oneproposal would divert funds now devoted to educa-tion, public safety and healthcare to transportation.Virginia has budgeted to spend less per student onsecondary education today than we spent in the2007-2008 biennium. We can’t pave roads with text-books.

Another concern is how well Northern Virginia’sinterests are represented. The Commonwealth Trans-portation Board (CTB) decides which projects getfunded. NOVA, Hampton Roads and Richmond have65 percent of Virginia’s population and 33 percentof the votes on the CTB. My legislation to rebalancethe CTB’s votes based on actual population was killedby the House by two votes after rural legislatorserupted. Northern Virginia needs to be more fairlyrepresented on the CTB so that we get our fair shareof transportation money.

I am also concerned about establishing a localtransportation tax unless language is included which

prohibits the CTB from reducingour state funding because we de-vote local funds to transporta-tion. Without protections in law,we will not get our fair share.

Lastly, the numbers being con-sidered are entirely too meager.The state needs $4-5 billion peryear in new funding. The mostoptimistic high-end projections ofany plan are $1.4 billion per yearor about 20 percent of our long-

term need. At that rate, U.S. 1 road and transit im-provements will be funded by about 2050. I want along-term fix, not more short-term measures designedfor election protection.

When this is printed, a compromise plan will prob-ably have been announced. I am still undecided.Please email me your views.

Secondary education reform is also on the calen-dar. I was one of three House Democrats to vote forGovernor McDonnell’s proposal to give schools let-ter grades (A-F) modeled on a Jeb Bush proposal.Our current school rating labels are indecipherabletechno-speak that take a graduate school educationto understand. Simplifying this system will provideeveryone clearer information on the quality of ourschools and foster improvement.

Governor McDonnell has proposed creating a newRichmond control board to take over non-perform-ing schools modeled on a Louisiana program. Istrongly oppose this concept. Once a school is re-moved from local control, local taxpayers would stillhave to bear the costs, but have no say in school op-erations or policies. Parents would have no schoolboard member to call. While some school boards inVirginia are dysfunctional, a central-government take-over is not the way to fix local school problems.

We have several critical votes coming up this week.Please stay posted and let me know if you have feed-back. It is an honor to serve you in Richmond.

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Listening to ResidentsDel. Scott Surovell and state SenatorsAdam Ebbin and Toddy Puller discuss theGeneral Assembly session at their townhall meeting on Saturday, Feb 16 at theMt. Vernon Government Center. Fiftylocal residents attended the discussionthat included a question-and-answerperiod focused on Medicaid expansion,transportation, gun control and voter IDissues. The legislators also announcedprogress with the Route 1 Transit Studywhich had funding approved last week and will look at several different waysto improve transit on the corridor.

Commentary


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News

From Page 1

Don’t Text Thisfrom work on a Sunday night in2011 when the accident hap-pened, killing him instantly andturning his family’s life upsidedown. In the wake of theteenager’s death, the family wasshocked to learn that nothingcould be done to prosecute thedriver.

“Since he wasn’t speeding andhe had no alcohol, there was nobasis to charge him even thoughit was obvious that he wasn’t pay-ing attention because it was astraightaway, it was well lit, andhe never put his brakes on,” saidCarl Rowley, father of the slainteenager. “But the law just doesn’thave the ability to do that.”

NOT UNTIL NOW. The bill nowon its way to the governor saysanyone convicted of reckless driv-ing faces a mandatory minimum$500 fine if the driver was textingat the time of the offense. The billalso changes texting while drivingto a primary offense, allowing po-lice to stop and ticket offenders.Currently it’s a secondary offense,which means drivers can only becited if they’re stopped for anotherviolation such as speeding.

“The Rowleys are happy thatsomething positive came fromtheir son’s death because that’swhat created the momentum forthe law to change,” said Surovell,who represented the family in acivil case.

Late last year, Surovell and Del.Ben Cline (R-24) appeared to-gether at a press conference inadvance of a Virginia State CrimeCommission meeting to announcethe legislation. They were joinedby members of DRIVE SMART Vir-ginia, a coalition of groups advo-

cating stronger legislation againsttexting while driving. Together, thebipartisan coalition hopes to passlegislation in the upcoming Gen-eral Assembly session.

“This bill will strengthen the lawon texting while driving and sendthe message that this is not safeor tolerable driving behavior,” saidCline. “I am pleased to have thesupport of DRIVE SMART Virginia,and look forward to working withDelegate Surovell to pass this im-portant legislation.”

THE ORIGINAL BILL made us-ing a handheld communicationsdevice for something other thanverbal communications punish-able with a $2,500 fine and a yearin jail. The version that finallymade it through the legislativesausage factory has a maximumfine of $500.

Supporters of the effort say anychange is a positive step forward,one that can be built on in futureyears. For the Rowley family, thefact that people are talking aboutthe issue is a victory in its ownright.

“We can’t bring Kyle back,” saidMeryl Rowley, the teenager’smother. “But we can send aharsher message that texting whiledriving is becoming a nationalproblem.”

Surovell said one of the biggestproblems of the bill now on its wayto the Governor’s Mansion is howlimited it is.

“It only prohibits either textingor emailing,” said Surovell. “Itdoes not prohibit a lot of the otherthings you can do with a phonetoday that can be equally distract-ing, like browsing the Internet orselecting music or playing AngryBirds.”

Gold Award ProjectHannah O’Neil completed her Girl Scout Gold Award Project “Fitness Fun

to Last a Lifetime.” Hannah worked with students at the Creekside Commu-nity Center and Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School to teach them theimportance of a healthy lifestyle. There were games, crafts and discussionsabout eating well and learning how to be more active. The Girl Scout GoldAward is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.


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A Connection Newspaper

By Adam Ebbin

State Senator (D-30)

Thanks to all of you who attendedone of the town meetings in MountVernon or Old Town on Saturday.It’s always good to hear what’s on

your mind, and your input helps me representyou better.

As the General Assembly approaches thescheduled adjournment of our 46-day legisla-

tive session, there are stilllots of moving parts:amendments, conferencecommittee reports, and re-

maining bills are all being rapidly considered;committees just completed their work on Mon-day; the Senate and House budgets are in con-ference committee to be worked out with Med-icaid expansion being my top priority; and atransportation plan may yet emerge to addressour enormous funding needs.

The Senate recently passed a bipartisantransportation proposal that represents a clearimprovement over the House version as wellas Governor McDonnell’s original plan. Underthe Senate plan, the gasoline tax would be in-

creased by 5 cents per gal-lon and indexed to rise au-tomatically with the cost ofroad construction materi-als. Also, a wholesale taxwould be imposed on fueland 1 percent regionalsales taxes would be insti-tuted in Northern Virginia,Central Virginia and Hamp-ton Roads. The House plan,

meanwhile, falls woefully short of the neces-sary funding because it eliminates the gas tax.I am hesitant to get into too many details, asthe final plan will likely be a compromise be-tween the Senate and House plans. In themeantime, I’ll keep working with Sen. JanetHowell, who serves on this important confer-ence committee, to promote the best aspectsof the Senate plan. I remain hopeful that HouseRepublicans will work with us and recognizeNorthern Virginia’s needs and garner adequatefunding for roads and transit.

Another key issue remaining to be settled isGovernor McDonnell’s initiative to provide forstate takeover of low-performing schools. Iapplaud his interest in helping struggling

schools, but I do not believe a mandatory take-over mechanism is the best way to do it. Whilestate support for those schools is welcome, hisbill takes a hard-line approach that does notallow for continued involvement from the lo-cal school board and citizens. It employs a lowstandard for takeover without setting atimeline for a school to be returned to com-munity control, and there could soon be over100 schools in jeopardy of takeover. The legis-lation also does not consider existing transfor-mation policies that are successfully takinghold. Though a constitutional amendment toprovide authority for takeover legislation waseffectively withdrawn, the legislation itself isstill under consideration.

To read more about what I’m up to, visitwww.adamebbin.com. Call my office at 571-384-8957 or email me [email protected] to share youropinion or if we can be of assistance. In addi-tion to legislative work, we are still respond-ing to the more than 2,500 constituent emailsreceived this session.

It’s an honor to represent the people of the30th Senate District and I look forward to see-ing you back home soon.

Lots of Moving Parts Remain

Commentary

Litter PoisonsEnvironmentTo the Editor:

Michael Pope’s recent article [“Carts ClogCreek,” Feb. 14] brings needed attention to theproblem of the shopping carts that end up inLittle Hunting Creek. Del. Scott Surovell in-troduced a bill that would have given FairfaxCounty the authority to require owners ofabandoned property (such as Walmart, ownerof most of the shopping carts found in thecreek) to remove their property within 7 daysor face a fine. This would have been an impor-tant step toward giving Fairfax County the toolsto address its litter and dumping problems, butunfortunately the bill was tabled. I hope Del-egate Surovell’s bill will succeed next year.

But abandoned shopping carts are just onepart of a serious litter problem that affects ev-ery district in Fairfax County. Litter tossed fromcars or by pedestrians ends up trashing ourparks and roadways and is carried by stormdrains into streams, the Potomac River, and theChesapeake Bay. Items such as tires, carbumpers, old cars, broken appliances, and ob-solete computer equipment are dumped in out-of-the-way places like parks and easements toavoid dumping fees. They contain toxics thatleak into nearby streams and groundwater,affecting water quality and public safety, andthey form breeding sites for mosquitoes andrats.

Litter and trash are offensive, create safetyand health hazards, and affect property val-ues and quality of life. According to the Na-tional Association of Home Builders’ pricingmodel, an otherwise similar house is valued 7percent less when it’s located in a litteredneighborhood. A study by Keep America Beau-tiful found that 36 percent of economic devel-opment officials say litter affects decisions to

locate in a community. Litter and trash do notfacilitate the hoped-for revitalization of theRichmond Highway corridor. Otherwise beau-tiful tourist locations along the Potomac Riverare despoiled by litter.

Virginia’s approach to litterers is to clean upafter them. Business establishments whichmight be a source of littered material are onlyheld slightly responsible. They pay a modestannual litter tax ($25 for a 7-11) which goesto a state fund used to support volunteer clean-ups. Littering is illegal, but a person must becaught in the act to be prosecuted, so prosecu-tions are rare. Surveys show that self-admit-ted litterers (correctly) believe they will notbe caught.

After a decade of organizing yearly clean-ups by the Friends of Little Hunting Creek toremove trash and litter from the creek, I’veconcluded that Virginia’s approach is ineffec-tive. There are no incentives for litterers to stoplittering, so the behavior does not change andthe litter just keeps on coming. There are noincentives for producers of littered materialsto ensure that their products do not end up aslitter. The burden is shifted to cleanup volun-teers, who do the dirty, hazardous, backbreak-ing, and endless work of picking up the trash,and to government, which collects and disposesof it. Keep America Beautiful estimates that theannual costs of litter cleanups in the U.S. are$11.5 billion.

Why should people who don’t litter pick upafter people who do? Why not create incen-tives to get people to pick up after themselves?Instead of relying on volunteers to pick up lit-ter after the fact, it would be more efficientand effective to develop policies and laws toprevent littering, and to reduce the use and/or increase recycling of materials that end upas litter.

In 2011, the Mount Vernon Council of Citi-zens’ Associations passed a resolution support-

ing a Citizens’ Action Plan for Litter Preven-tion, developed by its Environment and Rec-reation Committee (which I chair). The plancalls for six actions that could be taken byFairfax County on its own, and four that wouldrequire action by our legislature. The actionplan can be found at http://mvcca.org/env-rec.html. Whether the county and state chooseto pursue the actions advocated by MVCCA oradopt other strategies for reducing litter, some-thing serious needs to be done to address thisproblem.

As a small but immediate first step, I hopethat Fairfax County will participate in LitterEnforcement Month this April, and beef uptraining and enforcement of existing litter laws.

Litter poisons our streets and streams andparks and yards. We need to take steps now tostop it.

Betsy MartinAlexandria

Letter to the Editor

WriteThe Gazette welcomes views on any

public issue. The deadline for allmaterial is noon Friday. Letters mustbe signed. Include home address andhome and business numbers. Lettersare routinely edited for libel, gram-mar, good taste and factual errors.

Letters to the EditorThe Mount Vernon Gazette

1606 King St. ❖ Alexandria VA 22314

Call 703-917-6444 or [email protected]

10 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ February 21-27, 2013 Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ February 21-27, 2013 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


By Marilyn Campbell

The Gazette

While most of Washington isbraving the winter weather,April Toman has been plan-ning for summer. At the top

of her list: choosing a camp for her twochildren, Claire, who is in fifth grade, andWill, who is a second grader.

“I start thinking about it in January,” saidToman, who lives in Alexandria. “I talk tomy kids about what they are interested intaking. There are so many options and thepopular camps fill up quickly.”

Education experts say summer camp is animportant part of a childhood experience,and parents should start considering optionswell before the end of the school year.

“I think summer camps are wonderful forkids,” said Tammy Davis, a doctor of edu-cation and a professor of psychology atMarymount University in Arlington. “Some-times kids lose ground over the summer,especially with regard to their mental ac-tivity. Summer camp can continue braindevelopment, especially with regard to cre-ativity, mental activity, physical activity andsocial activity.”

Davis, who is a former camp counselor,elementary school teacher and school coun-selor, said children who are not exposed to

new social activities could become isolatedduring the summer months. “If your kidsare only playing video games or going tothe pool every day, they run the risk ofcocooning themselves,” she said. “Choosea camp that expands your child’s horizons,

Choosing a Summer Camp Region offers programs to tempt children withinterests ranging from sports to drama to science.

Students show projects that they made during a physics camp atSummerTimes Camp at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School last summer.

at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, encour-ages parents to consider specialty camps aswell as traditional day camps. “Specialtycamps are great ways to try new things, toexpand horizons, and to challenge yourself,”he said. “Children are naturally curious andspecialty camps provide a way for childrento learn more about their interests. If a childis not the most athletic and would ratherlearn about fashion or photography, actingor magic, specialty camps provide that out-let. They allow children to find things thatthey are good at and lets them be proud inthat activity.”

While the thought of academic campsmight cause some children to cringe,Mollianne Logerwell, Ph.D., director of sci-ence education at George MasonUniversity’s Virginia Initiative for ScienceTeaching and Achievement, says that doesnot have to be the case. George Mason hostsscience camps, and “students frequently tellus that camp was not only fun, but also in-creased their interest in science,” she said.“Additionally, classroom teachers have toldus that students who attended a VISTA campask higher-level questions and are moreengaged in science lessons than studentswho did not attend camp.”

Logerwell said VISTA camps are gearedtoward low-income students. “It’s also agreat way to expose families with limitedknowledge to the possibility of attendingand affording college.”

WITH SO MANY OPTIONS for summercamps, choosing the best camp for yourchild can be overwhelming. “When parentsare looking for a camp, they should try tofind a camp where they’re comfortable withthe facility, the programming, and counse-lors and staff,” said Kevin Rechen, campdirector for the Norwood School inBethesda, Md.

G a b r i e l l eSummers, who isplanning to sendher children tosummer camp atthe NorwoodSchool, says thatshe considerssafety first. “Sec-

ond, [I consider] the qualifications of coun-selors and leadership and their love of thechildren. [Then] I look at cost, early birddiscounts, payment due dates and cancel-lation policies.”

For those who may not be able to affordthe cost of summer camp, Rechen suggeststhat parents do a little research. “Many sum-mer camps offer financial aid,” he said.“There are also foundations that give grantsfor camps.”

No matter which camp a child attends,however, Davis has one caution: “Be care-ful about over-scheduling camps, doingback-to-back camps and not giving childrendown time,” she said. “Some people usecamp as day care and that is not always agood thing.”

that will be stimulating and engaging andwhere they will develop new friendshipswithout the pressure of an academic envi-ronment.”

Toman, whose children will attend sum-mer camp at St. Stephen’s & St. AgnesSchool in Alexandria, says that from tradi-tional day camps to specialty camps, theoptions for children are plentiful. “My chil-dren have done junior veterinarian campin the past, and this year we might try aneco-adventures camp.”

FROM SPORTS TO SCIENCE, the Wash-ington region is filled with camps that willsuit almost every child. For example, AnnieMoyer, director of the Sun & Moon YogaStudio in Arlington and Fairfax, says yogacamps are options even for children whohave never prac-ticed yoga. “Noyoga experienceis necessary,” shesaid. “We doyoga games andposes, breathing,artistic expres-sion and,weather permitting, outdoor playgroundtime.”

For youngsters with a passion for allthings artistic, Jeanne Loveland, educationdirector for the Greater Reston Arts Center,suggests art camp. “Our camps are basedon the GRACE mission, which is contempo-rary art” she said. “There are some discus-sions and there are art projects. There isone camp of messy art projects that yourmom would never let you do at home. Thecamps are educational, but also fun. We willbring in local artists.”

Loveland added that during one session,students will learn about public art, and“will create a public art work that will bedisplayed publicly after the camp.”

Jim Supple, director of summer programs

Pho

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en

’s & St. A

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“Choose a camp that expandsyour child’s horizons and willbe stimulating and engaging.”

—Tammy Davis, Marymount University


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Program CoordinatorNational health care trade association has an exciting position available in its

survey research program. The right person will have significant

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the position involve a high level of customer interactions, as well as

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proficient in both Microsoft Access and Excel. Experience in using SAS and/or in

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Great opportunity for outside salesperson to work primarily in and near yourhome. Use relationship selling to create andexpand community print and internetadvertising campaigns to local businesses forConnection Newspapers, NorthernVirginia’s best-read community newspapersand websites.

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EMPLOYMENT • CHOOSE 1 TO 6 ZONESE-mail [email protected] or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411


TAKE NOTICE

NOTICE FOR TEMPORARY POLLING PLACE MOVE FROM CHINQUAPIN RECREATION CENTER TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA

On February 23, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., the Alexandria City Coun-cil will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 301 King Street, to consider an ordinance to establish First Baptist Church of Alexandria (2932 King Street) as a tem-porary replacement for the Chinquapin Recreation Center (3210 King Street) as a polling place for the June 11 and No-vember 5, 2013 Elections.

The proposed ordinance would temporarily change the polling location for the Chinquapin Precinct while the Chinquapin Rec-reation Center is under renovation.

A copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the City Clerk and Clerk of Council’s office, Suite 2300, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. The notice is advertised pur-suant to the Virginia Code Sec. 24-2.306.

For information, please call (703) 746-4550.

Jacqueline M. HendersonCity Clerk and Clerk of Council

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

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• Mount VernonClassifiedClassified

LEGAL NOTICENOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: To whom it may concern, take

notice that the Annual Report of the BLACKBURN FOUNDATION, INC. FYE 10/31/12 is available for inspection

at 201 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, during regular business hours by request within 180 days after

publication of this notice. Request to inspect said Annual Report should be made to J.W. Blackburn, Prin. Mgr.

703/519-3703.

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

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See Calendar, Page 16

E-mail announcements to [email protected]. Photos andartwork are encouraged. Deadline isThursday at noon.

ONGOINGWinter Classes. Beginning in Feb. 20

at Art at the Center, 2804 SherwoodHall Lane. Children ages 6-10 canparticipate. Register atwww.artatthecenter.org or 703-201-1250.

Occupied City: Life in Civil WarAlexandria Exhibition. At TheLyceum, Alexandria’s HistoryMuseum, 201 South WashingtonStreet. Open daily throughSeptember, this exhibit traces life inAlexandria following Virginia’sdecision to secede from the Union inMay 1861. See how Robert E. Lee’shometown was transformed literallyovernight from a prosperouscommercial port into a supply,hospital, and transportation centerfor the Union Army, and find out whyAlexandria became a destination forAfrican Americans seeking freedom.Explore the experiences ofAlexandrians and others who livedhere during this tumultuous time,through their own words, as well asin period photographs and collectionsitems. The Lyceum is open Mondaythrough Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. and Sunday, from 1-5 p.m.Suggested admission is $2. Visitwww.alexandriahistory.org or call

703-746-4994.Art Exhibit. Alexandria artist Francis

Seeger will display “People” in theAthenaeum Gallery, 201 Prince St.through Feb. 24. Free. Features anumber of the artist’s larger figuralpaintings. Often appearing to bewaiting for time to pass or expressinga touch of boredom, Seeger’s subjectsare captured with vibrant palette.Visit www.nvfaa.org or 703-548-0035.

Life in Civil War AlexandriaExhibition. Daily exhibit traces lifein Alexandria following Virginia’sdecision to secede from the Union inMay 1861. Through September atThe Lyceum, Alexandria’s HistoryMuseum, 201 South Washington St.Open Monday through Saturday, 10a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.Suggested admission $2. Visitwww.alexandriahistory.org or call703-746-4994.

Tavern Toddlers. Mondays, 10:30a.m.-noon. Mondays through the endof April. Designed for walkersthrough 36 months and theircaregivers. Tavern Toddlers featuresa weekly open playtime in Gadsby’shistoric ballroom. Gadsby’s TavernMuseum is located at 134 NorthRoyal St. Call 703-746-4242 or visitwww.gadsbystavern.org.

THURSDAY/FEB. 21Art Focus Group. 7:30-9 p.m. Collage

- build on children’s natural instinctfor collecting by creating something

new out of scraps and bits andpieces. We will also exploreextending collage into paperarchitecture. Classes are $25 each or$200 for the 10 class series. A schoolor group of teachers can share theregistration for the full series. At2804 Sherwood Hall Lane. Call 703-201-1250.

Creative Writing Session. 1 p.m. atHollin Hall Senior Center, 1500Shenandoah Road. Get the creativejuices flowing with the help ofCamilla Clocker and Julie Ellis. Free,open to the public. 703-765-4573.

Performance. 7:30 p.m. at BurgundyFarm Country Day School, 3700Burgundy Road. Hear the 6th gradersperform “Burgundy on Broadway:Dreams and Magic,” a musical revuethat includes music from “HarryPotter” to “Oklahoma!” There will bea puppet show, spoken narration,clarinet performance and more. $5/door; $1/child.

FRIDAY/FEB. 22Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun And

Wayne ‘The Train’ Hancock.7:30 p.m. $29.50. The BirchmereMusic Hall is located at 3701 MountVernon Ave. Visitwww.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.

Music Performance. 8 p.m. at TheLyceum, 201 S. Washington St. TheUnited States Air Force Band willplay music for the clarinet. Free. Visitwww.usafband.af.mil or 202-767-

Entertainment

Calendar

Pho

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azette

Ballyshaners Chairman Pat Troy introduces the 2012 St.Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshals Tom and MelindaMooney.All stand as the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Pipe Band passes the reviewing

stand during Alexandria’s 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

St. Patrick’s Day ParadeAlexandria’s 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday,

March 2, at 12:30 p.m. in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Hosted by theBallyshaners, the parade will start at the corner of King and Alfred streets, andproceed east down King St. to the corner of King and Lee streets.

This year’s parade will be led by Grand Marshal Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, ownerof Bugsy’s PizzaRestaurant and Sports Bar. After 17 seasons as a defenseman inthe National Hockey League — three of them with the Washington Capitals —Watson and his wife Lindy chose to settle in Alexandria and open their restaurantin Old Town.

As always, the parade will feature more than 100 units, including groups cel-ebrating their Irish heritage, marchers from the military services, Irish dancingschools, bagpipe bands and other Alexandria community groups.

In addition to the parade, festivities will include a Classic Car Show, held on PittStreet between King and Cameron streets beginning at 10 a.m., and the Fun DogShow held in Market Square, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Fun Dog Show, an an-nual favorite, will benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue isa non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homelessanimals and educating the community on responsible pet ownership.

All events are free to the public. Parade-goers are encouraged to take Metro tothe King Street/Old Town stop, then walk 10 minutes east on King Street to theparade route. All events are sponsored by the Ballyshaners — Gaelic for “OldTowners”. A not-for-profit group, the Ballyshaners seek to promote and preserveIrish heritage through sponsorship of the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade andthe Alexandria Irish Festival, held every summer. Visit www.ballyshaners.org.

The Fairfax County Police Motor Squad performance marks the end of the 2012 St. Pat’sParade in Alexandria.

“Iris Throne,” by RobertCreamer, 40 x 40”, Epsonprint on Somerset Velvet,captured using an Epson10000XL scanner as acamera, 2011.

Process:Photography

The Northern Virginia FineArts Society presents Process:Photography, running Feb. 28-April 7. This show brings togetherestablished and emerging re-gional talent to demonstrate thecapabilities and characteristics ofa wide variety of picture takingdevices ranging from large formatwith a 20” by 24” negative toelectron microscopy to a scanner-as-camera. Over fifteen differenttypes of equipment are repre-sented. An free opening receptionis scheduled for Sunday, March 3,4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 7 at 2p.m., many of the artists will par-ticipate in an Artists’ Show & Tellwhere they will bring the cameraused to shoot the image in theshow and talk about their processes.

Featured Artists: John Brown, Robert Creamer, Jim Darling, Frank HallamDay, Roger Foster, Reed A. George, Andrew Z. Glickman, MaxwellMacKenzie, Phil Nesmith, Christos J. Palios, Hal Rummel, Jim Steele, CraigSterling, The Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists, AndrewZimmermann and Everitt Clark. At the Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Visitwww.nvfaa.org.

5658.Performance. 7:30 p.m. at Burgundy

Farm Country Day School, 3700Burgundy Road. Hear the 6th gradersperform “Burgundy on Broadway:Dreams and Magic,” a musical revue

that includes music from “HarryPotter” to “Oklahoma!” There will bea puppet show, spoken narration,clarinet performance and more. $5/


See Calendar, Page 17

From

door; $1/child.Theater Production. 8 p.m. at Port

City Playhouse, 1819 N. QuakerLane. See “The Drawer Boy.” $18/adult; $16/student, senior; $14/groups of 10 or more.

Performance. 10:30 a.m. atDowntown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased at www.artsonthehorizon.org or at the door.

Birthday Symposium. 1-4 p.m. atGeorge Washington MasonicMemorial, 101 Callahan Drive. Hearthree talks on “George Washingtonand Religion: Private Man and PublicIssues.” Free. 703-683-2007.

Birthday Concert and Gala. 6 p.m.at George Washington MasonicNational Memorial, 101 CallahanDrive. Celebrate GeorgeWashington’s birthday with musicand more. $100/person, reservationsmust be made by Feb. 18. http://gwmemorial.org/birthday-celebration-2013.php to buy a ticket.

Book Signing and Recipe Swap. 7p.m. at Hooray For Books!, 1555King Street. Mary Ellen Taylor willsign copies of her book “The UnionStreet Bakery,” which is set in OldTown Alexandria. Free. Visitwww.hooray4books.com or call 703-548-4092.

FEB. 22 THROUGH MARCH 9Theater Production. Port City

Playhouse’s third production of the2012-13 season “The Drawer Boy” byMichael Healey, directed by JenniferLyman opens on Friday, Feb. 22.Performances are Fridays andSaturdays, Feb. 22-23; March 1-2and 8-9; and Tuesday, March 5 at 8p.m.; and Saturday, March 2 and 9 at2 p.m. Port City Playhouse performsat 1819 N. Quaker Lane.

SATURDAY/FEB. 23Harmony Sweepstakes 2013 ‘Mid

Atlantic Regional.’ 7:30 p.m.$29.50. Visit www.harmony-sweepstakes.com/. The BirchmereMusic Hall is located at 3701 MountVernon Ave. Call 703-549-7500 orvisit www.birchmere.com.

Closing Reception. 3-5 p.m. See workby local artists Pamela Underhill andRusty Lynn at The Gallery atConvergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane.Free. Visit www.Convergenceccf.net.

Free Wedding Open House. 11a.m.-3 p.m. at Kimpton’s MonacoAlexandria. Couples can browse theballroom, courtyard, guest rooms andsuites. Complimentary hors d’oeuvreswill be served. There will be weddingvendors present, raffles and more.Visit www.monaco-alexandria.com orRSVP to Allison Manning [email protected].

Author Signing Event. 1-4 p.m. atBooks A Million, 6230-I N. KingsHighway. S.E. Simpson will signcopies of her book “Ginger and theBully.” Free.

Theater Production. 8 p.m. at PortCity Playhouse, 1819 N. QuakerLane. See “The Drawer Boy.” $18/adult; $16/student, senior; $14/groups of 10 or more.

Performance. 10 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. atDowntown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased at www.artsonthehorizon.org or at the door.

SUNDAY/FEB. 24Annual Jury Information Session.

2-3 p.m. in Studio 31 at the TorpedoFactory, 105 N. Union St. Visualartists who are interested in joiningthe Torpedo Factory Artists’

Association can get moreinformation. Free. Visitwww.torpedofactory.org.

Film Day. 2 p.m. at Beatley Library,5005 Duke St. Watch “The ColorPurple” in honor of African-AmericanHistory Month. Free. Visitwww.alexandria.lib.va.us or 703-746-1702.

African Drumming Workshop. 2-3:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon UnitarianChurch, 1909 Windmill Lane. SusanBerning leads the interactiverhythms. Bring own drum, bell orshaker, or ask to borrow one. $5/person or $15/family. Contact SusanBerning at 443-761-0165 [email protected].

THROUGH FEB. 24Exhibit. “Dot and Dash” art exhibit at

Del Ray Artisans gallery from Feb. 1-24. Getting back to the basics: dotand dash. Artists deconstruct theirindividualized art-making processesto interpret the theme in their uniquestyles, showcasing two- and three-dimensional work that is painterly,graphic, realistic, and abstract. DelRay Artisans gallery, 2704 MountVernon Ave.www.TheDelRayArtisans.org.

MONDAY/FEB. 25Performance. 10:30 a.m. at

Downtown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased atwww.artsonthehorizon.org or at thedoor.

FEB. 26 THROUGH APRIL 28Exhibit. “Artistic Duo IV” will be on

exhibit at Green Spring HorticulturalCenter Gallery, 4603 Green SpringRoad. Works by watercolor artistCarolyn Grossé and photographerStephen Gawarecki are featured in ajoint show. Paintings range fromrealistic to abstract; photographsinclude his window series and moodylandscapes. Free. Visitwww.greenspring.org or 703-642-5173.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 27Black History Month Event. 7:30

p.m. at Rachel M. SchlesingerConcert Hall, 3001 N. Beauregard St.Features Kathy Harty Gray Dancers,poetry readings by students andfaculty, music by the NOVA JazzBand and more. Free, but donationsrequested. Parking is $6. 703-845-6097.

THURSDAY/FEB. 28Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. 7:30 p.m.

$45. Visit www.nittygritty.com. TheBirchmere Music Hall is located at3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Visitwww.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.

Author Series. 7-8:30 p.m. at CharlesBeatley Library, 5005 Duke St. Inhonor of Black History Month, BobO’Connor will speak about his book“The U.S. Colored Troops atAndersonville Prison.” Free. Visitwww.alexandria.lib.va.us or call 703-746-1702.

Networking Fun. 6-9 p.m. at theCarlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St.Hosted by New Hope Housing’sYoung Professionals Board andIMPACT Marketing & Events.Features cocktails, music and more.$20 online or $25 at the door. E-mailMichelle Jannazo [email protected] or703-799-2292 ext. 11.

Information Talk. 6-7:30 p.m. atSherwood Hall Library. Students andparents can gain insight into theimportance of promoting financial

literacy at an early age. DarylMackey, author of “Teamesteem isthe Key to a Teen’s Financial Dreams”will lead the forum. Copies of hisbook will be given out to the first 25teens to arrive. 703-980-3510 forquestions.

Gala Benefit. 7-10 p.m. at Virtue Feedand Grain, 106 S. Union St. Thefourth annual CAC Gala benefits theCenter for Alexandria’s Children.Features a silent auction, mini raffle,buffet and more. Tickets start at$150 and available at http://2013cacgala.eventbrite.com or bycontacting the Center at 703-746-6008. For more information aboutthe Center, go towww.centerforalexandriaschildren.org.

Performance. 10:30 a.m. atDowntown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased atwww.artsonthehorizon.org or at thedoor.

THROUGH FEB. 28Highlights at Mount Vernon

Estate. In observance of BlackHistory Month, Mount Vernonhighlights the lives and contributionsof the slaves who built and operatedthe plantation home of George andMartha Washington. Throughout themonth, a daily Slave Life at MountVernon tour explores the lives andcontributions of the slaves who livedat Mount Vernon. Black HistoryMonth activities are included inregular Estate admission: adults,$17; children ages 6-11, $8; andchildren under 5 are admitted free.

“Dance Your Heart Out”Campaign. Metropolitan Fine ArtsCenter of Alexandria and FairfaxStation is offering unlimited adultdance and mind/body classesthroughout February for a specialprice of $110. And MFAC will donate10 percent of all “Dance Your HeartOut class fees to the American HeartAssociation. Schedules can be viewedat www.metrofinearts.com. 703-339-0444.

Art Exhibit. See “Shades of Gray” atPrintmakers Inc., in the TorpedoFactory, 105 N. Union St. Free. Visitwww.torpedofactory.org.

FEB. 28 THROUGH APRIL 7Art Exhibit. See “Process:

Photography” at The Athenaeum, 201

Entertainment

Alfred Street Baptist Church

CelebrateBlack History

JoyceGarrett

LisaEdwardsBurrs

Black History Month Concert ofdance, music, and poetry Wednesday,Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. in the Rachel M.Schlesinger Concert Hall, at 3001 N.Beauregard. The event will feature theKathy Harty Gray Dancers, poetry read-ings by students and faculty of theNorthern Virginia Community College,and music performed by the NOVA JazzBand and the NOVA Community Chorus. There will also bespecial guests — Joyce Garrett and the renowned Choir ofAlfred Street Baptist Church, and soprano Lisa Edwards Burrs,an internationally recognized soprano, who will also presenta Voice Master class on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. No tick-

ets are required, donations are requested. Parking is $6. Formore information email [email protected] or call 703-845-6097. The concert is presented by the Division of LiberalArts of Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandriacampus.

Prince St. Features established andemerging talent displaying a widevariety of picture taking devicesranging from large print to electronmicroscopy. Over 15 types ofequipment are represented. Free.Visit www.nvfaa.org for more.

FRIDAY/MARCH 1Theater Production. 8 p.m. at Port


Performance. 10:30 a.m. atDowntown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased atwww.artsonthehorizon.org or at thedoor.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/MAR. 1-3The Bacon Brothers. 7:30 p.m. At the

Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave.$39.50. Visit http://baconbros.com.The Birchmere Music Hall is locatedat 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Visitwww.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.

MARCH 1 THROUGH MARCH 6Artwork Due. Target Gallery’s March

Fundraiser exhibition will acceptartwork at the gallery at the TorpedoFactory Art Center, 105 N. Union St.Visit www.torpedofactory.org or 703-838-4565.

MARCH 1 THROUGH MARCH 31Needlework Exhibit. Exhibit is at

Historic Woodlawn Museum, 9000Richmond Highway. There is a fee.Visit http://woodlawn1805.org.

SATURDAY/MARCH 2Celebrate Alexandria: 25 Years

with Music and the Maestro. 6p.m. at Westin Hotel, 400Courthouse Square. Kim Allen Kluge,musical director of the AlexandriaSymphony Orchestra will behonored. There will be a reception,silent and live auction, dinner,dancing and more. Individual ticketsare $200. For reservations andinformation, contact MargheritaWoods at 703-960-7994,[email protected], or Jane Ringat 703-548-745,

[email protected] Grand Military Band. 7:30

p.m. Rachel M. Schlesinger ConcertHall, NVCC, Alexandria Campus,3001 N. Beauregard St. Hear worksby Sousa, Grainger, Gilbert &Sullivan. Adults $15; band directorsand students free. Parking $6.-cashonly, vehicles displaying handicappedtags park free. Visit www.vgmb.comor 703 426-4777.

Music. Focus Music presents SlaidCleaves with special guest Ruut at 7p.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.$20/general; $18/advance atwww.focusmusic.org.

Theater Production. 2 p.m. or 8 p.m.at Port City Playhouse, 1819 N.Quaker Lane. See “The Drawer Boy.”$18/adult; $16/student, senior; $14/groups of 10 or more.


St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Starts at12:30 p.m. at the corner of KingStreet and Alfred St. Grand Marshalis Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, owner ofBugsy’s Pizza Restaurant and SportsBar. There will also be a Classic CarShow at 10 a.m. at Pitt Street. Visitwww.ballyshaners.org for more.

SUNDAY/MARCH 3Choral Evensong. 5 p.m. at Christ

Church Episcopal, 118 N.Washington St. Listen to a service ofevening prayer with choral music. Allare welcome. Visit www.historicchristchurch.org or 703-549-1450.

Film Day. 2 p.m. at Beatley Library,5005 Duke St. Watch “Remember theTitans,” about T.C. Williams HighSchool and its newly desegregatedfootball team, in honor of African-American History Month. Free. Visitwww.alexandria.lib.va.us or 703-746-1702.

Opening Reception. 4-6 p.m. at TheAthenaeum, 201 Prince St. Meetsome of the creators of the “Process:Photography.” Features establishedand emerging talent displaying awide variety of picture taking devicesranging from large print to electronmicroscopy. Over 15 types ofequipment are represented. Free.Visit www.nvfaa.org for more.

Closing Reception. 2-4 p.m. meet thecreators of “Student/Faculty Exhibit”


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From

at The Art League in the TorpedoFactory Art Center, 105 N. Union St.Browse through paintings, drawings,ceramics, jewelry, and more. Visitwww.theartleague.org or 703-683-1780.

Friends of Dyke Marsh. 2 p.m. atHuntley Meadows Park VisitorCenter, 3701 Lockheed Blvd. Learnabout snakes, skinks, salamanders,geckos, frogs, alligators and more.Free. Visit www.fodm.org or 703-768-2525.

THROUGH MARCH 3Art Exhibit. See “Fabricated: An

Exhibition of Wearable Art” at TargetGalley in the Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, 105 N. Union St. Visitwww.torpedofactory.org/target formore on the exhibit.

Student/Faculty Exhibit. The ArtLeague in the Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, 105 N. Union St., presentspaintings, drawings, ceramics,jewelry, and more. Visit www.theartleague.org or 703-683-1780.

MONDAY/MARCH 4Performance. 10:30 a.m. at

Downtown Baptist Church, 212 S.Washington St. See “The YoungSpectaculars and the Front YardAdventure.” $8/person and can bepurchased at www.artsonthehorizon.org or at the door.

Dinner Meeting. 6:30 p.m. atAmerican Legion Post 24 Hall, 400Cameron St. $25/person. WilliamConnery will discuss his book “CivilWar Northern Virginia 1861.” Visitwww.leecamp.org or RSVP 703-217-7871.

TUESDAY/MARCH 5Theater Production. 8 p.m. at Port


THURSDAY/MARCH 7Art Focus Group. 7:30-9 p.m.

Weaving and textile arts — we willlook at ways to bring textile arts intothe classroom or home studio with aspecific focus on recycled fibers.Classes are $25 each or $200 for the10 class series. A school or group ofteachers can share the registrationfor the full series. At 2804 SherwoodHall Lane. Call 703-201-1250.


FRIDAY/MARCH 8Performance. Megan Mullally and

Stephanie Hunt perform “Nancy &Beth” at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Hallat the Birchmere, 3701 MountVernon Ave. $29.50. Visitwww.birchmere.com.

Mardi Growl Gala. 7-10 p.m. at theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office,600 Dulany St. Enjoy music by aN’awlins jazz band, silent auction,raffle, beverages and more. $85/single; $150/pair of tickets. Allproceeds benefit the Animal WelfareLeague of Alexandria. Visitwww.alexandriaAnimals.org/MardiGrowl for more.

Theater Production. 8 p.m. at Port

Entertainment



Classical Potpourri. 7:30 p.m. at TheLyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Hearworks by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopinand more. $15/advance or $20/door.Buy online at InstantSeats.com.

SATURDAY/MARCH 9Music Performance. 8 p.m. at The

Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. TheUnited States Air Force Band willplay music for the woodwind quintet.Free. Visit www.usafband.af.mil.


Power Art. 3 p.m. at Del Ray Artisans,2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Featuresnationally touring art quilts. PowerSuits curator Cyndi Souder will speakand display additional pieces fromthe collection. Call 703-838-4827 orvisit www.thedelrayartisans.org.

MARCH 9 THROUGH MARCH 17Art Exhibit. March Fundraiser exhibit

at Target Gallery, Torpedo FactoryArt Center, 105 N. Union St. Free.Visit www.torpedofactory.org or 703-838-4565.


Sports

Mount Vernon Gazette Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

West Potomac senior WilliamRupp and Mount Vernonfreshman Bill Adusei won

state championships at the VHSL statewrestling meet on Feb. 16 at Oscar Smith

West Potomac’s Rupp,Mount Vernon’sAdusei Win StateWrestling Titles

High School in Chesapeake.Rupp completed his undefeated sea-

son by winning the 220-pound title via5-3 decision against Landstown’s EldonValery.

Adusei won the 126-pound champion-ship with a 7-3 decision against Kellam’sHayden Felch.

Robinson won the team title with ascore of 142.5. Westfield finished run-ner-up with 101 points. Mount Vernonfinished 10th (47) and West Potomactied for 16th (28).

By Jon Roetman

The Gazette

Long after the Tuesday’sNorthern Regionquarterfinal contest againstSouth Lakes had ended,

Mount Vernon senior Kelly Loftus saton the Majors’ bench and cried.

Head coach Courtney Coffer helpedLoftus up and hugged the standout

guard, whose 20points weren’tenough againstthe Seahawks. AsLoftus headed tothe locker room,Coffer sat on thebench, droppedhis head in hishands and re-leased his ownemotions.

It wasn’t sup-posed to end likethis, at least notfor the Majors,who returned somany key playersfrom last year’steam that fin-ished 25-2, lostonly to eventualstate championOakton andmissed qualify-ing for the statetournament byone game. Yethere was MountVernon, sufferingthrough the

agony of a gut-wrenching, season-ending defeat courtesy of South Lakesguard Caitlin Jensen’s buzzer-beater.

Jensen’s jumper as time expired

lifted the Seahawks to a 46-45 victory overthe Majors in the girls’ basketball regionalquarterfinals at Mount Vernon High School.The Majors, who won their third consecu-tive National District championship on Fri-day, had a one-point lead and possessionwith less than 30 seconds remaining againstSouth Lakes, but ended up falling shortamidst a cloud of missed opportunities andcontroversy.

Leading 45-44, Mount Vernon went to thefree-throw line with 22.8 seconds remain-ing, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Majors were able to grab the of-

fensive rebound and again ended up at thefoul line, only to miss another front end ofa one-and-one. South Lakes grabbed therebound this time, but eventually turned theball over with 7.3 seconds to play.

The final seconds would be controversial.South Lakes stole Mount Vernon’s ensu-

ing inbound pass in the backcourt. Need-ing to travel the length of the floor, theSeahawks started toward a potential game-winning bucket when head coach ChristyWinters-Scott said something near theSouth Lakes bench. One official blew hiswhistle, thinking Winters-Scott calledtimeout. She would later say that was notthe case.

“I said, ‘Screen on the ball’ and he thoughtI called timeout, which I did not, at all,”Winters-Scott said after the game. “Afterthat it’s a blur, to be honest with you.”

Winters-Scott appeared furious over thestoppage in play, showing anger through ananimated display that left Mount Vernonfans and head coach Courtney Coffer ques-tioning after the game why Winters-Scottdidn’t receive a technical foul.

“If I had done that [stuff] that she did tothose referees, I would have gotten kickedout of the game,” an emotional Coffer saidin the locker room. “It’s personal, man.”

The result of the play was South Lakesinbounding the ball from near midcourtwith 5.6 seconds remaining. Jensen endedup with an open mid-range look and endedthe Majors’ season.

“To be honest with you, I thought it wasa little off,” said Jensen, who finished withfive points. “I worked on [jumpers] with mytrainer over the weekend, so it worked outperfectly. I couldn’t find my rhythm for along time, so I guess I found it over theweekend.”

Sophomore forward Princess Aghayereled South Lakes with 11 points and 11 re-bounds. Sasha Sprei scored nine points andGabrielle Schultz and Mary Severin eachhad eight.

Mount Vernon’s Loftus led all scorers with20 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.Samantha Porter had 11 points and ninerebounds, Taylor Dunham scored 10 pointsand Tiffany Webster had four.

South Lakes, the No. 2 seed from the Lib-erty District, will face Oakton (C2) in theregional semifinals on Thursday atRobinson Secondary School.

“I told [the Majors] to keep their headsup high,” Coffer said. “We’re still the bestteam in this region, everybody knows it.One game doesn’t determine that.”

Seahawks End Majors’ Season with Buzzer-BeaterMount Vernon girls’basketball loses inregionalquarterfinals.

Mount Vernon senior Kelly Loftus scored 20 pointsin a regional quarterfinal loss to South Lakes onTuesday.

South Lakes sophomore Princess Aghayere battlesfor the ball against Mount Vernon’s SamanthaPorter, left, and Taylor Dunham on Tuesday.

Pho

to

s by Lo

uise K

rafft/T

he G

azette

“I told [theMajors] tokeep theirheads up

high. We’restill the bestteam in this

region,everybody

knows it. Onegame doesn’t

determinethat.”

— Mount Vernongirls’ basketballcoach Courtney

Coffer


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