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Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 10-16, 2019 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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October 10, 2019Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper

HomeLifeStylePage 5

Fall is breeding season for deerand you can expect to see more ofthem on our roads. Please beaware that deer are unpredictableand crashes with them are a safetyconcern.

From 2015 through 2018, therehave been 244 deer involved caraccidents in Fairfax County. Overhalf of those crashes occurred dur-ing the months of October, Novem-ber and December. Deer are mostactive before sunrise to mid-morn-ing, as well as dusk to earlyevening. This is also the time whenmany of us are headed to and fromwork or school.

Motorists should pay attention,drive carefully and rememberthese safety tips:

❖ Always wear your seat belt❖ Drive the posted speed limit.❖ Do not text and drive. Avoid

distractions!❖ Watch for eyes shine along

roadsides. If you see one deer, it islikely that there are others nearby.

❖ Use high beams as traffic al-lows to spot deer further away. Becareful not to disrupt oncomingcars.

❖ If a deer is stopped in theroadway, slow down and flash

your headlights. Deer can becomemesmerized or blinded by brightsteady lights.

❖ Slow down or stop if neces-sary to avoid hitting a deer but youshould never swerve out of thelane to miss one. A crash with an-other car or anything along theroadside is likely to be more seri-ous.

❖ Take your foot off the brakeat the time of a crash. This reducesthe chance of a deer crashingthrough a windshield or windowswhen hit.

❖ If you get into a crash with adeer, try to move your car off theroad and out of traffic.

❖ If your car is immobilized inthe roadway, turn on your flash-ers and immediately call police.Wait at a safe spot off the road.

❖ Rely on your own senses.Never depend on hood whistles,car horns or other devices to scaredeer out of your path.

❖ Pay attention to deer crossingsigns and be careful in areas wheredeer are known to travel.

If a deer is injured or killed, im-mediately report the crash to uson our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.

More than Half Deer-VehicleCrashes Occur October to December

A fawncrosses

the roadearlier

thissummer.

Gazette

File Photo

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

On Oct. 1, Fairfax County announced itwill no longer accept glass bottles andjars in curbside recycling bins.

The county decided to make the an-nouncement after consulting with private recyclingsorting centers and Covanta Fairfax, Inc., which op-erates the waste-to-energy plant. With the elimina-tion of glass jars and containers from its single-streamcurbside program, the county provided options forglass containers.

“Residents should reuse glass containers or bringthem to purple, glass-only recycling containers lo-cated throughout the region. If this is not possible,glass should be placed in the trash,” said FairfaxCounty in its post.

Glass items not accepted included lamps, lightbulbs, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, windows andsheet glass.

Glass collected from the purple containers will bedelivered to the only glass processing plant in thearea, the I-95 landfill complex in Lorton.

When residents deliver used glass containers topurple, glass-only recycling containers, that glass iscrushed and reused in county projects. Glass pro-cessed in Lorton is pulverized. It has been tested andreused in place of quarried gravel as bedding andfill construction projects.

For years, most glass has passed through the re-cycling process as residue, or waste. Some of theglass is applied as landfill cover, an approved useby the Virginia Department of Environmental Qual-ity, but most of it is simply landfilled with otherunrecyclable waste.

Broken glass should be packaged into a rigid con-tainer, labeled and set out with trash for disposal.Intact glass windows, sliding doors, glass sheets andmirrors can be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station andI-95 Landfill Complex for disposal.

The county forewarned Feb. 15, 2019 that it wasencountering many problems with glass in its single-stream recycling. When glass comingled with othermaterials in the County’s single-stream recycling pro-gram, it often broke during truck collection and trans-port to material recovery centers. The broken glassmixed with other more valuable recycled items suchas cardboard and metals and contaminated them,lowering their scrap value and making them morechallenging to sell in the marketplace.

Compounding the problem, approximately twoyears ago, China, the largest consumer for recycledmaterials, imposed stricter import standards on thequality of recycled content it accepted. Also, the ad-ditional heavy weight of broken glass when inter-mixed with other recyclables presented extra costswhen transporting the mixed materials. The broken,abrasive glass also damaged machinery.

Ten other states have created container depositlaws or so-called “bottle bills.” Under a bottle billsystem, when you purchase a beverage container,you pay an additional deposit amount (usually 5 or10 cents per container), which is added to the costof the product. Once the product has been consumed,you take the empty container to a redemption cen-ter where you receive your deposit back.

LOCATIONSLocations of Purple Glass Only Drop-Off BinsFairfax CountyI-66 Transfer StationFairfax County Recycling and Disposal CenterMount Vernon District Governmental CenterSpringfield District Governmental CenterMason District Governmental CenterSully District Governmental CenterProvidence Community CenterFranconia Governmental CenterFairfax County Government Center – Lot BReston South Park and RideDolley Madison Library

Residents will have to taketheir glass bottles and jarsto a purple bin.

No More Curbside Pickup for Glass

There is a purplebin for recyclingglass at the MountVernon GovernmentCenter at 2511Parkers Lane, Mt.Vernon, VA, 22306.

Fairfax County

2 v Mount Vernon Gazette v October 10-16, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

McEnearney Associates has always had one motto in mind... not to be the biggest, but the best. This year marks our 40th year in Alexandria, and we are celebrating our investment in helping to build our town into the thriving community it is today. To learn more about our Associates and our firm, visit www.WeAreAlexandria.com

#WeAreAlexandria

Serving the Washington, DC Metro Area since 1980. 703.549.9292 | 109 S. Pitt Street | Alexandria, VA 22314 | McEnearney.com

Old Town | $575,000Bright interior with unusual charm including spiral staircase, 2 faux fireplaces & exposed brick. 1-bedroom, 1-bath, den & loft. Kitchen walk-out. South-facing yard with rear fence & storage shed. Close to shops and the river. Easy street parking. 900 Franklin StreetBarbara Cousens 703.966.4180 www.BarbaraCousens.com

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4

Beverley Hills | $799,9003-bedroom, 2-bath detached home in Beverley Hills. Beautiful hardwoods, wood-burning fireplace, sunroom and deck. Lower level walks out to slate patio and large yard. 3605 Norris Place

Jen Walker 703.675.1566www.JenWalker.com

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4

Old Town | $2,290,000Overlooking Windmill Hill Park, this 5-bedroom stunner offers panoramic views of the Potomac. Built in 1820, this historic home was meticulously renovated with improvements that incorporate modern amenities while preserving its charm. 511 S Lee StreetLauren Bishop 202.361.5079www.LaurenBishopHomes.com

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4

Belle Haven | $889,000Charming indoors and out! 4-bedroom, 3-bath home with white quartz kitchen. Updated baths and great open floor plan. Exemplary screened great room and extensive hardscape for the outdoor fire pit! Private, beautiful street! 6208 Foxcroft RoadJanet Caterson Price 703.622.5984Heidi Burkhardt 703.217.6009

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4

Alexandria | $1,300,000This classic 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has been thoughtfully updated & expanded. Main level living areas include the gourmet kitchen & bright sunroom. A private gardner’s paradise with a charming pergola. 912 W Braddock RoadMason Montague Bavin 703.338.6007www.MasonBavin.com

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4

Rosemont | $884,000Glorious cul-de-sac living at its best in this 4-bedroom home which lives like a tree house in an artist colony. This vastly expanded home offers family room, garage, screened porch, fireplace and wrap-around deck! You must see how large it is inside! Ann Duff 703.965.8700 www.AnnDuff.com

Mount Vernon Manor | $674,500Enjoy more than 3,200 SF of living area in this completely renovated 5-bedroom home. Prime location on a gorgeous half-acre lot close to Huntington Metro. Family room with built-ins and gas fireplace. Covered porch overlooks picturesque back yeard. 8619 Gateshead Rd.Catherine Davidson 703.201.1998 www.cmdrealty.net

Annandale | $659,000Wakefield Chapel Estates charmer! Lovingly maintained 4-bedroom home with hardwood floors and renovated kitchen and bathrooms. Sliding doors from bright family room to patio and fully fenced back yard. Walk to swim and tennis club.Tammi Curran 703.309.3119 www.TammiCurran.com

Bloomingdale, DC | $1,150,000Stunning 4-bedroom rowhouse with amazing roof-top deck views. This home beautifully blends original character with modern design. High ceilings, wide-plank oak floors, chef’s kitchen, hidden wine cellar, deep back garden, and 2 parking spaces. 18 Adams St NWMichael Makris 703.402.0629 www.MikeMakris.com

OPEN SUN 10/13, 2-4


News

West Potomac Dance Team at the 4th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer on Oct. 6 at Fort Hunt Park.

Walk to Bust CancerBy Jerry Fill

The Gazette

More than 700 people turnedout for the 4th Annual Walkto Bust Cancer on Oct. 6 atFort Hunt Park to raise

awareness and funds for the National BreastCancer Foundation.

Money raised by this event goes directlyto help needy women and their families inthe metropolitan area to get screenings,genetic testing, and breast cancer services.This helps women who have no insuranceor are under-insured and don’t have the fi-nancial means to get the screening or carethey require.

According to the Breast Center Founda-tion women in this region have a high rateof late stage breast cancer.

The National Breast Center Foundationworks to:

“Educate Women; increase Access tobreast cancer screening, treatment, andsupportive services for underprivileged anduninsured/under-insured women in the

More than 700 people turned out for the 4th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer on Oct. 6 at Fort Hunt Park to raise awareness and funds for the NationalBreast Cancer Foundation.

Photos by Jerry Fill/Gazette

Jessica Shaw with her mother Donna Powell, a breast cancer survivor.

Tigerlily Foundation PresidentMaimah Kormo

community. Implement technology to pro-vide high quality screening and treatmentservices in order to detect breast cancer atearly stages, which will save more lives and,ultimately, reduce health care costs.”

The Breast Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity

For information:www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org

4 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 10-16, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Please join us as we honor

Inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

onThursday, October 10, 2019

West Potomac High SchoolDinner in Cafeteria – 6:00pm

Ceremony in Auditorium – 7:30pm

andFriday, October 11, 2019

West Potomac High SchoolReception in Library - 6:00pm

Recognition halftime at football game

westpotomacsports.net (Hall of Fame Link)

See News Briefs, Page 14

Wrong WayDriver fromAlexandria Killed

Virginia State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Culpeper County. The crashoccurred Oct. 5, 2019 at 2:59 a.m. on Route29 (James Monroe Highway) at half a milesouth of Route 15 (James Madison High-way). A 2009 Mazda 3 was traveling northin the southbound lanes of Rt. 29 when it col-lided head on with a 1999 Toyota Avalon. TheToyota was southbound in the left travel lane.The driver of the Mazda, Altangerel Jambal,37, of Alexandria, Va., died at the scene as aresult of his injuries. Jambal was wearing aseat-belt. The driver of the Toyota, a 24-year-old male from Standardsville, Va., suffered se-rious injuries in the crash and was flown toUVA Medical Center in Charlottesville. Themale was not wearing a seat-belt.

The crash remains under investigation.Virginia State Police was assisted by VSP’s

Division 2 Accident Reconstruction Team,Culpeper Sheriff’s Office, Culpeper Fire andRescue, and VDOT.

Alexandria PoliceArrest Suspect inTire Slashing Incident

The Alexandria Police Department made

an arrest in connection with the 64 vehiclesthat were damaged on Sept. 24, 2019 inthe 1600 block of Kenwood Avenue. Thisincludes 64 vehicles that had one or moretires slashed. A 32-year-old Alexandria manwas arrested and charged with Felony De-struction of Property. He was being heldwithout bond. Alexandria Police ask any-one who may have information about thisinvestigation contact Detective Robert Hillat 703.746.6712 [email protected].

Detectives Ask forPublic’s Help in Hit-and-Run of Pedestrian

Detectives from Mount Vernon Police Dis-trict, Fairfax County Police Crash Recon-struction Unit are asking for the public’shelp with information from a hit-and-runcrash involving a pedestrian that occurredaround 11 p.m., Oct. 6. The victim, an adultman, was attempting to cross the road nearthe intersection of Collingwood Road andLynnfield Drive. He was struck by a car andtaken to a nearby hospital with serious in-juries. Through their investigation, detec-tives believe the striking car to be a NissanSUV, which should have damage to its un-dercarriage and possible minor front-enddamage. Drugs and alcohol were not fac-tors for the pedestrian.

News Briefs


Alex/Oxford $1,149,9004201 Kimbrelee Court

Spectacular all-brick colonial home w/2 car garage on a cul-de-sac in exclusive Mt. Vernon waterfront com-munity of Oxford. Partial water views and a beautiful multi-tiered deck. Five bed-rooms & 4.5 baths. Grand 2 story foyer entryway. Large eat-in kitchen w/numerous upgrades & double butler pantry. Formal living & dining rooms. Family room

off kitchen w/brick fireplace. Library on main level w/built-in bookcases. 4 bedrooms & 3 baths on upper level, huge master suite w/large luxurious bath. Fully finished lower level w/5th bedroom & full bath, exercise, tv, & game rooms. Newly refinished hardwood floors. Recent updates include new roof (2019), new windows (2019), new deck (2018) High-end kitchen appliances (Wolf double oven; Subzero refrigerator). Main & lower level HVAC replace 2016. Backyard fence (‘16). It’s a wonderful home!

Alex/Wessynton $527,500 3102 Cunningham Drive

Investors or Homeowners who want to build sweat equity: here it is! Solid bones but needs a total make over. Popular model (The Meadow) in sought after water oriented Wessynton community of contemporary homes. 4 bedrooms, 3 Baths, large kitchen, separate dining

room, living room with fireplace. Master suite. Family Room w/fireplace. Lots of storage and workspace in basement. Amenities include tennis courts, community swimming pool, walking paths, and boat ramp on Little Hunting Creek which flows to the Potomac River. A half mile to Mount Vernon Estate and the George Washington Parkway.

Alex/Engleside $1,300,0008734 Lukens Lane

4.128 acres zones R-2 for sale. There are 2 lots: 4/0 acres w/house (Tax Map 1101 01 0043) and .128 acre vacant land (1101 01 0043A). House on Property sold “AS IS” and NO AC-CESS given or allowed. Land Value only. Water, sewer, gas, electricity

available. This land is adjacent to the houses on Halley Farm Ct. which were built in the 2010-2011 time frame.

UNDER

CONTR

ACT

Alex/Mt. Zephyr $487,500 8541 Mt. Zephyr Dr.

Great price for this lovely two level solid all-brick home with garage on 1/3 acre in Mt. Vernon community. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Renovated eat-in kitchen, spacious and open, with sliding glass doors to private backyard. Charming front living room with ample

windows, and wood burning fireplace with white, colonial style mantel. Spacious lower level has finished family room w/ 2nd fireplace and a bonus workroom. Conveniently located near Ft. Belvoir (10 mins), GW Parkway and Potomac River, Old Town Alexandria, Pentagon, and D.C.

Alex/Riverside Estates $599,9008508 Cherry Valley Lane

Prestigious Riverside Estate’s Large & Popular Concord Model – 5BRs, 3BAs – 2 Car Garage w/many upgrades: Brand new double pane windows in 2019, New HVAC & HWH in 2018, beautiful upgraded kitchen in 2007. Refinished hdwd floors, bright sky lights in both the

kitchen & hall bath. 20 year old roof w/30 year shingles. A beautiful & sturdy deck looks over a lovely landscaped & fenced-in backyard. This is a gem, priced well & will sell fast.

OPEN

SUNDAY

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SOLD

Alex/Pembrook Village $217,9004395 Pembrook Village Drive

Just Listed- 1st OPEN – Feast your eyes on this beautifully remodeled 3BR, 2BA Condo–Kitchen has granite counters, ceramic tile floors, SS appliances, all open to a large living rm, w/wood burning FPL,& a balcony overlooking the com-munity. HDWD floors on main & upper level–Updated BAs w/ceramic tile & granite counters–1 bath on each level-cozy sitting/TV room between MBR & 2nd BR–-3rd BR & 2nd BA conveniently on the main level–Reserved parking–5 minutes to Ft. Belvoir & 15 mins to Old Town–25 minutes to Ntl Airport – Great Location & Value

OPEN

SUNDAY

1-4

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

A few of the area’s top interior designerswere tapped to transform a grand homeinto a showcase house to raise money forcharity. Designers Quintece Hill-

Mattauszek of Studio Q Designs, Rhonald Angelo ofRhonald Angelo Interiors and Sheryl McLean ofMcLean and Tircuit Designs will unleash their col-lective creative talent to create a library, a teenagegirl’s bedroom and a lounge space for a family of six.

“I envision this to be a sophisticated … entertain-ing space, but not necessarily a man-cave,” said Al-exandria-based Hill-Mattauszek, who used vintagefinds to bring-to life ‘The Boys’ Club,” the space shewas tasked with transforming. “I envision pokernights [and] Oscar parties.”

“I designed the library for how a family of six willactually function within it,” said Angelo. “New wal-nut flooring and paint changed the look. The roomfelt unbalanced beforehand, which I corrected in thefinal design.”

Sheryl McLean of Bethesda, Md. added bold art-work and vibrant colors to the home’s sitting room.

Interior design aficionados who are up for a shortroad trip can see the creations of the three local de-signers and others during the Historic Ellicott City,Inc.’s 33rd Annual Decorator Show House. Proceedsgo toward preserving historic sites including a stopalong the Underground Railroad and one of the firstpublic schools for African Americans.

Twenty-one designers decorated 24 rooms andspaces in the stately French Provincial private homethat is the future home to a couple with four youngchildren.

The house will be open to visitors through Oct.

20, 2019 with hours Wednesday through Saturdayfrom 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are $35 at the door or online are availableonline at http://historicec.com/show-houses/

HomeLifeStyle

Proceeds will help preserve historic sites such asan Underground Railroad stop and one of the firstpublic schools for African Americans.

Local Designers Create DreamHome for Charity

Bethesda-based designer Sheryl McLean,of McLean and Tircuit Designs, createdthis sitting room.

Alexandria based designer Quintece Hill-Mattauszek designed this “Boys Club” spaceusing vintage finds.

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A Connection Newspaper

Opinion

By Phil Niedzielski-Eichner and

Adrian L. Steel Jr.

Just in time for the Oct. 8 fourth anni-versary of the 2015 release of theFairfax County Ad Hoc Police Prac-tices Review Commission Final Re-

port, the Board of Supervisors approved fullimplementation of body worn cameras (BWC)by the Fairfax County Police Department(FCPD). This is one of the Commission’s mostsignificant and consequential recommenda-tions. While a potential aid to criminal pros-ecution, the body worn camera’s equally im-portant contribution is to foster greater trans-parency and accountability of all parties dur-ing the interactions of the police with the pub-lic. Full implementation will begin in May 2020and take three years to phase in countywide.

The Board’s decision followed the comple-tion of a 2018 pilot study chartered by PoliceChief Edwin C. Roessler Jr. and conducted bythe American University, which found thatthere was “… overwhelming support amongcommunity members for the widespread adop-tion of body worn cameras….” and “…consen-sus among the officers involved in the pilot thatbody worn cameras will increase the gather-ing of evidence and help settle complaintsagainst officers.”

The Board’s decision is a fitting capstone toa four-year successful effort by the Board tooversee the transformation of the Police De-partment from one that was excellent to nowbeing on a clear path to becoming “best inclass.”

The Commission’s formation by the Board

of Supervisors followed a few high-profile po-lice use of force incidents, with the ultimatecatalyst being the August 2013 shooting deathof unarmed Springfield resident John Geer inhis doorway.

Board Chair Bulova formed the Ad Hoc Com-mission and her office closely oversaw theCommission’s work over an intensive five-month period in 2015. Charged with “…assess-ing the (Fairfax County) Police Department’sperformance against national best practices,”the Commission made more than 200 recom-mendations for strengthening the public’s trustand confidence in the Department.

Public Safety Committee Chair SupervisorJohn Cook combined forces with Board ChairBulova and Chief Roessler to drive the Boardand Police Department to embrace the Ad HocCommission’s recommendations. As they com-plete their many years of service to our com-munity, Bulova’s and Cook’s police-reform ef-forts will certainly be a key legacy.

The significant reforms for which all can beproud will increase police accountability, di-vert those who suffer from mental illness intotreatment rather than incarceration, reduceuse-of-force injuries and deaths, open publicaccess to incident information, and engenderpublic confidence.

Body worn cameras will now complementthe dashboard cameras mounted in each FCPDpatrol vehicle. The Department’s policy en-shrines sanctity of human life as an organiz-ing principle, with de-escalation as the strat-egy of first resort when confronted with athreat rather than the use of force. Constraintsand strengthened supervisory oversight are

now in place on police use of vehicle pursuit.“Diversion First” offers alternatives to incar-ceration for people with mental illness or de-velopmental disabilities.

An Independent Police Auditor (IPA) auto-matically reviews investigations of death or se-rious injury cases as well as uses of force whena citizen complaint is filed. A Civilian ReviewPanel reviews investigations of civilian com-plaints regarding “abuse of authority” or “seri-ous misconduct” by an FCPD officer and holdspublic forums to hear from the community.Policies regarding release of information pro-vide for increased public visibility into theDepartment’s daily activities and performance,with a predisposition to disclose information,regardless of incident controversy. Intense ef-forts are underway to recruit talented person-nel that better reflect Fairfax County’s popula-tion diversity.

Sustained effort and energy are still requiredto move decades-old engrained practices intoa “new normal.” Further, those who are “best-in-class” constantly seek to improve.

Tough questions still need to be asked as theCounty implements body worn cameras.Should an agency other than the Department,for example, control access to the massiveamount of data to be collected? Should the IPAor an independent third party audit the pro-gram? Heightened expectations alone shouldgive our policymakers pause, particularly whenwe know that no technology deployment ismistake and error free. Not collecting videodata during a controversial use of force inci-

Capstone to Four-Years of Police Reform

See Police Reform, Page 13

By Del. Paul Krizek

You might have noticed justhow dry it has been for thepast few weeks. Well, Vir-

ginia is currently experiencing adrought due to lower than normalprecipitation in September and sofar in October. Approximately halfof the Commonwealth is in a mod-erate drought, including FairfaxCounty, while some areas west and south ofRichmond are now in a severe drought. Thegood news is that the folks that manage ourwater here in Fairfax have painstakinglyplanned ahead for current and future droughtepisodes, so don’t be afraid to continue usingyour water as needed, especially to drip ontothose parched plants and trees.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit andtour the Griffith Water Treatment Plant inLorton where I learned just how much hardwork and planning goes into collecting, treat-ing, and distributing the water that comes outof our faucets.

Fairfax Water pumps water from numerousdifferent reservoirs in the Potomac andOccoquan watersheds, which stretch acrossVirginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, and

Pennsylvania. The raw water ispumped up to the treatment plantwhere it undergoes multiple lev-els of above-ground cleansing andfiltration. Wires stretched acrossthe filtered water deter birds likegeese from landing in the water.Once inside, there are three ma-chines at the Griffith plant thatproduce ozone gas in a containedenvironment. Ozone is an un-stable, short-lived gas that de-

grades in as quickly as a few seconds to 30minutes. As a purification method, ozone hasgreater disinfectant effectiveness against bac-teria, viruses, and protozoans and has stron-ger germicidal properties than chlorination. Inaddition, the oxidizing properties of ozone canalso be used to reduce the concentration ofiron, manganese, sulfur and reduce or elimi-nate any taste and odor problems. The wateris constantly monitored for sodium levels(which can be a challenge due to the use ofsalt during ice and snowstorms in the winter),both for health and taste issues, as well as tur-bidity (the clarity of the water) levels as itheads to distribution throughout the county.Fairfax Water not only has state of the artequipment, methods, and standards, but their

staff are also well trained to operate the facili-ties. They can even do so manually, withoutcomputers, if the need ever arises, and that issomething they practice in case of emergency.

Fairfax Water does extensive research andprojected demands forecasting based on thehistorical data of maximum daily usage trends,with current forecasting stretching as far aheadas the year 2050. Fairfax Water hasgrandfathered water rights to both theOccoquan and Potomac Rivers and has ac-quired the rights to the Vulcan Quarry, whichsits behind the Griffith plant. After the quarryhas been mined out over the next 70 years,Fairfax Water will begin using the quarry tocreate a new reservoir, capable of holding 17billion gallons of water. This extra storage willhelp prevent future water shortages in casesof extreme droughts.

Fairfax Water was formed in September of1957 when the Fairfax County Board of Su-pervisors proposed the creation of the FairfaxCounty Water Authority. Before 1957, therewere 24 separate water systems throughoutFairfax County. Today there are only three:Fairfax Water, and Herndon and Vienna, ofwhich the latter two are wholesale customers

Staying Current with Fairfax Water

See Fairfax Water, Page 13


Aldersgate Church Community Theater proudly presents

September 27to

October 132019Directed by

Jennifer Lyman

Produced by

Marg Soroos &

Leslie Teitel

Tix/Info:acctonline.org

Register at:[email protected]. Please include first and last name and contact information (email & phone number). Registration is free. Please visit and like/follow our Facebook page – FHHS Black Cultural Alliance Alumni High School Career Forum.

The High School Career Forum is an informative, motivational experience, for all high school students, grades 9-12, to help guide them towards the next chapter in their lives.

The Fort Hunt High School

Black Cultural Alliance

Alumni will host their annual

High School Career Forum

at Sherwood Hall Regional

Library (2501 Sherwood

Hall Ln, Alex. VA 22306)

on Saturday, October 19,

2019, from 11am-1pm. A

panel of young adults, who

paths after high school, will

share how the decision/

choices they made impacted

their lives, life choices and

experiences.

By: Karen Corbett Sanders,

Chair and Mount Vernon Representative Fairfax

County School Board

As I walked into Mount Vernon HighSchool’s recent PTSA meeting, I had thepleasure of meeting two seniors whowere returning to school after their in-

ternship at IntelSat. The young man and womanwere enthusiastic about the skills they were learn-ing and the opportunity to have a workplace experi-ence while in high school through Genesys Works aprogram that began in 2016 in Fairfax County witha grant from AT&T. Genesys Works is an innovativeorganization that changes the life trajectory of un-derprivileged high school students by providing ex-tensive training and year-long internships at majorcorporations during their senior year in high school.The conversation with these high school studentsreflects the changes happening in Fairfax CountyPublic Schools as we strive to create more opportu-nities for students to explore career options that canlead to high demand high wage professions eitherdirectly out of high school or continuing on to a 2 or4 year college degree. It is essential that we empowertoday’s young people with the skills and work expe-riences to develop a mindset that they can succeed.

Since my time as the PTSA President of WestPotomac High School and during my time on theSchool Board, I have focused on creating these op-portunities for the students in Mount Vernon. It iswith focus in mind that I worked with the adminis-tration of WPHS to establish the Governor’s HealthSciences Academy and the relationship with InovaHealth System; expanded our relationship with FortBelvoir for work experiences on base and am work-ing with the leadership of Northern Virginia Com-munity College and Supervisors Dan Storck and JeffMcKay to bring an early college and workforce de-velopment center to the original Mount Vernon HighSchool on Richmond Highway.

In parallel, I have facilitated discussions betweenthe Foundation for Applied Technical Education lead-ership, the regional housing authority and local andnational labor organizations to expand work experi-ences in the skilled trades for students in FCPS. Thispast summer the School Board allocated funds toestablish a coordinator for “trades for tomorrow” todevelop additional opportunities for students in theskilled trades area.

Conversations about CTE opportunities need tobegin earlier than high school with our students.Recently, I joined Governor Northam, NOVA Com-munity College Interim President Schiavelli, andSuperintendent Brabrand when the Pathways to ITInitiative was launched. This pathways initiative be-gins engaging students in middle school about ca-reer opportunities in the IT and technology sector. Ibelieve and have advocated that these discussionswith students and their families need to be expandedto include discussions about opportunities in otherfields. It is important to have these discussions sothat these elective courses can be planned for in thestudent’s four-year plan.

On Sept. 20, the Governor announced the expan-sion of the Community College Cloud ComputingDegree Programs with Amazon Web Services to in-clude a high school component for high school STEMand early college programs such as the one beingdeveloped for the Original Mount Vernon HighSchool.

CTE and dual enrollment courses allow studentsto obtain skills, industry recognized credentials andhands on experience in fields that are in demandand pay well. These opportunities include career andtechnical education courses in our academies, pur-sue professional certifications in a range of fields andobtain real work experiences with companies or inthe skilled trades. Students pursue coursework inautomotive, business, consumer science, health andmedical sciences, nursing, and emergency medicine,technology and the skilled trades. They build housesand restore cars. By enrolling in these courses, stu-dents are able to learn from career professionalswhile preparing for a two or four year college or entrylevel employment. This year we expanded the teachfor tomorrow program to all of our high schools.Graduates committing to pursuing a teaching degreereceive a signing letter for future employment withFCPS.

In addition to the classroom experience, studentswork with community and business partners in theirareas of study.vThese partners provide internships,clinical observations, job shadowing, and mentoring.Additionally, community members are able to use theservices offered by our students through these pro-grams. These services include automotive oil changes,auto detailing and repairs, dental cleanings, haircuts,

Re-imagining the High SchoolExperience in Fairfax County

Opinion

See High School, Page 13


Entertainment

By Hope Nelson

Nautical notions meet food,drink and music at thisweekend’s Portside in OldTown Fall Festival. The festi-

val, which is the second installment of VisitAlexandria’s Portside series, lands in Wa-terfront Park this Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m.

The Portside festival is joining forces withthe Seaport Foundation to make an uber-festival of sorts, combining the foundation’sSeaport Day with the other cultural activi-ties the festival has to offer. From interac-tive and maritime history programs to mu-sical performances and plenty of food, it’sattendees who luck out with the joint ef-fort.

“We think it’s a fantastic opportunity to

reinforce Alexandria’s brand and position-ing as a port city through this daylong fes-tival that shines a light on our maritimehistory,” said Visit Alexandria President andCEO Patricia Washington. “And we’re soexcited to be partnering with the SeaportFoundation” as well as the Office of His-toric Alexandria, the parks and recreationdepartment, and more, she added.

The activities for participants of all agesare plentiful. From knot-tying taught by thetall ship Providence team to old-fashionedlawn games, from helping to paint a Sea-port Foundation boat to rope-making,plenty of free activities are there for theasking. Several other activities – modelboat-making, splash golf and a 2:30 p.m.“Anything That Floats Race” – support theSeaport Foundation’s programs with a

nominal fee.And the festival’s location at the newly

opened Waterfront Park at the foot of KingStreet brings with it its own showcase, too.

“That’s been an opportunity to shine alight on the new things that are happeningon the waterfront and in Old Town,” Wash-ington said.

Washington said the summertime rendi-tion of the Portside in Old Town Festivalbrought in 12,000 guests over the courseof the day. Between the activities and themusic, food and drink, she expects similarnumbers this weekend.

Guests won’t have to spend the day hun-gry – or thirsty. Riverside Taco, the ItalianPlace and Dolci Gelati will be offering upfood and sweets for purchase, and Port CityBrewing will be on hand pouring beer. Wine,

too, will be on sale to benefit the SeaportFoundation, and 10 percent of RiversideTaco’s sales will also benefit the foundation.

Music will provide the soundtrackthroughout the day. DJ Kat will lead thingsoff, followed by the DCeivers and Sol Roots,ensuring an eclectic musical array to carryguests through their activities and keepthem lingering after the fact.

“I think this is a great family-friendly fes-tival,” Washington said.

IF YOU GOPORTSIDE IN OLD TOWN FALL FESTIVALWhen: Saturday, Oct. 12, 1-7 p.m.Where: Waterfront Park, 1 King St.Admission: Free. Food, drink and some activities do

have a cost.

Celebrate Fall, All Things Nautical at Portside in Old Town Festival

It’s October, and Old Town is getting ready for Halloween.

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Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGArt Exhibit: Silo City. Through Oct.

13 at Multiple Exposures Gallery,Torpedo Factory Art Center, Studio312, 105 N. Union St. An exhibitionof photographs by Eric Johnson madein a complex of historic grainelevators and processing facilities inBuffalo, New York. Visitwww.multipleexposuresgallery.comfor more.

Art Exhibit: “Emotional Support:Animals.” Through Oct. 27, daily,10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Thursdays until 9p.m. at Scope Gallery, ground floorStudio 19 of the Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, 105 North Union St. KilnClub artists wax poetic on “EmotionalSupport: Animals” in thewholehearted exhibition of the exoticand domestic. Visitwww.scopegallery.org or call 703-548-6288.

Art Exhibit:Twilight Zone. ThroughOct. 27, gallery hours at Del RayArtisans Gallery, 2704 Mount VernonAve. “Art Inspired by The TwilightZone” is a collection of work inspiredby the classic television series. Anopening reception is planned forFriday, Oct. 4, 7-9 p.m. Feeadmission. Visitwww.DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits.

Art Exhibit: Day of the Dead.Through Nov. 3, at Potomac FiberArts Gallery, Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, Studio 29, 105 North UnionSt. The Potomac Fiber Arts Gallerypresents its juried show, Day of theDead. Neighbors in Mexico andCentral America celebrate Day of theDead. It is a joyful time that helpspeople remember the deceased andcelebrate their memory. The colorsand vibrancy of this holiday inspireartists of the Potomac Fiber ArtsGallery. Themed work will beeligible for recognition by the jurors.Non-themed work will also beexhibited. Visitwww.Potomacfiberartsgallery.comfor more.

“Board | out of our minds!”Through Nov. 10, gallery hours at theThe Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.“Board | out of our minds!” relates tothe games we play. The includedworks exhibit the creative means inwhich people developed board games

to reflect their thoughts andreflections on the role of chance inlife. While some are actual games,some refer to the role of games inlife. Visit www.nfaa.org or call 703-548-0035.

Mount Vernon Farmers Market.Wednesdays (through Dec. 18), 8a.m.-noon at Sherwood Hall RegionalLibrary, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane.The McCutcheon/Mount VernonFarmers Market opened May 1 withan array of farm-fresh produce andlocal foods, plus some new features(fresh brewed coffee!). 17 localfarmers and producers will sell fresh,locally grown vegetables and fruits;meats; Chesapeake Bay seafood;breads and pastries; honey, jams andjellies; milk, cheese and eggs; herbsand plants; and more. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets.

Band Members Needed. Join theMount Vernon Community Band, agroup of players who enjoy playingmany styles of band music in a

relaxed atmosphere. Rehearsals areTuesdays 7:30-9:30 p.m. in theMount Vernon High School BandRoom, 8515 Old Mount VernonRoad. No auditions. All instrumentsneeded. Contact Eric Leighty directly703-768-4172 or visitwww.mvbands.com/join-us/.

THURSDAY/OCT. 10Racism and What To Do About It.

7-9 p.m. At Alexandria Black HistoryMuseum, 902 Wythe Street,Alexandria. Second discussion:Facing Stereotypes andMicroaggresion behavior. Free.Email:[email protected]

FRIDAY/OCT. 11Highland Echoes Show. 7:30-9:30

p.m. at Rachel M. SchlesingerConcert Hall and Arts Center, 4915East Campus Drive. Highland Echoesis a vocal, musical, and dance

journey through Scottish history andculture from the Highlands toAmerica. Featuring “Celtic Album ofthe Year” recipient Jennifer Licko -the show combines traditional andoriginal music and dance. $10-$45.Visithighlandechoesalexandria.eventbrite.comfor tickets.

Artist’s Reception. 7-10 p.m. AtTarget Gallery, 105 N. Union Street,Alexandria. The Memento MoriExhibition explores death and how itshapes life. Memento Mori, Latin for“remember that you will die,”confronts this single most inevitablefact of all human existence. LauraRoulet, a D.C.-based independentcurator and writer, juried theexhibition. She selected 28 works byartists from across the world, 10 ofwhom are local to the region.Memento Mori runs through Sunday,Nov. 3, 2019. Target Gallery is opendaily from 10-6 p.m. and until 9 p.m.on Thursdays.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/OCT. 11-13Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival

& Sunset Tour. 6-9 p.m. at GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon, 3200Mount Vernon Memorial Highway.Celebrate the history of wine inVirginia at the home of GeorgeWashington. Bring a blanket, relaxon the east lawn overlooking thescenic Potomac River and enjoy livemusic while sampling wine fromVirginia’s wineries.Admission: Friday,$48; Saturday, $52; Sunday, $42.Call 703-780-2000 or visitmountvernon.org.

SATURDAY/OCT. 12Portside In Old Town Fall Festival.

1-7 p.m. At Waterfront Park, 1 KingSt. Enjoy a day of live music,maritime history, nauticaldemonstrations and children’sactivities on the Old TownAlexandria waterfront. Savor localfood, beer and wine whileexperiencing boat buildingdemonstrations from AlexandriaSeaport Foundation Apprentices andknot tying from tall ship Providence.Select activities benefit theAlexandria Seaport Foundation’smission to improve the lives of youngpeople through adult mentoring,project-based learning and the craftof wooden boat building. Freeadmission; food and drink forpurchase; fees for some activities.Visit www.visitalexandriava.com/event/portside-in-old-town-fall-festival/15351/ for more.

Watercolor Workshop-Many Waysto Paint a Tree. 9:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. At Green Springs Gardens, 4603Green Spring Road, Alexandria. (16-Adult) Artist and instructor MarniMaree will demonstrate variouswatercolor techniques to paint treesand walks you through the processes.Bring your supplies. Some supplieswill be available in class for a smallfee. $93/person. Register online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes using code 4CD.853B orcall 703-642-5173.

Family Fall Festival. 11 a.m. to 3p.m. At Armistead L. Boothe Park,520 Cameron Station Blvd.,Alexandria. The festival is free, withactivities that include scarecrowbuilding, inflatables, pumpkinpainting and entertainment. Foodand beverages will be available forpurchase. As parking is limited at the

Calendar


Entertainment

By Hope Nelson

Take a tour of Alexandria’s store-fronts lately and it’s clear thatthe restaurant scene is in a bitof flux. From openings to clo-

sures to re-openings to plans, there’s a lotgoing on at street level these days. Here aresome eateries to anticipate – and one to bidfarewell to, at least for a while.

Hank’s Pasta Bar Closesfor Renovation,Rebranding

The pasta purveyor inNorth Old Town announced in early Sep-tember that it would be closing its doors atthe end of the month, and it followedthrough on Sept. 25.

“After 3 great years we have closed our

doors, but we look forward to our future inthe same great location with our new un-named concept. Continue to follow us onInstagram for updates,” the restaurantposted Oct. 2 on Facebook.

Earlier statements from the restauranthave put the eatery’s reopening at the endof 2019.

Augie’s Mussel House Prepares forReopening

Augie’s, which opened its patio last yearat 1106 King Street for some warm-weatherservice while its indoor dining room wasbeing renovated, reopens to the public thisweek after a few final days of recipe testingand soft launches. While the patio closedlast December and was slated to be out ofservice for only “a couple of months,” any-one who’s ever undergone a home renova-

tion knows how time can expand. Finally,though, the time is nigh for Augie’s fans.

Sisters Thai Continues Buildout inNorth Old Town

The popular Sisters Thai, which is a gemin in its two locations in Fairfax – includingthe popular Mosaic District – is preparingto set up shop in North Old Town in thenew location at 530 First Street. Thebuildout of the restaurant space is movingalong, and Sisters estimates a four-monthprocess with the aim of being open by theend of January 2020.

Mount Purrnon Cat Café SignsLease

It’s taken longer than co-founders KristinCowan and Adam Patterson might havewanted, but good things come to those who

wait.“OK cat ladies and gents and winos, we

FINALLY HAVE A SPACE! Mount Purrnonwill be in Old Town! Purrfect for our his-tory theme, we think,” the café announcedon Facebook on Sept. 10. “We are hopingfor spring opening as we have to go throughpermits processes etc.!”

By springtime, Mount Purrnon – and itsadoptable cats – will be moving into 109 S.Alfred Street, Patterson confirmed to theGazette this week. Beer, wine and cafésnacks will be on the menu once the shopopens its doors.

Hope Nelson owns and operates theKitchen Recessionista blog, located atwww.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email herany time [email protected].

Across Alexandria, New Restaurants, Cafes Appearing On Scene

Appetite

Black cat in Old Town, getting ready for Halloween.

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event, the public is encouraged tobike, walk or take public transit. Visitalexandriava.gov/Recreation or callthe Special Events Hotline at 703-746-5592 or Events and Public SpaceActivation at 703-746-5420.

George Washington’s AlexandriaTour. 2-3:30 p.m. At 101 N. UnionStreet, Alexandria. Explore historicOld Town Alexandria as GeorgeWashington knew it. This 90-minuteguided walking tour will explore sitesassociated with Washington and hisclosest colleagues, including JohnFitzgerald’s warehouse, Captain’sRow, Gentry Row, the Apothecaryshop, Ramsay House, Market Square,the Carlyle House, Wise’s Tavern,Duvall Tavern, Gadsby’s Tavern, andWashington’s townhouse. The tourbegins behind the Torpedo Factory’ssouth entrance, in front of Vola’sDockside Grill. Free. Noreservations required. Offered by theOffice of Historic Alexandria. Contact703-379-7460.

Celebration of Service. 6-9 p.m. atFt. Belvoir Officers Club. Pastor FloydC. Hawkins Sr. of Shiloh Church ofGod in Christ is preparing tocelebrate 31 years of leadership andservice to his church and communityby highlighting those giving back toFairfax County. The inaugural FloydC. Hawkins, Sr. Outstanding Leadersin Community Service Award will bepresented to: Dr. Nardos King, BobDiegelman, Velvet Abram, andVictoria Williams. Open to the public.To attend, visithawkins31yearsofservice.eventbrite.com.

Celebrating Lady Liberty’sBirthday. 6-8 p.m. at The Garden byBuilding Momentum, 5380Eisenhower Avenue, #Suite C,Alexandria. A night of music,cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silentauctions and more. Party hosted bylocal non-profit Just Neighbors tosupport legal services for low-incomeimmigrants and refugees.Childcarewill be available at Scramble nextdoor to the venue. More informationat Just Neighbors(www.justneighbors.org)

SUNDAY/OCT. 13Mary Pickford: America’s

Sweetheart. 1-3:30 p.m. At GreenSprings Gardens, 4603 Green SpringRoad, Alexandria. (Adults) Firstperson interpreter Elaine Flynnperforms as Mary Pickford, icon ofthe silent screen era. Discover whythis early cinematic celebrity became

“America’s Sweetheart” as Pickfordprovides an entertaining look at anenthralling life and career thatincluded three husbands, 200 filmsand an Academy Award. $45(program + tea); $18 (programonly). Reservations required. Call(703) 941-7987, TTY 703-324-3988.

Downton Abbey Tours. 2-3 p.m. atLee-Fendall House Museum &Garden, 614 Oronoco St. Explore thesurprising connections betweenpeople and places of the world ofDownton Abbey and those of the Lee-Fendall House through special“Downton Abbey” themed tours ofthe museum this fall. $10. Visitwww.leefendallhouse.org or call 703-548-1789.

Showcase of American MusicConcert. 3 p.m. At Carl SandburgMiddle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Road,Alexandria. The National ConcertBand of America (NCBA) will kick-offits 45th anniversary season with afree concert entitled “AmericanIcons: A Showcase of AmericanMusic.” To be directed by newlyappointed Principal ConductorAdrian Holton, the concert willfeature such classic composers asGeorge Gershwin, John Philip Sousaand Aaron Copland as well as thoselesser known as Morten Lauridsenand David Maslanka. Visit thewebsite:www,nationalconcertband.org

MONDAY/OCT. 14Female Stranger Beer Dinner. At

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,Alexandria. Join Port City Breweryand Gadsby’s Tavern Museum as theyhonor the anniversary of the FemaleStranger’s death with her specialtybeer and a Beer Dinner. Enjoy a four-course meal alongside four great PortCity beers including the Long BlackVeil. This special craft beer wasinspired by the famous tale of theFemale Stranger, who died at thetavern on October 14, 1816. Ticketsare $85 inclusive per person andreservations are required. Avegetarian entrée option is availablewith advance notice. Call 703-746-4242 or visitwww.gadsbystavern.org.

TUESDAY/OCT. 15Digital Genealogy Photography. 1-

3 p.m. At Hollin Hall Senior Center,1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria.Photographer and genealogical

researcher Gary Petranek, Co-Director of the Washington D.C.Family History Center, will speakabout the digital photography aspectsof genealogy and about theRootsMagic software.

Cost for event: Free, open to public. Visitwww.mvgenealogy.org.

WEDNESDAY/OCT. 16Alexandria Beautification Awards.

7:30 p.m. At the Lyceum, 201 S.Washington Street, Alexandria. The2019 Beautification AwardsCeremony will recognize andcelebrate residents, businesses,organizations and communities fortheir outstanding efforts incontributing to the beautification ofthe City of Alexandria. Awards willbe given in the following sixcategories: Excellence inArchitecture, Excellence inSustainable Design, ResidentialBeautification, CommercialBeautification, CommunityBeautification and Green Practices inBeautification. Mayor Justin Wilsonand members of City Council willpresent the awards. Visit the websitewww.alexandriava.gov/Beautification

THURSDAY/OCT. 17Make and Take Lunch Break

Social. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at2425 Eisenhower Ave (on the grassyknoll). Take a real lunch breakoutside to refuel and recharge withco-workers. Each month a DIY localbusiness will pop-up and offer athemed craft

(while supplies last). [email protected] or visitwww.FB.com/AlexandriaEcon.

Fall Garden Tour and Tea. 1-3 p.m.At Green Spring Gardens, 4603Green Spring Road, Alexandria.(Adults) Tour the glorious falldemonstration gardens with a mastergardener docent who will highlightstandout plants, and tell stories ofGreen Spring past and present.Afterwards, enjoy a traditionalEnglish afternoon tea. $36/person.Reservations required. Call (703)941-7987, TTY 703-324-3988.

Lost Dog Cafe Release Party. 5:30-7:30 p.m. At 808 N. Henry Street,Alexandria. Lost Dog Rescue Ale willmake its debut in both Draft andFour Pack 16 oz Can Formats. LostDog & Cat Rescue Foundation willbring cats and dogs looking for a

good home to Lost Dog locations. Inaddition to meeting potential pets,guests will have the chance to enjoyRescue Ale.

AARP Financial Basics. 7:30-9 p.m.At Sherwood Hall Regional Library,2501 Sherwood Hall Lane,Alexandria. Free. Take charge of yourfinancial future! Learn how to buildupon your smart money habits andmake the most of your financialresources. Save more for acomfortable retirement.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18Garden Talk-Putting the Garden to

Bed. 1:30-2:30 p.m. At Green SpringGardens, 4603 Green Spring Road,Alexandria. (16-Adult) Enjoy thebreak from the summer heat as you

head back into the garden for someend-of-season maintenance. Learnfrom Extension master gardenerswhat you need to do to ensure thatyour plants are well prepared for thecold weather, what needs pruning,what needs transplanting and whatneeds mulch. $10/person. Registeronline at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes using code 493.0654or call 703-642-5173.

SATURDAY/OCT. 19Woodlands and Wetlands Tour.

10-11:30 a.m. At Green SpringGardens, 4603 Green Spring Road,Alexandria. (Adults) ExperienceGreen Spring’s wilder side. Take adocent-led tour through the VirginiaNative Plant Garden, woodland

Calendar


127 N. Washington St., Alexandria • 703-548-4661 Smoke-Free Restaurantwww.lerefugealexandria.com

Old Town’s oldest French restaurant with

its original owners

Restaurant

Celebrating 36 years of serving Alexandria.

We thank you for your patronage and

look forward to continuing to serve you.

Coming Soon!

Fall/Winter Specials

Entertainment

BLESSING THE PETS: Father Hathaway stops by to bless“Mike” at the treats table provided by The Olde TowneSchool for Dogs while Brad Huber, training manager,looks on.

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stream valley and ponds, and learnhow we protect these special places.Hear about plants and wildlife, andview remnants of a globally-raremagnolia bog. Admire the fall displaywith refreshments at the pondgazebo. $15/person. Register onlineat www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes using code 900.4C7F orcall 703-642-5173.

Puppet Show. 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.At Oswald Durant Center, 1605Cameron Street, Alexandria. Ticketsare $6. Beech Tree Puppets performThe Giant Turnip. An old man andhis wife lovingly tend their gardenand grow a vegetable so large theycan’t pull it up by themselves. Thiswhimsical folktale is sung and toldwith hand-crafted rod and shadowpuppets. The story celebrates caringfor the earth and working together.Visit alexandriava.gov/WebTrac.

Civil War Shelter Program. 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. At Fort Ward Park, 4301West Braddock Road, Alexandria.Can you tell a Sibley tent from a dogtent? How did Civil War soldiers staywarm in camp? Find out the answersto these questions and more whenFort Ward Museum presents theliving history program Civil WarShelter. This interpretive programwill explore a variety of tents andshelter for Civil War soldiers.Reproductions of some major types ofperiod tents will be set up andexplained by Union Armyinterpreters, and Fort Ward’sfurnished Officers’ Hut, a typicalmilitary structure in the Defenses ofWashington, will be open to thepublic. A variety of camp lifeaccessories, furnishings, and heatingmethods for militaryaccommodations will also bedisplayed and discussed. Contact FortWard Museum at 703-746-4848.

24th Annual Art Safari. 12-5 p.m. Atthe Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105N. Union St., Alexandria. AnAlexandria tradition for almost aquarter-century, Art Safari returns fora day of hands-on activities for kidsand families. Dozens of artists leadbudding art enthusiasts in excitingand creative projects throughout thebuilding. Dress to get a little messy.This event is perfect for children ages5+. Younger children may need someextra help but will still have a lot offun. Call 703-746-4570 or visitwww.torpedofactory.org.

Floral Design Workshop-FallFlowers & Foliage. 1-2:30 p.m. AtGreen Spring Gardens, 4603 GreenSpring Road, Alexandria. (16-Adult)Enjoy autumn’s rich colors andtextures by bringing them into yourhome. Learn how to create a unique,take-home floral design thatcelebrates the season with the help ofprofessional floral designer Betty AnnGalway. Learn tips and tricks of thetrade to practice on your own designsat home. $39/person. Register onlineat www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes using code 30F.C61A orcall 703-642-5173.

Fix-It Clinic. 2-4 p.m. At MarthaWashington Library, 6614 Fort HuntRoad, Alexandria. Bring in yourbroken items and receive free guidedassistance from volunteers. First-come, first-served. Services includefabric mending, jewelry repair, lamp/small electrical appliance repairs,silver polishing, and more. ContactSharon Wasserman at 703-768-6700.

Sopranessence Fall Concert. 3-4:30p.m. At Convergence, 1801 N.Quaker Lane, Alexandria.Sopranessence kicks off its fifthseason with “Let’s Start at the VeryBeginning....” (Root to Blossom) byrevisiting our roots and sharing someof our favorite songs from pastshows. From dueling Divas to theharmonies of Puccini, your favoritesare sure to be here. Cost is pre-salethru Oct. 18: $20 General Admission;$18 for Seniors/Military; $10 forYouth. At-the-Door: $25 all tickets.

Visit the website:www.sopranessence.org

Country-Western Dance. AtLincolnia Senior Center, 4710 NorthChambliss Street, Alexandria. TheNorthern Virginia Country-WesternDance Association will hold a dance.Lessons, 6-7 p.m. Open dancing, 7-9:30 p.m. A DJ provides music.Couples and singles of all ageswelcome. Admission for NVCWDAmembers $10; non-members $12;children under 18 accompanied by apaying adult $5. Trial membershipsavailable at door for member levelentry fee. Smoke-free, alcohol-free.BYO refreshments. For moreinformation see www.nvcwda.org.

Specialty Tour: Death at the CityHotel. 7-9 p.m. At Gadsby’s TavernMuseum, 134 N. Royal St.,Alexandria. Admission: $20.The CityTavern has been the site of manyhistoric events, but also of macabreones. This special tour explores thestories of the people who breathedtheir last breath at the hotel and thescenes surrounding them. Bring yourfriends and raise a glass (drinkprovided) to those who have comebefore, from a famous actress to CivilWar soldiers. You won’t look at thishistoric corner of Alexandria thesame again. Call 703-746-4242. Visitwww.shop.alexandriava.gov/events.aspx

Concert: The Spheres. 7:30 p.m. AtRachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall,NVCC Campus, 4915 E. CampusDrive, Alexandria. The AlexandriaChoral Society Celebrates its 50-yearanniversary. Featuring composersGabriel Fauré (Requiem), Ola Gjeilo(Sunrise Mass), and Alexandria’sJonathan Kolm (Pieces of Night), allset for choir and strings. Brian J.Isaac is the Artistic Director of theAlexandria Choral Society(Alexandria), the WilliamsburgChoral Guild (Williamsburg, VA), andthe Founder / Artistic Director ofChurch Circle Singers (Annapolis,MD).www.alexandriachoralsociety.org.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/OCT. 19-20Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family

Days. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At GeorgeWashington’s Mount Vernon, 3200Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.,Mount Vernon. Celebrate the autumnseason with 18th-century activitiesfor the whole family at MountVernon. Take a horse-drawn wagonride and play colonial games on thebowling green before heading to thePioneer Farm to observe 18th-century demonstrations and greetGeneral Washington. Find your waythrough a straw bale maze and listento the Itinerant Band play colonialtunes. Sightseeing cruises are offeredat half the regular price. Admission:Included in general admission ($20adults; $12 youth). Visit the website:www.mountvernon.org.

SUNDAY/OCT. 20Hurricane Dorian Relief Concert. 4

p.m. At Immanuel Chapel at VirginiaTheological Seminary, 3737Seminary Road, Alexandria. Benefitconcert to raise money for HurricaneDorian relief efforts in the Bahamas.There are no tickets for this concert.A free-will offering will be receivedand people give whatever they can.There will be a post-concertreception in the seminary’s WelcomeCenter.

TUESDAY/OCT. 22Twilight & Tipple Tours. 6-9 p.m. at

Pope-Leighey House, 9000 RichmondHighway. Experience Frank LloydWright’s Pope-Leighey House bytwilight. This tour series is a rarechance to see one of Wright’s housesilluminated against a night sky. Graba drink, included in the price of thetour ticket, and walk through thehouse on a leisurely, open housestyle tour with plenty of time to takestunning photos. $35. Visitwww.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/ formore.


Re-imagining the High SchoolExperience in Fairfax County

Opinion

From Page 7

color and other services, catering, dog grooming, andrecharging of refrigerator/freezer compressors. Thehealth science academies hold health fairs for fami-lies annually. I encourage community members tosupport these programs and services.

I encourage families to begin conversations aboutthe opportunities available to FCPS students in the

academies, career certification programs and work-place learning experiences. As your representatives,Supervisor Storck and I are committed to bringingmore of these opportunities to the students of MountVernon. We encourage businesses to partner withFCPS in providing these experiences to our studentsso that they can gain the skills necessary to ensurecontinued economic growth and prosperity for theCounty and region.

Capstone to Four-Years ofPolice Reformdent is bad, missing video data under theDepartment’s control is worse.

As to the revised vehicular pursuit and stoppingpolicies, it will be important for the FCPD to providea detailed report to the Board and the public in early2020 as to the effects of the revised policies, detailsof 2019 pursuits and vehicle stops, and whether anyfurther changes are needed. It will also be impor-tant for the Board to monitor and take any appropri-ate action with respect to the racial disparity studyunderway by the Independent Police Auditor.

On this fourth anniversary of the Ad Hoc Commis-sion Report, Fairfax County and its Police Depart-ment have achieved many reforms of which to be

proud. The temptation will be to declare the missionaccomplished. This would be a mistake. The newBoard of Supervisors come January must providevigilant monitoring through performance expecta-tions and progress reports. Not because enough hasnot been accomplished, though more improvementsare needed, but because that’s the norm for best-in-class police departments.

Niedzielski-Eichner and Steel were chair and vice-chair of the Ad Hoc Commission’s Use of Force Sub-committee and spent many hours with a small,loosely configured group of former Commissionmembers dedicated to implementing Commissionrecommendations, working with FCPD leadership.Steel oversaw as chair the formation of the CivilianReview Panel.

From Page 7

Staying Current with Fairfax Water

of the former. Fairfax Water issues revenue bonds topay for the water system and maintains a AAA bondrating from all three rating agencies.

Fairfax Water now serves over 2 million NorthernVirginia residents, which accounts for 1 out of every4 Virginians served by public water. Fairfax Watermaintains the two largest water treatment facilitiesin the Commonwealth, which produce over 170 mil-lion gallons of water per day.

You will be very happy to know that compared withother companies in the water industry, Fairfax Wa-

ter is more affordable, with service costing 0.22% ofreal median household income. The industry medianis 0.74% of real median household income. On aver-age, Fairfax Water also has some of the lowest basicwater service charges of any water service in the re-gion, lower than DC, Prince William, Manassas Park,Leesburg, Loudoun, and Arlington, among others.

We should recognize that Fairfax Water is a re-spected industry leader that upholds their custom-ers’ trust by providing water of exceptional qualityand reliability, at a reasonable price, while support-ing the high quality of life and economic vitality ofour region.

From Page 7


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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Let me get this out of my system because until I do, I won’t be able to write about anything else. Not to worry. This is not a cancer column. I am

every eight weeks after my bi-monthly CT scan tells the tale of the tape.

No, this column is about my lack of under-standing and business acumen which twice has led me down the garden path only to be asked to leave before I got to smell any of the pretty

dated to approximately 1750, according to a plaque the previous owner hung to the right of

now older house.

will make this short and not particularly sweet. Without getting into the lead paint, bathrooms, roof, door and window issues, it always per-plexed me that if I could afford to pay $1800 per month at 6.75% interest, I could probably afford to pay $1400 per month at 3.75% interest. However, and this is where my lack of common banking sense manifests itself; my presumptive inability to pay $400 less per month was prob-lematic for the lenders to be. And an over 800 credit rating did nothing to dissuade the lender’s

exhibited over the previous 30-plus years was irrelevant borrowing forward.

As concerns the current issue: the reverse

its approval might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not if you’re in my shoes, even occasionally. I can understand the need for the installation of safety rails on the left and right side of the stair-case going down to the basement. And grudging-ly, I can understand the need for the structural

sitting atop the cracked concrete slab which

the house from falling forward. But I can’t under-stand why the old stable matters so much to the appraiser/underwriter.

It is not used or functional in any way other than as a repository for junk and as a landing spot/vantage point for the Turkey Vultures who nest there. This building is approximately 50 yards from our house and 10 to 15 yards from our neighbor’s house. If it fell, like our barn did years ago, it would land on part of our two acres. Given its age, likely over 100 years, it was not, nor has it ever been covered by our home owner’s insurance. “Too old,” they said. The structural engineer who submitted the report about our house did a-walk-around the stable with me and made note of its peculiar structural

rocks. However, in response to my “What do I do?” question; his answer: “We don’t certify the structural integrity of 100 year-old buildings.” Now I’m being told by my reverse-mortgage

the stable or else the deal is likely dead. Dead over an out-building that nobody uses and was likely built before two century’s turned?

The whole point of this application was to spend nothing and get something. It was not to spend something and get nothing. This stable, either structurally sound or not provides me

into it. Nor are we selling the property. We’re here for the duration. The stable, if it matters at

-nancial remains, and since we have no children, those ‘remains’ are not really our concern. Yet according to the most recent email I received, either I make it my concern or stew in my own juices and slowly wither away.

When I began this process, I had hoped there would be an end in sight. I didn’t realize it would be my own.

Apparently, Not a Stable Genius From Page 4

News Briefs

Anyone with information about this crashis asked to contact our Crash Reconstruc-tion Unit at 703-280-0543. Tips can alsobe submitted anonymously through CrimeSolvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tipto 847411. Anonymous tipsters are eligiblefor cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollarsif their information leads to an arrest.

Civil War Shelters;Can you tell a Sibley tent from a dog tent?

How did Civil War soldiers stay warm incamp? Find out the answers to these ques-tions and more when Fort Ward Museumpresents the living history program CivilWar Shelter, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Theprogram will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,and is free. The event is weather dependent.

This interpretive program will explore avariety of tents and shelter for Civil Warsoldiers. Reproductions of some major typesof period tents will be set up and explainedby Union Army interpreters, and Fort Ward’sfurnished Officers’ Hut, a typical militarystructure in the Defenses of Washington,will be open to the public. A variety of camplife accessories, furnishings, and heatingmethods for military accommodations willalso be displayed and discussed.

Fort Ward is the best preserved of theUnion forts that comprised the Civil WarDefenses of Washington. The Museum fea-tures exhibits, programs and special eventsthroughout the year. Fort Ward is locatedat 4301 West Braddock Road in the westend of the City of Alexandria. For more in-formation, please contact Fort Ward Mu-seum at 703.746.4848.

Submit civic/community announcements atConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDAssistance League of Northern Virginia, a

volunteer nonprofit, invites community membersto join the organization to participate in itsReading Express program. Volunteers provideone-on-one tutoring to first grade studentsduring the school year. To learn more contactVP Membership Mary Gronlund [email protected] or Program Coordinator LynnBarron at [email protected].

United Community (formerly UCM), with mainoffice located at 7511 Fordson Road,Alexandria, seeks volunteers for Food Pantryassistance, Early Learning Center teacher aides,basic needs counselors, youth tutors andmentors, office administration/data entry, andcommunity outreach. Flexible hours andschedules. Opportunities for all ages to serve,including community service hours. More info atucmagency.org/volunteer-opportunities oremail [email protected].

Operation Paws for Homes, a Virginia based501(c)(3) organization seeks volunteers,especially to foster dogs. Seewww.ophrescue.org for information and allvolunteer opportunities.

RSVP, a volunteer network for seniors seekingservice opportunities in and around FairfaxCounty, Arlington County and the City ofAlexandria, offers a wide array of opportunitiesfor volunteers 55 and older. RSVP volunteersenjoy flexible schedules, free accident andliability insurance while serving, optionalmileage and meal reimbursement and areinvited to volunteer group projects and socialgatherings. To sign up for an upcomingorientation, email Carly Hubicki [email protected] or call RSVP at703-403- 5360. To learn more about RSVP, visitwww.rsvpnova.org.

Bulletin Board


ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA

FOR YOUR TOYOTA

WELCOME TO ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA’SPERSONALIZED CAR CARE EXPERIENCE

SPECIAL SAVINGS

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