neil simon’s ‘proposals’ presented in...

Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ January 23-29, 2013 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.com

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Viennaand OaktonViennaand Oakton

Neil Simon’s ‘Proposals’Presented in Vienna

News, Page 5

Flint Hill SchoolHonors War HeroNews, Page 3

A Family Made WholeThe County Line, Page 4


News, Page 5

2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ January 23-29, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ January 23-29, 2013 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

By Donna Manz

The Connection

Col. Alan Ferguson-Warren’s English stu-dents at Flint Hill School recognizedtheir teacher’s immensely huge presence,distinguished bearing and larger-than-

life personality. To many, he was the best teacherthey ever had. To others, he was “Flint Hill’s Mr.Chips.”

His students knew that Col. Warren had been aRoyal Marine commando during World War II, andthat he had become a Japanese prisoner of war fol-lowing the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was knownto have been a part of the building of the bridge onthe river Kwai. During class, he occasionally incor-porated wartime stories to elucidate a point, fromvocabulary to duty and courage.

His students “idolized” him, said Jerry Jasper, presi-dent of Flint Hill School’s newly-founded Ferguson-Warren Society, dedicated to preserving the legacyof Col. Alan George Ferguson-Warren.

“We loved the twinkle in his eye,” Jasper said. “Hewas stern, very British in bearing, but had a twinklein his eye.”

What his students did now know, however, is thatCol. Ferguson-Warren was a war hero who savedthousands of lives in Europe and Asia, that he servedas head of operations for Britain’s Special OperationExecutive (SOE) in Singapore, that he selflessly ledBritish troops in Sumatra, risking his own life. Hisown regiment awarded him a ceremonial dagger in1947 in recognition of his heroics and commitment.

“When you were around Colonel Warren, you gotthe feeling that you were in the presence of an im-mense personality and huge moral authority,” saidJasper, who studied under Warren from 1957 to1961. “We all knew there was something extraordi-nary about this man.”

FERGUSON-WARREN RETIRED from the RoyalMarines in 1950 after a 32-year career, and movedto the United States, joining the faculty of a newprivate school in Oakton, Flint Hill. He headed FlintHill’s English department from 1954 to 1974, whenhe retired for health reasons. Throughout his tenureat Flint Hill, Ferguson-Warren was a beloved teacher,

a role model and motivator. But most of all, his formerstudents say, he loved them.

“He was, next to my father, the most influentialperson in my life,” said Ferguson-Warren Societyboard member and curator Judith Shoemaker, aFerguson-Warren student in the late 1960s and early1970s.

Upon retiring from Flint Hill, Warren returned toEngland and died there on Christmas Day, 1975.

After Ferguson-Warren left the school, studentscommissioned a stone and bronze garden memorialto him at the school. The inscription on the monu-ment reads, “Brave and compassionate soldier, dedi-cated and luminary teacher.”

Col. Alan George Ferguson-Warren was honoredby Flint Hill School on the school’s Founders Day onJan. 18. The dagger that Ferguson-Warren carried toWashington and home again to England was pre-sented to Flint Hill in the kind of arc that intrigueauthors write about.

As head of operations for Britain’s Special Opera-tion Executive (SOE) in Singapore, he created anescape route for troops fleeing Singapore, savingthousands of soldiers, sailors, and civilians from cap-ture by Japanese forces in 1942.

Later on, in Padang, Sumatra, with the JapaneseImperial Army closing in on him, Ferguson-Warrengave his seat, the remaining one, on an SOE escapeboat to a young artillery captain, Geoffrey Rowley-Conwy.

Rowley-Conwy escaped to Ceylon, and after thewar became titled as Lord Langford of Bodrhyddan,a Welsh baron.

In 1974, when Ferguson-Warren returned to En-gland, Lord Langford invited Ferguson-Warren, thengravely ill, to visit him in Wales. The two former RoyalMarines developed a close friendship, and afterFerguson-Warren’s death, Lord Langford was be-queathed the commando dagger given to Ferguson-Warren by his regiment, 42 Commando, in 1947.

In summer of 2012, the Ferguson-Warren Societycontacted Warren biographer Ian Skidmore.

SKIDMORE EXPRESSED interest in learning moreabout the colonel. Skidmore contacted Langford, 101years old in February. Upon hearing of Flint HillSchool’s interest in Colonel Ferguson-Warren, LordLangford sent the 42 Commando presentation dag-ger to Flint Hill in Colonel Warren’s memory.

Present at the dagger presentation ceremony werestudents who flew in for the occasion and a repre-sentative of the British Embassy, Royal Marine Ma-jor Simon Tucker of Vienna.

Vienna/Oakton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

Flint Hill Honors War HeroRegimental dagger ofCol. Alan Ferguson-Warrenpresented to school.

Skip Coston, chairman,Flint Hill School Board ofTrustees; Society CuratorJudith Shoemaker; FlintHill School HeadmasterJohn Thomas; British RoyalMarine Major SimonTucker, representing BritishEmbassy and president ofthe Ferguson-Warren Soci-ety; and Jerry Jasper,presenting Colonel AlanFerguson-Warren’s regi-mental dagger to Flint HillSchool on Friday, Jan. 18.

Photo by

Donna Manz/

The Connection

Andrea Worker

The Connection

With the expansion ofTysons Cornerfirmly underway,

Fairfax County Department ofTransportation (FCDOT) is gettingahead of the commuting curve withthe launch of its new Express Con-nector bus service utilizing the re-cently opened 495 Express Lanesto carry commuters from Burke toTysons Corner. The service is thefirst in the county to use the ex-press lanes, and the first publictransportation offered between thetwo locations.

There were local officials,public and press on hand at theribbon-cutting ceremony andinaugural bus ride on Saturdaymorning, Jan. 12, at the BurkeCentre VRE station, where theservice will originate week-daymornings. Fairfax County Boardof Supervisors ChairmanSharon Bulova handled the scis-sors, assisted by SupervisorsJohn Cook (R- Braddock) andPat Herrity (R- Springfield),FCDOT Director Tom Biesiadnyand VRE CEO Doug Allen.

“This is exciting stuff,” saidBulova. “It’s a marriage betweenthe VRE (Virginia Railway Ex-press) and our Fairfax Connectorsystem, working with VDOT andthe Express Lanes. People have topay tolls to use those lanes,”Bulova reminded. “It’s a tremen-dous opportunity for commuters,shoppers and business people.”

“In survey after survey, thenumber one reason people saythey take public transportationis for a time efficient commute,”said Herrity. “This route pro-

vides just that.” Cook added,“Giving people more choicesultimately makes everyone’s liv-ing experience here in centralFairfax County better.”

After the speeches and theacknowledgements of the effortsbehind the scenes, it was timeto get on board the brand newbus and experience the trip. Ob-viously, traffic patterns on Sat-urday morning differ from theweekday commute. FCDOT Di-rector Biesiadny says the aver-age trip should normally runabout 40 minutes one way.There are four different routes.Routes G and J are basically mir-ror images of each other, cover-ing the major employers in theTysons area and giving commut-ers a choice of directions de-pending on where they want todisembark. Route F is the long-est, covering the largest portionof area. “M route is the one foryou if you are heading to Tysonsfor the shopping,” said ChristinWegener, manager of OperationsPlanning and Customer Servicewith Fairfax Connector.

As an introduction to the com-muting public, FCDOT is offeringthe service for free for the first twoweeks. Starting Jan. 26, a one-wayfare will cost $3.65 with a SmarTripcard, or $4 cash. Additional routesare scheduled to begin service toTysons in March from the LortonVRE station and from the newSaratoga Park and Ride.

Express Buses FromBurke to TysonsFairfax County launches ExpressConnector Bus Service.

Cutting the ribbon on the new Express ConnectorService, from left, Christin Wegener, planning opera-tions manager, Fairfax Connector, County BoardChair Sharon Bulova, Supervisors John Cook (R-Braddock) and Pat Herrity (R- Springfield), VRE CEODoug Allen, FCDOT Director Tom Biesadny.

THE SCHEDULE❖ Mornings departing from Burke

VRE station, 10399 PremierCourt, 6:30 to 9 a.m.

❖ Midday from Tysons to Burke VREstation, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

For more information, go towww.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/expresslanes.

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The County Line

By Victoria Ross

The Connection

The Granvilles look like

a made-for-TV family.On a bright Octoberafternoon, Chris, a com-

puter engineer, is teasing his teenageson Kenny about what kind of pet toadopt, while Tiffany sits on a sofa, cra-dling Elijah, Kenny’s baby brother, whohas just woken up from an afternoonnap.

“Fish? No way,” Kenny, 15, says.“They just go ‘round and ‘round in abowl.”

Kenny is lobbying hard for a dogor—at the very least—a guinea pig orhamster.

“What I’m saying is you start withthe fish, okay, and then you move up to guinea pigor something else,” Chris says.

“Can you tell we’ve been talking about this for justa little while?” Tiffany asks a visitor, rolling her eyesin mock exasperation.

It’s quickly apparent the Granvilles are a close-knitfamily who like spending time together.

What is not so apparent is how this family came tobe, and why an ordinary Sunday afternoon laughingwith two children is a minor miracle for theGranvilles.

Chris and Tiffany, both in their 30s, were marriedin New York City on Christmas Eve, 2007. One ofthree children, Chris was raised in Queens. Both werevery close to their parents and grandparents, whomthey credit for inspiring their Christian faith.

IN FEBRUARY 2008, the couple moved to Reston,where they both had demanding careers as computerengineers. They also found out that same month thatTiffany was pregnant.

“We were like ‘wow.’ We just got married, and nowwe’re going to have baby. We were living the dream,”Chris said.

Jamison Granville was born on Oct. 23, 2008. Hewas a healthy 8.6 pound baby, and the light of hisparent’s life. When Chris’s mother was diagnosedwith aggressive kidney cancer that spring, Jamisonkept a smile on his grandmother’s face as she wentthrough grueling chemotherapy sessions.

“He was my mother’s first grandchild. She andJamison were tied at the hip,” Chris said.

When Chris’s mother died on July 4, 2009, bothChris and Tiffany were devastated by the loss, butthey took comfort in Jamison’s smile, their large net-work of friends and family and their faith.

Like many working parents, the Granvilles hadcarefully researched and selected a day care centerfor their child. It wasn’t unusual to get a call fromstaff at the center if Jamison was sick, or if otherminor issues cropped up.

But on Sept. 16, 2009, Tiffany received a call fromthe center’s director. She said she sensed somethingwas wrong immediately.

“I got a phone call about 3 p.m. The director saidshe needed to meet us at Reston hospital. Shewouldn’t give me any other information,” Tiffanyrecalled, pausing. “Jamison was 10 months and 24days old…”

Chris said he got a message from a detective. “Hesaid to call this doctor, and the doctor said you haveto stop whatever you’re doing and get here,” Chrissaid. “I didn’t know what was happening.”

“I can’t tell you how I got from my desk on thesixth floor to my car,” Tiffany said. “When I got there,doctors were working on him, but I could tell hewasn’t there anymore. . . . You feel like you’re in amovie, or a dream. You get through it, but you’re notthere.”

Tiffany said the pain of losing Jamison was almostunbearable, and even her strong faith in God couldnot keep her from waking up some mornings andthinking there was nothing left to live for. “I have tobe honest; there were days I did not want to be here.”

But it was the couple’s strong faith in God keptthat kept them moving forward.

“We became more involved in our church, but atthat point, it’s just a day-by-day existence,” Chris said.Tiffany said she drew strength from her grandmother,who had also lost her firstborn son. Her grandmotherwent on give birth to eight children, and adoptedtwo more.

“I pulled from her strength. I thought to myself,this woman from Louisiana, with an eighth-gradeeducation, through all this adversity, she was able toovercome it in a time when things were horrible forblack folks,” Tiffany said. “I remember what a lovingand patient person she was . . . I started to thinkabout everybody I had here . . . I thought we all haveto leave one day, so you have to make a positive im-pact while you’re here. We did not want what hap-pened to us to define us.”

THE COUPLE, who had always talked about adopt-ing a child, had maintained friendships with othercouples who were foster parents, and they decided

By Victoria Ross

The Connection

Nationwide, more than463,000 children livein foster care. In

many states, including Virginia,the number of foster youth hastripled in the last 25 years. Asof Sept. 30, 2011, nearly 5,000youth were in foster care in Vir-ginia, according to the Admin-istration for Children and Fami-lies (ACF), a division of the U.S.Health and Human Services De-partment. Physical abuse is themost common reason childrenenter foster care, but it’s not theonly reason. Often there’s emo-tional abuse, sexual abuse andthe parent or caretaker’s inabil-ity to provide a safe environ-ment due to substance abuse.The prospects for youth whoage-out (or “emancipate”) fromfoster care are bleak, accordingto the ACF. More than half ofthe children who age-out of fos-ter care end up “couch-surfing,”and essentially homeless. In a2009 ACF report:

❖ Less than 3 percent go tocollege;

❖ 51 percent are unem-ployed;

❖ Emancipated females arefour times more likely to receivepublic assistance than the gen-eral population;

❖ In any given year, fosterchildren compromise less than0.3 percent of the state’s popu-lation, and yet 40 percent ofpersons living in homeless shel-ters are former foster children.A similarly disproportionate

percentage of the nation’sprison population comprisesformer foster youth.

In 2005, Fairfax Countylaunched a program calledFairfaxFamilies4Kids, which ac-tively seeks mentors to connectwith older children in fostercare, those most at-risk forhomelessness. Beverly Howard,the program’s coordinator,agreed to a Q&A interview. Tofind out more about the FairfaxFamilies4Kids program or be-coming a volunteer or mentor,contact Beverly Howard, Ph.D.,coordinator of the FairfaxFamilies4Kids Program at 703-324-7518.

Q: Tell us a little bitabout the background ofthe program? What nichedoes it fill?A: Fairfax Families4Kids is amentoring program, nowhoused out of the FairfaxCounty Department of Neigh-borhood and Community Ser-vices, which focuses on support-ing older youth in foster care(or those youth who are at riskof re-entering foster care). Theprogram’s goal is for the youthin foster care to form and main-tain healthy, positive and long-term relationships with caringadults and peers while learningessential life, leisure and socialskills. It works to accomplishthis through group mentoringevents and individualmentoring relationships. Thetwice-monthly groupmentoring events are outings inthe community where theyouth, mentors, volunteers, andprospective adoptive familiescome together in a safe, super

See Joys, Page 10

See Power, Page 10

Fairfax Families4KidsFostering bondswith children.

Beverly Howard

A Family Made WholeAfter a tragic loss,Reston couplecreates a familythrough adoption.

A Granville family portrait, taken in February, 2012.(From left) Kenny; Tiffany holding baby brotherElijah; Chris Granville.

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The American Cancer Society RelayFor Life® is seeking volunteers inVienna—walkers, cancer survivors,caregivers, community leaders, anyonewanting to make a difference—to orga-nize and recruit fundraising teams,garner community support, coordinatelogistics, seek refreshments and prizes,plan entertainment and lend a hand to

ensure the success of the 2013 event.The first volunteer meeting will be

held on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. atWhole Foods Vienna, 143 Maple AvenueEast, Vienna.

The meeting will kick off the plan-ning process for the Vienna’s Relay ForLife event, which supports the Ameri-can Cancer Society’s mission of saving

lives by helping people stay well, byhelping people get well, by findingcures and by fighting back against thedisease.

If you would like to join the Relay ForLife in Vienna as a volunteer or teamparticipant, call the American CancerSociety at 703-937-1919 or visitwww.RelayForLife.org/ViennaVA.

Volunteers Needed for Relay For Life in Vienna

News

By Donna Manz

The Connection

The Vienna Theatre Company lives inVienna. At home in the Vienna Commu-nity Center, the community theatredraws local thespians and artistic and

technical crew. On Jan. 25, the production companydebuts a light-hearted glimpse into multi-genera-tional dynamics, “Proposals,” by star playwright NeilSimon.

“I think a good story well-told is a good eveningspent,” said Director Suzanne Maloney, whose fatherfounded the Vienna Theatre Company. “And this is agood story, my favorite kind of story, families work-ing through complicated relationships.”

Maloney’s father, Norman Chaudet, taught dramaat James Madison High School and Maloney herselfgraduated from George C. Marshall High School. Shesays she “grew up” backstage. Her first job was whileshe was in sixth grade, dressing Guinnevere forCamelot. “I still think theatre is magic,” said Maloney.

Like Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues,“Proposals” is a slice of nostalgia.

ON A SUMMER DAY in 1953, the Hines familygathers at its summer home in the Poconos. Father,daughter and housekeeper face a past that intrudeson their futures with apprehension, trepidation, anda bit of confusion. With young love and old loveweaving through the story line, the family’s house-keeper narrates their predicaments.

Seven of the “Proposals” cast and crew live inVienna, including Maloney, and, while their back-grounds differ, their affection for theatre is a com-mon thread.

Shannon Madden moved back to Vienna afterworking in film in Los Angeles. Vienna CommunityTheatre provides her with an outlet to continue act-ing. Her character, a lead, is someone that Maddensays she learns more about each day. “I figure outthings in my character I can relate to.”

Eric Storck owns a landscape business but plays

and theatre, he said, have always been a part of hislife. It’s his creative outlet. A father of children inVienna-Oakton schools, Storck is currently directinga kids’ show at Oakton Elementary.

Rachel Comer, who, along with her husband Kevin,are working on “Proposals,” sees a connection be-tween theatre and her field, engineering. “Theatrebackgrounds make better engineers because theatrehelps them to think outside the box,” Comer said.Kevin Comer came along with Rachel the day shevolunteered to work with VTC but was asked to readlines. He did and is now a cast member, while work-ing as an engineer and on his Ph.D.

Some VTC participants, such as Tom Epps, majoredin theatre but have gone on to other professionalcareers. Tom Epps, engaged in live theatre for about50 years is one.

A business analyst by day, Epps continues to stayinvolved with live theatre because, to Epps, theatreis about “making magic. There’s a lot of problem-solving in it, too,” said Epps.

Kimberly Crago—like Madden—has an L.A. back-ground, with both an undergraduate and master’sdegree in theatre. It was only last summer she dis-covered the Vienna Theatre Company. Now, she vol-unteers with them in different capacities. With “Pro-posals,” Crago is working the light board. Her dreamis to publish a play. “I would encourage kids to pur-sue theatre, but to have other options, too.”

The Vienna Theatre Company is sponsored by theTown of Vienna Department of Parks and Recreation.The company presents three shows each year in theauditorium of the Vienna Community Center.

TICKETS for the Vienna Theatre Company’s produc-tion of “Proposals” are on sale at the Vienna Com-munity Center, 120 Cherry Street SE. Tickets are $13general admission and $11 for students and seniorcitizens over the age of 65. Performances are sched-uled for Jan. 25, 26 and Feb. 1, 2, 8, and 9 at 8 p.m.and on Feb. 3 and 10, at 2 p.m. For more informa-tion, call 703-255-6360 or visit http://www.viennava.gov/.

Vienna Theatre Company presents a light-heartedglimpse into family relationships.


Cast and crew work togetherto build the set for the ViennaTheatre Company’s winterproduct of “Proposals,”opening at the Vienna Com-munity Center on Friday, Jan.25. Director SuzanneMaloney is on right; herfather Norman Chaudetfounded the Vienna TheatreCompany in 1974.

Photo by Harold Bonacquist


Opinion

Virginia has an opportunity to expandMedicaid in a way that could extendhealth coverage to more than400,000 residents who currently

have no health insurance while the Federal gov-ernment picks up the tab; Virginia would pay10 percent of the additional cost after 2020.

The Medicaid expansion would givemedical insurance to 25,000-30,000Fairfax County residents, where morethan 132,000 have none.

More than 12 percent of the slightly morethan 1 million people who live in the wealthi-est county in the nation are without healthinsurance. Household income in Fairfax Countyaverages more than $122,000 a year.

In Arlington, 17 percent of adults under age65 lack health insurance.

Under the health care reform act, many ofVirginia’s uninsured residents could be covered

by an expansion of Medicaid to cover residentswho earn up to 133 percent of the poverty line,and that expansion would be paid for almostentirely by federal funds. But while the reformact itself was upheld by the U.S. SupremeCourt, the court also opened a door for statesto opt out of the expansion of Medicaid.

Virginia’s current eligibility requirements forMedicaid are so strict that although it is the11th largest state in terms of population and7th in per capita personal income, Virginiaranked 43rd in Medicaid enrollment as a pro-portion of the state’s population and 47th inper capita Medicaid spending, according to a

2013 Fairfax County report.The report says that new coverage

would extend to individuals earningless than $15,302 per year or families

earning less than $31,155 per year, low incomechildren who lose Medicaid when they turn 19,and adults with disabilities not currently eli-gible.

It isn’t as if there were no health care costsfor these currently uncovered residents. Rightnow, they access health care when they are verysick by going to an emergency room, wherethe hospital spreads the cost of care around.

But this is inefficient, expensive and unhealthy.Expanding Medicaid coverage would allow farless expensive preventative care and lead tobetter health outcomes.

A new analysis by the Commonwealth Insti-tute shows that expanding Medicaid to 133percent of the poverty level would generatestate general fund savings and new revenuesthat would total $2.08 billion and more thanoffset the state’s share of expansion costs overthe next eight years, plus provide significantnumbers of new jobs and economic growth.Expanding health care will add tens of thou-sands of new jobs. People with access to pre-ventative and early health care use fewer sickdays and are more productive on the job as well.

From a practical perspective, declining fed-eral money to provide healthcare to uninsuredVirginians makes no more sense than declin-ing federal funds for transportation becauseyou don’t like the feds telling you to wear yourseatbelt.

From a human perspective, passing up thechance to offer health coverage to 400,000Virginians is inconceivable.

— Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

Expanding Medicaid Good for VirginiaReal health coverage foran additional 400,000people is in reach.

Editorial

Getting Back toBusinessTo the Editor:

Virginia is no longer “the beststate [in which] to do business.”We lost that coveted designationwhen the state leadership madenational headlines and punch linesby focusing on their social agendainstead of our dwindling transpor-tation resources. If we continue toneglect the problem, our transpor-tation construction money, includ-ing our federal matching funds,will be depleted in 2017.

Governor McDonnell has calledfor new revenue. The centerpieceof his transportation plan is a pro-posal to eliminate the gas tax andreplace it with additional sales tax.The plan diverts general fund rev-enue that supports education, pub-lic health and public safety totransportation, and raises vehiclefees, especially on alternative fuelvehicles. The plan also assumestax revenue for transportationfrom a bill that has not yet beenintroduced in Congress, let alonepassed. This ephemeral revenuesource alone counts for more thanone third of the funds in thegovernor’s plan.

We have been talking abouttransportation funding shortfallsin Virginia for a generation, andthe governor made the issue a pri-ority in his 2009 campaign. Hisplan has been called “bold” by itschampions. But bold is not thesame as wise. If the governor gotevery cent of funds in his wish list,

in five years we would have lessthan half the funds we need fortransportation funding today.

Legislators, including membersof the governor’s own Caucus haveoffered competing plans or evendownright criticism, including theno-tax disciples of GroverNorquist. Nine northern Virginialegislators—including local del-egate Barbara Comstock—havetaken the “No Tax Pledge.” Howdo they reconcile their pledge withour need for more transportationmoney and congestion relief?

Meanwhile, legislators in thecurrent session are calling formore graduates from our collegesand universities, smaller class sizesfor K-12 students, armed guardsin schools, and improved mentalhealth support and awareness. Aswe add these responsibilities toour general fund requirements,where will we siphon off funds fortransportation?

Despite calls for reducing depen-dency on foreign oil the governorproposes a $100 annual fee for ve-hicles that are cleaner and use lessfuel. Why punish good practices?

Arguments against the propos-als to eliminate the gas tax andreplace it with a sales tax havebeen aired on these editorial pages(“Transportation Money”, January16-22). But the essential questionremains: Why should we forego a“user fee” gas tax, shared broadlybeyond Virginia, and depend pri-marily instead on a tax that fallssquarely on Virginia citizens?

State leaders recently an-nounced that the federal and state

transportation construction rev-enue is forecast to be down by over$700 million over the next fiveyears. We need new revenue fortransportation that we can counton—approximately $1 billion an-nually statewide—and we need toknow that funding our infrastruc-ture does not come at the expenseof our education system, the keyto our future workforce and con-tinued prosperity.

Now that the governor has re-newed the call for transportationfunding, a good place to seek com-mon ground might be the 2007transportation legislation thatpassed both houses of the legisla-ture. With some adjustments wemight get something for everyone,including revenue that stays whereit is generated! The “No Tax”crowd might object, but theirpledge is their priority instead ofour prosperity.

Our northern Virginia citizensand business leaders want to earnback our “best state to do business”label. We know what it means toour communities. We know that ifwe are short-changing our owntransportation and educationneeds, we are neither pro-businessnor pro-jobs. Working together, wecan solve transportation fundingproblems that have not been suc-cessfully resolved in a generation,but we need dedicated, sustain-able revenue, and we need it soon.

Achieving that would be bold!

Margaret G. VanderhyeFormer State Delegate

McLean

Letters to the Editor

OvercrowdedClassesTo the Editor:

Our world-class schools are thenumber one reason businesses andfamilies come to Fairfax County.But people will not move hereonce they see many of our over-crowded classes.

We now have the distinction ofhaving among the largest classsizes in the area and Virginia statelaw does almost nothing to pro-tect our children. Current studentto teacher ratios are calculated atthe county level and afford admin-istrators way too much leveragewhere they can place as many kidsas they want in a classroom, justas long as divisionwide, they donot exceed the state ratios.

Given that Virginia already hasthe highest caps in the country, weare headed down a very slipperyslope. How are children expectedto learn and teachers to teachwhen there are as many as 37 little8-year-olds stuffed into a crowdedclassroom, which we see atWolftrap Elementary School?

Parents from Wolftrap and otherschools met with Del. BarbaraComstock (R-34) this past week-end to discuss this very issue. Themeeting room was packed withparents, educators, taxpayers,even people without children—itwas standing room-only—clearlyindicating that class size is a hugeproblem in our area.

See Letters, Page 7

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Barbara has been listening to herconstituents. She proposed a billto reduce average class sizes, byrequiring the state’s class size ra-tios to be applied to each school,instead of allowing excessivelylarge classes in some schools to bebalanced by much smaller classesin others.

We need to support Barbara’snew bill (HB1556) so thatcrowded classrooms do not erodeFairfax County’s growth and eco-nomic base and to also ensure thatour school system remains the bestin the country.

Kim FarrellMother of two FCPS students

Vienna

From Page 6

Letters

WriteThe Connection welcomes viewson any public issue. The deadline

for all material is noon Friday.Send to:

Letters to the EditorThe Connection1606 King St.

Alexandria VA 22314Call: 703-917-6444.

By e-mail:[email protected]

8 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ January 23-29, 2013 Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ January 23-29, 2013 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VIENNA

450 ORCHARD STREET, NWVIENNA, VA 22180

[email protected]

www.fbcv.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP, 7:45 AM & 11:00 AMCHURCH SCHOOL 9:30AM-10:30AMMIDWEEK SERVICES, WED. 7:00 PM

Visit These Houses of WorshipTo Highlight Your Faith Community, call Karen at 703-917-6468

Assembly of GodVienna Assembly of God ... 703-938-7736

Cristo Es Mi Refugio...703-675-0144

Baha’iBaha’i Faith for Northern Virginia ...

703-821-3345

BaptistGlobal Mission Church ... 703-757-0877Peace Baptist Church ... 703-560-8462

Bethel Primitive Baptist Church... 703-757-8134

Cartersville Baptist Church ... 703-255-7075Fellowship Baptist Church ... 703-385-8516

First Baptist Church ... 703-938-8525The Light Mission Church ... 703-757-0877

Vienna Baptist Church ... 703-281-4400New Union Baptist Church... 703-281-2556

BuddhistVajrayogini Buddhist Center... 202-331-2122

Church of the BrethernOakton Church of the Brethern

... 703-281-4411

CatholicOur Lady of Good Counsel ... 703-938-2828

St. Athanasius Catholic Church ... 703-759-4555St. Mark’s Catholic Church ... 703-281-9100

CharismaticChristian Assembly ... 703-698-9777

Church of ChristBerea Church of Christ ... 703-893-7040

Disciples of ChristAntioch Christian Church ... 703-938-6753

EpiscopalChurch of the Holy Comforter ... 703-938-6521

Church of the Holy Cross ... 703-698-6991St. Francis Episcopal ... 703-759-2082

Jehovah’s WitnessJehovah’s Witnesses ... 703-759-1579

LutheranEmmanuel Lutheran Church...703-938-2119

Christ The King Lutheran Church...703-759-6068St. Athanasius Lutheran Church... 703-455-4003

MethodistAndrew Chapel United Methodist ... 703-759-3509

Church of the Good Shepherd ... 703-281-3987The Vine Methodist Church ... 703-573-5336Ephiphany United Methodist ... 703-938-3494Great Falls United Methodist... 703-759-3705

Oakton United Methodist ... 703-938-1233Vale United Methodist ... 703-620-2594

Smith Chapel United Methodist ... 571-434-9680Wesley United Methodist ... 703-938-8700

Non-DenominationalCelebration Center for Spiritual Living

... 703-560-2030Christian Assembly Church ... 703-698-9777

PresbyterianGrace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...

703-560-6336Korean Central Presbyterian ... 703-698-5577

Vienna Presbyterian ... 703-938-9050

QuakerLangley Hills Friends...703-442-8394

Seventh-Day AdventistNorthern Virginia Christian Fellowship ...

703-242-9001Vienna Seventh Day Adventists ...

703-938-8383

Unitarian UniversalistCongregation of Fairfax ... 703-281-4230

United Church of ChristEmmaus United Church of Christ ...

703-938-1555Unity

Unity of Fairfax ... 703-281-1767

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

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

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

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

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

The Rev. James Papile, RectorThe Rev. Jacqueline Thomson

The Rev. Laura Cochran703-437-6530

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

ST. ANNE’SEPISCOPALCHURCH • Reston

Progressive & Welcoming

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

WEDNESDAY/JAN. 23Langley Fork Scenic Pull-off

Completion Ceremony. 11 a.m., at6266 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Theproject to build a scenic pull-off onGeorgetown Pike is completed after10 years of work; Dranesville DistrictSupervisor John Foust hosts aceremony with Virginia Departmentof Transportation representatives andthe Fairfax County Park Authority.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dranesville.

i2B Business Mixer. 5:30-8 p.m., atClyde’s of Tysons Corner, 8332Leesburg Pike, Vienna. McLeanOrchestra presents its third businessmixer to expand circles, enjoypresentations from the McLeanChamber of Commerce andLeadership Fairfax. $38 pre-registration or $45 at the door (valetparking, appetizers and two drinksincluded). www.mclean-orchestra.org.

Ralph Stanley & The ClinchMountain Boys. 8 p.m., at WolfTrap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna.Grammy Award-winner, recipient ofthe Living Legend Award from theLibrary of Congress and NationalMedal of Arts recipient Ralph Stanleyand his late brother Carter’s band theClinch Mountain Boys play. $40.www.wolftrap.org.

THURSDAY/JAN. 24Art Appetizers Returns! 7-9 p.m., at

the McLean Project for the Arts, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. Art,

appetizers and conversation composethe evening in the gallery sponsoredby the New Dominion Women’s Club.$20. www.ndwc.org/home.html.

Livingston Taylor w/ ChelseaBerry. 8 p.m., at Wolf Trap, 1635Trap Road, Vienna. Singer/songwriterand guitarist Livingston Tayllorheadlines with introspective lyrics andAlaskan singer/songwriter ChelseaBerry makes her first appearance atThe Barns with her folk-rock music.$25. www.wolftrap.org.

FRIDAY/JAN. 25The Discovery Series: Cellist

Steven Isserlis and pianist KirillGerstein. 8 p.m., at Wolf Trap, 1635Trap Road, Vienna. A virtuosic duorecital featuring Liszt’s RomanceOubliée, Die Zelle im Nonnenwerth,Busoni’s Kultaselle, Variations on aFinnish Folkson, Bartók’s Rhapsodyno.1, and Brahms’s Sonatas no. 1 in Eminor and no. 2 in F Major. $35.www.wolftrap.org.

Proposals. 8 p.m., at the ViennaCommunity Center, 127 Center St. S.,Vienna. The Neil Simon comedyrecalls the Hines family gathered attheir retreat in the Poconos in thesummer of 1953: romanticentanglements coalesce in one idyllicafternoon in the elegiac memory play.$11 for students and seniors 65-plus;$13. 703-255-6399.

SATURDAY/JAN. 26 Celebration of American

Tradition. By reservation at TheRitz-Carlton, 1700 Tysons Blvd.,McLean. Wine Director VincentFeraud hosts an intimate wine andfood pairing dinner at the EntyseBistro including five courses withtastings. $110. 703-917-5496.

Tom Chapin. 7:30 p.m., at Wolf Trap,1635 Trap Road, Vienna. Folk singer/songwriter and three time GrammyAward-winner plays songs from his 22full-length records. $22.www.wolftrap.org.

Proposals. 8 p.m., at the ViennaCommunity Center, 127 Center St. S.,Vienna. The Neil Simon comedyrecalls the Hines family gathered attheir retreat in the Poconos in thesummer of 1953: romanticentanglements coalesce in one idyllicafternoon in the elegiac memory play.

$11 for students and seniors 65-plus;$13. 703-255-6399.

Tap Kids. 8 p.m., at the McLeanCommunity Center, 1234 InglesideAve., McLean. Eight tap dancers fromall over the U.S. dance out the storyof a group of teenagers in their lastmonth of high school. $20, $15 forresidents. www.aldentheatre.org.

SUNDAY/JAN. 27McLean Chocolate Festival. 11 a.m.-

6 p.m., at McLean High School, 1633

Davidson Road, McLean. Anafternoon of chocolate decadencefeaturing everything and anythingchocolate, games for the family andcandy, cookies, ice cream, cupcakesand more for sale to benefit McLeanRotary, with 25 percent of the salesgoing towards local communityorganizations. $2, children under 6free.www.mcleanchocolatefestival.org orwww.mcleanrotary.org.

29th MASC Awards Gala. 6 p.m., atJammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E.,Vienna. A night of performances byaward-winning songwriters and theannouncement of the competitionwinners. $10 in advance/forSongwriters’ Association ofWashington; $12 at the door. 703-255-1566 ext. 8 or www.saw.org.

Music From Oberlin at Oakton.7:30 p.m., at the UnitarianUniversalist Congregation, 2709Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Oberlinstudents perform Brahms, RogerSessions, Schubert and Debussy onclarinet, cello, flute, viola, harp andpiano with a baritone. 703-281-4230

or [email protected].

FRIDAY/FEB. 1Next to Normal. 8 p.m., at McLean

Community Center’s Alden Theatre,1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean. Thisground-breaking musical shows howfar two parents will go to keepthemselves sane and their family’sworld intact. $18; $20.www.mcleanplayers.org or 866-811-4111.


Italian American Reconciliation. 8p.m., at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring HillRoad, Tysons Corner. A romanticcomedy from the author“Moonstruck” and “Doubt” followsHuey Bonfigliano as he takes to thearts after his divorce, but bad poetryisn’t enough and he decides to try andwin back his ex with the help offriends. $25; $15 for students. 703-854-1856 or www.1ststagetysons.org.

SATURDAY/FEB. 2Sixth Annual McLean Jewelry

Showcase. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at theMcLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. A juried eventfeaturing handmade jewelrycollections and designs by exhibitorsregion-wide. $3. 703-790-0123 TTY711.

Italian American Reconciliation. 2p.m. and 8 p.m., at 1st Stage, 1524Spring Hill Road, Tysons Corner. A

romantic comedy from the author“Moonstruck” and “Doubt” followsHuey Bonfigliano as he takes to thearts after his divorce, but bad poetryisn’t enough and he decides to try andwin back his ex with the help offriends. $25; $15 for students. 703-854-1856 or www 1ststagetysons.org.


Mardi Gras Fundraising Gala. 8a.m.-noon, at the Vienna AmericanLegion, 330 Center St. N, Vienna. Acostume contest, heavy horsd’oeuvres, silent auction and music byTerry Lee Ryan benefit the DanDellinger campaign for nationalcommander of the American Legion.$20 in advance; $25 at the door. 703-938-9535 or www.Legion180.net.

SUNDAY/FEB. 3Italian American Reconciliation. 2

p.m. and 7 p.m., at 1st Stage, 1524Spring Hill Road, Tysons Corner. Aromantic comedy from the author“Moonstruck” and “Doubt” followsHuey Bonfigliano as he takes to thearts after his divorce, but bad poetryisn’t enough and he decides to try andwin back his ex with the help offriends. $25; $15 for students. 703-854-1856 or www 1ststagetysons.org.

Proposals. 3 p.m., 8 p.m. at the ViennaCommunity Center, 127 Center St. S.,Vienna. The Neil Simon comedyrecalls the Hines family gathered attheir retreat in the Poconos in thesummer of 1953: romantic

entanglements coalesce in one idyllicafternoon in the elegiac memory play.$11 for students and seniors 65-plus;$13. 703-255-6399.

FRIDAY/FEB. 8Veal Parmesan Dinner. 5:30-8 p.m.,

at the Vienna American Legion, 330Center St. N, Vienna. Enjoy vealparmesan on spaghetti with salad andgarlic bread with the community. $10.703-938-9535.

Italian American Reconciliation. 8p.m., at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring HillRoad, Tysons Corner. A romanticcomedy from the author“Moonstruck” and “Doubt” followsHuey Bonfigliano as he takes to thearts after his divorce, but bad poetryisn’t enough and he decides to try andwin back his ex with the help offriends. $25; $15 for students. 703-854-1856 or www.1ststagetysons.org.


SATURDAY/FEB. 9Italian American Reconciliation. 2

p.m. and 8 p.m., at 1st Stage, 1524Spring Hill Road, Tysons Corner. Aromantic comedy from the author“Moonstruck” and “Doubt” followsHuey Bonfigliano as he takes to thearts after his divorce, but bad poetryisn’t enough and he decides to try andwin back his ex with the help offriends. $25; $15 for students. 703-854-1856 or www 1ststagetysons.org.

Entertainment

Chocolates from Connie’s Chocolate Confections of Alex-andria on display at last year’s McLean Chocolate Festival.This year’s festival will be at a bigger venue, McLean HighSchool, and will take place Saturday, Jan. 27.

McLean ChocolateFestival Decadence

Chocolate reigns in the McLean HighCafeteria on Sunday, Jan. 27 from 11a.m.-6 p.m., 1633 Davidson Road,McLean. An afternoon of chocolate deca-dence featuring everything and anythingchocolate, games for the family andcandy, cookies, ice cream, cupcakes andmore for sale to benefit McLean Rotary,with 25 percent of the sales going to-wards local community organizations.$2, children under 6 free.www.mcleanchocolatefestival.org orwww.mcleanrotary.org.

Wine Director Vincent Feraud at the Ritz-Carlton, TysonsCorner, hosts a Celebration of American Tradition WineTasting.

Celebration of American Tradition,a Wine Tasting

Wine Director Vincent Feraud hosts an intimate wine and food pairing dinner atthe Entyse Bistro including five courses with tastings on Saturday, Jan. 26, at TheRitz-Carlton, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean. By reservation only. $110. 703-917-5496.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF FAIRFAX COUNTYHours: Monday-Friday 10-4 and Saturday 10-3 • 703-385-PETS

Adoptions: By appointment only. • www.hsfc.org

THIS IS “GIBBS”Gibbs is abig, friendlyaffectionate guywho wants aloving home tocall his own!Come meet thisaffectionate guytoday!


The County Line

vised and supportive group en-vironment to participate in en-joyable activities together.(Events have included chesstournaments, basketball clinics,kite festivals, a Broadway show,exercise classes, horsebackriding, Internet and web designclasses, and community serviceprojects.)

Q: What does FFX4Kidsoffer foster children, andthe parents who fosterthem?A: FFX4Kids provides a socialnetwork where youth in fostercare can interact with mentors,prospective adoptive families,dedicated volunteers and otherchildren in foster care.

The dedicated FFX4Kids men-tors are at the core of the “rela-tionship-building” that keepsthe youth coming back. Everyparticipating youth experiencesgroup mentoring for severalmonths prior to being assigneda one-on-one mentor whoagrees to mentor for at leasttwo years. Many of these car-ing adults commit to being life-long supports for the youth theymentor. Some have evenadopted their mentee. Othermentors have been consistentlyand actively involved in the pro-gram for five, six, and sevenyears, and have mentored anumber of different youth dur-ing that time.

Q: What are someFFX4Kids “success sto-ries?”A: We have many success sto-ries. We have participated in 10adoptions of youth ages 11 to18 (most have been betweenages 14-16 at the time of theadoption) and 10 permanentconnections for youth ages 18to 21. A “permanent connec-tion” means that these youngadults leave foster care with acaring, adult connection whocan provide guidance and emo-tional support as they embarkupon adulthood. Most of usknow that just because you turn18 or 21 years old, you don’tautomatically have all the an-swers, and it is always good tohave an adult to help answersome of the questions that comewith being an adult.

Success Stories: “Mason” wasadopted by his mentors whenhe was 15 years old. He hadalready spent six years in fos-ter care, and lived in numerous

adoptive homes and residentialfacilities. He is a charming, like-able, athletic young fellow whois now a freshman in collegeand working part-time. Heregularly returns to theFFX4Kids events to encourageand motivate the other kids,and just to share in the fun. Hisparents also continue to be ac-tive mentors for other youth inFFX4Kids and a strong sup-porter of the program.

“Mason” is good friends with“Paul.” “Paul” has been in fos-ter care for almost 10 years.“Paul” has also had numerousplacements. He is still in fostercare, participating in the Inde-pendent Living program, andenjoying his freshman year incollege also. As he participatesin the twice-monthly FFX4Kidsactivities, he finds continuoussupport and encouragementfrom the group mentors, whogenuinely admire his strengthand his tenacity. He is a rolemodel and “Jr. Mentor” for theyounger kids in the group.

Q: Knowing all of theobstacles, all of thechallenges for fosterchildren, what motivatesyou to keep working withfoster children?A: I love what I do. The youththat I have been blessed toknow, are wonderful and all ofthem have enriched my life im-measurably. The adoptive fami-lies and mentors never cease toamaze me—by their commit-ment to the youth, their dedi-cation, their energy and creativ-ity, and their ability to see wellbeyond the labels that so manyof our youth have gatheredalong their journey in fostercare. They see the gifted artists,the aspiring scientists, the co-medians, the athletes, and thebeautiful children waiting foran opportunity to bloom.

I also have been blessed tohave my own family expandedthrough the adoption of twoolder youth (ages 8 and 9). Iknow firsthand the joys andchallenges this brings. I alsoknow that love is not enough.The decision to adopt an olderyouth must come from both thehead and the heart. It is criticalthat the adoptive family makean informed decision cognizantof all of the challenges beforethem, with realistic expecta-tions, and knowledge of re-sources available to support thefamily. It is hard work, and notfor the faint of heart.

From Page 4

to explore that option.“God works in mysterious ways. We ac-

tually used to go on outings with thiscouple and their foster children before Tiffand I were married,” he said. “We still hada lot of love to give.”

“That was the core of it, the love we hadfor each other,” Tiffany said. “You know, alot of people say that when you lose a child,it tears a couple apart. Well, nothing couldtear me away from him. He is my rock.His mental strength is astounding.”

FAIRFAX FAMILIES4KIDSThey connected with a small agency in

Fairfax County called FairfaxFamilies4Kids, a unique foster-mentoring programrun by the Department of Neighborhood and Com-munity Services. Created in 2005, the program’smission is to build bonds between volunteers andfoster children, a majority of whom are 14 years oldor older.

According to Beverly Howard, Ph.D., coordinatorof the program, every year in Fairfax County, as manyas 20 teens in foster care leave the system without afamily and are unable to return safely to their par-ents or relatives.

The children who wait are typically African-Ameri-can, and are age 9 or older when they enter fostercare. They have emotional, medical and educationalneeds. Many have lived in a series of foster homes orresidential facilities.

Kenny was one of the children in the program whenthe Granvilles decided to become mentors.

Howard said volunteers who become mentors havea lot of flexibility, and there’s no specific amount oftime mentors must spend with children. Some areassigned a particular child while others work withseveral children. Every month there are group ac-tivities for the participants and their mentors.

“We want people to know they can get involvedwithout feeling too much pressure,” Howard said.

Mentors can attend as many group outings as theywant, depending on their schedule.

Outings have included a Christmas Cruise on thePotomac; the DC Kite Festival; fundraising events forthe homeless and a variety of sports events and clin-ics, from basketball to handball. Farm Day, held twicea year in Ashburn, is a favorite event for the chil-dren. Donated by a benefactor of the program, theevent is held twice a year in Ashburn, and includeshorseback riding, bike-riding, games and a picnic.

Howard said all the activities are structured to al-low “natural matches” to develop over time as theyouth interact with the volunteers and actively helpselect their mentors. “Mentors see the value, thestrengths and possibilities in the youth and the youthbegin to form trusting relationships with the men-tors,” she said.

Kenny met the Granvilles during Farm Day. He hadjust turned 13, and had been in a series of fosterhomes since he was 9 years old.

Before formal foster care, he was living sporadi-cally with his biological mother from the time hewas 3 years old.

Born in Dumfries, Kenny’s mother had substanceabuse problems. When she could not care for him,he would stay with her friends for weekends—orweeks at a time. When he was placed in foster carefull-time, he had no more contact with his biologicalmother.

Sitting on a sofa at home, Kenny shows a visitor abook of photos from several outings. When asked ifhe remembers the first time he met Chris and Tif-fany, he smiles broadly, and mentions that he left hiscoat in their car so they would have a reason to seekhim out again.

The Granvilles said they felt an immediate con-nection to Kenny, and they would have come back tosee him, even if he hadn’t left his coat in their car.

“Oh yes, I definitely remember Farm Day,” Tiffanysaid.

“We had been going to different events as men-tors, and then Farm Day came along,” she said, shak-ing her head and wiping away tears. “It was weird.There was this big gush of wind and this kid cameout of nowhere. Literally, leaves are flying around,and I saw Kenny playing… I said to Chris ‘I feel likehe’s going to be our child.’ I mean, we thought wewould adopt a younger child, but we just jelled withhim.”

“As soon as they walked in, I went up to talk tothem,” Kenny said.

“There was just something about him. His smile,his sense of humor, something that tugged at ourhearts,” Chris said.

Kenny began spending weekends with the couple,playing basketball with Chris, watching footballgames, and just being a “regular” kid with a family.

“Everything just fit,” Chris said, “It felt like it wasmeant to be.”

Tiffany and Chris said there’s no one “aha” mo-ment they can point to when they decided to adoptKenny. “It just seemed like the natural next step,”Chris said.

As the Granvilles spent more and more time withKenny, they became determined to adopt him. Andthen the couple got a surprise that some might con-sider a “game-changer.”

She learned she was pregnant with Elijah.“And no, we never thought about not adopting

Kenny,” she said, laughing.Kenny was formally adopted by the Granvilles

when he turned 14. Elijah was just weeks old, but“we wanted him there to be with his big brother,”Chris said.

During the adoption proceeding, the judge askedKenny if there was any reason not to go forward,and why he wanted to be adopted.

“Because I love them. And they love me,” Kennysaid.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in that courtroom,” Tif-fany said.

NEXT WEEK : Interviews with mentors and childwho aged-out and is now homeless.

From Page 4Feeling Power of Love Joys and Challenges

Kenny GranvillePho

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News

Marine Sgt. John Gordon and his dog Birdie.

The dogs in the photo are Valerie and Gabe (in front of Patty Kennedy andKatherine Hutt of Vienna). Both dogs are with the Warrior Canine Connec-tion (WCC) program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE).

Founder of the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) Rick Yount with hiswife Molly Morelli (breeder and trainer).

Pho

to

s co

ntributed

Vienna Residents Support Warrior Canine ConnectionHelping to bring the healing power of the bestdogs to Wounded Warriors.

By Susan Belford

Vienna residents Patty Kennedyand Katherine Hutt have a lot incommon. They are good friends,their children hang out together,

they share a love of animals—and they areboth passionately involved with the War-rior Canine Connection (WCC)—a 501© 3non-profit organization established for thepurpose of “helping to bring the healingpower of the best dogs to our WoundedWarriors.” The organization teaches ServiceMembers and Veterans with combat stressto train service dogs for other WoundedWarriors. Kennedy is employed by WCC asthe director of communications and govern-ment affairs, and Hutt serves on the WCCBoard with responsibility for marketing andpublic relations.

Kennedy worked on Capitol Hill on thestaff of the US Senate for 23 years, includ-ing 13 years as an aide to Senator JohnWarner of Virginia. “When I retired I knewI wanted to do something involving ani-mals,” she said. “I have a passion for ani-mals helping people. Before I joined WCC,I was the Administrator of the Patient Ser-vice Dog Therapy Program at Walter ReedArmy Medical Center.”

Kennedy is a former puppy raiser for aguide dog school as well as the author of“Through Otis’ Eyes: Lessons from a GuideDog Puppy,” winner of a Maxwell Awardfrom the Dog Writers Association ofAmerica, and “Bailey By My Side: GoldenLessons for Life.”

Hutt, a Public Relations specialist, is thenational spokesperson for the Council ofBetter Business Bureaus. She began volun-teering with WCC when she learned thatthey needed support with their marketingand public relations. She now serves as aWCC Board Member. “I’m excited to be apart of this fine organization which trulymakes a difference in the lives of service-men and women. I see a tremendousamount of growth opportunities for WCC.”Hutt was honored in 2004 with the lifetimedesignation of Fellow, PRSA, the highestprofessional recognition bestowed by thesociety for practitioners who exemplify ex-cellence and give back to the profession andthe community. She was also selected byWashington Women in Public Relations as“Washington PR Woman of the Year” in1994.

THE IDEA for WCC was Rick Yount’s. Asocial worker, in 2001 he initiated a pro-gram teaching troubled teenagers to trainservice dogs in Morgantown, W. Va.—a pro-gram with remarkable healing benefits forhis non-motivated high school population.The award-winning Golden Rule AssistanceDog (GRAD) program helped the youngadults develop their social and emotionalskills. One day, Yount was struck with an“aha” moment that would change his life—and the lives of many Wounded Warriorsforever.

Two of the dogs trained at GRAD by hisstudents were presented to wounded vet-erans. “That’s when I decided that it would

make perfect sense to teach Wounded War-riors to train service dogs for otherWounded Warriors,” explains Yount. “Itwould be a safe, effective non-pharmaceu-tical intervention to treat the symptoms ofPTSD.” In 2008, Yount initiated the firstWarrior service dog-training program toaddress PTSD and TBI in veterans and ser-vice members who are in treatment. He cur-rently serves as the executive director ofWarrior Canine Connection (WCC).

Now, dozens of Wounded Warriors havebecome involved in training service dogs asa part of the WCC program. The WCC’s“Healing Quarters” is located in a historicstone farmhouse in Brookeville, Md. where

Yount and his wife Molly Morelli reside. Thewoodland setting provides Wounded War-riors with a peaceful site where they canwork with the dogs as well as a refugewhere they can heal.

“Training a service dog takes many of theskills that are needed to be successful inlife,” states Yount. “It requires patience,assertiveness, positive reinforcement, kind-ness, consistency, communication skills,love, responsibility and an attitude of nevergiving up or giving in.”

The program is part of the National In-trepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) atWalter Reed National Military Medical Cen

See Warriors, Page 16


Sports

Manner’s 37 Points Lead Oakton Past Centreville

Oakton senior center ElizabethManner scored 37 points during a65-48 victory against Centrevilleon Jan. 18.

Oakton senior guard Helen Robertsscored 11 points againstCentreville on Jan. 18.

Pho

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Cougars beat Wildcatsin battle of Concorde’stop two teams.

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

The Centreville girls’ basketballteam, owner of an up-tempostyle and winner of 14 of its first15 games, approached Friday’s

contest confident it could beat Oakton de-spite a losing streak against the Cougarsdating back to 1995.

But after the opening tip, the Wildcats’confidence turned to timidness against 6-foot-1 Oakton senior Elizabeth Manner andthe eight-time defending Concorde Districtchampion Cougars.

Manner scored 37 points and grabbed 14rebounds as Oakton defeated Centreville65-48 on Jan. 18 at Oakton High School.The defending state champion Cougars im-proved to 14-2 overall and moved into solepossession of first place in the ConcordeDistrict with a 4-0 mark.

The Wildcats had no answer for the physi-cally imposing Manner, who burnedCentreville in the paint, from the perimeterand at the free-throw line. At the other endof the floor, head coach Tom Watson saidthe Wildcats weren’t their usual attackingselves.

“I think we came out scared in the firsthalf,” he said. “I think we were awful. I thinkwe didn’t bring our game. We were afraidto penetrate—that’s not our game. I thinkthat big girl from Oakton intimidated [ourplayers].”

Manner scored 16 points in the paint,made one jumper, knocked down one 3-pointer and went 16-for-19 at the free-throw line.

“We don’t have bunches of plays for her,”Oakton head coach Fred Priester said.“We’re an equal-opportunity offense. Butwhen things break down, the kids havegreat trust in her and great faith in her.She’s a big girl, but she’s extremely agileand she moves around that basket verywell. . . . She has worked as hard and hascome as far as, really, any kid I’ve evercoached.”

OAKTON LED BY 12 at halftime, butCentreville pulled to within five on threeoccasions late in the third quarter andtrailed 43-36 entering the fourth. Mannerextended the Oakton lead with a pair ofbuckets in the opening minute and finishedwith 15 points in the final quarter. She madeseven of eight free-throw attempts duringthe final four minutes, 25 seconds.

Oakton led 17-8 at the end of the firstquarter. Manner scored 11 points in theopening period, making nine of 10 free-throw attempts.

Priester said Manner has come a long wayat the foul line since her freshman season.According to stats from the Washington

Post’s website, Manner shot 76 percent fromthe line through this season’s first 16 games.

“Her freshman year, I think she startedthe season something like 3-for-28,” Priestersaid. “She got better to get it up to somereasonable number by the end of the year.We didn’t do anything ridiculous or strapher to a waterboard or anything like that.Every day we work on form shooting, formshooting, form shooting. It just comesabout.”

Manner said improvement at the line wasabout building confidence.

“We work on our shot every day in prac-tice,” Manner said, “so I started to get morecomfortable with it and then I just stoppedthinking about it and just shot the ball likewe do in practice every day.”

While Watson praised Manner, theCentreville coach wasn’t pleased the Oaktoncenter was not whistled for a foul duringthe game.

“She’s great. She’s a good player. She’sanother [Washington Mystics guard andformer Oakton star] Jasmine [Thomas]—she gets every call in the world,” Watsonsaid. “It doesn’t matter what you do, shegets a call. That’s irritating for a coach.That’s why I was barking. It just gets old.She had 16 free throws and she had zerofouls. How could she not have a single foulin there? You don’t think we drove on herand bumped her the same way she bumpedus?”

Oakton senior guard Helen Robertsscored 11 points. Senior forward AngelaSickels finished with seven points andsophomore guard Karlie Cronin had six.

Sophomore guard Lindsey Abed addedfour points and seven rebounds.

“I think Lindsey played phenomenal to-night,” Manner said. “She has a good senseof where people are open and she has agood calmness about her where she can takewhat Priester tells her and put it into ac-tion.”

After scoring 15 points in the first half,Centerville tallied 21 in the third quarterto make things interesting. Sophomoreguard Caroline Wakefield buried a 3-pointerto cut the Oakton lead to 37-32 with 1:37remaining in the quarter. Senior forwardTori Collar scored her 10th point of thequarter to make the score 39-34 and juniorguard Jenna Green’s bucket cut the Oaktonlead to 41-36, but the Wildcats got no closerthan five.

“I don’t think we really came to play to-day, especially me,” said Green, who wasborn in 1996, one year after Centreville lastbeat Oakton. “My shot was off. We weren’tplaying our usual game. I don’t know if itwas because we were intimidated; I don’tknow what it was. I definitely think thatwe can beat them and I can’t wait to playthem again.”

Green finished with 12 points forCentreville. Collar scored 10 points, juniorforward Ailyn Kelly finished with eight, andWakefield and sophomore guard ChrissyJacksta each added five.

OAKTON TRAVELED to face Westfield onTuesday, after the Connection’s deadline.The Cougars will host Herndon at 7:30 p.m.on Friday, Jan. 25.

The second meeting between Oakton andCentreville will be Feb. 5 at Centreville HighSchool.

“I can’t wait,” Watson said.

Sports Roundups

Herndon GymnasticsWins Meet

The Herndon gymnastics team fin-ished first during a meet against SouthLakes, West Springfield, McLean andMarshall on Jan. 16.

Kellie Hayden placed second in the all-around with a score of 34.55. She fin-ished second on vault, beam and bars.

Sarah Strangfeld placed third on barsand floor. Valerie Beacham finished witha personal-best all-around score of 30.3.

Oakton SummerBaseball Camp

The Oakton Cougar Baseball Campwill be held in July at Oakton HighSchool.

The July 8-11 session and the July 22-25 session are for Little League ages 6-11. The July 15-18 session is for ages11 and older.

Cost for the camp is $150 per camperper session. All funds go directly to theOakton baseball program. There is alimit of 30 campers per week.

Checks and registration forms must bemailed to Oakton High School, 2900Sutton Rd., Vienna, VA 22181.

Basketball TryoutsThe Virginia Diamonds 13U AAU girls’

basketball team (eighth graders) willhold tryouts from 7-8:30 p.m. on Satur-day, Feb. 23 at nZone, 14550 Lee Road,Chantilly. Cost for the tryout is $15. Formore information, contact: 703-463-6452 or [email protected].

Umpires WantedFairfax Adult Softball (FAS) is seek-

ing umpires for our adult slow-pitch soft-ball leagues in Fairfax County. Umpiresnet pay starts at $26 per one-hour gameand are paid monthly. Experience is de-sired but training is provided. Enjoygreat pay and flexible schedules. Con-tact FAS at 703-815-9007 or email to:[email protected].

Herndon Boys’Basketball Loses toWestfield

The Herndon boys’ basketball teamhad its three-game win streak snappedwith a 56-53 loss to Westfield on Jan.18. The Hornets dropped to 10-5 over-all and 2-2 in the Concorde District.

According to stats from the Washing-ton Post’s website, Will Ferguson ledHerndon with 19 points. Dorian Johnsonfinished with nine points, Trevon Wrightscored eight, and Kent Auslander andRyan Griffin each had seven.

Herndon hosted Robinson on Tuesday,after the Connection’s deadline. TheHornets will host Oakton at 7:30 p.m.on Friday, Jan. 25.

Vienna/Oakton Connection Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]


OPEN HOUSESSATURDAY/SUNDAY,JANUARY 26 & 27

Call Specific Agents to Confirm Dates & Times

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

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com and click on the “This Week in Real Estate” link.

Burke6308 Swan Landing Ct......$609,000............Sun 1-4.........Suzanne Burch........Century 21..703-328-56066200 Fushsimi Ct..............$475,000..Sun 1:30-3:30.............James Nellis ............RE/MAX..703-930-0655

Centreville6487 Trillium House Ln.....$999,900.........Sun 10-4 ............Jean Marotta.......Birch Haven..703-402-9471

Clifton6324 Deepwood Farm Dr..$579,000............Sun 1-4...............Ed Duggan.......Century 21 ..703-989-7735

Haymarket1840 Ridge Rd.................$349,900 ............Sun 2-4........Billy Thompson..Samson Props .. 703 409-0340

Springfield7262 Linden Tree Ln.........$459,950............Sun 1-4..Kathleen Quintarelli............Weichert..703-862-8808

Sterling11401 Coyote Ct ............$1,229,000............Sun 1-4...........Sheila Cooper............Weichert..703-759-6300

Vienna1636 Crowell Rd ...............$929,000............Sun 1-4.............Linda Welch ............RE/MAX..703-250-8500

To add your FREE Realtor represented Open Houseto these weekly listings, please contact Don Park

at 703-778-9420, or [email protected] listings are due by Monday at 3 P.M.

REACS, Inc., a minority owned com-mercial real estate company in TysonsCorner (Vienna) has been named theproperty management company forSoapstone Center in Reston andPemberton Square Shopping Center inSouth Riding. REACS, Inc. is a full ser-vice commercial management companyproviding brokerage, property manage-ment, construction and maintenanceservices to commercial property ownersin Virginia, Maryland, and WashingtonD.C. For more information contact SteveAnderson at (703) 734-0880.

Coldwell Banker ResidentialBrokerage in McLean has an-

selling choices to her clients becauseshe knows the community she serves,”said Todd Hetherington, CEO and co-owner of CENTURY 21 NewMillennium.

Harper McDaniel has more than 10years of experience in the real estateindustry.

“Achieving CENTURION, President’sand Quality Service Pinnacle Producerstatus is a great milestone in my profes-sional career and with a continued effortand focus on my clients, I hope to con-tinue on this path of success,” saidHarper, associate broker with CENTURY21 New Millennium.

Real Estate

nounced its sales associates who haveearned the company’s InternationalPresident’s awards. The winners in-clude - Individual Achievements:President’s Club - Linda Knowles andSue Jin Song.

Harper McDaniel, associate brokerwith the CENTURY 21 New MillenniumMcLean office earned the CENTURY21® System’s CENTURION Producer,President’s and Quality Service PinnacleAwards again last year following her2010 sales success.

“Harper is a leader and innovator indelivering powerful home buying and

To have real estate information listed in the Connection, send [email protected]. Deadline is Friday.

Address ................................ BR . FB .HB ... Postal City .... Sold Price ... Type .......... Lot AC . PostalCode ..................... Subdivision11100 KINGS CAVALIER CT ............. 5 ... 8 ... 0 ........ OAKTON ....... $2,275,000 .... Detached ....... 10.94 ....... 22124 ................. CAVALIERS FOX LAKE205 NIBLICK DR SE ........................ 6 ... 6 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,565,701 .... Detached ........ 0.37 ........ 22180 ............ WESTBRIAR CC MANOR9480 CORAL CREST LN .................. 5 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,462,500 .... Detached ........ 1.04 ........ 22182 ........................... CORAL RIDGE1627 IRVIN ST ............................... 5 ... 5 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,450,000 .... Detached ........ 0.40 ........ 22182 ............................ BESLEY FARM10414 MILLER RD .......................... 3 ... 2 ... 0 ........ OAKTON ....... $1,360,000 .... Detached ........ 2.12 ........ 22124 ....... MILLERS OAKTON HEIGHTS2734 WILLOW DR .......................... 6 ... 5 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,300,000 .... Detached ........ 0.55 ........ 22181 ................................ OAKCREST9156 RIESLEY LN ........................... 5 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,150,000 .... Detached ........ 0.24 ........ 22182 ..... COVENTRY SPRINGS ESTATES11800 VALE RD .............................. 5 ... 4 ... 1 ........ OAKTON ....... $1,142,500 .... Detached ........ 3.00 ........ 22124 ........................................ VALE12019 WANDABURY RD ................. 5 ... 4 ... 1 ........ OAKTON ....... $1,135,000 .... Detached ........ 0.58 ........ 22124 ................. DARTMOOR WOODS315 GEORGE ST SW ....................... 5 ... 5 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,110,000 .... Detached ........ 0.25 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS2823 CENTER RIDGE DR ................. 6 ... 4 ... 0 ........ OAKTON ....... $1,100,000 .... Detached ........ 2.35 ........ 22124 .................. DIFFICULT PARCEL A603 BIRCH ST SW .......................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,099,000 .... Detached ........ 0.24 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS905 OLYMPIAN CIR ........................ 5 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,075,000 .... Detached ........ 0.29 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS510 GLYNDON ST NE ...................... 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,055,000 .... Detached ........ 0.50 ........ 22180 ............................ RIDGEWOOD2964 PALMER ST ........................... 5 ... 4 ... 1 ........ OAKTON ....... $1,035,000 .... Detached ........ 0.56 ........ 22124 ........................ GRAYS OAKTON513 KINGSLEY RD SW .................... 6 ... 5 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........ $1,010,000 .... Detached ........ 0.23 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS10513 DUNN MEADOW RD ............ 4 ... 3 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $985,000 .... Detached ........ 0.63 ........ 22182 ........... ESTATES AT GREAT FALLS1797 CLOVERMEADOW DR ............ 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $975,000 .... Detached ........ 0.89 ........ 22182 .............. HUNTER MILL ESTATES2010 ROUNDHOUSE RD ................. 5 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $949,000 .... Detached ........ 2.11 ........ 22181 .................... HUNTERS STATION10506 COVING CROSS LN ............... 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $930,000 .... Detached ........ 0.84 ........ 22182 .............. HUNTER MILL ESTATES1261 COBBLE POND WAY ............... 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $900,000 .... Detached ........ 0.68 ........ 22182 ........... ESTATES AT GREAT FALLS9999 COURTHOUSE RD ................. 5 ... 5 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $890,000 .... Detached ........ 0.24 ........ 22181 ............... OAKTON PLANTATION1903 CLARKS GLEN PL ................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $890,000 .... Detached ........ 0.42 ........ 22182 .......................... HOMESTEADE1709 LANDON HILL RD .................. 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $890,000 .... Detached ........ 0.82 ........ 22182 .............. HUNTER MILL ESTATES322 AYR HILL AVE NE ..................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $850,000 .... Detached ........ 0.53 ........ 22180 .................................... VIENNA11743 ENGLISH MILL CT ................ 4 ... 3 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $840,000 .... Detached ........ 0.64 ........ 22124 ............... WAPLES MILL ESTATES1518 NIGHT SHADE CT .................. 5 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $825,000 .... Detached ........ 0.79 ........ 22182 .............. WOLFTRAP MEADOWS1219 CARPERS FARM WAY .............. 4 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $810,000 .... Detached ........ 0.54 ........ 22182 ......................... CARPERS FARM9951 LEAMOORE LN ...................... 4 ... 4 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $792,000 .... Detached ........ 0.12 ........ 22181 ............................ EDGEMOORE12002 VALE RD .............................. 4 ... 4 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $775,000 .... Detached ........ 0.51 ........ 22124 ....................... VALE PARK WEST1445 LAUREL HILL RD .................... 5 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $741,000 .... Detached ........ 0.35 ........ 22182 ................. WOLF TRAP WOODS11813 WAYLAND ST ....................... 4 ... 3 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $740,000 .... Detached ........ 0.56 ........ 22124 .................................. FOXVALE2171 WOLFTRAP CT ...................... 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $735,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.08 ........ 22182 .............. COURTHOUSE WOODS9930 LINDEL LN ............................. 5 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $734,000 .... Detached ........ 0.34 ........ 22181 .................... LAKEVALE ESTATES8617 CORAL GABLES LN ................. 5 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $725,000 .... Detached ........ 0.26 ........ 22182 ....................... CARTERS GREEN2160 WOLFTRAP CT ...................... 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $715,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.07 ........ 22182 .............. COURTHOUSE WOODS11418 BRONZEDALE DR ................. 4 ... 2 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $688,000 .... Detached ........ 0.46 ........ 22124 ................................ FOXWOOD10173 CASTLEWOOD LN ................ 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $675,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.07 ........ 22124 .................... WYANT PROPERTY2185 WOLFTRAP CT ...................... 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $665,500 .... Townhouse ..... 0.05 ........ 22182 .............. COURTHOUSE WOODS9409 VAN ARSDALE DR .................. 4 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $665,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.05 ........ 22181 ..................... VIRGINIA CENTER9911 VALE RD ................................ 5 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $665,000 .... Detached ........ 0.34 ........ 22181 .................... LAKEVALE ESTATES11254 WAPLES MILL RD ................. 4 ... 2 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $660,000 .... Detached ........ 1.33 ........ 22124 ............................ WAPLES MILL8250 2ND AVE ............................... 3 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $660,000 .... Detached ........ 0.14 ........ 22182 ........... WEDDERBURN HEIGHTS1503 GINGERWOOD CT ................. 4 ... 2 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $660,000 .... Detached ........ 0.49 ........ 22182 .................... CINNAMON CREEK918 FAIRWAY DR NE ....................... 4 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $650,000 .... Detached ........ 0.32 ........ 22180 ................ WESTWOOD MANOR2598 BABCOCK RD ........................ 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $650,000 .... Detached ........ 1.00 ........ 22181 ................................ ACREDALE806 SHAHRAAM CT SE ................... 4 ... 2 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $635,000 .... Detached ........ 0.23 ........ 22180 .............................. SHAHRAAM2921 OAKBURY CT ......................... 2 ... 3 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $625,000 .... Detached ........ 0.08 ........ 22124 .................. OAK MARR COURTS2303 JACKSON PKWY ..................... 4 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $575,000 .... Detached ........ 0.26 ........ 22180 ................. STONEWALL MANOR1106 WALKER CIR SW .................... 4 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $575,000 .... Detached ........ 0.24 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS511 WALKER ST SW ....................... 4 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $569,900 .... Detached ........ 0.25 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS9520 DANIEL LEWIS LN .................. 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $545,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.06 ........ 22181 ........... FAIRFAX METRO SQUARE9904 SNOWBOUND CT .................. 3 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $520,000 .... Detached ........ 0.22 ........ 22181 ..................... EDGELEA WOODS2825 CEDAR LN ............................. 3 ... 2 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $510,000 .... Detached ........ 0.66 ........ 22180 ............... WILLOWMERE FARMS113 EAST ST NE ............................. 3 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $500,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.05 ........ 22180 .............. WOLFTRAPPE SQUARE900 DALE CT SE ............................. 4 ... 3 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $500,000 .... Detached ........ 0.23 ........ 22180 ................................. ONONDIO904 DALE CT SE ............................. 3 ... 2 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $479,500 .... Detached ........ 0.24 ........ 22180 ................................. ONONDIO9695 SCOTCH HAVEN DR ............... 3 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $451,900 .... Townhouse ..... 0.04 ........ 22181 ...................... COUNTRY CREEK3100 VALENTINO CT ...................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $445,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.06 ........ 22124 ..................... OAKTON VILLAGE10467 WHITE GRANITE CT ............. 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $436,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.06 ........ 22124 ............................. ARROWOOD2809 LAFORA CT ........................... 4 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $432,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.04 ........ 22180 ..................... MERRIFIELD VIEW3226 WHITE FLINT CT .................... 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $430,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.06 ........ 22124 ............................. ARROWOOD10411 GRAYSTONE CT ................... 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $420,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22124 ... FLINT HILL MANOR TOWNHSE2816 JERMANTOWN RD ................ 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $410,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.06 ........ 22124 ............ CHERRYWOOD SQUARE10315 CHERRY VIEW CT ................. 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $410,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.04 ........ 22124 ............ CHERRYWOOD SQUARE201B LOCUST ST SE #T .................. 3 ... 2 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $409,900 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22180 ........................... VIENNA TRAIL7980 TYSON OAKS CIR ................... 2 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $405,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22182 .................. COURTS OF TYSONS1105 WALKER CIR SW .................... 4 ... 2 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $401,000 .... Detached ........ 0.23 ........ 22180 ....................... VIENNA WOODS7921 TYSON OAKS CIR ................... 2 ... 2 ... 2 ......... VIENNA ........... $392,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22182 .................. COURTS OF TYSONS2984 PADDOCK WOOD CT .............. 3 ... 2 ... 2 ........ OAKTON .......... $369,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22124 ................. OAKTON COMMONS9480 VIRGINIA CENTER BLVD #221 . 2 ... 2 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $367,500 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22181 .................................... ACADIA9874 SWEET MINT DR ................... 3 ... 3 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $350,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22181 ...... CYRANDALL VALLEY NORTH2991 PADDOCK WOOD CT .............. 3 ... 1 ... 1 ........ OAKTON .......... $344,000 .... Townhouse ..... 0.03 ........ 22124 ................. OAKTON COMMONS304D LOCUST ST #16 .................... 2 ... 2 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $342,000 .... Townhouse ..................... 22180 ......................... TIFFANY PLACE10041 OAKTON TERRACE RD ......... 3 ... 2 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $325,000 .... Townhouse ..................... 22124 ............................ THE OAKTON2817 JERMANTOWN RD #309 ........ 3 ... 2 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $295,000 .... Mid-Rise 5-8 Floors ........... 22124 ........................... TREEBROOKE10113 OAKTON TERRACE RD ......... 2 ... 1 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $254,900 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22124 ............................ THE OAKTON10300 APPALACHIAN CIR #111 ....... 2 ... 2 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $247,400 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22124 .......... FOUR WINDS AT OAKTON2495 GLENGYLE DR #145 ............... 2 ... 1 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $242,600 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22181 .................... MOSBYS LANDING2791 CENTERBORO DR #173 ......... 1 ... 1 ... 0 ......... VIENNA ........... $229,900 .... Mid-Rise 5-8 Floors ........... 22181 ....... MARQUIS AT VIENNA STATN2426 GLENGYLE DR #233 ............... 2 ... 1 ... 1 ......... VIENNA ........... $224,500 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22181 .................... MOSBYS LANDING10302 APPALACHIAN SQ #304 ........ 2 ... 1 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $219,500 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22124 .......... FOUR WINDS AT OAKTON10198B ASHBROOKE CT #126 ........ 2 ... 1 ... 0 ........ OAKTON .......... $215,000 .... Garden 1-4 Floors ............ 22124 ........................ TREVOR HOUSE

Copyright 2012 RealEstate Business Intelligence. Source: MRIS as of January 15, 2013.

Home Sales In December 2012, 83 homes sold between $2,275,000-$215,000in the Vienna and Oakton area.


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Standing Yard WaterFrench Drains / SwalesDownspout Extensions

Dry River Beds

Paver & FlagstonePatios / WalkwaysRetaining Walls

Stacked Field StonePlants / Trees / Shrubs

MOWING, TRIMMING, EDGING,MULCHING & TRIM HEDGES

PINNACLE SERVICES, INC.LAWN SERVICE

Friendly Service for a Friendly Price

703-802-0483703-802-0483

LAWN SERVICE LAWN SERVICE

LANDSCAPING

703-863-7465

A&SLANDSCAPING

Planting • Mulching • SoddingPatios • Decks • Driveway Sealing,

Asphalt • Retaining WallsErosion Control • Drainage Solutions

Leaf &Tree Removal

ANGEL’SLAWN MOWING

703-863-1086703-582-3709240-603-6182


LANDSCAPING

“Let us help you Re-imagine your Home”703.373.7278

320-B Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA 22180

“The Best Homes are Built by US”

Design/BuildLarge Additions, Second Story Additions,

Whole House Remodeling & Custom Homes.www.ushc.info

Engineer-GlobalLogic, Inc. in Mclean, VA is seeking a

Sr. Lead Engineerto assist in architecting applica-tions & creating design docs for modeling of software applications to be utilized by telecom solution providers. Reqs Master’s w/ no exp. or Bachelor’s + 5yrs exp. Must have knowledge of or exp. w/ C#, .Net, VB.Net, SQL Server, Mi-croSoft web based technologies & WML. Send resume to: HR, Glob-al Logic, Inc., 1420 Spring Hill Road, Suite 155, McLean, VA 22102.

[email protected]. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 • Fax: 703-780-8320

Great Part-Time Job Opportunities!

Historic TradesLearn a trade and welcome guests to George Washington’s Distillery &Gristmill, the Pioneer Farm, and the Blacksmith Shop. Help tell the storyof Washington the entrepreneur. Call Steve Bashore, Manager of HistoricTrades, at 703-799-6805 or email [email protected].

Mansion Tour GuidesWelcome guests to the most visited historic home in America and giveengaging walking tours around the historic area. Call Jeremy Ray, Asst.Manager of History Interpretation, at 703-799-8629 or [email protected].

Education Center/Hands-on-HistoryHelp make history come to life for Mount Vernon’s youngest visitors inthe Education Center and Hands-on-History Center. Call Diana Cordray,Education Center Manager, at 703-799-8602 or [email protected].

Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Saturday, February 2from 9:00-Noon

Presentation begins at 9:30

Learn about teaching at our school and findingjobs in private schools. We welcome teachers of

diverse backgrounds and experiences.Register online: www.sssas.org/educator

1000 St. Stephen’s Rd., Alexandria, VA 22304(703) 212-2284

BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

☎☎

Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday 11 a.m.

703-917-6464


• McLean • Vienna/OaktonEmploymentEmployment

BUSINESS OPP

NATIONAL CHILDRENS CENTERNo sell! Salary + Bonus + Benefits!

Weekdays 9-4

TELEPHONE

☎☎301-333-1900

A great opportunity toWORK AT HOME!

☎☎

Freelance ReporterTo cover news plus events features

in Mount Vernon. Rewarding,flexible work, pay is nominal.

Email letter, resume plus clips [email protected]

Connection Newspapers in Old Town Alexandriahas an immediate opening for a Full ChargeBookkeeper. Duties include payroll, tax filings,accounts receivable and payable, invoicing, generalledger and financial statements. Applicant must bean expert in Quickbooks and proficient MicrosoftExcel. Applicant must possess a strong work ethic,people skills, team attitude and be able to multi-task. Near King Street Metro. Free parking. Flexiblehours, 24-30 hours/week. Email cover letter, resumeto [email protected]

Bookkeeper

Advertising SalesWork part-time in and near your home office

Enjoy commissions and flexible hoursGreat opportunity for outside sales person to work primarily

in and near your home. Use relationship selling to create andexpand community print and internet advertising campaigns tolocal businesses for Connection Newspapers, Northern Virginia’sbest-read community newspapers and websites.

Keep productivity high and commuting low while workingclose to home. After a short training period, travel to our OldTown Alexandria headquarters and production facility requiredonly once or twice a week during off-peaktraffic hours. Call 703-778-9431 for details.


Zone 6 Ad Deadline:

Monday Noon

703-917-6400


• McLean • Vienna/OaktonClassifiedClassified

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements





HDI COMPUTER SOLUTIONSJENNIFER SMITH ❖ Serving the Area Since 1995

➣ Speed up Slow Computers➣ Troubleshooting➣ Virus Removal➣ Computer Setup

(571) 265-2038 ❖ [email protected]

101 Computers 101 Computers

Call today and learn how this time-saving extra edge can improve

your grades while investing less time

Use my proven study techniques to improve

results while saving time!

Dean’s List college graduate with 7 years of

experience offers individual tutoring

throughout Northern Virginia.

Accounting/Finance Degree. All grade levels,

specializing in math,

English as first or second language, Spanish.

Call Hal @

(703) 864-6616. Tutoring rate is $50/hr.

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21 Announcements

ABC LICENSEAMERPAK INC trading as Bennigan’s Restaurant, 8201 Greensboro Dr, suite 109 & 111, Mclean, VA 22102.The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DE-PARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a wine and beer on prem-ises, mixed beverages license to sell or manufacture alcohol-ic beverages. Mazhar Chught-ai, PresidentNOTE: Objections to the issu-ance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Ob-jections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

ABC LICENSEBOH Concepts, LLC trading as Mediterranee, 10123 Colvin Run Rd, Great Falls, VA 22066. The above establish-ment is applying to the VIR-GINIA DEPARTMENT OF AL-COHOLIC BEVERAGE CON-TROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On and Off Premises; Mixed Beverage Restaurant li-cense to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Edward Marine, memberNOTE: Objections to the issu-nace of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Ob-jections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

26 Antiques

We pay top $ for antique furniture and mid-century

Danish/modernteak furniture, STERLING, MEN'S WATCHES, jewelry

and costume jewelry,paintings/art glass/clocks.

Schefer Antiques @703-241-0790.

Email:[email protected]

21 Announcements

J.E.S ServicesLANDSCAPE & CONSTRUCTION

Call: 703-912-6886Free Estimates

•Patios • Walkways•Retaining Walls•Landscape Makeovers

Drainage Problems

3rd Generation Masonry CompanyFamily Owned & Operated Since the 1950s

MASONRY SPECIALIST, LLCFor All of Your Masonry Needs

Custom Design, Installation, Repairs & Restoration

Go to www.masonryspecialist.com for ideas, pictures & coupons!All Work Guaranteed - Licensed & Fully Insured

Class A License #VA2705087240A

BRICK - FIELDSTONEFLAGSTONE - CONCRETE

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EP Henry & Belgard PaversPatios, Walkways, Driveways, Retaining & Decorative Walls

MASONRY MASONRY

Falcon RoofingRoofing & Siding (All Types)

703-975-2375falconroofinginc.com

Soffit & Fascia WrappingNew Gutters • Chimney Crowns

Leaks RepairedNo job too small

ROOFING ROOFING

HAULING

AL’S HAULINGJunk & Rubbish

Concrete, furn.,office,yard, construction debris

Low Rates NOVA703-360-4364

703-304-4798 cell

7 DAYS A WEEK

ANGEL’S HAULING

703-863-1086703-582-3709240-603-6182

Junk Trash Removal, Yard/Construction

Debris, Garage/ Base- ment Clean Out,

Furniture & Appl.

PAINTING

PATRIOTPAINTINGwww.PatriotPainting.net

Wallpaper Removal,Carpentry,

Power Washing.Int/Ext Painting

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

703-502-7840Cell

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TREE SERVICE

ANGEL’S TREE REMOVAL

Angeltreeslandscaping-hauling.com

Brush & Yard Debris Trimming & Topping

Gutters & Hauling

703-863-1086703-582-3709240-603-6182


Home & GardenHome & GardenCONTRACTORS.comconnectionnewspapers.com

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Great Papers • Great ReadersGreat Results!

Employers:Are yourrecruiting adsnot working inother papers?

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• Target your best jobcandidates wherethey live.

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Please Check Kenneth B. Column

Next Week!

Newspapers & Online

HOW TO SUBMIT ADS TO

CLASSIFIED • CHOOSE 1 TO 6 ZONESE-mail [email protected]

or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

EMPLOYMENT • CHOOSE 1 TO 6 ZONESE-mail [email protected]

or call Andrea @ 703-778-9411

Results! Why,man, I havegotten a lot of results.

I know severalthousand thingsthat won't work.

-Thomas A. Edison


News

ter, a state-of-the-art facilitydedicated to the diagnosis,clinical care and research ofTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI) aswell as to the psychological con-ditions that affect service mem-bers and their families. Thera-pists at NICoE have discoveredthat teaching service membersand veterans with combat stressto train service dogs for theirfellow Wounded Warriors hasshown promise as being thera-peutic and healing for the War-rior-trainers.

Yount explains, “The most im-portant benefit is the connec-tion between the service mem-ber and the dog in training—aswell as the sense of value thathe or she gains from contribut-ing to the well-being of anotherWounded Warrior.”

Meg Daley Olmert is the au-thor of “Made For Each Other:The Biology of the Human-Ani-mal Bond,” the first book toexplore the chemistry humansand animals can trigger in eachother that creates the powerfulsense of attachment we feel foreach other and that fills us witha deep sense of well-being.Olment is also WCC’s directorof research and development.“Soldiers who work with dogshave lower anxiety levels andless stress,” says Olmert.

“Service dogs are beneficial toveterans in a myriad of ways.Their dogs help them removeshoes and socks, retrieve foodand drinks from refrigerators,turn lights on and off, pull theirwheelchair, assist them withanxiety when they are triggeredby sights, sounds, smells orcrowded areas and much more.They also help them becomemore social—the dog serves asa social lubricant and buffer be-tween the Wounded Warrior andthe public. These service dogsimprove the quality of life forcombat veterans by providing aconstant and familiar source ofsupport. Additionally, they aid aWarrior in his or her entry backinto a non-combat world.”

During the first week of theinitial pilot program at the VA,Yount noticed a Marine sittingby himself looking sullen anddepressed.

“Will you help me train ser-vice dogs to help other veter-ans? I could really use yourhelp,” Yount implored.

After some thought, the Ma-rine replied, “I guess I can help,but I don’t know anything abouttraining dogs.” The followingday, a therapist asked the Ma-rine if he liked working with thedog. The Marine responded,“Now I have a reason to get upin the morning.” He had recon-nected with meaning and pur-pose in his life and that, as heput it, “saved his life.”

THIS MARINE, Sgt. Jon Gor-don, has stepped up to help hisfellow Wounded Warriors. He isnow an intern at the NICoE inthe service dog-training pro-gram. WCC’s black Labradorretriever “Birdie” has becomehis training project. WhenBirdie started spending thenight with Gordon, the combatveteran was finally able to sleepmore than six hours a nightwithout nightmares—a starkdifference from his former sleephabits of five hours per week.

Sgt. Gordon said, “I taughtBirdie to accept noises such as si-rens and loud blasts—noises thatused to freak me. He learned toopen doors, deal with the unex-pected and obey voice com-mands.” After just six months inthe training program, Sgt. Gor-don now socializes with others,his demeanor is more positiveand his 5-year-old daughter cameto stay with him for the summer.“Training a dog is helpful in deal-ing with my daughter—there isa correlation between the skillsthat I need for parenting and fortraining my dog. I learned pa-tience, to always give positivefeedback and to use behaviormodification techniques. Consis-tency is important too.”

When asked how he will feelwhen he has to give the dogaway, Sgt. Gordon states, “Iknow it will be like parting withmy best friend. But I’m happyto have been able to do this fora fellow vet who needs himmore than I do.” When heleaves the program, Sgt. Gor-don is planning to study occu-pational therapy in Michiganand continue training servicedogs for fellow veterans.

To become involved in WarriorCanine Connection or to donateto this cause, view their websiteat warriorcanineconnection.org.For corporate donations or todiscuss a major gift, call 301-260-1111.

From Page 11

Wounded WarriorsFind ‘Best Friends’

The James Madison Varsity Dance Team placed first out of 10 teams in the Large VarsityPom division and third out of seven teams in the Large Varsity Jazz division.

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James Madison Dance Team Wins Large Varsity Pom Division

The James Madison Varsity Dance Team com-peted at the 2012 Mason Dance Team Invi-tational on Sunday, Dec. 9, among 32 other

dance teams. The Madison Dance team placed firstout of 10 teams in the Large Varsity Pom divisionand third out of seven teams in the Large Varsity

Jazz division. This is the second year the team hascompeted in the varsity pom category under coachesHeidi Stafford and Maggie Foarde, and the first yearthey have won their division. The team will travel toOrlando, Fla. in early February to compete at theNational Dance Team Championships.

Attending InaugurationMarcia Chamblin, who attended President BarackObama’s second inauguration with her sister MaryKay Houck, says she arrived at the Vienna Metrostation at 5:30 a.m. to avoid crowded trains.

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neil simon’s ‘proposals’ presented in...

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