new at ballston exchange - ellington...

Page, 2

New over Wilson BoulevardNews, Page 3

Finding Inspiration With Arlington Artist News, Page 3

New at Ballston Exchange

News, Page 5

Customers line up out the door for a free hand-crafted drink of their choice at Philz Coffee on Wilson Boulevard.

online at www.connectionnewspapers.com February 20-26, 2019

Enter

tai

nm

ent, Pag

e 6 v

C

lass

ified

s, P

age

10Photo b

y Shir

ley

Ruhe/

The

Connec

tio

n

Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.

Requested in home 2-21-19

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322

2 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ February 20-26, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By Marilyn Campbell

Despite his predilection for visualarts, Allen Carter, an AfricanAmerican boy growing up inpre-civil rights era Arlington,

might not have been granted entrance intosome the nation’s museums due to segre-gation. Still, he persisted, and years laterhe became a lauded artist, distinguishedteacher and mentor to underprivileged chil-dren. And in February — African AmericanHistory Month — his work is being shownin an exhibit, “Big Al Carter: A Retrospec-tive,” at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art.While his work is part of the permanent col-lections of both the Smithsonian Institutionand the Corcoran Gallery of Art, this is thefirst exhibit of Carter’s work in the Wash-ington, D.C area since his death in 2008.

“Big Al’s family has given us an incred-ible gift by sharing his art, allowing us tocontinue to reflect on his life, his art andhis message for future generations,” saidMarty Schnider, president of Fred SchniderInvestment Group and founder of FredSchnider Gallery of Art.

As a painter, printmaker, sculptor andmuralist, Carter, also known as “Big Al”drew inspiration from his life experiences,

art history and everyday life. He believedthat his life’s purpose was to use art to heal.“Art is my emotion. Art is my memories. Artis my life. I create the essence,” he once said.

“He paints poor people, he paints peoplewho are fishing or people who are havingdinner at the table … his work is very vast,”said Carter’s daughter, Cecilia Carter.

Carter’s exhibit is particularly notewor-thy to some African-American art histori-ans who point to a recent study showingthat just 2.4 percent of all acquisitions andgifts and 7.6 percent of all exhibitions at30 prominent American museums havebeen of work by African American artists.The recent Andrew W. Mellon FoundationArt Museum Staff Demographic Survey of181 art museums in North America foundthat African Americans are greatly under-represented in mainstream art museums asdirectors, curators, conservators and edu-cators. Those who study African Americanart say that solving this dilemma requires ayear-round approach.

“We can’t just focus on it during BlackHistory Month,” said African American arthistorian Crystal Johnson, Ph.D. “These twostatistics go to hand-in-hand and provewhat we already know. We need more Afri-can American students to explore their ar-

tistic talents and we need more students totake chance on a non-mainstream careerand pursue jobs in museum administration.In order to make any changes, we need tohave a seat at the table.”

One such aspiring decision maker is re-cent a George Mason University graduatewho landed a position as the co-curator ofan exhibit at Howard University. “I’d workedwith an exhibition, but I’ve never had thechance to curate before. I was excited and

Carter’s exhibit, which features rarelyseen artwork from his daughters’ privatecollection, runs through March 3 at the FredSchnider Gallery of Art, 888 N. QuincyStreet, Arlington. Several pieces will beavailable for sale.

“The exhibit and his work reflect every-thing that he’s been through, what he’s seen,and what other people have been throughand seen,” said Big Al’s daughter Flora O.Stone, Carter’s daughter.

Promoting and preserving a part of history.Black History Month: A Look at African American Art

President of Fred Schnider Investment Group, LLCand Founder of the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art,Marty Schnider with Allen “Big Al” Carter’s daugh-ters, Cecilia Carter (left) and Flora O. Stone (right)

nervous,” said KourtneyRiles of the exhibitcalled, “An Examinationof Feminist(s) Subjec-tivity in Modern andContemporary AfricanAmerican Art.”

Art plays a vital, butoften overlooked role inAfrican American his-tory, not just duringBlack History Month,but all year long, ad-vises Angela Black, whohas taught art history.“Art is a way of preserv-ing our history,” shesaid. “It tells our storyand we need more pro-fessionally trained art-ists who can do that.”

Arlington Connection ❖ February 20-26, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsArlington Connection Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

Teresa Carandang

The Connection

Arlington artist Sandi Parker playswith a range of themes from im-pressionistic interpretations ofseascapes, landscapes and

cityscapes to her vibrant acrylic abstracts.Her paintings have won awards and she

has participated in juried shows around Vir-ginia, including the Art League at the Tor-pedo Factory. Her “Ohio Sunset” showed asunset fading into dusk with trees silhou-etted against it. This perspective won firstprize at last year’s “Power of Nature” ex-hibit at Gallery Underground that was juriedby the DC artist Lilian Thomas Burwell.

Two of Parker’s abstract paintings,“Energie Violette I” and “Energie VioletteII” were specially commissioned by the Crys-tal City Business Improvement District(BID) as part of its Art Walls initiative. Her10x10 inch paintings were enlarged to10x10 feet. They are now displayed in Crys-tal City as part of the Wall Art program.

Parker took art classes in high school andcollege where she mostly did pen and inkdrawings. In 2000, she studied oil paintingunder Jane McElvany Coonce, a long-timeart instructor at the Arlington County AdultEducation program and a founding mem-ber of the Arlington Artist’s Alliance.

Through what she learned from class andinspired by her favorite painters Monet and

Over Wilson BoulevardThe Ballston Quarter pedestrian bridge was moved into place on Saturday, Feb. 16,spanning Wilson Boulevard. More photos, see www.davidmossphoto.com.

Workers spent hours cutting steelon the bottom of the bridge, as ithovered over the pier.

Spectators watch thefinal placement.

Photos by David R. Moss

Manet, Parker painted places she loves fromcolorful gardens to the calm waters of thesea. A decade later, she embarked on a newphase by taking a class on abstract art fromlocal artist Bud Hensgen. For Parker, herabstracts are “all about color and texture,”how she likes to experiment with differenttextures, using hardware tools and adding“thick layers of paint.”

Inspired by her children who played a lotof sports, Parker also created sports-themedpaintings, resulting in a solo showinMOTION which featured 20 paintings ofArlington High School athletes where shetried her best to “capture action, drama, andtouching interaction between players andcoaches.” Her painting “Friendly Rivals” of

two swimmers fromcompeting schoolsare seen shakinghands after a race ison display at GalleryClarendon until theend of the February.

Parker is also asupporter of the Ar-lington community.While her children were still studying inArlington, she received an award for hervolunteer work for Arlington schools. To-day she is immersed in supportingArlington’s artistic community. Previouslya board member of the Arlington ArtistsAlliance, she is now the managing director

of Gallery Underground andGallery Clarendon. Aside fromstaging the monthly exhibits,she also organizes receptionsfor both galleries. Gallery Un-derground has a first Friday re-ception while GalleryClarendon is on the second Fri-day of each month. This is partof the Arlington Artists Alliancegoal to bring “local art more ac-cessible to the community.”

Parker is one of the many art-ists who has a studio at CrystalCity’s Gallery Underground.

Her next goal is to paint some cityscapes.She loves street art and finds ideas walkingaround the streets of Richmond and NewYork City when she visits her children.

She also has a jewelry line calledSandiSea Designs, making jewelry from seaglass and pottery shards from the sea.

Finding Inspiration through Eyes of an Artist

Photos by Teresa Carandang/The Connection

Sandi Parker with her artwork

“FriendlyRivals”

Photo by Sandi Parker

“Ohio Sunset”


Opinion

See Letters, Page 10

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

@ArlConnection

An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered

to homes and businesses.Published by

Local Media Connection LLC

1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314

Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to

connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe

NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]

Steven MaurenEditor

[email protected]

Jean CardProduction Editor

[email protected]

Shirley RuheContributing Photographer

and [email protected]

Eden BrownContributing Writer

[email protected]

ADVERTISING:For advertising information

[email protected]

Debbie FunkDisplay Advertising/National Sales

[email protected]

David GriffinMarketing Assistant

[email protected]

Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431

Editor & PublisherMary Kimm

[email protected]@MaryKimm

Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon

[email protected]

Editor in ChiefSteven MaurenArt/Design:

Laurence Foong, John Heinly,Ali Khaligh

Production Manager:Geovani Flores

[email protected]

ArlingtonThe

Connection

Where Is It?See page 11 for the answer.

Pho

to

by M

ich

ael M

cM

orro

w/T

he C

on

nectio

n

Return toGreen Valley?To the Editor:

The following is an open letter to the residents ofNauck.

Residents of the Nauck community wouldlike to rename our community “Green Valley.”For unknown reasons, the county made a de-cision to officially change or refer to our com-munity as “Nauck” and drop “Green Valley”many years ago.

The Present Nauck CommunityThe Nauck Community — bordered by Army-

Navy Country Club, Four Mile Run, SouthWalter Reed Drive and South 16th Road —features African-American roots that predatethe Civil War. Records from the 1840s showthat free blacks like Levi and Sarah Ann Jonesbought land, built homes and sometimes foundneighbors by selling portions of their lots.

A surge of growth came with the start of the20th century when an influx of former slavesarrived as the federal government shutteredits nearby Freedman’s Village.

Faced with encroaching segregation, GreenValley residents became self-sustaining as en-trepreneurs, educators, religious leaders,

health workers and other professionals estab-lished an array of resilient neighborhood in-stitutions. Several survive to this day.

Green Valley’s OriginIn 1719, John Todd and Evan Thomas re-

ceived a land grant within the area that is nowreferred to as the Nauck neighborhood. Rob-ert Alexander later acquired the land. In 1778,Alexander sold his property to John ParkeCustis, whereupon the land became part ofCustis’ Abingdon estate. During the mid-1800s,Gustavus Brown Alexander owned much of thearea that became Nauck, which at the time wascalled Green Valley. It has been stated that it isdoubtful that any of the early settlers of North-ern Virginia made a more significant and large-scale contribution to the development of Ar-lington and have received less credit and rec-ognition for it than the Fraziers of the GreenValley Estate. Anthony Frazier built Green Val-ley Manor in 1821 on what is now the Army-Navy Club. William Frazier, Jr. acquired fromthe Alexander family several hundred acres ofground straddling lower Long Branch, a tribu-tary of Four Mile Run. The lands were knownas Green Valley, perhaps named for JamesGreen, who lived on the land near the presentlocation of the clubhouse at the Army-NavyCountry Club..

Green Valley Manor was cited in the floor ofa valley about a hundred yards from LongBranch The estate included what are now theOakridge Elementary School, the GunstonMiddle School, Shirley Park, and Arna Valley(Avalon), as well as land from Pentagon Cityand the River House almost to the banks ofFour Mile Run.

The Frazier properties were extensively oc-cupied and used by the Union Army through-out the Civil War. In 1924 Green Valley Manorwas destroyed by fire, originating from causesthat have never been conclusively established.This may be a hint to why the Green Valleyname was dropped and Nauck established.

African Americans began to purchase prop-erty and settle in the Green Valley area duringthat period. Among the early African Ameri-can property owners were Levi and Sarah AnnJones. In 1844 Levi and Sarah Ann purchased14 acres of land in eastern Arlington along FourMile Run with a down payment of $200 andan additional $235 to be paid over a period offive years. Throughout the decades before andafter the Civil War, the Jones family expandedtheir farm, sold land to fellow African Ameri-cans to help create the Green Valley neighbor-

hood and become community leaders. By thetime the Civil War commenced, Jones’ farmconsisted of seventeen acres, twelve of whichhad been cleared for cultivation. Jones’ prop-erty eventually became the southern extensionof the Green Valley community. In the earlystages of the community’s development Jones’home served as a school, a church and a meet-ing house.

Throughout the decades before and after theCivil War, the Jones family expanded theirfarm, sold land to fellow African Americans tohelp create the Green Valley neighborhood, andbecame community leaders. By 1900 thisneighborhood in eastern Arlington County be-came the largest black community in terms ofboth geography and population. This largepopulation supported both a church and schoolwithin the community. The early strength ofGreen Valley was due, in large part, to the pres-ence of the Jones family who actively sold landto fellow African Americans. After the warended in 1865, Thornton and Selina Gray, anAfrican American couple that had earlier beenslaves at Arlington House, purchased a smallpiece of property in the area in 1867.

In the 1970s the community started to be-come heavily referred to by “official Arlington”as Nauck, rather than what it was commonlyknown as. It then raises the question why wasit still commonly referred to as “Green Valley”when it was recorded in Alexandria County in1885 as “Nauck?” Was the new ArlingtonCounty, started in 1920 bound by recordingsof Alexandria County? If they were not bound,why did they continue to refer to it as GreenValley for the first 50 years of its existence(1920-1970)? Was it because John D, Nauckwas a former Confederate Army soldier andthe Green Valley Manor was extensively occu-pied and used throughout most of the Civil Warby the Union Army?

During 1874-1875, John D. Nauck, a formerConfederate Army soldier who had immigratedfrom Germany, purchased parcels of land inSouth Arlington (some 30 years after Levi andSarah Ann Jones) and began subdividing it.Prior to that time the areas was known asGreen Valley. Some articles state he purchased69 parcels (acres) and others state he pur-chased 46 parcels (acres). John Nauck held atleast one political office in the area, lived onhis property and subdivided and sold the re-mainder. During the post-war period, the areaattracted several African American familiesresiding in Freedman’s Village and other loca

Letters to the Editor

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearlyspecial edition, will publish the lastweek of February, and photos andstories of your pets with you and

your family should be submitted by Friday, Feb.22.

We invite you to send stories about your pets,photos of you and your family with your cats,

dogs, llamas, alpacas, ponies,hamsters, snakes, lizards, frogs,rabbits, or whatever other crea-tures share your life with you.

Tell us the story of a special bond between achild and a dog, the story of how you came to

adopt your pet, or examples of amazing featsof your creatures.

Do you volunteer at an animal shelter ortherapeutic riding center or take your pet tovisit people in a nursing home? Does your busi-ness have a managing pet? Is your businessabout pets? Have you helped to train an assis-tance dog? Do you or someone in your familydepend on an assistance dog?

Or take this opportunity to memorialize abeloved pet you have lost.

Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favoritepictures include both pets and humans.

Please tell us a little bit about your creature,

identify everyone in the photo, give a briefdescription what is happening in the photo,and include address and phone number (wewill not publish your address or phone num-ber, just your town name).

Email [email protected] or submitonline at www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.

For advertising information, [email protected] or call 703-778-9431.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

Be Part of the Pet Connection

Editorial


News

By Shirley Ruhe

The Connection

Large or small? Light, medium orcreamy?” The barista at Philz Cof-fee on Wilson Boulevard stretches

two fingers to show how much milk eachrepresents in a cup of the hand-crafted cof-fee. Philz opened its first Virginia store onFeb. 7 and handed out free coffee plus tastesof avocado toast and labneh toast onValentine’s Day.

A line of customers stares at the black-board, listing specialties with names likeSilken Splendor, Ether, Canopy of Heaven.The line has been 20 strong starting at thedoor and extending the length of thecounter since 8:30 a.m.

Chris Knight who describes himself as partof the opening team, “well, the one-manopening team,” said, “We start with blackcoffee and then make it to your taste. Weare known for our personalized approach.”He says the two most popular coffee choicesby far have been the Tesora, which is a com-bination of caramel, nuts and butter, andthe iced Mint Mojito, “even in winter. Youhave a lot of iced drinkers here.”

Knight says tasting the coffee drinks issimilar to wine. For instance, the Philhar-monic is a medium roast “with an earthyundertone and then the cardamom spice weadd kicks in at the end.” Knight says usu-

ally people start out with the familiar andthen start to explore new drinks.

Knight says he travels around the coun-try opening Philz Coffee locations. He hasjust come from Bethesda where they openeda store last month. “I’m a wanderer. Actu-ally I grew up in the LA and live in San Fran-cisco. I’ll spend the summer in Chicago.”Knight says it takes about two and a halfmonths to open a store from the lease sign-ing. “The building permits usually take thelongest.”

He said, “We heard a lot of great thingsabout the Ballston Exchange area. It feelsthe same here as the DC locations, but dif-ferent. It’s friendlier.” Knight said.

New at Ballston Exchange

Philz Coffee opens itsfirst store in Virginia.

Chris Knight, center, describeshimself as the one-man openingteam for Philz Coffee around thecountry.

By Sh

irley R

uh

e/T

he C

on

nectio

n

“


By Steve Hibbard

The Connection

With a cast of 26 child actors, ages 9-18, En-core Stage & Studio of Arlington is presenting“Robin Hood” from Feb. 22 to March 3, at GunstonArts Center – Theatre One.

According to Artistic Director Susan Keady: “Theshow is about Merry Old England during the DarkAges and Robin Hood is a thief, a bandit who robsfrom the rich to give to the poor. The kingdom isruled by King Richard who is away travelling andin his place his brother, Prince John, is doing aterrible job in taxing the citizens and going againstall the good will that King Richard has created.”

She continued: “Robin Hood, who is from theSherwood Forest region, ends up gathering a bandof Merry Men, all of whom are thieves, and de-fending the poor people. On all the state high-ways, they steal from the caravans and distributeto the poor.”

“I want the audiences to have a sense of theculture and the time in which the play is set —through the fights, stage combat, dancing, thesense of right and wrong, good versus evil andgood triumphs over evil, and that history can bereally great,” said Keady, who is also the director.She said that 122 youths auditioned for the show.

Xander Tilock, 14, of Falls Church plays the titlerole of Robin Hood. “Robin Hood is a very adven-turous character with lots of charisma and deter-mination to do the right thing and assist the peoplethrough difficult times,” said the Justice HighSchool ninth-grader.

“Some challenges were piecing together thestage combat, character acting and interactingwith other characters all together, but in the end,our amazing team accomplished this,” he said.

Maggie Donnelly, 13, of Arlington plays the wifeto the Sheriff of Nottingham. “I am a goofy womanwho likes to have fun and likes to shop in France,”

said the St. Ann’s seventh-grader. “She’s very sillyand goofy and I’ve never really played a characterlike that. Not only is it hard to get the comediceffect on the lines, it’s hard not to break out laugh-ing doing it,” she said.

Sam Regardie, 13, of Washington, D.C., playsWill Scarlet, one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. “Itwas really challenging for me to learn stage com-bat and fighting with other people because I havenot done much of that before,” said the Washing-ton-Latin School eighth-grader.

Quinn Sumerlin, 14, of Arlington plays MaidMarian. “She’s a dreamer but she’s had a roughlife. She’s having to marry this guy who she doesnot like. She still finds hope and happiness andstill believes in love,” said the H.B. Woodlawnninth-grader. “I think she’s a very emotional char-acter and a few people she’s close to die and shehas some very emotional lines which are hard totake seriously when you’re a ninth-grader. Also, Italk really fast so having to slow down is a chal-lenge,” she said.

Isa Paley, 14, of Arlington plays the role ofSalome. “She has been raised in riches and spoiled,but she’s very dim and she’s not entirely aware ofthe world around her, but she does pick up onlittle things. She’s funny and doesn’t have the bestsocial cues,” said the Wakefield High ninth-grader.

Oliver Meek, 13, of Arlington plays the role ofLittle John, another follower of Robin Hood andhis Merry Men Band. “He’s a funny guy and hasan ironic name because he’s not actually little,”said the Swanson Middle School eighth-grader. Hesaid the challenge was finding his character’s spe-cialty. “Each character has a different shtick andevery character’s personality works together andit makes an amazing show.”

Founded in 1967, Encore Stage & Studio (“The-atre by kids, for kids”) is presenting “Robin Hood”from Feb. 22 to March 3. Show times are Fridays,Feb. 22 and March 1, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb.23 and March 2, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Sun-days, Feb. 24 and March 3, at 3 p.m. The venue islocated at Gunston Arts Center – Theatre One, 2700S. Lang St., Arlington. Tickets are $15/adults, $12/children, students, military, and seniors. Tickets areavailable at www.encorestage.org or by calling 703-548-1154.

Encore Stages ‘Robin Hood’Classic tale of a banditwho robs from the rich togive to the poor in MerryOld England.

Pho

to

by Steve H

ibbard/T

he C

on

nectio

n

The cast of Encore’s production of “Robin Hood” in rehearsal.

EntertainmentSubmit entertainment announcements

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

ONGOINGExhibition: ARTECH. Through Feb.

24, at The Barry Gallery, in theReinsch Library at MarymountUniversity, 2807 North Glebe Road,Arlington. Featuring multi-mediaworks by Susan Eder, Alexis Gomez,and Jonathan Monaghan. Theexhibition focuses on theadvancements of modern daytechnology, its influence on theworld, and the ways it can beincorporated into the creation ofartwork. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6p.m. Admission is free.

“Cyrano.” Through March 10, atSynetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St.,Arlington. Directed by VatoTsikurishvili and based on the playby Edmond Rostand. A brilliant poetand soldier, Cyrano de Bergeracapparently has it all – except theconfidence to win the heart of hisbeloved Roxane. Lacking traditionalgood looks and the ability to truly “fitin,” Cyrano partners with hishandsome friend Christian, also inlove with Roxane but lackingCyrano’s way with words. Together,the two make a formidable suitor asCyrano expresses his true feelings forRoxane in the only we he feels he can– through love letters apparentlywritten by Christian. Synetic Theaterwill apply their unique physicalstorytelling and a stylistic twist tothis commedia-inspired wordlessadaptation of Cyrano. Tickets are $20and can be purchased online atwww.synetictheater.org or via phoneat 866-811-4111.

Convergence: Works by AAC’sResident Artists. Through March10, gallery hours at Arlington ArtsCenter, 3550 Wilson Blvd. Featuringa diverse selection of works by AAC’stwelve resident artists, this exhibitionexamines the current trajectories ofindividual artists, while embodyingthe creative dialogue thatcharacterizes AAC’s residencyprogram. Visitarlingtonartscenter.org for more.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 20Sustainable Landscaping:

Selecting Native Plants. 7-8:30p.m. At Columbia Pike BranchLibrary, 816 South Walter ReedDrive, Arlington. There’s a palette ofplants that is just right and that willthrive in any site’s conditions. Learnhow to select appropriate plants for asite, what is meant by a native plantversus a cultivar, and some bestmanagement practices for installationand maintenance of planting beddesigns. Free. Advance registrationrequested at mgnv.org. Call 703-228-6414 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY/FEB. 21Talk on Hillwood Estate’s Garden.

11 a.m. At Little Falls PresbyterianChurch, 6026 Little Falls Road,Lower Level Friendship Hall,Arlington. Sponsored by Rock SpringGarden Club, Hillwood’sHorticulturist and Garden Manager,Drew Asbury, will speak about theHillwood Estate’s cutting garden andadding cut flowers to a garden’splantings. Club meeting begins at 10a.m. Optional lunch available afterthe program with small donation.Visit www.rockspringgardenclub.comor [email protected].

Mystery Writers. 7 p.m. At One MorePage Books, 2200 Westmoreland St.,Arlington. David Swinson, incelebration of his detective thriller,Trigger, David will be in conversation

with Bill Beverly, author of Dodgers,a dark, coming-of-age journey.. Visitwww.onemorepagebooks.com.

Live Comedy: Carlos Mencia. 7:30p.m. at Arlington Cinema &Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Inthe past couple years, Carlos Menciahas chosen to go back to his comedicroots, performing at a number ofcomedy stores throughout thecountry – allowing him to share hisnewest material with smaller andmore intimate audiences. $30-$35.Visit ArlingtonDrafthouse.com.

FRIDAY/FEB. 22Live Comedy: Carlos Mencia. 7:30

and 10 p.m. at Arlington Cinema &Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Inthe past couple years, Carlos Menciahas chosen to go back to his comedicroots, performing at a number ofcomedy stores throughout thecountry – allowing him to share hisnewest material with smaller andmore intimate audiences. $30-$35.Visit ArlingtonDrafthouse.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY/FEB. 22-23Darwin and his Fabulous Orchids.

Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 6:30and 7:30 p.m. At David M. BrownPlanetarium, 1426 N. Quincy St.,Arlington. Aesthetic, unique, andintriguing, this introduction to thelargest and most varied family ofplants and to the research carried outby Charles Darwin is an intense, butalso entertaining experience. Neverlook at orchids the same way again.Sponsored by Friends of thePlanetarium. Visitfriendsoftheplanetarium.org.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/FEB. 22-24“Robin Hood.” Friday, 7:30 p.m.;

Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; andSunday, 3 p.m. at Gunston ArtsCenter – Theatre One, 2700 S. LangSt. Arlington. Presented by EncoreStage & Studio – Theatre by Kids, forKids. Robin Hood and his merry menare on a mission to help by takingfrom the rich and giving back to thepoor. Tickets are $15/adults; $12/children, students, military andseniors. Visit www.encorestage.org orcall the box office at 703-548-1154.

FEB. 22-27Lions Club Charity Fundraiser. At

Overlee Pool, Bath House - LowerLevel, 6030 Lee Highway, Arlington.Fresh citrus, pecans, and maple syrupfor sale. Sponsored by the NorthwestArlington Lions Club/Charities.Hours are Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.;Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday,11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Monday, 9a.m.-4 p.m.; and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4p.m.; and Wednesday, 8 a.m.-2:30p.m. Call 703-528-1130.

FEB. 22-MARCH 8“She Kills Monsters.” At Mount

Olivet United Methodist Church,1500 North Glebe Road, Arlington.Show times are Fridays, Feb. 22,March 1 and 8 at 7:30 p.m.;Saturdays, Feb. 23, March 2 and 9 at7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 10 at2 p.m. Written by Qui Nguyen, thiscomic romp captures the power ofrole-playing fantasy games tocatapult us from hum-drum lives intoworlds of infinite possibilities. Cost is$13/adult; $7/child. Donations willbe taken to support the youthsummer mission trips. Visit thewebsite: http://mountolivetumc.com/youthplay/.

SATURDAY/FEB. 23Black History Month: Stories and

Quilting. 1-2 p.m. At Columbia PikeBranch Library, 816 S. Walter ReedDrive, Arlington. Visit


Select yourproducts from

our MobileShowroomand Design

CenterFully Insured &

Class A LicensedSince 1999

Free Estimates703-214-8384 Visit our website: www.twopoorteachers.com

TWO POOR TEACHERSKitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

10% downnothing until the jobis complete for the

past 17 years

10% downnothing until the jobis complete for the

past 17 years

Same Company, Same Employees,Same Great Value - Now Celebrating 20 Years!

Calendar

library.arlingtonva.us/locations/columbia-pike-branch-library/ formore.

Feel the Heritage Festival. 1-6 p.m.At Charles Drew Community Center,3500 23rd St., South, Arlington.Wide variety of live entertainment –from Gospel music to Africandrumming/dancing. Artisan vendorswill offer products ranging from bathand beauty to clothing andhandcrafted jewelry. Non-profit andcommunity organizations will displayinformation about programs availableto Arlington residents. Free dentalscreenings. 2-6 p.m. Sweet HomeCafé Chef Jerome Grant to judge BestSoul Food cook-off entries. Thefestival welcomes local residents eachyear to learn about the historicallyAfrican-American neighborhoodswhile enjoying live entertainment,delicious food and dozens of vendors.Other offerings will include facepainting, balloon art and giant games– checkers, chess and Chinesecheckers. Visit the websitewww.parks.arlingtonva.us/feel-the-heritage-festival or call 703-228-3329.

Author M.K. England. 3 p.m. At OneMore Page Books, 2200Westmoreland St., Arlington.England will discuss her YA sci-fiadventure, The Disasters. TheBreakfast Club meets Guardians ofthe Galaxy when hotshot pilot NaxHall is framed for a terrorist attackon the elite Ellis Station Academy,from which he’s just been expelled.Visit www.onemorepagebooks.com.

Black History Month Sing-a-long.3-4 p.m. At Columbia Pike BranchLibrary, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive,Arlington. Visitlibrary.arlingtonva.us/locations/columbia-pike-branch-library/ formore.

Jane Franklin Dance’s Border. 5:15p.m. At Atlas Performing Arts Center,1333 H St., NE, Washington, D.C.Experiences and perspective on biastold through personal stories,movement and visual art. FeaturingEmily Crews, Carrie Monger, KelseyRohr, Amy Scaringe, Brynna Shank,Rebecca Weiss with Ken Hays andRichard Nyman. $25. Visitwww.atlasarts.org/events/border/ orcall 202-399-7993, ext. 2.

Family Skate Nights. 6:30-9 p.m. AtThomas Jefferson Community Center,3501 2nd St., South, Arlington. Timeto add roller skating to the calendarof weekend evening fun. Enjoy a liveDJ, moon bounce and fun on wheels.The cafe will be open for snacks./ $2per person; skate rental is $3. This isa cash only event.

The Arlington Chorale. 7:30-9 pm.At Westover Baptist Church, 1125Patrick Henry Drive, Arlington. JoinThe Arlington Chorale for “Light inthe Darkness” – a diverse selection ofsongs to warm the soul and lightenthe spirit. Free with donations


Entertainment

accepted. Visit arlingtonchorale.org/.Determined to Rise: Women’s

Historical Activism for EqualRights. 7-8:30 p.m. At ArlingtonPublic Library, 1015 N. Quincy St.,Arlington. Visitlibrary.arlingtonva.us/locations/central-library/ for more.

Live Comedy: Carlos Mencia. 7 and9:30 p.m. at Arlington Cinema &Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Inthe past couple years, Carlos Menciahas chosen to go back to his comedicroots, performing at a number ofcomedy stores throughout thecountry – allowing him to share hisnewest material with smaller andmore intimate audiences. $30-$35.Visit ArlingtonDrafthouse.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/FEB. 23-24Spoon, Toons & Booze Rocks! Noon

at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse,

nature center to practice posesrepresenting the plants and animalsfound, then end with a shortrelaxation. No prior experienceneeded, bring a yoga mat if possible,but not required. Ages 7-10. $5.Register at registration.arlingtonva.ususing #622929-C.

Natural Selection. 1:30 p.m. At DavidM. Brown Planetarium, 1426 N.Quincy St., Arlington. This screeningof “Natural Selection” celebrates thelandmark publication of “On theOrigin of Species” and theanniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth.Join Darwin on his voyage with theHMS Beagle to the Galapagos Islandswhere he was inspired to develop hislater theory of transmutation bynatural selection. From the comfortof Down House in Kent, Darwinhimself will explain the mechanismof natural selection to the audience,and support it by showing manybeautiful examples in nature. Thethrill of a scientific discovery, theadventure of science and the beautyof nature are central in this show.Sponsored by Friends of thePlanetarium. Visitfriendsoftheplanetarium.org.

Celestial Navigation. 2:15 p.m. AtDavid M. Brown Planetarium, 1426N. Quincy St., Arlington. How to getfrom here to there? Darwin’s theoryof evolution has its roots in hisvoyage on the HMS Beagle, on whichhe spent five years as the naturalist.Explore storm glasses and sextants,the 19th century technology thatbrought Darwin and his specimenssafely home. Sponsored by Friends ofthe Planetarium. Visitfriendsoftheplanetarium.org.

Cell. Cell. Cell. 3 p.m. At David M.Brown Planetarium, 1426 N. QuincySt., Arlington. This is the story of thetrillions of cells that form humanbodies, from the beginning as asingle cell to the complexity of awhole body. Join Raj and Sooki on atotally ex-CELL-ent immersivejourney. Get shrunk down by theShrink-a-tron, go back in time withthe Retroscope and see an explodedview of all the body systems courtesyof the Cell-o-tron. Sponsored byFriends of the Planetarium. Visitfriendsoftheplanetarium.org.

MONDAY/FEB. 25The Embattled Vote in America. 3-

4:30 p.m. At Arlington CentralLibrary, 1015 N. Quincy St.,Arlington. Encore Learning willpresent a lecture on “The EmbattledVote in America: From the Foundingto the Present.” Allan J. Lichtmanwill discuss his newest book aboutpast and current battles to secure theright to vote. His book details thefounders’ failure to provide federalprotection for the conduct ofelections. This has led to ongoingbattles between political parties tostructure local election laws to gainpolitical advantage. Call EncoreLearning at 703-228-2144.

Talk on Urban Agriculture. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Westover BranchLibrary, 1644 N. McKinley Road,Arlington. Discussion on UrbanAgriculture - “Grow What You Eat:Starting Your Own VegetableGarden.” Learn easy-to-implementpractices for selecting a site, andevaluating and improving soil. Findout which plants grow best locally,which are best planted directly viaseeds and which are typicallytransplanted as seedlings. Discoverhow to attract pollinators and otherbeneficial insects. Learn to identifyand manage pests, weeds anddiseases. Get free seeds and avegetable garden calendarcustomized for the region. Free.Advance registration requested atmgnv.org. Call 703-228-6414 oremail [email protected].

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 27Crescendo Chamber Music

Concert. 7:30 p.m. at WakefieldHigh School, 1325 S. Dinwiddie St.,Arlington. Don’t miss the youngstring players of the Crescendoprogram at its winter chamber musicconcert.

THURSDAY/FEB. 28Alliance For Housing Solutions.

5:30-7 p.m. At 3100 Clarendon Blvd.,Suite 200, Arlington. Come enjoydrinks, networking, and an informalconversation about affordablehousing with Arlington County BoardChair, Christian Dorsey. Remarksfrom Christian at 6 p.m. This freeevent is open to anyone interested inhousing affordability in thecommunity. RSVPs are not requiredbut will help in planning. Email thename(s) of those attending toahstaff@allianceforhousingsolutions.

FEB. 27-MARCH 5Lions Club Charity Fundraiser. At

Overlee Pool, Bath House - LowerLevel, 6030 Lee Highway, Arlington.Fresh citrus, pecans, and maple syrupfor sale. Sponsored by the NorthwestArlington Lions Club/Charities.Hours are Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.;Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday,11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Monday, 9a.m.-4 p.m.; and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.Call 703-528-1130.

FRIDAY/MARCH 1Jurassic Adventure Family Night.

6-8 p.m. At the Arlington MillCommunity and Senior Center, 909S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington. Stepback in time to when dinosaursroamed the earth at Arlington MillCommunity & Senior Center. FamilyNights @ The Mill are free drop-inprograms for families that take placeon the first Friday of every month.Enjoy fun dinosaur games, make yourown dinosaur mask and test yourskills at our dinosaur egg scavengerhunt. Jurassic times call for Jurassicmeasures. Visit parks.arlingtonva.us/locations/arlington-mill-community-center/.

Family Fun Night-For Individualswith Disabilities. 6:30-8 p.m. AtLangston-Brown Community Center,2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington.Families of children with disabilitiesages 4-17 can drop by Langston-Brown Community Center. No pre-registration is required during thisdrop-in event. Families will beimmersed into a monthly themefeaturing various therapeutic activitystations including gross motor,sensory, art, large games, a quietroom and more! $2 per person. Visitparks.arlingtonva.us/locations/langston-brown-community-center-park.

She Kills MonstersThis is a play by Qui Nguyen.

Comic romp captures the powerof role-playing fantasy gamesto catapult us from hum-drumlives into worlds of infinitepossibilities. Free. Donationswill be taken to support theyouth summer mission trips.Show times are Fridays,Feb. 22, March 1 and 8 at7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb.23, March 2 and 9 at 7:30

p.m.; and Sunday, March 10at 2 p.m. Cost is $13/adult;

$7/child. At Mount OlivetUnited Methodist Church, 1500

North Glebe Road, Arlington. Visitmountolivetumc.com/youthplay for

more.

2903 ColumbiaPike,Arlington. Liveout rock n’ rollfantasies atSpoons, Toons& Booze Rocks!FavoriteSaturdaymorning andweekdayafternooncartoons on thebig screen plusa special menuof episodesfeaturing rockstars, bandbreakups,musicalnumbers, bandparodies,battles of thebands, somebodaciousshredding froman animatedBill & Ted andmaybesomethingthat’s truly,truly, trulyoutrageous.Hosted bySecretFormula’scartoon andcereal expertsMichael Austinand Nell Casey.Cost is $15.VisitArlingtonDrafthouse.com.

SUNDAY/FEB. 24Yoga at Long

Branch. 10-10:45 a.m. atLong BranchNature Center,625 S. CarlinSprings Road.Start with afun short walk,return to the


Calendar

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/MARCH 1-3“Robin Hood.” Friday, 7:30 p.m.;

Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; andSunday, 3 p.m. at Gunston ArtsCenter – Theatre One, 2700 S. LangSt. Arlington. Presented by EncoreStage & Studio – Theatre by Kids, forKids. Robin Hood and his merry menare on a mission to help by takingfrom the rich and giving back to thepoor. Tickets are $15/adults; $12/children, students, military andseniors. Visit www.encorestage.org orcall the box office at 703-548-1154.

SATURDAY/MARCH 2Fort C.F. Smith Park Walking

Tour. 9-10 a.m. At C.F. Smith Park,2411 N. 24th St., Arlington. Free.Fort C.F. Smith was one of the lastUnion forts built to protectWashington during the Civil War.Learn about the park’s history, therole of the fort and the soldiersstationed there in the Civil War.Dress for the weather. Terrain will beuneven and possibly muddy. Call703-228-4775.

Turtle First Aid. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. AtLong Branch Nature Center, 625 S.Carlin Springs Road, Arlington. Joinrehabilitators and vets in this six-hour class to learn the basics of carefor rescued local turtles. Morningsession: Turtle Care Intro coversnatural history, diet, housing,common illnesses and injuries, andhow to help wild turtles. Afternoonsession: Turtle First Aid withveterinarians on how to recognizeand handle a variety of issues withsick and injured turtles. They’ll alsodo hands-on diagnosing with liveturtles. $35. To register go towildliferescueleague.org. Bringsnacks and lunch. Teens ages 15 andup are welcomed, but must beaccompanied by a registered adult.Call 703-228-6535.

Plot Against Hunger SpringGarden Kick-Off. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. atArlington Central Library, 1015 N.Quincy St., Arlington. Learn how tosupport Arlington Food AssistanceCenter with fresh produce from ahome garden or community plot.There will be presentations on seedstarting, composting, and lasagnaand container gardening; exhibittables on winter gardening andedible landscapes; anddemonstrations of fruit tree pruning.Also free vegetable and herb seeds.Free. Advance registration requestedat mgnv.org. Call 703-228-6414 oremail [email protected].

Fort Ethan Allen Park WalkingTour. 12-12:45 p.m. At Fort EthanPark, 3829 N. Stafford St., Arlington.Free. Fort Ethan Allen was built bythe Union Army in September 1861to command the approach to ChainBridge and has the most extensiveremaining features of any Civil Warfort in Arlington. Explore theearthworks and discuss how and whythe fort was built. Dress for theweather. Terrain will be uneven andpossibly muddy. Call 703-228-4775.

Family Skate Nights. 6:30-9 p.m. AtThomas Jefferson Community Center,3501 2nd St., South, Arlington. Timeto add roller skating to the calendarof weekend evening fun. Enjoy a liveDJ, moon bounce and fun on wheels.The cafe will be open for snacks./ $2per person; skate rental is $3. This isa cash only event.

TUESDAY/MARCH 5Lecture Series: Intelligence. 11-

11:45 a.m. At DEA Museum &Visitor’s Center, 700 Army NavyDrive, Arlington. Free. Take a peekinto the inner workings of the DrugEnforcement Administration in this2019 lecture series “Who We Are andWhat We Do.” Panel discussion withfour members of the Intelligencestaff. Visit www.deamuseum.org/lecture-series/2019.


From Page 4

Letters

Former water tower of SaegmillerMansion, 5115 Little Falls Road,Arlington.

Pho

to

by M

ich

ael M

cM

orro

w/T

he C

on

nectio

n

See Letters, Page 11

tions. In 1876, William Augustus Rowe, an AfricanAmerican who lived in Freedman’s Village and waselected to a number of political positions, was amongthose who purchased property in the area duringthat period. Green Valley grew slowly during the late19th century. Again it raises the question, why theirnames were not considered?

In 1874, a congregation initially organized inFreedman’s Village purchased land in the area onwhich to relocate a building containing an AfricanMethodist Episcopal Zion Church, (the Lomax A.M.E.Zion Church). The church’s building housed a pub-lic school that was later known as the Kemper School.In 1885, the Alexandria County school board built aone-room school nearby. The board constructed anew two-story brick school in 1893 on South Lin-coln Street. The Arlington County school board laterreplaced that building with a larger facility that nowcontains the Drew Model Elementary School.

While the Nauck community’s origins predate theCivil War and John D. Nauck, African American fami-lies like the Jones family formed a seed for the fu-ture, the community’s growth, particularly the firsthalf — of the 20th century was fed by migration. Inparticular, Green Valley became a station on a mi-gration that traces to the end of the Civil War andthe establishment of Freedman’s Village in Arling-ton following the Emancipation Proclamation in1863.

From its earliest days and throughout most — andparticularly the first half — of the 20th century,Green Valley and other African American communi-ties were largely excluded from full participation inmainstream American political and social life andcommerce. As a result, communities had to “do forthemselves.” They made their own institutions, andthey did their best to provide services for themselvesand their neighbors. They also made their own fun.Community churches facilitated many of these ac-tivities.

However, the 1902 Virginia Constitution, whichestablished racial segregation throughout the stateand restricted the rights of African Americans,stopped the neighborhood’s expansion. AfricanAmerican property owners continued to subdividetheir lands to accommodate more people, butNauck’s boundaries largely remained unchanged.

During World War II, the federal government con-structed Paul Lawrence Dunbar Homes, an 11 acressegregated barracks-style wartime emergency low-

income housing community for African Americansin Green Valley. The government built this afford-able housing project on a parcel of land at KemperRoad and Shirlington Road that Levi Jones and hisfamily had once owned. Meanwhile, constructionof The Pentagon and its surrounding roads duringthe war destroyed several older African Americancommunities. Some of those communities’ displacedresidents relocated to Green Valley, thus stimulat-ing the neighborhood’s development and increas-ing its African American population. By 1952, fewblocks in Green Valley were still vacant. Others werebuilt nearly to capacity. The neighborhood contin-ued to develop during the remainder of the 20thcentury along the lines established many years ear-lier. In 2013, the Arlington County Board designatedthe Green Valley Pharmacy in Nauck as a local his-toric district. Not only did many of the businessescarry the surname Green Valley, e.g., Green ValleyCarryout, Green Valley Blacksox, Green Valley Park,etc., but it was identified as that by most areas ofthe DMV until its present identification as Nauck.Additionally, the buses and streetcars before themran from their terminus in Rosslyn to its terminus inGreen Valley, only extending to Shirlington after itsextension of Seminary Road.

Rationale for ChangeWilliam Frazier, Jr. acquired from the Alexander

family several hundred acres of ground straddlinglower Long Branch, a tributary of Four Mile Run.The lands were known as Green Valley, perhapsnamed for James Green, who lived on the land nearthe present location of the clubhouse at the Army-Navy Country Club. From that time, then a part ofAlexandria County, through the establishment ofArlington County until circa 1970 the area was re-ferred to and known as Green Valley. In the 1970sthe three areas where most of its African Americanpopulation was residing, underwent a name change,i.e., Green Valley became Nauck, Halls Hill becameHigh View Park and Johnson Hill became ArlingtonView without the knowledge of the residents as towhy. It was under the name of Green Valley that itspioneers — surviving Jim Crow Laws, black codes,lacking financial backing, becoming economicallyindependent, educating themselves and their chil-dren, fighting for freedom’ and remembering fromwhence they came — served as an inspiration to allto celebrate and continue sharing past and present,ordinary Green Valley resident’s accomplishments.It is this memory we seek to memorialize of the im-portant work of what those residents of Green Val-ley achieved and the legacy they leave for futuregenerations.

Taking a page from the following “It’s time to talkabout the names of our schools and what they meanand why they matter,” Barbara Kanninen, SchoolBoard chair, said at an August 2017 meeting, “It isalso time to talk about our communities and thevalues these names reflect and the messages we aresending, not only to our children, but to our futureresidents.”

Residents of the Nauck Community would like torename their community “Green Valley/Nauck,” (al-though we prefer the name Nauck excluded, as itwas so named and still referred to before for un-known reasons, the county made a decision to offi-cially change or refer to it as the Nauck communityand drop “Green Valley.”

Although the Jones family purchased and start-ing selling parcels of their land, some 30 years be-fore John D. Nauck, raises the question, “if the nameof the area was referred to as Green Valley from itsinception in the 1700s to the 1970s,” why was thename “Nauck” selected and not one of the early Af


From Page 10

Letters

rican American residents who contributedto its growth, i.e., Jones, Gray or Rowe”?We find no record or evidence linking Nauckto efforts to improve the quality of life forits residents. Unlike today’s process utilizedby the Arlington Civic Federation in allow-ing its civic associations to select the nameof the area and its association, the GreenValley residents were not afforded that op-portunity. Today, we are asking for that op-portunity by requesting our communityonce again become the Green Valley/Nauckcommunity in keeping with its rich history.In today’s time for the community to benamed after John D. Nauck, a former Con-federate Army soldier and developer whowas not known to have made any othercontribution to the improvement of thequality of life or values of the residents ofGreen Valley is not the message we want tosend to our children or future residents.Look at many of the local, national and in-ternational contributions that were madeby the residents under the banner of GreenValley and to let that name slip into noth-ingness would be a travesty to their memory.

Borrowing further from the schools direc-tion, supporters of the renaming — “Nauck”to include its original name “Green Valley”— argued that it is inappropriate for thediverse community to venerate a personwho fought to preserve slavery and whosememory evokes painful reminders of lawsthat segregated and excluded AfricanAmericans from public life.

— Written by Dr. Alfred O. Taylor, Jr.Please let us know what you think of

changing our name back to Green Valley.Portia A. Clark

President, Nauck Civic Associationwww.ncaarlington.org

Ready for PassageTo the Editor:

In breaking news on Feb 14, Virginia Del-egates Ayala and Simon filed new bills thatwould lead to a vote on whether to ratifythe Equal Rights Amendment. A majorityof the House of Delegates have said theywill vote for the Amendment if it is broughtto the House floor.

The Equal Rights Amendment will reclaimVirginia’s fame as a birthplace of freedomfrom undue government interference. TheAmendment states: “Equality of rights un-der the law shall not be denied or abridgedby the United States or by any state on ac-count of sex.”

A recent scientific poll by the Wason Cen-ter for Public Policy of Christopher NewportUniversity found that 81 percent of Virgin-ians want our state to ratify the Amend-ment. Virginia has the opportunity to be the38th and final state to ratify the EqualRights Amendment. A House vote repre-senting the Virginia poll respondents wouldbe fitting in the state that forged our repre-sentative government. On July 30 of thisyear, Virginia will celebrate the 400th an-niversary of the first democratically electedstate legislature in our country.

Let’s reclaim the narrative. Our state hasevolved. The Equal Rights Amendment isready for passage.

Heather Keppler/Arlington

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

At least that was my intention when I sat down to write this column. I was planning on highlighting a couple of my pet peeves: One was about people who back into parking spac-es, an all-too common practice (which does not make perfect) that irks me no end and often in-conveniences me while idling in my car waiting for the driver to crane his neck and coordinate

space, all while blocking my passage. The second peeve also involves cars, but this

action has potentially far more dangerous con-sequences: Drivers who, while motoring along, completely ignore my car’s blinkers/indicator lights – WHEN THEY’RE FLASHING.

I was taught that when driving a vehicle and needing to turn/switch lanes, I was to indicate that to other drivers by using my blinkers, look into my mirrors and then move right or left accordingly. Moreover, when I observed those

respect their intentions and give them a wide berth. I was not to speed up and interfere with their indications. Unfortunately, the exact oppo-site often happens.

Though I am still respectful when drivers

many of my driving brethren see those lights, they react much the same way as a bull does when he sees red: they SPEED UP, and in their vehicle’s acceleration, they put me and my pas-sengers at risk. If it has happened once – which it has – it has happened a thousand times.

Unfortunately, neither of these car-related “misbehaviors” has been able to block out one of my key cancer anniversaries: Feb. 20, 2009, and as such, I will now be returning to the scene of the semi crime. And though I am not Billy Shears 20 years after the band taught me how to play, I am a lung cancer survivor who 10 years ago on Feb. 20 learned that I had cancer. That was the day when my primary care physician called me at work, about noon-ish on a Thursday to discuss the results of my previous week’s surgical biopsy.

After declining the offer to come to his

he did: the growth was malignant. Dumbfound-ed, I asked for further details, which he politely deferred to an oncologist (a specialty with which I was totally unfamiliar), with whom, while we spoke on the phone, my primary care physician scheduled a Team Lourie appoint-ment for the following Thursday.

which had been going on since I showed up at the Emergency Room on Jan. 1, 2009 complain-ing of pain in my right side, an inability to take

With an inconclusive X-Ray to not corrob-orate, an otherwise healthy patient with no family history of anything relevant – especially cancer, the doctor was perplexed. Fifty days later I learned I had cancer. And so I remember that day/date, a day which will go down in infamy, so to speak – in my family anyway.

The intervening days, as I have written about recently, were spent investigating the cause of my original symptoms. Eventually all test results led to one conclusion: non-small cell lung cancer, stage IV.

Meaning metastatic and inoperable, mean-ing “terminal.” It was Feb. 20 when I learned my fate. (The following Thursday, Feb. 27, is another anniversary; that’s when we met my

life would never be the same, or last nearly as long.)

But yet here I am, alive and reasonably well, writing about nonsense, mostly, instead of cancer, for this week, anyway. Good therapy for sure, and a nice change of pace.

EnoughAbout Cancer


ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA

FOR YOUR TOYOTA

WELCOME TO ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA’SPERSONALIZED CAR CARE EXPERIENCE

SPECIAL SAVINGS

2/28/19.

2/28/19.

2/28/19.

2/28/19. 2/28/19.

2/28/19.

2/28/19.

2/28/19.

2/28/19. 2/28/19.

new at ballston exchange - ellington...

Documents