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Home Life StylePage 7

Open House on Possible Arts Center at Clemyjontri ParkNews, Page 6

Poet Nikki Giovanni Comes to The AldenCalendar, Page 9

Progress Report on McLean Business Center Study

News, Page 3

Kim Dorgan, Chair of the McLean CBC Task Force leads a discussion during proceedings of the 21st Mclean CBC Task Force meeting, held Feb. 10, 2020.

2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ February 19-25, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

McLean Connection ❖ February 19-25, 2020 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsMcLean Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Don’t expect proposals on thetable for the redevelopment ofthe McLean Central BusinessCenter (CBC), just yet. The

Overall Project Schedule for the CBC Studymust be completed first, followed by othersteps at the County level. While documentspresented at the Task Force OrientationMeeting held May 31, 2018, anticipated theStudy’s timeline to run from April 2018through January 2020, a revision provednecessary.

The Revised Plan Amendment Timelinefor 2020, as viewed on Feb. 10, 2020, atthe McLean CBC Study Task Force meetingdetailed: March 16 - Task Force Meeting toDraft Comprehensive Plan Text, March 28 -Community Meeting at McLean High Schooland April 13 - Task Force Meeting to DraftComprehensive Plan Text. A TransportationAnalysis presented by VDOT was also sched-uled. Looking into the summer, Staff Re-ports and Public Hearings ran from Maythrough July 2020 on the PowerPoint pre-sentation.

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS in the McLeanCBC Planning Study has been made. Checkthe box for a critical project goal, “A com-mon vision for downtown McLean.” On Dec.18, 2018, contractor Streetsense completedand presented its Final Vision for theMcLean Community Business Center aftercompiling and analyzing community input.

As for achieving another critical projectgoal vital to the future of downtownMcLean, that of translating this vision intorecommendations for changes to the FairfaxCounty Comprehensive Plan, 2017 Edition,McLean Planning District, McLean Commu-nity Business Center, progress by theMcLean CBC Task Force, county staff andthe community is nearing Staff Reports andPublic Hearing after 21 meetings. Accord-ing to Leanna Hush O’Donnell, AICP, Direc-tor, Planning Division Fairfax County De-partment of Planning and Development:“The next several Task Force meetings willcontinue to focus on comments to draft Planlanguage. Staff will be working on revisionsto the draft Plan language for considerationby the Task Force and the community.”

The most recent meeting of the McLeanCBC Task Force was held Monday evening,Feb. 10, at the McLean Governmental Cen-ter, 1437 Balls Hill Road. Supervisor JohnW. Foust (D-Dranesville District) appointedthe McLean CBC Task Force to consider andoffer recommendations for changes to theComprehensive Plan guidance for theMcLean CBC. The recommendationsneeded to be ones that were implementableand promote revitalization.

The evening’s agenda listed three itemsparticipants hoped to accomplish thatevening: Administrative, Draft Comprehen-

sive Plan Text, and Public Comment. KimDorgan, Chair of the McLean CBC TaskForce,thanked the staff for “the really gooddraft.” “I think it reflected overall the cen-ter of what the task force has been talkingabout. I appreciate all the effort that wentinto that,” Dorgan said.

Key Fairfax County staff in attendanceincluded not only O’Donnell but also Bob

Pikora, Senior Planner at Transportation.Ben Wiles of the Dranesville DistrictSupervisor’s Office also attended. Task Forcemembership comprising representatives ofseveral focus groups, such as McLean Citi-zens Association, McLean Planning Commit-tee, McLean Revitalization Corporation andothers.

During the Feb. 10 meeting, the McLean

CBC task force began their review of thedraft Comprehensive Plan language for theMcLean CBC and provided comments forconsideration to County staff. The VisionPlan guided the task force as its contentsproved to be determinants communitymembers brought forward in focus groups,online surveys, workshops, public commentand direct feedback to Streetsense, con-tracted by Fairfax County to complete theVision. Such factors as Economics - theunique challenges for McLean developmentdue to assemblage of retail and office con-dos having to split the ownership and landcontrol of parcels; Planning and Urban De-sign-access and mobility for both vehicularand potential bike/pedestrian connectionsand Form and Character - what design in-fluences would guide task force discussionsand suggestions.

In one of the first discussions, Task Forcemember Derrick Swaak read a letter fromMcLean Public Art (MPA). It encouragedpublic art as part of the revitalization. Hesaid: “Bringing public art projects, both tem-porary and permanent to the community,has shown clear benefits in measurable eco-nomic and social returns to municipalitiesin our region...and enhances the identity ofthe community and often become place

See Downtown, Page 6

McLean CBC Task Force and County staff review draft Comprehensive Plan text.

Progress Report on McLean Business Center Study

Linda Cevasco ofMcLean: I’m inter-ested in the trafficplans for Elm andBeverly Streets, espe-cially the intersectionand the turn, and I’minterested in thetrade-offs for buildingheights too.

Frank Cevasco: Iremain relativelyconfident the taskforce will succeed insteering the county’splanning process in apositive direction;that outcome will beaided by what I per-ceive is a motivatedand talented countyplanning staff.

Bob Hollis: I’m new tothis and don’t knowenough about what isgoing on. I viewed thevideos and disen-gaged. And now, Imoved to the Signet,which will be im-pacted by decisionsrelated to the CBC.

Planning and Zoning Fairfax County

The area of the McLean Community Business CenterStudy encompasses a small part of Fairfax County as awhole, but for residents nearby and within, it makes adifference.

Staff from Fairfax County, David Stinson, Plannerand Barbara Byron, Director in the Department ofPlanning and Development, take notes on what theMclean CBC Task Force discusses during the McleanCBC Task Force meeting held Feb. 10, 2020.

Photoc by Mercia Hobson/The Connection


Opinion

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

A tradition in the House ofDelegates that has comeabout in recent years is tohave a speech at the be-

ginning of each daily session duringFebruary about a Black person. Somespeeches are about well-known historic figures;most are about lesser-known Black personswho have made contributions to their commu-nities and to the state. After all, the point ofBlack History Month is to have all of us gain agreater knowledge and appreciation of Blackpersons’ contributions to our history. The Leg-islative Black Caucus organizes the event, andI am pleased to have been invited to speak eachyear at one of the daily sessions. This year Ispoke about the late Gwen Ifill of PBSNewsHour and Washington Week in Reviewwho was the first Black woman to become anational news commentator. I always appreci-ated receiving the daily news from her in hercalm and professional manner. Not all speechesare about historic figures; one delegate spoke

this year about his experiences ofgrowing up Black.

I predict that in future years a speechwill be made on the floor of the Houseof Delegates about the 2020 VirginiaGeneral Assembly being a transforma-tive event in Black history. Black ex-perience accounts for a major portionof the story in a state that unfortu-

nately has been known for centuries for its rac-ist policies. The first enslaved Africans werebrought to Virginia in 1619, and the slave codesthat were enacted to keep them subjected asslaves were inhumane. When the tobacco fieldswere no longer productive, Virginia’s chief sourceof income became the selling of slaves into thedeep South. Even the freeing of the slaves withthe Civil War did not bring equal rights toVirginia’s Black population. Slave codes werereplaced by Jim Crow laws. Voting by Blacks wasrestricted. Their separate schools and other ac-commodations were not equal.

Supreme Court decisions and the Civil RightsAct of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965brought about changes that started Blackpeople on the way to greater freedom. A suc-

cessful lawsuit against gerrymandering in thestate along with greater voter participationbrought about a record number of Black can-didates being elected to the General Assem-bly. Black legislators took on greater roles ofresponsibility in the 2020 session of the legis-lature. The first Black woman was electedMajority Leader of the House of Delegates, andthe first Black woman was elected Presidentof the State Senate. While there had been afew Black committee chairs over the years inthe House of Delegates, half of the fourteencommittee chairs are now Black. Vestiges ofJim Crow laws that remained in the Code eventhough they had been overturned by the courtsare being stripped away. Localities are beinggiven permission to deal with Confederatemonuments that were the symbols of JimCrowism. Laws that were unevenly applied toBlack persons are being amended or repealed.Black cemeteries are being cared for as theConfederate cemeteries were for many years.A commission is going to look at the teachingof Black history in our schools to ensure that ittells the whole story. Major strides are beingmade in this month of Black history!

Black History Month 2020

By Sen. Scott Surovell

(D-36)

The sixth week of the GeneralAssembly brought us to“crossover” – the day each

chamber is required to cease workon their own bills and work on billsfrom the other chamber.

The last two days brought furious action onmany major bills. Forty-three of my own billscrossed over to the House of Delegates. Lastweek, the Senate passed my legislation creat-ing driver privilege cards for undocumentedimmigrants for the first time and on a biparti-san basis. We still have work to do in order toreconcile the House and Senate bills, but it willchange the lives of over 100,000 Virginia resi-dents.

We also passed my legislation authorizingstate-level class action lawsuits. Forty-eightother states and the District of Columbia al-ready allow similar lawsuits. The lack of suchremedies in Virginia means that corporationscan steal money from Virginians in smalleramounts and never face justice.

The Senate also approved my bill allowingpeople to expunge evictions that have beendismissed. Companies have begun to collectand disseminate eviction records to landlordsand the existence of multiple dismissed andunfounded eviction cases can present a bar-rier to property rental. My bill will allow peopleto clear unfounded lawsuits from their thirdparty data files.

We also passed my bill to create the Virginia

Efficient and Resilient BuildingsBoard. It requires each state agencyto designate an energy manager tomonitor and reduce energy consump-tion over time. Energy efficiency isAmerica’s cheapest energy resourceto access and I appreciate the col-laboration with my constituent Eliza-beth Beardsley and the United States

Green Buildings Council who brought this con-cept to my attention.

The Senate also approved my bill I am car-rying with Del. Kathleen Murphy to create twohundred $4,000 college scholarships for chil-dren in families who receive Temporary Needfor Families (TANF). The bill has passed theSenate four times but always dies in the House.This year will be different.

Beyond my own bills, we took action onmajority legislation. Sen. Adam Ebbin’s mari-juana decriminalization bill passed with a largebipartisan majority. The bill is not perfect, butan appropriate first step as we move towardslegalization.

I helped to negotiate the Senate’s proposedminimum wage increase. The bill increasesthe state minimum wage to $9.50/hour start-ing January 1, 2021. The wage then increases$1/hour per year starting July 1, 2022 until itreaches $15/hour and then increases with theConsumer Price Index. Other parts of Virginiawould be divided into Wage Regions and thewage increased on a basis relative to theirMedian Family Income compared with North-ern Virginia. We also created an exemption fortraining employees and students employed

part-time while in college or high school. TheHouse approach is much different and mustbe reconciled.

Both chambers passed legislation allowingcollective bargaining by public employees, end-ing Virginia’s ban on project labor agreements,and allowing localities to require prevailingwages to be paid in public contracts. We alsopassed legislation creating private actions forworker misclassification, employer retaliationfor reporting illegal conduct, and wage theft.

On the energy front, we passed bills endors-ing a renewable energy portfolio standard ormandate that utilities shift to renewable en-ergy by certain deadlines. We created a frame-work to authorize a $2 billion investment inoffshore wind that will make Virginia andHampton Roads a national leader in technol-ogy deployment.

We also passed legislation to officially jointhe Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)also known as “Reggie.” Joining this compactwill give the Commonwealth greater flexibil-ity in reducing carbon emissions and net theCommonwealth $100 million per year in rev-enue given the progress we have made this farrelative to other compact states.

We also passed Senator Adam Ebbin’s legis-lation authorizing a statewide tax on plasticbags of $0.05 per bag. It only applies to bagsin grocery, convenience, and drug stores, butnot restaurants. The monies will go to the Gen-eral Fund and retailers will be allowed to keep$0.02 of the tax to defray the costs of collec-tion.

Each chambers’ proposed budgets will comeout before this goes to print and we will alsobegin work on legislation from the oppositechamber and the state budget. Please send meany feedback at [email protected].

Driver privilege, minimum wage, class actionlawsuits, marijuana decriminalization ...

Arriving at Crossover with Many Bills Moving

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News

The FairfaxC o u n t yPark Au-t h o r i t y

(FCPA) and theMcLean Project forthe Arts (MPA) willhost a public openhouse to discuss thepotential for develop-ment of an arts andeducation center atClemyjontri Park. Themeeting will be heldon Monday, Feb. 24,2020, with the openhouse at 6:30 p.m.and a presentationand community dis-cussion at 7 p.m. Themeeting will takeplace in MPA’sEmerson Gallery atthe McLean Commu-nity Center, located at1234 Ingleside Av-enue in McLean.

Clemyjontri Park and its vision was made possiblethrough the generosity of benefactor Ms. AdeleLebowitz and the Lebowitz family, who donated theproperty to the Park Authority in 2000 with the de-sire to provide a comprehensive play experience forall children in a barrier-free setting, provided thatthe home be occupied for compatible community use.The park is one of the first large-scale parks in thecountry specifically planned and built as an inclu-sive space where children of all abilities can play side-by-side. It includes a playground, carousel, swings,and other recreational features. Clemyjontri Park,owned and operated by FCPA is located at 6317Georgetown Pike in McLean.

MPA and the Park Authority are exploring the pos-sibility of developing a new arts center at ClemyjontriPark to further its arts and educational mission. MPA,established in 1962, is a leading contemporary vi-sual arts organization that exhibits the work ofemerging and established artists from the mid-At-lantic region; promotes public awareness and under-standing of the concepts of contemporary art; andoffers instruction and education in the visual arts.

The proposed project would feature the reuseand redevelopment of the existing residence on theproperty, as well as new construction for galleryexhibition space, and arts education classroomfacilities. MPA envisions an all-inclusive art cen-ter which provides a creative respite for the com-munity that is integrated into, yet distinct from,Clemyjontri Park. The center could potentially ex-hibit the work of contemporary artists; offer artsinstruction and classroom space; and include pub-lic artwork in the park. This new facility wouldbuild upon the existing visual arts programmingcurrently provided by MPA through a public/pri-vate partnership with Fairfax County at the McLeanCommunity Center (MCC). MPA will continue itsaward-winning exhibitions in the Emerson Galleryand maintain its robust visual arts instruction andDuVal Studio, both at the MCC.

Staff from the Park Authority and representa-tives of MPA will be on hand to share informa-tion on the park master plan, development of thepark to date and the proposed arts center. A ques-tion and answer opportunity will follow the briefstaff presentation.

Open House on Possible ArtsCenter at Clemyjontri Park

Photo contributed

The proposed project would feature the reuse and redevelopment ofthe existing residence on the property, as well as new constructionfor gallery exhibition space, and arts education classroom facilities.

makers.” Although Line 347 ofthe Fairfax County Comprehen-sive Plan, 2017 Edition McleanPlanning District mentionedpublic art, Swaak recom-mended it be “taken one stepfurther” and expanded.

OTHER TOPICS covered atthe meeting, which focused ona review of the initial set ofdraft Plan language were as fol-lows and provided as a sum-mary by O’Donnell:

❖ Discussion on public artand proposal to incorporatelanguage that encourages pub-lic art to help create a sense ofplace and community vitality;

❖ Changes to map colors tomake them easier to read;

❖ Checking for consistency interminology (e.g., references tourban parks);

❖ Providing definitions, ex-amples, or other means like aglossary of terms so the readercan understand the meaning ofcertain terms (i.e., communityservices, urban, suburban, bestpractices);

❖ Examine which recommen-

From Page 3

Task Force Members and AffiliationKim Dorgan, Chair of McLean CBC Task ForceRoshan Badii, Mclean Revitalization CorporationBailey Edelson, JBG SmithKelley Green Kahn, Churchill Road PTAFrancesca Gutowski, McLean Citizens AssociationRob Jackson, McLean Citizens AssociationTom Jacobi, At-LargePaul Kohlenberger, Greater McLean Chamber of CommerceBob Montgomery, McLean PropertiesNicole Morrill, McLean Planning CommitteeEd Murn, McLean Planning CommitteeJohanna Ogden Henneberg, At-LargeJim Peoples, Bryn MawrWinnie Pizzano, West McLeanAmitha Prabhu, Franklin Sherman, At-LargeElizabeth Ruhl, At-LargeRich Salopek, McLean Planning CommitteeAndrew Serafin, McLean Planning CommitteeWilliam Suddow, McLean Revitalization CorporationDerrick Swaak, McLean Project for the ArtsJack Wilbern, At-Large

dations could be stated withstronger language (e.g. “it is ex-pected”);

❖ Given lines by # to bechanged, from X to Y; word-smithing;

❖ Description of the overallvision for the CBC, and makingsure the draft vision statementdoes not give the impressionthat the sole focus of the planis on the bonus area;

❖ Suggestions to addressbuilding heights in the numberof feet to define the stories,rather than just providing amaximum number of stories;

❖ Discussion on center zoneurban park and the consolida-tion conditions

Wrapping up the meeting,Chair Dorgan said, “Some ofthis is wordsmithing... We pre-fer the document to be prettymuch done but not done andleave it open for input from thecommunity... and we’ll considerthat before we have our finalmeeting in April, which is look-ing more like May.”

[email protected] send comments and ques-tions.

Downtown McLeanDiscussed


By John Byrd

Sometimes the second act requires a setchange. In the case of a Reston couple seeking to re-vitalize the home they had occupied for 30 years, agenda-busy lives had

come to a reflective pause.The kids were now in senior high school and col-

lege— mostly living at home. The lower-level familyentertainment area, meanwhile, belonged to a by-gone era. The master suite was, likewise, an anach-ronism.

The circa 1990s kitchen in the northwest cornerof the first floor provided easy access to both an ad-jacent family room with fireplace, and a dining room/living room— which, nonetheless, were being usedless frequently. In short: the house was ready for newbeginnings, revisions more properly aligned to a dy-namic family’s actual needs.

“Of course, large-scale life changes don’t necessar-ily require a whole house makeover,” Sun Designpresident Bob Gallagher admits. “We advocate anincremental approach focused on what is needednow, and what changes will satisfy the whole regi-men of foreseeable requirements.”

On the other hand, when a homeowner is discov-ering an interior design style that speaks to them,“the process may build momentum,” he adds, “espe-cially when the owners have been given the toolsneeded to explore ideas in depth.”

By tools Gallagher refers to multi-faceted space-planner/ lead designer Ericka Williams, and theproject team at Sun Design Remodeling.

“It was an inspiring collaboration,” Gallagher al-lows. “The owners had attended Sun Design semi-nars earlier, toured several remodeled homes andtalked to our past clients...so they knew what to ex-pect. Turns out, this was just the beginning of theirdiscovering more about their personal tastes.”

To start at the top: that summer the owners hadcelebrated 23 years of residency in their two story,four bedroom production house, and were takingstock of what they wanted from the years ahead.

At just over 1,000 square feet, the home’s primarylevel living area seemed adequate relative to livingspace requirements. The problem was that the origi-nal space plan and interior finishes were quite dated.Bathrooms designed in the 1990s featured oversizedbathtubs, small showers and a vanity illuminated byHollywood strip lighting. The children’s playroom inthe lower level had been set up for grade school ac-tivities. Walls formed to define rooms also blockedthe light, and obstructed visual continuum.

The food prep island in the kitchen, meanwhile,nearly abutted a breakfast table which was, in turn,sequestered from the family room by a half wall.When entertaining was underway, the kitchen wasbeyond the conversational reach of both social gath-ering zones. Moreover, with the microwave abovethe cooktop and refrigerator to the right, the cook’swork triangle was often in the center of traffic bottle-necks.

“There was a wall with an HVAC duct separatingthe kitchen from the dining room/living room,” Wil-liams recalls. “The original Formica countertopsdidn’t function well as a working surface for hot potsand pans.”

Elsewhere, main level carpet and tiling were be-coming threadbare. While the dining room andkitchen had been originally conceived for formalentertaining, the reality was a 24 ft x 16 “great room”– mostly reserved for holidays.

“Interior lines were not well articulated,” Williamssays. “The first level rooms were large enough, butthe space seemed looming, almost empty.”

What was needed was an “open” plan with inter-active, clearly defined activity zones.

Seizing the day, Williams proposed a custom buf-fet as a way to differentiate the dining zone andfrom the living room. The piece would function as aservice station and storage unit from both sides.

To better articulate the main level interior, Will-iams re-routed the HVAC duct work and convertedthe wall into a pair of arched openings crowned.Taupe-hued walls combined with a soft white trimconfer a stately elegance on uncluttered sightlines.

Glass-facing cabinets, a 25-bottle wine refrigera-tor and a granite-topped serving station now unifythe kitchen and the family room. The fireplace sur-round is MSI Gray Oak tile in a straight lay pattern.The new flooring is 5-inch plank gray-stained solidmaple.

Upstairs, the new spa bath features a large walk-in shower with a bench seat, “cubbies” designed forpersonal-use and hand-held shower sprays. Amongthe lighting enhancements: overhead LED recessedlighting and decorative sconces.

The lower level now boasts a state-of-art enter-tainment center and is equipped with refrigeratorand wet bar.

Sun Design Remodeling frequently sponsors designand remodeling seminars as well as tours of recentlyremodeled homes. For more information, visit www.SunDesignInc.com/Events or call 703-425-5588.

John Byrd ([email protected]) has been

writing about home improvement for 30 years.

A second act forfamily home.

Traditional-StyleMakeover Satisfies

Home Life Style

Glass-facing cabinets, a 25-bottle winerefrigerator and a granite-toppedserving station now unify the kitchenand the family room.

To generate more light and living space ina circa 1990s house, Sun Design Remodel-ing removed a wall between the kitchenand great room. A granite food prep anddining counter replaces a stand-alonebreakfast table. The wine refrigerator isconvenient to the re-designed family room.

Photos by Greg Hadley


Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/.The deadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGHogwart’s Vacation Bible School Registration. At Holy

Comforter Episcopal Church, 543 Beulah Road, NE, Vienna.The camp dates are June 22–26, 2020 for morning orafternoon sessions. Children 5 through 11 years old areinvited to participate in this popular and unique summercamp experience which explores the Christian themes andlessons in the Harry Potter stories. Holy ComforterEpiscopal Church in Vienna is magically converted intoHogwarts School where children attend “classes” taught byfavorite professors including Professors McGonagall, Snape,Hooch, and Binns. Teenage prefects lead age level groupsto their activities and all students share a closing snack inthe Great Hall. This year’s theme will be based on book 2,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Registrationforms will be in the Church Office and online. Moreinformation: http://www.holycomforter.com/Children/Vacation_Bible_School/

The Golden Girls of Northern Virginia, a senior women’ssoftball league, is looking for players. Any woman over theage of 40 is encouraged to join. All skill levels are welcome.They play on Wednesday evenings and Saturday morningsin Vienna. For more information, visit the web sitewww.goldengirls.org

Library Display Features Church. Thru March 1. Adisplay at Dolley Madison Library in McLean is featuring St.John’s Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean.The display illustrates the church’s history and closerelationship with the community of McLean and presents anewly published book recounting the church’s first 150years. The book, This Far by Faith, A History of St. John’sEpiscopal Church, McLean, Virginia 1866–2016, was co-authored by parishioners Deborah Watson, Sandy Smoot,and Ramona Speicher. The book is available for purchasethrough the church office (703-356-4902).

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 19Preschool Storytime. 10:30 a.m. At Oakton Library, 10304

Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Have fun with your child andbuild early literacy foundations for reading success. Age 3-5with adult.

Volunteer for the Environment. 6:30-8:30 p.m. AtProvidence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax.Join in working to combat climate change and globalwarming. Activities include campaigning on massive datacenters and fighting oil and gas pipelines in Virginia. Comebe part of the solutions. Free. Email [email protected].

THURSDAY/FEB. 20Brain and Breathing. 10-11 a.m. At Vienna Community

Center, 120 Cherry Street, Vienna. In this course, you willlearn breathing exercises designed to help support brainfunction. Instructor: Dr. Charles Masarsky of ViennaChiropractic. Free. Call 701-255-7801.

Adventures in Learning. 10 a.m. At Unitarian UniversalistCongregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton.“Let it Go-Dealing With the Emotional Connection to Items”- Terri Blanchette. Cost is $45 per semester. To Register/Questions: Call 703-281-0538. View the schedule of classesand registration form at http://www.scov.org/ail-open-house.

Acoustic Autumn Live Music. 6:30-9 p.m. At Blend 111,111 Church Street, NW, Vienna. Laissez Foure is anacoustic swing quartet playing classics from the ‘30s and‘40s. The group consists of acoustic bass, swing rhythmguitar, saxophone/clarinet, and trumpet. In the tradition ofNew Orleans jazz, the quartet emphasizes an acousticsound when feasible and plays charts by Armstrong,Ellington, Count Basie and others from the era.

The ABCs of CBD and Medical Marijuana. 7:30-9 p.m.At Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., E, Vienna.Thediscussion will provide medical information about CBD/THC, the differences between CBD and medical marijuana,and how people can legally obtain medical marijuana inVirginia. Free. Visit the website: https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/5843108

FEB. 20 TO MARCH 1ReelAbilities Film Festival. The 8th Annual ReelAbilities

Film Festival: Northern Virginia, powered by the PozezJewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, willpresent a lineup of 17 films in select venues acrossNorthern Virginia, Maryland, and the District from Feb. 20–March 1. The festival is comprised of contemporaryinternational films and post-film programs as well as a finearts exhibit, all selected to be engaging, empowering, andchampioning the lives, stories, and artistic expressions ofpeople with different abilities. Visit the website https://www.thej.org/reel-abilities/reelabilities-film-festival-northern-virginia/

FRIDAY/FEB. 21Karate for Kids. 5 p.m. At Oakton Library, 10304

Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Join the Karate to gain powerful

tools for self-defense, inner-strength and a strong, healthybody. Ages 4 and up.

Young Adult Game Night. 7:30 p.m. At LewinsvillePresbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.Guests will gather in the chapel for some games, snacks,and fellowship. Please bring friends and games you areinterested in playing. We can’t wait for a little healthycompetition. Call 703-356-7200. Visit the website:

https://www.lewinsville.org/events/young-adult-game-night/Nora Jane Struthers Concert. 8 p.m. At Jammin Java, 227

Maple Ave., E, Vienna. Nashville-based singer/songwriterNora Jane Struthers is a rootsy artist with a bent towardmixing traditional country and contemporary rock stylingsinto her passionate Americana sound. Also on stage, SarahBorges and the Broken Singles. Tickets $15-$25. Visitwww.jamminjava.com

SATURDAY/FEB. 22Storytime with Officer Twombly. 11 a.m. At Oakton

Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Enjoy stories readby a real life police officer! All ages.

Boolean Girl Clubhouse. 1-4 p.m. Campus of Virginia TechFalls Church, Think a Bit Lab, 7054 Haycock Road, FallsChurch. Join Arlington-based nonprofit Boolean Girl at theclubhouse. Hosted in partnership with Virginia Tech, girlsand non-binary individuals will learn to code and buildelectronics in a fun, collaborative setting. Scholarshipsavailable for families in need by registering for the BooleanGirl Clubhouse Scholarship. All experience levels arewelcome. Cost is $5-$65. [email protected]. Visit the website:booleangirl.org/clubs

Getting out of Debt. 2 p.m. At Oakton Library, 10304Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Are you 100% sure that you willhave a great retirement, or do you have some doubt? Theycan show you how to get out of debt including yourmortgage and personal loans in 9 years or less withoutspending any additional money. Adults.

Winter Wine & Beer Tasting. 7-10 p.m. At The Great FallsGrange, 9818 VA-193, Great Falls. The 2020 Winter Wineand Beer Tasting (chaired by Missy Perkins) turns the GreatFalls Grange into a WINEter Wonderland with Frosty Beerserved on the lower level. Sample a variety of red wines,white wines and locally crafted beers featuring winesselected by Rich Ashton of Classic Wines in Great Falls andbeers of the Lost Rhino Brewery in Ashburn. This year’sbeer selections include Papa’s Pilsner, which is made fromthe hops that are grown locally in Chef Jacques’ garden atL’Auberge Chez Francois. Tickets are $50 per person and onsale through 2/20/20 (or until sold out).

Calendar

Celtic ConcertBeth Patterson will appear at the OldBrogue Irish Pub on Feb. 23.

SUNDAY/FEB. 23Beth Patterson Performs. 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. At The Old

Brogue Irish Pub, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls. The OldBrogue Irish Pub and Barnaby Productions, Inc. present the31st season of family friendly, Winter Traditional CelticConcerts. Featuring internationally recognized Celticmusicians, the concerts are performed in a listening roomby the fireside. Tickets must be purchased in advance atwww.oldbrogue.com: $20 general admission/$15 childrenunder 12. Visit oldbrogue.com or call the Old Brogue at703-759-3309.

See Calendar, Page 9


By David Siegel

The Connection

Award winning poet and writer NikkiGiovanni will share her eloquent wordsof wisdom in a special event at TheAlden Theatre. Giovanni insights will

span the civil rights movement, politics, love, artand beyond. “Ms. Giovanni is a quietly celebratedicon, and we are excited to hear her speak,” saidRenee Edwards, Program and Educational Ser-vices Director, Fairfax County Public Library

Discussing the ideals of equality, Giovanni willshare the experiences and thoughtful poetry thatpersonify her activism and legacy of passion forthe arts. For those less familiar with Ms.Giovanni’s works she is with “the trinity of Afri-can American women literature; and always willbe:ºMaya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and NikkiGiovanni,” noted Edwards.

Giovanni taught at Virginia Tech for decadesincluding during the tragic shooting in 2007. Shecomposed a chant-poem which she read at thememorial service, a special convocation the dayafter. Her “We are Virginia Tech” reverberatedwith words about sadness and mourning and pre-vailing in the face of such tragedy.

Giovanni has received numerous awards andaccolades for her work including seven NAACPImage Awards, the Langston Hughes Award forDistinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters,the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award andmore than twenty honorary degrees from collegesand universities around the country.

“In the 1990s, I used Ms. Giovanni’s poetry withmy third grade students. Her simple prose touchedme profoundly,” added Edwards. Now area au-diences will be able to hear Nikki Giovanni “shareher experiences and words of wisdom.”

Where and WhenFairfax County Public Library presents “Nikki

Giovanni: An Afternoon of Poetry, Love and Enlighten-ment” at The Alden, McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave, McLean. Event on March 1, 2020 at 2p.m. This is a free event at The Alden. Registration forthis free event is required at: https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/5588178. Note:There are also VIP tickets available for purchase throughthe Fairfax Library Foundation. VIP tickets includespecial seating and other extras described by the FairfaxLibrary Foundation atwww.fairfaxlibraryfoundation.org/events/

Acclaimed Poet Nikki GiovanniComes to The Alden

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Public Library

Nikki Giovanni with ‘An Afternoon ofPoetry, Love and Enlightenment’ at TheAlden, McLean Community Center.

The topic is Weeds in Your Yard withspeaker Tony Makara, a FairfaxCounty Master Gardener and HomeTurf Director. In his presentation,Tony will identify the moreprominent nuisance weeds that canbe found throughout the year. Hewill discuss how these weedsestablish themselves and offerseveral options for prevention oreradication. [email protected]

Pokémon Club. 6:30 p.m. At OaktonLibrary, 10304 Lynnhaven Place,Oakton. Bring your Pokémon tradingcards to trade or play the Pokémongame. Age 6-12.

TUESDAY/FEB. 25A Wise Woman’s Guide to

Financial Planning. 10:30 a.m. tonoon. At McLean Community Center,1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean.Longevity, healthcare, earnings,expectations and life paths oftenmean that women should followdifferent rules when it comes toplanning for and living in retirement.In this class, they talk about how toaddress healthcare planning, assetmanagement, social security andestate planning. Learn the challengeswomen face when it comes tofinancial planning and how toovercome them. Presented by: Kelly

Campbell of Campbell WealthManagement. Cost is 1 lesson @ 1.5hrs, $7/$5 MCC district residents.

AAUW Speaker Event. 7:30 p.m. AtPatrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave.,E., Vienna. Audrey Davis, Director ofthe Alexandria Black History Museum,will discuss the history of Alexandria’sAfrican American residents. AAUW isthe nation’s leading voice promotingequity and education for women andgirls. Founded in 1881, AAUWmembers examine and take positionson the fundamental issues of the day—educational, social, economic, andpolitical. Visit https://vienna-va.aauw.net/

From Page 8

Washington Sinfonietta. 7:30 p.m. AtThe Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E.Broad Street, Falls Church. Conductedby Music Director Joel Lazar, theprogram will feature three ofBeethoven’s masterworks: Musik zueinem Ritterballet, Symphony No. 4 inB-Flat Major, and the Triple Concerto.Distinguished artists Aaron Berofsky,violin, Tobias Werner, cello, andCatalin Dima, piano, join theSinfonietta as soloists in the TripleConcerto. Advance tickets for theperformance, $15 for adults, $10 forseniors and students, plus a smallservice fee, are available atwashingtonsinfonietta.org. Tickets atthe door are $20 for adults and $15 forseniors and students. Children under18 are always admitted at no charge.

SUNDAY/FEB. 23Pancake Breakfast Youth Fund-

Raising Event. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. AtHoly Comforter Episcopal Church,543 Beulah Road, NE, Vienna. All arewelcome for food, fun, andfellowship. The Holy Comforter Youthwill be serving pancakes, eggs, bacon,sausage, juices, milk, coffee, and tea.Gluten free options will be available.Proceeds go to support HolyComforter Youth Ministries and thissummer’s mission trip to Puerto Ricoto care for local children and adultsstruggling with poverty and theaftermath of Hurricane Maria and therecent earthquake. $7 per person, $25per family, children 2 and under eatfree. Visit www.HolyComforter.com.

Jazz Worship & Pancake Brunch.10 a.m. to 12 p.m. At LewisvillePresbyterian Church, 1724 ChainBridge Road, McLean. A jazz quartet,the Chancel Choir, and theLewinsville Choristers will help leadworship. Music will include excerptsof Bob Chilcott’s Little Jazz Mass, andthe music of Duke Ellington andMoses Hogan. After the service, joinus in Fellowship Hall for pancakes,breakfast quiches, casseroles, andcrepes. Share fellowship with friends,enjoy a pancake brunch and join inthe Pancake Games for the kids. Call703-356-7200. Visit the website:https://www.lewinsville.org/events/jazz-worship-pancakes/

Maple Syrup Boil-Down. Noon to 2p.m. At Colvin Run Mill, 10017Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. Howdoes maple syrup get from the tree toyour breakfast table? See the old-fashioned process from beginning toend at the “Maple Syrup Boil-Downat Colvin Run Mill.” When the sapstarts to rise, the maple trees aretapped at Colvin Run and the drip,drip, drip begins. Now, it’s sugaringtime! Bundle up, watch and learn assap is boiled down into sweet syrupover an outdoor, open fire. Cost is $8per person. No reservations are

required. Call 703-759-2771 or visithttps://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/colvin-run-mill.

Relay-Palooza. 1-4 p.m. At JamminJava, 227 Maple Ave., E, Vienna. JoinRelay For Life of Northern Virginiafor the annual Relay-Palooza Battleof the Bands kickoff celebrationbenefiting the American CancerSociety. Local acts may register toperform on the Jammin Java stageand then they need your vote tochoose a winner. The winner ofRelay-Palooza will get the chance toheadline the 2020 Relay For Lifeevent. This is a family-friendly event.Donations benefit the live-savingmission and programs of theAmerican Cancer Society. Ticketpurchase: eventbrite.com/e/89780709519. Contact: AnushaNallapat at [email protected]. Visit thewebsite: relayforlife.org/northernvirginia

Taizé Contemplative Worship. 5p.m. At Holy Comforter EpiscopalChurch, 543 Beulah Road, NE,Vienna. Taizé contemplative worshipis a powerful and movingcombination of song and scripturefeaturing lush greenery, candles,icons and considerable time spent insilent meditation. It is a uniqueopportunity to decompress andprepare for the week ahead. Visitwww.HolyComforter.com.

Ask-a-Pastor/Doubt Night. 6 p.m. AtLewinsville Presbyterian Church,1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.Lewinsville Presbyterian Church ishosting an “Ask-A-Pastor/DoubtNight.” This will be your opportunityto ask Pastor Scott Ramsey, PastorAnnamarie Groenenboom, and PastorJen Dunfee questions you’ve gotabout the Christian faith, the Bible,theology, the church, spirituality, andmore. You don’t need to be a memberof Lewinsville to attend. Visit thewebsite: https://www.lewinsville.org/events/ask-a-pastor-doubt-night/. Call 703-356-7200.

Capitol Steps Performance. 7 p.m.At Langley High School Auditorium,6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. TheCapitol Steps will perform with newmaterial for the 2020 election.Tickets cost $37. This is a one-timeevent and the main fundraiser for theLangley High School Class of 2020All-Night Grad Party (ANGP). Buyonline at https://form.jotform.com/LangleyPTSA/angp2020.

MONDAY/FEB. 24Baby Storytime. 10:30 a.m. At Oakton

Library, 10304 Lynnhaven Place,Oakton. Have fun with baby whilebuilding early literacy foundationsfor reading success. Birth -18 monthswith adults.

Ayr Hill Garden Club Meets. 12:30p.m. At Emmanuel Lutheran Church,2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna.

Calendar


News

On Feb. 7, 2020,Catholic Charities ofthe Diocese of Arling-ton held its 38th An-nual Ball at The Ritz-Carlton in TysonsCorner. The eventwas sold out withmore than 1,000 at-tendees. It is the larg-est annual fundraiserfor Catholic Charities,raising a significantportion of the re-sources needed tosupport 21 programsserving those in needthroughout the 21counties and sevencities of the Diocese.This year’s themewas, “With Love andCharity.”

“I am incrediblygrateful for yet another successful Catholic Chari-ties Ball, and for the sacrifices those in attendancemade to support the many Catholic Charities minis-tries which uplift the needy and vulnerable in ourDiocese,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, CatholicDiocese of Arlington. “It is inspiring to see so manypeople compelled to model Christ’s own love for usthrough generosity and faith. They have shown tre-

mendous compassion and opened their hearts to thelight of Christ’s message. The Catholic Charities Ballhas a long tradition of helping those in need throughthe generosity of those who attend. I pledge my con-tinued support for the Ball and pray that we onlyincrease the number of people we serve in years tocome.”

For more information, visit www.ccda.net.

Catholic Charities Gala Raises Funds toHelp Those in Need

Photo by Jenifer Morris Photography.

Attendees Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Laura Bennett.


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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

And so, what happens next? There’s calm and then there’s an eventual storm. The storm to which I refer is what will happen after the March 2nd meeting with my endocrinologist when she will assess and determine the next step in my post-thyroidectomy treatment. Presumably, in conjunction with my oncologist, a coordinated plan will be implemented for treating my two cancers. I can’t imagine however, that being treated for two cancers, simultaneously, will be easier than being treated for one. And I doubt, although I don’t know, that one medicine will be recommended for the treatment of both my non-small cell lung cancer and my thyroid can-cer. We’ll know soon enough.

In the interim, I intend to acknowledge and appreciate how easy these next few weeks will be. No appointments with doctors, no diagnos-tic scans, no procedures, no medicine - and no side effects, and no lab work other than as needed, to measure my calcium and magnesium levels and any other thyroid-related effects. Moreover, I am free to come and go as I please. And it does please me. Because I’ve earned it. I deserve it and I’m going to bask in it. You think being a cancer patient under constant treatment - for nearly 11 years is in any way amusing? Hardly. I make fun of it to make light of it. Oth-erwise, the weight of it would crush me. And even though my father always said I had broad shoulders, I’m always fearful that the next result

back. After all, I’m only human.But for now, February 9, as I sit and write, I

am three weeks and one day to my next reckon-ing. And since it’s early days yet to know what life will be like after that March 2nd appoint-ment (radiation and/or chemotherapy possibly), I will try to be blissfully ignorant and not think too much how easy and unencumbered my life is at the present. As a cancer patient, ceding control where you can and securing it where you thought you couldn’t are keys to manag-ing expectations and minimizing aggravation. Unfortunately, there is no one key that unlocks all doors. And there are plenty of doors, and plenty of doctors too, and plenty of fear waiting for one of your doctors to walk through any of these doors to deliver the results from your most recent cancer-related whatever.

None of which concerns me right now, or rather it shouldn’t. And if there’s any port in this

-cally, magically, unexpectedly, I should jump at the chance. I am reminded of a conversation I had with my oncologist years ago when I experi-enced a similar interval between treatment. The medicine I was on had stopped working so we needed to start another, another with unknown

-gested that since I felt good, perhaps we should delay the beginning of the next infusion and that I should take that trip I had always dreamed of because I might never feel this good again. I didn’t then and I won’t now. When I jump how-ever, I can barely get off the ground.

I haven’t exactly been presented this time, with this kind of do-before-you-die opportunity, but there is an erie familiarity to my circum-stances. And though I’ve been down this road

to what kind of twists and turns await. The last thing a cancer diagnosis provides is a guarantee. Actually, that’s wrong. A cancer diagnosis does provide a guarantee: that there are no guaran-tees. And so, as I prepare for the next phase of my life, the one that begins 11 years after being diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, stage IV and being given a 13 month to two-year prognosis to boot, I will quote the late, great Satchel Paige: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”

One Step Forward, Hopefully Not Two

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

THURSDAY/FEB. 20Adventures in Learning. At Unitarian

Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, ProgramBuilding, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton.

10 - 10:55 a.m. “Let it Go-Dealing With theEmotional Connection to Items” - TerriBlanchette;

11 – 11:55 a.m. “History of Popular Music - Southof the Potomac” - Ken Avis “Real DowntonAbbey and Surrounding Neighborhood”- JohnCapps;

1-2 p.m. “Media Bias and Impact of Technology”-Steve Miska;

Cost is $45 per semester. To Register/Questions:Call 703-281-0538.

View the schedule of classes and registration format http://www.scov.org/ail-open-house.

FRIDAY/FEB. 21Parenting Your Teen. 10 a.m. to noon. At Dunn

Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 GallowsRoad, Entrance 1, Room 100, Dunn Loring.Learn important strategies to help form apositive relationship with your teen. Topicsinclude:

Understanding the development of the teen brain;Recognizing ways to create a positive climate in the

home;Identifying constructive discipline approaches;Increasing more productive and effective

communication strategies;Presented by Michele Tureaud, FCPS Behavior

Intervention Teacher.

SATURDAY/FEB. 22Career and Transition Meeting. 8:30 a.m. to

12:15 p.m. At Luther Jackson Middle School,3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church. It is never tooearly or too late to start planning for asuccessful transition from school life to life as ayoung adult. Learn about Career and TransitionServices (CTS) programming and course optionsfor students with disabilities. Breakout sessionswill cover:

In-school as well as postsecondary support services.Employment and postsecondary education

considerations.Student self-determination as an evidence-based

predictor of post school success.

MONDAY/FEB. 24Possible Arts Center at Clemyjontri Park. 7

p.m. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)and the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) willhost a public open house to discuss the potentialfor development of an arts and education centerat Clemyjontri Park. The meeting will take placein MPA’s Emerson Gallery at the McLeanCommunity Center, located at 1234 InglesideAvenue in McLean.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 26Town Hall Meeting. 7-9 p.m. At James Madison

High School, Lecture Hall, 2500 James MadisonDr., Vienna. With Hunter Mill DistrictSupervisor Walter Alcorn.

THURSDAY/FEB. 27Adventures in Learning. At Unitarian

Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, ProgramBuilding, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton.

10- 10:55 a.m. “The Joy of Planning Ahead” -Rachel McLean;

11 – 11:55 a.m. “Generational Differences forPersonality Traits” - Bill Weech;

1-2 p.m. “Journey to the Top of the World”- ColonelPhil Walsh;

Cost is $45 per semester. To Register/Questions:Call 703-281-0538. View the schedule of classesand registration form at http://www.scov.org/ail-open-house.

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