vol. xxi, no. 21 mount vernon’s hometown newspaper • a...

Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 27 - June 2, 2010 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

May 27, 2010Vol. XXI, No. 21 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper

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Photo by Louise Krafft/Gazette

At the PromAt West Potomac High School’s prom, Ryan Walter poses for a photo with MardiGras Mime Queen Amy Scutt.

More photos, Page 21

See New Fee, 6

See Looking, Page 10

By Jon Roetman

And Julie O’Donoghue

The Gazette

The success of MountVernon High School’sathletic programs begins

with the ability of students to par-ticipate. If a pay-to-play scenariocauses turnout to dwindle, theMajors’ win-loss records could suf-fer. But on-field results are only asmall part of the situation toMVHS assistant athletic directorTony Garza, who is concerned with

the attitude of students whocouldn’t afford to play.

On May 20, the Fairfax CountySchool Board passed a motion, 9to 3, to require a $100 fee for highschool athletes to participate in asport. The fee will be applied toall sports and will be required foreach sport a student participatesin.

School Board members TinaHone (at-large), Sandy Evans (Ma-son) and Patty Reed (Providence)

By Julia O’Donoghue

The Gazette

On last year’s stan-dardized tests, 95percent of studentsat Stratford Land-

ing Elementary School passed thelanguage arts exams and 92 per-cent passed the math exams. Atnearby Riverside Elementary

School, 93 percent of studentspassed the same language arts ex-ams and 87 percent passed themath exams.

Numbers such as these can leadparents to conclude the StratfordLanding is a more successful or“better” school than Riverside. Infact, if you look across all the el-ementary schools in the MountVernon area, Stratford Landing hasthe highest pass rates for studentson the language arts and mathtests overall.

That may lead several people toconclude Stratford Landing is thehighest performing elementaryschool in the local community. Andseveral people may insist on look-ing for homes only in the Stratford

Test Scores:It’s ComplicatedA single numbercannot tell awhole school’sstory, educationadvocates say.

Garza: New Athletic FeeCould Affect ParticipationFairfax County School Board backs$100 athletic participation fee.

2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 27 - June 2, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


News

In the last census, 3,800 grandparenthouseholds in Fairfax County had kin-ship grandchildren under their roofs

and providing care for them. In 2004 aFairfax County Focus Group asked questionsinto how to provide better services. A sup-port group was formed and a Kinship CareResource Guide was published. The guideoffers information on services available tocaregivers. The guide may be picked up ina hard copy from the Prevention ServicesOffice of the Fairfax County Department ofFamily Services or it is available online byvisiting http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/

adultselderly/kinship_care_guide.htm. orcall the Family Services offices specialprojects coordinator, Nancy Coffey at 703-324-7723 to request a hard copy.

On Saturday, May 15, the staff of the Fam-ily Services division held a kinship respiteday where the children were invited tospend the day at the Gum Springs Commu-nity Center. A staff member from the Hunt-ley Meadows Park off Lockheed Boulevardintroduced the children to some of the wild-life inhabiting the park.

Frogs, from the peeper to the bullfrog hadbeen recorded on tape and photos.

Kinship Respite Day atGum Springs Center

Kathy McNeil from Huntley Meadows introduces the frog kingdomby reading outloud the book “Jump Frog Jump.” Frogs can jumpseven times their body length with one hop.

Pho

to

by Lo

uise K

rafft/G

azette

By Grace Powell

The Gazette

In an effort to promote more parentalinvolvement within the Hispanic com-munity, West Potomac High Schoolsponsored a Hispanic Summit at Gum

Springs Recreational Center.Nearly 50 parents and local school admin-

istrators attended the meeting on Saturday,May 22 including representatives fromMount Vernon High School, Carl SandburgMiddle School, and members of the com-munity.

West Potomac Director of Student Ser-vices Tim Boyd said the event took place atGum Springs in order to reach out to thecommunity: “We want to serve all the stu-dents in our school and we have a largeHispanic community.”

Boyd stressed the importance of parentalinvolvement. “We want them involved inour school, we know there have been timeswhen families haven’t felt comfortable,” hesaid.

Parent Liaison Haraldo Suarez said it canbe difficult for parents to get involved withtheir students’ education since many par-ents work several jobs and do not havetransportation. “These people are under alot of stress,” he said.

“These schools are your homes,” FCPSadministrator Scott Brandband said.Brandband encouraged students to utilizeall the resources the county offers. “We’regoing to have your backs so that you canbe successful,” he said.

West Potomac High School Freshman IrisLopez said it can be difficult for studentswithin the Hispanic community to achievesuccess. “Spanish people don’t always havethe opportunity that other people have,”Lopez said. “In my school people aren’t goingto college because they don’t have papers.”

Evangelina Dobbs, a federal governmentconsultant and advocate for the Hispaniccommunity, touched on the issue of immi-gration during her speech. “The problem isthat most people think we are illegals,”Dobbs said.

Dobbs encouraged the audience to main-tain a good reputation and think creatively.“Most of the time we think that money isthe answer, but we forget to be creative,”Dobbs said. “If everyone contributes oneidea, we leave here with 50 ideas. Ideas arevery powerful.”

Boyd said Hispanics are among the mi-norities with low testing rates in FairfaxCounty.

West Potomac ESOL teacher PaulWatlington expressed the need for two af-ter school buses for students who need ex-tra help. “Fairfax County is one of the rich-est counties in Virginia, there’s no reasonthere’s only one late bus a week,”Watlington said.

School staff hope that the summit willcontinue to bridge the communication gap

Hispanic Summit Promotes Parental InvolvementSchool staff, parents gather to discussneeds of Hispanic community.

Evangelina Dobbs discusses some of the issues facing the Hispaniccommunity.

Fairfax County Public Schoolsadministrator Scott Brandbandurges families and students to takeadvantage of the county’s re-sources. Behind: West PotomacHigh School Parent LiaisonHaraldo Suarez translates.

West PotomacHigh SchoolJunior HectorMazao, Fresh-man Iris Lopezand JuniorManuelGonzalez smileafter helpinghost the Sum-mit.

between parents and the school system. Thenext summit is scheduled for October.

Suarez said parents can call his office day

or night with questions and concerns. “Weneed to give them a chance,” Suarez said.“Both the students and the parents.”

Photos by Grace

Powell/The

Gazette


By Julia O’Donoghue

The Gazette

Virginia’s 11th Congressional Dis-trict will see its first primary con-test in 18 years next month. Su-pervisor Patrick Herrity (R-

Springfield) and businessman Keith Fimianare vying for the chance to take on U.S. Rep.Gerry Connolly (D-11) next fall in whatcould be a competitive race.

Primary voters go to the polls to decidebetween Herrity and Fimian June 8. In Vir-ginia, voters do not register with a politicalparty, so any person, regardless of politicalaffiliation, can participate in the election topick the Republican Party nominee.

Connolly is serving his first term in theHouse of Representatives after beatingFimian 54.7 percent to 43 percent in the2008 general election. Former U.S. Rep.Tom Davis (R-11) held the seat for 13 yearsbefore retiring.

The Cook Political Report, a politicalanalysis publication, rated the race as “lean-ing Democratic” in April. But several localRepublican activists said the current anti-incumbent sentiment could provide an op-portunity for an upset.

“I think there is a strong sentiment thatthe federal government is out of control,”said Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock),who won a special election to the Fairfaxboard in 2009.

FIMIAN AND HERRITY share many ofthe same opinions when it comes to gen-eral matters of public policy.

Both candidates said reducing the federaldeficit would be a priority should they beelected to office. Both have hammeredConnolly for support of the governmenthealth care reform bill and “cap and trade”legislation, which places a ceiling on emis-sions over concern about the environmentbut is frowned on by some business groups.

“This is not San Francisco. This is notsome radical left district,” said Fimian ofConnolly’s voting record.

If elected, Fimian and Herrity both saidthey would like to serve on the House Gov-ernment Reform Committee, which over-sees federal employees and governmentcontracting. The two candidates have alsosaid they would want to be part of the smallbusiness committee.

Both candidates have said social issueswould not be a top priority in the campaign.

“I think the issues of concern to peopletoday are the issues of what will happen totheir children and grandchildren and theirjobs,” said Herrity.

But both candidates describe themselvesas pro-life and against legal abortion.

They support the Defense of Marriage Act,in which the federal government definedmarriage as a legal union between one manand one woman. Both candidates also saythey are defenders of the constitutionalright to own a gun.

WHERE THE CANDIDATES differ is ex-perience and background.

Fimian has spent most of his career build-ing and running U.S. Inspect, a multi-mil-lion dollar business that now operates na-tionwide. He has never held public officeand has not been involved to any great ex-tent in the larger local civic or business as-sociations of Northern Virginia.

By contrast, Herrity, whose father JackHerrity served on the Board of Supervisorsfrom 1972 to 1988, has deep roots in thecounty.

A West Springfield High School graduate,Herrity is the sitting supervisor for theSpringfield District in Fairfax. Prior to be-ing elected in 2007, he served on the boardof directors for two of the county’s largestand most influential business associations,the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerceand the Northern Virginia Technology Coun-cil.

He also participated on and coached lo-cal sports teams, including several in theSouthwestern Youth Athletic Association.

“I have a long record of service to thiscommunity. I have everyone from rank andfile citizens to the business community sup-porting my efforts,” said Herrity.

Herrity said his record of service in Fairfaxwould make him a stronger candidate togo up against Connolly in November.

FIMIAN has characterized Herrity’s workin Fairfax County as that of political insiderwho has always aspired to serve in publicoffice. To get a truly different kind of poli-tician, voters need to elect Fimian.

“It takes an entirely new kind of leader-ship. I am fearful that if competent men andwomen don’t run, we will drive this coun-try off a cliff,” said Fimian.

According to the Oakton businessman, hegrew his company, U.S. Inspect, from just$150,000 he made off a real estate invest-ment when he was 29. Capitol Hill needsmore people who understand what it meansto start a business and create jobs, said

Fimian.He does not consider Herrity, who has

worked as a chief financial officer for sev-eral local government contractors, to havesimilar business experience.

“When you join a company as a CFO, youare guaranteed a salary. There is no risk toyou. I lived hand-to-mouth for eight years.I have created jobs from nothing,” he said.

HERRITY said his work in governmentcontracting and for high tech companies hascreated jobs. He has often been brought into turn around troubled firms and help growtheir business, which has in turn has led tonew positions at the companies.

Herrity’s familiarity with government con-tractors also means he has a good under-standing of how Fairfax County’s largestindustry works.

“This has an impact on the local economy.This is our number one industry in FairfaxCounty,” he said.

Herrity’s experience in local governmentwill be valuable in the U.S. Congress, hesaid.

“I have had to say ‘no.’ I have had to chal-lenge things from affordable housing to thetree ordinance. I took on the penny for af-fordable housing. That was not an easything to do,” said Herrity.

BUT FIMIAN has criticized Herrity for notsaying ‘no’ to enough as a county supervi-sor. The businessman accused Herrity ofvoting to raise taxes while in elected office.

Herrity, along with every other memberof the Board of Supervisors, voted to raisethe real estate property tax rate in 2009.But an increase in the tax rate does not nec-essarily correlate to an increase in aresident’s property tax bill.

Though the property tax rate went up in2009, property taxes for most householdsin Fairfax County decreased because of asharp decline in home values. Because ofthis, Herrity has said it is unfair to accusehim of raising taxes.

Herrity said he only voted for the county

budget in 2009 because it included a taxbreak for most property owners. He did notvote in favor of the county budget this yearbecause it included an increase in taxes andfees for the average citizen.

Still, Fimian contends that property taxrate increase resulted in a larger tax bill forsome residents of Fairfax County, whosehome values did not decline as significantlyas the average county property.

Fimian has also criticized Herrity for vot-ing for a special tax district in the Dullesarea set up to help fund the construction ofthe new Metrorail line.

Dulles area landowners that would betaxed brought that proposal to the supervi-sors themselves in December. These land-owners asked the supervisors to approvetheir request to pay more taxes to fund theconstruction of Metro stops close to theirproperty.

Without the special tax district, FairfaxCounty would have had to find another wayto pay for stations in the Herndon andDulles area or scrap those stops altogether,said several supervisors at the time.

IN KEEPING with his political outsiderimage, Fimian is calling for an end to allcongressional earmarks.

“Earmarks are bribes. People get all thesebribes to vote for other people’s legislation,”said Fimian.

Critics often refer to earmarks as “porkbarrel” spending. They allow local congress-man to secure federal funding for localprojects, organizations and businesses anddonors that haven’t had to compete formoney.

Frequently, a congressman’s seniority orposition on a committee is of more impor-tance that the merits of the project, com-pany or organization receiving the funding.

All of Fairfax’s current and past congress-men — including Connolly, Davis, U.S. Rep.Frank Wolf (R-10) and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran(D-8) — use earmarks. That money hasbeen used for several popular projects, in-cluding the construction of the FairfaxCounty Parkway and to support a regionalanti-gang initiative.

CONNOLLY won his seat two years agounder good circumstances for a Democrat.With the Republican brand weak, Demo-crats picked up 19 seats, including Virginia’s11th Congressional District, in the U.S.House of Representatives and secured 60votes in the U.S. Senate as a result of the2008 election. In Virginia, Connolly alsoshared the ticket with two well-liked can-didates, President Barack Obama (D) andU.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who wonwith 57.01 percent and 65.46 percent ofthe vote respectively in Virginia’s 11th Con-gressional District.

But several Republicans said the politicalclimate has changed heading into the 2010election.

“It is a completely different atmosphere.Bush is gone,” said Davis.

Primary Vote: Fimian Vs. HerrityTwo candidates face each other for Republican nomination June 8.

Politics

Keith FimianAge: 53Hometown: VirginiaBeach, Va.Residence: OaktonFamily: Wife Cathy of 28years and three daughtersEducation: College ofWilliam & Mary, bachelor’sof business administration,accounting concentration -1979Occupation: Founder and

chairman of U.S. Inspect, a national providerof property inspection services

Civic Activity: president of the YouthLeadership Foundation, which providesacademic and character building to low-income students in Washington D.C.;Republican nominee for Virginia’s 11thDistrict Congressional seat in 2008

Patrick HerrityAge: 50Hometown: SpringfieldResidence: CliftonFamily: Wife Nancy, one

son and one daughterEducation: Virginia Tech,

bachelor’s of science inaccounting - 1982

Occupation: chieffinancial officer forFulcra Worldwide, agovernment contractorand communications firm; Fairfax CountySupervisor – Springfield District (2008-present)

Civic Activity: Former board member of theNorthern Virginia Technology Council; formerexecutive committee member of the FairfaxChamber of Commerce; former board memberfor Potomac Inline Hockey; Fairfax Countychairman candidate in 2009; former youthathletics coach for local teams in ice hockey,inline hockey, rugby, soccer and basketball

See Primary, Page 25


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News

Brig. Gen. John Howard(Ret.), CDW-G Depart-ment of Defense (DoD)business developmentmanager, and OperationHomefront NationalBoard of Directors mem-ber, speaks at CDW-G’slaptop donation presen-tation Tuesday, May 25,at Fort Belvoir.

Vivian Dietrich of CDW-G presents a laptop computer toStaff Sergeant Curtis Winston, Dacia Winston, sonBrandon Winston, 7 months. The Winstons also have adaughter, Kaylie, age 7. Staff Sergeant Wilson did notsee his now 7-year-old daughter until she was sevenmonths old. A laptop at home with wife would havehelped them stay connected during his previous de-ployments. Now, the technology donated by CDW-G willhelp them stay connected to family in Illinois as Win-ston recuperates at Fort Belvoir.

Connecting with Laptops

By Michael Lee Pope

The Gazette

Getting a new roof canbe stressful, especiallyfor elderly peoplewho live alone. First,

there’s diagnosing the problem.Then there’s a range of options toconsider. Eventually, a team ofworkers will arrive and money willchange hands. For many seniorcitizens, it’s a recipe for disasterbecause con men look for elderlypeople as an easy mark.

Unless, the senior is a memberof Mount Vernon at Home.

The newly formed nonprofit of-fers support services and socialopportunities for seniors in theMount Vernon area. Launched inNovember, the 501 (c)(3) is pre-paring to celebrate a successfullaunch and passing the thresholdof 100 members. Director JeffReed says members do everythingfrom enjoying a trip to the mu-seum to advice on finding a roofer.

“We are with them all the way,”said Reed. “We don’t just turnthem over to a contractor and say‘good luck.’”

The nonprofit can now boast118 members in 81 households in24 different communities. Socialevents include bridge clubs, lec-tures, ice-cream socials and pot-

luck dinners. Support services of-fer a careful review of businessesto make sure the price and qualityof work is up to snuff. Volunteerssuch as Willie Wright help mem-bers make doctors appointmentsand supermarket trips.

“My personal reason for doingthis is because I was an old Navywife,” said Wright, 68. “I wasn’tthere for my mother and mymother-in-law. So this is my wayof giving back.”

Membership is $550 a year fora single and $800 for a couple, andit comes with a certain ease ofmind. Not only are the folks at

Mount Vernon at Home checkingwith the Better Business Bureau tomake sure the tree-trimmer is onthe up-and-up, but they’re alsoplanning a dinner party. Membersinclude several married couples aswell as seniors who live alone.

“We just had railing put on bothside of the stairwell, and we usedthe vetting service to make surethe vendor was someone we couldtrust,” said Jim Rapp, 82. “Some-one who lives alone might notneed help until there’s an emer-gency, and that’s where MountVernon at Home could fill a realneed.”

Helping Seniors At HomeNonprofit Mount Vernon at Home prepares tocelebrate successful launch at River Farm on June 3.


Opinion

See Remembering, Page 22

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A Connection Newspaper

On Memorial Day, we rememberall of those who have died inmilitary service, nearly 300,000in World War II, more than

30,000 in Korea, more than 50,000 in Vietnam.More than 160 U.S. Military service person-

nel from Virginia have been killed in Iraq andAfghanistan, including several in the last year.Earlier this month, on May 12, 2010, DonaldJ. Lamar II, 23 of Fredericksburg, was killed inAfghanistan. Christopher D. Worrell, 35 of Vir-ginia Beach, was killed in Iraq on April 22,2010. Steven J. Bishop, 29 of Christianburg,was killed March 13, 2010 in Iraq. Kielin T.Dunn, 19 of Chesapeake, was killed Feb. 18,2010 in Afghanistan. Brandon T. Islip, 23 ofRichmond, was killed Nov. 29, 2009, in Af-ghanistan. Stephan L. Mace, 21 of Lovettsville,died Oct. 3, 2009 in Afghanistan.

Bill Cahir, 40 of Alexandria, died Aug. 13,2009 of a gunshot wound while conductingcombat operations in the Helmand Provinceof Afghanistan.

After 9/11, Cahir decided to leave his careeras a journalist and join the Marine Corps. Af-ter his application to become a Marine hadoriginally been denied because of his age, helobbied members of Congress to get a specialexemption.

“We all thought he was crazy,” said BrettLieberman, a former colleague at NewhouseNews Service.

Fairfax Station resident Pfc. Dillon Jutras, 20,was killed in combat operations in Al AnbarProvince of Iraq Oct. 29, 2005. Dillon Jutras’syounger brother, Hunter Drake Jutras, hashelped us remember by submitting drawingsevery year; this year his portrait of his brotherDillon appeared on the cover of the BurkeChildren’s Connection. Hunter, a sixth graderat White Oaks Elementary, wrote: “My draw-

ing of my brother Dillon who was a Ranger inthe U.S. Army. He deployed to Iraq for Opera-tion Iraqi Freedom. He was killed in action onOct. 29, 2005. I miss him very much.”

MORE THAN 4,300 U.S. military membershave been killed in Iraq and more than 1,000have been killed in Afghanistan since Sept. 11,2001. More than 40,000 have been woundedin Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Memorial Day, we honor and thank allthose who have served in the military, in timesof war and peace. It is also a time to reinvigo-rate efforts to provide the best services andopportunities to our veterans. The Post-9/11GI Bill dramatically increases the educationalbenefits extended to members of the militarywho have served at least three months of ac-tive duty since Sept. 11, 2001. George MasonUniversity has been on the forefront of imple-menting the GI Bill for veterans locally. Stepsto provide better, faster and more responsivehealth care, including mental health care areunderway.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Ryan Bennett, 23 of Cliftondied Jan. 11, 2009, in Helmand province, Af-ghanistan. “He loved his country, and we’re soproud of him,” said his mother.

2nd Lt. Sean P. O’Connor of Burke died Oct.19, 2008 while stationed at Hunter Army AirField, Savannah, Ga. O’Connor was an athletein soccer, baseball and football who attendedFairfax County Public Schools and was a 1999graduate of Bishop Denis J. O’Connell HighSchool in Arlington.

Pfc. David Sharrett, 27 of Oakton, died Jan,16, 2008 in Iraq. On Oct. 24, 2008, his father,David H. Sharrett, was on hand along withformer U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R) as the OaktonPost Office on White Granite Drive was re-named to honor his son.

Army 1st Lt. Thomas J. Brown, a GeorgeMason University graduate and Burke resident,died on Sept. 23, 2008, while serving in Iraq.His unit came under small arms fire, andBrown, 26, died from his wounds.

HERE ARE the names of some of the localmen and women who have died in Iraq andAfghanistan. We repeat these names severaltimes a year to honor their service and to keeptheir memories in our consciousness.

If you know of someone who should be in-cluded in this list, or if you would like to sharehow you are honoring the memory of a familymember or friend lost, or about the progressof someone injured, please let us know.

Sgt. Scott Kirkpatrick, 26, died on Aug. 11,2007, in Arab Jabour, Iraq. Kirkpatrick, whograduated from Park View High School in Ster-ling, and also considered Herndon and Restonas his hometowns, was a champion slam poet.His father, Ed Kirkpatrick, calls him the “war-rior poet,” and he and his wife help injuredvets at Walter Reed through the Yellow Rib-bon fund (www.yellowribbonfund.org).

Ami Neiberger-Miller of Sterling lost herbrother, U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Neiberger,

in August 2007 when he was killed by a road-side bomb while serving in Baghdad, Iraq. Hewas 22 when he died. Since her brother’sdeath, Neiberger-Miller has devoted herself tothe Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors(www.taps.org), which provides peer-basedemotional support and other services for fami-lies of the fallen, and provides intensive ser-vices and activities.

Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, ofHerndon, died when an improvised bomb ex-ploded near his vehicle in Afghanistan on Aug.12, 2007. Jonathan D. Winterbottom, 21, ofFalls Church, died in Iraq on May 23, 2007, ofwounds inflicted when an “improvised explo-sive device” exploded near his vehicle.

Nicholas Rapavi, 22, of Springfield, died Nov.24, 2006, of wounds received during combatin Anbar province in Iraq. Army Cpl. Andy D.Anderson, 24, was killed by enemy fire in ArRamadi, Iraq on Tuesday, June 6, 2006.

Airman 1st Class LeeBernard E. Chavis, 21,was killed Oct. 14, 2006, by sniper fire in Iraq,trying to protect civilians from a roadsidebomb.

Spc. Robert Drawl Jr., 21, a 2003 graduateof T.C. Williams High School, was killed by abomb in Kunar, Afghanistan, on Aug. 19, 2006.

United States Army Specialist Felipe J. GarciaVillareal, 26 of Burke, was injured in Iraq andflown to Washington Hospital Center, wherehe died Feb. 12, 2006. He was a graduate ofHerndon High School.

Capt. Shane R. M. Mahaffee, 36, a 1987graduate of Mount Vernon High School, diedMay 15, 2006. He was a lawyer, married, withtwo children. His parents live in Alexandria.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirven, 21,was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 during afirefight in a cave with insurgents. He enlistedwhile still in high school after 9/11. Maj. Wil-liam F. Hecker III, a 1987 graduate of McLeanHigh School, was killed in action in An Najaf,Iraq, Jan. 5, 2005. Staff Sgt. Ayman Taha, 31,of Vienna, was killed Dec. 30, 2005, when anenemy munitions cache he was prepping fordemolition exploded. Army Capt. Chris Pettyof Vienna was killed Jan. 5, 2006.

Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr., the 2,000thsoldier to be killed in Iraq, was literally born

“My drawing of my brotherDillon who was a Ranger in theU.S. Army. He deployed to Iraqfor Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hewas killed in action on Oct. 29,2005. I miss him very much.” —Hunter Drake Jutras, Grade 6,White Oaks Elementary School

Remembering onMemorial Day 2010Close to home,many to honor.

Paying Respects❖ “Flags In” at Arlington National Cemetery is

scheduled to begin after funerals are complete forthe day on Thursday, May 27. Soldiers from the 3rdU.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) will bejoined by other service members in placing smallAmerican flags, on the gravesites. Visitors arewelcome during this event and are encouraged toarrive at the cemetery after 4 p.m. on Thursday,May 27. It will take approximately three hours toplace the more than 250,000 flags.

❖ Fallen Heroes Project, May 29 - The Fallen HeroesPortraits Display will be placed in Section 60, wherethe majority of the casualties killed in Iraq andAfghanistan are buried at Arlington, and will be ondisplay until the cemetery closes on Monday, May31. Visitors are welcome to come visit the display inSection 60.

❖ Price of Freedom Sculpture, May 29 - The Price ofFreedom sculpture will be unveiled on Saturday,May 29 at 2 p.m. in the Visitors Center.

❖ Memorial Day Ceremony, Arlington Cemetery, Theannual National Memorial Day Observance to honorAmerica’s fallen military service members isscheduled for Monday, May 31 in MemorialAmphitheater. Call the Visitors Center at 703-607-8000.


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Save at the Reico Clearance Center!Letters

See Letters, Page 22

Gala SignalsDiscontent?To the Editor:

Every Spring, the MVCCA holdsits annual Gala. This year’s eventoccurred on May 1. The MVCCAbudget (April 2010) reveals thatthe MVCCA anticipated Gala in-come of $4,100 and expenses of$3,200 for a net profit of $900.The income figure, at the Galaticket price of $40 a head, predictsabout 100 paying guests.

I understand attendance at theGala was about half (51) the bud-getary prediction and that it lostmoney. Last week, Gala ChairmanQueenie Cox sent a survey on theMVCCA listserve asking recipients“What is the primary reason youdid not attend the 2010 MVCCAGala?”

I’m confident the reason for poorattendance at the Gala has littleor nothing to do with the date,time, place, price, food and enter-tainment or the people and orga-nization honored at the event. Re-garding these factors, I’m sure Ms.Cox made all the proper arrange-ments to give the event the bestchance of success. The poor atten-dance is more likely a result of therecent policies and actions of theMVCCA that have turned off all

but the inner circle of MVCCAleaders.

In recent months, (1) theMVCCA has routinely ignored itsown bylaws, including failing toprovide notice to its own membersof the election of committee chair-men and appointing a committeechairman ineligible to serve in thatcapacity under those bylaws inlight of her concurrent service onthe policy-making WetlandsBoard; (2) the MVCCA has wastedvaluable and scarce county staffresources by filing a number ofComprehensive Plan nominationsrequiring transportation studies itknew it could not afford to fund;(3) six MVCCA-affiliated peoplewere appointed by SupervisorHyland to the recent APR TaskForce considering ComprehensivePlan nominations. They were sup-posed to represent our entire com-munity. Over a dozen of thosenominations were made by theMVCCA yet the MVCCA-affiliatedTask Force members routinely re-frained from recusing themselveswhen those nominations were de-bated and voted upon, eventhough each of them had a stakein obtaining approval of thosenominations. I’m told the County


From Page 1

News

See Test Scores, Page 11

Landing school district based ondata like this.

Except, when it comes to whitestudents, Riverside actually had ahigher pass rate (100 percent) onthe language arts exams thanStratford Landing (98 percent)last year. The two schools also hadthe same pass rate for white stu-dents on the math exams, accord-ing to Virginia Department of Edu-cation test data.

And among African Americans,Riverside’s 2009 test results werefar better than Stratford Landing’s.At Riverside, 90 percent of blackstudents passed the language artsexam and 83 percent passed themath exam. At Stratford Landing,only 78 percent of black studentspassed the language arts exam and62 percent passed the math exam.

THAT RIVERSIDE’S overall testscores were lower than StratfordLanding’s last year appears to bemore of a reflection of the twoschool’s demographics. A largepercentage of Riverside’s studentbody belongs to groups — such asthose who black, Hispanic or poor— that have historically struggledon standardized tests.

According to Fairfax CountyPublic Schools, Riverside enrolled226 black students (38.57 percentof the student body), 200 Hispanicstudents (34.13 percent of the stu-dent body) and 352 poor students(60.07 percent of the studentbody) last year. Stratford Landinghad 86 black students (11.51 per-cent of the student body), 45 His-panic students (6.02 percent of thestudent body) and 127 poor stu-dents (17 percent of the studybody) in 2009.

And even though Riverside hadhigher pass rates among white stu-dents — who historically performbetter on standardized tests thanminority students — thanStratford Landing in 2009, the to-tal number of students at theschool that were white was rela-tively small. Last year, Riversideenrolled 93 white students (15.87percent of the student body) whileStratford Landing enrolled 510white students (68.27 percent ofthe student body).

THE COMPARISON of Riversideand Stratford Landing’s testingdata from last year illustrates whatseveral education activists in theMount Vernon area have been tell-ing middle class parents for years.

Residents should not dismiss aschool simply based on overall testscores because they don’t neces-

sarily correspond to the perfor-mance of children who most re-semble their own.

“It is so easy to look at the aver-age score but I think that is a mis-take. It tells you very little aboutthe school itself and how yourchild is going to do at that school,”said Judy Harbeck, head of theeducation committee for theMount Vernon Council of CitizensAssociations.

For example, among white stu-dents, eight of the 14 local MountVernon elementary schools had apass rate of 90 percent or aboveon both the math and languagearts exams last year. But at thesesame eight schools, the pass ratesof the overall student body variedwidely, from the low 80s to themid 90s, according to Virginia edu-cation department data.

One school with relatively hightest scores last year, Fort Hunt El-ementary, also ended up havingthe lowest local pass rates amongblack students — 62 percent inlanguage arts and 57 percent inmath — and poor students — 60percent in language arts and 56percent in math — of any schoolin the Mount Vernon area.

EVEN A SCHOOL’S label or “sta-tus” under the federal No ChildLeft Behind act can be deceiving,according to school activists.

Each year, schools are brokeninto two groups, those who made

“adequate yearly progress” andthose who failed to make “ad-equate yearly progress.”

Many members of the publicautomatically assume that schoolsthat make “adequate yearlyprogress” have higher test scoresin given year than those that donot make “adequate yearlyprogress.” This is not necessarilythe case.

To meet “adequately yearlyprogress,” most schools not onlyhave to have their overall studentbody meet testing goals but also awide variety of student subgroupsalso reach a similar level ofachievement. If one of these sub-groups — such as black, Hispanicor poor students — falls short oftesting goals in a given year, thenthe whole school can fail to meet“adequate yearly progress.”

For example, Stratford Landing,with the highest overall test scoresof any school in Mount Vernon,failed to make “adequate yearlyprogress” last year when it had lowscores among black and poor stu-dents. Likewise, Hollin MeadowsElementary made “adequatelyyearly progress” last year eventhough its overall test scores werenot as high.

Certain schools are able to cir-cumvent low test scores amongsubgroups.

For example, Belle ViewElementary’s black students didnot meet testing goals last year.

But those scores were not a factorin the school making “adequateyearly progress” because the num-ber of black students enrolled atBelle View was 46. Virginia re-quires a school have at least 50children in each subgroup beforethe group’s scores are counted for“adequate yearly progress pur-poses.”

NO CHILD Left Behind is alsoparticularly hard on schools whichreceive federal “Title I” funding,often referred to as “Title I”schools.

In Fairfax, all schools at the el-ementary school level where 40percent or more of the studentsqualify for free or reduced-pricedlunch are “Title I” schools. Andnine of 14 local Mount Vernonschools — Bucknell, Hollin Mead-ows, Hybla Valley, Mount VernonWoods, Riverside, WashingtonMill, Woodley Hills, Groveton andWoodlawn — are “Title I” cam-puses.

When “Title I” schools fail tomake “adequate yearly progress,”they face much stiffer conse-quences and sanctions.

Often, the school has to offerstudents the option of transferringto another school that has mettesting goals. Under the most ex-treme options, where the schoolhas failed to meet testing goals forseveral years in a row, the entirestaff of a “Title I” school could be

replaced and the instructional pro-gram could be “restructured.”

Schools that are not “Title I”schools do not face such sanctions,even if they fail to make “adequateyearly progress” for several yearsin a row or have lower test scoresthan their “Title I” counterparts.

This can be frustrating for “TitleI” school communities, who feel asif they are unfairly singled outwhen they fall short of testinggoals.

For example, SuperintendentJack Dale announced two weeksago that the Virginia Departmentof Education was giving fiveMount Vernon Elementary Schoolsgrants to help boost low testscores. But these grants were onlytargeted to “Title I schools” whoin some cases have higher testscores, particularly among certainsubgroups, than other non-“TitleI” schools in Mount Vernon.

“The reason Title I schools getthat type of focus is because of thelabel put on them and not otherschools,” said School Board mem-ber Dan Storck (Mount Vernon).

THE HOLLIN MEADOWS El-ementary School communityfound the “low-performer” labelparticularly unfair.

Hollin Meadows made “ad-equately yearly progress” last yearwhile some other non-“Title I”

Looking Beyond Numbers for ‘Best’ SchoolMount Vernon Elementary Schools Test Scores

The Virginia Department of Education provides the percentage of the total population of students who passed the commonwealth’s standardized test for eachschool. They also provide the pass rate for certain subgroups of students. The state education department does not provide testing data for students.

Belle Bucknell Fort Mount Vernon Riverside Washington Woodley Fort Groveton Hollin Hybla Stratford Waynewood WoodlawnView Belvoir Woods Mill Hills Hunt Meadows Valley Landing

LANGUAGE ARTSAll 91 82 91 78 93 82 86 90 90 90 85 95 94 83

Black 67 67 84 69 90 69 79 62 84 87 85 78 N/A 79

Hispanic 93 86 94 82 89 79 84 80 91 92 84 97 N/A 81

White 96 82 92 N/A 100 92 95 99 97 94 87 98 95 93

Students with 92 76 93 60 88 50 83 67 91 91 94 89 69 81DisabilitiesEconomically 84 80 89 76 91 73 83 60 86 89 84 81 91 79DisadvantagedLimited 93 85 83 81 90 78 84 65 90 88 85 93 N/A 77English

MATHAll 87 69 88 64 87 80 78 87 82 84 75 92 92 77

Black 74 59 80 57 83 71 66 57 77 79 75 62 N/A 76

Hispanic 77 68 77 67 83 74 71 87 83 79 73 90 N/A 73

White 92 88 90 N/A 96 90 96 95 80 92 80 96 94 85

Students with 83 39 87 35 75 79 64 65 84 76 85 80 73 62DisabilitiesEconomically 77 66 86 61 82 74 70 56 80 80 73 66 91 73DisadvantagedLimited 76 69 76 63 82 73 70 65 80 78 73 81 N/A 71English

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From Page 10

News

schools that would not have been considered forthe grant — Stratford Landing and Fort Hunt — didnot.

When compared to Fort Hunt and Stratford Land-ing, Hollin Meadows also has higher test scores inseveral subgroups, especially among students whoare black or poor.

Hollin Meadows also has a relatively small achieve-ment gap when compared to the other two schools.White students performed five percentage pointshigher on the language arts exam and 13 pointshigher on the math exam than black students.

At Fort Hunt, white students performed 37 per-centage points higher in language arts and 38 per-centage points higher in math than black students.At Stratford Landing, white students performed 20percentage points higher in language arts and 34percentage points higher on the math exam thanblack students.

Longtime Hollin Meadows parent Sue Bernsteinsaid the school community works hard to combatlingering concerns about the school’s performance.

“We call every family that has a rising five year-old in our area and have them over for coffee so theycan meet some of the parents at the school. All ofour local preschools are also invited to visit HollinMeadows,” said Bernstein.

Test Scores, Student Subgroups, Title I

Send announcements to the MountVernon Gazette, by e-mail [email protected] is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Photos areencouraged. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.

Shelby Elisabeth Hodgkins ofAlexandria, daughter of Jay and Su-san Hodgkins ’72, graduated fromJuniata College with a Bachelor of Sci-ence degree in politics with a secondaryemphasis in psychology. While atJuniata, Hodgkins was a member of theCheerleading Team. Next Fall she isgoing to Georgetown for her masters.Hodgkins is a graduate of Bishop IretonHigh School.

Local students were cited for excel-

School Notes

lence in journalism at the JournalismEducation Association Write-Off Con-test, held recently at the JEA-NationalScholastic Press Association (NSPA)spring convention in Portland, Ore.Earning Superior ratings were:

❖ Mazen Elbashari of WestPotomac High School for Computer De-sign: Headline.

❖ Beth Stanley of West PotomacHigh School for On-Air Reporter.

Earning Excellent ratings were:❖ Cara Yaworske of West Potomac

High School for Yearbook Copy-Cap-tion: Sports.

❖ Caitlin Stewart of West PotomacHigh School for Broadcast Sports Story.

Earning Honorable Mentions were:❖ Alexx Graybill of West Potomac

High School for Yearbook Layout:Theme.

❖ Erin Spangler of West PotomacHigh School for Literary Magazine: Lay-out.

Three West Potomac HighSchool students have been named tothe 2010 Virginia All-State Band. Theyperformed at Great Bridge High Schoolin Chesapeake on Saturday, April 10.Congratulations to these students:

Ian Chaava, Euphonium, ConcertBand.

Tristan Clarke, Trumpet, Sym-phonic Band.

Ari Lindenbaum, French Horn,Concert Band Alternate.

Michael Lewis was named to the2010 Virginia All-State Orchestra. TheWest Potomac High School studentplays string bass.

14 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 27 - June 2, 2010 Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ May 27 - June 2, 2010 ❖ 15www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


From Page 1

News

voted against the fee.“These fees touch such a large

swath of students,” Hone said.Garza said there is potential for

classmates to mock a student whowas unable to participate in a sportdue to lack of money.

“I’m concerned about the over-all morale of our student athletes,”said Garza, who is also the headcoach of the school’s girls soccerteam. “If you turn them away fromsports, I’m worried about how thekids will be looked at in school.”

Evans, Reed and Hone sup-ported a motion to remove the feeentirely, which failed. The three,along with Dan Storck (MountVernon), supported another mo-tion to make the fee a one-timeexpense for students, but thatfailed as well.

“Sports are clearly a game-changer for some kids,” Storcksaid.

While Storck supported the fees,he said he wants the school sys-tem to monitor the situationclosely.

Money generated from the feewill go into the county’s generalfund and is expected to generate$1.8 million in revenue for thecounty.

There are exceptions to the rule.Students who qualify for a free

or reduced-priced lunch will beexempt from paying the fees.However, that standard is ex-tremely low. A family of four mustbe living on $41,000 per year inFairfax County to qualify for re-duced-priced lunches.

The average median income forFairfax County households is over$100,000.

Some are worried the fee mightprevent students from participat-ing in as many as three sports in ayear, or any sports at all.

“Small schools are afraid theywon’t be able to field teams,” Reedsaid.

Garza is also worried about notbeing able to field teams, sayingfootball of all of the sports willsuffer the most. Garza said fourmembers of the girls soccer teamand nine members of the boys soc-cer team have spoken about po-tential problems with the athleticfee.

Evans said that some LoudounCounty Public Schools withneedier populations have seen animpact since their high schoolsports fee went into effect. ParkView High School has seen a dropoff in the number of students par-ticipating in track this spring.

New FeeFor Athletes


Arts ❖ Entertainment ❖ Leisure

By Brad Hathaway

The Connection

As Memorial Day Weekend ap-proaches this is an appropriatetime for Dominion Stage to open its

production of Terrence McNally’s “Love!Valour! Compassion!” After all, the first acttakes place over a Memorial Day Weekend ata lake-side summer home about two hours’drive north of New York City where a groupof gay men have gathered for a weekend ofskinny dipping and other forms of “R and R.”

Acts two and three take place over theFourth of July and Labor Day weekends, asthe men’s relationships evolve in the wake ofindiscretions and events during that firstweekend. Over it all hangs the specter of aplague that, at that moment appeared bothunstoppable and incurable. It was the plagueknown as AIDS.

That was the mid-1990s. It may be a bithard to recall just how terrible the epidemicappeared just then. As bad as the AIDS crisisis today, then it seemed even worse becauseof the factor of the unknown. The gay com-munity in the United States was reeling fromthe shock of an apparently unstoppable on-slaught. The new disease was taking thou-sands of lives a month and the rate was in-creasing. Today the trend is down. WhereAIDS would take over 50,000 American livesa year then, today it is closer to 10,000 —and treatments have been devised. It is still ascourge and the international as well as do-mestic implications are staggering. But in1994 it seemed an unstoppable terror, at leastto those in the identified high risk groups.

Terrence McNally, author of such powerfulplays as “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair deLune” and “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” (andlater “Master Class” and “Corpus Christie”)created this eight-character play that won theTony Award for Best New Play of 1994.McNally wasn’t just writing about AIDS. Hewas writing about people. Specifically, malepeople. In particular, gay male people. Eachis a definable individual with strengths, weak-nesses, virtues, vices, hopes and fears. TheAIDS crisis permeates those fears, but isn’tthe only fact of life in their lives.

That Dominion Stage was able to attractseven actors both capable of bringing thosecharacteristics to life and willing to bare allin the process is something of a testament tothe strength of the talent pool in our commu-nity. The on-stage nudity is treated here, asthe play requires, as a simple fact of life amongthe men in the play. How different charactersdisplay or disguise their bodies is but one toolthe playwright uses to reveal their personali-ties.

There’s Buzz, an AIDS victim who flauntshis gayness but not his body. Mario Fonthandles the role with appropriate flair (it is arole that featured Nathan Lane on Broadway

‘Love! Valour! Compassion!’Shows Men Coping with AIDSDominion Stagetackles McNally’s1994 play.

Photo by Reginald Waters

Richard Isaacs and Jeffrey Stevenson in “Love! Valour! Compassion!”

Photo by Reginald Waters

Richard Isaacs, Mario Font, Matthew Randall and Patrick M. Doneghy in“Love! Valour! Compassion!”

and Jason Alexander in the film adaptation)as a show tune queen. When it came to nu-dity, however, the character opts for a front-covering barbecue chef’s apron.

On the opposite side of the issue is Ramon,given a vibrant performance by Shawn g.Byers. He’s an openly gay dancer who revelsin his body and enjoys showing it off eitherto shocking effect or simply as an object ofbeauty. He spends a good deal of the playsunbathing in the nude on a platform at therear of the stage.

The most touching performance of theevening comes from Luke Morris as the blindyoung lover of the host of the weekends. He’svulnerable on so many different levels andMorris gets each of them right. Patrick M.Doneghy is strong and compelling as his lover,the owner of the house and a middle-agedchoreographer who fears he may be runningout of inspiration for new dances and his bodymay be getting too battered to execute whatdances he does devise.

Matthew Randall doubles as both a Britishpianist and his AIDS infected brother whileJeffrey Stevenson brings an empathetic tone

to the role of one half of a long-term relation-ship and Richard Isaacs adds the acerbic edgeto that of his partner.

As with other productions of the play, thecostumes tell about as much about each char-acter as the absence of costumes does. CeciAlbert does a fine job of giving each charac-ter a wardrobe that bespeaks personality with-out overdoing it. That is, until the finale whichsees six of the seven don tutus for a bit of“Swan Lake” at an AIDS benefit show.

Director Rick Hayes brings it all together ina well-paced presentation that emphasizes thecamaraderie of the group while giving eachmember a chance to make his reactions toevents clear. It is a full evening of emotionwith, as is almost always the case with aTerrence McNally play, a good deal of humor.

Where and WhenThe Dominion Stage production of “Love!

Valour! Compassion!” continues through June 6 atTheatre One of the Gunston Arts Center, 2700South Lang Street. Performances are Wednesday -Saturday at 8 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, June6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 703-683-0502 orlog on to www.dominionstage.org.

Rising Critic — Ally Markussen —Bishop Ireton High SchoolRising Critic — Catherine Addington— Bishop Ireton High SchoolRising Critic — Jonathan Polson —Bishop Ireton High SchoolCritic Team — Bishop Ireton HighSchoolLighting — Elizabeth Movius, MaiyaElliott, Justin Klingenberger — St.Stephen’s & St. Agnes School — A Mid-summer Night’s DreamCostumes — Julia Munro, MeghanPearson, Nicole Weinard — BishopIreton High School — GO-GO BEACHThe MusicalCostumes — Thomas Norman —Thomas Edison High School The Curi-ous SavageMake-up — Elizabeth Lamb — St.Stephen’s & St. Agnes School — A Mid-summer Night’s DreamEnsemble in a Play — The Way-side School Kids — West Potomac —Sideways Stories from Wayside SchoolFemale Dancer — Madeline Bryan— TC Williams High — ChicagoComic Actor in a Play — TimothyYuan — Thomas Jefferson High School— Once in a LifetimeComic Actor in a Musical — AdamJ. Santalla — Bishop Ireton High —GO-GO BEACH The MusicalSupporting Actress in a Play —Sophia Sperling — Thomas EdisonHigh School — The Curious SavageSupporting Actor in a Play —Henry Knotts — St. Stephen’s & St.Agnes School — A Midsummer Night’sDreamLead Actress in a Play — EmilyWolfteich — Thomas Edison HighSchool — The Curious SavageLead Actress in a Play — EmilyWoods — West Potomac — SidewaysStories from Wayside SchoolSong — Mister Cellophane — TC Wil-liams High School — Chicago

Local 2010CappiesNominees


Calendar

E-mail announcements to the Gazette,[email protected]. Photos andartwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday atnoon for the following week’s paper. Call SteveHibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.

FRIDAY AFTERNOONSTea Dances. 1-3:15 p.m. Group class from 1-1:30

p.m. Ballroom, Latin and Swing music. $11/person. At the Dance Studio Lioudmila, 18 RothStreet, 2nd Floor (off Duke Street), Alexandria.Call 703-751-8868.

MAY 22 TO JUNE 1Handcrafted Alexandria Spring Shopping.

Visit 10 Handcrafted Alexandria businesses andenter for your chance to win a Grand PrizeWeekend Getaway featuring gift certificates tothe Hotel Monaco, Jackson 20 restaurant, and aHandcrafted Alexandria Shopping Spree! At thefollowing Handcrafted Alexandria businesses:Torpedo Factory Art Center, The Art League,fibre space, La Muse, Potomac Bead Company,Ten Thousand Villages, Artcraft, Arts Afire,Carafe Wine Makers, Del Ray Artisans, Gossypia,Imagine Artwear, Oerth Gallery & Tile Works.Visit www.handcraftedalexandria.com; 703-838-4565

THURSDAY/MAY 27“Canvas.” Free film screening at 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Free. Followed by a discussion in recognition ofMental Health Month. Starring Marcia GayHarden and Joe Pantoliano, the film is anaccurate and sympathetic portrayal of mentalillness and the devastating effects it can have ona family. At the Masonic Temple, 101 CallahanDrive, Alexandria. Contact Shay Holman, Chairat 703-868-7429 or visit http://healthieralexandria.org/AntiStigma/

Blues, Swing, Jazz Concert. 7 – 9 p.m. Concertis by guitarist Jim Stephanson and bassist JohnPreviti. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105N. Union Street, Alexandria. Contact 703-838-4565 or www.torpedofactory.org.

Urban Garden Workshop. 10 a.m. to noon.Dean Norton, director of Horticulture at MountVernon, will show how to restore, reshape andimprove the overall health and look of older orstorm-damaged shrubs. At the Carlyle HouseHistoric Site gardens, Old Town Alexandria.Admission is $20. Call 703-549-2997 to register.

Wine Tasting Night for UCM. 50% of the costof your wine tasting will be donated to UnitedCommunity Ministries. Hosted by Prince MichelTasting Room & Gift Boutique. At 1309 KingStreet, Alexandria. Visit www.princemichel.com.

12-Week Girl Empowerment Group. 6-7:30p.m. Free. For females ages 14-18. Meets at1120 Queen Street, Alexandria. Sponsored byVoice Consulting LLC. Topics will include: bodyimage, self-esteem, dealing with authorityfigures, mother/daughter relationship and muchmore! Contact: [email protected] or571-314-1989.

Movie Night featuring “Bride andPrejudice.” 5 p.m. (rated PG-13): A fast-pacedmodern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic “Pride& Prejudice” Bollywood-style. Refreshmentsserved. At the Burke Branch, 4701 SeminaryRoad.

Taste of Old Town North. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. AtMontgomery Park, 901 N. Royal Street,Alexandria. Live entertainment, yoga, karate,dance demonstrations, food and a raffle!Sponsored by the Old Town North CommunityPartnership. Contact 703-836-8066.

FRIDAY/MAY 28Evening of Music for French Horn. 8 p.m.

Free. The U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Playersperforms. At George Washington MasonicNational Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive,Alexandria. Call 202-767-5658 or visit

www.usafband.af.milMoe Provencher Performs. Americana/folk

songwriter. At St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub inAlexandria.

MAY 28-30Sunset Celebration. 6-9 p.m. Take evening tours

of Mount Vernon, enjoy wine and desserts, 18th

century music, dancing, games and wagon rides.Tickets are $18/adults, $12/children; free for 5and under. At Historic Mount Vernon. Ticketsmay be purchased online in advance atMountVernon.org/onlinetickets.

SATURDAY/MAY 29Meditation Basics with Art of Living. 11 a.m.

Learn basic exercises for clearing your mind,gaining focus, and minimizing stress. At theBurke Branch, 4701 Seminary Road.

SugarCube. 10 a.m. (for all ages): Learn thehealth benefits and types of chocolate whileenjoying free samples. At the Beatley Central,5005 Duke Street.

Bill Jenkins - World of Music. 2 p.m. (for allages): Bill Jenkins showcases musicalinstruments from around the world, with aspecial focus on India and other Asian countries.Light refreshments served. At the Burke Branch,4701 Seminary Road.

SUNDAY/MAY 30Wheel Day Parade. 3 p.m. Kids of all ages are

invited to decorate their bikes, scooters, skates,strollers or anything with wheels to join in theannual Wheel Day Parade. Arrive by 2:45 p.m.at Old Dominion Blvd. and Chalfonte Drivetraffic circle. The parade rolls in the North Ridgeneighborhood to the Beverley Hills Churchplayground where prizes will be awarded.Contact Amy or Tom at [email protected] or703-549-2220.

MONDAY/MAY 31Memorial Day Jazz Festival. 1-7 p.m.

Attendees can bring lawn chairs and blankets.Food will be available for purchase, picnicbaskets are welcome and grills are available inthe park at the picnic sites. Admission is free. AtFort Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Road. Visitwww.alexandriava.gov/12678.

Friends of Captain Rocky Versace MemorialDay Ceremony. 11 a.m. The “Friends ofCaptain Rocky Versace” invite the public to the8th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at theCaptain Rocky Versace Plaza and VietnamVeterans’ Memorial. At the Mount Vernon

Recreation Center, 2701Commonwealth Ave. The event willhonor the 67 Alexandrians who madethe ultimate sacrifice during theVietnam War.

TUESDAY/JUNE 1Swing Dancing. 9-11 p.m.Admission is $10. With the band, KingTeddy. At Nick’s Nightclub, 641 SouthPickett Street, Alexandria.

THURSDAY/JUNE 3Celebrate Mount Vernon AtHome. 4 - 6 p.m. The organizationwhose mission is to help residents ofthe Mount Vernon area live safely,comfortably, and confidently in theirown homes for as long as possiblecelebrates its launch at historic RiverFarm, 7931 East Boulevard Drive. Allare invited for drinks, lightrefreshments, music, and lovely viewsof gardens and river. Remarks by Mt.Vernon District Supervisor GerryHyland. Tickets: $25/members, $30/non-members. Call 703-303-4060 or

email [email protected] for tickets.

FRIDAY/JUNE 4Sandra Y. Johnson Quintet. 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Free. At Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mt. VernonMemorial Hwy., Alexandria. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469).

Theater Night Fund-raiser. 7 p.m. Local catorphanage King Street Cats will host its annualTheater Night. At the Little Theatre inAlexandria featuring “Play It Again, Sam” byWoody Allen. Tickets are $40/advance, $50/door. The event will raise money to support KSCgoals of finding loving homes for all cats andkittens in their care and providing communityoutreach regarding the welfare and care of cats.Visit the website www.kingstreetcats.org.

SATURDAY/JUNE 5Alexandria Art Market. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grand

Opening June 5, 10-4 p.m. Your monthly dose ofart in the heart of Del Ray. Market dates: June5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Nov. 6. AlexandriaArt Market is on the green space of the Del RayArtisans’ gallery in Colasanto Park, 2704 MountVernon Ave., on the corner of Commonwealthand Mount Vernon Avenues. Entry is free andopen to the public. Call Kimberley Bush at 703-627-7656 [email protected].

Star-Spangled Bike Tour. Begins at 9 a.m.Cyclists will learn about the impact of the Warof 1812 from costumed interpreters. Goes 10miles and starts at Carlyle House Historic Park,121 North Fairfax Street, Old Town Alexandria.For information or to make reservations, [email protected] or call AlexandriaArchaeology at 703-746-4399.

Shade Gardening. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fee is $5/per workshop; advance registration required. AtLee-Fendall House Museum & Garden. Visitwww.leefendallhouse.org.

Historic Alexandria Museum Gala. 6:30 p.m.to 11 p.m. Rescheduled. Dining and dancing toDoc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra.Tickets are $150/person or $300/sponsor. Atthe Holiday Inn Old town, 625 First Street inAlexandria. Visit www.historicalexandria.org orcall the Office of Historic Alexandria at 703-746-4554.

SUNDAY/JUNE 6Koi Auction. 11 a.m. Sponsored by the ZNA

Potomac Koi Club. At Hollywood and VinesNursery, 8453 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.Free registration to bid. Contact Mike Frady at703-360-9142 or [email protected].

ASO Children’s Arts Festival: The Heart ofMusic. 2 p.m. activities hour; 3 p.m. concert.Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet FantasyOverture,” Leonard Bernstein’s “West SideStory,” Carter Burwell’s “Bella’s Lullaby,” musicfrom “Twilight.” Tickets are $5. At the Rachel M.

Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, NOVACommunity College, Alexandria campus, 3001N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-0885 or visit www.alexsym.org.

Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic(WMP). Concert. 3 p.m. Free. James KazikConcert Overture (world premier). BenjaminBritten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings,Op. 31 with tenor Jon Lackey and hornist AmySmith. Pre-concert lecture with Dr. StephenBertino at 2:15 p.m. (both concerts). At BishopIreton High School, 201 Cambridge Road,Alexandria.

TUESDAY/JUNE 8Richard Rice Recital. 7:30 p.m. Free. The

concert, entitled Go Lovely Rose: Songs of Loveand Loss, features music of living composers,including Ned Rorem, Elizabeth Vercoe, RichardPearson Thomas, and Richard Rice. The worksrepresent a wide range of poets, fromElizabethans William Shakespeare and EdmundWaller to moderns, including Thom Gunn, JohnAshbery, and Constantine Cavafy. Vocal recitalat the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street,Alexandria.

Swing Dancing. 9-11 p.m. Admission is $10.With the band, The Joker’s Wild. At Nick’sNightclub, 641 South Pickett Street, Alexandria.

WEDNESDAY/JUNE 9SPY Versus SPY Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30

p.m. Special guest Dr. David Robarge, ChiefHistorian of the CIA, will talk about the secretside of the Civil War. Sponsored by theSpringfield/Alexandria Women’s Connection. Atthe Springfield Golf & Country Club, 8301 OldKeene Mill Road, Springfield. Cost is $17/person. Call 703-590-6562 or [email protected].

Wine Tasting With Spanish Wines. 7:30-9:30p.m. Led by Wilkinson Wine Cellar. Fee is $25/person. Reservations necessary. Call 703-548-1789. At the Lee-Fendall House Museum &Garden. Visit www.leefendallhouse.org

JUNE 10, 11, 12Summer Book Sale. Hours are Thursday, June

10, from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, June 11,from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 12,from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At the Ellen CoolidgeBurke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road,Alexandria. Call 703-746-1704.

THURSDAY/JUNE 10David Kitchen. 7 p.m. Known as a road warrior

in the local DC area, Kitchen has honed his skillsperforming before live audiences on an almostnightly basis, working as a sideman on variousprojects as well as fronting his own bands. AtThe Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria.Call 703-548-0035. Visit myspace.com/davidkitchen.

JUNE 3, 4, 5”Legends of Song.” Annual West Potomac High School Choral Department’s Spring Show. The show is

produced and directed by Ernest L. Johnson, choral director at West Potomac. The choreography isdirected by Gennifer Lisenby, dance instructor for 25 years at Alexandria Dance. Held in the SpringbankAuditorium. Performances are June 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. Visit www.westpotomacchoirs.org.

JUNE 11-12Jewelry Designer Trunk Show. Noon to 8 p.m. Featuring

collections of Mia Katrin for Jewel Couture LLC. Katrin willpresent her collections including best-selling limited editionnecklaces and earrings of diamonds, emeralds, multi-coloredsapphires, rubies and pearls in high-karat gold which havebeen worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities. At Goldworks byDavid Martin, 1400 King St., Alexandria. Call 703-683-0333.


Classics & Country Gift Shop

Home Décor, Yankee Candles, Dept. 56,Willow Tree, Kringles, Baskets,Lamps, Wall Art, Blossom Bucket,Americana Décor, Primitive Décor,Byers Choice, White House Ornaments

8365 Richmond Hwy. ~ Alexandria, VA 22309 Tel. (703) 360-6443 ~ Mon- Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5

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Historic Mount Vernon invites visitors to an un-precedented evening experience: Sunset Celebrationat Mount Vernon, a new event over Memorial Dayweekend (May 28 – 30) offers a rare opportunity tovisit Mount Vernon after the daytime crowds havedeparted. Visitors may take evening tours of theMansion, relax and enjoy wine and desserts avail-able for purchase in George Washington’s picturesquegarden, and delight in 18th-century music, dancing,games, and wagon rides. Stroll the lantern-lit groundsfrom 6 to 9 p.m. and immerse yourself in the 18thcentury as the sun sets on the plantation and cos-tumed residents like the charming Lady Washington

Sunset Celebration at Mount VernonMount Vernon at sunset.

Community

and her granddaughter Nelly interact with visitors.This family-friendly event celebrates the beginningof summer on the plantation.

Tickets are $18, adults; $12, children ages 6-11;and free for ages 5 and under. This event requires aseparate ticket from daytime admission. Annualpasses are not valid for this event. All activities, withthe exception of food and wine, are included withadmission to this event. Tickets may be purchasedonline in advance at MountVernon.org/onlineticketsor at the Ford Orientation Center ticket window un-til 8 p.m. the evening of the event. Guests must beprepared to show identification to purchase wine.

Pig Party atJackson 20

Starting June 9, Jackson 20 will hosta monthly Pig Party with a nod to itsbronze pig statue Bessie, an icon repre-senting the favorite animal of therestaurant’s namesake, Andrew Jackson.

On the second Wednesday of everymonth from 5:30 p.m. to close, ChefDennis Marron and his team will pre-pare a feast of slow-roasted whole pigwith all the fixings, served in therestaurant’s colonial style courtyard.The menu features Pulled Pork Shoul-der, Mahogany Barbeque, East CarolinaBarbeque, Ribs, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw,Smoked Corn, Corn Bread with MapleButter, Green Bean Salad, Soft Rolls andSeasonal Pies. Guests can come earlyto enjoy an ice cold canned beer duringthe restaurant’s newly launched “Eco-Hour,” available daily from 3 to 7 p.m.and featuring a wide selection of cannedbeers and boxed wine. The Pig PartyBarbeque is available for $35 (if reservedin advance) or $45 dollars at the door.Price does not include beverages, taxand gratuity. Call 703-842-2790 to makereservations.

Jackson 20 is located at 480 KingStreet, Alexandria. Phone: 703-842-2790. Or visit www.jackson20.com.


SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY BUFFET

Royal RestaurantThe

The Royal is where Old Town Dines since 1904!

734 North Saint Asaph Street(703) 548-1616

Free Parking

*plus taxes & gratuities

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 7-11 amAdult........$11.75* Children under 12 ....$4.50*Father’s Day Brunch Special 11 am-3 pmAdult........$14.00* Children under 12 ....$7.95*

Most Breakfast Buffet Itemson our brunch fare menu.

Omelette Station, Roast Beef Au Jus,BBQ Chicken Breast, BBQ SpareribsOven Browned Potatoes, Fresh Corn

Cole Slaw, Italian Vegetables,Garden Salad, Fresh Fruit, Home Made Desserts

Fine Arts

Theater

NOW THROUGH AUG. 29McLean Art Society’s Summer

Show. Juried by Gwen Bragg,teacher and award-winning artist. AtRiver Farm, home of the AmericanHorticultural Society, 7931 E.Boulevard Drive, South of Old Town.The themes are flower painting andstill life as well as landscapes. Hoursare 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday throughFriday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Saturdays.

MAY 28-JULY 4Bucky-Art Project. A temporary

outdoor art exhibit that pays homageto the scientific mind of R.Buckminster Fuller and his creationof the Geodesic Dome. Part of theCrystal City BID’s ARTFUL Program.

NOW THROUGH MAY 30WomanMade. Part of the Minds Wide

Open celebration of women in thearts. Lillian Fitzgerald, curator andart consultant, chose 28 artists’ workfrom more than 400 artists who hadapplied submitting over 1200 imagesfor her review. She chose work thatprovided a small window into the artbeing made by women today. At theTarget Gallery.

NOW THROUGH MAY 30Finding Beauty Show. Opening

reception Friday, May 21 from 7-10p.m. This is Virginia CommonwealthUniversity student Amanda R.Wright’s Master of InterdisciplinaryStudies Thesis Exhibition. Details andhours atwww.TheDelRayArtisans.org. At theDel Ray Artisans Gallery at theNicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.Visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org orcontact Amanda R Wright, 703-501-6838 or [email protected].

NOW THROUGH MAY 31In the Genes? Free. Torpedo Factory

artists explore the possibility of a

“creative gene” with this building-wide exhibition that celebrates thefamily bond. At the Torpedo FactoryArt Center, 105 N. Union St.,Alexandria. Open Daily 10 a.m. – 6p.m., Open Thursdays until 9 p.m.Visit www.torpedofactory.org; or call703-838-4565.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 10Metamorphosis. Free. Artworks

reflect change, discovery, growth,alteration, or modification; workwhich suggests personal, physical,emotional, or spiritualtransformation. The exhibit featuressculpture, paintings, mixed-media,and photography showcasing thediversity of artistic talent found inthe Washington, D.C. area.Presented by Convergence andMount Vernon Baptist Church. At theGallery at Convergence, 1801 N.Quaker Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-998-6260.

JUNE 2-JULY 4A Day at the Beach or Accidental

Models. Paintings by LindaBankerd. reception and lightrefreshments on Saturday, June 12from 5 – 8 p.m. At Gallery West,1213 King Street in Old TownAlexandria. The gallery is open 11 –6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday,as well as until 9 p.m. on Thursday,June 12, for the monthly SecondThursday Art Walk. Call 703-549-6006.

JUNE 3-6Female Shorts: Film and Video

Showcase. June 3, 6:30-9 p.m.Female Shorts is a juried film andvideo competition opened only tofemale filmmakers worldwide.Opening reception to meet thefilmmakers and the juror, Sydney-

Chanele Dawkins June 4, 7 p.m.:Special Screening of “Who Does SheThink She Is?” directed by PamelaTanner Boll followed by an audiencediscussion mediated by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins and Pamela H.Viola ($5 advance tickets; $8 at thedoor). June 6, 5-6 p.m.: Closingreception/awards ceremony withspecial screening and director’sdiscussion of “EcoDude” and “Beautyis Motion” by local studentfilmmaker, Sydney Schaedel.Torpedo Factory Art Center’s TargetGallery, 105 N. Union Street,Alexandria, www.torpedofactory.org.See www.vamindswideopen.com.

JUNE 4-27Undecided: A Dialog between

Artist and Viewer. OpeningReception is Friday, June 4, 7-10p.m. This all-member, all-media showgives DRA artists a chance to observehow viewers respond to their art byasking them to submit titles for theartworks. At the Del Ray Artisansgallery, Nicholas A. Colasanto Center,2704 Mount Vernon Avenue,Alexandria. Visitwww.TheDelRayArtisans.org

SATURDAY/JUNE 5Alexandria Art Market. 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. Your monthly dose of art in theheart of Del Ray. Market dates: June5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Nov. 6.Alexandria Art Market is on the greenspace of the Del Ray Artisans’ galleryin Colasanto Park, 2704 MountVernon Ave., on the corner ofCommonwealth and Mount VernonAvenues. Entry is free and open tothe public. Call Kimberley Bush at703-627-7656 [email protected].

NOW THROUGH JUNE 6You Are Here by Susan LaMont,

contemporary realism artist. Theshow features four large works thatexamine the relationship betweenpeople and their increasinglycomplex environments. At GalleryWest, 1213 King Street, Alexandria.Visit www.gallery-west.com or call703-549-6006.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 7Teresa Oaxaca, “Classical

Realism: New Works.”Teresa Oaxaca, a 2005 graduate of HB

Woodlawn and resident of Arlington,will have her recent paintingsfeatured at The Art League Gallery,inside the Torpedo Factory in OldTown Alexandria, in her solo exhibit.Gallery Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Sunday, 12 noon-6 p.m. OpenThursdays until 9 p.m. Exhibitionsand events are free and open to thepublic.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 30”Love! Valour! Compassion.” with

evening performances (May 27, 28,June 2, 3, 4, and 5) at 8 p.m., and aSunday matinee on June 6, at 2 p.m.At the Gunston Arts Center – TheaterOne, 2700 S. Lang Street, Arlington.Tickets are available online for pre-purchase at www.DominionStage.org.Group Discounts available.Reservations can be made online or bycalling 703-683-0502.

NOW THROUGH MAY 30“Abandonment.” By Kate Atkinson.

Directed by Susie Poole and GenieBaskir. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.;Tuesday at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee at2 p.m. Tickets are $16/general, $14/seniors and students, $12/groups of10. At Alexandria’s Port City

Playhouse, 1108 Jefferson Street inOld Town, Alexandria. Call 703-838-2880 or visitwww.PortCityPlayhouse.com.

NOW THROUGH MAY 29“Rifarl el Corazón” (“Heartstrings.”)

At Teatro de la Luna. By Dino Armas(Uruguay). Thursdays, Fridays,Saturdays at 8 p.m. Saturday matineesat 3 p.m. Tickets are $25/regular, $20/students and seniors. At Gunston ArtsCenter, Theater Two, 2700 S. Lang St.,Arlington.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 13“Sycamore Trees.” Second part of

Signature’s “American Musical VoicesProject” sponsored by The Shen FamilyFoundation. Show times are Tuesdayand Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursdayand Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2

p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.and 7 p.m. Tickets range from $52 to$76. Call Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT (7328) or go to www.signature-theatre.org. At Signature Theatre,4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.

NOW THROUGH MAY 30“Sophisticated Ladies.” Starring

Maurice Hines. At Arena Stage at theLincoln Theatre. Show times areTuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at7:30 p.m. (6 p.m. curtain on 4/25);Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matineesat 2 p.m. (1 p.m. curtain on 4/25);Weekday matinees at noon on 4/21, 4/27 & 5/5. Tickets range from $25 to$74. For tickets, call 202-488-3300. AtArena Stage, 1800 S. Bell Street,Arlington.

MAY 24 THROUGH JUNE 27Put a Lid on It. Artisan pottery

add occasion to occasions. 10a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday throughSunday, with Thursdays until 9p.m. At the Scope Gallery,Studio 19, 101 North UnionStreet Alexandria. Call 703-548-6288.


Schools

West Potomac CelebratesMardi Gras Prom Night

Jakob Cramer, Will Rosenkranz, Kevin Glatting and Cole Coder gather atthe Hilton Alexandria Mark Center for the May 22 prom.

Christian Jackey gets into the mime act.

West Potomac staff LynelleLocket, Sandra Williams,Janice Monroe andStephanie Manous posewith the Mime Queen Amy.

Thomas Baird, KathleenBrady and Cara Yaworskeas the don their Mardi Grasmasks for the senior prom.

Marine Corp recruiterStephen Myrick is greetedby the Mime Queen beforeentering the ballroom for

the 2010 West PotomacSenior Prom.

Christina Devine, and herboyfriend, Kwasi Owusu,as they were meeting upwith friends before head-ing to dinner on promnight. They each play fortheir respective varsitysoccer teams at WestPotomac High School.

Photos by Louise

Krafft/Gazette

Co

ntributed Pho

to


Visit These Houses of WorshipJoin A Club, Make New Friends, or Expand Your Horizons...

To Advertise Your FaithCommunity, call Karen

at 703-917-6468

Good ShepherdCatholic Church

Mass ScheduleSaturday Evening5:00 pm; 6:30 pm (en Español)

Sunday7:30; 9:00; 10:30 am; 12:00 Noon2:00 pm (en Español)

8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria VA, 22309Tel: 703-780-4055 Fax: 703-360-5385 www.gs-cc.org

Loving as Christ loves, serving as Christ serves

Weekdays(Mass or Communion Service)9:00 am (followed by Rosary)Children’s Liturgy of the WordSundays (Sept.-July) during 9:00 amMass (English)Sign Language InterpreterSunday at 9:00 am Mass

Christ the SaviourAnglican Church

“To Love & Serve the Lord withGladness & Singleness of Heart”

www.christthesaviouranglican.org

703-953-2854

Location – Washington Mill ES9100 Cherrytree Drive

Worship Service – 10 a.m.Inter-generational Sunday School – after serviceVicar, The Rev. Huey J Sevier

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTHOPE UNITED CHURCH OF

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ST. ANDREW & ST. MARGARETOF SCOTLAND… 703-683-3343

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Please join us for this very special event. The park will open at 9:00 a.m.and a special Memorial Program will begin at 10:30. Hot dogs, sodasand chips will be served following the program and over 400 flags willfly until mid afternoon.

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From Page 8

From Page 9

Letters

into the Army here in Northern Virginia,at DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir.Alexander died at Brooke Army MedicalCenter in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 22, 2005,of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, Oct.17.

Lt. Col. Thomas A. Wren, 44, of Lorton,died in Tallil, Iraq on Nov. 5, 2005. MarineCapt. Michael Martino, 32 of the City ofFairfax, died Nov. 2, 2005, when his heli-copter was brought down in Iraq.

1st Lt. Laura M. Walker of Oakton waskilled on Aug. 18, 2005, in Kandahar, Af-ghanistan. CW4 Matthew S. Lourey ofLorton died from injuries sustained on May26, 2005 in Buhriz, Iraq.

Operations Officer Helge Boes of Fairfaxwas killed on Feb. 5, 2003, while partici-pating in counterterrorism efforts in east-ern Afghanistan.

Among other local lives lost: Lance Cpl.Tavon Lee Hubbard, 24, of Reston; 1st Lt.Alexander Wetherbee, 27, of McLean; 1stLt. Jeff Kaylor, 25, of Clifton; Coast GuardPetty Officer Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, ofHerndon; Army Chief Warrant OfficerSharon T. Swartworth, 43, of Mount Vernon;Command Sgt. Maj. James D.Blankenbecler, 40, of Mount Vernon; Capt.James F. Adamouski, 29, of Springfield; Sgt.DeForest L. Talbert, 22, of Alexandria; Ma-rine Cpl. Binh N. Le, 20, of Alexandria; Staff

Sgt. Russell Verdugo, 34, of Alexandria.Army Capt. Mark N. Stubenhofer, 30, fromSpringfield; Marine Gunnery Sgt. JavierObleas-Prado Pena, 36, from Falls Church;Marine Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, 27, fromBurke; Army Staff Sgt. Nathaniel J. Nyren,31, from Reston; Marine Lance Cpl. TenzinDengkhim, 19, from Falls Church, NavyChief Joel Egan Baldwin, 37, from Arling-ton; Maj. Joseph McCloud, of Alexandria;Major Gloria D. Davis, 47 of Lorton.

— Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

staff raised this issue with Mr. Hyland tono avail; (4) the MVCCA passed budgetresolutions asking the Board of Supervisors(BOS) to raise every conceivable tax dur-ing a historic recession in lieu of proposingthe BOS make responsible and necessarybudget cuts; (5) the MVCCA refused to takeup the request by a local citizen that it seri-ously consider his proposal for a CitizenReview Board for reviewing police actions.It allowed its Public Safety committee tovote against the proposal without giving theproponent the courtesy of an invitation toappear before the committee and presenthis case. (6) Its Planning & Zoning com

Remembering on Memorial Day

Opinion

See Letters, Page 25


Sports

By Kelly Wood

For the Gazette

They didn’t go down without afight and neither will I,”tweeted figure skater Ashley

Wagner after watching “Titanic,” just hoursbefore stepping onto the ice.

Her heart was beating faster as the musicstarted. Her skates sliced into the smoothice like a knife into butter. The playful mu-sic, her flowing dress and the flowers in herhair created the feeling of spring on a plat-form of ice.

The anticipation was ever building and

all eyes were focused on her. She landedthe triple flip into the double axel. One morejump remained; the hardest in the program.She landed it. The music stopped but herheart was still beating faster than ever. Hercheeks were rosy from the chill of the rinkand her wide grin was visible to even thosein the back-most rows. She received a stand-ing ovation. With a tone of admiration, theTV commentator said, “seven points behindthe leaders … and she fought.”

Wagner, only 18 years old, awed the au-dience and judges with her free skate pro-gram. Her performance brought her backinto medal contention after she fell behindthe leaders in the short program, and wonher the bronze medal at the 2010 U.S.Women’s Figure Skating Championshipsthis past January.

It was an amazing accomplishment, yetat the same time, an overwhelming letdown. Only the top two could advance to

the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Wagner hadmissed making the Olympic team by fourpoints. She had almost grabbed her dreamof being an Olympian, but it was pushedjust out of reach.

“Any other Olympic year, third placewould have been good enough to make itonto the team, but this was the one yearwhere it was different,” Wagner said. “Thefact that I had skated the long program ofmy life made it easier to stomach the factthat I wasn’t going to Vancouver.”

Wagner gave it everything she had. Shetook home a bronze medal that comple-mented her many other skating achieve-ments, but it wasn’t the medal she haddreamed of for years. That dream is still inthe cards if she holds onto it.

This past season has been very successfulfor Wagner. She was the first U.S. lady fig-ure skater to qualify for the Grand Prix Fi-nals in the past two years and came away See WPHS Grad, Page 24

with an impressive fourth place. Wagner’sskating at the Grand Prix put her on theglobal radar and her performance at theU.S. Championships showed the world thedetermination and fortitude that lie beneathher graceful demeanor.

The ice has been a home away from homefor Wagner since she was 5 years old. Shedidn’t start skating because she saw a pairof intriguing skates in a window shop orbecause she felt inspired after watching aperformance on TV.ºRather, her skating ca-reer began because her mother needed abreak from the then 5-year-old Wagner andher 3-year-old brother.ºHer mother signedher up for skating to get her out of the houseoccasionally and Wagner has been on theice ever since.

Born into a military family, Wagner hasdone a fair share of moving around while

Wagner Just Misses Out on Olympic DreamWest Potomac grad’shard work earns medalat U.S. championships.

“

The Mount Vernon boys soccerteam, the No. 3 seed from theNational District, upset Langley,the Liberty District’s No. 2 seed,

in the opening round of the Northern Re-gion tournament, 3-1 in overtime, on May25 at Langley.

The teams ended regulation tied at 1 andMount Vernon’s Dannish Decardi-Nelsonscored a goal in each five-minute overtimeperiod. Mount Vernon will travel to face

Robinson, the ConcordeDistrict’s No. 1 seed, at 7 p.m.May 27.

“I can’t even put into wordswhat this means,” head coach

Robert Garza said via phone after the game.“This is a huge step.”

Decardi-Nelson scored the game-winnerby beating a Langley defender 1-on-1 andadded an insurance goal in the second over-time.

“We just came out with intensity, think-ing we’re going to go in this game and win,”said Decardi-Nelson, a first-team all-districtselection. “We knew [the Saxons] were bigboys but we came out with the mindset wewere going to dominate.”

Garza said the Majors had strong fan fol-lowing at the game.

“The whole place erupted,” after Decardi-Nelson’s first goal, Garza said. “When hescored you could hear it a mile away.”

Langley went 15-0 before losing toMcLean in the Liberty District tournamentfinal. Mount Vernon won four straightgames to improve to 10-2-2 before losingto Stuart in the National District semifinals.

Mount Vernon fell behind early as Lan-

gley scored in the third minute, but theMajors battled back and tied the game on aRuben Alvarez goal 20 minutes in.

Garza praised the play of the MountVernon defense, including senior defenderDavid Heller, a first-team all-district selec-tion, and freshman goalkeeper LucasBelanger, a first-team all-region selection.

“I heard everything about how big theywere. I was a little scared,” Belanger said.“After the first goal I was a little scared. [Butthen] I looked around the field and” theydidn’t seem so big.

Nery Cruz-Lainez had two assists forMount Vernon and Simond Kargbo had one.

— Jon Roetman

Mount Vernon MilersThe Mount Vernon Milers running club

meets at 8 a.m. on Sundays. The group usu-ally meets along the Potomac River, but theexact location is listed in an e-mail sentevery Wednesday for the coming week. Dis-tances vary but runners can expect betweenfour and eight miles.

To join the Mount Vernon Milers, send LeeBritton an e-mail at [email protected] be put on the e-mail list.

Wolverines Look ToBounce Back FromDistrict Loss

After recording an 11-3 record and a sec-ond-place finish in the Patriot District, theWest Potomac softball team had its sightsset on a rematch with South County — the

only team to beat the Wolverines twice —in the district tournament championshipgame.

But West Potomac’s plan fell apart whenthe Wolverines were upset by Woodson,which handed West Potomac its other regu-lar-season district loss, in the semifinals.

While a district championship is out ofthe question, West Potomac’s next challengeis traveling to faceCentreville at 7 p.m.on May 28 duringthe opening roundof the Northern Re-gion tournament.West Potomac, thePatriot’s No. 3 seed,d e f e a t e dCentreville, theConcorde’s No. 2, 3-0 during an April 21meeting.

West Potomac senior Zannie Crowe, thePatriot District Player of the Year, said theWolverines need to be more accountableheading into regionals. “We really have torely on our own skill,” she said, “not lookforward to the next person to get the basehit — make sure that you do your part toget a win.”

Head coach Craig Maniglia said errorsand nerves cost the Wolverines againstWoodson. “It’s just tough. We gave them thegame,” he said. “We gave up so many er-rors and the kids; I think they understandnow if we’re going to play tight we’re notgoing to win. They have to go out loose andbelieving in themselves.”

Sophomore pitcher Morgan Maniglia, afirst-team all-district selection who threw ano-hitter against Lee in the opening roundof the district tournament, said the Wolver-ines are ready to move on. “We’re just get-ting ourselves mentally and physically pre-pared,” she said. Losing to Woodson “was aheartbreak, but we’re going to pick it up.”

Simond Kargbo, seen earlier this season, and the Mount Vernon boyssoccer team upset Langley in their regional opener on May 25.

Pho

to

by Lo

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rafft/T

he G

azette

Mount Vernon Beats Langley in Soccer RegionalsWest Potomacsoftball preparesfor Centreville.

Sports

Briefs

Mount Vernon Gazette Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

“They haveto go out

loose andbelieving in

themselves.”— Head coachCraig Maniglia


Your Home…Your Neighborhood…Your Newspaper

www.connectionnewspapers.com

From

Sports

growing up. It was not until Wagner was12 that her family settled in Alexandria. Shetrained at the Mount Vernon Ice Rink priorto joining the Skating Club of Wilmingtonin Delaware.

Like many of her fellow West PotomacHigh School 2009 graduates, Wagnermoved out of the house the summer fol-lowing graduation. However, rather thanmoving onto a college campus, Wagnerchose to move in with her coach PriscillaHill to prepare for the upcoming season.

IN ADDITION to fulfilling her passion forskating, Wagner takes online classesthrough Northern Virginia Community Col-lege. Wagner sacrifices many of the typicalcollege student luxuries for skating, includ-ing sleeping through the morning hours.

Every morning Wagner hits her 6:30 a.m.alarm, rolls out of bed and makes her wayto the skating rink by 7:15 a.m. to beginanother busy day. She spends an hour and45 minutes to warm up and skate beforegetting a less than two-hour period to grabfood and catch up with her onlineclasses.ºWagner then returns to the icewhere she spends the next three-and-a-halfhours perfecting her skills.

Her day is still far from over. Depending

on the day, she then either has an hourdance or workout class. Twice a week sheattends a one-hour strength and condition-ing class. Wagner spends the remainder ofher time either helping out at the ice rink’scafé or teaching a “Learn to Skate” classuntil she finally heads for home around 6:30p.m.

Exhaustion has already been hoveringover her, but she pushes it aside for yet afew more hours. Online classes take up alarge chunk of the evening. At last, her headhits the pillow at 11 p.m. and she is soonasleep until the next day’s alarm.

Wagner goes through this routine day af-ter day, never complaining.

“I’ve been doing it for so long and often Iwonder what it would be like to have a‘normal’ºlife, but in the end I always real-ize that I have gotten to experience so manythings that people my age haven’t becauseof skating, and I’m really grateful forthat,”ºWagner said. “I love the sport andwhat I’m doing so that keeps me going.”

WAGNER’S DISAPPOINTMENT in notmaking the Olympic team has not damp-ened her spirits. She continues to train justas hard as ever in preparation for the com-ing season and the next Olympics, four yearsdown the road. Hill said, “Of course she was

disappointed by not making the team, butshe’s worked very hard this spring to keeprefining her technique.”

Her dream of becoming an Olympian isnot lost but rather coming nearer. She couldalmost touch it after placing third at thisyear’s U.S. Championships and she retainshigh hopes for what the future has in store.In one of her online video blogs, she tellsher fans to “watch out for me next year.”

Wagner has accumulated hundreds offans because of her inspirational skating andher always-positive outlook. She takes thetime to show her adoring fans her appre-ciation by reaching out to them through herofficial Web site, Facebook and Twitter ac-counts, and video blogs. Wagner’s familyand friends stand along side these manyfans to always cheer her on. Through thedisappointments and triumphs, Wagner isbacked by a huge support system.

The future stands open to Wagner’s imagi-nation and she hopes to find herself in Rus-sia for the 2014 Olympics.ºHer bittersweetbronze medal helps to drive her motivationand keeps her dreaming of the possible. Shecontinues to build on her experience andskills every day with the help of her coachand her support system. The next four yearswill find Wagner on the ice.ºWagner con-tinues to strive for perfection.

WPHS Grad Earns U.S. Skating Medal

Q: What location is the farthestfrom the Washington D.C. metroarea that you’ve traveled?

A: Vancouver, B.C. for a Bar Mitzvah.

Q: Who is your favorite musicartist?

A: Taylor Swift. She is awesome and shewrites her own music.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?A: “Dirty Dancing.” It’s a classic and it’s

a good movie.

Q: What’s the best feeling youcan have during a softball game?

A: Strike three.

Q: What is it like to play for yourdad, head coach Craig Maniglia?

A: Last year was the first year that Ihadn’t played for him, so I don’t reallyknow any different. I love it and I trusthim because I know he knows the game.

— Jon Roetman

5QsFive questions withWest Potomacsophomore pitcherMorgan Maniglia


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Letters

From Page 4

Republicans also had a good showing inVirginia’s 11th Congressional District dur-ing last year’s general election. Gov. BobMcDonnell (R) received 55.25 percent ofthe vote; Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) received52.62 percent of the vote and Attorney Gen-eral Ken Cuccinelli (R) received 52.28 per-cent of the vote in Connolly’s district.

But Davis warned that Republicans haveto keep their focus on selecting someonewho would appeal to the general elector-ate in November if they want to beatConnolly.

The strong anti-government sentimentcoming from some conservatives in otherparts of the country is probably not a mes-sage that would appeal to Northern Virginiavoters, many of whom make their living ei-ther directly or indirectly from the federalgovernment.

“What may work in some other parts ofthe country doesn’t work here. Beating upon the government isn’t necessarily a win-ner,” said Davis.

Primary Vote

From Page 22

mittee discourteously treats presenterswho appear before it to seek thecommittee’s reasoned consideration of theirdevelopment proposals, to the point atwhich such treatment appears to be a policyof the committee.

It is not surprising, given the above ex-amples of the MVCCA’s actions, that atten-dance at their Gala appears limited to theircentral core of 16 board members and theirsignificant others, as well as Gala honoreesand their invitees. In order to increase Galaattendance, the MVCCA leadership must becleansed of its current crop of partisans andbegin abiding by its bylaws, correct currentbylaw violations, refrain from actions thatwaste valuable county resources, pass reso-lutions more in concert with mainstreamcommunity thought, invite to its meetingsthose whose proposals it is debating andreform its P&Z committee including remov-ing from the committee those who refuseto act with appropriate decorum.

If the MVCCA ever reforms itself and re-joins the community it purports to serve,that community will be more likely to pa-tronize and support its events including theGala. Our Supervisor should take note ofthe lack of community support for the Galawhenever he considers using MVCCA posi-tions as political cover for his decisions. Thatlack of support evidences that MVCCA po-sitions do not reflect community views andthat the community has rejected the MVCCAas its spokesman. Perhaps the MVCCA “Em-peror” has no clothes.

H. Jay Spiegel Mount Vernon

THURSDAY/MAY 27MVCCA Special Committee on Affordable

and Workforce Housing. 7:30 p.m. At theMount Vernon Government Center, Room #3.The Committee continues to review Countyplans for the development of affordable housingand a report on the status homelessness inNorthern Virginia. All MVCCA meetings areopen to the general public. www.mvcca.org.

Bulletin Board


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21 Announcements 21 Announcements

OBITUARY

Frederick Andrew Brown

92, a decorated Naval Officer, died of cardiac arrest March 15, 2010 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia. He was an Alexandria resident.

Mr. Brown was a career officer working in the Navy Intelligence Department specializing in Russian.

After retiring from the military in 1968 he worked at the Library of Congress and then with the Defense Department until 1987.He was honored with the Department of Defense Civilian Serv-ice Award, along with many other achievement awards.

Mr. Brown was born May 28, 1917 in Marinette, Wisconsin.Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineer-ing from the University of Missouri. From 1939-1943 and 1945-1951 Mr. Brown worked at the Midwest Rubber Reclaim-ing Company in East St. Louis as a chemist.

At the outbreak of World War II he attended Cornell University receiving his officer's commission.

From 1943-1945 he served aboard the destroyer USS Nichol-son in the Pacific. The Nicholson earned four battle stars'; seeing action during the Philippines Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns.

Mr. Brown received a handwritten letter from Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy commending him on his article “U.S. Navy Weather Stations in Siberia” , in the Naval Institute Proceedings (July 1962).

While serving in the Navy, Mr. Brown was stationed in Naples, Italy: Tokyo, Japan; London,England and Washington, D.C.He also taught Naval Science, machinery and navigation at Ole Miss University. After his retirement from the Defense De-partment he taught English at the Adult Education Program in Fairfax County.

Mr. Brown enjoyed traveling, coin collecting and spoke five lan-guages, Russian being his specialty. He had been researching and writing a book on the life of Alexandra Feodoronvna Romanova, the last Tsarina of Russia. He was a Third Free Mason and a life long member of the Arcadia Fraternity.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 70 years, Frances V. Brown of Alexandria, Virginia; three sons, Frederick Vincent Brown (Jean)of Water Valley, Mississippi, Thomas Richard Brown (Sue) of Honolulu, Hawaii, Walter Christian Brown (Marsha)of Wausau, Wisconsin; two daughters, JoAnn Brown Alfriend of Falls Church, Virginia and Nancy Jane Williams (Ed) of Oak Hill, Virginia; three brothers, George E. Brown of Brownsboro, Alabama; Richard Brown of Sebastatol, Califor-nia, and William Brown of Fallsbrook, California; a sister, Louise Wolfe preceded him. He was Grandfather of 11, Great Grandfather of 17 and Great-Great Grandfather of one.

Funeral service at Ft. Myer's Old Post Chapel on Wednesday, June 16 at 9am where interment will follow at Arlington Nation-al Cemetery.


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OPEN

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vol. xxi, no. 21 mount vernon’s hometown newspaper • a...

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