Burke - Ellington CMSconnection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/documents/... · 2016-12-14 · supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock). Ginwright gave brief updates on the sta-tus

Burke Connection ❖ December 15-21, 2016 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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online at www.connectionnewspapers.comDecember 15-21, 2016

BurkeBurke

Police Chief’s CruiserHit by Drunken DriverNews, Page 2

Surviving Brain InjuryNews, Page 12

CommissionRecommendations:

88 Percent ImplementedNews, Page 3

HomeLifeStyleHomeLifeStylePage 10

HomeLifeStyle

CommissionRecommendations:

88 Percent Implemented

A Dec. 13 presentation from Ad Hoc PolicePractices Review Commission, Recruitment,Diversity and Vetting subcommittee chairShirley Ginwright (right), marked the lastsubcommittee to be heard by the supervisors.

A Dec. 13 presentation from Ad Hoc PolicePractices Review Commission, Recruitment,Diversity and Vetting subcommittee chairShirley Ginwright (right), marked the lastsubcommittee to be heard by the supervisors.

2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ December 15-21, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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News

By Fallon Forbush

The Connection

Fairfax County Police DepartmentChief Col. Edwin Roessler Jr. wasrear-ended by a drunken driverin Centreville on Monday night,

Dec. 12.Roessler experienced minor injuries and

was taken to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital forevaluation and treatment. He was releasedlater in the night and was back to work thefollowing morning.

A 40-year-old Centreville woman, whowas driving the Nissan SUV that struckRoessler’s unmarked police cruiser, a 2017Ford Explorer, was arrested at the scene. Apassenger in her SUV, a 48-year-old man,was released at the scene of the accident.

The driver was taken to the FairfaxCounty Adult Detention Center in Fairfaxwhere she was charged with a DWI. Shewas released the following morning onTuesday, Dec. 13.

Roessler was driving southbound on LeeHighway around 8:40 p.m. when hestopped for a red light at the intersectionof Stone Road when he was struck.

While he was waiting for the traffic lightto turn green, he was thinking about get-ting home to eat dinner and later going topick up one of his children from the airportwho was flying home for the holidays,

Roessler said at a press conference the fol-lowing afternoon.

“It was a very long day … That’s all I wasthinking about and the next thing I know,I’m being jolted real hard,” he said. “It tookme a few seconds to realize that I was justrear-ended at full speed while I was stopped

Police Chief’s Cruiser Hit by Drunken Driver

FCPD Chief Col. Edwin RoesslerJunior’s unmarked policecruiser, a 2017 Ford Explorer,was rear-ended.

According to police, a Centrevillewoman’s Nissan SUV struckRoessler while he was stoppedat a red light at the intersectionof Lee Highway and Stone Roadin Centreville.

FCPD Chief Col. Edwin Roessler Jr.spoke about the accident at a pressconference the following afternoonat the Fairfax County GovernmentCenter in Fairfax on Tuesday, Dec.13. He had strong words for drivers:“Drinking and driving don’t mix …Spend a little money and plan. Takea taxi. Don’t get behind a wheel.You’re going to kill someone.”

in traffic waiting for the light.”He immediately approached the SUV to

see if the driver and her passenger were OK.“I went and checked on them and asked

them if they were injured,” he said. “Theysaid, ‘No.’

He then reported the crash to dispatch-ers.

It was then that he started experiencinga headache and pain in his back and legs.He told reporters that he had replacementsurgery on his left hip on Aug. 30 and wasafraid that he was experiencing complica-tions.

“I was kind of in shock,” he said. “I didn’tfeel anything and as I sat [in the cruiser]… I started getting a headache, and my backstarted tightening and my legs startedcramping.”

Though he feels “very sore,” he thankedGod that he was OK. “The X-rays were good,CAT scan’s good … just glad for my health.”

He said that it could have been a differ-ent story had he not worn his seatbelt.

“If I wasn’t buckled in, I don’t think Iwould be here,” he said.

He had serious words for drivers, espe-cially during the holidays when there areparties and festivities going on.

“Drinking and driving don’t mix … Spenda little money and plan,” he said. “Take ataxi. Don’t get behind a wheel. You’re go-ing to kill someone.”


News

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

The Fairfax County Board of Su-pervisors is well on its way toimplementing all recommenda-tions from the Ad Hoc Police

Practices Review Commission. At the Dec.13 meeting of the board’s Public SafetyCommittee, they announced 88 percent ofthe commission recommendations havebeen implemented or are soon to be so.

“I am proud that 178 of 202 recommen-dations have been approved in just over ayear,” Chairman Sharon Bulova said in astatement. “The Board of Supervisors, Po-lice Department and county staff have beenmoving with deliberate speed to transformthese recommendations into actionablepolicies. By launching Diversion First, es-tablishing the Office of Police Auditor, cre-ating a Civilian Review Panel, hiring a ci-vilian FCPD Public Affairs Director and ap-plying new standards regarding release ofinformation, just to name a few, FairfaxCounty has made great strides toward en-hancing trust in and increasing transpar-ency of Fairfax County Government.”

BULOVA LAUNCHED the commission inresponse to public concern and growingdistrust of police over the 2013 shootingdeath of Springfield resident John Geer byFairfax County Police officer Adam Torres.

Fairfax County Police and the supervisorsdidn’t release case information for morethan a year after Geer’s death, even to hisfamily. A wrongful death civil suit filed bythe family and a court order finally forcedthe release of investigation files and Torres’name.

Torres was fired in July 2015 and indictedby a grand jury for murder in August 2015,an historic first charge of that kind for anyFairfax County officer. He pleaded guilty toinvoluntary manslaughter and was releasedin June of this year, after he received creditfor time served for a 12-month sentence.

The Public Safety Committee has beenreviewing the recommendations from eachsubcommittee of the Ad Hoc Commissionover the last several months, including Useof Force, Communications, Mental Health,Recruitment, Diversity and Vetting, and In-dependent Investigations and Oversight.

Michael Hershman, chair of the Ad HocCommission, said in a statement, “I notonly look back on our work as very perti-nent given today’s national attention onpolicing and community relations, but amencouraged by the seriousness with whichthe Board of Supervisors have addressedour many recommendations. Through aseries of committee meetings and hearingsfocusing on our recommendations, theboard has displayed a professional and bi-partisan effort to make a very good policedepartment into a model for the rest of thecountry.”

A presentation from Recruitment, Diver-sity and Vetting subcommittee chair ShirleyGinwright, president of the Fairfax Countychapter of the NAACP, on Tuesday, Dec. 13,marked the last subcommittee to be heardby the supervisors.

“In some fashion we’ve touched each oneof them,” said Public Safety committee chairsupervisor John Cook (R-Braddock).

Ginwright gave brief updates on the sta-tus of the subcommittee’s 14 recommenda-tions with Fairfax County Police.

“I have to thank them for doing the mostcritical pieces of our recommendationsfirst,” Ginwright said.

Among those implemented are “collabo-rate and build recruitment-oriented partner-ships” (number 5) and “establish a diver-sity goal for each commander” (number10).

Less than half of that subcommittee’s rec-ommendations are still in progress, saidGinwright.

“We realize there is more that needs tobe done, but we started,” Ginwright said ina statement. “I applaud the Board of Su-pervisors for establishing the Ad Hoc Com-mission, listening to and understanding thecries of the community for changes, andtaking some hard hits to get it done. What Ihave seen is community members, leadersand police department working together.”

Cook acknowledged that a number of theAd Hoc commission’s recommendationswere directed towards the Sheriff’s Officeand Commonwealth’s Attorney, who don’treport directly to the Board of Supervisors.

But, Cook said, the board is reaching outto them regarding those recommendationsand inviting them to present and field ques-tions related to the recommendations at thePublic Safety Committee Meeting in March,2017.

Among those recommendationsstill under review, a number relateto body cameras.

CHIEF EDWIN ROESSLER saidthe cost for cameras has been com-ing down as the number of vendorsin the market increases.

Roessler cautioned the board tolearn from the mistakes of other ju-risdictions around the United States

that have hastily implemented body cam-era programs without properly budgetingor planning to manage them.

Cook said the Jan. 31, 2017 Public SafetyCommittee meeting has already been re-served for a deeper discussion of body cam-eras.

A progress report of where different rec-ommendations from the Ad Hoc Commis-sion are in the process of implementationis available online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/policecommission/progressreport.htm. A copy of thecommission’s final report to the board ofsupervisors is available atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman/pdf/adhoc-final-10.8.15.pdf.

Public Safety Committee hears from Recruitment, Diversity and Vetting subcommittee chair.

Ad Hoc Commission Recommendations: 88 Percent Implemented

A Dec. 13 presentation from Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission,Recruitment, Diversity and Vetting subcommittee chair Shirley Ginwright(right), marked the last subcommittee to be heard by the supervisors.

Photos by Tim Peterson/The Connection

Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler presents an update to thePublic Safety Committee on the Precision Immobilization Technique(PIT) still allowed to be implemented by FCPD.

“What I have seen iscommunity members, leadersand police departmentworking together.”

— Shirley Ginwright

Status of Ad HocCommissionRecommendations

Fairfax County released these totals, as ofDec. 12, 2016:119 (58.9 person) Recommendations are

Implemented or Implemented asModified

❖ 39 Communications❖ 54 Use of Force❖ 10 Diversity, Recruitment and Vetting❖ 8 Mental Health and CIT❖ 8 Independent Oversight and

Investigations

59 (29.2 percent) Recommendations areIn Progress (Recommendation acceptedand in the implementation process)


Investigations

16 (7.9 percent) Recommendations areUnder Review (Recommendation needsmore review or approval by the Board ofSupervisors before the implementationprocess can begin)


Investigations

8 (4 percent) Recommendations are NotImplemented


Investigations

Burke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]


News

See Faith, Page 5

Doubly SpecialGreat Harvest Bread Company (Burke and Lorton) re-ceived an order for a holiday gift package for APO inAfghanistan last Thursday. As you can see they made itdoubly special!

Toastmasters Club Turns 25The Galloping Governors Toastmasters Club held a joint 25th anniver-sary celebration with another local club — Burke Toastmasters — onDec. 1 at the Oaks Community Center in Burke. Both clubs were char-tered on Dec. 1, 1991. Pictured in the front row, from left: Kiran Sharma,Helen Burkett and Gwen Talbot. Back Row: Bettie St. Clair, Lynne Strang,Bharat Patel, Judy Pearson, Paul White and Amy Brener. Galloping Gover-nors meets 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month at GeorgeMason University’s Mason Enterprise Center. Toastmasters is an interna-tional organization that helps people improve their public speaking andleadership skills. Galloping Governors is an advanced Toastmasters club.

Send notes to the Connection at [email protected] or call 703-778-9416.Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should besubmitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Fairfax Baptist Temple, at the corner ofFairfax County Parkway and Burke Lake Roads,holds a bible study fellowship at 9 a.m. Sundaysfollowed by a 10 a.m. worship service. Nursery careand children’s church also provided. 6401 Mission-ary Lane, Fairfax Station, 703-323-8100 or

www.fbtministries.org.

The Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center, 10875Main St., Fairfax City provides free classes to bothnewcomers and advanced practitioners of TibetanBuddhism. The center emphasizes working withthe mind and learning how to understand theworkings of the mind, overcoming inner causes ofsuffering, while cultivating causes of happiness.

Faith Notes

Three speakers discussed “theart of the possible” at a legis-lative forum held Dec. 4 atAccotink Unitarian Universal-

ist Church in Burke.Lavona Grow, past executive director of

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice(UUSJ), Anna Rhee, advocacy consultant

for UUSJ, and Rebecca Bowers-Lanier ofB2L Consulting addressed the upcomingVirginia General Assembly session.

At the free public forum, Grow, Rhee andBowers-Lanier stressed the importance forpeople who are concerned about climatechange, immigration and economic justice,health care and other social justice issues

Legislative Forum Held at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Churchto be both active and vigilant as these is-sues come before state and federal lawmak-ers in 2017.

That discussion included potential billsand their impact on social justice issues,how to advocate for a bill and other actionscitizens can take to have an influence onlegislative outcomes.

For more information, visitwww.accotinkuu.org or Unitarian Univer-salists for Social Justice www.uusj.net, oremail the Social Justice Committee [email protected]. Accotink UnitarianUniversalist Church is located at 10125Lakehaven Ct in Burke.

—Tim Peterson

Photos courtesy of Marsha White

Three speakers discussed “the art of the possible” at a legislative forumheld Dec. 4 at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke.

Rev. E. Scott Sammler-Michael (left) of Accotink United UniversalistChurch introduces Lavona Grow, past executive director of UnitarianUniversalists for Social Justice (UUSJ), Anna Rhee, advocacy consult-ant for UUSJ, and Rebecca Bowers-Lanier of B2L Consulting, whoaddressed the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session at a publicforum on Dec. 4.


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News

See Faith, Page 7

Under the direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, thecenter is a place of study, contemplation and medi-tation. Visit http://www.guhyasamaja.org formore information.

Lord of Life Lutheran offers services at twolocations, in Fairfax at 5114 Twinbrook Road andin Clifton at 13421 Twin Lakes Drive. Services inFairfax are held on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. andSundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Services in Clifton are

held on Sundays at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. 703-323-9500 or www.Lordoflifeva.org.

First Baptist Church of Springfield offersSunday school at 9:15 a.m., followed by both tra-ditional and contemporary worship services at10:30 a.m. at 7300 Gary St., Springfield. 703-451-1500 or www.fbcspringfield.org.

Faith Notes

Last year, scammers contacted nearly 2,800Dominion Virginia Power customers, demandingfraudulent payments totaling more than$1.2 mil-lion. Hundreds of customers fell victim, payingnearly $200,000 in response to threats of immedi-ate disconnection of electric service.

“While we are working in concert with law en-forcement to identify, track and stop these scams,it’s important for customers to recognize the redflags,” said Marc Gaudette, director-Corporate Se-curity, Safety & Health. “Unfortunately, thescammers frequently target the elderly, non-En-glish-speaking communities and businessesduring their busy times and use caller ID spoof-ing software so a customer thinks Dominion iscalling.”

“There are two clear signs that there’s a scammeron the other end of that phone call that you caneasily spot,” said Becky Merritt, vice president,Customer Service. “First, we would never threatena customer, even if their account is past due. Sec-ond, we would never insist on one specific,immediate form of payment—there are a numberof options available to customers, including in-per-

son at a verified payment location, secure paymentthrough their online account, or our third-partypayment processing vendor.”

Customers are reminded to do the following:❖ Ask questions and verify what you are hear-

ing by checking your online account or hanging upand then calling us at 866-DOM-HELP. If an ac-count is overdue, we provide multiplecommunications in writing and offers a paymentplan before disconnection occurs.

❖ Remember that we do not require paymentover the phone and never demand immediate pay-ment of cash, PayPal, any prepaid debit card suchas ‘MoneyPak/Green Dot’, or any gift card to avoiddisconnection. Payment by phone is availablethrough BillMatrix at 1-800-573-1147. (Note: cus-tomers will never be contacted directly byBillMatrix requiring payment.)

❖ Collect information from the scammer includ-ing the caller’s name, any phone numbers or otherdetails before hanging up and reporting to locallaw enforcement.

For other tips about how to avoid scams, visitwww.dom.com/scams.

Dominion Reminds Customersto be Aware of Utility Scams


Opinion

Last week, the Fairfax County Boardof Supervisors voted to establish aCivilian Review Panel, part of a two-pronged concept of independent

oversight of law enforcement recommendedunanimously by the Ad Hoc Police PracticesReview Commission.

On Sept. 20, 2016, the board voted to estab-lish the Office of the Independent Auditor, theother piece of oversight. The twobranches of oversight would not over-lap.

The Independent Police Auditor willreport directly to the Board of Supervisors andprovide oversight in cases of police use offorce that lead to serious injury or death, in-cluding officer-involved shootings. The Civil-ian Review Panel will respond to communityconcerns or complaints about alleged inci-dents of abuse of authority by FCPD by re-viewing the investigations conducted by thedepartment.

The vote by the Board of Supervisors for theOffice of Auditor was unanimous, and for theCivilian Review Panel, 9-1, indicating thestrong commitment to independent oversightand the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Com-mission. The experiences from other commu-nities with civilian oversight have shown thatstrong, independent oversight builds legiti-macy and public trust through increased po-lice transparency and accountability to thepublic served. Oversight provides a meaning-ful voice or forum for the public and forms acrucial bridge between the public and the po-lice. Increased transparency, trust, and com-munication between the police and the public

can lead to greater community cooperation inachieving the ultimate goal of decreased crimeand increased public safety.

This very positive outcome seemed nearlyimpossible in the wake of the death of JohnGeer in August 2013, shot by then Fairfax Po-lice Officer Adam Torres while standing un-armed in the doorway to his own home. Offi-cials had long opposed consideration of a Ci-vilian Review Panel.

Board of Supervisor Chairman SharonBulova deserves tremendous kudos, first forestablishing the Ad Hoc Commission in thewake of public outrage over the shooting andthe blackout of information that followed, andthen for her unwavering support of the rec-

ommendations that emerged.In voting for the Civilian Review

Panel, Supervisor Linda Smyth said:“We all know it’s time to put this in

place. This is what the public has really askedus to do.”

John Cook (R-Braddock), chairman of thePublic Safety Committee, has been relentlessin moving the recommendations forward fordiscussion and approval by the board. Havingboth the auditor and the panel approved in2016 is no small accomplishment.

The recommendations for oversight alsohave the enthusiastic support of Police ChiefEdwin Roessler, whose support overall forchange in the FCPD has been admirable andessential.

Every member of the Board of Supervisorsdeserves credit for engaging on the details andsupporting recommendations of the commis-sion.

Other changes brought about by the Ad HocCommission’s recommendations include theimplementation of Diversion First, which pro-vides treatment rather than jail for nonviolentpeople with mental illness, resulting in some350 diversions from potential criminal arrest,and in police transporting more than 1,000

people in mental health crisis to the MerrifieldCenter for treatment; an emphasis on de-esca-lation and on crisis intervention training; therevamping of the order of officer training toemphasize the role of policing in a democracyand the sanctity of life ahead of firearms train-ing; and the significant amendment of Gen-eral Order 540 on the use of force. The FCPDhas been a leading force in these changes, andits leadership has played a pivotal role in seek-ing out and implementing best practices.

There are still miles to go, but evidence isthat county and police leadership are preparedto traverse those miles.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

Mary Kimm served on the Ad Hoc PolicePractices Review Commission and continues toadvocate for ongoing implementation.

SoberRide Safety Netfor HolidayCelebrations

The annual Holiday SoberRide program, of-fering free rides home to locals over 21 whohave been celebrating with alcohol, will oper-ate between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. each eveningbetween Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 and Sunday, Jan.1, 2017 as a way to keep local roads safe fromimpaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk, holiday period. SoberRide is organized bythe nonprofit Washington Regional AlcoholProject. Area residents celebrating with alco-hol may call the toll-free SoberRide phonenumber 1–800–200–TAXI for a no-cost (up to$ 30 fare), safe way home. Last December,nearly 1,500 people took advantage of the pro-gram.

More information about WRAP’s SoberRideinitiative can be found at www.soberride.com.

Civilian Review Panel— and they said itcouldn’t be done ….

History in Police Reform Part 2

Editorial

Letters to the Editor

Focusing on PeopleRather Than PRTo the Editor:

I was disturbed by Fairfax County’s recentseries on the Adult Detention Center

(http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news2/a-look-inside-the-jail-how-the-sheriffs-office-manages-inmate-housing/).

The first installment in the series paints acheerful picture of the facility, with rehabilita-tion, religious services, and sunny rooms forinmates suffering from mental illnesses,helmed by “Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, a longtimemental health advocate.” Yet two differentmentally ill individuals have been killed bysheriff’s deputies under her watch, with noconsequences for the deaths.

On Feb. 3, 2015, Natasha McKenna, a 37-year-old African-American mother, was taseredfour times by six sheriff ’s deputies while incustody at the Adult Detention Center. She wasnaked, shackled, and wearing a spit mask onher face. Her last words were, “You promisedme you wouldn’t kill me.” She became coma-

tose, and subsequently died on Feb. 8, 2015.Commonwealth Attorney Ray Morrogh de-clined to press any charges against the depu-ties, and Kincaid kept them on staff. And soMcKenna’s family has not seen any justice forthe death of their daughter and mother.

On Aug. 15, 2016, one of the same sheriff’sdeputies, Patrick McPartlin, also shot and killedJovany Martinez, a 29-year-old Latino man,outside of the Inova Fairfax Hospital where hehad just been released. Again, no charges havebeen filed.

Various initiatives claim to improve Fairfaxpolicing and incarceration practices, includingDiversion First and the Civilian Review Board.However, neither of these initiatives makes realsubstantive change. The Diversion First pro-gram is underfunded, understaffed, and onlyavailable at the discretion of the police, ratherthan based on any neutral assessment process.This is despite the fact that Police Chief EdRoessler admits that “The majority of our use-of-force incidents are with those sufferingmental health crisis”. The Civilian ReviewBoard

has no power to investigate, ask direct ques-

tions, or engage in any disciplinary process,but rather can only make recommendations tothe Chief of Police, who may then chose to re-spond or ignore those recommendations.

Given the toothless responses to the deathsof Natasha McKenna and Jovany Martinez, andthe positive spin in Fairfax County’s series, it’sdifficult to avoid the conclusion that this pro-paganda is meant to distract the public ofFairfax county from the real and dangerousproblems facing people of color and peoplewith mental illnesses in our policing system.

(http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2016/feb/16/diversion-first-program-launched/)

and the Washington Post reports that “morethan 40 percent of of use-of-force cases [byFairfax County Police] involved African Ameri-cans, who make up only 8 percent of thecounty’s population.”

Until the county and the sheriff’s office focuson people rather than PR, we will see more ofthese tragic encounters with law enforcement.

Karen WolfFairfax

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

@BurkeConnection

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Letters

Clifton Presbyterian Church,12748 Richards Lane, Clifton, offersSunday worship services at 10 a.m. andCup of Fellowship at 11 a.m. Nurserycare is provided from 9:45-11:15 a.m.Christian education for all ages is at9:45 a.m. 703-830-3175.

St. Andrew the Apostle CatholicChurch, 6720 Union Mill Road, Clifton,conducts Sunday masses at 7:30 a.m.,8:45 a.m., Latin mass at 10:30 a.m. and12:30 p.m. It also offers a Saturday vigil

at 5:30 p.m. and a Thursday Latin massat 7 p.m. Additional mass offered Mon-day-Friday at 6:30 a.m. (except onFederal holidays) and 8:45 a.m. 703-817-1770 or www.st-andrew.org.

Prince of Peace LutheranChurch, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road,Springfield, offers casual worship ser-vices on Saturday evenings at 5:30 p.m.featuring contemporary music. Moretraditional services take place on Sun-day mornings at 8:15 and 11 a.m.Sunday School is from 9:45-10:45 a.m.for children and adults. The church also

offers discussion groups for adults. 703-451-5855 or www.poplc.org.

JCCNV Mothers Circle program,for women who are not Jewish but areraising Jewish children. Free educationin Jewish rituals, practices and values,while respecting the participant’s choiceto retain her own religious identity. Jew-ish Community Center of NorthernVirginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike inFairfax. Contact Laurie Albert, 703-537-3064 or HYPERLINK“mailto:[email protected]”[email protected].

Faith Notes

To the Editor:The cover of the December 1-7, 2016 edition of

the Burke Connection initially caught my eye becauseI immediately recognized the gifted members of theSt. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church Youth Choir.Our parish joyfully participates annually in the in-terfaith Thanksgiving service, along with Burke Pres-byterian Church and Congregation Adat Reyim.

However, I was surprised to read the followingheadline: “Celebrating Diversity in Burke.” Such aheadline betrays the truth. A more accurate head-line would have been, “United in Thanksgiving toGod.” It is a Thanksgiving service in which partici-pants unite to give thanks to God for His many bless-ings. This is what Thanksgiving Day is all about. It isnot about football games, turkey, getting a jump onBlack Friday deals, or diversity.

For those who may not be aware, it was PresidentAbraham Lincoln who officially set aside the lastThursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. Thefollowing is an excerpt from his October 3, 1863 proc-lamation:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath anymortal hand worked out these great things. They arethe gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, whiledealing with us in anger for our sins, hath neverthe-less remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit andproper that they should be solemnly, reverently andgratefully acknowledged as with one heart and onevoice by the whole American People. I do thereforeinvite my fellow citizens in every part of the UnitedStates, and also those who are at sea and those who

are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and ob-serve the last Thursday of November next, as a dayof Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Fatherwho dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend tothem that while offering up the ascriptions justly dueto Him for such singular deliverances and blessings,they do also, with humble penitence for our nationalperverseness and disobedience, commend to His ten-der care all those who have become widows, orphans,mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strifein which we are unavoidably engaged, and ferventlyimplore the interposition of the Almighty Hand toheal the wounds of the nation and to restore it assoon as may be consistent with the Divine purposesto the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillityand Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my handand caused the Seal of the United States to be af-fixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day ofOctober, in the year of our Lord one thousand eighthundred and sixty-three, and of the Independenceof the United States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln”

Those who participate in the annual InterfaithThanksgiving Service know the aforementioned tobe true and together give thanks to God for His abun-dant blessings and mercy.

Pilar JonesFairfax

A Headline Betraying the Truth

To the Editor:On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Nativity Church of Burke

will be honoring Pacita Aguas (1925-2016) with acelebration of the Philippine Christmas tradition of“Simbang Gabi” (also known as “Misa De Gallo” or“Rooster’s Mass”). “Simbang Gabi” involves earlymorning masses in the Philippines during the ninedays before Christmas.

In November 2014, Pacita Aguas was featured inthe Connection newspaper because she was very ac-tive since 2007 in the petition to acquire a perma-nent facility for the Burke/West Springfield SeniorCenter Without Walls (BWSSCWoW).

For almost ten years, Pacita Aguas was active intrying to find a solution to the problem of Spring-field District – as the only district – without a per-manent senior center in Fairfax County. Sadly, Pacitapassed on ahead of us without seeing the achieve-ment of the dream that she and many senior resi-dents in the Springfield District have been pursuing.

Strengthened by Pacita Aguas’ good works and de-termination, we BWSSCWoW seniors continue our cru-sade and we thank Chairman Sharon Bulova whopledged to support our petition during our Nov. 21,2015 demonstration at the Fairfax County Govern-

ment Center. We are now working on getting fair pay-ment for churches/community centers – similar to the$37 per hour charged by Fairfax County public schools.For the longer term, we are working to build a coali-tion for the FY2020 Bond Referendum for the Spring-field Community Center in South Run Park – proposedon April 13, 2016 by Chairman Sharon Bulova.

The Filipino American community of NativityChurch invites the public to join us on Dec. 17 inpraying for the repose of the soul of Pacita Aguas –and celebrating a good life that has been dedicatedfor many years to the improvement of the lives ofothers, particularly her fellow seniors, in our com-munity of Burke and West Springfield. Like PopeFrancis, Pacita and many BWSSCWoW members be-lieve that our community should “Take Care of theElderly…where there is no honor for the elderly, therewill be future for the young.”

And the Nativity Church “Simbang Gabi” is an af-firmation that the good that Pacita Aguas did for ourcommunity, particularly for her fellow seniors, shouldnot be interred with her bones.

Corazon Sandoval FoleyBurke

Honoring a Good Life in Burke, Virginia


Send notes to the Connection atconnectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/ orcall 703-778-9416. The deadline is theFriday prior to the next paper’s publica-tion at noon. Dated announcementsshould be submitted at least two weeksprior to the event.

ONGOINGSpringfield Town Center Toy Drive

through Dec. 24 located at 6500Springfield Mall, Springfield.Springfield Town Center ispartnering with America’s Adopt ASoldier Foundation to sponsor a ToyDrive to gather new toys to bedonated to children undergoingtreatment at Walter Reed MedicalCenter.

Please bring new toys to the bin locatednext to Guest Services, on the LowerLevel near Starbucks to donate andbring joy to a child struggling withillness during this Holiday Season.

6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield.Burke Farmers Market will be open

Saturdays 8 a.m. - noon untilDecember 17, 2016 http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/pdf/producechart.pdf

Bob Brown Puppets Holiday Show10:30 a.m. Old Town Hall, 3999University Dr, Fairfax. Join the Cityof Fairfax every Monday morning at10:30am for Funday Monday.Funday Monday will offer a variety ofchildren’s activities andentertainment in Old Town Hall.Admission: Free. Sponsored by theCity of Fairfax Commission on theArts. 703-385-7858

www.fairfaxva.gov/culturalarts‘Storytime & Craft’ at lucy

Activewear Every Friday inDecember at 10:30 a.m. lucyActivewear 11899 Grand CommonsAvenue, Fairfax. An opportunity toget holiday shopping done in peace.lucy Activewear will be hosting‘Storytime & Craft.’ This event isappropriate for ages 3-8. Please signup.

Bull Run Festival of Lights andHoliday Village Nov. 23 - Jan. 87700 Bull Run Dr. Centreville. Everyyear from Thanksgiving until justafter New Year’s Day the Bull RunFestival of Lights will be in session. A2.5 mile stretch will be illuminatedby holiday light displays. The festivalhappens annually at Bull RunRegional Park in Centreville, Virginia.Drive the festival route from thecomfort of your car; turn out yourheadlights and just follow themagical glow. After viewing thelights, bring your family and friendsto the holiday village to enjoy rides,refreshments, and of course, photoswith Santa Claus. The cost of drivingthrough the light show is Mon-Thurs,$15 per car ; Fri-Sun & Holidays, $20per car (vans w/ 15-34 people andmotorcoaches cost extra - visitwebsite for details) Want to avoid thecrowds? Fridays, Saturdays, andSundays are our busiest nights.Please take advantage of the Mondaythrough Thursday discounted priceand avoid a long wait.

Children’s Theatre: “A MagicalChristmas” Saturdays through Dec.22, 1 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center,9601 Ox Road, Lorton.A children’stheatre performance for the holidays.There’s something not right in thetown of Believe. Santa hasn’t stoppedthere for many years; in fact hedoesn’t even know the place exists!Joy’s grandfather decides to dosomething about it and make surethat this year’s Christmas will be themost magical ever. Appropriate forall ages. Concessions available inlobby before the performance and atintermission. Cost: $8 children, $12adults. workhousearts.org Cost: $8children, $12 adults.

Senior Line Dancing 1 - 2 p.m. LittleRIver Glen Senior Center 4001Barker Ct, Fairfax. Line Dancing is agentle, social form of aerobic activity.Studies have shown it aids inwarding off Alzheimer’s disease. Noprevious experience needed. Cost: $5per 8 week [email protected] 703-524-3739

Fairfax Rotary Club Meeting.12:15-1:30 p.m. Mondays. AmericanLegion, 3939 Oak St., Fairfax.Meetings with luncheon andprogram. fairfaxrotary.org.

Carolina Shag. Wednesdays. 6:30-10p.m. Arlington/Fairfax Elks Lodge,8421 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax. Freelessons at 7:30 p.m. No partnersneeded. Dinner menu. $8. Under 21free. nvshag.org.

FUN-Exercise. Thursdays, noon-12:50p.m. Grace Presbyterian ChurchFamily Room, 7434 Bath St.,Springfield. Inova certified exerciseinstructor leads a moderate levelexercise class with music and currentevents conversation. Muscle, Balance,Strength Training using stretch bandsand weights both standing andseated exercises. Instructor donationis $5. [email protected] or 703-499-6133.

EXERCISE PROGRAM Mondays andFridays at 9:30 a.m. year-round atLord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114Twinbrook Rd. Fairfax. The exercisesare for strength, balance andmaintaining limberness. ContactSCFB office at 703-426-2824 formore information.

Cafe Ivrit (Hebrew Cafe).Wednesdays. 8:15-9:15 a.m. JewishCommunity Center of NorthernVirginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike,Fairfax. Shalom (hello) Did youalways want to converse in Hebrew?Join Na’ama each week forconversational Hebrew. You willlearn and practice Hebrew in a funand interactive way while learningmore about Israel. Free, however weask that you try to attend regularly.RSVP [email protected].

Smoke Free Bingo (with breaks forsmoking friends). 7 p.m. EveryFriday. Fairfax Volunteer FireDepartment, 4081 University Drive,Fairfax. Free coffee, entertainingcallers, $1,000 jackpot.www.fairfaxvd.com. 703-273-3638.

English Conversation Groupsweekly at George Mason, BurkeCentre, and Lorton Libraries Practiceand improve your English. Day andstart times vary. Visit: https://va.evanced.info/fairfaxcounty/lib/eventcalendar.asp

First Sunday Jazz Brunch 11 - 2p.m. Recurring monthly on the 1stSunday at Bazin’s on Church 111Church St N.W., Vienna. Enjoybrunch accompanied by the soft jazzsounds of Virginia Music Adventure.Visit: http://www.fxva.com/listing/bazins-on-church/1686/

Stories From Strawberry Park 10 -11 a.m. Tuesdays in Mosaic -Strawberry Park 2910 DistrictAvenue, Fairfax. Enjoy a liveinteractive performance each week

taught by a group of uniquestorytellers. For ages 10 and under.Held outside in Strawberry Park. Ininclement weather and Octoberthrough April, storytime will be heldin Angelika Film Center. Recurringweekly on Tuesday. Visit: http://www.fxva.com/listing/mosaic-district/2326/

THURSDAY/DEC. 15$5 Jewelry and Accessory Sale

INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital Auxiliary 8- 4 p.m. In the Hospital Atrium 3600Joseph Siewick Dr, Fairfax. Allproceeds benefit Inova Fair OaksHospital. This sale is Open to thePublic. Credit Card or Cash will beaccepted.

FRIDAY/DEC. 16Two Percent Teen Pregnancy

Center Holiday Kick Off Event 6- 11 p.m. The Bungalow Alehouse2840 Prince William Pkwy,Woodbridge. Be ready for an eveningfilled with food, drinks, music,dancing, and vendors for those lastminute Holiday gifts, desserts,games, silent auction and so muchmore. Dress is black tie/holiday best.Perfect for date night or just anevening with the girls. Tickets areavaliable at https://www.eventnation.co/event/TPPHoliday.

To learn more about this new teenpregnancy initiative visit Two PercentProject’s website atwww.twopercentproject.org orcontact them via email at

[email protected] Fun Movie Nights – The

Secret Life of Pets 7 p.m.Sherwood Community Center, 3740Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Lookingfor something FREE and fun for yourfamily to do on a Friday night? Howabout a family-friendly movie on thenew state-of-the-art big screen? Eachmovie is rated PG. An adult mustaccompany anyone under the age of14.

“Britepaths” Food Drive at Family FunNights. Britepaths is a volunteer-based organization that identifiesand addresses the unmetfundamental needs of Fairfax arearesidents. Food can be dropped off atthe Sherwood Center on the eveningof the Family Fun Nights between 7 -9 p.m.

SATURDAY/DEC. 17Fishburne Education Fair 9 - 1 p.m.

Marriott at Fair Oaks 11787 LeeJackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax.Fishburne Military School comes toFairfax. FMS invites students andtheir families to stop by to learnmore about the benefits of a militaryschool education. Admission: Free.www.fishburne.org

Celtic Holiday Concert &Candlelight Carols 4:30 p.m. St.Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6509Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Celticmusicians playing hammereddulcimer, accordion, harp-guitar,Irish flute, guitar; with the St.Andrew’s choirs. Reception follows;

Holiday

Calendar

Photo courtesy of The Hub Theatre

Rex Dougherty and Daven Ralston in Hub Theatre’sproduction of ‘The Magi.’ Performances will take placefrom Dec. 2-18 at The New School, 9431 Silver KingCourt, Fairfax. Show times: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdaysat 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tick-ets: $20-$30. Call 1-800-494-8497 or visitwww.thehubtheatre.org

Photo by Chip Gertzog/Courtesy of Providence Players

The Herdman kids in Providence Players production of‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.’ From left — front:Jack Wright who plays Ralph, Aerial Indirisano as Ollie,Nora Rice who plays Imogene; back - Gavin Friel asClaude, Erika Friel who plays, Gladys, Kashvi Ramani asLoretta. Shows will take place from Dec. 9 to Dec. 18 atJames Lee Community Center Theater, 2855 AnnandaleRoad, Falls Church. Thursday, Friday and Saturday eve-nings at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. matineeson Dec. 17 and 18, 2016. Tickets on-line atwww.providenceplayers.org or call 703-425-6782.

Photo contributed

On Saturday Dec.17 the Fishburne Military School willhost an Education Fair from 9 - 1 p.m. at the Marriott atFair Oaks 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax.Fishburne Military School invites students and theirfamilies to stop by to learn more about the benefits of amilitary school education. Admission: Free.www.fishburne.org

See Calendar, Page 9


UNIVERSITY MALL THEATRESwww.universitymalltheatres.comWe’re located in University Mall, Fairfax

Route 123 & Braddock Road, Lower Level

November 27th–December 21st, 2016

3

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3 3* With coupon, not valid with any other offer, one per person per visit.

With this Coupon. Good

11/27–12/21/16

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Holiday Hooplah!!!


11/27–12/21/16


11/27–12/21/16

FREE!20 oz. Soda*

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NOT VALID ON TUESDAYS*with purchase of one

adult admission

WOW!THE FAMOUS COMBO

FOR ONLY $18.00!!!Includes: 2 Admissions, 2Medium Drinks & 1 LargePopcorn! (You Save $6.00)

B B B

COMMUNITIES OF WORSHIP

Worship Gathering – Sunday 8:45 & 11 AMSunday School 10:10 AM

Sun. Evening – Realtime Worship & Youth 6 PMFamily Night – Wednesday 7:15 PM

Home Life Groups, College/Young AdultMinistries, and Living Free Support Groups

Visit our Website: www.jccag.org4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax

Bill Frasnelli, PASTOR 703-383-1170

JubileeChristian Center

“Loving People to Life”

b

To Advertise YourCommunity of Worship,

Call 703-778-9418

Build Your Community

Support Your LocalBusinesses.

www.connectionnewspapers.com

From Page 8

Calendar

childcare provided. Admission: Free.703-455-2500. www.standrews.net

Christmas, Candles, and a Chorus- The City of Fairfax Band & TheFairfax Choral Society Ticket holderswill be admitted, starting at 6:15p.m. After 6:45 p.m. non-ticketholders will be admitted to takeunclaimed seats. Fairfax High School,3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax. Get yourtickets early for Fairfax’s mostpopular holiday concert, presentedfree by the City of Fairfax Band andthe Fairfax Choral Society AdultChorus. This annual traditionentertains capacity crowds withsacred and secular musical offeringsthat make Christmas in Fairfaxspecial. Pre-concert activities includea chance for kids to give Santa Claustheir last-minute Christmas lists.Admission: Free, but tickets arerequired - and they go fast. Visitfairfaxband.org

SUNDAY/DEC. 18Christmas Bird Count 7 a.m. - noon

Birders of all skill levels are invited toparticipate in the 35th AnnualManassas-Bull Run Christmas BirdCount, sponsored by the AudubonSociety of Northern Virginia (ASNV).Cost: Free. www.audubonva.org

Special Holiday Service at HistoricPohick Episcopal Church 10a.m. 9301 Richmond HwyLorton. This service originated inVictorian England in the 1880s as aseries of scripture readingsinterspersed with Advent andChristmas carols, hymns and choralanthems, tracing God’s love from thecreation of man and woman in theGarden of Eden, through theannunciation and birth of the ChristChild. http://www.pohick.org/

MONDAY/DEC. 19Bob Brown Puppets Holiday Show

10:30 a.m. Old Town Hall, 3999University Dr, Fairfax. Join the Cityof Fairfax every Monday morning at10:30am for Funday Monday.Funday Monday will offer a variety ofchildren’s activities andentertainment in Old Town Hall.Admission: Free & Parking.Sponsored by the City of FairfaxCommission on the Arts. 703-385-7858 www.fairfaxva.gov/culturalarts

TUESDAY/DEC. 20Fairfax High School Winter

Concert 7 p.m. Fairfax High School,3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax. FairfaxHigh School Choral and OrchestraDepartment present a performance ofChristmas tunes. Bring an unwrappedgift for a child to donate to the Toysfor Tots drive. Cost:Free 703-219-2355; fhschorus.net

WEDNESDAY/DEC. 21Person Centered Dementia Care 1

p.m. Insight Memory Care Center,3953 Pender Drive, Suite 100,Fairfax. Keeping their currentabilities in mind, join us for this free

class to learn ways to keep yourloved one active and engaged inpersonalized activities. ContactChristi Clark,[email protected], 703-204-4664, InsightMCC.org.

Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty and reindeer were joined byFairfax County supervisors and Police Departmentmotorcycle officers after visiting schools around thecounty as part of a toy donation campaign on Dec. 13.

Santa surprised children all over Fairfax County byvisiting schools on Dec. 13, driving a Fairfax CountyPolice Department motorcycle.

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Mounted FCPD officersescort Santa to Fairfax CountyPublic Schools.

Sleigh Ride


Steve and Louise Brooks of Arlington wanted a primary living area thatwould serve a multitude of purposes, including a place for frequentgatherings of friends and family. A new space plan introduced by SunDesign Remodeling proved out in a holiday fete for 50 guests held thispast Saturday.

HomeLifeStyle

By John Byrd

It’s one thing to talk a good game;quite another to put your ideas to thetest by inviting a long list of percep-tive critics to inspect your wares.

“We like to see how well our plans workfirst hand whenever we can,” Bob Gallaghersaid, as he describes a holiday tour his homeremodeling firm held at one of this client’shomes last Saturday.

“Our designers spend a lot of time con-ferring with clients on specific needs andlearning from case histories — but whatreally counts is seeing your plan in action.A holiday tour is a test drive, but it’s also achance to explore ideas, brainstorm onbreaking trends — and just enjoy beingaround people who are enjoying what wecreate.”

Case in point, the Arlington home of Steveand Louise Brooks.

Two years ago, the Brooks hired Sun De-sign to convert the primary living area oftheir raised rambler into space that wouldserve a multitude of purposes, including aplace for frequent gatherings of friends andfamily.

Last weekend, the remodeler hosted anopen house for anyone who wanted to seehow their freshly-minted new space planwould perform under real life home enter-tainment conditions.

There were about 50 visitors in all. Stand-ing in one corner, one could see fluidly or-ganic pockets of revelers — but all flowssmoothly, a far cry from the past.

In the past, one’s guests were usually inanother room.

The original small kitchen with its adja-cent living room and dining room actually

felt crowded whenever the head-count ex-ceeded six or seven.

The eight-foot ceiling and small-scalewindows didn’t help either; ditto, the“builder grade” interior finishes and re-stricted space-use options.

“We’re a host site for our church, so wewanted a place that would allow us to com-fortably meet with friends,” said LouiseBrooks. “We just weren’t at all sure how tomake that happen within our existing floorplan.”

Fortunately, Gallagher and team knew theway. In fact, Gallagher notes that there’sbeen something of a revolution in howhomeowners are now configuring livingspace: Emergent interior design styles nowallow for well-articulated activity zones in-tegrated into a visually distinctive spatialcontinuum. “The end result feels gener-ously-sized, yet unified.”

To effect the changes Brooks sought, Sun

Design concentrated on strategic improve-ments inside the envelope of the existingstructure: a nearly 800-square-foot greatroom was formed by eliminating walls sepa-rating the kitchen, dining room, living roomand foyer; to create the 14-foot cathedralceiling, the new interior incorporated a sel-dom-used attic.

A granite-surfaced food preparation is-land and dining counter now facilitates theeasy circulation needed for entertaining; the“built-in” was custom-designed to supporta wide-range of storage, cooking and clean-up requirements.

The plan also increased natural light. Asouth-facing trapezoidal-shaped windowprovides a hilltop view of the neighborhood.Distinctive finish work details delineate keyactivity zones within a warmly cohesiveambiance that features sight-lines in all di-rections.

Meanwhile, back at the tour, Bob

Gallagher is talking to a drop-in guest abouthow the new space is used on an everydaybasis.

“It works extremely well,” he said. “Theopen plan allows people to happily pursuedifferent tasks within the same continuumwithout loss of personal space. You haveprivacy, but you’re in eye-contact. It’s a verypopular trend.”

Gallagher also stresses the value of anopen house to homeowners looking forideas.

“We’ve been doing tours of newly remod-eled homes for about 10 years,” he said.“We’ve found that the open houses oftenbecome neighborhood meet-up opportuni-ties where people naturally start exploringmatters of mutual interest.”

Sun Design Remodeling frequently spon-sors tours of recently remodeled homes aswell as workshops on home remodeling top-ics. Headquartered in Burke, the firm re-cently has a second office in McLean. Forinformation, call 703-425-5588 or visitwww.SunDesignInc.com.

John Byrd ([email protected]) has beenwriting about home improvement for 30 years.

Open Floorplan Eases EntertainingOpen house helpshomeowners lookingfor ideas.

Photos by Greg Hadley

The changes increased natural light. A south-facing trapezoidal-shapedwindow in the dining room provides a hilltop view of the neighborhood.

A granite-surfaced food preparation island and dining counter nowfacilitates the easy circulation needed for entertaining; the “built-in”was custom-designed to support a wide-range of storage, cooking andclean-up requirements.

The new makeover features well-defined appreciably private activityzones within a warm ambiance thataffords sight-lines in all directions.


HomeLifeStyle

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

When interior designerAnnie Elliott’s homeoffice began to feellackluster, she draped

the windows with green Romanshades to infuse a burst of colorinto the muted space. And afterMcLean-based designer Joseph VanGoethem decided that the time-worn décor of his kitchen andbreakfast room needed brightening,he swathed the walls of with tex-tured grass-green wallpaper, evok-ing a serene sense that one is sit-ting in nature.

“It invites … [and] rejuvenatesas should the heart of any home,”said Van Goethem of Joseph VanGoethem Interior Design.

“As an accent color, [green] addsa burst of cheer and optimism to adrab spaces,” agreed Elliott, princi-pal of Annie Elliott Interior/BossyColor, whose green Roman shadesoffset white and yellow walls andlight gray rug. “It’s the bright spotin a lovely, calm space,” she said.

They’re in good company. PantoneColor Institute, which calls itselfthe global authority on color, se-lected Greenery as the Color of theYear for 2017. Each year, it makesa prediction about the color thatwill be on trend for the upcomingyear.

During the process, which takesabout nine months, color gurus atPantone trot the globe, observingthe trends in industries rangingfrom film and entertainment to artand fashion. The selection, whichis less formulaic and more instinc-tive, is touted as a harbinger of ashade that will be ubiquitous dur-ing year ahead and an expressionof moods and attitudes world-wide.

In announcing the color selec-tion, Leatrice Eiseman, executivedirector of the Pantone Color Insti-tute, described it as “satisfying ourgrowing desire to … revitalize andunite. [It] symbolizes thereconnection we seek with nature,one another and a larger purpose.”

Locally, some designers agree thatGreenery can create a sense ofhope. “2016 will go down as one

of the most politically unpredictable inhistory,” said Elliott. “We need a freshstart. Green is the color of renewal,growth and change. ... We’re ready tofocus on the future, and that’s whatgreen is all about.”

Designers who’ve already been usingthe color aren’t surprised by its selec-tion, crediting its year-round versatility.“In summer, with white dishes and brightlinens, [a] room feels vibrant,” said AnneM. Walker, owner and principal, AnneWalker Design LLC in Potomac, Md. “Inwinter, with reds and dark greenery, theroom feels festive. When you think ofit, green is paired with just about everyother color in nature, which is exactlywhy it works so well inside, too.”

Van Goethem believes that the hue

works best with other rustic shades. It’smost often found in paint and textiles.For example, the wall covering he se-lected for his kitchen and breakfast roomis a hand-crafted and hand-painted fab-ric called, “Un Nid de Verdure” or “Nestof Greenery” from French manufacturer,Elitis.

“Greenery is highly personal to mywife and me as…[I]t is incorporated asan integral element in the design of ourhome,” said Van Goethem, who not onlydesigned his kitchen, but did most of

the work himself. “I complemented[the wall covering] with a paletteof deep, rich wood tones, blues,some red, other hues of green andneutrals.”

Praising the choice of Greeneryas a fresh tactic for breathingwhimsy into a muted space, VictorSanz, project architect at DMG In-teriors in Reston, calls the newcolor of the year energetic, vibrantand fresh. “Although its use as thedominant color might not be suit-able for more conservative designs,this color can be used as a funcontrast, especially if used in mod-ern fabric patterns or wall cover-ings,” he said.

Almost 10 shades of sun-drenched, tranquil, green foliagefound in a client’s painting, “FrenchLane,” served as the creative inspi-ration for a custom paint color usedby Walker.

“I kept mixing until I got a soft,earthy green, which is the perfectbackdrop for the artwork,” she said.“Greens will bring serenity to aroom the way few other colorswill, and they are incredibly versa-tile.”

Open spaces in interior and exte-rior design and floor-to-ceiling win-dows allow the green outdoors tobecome part of a room’s backdropand ambiance. “Green is a fantas-tic color for interiors,” said Walker.“It’s such a chameleon — it cancreate a feeling of fresh, high en-ergy or make a room feel like apeaceful outdoor sanctuary.

“Many people say you shouldn’tuse green in a dining room be-cause it isn’t flattering to skin tonesand it isn’t a stimulant to appe-tite,” she continued. “Au contraire— this elegant, soft green reallycomes alive in the glow of candle-light.”

Greenery, say designers, has thepower to deliver a burst of color,with the added benefit of creatingthe illusion of nature indoors. “Hoo-ray for green,” said Walker. “Now,more than ever, we all need totake a deep breath, oxygenate andreinvigorate.”

Pantone says color willevoke reinvigoration.

2017 Color of the Year: Greenery

Photo courtesy of Annie Elliott Inte-

rior/Bossy Color

Green used as an accent colorin a child’s bedroom by AnnieElliott Interior/Bossy Color Photo by Anne Walker

Two-tone walls provide a preppy,fun backdrop for a strong pal-ette of primary colors in thefurnishings and fabrics in thisbedroom by interior designerAnne Walker.

Photo by Anne Walker

Shades of green foliage found in a painting that hung in aclient’s dining room was the creative inspiration for interior de-signer Anne M. Walker.

“We need a fresh start.Green is the color ofrenewal, growth, andchange.”

— Annie Elliott, Principal, AnnieElliott Interior/Bossy Color.

“Greens will bringserenity to a room theway few other colorswill, and they areincredibly versatile.”

— Anne M. Walker, Owner andPrincipal, Anne Walker Design LLC


News

By Rikki George

The Connection

A new resource is available to thosewho’ve been touched by traumatic braininjury (TBI) called “Surviving BrainInjury: Stories of Strength and Inspira-

tion” by Amy Zellmer.A collection of 90 stories, mostly by TBI survi-

vors, “Surviving Brain Injury” personalizes life’strajectory after a blast to the head, a fall or stroke.

It is a resource for providers, caretakers and agrowing population of TBIs, according toAlexandrian Toni Popkin, one of the contributingwriters. About 2.5 million Americans annually willenter the world of TBI, which is often misunder-stood, undiagnosed and overlooked in severity.

“Your identity flips,” said Popkin, who sufferedfour car crashes over the years and a concussiondue to a fall in 2016.

Popkin, who lives alone, relies on a full-servicedog named Bud and the kindness of others to helpher get through the day. Her essay “Ten Things ILearned to Help Someone with a TBI” offerspractical advice for friends and family. Ask, forexample,“Do you have any upcoming doctorappointments I can drive you to?” Call and say,“I’m on my way to the grocery store …. What elsedo you need?”

For Popkin, keys to her survival are practicalassistance and greater awareness of TBI. She’s anadvocate, something she never thought she’d be inher entire life. She pays attention to things now,like snow hindering streets, she speaks out, writesop-eds and organizes events, like the one held inNovember at the Marina Towers in Alexandria tolaunch “Surviving Brain Injury.”

Others joining Popkin at the November booklaunch told similar stories of TBI symptoms:headaches, fatigue, depression and short-termmemory loss. But no story is alike because thebrain is as uniquely com-plex as is the rehabilitationand recovery process.

Derek O’Neal, also fromAlexandria, discoveredmusic therapy and relied onthe love of his wife and fivechildren as forces behindhis survival. O’Neal de-scribed himself as anoverachiever: a well-educated man, a Desert Stormveteran, a vice president at an automotive group inMichigan looking for the next step up. And then in2004, a deer ran into his car.

“You can never get back to what you were,”O’Neal said. “I put things in verse and tune to helpme remember things.” And he counts on songs like“Life is a song worth singing” by Johnny Mathis tokeep him motivated. O’Neal is now a boardmember of the Brain Injury Association of Virginiaand practiced as a paralegal after his car accident.

The will and ability to give back seems to be apart of the cathartic way to heal for O’Neal, Popkinand both Molly Raymond of Fairfax Station andDanielle Houston Karst of Burke, who also spoke

at the book launch.“[The car] accident took everything,” said

Raymond, formerly a registered nurse for 26 yearswho lost her math and speech abilities for more

than two years. “It is a hugething for me to help oth-ers.” She has turnedadversity around to helpinjured veterans with heradaptive sports program,No Boundaries: ChangingDisabilities into Abilities ofOur Heroes. She announcedat the book launch that she

had two daughters with her husband and 70 sonsfrom her eight-year program.

Karst, a TBI survivor since 1997 (she was 16 atthe time), brings insight to the TBI experience withher blog TBItriumphs.com.

For those who may need help: “Just call,” saidKaren Luffred, chief operating officer of BrainInjury Services, a local nonprofit committed toempowering TBI survivors on their journey ofrecovery. “Don’t be alone. We can put you in thecommunity,” she said.

“Surviving Brain Injury: Stories of Strength andInspiration” by Amy Sellmer. Published and copy-right 2016 by Amy Zellmer. 357 pages.

Combating that holiday periodwhich the National Highway Traf-fic Safety Administration says is a“dangerous time to be on the roaddue to a high number of drunkdrivers behind the wheel,” a localnonprofit organization will offerfree cab rides to would-be drunkdrivers throughout the Washing-ton-metropolitan area during thewinter holidays.

Washington Regional AlcoholProgram (WRAP), operates the an-nual Holiday SoberRide programbetween 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. eachevening between Friday, Dec. 16,2016 and Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 asa way to keep local roads safe fromimpaired drivers during this tradi-tionally high-risk, holiday period.

During the evening hours, be-tween Dec. 16 and Jan. 1, Wash-ington-metropolitan area residentscelebrating with alcohol may callthe toll-free SoberRide phone num-

ber 1–800–200–TAXI and be af-forded a no-cost (up to $30 fare),safe way home.

“Last December, nearly 1,500(1,456) Greater Washington resi-dents did the right thing andavailed themselves of this lifesav-ing service rather than possiblydriving home impaired,” said KurtGregory Erickson, WRAP’s presi-dent. “For SoberRide’s hours ofoperation during just last NewYear’s Eve, alone, such ridership(580) translated into the removalof a would-be drunk driver fromour shared roadways every 49-sec-onds.”

Since 1993, WRAP’s SoberRideprogram has provided 65,385 freecab rides home to would-be drunkdrivers in the Greater Washingtonarea.

More information about WRAP’sSoberRide initiative can be foundat www.soberride.com.

Christmas arrived early for more than 250 children fromlocal Head Start programs as they picked out toys andvisited with Santa during the annual Firefighters and

Friends to the Rescue toy drive distribution day Dec. 11 at PennDaw Fire Station 11.

“We distributed over 3,000 toys to 80 schools, shelters andnonprofits in Fairfax County,” said Capt. Willie Bailey, who foundedthe toy drive 17 years ago. “Prior to the distribution to schoolrepresentatives, we escorted and gave toys to local preschool kids.”

Bailey said that 550 new coats were also given out to childrenin need. “In addition to the toys and coats, we gave out over 100new bikes and 400 books,” he noted.

Volunteers included members of the Forestdale ElementarySchool Student Council, firefighter Dave Saunders and his sonHunter as Santa and his elf and Caring Angels Therapy Dogs andtheir handlers.

—Jeanne Theismann

Firefighters and Friends collectstoys for area children.

To the Rescue

Members of the Forestdale Elementary School stu-dent council gather for a photo with Capt. Will Bailey(back row) prior to the Firefighters and Friends toydistribution Dec. 11 at Fire Station 11. In addition tomore than 3,000 toys, the students helped hand outnew coats and books to preschoolers as part of theannual holiday drive.

Pho

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by Jean

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Free Holiday Cab Rides HelpPrevent Drunk Driving

New book shares storiesof strength and inspiration.

Surviving Brain Injury

Photo by Rikki George/Gazette Packet

From left: Danielle Houston Karst (kneel-ing), Molly Raymond, Toni Popkin, Bud(Popkin’s service dog) and Derek O’Neal atthe November launch of “Surviving BrainInjury” hosted by Brain Injury Services.

“Your identity flips.”— Toni Popkin, “Surviving Brain

Injury” contributing writer

StatisticsTBIs (traumatic brain injury) occurring in

Virginia annually is 28,000.Disabled as a result of brain injury in:❖ City of Alexandria: 3,191❖ Arlington County: 4,694❖ Fairfax County: 22,587Source: Brain Injury Association of Virginia


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LEGAL NOTICEAccording to the Lease by and between Karen Andrews (of unit 3123) and TKG-StorageMart and its related parties, as-signs and affiliates in order to perfect the Lien on the goods contained in their storage unit, the manager has cut the lock on their unit and upon cursory inspection the unit was found to contain: exercise bike, furniture, boxes, ect. Items will be sold or otherwise disposed of on Friday December 16, 2016 @ 12:00pm at 11325 Lee Hwy Fairfax VA 22030 to satisfy own-er's lien in accordance with state statutes.

According to the Lease by and between Lina Chovil (of unit 4075) and TKG-StorageMart and its related parties, assigns and affiliates in order to perfect the Lien on the goods con-tained in their storage unit, the manager has cut the lock on their unit and upon cursory inspection the unit was found to contain: bags, suitcases, boxes, clothes, sewing machine, ect. Items will be sold or otherwise disposed of on Friday Decem-ber 16, 2016 @ 12:00pm at 11325 Lee Hwy Fairfax VA 22030 to satisfy owner's lien in accordance with state statutes.


LEGAL NOTICEInova Medical Group OB/Gyn Merrifield welcomes

Sanda DiPaolo, M.D.

To make an appointment orTo request medical records, please contact:

703-356-7868

3025 Hamaker Court, Suite 360Fairfax, VA 22031

To move your records to a providerOutside our network, customary fees apply.






JENNIFER SMITH ❖ Serving the Area Since 1995

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ABC LICENSERose Florist Inc., trading as

Rose Florist, 11211 Lee Hwy Ste E, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The above establishment is applying to the

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer Off

Premises license to sell or

manufacture alcoholic beverages.Zobair Farzana,

ownerNOTE: Objections to the

issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later

than 30 days from the publish-ing date of the first of two

required legal notices. Objections should be

registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or

800-552-3200.

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Jr. Kindergarten Team TeacherKiddie Country Developmental Learning Center,

Burke, [email protected]

Fax: 703-644-0073 Phone: 703-644-0066

Kiddie Country is accepting applications for aco-teaching position in one of our Jr. Kindergartenprograms. 6-8 hours per day, M-F. Applicant musthave a degree in Early Childhood or ElementaryEducation. Team teachers will work together toappropriately conduct aplanned semi-structuredprogram supported by a curriculum specialist. Pleaseapply if you are caring, motivated and committed tohigh quality education for preschool learners.Applicants are invited to call Kiddie Country directly

for further information or an appointment. EOE

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GUTTER CLEANINGGutters and Downspouts Cleaned

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PINNACLE SERVICESlic/ins 703-802-0483 free est.email [email protected]: lawnsandgutters.comFriendly Service with a Friendly Price!

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HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

A&S Landscaping

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BATHROOM REMODELING

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TILE/MARBLE TILE/MARBLE

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Summer Cleanup...Tree removal, topping & pruning,shrubbery trimming, mulching,leaf removal, planting, hauling,gutter cleaning, retaining walls,

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TREE SERVICE TREE SERVICE

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Recessed LightingCeiling FansPhone/CATVComputer Network CablingService UpgradesHot Tubs, etc…

Office 703-335-0654Mobile 703-499-0522

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Do what you can, with

what you have,where you are.

-TheodoreRoosevelt

SUNDAY/DEC. 255th Annual Christmas Day Giving Back

Event 1 - 5 p.m. Kilroys Ravensworth ShoppingCenter 5236 Port Royal Road, Springfield.Volunteers needed join us in saying thank you toour veterans and deployed service members fortheir service and sacrifices. We will be packingcare packages and letters to our veterans.www.americasadoptasoldier.org

TUESDAY JAN. 24ESL Classes Begin on January 24 in Fairfax

and CliftonLord of Life Lutheran Church will offer beginning,

intermediate and advanced ESL classes at theirFairfax and Clifton locations. The course willtake place between January 24 and April 6,2017 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Lord of Life LutheranChurch located in Fairfax at 5114 TwinbrookRoad and in Clifton at 13421 Twin Lakes Drive.The registration deadline is Thursday, January19, 2017. There is a registration fee of $15 andthe text book costs $25. For more information,please visit: www.lordoflifeva.org or call (703)323-9500.

ONGOINGReminder Crime Prevention – Please contact

the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131 (non-emergency) to report ANYsuspicious activity, no matter how small orinsignificant it may seem at the time. It is betterif police reports can be called in while thesuspicious activity is in progress to the extentpossible.

Volunteers Needed as Drivers & OfficeWorkers Drivers are needed for trips Monday -Friday to medical appointments and CompanionShopping within the Fairfax/Burke area.Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke serves those50+ and who no longer drive. Office Workersare needed to answer phones in the SCFB office(Monday - Friday) of individuals requesting

rides and match an available driver for eachrequest. If you can volunteer your time, pleasecontact the SCFB office at 703-323-4788.

Four Free Private Well Owner Webinars tobe Held in October one-hour webinars forhousehold water well owners will be held inOctober on the subjects of addressing methane,iron and manganese, fluoride, and watertreatment system maintenance by the NationalGround Water Association (NGWA). To registervisit: http://www.wellowner.org/well-owner-webinars/

Basic Disaster Response Skills FreeTraining Monday Nov. 7 at the Fairfax CountyFire and Rescue Academy. There are twosessions each week on Mondays andWednesdays that run until December 7. Theclass is 28 hours in length, plus the finalpractical exercise. CERT training is free ofcharge and basic gear is provided. The minimumrequirements to participate in CERT training atany level is that residents be 16 years of age orolder, and either be a Fairfax County resident,or work in the county. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/cert/cert.htm

Burke Lake Seniors Golf League seeksmembers. Interested golfers are invited to jointhe Burke Lake Seniors Golf League. Must be 55and older, enjoy playing golf, meeting newpeople and having an all–-around good time.Reserved tee times on Tuesday and Thursdaymornings at the Par 3 Burke Lake Golf Courseon Ox Road. Annual dues for the season – April1 through October 31 – are $20 plus green fees.For more information, call Charlie Ryan 703-690-4227.

The Northern Virginia Long Term CareOmbudsman Program needs volunteeradvocates for residents in nursing homes andassisted living facilities. Contact Lisa Callahan at703-324-5861, TTY 711 or [email protected]. Also visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ltcombudsman/

Send notes to the Connection at connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/ or call 703-778-9416.The deadline for submissions is the Friday prior to publication. Dated announcements should besubmitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Bulletin Board

Send notes to the Connection at [email protected] or call 703-778-9416.Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should besubmitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Katherine Hough, Fairfax Station, has beenawarded the Boeing Scholarship for outstandingacademic achievement in the Volgenau School ofEngineering at George Mason University.

Vocal musicians from 12 Fairfax Countypublic schools have been named to the VirginiaHonors Choir for 2016. This select choir is openonly to the top 125 singers from around the Com-monwealth of Virginia, and is the highest honor achoir student can attain during his or her highschool career. Thirty-one Fairfax County PublicSchools (FCPS) students were selected for thechoir, and five students were named as alternates.The choir will perform at the Virginia Music Edu-cators Association (VMEA) convention to be heldat the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Nov.17-19. FCPS students named to the 2016 VirginiaHonors Choir include the following students fromour area schools: Woodson High School:Megan Humes, Caroline Grass, Jacob Lamb, LucasValdes, and Marc Manaloto and Hayfield Sec-ondary School: Jessica Pressley.

Jonathan Whittington, Kathryn Herring,Emma Zettlemoyer, of Springfield; BridgetRay and Kirsten Chase, of Burke; received$2,000 scholarships from the Scholarship for Mili-tary Children Program in July 2016.

Jane Gibbins-Harding, of Springfield, wasnamed to the dean’s list at Bethany College forspring 2016.

U.S. Air Force Airman Brian A. Zamfinograduated from basic military training at Joint BaseSan Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.Zamfino is the son of Joanne and Joseph Zamfinoof Springfield. He is a 2015 graduate of WestSpringfield High School.

Thomas Miskimins, of Fairfax, graduatedwith a master of arts, in Spring 2016 from theUniversity of New Haven.

Jordan Ecker, of Fairfax, is on the spring 2016dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cit-ies.

Caroline Dickson, of Fairfax, is on the spring2016 dean’s list at the University of Maine-Orono.

Allison Righter Moore, and Sarah Ann HughesCushing-Spiller, of Springfield, is on the dean’s listat Hollins University, for the 2016 spring semester.

James Butler, a Lake Braddock SecondarySchool graduate, was inducted into the NavalAcademy Class of 2020 on June 30, 2016.

Kyle Austin Walsh, of Fairfax, and AbigailLynn Lackey, of Springfield, were named to thehonors list for the 2016 spring 2016 semester atAverett University in Danville.

Katherine Marie Hough, of Fairfax Station,is on the dean’s list at George Mason University forspring 2016.

Anna Kormis, of Springfield, graduated fromEmory and Henry College in spring 2016.

Kyle Austin Walsh, of Fairfax, graduated fromAverett University in June 2016. was among the261 students to receive diplomas during AverettUniversity’s May 7 Commencement,

Megan R. Seymour, Megan F. Cummins,Thomas S. Cohen, of Fairfax, Joshua D.Harlowe, Samantha E. Kinde, Melissa A.Schwartz, of Springfield; Sean C. Baird, ofFairfax Station; graduated from Boston Universityin spring 2016.

Helene J. Decosse, Alexis J. Fahrney, Jes-sica M. Ochoa, of Fairfax, are on the dean’s listat Boston University for spring 2016.

Seth Lehman, Thet San, of Fairfax, graduatedfrom Furman University in spring 2016.

Luke Hartman, Natalie Heinitz, of Spring-field, graduated from Manhattan College in spring2016.

Maria Larrazabal Carrillo, of Fairfax is onthe dean’s list for May 2016 at Iowa State.

Kayse McGough of Fairfax is on the dean’s listfor May 2016 at St. Mary’s College.

Jared Rondeau of Clifton, graduated May2016 Triple Major in Physics, Mathematics, andChemistry from Emory and Henry College.

School Notes


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Documents

Burke - Ellington CMSconnection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/documents/... · 2016-12-14 · supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock). Ginwright gave brief updates on the sta-tus