Inside Winter Fun & Entertainment Fairfax Stationconnectionarchives.com/PDF/2017/012517/Lorton.pdf · 2019-12-18 · woman diagnosed with schizophrenia named Natasha McKenna died

Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection ❖ January 26 - February 1, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Is Wider Better?News, Page 11

Mental Illness TakesCenter Stage in RichmondNews, Page 2

(Left) Scott Carver of Oakton,Director of DC Region andNorthern Virginia for theLiberty Crest at Laurel Hillgeneral contractor SouthwayBuilders, Inc., explains how a“finger” building of formerjail cells is being convertedinto apartments.

Community

Outlook 2017

Community

Outlook 2017Page 3

Winter Fun & EntertainmentWinter Fun & Entertainment

NeighborhoodDevelopment Update

Outlook, Page 3

NeighborhoodDevelopment Update

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2 ❖ Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection ❖ January 26 - February 1, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

See Assembly, Page 4

News

By Michael Lee Pope

The Connection

The death of a woman whostruggled with mental illness atthe Fairfax County jail isamong the many recent contro-

versies in Virginia correctional facilities, areform effort that spans from changing howdeaths behind bars are investigated to howlaw-enforcement officers interact with sus-pects who suffer from mental illness.

“When you talk to pilots about planescrashing, they don’t say it’s any one thingthat happens. It’s a multitude of things,”said Del. Patrick Hope (D-47). “And eachpiece of legislation that we have will havesome sort of stop gap to make sure that itdoesn’t happen again.”

Back in 2015, an African-Americanwoman diagnosed with schizophrenianamed Natasha McKenna died after beinghit four times at the Fairfax jail with a Taserstun gun while she was restrained. Themedical examiner eventually ruled that shedied from “excited delirium,” although crit-ics say that’s a designation created to pro-tect law-enforcement officials.

More recently, an inmate at the HamptonRoads Regional Jail named Jamycheal

Mitchell, who also had mental illness, diedof starvation. His family was in Richmondlast week lobbying lawmakers to take ac-tion now.

“We plead with legislators to ensure thatchanges are made in the law to better pro-

tect young men like Jamycheal who sufferfrom mental illness,” said Roxanne Adams,his aunt, during a press conference in Rich-mond last week. “We ask that real changesbe implemented at Virginia jails to preventanother mentally ill young man like

Jamycheal Mitchell from dying.”

MENTAL-HEALTH REFORM is at the topof the agenda of lawmakers on both sidesof the aisle yet again, prompted by the mostrecent cycle of tragedy and reform. But it’san old story, one that dates back to thedeinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospi-tals decades ago. The last major round ofreforms came after state Sen. Creigh Deeds(D-25) was attacked by his son, whostruggled with mental illness and died fromsuicide immediately after the attack on hisfather. Deeds sought help for his son on theday of the attack but was turned away.

Since that time, Deeds has been engagedin an ongoing effort to reform mental healthservices, including reshaping the commu-nity service boards that provide those ser-vices in the Commonwealth.

“Because the changes are significant andcostly, we have adopted a staged approachto implementation,” said Deeds in a writ-ten statement. “The first step is to requiresame day access to service.”

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe put men-tal-health reform at the top of his agendathis year, mentioning it first in his list ofpriorities for the year. The governor’s bud

Mental Illness Takes Center Stage in RichmondDeath of Fairfax County inmate among recent controversies prompting action.

Deputies restrain Natasha McKenna at the Fairfax County Jail, where shewas hit with a Taser stun gun four times while restrained. Her death ledto questions about how deaths behind bars are investigated and howlaw-enforcement officers interact with people who suffer from mentalillness.

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Lorton/Fairfax Station/Clifton Connection Editor

Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Tim Peterson

The Connection keeps a runninglist of land use projects beingplanned, under constructionand nearing completion in the

community. The list is updated quarterly.

Burke Lake Golf Course — 7315 Ox RoadA new clubhouse and expanded driving

range and parking lot highlight upgradesto the Burke Lake Golf Course in FairfaxStation that’s more than 40 years old. Theclubhouse will be more than doubled in sizeto 4,000 square feet. Construction is under-way, including work to make the drivingrange two stories. The driving range is ex-pected to re-open by this summer, with theclubhouse following by October. The club-house remains open during construction.

Ox Road Estates — Adare Drive and OxRoad An infill project of ten single familyhomes is under construction.

Corbet Manor — Around 7717 GambrillRoad

Seven single-family homes by ChristopherCompanies are going into 4.5 acres of whatwere previously unconsolidated parcels ofland. Construction began in July 2016. Themodel home is set to be completed by Feb-ruary.

Laurel Hill Adaptive Reuse Area — Lib-erty Crest at Laurel Hill 8400 Lorton Road

Phase I of transforming the 80-acreformer reformatory property — scheduledto be completed in Spring 2017 — includessetting up 165 apartments in former prisoncells and common spaces, building out 107homes and modernizing the infrastructure.Phase II will add more apartments, condosand 110,000 square-feet of retail space.

Springfield Town Center 6500 SpringfieldMall

New stores and restaurants are continu-

ing to open in the 1.35 million square-footrevitalized shopping center. Later stages ofredevelopment planning for the area in-clude residential, office and hotel space —the timing of which is all market-dictated.

Vulcan Materials Graham Quarry —10000 Ox Road

Fairfax Water is planning to reconfigurethe quarry as a reservoir in two phases:Phase I will establish storage of around 1.8billion gallons 2035, while Phase II shouldadd another 15 billion gallons of storagecapacity by 2085.

Woodglen Lake Dredging — Southeast ofSideburn Run and Zion Drive

The project began with fish relocation toLake Accotink in November 2014 and is nowcomplete. The contractor added vegetativeplugs to the bottom of the lake that willsupport a new fish population. Over thesummer 2016, the Department of Game andInland Fisheries began restocking the lakewith fish, the first in a three-year cycle. This

year restocking will be donewith different species. Workwill continue for two moreyears.

Dominion Power Substation— Off Ox Road, near RoselandDrive

Dominion is planning tobuild a new security fencearound the existing power sub-station. The action has beenapproved by the land use com-mittee but hasn’t yet come be-fore the Fairfax County Plan-ning Commission or Board ofSupervisors.

Sources: Supervisor John Cook(R-Braddock) and land use aide,Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and land use aide,Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee) andland use aide.

Neighborhood Development Update

Ongoing AreaDevelopments1 Burke Lake Golf Course —

7315 Ox Road

2 Ox Road Estates — AdareDrive and Ox Road

3 Corbet Manor — Around7717 Gambrill Road

4 Laurel Hill Adaptive ReuseArea — Liberty Crest at LaurelHill 8400 Lorton Road

5 Springfield Town Center —6500 Springfield Mall

6 Vulcan Materials GrahamQuarry — 10000 Ox Road

7 Woodglen Lake Dredging —Southeast of Sideburn Runand Zion Drive

Community Outlook 2017

Image courtesy of Fairfax CountyA site plan shows the footprint of the new Burke Lake golf course club-house and driving range. Image courtesy of Fairfax County

The current driving range will be expanded to two levels.

Photo by Tim Peterson/The Connection(Left) Scott Carver of Oakton, Director of DCRegion and Northern Virginia for the Liberty Crestat Laurel Hill general contractor Southway Build-ers, Inc., explains how a “finger” building offormer jail cells is being converted into apart-ments.


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News

Assembly AddressesMental HealthFrom Page 2

get includes new funding to al-low community services boardsacross the commonwealth to offersame-day service for people in themidst of a behavioral-health cri-sis. McAuliffe says that will allowthem to serve Virginians ratherthan turning them away, as hap-pened in the Deeds case.

“One result of our challengedmental health system is that toomany individuals who suffer frombehavioral health disorders windup in jail, where there are notenough resources to properly carefor them,” said McAuliffe. “Tosolve that problem, I have pro-posed legislation and funding toexpand mental health screeningsin local and regional jails.”

THE INTERSECTION of law-en-forcement officials and peoplewho suffer from mental illness isa major theme of legislation thisyear. One of the changes that’s al-ready receiving agreement fromboth sides of the aisle examineshow these deaths are investigated.A Republican senator from Chesa-peake is pushing for the state De-partment of Corrections to inves-tigate all deaths behind bars,which he says will provide someconsistency to a haphazard systemthat varies greatly from urban ar-eas to rural parts of the common-wealth.

“It’s not trying to point fingers,”said Sen. John Cosgrove (R-14).“It’s just trying to find out whatmay have gone wrong. Was therenegligence on anybody’s part?”

Cosgrove’s bill, which has bipar-tisan support, would require theVirginia Department of Correc-tions to investigate all deaths,write a written report and submitit to the General Assembly and thegovernor. That would apply for alldeaths behind bars, which couldclear up some of the confusion andambiguity caused by investiga-tions that happen behind closeddoors and without accountability.

The bill has received no oppositionfrom sheriffs or police chiefs so far.

“There appeared to be an ab-sence of responsibility and ac-countability for those reviews andinvestigations” said Brian Moran,secretary of Homeland Securityand Public Safety. “So the gover-nor has led with the Board of Cor-rections. They have expertise cur-rently. They have some relation-ship with jails.”

ONE OF THE BILLS would rep-licate the concept of FairfaxCounty’s Diversion First programat the state level, giving law-en-forcement officials more discretionto help a suspect find help ratherthan locking them up behind bars.The bill, introduced by Hope,would give officers the ability totransport suspects to a crisis-sta-bilization unit in misdemeanorcases if the officer believes the sus-pect suffers from mental illness.That would include misdemeanorcases when victims want to presscharges.

“This is a bipartisan effort, andI can’t stress that point enough,”said Hope. “We’ve had a numberof deaths over the last year and ahalf that we know about, and whoknows if there are others in thepast. This is too much, and manyof it is preventable.”

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31) hasintroduced a bill that would re-quire mental health training for allcorrectional officers at Virginiajails. The idea is that they wouldbe able to recognize the signs ofmental illness — signs likeNatasha McKenna biting Alexan-dria officers who responded to acall for service or JamychealMitchell slowly starving behindbars after being incarcerated forstealing $5 worth of snacks.

“Now is the opportunity for usto make our voices heard,” saidFavola. “It’s sometimes so unfor-tunate we have to suffer a horrifictragedy to move the policy agendaforward.”

Send notes to the Connection [email protected] call 703-778-9416. Deadline isFriday. Dated announcements shouldbe submitted at least two weeks priorto the event.

Fairfax Baptist Temple, at thecorner of Fairfax County Parkwayand Burke Lake Roads, holds a biblestudy fellowship at 9 a.m.

Sundays followed by a 10 a.m.worship service. Nursery care andchildren’s church also provided. 6401

Missionary Lane, Fairfax Station,703-323-8100 orwww.fbtministries.org.

Lord of Life Lutheran offersservices at two locations, in Fairfaxat 5114 Twinbrook Road and inClifton at 13421 Twin Lakes Drive.Services in Fairfax are held on Sat-urdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at8:30 and 10 a.m. Services in Cliftonare held on Sundays at 8:15 and10:30 a.m. 703-323-9500 orwww.Lordoflifeva.org.

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Send notes to the Connection [email protected] or call703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Datedannouncements should be submitted atleast two weeks prior to the event.

Tara Ackerman, graduate of LakeBraddock Secondary School and residentof Burke earned semester honors fromKansas State University in the fall semes-ter of 2016. Students earning a gradepoint average of 3.75 or above on at least12 credit hours receive semester honorsalong with commendations from theirdeans.

Meredith Elaine Shock, Burke, VAresident, has been named to the dean’s listat James Madison University for the fall2016 semester. Students who earn dean’slist honors must carry at least 12 gradedcredit hours and earn a GPA of between3.5 and 3.899. Shock is scheduled tograduate in 2017 and is majoring in writ-ing, rhetoric & technical communication.

Nabila A. Guled is a senior majoringin organizational leadership. Nabila hasbeen named to the Fort Hays State Uni-versity Dean’s Honor Roll for the fall 2016semester.

Ms Meghan Chandler Presing ofFairfax earned a MSW - Master of SocialWork at the University of Wisconsin-Mil-waukee. UWM is the second largestuniversity in the State of Wisconsin, withapproximately 26,000 undergraduate andgraduate students.

James Hua Lau a senior atHampden-Sydney College, has been rec-ognized as an outstanding campus leaderin the 2016 edition of Who’s Who AmongStudents in American Universities and Col-leges. James is the son of Mr. and Mrs.Michael N. Lau of Springfield, VA.

Fourty-three students from Hampden-Sydney College were selected for thisyear’s edition. Students are nominated byseniors, administrators, faculty, andcoaches based on their academic achieve-ment, service to the community,leadership in extracurricular activities,and potential for continued success. Theyjoin a select group of students from morethan 2000 institutions of higher learningin all fifty states, the District of Columbia,and several foreign nations.

A private college for men, Hampden-Sydney is ranked nationally by U.S. News& World Report. The College is known forits liberal arts curriculum, the Honor Codewhich stresses individual and collectiveresponsibility, and a focus on the educa-tion of young men.

Three Fairfax County residents havebeen recognized for academic excellenceduring the fall 2016 semester at NewRiver Community College.

Justin Luu of Fairfax made thePresident’s List

Elisa Stephano of Burke made thePresident’s List

Cristian Rice of McLean made theDean’s List

To be placed on the President’s List, astudent must have taken 12 college-levelsemester hours or more, attained a gradepoint average of 3.5 for any one semester,and earned a minimum of 20 semesterhours at New River Community College.A Dean’s List student is one who has taken12 college-level semester hours of creditor more and attained a grade point aver-age of 3.2 for any one semester. NewRiver Community College is located inDublin, Virginia and is one of theCommonwealth’s 23 community colleges.

Honor Students from Fairfax at BaylorUniversity in Waco, Texas

Ho Yeon Kim, College of Arts andSciences

Vincent Lorenzo Rimanelli, Col-lege of Arts and Sciences

To be named to the Dean’s List, a stu-dent must be an undergraduate with aminimum grade-point average of 3.7,while enrolled in a minimum of 12 semes-ter hours.

School Notes


Opinion

The hiring freeze announced earlierthis week, will not help the localeconomy which has struggled inrecent years due to the sequester,

automatic cuts and limits to federal spending.The federal government is a critical part of thelocal economy and had helped recession-proofthe Northern Virginia area, but more recentlyit has been a negative.

Kudos to U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10)for speaking out against a foolish freeze onfederal hiring. As the lone Republican repre-senting Northern Virginia in Congress, heropposition is important.

“The federal budget cannot be balanced onthe backs of our federal workforce. I don’t sup-port this type of across-the-board freeze andthink it is better to look at priorities and areaswhere appropriate cuts can be made and wherewe can consolidate efforts or identify unnec-essary costs that can be eliminated,” Comstockwrote. “As the General Accounting Office haspreviously reported, past hiring freezes in bothRepublican and Democrat administrations havecost the federal government money in the long-run because of staffing problems, or problemsin recruiting or disruption of key governmentoperations and required services to the Ameri-can people. We will be monitoring and high-lighting the results of this freeze and how it isimpacting the mission of various agencies.”

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) identifiesthe freeze as one of many “anti-federalworkforce policies” in the works.

“An across-the-board federal hiring freeze isa mindless way to manage. ... It fails to takeinto account the need to actually beef up cer-tain capabilities in the federal government, likecybersecurity,” Connolly said. “This ExecutiveOrder, coupled with many of other anti-fed-eral workforce policies being proposed in Con-gress, will have a depressing effect on our abil-ity to recruit and retain the next generation offederal workers.”

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) calls it

scapegoating. “The number of federal work-ers is at its lowest level since the 1960s, andover 30 percent will be eligible to retire in thenext year,” Beyer said. “A report by the Gen-eral Accounting Office (GAO) on previous fed-eral hiring freezes stated such freezes are notan effective strategy for shrinking the size ofthe workforce, and only serve to disrupt agencyoperations and in the long-term increase thecost of government operations.”

Federal hiring freezewill have rippling effect.

Not Helping the Local Economy

Bills to Watch in General AssemblyIn no particular order, more to come next

week:❖ SB 1005 Community services boards and

behavioral health authorities; services to beprovided, in particular, access to same-dayaccess to mental health screening services.

❖ SB 923 raises felony larceny threshold to$500 ($1,000 would have been better).

❖ SB 1379 that discourages universitiesfrom stockpiling cash, and instead lowerstuition for Virginia students and families.

❖ SB 931 removes the exemption for“working papers and correspondence” foruniversity presidents.

❖ SB 1376, requires a 30-day notice fromthe Board of Visitors before tuition can beraised.

❖ SB 1102, records of closed investiga-tions of unattended deaths were not exemptfrom the state Freedom of Information Act.

❖ SB 1442, requires the Department ofCriminal Justice Services to identify anevidence-based, standardized instrument formental health screening for anyone incarcer-ated in local, regional, and communitycorrectional facilities.

❖ Various proposals for nonpartisanredistricting.

“Past hiring freezes in both Republican and Democratadministrations have cost the federal government moneyin the long-run because of staffing problems, or problemsin recruiting or disruption of key government operationsand required services to the American people.”

— U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA10)

Protesting VoteSuppressionTo the Editor:

I am fed up with gerrymander-ing and other tactics politiciansuse to stack the votes in their fa-vor! Gerrymandering distorts theelectoral process, undermines de-mocracy, and renders legislativeelections a

meaningless exercise. I am a tax-paying citizen of Virginia, but myone vote does not count as onevote. Here in Virginia, state legis-lators redraw district lines, whichmeans that the party in power ofthe State House and Senate candraw the lines to serve their owninterests, not those of our commu-nities. Since Virginia has been Re-publican controlled, that meansthat my Democratic vote has lessvalue in my district than a Repub-lican vote does in another district.

According to Governing.com,Virginia is ranked as one of themost gerrymandered states in thecountry (fifth worst!), both on thecongressional and state levels

based on the lack of compactnessand contiguity of its districts.Throughout the State, countiesand cities are broken in half or intomultiple pieces to create heavilypartisan districts. Most of the“elections” in Virginia thereforeresult in no change in party be-cause of these gerrymandered dis-tricts!

With Republicans in control ofthe Virginia House and Senate, thegerrymandering, not only sup-presses Democrat votes, but hashad a detrimental impact on per-sons of color causing distinct ech-oes of Jim Crow laws. Are we go-ing to allow discriminatory disen-franchisement to proceed un-checked in our State? I urge allVirginians and Virginian Represen-tatives to support changes to theVirginia constitution and enact-ment of laws that wouldstrengthen voting rights, make vot-ing easier and fairer, and eliminateunfair redistricting that politiciansuse to keep themselves in power.

Nancy BlethenSpringfield

Letters to the Editor

Area Residents Join March onWashingtonOne of thethousands ofsigns displayedat theSaturday’sMarch onWashington,D.C. TheWomen’s Marchon Washingtonturned out tobe one of thelargest demon-strations in thecity’s history,according tocity officials,drawing morethan 500,000participants.The march wasscheduled tofollow on the heels of Friday’s Inauguration of the45th president, Donald Trump.

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News

Photo contributed

Hayfield Secondary School students traveled to Rich-mond to talk with (center) Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30)about the VA STAR (Virginia Student Training andRefurbishment) program.

Photo contributed

Del. Tim Hugo (R-40) welcomed members of GirlScouts of America Troop 797 to Richmond and intro-duced them on the floor of the House of Delegates.

Residents Go to RichmondWith the Virginia General Assembly underway, many individu-

als and groups are traveling to the capital of the Commonwealthto lobby lawmakers.

Photo contributed

Bonnie Brae residents Anna Kim, Jonah Kim, SamuelKim, Gabriel Kim, Jacob Snawder and Bela Kekesi aremembers of the 4-H Club and a group called Sala-mander Savers. They traveled to Richmond to meetwith (center) Del. David Bulova (D-37).


to the effect of, “No, it’s never OK, and italways hurts.”

“We have suicide in the show, we didn’ttake that out,” DeMarco said. “We couldn’tleave abuse in there. We wanted to get thatmessage across. We’re working with youngmen and young women. To choose this onemessage… shows integrity.”

SENIOR Madison Hite, playing a relativeof Julie’s named Nettie Fowler, said thechange was discussed at the very first castmeeting late in the fall.

“No one had an objection to it,” she said.Then it was on to the challenge of work-

ing up nearly operatic pieces of music thatcan last from seven to ten minutes at a time.

“It requires more work to sing,” seniorTim Ellis admitted. “It’s harder on the voice

to sing these longerscenes.”

Tolbert said the diffi-culty is not only one ofendurance, but also com-plexity, with some scor-ing calling for eight partsto be performed at once.

“And they can holdthat,” Tolbert said. “Thequality of the musiciansputting this together isjust impressive.”

Hite said that while themusic that includes classic songs “If I LovedYou,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” and“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a bear to workup, “it’s absolutely beautiful.

“There’s not one song in the show whereyou think, ‘This isn’t that good,’” she added.

DeMarco acknowledged “Carousel” wasa bit less familiar to students than the re-cent production of Disney’s “Beauty andthe Beast.” However, she said, “it’s excit-ing to see young people do the classics,”she said, “and bring it to life like it’s theirfavorite show.”

Julie Jordan, a millworker. Their romanceends up costing both of them their jobs.After learning Julie is pregnant with hischild, Billy is tempted to join a robbery toprovide for the coming family.

Along the way, Billy is given a chance tomake amends for his crime and his temper,which has caused him to be physically abu-sive with Julie.

“The roles are moremature than most of thestudents are used to,they’re dealing with ma-ture themes,” said KelseyTolbert of Burke, whoserves as musical direc-tor for the production.Tolbert is in her first yearteaching middle schoolchoir at Lake Braddock.The cast includes eighthgrade students throughhigh school seniors.

“It’s a thoughtful show,” director DeMarcosaid. “We have Heaven... who today can saythey’re doing something with Heaven... anda second chance to do something right.”

In one scene, the Billy becomes frustratedonce more and slaps a hand, though thistime it’s his daughter’s. She tells her motherJulie, and asks if it’s possible for the actionto feel like a kiss. Hammerstein wrote Julietelling her daughter yes, it is possible, andeffectively rationalizing the violence.

In this staging, however, DeMarco saidthey decided to have Julie respond instead

From left, Cecilia Spain, Kaitlyn Clark, Savannah Raeder, KailynneLandry and Lauren Sally rehearse a carnival scene in Lake Braddock’s“Carousel” production.

Where and When“Carousel” opens Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the

Little Theatre at Lake Braddock SecondarySchool, located at 9200 Burke Lake Road inBurke. Additional performances are scheduledfor Friday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28 at 2p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m.Tickets are $12. For more information, visitwww.brownpapertickets.com/event/2766869.

“It’s exciting to seeyoung people do theclassics, and bringit to life like it’stheir favorite show.”

—Musical Theatre DirectorMary DeMarco of Clifton

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

After having done family-friendlyand mod-ern shows in recentyears, Lake Braddock SecondarySchool musical theatre director

Mary DeMarco of Clifton decided “it wastime to do a classic.”

This month, a cast DeMarco said is themost vocally talented she’s had since the2012 production of “Les Misérables,” bringsto life Rodgers and Hammerstein’s award-winning and musically demanding “Carou-sel.”

“We have to be educational about it,”DeMarco said, “we don’t want them all tobe the same era.”

Richard Rodgers (music) and OscarHammerstein II (book and lyrics) adaptedtheir show from a 1909 play by FerencMolnár called “Liliom,” set in Budapest.They kept the plot largely the same, butrelocated its events to the Maine coastlinein America.

The pair’s second musical, after the ac-claimed “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel” openedon Broadway in 1945 and saw numerousrevivals over the decades in New York andLondon. It won the 1994 Tony Award forBest Revival of a Musical after that year’sBroadway iteration.

THE STORY follows Billy Bigelow, effec-tively a carousel ride salesman known as a“barker,” who strikes up a relationship with

Musical Theatre department revives aRodgers & Hammerstein classic.

‘Carousel’ Coming to Lake Braddock

Photos by Tim Peterson/The Connection

The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel” opens Jan. 26at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

Lake Braddock senior Josh Lee (center) plays Billy Bigelow, a lead role ascarousel barker in the school’s musical theatre production of “Carousel.”

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Send notes to the Connection atconnectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/or call 703-778-9416. The deadline isthe Friday prior to the next paper’s pub-lication at noon. Dated announcementsshould be submitted at least two weeksprior to the event.

THURSDAY/JAN. 26Lake Braddock Secondary

School’s production ofCarousel 7:30 p.m. 9200 BurkeLake Rd, Burke. This classic musicalby Rodgers and Hammerstein wasonce named “the musical of thecentury” by Time magazine. Openingnight is January 26 and the cast willhave a dress rehearsal on Jan. 21st ifyou would like to get some photos ofstudents in costumes. Cost:Ticketsstart at $12 and are available fromwww.brownpapertickets.com.

FRIDAY/JAN. 27Lake Braddock Secondary

School’s production ofCarousel 7:30 p.m. 9200 BurkeLake Rd, Burke.

SATURDAY/JAN. 28Lake Braddock Secondary

School’s production ofCarousel shows at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke.

History Lecture on Parson MasonLocke Weems 1 - 2 p.m. at Pohick

Episcopal Church 9301 RichmondHighway in Lorton, on U.S. Route 1between Telegraph Road and PohickRoad. The staff of the Weems-BottsMuseum in Dumfries will be giving alecture on the colorful andcontroversial figure of Parson MasonLocke Weems. Weems served astemporary Minister at Pohick Churchfrom about 1800 to 1817. He was thewriter of the biography of GeorgeWashington that contains the famous“Cherry Tree Story.” 703-928-8184or [email protected].

SUNDAY/JAN. 29Lake Braddock Secondary School’s

production of Carousel 3 p.m.9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke.

Virginia Dance Coalition DanceFestival 10 - 8 p.m. Ernst CulturalCenter on the Northern VirginiaCommunity College’s AnnandaleCampus 8333 Little River Turnpike,Annandale. The program includesthree Master Classes (Ballet, Modern,and African) along with dancerwellness and career seminars. Thereare two performances – an InformalShowcase for emerging companiesand artists, and a Gala EveningPerformance for the professional andpre-professional groups.Registrationinfo atwww.VirginiaDanceCoalition.org703-409-7988.

Virginia Dance Coalition Dance Festival will take place onSunday Jan. 29 at the Ernst Cultural Center on NorthernVirginia Community College’s Annandale Campus 8333Little River Turnpike, Annandale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.The program includes three Master Classes along withdancer wellness and career seminars. There will also betwo performances. Registration info atwww.VirginiaDanceCoalition.org 703-409-7988.



Mystery at WorkhouseJason Krage, featured in the mystery ‘Solitary Confinement’ at theWorkhouse Arts Center, W-3 Theatre, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton.Performances: Through Feb. 12, 2017. Friday & Saturdays at 8 p.m.,Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets: $20 (students/seniors) -$30 (generaladmission). Call 703-584-2900 or visit www.workhousearts.org.

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Lake Braddock Secondary School’s production of Carousel kicks offThursday, Jan. 26 and will have showings through Sunday, Jan. 29. Thisclassic musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein was once named “themusical of the century” by Time magazine. Tickets start at $12 and areavailable from www.brownpapertickets.com.

1898 Looting of Burke 4:30 - 6 AbidingPresence Lutheran Church 6304 Lee Chapel Rd,Burke. Cindy Bennett, BHS Treasurer, will speakon the 1898 looting of Burke by troops fromCamp Alger during the Spanish-American War.Cost: Free. [email protected]

Concert by the Havenwood Trio 6 p.m.Calvary Hill Baptist Church, 9301 Little RiverTurnpike, Fairfax. 703-323-1347.

TUESDAY/JAN.31Writer Liane Kupferberg Carter at the

Jewish Community Center of NorthernVirginia 7 p.m. 8900 Little River Turnpike,Fairfax. The insightful author will speak abouther memoir, Ketchup is My Favorite Vegetable:A Family Grows Up with Autism, an unflinchingportrait of family life, and a look at what hasreally gone on in the two decades after her son’sdiagnosis. Tickets: $11 General Admission, $8for JCCNV members, persons 65+ and under 30.Tickets are available at http://bpt.me/2740223.703-323-0880 jccnv.org.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 1Fairfax Pets on Wheels New Volunteer

Orientation First Wednesday of each month.7:30 - 9 p.m. 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax. Anorientation for new volunteers interested invisiting residents of nursing homes and assistedliving facilities with their approved pets throughthe Fairfax Pets On Wheels program is held thefirst Wednesday of every month starting at 7:30p.m. Please check our website, www.fpow.orgfor each month’s location. Prior to attending,please complete the online application found athttp://www.fpow.org/volunteer. Please do NOTbring your pets to this orientation. Also, seeweather policy for possible cancellations.www.fpow.org 703-324-5424.

A Sacred Walk 7:15 p.m. Sydenstricker UnitedMethodist Church, 8508 Hooes Rd., Springfield.703-451-8223, sydenstrickerumc.org/sacred-walk Donna Authers will guide you through thepages of her book, A Sacred Walk. If you feardeath or the dying process or you would like toknow how best to provide practical, emotional,and spiritual support to a friend or loved oneliving with a life threatening illness, this eveningand this book are for you. sydenstrickerumc.org/sacred-walk

FRIDAY/FEB. 3Early Release LEGO Workshop 2 - 5 p.m.

Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old LeeHighway, Fairfax. Ages: 6 - 11. Spend yourafternoon having a great time building andplaying with thousands of specialty pieces anddozens of mini figures. Fee: $30/day.Registration Forms are available in office oronline at www.fairfaxva.gov/[email protected] 703-385-1695.

SATURDAY/FEB. 4Make Your Own Valentines Table. American

Cancer Society Crop/Craft: 9-5 p.m.with FunVendor Shop: 2-4. West Springfield High SchoolCafeteria (6100 Rolling Road, Springfield).Vendors: Stella & Dot, Mary Kay, PamperedChef, Karinas Kreations, Tupperware, Stampin’Up, LuLaRoe, Thirty-One Gifts, CreativeMemories, Scentsy. All donations go toAmerican Cancer Society. Call Leslie Carlin at703.866.4962 or email [email protected] info.

ONGOINGSenior Line Dancing 1 - 2 p.m. Little RIver Glen

Senior Center 4001 Barker Ct, Fairfax. LineDancing is a gentle, social form of aerobicactivity. Studies have shown it aids in wardingoff Alzheimer’s disease. No previous experienceneeded. Cost: $5 per 8 week [email protected] 703-524-3739

Fairfax Pets on Wheels New VolunteerOrientation First Wednesday of each month.7:30 - 9 p.m. 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax. Anorientation for new volunteers interested invisiting residents of nursing homes and assistedliving facilities with their approved pets throughthe Fairfax Pets On Wheels program is held thefirst Wednesday of every month starting at 7:30p.m. Please check our website, www.fpow.orgfor each month’s location. Prior to attending,

[email protected] Rotary Club Meeting 12:15-1:30 p.m.

Mondays. American Legion, 3939 Oak St.,Fairfax. Meetings with luncheon and program.fairfaxrotary.org.

Carolina Shag. Wednesdays. 6:30-10 p.m.Arlington/Fairfax Elks Lodge, 8421 ArlingtonBlvd., Fairfax. Free lessons at 7:30 p.m. Nopartners needed. Dinner menu. $8. Under 21free. nvshag.org.

FUN-Exercise Thursdays, noon - 12:50 p.m. GracePresbyterian Church Family Room, 7434 BathSt., Springfield. Inova certified exerciseinstructor leads a moderate level exercise classwith music and current events conversation.Muscle, Balance, Strength Training using stretchbands and weights both standing and seatedexercises. Instructor donation is [email protected] or 703-499-6133.

“Out of the Blue…” Art Show WorkhouseArts Center February 8 to March 8 9518Workhouse Way, Lorton. Building 9 Hours:Wednesday - Sunday 11 - 6 p.m. Part of theWorkhouse Arts Center 2nd Saturday Artwalk.“Out of the Blue…” is the featured artist show ofKaren Chin. Her collection of pieces are “Out ofthe Blue” unrelated topics and represent acollection of subject matter that has beenaccumulating on her art to-do list. The showincludes a nod to the hearts, reds and pinks ofFebruary.

EXERCISE PROGRAM Mondays and Fridays at9:30 a.m. year-round at Lord of Life LutheranChurch, 5114 Twinbrook Rd. Fairfax. Theexercises are for strength, balance andmaintaining limberness. Contact SCFB office at703-426-2824 for more information.

Cafe Ivrit (Hebrew Cafe). Wednesdays. 8:15-9:15a.m. Jewish Community Center of NorthernVirginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax.Shalom (hello) Did you always want to conversein Hebrew? Join Na’ama each week forconversational Hebrew. You will learn andpractice Hebrew in a fun and interactive waywhile learning more about Israel. Free, howeverwe ask that you try to attend regularly. [email protected].

Smoke Free Bingo (with breaks for smokingfriends). 7 p.m. Every Friday. Fairfax VolunteerFire Department, 4081 University Drive, Fairfax.Free coffee, entertaining callers, $1,000 jackpot.www.fairfaxvd.com. 703-273-3638.

NARFE Monthly Meeting Every Second Tuesday11:30 a.m. American Legion Post 177 located at3939 Oak Street, Fairfax. NARFE Fairfax 737monthly luncheon meeting. Enjoy lunchaccompanied by a special program. Lunch atnoon. Cost: $11 Speaker/Program-12:[email protected] 703-501-0020

English Conversation Groups weekly atGeorge Mason, Burke Centre, and LortonLibraries Practice and improve your English. Dayand start times vary. Visit: https://va.evanced.info/fairfaxcounty/lib/eventcalendar.asp

First Sunday Jazz Brunch 11 - 2 p.m. Recurringmonthly on the 1st Sunday at Bazin’s on Church111 Church St N.W., Vienna. Enjoy brunchaccompanied by the soft jazz sounds of VirginiaMusic Adventure. Visit: http://www.fxva.com/listing/bazins-on-church/1686/

Stories From Strawberry Park 10 - 11 a.m.Tuesdays in Mosaic - Strawberry Park 2910District Avenue, Fairfax. Enjoy a live interactiveperformance each week taught by a group ofunique storytellers. For ages 10 and under. Heldoutside in Strawberry Park. In inclementweather and October through April, storytimewill be held in Angelika Film Center. Recurringweekly on Tuesday. Visit: http://www.fxva.com/listing/mosaic-district/2326/

Plan Ahead Events BFLSMONDAY/FEB. 13GMU Visiting Filmmakers Series: 13th with

cinematographer Hans Charles 4:30 p.m.Johnson Center Cinema 4400 University Dr,Fairfax. sponsored by Film and Media Studies,Film and Video Studies, African and AfricanAmerican Studies, Women and Gender Studies,BSA, DKA, and University Life. 703-993-2768http://www.fxva.com/event/

SATURDAY/FEB. 18Valentine’s Day Banquet. Greater Zion Baptist

Church will host Family Ministry 2017Valentine’s Day Banquet, 6:30—11 p.m. atWaterford Receptions at Springfield, 6715Commerce Street in Springfield. Cost: $50 perperson. Contacts: Anthony and Terri Bazemore@GLZBC (703-764-9111);[email protected]; terrib6@verizon. net

Special features: Dinner Buffet, Music & Dancing.Paymend deadline: Feb. 12.

please complete the online application found athttp://www.fpow.org/volunteer. Please do NOTbring your pets to this orientation. Also, seeweather policy for possible cancellations.www.fpow.org 703-324-5424.


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News

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

Next month, residents willhear an update on thestatus of the Braddock

Road Multimodal Study. The pur-pose of the study is to examineways to relieve traffic congestionalong the major corridor fromGuinea Road to the Beltway. Thosecould include intersection im-provements, lane additions, pedes-trian improvements, “and the is-sue of whether or not to do a tran-sit center,” said supervisor JohnCook (R-Braddock).

Cook previously formed aBraddock Road Task Force citizencouncil to give input and reviewthese potential improvements tothe corridor. Recommendationsfrom the task force will also bepresented at the Feb. 6 communitymeeting, scheduled from 6:30p.m. to 9 p.m. in the LakeBraddock Secondary School caf-eteria.

“The study shows some prettysignificant improvements comingfrom what are fairly modest im-provements,” Cook said.

Some of the options beinglooked at include a series of inter-section improvements fromGuinea to the Beltway, makingsome of those right in-right outand taking out the traffic light atKings Park Drive.

“The question is, by adding HOVor a general purpose lane, doesthat help more?” said Cook. “We’llbe talking about that in the Feb-ruary meeting.”

Addressing congestion is hardlylimited to that stretch of BraddockRoad. Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) said there are plansto “turn dirt” on expanding thecapacity of I-66 this year, which hecalls “big news for the west end ofmy district for sure.”

Part of the Fairfax County Park-way is due to be widened, as wellon Rolling Road.

Even in Clifton, which MayorBill Holloway said has been a vic-tim to some extent of its own suc-cess in attracting more visitors andshoppers, is looking at redesign-ing the scape of its historic MainStreet.

“People are there all the time,weekends, evenings — it’s lookinglike a beach town without the

beach,” Holloway said. “It’s reallyheartening to me to see it’s soalive.”

Unique to Clifton, they hope toslow down traffic and improvesafety through town, improvingpedestrian and parking issues aspart of managing an expandedcapacity.

Ed Zolnik, an associate profes-sor in the George Mason Univer-sity Schar School of Policy andGovernment, said these projectsfor increasing capacity withoutadding new roads are nothingnew.

“Widening seen as more imme-diate,” Zolnik said, “to add morecapacity, which is necessary, withmost people making their trips ina private vehicle.”

Though Zolnik said theBraddock Road multimodal studyis on-trend with urban planningthat’s attempting to provide masstransit alternatives to individualvehicles, building new roads andexpanding existing ones is un-avoidable.

“From a public purpose perspec-tive, it’s what we encounter on adaily basis,” he said, “everyonesees that.”

And with expanding capacity,Zolnik said the cynical planningviewpoint is that solution to con-

gestion is antiquated, though“there’s an immediacy to this kindof problem.”

“Just using the argument ‘Wehave to reduce congestion,’ it’s avicious cycle,” he said, “as it couldengender much more congestiongoing forward.”

Working on a multimodal solu-tion is consistent with how transitplanning has evolved, the profes-sor said. And as more transporta-tion choices are offered in theBraddock Road corridor and otherroadways around Fairfax County,it should help mitigate the ulti-mate limitations of the roadwaysfor private vehicles.

“People are adapting to the en-vironment they’re in, as much asimposing their will,” Zolnik said.“This is not new, but there’s a longtimespan this takes to get online,operating.”

The Braddock Road communitymeeting is scheduled for Feb. 6from 6:30 to 9 p.m.in the cafete-ria of Lake Braddock SecondarySchool. At 6:30, attendees can di-rect questions to Fairfax CountyDepartment of Transportation(FCDOT) staff and review infor-mation at various stations. At 7:30,attendees will hear recommenda-tions from the Braddock Road TaskForce.

Is Wider Better?ReducingBraddock Roadcongestion to bediscussed Feb. 6

Next month, residents will hear an update on the statusof the Braddock Road Multimodal Study. The purpose ofthe study is to examine ways to relieve traffic congestionalong the major corridor from Guinea Road to theBeltway. Those could include intersection improvements,lane additions, pedestrian improvements, “and the issueof whether or not to do a transit center,” said supervisorJohn Cook (R-Braddock).


People

By David Miller

University of Alabama

Conner Salisbury was destinedfor a career in the U.S. Navy.His father, Keith, was a NavySEAL and continues to be the

strongest influence in his life.“My pop-pop (grandfather) was a Marine

and served in Vietnam, but I got all of mymilitary influence from my dad,” Salisburysaid. “I’d always dress in military costumesfor Halloween. He’d show me military land-marks, like the obstacle course at Coronado(San Diego).”

Salisbury’s father later became the stron-gest influence on convincing him to followa career in the Army, specifically throughthe Army ROTC program at The Universityof Alabama.

Shortly before he graduated from SouthCounty High School in Fairfax, Virginia,Salisbury learned he wasn’t cleared medi-cally to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Hewas disappointed. It was the path his fa-ther took to becoming a SEAL; it was thepath he’d always envisioned for himself.

“I was going to Key West the next day,either way, to celebrate or get over it,”Salisbury said. “I got the letter when I gothome … I received a congressional nomi-nation, but I didn’t get a medical waiver. Ididn’t know what to do. I put on my run-ning shoes and ran … four miles as fast as Icould. I looked at my watch, and my timeand the pace was the fastest it’s ever been.”

Like most high school seniors, Salisburyhad back-up plans. Salisbury, an all-statewrestler, had options to wrestle at smallschools in Virginia. Or, he could attend UA.He and his father discussed UA while onvacation, and the family later visited thecampus.

“The campus was beautiful, and of coursethere’s football,” Salisbury said. “I just fellin love with it.”

The military was still on his mind, butnow in the back of it. Salisbury decided he’dapply for OCS once he graduated, until helearned about the Army ROTC program andthe Army’s Ranger and Delta Force units,considered the Army equivalent of the NavySEALS.

A self-described workout junkie, Salisburywas recruited by ROTC leaders to try outthe Ranger Challenge team, a select groupof cadets who train and compete in suchArmy-related events as weapons assembly,land navigation and fitness. Salisbury wassold. After serving as an alternate his fresh-man year, Salisbury has played a prominentrole in leading the team to the 2017 Bri-gade Ranger Challenge, Saturday, Jan. 21,at Camp Blanding in Starke, Fa. UA’s teamwill face the winners from six Southeast-ern states and Puerto Rico. The winner of

this regional will compete in an interna-tional competition at the U.S. Military Acad-emy at West Point.

“I had no clue this competition existedwhen I got here,” Salisbury said. “My firstyear, I performed at a high level, physically;I could do more pushups and sit-ups thananyone, but tactically I was young andwasn’t up to par with them. When I heard Ididn’t make the starting nine last year, itgot to me. I went from being the alternateor 10th or 11th man to being one of the guysrecognized for helping our team win thestate competition this year.”

Salisbury helps lead the pace for the ruckmarch and typically scores around a 370 inthe PT test. He runs a sub 12-minute clip inthe two-mile run and can knock out 106pushups. His most significant gains, havebeen in his focus and performance in tacti-cal events, which are a direct result of theteam’s unity, said Brandon Sinnott, cadetand team commander.

“His work ethic is superior to many, manycadets, including myself, especially in physi-cal events,” Sinnott said. “He has highestfitness scores, consistently. He’s also ma-tured over the year. Last year, he maybedidn’t know how he fit in, but this year, heunderstands where he is in the team andhow to help everyone else perform at a highlevel.”

UA ROTC scholarship monies from theArmy total more than $800,000 a year.Some ROTC cadets earn scholarships priorto enrolling; others work toward scholar-ships once they enroll. Salisbury, despite hishigh school credentials, had to meet schol-arship benchmarks during his freshmanyear.

“I sat down and had to prove myself fromDay 1,” said Salisbury, a communicationmajor. “Some people came in with four-yearscholarships, and in my class, not everyonehas continued with it.

Who you are on paper can only tell youso much. When I got here, I scored high onmy PT test, but I wanted to make an im-pression. I got in class and tried to learnmore and more. The classroom is where I’mweakest, but I’m hungry and I keep learn-ing.

“Now I’m contracted to the Army, and Ican’t wait to make a career out of it.”

Reprinted with permission from UA News

Salisbury Helps Lead UA Army ROTC to CompetitionSouth County gradu-ate excels at the Uni-versity of Alabama.

Salisbury earned an Army ROTC scholarship after his freshman year inthe program.

Latest: UA WinsRanger Challenge

UA won the Brigade Ranger Challenge —a regional tournament involving the winnersof five Southeastern states and Puerto Rico— Saturday at Camp Blanding Joint Train-ing Center in Starke, Fla. UA won five events:fitness, weapons qualification, hand grenadeassault course, casualty care and the ruckmarch. The team also took fourth in weap-ons assembly and third in the one-ropebridge.

UA’s Ranger Challenge team will competefor the first time in the finals at theSandhurst Competition at the U.S. MilitaryAcademy in West Point, where they’ll facethe winners of eight other brigades, interna-tional teams and teams from West Point. TheSandhurst Competition will be April 7-8.

Conner Salisbury,a Fairfax, Virginia,native, has helped

lead the RangerChallenge team atThe University of

Alabama to theBrigade Chal-

lenge, Saturday atCamp Blanding in

Starke, Florida.

iBOT Brainiacs, a team of stu-dents from Lorton StationElementary and South CountyMiddle Schools, beat 108 ofVirginia and Washington, D.C.’sbest teams to earn a bid to theWorld Festival in St. Louis, Mo

Lorton Area iBOTBrainiacs Go to World Festival

Lorton area First Lego League(FLL) team known as the iBOTBrainiacs, a team of students

from Lorton Station Elementary andSouth County Middle Schools, coachedby Carey Hancey-Shier, won top honorsat the FLL Robotics State Tournamentheld at James Madison University. Teammembers Bryson Shier, Shreyas Mayya,Jay Rajurkar, Arjun Kumar, and BaylorShier competed in the two-day event. Onthe first day of competition, entries werejudged in the following categories: Ro-bot Design, Project Solution, and CoreValues. The second day of competitionincluded participation in the RobotGame, which involved programmingtheir robot to do more than ten missionsin two and a half minutes. This team beat108 of Virginia and Washington, D.C.’sbest teams from all the regional tourna-ments to earn a bid to the World Festi-val in St. Louis, Mo. At the World Festi-

val, which will occur in April, the iBOTBrainiacs will compete against champi-ons from all the states as well as from82 other countries.

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November 8, 2016NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTLead Agency: Department of Army

Title of Proposed Action: Supplemental Environmental Assessment ofCommunications Line Extension, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Affected Jurisdiction: Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Prepared By: Directorate of Public Works, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Approved By: Colonel Angie K. Holbrook, Commander, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Abstract: This Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) documents potential impacts tothe physical, biological and human environments associated with the extension of a new under-ground communications line from the main garrison area of Fort Belvoir to Davison Army Air-field (DAAF). The proposed ductbank is required to provide enhanced voice and data telecom-munications connectivity to DAAF from the existing communications network within Fort Bel-voir. After evaluating communications network needs at DAAF, Fort Belvoir network personnel identified a single viable alternative, extending the ductbank along the Poe Road corridor (Pro-posed Action). This Poe Road Alternative was selected based upon the location and availability of existing network infrastructure connection hubs at either end of the alignment and required communication system diversity needs. The No Action Alternative was evaluated to provide a baseline for evaluating impacts of the Proposed Action. None of the impacts associated with the Proposed Action are considered significant. As a result, it is anticipated that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) will be published in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Review Period: Interested parties are invited to review and comment onthe EA and draft FNSI during a 30 day period. Please submit any comments to Commander, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, Attention: Directorate of Public Works, Building 1442, 9430Jackson Loop, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5116 or email your comments to:[email protected].

The EA and draft FNSI were available for review on the internet at:http://www.belvoir.army.mil/environdocssection2.asp. Documents werealso provided for public review at the following libraries for a period of 30 days:

Fairfax County LibraryLorton Branch9520 Richmond HighwayLorton, VA 22079-2124

Fairfax County LibrarySherwood Regional Branch2501 Sherwood Hall LaneAlexandria, VA 22306-2799

Fairfax County LibraryKingstowne Branch6500 Landsdowne CentreAlexandria, VA 22315-5011

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements



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21 Announcements 21 Announcements

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News

By Dave Ryan

OLLI Outreach Director

Many Northern Virginiansprobably think of guerillafighting as a relativelymodern phenomenon, ex-

emplified by the fighting units of the VietCong in Vietnam and Fidel Castro in theSierra Maestra Mountains as he sought tooverthrow the Batista regime in Cuba.

Yet over 150 years ago, right here in ourown backyard, Colonel John SingletonMosby, a Confederate army cavalry battal-ion commander nicknamed the “GrayGhost,” used similar guerrilla tactics to ter-rorize the Union Army stationed in North-ern Virginia.

The exploits of Col Mosby are being re-counted by CIA veteran Patrick Diehl in a3-week course beginning Jan. 25 at theOsher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) atGeorge Mason University.

From 1863-65, Mosby led a small (usu-ally 150-200 men) but daring group of cav-alry that operated behind Union lines inFairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, andFauquier counties, as well as areas aroundthe Shenandoah Valley. Loudoun andFauquier counties, in fact, known as“Mosby’s Confederacy” because it was sorisky for Union soldiers to travel there.

Mosby’s “Rangers” struck isolated Uniondetachments without warning, and usuallycaptured most of the men and their horses.Then the Rangers would seemingly vanishinto the countryside, not to be found bypursuing Union forces. The secret to this

successful disappearing act wasMosby’s recognition of guerrillawarfare principles, a perceptionalmost unique in the Civil Warera. The most important prin-ciple being that sympathetic ci-vilians in Loudoun andFauquier counties housed andfed Mosby’s men on their farm-steads. Thus the Rangers be-came virtually indistinguishablefrom the locals, and the Unionsoldiers never really knewwhom to take into custody.Other Mosby innovations covered in thecourse include: (1) Relying on revolvers incombat instead of the traditional cavalrysaber; and (2) Setting up a network of longrange scouting parties along theShenandoah River and the Potomac Riverin Fairfax, providing Mosby with early warn-ing of Union troop movements.

The course also highlights some ofMosby’s most celebrated attacks. These in-clude the nighttime capture of a Union gen-eral and other officers at Fairfax CourtHouse in 1863. Then there was the famousWagon Train raid at Berryville, Virginia in1864 when the Rangers captured and de-stroyed over 200 wagons supplying the di-visions of Union General Philip Sheridan.

Or how about the Great TrainRobbery outside of HarpersFerry, West Virginia, whenMosby captured Sheridan’spayroll of $176,000.

Mosby also provided excel-lent intelligence to Robert E.Lee and Jeb Stuart on Uniontroop movements headingsouth to Richmond. Mosbywas regarded as the finestscouting source for Lee’s Armyof Northern Virginia.

Mosby’s activities were a se-rious thorn in the side of the Union au-thorities trying to control the NorthernVirginia counties. At one point there were10 Union regiments pursuing him, andthere were approximately 60 military en-gagements from 1863-64. The Rangers suf-fered a total of 85 killed in action and 200prisoners at war’s end. By contrast, histo-rians generally estimate Union losses ataround 2900 killed, wounded and cap-tured and a total of 3500 horses and mulesstolen.

OLLI provides first-rate educational, so-cial, and cultural opportunities for citizensof Northern Virginia. More informationabout its program and events can be foundat olli.gmu.edu

The exploits ofCol John Mosby arebeing recounted in a3-week course.

‘Gray Ghost’ Revisited

SATURDAY/FEB. 11Town Hall Meeting. Del. David Bulova (D-37)

and Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34) will hold a townhall meeting, from 9-11 a.m., at Fairfax CityHall, 10455 Armstrong St. in Fairfax. All arewelcome to attend, hear about their legislativeagenda, ask questions and share concerns.

FEB. 11 - 12, FEB. 18-19, AND FEB. 26Loudoun Freedom Girls Basketball TryoutsTryouts to form girls’ teams from 2nd grade

through 11th grade for the 2017 season will beheld the weekends of Feb. 11 - 12, Feb. 18-19,and Feb. 26. If you are interested in yourdaughter playing at a higher competitive leveland developing into a great player, considertrying out. See www.loudounfreedom.com forthe full schedule, how to register [email protected]

ONGOINGFairfax-based non-profit Britepaths offers

free Financial Education Classes Sessionsat various locations in the Fairfax County area tolow- and middle-income adults who residethroughout Northern Virginia. The offerings arefree and open to the public, but reservations arerequired.https://britepaths.org/news/get-financially-fit-new-year

“Thrifty Thursdays” Basic BudgetingClasses in Annandale, Chantilly and Alexandria7-9 p.m. Heritage Building 7611 Little RiverTurnpike, East Wing 1st Floor Conference RoomD Annandale. Thursday, January 19, 2017 &Thursday, April 20, 2017.

South County Government Center7-9 p.m. 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.

Thursday, February 16, 2017 (Room 220) &Thursday, May 18, 2017 (Room 220) ChantillyHigh School 7-9 p.m. 4201 Stringfellow Road,Chantilly. Thursday, March 16, 2017 (Room253) & Thursday, June 15, 2017 (Room 253)

For All Sessions, RSVP to: Carole Rogers [email protected] or 703-273-8829

Register Now for Free Parenting Classes — SessionsBegin Jan. 23, 2017

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services’Parenting Education Programs is enrollingfamilies for several upcoming parenting classes.These programs are special in that both parentsand children attend the classes together but aretaught in separate classrooms. Classes are freefor Fairfax County residents. Depending on thecurriculum, classes meet once a week from 5:30p.m. to 8 p.m. for 12, 13, 18, or 24 weeks. Freechildcare and dinner are provided each night.There are a variety of classes availablethroughout the year, but the following three

classes will start this month:❖ January 23, 2017 through June 26, 2017 – Ages

0 to 4 – Curriculum taught in Spanish. Mondays,5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Main StreetDevelopment Center in Fairfax.

❖ January 23, 2017 through May 1, 2017 – Ages 5to 11 – Curriculum taught in English. Mondays,5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Fairfax Church ofChrist.

❖ January 31, 2017 through May 9, 2017 – Ages 5to 11 – Curriculum taught in Spanish. Tuesdays,5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Churchin Springfield.

Registration is required, so please register as soonas possible. If you have any questions, pleasefeel free to contact Raiza Barraza by phone at(703) 324-7745, or by email [email protected]. You mayalso contact Natalie Bailey by phone at (703)324-3617 or via email [email protected].

Reminder Crime Prevention – Please contact theFairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131 (non-emergency) to report ANY suspiciousactivity, no matter how small or insignificant itmay seem at the time. It is better if police reportscan be called in while the suspicious activity is inprogress to the extent possible.

Mort Kunstler, galleryoflimitededitions.com

Mosby and men on Fairfax CourthouseRaid, 9 March 1863.

Photographer unknown

John Singleton Mosby.

Photographer

unknown

John S. Mosby.

Bulletin Board 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.


Asian GrillCelebrate the Chinese New Year

Year of The RoosterDarrin has been serving his Special Chinese New Year menu

in Burke & Springfi eld for over 30 years!

Jan. 27-Feb 3, Feb. 7-10, Feb. 15-17, Feb. 21- 28

$52.95 per person • Reservation Only!Minimum 2 Persons

AppetizerFresh Lobster & Crab

Meat Spring Rolls

SoupMinced Beef with Fresh Asparagus

DessertPanna Cotta

Main EntreeFresh Lobster Tail with Ginger & Onion in Chef ’s Special Sauce

Chilean Sea Bassin Black Bean Sauce

Crispy Pork Tenderloin in Hong Kong Style Sweet & Sour SauceFresh Crab Meat Fried Rice

6628-A Rolling Road in West Springfi eld Shopping Centerwww.asiangrillspringfi eld.com703-569-4800

We can accommodate special dietary needs for any entree.

More than 100 Fairfax County Police officers were part of the securitydetail as Donald Trump is sworn in Jan. 20 as 45th president of theUnited States.

Inauguration Day Photos by Mark Mogle/The Connection

Fairfax County police officers, in foreground, providesecurity to President Donald Trump’s limousine as itmakes its way through the streets of Washington dur-ing the Inauguration Day parade Jan. 20. More than3,000 officers from across the country were sworn in toassist with Inauguration activities, including 105 offic-ers from the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

By Jeanne Theismann

The Connection

More than 100 officers fromthe Fairfax County PoliceDepartment assisted in se-curity during Inauguration

Day activities Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.as Donald Trump was sworn in as 45th Presi-

Local officers provide securityfor inaugural events.dent of the United States.

The 105 FPD officers were among themore than 3,000 local law enforcement of-ficials sworn in to help with security

throughout the day. FPD officers began ar-riving in DC around 2:30 a.m. and workedthroughout the day, ending their shiftaround 10 p.m. that night.

“Although it was a long day, we are proudof the exemplary professionalism displayedby each one of them,” posted the FPD onits Facebook page.