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WellbeingPage, 4
‘This Will Be One Of Fairfax County’s Gems’News, Page 3
Neighbors Object To Brewery’s EntranceNews, Page 5
Youth-powered CommunityNews, Page 6
It’s Grand Champion and Blue ribbons galore for the talented Strenglein sisters of Centrev-ille, Summer, 11, Hannah, 8, and Brooke, 10, at the Fairfax County 71st 4-H Fair and Carni-
val held at Frying Pan Park in Herndon.
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com August 7-13, 2019
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2 ❖ Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
If we look back a little more than a month,the memory of the Republicans in theVirginia General Assembly adjourning aspecial session on gun safety by ambush,
without any discussion on proposed measures,resonates with raw emotion.
The NRA publicly launched its operationsthat day from the conference room of theSpeaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, lit-erally announcing to members on its websitewhere to meet. It must have seemed such sweetsuccess to them to shut that session down with-out any deliberation.
The lives of the 12 people who died in Vir-ginia Beach at the end of May were not dis-cussed.
But now many more lives have been cut shortor forever changed by gunfire between the July9 debacle in the Virginia General Assembly andtoday.
There must be state and local legislation aswell as federal legislation.
Here are some key provisions:❖ No one with a restraining order or con-
victed of domestic violence should have accessto firearms.
❖ Comprehensive universal backgroundchecks.
❖ Ban assault weapons.❖ Ban large capacity mechanisms for am-
munition.
ON TUESDAY, Aug. 20, at noon, the VirginiaGeneral Assembly Crime Commission will ac-cept public comments on the gun legislationintroduced during the July 9 and through July19. Public comment will be taken for the first3 hours (more details will be announced in thecoming weeks on how to sign up to speak).Next, patrons will present their bills. Currently,there are about 60 bills that have been filed.Members have until July 19 to file legislation.Link to bills: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?192+lst+ALL See http://vscc.virginia.gov/meetings.asp for updates.
Crime Commission staff is currently accept-ing written comments on this topic. Send writ-ten comments and any other information/ma-
terials relevant to this topic via email [email protected] or via postalmail. Comments will be shared with membersof the Crime Commission.
Additional details regarding the deadline forsubmitting written comments will be an-nounced following the Aug. 20 Crime Com-mission meeting.
Attn: Written CommentsVirginia State Crime Commission1111 East Broad Street, Ste. B036Richmond, Virginia 23219
THREE THINGS:❖ Video games aren’t the cause. Video game
usage is as high or higher in many other coun-tries, all with almost no gun violence.
❖ It’s not mental illness, although giving
more resources for treatment of mental illnesswould be welcome. Incidence of mental illnessis similar in other countries, all with almostno gun violence. (Doing a better job keepingguns out of the hands of people with mentalillness would prevent thousands of suicides.)
❖ More guns won’t help. In Dayton, policeshot and killed the attacker in less than aminute, but still he shot and killed nine peopleand wounded 27.
There is a good chance that reforms won’thappen without electoral change both in Vir-ginia and nationally. Don’t forget about votingin November. Every seat in the Virginia Gen-eral Assembly is on the ballot.
— Mary Kimm
Reform might not happenin Virginia until after theNovember election.
Gun Reform Now
Photo courtesy of Herndon Reston Indivisible
Hundreds of protestors gathered at NRA headquarters in Fairfax Monday,including members of Reston Herndon Indivisible holding these letters.
We Must ChangeTo the Editor:
After the Columbine shootingwe were told by the legislators inpower: “Now is not the time to talkabout gun control. We would beacting out of emotion. Any legis-lator who uses this event to passgun legislation is taking advantageof the situation and is acting outof partisanship.”
After the Sandy Hook, Parkland,Pulse Night Club, and VirginiaTech shootings happened weheard the same thing – “Now is notthe time.”
After the D.C. Navy Yard shoot-ing – “Now is not the time.” Vir-ginia Beach and Gilroy shootings– “Now is not the time.”
And now Dayton and El Paso. Is
it time yet?In 2019 alone 246 people have
been killed and 979 injured frommass shootings in the UnitedStates. And our President says:“Mental illness and hatred pullsthe trigger—not the gun.” No onedenies that mental illness is some-times a contributing factor, but amentally ill person would not havekilled all those people had he beenarmed with a switch blade.
We cannot change our Presi-dent. We know that. And we can-not change those legislators whoenable the President and who arebeholden to the NRA. The onlyperson we can change is our-selves. We must tolerate this nolonger. We must be willing toelect people who don’t peddlehate, and who are willing to en-
act common sense gun reform.
Barbara GlakasHerndon
Tired But NotDefeatedTo the Editor:
I am really tired. Tired of vio-lence. Tired of living in fear.
Tired of constant sadness andgrief. I’m tired of worrying aboutwhether my younger brothers willcome home safe from campus orfeeling uneasy at the mosque. I’mtired of some in our society notrealizing that gun violence at thislevel is beyond alarming. I am tiredthat this kind of violence is still notwidely considered extremism. I’m
tired of us giving attention to theperpetrator and not the conditionsthat led to it. I’m tired of my coun-try not honoring the victims byusing faith as a part of healing andyet not heeding the words of faithas a form of preventative action.Whether it’s the Quran saying kill-ing one life is the killing of all man-kind, or how Matthew and Exoduscommand “You shall not murder,”over and over again in the Bible,we don’t really seem to followthrough. So much#thoughtsandprayers. We are alltired, but we aren’t defeated. Butwe need our awareness, our votesand our calls for action to be in fullforce more than ever.
Saira BhattiCentreville
Letters to the Editor
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Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Bonnie Hobbs
Centre View
The Winery at Bull Run hasproved so successful thatowner Jon Hickox now wantsto operate a farm brewery. His
property is adjacent to Manassas NationalBattlefield Park, off Route 29 in Centreville.
He wants to build two, historic-lookingand adjoining buildings meshing with thelandscape. But his plan requires the county’sblessing to amend the current special per-mit for the existing horse stables on thatsite. The stables will remain, but the brew-ery would slightly encroach on the pasture,so the new use also needs a special-excep-tion permit.
On July 15, Hickox made his second ap-pearance before a joint meeting of the WestFairfax County Citizens Association(WFCCA) Land-Use Committee and theSully District Council of Citizens Associa-tions. His first visit was smooth sailing; butthis time, his Stonebridge Chase neighborsturned out en masse to have their say.
Although they generally don’t object tothe brewery, most are furious about the ac-cess road leading to it and the potentiallylarge volume of traffic the facility will placeonto Bull Run Post Office Road. They alsoworry how the access road will affect theirneighborhood, and several say they didn’teven know about that road when they pur-chased their homes.
“We were the first homeowners there, andwe weren’t told about the road,” said DawnBattle. “Hickox is a developer and a busi-ness owner; he hired the builder and is ourHOA [homeowners association] president.He has a fiduciary responsibility to us, andhe didn’ttell usabout theroad. LastNovember,he onlyshowed usa piece ofthe project– and we do not support the use of the roadfor the brewery.”
AT THE MEETING’S OUTSET, Hickoxpresented his case. “This application is overfive years in the making and will help pro-tect 171,000 acres of land from develop-ment in a responsible and sustainable way,”he said. “We envision an authentic, farmbrewery with beer using our own, home-grown hops, while not harming the beauti-ful, mountain vistas.”
He said his proposal has been “thoroughlyvetted,” and Fairfax County staff, VDOT andthe county Department of Transportationall support it. “Opponents want us to build
a new access road,” said Hickox. “But con-structing a new highway through the win-ery property would entail the National ParkService taking land from the Battlefield –to which they’ve given a resounding ‘No.’”
The Park Service owns the easementthere; so, he said, “That’s why our access isvia Bull Run Post Office. We never intendedto use Route 29, and Bull Run Post Officehas always been the entrance to our eques-trian facility.”
Hickox further noted that, when thecounty approved the special permit forequestrian use in 2016, it also memorial-ized the future, proposed use of the road as
the entrance toboth the board-ing stables anda brewery. Thatsame year,ground wasbroken forS t o n e b r i d g eChase. By 2018,
he presented plans for the brewery to thenew homeowners.
He said it would be a less-intense landuse than the 12 homes that could be builtthere by right. And he stressed that, bybuild-out, 33 of the 40 acres within thebrewery application – or more than 82 per-cent – would be kept as open green space.And, said Hickox, “That’s important to thepreservation of the Occoquan Watershed.”
He said just two wells would be drilledfor the brewery and horse farm, comparedto 12 if homes were built, instead. And allthe beer-making waste would be hauledoffsite so it wouldn’t adversely affect thewatershed or the community’s drinking
water. Some 80 percent of the beer wouldbe made in an offsite, industrial area, withjust some smaller-batch, specialty beersmade onsite. Overall, said Hickox, the brew-ery would use far less water annually thanwould a single-family home.
“I care about preservation of the land andwater,” he said. “Our farm has frontage onBull Run Creek, and we provide a 90-acreconservation easement buffering that creekand the source of Fairfax County’s drinkingwater.”
Hickox also said the proposed brewerywas disclosed within Stonebridge Chase’sHOA documents and the covenants of eachhomeowner’s deed. And he noted that, inits seven years, the Winery has had no prob-lems related to traffic, drunken car crashesor the environment.
“I truly believe this will be one of FairfaxCounty’s gems,” he said. “I seek only to cre-ate another interesting and unique placethat can be enjoyed by everyone.”
WFCCA’s Ted Troscianecki asked aboutrestrictions on winery events. Hickox saidweddings are during evenings, and corpo-rate events/retreats are on off-peak hoursduring the week.
“Eighty percent of our business is Friday-Saturday, and we’re allowed 24 specialevents/year,” he added. “Normal activitiesare tastings and tours, and the brewerywould do half the business on twice theacreage.”
WFCCA’s Chris Terpak-Malm asked whythe brewery buildings were so close to thehomes, and Hickox said they wouldn’t facethe houses. “They’re in the center of theproperty and can’t be moved any closer tothe floodplain,” he explained. “And noise
will be projected away from the homes.”
THE SEVERAL RESIDENTS weighed inon the proposal (see page 5). Afterward,Troscianecki moved for denial until the ac-cess issue is resolved. “There’s way toomuch controversy over access from Bull RunPost Office, which isn’t an arterial road,”he said. “We’ve got to look at access fromRoute 29.”
Agreeing, Terpak-Malm said, “I was setto approve this before hearing the residents’comments. But we need to step back andreevaluate the access.” However, WFCCALand-Use Chairman John Litzenberger saidthe county told Hickox to put the accessthere. Noting that traffic is less intense onthat road now than it was 10 years ago, hevoted for approval. Ultimately, though, theWFCCA voted 4-1 to oppose.
The Sully District Council approved amotion not objecting to the brewery butworried about its access. Jay Johnston saidBull Run Post Office Road is too narrow. “I’mappalled at the failure of VDOT and FCDOTto properly assess the access consider-ations,” added Lewis Grimm. “This is muchpreferred to [by-right] houses there, but wehave concerns about safety and access.”
The county Planning Commission publichearing was July 24, with so many peoplespeaking that night that decision on thespecial-exception permit was deferred un-til Sept. 12. The Board of Zoning Appealspublic hearing on the special-permit amend-ment will be Sept. 18.ºUltimately, the Boardof Supervisors will have the final say.
—See Neighbors’
Objections, Page 5
‘This Will Be One of Fairfax County’s Gems’But brewery’sproposed accessroad gives concern.
Artist’s rendition of the Bull Run Farm Brewery in Centreville. A glass atrium is between the two buildings.
“I seek only to create anotherinteresting and unique place thatcan be enjoyed by everyone.”
— Jon Hickox
4 ❖ Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Wellbeing
By Marilyn Campbell
The Connection
Local farmer’s markets right now are overflowing with deep purple plums, tomatoesripened by rays of sun and peppers in huesthat span a rainbow. This season’s bounty
yields not only flavors with a richness that peaks inAugust, but also a powerful punch of nutrients.
“Produce is most nutritious when it’s in season,but it’s normal to see supermarkets carrying the sameproduce all year long, said nutritionist CarleyJohnston. “People don’t always think about onlycooking with what’s in season because they don’thave to.”
Fruits and vegetables that are consumed out ofseason are often shipped from other countries, pickedbefore they’re ripe and sprayed with preservatives.“When produce is allowed to ripen while it’s sittingin a packing box on its way to the supermarket it’srobbed of some of its nutritional content,” saidJohnston.
On the other hand, produce that is naturally sun-ripened is more vitamin and nutrient-dense than itsprematurely picked counterparts because ripeningallows those elements to develop fully, says LaurenTrocchio, registered dietitian at Washington Centerfor Weight Management and Reset. “Cooking sea-sonally … means using produce that has traveledless of a distance to your kitchen,” she said. “Both ofthese things may prevent the nutrient loss that comeswith picking produce early orspending a lot of time in transit.The longer the transit and waittime, the more impact to nutri-tion and taste.”
Among the nutrient-dense —and delicious — fruits and veg-etables that are in season in sum-mer are peaches, blueberries,zucchini and tomatoes. “Blue-berries for example are rich inantioxidants and fiber,” saidJohnston “They’re also high in Vitamins C and K.Blackberries are high in fiber and antioxidants.They’re also anti-inflammatory which can boost yourimmune system. Corn is high in Vitamin B. Cucum-bers are hydrating which is important during thesummer.”
Fortunately preserving the health benefits is madeeasy because only minimal preparation is needed toget maximum flavor, says culinary instructor TerriCarr of Terri’s Table Cooking classes in Potomac. Md.“Cooking in the summer with the freshest local pro-duce is a real treat,” she said. “There is a smorgas-bord of ingredients to choose from.”
From watermelons, peaches and plums to toma-toes, corn and zucchini, summer brings a variety ofculinary inspiration. “Imagine a platter of tomatoes,peppers, sweet peas, zucchini, sweet Vidalia & redonions, continued Carr. “Complicated recipes are not
needed when quality summer produce is available… in fact it’s better to cook simple recipes that bringout the food’s flavor.”
Using the best of summer produce, Carr is teach-ing seasonal cooking classes this summer using herpopular preparation methods. “A favorite summersalad is Panzanella … a classic Italian bread salad,”
she said. “Combine toasty breadcubes with lots of colorful pep-pers, tomatoes, green onions,basil, cucumber. Beautiful pre-sentation & flavor. Perfect forlunch or a side dish at dinner.”
For those who think eatingseasonally means epicurean dep-rivation, Carr dispels that notion.“Imagine a platter of summerfruit, she said. “Peaches, nectar-ines, plums, apricots, strawber-
ries, blueberries, blackberries [and] melons, They’reabsolutely delicious all by themselves or mixed inwith a salad or dessert.”
Cooking with a mixture of seasonal herbs and pro-duce, like basil and vine-ripened tomatoes, offers aneven more powerful impact on the palette. “Sum-mer herbs [are] my favorite, said Carr. “Most herbsare now available in grocery stores year round butthey cannot compare to summer’s bounty. Basil,thyme, rosemary, parsley and mint are my go-to’swhen creating a meal.”
Summer produce offers energy needed to main-tain the active lifestyle that comes with longer daysfilled with outdoor activities, says Johnston. “Ourbodies need the added energy we get from the nutri-tion found in berries and peaches,” she said. “Cu-cumbers and melons are juicy which keeps us hy-drated when it’s hot outside.”
Don’t miss the height ofsummer season for fruitsand vegetables.
Summer’s Bounty:So Healthy and Tasty!
Photo courtesy of Terri Carr
These skewers of cantaloupe, prosciutto,mozzarella and tomatoes drizzled with abasil balsamic dressing and created byTerri Carr, are vitamin-packed and perfectfor appetizers or a light dessert.
“Cooking in thesummer with thefreshest local produceis a real treat.”
— Terri Carr,Terri’s Table Cooking Classes
Open Sun 2-4pm
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4701Old Dominion Drive • Arlington, VA 22207
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Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Bonnie Hobbs
Centre View
It’s not that the Stonebridge Chase resi-dents oppose having a brewery nearthem. What they object to is its ac-cess off Bull Run Post Office Road and
a farm road on their property. The plan isbeing promoted by Bull Run Winery ownerJon Hickox, and at a July 15 land-use meet-ing about it, the neighbors made their feel-ings known.
“I live right next to the road, and we werenever told about it [before buying ourhome],” said Sanjeev Katam. “We have twosmall kids and we’re worried about theirsafety.”
“The farm road dissects part of our lot,and it’s a quarter mile from Route 29,” saidBen Jones. “I applaud Jon for his entrepre-neurship. What I don’t like is that many ofus here are veterans, so we don’t believewe should be flimflammed, bamboozledand led astray.
“Jon, your agent bamboozled us becausehe told us the road would just be a littlepath to the winery. We’re not against Jon –I like beer – but we have been misled andwe don’t want more traffic on Bull Run PostOffice Road.”
Vince Stammetti said most of the gravelroad currently going from Bull Run PostOffice to the stables is on his property. And,he stressed, “The developer, HOA[homeowners association] and Hickoxdidn’t disclose it until after I bought myhome. The traffic data was done in 2010and updated on two days, this February, butthe busiest time for the winery is Maythrough October.”
Basically, he said, “We question the traf-fic calculations and wonder how long it’lltake us to get in and out of our develop-ment. Why is it OK to build a highway be-hind my house?”
REPRESENTING Protect the OccoquanWatershed, Hal Moore said Hickox re-quested a variance to the ordinance regard-ing the number of events allowed. And heasked Hickox if he’d abide by that ordinancefor weekend traffic.
“The county requires us to use shuttlesfor big events,” replied Hickox. “I don’t feellike there’s a conflict. And because a lot ofour business is off-peak, it’s only a 50-per-son difference.”
Virginia Run’s Greg Mathieson asked ifschoolchildren could visit the farm duringthe week, and Hickox said yes. Jeff Flading,of Fairfax National Estates, asked if winerytraffic could go to the brewery. “No,” an-swered Hickox. “There’s no road betweenthem, and the Manassas National BattlefieldPark owns the land there. And VDOT andFCDOT won’t allow that.”
Flading also asked if the winery trafficcould someday go out onto Bull Run PostOffice Road. But Hickox said no and thathe wants to keep the two businesses sepa-rate.
“Bull Run Post Office Road already hasmore traffic than it was designed to handle,”Stonebridge Chase resident and WestfieldHigh student Justin Hill told Hickox. “Andyou think putting more traffic on it – in-cluding people who’ve consumed alcohol –is a good idea. There have been fatal acci-dents on this dangerous road.”
Agreeing, his mother, Nanette Hill, said,“That road barely handles the traffic it hasnow. It’s a narrow, two-lane, country road,and it’s got pitches and curves and construc-tion traffic. And if you add people unfamil-iar with the road, that’s a recipe for a disas-ter – and I don’t want it to be my son or aneighbor.” Jonathan Chan said he and hisfamily just moved into their home a fewweeks ago. “Our pamphlets from [builder]NV Homes show that road as a farm road,”he said. “I have a 22-month-old girl and aboy on the way, and I’m concerned aboutdrivers on that road and some drunk drivertaking them out.”
Claire Dunleavy, however, said she has ahorse on that farm and has driven on BullRun Post Office for 13 years and has neverseen an accident there. “Hickox saved ourfarm and farmland,” she said. “I asked himif he could put the road elsewhere; but evenif it were possible, it would decimate thefarmland.”
But Stammetti’s wife, Katie, said, “There’snot even a turn lane, so traffic comingnorthbound from Loudoun County will backup all the traffic behind it.” However, Hickoxreassured her that the county will require a
turn lane as the project moves from phasetwo to phase three.
Directly addressing the residents, he said,“I sold this land to NV, and I can’t controlwhat they told you. I put the language[about the brewery] in the deeds and wasn’thiding the road from you. It breaks my heartthat NV didn’t put an emphasis on this.”
AFTER THE MEETING, severalStonebridge Chase residents wrote toFairfax County to express their concernsabout this project. Among them wasMichael Man, who sent a July 25 email tothe Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), Plan-ning Commission and Board of Supervisors– all of whom will be deciding on theBrewery’s future.
In the original special permit for theequestrian center there, one of the condi-tions the county added prior to approval in2016 states that the farm road is to only
‘Why OK to Build a Highway behind My House?’Neighbors object to Bull Run Farm Brewery’s entrance.
Site plan of the proposed Bull Run Farm Brewery, off Route 29 and Bull Run Post Office Road (in top rightcorner) in Centreville.
serve the riding and boarding facility andthe two dwellings. It would therefore pre-vent that road from serving anything else.But in the new, special-permit amendment,Hickox wants this condition removed – andin its July 17 report, county staff concurred.
So in his email, Man wrote, “I stronglyrecommend the BZA reject staff recommen-dation to remove [the] condition statingthat ‘The ultimate access road shown on thespecial permit plat shall only be used forthe riding and boarding stable and the twoexisting dwellings.’”
“The applicant is trying to push througha special exception that will have an esti-mated 700+ cars transverse that ‘farm road’in one hour on Saturday, with an estimatedSaturday daily total of 4,663 transits,” hecontinued. “That is a lot more impactfulthan the approved equestrian center andgoes against the original agreement of thecondition of approval.”
See Bulletin, Page 7
Submit civic/community announcements atConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
DONATIONS NEEDEDSchool Supply and Backpack Drive. 8 a.m.-4
p.m. at the Parent Resource Center, 2334Gallows Road, Room 105, Dunn Loring. For thenearly 56,000 students in Fairfax County PublicSchools living at the poverty line, obtainingschool supplies can be difficult. FCPS ispartnering with roughly 20 nonprofits andbusinesses to ensure that students will have the
supplies they need this fall for its “Collect forKids” campaign. A $25 donation will fill abackpack with FCPS approved supplies for astudent. Organize a collection drive of newbackpacks in your community and bring to oneof the Collect for Kids drop off locations. Visitwww.collectforkids.org/get-involved or call 703-204-3941.
TUESDAY/AUG. 13Family Caregiver Telephone Support Group.
7-8 p.m. Fairfax County’s Family CaregiverTelephone Support Group meets by phone on
Bulletin Board
6 ❖ Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Today’s Fairfax County 4-H Fair reflects the vi-brant urban and subur-
ban communities Fairfax Countyhas grown into,” said YvonneJohnson, park manager at FryingPan Farm Park early Saturdaymorning. It was the third day of the 71st 4-H Fairand Carnival held at Frying Pan Farm Park in HerndonAugust 1-4.
While the fair offered old-fashioned country funthrough its exhibits and demonstrations, it revealeda community powered by young people with diverseinterests, from animal showmanship to horticulture,to science, technology, engineering and the arts.
In the 4-H Building, Hap O’Brien of Annandaledisplayed a frame from one of his beehives heavywith honey. He explained bees were needed for pol-lination but “are in desperation” given the Varroamite infestation that weakens them. “Mite infesta-tion weakens most bee colonies and is the cause ofthe loss of most wild honeybees,” he said.
OVER AT THE EXHIBITION tables, Ann Marlow,vice president of the board for Friends of Frying PanPark looked over entries in the Foods and NutritionDepartment she helped judge. Alexandra Blake ofGreat Falls won Grand Champion with her cupcakeentry. Becca Berglie of Centreville won Reserve GrandChampion for her fruit pie.
During the Rabbit and Cavy Show, John Ameenrated the Standard Rex rabbits. Although the rabbitsowned and raised by Hannah Rosenbusch, 10, of FallsChurch and her sister Ava did not place, Hannahexplained the importance of bonding with rabbits.“You have to give rabbits lots of attention and bondwith them, or they will become aggressive towardsyou. Then it’s not fun to have them,” she said. Avatold she won a Grand Champion Ribbon in the QuickBread Class for the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Depart-ment. “The fair is always forward-looking, as seenby incorporating STEAM entries into the exhibits,”said Kristy Carter of Herndon, board member, Friendsof Frying Pan Park. A summary of the Science & Tech-nology Department of the 4-H catalog revealed com-puter-generated graphics, games and web pages anda Visual Arts Department with graphic design-com-mercial, digital painting and photo manipulation.
Outside one of the barns, the Strenglein sisters ofCentreville, Summer, 11, Hannah, 8, and Brooke, 10,held ribbons and entries. “I entered the 4-H Fair forthe fun of it. I chose this image because it was mymost memorable photo. I used a Kodak camera,” saidHannah.
FAIR-GOERS enjoyed horse and dog demonstra-tions and rabbit, cavy and livestock shows, as wellas an antique tractor pull and old fashion games.
Cow and goat milking became a first-hand experi-ence for many fair-goers. In one of the barns, twoyoung children from Herndon, Sean, 3, and his sis-ter Emma, 10 months, touched a horse for the firsttime, compliments of Alina Ampeh of Oakton andmember of Virginia Trotters 4H Horse Club.
Leaving the barn, the whirl and twirl of rides by ColeShows Amusement Company could be seen in the dis-tance, set up in one of the pastures. If patrons couldhandle the Zipper, they could handle any other ride onthe carnival midway. For the more faint of heart, theTubs of Fun ride was a great choice for all ages.
Eric Kulczycky of Visit Fairfax attended the event.“Visit Fairfax is celebrating the 50th anniversary ofthe iconic Virginia is for Lovers slogan with a sum-mer tour of the LOVE letters. Frying Pan Farm Parkis one of our fabulous partners on tour and is a won-derful tourism destination within the county,” he said.
Yvonne Johnson wanted the public to know alladults and youth are welcome to enter the fair com-petition. “You do not have to be members of 4-H toenter. If you have a hobby or interest, come. Nextyear, the Fair and Carnival is July 30 through Aug.2,” she said.
Ann Marlow of Fairfax Station, vice president of theboard for Friends of Frying Pan Park and one of theexhibit judges, holds up the prized Reserve GrandChampion ribbon Becca Berglie of Centreville wonfor her fruit pie.
Two children from Herndon, Sean, 3, andhis sister Emma, 10 months, touch a horsefor the first time, compliments of AlinaAmpeh of Oakton and member of VirginiaTrotters 4H Horse Club during the FairfaxCounty 71st 4-H Fair and Carnival.
Youth-powered CommunityIn FairfaxCounty 71st 4-HFair and Carnivalcommunity’syoung peopleshine.
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Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Although I’ve had a pretty good run of late not writing much about “the cancer,” to quote “Forrest, Forrest Gump,” the reality is, as you might imagine, cancer is ever present – in your head and in your heart (and for me, in my lungs).
Never more so then when your quarterly CT scan is imminent. As I sit and write this column on a Sunday, Wednesday, three days hence is what you’d call ‘imminent.’ Not that there’s much prepa-ration, there’s not. But with electronic media being what it is, one does receive multiple reminders: text, email and the occasional call.
And, even though I don’t actually have to do anything in advance, I am reminded nonetheless, in advance, what there is yet to be done: show up! (Apparently, many cancer patients, staff have told me, are not as compliant as you’d expect them to be.)
But it’s not the ‘advance’ or the ‘after’ that I’m addressing in this column. It’s the way-before and how a CT’s imminence affects one’s life.
As much as I write a good game – and talk/act a good game, living one’s life pretending to min-imize cancer’s presumptive/possible/”prognosed” impact is indeed make believe. Not that I’m a glass half-empty person, I’m not, as you regular readers know.
However, there’s nothing like a computerized tomography and a post-scan appointment with one’s oncologist to focus your attention on the fact that you have been/are living with what your oncol-ogist originally characterized back in early 2009, as a “terminal disease:” non-small cell lung cancer, stage IV (and giving you a “13 month to two year” prognosis, to boot).
A disease whose initial progression (doc-tor-speak for growth/movement) eliminated surgery as an option, but one for which there have been multiple lines of chemotherapy, none of which was ever been said to be a cure. In the spirit of that reality, how does one live in the present and plan for the future? (Jeez, that last line sounds right out of one of the Carrie Bradshaw’s “Sex and the City” voice overs.)
On the one hand – the one with no sense of reality, I suppose one is simply to go about one’s varied business with nary a care or concern in the world. On the other hand – the one with enough a sense of reality to choke a horse, I suppose I am to mark time, count the number of days until my next scan, plan for today and think about tomorrow.
But, not too many tomorrows as there’s no sense getting ahead of oneself or else one will get behind. And if that sounds mixed up, it is. Because for can-cer patients, “Time is a godforsaken paradox.”
As Captain Katheryn Janeway of “Star Trek: Voy-ager” further explained many star dates ago: “The future is the past, the past is the future. The whole thing gives me a headache.”
And if you do get any headaches, you need to contact your oncologist because in 30 percent of lung cancer patients, the cancer moves to the brain. A location which presents all sorts of treatment and quality of life challenges.
And, a manifestation there, should it appear, scares the living daylights out of me. But never mind. Just keep on planning and pretending that you don’t have a “TERMINAL” disease. You know, the type of disease for which there’s “NO CURE.”
Then again, if I do get bogged down by certain realities, I’ll be no work and no play – and no fun (neither do I want to be a dull boy). And no fun is no way to live – in the past, present or future, and that’s no paradox.
So, if and when the chips and/or the “chippee” is down, one needs to be thankful for the chips that you do have and for the ones you hope yet to accumulate. Otherwise, you might as well see the cashier on your way out.
Life’s too short (don’t I know it) to live only in the present and not consider the future. And if I don’t consider the future, it’s unlikely I’ll have one. Just because I’ve now had a past that lasted years longer than I expected shouldn’t mean I can’t have a future I never anticipated.
Some Trek: To Go Where This Man Has Never Gone BeforeFrom Page 5
Bulletin Board
Tuesday, February 13, 7-8 p.m. This month’sfocus is an open discussion on caregiver stress.Share experiences, gain support and getinformation without having to travel. Call 703-324-5484, TTY 711 to register.
TUESDAY/AUG. 20Car Seat Safety Check. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at
the Sully district police station, 4900 StonecroftBlvd. Fairfax County Police Department offersfree safety check and install events throughoutthe year to ensure children travel safely. Inpreparation for inspection, install the seat usingthe instructions that came with the car seat.Trained officers will review the car seatinstructions and car owner’s manual to becertain that they are being followed as theyshould.
WEDNESDAY/AUG. 21Public Comment Sought. The Office of
Intermodal Planning and Investment, theVirginia Department of Transportation, and theDepartment of Rail and Public Transportation,under the leadership of the CommonwealthTransportation Board (CTB), are developing aplan to study Virginia’s 179 miles of theInterstate 95 corridor between the WoodrowWilson Bridge in Alexandria, Virginia and theNorth Carolina border. The first comment periodwill end Aug. 21, 2019. Additional commentopportunities will be available throughout thestudy period. For more information about thestudy, or to view meeting materials and accessthe online engagement tool, visitVA95Corridor.org.
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY/AUG. 28-SEPT. 25Community Emergency Response Team
Training. 7-11 p.m. at at the Fire and RescueAcademy, 4600 West Ox Road, Fairfax. TheCommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT)Program trains county residents in basic disasterresponse skills, such as fire safety, light searchand rescue, team organization, and disastermedical operations. Using the training learnedin the classroom and during exercises, CERTmembers can assist others in their neighborhoodor workplace following an event whenprofessional responders are not immediatelyavailable to help. Emphasis on hands-on skilldevelopment and Fairfax County protocols andprocedures. Instructor will provide syllabus withclass schedule at first session. This training doesnot require any special physical strength oragility. Visit volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov/custom/1380/#/opp_details/184989 to register.
TUESDAY/SEPT. 3Car Seat Safety Check. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at
the Sully district police station, 4900 StonecroftBlvd. Fairfax County Police Department offersfree safety check and install events throughoutthe year to ensure children travel safely. Inpreparation for inspection, install the seat usingthe instructions that came with the car seat.Trained officers will review the car seatinstructions and car owner’s manual to becertain that they are being followed as theyshould.
TUESDAY/SEPT. 10ESL Class Registration. 7 p.m. at Lord of Life
Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Road, Fairfaxor 13421 Twin Lakes Drive, Clifton. Threelevels: beginning, intermediate, advanced.Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 17-Nov. 21.
All are welcome. Registration fee, $15; text book,$25. Visit www.lordoflifeva.org or call 703-323-9500.
TUESDAY/SEPT. 17Car Seat Safety Check. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at
the Sully district police station, 4900 StonecroftBlvd.
Fairfax County Police Department offers free safetycheck and install events throughout the year toensure children travel safely. In preparation forinspection, install the seat using the instructionsthat came with the car seat. Trained officers willreview the car seat instructions and car owner’smanual to be certain that they are beingfollowed as they should.
8 ❖ Chantilly Connection ❖ August 7-13, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
On July 24, a hotWednesday afternoon that ended in
a thunder shower, Sully DistrictCub Scouts held their annualBike Rodeo at the Chantilly Na-tional Golf Course and CountryClub parking lot. The event wasled by Cubmaster Kris Keenerof Pack 127. Amanda Gervaiswas the coordinator for theCountry Club, which providedhot dogs and water for all of theparticipants.
There were more than 100people in attendance, whichincluded 47 Cub Scouts from 12different Sully District CubScout Packs. Also present werethe Fairfax County Police De-
partment Bicycle Officers, whoprovided instruction and guid-ance; Josh Taft from A-1 Cy-cling who inspected and fixedbikes; Linda Watkins fromINOVA providing helmet fittingand safety guidance; and VJMeleski and George Garlickfrom Safe Routes to School(part of FCPS) who providedguidance on the bicycle coursefor the Cub Scouts.
Although the event was cutshort by a thunderstorm at 7p.m., fun was had by all andparticipants said they werelooking forward to next year.
—Hondo Davids, Sully
District Vice Chairman
Linda Watkins fits a helmet on a Cub Scout as BikeRodeo Chairman and cubmaster Kris Keener looks on.
Sully District CubScouts Hold Bike Rodeo
Hondo Davids, Sully District Vice Chairman, manningthe hot dogs and water station.
Josh Taft of A-1 Cycling works on a bike to get it safeand ready to ride.
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Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGJunior Golf Fairfax Camps, Clinics
and Competition. Burke Lake GolfCenter is located at 6915 Ox Road,Fairfax Station. Pinecrest Golf Courseis located at 6600 Little RiverTurnpike, Alexandria. Twin LakesGolf Course is located at 6201 UnionMill Road, Clifton. Oak Marr GolfComplex is located at 3136Jermantown Road, Oakton. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/junior.
❖ In one-session introductory JuniorGolf clinics, kids and teens learnbasic golf rules, etiquette of thegame, get familiarized with differenttypes of clubs and acquire skills forputting and chipping in a social andrelaxed environment. Clubs andpractice balls provided. Clinics areoffered at Burke Lake, Oak Marr andPinecrest golf courses for $15 each inAugust.
❖ Golf camp week-long sessions are stillopen – campers learn putting,chipping, iron and woods play fromcertified instructors in a friendly,group atmosphere. Course etiquetteand best safety practices will teachkids and teens fundamentals whilethey socialize and have fun. Clubs arenot required but suggested. Allcampers will receive a certificate andgolf fun pack upon camp completion.Burke Lake Golf Center and TwinLakes Golf Course offer half daysummer camp, Pinecrest Golf Courseoffers both half and full day summercamp options. Oak Marr GolfComplex offers half day spring andsummer camp through EverybodyGolf School.
❖ Course-ready juniors will enjoy theJunior Club Championship, Aug. 16,8 a.m.-noon at Burke Lake GolfCenter. Golfers participate in an 18-hole individual stroke competition.Competitors will be separated intothree divisions with first, second, andthird place prizes available in alldivisions. Lunch provided. Call 703-323-1641 to register.
Registration Open: NVSO. TheNorthern Virginia Senior Olympicsfeatures more than 60 events thatchallenge the mind as well as thebody. New games this year: jigsawpuzzle and line-dancing. The gamesrun Sept. 14-28. There will be no on-site registration. Paper registrations,available at most local recreation andsenior centers, must be postmarkedby Aug. 24. Online registrations mustbe completed by Aug. 31 atwww.nvso.us.
Crafters Wanted for 2nd AnnualFall Craft Show. The FairfaxStation Railroad Museum will holdits 2nd Annual Fall Craft Show andLEGO (TM) Train Show on Saturday,Oct. 12, 2019 ,10 a.m.-4 p.m. Forcrafters interested in joining theevent, booth space is enough roomfor a 10x10 canopy and cost is $50per space. Email [email protected] for an application andfurther information. Visitwww.fairfax-station.org or call 703-425-9225.
Chantilly Farmers Market.Thursdays, 3:30-7 p.m., through Nov.11 in the parking lot at St. VeronicaCatholic Church, 3460 CentrevilleRoad, Chantilly. The farmers marketis a family-friendly weekly eventwhere everyone can access localfoods around, and build connectionswith local farmers, small businessowners, and their neighbors. Farmersand vendors bring locally raisedfruits, vegetables, breads and bakedgoods, meats and eggs, local honey,wine, soaps, prepared foods, andmore each week. Free admission.Visit www.community-foodworks.org/chantilly for more.
THURSDAY/AUG. 8Farmers Market Week. 3:30-7 p.m.
at St. Veronica Church parking lot,3460 Centreville Road, Chantilly.Join the neighborhood celebration atthe Chantilly Farmers Market, withactivities for children and a free giftbasket raffle. Free admission. Visitwww.community-foodworks.org formore.
Hunter Mill Nights: Chopteeth(Afrofunk). 7:30-8:30 p.m. atFrying Pan Farm Park, 2739 West OxRoad, Herndon. With a mix ofperformances through for the wholefamily, Hunter Mill Nights returnsthrough Aug. 22 with performancesby entertainers from across theUnited States and around the world.Allow time for a picnic in the park, avisit with the farm animals and awagon ride, along with the show.Free. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/hunter-mill-nights for more.
SUNDAY/AUG. 11TTRAK Model Train Show. 1-4 p.m.
at the Fairfax Station RailroadMuseum, 11200 Fairfax StationRoad, Fairfax Station. The NorthernVirginia TTRAK members will hold aN gauge Model Train Display. Ages16 and older, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 andunder, free. Visit www.fairfax-station.org or call 703-425-9225.
THURSDAY/AUG. 15Hunter Mill Nights: Veronneau
(world jazz). 7:30-8:30 p.m. atFrying Pan Farm Park, 2739 West OxRoad, Herndon. With a mix ofperformances through for the wholefamily, Hunter Mill Nights returnsthrough Aug. 22 with performancesby entertainers from across theUnited States and around the world.Allow time for a picnic in the park, avisit with the farm animals and awagon ride, along with the show.Free. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/hunter-mill-nights for more.
SATURDAY/AUG. 17Peach of a Program. 1-3:30 p.m. at
Sully Historic Site, 3650 HistoricSully Way, Chantilly. In the 18thcentury, Sully historic site was hometo more than 1,000 peach trees.Learn about the history of peachesand their uses in the “Peaches andCream” program. Participants willhave the chance to cook in thehistoric kitchen using peaches andhand-crank peach ice cream.
Designed for peach lovers age 6-adult. $15 per person. Children mustbe accompanied by a registeredadult. Call 703-437-1794 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site.
SUNDAY/AUG. 18Dairy Days. 1-4 p.m. (on the hour) at
Sully Historic Site, 3650 HistoricSully Way, Chantilly. Get a taste ofthe county’s dairy history at SullyHistoric Site. Churn butter, crank icecream, milk a fake cow, play 18thcentury games, and experience a sliceof life from decades ago. Designedfor participants 5- adult. $8 perperson. Walk-ins are welcome, butpre-registration is recommended.Children must be accompanied by anadult. Tour the historic house for anadditional fee. Call 703-437-1794 orvisit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site.
NTRAK Model Train Show. 1-4 p.m.at the Fairfax Station RailroadMuseum, 11200 Fairfax StationRoad, Fairfax Station. The NorthernVirginia NTRAK members will hold aN gauge Train Display. Ages 16 andolder, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 and under,free. Visit www.fairfax-station.org orcall 703-425-9225.
THURSDAY/AUG. 22Hunter Mill Nights: The United
States Navy ‘Cruisers’ (poprock). 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Frying PanFarm Park, 2739 West Ox Road,Herndon. With a mix ofperformances through for the wholefamily, Hunter Mill Nights returnsthrough Aug. 22 with performancesby entertainers from across theUnited States and around the world.Allow time for a picnic in the park, avisit with the farm animals and awagon ride, along with the show.Free. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/hunter-mill-nights for more.
SATURDAY/AUG. 24Glass Harp Performance. 1-2 p.m.
at Centreville Regional Library,14200 St Gernain Drive, Centreville.Join an end of summer celebration asJamey Turner plays the glass harp, amusical instrument made withdrinking glasses filled with water.This family friendly program willengage and delight all ages. Free.Call 703-830-2223 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/5238367.
Photo courtesy of the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum
Railroad MuseumThe Fairfax Station Railroad Museum holds events most Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Ages
16 and older, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 and under, free. The Fairfax Station Railroad Mu-seum is located at 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Visitwww.fairfax-station.org, www.facebook.com/FFXSRR, or call 703-425-9225.
Entertainment
