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Helping KeepHomeless WarmNews, Page 3
Saxon Stage To Present ‘Biloxi Blues’News, Page 7
Calling for Service On Veterans Day
News, Page 2
The Foley family and their construc-tion companies not only helped build the original Great Falls Free-dom Memorial, but in October, they donated their time and labor to improve the site. The Foleys levelled the surrounding slopes to make more room for seating, re-sodded and added additional lighting.
2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Andrea Worker
The Connection
It has been one hundred years – the11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th
month of 1918 since the signing ofthe Armistice that officially ended
World War I. One year later, on Nov. 11,1919, the first “Armistice Day” commemo-ration was held to honor the service of thosewho fought in that war.
The passage of the years and the continu-ation of global conflicts has seen the evolu-tion of that day of remembrance, with “Ar-mistice Day” becoming “Veterans Day” withthe purpose to honor all veterans, whereverand whenever they served.
On Monday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m., residentsof Great Falls gathered at the Great FallsFreedom Memorial behind the Public Li-brary to do just that – honor those whoserved to protect our freedom.
THIS YEAR, thanks to the generosity andhard work of the Foley family and their con-struction companies, those who attendedhad more seating space available to them,additional standing spots, and less poten-tial for a trip up – or down – the slowlysinking berms and slopes that had sur-rounded the site. Wayne Foley and his sonsKyle, Shawn and Ryan created the plans andthen did the work in early October, level-ling, re-sodding and repairing signage, witheverything ready for the Veterans’ Day cer-emonies.
Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Me-morial, the volunteer group who formed in2002 to build the site dedicated to thememory of local residents who had giventheir lives in military service, arranged theevent, as they do each year. Friends of theGreat Falls Freedom Memorial presidentAndy Wilson welcomed the attendees and
handled the duties of host.The Colors were presented by the Color
Guard Detachment of the U.S. MarineCorps, the Invocation was given by PastorLivingston Dore of the Great Falls Method-ist Church, and a selection of patriotic tunes,including the National Anthem and“America the Beautiful” rang out within thememorial plaza courtesy of the LangleyHigh School Madrigals choral group, underthe direction of Dr. Mac Lambert.
Colonel Joseph S. Gordon, U.S. Army, Ret.was the event’s keynote speaker.
Gordon served thirty years in the Army,both on active duty and in the reserves, withassignments in Germany, peacekeeping inBosnia and Kosovo, and as a member in theU.S. Military Delegation at NATO headquar-ters in Brussels.
In addition to his military services, Gor-don used his educational achievements, in-cluding his Ph.D. in European History fromDuke University, being a Fulbright Scholarat Marburg University in Germany, to passalong his knowledge. He has taught atDuke, the Army Command and Staff Col-lege, the National Intelligence University,
See Veterans, Page 5
Gathering in Great Falls to honor veterans.
Calling for Service
The Langley Madrigals amazed, singing the National Anthem and anumber of patriotic selections, their voices echoing around the GreatFalls Freedom Memorial plaza.
Col. JosephGordon, UnitedStates Army,Ret., was thekeynote speakerat the GreatFalls Veterans’memorial.Gordon calledfor the need to“reignite oursense of service” as one way tohelp unify the country and tospread goodwill around the world.
Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection
Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsConnection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
By Andrea Worker
The Connection
This month, residents in thearea were taken somewhat bysurprise at the record-for-No-vember snowfall on Nov. 15.
For most in the region, the negative ef-fects of the nor’easter meant hazardouscommutes at the worst, or being annoy-ingly housebound on the less dramaticside of the scale.
For some people experiencinghomelessness, however, that snowfallbrought potentially life-threatening conse-quences, and the forecasts for a more snow-filled winter than in years past means thedangers they face will only escalate as win-ter wears on.
The Hypothermia Prevention Program isan integral part of Fairfax County’s battleto combat homelessness and keep this vul-nerable population safe during the coldestmonths. Nonprofit organizations operateshelters for individuals and families year-round, but when winter arrives, the effortsof nonprofits, faith communities, civic or-ganizations, businesses and volunteers —in collaboration with a number of govern-ment agencies — kick in to an even highergear. The Office to Prevent and EndHomelessness, the Community ServicesBoard, the Police Department and theSheriff ’s Office, the Fire Marshal’s Officeand the county’s Land Development Ser-vices all work together with these partnersto support the program and address the cli-ents’ needs for service and safety through-out the season.
The hypothermia season runs from ap-proximately Dec. 1 – March 1, activating ano-turn-away policy at shelters and addingadditional venues where the homeless canshelter, find food, clothing, other basicneeds and resources aimed at helping to liftthem out of their situations.
This year, a number of those venues havealready opened their doors, such as the FallsChurch Homeless Shelter on Gordon Road,which operates in partnership with NewHope Housing.
Fairfax County has been waging a waragainst homelessness since they first offi-cially took up the challenge in 2007. In the10 years between 2008 and 2018, the an-nual “Point in Time” census, conducted bydozens of staff and volunteers throughoutthe Metro region in accordance with guide-lines from the U.S. Department of Housingand Urban Development, shows a decreaseof almost 50 percent in the number ofpeople who are homeless in the county.Those same statistics, however, show aslight uptick in the last 12-month period.
When the last Point-in-Time survey wasdone, on the night of Jan. 24, 2018, 987people were counted among the county’shomeless, up from 964 at the same time in2017. Of those, 488 were people in fami-lies and 499 were single individuals. Home-less persons in families increased by 3 per-
cent compared to 2017. The number ofhomeless families also increased, by 6 per-cent over last year, while the number ofsingle adults increased by 2 percent sincethe 2017 count.
THE NUMBERS also inched up for fami-lies in emergency shelters and in transi-tional housing. One of the largest increasesover 2017 figures was the 18 percent in-crease in families whose homelessness wasdue to domestic violence.
Part of the study showed that 44 percentof single adults who were classified as“chronically homeless” suffered from seri-ous mental health and/or substance abuse,a number identical to the last year. Alsounchanged was the number of homelesschildren (298) under the age of 18.
The point-in-time statistics and some dis-cussion about root causes and steps to taketo further the cause are available on thecounty’s website www.fairfaxcounty.gov bysearching Office to Prevent and EndHomelessness.
But right now, as the weather turns colder,
the challenge and the immediate efforts arefocused on keeping people who areunsheltered alive and safe and surroundedby welcoming neighbors willing to assist.
That safe welcome is available through-out the area, with the county divided intoregions offering a variety of services.
New Hope Housing operates its WinterSeasonal program in Region I – the SouthCounty Route 1 area- out of the Eleanor U.Kennedy Shelter at 9155 Richmond High-way. Guests are welcomed to enter the shel-ter after 4:30 p.m. where they are providedwith showers and laundry service, self-caresupplies, dinner, and breakfast and baggedlunches the next morning.
Starting Dec. 1, New Hope Housing startsoperation of its Hypothermia PreventionProgram through Ventures in CommunityHypothermia Outreach Program at the Ris-ing Hope United Methodist Mission Churchat 8220 Russell Road in Alexandria. Thathypothermia shelter operates from 6:30 p.m– 7 a.m., offering shelter, meals and othersupplies. Both shelters also allow New Hopecase management staff to assist with em-
ployment skills and housing assistance.Within the City of Falls Church, the
Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelterpartner with New Hope Housing to oper-ate the Gordon Road facility, seven days aweek from 6 p.m. to 8 the following morn-ing. This shelter is already operational, andwill remain open until March 31, 2019 tohandle the winter homeless crisis. At theFalls Church shelter, guests have the oppor-tunity to reserve their bed in advance, of-fering a sense of security for persons whooften lack that basic need.
Region 2 is the Central area for the pro-gram, and includes Annandale and SevenCorners. New Hope Housing is at work inthis area, as well, operating out of theBailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter(BCCS), located at 3525 Moncure Ave. inFalls Church. Because of the partnership ofmany neighboring faith communities, theBCCS can handle a larger number of guestsby welcoming them first at their own loca-tion, and then transporting them to a faithcommunity facility. These overnight hostsrotate throughout the season and offermeals, supplies and fellowship in additionto a warm, safe bed. Again, outreach casemanagers offer other life skills and hous-ing assistance.
In the North County’s Region 3, whichincludes Herndon and Reston, Cornerstonesoperates its winter seasonal efforts from theEmbry Rucker Community Shelter, locatedat 11975 Bowman Towne Drive in Reston.
THE EXPANDED SERVICES are offeredas part of the Hypothermia PreventionProgram’s move to the nearby North CountyHuman Services Building at 1850 CameronGlen Dr. in Reston, where guests are di-rected after checking in at the Embry Ruckerfacility.
Nonprofit FACETS takes point in Region4 – the western and central areas that coverFairfax and Centreville. The location of itsshelters rotates among many of the area’svarious faith communities. It starts with thefirst four weeks at one location, and thenthe program operates from two faith com-munity sites each week, beginning on Dec.23, 2018. Potential guests or those wishingto volunteer, can learn where the programwill be hosted at any given period by visit-ing the FACETS website, or contacting themat 703-352-5090, ext. 302 (or ext. 303 forthe information in Spanish.)
In addition to providing shelter, food,supplies and other resources, the FairfaxCounty Health Department’s HomelessHealthcare Program also deploys nursepractitioners to visit all of the HomelessHealthcare Program venues and the regu-lar shelters at least once per week. Thenurse practitioners see to basic medicalneeds during their visits and can offer nocost flu shots as needed. Medical outreachworkers also visit, assisting clients in en-rolment into the Community Health CareNetwork’s free clinic.
Slightly higher numbers of residents inneed face higher snowfalls forecasted.Helping Keep Homeless Warm
The county already operates six shelters for both individuals and fami-lies, but during the coldest times more homeless people need assistanceto stay safe and warm. The Hypothermia Prevention Program kicks in tooffer this needed support.
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CONTACT INFORMATIONTo make contact to receive assistance or to find out how to offer assistance, here are some contact details:
Region 4 – Fairfax and Centreville:Visit the FACETS website at www.facetscares.org/
programs/hypothermia-prevention-and-response-program or call 703-352-5090 ext. 302for English and ext. 303 for information inSpanish. Maria Avila [email protected] also provide moreinformation.
The county operates a total of six year-roundshelters for both adults and families. Theirlocations and contact information are availableon the county’s website. For families withchildren, to schedule shelter, the adults need tocontact the Human Services CoordinatedServices Planning office at 703-222-0880 duringregular business hours. After hours, familieswith children can present themselves directly toone of the emergency shelters.
Region 1 – South County:Contact Sherry Edelkamp at
[email protected], or Chandra Beander [email protected] by calling703-799-0200.
In the City of Falls Church, contact Jeff Lisanick at703-854-1400 or via email [email protected] or again,Chandra Beander.
In Region 2 – Central/Annandale and SevenCorners:
Contact Alfred Grant at 703-820-7621,[email protected], or KhristinaKoontz at [email protected].
Region 3 – Reston, Herndon:Cornerstones Outreach Missy Norquest at
[email protected], or CassHyatt at [email protected] 703-437-1975.
4 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
❖ Cornerstones, 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210,Reston, serving Reston and Herndon. 571-323-9555,www.cornerstonesva.org.
Nonprofit providing support and advocacy for those inneed of food, shelter, affordable housing, qualitychildcare, and other human services. Programs andservices include the Embry Rucker CommunityShelter, Emergency Food Pantry, HypothermiaPrevention Program, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Giftsfor Kids and annual Coat Drive.
For families in need, often there isn’t enough money tospend on gifts. To register for the Gifts for Kidsdrive, visit https://www.cornerstonesva.org/gifts-for-kids-donation-form/. Personalized wish lists willbe distributed within two business days of yoursubmission.
Gifts will be collected at Cornerstones’ main office,11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210, Reston, VA20190, during the following times:
Thursday, Dec. 6 and Friday, Dec. 7: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 8: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Contact Nate King, Donations and Drives Coordinator,
at 571-323-9569.
❖ SHARE of McLean operates a food pantry; providesassistance to families to avoid eviction, keep utilitieson and meet other needs in a crisis. Share ofMcLean will provide holiday assistance to hundredsof needy families this year. In December, Share’sfamilies will be welcomed to a festive party, serveda light meal, and Santa will travel all the way fromthe North Pole to take photographs with thechildren. Help Share help those in need by fulfillinga wish or donating Walmart, Target, Giant, orSafeway gift cards. [email protected] for more information. Visitwww.shareofmclean.org for more info about Share.
❖ Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly InstantSympathetic Help), 336 Victory Drive, Herndon,703-391-0105 herndonrestonfish.org Herndon-Reston FISH has assisted local residents in short-term crises by since 1969. 703-437-0600.
❖ LINK, serving Herndon, Chantilly, Loudoun andmore. Every year the goal is to provide each familywith a week’s worth of non-perishable food inNovember and again in December. When fundsallow, grocery gift cards are also included. InNovember, clients also receive a voucher for coatsand warm clothing. In December, children 16 andunder receive gifts. [email protected] www.linkagainsthunger.org.
❖ Committee for Helping Others (CHO), Vienna,organized in 1969 by a group of churches andindividuals in the Dunn Loring, Merrifield, Oakton,Vienna community to provide simple, loving charityto those in need. Coming up, holiday bike drive.703-281-7614, www.cho-va.com
❖ Our Neighbor’s Child (ONC) volunteers arepreparing for delivery of holiday gifts for childrenfrom financially struggling families in western
Fairfax County – predominantly in Centreville andChantilly. www.ourneighborschild.org/
❖ Northern Virginia Family Service. Theorganization provides the essential building blocksfor financial, emotional and physical well-being,serving as leaders and innovators for the NorthernVirginia community. Every year, it empowers35,000 individuals to achieve self-sufficiency.www.nvfs.org Northern Virginia Family Service,10455 White Granite, Drive, Suite 100, Oakton, VA22124. 571-748-2500
❖ Second Story — Second Story (formerlyAlternative House) provides shelter and services forhomeless, runaway or abused teenagers,unaccompanied youth, and young mothers and theirchildren. second-story.org.
❖ Shepherd’s Center of Oakton Vienna providingservices, personal enrichment, volunteeropportunities for adults 50 and over. Currentlyserving 3,000-plus mature adults in the region. 703-281-0538, www.scov.org
❖ Touching Heart in Herndon is a nonprofitorganization whose mission is to educate children tohave giving hearts. www.touchingheart.com, 703-901-7355.
❖ Western Fairfax Christian Ministries — foodpantry at 13981 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly. Formore information or to sponsor a family, call 703-988-9656, ext. 105. To mail gift cards or senddonations by check, add a note saying “food basketprogram” and send them to: WFCM, P.O. Box220802, Chantilly, VA 20153. 703-988-9656.
❖ FACETS helps parents, their children andindividuals who suffer the effects of poverty in theFairfax area, a partner in efforts to endhomelessness in Fairfax County. FACETS is alwaysin need of donations and volunteers, and offers avariety of one-time and ongoing opportunities. 703-865-4251 or [email protected]. 10640 Page Ave., Suite 300,Fairfax VA 22030
❖ Britepaths Britepaths is working to assist 800Fairfax County area families who might otherwisego without with Thanksgiving meals, Decemberholiday meals and gifts for their children inDecember. Sponsor a family or donate to provide afamily with a holiday meal and/or gifts for theirchildren. britepaths.org
❖ Fairfax City Area FISH (For ImmediateSympathetic Help) FISH provides funds andvolunteers to serve the needy and elderly in thegreater Fairfax City area of Fairfax County. FISHresponds to requests for life’s necessities: food,clothing, financial assistance for delinquent rent,mortgage, utility bills, gasoline, and prescriptions.Requests for assistance are passed on to FISH by the
Office of Coordinated Services Planning 703-222-0880 fairfaxfish.org/
❖ Lamb Center, www.thelambcenter.org, day centerfor homeless, Fairfax 703-691-3178.
❖ Food for Others Located at 2938 Prosperity Ave.,Fairfax, VA 22031, 703-207-9173. 2938 ProsperityAve. [email protected]. Most needed itemsinclude: Fresh fruits (oranges, apples, bananas,tomatoes, avocados, grapes, berries), Freshvegetables (cucumbers, celery, peppers, lettuce,eggplant), Canned chili, Canned tomato products(crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), Canned meat(chicken, beef, turkey, or seafood), Rice, 16 ozpackages, Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz – 1lb (ideally incans instead of glass), Canned fruit (packed in fruitjuice instead of syrup) 11oz – 20oz, Beans, dried orcanned (black, kidney, pinto, etc.), Canned pasta.www.foodforothers.org
❖ Ecumenical Community Helping Others(ECHO), 703-569-9160. Open to receive donationsat 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Providesfood and financial assistance to those in short-termemergencies, and provides clothing and householdgoods to low income families. Outerwear drivethrough Dec. 14. See Greater Springfield Chamberfor drop off locations. www.echo-inc.org.
❖ Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) willprovide Thanksgiving and holiday assistance tohundreds of families. Thanksgiving and Christmasfood baskets along with fulfilling gift wishes forchildren and teens will help low-income families.See website for warm coat and Christmas donationsand volunteer needs. lortonaction.org/seasonal-assistance/.
❖ Assistance League of Northern Virginia is anall-volunteer nonprofit organization that feeds,clothes and educates children in need. AssistanceLeague’s philanthropic programs touch the lives ofthousands of children at 11 Title I schools inNorthern Virginia, serving children most in need atselected schools in Fairfax and Prince Williamcounties and the City of Alexandria. To learn moreabout volunteer and sponsorship opportunities,contact [email protected] or visitwww.northernvirginia.assistanceleague.org
❖ Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services(CAUSE) ensures that recuperating service membershave opportunities for recreation and socialinteraction and receive concrete signs of appreciationfor all that they have done. Mailing address: 4201Wilson Blvd., #110-284, Arlington, VA 22203, CFC#33011, Phone 703-591-4965, cause-usa.org
❖ Shelter House provides crisis intervention, safehousing and supportive services to promote self-sufficiency for homeless families and victims ofdomestic violence in Fairfax County.www.shelterhouse.org
For tens of thousands of poor children and families in our area,uncertainty and need are distant from the celebrations and plentythat so many of us associate with this holiday period.
Give Locally
The holidays are about giving, andgiving thanks. The holidays areabout children and family. The holi-days are about sharing, about joy.
The holidays are about being thankfuland about faith and appreciation. Theholidays are about alleviating suffer-ing for others.
Northern Virginia is among thewealthiest areas in the country. Many if notmost of us go through our daily and seasonalroutines without encountering evidence of theneedy families among us.
In Fairfax County Public Schools, more than54,000 students (29 percent) are poor enoughto receive subsidized meals.
Many are children living in families who maybe on the brink of homelessness, fami-lies who must choose between medi-cal bills, car repair, heat and food. Someof these are children who may not besure that they will have a meal between
the meals they get in school.School holidays can bring uncertainty and
hunger, a far cry from the celebrations, giftsand plenty that we associate with Thanksgiv-
List of Nonprofits in Fairfax County
ing and Christmas.Hundreds of homeless students attend the
public schools, and their needs are greater.Many nonprofits in the county need your
help to provide a holiday meal for Thanksgiv-ing or Christmas, to provide children with gifts.
There are literally hundreds, probably thou-sands, of ways to give locally this season. Hereare a few ideas. We will rerun this list againafter Thanksgiving, so please let us know whatwe have missed.
— Mary Kimm
See Where to Give, Page 10
Editorial
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Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 2
News
the NATO school and other educational fa-cilities around the world. He adds accom-plished singer to his resume, performing asa member of the Choral Arts Society ofWashington and the Washington Men’sCamerata. He described singing in RedSquare in Moscow in 1993 as one of the“highlights” and “most moving moments”in his career.
Gordon spoke briefly, and with emotion,“on really just three things.”
“First, to recognize all our veterans, whichis why we are really here.”
Gordon took a moment to observe that itwas also the 100th “birthday” of the song“God Bless America.” “Fitting for this occa-sion,” he said, reminding the gathering thatthe song’s composer, Irving Berlin, was “animmigrant, born in Siberia, who served inthe United States Army.”
And third, Gordon noted what he sees asa decline in the concept of service and aninequality in the fact that rural areas and“middle states” tend to provide the mostservice members.
Acknowledging that it “wouldn’t be easyand would require a lot of leadership,” thecolonel called for a “universal, national ser-vice requirement” in replacement of thedraft which ended in 1973.
GORDON doesn’t think that such servicenecessarily means active duty in the mili-tary. “The Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, a yearor two in service in organizations like that,”he said could reignite Americans’ sense ofservice and “spread goodwill around theworld.”
“We should all share in service to ourcountry and each other. No, it’s not easy,”but he believes to do so would “keep us atpeace and safe.”
Before bringing the ceremony to a close,Wilson echoed some of Gordon’s call to ser-vice.
“Only about 1 percent of our population
serves in the military,” he noted, before re-citing the famous quote by WinstonChurchill to punctuate his point.
“Never in the field of human conflict wasso much owed by so many to so few,” saidthe British Prime Minister Churchill in awartime speech in 1940, referring to theBritish Royal Air Force who were fightingthe Battle of Britain at the time.
Spoken almost 80 years ago, Wilson saidthose words still hold true today.
With thanks to the guests, speakers, par-ticipants, and the Foley’s, Wilson closed theceremony with a few reminders.
“Join us here for Memorial Day next May,learn more about the Friends of Great FallsFreedom Memorial at www.gffreedom.org.,encourage its use, and support “MilitaryAppreciation Mondays” at the Old Broguein Great Falls in support of the “Stop Sol-dier Suicide,” organized by the Bob Nelsonrealty Team.
The United States Marine CorpsColor Guard detachment presentsthe Colors at the Great Falls Veter-ans’ Day Memorial ceremony onNovember 12.
Veterans Honored inGreat Falls
Residents gather to honor veteran service in Great Falls.
Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection
6 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Marilyn Campbell
When teaching their threeyoung children aboutgratitude and benevo-lence, Marcus Rosano
and his life Laura began with what theyconsider the basics: treating others withkindness.
“After leaving a sports practice, we tellthem to go back and say, ‘goodbye’ and‘thank-you’ to their coach,” he said. “Mywife and I have focused on the way wetreat others. Part of kindness is under-standing that there are people in our com-munity who can’t afford presents atChristmas and who aren’t going to havea Thanksgiving turkey with all the trim-mings.”
The Rosanos’ method of instruction isan effective one, according to research-ers who say that parents are theirchildren’s most influential teachers. “The best thinga parent can do to promote altruistic behavior is tomodel the behavior themselves,” said JessicaMcLaughlin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychologyat Montgomery College. “Kids imitate their parentsand they are more likely to engage in altruistic be-havior if we show them how to treat others with kind-ness and empathy.”
Parents can choose to partake in simple, randomacts of kindness, while they are with their children,added Joanne Bagshaw,Ph.D., professor of psychol-ogy at Montgomery College.“For example, paying forsomeone in line behind youin the grocery store, or help-ing an elderly person carrytheir grocery bags to the car,or helping a neighbor shovelsnow or clear ice from theirwalkway.”
Use that opportunity to ini-tiate a dialogue, continuedBagshaw. “Then afterwards,talk with your child abouthow it made you feel to help someone else. Throughthat discussion, brainstorm with your child how itmight have made the person you helped feel. [Thiswill] help develop empathy in your child.”
“I would suggest that parents discuss with kidswhat circumstances other kids and families may bein over the holidays and how it may differ from theirown,” said child psychologist Stacie Isenberg, Psy.D,“For example, there are families who have limitedfood and those who rely on shelters. They could alsodiscuss ways to acknowledge and express gratitudefor specific things they have, from food to heat totheir personal belongings, like saying something fromtheir day that they are grateful for; not just at Thanks-giving dinner, but every day at dinner or before bed.”
It is important that parents tailor their dialogue andlessons on gratitude and altruism to a child’s age andlevel of development, advises Linda Gulyn, Ph.D.,professor of psychology at Marymount University.
Child development experts share suggestionsfor helping children develop a sense of altruism.
Teaching Gratitude, Giving
“Preschool-aged kids need to see the immediateand tangible effects of helping and giving to others,”she said. “For example, ‘See how much grandpa likesit when you help him carry the holiday decorations?’Or ‘Because you shared your train tracks, now [yourplaymate] can get his train over the hill.’ “
School-aged children learn best by seeing the so-cial benefits and being part of group activities asso-ciated with giving and helping, suggests Gulyn. “[Thisis] because peers and people outside immediate fam-
ily are more interesting tothem,” she said. “For examplethe Girl Scout troop helped theelderly people decorate the se-nior living rec center.”
Teenaged children, on theother hand, are idealistic andinterested in social justice is-sues, says Gulyn. “They careabout pop culture, too.” saidsaid. “My teens enjoyed shop-ping for holiday gifts for otherkids who were socioeconomi-cally disadvantaged. Theybought sports team gear for fel-
low teen boys. “Identify issues that are important to a child and
provide opportunities for them practice altruismaround those topics, suggests Carolyn Cass Lorente,Ph.D., professor of psychology at Northern VirginiaCommunity College. “For instance if your child is in-terested in animals you might help them collect oldtowels and blankets in the neighborhood to take toa shelter,” she said. “This helps build a sense of agencyand responsibility and shows them that we each canmake a difference.”
“During the holidays, parents should share theirfamily histories and traditions and note their goodfortune in living today with many daily comforts andconveniences that their grandparents did not have,”said Short, Ph.D., professor of psychology at GeorgeMason University. “Gift giving encourages empathyand perspective-taking to consider what others mightlike and it brings people closer together.”
“The best thing a parentcan do to promotealtruistic behavior is tomodel the behaviorthemselves.”
— Jessica McLaughlin, Ph.D.,assistant professor of psychology,
Montgomery College
Photo courtesy of Marcus Rosano
Lesson on gratitude and giving during the holidaysshould be age-appropriate say psychologists.
Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Fall meeting materials will be available at:http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/planning/fallmeetings/ beginning October 15, 2018.
*Please note that these dates have been changed from previous listings.
Comments will be accepted until December 13, 2018.
The Commonwealth is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in,
Public MeetingsFall Transportation Meetings: Updated Schedule
You are invited to participate in public meetings held by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The meetings will begin with an open house followed by a public comment period. At the open house you can learn about various transportation initiatives, as well as Virginia’s project prioritization process (SMART SCALE), Virginia’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, and the VTrans Multimodal Transportation Plan. Representatives from the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment and Departments of Transportation and Rail and Public Transportation will be in attendance to highlight their transportation programs and discuss your ideas and concerns about Virginia’s transportation network. The open house will be followed by a public comment period, where you can provide comments about the various initiatives. Comments will be accepted at the meeting and may also be submitted via email or online at www.CTB.Virginia.gov.
Updated Schedule: Area Public Meetings will be held at the dates, locations and times listed below:
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.* NOVA District Office
Potomac Conference Room 4975 Alliance Drive Fairfax, VA 22030
Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 4 p.m.*
Fredericksburg District Office Auditorium 86 Deacon Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
If you cannot attend a meeting, you may send your comments on highway projects to Infrastructure Investment Director, VDOT, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219, or [email protected].
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News
By Raneem Khan
The Connection
Langley High School’stheater is getting readyto present its fall play,“Biloxi Blues,” from Nov.
29 to Dec. 2. The comedy, written byNeil Simon, takes protagonist EugeneJerome in his journey as he enlists inthe U.S. army and trains for World WarII in a drill camp in Biloxi, Mississippi.While training, Eugene meets manyof the nice, not-so-nice, and downrightcrazy people that he comes to call hisfellow recruits.
This comedic coming-of-agestory explores themes of war, dis-crimination, and camaraderie thatboth students and adults can re-late to. “Biloxi Blues,” a story setin 1943, will be Langley HighSchool’s first fall play after yearsof performing musicals. Langley’sSaxon Stage encourages commu-nity members to come see the playand enjoy the hilarious, emotional,and exciting story that awaits.
“Normally when doing plays, thestory might get confusing, but Ithink this one will be really appeal-ing to a lot of people, and every-one will be excited to see it,”Emma Connolly, a member of theSaxon Stage publicity team, said.“I think [the play] is really relat-able; the experiences they gothrough mentally during war aresimilar to what we go through ata different level, and maybe evenwhat community members havegone through in their lives,”Connolly said, encouraging locals
to go see the show.In addition to the show’s relat-
able nature, “Biloxi Blues” is anemotionally provoking story withan array of complex characters,including six young recruits and astern drill sergeant.
“My character is kind of sadistic,and he’s really tough on those boys,but it’s because he loves them; hedoesn’t want them to get killed andwants them to succeed,” MarkBosset, the actor who plays drillsergeant Toomey, said. Bosset looksforward to performing “BiloxiBlues” to show the teamwork thatboth students and communitymembers can learn from. “Cama-raderie is definitely a huge theme.The recruits have verbal fights andget into each other’s head, but theylearn that regardless of whetheryou disagree with someone, youhave to be a band of brothers, orelse you die,” Bosset said.
“I think it’s such a touching story,the older generation can kind ofrelive the younger part of theirlives,” Langley theater’s stagemanager Mary Kurbanov said. “Ithas a lot of teenage humor fromthe 40s, and it shows that ulti-mately, we can really learn fromone another.”
PerformancesNov. 29-Dec. 2 atLangley High.
Saxon Stage toPresent ‘Biloxi Blues’
Photo by Raneem Khan/The Connection
From left, Langley students Cole Sitilides, Josh Guinn,Samuel Buroker, Anderson Hauptli, and Chris Morganrehearse their scenes for the upcoming show. Theseactors will play young military recruits in the school’s fallproduction.
Sophomore Cole Sitilides,who plays Eugene, andjunior Josh Guinn, whoplays Arnold, prepare forthe play.
Pho
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by Blake Tippen
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8 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Entertainment
Church Street StrollThe Town of Vienna, Historic Vienna, Inc., and
Church Street merchants are ringing in the holi-day season with the 22nd annual Church StreetHoliday Stroll Monday, Nov. 26, 6-9 p.m. Santawill glide in atop a 1946 historic fire truck at 6:15p.m., then help Mayor Laurie DiRocco light theholiday tree at 6:20. Following the lighting, St.Nick will greet children from the porch of theFreeman Store and Museum. Visit historic sitessuch as the Freeman Store and Museum, LittleLibrary, Caboose, Train Station, Knights of Colum-bus (formerly First Baptist Church) and ViennaPresbyterian’s Old Chapel. Call 703-938-5187 orvisit historicviennainc.org for more.
Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGTrout Fishing at Lake Fairfax.
Through Nov. 25, dawn until dusk, atLake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake FairfaxDrive, Reston. Purchase daily passesfor adults for $13, seniors 65 andolder at $10 and children are $8 perday. Only hook and line fishing ispermitted. No trout size limit. Up tosix trout per pass may be kept eachday. All anglers must display theirVirginia Fishing License prior topurchasing a trout pass. Call 703-471-5414.
Art Exhibit: “Walking the Path.”Through Nov. 30 in the large meetingroom at Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.Featured artists include Pat MensterNeuman, Richard Masaniello, andLesley Hackman. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/great-falls or call 703-757-8560.
Chanukah Bazaar. Through Dec. 2, atTemple Rodef Shalom, 2100Westmoreland Street, Falls Church.Ready, Set, Go to Chanukah Bazaarsponsored by Women of TRS.Everything you could possibly wantto celebrate the Festival of Lights willbe on display in the Grand Foyer.Proceeds from this event are donatedto the Temple as well as Jewish andcommunity charitable organizations.Dates and times: Sunday, Dec. 2,8:45 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesdays, Nov. 20,27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Wednesday,28, from 4:15-6:30 p.m. [email protected].
Art Exhibit: “Walking the Path.”Through Nov. 30 in the large meetingroom at Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.Featured artists include Pat MensterNeuman, Richard Masaniello, andLesley Hackman. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/great-falls 703-757-8560.
Santa HQ. Through Dec. 24, TysonsCorner Center, 1961 Chain BridgeRoad, Tysons Corner. NearNordstrom on the Lower Level.Guests can make reservations tospend less time in line. Shoppers areinvited to bring an unwrapped toyand participate in our ‘Help ThroughHoliday Giving’ toy drive benefittingSecond Story (formerly AlternativeHouse). Visit www.santa-hq.com.
THURSDAY/NOV. 22Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Noon-2 p.m. at The LewinsvilleRetirement Residence, 1515 GreatFalls St., McLean. CommunityThanksgiving Dinner hosted byLewinsville Presbyterian Church.New and old friends are invited tothe table. Young adults, includingcollege and graduate students,singles, families, children and ourelderly who are far from home orwithout family are welcome, whetheror not they are members of thechurch. Free (donations welcomed).RSVP to attend and/or volunteer/donate at www.lewinsville.org/event-items/thanksgiving. Call 703-356-7200 or visitwww.lewinsville.org.
MONDAY/NOV. 19Grand Opening. 11 a.m. at Little
Dipper Hot Pot House, Fairfax’sMosaic District, 2985 District Ave.,Suite 185, Fairfax. Little Dipper willkick off its grand opening with aribbon-cutting ceremony, door prizes,and other fun activities throughoutthe day. In addition, the first 100guests will be treated to a free hotpot. Visitwww.littledipperhotpot.com.
SUNDAY/NOV. 25Watoto Children’s Choir. 9:30 a.m.
at Christ the King Lutheran Church,10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.Watoto Children’s Choir, whosemembers are orphans and othervulnerable children, will present newworship music from Watoto Churchin Uganda. Visit gflutheran.org formore.
MONDAY/NOV. 26Church Street Holiday Stroll. See
above. 6-9 p.m.Model Railroaders Open House. 6-
9 p.m. at the Vienna Depot, 231Dominion Road NE. NorthernVirginia Model Railroaders hold anopen house at the Vienna Depot eachmonth and on Vienna celebrationdays, including Viva! Vienna and theVienna Holiday Stroll. Freeadmission. Call 703-938-5157 or visitwww.nvmr.org.
WEDNESDAY/NOV. 28“Rock To Resist By” Benefit Show.
7-10 p.m. at Jammin’ Java, 227Maple Ave. E., Vienna. Join“resistance rock” band M4TR,Innovation Station Music, 350Fairfax, Climate Reality ProjectNoVA, Network NoVA, OurRevolution Northern Virginia andmany more non-profits and activistgroups to celebrate civic action in theage of the Resistance. This event ispart concert, part album releaseparty, part civic action rally, partnetworking event. Tickets are $15 atthe door or by in advance onTicketfly at www.ticketfly.com/event/1778042-m4trs-rock-resist-by-vienna/.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY/NOV. 29-30Tiny Tots Concerts. Thursday, 10
a.m. and 7 p.m. (“jammy-friendlyshow”); Friday, 10 a.m. at JamesMadison High School, 2500 JamesMadison Drive, Vienna. The JMHSBand Program presents a concertcelebration featuring a widespectrum of seasonal music. Theaudience can sing, clap and dancealong with the band. Advancepurchase is highly recommended. $9
per person at james-madison-band.ticketleap.com/tinytots2018/.Admission is free for babies in arms(under 1). If available, tickets may bepurchased in the lobby by check, cashor credit card 30 minutes prior to theshow for $10 per person. [email protected].
THURSDAY/NOV. 29-DEC. 1Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues.” At
Langley High School, 6520Georgetown Pike, McLean. SaxonStage Theatre begins its 2018-2019season with a production of “BiloxiBlues,” a semi-autobiographicalcoming-of-age story by Neil Simonpacked with wit and charm promisedto please all ages. Visit www.Saxon-Stage.com.
THURSDAY/NOV. 29-DEC. 23A Civil War Christmas: An
American Musical Celebration.Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8p.m.; Saturdays 2 and 8 p.m.; andSundays, 2 p.m. at 1st Stage inTysons, 1524 Spring Hill Road,Tysons Corner. It’s 1864 andWashington, D.C. is settling down tothe coldest Christmas Eve in years inthis pageant of carols by Paula Vogel.Stories of many intertwining lives–spanning from the battlegrounds ofNorthern Virginia to the halls of theWhite House. Visit www.1stStage.orgfor the schedule of CommunityConversations, captioned and audiodescribed performances. Tickets:general admission, $39; senior(65+), $36; student and military,$15 at www.1ststage.org or at 703-854-1856.
FRIDAY/NOV. 30-SUNDAY/DEC. 2Tysons Library Book Sale. Friday,
11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. atTysons-Pimmit Regional Library,7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.Large selection of books and mediafor all ages and interests. Half price/$10 per bag on Sunday. [email protected] orcall 703-790-4031 or 703-338-3307.
SATURDAY/DEC. 1Holiday Sing-A-Long. 4 p.m. at Wolf
Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. TheMarine Band, led by AssistantDirector Capt. Ryan Nowlin, willperform at Wolf Trap’s AnnualHoliday Sing-A-Long. Free, no ticketsrequired. Free parking is available.Visit www.marineband.marines.mil.
60th Service Birthday andChristmas Party. 6 p.m. at TheVienna Moose Lodge, 9616Courthouse Road, Vienna. TheVienna Moose Lodge welcomes thepublic to celebrate their 60th ServiceBirthday and Christmas Party. Theband will be a local favorite the DejaBlue band. There will be food andrefreshments available for a nominalprice. Admission is free. Visitwww.ViennaMoose.org or call 703-599-3929.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 1-2The Enchanted Forest. Saturday, 9
a.m.-5 p.m. and 8-11 p.m.; Sunday, 9a.m.-1 p.m. at Sheraton TysonsCorner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons.18th Annual The Enchanted Forestfeaturing live entertainment, JuniorLeagues’ Kids in the Kitchenactivities, a visit from Santa, crafts,premium events for all, and a silentauction of over 80 themed trees andwreaths. $10 general admission foradults, $15 child general admission.Visit www.jlnv.org/tef/.
SUNDAY/DEC. 2Holiday Gift Shopping. 8:30 a.m.-2
p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100Westmoreland St., Falls Church.Judy’s Place, a Temple Rodef Shalomtradition for 20 years, provides anon-denominational and convenientshopping experience for childrenages 2-13 that lets your child, withthe help of volunteers, choose fromamong over 100 gift items ranging inprice from $1 to $15 to surpriseparents, siblings, grandparents andpets. Proceeds go to charitiessupported by The Women of TempleRodef Shalom. Contact JackieRockman at [email protected].
Artist Reception and Talk. After10:15 a.m. worship at The Gallery atThe Church of the Good Shepherd(United Methodist), 2351 HunterRoad, Vienna. Featuring “Peace Likea River” art exhibit by Alice Nodine
of mixed media paintings. Theexhibit will be open during churchoffice hours Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to2 p.m. and on Sunday mornings from9 to noon. The exhibit also will beopen during the church’s PuppyNativity event on Saturday, Dec. 8from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nodine, amember of Good Shepherd, also willoffer her paintings for sale at theconclusion of the exhibit. She willdonate a portion of the proceeds toColumbus County Disaster Response,for flood recovery efforts in NorthCarolina, where she grew up. Visitwww.GoodShepherdVA.com
WinterFest Holiday Parade. Pre-parade entertainment, 2:30 p.m.;parade, 3:30 p.m. on Old ChainBridge Road, from Fleetwood to ElmStreet in McLean. This will be the10th year for WinterFest. Theviewing stand will be at LangleyShopping Center with a variety offood trucks. To be an entry in theparade, one must register atwww.mcleanwinterfest.org.Questions about registration orsponsorships can be directed to TrishButler at [email protected].
Celebration of Lights. 4-6:30 p.m. atGreat Falls Village Field. Celebratethe beginning of the season withGreat Falls’ Annual Christmas TreeLighting. Drink hot cider or cocoanext to the fire while listening tolocal children’s choral groups singseasonal music (starting 3:45). Thepetting zoo and pony rides will keepchildren busy until Mr. and Mrs.Claus arrive by antique fire truck.Held rain or shine. Visitcelebrategreatfalls.org/event/celebration-of-lights.
MONDAY/DEC. 3Video Contest Entry Deadline.
Burke & Herbert Bank is acceptingsubmissions to the Lights, Camera,Save! video contest. To participate,students (ages 13-18) must create avideo, 90-seconds or less, on savingand using money wisely and submit alink to the video along with acompleted entry form to the bank.Entry forms and more informationcan be found atburkeandherbertbank.com/contest.Visit lightscamerasave.com.
Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Community
The Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) ishosting a special program focusing on issues fac-ing senior citizens as they age in place in theirhomes. The Seminar for Savvy Seniors and theirFamilies will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10a.m. to noon, at Christ the King Lutheran Church,10550 Georgetown Pike (park in the lot behindthe church, and enter the building there). Thepublic is invited.
This meeting will feature a range of speakers, apanel discussion, questions from the audience, anda social time afterward for personal discussionswith the speakers. Light refreshments will beserved.
The meeting is designed so that senior citizenscan learn about options in Great Falls that mayassist them as they age in place in their ownhomes. It is also an opportunity for their childrento learn about the issues that they can help their
aging parents deal with, and about resources avail-able to help.
The meeting’s agenda:❖ Welcome: Bill Canis, GFCA President❖ Fairfax County’s Seniors programs:
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust❖ Remarks/presentations followed by panel
discussion: Carol Blackwell, Great Falls SeniorCenter; Carol Edelstein, Shepherd’s Center ofGreat Falls; Toni Reinhart, Dementia FriendlyAmerica; Grace Lynch, Fairfax County Divisionof Adult & Aging Services; Karen McPhail,Eldementals; Stan Corey, retired financial plan-ner and author of a new book on how to man-age seniors issues.
The program will include a time for questionsfrom the audience and a social time afterwardsso that residents can speak individually withthe speakers.
Special Great Falls Program forSenior Citizens and their Families
Celebration of Lights Setfor Dec. 2 in Great Falls
Celebrate the beginning of the season with AnnualChristmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 2, 3:45 -6:30 p.m. on the Village Field, behind the Great FallsPost Office. The event held in any weather. Enjoyhot cocoa and cookies next to the fire as you listento local children’s choral groups sing seasonal mu-sic. The petting zoo and pony rides will keep yourkids busy until Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive by antiquefire truck to light the tree.
Schedule:3:45 - Great Falls United Methodist Preschool4 — Village Green Day SchoolPony Rides and Petting Zoo begin4:15 - King’s Kids Preschool4:30 - Siena Academy4:45 - St Francis Creche Preschool5 - Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive to light the tree5:15 - Forestville ES Ensembles5:30 - Great Falls ES5:45 - Colvin Run ES Singalong6 - Live Nativity (pony rides and petting zoo close)Volunteers needed between 4-6 p.m. Contact
[email protected] if you are available.After Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in an antique
fire truck to light the Great Falls Tree, they will meetall children who wish to share their holiday wishes.Hot cocoa and cookies offered by sponsors.
Photo by Steve Hibbard/The Connection
The lighting of the Christmas Tree at theGreat Falls Celebration of Lights onSunday, Dec. 3, 2017, at the Great FallsVillage Centre.
10 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
❖ United Community Ministries, Mount Vernon, 703-768-7106, 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306assists low-income families and individuals living alongthe Route 1 Corridor, UCM provides housing programsas well as a Workforce Development Center. Last year,for the holidays, donations of nearly 10,000 toys,books, games, clothing, and other gifts ensured a joy-filled holiday for hundreds of children. 7511 FordsonRoad, Alexandria VA 22306. www.ucmagency.org
Donations of cash/checks and gift cards are also welcome.
❖ Mount Vernon At Home, 703-303-4060,www.mountvernonathome.org. From practical help tosocial, wellness, educational and cultural activities,Mount Vernon At Home membership helps connectsenior members of our community. Neighbors helpingneighbors with volunteer support is the power of MountVernon At Home. Mount Vernon At Home is a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to meet theneeds of its older members. The group fundraises allyear to make this possible and count on the generosityof the community.
❖ National Capital Food Bank, 6833 Hill Park Drive,Lorton, serving all of Northern Virginia, 703-541-3063.www.capitalareafoodbank.org
❖ Homestretch is a provider of transitional housing inFairfax County and offers a services to help thehomeless better their lives through education. Email:[email protected]; 703-237-2035 x125;homestretchva.org/volunteer/
❖ Pathway Homes providing non-time-limited housingand supportive services to adults with serious mentalillness and co-occurring disabilities in NorthernVirginia. Founded in 1980, Pathways currently servesmore than 400 adults in community-based homes inNorthern Virginia. www.pathwayhomes.org
❖ Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services,8305-17B Richmond Highway, PO Box 15096,Alexandria, VA, 22039. 703-768-9419,www.goodhousing.org/ The mission of Good ShepherdHousing (GSH) is to reduce homelessness, increase
community support, and promote self-sufficiency. GSHhousing manages more than 70 housing units.
❖ Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater WashingtonFairfax Area operates clubs in two of the neediestareas of the county, Culmore and Mount Vernon/ Route1 corridor, focusing on character and academic success.www.bgcgw.org/fairfax
❖ Christian Relief Services, 8301 RIchmond Highway,Suite 900, Alexandria, VA 22309, 703-317-9086, 703-317-9690 christianrelief.org/
❖ Friends of Guest House Northern Virginia offersstructure, supervision, support and assistance to femaleex-offenders who want to improve their lives and breakthe cycle of incarceration. Friends of Guest House offersthe only program for women of its kind in NorthernVirginia. One East Luray Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301-2025, 703-549-8072, [email protected],friendsofguesthouse.org/
❖ Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginiatransforms the lives of lower-income families in need byproviding affordable homeownership opportunities inAlexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Falls Church. Learnmore at www.habitatnova.org.
❖ Alice’s Kids (@alicewillhelp) aliceskids.org P.O. Box60, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 When a child is raised inpoverty they suffer both publicly and privately. Whenthere is no food in the refrigerator, no electricity norheat, these are hardships that they can keep hidden fromtheir peers. But, when that same child can’t afford to payfor the band field trip, a pair of glasses, a chorus outfitor a new pair of shoes, these are indignities that areevident to their classmates. Alice’s Kids pays for theserelatively inexpensive items in the hopes of preservingthe dignity of the child. It helps children from all overthe Mount Vernon area through small acts of kindness.
❖ Neighborhood Health, 6677 Richmond Highway,Alexandria, VA 22306. The organization partners withits patients to treat the whole person through medical,behavioral health and dental programs. It has 10 clinicsthroughout Arlington and Fairfax counties. Participatingwith all insurance including commercial, Medicare, andMedicaid, 703-535-5568,www.neighborhoodhealthva.org
Where to Give Locally
News
For the second year in a row, the community cametogether in the spirit of Thanksgiving for those inneed. More than 50 “Wish List Angels” purchasedfood for a complete Thanksgiving dinner basket for84 families struggling to put a meal on the table thisholiday. The group also collected grocery gift cardsof $2400 to distribute to families and help refill di-minished charity food pantries. Wish List Projectcoordinators, Christie Shumadine and Lissa Perez,worked with the staff at Hutchison and Buzz Aldrinelementary schools and Second Story Shelter to iden-tify families. Shumadine said, “As always, we areoverwhelmed by the generosity of our wonderfulcommunity and are thankful to have their contin-ued support to give food baskets to 84 families thisyear.”
The Wish List Project was created 18 years ago byGinger Mahon and her “Wish List Angels” to pur-chase individual gifts from a wish list made by indi-viduals and families during the holidays. More indi-viduals in need were added to the list, bringing thenumber of individuals served to more than 300 in-cluding youth in foster care, alternative housing,domestic abuse shelter homes, and families in localelementary schools. Having a desire to do more, in2017, Shumadine and Perez expanded the projectto collect Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for families whocould not afford a special holiday meal. With thatsuccess, the Wish List Project added a Spring BreakFood Drive and Toiletry Collection in 2018.
The 2018 Holiday Wish List was released Nov. 19.To pick an individual or family to support this year,go to The Wish List Project website atwww.wishlistangels.org.
Providing ThanksgivingMeal to 84 Families in Need
Wish List Project Coordinators ChristieShumadine and Lissa Perez and their An-gels collect Thanksgiving Meal Baskets andgift cards to give to area families in need.
Local teen volunteers (left to right) LexiePerez, Caitlyn Shumadine, Alexa Gianoplusand Avery Perez, unload ThanksgivingMeal Baskets from cars of donors at theNov. 11 drop off day.
Photos contributed
From Page 4
Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
For those readers still following me after reading last week’s column: “Airing of a Griev-ance,” when I moaned and groaned about my anxiety and fear concerning the impact of my
holiday-season infusions due to unacceptable lab results, let me real-time you: chemother-apy went ahead Friday, Nov. 16, as regularly scheduled.
Now, there will be no need to drive back from Pennsylvania to Maryland on the Friday after Thanksgiving – after arriving there the pre-ceding afternoon, only to have to drive back to Pennsylvania Friday after my morning infusion, in order to resume our holiday weekend; and then drive back home again on Sunday during one of the busiest driving weekends of the year.
Given that there’s no delay, this means I’ll be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, the eating side effects typical of my treatment will have not subsided as yet so enjoying my favorite meal of the year will be impaired. Still, given the alternatives discussed, no delay in treatment is an altogether better outcome. I will be able to enjoy leftover turkey sandwiches on Friday though.
And so, perhaps you can imagine the relief I felt when I called the Infusion Center on Friday
It has happened previously when I’ve made
I’ve been told not to come and to reschedule. Moreover, it has also happened – once, that af-ter making this call, receiving approval to come in, driving 45 minutes, checking in at reception and then getting hooked up to an IV, that I was told after further review by my oncologist, that I had to go home.
Disappointing, as you can imagine, but had it happened last week, the Friday before Thanksgiving, as has been well-blathered about in two columns, it would have been particularly discouraging and extremely disheartening.
It really wasn’t until 10:30 a.m., after my on-cology nurse set up my IV and ordered my drug (alimta) that I had the nerve to ask if I was 100 percent getting my drugs today. Enthusiastically, Nora said: “Oh. You’re getting your drugs today. I’ve checked everything.”
After hearing her response, my eyes welled up with tears and I heaved a sigh of relief, the likes of which I’ve never heaved before.
In addition to writing about this scheduling ‘heave,’ I’ve been worried for a few months now
during my last post-scan appointment with my
enlarged tumor under my Adam’s Apple. This every-three-week infusion schedule was
new growth was old growth recently impeded or new growth indicating my treatment has stopped working. If my treatment has stopped working, and I believe I have written about it previously, I might not be living the life going forward that I want to.
mid morning on Friday, the pent-up emotion, the worry, the fear, the holiday hassle all faded away and I began to breathe more normally and easily as I had in six weeks or so anticipat-
passed.My next scheduled infusion is Dec. 7. Three
weeks later is another infusion on Dec. 28. Followed up by a CT scan on Jan. 2, 2019. I would love to receive both infusions before that next scan to maximize the medicine I will be receiving.
Certainly there will be anxiety and fear worrying about those results, but absent the holiday season, I think I can manage it. More of a mindset than a miracle at that point.
Indeed, A Festivus Miracle
Submit civic/community announcements atConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
HOLIDAY DONATIONSFood for Fines. Through Nov. 30. Fairfax County
Public Library will be hosting a food drive called“Food for Fines.” Canned goods and other non-perishable items collected during the drive willbe donated to Food for Others, a not-for-profitfood pantry and food rescue operation thatserves Fairfax County. Each item donated willerase $1 from a patron’s overdue fines up to amaximum of $15. Customers may donate even ifthere are no fines accrued. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/food-fines formore.
Blanket and Coat Drive. Through Dec. 8.Organized by NOVA Relief Center, blankets andcoats will be sent to refugees in three camps inJordan this winter. Blankets and coats should benew or gently worn. Monetary donations arealso needed and may be made to NOVA ReliefCenter online and at some drop-off locations.For drop-off sites or to make a tax-deductibledonation, visit novareliefcenter.org.
Volunteers Needed: CHO Christmas Store &Bike Program. Friday, Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon(set up); Saturday, Dec. 8, 8:30 a.m.-noon(shop) at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 ParkSt. NE, Vienna. CHO’s 2018 Christmas Store isan annual event that invites our less fortunateneighbors to “shop” for gifts for their familiesand provides holiday extras that many take forgranted. CHO (Committee for Helping Others)will be accepting donations of new unwrappedgifts for young children, gift cards for teens, aswell as food gift certificates from Giant andSafeway. It also will be accepting new or likenew jackets and coats. Clothing and otherdonations can be dropped at the CHO ClothesCloset at Vienna Court Condos, 133 Park St. NE,across from the Vienna Presbyterian Church, anyMonday morning or by appointment. Call 703-281-7614; leave a message in Box # 1. The“bike distribution program,” will be collectingbikes on Saturday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at theVienna Presbyterian parking lot and at AntiochChristian Church, 1860 Beulah Road.
Toys for Tots Drive. Through Dec. 10. AreaSheehy Auto Stores will collect new andunwrapped toys to benefit the U.S. Marine CorpsReserve Toys for Tots Program, which willdistribute those toys as gifts to less fortunatechildren in the community in which thecampaign is conducted. Sheehy’s Toys for Totsdrop-off locations include:
❖ Sheehy INFINITI of Tysons, 8527 Leesburg Pike,Vienna
❖ Patriot Harley-Davidson, 9739 Fairfax Boulevard,Fairfax
WEDNESDAY/NOV. 21Family Caregiver Webinar. Noon-1 p.m. Fairfax
County is offering a free Webinar for FamilyCaregivers, Wednesday. This month’s topic is“Emergency Preparedness for Caregivers”. Toregister, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OlderAdults and click on Register for 2018 FreeCaregiver Webinars. Call 703-324-5205, TTY711.
Vienna Woman’s Club Meeting. 7-9 p.m. atVienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE,Vienna. Vienna Woman’s Club invitesprospective members to its open membershipmeeting with a guest speaker on a commoninterest subject. Visitwww.ViennaWomansClub.org for more.
THURSDAY/NOV. 22Thanksgiving Day Worship Service. 10 a.m.
at St. John’s Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike,McLean. St. John’s Episcopal Churchwill hold aThanksgiving Day service of Holy Eucharist. TheThanksgiving Offering will support SHARE, anon-profit organization founded in 1969 to meetemergency needs in McLean, Great Falls, PimmitHills, and surrounding areas. All are welcome.Call 703-356-4902 or visitwww.stjohnsmclean.org for more.
Bulletin
12 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ November 21-27, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
