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Intersection OptionsPresented to CommunityNews, Page 3
Logan Festival Returns to 1st Stage Theatre, Page 9
Summer ConcertsBegin in McLean
News, Page 6
Vocalist and percussionist Kristen Long added high-energy dance moves to her performance with the Black Masala on Sunday in the first of this year’s Summer
Sunday Concerts in the Park.
WellbeingPage 7
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com July 4-10, 2018
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2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsMcLean Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
By Steve Hibbard
The Connection
The intersection of Balls Hill Roadand Old Dominion Drive is oneof the worst in McLean — oftentaking drivers more than three
minutes to pass through it during peakmorning and evening rush hour. On Thurs-day, June 28, 2018, more than 50 residentsgot to hear about a $20.5 million plan show-ing four different options to improve thatintersection by Project Manager GibranAbifadel of the Fairfax County Departmentof Transportation held at Cooper MiddleSchool.
It all started with the Transportation Pri-orities Plan in 2014, which cost $200,000.The study started in March 2016 and in-cludes conceptual design and analysis show-ing four alternatives to improve the trafficflow of the intersection through better con-figuration, signal operations, accessibilityand safety. Residents will have the oppor-tunity to weigh-in on which of the four op-tions they prefer and offer their feedback.Comments are due back to the county byJuly 13.
THE EXISTING CONDITIONS of the in-tersection include three-minute backups inthe a.m. and p.m. rush hours; poor sightdistance at all legs of the intersection; leftturns that act as U-turns from Old Domin-ion Drive onto Balls Hill Road; and rightturns that act as U-turns from Balls HillRoad onto Old Dominion Drive. Crash dataindicates there have been eight crashes onBalls Hill Road and 21 crashes on Old Do-minion Drive. The speed limits on thoseroads are 35 mph and 45 mph.
According to John Foust, Dranesville Dis-trict Supervisor: “Balls Hill and Old Domin-ion is one of the worst intersections we havein the McLean area in terms of delay. We’vebeen looking at it, studying it, and now havethe funding to improve it. Fortunately, thereare options that would dramatically im-prove the ability of the intersection tohandle the traffic.”
Foust said after showing the options tothe community, they’ll take feedback fromthe residents and then try to address them.Next, they’ll come back again to the com-munity, address some of the concerns thathave been raised and make a recommen-dation as to which of the four options isbest and see how the community reacts.
He added: “I hope we’ll be able to as acommunity come together and come upwith a plan to address this and hopefullyimprove it dramatically.”
According to Tom Biesiadny, Director with
the Fairfax County Department of Transpor-tation: “The current intersection at Balls Hilland Old Dominion is failing and it’s result-ing in a considerable amount of congestionpretty much in all directions during the peakperiod.”
He continued: “So, the purpose of thiseffort is to look at several different optionsto improve the operation of the intersec-tion. We have four different alternatives andwe’re looking at feedback from the publicas to which ones they like and which onesthey don’t like.”
Alternative A would be taking the exist-
ing intersection and splitting it into twointersections — one in the north and onein the south. At a cost of $13.5 million, thecommunity will gain a mile-and-half of 5-foot bicycle facilities and 3,000 feet of pe-destrian facilities. It helps to solve the de-lay and queuing issues and is a small right-of-way footprint compared to Alternative B.
Alternative B is a roundabout option. Thepros are that it reduces queuing, maintainsVDOT design standard (horizontal curva-ture); offers the option to landscape andkeep its historic look; has a traffic-calmingeffect; is the lowest cost (at $12.1 million);
and the community gains 2,000 feet ofwalkways; and it improves the alignmentat Balls Hill Road and Old Dominion Drive.
Abifadel said the third option is to leavethe intersection where it is, put two differ-ent slip ramps, provide additional storagebays to improve the intersection so it keepsthe existing footprint of the intersection asit is but widening it out a little bit to helpfacilitate the traffic to get through the in-tersection.
Alternative C takes the existing intersec-tion and widens it out at a cost of $12.7million. It adds a dedicated left-turn laneand the intersection would stay as it alreadyis. The community would gain a mile of bikefacilities, and 3,000 feet of walkways. Itwould have a smaller right-of-way footprintcompared to Alternative B; and lower costthan Alternative A.
Abifadel added: “The fourth option is ex-actly the same as the first one where we’retaking the intersection and splitting it intotwo but the bottom part of the intersectionhas a little more of a modification to im-prove it and make it a little bit better andefficient to facilitate the traffic at Balls HillRoad and Old Dominion.”
Alternative A.1 offers an improvement onthe first alternative A, by taking existingintersection and splitting it into two. At acost of $15 million, it solves delay and queu-ing issues; has a small right-of-way footprintcompared to Alternative B; and the T-inter-section is improved. The community alsogains a mile-and-half of bicycle facilities and2,750 feet of walkway facilities, and there’sspace provided for storm water manage-ment.
THE NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVES are ifthe county does nothing, the intersectionwill fail and there will an increase in delayswith more congestion and aggravation forresidents. It would have an “F” grade forlevel of service.
Two housing developments are locatednear the intersection: Mehr Farms with 10homes is currently under construction, andSummerstone development with fourhomes was approved in April. Another un-named parcel west of the intersection hasthe potential for development.
As far as the timing of the project, theBoard of Supervisors approved $20.5 mil-lion local funding for the intersection im-provement on May 15, 2018.
The county is now taking comments (dueby July 13) from the community and willbe finalizing a recommendation in the Fallto take to the Board of Supervisors. In theSpring 2019-Spring 2023, they’ll do thepreliminary engineering design; in theSpring 2021-Spring 2023, they’ll do theright-of-way acquisition, and in the Spring2023-Fall 2024, they’ll be doing construc-tion. So, the project may be completed insix years.
For more information on the project, visitthe website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/trans-portation/projects/balls-hill-road
Or contact Gibran Abifadel at [email protected].
Intersection Options Presented to CommunityResidents hear aboutplans to improveBalls Hill Road andOld Dominion Driveintersection.
The intersection of Balls Hill Roadand Old Dominion Drive.
Fairfax County Department ofTransportation Project ManagerGibran Abifadel and DranesvilleDistrict Supervisor John Foustaddress the crowd at the meetingof the Balls Hill Road and OldDominion Drive intersection.
Residents look over maps showing various options to improve the BallsHill Road and Old Dominion Drive intersection at a transportationmeeting held Thursday, June 28 at Cooper Middle School.
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4 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
One member of Connection Newspapers staff is Kemal Kurspahic,who shares with us his first-handexperience of running a newspa-
per from a war zone when information wasdesperately needed by the besieged residentsof Sarajevo. Kemal Kurspahic is managing edi-tor for The Connection Newspapers. He wasthe editor-in-chief of the Bosnian dailyOslobodjenje in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina,1988-94. Under his leadership the paper pub-lished every day from an atomic bomb shelterduring the siege of Sarajevo, maintaining highprofessional standards and Bosnian culture andtradition of ethnic and religious tolerance in
the midst of terror. The paperpublished the names of thosekilled each day in Sarajevo.
He experienced first hand thehorror of having staff members killed while outon assignment. He was critically injured him-self when a vehicle taking him to his news-room crashed as it traveled at high speed down“sniper alley.” The International Press Institutenamed Kurspahic one of its first 50 World PressFreedom Heroes in 2000.
Journalism is a dangerous occupation inmany other countries, usually not here in theU.S.
I tell this story now because of the newlyminted fear that many journalists feel after themurders of five in the newsroom of the Capi-tal Gazette in Annapolis. Police and survivorssay the shooter had long held a grudge againstthe newspaper, and had sued for defamation.The targeted attack came very close to home.
The dead were Gerald Fischman, 61, edito-rial page editor; Rob Hiaasen, 59, editor andfeatures columnist; John McNamara, 56, sportsreporter and editor for the local weekly pa-pers; Wendi Winters, 65, a local news reporterand community columnist; and Rebecca Smith,a sales assistant.
The shooter had restraining orders againsthim because of violent threats made in a dif-ferent situation, but restraining orders appar-ently do not result in restricting gun purchases.He was still able to buy the gun he used in theattack. This is a loophole that desperatelyneeds to be closed. A person subject to a re-straining order of any type or duration formaking threats should certainly not be able tobuy a gun.
Every newspaper editor knows the experi-ence of talking to a subject, source or readerwho is irate over something the paper pub-lished. If we aren’t making anyone angry, it’sprobably because we aren’t writing about any-thing important. But my conversations withpeople who object to something we’ve reportedhave always had a subtext of respect. Manycomplaints have resulted in greater under-standing on all sides that can create more last-ing connections. Other times have resulted inagreeing to disagree.
Now, we lock the doors at least for now,knowing that there could likely be copy catattacks, as school shootings began with onehigh profile attack. But we are not afraid.
We will continue to publish our 15 weeklypapers.
The threat to survival for most local papersis the decline in advertising, compounded nowby a tariff on newsprint. Don’t forget that ifyou have an advertising or marketing budget,you should spend some of those dollars withlocal newspapers.
— Mary Kimm
About This Week’s PapersOur papers go to press a day early due to
the July 4th holiday. That means that thisweek’s papers will not contain coverage of July4th events. Watch for coverage next week.
Submit Your Photos for thePet Connection Now
The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edi-tion, will publish the last week of July, and photosand stories of your pets with you and your familyshould be submitted by Friday, July 20.
We invite you to send stories about your pets,photos of you and your family with your cats, dogs,llamas, alpacas, ponies, hamsters, snakes, lizards,frogs, rabbits, or whatever other creatures share yourlife with you.
Tell us the story of a special bond between a childand a dog, the story of how you came to adopt yourpet, or examples of amazing feats of your creatures.
Do you volunteer at an animal shelter or thera-peutic riding center or take your pet to visit peoplein a nursing home? Does your business have a man-aging pet? Is your business about pets? Have youhelped to train an assistance dog? Do you or some-one in your family depend on an assistance dog?
Or take this opportunity to memorialize a belovedpet you have lost.
Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favorite picturesinclude both pets and their humans.
Please tell us a little bit about your creature, iden-tify everyone in the photo, give a brief descriptionwhat is happening in the photo, and include ad-dress and phone number (we will not publish youraddress or phone number, just your town name).
Email to [email protected] orsubmit online at www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.
For advertising information, email [email protected] or call 703-778-9431.
Need to addressrestraining ordersand gun violence.
Local Newspapers Under Siege
Editorial
By Supervisor John C. Cook
Braddock District Supervisor
One of Fairfax County’s greatest strengths is in being ahome to over a million
people from all walks of life. While wehave made great strides in bringingthe community together, adults with develop-mental and intellectual disabilities can find it
very challenging to partici-pate fully in communitylife. After they leave schoolor home, many rely on em-
ployment or day services to integrate them intosociety and allow them to contribute by work-ing or through other activities. This popula-tion is growing and deserves a seat at the table.Current services are helpful, but there remainsa great deal of work if we want a truly inclu-sive society.
The Fairfax Falls Church CommunityServices Board established the Wel-coming Inclusion Network (WIN) col-laborative to address these pressing is-sues and devise long-term solutions tocreate an environment where every-one is valued.
I have the honor of chairing WIN,but the real work is done by my operations co-chair Lori Stillman, who is a former CSB offi-cial and parent. Joining us on the steering com-mittee are a number of experts who have a greatrange of experiences with developmental andintellectual disability services. WIN stakehold-ers include county staff, parents of those withdisabilities, special needs services providers,self-advocates, and employers. Together wework to achieve WIN’s four key goals:
❖ NETWORK: Build opportunities for in-creased information and resource sharing
❖ DESIGN: Ensure service equity and effi-
ciency through community-designed services❖ EMPLOYMENT: Boost employment oppor-
tunities through existing and new service mod-els
❖ INCLUSION: Identify and address otherchallenges to full community inclusion
WIN stakeholders meet regularly at theFairfax County Government Center for presen-tations and working sessions. Each meeting hasa new topic of discussion and breakout ses-sions to delve deeper into the obstacles forinclusivity and to find effective solutions. Thenext WIN meeting is on July 9 from 6:30 – 8p.m. and will be in the Fairfax County Govern-ment Center. Anyone interested in learningmore about day and employment services forpeople with developmental and intellectualdisabilities is welcome to attend.
It is up to all of us in the end to make theworld a more accessible place for those of uswith different abilities. I hope you will join mein supporting this important cause and thehardworking stakeholders seeking to make ourcounty a better place for all.
Making Fairfax County accessible to all abilities.
The Welcoming Inclusion Network
Commentary
www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered
to homes and businesses.Published by
Local Media Connection LLC
1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314
Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to
connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe
NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]
Kemal Kurspahic Editor ❖ 703-778-9414
Andrea WorkerContributing Writer
Jean CardProduction Editor
ADVERTISING:For advertising information
Trisha HamiltonDisplay Advertising
Debbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444
David GriffinMarketing Assistant
Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431
Editor & PublisherMary Kimm
[email protected]@MaryKimm
Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon
Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren
Managing EditorKemal Kurspahic
Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,
Ali KhalighProduction Manager:
Geovani Flores
McLean
McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
See Girl Scouts, Page 10
News
Cadette Girl Scout Troop 6963, Ser-vice Unit 50-6 based in McLean,announced their eight-member
troop each earned one of the Girl Scouts’highest awards given in scouting – The Sil-ver Award – for their year long communityservice projects. The troop is led byCatherine Lorenze and Michelle Arcari andits members include Elshadye Bussie,Caroline Chaze, Marin George, RianKlanderman, Eloise Lorenze, SummerParise, Jane Sullivan and Amelia Swenson.
Troop Leaders Catherine Lorenze andMichelle Arcari said the Silver Award tooktheir troop of rising ninth-graders over ayear to complete and requires a 50 hourcommitment.
“Leadership projects are designed for GirlScouts to make a lasting difference in theircommunity. Following the completion ofspecific badge requirements, our Scoutsfocused their Silver Award ‘Take Action’projects on a variety of efforts. These weredesigned to assist people in need, engagenewcomers to the area, inform others aboutthe unique historical offerings right here inMcLean, and interest others in Girl Scout-ing,” said Arcari.
ONE COMPONENT for achieving the GirlScout Silver Award requires a group project.Troop 6963’s project focused on a clean-upday to clear overgrown brush, plant flowerbulbs and expose hundred-year-old gravesin the original Shiloh Baptist church cem-etery, located in the woods behind the Ham-let Swim Club in McLean. Cadette Girl ScoutEloise Lorenze said, “We learned a lot aboutMcLean’s early African-American history
and how former slave Alfred Odrick pur-chased the land in 1872 that is now ShilohBaptist Church.”
Based on this group project, two of Troop6963’s scouts focused their individual Sil-ver Award projects on history-relatedthemes particular to McLean. Girl ScoutRian Klanderman worked with another ofMcLean’s historic, African-Americanchurches - Pleasant Grove, located onLewinsville Road.
“I helped create a digital catalogue of thedocuments and remaining African-Ameri-can historical objects. This catalogue canbe used by the public and volunteer stafffor research and presentations,” saidKlanderman. “I’m grateful Girl Scoutshelped me be a part of preserving the con-tributions that African-American familiesmade in creating Pleasant Grove Church inMcLean.”
Girl Scout Eloise Lorenze was dismayedby recent tear downs occurring in herGreenway Heights neighborhood andwanted to inform her neighbors about thearea’s contributions to McLean’s foundingand growth.
“I learned you don’t have to go into Wash-ington, D.C. to see history. I assembled,sourced and documented research about thelegacy of the Carper family and ourneighborhood’s raw origins that wererooted in slavery, the Civil War, the W&ODRailroad and Fairfax County’s once-thrivingdairy farming industry,” said Lorenze. “Myresearch has subsequently been turned intoa website with the hope that more homeshere will be preserved and not torn down.“
Girl Scout Troop 6963, from left, front row: Mele Melton (mom),Elshadye Bussie, Michelle Arcari (mom), Eloise Lorenze, Jane Sullivan,Rian Klanderman, Catherine Lorenze (mom); top row: Jammie Parise(mom), Summer Parise, Amelia Swenson, Kathy Swenson, Cindy Sullivan.Missing: Caroline Chaze and Marin George .
McLean Girl Scout Troop6963 Earns Silver AwardsEight-member troop each earned one of theGirl Scouts’ highest awards given in scouting.
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6 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Carlyn Kranking
The Connection
Boyfriend and girlfriend MikeMorosky and Terry Halter joinedupwards of 40 others at theMcLean Central Park Gazebo to
see Black Masala on Sunday in the first ofthis year’s Summer Sunday Concerts in thePark.
“It’s free, so I don’t have to spend moneyon her,” Morosky said, and Halter laughed.Seriously, he added, “How often do you getto go to outdoor concerts unless they’re bigproductions?”
In contrast to such productions, theseSunday concerts are small-scale and inti-mate. Audience members sat in foldingchairs or on blankets, and some even chat-ted with the band members during inter-mission.
Black Masala brought lots of energy tothe stage. Vocalist and percussionist KristenLong danced as the group played a widerange of music with multicultural influ-ences.
“You can’t put us into just one category,”
Black Masala — Brendan Schnabel, Scott Clement, Kirsten Warfield,Kristen Long, Mike Ounallah, Chris Lee, Peter Kalavritinos — performedat the McLean Central Park Gazebo Sunday.
McLean residents Mike Morosky and Terry Halter attend summerconcerts in McLean every year.
Summer Sunday Concerts Begin at Central ParkUpcoming Concerts
Sundays at 5 p.m. in the McLean Central ParkGazebo
July 8 – BacktrackJuly 15 – Oh He DeadJuly 22 – Hip-Hop Meets the Music of IndiaJuly 29 – The English ChannelAug. 5 – Kara & Matty DAug. 12 – Morgan Taylor’s “Music of Gustafer
Yellowgold”
Long said. “I guess we can identify ourselvesas gypsy, funk, brass, New Orleans, horn-driven dance music.”
Black Masala’s two-hour concert hadpeople on their feet and dancing despite the90-degree heat.
“They’re very upbeat,” Halter said. “I feellike I’m in New Orleans.”
This was the first of seven weekly con-certs this July and August, presented by TheAlden at the McLean Community Center incooperation with Dranesville District Super-visor John Foust.
McLean resident Cecilia Closs attendedthe concert because she “love[s] to supportthe McLean Community Center’s activities.”Sunday was her first time seeing Black
Kirsten Warfield plays the trombone in Black Masala. Chris Lee and Peter Kalavritinos play guitar in Black Masala.
Vocalist and percussionist KristenLong added high-energy dancemoves to her performance.
Brendan Schnabel and KirstenWarfield make up Black Masala’sbrass section.
Masala.“They’re fantastic,” Closs said. “I really
enjoyed their cover of ‘Valerie.’”Black Masala will perform again this Fri-
day at Jazz in the Garden at the NationalGallery of Art, and the a cappella groupBacktrack will perform at this week’s Sun-day concert in McLean.
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McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Wellbeing
By Marilyn Campbell
Blazing heat and sky rocketing temperaturesoften mean cooling off with a dip in thepool. As the summer is in full swing, safetyofficials are reminding the public of drown-
ing risks and prevention methods.”Learning to swim at any early age is all about
being safe in and around the water,” said GinaBewersdorf, owner of Goldfish Swim School inReston, Falls Church and Alexandria. “Undeniablywe all will have an opportunity to visit a pool, lakeor ocean at some point, and our goal is to equip ourswimmers with water safety skills early on.”
The Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention (CDC) citesa lack of swimming ability, fail-ure to wear life jackets, alcoholuse and a lack of close supervi-sion while swimming as someof the top factors that affectdrowning risk. According to theCDC, from 2005 to 2014 therewas an average of 3,536 unin-tentional drownings. One in fivepeople who die from drowningare children 14 and younger.
“A person can drown in a matter of seconds,” saidAaron Schultz, a lifeguard in Arlington. “When I’m
Supervision and learningto swim are top waysto prevent drowning.
Summer Water Safety
A lack ofswimmingskills is oneof the topfactorsincreasingthe risk ofdrowning.
at the pool, I notice that parents are often textingwhile trying to watch their children, but even if chil-dren look like their playing they could easily go un-der and be in danger a less than a minute. This isespecially important to remember at the beach.”
Taking part in formal swimming lessons reducesthe risk of drowning among children between oneand four years old, but many people lack basic swim-ming skills, according to the CDC. “Beginning for-malized lessons as early as 4 months old has shownbenefit in children developing a love for water andfoundation upon which to build water safety skills,”said Bewersdorf.
American Red Cross swimming safety tips such asalways swimming in a designated area attended bylifeguards, avoiding swimming alone, wearing lifejackets, securing a pool with barriers and makingsure everyone in your family is a strong swimmer,are among those that Mary Anderson of the Mont-gomery County Office of Health and Human Servicessays the county is reinforcing.
“There’s a website that we puttogether called ‘Summer ofSafety’, and it’s got everythingfrom A to Z with summer safetyand swimming pool safety.”
Other suggestions include en-rolling in courses to learn CPR,having appropriate equipmentsuch as a first aid kit and cellphone to make emergency calls.
“If someone is around waterand discovers that their child ismissing, it’s a good idea to check
the water first because even seconds can make a bigdifference in stopping a drowning,” said Schultz.
“Learning to swim atany early age is allabout being safe inand around the water.”
— Gina Bewersdorf, GoldfishSwim School
Photo by Marilyn
Campbell
8 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGArt Exhibit: “Too Much of Too
Much.” Through Aug. 18, galleryhours in the Bullock | Hitt Gallery atMPA@ChainBridge, 1446 ChainBridge Road, McLean. McLeanProject for the Arts will open “TooMuch of Too Much: Overstimulated,Overexposed, and Overextended,”featuring works by mid-Atlanticartists whose works explore the ideasof overstimulation, excessiveness andbombardment, be it through toomuch information, activity,expectation, or by any other means.Visit mpaart.org.
Row by Row Junior. Through Oct.31, local quilt shop proprietors likeJinny Beyer Studio (776 WalkerRoad, Great Falls) are welcomingchildren participating in Row by RowJunior to their shops. It’s the juniorversion of the summertime travelevent for quilt making fans known asRow by Row Experience. Kids visitshops in person, collect a free sewingpattern, and find inspiration incolorful, creative world of sewing. Athome, families can find free tutorialsupport and activities online byvisitingwww.rowbyrowexperience.com orjinnybeyer.com for local quilting.
Great Falls Farmers Market.Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 WalkerRoad, Great Falls. Music, vendors,fresh produce, fresh prepared food,delightful bakery, spices from aroundthe world, wild-caught fish, grass-fed, free-range meats, organic-fedpoultry and eggs. [email protected].
Free Tai Chi. Every Saturday, from7:55-9 a.m., Introduction andBeginners’ Practice, meet on theoutdoor basketball court locateddirectly behind the Dolley MadisonPublic Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave.in McLean Central Park, McLean. Call703-759-9141 or visitwww.FreeTaiChi.org.
Colvin Run Mill open 11-4 p.m. daily,closed Tuesday. 10017 Colvin RunRoad, Great Falls. Fairfax County’soperational 19th century waterpowered gristmill, offers recreationaland educational activities for all agesthrough daily tours, school programsand special events. Fees: $7/adult,$6 students 16+ with ID, $5 children& seniors. Admission to park is freeexcept for some special events.
Fishing Rod Rentals. Riverbend Park,8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls.Rentals available during Visitorcenter hours. Fishing tackle and livebait are available for purchase.Reservations required for grouprentals. $6/rental (2 hour max).Valid driver’s license required. Rod/reel combinations are perfect forbeginners and children. A Virginia orMaryland freshwater fishing licenseis required for those 16 years orolder. The park does not sell fishinglicenses. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/.
WEDNESDAY/JULY 45K, Parade and Hometown
Celebration. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at GreatFalls Village Centre. 5K Walk/Runbegins promptly at 8 am. See theregistration site for the route mapdetails. INOVA Blood Drive at GreatFalls Volunteer Fire Department, 8a.m.-1:30 p.m. Everyone whocompletes the donor screeningprocedure will receive a free DonorT-shirt. Photo ID required. Allow 1hour for donor visit. Little PatriotParade at the Gazebo, 9 a.m. Babiesand Toddlers up to age 5 arewelcome to parade their finestpatriotic display around the Green.Main Parade at the Great Falls
Village Centre, 10 a.m. See the floats,horses, antique cars and pets makinga loop in the Main Parade. Festivities,Food & Fun at the Village CentreGreen, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoyburgers, dogs and snow-cones alongwith music, field games andfestivities on the Village CentreGreen with your Great Fallsneighbors. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org/4th-of-july-celebration-parade.
Journey to the Potomac River.10:30 a.m. at Riverbend Park, 8700Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. This90-minute program includes a wagonride through the woods and along theriver. Learn about Riverbend Park’swildlife and the American Indianswho once lived there. $7 per person.Children must be accompanied by anadult registered for the program. Call703-759-9018 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend to register.
Sprinklers and Sparklers. 2-4 p.m.at the Vienna Community Center,120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna. Childrencan enjoy a makeshift waterpark onthe Vienna Community Centergrounds that offers a variety ofwater-based and other amusements.Water slides, slip ‘n slides, snowcones, balloon twisting, and more are
teed up for a good time. Be warned:participants will get wet. Visitviennava.gov.
Fireworks & Fun. 6 p.m. at TurnerFarm Park, Great Falls. Pack up thefamily and come tailgate withneighbors at Turner Farm Park. Livemusic, games, contests and foodtrucks will entertain until the BigShow gets underway just after dusk.Visit www.celebrategreatfalls.org/4th-of-july-celebration-parade.
Fireworks Celebration. 6:30 p.m. atChurchill Road Elementary School,7100 Churchill Road, McLean. TheMcLean Community Center (MCC)will present its 4th of July Fireworksand Independence Day Celebration.Fireworks show begins at sunset,approximately 9:15 p.m. There willbe musical entertainment and foodtrucks. Parking is not available atChurchill Road Elementary or CooperMiddle School. Beginning at 6:25p.m., free shuttle buses will run toand from three satellite parking sites.Admission is free. Call 703-790-0123,TTY 711, or visitwww.mcleancenter.org/special-events.
Fireworks and Festivities. 7:15 p.m.at Yeonas Park, 1319 Ross Drive SW,Vienna. Celebrate with live music byMars Rodeo. The Vienna Little
League concession stand will be openfor business. Fireworks blast off atapproximately 9:30 p.m. Bring chairsand blankets to enjoy the show, butno alcohol or pets please. Visitviennava.gov.
FRIDAY/JULY 6Tysons Concert Series: O-Town.
6:30-8 p.m. on the Plaza at TysonsCorner Center. Tysons CornerCenter’s 5th annual free SummerConcert Series offers a variety ofmusical guests and has proven to bea popular event for families, couplesand teenagers. The Plaza is locatedoff of The Tysons Corner MetroStation of the Silver Line. Guests areencouraged to arrive early. Visitwww.tysonscornercenter.com/events/SummerConcertSeries2018.
Contest Entry Deadline. 11:59 p.m.Singers are invited to submit anacapella video singing The NationalAnthem [email protected]. Thetop three submissions will be invitedto perform in front of a panel ofindustry judges and live audience atthe Ocean Park Standoff concert onTysons Corner Center Plaza, Friday,July 20. The winner will perform theNational Anthem at NationalsStadium prior to the Sept. 3 gameversus the St. Louis Cardinals. Visitwww.tysonscornercenter.com/Events/NationalAnthemComp fordetails.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY/JULY 6-7NSO at Wolf Trap. 8:30 p.m. at the
Filene Center at Wolf Trap NationalPark for the Performing Arts. TheNational Symphony Orchestracontinues its series of performing allof the Harry Potter film soundtrackslive to picture in concert. There aretwo performances of the thirdinstallment in the series, Harry Potterand the Prisoner of Azkaban. Visitnationalsymphony.org orwolftrap.org.
SUNDAY/JULY 8Alden Summer Concerts:
Backtrack (Family Friendly). 5p.m. in McLean Central Park, 1468Dolley Madison Blvd. Free parking atDolley Madison Library, 1244 OakRidge Ave. The Alden’s 2018 SummerSunday Concerts in the Park expandthis year to include a “welcome,summer” concert on Sunday, June 3,and then seven concerts from July 1through Aug. 12. Visitwww.aldentheatre.org.
Concerts on the Green:Oxymorons. 6-8 p.m. on the GreatFalls Village Centre Green. Sundaysthroughout the summer, bring apicnic and chairs for an evening offree, live music. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org.
JULY 12-22Logan Festival of Solo
Performance. At 1st Stage, 1524Spring Hill Road, Tysons. The festivalwill gather solo performers fromacross the country for two-weeks ofperformances, workshops,discussions, and events. The mainstage festival schedule features: “TheAbsolute Brightness of LeonardPelkey” written by James Lecesne;“Where Did We Sit On The Bus?”written and performed by BrianQuijada; and “Brahman/i” written byAditi Brennan Kapil. Generaladmission $20; students $10; festivalpasses, $50. Purchase online atwww.1ststagetysons.org or 703-854-1856.
FRIDAY/JULY 13Three Classical Comedies. 4:30
p.m. at The Madeira School – ChapelAuditorium, 8328 Georgetown Pike,
McLean. After weeks of learningclassical theatre, practicingmovement and vocalizing, androasting s’mores over the fire,Traveling Players’ youth ensembleswill present a festival of threeclassical plays. $10 tickets availableat the door. For directions toMadeira, visit www.madeira.org/about-madeira/contact-us/. Visitwww.travelingplayers.org or call703-987-1712.
River Fishing by Boat. 5:30 p.m. atRiverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. Get an introductionto fishing and boating in the “RiverFishing by Boat” program.Participants age 5-adult will fish forsmallmouth bass and sunfish from acanoe or jon boat. The two-hourlesson starts with an introduction toboating and fishing basics. Previousexperience rowing or paddling is notrequired. Boats, personal flotationdevices (PFDs), fishing rods and baitare provided. $16 per person, andeach participant must register. Call703-759-9018 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend.
Tysons Concert Series: MattNathanson. 6:30-8 p.m. on thePlaza at Tysons Corner Center.Tysons Corner Center’s 5th annualfree Summer Concert Series offers avariety of musical guests and hasproven to be a popular event forfamilies, couples and teenagers. ThePlaza is located off of The TysonsCorner Metro Station of the SilverLine. Guests are encouraged to arriveearly. Visitwww.tysonscornercenter.com/events/SummerConcertSeries2018.
Summer on the Green: Mary Lou& the Drugstore Lovers. 6:30p.m. area residents can catch a newand diverse musical act at the TownGreen or at Chillin’ on Church. Bringblankets and chairs, but please leaveFido and any other pets at home. Theconcerts are free and open to thepublic. Visit www.viennava.gov.
SATURDAY/JULY 14Teddy Bear Picnic. 10:30-noon at
Freeman Store and Museum, 131Church St., NE, Vienna. Bring ablanket and your favorite bear orother stuffed creature (dolls arewelcome, too) and picnic on theFreeman Store grounds or inside theFreeman Store if it rains with a lunchjust for Bear Lovers. Partake in Bear-Friendly activities. Aged 9 and under.$5 per child; no charge for Bears.Parents are asked to stay toaccompany their child. Call 703-938-5187 or email [email protected] and prepaymentrequired by Wednesday, July 11.
Model Railroaders Open House. 1-5 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.
SUNDAY/JULY 15Alden Summer Concerts: Oh He
Dead. 5 p.m. in McLean CentralPark, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd. Freeparking at Dolley Madison Library,1244 Oak Ridge Ave. The Alden’s2018 Summer Sunday Concerts inthe Park expand this year to includea “welcome, summer” concert onSunday, June 3, and then sevenconcerts from July 1 through Aug.12. Visit www.aldentheatre.org.
Concerts on the Green: TheUnfinished. 6-8 p.m. on the GreatFalls Village Centre Green. Sundaysthroughout the summer, bring apicnic and chairs for an evening offree, live music. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org.
Calendar
Naz Akbar Exhibits atKatie’s Coffee HouseA Great Falls artist Naz Akbar is exhibiting atKatie’s Coffee House, 760 Walker Rd, Great Falls,July 2-31. Her work has been exhibited widely andseen world wide.
Backtrack (family friendly) performs in McLean CentralPark on Sunday, July 8, 5 p.m. Known for pushing thelimits of a cappella, Backtrack’s repertoire spans pastand present pop covers to classical and electronic music.
McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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By David Siegel
The Connection
With the success ofthe initial LoganFestival of SoloPerformances in
2017, 1st Stage will be once againshowcasing some of the nation’snotable solo performing artists.This summer’s edition of the Lo-gan Festival will introduce entirelynew performers and performancesto Northern Virginia audiences.
“Forget any preconceived notionyou have of solo work.ºThe festi-val will change everything youmight think about the art form,”said Alex Levy, artistic director, 1st
Stage. “The solo work is intimateand epic…It is an incredible ex-perience.”
“There’s really very little oppor-tunity for these kind of shows to
Logan Foundation, this year’s Festival also receivedgrant support from the National Endowment for theArts.
Inviting audiences to the Festival, Levy also spokeof some of the differences of a solo performancecompared to a multi-actor theater production.º“Thedifference is the intimacy.º The relationship of asingle person speaking directly to an audience isan incredibly powerful experience.ºI think 1st Stageaudiences have come to love intimate and highlyskilled theater. The Logan Festival is an extensionof that relationship.”
Where and When1st Stage presents the 2nd Annual Logan Festival of Solo
Performance at 1524 Spring Hill Rd, McLean. Performancesfrom July 12 to 22, 2018. Tickets: $20 per show, $10 pershow for students with valid ID. Festival Pass (valid for allthree festival shows) can be purchased for $50. Individualtickets and Festival Passes can be purchased online atwww.1stStage.orgºor call 703-854-1856.
Performances of each show of The Logan Festival of SoloPerformances as follows:
❖ “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey”: July 12at 7:30 p.m., July 15 at 5 p.m., July 19 at 7:30 p.m., July20 at 8 p.m., July 21 and 22 at 2 p.m.
❖ “Where Did We Sit on the Bus”: July 13 at 8 p.m., July15 at 7:30 p.m., July 17 at 7:30 p.m., July 21 at 8 p.m.,and July 22 at 7:30 p.m.
❖ “Brahman”: July 18 at 7:30 p.m., July 14 at 8 p.m.,July 15 at 2 p.m., and July 18 at 7:30 p.m., July 21 andJuly 22 at 5 p.m.
Festival showcases some of the nation’snotable solo performing artists.
Theatre
Logan Festival Returns to 1st Stage
Photo byºDave Burbank/Courtesy 1st Stage
Aila Peck in “Brahman,” written by Aditi Brennan Kapil,directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Performed at the LoganFestival of Solo Performances, 1st Stage.
Photo by Gerry Goodstein/Courtesy 1st Stage
“Where Did We Sit on the Bus?,” written and performedby Brian Quijada. Performed at the Logan Festival of SoloPerformances, 1st Stage.
Jeffrey Plunkettin “The Abso-lute Brightnessof LeonardPelkey,” writ-ten by JamesLecesne, di-rected by KateAlexander.Performed atthe LoganFestival of SoloPerformances,1st Stage.
be experienced,” said Levy. “These highly skilled sto-rytellers on the national scene who are not house-hold names have largely remained un-produced inthis area. I wanted to help fill that gap and allowthese amazing artists an opportunity to share theirwork.”
The solo plays curated by Levy provide NorthernVirginia audiences a “diversity of voice, style andapproach that are very different. As a collective theyrepresent the full spectrum of what solo work mightlook like.”
The three solo performances in the 2018 AnnualLogan Festival include:
“The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” byJames Lecesne. A brash New Jersey detective visits avibrant seaside town to investigate the disappear-ance of teenager Leonard Pelkey. Through interviewswith at least half a dozen distinct characters, the truthof Leonard’s disappearances unfolds to a luminousconclusion.
“Brahman,” written by Aditi Brennan Kapil, is anunusual, comic stand-up routine exploring everythingfrom Indian heritage to history, mythology, genderroles, and horrifying middle school experiences.
“Where Did We Sit on The Bus” by Brian Quijada:During a third grade lesson on Rosa Parks a youngboy asks, if white people sat at the front of the busand black people sat at the back of the bus, wheredid Latinos sit?º
With continuing support from the Riva & David
Photo by
Alexandria Hill/
Courtesy 1st Stage
10 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
Girl Scouts Win Highest HonorsFrom Page 5
Girl Scout Troop 6963, from left, front row: ElshadyeBussie, Eloise Lorenze, Jane Sullivan, RianKlanderman, top row: Amelia Swenson, SummerParise. Missing: Caroline Chaze and Marin George.
Girl Scout Troop 6963 leader Catherine Lorenze presentsSilver Award to Cadette Caroline Chaze at service unit 50-6 awards ceremony.
www.GreenwayHeightsHistory.com.Two cadettes partnered up on a
project to benefit the Falls ChurchHomeless Shelter.
“We met with shelter represen-tatives several times to learn abouthow we could best help vulnerablecommunity members. We learnedshelter clients are always in needof shower and toiletry items, sothat became our focus,” said GirlScout Marin George. “We imple-mented our project with the helpof our churches and local schoolsby establishing numerous collec-tion sites for these items and de-livering them to the shelter on anon-going basis,” said fellow GirlScout Amelia Swenson.
Girl Scouts Jane Sullivan andCaroline Chaze also partnered upon their project to welcome newneighbors who move into thepopular and active McLean Ham-let neighborhood. “After meetingwith our homeowners association,we learned we have a high-turn-over neighborhood. That meanslots of new faces, and we wantedto make them feel welcome in ourlarge neighborhood,” said CadetteJane Sullivan.
“Jane and I prepared welcomekits with helpful informationabout local sights, community andcivic organizations, social links,voting locations and of course,some Girl Scout cookies!” said GirlScout Caroline Chaze. “It feelsgood to know we are making apositive difference where we live,”added Sullivan.
Summer Parise took her GirlScout silver project across bordershelping those in poor countries tosee. “As someone who wearsglasses myself, I wanted to addressthe lack of money and access toglasses in developing nations. Iworked closely with school offi-cials at Longfellow Middle Schoolto set up donation boxes and pub-licized my efforts in the PTA news-letter. I’ve collected nearly 100pairs of glasses to date,”saidParise.
SILVER AWARD PROJECTSmay also focus on recruiting othergirls to Girl Scouting which is theroute Cadette Elshadye Bussietook while working at a weeklongday camp for potential new GirlScouts. “I planned, organized andled activities for large groups ofgirls,” said Bussie. “It took me alot of time to prepare my activi-ties, and I was really proud thatGirl Scouts gave me the responsi-bility to create interesting and en-gaging programming for the daycampers. I really enjoyed workingwith younger kids and hope I in-
spired them to try Girl Scouting.”Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader
Catherine Lorenze said all mem-bers of Troop 6963 met the rigor-ous requirements for their SilverAwards. Troop 6963, Service Unit50-6 is part of the Girl ScoutCouncil of the Nation’s Capital and
has been an active troop for nineyears. Its members will attend Lan-gley High School, the MadeiraSchool and Bishop O’Connell HighSchool. Scouts from Troop 6963all plan to work towards their GoldAwards as Ambassador GirlScouts.
Pho
to
s co
ntributed
McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
-
-
Well BlowMe DownSubmit civic/community announcements at
ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
WEDNESDAY/JULY 4Free Sober Rides. Wednesday, July 4, 7 p.m.
through Thursday, July 5, 4 a.m. Area residents,21 and older, may download Lyft to theirphones, then enter a code in the app’s “Promo”section to receive a no cost (up to $15) safe ridehome. WRAP’s Independence Day SoberRidepromo code will be posted at 5 p.m. on July 4on www.SoberRide.com. The SoberRide code isvalid for the first 1,500 Lyft users who enter thecode.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESThe Fairfax-Falls Church Community
Services Board’s Merrifield Center offers anew stand-up information kiosk. Part of a pilotproject, the new feature aims to improve thecustomer service experience and decrease waittimes for individuals who are seeking mental(behavioral) health services. To check in,individuals respond to five simple questions,then the CSB’s Patient Track software alertsstaff. Based on clinicians’ schedules andavailability, as well as the needs of the client,individuals are triaged and seen by the nextavailable staff member. For more information onavailable services, call the CSB at 703-383-8500(Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). In anemergency 24/7, call CSB Emergency Services at703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detox Center at703-502-7000 (TTY 703-322-9080).
TUESDAY/JULY 10Story Time: Focus and Self-Control. 10-11
a.m. at The Parent Resource Center Library,2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105,Dunn Loring. This Story Time will highlightbooks and activities to support focus and self-control in young children. Focus and self-controlis an evidence-based executive functioning skillthat involves paying attention, following therules, thinking flexibly, and exercising selfcontrol. Registration is limited and required forchildren ages 4-6 and their parents. Visitwww.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center for more.
WEDNESDAY/JULY 11Public Information Hearing. 5-8 p.m. at Spring
Hill Elementary School Cafeteria, 8201Lewinsville Road, McLean. The MetropolitanWashington Airports Authority is hosting apublic hearing to inform and solicit commentsfrom the community about proposed toll rateincreases along the Dulles Toll Road. There willbe informational exhibits related to the DullesToll Road and planned improvements that maybe made, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail SilverLine Extension Project, the revenue projectionsassociated with the proposed toll rate increasesand how this additional revenue will be spent.Representatives from the Airports Authority willbe present to discuss these items. Visitwww.mwaa.com for more.
THURSDAY/JULY 12Story Time: Perspective Taking. 10-11 a.m. at
The Parent Resource Center Library, 2334Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105, DunnLoring. This Story Time will highlight books andactivities to support perspective taking in youngchildren. Perspective taking is an evidence-basedexecutive functioning skill that forms the basisfor children’s understanding of their parents’,teachers’, and friends’ intentions. Registration islimited and required for children ages 4-6 andtheir parents. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center formore.
TUESDAY/JULY 17Story Time: Making Connections. 10-11 a.m.
at The Parent Resource Center Library, 2334Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105, DunnLoring. Making Connections is at the heart oflearning. This Story Time will highlight booksand activities to support this evidence-basedexecutive functioning skill in young children.Registration is limited and required for childrenages 4-6 and their parents. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center for more.
Bulletin
12 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 4-10, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
