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A-SPAN: Highlighting Success News, Page 3
WellbeingPage 6
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
News, Page 3
Corporal Beth Lennon and Officer Mike Keen pile up bags filled with discarded prescription drugs at the Langston Community Center drop off location on Saturday, April 28.
2 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsArlington Connection Editor Steven Mauren
703-778-9415 or [email protected]
See A-SPAN, Page 10
See Final Budget, Page 11
See Drugs, Page 10
By Vernon Miles
The Connection
There were already plenty ofstrains on the budget — risingschool costs, increased Metrofunding, the regional afford-
able housing crisis — but the County Boardadded another: no tax rate increase. Withtaxes and fees for the average Arlingtonianstill see an average $296 or 3.5 percent in-crease, according to an estimate by CountyManager Mark Schwartz, the County Boardinstead opted to look at cuts for the FY 2019budget. At the budget’s final approval onApril 21, the few previously cut items foundsome returning investments, but in the fi-nal toll several programs will still gounderfunded or cut.
“I believe raising the tax rate would haveonly deferred hard conversations,” saidCounty Board Chair Katie Cristol. “The paceof growth in needs is outpacing growth inassessed value. We have to find a way toshow commitment to our values throughbetter measuring of outcomes and impacts,not just input of dollars spent.”
The County Board surpassed the Arling-ton Public School’s budget request with $2.5million taken from renovations planned forthe the Ellen M. Bozman Government Cen-ter. While the addition passes the officialrequest from the School Board, Board mem-ber Nancy Van Doren said the schools hadactually needed $4.7 million to meet theneeds of the growing school population.
The budget included a three percent in-crease in funding to the Metro, raising to-tal operating support to $73.1 million.Cristol noted that much of the fundingtransitioned into Metro funding isn’t fromnew sources, but drawn from other regional
transportation funding projects. Much of theincrease came from reductions in ART busoperations and elimination of stops. Routesthrough Crystal City, Long Bridge Park, andthe Pentagon had all experienced chroniclow ridership, averaging three passengersper hour, and were cut.
The $1.3 billion general fund budgetcame with $8.4 million in spending reduc-tions. There were also $6.6 million in feeand tax increases and $5.5 million fromfunding realignment. Utility taxes will in-crease five percent, up to $3 increase permonth. This is separate from the householdsolid waste fees, increased $2 for a total feeof $316.16 per year. Parking meter rates alsoincreased by $0.25 per hour, with hoursextended from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and finesincreased to $40.
Some of the most severe cuts to the bud-get were eliminations in the Office of Com-munity Health in the Department of Parksand Recreation ($483,000), reduction inDepartment of Health and Human Servicesemployment services ($825,000), and ser-vice cuts in the Department of Human Ser-vices ($625,000).
“It wasn’t all low hanging fruit,” saidCounty Board member Christian Dorsey.“There were substantial cuts. We have em-ployees performing work who will no longerbe part of our organization. We can’t gliblyignore [that] sacrifice.”
There were a few last minute restorationsto programs that had been on the choppingblock. Among the proposed cuts had been$91,000 to Arlington Independent Media,a 20 percent cut to the nonprofit localbroadcasting organization. Of that, $70,000was restored in one time funding to givethe program a year to move towards self-sufficiency. The County Board directedSchwartz to put together a list of other pub-lic access media funded by the county andhow it compares to other jurisdictions, not
Final budget approved,but with steep cuts.
On the Chopping Block
By Eden Brown
The Connection
More than 300 local residentsand community leaders attended A-SPAN’s Coming
Home breakfast, an annual event whichcelebrates those who have been able toleave homelessness behind. The attend-ees didn’t come for the breakfast: theycame for the other kind of nourishment:knowing a program designed to getpeople off the street was working.
County Board member ChristianDorsey talked about growing up near arescue mission and never giving it a sec-ond thought; the backdrop of his remarkswas a photo of him as a boy with his twosiblings, sitting on the steps of a rowhouse. A few years later, his cousin, Joey,a “really great guy” to whom he lookedup, was seen in the neighborhood pan-handling. Dorsey asked his family, “Hey,what’s going on with Joey?” No onewanted to talk about Joey: they just toldDorsey Joey was a good example of whatnot to do. Some years later, he askedwhat had happened to Joey, and his fam-ily told him Joey had died. On the street.Homeless. “A few years ago I was privi-leged to serve on the board of A-SPAN,”Dorsey said. “And it brought me to real-ize I had to connect in a way I couldn’tfor Joey: there is a lot we can do for thehomeless.”
Another board member asked, “Howmany of you have heard someone sayabout the homeless: why don’t they just
get a job? But it’s a lot harder than youthink: you are unstable, you have expe-rienced trauma, you don’t have a resume,you don’t have an address, no place todress and shower.” The job start programis a way to end the cycle of failure.
Kenneth Florence was in that cycle.Arlington had been his home since 1992;“Many years ago I was living not too farfrom here, had a job with a military con-tractor and was working at Ft. Belvoir,”he said. “And then my girlfriend suddenlydied and I fell into a deep depression —I found myself making bad decisions.”
“My job and family were not priorities.I lost my home and found myself livingon the street. The past 4 years I was atthe Emergency Winter Shelter in Court-house, or wandering the streets lookingfor a place to eat or sleep.”
“A-SPAN is one of the few organizationsthat really helped me change my life,”
A-SPAN lookingfor internships forthe homeless.
Highlighting Success
Kathy Siebert introduces Ken-neth Florence to the audience atA-SPAN Coming Home breakfast.
By Shirley Ruhe
The Connection
It’s 11:15 a.m. on Saturday,April 28 and four large trans-lucent bags bursting with dis-
carded pills already sit in the cor-ner at Langston-Brown Commu-nity Center on National Prescrip-tion Drug Take-Back Day. Four col-lection bins sit inside the door with“Don’t Be the Dealer” plastered onthe front.
Arlington County Police OfficerMike Keen says, “Last year we gotmore than 700 pounds of drugs,
and we seem to be on track to geteven more this year.”
The event is scheduled to runfrom 10 a.m.to 2 pm. CorporalBeth Lennon, Arlington CountyFirst District Community PolicingTeam, has been doing this foryears. This is the 15th opportunityin seven years for the public toanonymously dispose of unwantedor expired drugs through this na-tionwide program. Lennon says,“Langston seems to be the largestdrop-off site. People seem to brIngin prescription drugs from sickfamily members or the drugs are
expired and they don’t know whatto do with them.”
Diane Kelly deposits a bottle ofpills in the bin. She says, “I hadsome pills left over from surgery.They were unopened and I didn’tknow how to get rid of it.” Steadystreams of people walk throughthe door, some with one bottle,like Kelly, and others with largecontainers filled with pills of allcolors and sizes.
“Any needles, insulin?” Lennonsays this year they can also collectneedles because the fire depart-ment bought Sharps Containers.She says at the end of the day, “We
Bins Overflow with Drugs at Prescription Drug Take-Back DayOver 700 pounds of drugs collected.
Nhon Ta, a pharmacist withthe Virginia Hospital Cen-ter outpatient pharmacy,answers questions aboutdrug interactions andproper disposal techniques.
Diane Kelly drops off anunopened bottle of pills leftover from surgery. She saysshe didn’t know what to dowith it.
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4 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
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ArlingtonThe
Connection
By Barbara Favola
State Senator (D-31)
The 2017 elections demonstratedthat Virginians believe that individuals cannot work, take careof their families, or pursue hap-
piness if they cannot see a doctor when theyare sick. The candidates who heard this mes-sage and ran on expanding access tohealthcare, won.
Those advocating for expansion are morethan willing to compromise with lawmakerswho may have legitimate policy concerns. We
know that 33 other stateshave already opted to insuretheir working poor. It is timethat our federal taxdollars stay here inVirginia to helpcover approxi-mately 400,000 hard-workingfamilies earning up to 138
percent of the poverty level.Making health insurance available to more
Virginians is the right thing to do and the sen-sible thing to do. The Federal government isoffering to cover no less than 90 percent of
Medicaid Expansion; It’s Timethe costs of insuring Virginia’s working poor.Virginia’s hospitals are committed to coveringthe remaining 10 percent of the costs. Addi-
tional money flowing to Virginia un-der Medicaid expansion will enablethe state to increase funding forschools and other needed services.
Another benefit of Medicaid expansion is thelikelihood of smaller rate increases in ourhealth insurance plans. Studies have shownthat in states where more people are insured,the cost of uncompensated care drops. Yes, wewill all benefit if more of us have access tohealthcare. It is time to act.
Commentary
Nearly 600 peoplejoined OAR to cel-ebrate the 10th“Second Chance”
Fundraising Breakfast on April 24at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.Harold Clarke, director of the Vir-ginia Department of Correctionswas the keynote speaker withSenators Barbara Favola andAdam Ebbin as the honorary co-chairs.
“The event raised over $101,000in contributions and pledges andwhile this event is a huge successfor us, we still need to raise about$50,000 between now and the endof June to meet our budget for thisfiscal year,” said Heather Pritchett,OAR’s director of development andoutreach.
Gwen, formerly incarceratedfive times, sat anonymously in theaudience listening to her experi-ences recounted by a storyteller.Gwen had bounced from Regis-tered Nurse to credit card theftand fraud and had ended up onthe street and in shelters untillanding a job at Macy’s. Her crimi-nal background kept her from be-
ing able to sign a lease and sheended up back in shelters andavoiding her parole officer. Alongthe way a social worker suggestedshe go to OAR where they helpedher apply for job openings, gaveher Metro fare and assisted withher application for a housinggrant. “I’ve been slowly piecing mylife back together and the entire
OAR team has been with me ev-ery step of the way.”
OAR was founded in 1974 as acommunity-based nonprofit orga-nization. It provides alternativesentencing through CommunityService to men and women return-ing to the community from incar-ceration and supports participantsboth pre- and post-release includ-
OAR Celebrates Decade of Second Chances
ing case management, employ-ment assistance, housing, foodand clothing. OAR serves Arling-ton, Alexandria and Falls Church.In fiscal year 2017 OAR served2,232 individuals, including 1,584community service participantsand 733 reentry participants.
— Shirley Ruhe
OAR “Second Chance” fundraising breakfast
Pho
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See Bulletin, Page 7
VOLUNTEERS WANTEDTaste of Arlington takes place
Sunday, May 20. Arlington’s biggestblock party attracts 25,000+ visitorsand has raised $180,000 for localcharities to date. Volunteers areneeded in each section of the festivalin 3-4 hour shifts, starting Saturdayafternoon through Sunday evening.Select which non-profit to representand preferred shift during theregistration process. Volunteers forTaste of Arlington, will receive a t-shirt to wear on the day of thefestival and five free food and drinktickets. Visit www.ballstonbid.com/taste/volunteer.
WEDNESDAY/MAY 2Learn About Solar. 6:30 p.m. at the
Navy League Building, 2300 WilsonBlvd. Solar United Neighbors ofVirginia works to help community
members go solar and fight for theirenergy rights. Solar United Neighborsis partnering with Arlington County,Arlingtonians for a CleanEnvironment, and VA Clean Cities tosponsor the group. Free informationmeeting. Visitwww.solarunitedneighbors.org/virginia/ for more.
SATURDAY/MAY 5Kentucky Derby Day Fundraiser.
Northern Virginia GOP celebrates18th Annual Kentucky Derby DayFundraiser.Join as a “Sponsor” of theevent for as little as $100, whichincludes two tickets or at the higherlevels, such as Patron ($250, fivetickets), Benefactor ($500, 10tickets) or Co-Host ($1,000, 20tickets). Visitwww.NorthernVirginiaGOP.com.
Free Shredding Event. 9 a.m.-noonat Office of McEnearney Associates
Realtors, 4720 Lee Hwy., Arlington.Free. Have old bills, accountstatements or anything else that hassensitive information on it that youwant to get rid of? The trucks will bein the parking lot directly in front ofoffice.
MONDAY/MAY 7Nauck Town Square Public Art
Meeting. 7:30 p.m. at Drew ModelSchool, 3500 S. 23rd Street,Arlington. Walter Hood will beattending the regular public meetingof the Nauck Civic Association toshow the final design design conceptfor the public art piece entitledFreed. He will be discussing his ideasbehind this concept and how it willbe incorporated into Nauck TownSquare.
TUESDAY/MAY 8Creating a Pitch Deck that Gets
Funded. 5:30-8:30 p.m. at NavyLeague Building, Ground FloorConference Center, 2300 WilsonBlvd., Arlington. This is a high profileseries designed to give MITEFmembers and area entrepreneurspractical information when foundinga startup company. Cynthia Traegerwill describe in detail what isnecessary for creating a fund-ablepitch deck and the critical touchpoints in presenting successfully toinvestors. Cost is $10/members; $20/nonmembers. $25 at door.
Parenting Today vs Yesterday. 7-8:30 p.m. at The Sycamore School,4600 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 300.Why being a parent today isdifferent: Navigating new issues andconnecting to your kids. Free. Call
Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.
Bulletin Board
Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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“Flourishing After 55” from ArlingtonOffice of Senior Adult Programs for May6-12.
Senior centers: Lee, 5722 LeeHwy.; Langston-Brown Senior Center,2121 N. Culpeper St.; Walter Reed,2909 S. 16th St.; Arlington Mill, 909 S.Dinwiddie St.; Aurora Hills, 735 S. 18th
St.Senior trips: Revolutionary War re-
enactment, Mount Vernon, Sunday,May 6, $52; Patrick Henry’s Red Hillhome, Brookneal, Va.,Tuesday, May 8,$95 (includes lunch); Marietta Tour andTea, Glen Dale, Md., Thursday, May 10,$25; National Symphony Orchestrabreakfast concert, Friday, May 11, $32;strawberry and vegetable picking,Hollins Farms, Delaplane, Saturday,
May 12, $6. Call Arlington County 55+Travel, 703-228-4748. Registration re-quired.
NEW PROGRAMS:Armchair tour of artist
Cezanne’s portraits, Monday, May7, 1:30 p.m., $1, Aurora Hills. Register,703-228-5722.
AARP’s tips on making homessafe, Monday, May 7, 10 a.m., WalterReed. Register, 703-228-0955.
Individual hearing screenings,Monday, May 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.,Langston-Brown, Free. Call for appoint-ment, 703-228-6300.
Introduction to Medicare, Tues-day, May 8, 10 a.m., Arlington Mill.Register, 703-228-7369.
Factors that affect balance,Tuesday, May 8, 11 a.m., Langston-Brown. Register, 703-228-6300.
History roundtable to feature“The Gilded Age,” Tuesday, May 8,11:15 a.m., Lee. Details, 703-228-0555.
All about Amazon’s tech fea-tures, Wednesday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.,Arlington Mill. Register, 703-228-7369.
Bird watching basics, Wednes-day, May 9, 10 a.m., Walter Reed.Register, 703-228-0955.
Appraiser Matthew Quinn ,Wednesday, May 9, 1-3 p.m., Langston-Brown. Details, 703-228-6300.
Author Carol Waite, “Taken inHong Kong, December 8, 1941,”Wednesday, May 9, 1:30 p.m., AuroraHills. Details, 703-228-5722.
‘Flourishing After 55’
6 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Dermatology & AllergySPECIALISTS OF VIRGINIA
www.dermspecial is tsva.com
Phone 703-709-1492 • Fax 703-709-5111
1800 Town Center Dr., Ste. 415Reston, VA 20190
1715 N. George Mason Dr., Ste. 105Arlington, VA 22205
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Allergy Patch Testing • Asthma • Hives • Allergy EczemaFood & Environmental Allergy Testing • Sinusitis
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Dr. Sowerwine has specialized training and experienceto find out what causes your allergies, prevent andtreat symptoms, and help keep them under control.
Dr. Kathryn J. Sowerwine is a boardcertified Allergist and Immunologistwith a special interest in dermatologicaldiseases linked to allergy. She completeda residency in Internal Medicine atGeorgetown University Hospital and herclinical and research fellowship in allergyand immunology at the National Institutesof Health in Bethesda, MD.
Kathryn J. Sowerwine, MD
Wellbeing
By Marilyn Campbell
It was during college when Laura Greensteinbegan to notice that something was not quiteright. “I noticed that things that were creatinganxiety on a daily basis, they weren’t just situ-
ational,” she said. “My anxiety was grabbing ontoanything that it could. If I was running late, I wouldstart to panic. Any small thing became a big issue.”
“My mother has always been supportive, but when[my anxiety] got to a certain point some close friendsand family began to stigmatize it,” said Greenstein,who now works for the National Association for theMentally Ill (NAMI) in Arlington. “They would say,‘You’re not doing enough.’ It was difficult to feel thatI wasn’t being fully accepted.”
After months of therapy and recent session with apsychiatrist who prescribed medication, Greensteinsaid that she is beginning to feel some relief. Sheeven began blogging about her experience. “This wasmy first time sharing my story,” she said. “It’s been areally validating process. Being open can really im-prove your outlook.”
During May, Mental Health Awareness Month,Greenstein and other mental health advocates aresharing the ways in which negative perceptions aboutmental illnesses can impact those who suffer fromit. NAMI reports that approximately 1 in 5 adultsand children in the United States are experiencingmental illness in a given year. Only 41percent of those adults received mentalhealth treatment, while slightly more thanhalf of children aged 8-15 received thoseservices. One of the roadblocks to treat-ment, say mental health professionals, is the stigmasurrounding mental health.
“Micro-aggressions towards individuals with men-tal illness are very common, such as assuming thatsomeone with a mental illness is inferior, stupid, ornot in control of their own behaviors,” said JessicaMcLaughlin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychologyat Montgomery College. “Because of our society’smisperceptions of mental illness, many individualsstruggling with mental health problems feel ashamedand isolated. They may even feel like it is not appro-priate to seek help. “[And] being on the receivingend of these hurtful comments and beliefs actuallyworsens symptoms.”
With a theme of “Cure Stigma,” NAMI activists areencouraging people to educate themselves and eradi-cate the stigma which can be a roadblock to thosewho suffer from mental illness to get the treatmentthey need. They were afraid of being labeled, so theysuffered in silence.
This is particularly true with teenagers and pre-teens, advises Stacie Isenberg, Psy.D., a child psy-chologist who specializes in anxiety disorders. “Amental illness stigma may cause a teen or pre-teento be hesitant to admit to her or himself that theyare having a mental health problem, to share with aparent, teacher, or pediatrician about their problem,and to seek mental health treatment,” she said.
The stigma surrounding mental illness is an im-portant issue that often goes unrecognized, saysMcLaughlin. “Individuals with mental illness faceboth overt and covert discrimination,” she said. “For
example, there is an assumption that people withmental illness are violent or crazy, which is not true.However, our belief in these myths can affectsomeone’s ability to find employment or obtain hous-ing.”
“Education is a powerful tool in combating mentalhealth stigma, and community-wide, mental healthawareness campaigns are helpful,” added Isenberg.“Individually, kids often search online to check outwhat their symptoms mean. Education from cred-ible websites, and those of mental health organiza-tions often provide clarity and guidance for thoseseeking help.”
Allowing those who might be experiencing symp-toms of a mental illness to speak freely about theircondition without fear of judgment can remove bar-riers to treatment advises McLaughlin. “That meansasking how we can help, listening with an open mind,and being nonjudgmental,” she said. Sometimes it
can be a tremendous help just to let some-one know that they have someone to leanon and that they are not alone.”
People can also fight the stigma of men-tal illness by being accepting and support-
ive of people who are experiencing mental healthissues, and by modeling this acceptance for theirchildren, suggests Isenberg. “Employers can encour-age employees to use mental health days as needed,and to permit longer lunch hours or flexible dismissalor arrival at times to accommodate therapy appoint-ments,” she said. “Similarly, schools can work withfamilies to allow kids to use free periods, lunch peri-ods, etc. to attend therapy when an after-school timeis not available and the need for treatment is signifi-cant.”
A family’s attitude about the mentally ill can af-fect a child’s willingness to ask for help, advisesIsenberg. “A child who comes from a family that doesnot consider mental health issues to be real or prob-lematic may be reluctant to share with her or hisparents,” she said. “Similarly, kids whose friends stig-matize mental health issues, or kids who don’t talkmuch about personal issues with friends, are oftenunsure about sharing with their friends. On the con-trary, kids who believe their families and friends willbe sensitive and supportive to them are more likelyto be open with them about any concerns they arehaving.”
McLaughlin says the conversation needs to hap-pen on a national level. “One of the most importantthings our nation could do is make therapy servicesmore easily accessible,” she said. “We should encour-age individuals to seek treatment, not make themfeel embarrassed. There is nothing more courageousthan someone who is willing to advocate for theirown mental health.”
Mental Health advocateswork to tear downbarriers to treatment.
Erasing the Stigma
Photo courtesy of Laura Greenstein
Laura Greenstein is using her personalexperience with anxiety to help otherswho suffer from mental illness.
MoreSee www.nami.org
Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 4
News
MJ Stewart was anunstoppable forceon high schoolfootball fields
around Northern Virginia and arecord-breaking performer at theDivision I college level. Now, the2014 Yorktown High Schoolgraduate will have the opportunityto prove himself on football’sgrandest stage.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers onApril 27 selected Stewart with the53rd overall pick in the secondround of the 2018 NFL Draft. The5-foot-11, 200-pound Stewart wasone of two cornerbacks drafted bythe Buccaneers in the secondround. Tampa Bay used five of itseight draft choices on defense af-ter surrendering 382 points in2017 and finishing last in the NFCSouth with a 5-11 record.
Stewart played for Bishop
O’Connell High School as a fresh-man before transferring toYorktown. Stewart, an all-regionrunning back, defensive back andkick returner, led the Patriots to apair of region championship gameappearances in his three seasonswith the program. He rushed for1,428 yards and 24 touchdownsas a senior. As a junior, he totaled1,842 rushing yards, 323 receiv-ing yards and 32 touchdowns.
Stewart went on to play defensiveback at the University of North Caro-lina and set the school record forpass breakups in a career with 41.
Tampa Bay opens the 2018 regu-lar season on Sept. 9 at New Or-leans. The Buccaneers will host theWashington Redskins on Nov. 11and will travel to Baltimore to facethe Ravens on Dec. 16.
— Jon Roetman
Buccaneers DraftYorktown Grad Stewart
File Photo by Craig Sterbutzel
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected former Yorktownstandout MJ Stewart, seen in this 2012 file photo, onApril 27 in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
703-717-5360 or visitthesycamoreschoolva.org/events/free-lecture-for-parents-navigating-new-issues.
FRIDAY/MAY 11Observance of Peace Officers
Memorial Day. 8 a.m. in theArlington County Justice Center Plaza,1425 North Courthouse Road. TheArlington County Police Departmentand the Arlington County Sheriff’sOffice will gather to honor and paytribute to the memory of the sevenlaw enforcement officers of ArlingtonCounty who gave their lives in serviceto their community. Learn more aboutArlington County’s fallen officers atpolice.arlingtonva.us/about/hall-honor/.
MAY 14-AUG. 2English Placement Exams. At
Arlington Mill Community Center,909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington.English as a Second Language forAdults, Arlington Public Schools’REEP Program is giving placementexams for the May 14 - Aug. 2English (ESL) classes. Afternoon andevening classes available. Tuition is$200 for people who live or work inArlington; $350 for people who donot live or work in Arlington. Examsare free. Exams are on the followingMondays: April 30 and May 7 at 5p.m. Call 703-228-4200 or visitwww.apsva.us/reep.
Bulletin Board
8 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Steve Hibbard
The Connection
Signature Theatre i is presenting“Girlfriend,” a homosexual lovestory and musical by Todd Almondand Matthew Sweet, from now
through June 10 at its Ark Theater.The play is a coming-of-age musical duet
from when flannel was the height of fash-ion and mix tapes were the language of love.The setting takes place in 1993 in small-town Nebraska during the summer betweenhigh school and whatever comes next. Col-lege-bound jock Mike and self-assured butaimless Will find themselves drawn to eachother. Their rush of first-time love, full ofexcitement, confusion and passion, is cap-tured by the power-pop precision and frayedguitar emotion of Matthew Sweet’s alter-native rock album “Girlfriend.”
“’Girlfriend’ is the piece of theatre that Ineeded as a young gay man and one thatsimply didn’t exist. Here is a love story abouttwo boys that does not involve AIDS or gaybashing,” said Director Matthew Gardiner.
He continued: “Plays like ‘Angels inAmerica’ and ‘Normal Heart’ are vital sto-ries, but I always wanted to see a piece oftheater where the gay story didn’t involvethat layer of suffering. ‘Girlfriend’ is a hope-ful story. Some gay men might say it’s ide-alistic. For me, it was the kind of story Iwanted and needed as a young man. A lovestory is not uncommon in musical theatre,
a love story from the gay perspective is.”What he hopes the audience takes away
from this depends on who they are, he said.“I think for most, it will bring them back tothis awkward, exciting and terrifying mo-ment in life of first love. For most, I thinkthe story will feel nostalgic. For those whodon’t have many LGBTQ influences aroundthem, I hope the piece shows how muchmore we are alike than different. But morethan anything I hope that the young LGBTQyouth in the audience who may feel uncom-fortable in their own skin feel a sense ofcourage and hope after seeing this show,”he said.
Lukas James Miller plays the role of Mike,a closeted gay teenager who just graduatedfrom high school in Nebraska. “He is ridingthis high of newfound freedom and confi-dence that comes with the summer afterhigh school before moving away for college,and in this time explores his feelings forclassmate Will starting with the sharing ofa mixtape,” he said.
“This entire process has been streamlinedand productive thanks to the direction andvision of Matthew Gardiner leaving verylittle room for challenges. However, onething that I focus on is honoring the arch ofthe entire relationship throughout the pieceand never becoming too comfortable withthe progression of events. I’m hoping tokeep each performance fresh and relatableto every life experience,” he said.
He hopes that everyone who sees thisproduction walks away with a very full heartand wonderful memories of their lives atthis vulnerable time. “Most importantly, Ihope that audiences will be happy to see ahomosexual love story that is a heavy dramacentered around the nature of the relation-ship. Love stories don’t need to be thishetero-normative concept; love is love,” hesaid.
Jimmy Mavrikes plays the role of Will,who he says takes it one step at a time.“Throughout the course of the show he re-alizes he’s meant for more, and Michael
helps him realize that. While I would liketo think that Will goes off to be wildly suc-cessful in something after the show ends…I don’t think he does. Ha-ha. I think Will isstrong, goofy, and someone we all know,”he said.
He said the show is a two-person musical“where neither of us really leave the stage.It was difficult to memorize and learn thesequence of the show. There’s always anelement of ‘Oh God, what if I start the wrongscene?’” he said.
Signature Theatre is presenting “Girl-friend” from now through June 10. Ticketsare $40 to $80. Show times are Tuesdaysthrough Sundays at 7:30 and 8 p.m.; with2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays,and Sundays at 7 p.m. Specialty Nights areDiscussion Nights on May 8, 16 and 23;Pride Nights on May 11 and 18; and OpenCaptioning on June 3 at 2 p.m. The venueis located at 4200 Campbell Ave. Call theBox Office at 703-820-9771 or visitwww.sigtheatre.org.
ONGOINGArt Exhibit: “That’s Why I’m
Here.” Through May 5 at CodyGallery, 1000 North Glebe Road, 2ndFloor. Marymount University’s CodyGallery will host an openingreception for the exhibition “That’s
Why I’m Here,” which features workby Kyle Bauer, Cynthia Connolly(Curator at Arlington Arts), ElizabethHuey, Kim Llerena, and JordanRathus. Works in the exhibition aremarked by experiences drawn fromthe environment, both real andimagined. Call 703-284-1500 or visit
www.marymount.edu and search“Cody Gallery.”
Wordless Shakespeare: “TitusAndronicus.” Through May 27,Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sundaymatinee, 2 p.m. at Synetic Theater,Crystal City, 1800 S. Bell St. SyneticTheater’s Founding Artistic Director
Paata Tsikurishvili will present the13th installation of his WordlessShakespeare series, “TitusAndronicus.”
The revenge-driven tragedy tells thebloody tale of Titus and Tamora withall of the fiery passion, energy, andvengeance only Synetic Theater can
deliver. Recommended for ages 16and older for violence and maturecontent. $35 and up. Student ticketsstart at $15. Seniorsand military, $5off. Visit synetictheater.org.
Calendar Submit entertainment announcements at www.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. The deadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artwork encouraged.
Entertainment
Play is a homosexuallove story and musicalset in small-townNebraska in 1993.
Signature Presents ‘Girlfriend,’ ‘A Hopeful Story’
Photos by Christopher Mueller
Jimmy Mavrikes (Will) and Lukas James Miller (Mike) star in “Girlfriend” at Signature Theatre.
See Calendar, Page 9
Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 8
THURSDAY/MAY 3Rock the Loop. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Market
Common Clarendon, 2800 Clarendon Blvd.,Arlington. Free. Join Market Common Clarendonon Thursday evenings, May through July, for aseries of free concerts on The Loop. Email HilaryShure at [email protected] orcall 703-442-4341. Visit: http://marketcommonclarendon.com/2018/04/rock-the-loop-live-music-thursday-630p-830p/
FRIDAY/MAY 4Barcroft Magnolia Bog Tour. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at
Meet at Barcroft Community Center by theparking garage, 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive.Adults. Explore a globally rare plant community– rediscovered 15 years ago in Arlington.Botanist Rod Simmons and Arlington NaturalResources Manager Alonso Abugattas will leadthe tour and share the challenges and successesin conserving and restoring this hidden gem.Terrain may be uneven and muddy. Teens ages16 and up are welcome, but must beaccompanied by a registered adult. Forinformation: 703-228-3403. $15. #632848-I.Register at 703-228-4747 orregistration.arlingtonva.us.
Free Kids’ Concerts. Fridays from 10:30-11:15a.m. at Market Common Clarendon, 2800Clarendon Blvd., Arlington. Join MarketCommon Clarendon on Friday mornings, Maythrough August, for a series of free concerts forchildren on The Loop. Any children celebrating abirthday that week will receive a free ice creamscoop from Nicecream! Contact Hilary Shure [email protected] or call 703-442-4341. Visit the website: https://www.facebook.com/events/170715040413840/
Benefit Concert. 6:15 p.m. at the UnitarianUniversalist Church of Arlington, 4444 ArlingtonBlvd. In support of the Dream Project-VA, anorganization with the mission to empowerstudents whose immigration status createsbarriers to education.The annual concert seeksto unite immigrants and all communities insolidarity. Visit www.dreamproject-va.org.
Magical May. 6:30-8 p.m. At Langston-BrownCommunity Center, 2121 N. Culpeper Street,Arlington. Families of children with disabilitiesages 4-17 can drop by for Magical May. No pre-registration is required during this drop-inevent. Families will be immersed into a monthlytheme featuring various therapeutic activitystations including gross motor, sensory, art,large games, a quiet room and more. $1.50 perperson. Email TR Office [email protected].
Choral Concert. 7 p.m. at Kenmore MiddleSchool in Arlington. Presented by EncoreChorales of Langston Brown, Alexandria, Fairfaxand Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads. Thechorales will perform a variety of piecesincluding Swingin’ with the Saints, West SideStory, Viva La Musical and more. Conductors forthe performance include Jeanne Kelly, JeffDokken and Brian Gendron and MaribethGowen at the piano. No tickets or reservationsrequired. Visit the Encore website at http://encorecreativity.org, call 301-261-5747 or [email protected].
SATURDAY/MAY 5Fort C.F. Smith Park Walking Tour. 9-10 a.m.
at Fort CF Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St. Familiesages 7 and up. Register children and adults;children must be accompanied by a registeredadult. For information: 703-228-7033. Free.#632758-C. Register online atregistration.arlingtonva.us.
New Farmers Market. Through October, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center, 909South Dinwiddie St. Columbia Pike will be theplace to shop local on the weekends for thefreshest produce, meats, goods and treats withthe grand opening of a second farmers market atArlington Mill Community Center. Visitcolumbia-pike.org/fm-arlington-mill.
ACF Hometour. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Check in at 2777Fort Scott Drive, Arlington. Second annualArlington Community Foundation Home Tour inthe Arlington Ridge neighborhood. Presented byWashington Fine Properties. Tickets are $35online/$40 at door. Visit arlcf.org/hometour.
Free Play Days - May. 1-2:30 p.m. at GulfBranch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin SpringsRoad. Ages 5 to 9. Register child only. It’s anearly release day, give chldren unstructuredtime they can call their own. Children will lovethis chance to explore our woods, make mudpies, throw rocks in the creek and just be free.For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf
Branch Nature Center. Free. #632828-C.Register online at registration.arlingtonva.us.
Spring Native Plant Sale. 1-4 p.m. at LongBranch Nature Center, 2411 N. 24th St.Gorgeous natives for sun to shade and evendeer-resistant plants. Pre-order plants online atregistration.arlingtonva.us. On the day of thesale, there will also have a wider selection on-site. Payment can be made by cash, check orcredit card. Rain date Sunday, May 6. Call 703-228-6535.
Plant Clinic. Wednesdays, through Oct. 24, 6:45-8:45 p.m. at The Arlington Central Library, eastlobby, 1015 N. Quincy St. Visit mgnv.org.
Black & White Ball. 7-11 p.m. at Army NavyCountry Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive.Leadership Center for Excellence presents Black& White Ball, formerly Monte Carlo Night. Thisannual gala is an evening of dancing, dining andbidding on exciting auction items to support theLeadership Arlington Youth Program for areahigh school students. $250. The ticket includesaccess to the open bar and a buffet dinner. Visitleadercenter.org/gala.
SUNDAY/MAY 6Spring Celebration and Plant Sale. 10 a.m.-3
p.m. at Glencarlyn Library Community Garden,300 South Kensington St. The annual Plant Saleat Glencarlyn Library Community Garden isexpanding this year to include more nature-related products. This Master Gardenerdemonstration garden will be offering a widerange of plants cultivated on site. The sale raisesfunds to keep the demonstration gardenoperating, and admission is free to the public.Email [email protected], call703-244-7309 or visit www.mgnv.org.
MONDAY/MAY 7Principles of Government Service Awards. 7
p.m. at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. CarlinSprings Road. The Arlington County PoliceDepartment will hold its annual ceremonyrecognizing the achievements of policepersonnel in service to the community andhighlights the Department’s dedicated pledge ofduty, honor and commitment. Nominated bytheir peers for their acts of service over theprevious calendar year, police officers andcivilian staff will be publicly recognized. Visitpolice.arlingtonva.us.
WEDNESDAY/MAY 9Ladies’ Night Out. 7-9 p.m. at Trek Bike Store,
2731 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. The event bringstogether the women cycling community to learnand talk about all things fitness and cycling,while enjoying free refreshments. Local partnersparticipating include the Washington Area BikeAssociation, Bike Arlington, Trade Roots, Houseof Steep, Sun and Moon Yoga, female-ownednutrition and PT organizations, and more. Raffleprizes from partners as well as items donated byTrek. Visit www.facebook.com/events/169283493718985??ti=ia.
Calendar
Argentine FestivalCesar Barria and Monica Totinowill perform at the the 31st AnnualArgentine Festival on Saturday,May 12 at Kenmore Middle SchoolAuditorium, 200 S. Carlin SpringsRoad. Seewww.Festivalargentino.org.
10 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 3
News
From Page 3
will take all of our bags to the state police wherethey will weigh what we got and then incinerate it.”
This year a pharmacist has been added to the eventto answer questions about drugs. Nhon Ta, a phar-macist with the Virginia Hospital Center outpatientpharmacy, says most of the questions have beenabout the safest way to dispose of drugs if you missthe official drug disposal option. A pamphlet includesa list of medicines recommended for disposal byflushing as well as instructions for disposing of fen-tanyl patches or inhaler products. It also details theemergency response for opioid overdose.
“People have also been asking about expirationdates since drugs are generally good for a few yearsmore but it’s not recommended.” Ta says drugs justkeep piling up.
Ta explains, “We’re hoping to raise awarenessthat we can answer medical questions about druginteractions. You can bring your medications tothe Virginia Hospital Center outpatient phar-macy to get information about interactions. Youdon’t have to be in the hospital; it’s open to thewhole county.”
The Arlington County Department of Human Ser-vices representatives at a nearby table are answeringquestions about substance abuse. “Mostly questionsfrom people about a family member like your chil-dren.” They were also publicizing the upcoming TownHall, “One Crisis, One Community, One Conversa-tion.” It is scheduled for May 2 at Kenmore MiddleSchool from 7-9 p.m.
According to Keen, a late afternoon count totals744 pounds of prescription drugs collected this yearin the county.
Over 700 Pounds of Drugs Collected
Florence said. “I have been clean and sober now forover 3 years and so proud to have the keys to myvery own apartment. I started my new life and signedan apartment lease with the help of A-SPAN in Sep-tember 2015, after spending 10 months at the Home-less Services Center.”
“A-SPAN got me into the Job START internship pro-gram, which helped train me, made me responsible,taught me accountability, coached me to be reliable,and paid me as I got job skills. The internshipchanged my life.”
Tom Lapham is the AUTO Stop owner who offeredFlorence the job. They are located on S. Four MileRun in Arlington. As Florence said,
“Now I had an experience to be proud of and couldput on my resume.”
Florence talked about how he had worked at AUTOStop, doing tune ups, oil changes, and changing lightbulbs. Then he was soon helping to diagnose thevehicle, working on brakes and changing out theengine. After the internship, the company offeredhim a job. He now works 20 hours a week and hopesto get 40 hours a week soon. He has his own tools,his own uniform, is studying to get his GED, and gota grant to go to Northern VIrginia Community Col-lege to become an auto mechanic technician.
Florence ended his comments with a tribute to hisA-SPAN caseworker, Bianca, and Lapham. “I’m nowworking with the best auto mechanics in Arlingtonand none of it would have been possible without A-SPAN. You gave me a future, you gave me a pur-
pose. For once in my life, I’m not stressed. I feelblessed.”
Attendees at breakfast were asked if they could offeran internship. It could be clerical, custodial, cookingoriented, or landscape work, they were told. A-SPANwould pay for the internship: there would be no costto the person providing the work. Kathy Siebert, ex-ecutive director of A-SPAN, noted there were moreand more veterans on the street. “We are finding theveterans are older, sicker, and more unstable becauseof trauma,” she said. For more about A-SPAN and todonate money, time, or offer an internship, seewww.a-span.org.
A-SPAN Seeks Internships
Kenneth Florence works on an engine atAUTOStop. An internship there gave himmarketable skills.
Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 3
News
ing that further cuts may come down theline.
One of the more contentious proposedcuts had been a scaling back of the Lee High-way planning process by $500,000, a long-term plan to transition the residential andretail along Lee Highway into an archi-pelago of redeveloped mixed-use commu-nities. The reduction would decrease thescope of the planning process to a smallersection of commercial development withconsultant support potentially curtailed. Ofthe cut funding, $365,500 was restored.
The board also restored $40,000 in one-time funding to support the NeighborhoodCollege program, a free, civic leadershipprogram for Arlington residents who wantto be more involved in their communities.Dorsey noted that the funding will allowthe program to continue to operate at itscurrent capacity.
Two law enforcement related cuts wererestored. The board doubled the current$20,000 funding to Legal Justice Service forthe legal support of immigrants in deten-tion in Arlington to $40,000. ArlingtonCounty hosts one of the largest immigra-tion courts in Virginia. The board also ap-proved $200,000 to purchase a new bodyscanner for the county jail.
Finally, the popular free paper shreddingprogram was salvaged, with $20,000 in onetime funding.
On May 3, the School Board will adoptits FY 2019 budget.
Final Budget
SummerSausage Stand“With or without sauerkraut?”Heidelberg Bakery has openedits outside summer sausagestand early this year with aselection of freshly grilledwursts, German potato saladand pretzels. Just add theGerman mustard, grab anapkin and you’re set.
Pho
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Today, Sunday, April 22, I am not on any real – or imag-ined, deadline pressure, quite different than my previ-ous column (“You Mean Tomorrow Tuesday?”), pub-lished April 25. This column isn’t due until nine daysfrom now, since my copy editor returns from vacationthat Tuesday. And of course, since there’s no abbrevi-ated/immediate-type deadline, and it’s a relatively quietweekend at home (as opposed to the “triple threat”Tuesday I wrote about last week), Chino, in addition toany of our other four cats, are nowhere to be found.Certainly, they’re all sleeping. I mean, it is 12:30 pm. Infact, as I get up to investigate, Chino is sleeping on thevery same chair he ended up on last week. This weekhowever, when I have minimal deadline pressure, Chinohas minimal Kenny interest. At present, he is not theleast bit involved in the creative process, other than as apoint of reference, that is.And just as Chino is minding his own business – for now,I am able to mind mine and stay on task. It is so mucheasier to do so when my writing pad is not the exactmidpoint and/or crossroads for where Chino is and forwhere he wants to be. Therefore, I have no excuses fornot maintaining a creative flow as pen is put to paper.No cat interruptions or interference whatsoever. Toquote my late father, I have no “encumbrances” – at themoment.More so even than Chino walking right to left across mydesk (and back of course). I just received an email frommy oncologist, yes on the weekend, telling me that mytwo scans taken on Wednesday, April 18, continue toshow “stable.” News, with which I’m extremely fond ofwriting – properly, I can live. As much as I could likewiselive with tumor “shrinkage” as well, I am ALWAYSpleased when I see my new favorite word: “stable,” inany communication from my doctor. For a cancerpatient still undergoing treatment – as I am, or for anycancer patient in remission, a “stable” result is hardly theproblem. The problem is growth and/or movement orappearance elsewhere in the body. (For lung cancerpatients, movement to the brain, which occurs inapproximately 30 percent of patients, is the predomi-nant worry. As such, I get a brain MRI regularly.)So, no scan-result pressure. No post-chemo side-effectpressure. No newspaper and/or deadline pressure. Andno cat-related pressure compounding any of the afore-mentioned pressures. Ergo, the ‘pressure’ is officially off.And when the ‘pressure’ is off, my creativeness is on.Though this may not be the best column I’ve ever writ-ten, it’s certainly been one with the least amount of‘encumbrances.’And speaking of my father, Barry, who died in in 2006,and now my mother, Celia, who died two years later,almost to the day, what I am particularly grateful for isthe timing of my diagnosis/prognosis: it all happenedafter they had died. They never knew. My first symptommanifested four weeks after my widowed mother waslaid to rest. They both know now though as I regularlyupdate them when I visit their gravesites at the ceme-tery. And though the conversations are mostly one-sided, still, it brings me comfort and a peculiar sort of joyto share the details of my treatment and the miscellane-ous pressures I experience, some of which I’ve men-tioned and some of which I haven’t. Many of those myparents knew about, and were often topics of discussion– while they were alive.I was lucky then and I continue to be lucky now. Greatparents before and an amazingly fortunate post-cancer-diagnosis after. Whoever I have to thank: thank you.
You MeanNext WeekTuesday?
12 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ May 2-8, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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