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WellbeingPage 6
Getting Bills Ready for the 2019 LegislatureOpinion, Page 4
Holiday FunCalendar, Page 8
Vestibule Expanded at St. Lawrence
Catholic Church
News, Page 2
A statue gives the site a blessing: Construction is now underway at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Franconia on a project to expand this area, known as the vestibule.
2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
many. Before the project started,the rose garden was temporarilyrelocated to another area on thechurch property, and will be re-planted in March, just in time forthe next growing season.
The church was built in 1970and the interior was upgraded inthe 1990s. While it was underconstruction, the original parishmet at Edison High School to cel-ebrate mass until the church fa-cility was completed.
regular services on Saturday andSunday. The weekend services arestill held in the main church, butthe daily service is held in the ad-ministrative building until theproject is completed sometimenext March.
St. Lawrence Catholic Church islocally famous for a rose gardennamed the “Father McAfee Gar-den,” they had out front by astatue. In prime growing season,the rose garden is an attraction for
Lots of work underway at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
News
By Mike Salmon
The Connection
At St. Lawrence CatholicChurch in Franconia,the interior of thechurch is spacious, with
high ceilings and a centrally lo-cated altar, but the lobby was smallso when the priest was meetingthe congregation after the mass,or a noisy toddler was not beingchurch-like, there wasn’t muchroom. Construction is now under-way at St. Lawrence CatholicChurch on a project to expand thisarea, known as the vestibule.
“It’s a gathering area,” said Dea-con Mike Waters, who says massat St. Lawrence Catholic Church.“It’s really going to change it, themasons have done a great job,” hesaid.
When completed, the churchwill have a 15-foot room outsidethe main doors to the worshiparea, a covered walkway, wheel-chair amenities and newrestrooms.
At St. Lawrence CatholicChurch, there is daily services, and
Vestibule Expanded at St. LawrenceCatholic Church
Photos by Mike Salmon/The Connection
A statue gives the site a blessing.
Through the years, a collectionof statues and stained-glass win-dows became part of the church,and they’ll be incorporated into the
new part somehow, Waters said.“All the statues and stained-glasswindows that were decorated aregoing to be used,” he said.
Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
“I am pleased that Fairfax Countyhas once again hosted thisimportant humanitarian effortby partnering with local organi-
zations and jurisdictions to help providewinter coats and warm blankets to Syrianrefugees abroad...The Syrian Blanket Driveis special to me,” said Sharon Bulova, Chair-man of the Fairfax County Board of Super-visors, Nov. 21, at the Fairfax County Gov-ernment Center, to announce the start ofthe Blanket & Coat Drive for Syrian Refu-gees 2019.
According to Mark Gibb, President andExecutive Director of NOVA Relief Center,the drive originated seven years ago whenhe and a small delegation of local leadersfrom Northern Virginia, among them Chair-man Bulova, traveled to Turkey in part toencourage friendship and understandingwith local governments. The American Turk-ish Friendship Association headquartered inFairfax, formed to address the social andcultural needs of Turkish and Americanpeople living in the Washington, D.C. Met-ropolitan Area arranged the trip. “(It) for-ever altered the lives of all those who wentthere that day,” said Gibb. NOVA Relief Cen-ter is coordinating the Blanket & Coat Drive.This year’s donations will be distributed tothree camps in Jordan: Mafraq, Jerash andIrbid. According to the organization’swebsite, since 2011, Syrians have been try-ing to escape the civil war at home, with areported 6 million people displaced withinSyria and another 5 million seeking havenas refugees, especially in the neighboringcountries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jor-dan.
“I am always impressed with how gener-ous, caring and compassionate our commu-nity is. Since we began this drive, NorthernVirginia has sent more than 300,000 blan-kets and coats to Syrian refugees overseas.It is a great example of what happens whenpeople of all faiths and backgrounds cometogether,” said Bulova.
The Northern Virginia delegation went toa city in the southern part of Turkey calledAdana, Gibb said. As part of the tour, themayor and governor of the region asked ifthey would like to visit a Syrian refugeecamp. “I’m not sure if any of us knew ex-actly what we were being invited to see,”said Gibb. “The war in Syria was not a largenews item here in the United States, andSyrian refugees were barely a blip on ourradar screen. ... We discovered a fenced, tentcity of more than 50,000 people, the ma-jority of which, 60 percent, were childrenunder the age of 12. To say they had noth-ing would be an understatement. We dis-
covered that these were normal,average, every day, people- police-men, firemen, teachers (who)through no fault of their own, hadbecome refugees of this tragic war— no place to call home, no coun-try to pay allegiance. They wereall in need of the basic necessi-ties - food, water, clothing. Wewere invited to go to one man’stent who had a family of four chil-dren. There was nothing in thetent except for some old groundcovering rugs...As we talked tothis man through a translator, weasked (him)... how we couldhelp... He told us it was gettingcold. Could we send him someblankets?” “That broke ourhearts,” said Bulova.
According to Gibb, given thegentleman’s request, when thedelegation returned home to theUnited States, they launched thefirst Northern Virginia BlanketDrive in coordination with other NorthernVirginia jurisdictions, faith-based organiza-tions and businesses. That first year theyfilled an entire 55-foot Paxton Companiesmoving van with blankets which theyshipped overseas at no cost to the same refu-gee camp. “A few of us were fortunateenough to return to that camp and met thesame man again who had requested theblankets. We told him we didn’t bring justa few blankets we brought 50,000. This manwept, said we were from God as we deliv-ered this precious cargo,” said Gibb.
“So here we are today to continue ourefforts to assist these somewhat forgottenpeople. It has been described as the great-
est humanitarian crisis in the world. A fewyears ago, we added coats as well as blan-kets, and over the six-year period, we havecollected enough blankets and coats to fillover 12 full moving vans. The numbers ofcoats and blankets are staggering, but theneeds are still more than our collectiveefforts...We cannot do this alone. We part-ner with a worldwide nonprofit group bythe name of the ‘Helping Hand for Reliefand Development.’ Without their assistance,we could not accomplish this task.”
Gibb said he learned another significantneed is education. “The children are not re-ceiving any education as they are not al-lowed to attend the local school system as
the number of children would completelyoverwhelm the schools... We are asking thisyear, in addition to our Coat and BlanketDrive, that a small monetary donation bemade to help with teachers, building struc-tures and school supplies for these refugeechildren. We have added a donation buttonon our website, www.novareliefcenter.org,for this purpose. All donations will be usedto help educate these refugee children.”
“In this country, the holiday season is atime for giving. And there is nothing moremeaningful than helping our brothers andsisters around the world find warmth andcomfort during difficult times,” said Bulova.She thanked the many individuals and or-ganizations that are making this year’s drivepossible: “Mark Gibb and the NOVA ReliefCenter for organizing this drive every year;the faith communities and organizations inthe private and public sectors for helpingchildren and families as they seek safetyfrom violence; elected officials across North-ern Virginia who are using their offices asdonation sites and finally, a special thankyou to Bill Paxton and Paxton Van Lines ofSpringfield, Virginia for donating their time,manpower and equipment.”
LEE DISTRICT SUPERVISORand Chairman-elect Jeff McKaysaid he was happy to support andparticipate in the effort. “I’ve al-ways held the belief that we, as acommunity, must help those mostvulnerable whenever we have anopportunity. We must not forgetall of those who face hardship, es-pecially those who flee from per-secution in other countries. In thistime of divisiveness, it’s importantthat we remember our humanityand come together to help ourfellow man. Through the NOVARelief Center’s Blanket and CoatDrive for Syrian refugees, we canensure that Syrian refugee campswill have supplies to stay warmthis winter. It’s a small, but nec-essary and important role we canall play,” said Supervisor McKay.
Bulova’s office and other sitessuch as those of elected officials,including several members of theFairfax County Board of Supervi-
sors, serve as drop-off locations for gentlyused coats and blankets. Participants canstop by her office, Suite 530 of the FairfaxGovernment Center (5th floor), any timebetween 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday with donations. “There isnothing more meaningful than helping ourbrothers and sisters around the world findwarmth and comfort during difficult times,”said Bulova.
The Blanket & Coat Drive for Syrian Refu-gees 2019 is currently underway and ex-tended to Dec. 15, according to Mark Gibb.Visit, www.NOVAReliefCenter.org, for acomplete list of drop-off locations and todonate to the education fund.
‘The Greatest Humanitarian Crisis in the World’Kicking off Blanket &Coat Drive for SyrianRefugees 2019
Kicking off the Blanket & Coat Drive for Syrian Refugees 2019: BrodyBuhler, Oakton Stake President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints; Abdun Nafey Matin, Assistant Regional Coordinator, Mid-AtlanticRegion, Helping Hand for Relief and Development; Nausheen Baig, AllDulles Area Muslim Society; Rabia Baig, All Dulles Area Muslim Society;Martin Nohe, member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisorsand member of the NOVA Relief Center Board of Directors; Asif Khan,Director of Public Affairs, Helping Hand for Relief and Development; JeffMcKay, Chairman-elect of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors andcurrent Lee District Supervisor; Mark Gibb, President and ExecutiveDirector of the Northern Virginia Relief Center; Sharon Bulova, Chair-man of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Mary KathleenPaxton, Manager, Paxton Van Lines.
Mark Gibb, Executive Director of NOVA ReliefCenter, presents Mary Kathleen Paxton, Man-ager, Paxton Van Lines with a gift in recognitionof the ongoing free shipping services the com-pany provides to support the Blanket & CoatDrive for Syrian Refugees. Lee District Supervi-sor and Chairman-elect Jeff McKay and SharonBulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Boardof Supervisors, look on.
Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection
Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
4 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Sen. Scott Surovell
(D-36)
The 2020 Virginia Gen-eral Assembly will con-vene in about a monthand legislators are now
preparing bills to propose. Manyconstituents and advocacy groupsare proposing legislation.
Two weeks ago, I reported onsome of the bigger issues we arelikely to tackle. In this column, Iam covering a few of the bills thatI will introduce. I will discuss morein future columns.
In the 2018 and 2019 sessions,we came very close to passing leg-islation prohibiting drivers fromhaving a phone in their hand in amoving vehicle. In the last session,we approved legislation to pro-hibit this in construction zones,but the Speaker killed it by rulingGovernor Ralph Northam’s at-tempt to widen it to all highwaysnot germane. It will pass this ses-sion.
I will propose several predatorylending reforms. Using NativeAmerican tribes as fronts, onlinelenders continue to make loansover the internet in Virginia at over400 percent interest rates and re-quiring far off tribal arbitration for
disputes. Other states have en-acted consumer protections, in-cluding steps to rein in interestrates, fees, collection practices andrepeat loans.
I will introduce bills to curb fire-arm violence. The Unite the RightMarch in Charlottesville coupledwith the four armed men who ap-peared at the Alexandria Farmer’sMarket in September underscorethe need for local governments tohave the ability to prohibit fire-arms at permitted public events.Second, suicide is the leadingcause of firearm death in Virginia.One of my bills will allow peopleto place themselves on a “do-not-sell” list for firearms so they can-not be sold a gun if they have amoment of weakness. Third,Virginia’s Department of Gameand Inland Fisheries is still allow-ing permittees to license duckblinds in counties and areas whereduck hunting is illegal under localordinances. I will introduce legis-lation to fix this along with Del.Paul Krizek (D-44).
I will introduce a bill to create anew Public Defender’s Office forPrince William County and the cit-ies of Manassas and ManassasPark. Virginia currently has 25public defender offices, but
Virginia’s second-largest jurisdic-tion does not. A public defender’soffice will professionalize defenserepresentation, improve justiceoutcomes and cost taxpayers littlemore than funding private court-appointed counsel.
In the late 1990s, Virginia re-quired the use of alternative sen-tencing analyses to inform judgeswhen convicted defendants shouldbe considered for non-prison sen-tences. Over time, judges have ig-nored these recommendationsmore than followed them. I willcarry legislation requiring the stateto assemble data on judicial useof this data and require probationofficers to provide findings aboutthe costs of various sentencing al-ternatives to the courts before ajudge renders a final sentence ina case. This would hopefully en-courage more informed decision-making and better outcomes.
Virginia’s civil justice systemshould also be modernized. Vir-ginia and Mississippi are the onlystates in America that do not al-low class action lawsuits. Virginiaalso still adheres to ancient doc-trines that punish largely innocentcollision victims, and we have notadjusted Virginia’s auto insuranceminimum policy limits since the
1970s when medical care cost afraction of today’s cost and theaverage car cost 25 percent oftoday’s vehicles. This allowswrongdoers to escape responsibil-ity and leaves innocent collisionvictims holding the bag for theirown injuries.
Virginia’s three boards govern-ing mental health professionalsissued regulations prohibitingtherapies that attempt to changeone’s sexual orientation, known as“conversion therapy.” We need toput that prohibition into law toensure that it will not be reversed.I will introduce that bill.
For the last four sessions, I haveintroduced legislation to addressthe lack of available driving per-mits for many of my immigrantconstituents.
Since 2014, Maryland and theDistrict of Columbia have alloweddriving permits to anyone who canshow that they pay taxes, pass adriving test and pay fees. My billhas died in committee by one voteeach year. I am hopeful the newmajority will mean a better out-come.
Please email me [email protected] if youhave any questions or feedback
Getting Bills Ready for the 2020 State Legislature
By John Lovaas
Reston Impact Producer/Host
On Nov. 5, the Democratscaptured majorities inboth houses of Virginia’s
General Assembly after a long pe-riod of Republicans’ having theirway with public policy in the Com-monwealth. Now, let’s see whatthe Dems do. Because Gov. RalphNortham is also a Democrat andbecause the composition of theParty now is very different—bothmore diverse and more progres-sive—from the Democrats of oldit seems reasonable to expect amajor shift in a more progressivedirection. In fact, there is a lot oftalk among the new legislatorsabout many overdue actions in-cluding addressing gaping incomeinequality, gun violence, basichealth care, expansion of pre-school education, gerrymanderingand voting rights—in addition toactually ratifying the E.R.A!Some specific measures are beingdiscussed, but we are starting tohear voices of some long-time in-cumbents counselling us not toexpect too much too soon. Be re-alistic! We might expect bills in-troduced to raise the hopelesslyoutdated $7.25 minimum wagewith gradual increases actually
passing. But, there havealso been reports thatrepeal of Virginia’s so-called “right to work”law is unlikely even tobe submitted and cer-tainly will notpass if it were tosurface. Corpo-rations andtheir chambers of commerce stillhold sway with too many legisla-tors including a junior local statesenator and other longer servingmembers. Many of us believe thatthe “right to work” law whichstifles creation of unions is a ma-jor factor in income inequality, se-verely tilting the playing fieldagainst working men and women.Sadly, it appears that the new ma-jorities may lack the spine to re-member who got them elected andto confront “right to work.” henceunlikely to take a real bite out ofincome inequality in Virginia.
I am assured that ERA ratifica-tion is a real priority on theagenda. Also, there may be morewillingness to address gun vio-lence, which in Virginia is remark-able. For example, universal back-ground checks and a ban on largecapacity magazines and bumpstocks are already being discussedand deemed likely to pass. In Vir-
ginia, this one falls un-der the category of I’llbelieve it when I see theGovernor’s signature onthe actual pieces of leg-islation. Banning assaultweapons much less buy-
ing back those al-ready in circula-tion, while crucialto reducing the
killings, are definitely a bridge toofar for the new majority,
Increased funding for pre-schooleducation and expanded healthinsurance coverage have strongbacking and may make it throughthe legislative minefields as longas no noticeable increases in taxesare required to implement them!One prominent local legislatorsuggests tax increases are unlikelyin the first General Assembly ses-sion. This would suggest that itmay be feasible in the subsequentGA. Really?!? A tax increase in thesecond year of the delegates’ termas they face election? No way! Willnot happen. For me, the biggestshock, and a tie for biggest disap-pointment along with the bleakoutlook for “right to work” repeal,is what I’ve seen in the Post andgotten talking to a state senatorthat the constitutional amendmentreforming redistricting (a dagger
to the heart of gerrymandering) isin jeopardy. The amendmentpassed the outgoing legislatureand was presumed a slam dunk inthe 2020 session, thus meeting theVirginia requirement of a secondpassage to effect an amendmentto the constitution, is in jeopardy.Sen. Dick Saslaw, long time Sen-ate Minority Leader and now re-turned to his old Majority Leaderstatus, is a big fan of gerryman-dering and anxious to avenge whatRepublicans did to Democrats formany years. Saslaw, who unfortu-nately barely beat rising starYasmine Taeb in a primary, andothers may scuttle the excellentcompromise amendment thatwould create a commission todraw maps consisting of 8 citizensand 8 legislators, evenly dividedby party and requiring asupermajority of both sides to ap-prove a new map. This requires agenuine consensus and is regardedas one of the strongest redistrict-ing reforms undertaken to date inthe U.S. If Saslaw and friends suc-ceed in killing the amendment,maps reflecting the new 2020 cen-sus will be gerrymandered as beforeexcept that the Democrats, not Re-publicans, will dictate the outcomes.Reform would be delayed until atleast the 2030 census.
Will Democrats Deliver Real Change?
Independent Progressive
Opinion
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Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
COMMUNITIES OF WORSHIP
bbTo Advertise Your
Community of Worship,Call 703-778-9418
Worship Gathering – Sunday 8:45 & 11 AMSunday School 10:10 AM
Sun. Evening – Realtime Worship & Youth 6 PMFamily Night – Wednesday 7:15 PM
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News
A 17-year-old is now incustody after he fledthe Northern Virginiaarea following Nov. 28
deadly shooting on Springfield.Detectives from Major Crimes Bu-reau worked throughout the nightto identify the suspect. Once iden-tified, felony petitions for murderand use of a firearm in the com-mission of a felony were obtained.Detectives from Fugitive Unit thenbegan tracking the suspect’swhereabouts. Through their inves-tigative leads, detectives receivedinformation that the suspect hadfled to North Carolina. Detectivescoordinated with the BuncombeCounty Sheriff ’s Office and the
suspect was safely taken into cus-tody. The suspect will remain inthe custody of the Sheriff’s officeuntil extradited back to FairfaxCounty.
A man was fatally wounded ear-lier Nov. 28 in a shooting in the6100 block of Dinwiddie Street inSpringfield. Officers responded toa call for gunshots at 1:12 p.m.Upon their arrival they found EverDeras-Borjas, 30, of Springfield,suffering from upper body trauma.Officers immediately renderedfirst aid until rescue personnel ar-rived. Deras-Borjas was taken to anearby hospital where he unfor-tunately died of his injuries. TheOffice of the Chief Medical Exam-
iner will conduct an autopsy todetermine the cause and mannerof death.
Detectives are working dili-gently to process evidence and in-terview witnesses. Preliminarily,detectives did not believe this wasa random act of violence and didnot believe there was an ongoingthreat to public safety. The suspectis described as a Hispanic man in
his late teens with dark curly hair.Detectives are asking for any-
body with information about thisevent to contact the Major CrimesBureau at 703-246-7800. Tips canalso be submitted anonymouslythrough Crime Solvers by visitingh t t p : / /www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, ortext-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plusyour message to CRIMES
(274637). Anonymous tipsters areeligible for cash rewards of $100to $1000 dollars if their informa-tion leads to an arrest.
Victim specialists from MajorCrimes Bureau’s Victim ServicesDivision have been assigned toensure that the family is receivingappropriate resources and assis-tance. This is the 11th homicideyear to date in Fairfax County.
Arrest Made in Deadly Shooting in Springfield
Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at leasttwo weeks before event.
Fairfax CountyBoard ofSupervisorsMeetings in 2019
12000 GovernmentCenter Parkway, Fairfax 22035
Dec. 10 Committee Meetings9:30 a.m. - Health, Housing and HumanServices Committee11 a.m. - Development Process Commit-tee1:30 p.m. - Transportation Committee3 p.m. - General Assembly AnnualReception and Work Session
THURSDAY/DEC. 5Transportation Meeting. 7-9 p.m. At
Garfield Elementary School, 7101Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield.Fairfax County Department ofTransportation (FCDOT) will hold acommunity input meeting toencourage public input onalternatives developed to provideenhanced Fairfax Connector busservice (Routes 310, 321, 322) in theFranconia and Springfield areas. Theservice alternatives were developedbased on the first round of publicinput received through communityengagement, stakeholderengagement and technical analysis.After this round of publicengagement, FCDOT staff willdevelop a preferred service planbased on public input received andfurther technical analysis to providebetter access to destinations,improved travel times, increasedschedule reliability and moredependable service. The communitywill have an opportunity to reviewand comment on the preferredservice plan in Spring 2020.Residents are encouraged to provideinput on the service alternatives byfilling out an online survey. (Visithttps://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/franconia-springfield-optimization) The survey will beopen from now thru Dec. 17, 2019.Mail comments to Fairfax CountyDepartment of Transportation, 4050Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA22033.
SUNDAY/DEC. 8Low Cost Rabies Vaccine Clinic.
Noon-2 p.m. at West SpringfieldGovernmental Center, 6140 RollingRoad, Springfield.Cost is $15 per pet,cash and check only. Dogs, cats, andferrets may be vaccinated at theclinic. Dogs must be on leashes; catsand ferrets must be in carriers. Allpets will receive a 1-year rabiesvaccination. To obtain a 3-yearvaccine, bring pet’s rabies certificate(not tag) showing the current rabiesvaccination expiration date. 2019county dog licenses will be sold foran additional $10 per license. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/communityassistance/rabiesclinics for more.
SATURDAY/DEC. 14Coffee with Del. Bulova. 9-11 a.m.
At Main Street Bagel, 10268 MainStreet, City of Fairfax. Del. DavidBulova (D-Fairfax) will continue atradition started in 2006 by holdinginformal office hours to take placefrom 9 to 11 a.m.. Constituents areinvited to talk about issues of interestand to ask questions about legislationaffecting our community. The formatis casual and no appointment isneeded. Bulova is also happy toarrange individual appointments onspecific issues or concerns. Herepresents Virginia’s 37th HouseDistrict, which includes the City ofFairfax and portions of FairfaxCounty. Visit www.davidbulova.com.
PN Support Group. 2-4 p.m. AtMason District Government Center,6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale. PNSupport Group monthly meeting.Share
information, experience, hope and newsabout Peripheral Neuropathy among
fellow sufferers. Guest speaker andgroup discussions. Visit the website:www.dcpnsupport.org.
TUESDAY/DEC. 17Car Seat Safety Check. 5-9 p.m. at
the West Springfield district policestation, 6140 Rolling Road. FairfaxCounty Police Department offers freesafety check and install eventsthroughout the year to ensurechildren travel safely. Byappointment only; call 703-644-7377and press 0 at the recording toschedule.
Lions Dinner Meeting. 6:30-8:30p.m. at American Legion Post 177,3939 Oak St., Fairfax. Lions Clubmeets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays ofeach month. Guests are welcome tolean about the mission of the Lions
Bulletin Board
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DR. GRACE CHANG DR. KAREN JINYOUNG KIMO P T O M E T R I S T S
DR. GENE SWEETNAM Wellbeing
By Marilyn Campbell
The Connection
For many, December will befilled with sugar-laden holi-day parties, lengthy-shoppingtrips and long lines for a
chance to sit on Santa’s lap. For fami-lies that thrive on routine, holiday mer-riment can lead to schedule disruptionsthat throw a family’s rhythm into dis-array. Maintaining the wellbeing of bothparents and children during the seasontakes a bit of advanced planning.
“Children, just like adults, need bothenergetic time and rest time embedded throughoutthe day,” said psychologist Carolyn Lorente, Ph.D. ofNorthern Virginia Community College and Belle PointWellness Center. “During the holidays, this naturalrhythm can easily get dis-rupted.”
Keep the holidays in theproper perspective and re-member that the season is fora finite period of time andone’s normal routine will berestored, says therapist CarolBarnaby, LCSW-C “The biggeststress that people often haveis feeling that they are beingjudged by others if their chil-dren are having a hard time. Itell my patients to focus on thethings that they can controland remember, other peoplehave once been in their shoes.”
Providing opportunities foran emotional outlet can helpwith mood stabilization.“Make sure that [children]have enough outdoor playpaired with quiet down timethroughout their day,” saidLorente. “Model for them howto find a quiet space to retreat to when things startto heat up.”
When parents are able to exhibit a sense of tran-quility during a period of chaos, children often mimicthis emotional response. “Remain calm and stay pa-tient,” added Joanne Bagshaw, PhD Professor of Psy-chology Montgomery College. “Emotions are conta-gious, and your ability to remain calm under pres-sure is great role modeling for young children andcan help prevent strong emotions from escalating.”
When in new and unfamiliar social settings, somechildren need more time than others to adjust to thesocial demands, says Lorente. “Know your child,” shesaid. “Some will make these transitions quite easilywhile many will find this challenging. Remember thatour first job is to teach. And children learn best bywatching how we handle the stressors of the sea-son.”
In fact, reflecting on a child’s temperament can
serve as a guide for parents as they navigate the im-pact of a disputed schedule. “This is a time to gowith what you know about your child,” said psycholo-gist Stacie Isenberg Psy. D. “Some kids can push bed-
time and sugar every so often,with little to no negative ef-fects. If this describes yourchild, stay later than usual andenjoy the special occasion. Ifthis is not your child, you andyour child are likely to becomemiserable by pushing the lim-its that night and very likelythe next day or maybe two,”
Returning to normalcy asoften as possible can preservea family’s wellbeing during theholiday season, suggestsJerome Short, Ph.D., professorof psychology at George Ma-son University. “Maintainhousehold routines leading upto holiday events, such asregular meal, play, and bedtimes for children,” he said.“Plenty of sleep, includingnaps, helps children with theirattention spans, mood regula-tion, and self-control of their
behaviors,”“Put limits around bedtime and sugar consump-
tion that match your child’s physiological and emo-tional abilities and you’ll all have the best experi-ence,” added Isenberg.
Nutrition plays a role in mood and behavior espe-cially during the holidays. “Keep some protein heavysnacks handy, like cheese sticks, or nuts if your childdoesn’t have allergies,” said Bagshaw. “Snacks filledwith protein can help stabilize blood sugar, and youngchildren’s moods.”
Explaining to a child what they can expect at holi-day event can mitigate meltdowns. “Make a plan withyour partner and set realistic expectations on howlong you will stay at events,” said Barnaby. “This isoften the best thing couples can do to manage stressand frustration that leads to conflict. Take turns inmanaging the children so that each of you can havesome fun.”
Preserving yourfamily’s wellbeingduring the holidays.
Maintaining Peace on Earth(and at Home)
Photo by Marilyn Campbell
The merriment of the holidays can disrupt a family’ssense of wellbeing.
“The biggest stress thatpeople often have isfeeling that they arebeing judged by others iftheir children are havinga hard time. I tell mypatients to focus on thethings that they cancontrol and remember,other people have oncebeen in their shoes.”
— Carol Barnaby, LCSW-C
Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Della J’s Delectables was the 1st Placewinner at the 7th annual Taste of GreaterSpringfield (TOGS) held at WaterfordReceptions in Springfield. Hosted by theRotary Club of West Springfield Founda-tion, all proceeds support scholarships forneedy West Springfield High Schoolstudents to attend Northern VirginiaCommunity College and also fund numer-
Photo by Sandy Kirkpatrick
Owner Jerry Young and his wife Lydia with Rotarian Jim Kirkpatrick.
ous projects that help the local commu-nity. Those attending TOGS vote for theirthree favorites of the twelve participatingrestaurants. This year their top choicewas Della J’s, with Bonefish Grill andMaggiano’s Little Italy winning 2nd and3rd place respectively. Della J’s is locatedon Backlick Road in Springfield andfeatures southern home cooking.
Della J’s Voted #1 atTaste of Greater Springfield
8 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Holiday Fun
Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/.The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGBurke Farmers Market. Through Dec. 21, 8
a.m.-noon at the VRE parking lot, 5671 RobertsParkway, Burke. Call 703-642-0128 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/burke for more.
Give the Gift of Original Art. Now thru Jan. 5.At Torpedo Factory Artists at Mosaic, 2905District Ave., #105, Fairfax. Open Wednesdaythru Sunday 11 – 7 p.m. You can findextraordinary fine art that makes great gifts thisholiday season — the work of highly-acclaimedTorpedo Factory Artists — at their satellite spacein Merrifield. Beautiful paintings, fine-artphotographs, one-of-a- kind jewelry, scarves,ceramics and much more.
PJ Party + Santa’s Arrival. At Springfield TownCenter, Springfield. Welcome Santa with aPajama Party. Get in the holiday spirit withcaroling, hot coco and watch as Santa arrives instyle with Fairfax police and fire. Santa’s visitinghours will be as follows: Now through Dec. 13;Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday:11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 14 thru Dec. 23; Monday– Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to7 p.m.; and Christmas Eve: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
NOW THRU DEC. 20Fairfax City Elf Hunt. 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Takes place Fairfax City-wide, start point: OldTown Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax.Locate 10 elves in Fairfax City businesses, get astamp from each business confirming that youfound the elf; share the Fairfax City Elf Huntcard with us [email protected]. Once youhave submitted your Fairfax City Elf Hunt card,you will receive a Fairfax City car magnet andhave your name entered into a drawing for a$250 cash prize. Completed cards must bereceived by Dec. 16 to be eligible. Free toparticipate; patrons are encouraged to purchaseitems when they visit businesses. Visit thewebsite: https://fairfaxcityconnected.com/2019/10/08/elfhunt/#prettyPhoto
DEC. 6-7Norwegian Christmas Festival. Friday 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At ChristLutheran Church, 3810 Meredith Drive, Fairfax.Free Admission. Live music, dancing, fjordhorses on Saturday. Food and craftdemonstrations. Imported foods (nokkelost),fresh lefse and krumkake made onsite, NordicCafe, huge gift selection including books, linens,authentic Scandinavian sweaters. Free. Visit thewebsite website: www.norwaydc.org.
SATURDAY/DEC. 7Christmastide at Gunston Hall. 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. At George Mason’s Gunston Hall, 10709Gunston Road, Lorton. Celebrate a holidaytradition at Gunston Hall! Daytime activitiesinclude children’s crafts, Santa, games, and anindoor snowball fight. The evening hoursprovide a romantic holiday experience bycandlelight as guests are invited to sampleperiod food in the kitchen, explore the grounds,enjoy 18th century music, and chat withcharacters from the past. Cost: $15 adults, $10children (ages 6 – 18), and members receive a50% discount. gunstonhall.org/event/christmastide-at-gunston-hall/
Christmas Party. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At Twins AceHardware, 10310-B Main Street, Fairfax. Fun-filled activities include: Live grill demo fromcelebrity Ace grilling chef Jason K Morse of 5280Culinary; BBQ Provisions & Team Traeger Grills;free goodie bags to the first 150 people at 11a.m.; delicious apps and deserts; specialappearance from children’s author LindsayBarry; photos with Santa; letters to Santaactivity; decorating ideas; giveaways, demos andmore. Visit the website:www.twinsacehardware.com.
DEC. 7-8”The Nutcracker.” 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. At Richard
J. Ernst Community Cultural Center, 8333 LittleRiver Turnpike, Annandale. Metropolitan Schoolof the Arts’ Nutcracker brings to life the gift ofimagination with Clara and her Nutcracker in amagical journey from her Victorian homethrough the Land of Snow and into the Land ofSweets, with dazzling dancing, a larger-than-lifeChristmas tree, more than 100 dancers, and
Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. Tickets $26 to $28.Go to www.metropolitanarts.org to purchasetickets.
Winter Wonderland. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. At BurkeLake Park, 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. AtWinter Wonderland, you can hop a train ride onthe Holiday Express, take unlimited spins on theCarolers Carousel, play Gingerbread Man Golf orcook s’mores by the fire. Visit with Santa andenjoy hot chocolate or cider and candy canes.Five-hour passes are $15 in advance and $20 onthe event day. The park will also be acceptingnew toys or canned food items for donation. Inthe evenings, enjoy a magical train ride througha forest decorated with holiday-themed lightsand scenes. Celebration Station runs the sameweekends as Winter Wonderland, but will takeplace on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to9 p.m. Celebration Station tickets are $10 each;trains depart every 20 minutes.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burke-lake.
”The Nutcracker.” Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at3 p.m. At Centreville High School, 6001 UnionMill Road, Clifton. Mia Saunders School ofBallet presents “The Nutcracker.” The 2019production of “The Nutcracker” marks the first
for new MSB Artistic Director Hannah Woodruff,an alumna of MSB and 2017 graduate ofUniversity of Virginia. Proceeds for this annualgiving tradition will benefit CVHS DramaScholarships and the Michael J. Fox Foundationfor Parkinson’s Research. Tickets are $12, (cashor checks payable to CVHS Drama Boostersonly) and are available at the door. Visit thewebsite: http://miasaundersballet.com/
SUNDAY/DEC. 8”Little Drummer Dude.” 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
At Jubilee Christian Center, 4650 Shirley GateRoad, Fairfax. A children’s musical, “LittleDrummer Dude” takes place during the timeJesus was born and we see the story through theeyes of the wise men, a traveling band and alittle drummer dude. Free. jccag.org.
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10-11Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” 7 p.m. At
GMU’s Concert Hall, 4373 Mason Pond Drive,Fairfax. The Moscow Ballet “Dance with Us” castwill perform their ancillary roles as PartyChildren, Snowflakes, Mice, Snow Maidens andVariation Dancers. The aspiring ballerinas and
danseurs, ages 7 to 17, perform in ancillary rolesdeveloped for their age and skill level by dancer,choreographer, and Julliard graduate MaryGiannone Talmi, also co-producer of MoscowBallet’s North American tours. Tickets are $34 to$180.
DEC. 13-22ETAP’s “Finding Santa.” 12 show times over 2
weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7:30p.m., 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. At Richard J. ErnstTheatre, Annandale NOVA Campus, 8333 LittleRiver Turnpike, Annandale. Encore TheatricalArts Project presents a new holiday musical,“Finding Santa.” Cost is $19-$26.This song anddance musical features over 30 performers,creative choreography, elaborate sets, over 165costumes, and over 16 musical numbers. Comesee all the glamour of a Broadway-style showright here in Northern Virginia. Appropriate foraudiences of all ages Visit the website:www.Encore-tap.org
SATURDAY/DEC. 14Annual Christmas Musical. 6 p.m. At Greater
Little Zion Baptist Church, 10185 Zion Drive,Fairfax. The Ministry of Music and PerformingArts of Greater Little Zion Baptist Church inFairfax presents its Annual Christmas Musical,No Ordinary Night, a special service to celebratethe birth of our Savior in narration, music, song,and dance. Featured will be the Greater LittleZion choirs and praise dancers, along with aspecial performance by recording artist andrenown pianist, Bro. Jeff Corry. Free. Call 703-239-9111.
DEC. 14-15Winter Wonderland. Noon to 5 p.m. At Burke
Lake Park, 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. AtWinter Wonderland, you can hop a train ride onthe Holiday Express, take unlimited spins on theCarolers Carousel, play Gingerbread Man Golf orcook s’mores by the fire. Visit with Santa andenjoy hot chocolate or cider and candy canes.Five-hour passes are $15 in advance and $20 onthe event day. The park will also be acceptingnew toys or canned food items for donation. Inthe evenings, enjoy a magical train ride througha forest decorated with holiday-themed lightsand scenes. Celebration Station runs the sameweekends as Winter Wonderland, but will takeplace on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to9 p.m. Celebration Station ticket are $10 each;trains depart every 20 minutes.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burke-lake.
Bethlehem Walk. 3-7 p.m. At Parkwood BaptistChurch, 8726 Braddock Road, Annandale. Get inthe Christmas spirit walking through the narrowstreets of Bethlehem. Haggle with shop owners,sidestep tax collectors, avoid the Romancenturions on your way to the manger scene.Hundreds of families make the trek each year toa replica of the holy city, raised by ParkwoodBaptist Church. Features re-enactors, live music,children’s crafts, games. Live nativity scene.Free. Ample parking. Reserve advance tickets atwww.parkwood.org. For details call 703-978-8160.
SUNDAY/DEC. 15Santa Visit. 2 p.m. At Amerian Legion Post 176
Springfield, located at 6520 Amherst Ave.,Springfield. Santa is coming to The AmericanLegion Post 176 Springfield.
Events in AlexandriaFRIDAY-SATURDAY/DEC. 6-7The Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend. At
various Old Town Alexandria locations. TheCampagna Center presents the 49th AnnualScottish Christmas Walk Weekend and Parade.The parade is Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and begins at St.Asaph and Wolfe Streets and concludes atMarket Square with a massed band concert.Admission: Free for parade and Heather andGreens Sales; $180-$290 for Taste of Scotland;$40 for Holiday Home Tours. In 1749, the Cityof Alexandria was officially established by threeScottish merchants and named after its originalfounder, John Alexander, also of Scottishdescent. Through your support of the events ofThe Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, youprovide vital support to Campagna Centerprograms that serve more than 2,000 children,teens, and adults throughout the year. Visit thewebsite: https://www.campagnacenter.org/scottishwalkweekend
SATURDAY/DEC. 7Boat Parade of Lights. Parade begins at 5:30
p.m.; Dockside festivities 2 to 8 p.m. AtWaterfront Park, 1 King Street, Alexandria.Parade viewing areas: Founders Park (351 N.
The Cathedral Brass ConcertThe Cathedral Brass will put on a concert on Saturday, Dec. 7 at LivingSavior Lutheran Church in Fairfax Station.
SATURDAY/DEC. 7Cathedral Brass Concert. 6-7 p.m. At Living Savior Lutheran Church, 5500 Ox Road, Fairfax Station.
Join in a family friendly, free Christmas concert featuring The Cathedral Brass. All are welcome. Visitthe website: www.livingsaviorlutheran.org
U.S. Army Chorus ConcertThe U.S. Army Chorus puts on a concert on Saturday, Dec. 14 atWestwood Baptist Church in Springfield.
SATURDAY/DEC. 14U.S. Army Chorus Concert. 3-5 p.m. At Westwood Baptist Church, 8200 Old Keene Mill Road,
Springfield. The U.S. Army Chorus will perform a free community concert. Don’t miss your chance tohear The U.S. Army Chorus when they return to Westwood Baptist Church for an afternoon of holidaynostalgia that is sure to enhance your patriotism and Advent preparations. Contact usarmyband.com orthe church at 703-451-5120.
See Calendar, Page 10
Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Mike Salmon
The Connection
When anger builds up,there’s nothing likegoing at something
with a sledge hammer. The sitesand sounds of that emotionalrelease can be useful for a fewminutes, but if it’s the familytelevision or an heirloom vaseflying across the room, the re-sults can be a problem. That’swhere a visit to “Smash Pit” canhelp.
“It’s another way for peopleto get out stress,” said SmashPit owner Katrina Burson. “Ourmotto is to smash our stuff andnot yours,” she said.
To participate in this therapy,put on one of their smashingoutfits that are complete withgoggles, visors, gloves and over-alls, grab a hammer and take aswing at their fragile householditems. It could be just what thedoctor ordered.
According to their website,Smash Pit is described as fam-ily friendly and the ultimatemission is to create a safe, funenvironment that combines en-tertainment and stress release.Located in a warehouse onSouthern Drive near the en-trance to Lake Accotink Park,the nondescript warehouse set-ting is ideal for this type of an-ger management.
Burson is a professional nurseworking in research, and cameup with the concept a few yearsago and hunted for the perfectlocation for her business. Innursing, she’s been involved inwellness in one form or another,and feels that breaking some-
thing has its place in the pro-cess. “Sometimes that’s the wayto get it out,” she said.
There are four different lev-els of the program, rangingfrom “The Jump,” a 15-minutesession for $35, to “The SmashPit,” a 25-minute session for$65. At home, putting a ham-mer through the family flatscreen television could be overin minutes, but this way, thereis a lasting value. “In mentalhealth, we need these outlets,”she said. All participants mustbe over 14 years old, and par-ticipants age 14-17 must beaccompanied by an adult.
There are big sledge ham-mers available, but also littlehammers that would be foundon the tool bench at home too.She’s ordering baseball batstoo. The materials on the otherend of the anger are old, glasskitchen items, computers andVCRs that were headed to thedump anyway. They are all do-nated items.
Smashing things is not on thelist of anger management stepsthe Mayo Clinic reports on theirwebsite, but they have oneitem, “once you’re calm, ex-press your anger,” that couldpossibly fit the activities at theSmash Pit.
Smash Pit, 7701 Southern Drive,Springfield, 571-210-5030,www.smash-pit.com
KatrinaBurson
likes thesledge
hammer.
Take Out FrustrationsAt The Smash PitGrab a sledgehammer andrelieve somestress.
AngerManagement Tips
Ready to get your anger undercontrol? Start by considering these10 anger management tips, by MayoClinic Staff:
1. Think before you speak2. Once you’re calm, express your
anger3. Get some exercise4. Take a timeout5. Identify possible solutions6. Stick with ‘I’ statements7. Don’t hold a grudge8. Use humor to release tension9. Practice relaxation skills10. Know when to seek help
Photo by
Mike Salmon
The Connection
By Mike Salmon
The Connection
Forrester Boulevard thatlinks Carleigh Parkway andRolling Road in West
Springfield is a busy county streetthat has restricted parking. Theproximity to Rolling Road thatlinks to the Fairfax County Park-way and indirectly to I-495, makesit a convenient parking spot forcommercial vans.
These vans may not be parkedillegally, but with advertising plas-tered all over the outside is not intune with the residential nature ofthis street. This is where the prob-lems arise, according to residentMarta Valldejuli, a part timerealtor who thinks the vans are aneyesore that impacts property val-ues. Her residence looks right outonto Forrester. “We are hostageshere,” she said, “it looks like anindustrial park, nobody can comevisit because they take all the park-ing,” she said. These vans couldbelong to residents of the condo-minium communities that abutForrester where there is no park-ing for that type of vehicle, or evenfrom workers that are enjoying theconvenience of this location.
When she and other neighborswent directly to the drivers, therewas a little confrontation soValldejuli went straight to Super-visor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield).Herrity is working with some ofthe civic associations in the areato see if there is any other parkingoptions, but some have rulesagainst commercial vehiclesparked on their streets. “It’s a bal-ancing act,” he said.
THE COUNTY RULES pertain tosome of the larger vehicles, but aregular size van or pickup truck isnot restricted because vehicles ofthis type are also used as personalvehicles. Even taxicabs or limou-sines have some protection. Sec-tion 82-5-7 of the Fairfax CountyCode prohibits parking of commer-cial vehicles in residential districts.Vehicles parked in violation aresubject to a $100 fine for each vio-lation and may be towed at theowner’s expense. As for taxicabsand limousines: one resident of eachsingle-family dwelling unit maypark one vehicle licensed and regis-tered in the Commonwealth of Vir-ginia as a taxicab or limousine, ac-cording to the county regulation.
Forrester Boulevard is in a
“Community Parking District,” andvehicles that exceed size andweight limits are not allowed. Thisis a truck or van more than 21 feetlong, more than 8 feet high includ-ing appurtenances, width of 102inches or more, or gross vehicleweight of 12,000 or more pounds.
There are parking restrictions inplace for vehicles carrying com-mercial freight in plain view, orany vehicle with 3 or more axles,the county rules state. The restric-tions do not apply to commercialvehicles when temporarily parkedwhile performing work or service.County cannot restrict vehiclesbased on lettering due to the firstamendment, so vehicles can onlybe defined as commercial based ontheir height, weight, length and/or width. “The neighbors are veryupset,” and some have called thepolice, Valldejuli said. Accordingto the Fairfax County Police De-partment, the parking enforce-ment officer for the West Spring-field District reported that six“Commercial Citations” were is-sued thus far in 2019.
HERRITY is working with thecondo and civic association offi-
Commercial Vans an Eyesore toSome, Part of the Job To OthersFirst Amendment is cited with the vehicles.
Vans and trucks with colorful paint jobs with ladders andphone numbers are an eyesore to some neighbors but notillegal.
The vehicles come in all shapes and sizes.
There are parking signs onForrester but the vans seemto be within the acceptablelimits.
cials in the area but hasn’t identi-fied any options at the presenttime. “We’re working with them totry to find an answer,” he said.
The Springfield District is notalone in these parking situations,said Herrity. At the Board of Su-pervisors meetings, they have dis-cussed similar situations in Masonand Sully Districts as well. “It’s aproblem across the county, we dealwith this quite a bit,” he said.
Pho
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10 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 8
Calendar
Union St.), Alexandria City Marina (0Cameron St.), Waterfront Park (1King St. and 1A Prince St.), PointLumley Park (1 Duke St.), Shipyard/Harborside Park (1 Wilkes St.),Windmill Hill Park (501 S. Union St.)and Ford’s Landing Park (99 FranklinSt.). Admission: Free; $ for food/drink and some activities.VisitAlexandriaVA.com/boatparade
Local CalendarDEC. 5-7Winter Book Sale. Thursday, Dec 5: 3
– 9 p.m.; Friday, Dec 6: 10 a.m. – 6p.m.; and Saturday, Dec 7: 10 a.m. –5 p.m. At Richard Byrd Library, 7250Commerce Street, Springfield. Over10,000 like new books in allcategories both rare and popularmost at $2 or less, plus loads of CDs,DVDs and special gift offerings. Over3,000 children’s books, too. Fundsraised will pay for children’sprograms and more. Contact JudyPerry at [email protected].
FRIDAY/DEC. 64th Annual Holiday Bazaar. 5:30 - 9
p.m. At Union Mill ElementarySchool, 13611 Springstone Drive,Clifton. Stop by and enjoy one-stopshopping: Crafts, Jewelry, Makeup,Clothing, Gourmet coffee and sweets,popcorn, woodworking, giftwrapping and more. Still acceptingvendors:[email protected]
SATURDAY/DEC. 7Kids Fun Run. 8 a.m. to noon. At
South County High School, 8501Silverbrook Road, Lorton. Join us insupporting the South County Swimand Dive Team at the Annual CandyCane Fun Run, for kids age 12 andunder, which takes place before theAnnual Lorton Holiday Extravaganza.Schedule: 8 a.m packet pick-up, raceday signup; 8:20 a.m. Santa arrives;8:30 a.m. Fun Run begins. The runwill be approximately 100 yards (10and over) and approximately 50yards (9 and under). Come wearingyour best red and white holidayattire. Cost is $10-$15.www.eventbrite.com/e/candy-cane-kids-fun-run-2019-tickets-75843192029
Bread & Beauty. 12:30-1:30 p.m. AtCity of Fairfax Library, 10360 NorthStreet, Fairfax. It’s a recipe for abetter life. Cookbook, travel guideand local history, “Bread and Beauty”shows how our farm heritage canhelp sustain us in the 21st century.Free. Contact Liz Milner [email protected]/library/events
Holiday-Themed Tours. 2-5 p.m. AtHistoric Ratcliffe-Allison-PozerHouse, 10386 Main Street, Fairfax.Discover holiday customs from the19th and early 20th centuries duringdocent-led tours. Hear the firstChristmas card message sent byPresident Calvin Coolidge. Tour alsoincludes a World War I exhibit. Free.Call 703-385-8414.www.fairfaxva.gov/visitors
Sweet Honey in the Rock —Celebrating the Holydays. 4 p.m.At George Mason University Centerfor the Arts, 4400 University Drive,Fairfax. With five-part harmonies andsign language interpretation, SweetHoney’s sound ranges from African toblues to gospel and jazz. Celebratingthe Holydays offers a rare fusion oftraditional American holiday spiritualsongs and hymns, as well as songsfrom other cultures and religionsranging from Africa to Israel. Ticketsare $30-$50. www.cfa.gmu.edu.
Singles Dinner & Movie Night. 5p.m. At Uncle Julios, 5251 FairfaxCorner Ave., Fairfax. Fixed price
dinner followed by movie of yourchoice at Rave Fairfax Corner 14.Cost includes dinner, soda, tip andmovie ticket. RSVP required. Cost is$35 at door. Email Carol Randolph [email protected]. Sponsoredby New Beginnings, a support groupfor separated/divorced men andwomen. Call 301-924-4101 or visitwww.newbeginningsusa.org.
Cathedral Brass Concert. 6-7 p.m.At Living Savior Lutheran Church,5500 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. Joinin a family friendly, free Christmasconcert featuring The CathedralBrass. All are welcome. Visit thewebsite:www.livingsaviorlutheran.org
DEC. 7-8Holiday Arts & Crafts Show. 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to3:30 p.m. on Sunday. At Audrey
Moore RECenter, 8100 BraddockRoad, Annandale. Find one-of-a-kindgifts for everyone on your list thisseason at the 42nd Annual HolidayArts and Crafts Show. Nearly 100 ofthe area’s finest artisans. Door prizeswill be awarded, too. Admission is $2per person; children age 12 andunder are admitted free.
Holiday Train Show. Saturday 10a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4p.m. At Fairfax Station RailroadMuseum, 11200 Fairfax StationRoad, Fairfax Station. Bring yourbroken locomotive to the “TrainDoctor” for the good doctor to fix oradvise you of your other options.Santa may stop by to visit. Cost:adults 16 and over - $5; children 5 to15 - $2; 4 and under – free; museummembers – free. Visit the website:www.fairfax-station.org or call 703-425-9225.
Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”The Moscow Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” on Dec.10-11 at GMU’s Concert Hall.
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10-11Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” 7 p.m. At GMU’s Concert Hall, 4373 Mason
Pond Drive, Fairfax. The Moscow Ballet “Dance with Us” cast will perform theirancillary roles as Party Children, Snowflakes, Mice, Snow Maidens and VariationDancers. The aspiring ballerinas and danseurs, ages 7 to 17, perform in ancillaryroles developed for their age and skill level by dancer, choreographer, andJulliard graduate Mary Giannone Talmi, also co-producer of Moscow Ballet’sNorth American tours. Tickets are $34 to $180.
The Norwegian Christmas FestivalThe Nordic Dancers will perform on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2p.m. at the Norwegian Christmas Festival.
DEC. 6-7Norwegian Christmas Festival. Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. At Christ Lutheran Church, 3810 Meredith Drive, Fairfax. Free Admission.Live music, dancing, fjord horses on Saturday. Food and craft demonstrations.Imported foods (nokkelost), fresh lefse and krumkake made onsite, Nordic Cafe,huge gift selection including books, linens, authentic Scandinavian sweaters. Free.Visit the website website: www.norwaydc.org.
Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIEI never want to look a gift-oncologist in the
mouth or take a “stable”-type CT scan with a grain of salt, however; self-preservation is a funny instinct. It can change from day to day (heck, even hour to hour) and dominate your pre-oc-cupation or intrude your thinking not at all. You can rationalize away the good, bad or indifferent (results) or irrationalize away the less-than-ex-pected or the more-than-anticipated. Results from lab work and/or diagnostic scans are the axis on which your entire life revolves. You either roll with the punches or you get knocked down by them. For a cancer patient, the punches often keep coming.
The punches thrown in my direction occur bi-weekly when I have my pre-immunotherapy lab work for my every-other Friday 30-minute opdivo infusion. (Although the actual lab work and even the infusion is more of a jab.) The left hook/right cross combination occurs quarterly. That’s when I slide through the computerized to-mography scan and wait for results (as I had been for most of the last week). Since I have generally been asymptomatic - other than for miscella-neous side effects from the various medicines with which I’ve been infused, the tale of the tape, to continue the boxing references, happens when my oncologist emails the radiologist’s report to me with a brief sentence summary: “a little worse” (this time), “stable,” or something less discouraging that needs to be discussed at our next face-to-face appointment which generally is scheduled a week or so after the previous week’s scan.
Regardless of what these mostly cryptic emails have said, until I hear exactly what my oncologist says, I am neither too high or too low. Granted, hearing “stable” is extremely encouraging where-as “a little worse, not so much. Nevertheless,
of actions and reactions (punches and counter punches, you might even say) so depending on how one’s body reacts, determines what action is recommended. I am living proof, literally. Over my nearly 11 years of treatment, I have been infused with upwards of a dozen different medicines. Once one treatment loses its luster, we change to another hoping it will be more ef-fective, and so on. It’s science, not arithmetic. As such, any guarantees left the building with Elvis.
Being a cancer patient is not for everybody. One has to make the most of the least. It’s easy to
a way to be up, the cancer will take you down. Somehow, even when it’s doing the worst to you, you have to be at your best. Being positive gen-erates positivity in return. When I look at people, I try to smile so that they’ll smile back (I’m being
-tanza describing the look of disappointment on his mother’s face when he told her he wanted to play the accordion? Like that, only the complete opposite.
When I interact with people, I don’t want them to feel “poor, poor, pitiful me” to quote
And I don’t want them to see cancer either. I want them to see everything about me. I may be diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer: stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer, but I don’t want
cancer doesn’t mean it’s who I am. It’s what I have, that’s all.
And what reminds most me that I have cancer and what challengers my reactions to it more than anything, is when I have these quarterly CT scans (and the annual MRI, too). As much as I try to fend off the possible effect on my mortality (my true sense of insecurity), I’d be lying if I said I was always successful. In truth, I’m always wor-ried about it. How could I not be? I guess I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel. I suppose that means, regardless of what my oncologist says at
another day.
False Senseof Security
From Page 5
Bulletin Board
Clubs “We Serve,” meet club members and learnto help serve the community. Free to first timeguests. Email [email protected] or visitwww.fairfaxlions.org for more.
SATURDAY/DEC. 28Messy Church. 5-6:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s in the
Woods, 5911 Fairview Woods Drive, FairfaxStation. Join St. Peter’s in the Woods for theirmonthly Messy Church. It’s a worshipingcommunity especially geared towards familiesand young children, but welcoming to all. Bible-themed crafts and activities, casual worship anda free, family-style dinner. Call 703-503-9210for more. Registration is appreciated, visitwww.stpetersinthewoods.org/events.
BritepathsSeeking Volunteers
Fairfax-based nonprofit Britepaths is seekingvolunteers to sponsor families in need who livethroughout the Fairfax County area. Sponsors arematched with families who have demonstratedneed, and may opt to provide a December holidaymeal and/or gifts for children under 18. Britepathsalso has a great need for cash donations and giftcards to grocery stores or Target/Walmart to assistthose who are not sponsored. A wonderful family,company or group holiday service project. Regis-ter and learn more at: britepaths.org. Contact703-273-8829 or [email protected].
SUPPORT GROUPSParent Support Partners, a service of the
Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, are all parentswho have received training and are qualitied tooffer education, support and assistance at nocost to families or caregivers. They providereliable information that families can use indecision-making and are familiar with servicesand resources that can help families in distress.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/healthymindsfairfax or www.nami-northernvirginia.org/parent-peer-support.html.
Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke sponsorsa monthly meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of eachmonth, noon-1:30 p.m., for caregivers to learnand to share with others experiencing similarchallenges. Before attending, contact thefacilitator, Eileen Thompson at 703-451-8626 [email protected].
Haven of Northern Virginia provides support,compassion, information and resources to thebereaved and seriously ill. To become a Havenvolunteer, please call 703-941-7000 to requestan orientation. Volunteers must complete a 30-hour training and commit to one year of serviceanswering Haven phones (2.5 hours weekly).Next training is scheduled for fall 2017.
ONGOINGSTEM Professionals Needed. Volunteers are
needed to assist K-12 STEM teachers in northernVirginia as part of the American Association forthe Advancement of Science’s STEM VolunteerProgram, stemvolunteers.org, during the 2019-20 school year, beginning in September. Pleasecontact Don Rea at 571-551-2488 [email protected].
Docents Needed. Sundays 1-4 p.m. at the FairfaxStation Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax StationRoad in Fairfax Station. Greet museum visitorsand tell them about the exhibits, the museumand the its railroad and Civil War history. Idealfor those interested in railroads, the Civil Warand Northern Virginia history. Training andorientation provided. Other volunteeropportunities are gardening, publicity andexhibit planning. Call 703-945-7483.
Haven of Northern Virginia is committed tooffering, support, compassion, information andresources to the bereaved and seriously ill.Volunteers provide individual and group supportto those suffering from a loss. Volunteers mustparticipate in a 30 hour training. Training willbe offered in October 2018. To volunteer, callHaven at 703-941-7000.
Assistance League of Northern Virginia, avolunteer nonprofit, invites community membersto join the organization to participate in itsReading Express program. Volunteers provideone-on-one tutoring to first grade studentsduring the school year. To learn more contactVP Membership Mary Gronlund [email protected] or Program Coordinator LynnBarron at [email protected].
12 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ December 5-11, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
