Herndon Love of Herndon, Televised - The Connection ...connectionarchives.com/PDF/2017/071217/Herndon.pdfevents, Herndon Community Television pro-vides the civic function of live broadcasts

Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ July 12-18, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Town of Herndon HostsOld-Fashioned 4th of July

News, Page 3

Love of Herndon, TelevisedNews, Page 9

Herndon Becoming‘Dementia Friendly Community’

News, Page 6

Dark clouds didn’t stop 4th of July festivities in the Town ofHerndon. Thousands gathered to enjoy the old-fashioned games,arts and crafts, food, music, vendors and the fireworks displayoffered by Herndon Parks and Recreation. Many families set uptheir lawn chairs and blankets in Bready Park Softball Field whileothers favored the grassy slopes and sidewalks near the HerndonCentennial Golf Course.

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2 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ July 12-18, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

paign and distributing magnets at ArtsHerndon’s Third Thursday Arts Crawl,scheduled for the evening of Thursday, July20, 6-9 p.m.

Herndon Community Television is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that serves asthe only public access station for the Townof Herndon. HCTV broadcasts more than17 hours of daily non-commercial televisionprogramming consisting of a diverse line-up of original hyperlocal content pairedwith informative and entertaining programsfrom across the world. In addition to pro-ducing recurring series and covering localevents, Herndon Community Television pro-vides the civic function of live broadcastsfor Town of Herndon Public Hearings. View-ers in the Town of Herndon, Fairfax County,and parts of Loudoun County can enjoyHCTV on Verizon FiOS Channel 28 and CoxCommunication Channel 23. HCTV can bewatched worldwide from a live stream viatheir website.

Herndon Community Television is prima-rily run by volunteers and is always look-ing for new members of the community tohelp grow their station and their programs.Individuals interested in obtaining moreinformation or volunteering can contactHCTV’s Executive Director, Nancy Rose, [email protected] or 703-689-2323.

Photo by Mercia Hobson

Herndon Community Televisionwill distribute 400 photo framemagnets with a cutout heart shapein it as a creative fun incentive toreinforce the L-O-V-E theme of theirnew photo-centric Social MediaOutreach Campaign, “Share Your#HCTVLove of Herndon.”

News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Although Herndon CommunityTelevision (HCTV) has activelyengaged in social media for quitesome time, after a year of plan-

ning, they are ready to harness even greaterpotential by connecting people, photos andinformation with their organization throughtheir new outreach campaign named,“Share Your #HCTVLove of Herndon.” Thesocial media campaign is user-friendly andphoto-centric.

According to Marsha Kerman, program-ming director at Herndon Community Tele-vision, the nonprofit organization willlaunch the campaign during the July 14Friday Night Live! concert scheduled for6:30-10 p.m. on the Herndon Town Greenlocated at the Municipal Building, 777 LynnSt., in Historic Downtown Herndon.

HCTV staff and volunteers will be on handFriday evening to explain the campaign.Posters displayed in local businessesthroughout Herndon will also explain thecampaign and be used to spread the word.Kerman said the objective is straightfor-ward: participants post photos with thehashtag #HCTVLove of their favoriteHerndon spots, themselves, or loved oneson their social media accounts, likeFacebook and Twitter. HCTV will share whatis happening in the community by incorpo-rating recent posts into their televised “Bul-letin Board” which runs between scheduledprograms.

As a creative fun incentive and to rein-force the L-O-V-E theme, HCTV will distrib-ute 400 photo frame magnets with a cut-out heart shape in it. The free magnet canbe picked up at the HCTV tent during theJuly 14 Friday Night Live! concert. Partici-pants are encouraged to incorporate themagnet in their images Kerman said.

HCTV will also be promoting the cam-

Herndon CommunityTelevision is set to launchsocial media campaign.

Love of Herndon, Televised

Sophia Skiavo, 15,of Chantilly volun-teers at HerndonCommunity Televi-sion. She tested oneof HCTV’s photomagnets to framean image of hermom, Amy Skiavo,and the iconicHerndon Depot. Thephoto frame magnetis part of HCTV’snew Social Mediaoutreach campaign,Share Your#HCTVLove ofHerndon.

Photo Courtesy of David Skiavo


NewsHerndon Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

The Town of Herndon once againproduced and hosted a great allday 4th of July Celebration. Forthose who wanted to start the

fun early, Parks and Recreation opened thepool at the Herndon Community Center,814 Ferndale Avenue from 11 a.m. until 6p.m. Admittedly there was no sandy beach,but who needed it? The water was cool andclear with air temps in 80s, perfect for swim-ming, and there were no sharks in the wa-ter.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recre-ation moved the fun over to Bready ParkSoftball Field, located steps from the com-munity center. The ballpark fences kept littleones safely away from the street and park-ing lots, as everyone enjoyed a multitudeof free activities. After staking their turf withblankets and beach chairs, adults and chil-dren alike played old-fashioned yard gamessuch as Cornhole toss.

Sack races were a new experience formany children. The young ones delightedputting both feet into the bags. With theReady, Set, Go call, the youngsters held theirbags up the best they could, and hoppedand shuffled their way to the finish line,sacks dangling down to their knees as theirparents cheered them on.

Renee Hoover said, “I came out for thefireworks but the yard games are great, andthe price is right – free.” Face painting wasanother definite hit with the children, whilethe patriotic-themed arts and crafts activi-ties drew in an equal number of children.

Bingo was a winner with the adults. Pass-ersby easily heard the loud calls of BINGOcoming from under the tented game area.

There was no need to grill at home orbring a cooler full of food. Food trucksparked along the perimeter of the field sold

hot dogs, hamburgers, Thai food, funnelcakes, snow cones and more.

According to Herndon Parks and Recre-ation, at 7:15 p.m., they welcomed the five-piece rock band “The Significant Others” tothe performance stage. The fantastic mu-sic, food, and games kept everyone enter-tained until dark when the fireworks wereset to go off around 9:30 p.m.

While many individuals had gathered atBready Park to enjoy the pre-firework eventsand display from that location, a huge num-

Hometown funattracts more thansix thousand peopleto the celebration.

Town of Herndon Hosts Old-Fashioned 4th of July

ber of spectators safely set out lawn chairsand blankets along barricaded streets nearthe Herndon Centennial Golf Course wherethe fireworks were to be lit.

Throughout the spectacular display, oohsand ahhs could be heard from the crowd,and when the explosions ended, they endedwith the traditional big bang. A multitudeof rockets whizzed high in the sky, one af-ter the other, exploding their light on chil-dren and adults, people from so many walksof life and countries.

Before the 4th of July fireworks started, AshtonKooy, 5, and her brother, Grant, 3 of Parkville,Md., each picked out a favorite glow sticknecklace offered to them by Kyla Christian, aTown of Herndon employee. Christian com-mented on the turnout. “It’s a good turnout.There is a sea of red, white and blue. And themood is patriotic,” she said.

Baby Kalina Novosel of Sterling held tight toher first American flag and enjoyed a daddyshoulder ride – seeing far and wide all that washappening at Herndon’s 4th of July Celebrationheld at the Bready Park Softball Field. ChrisNovosel, Kalina’s dad, said, “We are thankfulfor the amazing festivities happening tonightand to live so close by.”

Patrons arrived early in the evening, well beforedark and the start of the annual fireworks displayto enjoy the live music and festivities offered freeby the Town of Herndon as part of the annual 4thof July Celebration.

While Narayana Svndarrajan, 10, of Herndon washaving her face painted at Herndon’s 4th of JulyCelebration, her mother, Gayathn spoke about thefamily’s anticipation for the evening event. “We’vebeen looking forward to this for five days now. This isour fourth year coming.”

This wasn’t the first time Madina Vazirli, 7, ofVienna played Cornhole. With a steady aim shepitched her beanbag at one of the raised plat-forms with a hole in it. Old-fashioned yardgames, arts and crafts, food vendors, live musicand fireworks were all part of the Town ofHerndon’s 4th of July Celebration.

Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection


Opinion

The proposed plan in the U.S. Sen-ate to give the wealthiest Ameri-cans massive tax cuts by cuttinghealth coverage for people who are

poor, have disabilities and elders, would alsoaffect the rest of the population, and theeconomy.

People without health insurance face eco-nomic uncertainty. When they do incur medi-cal bills, they often cannot pay them in full.This increases costs to providers and decreasesthe ability to participate in the economy.

People without health insurance are sickerthan people with insurance, butthey also often can’t afford tostay home from work, often ex-posing others to preventable ill-

nesses. They are less likely to have flu shotsand other routine immunizations that protectall of us, including those with the weakest im-mune systems and those who cannot be vacci-nated.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine was in Springfield thisweek talking to people who depend on Medic-aid coverage. He and U.S. Sen. Mark Warnerhave been active in opposing these major cutsto health care.

This bears repeating — here are some otherconsequences of proposals in the Senate bill:

❖ Millions of people lose their health insur-ance — 22 million fewer would have healthinsurance by 2026 according to the Congres-sional Budget Office analysis.

❖ In Virginia, more than 14,000 veteranscould lose coverage under Medicaid.

❖ States could opt out of the law’s essentialhealth benefits measure, which requires insur-ers to cover 10 main benefits, including hospi-talization, prescription drugs and other ser-vices. That is, companies could sell health in-surance that wouldn’t actually be health in-surance. Would Virginia be a state that optsout? Quite likely.

❖ Loss of coverage for pre-existing condi-tions, including cancer survivors, people whohad transplants, people with asthma, arthri-tis, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity,mental health issues, ADD, etc.

❖ Ending annual and lifetime coverage capswould also impact people who get health in-surance from their employers and the privateinsurance market. For example, a serious acci-dent or an illness that requires repeated sur-geries or bone marrow transplants could putany one of us over the coverage cap.

❖ Medicaid pays public schools for many ser-vices for special education students, but theSenate bill removes schools from eligible Med-icaid providers, costing Virginia an estimated$40 million annually; $3 million in FairfaxCounty; $2 million in the City of Alexandria.

❖ $800 billion plus in cuts to Medicaid putsthe funding for most people who are currentlyin nursing homes at risk. Many of these arepeople who were middle class but outlived

their savings and coverage.❖ In Virginia, the proposed changes to Med-

icaid would cost the state $1.4 billion overseven years.

❖ Medicaid pays for much of the fight againstopioid addiction, including treatment. Cutswould be devastating to efforts to counter thewave of overdose deaths and other effects ofaddiction.

❖ Coverage for mental health treatment, in-cluding addiction treatment, is threatened bothby cuts to Medicaid and by changes in the pri-vate insurance market.

❖ There will be greater need for Medicaidover time. More seniors will be poor, as fewerpeople who are retiring have pensions or ad-equate retirement savings. The demand fornursing home beds will be increasing as thepopulation ages.

Read last week’s editorial, “Killing the Poorto Pay Millionaires,” here:www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2017/jun/27/opinion-editorial-killing-poor-pay-millionaires/

— Mary Kimm

mkimm@connectionnewspapers

Problems for Public HealthIncreasing the number of uninsured is badfor the rest of us, and the economy.

Editorial

Send in Your Pet Photos NowThe Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special

edition, will publish the last week of July, andphotos and stories of your pets with you andyour family should be submitted by July 20.

We invite you to send us stories about yourpets, photos of you and your family with yourcats, dogs, llamas, alpacas, ponies, hamsters,snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whateverother creatures share your life with you.

Tell us the story of a special bond between achild and a dog, the story of how you came toadopt your pet, or examples of amazing featsof your creatures.

Do you volunteer at an animal shelter ortherapeutic riding center or take your pet tovisit people in a nursing home? Does your busi-ness have a pet? Is your business about pets?

Have you helped to train an assistance dog?Do you or someone in your family depend onan assistance dog?

Or take this opportunity to memorialize abeloved pet you have lost.

Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favoritepictures include both pets and humans.

Please tell us a little bit about your creature,identify everyone in the photo, give a briefdescription what is happening in the photo,and include address and phone number (wewill not publish your address or phone num-ber, just your town name).

Email [email protected] or submitonline at www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

During the primary electionseason when both parties inVirginia were making their

selection of a candidate for gover-nor, one candidate who went on toget his party’s nomination proposedthe clincher of a policy proposal tosecure his success in the election: abillion-dollar tax cut! For those who have beenaround the state for some time it may soundfamiliar; the successful car tax-cutting proposalthat elected a previous governor is still cost-ing the state about a billion dollars each year.That cut was particularly ironic in that it hadthe state cutting a local tax by reimbursing thelocalities for taxpayers. It was great for North-

ern Virginians as less wealthy down-state taxpayers reimburse thewealthiest jurisdictions in a reverse“Robin Hood” plan.

Before voters jump at a promiseof reduced taxes, I hope there willbe a serious consideration of the con-sequences. Virginia prides itself on

being a “balanced budget” state; its revenuescover its operational expenses. Borrowing ispermitted under the State Constitution forcapital projects when approved by voters un-less the project raises enough revenue to payfor itself. All that is good with a major excep-tion. At no time does the state quantify itsneeds in order to determine what the cost of

government would be if the state met its re-sponsibility in providing funding. Two ex-amples are offered below to make my point.

The first example is the state’s refusal to fundeducation at the level it has in the past and thatis required by the Constitution. A report by theCommonwealth Institute, “State Cuts MeanFewer Staff and Resources for Virginia Stu-dents,” (www.thecommonwealthinstitute.org)in April 2017, makes the point. “Statewide, statesupport has fallen 11 percent per student since2009 in real dollars. This has impacted the abil-ity of schools to maintain staffing and facilities.Across the state, school divisions have about2,800 fewer staff than they had in 2009, de-spite growing enrollment. If they had kept pacewith enrollment growth, Virginia’s schools

Balancing Our Budget Based on Needs

See Plum, Page 11

Commentary

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Oak Hill & Herndon


News

Gov. Terry McAuliffe today an-nounced that Amazon Web Ser-vices, Inc. (AWS), anAmazon.com company, will ex-

pand its presence with a new East Coast corpo-rate campus at One Dulles Tower in FairfaxCounty. AWS offers cloud computing services tobusinesses, government, and educational orga-nizations, including web hosting, applicationhosting, storage and backup, content delivery,and scalable database solutions. Virginia success-fully competed against Texas and Washingtonfor the project, which will create up to 1,500new jobs.

“It is a tremendous honor for AmazonWeb Services to select Fairfax County andthe Commonwealth for its East Coast cor-porate campus,” said McAuliffe. “When oneof the world’s most successful companieschooses to expand its footprint across Vir-ginia, it is a testament to our talentedworkforce and business climate. Because itwas a priority to win this transformationalproject, we partnered with Virginia’s MajorEmployment and Investment Project Ap-proval Commission to ensure that AWSchose the Commonwealth. We have alongstanding relationship with Amazon andare proud that the company will continueto play a key role in building the new Vir-ginia economy.”

“With one of the largest technologyworkforces in the nation, Northern Virginiais an ideal home for Amazon Web Services’East Coast corporate campus,” said Secre-tary of Commerce and Trade ToddHaymore. “Nearly 7,000 Virginians alreadyare employed by this global leader, andalong with Amazon’s new distribution cen-ter in Frederick County, the company willbe adding more than 2,000 new jobs overthe next several years. This major win forVirginia is the culmination of teamwork by

Fairfax County, Governor McAuliffe, keyGeneral Assembly members, and the Vir-ginia Economic Development Partnership,demonstrating the Commonwealth’s inclu-sive approach to economic development.”

Upon the hiring of 600 new employees,Amazon Web Services will be eligible toreceive $7,000 per net new job created, upto 1,500 total jobs, through an MEI customperformance grant, approved by the Gov-ernor and the MEI Commission, and sub-ject to approval by the General Assembly.

“Amazon Web Services has quickly estab-lished a major presence in Fairfax County,and we are proud that the company haschosen to expand here with its East Coastcorporate campus,” said Gerald L. Gordon,Ph.D., president and CEO of the FairfaxCounty Economic Development Authority.“Any community would be thrilled to havethis employer and this kind of corporatepresence, and I am delighted the county’sdiversified IT base, workforce and qualityof life offer the right mix for the company.”

“Amazon Web Services’ decision to ex-pand its operations in the Dulles Technol-ogy Corridor is a testament to the qualitybusiness climate and tech-savvy workforceour area provides,” said state Sen. JenniferWexton (D-33). “Amazon Web Services hasbeen an outstanding corporate citizen herein Virginia, and we welcome their new op-erations.”

“Herndon, Virginia will be the home ofthe East Coast campus of Amazon Web Ser-vices,” said Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86).“We are grateful to the Governor, GeneralAssembly members, and VEDP for workingtogether with Amazon Web Services to se-cure this project, which brings more than1,000 jobs to my district. Our talented,highly educated workforce and vibrant com-munity welcomes this opportunity.”

Amazon Web Services toCreate up to 1,500 New Jobsin Herndon Area

Reston Community Center is seeking arts and crafts vendors, foodvendors and civic organizations

of all cultures for the 17th Annual RestonMulticultural Festival. The festival willbe held Saturday, Sept. 23,at Lake AnnePlaza in Reston.

All vendors’ applications are acceptedthrough July 28, 2017. Interested groupsor individuals should fill out the appro-priate Vendor Application Form, availableat www.restoncommunitycenter.com/mcf. To ensure that your application isreviewed in a timely manner, it is essen-tial that all application guidelines arefollowed and submitted by the deadline.

Vendors Sought for RestonMulticultural Festival

Visual artists who wish to participatein the Multicultural Festival art exhibitArt Mirrors Culture should checkwww.restoncommunitycenter.com inmid-July for more information and theCall for Entries. Entry forms will be dueon Aug. 18.

Reston Multicultural Festival is a fam-ily-oriented event and any material soldor presented must be suitable for all agesand free of any content that would beinappropriate for a diverse, multiculturaland multigenerational audience. See ap-plication guidelines for more details.

For more information about the festival,visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com/mcf.


See Town Hall, Page 10

News

By Andrea Worker

The Connection

“Alzheimer’s disease will touchevery American family atsome time or other. Therearen’t many other condi-

tions you can say that about. Today,Alzheimer’s kills more people each yearthan breast cancer and prostate cancer com-bined,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) to the attendees of the Town Hall meet-ing at the headquarters of the National Capi-tal Area Alzheimer’s Association in McLeanon Monday, June 10.

Connolly was one of several speakers onthe agenda, that included representativesfrom the National Alzheimer’s Association,the Agency on Aging from Fairfax andPrince William counties, the VirginiaAlzheimer’s Commission, and the NationalActive and Retired Federal Employees As-sociation.

Cindy Schelhorn, senior director of com-munication with the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion, opened the event and Connolly beganthe session with a personal story about thedisease’s effect on his own family. “My Irishimmigrant grandmother survived the boatjourney to America, even being robbed onthe ship. She worked hard. She saved. Shewas able to bring her own mother and herbrothers over from Ireland. She wasn’t ableto fight off Alzheimer’s.”

Connolly told of his grandmother’sstrength from years of hard work “and walk-ing to Mass everyday.” In some ways, saidthe congressman, her physical fitnessproved to be less than a blessing after thedisease struck. “She lived a long time withAlzheimer’s. Watching her fade away beforemy eyes was one of the most difficult thingsI had to deal with growing up. The worst isknowing your loved one knows somethingisn’t right, but there is nothing they can do.”

THE CONGRESSMAN has co-sponsoredthe HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act and the Pal-liative Care and Hospice Education andTraining Act, supported the RAISE FamilyCaregivers Act and is a member of the bi-partisan Congressional Task Force onAlzheimer’s. But he is concerned. “ThePresident’s FY 2018 Budget, and many ofthe bills currently on the table would wreakhavoc, throwing people out of nursinghomes and adult care centers, and severelylimiting care and resources for our vulner-able seniors.” A threatened 18 percent cutin the funding for the National Institutesfor Health “would gut federally funded re-search … it certainly would bring us nocloser to a cure,” said Connolly. “And rightnow, there is no cure. There really isn’tmuch in the way of treatment.”

“There are about 140,000 Virginians es-

timated to be suffering from some form ofdementia,” said panelist Sharon Davis withthe Virginia Alzheimer’s Commission, andshe says the effect of the disease takes atoll on the family as well as the afflicted. “Ihave spent more than half of my adult lifeas a caregiver.” Davis’s husband is now alive-in patient at a memory-care facility,suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Hermother lived for 18 years with the disease.

“It’s a tragedy. It’s a disease that robs themof what should be the best years, time they

have earned to relax and enjoy.” As Davispointed out, it’s also a disease that can havedevastating emotional and financial impactson families, as many struggle to cope physi-cally and financially to provide usuallyround-the-clock care.

Stories of heartbreak and challenges con-tinued, but Karen Hannigan with FairfaxCounty Area Agency on Aging wants to getthe word out that there is help and sup-port, for the patient and the families andcaregivers.

“We operate based on the ‘No WrongDoor Initiative’ model,” saidHannigan.

That model means that persons whocall for help don’t encounter a “sorry,wrong department and we can’t help”response. “No matter what, we guideyou. Our staff are ‘field-trained.’ Weknow the system. Let us do the navi-gating and take away at least thatmuch stress from the situation.”

Negotiating the government regu-lations, the gaps between Medicareand Medicaid, the insurance maze,and trying to find appropriate re-sources while dealing with the actualdisease and its effects on the patient,and possibly on the family ascaregivers, can be overwhelming.“Call us, Monday through Friday, 8a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at 703-324-7948,”said Hannigan. “You don’t need toknow all of the information. We do.Just tell us your story.”

The National Alzheimer’s Associa-tion also offers a helpline. “It’s freecare consultation. It’s nationwide. Wework with agencies around the coun-try and can help you get to the rightpeople,” said Jane Priest, programmanager with the association. “24/7,call us at 1-800-272-3900, or visit thewebsite at www.alz.org.”

Along with more assistance for pa-tients, caregivers and families, Priestand others on the dais and in the au-dience want to see more focus on edu-cation and training, as well. The Na-tional Alzheimer’s Association and theregional chapters are dedicating moretime and resources on outreach pro-grams. Annandale resident CatherineBergstrom who attended the eventwelcomes this initiative.

Bergstrom related the experiencesof her husband who had to be hospi-talized. “This was a hospital, and theystill did not know how to deal with apatient suffering from this disease.”

Sharon Davis of the VirginiaAlzheimer’s Commission added herown stories of her husband’s treat-ment at hospitals and medical facili-ties that worsened his mental state,instead of improving the situation.

U.S. Rep. GerryConnolly addressesAlzheimer’s Town Hall.

Herndon Becoming ‘Dementia Friendly Community’

Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection

The panel at the Alzheimer’s Town Hall included U.S. Rep. GerryConnolly (D-11), and representatives from the National and localAlzheimer’s Association, Area Agencies on Aging, the VirginiaAlzheimer’s Commission, and the National Active and Retired FederalEmployees Association.

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly with Toni Reinhart who is spearheading effortsto make Herndon the first “Dementia Friendly Community” in the Com-monwealth, with education and training in real-life encounters andsituations to make living with dementia easier on patients, caregivers,families and the community.

“Herndon is socommunity-focused.Our leaders are veryservice-oriented. I thinkit’s the best place to getthis rolling in Virginia.”

— Toni Reinhart,owner of Herndon-based

Comfort Keepers


Home LifeStyle

By Marilyn Campbell

A local interior designer believes in thinkingoutside the box when it comes to making thebest use of space in one’s home.

“My advice to homeowners is to embrace spaceswithin their homes as if they were never assigned,”said Joe Van Goethem of Joseph Van Goethem Inte-rior Design in McLean. “Depending on location, aspace previously designated as a walk-in closet canbe purposefully transformed into an intimate guestbedroom, home office, or multipurpose wine cellarand bar.”

Van Goethem followed his own advice when hetransformed a walk-in foyer closet in his home intoa multipurpose wine cellar, complete with a winerefrigerator, beer cooler, ice maker and cigar humi-dor. “Why a walk-in closet if it’s seldom used, andonly to become an open invitation for hidden clut-ter?” he asked. “Envision new, functional possibili-ties for every space within your home.”

Van Goethem, who not only designed the space,but also completed the construction himself, believesthat “playing with scale and attention to every de-tail are key when considering the transformation ofa confined space such as a walk-in closet,” he said.“[The] closet had a nondescript narrow solid door,glued-down wood veneer floor, shelving and hang-ing rods, and one light fixture.”

In finishing the project, Van Goethem widened thedoor framing to accom-modate a new Frenchdoor and added storagespace for a concealedtelevision. He also in-stalled an intercom to al-low those in the cellar tocommunicate with thosein the kitchen.

“I ripped up the oldfloor [and replaced it]with Spanish marble tileflooring,” he said. “Iadded a baseboard and crown moulding, and cre-ated a grid of moulding on the walls which I paintedwith Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone. I installed Extra

Redefining SpaceDesigner thinks outsidethe proverbial box.

Fine Arrowroot Grasscloth hand crafted wallcoveringby Phillip Jeffries within the recesses of the grid.”

Van Goethem said his goal was to make the designof the new cellar consistent with the aestheticS of

the rest of his home. Thespace includes a largedrum light fixture andside lamps. An oversizedcabinet holds thestemware and barware.He added a commis-sioned seascape paintingby California artistJonathan Koch and mod-ern teapots by Washing-ton, D.C. ceramicist JoeHicks.

“Details are important in design, but they are ev-erything … when transforming a small space like therepurposing of a walk-in closet,” said Van Goethem.

“My advice to homeowners isto embrace spaces within theirhomes as if they were neverassigned.”

— Joe Van Goethem ofJoseph Van Goethem Interior Design

Photo courtesy of Joe Van Goethem

Interior designer Joe Van Goethem trans-formed a walk-in closet in his McLeanhome into a wine cellar.

SHILLELAGHS TRAVEL CLUB100 East Street SE, Suite 202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180

703-242-2204 1-800-556-8646Please visit our Web site at: www.shillelaghtravelclub.com

for a listing of all our upcoming trips and socials.

Celebratingour 52nd

Anniversary

Grand Canyon of PA, Aug. 7-9 ........................................................................................$529Includes coach from Vienna, McLean Metro or Grosvenor Metro, Rockville, 2 nightshotel with 2 breakfasts & dinners, Sightseeing - Call for details.

Castles & Manors of IRELAND Nov. 4-11. .................................................................$2,799Includes air from Dulles, 6 nights deluxe accommodations. Daily breakfast & dinner &daily sightseeing. Welcome coffee/tea/scones, whiskey tasting - Call for detailed itinerary.

Great Trains & Grand Canyons Oct. 1-6. ................................................................... $2,375Includes air from Dulles, 5- nights hotel. Daily breakfast, 3 dinners.Sightseeing - Call foritinerary.


Send entertainment announcements towww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calen-dar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGJazz in the City Exhibit. Various

times at ArtSpace Herndon, 750Center St., Herndon. Kristine Kellerand Robert Gilbert paint with aninterest in New York. Call 703-956-9560 or visitwww.artspaceherndon.com for more.

Cardboard Boat Regatta.Registration now open for race onAug. 12, 2-6 p.m. at Lake Anne,Reston. Participating teams of allages will construct and decorate theirown life-size cardboard boats. Formore information or to register ateam, visit www.restonmuseum.org/cardboard. Team sponsorships beginat $100 for adults and families or$40 for students (ages 10-18 years ofage). For questions or moreinformation on getting involved,contact Elizabeth Didiano [email protected] or 703-709-7700.

Free Concerts. Through Aug. 26, 7:30-10 p.m. every Saturday night in thepavilion at Reston Town Center,11900 Market St. Call 703-912-4062or visit www.restontowncenter.com/concerts for more.

Over-40 Softball League. A Fairfax-based league is looking for enoughplayers to form another team. Playersmust be at last 40 years of age to beeligible. All games are doubleheaders- played on Sundays at Bready Parkin Herndon between 11 a.m. and 6p.m. If interested, [email protected] for moreinformation.

Teen and Adult Art ClassesArtSpace Herndon Every Mondayfrom 5:30-8:30 p.m. 750 CenterStreet, Herndon. Drawing and MixedMedia with Melanie Stanley - DuringFall and Winter of 2016. Cost: $45/class. The class will use a variety oftechniques for drawing, painting,mark making, and collage using finearts tools and materials. Studentswill be taken down a creative path tolearn to use drawing tools andbrushes more effectively. Register byemailing Melanie, and she will sendyou the supply list and paymentoptions/information:[email protected]. 703-956-9560. www.artspaceherndon.com.

THURSDAY/JULY 13Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

(Bluegrass). 7:30-8:30 p.m. atKidwell Farm, 2709 West Ox Road,Herndon. Thursday Evening ConcertSeries. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov.

FRIDAY/JULY 14Mac and Cheese Night. 6:30-9 p.m.

at The Lake House, 11450 BaronCameron Ave., Reston. July 14 isNational Mac and Cheese Day andThe Lake House is celebrating with amacaroni craft, noodle games, andfood. $15 in advance, $20 at thedoor. Email [email protected] or call703-435-7995 for more.

SATURDAY/JULY 15Comedy and Magic. 10-10:45 a.m. at

Reston Town Square Park, 11990Market St. A fast-paced, side-splittingfamily vaudeville show filled withaudience participation and circusskills with a sprinkling of magic.Presented by Reston CommunityCenter and Reston Town CenterAssociation. Free. Call 703-476-4500or visit restoncommunitycenter.com.

Family Game Days. 10:30 a.m.-noonat Town Hall Square, 730 Elden St.,Herndon. Different games eachSaturday from corn hole to sackraces. Free. Email

[email protected] or call703-787-7300 for more.

The Adrian Duke Project Concert.7:30-10 p.m. at Reston Town SquarePark, 11990 Market St., Reston TownCenter. The weekly summer concertseries presents hits for dancingthrough the decades with The AdrianDuke Project. Bring lawn chairs orpicnic blankets and enjoy liveoutdoor music at the Pavilion. Free.Rain or shine. Presented by BostonProperties and Reston Town CenterAssociation on Saturdays, Junethrough August. Alcohol permitted atrestaurants only. Free. Call 703-476-4500 or visitrestoncommunitycenter.com.

SUNDAY/JULY 16Exercise with Athleta. 11 a.m.-noon

at Reston Town Center Pavilion,11900 Market St., Reston TownCenter. STRONG is the New Beautifulwith Gold’s Gym; part of Athleta’s

free fitness sessions with a variety offitness instructors every Sundaymorning. Call 703-668-0256 or visitstores.athleta.net/store-4866/

Sunday Art in the Park. 3-5 p.m. inthe Park Reston Town Square Park,11900 Market St. See local art andtalk to artists. Visit restonarts.org orcall 703-471-9242 for more.

Le Hotclub de Biglic Concert. 4-6p.m. at ArtSpace Herndon, 750Center St., Herndon. Gypsy Jazz styleof music. Call 703-956-9560 or visitwww.artspaceherndon.com for more.

Sunday Art in the Park. 7-8 p.m. atReston Town Square Park, 11990Market St. Jonathan Snowden, one ofBritain’s well-known flutists, and hiswife Su Snowden (piano) present aselection of favorites. Free. Call 703-476-4500 or visitrestoncommunitycenter.com.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 19Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

(Children Music). 10-11 a.m. atthe Visitor Center Pavilion, 2739West Ox Road, Herndon. WednesdayMorning Children’s Series. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov

SATURDAY/JULY 22Family Game Days. 10:30 a.m.-noon

at Town Hall Square, 730 Elden St.,Herndon. Different games eachSaturday from corn hole to sackraces. Free. [email protected] or call703-787-7300 for more.

Scythian Concert. 7:30-10 p.m. atReston Town Center, 11900 MarketSt. Play a blend of Celtic and klezmermusic. Call 703-912-4062 or visitwww.restontowncenter.com/concertsfor more.

Eddie from Ohio Concert. 7:30 p.m.at at Arrowbrook Centre Park, FieldPoint Road, Herndon. Cross betweenfolk and alternative music. Call 703-324-7469 or visit fairfaxcounty.gov/

parks/performances.

SUNDAY/JULY 23Exercise with Athleta. 11 a.m.-noon

at Reston Town Center Pavilion,11900 Market St., Reston TownCenter. Barre with Brooke from PureBarre of Reston; part of Athleta’s freefitness sessions with a variety offitness instructors every Sundaymorning. Call 703-668-0256 or visitstores.athleta.net/store-4866/.

Sunday Art in the Park. 3-5 p.m. inthe Park Reston Town Square Park,11900 Market St. See local art andtalk to artists. Visit http://restonarts.org or call 703-471-9242for more.

Artists Reception. 4-6 p.m. atArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St.,Herndon. Artists submitted photosfor the 2018 Herndon TownCalendar, and are eligible for toreceive the Herndon Town CalendarPeople’s Choice Award. Photos willbe on display from July 11-August 5.Call 703-956-9560 or visitwww.artspaceherndon.com for more.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 26The Grandsons Jr. (Children

Songs). 10-11 a.m. at the VisitorCenter Pavilion, 2739 West Ox Road,Herndon. Wednesday MorningChildren’s Series. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov

THURSDAY/JULY 27Summer Movie Series. 2 p.m. at

Reston Regional Library, 11925Bowman Towne Drive. Hindi musicalabout a musician who falls for anunhappy woman who is waiting forher absent love to return. In Hindi,with English subtitles. Free. Call 703-689-2700 for more.

Jazz History Lecture. 6-7 p.m. atGreater Reston Arts Center, 12001Market Street, Suite 103. Michael J.West is a jazz journalist that deliversa lecture followed by openconversation. Free. Visitrestonarts.org or call 703-471-9242.

The Spiritual Rez (Reggae/Funk).7:30-8:30 p.m. at Kidwell Farm,2709 West Ox Road, Herndon.Thursday Evening Concert Series.Free. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

SATURDAY/JULY 29Family Game Days. 10:30 a.m.-noon

at Town Hall Square, 730 Elden St.Different games each Saturday fromcorn hole to sack races. Free. [email protected] or call703-787-7300 for more.

Dollars and Sense Book Club. 7p.m. at Reston Regional Library,11925 Bowman Towne Drive. Topicwill be “Things a Little Bird Told Me”by Biz Stone. Free. Call 703-689-2700 for more.

Love Canon Concert. 7:30-10 p.m. atReston Town Center, 11900 MarketSt. Bluegrass version of hits from the’80s. Call 703-912-4062 or visitwww.restontowncenter.com/concertsfor more.

Hillbilly Gypsies Concert. 7:30 p.m.at at Arrowbrook Centre Park, FieldPoint Road, Herndon. Bluegrassmusic. Call 703-324-7469 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.

SUNDAY/JULY 30Film Screening. 6 p.m. in Timothy’s

Episcopal Church, 432 Van Buren St.,Herndon. Martin Scorsese’s newestfilm about a 17th century PortugueseJesuit priest. [email protected] [email protected] for more.

Entertainment

By David Siegel

The Connection

A cornucopia of musical standards of theAmerican Songbook, but with fresh interpre-tations will bring the joys of love to NextStop

Theater audiences. It is “Rodgers & Hammerstein’sA Grand Night for Singing” the initial offering forNextStop’s 2017-18 season

The music of Richard Rodgers and OscarHammerstein II fueled major Broadway musicals fordecades. NextStop will soar with nearly three dozenmusical numbers in a special cabaret setting withpatrons up-close to the performers. Under the direc-tion of Michael Bobbitt, the songs have been“reimagined in funny, touching and unexpected ways;all for audience delight.” said Bobbit.

In its 30 year history, first as Elden Street Playersand now NextStop, there has not been a work byRodgers and Hammerstein produced noted EvanHoffmann, NextStop’s artistic director. “What betterway to start a new season, than with a musical thattakes all of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most iconicsongs and gives them clever and unexpected mean-ings?”

A musical revue, the production received severalTony Award nominations. It was originally conceivedby Walter Bobbie, with arrangements by Fred Wellsand orchestration by Michael Gibson and JonathanTunick. The music atNextStop will take offunder the music direc-tion of Northern Virginiafavorite, Elisa Rosman.

Featuring songs thatwill leave patrons hum-ming, “A Grand Night forSinging” includes memo-rable numbers like “If ILoved You (“Carousel”),“Everything is Up to Datein Kansas City” (“Oklahoma”), “Do I Love You Be-cause You’re Beautiful?” (“Cinderella”), “Honey Bun”(“South Pacific”). And of course, “It’s a Grand Night

for Singing” (“State Fair”).“You will be surprised at how many songs you know

if you didn’t think you would,” said Bobbitt, “Theyare essential parts of our pop culture with fantasticmusic and lyrics; some of the best ever written.”

The evening will feature the voice of Karen Vincent.She was Helen-Hayes Award nominated for her per-formance in Next Stop’s “Kiss Me Kate.” The produc-tion also features Matthew Kirsh, who received aHelen Hayes Award for NextStop’s “Catch Me If You

Can.” They will be joinedby Kathleen Riddle, Mar-quis White and SarahAnn Silver.

Rodgers andHammerstein’s musicand lyrics are never out-of-date; remaining deepparts of the Great Ameri-can Songbook. “’Rodgers& Hammerstein’s AGrand Night for Singing’

speaks to the heart; whether you are young or older,even if you are less familiar with them from yourown past,” said Hoffmann.

Be Transported to Music Nirvana‘Rodgers andHammerstein’s A GrandNight for Singing’ atNextStop Theatre.

Photo by S. Metcalf/Courtesy of NextStop Theatre

Karen Vincent and Matthew Hirsh in“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s A GrandNight for Singing” at NextStop Theatre inHerndon.

Where & WhenNextStop Theatre presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s A

Grand Night for Singing” performed at 269 Sunset Park Drive(Inside the Sunset Business Park on Spring Street), Herndon.Performances: July 20 to Aug. 20 , 2017. Thursdays at 8 p.m.;Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays – July 22 at 7 p.m., July 29 at 2p.m. and 8 p.m., Aug. 5, 12, 19 at 8 p.m.; Sundays – July 23at 2 p.m., Aug. 6 at 2 p.m., Aug. 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets$40. Call 866-811-4111 or visit www.nextstoptheatre.org.


How can you help?

www.foha.org

Adoptone of our lovable

cats or dogs.

Volunteeryour time or

services.

Donatemoney orsuppliesfor theShelter.

Turn your Houseinto a Home

IglooIglooBernieBernie WessonWesson

day Arts Crawl, scheduled for the evening of Thurs-day, July 20, 6-9 p.m.

Herndon Community Television is a non-profit501(c)(3) corporation that serves as the only publicaccess station for the Town of Herndon. HCTV broad-casts more than 17 hours of daily non-commercialtelevision programming consisting of a diverse line-up of original hyperlocal content paired with infor-mative and entertaining programs from across theworld. In addition to producing recurring series andcovering local events, Herndon Community Televi-sion provides the civic function of live broadcastsfor Town of Herndon Public Hearings. Viewers in theTown of Herndon, Fairfax County, and parts ofLoudoun County can enjoy HCTV on Verizon FiOSChannel 28 and Cox Communication Channel 23.HCTV can be watched worldwide from a live streamvia their website.

Herndon Community Television is primarily runby volunteers and is always looking for new mem-bers of the community to help grow their station andtheir programs. Individuals interested in obtainingmore information or volunteering can contact HCTV’sExecutive Director, Nancy Rose, at [email protected] 703-689-2323.

Photo by Mercia Hobson

Herndon Community Television will dis-tribute 400 photo frame magnets with acutout heart shape in it as a creative funincentive to reinforce the L-O-V-E theme oftheir new photo-centric Social MediaOutreach Campaign, “Share Your#HCTVLove of Herndon.”

News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Although Herndon Community Television(HCTV) has actively engaged in socialmedia for quite some time, after a year ofplanning, they are ready to harness even

greater potential by connecting people, photos andinformation with their organization through theirnew outreach campaign named, “Share Your#HCTVLove of Herndon.” The social media campaignis user-friendly and photo-centric.

According to Marsha Kerman, programming direc-tor at Herndon Community Television, the nonprofitorganization will launch the campaign during theJuly 14 Friday Night Live! concert scheduled for 6:30-10 p.m. on the Herndon Town Green located at theMunicipal Building, 777 Lynn St., in Historic Down-town Herndon.

HCTV staff and volunteers will be on hand Fridayevening to explain the campaign. Posters displayedin local businesses throughout Herndon will alsoexplain the campaign and be used to spread the word.Kerman said the objective is straightforward: par-ticipants post photos with the hashtag #HCTVLoveof their favorite Herndon spots, themselves, or lovedones on their social media accounts, like Facebookand Twitter. HCTV will share what is happening inthe community by incorporating recent posts intotheir televised “Bulletin Board” which runs betweenscheduled programs.

As a creative fun incentive and to reinforce the L-O-V-E theme, HCTV will distribute 400 photo framemagnets with a cutout heart shape in it. The freemagnet can be picked up at the HCTV tent duringthe July 14 Friday Night Live! concert. Participantsare encouraged to incorporate the magnet in theirimages Kerman said.

HCTV will also be promoting the campaign anddistributing magnets at Arts Herndon’s Third Thurs-

Herndon CommunityTelevision is set to launchsocial media campaign.

Love of Herndon, Televised

Sophia Skiavo,15, of Chantillyvolunteers atHerndonCommunityTelevision. Shetested one ofHCTV’s photomagnets toframe animage of hermom, AmySkiavo, and theiconic HerndonDepot. Thephoto framemagnet is partof HCTV’s newSocial Mediaoutreachcampaign,Share Your#HCTVLove ofHerndon.

Photo Courtesy of David Skiavo

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Left, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly

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A Women’sMarch onWashingtonflyer distrib-uted byArlingtoniansDebraStephens(left) andLisa Backerat WestoverMarket. Seestory, page 4.

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Helen Slade of New York’s Cotton Club

brought the audience to its feet with songs

such as “We Shall Overcome” at the Martin

Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert on Sunday,

Jan. 15 in the Wakefield High School

auditorium. In a highlight of the evening,

Slade invited children from the audience

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RestonRestonPage 6

“I know! I know!”Many of the studentswere eager to answer“Mr. Jefferson’s” (BillBarker) questionsduring the livinghistory assembly atArmstrong Elementary.

MLK Keynote:From Obama to TrumpNews, Page 3

Communities PracticeDisaster RecoveryNews, Page 12

MLK Keynote:From Obama to Trump

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January 5, 2017

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Happy New YearThe fireworks finale of First Night Alexandria provides the backdrop to a selfie for

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By Vernon MilesGazette Packet

For the City Council, thelargest looming issue inthe upcoming months of2017 is always the city’s

budget. The routine is fairly simi-lar year after year: the city andschool system haggle to a compro-mise over expanding school enroll-ment costs whileother city depart-ments rotatethrough yearly bud-get increases anddecreases. But this

year, according to the City Coun-cil, the budget process is shapingup to look a little more dire thanusual.

“The budget isgoing to be a verybig deal,” saidC o u n c i l m a nTimothy Lovain.“It always is. It’sour main busi-ness, but it will beparticularly chal-lenging withMetro needs,school needs, andother infrastruc-ture. Those capi-tal needs are criti-cal to the futureof the city. Weneed to address them as best wecan.”

While school capacity needsgenerally take the largest focus inthe budget discussion, this year aMetro system in crisis and crum-bling city infrastructure are mus-cling into the spotlight. The issuesbeing discussed and weighedaren’t new, but Councilman Paul

Smedberg says the scale of thedemands exceeds previous years.

“We’ve had these issues before,but the dollar amounts and thesize is bigger,” said Smedberg.“Schools, infrastructure, andtransportation are all core to whatwe do. How we prioritize the restis what we have to decide.”Across the council, schools, in-

frastructure, and transportationare agreed to be the core budgetpriorities in 2016.“Blooming student enrollment

in the schools also presents a realchallenge,” said Lovain. “It largelyshows up for us in school construc-tion funding needs. It’s a happyproblem, it’s a compliment to oursystem, but we’re adding so manystudents. There’s a structural defi-cit we face. [Our]needs are grow-ing faster thanrevenues. Thatshows up on thecapital side andfor schools.”

In terms ofcapital costs, theapproved Alexan-dria City PublicSchools (ACPS)FY 2017 - FY2026 Capital Im-provement Plan(CIP) budget lastyear totaled$273,988,551. The FY 2018 - FY2027 CIP proposed by Superinten-dent Alvin Crawley raises that 10-year total to $515,739,655.“We need to expand the num-

ber of schools that we have andsomehow or another accommo-date renovations and expansion,maybe building a whole new

In the RedSchools, Metro, and infrastructureform trinity of 2017city budget priorities.

WellbeingWellbeing

Page 14

“We’re not goingto be able to makeeverybody happybut we wereelected to makehard decisions.”— CouncilmanWillie Bailey

The YearAhead


From Page 6

News

St. Timothy’s EpiscopalChurch needs knitters the first andthird Wednesdays of the month at 7p.m., at 432 Van Buren St., Herndon.The church’s Prayer Shawl Ministryis offering free knitting instructionwhile providing shawls, blankets andother knitted items for people inneed. No cost and yarn can be pro-vided. [email protected] or visitthe Pastoral Care page at www.saint-timothys.org.

Nondenominational Chris-tian businessmen meet forprayer, Biblical discussion and fel-lowship 7 p.m. Fridays at Anita’s,1051 Elden St., Herndon and noonThursdays at 555 Grove St., Suite200, Herndon. Call 703-795-1257.

Trinity Presbyterian Church,651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, hasSunday worship services at 10 a.m.during the summer. Nursery andchildcare are provided starting at 8a.m. until the end of the service. Call703-437-5500 or visitwww.trinityherndon.org.

Vajrayogini Buddhist Center,Unitarian Universalist Church, 1625

Wiehle Ave., Reston, holds weeklyclasses starting Sept. 12, Thursdays7:30-8:30 p.m., for the general publicwhich use Buddhist teachings to prac-tice meditation. $12 or $6 for students,seniors and unemployed. Call 202-986-2257 or visit www.meditation-dc.org.

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church,1700 Wainwright Drive, Reston, holdsSunday services at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. andcontemporary service at 5 p.m. duringthe summer. Nursery, Sunday schooland adult education available. Call 703-437-6530 or visitwww.stannes-reston.org.

HAVEN of Northern Virginia of-fers a variety of free bereavementsupport groups, meeting on a weekly ba-sis. Call 703-941-7000 or visitwww.havenofnova.org for schedulesand registration information.

The Jewish Federation ofGreater Washington and the Jew-ish Outreach Institute offer theMothers/Parents Circle, an umbrella offree educational events and resources.Jewish rituals, ethics and the creation ofa Jewish home, regular meetings andgroup Shabbats and holidays. Partici-pants include Sha’are Shalom,

Congregation Beth Emeth, TempleRodef Shalom and the Jewish Com-munity Center of Northern Virginia.Visit ShalomDC.org.

Hope Fellowship Church willtemporarily be meeting at HyattPlace, 21481 Ridgetop Circle, Ster-ling. Sunday worship services areSundays at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m., aBible Study is on Wednesdays at7:30 p.m. and a weekly prayer con-ference call is Thursdays at 9 p.m.The public is invited to join a Biblebelieving, multi-ethnic/multi-cul-tural congregation, with Bible-basedsermons and uplifting music. Call703-599-3527 or visitwww.hopefellowshipchurchloudoun.org.

Epiphany United MethodistPreschool, 1014 Country ClubDrive, N.E. in Vienna, is now enroll-ing 3- to 4-year-old students. Call703-938-2391 or visitwww.epiphanypreschool.com.

Washington Plaza BaptistChurch will hold Adult Bible Studyat 9:30 a.m. Sundays at Lake AnneVillage Center. The group is studyingthe Gospel of Mark. Services followat 11 a.m.

“And what about a patient thatcan’t communicate to the emer-gency room staff because of theircondition?” asked Connolly, oreven worse, the Alzheimer’s suf-ferer who doesn’t have a caringfamily member who can help “in-terpret” during medical transac-tions or who can advocate on thepatient’s behalf?

THE OUTREACH PROGRAMSof the Alzheimer’s Association seekto train the general public, as wellas doctors, caregivers, law en-forcement personnel and others onhow to recognize if someone issuffering from Alzheimer’s or de-mentia, and how to best react andassist.

Currently, there are no “Demen-tia Friendly Communities” in Vir-ginia. The model, which seeks toraise awareness of the disease andof dementia in general and offertraining and tips for real-life en-counters is being tested in otherjurisdictions nearby. ToniReinhart, owner of Herndon-based Comfort Keepers that pro-vides in-home senior and eldercare services, wants to changethat. This month, she is gather-ing local service and communityleaders in her area to makeHerndon a “proof of concept”project. “Herndon is so commu-

Town Hall DiscussesAlzheimer’s Challenge

Photo by Andrea Worker/The Connection

Catherine Bergstrom of Annandale relates the hospitalexperiences of her husband, who suffered from the dis-ease. “It was a hospital … and they did not know how todeal with this condition or situation. We need to educateand raise awareness even to doctors and medical staff.”

Faith Notes Faith Notes are for announcements and events in the faith community, including specialholiday services. Send to [email protected]. Deadline is Thursday.

nity-focused. Our leaders are veryservice-oriented. I think it’s thebest place to get this rolling in Vir-ginia.”

Connolly applauded all of theseefforts, as he pledged to continueto fight for Alzheimer’s funding.“There are 1.1 million people inFairfax County. Eleven percent are

over 65. The fastest growing popu-lation is over 80. This is an issuethat won’t just go away. We needto take action now. Contact yourmembers of Congress — and notjust the ‘friendlies!’ We have a‘moon-shot’ for fighting cancer.Well, we need a ‘moon-shot’ tofight Alzheimer’s disease.”

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An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be

made in his subject and how to avoid them.-Werner Heisenberg


would have 10,400 more staff instruct-ing students and making sure theschools run smoothly.”

The other example is in health care.The Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinicin Wise County is well known havingbeen featured on an edition of 60 Min-utes. There thousands of Virginiansreceive their health care for the yearin a weekend clinic held on the localfairgrounds. The federal AffordableCare Act did not help as the legisla-ture would not take federal monies toexpand Medicaid that would havehelped these people in need. The stateturned its back on nearly $5 billionpaid into the federal system by Virginiataxpayers because it did not want tohave anything to do with what ittermed Obamacare. What has hap-pened in the meantime? A secondRAM weekend clinic has been openedin Lee County nearby to Wise in South-west Virginia, and a new clinic hasbeen started in Emporia in GreensvilleCounty in Southside Virginia.

We definitely need to balance ourbudget, but we need to balance itagainst our needs. How could we seri-ously propose to cut our income whenthere continue to be such extensiveunmet needs in the Commonwealth?

From Page 4

Plum

To have community events listed in theConnection, send to connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/ by noon on Friday.

THURSDAY/JULY 13The American Legion Department of

Virginia Hiring Fair. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at TheHilton Washington Dulles Airport, 13869 ParkCenter Road, Herndon. Call 202-578-9255 orvisit hiringourheroes.org for more.

DMV To Go. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Reston Town CenterPavilion, 11900 Market St., Reston TownCenter. DMV wireless office on wheels – applyor renew an ID card and driver’s license; getdriving records; obtain vehicle titles, licenseplates, decals, order disabled plates, and more.Visit re.ston.tc/P9HLkh for more.

SATURDAY/JULY 15Free Health Screening. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Fox

Mill Giant, 2551 John Milton Drive, Herndon.Customers can receive free blood pressure,glucose and cholesterol screenings. Visitwww.giantfood.com for more.

THROUGH JULY 28Vendor Application Deadline. Reston

Community Center is seeking arts and craftsvendors, food vendors and civic organizations ofall cultures for the 17th Annual RestonMulticultural Festival. The festival will be heldSaturday, Sept. 23, 2017 at Lake Anne Plaza inReston. Interested groups or individuals shouldfill out the appropriate Vendor ApplicationForm, available atwww.restoncommunitycenter.com/mcf.

THROUGH JULY 31Backpacks for Students. Various times at Christ

the King Lutheran Church, 10550 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Christ the King’s Team Serviceis collaborating with Reston’s aid to familiesorganization Cornerstones and school suppliescollection organization Kids R First to helpyoungsters in the community. Collections willrun through July; drop off in the church lobby.Visit www.gflutheran.org or call 703-759-6068.

Bulletin

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

As I bring our two cat carriers up from thebasement in order for “The Buff Boys” to accli-mate in anticipation of their impending visit tothe veterinarian, I can’t help but think back to thespring of 1976. That’s when an appointment tomend my male cat, Tillie, nearly went verywrong.

To this day, the circumstances still haunt me.Tillie had been a surprise birthday gift given tome in September 1975, along with a puppy Inamed Gus (both named after a W.C. Fields’movie, “Tillie and Gus”).

Tillie was an all-black domestic short hair. Guswas a German Shepard/St. Bernard mix. He wasbeautiful. He had a white-ish beige coat, floppyears and a curly tail.

Introduced to one another at 6 weeks old,Tillie and Gus were the best of friends/siblings.Though I made sure they spent their eveningsinside, during the day, both were outside. (Wehad a fenced-in yard so Gus was confined. Tilliehowever, as you might imagine was not. He hadthe run of the neighborhood.)

Sure enough, one day, Tillie got into a catfight. His tail had been bitten and was beginningto abscess. I knew I had to take him to the veteri-narian. However, I was in college and had verylittle money to spare. Nor did I have a credit cardeither. (Those were the days before credit cardcompanies solicited college students.) In a finan-cial bind, I called my parents and asked formoney (I did work in the dining hall all throughcollege but lived in a house off campus and hadthe usual room and board-type expenses).

They sent me $25. (In my mind, I can still seethe check.) In addition to whatever other money Icould scrape together, I guess it was enough so Itook Tillie to the “vet” for repair. He stayed over-night. The next day, I got the call that he wasready for pick-up. That’s when the eventoccurred that has affected me/my animal-owninglife going on – four decades plus.

I went by myself. I had a car; a 1970 FordMaverick, but no cat carrier. I was, apparently,planning on simply holding Tillie in my arms as Ihad done the day before. However, the pick-upwas not nearly as uneventful as the drop-off.

Once I got outside the building, Tillie begansquirming (his tail had been shaved and hadstitches where the abscess/bite had been inflicted)and broke free from my grasp. He ran off about20 yards – or so to the rear of this modest one-story building and stopped just shy of a chain-linkfence which separated where we all were toanother neighborhood – beyond my reach. Myfear: had Tillie climbed over that fence somehow,he likely would have been gone forever.

Slowly I approached Tillie, repeatedly callinghis name as quietly and reassuringly as I could,trying not to rattle, startle or scare him in anyway; presuming post-surgery, in an unfamiliarplace, possibly in pain, it might not take muchfrom his father to cause him to scamper off anddisappear.

As I casually walked toward him, amazingly,Tillie sort of stood still, enough for me to scoophim up. Which I did and then carefully walkedback to my car and drove us both home withoutany further ado – except for the rest of my taking-cats-to-the-”vet” life. And yes, that means now.

And though I’m not stupid enough to trans-port cats without cat carriers anymore, I am onlyat ease once we’re back home and have let thecats out of their boxes and released them into thehouse (all our cats are indoor cats). Throughoutthis process, I must check the latches on their car-riers a half-a-dozen times; in the house, in thecar, in the parking lot outside the “vet’s” office, inthe waiting room, in the examining room andthen again afterwards; back in the waiting roomwhile I pay, in the car on the way home andfinally in the driveway as I prepare to carry thecarriers/cats across the yard and into the house.Once inside with the cats/carriers in hand, finallyI can relax. Home at last.

Forty-one years ago; it seems like yesterday, ormaybe tomorrow if the “vet” can see us. Andthat’s what worries me. Been there and unfortu-nately, have done that.

A NearCatastrophe,Always

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News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Herndon and Reston are notcoastal beach towns. There isno bustling Atlantic board-walk, amusement park, and

ocean surf filled with marine life. Yet, whenit rains in Herndon, Reston, and elsewherein the region, stormwater runoff picks uplitter – cigarette butts, plastics, and otherdebris, carrying them to the closest stormdrain. Even with grates and detentionponds, polluted runoff usually flows into thenearest run, stream, river or lake, then intothe Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. Unlikesewer systems with treatment plants,stormwater runoff is not treated.

Karan Marari, 11, of Reston is passionateabout marine science. Although Marari livesin Reston, not a coastal town, he is deter-mined to tackle ocean plastic pollution onestraw at a time. His goal is to reduce theuse of plastic straws locally with his “nostraw request.” He is educating restaurantowners, urging them to change their waitstaff’s behaviors and practices that lead tothe unsolicited placement of plastic strawsin patrons’ drinks.

While attending a weeklong summer ses-sion at Virginia Institute for Marine Stud-ies (VIMS) – William & Mary College, Sum-mer Science Camp 2016, Marari studied theimpact of plastic pollution on marine life.He refined his education further, focusinghis environmental interest on the seeminglyinnocuous plastic drinking straw. The Na-tional Park Service, U.S. Department of theInterior reports Americans use 500 millionstraws a day, that’s 1.6 straws per personper day. Recycling of straws is generally anafterthought, and compostable straws canbe upwards of four times the cost of plasticstraws.

MARARI SAID HE LEARNED plasticstraws made the top 10 list of marine litterfound during Ocean Conservatory’s Inter-national Coastal Cleanup 2016 Report – afact corroborated by Ocean Today atNOAA.gov.

Marari said straws are mistaken for foodby marine life, endangering their lives.Straws, being lightweight, float on the topof the water and are caught in under sur-face currents as well. Straws can becomelodged in nostrils, blowholes, and gills ofmarine life as the animals and fish skim thesurface for food or swim. Straws are in-gested too. Marari added plastic is non-bio-degradable. “It will never disintegrate en-tirely,” Marari reported. Instead, plasticbreaks into smaller and smaller pieces.Marari explained marine animals eat thesmall pieces, and as ABC.net reports in theirarticle by Genelle Weule, Feb. 27, 2017,there is “evidence of microplastics in deep-

sea sediments from the AtlanticOcean.”

A few months ago, Marari said heapproached Barrie Impellizzeri, co-owner of Lucia’s Italiano Ristorante inHerndon with his idea of an offer firstpolicy as a best practice. This was tobe his first restaurant visit. OnWednesday, June 28, Marari met againwith Impellizzeri to recall how his ideacame about, review his first meeting,and receive any feedback on how toimprove his campaign.

Marari sat at a counter-high table,his feet dangling from the stool. Whenasked to explain why he had chosenstraws out of all the items possiblyfound in marine pollution, Marari re-counted that when he attended VIMS,he learned that the 2016 Ocean Con-servatory Report identified cigarettebutts as the #1 item found during theircleanup. “I thought, I can’t really stoppeople from smoking,” Marari said.But the next group of articles collected- plas-tic beverage bottles, caps, food wrappersand straws enticed him, Marari recalled.Just as Marari understood he could not stoppeople from smoking, neither could he goup against major companies that producedrinks and food in plastic bottles and wrap-pers and persuade them to change.

So Marari considered the one item on thelist that was an option for individuals tochange, not corporations – the use of plas-tic straws.

Marari said he next thought about wheremost plastic straws were used. “I figured itwas probably restaurants,” he said. “So Imade a sign and tried to find restaurants

that would support my idea. I decided tocome to Lucia’s Restaurant first because theowner, Mr. Barrie [Impellizzeri] sponsoredan event my mom was doing.”

Asked how he felt presenting his offer firstpolicy that requested the wait staff at Lucia’sonly provide straws if asked, Marari lookeddown. “I was nervous,” he said. “That’s be-cause I never talked to a store owner be-fore about this sort of business.” Marariadded he was also afraid Impellizzeri wouldreject him and his idea.

Impellizzeri said, “Karan sold me on it.He told me his idea, his background, howhe was back from marine bio camp and hehad the idea about plastic straws. I thoughtit was an excellent idea.” Asked if there hadbeen a significant difference in straw us-age, Impellizzeri said, “I would say, we’vehad a reduction in the use of straws by 25percent. I think it was higher at the begin-ning.” Explaining how he implemented theprogram, Impellizzeri said, “We switchedfrom putting unwrapped straws in everydrink to no straws in the drinks at all. Nowwe ask the customers if they would like astraw.”

FEEDBACK from customers is vital though.“I’ve heard positive and negative [customerfeedback],” Impellizzeri reminded Marari.“Positive, that it is a great idea. I neverthought about that before. And when I tellthem how it started and with whom, theyare astonished by a young man coming upwith this idea and taking it on.”

Marari shared that he had to reformat thedesign of his poster, as feedback from someLucia’s customers indicated they believed

the offer first policy was Impellizzeriidea to save money, cut expenses. “Afew weeks into it, some people begansaying it was just the restaurant want-ing to save money. I don’t know whythey would think that,” Marari said outloud. “So I wrote a biography on theback of my poster.”

As for the impact of one person, achild, dedicated to create change,Impellizzeri said that when he speakswith customers and tells them aboutMarari, his campaign, and that he isonly 11, “It gives me goosebumpswhile telling Marari’s story to custom-ers, about this young man and his vi-sion of the future.”

Asked if he’ll keep the campaigngoing, Impellizzeri, said, “I’ll keep thisgoing as long as I can. It’s a smart de-cision. You don’t have to drink out ofa straw. And we all share the sameplanet.”

Marari continues to approach res-taurant owners in Reston, Herndon,

and Maryland about his campaign to reduceplastic straw usage through an offer firstpolicy. The most recent restaurant to signon is Passage to India | Spice Xing by Chef/Owner Sudhir Seth located in Maryland.

For more information about choosing tobe straw free, [email protected].

Karan Marari, 11, is out to change practices and behaviors related tothe use of plastic straws in restaurants.

The Last Straw for Marine Animals and Fish

Karan Marari,11, has his eyeon being amarine envi-ronmentalist.In the mean-time, his goalis to educateand work withlocal restau-rant owners,such as BarrieImpellizzeri,co-owner ofLucia’sItalianoRistorante inHerndon, bysharing infor-mation aboutthe adverseimpact plasticstraws have onmarine life.Jim Powers, arestaurantpatron, sipshis drinkwithout astraw.

When Karan Marari was informed of nega-tive feedback from some of Lucia’s custom-ers who believed Marari’s “No Straw Cam-paign” was a way to reduce expenses forthe restaurant owner, Marari reformattedhis table posters. He added his photo andthe reason why he was doing the campaign,taking on the accountability.

Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection

Documents

Herndon Love of Herndon, Televised - The Connection ...connectionarchives.com/PDF/2017/071217/Herndon.pdfevents, Herndon Community Television pro-vides the civic function of live broadcasts