Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com February 27-March 5, 2019
Opi
nio
n, Pag
e 8 v
Enter
tai
nm
ent, Pag
e 6 v
C
lass
ified
s, P
age
6Photo c
ontrib
uted
Postal CustomerECR WSS
Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.
Requested in home 2-28-19
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322
Pet ConnectionInside
SeniorLiving
Page 5
Blue WaveRetains 86th DistrictNews, Page 3
Floris School Eagles Soar in ScienceNews, Page 2
MeetHerndon’s
‘BundleBuddies’
Pet Connection, Page 4
Vicki Morse of Herndon writes: The “Bundle Buddies” love doing group hugs. Little buddies, from left, are: Raven 14 1/2 years - toy poodle; Fergie 12 years - Miniature poodle; Mimi 2 years - maltipoo (alpha dog), and Head buddie: Ashley Morse (Herndon) - chief toy thrower and doggie chaser.
2 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
www.lostdogandcatrescue.org
lost (adj): 1. unable to findthe way. 2. not appreciatedor understood. 3. no longer
owned or known
Helping Animals FindTheir Way Since 2001
Adopt/Donate/Volunteer
Volunteers needed for adoption events, fostering,transportation, adoption center caretaking and more.
News
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Floris Elementary School held its 10th AnnualScience Fair Thursday evening, Feb. 21. “Thisis the biggest Science Fair ever,” said Princi-
pal Gail Porter. Started in 2010 with 50 teams ac-cording to the organizer, Michele Bolos, CEO of NTConcepts, Inc., the fair grew to 101 teams with 260children this year.
“The Floris School Science Fair is a great opportu-nity for our students to show off a variety of projectsthat apply their independent scientific research,” saidBolos. She explained men and women from profes-sional field industries and students from local highschool served as mentors to the budding scientists.“The Floris students agree that this is their favoritepart of the fair and especially like when their men-tors leave them written feedback,” said Bolos.
PROJECT TITLES ranged from “Rainbow WalkingWater” by Riya Nanduri, 5 and Vritika Chilukamarri5, to “Video Game Science” by Nate Carbaugh, 12and Cooper Guisti, 12. Carbaugh explained theirproject and how the scientific hypothesis did notstand when they tested it.
“Because my friend and I really like to play videogames, we wanted to incorporate science into it. Sowe chose a game we thought would raise our bloodpressure, “Fortnite.” We chose another game that iscalled “Word Search.” We found blood pressure de-creases for most people (when playing the games),but pulse rises for both games.
In addition to the Projects, Floris ElementarySchool, home of the Eagles, welcomed Chris Powell,Floris parent and Children Science Center BoardMember and Justin Tsuchida, Children Science Cen-
ter Advisory Board member. They presented the“Vacuum Canon, an extended length of PVC pipingwith a ping pong ball placed at one end and bothends then sealed. After evacuating the air from thepipe with a vacuum pump and rupturing a seal, theping pong ball shot across the gymnasium.
One never knows when a child will fall in love withscience and how. Principal Porter shared the story ofFloris School alumni Kavya Kopparapu of Herndon,Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Tech-nology Class of 2018 and now Harvard College, Classof 2022. Kopparapu said in an email, “...My love forscience... and research started in Floris in 5th grade.I met the Children Science Center (CSC) scientistswho conducted an Elephant toothpaste experiment,which blew up to the roof of the auditorium. I thinkthe mark is still probably there. It was the excite-ment that made me pursue research, and I alsostarted working with CSC and later joined theirboard.”
TODAY, Kopparapu chronicles her journey tacklingbetter treatment for aggressive cancers. Kopparapu’sanswer, according to her TEDx talk titled“Computationally Paving the Future of Medicine”published Nov. 27, 2018, is, “...precision medicine,treating disease using an individualized, targetedapproach...through the development of GlioVision,a computational tool that predicts molecular andgenetic information about a tumor simply from abiopsy slide...Her research interests lie in the inter-section of artificial intelligence and medicine andmaking cutting-edge medical technology more ac-cessible to every patient. In this line of work, shewas recognized as a 2017 WebMD Health Hero, 2018Regeneron STS “Junior Nobel Prizes” Finalist and2018 “US Presidential Scholar.”
Seven years ago, in 2012 Floris Elementary Schoolheld its second Science Fair, the one that inspiredKopparapu. She was 11 years old and in fifth grade.This year for the 10th Annual Science Fair, 260 stu-dents participated. Where can science take an el-ementary school-aged child?
(From left) Riya Nanduri, 5 and VritikaChilukamarri, 5 of Herndon explain theirprocedures and the purpose, hypothesisand conclusion for their Rainbow WalkingWater Project.
Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection
Anu Mantraca, Medha Komandur andJabili Garimella display their Cloud in aJar experiment during the Floris Elemen-tary School Science Fair.
Floris School Eagles Soar in ScienceWhere can sciencetake an elementaryschool-aged child?
Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
The Virginia House of Del-egates 86th District seatremained blue after
Ibraheem S. Samirah (D) defeated Republican GreggGarrett Nelson and Independent Connie HainesHutchinson in the Special Election held Tuesday, Feb.19, 2019.
According to Samirah, he is the second MuslimAmerican elected to the Virginia General Assemblyand days later, the youngest seated Muslim Ameri-can delegate, across the U.S.
“I am proud to be able to serve all residents of the86th district in Richmond. I believe in the power ofuplifting everyone through a special focus on ourhealthcare, environment, education and transporta-tion means. I look forward to consistently delightingall by doing the best I can to pass legislation thatreduces the costs of healthcare and greenhouse emis-sions,” said Samirah.
DEL. SAMIRAH won former Delegate JenniferBoysko’s seat in the 86th, vacated in early Januaryafter she won the 33rd District seat in the State Sen-ate left by Jennifer Wexton when she became a Con-gresswoman.
“I absolutely think Samirah represents the futureof the party and a segment of the population whichhas been underrepresented for years,” said Cesar delAguila who hosted the victory party for Delegate-elect Samirah (D-86). Del Aguila is the first LatinoAmerican elected to office in the Town of Herndon.
According to the unofficial results released by theVirginia Department of Elections on Feb. 20, the 17precincts in VA House District 86, 14 in FairfaxCounty and 3 in Loudoun County, showed Samirahled by a 25.5-percent margin. Samirah (D) received3,739 votes, 59.9 percent; Nelson (R) received 2,162votes, 34.40 percent; Hutchinson (I) received 370
votes, 5.89 percent, and Write-inreceived 13 votes, 0.21 percent.State contest results are unofficialuntil certified by the State Boardof Elections (SBE).
Nominee Nelson (R) ran on aplatform that stressed education,transportation and tax reduction.In a campaign survey, nomineeSamirah (D) spoke about his plat-form. “I target healthcare, educa-tion, transportation and the envi-ronment, all interwoven for thebetterment of all.”
At Precinct 320 Herndon #2,Herndon Community Center,Rebecca Borton, DranesvilleDemocrat precinct captain and her
husband Tim along with Signe Friedrichs staffed thetable for candidate Ibraheem Samirah (D). JeanWerner handled the table for candidate Gregg Nelson(R). “I’d only do this for a great guy,” said Werner.
Delegate-elect Samirah left for Richmond the nightof the election. Records show he voted on many bills.“Aside from passing a bipartisan budget that putsmore money into education expenditures, a law thatcreates a neutral commission to fix gerrymanderingin redistricting, and voting for the ERA, I worked topass legislation protecting animals against crueltyand voting to increase legal protections for policeofficers but also limiting a broadening of their au-thority. I learned a lot in my first few days and evengot the opportunity to commemorate Black HistoryMonth by a reference to one of the greatest BlackMuslim Americans: Muhammad Ali. The 2019 Ses-sion of the Virginia House of Delegates adjournedsine die on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019.
LOOKING FORWARD, Del Samirah said much re-mained to be done. “Although I worked to pass, andsuccessfully passed, much legislation this yearthrough bipartisanship, much remains to be done inthe realm of pushing for justice and equality for all,in particular for women, LGBTQ, religious minori-ties and people of color. I voted for the Equal RightsAmendment to be passed, but Republicans did notallow its passage. Disenfranchised groups need moreprotections in the face of increased hate crimes. Allthese require a Democratic majority in both legisla-tures.” For voting information by delegate name,session and vote, visit- Virginia’s Legislative Infor-mation System at http://services.dlas.virginia.gov/webservices/frmLISVotIng1.aspx.
Virginia House Delegate-elect Ibraheem S. Samirah (D-86) celebrates his win after theSpecial Election held Feb. 19 to fill the seat former Delegate Jennifer Boysko (D-86)vacated in early January after she won the 33rd District seat in the State Senate.
Blue Wave Retains 86th DistrictIbraheem S.Samirah (D)defeats GreggGarrett Nelson(R) in SpecialElection.
Del. Ibraheem S. Samirah(D-86) studies documentsbefore voting on billsduring the 2019 Session ofthe Virginia House ofDelegates.
News
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
The Herndon Depot Mu-seum received an earlyspring cleaning Sun-
day, Feb. 23. “Herndon Histori-cal Society Board members andvolunteers dusted and cleanedthe Depot Museum exhibits inpreparation for the 2019 open-ing on Sunday, March 3 fromNoon - 3 p.m.,” said NancySaunders, Board President.
Richard Downer described aspecial event taking placeOpening Day. “The Train Showin the Freight room of the De-pot on Sunday, March 3, 2019,will be provided by the T-TRAKDivision of Northern VirginiaNTRAK. These are N scale unitsthat are designed to go specifi-cally on table tops,” saidDowner. The Herndon DepotMuseum was built in 1857 for
the Alexandria, Loudoun &Hampshire Railroad and laterserved the Richmond andDanville Railroad, the SouthernRailway and the Washingtonand Old Dominion Railroadaccording to the National Reg-ister of Historic Places in FairfaxCounty, Virginia, United States.Railroad memorabilia, informa-tion on Commander WilliamLewis Herndon, for whom thetown was named, artifacts fromthe U.S.S Herndon destroyerfrom WWII, and artifacts fromlocal residents are on display.The train station served thedairy community until 1968.
If you are interested in vol-unteering on Sundays, contactSociety President NancySaunders [email protected] only requirements are aninterest in local history and awillingness to help out.
Nancy Saunders, Board President of the HerndonHistorical Society gives artifacts in the HerndonDepot Museum a gentle cleaning.
Herndon DepotMuseum ShinesThe “Depot’s” 2019 Seasonopen Sunday, March 3 witha Train Show.
Hunter Mill District to Hold TownHall on the Budget
Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will be hosting the annual Hunter MillDistrict Town Hall on the Budget, Saturday, March 2 at Frying PanFarm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road, Herndon. County Ex-ecutive Bryan Hill, County Staff and staff from Fairfax County PublicSchools will be presenting the Fairfax County FY2020 Budget Proposaland Fairfax County Public Schools proposed budget.
Come early for coffee at 8:30 a.m. with presentations beginning at 9a.m. Questions and answer session will follow the presentations. Af-terwards, stick around and take a tour of the farm and visit with thisyear’s new baby animals. There’s always something new on the farm!
Week in Herndon
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
C
ourtesy pho
to
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
4 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Pet Connection
“The black lab is Piper Pickworth, 1-year-old who livesin Downtown Herndon, and is the lovable pet ofVeloLabs owner, Matt Pickworth. Piper is with her bestfriend, Riley Kendall, 5-month old lab/hound mix, whobelongs to Brad Kendall, a mechanic at Green Lizard.” -Kate Pickworth of Herndon
“Jimmy is a 16-year old mixed breed wholooks forward to his morning trips toGreen Lizard for coffee and treats.” -Patrick Hermus of Herndon
“Pet name: SamwiseGamgee of Herndon,
Breed: BIGAge: 1- “What
makes “Sammy”special is he thinks
he is a dog. Lovesbelly rubs; follows
us around andgreets us at the
door each day. Hemakes up in beauty
what he lacks inbrains.” - StephanieWright of Herndon
Herndon Hounds and Purrfect KittiesResidents tell talesof love and antics
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Pet owners take pride in their crea-tures and enjoy their uncondi-tional love and amusing antics.Pets, on the other hand, take care
of their humans. On any given day, no mat-ter the weather, Herndon hounds take theirhumans for walks. Up and down sidewalks,on the W & OD Trail and through park path-ways, dogs lead their willing and not sowilling two-legged friends by the leashthrough the community, both getting exer-cise and socialization. Herndon cats knowjust when to saunter over to their humans.They jump on their desks creating a forcedwork break by tempting their owners to pettheir silky fur.
“Puppy Riley Kendall-Everything a puppy doesis cute.” - Bradley Kendall of Herndon
“Charlie Christmas is from a rescue in PuertoRico. He is a Sato, a Puerto Rican street dog.” -Aimee Wedlake Lange of Herndon
“Ripley doing his best impression of a rock.”- Kendall Hobson of Herndon
“My dog runs all the way to theGreen Lizard to get treats, nearlychokes running out of air.” - ChrisKolster of Herndon
“Rocky is a great dog.” - DanFischer of Herndon
“Daisy Stark is a silverLabradoodle enjoying Folly LickCreek Trail!’ - Justin Stark ofHerndon
Pho
to
s C
on
tributed
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
Pho
to
by M
ercia H
obso
n/T
he C
on
nectio
n
Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Marilyn Campbell
Tracy Palmer didn’t see the acci-dent, but she received a franticcall that every parent dreads:her 11-year-old son had been hit
by a car.“We were on vacation visiting my brother
and I’d gone to get coffee and my phonerang,” she said. “Mybrother told that an82-year old womanhit my son while heand a few of his cous-ins were sitting just offthe driveway drawingwith chalk. She neversaw the kids and whenshe hit my son shethought she’d hit aball, so she kept going.Thank God one of theneighbors saw it andstopped her.”
After eight days inthe intensive careunit, Palmer’s son ison the mend, but Palmer who works as anattorney in Arlington, however, is furiousthat the elderly driver was allowed behindthe wheel of a car in the first place.
Monitoring one’s driving abilities is anessential part of our overall healthcare, es-pecially as one ages. “There’s no cutoff agefor when a person should stop driving. Butas we age, our joints can become stiff, ourreflexes slow down and our ability to makesplit-second judgement calls or stop on adime can become impaired,” said DanaKilgore, MSPT. “Our bodies also become
more frail as we age,so the impact of a caraccident would prob-ably do more harm toa 85-year old than a25-year old.”
It is important forseniors and their fami-lies to pay close to at-tention to the warningsigns that it’s time toreduce one’s drivingor stop it all together,says psychologistDonna Goldstein,Psy.D. “If you noticean increased numberscratches or dents on
that mom or dad’s car, especially if they’vealways been a good driver, that could be anindicator,” she said. “Getting traffic tickets,getting lost frequently, running stop signs
or traffic lights, those are all signs that itmight be time to leave the driving to some-one else.”
Accepting the fact that it’s time to stopdriving can be difficult. “A driver’s licenseisn’t just a plastic card with a bad picturethat you keep in your wallet,” said LisaDombo, LPC, Ed.D, a marriage and familytherapist in McLean. “It means freedom andindependence. It’s hard for anyone to wantto give that up. That’s one of the reasonswhy it can be so hard for people to con-vince someone that they need to stop driv-ing.”
That is a lesson that Naomi O’Connerlearned one weekend this winter when shemade plans with friends to take in a de-signer sample sale that was happeningabout two-miles from her house. Her 86-year old mother had agreed to babysit her7 and 9-year old children. But the weathertook a frosty turn and threw her plans intoa tailspin.
“My mom lives a mile away from me andhas always been my most dependable back-up babysitter for weeknights, but when thesnow started falling, I knew that I could notlet her get on the road in that weather,” saidO’Conner who lives in Bethesda. “It was forher safety and everybody else who’d be onroad. Unfortunately, she kept insisting that
Recognizing warning signs thatit might be time to stop driving.Giving Up the Car Keys?
she would be fine and even became a littlepeeved that I was suggesting that she wastoo old. Too keep her off the road, I had toconcoct a story about one of my friendsgetting sick and canceling the plans.”
The thought of suggesting to a loved onethat it’s time to give up their car keys can bedaunting. Dombo says that there are stepsthat one can take to make such a conversa-tion less intimidating. “This is a very sensi-tive issue for many people because it meansdramatic change in lifestyle and having lesscontrol over ourselves,” she said. “It’s im-portant to be respectful and not talk to themlike they are a child. Give specific examplesinstead of making general statements andtry not to have the conversation alone. It’susually more effective to have the conver-sation with a group of family members.”
Demonstrating an understand of the whatreduced driving means is also important,suggests Goldstein. “You must show empa-thy,” she said. “This type of transition canlead to depression for some seniors. Offer-ing alternatives like gift certificates for cabrides or Uber or Lyft can be good. Comingup with a plan to remain socially active andto run errands and get to doctor’s appoint-ments. But this type of life transition is noteasy, but it is possible to live a rich, full lifewithout a car.”
Senior Living
“... a very sensitiveissue for manypeople because itmeans dramaticchange in lifestyleand having less con-trol over ourselves.”
— Lisa Dombo, LPC, Ed.D
6 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
See Calendar, Page 7
By David Siegel
The Connection
Time Stands Still’ istruly a play thatcould have been
ripped from today’s headlines,covering the full range of emo-tions from love to betrayal,pride to envy, and commitmentto disillusion,” said AdamKonowe who directs the play. “Itdeserves to be produced andseen.”
Written by Donald Margulies,“Time Stands Still” was nomi-nated for two Tony Awards, in-cluding Best Play. The play ex-amines the lives and relation-ship of one couple making a liv-ing out of documenting the hor-rors of war. When SarahGoodwin (played by JaneSteffan), a photojournalist, re-turns from covering the IraqWar after being injured by aroadside bomb, her reporterboyfriend James Dodd (playedby Greg Lang) is racked by guilt.He had left Sarah alone in Iraq.
Both Sarah and James arebruised and exhausted. To-gether they explore whether itis even possible for two peoplewho are used to living in dan-gerous conditions to find a nor-mal life together. They arejoined by Richard Ehrlich (por-trayed by Todd Hulse) andMandy Bloom (portrayed byAlex Sands).
For Konowe, “’Time StandsStill’ reflects the complexity oflife at home, at work and amongfriends. It demonstrates thatwhat fulfills us in one sense canbe destructive elsewhere. It re-inforces that truth - portrayedhere through journalism - isworth fighting for and serves
society well, even when thenews it conveys is difficult tocomprehend or appreciate.”
One of the most interestingparts about the character ofJames is “the choices and ac-tions he makes in an attemptto protect the one he loves and,his inability to correlate thesewith the downhill spiral his lifeis taking. He gives us a glimpseinto the life of someone livingwith PTSD and how this tragicdisorder can severely impactthe way we live our lives” saidGreg Lang. According to JaneSteffan, her character “Sarah isthe most complex character Ihave ever played. She has manywalls she knows about and oth-ers she discovers along the way.She’s not sure she knows whoshe is anymore.”
Inviting audiences to theRCP’s “Time Stands Still” ToddHulse said that playwright“Donald Marguiles doesn’t setout to provide answers in hisplays. Rather, he is a master atexploring the nature of rela-tionships, both personal andsocietal. He challenges audi-ences to consider bigger issuesthat both unite and divide us,without preaching.”
Jane Steffan as Sarah Goodwin in Reston CommunityPlayers production of “Time Stands Still” at RestonCenterStage, March 1 to 6, 2019.
War PhotographerComes Back HomeReston Community Playerspresents “Time Stands Still.”
Where and WhenReston Community Players
present “Time Stands Still” at RestonCommunity Center, CenterStage,2310 Colts Neck Road, HuntersWoods, Reston. Performances March1 to 16, 2019. March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15,and 16, 2019 at 8 p.m. March 10 at2 p.m. Tickets: $28 Adults (19 – 64),$24 Seniors (65 and older), and $24Students (18 and younger). CallReston Community CenterCenterStage Box office at 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org.Note: CenterStage is accessible andoffers listening devices for the hear-ing impaired
“
Pho
to
co
urtesy R
esto
n C
om
mun
ity Players
Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGGo on a “Blind Date” for Charity.
At Scrawl Books, 11911 FreedomDrive, Reston. Take a chance thisFebruary and let Scrawl set you up –sight unseen – with a great read. Geta few hints and a brief description ofwhat might be hidden inside.Proceeds from sales of “Blind Date”books will benefit local schools andpre-k programs. Visitwww.scrawlbooks.com or call 703-966-2111.
Audubon Photography AwardsShow. Through Feb. 27, Mondays,Wednesdays-Fridays 9 a.m.-5p.m.;Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; andSundays 1-4 p.m. at Walker NatureCenter, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston.The winning photographers and theirphotographs were selected frommore than 8,000 entries submitted byphotographers from all 50 states,Washington, D.C., and 10 Canadianprovinces. This year’s photographscelebrate the splendor of many birdspecies protected under theMigratory Bird Treaty Act. Call 703-476-9689 or [email protected] for more.
Winter Golf. Through Feb. 28, skip thetraffic with the Afternoon Drivespecial at the heated and coveredranges at Burke Lake Golf Center andthe newly renovated Oak Marr GolfComplex. All buckets are $2 off,Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. untilclosing. Or try the indoor studio atPinecrest Golf Course’s Valis FamilyGolf Learning Center, featuring threeindoor hitting bays or a privatesession with the TrackMan GolfSimulator Suite (five person max.),both reserved by the hour. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf.
Exhibition: “For the Love of Art.”Through Feb. 28 at the RestonCommunity Center Hunters Woods,2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.Members of the League of RestonArtists display paintings, drawings,mixed media, photographs and two-dimensional works suitable for wallhanging. This show is free and opento the public during the center’sregular operating hours. KathleenBest Gillman judges the show. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org formore.
Winter Wonderland Ice Skating.Public skating every day andextended hours for all Holidays,through March 10, hours vary atReston Town Center Ice SkatingPavilion. Special events throughoutthe weekend, join in: Thursdays forCollege Night, $2 off admission witha valid ID; Fridays for Rock the Rinkwith a live DJ; and Saturdays forCartoon Skate, glide around the icewith The Grinch and Scooby Doo.The skate shop is stocked with over500 pairs of skates ranging from size8 toddler through men’s size 13, inboth figure and hockey styles. Visitrestontowncenter.com/amenities/ice-skating for more.
Art Exhibition: IRL. Through April23, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.at The Signature at Reston TownCenter, 11850 Freedom Drive,Reston. IRL is a solo exhibitionfeaturing work by painter and videoartist Monica Stroik. Through acombination of video and paintingsselected from her ongoing Cyberseries, IRL (online shorthand for “inreal life”) investigates concepts ofsimultaneously being present anddisconnected and how the naturalworld becomes entangled in digitallives. Free and open to the public.Visit restonarts.org for more.
Calendar
Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 6
Calendar
WEDNESDAY/FEB. 27Meet Me at the Movies. 10 a.m. At Bow Tie
Cinemas, 11940 Market Street, Reston. RestonAssociation presents the feature film, “Old Manand the Gun.” Movies for seniors; doors open at9:15 a.m. Refreshments and door prizesprovided prior to movie. Free to 55-plus. Forinformation: email [email protected]; call703-435-6577 or www.reston.org.
THURSDAY/FEB. 28Trip to the National Building Museum. 9:30
a.m.-3 p.m. Explore the greatest stories ofarchitecture, engineering and design, learn thedevastating impact of chronic, low-incomeeviction in Evicted, and learn about thearchitecture and planning of the ManhattanProject. Enjoy lunch in their café and shop in themuseum’s giftshop. Bus pickup: RAHeadquarters. Cost is $32/RA members/$40/non-members. Visit www.reston.org, [email protected] or 703-435-6577 toregister.
Watercolor 2.0. 5:30-8:30 p.m. at ArtSpaceHerndon, 750 Center St., Herndon. In thiscourse students will learn more in depth colortheory, mixing watercolor pigments,composition concepts, how to create texture andthe use of negative space. With KatherineRodgers. Six-week session, $225. Call 703-956-6590 or visit www.artspaceherndon.org.
FRIDAY/MARCH 1Open Mic and Poetry with Mike. 7-9 p.m. At
ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon.Featuring Eric Pankey and Jennifer Atkinson.The first hour is the featured poets and thesecond hour is open to anyone. Eric Pankey isthe author of many collections of poems, mostrecently AUGURY (Milkweed Editions 2017).Jennifer Atkinson is the author of five poetrycollections. The most recent one, The ThinkingEye, was published by Parlor Press/Free VerseEditions in 2016. Visitwww.artspaceherndon.org.
SATURDAY/MARCH 2ArtSplash. 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library,
11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Create amasterpiece in this art workshop led by artistsfrom Abrakadoodle Northern Virginia. Adults.Free. Registration starts Feb. 16 atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events or call703-689-2700, ext 4.
Opening Reception: Emerging Visions. 5-7p.m. at GRACE, 12001 Market Street #103,Reston. The Greater Reston Arts Center presentsEmerging Visions, a group exhibition featuringselect artwork by students participating in theCenter’s signature education program, EmergingVisions. The exhibition will be on view March 2–30, 2018 at the gallery located at the RestonTown Center. Visit the website:www.restonarts.org.
SUNDAY/MARCH 3Mardi Gras Celebration. 4-7 p.m. At Kalypso’s
Sports Tavern, 1617 Washington Plaza N,Reston. The Reston Historic Trust & Museum tohost a special Mardi Gras celebration to supportthe Lakeside Pharmacy Icon PreservationProject. With a $20 donation, you can createyour own Mardi Gras mask and enjoy tastyappetizers. While you eat, enjoy listening to theCatchin’ Toads performance. A Mardi Gras maskparade will take place around 6:30 p.m. Visitwww.kalypsossportstavern.com.
MONDAY/MARCH 4Family History Research. 7-8:30 p.m. at Reston
Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive,Reston. Learn to find courthouse, immigrationand military records in this workshop taught bya librarian from the Virginia Room of the FairfaxCounty Public Library. Free. Call 703-689-2700or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events.
TUESDAY/MARCH 5Bollywood Dance Fitness. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at
Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman TowneDrive, Reston. Try out some fun Bollywooddance moves in this fitness program for spring,led by local instructor Aparna Rao. Adults,teens. Free. Call 703-689-2700 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events.
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Although you can adjust your television set, it’s probably wise to have juiced the battery in your cellular phone. Better still, use your landline – if you have one – thereby prevent-ing a dropped call right in the middle of your interminable hold. Because the call you’re about
going to be made to the correct number or the correct person or at the correct time or even to the correct department.
And should you be lucky enough to reach an actual person with your call, the explanation for your call/the problem you’re attempting to resolve, will no doubt result in a transfer which most likely will not be to the correct number, the correct person, at the correct time or even to the correct department.
Unfortunately, after perusing the govern-ment’s website, you’re just not smart enough to
to call. (Is anyone that smart?) And therefore you are likely going to experience this loop-de-loop – without the upset stomach.
And what makes your attempt even worse? Hanging up, since your call might be “answered in the order in which it was received.”
Now presuming/assuming that a less-than-im-mediate solution will not be at hand, there are a few steps one should take in preparation to not make a bad situation worse:
* Allow for plenty of time. Do not make this call when you’re in a hurry, on break/at lunch or have a limited window of opportunity to complete your task. You will need to be in for the long haul, so to speak.
* Try to make this call when you’re able to sit/stand comfortably – for long periods of time. Moreover, make sure you have the privacy you need so that anything you say will not be heard (or held against you in a court of law) and any movements your body makes will likewise not be seen.
There’s something about being stuck on the phone for long periods of time waiting, waiting, waiting; talking, talking, talking; hoping (you’ll note I didn’t say expecting) to reach the right per-son and/or resolve the problem/get the answer
rarely brings out the best in the person on hold. Quite frankly, it’s been my personal experience that it brings out the worst.
In addition to having the time and the place, one must also have the patience. That patience comes from proper preparation. And by “proper preparation” I mean the creature comforts: food, water and access to a bathroom.
The order really should be reversed with
time and place, and then making the effort to navigate the government’s website looking for the proper person, phone number, department and then in the midst of any success you might have accomplishing this Herculean feat, to have that very personal need interrupt the proceedings
Common sense has to prevail or the conse-quences may be dire; you might have to start your calling process all over again. I wouldn’t wish that on any one.
There is no greater satisfaction than surviving making one of these calls, and having done so because you put all of your adult Boy Scout skills to work. There really should be badge of honor one can earn after completing this dreaded and arduous task.
In fact, there should be some kind of reward. Although I imagine reaching nirvana (not listen-ing to Nirvana) is its own reward.
Nevertheless, having survived the ordeal and endured the suffering for as many minutes as I care not to remember, I can say with absolute certainty, it’s a hell of a feeling. I wish you all well in your next pursuit of truth and justice despite the American Way.
The Following is a Test
8 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
@HerndonConnect
An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered
to homes and businesses.Published by
Local Media Connection LLC
1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314
Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go to
connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe
NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]
Kemal Kurspahic Editor ❖ 703-778-9414
Mercia HobsonCommunity Reporter
Andrea WorkerContributing Writer
Jean CardProduction Editor
ADVERTISING:For advertising information
Debbie FunkDisplay Advertising/National Sales
David GriffinMarketing Assistant
Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431
Editor & PublisherMary Kimm
[email protected]@MaryKimm
Executive Vice PresidentJerry Vernon
Editor in ChiefSteven Mauren
Managing EditorKemal Kurspahic
Art/Design:Laurence Foong, John Heinly,
Ali KhalighProduction Manager:
Geovani Flores
Oak Hill & Herndon
WINTER SHELTERSFind homeless and cold
weather drop-in centers andshelters that serve NorthernVirginia at www.novaregion.org/174/Homeless-Shelter-Lists.
INPUT SOUGHTShaping the Future Together.
Fairfax County Government isbeginning a strategic planningprocess with the community toshape the future together. Thegoal is to hear all voices andreach all segments of thecommunity. This effort will spanmost of 2019, but in this firstphase, the community is beingasked to visit fairfaxcounty.gov/strategicplan and:
❖ Take a short five-question onlinesurvey
❖ Join a community conversation inperson: March 6 – Falls Church.
❖ Share the survey and conversationinvitation with neighbors, co-workersand county family and friends.
FRIDAY/MARCH 1Technology Fridays in March. 10
a.m.-noon at the Dunn Loring Centerfor Parent Services, 2334 GallowsRoad, Dunn Loring, Entrance 1,Room 100. Join the Parent ResourceCenter for this series of technologyworkshops presented by FCPSAssistive Technology Services.Register for one or all of theworkshops. Explore a variety oftechnology tools to support studentsuccess and independence withreading and writing in the digitalclassroom and at home. Register atwww.fcps.edu/index.php/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-
center. Call 703-204-3941 or [email protected] for more.
❖ March 1 - Technology to SupportReading and Writing: EncouragingIndependence and Student Success
❖ March 8 - Exploring Early ChildhoodAT Home: Assistive Technology forPreschool
❖ March 15 - Technology Tools toSupport Executive Functioning
❖ March 22 - Assistive Technology toSupport Communication
SATURDAY/MARCH 2Sibshops. 9 a.m.-noon at Providence
Community Center, 3001 VadenDrive, Fairfax. The Sibshopworkshops are for children in grades2-5 who have siblings with specialneeds enrolled in Fairfax CountyPublic Schools. Meet other siblings ina fun, recreational setting; celebratesiblings; share sibling experiences
and receive peer support; playgames and more. A snack will beprovided. Registration is free,donations will be accepted tosupport the cost of materials andfood. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center or call theFCPS Parent Resource Center at703-204-3941 to register.
Dementia Care Support. 10-11a.m. at Hunters Woods at TrailsEdge Showroom, 2254B NuntersWoods Plaza, Reston. DementiaCare Support Group - 1stSaturday of the month.Distinguish between normal agingand dementia, understanddifferent types of dementia, theimpact of changes to the brainand how family caregivers canbest cope with these changes.Free. Call 703-708-4047 or visitwww.integracare.com.
Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.Bulletin Board
Opinion
By John Foong,
Troop 159, Powhatan District, BSA
This was anything but your typicalScout meeting. A group gatheredaround a table, an unmistakableexcitement in the air. They were just
getting started, and were raring to go. Chatterfilled the room they were in about uniforms,supplies, upcoming outings and more. Therewas an optimism and energy in their conversa-tion that seemed hard to find today.
Oh, and they were girls. This is Troop 7, aScouts BSA all-girls troop and one of the firstin the Powhatan district that serves Chantilly,Great Falls, Herndon, Oakton, and Reston. Theofficial program with Scouts BSA girls’ troopsstarted on February 1st- although the Scouts,adult Scouters, and their parents were up andmoving long before that. The BSA has been aboys-only Troops and Packs option for the long-est time- although BSA Venture Crews andExplorer Posts have allowed girls for decades-so that begs the question; what’s the differ-ence now between a Scouts BSA boys’ and aScouts BSA girls’ troop? And how does thisaccomplish anything?
Troop 7 Scoutmaster Steve Conner hasserved in BSA Scouting for 14 years with a sonwho earned Eagle a few years ago- he believesthat the move by BSA to allow girls to partici-pate in Scouts BSA Troops was nothing butpositive. He said, “I wanted to be a part of forg-ing this path forward and give a group of am-bitious girls the same opportunities that wereafforded to my son and the millions of boyswho have had the privilege of being part ofBSA.” Steve initially thought that a Scouts BSAgirls’ troop would struggle to gain acceptancein the community- “but to the contrary, myexperience to date has been exactly the oppo-site.” According to him, Troop 7 has had anoverall positive response from other Scouts andthe community at large.
One of Troop 7’s Assistant Scoutmasters,Karen Downs, also saw the potential in allow-ing girls to join Scouts BSA through her son’sparticipation in the program. Besides develop-ing his self-confidence and maturity, she notedthat the friends he made saw him through some
Scouts BSA opens upnew opportunity to girls.New Girls on the Block
Photos contributed
Assistant Scoutmaster Karen Downs helps Scouts sortthrough the troop’s cooking supplies.
The results of BSA Troop 7’scooking outing.
for my daughter, I am ex-cited to support the girlswho want to participate inthis great program.” De-spite her son going to col-lege this year, what she sawhim learn convinced herthat supporting a ScoutsBSA girls’ troop was theright decision.
These newfound oppor-tunities for girls are mak-ing waves in the area, andTroop 7 itself is already 16Scouts strong- with thebridging over of anotherScout from the Cub Scoutprogram, that number willcontinue to grow. Accord-ing to Sarah E.- a studentfrom Navy Elementary
School and one of these new recruits- observ-ing what her brother had learned in Scouts “in-trigued herÉ it was an opportunity to learnwilderness and life skills.” Another Scout, Me-lissa, was already a Venturer before joiningTroop 7 but was attracted to what the previ-ously boys-only program could offer her, andthe chance to interact with BSA Scouts of dif-ferent ages as peers. Despite being a senior atSouth Lakes HS, she is aiming for the challengeof Eagle Scout. The requirements are the samefor boys and girls, but there is a temporary tran-sition rule available to newly joined youth over16 years old that gives them a time extensionto earn their Eagle.
Even with the overwhelming response,Scouts BSA Troop 7 is still open for new Scoutsto join- and for those interested, there is anupcoming opportunity to find out for yourself.The troop is hosting a 30-minute welcomingevent on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00pm in FlorisUnited Methodist Church. You can meet thegirls who make up Scouts BSA Troop 7 andpractice basic Scout BSA skills.
More information about Scouts BSA Troop 7 can befound at www.Troop7va.org. To join or find a troopin your neighborhood, please visit https://BeAScout.org.
really difficult times. Over the years of her in-volvement as a parent and volunteer, she’dwished “that my older daughter could have hadsimilar experiences. Even though it is too late
