Lake Braddock Band Goes National - Ellington CMS

Burke Connection ❖ February 5-11, 2015 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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February 5-11, 2015

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BurkeBurke

Lake Braddock BandGoes National


News, Page 6

WellbeingPage 10

Geer DocumentsMade PublicNews, Page 3

Olivia LaverneCarson, 93, ofBurke, DiesObituary, Page 4

Guest Band Director Roy Holderdirecting the Lake Braddock Sec-ondary School Symphonic Band.

2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ February 5-11, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


News

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

Of the seven eyewitness ac-counts of the shooting deathof John Geer, only one de-scribes Geer quickly bringing

his hands down to his waist. That was theperspective of PFC Adam Torres, the officerwho shot Geer in the chest, killing him inthe doorway of his home on Aug. 29, 2013.

Torres’ account appears in several of theapproximately 11,000 pages of discoveryfrom the Fairfax County Police Departmentinvestigation released to the public byFairfax County on Jan. 30, about 17 monthsafter the shooting. The release also containsmore than 50 audio files and five videosrelated to the incident.

The six other eyewitnesses included fourdifferent police officers, John Geer’s fatherDon Geer and friend Jeff Stewart. Their sto-ries in the investigation documents all de-scribe a similar scene: Geer had been stand-ing in his doorway, hands resting on theframe, speaking calmly with officer RodneyBarnes for about 40 minutes before he wasshot.

“I’m comforted the officers at the scenesupport what I saw,” said Stewart.

The detective who interviewed Barnesnoted him referencing Geer as saying “hedid not want to get shot and did not wantanyone else to get shot.” Barnes also saidthat before he arrived, he was told Geer hadthreatened the officers, but he himself “didnot hear any verbal threats while he wason the scene.”

Barnes described Geer as periodically ask-ing permission to lower his hands to scratchhis nose, as well as Geer asking for Torresto lower his gun. Each of the other officershad guns down and in cover position, whileTorres held his raised and pointed at Geer.

Torres recounts seeing Geer quickly lowerhis hands to waist level, a threat provokinghim to fire. The other accounts describeGeer’s hands at either shoulder or ear level.

“Finally shooting him for scratching hisnose,” said Stewart. “Four other officerssupport that testimony, support that Johnwas not a threat.”

Stewart and Michael Lieberman, the law-yer representing the Geer family and Geer’slongtime partner Maura Harrington in acivil suit against the county, have keyed intoadditional commentary in the reports thatdescribe Torres as having just finished anargument with his wife before arriving atGeer’s house. Further pages reference anincident on March 5, 2013, in which officerTorres had a “meltdown” and outburst with

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney CharlesPeters in a courtroom. That incident becamethe subject of an Internal Affairs investiga-tion by the FCPD, the results of which werenot included in the discovery materials.

In his interview for the investigation, Pe-ters referenced that internal affairs file be-ing sought by Commonwealth AttorneyRaymond F Morrogh while his office wasstill working on the case. FCPD refused tocooperate, Peters said.

Some have called that type of action inthis case “stonewalling” by Fairfax County,including the police department and thegoverning body they answer to, the Boardof Supervisors.

Jerry Santos, another friend of Geer’s,said, “At this point, while Torres’ past andhis management or mismanagement remainrelevant and important, it’s all overcome bythe cover-up by the board’s and chief’s andcounty attorney’s arrogance and franklyfoolishness in the manner in which they’veconducted themselves in the matter of thekilling of John Geer.”

ONE DAY AFTER the county posted the

files on its website, Board of SupervisorsChairman Sharon Bulova and MountVernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland fieldedquestions about the Geer case at the MountVernon Town Hall Meeting.

Bulova held the position that this casepresented unprecedented circumstances.

“Our policies have not fit with this par-ticular scenario,” Bulova said. “Do we getit? Absolutely.”

Hyland responded in calm and pacedphrasing. “I questioned immediatelywhether the force that killed him was ap-propriate,” he said. “Now everyone prettymuch knows what hap-pened. Obviouslypeople have questionedwhether it was just. Thisnever takes that longwith a typical case andthe frustration has beenawful for us.”

Supervisor Pat Herrity(R-Springfield) fol-lowed the release witha statement saying: “It isa shame we are wherewe are,” and that thelatest action by thecounty was “making upfor lost ground on transparency.

“I encourage the public to view this re-lease as what it is,” Herrity continued,“peoples’ honest perceptions of the factsmixed in with hard evidence.”

LIEBERMAN SAID the release is begin-ning to ease Don Geer’s “torture” of the last17 months being left in the dark.

“I don’t know how many days he’s beenable to sleep through the night,” saidLieberman.

Though he said he was upset at times that

nothing was going to happen with his son’scase, Don Geer said the county’s handingover documents, videos and audio is “en-couraging.”

“We’re going in the right direction finally;these have been sitting around onsomebody’s desk and finally we’re gettingsome action,” Don Geer said.

Having witnessed the shooting himself,Don Geer was initially concerned “possiblythere would be some conflicting stories,”he said. But the incident report “came outexactly as I saw it,” Don Geer continued.“Fortunately we were all on the same page.”

Except for Torres.Torres’ internal af-

fairs file is the subjectof one of three motionsLieberman is planningto bring to court Friday,Feb. 6. “What did thecounty do in light ofthe fact Torres had ameltdown in court?”said Lieberman. “Me-diation of some sort?Counseling? Did theyconclude he was aloose cannon anddidn’t do anything

about it?” Lieberman insists the court dateswon’t stop there, that even though Morroghhas handed the case to the Department ofJustice civil rights division, “I don’t see whythe state can’t take another look, say weshould bring it to the grand jury or raisesome special prosecutor.”

The county’s materials, first producedunder court order to the Lieberman, theGeer family and Maura Harrington on Jan.21, can be found online at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2015/geer-case-materials.htm.

Geer Documents Made PublicFCPD report con-firms John Geer wasshot whileunarmed, handsraised.

Courtesy of Jeff Stewart

John Geer

John Geerstanding inhis doorwayin Springfield,minutesbefore he wasshot by aFairfax CountyPolice officer.

Photo courtesy

of Michael

Lieberman

Burke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

“We’re going in theright direction finally;these have beensitting around onsomebody’s desk andfinally we’re gettingsome action,”

– Don Geer


Obituary

Olivia Laverne Carsondied on Jan. 29, 2015at her home of 75 years

in Burke.Daughter of the late Albert P. and

Clara Goss Weir, she was precededin death by the love of her life,husband, Roy H. Carson, Sr. andson Roy H. Carson, Jr.

She was the beloved mother ofLaVerne Carson, Wayne (Chip)Carson, and Janette (Jan) Carson,and the most wonderful grand-mother to Matthew Carson,Katherine Webster, and AmandaSutton as well as seven great-grandchildren.

She and her husband were pil-lars of Burke — and helped createthe community through their gen-erosity, leadership, and love. Ev-eryone was welcome in theirhome—and many became “fam-ily” as close as blood.

They ran Carson’s Trading Post,Burke’s General Store, from 1946-1966. It was the “last store untilSpringfield” at a time when hav-ing stores within walking distancewas key. It was the town center inmany ways—a stopping and chat-ting place, a this-and-that place, afriendly get-to-know-you place.

For many years the Carsons ownedone of the first TV’s in Burke—aswell as the only telephone on LeeChapel Road. Members of the com-munity would often stop by tomake a call or give the number torelatives near and wide. It was acommon occurrence to receivecalls in the middle of the night andthen drive down the road to aneighbor’s home to deliver news

of a birth or a death. They werecommunity people; helpful andkind people.

In the course of her life sheworked at the store as a co-ownerwith her husband, Burke Post Of-fice, drove the local school bus,and was a lifelong member of theBurke Volunteer Fire Departmentauxiliary. She made hundreds ofcakes and pies—for every possible

fundraiser in the Burke commu-nity. In fact, she was a blue ribbonbaker at the Burke Fair.

She loved and nourished everyplant at her home—often referredto as “The Azalea House” on LeeChapel Road. More than that—sheloved and nourished her family,her friends and her community.

She was a gracious and generouswoman who made every place shewas better—just by the beingthere.

The family was receiving guestson Monday, Feb. 2, and serviceswere held Tuesday, Feb. 3, atFairfax Memorial Funeral Home,9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax.

Olivia Laverne Carson, 93, of Burke, Dies

Olivia Carson and her husband Roy owned Carson’sTrading Post, pictured in 1958.

Olivia Laverne Carson was a pillar of the Burke com-munity and resident for 75 years.

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By John C. Cook

Supervisor (R-Braddock District)

It seems that as the memories of theholiday season fade away, so doesour urgency to give. Many of us re-

turn to our daily routines, and we seemto forget that our neighbors continue tostruggle to provide meals for their fami-lies. And although many continue to bein need after the holiday season, food do-nations drop and our food banks faceshortages.

February is National Canned Food Month, and tohelp respond to those in need, my office will be work-ing with local charities to help combat these short-ages. Canned foods are popular in many householdsbecause of their ability to provide quick and conve-nient meals, and because they have a long shelf life,making them an even more important resource forfood banks providing assistance throughout the year.

This is a critical issue for Fairfax County as thereare an estimated 69,000 residents who are at risk ofexperiencing hunger. As you are browsing the over-stocked shelves this weekend at your local grocerystores, please remember those less fortunate andconsider giving to a community food bank.

Throughout the month of February, please bringcanned food items (along with other staples like oil,flour, sugar, and spaghetti sauce) to my office and

we will disburse these much needed fooditems to four fantastic charities right herein our community. Giving back to thecommunity, and helping those in need, isa gift you can give regardless of the timeof year.

In case you are a looking for a food bankin our area, here are some options:

ACCA - A church-related voluntary or-ganization providing day care, food,rental assistance, furniture, and otherservices to low-income families in the

Annandale/Bailey’s Crossroads area. Learn more athttp://accacares.org

Food for Others - Northern Virginia’s primarysafety net for those needing food when an emergencystrikes, and for the growing number of working poorwho are unable to make ends meet. Learn more athttp://www.foodforothers.org

ECHO - The purpose of Ecumenical CommunityHelping Others (ECHO), Inc. is to help people in needin our community by assisting those who suffer theeffects of long-term poverty as well as people whoare experiencing an emergency need. Learn more atwww.echo-inc.org

Our Daily Bread - provides our Fairfax Countyarea neighbors with short-term safety-net servicesand empowers them to work toward long-term self-sufficiency. Learn more at https://www.odbfairfax.org

Commentary

Donate to Those Less FortunateDuring National Canned Food Month

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News

Lake Braddock Secondary SchoolSymphonic Band has been invitedto perform at the 2015 Music for All

National Festival, presented by Yamaha, thenation’s most prestigious festival for schoolinstrumental music ensemble. The 24th an-nual Festival will take place in Indianapo-lis, March 12-14.

The Symphonic Band is under the direc-tion of Michael C. Luley and was selectedto perform by a panel of music educatorsby recorded audition.

Lake Braddock Secondary School Sym-phonic Band is one of 40 high school andmiddle school concert band and percussionensembles from across the nation selectedto perform at the 2015 Festival. They willperform in concert, be evaluated by re-nowned music educators and participate inmaster classes and special events.

On Friday, Jan. 30, Roy Holder conductedthe Symphonic Band to help prepare themfor the competition. Holder was LakeBraddock’s Band Director for 20 years andcurrently lives in Tennessee where he trav-els to assist other bands. “It’s like being agrandfather, I can play with the kids, andthen give them back to their parents,” saidHolder. For over an hour Holder broke downthe planned piece and drilled them on tim-

ing, dynamics, and phrasing.Friday was a non-scheduled school day,

yet the entire Lake Braddock band was at-tending this special all-day practice session.Mike Luley, Lake Braddock Band Director,assembled a group of accomplished musi-cians to assist the band members in refin-ing their skills. This group of volunteers hasdecades of experience playing in the Army’sPershing Own Band, Air Force Band, andother military bands in the Washington,D.C. area. Many were students of RoyHolder and have a special connection toLake Braddock Secondary School Sym-phonic Band.

After the practice session with Holder thevarious band “groups” met with their “vol-unteer” expert where they drilled deeperinto timing, phrasing, and dynamics.

Lake Braddock Secondary High Schoolhas a reputation as one of the better sym-phonic bands in the United States. Theirmusic room is filled to the rafters withawards over the years and that is due tothe continuity over the past twenty-fiveyears between the work of Holder and hismany students who now help and teach atLake Braddock.

— Terrance Moran

Lake Braddock Symphonic Band horn section.


Lake Braddock’s Band Director Mike Luley.

Ed Aston gives percussion tips to students Jack Reidy and Kelvin Chauof Burke.

From left: Aparna-Cheran-Barb of Burke; Noah Khan-Rafii of Springfield;and Tehan Dassanayaka of Springfield, at basson practice.

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Rodney V. ColbertNamed DeputyFire Chief

Fire Chief Richie Bowers has selectedBattalion Chief Rodney V. Colbert for pro-motion to deputy fire chief, effective Jan.24. Chief Colbert will be assigned as theChief Training Officer. Since July of 2011he has been assigned as a field battalionchief in the Operations Bureau.

Chief Colbert started his career as a re-cruit firefighter in April 1990, and was ini-tially assigned to Fire and Rescue Station19, Lorton. Career promotion and subse-quent assignments include:

❖Technician, November 1993; Fire andRescue Station 5, Franconia; Lieutenant,November 1995; Fire and Rescue Station9, Mount Vernon; Captain I, May 2003; Fireand Rescue Station 37, Kingstowne; Cap-tain II, Fire and Rescue Station 34, Oakton;Battalion Chief, September 2008; ResourceManagement, Support Services Division,Business Services Bureau.

As Chief Training Officer, he will be re-sponsible for basic training, field training,emergency medical services training, andall volunteer training. More than 1,700 vol-unteer and career personnel train at theTraining Academy continuously. He alsosupports and advises Explorer Post 1949.

Chief Colbert will complete his bachelor’s

degree in Fire Service Administration, fromthe University of Maryland, University Col-lege, in the spring of 2015. He is also agraduate of the Paramedic Program, GeorgeWashington University, Washington, D.C.He is a member of the Fairfax County Pro-fessional Firefighters and Paramedics, Lo-cal 2068, Progressive Firefighters of FairfaxCounty, Inc., and the Fairfax County Pro-fessional Fire & Rescue Officers Association.

Creative AgingFestival Comesto Fairfax County.

The Arts Council of Fairfax County invitessubmissions by Feb. 20, 2015, from artsorganizations and arts programmers to par-ticipate in the Creative Aging Festival whichwill be held in May 2015.

The Creative Aging Festival, sponsoredby Fairfax County, AARP Virginia and 12other community organizations, will featurea wide range of arts programs includingpoetry, visual arts, theater, dance and mu-sic. The Creative Aging Festival supportsFairfax County’s 50+ Community ActionPlan’s initiative to promote arts program-ming for 50+ adults.

Detailed festival and application infor-mation can be found at http://artsfairfax.org/news/creative-aging-festi-val.

Area Roundups


520daysIt took a court order and 520 days afterFairfax County police officer Adam D.Torres shot and killed John Geer ofSpringfield for basic information aboutwhat happened that day to be released.The public now knows what investigatorslearned on the same day Geer died, Aug.29, 2013, that at least five witnessesincluding the police officer actually talk-ing to Geer at the instant he was shot,disputed Torres’s version of events. Torressaid Geer suddenly dropped his hands tohis waist; none of the other witnesses sawGeer’s hands move below his head.

Opinion

After waiting 17 months for any in-formation about the investigationinto the shooting death of JohnGeer, the information released last

week is deeply troubling.Fairfax County Police officer Adam D. Torres

shot and killed John Geer of Springfield insidethe doorway of his own home in Springfieldon Aug. 29, 2013. Police were calledto Geer’s home following Geer’s argu-ment with his longtime partner. Policespoke with him for more than half anhour while he stood in his doorway, unarmed,with his hands raised and resting on the frame.As he began to lower his hands, by all accountsstill at shoulder level, he was shot in the chestand died in his house without receiving medi-cal attention.

It took more than 16 months, a $12 millioncivil suit by Geer’s family and a court order toget the first tiny bit of information on the shoot-ing, which came earlier this month when po-lice named the officer who fired the shot thatkilled Geer.

On Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in response to acourt order, Fairfax County released more than10,000 pages of documents about the shoot-ing and the investigation.

We now know that investigators learned on

the same day Geer died, Aug. 29,2013, that at least five witnessesincluding the police officer actuallytalking to Geer at the instant he wasshot, disputed Torres’s version ofevents. Torres said Geer suddenlydropped his hands to his waist; noneof the other witnesses saw Geer’s

hands move below his head.On the day of the shoot-

ing, investigators and pros-ecutors had compelling in-

formation to take to a grand jury.Instead, after a long period of si-lence, obstruction and obfuscation,the investigation was turned overto the Justice Department, wherethere is no timetable for resolution(and no adequate explanation forpunting the investigation to the feds).

Without the Geer family lawsuit and thecourt order to turn over documents as part ofdiscovery, the public might never know whatreally happened that day.

The question of accountability for what hap-pened remains.

As we have said many times, the problemgoes beyond Fairfax County, and beyond po-lice shootings.

Police officials in Fairfax, Arlington and Al-exandria have adopted what they call a “blan-ket” approach to using their exemption. Thatmeans they have decided to withhold any docu-ment they can without any analysis of whetherthey should.

It’s past time for change.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

Everything about this case erodes publictrust and demonstrates police departmentsshould not be allowed to apply “blanket”exemptions to release of information.

No Justification for Secrecy,Delay on Geer Shooting

Editorial

Dear Delegate:Many of you know our story

well. We are the parents of Mor-gan Harrington. Morgan, a studentat Virginia Tech, went to a rockconcert in Charlottesville in 2009and never came home. Her re-mains were found 100 days later.

We’ve made it our life’s work inhonor of Morgan to support vic-tims of sexual assaults and to makesure that all students are safe onour college campuses – even ifthey’re just visiting.

That’s why we’re asking for yoursupport of HB 1343, a bipartisanbill by Delegate Eileen Filler-Cornand Chief Co-Patron Dave Albo.

Once a victim reports a sexualassault to campus and/or local lawenforcement, HB 1343 calls for thelocal Commonwealth’s Attorney tobe notified within 48 hours of thereported incident.

We agree with Del. Filler-Cornwho said: “By passing this bill, wecan show victims that we will not

tolerate sexual assault on campus.We can show them they can havefaith in our justice system.”

Chairman Albo has said that this“bill ensures that allegations ofsexual assaults on college cam-puses will receive the same levelof attention by police and prosecu-tors that off campus sexual as-saults receive. This bill strength-ens our justice system and encour-ages collaboration between vic-tims, college staff, police and pros-ecutors.”

The reality is that too oftensexual assaults aren’t reported tothe police.

A December report by the U.S.Justice Department found that80% of students do not report rapeand sexual assaults to the police.

That same report also found thatfewer than one in five female stu-dent victims received assistancefrom a victim services agency.

This is where HB 1343 can makea difference.

HB 1343 works to restore victims’faith in the justice system and toshow that they will be heard andsupported. The bill expedites inves-tigation of the case once reportedto campus law enforcement, whileensuring the proper course of ac-tion, due process and any neces-sary legal filings are completed.

It also lets each Commonwealth’sAttorney’s Office Victim/Witnessprogram get involved early on inthe investigation, which helps pro-vide counseling and can help edu-cate a victim about her or his op-tions going forward with a crimi-nal prosecution.

Supporters of the bill include:Michael R. Doucette,

Commonwealth’s Attorney forthe City of Lynchburg

Mary Gavin, City of FallsChurch Chief of Police

Stacey Kincaid, Fairfax CountySheriff

Denise Lunsford,Commonwealth’s Attorney for

Albemarle CountyTrina Murphy, Aunt of Alexis

Murphy, Help Save the Next Girlsupporters

Ray Morrogh,Commonwealth’s Attorney forFairfax County

Virginia Sheriffs Association,representing 95 sheriffs

Virginia Sexual and DomesticViolence Action Alliance

We know this bill isn’t a silverbullet when it comes to the com-plex problem of solving campussexual assaults. But it is a goodfirst step and that’s what isneeded.

Passing this bill can help usmake sure that all students aresafe on our college campuses.

We urge you to join us and sup-port passage of HB 1343.

Gil and Dan HarringtonParents of Morgan Harrington

Founders of Help Save theNext Girl

An Open Letter to Virginia DelegatesLetters to the Editor

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News

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

Though oncehome to Burke’se n t e r p r i s i n g

namesake Silas, thestately white house hebuilt circa 1824 and theproperty overlookingBurke Lake Road aren’tactually owned by thecounty. “The neighbor-hood just seemed toadopt it as their ownproperty,” said Terry Neal,who has owned the estatewith his wife Suzanne “Suzi” Fowler Neal.“Someone would complain because thewindmill wasn’t going around, wonderingwhen the grass was going to get cut.”

For years, Terry and Suzi maintained thenearly 200-year-old house and the grounds,the place where Suzi grew up. Her familypurchased the home in 1925 from HenryCopperthite, a businessman originally fromConnecticut who specialized in pie-makingand built the Burke Racetrack.

But for the current Chantilly residents, thelabor became too much to handle. “Welooked long and hard for someone we couldfeel comfortable turning it over to,” saidNeal, “someone to care for the house.”

FOR THE LAST YEAR, Neal and his wifehave had the property under contract withSunrise Senior Living, an organization look-ing to build an 82-unit, 54,000 gross-square-foot structure there.

“We’re working together and committedto saving the house,” said Sunrise Chief Fi-nancial Officer Edward Burnett. “The useinteracts well. Using the slope [down be-hind the Burke house] to hide the newbuilding would keep the Burke house as theprominent feature.”

Burnett said Sunrise has agreed to main-tain the house in perpetuity and proffer itto the county, opening it for various groupsto use. The deal with Sunrise came up forclarification at the Jan. 29 meeting of theFairfax County Planning Commission. Inorder for Sunrise to proceed with their fa-cility, the land needs to be rezoned as R-3,allowing two-to-three dwelling units peracre. The commission, acknowledging someconfusion in the public understanding of theproposal to the Board of Supervisors, passeda slight change in the staff report.

The new language states: “The SilasBurke House should be retained and pre-served in accordance with The Secretary ofthe Interior’s Standards for the Treatmentof Historic Properties, with commitment toan active use for the house.”

The change was from “active adaptivereuse,” that had some citizens worried thehouse might be torn down.

“We’ve received lots of feedback fromfolks in Burke, Springfield and beyond, say-ing it must be preserved,” said commissionchair Peter Murphy. “There is nothing be-fore the Planning Commission alluding toor concentrating on the destruction of this

Silas Burke House Stays,Sunrise Gets CloserNew language in rezoningapplication passes to supervisors.

The rendering from Sunrise shows the existingSilas Burke house on the left, with a conceptfor the Sunrise community behind the houseon the right.

See House, Page 19

10 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ February 5-11, 2015 Burke Connection ❖ February 5-11, 2015 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

Leslie Roberts recalls hear-ing a mother talk aboutgetting her stepson ad-mitted to a psychiatric

hospital.“Her stepson was angry and act-

ing out,” said Roberts. “She didn’tunderstand what her stepson wasdoing.”

The woman had completed amental health first aid class thatRoberts teaches. Mental HealthFirst Aid is offered by the staff ofthe Fairfax-Falls Church Commu-nity Services Board Wellness andHealth Promotion. The goal of theclass is to offer insight into mentalillness and teach strategies for in-tervention.

“She was grateful that the classhad taught her what those signsand symptoms were,” said Leslie.“Before the class she thought hewas being a problem teenager. Af-ter the class she understood thathe was suffering from depression,and his behavior had a lot moremeaning.”

That is the goal of the eight-hour

certification class, which is taughtin both English and Spanish. Stu-dents learn the warning signs ofsuch mental illnesses as depres-sion, anxiety, trauma, psychosis,substance use disorders and self-injury. They also get a five-step ac-tion plan to help the individual incrisis connect with appropriate pro-fessional care.

“Students learn specific behav-iors or comments that individualswill make,” said Roberts, who is aWellness and Health Promotions

Supervisor. “Such as, ‘Things arenever going to get better. I feel likeI’ll always be sad. What’s thepoint?’”

“They get background and sta-tistics on these illnesses, as well asa basic understanding of risk fac-tors, signs and symptoms,” addedJamie MacDonald, wellness healthpromotion and prevention man-ager.

There is a standard curriculumand class instructors must be cer-tified to teach it. The class is typi-

cally taught on two separate days.“We offer an open enrollment classfor adults once each month,” saidMacDonald. “It’s a ‘come one, comeall.’ Anyone from Fairfax Countycan sign up.”

Students learn to assess for sui-cide or harm, listen non-judgmentally, give information andassurance, encourage appropriateprofessional help and self-help, andother strategies.

“We use the acronym ALGEE,which is the first letter of each skillthe students learn,” saidMacDonald. “Then they get skillsaround how to approach someonewho might be showing early signsof a mental illness or how to rec-ognize when someone is in a men-tal health crisis.” After the class,students take a test. If they pass,they are certified for three years.

“There is a lot of repetition andpractice. There are live simulationsand scenarios where small groupswill practice what they learn,” saidMacDonald. “We try to gear theirminds toward, ‘What will I dowhen I’m experiencing a mentalhealth crisis? How will I support

someone like a colleague, friendand even a stranger?’”

The re-enactment scenarios alsohelp set limits. “We make their roleclear,” said MacDonald. “You’re amental health first aider when youget your certification, you’re not amental health crusader. You’re nottrained to provide treatment, coun-seling, or make a diagnosis. Thatis pounded into their heads.”

Safety is another aspect of thetraining. “Students are taught todecide if a situation is safe for themto enter and whether or not theyhave time. If they start providingassistance, do they have time tofinish it,” asked MacDonald. “Be-ing clear, careful and thinkingthrough what steps they want totake is important. In a crisis, theyhave to decide: ‘Do I want to stepin or will I be in over my head? DoI need to grab my phone and callsomeone else? Your first and bestaction might be a call to 911.”

For information on schedule ofclasses, visitwww.fair faxcounty.gov/csb/events/menta l -hea l th - f i r s t -aid.htm.

County offers program to offer insight into mentalillness and teach strategies for intervention.Mental Health First Aid

Photo contributed

Jamie MacDonald and Leslie Roberts of the Fairfax-FallsChurch Community Services Board Wellness and HealthPromotion teach a Mental Health First Aid class.

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

Dental hygiene should start

even before a baby’s firsttooth emerges. That is one of the

messages that dental professionals arehoping to convey this month.

February is designated NationalChildren’s Dental Health Month, orga-nized by the American Dental Association,along with the ADA Foundation, to raiseawareness about the benefits of good oralhealth for children. Dental professionalsstress children should brush for two min-utes twice per day, floss and rinse daily,eat healthy meals, limit snacks and visitthe dentist regularly.

“To get babies comfortable with oral hy-giene, begin cleaning the baby’s mouth bywiping the gums and tongue with a moistwashcloth or gauze shortly after birth un-til teeth erupt into the mouth,” said JeanneYang, DDS, a public health dentist at theJoseph Willard Health Center’s dentalclinic in the City of Fairfax. “It is recom-mended that parents bring children totheir first dentist appointment preferablywithin 6 months of when the first toothappears, but no later than their first birth-day. And, always, always, always use a softtoothbrush, whether you are 1 or 100. A softtoothbrush should be used by all ages.”

Local health departments want the publicto know that a child’s dental care need notdepend on a family’s ability to afford suchservices. Many Northern Virginia dental clin-ics offer free or low-cost dental examina-tions, cleanings, fluoride applications, re-storative services including fillings and evenlimited oral surgeries.

“We have three children’s dental clinics inFairfax County,” said Tina Dale of the FairfaxCounty Health Department. The county’sclinics are in MountVernon, Fairfax andReston. “Our dental pro-gram is just for children.Their family’s income hasto be at a level wherethey meet Medicaid crite-ria.”

The Northern VirginiaDental Society is alsohosting a “Give a Kids aSmile Project” on Satur-day, Feb. 6 at the North-ern Virginia CommunityCollege (NOVA) MedicalEducation Campus inSpringfield. The projectwill join dentists and den-tal hygiene students from NOVA with othercommunity volunteers to offer dental ser-vices to underserved children, including pre-school students in Arlington County’s Head

Start program.“A huge number of children have dental

disease earlier and earlier,” said Kathy A. Th-ompson of Northern Virginia CommunityCollege. “This is an opportunity to get themexcited about dental care and give them in-

formation on how to takecare of their teeth, and in-troduce them to what it’slike to go the dentist.”

The slogan for the2015 campaign is “DefeatMonster Mouth.” It’s plas-tered on posters that de-pict dental superheroesfighting to defeat“Plaqster the Monster”for good oral health. Den-tal providers are hopingto teach children and par-ents about the timing ofa first dental visit, how tobrush and floss properly,the effect of thumb suck-

ing on teeth and the importance of regulardental examinations. Although the obser-vance is a month long, health departmentofficials keep up the effort year-round.

Special programs available as part of NationalChildren’s Dental Health Month.

Free and Low-CostDental Care for Children

Dental Service ProgramsFairfax County Health Department❖ Joseph Willard Health Center: 3750 Old Lee

Highway, Fairfax; 703-246-7100.❖ Herndon/Reston Office: 1850 Cameron Glen

Drive, Suite 100, Reston; 703-481-4242.❖ Mount Vernon Office: 8350 Richmond Highway,

Suite 233, Alexandria; 703-704-6181.

Photo courtesy of Northern Virginia Commu-

nity College

Dr. Howard Ngo works on a youngpatient at Northern Virginia Commu-nity College’s Medical EducationCampus in Springfield, as part of theGive Kids a Smile Program.

“We’re working withparents from thetimes the kids areborn to talk aboutthe importance ofhygiene, nutrition,tooth brushing.”— Kurt Larrick of the Arling-

ton County Health Department

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News

It’s always fun to bring home souvenirsfrom the Chocolate Festival, and twoof them are the official, Chocolate Lov-

ers Festival Cookbook and the annual, com-memorative Valentine.

❖ The cookbook features recipes withchocolate as an ingredient and includessnacks, appetizers, main courses, soups,salads and, of course, desserts. Recipes weresubmitted by chocolate fans from aroundthe nation.

The newest edition of the cookbook maybe purchased during the festival, Feb. 7, atthe Pancake Breakfast, Taste of Chocolate,Ford House and Chocolate Challenge. OnFeb. 8, it’ll be available at both the Taste ofChocolate and the Chocolate Challenge.

Current-edition cookbooks are $10 eachand may be bought at the Fairfax Museumand Visitor Center, 10209 Main St. (703-

385-8414). Make checks payable to theChocolate Lovers Festival Committee.

Mail orders are accepted; there’s a $4charge per book for postage and handling.Submit requests to the Chocolate LoversFestival Committee, City Hall, Room 123,10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax, VA 22030.

❖ The valentine for the 2015 ChocolateLovers Festival features Fire Station 3,drawn by local artist Jackie Liedl. These lim-ited-edition valentines cost $5, and each oneincludes a coupon for five, $1 pogs for useat the Taste of Chocolate. Valentines maybe purchased at: City Hall, 10455Armstrong St., Room 123 (Parks and Rec-reation Department), weekdays, from 8:30a.m.- 5 p.m.; Fairfax Museum and VisitorCenter, 10209 Main St., daily, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; or from any member of the Inde-pendence Day Celebration Committee.

The 2015 Valentine features Fire Station 3 in Fairfax.

Chocolate Cookbook and Valentine

The Chocolate Lovers Festival Com-mittee is again supporting theFairfax Kiwanis Meals for Young

Minds Program with multiple, food drop-off locations during the festival. This pro-gram provides meals to local, elementary-school students who don’t have food to eaton the weekends.

Each child receives a gallon-size bag filledwith child-friendly, nonperishable, nutri-tious food items to last over the weekend.Since its inception in 2010, the program hasexpanded to support students at three lo-cal elementary schools.

Each bag contains two breakfasts:oatmeal, small cereal box, granola bars andother breakfast foods; two lunches: cheeseand crackers, cup of soup and similar items;two dinners: easy-cook macaroni andcheese, beef ravioli, tuna and similar foods;

plus two or three snacks: applesauce, pud-ding, fruit cup, fruit roll-ups and othersnacks. These and similar child-friendly,nonperishable food items will be collectedas follows:

Saturday, Feb. 7:8 a.m.-1 p.m. - Fire Station 3, 4081 Uni-

versity Drive (during the Pancake Break-fast); 9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Fairfax Museum andVisitor Center, 10209 Main St.; 10 a.m.-3p.m. - Historic Fairfax Courthouse, 4000Chain Bridge Road; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nutri-tion Kitchen, 3950 University Drive; and 10a.m.-5 p.m. - City of Fairfax Regional Li-brary, 10360 North St.

Sunday, Feb. 8:9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Fairfax Museum and Visi-

tor Center; noon-4 p.m. - Nutrition Kitchen;and noon-4 p.m., City of Fairfax RegionalLibrary.

Meals for Young Minds

By Bonnie Hobbs

The Connection

Get your sweet tooth ready – the 23rd

annual City of Fairfax ChocolateLovers Festival is this weekend,

Feb. 7-8.Featuring delicious, chocolate fun for both

children and adults, the event includes aTaste of Chocolate, a Chocolate Challenge,musical performances, a chocolate movie –“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” –fairy tales, a fire-safety puppet show, face-painting, a Chocolate Caper mock trial, cup-cake-decorating, magic, juggling and openhouses in historic buildings.

A Chocolate Express will provide free,shuttle service between event locations. It’llrun Saturday, Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m.-5:30p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 8, from 11:45 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.

The fun begins Saturday at Fire Station3, at 4081 University Drive, with the an-nual, Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast andBake Sale, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feast onregular or chocolate-chip pancakes, plussausage, coffee, juice and milk. Cost is $7,adults; $4, children ages 4-10. Children 3and under eat free with a paying adult (limittwo children per adult). Face-painting willbe available.

The Taste of Chocolate will be held Sat-urday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., andSunday, Feb. 8, from noon-4 p.m., on bothfloors of the Old Town Hall, 3999 Univer-sity Drive (corner of Main Street and Uni-versity Drive).

Attendees may feast on a vast array ofchocolate cakes, chocolate candies and bars,chocolate-covered strawberries, fudge andice cream. There’ll even be chocolate foun-tains into which people may dip fruit,cream-filled doughnut holes or marshmal-lows. Admission is free; visitors buy pogsfor $1 each and then browse around thevendors’ tables to check out the wide arrayof chocolate treats being offered. Whensomething catches their fancy, they pay forit in pogs.

There’s also the Chocolate Challenge com-

petition to see who can make the most beau-tiful and creative chocolate sculptures,cakes and cupcakes. It’s held at the Nutri-tion Kitchen, 3950 University Drive, andruns Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., andFeb. 8, from noon-4 p.m.

Both professionals and amateurs partici-pate, and judges and visitors judge them invarious categories. Donated cakes and otheritems will be open for silent-auction bid-ding through Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. Admis-sion is $1/adult; children under 18 are free.

For a complete list of events, plus theirtimes and addresses, go towww.chocolatefestival.net.

Pancakes, Candy, Fudge,Ice Cream and MoreFairfax's ChocolateLovers Festival isFeb. 7-8.

AllieMoss, 7,is aboutto eat achoco-

late-coveredmarsh-

mallow.

Where to ParkFree parking is available atºthe following loca-

tions, with handicapped parking offered at all sites,except for Sager Avenue:

❖ Bank of America, 10440 Main St. (acces-sible from Route 236 and North Street).

❖ City Hall, 10455 Armstrong St. (accessiblefrom Route 123/Chain Bridge Road and GeorgeMason Boulevard).

❖ City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360North St. (accessible from University Drive and OldLee Highway).

❖ East Street parking lot (accessible fromRoute 236/Main Street and East Street).

❖ Fairfax County Courthouse Garage B,4400 Chain Bridge Road (accessible from PageAvenue).

❖ Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center,10209 Main St.

❖ Fire Station 3, 4081 University Drive.❖ Old Town Plaza, 3955 Chain Bridge Road

(accessible from Route 123/Chain Bridge Road andUniversity Drive).

❖ Old Town Village (behind Pacer’s, 10427North St.) Open at noon Saturday and all day Sun-day; (accessible from University Drive).

❖ Sager Avenue parking lot (accessiblefrom Sager Avenue and University Drive).

Pho

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by Bo

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Leslie Herman is this year’s Choco-late Festival committee chairman,and she and her committee of

more than a dozen people have beenhard at work on the event since the fall.

They represent several of the organi-zations involved in the festival events,including the Fairfax Bar Association,Fairfax City Regional Library, Friends of

Fairfax, GMU Department of Nutrition andFood Studies, Independence Day Celebra-tion Committee, Kiwanis Club of Fairfax,Fairfax County Retired Educators, PatriotHarley Owners Group, Woman’s Club ofFairfax and the City of Fairfax.

“There are many things I enjoy about be-ing chairman,” said Herman. “I enjoy work-ing with a great group of people who draw

upon the volunteers from their organiza-tions and resources to provide a fabulouschocolate event. It’s wonderful to rely onso many others to make the Chocolate Lov-ers Festival happen.

“I also love the new and creative eventsthe committee suggests to add to the festi-val to continue to keep it fresh and excit-ing,” she continued. “Last year we added

Chocolate and a Movie, and this yearwe’ve added the Sweet History WalkingTour. And with the [completion] of OldTown Square, we’re excited to startbrainstorming on what we can add newnext year.” Herman says the variety ofchocolate activities for all ages that touchall five senses makes the Chocolate Lov-ers Festival so special."

A Chat with the Event Chairman

Pho

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2ND ANNUAL

Friday, March 6, 2015The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner

The Boys & Girls Clubs of GreaterWashington/Fairfax Region helphundreds of at-risk youth every dayright here in Fairfax County.

We invite your organization to consider sponsorshipopportunities for our 2nd Annual Boys and Girls Clubsof Greater Washington, Fairfax Region Casino Night.

Casino Night is a fun-filled evening featuring:• Full complement of staffed gaming tables including Texas Hold ’em, Black Jack and Craps, Roulette• Fabulous dinner buffet * open bar * amazing raffles, live and silent auction• Celebrity Emcee with music and dancing.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, Virginia 22102 • On the Silver Line

Friday, March 6, 20156:30-11:30pm

Tickets: $95.00 per person,$175.00 per couple

Special Overnight Guest Room Rateat the Ritz-Carlton for

Friday March 6, 2015 -- $119.00

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington/Fairfax Region help boysand girls of all backgrounds build confidence, develop character, and acquireskills fundamental to becoming productive, civic-minded, responsible adults.

BGCGW provides a safe and positive environment for our youth.

Tickets: www.bgcgw.org/fairfax/casino-night/

Boys & Girls Club Fairfax Casino Night

OF GREATER WASHINGTONFAIRFAX COUNTY REGION

Enjoy Island Creek Elementary School, KingstowneFor Sale By Owner • $299,000

3 BR, 1.5 Bath, Wood Floors, Granite Counters, Custom UpgradesThis upgraded 3-level town house is move-in ready with space

and plumbed for second full bath. Wonderful starter or retirementhome. The spacious eat-in kitchen features custom cabinets, granitecountertops, recessed lighting, and a bay window. Dining room,living room and all bedrooms have gleaming hardwood floors. Bothbathrooms are light and bright; upstairs bathroom features an extra-deep soaker tub. The basement has a finished, extra-large rec/mediaroom with custom built-ins and is wired for surround sound. Livingroom opens to fenced backyard backing to trees and a stone patioperfect for outdoor dining and/or garden. Low yard maintenance.Home has two assigned parking spots, and community amenitiesinclude playground, pool, and club house. Recently updated roofand HVAC. Ideal access to I-95, Fairfax County Parkway and biketrails, Springfield Metro and Town Center, Fort Belvoir, Kingstowneshopping, and the new Wegman’s grocery store.

Search zillow.com, 8311 Stationhouse Court, 22079for more details and photographs, and/or

call Michael 239-565-1456

OPEN S

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2/7,

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Send notes to the Connection [email protected] or call703-778-9416. The deadline is the Fridayprior to the next paper’s publication.Dated announcements should be submit-ted at least two weeks prior to the event.

THROUGH SUNDAY/FEB. 8Dressing for the Occasion: An

Exhibition of Costumes andTextiles Representing FairfaxPersonalities and Events.Exhibition. Fairfax Museum & VisitorCenter, 10209 Main Street, Fairfax.Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 703-385-8414.

THROUGH MONDAY/FEB. 9The Bravura Ensemble - Chamber

Music Classics. 8 p.m. Old TownHall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax.The Bravura Ensemble is aWashington D.C.-based chambergroup devoted to performingchamber music repertoire rangingfrom 18th-century works to modern-day music. Clarinetist Albert Huntearned a Doctor of Musical ArtsDegree from The Juilliard School andhas performed around the world as asoloist and chamber musician. He hasalso played in orchestras such as theCleveland Orchestra, the New YorkPhilharmonic, and the Orchestra ofSt. Luke’s. Violinist RachelleBetancourt is a member of theFrankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestrain Germany and is an internationalcompetition winner. She frequentlyperforms solo and chamber musicrecitals in the Americas and inEurope. Come join us for an eveningof chamber music featuring clarinet,piano and strings.

SATURDAY/JAN. 31 - SUNDAY/APRIL 5Reference. W-16 - Vulcan Gallery,

Workhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Way, Lorton. Reference isa multi-media exploration of thevarious modes of influence thatinform visual artists in both contentand process. In Reference,participating artists incorporateperformance, sound, process, andimagery to address the stronginfluence of other artists, visual andotherwise, upon their creative outputas well as their deepest philosophicaland spiritual understandings. Noticket required.www.workhousearts.org. 703-584-2900.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 4 - SUNDAY/MARCH 8Julia Galloway. Building W-8,

Workhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Way, Lorton. JuliaGalloway is a utilitarian potter andprofessor. She is currently theDirector of the School of Art andProfessor at the University ofMontana, Missoula. Julia makes

useful pottery working at a mid-range firing at c6 in a soda kiln andre-firing her pottery at lowtemperatures to develop rich glazesurfaces. She combines wheelthrowing and hand buildingtechniques to make her pottery. Noticket required. 703-584-2900.

FRIDAY/FEB. 6Friday Night Film Series: Ivory

Tower. 7-9:30 p.m. AccotinkUnitarian Universalist Church, 10215Lakehaven Drive, Burke. As tuitionrates spiral beyond reach and studentloan debt passes $1 trillion (morethan credit card debt), IVORYTOWER asks: Is college worth thecost? From the halls of Harvard, topublic colleges in financial crisis, toSilicon Valley, filmmaker AndrewRossi assembles an urgent portrait ofa great American institution at thebreaking point. This is a non-religious event open to the public.

www.accotinkuuc.org ,[email protected]

SATURDAY/ FEB. 710th Annual Seed Exchange: Co-

Host Washington GardenerMagazine. 12:30 - 4 p.m. HistoricGreen Spring Gardens, 4603 GreenSpring Road, Alexandria. Bring yourextra seeds to swap. Event includesswaps, lectures, planting advice andgoody bag. $15 for FROGS &Washington Gardener Magazinesubscribers, $20 for general public.Registration at 703-642-5173.

Cool Cow Comedy Presents:Robert Mac. Workhouse ArtsCenter, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. 7p.mand 9 p.m. Ages 16 & up.*** CLEANSHOW. The 9 p.m. performance is afundraiser benefiting Girls ScoutsService Unit 5208. $20. Come to CoolCow Comedy’s for entertainment!Each month headliners and featuredperformers take the stage in the W-3Theatre. Host and ComedianRahmein Mostafavi has performedoutstanding stand-ups in the DCImprov, Richmond FunnyBoneºandºCaroline’s on Broadway.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/FEB 7-8Chocolate Lovers Festival. 9:30

a.m. - 5:30 p.m. City of Fairfax. Thescrumptious and fun-filled weekendfeatures everything from acompetition to see who can make themost beautiful and creative chocolatesculptures, cakes and cupcakes to achocolate-themed movie and aluscious sampling of chocolate treatsfrom area vendors. It’s also a chanceto buy mouthwatering presents forValentine’s Day.

http://www.chocolatefestival.net/

SUNDAY/FEB. 8T-TRAK Model Train Show. 1-4 p.m.

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum,11200 Fairfax Station Road, FairfaxStation. Museum members, free;adults 16 and over, $4; children 5-15, $2; under 4, free. Information onthe museum and shows is atwww.fairfax-station.org phone 703-425-9225.

National Concert Band. 3 p.m.Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel RunRoad, Fairfax. In celebration of its40th anniversary season, the NationalConcert Band, founded by retiredmembers of the D.C. Services Bands,will perform Gustav Holst’s ThePlanets Op, 32. Here’s an opportunityto hear the complete seven-movement suite, each named after aplanet of the solar system and itscorresponding astrological character,in live performance. Tickets are $10General Admission, $5 Senior/Military. Students/Children are freewith a paying adult. For moreinformation, visitwww.nationalconcertband.org.

Winter Lecture: Seasonal FloralWindowsill Displays In Tunewith Nature. 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.Historic Green Spring Gardens, 4603Green Spring Road, Alexandria.Designer Nancy Ross Hugo inspiresto create a simple seasonalwindowsill arrangement, showcasingtechniques with leaves, flowers andtwigs in various flower pots. Foralsupplies sales and book signing onsite. $10. (out-of-county and walk-ins$12.)

Register online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring using code 290 182 4401or call 703-642-5173.-

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 11Coping with Life Behind Bars: Art

and Music. 7:30 p.m. W-3 Theatre,Workhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Way, Lorton. A paneldiscussion about the liberating andrehabilitative power of art and musicfor offenders of all ages. A specialdisplay of art created by D.C.prisoners will be on view. Part of thePrison Lecture Series. Free, $10suggested donation. Register inadvance. www.workhousearts.org.703-584-2900.

FRIDAY/FEB. 13 - SUNDAY/FEB. 15Cabaret Series: Dreams of New

Orleans. 8 p.m. Fri., Sat. 1 p.m.Sun. W-3 Theatre, Workhouse ArtsCenter, 9518 Workhouse Way,Lorton. Our musical romp throughthe Big Easy celebrates the GoldenAge of Jazz! Just in time for MardiGras! Join our cabaret ‘krewe’ on avirtual parade down Bourbon Street,with both classic and contemporarysongs from the stage and screen thatevoke the spirit of the famed FrenchQuarter. $30 general, $25 students,seniors, military.www.workhousearts.org. 703-584-2900.

Entertainment

Andy Ilachinski describes his colorful, powerful and magically manipulated images as“Synesthetic Landscapes,” referencing the psychological, creative – even mystical –experience of synesthesia, a joining of the senses (smelling sounds, hearing colors,feeling shape) to communicate a point of view to another through his photographs.View his photos through Feb. 9 at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia,8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax.


Sports

See Coaches, Page 15

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

Tony Verducci still regrets not call-ing a timeout.

Kyle Simmons is still botheredby failed personnel decisions.

Trey Taylor remembers when he couldhave been a goat, but ended up a hero.

Football coaches spend countless hoursduring the season preparing their teams forgame day. They must develop a strategy forattacking and defending against a particu-lar opponent. They must choose which oftheir athletes will get the most playing time.And they must find a way to motivate theirplayers to perform to the best of their abil-ity.

After all the time, effort and emotioncoaches spend preparing their teams for agame, sometimes a contest can be decidedby a single decision.

On Sunday night in Glendale, Ariz., Se-attle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll andoffensive coordinator Darrell Bevell com-bined to make a decision that will be re-membered for years to come.

Seattle trailed the New England Patriots28-24 with less than 1 minute remaining inSuper Bowl XLIX. The Seahawks faced sec-ond-and-goal at the 1-yard line with theclock ticking and one timeout available.Through 59-plus minutes, Seahawks run-ning back Marshawn Lynch, nicknamed“Beast Mode” for his violent running styleand ability to break tackles, had amassed102 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries,including a 4-yard run on the previous playthat placed the ball just shy of the goal line.

ON THE VERGE of becoming the firstteam in a decade to win back-to-back Su-per Bowls, Carroll and Bevell called for apass play rather than handing the ball totheir star running back. The play called forwide receiver Ricardo Lockette to run a slantpattern. In theory, Lockette, with the helpof a “pick” from fellow receiver JermaineKearse, was supposed to flash open for atouchdown. But when quarterback RussellWilson fired the football toward Lockette,New England rookie defensive backMalcolm Butler jumped the route and in-tercepted the pass, securing the Patriots’fourth Super Bowl championship of themillennium and leaving the Seahawks won-dering what could have been.

Instead of putting the ball in the handsof the Seahawks’ best player (multiple timesif needed), Carroll and Bevell called for apass play into a crowded area of the fieldand came up empty. After the game, the playcall received harsh criticism from fans, me-dia members, and players from other teams.

From ESPN.com: “Carroll botches SuperBowl.”

From The Seattle Times: “Seahawks lostbecause of the worst call in Super Bowl his-tory.”

From the San Jose Mercury News: “Anyway you look at it, Seattle’s insane pass atthe end of the Super Bowl was the worstplay-call in modern sports history.”

The following day, several high schoolfootball coaches from Northern Virginia andMontgomery County, Md., shared theirthoughts about the final minute of SuperBowl XLIX. The majority of those who re-sponded said they would have called a runplay on second-and-goal from the 1.Some coaches acknowledged that it’seasy to second guess a decision, andsome shared tough decisions they hadto make in the past.

Verducci, head football coach atBishop Ireton (Alexandria), was“shocked” by Seattle’s decision to throwthe football.

“In a similar situation against GreenBay [in the NFC Championship game onJan. 18] the Seahawks ran ‘read option’and Russell Wilson was virtually un-touched scoring a touchdown,” Verducciwrote in an email. “During the timeout[prior to first down], I would havecalled a power running play for Lynchon second down and the read option forWilson on third down if they did notscore. I would have used my finaltimeout if the second and third downruns were unsuccessful.”

Verducci is haunted by his own toughdecision gone wrong. Facing St.Christopher’s in the 2011 state semifinals,Bishop Ireton led 34-31 with less than aminute remaining in the fourth quarter. St.Christopher’s faced fourth-and-15 at its own2-yard line with less than 1 minute remain-ing and no timeouts.

“My gut instinct was to call a timeout,”Verducci wrote, “but I did not call one.”

St. Christopher’s executed a hook-and-lateral play that broke loose for a 98-yardtouchdown and the Saints held on for a 38-34 victory.

“I still regret the fact,” Verducci wrote, “Idid not call the timeout to discuss the pos-

sibility of a trick play, among other things.”Simmons, who has led the Westfield foot-

ball team to four consecutive region cham-pionship games, was “surprised” Seattleopted to pass.

“They had one timeout left and an almostunstoppable running back,” Simmonswrote. “I said out loud, Seattle just needsto run the ball now. … I would have runthe same play they ran on first down. Theyalmost scored on that one.”

Simmons said he remembers some of hisfailed choices as a coach.

“My biggest regrets come with personneldecisions,” Simmons wrote. “And yes, whenI look back on some of those decisions itbothers me very much.”

Taylor was the head coach at W.T.Woodson in 2008 when he called for a fakepunt at the Cavaliers’ own 10-yard line in agame against Westfield. The intended re-ceiver on the play dropped the pass andWoodson went on to suffer a lopsided loss.

“The play was there, we just failed to ex-ecute,” wrote Taylor, who is now the headcoach at South Lakes. “… For the Westfieldgame, we knew we had to do some thingsout of the box to have a chance to win. We

were prepared to do things like we did, sothe decision didn’t bother me because it waspart of the game plan.”

In 2009, Woodson defeated eventual re-gion champion Lake Braddock 43-42 dur-ing the regular season. Taylor took a risk atthe end of the game and it paid off.

“We score on a 90-yard screen play to pullwithin one with about a minute to go,” Tay-lor wrote. “We opt for a 2-point conversionfor the win. We convert and win the game43-42. After the game, several people com-mented on how that isn’t what they wouldhave done. Since we won it was a good call.If we wouldn’t have, then everyone wouldhave had a better idea. But at the moment,that is what felt right.”

Seattle had the ball at the New England11-yard line with 6 seconds remaining inthe first half. The Patriots led 14-7 and the“safe” play would have been for Carroll tokick the field goal and go into the lockerroom down by four. Instead, he opted torun one more offensive play and it paid offwith a touchdown pass from Wilson to ChrisMatthews.

CARROL’S DARING DECISION at theend of the game didn’t pay off.

Whitman (Bethesda, Md.) head coach JimKuhn said he would have run the ball inthe final minute of the Super Bowl, butadded Carroll would have been praised ifthe pass play had worked.

“I would have run my zone read withLynch,” Kuhn wrote. “He hadn’t beenstopped for less than a yard all game.He’s going to at least fall forward and ifthe [defensive end] came hard down theline, Wilson keeps and walks into theend zone. … Again, it’s easy to secondguess. If that pass is complete and theHawks win the SB, we’re all talkingabout what a great, gutsy call it is.

“People criticize coaches all the time,it’s part of the job. You have to havethick skin and get over it. If you dwellon it, it will ruin your coaching career.”

Lake Braddock head coach JimPoythress defended Carroll, who ledSeattle to a Super Bowl title the previ-ous season and won a pair of nationalchampionships with the University ofSouthern California.

“Hindsight is always 20/20. Last Ichecked, Coach Carroll had won a lotof big games,” Poythress wrote. “Every-body is a football expert on Monday.

The nature of being a football coach (or aweatherman) is that you will get second-guessed. I wish I could show up at the workplace of those who have criticized our pro-gram and say whatever ridiculous com-ment I wanted.

“Where were the experts after the NFCChampionship [when Seattle overcame a16-0 deficit to win 28-22 in overtime]?Didn’t Coach Bevell lead the comeback? Itake my hat off to Bevell for getting themto the 1-yard line [in the final minute ofSuper Bowl XLIX]. He did that with little

Majority say theywould have called a runplay from 1-yard line.

Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX

Connection file photo

South Lakes football coach Trey Taylor was “shocked” the SeattleSeahawks passed the ball at the 1-yard late in Super Bowl XLIX.

“Everybody is a footballexpert on Monday. The natureof being a football coach (or aweatherman) is that you willget second-guessed. I wish Icould show up at the workplace of those who havecriticized our program andsay whatever ridiculouscomment I wanted.”

— Lake Braddock football coachJim Poythress

Burke Connection Sports Editor Jon Roetman



From Page 14

time left and probably 100 millionpeople watching. More importantly, Icredit the Seahawk players for stickingtogether after the game. Nobody pointedfingers or laid blame. Even MarshawnLynch, who everybody loves to hate, hadonly positive things to say about the calland his teammates.”

Lake Braddock finished the 2014 sea-son with a 10-3 record and reached the

6A North region semifinals despite thegraduation of star quarterback CalebHenderson, who is a freshman on the Uni-versity of North Carolina football team.

“After winning 10 games this year, wewere still second-guessed as a staff after theWestfield loss [in the region semis],”Poythress wrote. “We had some seniors thatwanted to lay blame on the underclass. Wehad parents cry about their kid’s touches orstats. After the last-second win versus WestSpringfield [in the region quarterfinals], we

were the greatest staff in the area. The nextweek we were dog dirt. It comes with theturf and you won’t last long if you pay at-tention to it. At the end of the season, onlyone team is happy.”

Carroll, Bevell and Seahawks players willhave all offseason to think about comingup 1 yard short of winning Super Bowl XLIXand the play call that led to the game-end-ing interception. Will they get over the dis-appointment? According to ESPN.com, theWestgate SuperBook and the William Hill

sports book have Seattle as 5-to-1 favor-ites to win Super Bowl 50 following the2015 season.

For now, there are plenty of remindersof the gut-wrenching loss coming fromfans and the media.

“When I was a boy, my parents used totell me to, ‘consider the source’ whenbeing maligned,” Poythress wrote. “Iwould like to meet the reader of thesewords who knows more football thanPete Carroll or Darrell Bevell.”

Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX

Sports

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

Hayfield gymnast MollyOverstreet is a two-timestate champion, but her jun-ior year has been marred by

lower-back pain.Years of competing has taken a toll on

Overstreet’s body. On a scale of 1-10,Overstreet said her back pain is a 6 duringmeets, and a constant 3 or 4 during every-day life.

Overstreet captured a three-way share ofthe state vault championship as a freshmanin 2013. The following year, she won thestate bars title with a VHSL-record score of9.925. Due to back pain, however, she spentmost of the 2014-15 season unable to giveher best effort.

“I’ve definitely watered down most of myroutines for the preseason,” she said.

On Feb. 2, Overstreet competed at theConference 6 championship meet at McLeanHigh School. The result was a conferencebars title and a berth in the 6A North re-gion meet as an all-around competitor.

Overstreet won the bars event with ascore of 9.5. She tied for seventh on floor(8.8), finished 13th on vault (8.85) andcame in 16th on beam (8.525).

She finished eighth in the all-around witha total of 35.675.

The top four all-around finishers qualifyfor regionals, along with any gymnast whototals a score of 35 or better. The top eightadvance in each event, along with any gym-nast who scores a 9.0 or better.

Overstreet said she’d like to add to herbar routine for the 6A North region meet,scheduled for Feb. 11 at Lake BraddockSecondary School.

After last year’s state-record performanceon bars, does Overstreet feel pressure toperform at a high level?

“Definitely, yes,” Overstreet said. “I justtry to do my best and have fun, but therealways will be that pressure because I was

the state champ.”Joining Overstreet as an all-around gym-

nast at regionals will be Fairfax seniorRachel Barborek, who placed fourth at the

Conference 6 meet with a total of 36.25.She won the conference beam champion-ship (9.425), placed second on floor (9.5),finished 11th on vault (9.025) and tied for12th on bars (8.3).

Washington-Lee senior Sophie Hatcherwon the all-around title with a score of37.625.

“It feels so good because at all my othermeets, I didn’t ever hit all four [events] — Ialways had some mistake — but today I hitall four and I’m really happy,” she said. “Thisis the best meet I’ve ever had in all my fouryears of high school.”

McLean’s Jacqueline Green finished run-ner-up (36.625) and Lizzy Brown-Kaiser

was third (36.425).McLean won its fourth consecutive Lib-

erty District/Conference 6 championshipwith a score of 143. Washington-Lee fin-ished runner-up (142.225), earning theconference’s other regional team berth.

Yorktown was third (141), Fairfax(125.275), Hayfield (121.1), South Lakes(115.125), Madison (108.7) and Langley(81.3).

“It’s a really great feeling because this isour senior year and there was a lot of pres-sure to keep our conference championshiptitle [streak],” Highlanders senior LizzyBrown-Kaiser said, “so it feels great to ful-fill that.”

Fairfax’s Barborekqualifies for regionals,wins beam title.

Hayfield’s Overstreet Wins C6 Bars Title Despite Back Trouble

Hayfield’s Molly Overstreet earned a berth in the 6ANorth region meet as an all-around competitor.

Fairfax senior Rachel Barborek won the Conference 6beam championship on Feb. 2 at McLean High School.

“I just try to do my bestand have fun, but therealways will be thatpressure because I wasthe state champ.”— Hayfield gymnast Molly Overstreet

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News

Though none of the ac-tors are in high school,Katie Jenkins believesher cast will have no

problem bringing the students ofthe famed, fictional Rydell High tolife.

“Robinson is a secondaryschool,” said the middle schooltheater arts director, “so the kidsare exposed to high school lifeearlier, with pep rallies, beingmentored by high school athletesand working alongside high schooltheater students. It gives the stu-dents a more realistic grasp ofwhat that’s like.”

The synergy between middleand high school drama programshas created a developmental pipe-line, with younger students ben-efitting from the experience ofupperclassmen and older studentsseeing the opportunity to expandtheir skills.

For the somewhat toned down“school version” of Jim Jacobs andWarren Casey’s musical “Grease,”the choreographer is Robinsonjunior Jessica Israel and juniorMady Hanton is stage manager.

“Mady joined the theater pro-gram in eighth grade,” said

Jenkins. “Now she’s commandingthis whole thing.”

Another challenge being met bythe young thespians is finding per-

spective on the story’s portrayal ofgender roles and sexism from halfa century ago. “How do youchange who you are so the boy

likes you?” said Jenkins.In the Robinson production, the

lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowskiand Danny Zuko (played by eighth

graders Jenna Earhart and DanteEstrada) are meant to be deeper,more nuanced and stronger thantheir Olivia Newton-John andJohn Travolta counterparts.

“My Danny is more two-sided,”said Estrada. “He’s the guy’s guypersonality and then a total wreckwith this one girl.”

Earhart, who played Glinda inRobinson’s production of “TheWiz,” intends for Sandy to be lessshy than normal. “My Sandy goesmore out of her comfort zone, be-cause she cares about this guy,” shesaid. “When I play her, she keepsmore respect for herself; the moviedoesn’t convey that as much.”

— Tim Peterson

Robinson Middle Takes on Rydell High in ‘Grease’Whereand When

Friday Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., Satur-day 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., andSunday 15 at 2 p.m at RobinsonSecondary School, 5035 SideburnRoad, Fairfax. Tickets are $12,available online atwww.robinsondrama.org and atthe door.

Eighth-graders Jenna Earhart (left) and Dante Estrada (right) rehearse as SandyDumbrowski and Danny Zuko, respectively, in the Robinson Middle School productionof “Grease.”

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Editorial Assistant/Assistant EditorFull-time assistant editor to help with allaspects of producing award-winning weeklynewspapers, including daily web and socialmedia updates.Must be a prolific, efficient, accuratewriter/rewriter with good basic knowledgeof AP style and clean copy. Self-starter withexcellent time management skills who can towork independently and collaboratively withstrong organizational skills, high productivity,attention to detail. Exciting opportunity tolearn from excellent editors.Essential Responsibilities:Generating local content daily for print andonline, including calendar & entertainmentlistings, news briefs, crime reports, businessbriefs, school and education notes, faith notes,photo galleries, etc.Monitor never-ending email, prioritize,download, edit, compile, post.Community engagement, communicationwith readers and sources. Continuouslyseeking new sources of local information.Copy editing, fact checking, familiarity withAP Style.Design and paginate weekly entertainment,calendar and notes pages for multiple papers.Update websites daily, post to social media.Stay on top of local breaking news, work witheditor and reporters to update.Help transition to digital first workflow.Salary approximately $30K, health insurance,paid vacation. Office is 2 blocks from KingStreet Metro station. Free parking.Send letter, resume, three clips or examples ofwork to [email protected]


Zone 2 Ad Deadline:

Tuesday Noon

703-778-9411

ClassifiedClassifiedZone 2: • Burke

• Fairfax • Springfield

• Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton

Burke - 650 to 1,080sf 2nd floor office space available in thriving mixed use

shopping center. Perfect for a move from a home office. Kevin Allen / Kimco Realty

410-427-4434

12 Commercial Lease 12 Commercial Lease

1st fl.office (850 sf) for sale or leasein Fairfax City at intersection of Judicial and Main

St; close to Courthouse w/free parking. Three offices, waiting room, two baths, work/file room, utility

room with sink, counter and area for small refrigera-tor. Lease at $1,375 month plus utilities with min. 1

year lease or will consider selling for $199,000. Tenant responsible for own phone and internet.

Please call 703-278-0457 x10 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

13 Commercial Sale 13 Commercial Sale

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

21 Announcements 21 Announcements

21 Announcements 21 Announcements 21 Announcements

PRIVATE SWORDCOLLECTION FOR SALEAntique swords from the United

States and United Kingdom. Call 703-371-1765

26 Antiques 26 Antiques

HDI COMPUTER SOLUTIONSJENNIFER SMITH ❖ Serving the Area Since 1995

➣ Speed up Slow Computers➣ Troubleshooting➣ Virus Removal➣ Computer Setup

(571) [email protected]

101 Computers 101 Computers

21 Announcements

ABC LICENSELump Sum Inc, trading as The Similans, 13005 Lee Jackson

Hwy, Ste L, Fairfax, VA 22033. The above establishment is

applying to the VIRGINIA DE-PARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a wine and beer on and off

premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic bever-

ages. Sansana Luemrung member. NOTE: Objections to

the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the

publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be

registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or

800-552-3200

26 Antiques

We pay top $ for STERLING, MEN'S WATCHES,

JEWELRY, COSTUME JEWELRY, FURNITURE,

PAINTINGS AND CLOCKS.Schefer Antiques

[email protected]

For a free digital sub-scription to one or allof the 15 ConnectionNewspapers, go towww.connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe

Complete digital rep-lica of the print edition,including photos andads, delivered weeklyto your e-mail box.

Questions? E-mail:[email protected]

One man with courage

makes amajority.

-Andrew Jackson

News

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D–41) HB1413 passed the full House of Del-egates on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015.

HB 1413 or the “CARE Act” addresses theimportant role of the informal and familycaregivers and improved communicationwith them and medical providers. Specifi-cally, the bill looks to improve healthcareand reduce preventable hospital revisits byhaving hospitals formally acknowledge apatient’s family caregiver at the time ofadmission and provide critical home careinstruction before discharge.

“In Virginia today we know that the ma-jority of older Virginia residents want to liveindependently at home. Family caregiversin Virginia help their loved ones achievethis. They are there when a person in needwakes up, when they fall asleep and in be-tween. Simply put, they are the bedrock andfoundation of our long term care system,”said Del. Filler-Corn.

The CARE Act will also strengthen the linkbetweenºhospital care and home basedcare, an interface of critical importance thatwill need continued attention. “Many fam-

ily caregivers perform a variety of nursing/medical tasks once provided only in hospi-tals. However, most family caregivers re-ceive little or no training to do these tasks,”added Del. Filler-Corn.

Almost half of family caregivers reportedthey never received training to performtasks of the kind and complexity once pro-vided only in hospitals. “There is a need forHB 1413 and I believe that it is in the bestinterest of Virginia to implement this legis-lation,” continued Delegate Filler-Corn.

Most Virginians who receive assistance athome rely exclusively on unpaid familycaregivers for help. In fact, family caregiversprovide unpaid care valued at about $11.7billion annually.

“Delegate Filler-Corn understands thecritical role family caregivers play in hospi-tal transitions and in keeping their lovedones from being rehospitalized. We aregrateful for her leadership. Familycaregivers have a big responsibility and thisbill will make their lives a little easier,” saidDavid DeBiasi, Associate State Director ofAARP Virginia.

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D–41)

Pho

to

co

ntributed

Del. Filler-Corn’s ‘CAREAct’ Passes the House

Send notes to the Connection [email protected] or call703-778-9416. The deadline for submissionsis the Friday prior to publication. Dated an-nouncements should be submitted at leasttwo weeks prior to the event.

THURSDAY/FEB. 12Overcoming Isolation and Setting up

a Social Network/ 3 p.m. InsightMemory Care Center, 3953 Pender Drive,Suite 100, Fairfax. Come and discussstrategies to help you maintain or developa social network and reduce the risk ofisolation. Call 703-204-4664 to RSVP andfor more information.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 18Diagnosis Dementia…Now What? 1:30

pm. Insight Memory Care Center, 3953Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax.Thisdiscussion will help you start planning forthe future, while also adjusting to a newlife with someone who has dementia. Call703-204-4664 to RSVP and for moreinformation.

Bulletin Board

From Page 9

Househouse.” Jon Vrana, president of the Burke

Historical Society who often portrays Col.Burke, was at the meeting on Jan. 29. “Ourfocus is careful protection of the house,” hesaid. “With the language, it’s clear from whatwe’ve seen, we’ve gotten good support.” “Webelieve it’s a positive thing for the neighbor-hood,” Neal said of the Sunrise development,“for the security of the home.”

THE NEXT STEP is for the languagechange to go before the Board of Supervi-sors for approval. Then’s it’s back to thePlanning Commission for the rezoning ap-plication. The tentative date for that meet-ing is March 19, though the public is ad-vised to check agendas through the com-mission website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning.


Sheila Adams703-503-1895

Life Member, NVAR Multi–MillionDollar Sales Club

Life Member,NVAR TOP PRODUCERS

Access the Realtors Multiple Listing Service: Go to www.searchvirginia.listingbook.com

# 1 in Virginia703-425-8000

JUDY SEMLER703-503-1885

[email protected]

Catie, Steve & AssociatesDirect: 703-278-9313

Cell: 703-362-2591NVAR Top Producers

Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club

KIM MCCLARY703-929-8425

[email protected] Member NVAR Top Producers

DIANE SUNDT703-615-4626

Military Relocation Specialist

View more photos at www.hermandorfer.com

DAVID & VIRGINIAAssociate Brokers

www.BillupsTeam.com703-690-1795

Carol Hermandofer703-216-4949 Top 1% of Agents Nationally

Haymarket $529,900Elegant Living In Dominion Valley Gated Golf Course Community * Blocks ToCountry Club & Shopping * Entertaining Is Effortless W/ Open Floor Plan *Gleaming Hardwood Floors * Gourmet Kitchen * Impressive Two Story Foyer AndFamily Room * Master Suite Includes Sitting Area & Luxury Bath W/ SeparateShower & Soaking Tub * Beautiful Flat Rear Yard * Quiet Street * Move In Ready!!!

John & Jennifer Boyce703-425-JOHN (5646)[email protected]

www.425JOHN.com

SPRINGFIELD $634,900$25K PRICE IMPROVEMENT!

Don’t miss this sensational Van Metre-built 4 BR, 2 Full,2 Half-Bath Colonial tucked on a private, wooded lot insought-after South Run Crossing! This 3-Level Beautyfeatures a magnificent sunroom addition, plus updates/upgrades galore: fresh paint throughout, new carpetthroughout, hardwoods, granite, huge deck with hot tub& more! Unbeatable location…..just 1 light to theFairfax County Parkway, and a quick hop to Franconia/Springfield Metro, 95/495, and area amenities.

Call Kim McClary for a private tour703-929-8425

BUZZ & COURTNEYJORDANYour Local Father/Daughter Team!


roots, barn, guest house, and pastures. 18+ acres ofClifton’s finest land offers so many options: horse farm,family compound, or subdivide w/multiple perc sites.Farm house w/4BR, 2.5 BA. Guest house is 1 BR, 1 BA.Fenced Pastures, Many outbuildings.

Clifton$1,695,000

First time avail-able in 3 gen-erations: CastleHill Farm withsunny and roll-ing land, his-toric (c 1840)farm home withpre Civil War

Gainesville $342,00014072 Cannondale Way

Gorgeous 3BR townhome with 2 Full Baths and 2 Half Baths on one of the bestlots in the neighborhood. Open floor plan. Large kitchen with center island,granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Beautiful Hardwood Floors!Dual headed shower in the master. 2 car garage. Close to everything!

Call Diane at 703-615-4626 for more info.

Burke $549,900Burke Centre colonial. 3 levels/4 bedrooms/2.5 baths/largewalkout unfinished basement/Family Room w/frpl/2 cargarage. Close to elementary school/transportation/shopping.

Buzz Jordan 703-503-1866

Fairfax Club Estates – $625,000Terrific Home w/Updated Kitchen & Walk-out Lower

Level to Great Backyard!

Fairfax Station – $899,900Exquisite Craftsman Style Home with Stunning Bright,Open Floor Plan. Great Location in Lovely Community.

Fairfax/Kings Park West$475,000

Lovely 4 bedroom home withgarage * Wood floors * Updatedkitchen that opens to privatepatio * Living room with fire-place * Family room opens todeck & hot tub * Large fencedback yard * Fresh paint & carpet.

SOLD OPEN

SUNDAY

1-4

Fairfax $420,000Beautiful Fair Ridge

Immaculate bright & sunnytownhome, offering 3 BR’s 2full/2 half Baths, Skylight, Eatin Kitchen, Bay Window, LivingRoom features a wood burningFP, Glass slider steps out todeck, perfect for entertaining,Finished W/O Lower Level.Garage plus long drivewayholds 2 more cars. Bus oneblock away to Vienna Metro.

Call Sheila Adams703-503-1895

Backsplash and Walks Out To Spacious Screened In Porch perfectfor summer entertaining. Hardwood Floors Throughout TheMain and Upper Levels. New Carpet On The Upper Level. FullyFinished Basement Has Full Bath And Walks Out To LushBackyard. Home Beautifully Landscaped. Call For Details.

Coming Soonin Fairfax

This Lovely 3Level 4 BedroomBrick Colonial InSomerset SouthCommunity IsWaiting For You!Kitchen HasCorian Countersw/Ceramic Tile

OPEN

SUNDAY

1-4

David [email protected]

Selling Virginia’s Finest HomesMember, NVAR Multi Million Dollar Sales Club

OPEN

SUNDAY

1-4