Easter & Spring Fun Page 6 Cooper Middle Celebrates World Heritage Night News, Page 2 Cracking Down On Online Predators Opinion, Page 4 ‘It Was the Right Thing to Do ’ News, Page 3 Officer Ashley Block with Capt. John Trace. Block, a McLean District Station police officer, was severe- ly injured while helping clear a road during the March 2 wind storm. online at www.connectionnewspapers.com March 28-April 3, 2018 Opinion, Page 4 v Entertainment, Page 8 v Classifieds, Page 10 Photo Courtesy of Capt. John Trace Postal Customer ECR WSS Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Requested in home 3-29-18 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Easton, MD permit #322
Transcript
Easter &Spring Fun
Page 6
Cooper Middle Celebrates World Heritage NightNews, Page 2
Cracking Down On Online PredatorsOpinion, Page 4
‘It Was the RightThing to Do’
News, Page 3
Officer Ashley Block with Capt. John
Trace. Block, a McLean District
Station police officer, was severe-
ly injured while helping clear a road during the March 2
wind storm.
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com March 28-April 3, 2018
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Postal CustomerECR WSS
Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.
Requested in home 3-29-18
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322
2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
“A people without the knowledge of theirpast history, origin and culture is like a treewithout roots,” stated Marcus Garvey, aprominent African American political leaderand nationalist from the early 20th century.Seventh and eighth grade students at Coo-per Middle School celebrated the world’scultural diversity and ethnic differencesthrough a symbolic event on March 15.
“I would rate it [World Heritage Night] a13 out of 10,” says Alex Karloutsos, a stu-dent at Cooper Middle School. Familiesshared traditions through a potluck with
ethnic dishes, and cultural performances.“My favorite part was seeing all the dif-
ferent cultures and food,” said seventhgrader Zoya Qadiri. Additionally, they ad-mired displays, participated in workshops,and viewed festive booths.
By the end of the event, students andfamilies went home with more culturalknowledge and experience than they hadhours before.
— Sebastian Herbolsheimer and
Aisha Shakeel
From left:Caroline Senich,
Keelin Byrne,Katherine
Senich, MeganBorsos, and
Amelia Rewishad fun at World
Heritage Nightwhere they got to
try new foods,hang out with
friends, andlearn more about
other people’scultures.
Cooper Middle Hosts WorldHeritage Night at School
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McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Bonnie Hobbs
The Connection
Whether they’re putting outfires or keeping the commu-nity safe from crime, publicsafety personnel are one,
big family. And when one of their own needshelp, they all come together to lend a hand.
And that’s just what happened last Tues-day, March 20, at MOD Pizza in theGreenbriar Town Center in Chantilly. Police,firefighters and area residents ate lunch anddinner there to raise money for AshleyBlock, a McLean District Station police of-ficer who was severely injured while help-ing clear a road during the March 2 windstorm.
“She’s a patrol officer who was newly cutloose from her field-training officer,” saidher supervisor, Sgt. Laura Redman. “Therewere trees down everywhere and, while oneofficer cut them up, Ashley was clearingaway the debris. But the wind was so strong
Fairfax County Police Command Staff (from left) Capt. Paul Norton,Capt. Tom Rogers, Capt. John Trace, Lt. Brooke Wright, MOD’s DeanLadson, Capt. Chantel Cochrane, Lt. Tim Field, MOD’s Josh Kusterand Lt. Rob Hines.
From left, McLean police officers, PFC Rafael Orellano, Sgt. LauraRedman with son William, 3, PFC Alex Lipartiani, Lori Seiden and Sgt.David Kennedy.
Pizza fundraiser yields $2,700for injured police officer.‘It Was the Right Thing to Do’
MOD Pizza’s day-shift members are (from left) Jessica Gonzalez, SituManandhar, Eric Sosa, Dean Ladson, Josh Kuster, Endira Stewart andJoana Alkhatib.
From left, Fair Oaks Police Officer Sladzana Resnik and MPO LaurettaGarrett.
Officer Ashley Block with Capt.John Trace. Block, a McLean Dis-trict Station police officer, wasseverely injured while helpingclear a road during the March 2wind storm.See Fundraiser, Page 7
that the top of another tree broke off andfell on her.
“It pinned her on the ground and impaledher leg,” continued Redman. “She broke herfemur, shoulder, elbow, four ribs and somevertebrae. Doctors expect her to fully re-cover, but it’ll take a long time.”
In fact, Block’s injuries will likely causeher to be off work for 16-18 months. Likehis fellow police officers, Lt. Ryan Morgan,assistant commander of the Sully DistrictStation in Chantilly, heard about her acci-dent and felt bad for her. And the next timehe stopped in for a bite at MOD – whichserves custom, artisan-style pizzas – hementioned it to Dean Ladson, the store’sgeneral manager.
“Ryan’s a regular here, and he was casu-ally talking about what happened,” saidLadson. “So my assistant general manager,Josh Kuster, and I suggested maybe wecould do something to help. MOD believesin community giving, and we felt like thiswas our way of giving back.”
Most restaurant fundraisers generally give10 or 20 percent of their proceeds during atwo- or three-hour period to the recipient.But in this case, Ladson wanted to do more.“So we asked MOD’s fundraising arm inSeattle if we could make the proceeds 50percent. We also made it all-day andcounted the proceeds from anyone eatinghere March 20, not just those mentioningthe fundraiser. In addition, we decided todonate 100 percent of the day’s tips.”
ON THAT DATE – despite freezing tem-peratures, sleet, ice and an impendingsnowstorm – residents and public-safetypersonnel flocked to the restaurant. And byday’s end, some $2,700 had been raised forthe officer.
“From the time we opened at 10:15 a.m.until about 1:30 p.m., it was packed,” saidLadson around 2 p.m. that day. “And weexpect a big crowd at dinnertime, too, be-sides our normal dinner customers.”
4 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
By Barbara
Comstock
US Rep. (R-10)
For years we havewarned of humantraffickers prey-ing on our youth
at a mall or places whereteens may congregate. A predator would ap-proach a young girl – average age 12 or 13 –pretending to be a boyfriend and groom themfor sexual exploitation by showering them withgifts or drugs, and then exploit their naivetyand traffic them for sex.
The same thing is going on today, only nowthe predator is using the Internet to reach out
and exploit our youth.Online predators nowreach into our homes andtarget-unsuspecting chil-
dren on computers and social media. Congressinvestigated this Internet sex trafficking andwe came up with landmark, bipartisan legisla-tion that will protect sex trafficking victims whohave been targeted by online predators.
I cosponsored the Allow States and Victimsto Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which hasnow passed the House and Senate. It will giveprosecutors, state attorneys general, and sextrafficking victims a clearer path to take legal
action against websites hosting advertisementsfor prostitutes, which, in reality, often turn outto be young girls and boys who are being ille-gally trafficked for sex.
According to the National Center for Miss-ing and Exploited Children, nearly three-quar-ters of all reports of online child sex traffick-ing can be traced back to the website calledBackpage.com. In a recent CBS News article,a 14-year old girl who was trafficked on thesite said, “They’re letting all of this happen ontheir website. I mean, without Backpage, Iwould have never been in any of this in thefirst place.”
Her mother continued, “Backpage has a pri-mary purpose and it’s to sell sex. Backpage hasnot done anything to ensure the safety of thekids on there, period.”
Congress investigated the practices ofBackpage and disclosed that its operators ac-tually helped predators modify their ads todelete references to teenage prostitutes oryoung victims of human trafficking, and stillallowed the ads to run. The Washington Postreported that Backpage used a company in thePhilippines to solicit both prostitutes and johnsfrom other websites and created new ads thatfacilitated trafficking.
It became apparent that current anti-traffick-ing laws could not be applied to websites likeBackpage, which host thousands of exploitive
ads daily — too many of which are childrenbeing trafficked by adults. Backpage, time andagain, successfully cited the CommunicationsDecency Act, which they argued protectedthem.
In a 2016 case against Backpage.com, theFirst Circuit Court of Appeals made clear: “Theremedy is through legislation, not litigation.”All 50 state Attorneys General joined the callfor reform of this legislation to address the useof these sites for trafficking and both the Houseand the Senate responded on a bipartisan ba-sis. This legislation included backing frommany in the technology community such asFacebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg: “Those ofus in the United States must recognize thatthese deplorable acts of buying and sellingchildren for sex don’t just happen in othercountries. They happen here as well – rightunder our noses … we at Facebook supportefforts to pass amended legislation in theHouse.” Now our prosecutors will be able tocrackdown on online predators.
Every summer, as part of my Young Women’sLeadership Program, we provide a session onthe problem of human trafficking. We havemade it a priority to educate young womenabout this threat that is online, as well as intheir communities. With the passage of thislegislation, there will be more tools to stopthese unspeakable crimes against our youth.
Cracking Down on Online PredatorsBipartisan legislation to protect sex trafficking victims.
By Adam P. Ebbin
State Senator (D-30)
Ebbin spoke to students at LewinsvillePark in McLean during the walkout onMarch 14. The students, who attendschools across Northern Virginia, wereparticipating in a rally for gun violenceprevention organized by Students De-mand Action DMV following a 17-minuteNational Student Walkout held thatmorning at 10 a.m. in memory of the 17who were killed in the Marjory StonemanDouglas High School shooting inParkland, Fla.
I’m Senator Adam Ebbin, andI have an “F” rating from theNRA. Across the country, the
gun violence prevention move-ment is being led by students likeyou. You are doing more than justwearing an orange ribbon, you aretaking action and leading a con-versation. You are channeling youroutrage into activism.
I’ve been moved and inspired bythe bravery and resilience of theyoung people in Parkland. Today,we are amplifying their message.With your activism, we can makereal progress.
Every day, 96 Americans arekilled with a gun.
Every 10 hours a Virginian iskilled with a gun.
153,000 students have been ex-posed to campus shootings since
Columbine.For decades,
the corporategun lobby hasdictated ourgun laws.
E l e c t e dleaders at thelocal, state,and national level can make a dif-ference; implore us all to take ac-tion. Hold legislators accountablefor their voting records.
While Washington is mired inempty expressions of thoughts andprayers, it’s time for state legisla-tors to step up.
I have worked for common sensegun laws for years. This year, over60 bills addressing gun violencewere introduced in the VirginiaGeneral Assembly, but every onewas defeated. Del. KathleenMurphy [D-34] and I have formeda General Assembly Gun ViolencePrevention Caucus, but we needmore voices — loud voices, in-formed and passionate voices, par-ticularly voices like yours. I’m hereto amplify your voice, to tell youthat you don’t have to be a voteryet to shape the debate. Speak upby calling your elected officials.
Engage the community by writ-ing letters to the editor.
Get involved at election time.Register to vote as soon as you
are eligible. Stay informed andstay active.
Vote.Repeat until no school in
America has to wonder “Who’snext?”
Refuse to accept the status quo.Demand an end to gun violence.
The NRA tells us the AR-15shouldn’t be banned.
When a soft nosed bullet leavesthe barrel of an AR15, it is travel-ling at three times the speed of abullet fired from a handgun. It willbreak the sound barrier leavingthe gun, travelling at 3,000 feetper second, tumbling end over enduntil it makes contact with its tar-get. When its target is a humanbody, the bullet enters and exitsin less than the time it takes toblink, shredding tissue in a processknown as caveation, killing softtissue for up to three inchesaround the entry path, and leavesan exit wound the size of an or-ange. A high capacity magazine onan AR-15 can unleash 50 of theserounds in less than a minute.
Outfitted with an NRA-sup-ported bump stock this weaponcan empty this magazine in a mat-ter of seconds.
Don’t let the NRA tell you itshouldn’t be banned.
At Marjory Stoneman Douglashigh school first responders sawthe power of this weapon, thetwitch of a finger painting the hall-ways of their school with blood.
Don’t let the NRA tell you itshouldn’t be banned.
Don’t tell us that kids have aright to carry these into ourschools and movie theatres andmalls an concerts and unleash thefury of this weapon on Americans.
Don’t tell us that anyone has theright to carry a gun that holds 50rounds and can be modified to firethem in under ten seconds.
Don’t tell us we shouldn’t be ableto stop dangerous individuals frombuying AR-15s at a sporting goodsstore.
Don’t let the NRA tell you thatthoughts and prayers are enough.
Enough is enough.We’re telling the NRA times up,
we’re telling them no more.No more fearing the next head-
line. We’re telling the corporategun lobby we’re done with beingafraid that when your friends goto school they might not comeback. We cannot wait any longer.
The NRA can get out of the way,or they can get run over.
‘Channeling Outrage into Activism’
Commentary
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News
Elected Officials Join MarchU.S. Rep Gerry Connolly (D-11), Del. Marcus Simon (D-53)and Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) and others from FairfaxCounty at the March for Our Lives Saturday, March 24, inWashington, D.C.
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6 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Easter & Spring Fun
THURSDAY/MARCH 29EGG-Streme Teen Egg Hunt. 8-10
p.m. at Historic Blenheim and theCivil War Interpretive Center, 3610Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Glow-in-the-dark-themed egg hunt begins atdark. Pictures with the Easter Bunnyand obstacle course moon bounce.10-14 years old. Bring a basket and aflashlight. $5 per hunter. Register atapm.activecommunities.com/fairfaxcityrecdept/Activity_Search/11522.
Easter Egg Hunt. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.At Cameron Run Park, Alexandria.Children, 2-11 years old, are invitedto celebrate spring with coloring,games and photo opportunities withthe Easter Bunny. Bring an Easterbasket to collect eggs, and a camerato take photos with the Easter Bunny.Each hunt is $10 per child, plus a $3online service fee. visitapm.activecommunities.com/novaparks for details and to register.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY/MARCH 29-31Baskets and Bunnies Event. Assist
with arts and crafts, help withregistration, dress up in the Sunnythe Bunny costume, assist with MiniGolf or be a Sunny the Bunny helperat Burke Lake Park. Volunteer onThursday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to2 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m. On Friday,March 30, volunteers are neededfrom 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday,March 31. Sign up for shifts at:
THURSDAY/MARCH 29-SUNDAY/APRIL 1Fairfax County Parks. Egg-citing
activities are breaking out at parksthroughout Fairfax County in March.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/
park-news/2018/psa055.Hidden Oaks Nature Center is
running a Dinosaur Egg Hunt onMarch 29, 30, 31 and April 1. Enjoy adinosaur-themed program andoutdoor egg hunt while visitingDinoland in Nature Playce. The
program is for children age 2-8. $8per child.
On Saturday, March 31, Burke LakePark is hosting a day of fun calledBaskets and Bunnies. There will beegg hunts, carousel and train rides,crafts and games. $12 per person inadvance; $16 the day of the event.Clemyjontri Park is offering anEaster Egg Hunt, crafts and photoops with the Easter Bunny forchildren age 1-9. $7 per child. Add acarousel ride for $2. There’s also anEgg Hunt that day at NottowayPark. Register at the picnic shelterfor egg hunts for children age 1-9.Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.Schedule: ages 1-2, 10:30 a.m.; ages3-4, 11 a.m.; ages 5-6, 11:30 a.m.;ages 7-9, 12 p.m.$10 per child,registration 9:30-11:45 a.m. $10 perchild – cash only at registration.
SATURDAY/MARCH 31Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt. 9-
10:30 a.m. at Grace PresbyterianChurch, 7434 Bath St., Springfield.Enjoy a continental breakfast, a craftor two, and an Easter egg hunt. Bringan Easter basket. Free. Call 703-451-2900 or visit gracepresby.org.
Traditional Easter Egg Hunt. 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Herndon MunicipalCenter Town Green, 777 Lynn St.,Herndon. Features craft projects,story time, dance sessions withKinderJam, a petting zoo, coloringmural, potting station and photoswith the Easter Bunny. Cost is $9 perchild in advance; $10 onsite. Visitherndon-va.gov/recreation, or call703-435-6800, ext. 2128.
MCC Spring Fest. 10 a.m.-noon at St.Luke’s School, 7005 GeorgetownPike, McLean. Carnival games andarts and crafts projects, soccer demo,roaming duck, bunny and squirrelcharacters as well as magic tricks byThe Amazing Kevin. A parent andchild Easter Egg Hunt will befeatured. For children ages 3-8.Hosted by McLean CommunityCenter. Visit www.mcleancenter.org,and use Activity No. 4501.318. Callthe Center at 703-790-0123, TTY-711.
2018 Community Egg Hunt. 10a.m.-1 p.m. at Van Dyck Park, 720Old Lee Hwy, Fairfax. The annualEgg Hunt at Van Dyck park is openand free to the community, thanks toCombined Properties. No registrationrequired. All ages welcome. Visitwww.fairfaxva.gov/about-us/city-calendar.
SUNDAY/APRIL 1Easter Brunch and Easter Egg
Hunt. 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.;1:30 p.m. at Hilton McLean TysonsCorner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr.,Tysons. The brunch buffets on bothEaster, April 1, and Mother’s Day,May 13, occur from 11 a.m. until 2p.m. and feature gourmet stationswith an array of dishes. Arrive earlyas a maximum of 50 participants willhunt in each age group. In addition,the Easter Bunny will be availablefrom 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. forphotos. Reservations at 703-761-5131 or on OpenTable atopentable.com/harth.
Easter Egg Hunts in the Area
Great Falls Children’s Festival:A Day When Community Comes TogetherThe Adeler Jewelers, in partnership with the Great FallsOptimist Club, celebrated their 34th Annual Children’sSpring Festival on Sunday, March 25, providing the GreatFalls families an afternoon of games, rides, food and fun.As seen in this photo from previous years, ‘Egg Hunt’ isalways a special attraction.
McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
From Page 3
Fundraiser forInjured Police Officer
“I don’t think we’d be as estab-lished as a community without thepolice force,” said Kuster. “Theyreally help out.”
“And we knew it was the rightthing to do,” added Ladson. “Wegive people good meals, but alsosupport our community. Thesefolks [police and firefighters]come in and support us and otherlocal businesses, and Off. Blockwas just doing her job and got in-jured in the line of duty.”
“Ashley has the best personality;she’s upbeat and a hard-charger,”said Redman during thefundraiser. “She has spunk andshe’s always ready to go. She hasheart for this job. The next day,when I visited her in the hospital,she was asking me when she couldcome back to work. She’s the kindof new officer that every supervi-sor wants.”
Sgt. David Kennedy, a formerMcLean officer now at FairfaxCounty Police Headquarters, saidBlock is “out of the hospital, on themend and in good spirits. But evenafter she’s recovered, she’ll still beon light-duty status for a while.”
Crime analyst Lori Seiden, alsoformerly at McLean, is now at theWest Springfield station. “Ashley’salways supporting my people,” shesaid.
“She’s really friendly and wantsto serve her community. So withthis fundraiser, we all want to helpoffset her medical costs.”
All 14 members of Block’s squad,the A shift, participated, as didfriends, plus others from theMcLean station, including the Tac-tical Squad, SWAT team, detec-tives and the station commander,Capt. John Trace. (He and Morganused to work together when Tracewas the Sully station’s assistantcommander).
“MOD Pizza offered up the ideato partner with a fundraiser to sup-port our critically injured officer,”said Trace.” Not only do they servegreat food, but their company phi-losophy is very supportive in na-ture. Things went very well, evenin the wintry weather. We had tre-mendous support from all of ourpublic-safety friends and the com-munity as a whole.”
Among them were about 16members of the county policeMotor Carrier (motorcycle) Squad.“McLean was my old station, andI’m here supporting a fellow of-ficer,” said MPO Chris Huber. “ButI also trained Ashley in speed mea-surement at the Police Academy,about six months ago. In class, she
was attentive and engaged in thecourse – which is hard to find in anew officer. She stayed focused, soI could tell she’d be a good officer,out on the street.”
He tried MOD’s Calexico pizzawith gorgonzola cheese, chickenand jalapeños and pronounced it“nice and spicy – perfect for a daylike today. I’ll be back.” He alsonoted that, at one point, MOD“had a line all the way aroundhere, from the counter to the backwall. Since Ashley’s only been anofficer for six months, the amountof people that came out to supporther says a lot. She’s a family mem-ber because we are a family.”
A WHOLE TABLE of firefightersfrom Fair Oaks Station 21’s A shiftwas there, too. Lt. Eddie Thurstonmade his own pizza with “a littlethis and a little that” and said ittasted good. Besides, he added, “Itwas important to come help themwith the fundraiser.”
A shift Capt. E.J. Burroughscalled Block “a fellow public ser-vant, so this is one helping outanother.” He said his shift alwayseats together to build teamwork.Enjoying the Lucy Sunshine pizzamade with garlic, artichokes,asiago cheese and tomato sauce,he said, “I’d absolutely recom-mend MOD because they makewhatever you want and it’s reallygood.”
Joining them was Hazmat Tech-nician Jorge Arce of Fairfax’s FireStation 40 on West Ox Road.Happy to pitch in for a police of-ficer, he explained, “Whether we’repolice or firefighters doesn’t makea difference. We still respond tocalls together, so I wanted to helpout. This was my first time here,but I’m definitely coming back.The pizza is fresh and good, andyou can’t beat their real pizzaoven.”
Also there were brand-new, FairOaks Police Officer SladzanaResnik and her training officer,MPO Lauretta Garrett. “This is ourfirst time here,” said Garrett. “Wecame for the fundraiser; we haveto support our family members.I’ve never met Officer Block, butshe had a terrible accident.”
They each had salads and shareda pizza with tomato sauce, moz-zarella cheese, onions, black olivesand mushrooms. “It was amazing,”said Garrett. “We’ll come backagain.”
But last week, they were therefor one of their own. Said Resnik:“As police officers, we work as oneand take care of each other.”
The Langley Robotics Teamfinished in first place at theFIRST Robotics ChesapeakeDistrict Southern MarylandEvent, March 16-18. Addition-ally, they were awarded the Cre-ativity Award for the innovativedesign of their robot. The Lan-gley Robotics Team is mentoredby Physics teachers Mr. Foleyand Mr. Swanson. The 60 per-son team is lead by CaptainsNate Ludlow, Zach Lesan, ChrisLarounis, Peter Swaak, RaniaSaeed, Meso Kim, JamesEllsworth and Shayan Golshani.
FIRST Robotics Competitionis recognized as the premierhigh school engineering chal-lenge.
Teams of students have sixweeks to conceptualize, design,build, program, modify and testa robot to participate in a com-petition that changes each year.Following the design and buildphase, teams enter competi-tions to compete for scores that
earn them a place at the FIRSTChesapeake District Champion-ship. By winning this event, theLangley Robotics Team have quali-
fied for and will attend the Dis-trict Championship March 28-31 at the Xfinity Center at theUniversity of Maryland.
The LangleyRobotics TeamWins Event,CreativityAward
Pictured, from left, are team members Abby Piper, ZachLesan, Shayan Golshani, Peter Swaak, Joey Massaro,Otto Janke, Nate Ludlow and James Ellsworth.
Pictured, from left, are team members Joey Massaro,Abby Piper, Zach Lesan, Nate Ludlow, Peter Swaak,Team Mentor Robert Foley, Shayan Golshani, JamesEllsworth, and Otto Janke.
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Submit entertainment announce-ments atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGGreat Falls Farmers Market.
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 WalkerRoad, Great Falls. Music, vendors,fresh produce, fresh prepared food,delightful bakery, spices from aroundthe world, wild-caught fish, grass-fed, free-range meats, organic-fedpoultry and eggs. [email protected] more.
Free Tai Chi. Every Saturday, from7:55-9 a.m., Introduction andBeginners’ Practice, meet on theoutdoor basketball court locateddirectly behind the Dolley MadisonPublic Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave.in McLean Central Park, McLean. Call703-759-9141 or visitwww.FreeTaiChi.org for more.
MCC Summer Camps. Plan now toregister children for MCC’s enrichingsummer camp programs for childrenages 3 through 18. Summer CampRegistration begins Monday, Feb. 5,for MCC district residents andMonday, Feb. 12, for all others. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY/MARCH 29-31Fairfax County Parks. Egg-citing
activities are breaking out at parksthroughout Fairfax County in March.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/park-news/2018/psa055.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center isrunning a Dinosaur Egg Hunt onMarch 29, 30, 31 and April 1. Enjoy adinosaur-themed program andoutdoor egg hunt while visiting
The Home & Garden Tour will take place in Great Falls,Vienna, and McLean on April 24 as part of the 85th His-toric Garden Week in Virginia.
Home & Garden TourTour four homes and gardens in Great Falls, Vienna and McLean on Tuesday,
April 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – from a “quilt garden” at a 1750 home to a garden andcottage designed for retirement. Advance tickets are $40 by April 17; tickets on dayof tour are $50 at Meadowlark Gardens, tour homes and the Great Falls Library.Contact Garden Club of Fairfax at [email protected] or visitwww.vagardenweek.org.
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Calendar
See Calendar, Page 9
Dinoland in Nature Playce. Theprogram is for children age 2-8. $8per child.
On Saturday, March 31, ClemyjontriPark is offering an Easter Egg Hunt,crafts and photo ops with the EasterBunny for children age one to nine.$7 per child. Add a carousel ride for$2. There’s also an Egg Hunt that dayat Nottoway Park. Register at the
picnic shelter for egg hunts forchildren age 1-9. Registration beginsat 9:30 a.m. Schedule: ages 1-2,10:30 a.m.; ages 3-4, 11 a.m.; ages 5-6, 11:30 a.m.; ages 7-9, 12 p.m. $10per child, registration 9:30-11:45a.m. $10 per child – cash only atregistration.
McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 8
Calendar
FRIDAY/MARCH 30“Clue.” 7 p.m. at The Old Firehouse,
1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.Join The Alden staff as they quotealong with the dialogue from “Clue”(PG). Admission and popcorn arefree. Bring your own non-alcholicbeverage. Don a secret identity,select a room, but leave lead pipesand ropes at home. Prop bags are $5each. Supplies are limited andadvance purchase is recommended.Visit mcleancenter.org.
SATURDAY/MARCH 31MCC Spring Fest. 10 a.m.-noon at St.
Luke’s School, 7005 GeorgetownPike, McLean. Carnival games andarts and crafts projects, soccer demo,roaming duck, bunny and squirrelcharacters as well as magic tricks byThe Amazing Kevin. A parent andchild Easter Egg Hunt will befeatured. For children ages 3-8.Hosted by McLean CommunityCenter. Visit www.mcleancenter.org,and use Activity No. 4501.318. Callthe Center at 703-790-0123, TTY-711.
SUNDAY/APRIL 1Easter Brunch and Easter Egg
Hunt. 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.;1:30 p.m. at Hilton McLean TysonsCorner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive,Tysons. Brunch buffet from 11 a.m.-2p.m. Arrive early as a maximum of 50participants will hunt in each agegroup. Easter Bunny will be availablefrom 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. forphotos. Reservations at 703-761-5131
Take Back the Forest. Volunteer tocombat invasive plants this spring.The Fairfax County Park Authorityhas many volunteer opportunitiesavailable to work in local parks toremove non-native invasive plantsfrom the parkland and replace themwith native plants. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/invasive-management-area. Orcontact Erin Stockschlaeder at 703-324-8681.
MONDAY/APRIL 2“The Wall’s Embrace” Film
Screening. 7 p.m. at The AngelikaFilm Center, 2911 District Ave.,Fairfax. Produced and directed byNancy Frohman of Potomac, Md., thefilm explores the psychology behindthe Vietnam Veterans Memorial andits power to heal. Visitwww.goldendoodleproductions.com.
SATURDAY/APRIL 7A Tour of Italy Supper Club Wine
Dinner. 7 p.m. at the Playroom atMcLean Racquet & Health Club, 1472Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Cost is$85/person. Join certified sommelier,Laurent Lala, for a vinous tour ofItaly. Each wine is paired with anItalian-inspired food course. Call703-356-3300 or visitwww.mcleanrhclub.com.
SUNDAY/APRIL 8Talk on John Mosby. 4 p.m. at Great
Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Featuring local authorGreg Wilson speaking on “PrivateJohn Mosby, First Virginia Cavalry,Picketing Fairfax County beforebecoming the Grey Ghost.” gfhs.org.
Amadeus Orchestra with StevenHonigberg, Cello. 4 p.m. at SaintLuke Catholic Church, 7001Georgetown Pike, McLean. A pre-concert lecture by Music Director A.Scott Wood will begin at 3:15 p.m.Tickets are $35 and may bepurchased at the door or online atwww.amadeusconcerts.com.Students 17 and under and activemilitary are admitted free.
10 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Unused medications inhomes can create asafety concern due to ac-
cidental ingestion, theft, misuseand abuse. In response, FairfaxCounty Government announcedthat in conjunction with theUnited States Drug EnforcementAdministration Prescription DrugTake-Back Day, it is holding Op-eration Medicine CabinetCleanout: Saturday, April 28,2018.
Fairfax County reports drugtake-back programs are important,“Because they are a safe methodfor disposing of prescription drugsand are organized and closelymonitored by local, state, and fed-eral government agencies. Safedisposal of unused or expiredmedications prevents drug abuseand misuse, accidental poisoning,and protects the environment.”
Residents in Fairfax County candrop off medications at any ofeight Fairfax County District PoliceStations between 10 a.m. and 2p.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018.Pills and liquids will be accepted;no pressurized canisters orneedles.
The Drop-off sites are RestonDistrict Station, 12000 BowmanTowne Drive, Reston; Fair OaksDistrict Station,12300 Lee JacksonMemorial Highway, Fairfax;Franconia District Station, 6121Franconia Road, Alexandria;
Mason District Station, 6507Columbia Pike, Annandale;McLean District Station, 1437Balls Hill Road, McLean; MountVernon District Station, 2511
Parkers Lane, Alexandria; SullyDistrict Station, 4900 StonecroftBoulevard, Chantilly; and WestSpringfield District Station, 6140Rolling Road, Springfield.
On their website, Fairfax Countyrecommends that to dispose ofsyringes, needles and other medi-cal sharps: “Place in (a) plasticcontainer with (a) screw-on top.Mark the container ‘residentialsharps’ and place in the trash.”
DEA Diversion Control Programreports the total weight collectedon National Take Back Day 2017was the most ever collected:900,386 pounds; that’s 450 tonsfrom 5,498 sites, beating the pre-vious high of 447 tons from 5,400sites in 2016.
tems are not designed to removethese chemicals. As a result, thesemedications can end up in the en-vironment and eventually in ourdrinking water.”
In addition, DEA states on theirwebsite that the majority of pre-scription drug abusers report insurveys that they got their drugsfrom friends and family. “Ameri-cans understand that cleaning outold prescription drugs from medi-cine cabinets, kitchen drawers,and bedside tables reduces acci-dents, thefts, and the misuse andabuse of these medicines, includ-ing the opioid painkillers … Eightout of 10 new heroin users beganby abusing prescription painkillersand moved to heroin when theycould no longer obtain or affordthose painkillers.”
Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout April 28Service is free, anonymous and no questions asked.
Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout: Saturday, April28, 2018, residents in Fairfax County can drop offmedications at any of eight Fairfax County DistrictPolice Stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pills andliquids will be accepted; no questions asked.
Pho
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K9 Teams Hold Workshop, Training
Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
The workshop was held at the PerfectPet Resort in Maryland.
Recently, multiple local agencies with K9 teamsfrom Fairfax County Fire and Rescue (VA-TF1),Fairfax County Police Department (PD), PrinceWilliam PD, and George Mason PD came togetherto train at the K9 Drive Building Workshop. Theworkshop was taught by Fairfax County Fire andRescue Assistant Chief (ret) Garrett Dyer at thePerfect Pet Resort in Maryland.
One goal of the workshop was to teach partici-pants how to become a better handler and helperfor the working dog. First half of day consisted oflecture and discussion. The rest of the day in-volved field work with the K9 and handler to helpenhance the K9’s desire to detect their target odor.
There were also teams from out of the area in-cluding K9’s from Massachusetts and VirginiaBeach. It was a fantastic learning experience forall involved.
—Technician Trish Danula/Fairfax
County Fire and Rescue
McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
You know, if my feet didn’t hurt so much, Icould almost forget that I have cancer, otherthan being aware of my upcoming infusion:April 6; my upcoming CT Scan and MRI: April18; and my upcoming follow-up appointmentwith my oncologist to discuss the results: April27.
Nevertheless, the goal is to not think aboutthe fact that I have non-small cell lung cancer,stage IV. The kind for which there is no cure;made clear by my oncologist at the initialTeam Lourie meeting when he advised methat he “could treat me but that he couldn’tcure me.” What?! At that surreal moment,what goes in one ear flies out the other.
But here I am, nine years and counting;you bet I’m counting. That’s one of the recur-ring thoughts I have as a multi-year cancersurvivor; although, as my friend Frank has saidto me: “you’re in pretty good condition forthe condition you’re in.”
Other than schedules and my underlyingdiagnosis (and my original “13 month to twoyear” prognosis), I regularly consider how longI’ve lived, one month now into year 10. It’sboth scary and reassuring: Am I further fromthe beginning or closer to the end? See. I can’tstop thinking about it.
Generally speaking however, I am notbogged down by my diagnosis/circumstances,as anybody who knows me, knows. Nor am Ipreoccupied with the imminent danger inwhich my diagnosis places me everyday. AndI’m certainly not bemoaning the likely reduc-tion in my life expectancy from what Iassumed it would be: mid to late 80s, givenhow long both my parents lived, to what islogical to believe it will now be: late 60s; con-sidering all the statistics for similarly diagnosedindividuals. Typically, one diagnosed withstage IV lung cancer doesn’t just live with it (asa chronic-type disease), rather you diebecause of it.
This column is more for public consump-tion than it is about private perception. Intruth, although a second, minute or hourdoesn’t go by when I don’tthink/remember/acknowledge the facts of mycase, I am able, most of the time, to keep asmile on my face and not bring a frown toothers.
Moreover, I want/need those others to for-get that I have cancer as much as it is possiblefor it to be forgotten. And I want my behaviorto be a contributing factor to their forgetting.If I don’t start it then there’s no reason forthem to finish it.
And I’m being selfish in saying so?Absolutely! Because the better vibrations Ireceive from others, the better I’ll feel aboutmyself. And the better I feel about myself, thebetter and more able I’ll be to deal with mydisease and all its emotional and physicalside- and straight-on effects. Effects which arehardly the stuff with which dreams are made.To invoke and rework a quote from the legen-dary screen actress Bette Davis: Having canceris not for sissies.
But it is indiscriminate and projections intothe not-to-distant future are frightening: forboth males and females, one in three have a“lifetime risk of developing or dying from can-cer,” according to the U.S. National CancerInstitute’s Surveillance Epidemiology and EndResults (SEER) Database, based on “data com-piled between 2012 and 2014, the mostrecent available.”
So how do you put that in your pipe andnot smoke it? If you’re unlucky enough to beone of these new “diagnosees,” you either rollwith the punches or get rolled over instead.The choice is yours, as it was mine.
“Get busy living or get bust dying,” asAndy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) said to “Red,”(Morgan Freeman), in the Oscar-nominated“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994). And Itry to remind myself of that every day, andevery night, too.
The DazeContinue To
Go ByeSubmit civic/community announcements at
ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
GOVERNING BOARD CANDIDATESThe McLean Community Center (MCC) is
seeking candidates to run for seats on its 2018-2019 Governing Board. A candidate must residein the Center’s tax district (Small District 1A-Dranesville). To have their names placed onelection ballots, candidates are required toobtain the signatures of 10 McLean tax districtresidents in their respective categories (eitheradult or youth). Three adult positions and twoyouth positions are open this year. Key ElectionDates:
❖ Monday, April 9: Absentee Voting begins at theMCC Administrative Office, 6631 Old DominionDr., and The Old Firehouse Center, 1440 ChainBridge Road.
❖ Sunday, May 6: Candidates Meet and Greet, 2-4p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of MCC, at theOld Firehouse Center, 1440 Chain Bridge Road.
❖ Wednesday, May 16: Absentee Voting ends at theMCC Administrative Office and the OldFirehouse Center at 5 p.m.
❖ Saturday, May 19: Elections at McLean Day from10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information on the MCC Governing BoardElections, call the Center at 703-790-0123, TTY:711, or visit the Center’s website: http://bit.ly/2ix7qc1.
SUNDAY-SUNDAY/MARCH 25-APRIL 1Antioch Christian Church, 1860 Beulah Road,
Vienna. Call 703-938-6753 or visitwww.antiochccvienna.org.
❖ Thursday, March 29: Passover/Seder Dinner(6:30 p.m.), RSVP with the church
❖ Friday, March 30: Good Friday (7:30 p.m.)❖ Sunday, April 1: Easter Sunday (10:30 a.m.,
Pike, McLean. Call 703-356-4902 or visitwww.stjohnsmclean.org.
❖ Wednesday, March 28: 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.Holy Eucharist and Healing Service
❖ Maundy Thursday, March 29: 5:30 p.m. HolyEucharist with Foot Washing in service designedfor children and 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist andStripping of the Altar with music and choir
❖ Friday, March 30 (noon-3 p.m.): Good Friday –Meditations and Music – Meditations by theRector on The Seven Last Words of Christ andmusic on the Seven Last Words of Christ sung bythe St. John’s Choir with organ accompaniment.All are welcome for any part of the service.
❖ Friday, March 30 (7:30 p.m.): Liturgy and Music– Solemn Vespers by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozartsung by the St. John’s Choir with organ, strings,trumpets, and timpani
❖ Saturday, March 31: Easter Vigil – 8 p.m. – TheFirst Eucharist of Easter and Renewal ofBaptismal Vows
❖ Sunday, April 1: Easter Day – 7:30, 9, 11:15 a.m.and 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist – Music with brassand timpani at each morning service
WEDNESDAY/MARCH 28Public Hearing on MCC Programs. 7:30 p.m.
at at the Center’s temporary administrativeoffice, 6631 Old Dominion Drive, McLean. TheMcLean Community Center Governing Board isanticipating the completion of the renovation ofits Ingleside Avenue facility later this year. TheBoard invites residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville to a Public Hearing on FY2020Programs. The hearing will be followed by theBoard’s regular monthly meeting for March.Residents who wish to speak at the hearing maycall the Center at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, tohave their names placed on the speakers’ list.Visit www.mcleancenter.org.
1 Million Cups. 8:30 a.m. networking; 9-10 a.m.program at Make Offices at Tysons, 1751Pinnacle Drive, Suite 600, McLean. Each week adifferent business owner gives a brief six-minutepresentation about where they are in theirbusiness. They then offer up a challengequestion about a new idea, product, expansionor something they are facing in their business.The group then masterminds solutions. Free andopen to the public. Visit www.1millioncups.com
THURSDAY/MARCH 29Maundy Thursday Service. 7:30-8:30 at
Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 ChainBridge Road, McLean. On Maundy Thursday, theday of the “new Commandment” to love andserve one another, hear Jesus speak of his deathas his glorification. Call 703-237-0358 or visitwww.lewinsville.org.
Bulletin
12 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ March 28 - April 3, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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