Share Seeks Holiday Support News, Page 6 An Instrumental Program At Oakcrest School News, Page 10 McLean Voters Head to Polls News, Page 3 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com Opinion, Page 8 ❖ Entertainment, Page 10 ❖ Sports, Page 16 ❖ Classifieds, Page 18 Photo by Alex McVeigh/The Connection November 7-13, 2012 Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material. Requested in home 11-8-12 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Easton, MD PERMIT #322 McLean McLean Wellbeing Page 14 McLean Voters Head to Polls News, Page 3 Share Seeks Holiday Support News, Page 6 An Instrumental Program At Oakcrest School News, Page 10 Voters sign in at Langley High School Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Transcript
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Share SeeksHoliday SupportNews, Page 6
An Instrumental ProgramAt Oakcrest SchoolNews, Page 10
McLean VotersHead to Polls
News, Page 3
online at www.connectionnewspapers.com
Opinio
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❖ Entertainm
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❖ Spo
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❖ C
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November 7-13, 2012
Attention Postmaster:
Time sensitive material.
Requested in home 11-8-12
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Easton, MD
PERMIT #322
McLeanMcLean
WellbeingPage 14
McLean VotersHead to Polls
News, Page 3
Share SeeksHoliday SupportNews, Page 6
An Instrumental ProgramAt Oakcrest SchoolNews, Page 10
Voters sign in at Langley HighSchool Tuesday, Nov. 7.
2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Election volunteer MariMcColl kept lines movingand answered voter’squestions. Jim Eggeman of Vienna.
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Absentee VotingDown SlightlyMore confusion about redistrictingreported at polls, not Voter ID.
By Victoria Ross
The Connection
The line of 100-plus vot-ers casting absenteeballots at the Reston
Government Center Fridayevening moved quickly. Pollworkers Mari McColl and JoeGofus frequently walked up anddown the lines, checking tomake sure forms were filled outcorrectly, and voters got an-swers to their questions.
“Do you have your forms?Any questions about your ID?Need anything else, a beermaybe?” joked Gofus.
“We haven’t had any real prob-lems,” McColl said. “We only hadto turn away one voter so far, andthat was because the only formof ID this man had was an out-of-state driver’s license.” McCollsaid election volunteers providedthe man with the list of accept-able forms of identification.McColl said most absentee vot-ers have been using their newVoter Registration Cards, sent outby the State Board of Electionsin early October.
McColl said the line Fridaynight was relatively short com-pared to earlier in the week.
“On Thursday we had over750 people come through,” shesaid. “Things have been hop-ping, but it’s worth it to be partof the process as long as peoplevote.”
Jim Eggeman of Vienna,standing in line at the RestonGovernment Center Fridaynight, was one of the 82,145voters in Fairfax County whocast an “in-person” absenteeballot by Nov. 3, according toCameron Quinn, the County’s
chief elections official. “This ismore convenient than trying toget here on Election Day, and Iwill be working all day,” he said.
Quinn said absentee votingwas down slightly this presiden-tial year—a total of 93,014 ab-sentee ballots mailed—com-pared to 107,145 in 2008.
“We typically have high voterturnout in Fairfax County,”Quinn said. In 2008, Quinn said79 percent of the County’s reg-istered voters cast their ballots,compared to 38 percent nation-ally. And nearly 90 percent ofeligible voters, about 721,000out of 800,000, have alreadyregistered to vote in FairfaxCounty.
Fairfax County’s Office ofElection employees have beenworking overtime the past fewmonths to make sure voters are“election ready” on Tuesday,Nov. 6.
While Virginia’s new Voter IDlaws was the hot topic in therun-up to the Nov. 6 elections—Quinn said many of her office’s600-plus calls each day con-cerned the Voter ID measures—it wasn’t the big question inmany polling stations. Redis-tricting was.
“Now I’m confused,” saidOakton voter Barb Cranston. “Ithought I was in the 11th dis-trict, but someone just told meI’m in the 10th Congressionaldistrict.”
“I’m not sure if I’m still in the11th district,” Eggeman said, aselection volunteers walkedthrough the line, looking upaddresses to help guide votersto the right ballot box.
“I didn’t even know there wasredistricting,” Eggeman said.
Paul Sweet, McLean“Barack Obama, because the
economy is the biggest issue, andhis policies are working. Romneyoffers nothing but inconsistency,while President Obama has seenjob growth and economy growthfor many quarters in a row. Ithink he needs a second term tosolidify the gains he’s made, likethe healthcare act and rights forwomen. I just don’t have any ideawhat kind of president Mitt Rom-ney would be.”
Bud Albright, McLean“The economy is the most im-
portant issue in this election, andI voted for Mitt Romney becausewe need a president with privatesector experience. The currentpresident understands how gov-ernment works, but the privatesector is where the biggest andmost important change needs tohappen.”
M.K. Roth, McLean“I’m here voting on behalf of
the unborn, which makes MittRomney the only choice, becausehe’s anti-abortion. Even if he over-turns Roe v. Wade, that just givesthe rights to decide back to thestate. And I’m not particularlyfond of funding for abortions ei-ther.”
Betsy Rice, McLean“I am in favor of Mitt Romney’s
plans for middle America andsmall businesses. And Paul Ryan isone of the most brilliant budgetaryminds we have, and his plan canbe shaped with input from bothsides as needed. I think PresidentObama just hasn’t been involved increating legislation, he’s left toomuch to congress, we haven’t hada budget in two years, and I feellike he’s just spent the last fouryears running for re-election.”
Voters line up at Langley High School Tuesday, Nov. 7.
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McLean Voters Head to PollsVoting locations crowdedstarting at 6 a.m.
By Alex McVeigh
The Connection
McLean residents flocked to the pollsTuesday, Nov. 6 to choose a president,senator and congressman, as well asvote on several key County issues. As
early as 5:30 a.m., the parking lots were full at Lan-gley High School and the Lewinsville Senior Center,and lines stayed full throughout the morning.
“We had people lining up through the entire lengthof the hall, almost from the entrance back to the caf-eteria at 5:30 a.m.,” said David Rampy, an electionofficer working at Langley Tuesday. “We expect about2,500 to 3,000 to this precinct today, which should beabout the same number as the 2008 election. The firstwave lasts till about 9 a.m., then it should slow down.”
While lines tended to build up quickly, oftenstretching to the outside of polling locations, elec-tion personnel said they were able to move peoplethrough quickly.
“It’s been busy, but the electronic check-in, instead
of the big books, as well as the paper ballots, havehelped us move people through pretty quick,” saidMargaret Turek, an election volunteer at LewinsvilleCenter.
Stations had a few touch screen devices, andaround 10 stations for votes to fill out their paperballot. Once they were filled out, voters fed theminto an optical reader.
While the paper ballots were mostly a way for vot-ers to skip the lines on the touch screens, they be-came more in demand as a few machines briefly wentdown at Langley High School around 8 a.m.
“I actually thought the paper ballots weren’t badat all,” said Steve Howard of McLean, who had toswitch. “Sort of like a test in school, except we get tofeed it into the machine ourselves.”
While the decision between Republicans andDemocrats was on most people’s minds, many alsowere careful to make a decision on the local issues.
“I hope people did their homework about the bal-lot initiatives, especially the one for storm waterfunds,” said Nelson Truong of McLean. “Tysons Cor-ner, past, present and future, has shown us the im-portance of making sure storm water has a place togo, especially if we keep paving over the surfaceswhere water would normally go.”
Viewpoints
Who did you vote for, and what was the most importantissue to you?
4 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
Preparing for Holiday Homes Tour and MarketPlaceMcLeanWoman’s Clubgets ready forannual fundraiser.
The Woman’s Club ofMcLean is in the finalstages of planning for its
46th annual Holiday Homes Tourand MarketPlace, to be held Thurs-day, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.The self-guided tour will takeplace in the leafy, secluded enclaveof River Oaks in northwestMcLean, between the Beltway andthe Potomac River.
River Oaks can be reached bytaking Balls Hill Road (via OldDominion Drive) north acrossGeorgetown Pike, passing Ben-jamin Street on the right, turningleft to cross the beltway bridge,making a right onto Live Oak Driveand continuing a quarter of a mile,past the Langley Swim Club. Visi-tors may park on Live Oak andRivercrest Drive.
THE HOLIDAY HOMES TOURwill focus on four large houses onRivercrest and Live Oak Drives,each reflecting a distinct architec-tural style. Perhaps the most strik-ing will be “the castle”—as neigh-bors refer to it—featuring a stoneexterior with a Romanesque towerand 12-foot-high mahogany en-trance doors. The home backs upto the Potomac, has a double base-ment with a swimming pool andhas recently been listed for $12.5million. The other three houses arelarge brick mansions, one in thetraditional manor style, another ofFrench Provincial design and thethird in conservatively modern redbrick. Large foyers, high ceilings,elegant chandeliers and beauti-
fully landscaped terraces/yardsare among these homes’ distinctivefeatures. In addition, all fourhouses will be festively decoratedfor the holidays by Woman’s Clubmembers in consultation with thehomeowners. The cherry on top,holiday music will ring through-out the decked halls.
On the same day, Dec. 6, theWoman’s Club is sponsoring aseparate MarketPlace in centralMcLean at Trinity United Method-ist Church, 1205 Dolley MadisonBlvd. It will offer a dozen or morevendors, a lunch and dessert con-cession and a silent auction ofmerchandise and services. TheMarketPlace will be free. Products
and services for sale will includejewelry, clothing, handbags,housewares, foods, decorativeitems, portrait sketching andHomes Tour tickets. A Woman’sClub bakery will sell homemadebaked goods and preserves. Lunchwill be available on site fromSweet Leaf of McLean from 11:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and drinks anddesserts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.The silent auction, from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m., will solicit bids for 36different products and services,from hotel stays and fitness classesto theater tickets and portrait pho-tography, with drawings at 3 p.m.Ample parking will be available inthe church lots.
TICKETS for the Homes Tour willbe $25 if purchased before the dayof the tour and $30 if purchasedon Dec. 6. Besides the tickets avail-able at the MarketPlace, ticketswill be for sale at each tour houseon Dec. 6 and at three local busi-nesses before that date:Mesmeralda’s Gifts of McLean(1339 Chain Bridge Road,McLean), Karin’s Florist of Vienna(527 Maple Ave., E., Vienna) andGreat Dogs of Great Falls (9859Georgetown Pike).
The honorary chairman of thisyear’s Holiday Homes Tour andMarketPlace will be Virginia StateHouse Delegate Barbara J.Comstock (R-34). A formal ribbon
cutting with officials and invitedguests will take place at the firsthome on the tour, 616 Live OakDrive, at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 6.
All proceeds of the Homes Tourand MarketPlace will be donatedto local charities and nonprofits,such as Share, Inc., AlternativeHouse, the McLean Project for theArts (The Children’s Outreach),Claude Moore Colonial Farm, theMcLean Volunteer Fire Depart-ment, Fisher House and theMcLean Symphony, as well as usedfor scholarships and education.
For more information call 703-356-9646 or 703-556-0197.
—Laura Sheridan
Woman’s Club to Hold MarketPlace Fundraiser
Trinity United Methodist Church, McLean.
On Thursday, Dec. 6, the Woman’s Club of McLeanwill hold a fundraising fair featuring numerousvendors, a lunch and dessert concession and a si-
lent auction of some 35 goods and services. Dubbed theMarketPlace, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Trin-ity United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd.,in central McLean. Admission will be free. The event willcoincide in timing with the Woman’s Club’s 46th annualHoliday Homes Tour taking place in the River Oaks area ofMcLean that day.
Products and services for sale at the MarketPlace will in-clude jewelry, clothing, handbags, foods, decorative items,portrait sketching and Homes Tour tickets. (The tour tick-ets will also be available at selected local merchants for $25before Dec. 6 and for $30 on Dec. 6 at the tour houses). AWoman’s Club Bakery will sell homemade baked goods andpreserves.
Lunch—salads and sandwiches—will be available from SweetLeaf of McLean from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and drinks anddesserts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The silent auction, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will accept bidsfor 36 different goods and services donated by local businesses,from hotel stays and fitness classes to theater tickets and por-trait photography, with the highest bidders being announcedat 3 p.m.
Ample parking will be available in the church lots.All proceeds of the MarketPlace and Homes Tour will be do-
nated to local charities and nonprofits, such as Share, Inc., Al-ternative House, the McLean Project for the Arts (The Children’sOutreach), Claude Moore Colonial Farm, the McLean Volun-teer Fire Department, Fisher House and the McLean Symphony,as well as used for scholarships and education.
For more information call 703-356-9646 or 703-556-0197.—Laura Sheridan
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The first house on the tour. A castle-style mansion.
A French Provincial-style home. A traditional manor-style house.
Photos by Laura Sheridan/Woman’s Club of McLean
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Bulletin Board
To have community events listed in theConnection, send [email protected] is Friday.
THURSDAY/NOV. 8Northern Virginia Leadership
Awards. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., atWestwood Country Club, 800 MapleAve. E., Vienna. Honoring leaderswho are making a difference in thecommunity. $60, members; $75, non-member alumni and general public;$1000, table of ten. 703-752-7553 orwww.leadershipfairfax.org/nvlatickets.
TUESDAY/NOV. 13NARFE Meeting. 1:30 p.m., at Vienna
Community Center, 120 CherryStreet, Vienna. The Vienna-OaktonChapter 1116 meeting hosts JessicaKlement, a NARFE communicationsand legislative representative. 703-281-5123.
Bully-Free NOVA LaunchReception. 5-6:30 p.m., at theJames Lee Community Center, 2855Annandale Road, Suite 101, FallsChurch. Racial/ethnic minorities,LGBT youth and racial/ethnicminorities are at-risk for bullyingeven more than other children; learnthe basics of the Fairfax Partnershipfor Youth’s outreach program tocombat bullying, how to getcommunity-based organizations ofbusinesses involved and how to beinvolved. Register. 703-324-5535,www.fairfaxyouth.org [email protected].
NAACP Officer Elections. 5:30-8p.m., First Baptist Church of Vienna,450 Orchard St. NW, Vienna. Theelection at the General Membershipmeeting will decide the new officersand NAACP committee members.www.fairfaxnaacp.org.
AAUW Branch Program. 7 p.m., atthe McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. A talk on thechallenges and successes of bringinglife saving preventive and curativehealth care to rural, under-servedfamilies in Ethiopia through theRural Health Extension WorkerProgram. 703-790-5550.
WEDNESDAY/NOV. 14Holy Hill Garden Club Meeting.
9:45 a.m., at Trinity UnitedMethodist Church, 1205 DolleyMadison Blvd., McLean. Botanicalillustrator and artist CarolineHottenstein speaks on the history ofbotanical illustrations and presentsan art work show. 703-790-0682.
THURSDAY/NOV. 15Christmas Craft Show: Crafters
Wanted. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., OaktonChurch of the Brethren, 10025Courthouse Road, Vienna. The 19thAnnual Christmas Craft Show’sconsignment shop-style market hasspace open for more wares. 703-281-4411 or www.oaktonbrethren.org.
FRIDAY/NOV. 16Christmas Craft Show: Crafters
Wanted. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., OaktonChurch of the Brethren, 10025Courthouse Road, Vienna. The 19thAnnual Christmas Craft Show’sconsignment shop-style market hasspace open for more wares. 703-281-4411 or www.oaktonbrethren.org.
SATURDAY/NOV. 17Christmas Craft Show: Crafters
Wanted. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., OaktonChurch of the Brethren, 10025Courthouse Road, Vienna. The 19thAnnual Christmas Craft Show’sconsignment shop-style market hasspace open for more wares. 703-281-4411 or www.oaktonbrethren.org.
6 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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News
Share SeeksHoliday SupportThanksgiving, Christmas events toprovide food, gifts for those in need.
By Alex McVeigh
The Connection
Share of McLean, a local non-profit that provides food,clothing, financial and
transportation assistance to thosein need, is gearing up for its an-nual Thanksgiving and ChristmasDrives. The two events will pro-vide meals, gifts and other assis-tance to hundreds of families thisholiday season.
Diane Morrison, coordinator ofthe event, said about 160 familiesare confirmed to attend, with an-other 90 in the process of beingapproved. The Nov. 17 Thanksgiv-ing event will serve more than 700individuals.
They are trying to collect$10,000 worth of grocery store giftcards, which will be given in $25increments to families at the
Thanksgiving event. So far theyhave collected about $2,000, butwill be accepting donations untilthe event.
For the Christmas celebration onSaturday, Dec. 8, gift cards toplaces like Target will be given out,to allow families to shop for pre-sents. Clients will also submit wish
Items NeededThe Share food pantry is low
on the following items, which canbe donated Wednesdays and Sat-urdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon atthe McLean Baptist Church, 1367Chain Bridge Road.
White rice, white sugar, veg-etable oil, 100 percent juice,canned fruit, ground coffee, teabags, baby wipes, diapers andlaundry detergent are all in needat the pantry.
See Share, Page 7
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
Share Seeks Holiday SupportFrom Page 6
lists for presents.Share serves people in the 22101, 22102,
22066 and 22043 area codes, and its clien-tele are referred to them by Fairfax Countysocial workers or verified by Share volunteers.
“Everything we collect, food, money,other donations, stays here, right in thiscommunity, and it supports the people inour neighborhoods,” Morrison said. “Manyof our clients are working poor, who havejobs but are still struggling to make endsmeet, and that’s something we can helpwith.”
Share maintains a food pantry and clothescloset at the McLean Baptist Church, whichis open Wednesday and Saturday mornings.They are currently seeking donations of
winter coats, boots, scarves and hats.“This is a big week for us, because local
Boy Scout troops will be dropping off bagsfor the annual Scouting for Food Drive, andpicking up donated food next weekend,”said Therese Dyer-Caplan, a volunteer at thefood bank. “It will go to stock our shelvesduring this busy season.”
According to their records, Share hasgiven an average of 662 bags of groceriesand about 200 bags of clothes per monththis year.
The nonprofit also runs a program to de-liver donated furniture for those in need,as well as transportation to medical appoint-ments, Share donation events and more.
Information on services offered by Sharecan be found at www.shareofmclean.org.
The Share foodpantry at McLeanBaptist Church isshort on severalitems. As the holidayseason approaches,they hope to restock.
Photo by Alex
McVeigh/The
Connection
8 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
Barack Obama came to Northern Virginia on Saturday,Nov. 3 with Bill Clinton and Dave Matthews.
Mitt Romney packed the Patriot Center at George MasonUniversity on Monday, Nov. 5. Anne Romney asked: “Willwe be neighbors soon?”
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Feeling ImportantPresidential campaigns traverse Northern Virginiaon last days, mark the importance of every vote.
The images from the last weeks ofthe presidential election of 2012make it clear that it would be hardto overstate the importance of vot-
ing, especially in Virginia, especially in North-ern Virginia.
Every vote will be important. What I wishfor today from Northern Virginia is record turn-out and smooth sailing for voters casting theirvotes.
Writing this the morning of Election Day, it’sstill fair to say that the race for president andfor the U.S. Senate in Virginia is too close tocall. It’s hard to overstate the difference it will
make when the election results are final.Mitt Romney came to the George Mason
University Patriot Center on Monday, also be-stowing attention on Republican Senate can-didate George Allen. It was one of several tripsto the area.
President Barack Obama came to Prince Wil-liam County on Saturday, along with BillClinton. On Monday, Vice President Joe Bidencame to Claude Moore Park. Both visits gave aboost to Democratic Senate candidate TimKaine.
The money that has been spent—and raised—here in Virginia is daunting. At the end of Octo-
ber, in 2012, Romney had raised $10.1 millionand Obama $8.2 million in checks of $200 ormore from Virginians, according to the VirginiaPublic Access Project. Inside the Beltway donors(different from Northern Virginia in VPAP’s cat-egories) gave $3,193,148 to Obama and$3,104,160 to Romney. Northern Virginia out-side the Beltway gave $2,694,030 to Obama and$3,525,796 to Romney.
While either way, about half of voters willbe disappointed by the outcomes here, no onewill be sorry that this campaign season is over.It’s been fun to be a favorite child in some ways,but it will be OK to go back to addressing localissues without the magnification of such animportant election.
First-time Voters Viewpoints: “Who are you voting for and why?”
Thomas Vaughn, 18, Great Falls“I am voting for Mitt Romney. While
I have serious issues with both candi-dates, certain policies of PresidentObama, such as his drone wars and hissupport for abortion, are simply toomuch for me to stomach voting for him.I also believe that Romney will be a littlebit better for the economy.”
Isabel Hefner (left), 18, Great Falls,Freshman at Virginia Tech University
“I’m not completely decided on eithercandidate yet, but I am leaning towardsRomney. The issues I am really concernedabout right now are the ones that are themost important to me and affect me themost, such as abortion, healthcare and theeconomy. Romney comes off as a strongerleader and that is important to me.”
Sarah Hefner (right), 21, Great Falls,Senior at Penn State University
“I am undecided, because I don’t knowwho to believe. They attack each otherand say the same things about each otherand I’m turned off by it. I watched the first two presidential debates and the vicepresidential debate, and that’s exactly what they did. I would trust someone whois stronger in his convictions. The candidates change their minds and opinions alot, and I have no respect for that. As leaders, they should have a strong set of beliefsand convictions.”
Ellie Darcy, 18, Oakton, Freshman atUniversity of Mississippi
“I am voting for President Obama. Iwant someone who cares about thepeople and based on what he wants to doin the future and being consistent in whathe says, I think he’s the best candidate.”
—Jennifer Benitz
Tory Zehnder , 18,McLean, Freshman at JamesMadison University
“I will vote for Romney,because of his pro-life views.I also don’t believe thereshould be more taxing on thewealthy. I think we shouldhave even and fair taxing.Once I get a job, I will defi-nitely want a tax plan that Ilike. I’m excited that I canvote now. It will be good thatmy voice will be heard.”
Stephen Garone,18, McLean
“I am voting forMitt Romney. I didmy research andagree with what heis saying. He is morepro-life than otherpresidents. In re-gards to economicplans, Paul Ryan’stax plan is better. Idon’t trust Obamaanymore.”
Andrew Shaw,18, McLean
“I’m voting forMitt Romney.Obama hasn’tdone much forAmerica and Ithink someoneelse deserves achance.”
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The following students were namedsemifinalists in the 2013 NationalAchievement® Scholarship Program:Taylor N. Brown and Zakiy S.Gharad from McLean High School;Margaret C. Secor from James Madi-son High School; and Misa C. Morifrom Oakton High School.
The following students were namedsemifinalists in the 2013 National MeritScholarship Program: Patrick F.Sanguineti from Flint Hill School;Katherine Fowler, BenjaminHaines, Thomas F. Lomont,Atussa Mohtasham, Jeremy K.Park, Amanda N. Rones, Abigail C.Skwara, Anna E. Stone and Faith C.Tetlow from James Madison HighSchool; Bridget J. Bauman, MelissaC. Chang, Ambareesh Gorle,Tamera R. Lanham, Irene S. Lee,Andrew R. Seastram and StewartC. Silver from Oakton High School;Paul Bernstein, Ryan W. Cheng,Aimee A. Cho, Christie S.Goddard, Eunyoung C. Kim, GeneKim, Margaret R. Mahoney,Yasmeen K. Mushtaq, PraveenaMylvaganam, Nadejda S.Nikolova, Kelvin Nui, Caitlin A.Rose and Mujtaba M. Wani fromLangley High School; Taylor N.Brown, Shannon Chen, Maia D.Foster, Joshua D. Higbee,Annemieke L. Janssen, Vivek V.Kunnath, Lewis C. Milholland,Madelyn S. Paquette, Polina V.Tamarina, Nivetha Vijayakumarand Cedric Whitney from McLeanHigh School; Stacey Y. Chiu, Char-lotte A. Ferenbach, Julia L. Keller,Nicholas M. Kensinger andCaroline J. Resor from PotomacSchool.
Cadet Cpt. Monica Valcourt,daughter of Jeffery and Nelcy Valcourtof McLean, and a junior at MassanuttenMilitary Academy located in Woodstock,Va., recently completed a MIT course inPsychology through the OpenCourseware Consortium. Ms. Valcourt isAlpha Company Commander; the high-est ranking position of the only femaleunit at the Academy, Vice-President ofthe Massanutten Military Academy Na-tional Honor Society, Vice-President ofInteract; a Rotary Club community ser-vice program for students, and a leaderon the Army JROTC “Raiders”; an ath-letic and military competition team. TheMIT course is one of many college levelcourses offered and is an introduction tothe study of Psychology presented froma heavily scientific perspective. Monica,one of the youngest students to success-fully complete the course, did so with an“A.”
Churchill Road Eco-Patrols Lauren Cain, J.J. Bellaschi,Katherine Walker, Ryker Bendewald and Haley Soutterassist Building Manager Hever Palma with groundscleanup after Hurricane Sandy.
Post-SandyClean Up
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy,Churchill Road eco-patrols helpedwith the storm-related cleanup.Working with Hever Palma, build-ing supervisor, the team helpedrake all the leaves on the schoolgrounds as a result of the strongwinds. Using iPOD technology,Patrol Lauren Cain (far left), re-lays the students’ position to Pa-trol Supervisor Jordan Craig Kuhnat Patrol Headquarters in theschool’s technology lab.
HUMANE SOCIETY OF FAIRFAX COUNTYHours: Monday-Friday 10-4 and Saturday 10-3 • 703-385-PETS
Adoptions: By appointment only. • www.hsfc.org
THIS IS “BUDDY”Come and discover for yourself why thisadorable fella is named Buddy. If you’relooking for a best friend, look no furtherthan this sweet boy. Buddy is 3 yearsold, already housebroken, kid-proof andgood with other dogs. He’ll be yourwalking pal, your sidekick and mostimportantly, your pillow on the couchwhen the game is on. He has a whiteand tan coat with short hair. Rush to getyour application in so you can come outand meet your Forever Best Friend!Attributes: SuperSweetie!
10 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Send announcements [email protected] is Thursday for the followingweek’s paper. Photos/artwork encouraged.For additional listings, visitwww.connectionnewspapers.c
THURSDAY/NOV. 8Romeo and Juliet Together (and
Alive!) at Last. 7:30 p.m., in theSherman Arts Center at the LangleySchool, 1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean.The middle school’s Romeo and Julietditch the tragedy and get comedic.$8. www.langleyschool.org.
A Night of Contemporary FolkTunes: Tim O’Brien and OldMan Luedecke. 8 p.m., at TheBarns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road,Vienna. O’Brien, first a folk musicman in the 80s then a solo GRAMMY-winning bluegrass artist returns afterthree years with Old Man Luedeckeand his narrative-driven folk songs.www.wolftrap.org.
FRIDAY/NOV. 9Romeo and Juliet Together (and
Alive!) at Last. 7:30 p.m., in theSherman Arts Center at the LangleySchool, 1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean.The middle school’s Romeo and Julietditch the tragedy and get comedic.$8. www.langleyschool.org.
Chaise Lounge. 8 p.m., at The Barns atWolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road, Vienna.The D.C.-based jazz ensemble bringthe 60s swing-jazz scene with them.www.wolftrap.org.
SATURDAY/NOV. 10Annual Fall Bazaar. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in
the Flame Room at the firedepartment, 400 Center St. S.,Vienna. The bazaar features craftsand home-based businesses offeringup holiday decorations, and home andgift items; baked goods and lunchavailable. 703-309-3468 [email protected].
36th Annual McLean AntiquesShow & Sale. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at theMcLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. American,English and European antiques; folkart, porcelains, paintings, prints,linens, Oriental carpets and more. $7.www.pappabello.com.
Romeo and Juliet Together (andAlive!) at Last. 1 p.m., 7:30 p.m., inthe Sherman Arts Center at theLangley School, 1411 Balls Hill Road,McLean. The middle school’s Romeoand Juliet ditch the tragedy and getcomedic. $8. www.langleyschool.org.
Eddie From Ohio’s and JulieMurphy Wells. 7:30 p.m., at TheBarns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road,Vienna. Recognized as the “BestContemporary Folk Group” by theWashington Area Music Association,Wells found national recognition withEddie From Ohio. www.wolftra
SUNDAY/NOV. 11Veterans Day Ceremony. 11 a.m.,
330 Center St. N, Vienna. USAFGeneral Bob Ranck speaks; the publicis invited (all are requested to park atthe back of the building). 703-938-9535.
36th Annual McLean AntiquesShow & Sale. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at theMcLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. American,English and European antiques; folkart, porcelains, paintings, prints,linens, Oriental carpets and more. $7.www.pappabello.com.
QL+ BBQ. 2-6 p.m., at the Pavilions ofTurkey Run, 6310 Georgetown Pike,McLean. Themed “EmpoweringHeroes Through Technology,” Qualityof Life Plus holds a BBQ event withsilent and live auctions, rides, games,face painting, arts and crafts, drinksand dinner to benefit the nation’sheroes. $50, adults; $20, ages 6-18;5-and-under, free. www.qlplus.org.
MONDAY/NOV. 12Great Falls Freedom Memorial
An Instrumental ProgramAt Oakcrest SchoolMcLean independentgirls’ school enjoys itsmusical reputation.
The sixth grade chorus class, including students Kiley Hatch, Maddy Conroy, LilyJames, Julia Cipollone, Emma Pelletier, Caroline Dauchess and Grace Talbott, prac-tice one of their more challenging pieces, Laudate Dominum.
By Lori Baker
The Connection
When music teacher Anne Millercame to Oakcrest School 11 yearsago, there was no formal musicprogram. The small Catholic girls
school in McLean had no formal chorus, no bandand no orchestra. So imagine her delight at theschool’s current reputation.
“It’s been said that it’s become a singing school,”Miller said. “Which I think is beautiful,” she added.Miller said the girls are constantly singing in thehalls. They leave class singing.
As director of the school’s music program, shebuilt the program from the ground up.
The program started slowly. Middle school girls,grades sixth through eighth began with chorus. Amusic appreciation course was soon added. “Theydevelop an understanding of the great classics aswell, and some of them might come in thinking Idon’t want to learn this music,” said Miller. “Butinvariably they leave saying, ‘wow, I want to keeplistening and going to concerts.’”
Though the school historically produced oneshow per year, Miller is proud that the girls nowput on Broadway musicals, and present musicalshows throughout the year. In fact, last year’sSeussical production resulted in four Cappie awardnominations for the school. Miller said that couldnot have been done without Oakcrest Theater Di-rector Jessica Carey.
“I have never liked music class,” said sixth grader,Caroline Dauchess. “But I like this music class. It’sfun. We learn all these songs, like staccato.” At themention of the word, the students spontaneouslybelted out staccato demonstrations, which werequickly followed by giggles.
EACH CHORUS CLASS begins with a series ofwarm-ups, also cause for stifled giggles. The warm-ups feature a wide variety of stretches for not justthe vocal chords, but for posture as well. “I thinkwe learned a lot of cool techniques that help ussing a lot better,” said sixth grader, Maddy Conroy.“It’s a lot of fun. It’s cool learning all of these songs
Oakcrest School’s music team, JoannaIwaskiw, Anne Miller and Elizabeth Black.
that you never thought would exist.”Depending on the time of day, music of another
sort can be heard coming from the school’s audito-rium. Students with flutes, cellos, violins and oboeswere spread throughout the room, focused on in-dividual practice sessions.
On one recent October morning, they were justgiven a new piece of music to learn. Oakcrest In-strumental Music Director Joanna Iwaskiw movedthroughout the room, individually coaching eachstudent. Iwaskiw was hired just this year to get theschool’s new instrumentals program off the ground.Many of the students had previously played instru-ments, and Miller encouraged them to stick withthose instruments until the school’s instrumentalsprogram could begin. The students have greetedthe new program with enthusiasm.
Iwaskiw enjoys seeing what the children learn.And it’s more than just music. “It is a place wherethe students really express themselves. Their char-acter is very much shown while singing and play-ing music. And I’ve noticed also the girls’ reallyhard work ethic, which is lovely to have.”
THE GIRLS are beginning to prepare for a Christ-mas concert on Dec. 17. And Miller is pleased thatthe upper school chorus has been invited to singfor a third year with the McLean Orchestra, on Dec.8 and 9, at Oakcrest. Both concerts are open to thepublic.
Miller said she is proud of the students, and theschool’s music program. “I am very happy to beable to give the students the opportunity to learnmusic, to express their creativity, to experience thebeauty of music,” she said.
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Entertainment
The Langley School willpresent its MiddleSchool fall production
of “Romeo and Juliet Together(and Alive!) at Last” Thursday,Nov., 8 through Saturday, Nov.10, at 7:30 p.m. in the school’sSherman Arts Center, with anadditional matinee performanceat 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.Tickets may be purchased inadvance atwww.langleyschool.org for $8each.
This comedic version ofShakespeare’s classic love storytakes place in the modern daywhen a group of middleschoolers decides to put on aproduction of “Romeo andJuliet” with the goal of spark-ing a romance between two oftheir shy classmates who arecast as the play’s hero and hero-ine. But lack of dramatic exper-tise, only two weeks of re-hearsal, an inadequate set, anda classmate’s villainy threatenthe well-meaning endeavor ev-ery step of the way. When thebig day finally arrives, lines aredropped, costumes rip, andscenery tumbles. Yet, in spite ofeverything, true love triumphsin the end.
The Langley School will present its Middle School fallproduction of “Romeo and Juliet Together (andAlive!) at Last” Thursday, Nov., 8 through Saturday,Nov. 10, in the school’s Sherman Arts Center. Picturedare Paige Hettinger and Isaac Feldman.
The Langley School PresentsComedic Version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’
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Approximately half ofLangley’s Middle School willtake part in the show, with morethan 70 students in grades 6-8joining the cast, crew, and pitorchestra. This is a student-runproduction, so students are in-volved in all aspects of the play,serving as actors on stage, as-sisting with sound and lighting,overseeing the action as studentdirectors, working on props,makeup, hair, and costume de-sign, helping create sets, andassisting with scene changesand backstage operations.
The show features an authen-tic fight scene, so studentsworked with a fight director tolearn the art of stage combat. Asthis marks the first time Langleyhas tackled a Shakespeareanwork in a Middle School produc-tion, students also learned tointerpret Shakespearean lan-guage and terminology.
Founded in 1942, The LangleySchool is an independent coedday school for students in pre-school through eighth grade.Located on a 9.2-acre campus inMcLean, the school reachesacross multiple disciplines to dis-cover, amplify, and embrace thetalents of every child, every day.
Veterans Day Ceremony. 11 a.m.,at the Freedom Memorial, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. TheMarine Corps Reserve, Great FallsElementary School, the Great FallsVillage Green Day School, LangleyHigh’s Madrigal Choir and founder ofThe American Veterans Center jointogether to remember.
TUESDAY/NOV. 13AAUW Branch Program. 7 p.m., at
the McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. A talk on thechallenges and successes of bringinglife saving preventive and curativehealth care to rural, under-servedfamilies in Ethiopia through the RuralHealth Extension Worker Program.
703-790-5550.AAUW Military Roles. 7 p.m., at
Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave.E, Vienna. A retired naval commandershares her experiences and talks onchanges in technology, the role ofwomen in the military and the armedforces’ evolving missions. 703-321-7499.
WEDNESDAY/NOV. 14Karla Bonoff and Steve Forbert. 8
p.m., at The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635Trap Road, Vienna. Folk-rock musicveterans return with classics and newsongs. www.wolftrap.org.
12 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Tysons Tax District QuestionedResidents, Taxpayers Alliance oppose new taxes.
By Nicholas Horrock
The Connection
The Fairfax CountyBoard of Supervisorsis expected shortly tocreate a tax “service”
district in Tysons Corner that willfund 11 percent of the estimated$3 billion in transportationprojects over the next 40 years asthe giant redevelopment planmoves forward.
Walter Alcorn, who headed theplanning commission’s TysonsTask Force, told the supervisors atthe Oct. 16 meeting that thoughthe tax district will provide a smallpercentage of the overall costs itwas vital because the tax districtwill mean a “cash flow” that willallow transportation projects tomove forward immediately.
The tax district was the mostcontroversial aspect of the Tysonsinfrastructure funding proposal.The other controversial issue wasa requirement that developers cre-ate a portion of subsidized hous-ing even though Tysons is ex-pected to have residents earningover $100,000 a year.
The plan that would growTysons over the next 40 years froma village of 17,000 permanent resi-dents and 105,000 day workers toan employment Mecca of 200,000and a residential population of100,000 has the supervisors sup-
port and a public transportationsurvey in the County found a ma-jority of residents backed transpor-tation plans as well.
But for the 17,000 people nowliving in Tysons, the tax district isa painful decision because itmeans increased taxes in a Countywhere taxes are already heavy andthey will face the disruption of theconstruction projects.
THE TYSONS CORNER FUND-ING plan was created by theFairfax County Planning Commis-sion after nearly 18 months ofstudy. It envisions developersbuilding the street grid system, butleaves to County taxpayers rampsto the expanded roadway system.County taxpayers are already onthe hook for building four MetroStations in Tysons Corner to ser-vice the Silver Line that is underconstruction.
The ambitious plan grew duringone of the hottest housing boomsof Fairfax’s history. Housing pricessoared and equities grew. Theboom in turn was fed by millionsof dollars of federal and defenseexpenditures in Northern Virginia.Typical family real estate taxesgrew as well from $2,400 a yearto $4,800.
But in 2012, the hopes of thatglorious vision have run into thereality of a post recession North-ern Virginia and the tightening of
federal expenditures that couldspell limitations in the future.
The Metrorail has arrived and isslated to be completed some timein 2013; four stations in Tysonsand one at Wiehle Avenue inReston. In July, Loudoun Countysupervisors voted to buy into theSilver Line, which means its phasetwo project to Dulles airport willcontinue.
This phase two project is backedprimarily by a special taxing dis-trict in Loudoun County and thedrivers along the Dulles Toll Road.
As Thomas L. Cranmer, a direc-tor of the Fairfax County Taxpay-ers Alliance wryly puts it, “the tax-payers have generously providedsubway stops for developers.” Heis one of a growing clique whothinks that Tysons redevelopmentwill be an economic disaster, basedon faulty estimations of revenue.
IN AN INTERVIEW, Cranmerrestated his objections to the plan:
❖ Housing values have fallendue to recession, but the hightaxes of the mid-2000s have re-
The 4th Annual Quality ofLife Plus (QL+) VeteransDay BBQ brings the attor-
ney general of Virginia, state del-egates and County supervisors,other elected officials, active dutyand Veteran service members, lo-cal sports celebrities, and mediapersonalities together to eat BBQ,bid on auction items, participatein family activities and “EmpowerHeroes Through Technology”—theevent theme—through seeingQL+ assistive devices, made on acase-by-case basis to help veteranslive with fewer physical limita-tions. Event goers also get to meetthe injured veterans who havebenefited from them.
On Sunday, Nov. 11 from 2 to 6
p.m. at the Pavilions of Turkey Runin McLean, attendees will supportthat cause, helping veterans ac-complish their goals in sports andtheir everyday lives.
All proceeds from the BBQ willfund projects at the QL+ Labora-tory where multidisciplinary teamsof students and faculty work to-gether to research and developinnovative technologies designedto assist those injured in the lineof duty. BBQ admission is 100 per-cent tax deductible, and costs $50for adults, $20 for children agessix to 18, and is free for childrenunder five for those who registerby Oct. 30. For more informationand to purchase tickets, pleasevisit, http://www.qlplus.org.
mained high.❖ Federal government spending
is growing tighter and the Depart-ment of Defense anticipates sharpcuts.
❖ The office market, the verycenter of the notion of historicexpansion for Tysons Corner, isdown 17 percent and the federalworkforce is contracting.
❖ Large projects in nearby ju-risdictions mean competitors forTysons Corner. In Alexandria con-struction is under way on a 20-year, 300 acre project which willinclude high rise office buildings,perhaps an additional Metro stopand could attract a work force of60,000. In Arlington, the Countyis working hard to repopulate theCrystal City development whichuntil recently had a work force ofsome 60,000.
❖ When the military’s Base Re-alignment and Closure program(BRAC) moved 20,000 employeesfrom Arlington to Alexandria,South Fairfax and Prince WilliamCounty in 2010, it created a minioffice building boom around Ft.Belvoir and increased develop-ment in Prince William County.
Faith Notes
Faith Notes are for announce-ments and events in the faithcommunity. Send to [email protected]. Dead-line is Friday.
Thanksgiving SeasonLabyrinth Walk. On Nov. 17,anytime from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.Charles Wesley United MethodistChurch Fellowship Hall, 6817Dean Drive, McLean, will hostThanksgiving Season LabyrinthWalk. A labyrinth is a safe calmspace to think and reflect. It’seasy to navigate and it’s impos-sible to get lost within a labyrinth.You can walk the labyrinth atyour own pace and for your ownreasons. You can walk in contem-plation, in search of guidance, inremembrance, in grief, in thanks-giving, to work on your balance,or simply to try something new.www.charleswesleyumc.or.g
Reverend Raushenbush,senior religion editor for theHuffington Post, speaks on “ThePower of the Internet in OurSpiritual Lives,” on Sunday, Nov.18 at 11:30 a.m., at ImmanuelPresbyterian Church, 1125 SavileLane, McLean. 703-356-3042.
Redeemer LutheranChurch , 1545 Chain BridgeRoad, McLean, at the intersectionwith Westmoreland Street hasSunday worship with Holy Com-munion at 8:30 a.m., traditionalstyle worship; 9:45 a.m., contem-porary style worship; and 11a.m., traditional style worship.Sunday School and Adult Forumis at 9:45 a.m.
14 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Wellbeing
Participants in the fourth annual Race for a Cause crossthe finish line. The event raised money for local nonprofitorganizations.
The fourth annual Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause 8Kand 1-Mile Fun Run raised money for local nonprofit “super-heroes.” The McLean-based Acumen team is pictured here.
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Racing for SuperheroesEvent benefits localnonprofit organizations
By Marilyn Campbell
The Connection
From children wearing superhero capes tocostume-clad adults to tots in strollers, par-ticipants took to the streets of Arlington lastmonth to raise money for charity as part of
the fourth annual Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause8K and 1-Mile Fun Run.
“This year’s Race for a Cause was a shining exampleof the power of community. Our goal is to not only raiseawareness and much needed funds for our 10 nonprofitpartners, but to engage the community in a way thatenables us all to feel the impact,” David Joubran,Acumen’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
Acumen Solutions identifies 10 local nonprofit or-ganizations that they dub “superheroes.” Throughrace registration, more than 3,000 people selectedand secured funds for one of the 10 organizations.The nonprofit organizations also help raise money.The Fairfax County Boys & Girls Clubs of GreaterWashington came in first place.
“Our teamwork made it possible. We recruited run-ners and donors and sponsors,” said Wonhee Kang,the regional director of Fairfax County Boys & GirlsClubs of Greater Washington.
The Women’s Center in Vienna placed second, fol-lowed by Greenbrier Learning Center in Arlington.
“We are thrilled and delighted to have won secondplace thanks to the efforts of our board, our staff,our therapists and all of our community supporters.We had a wonderful showing of support,” said CarolLoftur-Thun, executive director of the Women’s Cen-ter in Vienna.
“We offer counseling services to more than 2,500people from D.C., Maryland and also right next doorin McLean and Great Falls,” she continued. “About60 percent received counseling services at a reducedfee or less. The race and the funds that will beawarded will go to help support our services.”
Even those who were not among the top winnerssaw the race as an opportunity to increase their vis-ibility in the community. “What I love about this eventis that all kinds of people sign up to race. They learnabout the nonprofits in their community who aredoing good work and they can sign up to volunteer,”said Patti Donnelly, executive director of the LiteracyCouncil of Northern Virginia in Falls Church. “Wetutor adults who are learning to read, write and speakEnglish all throughout the Northern Virginia region,from Alexandria to Herndon to downtown Fairfax toArlington County. We need to reach a lot of peoplein Northern Virginia.”
Other participating nonprofits that will also receivemonetary funding include Our Daily Bread in Fairfax,The Reading Connection in Arlington, and Washing-ton, D.C.-based Education Pioneers, YoungPlaywright’s Theater, United for D.C., and For Loveof Children. Funding will be announced and distrib-uted at a Nov. 28 race celebration event.
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 15www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Wellbeing
Springfield resident Fred Griffin has been square dancing since high school.Researchers say dancing can improve mental and physical well-being.
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Cutting a RugResearchers say dancing can improve balanceand mental ability in seniors.
By Marilyn Campbell
The Connection
Springfield resident Fred Griffin en-joys a good hoe down and takespleasure in doing a do-si-do. Infact, he has been square dancing
since high school.“At this time in my life,
square dancing is the mostenjoyable exercise activity,as well as the most consum-ing mind and body activity,that I participate in,” saidGriffin, a 76-year-old resi-dent of Greenspring retire-ment community.
Researchers say dancingcan improve mental andphysical well-being in theelderly. According to stud-ies published in Frontiers inAging Neuroscience, danc-ing can improve cognitiveability and balance, and de-crease the risk of fallingthat often increases withage.
“The key to improving balance and coor-dination, regardless of age, is to challengeit,” said Rita Wong, a professor of physicaltherapy at Marymount University in Arling-ton. “Dance can be a fun and effective wayto challenge your balance and to improvethe control and coordination of yourmuscles. [This gives you] better control ofunanticipated challenges to your balancethat occur in real life situations, which mayresult in a fall if the body is not able to
quickly respond to a balance challenge.”Wong said dancing is effective because it
requires using arms, legs, and torso in co-ordinated patterns.
“Ongoing dance classes should graduallyincrease the speed and complexity of thedance steps as participants improve withpractice,” she said. “The amount of chal-
lenge should start outgeared to the physical ac-tivity level of the person.”
Juanita Kuntz, a Spring-field-based wellness coordi-nator, agrees: “Danceclasses, just by their verynature, help maintain bal-ance, coordination andagility. These all help re-duce the risk of falling,” shesaid. “Aerobic activity pro-vides extra energy andhelps you relax and sleepbetter.”
Dancing, like other formsof exercise, can improvemental clarity: “Researchshows that physical activitycan positively affect con-
nections between nerves in the brain,thereby improving attention and informa-tion-processing skills,” Dominique Banville,director of George Mason University’s Divi-sion of Health and Human Performance inFairfax, said in an email.
Kuntz also said that dancing can be a plea-surable social opportunity for seniors: “Addthe fun and friends to the mix of a danceclass, and it is a near perfect activity formany…seniors.”
“Dance classes,just by their verynature, helpmaintain balance,coordination andagility. These allhelp reduce therisk of falling.”—Juanita Kuntz, wellness
coordinator
16 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Sports
Langley quarterback Nick Casso rushed for a career-high125 yards against McLean.
Langley senior Philip Novacki (2) plows into the end zonewhile Philip Mun (4) and Alex Kolencik (52) lead the wayon Nov. 3 against McLean.
Physical Langley Beats McLeanNovacki’s all-around effort, Casso’s career day lead Saxons.
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Langley linebacker PhilipNovacki recovered aMcLean fumble in thesecond quarter and
headed toward the end zone. Thesix-foot-three, 220-pound seniorplowed through multiple would-be tacklers, who tried in vain towrestle him to the turf. The High-landers even grabbed Novacki’sfacemask, which resulted in a pen-alty, but they couldn’t keep thesturdy Saxon from crossing thegoal line.
However, Novacki’s struggle forsix went for naught as officialsruled he stepped out of boundsduring the return—a call withwhich the Saxon sideline stronglydisagreed.
“I scored on that,” Novacki saidafter the game.
Three plays later, Novacki scoreda touchdown that counted. Withthe ball at the one-yard line,Novacki, who moved from receiverto quarterback, took a shotgunsnap and smashed his way into theend zone.
Novacki and the Saxons wouldcontinue their physical play asLangley closed the regular seasonby pounding its Liberty District ri-val.
Langley defeated McLean, 27-7,on Nov. 3 at Langley High School.The Saxons rushed for 226 yardsand extended their winning streakto three games heading into theplayoffs.
Novacki was a difference-makeron both sides of the ball. Hisfumble recovery helped the Lan-gley defense hold its third oppo-nent this season to fewer than 10points. On offense, he carried fourtimes for 11 yards and a touch-down, had two receptions for 63yards and completed a pass for atwo-point conversion.
“We just want tobe the most physicalteam,” Novacki said,“and just pound itdown.”
MCLEAN, whichneeded a victory toreach thepostseason, managed just 131yards of offense and turned theball over three times. The High-landers finished the year with a 4-6 record.
“[Langley is] a good team,”McLean Head Coach Dennis
Worek said. “We played as hard aswe could.”
On defense, the Highlanders fo-cused their efforts on stoppingLangley running back Philip Mun,who has been a force in the Sax-ons’ read-option spread offense.
Mun carried 19 times for 82 yardsand two touchdowns againstMcLean. While the Highlanderskept Mun in check from a yardagestandpoint, Langley quarterbackNick Casso made McLean pay forits defensive strategy.
Casso carried 19 times for a ca-reer-high 125 yards and a touch-down. He also completed four ofnine passes for 79 yards.
“He did a great job running theball and that was the difference-maker,” Langley Head Coach John
Howerton said.“[McLean] did do anice job slowingMun down and jam-ming the box upthere and playingman. . . . Nick wasthe difference today.I think [the High-
landers] said we’re going to makethe quarterback beat us eitherthrowing or running and he did.”
Casso got off to a strong start,breaking off a 53-yard run onLangley’s first play from scrim-mage.
“Going in,” Casso said, “we werejust going to work with what thedefense gave to us and see if theykeyed on Mun.”
The Highlanders did, and Cassomade them pay. The junior signalcaller scored on an 8-yard runwith 2:40 remaining in the fourthquarter, putting the finishingtouches on the Langley victory.
“I put it on my shoulders,”Casso said, “to try and take somestress off [Mun] in the runninggame.”
On defense, senior lineman KyleWest recovered a fumble for Lan-gley and senior defensive backAaron Yi intercepted a pass.McLean’s seven points marked thesecond-lowest point total allowedby the Saxons this season.
“We played inspired,” Novackisaid of the Langley defense. “Thewhole year we’ve been told we’vebeen a good defense, but I feel liketoday we finally stepped up andshowed we’re a great defense.”
LANGLEY started 3-1 this season
Sports Roundups
Langley Volleyball WinsLiberty District Title
The Langley volleyball team defeated Fairfax, 3-2, in the Lib-erty District Tournament final on Nov. 3 at Stone Bridge HighSchool, giving the Saxons their first district title since 2007.
Two days later, Langley defeated T.C. Williams, 3-2, in the open-ing round of the Northern Region Tournament. The Saxons facedWashington-Lee in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 6, after TheConnection’s deadline.
Langley junior Alex Andrejev was named first-team All-North-ern Region and senior Jenna Dean earned honorable mention all-region. Andrejev and Dean were named first-team All-LibertyDistrict, senior Hoai-Nam Bui was second team and senior CathrineBaek garnered honorable mention.
McLean’s Slotkoff EarnsAll-Region Honors
McLean senior Lexi Slotkoff was named second-team All-North-ern Region for volleyball. She also garnered first-team All-LibertyDistrict honors.
Senior Angela Pubal made second team all-district and juniorElena Karakozoff received honorable mention.
Langley junior Alex Andrejev was named first-teamAll-Northern Region for volleyball.
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“We’re on a good roll. We’ve endedthe season well and I think we cando some good things in the playoffs.”
— Langley quarterback Nick Casso
before experiencing a three-gamelosing streak. The Saxons lost toChantilly, a Division 6 playoffteam, by one point, Madison, theNo. 3 seed in D5, by three pointsand Yorktown, the No. 2 seed inD5, by 10 points. Langley’s mostlopsided loss was a 27-6 defeatagainst Stone Bridge, the No. 1seed in D5. The Saxons closed theregular season with victoriesagainst South Lakes, Fairfax andMcLean to finish 6-4.
“I really think this is the bestteam I’ve had as a whole [in the10 years] I’ve been here,”Howerton said. “… We could veryeasily have been 9-1.”
Langley is the No. 5 seed in theDivision 5 Northern Region play-offs and will travel to face No. 4Hayfield at 7:30 p.m. on Friday,Nov. 9. Hayfield finished the sea-son 7-3 and was runner-up toYorktown in the National District.
“We’re on a good roll,” Cassosaid. “We’ve ended the season welland I think we can do some goodthings in the playoffs.”
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 17www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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OPEN HOUSESSATURDAY/SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 & 11
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When you visit one of these Open Houses, tell the Realtor you saw it in thisConnection Newspaper. For more real estate listings and open houses, visit
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THIS IS “BUDDY”Come and discover for yourself why thisadorable fella is named Buddy. If you’relooking for a best friend, look no furtherthan this sweet boy. Buddy is 3 yearsold, already housebroken, kid-proof andgood with other dogs. He’ll be yourwalking pal, your sidekick and mostimportantly, your pillow on the couchwhen the game is on. He has a whiteand tan coat with short hair. Rush to getyour application in so you can come outand meet your Forever Best Friend!Attributes: SuperSweetie!
The 36th Annual McLean Antique Show & Salewill be held at the McLean Community Cen-ter from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov.
10 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.Admission is $7 for adults and can be used on bothdays of the show. Proceeds of the show will benefitThe Alden’s James C. Macdonald Arts ScholarshipFund. The center is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave.
Managed by Pappabello Shows, the sale offersAmerican, English, Asian and European antiques,decorative accessories, furniture, folk art, fine por-celains, silver, linens, paintings, Oriental rugs, jew-elry and more. This year’s show vendors include:Shogun Gallery & Rubiyat Collection, Falls Church,
McLean Antique Show & Sale Returns Nov. 10-11Pho
to
co
ntributed
Va.; Antiques of London; Chimney Corner Antiquesof Newburyport, Mass.; Gold Leaf of Atlanta, Ga.;Gardner Burke Antiques of Washington, D.C.; InuitImages of Sandwich, Mass.; Len Harmon Antiquesof Vilas, N.C.; and White Orchid of Medea, Pa. Inaddition to the more than 50 quality dealers, therewill be free verbal appraisals available from PeenstraAntiques Appraisals on a first-come, first-served ba-sis. Lunch and dinner fare will be provided by LaMadeleine French Country Cafe.
For more information or to download a $1 discountadmission coupon for the show, visit the center’swebsite: mcleancenter.org/special-events/upcomingor call the Center at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711.
News
In additionto the morethan 50qualitydealers,there will befree verbalappraisalsavailablefromPeenstraAntiquesAppraisalson a first-come, first-served basis.
18 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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OBITUARYAnne E. Green, age 89, of Great Falls, VA died on October 14, 2012 at her home, surrounded by her family.
"Annelie" Kuhn was born on January 13, 1923 in Fritzlar, Ger-many. In addition to her native German, Anne spoke French, English, and Spanish. She met her beloved husband, the late COL. Frank R Green USAF retired, in the first months after World War II when Anne was assigned to work as a translator with the dashing young Army Air Corps pilot. They fell deeply in love and Frank became the first field grade officer to be granted permission to marry a German citizen after the war. Frank and Anne sailed off to a new life in the USA and Anne took to the life of a US military officer’s wife immediately, be-coming an active participant and even president, of the officers' wives clubs wherever Frank served. They enjoyed traveling the world with the USAF and also as private tourists. Anne even rented a car and took her young daughters on a month-long trip of a lifetime through Europe so she could share her European heritage with them. Her language skills, ebullience and extraordinary energy made life and travel with Anne a cherished adventure. After retirement, Frank and Anne lived initially in the Lake Barcroft area of Falls Church, moving to Great Falls in 1978. In Great Falls Anne was active in the Re-publican Women's Club and the Great Falls United Methodist Church. She also raised funds for the telecommunications for the deaf program.
Anne was the devoted mother of Anne Green Baughman of Vienna, VA and Barbara J. Green of Cohasset, MA. She also is survived by her two grandsons, Stephen R. Baughman of Ar-lington, and Philip W. Baughman of Great Falls, who cherish-ed their extremely close relationship with their grandmother, and by her son-in-law, William W. Baughman, Jr.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 11th at 3pm at the Great Falls United Methodist Church, 10100 Geor-getown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066. Funeral Services at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel will be held on Monday, November 26th at 3pm, with graveside services immediately following at Ar-lington National Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Military Officers' Association of America (MOAA) Schol-arship Fund (www.moaa.org, 201 N. Washington Street, Alex-andria, VA 22314), or to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum (www.mightyeighth.org, P.O. Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402), or the Air Force Memorial Foundation (www.airforcememorial.org, 1 Air Force Memorial Drive, Arling-ton, VA 22204). Please view and sign the family guest book at www.moneyandking.com. Arrangements by Money and King Funeral Home, Vienna, VA.
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This reference is not about pounds, per se.It is about the two largest tumors in my lungs,inoperable in that they are located betweenthe two halves which make up the wholelung. “Inoperable” defines stage IV lung can-cer, along with the cancer having moved fromits primary location (still unknown at this time)to a secondary location (my lungs) where wecertainly have become familiar with it, butoddly enough, not symptomatic because of it.
One of the first questions my oncologistasked me way back when, at our initial TeamLourie meeting, was if I felt anything heavy inmy chest. I said I did feel a weight/heavinessin the middle of my chest; in the exact spothe said, after I pointed it out, where thetumors were located, sort of confirming whatall the test results and biopsy had indicated: agrowth (determined to be malignant) where itwasn’t supposed to be. To this day, 44 monthslater, the most recurring question my oncolo-gist asks me when we meet is whether I feelthat “heaviness” in my chest. More often thannot, my answer has been “No,” a clear indica-tion, along with the results from my regularCT Scan, that the tumors that have beenweighing on my mind were, for that particulartwo-month interval of treatment, not growing(appreciably, anyway; I try to be realistic).“News with which,” as I so often say, “I canlive.”
I remember three and a half years agowhen the significance of this heaviness issuebecame more obvious to me. It was at the firstappointment I had with my oncologist after Ihad been infused with two or three rounds(six hours+ per round) of heavy-duty chemo-therapy. Once the standard pleasantries andhow-are-you-feelings were out of the way, wegot into more detailed doctor-patient talk:“Kenny,” my oncologist asked,” do you notfeel anything?” Repeating the question outloud and sort of scoffing at its ambiguity, Ifound myself, saying/snickering: “Do I not feelanything? Well, I sort of don’t feel that weightin my chest.” To which my doctor enthusiasti-cally replied: “That’s great! That’s where thetumors are located. The chemotherapy seemsto be working.” (To say we were all a bitencouraged at the time would be the under-statement of the universe. Little did we know,the roller coaster had only just begun.)
And so, this same “weight/heaviness” ques-tion has continued to be asked at everyappointment (now bi-monthly). And everyminute of every day, I am self-assessing anyweight that I may feel in my chest and/or anyother sensations originating from where Iknow the tumors are situated. What little Iknow now is, if I feel weight in my chest, per-haps the tumors are growing – or maybe not(ergo my ongoing Memorex-type problem: “Isit real or is it…?”) Maybe it’s fluid in my lungsor scar tissue scabbing over a shrinking tumoror nothing-in-particular-just-something-I’m-super-sensitive-to because of my age or cir-cumstances? Either way, I’m always waitingand wondering if the weight of the worldneed be on my shoulders, if occasionally it’snot in my chest.
What this all means is, confusion. As muchas you want a straight answer and a clearunderstanding of what was happening to you– and why, and what might happen still, theday you were diagnosed with the cancer wasthe day all of that ended. And to complicatematters further, under such stressful circum-stances as a terminal diagnosis, I can readilyadmit: One’s mind has a mind of its own, andcontrol of it, as with your television – madefamous during the beginning of “The OuterLimits” (a mid-60s classic), doesn’t belong toyou. (Unfortunately, unlike the televisionshow, control does not return in an hour.)
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
WeightFor It
McLean Connection ❖ November 7-13, 2012 ❖ 19www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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