online at www.connectionnewspapers.com Opinion, Page 4 ❖ Entertainment, Page 9 ❖ Classifieds, Page 10 September 6-12, 2017 Photo by Colin Stoecker/The Connection Vienna and Oakton and Oakton Vienna Wellbeing Page 6 Wellbeing Page 6 From left are Jill Garcia of California and Oakton residents Sofia Upchurch, 8, her mother, Natalia Upchurch, Andrew Upchurch, 1, Nathaniel Upchurch, 3, and father, Chris Upchurch at Holy Transfiguration Church’s 27 th annual Middle Eastern Food Festival Saturday. Democratic-Endorsed Candidate Wins School Board Election News, Page 3 Vienna Resident Launches ‘Hot New Release’ News, Page 3 Democratic-Endorsed Candidate Wins School Board Election News, Page 3 Vienna Resident Launches ‘Hot New Release’ News, Page 3 Cultures Meet, Blend at Middle Eastern Food Festival News, Page 12 Cultures Meet, Blend at Middle Eastern Food Festival News, Page 12
Transcript
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.com
Opinio
n, Page 4
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Entertainm
ent, Page 9
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C
lassifieds, Page 10
September 6-12, 2017
Pho
to
by C
olin Sto
ecker/T
he C
onnectio
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Viennaand Oaktonand OaktonVienna
WellbeingPage 6
WellbeingPage 6
From left are Jill Garcia of California andOakton residents Sofia Upchurch, 8, hermother, Natalia Upchurch, Andrew Upchurch,1, Nathaniel Upchurch, 3, and father, ChrisUpchurch at Holy Transfiguration Church’s 27th
annual Middle Eastern Food Festival Saturday.
Democratic-Endorsed CandidateWins School Board ElectionNews, Page 3
Vienna ResidentLaunches ‘Hot New Release’News, Page 3
Democratic-Endorsed CandidateWins School Board ElectionNews, Page 3
Vienna ResidentLaunches ‘Hot New Release’News, Page 3
Cultures Meet, Blend atMiddle Eastern Food Festival
News, Page 12
Cultures Meet, Blend atMiddle Eastern Food Festival
News, Page 12
2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
News
By Michael Lee Pope
The Connection
Guardian ad litem and FairfaxCounty Planning Commissionmember Karen Keys-Gamarraswamped Republican Chris
Grisafe and two other candidates in a specialelection Aug. 29, one that Democrats say is asign of strength for their party heading intothe fall. The seat was vacated by Republican-endorsed former School Board memberJeanette Hough in May, days before the dead-line for the race to be on the ballot in Novem-ber. Democrats cried foul, attacking the Re-publicans throughout the campaign for try-ing to rig the vote by engineering an Augustspecial election so the voters would be olderand whiter and ostensibly more inclined tovote Republican than the much larger pool ofvoters in November.
“It backfired,” said at-large School Boardmember Ryan McElveen, adding that thecost to taxpayers was about $300,000 forthe special election. “That became the nar-rative, and it’s what people were talkingabout.”
After it was clear that she had won morethan 60 percent of the vote, Keys-Gamarraarrived to a raucous crowd of campaignvolunteers and party faithful assembled atthe Elks Lodge in Pine Ridge. Lt. Gov. RalphNortham introduced the victorious Demo-crat with a speech that some in the crowdcompared to the kind of delivery popular-ized by professional wrestlers, a newfoundsense of ebullience for the typically but-toned-down candidate for governor. Keys-Gamarra thanked those who worked on hercampaign without the benefit of a list, whichshe said she said she had been too busy to
write.“Today is so much bigger
than me,” said Keys-Gamarra.“This sends a message thatevery student, every citizen,deserves a voice.”
ON THE CAMPAIGN trail,Keys-Gamarra focused on atheme of leveling the playingfield for students across thecounty. She would frequentlysay that all students deservethe same opportunities nomatter what ZIP code they livein. That was a message thatresonated with voters inVirginia’s most populouscounty, which has pockets ofpoverty scattered aroundsome of the wealthiest neigh-borhoods in the county. Sup-porters say that was the rightmessage for an at-large seat onthe School Board, which rep-resents all parts of the county.
“Karen was really focusedon this issue of equity,” said Tamara DerenakKaufax, who represents the Lee District onthe School Board. “She understands thatpoverty brings challenges, and that wassomething she talked about at every cam-paign appearance.”
Some Democrats were worried that thecontroversy surrounding the recent vote onrenaming J.E.B. Stuart High School mightundermine Keys-Gamarra, who agreed withthose wanting to change the name. But asthe precinct numbers rolled in Tuesdaynight, it became clear that issue might nothave been the flashpoint some had feared.
Democrats were closely watching precinctslike Belvedere and Barcroft for a sense thatvoters there might be pushing back againstthe move to strip the high school of its con-troversial Confederate name.
“If there was going to be a backlash, that’swhere you would have seen it,” said U.S.Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11). “But she wonthose precincts.”
Campaign manager Peter Dougherty ac-knowledged that turnout for the Augustspecial election was low compared to No-vember. But he said the numbers this weekexceeded his expectations, which he as-
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Writers ask all the time, “Whatare my chances of gettingpublished?” Fact is the ques-
tion is not about being published any-more. In today’s markets of self-publish-ing companies and publishing boutiques,the more relevant question is, “What arethe chances of people buying my book?”It is not a lottery, luck, or even discover-ing the effective keywords to drive con-sumers to an author’s hardcover or e-
NW, Vienna? Simplyput, Baker has beenwriting for years andhas learned how to doit well.
In her author biography, Baker reports shebegan writing as a young girl and neverlooked back. She then moved on to being aghostwriter, a copywriter, and then onto her“dependably quirky blog.” W h e nasked by how she came to write “NakedJoy,” Baker replied, “I began writing “Na-ked Joy” over a decade ago. I worked inter-mittently, taking time off to relocate sev-eral times while working various jobs, whichresulted in some good material for my book,
I might add.”Monica Yeonas is a former classmate
and friend of Baker. “I found her collec-tion of essays great fun to read,” Yeonaswrote in her review. “By the way, Baker
book. Whether a book sells or not, ulti-mately comes down to an author’s abilityto write, to present a polished product, agood story, and to stay the course.
Nan Kilmer Baker is the newly publishedauthor of “Naked Joy,” her first book andone Amazon ranks as a “Hot New Release”in its Humorous Essays and Memoir catego-ries. Amazon customers like it too. Review-ers rate it five stars out of five stars. So howdid Baker write a book that ended up withsuch acclaim and why is she ready to giveher first author appearance on Friday, Sept.8, 7 p.m. at Bards Alley, 110 Church Street
Vienna Resident Launches ‘Hot New Release’
Keys-Gamarra overcomes Republican-advantage in low-turnout August.
Democratic-Endorsed School Board Candidate Wins
sumed would be maybe 6 percent or 7 per-cent of registered voters. Instead turnoutwas closer to 10 percent. Keys-Gamarraended up with more than 41,000 votes —64 percent, almost doubling the turnout ofher Republican-endorsed opponent.Dougherty said he was surprised to see hiscandidate win in precincts like Fairfax Sta-tion, which is traditionally GOP territory.
“I think this shows that Democrats are re-ally excited right now,” said Dougherty. “Vot-ers wanted someone who would stand up towhat we saw in Charlottesville, and I thinkKaren’s message was the antidote to that.”
Photo by Andrea Worker
Karen Keys-Gamarra won the special election to fill theopen school board seat vacated by Jeanette Hough.
“Today is somuch bigger thanme. This sends amessage thatevery student,every citizen,deserves a voice.”
Nan Kilmer Baker to make her first author appearance atBards Alley in Vienna Friday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
See Vienna Author, Page 8
Photo courtesy of Preston Baker
Vienna resident Nan KilmerBaker is the author of “NakedJoy,” a book of humorous,quirky essays that follow herlife adventures as a smalltown girl turned world trav-eler who eventually settles in
Vienna, Virginia where sheexperiences “reverse culturalshock.”
The U.S. Census Bureauconfirmed in July whatwe already know: manyNorthern Virginia resi-
dents are doing well financially. Infact, Loudoun County, the City ofFalls Church and Fairfax County arethe three wealthiest jurisdictions in the U.S.while Arlington and Prince William countiesand the City of Fairfax also rank in the top 20.
The new Census Bureau numbers mask thefact that there are pockets of poverty through-out our region, and many of our neighbors arestruggling.
Having worked at Northern Virginia FamilyService (NVFS) for 18 years, I have met count-less residents who come to us for help findingaffordable housing, food, healthcare, medica-tions and job training. Without support, theseissues continue to negatively impact the fami-lies around us, creating larger barriers to self-sufficiency and the opportunity to thrive in ourbooming region.
I’m thinking of Zaheer Iqbal, who emigratedto the U.S. from Pakistan with a master’s de-gree in English literature, a Fulbright scholar-
ship and having worked with the U.S. militaryin Pakistan fighting the Taliban. In spite of hisexperience and education, the best job he could
find was cleaning toilets and work-ing as a cashier at an Annandale gasstation. (Did I mention he also speaksseven languages?) Zaheer “gradu-ated” to a job as a hotel night clerkin Fairfax, leaving that job everymorning to go to our six-monthTraining Futures job program. Train-ing Futures saw his potential andhelped him make valuable connec-tions within the business community.
He recently landed a job with a governmentcontractor. But it took Zaheer four years ofsleepless nights and uncertainty about how hewould support himself and his twin boys toget to that point.
When I think about the disparity in our re-gion, I think of the 77-year old woman whohas been coming to our Hunger Resource Cen-ter in Manassas on and off for 20 years as hersituation changes. (She asked that I not use hername because she doesn’t want her family toknow she continues to rely on the food bank.)When she was raising her son as a single motherand working as a waitress, there were timeswhen she had to choose between paying themortgage and feeding her family. At one point,her house was in foreclosure. Today, she is liv-ing off her monthly social security check, whichdoesn’t cover her basic expenses. She is drawn
to the fruits and vegetables at the Hunger Re-source Center and, on the days they have eggs,she “celebrates” by making an omelet. As a se-nior living alone, she says she feels invisible toher neighbors. “How hard would it be for some-one to check up on me or invite me in for abowl of soup?” she asks through tears.
And when I think of the challenges facing somany of our neighbors I am thinking of CarlaRocha, who grew up in Reston and graduatedfrom high school in Sterling. All she wantedwas a safe, affordable place to live with herson. Instead, she lived in her car, slept onfriends’ floors and stayed in transitional hous-ing provided by Second Story – one of manyoutstanding nonprofits in Northern Virginiathat provide a safety net for vulnerable chil-dren and youth.
Carla moved five times in six years. “I couldadapt easily,” she told me. “It was harder onmy son. That is a lot of change for a kid.”
With support from nonprofits like NVFS andSecond Story, Carla has a great job and hasbeen able to buy her own place. But for manyother residents, living wage jobs and afford-able housing remain elusive.
For nearly 100 years, NVFS has been com-mitted to helping vulnerable residents becomeself-sufficient. If you are proud to call North-ern Virginia home, help us in creating a stron-ger community where all families and individu-als can thrive. Maybe you can start by invitingsomeone in for a bowl of soup.
The writer is president and CEO of NorthernVirginia Family Service.
“How hard would it befor someone to invite mein for a bowl of soup?”
Disparity, Poverty Hidden by Communities’ WealthCommentary
FomentingDisunity andHateTo the Editor:
I was appalled to read the letter(“American Values,” Aug. 30) by agroup of Democrat politicians, li-beling Donald Trump. No fair-minded person could honestlyconstrue anything Mr. Trump saidas a “defense of Nazism.”
Mr. Trump’s initial response was:“We condemn in the strongest pos-sible terms this egregious displayof hatred, bigotry, and violence onmany sides.” Who but an actualfascist could disagree?
Trump then re-stated: “Racismis evil — and those who cause vio-lence in its name are criminals andthugs, including KKK, neo-Nazis,white supremacists, and otherhate groups are repugnant to ev-erything we hold dear as Ameri-cans.” No honest person — politi-cian or not — could interpret thisas support of Nazism.
As to the facts in Charlottesville,many of the original protestorswere not neo-Nazis or Klansmen,but simply there to protest the re-
moval of Robert E. Lee’s statuefrom the park named after him.Similarly, not all the counter-pro-testors were club-wielding, rock-throwing antifa — some just be-lieved the statue should be re-moved. So again, Mr. Trump wasundeniably correct that some [notall] on both sides were fine people.
It’s hard to avoid the conclusionthat the Democrat politicians whosigned the defamatory letter to theConnection are primarily inter-ested in fomenting disunity andhate by hyping fears of neo-Nazisamong the voters.
Michael CrawfordGreat Falls
For Tax ReformBenefiting AllTo the Editor:
Trump wants to cut taxes for therich who already have too much— who already translate theirwealth into power to pervert ourpolitical and economic systems.
If Republicans are serious abouttax reform, then why not go backto their favorite period in history— when Ike was president?
Under Ike’s 90 percent top in-come tax, we had world-class liv-ing standards, science and re-search, public schools, road andmedia — we had Fairness Doctrinereporting with real investigativejournalism.
Why?Because, instead of stealing
from innocent hardworkingAmericans like my dad, the richpaid their fair share for member-ship in the society that benefitsthem most.
Go ahead and reform taxes, butdo it to benefit all Americans, notjust the top 1 percent.
A.J. O’BrienHerndon
Deer HuntingEffectsMisrepresentedTo the Editor:
Did you receive a disturbingflyer in the mail about archeryhunting in Fairfax County? Theflyer displays a graphic depictionof a deer with an arrow throughits face (from N.J.) and claims that
Letters to the Editor
bowhunting is responsible for deervehicle collisions (DVCs). Thisflyer from an anonymous sourcehas raised many questions, as itwas designed to do. However, thequestion you should be asking is:Are these claims true?
To not bury the lead, the answeris no. This flyer goes beyond asimple misunderstanding of eco-logical systems or DVCs. It falselyrepresents an analysis of VDOTdata and takes a single sentencefrom the scientific literature out ofcontext with the dubious intent ofconvincing you that the sciencesupports their position when itdoes not.
The VDOT data used in the flyerwere acquired through a Freedomof Information Act request. TheDVCs in the data were mappedagainst the Fairfax County DeerManagement Program in order toinvestigate the flyer’s claim that 92percent (287 of 310) of the DVCsoccur within 1 mile of a park un-dergoing deer management. Wefound that claim was false. In or-der to include 287 DVCs, we hadto count DVCs within one and a halfmiles from parks, not one mile.
See Letters, Page 5
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 4
Why does that matter? First, it is a lie inthe flyer and shows the author’s willingnessto reject reality and replace it with their ownfantasy. Second, 92 percent of Fairfax Countyis within one and half miles of a property inthe Deer Management Program. Therefore,92 percent of the DVCs happen on 92 per-cent of the area of Fairfax County. The VDOTdata do not support the claim that DVCs in-crease because of deer management activi-ties.
There is a research project in the City ofFairfax investigating an experimental deersterilization method. The flyer claims thatonly three DVCs occurred in the city duringthe time of the study. However, the VDOTdata shows seven. The flyer goes on to at-tempt to claim that the sterilization studyhas decreased DVCs. To investigate thisclaim, I used VDOT data from 2005 to 2016for the City of Fairfax. Prior to the studybeing implemented in 2014, the City ofFairfax averaged 1.3 DVCs per year (12DVCs in 9 years). During the study, the Cityof Fairfax averaged 2.3 DVCs per year (7 in3 years). The number of DVCs has actuallyincreased during the time of the deer ster-ilization study. However, as an honest man,I cannot suggest that this slight increase isa result of the sterilization project. The in-crease, while real, could be caused by anynumber of factors.
The flyer goes on to claim that an articlepublished in the Journal of Wildlife Man-
agement in 1985 supports the long-heldbelief by those that oppose hunting thatbowhunting actually increases deer popu-lations. The article in question is “Reproduc-tive Dynamics and Disjunct White-tailedDeer Herds in Florida” by Richter andLabisky. This study did find that female deerin hunted populations had an insignificantincrease in fawns versus deer in non-huntedpopulations. Why? Here is where we losethe authors of the flyer because we have toapply a little ecological knowledge, ormaybe read the entire article they misrep-resent. This article goes on to explain thathunted deer populations are more healthydeer because they are in better balance withtheir environment and are better capable ofreproducing than non-hunted deer becausenon-hunted deer are less healthy. That doesnot mean that hunting will increase the deerpopulation.
In fact, hunting reduces the deer popula-tion because it overcomes the slight increasein reproduction associated with healthydeer. Hunting is how deer populations aremanaged in Virginia and the declining deerherd in the state is testament to the efficacyof the method.
There are other false claims in the anti-hunting flyer, but I hope that I have mademy point. Perhaps there is a reason the au-thor of the flyer did not sign their work. Iwill sign mine.
Kevin R RoseCertified Wildlife Biologist
Letters
6 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Marilyn Campbell
With her one-year old daugh-ter in tow, Ellen Knightpoked at apples and ca-ressed peppers on a Sunday
morning at the Bethesda Farmers Market.The activity is part of her weekend ritual,searching for the freshest, most flavorfulseasonal fruits and vegetables to use inmeals throughout the rest of the week.
“I’m a little neurotic about produce andfarmers markets,” she said. “I try to onlybuy at farmers markets and only buy what’sin season. I’m excited about fall and the newchanges in what’s coming in from the localfarms.”
As the weather gets cooler and tempera-tures drop, the bumper crops of fall can befound in flavorful abundance at farmersmarkets, grocery stores and even backyardgardens. Among the most nutritious andreadily available produce are cabbage, pep-pers, squash, beets and other root veg-etables, says Chef Pete Snaith of CulinariaCooking School in Vienna.
“The fall harvest is a glorious time forpeak-of-the-season vegetables and fruits,”he said. “Farmers markets will be piled high….”
With a flavor that can be the basis of bothsweet and savory dishes, sweet potatoes are
one of the most nutritious foods to debutin fall, says nutritionist Allison Speer of theSpeer Nutrition Group in Alexandria.“They’re loaded with potassium and vita-min E,” she said. “In fall there’s a greatervariety available like Purple Stokes, Garnetand Hannah.
Choose small or medium-sized sweet po-tatoes that feel heavier than they look, ad-vises Speer. “Store them in a dark place andkeep them cool, but not cold,” she said. “Let-ting them get cold ruins the flavor.”
Winter squash is an umbrella term for awide-range of squash varieties with thick,tough skins, such as butternut and acorn.Most readily available beginning in early
fall and slow to gobad, winter squashcan be stored wholefor several weeks,says Arlington-based dietitian Mel-issa Hawkins, RD. “They are full of vitaminsA and C,” she said. “The also have a lot ofpotassium and fiber, which can make youfeel full and satisfied for a longer time.”
Hawkins also touts the versatility of win-ter squash. “I like to use butternut squashor pumpkin in soup,” she said. “Acornsquash can be made into a puree. One ofmy favorite things to do is to spiralize win-ter squash to make spaghetti or noodle-like
strands that I use instead of pasta. It’s su-per easy and deeply satisfying.”
Though its trendier cousins kale and Brus-sels sprouts get more hype, Hawkins saysthat cabbage is a versatile superfood thatshould not be overlooked. “There are somany varieties like Savoy and Napa and it’sfull of vitamins C and B6 and fiber,” she
From juicy apples to hearty cabbage, howto reap the health benefits of fall produce.Healthy and in Season
Wellbeing
Photo by Marilyn Campbell
Cabbage, a cousin of the trendy superfood kale, ispacked with fiber and vitamins C and B6.
Photo courtesy of Culinaria Cooking School
This roasted beet salad is an example of a healthypreparation method for fall produce, says Chef PeteSnaith of Culinaria Cooking School.
See Healthy, Page 7
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 6
Wellbeing
said. “Leafy greens in general,like chard, mustards and kale, arenutrition powerhouses and are attheir best in the fall.”
Cabbage and other greens arelow and calories and can be pre-pared in a myriad of ways, addsSpeer. “One of the simplest ways tocook them is to roast them or stirfry them,” she said. “Cabbage canalso be stuffed or turned into slaw.”
Most commonly seen in darkred, beets come a variety of colorslike white, pink and orange.They’re earthy, sweet and nutri-tious, says Hawkins. “Eating beetsis almost like taking a big multivi-tamin,” she said. “You’re gettingvitamins, A, B and C, plus iron,potassium, folic acid and beta-carotene.”
Beets can be eaten raw or pre-pared in a variety of ways, saysSpeer. “You can roast them, pureethem or even make beet chips,”she said. “They can stain yourhands and clothing so you have tobe careful when handling them.”
Among the foods most often as-sociated with fall are apples. Withvarieties ranging from tart GrannySmiths to sweet Fujis, there’s anorb for every palate, says Speer.“Apples are packed with fiber andvitamin C,” she said. “You can slicethem or eat them while, so they’reaccessible and easy to carry andeat.”
Select apples that are firm andwithout blemishes or bruises, andcoat them with lemon juice afterthey’ve been cut to keep them fromturning brown, advises Speer.
Choosing produce that is freshand in-season, makes it easier toprepare them with little fuss sothat their nutritional value is pre-served. “Fresh vegetables deservequick, simple, healthy prepara-tion,” said Snaith “Steaming,blanching, grilling, and roastingquickly come to mind. Apples,watermelon, and peaches areabundant now as well. You can topoff a delicious meal with a lightdessert of baked apples or grilledpeaches with homemade vanillaice cream.”
Healthy and in Season
Photo by Marilyn Campbell
Peppers, such as these from the Bethesda Farmers Mar-ket, are found in abundance during fall.
Roasted Beet Salad2 each, red and golden beets, wash but not peeled.2 TBSP, olive oil3 oranges, peeled and segmented1/4 cup, fresh mint, chiffinade4 oz., feta cheese, sliced into 1/2” cubes or crumbledº1 mango, sliced in 1/2” cubesmicro greens or pea shoots (optional)
Vinaigrette1/2 cup, olive oil2 TBSP., balsamic vinegar1 TBSP., orange juicesalt and pepper to taste
1. Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.2. Coat the beets with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the beets
in a roasting dish and cover. Place in the oven and roast for about 1 to 1 and ahalf hours or until tender. Remove from the beets from the oven and let cool. Peelwhen cooled. Cut into 1/2” pieces
3. While the beets are roasting, prepare the vinaigrette. Place the ingredients in abowl and whisk to combine.
4. Place the beets, mango, orange, and pea shoots in separate bowls. Drizzle eachwith a tablespoon of vinaigrette and toss to coat.
5. Arrange the salad attractively on the plate. Top with pea shoots and drizzle withthe vinaigrette and top with the mint.
The following summary contains various incidents of generalinterest as well as vehicular crashes handled by the Town ofVienna, Virginia Police Department from Aug. 25-Sept. 1, 2017.
INCIDENTSFraud — 300 Block Maple Avenue West Between Jan. 21,
noon and Aug. 30, noon. A business owner reported thatsomeone cashed two checks that were payable to her businesswithout her consent.
Fraud — 500 Block of John Marshall Drive, NE BetweenMay 1, 12:01 a.m. and Aug. 30, 6:19 p.m. A citizen reportedthat someone has been using his personal information sinceMay 2017 and has been repeatedly attempting to open creditaccounts under his name.
Vehicle Tampering — 500 Block Marshall Road, SW Aug.8, between 12:01 a.m. and 6:34 p.m. A citizen reported thatsomeone entered his neighbor’s vehicles sometime during thenight.
Trespassing — Glyndon Park, 300 Glyndon St. NE, Aug. 16,9:10 p.m. A subject was trespassed from all town parks.
Grand Larceny — Aditi Spice Depot, 409 Maple Ave. East,
Between Aug. 17, 9 p.m. and Aug. 18, 3:30 p.m. A businessowner reported that someone stole some parts from his airconditioning unit.
Petit Larceny — CVS, 337 Maple Ave. East, Aug. 25 be-tween 1:19 p.m. and 1:22 p.m. An employee reported thatsomeone attempted to steal some items. The subject left thescene prior to police arrival. Later, in the same night, policewere able to locate the subject. The subject was transportedback to the CVS. He was trespassed from CVS. The CVS em-ployee did not want to prosecute the subject.
Found Property — Beulah Road NE / Church Street NE,Aug. 25, 6 p.m. A citizen turned in some property he foundon the sidewalk.
Animal Case — Hope Advance Veterinary Center, 140 ParkSt. SE, Aug. 25 between 7:15 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. An employeewas bitten by a dog.
Arrest — ABC Violation - Valley Drive SE / Branch Road SE,Aug. 17, 11:54 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the area fora loud party call. While searching the area two juveniles werelocated. Both juveniles had been drinking alcohol. They weregiven verbal counseling and released to their parents.
Vienna Police Highlights
8 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Tuesday August 29, 2017 Gerrmanna Community College Center for Workforce & Community Education
10000 Germanna Point Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Thursday, August 31, 2017 The Prior Center at UVA-Wise
437 Stadium Drive Wise, VA 24293
Monday, September 11, 2017 Culpeper District Office Auditorium
1601 Orange RoadCulpeper, VA 22701
Thursday, September 14, 2017 Chesapeake Conference Center
700 Conference Center Drive Chesapeake, VA 23320
Monday, September 18, 2017 NOVA District OfficeThe Potomac Room
4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Monday, October 2, 2017 Hilton Garden Inn Richmond South/
Southpark 800 Southpark Boulevard
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 Holiday Inn Lynchburg
601 Main Street Lynchburg, VA 24504
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Blue Ridge Community College
Plecker Center for Continuing Education One College Lane
Weyers Cave, VA 24486
Thursday, October 12, 2017 Holiday Inn Valley View
3315 Ordway Drive Roanoke, VA 24017
Public MeetingsFall Transportation Meeting
You are invited to participate in public meetings held by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The meetings will begin with an open house followed by a town hall style meeting. The open house will provide information on various transportation initiatives including proposed changes to Virginia’s project prioritization process (SMART SCALE), recently funded projects in the Six-Year Improvement Program, Virginia’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, VTrans Multimodal Transportation Plan, and Scenario Planning and Freight plans. Representatives from the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, Departments of Transportation and Rail and Public Transportation, along with Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Planning District Commissions, and Transit organizations will be in attendance to highlight their transportation programs and to discuss your ideas and concerns on Virginia’s transportation network The open house will be followed by a town hall session, where you can engage in discussion and ask questions about the various initiatives. Comments will be accepted informally at the meeting and may also be submitted via email, or online.
Meeting Dates and Locations Open House begins at 4:00 pm in each of the locations:
Meeting materials will be available at http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/planning/fallmeetings/ beginning August 29, 2017. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may also send your comments on highway projects to Infrastructure Investment Director, VDOT, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219, or [email protected] and on rail, public transportation and transportation demand management to Public Information Officer, DRPT, 600 E. Main St., Suite 2102, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or [email protected]. Comments will be accepted until October 20, 2017. The Commonwealth is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need further information on these policies or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Title VI Compliance Officer at 804-786-2730 or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Title VI Compliance Officer at 804-786-4440 (TTY users call 711).
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From Page 3
was known around ourGonzaga campus as a prolificwriter and was not above whip-ping off a paper or two for afriend, in exchange for a beeror maybe a ride downtown.”
“NAKED JOY” is a collectionof mostly humorous and wittyessays. More than a few of thestories are set in Northern Vir-ginia, such as “The Spy NextDoor” and “Moping and Mop-ping,” a story that describesBaker’s short employment pe-riod working at a Tysons Mallstore she called RESTRO-VER-SIONS in the book.
Baker shared she consideredthat she might have a gene forwriting if such even exists.Baker said she is related to thepoet (Alfred) Joyce Kilmer, au-thor of Trees. “I think that I shallnever see a poem as lovely as atree...” Robert E. Gregg III is theHead of Green Hedges Schoolin Vienna. Gregg wrote in hisreview of the book, “[NanKilmer Baker’s] grandfather,Freeman Lyle Kilmer, was acousin of the famous Americanpoet, Joyce Kilmer…. father ofKenton Kilmer... [who] foundedour school, Green Hedges.”
Baker’s success is probablydue more to her willingness toperfect her art, stick with it, anddo the hard work rather than apossible genetic disposition. On
the acknowledgment page in“Naked Joy,” Baker wrote, “Noone ever said it would be easy.”
Judith O’Brien is the authorof the romance novel “Ashton’sBride.” In her review of thebook, O’Brien gave insight intothe plot of “Naked Joy.” “Enterthe quirky, beguiling world of“Naked Joy” where an eccentriccast of characters is waiting todelight, charm and occasionallyhorrify...”
Steve Briglia is the ViennaTown Attorney and former In-terim Mayor and Town CouncilMember. Briglia gave highpraise to Baker when he re-viewed her book: “Readers whogrew up, live, or were ever sta-tioned in the D.C. area will eas-ily relate to Nan’s life experi-ences.... those not familiar withthe D.C. area would surely andincredulously say, ‘Oh yeahright.’ Sure, Nan worked as asurveillance agent... I espe-cially loved the chapters ofNan’s life in Vienna, as it is aquiet small town that occasion-ally makes international news.”
TO FIND OUT why the bookis named “Naked Joy,” prospec-tive readers can meet the au-thor on Friday, Sept. 8, 70 p.m.at Bards Alley, in Vienna at 110Church Street. “Naked Joy” isavailable as a paperback($14.95) and hardcover($25.95). The book can also bepurchased through Amazon.
Vienna Author Comesto Bards Alley
Vienna author Nan Kilmer Baker stands with BobGregg, Head of Green Hedges School, Vienna infront of Kilmer House located on the schoolgrounds. Baker is related to the poet, Joyce Kilmerwho was the father of Kenton Kilmer, one of the co-founders of Green Hedges School.
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Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 9www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VIENNA450 ORCHARD STREET, NW
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 7:45 AM & 10:00 AMCHRISTIAN LEARNING ACADEMY (SUN.) 9:00AM-9:45AM
MIDWEEK SERVICES, WED. 7:00 PM
Visit These Houses of Worship
To Highlight Your Faith Community, call Don at 703-778-9420
Submit entertainment announce-ments atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGThe Freeman Store & Museum
Wednesday through Sunday noon-4p.m. 131 Church St. NE, Vienna. TheFreeman Store & Museum isdedicated to Preserving andpromoting Vienna’s heritage throughthe identification, preservation, andinterpretation of history significantplaces, events, and persons.Historicviennainc.org
Bingo Night. Sundays. 4 p.m. FlameRoom, Vienna Volunteer FireDepartment, 400 Center St. S,Vienna. $10. www.vvfd.org/bingo.html.
SEPT. 7-9Quarterly Book Sale. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.;
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at theTysons Library, 7700 and 7704Leesburg Pike. Large selection ofbooks and media for all ages andinterests. [email protected] or703-338-3307 for more.
SATURDAY/SEPT. 9Virginia Indian Festival. 10 a.m. at
Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. Activities includehands-on activities and livedemonstrations. Additional activitiesinclude building a dugout canoe, anda visit to a marketplace of AmericanIndian crafts, pottery and jewelry. $8.Call 703-759-9018 or visit online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park
SUNDAY/SEPT. 10The Old Dominion
Chrysanthemum Society. 2:30p.m. at at the Falls ChurchCommunity Center, 223 Little FallsSt., Falls Church. A discussion anddemonstration on preparing andpresenting Mums for a flower show.Free. Call 703-560- 8776 or visitwww.odcsmums.org.
WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 13Riverboat Cruise. 10-11:30 a.m. at
Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna(SCOV) 541 Marshall Road SW,Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Viennahosts day trip to Georgetown Harborvia riverboat cruise from Alexandriato Georgetown for shopping,exploring and lunch. Will return byriverboat to Alexandria, then the bustrip home to Vienna. $85 includestransportation and riverboat cruise.Call 703-281-0538 or visitwww.scov.org.
Live after Five. 6-9 p.m. at JamminJava, 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. Horsd’oeuvres and local musicianshighlight the tour. Visit
www.jamminjava.com for more.
THURSDAY/SEPT. 14Remembering Jerry Halpin. 7:30-9
a.m. at J. Gilbert’s Wood-fired Steaks& Seafood, 6930 Old DominionDrive, McLean. Chaired by JohnUlfelder, former West*Group SVPand Partner, currently DranesvillePlanning Commissioner. $20, futuremembers $30. Visitwww.jgilberts.com or call 703-893-1034 for more.
Painting Demonstration. 7:30 p.m.at Vienna Art Center, 115 PleasantSt., NW, Vienna. Learn how award-winning artist Vivian Attermeyercreates her original artworkscapturing different seasons and lightconditions. Visitwww.ViennaArtsSociety.org or call703-319-3971 for more.
SEPT. 14-16Fall Book Sale. Various times at
Oakton Community Library, 10304Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/friends/ok/ or call 703-281-0300 formore.
FRIDAY/SEPT. 15Chillin’ on Church. 6:30 p.m. at
Church St., Vienna. Water games,Chump Change band playing rock.Visit www.viennava.gov or call 703-255-6360.
noon at Post 180, 330 Center St., N.,Vienna. Buffet includes omelets,blueberry, pancakes, sausage, baconand more. Adults $9, children 12 andunder $3. Call 703-938-6580
John Eaton in Concert. 2 p.m. atVinson Hall Auditorium, 6251 OldDominion Drive, McLean. Jazzpianist, historian and local legendJohn Eaton will perform a concert ofGreat American Songbook tunes.$20/$14 MCC district residents. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org for more.
Food Art Festival. noon- 4 p.m. atHalstead Square Dunn Loring Metro,2750 Gallows Road, Vienna. TheSecond Annual Halstead SquareDunn Loring Metro Food, Wine & ArtFestival combines wine tastings,culinary treats, pop up art exhibits,and free kids activities. Free. Visiteventsathalsteadsquare.com.
SEPT. 16-17Bonsai Show and Auction. 10 a.m.-5
p.m. at Meadowlark BotanicalGardens, 9750 Meadowlark GardensCourt, Vienna. Sponsored by theNorthern Virginia Bonsai Society andthe Potomac Bonsai Association. Visitwww.potomacbonsai.com for more.
Calendar
VivianAttermeyerPainting Dem-onstration onThursday, Sept.14 at 7:30 p.m.at Vienna ArtCenter, 115Pleasant St.,NW, Vienna.Learn howaward-winningartist VivianAttermeyercreates heroriginal art-works capturingdifferent sea-sons and lightconditions. Visitwww.ViennaArtsSociety.orgor call 703-319-3971 for more.
10 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
ClassifiedTo Advertise in This Paper, Call by Monday 11:00 am 703-778-9411
This summer the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV) hosted a Minister’s Breakfast withlocal clergy attending. The purpose of SCOV’sMinister’s Breakfast was to provide an opportunityfor local clergy to introduce the “old and the new”pastors currently serving in the Northern Virginiaarea to each other and to share the many servicesoffered by the Shepherd’s Center. The event wassponsored by The Arbor Terrace of Fairfax SeniorLiving and held in the Vienna Baptist Church fellow-ship hall. For more information about SCOV’s ser-vices and programs for seniors (50+), visit theirwebsite at www.scov.org or their Facebook pageatwww.facebook.com/scov.org.
Founded in 1998, the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna is a volunteer-based nonprofit organizationdedicated to providing opportunities for adults (50+)to seek rewarding lives and to live independently intheir homes for as long as possible. The unique ap-proach employed by SCOV has also allowed for ma-ture adults to volunteer their time and skills provid-ing vital services to the more vulnerable seniors need-ing assistance. In 2018 SCOV will be celebratingtwenty years of service to the community.
As the country’s population is living longer andoftentimes isolated from family support, “aging inplace” becomes a challenge. The concept of “Seniors
Helping Seniors” truly defines the spirit and purposeof the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna. Theirpersonal enrichment and volunteer opportunitiesreaches more than 3,000 older adults (50+) in theregion.
Each year more than 250 volunteers at SCOV serveas medical drivers, companion drivers, friendly call-ers and visitors, health and wellness educators, of-fice assistants, fundraisers, and grant writers. Vol-unteers also run programs such as SCOV’s Lunch n’Life, Adventures in Learning, trips and outings, spe-cial events, and the caregivers’ support group andcaregivers treat event. Please LIKE and SHARE theirFacebook page www.facebook.com/scov.org
Brought back by popular demand, SCOV’s signa-ture fundraiser to be held on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017,3 p.m. will again feature the Capitol Steps – MakingDC laugh for over 35 years. Tickets are $35. Orga-nizers are suggesting tickets be purchased early asthis show is expected to sell out. Visit www.scov.org/fundraiser-tickets or call 703-281-0538. Sponsorshipsare still available. Visit www.scov.org/Fundraiser-Sponsorship to view the corporate benefits providedwith a sponsorship.
To volunteer, donate or learn more about how youcan help, visit www.scov.org or contact the office at703-281-0538, [email protected].
Local Clergy and Guests Gather for a Minister’sBreakfast Networking Event
From left: Pastor KyungsukCho, Wesley United Method-ist Church; Rev. DustinParson Schwarz, EmmausUnited Church of Christ;Pastor Jeff Haugh, ValeUMC; Pastor AustinAlmaguer, Vienna BaptistChurch; Rev. KristinMcBrayer, Emmaus UnitedChurch of Christ; PastorCarl Sweatman, AntiochChristian Church; Rev.Jamie Samilio, Holy CrossEpiscopal; Pastor CJ Cous-ins, Vienna Seventh DayAdventist; Rev. WilliamMetzger, Our Lady of GoodCounsel; Michelle Scott, EDShepherd’s Center ofOakton-Vienna; and Rev.John Dolan, Our Lady ofGood Counsel.
Photo courtesy of SCOV
The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC) will welcomeDavid E. Hoffman as its guest speaker for Oct. 17event. Hoffman is an American writer and a contrib-uting editor at the Washington Post and has been ajournalist for 30 years. He won a Pulitzer Prize in2010 for a book about the legacy of the nuclear armsrace.
Hoffman came to Washington, D.C., in 1977 towork for the Capitol Hill News Service. He coveredRonald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. In1982 he joined the Washington Post to help coverthe Reagan White House; he also covered the firsttwo years of the George H.W. Bush presidency. HisWhite House coverage won three national journal-ism awards. Later, he was diplomatic correspondentat the time the Soviet Union collapsed, and thenserved as Jerusalem correspondent, covering the Oslo
peace accords. From 1995 to 2001, he served asMoscow Bureau Chief. He was also the Foreign Edi-tor and Assistant Managing Editor for Foreign News.His first book was “The Oligarchs: The Wealth andPower in the New Russia” followed by “Dead Hand:The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and itsDangerous Legacy,” and “The Billion Dollar Spy: ATrue Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal.”
The Oct. 17 event will be held at St. Francis Epis-copal Church, Great Falls, 9220 Georgetown Pike,11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and includes lunch. Reservationsare required, contact Karen Emami [email protected] or call 703-938-6411. Visit gfseniors.org.
The event sponsor is Adams-Green Funeral Homeand Crematory, family owned and operated since1885, 721 Elden St., Herndon.
Senior Center to Host David E. Hoffman, Author
Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 ❖ 11www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
How lucky am I? In the last two days, I have beenthe extremely lucky, though presumably random,recipient, of not one but two unsolicited phone callsoffering me FREE accommodations at any number ofMarriott and Hilton hotels, fairly reputable brands, I’dsay. All I have to do is transport my wife, Dina, andmyself to the agreed-upon hotel during the desig-nated window of opportunity and voila, a semi-unen-cumbered vacation for two awaits. And believe me,the offer couldn’t have come at a better time. Let’sbe honest, what more than a cure does a “terminal”cancer patient need than a reasonably priced, stress-free get away from his every day? Need I even char-acterize that previous question as rhetorical?
Now since I hung up rather quickly, I don’t have allthe details, other than their phone numbers ofcourse. Because, as you might imagine, I still have afew questions I’d like answered — you know, to opti-mize the benefits/coordinate the timing of our vaca-tion. But the ‘unsolicited’ nature of the call didn’tenable me to organize my thoughts and ask all theappropriate questions. Nevertheless, the opportunityseems worthy of a follow-up phone call.
Ideally, what I’d like to do is bracket my vaca-tion/air fare and the miscellaneous travel expensesI’m undoubtedly going to incur around the respectiveproperties’ availability. Meaning, I’d like to fly onceand stay twice; staying in their respective propertiesin the same city/location switching out of Marriottafter my first free weekend stay and then bookinginto the Hilton for my next free weekend stay (andI’d be willing to pay for my mid-week excursion dur-ing the transition). In effect, making the trip a two-for-one as opposed to a not-going-at-all. And in soarranging, using as much of corporate America’s lar-gess and marketing budget as is cleverly possible for anon-corporate America employee to exploit.Not having pursued this possible presumption quiteyet because I’ve just had chemotherapy on Fridayand I’m not really in the mood to tangle with a fast-talking, smooth operator, who though he/she mayhave my best travel plans at heart, may not exactly befeeling my strain. So I’m going to wait a few daysuntil I regain my bearings — and patience, and toler-ance and call them back unsolicited at a time con-venient for me but possibly not so for them and see ifwe can make a deal.
Because, to tell you the truth, if I could coordinatetwo hotel reservations — along with all the amenitieswith which I’m likely to be showered for acceptingthese extraordinarily generous offers, combined withsome free air miles I’ve accumulated with UnitedAirlines/their travel partners, this indeed could be thetrip that my oncologist encouraged us to take whenhe first delivered the life-changing/life-ending prog-nosis: “13 months to two years” back in late February2009. Further adding that, before starting chemother-apy, was as good as I would likely feel for a long time.And as I have come to learn, the quality of my life isvery important to my oncologist.
At that time however, I didn’t feel the need and/orwasn’t motivated to follow my oncologist’s sugges-tion; I wanted to get started on my treatment. Now,eight and half years later, perhaps the timing is better,especially given that it presents itself at the beginningof a new Redskins football season. And if I may quotethe late, great, former, head coach of the “Over thehill gang,” George Allen: “The future is now.” So letme sift through the offers this week and see if canindeed take the “trip we’ve always dreamed of.” Iknow it’s often said that you can’t go back. Maybewe can still go forward.
Nothing To DoWith Cancer,Almost
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Submit civic/community announcements atConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.
SENIOR VOLUNTEERSRSVP, a volunteer network for seniors seeking
service opportunities in and around FairfaxCounty, Arlington County and the City ofAlexandria, offers a wide array of opportunitiesfor volunteers 55 and older. RSVP volunteersenjoy flexible schedules, free accident andliability insurance while serving, optionalmileage and meal reimbursement and areinvited to volunteer group projects and socialgatherings. To sign up for an upcomingorientation, email Carly Hubicki [email protected] or call RSVP at703-403- 5360. To learn more about RSVP, visitwww.rsvpnova.org.
THURSDAY/SEPT. 7Shepherd’s Center Caregivers Support
Group. 10-11:30 a.m. at UUCF UnitarianUniversalist Congregation of Fairfax - ProgramBuilding, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Thissupport group is designed for caregivers of adultfamily members. For more info contactfacilitator, Jack Tarr, 703-821-6838,[email protected].
Adventures In Learning. 10 a.m.-noon atUnitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax,Program Building, 2709 Hunter Mill Road,Oakton. Open House to see what’s on theShepherd’s Center’s fall semester of Adventuresin Learning. Call 703-281-0538 or visitwww.scov.org.
MONDAY/SEPT. 11Grupo Hispano de Unity of Fairfax. 7-9 p.m.
at Unity of Fairfax, Conference Room, Unity ofFairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Thisnew ongoing Spanish-speaking group willcelebrate spirituality with music, messages fromThe Daily Word, guided meditations andprayers. Weekly event every Monday. All arewelcome. Free. [email protected] for more.
at MCC Administrative Offices, 6631 OldDominion Drive, McLean. Residents ofDranesville District 1-A are invited to attend ameeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12,when the full MCC Governing Board will meetas a Finance Committee of the Whole to work onthe details of the Center’s FY 2019 draft budgetproposal. Visit www.mcleancenter.org for more.
Emergency Preparedness Class. The FairfaxCounty Community Emergency Response Team(CERT) will offer CERT 129, a basic trainingclass, on seven Tuesday evenings in Septemberand October at the McLean Fire Station, 1445Laughlin Ave., McLean beginning Sept. 12 from7-10:30 p.m. Students are required to attend allseven class sessions and the final. This trainingdoes not require any physical strength or agility.For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/2tXrP3L
IN-PERSON, TV DEBATESThe League of Women Voters of the Fairfax
Area (LWVFA) will hold four in-person forumsand three televised forums for the public and thepress to learn about the candidates who arerunning for election to the Virginia House ofDelegates. The League invited all certifiedcandidates campaigning for office in theirrespective districts. At the in-person forums,question-and-answer sessions will be followedby an opportunity for informal conversationswith individual candidates. The public and pressare encouraged to attend. For more informationabout the candidates’ priorities and positions,visit www.vote411.org.
In-person forums:❖ Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at Reston
Community Center: Hunters Woods VillageCenter, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
❖ Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at ProvidenceCommunity Center: 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax.
The televised forums at Fairfax County PublicAccess are on Channel 10 or livestreamed onYouTube “Inside Scoop Livestream.” The publiccan submit questions by email [email protected] or call 571-749-1142 between 7-8:30 p.m. Tune in on:Monday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m.; Monday, Sept.18 at 8 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.
Bulletin Board
12 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ September 6-12, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Colin Stoecker
The Connection
Father Joseph Francavilla, a McLeanresident, has been the pastor atHoly Transfiguration Greek Ortho-dox Church in McLean for 45
years, and for 27 of those has been leadingthe Middle Eastern Food Festival at hischurch. The Middle Eastern Food Festivalthat took place Saturday and Sunday at-tracted community members, churchgoers,and politicians like U.S. Rep. BarbaraComstock (R-10) and gubernatorial candi-date Ed Gillespie to enjoy the wonders oftraditional Middle Eastern cooking inMcLean.
The Middle Eastern food served symbol-izes the bringing together of Holy Trans-figuration and the local community, but italso represents the roots of Christians whobrought their religion west where it washistorically practiced in ancient places likeSyria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine.
“Sometimes people mistake our outreachfor the notion of all middle easterners be-ing Muslims. But this is not true, Christiansare in the Middle East too and we want to
Baba ganoush, were also available. So werethe grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice.
Washington D.C. has a large Middle East-ern population and that has expanded inrecent years to outlying communities likeMcLean.
“Our festival has become the thing to doon labor day weekend, as in the past it hasbeen an orphaned weekend with not a lotgoing on for people,” said Francavilla.
“This festival really shows how interna-tional our community is in McLean,” saidComstock. “The food is great; these aresome of the best meals you can get in thearea!”
Homemade pastries hand-made frompancakes, called Atayef and stuffed withclotted cream, dates, and pistachios wereavailable for lunch and for sale. Baklawawas present in its traditional form.
“The women of the church are proud oftheir hospitality, and in Middle Eastern cul-tures it is important for the host to be hos-pitable even if he doesn’t agree with thevisitor in politics,” said Francavilla.
Kimberly Metzger, a Vienna resident, whobelongs to the church, was new this year asa volunteer. “It’s been wonderful. I met alot of people, for the first time in 18 years Ifelt like I belong!” she said.
McLean Transfiguration Church festival brings together communities.
Cultures Meet, Blend at Middle Eastern Food Festival
From left: Jill Garcia of California and Oakton residents Sofia Upchurch,8, her mother, Natalia Upchurch, Andrew Upchurch, 1, NathanielUpchurch, 3, and father, Chris Upchurch at Holy TransfigurationChurch’s 27th annual Middle Eastern Food Festival Saturday.
Photos by Colin Stoecker/The Connection
From left: U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10); Ash Youssef, church mem-ber; Muhammad Akbar; and Ed Gillespie, Virginia gubernatorial candi-date, at Holy Transfiguration’s 27th annual Middle Eastern Food FestivalSaturday.
News
be conscious of our biblical past,” saidFrancavilla.
The festival was focused around the food,and there was a lot of it handmade treats
by the women church members. TraditionalKibbee is the most popular, and is some-times served raw, although it was cookedat the festival. Pita bread, rice, and eggplant
Father Joseph Francavilla, pastorat Holy Transfiguration for 45years poses for a picture at the 27th
annual Middle Eastern Food Festi-val Saturday.
Pastries made by women of HolyTransfiguration Church for 27th
annual Middle Eastern Food Festi-val Saturday. Baklawa, AtayefPancake stuffed with clottedcream, and pistachio and datestuffed pastries are pictured here.
Vienna resident and Holy Transfiguration member, Kimberly Metzgerworked to organize pastries at Holy Transfiguration’s 27th annual MiddleEastern Food Festival Saturday.
From left: McLean residents, Joe Baker of the Knights of Columbus, andChris Hudson, grill chicken kabobs under a tent at the HolyTransfiguration’s 27th annual Middle Eastern Food Festival Saturday.
