Vol. XXI, No. 9 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A ... Vernon.pdfAliya Porter, production...

Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 4-10, 2010 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

March 4, 2010Vol. XXI, No. 9 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper

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See Mount Vernon High, Page 4

See Costco, Page 3

See Budget, Page 25

See Nonprofit, Page 5

Fairfax County Supervisors Jeff McKay (D-Lee)and Gerry Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) said thenational discount food chain Costco Whole-

sale has expressed interest in moving onto the oldMultiplex Cinema site near the corner of RichmondHighway and Sherwood Hall Lane.

The expansive commercial property has been va-cant since the movie theater company shuttered allof its operations in 2007.

If neighbors express support for the Costco bid,McKay said the supervisors would try to put theproject on a fast track for county approval, thoughanother national bargain retail chain would not have

been his first choice for Richmond Highway.“It is another big box, warehouse retailer but it

would bring high-quality jobs to the corridor andCostco would tear down the building and put insomething new,” he said.

According to McKay, the Multiplex site is the only“blighted” property on the western side of the Rich-mond Highway. But the fact that the vacant buildingis at the corner of a busy intersection and has a largesign outside makes it stand out and may be deter-ring potential commercial interest in the area.

Costco Considers Multiplex Site

By Julia O’Donoghue

The Gazette

Fairfax County ExecutiveAnthony Griffin has tar-geted a few Mount Vernon-

specific programs in his proposed$100 million-plus worth of cuts tothe 2011 county budget.

Fairfax faces a $257 millionshortfall in its $3.2 billion generalfund for next year. The FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors canamend Griffin’s budget proposalbefore they pass the final countyspending plan in late April.

Some of the cuts that would par-ticularly affect Mount Vernon in-clude:

❖ Shutting down the swimmingpool in Martin Luther King Jr. Park.Residents can typically use thepool for free from the time schoolcloses until August. It draws ap-proximately 7,500 patrons in thesummer. This would save $51,393.

❖ Elimination of the FairfaxCounty Police Department’s ma-rine patrol, which consists of twoofficers and one marine patrolboat. This unit most serves theMount Vernon area of FairfaxCounty and primarily patrolsalong the Potomac River. Last year,the marine patrol conducted eightrescues and towed seven citizen

County Budget CutsHit Mount Vernon

By Michael Lee Pope

The Gazette

Since it opened in Novem-ber, merchandise hasbeen flying off the shelvesat the new Goodwill store

in Mount Vernon. But donationshave lagged behind, and now thenonprofit is asking the communityfor their old clothes, used DVDsand extraneous furniture.

“Spring cleaning is coming,” saidAliya Porter, production managerat the Mount Vernon Goodwill.“And we would like people to con-sider contributing items to ourdonation center this year.”

The sluggish donations haveforced the nonprofit to bring mer-

chandise from other stores, al-though the number of donateditems has been increasing. Duringthe first full month the store at8228 Richmond Highway wasopen, it received about 500 items.Then, in January, the donationcenter accepted about 1,000 items.Last month, the store receivedabout 1,200 items. Porter saysshe’s glad to see the increase, butthe level of giving hasn’t beenenough to sustain the retail sideof the operation yet.

“We need at least twice thatamount,” said Porter. “I would saywe would need at least 2,500items a month to meet expecta

Retail traffic is heavy at Goodwill, butdonations fail to meet expectations.

Nonprofit NeedsUnwanted Items

By Amber Healy

The Gazette

Mount Vernon High School took homethe trophy for the 26th annual BlackHistory Month Forum, which may have

surprised the four students from that school morethan their 12 competitors.

“I thought we lost,” said Kenya George. “Theautobiography questions were really hard.”

“I really thought Lake Braddock was going towin,” said Isaiah Floyd. Other members of the

winning team were Mfonobong Emah andChristalyn Solomon.

In total, 12 students from four schools — LakeBraddock Secondary, Mount Vernon High, FairfaxHigh and The Flint Hill School — competed in anew “Jeopardy!”-style question and answer game.Each school had three contestants and an alter-nate, and each group of four students, one fromeach school, competed in a 25-question round inOlsson theater at Flint Hill School in Oakton.

MVHS Wins Black History Forum

First-place winners presented by Alane Dent, president of Burke-Fairfax Chapter ofJack and Jill of America, (from left to right): Kenya George, Isaiah Floyd,Mfonobong Emah, and Christalyn Solomon, and Dent.

Sixteen students from four schools compete to wintrophy, display prowess of African American history.

2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 4-10, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


News

From Page 1

Costco at Multiplex Site?

Costco Wholesale is interested in the vacant property thathoused the old Multiplex Cinema on Richmond Highway.

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“I want it gone. A boarded upbuilding is the last thing an in-ves tor wants to see , ” sa idMcKay.

The supervisor said that half adozen other entities have ex-

pressed interest in developing theproperty since the movie theatreclosed three years ago. But theowners were not interested in anyoffers until Costco approachedthem recently.

— Julia O’Donoghue

By Gerald A. Fill

The Gazette

Borrowed from storylinesabout real life and notreality TV, Edward Rob-ert Bach’s “Hard To Be

Me” is reminiscent of the comedydramas of the past three decades.The characters reveal their storiesabout friendships, family, and lifein the modern world.

Q. What is the TV showabout?

A. Although I am the creator ofthe show, I am actually the co-writer with the very talented DavidGannon. The story line revolvesaround the exploits of an artschool sophomore, KevinHamilton, who is played by me.Kevin prefers to express himselfthrough his art, but is forced toface his fear of public speakingwhen he receives an assignmentto post a weekly vlog for his Com-munications 101 course. Throughthis take off, we get to know Kevin,his art school friends, his family,and a host of quirky characters.“Hard to Be Me” focuses on thevalue of relationships and linksbetween people. It is a TV seriesfor the entire family.

Q. Is this TV series some-what autobiographical?

A. There is definitely some of mein the plot and character devel-oped around Kevin. Viewers willsee themselves in all the charac-ters. Our intention is to touch onuniversal themes of life, love, suc-cess, disappointment, and the abil-ity to overcome life’s foibles.

Q. Is there any shows nowor in the recent past thatcompare to “Hard to BeMe”?

A. “Family Ties” is one show thatis similar. But we are a significantupdating of that show. We coverpresent day social technologies;the issues facing students, parents,grandparents, and the communityand institutions of today. We takethe viewer behind the scenes toexplore the vagaries of the fast-paced pressure-packed families oftoday. Our goal is for viewers towant to “hang out” with our char-acters, to grow and learn withthem, and to find themselves in-side these characters. At the sametime we don’t take ourselves tooseriously; thus, the characteriza-tion of the show as a dramedy.

Q. Why is the setting forthe show Washington, D.C.,and not in the Bronx, NewYork, or Lake Forest, Illi-nois, or Orange County,California?

A. The producers and I hope thatwe can present another side, apositive non-political side, of lifein our Nation’s Capitol. A side oflife that we think has not been re-vealed before. Viewers locally willget to see themselves in positivesettings and situations which theyhave never seen before in a TVseries. We have and continue toplan on tapping into the actingtalent in the region.

The Washington metropolitanarea has some wonderful neigh-borhoods, historic sites, art, the-ater, dance, outdoors, sports, andhigh schools and colleges. Ourshow will open the door up aboutthat aspect of life in the D.C. areafor viewers nationwide.

Q. So what is the next stepafter Sunday nights’ Ameri-can Film Institute (AFI)Preview?

A. The next big step is to acquirea TV network sponsor who will getus on the air as a pilot TV series.We are submitting our finishedpilot to TV festivals nationwide aspart of our promotional strategyseeking sponsors. If the pilot is asuccess then we will be given acontract for one season or longer

and hopefully much longer. Westill have a long way to go but Iand the others of the cast and creware optimistic that we will be suc-cessful.

What others say aboutEdward Bach:

Evelyn Rice, the longtime artis-tic director of the Fauquier Com-munity Theater who directed Ed-ward Bach in “Joseph and theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,”in which he played the Pharoah,said, “I think he is a terrific actor,he takes direction very well, andis able to do what you ask, yet stillbe able to make the part his own;he is a multitalented performer. …I consider myself lucky to have methim and directed him, and am

Resident Creates, Writes, and Acts in New TV ShowLocal screenwriter’s pilot premieresat American Film Institute.

ProfileEDWARD ROBERT BACHEducation: State University of New

York (SUNY), at Potsdam, andOswego. Studied acting, dance,directing, scene design and graphicdesign.

Parents: Robert P. Bach and LonnieCoy

Current Job: Graphic design,photographer, production ofinformation materials for the U.S.Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) as a contract employee forBAE Systems, Inc.

Passion: Theater, art, dance, theperforming arts

Most Influential: His parentsGoals: To be successful in the

performing artsFavorite Actor: Harrison FordFavorite Actress: Meryl Streep

TV Preview:‘Hard To Be MeWhen: Sunday, March 7, 5 p.m.Where: American Film Institute, 8633

Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md.Cost: $10http://Hardtobeme.com

even prouder to call him myfriend.”

Erik Cieslewicz, director of“Hard To Be Me”: “Edward as awriter is not egotistical nor mar-ried to his work; as an actor he hasgood instincts; and as a producerhe is committed to excellence andleads by example. … Edward has,with this production, brought backto TV the traditional family, andfound great realistic dynamics be-tween family members.”

The questions covered a varietyof topics, from Eminent Leaders,in which the answers were thenames of African American pio-neers in the fields of athletics, sci-ence, academics and politics, tomusic, sports, literature, the civilrights movement. The “In OurBackyard” category that featuredsignificant events and landmarksin Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The annual quiz competition issponsored by the Burke-FairfaxChapter of Jack and Jill ofAmerica, an organization startedin Pennsylvania by African Ameri-can mothers in 1938, a fun factthat was one of the many ques-tions posed to the students.

“We’re trying to get our youngpeople excited about our historyand take part in learning,” saidCarla Mazique, a Jack and JillCommittee member. Her husband,Arman Mazique, played modera-tor for the quiz and asked the stu-dents to call him Alex Tre-Black, aplay off of Alex Trebek, the hostof the real “Jeopardy!” television See Mount Vernon, Page 4

From Page 1

MVHS Wins Black History Forumgame show for 26 years, just asmany years as the local Jack andJill of America chapter has beenhosting the tournament.

“Sometimes the kids aren’t asexcited about Black History Monthas they could be and sometimesour history isn’t taught as much aswe’d like.”

The students began studying forthe quiz tournament back in No-vember, Carla Mazique said,memorizing facts and historic fig-ures in preparation for their bigday.

But in a moment, some of theparents and teachers in the crowdmight rather to forget, the mod-erator unveiled one of the answersin the Civil Rights Movement cat-egory: “April 4, 1968.”

The panel of four studentslooked puzzled. One student ap-peared to be running over datesand events in his head, moving hisindex finger around as if trying toput history in a chronological or-der.

Moderator Arman Maziquepaused for a moment and asked,

“Any of you want to take a guess?”When he was answered with si-lence, he said, “You’ll rememberthis for the rest of your lives.”

Just before the timer buzzed onthe question, Lake Braddock stu-dent David Curry-Johnson raiseda hand and asked, “What is MLK’sassassination?”

His answer was followed by re-lieved applause — April 4, 1968was the day Martin Luther King Jr.was assassinated in Memphis,Tenn., by James Earl Ray.

At the end of the quiz, the stu-dents were given a chance to re-deem themselves, in the form of asurprise two-part question askedby Abraham Scott, whose wife,Janice, was killed in the Pentagonon Sept. 11, 2001. He offered a$500 scholarship for the entireteam for the student who correctlyanswered a two-part questionabout Motown, the famous labelthat launched such artists asSmokey Robinson, The Miracles,The Supremes, Marvin Gaye,


northern stretch of Richmond Highway, isgoing to be torn down and replaced with anew Fairfield Inn & Suites.

❖ A new bridge will soon carry cars trav-eling on Gunston Road over RichmondHighway. As part of this project, GunstonRoad will be widened to four lanes.

❖ By Sept. 15 2011, Fort Belvoir will have3,500 additional workers as a result of theBase Realignment And Closure (BRAC) pro-cess.

❖ The Fairfax-Falls Church communityservices board has opened up a 16-bedtreatment facility for people with mentalhealth and substance abuse disorders on thesite of the old police barracks.

❖ The Smitty’s Building Supply site willsoon by home to a Super H Mart, an Asiangrocery story.

❖ The Woodlawn McDonald’s is goingto be renovated to accommodate a new con-cept and design for the fast food chain. TheMcDonald’s will serve high-end coffeedrinks and include lounge chairs and otherplaces for people to relax and socialize.

❖ Comfort Inn is opening a new 60-roomhotel at the site of the $29.99 Shoe Ware-house

— Julia O’Donoghue

plete by this spring.

❖ By August 2012, the Fairfax CountyParkway should be completed, allowingdrivers to travel all the way from MountVernon to Reston without getting off thecorridor.

❖ The National Museum of the UnitedStates Army is still coming to the corner ofthe Fairfax County Parkway and John J.Kingman Road. The facility is expected tobring 1 million visitors per year.

❖ Kings Crossing, which might be betterknown as the Chuck-E-Cheese shoppingcenter on Richmond Highway, will be hometo a new 80,000 square-foot Wal-Mart. Theowner is also looking to lease 10,000 squarefeet of redeveloped space, possibly to a fit-ness center.

❖ The Fairview Motel, also along the

cated on the army base, will be a 1.2 mil-lion square foot facility with six stories, 120in-patient beds, 3,100 staff members and2,600 parking spaces once it is completed.The $747 million facility is expected to draw500,000 visitor trips per year.

❖ Belle View and New Alexandria resi-dents could be getting a flood wall alongtheir stretch of George Washington Parkwayas well as some new levees in order to guardagainst future disasters

❖ Near the Huntington Metro station, adeveloper has restarted work on 85 newtownhouses that should be completed bythis spring.

❖ Spring Hill Suites and Holiday Inn Ex-press, located between the Ford car dealer-ship and Virginia Lodge on Richmond High-way, burned down in 2008 and is now re-built. The project is expected to be com-

Supervisor Gerry Hyland (D-MountVernon) provided a brief updateabout new construction projects,development and businesses that

have started up in the Mount Vernon areaduring his town hall meeting Feb. 20.

As part of the annual gathering, Hylandconducts a virtual bus tour of his districtfor those in attendance. The following isinformation Hyland shared on the tour:

❖ Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501Parker’s Lane, has added a 5,000 square footaddition to its radiology department forapproximately $14 million. Hyland said, forthe first time in several years, this branchof the hospital is “in the black,” and thatthe amount of time a patient has to spendin the hospital’s emergency room has beencut in half.

❖ Martha Washington Library, 6328 Rich-mond Highway, is being renovated and willincluded additional 8,000 square feet ofspace when it is completed this coming sum-mer.

❖ Mulligan Road will provide a four-laneconnection from Richmond Highway toTelegraph Road. The section from TelegraphRoad to Pole Road will be completed in late2010 and a second section from Pole Roadto Richmond Highway should be finishedin 2012.

❖ Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, lo-

From Page 3

News

Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5.Jason Dodge, a representative of the

Fairfax High School team, correctly an-swered that Motown was founded in De-troit, but could not name the founder, BarryGordy Jr. Scott overlooked the second halfof the question and promised to award four$500 scholarships to Dodge and his team-mates, Vivian Bornell, Lindsay Hopkins andMonique Hopkins.

During the afternoon-long event, the win-ner and runner-up of Jack and Jill’s localoratorical contest, Lauren Porter and JoshuaMann, presented their winning speeches,which Porter said is a kind of preparationfor the Teen Conference next month.

While she did not compete in the quiz,

traveling roads that haven’t been traveledbefore. Harriet Tubman, when she waswalking the tobacco fields her parents andgrandparents had worked, she knew thatshe was somewhat better than what hadcome before, but she knew something bet-ter was on the way.”

He also spoke about “the blue note,” adeep, almost mournful tone widely heard

and used in songs written by African Ameri-can artists and songwriters.

“The blue note, we brought that with uson the boats,” he said. “It is praise. Whenwe hear the blue note, it is in the wail ofevery song that still moves us.”

Carr spoke of hearing the blue note insongs by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige,but had to laugh when speaking of the leg-endary music of Marvin Gaye.

“Oh Marvin,” he laughed. “All his songswere blue notes,” he said, proceeding topick out lines from songs like “Let’s Get ItOn” and “What’s Going On.”

The blue note, which sounds like a minorkey when sung or played, “that’s the notethe mothers and fathers taught us, that’swhen the ancestors come up into our brainsand speak through us,” he said.

Mount Vernon High School Wins Black History Forum

Hyland Notes Changes in Mount Vernon

Porter said she enjoyed the afternoon and“learned so much” from her fellow students.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,”she said. “It was really interesting to me.”

Those in the audience were also treatedto a presentation by Dr. Greg E. Carr, asso-ciate professor of Africana Studies and chairof the Department of Afro-American stud-ies at Howard University.

While he was only supposed to speak for10 minutes, he easily went twice as long,emphasizing how the leaders the studentshave learned about, from Mohandas Ghandito Barack Obama, were not trailblazers asmuch as the students may believe.

“What you are doing is reconnecting tosomething,” he said to the students, manyof whom are seniors preparing to leave theirhomes and head off to college. “There is no

“We’re trying to get ouryoung people excitedabout our history andtake part in learning.”

— Carla Mazique


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From Page 1

News

tions.”

GOODWILL OF GREATERWashington operates nine storesin the region, offering job train-ing and employment to those inneed. Of the nine stores in the re-gion operated by the nonprofitorganization, the Mount Vernonlocation has become the secondmost profitable. Brendan Hurley,who is the vice president of mar-keting and communications, saysthe revenue at the store has greatlyexceeded expectations.

“The people who donate toGoodwill are not necessarily thesame people who shop here,” saidHurley. “So, at this point, the chal-lenge that we are faced with isgetting people to donate.”

Hurley says it’s a way of gettingrid of unwanted items while help-ing the community.

Part of that challenge is beingnew to Richmond Highway, lo-cated in a storefront formerly oc-cupied by Barnes C L FurnitureCompany. Another part of the chal-lenge is a nearby construction site,where a dumpster has been mis-

taken for the Goodwill donationcenter several times.

“We hire anyone who has a bar-rier to employment, and we offerjob training to people who arewithout work in this difficulteconomy,” he said. “And it’s an in-expensive way for consumers toget more out of their dollar.”

STROLLING THROUGH theaisles of the Mount Vernon Good-will, customers are confronted

Nonprofit Needs Unwanted Items

with everything from weddingdresses and antique furniture toold records and VHS tapes. Super-visor Dondi Randolph says manyof the items are donated whenpeople upgrade electronics, so thestore is well stocked with stereosystems and televisions.

“I would say that DVDs are ourmost popular item,” siad Dondi.“As soon as we put them on theshelf, there’re on the way out thedoor.”

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) speaks during a Decem-ber grand opening event.

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Inova Mount Vernon Hospital celebrated National Wear Red Day insupport of Women’s Heart Disease and Stroke Awareness and

Prevention on Feb. 5. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States. Wearingred dress pins are Kimberly Krakowski, RN; Refugio Castro, John Mornan, Diane Kenney,Casey King, Stephanie Johnson, Department of Radiology and Stroke Champions.

Wear Red Day

This year Hollin MeadowsElementary School had a recordnumber of 279 students thatparticipated in the national PTAReflections Program. HollinMeadows has five students thathave achieved awards at theDistrict Level for the ReflectionsPTA program. Students photo-graphed with Principal JonGates (back row) are: (left toright) Martin Enyinnaya, Awardof Merit, Literature; Katie JoMoery, Award of Merit, Litera-ture; Anna Pekiunas, Award ofMerit, Literature, Immediate;Kiki McDonnell, Award of Out-standing, Dance; and SebastianAltmann, Award of Excellence,Visual Arts.

People

DistrictAwards

Procurement ForumMore than 130 small businesses par-ticipated Feb. 2 in the 5th Annual FortBelvoir Procurement Forum, an educa-tional networking event for smallbusinesses within the governmentcontracting industry. Tracey Pinson(left), director, Office of the Secretaryof the Army, Office of Small BusinessPrograms offered the luncheon key-note on opportunities for small busi-nesses to do business with the Army.Event chair Linda Drake (right) isbusiness development manager, Net-work Intelligence Division, AppliedSignal Technology, Inc. The FairfaxCounty Chamber of Commerce’sGovCon Council presented the event.

Courtesy of Hollin Meadows ES


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People

By Jeffrey Aaron

The Gazette

Returning from a board-ing school last Novem-ber where they hadjust spent a week help-

ing the disadvantaged, CarrieGillespie and Sarah Rupp wantedto continue their aid from thestates. So the two Bishop IretonHigh School students did whatmost other students their age do:They turned to Facebook.

The 16- and 17-year-old respec-tively developed a Web page ask-ing for donations of shoes, anysize, any condition, so that theycould send them to the neighbor-hood children who have lunch,play, and are tutored at LouvertureCleary School, 10 miles north ofPort-au-Prince in Croix-des-Bou-quets.

The Facebook page can be foundby searching “Helping Haiti.”You’ll also find 452 results fromthat search, but the duo’s page isthe one with 4,565 members,more than any other of its likenesson the site. It also comes with aquote from Dr. Seuss: “Unlesssomeone like you cares a wholeawful lot, nothing is going to getbetter. It’s not.”

The 350 students who attendLouverture Cleary Mondaythrough Friday dress in uniform,but the neighborhood childrenwho are invited for afternoonclasses come as they are: mostoftentimes shoeless and wearing“ratty clothes.” “One girl came ina Pocahontas costume becausethat’s all she had,” said Gillespie,who is the daughter of EdGillespie, the former RepublicanNational Committee chairman.

Shoes were a practical request,Rupp said, easy to pick up, easy toship, and needed desperately bythese children who live in neigh-borhoods that are less than sani-tary.

“The kids play on gravel in barefeet. You don’t want to cut yourfoot on glass in Haiti, it’s hard toget a doctor,” Gillespie said.

WHEN THE PAIR launched theirWeb page, supporters dribbled in,between 160-200, but within daysof last month’s 7.0-magnitudeearthquake, their numbers sky-rocketed. At last count, they had

4,565 supporters.“We weren’t prepared to get that

many,” Rupp said. They have nowcollected 500 pairs of shoes, whichare stashed in green garbage bagspiled high in Rupp’s Alexandria liv-ing room. “It’s smells like a gym.”

The girls needed helped bun-dling pairs together. So Rupp’smother, Mary, threw a pizza partyone weekend night where 10 to 15of her daughter’s friends gatheredto eat and tape pairs together sothey wouldn’t get lost in shipping.

Since their donations have esca-lated, they have now partneredwith “Shoes 2 Share,” a Delaware-based organization that collectsand donates shoes internationallyfor those in need.

BISHOP IRETON has been affili-ated with Louverture Clearly forthe last seven years, sending fiveto 10 students to volunteer for aweek, said Linda Loffredo, BishopIreton’s communications director.

“We work in classrooms and per-form physical labor,” Rupp said.“It’s actually a privilege to man-

age. There’s no trash disposal, sowe burn it in the incinerator. Wepaint, we weed, we catalog booksin the library — there’s no com-puter for that. Sarah taught En-glish; I taught religion,” Gillespiesaid.

Since the earthquake, studentsat Bishop Ireton have stepped upits appeal for money to donate tothe school by collecting at two ofits basketball games and donatingall proceeds from a student-per-formed play. Gillespie and Rupppushed a mobile cart around thegym asking for donations of shoesduring the games.

Before the Feb. 27 annual “Win-ter Ball,” students also asked theirpeers to save and donate themoney they would have spent inpreparation and celebration.“Wear last year’s dress or yoursister’s to save money. AvoidStarbucks,” Loffredo said.

So far, $8,000 has been raisedfor the relief effort, she said.Gillespie hopes it will reach$10,000.

“You can’t ignore what hap-pened,” Gillespie said. “After meet-ing the students and seeing theirgreat attitude, they’re hopeful forthe future and we want to help.”

Two Collect Shoes for Students in Haiti

Carrie Gillespie and Sarah Rupp collected 500 pairs ofshoes to send to the neighborhood children who attendLouverture Cleary School in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti.

Carrie Gillespie sits with achild from the neighbor-hood of Louverture ClearySchool, 10 miles north ofPort-au-Prince, Haiti.


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In Virginia, localities like Fairfax County,Arlington or the City of Alexandria, haveonly the exact powers that the VirginiaGeneral Assembly has bestowed upon

them.The right to extend protection from discrimi-

nation to particular groups? No.The right to decide when school will open in

the Fall? No.The authority to tax income? No, only the

state can tax Northern Virginia residents’ in-come, and then the state spends that incomeeverywhere but here. Northern Virginia gets

back less than 20 cents on the dollar it sendsto Richmond. No “piggyback” income tax al-lowed.

The authority for local elected officials toconsider a variety of broad based sources ofrevenue to fund schools and other services?No.

And let’s be clear, voters could evict repre-sentatives who overstepped tolerances.

So now as the state budgets is shaping up,or shaping down would be more accurate,without knowing the exact details or numbers,it’s clear that hundreds of millions of dollarsin non-optional social services and educationexpenses (K-12 and higher education) will shiftto localities.

Localities are already grappling with de-creases in revenue because of the decline inreal estate values. And taxing real estate, com-mercial and residential, makes up the vastmajority of most localities’ revenue base.

Arlington has proposed increasing the prop-erty tax rate by more than 11 percent, or 9cents.

Increasing Burden, But No ToolsState will cut hundredsof millions inexpenditures thatlocalities will have topay for; but how?

Fairfax’s real estate property tax rate wouldincrease from $1.04 to $1.09, though the dropin home values would mean that Fairfax resi-dents would pay approximately $48.55 less ontheir property tax bill than they did last year.

Home values in Fairfax declined between 3percent and nearly 8 percent, depending onlocation (see chart at http://c o n n e c t i o n n e w s p a p e r s . c o m /photoview.asp?id=218615). But consider thedrop in value since the top of the market. InMcLean, the jurisdiction that held up the best,assessments are down 12.5 percent from thetop a few years ago. In Lorton, assessmentsare down 28.7 percent from the top of themarket.

So while in Richmond, the General Assem-bly slashes and burns its way to a budget withno revenue increases, here where the rubbermeets the road, there are few options, becausethe General Assembly won’t allow them.They’re passing the bill, but refusing to allowany reasonable method of making up the dif-ference.

Letters to the Editor

See Letters, Page 11

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is intro-duced to Riverside Elementary Student Government

President Hannah Lombardo last month. He participated in a roundtablediscussion about the Recovery Act a year later.

Pho

to

by Lo

uise K

rafft/G

azette

At Riverside

ConflictsOf InterestTo the Editor:

Fellow citizens, your Comprehensive Planmay be amended this year, based upon nomi-nations now being considered by your AreaPlans Review (APR) Task Force. I attended theirFeb. 23 meeting and was disappointed at theactions of certain Task Force members as wellas by the attendance of fewer than 10 inter-ested citizens.

Nomination No. 24MV, from the MountVernon Council (MVCCA), concerns the PennDaw Shopping Center. Before the MVCCA’s rep-resentative commenced his presentation, a

Task Force member who is an immediate pastco-chair of the MVCCA (and was involved withthe conception of the MVCCA Nominations)asked to be recognized and she spoke for sev-eral minutes concerning the history of how thenomination came to be made and why it shouldbe approved. This was clearly “testimony,” notwithin the proper role of a Task Force mem-ber, yet no one on the Task Force raised anyobjection to a Task Force member first testify-ing as a witness in favor of a nomination shehad a hand in preparing, and then voting onthe nomination as a Task Force member. Sheshould have recused herself.

Subsequently, the Task Force took up a nomi-nation identified as 26MV, a proposed 5 acredevelopment at the corner of Fairview Drive

and Richmond Highway. During the course ofthe discussion, another Task Force memberbecame deeply involved in the discussion. ThisTask Force member wears an astounding sixseparate hats since he is: (1) another immedi-ate past co-chair of the MVCCA, (2) theMVCCA’s current Planning and Zoning Com-mittee Chairman, (3) the current President ofa community association immediately adjacentthe location of nomination 26MV, (4) a resi-dent of Fairview Drive living 5 houses from thenominated property, (5) a member of the TaskForce, and (6) the Task Force’s vote counter.This Task Force member asked to be recognizedand then spoke at length, as if he was a wit-ness, about his community association’s sup-port of the nomination and how they expectto be directly involved with the developer indetermining the parameters of the develop-ment. The Task Force co-chairs took no actionto require this Task Force member to recusehimself, based upon his multiple conflicts ofinterest and testimony described above. Whenthe vote was taken on the nomination, he votedand then counted the vote for the co-chairs.He should have recused himself.

I testified concerning the MVCCA’s Nomina-tion 25MV, suggesting reducing the Floor AreaRatio (FAR) so the threshold for requiring atraffic study would not be exceeded. After mytestimony, the Task Force member first men-tioned above (24MV) asked to be recognizedand then she explained to the Task Force thatthey need not worry about the traffic study is-sue because the Virginia Legislature was work-ing on a fix that would absolve the MVCCA ofthe obligation to conduct and pay for the traf-fic study. I knew this was inaccurate since theBill in question had passed the Virginia Senatewith that provision stricken. The MVCCA willhave to conduct and pay for any traffic studiesrequired for its nominations. The Bill was sub-sequently approved by the House of Delegates



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From Page 8

Letters


Letters to the Editor

in the same form and awaits theGovernor’s signature.

I asked to be recognized to correct therecord. The co-chairs recognized me, butanother MVCCA-affiliated Task Force mem-ber, raised a point of order that I shouldnot be permitted to speak because I am nota member of the Task Force, even thoughthe public hearing had not closed. His ob-jection was overruled and I provided theTask Force the factual legislative status,correcting the misinformation. Subse-quently, nomination 25MV was tabled forfurther consideration at a later meeting ofthe Task Force.

The blame for the inappropriate behav-ior of these MVCCA-affiliated Task Forcemembers properly rests with the personwho appointed them to the Task Force,namely, Supervisor Hyland. Their multiplehats and personal agendas are well knownto the supervisor, yet he appointed themanyway. I pointed out the conflict of inter-est issue in my letter to the editor of Feb. 4.The Task Force does not belong to theMVCCA nor does it even belong to Supervi-sor Hyland, although he appointed it. TheTask Force belongs to the people of theMount Vernon District. Task Force membersmust bear in mind that they represent thecitizens of the Mount Vernon District andare not supposed to be serving to promotetheir own personal agendas or the agendasof organizations to which they belong orwith which they are active.

I respect the co-chairs of the Task Force.They must pull the reins in and insist thatTask Force members avoid even an appear-ance of a conflict by recusing themselvesfrom Task Force deliberations where appro-priate. This will ensure the Task Force rep-resents the 125,000-plus citizens of theMount Vernon District and not the partisanobjectives of some individual members. Tomy fellow citizens: if you refrain from at-tending Task Force meetings and makingyour views known, you will have little jus-tification to complain about the votes theTask Force takes in your name. It’s yourComprehensive Plan.

H. Jay SpiegelMount Vernon

Need To ImproveCommunicationTo the Editor:

I am writing as a 15-year resident on theMt. Vernon Highway corridor, the histori-cal land route to the estate of Mt. Vernon.One of the reasons we and many of ourneighbors around here moved specificallyto this area is the proximity to the natural,wooded lands around George Washington’sestate. We have also enjoyed the associa-tion with and proximity to the Mt. VernonEstate, which has clearly done a lot of goodfor this community with all its many inter-esting historical, cultural and botanical of-ferings.

By Toddy Puller

State Senator (D-36)

The House budget billpassed 61-38 on a partyline vote, the Republi-cans for it and the Demo-

crats opposed. The Senate budget waspassed 30-10 with bipartisan support.Eight Republicans and all 22 Demo-crats voted for it. Included in both budgetsis $1.9 billion “to continue aid to local gov-ernments for the Car Tax Relief Program”to help fund local services.

Both the House and Senate budgets arevery austere to close a budget shortfall ofabout $4 billion. The Senate budget in-cludes a number of fee increases to soften

the blow on education,health care and publicsafety. The House has re-fused thus far to accept anyhigher fees, considering

them as “taxes.” It is hoped that some move-ment may come in that Governor BobMcDonnell has indicated he might accept“higher fees that have a direct link to theservices they provide.” This could “offersome cover to the House Republicans” inthe possibility of accepting some new fees.

In the past few years, Virginia hastrimmed its budget by $7 billion. Previously,the necessary services of education, healthcare and public safety have been spared.

This year all of these areas arebeing cut some because of thedrop in state revenues.

The difficulty now will beworking out a compromisebetween the two budget bills.Not one of the House confer-ees is from Northern Virginia.Only one is a Democrat. FourDemocrats and two Republi-

cans are among the Senate conferees. For-tunately four of the Senate conferees arefrom Northern Virginia.

Education K-12: I, along with other North-ern Virginia legislators offered a budgetamendment to unfreeze therebenchmarking of the Local CompositeIndex (LCI). This brings a great deal of fund-ing back to Northern Virginia schools. It isone of the first times, due to falling homevalues, Northern Virginia would receive anincrease in the state LCI. All other locali-ties were “held harmless” in their LCI fund-ing. Fortunately, General Fund reductionsto K-12 education are minimized.

Higher Education: The Senate proposesno additional reductions over the intro-duced budget to Virginia’s public collegesand universities. The Tuition AssistanceGrant (TAG) program funding was cut byalmost $10 million but not eliminated. TAGhelps many Virginia students with tuitionassistance to attend in-state private collegesand universities.

Arts Funding: The House budget wouldeliminate 50 percent of the Virginia Com-mission for the Arts funding $2.23 millionthe first year and 100 percent of the fund-ing $4.46 million in the second year. TheSenate budget retains $4.46 million in thearts funding for each year.

VRS: Both chambers agree to lower statecontributions to the Virginia RetirementSystem (VRS), the public employment pen-sion fund, to save about $508 million. TheSenate bill also includes a three-day fur-lough for state employees which is less thanthat proposed by the Governor.

Health and Human Resources: The bud-get would free up $86 million from en-hanced federal Medicaid funding related tothe Medicare Part D “clawback” paymentthat will eliminate additional provider ratereductions in FY 2011. Enrollment is notfrozen for low-income children and preg-nant women in FAMIS and does not elimi-nate funding for consumer-directed waiverservices and an additional 236 mentalhealth treatment beds. There is hope thatCongress will pass an additional six monthsof enhanced federal Medicaid funding toprovide more help. The Senate budget re-stores $1.9 million for free health clinics andcommunity health centers and preservesdental services through local health depart-ments.

Public Safety: One or more additionalstate correctional facilities to be determined

by the Department of Corrections will beclosed. Alternatives to incarceration includ-ing electronic monitoring, early release pro-visions and geriatric parole release are en-couraged.

State Parks: No state parks were closedin either budget.

Economic Development: 14 separate billswere passed by the Senate to provide “avariety of economic development and jobcreation measures ranging from sales taxexemptions and green jobs tax credits tomajor business incentives and mega-projectsite grants.” The Senate also agreed to opensome new ABC stores and extend Sundayhours with an opt-out provision for locali-ties.

For more information about the budgetbills go to: http://legis.state.va.us and clickon budget.

The General Assembly is scheduled to endon Saturday, March 13. It is hoped that thesetwo differing budgets can be reconciled andpassed by that time. These are difficult eco-nomic times for our Commonwealth. Butin working together, we are trying to con-tinue to protect and improve the lives of allVirginians.

Please continue to let me hear from youon issues of concern: Sen. Toddy Puller,P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218.Phone: 804/698-7536. Email:[email protected]. Website:www.toddy.org.

House and Senate Pass Different Budget Bills

Richmond

Report

While Mt. Vernon Estate does get manythings right (i.e., hiring sensitive architectsand landscape architects), there does seemto be a gap with regard to neighborhoodcommunication/outreach/dialogue thatcould and should be improved. A clear andrecent example is the proposed 40,000-plussq ft. library/conference/lodging facility inthe woods on 235 N/S - which many of usonly learned about through a recent Wash-ington Post article and some Gazette cov-erage.

Though no one could possibly object tothe pursuit of further scholarship on GeorgeWashington, it does concern many of us inthis neighborhood that we have essentially“been the last to know” about this proposedresearch campus in our neighborhood. Upuntil March 1, when Mt. Vernon Estate Di-rector Jim Rees invited Wessynton subdivi-sion residents to attend a not widely adver-tised, essentially semi-private briefing onthe Estate’s rapidly forward moving plansfor the Library’s construction, few of us hadany notion of how far along this project hadprogressed. There had been little to no prioropportunities for community members toprovide input; this is especially true forthose of us who do not live in Wessyntonitself but nonetheless live on the Mt. VernonHighway corridor. While the Ladies of Mt.Vernon certainly have the right to do withthe Estate’s land as they see fit, there issomething vaguely tyrannical and ratherunneighborly about presenting whatamounts to a “fait accompli” to those of uswho live in ‘George’s backyard.”

There are a few specific points of concernthat many of us in the neighborhood haveabout this proposed project:

An 18th century view: The uncluttered,natural drive along the GW Parkway to theEstate provides an inviting, delightful andunconscious stepping back into time. Along235N and S, this transitional psychologicalpreparation is already more truncated, butit does exist as things currently stand. Weworry that no matter how architecturallyand landscape-sensitive this proposed li-brary structure is, there’s really no way totruly shroud a 40,000-plus sq.ft. facility -with all its accompanying parking, an out-lying residential structure, curb-cuts, elec-trical/sewer lines, and associated vehicu-lar traffic. As a point of comparison, GeorgeWashington’s house itself is only 8,000 sq.ft.Even with stacking the building to “limit”the actual footprint to 20,000 sq.ft., this isstill a sizeable structure. It is reassuring tohear that Mt. Vernon proposes to make ev-ery effort to screen off the buildings andthe 20-acre proposed construction site byplanting 800 trees, with many evergreensalong 235N. Those plantings will also needto screen the chain-link fence the estate hasproposed to surround this gated-20 acre-complex.

He wasn’t King George: As we came tofully understand at the March 1 meeting,this large library complex is not designedfor the “average George” hobby historian,but rather for “resident scholars” as well as


From Page 11


Letters

to host conferences for academic, corpo-rate and political clients. This seems some-what contrary to the spirit of a man whohimself did not have the benefit of an elitehigher education (he had about 7-8 yearsof formal schooling). The sheer scale andscope, not to mention exclusivity of thisproposed facility, seems contrary to the rela-tively humble nature and origins of Mr.Washington himself. It also seems a bit con-trary to the alleged mission of the Estate“to make George Washington accessible tothe 300 million people who will never cometo Mt. Vernon.” I suppose they will all havevirtual access to the library, but physicallythe gates and doors will locked to the gen-eral visiting public. There will be no demo-cratic strolls through the fine wood galler-ies and bluestone floors of this $80 million(including endowment) library facility.Sadly, this fenced-off enclave on 235N/Swill exude exclusivity rather than the demo-cratic spirit for which Washington himselfis heralded.

Scale/Security: Presumably such a presi-dential library will contain some rare andimportant artifacts, though it’s hard to imag-ine there would be enough to fill 40,000sq.ft. of space. Given the nature of what thislibrary would contain and its proposed lim-ited accessibility, many of us residents at-tending the meeting on March 1 wonderedwhy it wouldn’t make more sense to sitethis library within the existing walls of the

Estate, perhaps behind the walls along Rte235S (where there is currently overflowparking) or perhaps near the river, out ofthe sight-line of the Estate, on the easternend of the Mt. Vernon property. Either ofthese would provide secluded, containedsettings for scholars, with easy access topoints within the estate. By siting such afacility away from the main focus of the vis-iting public - and by taking it out of such apublic setting as the 235 N/S triangle - theEstate might be sending out a more palat-able, less irritating message about its “pri-vate” library.

Precedent for Commercial Activity/Traf-fic: Many of us local residents also wonder“What are our assurances that this proposedfacility will remain low-key and contained?”Conference facilities and lodgings are of-ten full-fledged commercial operations ne-cessitating an influx of commercial and pri-vate vehicles, additional maintenance staff,and all-night lighting. Many at the March 1meeting expressed concern about our lackof information about Mt. Vernon’s “masterplan.” Aside from some general and vagueassurances that there are no other bigprojects down the pipeline, there were noagreements to share any master plans ormake any commitments to the neighbor-hood that there would be no further activ-ity for the balance of the 55-acre parcel ofland on which the proposed library is to besited.

We know Mt. Vernon Estate would like tobe a good neighbor. In the recent past, when

Abigail Konyndyk, a parent trainer atFirst Home Care, spoke to the Mount

Vernon Kiwanis Club at the Mount Vernon Country Club on Feb. 3.She explained the benefits and responsibilities of foster parenting.With her is MVKC President Bruce Malkin. On April 7, the club willhost Laurie Tracy, retired U. S. State Department Foreign ServiceOfficer, who is an expert on the Middle East, especially Iran andIraq. To learn more about the club, visitwww.mtvernonvakiwanis.org.

Speaking at Kiwanis

no one in the county would do anythingabout the horrendous amount of garbagebeing dumped by passing vehicles on Rte235N, it was Dean Norton at Mt. Vernonwho personally committed to sending in

teams on a weekly basis to clean up themess. This has benefited all of us, and weappreciate it very much. The Estate itselfalso has a Neighborhood Friends of Mt.


14 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 4-10, 2010 Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 4-10, 2010 ❖ 15www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Alexandria Old Town Historic District OfficeCongratulates These Fine Agentson an Outstanding Job in 2009

Master’s Club $20 Million or More

Founder’s Club $10-20 Million

Chris White

Renee Reymond Suzanne Backus Shane Canny & Mary Bourke

Martine Irmer Laura Biederman Mary Lou SageBrian Hong & Jery Beamer

Patricia Landaeta & Georgia McLaughlinBette & Betsy Gorman Sean Satkus & Kendra Carey

Brad Kintz Dayna Blumel & Kerry Adams

Kim Muffler

Randy Bender

400 King Street703-683-0400

President’s Club $3-5 Million

Chairman’s Club $5-10 Million

Catherine Foltz George Myers

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Martha Deal Inderjeet Jumani Rose Mary Cousins Marcy Covarrubias Mary Taylor

Elke Kohler Mindy Brubaker Deborah Alea Sheryl Powers-Vermont& Paula Powers

Susan Batchelder Steven Hollowell Sharon Edwards Connie McKeen David Okonsky

Katalin Melamed

Ruth Guirard

Mike Lekas John Randolph Brandy Buzinski Gary Ansley

Franki Roberts Philip Matyas Sheryl Lambson Pat Tierney Klanci Vanderhyde Louise Devers

Pat Wilson Margaret Keagle Michael Manuel

Jim Crowe Norma Stratton

Susan Haughton

Anita Vida-D’Antonio Steve Kindrick

Bob Skinner

Julia Martin


Alexandria Old Town Historic District OfficeCongratulates These Fine Agents on an Outstanding Job in 2009

LONG & FOSTER, REALTORS®

Old Town Historic District Office400 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-683-0400

Director’s Club $2-3 Million

Executive’s Club $1-2 Million

Mary Ellen Walker Virginia Jacob

Pat Richards Delaine Campbell Ginger Webre

Anne Hambley Jill DiPasquale Cathy Smyles Anya Macklin

Ellen Young Heidi Kohler Peggy Baldwin Suzanne Briar & Bob Wood

Norma Gants Ben Grouby

Ann Logsdon Ron Keohane Bonnie Apple

Denise Elfes Maria Matthews Judy Pisciotta

Pat Garrity

Derrick Hammond Rich Webber Desiree Gilman

Janice Allen Emily Capelli Arynne Crane Dina Gorrell

Charles Harris Bob Polson

Ann Kavaljian

Sheila Kolb

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Kira Lopez


Arts ❖ Entertainment ❖ Leisure

All That Jazz!Big Band sparks “Chicago.”

Photo by Shane Canfield

Andy Izquierdo (Billy Flynn) and the ensemble of “Chicago,”which plays through March 20 at The Little Theatre ofAlexandria.

Where and When“Chicago” plays through March 20 at the

Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 WolfeStreet. Performances are Wednesday - Sat-urday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tick-ets are $18 - $21. Call 703-683-0496 or logon to www.thelittletheatre.com.

By Brad Hathaway

The Gazette

The rocking jazz sound of one of the best commu-nity theater bands in recent memory kicks off theLittle Theatre of Alexandria’s new production of

Kander and Ebb’s fabulously entertaining musical “Chi-cago” when they launch into the flashy opening number,“All That Jazz.” The band, however, is only one of the plea-sures this superb production offers.

There is a fine pair of performances by the leading la-dies. Bethany Blakey is a super-sexy hardened murderessawaiting trial in Chicago’s women’s detention center un-der the extortionist supervision of “Matron Mama Morton”(Jennifer Strand). Jordan Hougham is wonderfully flightyon the surface but with a devious plotting brain under-neath as the fame-intoxicated new arrival on murderer’srow. Both sing and dance well either separately or as ateam in the up-tempo finale “Nowadays/R.S.V.P./Keep ItHot.”

The show also offers an equally fine pair of principalsupporting actor performances. Andy Izquierdo is just asflashy and flamboyant as you could want as the defenseattorney who believes he can win any defendant an ac-quittal through pure razzle-dazzle and he’s in fine voicefor the smarmy “All I Care About” (is love) and, aided byHougham, handles the faux-ventriloquism of “We BothReached for the Gun” with high humor. Jon Keeling pullsoff the sometimes difficult trick of drawing comic atten-tion to his character’s principal characteristic as thewronged husband who is such a milquetoast as to be prac-tically invisible. His droll delivery of “Mr. Cellophane” is akick and he gets a great laugh when requesting his “exit

music.”But it is the band — the 13 enthusiastic as well as skilled musicians

under the baton of music director Paul Nasto — that is the real star of theshow. Nasto is making his Little Theatre of Alexandria debut. It is a debutthat makes me hope he’ll handle music direction duties for more musicalsboth here and at other community theaters in the area.

“Chicago” is a piece that requires this kind of quality performance by aband. It is a musical that tells its story in individual scenes that are each atype of vaudeville act in the style of the revues and variety shows of theearly part of the 20th century. The script by the original director/choreog-rapher, Bob Fosse, and lyricist, Fred Ebb is about as fast-paced as a Broad-way show’s can be, and Ebb’s lyrics are both witty and revealing of thecharacter of the person singing. Thus, each scene is a potential show stop-per with a full-out, sell-the-number performance by the vocalists and aloud, brassy accompaniment from the band.

John Kander composed music that ran thegamut of early variety styles and the greatRalph Burns orchestrated it all for 13 musi-cians. The show was a solid hit in 1975 andwould be remembered as a smash if itweren’t for the fact that is was the year that“A Chorus Line” opened to such rapturousreviews and word of mouth that “Chicago”was all but lost in the shuffle. But in 1996 arevival was staged, putting all the actionon and around an on-stage bandstand.Again using Burn’s charts, the band was verymuch a part of every scene — even the con-ductor got into the act, announcing someof the scenes. Nasto handles these dutieswith aplomb while leading the band withsolid rhythms, a good sense of tempo anddrawing a real sense of musical excitementfrom his crew.

True to the staging of the 1996 revivalwhich is still running on Broadway afterover 5,000 performances, the entire showtakes place on the black bandstand outlinedwith proscenium lights until the final mo-ments when a silver tinsel curtain picks upon Ken and Patti Crowley’s multi-coloredlights for “Keep it Hot.” Throughout thenight, the cast does a capable job with thechoreography that Amy Carson has adaptedfrom the unmistakeable work of AnnReinking for the revival, which was, itself,billed as “in the style of Bob Fosse.”

Major Antiques Show in Alexandria

The City of Alexandria and the Ballyshaners (Gaelic for “Old Towners”) will host the 29th AnnualSt. Patrick’s Day Parade, in celebration of Irish-American heritage on Saturday, March 6. The paradebegins at King and West Streets and follows a route down King Street, past the reviewing stand atNorth Royal Street, and ends on the block of Fairfax Street between King Street and CameronStreet. The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m., and is expected to conclude by 2:30 p.m. The GrandMarshal for the 2010 Parade will be Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, Commanding General, U.S. ArmyMateriel Command.

The day’s festivities officially kick off with the Classic Car Show Competition. The show starts at10 a.m. with automobiles on display on North Pitt Street at King Street. The Fun Dog Show beginsat 10:30 a.m. in Market Square (corner of North Royal and King Streets) and will conclude at noon.

All events are sponsored by the Ballyshaners, a not-for-profit group that organizes and orches-trates the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade in partnership with the City of Alexandria. Visitwww.ballyshaners.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Is March 6

The show features 60 of thenation’s top antique dealers.

Antiques In Alexandria, a show fea-turing 60 of the nation’s top antiquedealers, returns to Flippin Field

House at the Episcopal High School, 3900West Braddock Road, Alexandria, on March12-14. Hours for the show are 11 a.m. to8 p.m. on Friday, March 12; 11 a.m. to 6p.m. on Saturday, March 13; and 11 a.m.to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 14. A Gala Pre-view Party will be held on Thursday, March11 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Antiques In Alexandria features a widearray of fine American, English, Orientaland Continental furniture, silver, porcelain,rugs, paintings, jewelry, clocks, folk art,garden furniture, and other decorative arts.With 60 nationally-recognized dealers, An-tiques in Alexandria has dealers of interest

to all collectors.Among the dealers exhibiting are Mark

and Marjorie Allen, W. Graham Arader III,Alfred Bullard, Douglas Constant, Judd Gre-gory, G. Sergeant Antiques, AndrewSpindler, and William Cooke.

Special events at this year’s show includea guided show tour with a decorative artsexpert (Friday, 10 a.m. $25), an illustratedfolk art lecture with Americana expert BevNorwood (Friday, 2 p.m. $25), a speakeasyparty (Friday, 6-8 p.m. $45), a champagnebrunch with Chris Jussel, original host ofAntiques Roadshow (Saturday, 11 a.m.$45), an evaluation and conservation clinic(Saturday, 2-5 p.m. $5 per item), a lectureand fashion show on the eight-decade his-tory of the cocktail dress (Sunday, 1 p.m.

($35), and a loan exhibition (Spirits inAmerica).

Proceeds from ticket sales and specialevents benefit three Washington-area chari-ties. Admission is $15 per person and includesa show catalog. There is free parking, a cafeand a bar. Visit www.antiquesinalexandria.com or call 703-548-SHOW.


Enjoy a Cozy Candlelit Dinner“The Finest Lebanese Cuisine”

407 Cameron St. Old Town Alexandria • 703-684-9194www.thepitahouse.com • Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner

Carryout, catering & delivering availableFamily owned & operated

MONDAY, MARCH 15 AND CONTINUING THRU SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Grand Irish DrinksCream of Potato and Leek SoupHam & Cabbage, Irish PotatoesCorned Beef, Steamed Cabbage, Irish PotatoesIrish Stew topped with Green PeasRack of Lamb, Potatoes, Salad, Mint JellyStuffed CabbageBeer, Irish CoffeeTry Our Key Lime Pie!!!

ST. PAT’S PARTY STOP

Visa/Mastercard/Amex Ample Free Parking

FEATURING IRISH MUSIC & IRISH SPECIALS!!!!

734 N. St. Asaph Street703-548-1616Irish Music

at the

where Old Town dines

N. Washington Street

N. Saint Asaph734 North Saint Asaph St.

Alexandria, Va. 22314

WE ARE HERE

7 blocks North

OldTown

Mad

ison

St.

King

Str

eet

The Royal

See Calendar, Page 21

Calendar

E-mail announcements to the Gazette,gazette@connection newspapers.com.Photos and artwork are encouraged.Deadline is Thursday at noon for the fol-lowing week’s paper. Call Steve Hibbardat 703-778-9412 with questions.

NOW THROUGH MARCH 20“Chicago.” Wednesday to Saturday at

8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m. Presentedby the Little Theatre of Alexandria,600 Wolfe St., Alexandria. The castincludes: Bethany Blakely as Velma,Jordan Houghham as Roxie, AndyIzquierdo as Billy Flynn, JenniferStrand as Mama Morton, Jon Keelingas Amos, Melissa Stamps as MarySunshine, along with a talentedensemble that includes Ivan Davila,Akiyo Dunetz, Danielle Eure, JacquiFarkas, Kristen Magee, Daniel McKay,Keith Miller, Angela Norris, LaurenPalmer.

FRIDAY/MARCH 5World War II Lecture. With speaker

U.S. Army Lieutenant Dee Paris, now94, a World War II TankCommander. Sponsored by theMount Vernon Chapter of theBarbershop Harmony Society. AtSherwood Regional Library, 2501Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria.Contact Mike Everard, President,Harmony Heritage Singers, 703-941-1057, [email protected] or RonBrandt, publicity, 703-765-4779,[email protected]

World Day of Prayer. Noon to 1 p.m.Sponsored by the Salvation ArmyAlexandria Corps. Captain Ken Argotof The Salvation Army will presideover the hour long service. The Corpsis located at 1804 Mount VernonAvenue in Alexandria, Virginia. Inaddition to the World Day of Prayerservice, a bag lunch will be provided.

MARCH 5-6Gaetano Donizetti’s Comic Opera.

8 p.m. By the Repertory OperaTheater of Washington. At ImmanuelChurch-on-the-Hill, 3606 SeminaryRoad, Alexandria. Tickets are $20/person, $15/seniors and students.Call 571-403 0814.

MARCH 5, 6, 12, 13“Go-Go Beach.” 7:30 p.m. Matinee on

March 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10/adults, $8/seniors and students. Call703-212-5166. A musical presentedby Bishop Ireton High School,Cambridge Road, Alexandria.

SATURDAY/MARCH 6St. Patrick’s Day Parade/ Antique

Car Show/ Dog Show. 12:30 - 3p.m. In Old Town Alexandria. Theevent is co-sponsored by theBallyshaners Inc. Contact 703-237-2199 or www.ballyshaners.org.

Irish Heritage Program. 2 to 4 p.m.Enjoy Irish music, dancing, and otherentertainments of the late 1790s.Cost is $5 adults, $3 children. AtCarlyle House Historic Park, 121North Fairfax Street, Alexandria. Call703-549-2997 or visitwww.carlylehouse.org.

SOLA Ball. 6:30 p.m. to midnight. The23rd Annual Symphony OrchestraLeague of Alexandria (SOLA) Ball. Atthe Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250S. Hayes St., Arlington. Silent andlive auctions, dinner and dancing.Prices: $150 for first-timers, $200 forothers. Contact Jane Ring at 703-548-7454 or [email protected] purchase ASO concert tickets,

contact the box office at 503-548-0885 or go towww.alexsym.org.Black Opal Gala. 9 p.m. to2 a.m. The 10th AnniversaryGala of the Northern VirginiaUrban League YoungProfessionals Network (YPN).YPN engages area youngprofessionals in the UrbanLeague movement towardsocial and economicempowerment throughcommunity service, politicalawareness and professionaldevelopment programs.Tickets are $60 until Feb. 15;$70 after. At the GeorgeWashington MasonicMemorial, 101 CallahanDrive, Alexandria. ContactKaren James, Director ofSocial Programs,[email protected]; 703-785-9762.

MARCH 6-7The 24th Annual Jazz &Tap Dance Festival.Saturday at 8 p.m. andSunday at 4 p.m. At theNorthern Virginia CommunityCollege, Annandale CampusCultural Center, 8333 LittleRiver Turnpike, Annandale.Tickets: $18 – In advance at:www.jatdf.org 1-800-595-4TIX ; $20 – At the door.

SATURDAY/MARCH 6Two Men in Skirts Concert. 2:30

p.m. Scottish music duo performs.Tickets are $20/adults, $12/students.Buy tickets at www.rscds-greaterdc.org. At the Lyceum, 201 S.Washington St., Alexandria. Call 703-838-4994.

SATURDAY/MARCH 6Alexandria Choral Society. 8 p.m. Presents

Pour l’amour de la Musique with Brian Gendron,Artistic Director. At Fairlington UnitedMethodist Church, Alexandria. Cost is $10/seniors, $20/adults over 13 years of age,children 12 and under are free. Visitwww.AlexChoralSociety.org [email protected].

SUNDAY/MARCH 7Landscaping With Fruits. 1:30-3

p.m. Lee Reich, author ofLandscaping with Fruits, will speakabout luscious landscaping withfruiting trees, shrubs and vines. AtGreen Spring Gardens, 4603 GreenSpring Road, Alexandria. Cost is $10.Call 703-642-5173.

Ten Thousand VillagesFundraiser. Noon to 6 p.m. 10percent of sales will be donated tothe Alexandria Office on Women’sDomestic Violence Program. At 915King Street in Old Town Alexandria.Visit www.alexwomen.com.

Folk Festival. 2 p.m. By The UnitedStates Marine Band — ThePresident’s Own. Maj. Jason K.Fettig, conducting. With PercyGrainger and Dorothy Chang. At theRachel M. Schlesinger Concert Halland Arts Center, NVCC, 3001 NorthBeauregard St., Alexandria. Call 202-433-4011 or visitwww.marineband.usmc.mil.

Ethiopian-American Celebrationof Motherhood. 3-5 p.m. Free.Join an intimate gathering of womento learn about the customs,traditions, music and food thatEthiopians use to celebrate thecoming of a new baby in their lives.At Convergence, 1801 N. QuakerLane, Alexandria.

WEDNESDAY/MARCH 10Ladies Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30

p.m. The Springfield/AlexandriaWomen’s Connection inviteseveryone to our “Fashion BargainsGalore!” luncheon. At the SpringfieldGolf & Country Club. Cost of $17includes the luncheon and freechildcare. Reservations must be madeby Friday, March 5th, to 703-569-4670 or 703-590-6562 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY/MARCH 11Our Natural Puzzle: Putting the

Pieces Together. 7:30 p.m. Get apeek at just how interdependent ourinsects, plants, other wildlife, andeven humans can be and try to puttogether our local nature puzzle. AtGreen Spring Gardens, 4603 GreenSpring Road, Alexandria.

Bob Sima Concert. 7 p.m. Thewarmth and sincerity of Bob’s tonematched with his delicious words area powerful pairing. At TheAthenaeum, 201 Prince Street,Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035. Visitwww.bobsima.com.

Comedy Stage Hypnotist. 7 p.m.Jason Linett performs at T.C.Williams High School fund-raiser.Tickets are $8. Proceeds benefit theClass of 2010. At 3330 King Street inAlexandria. Contact Dawn Crawfordat [email protected].

FRIDAY/MARCH 12Ballroom Dancing for Couples.

8:30-11:30 p.m. Friday Nighters St.Patrick’s Day Dance. Enjoy waltz, foxtrot, cha cha, swing and more to livemusic on large wooden dance floor inMount Vernon area. $15/person;reservations required.www.fridaynightersdancingclub.com.

SATURDAY/MARCH 13Silent Auction. 7-10 p.m. To benefit

the Tauxemont CooperativePreschool, Alexandria. Lots of greatdeals. Details: http://www.tauxemont.org/support/silentauction2010.pdf

Dance Studio Lioudmila’s SaintPatrick’s Dance Party. BeginnerRumba Dance lesson from 7:30-8:30p.m. Dance party from 8:30-11 p.m.Cost is $15. At Dance StudioLioudmila, 18th Roth Street,


COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE SERVICETO AND FROM TOWN

COMPLIMENTARYBICYCLES AVAILABLE

Complimentaryhigh speed internet

Pascal’s Restaurant Newly RenovatedWaterfront Eclectic Seafood Restaurant

Waterfront suites withunparalleled views

Full Service resort Marinaon the quiet side of town

Relax,Rejuvenateand Restoreat the Spa atHarbour Inn

Visit us on the web at www.harbourinn.com101 North Harbor Road • St. Michaels, MD 21663

410.745.9001

By Carolyn Griffin

MetroStage

Bernardine Mitchell and the originalcast of “Mahalia, a gospel musical,”which includes Alexandria’s own

award-winning artist William Hubbard, havereturned to MetroStage (after a five-year ab-sence) to cheering, clapping, swaying audi-ences. The story of Mahalia Jackson, gospelmusic and the civil rights movement hastouched the hearts of everyone who sees it.

The production of “Mahalia, a gospel mu-sical” is a beautiful example of the power oftheater. Whether audiences grew up withMahalia’s music in their homes and gospelmusic in their churches, or know Mahalia inname only, and have only a limited connec-tion or knowledge of gospel music, one thingis certain. Everyone responds to the extraor-dinary story of Mahalia Jackson and is movedby her story, her faith, her music, and herheart. Mahalia rose from humble beginningsin New Orleans, moving to Chicago duringthe Great Migration of the 1920’s, singing atchurches with professional gospel groups.

Many of her most famous gospel songs areincluded in this production, including “Take

‘Mahalia’ ReturnsTo MetroStage

My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “Move on up aLittle Higher.” As the “Queen of Gospel Mu-sic,” Mahalia performed at Carnegie Hall togreat acclaim. But she also played an impor-tant role in the Civil Rights movement, as afriend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and per-forming in front of 250,000 at the LincolnMemorial in 1963. With Mitchell’s extraordi-nary contralto voice, critics and audience alikefind that Mitchell is literally channelingMahalia Jackson in both her music and herspirit.

In addition to showcasing some of the mosttalented artists in the country, MetroStage iscommitted to producing plays full of heartand soul that touch our audiences deeply andembrace the diversity of our population. Thereare only two weeks remaining in this run of“Mahalia, a gospel musical,” but there is stilltime to experience Bernardine Mitchell andthe multi-talented cast of S. Renee Clark andAlexandria’s beloved William Hubbard as wecelebrate the music of Mahalia Jackson andher contribution to both the rise of gospelmusic and her role in the Civil Rights move-ment.

Carolyn Griffin is the Producing Artistic Di-rector, MetroStage

Theatre


David W. Spires703-765-3500•Cell: 703-850-4256

Marjorie J. Spires703-660-6789•Cell: 703-472-7713

Robert B. Burroughs703-370-0808•Cell 703-856-2426

www.partnersinrealestate.com • Licensed Brokers in DC, VA and MD

Directions: South on George Washington Parkway from Old Town Alexandria,right on Tulane, left at Park Terrace, follow Partners in Real Estate signs.

OTHER FINE PROPERTIES

1200Gatewood

Drive•Custom, ModifiedSplit-Level on LargeCorner Lot•Conveniently LocatedMain Level Two-CarGarage•RooflineTransoms LendContemporary

Flair•Use of Rare Pecky Cypress Accent Hardwoods•UpdatedCorian Kitchen w/Generous Breakfast Space•New Master Suitewith Sitting Area and Walk-in Closet•Luxury Master Bath w/JettedTub and Separate Shower•Fabulous Entertainment/RecreationArea on Lower Level•Large Breezy Covered Porch•ProfessionallyLandscapedOffered at .................................................$1,000,000

2301 Popkins Lane•Located in small enclave of Popkins Farm Estates•ThreeFinished Levels—Elevated Corner Lot•Expansive HardwoodFoyer w/Sectional Staircase•Smashing New Custom Kitchenw/Granite Counters•Family Room w/Raised Hearth Fireplace& Hardwoods•Main Level Library features Built-ins and BayWindow•All Baths Remodeled•New Windows•Six-PanelDoors•Lower Level 5th Bedroom, Shower Bath & RecreationRm•Oversized 2-Car Garage•Abundant Storage through-out•Dir.: S on Ft. Hunt Rd., R Paul Spring Rd, Stay to R at 3-Way Stop, Bear L at curve onto Devonshire, L on Popkins.Offered at............................................$750,000

1805 Paul Spring Parkway•At last this Custom Cape Cod beauty is beingsold!•Exceptional Curb Appeal w/Stately Trees facingPark•Three finished levels•The finest “old-time” con-struction•Hardwood Floors on Staircase, Main andUpper Levels•Sunny and Breezy Screened Porch adjacentto Living Rm•Four Bedrooms•Two Full Ceramic TiledBaths•Large Lower Level Recreation Rm w/Knotty PinePaneling•Generous Storage Throughout•Huge Laundry/Utility Room•Dir.: S on GW Pkwy from Old Town, RMorningside, L Ft. Hunt, First R Paul Spring Parkway.Offered at............................................$575,000

120 GretnaGreen Court

•Charming Three-Level all-brickTownhome with Two GenerousMaster Suites, Three Full and OneHalf Baths.•Updated eat-in Kitchenwith Granite Counters, StainlessAppliances and Cherry Cabinets •Beautiful Dining Room • Living Roomwith custom moldings, hardwoodfloors•Full masonry wood-burningfireplace and french doors to customDeck•Versatile lower level features aDen/Office or 3rd Bedroom, Full Bathand a huge Family Room•Fullmasonry wood-burning fireplace,crown molding, recessed lighting, 10'ceilings, wet-bar and French doors tofenced private Lower Level Deck.

Offered at ....................................................$489,000

3600 Glebe RoadUnit #528 W

•Beautiful 1 bedroomunit with den•Perfectfor home office oreven a nursery!•Kitchen featuresinclude 42" cabinets,granite counters,Stainless steel appli-

ances & recessed lighting • Large windows & glass door to pri-vate balcony allows tons of light•42" flat screen in living roomconveys. Crown molding & extensive built-ins and storage inbedroom and den • Harris Teeter, pool, gym, shops and bus toMetro•Call for additional information and private appointment.Offered at ....................................................$375,000

with a Western exposure•Great Indoor Amenitiesincluding card room, exercise room and sauna, indoorpool, library, table tennis and youth center•Call foradditional information and private appointment.

Offered at ....................................................$199,000

203 YoakumParkway#1117

•Close-InWatergate atLandmark•ShortSale—TerrificValue•1 BR, Denor 2 BR•2 FullBaths•Balcony

VILLAMAY VENUE

7400Gatewood

Court•All-Brick Colonial onBeautiful CornerLot•Elegant FormalLiving Room w/CustomBuilt-ins•ExpansiveEntry Foyer featuresMarble Flooring•New

Chef’s Island Kitchen with Custom Cabinetry•All-New Bath-rooms•Two Masonry Fireplaces•Refinished Hardwoods on BothLevels and Staircase•Fresh Custom Paints•New Security AlarmSystem•Garage Built-ins with New Epoxy Flooring•ExtensiveHardscape and Professional Landscaping

Offered at ....................................................$969,000

1204Gatewood

Drive•All-Brick CustomRambler on almost One-Half Acre Lot•TotallyRemodeled from top tobottom since 2003•Magnificent CurbAppeal with All-NewLandscaping•Large, ele-

gant and well-appointed Formal Rooms•Designer Kitchen featuresThermador, SubZero, Fisher & Paykel, Crystal Cabinetry and GraniteCounters•Master Suite Custom Closet measures 10' x 11'•FrenchDoors•Plantation Shutters•Andersen Windows•Recessed Lighting•TwoMasonry Fireplaces w/Gas Logs•Main Level Laundry Center w/CorianCounters•Extensive List of Additional Upgrades at PropertyOffered at ....................................................$900,000

7403 FortHunt Road

•Custom Colonialtucked away in privatesetting•Remodeledfrom top-to-bottomsince 2002•ElegantFormal Rooms flankLarge EntryFoyer•Family Rmw/Cathedral Ceiling &

Massive Fireplace•Chef’s Island Kitchen w/Granite & FinestAppliances•French Doors Open to Two-Level Brick Terrace atRear•Totally Remodeled Baths and Utility/Laundry Room•Storagein Three Locations to include Walk-in Attic•Two-Car Garage•Custom Closets•Hardwood Floors•Call for additional informationor your private appointment.Offered at ....................................................$800,000

1100Gatewood

Drive•Custom-built split-level with unique fea-tures•Quiet, Cul-de-sac location—terrificcurb appeal•Brick/Allmasonry construc-tion•Two Fireplaces•Large Eat-In

Kitchen with Corian counters, upgraded appliances & cabi-nets, hand-painted backsplash tiles•Four Generous Bed-rooms •Three levels of hardwoods•Three Full Baths—HugeMaster bath features jetted tub•Oversized Two-Car Garagewith Workshop area•Rear Elevation looks North to WilsonBridge and National HarborOffered at .................................................$1,025,000

•Potomac RiverOrientation•SpectacularSunrises•Rarelyavailable FiveBedroom Rambler•Magnificent CurbAppeal withProfessionalLandscaping •Exte-nsive Hardscape andGardens Front and

Rear•Oversized Two Car Garage with Hardwood Built-ins•Remodeled Eat-In Kitchen w/Stainless Appliances•ThreeFull Remodeled Baths•Five Large Bedrooms•Formal LivingRm & Family Rm feature Masonry fireplaces•CustomLaundry w/Counters•Hardwoods on Main Level•Call foradditional information or your private appointmentOffered at..................................................Mid $800’s

OPEN

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SUNDAY

1–5

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SUNDAY

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Visit These Houses of WorshipJoin A Club, Make New Friends, or Expand Your Horizons...

To Advertise YourFaith Community,

call Karen at: 703-917-6468

Good ShepherdCatholic Church

Mass ScheduleSaturday Evening5:00 pm; 6:30 pm (en Español)

Sunday7:30; 9:00; 10:30 am; 12:00 Noon2:00 pm (en Español)6:30 pm Mass (Starts Sept. 13)

8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria VA, 22309Tel: 703-780-4055 Fax: 703-360-5385 www.gs-cc.org

Loving as Christ loves, serving as Christ serves

Weekdays(Mass or Communion Service)9:00 am (followed by Rosary)Children’s Liturgy of the WordSundays (Sept.-July) during 9:00 amMass (English)Sign Language InterpreterSunday at 9:00 am Mass

Wesley United Methodist Church

10 am Sunday Worship ServiceSunday School classes (child to adult)and youth group (7th to 12th grade)

9 am to noon Monday through Friday Pre-School

8412 Richmond Ave, Alexandria, VA 22309(just off Richmond Highway, near Fort Belvoir & Mount Vernon)

703-780-5019 • www.wesleyva.org

Hit Me Up!Christ the SaviourAnglican Church

“To Love & Serve the Lord withGladness & Singleness of Heart”

www.christthesaviouranglican.org

703-953-2854

Location – Washington Mill ES9100 Cherrytree Drive

Worship Service – 10 a.m.Inter-generational Sunday School – after serviceVicar, The Rev. Huey J Sevier

Messiah United Methodist Church6215 Rolling Rd., Springfield

703-569-9862 www.messiahumc.org

Join us for our free spring concert

“The World Beloved”

A bold collaborationof African-American

Spirituals andAppalachianBluegrass.

Sunday, Mar. 14at 3:00 pm

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTHOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST...703-960-8772

CHURCHES—AFRICAN METHODISTEPISCOPAL ZION

ALLEYNE AME ZION CHURCH…703-548-3888

CHURCHES—ANGLICANCHRIST THE SAVIOR... 703-953-2854

ST. ANDREW & ST. MARGARETOF SCOTLAND… 703-683-3343

CHURCHES—APOSTOLICLOVE OF CHRIST CHURCH…703-518-4404

CHURCHES—BAPTISTALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH…703-683-2222

COMMONWEALTH BAPTIST CHURCH…703-548-8000DEL RAY BAPTIST CHURCH…703-549-8116

DOWNTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH…703-549-5544FIRST AGAPE BAPTIST

COMMUNITY OF FAITH…703-519-9100FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA…703-684-3720PROVIDENCE- ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH…703-683-2565

SHILOH BAPTIST…703-683-4573MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH...703-256-1239

VICTORY TEMPLE…703-370-2233PLYMOUTH HAVEN BAPTIST...703-360-4370

CHURCHES—BRETHREN GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH…703-548-1808

ALEXANDRIA CHURCH OF GOD...703-548-5084

BUDDHISMTHE VAJRAYOGINI BUDDHIST CENTER...202-331-2122

CHURCHES—ROMAN CATHOLICGOOD SHEPHERD

CATHOLIC CHURCH…703-780-4055ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH…703-836-3725ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC CHURCH…703-765-4421ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH…703-836-4100

CHURCHES—CHRISTIANHIS KINGDOM MINISTRIES... 703-313-5029

FIRST CHRISTIAN OF ALEXANDRIACHURCH... 703-549-3911

CHURCHES—CHRISTIAN SCIENCEFIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST

ALEXANDRIA...703-549-7973CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH

MT. VERNON...703-768-2494

CHURCH OF CHRISTALEXANDRIA CHURCH OF CHRIST…703-836-3083

CHURCHES—EPISCOPALEMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH...703-683-0798ST. AIDAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH...703-360-4220ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH... 703-780-3081ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH...703-765-4342ST. MARK EPISCOPAL CHURCH...703-765-3949

CHURCHES—LUTHERANEPIPHANY LUTHERAN

CHURCH-ELCA….703-780-5077BETHANY LUTHERAN….703 765-8255

EVANGELICAL LUTHERANCHURCH….703-765-5003

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERANCHURCH-ELCA….703-548-8608

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH,MISSOURI SYNOD…703-549-0155

MESSIAH EVENGELICAL LUTHERANCHURCH, ELCA...703-765-5003

NATIVITY LUTHERANCHURCH, ELCA….703-768-1112

ORTHODOXSAINT APHRAIM SYRIAC…201-312-7678ALL SAINTS OF AMERICA...703-417-9665

CHURCHES—PRESBYTERIANCALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH...703.768.8510

ALEXANDRIA PRESBYTERIANCHURCH…703-683-3348

OLD PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE…703-549-6670

HERITAGE PRESBYTERIAN…703-360-9546MT. VERNON PRESBYTERIAN…703-765-6118

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIANCHURCH…703-549-4766

CHURCHES—UNITED METHODISTALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST...703-765-6555

BEVERLY HILLS COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST...703-836-2406

DEL RAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH...703-549-2088FAIRLINGTON UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH....703-671-8557ROBERTS MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH...703-836-7332ST. ANDREW’S UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH…..703-751-4666TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH…703-549-5500

WASHINGTON FARM UNITEDMETHODIST...703-780-4696

WASHINGTON STREET UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH…703-836-4324

CHURCHES—UNITARIANMT. VERNON UNITARIAN...703-765-5950

CHURCHES—UNITYUNITY IN ALEXANDRIA…703-931-8507

SYNAGOGUESAGUDAS ACHIM CONGREGATION…703-998-6460

SYNAGOGUES—ORTHODOXCHABAD LUVAVITCH OF

ALEXANDRIA-ARLINGTON…703-370-2774

SYNAGOGUES—REFORMBETH EL HEBREW CONGREGATION…703-370-9400

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRISTOF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

ALEXANDRIA I WARD...703-683-7577ALEXANDRIA II WARD...703-549-9891

COLONIAL II SINGLES WARD...703-313-6249OLD TOWN SPANISH WARD...703-519-9545

BELLE HAVEN WARD...703-780-4789KINGSTOWNE WARD...703-313-6140

FRANCONIA WARD...703-313-6147MT. VERNON WARD...703-780-9577

SALVATION ARMYALEXANDRIA CITADEL ....703-836-2427

From Page 18

Calendar

Alexandria. Call 703-751-8868,[email protected]. Web:www.dancelioudmila.com

Mozart in March. 7 p.m. Free.Presented by the WashingtonSinfonietta. At Plymouth HavenBaptist Church, 8600 PlymouthRoad, Alexandria. Call 703-360-4370.

Used Book Sale. Friends BookSale. Kingstowne Library, 6500Landsdowne Centre,Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.

March Madness Festival. 9a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Historic Non-Fiction Author Thomas E.Crocker (Braddock’s March ) at9:30 a.m.; Children’s AuthorBetty Shepard (Virginia: AnAlphabetical Journey throughHistory ) at 9:45 a.m.; FacePainting with Miss Nadine from10 a.m. to 12 noon; Children’sAuthor Bebe Willoughby(Saving Emma ) at 10:45 a.m.;Adult Novelist R. K. Price (I’veAlready Met the Devil ) at 11a.m.; Katie Balloons and herballoon show from 12 noon to 3p.m.; Folk Dancers from 2:30 to 3:30p.m., plus refreshments and a booksale! At the Ellen Coolidge BurkeBranch Library, 4701 Seminary Road,Alexandria.

Alexandria Coin Show. 9 a.m. to 5p.m. There will be 50 tables with U.S.coins and currency, world coins,banknotes, ancient coins, hobbybooks, gold, silver, medals, tokensand collectibles. Buy, Sell, Trade.Open to the public. Visitwww.members.cox.net/alexandriacoinclub. At the HamptonInn & Suites, corner of I-495 Beltwayand Route 1, Alexandria.

Storyteller Baba Jamal Koram. 11a.m. to noon. Koram will present“African Stories in De Americas: The

Gullah People” which explores theGullah culture through traditionalstories. From 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.,take part in “Black Storytelling 101.”At the Alexandria Black HistoryMuseum, 902 Wythe Street,Alexandria. Call 703-746-4356.

MARCH 13-14Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.With Maestro Kim Allen Kluge, violinsoloist Allison Bailey and vocalistsElizabeth Bishop and Ta’u Pupu’a. Atthe Rachel M. Schlesinger ConcertHall and Arts Center, 3001 N.Beauregard St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-0885 or visit www.alexsym.org.

Fine Arts

MARCH 4-8Biennial Ikebana Show. The Art

League welcomes The Sogestu Schoolfor its biennial Ikebana Show in theArt League Gallery. Ikebana is the artof Japanese flower arranging andSogetsu is one of the many schools ofIkebana. The Art League is at 105North Union Street, Alexandria. Opendaily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundayfrom noon to 6 p.m. Thursday until 9p.m. This exhibit will include:

❖ Flower arranging demonstration byTone Olson: Saturday, March 6 at 1p.m.

❖ Japanese Tea Ceremony anddiscussion of Chado, the Japaneseway of tea, with Stephen di Girolamoof the National Portrait Gallery,Smithsonian Institution: Sunday,March 7, 1:30 p.m.

❖ Musical Performance by theWashington Toho Koto Society,performed by Mrs. Kyoko Okamoto:Sunday, March 7 at 3 p.m.

MARCH 5-31Sidney Lowery’s “Waves.”

Reception on March 5 from 6:30 to10 p.m. and March 28 from 4:30 to 9p.m. At Blueberry Art Gallery, 116 E.Del Ray Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-894-8854 [email protected].

FRIDAY/MARCH 5Women in Art: Body of Work.

Opening reception 7-10 p.m. Artistswill explore the varied roles ofwomen in the creative life. At the DelRay Artisans gallery, Nicholas A.Colasanto Center, 2704 MountVernon Ave., Alexandria. ContactEllyn Ferguson at 703-549-2660 [email protected] or Vivienne

Lukacs at 703-979-8996 [email protected]. Visitwww.TheDelRayArtisans.org.

MARCH 11-APRIL 5Peep and Strip Show. In Rosemary

Feit Covey’s “Peep Show” series, shecombines the secret, sexual worldassociated with the moderndefinition of “Peep Show” with theinnocent world of Victorian-era peepshow boxes. Opening reception isThursday, March 11 from 6:30-8 p.m.

At the Art League Gallery, 105North Union Street,Alexandria. Go towww.theartleague.org or call703-683-1780.

FRIDAY/MARCH 12Workshop: In the Bag. 6-10 p.m. Create a bag fromrecycled materials, oldclothing, your favorite dress,vintage towels and more. Atthe Del Ray Artisans Gallery,2704 Mount Vernon Ave.,Alexandria. Advanceregistration is required byTuesday, March 9 at https://secure.delrayartisans.org/ssl/Accessories.htm. Fee is $40for DRA members / $45 fornon-members. Contact JenAthanas 571-332-0181 [email protected].

NOW THROUGH MARCH 25Springfield Art Guild ArtShow. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Worksinclude oil, watercolor,photography, and mixedmedium. At the FranconiaGovernment Center, 6121Franconia Road, Alexandria.

Contact: Reggie Garrett, FGC ShowChair at [email protected]. Call703-971-6262.

MARCH 26 TO MAY 9Cedric Williams’ Nostalgia and

Dereliction. Artist’s reception isSunday, April 18 from 4-6 p.m. Thehours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondayto Friday and during performances.At the Schlesinger Center MargaretW. & Joseph L. Fisher Gallery, at theAlexandria Campus of NorthernVirginia Community College.

Marni Maree – “Stems”

MARCH 1 TO APRIL 25Art in the Gardens. Free. Featuring the

watercolors of Marni Maree and photographsof Jefferson Evans. Open noon to 4:30 p.m.daily. Meet the artist reception is Sunday, April11 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. At Green SpringGardens Park Horticultural Center, 4603 GreenSpring Road, Alexandria. Call 703-642-5173 orvisit www.GreenSpring.org.

Scout J.J. Stinson, who isearning his Eagle Scout awardby collecting quilts made forpreemies.

TUESDAY/MARCH 9Mount Vernon Quilters Unlimited.

12:30 p.m. Business meeting, Show andTell, Preemie quilts collected for INOVAhospital. All quilters and folks interested inquilting are welcome. At Hollin Hall Sr.Center, 1500 Shenandoah RoadAlexandria. Visitwww.quiltersunlimited.org/mtv.htm


From Page 12

OpinionLetters

Vernon “club” ($50-$5000 membershipfee), which it could use much more effec-tively to inform area residents about upcom-ing plans, not just upcoming events. In thisday and age of electronic communication,a Friends email-group list could be used,for example, for even such basic but cour-tesy-inspired communications as lettingresidents know when Mt. Vernon will beletting off fireworks or cannons at 10 p.m.so residents (especially, young school-agekids and the elderly) don’t keep waking upin alarm at these unanticipated sonic dis-turbances.

In a nutshell, we would like to see bettercommunications and more community-based ventures between Mt. Vernon Estateand its resident neighbors — along withcounty and state agencies — to preserve andin some cases improve the historical andaesthetics importance of the Mt. VernonHwy corridor. This will be of mutual ben-efit to Mt. Vernon Estate, the good impres-sion left on its out-of-area tourists arrivingvia Rte 235, as well as to local residentswho do take great pride in their local trea-sure, Mt. Vernon.

We hope that Mt. Vernon Estate will acton the realization that its neighbors are po-tentially its biggest support base – but weare also taxpaying, politically active resi-dents. Disgruntled neighbors complain;sometimes they leave, but when propertyvalues decline because of perceived devel-opment problems in the area, the Mt.Vernon Estate could lose the good will andsupport of the very people it needs to keepthe Mt. Vernon corridor - “George’s High-way” - looking good.

Andree C. DumermuthMt. Vernon

IrresponsibleLawsuitTo the Editor:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli an-nounced that his office had filed a petitionwith the Environmental Protection Agencyasking them to reconsider their finding thatcarbon dioxide emissions are pollution andconstitute a threat to human health. Mr.Cuccinelli is wasting critical time andmoney pressuring the federal governmentto delay action on the issue of climatechange.

At a time when Virginia’s budget is al-ready strapped and we are forced to makesevere cuts to education, mental health, andthe environment, this frivolous lawsuitcould cost taxpayers hundreds of thousandsof dollars. That is fiscally irresponsible.

The General Assembly is currently con-sidering cuts to programs that help conserveland, protect our water from being polluted,and assist farmers in their efforts to do bothof these things.

The House of Delegates is proposing a$400,000 cut (eliminating the entire pro-gram) to a Purchase of Development Rightsprogram that helps farmers to preserve theirworking farmland from development. This

By Scott Surovell

State Delegate

As the state legislature entersthe final weeks of this session, a House-Senate conference committee is trying

to resolve the differences in their twoversions of the budget.

I voted against the budget that camebefore the House of Delegates because it isshort-sighted and will do great harm to ourschools and many families in our area.

Education is key to thefuture fulfillment and pro-ductivity of our childrenand gives them morechoices in life. Virginia’s

public education system enabled me to ac-complish whatever I wanted. The HouseBudget for education funding is disturbing.It guts kindergarten through 12th gradeeducation by reducing payments to locali-ties by $700 million or $233,000 per Vir-ginia school and including about $40 mil-lion for Fairfax County. This will result in28,000 Virginia educators losing their jobs.When combined with the Fairfax CountySchool Board’s proposals, the proposed cutsare about $1 million per school and $1,000per child in Fairfax County. This will resultin fewer opportunities for Virginia’s chil-

dren. It will also mean thatlocalities will try to replace thislost revenue by raising real es-tate taxes yet again.

The House and Senate alsoproposed to “adjust” revenueand expense forecasts, some-thing which always raises redflags with me. For example,the House and Senate passed

legislation to reduce state employee pen-sion contributions by changing payout for-mulas, delaying and reducing our obliga-tions to state employees. The Pew Founda-tion estimates that state pensions are al-ready $1 trillion underfunded nationwide,with Virginia’s being 10 percentunderfunded. The legislature just proposedto underfund it even further. This is short-sighted and extremely risky in the long-term, setting us up to pay a much largerbill 20-30 years from now.

Today, Virginia’s per capita Medicaidspending is 48th in the United States. TheHouse budget proposed to reduce Medicaidby $400 million. This will result in lowerpayments to providers and fewer low-incomechildren, pregnant mothers and elderly get-ting health care coverage. It will also bringhigher premiums for all Virginians with pri-vate health insurance and is predicated toeliminate 6,000 health industry jobs.

The House Budget also deleted arts fund-ing which will affect local programs like theMount Vernon Children’s Community The-atre and arts programs in our schools. Italso reduced funding for homeless pro-grams affecting New Hope Housing andGood Shepherd Housing. It wiped out fund-ing for United Community Ministries’Healthy Families Program, a program witha proven record of reducing domestic vio-lence.

The House Budget passed with no Demo-cratic votes for the first time in recentmemory. I voted “no.” Virginia has alwaysprided itself on first-class public schools andcolleges. We have always maintained ourAAA bond rating and have been ranked theBest Managed State six of the last sevenyears. I will continue to fight these propos-als because I am deeply concerned we aresacrificing our future for short-term expe-diency and putting Virginia into the kind ofexpense cycle that has handcuffed stateslike California and New York. I am hopefulthat the Senate Budget will be more respon-sible.

I have posted many more articles on myblog The Dixie Pig atscottsurovell.blogspot.com. Good govern-ment depends on good communication andyour input. Please send me your commentsand suggestions.

Proposed House Budget Hits Home

Richmond

Report

Marcy Hoath of Mt.Vernon High Schoolreceived a $10,000 InHope Freedom Ringsscholarship on Jan.12 at the Café at theGatehouse Adminis-trative Center in FallsChurch.

Marcy is the presi-dent of the NationalHonor Society; man-aging editor of theschool newspaper;and a member of theMock United Nations,Varsity Math Team,and the Future Busi-ness Leaders ofAmerica while main-taining a 4.174 gradepoint average. A starfield hockey and soc-cer player, Marcyhelped her hockeyteam win the Na-tional District Cham-pionship.

Her school counselor points out that“Marcy selects the most rigorous coursesavailable to her … she has admirable per-sistence and has demonstrated time andagain that she is a blossoming leader.”

The Foundation was started five yearsago by local business owner Margo R.Friedman, a former school teacher, whowanted to give back to the community.

Each year, Friedman participates as asponsor and recruits other sponsors fromthe local business community who share hergoal of helping students attend college. Thisenables her to award the scholarships with100 percent of the donations going to thescholarships. The foundation has awarded$90,000 to Fairfax County students.

This is the fifth year that the foundation

has awarded the scholarships. The busi-nesses that contributed are: Burke Cen-tre Automotive; CouponsToGo.com;Cropp-Metcalfe Air Conditioning, Heat-ing, Plumbing & Security; Hadeed Ori-ental Rug Cleaning; Papa John’s Pizza;Prince William Home Improvement;Springfield Lorton Dental Group; andVirginia Tire & Auto.

Marcy Hoath of Mt. Vernon High School attended the presentation of In Hope FreedomRings scholarship.

Hoath Recieves In Hope Freedom Rings Scholarship



Sports

Jon Roetman

The Gazette

With Mount Vernon’s top scoringthreats struggling and 7-footChantilly junior John Manning

swatting away ill-fated attempts in thepaint, senior Deontre’ Ferguson tried toshoot the Majors back into Saturday’sNorthern Region semifinal from long range.

Ferguson drained five 3-pointers, includ-ing four in the first half, en route to a sea-son-high 24 points. It wasn’t enough, how-ever, as the Majors fell to Chantilly 69-57at Robinson Secondary School, ending theirseason in the regional semifinals for thesecond consecutive year.

Ferguson’s fifth 3-pointer brought MountVernon to within seven at 62-55 with 55seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. ButChantilly knocked down seven of its finaleight free-throw attempts and put the gameaway.

Ferguson was the game’s high scorer andkept the Majors from getting blown outearly while the “big three” of Skylar Jones,Robert Smith and Jesse Konadu struggledto find their rhythm. Mount Vernon wentwithout a field goal for the first 6 minutes,29 seconds of the game — until Fergusoncame off the bench and made a 3-pointer.His second triple stopped a 7-0 Chantillyrun to open the second quarter, and his thirdand fourth were part of a 9-0 Majors run.

“[Ferguson] did what we ask him to doon this team,” Mount Vernon coach AlfonsoSmith said. “He’s one of the better shootersthat’s come through Mount Vernon since I’vebeen there. He showed that that was actu-ally the case tonight. … We really were inan offensive funk. Some of the guys thatreally get us kick started offensively werestruggling a little bit early. Deontre’ camein and really gave us a big spark off thebench.”

Ferguson joined the Majors during the

second semester after becoming academi-cally ineligible. His first game was Feb. 4against Stuart.

Ferguson scored 13 of Mount Vernon’s 16points in the second quarter.

“From the beginning [my teammates]were looking for me,” Ferguson said. “Afterthe first [3-pointer], I just got hot and theykept giving me the ball.”

Jones, Smith and Konadu carried MountVernon on the offensive end for most of theseason. On this night, Jones and Konaduhad their shots blocked or altered numer-ous times by Manning, and Smith alsostruggled to get into a rhythm. Konadu fin-ished with 13 points, Jones had seven andSmith added six. “[Manning] had a tremen-dous impact,” Jones said, “on how we at-tacked the basket.”

In the second half, the Majors got withinfive when Jones scored the first basket ofthe third quarter and six when Sean Stewartknocked down a 3-pointer to cut Chantilly’s

lead to 37-31 with 2:28 remaining, butcouldn’t get over the hump. Alfonso Smithsaid one of the biggest differences betweenSaturday’s contest and when Mount Vernondefeated Chantilly 55-52 on Jan. 9 is theChargers on Saturday had an answer forevery Majors run.

While the season ended in disappoint-ment for Mount Vernon, the team’s seniors— Smith, Stewart, Stann Hazelwood, Jones,Dylan Bischoff — leave the program hav-ing helped turn it into one of the more suc-cessful in the Northern Region. The Majorswon back-to-back National District cham-pionships while losing only one districtgame (this season against district newcomerHayfield).

“We really felt confident coming in thatwe’d be able to get over this hump,” AlfonsoSmith said of getting past the regional semi-finals. “It’s an empty feeling, a disappoint-ing feeling. … The senior class has been anexcellent class. With the run that T.C. [Wil-liams] put together [winning 80 consecu-tive Patriot District games before forfeits];I think that kind of gets overlooked.”

Ferguson’s Hot Hand Not Enough for Mount VernonSenior hits 5 3s but Majors lose to Chantilly in regional semifinals.

See West Potomac, Page 24

By Jon Roetman

The Gazette

West Potomac boys basketballcoach David Houston IIIneeded a minute. He stooddown the hall from the Wol-

verines’ locker room, composing himselfwhile leaning against a wall.

The Wolverines’ season had just endedwith a 63-51 home loss to Chantilly on Feb.25 in the quarterfinals of the Northern Re-gion tournament. But it was more than justthe culmination of the 2009-10 campaignto Houston and the Wolverines. It was theend of an emotional run which saw a groupof players improve from six wins and sev-enth place in the Patriot District to districtchampions, 17 wins and a regional victoryover Falls Church.

Eight West Potomac seniors had playedtheir final game and Houston wanted amoment before he spoke to them in thelocker room.

“They gave everything they had,” Hous-ton would later say. “Nobody felt like wewould be in the regional tournament — noteven in the regional tournament — let alonethe top team in the best district in the re

West Potomac winsPatriot championship,while honoringformer assistant coach.

Wolverines Dedicate Season to ‘Coach Moe’

Photo Louise Krafft/The Gazette

West Potomac senior Shakil White goes up for a shotwhile Chantilly junior John Manning, listed at 7 feet,defends.

Courtesy photo

Maurice Barbour, a former West Potomac summercoach and junior varsity assistant, died May 21 of aheart attack at the age of 35. The West Potomacvarsity dedicated the 2009-10 season to “Coach Moe.”

Mount Vernon Gazette Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]


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From Page 23

Sports

gion. … This is the best team that I’vehad as far as a collection of players withone goal. … We won the [district] champi-onship [and] I think we did it the right way.We didn’t go out and get transfers. We didit with the same kids we had last year.”

MOTIVATION came in multiple forms forWest Potomac. While the Wolverineswanted to prove others wrong regardingtheir ability, they also played for a greaterpurpose.

Rev. Maurice Barbour, “Coach Moe” to theWolverines, died May 21, 2009, of a heartattack at the age of 35. He was a summerleague coach for West Potomac before Hous-ton added him to the Wolverine staff as ajunior varsity assistant for the 2008-09 sea-son. An ordained Baptist minister, Barbour’srelationship with the Wolverines was suchthat they dedicated their 2009-10 seasonto his memory.

“He was a fiery guy, always positive,”Houston said. “I don’t think I ever heard orsaw him [act in a] negative [manner], notonce. He’d do anything for the kids. Heloved being around them. He’d drive themto summer league games when we werebad. We were getting beat by 25, 35, 40points and he’s still picking them up and

driving them to McDonald’s or KFC.”Barbour joined Mt. Zoar Baptist Church

in Fairfax in 1999. He attended Washing-ton Baptist Seminary in 2000 and was or-dained in 2006. He had two sons, MauriceBarbour II and Micah Church-Barbour, andone daughter, Mauriah Church-Barbour.

The Wolverines had a moment of silenceto honor Coach Moe before every game. Theteam also kept a two-by-four board bear-ing Barbour’s name next to the bench. WhenCoach Moe died, Houston said 18 kids inthe West Potomac program attended his fu-neral at the Greater Little Zion BaptistChurch in Fairfax.

“He was just a really good person with a

Wolverines Dedicate Season to ‘Coach Moe’good heart that believed in God and be-lieved that there was a better purpose,”Houston said. “He used to talk all the time,even though we were losing, ‘It’s going toturn around, it’s going to come around.’ Thekids really loved him.”

BARBOUR’S ATTITUDE made the Wol-verines want to give maximum effort.

“He was always positive,” senior ShakilWhite said. “He just knew how to pump youup.”

“He was real good before the games atgetting us real motivated,” senior MattCunningham said, “and lighting that fireinside of us.”

Coach Moe’s ability to inspire remainedafter his death.

“He always treated me like a brother,”senior Martez Redfearn said. “We could talkabout anything. … He was a good man —good coach, too. … When he passed, I waslike, ‘I know what I have to do. I’ve got topush myself to another level now. I’ve gotto work hard.’ I knew that’s what he wanted.

“He wanted to see us go far. I wish hewas here to see this year. He would havebeen hyped on the bench. … He was a bigpart of West Potomac basketball.”

As a coach, Barbour told the Wolverinesto push the tempo and believe in them-

“He’d do anythingfor the kids. Heloved being aroundthem.”

— West Potomac head boysbasketball coach on formerassistant Maurice Barbour

selves.“His favorite words were always, ‘Have

Wolverine pride,’” senior Shawn Lee said.“He always used to talk about pride.”

Pride wasn’t enough for West Potomac toget past Chantilly. Consecutive 3-pointersby senior Terrell Ward gave the Wolverinesa 21-14 advantage at the end of the firstquarter, but the lead slowly slipped away.West Potomac led 27-25 at halftime butChantilly took over late in the third quarterwhen Adam Fridy drained three consecu-tive 3-pointers to put the Chargers ahead,38-29.

Fridy’s fifth and final triple put Chantillyahead by 15 with 3:49 to play in the fourthquarter. Despite the deficit, the Wolverinescontinued playing hard, just how CoachMoe would have wanted.

“No matter what the score was of anygame, he still kept us up,” senior DeAndreEssex said. “We still played hard for himevery game. The way he spoke to us wasmotivation.”

Fridy led Chantilly with 21 points. DarylCopeland paced West Potomac with 16points and Ward added 10.

“I think he’s looking down proud,” Hous-ton said after the game. “I definitely don’tthink that he’s angry right now or said ordisappointed.”

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From Page 1

boats to safety after mechanical failure.By eliminating this unit, the county wouldsave $222,287.

❖ Eliminate daytime “lock up” service atthe Mount Vernon District Police Station.Currently, police officers can book and holdsuspects at the Mount Vernon police stationinstead of transporting them to the AdultDetention Center in Fairfax. Griffin has pro-posed cutting this service during the day,which would mean that officers may haveto spend more time driving people who arearrested to the main detention facility. Thecenter averages 1.4 prisoners per day. The“lock up” service will be available at night.By implementing this cut, the county wouldsave $160,000.

❖ Reduce the service of the basic life sup-port unit at the Mount Vernon fire stationfrom 24 hours per day, seven days per weekto eight hours per day, five days per week.The fire station’s service area will be staffedonly by a advanced life support unit onweekends and during “non-peak hours,”resulting in longer wait times for an emer-gency response.

❖ Eliminate regular patrols by the fire-boat that previously took place from 10 a.m.to 7 p.m. during the boating season. Thefireboat will still be available to respond toemergency calls but response times may belonger. The cost savings to the county isabout $10,000.

Budget Cuts

News

From Page 22

Letters

is the amount of money that could bewasted on this lawsuit against EPA.

Mr. Cuccinelli has asserted that the en-dangerment process and climate science ingeneral are being misused as a part of abroader political agenda. In fact, the EPAunder both President Bush and PresidentObama played critical roles in developingthe finding over a two-year period of timebeginning in 2007. Cuccinelli, however, as-serts that climate change is not man madeand has publicly stated that he intends touse his office to pursue his personal agenda,a part of which is stopping important envi-ronmental legislation in its tracks.

Virginia’s coastline is a vulnerable areain the United States to the threat of sea levelrise. We rank behind only New Orleans inareas that will be inundated by rising seasdue to climate change. The Virginia Insti-tute of Marine Sciences released a reporton their research demonstrating that stormsand the resulting flooding will be more se-vere due to climate change. Other recentreports have shown that Virginia’s agricul-tural industry, as well as our native plantand wildlife species, face threats fromchanging climates. A report issued this sum-mer showed that Virginia’s corn growersstand to lose $5 million annually from cli-mate change.

Martin TillettAlexandria


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703-354-4333metrogutter.com

GUTTER GUTTER

Most importantly if your gutter itselfhas moved outward or shifted to thepoint water and leaves are coming inbehind the gutter, it can rot out thefascia board and the home could getpotential interior water damage.We will reset the system.

GUTTER REPAIR

783-843-4792

PINNACLE SERVICES,Inc.

703-802-0483GROUP RATES AVAILABLE

FREE EST

• LEAF REMOVAL• GUTTER

CLEANING

GUTTER GUTTER

General RemodelingResidential & Commercial

Specializing in:Kitchen/Bathroom/Basement RemodelingPlumbing • Electrical • Custom Carpentry

Doors Windows • Hardwood FloorsCrown Molding • House Cleaning

Interior/Exterior Painting • Brick/Stone WorkCeramic Tile • Decks, Fences, Patios

HOA Maintenance, Granite Counter TopsRealtors Work and Much More

Hand and HandHandyman

Licensed and Insured Serving Northern Virginia

703-296-6409

RCL HOME REPAIRSHandyman Services

Springfld • Burke • KingstowneLight Electrical • Plumbing •

Bathroom Renovation • Ceramic Tile • Drywall Repair

703-922-4190LIC. www.rclhomerepairs.com INS.

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

A&S Landscaping

703-863-7465LICENSED

Serving All of N. Virginia

• All Concrete work• Retaining Walls • Patios• Decks • Porches (incl. screened) • Erosion & Grading Solutions• French Drains • Sump Pumps• Driveway Asphalt Sealing

Rotten Wood, Wind Damage, Trims,Windows, Doors, Deck, Stairs, Vanity,

Basement Framing, Garbage Disposal,Painting, Power Wash, Siding Repairs.

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

703-266-1233

M. C. LynchHome Improvement

Family Owned & Opererated

IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS

R&N Carpentry

✦BASEMENTS ✦BATHS ✦KITCHENSForeclosure specialist/Power washing

✦Exterior Wood Rot More!Deck & Fence repair, Screen Porches

No jobs too large or smallFree est. 37 yrs exp. Licensed, Insured

703-987-5096

IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS

Specializing in CustomStone and Brick Walkways, Patios,

& Small and Large RepairsLicensed, Insured

• Free estimates • All work guaranteed •www.motternmasonry.comPhone 703-496-7491

MOTTERN MASONRY DESIGN

MASONRY MASONRY

Residential & Commercial Roofing Expert

Full Service Roofing CompanyRepair • Refurbish • Replace

All Major Roof Types703-455-Roof (7663)

Call today for your Free Estimate Lic. & Ins.

ROOFING ROOFING

GUTTER

PINNACLE SERVICES,

703-802-0483GROUP RATES

AVAILABLEFREE EST

•GUTTER CLEANING•SMALL REPAIRS•SCREENING•POWERWASHING

HAULING

Construction Debris,Residential, Office

& Tree Removal

ANGEL’S TRASH HAULING

703-863-1086New#- 571-312-7227

AL’S HAULINGJunk & Rubbish

Concrete, furn.,office,yard, construction debris

Low Rates NOVA703-360-4364

703-304-4798 cell

7 DAYS A WEEK

RICK’SHAULING POWERWASHING PAINTINGYard Debris Decks Interior-ExteriorFurniture Sidewalks Deck Staining

Appliances Houses Gutter CleaningConcrete etc Mobile Homes etc Gutter Guards

FREE ESTIMATES703-360-5252

RicksHauling1@ aol.com

IMPROVEMENTS

We Accept VISA/MC

703-441-8811

BATHROOM REMODELINGREPAIRS, CERAMIC TILE,PAINTING, DRYWALL,CARPENTRY, CUSTOMWOOD REPAIR, LT. PLUMBING &ELECTRICAL, POWER WASHING

Since 1964

TheHANDYMANA DIVISION OF NURSE CONSTRUCTION

LANDSCAPING

•Trimming •Edging•Mulching •Yard Cleaning

•Hauling •Tree Work

ANGEL’SLAWN MOWING

703-863-1086New# 571-312-7227

703-863-7465

A&SLANDSCAPING

Spring Clean-up•PlantingMulching • Sodding • Patios

Decks • Retaining WallsDrainage Solutions

PAINTING

PATRIOTPAINTINGwww.PatriotPainting.net

Wallpaper Removal,Carpentry,

Power Washing.Int/Ext Painting

Free Est. • Satisfaction Guar.!Lic./Ins. Int./Ext.

703-502-7840Cell

571-283-4883

ROOFING

Roofing & Siding(All Types)

Soffit & Fascia WrappingNew Gutters

Chimney CrownsLeaks RepairedNo job too small

703-975-2375

TREE SERVICE

•Planting •Mulching •Patios

•Decks •Driveways •Concrete

•Retaining Walls

ANGEL’SLAWN MOWING

703-863-1086New# 571-312-7227

Employers:Are yourrecruiting adsnot working inother papers?Try a better way

to fill youremployment

openings

•Target your best jobcandidateswhere they live.

•Reach readers in additionto those who are currentlylooking for a job.

•Proven readership.

•Proven results.

Great Papers • Great Readers • Great Results!

Rockville

Potomac

BethesdaChevyChase

NorthPotomac

Washington,D.C.

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McLean1

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LaurelHill

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[email protected]

An expert is someone who knows some of the worst

mistakes that can be made in hissubject and how to avoid them.

-Werner Heisenberg



♦ Real Estate♦ Mortgage

♦ Closing Services♦ Insurance

703-360-7400www.weichert.com

8301 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309

ALEXANDRIA SO $529,900BIGGER THAN IT APPEARS

Brick all around with two level addition on back. Hardwoodfloors thru main rooms. Dream master suite with hugebedroom, fireplace, luxury bath, walk-in closet and privatebalcony overlooking large rear lawn with in-ground pool.

ALEXANDRIA/MOUNT VERNON $340,000STARTER HOME EXPANDABLE

One level Brick Rambler, corner lot, adjacent to Mount VernonCounty Club. Completely updated kitchen w/all new appli-ances, all new windows, fresh paint, 1/2 acre lot.MLS # FX7190704 For additional information contactJoyce at: 703-780-4012 or e-mail: [email protected] on Web: www.2hdb.com/joyceclevenger.Dir: From Ft.Belvoir:North on US#1 R Cooper Rd to 8825 on left.

Call for informationabout licensing.

Day Class begins March 22, 2010 • from 9 am - 3:30 pmContact: Michele Wilson

ALEXANDRIA SO $609,900FORMER MODEL LOADED WITH UPGRADES

Gourmet kitchen w/granite counters, cherry cabinets & HWfloors. Exercise rm w/sauna &shower. MSTR BR w/2 walk-inclosets, cathedral ceiling, wet bar, sitting rm w/gas fireplace.MSTR BA w/soaking tub, sep shower,double sink & ceramictile. Plus much much more.Directions: I95S to exit 166A Newington/FXCo Pky S to USRoute 1 (RIchmond Hwy ( R, 1/2 to R Inlet Cove, immed R toRegional Inlet Cove to 7023

ALEXANDRIA $575,000WITH AU PAIR SUITE

Spacious all brick home, hardwood floors, beautifullycrafted moldings & details throughout. 3 finished levels,5 Bedrooms, 4.5 baths.

ALEXANDRIA $330,000ONE-LEVEL LIVING

Beautifully maintained, bright sunny home with openfloor plan. Perched on large lot with garage. Rose Hillarea. 3 Bedrooms, 2 full baths.

Come Taste the DifferenceTwo Convenient Alexandria Locations

Open 7 days a weekBradlee Belle View

3690J King Street 1600A Belle View Blvd.703.820.8600 571.384.6880

www.unwinedva.com

Put Us toThe Test❦ Selection❦ Service❦ Price

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