Stories for November 2014

Holiday Wishes Come True in Great Falls

The Wish List Project sending 325 homeless children holiday gifts.

Because of Ginger Mahon, more than 300 homeless and foster care children and teens will wake up to presents on Christmas. The Wish List Project, which turns 15 this year, will deliver donated personalized gifts to six organizations throughout the county, playing Santa for hundreds of children.

Column: ‘Shrinkage’

Not exactly “like a frightened turtle” as “similed” on a long-ago Seinfeld episode by Jerry himself; this shrinkage is the good kind, the kind you hope a radiological oncologist characterizes when viewing your CT Scan (computed tomography).

Langley Dominates McLean on Ice

The Langley ice hockey team beat McLean.

An Exceptional Education

Exceptional Schools Fair offers parents a chance to learn more about schools for their children with special needs.

Maureen Kleinman wandered from booth to booth, speaking with representatives from schools that cater to students who have special needs. She asked questions about each school’s resources and environment.

Encouraging Girls to Pursue STEM

Holy Child will host female speakers in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

When Trish Whitcomb’s daughter Colleen began to express an interest in engineering, she and her husband were at a loss as to how to foster her academic and career aspirations.

November Raises Awareness and Celebrates Caregivers

Resources available for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Mary Driver-Downs has been one of the primary caregivers for her mother-in-law, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, for the past six years. It has been a difficult journey, but one she says is well worth it.

Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Ideas for giving thanks in style.

Whether one’s taste in table settings is subtle or over-the-top, it is possible to give thanks in style. From centerpieces to table runners, local designers say the right combination of accessories can create a Thanksgiving table that guests will remember long after the holiday.

Letter: Meeting a Candidate

To the Editor

I am not a political person, but I recently attended a young professionals event and met Craig Parisot, Republican nominee running for Virginia House of Delegates, 34th District, and I knew we had a new kind of candidate on our hands.

‘The Nutcracker’ at Madeira

If you are in search of a way to begin the holiday season, a rendition of “The Nutcracker,” performed by dancers at the Margaret A. Haddad School of Classical Ballet, is sure to warm your heart.

Great Falls Farmers Market: Back to the Roots

ZDF German Television, the German PBS station, came to film our farmers market on Oct. 25, as a part of a one-hour documentary on the state of the U.S. at the mid-term elections, aired in Germany on Oct. 29.

Uncovering Family History

A note of warm greetings from Mark Turner III.

I would like to thank everyone who attended last Wednesday’s Great Falls Historical Society program. It was great to see new & old faces and be able to share the history of my family who resided at the Turner Farm property on Georgetown Pike and Springvale Road from 1840 until the time the last five acres with the farmhouse was sold to the Fairfax County Park Authority in 2011.

‘An Evening in Vienna’ at Langley High

The Langley High School Orchestra performed its first concert of the year on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Langley HS Auditorium.

‘Artists on the Green’ to Exhibit at Great Falls Library

Artists on the Green will display their creative painting talents at an exhibit and show in the large conference room at the Great Falls Public Library during December 2014.

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving

Give thanks and share; tens of thousands of families around us are in need.

The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy. The holidays are about being thankful and about faith and appreciation. The holidays are about alleviating suffering for others. Surrounded by the bounty in so many neighborhoods in Northern Virginia, many of us see little signs of the massive unmet needs here. But in Fairfax County Public Schools, more than 52,000 of the students are poor enough to receive free or subsidized meals, a significant measure of poverty.

Great Falls Home Sales: October, 2014

In October 2014, 13 Great Falls homes sold between $3,500,000-$525,000.

Great Falls Home Sales: October, 2014

Great Falls Residents Get Update on Toxic Plume

Only one of the three requested pumps to be installed for now.

Residents got an update about the methyl tert-butyl ether [MTBE] plume below the Georgetown Pike and Walker Road intersection last week. Officials from Kleinfelder and the Department of Environmental Quality talked about the removal of the toxic plume so far, assuring residents that their well water will remain clean throughout the cleanup efforts during a Great Falls Citizens Association Town Hall meeting on Nov. 11.

Promoting Rugby in Great Falls

Proceeds from the weekend tournament will support MedStar National Hospital’s spinal cord injury program.

About a year ago, Gary Coetzee nearly died out on the rugby field behind the Great Falls Library. A freak accident left the former professional rugby player quadriplegic on the grass during a game. On Saturday, Nov. 22, he is hosting the inaugural Great Falls Rugby Tournament to celebrate how far he has come a year after the accident and raise money for MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital’s spinal cord injury program.

State Gardens to Host Holiday Open House in Great Falls

Local business will have Christmas trees, themed wreaths and ornaments.

State Gardens is more than plants, according to co-owner Laura Murray. The shop is home to hundreds of giftables for any occasion, particularly the holidays.

Renovation Keeps Rolling at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria

New wing showcased at Nov. 14 ribbon-cutting.

Thomas Jefferson senior Thomas Rogers is big on the laser cutter. “You can cut anything you want,” said the McLean resident, “like exact designs on sheet metal.” Rogers was enthusiastic about the device, but wouldn’t fire it up during the Nov. 14 tour of the Science and Technology Governor’s School’s new two-story wing with 14 research spaces.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors makes two rail-facilitating moves; Arlington ends streetcar project.

As the Silver Line Metororail project progresses towards its second phase opening date of 2018, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors are helping pave the way.

Editorial: Why Shop Small? Shop Large Locally

Small business Saturday isn’t enough; don’t wait until then, and don’t stop after that.

There is a joy to shopping in local stores at the holidays, to participating in community traditions and celebrations, to walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced.

Parisot Wins Republican Primary

More than 1,400 area Republicans show up to vote.

With Barbara Comstock filling in the 10th Congressional district’s seat, two candidates are closing in on her current position. Democrat Kathleen Murphy and Republican Craig Parisot, both now officially endorsed by their parties, are vying for the 34th House of Delegates seat via special election to be held Jan. 6, 2015.

Langley High’s Katie Robinson to Row at University of Miami

Langley High School’s Katie Robinson ‘15 signed a National Letter of Intent to row for the University of Miami Crew team next year. As a member of the Langley High School Crew team, Katie has excelled at rowing, including stroking the team’s top Women’s boat to Virginia state championship wins in 2013 & 2014, and a silver medal at the 2014 SRAA National Championship regatta.

Column: And The “Scancer” Is…

Unknown at this date – Saturday, November 15. In fact, it will be six days from now until we’ll know the results. As it is always scheduled, a week or so after my quarterly CT Scan, we will have our usual follow-up, face-to-face appointment with my oncologist.

Letter to the Editor: Refreshing, Conscientious Election Coverage

To the Editor: In an area like ours, where national news usually stands at the forefront and many readers turn to national news outlets for the bulk of their election coverage, it is a source of great pride and inspiration to see the Great Falls Connection provide such outstanding coverage.

Vienna Broncos Leave No Doubt, Finish Season 9-0

The Vienna Broncos went undefeated in 2014.

Excuse Me

Early on during my indoctrination/assimilation into the cancer-patient world in which I now reside, I remember asking a fellow cancer patient/friend if I could use cancer as an excuse for whatever it was needed excusing (directly or indirectly related), and she said: absolutely, “blame the cancer.” Years later, after a chemotherapy infusion, I saw my oncologist walking through the Infusion Center and asked him if my thinning hair might be a result of this most recent chemotherapy drug (not all chemotherapy results in hair loss). His response was similar to what my friend had advised me in 2009. He said: “You can blame me,” (which of course, I understood to mean, cancer/the treatment of cancer) “for anything.”

Dos, Don’ts and What-Ifs

Instinctively, I am not the most open-to-new-ideas/new-things kind of person. However, an unexpected diagnosis of stage IV, non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at age 54 and a half – along with its equally unexpected “13-month to two-year prognosis,” changes a few things. And thanks to a great friend, Rebecca Nenner, whom I have written about previously, I have/have had to become more open, and consequently, have assimilated into my life many non-Western, non-traditional alternatives (pills, supplements, super foods, activities/behaviors, etc.) with which I was totally unfamiliar (I’m a sports and chocolate kind of person), in an attempt to outlive my prognosis.

Jean R. Packard Remembered at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna

Jean Packard was Frank Roberts’ first boss. He was 13, she was 22 and the acting editor of her father Dave’s Clermont Sun newspaper in Batavia, Ohio. “I was a ‘devil’s rat,’” Roberts said, responsible for odd gofer jobs around the office. “I was trying to hide from work and she’d track me down. She was a tough boss.”

McLean Location for 2015 DC Design House

House will benefit Children’s National Health System.

The new country estate at 956 Mackall Farm Lane in McLean will be the location for the 8th annual DC Design House, a project that raises money to benefit Children’s National Health System. The 2015 DC Design House will be held from April 11 to May 10.

New Interior Design Book Features Local Tastemakers

Interior designers offer advice on creating an elegant home.

Fall not only brings vibrantly colored leaves and pumpkins, but it also ushers in a slew of new book releases. Among those is an interior design book featuring local designers.

Editorial: Thanksgiving Help for Those in Need

Roll up those sleeves and help.

This week is the week to jump in to help the many organizations that will help needy families through the holidays. Here are a few ideas of how to help, but the opportunities are limitless. More than 236,000 people living in the area do not have access to enough food to sustain an active, healthy life for all members of their households, according to Catholic Charities. That is to say, more than a quarter of a million people, including many children, go hungry on a regular basis.

Column: Excuse Me

Early on during my indoctrination/assimilation into the cancer-patient world in which I now reside, I remember asking a fellow cancer patient/friend if I could use cancer as an excuse for whatever it was needed excusing (directly or indirectly related), and she said: absolutely, “blame the cancer.”

Langley High Orchestra Presents ‘An Evening in Vienna’

The Langley High School Orchestra will present its first concert on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Langley High School Auditorium at 7 p,m. "An Evening in Vienna" will feature music by composers Beethoven, Mozart, von Suppe and Strauss.

The Langley School Presents “The Canterville Ghost”

Middle School production runs Nov. 13-15.

A British estate, 400-year-old ghosts, and a brave American family set the stage for The Langley School’s Middle School fall production of “The Canterville Ghost.” This hilarious spoof will run in three performances Nov. 13-15 at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s Sherman Arts Center at 1411 Balls Hill Road in McLean.

Oakton Football Reaches Postseason

The Oakton and Langley football teams each earned a spot in the 6A North region playoffs. Oakton enters the postseason as the region’s No. 14 seed and will travel to face No. 3 Lake Braddock at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.

Letter to the Editor: Questions About the Pike

To the Editor: Now that the election is over and all candidates have been severely bashed, I hope there is enough energy left to answer a question regarding Georgetown Pike.

Jim Lehrer to Participate in Great Falls Speaker’s Series

Popular anchorman Jim Lehrer will be the guest speaker at this month’s Great Falls Speaker’s Series (GFSS) on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., at the Great Falls Library. Lehrer, also a prolific author and a playwright, will be on-hand to discuss his newest novel, “Top Down,” about the Kennedy assassination. Signed copies of Lehrer’s book will also be available for sale (for as long as supplies last).

Running Back West Carries Langley Football Into Playoffs

Senior becomes Saxons’ all-time leading rusher.

The Langley football team will face Westfield on Friday in the opening round of the 6A North playoffs.

Great Falls’ Spooktacular Success

Traditional village event has record numbers.

The ghouls and ghosts of Great Falls took over the village green and shopping center last Friday, Oct. 31. Celebrate Great Falls’ Spooktacular, a spooky multi-decade tradition, brought out hundreds of children, pets and parents to get candy and get to know their neighbors.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Clifton residents to hold open-house tour of newly remodeled homes for the benefit of local widow.

Neighbors help each other. That's what communities have always been about. Long-time Clifton resident Bob Gallagher is rallying his friends and peers to help his neighbor Elsa Armendaris.

Natural Treatments for Anxiety

Experts say complementary medical treatments can help relieve anxiety and other mental disorders.

When 35-year-old Andrea Evenson decided to try meditation, exercise and yoga to deal with her anxiety, she had already been on a myriad of anti-anxiety medications.

Column: November Is Adoption Month

Here’s how to help find a forever family for children and teens waiting in foster care.

If you are lucky, you don't know what it's like to live in the precarious limbo that defines foster care in this country.

Commentary: Sometimes Perception Really Isn’t Reality

Fairfax County is home to one of the wealthiest populations in the country. Unbeknownst to many, the county is also home to the second largest population of homelessness in this region. In fact, more than 1,200 residents of Fairfax County are without stable and safe homes.

HOT Topic

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue invites the media for Hands-On Training.

Rob Schoenberger is pretty good with a 15-foot extendable camera. Its built-in microphone and powerful lights come in handy, paired with a Delsar seismic sensor device, when trying to locate people trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building.

Column: Dos, Don’ts and What-Ifs

Instinctively, I am not the most open-to-new-ideas/new-things kind of person. However, an unexpected diagnosis of stage IV, non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at age 54 and a half – along with its equally unexpected “13-month to two-year prognosis,” changes a few things.

Sarah Marie Wood, 27, of Herndon, Dies

Sarah Wood, a security specialist working as a contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, Fla., died unexpectedly on Oct. 21, 2014, at the age of 27 from a pulmonary embolism.

St. Francis Episcopal Celebrates 50th Anniversary

St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls celebrated its 50th anniversary with a “Homecoming Weekend” recently.

Toxic Gas Plume Moves South

Citizens association asking for two more cleanup pumps.

Mike Terpak is worried about his well becoming contaminated. Like about 80 percent of village residents, his home runs on a well system. Terpak is a resident of the Oliver Estates, a neighborhood that the gas plume concentrated near the old Exxon station with known carcinogen Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether [MTBE] is creeping towards.

Alex Bartolozzi Wins Healthy Snack Contest

Isabelle Saba, a cadet in Girl Scout Troop 1991, wrote to the farmers market about an idea she had to teach young children about nutrition and healthy living at the farmers market. Some lessons she suggested stressing are “what foods are in season, how buying local is better, the importance of knowing what you eat, where the food comes from, and why the farmers market is always the best choice.”

Earning Black Belts at Great Falls Academy

Pictured above are four recent black belt graduates of the Lead by Example Tae Kwon Do Great Falls Academy, located in the Seneca Square shopping area, near Seneca Road, as well as Andrew and Earlena Bellino, owners of the Academy with Master Lightfoot, a prodigy of Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, who invented performing some martial art routines to music.

Dramatic Drive Keeps Langley Playoff Hopes Alive

QB Anderson leads Saxons on game-winning march against Madison.

The Langley football team came from behind to beat Madison, 21-20.

Early Turnout High in Great Falls

U.S. Congress elections bring voters out to local library.

Voters turnout kept up its pace well into work hours at Great Falls Library. Hundreds of voters turned up to vote for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at the library Tuesday morning, Nov. 4.