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McLean Connection ❖ August 30 - September 5, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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online at www.connectionnewspapers.comAugust 30 - September 5, 2017

McLeanMcLean

Page 6

Middle East Food, CultureOn Display in McLeanConnection Families, Page 6

Learning to FaceOpioid Overdose CrisisNews, Page 2

Back to Langley HighNews, Page 3

Back to Langley High

From left: ReeseBernstein, 14, fresh-man; Katie Fang, 17,senior; and JonBugge, 17, senior;pose for a photo-graph on the first dayof school for the2017-2018 schoolyear at Langley HighSchool Monday.

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News

See Opioid, Page 5

By Andrea Worker

The Connection

Ginny Atwood Lovitt is the ex-ecutive director of the ChrisAtwood Foundation (CAF), anorganization that she founded

with her family in honor of her brotherChris, lost to them from a heroin overdose.Their goal is to educate the public on theopioid crisis and to provide resources andsupport for those caught in its growingwake. CAF partnered with the FairfaxCounty Community Services Board and theVirginia Department of Behavioral Healthand Developmental Sciences to create RE-VIVE! — the Commonwealth’s educationprogram on opioids and the use of the drugnaloxone that can reverse the effects of anopioid overdose when administered prop-erly and in time.

Lovitt became a certified trainer for theprogram, and since 2015, has trained morethan 200 people. On Aug. 18, at the UnityChurch of Fairfax in Oakton, she hostedanother session. The difference between thisclass and those that had been offered be-fore was historic. Thanks to the passage ofVirginia Senate Bill 848-2017 and HouseBill 1453, for the first time, Lovitt and RE-VIVE! were able to offer Naloxone to thosewho completed the course and submittedtheir registration.

Naloxone is a medication that attachesto the opioid receptors in the brain, in ef-fect, “knocking the opioids off” and allow-ing the overdose victim’s respiratory andcardiac functions to re-start for a short time.

The “Naloxone Accessibility” bills nowallow agencies and organizations to offerdoses of the medication to the general pub-lic on premises and immediately followingthe completion of the short approved train-ing session.

Outside of its singular purpose at push-ing aside the opioids, Naloxone has no othereffect on body, so there is no danger to any-one who receives the drug accidentally. Thedosage is the same for adults and children,so there is no fear of administering toomuch to a child.

“Before this, we were training, giving theknowledge, but not the tools,” said Lovitt.

Naloxone wasn’t even a consideration,when Chris Atwood was a client at any ofthe numerous treatment programs in whichhis family had enrolled him. “I don’t thinkit was even mentioned,” said Lovitt.

In 2013, she was the one who found Chriswhen he overdosed at the family’s home.“There was nothing I could do but call 911and wait,” she told the class. “If I had hadaccess to Naloxone, maybe he would be

here with us today. I don’t want anyone else,any family, to go through this.”

OPIOID ABUSE and overdoses are a seri-ous health issue in Virginia. Twenty-threepeople died in Virginia from prescriptionopioid abuse in 1999, the first year in whichthe numbers were collected. By 2013 thenumber had jumped to 386 deaths — a1,578 percent increase.

Factor in the deaths from all opioids —prescription and illicit opioid drugs, and thenumber rises to 683 lives lost that year. Thenumbers have not yet been finalized for

2016, but early data shows 1,133 deathsattributable to opioid abuse — an almost40 percent increase from the previous year.

In 2014, Governor Terry McAuliffe issuedExecutive Order 29, establishing a task forceto study the issue and make recommenda-tions to address the growing crisis. In No-vember of that year, the Governor supportedthe Virginia Commissioner of Health’s dec-laration of the opioid abuse epidemic as a“public health emergency.” As of July, 2017,Virginia is one of six states to make such adeclaration, according to the Network forPublic Health Law.

The declaration of such an emergency “islike the state writing a prescription for thegeneral public,” said Lovitt. A “standing or-der” was put into place, so that Virginianscould go directly to their pharmacy and re-quest Naloxone without seeing a medicalprovider.

A very important first step, “but that stillwasn’t enough,” said Lovitt, whose experi-ences show that too many people won’t takeadvantage of the availability, whether be-cause of the cost, or “more likely the stigmaof asking for a drug to counteract an opioidoverdose.” Lovitt took her story and hercause to her legislators and was “over-whelmed by the positive response.”

Three of the General Assembly memberswho championed the Naloxone accessibil-ity bills in both the State Senate and theHouse were present at the training session.

State Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-33) wasone of the sponsors of SB 848-2017 anddeclared that she was proudest of its pas-sage in the last legislative session. “Now wehave to use it … and remember that com-bating the stigma is as important as com-bating the addiction.”

Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86) said she wasmore than happy to help, when Lovitt cameknocking on her door. “The Atwood Foun-dation is a real beacon of light,” she said,“looking to address the root causes of theproblem, as well as the effects.”

Boysko also stated that she was heartenedby the fact that the House Bill was sup-ported “by representatives from every partof the Commonwealth. In today’s politicalclimate, it … was miraculous that the billpassed unanimously.”

Del. John Bell (D-87), a retired major inthe United States Air Force, shared a per-sonal experience with the attendees. “Myson asked me to go public with his story.He has been struggling with an opioid ad-diction for years … and we didn’t know it.We had no idea what to look for.”

After a car accident years earlier, theyounger Bell was given a 90-day prescrip-tion for opioids for pain, with five refills.“He was addicted before the end of the firstprescription,” said Del. Bell.

“He has been clean now for months,” butthe fear is still there for the delegate andhis family and others in their situation. Ashe noted, overdoses often occur when anaddict relapses after having been clean ofopioids for a while. The drugs can have agreater effect, especially if the user takes adose equal to what they were using before,after long-term opioid abuse. “And no oneis immune because of status, age, demo-graphics or economics.” Bell referencedcases in Virginia that spanned the age spec-trum from an 11-year-old girl, to a 78-year-old grandmother.

THE TRAINEES also heard from DEA Spe-cial-Agent-in-Charge, Washington Division,Karl C. Colder. “In 31 years in law enforce-ment,” said Colder, “I have never seen an

Chris AtwoodFoundation hoststraining on opioidoverdose reversal.

Learning to Face Opioid Overdose Crisis

The speakers at the Opioid Overdose Response training (from left):Del. John Bell (D-87); Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86); state Sen. JenniferWexton (D-33); Ginny Atwood Lovitt, founder and director of the ChrisAtwood Foundation; Roger Krone, Chairman and CEO, Leidos; andSpecial-Agent-in-Charge Karl Colder, Washington Division, Drug En-forcement Administration.

Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection

Ginny Atwood Lovitt, director of the Chris Atwood Foundation, shows theclass how to recognize the symptoms of an opioid overdose and how torespond. After the training, the CAF and REVIVE! made Narcan kits forreversing the effects of an overdose available.


News

By Colin Stoecker

The Connection

At 7:30 a.m., seniors all the waydown to freshman congregatedby the stairs in front of the mainoffice sharing hugs and hellos.

Monday, Aug. 28, was the first official dayback to school for the Saxons at LangleyHigh School.

“It’s another year, same old same old, butthis time I am an upperclassman,” saidCaroline Stock, 16, a junior at Langley High.“You feel like you have more control, thatyou are more a part of the upper class,” shesaid.

Sam Yi, 16, also a junior said, “I’m just

here not to fail a class!”In addition to a throng of excited stu-

dents, Fred Amico, in his third year as prin-cipal at Langley, was also very happy to beback in school. “We are very excited for thebeginning of the new school year and forour new buildings,” said Amico.

“I am really looking forward to gettingthe kids back to work and they always bringa good energy,” he said.

Mary Landis, assistant principal washanding out parking passes to studentsMonday morning. “I am also the adminis-trator for the high school seniors,” she said.“So I am excited to see them get throughtheir last year and get ready for graduationwhich is June 7 this year!” said Landis.

Students, teachers share the excitement of the new school year.

Back to Langley High

Photos by Colin Stoecker/The Connection

Students walk in the front doors for the first day of school for the 2017-2018 school year at Langley High School Monday morning.

From left: Thompson Brownlee, 17, senior; Principal Fred Amico; KateBrownlee, 15, freshman; and Ayda Shakeri, 14; freshman, pose for apicture on the first day of school for the 2017-2018 school year at Lan-gley high school Monday.

From left: Reese Bernstein, 14, freshman; Katie Fang, 17, senior; andJon Bugge, 17, senior; pose for a photograph on the first day of schoolfor the 2017-2018 school year at Langley High School Monday.

Students at Langley High school Caroline Stock,16, junior, and Sam Yi, 16, junior, are excited tostart back on the first day of school for the2017-2018 school year at Langley High SchoolMonday.

From left: Mary Landis, assistant principal,Mark Rogers, security specialist, and PhilipClark, librarian, hand out parking passes onthe first day of school for the 2017-2018 schoolyear at Langley High School Monday.

Principal of Langley High School Fred Amico,who is going into his third year, poses for apicture at his desk. He said he is excited aboutthe new school year.

McLean Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]


Opinion

The scenes of devastation fromHurricane Harvey in Texas willprompt many generous people tocontribute to immediate relief ef-

forts.First, a reminder to give money, not stuff.

The organizations on the ground need moneynow to address particular needs.

As a local paper, it fair to saythat if we had a similar disas-ter here in Northern Virginia,we would want donated money

to go to local organizations that understandlocal needs, rules, supply chains, etc. Give lo-cally.

Houston Food BankDisplaced families and individuals will need

to be fed for a long time.Donate online www.houstonfoodbank.org535 Portwall St.Houston, TX 77029713-223-3700

Helping After HarveyGive locally in Texas; give money not stuff.

Commentary

Editorial

Greater HoustonCommunity Foundation

Will coordinate the Hurricane Harvey ReliefFund to accept tax deductible flood relief do-nations for victims that have been affected bythe recent floods.

Donate online ghcf.org5120 Woodway Dr.Suite 6000Houston,TX 77056713-333-2200

The Coalition for theHomeless of Houston/Harris County

Tens of thousands of people in and aroundHouston will be newly homeless as the floodsrecede.

Donate online www.homelesshouston.org2000 Crawford Street, Suite 700Houston, TX 77002713-739-7514www.homelesshouston.org/take-action/do-

nate/

Houston Humane SocietyDonate online at www.houstonhumane.orgwww.houstonhumane.org/(Give)/giving/

general-donation14700 Almeda RoadHouston, TX 77053713-433-6421

San Antonio Humane SocietyIs housing pets of people displaced by Harvey

who are taking shelter at the AT&T Center orother places in San Antonio.

Donate online at sahumane.org4804 Fredericksburg RoadSan Antonio, TX 78229210-226-7461 or 210-518-9742.

Austin Pets Alive!This rescue group partners with local res-

cues. Austin Pets Alive! has been helping shel-ters in the direct line of Hurricane Harvey.They’ve transported more than 330 animals totheir shelter and are expecting hundreds more.

Donate online www.austinpetsalive.org/do-nate/donate-now/ or visit austinpetsalive.org/hurricane-harvey-evacuations/

By Wendy Gradison

CEO, PRS, Inc.

It’s been a tough year in Northern Virginiaas youth and young adult suicides be-reaved families, communities and schools.

Many adult family members, friends, neigh-bors and colleagues were lost to suicide as well.In the aftermath, lives were cut short and somuch promise left unrealized.

Suicide, a serious issuelocally and nationally thatclaims the lives of 44,000people annually, is the 10th

leading cause of death nationwide and secondleading cause for people aged 15-24.

At PRS, Inc., a nonprofit that runs NorthernVirginia’s crisis hotline and textline, we aremarking September’s Suicide PreventionMonth by launching the #CallTextLive Cam-paign. We’ve teamed up with ConnectionNewspapers for this third annual campaign toengage the community in discussing suicideand encouraging people to get help by callingor texting a hotline.

Using the hashtag #CallTextLive, the Cam-paign works to educate the community aboutresources available and actions they can taketo bring awareness to suicide prevention andintervention. In fact, a simple call or text to acrisis hotline or textline often provides theempathetic, trained voice that someone in cri-sis needs to reduce his/her pain and providealternatives and connections to care.

The #CallTextLive Campaign has a varietyof events and actions to bring suicide preven-tion to the forefront. Throughout the month,we will post these on a web-based interactivecalendar at www.prsinc.org/calltextlive. Inaddition, we will be sharing tips and resourcesvia social media and asking people to sharetheir stories and photos on PRS Facebook,Twitter and Instagram using #CallTextLivehashtag as well as posting Stories of Hope —video vignettes from survivors, family mem-bers, and hotline volunteers.

A highlight of the month is Selfie Day onSept. 21 when friends, community, and clientsshow support by tagging themselves on selfieson our Facebook and other social media pages

#CallTextLive — A Hashtag to Rememberusing #CallTextLive. We have t-shirts availablefor purchase for PRS Selfie Day. We also en-courage the community to join the PRS team(with #CallTextLive t-shirts) for the AmericanFoundation for Suicide Prevention Fairfax Walkon Sept. 16 and the NAMI (National Allianceof Mental Illness) NOVA and Loudoun Walks,which are both taking place Sept. 23.

For every death, 278 people manage to movepast thoughts of suicide and survive. PRS sup-ports this through its CrisisLink program, whichhandled nearly 34,000 crisis calls and ex-changed over 33,000 crisis text messages fromthe Northern Virginia region last year. Any timeof the day or night, the PRS CrisisLink Hotlinecan be reached at 800-273-TALK [8255] andthe textline by texting “CONNECT” to 85511.

Making a call or sending a text to PRSCrisisLink saves lives. Removing the stigmaaround reaching out, discussing issues thatcontribute to suicide and encouraging peopleto get help is key. By participating in#CallTextLive, we can turn up the volume, andmake it OK to have a conversation, make a callor send a text.

Letter to the Editor

American ValuesTo the Editor:

The following open letter was addressed to Republicangubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

On Aug. 11 and 12, we saw violence andhate we hoped we would never again witnesson American soil. In Charlottesville, Neo-Na-zis and white supremacists took to the streets,marched with torches, gave Nazi salutes,shouted that Jews “will not replace them,”chanted the Fascist slogan “Blood and Soil,”proclaimed white supremacy, and murdered a

woman who was brave enough to stand up tothem. Then, instead of clearly rejecting thisevil, the President of the United States twicedefended those marching with the very Neo-Nazis who unleashed this deadly violence onone of Virginia’s greatest cities.

After President Trump’s press conferences,we were left shocked and then deeply sad-dened. Let’s be clear. “Very fine people” don’tmarch with people who are holding Nazi flagsand chanting anti-Semitic slogans. We wereheartened to see, in the wake of DonaldTrump’s horrifying comments, that leaders in

both parties came together to reject hate andrenew our nation’s founding principles ofequality and inclusiveness. But instead of join-ing these leaders — including many prominentRepublicans — we understand you have re-fused to speak out against the President’s re-action to Charlottesville.

As Jewish members of the Virginia GeneralAssembly, we write you because, as Virginiansand Jews, we find your failure to denouncethe President’s reaction to Nazism deeply dis

See Letters, Page 11

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McLean


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From Page 2

News

epidemic like this … we now areeven having babies born ad-dicted.”

After the remarks, Lovitt gotdown to show-ing the train-ees what tolook for, howto respond, inwhat order totake the neces-sary steps, andhow to admin-ister Narcan,the nasal in-halant versionof Naloxone,using manne-quins as thevictims.

As she demonstrated, Lovitt keptup a steady stream of advice andsafety tips. “Remember,” she said,“the victim can revive suddenly …it’s like waking up to instant with-drawal for them. Ensure your ownsafety, as well as theirs.”

The Narcan kits, including theinstructions, two doses of themedication with an inhaler, and aCPR breathing mask and latex

gloves were then made available,free of charge thanks to the gen-erosity of Reston-based, Fortune500 Leidos, whose chairman andCEO, Roger Krone, also attended.“Our involvement is really from

t h egrassroots,”said Krone.He receivedan email fromone of thec o m p a n y ’ s32,000 em-ployees whowas directlyimpacted by af a m i l ym e m b e r ’ soverdose, andwanted toknow if the

company “would do something.”They did. “This is the biggest, un-known health crisis in America. Weneed to be involved.”

For information about upcomingREVIVE! Training, visit its websiteat [email protected] more about the Chris AtwoodFoundation and their efforts, dis-cover support and resources atwww.chrisatwoodfoundation.org.

Overdose Reversal

“The AtwoodFoundation is a realbeacon of light,looking to address theroot causes of theproblem, as well asthe effects.”

— Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-86)


Connection Families

By Alexandra Greeley

The Connection

For most Americans, Labor Dayweekend closes the door onsummer’s activities. It invites folksto ramp up the backyard grill for

one last warm-weather feast. But if you livein the metro area, Labor Day weekend cansend another powerful message: time to eatat the Middle Eastern Food Festival inMcLean.

Sponsored by the Festival at McLean’sHoly Transfiguration Melkite-Greek Catho-lic Church and hosted as an area family fa-vorite, the festival is celebrating 24 yearsof bringing the Middle East cultures andfoods together to celebrate life and broth-erhood. This year the festival begins onSaturday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. and will runfrom midday on Sunday until early evening.During that time, one parishioner estimatedthat about 3,000 people would attend. Andbesides fun and frolic, the very main attrac-tion is…food, and lots of it.

What’s on the menu? Just about everysweet and savory treat that embellishes aMiddle Eastern feast table, from a splendidroast lamb dinner with rice, fattoush, andpita bread; a kibbeh platter with ground beefmixed with cracked wheat; shwarma sand-wich with lamb and beef; falafel, or veg-etable burger, with much more on offer suchas a meat or spinach pie. But for all whohave a sweet tooth, (and who doesn’t?), thebusiest part of the food line will likely bethe dessert display, probably with more than16,000 pieces ready for eating or takinghome. The tempting Arabic sweets availableinclude baklawa in many flavors and numer-ous types of other pastries. (Note: “baklawa”is a general term that describes a variety offilo-dough sweets originating in Syria, Leba-non, Jordan, and Egypt.)

Overseeing the summer festival baking isSamira Bailey, but her very active fellowparishioner, Lani Kanakry, pitches in to helpget all the sweets baked as well as oversee-ing the fall festival.

A member of Holy Transfiguration since1974, Kanakry helps solicit volunteers tojoin in with the assembling and baking ofthe countless goodies, and she is often onhand to help oversee the making and pack-aging of it all. “Some people are very goodat making certain cookies,” she said, “so ifsomeone is good, I assign her to overseethat day of baking.”

The ladies start baking in June, she said,and it is not just the sweets that get as-sembled. “We also prepare the kibbeh, egg-plant dishes, and more,” she said. But it isthe 10 to 12 different varieties of baklavathat really requires all-hands-on-deck, shesaid, including chocolate and hazelnut, and

BaklavaThe pastry of the gods! Unlike Greek

baklava, Middle Eastern baklava is toppedwith a mellow butter/sugar syrup insteadof honey. Served with a cup of unsweet-ened Turkish coffee, you will think you’vetraveled to heaven and back! No calorieshere! This recipe is published in“T’faddalouh…Welcome to our Table,” acookbook of Middle Eastern food compiledby Holy Transfiguration parishioner NikkiHaddad, and available for purchase at thefestival at the Holy Transfigurationbookstore booth.

Makes 40 to 50 pieces2 lbs. phyllo pastry dough2 lbs. (8 cups) English walnuts, coarsely

ground3 cups unsalted butter, meltedæ cup sugar2 Tbls mazaher (orange blossom water)Syrup (attar):2 � cups sugar1 � cups water� tsp lemon juice1 tsp mazaherButter a 13x7 baking pan. Place 1

pound of dough in pan, brushing butterbetween each sheet. Do not butter topsheet. Spread nut filling evenly on lastlayer. Place second pound of dough overnut filling, brushing butter over baklava.Bake in preheated 350-degree Fahrenheitoven for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 325Fand bake for another 45 minutes. Pourcold attar over hot baklava and allowdessert to cool before cutting. Whenready, cut straight lines vertically fromone end of the pan to the other, then cutcrosswise into diamonds. There will besmall corners that are imperfect pieces,but fear not! Those are the coveted pieces,as the excess butter and syrup tend togather there and these morsels willliterally melt in your mouth!

Tips:❖ Keep dough covered with a damp

cloth or plastic while buttering layers toprevent it from drying out.

❖ You must use BUTTER with FRESHNUTS (no substitutes) for this recipe to beauthentic and melt-in-your-mouth good.

❖ Baklava can be made into variousshapes and filled with different nuts –pistachios, cashews or almonds can beground coarse and replace walnuts

Middle Eastern FoodFestival to be Held onLabor Day weekend.

Middle East Food, Culture on Display in McLean

Photo courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Church

Nikki Haddad points to some of the Middle Eastern dishes for sale atHoly Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church’s annual MiddleEastern Food Festival running over Labor Day weekend.

Photo contributed

Samira Bailey holding a tray of baklava

these may be shaped in squares or “nests.”After assembling the baklava, the ladiestightly seal the trays, and freeze them.“Samira and I will bake them the beginningof the week of the festival,” she said.

Fortunately, Kanakry truly loves her par-ish baking tasks, explaining that when shereadies for the Fall Middle Eastern SweetsSale (in time for Christmas), her shoppinglists include 300 pounds of butter, 300pounds of sugar, 250 pounds of flour, and150 pounds of pistachios.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or justcrave delectable Middle Eastern cooking, besure to attend the festival over Labor Dayweekend. The Middle Eastern Food Festivalis held Saturday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.andSunday, Sept. 3, Noon – 6 p.m. Admissionand parking are free. Holy TransfigurationMelkite Greek Catholic Church, 8501Lewinsville Road, McLean. To learn more,visit www.middleeasternfoodfestival.com orcall 703-734-9566.

File photo

Thousands of pieces of Arabic sweets fill the tables at the Middle EasternFood Festival.


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Connection Families

By Marilyn Campbell

As children savor the last daysof summer, many families aregearing up for the start of anew school year. From first day

anxiety to new bedtime routines, localeducators offer suggestions for a seam-less transition to the classroom.

“I have always loved the rhythms of theschool calendar because of the begin-nings and endings and the possibilitiesfor reflection and a chance to refresh andrenew…” said Amy L. Best, Ph.D., pro-fessor and chair, Department of Sociol-ogy and Anthropology, George MasonUniversity. “I think the ritual of back-to-school shopping, whether that means anew binder and notebook, a new back-pack, or a pair of new sneakers … re-mains important for us because it offersopportunity to think about school anew.”

The start of a new school year is anideal time to help children set reasonableexpectations, an important concept forhigh school students who begin to man-age an increasing amount of responsibil-ity and must learn to create a balance intheir lives, says Best. “Put things in per-spective,” she said. “Sometimes the goals[that are] focused on personal growth,like learning how to advocate for your-self with a teacher, or navigating the halls,are as important as identifying academicmilestones.”

“It’s useful to revisit points of struggleand perhaps more importantly, triumphs from theprevious year. Reminding a student how they suc-cessfully managed a difficult issue is helpful,” saidBest.

Gone are the days of staying up late and sleepingin the next day. A healthy bedtime routine must bere-established gradually, ad-vises Sean Aiken, head ofschool, BASIS IndependentMcLean.

“Consider easing into theearly morning routine by ad-justing your sleep schedulesseveral days before school startswith progressively earlier wakeup times,” said Aiken. “Build-ing the routine before the firstday of school will help the ad-justment on day one.”

“In the week before theschool year begins, familiesshould revisit the expectationsfor bedtimes and morning rou-tines and choose an eveningand following morning to prac-tice the routines,” said JaleneSpain Thomas, Lower School Director St. Stephen’sand St. Agnes School in Alexandria. “Children willappreciate knowing that the new routine for thisschool year includes a slightly later bedtime or moretime for independent reading or shared reading witha parent.”

For younger students, separation anxiety may be-come an issue as they move into a parent-free envi-

ronment each day, says Aiken. “In these cases, con-tact the school and establish a go-to adult for yourchild to talk to in the event they miss you too muchduring the day,” he said.

Focusing on the positives about a child’s school en-vironment can help ease anxiety. “Younger studentsmay want to draw a picture of what they think their

new classroom will look like,”said Thomas. “Older studentsmay enjoy writing a list of whatthey hope to accomplish in theschool year that the familyopens together in January.”

Start with an organizedworkspace and shared familycalendar to keep the family or-ganized from day one, advisesAiken. “Folders and binders forhome organizational systemsare just as important as thoseyour child will bring to school,”he said. “Post a large calendarin a common area of the homeso early due dates, back toschool nights, and extracurricu-lar activities can be seen by ev-eryone in the family.”

“Parents, remember to take some time for your-selves in those early days, too,” said Aiken. “You’veworked hard all summer arranging camps, play dates,and other great activities. Maybe it’s time to take along lunch break together or catch a cheap matineeonce you’re safely assured that you children are offand running in their new learning adventures.”

Making the transition from summer to the classroom.Time for School

Photo by Marilyn Campbell

The ritual of back-to-school shopping offers anopportunity to think about school anew, says AmyBest of George Mason University.

“Consider easing intothe early morningroutine by adjustingyour sleep schedulesseveral days beforeschool starts withprogressively earlierwake up times.”

— Sean Aiken, head of school,BASIS Independent McLean


News

Meetings Set for MCC’s BudgetThe McLean Community Center (MCC) Governing Board is holding

two meetings in September to discuss and develop the Center’s fiscalyear 2019 budget. Residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville are in-vited to attend these meetings and to submit suggestions and/or com-ments. The first meeting, the Finance Committee Meeting of the Whole,will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The second meeting, aPublic Hearing on the FY 2019 Budget, will be held at 7:30 p.m. onWednesday, Sept. 27. The Center’s temporary administrative officesare located at 6631 Old Dominion Dr.

The FY 2019 budget year begins July 1, 2018 and ends June 30,2019. MCC is supported by a 2.3 cents real estate tax surcharge paidby residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville. At the Finance Commit-tee Meeting of the Whole, chaired by MCC Governing Board TreasurerMerrily Pierce, the full board will work on the FY 2019 budget. EachBoard committee evaluates MCC departmental budget proposals oncontinuing and new programs, as well as the facilities and manage-ment of the Center. The departmental and consolidated budget pro-posals will include a review of FY 2017 year-end actuals, the currentyear’s budget (FY 2018) and new proposals for FY 2019. The prelimi-nary consolidated budget that will be approved at the Sept. 27 meet-ing will be posted on the MCC website, www.mcleancenter.org, by Mon-day, Sept. 18, a week before the public hearing.

The FY 2019 Budget Public Hearing will give residents another op-portunity to review and comment on the Center’s FY 2019 budget.District residents who wish to speak at the public hearing are asked tocall 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, to have their names placed on a speak-ers’ list. In addition, written comments may be sent to the GoverningBoard by mail (address to: McLean Community Center, 6631 Old Do-minion Dr., McLean VA 22101), fax (703-653-9435) or email Execu-tive Director George Sachs at [email protected].

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) hasbeen awarded a $10,000 Arts Engage-ment in American Communities grantfrom the National Endowment for theArts (NEA) to support its upcoming exhi-bition, “Nature as Prototype.”

“The National Endowment for the Artsis proud to support the excellence anddiversity of arts programs across thecountry, including organizations likeMcLean Project for the Arts that make thearts accessible to people in McLean andthe greater Washington D.C. area andfurther enhances the vitality of their com-munity,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu.

McLean Project for the Arts will present anexhibition of works by three contemporaryartists from the Mid-Atlantic region whosework explores how art, science and naturecan be integrated or re-mixed through digi-tal formats. The work will serve as an oppor-tunity for experimentation and for develop-ing conversation and partnerships betweenartists, engineers and scientists.

Participating artists include sound artistYoko K, Danish fiber artist Grethe Wittrock,and installation/experimental media artistAdam Nelson. The exhibition will be co-curated by artist and educator Elsabé JohnsonDixon and art historian Betsy Johnson.

The community will be actively engagedin the project through educational program-ming. MPA will host a panel discussion be-tween exhibiting artists, engineers, inven-tors and scientists; the exhibiting artists willhold public workshops to demonstrate theirprocess and techniques. In addition, MPAArtReach Director Sharon Fishel will pro-vide Fairfax County Public School (FCPS)students in-gallery educational programsthat relate the exhibition content with theFCPS Standards of Learning.

Key partnering organizations includeFairfax County Public Schools, SPARC Solu-tions program for adults with disabilities,Lewinsville Senior Center, James Lee Com-munity Center, Herndon Senior Center, and

Lorton Senior Center. Fishel and NancySausser, MPA Director of Exhibitions, willalso offer gallery tours to members of thegeneral public, senior communities andgroups with physical and intellectualchallenges.

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) isone of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most re-spected contemporary visual arts organi-zations. MPA provides high-quality artexhibitions showcasing the work of es-tablished and emerging artists, educa-tional programs, art classes, MPAartfest,summer STEAM camp, and ArtReach, anaward-winning program serving studentsin grades K-12, seniors, and individualswith special needs. Visit www.mpaart.org.

McLean Project for the Arts Receives Grant

Nicole Orsolini and Jamie Goodson of LangleyHigh School were awarded scholarships to supporttheir continued education in visual and performingarts by the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Orsolinireceived a $1,500 scholarship at the annual Scho-lastic Art & Writing Awards ceremony for her out-standing achievements in graphic design, andGoodson was awarded a drama scholarship at the

Langley Art Students Awarded Scholarshipsannual Cappies Gala at the Kennedy Center on June11. In addition, Claire Griese, a student at ChantillyHigh School who dances at Encore Theatrical ArtsProject, was the recipient of a dance scholarship.The Arts Council provides arts scholarships at thebequest of the Howard Uphoff estate to assist highschool students in the fulfillment of their dream forartistic training.

Left: Jamie Goodsonreceived her scholar-ship at The Cappies;

Right: Linda Sullivanpresents Nicole

Orsolini with herscholarship at The

Scholastic Arts &Writing Awards.

The gallery in MPA@ChainBridge, McLean Projectfor the Arts’ second location, will be formally dedi-cated as the Bullock | Hitt Gallery during its exhibi-tion opening on Sept. 7, 7-9 p.m. Matthew Bullockand Todd Hitt each donated $25,000 towards thebuild-out of MPA@ChainBridge.

“We are so grateful to Matthew Bullock and ToddHitt for this generous donation, which will allow MPAto continue with our mission to exhibit contempo-rary art by critically acclaimed mid-Atlantic artists,and offer high-quality educational programs and artclasses,” said MPA Executive Director LoriCarbonneau. “In recognition and appreciation of Mr.Bullock and Mr. Hitt’s deep support, our gallery atMPA@ChainBridge is named the Bullock | Hitt Gal-lery for these two years while our permanent spacein the McLean Community Center is under renova-tion.”

“Now more than ever, we need to step up and sup-port our creative organizations,” said Hitt, Presidentof global alternative asset management firm KiddarCapital. “The arts are an essential cornerstone of ourculture and enrich all of our lives. Our lives wouldbe much emptier without them.”

Bullock, CMO of Walnut Industries Inc. and a ma-jor supporter of the arts, maintains that it is a cre-ative approach to business that has been the mostimportant factor in building his companies. Bullocksees his support of MPA@ChainBridge “as a vehicleto encourage youth to channel the power of innova-tive and creative solutions in facing complex chal-

lenges. As such, it was an honor to help bring theBullock | Hitt Gallery to fruition.”

MPA relocated in December 2016 from the McLeanCommunity Center, its home of 25 years, to accom-modate major renovations in the building. Throughthe generous support of McLean Properties, MPAconceived MPA@ChainBridge as a second, tempo-rary location in the Chain Bridge Corner ShoppingCenter. MPA@ChainBridge will serve as MPA’s pri-mary gallery, classroom, and office space for abouttwo years.

To cover the costs of converting and staffing theirnew space (formerly a retail store), MPA launchedthe MPA@ChainBridge Build-Out Fund, which wasmet with tremendous support.

“The funding and opening of this new space was atrue community collaboration, and we could not havedone it without the support of our committed andgenerous partners,” said Carbonneau. “Many indi-viduals and organizations contributed to our capitalcampaign, including 100 percent of the MPA Boardof Directors. Additionally, the McLean CommunityFoundation bestowed a $10,000 grant towards thebuild-out of the McLean Community FoundationEducation Studio within MPA@ChainBridge. Ex-amples like these showcase the munificent and un-wavering support MPA has in the heart of the amaz-ing McLean community, of which we are so thankfulto be members.”

For more information, visit mpaart.org.

MPA to Unveil Bullock | Hitt Gallery atMPA@ChainBridge

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:I’m heartened to see Governor

Terry McAuliffe stepping up hisleadership around climate changemitigation and want to thank himfor enacting a Clean Power Planfor Virginia. He understands thatwhen the federal government ne-glects its duty to protect the envi-ronment and citizens, states needto fill the gap. However, we don’tneed natural gas pipelines runningacross our state (not to mentionoffshore drilling). Instead strongincentive programs for home so-lar and more investment in windand geothermal energy are key.

I hope Governor McAuliffe willfollow the lead of RepresentativeDon Beyer and call for more thor-ough environmental assessmentsand increased public input on theAtlantic Coast and Mountain Val-

ley pipelines. The last thing weneed are pipelines interfering withthe Appalachian Trail or a disas-trous spill into clean water sourcesand wildlife habitats.

I’m glad to see that Ralph Northamvows to carry the Clean Power Planforward if elected. His relationshipwith Dominion Power, a companythat has obstructed the developmentof renewable energy across the state,is still troubling. At a time when sci-entists believe we have a tiny chanceof hitting the 2 degree C warminglimit set by the Paris Climate Accord,we need politicians to be bolder intheir strategies.

Melanie De ColaMcLean

Member of Virginia DemocracyForward, Natural Resource DefenseCouncil and Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Filling the Gap on Climate Change

News Brief


Free Admission!

Special Feature!

Roast Lamb Dinner

Sat., Sept. 2, 6-9 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 3, All Day

Saturday, Sept. 2, 11:00 am–11:00 pmSunday, Sept. 3, 12:00 noon–6:00 pm

Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church8501 Lewinsville Road, McLean, Virginia (near Spring Hill Road)

703-734-9566 • MiddleEasternFoodFestival.com

MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVALLabor Day Weekend

Live Music & Folk Dancing

Moon Bounce

Kids’ Games

Petting Zoo

Vendors

Backgammon & Chess

Church Tours

Icon Shop

Middle Eastern Food

Kabobs

Gyros

Grape Leaves

Falafel

Fattoush

Baklava &

Other Favorites!

Entertainment

Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGGreat Falls Farmers Market.

Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 WalkerRoad, Great Falls. Music, vendors,fresh produce, fresh prepared food,delightful bakery, spices from aroundthe world, wild-caught fish, grass-fed, free-range meats, organic-fedpoultry and eggs. [email protected].

Free Tai Chi. Every Saturday, from7:55-9 a.m., Introduction andBeginners’ Practice, meet on theoutdoor basketball court locateddirectly behind the Dolley MadisonPublic Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave.in McLean Central Park, McLean. Call703-759-9141 or visitwww.FreeTaiChi.org.

Fishing Rod Rentals 8700 PotomacHills St., Great Falls. Rentalsavailable during visitor center hours.Fishing tackle and live bait areavailable for purchase. Reservationsrequired for group rentals. $6/rental(2 hour max). Valid driver’s licenserequired. Rod/reel combinations areperfect for beginners and children. AVirginia or Maryland freshwaterfishing license is required for those16 years or older. The park does notsell fishing licenses.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/

Colvin Run Mill open 11 - 4 p.m.daily, closed Tuesday. 10017 ColvinRun Road, Great Falls. FairfaxCounty’s operational 19th centurywater powered gristmill, offersrecreational and educationalactivities for all ages through dailytours, school programs and specialevents. Fees: $7/adult, $6 students16+ with ID, $5 children & seniors.Admission to park is free except forsome special events.

Fundamentals of Watercolors.Mondays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Artsof Great Falls, 756 Walker Road,Great Falls. Artist Lorrie Herman willhelp students get comfortableworking with watercolors andunderstanding this medium. Visitwww.greatfallsart.org.

Still Life Painting. Tuesdays 10:30a.m.-1 p.m. at The Arts of Great Falls,756 Walker Road, Great Falls. Stilllife provides a great tool to honeskills. Recommended for students ofall levels. Visit www.greatfallsart.org.

Evening Painting. Tuesdays 6:30 -9:30 p.m. at The Arts of Great Falls,756 Walker Road, Great Falls. JillBanks focuses on oil paintingfundamentals with two sessions eachof still life, landscapes, and portrait/clothed figure from a live model.Visit www.greatfallsart.org.

Intro to Jewelry Design. Tuesdays 9a.m.-noon at The Arts of Great Falls,756 Walker Road, Great Falls. JJSingh teaches a class for anyoneinterested in exploring the world ofmetal clay and its design possibilities.Visit www.greatfallsart.org.

AUGUSTFairfax Family Golf Month. At Oak

Marr Golf Complex is located at 3136Jermantown Road, Oakton. InAugust, parents pay for their 9-holeround of golf and accompanyingchildren and teens (ages 8-17) willreceive a round at no charge. This isalso good at Jefferson District GolfCourse is located at 7900 LeeHighway, Falls Church, and PinecrestGolf Course, 6600 Little RiverTurnpike, Alexandria. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf.

SEPT. 2-324th Annual Middle Eastern Food

Festival. Various times at the Holy

Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, 8501 LewinsvilleRoad, McLean. Featuring authenticMiddle Eastern food, music, pastriesand dancing. Free. Call 703-734-9566 or visitwww.MiddleEasternFoodFestival.com.

TUESDAY/SEPT. 5Lecture on Downton Abbey. 12:15

p.m. at Trinity United MethodistChurch, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd.,McLean. The McLean Woman’s Clubpresents food and travel writer CiCiWilliamson describing the food andits preparation on the 6-year show,along with the history of HighclereCastle, where the filming took place.Free. visitwww.mcleanwomansclub.org or call703-556- 0197.

WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 6McLean Newcomers and

Neighbors. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. inthe Community Room, Regency atMcLean, 1800 Old Meadow Road,McLean. Visitwww.McLeanNewcomers.org.

SEPT. 7-9Quarterly Book Sale. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.;

Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at theTyson’s Library, 7700 and 7704Leesburg Pike. Large selection ofbooks and media for all ages andinterests. [email protected] or703-338-3307.

FRIDAY/SEPT. 8Dave & Buster’s Adventure. 3:30-10

p.m. leaving from The Old Firehouse,1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.7th- through 9th-graders, teens willhave all access to Dave & Buster’sprivate dinner buffet and a $25 gamecard with unlimited arcade gameplay is included in the trip fee. $55/$45 MCC district residents. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 9Virginia Indian Festival. 10 a.m. at

Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. Activities includehands-on activities and livedemonstrations such as AmericanIndian storytelling, shooting bow andarrows, throwing spears and makingstone tools. Additional activitiesinclude building a dugout canoe, anda visit to a marketplace of AmericanIndian crafts, pottery and jewelry. $8.Call 703-759-9018 or visit online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park.

SEPT. 9-20Northern Virginia Senior

Olympics. Various times andlocations, more than 50 differentevents taking place at more than 25

venues across Northern Virginia. Call703-403-5360 or visit www.nvso.us.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 10The Old Dominion

Chrysanthemum Society. 2:30p.m. at at the Falls ChurchCommunity Center, 223 Little FallsSt., Falls Church. A discussion anddemonstration on preparing andpresenting Mums for a flower show.Free. Call 703-560- 8776 or visitwww.odcsmums.org.

WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 13Riverboat Cruise. 10-11:30 a.m. at

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna(SCOV) 541 Marshall Road SW,Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Viennahosts day trip to Georgetown Harborvia riverboat cruise from Alexandriato Georgetown for shopping,exploring and lunch. Will return byriverboat to Alexandria, then the bustrip home to Vienna. $85 includestransportation and riverboat cruise.Call 703-281-0538 or visitwww.scov.org.

Live after Five. 6-9 p.m. at JamminJava, 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. Horsd’oeuvres and local musicianshighlight the tour. Visitwww.jamminjava.com.

SEPT. 14-16Fall Book Sale. Various times at

Oakton Community Library, 10304Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/friends/ok/ or call 703-281-0300.

FRIDAY/SEPT. 15Chillin’ on Church. 6:30 p.m. at

Church St., Vienna. Water games,Chump Change band playing rock.Visit www.viennava.gov or call 703-255-6360.

Family Fun Bingo. 7-9 p.m. at TheOld Firehouse, 1440 Chain BridgeRoad, McLean. Players can winprizes, play guessing games andenjoy light refreshments. Advanceregistration is required. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 16McLean Community Fall Garage

Sale. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the parkinglot, 1420 Beverly Road, McLean. Thisyear’s sale features a Kids’ Cornerarea where children will sell theirtoys, clothes, games and other items.The deadline to register isWednesday, Sept. 13. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org.

John Eaton in Concert. 2 p.m. atVinson Hall Auditorium, 6251 OldDominion Drive, McLean. Jazzpianist, brilliant historian and locallegend John Eaton will perform aconcert of Great American Songbooktunes. $20/$14 MCC districtresidents. Visitwww.mcleancenter.org.

Family BingoNightB-I-N-G-O is his name-o, on Friday, Sept. 16from 7-9 p.m. at TheOld Firehouse, 1440Chain Bridge Road,McLean. Players canwin prizes, play guess-ing games and enjoylight refreshments.Advance registration isrequired. Visitwww.mcleancenter.orgfor more.


An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be

made in his subject and how to avoid them.

-Werner Heisenberg

ClassifiedTo Advertise in This Paper, Call by Monday 11:00 am 703-778-9411

WWW.CONNECTIONNEWSPAPERS.COM

ComputersAnnouncements

We pay top $ for STERLING, MEN’S WATCHES,

JEWELRY, COSTUME JEWELRY,

FURNITURE, PAINTINGS AND CLOCKS.

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Announcements Announcements

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Retail MerchandiserAMERICAN GREETINGS is

looking for Retail Merchandisers in McLean, VA. As a member

of our team, you will ensure the greeting card department is

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Employment

News

Emergency PreparednessClass Coming to McLean

The Fairfax County Community Emergency Re-sponse Team (CERT) will offer CERT 129, a basictraining class, on seven Tuesday evenings in Septem-ber and October at the McLean Fire Station, 1445Laughlin Ave., McLean on Sept. 12, 19, 26 and Oct.3, 10, 17, 24 from 7-10:30 p.m. Students are requiredto attend all seven class sessions and the final. Thistraining does not require any physical strength oragility. This CERT Basic training follows the FEMAcurriculum, and is tailored to address potential localdisasters and hazards.

CERT Basic Training Class on emergency prepared-ness is co-sponsored by the Fairfax Co. Fire and Res-cue Dept. and the McLean Citizens Association(MCA).

For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/2tXrP3L

Fundraiser to SupportSHARE of McLean

A fundraiser for SHARE, Inc. of McLean has beenannounced by HBC Group’s (Keller Williams Realty)Community Charity Champions. Come to dinner onTuesday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pulcinella Ital-ian Host in McLean to support SHARE. Enjoy dinnerand know that approximately 70 percent of the pro-ceeds from food and drink will go to SHARE as longas the diner brings the flyer for the event. ContactHBC Group at 703-734-0192 or visitwww.HBCGroupKW.com to receive a flyer.

SHARE, Inc. of McLean is a non-profit, nonsectar-ian, all-volunteer community relief organization help-ing people in need in McLean, Great Falls and PimmitHills area for more than 45 years. They provide as-

sistance through their food pantry, where people andfamilies in need throughout the community can gofor assistance with groceries. SHARE also providesemergency financial assistance, used furniture pick-up and delivery, distributes grocery gift cards atThanksgiving and the holidays, holiday gifts, andschool supplies.

Sponsors of the event are: Karen Briscoe and LizzyConroy with the HBC Group of Keller Williams Re-alty, Marcus Simon with EKKO Title, Kevin Doughertyof Pillar to Post, Kathy and Justin Neal of The NealTeam/SunTrust Mortgage, Jim Harris of BOWA, TheMcLean Chamber of Commerce, and Moe Jebali withPulcinella Italian Host.

Used Book Sale To BeHeld at Spring HillRecreation Center

The McLean Area Branch of the American Asso-ciation of University Women (AAUW) will host itsannual Used Book Sale on Friday, Saturday and Sun-day, Oct. 6, 7 and 8 at the Spring Hill RecreationCenter, 1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean. The salehours are Friday 9 a.m.-7p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6p.m., and Sunday noon-4 p.m. An added feature thisyear will be the auction of a signed Washington Na-tional Max Scherzer shirt and cap.

For 48 years with Book Sale proceeds, the McLeanArea AAUW Branch has raised more than $550,000for fellowships, scholarships, and grants and hasendowed an American Fellowship, International Fel-lowship, and two Research & Projects Grants. Na-tionally AAUW is one of the largest sources of fund-ing for graduate women. For the 2017-2018 academicyear AAUW provided more than $3.7 million for 250fellowships and grants to outstanding women andnonprofit organizations.

Area Roundups

Fertility Center Opens in TysonsCCRM Network opened the Northern Virginiafertility center on July 26 at 8010 TowersCrescent Drive, Vienna. CCRM NorthernVirginia is led by board certified reproduc-tive endocrinologists Mark Payson, M.D. andVasiliki Moragianni, M.D. The new fertilitycenter includes a dedicated on-site physicianteam, IVF laboratory, procedures area, andcomprehensive diagnostic services. Visitwww.ccrmivf.com/northernvirginia/.


Business DirectoryTo Advertise Your Business, Call Karen at 703-778-9422

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Good is not good, where

better is expected.

-Thomas Fuller

An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mis-

takes that can be made in his subject and how to avoid them.-Werner Heisenberg Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative for

The Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

I write this column in all sincerity, but whatare you asking me for? A rhetorical question ifthere ever was one. To what I refer is the questionI was asked earlier this morning by one of thehome-improvement tradesman working on myupstairs bathroom. Having made significant pro-gress on the bathroom in the five weeks or sosince I published “And So It Begins,” a columndetailing the few facts I retained about the demo-lition/renovation and the anxiety I felt about it,today’s task was waterproofing the shower enclo-sure/bathroom floor in preparation for the tile, if Iunderstand correctly. Now, as further context, Iknow very little about home improvement (carrepairs, computer technology, lawn and garden;shall I go on?). Moreover, I know very littleSpanish. Combine the two, as happened thismorning, and you are asking (literally) fortrouble.

The waterproofing man arrived at 8:45 a.m.The day before, his boss/presumably the owner,had stopped by for a walk-through and to dropoff materials for the job. I thought I would seehim again, I was wrong. The only person on thejob is the person whose English is better than mySpanish and the only Spanish I know, I knowfrom a cartoon character, “Speedy Gonzales, thefastest mouse in all of Mexico,” I grew up watch-ing on Saturday-morning television. After direct-ing him to the upstairs bathroom, within a fewminutes, the man walked downstairs andasked/motioned for me to follow him backupstairs, I figured there was likely a question thatneeded answering so immediately I got off thecouch to assist.

Once we were both inside the bathroom, hestarted pointing to the walls (front, back andsides), ceiling, niche and planned-for benchwithin the enclosure, to ask for – so far as I couldunderstand, what needed to be waterproofed (I’llspare you any details about the process since I’munlikely to do so accurately). Now, other thanasking the project manager Simple-Simon-typequestions about what is going on, what has goneon (literally and figuratively) and what is plannedto be going on, I am out of any kind of loop. Theworkmen come in. I point them upstairs. Then Igo into my office and mind my own business. Irarely check their progress. Generally speaking, Ionly look to see what’s been done after they’veleft. I am not in anybody’s way and I don’t serveas any kind of resource other than answering themost basic questions: “Is that the basementdoor?” “ Do you mind if we shut off the water?”“Is there a hardware store nearby?” As such, I amthe least-bit helpful.

The man working today is new to me/the pro-ject. He’s not been here before. But I did openthe door to let him in and I did direct him to theupstairs bathroom. For all he knows/has experi-enced so far, I seem to be somewhat helpful.Ergo, after a bit, rather than calling his boss, hecame back downstairs to solicit my help. Limitedthough I knew it would be, I was happy to try. Asthe conversation began, it became clear to methat not only did I not know what he was talkingabout (job wise), I couldn’t even understand whatit was that he was saying. I was lost in translationand lost in intention. As I attempted toanswer/explain/guess what he was asking whilewe were both pointing/gesturing/talking, I quicklyrealized that this was a language match not madein heaven. Nevertheless, we eventually came tosome sort of an understanding of the task at handand back downstairs I went.

Sitting on the couch, I began to feel uncom-fortable about the instructions I think I had justgiven/agreed to. As a result, I considered callingmy project manager at home on a Saturdaymorning to get some clarity/confirmation aboutwhat I think had just transpired upstairs. Not at allbothered by my weekend intrusion, and after lis-tening to a condensed version of this column,Stefan assured me that what seemed to be hap-pening here was supposed to be happening.

And here I thought outliving my lung cancerprognosis by six-plus years was a miracle.

BathroomHumor

From Page 4

turbing. The events in Charlottesville re-call the darkest moments in both the his-tory of this country and the Jewish people.What we saw on Friday and Saturday wasan assault on our democratic society andthe very values this country was foundedupon. Yet the President of the United States,the leader of our country, has not once buttwice defended those who would marchwith the Neo-Nazis and their ilk.

Our country at its best has been a beaconof hope and safety for all peoples. Hundredsof thousands gave their lives so that theforces that destroyed Europe would neverset foot on American soil. President Trump’sreaction to Charlottesville represented a be-trayal of that noble legacy and our coreAmerican values.

Donald Trump is the leader of your party.Your refusal to speak out against him is acolossal failure of leadership, a moral abdi-cation, and deeply troubling to Virginia’sJewish community. We urge you to breakyour silence and immediately denounceDonald Trump’s hateful and inadequate re-sponse to the Charlottesville attack.

We are living through a moral reckoning,a time when all citizens of our great com-monwealth and nation are called to defendthe most fundamental values of our democ-racy. We ask you to immediately stand up,loudly and clearly, against those who wouldcondone violence and hatred.

As Americans, Jews, and Virginians, weurge you to join us and immediately con-demn the President’s dog-whistle defenseof Nazism.

Senate Democratic Leader Dick Saslaw,Sen. Adam Ebbin, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, Del. Marcus Simon, and Del.Mark Levine

Letter

Submit civic/community announcements atConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Deadline isThursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.

THURSDAY/AUG. 31LGBTQ Students Information. 7-8 p.m. at

Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 100, DunnLoring. Program called “Resources forSupporting LGBTQ Students and their Families.”Visit FCPS.edu for more.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 2Open House. 10 a.m.-noon at Patrick Henry

Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna. TheVienna branch of the American Association ofUniversity Women (AAUW) will hold a free,informational open house. AAUW is the nation’sleading voice promoting equity and educationfor women and girls. Membership dues discount.Refreshments. Visit www.aauw.org.

THURSDAY/SEPT. 7Shepherd’s Center Caregivers Support

Group. 10-11:30 a.m. at UUCF UnitarianUniversalist Congregation of Fairfax - ProgramBuilding, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Thissupport group is designed for caregivers of adultfamily members. For more info contact JackTarr, 703-821-6838, [email protected].

Adventures In Learning. 10 a.m.-noon atUnitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax,Program Building, 2709 Hunter Mill Road,Oakton. Open House to see what’s on theShepherd’s Center’s fall semester of Adventuresin Learning. Call 703-281-0538 or visitwww.scov.org.

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