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Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 4-10, 2011 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

August 4, 2011Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper

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National Night Out

Fairfax County Police Officer GregKottemann hands out police stickers toMilena Benmergui at the party onBluebill Lane.

Aimee, Hudson and Colt Spencer.

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Lt. DustinRice opens up one of the rescue vehiclesfor tours as part of Tuesday’s NationalNight Out events.

U.S. Park Police Officer Gillespie givesGrady Simmons a tour of the squad car.

Photos by Louise Krafft/The Gazette

See Gum Springs, Page 7

See Praising, Page 6

By Michael Lee Pope

The Gazette

The Fairfax County Boardof Supervisors may haveapproved Inova Mount

Vernon Hospital’s proposal tovastly expand the size of its facil-ity, but the debate about how thatmight change neighborhoodstreets will continue into the fu-ture. At issue is Sherwood HallLane, a two-lane road that hasparking spaces along the side.

Gum Springs residents are con-cerned that widening the roadwould damage their neighbor-hood, a traditionally black com-munity that dates back to the 19thcentury.

“It’s a race thing,” said QueenieCox, president of the New GumSprings Civic Association. “Theyonly want to widen Sherwood Hallin the black community, and that’sa problem.”

By Gerald A. Fill

The Gazette

Business and communityleader Jeff Todd, 49,died in a car accidentSunday, July 31 en route

to a family vacation at the OuterBanks of North Carolina.

Todd, a former chairman of theMount Vernon-Lee Chamber ofCommerce, philanthropist, andMount Vernon High SchoolBooster, was a passenger in his au-tomobile. The driver of his carswerved to avoid hitting anothercar changing lanes, left the high-way and landed in a cornfield.Todd was ejected out of the carand killed. He is survived by hiswife, Becky, and two daughters,Kimberly and Hannah, a sister JudiTodd Darnell, brother, Jim Todd,

and a step-mother, BerniceMoen Todd,among otherfamily members.

News of hissudden death hasshocked and dis-mayed the Mount Vernon commu-nity. Only last year he was namedCitizen of the Year by the MountVernon-Lee Chamber, and corpo-rate Citizen of the Year by UnitedCommunity Ministries.

Todd was the president of ToddFamily Restaurants that ownedand operated three Roy Rogersfranchises in the area. In 2007 hewas recognized as the Franchiseeof the Year by the InternationalFranchise Association. A Univer

Former Mount Vernon-LeeChamber of Commerce chairmandies in auto accident.

Community MournsLoss of Jeff Todd

Jeff Todd

Gum Springs communityremains opposed to widening.

A Widening Debate

2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 4-10, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


NewsMount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren

703-778-9415 or [email protected]

The record-setting tem-peratures on July 30didn’t prevent dozensof children from team-

ing up with firefighters from FireStation 409 for a one-mile earlymorning Fun Run at the MountVernon Athletic Club as part of aneffort to bring awareness to child-hood obesity.

“This was fun,” said 7-year-oldSarahi Torrls, a Hybla Valley El-ementary School student who fin-ished second in the run throughthe Hometown Audubon Complex.

“I was hoping I would finish firstor second.”

The combination run/walk wasa community effort, with plenty ofhealthy snacks and water providedby the Mount Vernon Plaza Shop-pers Food Warehouse and Walmartdonating new sneakers for all ofthe race participants.

“One out of four children in theUnited States is obese,” said MVACtennis professional MattKrawczyk, who was on hand toteach fitness and nutrition skills tothe children and families partici-pating in the race. “By showingthem exercises they can easily do,it helps give them the skills theywill need to keep exercising andmaintain a healthy lifestyle.”

— Jeanne Theismann

Fun Run putsfocus onchildhood obesity.

Fitness Fun

Capt. Kit Hessel of the Sherwood Hall Fire Station and his crew helped organize theevent for the children on Saturday morning, July 30.

Raffle tickets were given out to all participants, and Fairfax County Fire& Rescue Technician Ramon Estrada reads the winning numbers to thecrowd that gathered.

Mount Vernon Athletic Pro Matthew Krawczyk tries tomake a goal in the children’s soccer game against theFairfax County Fire and Rescue officers.

Runners and firefighters, along with representatives from the MountVernon Athletic Club and Shoppers Food Warehouse, gather after the onemile Fun Run July 30. On display are new sneakers donated to the chil-dren by Walmart.

Francisco Torres Llanas, 9, celebrates with firefighterKirill Bondaruk as the first place finisher in the July 30Fun Run at the Mount Vernon Athletic Club.

Captain Willie Bailey con-gratulates Sarahi Torrls, 7,on finishing second in theJuly 30 Fun Run.

Photos by Louise Krafft/The Gazette

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Photos by Jeanne Theismann/The Gazette


News

See Signs, Page 5

By Harrison Fallon

The Gazette

Advertising every-thing from day-care to condos tobuying unused

gold, signs on traffic andpower poles continue to takehold on Richmond Highway— much to the disdain ofmany in the community.

The Virginia Departmentof Transportation maintainsthat “It is illegal to placesigns on state-maintainedright of way without a per-mit” and threatens a $100fine per illegal sign.

However, none of theserisks seem to bother thecompanies that use the tech-nique for advertising.

Since VDOT is not an en-forcement agency, they only have the abil-ity to remove the signs and then levy thefine. The responsibility of prosecution fallson Fairfax County police.

However, Fairfax County has not yet giventhe police the power to enforce the rules.As Supervisor Gerry Hyland said, “Althoughthere is authorization in the state code forFairfax to be involved in enforcing, FairfaxCounty has not authorized the process.”

Some citizens feel the signs are a nui-sance. Mary Fletcher Jones, the owner of amarketing firm and critic of the signs, saysthat they are “a form of pollution.”

Moreover, she sees them as pursuing busi-ness practices that are not only illegal, butalso lazy. “These are the same businessesthat won’t pay for advertising,” she said,“They won’t use social media. They haven’tused any of the legal resources available tothem.”

The other issue with the signs stems fromtheir danger to drivers, for fears they couldprove distracting. As Jones said, “Can youimagine even one crash because of thesesigns? Would that be worth it?”

Daniel Selnick, a resident of the area for15 years, said, “There’s a reason for thembeing illegal. They’re an eyesore and a dan-ger to drivers.”

For example, a neon yellow sign adver-tising to buy junk cars for up to $300 cur-rently sits on the pole of a traffic sign a theintersection of Richmond Highway andBoswell Avenue.

Those wanting less fines and steeper en-forcement should look to Prince WilliamCounty as a model. Several years ago, thecounty locked into a deal with VDOT al-lowing the county to take down signs.

“If we did that,” Hyland said, “I supposethe only person that’s going to complain isthe company who put up the sign.”

When a complaint comes in, inspectorsare sent out in response. If the sign is in theright-of-way of drivers, it is removed. Afterthat, they serve the offending business witha summons.

The other step Prince William Countytakes is education. Pat Reilly, of its Neigh-borhood Services Department, says thecounty attempts to let people know that“putting a temporary advertisement in theVDOT right of way is not only dangerous,but also illegal.”

Since the rules took effect, the numberof signs has dropped: 12,500 signs were re-moved during the recently-ended fiscal year2011, down from the 39,000 in fiscal year2007.

One caveat in the Prince William Countyplan is the lack of fines collected. For themost part, the goal is to beautify the com-munity by removing signs. Only about one-half of one percent of all sign removals leadto fines.

Fairfax County is currently considering anumber of proposals on how to curb thesigns, according to the supervisor’s office.One idea is to enter into a similar agree-ment to what Prince William County did,allowing them to take down signs them-selves.

Another idea is to deputize individual citi-zens who want to take down the signs.

The issue comes down to money. Severalyears ago, a proposal came to the FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors allowing themto take down the signs, and collect 50 per-cent of the fines collected. This was voteddown.

According to Hyland, “If there is a sightdistance issue, VDOT should do something.”

As an example of the dangers of having

One example of the placement of signs alongright-of-ways on Route 1.

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Complaints grow alongwith illegal signs onRichmond Highway.

Sign Pollution Blooming


Police are asking residents to help identify one of thesuspects from a carjacking that took place Tuesday, July 19.The suspect in the sketch is described as black, between 5feet 10 inches and six feet tall, 220-240 pounds and in his 40s. He is notclean shaven and was last seenwearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information shouldcontact Crime Solvers by phone at1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail atwww.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text“TIP187” plus a message toCRIMES/274637 or call FairfaxCounty Police at 703-691-2131.

A 43-year-old man sufferedserious injuries when he wasassaulted and had his car stolen inthe 7400 block of Vernon SquareDrive. The victim had been runningerrands around 9:45 p.m., July 19when he parked his 2011 red FordTaurus in a space behind theSafeway grocery store near theVernon Square Apartment building.Two men reportedly approached thevictim, repeatedly struck him and stole his car.

Police recovered the stolen vehicle at 2:30 a.m. about amile away on Saul Street at Robert E. Lee Place.

News

From Page 4

One of the sus-pects from acarjacking thattook place Tues-day, July 19, inthe 7400 block ofVernon SquareDrive.

Carjacking Suspect Sought

By Maya Horowitz

The Gazette

Dr. Richard Godlewski, who practiced den-tistry at 1500 Belle View Boulevard inAlexandria for 40 years, is retiring.

“It’s a great profession. It has been aterrific life being a dentist. I don’t regret it at all. Iguess the only thing I regret is that I got a little tooold to do it. Which happens,” Godlewski said.

His wife, Sharon Godlewski, whom he met whenshe worked in his office, said, “I fell in love with himbecause he was so fair. That went a long way to build-ing a very successful practice.”

Marcia Ross, his dental hygienist for 15 years, said,“He will be missed. In the career that he had, he didreally good dentistry. He was always fair to peopleand you could always trust him. He treated peoplelike they were his family.”

Godlewski was born on Nov. 10, 1943 in Brook-lyn, N.Y. His father worked at Mobil Oil and hismother worked at a seafood shipping company. Hedreamed of being a dentist from a young age.

“My father’s youngest brother was a dentist and Iadmired him. I figured if it was good enough for himit was good enough for me. Plus my childhood den-tist was a great guy. Him and I always got along re-ally well,” Godlewski said.

He attended Mount St. Mary’s University inEmmitsburg, Md. “That was the best thing I ever didin my life ... I have nothing but great things and greatfeelings to say about it,” he said.

Godlewski went on to attend Georgetown DentalSchool, which he said, “had a great reputation for

good reason. It was an excellent school.”After college, he joined the Army and was sent to

Vietnam where he was the preventative dentistryofficer.

He came to Alexandria in August 1971 and beganpracticing with Dr. Morton Paret. “I was the associ-ate, then we were partners, then he retired, then Ijust stayed and stayed and stayed,” said Godlewski.

About choosing Alexandria, he said, “I decided thiswas a great spot to not only practice but to live. Ithink it was a great area of northern Virginia to livein. It’s so close to Old Town, so close to everything. Ifell in love with the place and that’s where I stayed.”

Godlewski has treated generations of patients. Hetakes pride in the fact that his practice was like afamily.

For the past 13 years, he has been visiting retire-ment facilities like the Goodwin House and provid-ing his services to residents.

“If you are fair and honest with people, they’ll rec-ognize it and they’ll appreciate it and they’ll respondin kind. If you’re pretty straight with everybody they’llbe pretty straight and square with you,” he said.

He is retiring to Lake Anna with his wife to spendmore time with his family, particularly his grandchil-dren. His interests include the Civil War, wine andgolf. “There’s quite a few battlefields in Virginia I planon visiting and spending some time with,” he said.

Open Wide

Dr. Richard Godlewski

Dr. Richard Godlewskiretires after 40 years.

individual citizens removesigns, Hyland notes the ex-ample of a local who taskedhimself with taking down po-litical candidate signs once elec-tions had ended.

All was going well, until hedrew the anger of a man whosesign was being taken off his pri-vate property.

Examples like these highlightwhy Hyland says the plan forindividual citizens to removethe signs unilaterally “might betempting to do, but I wouldmuch prefer for VDOT orcounty staff to do it.”

Currently, only VDOT has theauthority to remove the signsalong Richmond Highway.

To report an illegal sign, citi-zens can call the agency at 1-800-367-7623.

Signs ofComplaint


From Page 1

News

sity of Connecticut graduate, hewas a native of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Responding to his death, local po-litical, business, community andschool system leaders offered theirtributes to his community leader-ship.

State Del. Scott Surovell, who onlythree months ago introduced a Gen-eral Assembly Commending Resolu-tion for Todd on his many contribu-tions to the community, noted the“tremendous loss to the community.”

Mount Vernon High School Prin-cipal Nardos King praised his manyvaluable contributions to the stu-dents of MVHS.

Cynthia Hull, executive director of UnitedCommunity Ministries, said. “He coupledextraordinary generosity with being a genu-ine and lovely human being … also, his wifeBecky has been hand in hand with him indoing so much for others.”

The tributes from these and other com-munity leaders extolled his many years ofaccomplishments as a volunteer, philan-thropist, business leader, and caring per-son willing to devote many hours and fi-nancial support to various communitycauses. One friend of his and a fellow mem-ber of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber,Ashley McNeff called him a “legend.”McNeff wrote: “I would like to say that hewas truly loved by all that knew him …We appreciate everything he has done tomake this world a better place, and I feelthat my life has been brighter because Jeffwas in it.” Her tribute recounted his im-pact on virtually every aspect of MountVernon and Lee community life.

Todd’s community involvement included:Member, Southeast Fairfax DevelopmentCorporation; volunteer booster and footballcoach at Mount Vernon High School; con-tributor, United Community Ministries;member, Mount Vernon-Lee EducationalPartnership; contributor, Good Shepherd

Praising Business and Community Leader Jeff Todd

Jeff Todd, an active Mount Vernon HighSchool booster, here at the microphoneduring the Mount Vernon vs. Wakefieldvarsity basketball game at MVHSon Jan. 7.

Housing & Family Services; contributor,Koinonia Foundation; volunteer, GoodShepherd Catholic Church and ChristChurch, Alexandria.

Remembering Jeff ToddMichael Gailliot, current president of the

Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber and among hisclosest friends, said, “Jeff Todd was a business-man, friend, and father who led by example withgrace, humility, and enormous heart. He was aninspiration for me. He had a great sense ofhumor with an unparalleled zest for life. I amgrateful to count Jeff as a friend.”

Holly Hicks Dougherty, executive directorof the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber, said. “JeffTodd was a giant with a gentle touch. He was agreat example of a businessman who cared abouthis employees, who loved the community, andwho served wherever he saw a need. Jeff had theability to relate to the corporate executive, thewounded warriors of Fort Belvoir, and the cooklaboring over a hot grill. His good nature andlaugh will be missed. His death leaves a hugehole in the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber ofCommerce and the community.”

Dan Rinzel said, “You could always count onJeff to show up at a special event, deliver food toa needy group, and contribute generously tofunding sponsorships for important causes … aterrible loss for everyone.”

Tim Sargeant, current chair of the MountVernon-Lee Chamber, said, “There are no wordsto express this terrible sadness for the Toddfamily and our community. It goes withoutsaying that we all lost a friend. … Jeff will longbe remembered as a business leader who set thestandard for philanthropy and giving back to thecommunity he loved.”

ServicesMemorial Visitation: Thursday, Aug. 4, 2-4

p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Jefferson FuneralChapel, 5755 Castlewellan Drive, Alexandria. Anadditional viewing will take place on Friday,Aug. 5, 10-11 a.m. at Good Shepherd CatholicChurch.

Funeral Services: Friday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m., aMass of Christian Burial will be held at GoodShepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount VernonHighway, Alexandria. Burial will take place atMount Comfort Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests thatdonations be made to Mount Vernon MajorsFootball Boosters, c/o Burke & Herbert Bank,8738 Cooper Road, Alexandria, VA 22309. Cardsand expressions of sympathy and condolencesmay be sent to the Todd Family, 9024 PattonBlvd., Alexandria, VA 22309

An Extraordinary ManMount Vernon has lost a champion

with the tragic death of Jeff Todd.Jeff was an example, as a father, asa philanthropist, as a communityleader, as chairman of the MountVernon-Lee Chamber of Commerceand a member of the Mount VernonVisioning Task Force, to be emulatedby all residents of Mount Vernon. Hewas an extraordinary man wholoved his community and wasdeeply loved and admired by hisfamily and friends. Jeff’s numerousawards include a Citizen BusinessAward presented by the MountVernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce,Volunteer Fairfax CommunityChampion in 2009 and he wasrecognized by the Board of Supervi-sors for his incredible generosity bydonating thousands of dollars tolocal schools improving the lives andeducation of our children. Hisenergy, passion and humanness willnever be forgotten. My deepestcondolences go out to his wife,Becky and his children Kimberly andHannah. His leadership, love andenthusiasm will be profoundlymissed.

— Gerry Hyland

Mount Vernon District Supervisor

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By Ashley McNeff

Friend and Fellow MVLCC

Board Member

Anyone who has been in-volved in elementarythrough high school inMount Vernon-Lee knows

Jeff Todd.Anyone who has been involved in

Good Shepherd Housing or UCM inMount Vernon-Lee knows Jeff Todd.

Anyone who has been involved inyouth sports leagues in Mount Vernon-Lee knows Jeff Todd.

Let’s keep it simple. Repeat the abovesentences and fill in the blank with justabout anything that affects MountVernon-Lee for the area of involvementand community service. The sentencewill always end with “knows JeffTodd.”

There’s no way I can truly describeall of the contributions of Jeff. Jeff

Todd, owner of Roy Rogers Restaurants inthe Mount Vernon area, was a remarkableleader throughout the Mount Vernon andLee communities. Jeff has contributedcountless hours, money and food to localschools, the police and fire departments,charities, businesses, non-profits, childsports leagues and many more groupsover the past few decades. He is a man ofcharacter, a man who loves his family andfaith, and a man who has respect and lovefor everyone he comes in contact with.

Jeff was extremely humble and hasalways downplayed the effect that he hashad over the community, but that’sbecause he constantly put the feelings ofothers before himself. Todd’s involvementin the community was almost withoutboundaries, all thankless jobs that Jeffperformed with no expectation of per-sonal reward.

Jeff loved the Mount Vernon-Leecommunity and worked tirelessly over theyears to improve it by providing the much

needed leadership that all communitiesneed to move forward. We all agree thatthis community has been moving forward,and Jeff Todd is one of the main reasonswhy it has. Jeff’s leadership within theMount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerceover the past few years has been relent-less. He put all of himself into theChamber positions, whether it was vicepresident, president or chairman. Everyopportunity there was to be at an event ornew business ribbon cutting, Jeff wasthere and with a smile on his face.

During the past couple of years, Jeff hasbeen working diligently as a volunteerassistant coach with the Mount VernonHigh School Football Team. The team hascome a long way these past couple yearsand even made it to the playoffs. Not onlyhas the team advanced on the field, butalso academically and we owe that notonly to the Head Coach, but also JeffTodd. He feeds the kids before the games,provides snacks, coaches, is a fan and

spends numerous hours assisting theteam both on and off the field along-side his daughter, Kimberly.

I am sure I have left out many otherareas of service where Jeff has steppedup to the plate, probably because he isalways there to do what needs to bedone, and many times we have takenthat for granted. Jeff was a wonderfulcitizen, volunteer, business owner,father to two beautiful girls (who heaffectionately called “his babies” —Hannah and Kimberly), husband to anamazing wife (Becky), brother, uncle,son, community leader and friend. As aproud Mount Vernon citizen, fellowMount Vernon-Lee Chamber Boardmember and good friend of Jeff’s — Iwould like to say that he was trulyloved by all who knew him. We appre-ciate everything he has done to makethis world a better place and I feel thatmy life has been brighter because Jeffwas in it. We will miss him always.

A Tribute to a Mount Vernon Legend: Jeff Todd

Accident ReportAccording to the North Carolina State Police

accident report, Jeff Todd was a passenger in avehicle traveling southbound on North CarolinaState Highway 168. At 12:32 a.m., July 31, thedriver of the vehicle he was riding in slowed andswerved to avoid hitting another car that waschanging lanes. Jeff Todd’s vehicle then left theroadway, and landed in a cornfield. At the sametime he was ejected from the vehicle. No other fa-talities were related to the incident.


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INOVA MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

From Page 1

News

Inova’s original application in-cluded a provision to widenSherwood Hall Lane to four lanesfrom Richmond Highway toParkers Lane, a proposal that wasmet with fierce resistance in GumSprings. After a number of com-munity members expressed theiropposition, the part of the appli-cation that widened the road wasremoved from the first phase ofthe expansion. Yet the proposal re-mains part of the discussion forfuture phases of the plan, andsome kind of transportation infra-structure improvements will be

needed to handle increased traf-fic from the expanded hospital fa-cility.

“At this point, we haven’t com-mitted to any traffic improve-ments,” said Thomas Burke, seniorplanner with the Fairfax CountyDepartment of Transportation.“When Inova is ready to move for-ward with the next phase of theplan, we’ll take a look at the traf-fic situation at that time.”

FUTURE PHASES of the Inovaexpansion are certain to spark thesame debate. According to a pro-cess worked out by the Board ofSupervisors last week, the New

Gum Springs Civic Association willhave a seat at the table when thetransportation plans are workedout. That means the proposal towiden Sherwood Hall mayremerge when Inova is ready tomove forward with the next phaseof expansion, although thetimeline for when that might hap-pen remains unclear.

“I’ve opposed it before,” saidMount Vernon District SupervisorGerry Hyland. “And I’ll oppose itagain unless the traffic is so hor-rendous that it’s something youneed to do.”

Gum Springs traces its originback to 1829, when a former

Mount Vernon slave by the nameof West Ford inherited a 211-acretract of land from Bushrod Wash-ington, the president’s nephew.Ford divided the tract among hischildren who, in turn, subdividedit again. Employment opportuni-ties for freedmen included jobs atMount Vernon Estate which had alarge maintenance staff.

Roads have frequently been anissue. In 1926, the Board of Su-pervisors requested that the stategovernment incorporate into thehighway system a section of roadsfrom Gum Springs to Mount

Vernon “as this road is heavily trav-eled by the tremendous number ofhigh-class tourists each year andthe necessary for its proper main-tenance is great.”

“Nothing has changed sincethen,” said Cox in reference to theBoard of Supervisors acting onbehalf of the “high-class tourists.”“It’s all about the money.”

ONE THING is clear — GumSprings will continue to opposethe widening of Sherwood HallLane when Inova is ready to moveforward with the next phase ofexpansion. Until then, the commu-nity is also opposing the locationof a bus transfer station in theirneighborhood. Hyland said heagreed that Gum Springs would bethe wrong place to locate such afacility, suggesting that it might bebetter on the other side of Rich-mond Highway in the Lee District.The supervisor was also critical ofFairfax County staffers who in-cluded the transfer station as partof a transportation plan eventhough it hadn’t been approved.

“Talk about a quantum jump,”said Hyland. “I was outraged.”

Gum Springs Opposes Sherwood Hall Lane Widening“It’s a race thing.They only want towiden SherwoodHall in the blackcommunity, andthat’s a problem.”

— Queenie Cox, President,New Gum Springs Civic

Association

By Gerald A. Fill

The Gazette

Randy Joyce, new commander of theMount Vernon District Police Station,briefed the Mount Vernon Council ofCivic Associations at its July meeting on

his background and what he envisioned as the ma-jor police and police-related issues confronting hisdistrict station.

He cited pedestrian crossings on Route 1, prop-erty crime perpetrated by juveniles and an increasein alcohol-related incidents.

Supervisor Gerald Hyland discussed recent actionsof the Board of Supervisors. The board approvedPhase 1 of the Mount Vernon Hospital expansion andlaid the groundwork for an approval process of fu-ture hospital expansions. This would provide com-munity involvement of the Gum Springs, other com-munities and the MVCCA in the review and approvalprocess of Phase 2 and Phase 3 expansions over theensuing years.

Gum Springs representative Queenie Cox ex-pressed satisfaction with the supervisor’s effort toinvolve Gum Springs in the review process. Princi-pal among her concerns is the potential impact ofthe quality of life on the Gum Springs community ifwidening the Sherwood Hall Lane should be neces-sitated by future expansions.

Hyland also commented on the VDOT and FairfaxCounty Route 1 Transit study and that the southcounty area pressed for the study to emphasize bustransit expansion. Hyland viewed the emphasis aswrong; the study should be about rail transit and hewill be stressing it in the future.

Hyland announced that the Board of Supervisorswas taking a pro-active posture to stress greater con-trol over unauthorized use of residential parking sitesby commercial vehicles. Control/enforcement will beon a case-by-case basis.

THE MVCCA passed the following resolutions:❖ Approved: Environment and Recreation Resolu-

tion to Board of Supervisors requesting help in miti-gating litter. No opposition

❖ Approved: Planning and Zoning Resolution toapprove the Mount Vernon Hospital expansion. Noopposition.

❖ Approved: Planning and Zoning Resolution tosupport the rezoning of the Route 1 Dairy Queensite for rezoning. No opposition.

Joyce and Hyland Address MVCCAPublic safety andhospital expansion amongissues discussed.


Opinion

While some of us are not surehow it got to be August, never-mind time to start thinkingabout going back to school, the

first day of school is about a month away, Tues-day after Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Virginia families can take advantage of whatamounts to a three-day coupon for five per-cent off on many back-to-school items. Salestax is suspended for the coming week-end, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 5, 6and 7 (restrictions apply).

During this three-day period, schoolsupplies selling for $20 or less per item, andclothing and footwear selling for $100 or lessper item will be exempt from sales tax.

The tax holiday should encourage more fami-lies to spend their back-to-school dollars in lo-cal stores rather than online. This is an excel-lent time to support local businesses, manysuffering from the recession as well as compe-tition from online businesses that offer tax-freeshopping all the time. Local businesses that

don’t get their money from the federal gov-ernment need support from local shoppers nowmore than ever.

Also, remember that many families in thearea are struggling. There are many optionsto help.

❖ FACETS in Fairfax, which provided morethan 300 students with backpacks filled withsupplies last year, is collecting school supplies

until Aug. 12. Drop donations between9-5, Monday-Friday, at 10640 Page Av-enue, Suite 300, Fairfax. Volunteers willgather for Back to School parties to

stuff their new backpacks with supplies. Go tohttp://facetscares.org/donate/back-to-school-drive/ for a list of needed supplies or to makean online financial contribution. To help witha donation drive in your workplace or organi-zation, contact Stacy Boden at 703-352-3268or [email protected].

❖ Our Daily Bread’s Back to School programwill help more than 350 needy children in theFairfax High School pyramid receive the sup-

Five Percent OffBack-to-school sales tax holiday a reminderof other back-to-school rituals;buy extra supplies for needy students.

August Sales Tax Holiday:School SuppliesAnd ClothingWhen: The 2011 holiday will take place on Aug. 5-7,

2011.What’s exempt: School supplies selling for $20 or

less per item, and clothing and footwear selling for$100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax.

See: www.tax.virginia.gov

plies they need.In addition to financial contributions to pur-

chase the supplies, Our Daily Bread is seekingdonations of new teen-sized backpacks andscientific calculators. ODB will accept dona-tions through Aug. 12. Contact Jennifer Roseat 703-273-8829 or [email protected] visit www.ODBFairfax.org.

❖ Arlington Doorways for Women and Fami-lies is collecting money, school supplies, win-ter coats and more for needy students. Con-tact Wyatt Schroeder atw s c h r o e d e r @ D o o r w a s y V A . o r g .www.doorwaysva.org/donate/seasonal-ways-to-give/backtoschool/

❖ United Community Ministries plans toraise $10,000 and fill 1,000 backpacks thisyear. School supplies will be distributed to stu-dents in need on Aug. 25-26. Send donationsto Attn: School Supplies, United CommunityMinistries, 7511 Fordson Rd., Alexandria, VA22306. Contact Christine Fiske, 703-768-7106ext. 328 or [email protected].

Editorial

Heart ofA LionTo the Editor:

Since we live in the shadow ofour nation’s capital, we liveamongst numerous ones of ourcountry’s retired military leaderswho came to Washington to serveour country at the highest levels

and chose to remain here aftertheir days of service were done.One such man passed away in Julyand he was one of a handful whocan easily be characterized as oneof the greatest of them all. Ever.

I got to know retired four starAdmiral Noel Gayler and his wifeJeanne when I lived around thecorner from them in Hollin Hills. Ididn’t know them very well, but

they were always friendly when-ever I happened upon them in theneighborhood. They could oftenbe seen tending to their garden ordriving through the neighborhoodin their car with the distinctive li-cense plate “LA PAIX” (The Peace).

Behind that peaceful exteriorwas the heart of a lion. AdmiralGayler served our country withgreat distinction for 42 years. In

World War II, he was an ace com-bat pilot who won numerousawards, including two Legions ofMerit, a Bronze Star and threeNavy Crosses, each one the high-est decoration for bravery short ofthe Congressional Medal of Honor.He was the first pilot in history tobe awarded three Navy Crosses.He eventually rose to become chiefof the U.S. Pacific command dur-ing the Viet Nam War, succeedingSen. John McCain’s father and su-pervising all combat operations inthe Pacific theater. He personallygreeted returning prisoners of warincluding the future senator andhelped oversee our withdrawalfrom Viet Nam in 1975 as well asthe subsequent transportation tofreedom of thousands of refugees.

As Mrs. Gayler recounted in aletter to the editor of the Wash-ington Post last week, perhaps hismost heroic act occurred whenAdmiral Gayler was PresidentNixon’s first director of the Na-tional Security Agency (NSA). Inthat capacity, Admiral Gayler re-fused President Nixon’s requestthat the assets of the NSA be usedto spy on American citizens byeavesdropping on their telephoneconversations. This courage underdirect fire from a President wasrewarded — as Mrs. Gayler re-lated, President Nixon’s plan nevergot off the ground.

Letters to the Editor

See Letters, Page 20

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Adrienne Becker, left, and Jenna Pearson, right, both ofMount Vernon, spent the afternoon Wednesday, July 20,Beating the Heat

cooling off in make-shift pools while enjoying refreshing ice pops and watermelon.


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Opinion

See Route 1, Page 20

By Linda T. “Toddy” Puller

State Senator (D-36)

The first task force meeting ofthe Route 1 Transit Study washeld in Prince William Countyon Monday, July 25. The Sen-

ate Joint Resolution, SJ 292, that I intro-duced and was passed in the 2011 GeneralAssembly, provided for this study to be con-ducted. This legislation requested the Departmentof Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) to evalu-ate the level of study necessary to identify and ad-vance potential public transportation services to FortBelvoir in Fairfax County and the Marine Corps Baseat Quantico in Prince William and Stafford counties.This study has been funded for two years. With theimpending BRAC impact looming and the growingcongestion, this is necessary to move a step forwardto continue the revitalization and redevelopment ofthis important transportation corridor.

Director of the Department of Rail and PublicTransportation (DRPT) Thelma Drake and DRPT’sManager of Transit Planning Amy Inman led themeeting. Local and state elected officers from bothFairfax and Prince William counties, some of theirstaff members and a representative from QuanticoMarine Base attended this meeting. On hand fromFairfax County were: Del. Mark Sickles, Chairmanof the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors SharonBulova; Supervisor Gerry Hyland; Del. ScottSurovell’s aide; Supervisor Jeff McKay’s chief of staff,

and myself. From Prince William County,Del. Luke Torian’s aide, and SupervisorsJohn Jenkins and Frank Principi attended.

The background and history of the exist-ing conditions of the 27 miles of the Route1 corridor from the Capital Beltway to thePrince William/Stafford County line werepresented. Current transit service consistsof the WMATA “REX” Service, Fairfax Con-nector, and PRTC OmniLink.

“Route 1 has been the subject of numerous road-way and transit-related studies and efforts” throughthe years.

Local transit recommendations from the FairfaxCounty Comprehensive Plan include: implementingenhanced transit service along Richmond Highway,such as Metro, Light Rail, Bus Rapid Transit; expand-ing transit stations at Beacon Hill Road, near FordsonLane, Mohawk Lane, Sacramento, and near the rail-road line on Fort Belvoir Base and at Telegraph Road.The Mount Vernon District Visioning Task Force in2010 recommended implementing a peak periodHOV/bus lane on Richmond Highway and encour-aging the Virginia Department of Transportation(VDOT) to install traffic responsive technology onall of the traffic signals in the Mount Vernon District.

The Prince William County Comprehensive Planrecommends: identifying and developing alternativetransit concepts such as bus rapid transit, light railtransit, Potomac ferry service; Metro Rail extension

Task Force Meets over Route 1

12 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 4-10, 2011 Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 4-10, 2011 ❖ 13www.ConnectionNewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com


Entertainment

Photo by Jeanne Theismann/The Gazette

Director Sue Pinkman, third from right, celebrates with cast members Brenda Parker,Sam Jones, Shannon Kingett, Christopher Harris, Adrian Cubbage and Jaclyn Young onopening night of ‘Hairspray’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.

LTA cast celebrates opening night.Shake it Up, Baby!

By Jeanne Theismann

The Gazette

The beehives and bobbysocks were out in fullforce as cast members cel-

ebrated following the openingnight performance of “Hairspray”at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.

“I am very relieved,” said Direc-tor Sue Pinkman at the openingnight after-party July 23. “The kidsare fabulous, the crew, the orches-tra — all the elements came to-gether to make for a fabulousopening night.”

With a cast of more than 30 per-formers, LTA is tackling one of themost ambitious projects in musi-cal theater.

“It’s been very challenging butgratifying,” Pinkman said. “Withthis large of a cast, there were al-ways scheduling conflicts. And forthe last eight weeks, we rehearsedsix days a week. It’s by far the big-gest show I’ve ever done.”

More than 160 people fromthroughout the region auditionedfor the Tony-award winning mu-sical, with Shannon Kingett win-ning the coveted role of TracyTurnblad and T.C. Williams risingsenior Sam Jones cast as teenheartthrob Link Larkin.

“This show has been a blast,”said Jones as he relaxed with his

Jeanne Theismann/The Gazette

T.C. Williams 2010 graduateMaria Simpkins and risingT.C. senior Sam Jonescelebrate at the openingnight reception for‘Hairspray.’

parents, Maria and Patrick Jones,and girlfriend Ellen Broetzmannfollowing the show. “I wasn’t adancer coming into this but [cho-reographer] Ivan Davila broughtout the best in all of us.”

For Kingett, playing Tracy is therole of a lifetime.

“I am very overwhelmed rightnow,” Kingett said. “I have alwayswanted to play this role. But it’s alot of work. I have never done somuch dancing in my life!”

Christopher Harris is a standoutin the role of Tracy’s mother Edna.

“I knew that with my height andbuild there really was only onerole for me in this show,” said Har-ris of the role originated by HarveyFierstein on Broadway and JohnTravolta in the subsequent movie.

“This is such a great story to telland I channeled a lot of my motherfor the part.”

After weeks of rehearsals,Pinkman and the cast were able tosavor the opening night experience.

“We all worked hard and had agreat opening night audience,”

Pinkman said. “But it is the actorswho really made magic tonight.”

‘Hairspray’ runs through Aug. 13at The Little Theatre of Alexandria,600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria. Call703-683-0496 or visitwww.thelittletheatre.com.

The Lounge Restaurant hasopened in Washington Suites Alex-andria Hotel in the West End of Al-exandria at 100 S. Reynolds St. nearLandmark Mall. Hours are 11 a.m.until 10 p.m. daily.

From its rich dark wood paneledwalls and porcelain-tiled floors, tothe solid Russian pine dining tables,The Lounge evokes the feel of anupscale neighborhood bar/restau-rant. Chef Alan Curry, a 23-year

The Lounge Restaurant Opensveteran and graduate of New En-gland Culinary Institute, has createdseveral familiar dishes, as well asnew favorites such as meat ball slid-ers, fried pickle spears, a trio ofhummus, and homemade spinachdip. The Lounge is run by JeffBeaudoin, with a career that includesexecutive positions with Capitol CityBrewing, Lucky Strike Lanes, JohnnyRockets, and Washington’s CapitalCity Brewing Co.

AUG. 23 TO OCT. 16“The Hollow.” Based on the Book

Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.(Book by Hunter Foster; music andlyrics by Matt Conner), to be directedby Signature Theatre’s AssociateArtistic Director Matthew Gardiner.At The Signature Theater. AtSignature Theatre, 4200 CampbellAve., Arlington. Visit www.signature-theatre.org or call 703-573-SEAT(7328).

AUG. 25 TO OCT. 16“The Boy Detective Fails.” Book by

Joe Meno (based on his best-sellingbook); Music and Lyrics by AdamGwon; Directed by Joe Calarco. AtSignature Theatre, 4200 CampbellAve., Arlington. Visit www.signature-theatre.org or call 703-573-SEAT(7328).

NOW THROUGH AUG. 13“Hairspray.” Wednesdays through

Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3p.m. Directed by Sue Pinkman; MusicDirection by Chris Tomasino; andChoreography by Ivan Davila. CAST:Shannon Kingett as Tracy Turnblad,Sam Jones as Link Larkin,Christopher Harris as Edna, LarryGrey as Wilbur, Brenda Parker asMotormouth Maybelle, AdrianCubbage as Seaweed, Jaclyn Youngas Penny, Christina Kidd as Amber,Janette Moman as Velma, GardnerReed as Corny, Gina Tomkus asPrudy, Marissa Moody as L’il Inez,

Scott Strasbaugh as Mr. Pinky, MarkWilliams as Mr. Spritzer. Members ofthe ensemble include Andrea Berting,Amanda Corbett, Maureen Eul,Jonathan Faircloth, Meg Glassco,Blake Hopkins, Caitlin Jackson,Derek Marsh, Jody Parker, Chris

Rios, Maria Simpkins, Zaria Stott,Ryan Walker, Samantha Williams,Jacob Wittenauer and Roger Yawson.At the Little Theatre of Alexandria,600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria. Visitwww.thelittletheatre.com or call 703-683-0496.

Local Theater

Theater

Marc KudischJulia Murney

NOW THROUGH AUG. 6Signature’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cabaret. Cabarets will include “Let Me Sing”

and “I’m Happy” (“The Music of Irving Berlin”), a collection of Berlinfavorites featuring Sherri L. Edelen, James Gardiner, Matt Pearson and BaylaWhitten. Solo cabarets include Erin Driscoll (“[title of show],” “SweeneyTodd”), and last year’s Sizzlin’ Summer artists Bob McDonald and SandyBainum (“Sunset Boulevard”). Tickets for all cabarets are $20/$25 each.Signature offers a special All-Access Pass for $125. Call 703-820-9771 orvisit www.signature-theatre.org.


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Holiday Parties

Happy Hour, metallic ink photograph, 8x10

THURSDAY/AUG. 4“Breeze By.” 6 to 9 p.m. Opening reception for artwork by Bonnie Ferguson Butler.

At the Firebricks and Frames Exhibition Series at Red Rocks Pizzeria Napoletanaon King Street in Old Town Alexandria.

Fine Arts

NOW THROUGH AUG. 28Asian Tea Bowls. Presented by the

Washington Ceramic Guild clayartisans. Hours are Monday throughSunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; andThursdays until 9 p.m. At the TorpedoFactory Art Center’s Scope Gallery, 105North Union Street, Ground FloorStudio 19, Alexandria. Call ScopeGallery at 703-548-6288 or visitwww.torpedofactory.org/galleries/scope.

NOW THROUGH AUG. 28Drawing Analogies. Features seven

artists who are united in that they aretrying to explore and understandaspects of their worlds though thecreation of drawings. At theAthenaeum Gallery, 201 Prince Street,Alexandria. Visit www.nvfaa.org.

AUG. 2 TO OCT. 3“Forgotton” and “Off Season.”

Works by photographers SandyLeBrun-Evans and Eric Jonson.Opening Reception is Aug. 7 from 3 to5 p.m. At Multiple Exposures Gallery,Suite 312, Torpedo Factory Art Center.Call 703-683-2205.

AUG. 2 TO SEPT. 11“Satellite Images.” Free. Jewelry,

sculpture, clothing and wall pieces willbe exhibited. At Studio 18 in theTorpedo Factory Art Center, 105 NorthUnion Street, Old Town Alexandria.

AUG. 3 TO SEPT. 4The Power of Color III. Artist’s

reception is Saturday, Aug. 13 from 5to 8 p.m. At Gallery West, 1213 KingStreet, Old Town Alexandria. Visitwww.gallery-west.com or call 703-549-6006.

AUG. 5 TO 28

States of Mind Exhibit. 7 to 10 p.m.Join Kimberley Bush, Ellyn Ferguson,Lesley Hall, Fransi Kaye, KatherineRand, Gloria Vestal, and TracyWilkerson as they showcase encaustics,abstract art, figurative works, stainedglass, and mixed media artwork.Opening Aug. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m. AtDel Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount VernonAve., Alexandria. Visitwww.TheDelRayArtisans.org.

THURSDAY/AUG. 11Sultry Summer Nights. 6 to 9 p.m.

Free. Part of Thursday Art Night;browse open studios, interact withartists. At the Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria.Visit www.torpedofactory.org; 703-838-4565

AUG. 11 TO 28Synergy: An exhibition of artwork by the

2011 Visiting Artists. Reception onAug. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. This year’sselected artists are: Mark ThomasAnderson (Arlington); M. Chava Evans(Baltimore); Allison Long Hardy(Woodbridge); Katie Latona(Champaign, IL); Heather McCaw(Washington, D.C.); Emily Moorhead(Cincinnati, OH); Linda Morrell(Castleton, NY); Liza Myers (Brandon,VT); Drew Parris (Stevensville, MD);Fierce Sonia (Alexandria); KazaanViveiros (Alexandria). At Site 2 andSite 3 Galleries, Torpedo Factory ArtCenter, 105 n. Union St., Alexandria.

SEPT. 7 TO OCT. 2“Suburbia.” A collection of

impressionistic oil paintings by ParisaTirnaz. Artist’s Reception is Saturday,Sept. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. At GalleryWest, 1213 King St., Old TownAlexandria. Visit www.gallery-west.com or call 703-549-6006.


Entertainment

NOW THROUGH OCT. 31Alexandria Arts and Crafts

Fair. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. everySunday. Features some of theareas’ best artists and artisansand includes jewelry, glassworks, ceramics and pottery,hand woven products, and othercrafts. At St. George Gallery, 105North Alfred Street, in the heartof Old Town Alexandria.

NOW THROUGH OCT. 30Civil War Walking Tour.

Saturdays and Sundays 9:30a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Covers thechanging role of AfricanAmericans on the estate, viewson George Washington from theperspective of Union andConfederate supporters, and theWashington-Robert E. Leeconnection. At Historic MountVernon. These tours are limitedin capacity and cost $5 inaddition to Estate admission:$15 adults; $7 children (6-11);free for children 5 & under. Visitwww.MountVernon.org or call703-780-2000.

NOW THROUGH AUG. 6Signature’s Sizzlin’ Summer

Cabaret. Cabarets will include“Let Me Sing” and “I’m Happy”(“The Music of Irving Berlin”), acollection of Berlin favoritesfeaturing Sherri L. Edelen, JamesGardiner, Matt Pearson and BaylaWhitten. Solo cabarets include ErinDriscoll (“[title of show],” “SweeneyTodd”), and last year’s Sizzlin’Summer artists Bob McDonald andSandy Bainum (“Sunset Boulevard”).Tickets for all cabarets are $25 each.Signature offers a special All-AccessPass for $125. At Signature Theater,4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call703-820-9771.

NOW THROUGH AUG. 13“Hairspray.” Wednesdays through

Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3p.m. Directed by Sue Pinkman; MusicDirection by Chris Tomasino; andChoreography by Ivan Davila. CAST:Shannon Kingett as Tracy Turnblad,Sam Jones as Link Larkin,Christopher Harris as Edna, LarryGrey as Wilbur, Brenda Parker asMotormouth Maybelle, AdrianCubbage as Seaweed, Jaclyn Youngas Penny, Christina Kidd as Amber,Janette Moman as Velma, GardnerReed as Corny, Gina Tomkus asPrudy, Marissa Moody as L’il Inez,Scott Strasbaugh as Mr. Pinky, MarkWilliams as Mr. Spritzer. Members ofthe ensemble include Andrea Berting,Amanda Corbett, Maureen Eul,Jonathan Faircloth, Meg Glassco,Blake Hopkins, Caitlin Jackson,Derek Marsh, Jody Parker, ChrisRios, Maria Simpkins, Zaria Stott,Ryan Walker, Samantha Williams,Jacob Wittenauer and Roger Yawson.At the Little Theatre of Alexandria,600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria. Visitwww.thelittletheatre.com or call 703-683-0496.

THURSDAY/AUG. 4First Thursday Art Walk. 6 to 9 p.m.

Art Walk will feature an Art Marketwhere artists will be selling their art,kids activities where parents candiscover just how much talent theirkids have and performing artists. OnMt. Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.Artists contact Pat Miller [email protected] toparticipate.

18th Century Dance Classes. 7:30 to9:30 p.m. Cost is $30/series or $12/class. Learn the dances of JaneAusten’s time. Dance master CorkyPalmer will lead the series inpreparation for the annual JaneAusten Ball on Aug. 13. Reservationsat 703-746-4242 orwww.gadsbystavern.org.

Summer Concert. 6 to 8 p.m.Featuring the music of Charm City

Baroque. Concessions such as water,chips and cookies will be availablefor purchase. Alcohol is not permittedon the property. At the lawn atCarlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St.,Alexandria. Call 703-549-2997 orvisit www.carlylehouse.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 5Wee Ones Storytime. 10:30 to 11

a.m. Explore the exciting world withsome of favorite stories and songs.For ages 2 and under. Free. AtHooray for Books!, 1555 King St.,Alexandria. Call 703-548-4092 orvisit www.hooray4books.com.

Hooray for Storytime. 7 to 8 p.m.Grab a spot in the storytime cornerand listen to some favorite tales of alltime! For ages 3 and up. Free. AtHooray for Books!, 1555 King St.,Alexandria. Call 703-548-4092 orvisit www.hooray4books.com.

“The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” 7p.m. PBS documentary to be shownat Hollin Hall House at the MountVernon Unitarian Church, 1909Windmill Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-721-0595.

“Hairspray” Cast Holds Talkback.Mink Stole, from the original JohnWaters’ film, “Hairspray,” will lead aQ&A discussion after theperformance. The cast will also beavailable for questions. Find out whatit’s like to stage a musical on the LTAstage, ask about auditions,choreography, or characterdevelopment. At the Little Theatre ofAlexandria, 600 Wolfe St.,Alexandria. Visitwww.thelittletheatre.com or 703-683-0496.

Alexandria Citizens Band Concert.7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The City’s OldestPerforming Arts Organization. AtMarket Square, 301 King St.,Alexandria. Contact Special Events,[email protected],703-746-5592.

SATURDAY/AUG. 6Friendship Firehouse Festival. 9

a.m. to 2 p.m. Friendship Firehousecelebrates its 237th birthday. Free.The event will feature a collection ofantique fire equipment and, courtesyof the Alexandria Fire Department, adisplay of modern fire apparatus. TheAlexandria Red Cross and theCommunity Emergency ResponseTeam will also be on hand. Otherattractions include craft booths, foodvendors and free birthday cake.Children will receive free fire helmetsand balloons. At the 100 block ofSouth Alfred Street, between Princeand King Streets. Visit

WEDNESDAY/AUG. 17John Jorgenson in Concert. 8 p.m. At the

Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria.

SATURDAY/AUG. 6Suzy Bogguss in Concert. 8 p.m. At the

Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria.

www.friendshipfirehouse.net.Living History. Noon to 4 p.m. This

free, family-friendly program willfeature living history interpretersportraying the Carlyles, John Carlyleand his wife, Sarah Fairfax Carlyle.At Carlyle House, 121 North FairfaxStreet, Old Town Alexandria. Visitwww.nvrpa.org.

Wee Ones Story Time. 10:30 to 11a.m. Explore the exciting world withsome of favorite stories and songs.For ages 2 and under. Free. AtHooray for Books!, 1555 King St.,Alexandria. Call 703-548-4092 orvisit www.hooray4books.com.

Alexandria Art Market. 10 a.m. to 4p.m. The market boasts amazingartwork from local artists, musicfrom multicultural musicians andgreat food from local restaurants. AtColasanto Park in the heart of DelRay. Free and open to public.www.TheDelRayArtisans [email protected] apply.

Tavern Day. 1 to 5 p.m. Free OpenHouse. Tavern Day will featurecontinuous tours of the historic siteby costumed guides, the opportunityto learn to dance like George andMartha Washington, and much more.At Gadsby’s Tavern, 134 North RoyalStreet, Old Town Alexandria. Call703-746-4242 or visitwww.gadsbystavern.org.

SUNDAY/AUG. 7New Arrivals Party. Noon to 5 p.m.

Donna and Carla have gone to LasVegas’ JCK Jewelry Show and areshowing their finds at Today’s Cargo,1102 King Street, Alexandria.

Virginia Ballet Company. 4:30 p.m.Performs “Precedence,”contemporary dance styles withclassical ballet technique, includingballet, flamenco, modern and jazz. Atthe Ernst Community CulturalCenter, NVCC Annandale campus,8333 Little River Turnpike,Annandale. Tickets are $15 and may

be purchased atwww.virginiaballetcompany.org.Call 703-249-8227.

WEDNESDAY/AUG. 10DJ Dance Party. 9 to 11p.m. Admission is $6. WithDJ Dabe Murphy. At Nick’sNightclub, 642 SouthPickett St., Alexandria.Lunch Bunch Concert.12 to 1 p.m. Tolumi DE(Afropop, Soul & Gospel).At Canal Center Plaza, 44Canal Center Plaza,Alexandria. Contact:Special Events,[email protected],703-746-5592.

THURSDAY/AUG. 1118th Century DanceClasses. 7:30 to 9:30p.m. Cost is $30/series or

$12/class. Learn the dances of JaneAusten’s time. Dance master CorkyPalmer will lead the series inpreparation for the annual JaneAusten Ball on Aug. 13. Reservationsat 703-746-4242 orwww.gadsbystavern.org.

Music at Twilight Concerts. 7:30 to8:30 p.m. Bay Jazz Project (Jazz). AtFort Ward Park Amphitheater, 4301W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria.Contact: Special Events,[email protected],703-746-5592.

Bill Mulroney & Second WindBandits. 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.Part of the Second Thursday Music.At The Athenaeum, 201 PrinceStreet, Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 or visit nvfaa.org.

FRIDAY/AUG. 12U.S. Air Force Concert Band. 8 p.m.

Free. Presents “Disney and PixarFavorites.” At the U.S. Air ForceMemorial, One Air Force MemorialDrive, Arlington. Call 202-767-5658or www.usafband.af.mil.

Buck Owens Birthday Party. 7 to 10p.m. Telegraph Station is hosting aBuck Owens Birthday Party with twolive acts: banjo player Banjer Danand Washington, D.C. country bandThe Highballers. Country musiclegend Buck Owens is the much-revered and influential father of the“Bakersfield Sound.” TelegraphStation will be playing Buck Owensmusic, and the live acts will performoriginal music along with someversions of Owens’s songs. At 5735Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Call703-373-3376.

Alexandria Harmonizers Concert.7:30 to 8:30 p.m. BarbershopChorus. At Market Square, 301 KingSt., Alexandria. Contact:[email protected],703-746-5592

SATURDAY/AUG. 13Tommy and the High Pilots. 9 p.m.

Admission is $12. Performing with

Heypenny. At Iota, 2832 WilsonBlvd., Arlington.

Alexandria Scottish RitePerformance. Dinner at 6 p.m.;Show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Aperformance by the Hexagon troupe,the Hexagoners. At the AlexandriaScottish Rite Temple, 1430 WestBraddock Road, Alexandria. Call 703998-9044.

Fort Ward Civil War Camp Day.10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5/adult; $10/families. Highlightsinclude Union and Confederate drillsand camp life with costumedinterpreters, and a focus on uniformsand equipment from the early war.Free parking available along WestBraddock Road. At 4301 WestBraddock Road, Alexandria. Visitwww.fortward.org or call 703-746-4848.

Summer Sidewalk Sale. 10 a.m. to5 p.m. Participating merchants fromthe river to the Metro, on King Streetand the side streets, will beshowcasing their products in theSecond Annual Old Town-wideSummer Sidewalk Sale. Eachparticipating retailer will host aunique event or promotion — someretailers will be offering deeply-discounted summer merchandise,some will be holding demonstrationsof their product lines, and others willhave special events. Clothing,accessory, children’s, book, jewelryand home decor and furnishingsboutiques, as well as galleries, willbe part of the event. Visitwww.alexandriasidewalksale.com.

AUG. 14 TO 15Auditions for “Twelve Angry

Men.” 7 to 9 p.m. Auditions forAldersgate Church CommunityTheater (ACCT) production of“Twelve Angry Men” will be held atAldersgate United Methodist Church,1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria.For character profiles, and furtherinformation, visit acctonline.org

TUESDAY/AUG. 16Mount Vernon Genealogical

Society. 1 p.m. Free. Stephen Morsepresents a program entitled “One-Step Webpages: A Potpourri ofGenealogical Search Tools.” Meets atHollin Hall Senior Center, 1500Shenandoah Road, Room 112, inAlexandria. Any questions about theprogram should be directed to PhyllisKelley at 703-660-6969 [email protected].

WEDNESDAY/AUG. 17Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m.

Admission is $10. With the SoulTones of Swing. At Nick’s Nightclub,642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.

FRIDAY/AUG. 19Swing Dancing. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Admission is $4. With the a live bandled by conductor Owen Hammett.Open to all. At the Hollin Hall SeniorCenter, 1500 Shenandoah Road,Alexandria. Call 703-765-4573.

AUG. 19-28Alexandria Summer Restaurant

Week. 62 restaurants offer a $35prix-fixe three-course dinner or $35dinner for two. Savor the flavors ofAlexandria’s distinctive collection ofeateries, from fine diningestablishments to casualneighborhood favorites. Participatingrestaurants include Bastille, LaBergerie, the Grille at MorrisonHouse, Cheesetique, A la Lucia,Tempo. 703-746-3301. Menus andonline reservations onVisitAlexandriaVA.com

SATURDAY/AUG. 20Justin Townes Earle. 7:30 p.m.

Admission is $25. At The Birchmere,3701 Mount Vernon Ave.,Alexandria. Visitwww.birchmere.com.

FRIDAY/AUG. 5The Band POCO. 7:30 p.m. Admission is $35. At The Birchmere,

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.


People

By Maya Horowitz

The Gazette

Baked goods, meats and fresh fruit and veg-etables draw local residents to the MountVernon Farmers Market, held Wednesdaysfrom 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of

the Sherwood Library. About a dozen vendors selltheir goods in the summer heat.

“I like the idea of getting fresh fruit and vegetablesrather than going to a grocery store,” said Alex But-ler, a Mount Vernon resident attending the marketfor the first time.

Since the market is held weekly, it allows for re-peat customers and creates a community feel. LauraSonnenmark, from Mount Vernon, said, “I’m prettymuch a regular. I like to support local farmers … It’snice to feel like you’re in a small town.” She notedthat she often sees people she knows at the market,such as members of her church.

The market attracts locals but it appeals to peoplewho work in the area as well. Kristin Marge, of Ar-lington, works at the hospital across the street fromSherwood Library. She came to check it out on herlunch break.

Some residents brought their children, who seemedparticularly pleased with the free samples and bakedgoods.

Sonya Richard, a teen from Mount Vernon, said, “Ilike how many choices there are and everything is

really good.” Her favorite booth is Grace’s Pastries,which has a variety of breads, such as cinnamon,pumpkin, focaccia, banana, raspberry and sour-dough.

Others brought husbands.Mark Miller, who lives walking distance from the

market, said, “When you’ve been married for over35 years and your wife says, ‘Let’s go to the FarmersMarket.’ You say, ‘Yes, dear.’” He noted that his fa-vorite booth was Westmoreland Berry Farm becauseberries go well with vanilla ice cream.

WHEN THE MARKET ends at noon, much of thefood is at risk of going to waste. Two organizationshave stepped in to put that food to good use. St.Aidan’s Outreach and Mount Vernon Kiwanis Clubcollect the extra food and donate it to the needy.

The Kiwanis Club donates to the United Commu-nity Ministries. Its website is http://www.ucmagency.org/

Rich Keil, a volunteer for the Kiwanis Club, said,“The farmers here, most of them, are just so gener-ous.” He said on a good day they collect about 18baskets of food.

St. Aidans Outreach donates to a local homelessshelter and a center for abused women and childrenrun by Rising Hope. Its website is http://www.risinghopeumc.org/

On the topic of donating food, Wallace Withers ofThreeway Farms said, “If somebody can use it, it’sbetter than us keeping it. A lot of this stuff goes towaste. Plus everybody is good to us up here so maybewe can help somebody less fortunate.” ThreewayFarms sells an assortment of fruit and vegetables in-cluding tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, onions andpeppers.

Jim Dunlap of SnowBear Farms said, “Everybody’sgot to help everybody.” He compared farmers’ eco-nomic station to that of the poor. He said that makesit easier for farmers to understand and help the needy.SnowBear Farms is a vegetable vendor, with lettuce,eggplant, squash and tomatoes.

To learn more about the Mount Vernon FarmersMarket, call 703-642-0128 or go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/FarmersMarkets/mtvernonmkt.htm

Customers shop for vegetables at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market.

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Vendors❖ Grace’s Pastries breads, pastries, cakes and cookies❖ Granny’s Garden flowers and potted plants❖ Laurel Grove Farms fruits and vegetables❖ Natural Design cut and dried flower arrangements❖ Salsa las Glorias salsa❖ Sharkawi Farms herbs, potted plants, spices and tea❖ SnowBear Farm vegetables❖ Sunset View Farm plants, fruit and vegetables❖ Threeway Farms fruit and vegetables❖ Twin Springs Fruit Farm fruit and vegetables❖ Valentines Country Bakery and Meats eggs, baked goods and

all-natural, grass-fed pork, lamb, beef and rabbit❖ Westmoreland Berry Farm berries, fruit and vegetables

Farmers donate extrafood to the needy.

Market Yields Sense of Community

By Orrin Konheim

The Gazette

Roughly 150 people gath-ered at the Sherwood Re-gional Library Friday, July

29 to watch Sam Bartlett make afork levitate behind a towel.Rather than allow the children toleave the room wondering how hedid it, he revealed the trick twominutes later.

“Everything looks easy once youknow how to do it. If you don’tknow, it’s impossible,” he said.

Bartlett visited the library as partof one of his regularly scheduledtours around the country to put onshows and promote his book“Stuntology.” “Stuntology” is aterm coined by Bartlett to describehis brand of showmanship that heinsists is different from magic.

“Magic is hard to do and stuntsare easy. You can learn a stunt in10 seconds or less,” said Bartlett.“I always say magic is like learn-ing the violin, especially sleight ofhand.”

Bartlett opened the show by tell-ing the children he has spent a life-time collecting stunts. After per-forming his first trick, involvingblowing into a cup of water andshooting a stream out of the side,he explains that he saw someonedoing a similar trick 25 years agoand came to the conclusion that“this is a stunt the world needs toknow.

“We didn’t have email, we didn’thave YouTube,” Bartlett said, “SoI decided I wanted to write themall down.”

Bartlett tells the origin of manyof his stunts and delves into hischildhood in Vermont with threeolder sisters and a mother whoshared his love of stunts.

He credited his mother forteaching him the illusion of hav-ing a toothpick stuck through hisfinger. He also showed a couplestunts involving a ping pong ballthat he described as a family se-

cret “that no other kids in theneighborhood could do.”

When Bartlett performs a trickwhere he levitates a ping pong ballthrough a stream of air, he teachesthe audience about the BernoulliPrinciple. For the most part his actdoes not involve much scientificexplanation. Nevertheless, Bartlettfeels that he’s popular with bothchildren and parents because of hisact’s educational value.

“It’s completely educational.Kids think it’s silly but it’s all aboutbeing persistent. It’s a problemthey want to solve and it’s not be-ing forced upon them by teachers,”said Bartlett.

Though he has invented his ownbrand of magic and has even copy-righted the term “stuntology,” heinsists he is not unique. “I don’tdo anything original. Stuntologyis like folklore,” he said.

Writing and publishing the booktook Bartlett 10 years. He creditshis publisher, Workman PublishingCompany, for his success. In par-ticular, it translated his book intomany different languages, whichallowed him to gain an interna-tional audience.

In the interest of expanding hisaudiences, he also caters his showto all ages.

“It’s stuff parents don’t want youto know. Things that the kids couldtake home with them to do,” saidAlexandria restaurant Stacy elShami who came with her childrenand their grandmother and en-joyed the show.

Bartlett resides in Bloomington,Ind., and his day job is a musician.

Bartlett’s appearance was part ofthe Fairfax County Libraries’ Sum-mer Reading Program. The pro-gram rewards children for readingand also gives them reasons to visitthe library.

“We do these programs partly toentertain them and partly if they’rein the building, they might checkout a book,” librarian Sarah South-ern said.

It’s Not Magic,It’s StuntologyLibrary hosts author andshowman Sam Bartlett.

To have a notice listed, [email protected]. CallSteve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 withquestions.

Chess Comes to Hollin Hall Se-nior Center. Hollin Hall Senior Centeris now a member of the U.S. Chess Fed-eration (USCF). The first club interestmeeting will be in the fall. Cost to jointhe chess affiliate is $34, which will en-title you to a monthly online copy ofChess Life and an opportunity to meetchess lovers and play at your skill leveland learn new moves! Meets at 1500

Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. ContactJulie Ellis Director at 703-765-4573,TTY 711.

Crafters are needed for the 18thannual St. Luke’s Episcopal Craft andFamily Fun Fair to be held Sept. 10 from9 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the church at8009 Fort Hunt Road. This will be afun-filled event in a highly visible loca-tion with baked goods, music, games,face-painting and hundreds of shoppersstarting their holiday gift buying. Con-tact Anne Hargrove at [email protected] for an application.

Bulletin Board


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Springfield Community Systems Inc. Virginia, a not for profit company helping persons with Intel-lectual Disabilities in their homes and com-munities, is looking for a Clinical Director with a Master Degree in Psychology or re-lated field. One or more years experience with behavior support planning is necessary. Knowledge of psychotropic medications, VA State Human Rights regulations, Medic-aid Waiver regulations and State Licensing regulations.

Person must have the ability to work with individuals, staff, families and other service agencies. They must be willing to have a flexible work schedule and be available for emergencies. For more information email: [email protected] or call 703-913-3150. Our website can be accessed at www.csi-va.org Our office is located at 8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Suite B-300, Springfield, VA 22152.

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ZONESZone 1: The Reston Connection The Oak Hill/Herndon ConnectionZone 2: The Springfield Connection The Burke Connection The Fairfax Connection The Fairfax Station/Clifton/

Lorton ConnectionZone 3: The Alexandria Gazette Packet

The Mount Vernon GazetteZone 4: Centre View North Centre View SouthZone 5: The Potomac AlmanacZone 6: The Arlington Connection

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OBITUARYDarl Dwane Alt, age 73 of Dorcas, WV died Thursday, July 28, 2011 at the home of his son, Darren and Joyce Alt. He was born on February 13, 1938 in Landes, WV and was a son of the late Louie B. Alt and Della (Ratcliff) Alt. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son; a grand-son, Devin Lee Alt; two brothers, Darwood "Johnny" Alt and Delmar H. Alt. Mr. Alt attended Johnson Run Elementary School and Petersburg High School. He received his GED in the U. S. Armed Forces Institute. He graduated from Strayer College and Columbia Tech. He was employed by the Ameri-can Security Bank and Washington Gas Light Company and A. M. Corporation. He was vice president of Mechtronic Cor-poration in Washington, D.C. He founded Embossing and Re-pair Services with main contracts in the Pentagon. This com-pany is presently owned and operated by his son, Daniel Alt in Dorcas, WV. He was Co-Founder of Sheltered Enterprises of Alexandria, VA (a workshop for the mentally retarded). He was Scout Master of BSA inNational Capital Area Council and Po-tomac Council. He was also a Vigil member of the O. A. He was a member of Dorcas Baptist Church and had held several offices in the Church and Association. He also had served as President of the Dorcas PTA. He was a United States Army Veteran having served in New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana and Tokyo, Japan.

SURVIVING: The Mother of his children, Delores Alt Propst of Dorcas, WV, Two sons, Darren Alt and wife Joyce of Dorcas, WV, Daniel Alt of Dorcas, WV, One daughter, Regina Marie Alt of Boise, Idaho, 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildrenSeveral nieces and nephews, Sister-In-Law: Alma Jean Alt of Spotsylvania, VA, Two half brothers, Bobby Alt and wife Deb-bie of York, SC, Billy Alt and wife Elaine of Youngstown, OHOne half sister, Mary Kay Alt of Riverton, WV.

Funeral services were held on Monday at 11 a.m. (August 1st) at the Schaeffer Funeral Home in Petersburg, WV with Pas-tor Delores Alt Propst officiating. Interment was in the North Mill Creek Cemetery, Dorcas, WV with military honors by the Petersburg VFW Post 6454 and West Virginia Army Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cub Pack 63 B.S.A. HC 33, Box 3540, Dorcas, WV 26847.

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

To Advertise Your Faith Community, call Karen at 703-917-6468

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

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

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Good ShepherdCatholic Church

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

Saturday Evening5:00 pm; 6:30 pm (en Español)

Sunday7:30; 9:00; 10:30 am; 12:00 Noon2:00 pm (en Español)

Weekdays(Mass or CommunionService) 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

Christ the SaviourAnglican Church

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

www.christthesaviouranglican.org

703-953-2854

Location – Washington Mill E.S.9100 Cherrytree Drive

Worship Service – 10 a.m.Inter-generational Sunday School – after service

Mass Schedule

From Page 8

Letters

Thank you Admiral Gayler foryour service to our country andmay you rest in peace. My condo-lences to Mrs. Gayler and theirfamily.

H. Jay SpiegelMount Vernon

FulfillThe VisionTo the Editor:

Fulfilling the vision created bythe people of Mount Vernon willcost $900 million. As a candidatefor Fairfax County Board of Super-visors chairman, I accept personalresponsibility to help our commu-nity realize this plan.

If I am elected, voters will holdme accountable. We will regularlydiscuss our progress duringmonthly televised town hall meet-ings hosted by local journalists andbloggers.

As Jessica Taylor wrote in“Transforming Route 1,” [MountVernon Gazette, July 28-August 3,2011], the project includes ex-tending the Yellow Line and devel-oping Route 1 as a walkable, pe-destrian-friendly area with localbusinesses, shops, restaurants andall ranges of housing develop-ments sensibly planned with parksand green spaces to beautify thearea.

We are raising expectations andthe level of accountability. I am theonly candidate for chairman whohas made the fulfillment of MountVernon’s Vision a measurable ob-

Letters to the Editor

jective for political service.In her commentary titled, “Mil-

lions Already Spent on Route 1,”Chairman Bulova argues thatsouthern Fairfax County is readyto accommodate tens of thousandsof new commuters.

We will know on Sept. 15whether she is correct. Announcedin May 2005, she has had six yearsto help the region prepare forBRAC. While most people remainconcerned, Bulova says now is notthe time for additional investmentin Route 1.

In Jerry Fill’s recent interview ofall three candidates for chairman,Sharon said she wants to wait tofinance the widening of Route 1and the extension of the YellowLine until Fairfax County voterspass a referendum increasing taxesor the state provides funding. Hav-ing waited since 1967, Bulovawants us to continue waiting.

Chairman Bulova fails to advo-cate the best interests of FairfaxCounty and our people. While theGeneral Assembly drives our realestate taxes up by over 31.5 per-cent, costing over $501 millionannually, to subsidize other tax-payers in meeting a state mandate,Bulova remains silent.

Working together we will createeffective, sustainable solutions tothe challenges confronting ourcommunity. We will fulfill the vi-sion.

Will Radle Candidate for chairman, Fairfax

County Board of Supervisors –[email protected]

From Page 9

(Blue Line) to Potomac Mills; es-tablishing a transit center onBelvoir Road at Pence Gate; andextending PRTC’s Route 1OmniLink Route from Prince Wil-liam County to Fort Belvoir’s SouthPost entrance; improving connec-tions to existing transit centers byextending the Metro Bus REX lineto Lorton VRE and improving lo-cal bus connections to theFranconia-Springfield Station.

A report on the VDOT CenterlineStudy of Route 1 was released in2009. The Route 1 Transit Studyis necessary before fundingsources and final plans can be putin place.

Task force members will look atthe potential “next steps” for tran-sit in the Route 1 corridor. In thenear-term, consideration will begiven to improve conditions fortransit operations and riders by

conducting necessary study andanalysis to implement BRT, pedes-trian facility and shelter assess-ment and developing a fundingstrategy to improve existing con-ditions with a focus on redevelop-ment to the corridor.

For the long-term, we will belooking to conduct land use analy-sis and develop a vision for eco-nomic development/redevelop-ment in the corridor and a feasi-bility analysis to determine poten-tial for extending metro or imple-menting light rail.

More federal funding may nowbe somewhat problematic.

I’m encouraged by the Route 1Study now in process and believethe task force is working seriouslyto relieve some of the continuingproblems of congestion and theneed for redevelopment and revi-talization of this important Route1 transportation corridor.

Route 1 Transit Study

FREE!Digital Edition of the Mount Vernon Gazette delivered to your e-mailbox. Send your name, mailing address and e-mail address to:[email protected] and tell us which paperor papers you’d like to receive. We’ll send the digital replicaof our print edition to your e-mail boxeach week.


SportsMount Vernon Gazette Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-224-3015 or [email protected]

Fort HuntCoaches Needed

The Fort Hunt Football andCheerleading Program is looking forcoaches for football, flag football andcheerleading. No experience necessary astraining will be provided.

Becoming a volunteer coach is an ex-cellent opportunity to give back to thecommunity, be a positive role model tomany young kids and do something forthe greater good.

If you are interested, contact TinaMcCammon, assistant commissioner [email protected].

Fort Hunt FlagFootball Program

The Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Associa-tion will field a flag football program forboys and girls ages 5 and 6 (as of Aug.1, 2011) this year. Registration is openuntil goals of 64 players and 10 on awaiting list are met (waiting list playersif not selected to teams will receive fullrefunds). Practices begin on Aug. 8 andwill run from 5-6 p.m. Regular seasongames will start Sept. 17 and run through

Oct. 8. Playoff games will be held Oct. 15and the championship game is Oct. 22.

Cost is $100 per player. Visit the FHYAAWebsite, fhyaa.org, to register.

American LegionBaseball PlayersWanted

The Montgomery College Rockville base-ball team is looking for American Legion orshowcase-quality players for the fall 2011and spring 2012 seasons. The RockvilleExpress of the Cal Ripken League plays theirhome games at MC Rockville. Contact coachRick Price at 240-447-6948 for more infor-mation.

SummerBaseball Camps

The StrikeZone Academy, an indoor base-ball training facility located in Alexandria, isoffering week-long summer baseball campsfor the weeks of Aug. 15 and Aug. 29. Campsrun from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Thetarget age group is from 7-11 years old. Ex-tended hours from 1-4 p.m. are available aswell. Cost is $160 per week for the morning

session and $160 per week for extendedhours. All camps are held indoors in a cli-mate-controlled facility, so parents have noneed to worry about security, excessive heat,bugs, or lack of cold water and restroom fa-cilities. Interested parents can register onlineat www.thestrikezoneacademy.com/clinics,via telephone at 703-823-0061, or stop by inperson at 826 South Pickett Street, near theintersections of South Pickett and South VanDorn Streets.

Sports UpdatesOn Twitter

Follow sports editor Jon Roetman onTwitter at @jonroetman for sports updatesaround Northern Virginia and MontgomeryCounty, Md.

Registration OpenFor Senior Olympics

Registration is open for the 2011 North-ern Virginia Senior Olympics, which willtake place Sept. 17-28. Participants can reg-ister online by going to nvso.us.

More than 25 indoor and outdoor eventsfrom track and field to scrabble and chessare offered. Senior adults 50 years of age

and older, who live in a sponsoring ju-risdiction, are eligible to participate. Reg-istration information is available at lo-cal senior centers, community centers,senior residences or by calling 703-228-4721. Details and registration forms arealso available online at www.nvso.us.Deadline to register is Sept. 1. The fee is$10 plus $1 per event. There are addi-tional charges for golf, miniature golf,bowling and fencing.

Seniors may compete in more than oneevent. Each event is divided into age cat-egories and some by gender. Winners willbe awarded gold, silver and bronze med-als after each event. The events will takeplace at various locations throughoutNorthern Virginia.

New events in 2011 are badminton,volleyball, cycling and a 1,600-meter runhas been added to the track events.Events are track and field, swimming,diving, tennis, table tennis, golf, minia-ture golf, 10-pin bowling, Wii bowling,pickleball, racquetball, scrabble, bocce,cribbage, fencing, chess, duplicate bridge,backgammon, bunco, horseshoes, men’s3-on-3 basketball, men’s and women’sbasketball free throw, team line dancing,yo-yo tricks, eight-ball pool, Frisbeethrow and softball hit and throw.

Sports Briefs

By Jon Roetman

The Gazette

In his first season as a head coach,Barry Wells helped guide the MountVernon football program from an 0-10 record in 2009 to a second-place

finish in the National District and a playoffberth during the 2010 campaign.

Entering his second season with the Ma-jors, Wells has a better understanding ofwhat to expect from certain aspects of hisjob. What he doesn’t know is whether he’llhave the athletes to continue improving.

One year after posting a doughnut in thewin column, Mount Vernon finished the2010 regular season with a 5-5 record, in-cluding a 5-2 district mark, before losing toSouth Lakes, 39-0, in the regional playoffs.However, the graduation of key players suchas linebacker Julien Randolph, runningback Emmanuel Tackie and lineman LoganBeougher, and a drop in offseason commit-ment has Wells uncertain of what to expectwith two-a-day practices starting on Aug.8. Wells said the lack of offseason work willlikely “haunt” the Majors at some pointduring the season, but he hopes the teamcan find a way to be resilient.

“The excitement is certainly the same. I’meager to get back at it,” Wells said, compar-ing how he feels now to how he felt priorto his first season as a head coach. “I’m fa-miliar with, at least, how things will unfoldin the grand scheme of things: the program,the coaches and getting things up off theground. I am not as sure about the talentbase this year as I was last year. … Almostsight unseen, I said .500 or bust [last sea-son]. This year, what I’m telling the under-classmen is the bar’s been set. Julien and

Emmanuel and Logan and all those guysbought into the program last year [and]they worked their butts off. They were 0-10 as juniors, 5-5 as seniors, 5-2 in the dis-trict [and earned a] playoff berth. They setthe bar, and with that comes the expecta-tions of everyone around us. …

“It remains to be seen if we’re going toget the kind of commitment and produc-tion from this next crew that we need tocontinue the success pattern.”

Wells mentioned two ways in which he

wants to alter his coaching approach. The firstis making sure practice tempo translates togame tempo, and the second is being relent-less in developing a winning attitude.

“Quite frankly,” Wells said, “when we gotto the playoffs, I don’t feel like the kids feltlike they were prepared to go and giveSouth Lakes a run for their money.”

There have also been changes to thecoaching staff. Wells will call plays on of-fense for a second straight year, but he willalso coach the quarterbacks in an attemptto help improve production from the posi-tion. Rising junior Robert Nelson, who splitplaying time last season, or rising sopho-more Brendon Maturey will likely land thestarting job.

“They bring different things to the table,”Wells said. “Robert is athletic, he’s got a livearm, but Brendon is the technician: verysmart, understands his role as a quarter-back [and] understands defensiveschemes.”

Lloyd Jackson moves from assistant todefensive coordinator, taking over for theretired Walter DeHoust. Blair Maginnis willcoach the offensive and defensive lines,Jarvis Davis will be the assistant defensivecoordinator and Jamie Langley will be theassistant offensive coordinator. JamaarHicks will be the head coach of the fresh-man team and Herbert Holmes will be as-sistant head coach of the freshman team.

The Majors will scrimmage Freedom Highon Aug. 18 and La Plata on Aug. 25 beforeopening the season at West Potomac onSept. 1.

Rising junior Robert Nelson, seen last season, will compete for thestarting quarterback position in 2011.

Pho

to

by C

raig Sterbutzel/T

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azette

Second Season One of Uncertainty for MV’s WellsMajors head coachconcerned aboutlack of offseasoncommitment.


Tennis Club in McLean. “It doesn’t matterif you’re 5 or a 55-year-old.”

Kratzke, a former player at William &Mary College, has been a full-time tennisinstructor throughout Northern Virginia forthe past 12 years. At Highlands, he over-sees a tennis program of which 175 youthand 100 adults are participants.

“People enjoy competing and that side ofit, and others love learning something newand adding to their skill set,” he said, ofthe different mindsets his students have inregards to the sport.

He said he does not have one set teach-ing formula for all of his players or students,but instead tries to help individuals learnstrategies and playing techniques bestsuited for their temperament, skill level, andgoals in the sport.

“Having it being fun and fast-paced iswhat gets people interested in tennis,” saidKratzke.

Most seasoned tennis professionals orteachers believe it is imperative that indi-viduals desiring to take up the game takelessons from a tennis professional at a localclub or tennis academy.

“I would highly recommend taking a fewlessons,” said Doug Kegerreis, president ofChantilly International Tennis (CIT), a ten-nis management service that helps createand provide tennis programs for clubs,youth organizations, and neighborhood as-sociations.

Kegerreis, a physical education teacher atOakton Elementary School in FairfaxCounty and the head tennis coach, alongwith his wife Karen, of both the ChantillyHigh boys’ and girls’ spring season teams,gives a tennis lesson through a media venueon YouTube. Individuals, after getting anidea for his teaching methods upon view-ing the YouTube program, will sometimescall Kegerreis for personal tennis instruc-tion.

“Tennis is a skilled sport but can be verydifficult if you don’t have guidance,” saidKegerreis, who said the primary goal of CITis to give students a desire to play the sportthroughout their lives. “If you go out andspend most of your time chasing balls two

courts over, it’s frustrating. I feel like youneed some basic guidance. For some peoplethat’s all they need and want. They don’twant to be tournament players.”

He said one of the first elements heteaches newcomers to the sport, bothyounger and older students, is to learn howto successfully volley or rally — hitting thetennis ball back and forth over the net witha partner. He said a key to good rallyingback and forth is for players to execute easy,fluent swings and not try to hit the ball toohard.

“I don’t care how much power you have,you have to learn to control your swingspeed,” said Kegerreis, who believes con-sistent seven or eight hit rallies can developgood physical workouts for players.

He recommends that someone new to thesport purchase a mass merchandise tennisracquet at a place such as Wal-Mart for be-tween $19 and $40. A more experiencedplayer, or someone who plays 10 or moretimes a year, should look for performancerackets which, at close-out sales, can be asinexpensive as between $70 and $90.

GLENN ADAMS, the boys’ tennis coachat Madison High for the past 10 years, triesto create in all of his team members —whether they are standout players on theWarhawks’ squad or backup team members— a will to play tennis for years to come.

A young girl works on a shot duringtennis at the Hank Harris Academy.

Photos courtesy of Hank Harris Academy

Youngsters at the Hank Harristennis camp gather for a grouppicture on one of the tenniscourts at Episcopal High School.

By Rich Sanders

The Gazette

Like the perfect service point thatproduces an ace and a match vic-tory, the sport of tennis, while itsoverall popularity over the years

has gone through its highs and lows in theUnited States, is an absolute winner whenit comes to its fitness and enjoyment ben-efits.

For those, from youngsters to youngadults to the middle-aged and beyond, look-ing to improve their physical conditioningas well as taking up a fulfilling sport, recre-ation or competitive tennis is almost a per-fect solution. The enjoyment of successfullyvolleying the ball back and forth with apartner is a sort of athletic exhilaration, aninstant gratification that if learned toachieve consistently can grow towards pas-sion and perhaps a deep love for the sport.

“I think one of the things that drawspeople to tennis is that one can get a realgood workout in an hour playing a game ofsingles with one other person,” said HankHarris, director of the Hank Harris TennisAcademy, a summer program for youngstersages 7 to 18 at Episcopal High School inAlexandria, where Harris serves as the headboys’ tennis coach during the school year.“It’s a sport that’s all you — you can out-think your opponent [in a match] or [sim-ply] work on your game.”

Harris, a former University of Virginiamen’s tennis standout who went on to coachformer women’s professional star PamShriver, said the fitness benefits of the gameare a natural byproduct of tennis if one istaught how to play the game the right way.

Harris explained that a good tennis playeris constantly moving his or her feet andbody during a volley, anticipating where anopponent might hit the ball, getting intoposition to put forth a fluent swing on theball, and always being prepared to moveforward or backward, left or right in readi-ness to how an opponent might react andwhere the ball might be headed. For begin-ners, recreation players, or competitiveplayers, the sound principle of constantlybeing in position to move and go after theball is a key principle for any tennis player.

“If you’re playing good tennis, you’re al-ways moving,” said Harris. “At no pointshould you not be moving. It’s a game ofmovement, stopping and starting.”

PEOPLE LOVE TENNIS for the physicalconditioning benefits, the social aspect ofgoing out and hitting the ball around witha friend, the whole idea of improving one’sgame, and the opportunity of competingagainst another person in a match.

“Tennis keeps you moving and engagedand having a good time,” said John Kratzke,tennis director of the Highlands Swim and

He said he often, when talking to prospec-tive Madison players coming out of juniorhigh schools, notices a lack of true love forthe sport. Adams believes youngsters whoare taught tennis at a young age develop alifetime love for the sport. For those young-sters who take it up during, say, their teenyears, there is not that immediate passion.

“It just doesn’t develop on its own or spon-taneously,” said Adams, of rising ninth grad-ers developing a bond with tennis. “When Italk to rising freshmen from [Madisonfeeder schools] Thoreau or Kilmer I don’tsense tennis has become a passion in theirlives. They have to be afforded a few les-sons to develop a passion.”

Adams keeps a large Madison team ros-ter during the spring season in hopes thathis players will catch tennis fever for life.The benefits, he said, are so rewarding. Arunner/jogger of 40 years, Adams said hemuch prefers the fitness routine of tennisto that of running, which to him is quitegrueling.

“Tennis is a great cardio activity,” saidAdams. “In tennis you get to exercise with-out the pain and torture of running. I al-ways tell the guys to stick with the sportthrough the [beginner] frustration level.

“Tennis only requires one hour for a goodworkout for a singles game and, if you’replaying doubles, and hour-and-a-half,” hesaid. “You can play a tennis game during awork break or in the middle of a work day.”

Adams said the first 6 months of playingtennis could be frustrating as one learnshow to consistently hit the ball over the net.

“But get that first six months in and you’lldefinitely start to land those shots, whetherthey are lucky shots or not,” he said, with alaugh.

Harris, the Alexandria area tennis pro, istrying to spread the word about the sporthe loves in Alexandria. He had two daugh-ters who were a part of the T.C. WilliamsHigh girls’ tennis team this past spring.While thrilled to have had his daughters apart of the Titans’ program, he and othersare disappointed that the school, despitemassive upgrades and renovations to thecampus in recent years, did not includeoutdoor tennis courts on the campus. As aresult, the Titans play their home matchesat Wakefield Park in Arlington or elsewhere.

Harris, at his summer camps and over thecourse of the year when he is teaching andworking with young people and adults inthe sport, makes it a priority to emphasizethat first and foremost, tennis should be afun endeavor.

“If it isn’t fun, you shouldn’t play,” saidHarris. “We try to make it fun. You try to beencouraging to kids whether they makecontact with the ball or not. You can’t bedisappointed with them but positive.”

Harris, like his colleagues, stresses lessonsfor newcomers to tennis. Some early suc-cess can breed confidence and the sky isthe limit from there.

“Like anything in life, if you can do some-thing on a pretty good level it improves yourself confidence,” he said. “And the moresteady and consistent you get, the moreexercise you get playing.”

Health & Fitness

Looking for Improved Fitness — How About Tennis?Sport combines fun,good exercise, andsocial interaction.


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