Reston attacks against Muslims and mosques.connection.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/... ·...

Reston Connection ❖ February 1-7, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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February 1-17, 2017 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com

WellbeingWellbeingWellbeingPage 6

Left, PFC Post and (right) PFC Gibsonfrom the Fairfax County Police Depart-

ment visit the Al Fatih Academy in Reston,as a show of support following recent

attacks against Muslims and mosques.RestonReston

Protest RalliesHeld at Dulles

News, Page 8

Protest RalliesHeld at Dulles

News, Page 8Lake House ReviewGets More ExpensiveNews, Page 3

RA Divided On Lake AnneDock RevitalizationNews, Page 3

Lake House ReviewGets More ExpensiveNews, Page 3

RA Divided On Lake AnneDock RevitalizationNews, Page 3

2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 1-7, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Over-40 Softball League. AFairfax-based league is looking forenough players to form another team.Players must be at last 40 years of ageto be eligible. All games are doublehead-ers - played on Sundays at Bready Parkin Herndon between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.If interested, email [email protected] more information.

“Stuff the Bus” — Help forThose Facing Food Insecurity

As the holiday decorations comedown and the cold winter months settlein, many people continue to go hungryin our community. For many local, non-profit food pantries, this is the time ofyear where donations drop to one of thelowest points. To help address this need,Fairfax County is promoting its annual“Stuff the Bus: Helping Fairfax Families”program at 14 locations. This collabora-tive program, now in its seventh year, isa partnership among Fairfax CountyGovernment, local grocery stores andnonprofits to restock the shelves.

Each week a Fastran bus staffed byMV Transportation personnel will parkat a different location and collect fooddonations. The campaign started onSaturday, Jan. 14, 2017 and will runeach weekend through Monday, Feb.20, 2017. All donation hours are from9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please visit ourwebsite for more information.

THROUGH FRIDAY/FEB. 24Diva Central Dress Drive with

Reston Community Center.Monday, Jan. 23 through Friday, Feb.24, collection in building lobbies.

Reston Community Center’s missionfor the annual Diva Central DressDrive is to promote confidence and

self-esteem by providing high schoolstudents a free prom dress and otheraccessories. Donate new or lightlyused formal dresses, shoes, jewelry,handbags & accessories,collected in boxes located in buildinglobbies. restontowncenter.com

THROUGH FRIDAY/FEB. 24Photographers Invited to Exhibit

in “RPS Clicks @ USGS” The Reston Photographic Society, a

special-interest group of the Leagueof Reston Artists, seeksphotographers to enter their work inthe “RPS Clicks @ USGS” exhibit.Entry forms must be completedonline by February 24 and worksdropped off on March 1. The exhibitand entry acceptance will be at theUS Geological Survey, NationalGallery, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.,Reston, VA 20191. Visit the LRAwebsite atwww.leagueofrestonartists.org toenter works in the exhibit and formore information on this and otherevents.

FEBRUARYFree public service seminars — on

Decluttering (Feb. 2, McLean HighSchool, 1633 Davidson Rd., McLean),Aging in Place (Feb. 8, Falls ChurchH.S., 7521 Jaguar Trail, FallsChurch), Downsizing (Feb. 14,Marshall H.S. 7731 Leesburg Pk.,Falls Church), & RetirementCommunities (Feb. 22, Madison H.S.,2500 James Madison Dr., Vienna).For more information and seminarregistration go toRetireeRealEstate.org, or call 703-772-3033.

Bulletin Board

To have community events listed in the Connection, send toconnectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/ by noon on Friday.


NewsReston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Fallon Forbush

The Connection

The Reston Association needs toreplace its aging dock at LakeAnne Village Center, but its

Board of Directors were divided on howto move forward with the work duringits last meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26.

This is because some members of theboard and community members are ad-vocating for the RA to approve additionsto the dock’s original design because theyfeel the dock and lake are underutilized.

“We’re really here for you to considerand approve adding our request for us-ability improvements as part of the ini-tial requirements for the dock replace-ment project,” Rick Thompson, residentand president of the Lake Anne at RestonCondominium Association (LARCA), saidduring the meeting.

He is also the husband of RA BoardSecretary and At-Large Director Eve Th-ompson. Together, they own the LakeAnne Coffee House and Wine Bar locatedin the Lake Anne Village Center.

As reported in the Connection lastweek, Rick Thompson’s condominiumassociation worked with the FairfaxCounty Office of Revitalization to cre-ate designs that would improve lakeaccess, including adding dock fingersthat extend from the main dock so more

boats can access the plaza; water-levelsteps to facilitate canoe and kayak dock-ing, which would also help bring the dockinto compliance with federal Americanwith Disabilities Act requirements; andfloating extensions of the dock for seatingand tables.

“There is no funding appropriated to thisproject at this time,” said Bridget Hill,spokesperson for the Fairfax County Officeof Revitalization.

THE ISSUE at hand is that no one knowshow much these improvements would costand no one wants to pay for them. Propo-nents for the dock’s revitalization are usingthe dock’s required maintenance to makethe additions happen simultaneously.

“But a lot of these are quick fixes and alot of these, I think, are low-cost solutionsor can be pulled into what is happeningnow, such as this dock replacement … sothis may be the right time to move forwardwith some of these short-term and longer-term recommendations,” Hill said.

The dock is not replaced often. In fact, ithas never been replaced throughoutReston’s history and it is high on RA’s list offacilities that need maintenance. The dockwas approved for replacement by the RABoard in November 2015.

“From our perspective, this is essentiallya one-time opportunity … and it’s some-thing that we would like to take advantage

of,” Thompson said.For now, the RA has only approved

$422,300 for an in-kind replacement of thedock. However, the in-kind replacement willalso have improved structural stability thatcould accommodate future additions, ac-cording to Garrett Skinner, the RA’s newdirector of capital improvement planningand projects.

This means that the new dock could ac-commodate future enhancements or im-provements like the ones that LARCA andcommunity members are requesting.

“You would not necessarily have to redoanything if you so choose to add additionalfeatures [later],” Skinner said.

THE DESIGN of the in-kind replacementof the dock is just over 50 percent completeand should be complete within the nextmonth.

Skinner also plans to provide cost esti-mates for the board to review that wouldalso include requested improvements tocompare the price difference between mak-ing improvements in tandem with the dock’sreplacement or just replacing it like-for-likeand pushing the decision to improve later.

“The bulk of the expense … is with thedirect replacement of the dock as is,” Skin-ner said. “The additional features … willhave a cost, but those will be add-on coststo what is already there.”

Some of the board members voiced strong

opposition to spending any furthermoney.

“This board has way too much on thetable already,” said At-Large Board Di-rector Ray Wedell. “This Lake Anneproject is something for the new boardto deal with next year.”

Board Director Lucinda Shannon, whorepresents the Hunter Woods/DogwoodDistrict, also voiced concern for addinganother capital project in the midst ofdealing with the Lake House indepen-dent review and that project’s associatedcost overruns.

“We’ve had several capital projects thatwe’ve started, they’ve been put on holdbecause we’ve had questions about ourprocess, about our transparency andabout how we’re accomplishing things.How can we start another major capitalproject when we already have these ques-tions that we’ve committed to the publicand the members of the association whopay the dues … to find the answers andcreate a better process before we startanything else?” Shannon said.

She also told director Eve Thompsonthat she had a conflict of interest thatshe failed to disclose by not announcingat the meeting that she and her husbandown their business near the dock.

For now, the board removed the projectfrom consideration and did not make anymotions to discuss further.

By Fallon Forbush

The Connection

The Reston Association Board ofDirectors hired StoneTurnGroup, LLC to independentlyreview the processes it used to

purchase and renovate the Lake Houseproperty. The decision was made in execu-tive session during the board’s regular meet-ing on Thursday, Jan. 26.

“We were successful in securing a con-tract … from StoneTurn,” Board Vice Presi-dent and At-Large Director Michael Sanio,said during the public portion of the meet-ing.

The general terms of the agreement givea deadline of Feb. 28 for the review to becompleted and published, according toSanio.

“There are budget implications on that,”he said.

It could cost the RA up to $45,000 forthe work to be done in time.

The cost of the review has increased sig-nificantly, since the first company selectedto do the work would have only chargedthe RA $1.

“It is most unfortunate that we weren’table to get to an agreement on the initialproposal,” Sanio said.

An RA committee that was tasked withscreening companies for the work first se-

lected MediaWorld Ventures, LLC in Sep-tember 2016. However, Sridhar Ganesan,the company’s CEO and president of theReston Citizens Association, withdrew hiscompany’s proposal to perform the review

citing financial risk and restrictive contractlanguage, as reported in the Connection inDecember 2016 and January 2017.

After four months’ worth of negotiationsfell through, the RA board immediately be-gan negotiating with StoneTurn, which waspreviously screened by the special commit-tee.

Now the board needs to decide where thefunding for this additional expense will beallocated from, as it was not included inthe end-of-year budget negotiations whenthe RA expected it would only be spending$1 on the project, according to Sanio.

The Lake House property acquisition andrenovation went over budget and hasyielded revenue shortfalls ever since it waspurchased in July 2015 for $2.6 million.

One third of eligible RA voters cast bal-lots, with 53 percent of those in favor ofauthorization for RA Board of Directors toborrow $2.65 million to purchase the prop-erty, formerly known as the Reston VisitorsCenter. During the month-long referendum,dozens of people on both sides of the de-bate held a robust dialogue on the meritsof purchasing the property.

At the time, many opponents objected tothe cost of the building and the value ofthe purchase. The assessed value was abouthalf the purchase price.

Price tag for independent review goes from $1 to up to $45K.

Lake House Review ets More Expensive

Screengrab from YouTube

Reston Association Board of Directors Vice President Michael Sanioexplains to the public that the contract will have budget implicationsand the board will have to allocate up to $45,000 for the work to bedone by Feb. 28, six months after failed negotiations began withMediaWorld Ventures, LLC.

RA Divided On Lake Anne Dock Revitalization


Opinion

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Reston

There is so much going on this week:

Locally, the effects of a travel banat odds with American valuesplayed out at Dulles International

Airport, but stimulated a heartening response,with volunteer attorneys offering help, local,state and federal elected officials demandingaccountability and peaceful demonstrators pro-testing the un-American assault ontravel from particular Muslim-majoritycountries.

“I was just amazed at the number ofpeople, the energy, the spirit, the spontaneity,”said Del. Marcus Simon, who used FaceBookLive to share the scene over several days. “Insome ways, it was heartening, to see so manyNorthern Virginians reacting.”

See reporter Tim Peterson’s story in this pa-per.

CROSSOVER is Feb. 7; that’s when only billsthat have passed either the House of Delegatesor the Virginia Senate can move forward.

As this date approaches, the General Assem-bly has a serious transparency issue, as it con-tinues to kill most proposed legislation withunrecorded voice votes in subcommittee, withno accountability or record of how membersvoted.

This was raised to new heights earlier thisweek, when a House of Delegates subcommit-tee killed proposed constitutional amendmentsincluding non-partisan redistricting and restor-ing voting rights of felons, along with morethan 20 proposed amendments, in a singlevote.

John Horejsi of Vienna, who heads the orga-nization Social Action Linking Together, notesthat his organization is unable to track what

happens to legislation they support. This head-line, which ran last week onwww.roanoke.com, says it all: “Bill to requirerecorded votes dies on an unrecorded vote,again.”

State Sen. Creigh Deeds continues importantwork on mental health reform, citing threepriorities this year, requiring most of Commu-

nity Services Boards around the stateto provide same-day service and cer-tain outpatient services; to assess andprovide care for inmates who have

mental health needs; and long-term support-ive housing to help avoid repeated mentalhealth crises.

About 200,000 people in Virginia have hadtheir motor vehicle licenses suspended for alegal infraction that has nothing to do with adriving offense. And 650,000 people in Virginiahave a suspended license for failing to paycourt costs. This is an obstacle to holding a joband being able to meet other obligations, andlegislation to stop this counter-productive prac-tice is still alive in the Virginia Senate.

The sale of high-proof grain alcohol in Vir-ginia Alcoholic Beverage Control stores passedthe House of Delegates earlier in the session,and is just foolish.

EFFORTS by state Sen. Adam P. Ebbin andothers, supporting repeal of the Virginia con-stitutional amendment approved by voters in2006 forbidding gay marriage should move for-ward. The 2006 amendment is no longer validbecause the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 le-galized same-sex marriage.

State Sen. Chap Petersen introduced adoomed bill to ban contributions from publicutilities. “Monopolies like Dominion or Appa-

lachian Power have an undue influence on thepolitical process. That leads to legislationwhich has a direct cost to Virginia consumers,both residents and small businesses,” Petersensaid.

It looks like the felony threshold will increaseto $500 from $200, an important distinctionchampioned by Petersen and state Sen. ScottSurovell.

While the constitutional amendment to ad-dress voting rights for felons who have servedtheir sentences died in the above action, Gov.Terry McAuliffe should be commended for re-storing the civic rights of more than 128,000Virginians, and his plans to restore rights forany remaining Virginia citizens who lost theirrights. This has been a laborious and worthyprocess, adapted as needed to meet legal chal-lenges and court rulings.

— Mary Kimm,

[email protected]

Submit Photos toPet Connection

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly specialedition, will publish the last week of February,and photos and stories of your pets with youand your family should be submitted by Feb.15.

Please tell us a little bit about your creature,identify everyone in the photo, give a briefdescription what is happening in the photo,and include address and phone number (wewill not publish your address or phone num-ber, just your town name).

Email [email protected] or submitonline at www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.

For advertising information, [email protected] or call 703-778-9431.

Demonstrations at Dulles in reaction totravel ban; fast moving General Assemblylacks transparency; other key issues.

So Much Happening, Don’t Blink

Editorial

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

The 2017 session of theGeneral Assembly thatgot underway on Jan. 11

is barreling ahead towards its mid-point of Feb. 7. At that midpoint,referred to as “crossover,” theHouse of Delegates and the StateSenate must have completed ac-tion on bills that were introducedin their own chamber and start towork on bills from the other cham-ber. In order for a bill to becomelaw it must pass both houses ex-actly alike before being sent to theGovernor for signature. Alreadyabout half of the bills that wereintroduced will have been de-feated. See how your favorite billis faring by going to http://lis.virginia.gov/lis.htm. If the billyou felt most important to pass has

been defeated,there really is nohope that it can berevived unlessthere was a com-

panion bill that survived the otherhouse of the legislature. For billsyou really oppose that passed theirhouse of introduction, it is time toget to work lobbying members ofthe other house. Keep in mind thatall the work of the Assembly forthis annual session will be finishedby about Feb. 24.

Some generalizations that canbe made about the session to date,subject to shifting winds in thenext few weeks, follow. There is acommitment to giving state em-ployees a raise especially for StatePolice where turnover has become

excessive with the low rate of pay.Providing the state share of fund-ing for teachers who are localemployees remains in doubt ex-cept that additional funding toschools is likely in a small amount.Funding for expanded mentalhealth services that the Governorand a legislative study group rec-ommended is likely. The need inthis area is very serious.

The Republican majority thathas a history of supporting lessgovernment but obtrusive lawsinto people’s private lives defeatedan anti-LGBT bill much like theone that passed in North Carolina.The bill they passed last year wasvetoed by the Governor. There arebound to be more restrictive lawson women’s reproductive deci-

sions passed, but GovernorMcAuliffe has pledged to veto suchbills.

The appetite to expand access toguns seems insatiable. Numerousbills to expand access to concealedweapons and the defeat of billsthat promote gun safety continuesunabated. My bill to expand crimi-nal background checks for all gunpurchases was defeated in sub-committee.

Redrawing legislative districtboundaries after the next federalcensus is of increasing concern tocitizens who want voters pickingtheir representatives not legisla-tors picking their voters with mostelections consisting of uncontested

At the Half 2017Commentary

See Plum, Page 9


Kyle Knight Ins Agcy IncKyle Knight, Agent11736 Bowman Green DriveReston, VA 20190

ACROSS FROM RESTON TOWN CENTERWWW.KYLEKNIGHT.ORG703-435-2300

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lost (adj): 1. unable to find the way.2. not appreciated or understood.

3. no longer owned or known

HelpingAnimals FindTheir WaySince 2001

Adopt/Donate/Volunteer

Opinion

By John Lovaas

Reston Impact Producer/Host

The aftermath of the 2016Presidential Election sentshockwaves around the na-tion and through our com-

munity. The ferment from turmoil aroundthe White House seems especially strongin Reston.

During the transition while some werestill pulling up Clinton-Kaine yard signs, an earlyTrump uproar centered on the President-elect’s eth-ics or lack thereof. Our first corporate President re-fused to separate himself from his vast business en-terprises. Whoa, that is totally inappropriate! Youmust divest all, announced the Director of the lowprofile Office of Government Ethics. This brave bu-reaucrat who stood and spoke this obvious truth tothe then President-elect and most-powerful-man-in-the-world-to-be is South Lakes graduate WalterSchaub.

The day after the new president’s inauguration onJan. 20, the largest throng of people I ever saw de-scended on the Capitol area to protest Mr. Trump’sinauguration. The “Women’s March answers the In-auguration” headlined the Washington Post the nextday. We attended the March and saw with our owneyes thousands of Restonians boarding the Silver Linetrains to join a protest as large (or larger?) than theinauguration itself. Enough to drive a narcissist overthe edge.

Why the huge reaction to Trump, especially amongwomen? A combination of fear and anger! Candi-date Trump’s demeaning treatment of women, in-cluding condoning sexual assault in a tape record-ing revealed late in the campaign seared the memo-ries of women everywhere. His Party’s threat to dis-appear the ACA and Planned Parenthood which pro-vide vital health services to women fueled the fire.We could feel the emotion in the Marchers, but itwas strongest among the women.

Pundits and others were impressed by the Marchand its intensity, but figured it was just that, a March.Wrong again! Since the March, millions have par-ticipated in protest actions around the country, in-

deed around the world. The new regimedaily feeds the fear and anger. Trumpcabinet nominees daily create new out-rage among women and us men folks.To name a few: The Secretary of Statenominee is Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon-Mobil and close pal of Vladimir Putin,the Russian who oversaw interference in

our elections and has an oil drilling deal with Exxonand rumored financial links to the Trump clan. BetsyDeVos, nominee for Education Secretary dreams ofdisappearing public education, replacing it with aprivate, money-making system. Senator Jeff Sessionsfor Attorney General has a clock that can turn backthe hands of time to days before that pesky VotingRights Act and Civil Rights stuff. Climate changedenier Scott Pruit of Oklahoma is to dismantle theEnvironment Protection Agency and another denier,Rick Perry of Texas, will do the same at Energy.

Last Friday Trump pro-claimed bans on Muslims and refugees coming intothe United States, fueling even more outrage fromthe Pope and the entire planet.

Here in Reston, resistance to Trump started with ameeting of perhaps 20 at the Montmartre Café atLake Anne organized by Kathy Robinson, DonnaShaffer and others in November. It has grown andmorphed into a larger “Herndon-Reston Indivisible”group numbering 300 or more. And, Indivisible lo-cals are springing up all over. (Google it to learnmore.) And, they are organizing actions. Everyoneis writing letters and emails, or calling Senators andCongressmen and the White House (comments lineshut down due to the volume!) They organize sit-insat congressional offices, and now with the Muslimban, at airports. More each day!

Fran and I keep a list of phone numbers of Demo-crats and more moderate Republicans on the fridgeby our phone, and we make calls every day. Thenext Herndon-Reston Indivisible general meetingis Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Sunset Hills MontessoriSchool, 11180 Ridge Heights Rd. in Reston. Jointhe Resistance.

Fear, Anger MakeNational Politics Local

Independent Progressive

To the Editor:With the furor over paid park-

ing at RTC it would be nice for RTCto support retailers by providingfree bike parking adjacent to re-tail outlets for people who bike.Currently RTC does not even al-low the Bike Lane, with all of itscycling customers, to install bikeracks.

RTC is falling behind the timesin this area and retailers are los-ing out financially. Studies showthat cyclists are an active customerbase bringing in more revenue asa group than auto drivers—con-verting one car parking space to

bike parking accommodates tentimes more customers.

Arlington has hundreds of bikeracks installed and requires newdevelopment to provide sufficientbike parking. Their goal is to al-low people who bike, to parkquickly, in well-lit locations, adja-cent to their destination. DC hasinstalled more than 1,000 outdoorbike racks across the city and isconstantly adding more. EvenTysons Mall has bike parking ad-jacent to Gordon Biersch, Barnesand Noble, Macy’s, LL Bean, Cali-fornia Pizza Kitchen, and Panera.(And their car parking is still free.)

RTC should dramatically in-crease accessibility for existingcustomers and attract new oneswith bike parking adjacent to re-tail outlets. These amenities en-courage people who bike to stop,stay, and spend. If RTC

goes bike-friendly, everybodywins: people who bike benefit fromessential services while businessesgain a loyal, customer base. A rap-idly expanding customer base, con-sidering the growing number ofmillennials without cars and otherpeople who bike in Reston.

Dan KoleReston

Welcome Bikes to Town CenterLetters to the Editor


By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

One of the most heart-wrench-ing decisions that DeniseSchossler, her two siblingsand her 95-year-old mother

had to make was whether or not to moveher into an assisted living facility, leavingthe home where she’s lived since 1954.Physical limitations and a need for socialinteraction drove the decision to relocateto the newly opened Kensington FallsChurch.

“My mother has managed to stay in herhome all this time with the help of an aidewho comes every day, but she realized thatit just couldn’t continue. One of the mainthings is the isolation and the loneliness,”said Schossler. “She needs more social in-teraction than she gets alone in her home.She’s someone who’s had an active sociallife, but now it’s just television and books.”

A dearth of social interaction is one ofthe factors that can lead seniors into assistedliving facilities. In fact, a recent study pub-lished in the Journal of Gerontology showsthat seniors living in assisted living facili-ties have fewer unmet needs such as com-panionship, help with cooking, bathing anddoing laundry than those who live indepen-dently. However, the survey of more than4,000 people over the age of 65 shows thateven in such retirement communities,unmet needs still exist. To address this chal-lenge, local gerontology experts say thatfamilies must determine whether a lovedone’s needs meet the criteria for assistedliving candidacy and once placed, work toensure that those needs are being met.

“In counseling families making this diffi-cult decision, I focus on safety factors forthe patient and other family members,” saidMaureen Moriarty, D.N.P., assistant profes-sor of nursing at Marymount University inArlington. “Often cognitive impairment isthe reason for assisted living. Perhapsmemory is affected so the patient can nolonger safely drive or remember the stepsin carrying out activities of daily living such

as cooking, bathing or management offinances.”

In making this decision, an evaluationby an objective gerontology expert canbe necessary, says Patrice Winter, DPT,assistant professor at George Mason Uni-versity in the Department of Global andCommunity Health. “They come out andevaluate the house and the person aswell,” she said. “You have an objective,unemotional person instead of an adultchild going, ‘Mom you can’t live here any-more.’ and the mom saying, ‘Stay out ofmy business.’”

Such an evaluation will show that thereare times when a lifestyle adjustment is allthat is needed. “Sometimes they can offersimple solutions that can make hugechanges,” said Winter. “Could it be that theyneed their eyesight and hearing checked?Or the washing machine moved upstairs”so they can do laundry more frequently?

When seeking an evaluation, Winter rec-ommends local social service agencies suchas the Fairfax County Area Agency on Ag-ing. “The issue may not be cognitive, butthe need for a living environment with more

support may be triggered by physical limi-tations,” added Moriarty. “Perhaps a chronicdegenerative illness such as Parkinson’s Dis-ease has left the patient with physical careneeds beyond the scope of family members.”

Safety can become an issue when familymembers’ physical limitations restrict thequality of care they are able to offer. “Thisopens issues not only to patient safety butalso the family member may be frail or havetheir own physical limitations that limittheir capacity to assist someone who, forinstance, has balance loss,” said Moriarty.

“The key assessment as a clinician for me isthat the family no longer has the resourcesto care safely for this individual in a homeenvironment.”

“If there is any question at all, the personshould have a medical evaluation,” addedWinter. “There could be an imbalance in thesystem that could cause changes so a reallygood physical by a geriatric internist wouldbe paramount before any drastic actions aretaken.”

Once a senior has moved into an assistedliving facility, they often need someone toadvocate on their behalf. Regular visits andtelephone calls to both the family memberand the staff are necessary. “You need tomake sure you know what’s going on,” saidThompson, who recently moved her ownmother into an assisted living facility. “It’sOK to be a pest. I communicate with thestaff at my mother’s facility. She complainsto me about things that she won’t complainto the staff about so I have to complain onher behalf.”

Even in the best of facilities, a person’sneeds can be inadvertently overlooked,says Thompson, so a family member’spresence is necessary. “Walk around, payattention to how other residents seem,”she said. “Are they happy and engagedor are there signs of neglect?”

“Establish a relationship with thoseproviders who will be involved in the careof your family member,” added Moriarty.“Become part of the team by attendingregular team meetings. Make themaware of your loved one’s special needs.For example, if your family member al-ways had tea in the morning, request that

this continues.”Schossler says that her proximity to the

Kensington Falls Church will allow her tobe in regular contact with both her motherand the staff.

“My mother has grandchildren and great-grandchildren and we can visit her becausethe Kensington is just a few minutes awayfrom where I live,” she said. “My motherhas already made connections with threepeople who will be there, so she’s lookingforward to moving. We happened to findthe right fit at the right time.”

Local Resources❖ Alexandria Area Agency on Aginghttps://www.alexandriava.gov/Aging❖ Fairfax County Area Agency on Aginghttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/

olderadultservices/❖ Arlington Aging and Disability Services Divisionhttps://aging-disability.arlingtonva.us/❖ Kensington Falls Church Open HouseFeb. 1, 5 and 22, 4:30 to 7 p.m.700 West Broad St., Falls Church

To Move Or Not To MoveWellbeing

Denise Schossler's 95-year-old mother will move into the newly openedKensington Falls Church assisted living facility later this month.

Photos courtesy of Kensington at Falls Church

Local family movesmother into newlyopened KensingtonFalls Church.

"She needs more socialinteraction than she getsalone in her home. She’ssomeone who’s had anactive social life, but now it’sjust television and books."

— Denise Schossler

THROUGHOUT MARCH 2017Free Public Service Seminars. March 1, 8,

15, 21, 29, at 7 p.m. on Selling Your Home,Aging in Place, Downsizing, RetirementCommunities Seminars. Free public serviceseminars on “Selling Your Home” (March 1,McLean High School, 1633 Davidson Rd.,McLean), “Working With Builders” (March 8,Falls Church HS, 7521 Jaguar Trail, FallsChurch), “Financing Your Retirement” (March15, Marshall HS, 7731 Leesburg Pike, FallsChurch), “Tax & Estate Planning” (March 21,

Madison HS, 2500 James Madison Dr., Vienna),and “Decluttering & Organizing” (March 29,Oakton HS, 2900 Sutton Rd., Vienna). For moreinformation and seminar registration go toRetireeRealEstate.org, or call 703-772-3033.

ONGOINGAre You A Caregiver? Shepherd’s Center of

Oakton Vienna Caregivers’ SupportGroup takes place first & third Thursday ofeach month. Feb. 2nd and 16th, 2017 from 10

a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Join us at the UnitarianUniversalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF) -Program Building, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton,VA. For more info contact facilitator, Jack Tarr,703-821-6838 [email protected].

Volunteers Needed. PRS is looking forempathetic and caring volunteers to make phonecalls to older adults who may be feeling sociallyisolated. The commitment is one 3-hour shift perweek for one year. Located in Arlington. Ages 21& up. Intensive training provided. Learn more

and apply: https://prsinc.org/carering-volunteering/. Questions? [email protected].

The Northern Virginia Long Term CareOmbudsman Program needs volunteeradvocates for residents in nursing homes andassisted living facilities. Contact LisaCallahan at 703-324-5861, TTY 711 or [email protected]. Also visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ltcombudsman/.

Wellbeing Notes


bTo Highlightyour Faith

Community,Call Karen at703-917-6468

7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Sunday School: preschool - grade 2Music: grades 3 - 7

10:25 a.m. Sunday School Grades 3 to 6Music 4 years to 2nd grade

11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II5:00 p.m. Come Just as You Are Contemporary Service

Nursery care provided at 9:00 a.m. service

The Rev. John C. N. Hall, RectorThe Rev. Laura Cochran

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Sports

Junior Olivia Beckner won both the 1,000meters (2:55.67) and 1,600 meters(5:04.44) in meet record times while se-niors Timiebi Ogobri and Don’ta Whitely

had outstanding performances to lead the SouthLakes High School track teams to the Liberty Con-ference Championships Saturday, Jan. 28 at thePrince George’s Sports and Learning Complex inLandover, Md.

It’s the sixth consecutive conference title for thegirls’ team and the ninth for the boys squad.

Beckner won and broke conference records in ev-ery race she competed in during the championships.Along with the 1,000 meters and 1,600, she also wonthe 3,200 meters on Day 1 of the championshipsJanuary 19.

Senior Devyn Jones won the 300 meters in 42.72and finished third in the 500 meters (1:20.52) andfifth in the triple jump (33-08.75). She won the 55meters hurdles in conference record time on the firstday of the championships and also finished secondin the long jump and sixth in the high jump that day.

Jones was part of a SLHS sweep of the 500 meterswhich was won by junior Aly Rayle (1:19.62), andfollowed by freshman Mary Gregory’s second placefinish of 1:19.69. Rayle and Gregory teamed withsophomores Sophie Halkett and Cara Hutson to winthe 4x400 meter relay in 4:09.53.

The Seahawks also won the top three spots in the1,000 meters with Beckner leading the way, followedby Halkett (3:05.81) and sophomore Jordan Ander-son (3:07.76).

Ogobri, who successfully defending his 55 meterstitle on Day 1, won the 300 meters in 36.54. Sopho-more Stevie Jones was third (37.19) and Whitley fin-ished fifth (37.43). Ogobri was also fifth in the triplejump (39-04.00) and teamed with Jones, sophomoreNicky Napolitano and junior Carson Frutchey forthird in 4x200 meter relay (1:35.34). Whitley wassecond in the triple jump (42-01.75), second in the500 meters (1:08.61), sixth in the high jump (5-08.00) and teamed with seniors Dimarcus Vilcheck

and juniors John Eggeman and Houston Nelson forthird in the 4x400 meter relay (3:38.21).

Senior Peter Sepulveda was third in the 1,600meters (4:36.57), followed by juniors Alex Loukili(4:37.35, 4th) and Sean Casey (4:38.76, 5th). Loukiliran a 2:40.55 for third in the 1,000 meters whileCasey finished fifth with a 2:46.85.

South Lakes will compete in the 6A North RegionIndoor Championship Wednesday, Feb. 15 at thePrince George’s Sports and Learning Complex inLandover, Md.

South Lakes Girls, Boys Win LibertyConference Championship

South Lakes runners Olivia Beckner, SophieHalkett, Jordan Anderson in a LibertyConference Championship 1000 metersrace, Jan. 28. Beckner won and brokeconference records in every race she com-peted in during the championships.

Both South Lakes High School girls and boys win Liberty Conference Indoor TrackChampionship on Jan. 28.

Pho

to

s co

ntributed


See Rallies, Page 11

By Tim Peterson

The Connection

Del. Marcus Simon (D-53)brought his two children, 13and 11, to Dulles Interna-tional Airport Jan. 28, not to

fly, but to witness and learn.Demonstrations sprang up at airports

around the United States over the weekend,following an Executive Order by PresidentDonald Trump that blocks travelers fromseven largely Muslim countries — Iraq, Iran,Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia —in the interests of more significant vettingand preventing would-be terrorists fromentering the country.

Simon’s wasn’t the only family in atten-dance. Many had brought their children tothe demonstration.

“You show them this is what you do, howyou protest, be patriotic,” Simon said,“when the government does something youdon’t agree with. You expose them to some-thing positive.”

THE BAN was announced Friday and offi-cials at airports began enforcing it immedi-ately. Travelers from the seven countries areblocked from entering the U.S. for 90 days,and new refugee admissions from the samenations blocked for 120 days. Syrian refu-gees are blocked indefinitely, according tothe ban.

Some individuals who hold valid visaswere impacted by the ban, and others with

legal status and green cards have been de-tained at airports. A federal judge in Brook-lyn passed a ruling over the weekend thatblocked part of Trump’s action, and JudgeLeonie M. Brinkema of the U.S. DistrictCourt for the Eastern District of Virginia is-sued a temporary restraining order Satur-day night specifically for those detained atDulles.

Brinkema ordered airport authorities togrant lawyers access to detainees who arepermanent legal residents, and that perma-nent residents not be removed for sevendays.

Simon was at Dulles Saturday and Sun-day, as well as state Sen. Jennifer Wexton(D-33), U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) and U.S.Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11), asking that

some of the more than 20 lawyers presentbe given that opportunity to meet with thedetainees.

The scenes were intense and a little cha-otic, Simon said, but the demonstratorswere nonviolent and positive.

“I was just amazed at the number ofpeople, the energy, the spirit, the sponta-neity,” said Simon. “In some ways, it washeartening, to see so many Northern Vir-ginians reacting to [the ban].”

Gov. Terry McAuliffe appeared and spokeat the airport Saturday. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine(D) visited the ongoing demonstration Mon-day afternoon.

Connolly was able to get one pair of de-tainees released Saturday evening with thehelp of immigration attorneys: Fairfax

County resident and green card holderAhmed Mohedian, 71, who had been heldwith his wife after returning from Iran. Hewas in that country receiving medical treat-ment, Connolly’s office said.

“America has always stood for being abeacon of hope,” Connolly said in a state-ment reacting to the ban. “Donald Trumpwould paint over Emma Lazarus’s words onthe Statue of Liberty. There are millions ofus willing to stand with immigrants com-ing into our country. There are millions ofus willing to insist that America’s doors re-main open to those fleeing injury, violenceor persecution. This order was not thoughtthrough and must be rescinded. We willfight this illegal Executive Order.”

Simon said airport security officials andborder control told them they weren’t al-lowed to say anything. One of the concerns,he said the legislators had heard, was thatindividuals arriving from the ban-affectedcountries were being met once they got offthe plane and asked to sign a document thatessentially forfeited their green card.

“If that’s what’s going to happen,” Simonsaid, “it shouldn’t be.”

If he had just landed in a foreign countryand was met by men with guns when get-ting off the plane, said Simon, “I’d sign any-thing that was stuck in front of me.” That’swhy it was important for the lawyers tomeet with these people and explain theirrights to them, he added.

Another issue Simon raised was the ap-parent lack of information and clarity onthe details of the ban — airport officialsseemed unprepared for enforcing it.

“The rank and file employees, they werestuck between a rock and a hard place, areally difficult position,” Simon said. Typi-cally with a ban like this, he continued,“you’d expect there to be some more coor-dination with agencies, planning, and in

Demonstrators,volunteer attorneysand elected officialswelcome travelers,extend help detainees.

Anti-Immigration Ban Rallies Held at Dulles

News

Photo contributed

Del. Simon’s (D-53) wasn’t the onlyfamily in attendance at anti-immi-gration ban rallies over the week-end at Dulles airport. Many hadbrought their children, includingthese constituents of Simon’s.

Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Police

Left, PFC Post and (right) PFCGibson from the Fairfax CountyPolice Department visit the AdamsCenter. “In response to recentattacks against Muslims and theirmosques,” FCPD wrote Monday ina post on Facebook, “Reston patrolofficers are reaching out to theMuslim faith community in orderto quell their fears and affirm thatwe are with them in this tragictime of need.”

Gov. Terry McAuliffe appeared and spoke at the airport Saturday. U.S. Sen.Tim Kaine (right) visited the ongoing demonstration Monday afternoon.

Photos contributed

Right, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) was able to get one pair of detain-ees released Saturday evening with the help of immigration attorneys:Fairfax County resident and green card holder Ahmed Mohedian, 71,who had been held with his wife after returning from Iran.


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SUNDAY/FEB. 5Super Bowl Showdown at American Tap

Room 10 - 3 p.m. 1811 Library Street, RestonTown Center. All You Can Eat Brunch, pre-gametailgate party with drink features and charityraffle for a prize from 4 - 7 p.m. Take-out WingPlatter specials also available. 703-834-0400americantaproom.com

SATURDAY/FEB. 6Father Daughter Dance. 6:30-9 p.m. at

Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave,Herndon. A moment father’s will treasure for therest of their lives and a special night fordaughters. This semi-formal event will includean evening of dancing, appetizers, drinks, aphoto of the couple, and a keepsake. Daughtermay be accompanied by an uncle, grandfather,or a male guardian. $50 per couple/$25 for eachadditional daughter. www.herndon-va.gov.

TUESDAY/FEB. 7IIIT Lecture “Islam and the Problem of

Slavery” 6:30 - 8 p.m. 500 Grove St., Suite200,Herndon.

Reston Lions Bland Competition. 7:30 p.m.Reston Community Center at Hunter Woods,2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Sixteen studentswith a variety of voice, piano and instrumentaltalents compete for awards on the local clublevel and for opportunities to advance toRegional, District and State finals. Participationand concert admissions are free. restonlions.org

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 8Fracking “What’s the Fuss? 7:15-9:00 p.m.

Reston Community Center in Hunters Woods,Room 3, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Whereis it taking place in Virginia, and what shouldwe do about it? Join Reston LWV members asthey continue a two–month study of thisenvironmental issue currently being examinedboth nationally and in Virginia. Learn the factsabout what is happening in Virginia, whether weshould be concerned, and what we should doabout it. Cost: Free. 703-471-6364 www.lwv-fairfax.org

SATURDAY/FEB. 112017 Virginia Polar Dip Registration at noon

Plunge at 2 p.m. Reston Community Center,Lake Anne Village Center, Reston. With thestrength of an event such as the 2017 VirginiaPolar Dip and the resources of Camp Sunshine,the goal is to raise in excess of $100,000 in2017. That is enough to send 40 families fromthe Mid-Atlantic area (including VA/MD/DC/DE/PA/WV/NC) to attend Camp Sunshine. Allparticipants who raise at least $100 will receivea highly coveted “I DID IT” event tshirt.csun.convio.net

Pre-Valentine Cooking Class at Il Fornaio 11- 1 p.m. Il Fornaio, 11990 Market Street, RestonTown Center. Join us for our first men-onlycooking class. Our chef will instruct you in aneasy-to-prepare gourmet Valentine’s Day dinnerfor your special someone at home. Recipes,shopping list, wine pairing and handy tips willbe provided. $75. Facebook.com/IlFornaioReston Reservations:[email protected] or 703-437-5544

Handmade Valentine Card Workshop atGRACE 9:30 - 11 a.m. Greater Reston Arts

Center, 12001 Market Street, #103, RestonTown Center. Using punches, origami, andstamping techniques, create a one-of-a-kindValentine for someone special! Sign up thewhole family for this fun workshop led byGRACE staff. Note: Parents will need to assistchildren with the creation of cards, and childrenmust be accompanied by a participating adult.Adults may come on their own and do not needto be accompanied by a child. Facebook.com/GreaterRestonArtsCenter Registration required.703-471-9242 restonarts.org

Parthenon Huxley at ARTSSPACE HERNDON7 - 9 p.m. Alternate Rock Singer and Songwriter.Huxley has released nine albums of criticallyacclaimed, award-winning music. Huxley will beaccompanied by the prodigiously talentedviolinist Ben Hoyt of Baltimore’s Peabody Schoolof Music. Come out for this Valentines themedperformance. http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07edp4z65t17e09d76&llr=uhpd6pcab

ONGOINGAll-comers’ Group Fun Run at Potomac

River Running. Tuesdays and Thursdays.Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street,Reston. For beginners or competitive runners,come out for a fun, low-key run that is safe andsocial. For more information, call 703-689-0999https://potomacriverrunning.com.

Over-40 Softball League. A Fairfax-basedleague is looking for enough players to formanother team. Players must be at last 40 years ofage to be eligible. All games are doubleheaders -played on Sundays at Bready Park in Herndonbetween 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. If interested, [email protected] for more information.

NextStop’s Shakespeare “Much Ado AboutNothing” Jan. 19 - Feb. 12

NextStop Theatre 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon.Tickets at: www.NextStopTheatre.org 866-811-4111

“A Bird in the Hand” through spring 2017Reston Town Square Park, 11990 Market Street,Reston Town Center. See and explore PatrickDougherty’s monumental public art sculpturemade from tree saplings. Presented by GRACE incollaboration with IPAR. 703-471-9242restonarts.org

“Some Things I Can’t Explain” FeaturingArtist Rahshia Sawyer. On Exhibit throughSunday, February 11, 2017. My work contrasts aDaedalean journey of figurative photographs,with the subject disconnected from the groundas a signifier of their transforming reality. 703-956-9560. ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street,Herndon, VA 20170. http://www.artspaceherndon.com/ev/things-cant-explain/

Exercise for Parkinson’s Every Monday, 1:15 -2:15 p.m. Reston Sport&health, 11445 IsaacNewton Square, Reston. This program bringstogether people impacted by Parkinson’s Diseaseto participate in various physical exercises aimedat improving posture, balance and circulationand increasing strength, muscle control andmobility. Free. [email protected] 703-621-4148.

Teen and Adult Art Classes ArtSpaceHerndon Every Monday from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.750 Center Street, Herndon. Drawing and MixedMedia with Melanie Stanley - During Fall andWinter of 2016. Cost: $45/class. The class willuse a variety of techniques for drawing,

painting, mark making, and collage using finearts tools and materials. Students will be takendown a creative path to learn to use drawingtools and brushes more effectively. Register byemailing Melanie, and she will send you thesupply list and payment options/information:[email protected]. 703-956-9560.www.artspaceherndon.com

CUT Exhibition at GRACE Through February 18Greater Reston Arts Center, 12001 MarketStreet, #103, Reston Town Center. See a freeexhibit by six artists that explores scientificthemes, the balance of civilization and nature,and emotional displacement through a variety ofpaper collages, animations, immersiveinstallations, and transformative sculpture. 703-471-9242 Facebook.com/GreaterRestonArtsCenter restonarts.org

Calendar Send announcements to www.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

Valentine’s Day Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides will beavailable on Tuesday Feb. 14 from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Acoach will be ready in front of Talbots for Valentine’s Day.11900 Market St. Reston.rain or shine, in front of Pavil-ion. restontowncenter.com

incumbents. My bill to establish a non-partisan redistricting commission was de-feated. A bill to define the process as beingnon-political may sound good, but it is un-likely to have any effect without the pro-cess being taken over by a truly non-parti-san group.

Bills that are common sense to me and tomost of the constituents with whom I talklike banning the use of cellphones whiledriving continue to fail in the legislature.Much more to come after the half. If youhave a position on an issue before the leg-islature, email me at [email protected].

From Page 4

Plum


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LEGAL NOTICEThe Virginia Department of Historic Resources will conduct a public information hearing of the Lake Anne Village Center Historic District on February 6, 2017. The meeting begins at 7pm, at the JoAnn Rose Gallery, Reston Community Center

1609-A Washington Plaza Reston, VA 20190. Public comment regarding the proposal will be taken at the time of the hearing

or can be sent to: Director Julie Langan,VA Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond,VA 23221.This proposal has been recommended eligible for the Virginia Landmarks and National Registers. This proposal will

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By KENNETH B. LOURIEThank God! Another three months, (13

weeks actually) of wedded-type bliss until mynext scan scheduled for mid April. Save for fourweeks of pre- and post-chemotherapy-infusionnon-bliss in the interim when the effects of thebefore, during, after treatment will make mefeel less like the person I will otherwise be — forthe nine or so other weeks, I am indeed lucky tobe “stable” and looking forward.

However, I will be off to a bit of a bumpystart as a result of the timing of my most recentchemotherapy infusion and its negative sideeffects coming so soon on the heels of the previ-ous week’s positive scan news. Not that thenegative overwhelms the positive in the slight-est, it’s more that it slows down my progressionfrom feeling abnormal to feeling normal; well, asmuch as one diagnosed and living with a “term-inal” disease, non-small cell lung cancer, stageIV, can. Which, as you regular readers know, I’mgenerally able to do, except when there a blips,and for the next week, I’ll be “blipped.” Havingconsidered the inevitable taste and eating issuesI typically face post infusion, I spoke with anutritionist this past week to see if I’ve beenmissing a boat somewhere. Unfortunately, otherthan remaining well-hydrated, it seems there’svery little I can do other than to endure thepost-chemotherapy weak.

But of course, it’s the big picture (no tumorprogression, no fluid build up) that mattersmost, not the small picture (the pre- and post-scan anxiety and the post-chemotherapy eatingissues). And of course, it’s nothing new. I’vebeen through variations of this routine going onnearly eight years now, since the diagnosticprocess began on Jan. 1, 2009, when I first vis-ited the Emergency Room. Pain in my rib cagehad migrated from one side to the other andsimultaneously I was having difficulty catchingmy breath. Then, even I knew, I needed somemedical attention. Two and a half months laterafter the usual schedule of tests, interpretationsand more tests, I received my diagnosis withwhich you are all so familiar.

Amazingly, life has gone on and fallen into asort of routine. The most recent one, going backapproximately three and a half years, beganwith my first and only hospitalization followedup a month or so later with the beginning of myAlimta infusion. For the most part, the infu-sion/experience has been quite manageable,and according to my oncologist, “great.” So“great,” in fact, that we have been extending theinterval of my infusions from three weeks origi-nally to four weeks to four/five weeks to nowinfusing forward, every five weeks. This will givemy body more time to recuperate between che-motherapy and give me more quality-weeks oflife (always a concern of my oncologist); mini-mizing eating and anxiety issues.

For the moment, we’re keeping the scanschedule to every three months. As to our con-cern about trying to limit the exposure to radia-tion — per scan; as my oncologist sort of joked,it’s the toxins from the chemotherapy that aremore harmful (it’s akin to the line from themovie “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid”when Paul Newman snickered at RobertRedford’s concern about not being able to swim— should they in fact jump off the cliff into theraging river below, to escape Joe Lefors and theIndian tracker, Lord Baltimore: “Swim? Are youcrazy? The fall will probably kill you.”)

So by the time you all are reading this col-umn, Thursday-ish, I’ll be mostly back to eatingnormally — well, normal for me. It’s a routineI’ve become accustomed to and one with whichI can live, live being the operable word.Certainly not a life without some hardships anddifficulties, but still a life worth living; withsome weeks harder than others; this week cer-tainly being one of them. It won’t be pretty butsoon enough it will have passed with clear sail-ing ahead for the next four weeks until you-know-what.

And So ItBegins — Again EmploymentEmployment

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From Page 8

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formation.”In the press conference Saturday, Beyer

referenced his Freedom of Religion Act heintroduced in 2016, which stated that noone would be denied entry to the UnitedStates based on their religion.

“It’s so ironic that President Trump cameout and said that we’re going to give spe-cial preference to Christians who are refu-gees because so many of them are beingkilled,” Beyer said. “Well I’m a Christian,but I respect that there are many moreMuslims being killed right now, many morewho are refugees.”

IN A STATEMENT released through herTwitter account on Jan. 29, U.S. Rep. Bar-bara Comstock (R-10) said she supportsincreased vetting based on national secu-rity concerns. However, Comstock said shehas consistently asserted: “I don’t believe itis constitutional to ban people from ourcountry on the basis of religion.”

“The President’s Executive Order issuedyesterday went beyond the increasedvetting actions that Congress has supportedon a bipartisan basis and inexplicably ap-plied to green card holders,” Comstock con-tinued, “people who are legally within ourcountry who have followed the rules.”

Rallies at Dulles

On her Facebook page Monday, FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors chairmanSharon Bulova said:

“The Executive Order issued on Fridayis offensive and counter to what definesthis country. We are a nation of immi-grants committed to religious freedom.I am committed to keeping FairfaxCounty a safe and welcoming place.When I was sworn in as chairman, Iswore to support the Constitution. I be-lieve this ban on travel is unconstitu-tional and I urge the judiciary to con-tinue to exercise its role in preventingfurther damage to our country’s valuesand our reputation around the world.”

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D), releaseda statement Friday, the same day as theExecutive Order was announced. Warneris vice chairman of the Senate SelectCommittee on Intelligence:

“The Trump Administration ExecutiveOrder that indefinitely suspends the Syr-ian refugee program and pauses visasfrom Muslim countries runs counter toour American values. While I have alwaysbeen open to a pause on our refugee pro-gram to ensure appropriate time for in-telligence and law enforcement expertsto ensure we protect our national secu-rity, these actions by the President pre-sume the solution before the review iscomplete. It is a policy targeting Mus-lims that national security experts havetestified would harm, not help, our na-tional security interests. I join the inter-

Other Local leaders Weigh Infaith community in Virginia and aroundthe country in objecting to these moves,and I will work in Congress to block aneffort which trades dubious increases inU.S. security for certain alienation ofpartners with whom we must cooperateto address terrorism.”

The Most Reverend Michael F.Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, releaseda statement as well, expressing solidar-ity with refugees:

“In his statement on the Executive Or-der halting refugee admissions, Bishop JoeVasquez, chair of the Committee of Migra-tion and Bishop of the Diocese of Austin,highlighted our nation’s long and proudtradition of welcoming newcomers andrefugees in a humane manner, even as wehave pursued a strong vetting system toensure our safety and security. Togetherwith Bishop Vasquez and my brother bish-ops, I encourage Catholics to contact ourelected officials to make our voices heard:Our communities have been and will con-tinue to be hospitable to refugees, in keep-ing with our legacy of welcoming thestranger. Together, we also pray for com-prehensive immigration reform and forpeace, safety and harmony within ournation and throughout the world.”

The full text of the Jan. 27 ExecutiveOrder is available online here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/27/executive-or-der-protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states.

Left, Simon was atDulles airportSaturday and Sun-day, as well as(center) state Sen.Jennifer Wexton (D-33), and (right) U.S.Rep. Gerry Connolly(D-11), asking thatsome of the morethan 20 lawyerspresent be given theopportunity to meetwith the detainees.

Photo contributed


People

By Andrea Worker

The Connection

Alissa Buoni knows a thingor two about how to talkto kids. If being themother to three children

– Ava, Vincent, and Decklan – all un-der the age of six isn’t enough to giveher serious kid-communication cre-dentials, let’s not forget that she hasa Bachelor’s Degree in Psychologyfrom Virginia Tech and a Master’s inSchool Counseling from The GeorgeWashington University. She uses allof that experience - personal andeducational - in her debut children’sbook “Oh, The #Adulting You’ll Do.”

Buoni didn’t start her professionallife thinking that she would add “Au-thor” to her resume, although sheadmits that writing has always beena hobby and a pleasure. “I think I wasaround twelve or thirteen when Isent some songs I had written to sev-eral major publishing companies,” shesays, but the lack of Grammies on hershelves meant she pursued a more “prac-tical” career path as she was growing up.Buoni followed the Reston motto, living,working, and playing in her hometown,working as an environmental analyst atSAIC (now Leidos) headquartered inReston.

What pushed her to finally pull someof those unfinished drafts from the deskdrawer and see them through to publi-cation?

“Loss,” she says, “and the feelings,thoughts, and new perspectives thatcome along with it.” In 2009, Buoni andher husband Rogan Flowers lost their firstchild, son Kendrick, in infancy due to arare syndrome and congenital heart dis-ease. “The world around us is moving sofast. I’m watching my kids now grow upso fast, right before my eyes. I try to re-ally pay attention to each day, and to helpthem be kids, with kids’ problems, kids’joys. Let parents do their job. It’s our timeto do the ‘adulting,’ not theirs.”

In a rhyming, sing-song and humorousfashion, Buoni’s book extols the joys ofchildhood, while gently reminding heryoung audience to enjoy the day with com-parisons of a child’s day to the adults aroundthem. “I told you, this is a book for both thechild and the adult,” she laughs.

“When you wish to be older, think longand think hard. For when you grow up in-stead of tag, you’ll be mowing your yard...So

today you’re a kid. And it’s great to be you.One day you’ll grow up. Oh, the #adultingyou’ll do.”

Buoni looks for a balance in her story, giv-ing young readers a glimpse into adulthoodwithout making them anxious about thefuture in store. “Don’t get me wrong,” shewrites, “Being an adult is fun. There are lotsof things you get to do when your days as akid are done.”

Photo contributed

Alissa Buoni has published her firstchildren’s book, “Oh, The #AdultingYou’ll Do.” Using her personal experi-ences as a mom to three young kids, andher educational background in Psychol-ogy and School Counseling, Buoni’sillustrated storybook sings the praises ofchildhood, with gentle reminders foryoungsters and adults to enjoy themoment.

Beware! That is “#Adulting” comingup behind the kid in Alissa Buoni’srecently published children’s book.“But it’s not scary,” says the author.“Just a little comparison and a wayto help adult and child help theyoungsters slow down a bit andenjoy just being a kid.”

Reston residentwrites for childrenand adults.

Oh, The #AdultingYou’ll Do

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