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online at www.connectionnewspapers.com June 26-July 2, 2019

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Hard Day’s NightRocks Pavillion

News, Page 5

Youth Mobilize To Save the PlanetNews, Page 3

Model Nepal Society Holds Potluck Picnic

News, Page 2

Crowds pack the Pavilion at Reston Town Center and onto adjacent sidewalks, Market Street and in front of and behind Mercury Fountain to hear the Beatles Tribute band, Hard Day’s Night.

Senior LivingPage, 4

2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ June 26 - July 2, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

Model Nepal Society hosted its annual Potluck Pic-nic on Saturday, June 15 at Lake Fairfax in Reston. Areported 400 community members attended thedaylong event at which they renewed old friendshipsand made new ones, shared favorite dishes, and more.

Reston resident Ashwini Sigdel, an eighth graderat Langston Hughes Middle School, joined in the fun.Afterward, Sigdel said that she and her friends ex-plored the park and its offerings. “It was really fun.There were lots of people (and) I got to hang out

with many of my friends,” she said.Herndon Town Councilmember Pradip Dhakal at-

tended the morning to sunset event with his family.After Dhakal gave a “big thanks” to all the volunteerswho worked tirelessly to make the picnic successful,he added: “This is a great event that brings the com-munity together, builds camaraderie amongst us, andcreates an environment of mutual trust and help.”

—Mercia Hobson

Model Nepal Society Holds Annual Potluck Picnic

Family members and friends of all ages gather atLake Fairfax in Reston for the 2019 Model NepalSociety Potluck Picnic.

Herndon TownCouncilmemberPradip Dhakalgreets Rom Ghartiat the annualModel Nepal Soci-ety Potluck Picnicheld Saturday, June15 at Lake Fairfaxin Reston.

A small segment of the more than four hundred community members who attendedthe 2019 Model Nepal Society Potluck Picnic gather outside the canopy to recordthe moment.

Photos by Mercia

Hobson/

The Connection

Reston Connection ❖ June 26 - July 2, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Viewpoints

What Brings You tothe Conference?

Christy Gao, 17, ofMcLean: “I’m the co-president of the ESLI clubat Langley, therefore I’mhere to learn about ways Ican help to expand ourclub activities and help thekids in my community tostart caring about theenvironment.”

Photos by Julia Zhou/

The Connection

Bridget Lee, 17, of GreatFalls: “Our actions arehurting our Earth’s envi-ronment and therefore thehealth of plants, animals,and us. If we continue ourharmful actions, the Earthwill continue on this path.I want to join students likeGreta Thurnberg in helpingthe environment for all ourbenefit.”

—Julia Zhou

Raj Solanki, 15 ofHerndon: “[I came today]to learn about how we canhelp the environment byteaching others about howimportant it is.”

Devin Cates, 16, ofHerndon: “I hope tospread environmentalawareness because thereare a lot of people whodon’t know how fast cli-mate change is coming.”

Janhvie Hoshi, 15, ofFairfax: “I wanted to learnways we can spread themessage of keeping ourhome, our bay clean.Because young minds areeasily influenced… it’simportant to teach themthe right way to respectand maintain the beauty oftheir home.”

NewsConnection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Environmental Student Leadership Initiative,formerly known as the Eco-School Leader-ship Initiative, presented its 5th AnnualFairfax County Environmental Conference.

Held Saturday, June 22, inside and on the groundsof the Fairfax County Government Center, the free,day-long event helped high school and college stu-dents learn how they, as student-instructors couldget involved with environmental education initia-tives. By teaching elementary school students usinghands-on and engaging interactive games and ac-tivities, in the process, the young students wouldbecome interested in fighting environmental prob-lems and become future leaders in their communi-ties.

In her Opening Remarks as Conference Co-Chair,Wendy Gao, a student at Oakton High School admit-ted to the 45 Northern Virginia high school and col-lege-aged students seated before her, that when shejoined ESLI two years ago, she didn’t know how tosolve climate change nor did she consider herself an“Earth enthusiast.” Gao said she knew at the timethat climate change was caused primarilybecause of fossil fuel corporations and “theirpolitical and economic lobbying power.”Gao said she thought that creating policiesto curb these corporations was the only wayto solve the problem. She added that afterjoining ESLI, she understood that to reverseclimate change, all aspects of society —political, economic, social and academic —must “move in the same direction.”

THE MISSION of ESLI is to create a net-work of young people who are passionateabout environmental education. “Climateeducation is not a requirement in publicschool systems, and many schools don’t of-fer environmental science courses,” saidGao. “There is a climate knowledge gap...and that’s why ESLI and environmental edu-cation is fundamental to the environmen-tal movement...We do what we do becauseyoung people have a lot more power thanwe’re allowed to believe,” she said.

During the conference, attendees visitedtwo out of five workshops; each illustrateda lesson student-educators could teach el-ementary school students. The interactiveexperience used available ESLI curriculum,lesson plans and materials which would bemade accessible to student-educators whochose to volunteer their services as a teacherthrough an ESLI chapter. And how to startan ESLI chapter at their school if one isn’talready established.

“This is what I expected as I wanted to get expo-sure to learning different aspects of the environmentand implement teaching these concepts at localschools,” said Gitika Gorthi, 15, of Oak Hill.

Fifth Annual Fairfax CountyEnvironmental EducationConference held.

Environmental Change ThroughYouth Games and Activities

Wendy Gao, Conference Co-Chair and astudent at Oakton High School, explainsESLI’s mission is to create a network ofyoung people who are passionate aboutenvironmental education.

Approximately 45 students from Northern Vir-ginia high schools listen to opening remarks atthe 5th Annual Fairfax County EnvironmentalEducation Conference.

See Youth, Page 12

AGaurav Sethi, 16 and a student at South CountyHigh School in Lorton, was excited to network withother students his age. “I love to work with my peers,

Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection


Senior Living

By Marilyn Campbell

The Connection

After witnessing the slowdecline of family mem-bers with Alzheimer’sand other forms of de-

mentia, Ana Nelson knows theimportance of early recognition ofsigns of the disease and enactinga plan as early as possible. Dur-ing the month of June,Alzheimer’s & Brain AwarenessMonth, Nelson who is Vice Presi-dent of Programs and Serviceswith the Alzheimer’s AssociationNational Capital Area Chapter, isworking to encourage familymembers who notice signs of cog-nitive decline in a loved one, tohave open dialogue, no matterhow difficult.

“You’re always thinking thatyour parents or loved ones are going to be aroundfor a long time, but we’re talking about a diseasewhere there’s no way to stop it or cure it,” saidNelson. “Alzheimer’s is a progressive and incurabledisease. You need to have the conversation as soonas you notice symptoms so that you can plan for it.Families sometimes wait too.”

A new survey released by the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion reveals that nearly 9 in 10 Americans say that ifthere were experiencing signs of cognitive declinethey would want their loved ones to share their con-cerns. However, nearly three out of four Americanssay talking to a close family member about such adecline would be challenging for them.

To offer ideas for closing that communication gap,Nelson points to a recently launched national cam-paign and partnership between the Alzheimer’s As-sociation and the Ad Council. The project, called “OurStories” uses stories from realpeople who’ve noticed cogni-tive changes in a family mem-ber and initiated a conversa-tion.

An early diagnosis allowsfamilies to plan both financiallyand legally for the future. Rec-ognizing the signs of mentaldecline allows for a timely di-agnosis. “The most commonearly symptom of Alzheimer’sis difficulty in rememberingrecent events,” said JeromeShort, Ph.D., Licensed ClinicalPsychologist and Associate Pro-fessor of Psychology at GeorgeMason University. “Later symp-toms are getting lost, problems with language, moodswings, lack of self-care, impulsivity, or lack of moti-vation.”

Before initiating a conversation, plan the way inwhich it might begin. “You can share what you haveobserved,” said therapist Carol Barnaby, LCSW-C “Forexample, ‘It seems you are having trouble with re-membering some things’ and give examples. You canask, ‘Is this frustrating for you? Have you noticed or

spoken to your doctor?’“I recommend being direct, yet warm and caring,”

added Joanne Bagshaw, PhD, Professor of Psychol-ogy at Montgomery College.

Offering comfort and support can make the con-versation less daunting, “You might say, ‘I’m begin-ning to feel concerned about your health becauseI’ve noticed that you are having some trouble withyour memory lately’” said Bagshaw. “‘Have you no-ticed that as well? How can I support you?’”

Even with advanced preparation the conversationmight not go as planned, saysNelson. “This is a delicate is-sue that might require multipleconversations,” she said.

Encourage the family mem-ber to seek medical advice foran accurate diagnosis, suggestsBarnaby. “Some mental confu-sion can be caused by certainmedications, so it isn’t alwaysdementia,” she said.

Be flexible realizing the con-versation might not go asplanned and raise concernssubtly. “Ask them if they haveany concerns,” said Barnaby.“You might say, ‘I have beenwondering how you are doing.

You haven’t seemed your usual self. I am wonderingif you have noticed anything.’”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers resources andassistance to those living with Alzheimer’s and theirfamilies, says Nelson. “We are just a phone call away,”said Nelson. “We offer help 24 hours a day, sevendays in week and in more than 200 languages. Itdoesn’t have to be a crisis situation. You can call evenif you just need help.”

Talking to loved ones about Alzheimer’s Disease

A Difficult Conversation

Among the resources recommended for those dealingwith Alzheimer’s are books entitled, “The 36 Hour Day”and “Slow Dancing with a Stranger.”

For Assistance:The Alzheimer’s Association offers help to families as

they navigate challenges of the disease. They offer face-to-face conversations with local experts and a free 24/7Helpline 800.272.3900. Additional resources can be foundat alz.org.

“Alzheimer’s is aprogressive andincurable disease. Youneed to have theconversation as soon asyou notice symptoms.”

— Ana Nelson, Vice President ofPrograms and Services with the

Alzheimer’s Association NationalCapital Area Chapter


News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Beatlemania hit RestonTown Center hardSaturday night, June22. Well before 7:30

that evening, concertgoers,many with their dancing shoeson, crowded under the iconicPavilion, onto adjacent side-walks, across Market Street anddirectly in front of and even be-hind Mercury Fountain.

They were there to enjoy there-creation and excitement of alive Beatles concert as RestonConcerts on the Town Summer2019 presented the Tributeband, “Hard Day’s Night,” hail-ing from Cleveland, Ohio. Bandaffiliate Heidi Muratore, wife ofband member MichaelMuratore said that Hard Day’sNight was rated among the topnational Beatles Tribute bandsand invited to InternationalBeatleweek Liverpool 2019 inEngland.

Dedicated to keepingBeatlemania alive, band mem-ber Michael Muratore as JohnLennon shared the stage withhis father, Frank Muratore as PaulMcCartney, Patrick Gannon as Ringo Starrand John Auker as George Harrison. Eachwore exact replicas of the Chesterfield suitsmade famous in the early years of the origi-nal Beatles. Hard Day’s Night focused onperforming songs as the Beatles did, fourmusicians onstage in character as the En-glish rock band of the 1960s and 1970s.

BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE, MichaelMuratore commented about the quality ofthe Reston audience. “We love Reston. Welove the people; we love the energy. It’s adate we circle on the calendar every year,”Muratore said.

Hard Day’s Night sound engineer, NateLockwood stated even though he wascharged to keep the iconic and revolution-ary sounds of the Beatles alive during theperformance, he had a higher, “personal”goal, “to give concertgoers an even bettersonic experience than in the 1960s, one withbrilliant sounds. … And less screaming,”Lockwood said.

According to concertgoer Stuart Gibsonof Reston accompanied by Rosemary TranLauer of Reston, Lockwood succeeded.Asked what he thought of Hard Day’s Night,he replied, “We love them.”

Rich Correia and Janet Gore of Fairfaxechoed Gibson remark. Correia added: “Theconcerts are fantastic for the community.”

Concert presenter, Dana Talesnik, previ-ously of Alexandria said that for the past22 years, she coordinated the summertimeSaturday evening series held at the RestonTown Center Pavilion and became its pro-ducer this year. “Our bands are culturallyand geographically diverse and span a rangeof musical genres, from swing, jazz andblues to salsa, zydeco and Africanrhythms—and that’s just part of what’s instore this summer. So much advance workgoes into producing the series. At each show,when I see all the dancers and the joy on somany faces, it makes it all worthwhile,”Talesnik said.

COMING TO RESTON Concerts on theTown 2019, on June 29 is Plena Libre,founded in San Juan by bass player/com-poser Gary Núñez. The ensemble of virtuosomusicians re-invents Puerto Rico’s plenaand bomba traditions through its Afro-Ricansound. The group recently earned fourGrammy nominations and a worldwidetouring schedule according to last.fm.

Held rain or shine, Saturdays throughAug. 24, 7:30-10:00 p.m., Reston Concertson the Town 2019 is presented by RestonTown Center Association, Reston Town Cen-ter and bxp Boston Properties with artisthospitality by Clyde’s. For general informa-tion visit, restontowncenter.com [email protected].

Beatlemania hits Reston Town Center

Hard Day’s NightRocks Pavillion

Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection

Hannibal Hervey of Reston dances with hisdaughter, Hailey, 3, as they rock to the beatof the Tribute band, Hard Day’s Night atReston Concerts on the Town Summer 2019.


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RestonOpinion

Virginia is one of 11 states (Alabama,Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Ne-braska, North Dakota, Oregon,Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Vir-

ginia) that impose no contribution limits onindividual donors, says the National Confer-ence of State Legislatures.

The other 39 states restrict theamount of money that any oneindividual can contribute to astate campaign.

But Virginia has no limits. No limits on whatany individual can give to a candidate. No lim-its on what a state party can give to a candi-date. No limits on what a PAC can give to acandidate. No limits on what a corporation cangive to a candidate. No limits on what a unionor employee organization can give to a candi-date.

Only Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, and Alabamaimpose literally no limits as Virginia does.

Virginia’s General Assembly, and establishedcandidates, usually the primary beneficiary ofthis permissive environment for contributions,have chosen this stance deliberately. Support-ers often cite disclosure requirements as some-how making unlimited campaign cash OK.

More money doesn’t always lead to successfor a candidate. The following information oncontributions comes from Virginia Public Ac-cess Project.

Tim Chapman loaned $845,094 to his owncampaign seeking the Democratic nominationfor chairman of the Board of Supervisors.Chapman also lost because even with all thatmoney to get his message out, apparently hismessage did not resonate with voters. JeffMcKay, who won the Democratic nominee forchairman of the Board of Supervisors. McKayraised $448,443.

Maggie Parker, running for the Democraticnomination for Hunter Mill supervisor, had

more than twice as much in contributions thanthe winning candidate. But more than half ofher cash contributions, more than $90,000,came from her employer, Comstock Partners,developer with multiple projects in HunterMill. Parker finished fourth out of five candi-dates.

Steve Descano ran on a platform of criminaljustice reform. He loaned himself $25,000 andreceived support from family. He also receivedmore than $450,000 from the Justice and Pub-lic Safety PAC; VPAP lists its business as “Demo-crat Advocacy.”

Descano won his challenge overCommonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh, whowas facing his first challenge and had $242,011in contributions. Descano’s message of progres-sive reform resonated with voters who turnedout to vote.

Yes, let’s have campaign finance reform andsensible limits on donations.

Campaign Finance Reform? YesSurprise! “No limits” can stimulate large amounts of campaigncash for many kinds of candidates and from many kinds of donors.

Editorial

See Plum, Page 7 See Lovaas, Page 7

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

From my earli-est years ofstudy of history, I was always fascinated with the

story of Ancient Greece. A goalthat I had for decades was real-ized recently as Jane and I vaca-tioned for nearly two weeks inGreece. We were not disappointedas we stood on the soil and envi-sioned from the ruins the glorythat must have been Greece.

Greece isone of the old-est civiliza-tions in the

world, and this column will usesome broad generalizations tocondense that history and createa context for the influence ofGreek culture on world history.Linking the ancient classical Greekperiod and the Hellenic periodstogether, the Ancient Greek civili-zation extended from about 800BC and lasted until about 400 AD.During this classical or golden ageof Greece, the incredible accom-plishments of the Greeks were re-corded forever in history.

As an online entry describes it,“Ancient Greece is considered bymost historians to be the founda-tional culture of Western Civiliza-tion. Greek culture was a power-ful influence in the Roman Empirewhich carried a version of it tomany parts of Europe. AncientGreek civilization has been im-mensely influential on the lan-guage, politics, educational sys-tems, philosophy, art and architec-

ture of themodern world,par t icu lar lyduring the Re-naissance inWestern Eu-rope and againduring variousneo-classical

revivals in the 18th and 19th centu-ries in Europe and the Americas.”

Historians agree that Greek in-tellectual achievements have beenunparalleled in the history of theWestern world whether you aretalking about philosophy, litera-ture, mathematics, science, art, ar-chitecture, or mythology. Greekintellectual leaders like Plato,Socrates, and Aristotle continue toinfluence the way we think aboutthe way we govern, what wevalue, and what our ideals are.Their architectural achievementscontinue to be admired even asmost of their most successful struc-tures are in ruin as much from warand destruction as from the pas-sage of time.

While the Parthenon is but ashell of its original magnificencewith the pillage, destruction, andweathering it has endured, its sig-nificance cannot be overstated asto what happened within its walls.I had seen some of the incrediblesculpture that had graced thebuilding in the British Museum asit had been stolen from the edi-fice by the British in its occupa-tion of the country. The new Ar-chaeological Museum at theAcropolis is ultra-modern and con-

By John Lovaas

Reston Impact Pro-

ducer/Host

Last week we tooka brief (4 days)trip to Iceland

with our eldestson, daughter-in-law and theapple-of-our-eyes granddaughter,Joy. It was a nice, relaxing week-end in a fascinating place we’dnever seen. Then we flew home,while the rest of the family trav-elled on to vacation in Ireland andEngland.

The trip home was longer thananticipated due to a four-hourtime difference and an unexpect-edly long border crossing into theU.S. at Dulles International Airporton a typically busy Wednesdayevening. Our Icelandair flight tookus to the midfield terminal wherethe mobile lounge was delayedabout 30 minutes. And, at themain terminal, we were shockedto find ourselves behind severalhundred tired travellers in the U.S.residents’ line with only three Cus-toms and Border Protection agentson duty in 31 booths to processboth residents and non-residentsin the endless Disney World-stylequeues. I initially thought therewas a shift change under way andthat more agents would no doubtshow up. But, no! The 28 boothswould remain empty for the nearlythree hours that we spent in the

queue. When we left,they were still empty forthe crowd of weary trav-elers which had grownsubstantially while wewaited our turn.

In addition to passen-gers ending theirtravel in Wash-ington, there

were some who were in transit andwere unable to get assistance tobypass the traffic jam and maketheir connections. In other words,there were a lot of unhappypeople.

Not being a patient sort, Iwanted some explanation aboutthe seemingly needless inconve-nience that many hundreds ofpeople were experiencing. Butthere was almost no one to ask,besides the three already over-whelmed agents actually working.I was able to snag one uniformedairport employee passing by andinquire about the mess. He offeredthis explanation. “Five officerscalled in and took leave.” I askedif this was a job action of somesort. He just shrugged his shoul-ders. W h e nwe finally got waved in for pro-cessing, I asked the CBP officerwhat was going on. He had a dif-ferent explanation. He said with asmile that a lot of officers werebeing reassigned to the southernborder. Really, I asked? Big smileand a nod. He asked me to look

The Glory That Was Greece Returning to the Capital ofthe Free World (DULLES)

Commentary

Independent Progressive


Poetry Corner

LovaasFrom Page 6

PlumFrom Page 6

into the tiny camera and said “welcomehome” as we left.

So, I have two possible, very unofficialexplanations. Either seems plausible to me.The CBP website wasn’t much help beyonda mention of an estimated 65,000 total CBPstaff nationwide. A huge number, but theyhave a lot to cover. Poor management couldwell be a contributing factor and also seemsentirely plausible in the current environ-ment.

tains dozens of sculptures from the GoldenAge and would be a most suitable place forthe British to return the art they made offwith during their occupation.

Making your way up the steep steps ofthe Acropolis is a long distance and a longtime from Ancient Greece to today that en-compasses many conquests, occupationsand failures. I am glad that we went to seethe remains on the Acropolis and the site

Doubles, a PoemIn the game of doubles tennisA trove of tricks exist,You can dazzle with a hard slice serveOr spin it with a twist.

But the humble lob will stand aloneAnd make the others pall,For it is better to have lobbed and lostThan never to have lobbed at all.

Richard Earl, Reston

In any case, be advised. If you are plan-ning to fly out of Dulles or arrive at Dulleson an international flight, you’ll want toallow a good chunk of additional time forgetting through the processes. The samemay apply to National and BWI as well.

I am happy to be able to report that inthe three hours we spent in the queue, wedid not see any children being yanked awayfrom their parents or guardians. In the cur-rent environment, that is good news!

where the first Olympians trained and com-peted.

As beautiful as the country and the wa-ters that nearly surround it are, the coun-try is not a major power. In recent times ithas been rescued by its neighbors.

Great civilizations have not endured for-ever even as their influence may still bepresent. Are we living in a time when ourown glory might at some future date bedescribed in the past tense?


Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artworkencouraged.

ONGOINGArt Exhibit: Beaches, Canyons, Caves and

Cows. Through June 30, gallery hours at RCCHunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.Mother and daughter artists, Ann Millard andElena Botts, will display their individual artisticendeavors as they exhibit together for the firsttime. Millard’s acrylic mixed media work iscolorful and abstract; Botts’s portraiture issurrealistic and organic. Visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com for more.

Art Exhibit: Rough around the Edges.Through July 6, gallery hours at ArtSpaceHerndon, 750 Center St., Herndon. On displaythrough July 6, Rough around the Edges - Worksin Paper by Ronni Jolles. Jolles’s work has athree dimensional quality to it, due to thetextures of the papers, gathered from around theworld, and the way in which the paper ismanipulated as it is glued to the canvas. Acrylicpaints and sealants are then used on top of eachlayer of paper to add more variation in color, tobring out textures, and to protect the paper. Call703-956-6590 or visitwww.artspaceherndon.org.

Art Exhibit: A Purposeful Manner Towardsa Vague Destination. Through Aug. 27,Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at TheSignature at Reston Town Center, 11850Freedom Drive, Reston. Gallery hours at GreaterReston Arts Center (GRACE) presents APurposeful Manner Towards a VagueDestination, a solo exhibition featuring work bypainter Douglas Moulden. Maryland basedpainter Moulden exhibits a series of large-scaleacrylic on panel paintings developed fromphotographs and memory inspired byexploration of the woods near his home. Visitrestonarts.org for more.

Herndon Farmers Market. Thursdays, throughmid-November, 8 a.m-12:30 p.m. in HistoricDowntown Herndon, Lynn Street. Vendors willoffer seasonal plants, produce, baked goods,meats and more; all sold by local growers andproducers. Additional enhancements to themarket include seasonal events andentertainment, including “Farmers’ Market FunDays,” free performances for the whole family.Visit www.herndon-va.gov/FarmersMarket formore.

THURSDAY/JUNE 27Hunter Mill Nights: Scythian (Irish rock).

7:30-8:30 p.m. at Frying Pan Farm Park, 2739West Ox Road, Herndon. With a mix ofperformances through for the whole family,Hunter Mill Nights returns through Aug. 22(except July 4) with performances byentertainers from across the United States andaround the world. Allow time for a picnic in thepark, a visit with the farm animals and a wagonride, along with the show. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/hunter-mill-nights for more.

FRIDAY/JUNE 28Live Music: Holly Montgomery Band. 9:30

p.m.-1:30 a.m. at Kalypso’s Sports Tavern onhistoric Lake Anne in Reston. Bands play insidethe sports bar on a dedicated stage. No cover.Visit www.kalypsossportstavern.com.

SATURDAY/JUNE 29July 4th in June. All day at Lake Fairfax Park,

1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston. Get thenation’s birthday party started early. The parkopens at dawn and the fun continues until thelast fireworks disappear from the sky after dark.The water park is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Therewill be live music with Modern Vintage and theU.S. Navy Band Commodores from 3:30-9 p.m.Food vendors will be on hand throughout theday. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.. The parkgenerally closes to new arrivals around 8:45p.m. Walk or bike to the park and admission isfree. There is a parking fee of $10 per vehicle.The rain date Sunday/June30. Call 703-471-5414 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-fairfax.

Music in the Parks - “Feast for Young Ears.”10 a.m. at E.C. Lawrence Park Amphitheater,5040 Walney Road, Chantilly. The FairfaxSymphony Orchestra is partnering with FairfaxCounty Parks to provide free Music in the Parks

children’s concerts. The performances areengaging and interactive experiences; perfect foryoung, first-time concert-goers. Each concertoffers an introduction to the musicians, theirinstruments, their roles in creating the music,and features a wide variety of musical selectionsfrom classical music to the familiar music oftoday. Visit www.fairfaxsymphony.org/concerts-in-the-parks.

SUNDAY/JUNE 30Dairy Days. 1-3 p.m. at Sully Historic Site, 3650

Historic Sully Way, Chantilly. Put arm musclesto work and discover how dairy products weremade in the olden days. Come to “Dairy Days-Ice Cream Making & Butter” at Sully HistoricSite. Churn butter, crank ice cream, milk a fakecow, play 18th century games, and experiencethe products of a historic dairy. Designed forparticipants age 5-adult. Programs run on thehour from 1-3 p.m. $8 per person and does notinclude a house tour. Walk-ins are welcome, butpreregistration is recommended. Children mustbe accompanied by an adult. Call 703-437-1794or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site.

MONDAY/JULY 1Registration Deadline. Lake Anne Cardboard

Boat Regatta. Over 50 participating teams of allages will construct and decorate their own life-size cardboard boats and then race them onLake Anne. Register at www.restonmuseum.org/cardboard.

JULY 1-29Art Exhibit: Lasting Impressions. Gallery

hours at RCC Lake Anne - Jo Ann Rose Gallery,1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston. LastingImpressions is about those images that evokepersonal memories. From depictions of theReston paths to scenes in the kitchens of friendsand family, these paintings represent places thathave meaning in Karen Danenberger’s life andshow what she has noticed about the worldaround her. Most of these works were completedin the past five years. Visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com.

JULY 1-AUG. 18Art Exhibit: For the Love of Art. Gallery hours

at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road,Reston. Through a myriad of styles and media –oil, watercolor, pen and ink – Angie Magruder, along-time Reston resident, shares her manytalents as an artist in this exhibit at RestonCommunity Center Hunters Woods. Visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com/.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 3Dog Days of Summer. 5-7:30 p.m. at the

Pavilion at Reston Town Center. EveryWednesday through Sept. 4, dogs and ownerscan frolic in the Pavilion when it is transformedinto an off-leash play area each week. Treats,toys, areas to cool off, pet friendly giveaways,and more. Free. Operated by Healthy

Hound Playground and Isy’s Ways. Visitrestontowncenter.com for more.

THURSDAY/JULY 4Firecracker 5K for the Troops. 8 a.m. at

Reston Town Center. Join in an IndependenceDay 5K celebration and show support for thestars and stripes. Runners and walkers of allpaces can register for this patriotic family-friendly event, presented by Leidos and PotomacRiver Running. Call 703-689-0999 or visitprraces.com/firecracker/.

July 4 Celebration. Noon-4 p.m. at LakeNewport Recreation Area, 11601 Lake NewportRoad, Reston. Come to the pool and for thefestivities before heading off to enjoy fireworks.Enjoy a DJ, contests and prizes. Pizza, popcornand cotton candy will be available for purchase.This program is cancelled in the event of rain.Registration is not required. [email protected] or 703-435-6577

Herndon’s 4th Of July Celebration. 6:30 p.m.at Bready Park softball field, 814 Ferndale Ave.,Herndon. Join the Town of Herndon for afamily-fun event featuring patriotic arts & craftactivities, live music, family games, bingo, foodvendors selling dinner and dessert items, andmore. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. All coolersand bags may be searched. No alcohol, glasscontainers or personal fireworks allowed. Freeadmission. Visit www.herndon-va.gov/recreation/special-events/4th-of-july or call 703-787-7300.

FRIDAY/JULY 5Explore Rocky Run on a Wagon Ride. 7-8

p.m. at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5040 WalneyRoad, Chantilly. Bring an adventurous spirit –and some shoes that can get wet – and set off onthe “Creek Adventure Wagon Ride” to exploreRocky Run. The program is designed for familymembers age 2-adult. $7 per person. Childrenmust be accompanied by a registered adult. Call703-631-0013 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/eclawrence.

One World Symphonic Festival. 7:30 p.m. atthe Pavilion at Reston Town Center. Freeorchestra performance of “Music Under theStars” presented by professional musicians fromaround the world.Visitoneworldsymphonicfestival.com.

Live Music: Chris Timbers Band. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at Kalypso’s Sports Tavern on historicLake Anne in Reston. Bands play inside thesports bar on a dedicated stage. No cover. Visitwww.kalypsossportstavern.com.

SATURDAY/JULY 6Get Hooked on Fishing. 9-9:55 a.m. at Lake

Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston.Lake Fairfax Park is offering the “Fishing Fun”series for children age 7-11 on Saturdays fromJuly 6-27. Participants will learn fishing basics.The class helps participants improve fishingskills with spinning- and closed-faced reels whileteaching safety, catch-and-release fishing andprotecting the environment. All equipment isprovided. $66 per child for four sessions, plus asupply fee of $20 payable at the first class. Call703-471-5414 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-fairfax.

Family Fun: Rocknoceros. 10-10:45 a.m. atReston Town Square Park. The Washington, DCarea’s award-winning band for children of allages – Coach Cotton, Williebob and BoogieWoogie Bernie write terrific songs that teacheven the youngest music fans. Free. Visitrestoncommunitycenter.com or call 703-476-4500.

Reston Concerts on the Town: Chuck Redd& Friends. 7:30-10 p.m. at the Pavilion atReston Town Center. The weekly summerconcert series presents jazz all-stars Chuck Redd& Friends featuring trumpeter/vocalist Byron

Stripling and bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott. Bringlawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy liveoutdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain orshine. Visit restontowncenter.com/concerts.

SUNDAY/JULY 7Opening Reception: Lasting Impressions. 2-

4 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne - Jo Ann Rose Gallery,1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston. LastingImpressions is about those images that evokepersonal memories. From depictions of theReston paths to scenes in the kitchens of friendsand family, these paintings represent places thathave meaning in Karen Danenberger’s life andshow what she has noticed about the worldaround her. Most of these works were completedin the past five years. Visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com.

Opening Reception: For the Love of Art. 2-4p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts NeckRd, Reston. Through a myriad of styles andmedia – oil, watercolor, pen and ink – AngieMagruder, a long-time Reston resident, sharesher many talents as an artist in this exhibit atReston Community Center Hunters Woods. Visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com/.

Sundays in the Park with ShenandoahConservatory: Luis Hernandez andFriends. 7-8 p.m. at Reston Town Square Park.Grammy-award winning Luis Hernandez and hisband present an evening of traditional jazzstandards. Free. Call 703-476-4500 or visitrestoncommunitycenter.com.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 10Dog Days of Summer. 5-7:30 p.m. at the

Pavilion at Reston Town Center. EveryWednesday through Sept. 4, dogs and ownerscan frolic in the Pavilion when it is transformedinto an off-leash play area each week. Treats,toys, areas to cool off, pet friendly giveaways,and more. Free. Operated by Healthy

Hound Playground and Isy’s Ways. Visitrestontowncenter.com for more.

THURSDAY/JULY 11Hunter Mill Nights: The Reunion Jazz

Orchestra (Big Band). 7:30-8:30 p.m. atFrying Pan Farm Park, 2739 West Ox Road,Herndon. With a mix of performances throughfor the whole family, Hunter Mill Nights returnsthrough Aug. 22 with performances byentertainers from across the United States andaround the world. Allow time for a picnic in thepark, a visit with the farm animals and a wagonride, along with the show. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/hunter-mill-nights for more.

JULY 11-28Sacred Threads Exhibition. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at

Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 FryingPan Road, Herndon. Sacred Threads is anexhibition of quilts exploring themes of joy,inspiration, spirituality, healing, grief andpeace/brotherhood. This biennial exhibition wasestablished to provide a safe venue for quilterswho see their work as a connection to the sacredand/or as an expression of their spiritualjourney. $10. Visit sacredthreadsquilts.com/default.htm or call 703-793-0026.

Calendar

Herndon’s 4th ofJuly Celebration

Join the Town of Herndon for afamily-fun event featuring

patriotic arts & craft activities,live music, family games, bingo,food vendors selling dinner and

dessert items, and more. Bring ablanket or lawn chair. All coolers

and bags may be searched. Noalcohol, glass containers orpersonal fireworks allowed.

Thursday, July 4, 6:30 p.m. atBready Park softball field, 814Ferndale Ave., Herndon. Free

admission. Visit www.herndon-va.gov/recreation/special-events/4th-of-july or call 703-787-7300.

File photo by Mercia Hobson

Fireworks explode over the Centennial GolfCourse in Herndon during the 2018 4th ofJuly celebration


Detectives SeekingPublic’s Help IdentifyingSexual Assault Suspect

Detectives fromMajor Crimes Bureauare investigating thesexual assault of awoman that occurredon June 11 in Reston.Officers responded tothe area of RestonParkway and BaronCameron Avenuearound 11 p.m. thatevening after a 49-year-old woman waslocated with physicalinjuries. A subse-quent investigationrevealed that thewoman was on a nearby walking path when she washit from behind and sexually assaulted. She wastaken to a hospital where she received medical treat-ment for injuries that were not life-threatening.

The suspect is described as a white male, approxi-mately 50-60 years old, skinny build, gray wavy hair,light colored eyes, wrinkled face and possibly wearsglasses.

Anyone who can identify the suspect or has infor-mation about this case is asked to contact Major CrimesBureau at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submittedanonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-

Week in Reston

SOBER-RIDE FOR JULY 4Free Sober Rides. Thursday, July

4, 7 p.m. through Friday, July 5, 2a.m. Area residents, 21 and older,may download Lyft to theirphones, then enter a code in theapp’s “Promo” section to receive ano cost (up to $15) safe ridehome. WRAP’s Independence DaySoberRide promo code will beposted at 6 p.m. on July 4 onwww.SoberRide.com.

VOLUNTEERS WANTEDSTEM Professionals Needed.

Volunteers are needed to assist K-12 STEM teachers in northernVirginia as part of the AmericanAssociation for the Advancementof Science’s STEM VolunteerProgram, stemvolunteers.org,during the 2019-20 school year,beginning in September. Pleasecontact Don Rea at 571-551-2488or [email protected].

SATURDAY/JUNE 29Forum on Disability Inclusion.

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at theFairfax County GovernmentCenter, 12000 GovernmentCenter Pkwy, Fairfax. The FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors andThe Arc of Northern Virginia willhost a Disability InclusionConference, which will includeover 25 display tables, a paneldiscussion, and communitybreakout sessions on topics suchas employment, housing, public

Bulletin Board

See Bulletin, Page 11

safety, social opportunities, andbusiness-to-business tips forcreating inclusive retail spaces.Coffee and a light breakfast willbe provided. Free to attend. Allmembers of the community arewelcome. More information andregistration is available at:www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman/disabilityinclusionconference2019.

MONDAY/JULY 1Application Deadline. Each year,

the Community Foundation forNorthern Virginia provides agrant opportunity to help publicschools encourage healthylifestyles through increasedexercise and better nutrition.Grants up to $2,000 are awardedin a competitive grant process.Public elementary, middle andhigh schools located in NorthernVirginia are all eligible to apply.Visit www.cfnova.org/for-grant-seekers/healthy-kids-grants formore.

TUESDAY/JULY 9Family Caregiver Telephone

Support Group. 7-8 p.m.Fairfax County’s Family CaregiverTelephone Support Group meetsby phone on Tuesday, February13, 7-8 p.m. This month’s topic isAfter Hospitalization: What’sNext? Call 703-324-5484, TTY711 to register.

Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.

Police sketch

TIPS (8477). They can also be sent in by texting“TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). TextSTOP to 274637 to cancel, or HELP to 274637 forhelp. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymoustipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000if their information leads to an arrest.

Suspicious DeathInvestigated in Reston

An investigation is underway after Jose LorenzoGuillen Mejia, 24, of Reston, was found dead near awalking trail early Sunday morning in a wooded areabetween Hunters Woods Plaza and Breton Court inReston. Officers initially responded around 1:45 a.m.to investigate the report of gunshots. Officers search-ing the wooded trails discovered Mejia with traumato his upper body and he was pronounced dead atthe scene. Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureauand Crime Scene Section have assumed the investi-gation and continue to canvass the area for witnesses.The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medi-cal Examiner to determine exact cause and mannerof death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact theFairfax County Police Department Major Crimes Bu-reau at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submittedanonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). They can also be sent in by texting“TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). TextSTOP to 247637 to cancel, or HELP to 247637 forhelp. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymoustipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to$1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.


Free Meals for Children During Summer BreakApproximately 29 percent of students in

FCPS qualify for free and reduced-pricemeals. That’s more than 54,000 studentswho usually have access to breakfast andlunch at school each day.

Fairfax County Public Schools will partici-pate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s(USDA) 2019 summer food service programfor children, a program established to en-sure that students continue to receive nu-

tritious meals when school is not in session.Free meals that meet federal nutritionguidelines will be provided to children atapproved sites throughout Fairfax County.

Meals will be provided to all childrenwithout charge on a first-come, first-servedbasis. There will not be meal service onJuly 4 or 5.

Summer Food Program

SOURCE: Fairfax County Public School


Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Not ending the title of this column with a prep-osition?

Not starting either of these sentences with a “so?”

with an “especially” or an “and” (although I do begin many sentences with “And,” just neither of these so far)?

No, of what I’m most proud, at least in the context of the nonsense I’ve presented so far, is my ability, going on a few months now, to ignore the illuminated warning lights on the dashboards of both of our cars: “Maint Req’d” on one and the low tire pressure icon on the other.

Typically, these kinds of non-stop reminders would have bothered me – like having an itch you can’t scratch or a stone in your shoe.

Not anymore. These dashboard reminders barely register a blip on Kenny’s radar.

I place the key in the ignition. I turn on the car. I see the various dashboard lights illuminate. And after the engine has begun idling, I see the remain-ing lights.

No problem. I just place my foot on the acceler-ator and go.

thought and a second look, I will not be giving them too many more thoughts or looks as I drive around. Nor will they bother me in arrears when I arrive at my destination. Out of sight and out of mind, “total-ly,” to quote my late mother.

As you may have discerned from reading the two preceding paragraphs, as it involves cars, I’m not exactly a hands-on person. More like, hands off.

Granted, this lack of interest and, dare I say, manliness, has no doubt cost me thousands of labor-rate dollars at the dealership/mechanic.

But it’s just not me. It’s never been me. I’m a sports and chocolate person. The only thing I want my hands on is the television remote or something sweet.

And tools? To quote your favorite Italian mobster: “Forget about it.”

a car in the driveway. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the danger zone. Nothing good will ever come from yours truly entering it.

In fact, I’m almost positive the repair will end up costing me more if I do it myself (which I couldn’t do anyway). Throw in the frustration and perspira-tion involved and you have a match made nowhere near heaven.

Heaven will have to wait, I suppose. Spending the repair dollars I have over the years

doesn’t thrill me either. But I have no choice. I can’t do anything about my lack of abilities.

To quote the great philosopher, Popeye the Sailor Man: “I ‘yam what I ‘yam.” And I have to pay what I have to pay. I remember always dreading the repair cost when a dashboard warning light would appear.

I knew that light (like the wedding invitation George received in a long-ago Seinfeld episode) was going to cost me hundreds of dollars. Hundreds of dollars which I did not have. That warning light, to invoke George from the same episode was “a bill.” But as I’ve proved recently, that’s a “bill” I’ve been able to ignore.

I know, ignoring a warning light seems stupid. Where’s the future in that?

bulb illuminating the warning light burns out, my negligence/ability to ignore it, is likely making a bad situation worse. Unfortunately – or not – however, I don’t have a Pavlovian response to seeing that light. Seeing it doesn’t make me instinctively react anymore.

It’s not like banging one’s knee with a “doctor’s hammer.” My wallet doesn’t just open when the dashboard warns me. I just drive on.

story, and one I haven’t written yet, and I hope I

won’t be able to ignore it, and likely, not be able to afford it, either.

That of Which

I’m Most ProudFrom Page 9

WEDNESDAY/JULY 17Fairfax Commission on Aging Meets. 1-3

p.m. at Mclean Governmental Center, Rooms A& B, 1437 Balls Hill Road, Mclean. The public iswelcome to attend and join in the commentperiod that begins each session. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults/fairfax-area-commission-on-aging. Call703-324-5403, TTY 711 for meeting accessneeds.

SUPPORT GROUPSParent Support Partners, a service of the

Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, are all parentswho have received training and are qualitied tooffer education, support and assistance at nocost to families or caregivers. They providereliable information that families can use indecision-making and are familiar with servicesand resources that can help families in distress.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/healthymindsfairfax or www.nami-northernvirginia.org/parent-peer-support.html.

ONGOINGAssistance League of Northern Virginia, a

volunteer nonprofit, invites community membersto join the organization to participate in itsReading Express program. Volunteers provideone-on-one tutoring to first grade studentsduring the school year. To learn more contactVP Membership Mary Gronlund [email protected] or Program Coordinator LynnBarron at [email protected].

STEM Professionals Needed. Help assist K-12STEM teachers as part of the AmericanAssociation for the Advancement of Science’sSTEM Volunteer Program, stemvolunteers.org,during the 2018-19 school year. In the 2017-18school year, there are 85 volunteers in sixNorthern Virginia school districts. Contact DonRea at 571-551- 2488, or [email protected].

Volunteer Adult Mentors Needed. Help assistthe Department of Family Services’ BeFriendA-Child mentoring program. The mentors provideopportunities for companionship, guidance andsupport to children who have been abused andneglected, or who are at risk of abuse andneglect. Contact Ibrahim Khalil [email protected] or 703-324-4547.

Herndon High School Library needsvolunteers. Training available to help with re-shelving books, pulling books for teacher use,helping to check passes, or other specialprojects. To learn more, [email protected].

RSVP, a volunteer network for seniors seekingservice opportunities in and around FairfaxCounty, Arlington County and the City ofAlexandria, offers a wide array of opportunitiesfor volunteers 55 and older. RSVP volunteersenjoy flexible schedules, free accident andliability insurance while serving, optionalmileage and meal reimbursement and areinvited to volunteer group projects and socialgatherings. To sign up for an upcomingorientation, email Carly Hubicki [email protected] or call RSVP at703-403- 5360. To learn more about RSVP, visitwww.rsvpnova.org.

Sunrise at Reston Town Center offers amonthly Caregiver Support Group on the fourthWednesday of the month, 6:30-8 p.m. Monthlysupport group offers a safe place for familycaregivers, to meet and develop a mutualsupport system and to exchange practicalinformation and possible solutions. Learn aboutresources available in the community and howto manage caregiver related stress. Call 703-956- 8930 or [email protected] to RSVP.

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. parkinsonfoundation.org. CallNatalie McCall [email protected] 703-904-7600 for more.

Master Gardener Training. The Fairfax CountyMaster Gardener Association offers plant clinics,home turf training or speakers for homeowner’smeetings. Fees vary. Visit fairfaxgardening.orgor call MG Help Desk at 703-324-8556 for more.

Bulletin


By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Beginning, June 11,Amazon launched amajor new employee

match campaign to encourageemployees to donate to 20 se-lect nonprofits addressinghousing and homelessness inthe company’s two headquar-ter regions.

“We will donate to nonprofitslocated in Washington State,Washington, DC, Maryland, andVirginia, whose missions supportaffordable housing and peopleexperiencing homelessness,”said Jay Carney, SVP, Global Cor-porate Affairs at Amazon.Reston-based Cornerstones isone of the selected nonprofits.

Amazon will match dona-tions, one-for-one, up to $5million collectively, throughSept. 30. “This is an extraordi-nary new opportunity to helpevery Amazon employee fulfilltheir vision for investing in thestrength and stability of ourcommunity,” said Kerrie Wilson,CEO of Cornerstones. “We arehonored to be chosen forAmazon’s pilot program, and todo so alongside our partners inthe region.”

Cornerstones has deep rootsin the community. “Corner-

stones works to ensure indi-viduals and families sufferingfrom homelessness, isolation,or living in poverty can accessresources that offer stability,empowerment and hope forhealthy and connected lives.While the Northern Virginiaeconomy continues to improve,Cornerstones served more than16,900 individuals, including3,828 families with 6,499 chil-dren – just this past year alone– individuals and families whostruggle with crippling povertyresulting in food insecurity,housing instability, lack ofmedical care, and unhealthy liv-ing conditions.”

Wilson added, “We are unitedin our collective mission to dis-rupt homelessness, poverty, andinequality that currently affectsour most vulnerable families,children, and seniors. We areconfident that working withAmazon and our partners inthis collaborative effort will re-sult in even greater communityvolunteerism, support, and ad-vocacy so that our region re-mains an extraordinary place tolive and work.”

To learn more about Corner-stones mission, impact and ad-vocacy in northwestern FairfaxCounty, visit cornerstonesva.org.

Pilot program matches employeecontributions to Cornerstonesand Select Nonprofits.

Amazon Tackles LocalHousing andHomelessness

From left — Cornerstones staff: Vincent Jenkins,Housing Resource Coordinator, Elinah Mapfumo,Rapid Rehousing Case Manager, Kerrie Wilson, CEOand Eunice Robinson, Property Manager, Corner-stones Housing Corporation.

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and this is the perfect opportunity for me becausethere are many people here with the same interestand passion,” Sethi said.

At the “Water Workshop Lesson,” co-led by CelestePhillips, Madison High School student and MariaHarwood, Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conserva-tion District, attendees used a 3D EnviroScape Wa-tershed education model. Through hands-on, multi-sensory experiences, conference attendees learned,as their future young students would learn, what awatershed was, how stormwater runoff carried pol-lutants through the basin to a pond, lake, river, bay,or ocean, and best practices to prevent this type ofpollution from occurring.

Tim Turner, 16 of Lorton, said, “My main goal wasto be able to understand more about our environ-ment so I could inform younger children at elemen-tary schools. ... The change starts with them.”

AFTER LUNCH, Pat Hynes, Fairfax County SchoolBoard, Hunter Mill District, recalled seven years agowhen the board received a presentation from thefounders of ESLI, “we were very impressed … butwe worried about whether it would last after thefounding students graduated. … Well, not only hasESLI survived, it has thrived,” said Hynes.

“The school board’s strategic plan is grounded inwhat we call the portrait of a graduate. Those im-portant skills we want our FCPS students to build,collaboration, critical and creative problem-solving,and effective communication, are best taught throughproject-based learning, real-world problem-solvingthrough student-centered projects. … We teach bestand learn best in community through relationshipsand meeting real-world challenges,” Hynes said, “Idon’t worry about ESLI continuing any more. Ourchallenge, as a school system, is to keep up and makesure we are taking full advantage of what you, asstudents are offering,” she said.

From Page 3

Youth Mobilizeto ProtectEnvironment

ESLI High School Chapters InFairfax County

Chantilly High SchoolLangley High SchoolSouth County High SchoolMarshall High SchoolMadison High SchoolOakton High SchoolRobinson Secondary SchoolThomas Jefferson High SchoolSouth Lakes High School

ESLI Virginia UniversityChapters

The College of William and MaryVirginia Commonwealth University

Photo by Ashleigh Tain

Pat Hynes who represents the residents ofHunter Mill District on the Fairfax CountySchool Board tells attendees and leadersat the 5th Annual Environmental StudentLeadership Initiative (ESLI) that theirchallenge is to keep up with the membersof ESLI and make sure the school systemis taking full advantage of what they offer.

For information about those who supported ESLIand how to join an existing chapter or create a newone, visit www.eslileaders.org.

Samba Pathak,17 of Fairfax,a student atOakton HighSchool andConferenceCo-Chair,shares thatESLI is inpartnershipwith FairfaxCounty ParkAuthority andrecentlychanged itsname toEnvironmentalStudent Lead-ership Initia-tive.

Photo by

Mercia Hobson/

The Connection

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