nual fireworks at lake fairfax park held the saturday...

online at www.connectionnewspapers.com July 5-11, 2018

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WellbeingPage 5

Burke Seniors Give English Lessons To Teens in BrazilNews, Page 3

The WelcomingInclusion NetworkOpinion, Page 4

Celebrating FourthNews, Page 3

Area families enjoy a picnic before the an-nual fireworks at Lake Fairfax Park held the Saturday preceding the Fourth of July.

2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ July 5-11, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Wed-Sat 11a-6p, Sunday 12p-5p

July Featured Artists

WorkhouseArts.org9518 Workhouse Way Lorton, VA 22079

W-5: Traci Oberle

W-6: Kristen Cauble-Morse

W-7: Sandi Martina

W-8: Joan Ulrich

W-9: Kathleen Best Gillmann

W-10: Group Show

Join us for our Second Saturday Art Walk from 6p-9p on the second Saturday of each month. It’s the perfect time to meet nearly 100 Resident and Arches Gallery Artists who create art in their studios and exhibit in our galleries. Enjoy thrilling performances of dance, cabaret, comedy, big band, jazz, and theater. Indulge in unique classes in the art of mixology or cuisines from around the world. And explore art exhibitions featuring the

All this excitement and more is tucked away at the Workhouse Arts Center, a 55-acre visual and performing arts center in Lorton, VA, located on the historic grounds of the former DC Correctional Facility at Lorton.

News

See Awareness, Page 10

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Although the first week of summervacation had just started, onThursday, June 21, 100 ecologically-minded high school and col-

lege students attended the fourth annualFairfax County Environmental EducationConference presented by Eco-Schools Lead-

ership Initiative (ESLI) held at the NationalWildlife Federation building in Reston.

The students were there to learn how theymight start an ESLI chapter in their localcommunity. This is a youth-driven teachingprogram in which high school and collegestudents would use curriculum-based inter-active games and activities to present les-sons about the environment to elementaryschool-aged children enrolled in after-

school programs (SACC). Children enrolledin SACC come from diverse backgroundssome of whom may not have been exposedto environmental education. ESLI statesonline: “We believe that if we can educatestudents at such a young age, they can ac-complish a great deal in the near future and

become leaders in their community.”Kath Race is the K-12 program coordina-

tor, education of the National Wildlife Fed-eration. Race provided a statement describ-ing how Leader Talia Schmitt, now a stu

County Environmental EducationConference brings together 100ecologically-minded students.

Not Your Average Conference

Local high school and college students listen to a presentation at thefourth Annual Fairfax County Environmental Education Conferencepresented by Eco-Schools Leadership Initiative (ESLI) where they learnhow they might teach children enrolled in school-aged child care pro-grams at their local elementary schools about the environment.

Raashi Chandra, 14 of Fairfax, Emily Allan, 16 of Fairfax and LaurenElliff, 14 of Burke try out one of ESLI’s Consumption and Waste projects,a T-shirt tote bag meant to illustrate how trash can be converted intouseful items in everyday life.

Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection

Burke Connection ❖ July 5-11, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsBurke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Mike Salmon

The Connection

In addition to bingo, watchingtelevision or an occasionalElvis impersonator’s visit, the

residents of the Sunrise Senior Liv-ing in Burke regularly reach acrossthe equator to teach English toteens in Brazil, and have fun do-ing it.

On Tuesday afternoon, June 19,Betty Vannoy was deep in conver-sation with a student, discussingmovies, the weather and lifearound Sunrise with a teen on thecomputer in a program called“Speaking Exchange.”

“I live in a senior place and Ihave three daughters, grandchil-dren and great grandchildren,” shesaid to the teen on the other endnamed “Vinicius.”

that participate. “I’d be happier ifit went a bit longer,” she said.

Speaking Exchange is part of the“Live With Purpose,” program theyhave at Sunrise, where there is “anopportunity for our residents toengage, enjoy, express, learn andgrow,” said the company litera-ture.

“All the activities we do are partof the program,” Drolhe said. Sun-rise at Silas Burke House justopened six months ago, so they arepicking up community service ef-forts, fundraisers and workingwith the Alzheimer’s Association.“As a new community, we’re devel-oping all our programs,” said Sun-rise Executive Director DeenaLane.

Thackery likes the teaching andconversations because “it’s non-com-petitive and non-political,” she said.

Seniors Give English Lessons to Teens in Brazil

Photo contributed

Selma Thackery likes the upbeat conversations with teensin Brazil, helping them to learn English.

Speaking Exchange is a nation-wide program started in 2014.

The program was brought to theresidents of Sunrise by JuliannaDrolhe, the activities director whois also from Brazil. She started theprogram in April and has a hand-ful of residents regularly take partin the activity where they talk withthe teens from CNA, a school sys-tem in Brazil using Skype and theinternet.

The teens are trying to polishtheir English skills and the resi-dents can learn about other cul-tures and gain computer skills aswell. “I thought it would be inter-esting to talk with the kids,”Drolhe said.

Selma Thackery, a resident fromNew York, has participated for thelast few weeks, and likes “the sat-isfaction of helping an enthusias-

tic student,” she said. The conver-sations are only 10 minutes long,with one minute to end the con-

versation, and they can’t get thesame student again, since thereare 600 CNA schools from Brazil

Being right next to thenation’s capital, FairfaxCounty might needmore than one day to

celebrate Independence Day. LakeFairfax Park in Reston operated bythe Fairfax County Park Authorityobliges by holding their annualfireworks display the Saturdayimmediately preceding July 4th.

Advertised as a day of “Fire-works, Food and Family Fun,” thepark’s campgrounds were packedwith families the night before andprobably the night after the fire-

works too. For the campers andothers who arrived Saturday any-time, the 476 acres of parklandand the full range of familyfriendly activities kept everyonehappy and more than likelyknocked off their patriotic socks.

As evening began to arrive, sodid the cars, thousands of themwith people unloading picnic bas-kets, lawn chairs, blankets andeven porta-cribs. Some parkedstrategically, so the trees wouldnot obscure their line of sight tothe fireworks display. Dylan

Fireworks at the Lake Fairfax Park ‘Fireworks, Food andFamily Fun’ 2018.

Lake Fairfax Park hosts ‘Fireworks, Food andFamily Fun’ Saturday before Independence Day.

Celebrating Fourth at Lake Fairfax

Thoburn of Vienna and Jenny Tranof Leesburg were one of thosecouples. After parking, theyclimbed to the roof of their vehicleto get an even clearer vantagepoint.

The Martineau family of Burkesettled in on the grassy parking lotwith their friends the Merrin fam-ily who are moving overseas. TheSteel family of Gaithersburg founda spot near the band and enjoyeda picnic with Jane Sheakoski ofVienna.

Fireworks night must be the only

night of the year children wait forthe darkness. As the final hints ofpink faded in the western sky overthe lake, crowds walked down thestaircase towards the banks of thelake. Shortly after 9:15, an Ameri-can flag of lights lit up the bankthen, the first rocket exploded offthe lake. Its plumes whizzed high,coils of light spiraled upwards over

the lake, paused and finally ex-ploded into shimmering bursts ofred, white and blue.

Babies cried, dogs barked, andthe crowd “Ooh-ed” and “Aah-ed“ at the Lake Fairfax Park fireworksdisplay that light up the sky fromTysons to Herndon.

—Mercia Hobson

The Martineaufamily of Burkeand theirfriends, theMerrin family,have scoutedout the perfectpicnic area,one with greatsight line tothe LakeFairfax Parkfireworks andone with aquick exitlocation.

Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection


Opinion

One member of Connection Newspapers staff is Kemal Kurspahic,who shares with us his first-handexperience of running a newspa-

per from a war zone when information wasdesperately needed by the besieged residentsof Sarajevo. Kemal Kurspahic is managing edi-tor for The Connection Newspapers. He wasthe editor-in-chief of the Bosnian dailyOslobodjenje in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina,1988-94. Under his leadership the paper pub-lished every day from an atomic bomb shelterduring the siege of Sarajevo, maintaining highprofessional standards and Bosnian culture andtradition of ethnic and religious tolerance in

the midst of terror. The paperpublished the names of thosekilled each day in Sarajevo.

He experienced first hand thehorror of having staff members killed while outon assignment. He was critically injured him-self when a vehicle taking him to his news-room crashed as it traveled at high speed down“sniper alley.” The International Press Institutenamed Kurspahic one of its first 50 World PressFreedom Heroes in 2000.

Journalism is a dangerous occupation inmany other countries, usually not here in theU.S.

I tell this story now because of the newlyminted fear that many journalists feel after themurders of five in the newsroom of the Capi-tal Gazette in Annapolis. Police and survivorssay the shooter had long held a grudge againstthe newspaper, and had sued for defamation.The targeted attack came very close to home.

The dead were Gerald Fischman, 61, edito-rial page editor; Rob Hiaasen, 59, editor andfeatures columnist; John McNamara, 56, sportsreporter and editor for the local weekly pa-pers; Wendi Winters, 65, a local news reporterand community columnist; and Rebecca Smith,a sales assistant.

The shooter had restraining orders againsthim because of violent threats made in a dif-ferent situation, but restraining orders appar-ently do not result in restricting gun purchases.He was still able to buy the gun he used in theattack. This is a loophole that desperatelyneeds to be closed. A person subject to a re-straining order of any type or duration formaking threats should certainly not be able tobuy a gun.

Every newspaper editor knows the experi-ence of talking to a subject, source or readerwho is irate over something the paper pub-lished. If we aren’t making anyone angry, it’sprobably because we aren’t writing about any-thing important. But my conversations withpeople who object to something we’ve reportedhave always had a subtext of respect. Manycomplaints have resulted in greater under-standing on all sides that can create more last-ing connections. Other times have resulted inagreeing to disagree.

Now, we lock the doors at least for now,knowing that there could likely be copy catattacks, as school shootings began with onehigh profile attack. But we are not afraid.

We will continue to publish our 15 weeklypapers.

The threat to survival for most local papersis the decline in advertising, compounded nowby a tariff on newsprint. Don’t forget that ifyou have an advertising or marketing budget,you should spend some of those dollars withlocal newspapers.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

About This Week’s PapersOur papers go to press a day early due to

the July 4th holiday. That means that thisweek’s papers will not contain coverage of July4th events. Watch for coverage next week.

Submit Your Photos for thePet Connection Now

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edi-tion, will publish the last week of July, and photosand stories of your pets with you and your familyshould be submitted by Friday, July 20.

We invite you to send stories about your pets,photos of you and your family with your cats, dogs,llamas, alpacas, ponies, hamsters, snakes, lizards,frogs, rabbits, or whatever other creatures share yourlife with you.

Tell us the story of a special bond between a childand a dog, the story of how you came to adopt yourpet, or examples of amazing feats of your creatures.

Do you volunteer at an animal shelter or thera-peutic riding center or take your pet to visit peoplein a nursing home? Does your business have a man-aging pet? Is your business about pets? Have youhelped to train an assistance dog? Do you or some-one in your family depend on an assistance dog?

Or take this opportunity to memorialize a belovedpet you have lost.

Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favorite picturesinclude both pets and their humans.

Please tell us a little bit about your creature, iden-tify everyone in the photo, give a brief descriptionwhat is happening in the photo, and include ad-dress and phone number (we will not publish youraddress or phone number, just your town name).

Email to [email protected] orsubmit online at www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.

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

Need to addressrestraining ordersand gun violence.

Local Newspapers Under Siege

Editorial

By Supervisor John C. Cook

Braddock District Supervisor

One of Fairfax County’s greatest strengths is in being ahome to over a million

people from all walks of life. While wehave made great strides in bringingthe community together, adults with develop-mental and intellectual disabilities can find it

very challenging to partici-pate fully in communitylife. After they leave schoolor home, many rely on em-

ployment or day services to integrate them intosociety and allow them to contribute by work-ing or through other activities. This popula-tion is growing and deserves a seat at the table.Current services are helpful, but there remainsa great deal of work if we want a truly inclu-sive society.

The Fairfax Falls Church CommunityServices Board established the Wel-coming Inclusion Network (WIN) col-laborative to address these pressing is-sues and devise long-term solutions tocreate an environment where every-one is valued.

I have the honor of chairing WIN,but the real work is done by my operations co-chair Lori Stillman, who is a former CSB offi-cial and parent. Joining us on the steering com-mittee are a number of experts who have a greatrange of experiences with developmental andintellectual disability services. WIN stakehold-ers include county staff, parents of those withdisabilities, special needs services providers,self-advocates, and employers. Together wework to achieve WIN’s four key goals:

❖ NETWORK: Build opportunities for in-creased information and resource sharing

❖ DESIGN: Ensure service equity and effi-

ciency through community-designed services❖ EMPLOYMENT: Boost employment oppor-

tunities through existing and new service mod-els

❖ INCLUSION: Identify and address otherchallenges to full community inclusion

WIN stakeholders meet regularly at theFairfax County Government Center for presen-tations and working sessions. Each meeting hasa new topic of discussion and breakout ses-sions to delve deeper into the obstacles forinclusivity and to find effective solutions. Thenext WIN meeting is on July 9 from 6:30 – 8p.m. and will be in the Fairfax County Govern-ment Center. Anyone interested in learningmore about day and employment services forpeople with developmental and intellectualdisabilities is welcome to attend.

It is up to all of us in the end to make theworld a more accessible place for those of uswith different abilities. I hope you will join mein supporting this important cause and thehardworking stakeholders seeking to make ourcounty a better place for all.

Making Fairfax County accessible to all abilities.

The Welcoming Inclusion Network

Commentary

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

@BurkeConnection

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NEWS DEPARTMENT:[email protected]

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ADVERTISING:For advertising information

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Classified & EmploymentAdvertising703-778-9431

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Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

Blazing heat and sky rocketing temperaturesoften mean cooling off with a dip in thepool. As the summer is in full swing, safetyofficials are reminding the public of drown-

ing risks and prevention methods.”Learning to swim at any early age is all about

being safe in and around the water,” said GinaBewersdorf, owner of Goldfish Swim School inReston, Falls Church and Alexandria. “Undeniablywe all will have an opportunity to visit a pool, lakeor ocean at some point, and our goal is to equip ourswimmers with water safety skills early on.”

The Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention (CDC) citesa lack of swimming ability, fail-ure to wear life jackets, alcoholuse and a lack of close supervi-sion while swimming as someof the top factors that affectdrowning risk. According to theCDC, from 2005 to 2014 therewas an average of 3,536 unin-tentional drownings. One in fivepeople who die from drowningare children 14 and younger.

“A person can drown in a matter of seconds,” saidAaron Schultz, a lifeguard in Arlington. “When I’m

Supervision and learningto swim are top waysto prevent drowning.

Summer Water Safety

A lack ofswimmingskills is oneof the topfactorsincreasingthe risk ofdrowning.

at the pool, I notice that parents are often textingwhile trying to watch their children, but even if chil-dren look like their playing they could easily go un-der and be in danger a less than a minute. This isespecially important to remember at the beach.”

Taking part in formal swimming lessons reducesthe risk of drowning among children between oneand four years old, but many people lack basic swim-ming skills, according to the CDC. “Beginning for-malized lessons as early as 4 months old has shownbenefit in children developing a love for water andfoundation upon which to build water safety skills,”said Bewersdorf.

American Red Cross swimming safety tips such asalways swimming in a designated area attended bylifeguards, avoiding swimming alone, wearing lifejackets, securing a pool with barriers and makingsure everyone in your family is a strong swimmer,are among those that Mary Anderson of the Mont-gomery County Office of Health and Human Servicessays the county is reinforcing.

“There’s a website that we puttogether called ‘Summer ofSafety’, and it’s got everythingfrom A to Z with summer safetyand swimming pool safety.”

Other suggestions include en-rolling in courses to learn CPR,having appropriate equipmentsuch as a first aid kit and cellphone to make emergency calls.

“If someone is around waterand discovers that their child ismissing, it’s a good idea to check

the water first because even seconds can make a bigdifference in stopping a drowning,” said Schultz.

“Learning to swim atany early age is allabout being safe inand around the water.”

— Gina Bewersdorf, GoldfishSwim School

Photo by Marilyn

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Local music theater talent at Signature Theatre.By David Siegel

The Connection

At a singular cabaret at Arlington’sSignature Theatre, George Mason University musical theaterstudents will celebrate iconic

composer Stephen Sondheim with a fullline-up of his songs. The cabaret will ex-plore friendship, marriage, and all thingsin-between through music.

The cabaret will provide an opportunityfor emerging musical theater artists fromthe Mason’s College of Visual and Perform-ing Arts to perform, co-directed by JamesGardiner and Erin Driscoll. Both Gardinerand Driscoll are from Springfield and mem-bers of the George Mason University the-ater faculty.

“MasonºCabaret is one of the flagshippieces of our musical theatre program atGeorgeºMasonºUniversity (GMU). We’realways looking for ways to give new andexciting opportunities to our students,” saidGardiner.

Gardiner and Driscoll worked with

Arlington’s Tony Award recipient SignatureTheatre to mount the cabaret. Signature isthe leading interpreter of Sondheim’s workin the United States and internationally.“The students totally understand what Sig-nature Theatre means to the work ofStephen Sondheim and they’re thrilled tohave this opportunity,” said Gardiner.

“Most of theseGeorgeºMasonºUniversity students areaspiring musical theater performers. Inaddition to all the performance opportu-nities provided by the University, thisgives them a chance to work at one of thetop theaters in the Washington D.C. area,”said Driscoll. “This opportunity will givethe students real world experience in theprofession they are preparing to join.”

The Mason Cabaret at Signature will in-clude a broad array of Stephen Sondheim’smusical numbers. From Sondheim’s magi-cal “Children Will Listen,” to the hilarious“Comedy Tonight,” to the poignant “AnotherHundred People” and his lesser known ma-terial. More than a dozen students will per-form group numbers, duets and

Mason Cabaret to Perform‘Evening with Sondheim’


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solos.ºMusic accompaniment will be byºGMUºfacultymember Joseph Walsh.

One of the George Mason University students per-forming is Max Snyder. A Northern Virginia native,he graduated from Fairfax’s Paul VI High School.

“Musical theater is my favorite type of storytellingbecause the audience feels everything along with you.You’re telling a story and the music guides,” saidSnyder. “You’re there to entertain. You can make themlaugh or cry, but you’re there for them.”

Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffersaid: “From performers to designers totechnicians,ºI’ve always felt it’s important to givetomorrow’s talents opportunities at Signature. It willbe great to have these students on our cabaret stageand introduce our audiences to these new talents.”

Photo courtesy of the artist

Max Snyder, performer,“Mason Cabaret Evening”at Signature Theatre.

James Gardiner, co-direc-tor, “Mason CabaretEvening” at SignatureTheatre.

Erin Driscoll, co-director,“Mason Cabaret Evening”at Signature Theatre.

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Where and When“Sizzling Summer Nights: Mason Cabaret Evening with

Stephen Sondheim” at Signature Theatre, 4200 CampbellAve. Arlington. Performance: July 20, 2018 at 9 p.m.Tickets: $35. Call 703-820-9771 or visitwww.sigtheatre.org.


Entertainment

Yelena Svecharnik is a featured artist in the on-going show, “My Way - A Perspective,” at the OldTown Hall gallery at 3999 University Dr, 2nd Floor,Fairfax, through August, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mon-day to Thursday.

“Many years ago I started to paint in watercolor,still my favorite medium. I don’t have one signa-ture style. I am too curious for that. I prefer tochallenge myself to paint different subjects using

‘My Way - A Retrospective’ by Yelena Svecharnikvaried techniques and styles: realistic, represen-tative, ‘mosaic,’ semi-abstract, pouring and otherapproaches,” said Svecharnik in her artist’s state-ment. “In my small exhibit I would like to showyou some examples of more than 20 years of cre-ativity, experiments, and interaction with color andpaper. Included are my old watercolors, acrylicsand mixed media paintings, linoleum cuttings,printmaking, collages and more,” said Svecharnik.

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

CAMPYouth Arts Summer Camps. At

Workhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Road, Lorton. Multiplesessions available for ages 3-17.Themes include Doodle Tots (ages 3-5), Visual Arts Explorers (ages 6-10),Fine Arts Innovators (ages 11-13),Summer Arts Intensive for YoungAdults (ages 14-17), Short Film, andGame Design. New Music andTheatre Camps include Let’s PlayGuitar Camp, Vocal Arts Camp,Performing Arts Summer CampChallenge, and Experimental TheatreProject Camp. Visitwww.workhousearts.org.

Art Camp 2018 in Burke for 5-8 yearolds, 8 years and up. One-weeksessions take place Monday-Friday,July 16-20, and July 23-27. Camp isheld through Burke CentreConservancy at the WoodsCommunity Center, 10100 WardsGrove Circle, Burke. Second locationis Burke Presbyterian Church, 5690Oak Leather Drive, Burke. Callinstructor at 703-250-6930 or visitwww.czartlessons.com. Campsinclude:

❖ Fine Arts & Crafts Camp (8 and older)– $142 plus $25 supply fee.

❖ Drawing Camp (8 and older) – $142plus $25 supply fee

❖ Drawing Plus Color & Craft Fun Camp(5-8 years) – $120 plus $20 supplyfee

Summer Bible Camp. Monday-Friday, July 16-20, 9 a.m.-noon atHarvester Presbyterian Church, 7800Rolling Road, Springfield. Sail awayto Summer Bible Camp for rising 1stgraders through 6th graders. Free.Register at www.harvesterpca.org orcall 703-455-7800.

ONGOINGArt Exhibit: Candy for the Eye,

Food for the Soul. Through July 8,gallery hours at Workhouse ArtsCenter’s Warrior Way Gallery, 1stFloor, 9518 Workhouse Road, Lorton.Gene Moty, a retired Air Forceofficer, creates contemplative,whimsical paintings using traditionalmaterials. Visitwww.workhousearts.org.

Art Exhibit: Nature’s FingerprintsI. Through July 8, gallery hours atWorkhouse Arts Center, Building 6Gallery and Studio 605, 9601 OxRoad, Lorton. Using only naturaldyes, each art quilt, silk scarf andframed work is an alchemy of colorand texture as unique as a humanfingerprint. Visitwww.MariselaRumberg.com.

Fiber National. Through July 29,gallery hours at The Workhouse ArtsCenter, 9518 Workhouse Road,Lorton. Fiber National is a juriedexhibition showcasing the best incontemporary fiber art from aroundthe country. The 2nd biennial of theexhibition will highlight work usingboth traditional and non-traditionaltechniques.

THURSDAY/JULY 5Studio Ghibli: Porco Rosso. 11 a.m.

(English dubbed) at Angelika FilmCenter – Mosaic, 2911 District Ave.,Fairfax. The Angelika Mosaic willfeature animated films from thecelebrated Studio Ghibli praised fortheir originality, stunning animation,and ambitious storytelling. All ticketsare regular admission. Visitwww.AngleikaFilmCenter.com.

Evenings on the Ellipse withJunkFood. 5:30-7 p.m. at theFairfax County Government Center,12000 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax. The Evenings on the Ellipse

summer concert series is a family-friendly event featuring a wide rangeof musical genres. Paradise SpringsWinery and The Winery at Bull Runwill be providing complimentarytastings; glasses of wine and fullbottles available for purchase. AFarmers Market (2:30-6:30 p.m.) willalso be on site selling fresh fruit andsavory snacks. Rain or shine. Free.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.

FRIDAY/JULY 6B-I-N-G-O. 7 p.m. at Fire Station 3,

4081 University Drive, Fairfax. Enjoyfree coffee, entertaining callers, afriendly atmosphere, $1,000guaranteed jackpot, treasure chestprogressive raffles, and good foodavailable for purchase. All proceedsgo to purchasing fire and rescueequipment. Visit www.fairfaxvfd.comor call 703-273-3638.

DAY/JULY 6-20The Secrets of the Universe (and

other songs). At The Hub Theatre,9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. TheHub Theatre and Jewish CommunityCenter of Northern Virginia joinforces for the World Premiere of “TheSecrets of the Universe (and othersongs),” playwright Marc Acito’sstory of Albert Einstein and MarianAnderson in director Helen R.Murray’s final show as a DC-arearesident. Visit www.jccnvarts.org.

SATURDAY/JULY 7Singles Dinner and Movie Night. 5

p.m. at Uncle Julio’s at FairfaxCorner, 4251 Fairfax Corner Ave.,Fairfax. Fixed price dinner, followedby choice of movie at Rave FairfaxCorner 14. $35 at door includesdinner, soda, tip and movie ticket.RSVP required. Sponsored by NewBeginnings, a support group forseparated/divorced men and women.Call 301-924-4101 or visitwww.newbeginningsusa.org.

Country-Western Dance. 6:30 p.m.at Accotink Unitarian UniversalistChurch, 10125 Lakehaven Court,Burke. The Northern Virginia

Country-Western Dance Associationwill hold a dance with lessons: 6:30-7:30 p.m. and open dancing, 7:30-10p.m. A DJ provides music. Couplesand singles of all ages welcome.Admission for NVCWDA members,$10; non-members, $12; childrenunder 18 accompanied by a payingadult $5. Smoke-free, alcohol-free.BYO refreshments. Visitwww.nvcwda.org.

Mount Vernon Nights. 7 p.m. atWorkhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Road, Lorton. This seriesof free, public concerts features avariety of musical performancesreflecting Fairfax County’s diversity,culture and community spirit. Bring apicnic dinner and a blanket and enjoyone of Fairfax County’s specialsummer traditions. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/mt-vernon-nights.

SUNDAY/JULY 8Hands On Activities. 1-4 p.m. at the

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum,11200 Fairfax Station Road, FairfaxStation. Activities may includerailroad inspired crafts,demonstrations of railroad artifactswith visitor participation as well aspossible history challenges for thewhole family. All craft suppliesincluded with admission fees. Ages16 and older, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 andunder, free. Visit www.fairfax-station.org, www.facebook.com/FFXSRR, or call 703-425-9225.

MONDAY-FRIDAY/JULY 9-AUG. 3“The Wizard of Oz” Performing

Arts Camp. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. atTruro Anglican Church, 10520 MainSt., Fairfax. City of Fairfax TheaterCompany offers a four week campwill present a The Wizard of Oz -Young Performers’ Edition at theconclusion of a four-week summpercamp for ges 7-13. Tuition: $800.Aftercare available. Visitwww.fairfaxcitytheatre.org.

Summer Drama Camp. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.at Lanier Middle School, 3801Jermantown Road, Fairfax. City ofFairfax Theater Company offers itsTraditional Summer Drama Camp

with week long sessions in July andAugust. The Summer Drama Campteaches children to create a stagedperformance at the end of each week.$170 per camper for any one-weeksession, $600 per camper for all foursessions. Visit fairfaxcitytheatre.orgfor weekly themes and registration.

TUESDAY/JULY 10Farm to Fairfax Market. 10 a.m.-2

p.m. at Old Town Square, 10415North St., Fairfax. The market, willbe producers-only – meaning that allvendors at the market may only sellwhat they raise on their farms ormake from scratch using localingredients as much as possible. May-September, weather permitting. Call703-385-7893.

Erin’s Epic Stories. 10:30 a.m. at OldTown Square, 10415 North St.,Fairfax. A variety of children’sactivities and entertainment in OldTown Square at the pergola,Tuesdays June-August. Weatherpermitting. Free. Visitwww.fairfaxva.gov/government/parks-recreation/old-town-square.

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY/JULY 11-12Studio Ghibli: Kiki’s Delivery

Service. Wednesday, 7 p.m.(Japanese with English subtitles);Thursday, 11 a.m. (English dubbed)at Angelika Film Center – Mosaic,2911 District Ave., Fairfax. TheAngelika Mosaic will featureanimated films from the celebratedStudio Ghibli praised for theiroriginality, stunning animation, andambitious storytelling. All tickets areregular admission. Visitwww.AngleikaFilmCenter.com.

THURSDAY/JULY 12Evenings on the Ellipse with The

Beat Hotel. 5:30-7 p.m. at theFairfax County Government Center,12000 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax. The Evenings on the Ellipsesummer concert series is a family-friendly event featuring a wide rangeof musical genres. Paradise SpringsWinery and The Winery at Bull Runwill be providing complimentary

tastings; glasses of wine and fullbottles available for purchase. AFarmers Market (2:30-6:30 p.m.) willalso be on site selling fresh fruit andsavory snacks. Rain or shine. Free.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.

FRIDAY/JULY 13B-I-N-G-O. 7 p.m. at Fire Station 3,

4081 University Drive, Fairfax. Enjoyfree coffee, entertaining callers, afriendly atmosphere, $1,000guaranteed jackpot, treasure chestprogressive raffles, and good foodavailable for purchase. All proceedsgo to purchasing fire and rescueequipment. Visit www.fairfaxvfd.comor call 703-273-3638.

Movies Under the Moon: ET – theExtra Terrestrial. 8 p.m. at VanDyck Park, 3740 Old Lee Highway,Fairfax. Enjoy a night under the starsin Van Dyck Park with family andfriends with a movie for all ages toenjoy. Free admission, bring chairsand blankets.

SATURDAY/JULY 14Japanese Obon Festival. 3-9 p.m. at

Ekoji Buddhist Temple, 6500Lakehaven Lane, Fairfax Station.Celebrate with Japanese drumming,a Hawaiian band, participate intraditional Japanese dancing allwhile enjoying traditional Japanesefood and desserts such as chirashi,yakisoba, huli huli, daifuku. Therewill also be children’s games, achallenge course, and vendors sellingauthentic Japanese items. End theevening by lighting a candle in theJapanese garden to remember aloved one who has passed away. Freeadmission. Visitekojiobonfestival.weebly.com or call703-239-0500.

Mount Vernon Nights. 7 p.m. atWorkhouse Arts Center, 9518Workhouse Road, Lorton. This seriesof free, public concerts features avariety of musical performancesreflecting Fairfax County’s diversity,culture and community spirit. Bring apicnic dinner and a blanket and enjoyone of Fairfax County’s specialsummer traditions. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/mt-vernon-nights.

Stories of the Stars. 8:30-9:30 p.m.at Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Road,Fairfax Station. Stroll with anaturalist along the lakeshore andlearn about the constellations. Anastronomical naturalist will identifythe stars, and there will telescopesfor use. The evening ends with acampfire and s’mores. Forparticipants age 3-adult. $6 perperson; children must be with aregistered adult. Call 703-323-6600or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burke-lake.

SUNDAY/JULY 15Virginia’s Indian Heritage. 3-4 p.m.

at Pohick Regional Library, 6540Sydenstricker Road. Dr. KarenneWood of the Virginia Indian Program(Virginia Foundation for theHumanities) will present her researchon the history and culture ofVirginia’s Native American peopleand communities. Free. Visitwww.burkehistoricalsociety.org.

Hooray For Hollywood. 7:30-9:30p.m. at Richard J. Ernst CommunityCultural Center Theater, 8333 LittleRiver Turnpike, Annandale. Enjoy anevening of popular movie themespresented by the Reunion MusicSociety, Inc. and the NVCC-Annandale Campus, under thedirection of Christopher Johnston.Adults, $15; students w/ID, $10;NOVA students w/ID free; children12 and under, free. Free parking. Call703-569-0973 or visitwww.eventbrite.com and search“Hooray for Hollywood.”

“Bird’sParadise,”watercolor,by YelenaSvecharnik


ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA

FOR YOUR TOYOTA

WELCOME TO ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA’SPERSONALIZED CAR CARE EXPERIENCE

SPECIAL SAVINGS

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Raj Solanki, a Herndon HighSchool student participatesin one of the sample lessonsprovided in the Eco-SchoolsLeadership Initiative Cur-riculum for biodiversitycalled “Hug-a-Tree” wherehe uses his senses to get toknow a tree.

News

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dent at The College of William& Mary and an ESLI co-founderhad been supported in her leader-ship through the National WildlifeFederation’s Eco-Schools USA pro-gram and Eco Leaders programearning the Eco-Leader Certifica-tion.

“Through Talia’s leadership, theESLI network has reached over325 students throughout NorthernVirginia. The National WildlifeFederation, headquartered inReston, has served as the host ofthe annual conference for the lastfour years.”

What made the ESLI Conferenceappealing to many Fairfax Countyattendees was its impact. The con-ference handout stated: “Beingpart of ESLI isn’t just about help-ing the elementary kids in yourcommunity-it’s about driving alarger movement that will change education fromthe ground up,” starting with educating students ata young age.

Although termed an “education conference,” key-note speakers were peers of the attendees, high-school and college-aged students not Bachelor orMaster-degreed certified educators. Among the manypresenters and leaders were Jaden Ko of SouthCounty High School, Celeste Philips and RaniaMilanek of Madison High School and SophiaApplegate and Wendy Gao of Oakton High School.

THE PURPOSE of the conference was not to teachthe like-minded attendees about the environmentbut instead to show them how to teach children en-rolled in school-aged childcare programs at their lo-cal elementary schools about the environment.

The conference opened with remarks by SerenaXia, Conference co-chair and rising senior at Tho-mas Jefferson High School for Science and Technol-ogy in Alexandria. After sharing how she had alwaysbeen interested and involved in environmental is-sues and attended last year’s conference, she knew

when she left that day that ESLIwas “a perfect opportunity for get-ting more involved … I wanted toestablish an ESLI chapter at myschool.”

Xia told how after overcomingsome startup challenges, she andfriends formed an ESLI chapter,mapped out the details and con-nected with a school. In Januaryof 2018, Xia and others beganteaching at the nearby elementaryschool using the ESLI preparedmaterials and reaching out tomentors as needed. Xia describedhow powerful the children’s reac-tions were to the lessons. “When Isee over 20 kids staring up at meas I explain the food web, or howcarpooling is better for our envi-ronment, that’s when I know I’mmaking a difference. You don’thave to find a cure for the nextrampant disease or invent some-thing that will change the world.

It’s the simple actions, just like teaching kids how tomake a reusable bag out of a T-shirt. What truly makesa difference is getting the younger generation to startcaring about our environment.”

Speakers at the conference stressed the youth-teachers would not be alone. Instead, they wouldbecome part of a network of students sharing theirpassions for the environment and environmental edu-cation. ESLI would provide them with a step-by-stepguide. It detailed how to get involved and build asuccessful local ESLI chapter, one comprising a strongteam and mentors to assist and meet monthly withthem via conference calls and help guide them to mapout set-up details such as choosing an elementaryschool, finding a teacher-sponsor and connecting witha SACC director. ESLI would provide resources suchas online lesson plans, teaching tips and feedback.

During the conference, attendees had the opportu-nity to participate in various lessons they might beteaching, attend workshops and learn how to createan ESLI chapter at their school.

To learn more, visit eslileaders.org or [email protected].

Promoting EnvironmentAwareness at Area Schools

“What truly makes a difference is gettingthe younger generation to start caringabout our environment,” said Serena Xia,ESLI Conference co-chair 2018 and stu-dent at Thomas Jefferson School of Sci-ence and Technology in Alexandria.

High school and college students partici-pate in an environmental educationlesson geared to elementary school-agedchildren, one of the many lesson plansthat would be made available to them ifthey choose to open an ESLI chapter intheir community.

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

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

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Well BlowMe Down

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

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESThe Fairfax-Falls Church Community

Services Board’s Merrifield Center offers anew stand-up information kiosk. Part of a pilotproject, the new feature aims to improve thecustomer service experience and decrease waittimes for individuals who are seeking mental(behavioral) health services. To check in,individuals respond to five simple questions,then the CSB’s Patient Track software alertsstaff. Based on clinicians’ schedules andavailability, as well as the needs of the client,individuals are triaged and seen by the nextavailable staff member. For more information onavailable services, call the CSB at 703-383-8500(Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). In anemergency 24/7, call CSB Emergency Services at703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detox Center at703-502-7000 (TTY 703-322-9080).

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDHaven of Northern Virginia is committed to

offering, support, compassion, information andresources to the bereaved and seriously ill.Volunteers provide individual and group supportto those suffering from a loss. Volunteers mustparticipate in a 30 hour training. Training willbe offered in October 2018. To volunteer, callHaven at 703-941-7000.

Assistance League of Northern Virginia, avolunteer 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].

TUESDAY/JULY 10Story Time: Focus and Self-Control. 10-11

a.m. at The Parent Resource Center Library,2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105,Dunn Loring. This Story Time will highlightbooks and activities to support focus and self-control in young children. Focus and self-controlis an evidence-based executive functioning skillthat involves paying attention, following therules, thinking flexibly, and exercising selfcontrol. Registration is limited and required forchildren ages 4-6 and their parents. Visitwww.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center for more.

THURSDAY/JULY 12Story Time: Perspective Taking. 10-11 a.m. at

The Parent Resource Center Library, 2334Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105, DunnLoring. This Story Time will highlight books andactivities to support perspective taking in youngchildren. Perspective taking is an evidence-basedexecutive functioning skill that forms the basisfor children’s understanding of their parents’,teachers’, and friends’ intentions. Registration islimited and required for children ages 4-6 andtheir parents. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center formore.

SUNDAY/JULY 15Public Input Deadline. The Fairfax County

Department of Transportation (FCDOT) isconducting a study to better understand howpeople get around the Franconia-Springfieldarea of Fairfax County on the Fairfax Connectortransit network. Complete a survey to helpFCDOT better understand transportation-relatedneeds and issues. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/franconia-springfield-optimization to complete the survey.

TUESDAY/JULY 17Story Time: Making Connections. 10-11 a.m.

at The Parent Resource Center Library, 2334Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 105, DunnLoring. Making Connections is at the heart oflearning. This Story Time will highlight booksand activities to support this evidence-basedexecutive functioning skill in young children.Registration is limited and required for childrenages 4-6 and their parents. Visit www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center for more.

Bulletin

nual fireworks at lake fairfax park held the saturday...

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