Father and Son "Twogether"
As a born, bread and buttered Bostonian (Newton Centre, a suburb, to be specific), one of my enduring and genetic passions has been to live and die (figuratively speaking; this is not a cancer column) for The Boston Red Sox. My father sold concessions at Fenway Park (the stadium home of the Bosox since 1912), during the Depression when he was a little boy (not yet an adolescent even). He was nicknamed "Beezo," (his given name was Benet, although he was always called Barry) so he could gain full acceptance to a local knothole gang. Named after the wooden planks which surrounded the old Braves Field in Boston (a National League team called Boston its home as well back in the day), the kids ("gangs") would stand and peer through the knotholes in the wooden planks which otherwise blocked their view. It was a privilege and an honor for my father to be so connected to the game this way. He grew up loving baseball, and as a parent, he passed his love of the game on to me – and my brother.
Editorial: Trending in the Right Direction
Commitment to ending homelessness shows progress, but more affordable housing is needed.
On one night in late January, local jurisdictions in our area fanned out to count the number of people who were literally homeless. Fairfax County released its numbers last week; Arlington and Alexandria will do so in the near future. In Fairfax County, the commitment in 2010 to end homelessness in 10 years has resulted in significant progress, even in the wake of the great recession. The number of people literally homeless decreased by a third from 2008 to 2014, from 1,835 to 1,225 counted this year. Many non-profit organizations have partnered to prevent homelessness one family or individual at a time for those on the brink and to house chronically homeless individuals. There is so much still to be done.
Florally Clueless, but Want to Send Flowers?
Let professional florists help make your thought count this Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (Yes, it is. The big day for Mom is Sunday, May 11. Mark your calendar now.) What are you planning to give? If it’s flowers, you are on the right track. Women love receiving flowers, and flowers are still the most popular gift choice for Mother’s Day. According to the Society of American Florists, Mother's Day accounts for one-fourth of the floral purchases made for holidays. About 75 percent of you bought flowers or plants as gifts for Mother's Day 2013. But choosing flowers can be a bit risky if you’re of the florally clueless variety. How can you tell?
Week in Vienna
A bike rodeo for children, preschool through sixth grade, is slated for Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m.-noon, in the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department parking lot, 400 Center St S., Vienna. Advance registration is not needed. Under the guidance of a veteran cyclist, the rodeo will help children who already know how to ride a bike develop safety skills including breaking, balancing, basic road rules and how to handle obstacles. Children must have a helmet to participate. Free bike and helmet checks will be available. Jointly sponsoring this event are the Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Dept., Vienna Police Dept., Safe Routes to School, Spokes Etc. and Bikes@Vienna. Participating elementary schools include Cunningham Park, Flint Hill, Louise Archer, Marshal Road, Vienna, Westbriar and Wolftrap.
VDOT Holds Six-year Improvement Plan Hearing
Public input sought on transportation improvement plan.
It was Northern Virginia’s turn last week when Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) held a public hearing at the offices of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in Fairfax. The CTB is conducting meetings throughout the state to garner public opinion before their scheduled June vote on the state’s Six-Year Improvement Plan 2015 - 2020 (SYIP). Various entities have held numerous meetings in recent months, particularly since HB 2313 - the first comprehensive transportation funding bill in the state for more than 27 years – passed in the General Assembly last year. Those meetings were often standing-room-only affairs, could witness dozens of citizens lined up to comment on particular projects or to suggest others, and frequently got a bit heated.
Shepherd’s Center Hosts Volunteer Luncheon
Community organization celebrates volunteer service.
The Oakton-Vienna Shepherd’s Center, organized in 1997, is one of over 50 Shepherd’s Centers throughout North America shaping a new image of aging. On Monday, April 14, the organization held a luncheon at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church to thank volunteers for their service to the community in Vienna and neighboring areas. “We are happy to have the Shepherd’s Center so active in the community of Vienna,” said Vienna Vice Mayor Carey Sienicki. The Oakton-Vienna Shepherd’s Center’s primary purpose is to provide services to assist older adults to continue to live independently in their own homes and offer programs which supply opportunities for enrichment, learning and socialization. Volunteer opportunities allow individuals to feel needed by reaching out to other older adults. The Oakton-Vienna Shepherd’s Center has approximately 250 volunteers, and 101 persons made reservations to attend the afternoon luncheon.
Motorcycle and Car Show in Vienna
Motorcycle and car enthusiasts from all over Virginia and as far away as New Jersey came to Vienna on Saturday, April 26, for the 12th Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Northern Virginia picnic with a motorcycle and car show. Chapter President Kevin Harris said the annual event, as well as the club itself, promotes recognition of the contributions of the African-American soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments from 1866 to 1944 nicknamed “Buffalo Soldiers” by Native Americans during the Indian Wars.
Arranging Flowers to Deliver the Right Message
Karin’s Florist keeps family traditions blooming.
Family Traditions Blooming In 2011, Maris Angolia, president and CEO of Karin’s Florist in Vienna, was searching for a way to honor her father, Bill Dukas, who founded the floral company in 1956 with his father-in-law George Raptis. “My father was 83, and I wanted to find a way to show him how much he meant to his longtime customers, how much they appreciated the role our family’s flower shop played in their lives over the years,” Angolia said. Angolia held a “Memories” contest, asking customers to send in remembrances of Karin’s. Angolia still gets emotional reading the letter from contest winner Susan McCabe, a lifelong Karin’s customer. McCabe wrote about her father, a former Navy Admiral, who was living in Manor Care Nursing Home in Chantilly after a debilitating stroke. McCabe’s mother visited her father twice a day. “Flowers have always been a way in our family to say ‘I love you,’” McCabe wrote in her memories letter.
For Congressional Candidates, No Common Ground on Common Core
Democrats in Virginia's 8th Congressional District divided on national education standards.
Should American schools share national standards? That's a question that divides the 10 Democrats seeking to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), who is retiring after 24 years in the House of Representatives. During a recent candidates forum, the Democrats were asked if they support the Common Core State Standards Initiative, two candidates said they disagreed and eight candidates said they agreed.
Honored for ‘Service Above Self’
Vienna Rotary awards renamed in honor of memory of former mayor M. Jane Seeman.
The Rotary Club of Vienna honored Vienna’s first-responders of the fire department and police department at its April 23 luncheon meeting at Westwood Country Club. Patrol officer Conor Tracy of the Vienna Police Department and EMT William “Bill” Padgett of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department were recognized for their outstanding contributions to their departments and to the community with the club’s newly-renamed M. Jane Seeman Rotarian Service Above Self awards.
Avoidance Better than Arrests, Prison, Death
Parents, students learn substance-abuse dangers.
ONCE SHE TRIED IT, though, she was quickly hooked. “We did it often; we’d put in money together and go to D.C. to get large amounts,” she said. A month after Gibson started taking heroin, she and her boyfriend were driving back from the District and were stopped by police and arrested. She was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin.
YMM Art Space Beautifies Area
Some amusing trees are blooming in the heart of the Tysons Corner business district. YMM Art Space, a children’s art education center, is presenting a public art project by international artists. Environmentally friendly fabric is installed on 30 trees in Tysons’ Square at the intersection of Gallows and Old Courthouse road. Oncoming traffic and commuters enjoy vibrant colors of the fabric mixed in with the budding trees welcoming the early arrival of the spring season. YMM Art Space hopes to grow the surrounding artist community. Staff at the YMM Art Space have art backgrounds and exhibit their work including collaborations pieces by teachers and students. YMM Art Space is located at 8216 Old Courthouse Rd.
Vienna Idol Heats Up
Auditions open to vocalists through May.
Springtime in Vienna means concerts on the Town Green, festivals, outdoor sports, farmers’ markets and Vienna Idol auditions. This 3rd annual Vienna Idol, a music competition founded to raise money for the Khristin Kyllo “Dream Big” Memorial Fund, began its auditions in late April. Semi-finals run during ViVa! Vienna!, Sunday, May 25, on Church Street and finals take place on the Town Green, Friday, June 5.
Alone on the Road: 7 out of 10 Northern Virginia Workers Use Single-Occupancy Vehicles
Study raises concerns about amount of time drivers spend commuting alone.
Despite the decades-long war against the single-occupancy vehicle, seven out of 10 workers in Northern Virginia drive to work alone every workday.
What to Expect
Real estate experts offer a forecast for spring.
Real estate agent Joan Caton Cromwell says she lost a home bidding war last week in Falls Church even though her client was a strong contestant.
Basheer & Edgmoore Wins Silver
The Maymont community in Vienna, Va. won a Silver Award for Basheer & Edgemoore at the National Sales and Marketing Awards for 2014. Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders, Basheer & Edgemoore took silver in the Community of the Year category.
Spring Songbirds Arriving Now
Local bird groups and bird walks help beginning birders see colorful birds.
The birds are coming. The annual migration of often brightly colored songbirds from their winter homes in Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and the southern U.S. is underway now. Millions and millions of avian migrants fly northward every night and the come down to rest or nest every morning. Some of the birds are enroute to nesting areas far to the north; some nest right here or nearby.
Region Sees Lowest Number of TB Cases in Decades
Outreach efforts get people in for tuberculosis treatment before it spreads.
When Dr. Barbara Andrino came to the Fairfax County Health Department in 2011, there were 137 cases of tuberculosis in Northern Virginia.
Week in Vienna
Vienna Tree-Planting Ceremony The Town of Vienna and the Community Enhancement Commission invite the public to attend the annual Arbor Day ceremony on Thursday, April 24, at 4 p.m. A tree will be planted next to the Parks and Recreation Department’s community learning garden behind Vienna Elementary, 128 Center St. S.
Westbriar Elementary Top Fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Westbriar Elementary in Vienna is a National Blue Ribbon School who has partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for two years to raise funds in honor of a local student who fought and survived leukemia. This year, as the grand finale for their coin collection campaign, they hosted a student versus teacher volleyball game. LLS attended the game and presented them with a check to show gratitude for their contributions and dedication to LLS mission. Out of 137 schools, they are currently the top fundraising Virginia school. With almost an additional $100 in just one week, they have raised a total of $6,552 to-date for LLS’s Pennies for Patients program. The National Capital Area chapter of LLS has 420 participating schools in their Pennies for Patients programs this year. There is always time to join the cause by collecting change and giving student the opportunity to experience the feeling that comes from helping others. If your school is ready to step up to the challenge and fight blood cancers, contact Jessica Lindquist at jessica.lindquist@lls.org or call 703-399-2928.