Sun Gazette Arlington December 18, 2014

INSIDE

Arlington’s jobless rate again lowest in commonwealth – Page 3

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SIGNATURE GETS HELPING HAND FROM GOVERNMENT

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CHAMBER SALUTES SUCCESS OF 2014

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Highs & Lows Letters Real Estate Police Beat 55+ Notes Crossword Local History

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VOLUME 80 NO. 4

ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935

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DECEMBER 18, 2014

Raphael Decision Leaves School Bd. Seat Up for Grabs

BASKETBALL KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR

Incumbent Opts Against Seeking New Term, Running for Co. Board SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

School Board member Abby Raphael will not seek re-election in 2015, and does not plan to run for County Board or any other elected office in the coming year.

“It is good for organizations to have new people come on,” said Raphael, who said her two-term, eight-year tenure seems “just about right.”

“I have a year left in my term; I plan to be fully en-

gaged,” Raphael told the Sun Gazette.

She also will stay active in the coming year as chair of the Washington Area Boards of Education and a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence, among other posts.

“I’m not ‘retiring’ – I don’t care for that term,” Continued on Page 18

Wilson School Supporters Pressing for Historic Status SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

Yorktown High School junior guard Alison Criswell drives to the basket with Oakton’s Lindsey Abed defending during last week’s game in Arlington. Yorktown lost to Oakton, then the next night defeated the Annandale Atoms. Both were non-conference games. See Sports PHOTO BY DEB KOLT for details.

Continued on Page 18

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Could the 104-year-old Wilson School building still be saved from the wrecking ball? At least one civic leader isn’t going down without a fight.

Stan Karson, president of the Radnor/Fort Myer Heights Civic Association, recently blasted county and school officials for not even considering retention of the building as part of

a plan to redevelop its site on Wilson Boulevard for a new middle school.

“I am led to believe that history is a required course in Arlington County schools,” Karson told School Board members.

“If you tear down Wilson School, you are saying to Arlington students history is important only in the classroom, not in the board room.”

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Arlington’s jobless rate dipped from 3.7 percent in September to 3.3 percent in October, reclaiming sole position as lowest in the commonwealth after sharing it with the city of Falls Church for a month.

The reported unemployment figure represented 134,828 county residents employed in the civilian workforce and 4,558 looking for work, according to preliminary, not-seasonally-adjusted figures reported Dec. 9 by the Virginia Employment Commission.

Arlington’s decline in joblessness was emblematic of a regional, state and national trend, although Virginia’s statewide employment has yet to fully rebound to pre-recession levels and has been surpassed by other states with stronger economic growth.

Across Northern Virginia, September-to-October joblessness declined from 3.7 percent to 3.5 percent in Falls Church; from 4.1 percent to 3.6 percent in Alexandria; from 4.2 percent to 3.9 percent in Fairfax County; also from 4.2 percent to 3.9 percent in Loudoun County; and from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent in Prince William County.

In Northern Virginia as a

whole, total employment returned above the 1.5 million mark as the jobless rate declined from 4.3 percent to 4 percent.

Statewide, the jobless rate of 4.8 percent in October was down from 5.2 percent in September, representing about 4.06 million with jobs and about 206,800 seeking work. The federal unemployment figure declined from 5.7 percent to 5.5 percent.

But all is not rosy in the commonwealth: Non-farm, seasonally-adjusted employment was down 900 jobs in October and remains about 16,000 shy of the pre-recession peak set in April 2008.

During the month, privatesector employment decreased by 800 jobs, while the public sector saw a decline of 100, according to Ann Lang, senior economist for the Economic Information Services Division of the Virginia Employment Commission.

Sectors posting monthover-month declines statewide included manufacturing, professional/business services and information-services. Increases were posted in private education/health care, trade/transportation and construction.

Of Virginia’s 134 cities and counties, the best jobs pictures

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, OCTOBER Data from Virginia Employment Commission, showing non-seasonally-adjusted civilian employment for October. “Previous” is rate for September.

Jurisdiction Alexandria Arlington Fairfax County Falls Church Loudoun Prince William Northern Va. Virginia United States

Employed 88,449 134,828 609,886 7,554 187,666 226,389 1,505,494 4,063,292 147,396,000

Unemployed 3,347 4,558 24,534 274 7,712 10,304 62,865 206,797 8,680,000

were reported in Arlington; Falls Church; Alexandria and Bath County (unemployment rates of 3.8 percent); and Fluvanna and Madison counties (3.8 percent each). The highest rates were found in Martinsville (10.1 percent); Dickenson County (9.5 percent); Lexington (9.4 percent); and, in a four-way tie at 8.5 percent, Petersburg, Emporia, Buchanan County and Brunswick County.

Among Virginia’s metropolitan areas, the D.C. region had the lowest jobless rate, followed

by Charlottesville (4.1 percent) and Winchester (4.4 percent).

Danville (6.7 percent) and Bristol (5.6 percent) had the highest rates.

Pct. 3.6% 3.3% 3.9% 3.5% 3.9% 4.4% 4.0% 4.8% 5.5%

Previous 4.1% 3.7% 4.2% 3.7% 4.2% 4.6% 4.3% 5.2% 5.7%

Nationally, Virginia tied for 19th with Missouri and Texas for lowest unemployment rate.

Over the past several years, the commonwealth has slipped a number of notches down nationally; in earlier years, it often would have the 11th- or 12thbest jobs picture.

The best employment situations were found in North Dakota (joblessness of 2.1 percent); Nebraska and South Dakota (2.8 percent each); and Idaho and Minnesota (3.2 percent each). The highest rates were found in Mississippi (7.3 percent); Georgia (7.2 percent); California (7 percent); and Nevada and Arizona (6.6 percent each).

Full data can be found on the Web site at www.virginialmi. com.

Regional Unemployment Joins National Trend Downward: The Washington region’s recovery from economic recession may remain a work-inprogress, but unemployment figures for October painted a generally positive picture.

The region’s unemployment rate fell a full percentage point – 5.7 percent to 4.7 percent – from a year before, according to figures reported Dec. 9 by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The data represent 3.23 million residents of the local area in the civilian labor force, with 152,600 looking for work.

Washington was one of 354 of the nation’s 372 metropolitan areas to see lower year-over-year unemployment rates in October, according to federal figures.

Only 14 metro areas posted higher joblessness, with four seeing no change.

Two North Dakota metros – Bismarck and Fargo – had the lowest jobless rates nationally, at 2 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.

December 18, 2014

County Jobless Rate Again Lowest in Commonwealth

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Continued on Page 18

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Politics

Could Arlington’s Past Come Back to Haunt It?

Actions on HOT Lanes, Streetcar Could Leave Community Without Its Usual Allies SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

Having burned some bridges with their state and regional counterparts on transportation issues in the past, will Arlington leaders be taken seriously in what could be contentious set of choices related to the future of Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway?

Perhaps angling to have a significant role to play, Arlington leaders put out a statement Dec. 12 saying they will be able to work with others as the state government mulls through options to reduce gridlock on the interstate, which bisects the northern part of the county.

“We will consider this new effort and determine how best to constructively respond and engage as a community,” County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said in response to the state’s planned study of options, which could include tolls on the highway.

But the county statement also hinted that Arlington might put up roadblocks if it didn’t like the options that emerge from

what could be a lengthy regional planning process.

The question is: Will anybody across the region care what Arlington thinks about transportation, given the County Board’s politically disastrous decision to sue state and federal officials over toll lanes on Interstates 95 and 395, and the more recent decision to scrap the Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar projects?

County Board member Walter Tejada, now the lone supporter of the streetcar network on the five-member County Board, believes Arlington could be damaged goods when it comes to regional goodwill.

“Our credibility is in really bad shape now,” Tejada said at the Dec. 13 County Board meeting. “People put their necks on the line [for us], and we let them down.”

Interstate 66 runs 75 miles from Interstate 81 in Middletown, Va., to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, and then briefly into the District of Columbia. Before the state government can move forward on any proposal, it must conduct an environmental assessment.

Planning for Interstate 66 inside the

Beltway took two decades and caused exceptional civic unrest. The road only was built after a compromise known as the “Coleman Agreement” was inked in the late 1970s, which limited the width of the roadway, restricted truck traffic and imposed high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) requirements during rush hour.

While Arlington officials don’t like to admit it, the county government was not a signatory to the agreement. In the past, the federal and state governments have amended it without going to Arlington leaders for their approval.

The Coleman Agreement limited the interstate to two lanes in each direction inside the Beltway, although there are now some spots where it is wider, or is planned to be widened, to accommodate rush-hour traffic.

The last time the Arlington government tangled with the state government over transportation, it may have been a case of the county winning the battle but losing the war.

The County Board in 2009 filed suit against the state and federal governments,

attempting to block imposition of high-occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes on Interstates 95/395 as far north as Shirlington.

The board ultimately got its way – although the final decision may have been due more to the finances of the project than the litigation – but the lawsuit so infuriated leaders of both parties in the General Assembly, they imposed a series of punitive measures on the county, including taxing away taxing authority for tourism promotion and reducing state funding for transportation.

This year’s decision by County Board members Jay Fisette and Mary Hynes to rescind their support for the Columbia Pike streetcar project, which appears to have doomed the streetcar effort, was not received well by officials in Fairfax County, who hoped to use the project to kickstart redevelopment of the Baileys Crossroads area.

It also left egg on the face of the McAuliffe administration, which had trumpeted its willingness to help fund the streetcar effort to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

Challenge to House Speaker May Impact Local Legislation SCOTT McCAFFREY

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Staff Writer

Sun Gazette

Could a challenge to Speaker William Howell from his political right flank make life even more difficult for the Arlington contingent in POLITICAL the House of POTPOURRI Delegates?

A number of those with a major stake in the outcome say they’re not worried that the dynamics of the 2015 session might be even less accommodating than usual to their legislation. At least not too worried.

Howell (R-Fredericksburg) is facing a challenge for his seat from Susan Stimpson, a former chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, who is taking aim at the House leader for being too liberal.

“Virginia deserves leaders who understand we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Stimpson says on her campaign Web site. “Bill Howell has been the consistent force behind every major tax increase in the past decade. He has voted for them, he has engineered them and they are his legacy.”

The question to the Arlington House delegation (Democrats all, with none of them ever likely to describe Howell as too liberal): Will the Stimpson challenge push Howell further to the right, making him intransigent on bipartisan efforts?

In a word: Nah. “He’s already compensated,” said Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th).

Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49th), who is critical of many of Howell’s legislative priorities, nonetheless suggested he had core principles and wasn’t wavering.

“Speaker Howell is his own man,” Lopez said. “He is a strong conservative, and he will continue to serve as a strong conservative.”

Yet it’s possible that the fight down in Fredericksburg could have ramifications on the one piece of legislation that Arlington County government hopes to get through the General Assembly in 2015.

The county once again is seeking reinstatement of a 0.25-percent surtax on hotel stays to raise funds for tourism promotion.

That taxing authority had been stripped away in 2011 by legislators from both parties incensed about the Arlington County Board’s lawsuit against state and federal officials over high-occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes.

Bills reinstating the surtax were passed by both houses of the legislature in 2013 – with Howell voting in support – but was vetoed by then-Gov. McDonnell. Legislators did not try to override the veto, and opted not to take up the issue in the 2014 session.

The arrival of Terry McAuliffe in the Governor’s Mansion likely removes the possibility of a veto, but county officials privately remain iffy about the measure’s prospects. All 140 seats of the General Assembly are on the ballot next November, and incumbent Republicans are wary of being seen supporting increasing taxes or

Susan Stimpson is challenging House Speaker William Howell (R-Fredericksburg).

giving Arlington (not a beloved locality down in Richmond) any breaks.

Lopez, who recently was tapped to help his party increase the anemic 32 seats it holds in the 100-member House of Delegates, said many Republicans would be skittish to support measures that put them out of favor with the most conservative wing of their party.

Of the large Republican majority in the House of Delegates, “half of them are Tea Party guys, the other half are scared of Tea Party guys,” Lopez said.

Del. Patrick Hope (D-47th), now the senior member of the Arlington House delegation, said he didn’t want to speculate how the primary challenge might affect the Speaker’s demeanor.

But on the issue of the hotel tax, Hope

expressed guarded optimism that legislators will see the greater good involved.

“I hope his challenge, or the prospect of challenges to other members, has no bearing on this surtax that is so vitally important to Arlington’s economy,” Hope said.

Howell, 71, has served in the House of Delegates since 1992 and has been Speaker since 2003, after a predecessor resigned due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

While Howell is nowhere near as notoriously authoritarian as some of the House Speakers who ruled the roost during the 20th century, it pays legislators of both parties to stay on the good side of the leader, who parcels out committee assignments and has significant other powers at his disposal.

The intra-party fight between Howell and Stimpson is likely to have different dynamics from this year’s Republican primary in the 7th Congressional District, which saw U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor – the No. 2 leader in the House of Representatives – knocked off by insurgent Dave Brat.

Brat went on to win the general election; Cantor headed to the private sector.

Lopez and Krupicka suggested the dynamics of the Brat-Cantor race (which largely centered on whether the incumbent was too often out of town and out of touch with his constituents) will not be replicated in a Howell-Stimpson faceoff. “He’s perfectly safe,” Krupicka said of Howell.

Stimpson unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2013.

SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

For the second time in as many years, Arlington taxpayers are being called in to bail out Signature Theatre.

The county government on Dec. 11 announced a proposed rescue package that – pending County Board approval Dec. 17 – will help the financially beleaguered, Shirlington-based theater troupe dig out of a financial hole.

The restructuring package that County Manager Barbara Donnellan is supporting “will put Signature on a sound financial footing and help ensure that it will continue to draw thousands of people to Arlington every year,” Donnellan said in a statement.

Components of the deal: • The county government will lend Signature $5 million at a rock-bottom interest rate of 1 percent, repaid over 19 years.

• The county government will forgive $411,000 in missed lease and utility payments for the theater’s space, located atop the Shirlington branch library.

• Lease payments for its space will be in abeyance until the loan is paid off.

• United Bank will forgive $2.7 million of an outstanding loan to Signature; the remaining debt to the bank apparently will be paid off using the county funds.

The agreement marks the sec-

ond time the county government stepped in to address Signature’s financial problems. After the nonprofit troupe failed to pay the last half of its 2012 real estate taxes and faced a looming payment in early 2013, the county government approved a $250,000 rescue package.

Most of that 2013 package was designed to eliminate the tax delinquency, after the treasurer’s office threatened to begin seizing property. The remainder of the funding was designed, in part, to provide funds to develop a financial plan.

Maggie Boland, Signature’s managing director, said the organization was “deeply grateful” for the latest financial package.

“We look forward to a long, bright future of producing innovative, world-class theater . . . and of providing a host of education programs,” she said.

“World-class” is a word frequently used by the county government, as well, but when it comes to the arts, the county government has found itself in what could be described as several world-class debacles.

Besides the financial woes of Signature – woes that are hardly unique among theater troupes nationally since the onset of the recession – the Arlington government also has suffered through the financial calamity of the Artisphere arts center in Rosslyn.

Sherri L. Edelen and Edward Gero starred in a 2010 production of “Sweeney PHOTO BY CHRIS MUELLER Todd” by Stephen Sondheim at Signature Theatre.

After drowning in a sea of red ink in its first two years, management of the Artisphere was taken away from the Department of Parks and Recreation and moved to Arlington Economic Development, which is attempting to market the former Newseum space for business meetings.

The new Signature deal earned a “sheesh!” from Tim Wise, president of the Arlington County Taxpayers Association.

“The relationship between Arlington County and Signature Theatre reeks of crony capitalism,” said Wise, who portrayed it as “welfare for the rich.”

Wise probably will have more to say after the full plan is outlined.

“Unfortunately, the manager’s report that spells out all the gory details is not yet available,” he said on the morning of Dec. 12.

“Talk about a ‘transparent government.’”

When Signature and the Arlington government agreed to partner on the Shirlington facility a decade ago, the deal looked like a perfect partnership. A new branch library would occupy the bottom floor of a new building and the theater the upper floors, anchoring redevelopment of

where we’re going, together,” she said, “Every activist group that has arisen in the past two years is going to need to participate.”

That could prove challenging, given a level of distrust that appears to have developed between the Arlington public and the residents they serve.

Juliet Hiznay, who spoke at the Dec. 13 meeting, said the county’s much-ballyhooed focus on community problem-solving and planning seems to have come unglued.

“Are we sticking with these principles, or are we veering off?”

Hiznay asked, voicing concern that leaders had decided to “turn our backs on many-many-manyyear planning efforts.”

She also criticized County Board members for putting too much focus on the school-enrollment issues.

“There are many constituencies that also need to be served,” Hiznay said.

County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said that while he believed the engagement process had not come unraveled, “I can understand why some might have that question.”

Fisette and Hynes infuriated

many by deciding in November to abandon their support for the Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar projects. Again addressing the matter Dec. 13, Fisette said that while he believed it should require “a high bar” to change direction on issues like the streetcar, that is what elected officials get paid to decide.

“You can have three board members change policy at any time,” he said.

Streetlight Installation Has Green Light, But Faces Delay: A traffic light is coming to the intersection of Columbia Pike and South Frederick Street. But when that will occur, and what will happen to improve pedestrian safety in the interim, remains an open question.

County Board members and senior staff on Dec. 13 acknowledged concerns raised by those living in the neighborhood, and

by Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), that the intersection needs a traffic light. They said it would, eventually, get one.

“It’s not a money issue,” County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said. “It’s funded, it’s in the plans. It’s an issue of timing.”

Shirlington into a dining and entertainment showplace.

To pay for its portion of the construction, Signature borrowed $10 million from Virginia Commerce Bank, which earlier this year was acquired by United Bank.

On its Web site, Signature describes its mission as one that “broadens and brightens the region’s cultural landscape with its bold productions of challenging new and established works.”

The organization was honored with the 2009 Regional Tony Award for its artistic achievements.

Signature can trace its roots to a three-production season at a local middle school in 199091. It later moved to what is remembered as the “garage” space on South Four Mile Run Drive, where productions were performed for 13 years prior to the short move over to the two-theater space in Shirlington.

According to its Web site, the theater has been the recipient of more than 80 Helen Hayes Awards (the Washington equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Awards), and has garnered more than 300 nominations.

The theater’s Web site says Signature attracts more than 80,000 patrons a year to its productions; the county government’s press release put that number at more than 100,000.

December 18, 2014

County Government to Bail Out Signature 2nd Time

5

Supporters of TJ Park Again Press Opposition to School between schools and parks,” Presswood told County Board members.

School Board members favor construction of a new elementary school on the Thomas Jefferson site to alleviate overcrowding and address growing enrollment. The task force set up by the County Board to study the issue has until late January to report back with a recommendation.

The School Board’s fallback position, if it does not win approval for a new school at the Thomas Jefferson site, is to construct additions at two existing elementary schools.

The decision on the future of the Thomas Jefferson site will come as County Board members appear besieged by interest groups on a host of issues, from affordable housing to fiscal responsibility.

“We’ve allowed ourselves to be fractured as a community,” sighed board vice chairman Mary Hynes.

Hynes said the only way to move forward was for the disparate interest groups to work toward a common vision.

“We have to take our destiny in our own hands and figure out

The western portion of Columbia Pike is set to undergo what’s known in bureaucratic jargon as “multi-modal improvements.”

County transportation officials say it isn’t financially prudent to put in a new light now, only to have to dig up the infrastructure when those upgrades occur.

“We don’t want to do it twice,” said Dennis Leach, who oversees transportation issues for the county government.

Leach told County Board members that a light for the intersection possibly could be in place within 18 months.

“That’s a lot of people crossing and feeling unsafe” in the interim, County Board Vice Chairman Mary Hynes shot back.

Hynes and other board members pressed for stop-gap solutions.

“We’ve got to have some strategies,” she said. “We’re not the only people in the world to have this problem.”

Transportation officials say they are working on short-term improvements, which range from culling vegetation to seeking an increased police presence..

– Scott McCaffrey

www.sungazette.net

Supporters of open space adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School COUNTY are pressing the County BOARD Board to NOTES require that any future construction on the campus occupy no more than the existing footprint of the middle school.

Jim Presswood of Friends of Thomas Jefferson Park said the most logical way to address concerns of open-space advocates was “building up, not out.”

Presswood and other members of the group attended the Dec. 13 County Board meeting, seeking assurances that the public would have a chance to weigh in on the matter prior to any decision.

The Friends of TJ Park group believes it won at least a partial victory in recent weeks, when the task force studying whether a new elementary could be located on the site concluded that areas to the north and east of the existing school should be off limits.

But that still leaves other options available on the parcel, which the group opposes. It wants no loss of open space.

“We should not have to choose

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

6

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Highs & Lows

THUMBS UP: To the 100th anniversary of Virginia Cooperative Extension, overseen by Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

You might think that Cooperative Extension programs would have little to do with Arlington, but the local office (aided by the Arlington and Alexandria Leadership Extension Council) provides exceptional service.

How broad is the local effort? It ranges from helping to determine what plants would work best in the region’s soil, to aiding with financial literacy.

Kudos to the staff and volunteers of the program for their service to the community, and to the commonwealth. Their efforts are

making a difference.

had the chance for his or her moment in the spotlight.

THUMBS UP: To the inaugural Start thinking about nominees “40 Under 40” awards ceremony, for 2015 – there are plenty of 40held earlier this month at and-under community leaders Army Navy Country Club. who deserve to be recognized.

The effort to salute emerging leaders was spear- THUMBS UP: To this simple headed by Leadership Arlington request of Santa: No special elecwith support from the Arlington tions in Arlington in 2015.

Chamber of Commerce, ArlingThe year gone by saw ton Community Foundation, Arthe early departures of lington Economic Development one County Board member, two and Sun Gazette.

School Board members, one conNot only was it nice to salute stitutional officer, a member of up-and-coming business and civic the local legislative delegation leaders, but Leadership Arlington (“. . . and a partridge in a pear tree sets the gold standard for commu- . . .”). It would be a thrilling change nity gatherings of this sort. The of pace if we could get through lunchtime program moved expe- 2015 without the need for special ditiously, yet each of the recipients elections.

TJ Garden is Imperiled by School Proposal Editor: We, the undersigned, are members of Ambassador Girl Scout Troop 557 (Arlington) and the “Founding Farmers” of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Garden (“TJ Garden”). We started the TJ Garden in 2010 for our Girl Scout Silver Award project when we were a Cadette troop at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

We know there is a huge problem with overcrowding in Arlington public schools and understand that more capacity is needed. The School Board is in the midst of determining where a new elementary school should be constructed, and the site of the TJ Garden is under consideration and has been labeled as an “underutilized” area.

How can an area be “underutilized” when it serves so many students, families and neighbors throughout Arlington?

The majority of the proposed plans would take the land that the garden is located on for a new elementary school and move the garden to a new location. Some plans cut out the garden entirely.

Girl Scout Troop 557 passionately believes that the TJ Garden must stay in its present, perfect location.

Since beginning, the garden from the seed of an idea in 2010, we have worked with students, teachers, and community volunteers to get the garden running at a level where it can be used by the TJ school community and provide produce donations to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC).

The TJ Garden is now a growing part of the school’s IB curriculum. It is a good way

to get students involved and knowledgeable about the different kinds of food being grown in the garden and to learn ways we can positively impact ourselves, our environment and our world. The garden provides new experiences for all members of the community.

Most kids and even their parents have never eaten a vegetable picked right off the plant. It is difficult to get kids to eat their vegetables; however it is a different experience when the child is able to eat the food they have worked so hard to grow themselves. We have seen and experienced this phenomenon first hand.

Also, the garden is an active part of the life-skills class at Jefferson. We have seen kids who are not as outgoing and have different teaching needs be so happy to go to the garden and work and learn.

It is a scientific fact that being outside and touching soil improves your mood.

Not only does the garden help feed people, but it makes people happier. The garden also helps to expand kids’ healthy eating.

We’ve seen kids be so disgusted hearing about a vegetable – okra, for example – and then later be seen taking home of bucket of it to eat for dinner because they had the experience of planting and harvesting it themselves.

The garden also serves as a natural meeting space in its current location. We have had conversations with people from very diverse backgrounds while working in the garden, as they’re passing through to play soccer, take a class or wait for family or friend – all pausing to look or ask about

the garden. We all like to eat and the garden reminds us of what we have in common.

The TJ Garden is one of AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger gardens. Since its first growing season, nearly 1,500 pounds of fresh produce has been donated from our garden to AFAC. Moving the garden to another location is not a viable solution. Moving the TJ Garden would take it out of Jefferson’s IB curriculum.

Since classes at TJ are only 45 minutes long, it would not be worth the time taken to walk to the garden, and unsafe, because many of the plans include a bus lane between the school and the garden.

The leadership skills we all have learned from starting the garden and making it sustainable also helped us get into community service clubs, like the National Honor Society at school, which is beneficial to us and future scholars because it shows how the action of the youth can make a difference, which is what most classes and colleges put an emphasis on now.

Overall, moving the garden would be such a disappointment to our Girl Scout troop.

We hope overcrowding can be helped in a way that does not change the TJ Garden.

The garden is a perfectly and beautifully utilized space.

Keturah Adair, Kathryn Carlson, Alexandra Michalowski, Deniz Gurler, Emely Sanchez, Leah Delancy, Nieve Schimley, Bryn Edwards, Nicole Rocha, Hayley Roy Ambassador Girl Scout Troop 557 Arlington

Editor: Twas the night after the election, and all through the county, Politicos stayed up late, counting their bounty.

“Still three for the streetcars,” cried flatfooted Jay, As he tried very hard to carry the day.

But Vihstadt won (with Dem support), and Howze got thumped.

“What a lousy result!” The Dems were stumped.

Spending out of control, tax hikes year after year, The Board’s off the (streetcar) track, losing the taxpayers’ ear.

But the Board didn’t see it ’til they read the results, Vihstadt won (again), and every taxpayer exults.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753. Email: fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov.

Web site: www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

December 18, 2014

At Least One Reader Is Not Averse To Explaining Streetcar Switch in Verse

7

“A bumpy ride,” said (former) Treasurer Frank; Howze’s loss was only a prank.

So what would the fearful threesome think, With two of their seats in 2015 on the brink?

Two weeks after the election, and all through the county, Taxpayers delight in counting their bounty.

Two of the those Three have conceded defeat; Of course, they want to keep their seats.

On Vihstadt! On Garvey! On Rousselot, fight!

You’re blessings to all, and to all a good night!

Chip Watkins Arlington

Democrats Need to Find a Way Out of Mess They Have Created Editor: Arlington voters have spoken with a loud and clear mandate. They do not want the County Board to go forward with the Columbia Pike streetcar project.

The costs so far to Arlington’s Democrats have been enormous. One longtime, effective Democratic member of the County Board has been forced off the Arlington County Democratic Committee. A promising young Democratic candidate for the County Board has been thrown under a bus, or more aptly a streetcar. And the

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long-term potential damage to the Democrats could be catastrophic.

The ball is in the court of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. It has to decide whether to stick with the three pro-streetcar Democratic members of the County Board.

The streetcar proposal is clearly now a political loser. Will the Democratic Party join it in also becoming a political loser?

Stay tuned.

Philip John Arlington

Builder Does the Right Thing, and Deserves to Be Saluted for the Effort Editor: Thank you to Arlington Restoration Builders for saving the house at the corner of 19th Street North and North Illinois Street.

This is a beautiful stone house, many of us that live in the neighborhood waited in fear that it was going to be torn down and replaced with a monster home.

We all have been pleasantly surprised by Arlington Restoration Builders, not only

that they have saved it, but they are transforming it into a beautiful new home.

For the rest of the Arlington builders, it is time to revisit your childhood tale of the “Three Little Pigs.” These beautiful brick and stone houses have been here for 50-plus years and will continue to stand for hundreds of years to come.

Linda Jones Arlington

Before The End Of The Year, Use Your Health Care Flex Spending.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

With warm wishes to our clients, friends and associates this holiday season.

Editor: I live near the popular new Rocky Run Park at Fairfax Drive and North Barton Street. A four-way stop sign is needed, as is a better fence to confine the young children.

I have spent hours warning the county

government about young children running onto Barton, and have seen four recent near-misses. I have spent hours talking to police and other officials, with no response.

Told me a child must be run over first.

Richard Levy Arlington

701 W. Broad St. (Rte 7) Falls Church VA

703-237-6500

www.pointofvieweyewear.com

www.sungazette.net

Four-Way Stop Desperately Needed

Sun Gazette

Arlington Notes

December 18, 2014

8

COAT DRIVE BRINGS IN DONATIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED: A total of 555

Your Family Your Community Your Community Foundation • Serving the Arlington community for over 23 years.

• In 2014, over $1 Million in grants were provided

to nonprofit organizations in Arlington in the areas of housing, medical, social support, the arts and education.

• 135

college scholarships totaling $335,000 were awarded to college students.

We invite you to invest in your community by joining the annual Community Partners campaign and making a tax-deductible gift by check or online at www.arlcf.org.

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Arlington Community Foundation 818 North Quincy Street, Suite 103 Arlington, VA 22203 www.arlcf.org • 703.243.4785

coats were collected as part of a donation drive sponsored by the Nauck Community Services Center.

The collection event also brought in “a mountain of scarves, hats and other accessory” designed to help those in need stay warm during the holiday season, said Alexis Williams, who heads the center.

Nearly 200 coats were distributed during a recent event at Drew Model School, and an equal amount was donated to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. Others were provided to Our Lady Queen of Peace Church and the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network.

JAYCEES HOSTING ‘PHOTOS WITH SANTA’: The Arlington Jaycees for the 13th year

are sponsoring an all-volunteer “Photos with Santa” celebration at Ballston Common Mall.

Santa will be available through Dec. 24, and there also will be several opportunities for “Pet Photos with Santa.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Virginia Jaycee, a summer camp for children with special needs that dates back to 1969.

For dates and times of Santa’s appearances, see the Web site at www.ballstoncommon.com. For information on the Arlington Jaycees, see the Web site at www. vaarlingtonjaycees.org. For information on Camp Virginia Jaycee, see the Web site at www.campvajc.org.

ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OFFERS GIFT-WRAPPING SERVICE: The Animal

Welfare League of Arlington is offering gift-wrapping services on Saturday, Dec. 20 from noon to 4 p.m. at the shelter, 2650 South Arlington Mill Drive.

“Let us help make those gifts sparkle!” officials said.

The cost is a $3 donation for one wrapped item, or four items for $10. For information, call (703) 931-9241 or see the Web site at www.awla.org.

WORLD CHILDREN’S CHOIR TO PRESENT HOLIDAY CONCERT: The World

Children’s Choir will present its 25th annual Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4250 North Glebe Road.

The concert will feature international carols, as well as Hanukkah and New Year’s songs from around the world. An audience sing-along concludes the presentation.

As part of the 25th-anniversary celebrations, alumni from throughout the choir’s 25-year history will attend and perform with current members.

For tickets and information, see the Web site at www.worldchildrenschoir.org.

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION SET: The Kol

Ami community will host its annual Hanukkah celebration on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd.

The event will feature a communal making of latkes, accompanied by a potluck of vegetarian dishes and Hanukkah-themed games and crafts.

Kol Ami is an affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement. For informa-

tion, e-mail Herb Cooper-Levy at admin@ kolaminvrc.org.

ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE’S 2015 CALENDAR FOR SALE: The Animal Welfare

League of Arlington’s 2015 calendar, featuring animals from the shelter, currently is on sale.

The purchase price of $20 will support efforts to benefit shelter animals.

The calendar is available at the League office at 2650 South Arlington Mill Road.

For information, see the Web site at www. awla.org.

NATURE CENTER CELEBRATES WINTER SOLSTICE: Long Branch Nature Center

will host a Winter Solstice Hike for families with children ages 4 and older on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m.

The event will celebrate the shortest day of the year with a hike and hot chocolate.

The cost is $5 per person. For information, call (703) 228-6535.

NATURE CENTER PUTS FOCUS ON FLYING SQUIRRELS: Long Branch Nature

Center will host a program on “Flying Squirrel Lore & More” on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.

Participants will travel throughout the wooded areas of the nature center to track down the nocturnal acrobats as they glide across the landscape in search of an evening meal.

The cost is $5 per person. For information, call (703) 228-6535.

NEW YEAR’S EVE NATURE STROLL SET: Gulf Branch Nature Center will host

a New Year’s Eve Stroll & Campfire on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m.

Designed for families with children 5 and older, the event will feature special events and a “wishing campfire.”

The cost is $5 per person. For information, call (703) 228-3403.

WESTOVER FARMERS’ MARKET MOVES TO WINTER HOURS: Westover Farmers’

Market has begun its winter season, being held Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with 20 vendors offering seasonal local vegetables, fruits, baked goods, meat, pickles and snacks.

The market is located on North McKinley Road at Washington Boulevard, in front of the Westover Library. For information, see the Web site at http://westoverfarmersmarket.org.

COMMISSION ON LONG-TERM-CARE RESIDENCES SEEKS PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS: The Arlington Commission

on Long-Term-Care Residences is seeking applications for new members.

The commission is appointed by the County Board, with members serving as liaisons to long-term-care facilities and providing advocacy for local seniors living in them.

For information, call (703) 228-1700 or e-mail arlaaa@arlingtonva.us.

YOUR ITEMS ARE INVITED: The Sun

Gazette welcomes your items of interest.

We’ll publicize them across the community.

Items can be sent to the editor; contact information is on Page 6.

Arlington Notes II

9 December 18, 2014

COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: Most Arlington County government

offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25-26, for Christmas.

‘MIRACLE ON 23rd STREET’ KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON: Nearly 200 local resi-

dents gathered on the front lawn of Linden Resources’ headquarters Dec. 5 to celebrate “Miracle on 23rd Street,” the annual celebration that has become something of a kickoff to the local holiday season.

Santa arrived courtesy the Arlington County Fire Department, which transported him on a truck so his sleigh could undergo last-minute maintenance in preparation for Christmas. He presided over special events for children inside the Crystal City headquarters building, but not before the crowd witnessed the lighting of the 50foot spruce on Linden’s front lawn.

County Board Chairman Jay Fisette and Del. Patrick Hope were among the speakers, as were Linden board chairman Bob Cunningham and CEO Linda Chandler.

Proceeds from a silent auction benefited Vets Ready2Work, an initiative that provides job-readiness and -placement services to military veterans.

Linden Resources is the largest employer of individuals with disabilities in Arlington, operating commercial businesses and contracting with the federal government.

LEADER TAPPED FOR NEW ‘NONPROFIT RESOURCE CENTER’: Anne Vor der

Santa Claus arrived by firetruck – his sleigh we getting last-minute adjustments in preparation for the big night on Dec. 25 – as he visited with those attending the “Miracle on 23rd Street,” sponsored by Linden Resources.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

board will work to advance the center’s mission and goals and will consist of nonprofit and corporate leaders, Marymount faculty and staff, and the Arlington Community Foundation staff and trustees.

ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE SEEKS SPONSORS FOR ADOPTABLE PETS:

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s “Adopt It Forward” initiative seeks individuals and businesses willing to sponsor an adoptable animal by paying the adoption fee.

The tax-deductible sponsorship “will not only support the care of a shelter animal, but may also fast-track them into permanent homes,” officials at the shelter said.

Sponsorship also will include microchipping, vaccines and spay-neuter services.

“It has been demonstrated with similar programs throughout the animal-welfare community that waived adoption fees help to shorten the length of time an animal spends in a shelter environment,” said Neil Trent, president & CEO of the Animal Welfare League. “It can really make a significant difference in finding homes for animals that have been living at the shelter awhile, older animals or animals with medical needs.”

Animals that are part of the Adopt It Forward program are identified with a special profile card on their kennels in the shelter, and their participation is noted in their online profiles.

Individuals or business interested in sponsoring an animal in this program can call (703) 931-9241, come into the shelter to pay the sponsorship fee, or complete the Adopt It Forward donation form at www. awla.org.

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Bruegge has been named founding director of the Nonprofit Resource Center, an initiative of Marymount University in partnership with the Arlington Community Foundation.

The center’s goal is to educate local leaders and advance “best practices” in the nonprofit and philanthropic community through academic programs, consulting and research that examines issues of importance to the nonprofit community and the university.

“Through the application of the skills developed during their studies at Marymount, teams of students, under the guidance of a faculty member and an advisory board member, will address nonprofit organizations’ business issues central to the clients’ longer-term viability and effectiveness,” Marymount president Matthew Shank said. “In doing so, our students will provide a valuable service – at no cost to the client – while being exposed to issues that transcend the formal academic environment.”

Vor der Bruegge previously held positions with the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families; Healthy Families Arlington; and Jubilee Jobs.

“We are fortunate to have Anne’s extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, especially with organizational start-ups,” said Wanda Pierce, executive director of the Arlington Community Foundation.

“She has demonstrated a deep knowledge of the Arlington community, which will be an asset in providing services that benefit nonprofits.”

The center will offer certificate programs in development operations, fund development, financial management, board development and management. Its advisory

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Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

10

Business

Chamber of Commerce Wraps Up a Busy Year “Transition” was the word of the year for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, which saw the retirement of its longtime president and an office move back to the Courthouse area as the business organization also worked to expand its footprint in the community and increase its membership.

“What a year. A great year,” said outgoing Chamber chair Tim Hughes at the organization’s annual meeting, which drew 250 community, political and business leaders to the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel Dec. 12.

But also a busy year, and a complicated one.

“When you’re chair, you get to see how the sausage is made. We needed to find a new leader, a new space – and keep the trains running,” said Hughes, a local attorney who is turning over the leadership reins to Kevin Shooshan of the development firm Shooshan

Co. in 2015.

Shooshan, who will be one of the youngest leaders in the Chamber’s 91-year history, said he was ready.

“I’m excited, unbelievably excited,” he said, aiming to “make a difference, being a problem-solver in the community.”

Shooshan announced his selection of Todd Yeatts, a government-affairs executive with the Boeing Co., to be chair-elect in 2015, moving up to chair in 2016.

In remarks, Hughes and Shooshan said the biggest challenge of 2014 was managing the transition between Rich Doud, who had served as the Chamber’s president for more than 20 years, and his ultimate successor.

“This was a big job – we really invested both time and money to find the right person,” Shooshan said. “I really appreciate all the work Tim put in.”

Hughes said Doud established

Incoming Arlington Chamber of Commerce chair Kevin Shooshan (center) is flanked by 2014 chair Tim Hughes (left) and 2015 chair-elect Todd Yeatts at the business organization’s annual meeting, held Dec. 12

a culture of “warmth and welcoming” that is unparalleled in the local business world.

After a search, the organization’s board of directors opted for a home-grown contender, selecting Chamber vice president Kate Roche to take over top leadership. It was, Hughes said, a “great pick.”

Keynoting the annual meeting was Timothy Keating, a senior vice president of Boeing, which is consolidating its defense, international and government-relations units to a new facility adjacent to Long Bridge Park in Crystal City.

Keating said business leaders needed to “pool the collective

wisdom and influence” they wield to press for pro-growth policies at the local, state and national levels.

“We can do it together,” he said. “We need to advance a positive agenda . . . we need to redouble our efforts . . . we need to be clear we’ll remember those who stood with us, and we’ll remember those who stood against us.”

Given dysfunction at the federal level, “state and local governments are increasingly the place to get things done – in fact, to get anything done,” Keating said.

At the annual meeting, the Ballston Business Improvement District was presented with the Chair’s Award; Lindsey Rheaume of Eagle Bank received the President’s Award; and the Economic Development and Government Affairs Committee, led by Tad Lunger and Brian Gordon, received the Committee of the Year Award.

Business Briefcase

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HAS PHOTO OF UKRAINE DELRLINGTON PLAYS HOSTS TO INNOVATORS FROM UKRAINE:

Sun Gazette

The Arlington Sister City Association recently played host to a group of emerging leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship in Ukraine.

The event, held Nov. 13 at the Arlington Arts Center, was part of the group’s 10-day trip to the U.S., sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center and hosted by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and Global Trade Strategies LLC. The Open World Program is funded by Congress and is designed to encourage mutual understanding between the U.S. and several countries of Eurasia, and to offer exposure to U.S. democratic institutions. Followup activities are offered after the groups return home.

Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in western Ukraine, is one of five communities with Sister City relationships with Arlington. The others are Coyoacan, Mexico; Reims, France; Aachen, Germany; and San Miguel, El Salvador.

CIVIC FEDERATION TO MULL SEEKING DEVELOPER PROFFERS FOR SCHOOLS: Should

the development community be asked to kick in, financially, to help Arlington address an in-

creasingly crowded school system? That’s a question to be taken up in January by the Arlington County Civic Federation.

The federation’s schools committee has introduced a resolution calling on the County Board and School Board to work together to “identify and create new revenue streams and additional mechanisms to equip Arlington to meet the challenge of increasing school capacity while maintaining existing infrastructure.”

Among the possibilities: Asking, or requiring, developers to provide support – financial or facilities – to address school needs in order to gain higher density for their projects.

The county government already accepts a host of proffers, from undergrounding utilities to contributing to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund to providing what is loosely termed “public art,” in exchange for higher density than otherwise would be permitted.

But proffers for schools, while common across much of the region, generally are unknown in Arlington. One reason: There’s a limit to how much a developer, and the bankers who underwrite projects, are willing to pay for increased zoning density, making proffers a zero-sum game: If dollars are funneled into school

Among those taking part in the 2014 Open World U.S.-Ukraine Innovation initiative were Oksana Semenyshyn, Tim Aleksandronets, Regina Makhotina, Rostyslav Chayka, Ira Troshchynska, Andriy Tsintsiruk (head of the Ukraine committee of the Arlington Sister Cities Association) and Artem Serenok.

projects, they won’t be available to support county-government initiatives.

County Board members have been hesitant to even open such a discussion, but the ongoing boom in student population may leave them no choice: Enrollment currently is about 24,500, and is expected to grow to more than 30,000 by 2021. That has left school officials scrambling to find both space to put them, and money to fund new construction.

The proposed Civic Federation resolution voices fear that the county government’s debt

is about to push up against selfimposed limits, eliminating a key financing mechanism for school construction. And like all local governments across Virginia, there are limits imposed by the state government on what types of taxes and fees can be levied on the public.

Civic Federation president Michael McMenamin said the resolution is likely to be taken up at the federation’s next meeting, slated for Jan. 6.

COUNTY’S VISITORS’ BUREAU TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABIL-

ITY: Arlington Convention &

Visitors Service, an arm of the county government’s Arlington Economic Development, has been named a partner of Virginia Green, a statewide initiative that works to reduce the impact of the commonwealth’s tourism industry.

As part of the effort, the local agency will promote the initiative to its partners and clients, and will work to use environmentally sensitive measures.

“We hope our partnership Continued on Page 11

Business

11

with Virginia Green will help us to encourage Arlington’s hospitality community to practice green measures in their businesses, and ensure the use of tourism resources by future generations,” said Emily Cassell, director of the convention and visitors’ service.

The agency worked with the county government’s Department of Environmental Service, to achieve the designation.

While the rate of growth continued to cool, Arlington in 2013 retained its crown as top tourist-and-business-traveler destination in the commonwealth.

Domestic-travel expenditures in the county totaled $2.83 billion, accounting for 13.2 percent of the statewide total, according to figures reported by the state government.

Arlington remained ahead of secondplace Fairfax County, which had total tourism expenditures of $2.73 billion in 2013, according to the report.

In 2012, the two jurisdictions had been more tightly matched, but Arlington saw a growth rate of 1.9 percent from 2012 to 2013, while spending in Fairfax declined 0.6 percent.

Rounding out the top five jurisdictions were Loudoun County at $1.56 billion (down 0.8 percent from a year before), Virginia Beach at $1.28 billion (up 1.9 percent) and Henrico County at $746.5 million (up 5 percent).

Nail down that new roof this fall—

December 18, 2014

Continued from Page 10

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Virginia Transportation Authority has received ratings from the three major bondrating houses as it prepares for its first sale of bonds.

The agency’s credit-worthiness received ratings of “AA+” from Fitch, “Aa1” from Moody’s and “AA+” from Standard & Poor’s, with a “stable outlook” from each rating agency.

The ratings came as the authority planned to issue revenue bonds totaling $69 million.

“We are pleased,” said Marty Nohe, a Prince William County supervisor and chairman of the regional transportation authority. “These ratings pave the way for the authority to continue to advance regional projects as quickly as possible, at low interest rates, achieving real congestion relief in Northern Virginia.”

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority was created by the General Assembly in 2002, but remained a planning body until enactment of provisions of the state government’s 2013 transportationfunding overhaul. Member jurisdictions include Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

In its analysis of the authority’s creditworthiness, Moody’s analyst said there was “the expectation that the authority’s economic base will remain strong.” Fitch’s analyst noted the “strong financial and debt-management practices demonstrated by the state and local governments represented on the NVTA board.”

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

12

2015 World Police & Fire Games Attract Partners and Sponsors of All Sizes With just under 200 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games (www. fairfax2015.com), a significant trend is emerging. Corporations with global reach are lining up in financial support of the Games, seeking to honor the 12,000 First Responder athletes expected to compete at more than 50 venues throughout the National Capital Region.

The latest to join the growing list of “Official Partners” of the Games are Inova Health Systems and Northrop Grumman. They will join existing Partners - Scott Safety, Keolis, SAIC, and Pierce Manufacturing - in honoring global First Responders and providing crucial investment in logistical and infrastructure support for the Games.

Also joining the Games as Official Providers are Cardinal Bank, ICMA-RC, Cordia Partners Guernsey and Venable LLP. The list of incoming sponsors is rounded out by local organizations participating in the Games’ Proud Host program. The growing number of Proud Host participants include Grant Thorton, Booz Allen, Glory Days Grill, B.F. Saul Company, Karin’s Florist, IPA, Noblis, Reston Limousine, Serco, IMC, Sage Communications and Clyde’s Restaurant Group.

“Cardinal Bank is thrilled to be a sponsor of the 2015 World Police & Fire Games and are proud to be supporting all of the men and women first responders coming to our home to meet and compete in the Games,” said Kevin Reynolds, President of Cardinal Bank and Chairman of the Fairfax 2015 Board of Directors. “We encourage businesses both large and small to join us in making these Games an event to remember for the participants and an economic success for the region.”

For sponsors, the Fairfax 2015 Games present a unique opportunity to balance leadership in corporate responsibility with exposure to thousands of First Responders and public and private sector decision makers tasked with upholding the safety of communities worldwide.

Over 12,000 athletes are expected to travel from 70 countries to compete in 60 championship sports, continuing a

tradition that started with the inaugural Games in 1985 and outnumbers even the Summer Olympics in terms of competitors (10,568 athletes participated in the 2012 London Olympics). The event is a strong draw for accompanying family and friends, and is expected to drive between $60-80 million in economic activity throughout the region.

“Inova is honored to be part of the World Police & Fire Games by supporting these deserving men and women from all over the world,” said Knox Singleton, CEO, Inova. “These heroes have an essential duty within our global communities and we applaud them for all they stand for.”

Northrop Grumman’s Vice President of Global Corporate Responsibility, Sandra Evers-Manly echoes those views. “First responders are fundamental to our global security,” she said. “Northrop Grumman is pleased to be a sponsor of the World Police & Fire Games taking place here in our backyard. We look forward to cheering on these heroes and ‘sheroes’ and are grateful for their daily commitment to keep us safe.”

The countdown to the Games was formally kicked off in May by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe at Fairfax County Fire Department Fire Station 42, joined by prominent members of the regional First Responder and business communities. Governor McAuliffe is serving as Chairman of an Honorary Board alongside Vice Chair Tom Ridge, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania. They are joined on the Honorary Board by former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, U.S. Congressmen Gerry Connolly, James Moran and Frank Wolf, and Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran. More than a dozen executives from the private sector complete the Honorary Board.

Companies interested in learning more about the Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games should contact Michael O’Brien, Vice President of Corporate Development, at 703-752-9503 or michael.obrien@fairfax2015.com or Lisa Huffman at 703-752-9516 or lisa. huffman@fairfax2015.com.

www.insidenova.com

World Police & Fire Games To Be Featured at NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo

Sun Gazette

As part of a broader marketing relationship with NBC4, the Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games will be featured at the NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo to be held on January 10 – 11, 2015 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. Families are encouraged to attend the free event and stop by the Games exhibition area to watch athlete demonstrations

as well as to participate in police and fire themed obstacle courses. A Games information booth will also be on site for those wishing to learn more about the event or to sign up as a volunteer.

For more information about the World Police & Fire Games please visit Fairfax2015.com or for more information about the Expo visit nbcwashington.com.

SUPPORT OUR

HEROES The Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games will take place from June 26 to July 5, 2015.

12,000 athletes from over 70 countries are expected to compete in 61 sports in 53 area venues.

The Games present an amazing opportunity for our region and our communities as we honor and celebrate our everyday heroes – first responders – who do so much to serve and protect us all.

COMPETE. Open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel.

VOLUNTEER. Be one of the 4,000 volunteers needed to showcase Fairfax County and the National Capital Region to the World.

GET INVOLVED. Businesses and individuals alike can get involved through our Official Partner, Proud Host, or Merchant Incentive sponsorship programs.

BE A SPECTATOR. Viewing of all sport competitions are free of charge.

For more information on how you can be a part of the World Police & Fire Games, please visit FAIRFAX2015.COM

They each rounded off to 1.9 million, but Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport bested Washington Dulles International Airport in passenger totals in October, and appears likely to set another year-end record.

A total of 1,901,805 passengers came and went through National’s jetways during the month, compared to 1,872,982 at Dulles, according to figures reported by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which runs both facilities.

Both airports reported year-over-year passenger-count increases: 9.3 percent at Reagan National and 2.1 percent at Washington Dulles. Combined, the two airports saw an increase of 5.6 percent for the month.

For the first 10 months of the year, the Washington Dulles passenger total of 18.2 million is down 1.7 percent from a year be-

fore – all of it on the domestic-flight side – while Reagan National’s passenger count of 17.4 million is up 1 percent.

If that increase holds, 2014 will surpass last year as the best in Reagan National’s 73-year history. Dulles’ top-performing year was 2005.

Reagan National continues to benefit from increases in service from Southwest/ Airtran, which has seen its passenger activity increase more than 110 percent over the past year as the airline took control of takeoff and landing slots divested by the merging American and US Airways.

Delta and JetBlue also have posted double-digit increases in passenger totals at the airport, and while federal regulators required American/US Airways to hand over some slots to rivals, its passenger count has not been significantly affected.

(Related to the mergers: The Airtran

Arlington Sees Increase in Home Sales, Average Prices An increase in both home sales and average prices in November pushed yearover-year sales volume in Arlington up 18 percent, according to new figures.

The news for sellers was not entirely rosy, however, as homes were taking longer to sell and were garnering a smaller percentage of asking price, with inventory remaining significantly above a year before.

A total of 182 properties went to closing countywide last month, according to figures reported Dec. 10 by RealEstate Business Intelligence, an arm of the local multiple-listing service.

That’s up 4.6 percent from the 174 properties selling in November 2013.

The average sales price of all homes that sold rose 12.8 percent from $564,541 to $636,664, boosted in part by the larger number of single-family homes that were part of the sales mix. But average sales prices were up across all three segments of the market: • The average sales price for single family homes was up 4.1 percent to $863,773.

• The average sales price for attached homes, such as townhouses and rowhouses, was up 12.1 percent to $491,396.

• The average sales price for condominiums was up 6 percent to $441,391.

The median sales price for all properties, representing the point at which half sold for more and half for less, rose 18.4

percent to $590,000.

There were 25 million-dollar-or-more sales during the month.

Among homes that went to closing in November, it took an average of 56 days to pivot from listing to ratified sales contract, up from 37 days a year before. Homes that sold garnered 96.7 percent of listing price, down from 97.3 percent.

Of homes that sold during the month, conventional financing was the method of transacting the deal in 132 cases, followed by cash (26) and VA-backed loans (16).

Inventory continued to be running above 2013’s figures, although the sheer volume of homes on the market has been cut back in recent months. At the end of November, there were 536 properties for sale across the county, up about 35 percent from the 398 a year before.

Total sales volume for the month was $115.8 million, up from $98.2 million a year before.

Where is the market heading? Indicators point to a mixed outlook: The total number of pending sales in the county is up 6.5 percent from a year before, and the number of homes going under contract was up during the month. But the number of new pending sales was down slightly.

Figures represent most, but not all, properties on the market. All figures are preliminary, and are subject to revision.

County Board OKs Increase in Taxi Operating Certificates community, and these additional cabs will provide more options and convenience to many people with a disability,” County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said in a statement.

Counting the new operating certificates, Red Top Cab remains the largest single operator of taxis in Arlington, with 355. Blue Top grows to 181, followed by Arlington Yellow Cab (100), All Access (60), EnviroCab (50), Friendly Cab (39), Crown Cab (37) and Hess Cab (35).

The soon-to-combine American/US Airways and affiliated regional carriers had a market share of 53.2 percent at Reagan National in October, down from 58.6 percent a year before. Delta ranked second (15.1 percent), Southwest/Airtran third (10.2 percent), United fourth (8.6 percent) and JetBlue fifth (7.2 percent).

At Washington Dulles, United’s market share of 63.2 percent was down from 67.2 percent a year before. Rounding out the top five were American/US Airways (4.7 percent), Frontier (4.5 percent), Delta (4.2 percent) and Southwest (2.2 percent).

At BWI, which is owned and operated by the Maryland state government, October’s passenger total of 1,926,200 was up 0.4 percent from a year before. Southwest/ Airtran had a market share there of 70.9 percent, up from 70 percent a year before.

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County Board members on Dec. 13 approved a staff recommendation to add 60 new taxicab-operating certificates, bringing to 827 the number permitted to operate in the county.

Board members voted 5-0 to provide 10 new certificates to Blue Top Cab and allowing a start-up operation, All Access Taxi, to enter the market with 50 certificates.

All the new certificates require the use of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

“We strive to be a fully welcoming

brand is slated to disappear from the skies at the end of the year, with the US Airways brand fading into history by the end of 2015.)

Dulles has been affected by drawdowns in service by dominant United, and also by the decision by several other airlines to move more service to Reagan National and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall airports.

New service by Frontier has been one bright spot at Dulles; the carrier inaugurated flights to five cities in August, nine in September and one more (Cleveland) in October.

A relatively bright spot at Dulles has been international travel, which while down in October had been running about 2.5 percent higher than 2013 during the first nine months of the year.

December 18, 2014

Reagan National Tops Dulles in Monthly Passengers

13

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

14

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The panel tasked with revamping how Virginia measures student success has released its list of a dozen recommendations directing the General Assembly to give school districts more flexibility in how they assess students and more funding to do it.

The governor’s Standards of Learning (SOL) Innovation Committee, made up of educators, advocates, legislators of both parties and business leaders, has been working since July to craft a series of recommendations aimed at reforming the current assessment system.

The committee is recommending legislation and funding to give school divisions incentives to identify alternative ways for students to accrue standard credits outside of the traditional seat-time requirements.

The committee also suggests that the state’s content standards be revised to be “fewer and deeper” and emphasize essential skills needed for success in “college, career and citizenship.”

It is recommending some reforms in relation to the A-F grades that will be assigned to all Virginia public schools starting in 2017, part of new legislation drafted by Del. Tag Greason (R-Ashburn), who chairs the House Education Committee. The letter grades for each school will be based in large part on students’ standardized-test scores.

The committee is suggesting that the Board of Education add accreditation ratings that recognize schools that saw significant growth in pass rates but fell short of accreditation benchmarks.

It also wants to see an appeals process put in place that allows schools that either are not fully accredited or did not demonstrate significant improvement in pass rates to appeal their rating.

And committee members want the mandates to come with state money to pay for them. It recommends that the governor and General Assembly provide funding for professional development at the local schools level; more staff at the Virginia Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school divisions; and opportunities for on-demand student testing, retests and the chance to demonstrate growth from the beginning of the school year to the end.

“These first 12 interim recommendations are proof that we assembled the right team to tackle a very complicated and contentious subject,” Secretary of Education Anne Holton said in a statement announcing the recommendations. “With these proposals, we are one step closer to making our statewide accountability system even better.”

The SOL Innovation Committee, formed after bipartisan legislation passed by the 2013 General Assembly, is expected to make more recommendations next year.

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Articles are prepared by the Sun Gazette’s real estate advertising department on behalf of clients.

For information on the home, contact the listing agent. For information on having a house reviewed, contact the Sun Gazette’s real estate advertising department at (703) 738-2520.

Facts for buyers Address: 6128 Williamsburg Boulevard, Arlington (22207).

Listed at: $1,499,000 by Peggy Hamaker, Buck & Associates Realtors (703) 517-1762.

Schools: Nottingham Elementary, Williamsburg Middle, Yorktown High School.

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With an impressive curb appeal that suggests in-town living, coupled with bucolic surroundings accentuating privacy and serenity, this week’s featured property represents the opportunity to own an exceptional, custom home where the focus was on getting the details just right.

The result is a three-level charmer with expansive spaces, great traffic flow for entertaining, and a wonderful retreat for daily living. All this, and it is set on a lot of nearly 13,500 square feet, close to just about everything.

The property currently is on the market, listed at $1,499,000 by Peggy Ha- the second level, featuring an expansive maker of Buck & Associates, Realtors. bedding area, Eco-Nize walk-in closets An open house is set for Sunday, Dec. 21 and a sumptuous, marble bath with soakfrom 1 to 3 p.m. ing tub and separate shower.

From the spacious and level rear yard Three additional bedrooms are found that backs to woodlands, to the charming on this level, along with an ample linen appeal of the interior spaces, the home closet and large laundry room. is ready to showcase its versatility and The daylight recreation room on the unique appeal to all who stop by. lower level is a testament to creative, inThe grand entry hall sets the tone vigorating design, featuring double doors for all that will follow, and the main-level that lead us out to the covered patio – anspaces are exceptional, from the family other wonderful spot for entertaining. room (with a see-through fireplace to the The lower level also is home to a daymusic/playroom) to the amply propor- light bedroom with walk-in closet and full tioned dining room to the gourmet kitch- bath, as well as plentiful storage space. en that celebrates style and substance.

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How hard is it for homeowners to get financing for the remodeling project they want to undertake? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) asked its research panel, made up of contractors across the county, their opinion in its thirdquarter review of market conditions.

NARI’s Remodeling Business Pulse conducts quarterly research that monitors the health of the remodeling industry to help educate consumers, legislators and regulators with credible information about the remodeling industry.

The results found that NARI member professional contractors who are involved with homeowners who need financing, placed it in a neutral to difficult range. None of the research panel members indicated that it was “very difficult” to get financing. And about 30 percent indicated that it was either easy or very easy for its clientele to secure the needed funds.

When asked about the problems in getting financing the top responses were: • The financing company being overly cautious was seen as the biggest barrier (38 percent).

• The project being too expensive relative to the home’s value was next as a problem (27 percent).

• Poor credit history was only selected as an issue by 11 percent.

A bank or credit union was the dominant source of funds for financing that was used if cash or check was not used. This source, 72 percent, was reported by members vs. a credit card, the No. 2 choice at only 20 percent.

An earlier NARI survey found that 96 percent of the NARI member contractors who had completed the questionnaire accepted checks as a form of payment. Approximately one-quarter had accepted credit cards, home equity loans, bank home improvement loans or cash, with only 6 percent arranging financing for their customer.

NARI’s Remodeling Business Pulse data of current and future remodeling business conditions indicated strong growth in the third quarter of 2014 with a rating of 6.41.

Quarter-over-quarter increases are evident in all sub-components measuring remodeling activity This is the second quarter of growth in 2014, coming on top of June’s strong increase over the 6.07 recorded in March.

For information, see the Web site at www.nari.org.

December 18, 2014

Real Estate

Survey Looks at Financing Remodeling Projects

15

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

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ThisSource: charming Lyon based Park 1925 Information on dataBungalow, supplied by which MRIS and its member Association(s) of REALTORS, who are not responsible for its accuracy. Does not reflect all activity in the marketplace. January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011. If you own a house that needs work and you don’t want to do had beenInformation meticulously and inbeautifully contained this report isrestored, deemed reliable but not guaranteed, should be independently verified, and does not constitute an opinion of MRIS or Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. ©2012 All rights reserved. any repairs to prepare it for the market, call me. was sold in a bidding war in just a few daysI have the perfect buyer for your home. enough time for an open house and to negotiate Follow us on: I have buyers looking for a fixer-upper or a tear-down. multiple offers. We sold the property for almost Your house will be sold strictly in ‘AS IS’ condition. $100,000 over the asking price.

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LONG & FOSTER ARLINGTON LONG & FOSTER

16

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

18

‘Pardoned’ Turkeys Find a Happy Home in N.Va. MIKE STANCIK Northern Virginia Media Services

Many of their fellow counterparts were not so fortunate on Thanksgiving, but recently pardoned turkeys Mac and Cheese are enjoying the beautiful setting and facilities of Morven Park in Loudoun County.

After President Obama gave the 2014 national turkeys their official release, Mor-

Jobs Continued from Page 3 Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest, at 24.7 percent and 23.7 percent.

Wilson Continued from Page 1 Karson is among those who have waged a battle for years to save the school building, even as County Board and School Board members set the stage for its eventual demolition.

In remarks to the School Board, Karson complained that a virtual cone of silence had been placed over the entire matter.

“You have declined to even acknowledge that an historic building stands on that site today,” he said. “It is as if by admitting publicly that you propose to demolish an historic building, you would be calling

ven Park associate director of communications Teresa Davenport took them to their new permanent home.

And apparently, the two have quickly adapted to their new friends – Caramel, a 2013 national turkey, and Franklin, a bronze heritage turkey that’s lived on the farm for more than two years.

“We put them together almost right away and they got along from the start,”

Davenport said, as the turkeys seemed to line up for a photo op.

Primary caregiver and horticulturist Keith McMillan, Davenport and one other employee are mainly responsible for the now group of four.

Pardoned turkeys previously were sent to Mount Vernon but weren’t put on public display after the holidays, so a change was made by the National Turkey Federation.

Morven Park’s history as one of the largest turkey farms in the nation in the early 20th century was appealing to the federation.

The turkeys were raised to be comfortable in the spotlight and in public interactions. “They’re used to a lot of attention and people being around. The farmers that raise them make sure they’re exposed to a lot of little kids [and] loud noises, and get used to being handled,” Davenport said.

Among the nation’s 49 metropolitan areas with a population of 1 million or more, the lowest jobless rate was found in Minneapolis-St. Paul (3.2 percent), with the highest in Detroit and in Riverside, Calif., at 8.1 percent each.

Major localities seeing the largest year-over-year declines in unemployment

included Las Vegas; Providence, R.I.; and Cincinnati.

Among Virginia metro areas outside the Washington region, jobless rates were uniformly down from a year before. They stood at 4.1 percent in Charlottesville; 4.5 percent in Winchester; 5 percent in Roanoke; 5.1 percent in Richmond and

in Blacksburg/Christiansburg; 5.3 percent in Hamtpon Roads; 5.5 percent in Lynchburg; and 6.7 percent in Danville.

All figures are preliminary, and are based on non-seasonally-adjusted data.

For full figures encompassing all metro areas across the nation, see the Web site at www.bls.gov.

unwanted attention to a controversial decision.”

“I must say in sadness: What has happened to the Arlington Way?” Karson told School Board members.

Karson is not alone in seeking to save the school building. Preservation Arlington, a local organization, has had it on the group’s “Most Endangered Historic Places” for several years.

“Wilson School is the longest operating school building in Arlington County,” Preservation Arlington notes. “The history of these schools and their buildings are very important parts of Arlington’s story.”

School leaders have long suggested that while the Wilson School is indeed venerable, that does not equate to its being histor-

ic. The School Board has opposed previous attempts to give the school historic status, which might provide protection from development.

Supporters of the Wilson School are trying again; they are asking the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) to consider the historic provenance of the building.

Three school buildings – Hume School (1891), Clarendon (Maury) School (1910) and Swanson Middle School (1939) – already have been designated as historic districts.

John Liebertz, a county-government historic-preservation planner and liaison to the HALRB, said on Dec. 11 that a date for such a discussion has not been set.

Even if the advisory panel were to recommend historic status for the building, the final decision would rest with the County Board.

As early as 2008, residents of adjacent communities expressed the fear that the Wilson School building, constructed in

1910, would be torn down to make way for new construction. They voiced concerns about secret deals between the county government and developers – assertions that the county government denied.

Last year, the final nail in the school’s coffin may have been hammered when a task force studying the corridor was directed by County Board members not to consider retention of the building as a “key priority” in its efforts.

While the school dates to 1910, its current name came a decade or so later, honoring President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson, who remained a resident of the District of Columbia following his departure from the White House in 1921, often took motorcar outings through Arlington (then known as Alexandria County) during his last years.

The building has not been used as a fulltime elementary school since 1969, but has served a variety of school-related functions since then. Among them: serving as home to the Mongolian School of the National Capital Area.

Raphael

Doren, who will serve the remainder of his term, while Baird will be succeeded by Barbara Kanninen.

Raphael’s next role could come on the state level; Gov. McAuliffe over the next year will have several slots to fill on the Virginia Board of Education, and Raphael did not dispute that she might be interested in such a post.

“I am passionate about education,” she said, saying there would be an opportunity to “see what else I can do on the statewide level.”

Before coming to the School Board, Raphael served as vice chair of the Advisory Council on Instruction, a member of the Budget Advisory Council and the Food Services Advisory Committee, president of the Arlington Science Focus School PTA and a representative to the County Council of PTAs. Raphael is an attorney and former assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Arlington. Her husband, Stuart, currently serves as the commonwealth’s solicitor general in the office of Attorney General Mark Herring.

Abby Raphael has been an active supporter of Herring, who is widely expected to make a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2017.

The Raphaels have two daughters, one a student at Duke University and the other at Washington-Lee High School.

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Continued from Page 1

she told the Sun Gazette.

Her decision not to run for a third term on the School Board leaves the seat wide open.

Like all current members of the board, Raphael garnered the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee prior to winning general-election victories; the party will hold an endorsement caucus in May to pick its candidate for the November general election.

Last year, Raphael frequently was mentioned as a possible successor to Del. Bob Brink (D-48th), who resigned to take a job in the McAuliffe administration. In recent months, she has been touted as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for County Board.

“I did think about that,” Raphael confirmed to the Sun Gazette.

Raphael’s departure at the end of 2015 will result in further change on an evolving elected body. This year, board member Sally Baird opted against a re-election bid, and over the summer, Noah Simon departed midway through his first term to care for his children following the death of his wife.

Simon was succeeded by Nancy Van

19 December 18, 2014

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Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

20

Police Beat BANK ROBBERY: n On Dec. 6 around 12:10 p.m., a man entered the Capital One Bank in the 4100 block of Wilson Boulevard and passed a note to the teller demanding cash.

After receiving cash, the suspect exited onto Wilson Boulevard.

The suspect is described as a black male in his mid-20s to 30s, 5’8”, with an average build. He was wearing a black puffy jacket, a sweatshirt underneath, a white knit cap and had headphones around his neck.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office, which is investigating the incident in conjunction with the Arlington County Police Department, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of this bank robber.

Anyone with information can call the FBI at (202) 278-2000 or Detective Trainer with the Arlington County Police Department at (703) 228-4185. To report information anonymously, contact Arlington County Crime Solvers at (866) 411-TIPS (8477).

ARMED ROBBERY: n On Dec. 3 at 3:01 p.m., a man entered a store in the 900 block of North Stafford Street

and demanded money from a victim at knifepoint.

The suspect received cash from the register, then fled toward the Ballston Metro station, where he entered the platform by jumping a gate without paying, then departed via train before police could arrive.

The victim told police that the suspect was the same person who robbed the store several weeks before.

The suspect is described as black male, 5’8” to 5’10”, 170 pounds. n On Dec. 4 at 8:20 p.m., a man entered a store in the 900 block of North Stafford Street and robbed a clerk at gunpoint.

The suspect then fled toward the Ballston Metro.

Police believe the suspect is the same person who robbed the same store a day before. n On Dec. 5 around 8:40 p.m., a man entered a store in the 5100 block of Wilson Boulevard, leaving with approximately $500 worth of meat.

When an employee attempted to stop the suspect from fleeing, the suspect punched the employee in the arm, yelled at him and fled west on Wilson.

The suspect is described as a black male, in his 40s, 5’9”, 220

pounds. n On Dec. 5 at 9:40 p.m., a man entered a gas station in the 2700 block of Washington Boulevard, demanded money from a clerk at gunpoint, then punched the victim several times.

The attendant turned over money, and the suspect took several packs of Newport cigarettes before fleeing the scene.

The suspect is described as a man of unknown race, 5’6” or 5’7”.

SEXUAL ASSAULT: n A woman told police that on Dec. 2 at 2 a.m., a man insisted that she kiss him in the unit block of South Carlin Springs Road, then blocked her passage as she attempted to leave.

Becoming increasingly concerned, the woman attempted to placate the suspect by kissing him on the cheek, then the suspect grabbed the victim and forced a kiss on her mouth.

Police said that, as the victim was leaving, she was chased by the suspect, who grabbed her by the arms and forced one of her hands onto his crotch. The victim was able to break free and drive away.

Police did not supply identifying information.

ASSAULT ON POLICE: n On Dec. 7 at 11:35 p.m., a man described by police as intoxicated and disorderly refused to leave a business in the 5000 block of Columbia Pike.

Upon arrival of police, the man allegedly struck an officer while resisting arrest. He also damaged merchandise during the assault.

A second officer arrived on the scene and was able to subdue to suspect.

While at a local hospital for treatment, the suspect allegedly assaulted another officer, who was attempting to photograph his injuries.

The suspect was arrested and charged with a variety of counts, including assault on police, probation violation, obstruction of justice, trespass and destruction of property.

BURGLARY: n A home in the 1900 block of South Lowell Street was burglarized on Dec. 4 between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Approximately 50 pairs of earrings and costume jewelry were taken.

Entry was gained through a swing-out basement window. n An office in the 3800 block of Fairfax Drive was burglarized

sometime between Dec. 4 at 4:22 p.m. and Dec. 5 at 8:36 a.m. Four laptop computers were taken.

Employees told police the doors had been locked at the time of the incident. n A an apartment in the 800 block of 15th Street South was burglarized on Dec. 5 between 12:20 and 2:30 p.m. A backpack, electronic items and cash were taken.

One of the victims, home at the time of the incident, told police he did not hear anything. n A restaurant in the 2500 block of Columbia Pike was burglarized sometime between Dec. 7 at 4 a.m. and Dec. 8 at 8:15 a.m.

Money was taken from the cash register, and numerous items were thrown on the floor. n An apartment in the 6900 block of Fairfax Drive was burglarized on Dec. 9 between 8:15 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Electronics and a fireproof safe were taken.

PETTY LARCENY: n On Dec. 8, several packages addressed to homes in the 1100 block of North Randolph Street, 1100 block of North Vermont Street and 4100 and 4400 blocks of Washington Boulevard were found to have been opened and tossed in nearby bushes.

ARLINGTON LONG & FOSTER Congratulations to our NOVEMBER 2014 H H H H H H H H H H H H TOP PRODUCERS H H H H H H H H H H H H

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SENIOR CENTERS CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: Arlington County government senior

centers will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25-26, in observance of Christmas.

How’s the market in Arlington County right now?

1 p.m. to knit and crochet items for those in need. Donations of washable yarn are appreciated. For information, call (703) 228-4403.

BEGINNERS CAN TRY LINE-DANCING:

TRAVELERS HEAD TO BOTANIC GARDENS: Arlington County 55+ Travel will

host a trip to U.S. Botanic Gardens on Monday, Dec. 22. The cost is $7. For information, call (703) 228-4748.

BRAIN-FITNESS EXERCISES OFFERED:

Brain-fitness exercises will be offered on Monday, Dec. 22 at 10:30 a.m. at Walter Reed Senior Center. For information, call (703) 228-0955.

SENIORS-ONLY ICE SKATING AVAILABLE: Seniors-only ice skating will be

available on Monday, Dec. 22 from 8:10 to 9:20 a.m. at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, atop Ballston Public Parking Garage. The cost of $1 includes skate rental. For information, call (703) 228-4745.

MADISON CHESS CLUBBERS TO GATHER: The Madison Chess Club will meet on

Monday, Dec. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Madison Community Center. All levels of players are welcome. For information, call (703) 228-6232.

YARN CRAFTERS TO MEET: The Yarn

Crafters of Aurora Hills Senior Center will meet on Monday, Dec. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to

Line-dancing for beginners will be offered on Monday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson Community Center. For information, call (703) 228-4403.

ARLINGTON MILL TREKKERS HEAD OUT: The Arlington Mill Trekkers of Ar-

FIND OUT!

lington Mill Senior Center will walk along Four Mile Run on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. For information, call (703) 228-7369.

Whenever you want to know the latest and most comprehensive information go to

WALKING CLUB HEADS TO D.C.: The

Arlington Walking Club will trek from the U.S. Capitol to the Botanic Garden on Wednesday, Dec. 24. The group leaves at 9 a.m. from Culpepper Garden Senior Center; the cost is $4 for transportation. For information, call (703) 228-4403.

www.ArlingtonHouses.com and Click on “Latest Market Statistics” to go to charts, graphs and lists of Arlington’s current market.

MUSIC-AND-MOVEMENT CLASS AVAILABLE: Music-and-movement classes are

Arlington County Statistics

offered on Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Center.

For information, call (703) 228-4403.

Hover your mouse over the Interactive Line & Bar Charts on any of the charts and graphs to see all details.

‘SEW-N-SEW’ GROUP MEETS: The Sew-

n-Sew group of Lee Senior Center will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. to crochet, knit, sew and work on needlepoint.

For information, call (703) 228-0555.

21 December 18, 2014

55+ News

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Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

22

Long & Foster Arlington Wishes You a Happy Holiday Season!

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Thank you for Giving us a Wonderful 2014

Sun Gazette

Your Arlington Long & Foster Family

n High school basketball action. n Girls swim and dive roundup.

For more sports, visit:

www.insidenova.com/sports/Fairfax

Balanced Scoring by Yorktown

Teeing Off

O’Connell vs. Wakefield: No Excuses, Get It Played Unless they sneak off and stage an unauthorized pickup game in a parking lot or someone’s driveway or backyard, the Bishop O’Connell Knights and Wakefield Warriors unfortunately won’t play this season.

Patriots Shoot Well In Win Over Atoms

Dave Facinoli

DAVE FACINOLI Staff Writer

Three games into the girls basketball season, the Yorktown Patriots have discovered a good thing. They can be productive on the offensive end even if leading scorers Alison Criswell and Ellen Nye go quiet.

That was the case Dec. 10, when Yorktown (2-2) led from early in the second quarter en BASKETBALL route to defeating the host Annandale Atoms, 67-58, in a non-conference high school game, despite being outrebounded by a much taller team, 52-36.

Criswell, a junior guard, scored 19.

Nye, a senior forward, had 10. However, as a result of foul trouble and defensive adjustments, they combined for just four points in the second half.

That was not a problem, because seven other players picked up the slack.

They combined to score 35 points in the final two periods and hit a number of key jump shots to silence any potential Annandale rally.

“We know this season we can’t just depend on Ellen and Alison to score,” Yorktown coach Devaughn Drayton said. “Others have to score. Sometimes in Continued from Page 24

Yorktown High School Ellen Nye is guarded by Oakton’s Delaney Connolley in the Patriots’ nonconference game against the visiting Cougars last week.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

Winless W-L Boys Lose Another Close Game ALLEN KHA For the Sun Gazette

Church found its groove.

The Jaguars settled in and started feeding the ball to forwards Brian Eck and Elijah Botts, who each scored 12 points on a combined 11 of 16 shot attempts.

“We teach our guys how to defend the post, but we don’t have the size [in the post],” Dodson said.

Falls Church also switched to a 1-3-1 zone defense in the second quarter, adding to Washington-Lee’s shooting problems.

Point guard Nate Thatcher capitalized on W-L’s shooting woes, dominating the defensive glass. Thatcher finished with 12 rebounds, and took advantage of his time with the ball by notching a gamehigh 17 points and four assists. “[Thatcher] had his way. We didn’t do

enough to stop him,” Dodson said.

Washington-Lee fell behind by as many as eight points mid-way through the fourth quarter, but mounted a late comeback – spurred by a switch to a full-court press that forced eight of Falls Church’s 27 turnovers – to close the gap to three points with seconds remaining.

The Generals did not get closer, leaving Dodson disenchanted with his team’s performance.

“We need to work on everything in practice. Lots of shooting, but also offense, defense, everything,” Dodson said.

“I was pleased with the team’s fight to make the game close, and credit Falls Church for playing a good game. But we Continued from Page 24

Darn. That really stinks and is too bad for boys high school basketball in Arlington. Such a game would be a huge deal and big event in the county, because both are ranked among the best teams in the metro area and state.

The squads didn’t play last year, either, when, again, both were among the area’s best. Arlington high school hoop fans were badly cheated.

When teams are that good and so close, they should play – no excuses. It should be a rule. Let it be written.

Here’s the problem. The two teams aren’t natural rivals. O’Connell is a private school and Wakefield is public. So the schools have to go out of their way to schedule one another.

Wakefield has a much more limited schedule than O’Connell – allowed a set number of games. So finding an open date while fitting in all of its required opponents isn’t easy. But, it can be done, and it has been done.

The teams played a couple of times in recent years. As expected, the earlyseason contests were big hits. Unfortunately, the two haven’t met when Wakefield has fielded its strongest teams.

O’Connell is always a perennial power.

Here’s an idea.

After Christmas each December, Wakefield hosts its George Long Holiday Tournament. That would be a perfect time for the teams to meet.

That means O’Connell would have to stay home for the holidays, at least maybe every other year. Most every year, O’Connell plays in some prestigious out-of-town holiday tournament, like the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach. It’s unlikely the Knights would forego that opportunity, but maybe, for the sake of Arlington basketball fans.

The idea is worth a try and for head coaches Tony Bentley (Wakefield) and Joe Wootten (O’Connell) to consider and appease those fans.

If not, then a backyard pickup game would be fine. and certainly better than nothing. Maybe it can be arranged.

Find daily updates on the Web at www.insidenova.com. Stay in touch through Twitter (@sungazettespts) and Facebook (sungazettenews).

www.insidenova.com

The Washington-Lee Generals kept throwing up shots Dec. 12 in a road game against the BASKETBALL Falls Church Jaguars, but very few fell en route to a 51-48 loss.

The Generals (0-4) had a poor shooting game from all parts of the floor in the boys high school basketball contest, making only 19 of 62 shot attempts.

“You can’t score under 50 points and expect to win,” Washington-Lee coach Bobby Dodson said. “We just weren’t making shots, and that has to change.”

After a slow-paced first quarter that saw the visiting Generals up 9-8, Falls

December 18, 2014

Sports

More on the Web

23

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

24

Patriots Enjoying Best Start Since 2005-06 Campaign DAVE STEINBACHER For the Sun Gazette

By winning their home opener Dec. 12, the Yorktown Patriots remained unat 3-0 BASKETBALL defeated and are enjoying their best start since the 2005-06 season.

Yorktown defeated visiting Mount Vernon, 63-57, in that boys high school basketball game to hand the Majors (3-1) their first defeat.

Yorktown took the lead for good, at 55-52, when Edmund Pendleton made a three-pointer.

“I got a great pass from Robert Sondheim on the play,” Pendleton said.

Said Yorktown coach Rich Avila:

“They were trapping right there. We spread the floor and were able to find Edmund.”

After Pendleton’s basket, Yorktown made 6 of 8 free throws to stay ahead and Daniel DeButts made a two-point field goal.

Mount Vernon led 10-7 at the end of the first period and was up 27-23 at halftime. Yorktown got hot in the third quarter and led 44-43 entering the final period.

Pendleton made two three-pointers and led Yorktown with 20 points. DeButts also made two threes and had 16 points. James Carroll scored 14, Matthew Paredes eight and Sondheim five.

“I knew that Mount Vernon was a good team,” Pendleton said. “We shared

the ball tonight. We switched up our defense from a 2-3 zone to man in the third quarter and that made a difference.”

Avila said the switch to the man defense was important.

“Once we went to man, our size kind of bothered them,” Avila said.

Yorktown defeated Oakton, 46-42, and Lee, 70-51, in its first two games.

“We were so excited to start the season,” Pendleton said. “We had so much intensity in that first game against Lee. Once we got ahead, they were never able to get back into the game. Against Oakton it was an ugly win. We didn’t really make a whole lot of shots or free throws.

But we had good passing, good teamwork, and we got some key rebounds at the end.”

Yorktown is missing injured players John Cohen (out for the season) and Joe McBride, who is expected to return.

“Right now, we’re basically playing five guys,” Avila said. “We’ll be deeper when [McBride] returns.”

Yorktown defeated Oakton Dec. 9 despite shooting poorly from the foul line.

The Patriots were only 5 of 21 from the line.

Sondheim had 15 points, three assists and two blocks in the win over Oakton; Pendleton had seven points and seven assists; Paredes had eight points and five steals; DeButts had nine points and three assists; and Carroll had four points and seven rebounds.

Yorktown plays at Falls Church on Dec. 19 at 7:45 p.m.

boys also won all 12 events for a 239-66 victory.

The Patriots had three double winners – Beth Gentsch, Anastasia Gustafson and Andrew Loranger. Individual winners were Mariah Bowman, Jack Browne, Devin Delo, Julia Fayer, J.J. Martin, Juliette Mitrovitch (diving), Andrew Rehr, Griffin Romanek, Elizabeth Romano, Hunter Simmons (diving) and Andrew Walker.

In another meet, Yorktown defeated Mount Vernon.The girls won seven of 12 events to win 161-149. The boys won 11 of 12 events to win 200-113.

The Patriots had four double winners – Browne, Gentsch, Gustofson and Loranger. Individual winners were Jay Kreider (diving), Sydney Nassetta and Mike Poppalardi. n The Washington-Lee Generals won

two meets this past weekend in boys and girls action, defeating Falls Church and Hayfield.

The girls defeated Hayfield 213-96 and Falls Church 167-145. The boys downed Hayfield 171-141 then topped Falls Church 184-134.

Anna Polise was a double winner for the Generals in the Hayfield meet. Individual winners were Rebecca Wroblewski, Anna Nix, Evie Geiseman, Izzy Mowery, Flora Hepp and Bryn Edwards.

Andrew Fleckenstein was a double winner for the boys against Hayfield.

Individual winners for W-L were Noah Kennedy, Eric Weiner and Jaya Kambhampaty.

Mowery was a double winner for W-L against Falls Church. Polise and Edwards were individual winners.

The Generals had two double win-

ners for the boys in the Falls Curch meet, Nick Reeves and Bryan Meade. Noah Kennedy won the diving.

Halil Parks led Washington-Lee with 24 points. Alex Seff scored 10.

Earlier last week, W-L lost to Herndon, 57-55, in another close game. Parks scored 16, Gene Jones 13 and Ben Buchholtz 11.

In a loss to Lake Braddock, Parks scored 20, Jones 13 and Seff 12. n In girls action, Washington-Lee also remained winless with an 0-3 record.

The Generals lost to Herndon, 56-37, and fell to Falls Church, 43-36, in their

most recent games.

In action this week, Washington-Lee was scheduled to host Edison on Dec. 16, then does not play again until after Christmas in the Joe Cascio Falls Church Holiday Tournament.

High School Roundup WAKEFIELD, YORKTOWN FOOTBALL PLAYERS CHOSEN ALL-REGION: York-

town Patriots senior defensive lineman Quinn Cox was chosen All-6A North Region first team on defense by the coaches.

Yorktown senior linebacker Jack Storrs was a second-team all-region selection on defense.

From Wakefield, making second team All-5A North Region on offense was junior running back Leon Young.

Making second team all-region on defense from Wakefield were junior lineman Anthony Tham and junior linebacker Kevin Greenwell.

SWIM AND DIVE ACTION: The Yorktown

Patriots scored a double victory Dec. 12 over the Wakefield Warriors in their second meet of the season. The Yorktown girls won all 12 events to win 230-71. The

W-L Continued from Page 23 need to shoot better.”

Yorktown

www.insidenova.com

Continued from Page 23

Sun Gazette

practice we’ll have those two on the sidelines and we’ll run the offense without them to prepare us for that.”

Sophomore guard Sydney Davis was one of those Yorktown players who provided a second-half scoring spark with 13 points, including two three-pointers. She finished with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Sophomore guard Alexis George scored her seven points in the second half, including two long jump shots, and senior guard Bella Krider (five points) also swished two long second-half jumpers.

Senior forward Kirby Eule (five rebounds) scored her four points in the second half. Junior guards Kate Rita and Colleen Cook and sophomore forward Kathleen Columbia helped the second-half productions with two points each.

“When you have that many players who can score, it’s tough to scout that,” Drayton said.

Another key to Yorktown’s win was good secondhalf shooting. The Patriots were 10 of 12 from the foul line in the second half, and 12 of 20 from the floor.

“We had a recent free-throw shoot-a-thon where ev-

Yorktown High’s Kate Rita guards Oakton’s Hayley Russell during last week’s non-conference game.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

YORKTOWN FALLS IN ICE HOCKEY: The

Yorktown ice hockey club (1-3) lost to Briar Wood, 6-1.

Freshman Frank Lackey had Yorktown’s only goal, assisted by Alex Hayes and Jacob Dormuth.

WAKEFIELD NEEDS COACHES: Wake-

field High School is accepting applications for the following coaching positions during the upcoming spring season: varsity girls tennis, varsity boys lacrosse, assistant boys lacrosse, varsity softball and assistant softball.

For information, contact Noel Deskins at (703) 228-6733 or e-mail noel. deskins@apsva.us.

ery player shot 200 foul shots. I think that was a benefit for us,” Drayton said. “Our ball movement was also very good the whole game. We always emphasize that, not to dribble too much.”

In addition to her 19 points, Criswell had four rebounds. Nye, who will play at Christopher Newport University, had eight rebounds and a block.

Freshman forward Thora Gibbs had two points and four rebounds for Yorktown.

For Annandale, 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Katie Garrish had nine points and 15 rebounds, senior forward Erin Johnson had 17 points and 12 boards, sophomore guard Sheryl Fox had 13 points, and junior forward Kaitlyn Pacak had four points and eight rebounds.

The Atoms shot just 25 percent from the floor.

In another game last week, Yorktown lost to host Mount Vernon, 78-48. Criswell and Davis each scored 11. Nye scored seven and George six.

In its initial game last week, Yorktown lost to the perennial region power Oakton Cougars, 64-39.

“It was a good experience playing them,” Drayton said. “We would like to play them again.”

Davis scored 12 in defeat, George had seven and Rita six.

In action this week, Yorktown has a home game scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19 at 7:45 p.m. against the Falls Church Jaguars.

Sports Briefs

25 December 18, 2014

ARLINGTON HOOP TEAM WINS TOURNAMENT: An

Arlington girls travel basketball team of seventh-graders swept five games at the Braddock Road Youth Club Thanksgiving Tournament and won the championship.

In pool play, Arlington defeated Fort Hunt, 42-25, Southwest Youth Club, 44-34, and Vienna, 50-19.

In the semifinals, Arlington downed Reston, 52-24.

In the final, Arlington defeated Southwest again, 43-37.

Strong team defense was a key to the championship.

The players were Anastasia Meinhold, Maria Polise, Kate Sheire, Gigi Cochran, Claire Collins, Edie LaMantia, Jordan Mosley, Lucy Robinson, Danielle Willing and Madeline Winer.

Hana Weaver, Steve Maag and Joe Bianculli were the coaches.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE FALL UPDATE: Arlington’s youth

Ultimate Frisbee teams wrapped up an active fall season. Capping the season in November, Arlington sent seven teams to Hampton to compete in the Tidewater Tuneup Tournament.

High school teams from Washington-Lee, Yorktown and H-B Woodlawn participated.

Those teams spent the fall competing against other high school and adult players in a co-ed Washington Area Frisbee Club (WAFC) league and the Fall Fling Tournament in October in Fairfax.

The Slarenegs (W-L club players) finished second to Bethesda-Chevy Chase in one tournament. Two of Arlington’s club teams (W-L and Yorktown) advanced to the WAFC Division 3 playoffs.

To learn more about Ultimate Frisbee in Arlington, contact codyyula@verizon.net.

ARLINGTON SOCCER RAISES $12,000: The Arlington

Soccer Association raised more than $12,000 Dec. 3 in

Johnny Malks makes a diving catch for his Ultimate team.

The Arlington travel basketball team of seventh grade players won a recent Thanksgiving Tournament.

its first Giving Tuesday campaign, supporting 120 youth to be able to participate in ASA’s after-school soccer and mentoring program.

Arlington Soccer’s corporate partner, Lindsay Automotive Group, provided $2,000 in matching funds and helped promote the campaign.

Arlington Soccer’s after-school program is held at six Arlington public schools. It serves children, free of charge, who are identified for participation by their host school. For many, the after-school program is their only opportunity to participate in organized soccer activities, according to organizers.

SLAM BALL REGISTRATION: Registration is open for

the 2015 Super Slam Ball spring season. The program begins Saturday, April 18 and run for seven Saturdays.

Practices and games are Saturday afternoons between 3 and 6 p.m. in Arlington. Practices and game sessions last 45 to 50 minutes.

Super Slam Ball is a tee-ball program for kids ages 3 to 5. Registration is $70. For information, visit www. eteamz.com/smbl or contact Alex Filides at superslamball10@gmail.com.

ARLINGTON SENIOR GOLF: The Arlington Senior Golf

Club’s 2015 traveling league is recruiting new players.

For information, contact Terry Townshead at artistic_ dimensions@msn.com or call Jennifer Collins at (703) 228-4745.

MARYMOUNT BASEBALL CAMPS: Marymount Uni-

versity is holding a holiday baseball camp on Saturday Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The camp is in the Lee Center on Marymount’s main campus and are for players in grades 9 through 12 and kindergarten through 8. The cost is $125.

For questions and more information about the Marymount camp, e-mail baseball@marymount.edu, call (703) 284-5966 or visit: http://collegebaseballcamps. com/saints.

Schools & Military n Sampada Kharade of Arlington earned a Ph.D degree during recent commencement exercises from the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. n Judith McCormally of Arlington has been initiated into the Virginia Commonwealth University chapter of Phi Kappa Phil, the nation’s oldest collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. n Erick Wagner, the son of Karl Wagner of Arlington, has attained the rank of Airman First Class in the Air Force JROTC program at Randolph-Macon Academy. n Anne Lacey of Arlington was one of more than 50 students who participated in the Cornell College holiday concert, held Dec. 6 on the campus in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Lacey is a member of the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.

Miguel Alfaro, Maddie Ashton, Abby England, Abby Fry, Julia Landini, Charlotte Maskelony, Maddie Petroskey, Callie Randall, Caroline Raphael, Nicolas Reeves, Thanos Sarreas, Myles Stremick, Apollo Yong and Patsy Zetkulic, Washington-Lee High School; and Margot Hanclich and Karuna Shipper, Yorktown High School.

All Districts Chorus for middle-school students will take place at Herndon High School Feb. 12-14. Local students selected to participate include Athena Butler-Christodoulou and Paige Wheeler, Gunston Middle School; Maggie Baldwin, Calista Garcia and Casey Ruggiero, H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program; Liliana Dunn, Allison Galindo-Hurtado, Grace Kalfatovic, Mayari Loza Munoz and Christine Siegal, Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Marin Bultena, Paula Romero and Samantha Rios, Kenmore Middle School; Isabella Gant, Ellie Berenson, Charlotte Howard, Kayla Waddy, Casey Bloome, Noah Troppe, Isabelle Cordero, Zoe Tijerina, Sophia Cummings, Sadie Smith, Rylei Porter, Angela Ramirez,Angela Glover, Camille Beck, Maggie Reinhart, Will Fineman, Rowan Meltmar, Peter Fleckenstein, Matteo Roman, Evan Kilmer, Greg Roberts, Jack Hughes and Joel Brown, Swanson Middle School; and Christian Hudspeth, Sophia Sanz-Kimura and Katarina Hone, Williamsburg Middle School. n School Board members on Dec. 4 appointed Anne Harrington as the school system’s new Supervisor of World Languages.

Arlington Public Schools offers coursework in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Latin in middle and high school, and provides some Spanish-language instruction at the elementaryschool level.

The school system has a goal that all students will have “functional proficiency” in at least one language other than English by the time they complete high school. n Arlington’s Patrick Henry Elementary

School is one of two Virignia elementaries recently named 2014-15 National Title I Distinguished Schools.

The school was honored for exceeding federal “annual measurable objectives,” or AMOs, for two consecutive school years.

Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides funding to school divisions and schools to raise the achievement of students designated as at-risk. Recent revisions to federal education law requires schools and school systems to meet annual objectives related to increasing student achievement.

Patrick Henry and High Point Elementary School in Washington County were selected for the honor from the 40 highachieving Title I schools honored by the Virginia Board of Education in October.

To be considered for the award, schools were required to submit an application to the Department of Education for review.

The Sun Gazette welcomes your items on the achievements of local students and members of the Armed Forces.

www.insidenova.com

McKinley Dyer of H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program and Grace Barnes, Juliana Clarkson and Drew Kellenberger of Swanson Middle School have been selected to participate in the ACDA Honors Chorus, sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association.

Students will travel to Salt Lake City to rehearse and perform at the organization’s national conference, to be held in February. n A number of Arlington Public n

Schools students have earned spots in the All District Orchestra and Choir.

All District Orchestra will take place Jan. 9-10 at Wakefield High School. Local students selected to participate include Maura Andy, string bass, Gunston Middle School; Katie Fried, violin, Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Sabrina Shuster, violin, and Max Herrmann, violin, Swanson Middle School; Tyler LaPointe, concertmaster, violin, Wakefield High School; Lillian Wieland, viola, Henry Bendon, bass, and Constance Stanley, viola 2nd alternate, Washington-Lee High School; and Cait O’Connor, violin, and Lucy Core, violin, Yorktown High School.

All Districts Chorus for high-school students will take place at Herndon High School on Feb. 13-14. Local students selected to participate include Preston Atkins, Catalina Bennhold-Samaan, Eliza Bracy, Luke Bultena, Rachel Cummins, Christine DeRieux, Ciara Hockey, Miles Kelley, Sarah Linick, Emma Magner, Santiago Mallan, Joey McCloskey, Brian McTyre, Jordi Parry, Nick Saunders, Jamie Staeben, Taylor Steele, Nathaniel Stern, Imogen Thomas, Kiernan Bartlett, Erin Claeys, McKinley Dyer, Shaelyn Niblack, Jessica Soforenko, Christine Wanda, Evan McLean (1st alternate) and Pablo Ramos (1st alternate), H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program; Asa Meyer, Anise Dorsey, Nathalie Gabutin, Retta Laumann, Carmela Holtz, Sean Romiti-Schulze, Fredo Banzon, Leonard Claure, Kerry Hackes, Abby Brown and Lwam Bereket (alternate), Wakfield High School; Zeke Albro,

Sun Gazette

Christmas Worship

December 18, 2014

26

•

• your local houses of worship services • Bringing

Global Change

Through Revival

Christmas Services: Sunday, Dec. 21st at 9:00am & 11:00am

Christmas Eve Services

4:00 PM • Children’s Service, HE Rite II 6:00 PM • Family Service, HE Rite II 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM • Candlelight Services, HE Rite II

Contemporary Worship Biblical Teaching Supernatural Children’s Ministry

Christmas Day Service

8200 Bell Lane, Vienna 703-698-9777 www.OurNewSong.org

10:00 AM • Holy Eucharist, Rite II Clergy • The Rev. Dr. Craig A. Phillips, Rector The Rev. Ann Martens, Asst. Rector The Rev. Dr. Howard F. Kempsell Jr., Priest Associate

4250 N. Glebe Road, Arlington 703-536-6606 www.saint-peters.org

Invites you to Christmas Worship

6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean

• from the Sun Gazette Staff •

December 24 – Christmas Eve 4:00 pm – Family Service of Holy Eucharist Christmas Music at 3:30 pm 7:00 pm – Holy Eucharist Christmas Music at 6:30 pm 10:00 pm – Holy Eucharist Christmas Music at 9:30 pm December 25 – Christmas Day 10:00 am – Holy Eucharist

Our offices will be closed December 25 so our staff can enjoy the holidays with their families!

If you would like to advertise your Church in our Houses of Worship. Please call Tonya Fields for information, 703.771.8831

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

703-356-4902 • www.stjohnsmclean.org

!

"

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Sun Gazette

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church Christmas Schedule of Services

Chrismas Eve • Wednesday, December 24 8:30pm (Carols at 8:00pm) MIDNIGHT (Carols at 11:45pm)

Christmas Day • (Thursday)

8:00am / 11:15 am 1:30pm Misa en EspaĂąol (Spanish)

New Year’s Masses

Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Wednesday, December 31 • 5pm Vigil (English) Thursday, January 1 • 9am & 12 noon 1:30pm Misa en Espaùol (Spanish)

8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna

Resurrection Evangelical

Lutheran Church (ELCA)

6201 North Washington Blvd Arlington, VA 22205 703-532-5991

Christmas Eve Services Family Service 5:00 PM

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Have a wonderful Holiday Season! • from the Sun Gazette Staff •

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Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

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The Sun Gazette Classifieds

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TREE SERVICES

Sun Gazette

Don’t lose this page!

Outdoor services such as Tree Services are important throughout the winter months.

Be sure to keep these phone numbers at your fingertips!

Need to advertise your service?

Contact Tonya Fields: 703-771-8831 • tfields@sungazette.net

homeimprovement Mitchell Residential Design Custom Home • Room Additions Remodels • Decks CADD Work 25+ Years Experience

703-577-1737

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brick & bLock

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ntertop

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My HandyMan

, LLC

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References • Licensed & Insured

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concrete

cLeaninG

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LIDA’S CLEANING On-Time Dependable Service Weekly • Bi-weekly • Monthly

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haULinG

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home improvement

handyman

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bath & kitchen remodeLinG

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Contractors License #2705144443

haULinG

concrete

brick & bLock

December 18, 2014

architectUraL desiGn

29

Sun Gazette

December 18, 2014

30

homeimprovement home improvement

Residential & Commercial Remodeling

CONTRACTORS, INC.

703.444.1226

Build it the right way with R&J!

Residential & Commercial Remodeling Since 1979 Custom Additions • Basements 2nd Story Additions • Kitchens & Baths Garages & Carports Sunrooms • Replacement Windows Licensed • Bonded •Insured Free Estimates • References

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painting

roofing

Carlos Painting, inC.

t abou er Askr Wints! ou ecial Sp •Interior & Exterior •Drywall •Textured Ceiling •Plaster Repair •Deck Sealing •Water Damage •Pressure Washing •Wall Paper Removal •Crown/Chair Molding •Rotton Wood •Window Seals •References •Trim Repair •Guaranteed

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We now accept credit cards

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OCHOA’s Painting Inc. 10+ Years Exp. Your Local Experts for..

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Ercilla Home Improvement

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F.R. Painting

moving & storage

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Call for Special Fall Rates!

Call or Text Freddy @ 703-371-3290 frpainting@yahoo.com Starlight Painting

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www.StarlightPainting,LLC.com

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703.281.0452

Finishedproductllc.com

www.insidenova.com

VA Contractors License # 2705-129028 CIC,HIC,PTC

Sun Gazette

Martin Thibault

Interior & Exterior Painting for 20 Years

703-476-0834

Very Reasonable Prices Licensed & Insured • Free Estimates

Residential & Commercial Interior/Exterior Paints & Stains All Home Improvements

Drywall Repair Powerwashing Windows Gutters Decks

Don Voigt/Virginia Contractor

703-490-3900

dvhousepainter@gmail.com License/Insured/Bonded FREE ESTIMATES

plumbing

Syd’s Plumbing & Repairs No Job Too Small!

Roofs

WE DO

ROOFS AND JUST

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www.rooffixed.com

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Items taken from the archives of the Northern Virginia Sun. Find out more on local history at the Web site www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

December 17, 1964: n As the state government continues weighing the need for a sales tax, some local governments – in places such as Bristol, Norfolk and Petersburg – already are enacting their own. n Local residents are making the case to state officials of the need to purchase more land for parks. n The Junior High Youth Fellowship of Trinity Presbyterian Church is looking for someone to portray Santa. n In boys basketball, Wakefield and Washington-Lee have opened the season at 2-0, while Yorktown is 0-2.

December 15, 1966: n Republican County Board member Harold Casto is urging several members of the School Board to resign, so the GOP County Board majority can appoint replacements.

December 18, 1970: n School officials have found themselves criticized for planning to upgrade four schools – Jackson, Page, Swanson and Washington-Lee – that are adjacent to the proposed route of Interstate 66. n State Democratic Party leaders say they will not try to “purge” party members who openly supported U.S. Sen. Harry Byrd Jr.’s re-election bid. Byrd ran as an independent. n Washington-Lee High School officials have admitted to violating basketball scrimmage rules; a hearing has been set for January.

WORLD LEADERS © StatePoint Media ACROSS 1. Fictional elephant 6. Comprised or embodied 9. Attention grabber 13. Swelling 14. Possess 15. Corner joint 16. Moth-_____ 17. Mauna ___, Hawaii 18. Be theatrical 19. *He arrived with a puff of smoke?

21. “___ and ____,” 1992 Tom Cruise movie 23. *Former Haiti President, “Baby ___” Duvalier 24. To clean corn 25. Goon 28. Redecorate, e.g.

30. Vandalizing a car 35. Donkey sound 37. Push for something 39. “_____ de Lammermoor” 40. Fit of shivering 41. *He annexed most of Crimea 43. C in COGS 44. Food-grinding tooth 46. Spanish surrealist Joan 47. MCL spot 48. Sung before games 50. Suggestive of supernatural 52. *Kim Yo Jong to Kim Jong Un 53. Praise or glorify 55. Mercator projection, e.g.

57. *”Wizard of Omaha” 61. *Head of Her Majesty’s Government 65. Tear jerker 66. ET’s craft 68. Shade of violet

69. Rosie’s connector 70. It’s collapsable in NBA 71. Audience’s approval 72. Donald and Ivana, e.g.

73. Clinton ___ Rodham 74. _____ of film, pl.

DOWN 1. Bone to pick

2. Jewish month 3. ____-carotene 4. Change, as in U.S. Constitution 5. Resentment 6. Stir fry pans 7. Leave speechless 8. Big mess 9. Extra long stable cotton 10. Stash in the hold

11. ___ _ good example 12. Deuce topper 15. *German Chancellor 20. Freeze over 22. Query 24. With bound limbs 25. *Leader of the Free World?

26. Ar on Periodic Table 27. “The _____ in Our Stars” 29. ____ set, in a band 31. Exclamation for disgust 32. Religious paintings 33. Japanese-American 34. *One of biggest philanthropists in the world 36. Uh-huh 38. De Valera’s land 42. Marilyn Monroe’s original given name 45. Give in to pressure 49. Dojo turf 51. Cry like an animal 54. 180 on a road 56. *Begin and Sadat signed a _____ treaty in ‘78 57. Drill 58. Type of operating system 59. *James Monroe: U.S. President number ____ 60. *Kennedy and Khrushchev, e.g.

61. Dog command 62. *What monarchs do 63. *____ office 64. New Jersey hoopsters 67. Show disapproval

31 December 18, 2014

Arlington history

December 15, 1971: n U.S. Rep. Joel Broyhill, R-10th, says he is keeping an “open mind” about running for the U.S. Senate next year.

December 16, 1976: n A Sun editorial has praised the selection of Joseph Gwaltney for District Court Judge, and said it was “encouraging” that David Bell was appointed to succeed Gwaltney as clerk of the Circuit Court. n The School Board has agreed that ninth-graders will attend county high schools starting next fall. Currently, ninthgraders attend middle schools.

December 15, 1992: n County Board member William Newman Jr. and Judge Frank Ceresi are considered the top contenders for the vacancy on the Circuit Court.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES AT INSIDENOVA.COM VOTING DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31 Winners will be announced in Sun Gazette on January 29th

www.insidenova.com

Also at http://va.secondstreetapp.com/l/Sun-Gazettes-Best-of-Arlington-2014

Sun Gazette

weichert.com

December 18, 2014

32

Arlington N.

ONLY 7 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT.....

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2400 Clarendon Blvd. #816

DAVE LLOYD & ASSOCIATES

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820 N. Pollard Street #203

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(Web4054 ID 1234567) $1,495,000 41ST ST $1,299,000 N

6305 15TH RD

New Listing 2710 BELLFOREST CT

$1,900

$709,900 3012 MILITARY RD

For more information, call Jane Smith at 703-555-1234

ST N

Jane Smith

$1,299,900

Sales Associate 703-555-1234 jsmith@weichert.com

Style, Comfort Elegance MARKET? RENT VS. BUY? BUYER ORand SELLER Oakton Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur UP? adipiscing elit. Nulla MY BUYING INTEREST RATES GOING WHAT’S mattis, enim nec sollicitudin pulvinar, nibh eros tincidunt mauris, eu conPOWER? WHAT’S MY HOME WORTH? sequat metus risus eu odio. Cras fringilla ullamcorper urna, at mattis FUTURE PREDICTIONS? felis ultricies eget. Dir: 123 Main St. Jane Smith

Style, Comfort and Elegance

5949 2ND STREET S

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(Web ID 1234567) $1,299,000 2361 VERNON #103 $370,000

For more information, call Jane Smith at 703-555-1234

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(Web ID 1234567) $1,299,000

DAVIDLLOYD@REALTOR.COM

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Jane Smith

 Sales Associate Open Sun 1-5 PM (Web ID 1234567) $1,299,000  703-555-1234

Sales Associate 703-555-1234 jsmith@weichert.com

$799,900

For more information, call Jane Smith at 703-555-1234

jsmith@weichert.com

      



123 MAIN ST.

$1,500,000

116 SENECA CHASE CT

123 MAIN ST.

$469,000 3117 COLLIE LN

$1,500,000 123 MAIN ST.   

$1,500,000

123 MAIN ST.

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 123 MAIN ST. $1,500,000 123 MAIN ST.

   re proud of every neW

Join the Weichert family. We’

Sun Gazette

$1,500,000

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$1,500,000

arrival   .  Seating limited!  RSVP by 1/8 to reserve your seat. 

You’re a free agent, so you can sign on with an exciting team at Weichert – whether you’re an experienced Sales Associate who ®   new, wants the support to make your business grow or you’re wondering how to kick off aWeichert great new real estate career. If you’re Realtors you can earn your real estate license quickly and return to Weichert for the industry’s703.527.3300 best training. If you’re experienced,  x. 110we’ll Industry-leading training, help you innovative Internet strategy, our industry-leading Open House program, and much more. both insucceed classwith andouron-line

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 nbagley@weichertrealtors.net

For more information, contact Jaclyn Jacobsen at: For more information contact 973-656-3435 (office) or jjacobsen@weichertrealtors.net Jaclyn Jacobson 973-656-3435 Invite us in…we’ll bring results! jjacobsen@weichertrealtors.net If your property is current listed for sale with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.

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Arlington Office

4701 Old Dominion Drive • 703-527-3300