Sun Gazette Arlington December 31, 2015

INSIDE

Raphael lauded for her tenure on School Board – Story on Page 8

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10

ARLINGTON DEMOCRATS COULD HELP IN THE 10th

CHURCH DOES ITS PART TO BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS

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ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL SQUADS SELECTED

6 6 11 16 19 23 23

Highs & Lows Letters Real Estate Transportation Classified 55+ News Crossword

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VOLUME 81 NO. 6

ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935

N.Va. Homes Market Sees Higher Sales, Prices in 2015

Fresh Faces to Enter Office as 2016 Kicks Off

HOOPS ACTION KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR

Christian Dorsey, Katie Cristol Will Succeed Tejada and Hynes

With Interest Rates Rising, Are Headwinds on Horizon?

The arrival of a new year brings a 40-percent turnover in the Arlington County Board.

Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol will take their seats with incumbents Jay Fisette, Libby Garvey and John Vihstadt on Jan. 1, when the County Board holds its annual New Year’s Day organizational meeting – a tradition dating back to the 1950s or before.

Democrats Dorsey and Cristol easily defeated inde- Christian Dorsey pendents Michael McMenamin and Audrey Clement on Nov. 3 to win the seats that Tejada (who was first elected in 2003) and Hynes (2007) opted to retire from.

The change will not alter the political composition of the board, which will remain four Democrats and independent Vihstadt. But it could have an impact on Katie Cristol board policies in ways not yet known.

Dorsey, Cristol and other board members will have the chance to lay out their priorities in speeches on Jan. 1, but first will elect a chair and vice chair.

SCOTT McCAFFREY and DAVE FACINOLI Staff Writers

How the final 2015 real-estate sales data across Northern Virginia will rank on the all-time list will be known in mid-January.

But one thing is for sure: It took 2015 only 11 months to surpass the total sales and volume recorded in all of 2014.

Home sales for the region totaled 18,713 from January to November, according to figures reported by Real Estate Business Intelligence, an arm of the local multiple-listing service. That’s slightly above the 18,696 sales reported across the region during the entire year of 2014.

(Sales data represent transactions in Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.)

Total sales volume for the first 11 months of 2015 totaled $10.42 billion, also an increase from the $10.31 billion recorded for the entire year of 2014.

Being conservative and assuming 800 sales in December, total sales for 2015 would reach 19,512, which would be the secondhighest sales total in the past nine years, behind only the 20,355 transactions reported in 2013.

“Buyer confidence seems to be high, and they are encouraged that home prices have remained fairly steady,” said Craig Lilly of Long & Foster Real Estate in Vienna, a Continued on Page 14

RELATED

Washington-Lee’s Gene Jones shoots over McLean defender Zachary Glissman in recent action.

See holiday basketball coverage inside in Sports.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

Departing incumbents Walter Tejada and Mary Hynes look back at their County Board service.

See story, Page 7.

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ORRIN KONHEIM For the Sun Gazette

As the curtains prepared to open for the inaugural Countywide Charity Comedy Improv Invitational on a recent Saturday afternoon in Arlington, a group of nearly 60 middle- and high-school theater students waited backstage for instructions from show emcee Josh Rosenblum.

The performance was to consist entirely of improvisation, and Rosenblum – an acting coach – wanted to take the students out of their comfort zone and teach them to take risks on stage.

“I barely know you guys, and even those of you who I do know, I don’t necessarily know how good you are at certain games, so I’m just gonna pick people at random,” he said.

Two hours later, the teachers, audience members and performers who had gathered at the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program auditorium agreed that the inaugural edition of the improv event was a positive experience.

“Performers and audience alike seemed to enjoy the afternoon’s relaxed and spontaneous atmosphere, and some said they are ready to try more events, and perhaps even take it to the next level with competitive teams,” said H-B Woodlawn drama teacher Tom Mallan, who spearheaded the event.

The Countywide Comedy Charity Invitational (known by the acronym “CoCoChImp”) was one a number of recent

Students in Arlington high schools and middle schools competed in a charity improv competition in early December, both to hone their theatrical skills and raise funds for charity.

PHOTO COURTESY TOM MALLAN

initiatives by Arlington school drama departments aimed at linking students together. Seven different schools were represented.

“H-B’s always trying to connect with the Arlington theater community, because we draw students from every elementary district,” said Mallan. “This is a great opportunity for like-minded kids from across Arlington.”

Among those on hand to hone his skills was Luke Beverly, a sophomore at H-B Woodlawn.

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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.”

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“Improv has refined my sense of humor and improved my theater skills,” he said.

“It drove me to theater and my love of the arts.”

CoCoChImp was developed in conjunction with the Arlington-based Educational Theatre Company, of which Mallan and Rosenblum are staff members. As part of the preparation, Rosenblum held a workshop to teach students the basic rules of short-form improv games.

“The performance was casual and inclusive, letting students jump in and out of the

improv games according to their comfort level and knowledge of the games,” said Mallan. “The students did great.”

Aside from Yorktown High School and its 28th Street Improv troupe, none of the other middle or high schools in Arlington have improv troupes.

“CoCoChImp is a very new opportunity for us – before, we have only done performances at school,” said Yorktown High School senior Reiss Gidner. “I think it would be really great if all the schools had improv troupes. That way, we could have even more events and learn from each other.”

Washington-Lee drama teacher Keith Cassidy said that his theater department’s focus has been based more heavily on student-led productions, and the resulting rehearsal calendar is too busy for additional programs.

“There have been attempts to have improv clubs or even drama clubs, but we can just never meet, because we’re in rehearsals almost every day,” said Cassidy.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School teacher Devon Riley, who is in her first year, is open to the possibility, but (like Cassidy) she noted that most theater programs have improv elements.

“Improv’s part of the creation process to begin with,” said Riley. “When you’re devising a piece of theater, it begins with the process of improv.”

The event also served to introduce new

December 31, 2015

Improv Competition Brings Arlington Students Together

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Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

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Politics

Arlington Democrats Could Help in Neighboring 10th

LuAnn Bennett May Represent Party’s Only Shot to Oust GOP’s Comstock SCOTT McCAFFREY and BRIAN TROMPETER Staff Writers

One of the resolutions of Arlington Democrats for 2016 is likely to be finding a way to help win the neighboring 10th Congressional District.

Such an effort would not be new – county Democrats have worked on races outside the local area, providing peoplepower to knock on doors and help raise funds. Their efforts in recent years have been mixed, with some successes and some failures.

With the 8th District firmly in control of Democrat U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, Arlington Democrats are likely to muster resources to help take back the 10th District, which hasn’t been in Democratic hands since U.S. Rep. Joseph Fisher was defeated by Republican Frank Wolf in the Republican landslide of 1980.

After some searching, Democrats appear to have found their contender to take on the task of upending first-term U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10th).

LuAnn Bennett, a real-estate executive and the ex-wife of former U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), formally announced her bid on Dec. 10. She could end up the only Democrat to seek the nomination.

“Like many Northern Virginians, I’m frustrated with the lack of results and gridlock in Congress,” Bennett said in a kickoff video. “I have spent my career in the pri-

vate sector, identifying challenges, solving problems and working with people to build a better future.”

It will be the first run for office for Bennett, and may be the lone shot Democrats have at unseating Comstock before she becomes, like so many members of Congress from Northern Virginia before her, virtually unassailable.

Comstock was serving in the House of Delegates when she trounced Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) in November 2014 to win the seat of the retiring Frank Wolf. Wolf, a Republican, had served for 34 years.

Comstock’s campaign manager, Luisa Guerra, said the Republican is prepped for a challenge.

“Congresswoman Comstock understands the needs of the 10th Congressional District and delivers results,” Guerra told the Sun Gazette. “She has fought for our federal employees and for more defense and national-security funding and against the defense sequester cuts.”

“She works in a bipartisan way for her constituents,” Guerra said of Comstock.

Bennett, however, used her kickoff to position herself as the common-sense candidate in the race.

“When you run a small business, you work with whomever you need to in order to get results,” she said. “This district needs a representative who will choose solutions over partisanship – refusing to work with someone just isn’t an option.”

A native of Illinois, Bennett moved to Northern Virginia in 1980, married Rick Bennett and raised three sons.

After the death of her first husband,

LuAnn Bennett, shown in a campaign photo, is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District. The seat is held by freshman Republican Barbara Comstock.

Bennett married Moran while he was serving in Congress. The marriage lasted from 2004 to 2011; despite their divorce, they remain friends, Bennett says on her campaign Web site.

The 10th Congressional District was created during Virginia’s post-World War II growth spurt; Comstock is the fourth person to occupy the seat, following Republican Joel Broyhill (1953-74), Fisher (1975-80) and Wolf (1981-2014).

Up through the early 1990s, the 10th District was more centered on the inner suburbs of Northern Virginia. Redistricting after the 1990 and 2000 federal censuses pushed its geographic center farther west and its political make-up more conservative-leaning.

As currently configured, the 10th Dis-

trict includes portions of Fairfax and Prince William counties and all of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park and Winchester.

The race in the 10th has the potential to be the only one to be competitive among inner Northern Virginia’s three congressional districts.

Both Beyer and U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-11th) are unlikely to face competitive opposition.

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-1st), whose district ranges from the outer suburbs all the way to Williamsburg, also sits in a safe seat, although the boundaries of his district may be impacted by a redistricting battle currently working its way through the federal court system.

P.W. Board Chair Is Backing Trump and Eyeing Run for Governor JILL PALERMO

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Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart (R) says he’s conPOLITICAL sidering a run Virginia POTPOURRI for governor in 2017 and, in the meantime, hopes to be a “bridge” between billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump and the Muslim community in Northern Virginia.

“I truly believe that Donald Trump is going to win the nomination and that he will win the presidency and there’s got to be a bridge between a very large, prosperous, educated and dynamic community, the Muslim community in America, and the president of the United States, or at least the Republican nominee,” Stewart said in a recent interview.

“And it just so happens that I’m in a unique position of having a very strong and close relationship with the Muslim

community,” Stewart added. “We trust each other, and, you know I’ve got this connection with the Trump campaign. So I’m somewhat of a natural person to build that bridge between the two.”

Stewart was named Trump’s Virginia campaign chairman earlier in December.

That announcement was met with both surprise and disappointment by members of the Manassas-based Muslim Association of Virginia, according Rafiuddin Ahmed, a Woodbridge businessman and a former MAV president who serves as the group’s spokesman.

As a non-political nonprofit, MAV cannot contribute money or endorse political candidates, Ahmed said. But many of its members volunteered for Stewart and helped him with fundraisers and get-outthe-vote efforts in the month’s leading up to the Nov. 3 election, when Stewart was re-elected to a third term with about 57 percent of votes cast.

Ahmed said Stewart’s decision to head Trump’s Virginia campaign despite the

candidate’s harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric had many in his community questioning whether they would continue to support Stewart in the future.

“Right now, I really just don’t know. I’m just going to wait and see,” Ahmed said. “I trust Chairman Stewart. I just don’t trust Donald Trump.”

Ahmed added that while he still considers Stewart “a friend,” Trump’s statements about “banning all Muslims from the U.S.” have been “hurtful” to Muslim-Americans.

“Not all Muslims are terrorists. Most are law-abiding citizens like everyone else,” Ahmed added. “Muslim Americans contribute to the betterment of the county on every different level, as doctors, engineers and business people.”

Stewart said he disagrees with Trump’s positions on Muslims, and has spoken to Ahmed to clarify his position. But Stewart also said he agrees “with most of [Trump’s] other positions,” including his call to build “a giant wall” on the Mexican-U.S. border.

“We’re supposed to have a fence. We’ve got a sieve,” Stewart said. “We’ve got to secure the border. Even Democrats have been saying that.”

For the first time, Stewart also publicly acknowledged he is considering running for governor in the upcoming 2017 election.

But he said that his involvement with the Trump campaign will keep him busy until at least March and will likely keep him from making a formal announcement until sometime later next year.

Why back Trump? “The reason he is leading in the polls and the reason I think he’s going to win the presidency is because he’s . . . speaking very honestly and directly without trying to varnish it or cover over anything. I think people find that refreshing,” Stewart said.

“I think that even if you disagree . . . you know you’re going to trust him because he’ll tell you what he thinks. And you might not like it, you might violently disagree with it, but at least he’s starting a dialogue.”

Also Headed for a Showdown: A Measure to Keep Guns Out of Legislative Buildings SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

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Arlington’s supporters of recently approved plans for Interstate 66 inside the Beltway will be watching the 2016 General Assembly session carefully, to see if legislators who RICHMOND oppose the measures can 2016 win passage of legislation that weakens or kills them.

“There will be a fight,” predicted County Board member Jay Fisette.

Several bills already are in the works to reverse the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s Dec. 9 action approving tolling on I-66 inside the Beltway for single-occupant drivers during rush hour, and to force state officials to use the funds to widen the roadway eastbound before giving any money to Northern Virginia leaders for other transportation projects.

The measures would seem to have at least the possibility of success, given the composition of the legislature, but whether there would be enough votes to override likely vetoes by Gov. McAuliffe remains an open question.

“The governor is our backstop,” Fisette said.

Also still in the air will be the 2016 County Board’s support for the agreement ironed out in the latter stages of 2015.

The 2015 County Board voted in support of the agreement allowing toll funds to go to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for disbursement, but the vote’s 3-2 majority included two board members (Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada) whose terms are expiring Dec. 31.

Fisette also voted in favor; County Board members John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey did not, saying the proposal was not yet fleshed out fully enough.

Fisette, Vihstadt and Garvey will be joined on the County Board on Jan. 1 by Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol.

County Board OKs Legislative Package: Arlington County Board members on Dec. 12 formally adopted their 2016 General Assembly priorities package, in preparation for the 60-day legislative session that begins in mid-January.

“We send you off to do good things,” County Board Chairman Mary Hynes told Pat Carroll, who serves as the county government’s legislative liaison in Richmond during General Assembly sessions.

The adopted package did not differ significantly from a draft proposal, although it added a new preamble stating the county government’s overall priorities.

Among the key goals of the Arlington government in Richmond in 2016: Resurrection of the surtax on hotel rooms to fund tourism promotion; closing a loophole that is largely preventing the county from ticketing motorists caught on camera passing stopped school buses; and maintaining funding for the Metro system.

Among policy positions included in the package but unlikely to find traction in the

corridors of power in Richmond: Taxing Currently, anyone is allowed to carry single-use plastic bags and renaming Jefguns on legislature-controlled grounds, as ferson Davis Highway. long as they are legally permitted to have Arlington’s three state senators and four one. delegates are all Democrats; Republicans “We’re an easy target for anyone with hold a small majority in the state Senate a concealed-handgun permit, or one who and a lopsided balance of power in the just wants to open-carry on the Capitol House of Delegates. grounds, and nothing prevents them to do Legislators are slated to convene on Jan. so,” Hope (D-47th) told the Sun Gazette.

13 and, if they can come to agreement on “While my bill wouldn’t prevent all a two-year budget, be out of Richmond by gun-violence tragedies, it would guarantee March 12. the safety of the visitors and those who Democrat Fisette Pays Homage to Rework in the Capitol and General Assembly publican Rust: Arlington’s mostly-DemoBuilding,” Hope said. “We have an excelcratic County Board appears genuinely sad lent Capitol Police force, and we should let to see one Republican departing the Genthem do their job to screen out guns and eral Assembly. keep us safe.”

County Board member Jay Fisette on Hope is not brimming with confidence Dec. 15 paid tribute to Del. Tom Rust (R- Retiring Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon) was seen as that the Republican-dominated House of a transit ally by Arlington leaders. FILE PHOTO Fairfax/Loudoun), who is retiring from ofDelegates will spend much time consider“It will be an interesting thing to see if ing his measure. fice at the end of the year.

Rust served as “a very important player any of the renaming will be of interest” in “I bring a similar bill most years, and it Richmond, County Board Chairman Mary always fails, but it seems these tragedies are [who] will be sorely missed,” Fisette said.

A one-time mayor of Herndon who Hynes said. increasing more and more frequently, and Were county officials to cotton to Ber- I’m getting more and more concerned,” was among the rarer breeds in Richmond – a moderate Republican with plenty of ne’s point of view about Lincoln, it would Hope said. seniority – Rust two years ago was tapped be easier to take his name off roads that Gov. McAuliffe in October signed an to chair the House Transportation Com- bear it in Arlington, since secondary streets executive order banning the open carrying come under the authority of the county of- of guns in some state-owned buildings, a mittee.

In that role, he served as “a great de- ficials. measure that drew protests from RepubHope Again to Press for Gun-Free lican legislative leaders who said he was fender and advocate of Northern Virginia Legislative Buildings: Del. Patrick Hope usurping the authority of the General Asand transit,” Fisette said.

Because Republicans hold nearly a 2- acknowledges it will be an uphill fight, but sembly. to-1 majority over Democrats in the lower is pledging to press forward with a bill proMcAuliffe’s executive action had no efhouse of the legislature, having an ally hibiting weapons in buildings controlled by fect on facilities controlled by the legislaTPP newspaper ad.qxp_Layout 1 12/9/15 10:30 AM Page 1 among GOP ranks supporting regional the state legislature. tive branch. transportation policy proved a benefit to localities like Arlington, which hasn’t sent CRA Offers Special Thanks To The Following Merchant Republicans to Richmond in decades.

For Their Continued Support For Our Vocational Rust’s district has trended Democratic in recent years; in 2013, he narrowly avoidRehabilitation Program For The Mentally ill ed being defeated by Democrat Jennifer Boysko. Boysko picked up the seat in the Nov. 3 election by easily defeating Republi- 1990 - 2015 can Danny Vargas.

If ‘Jefferson Davis’ Goes, Should ‘Abraham Lincoln’ Follow? If we’re going to ban Jefferson Davis’s name from Arlington roadways, we ought to ban Abraham Lincoln’s, as well.

That was the thrust of comments made earlier this month by free-thinking civic activist Bernie Berne, who at the County Board’s Dec. 12 meeting ticked off a number of reasons Lincoln caused problems for what in the 1860s was known as Alexandria County and today is known as Arlington.

Berne’s comments came in response to Serving Ballston for the County Board’s legislative package, which calls on state officials to change the Twenty-five Years! name of Jefferson Davis Highway.

Davis served as president of the Confederate States of America. After the war, We have been serving the printing and he was charged with treason but never copying needs of metropolitan businesses faced trial.

Such a move would require action of for more than 25 years. We combine the the legislature because it was state lawmaklatest in technology with a knowledgeable ers who in the 1920s gave the highway (U.S. Route 1) its name at the behest of United and friendly staff ready to provide you with Daughters of the Confederacy. the results you are looking for. Try us — County Board members put the proposal in their legislative package, but even you’ll be happy you did. they seemed tepid about it.

December 31, 2015

Arlington Leaders Keeping an Eye on I-66 Bills in Richmond

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December 31, 2015

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Opinion

Find more letters and an archive of editorials at www.insidenova.com/ news/arlington (Click on “Opinion”)

Highs & Lows THUMBS UP: To the County Board’s choice of former School Board member Noah Simon to head the task force that will come up with a recommendation on where to put Fire Station #8.

There were other worthy options for chair, but Simon comes with the added benefit that he’s a certified mediator – and that’s a skill that will be needed in working through the issues and trying to come up with a consensus on the fire station’s future.

THUMBS UP: To a proposal by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, to have leaders of Virginia, Maryland and D.C. get more serious about consideration of options to improve passage across the Potomac River.

Currently, the region’s bridges

and the Metro tunnel all are facing a usage crunch. Something is going to have to be done eventually, even though solutions are likely to be expensive and face politically treacherous waters.

Is doing nothing an option?

Sure; it’s almost always an option.

But better to start putting proposals on the table, so there can be a broad discussion about the implications involved of moving forward rather than standing still.

THUMBS DOWN: To the Republican Party of Virginia, for requiring that those casting ballots in the GOP presidential primary on March 1 sign a pledge that “I am a Republican.”

Virginia is an open-primary state, without registration by party, but both Democrats and Republicans can require such pledges

during primaries. (Democrats are not using one for their presidential primary, but have no standing to criticize the GOP, as the Arlington County Democratic Committee does require a loyalty pledge to participate in its caucuses.)

Forcing people to sign a pledge is likely to engender ill-will and will cause a mess at polling places on primary day. And while the GOP leadership at the state level will say it’s to ensure that only Republicans vote, the sneaking suspicion is that the party is trying to get its hands on contact information voters will be asked to add to their pledge forms.

It really is a toss-up whether the Republican Party of Virginia or the Democratic Party of Virginia is the more hopeless operation these days. This round, however, goes to Republicans.

Effort to Rename Roads, Schools, etc., Is Foolish Editor: For some time, I’ve been reading the articles about, and letters from, people who take exception to the names of our streets, highways and schools in Arlington. My thought has been, “Hey, why have you chosen to live in Arlington if these names are so disgusting to you?”

One letter was from a fellow who had moved here from California, who was finding it painful to travel on a road named “Lee.” I’ll let that pass.

The final straw has been the latest squib about changing the name of what had been Stratford Junior High School,

which will be discussed in January by the Arlington County Civic Federation.

Stratford has a history that has nothing to do with Robert E. Lee. Just ask those who, as children in 1959, made that history.

Second, let’s look at the comments made by Laura Saul Edwards of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, discussing dumping the names of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson from the party’s annual dinner.

Yes, names do matter, and Democrats have used the names of Jefferson and Jackson for many years as a drawing

card to fill their coffers. But in 2015, the committee has decided “this is all about us now, and moving forward.”

Well, I don’t know who this “us” is that Ms. Saul Edwards speaks of, but I dare say she does not speak for the entire population of Arlington.

As a Virginian and a Democrat, I say to the Arlington County Democratic Committee and the “newbies” in the community, if this is the most you can contribute to the common good, please stop.

Carolyn Ward Arlington

Gov. McAuliffe’s Gun Ban Won’t Do Much to Help Virginians Editor: Gov. McAuliffe seems to be bucking to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate and paying back support, while jeopardizing Virginians by establishing gun-free zones in state-agency buildings.

Why else would he be doing this, as there have been zero, zip, nada, such shootings in any state-agency building in Virginia?

California wasn’t as fortunate, as in-

nocents were massacred in San Bernadino’s County Health Department during a holiday luncheon, held in a gun-free zone in which the terrorists were guaranteed there could be no resistance.

On Dec. 3, The Washington Post reported that gun crime has been in decline for 20 years – except in gun-free zones.

McAuliffe said: “My administration is committed to making Virginia an open and welcoming commonwealth.”

To whom, sir? With the establishment of gun-free zones – in essence, victim zones – you have invited terrorists and other murderers to an open season on Virginians, while trampling the rights of law-abiding residents of the commonwealth and precluding the opportunity for self-defense against cowardly, uncivilized murderers.

Martina Esther Sabo Arlington

Arlingtonians Mad About Helicoper Noise Act Like Crybabies Editor: Arlingtonians complaining about the sound of military-helicopter flyovers is akin to a 22-year-old liberalized Arlington-raised kid complaining to mama

about the remnants of the diaper rash he had when 8 months old.

I surmise the sounds of freedom are offensive to Arlington liberals.

Robert Molleur

Manassas Join the conversation by sending a letter to the editor on a topic of local interest; contact information is found at left.

SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

Rate listed is the cost per $100 assessed valuation of residential real estate as adopted by the County Board. Since 2008, it also includes the sanitary-district tax surcharge.

Year 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Rate $1.532 $1.532 $1.532 $1.532 $1.512 $1.512 $1.512 $1.490 $1.450 $1.290 $1.120 $0.960 $0.980 $0.990 $0.970

Year 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Rate $0.950 $0.940 $0.920 $0.890 $0.780 $0.765 $0.765 $0.820 $0.860 $0.897 $0.940 $0.960 $0.986 $0.998 $0.998

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 ‘14-’15

Rate $1.023 $1.023 $0.993 $0.978 $0.958 $0.878 $0.818 $0.818 $0.848 $0.875 $0.958 $0.958 $0.971 $1.006 $0.996

SOURCE: County government

a pretty good job, but we certainly need to do a better job communicating. We probably need to be doing a better job of getting the message across of where we’re headed and why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

Homeowners May Need to Dig Deeper to Pay Tax Bills in 2016: Ongoing softness in the commercial real estate market could leave Arlington homeowners footing more of the bill for government services in 2016.

County officials are projecting that the assessed value of commercial real estate will be flat or slightly negative when assessments are released in late January, with residential real estate predicted to rise an average of 3 percent.

The overall increase in the real estate tax base, projected at 2.7 percent, likely will not be enough to fund the county government’s billion-dollar annual budget. Officials in November projected at $15 million the gap between projected revenues and expenses, mostly related to growing enrollment in the school system.

In guidance to acting County Manager Mark Schwartz, County Board members directed staff to prepare a draft fiscal 2016 budget that would not raise the real estate tax rate beyond the current 99.6 cents per $100 assessed value. But even with no increase in the rate, many homeowners will see their 2016 tax bills increase if the projected higher assessments materialize.

If so, it would be a continuation of a trend.

The average assessed value of detached single-family homes rose 5.7 percent from $747,700 in 2014 to $790,300 in 2015, according county officials, while all residential property (counting attached homes, such as condominiums) saw an average increase of 4.9 percent, from $552,700 to $579,800.

Because County Board members during the 2015 budget process left the tax rate unchanged from the year before, most homeowners saw increases in their tax bills this year compared to 2014.

Over the past 45 years, Arlington’s annual real estate tax rate has ranged from 76.5 cents to $1.532 per $100 assessed valuation. But by itself, the tax rate is of limited value, since tax bills depend on the tax rate and the assessed value of property.

Owners of commercial real estate pay the same tax rate as residential, but also must kick in a 12.5-cents-per-$100 surcharge for transportation projects and, in some cases, additional surcharges if the property is located in business-improvement districts.

Taxi Fares Head Up Slightly: For the first time in nearly four years, the cost of taxis hailed in Arlington will rise on Jan. 1.

County Board members have authorized an increase in the initial (“drop”) charge from $2.75 to $3, and approved a per-mile increase from $2.10 to $2.16, prorated in one-sixth-mile increments.

With the change, the cost for a five-mile trip will rise 4.2 percent to $13.44, with the cost of a 25-mile trip increasing 3.2 percent to $54.90. Most taxi journeys that originate in Arlington are between 5 and 10 miles, which would result in increases of 54 cents to 84 cents per trip, county staff said.

Despite a drop in fuel prices over the past year, the cost of operating a taxi is in-

creasing, county officials said. The last hike in Arlington taxi fares came in 2012.

County Board OKs Ballston Redevelopment: Arlington County Board members have approved a redevelopment plan that will see the Carpool bar/restaurant on Fairfax Drive at North Quincy Street replaced with a 22-story, 330-unit apartment building.

The new project will include several retail spaces; road improvements; and a publicly-accessible courtyard.

Board members also allowed the developer of the site – Penzance – to combine it with an adjacent parcel, currently home to a 10-story, 1960s-era office building that is likely to ultimately, but not immediately, be torn down and redeveloped.

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The stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve brings a combined 20 years of County Board service to an COUNTY end, as Walter Tejada NOTES and Mary Hynes step away from the dais and are succeeded by Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey.

“It’s been a labor of love, I think for both of us,” said Hynes, who spent two four-year terms on the County Board after serving a dozen years on the School Board.

“We chose Arlington for different reasons and at different points of time,” Hynes said of herself and Tejada. “But there’s no question: It’s our home.”

Tejada, who won a 2003 special election called after the unexpected death of County Board member Charles Monroe, said he tried to always put his focus on residents in need.

“We don’t forget about those who are not as fortunate,” Tejada said. “The measure of our success is how we treat the most distressed in our community.”

Both Hynes, who chaired the board in 2015, and Tejada, who served as vice chair, opted early in the year to announce their retirements.

Cristol and Dorsey won the Democratic primary in June and went on to defeat independents Michael McMenamin and Audrey Clement in November. It was the first time since 1975 that voters had two County Board seats on the general-election ballot without at least one incumbent running.

In valedictory remarks on Dec. 12, Tejada praised Arlington’s activist leadership.

“We can talk about the gridlock in Congress, [but] at the local level, we’re getting stuff done,” he said. “You know where we stand on issues. We here are supposed to reflect the will of the county, at least the vast majority.”

Hynes echoed the sentiment of government and public working in tandem.

“It’s heartening to see the difference that boards can make when they work well with the community in terms of setting the direction and the momentum of a community [to] have the right conversations at the right time to make good decisions about how we move forward,” she said.

From the departure of Republican Mike Lane in 1999 to the arrival of Republicanand Green-backed independent John Vihstadt in 2014, the County Board had been composed entirely of Democrats. Over the past two years, Vihstadt often has allied himself with Libby Garvey on key issues, at times lining up against Hynes, Tejada and Jay Fisette.

In offering praise to his departing colleagues, Vihstadt said their differences were not as pronounced as some might believe.

“We have certainly not agreed on all issues,” Vihstadt said, but “we’ve agreed on more issues than not.”

Garvey suggested that, moving forward into 2016, one of the government’s biggest challenges will be to better enunciate its goals and explain itself to the public.

“The only thing sure in life is change,” Garvey said. “We need to manage change and growth. We try to do that and often do

REAL ESTATE TAX RATES

December 31, 2015

Tejada, Hynes Look Back; Tax Bills Are Likely to Head Higher

7

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

8

Raphael Lauded for 8-Year Tenure on School Board SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

Arlington School Board members on Dec. 17 paid tribute to Abby Raphael, who on Dec. 31 wraps up two terms SCHOOL eight BOARD totaling years and NOTES leaves as the most senior member of the board.

“It has been a great privilege for me,” said Raphael, who announced in late 2014 that she was not planning on seeking a third term. “I really wanted to help make a difference for Arlington students and families.”

Raphael’s activism on school issues began at Arlington Science Focus School, where she rose to chair the PTA. She also served stints on the school system’s Budget Advisory Committee and Advisory Council on Instruction; during her School Board tenure, she served as chairman twice and also served as president of the Washington Area Boards of Education.

School Board Chairman

Emma Violand-Sanchez praised Raphael’s commitment to community engagement and collaboration, saluting her “thoughtful approach to issues as well as her insights into complex problems.”

Board colleague James Lander, who at times found himself on different sides of issues, still professed his admiration.

Raphael “advocated for all the students,” Lander said.

School Board Vice Chairman Nancy Van Doren said one of the lesser-known efforts by Raphael was her push for equitable school-security measures systemwide, and providing the resources to keep students and staff safe.

“She did a heroic job on getting us to focus on what we needed to do,” Van Doren said.

Barbara Kanninen, who like Van Doren joined the School Board in 2014, said Raphael represented the institutional memory of the previous decade, with an “encyclopedic” knowledge of issues and actions.

Over her eight years on the board, Arlington Public Schools has seen enrollment grow by 6,000 students to more than 25,000. In

remarks, Raphael pointed to issues she campaigned on in 2007, including reducing the studentachievement gap; expanding foreign-language opportunities; sharing the use of facilities with the public; and providing more community-service opportunities for students.

“We’ve really made strides on all of that,” Raphael said, while keeping the focus on students.

“Every child can succeed,” Raphael said. “Our students are creative and talented and hardworking.”

Raphael also has been active in addressing issues related to student-dating violence, and was instrumental in helping start a diversionary program that gives students caught with alcohol or marijuana a second chance before being sent into the juvenile-justice system.

Trained as an attorney and the wife of Virginia Solicitor General Stuart Raphael – they have two daughters – Abby Raphael considered, but opted against, running for County Board this year.

She has expressed interest in the possibility of someday serving

Abby Raphael

on the Virginia Board of Education, as did her immediate School Board predecessor, David Foster.

Raphael will be succeeded by Reid Goldstein, who in November defeated Brooklyn Kinlay in the general election.

Lander suggested that while Raphael no longer will be in public office, school officials won’t let her slip away.

“There’s plenty more for you to do,” he said. “We’ll see you

down the road.”

Arlington’s five School Board members are elected countywide and for staggered terms, with one or two seats on the ballot each November. While School Board seats in Virginia officially are nonpartisan posts, all five current Arlington board members, as well as incoming board member Goldstein, garnered the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee before winning general-election victories.

Career Center to Host Open House: The Arlington Career Center will hold its annual open house on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the center, 816 South Walter Reed Drive.

The event allows the public to visit classrooms and talk with instructors in subject areas ranging from health-care to digital media to engineering.

“As you tour the classes at the Career Center, you can learn about how these challenging classes can be part of a student’s academic planning,” officials said.

For information, see the Web site at www.apsva.us/careercenter.

County Board, School Board

Candidates Can Start Filing Jan. 2

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SANTA ARRIVES COURTESY COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Sun Gazette

Ol’ Kris Kringle was many places during the holiday season, but his arrival at the annual “Miracle on 23rd Street” celebration sponsored by Linden Resources resulted in one of his more heralded entrances. Santa was delivered to the event by members of the Arlington County Fire Department, then found time to mix and mingle with the youngsters who came out to greet him. The event, held Dec. 11, brought out a record number of participants, Linden officials said.

In the immortal words of Sheriff Buford T. Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit”: Oh, you can think about it, but dooooon’t do it.

That advice to prospective 2016 candidates for office in Arlington is from the county elections office, which is advising contenders of a quirk in state election law.

The rules say that those planning on running for office can begin seeking signatures on petitions “after Jan. 1,” which means New Year’s Day is off-limits. Any signatures collected on that day will be invalidated by election officials.

In most communities, skipping Jan. 1 wouldn’t be a big deal – who is out circulating petitions on the first day of the year? – but in Arlington it means that signatures can’t be gathered at the annual organizational meeting of the County Board, which draws enough registered voters that candidates could, conceivably, get the 125 signatures needed for County Board and School Board races then and there.

Whether candidates for office, incumbents or newcomers, will be so gung-ho that they’ll start circulating petitions in January remains to be seen, since plenty of time would remain available. Those running for School Board, and those seeking independent bids for County Board, have until June 14 to file the signatures.

If Democrats and/or Republicans opt for a primary to select County Board nominees, the paperwork would be filed with the party chair; if parties opt to hold a caucus, petitions generally are not required.

Obtaining the requisite number of signatures to get on the ballot is just one of the filing requirements, which also include a statement of organization, certificate of candidate qualifications and statement of economic interests.

The 2016 Arlington ballot will include one County Board seat (currently occupied by Libby Garvey) and two School Board seats (filled currently by Emma Violand-Sanchez and Nancy Van Doren).

Arlington Notes offices will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. The Arlington County Board will hold its annual organizational meeting at 11 a.m. in the board room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION SEEKS VOLUNTEER GRASS-GROWERS: The

Chesapeake Bay Foundation is seeking volunteers to grow underwater Bay grasses in their homes, schools or businesses as part of a regional restoration program.

The grasses are vital to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, but have been seriously depleted in recent years due to pollution and cloudy water.

“Plantings from previous years are on their way to becoming healthy grass beds,” said Blair Blanchette, grass-roots coordinator of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Virginia.

Participants first attend a workshop – seven are slated across Northern Virginia in January and February – then receive a self-contained growing kit. They will nurture grass sprouts until they are mature enough to be transplanted to permitted sites in the James and Potomac rivers in late spring.

There is a $40 cost per growing kit, which includes a one-year membership to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. For information, see the Web site at www.cbf. org/grasses.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP WINS GRANT FUNDING FOR OUTREACH: Ar-

lington-based Postpartum Support Virginia has received a $4,800 donation from 100 Women Who Care Northern Virginia, designed to help the support group kick-start a new education and outreach program in Arlington and Alexandria.

The initiative is much-needed, said Adrienne Griffin, founder and executive director of Postpartum Support Virginia, who said that up to one in three women will experience significant postpartum depression, “which can negatively impact not only the mother, but also the baby and entire family.”

The nomination for the grant was made by 100 Women Who Care member Doris Parker.

“I think becoming more aware of community challenges like these, and the people who are actively seeking solutions to them, is one of the best reasons to join 100 Women Who Care,” Parker said.

For information on 100 Women Who Care, see the Web site at www.100wwcnova. org.

HOUSING WORKSHOPS OFFERED TO FIRST-TIME BUYERS: The Virginia Hous-

ing Development Authority will host a number of one-day sessions in coming weeks for first-time home-buyers.

The free workshops look at the homebuying process from start to finish, and explain how to stay on track as a responsible homeowner.

Arlington-based real estate firm Buck & Associates recently presented a $5,000 donation to support work at the Culpepper Garden senior-living facility.

Shown with Culpepper Garden’s Linda Kelleher are Buck chief operating officer Delk Hamaker and chief executive officer Billy Buck.

Upcoming sessions are slated for Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th St. South, with separate programs in English and Spanish. Another workshop is slated for Jan. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Miracaza Foundation, 1100 North Glebe Road, Suite 1010.

To register, for more information and for a list of workshops in coming months, see the Web site at www.vhda.com/freeclass.

ARLINGTON PHILHARMONIC LOOKS AT SPANISH INFLUENCES: The Arlington

Philharmonic continues its 10th-anniversary season with “Ritmos Festivos,” a family-friend production, on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. at Wakefield High School.

The concert will look at Spanish influences on classical music through the centuries. Works by Borne, Bizet, Moncayo, Ginastera and Gershwin will be featured.

Admission is free, but a donation of $20

December 31, 2015

GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: Arlington County government

9

is suggested. For information, see the Web site at www.arlingtonphilharmonic.org.

ENCORE TO PRESENT ‘SNOW WHITE’:

Encore Stage & Studio will present “Snow White” from Jan. 8-17 with performances at Thomas Jefferson Community Center.

Productions, which are appropriate for ages 4 and older, will be held on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children, seniors and military.

Encore will present “Snow White’s Winter Ball” immediately following the 11 a.m. performance on Jan. 9, featuring tea, treats, activities and a chance to interact with characters from the show. Tickets are $20, and are sold separately from performance tickets.

For additional information on the events, call (703) 548-1154 or see the Web site at www.encorestage.org.

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Arlington Notes II ‘WRAPPING PARTY’ HELPS LESS FORTUNATE: Parishioners at Rock Spring

Congregational United Church of Christ gathered Dec. 19 at the church’s Carpenter Hall for their annual “wrapping party” for those in need across Arlington.

The effort was designed to create survival kits of needed items like toiletries and socks, to go with a used-clothing collection drive for clients of the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network.

The event has been coordinated for the past 19 years by Alex Kuczkowski and his family, and draws scores of supporters who spend a busy morning collecting and wrapping the donated materials.

ARLINGTON TO AIM HIGHER ON BICYCLE RANKING: Arlington picked up a

silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation this year from the League of American Bicyclists. But the most avid bicyclist on the County Board is aiming higher.

Board member Jay Fisette said that to reach gold- and platinum-level status, the county will have to undertake a number of efforts, including upgrading the government’s bike master plan; expanding the number of bicycle-protected lanes; enacting programs to reach lower-income residents; and hosting bicycle-themed street events.

“These actions are well within reach,” Fisette said. “We keep striving for the next level.”

Nationally, there are five top-tier plati-

num-award communities and 24 goldaward locales. No community has achieved the top diamond-level award.

Arlington is one of 75 communities nationwide at the silver level of the competition. It has been ranked as silver twice before.

Counting all award levels – platinum to bronze – 11 Virginia localities made the ranking in 2015. Nationally, about 70 million Americans live in Bicycle-Friendly Communities.

For information, see the Web site at http://bikeleague.org.

North Culpepper St. For information, call (804) 338-4852 or e-mail carmelahamm@hotmail.com.

LECTURE TO FOCUS ON ORIGINS OF HALL’S HILL COMMUNITY: Life for Afri-

‘NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGES’ INITIATIVE OFFERS EDUCATIONAL COFFEES: The

can-Americans in Virginia in the mid to late 1800s will be the topic of “Revisiting the Hill: A Discussion on Inter-Generational Listening and African-American History,” to be presented on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. at Mt. Salvation Baptist Church, 1961 North Culpepper St. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Lauranett Lee, founding curator of AfricanAmerican history at the Virginia Historical Society, who will look specifically at the men and women who built Arlington’s Hall’s Hill/High View Park community in the aftermath of the Civil War. The presentation is designed to kick of the community’s 150th-anniversary celebration.

The public is invited. Overflow parking will be available at Langston Continuation Program, located at Lee Highway and

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Gift wrap was flying fast and furious as parishioners at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ on Dec. 19 held their annual wrapping party in support of the less fortunate in the local community. In addition to coats and winter clothing, an assortment of toiletries and other necessities were prepared for giving.

Arlington Neighborhood Villages initiative is hosting “Coffee and Conversation” on Wednesdays in January, designed to showcase the program and discuss agingin-place in the county.

All events will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Westover Market Beer Garden & Haus, 5863 Washington Blvd. Program topics will include Jane Franklin Dance (Jan. 6), AARP’s Fraud-Watch Program (Jan. 13), Arlington transit options for seniors (Jan. 20) and the national “Villages” movement (Jan. 27).

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

PROGRAM AIMS AT MOTHERS WITH BREAST CANCER: Virginia Hospital

Center’s Cancer Resource Center hosts a program for breast-cancer patients with

young children on Friday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at the hospital, 1701 North George Mason Drive.

For information on cancer-support programs at the hospital, call (703) 558-6913.

FILM, VIDEO COMPETITION TO BESTOW AWARDS: An awards program for recipi-

ents of the 2016 Rosebud Film Festival Awards, celebrating regional film and video producers, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd.

The day before – Saturday, Jan. 23 – a showcase featuring the entire 20-film slate of nominees will be screened from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Navy Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., in the District of Columbia.

An all-day pass for the festival is $15, and provides free admission to the awards program.

The Rosebud Film Festival is produced

by Arlington Independent Media. For tickets and information, see the Web site at www.rosebudfestival.org.

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We’d say the interior offers up a true urban-village vibe, with creative use of space and marvelous visual appeal.

Maple flooring throughout the main and upper levels is an added touch of class, and natural sunlight streams in through Pella windows.

The living room and dining room are amply proportioned, ready both for daily living to go with holiday entertaining.

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We are ending the year on a high note in real estate. And now, on to 2016!

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

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We round out the calendar year with a home that simultaneously pays homage to Arlington’s past while striding confidently into its future.

Set on a verdant lot in the Berkshire Oakwood community, the brick exterior of the home is of classic 1940s vintage – sturdy and dependable. And yet inside, there is a decidedly appealing contemporary flair, designed to showcase creative visuals and promote versatility among the formal rooms.

All this is combined with an exceptionally landscaped lot, charming rear yard and an ideal, quiet location that is close to both Metro and shops.

The property currently is on the market, listed at $750,000 by Carol Temple of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

Flanked by tall trees in a bucolic setting, the home’s curb appeal is welcoming. But the real surprises await those of us lucky enough to be invited in.

(StatePoint) Think you missed this year’s season to make energy efficient exterior upgrades?

Many homeowners are reluctant to start exterior remodeling improvements in the cooler months, because they worry about the potential to let in a draft during the installation process.

In reality, this is one of the times of year you will most feel the impact of an upgrade to energy-efficient windows, doors and insulated siding, and the remodeling can be done with minimal impact on the comfort of your home.

Here are a few reasons not to delay: Timing: Winter can be an ideal time to initiate upgrades. By taking care of your project now, you avoid the busier spring season. Plus, the sooner you make enhancements that increase efficiency and comfort, the sooner you can reap those benefits.

Why let another winter pass you by feeling chilly in your home and paying for wasted energy?

Installation Process: Innovations in home remodeling are making yearround upgrades easier than ever. For example, Window World, America’s largest exterior remodeler, can use oneto-one window and door installation methods, meaning one unit is replaced at a time. By fully sealing the perimeter inside and out using caulk designed to withstand temperature extremes, installation professionals can minimize a home’s exposure to the elements during the replacement process.

Superior Products: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that nearly 50 percent of a household’s annual energy consumption goes to heating and cooling.

The right exterior updates can offer curb appeal while also keeping your home comfortable. Today’s highly efficient window systems can provide substantial savings for your home.

Lastly, entry doors can be beautiful, durable and high performing. For example, fiberglass doors, such as those offered by Window World, provide considerable insulating improvement over wood. While maintaining the aesthetic appeal of traditional doors, the long-lasting materials stand up to severe conditions to create an exceptional barrier to the outdoor elements.

Don’t wait until the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming to improve home comfort. Enjoy your home in winter and summer alike, with an environment that’s as comfortable and efficient as it is beautiful.

December 31, 2015

Real Estate

Winter Can Be a Good Time to Focus on Exterior Remodeling

11

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

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(703) 528-5646 Information contained in this report is 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.

Sun Gazette

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North Barcroft Village Associate Broker SOON Source: Information based on data supplied by MRIS and its member Association(s) of REALTORS, who are not responsible for its accuracy. Does not reflect all activity in COMING the marketplace. January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011.

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LONG & FOSTER ARLINGTON LONG & FOSTER

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December 31, 2015

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Sun Gazette

Data: 2015 Has Been Solid Year for N.Va. Real Estate Continued from Page 1

member of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors’ board of directors.

The Northern Virginia real estate market peaked in 2004, when there were 32,735 transactions recorded. The market then bobbled down slightly in 2005 (dropping to 29,235 sales) before falling substantially in 2006 and subsequent years before beginning to rebound in 2012.

The peak year for sales volume was in 2005 at $15.7 billion.

For the first 11 months of 2015, the average sales price of $556,965 was slightly higher than the average price of $552,139 for the full 2014. That was the highest average price in Northern Virginia history, and year-end 2015 figures could represent another record, albeit just slightly higher.

“By way of its geographic locations, the Northern Virginia area is afforded a large number of sizeable employers/industries, plus the government,” said Craig Mastrangelo of Re/Max Allegiance. “This, tied along with continued strong job growth and historically low interest rates, plus lower than national inventory rates, has helped produce a very healthy residential real estate market for us –again – this past year.”

A modest uptick in prices is cause, if not for celebration, at least for a little good holiday cheer.

“Slow gains in our market work just fine,” said Mary Bayat, who is closing out a year as chair of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. “The gains in real-estate value help affirm our steady climb out of the housing cycle’s down-time.”

Joan Stansfield of Keller Williams said the sales are helped when there is a sense of urgency on both sides of the equation.

“For our clients, they jumped in to sell their homes while buyers were out in force, and our buyers wanted to move forward before the rates increase,” she said. “They knew if they waited until later in 2015, or even in 2016, they would likely be facing higher interest rates.”

Despite the overall data, not everyone is convinced 2015 was a high-performer.

“I do not agree and I don’t know where those numbers are coming from. 2014 was much weaker in our market,” said Lilian Jorgenson of Long & Foster, one of the top-producers of the region.

“2015 was a tough year for sellers, but great for buyers,” said Casey Samson of Samson Properties. “Even though sales are up slightly, inventory was up 30 percent for most of the year, causing days-on-market to increase by about 30 percent, as well.

This caused a buyers’ market for most of the year.”

Dean Yeonas of Yeonas & Shafran suggested that the overall market stats do not tell the tale in any one particular spot.

“Each sub-market operates individually and uniquely,” he said. “But to answer generally, in terms of sales, I think there has been some percentage of buyers wanting

4 Decades of Home Sales Across Northern Virginia AVERAGE SALES PRICE

YEAR

1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

TOTAL SALES

For year

Change

For year

Change

$58,739 $62,373 $66,722 $71,639 $79,389 $90,744 $100,050 $103,631 $105,388 $108,049 $113,120 $121,922 $142,163 $162,850 $174,975 $174,616 $204,886 $202,534 $209,381 $210,557 $211,098 $214,102 $220,932 $229,151 $238,496 $252,374 $285,159 $319,293 $364,684 $441,253 $537,116 $537,741 $538,463 $461,039 $431,018 $469,018 $483,160 $504,338 $540,034 $552,139

N/A +6.2% +7.0% +7.4% +11.4% +11.7% +10.3% +3.6% +1.7% +2.5% +4.7% +7.8% +16.6% +14.6% +7.4% -0.2% +17.3% -1.1% +3.3% +0.6% +0.3% +1.4% +3.2% +3.7% +4.1% +5.8% +13.0% +12.0% +14.2% +21.8% +21.7% +0.1% +0.1% -14.4% -6.5% +8.9% +3.0% +4.4% +7.1% +2.2%

14,260 14,593 17,953 22,802 23,043 19,527 15,155 12,435 17,877 18,093 22,422 27,052 24,128 24,879 19,780 23,278 15,761 16,818 16,287 15,747 13,783 15,289 16,795 22,264 22,715 26,062 27,741 27,936 30,580 32,735 29,235 20,753 18,042 17,400 19,035 17,858 16,704 18,623 20,355 18,696

N/A +2.3% +23.0% +27.0% +1.0% -15.3% -22.4% -18.0% +43.7% +1.2% +23.9% +20.6% -11.8% +3.1% -20.5% +17.7% -32.3% +6.7% -3.2% -3.3% -12.2% +10.9% +9.8% +32.6% +2.0% +14.7% +6.4% +0.8% +9.4% +6.6% -10.7% -29.0% -13.1% -3.5% +9.3% -6.2% -6.5% +11.6% +9.3% -8.2%

VOLUME (Billions)

$0.84 $0.91 $1.1 $1.6 $1.8 $1.7 $1.5 $1.2 $1.8 $1.9 $2.4 $3.3 $3.4 $4.0 $3.4 $4.0 $3.2 $3.4 $3.4 $3.3 $2.9 $3.2 $3.7 $5.1 $5.8 $6.5 $7.9 $8.9 $11.1 $14.4 $15.7 $11.1 $9.7 $8.0 $8.2 $8.4 $8.1 $9.4 $11.0 $10.3

HISTORICAL/CULTURAL NOTES OF INTEREST

‘Saturday Night Live’ debuts Democrat Carter wins election R.I.P. Elvis Presley John Paul II becomes pope Incident at Three Mile Island GOP’s Reagan trounces Carter Egypt’s Sadat is assassinated It’s a boy for Charles, Diana Riggins is Super Bowl MVP ‘Cosby’ is nation’s top TV show Michael Jordan’s rookie year Shuttle ‘Challenger’ explodes Iran-Contra scandal tops the news Bush manhandles Dukakis Earthquake strikes Bay Area Americans With Disabilities Act First Gulf War starts ... and ends L.A. riots after Rodney King verdict Bill Clinton is inaugurated GOP takes control of Congress O.J. Simpson found not guilty Richard Nixon dies after stroke Tiger Woods wins the Masters Monica Lewinsky in the news Clinton acquitted by Senate Florida determines presidency Terror attacks strike on 9/11 New war in Iraq looms Joe Gibbs returns to Redskins Kerry falls to Bush in election Katrina swamps Gulf Coast Democrats win back Congress Oil prices through the roof Economy plunges; Obama wins Unemployment hits double digits GOP makes a comeback Economic malaise lingers ‘Derecho’ storm slams region Democrats win Va. statewide races U.S. Reps. Wolf, Moran retire

Sales totals, average sales prices and volume come from data of RealEstate Business Intelligence and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, as analyzed by the Sun Gazette, and may differ from other published figures. Totals are based on sales figures for Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church. Percentage changes and historical notes compiled by the Sun Gazette staff.

and trying to take advantage of the interest rates. The strength also has to do with the fact that we are in a dynamic marketplace, with generally not enough inventory to satisfy the demand. Good properties well positioned and properly marketed will sell in a short amount of time.”

There also are always unique-to-a-sin-

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gle year quirks; Stansfield noted that she had worked on several transactions related to ExxonMobil’s transfer of a large number of Northern Virginia workers to a new Houston campus.

RealEstate Business Intelligence is slated to report sales and average prices both for December and 2015 as a whole on Jan.

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13. By then, the 2016 market already may be springing to life.

“In the Community, With the “If anything, [house-hunters] want toCommunity, For buy before prices start to go up again,” said Lilly. “The buyers I’m working with right now are mainly gathering info so they can start actively looking once the holidays are over.”

Jobs.insidenova.com

Home sales and median sales prices across the commonwealth saw modest year-over-year increases in November, even as the market continued the traditional seasonal pivot toward its more dormant season.

A total of 6,871 properties went to closing during the month, according to figures reported by the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR). That’s up 3.3 percent from the 6,650 transactions in November 2014.

As is usually the case each year, the market continues its descent from the peaks of late spring and early summer. (In 2015, the market peaked in June with 12,629 sales.)

“The pace of sales decreased 21 percent from October to November 2015 – nearly identical to the decrease Virginia experiences at this time last year,” noted the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, which provides data analysis for VAR. The median sales price of all homes that went to closing in November was $251,500, up 0.6 percent from $250,000 a year before.

Like sales, median prices tend to peak in

the middle of each year – the highest median sales price in the past 12 months came in June, at $282,500.

Add up the sales and prices, and the Virginia real estate market’s sales volume for November was $2.17 billion, up 4.8 percent from a year before although only about half June’s high point of 2015.

For homes that sold in November, it took an average of 78 days between listing and ratified sales contract, unchanged from a month before and down two days from a year ago. Days on the market traditionally rise from mid-summer to mid-winter, then decline again.

Perhaps the biggest question for the commonwealth’s real-estate market is how sales and prices will be impacted in an environment of rising interest rates.

In November, the average interest rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.94 percent, according to FreddieMac, the first increase in four months. Higher rates are anticipated in 2016, although the Virginia Tech analysts seemed not outwardly alarmed. “Interest rates remain historically

low, and are not likely to impact the overall growth of the market,” they said.

Rising interest rates may, however, lead to homes lingering on the market longer, analysts surmised.

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

For full data, see the Web site at www. varealtor.com.

Falls Church Stumbles, But Still Leads Pack in Price: Falls Church remains the priciest jurisdiction across the D.C. metro area for real estate, but also is the lone locality that has seen a decline from 2014 figures in median sales prices.

For the first 11 months of the year, the median sales price of properties in Falls Church – which has a larger concentration of single-family homes than many other localities – was $695,000, down 3.8 percent from the same period in 2014.

Arlington was second at $560,500 (up 5.8 percent), followed by the District of Columbia ($524,000, up 5 percent), Alexan-

dria ($499,900, up 5.2 percent) and Fairfax County ($475,000, up 3.3 percent). Also on the list: the city of Fairfax ($480,000, up 1.1 percent), Montgomery County ($400,000, unchanged) and Prince George’s County ($235,000, up 6.8 percent).

The median sales price for the first 11 months in D.C. and the inner suburbs was $412,000, up 1.7 percent from the same period in 2014.

Figures come from RealEstate Business Intelligence, an arm of the local multiplelisting service.

Among localities outside the central core, median prices for the January-to-November period were $430,000 in Loudoun County (down 0.5 percent), $396,750 in Howard County (up 2 percent), $325,000 in Prince William County (up 3.1 percent), $309,000 in Anne Arundel County (down 1.6 percent) and $269,900 in Frederick County (up 0.7 percent).

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

– A Staff Report

WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE PRESENTS GRANTS: The Business Women’s Giv-

our community to make a difference.”

Programs receiving grants include: • “SHINE for Girls” ($20,000), a program that supports innovative, curriculumbased programming for middle-school girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, combining formal dance training with rigorous math instruction to improve girls’ math scores and spark their interest in STEM. • Girls Inspired and Ready to Lead ($10,000), a program that promotes leadership-development to middle school girls while offering learning in STEM and entrepreneurship to prepare them for careers of the 21st century and equip them with the essential skills of critical and creative thinking, communication, intercommunication, and collaboration.

• Marymount University’s “Empowering Leaders in STEAM” initiative ($10,000), to support a 12-week afterschool program in STEM and the arts for girls in third through sixth grade, supported by student teachers and mentors. The program will include a visit to the university’s main campus.

Members of the Business Women’s Giv-

ing Circle reviewed 21 grant applications to select the recipients.

“Our grants process is the perfect demonstration of the power of many minds working together,” said Autumn McCullogh, an attorney with McCandlish & Lillard and co-chair of the grants committee.

“To sit around a table with 16 women from all different walks of life and reach decisions about how best to impact our community and reach out a helping hand to true leaders in our region and the women and girls they assist is nothing short of awe-inspiring.”

Business Briefcase ing Circle of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia has presented three grants totaling $40,000 to support efforts promoting STEM [science, technology, engineering and math], leadership and entrepreneurship targeted at girls in the local region.

This giving circle is comprised of women who are business owners, members of local chambers of commerce and community leaders serving on nonprofit boards of directors who are interested in joining with their peers to support programs and organizations in Northern Virginia that promote educational opportunities for women and girls.

“The Business Women’s Giving Circle’s model of collaborative philanthropy is about building relationships among our diverse members and with our grantees,” said Faith Boettger, a founding member of the Giving Circle and co-chair of its grants committee. “Through networking, grant making and engagement, we are sharing a passion for giving and a compassion for

Improv Continued from Page 3

The next cross-county initiative of the school system’s theater departments will be a Shakespeare Symposium with Educational Theatre Co. in March.

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Swanson Middle School theater teacher Monique Caldwell to the local-school-theater scene.

“I’m glad I attended the event, because I was able to meet other colleagues in my field,” Caldwell said. “Although I have been assigned a mentor, who is great, it was also great to know there are support systems and other theater educators I can call on for advice.”

Mallan’s other goal was to raise money for charity, which is something that the H-B Woodlawn theater department does with every production. Proceeds went to Arlington Thrive, which delivers same-day emergency financial assistance to Arling-

ton residents who are unable to pay their bills due to emergency circumstances, and Casa Ruby, which gives support to LGBT youth.

Although Rosenblum doesn’t work for the school system, he has conducted several after-school theater and improv workshops, and teaches them through summer camps.

“I see students that I taught in one after-school class once upon a time in second grade, and that means that one little source of outside theater that they had in elementary school kept them interested to come back to in middle or high school,” Rosenblum said.

December 31, 2015

Year-Over-Year Va. Home Sales Up as Winter Approaches

15

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

16

Transportation Notes AIRPORTS SEEING HIGHER ON-TIME PERCENTAGES: Flights into and out of

the region’s three airports were more likely to be on time for the first 10 months of 2015 than the same period in 2014, according to new federal figures.

All three airports – Washington Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall – saw improved year-over-year on-time performance from January to October, according to figures reported by the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Reagan National saw 81.9 percent of its flights depart within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, up from 80.9 percent during the first 10 months of 2014. Dulles reported a 77.5-percent on-time-departure rate, up from 72.1 percent, while BWI showed a 73.9-percent rate, up from 69.6 percent.

Of the nation’s 29 busiest air terminals, National ranked ninth in departure performance, down from seventh a year ago; Dulles ranked 21st, up from 25th; and BWI ranked 28th, down from 27th.

Airports with the highest percentage of on-time departures during the period were Salt Lake City (87.7 percent); Portland, Ore. (87 percent); Minneapolis-St. Paul (84.8 percent); and Seattle (84.7 percent).

The worst performers were New York’s La Guardia (73.8 percent); BWI; ChicagoO’Hare (74 percent); and Chicago-Midway (74.3 percent).

While BWI ranked lowest in the region

in on-time departures, it was tops in ontime arrivals. During the reporting period, 80.2 percent of flights arrived on time, up from 76.3 percent and moving from 17th to 12th on the ranking.

Dulles posted an on-time-arrival rate of 79.6 percent, up from 74.8 percent, moving from 22nd place to 15th. Reagan National’s on-time-arrival rate of 78.6 percent was up from 77 percent, but the airport’s ranking fell from 14th to 18th.

The top four airports in on-time arrivals were Salt Lake City (87.6 percent); Atlanta (84.6 percent); Portland, Ore. (84.2 percent); and Seattle (83.7 percent). At the bottom of the ranking were New York La Guardia (69.8 percent); Newark Liberty (75.6 percent); New York Kennedy (76 percent); and Boston (76.1 percent).

Full figures are available on the Web site at www.rita.dot.gov/bls.

REGIONAL TRANSIT BODY APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION: Congres-

sional action increasing monthly transit benefits from $130 to $255 for federal employees has won praise from David Snyder, chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

“Transit riders and our transit systems – including Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, and local and commuter-bus systems – will benefit from the tax bill approved by Congress,” Snyder said. “Now, transit riders will have the same tax benefits as those who drive and park. The bill, which permanently increases the transit benefit, makes

transit more affordable for commuters.”

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission funds and promotes transit in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.

COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD PRESSES FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION ON POTOMAC RIVER CROSSINGS: Could 2016 be the year offi-

cials in Virginia and Maryland make forward progress on a new Potomac River crossing west of the American Legion Bridge?

Members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board certainly hope so.

The body – which oversees Virginia’s transportation and transit efforts – voted unanimously Dec. 9 on a resolution seeking forward momentum on planning for a new span to take pressure off the American Legion Bridge, which is expected to see large growth in vehicle counts through 2040.

And the situation already is strained: As anyone using that bridge at rush hour knows, the posted speed limits usually serve as an aspiration, not reality. Most of the time, rush-hour travel on the Capital Beltway over and adjacent to the bridge span is running at half the posted speeds.

Finding new solutions is “essential to ensuring the region’s future economic competitiveness,” said Dennis Drinkard, incoming chair of the Committee for

Dulles.

Discussions “are very important” and need to start as soon as possible, Drinkard told Commonwealth Transportation Board members.

The resolution also calls for regional cooperation on addressing other Potomac River chokepoints, including the 14th Street Bridge, Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the underground Metro tunnel connecting Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom.

Metro cannot expand without more tunnel capacity between Virginia and the District, and “we’re at the max right now,” said Commonwealth Transportation Board member James Dyke.

The resolution calls on Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne to initiate discussion with Mayland and District officials on the various projects.

“There is no single solution to addressing the regional-mobility issues created by constraints of the existing Potomac River crossing[s],” the resolution notes.

80 Years of Service It was 80 years ago this month – Dec. 12, 1935, to be exact – that the first edition of the Northern Virginia Sun rolled off the presses.

Times have changed, but the Sun (now your Sun Gazette) has remained true to its mission of covering the local community with fairness and accuracy.

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n Basketball roundup. n Holiday sports tournaments.

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December 31, 2015

Sports

More on the Web

17

O’Connell Softball Was the Year’s Top Story A Staff Report

The sports year for 2015 was overflowing with competitive events and filled with numerous athletic achievements, championships and near championships by teams and individuals specific to the Sun Gazette’s coverage area in Arlington.

YEAR IN REVIEW There were state and region champions and various district and conference winners in high school, as well as other significant titles won in youth sports. Following is a list of what our paper’s sports staff ranked as the top 20 highlights from 2015, which were reported in our paper.

1. O’CONNELL GIRLS SOFTBALL

The decades of excellence on the state level continued for the Bishop O’Connell High School girls softball team. The topseeded Knights won their 20th Virginia Independent School Athletic Association’s Division I state-tournament championship and fourth in a row. O’Connell was 27-3 overall and took second in their conference tournament a week prior to the state tournament.

The Bishop O’Connell High School girls softball team won the state championship for the fourth straight season and for the 20th time overall.

vision I swim title of the Northern Virginia Swimming League for the secondstraight summer by compiling a perfect 5-0 meet record. Overlee defeated perennial Division I rival Chesterbrook in the final regular-season meet to capture yet another championship.

2. SUZANNE DOLAN

Yorktown High School standout swimmer Suzanne Dolan, who will swim in college at Duke, won state championships in the girls 50-yard freestyle and the 100 breaststroke as a junior in 2015. She also won multiple events in region and conference competition.

7. WASHINGTON GOLF DIVERS

The Washington Golf & Country Club diving team won the Country Club Swimming and Division Association championship for the 18th straight summer, and were 6-0 in dual meets.

8. ARLINGTON BABE RUTH ALL-STARS 3. CHRISTOPHER OUTLAW

Arlington resident and Bishop O’Connell High School swimmer Christopher Outlaw won Division I boys state championships in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 free in a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association meet.

4. WAKEFIELD FOOTBALL

The Wakefield High School football team won its first official conference championship in school history, when the Warriors captured the Capitol Conference with a 6-0 record and dominated the competition in that league. Wakefield was 8-3 overall, including eight wins in a row, and earned a region playoff berth for the second straight season.

The Arlington Senior Babe Ruth 15under All-Stars won the District 6 tournament, then finished second in the state tournament. The baseball team compiled a 14-3-2 summer-tournament record.

9. SOPHIE HATCHER

Washington-Lee High School senior gymnast Sophie Hatcher won the girls 6A North Region all-around competition and helped her team place third in the event.

10. ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Various Ultimate Frisbee teams from Arlington won many different competitions, including local, state and national championships.

more Benedict Draghi won a 6A North Region discus championship, then went on to place third in the 6A state competition. Draghi performed well despite only throwing the discus for two years.

17. ARLINGTON 13-UNDER ALL-STARS

13. WASHINGTON GOLF SWIMMERS

18. WAKEFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Washington Golf & Country Club swimming team won the Country Club Swimming and Division Association championship with a dominating summer-long performance.

14. O’CONNELL CROSS COUNTRY

The Bishop O’Connell High School girls cross country team won its conference championship for the 10th year in a row, then placed second in the Division I state meet. For the O’Connell boys, senior runner Kevin Dannaher was second in the state meet. Earlier in the season, Dannaher won the Arlington County boys meet and placed high in many other competitions.

15. O’CONNELL BOYS SOCCER

The Bishop O’Connell High School boys soccer team reached the championship match of the Division I state tournament for the first time. The top seed lost to Paul VI Catholic in overtime to place second in the state and finish the season with a 10-5-5 record.

The Wakefield High School boys basketball team won the Capitol Conference championship with a perfect record, finished 24-2 overall and had a 23-game winning streak.

The 14-under Arlington NFL Flag Football girls team finished second in national competition, thanks to first winning a regional competition. The team qualified for the nationals again this fall.

6. OVERLEE SWIM TEAM

12. BENEDICT DRAGHI

The Overlee Flying Fish won the Di-

Washington-Lee High School sopho-

19. KELLY HART

Yorktown High School senior runner Kelly Hart was third in the 6A state meet in the 1,000 meters during the indoor season. Prior to that meet, she won the 1,000 in conference competition and was fourth in the 6A North Region. Later in 2015, Hart placed third in a national meet.

20. JASON KAPPEL

Yorktown High School wrestler Jason Kappel finished second in the 6A North Region Tournament at 195 pounds with a 3-1 record.

The Bishop O’Connell High School girls basketball team finished second in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division I state tournament, losing to perennial champion Paul VI Catholic in the championship game.

O’Connell finished the season with an overall record of 16-16, its best mark in many years.

n The Wakefield High School golf team qualified for region play for the first time in school history. n The Yorktown High School golf team won the county championship for the 29th straight year. n The Washington-Lee High football team earned a playoff berth. n The many Arlington youth soccer teams that won tournament titles.

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11. ARLINGTON FLAG FOOTBALL

The Wakefield High School girls basketball team had its best season in years.

The Warriors finished second in the Capitol Conference Tournament to perennial power Edison, then went 1-1 in the 5A North Region Tournament. The region tourney victory was the first in school history for the Wakefield girls in that competition. The team finished with a 16-11 record.

HONORABLE MENTION 16. O’CONNELL GIRLS BASKETBALL

5. WAKEFIELD BOYS BASKETBALL

The Arlington Senior Babe Ruth 13under baseball All-Stars won the District 4 tournament, then finished with a 2-2 record in the state tournament.

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

18

All-Arlington High School Grid Teams Offense

Defense

First Team

Position

Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Tight End Wide Receiver Wide Receiver Running Back Running Back Running Back Quarterback Place Kicker Kick Returner

Position

Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Offensive Line Tight End Wide Receiver Wide Receiver Running Back Running Back Running Back Quarterback Place Kicker Kick Returner

Player

Jay Jay McCargo Julius Johnson Miles Kirby Justin Robinson Ryan Jones Drew Bonner Brandon Magee Gene Jones Leon Young Nick Shaw Ceneca Espinoza Stephen Glagola Mehran Roshanaei Toren Pride

School

Bishop O’Connell Wakefield Wakefield Washington-Lee Wakefield Bishop O’Connell Bishop O’Connell Washington-Lee Wakefield Bishop O’Connell Washington-Lee Yorktown Yorktown Bishop O’Connell

Offense

Player

Second Team School

Ian Harris Mick Appel Henry Reyes Xavier Cooper Zach Toth Lamont McDowell Myles Hudzick Matt Paredes Fred Bowles

Wakefield Washington-Lee Yorktown Wakefield Bishop O’Connell Wakefield Bishop O’Connell Yorktown Wakefield Thomas Richardson Yorktown Wakefield Chris Robertson Bishop O’Connell Dejuan Ellis Wakefield Alex Hendle James Clark Wakefield

Size

6-4, 275 6-4, 255 6-0, 245 5-11, 280 6-1, 265 6-0, 230 6-1, 180 6-0, 180 5-7, 160 5-10, 165 6-1, 205 5-8, 145 5-8, 140 5-10, 160

Size

6-2, 265 6-1, 265 5-10, 230 5-11, 205 6-3, 240 5-10, 170 5-11, 180 6-1, 185 6-2, 200 5-10, 170 5-8, 175 5-11, 185 5-9, 170 5-9, 150

Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. sr.

Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr.

Yr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So.

Position

Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Linebacker Linebacker Linebacker Linebacker Defensive Back Defensive Back Defensive Back Defensive Back Punter

Position

Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Defensive Line Linebacker Linebacker Linebacker Linebacker Defensive Back Defensive Back Defensive Back Defensive Back Punter

Player

First Team

George Brooks Maurice Gaskins Keani Solorzano Amari Johnson Anthony Tham Landan Word Kevin Greenwell Chris Robertson Jack Storrs Myles Hudzick Ceneca Espinoza Quinn Parks Brandon Magee Ethan Torres

School

Wakefield Wakefield Washington-Lee Bishop O’Connell Wakefield Bishop O’Connell Wakefield Wakefield Yorktown Bishop O’Connell Washington-Lee Washington-Lee Bishop O’Connell Bishop O’Connell

Defense

Player

Second Team

Jackson Johnson Blake Edwards Rulando Holland Omar Amarchih Calvin Hickerson Ethan Hall Tyler Lutz Matt Paredes Fred Bowles Zane Killgo Mingo Peterson Gene Jones Ethan Bell Mehran Roshanaei

School

Washington-Lee Yorktown Bishop O’Connell Yorktown Bishop O’Connell Washington-Lee Washington-Lee Yorktown Wakefield Yorktown Wakefield Washington-Lee Bishop O’Connell Yorktown

Size

Yr.

Size

Yr.

5-11, 210 6-0, 220 6-0, 230 6-1, 195 6-0, 240 6-3, 245 6-1, 225 5-8, 175 5-11, 190 5-11, 180 6-1, 205 6-0, 175 6-1,180 5-10, 165

5-9, 175 5-9, 185 5-11, 235 5-7, 195 6-0, 210 5-11, 190 5-9, 170 6-1, 185 6-2, 220 5-9, 155 5-10, 170 6-0, 180 5-8, 170 5-8, 140

Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr.

Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Player of the Year: Leon Young (Wakefield)

Player of the Year: Quinn Cox (Yorktown)

Coach of the Year: Wayne Hogwood (Wakefield)

Honorable Mention: From O’Connell: Christian Holloman (sr. DB), Josh Putman (jr. DL), Will Williams (jr. DB). From Wakefield: Trent Howard (sr. DL).

From Washington-Lee: Henry Casey (sr. DB), Tommy Ellis (jr. LB), Diego Orantes (sr. DL), Nick Conklu (jr. P). From Yorktown: Thomas Richardson (sr. LB), Connor Boyle (jr. LB), Gavin Anderson (jr. DB).

Honorable Mention: From O’Connell: Ethan Bell (sr. RB), Will Williams (sr.

RB), Ethan Torres (jr. PK), J.T. Mitchell (jr. PK), Myles Hudzick (sr. KR), Rulondo Holland (so. OL). From Wakefield: Colton Poythress (so. QB), George Brooks (jr.

RB), James Clark (so. RB). From Washington-Lee: Quinn Parks (jr. WR), Henry Casey (sr. U). From Yorktown: Drew Maddox (jr. WR), Stevie Picot (jr. WR), Zane Killgo (sr. RB).

The 2015 players were chosen from the four high school teams in Arlington: Bishop O’Connell, Wakefield, Washington-Lee and Yorktown.

Two Senior Players, Wakefield Coach Are County’s Best

www.insidenova.com

A Staff Report

Sun Gazette

A senior running back from Wakefield High School and a senior defensive back from Washington-Lee High have been as the ArFOOTBALL chosen lington Sun Gazette’s best offensive and defensive football players, based on their efforts during the 2015 fall campaign.

The Wakefield Warriors’ third-year head coach, Wayne Hogwood, is the Sun Gazette’s Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Hogwood led the Warriors (8-3) to their first official league title when Wakefield won the Capitol Conference championship with a 6-0 record. The Warriors also qualified for the 5A North Region playoffs for the second year in a row, another first for the school.

Wakefield lost in the first round to Potomac Falls, 21-6.

Hogwood’s team bounced back after a slow 0-2 start to close the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, dominating the competition in the Capitol

Wakefield’s Leon Young is the Sun Gazette’s Offensive Player of the Year.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

Ceneca Espinoza is the Sun Gazette’s Defensive Player off the Year.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

Wakefield’s Wayne Hogwood is the Sun Gazette’s Coach of the Year.

PHOTO BY DEB KOLT

Conference.

Wakefield High senior running back Leon Young has been selected as the Sun Gazette’s 2015 Offensive Player of the Year.

Young had another 1,000-yard season by rushing for 1,948 yards and scoring

more than 20 touchdowns. He caught 18 passes for another 209 yards.

Washington-Lee senior defensive back Ceneca Espinoza is the Sun Gazette’s 2015 Defensive Player of the Year.

Espinoza made big plays throughout the season for the Generals. He had six

interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Espinoza had two interceptions to spark the Generals to victory in a win over Arlington rival Yorktown, the final game of the regular season for both teams.

High School Roundup The 2016 inductees into the WashingtonLee High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be honored in a ceremony at the school Friday, Jan. 15 at 7:15 p.m. prior to the boys basketball game that night against South Lakes.

The inductees will be Wayne Ballard, Michael Callahan, Tom Chisnell, Sara Congable, Lori Grimm, Sean Hall, Frank Havens, Bridget Mallon and James Mon. BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: The Bishop

O’Connell girls are off to their best start in many years, owning an 8-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference girls basketball action entering this week’s competition.

O’Connell’s most recent victories were over St. Anne’s-Belfield, 68-43, in non-conference play, then over Carroll, 66-23, in a league game.

In the win over Belfield, Jasmine

Taylor scored 27 points. Brie Perpignan scored 13 and made two three-pointers, Maddie Cherry scored eight and Janiya Clemmons seven.

The Knights made six three-pointers and were 18 of 25 from the foul line. n The Bishop O’Connell boys entered this week with a 7-4 overall basketball record and a 3-2 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference mark.

O’Connell routed Carroll, 86-43, Dec. 22 in its most recent game.

Ako Adams scored 18 points and made four three-pointers, Nate Watson also netted 18, Sherif Kenney had 14, Matt Lewis scored 11 and made three three-pointers, and Jay Heath made two threes and had six points. O’Connell made nine threepointers.

Prior to defeating Carroll, the Knights finished 1-2 in a tournament, with Adams scoring 12 in the team’s lone victory. n The Wakefield Warriors improved to 8-0 on Dec. 19 in boys basketball action with a 67-63 win over Virginia Academy.

Jonathan Adams and Deng Nhial each scored 17, Alan Treakle scored 13 and Amair Cooper nine.

A day earlier, Wakefield routed the Lee Lancers, 91-60. Halil Parks scored 21, Cooper and Nhial had 13 each, and Gustavo Gonzalez added 11.

WRESTLING ROUNDUP: The Yorktown

Patriots had two champions, Talha Farooq at 120 pounds and Ben McKelvain at 170, at the recent Cavalier Classic.

Yorktown’s Kyle Callen was third at 145.

For the Wakefield Warriors in the classic, Dennis Jimenez was second at 152 and Turmunkh Enkhbold was fourth at 145.

SWIMMING AND DIVING ROUNDUP:

The Yorktown Patriots won nine of 12 events to defeat the South Lakes Seahawks, 178-137, in girls action Dec. 18.

The Patriots had three double winners in Brady Almand, Jonathan Day and Su-

zanne Dolan. Single winners were Emily Brooks, Hannah Karlin (dive), Jacob Kreider (diving) and Kayle Park. The Yorktown boys lost, 156-153. n The Washington-Lee Generals lost to the McLean Highlanders – 209-104 in boys action and 198-117 in girls.

Lone winners for the Generals were Kai Greene in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle, and sophomore Isabella Lee in the 100 free.

December 31, 2015

WASHINGTON-LEE’S 2016 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES TO BE HONORED:

19

O’CONNELL FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAKE ALL-STATE: Bishop O’Connell

High School senior lineman Jay Jay McCar-go was a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I first-team selection in football as a result of his performance during the 2015 season.

O’Connell senior wide receiver Brandon Magee made second-team offense, and senior linebacker Landan Ward made second-team on defense. O’Connell’s Toren Pride was a second-team specialist.

Sports Briefs ARLINGTON LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION: Arlington Little League is reg-

istering girls and boys ages 4 to 12 for its spring season. The league offers nine divisions from junior T-ball for the youngest to a 50/70 program for older players, as well as a division for players with dis-

abilities. Registration is $85 until Feb. 1, and $100 after that. Register at www.arlingtonlittleleague.org.

SUPER SLAM BALL REGISTRATION:

Registration is open for the 2016 Super Slam Ball spring season. The program

begins April 1 and run for seven Saturdays. Slam Ball is a T-ball program for kids ages 3 to 5. Registration is $70. Visit www.eteamz.com/smbl or contact Alex Filides at superslamball10@gmail.com.

ARLINGTON BABE RUTH NEWS: Reg-

istration is open for girls and boys ages 4 to 12 and at all skill levels at the Arlington Babe Ruth Web site at www.arlingtonbaberuth.com. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Practices begin in early March and games will begin in early April.

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REPORTER WANTED

We will have an opening in mid-January for a reporter at the weekly Quantico Sentry on the base.

This reporting position covers and photographs events and general-interest stories aboard the base.

This is a temporary full-time position for about 10 to 12 weeks with a competitive salary.

Send resume and work samples to: Aleks Dolzenko at: adolzenko@staffordcountysun.com.

Northern Virginia Media Services seeks a hard-working, self-starting sales and marketing professional to join our growing team.

This salesperson will focus on Classified Advertising, including Recruitment, Business Directories, Church Announcements, Legals, and other key categories.

The ideal candidate will have a record of success in sales positions, preferably in a business-to-business environment, as well as a willingness and ability to develop new leads and make cold calls on businesses throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William and Stafford Knowledge of ad design and Adobe Creative Suite is preferred.

This is a full-time position with a small base salary, a book of existing business, and unlimited commission opportunities. Benefits include paid holidays and vacations, medical and dental insurance, and a 401(k).

Apply online or via e-mail to: tfields@insidenova.com

to handle a myriad of back-end tasks on InsideNoVa.com and our other web sites and digital products, including mobile apps and e-mail newsletters. The ideal candidate will have a basic understanding of HTML and other fundamental digital terminology and concepts, but detailed expertise is not required. Experience in a news organization or with other public-facing digital media sites is a plus. Experience working with outside vendors as well as internal customers is preferred. This is a hands-on position, and an ability to multitask will be critical. The position can be based in our Woodbridge, McLean or Leesburg office.

Please apply with resume and salary requirements to Nicky Marshok, regional production director, at nmarshok@insidenova.com.

Northern Virginia Media Services, publisher of InsideNoVa.com and four community newspapers in the fast-paced suburbs of Washington, D.C., is looking for a Deputy Editor to help drive coverage online and in print.

This position requires a hard news journalist with impeccable news judgment who can shepherd front-page stories one minute and write breaking crime news the next. This job will require everything from directing reporters, editing copy and helping produce weekly papers to updating social media and writing hard-hitting regional stories.

The deputy editor will also concentrate on bolstering our coverage of Fairfax government, school and crime news, both countywide and in under-served communities such as Reston, Herndon, Burke, Centreville, Springfield and Lorton.

This position will play a vital role in building a cohesive regional news team and requires at least five years experience as a newspaper reporter or editor.

Please email cover letter, resume and clips to Kari Pugh at kpugh@insidenova.com.

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Required skills include proficiency with MS Office products and the ability to write compelling and accurate stories for the military publication. Ability to photograph and process photos is required.

Northern Virginia Media Services seeks a INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE Digital Production Specialist

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

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21 December 31, 2015

TREE SERVICES////////////////////////////// HOMEIMPROVEMENT//////////////////

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

22

HOMEIMPROVEMENT//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Interior

Baths, Kitchens, Additions and all Interior Modifications Exterior Decks, Patios, Siding, and Roofing

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PAINTING

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, LLC

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Kozan ConstruCiton

E H T

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ut abo Ask r Fall & ou inter s!

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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.

January 2, 1936: n The County Board has reappointed Roy Braden as county manager. n Congress is considering establishment of a power plant to harness the Potomac River flow at Great Falls. n U.S. Rep. Howard Smith wants Congress to decide, once and for all, on the boundary between Virginia and the District of Columbia. n The new ABC liquor store in Clarendon opened Dec. 20, and is doing big business. n Local state senators say they will oppose plans for a statewide sales tax. n Virginia’s unemployment rate of 4.9 percent is well below the national average of 7.1 percent. n The Sun’s editorial page is complimentary of the establishment of the 170,000-acre Shenandoah National Forest.

January 2, 1965: n New County Board Chairman Joseph Fisher said getting the proposed regional subway system moving forward is a key priority for the new year. n A wave of church construction has hit Northern Virginia. n The new Roman Catholic Mass in English was the top religious story of 1964, according to a poll of the Religious Newswriters Association. n The Kennedy clan is spending a quiet New Year’s holiday in Aspen.

January 2, 1967: n Arlington’s postmaster blames teens for a rash of mailbox vandalism incidents.

January 2, 1973: n New County Board Chairman Everard Munsey says Arlington could require a redevelopment authority to deal with upcoming construction efforts. Also serving on the County Board for 1973: Joseph Fisher, Joseph Wholey, Kenneth Haggerty and John Purdy.

January 2, 1982: n Gov. Robb has appointed Joseph Fisher as his Secretary of Human Resources. n Democrats are working to find a candidate to take on U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th. n Half of all of the commonwealth’s rabies cases last year were reported in Northern Virginia.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

FINISH THE LYRICS © StatePoint Media ACROSS 1. Southern cuisine pie 6. French lake 9. H or O in H2O, e.g.

13. *“Tell ____ I love her” 14. *“A long, long time ____ I can still remember how that music...”

15. Cast somebody there 16. Misbehave 17. St. Louis player 18. First American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann ____ 19. *“Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for ____ ____” 21. *“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in ____ ____” 23. Draft pick 24. $10,000, to a judge, e.g.

25. *“You ___ again” 28. *“You ____ me what I am today” 30. Inventor’s right 35. Burden 37. Color of a bruise 39. *“____ is a sound salvation... cleaning up the nation” 40. Bumpkin 41. “Get ____” (1965-1970) 43. *“Isn’t it a ____. Isn’t it a shame” 44. What a taster does 46. 41st or 43rd president 47. 1970s hairdo 48. Fireplace 50. One-pot meal 52. *”I wanna be loved by you, just ____” 53. *”May the road ____ with you” 55. Use a Singer 57. *”Get this party started on a Saturday night, everybody’s wait-

ing for me to ____” 60. *”Just a city boy born and raised in South ____” 64. Killed, as in dragon 65. Go a-courting 67. Dome-shaped dessert 68. *“I’m sitting here, doing nothing but _____” 69. Another word for Tokyo

70. Did not go out to eat 71. Radio genre 72. “Losing My Religion” band 73. Tears violently DOWN 1. Surveyor’s creation 2. Apiece 3. Pleasingly pretty 4. Dutch island in the Caribbean

5. “I love the smell of ____ in the morning” 6. Porcine fat 7. American Gas Association 8. Found in written series 9. Between ports 10. South American monkey 11. Carbon monoxide doesn’t have this 12. * “It’s raining ____, Hallelujah” 15. Finely cut masonry block 20. Certain tides 22. Chihuahua’s cry 24. *“Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth, ____ I’m happy” 25. * “’Cause, baby, you’re a firework, come on, show’em what you’re ____” 26. Accustom 27. Historic region in NE Africa 29. *”Your lips are movin’, tell me do you think I’m ____” 31. Spanish snack 32. Enlighten 33. TV’s “____ Circus” 34. * “’Cause uptown funk gon’ give it ____ ____” 36. Tiresias in “Oedipus Rex”, e.g.

38. Formerly, formerly 42. *“So take ____ broken wings” 45. *“I’ve got the world on a ____” 49. Charlie Sheen’s diagnosis 51. Man cave’s necessity 54. Waste water pipe 56. What did Jessica Fletcher do?

57. Aquarium organism 58. “Iron horse” track 59. Yamaguchi’s court 60. Accompanied by “gloom”?

61. Bad sign 62. Used when citing a reference 63. Two equal a twenty 64. Scholastic aptitude test 66. “____ to Joy”

23 December 31, 2015

Arlington history

55+ News SENIOR CENTERS CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY: Arlington County government

senior centers will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day.

‘JEOPARDY!’ COMPETITION TAKES ON HOLIDAY FLAVOR: Culpepper Garden

Senior Center hosts a holiday version of “Jeopardy!” on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 11 a.m. For information, call (703) 2284403.

EMERGENCY-PREPAREDNESS CLASS OFFERED: An emergency-preparedness

class will be presented on Monday, Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior

Center. For information, call (703) 2284403.

FOLK-MUSIC FANS TO ENJOY SINGALONG: A folk-music sing-along will be

held on Monday, Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Lee Senior Center. For information, call (703) 228-0555.

CURRENT-EVENTS ROUNDTABLERS TO MEET: A current-events discussion will

be held on Monday, Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Center. For information, call (703) 228-4403.

DECLUTTERING WORKSHOP ON THE

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HOME-MAINTENANCE PROJECTS DISCUSSED: How to prioritize home-main-

tenance projects will be discussed on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. at Lee Senior Center. For information, call (703) 2280555.

THESPIANS DETAIL BROADWAY AT GATHERING: Actors from the Arlington

Players will discuss how Broadway musicals and dramas are developed from scripts to the stage on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Center. For information, call (703) 2284403.

COMEDY CLUBBERS TO GATHER: The comedy club at Aurora Hills Senior Center will focus on the golden age of radio and TV comedies on Friday, Jan. 8 at 10:30 a.m. For information, call (703) 228-5722.

BENEFITS OF JOURNALING DETAILED:

The benefits of journaling will be discussed on Friday, Jan. 8 at 11 a.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Center. For information, call (703) 228-4403.

The Sun Gazette prints news of interest to the community’s active seniors each week.

www.insidenova.com

Lucky for me, www.jobs.insidenova.com lets me explore anonymously so I can get matched to my dream job without anyone finding out.

HORIZON: Controlling clutter and downsizing are the topics of discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Walter Reed Community Center. For information, call (703) 228-0955.

Sun Gazette

December 31, 2015

24

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Save the date

Rent vs. Own

Rent a little high? You might be surprised at what you can afford to own. For more info about home ownership programs designed for the budget-minded, stop by and visit with us.

What’s happening in our market? Rent vs. own? What’s my buying power now? How will it be affected when interest rates go up?

What’s my home worth? Future predictions?

Richard L. Erb II

Stop throwing your money away!

Gold Services Manager Weichert Financial NMLS: 246620

FREE Real Estate Seminar Saturday, January 23 • 10-11 a.m.

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Weichert, Realtors® Arlington Office 4701 Old Dominion Drive — Arlington

Weichert Financial Services Company NMLS #2731. ©2015 Weichert, Realtors®. Weichert®is a federally registered trademark owned by Weichert Co. REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

(corner of Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive; FREE Parking in rear of building).

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Our next evening class starts here at 6 p.m. on January 11th.

Sun Gazette

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Denyse “Nia” Bagley 703-525-0812 nbagley@weichertrealtors.net

Equal Opportunity Employer. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, a disability or familial status.

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4701 Old Dominion Drive • 703-527-3300