Prince William Living December 2015 by Prince William Living

PAGE 12

EMBASSY CIGAR LOUNGE

PAGE 26

PETRA GRILL

PAGE 35

A CRASH COURSE IN CLICHĂ&#x2030;S

prince william living December 2015

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Christmas as a Christian PAGE 4

Salvation Army Offers Help and Hope in Prince William PAGE 14

Patrick King and Imagine PAGE 18

www.princewilliamliving.com

Prince William Living is YOUR community magazine, all month long! You don't have to wa1t a whole month for more great 1nform at1on about your commun1ty. Simply visit www.pwliving.com, anytime. There you can get daily updates on events, the arts, not-for-profits, dining and entertainment in your neighborhood. Look for PWL contests, events, local deals and more. Get involved by answering a survey, participating in a focus group or submitting a story or event. Stay plugged into what is happening and what is import ant to you!

MIS'iiON 'i IA ri Mfi\'T

Prince William L Mng is a lifestyle magazine, whose mission is to build a better community by promoting quality-of-life issues; including solid economic development. strang education and workforce development; supporting the arts community and encouraging volunteerism through our local not-for-profits.

I ' '

10,000 DECISION MAKERS

Of the 12.000 ooplea prfnllld monthly, Pr/TIC$ Wllllttm Living;, mailed di~V 1o more than 10,000 homu. and buslnes- In Northern VIrginia. Our mailing list indudet 8..000 c:orporm deei1ion I'MIIw"' in Prinoo '~~~ William and Greater Menaasee, aloi)IJ wllh houaeholde earning mone 1han $160..000 annually.

...

Our average reader is 25-45, female, educated and married with children. Her household earns $150,000+, is engaged in the community and is likely to act on information read in Prince William Living. Her family enjoys finding activities and services available locally. 82o/oof PWL readers report acting on information in the magazine, to include visiting our advertisers.

table of contents December 2015 Vol. 5 No. 12

FEATURE STORY Christmas as a Christian........................................4

DEPARTMENTS from the publisher...................................................3 on a high note Prince William’s Two Poets Laureate Spread the Word: You’re a Poet............................10

destinations Embassy Cigar Lounge: Where Smoke Doesn’t Get in Your Eyes .....................................12 giving back Salvation Army Offers Help and Hope in Prince William................................................... 14 taking care of business Patrick King and Imagine......................................18 family fun Elf on the Shelf and Beyond..................................20 local flavor Petra Grill: Worldly Food with Authentic Flavor...................................................26

18 Photo by Robert Jinks

calendar...............................................................30 lifelong learning Virginia STAR Program Brings Out the Best........33 tambourines and elephants A Crash Course in Clichés....................................35 advertiser index....................................................36

COLUMNS

26 Photo by Linda Hughes

health & wellness.................................................16 home & hearth.....................................................24 your finances........................................................28 Discover Prince William & Manassas................31 prince william living December 2015 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Amanda Causey Baity, Rebecca Barnes, Amy Falkofske, Helena Tavares Kennedy, Mal Kline, Ann Marie Maher, Olivia Overman, DeeDee Corbitt Sauter, Tracy Shevlin, Niki VanEch, Dan Verner, Bennett Whitlock Editor in Chief Kim Howard, CAE khoward@princewilliamliving.com Copy Editor Peter Lineberry Photo Editor Amanda Causey Baity Photographers Amanda Causey Baity, Amy Falkofske, Linda Hughes, Robert Jinks and Kathy Strauss Marketing Director Amanda Causey Baity Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Online Submission Manager Paul Keily Advertising Account Executive Michelle Geenty Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. ÂŠ Copyright 2015 by Prince William Living, Inc. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission. Visit the Prince William Living website at www.princewilliamliving.com for reprint permission. Subscription rate is $15 (Continental U.S.) for one year. Change of address notices should be sent to Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com. Reprints and Back Issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please visit the Prince William Living website: www.princewilliamliving.com. Order back issues by emailing Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758. 2 | December 2015 prince william living

Prince William Living 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55 Dale City, VA 22193 Phone: (703) 232-1758 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 2 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Advertising offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 3 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial Have a story youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living editorial staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or at editor@princewilliamliving.com. Advertising Prince William Living accepts display advertising. For complete advertising information, contact our sales staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 3, or at sales@princewilliamliving.com. Social Media

Prince William Living can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram.

Get More Prince William Living

Visit www.pwliving.com for daily updates on events, the arts, nonprofits, dining and entertainment in your neighborhood. Look for Prince William Living contests, get-togethers, deals and more. You can also submit a story or event online. Stay plugged into what is happening and what is important to you. Prince William Living is your community magazine, all month long.

from the publisher ’Tis the Season

he upcoming holiday has many traditions and customs: trees and lights; stockings and gifts; volunteering. Our December feature, “Christmas as Christian” by Amy Falkofske, shares the stories of many in our community who celebrate Christmas as part of their faith. Learn about some of the ways they, and you can celebrate the birth of Christ, on page 4. Ready to create new family memories? “Family Fun,” page 20, Elf on a Shelf and Beyond by Amanda Causey Baity oﬀers a twist on this fun holiday activity. Whether you choose an elf, a mensch or three wise men, you can customize a new family tradition for generations to come. You know they ring bells and collect money in their red kettles at the holidays. But do you know what they do all year round? On page 14, Olivia Overman shares the story of The Salvation Army in this month’s “Giving Back” Salvation Army Offers Help and Hope in Prince William.

Don’t let the holidays get you stressed out. In our Health and Wellness column on page 16, I share 8 Ways to Have a Happier Holiday Season. You don’t have to do it all, and what you do can make your Christmas merrier. Look to volunteerprincewilliam.org for more ways to give back here in Prince William. You can even search for age-appropriate activities and get the children involved. Volunteering with loved ones is a great way to get into the spirit of the season. From the Prince William Living family to your family, happy holidays!

Sincerely, Rebecca Barnes Prince William Living Publisher

prince william living December 2015 | 3

Christmas as a Christian Story and Photos by Amy Falkofske

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

4 | December 2015 prince william living

“C

hristmas is a time of hope! Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. The prophets had told of His coming many years before. It is a time when we, as Christians, celebrate the fact God loved us so much He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to live, die for us, and rise from the grave. God sent Jesus to bring us hope,” says Dr. Jeff Ward of Gateway Bible Church in Gainesville. “Christmas invites us to take another look. The first Christmas wasn’t perfect. There was rejection, difficulty and lack. This season, you may not have the best tree or lights, best meal or any meal or any gift. We could have nothing, yet Christ Jesus still comes. God is with us. God loves us. God is for us,” says Lead Pastor, Ron McCormick of The Worship Center in Woodbridge. “We believe that the Christmas season is a time set aside to reverence and celebrate the holy conception and birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate gift to mankind!” says Bishop Lyle Dukes of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge, VA. “Christmas is a celebration of God’s love being made real in the person of Jesus. It’s a reminder that God is active in our world, and invites us to be part of continuing to make God’s love real through our example and service,” says Pastor Angela Finet of Nokesville Church of the Brethren (NCOB).

How Christians Celebrate Christmas To the world, Christmas in America might look similar no matter whose house you visit. You’ll probably be greeted at the door by a wreath with a big red bow. You’ll likely see one, two or more brightly lit and elaborately decorated Christmas trees with piles of presents underneath. You could see several stockings hung by the fireplace. You might even get a whiff of cookies baking in the kitchen and a sight of the elusive elf perched on a shelf. But in many of those houses, you might also see a nativity scene or two, or an ornament of Santa Claus kneeling before the manger that holds the baby Jesus.

Uncut Version of Christ,” with family and friends,” at her sister’s church in Maryland. Angela Cushing of Manassas says that her Christmas traditions consist of “opening presents together and sharing a meal [with family] on Christmas Day” and “giving my sisters ornaments in memory of my father.” One Manassas mom, Chelsea Wojcik, created a brand-new tradition for her family and even wrote a book about it! It’s called The Traveling Wise Men. Wojcik brings out their Three Wise Men every year and hides them around the house each day during the Christmas season for her children Owen, 4, and Layla, 2, to find. The idea is that they are on their way to see the baby Jesus and they finally reach Him on Christmas Day. “I have noticed that kids of all ages enjoy this tradition. The “hunt” is always exciting no matter what the age. Other families split the trio of wise men up to vary the difficulty, some people incorporate Bible verses…the beauty in this tradition is the book gives you a baseline and you can add your own family flair to fit your style best,” said Wojcik.

How Christian Churches Celebrate Christmas A few local churches shared how they celebrate the season as well. The Worship Center holds a live nativity every year called The First Christmas which is an “interactive six-scene drive-thru living nativity,” according to Pastor McCormick. “This production reenacts the story of Mary and Joseph on their nearly 100-mile journey from Nazareth to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born and is enhanced with audio and visual effects. Live camels, donkeys, sheep, and members of the community and The Worship Center give life to the Christmas story. Additionally, light is beamed into the sky, replicating the effect of the Star of Bethlehem,” he said. (continues on page 6)

But, for the Christian, the sentiments expressed by these pastors reflect how believers in Jesus Christ celebrates Christmas in their heart. Christians have a lot of the same traditions that nonChristians have, but they mean something different, and then they have some that are not so similar and don’t necessarily look like those of the secular Christmas we see on TV and in the movies. Nicole Holmes of Gainesville says, “During this time, we attend church, spend time with family, and we have a nice dinner. For my children, I continue a tradition that my mother did for me. We do “Five days after Christmas,” where for the entire week after Christmas, the kids have five small gifts under the tree that they can open...one a day. Also, we usually exchange names within our larger families, to cut down on cost and to keep the focus on Jesus, and not on gift-giving.” Yavette Houston of Bristow says, “One of our traditions is attending the annual musical Christmas program, “The prince william living December 2015 | 5

(continued from page 5) Photo courtesy of the The Worship Center

Living nativity at The Worship Center

At Gateway Bible Church, Christmas is celebrated with a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service every year. “This is a great night where families come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This is an event the entire church looks forward to every year. We sing Christmas carols and our kids sing Christmas songs for the church during the service. We end the service with a candlelight ceremony remembering how God loved us so much He sent His son Jesus,” said Dr. Ward. This year Dr. Ward also plans a series of talks called “Rethinking Christmas.” “In a world where, many times, Christmas is associated with Santa Claus, Christmas parties, buying gifts, receiving gifts, and baking holiday food…the goal of this series is to encourage people to rethink the way they do Christmas this year. We are going to challenge people to rethink the way they spend money during Christmas, rethink the people they can influence for the cause of Christ during this time, and we are going to encourage them to rethink the way they go about giving/receiving gifts this year. For example, as Christians, we could sponsor an orphan in need. It is going to be a great way to kick off the Christmas season.” he said.

A Season of Service Churches tend to be outreach focused all year long, but the Christmas season is a special time to give a little more. At Harvest Life Changers Church, members and attendees participate in two programs in particular: the Christmas Toy Drive and the Winter Clothing Drive. “Every year our congregation goes above and beyond by donating all types of toys to children in our region, a portion to imprisoned inmates, families and others to children in the community. The clothing drive is similar, donations of new or slightly used warm clothing for families experiencing this need. It’s wonderful to see their faces light up with excitement when they receive these special gifts,” said Bishop Dukes. Pastor Deborah Dukes, Bishop Dukes’ wife, says, “We also have a number of programs where we feed or distribute food. We have families picking up baskets of food which include turkeys and other seasonal items and we have also hosted dinners at the church for single individuals, the homeless or pretty much anyone who stops by.”

According to Pastor Finet, Nokesville Church of the Brethren also has a Christmas Eve Service along with a service of communion, followed by a game of basketball at the church, which is the church’s most unique Christmas event.

Gateway Bible Church participates in Operation Christmas Child. It’s a humanitarian program that sends boxes of toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygiene items, accessories and crafts to kids ages 2-14 in war-torn or crisis areas of the world at Christmas time.

According to Bishop Dukes at Harvest Life Changers Church, they have special services during the Christmas season to “celebrate and commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We usually have these services before Christmas Day, so that families can spend Christmas in their homes with family and friends.”

“We are excited Gateway Bible Church is going to be participating in Operation Christmas Child again this year. We will be encouraging our children and youth to participate as well. This is a great way to show our children how to reach out to less fortunate kids around the world and show the love of Christ,” said Dr. Ward.

6 | December 2015 prince william living

At Nokesville Church of the Brethren, the church participates in the Nokesville Christmas parade every year and then holds a fundraiser chili and dessert gathering with proceeds going to a local foodbank. One individual we talked to also views Christmas as a time to reach out to others. Christmas “is an outpouring…of Jesus’s love to underprivileged families,” said Yavette Houston. “This may be serving food to the needy, putting together female and male care packages for the homeless, or buying presents for an Angel Tree.”

Same Decorations, Different Meaning Christians may put up a lot of the same decorations and participate in a lot of the same traditions as others, but the meanings may be just a little bit different. Dr. Ward and his wife Teresa have a 7-year-old daughter, Eliana, who loves Christmas. “While our home was once decorated, exclusively, with glass ornaments, fancy ornaments, and décor…it is now adorned with lots of homemade ornaments from a child…She is very creative and loves Christmas. It is her favorite holiday because it is about Jesus,” said Dr. Ward. Nicole Holmes says, “I usually decorate the inside of my house with two trees—a kid’s tree and a family tree. Also, I have other small decorations that I put up around the house, such as lights, angels, stockings, etc. They are all special in their own way and they all have their own purpose. All leaning toward the point that Jesus is the reason for the season.” Houston says her family puts up white lights and wreaths on the outside of their house. “The light represents the light of Jesus and the welcoming of others into our home,” she says. Nokesville Church of the Brethren puts up a tree in its sanctuary, but not just any tree. It’s a Chrismon tree, “decorated with white ornaments that symbolize aspects of our faith: a fish and a crown and so on,” said Pastor Finet. Even NCOB’s poinsettia display in the worship center has special meaning. Each poinsettia is purchased by a member of the congregation in honor of a friend or relative. At Harvest Life Changers Church they love any and all Christmas decorations and point out that they actually have biblical meaning behind them. “It’s the season of celebration of our Savior’s birth! Lights, trees, wreaths, music, nativity scenes and holiday colors—we love it all!” said Deborah Dukes of her church. “Some traditions say that the Christmas tree has a significant meaning,” she continued. “The tree, in its truest sense, represents life (in the home), referencing the Tree of Life found in Genesis 2:9 and Revelation 22:14. Also, the many lights give strong association with Jesus Christ being the “light of the world” (John 8:12).”

When the Three Wise Men arrive, they bring baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.

As much fun as beautifully decorated trees, twinkling lights, family gatherings and holiday parties are, Dr. Ward reminds Christians what Christmas is really all about. “The Christmas season is more than just commercialism, buying/exchanging gifts, visiting relatives, and eating great food! Jesus is the reason for Christmas. Without Jesus…there is no Christmas. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s gift to us is Jesus. Jesus is the reason for the season!” he says. If you would like to attend any of the events mentioned, mark these dates on your calendar. n Beginning December 6 – Series on “Rethinking Christmas” – Gateway Bible Church – gbcnova.org n December 11 & 12 – The First Christmas, Hylton Memorial Chapel – 703-928-2105 n December 24 – Christmas Eve Service at Gateway Bible Church – gbcnova.org n December 24 NCOB Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m.– nokesvillecob.org

Amy Falkofske (afalkofske@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer, and the Owner/Photographer of Beautiful Moments by Amy Photography. She is working on an MA in film & television with a concentration in script and screenwriting from Regent University. She lives in Bristow with her husband and two boys. prince william living December 2015 | 7

e ned ice! m t i o elc rd tra r prac w a o u d t Harv , to o e s lea tein, eon p e rg s r e a Lick tic su W rry las a p . L ified r D ert c ard o b In the Heart of

World-Class Plastic Surgery

Prince William County

“After my surgery I noticed a real boost in my confidence. I feel amazing!” Kim Actual Patient

Ariana Actual Patient

Rena Actual Patient

Bitar C o smetic S urg ery In s t i t u t e George J. Bitar MD, FACS Larry H. Lickstein MD, FACS Board Certified Plastic Surgeons

Wedding Packages ELEVATE YOUR NEXT EVENT At Potomac Shores Golf Club

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning your next company meeting, wedding, family gathering or charitable golf tournament, elevate your next event and let Potomac Shores Golf Club help you create an occasion that will be a cherished memory forever.

For more information on how you can elevate your next event, call 571.383.3050 or email Events@PotomacShores GolfClub.com

Available now at the Manassas Park Community Center

PotomacShoresGolfClub.com 571.383.3050 | 1750 Dunnington Place Potomac Shores, VA 22026

Potomac_Prince Williams_3x4.indd 1

Contact Amelia Powell at a.powell@manassasparkva.gov for more information.

10/15/14 11:49 AM

2-for-1 Admission! Skate rental not included. Not valid on Friday night. Cannot be combined coupon per customer.

Expires Dec. 31, 2015 Youth & Adult Hockey Figure Skating Lessones for All Ages Public Skating Parties/M eetings

Fundraisers Scout Badges Broomball Curling Pro Shop & Cafe

www.pwice.com (703) 730-8423 prince william living December 2015 | 9

on a high note Prince William’s Two Poets Laureate Spread the Word:

You’re a Poet By Colleen LaMay | Photo by Kathy Strauss

rince William County’s two reigning poets laureate have a year left to find you, grab you by the collar— metaphorically, of course—and explain that you, too, can be a poet. You have the creative spirit. Let go of your fear of the word “poetry” and tell the truth, your truth, about something that matters to you. Forget that you don’t understand poetry or can’t follow complicated rules for writing it. Prince William County named its first poets laureate in June 2014: Zan Hailey, a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and Robert Scott, a poet, novelist and teacher at Osbourn High School in Manassas. With their selection, Prince William became the first county in Virginia with poets laureate. While Hailey will focus on adults and children, Scott will pour more of his energies into the 86,000-plus students in Prince William County public schools. Each of the poets laureates has unique ways to overcome the groaning protests of people who believe poetry is boring.

Robert Scott Scott wants to collect 10,000 poems from Prince William County residents of all ages and lifestyles, from sales clerks to elementary students, to display on the walls of a coffee shop or library. So far, he has about 2,000. Even that is too many for one wall. Now, he is thinking poems, or excerpts, will go on a wall or two, maybe at a library branch, with a searchable database nearby to help poets pinpoint the location of their works. “I’ve had so many poems come in that are just gorgeous, from writers I’ve not heard of, who are just submitting things to the project. They are touchdowns better than me at writing poetry,” Scott said during a recent break between classes. 10 | December 2015 prince william living

Scott plans to keep plugging away at his 10,000 poem goal, even if he doesn’t achieve it by the time another poet laureate takes his place next summer. “It has been such a terrific undertaking for me. I hadn’t expected it to be as widely accepted as it has been,” he said. The laureate’s plans also include helping teachers use poems to prepare students for Virginia’s Robert Scott and Zan Hailey pose at high-stakes Standards Tackett’s Mill after the ceremony of Learning tests. Scott crowning them Poets Laureate. also plans to work more closely with Write by the Rails, the Manassas chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, to nurture writers and ease the transition for the next poets laureate. At school, students study literary devices, including consonance—repetition of consonant sounds in a sentence—as part of the state’s SOLs. Why give students a test to see if they can write 10 examples of consonance? Instead, Scott asks them to write a ten-line poem. “Make it creative and enjoy yourself doing it, but demonstrate to me that you understand those kinds of literary devices,” he tells students. Scott so far has taken that message to 14 schools in Prince William County, including Glenkirk Elementary School in

Gainesville, Mountain View Elementary School in Haymarket, T. Clay Wood Elementary School in Nokesville, Ronald Reagan Middle School in Haymarket and Woodbridge High School. Sometimes, just saying “poetry” in front of students elicits psychic pain, usually from students who have read only the work of long-dead poets such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow or Edgar Allan Poe. To counteract that “dead” feeling in his classroom, Scott schedules “Poetry for No Reason” several times a week, letting students hear contemporary poems by the young and the living. Among his students’ favorites is Suli Breaks, a young spokenword poet whose titles include “Why I Hate School But Love Education,” about Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, and others who thought for themselves and accomplished great things but never finished their formal educations. “If you don’t build your dreams, somebody else will hire you to help build theirs,” Breaks says in the poem, implying that schools’ well-meant mantra of “graduate, go to college, get a job” may not work for everyone. “Why I Hate School but Love Education” is extremely different from Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha,” an epic poem written in 1855 in trochaic tetrameter and based on Native American legends of the era. Students may find “The Song of Hiawatha” as interesting as grass growing, but the traditional school standards still are worth learning. Scott strives for balance. For every “dead poet,” as he puts it, Scott throws in a vibrant, living poet such as Breaks, whose poem concludes “There is more than one way in this world to be an educated man.” For Scott, the bottom line is to tell the truth, using the right words in the right order. The result is poetry. The main ingredient is a truth. “I am not interested in people who lie,” he said.

Alexandra “Zan” Hailey Twenty-three-year-old Manassas resident Alexandra “Zan” Hailey focuses her efforts as poet laureate on pushing people young and old beyond their artistic comfort zones. She calls her method “Ekphrastisize That!” which is based on a literary form called ekphrastic writing. Don’t be put off by the big word. In its most common form, ekphrasis means using a work of art, usually a poem, to describe another work of art, usually visual. The most famous example of ekphrasis is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by poet John Keats. In the poem, he contemplates in iambic pentameter the images of people, animals, musical instruments and more on a real or imagined ancient urn and concludes, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” Hailey, who offers free seminars at venues around Prince William, often has students start “Ekphrastisize That” by listening to one of hundreds of letters painter Vincent Van Gogh wrote to his younger brother and closest friend, Theo. Vincent Van Gogh, who was thought to have suffered from epilepsy and bipolar illness, committed suicide at age 37.

From the letter, Hailey picks words that describe important ideas, and students create a poem using some of those words. Then, they turn their poems into paintings on cardstock the size of a large index card. The paintings explore the theme or some other aspect of the poem. Although students may not consider themselves talented at more than one art form, such as writing and painting, stretching their creative muscles pays off, Hailey said. “A lot of times, students surprise themselves with what they can produce. And I’m not asking them to paint the Sistine Chapel,” she said. “Normally, it’s a 5 (inch) by 8 (inch) piece of cardstock.” Potentially, students could turn the painting into a photo and then sculpture, giving them a variety of perspectives on their original subject, a letter written by the artist Van Gogh. Hailey is unaware of other artists taking ekphrastic writing to such lengths. “It’s uncharted territory. It is kind of exciting and terrifying,” she said. Where the concept ultimately will go remains uncertain, but the benefits are clear. “You are gaining something for your time because the writing is happening over and over. Whether you realize it, you are gaining a lot trying these things you wouldn’t normally try and then returning to the thing you are comfortable with. It’s like being at the beach. You go back to the umbrella, but you go into the ocean for a little bit,” she said. Hailey has also shared “Ekphrastisize That!” to some venues, including the Northern Virginia Writing Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and adults improve their writing. Students attended a variety of events, including Hailey’s workshops, during summer 2014. In the upcoming year, Hailey hopes to expand her method with the NEW School in Historic Manassas. While the weather cooperates, Hailey wants to teach adults and children outside. She said that taking a walk enhances creativity. The momentum and movement help Hailey put whole poems together in her head. She writes them down as soon as she gets home before she forgets the lines. Her mantra is similar to that of co-laureate Scott: Don’t be afraid of poetry or other artistic endeavors such as painting or sculpture. Sometimes, people who think they can work in only one medium discover a new talent. “There is often a block. You are like, ‘I can do this, but I can’t do that. I can do ballet, but I can’t swim,’ and really … the greater process is pretty much the same across all art forms,” Hailey said. Clearly Scott and Hailey function in different worlds and bring a divergent vision of poetry and its place in society. But that’s OK—they’re calling all residents of Prince William to bring their world and their vision to the project and their neighbors. Poetry is for everyone, and they want to make sure you don’t forget it.

Colleen LaMay, new to the Prince William Living team has jumped (w)right in (pun intended) to showcase other writers in Prince William. Read future issues to see more of Colleen’s work. She can be reached at clamay@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living December 2015 | 11

destinations

EMBASSY CIGAR LOUNGE Where Smoke Doesn’t Get in Your Eyes By Mal Kline

ou might be tempted to call a cigar lounge located within a mile of the Marine Corps museum, and indeed, Quantico itself, the ultimate old boys club. But the Embassy Cigar Lounge, adjacent to the Globe and Laurel restaurant, does not just draw old boys but young ones as well, and women too. “We draw a very diverse crowd,” said retired Marine Corps officer Rick Spooner, one of the Embassy Lounge founders. As a matter of fact, the Lounge does not only attract Marines, but off-duty police officers and government contractors who work nearby. You have to see for yourself but, believe it or not, this cigar lounge is not a smoke-filled room. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that the owners installed works wonders. Unless someone is lighting up or exhaling, you never see the smoke, and then only for an instant. On every table is a lighter that bears more than a passing resemblance to a blowtorch and a good-size working ashtray, an inch or two in depth and a foot in diameter. The Lounge charges a $5 clip fee if you bring your cigars but has a variety of brands that will accommodate just about any taste and budget. Moreover, what separates the Embassy Cigar Lounge from other smoking lounges is not just the camaraderie but the efforts its proprietors make to give you a fair deal. The menu, for example, features entrees ranging from $15 to around $30, but the upper end of that price span represents prime rib and surf and turf. My dining companion pronounced the pasta carbonara easily competitive with that offered by fine Italian restaurants he has been to, and he has been to many. 12 | December 2015 prince william living

Putting together two appetizers—the bacon-wrapped asparagus and the fully loaded potato—was a way to thoroughly enjoy them both. When Major Spooner asked why I did so, I confessed that I had my heart set on something that wasn’t on the menu—a bacon cheeseburger. He said, “You should have said something. We’d have made one for you. Everyone loves our bacon cheeseburgers.” (Maybe next time. By the way, they are changing the menu. ) This approach stands in stark contrast to the treatment you get in many metropolitan cigar lounges. For example, not so long ago, one of these metro lounges, which shall be nameless— (Shelly’s Back Room on F Street)—offered as a special two hot dogs for $10. Vendors on the street will offer them to you for half as much, and with a good deal more enthusiasm. Then, finally, you have the cigars themselves. They too range in price from $6 to nearly $30 but all the brands are good ones. To illustrate, the $6 cigar at the Embassy Lounge is a Rocky Patel, which usually costs twice as much elsewhere. Most metro lounges would charge $5 for a Dutch Masters’ or a Phillies blunt. The lounge was started by three couples, along with Major Spooner—Eric and Trish Edelman, John and Lynne Beiswanger, and Bob and Barbara Hunt. Nevertheless, the Lounge is very much a family business for the Spooners. Major Spooner’s dad, Rick Spooner Sr., is quite the Marine Corps legend. The founder of the Globe and Laurel, he had a storied career in the Marines before retiring to go into the restaurant business. In World War II, he fought in the battles of Okinawa and Saipan.

“My kids helped us and cleaned the windows,” Rick Jr. remembers. “Until they did, I thought they were tinted.” They’re clear now. The Embassy Lounge also features live music at least once a month and immediately outside a bit more frequently in the warm weather months. As well, regulars can attend special events such as the class held recently on concealed weapons. The Lounge recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with a party which featured Nick Perdomo, who also manufactures a highend, top quality cigar. Both the Globe and Laurel and its companion lounge lie just outside Prince William County. Major Spooner Senior puts the distance at 300 yards, a measurement you can probably take to the bank. The Embassy Cigar Lounge is located just 300 yards outside of Prince William County at 3987 Jefferson Davis Hwy.

Until very recently, the Globe and Laurel lay in Triangle, where it was a mainstay for nearly half a century. Eminent domain forced them out when the state claimed the land it to add lanes to Route 1. It is still on Route 1, only a little further south.

He has written two books on the Corps: “The Spirit of Semper Fidelis: Reflections From the Bottom of an Old Canteen Cup,” and “A Marine Anthology.” The chance to meet the elder Major Spooner is a good reason to visit the Embassy Lounge. This year, he turns 90, but you would never know it. Erect as a building and immaculately attired, he wears his decades well.

Incidentally, a sign in the Lounge, which came from Rocky Patel, reads, “Socialism stinks, cigars don’t.” We should probably mention that those to the left of center might not feel comfortable at the Embassy Lounge. But then, how many liberal activists flock to cigar lounges to begin with? Probably, they are as numerous at such venues as hard-core cigar smokers are at Earth Day celebrations. Oddly, one thing they have in common is opposition to a more widely used form of tobacco: The Embassy Lounge does not allow cigarette smoking. Details on The Embassy Cigar Lounge are at embassycigarlounge.net.

He hastened to remind one and all that the day we were there— September 2—was the anniversary of the end of World War II. “When you get home tonight, say a prayer for the Corps,” he told one departing customer, a regular. The Lounge itself is a converted supply room, but you wouldn’t be able to figure that out if you didn’t know it already. It has the feel of an old-fashioned lodge that too few of us ever get a chance to join.

Mal Kline (mal.kline@academia.org) is the executive director of Accuracy in Academia and lives in Prince William County.

A dozen tables with 6-8 chairs apiece can comfortably seat at least 100 patrons for dinner, supplemented by humane chairs. “These tables and chairs came from the U. S. House of Representatives,” the junior Major Spooner tells us. Arguably, they are being put to a far greater purpose by the Embassy Lounge. And still, the Lounge draws such a loyal crowd of regulars that an air of informality prevails. “We will often have twelve guys at one table,” Rick Jr. says. “One time an enlisted Marine found himself at the same table with an officer.” The busiest night at the Lounge, which is open every day but Sunday from 4-10 p.m., is Thursday. The partners of record created the Lounge while they were smoking on the porch of the Globe and Laurel, wistfully contemplating finding a place to enjoy their cigars indoors during cold weather. Then they got to work on the supply room. prince william living December 2015 | 13

giving back Salvation Army Offers Help and Hope in Prince William By Olivia Overman

nown to many by the ‘Red Kettle’ collection points that appear every year around the holiday season, The Salvation Army Corps in Prince William is an organization that continues to provide much needed social and financial services to residents of the county. Funded by generous donations and run primarily by volunteers, the organization offers assistance to the most vulnerable people of the county.

Run by Captain George Hackbarth and his wife, Robin, since 2011, the Prince William Corps of The Salvation Army consists of four staff members and many volunteers. “We are ordained ministers [who run the corps], but we have a lot of volunteers who help us,” said Captain Hackbarth. Serving over 16,500 people in 2014, the Hackbarth’s work tirelessly to provide services including financial, educational, social services and youth programs.

Financial Help When Needed “We provide emergency financial assistance to those who contact us requesting it. They could have received a rent or mortgage eviction notice, or a late payment notice, and we help them pay this,” said Hackbarth. Sometimes they call out of the blue needing emergency help, but for the corps to help assist people more efficiently, it is best for residents to try and give advance notice of hardship. “We can help with paying utility bills such as water, electricity and gas, but sometimes we do not have enough funding to pay it all. Sometimes we can only give people $300$500 toward a bill,” said Hackbarth. This is where different charities within the Prince William community, such as ACTS and SERVE, come together to help get the people the assistance they need. 14 | December 2015 prince william living

Set up as part of the national Salvation Army national organization, the Prince William Corps receives its funding at the beginning of each month from the regional office in Washington, D.C. “So this is the time when we can help people the most. We only have a certain amount of funding, but we try to help most people,” he said. Working toward eliminating poverty through teaching future generations, the Hackbarth’s have begun providing a program that helps families take their own steps out of poverty. The ‘Step Program’ is a one-on-one program where people work with a case manager to help them learn how to get out of poverty. “The first couple of lessons focus on self esteem, while the other lessons focus on budgeting, credit counseling as well as including help completing job applications,” said Hackbarth. “What we are hoping to do is to eliminate generational poverty, which sometimes is in its fifth generation,” he said.

While there is one coach for this program at the Woodbridge location, four people participated in the program in 2014. The program is directed toward the head of households; “generally, it is women who participate,” said Hackbarth. Monique Hines of Woodbridge is a graduate of the Step program. “For me, having grown up in poverty, I wanted more for myself. I believe that if you know better, you do better,” Hines said. What started as attending a program out of curiosity, turned into something that has turned Hines’ life around. Now her daughter attends the youth program while Hines teaches music there. She spends three and a half hours there every week. “I know that if I don’t volunteer, then the children don’t get to come…and it means the world to me when I can help them,” she said.

Getting Involved with the Youth of Prince William Helping today’s youth in any way possible is key to having them develop into well-rounded and functioning adults. It is this thinking that inspires the Hackbarths to work with the children in their community. From guitar lessons to drama to tutoring programs, the Salvation Army in Prince William offers youth programs that are similar to programs offered by scouting programs. Youth programs on Tuesday evenings include guitar lessons for the older children, tambourine lessons for the younger children, drama classes and homework help for the children who want it. During the summer, the Prince William Corps also sends children to a weeklong summer camp where they get to enjoy swimming, hiking, crafting and general fun kid events. “In 2014, we sent 32 children to Happy Land, the Salvation Army summer camp. We hope to send more next year,” said Robin Hackbarth. “I give music lessons, while Robin offers drama lessons to the youth. We are both in this together and have been since 1996 [when they first joined Salvation Army],” said Captain Hackbarth. For many families, the holiday season is the most difficult. Children need toys and often clothing to help get them through the winter period. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is one such

program that is dedicated toward making sure as many children as possible receives at least some toys and clothes on Christmas morning. Registration for this program takes place in September and October each year, allowing families under financial stress to register their children to receive toys and clothes as donations. “Children must be 12 years old and under and each of them receive three gifts—one nice large gift, two smaller gifts and a Christmas stocking,” said Hackbarth. Families can place requests for specific gifts, but there is a $50 limit on the cost. Clothing sizes can also be given, so the children can receive clothing as one of their gifts. “We helped 927 children under the Angel Tree program in 2014 and we hope to help over 1,000 this year,” said Robin Hackbarth.

Bringing Fresh Food To All The food pantry is a wonderful place for people to get food, usually dried or canned, as this is the easiest to store. The Salvation Army Prince William helps feed around 70 to 80 families, but during the summer and holiday months they are seeing 100 plus each day. Captain Hackbarth and his organization also organize a fresh fruit and vegetable giveaway every fourth Thursday of the month from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, in Woodbridge. “We work with the Methodist church and other volunteers to help bring fresh vegetables, and fresh fruits to our families. We usually serve around 120 families,” said Hackbarth.

A 150 Year Old Organization Founded in the U.K. The Salvation Army is a religious organization that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1865. The Founder, William Booth, brought his teachings to the U.S.A. in 1880 and the Washington, D.C. Army was founded five years later. “From the beginning, the Army established programs that have fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and provided counseling and support to those most in need of help,” according to the Army’s website. The Prince William Corps of The Salvation Army is located at 1483 Old Bridge Rd, Suite 102, Woodbridge. Contact information is 703-580-8991 or visit the website for a list of programs and services provided at virginiasalvationarmy.org.

A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Olivia Overman (ooverman@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer for online and print publications. prince william living December 2015 | 15

health & wellness 8 Ways to Have a Happier Holiday Season By Rebecca Barnes l

tress is part of our everyday life. The responsibilities of work and home can tax our bodies and minds. During the holidays, it can be even more pronounced, with the pressures we place on ourselves for gift giving, decorating, party planning and event attendance. Stress can have a negative effect on your physical and mental health. Following are a few suggestions on how to manage stress and manage a Merry Christmas: Basic Stress Management Techniques

l l l l

Weekly Tastings every Friday & Saturday night from 5:00-9:00pm Monthly Wine Club Wine Bar Bistro Menu Great Selection of World Class Wine

4394 Kevin Walker Drive | Montclair, VA, 22025 703-583-WINE (9463) | www.winestyles.net/montclair

n Get Physical. Go for a walk, hit the gym or play sports. Regular physical movement can help reduce stress. n Solve a problem. Take up word games, sudoku, online brain games to challenge yourself to learn problemsolving skills. n Get organized. Much of holiday stress is due to the extra duties and chores. Make lists to help get things done. n Learn to Relax. Take some quiet time each day to meditate or pray is a great way to reduce stress. n Think Positive. The world is full of negative messages and sometimes it feels like they are all directed at you. Be your best friend and focus on positive thoughts. Read our motivational quotes each morning on social media. facebook.com/princewilliamliving. n Talk it out. Bottling up your feelings can lead to stress. Speak up (in a kind way) and learn to share your feelings. n Have FUN. With all of the demands on your time, are you making time for things YOU enjoy? Join a group with common interests, take up a hobby or just get together with friends. Laughter sometimes is the best medicine. n Let It Go. So what if the cookies arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t decorated like Martha Stewart. Does it really matter if your wreathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bow droops? Despite our tendencies to strive for perfection, it is not a requirement to an enjoyable holiday season. Remember to slow down, take a deep breath and ENJOY the holidays. For more health and wellness tips, visit our website princewilliamliving.com/category/health-and-wellness/. Rebecca Barnes (rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com), Prince William Living publisher and OWL VFD public information officer, regularly feels overworked and stressed. She combats this by embarrassing attempts at yoga and frequent trips to Walt Disney World.

Physical Therapy (orthopedics & sports medicine)

Massage Therapist on staff Personalized FitnessTraining Group Fitness Classes

Golf Assessment and Exercise Prescription (from a Level 3 TPI Certified Instructor)

Aquatic Physical Therapy Aftercare & Wellness Program

Piedmont Physical Therapy, Inc.

8551 Rixlew Lane, Suite 340 x Manassas, VA 20109 ph: 703-368-7343 x fax: 703-368-0719 Mon/Tues/Thurs: 7:00-7:00 Wed: 7:00-6:00 x Fri: 7:00-4:00

www.houseofmercyva.org

Help a child in need this Christmas.

Donate a new gift valued at $20 to House of Mercy. Right now, there are over 200 client children in our aid program, living in poverty, looking to us to provide a gift this year. Our clients qualify to receive Christmas help by completing at least one of our classes in order to improve their lives. Help us help their kids learn the meaning of Christmas. Donate a new gift valued at $20 to $25 by 12/9/15. 8170 Flannery Court | Manassas VA 20109 | 703.659.1636 | help@houseofmercyva.org

16 | December 2015 prince william living

prince wi~iam

WED"f)INGS Your Online Guide to Weddings in Pri nce William, Manassas & Manassas Par:k SHARE SOME WARitiiTH THIS HOUDAY SEASON Help us support CASA and Our Neighbor’s Child this holiday season! We are donating a percentage of our sales this holiday season to help make sure that our area’s children are enjoying a wonderful holiday. For more information about CASA or Our Neighbor’s Child, visit www.casacis.org and www.ourneighborschild.org.

For a limited time, get a complete HVAC checkup and mold test for just $67! This offer expires December 31, so contact us today! SERVING ALL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

(703) 468-8978 WWW.PRIDEACANDHEATING.COM

V"sit pdncewilliamliving.com/wedclings

to find the perfect vendor for YOUR special day along with Real Prince

William Weddings.

prince william

Network Get upcoming event details at princcwilliamlivingcomJNct work prince william living December 2015 | 17

taking care of business

Patrick King and

IMAGINE By Tracy Shevlin | Photos by Robert Jinks

hen Patrick King was a child, he never knew that being sent to his room would be the spark that inspired his future career. Years later, after studying marketing and working as a freelance graphic artist, he moved to the Northern Virginia and opened Imagine, a fullservice marketing and graphic design firm. Prince William Living reached out to King to find out more about Imagine and what it takes to keep a creative firm going. PWL: What is your background before Imagine? How did you start your marketing firm? King: I started in graphic design before I ever learned that it was a profession. When I was a kid, my family noticed I was pretty good at drawing. I was asked to do design projects for family members and friends. By the time I was a teenager, I was fascinated with how design affects behavior and spent my college time studying marketing. Afterward, I couldn’t find a job in an agency or studio, so I freelanced and worked odd jobs to support my design habit. In 2002, my brother encouraged me to move up to the DC area to try to find work. After six months living here, I had a hairbrained idea of starting my firm with no real clients, no money, no business ownership experience and no network. After almost 12 years of hard work from me and some incredible people, we have the firm I always wanted. PWL: How did you grow your business? King: When I started Imagine in 2004, there was no budget. So I used the only thing I had, which was my time. I networked 18 | December 2015 prince william living

and put my company’s name anywhere I could while my wife talked about Imagine to anyone that would listen. I looked far and wide for anything that would work but learned that the best way to promote a business is to be of value to your audience and your community. I started writing more, volunteering for charities and giving talks at networking groups. None of those things felt like work, but they had the greatest impact on both the visibility and the growth of our business. Today, I speak at larger events, write for magazines and industry websites and do more charity work. It still doesn’t feel like we’re marketing Imagine, but we I guess we are. PWL: You mentioned your volunteer activities and charities. Can you tell us more about that? King: We work with dozens of nonprofits by giving volunteer time, consulting and design work. It can’t all be pro bono, but we do try to find ways to make a lot happen with the little budget that nonprofits have. A couple years ago, we created the Imagine Better Project, which formalizes our philanthropic work. It’s divided into three offerings: volunteerism, board participation and marketing/design work. We do a mix of pro bono and reduced-rate work. PWL: What would you say Imagine’s specialty is? King: We do our best work with professional service firms like law, technology and A/E/C (architecture, engineering and construction). We have an ability to understand clients in that space and we’ve built a methodology around making them more

effective at building visibility and credibility. We’ll take on the occasional project outside that group if we know we can do a great job, but we feel at home with professional service firms. I think what makes us unique is that we can offer a solid business development piece to each plan we write. My wife, Rebecca, has an extensive history working in sales and marketing, so the consulting we give isn’t just marketing strategy. A lot of agencies do great design work or write awesome marketing plans, but you hardly ever see one firm do both. We’re fortunate to have a team that combines sales and marketing, which makes us uniquely positioned. PWL: Tell us about your staffing. Do you have a full-time staff or hire contractors? King: We use a mix, but the important thing is that we handle the strategy and creative planning in-house with our team of five designers and strategists. We partner with consultants and agencies, depending on the needs of the project. For example, sometimes we contract for videography or online ad management, but the underlying strategy, marketing plan and brand development all come from within Imagine. During the recession of 2008-09, I learned that a bigger firm isn’t necessarily a better firm. By having a large number of specialists on the payroll, an owner can easily get stuck looking for projects just to keep their employees profitable. When that happens, you end up with jobs that no one wants to do, but since you need that income, you don’t have a choice. It can suck the life right out of a creative firm. By making sure that we have a strong core team, we’re able to pursue the work that we want

to do, not just feed the company machine. PWL: Looking back, what advice do you have for other business owners that may be just starting out? King: If I had to focus on one thing, I’d say to be flexible. I started Imagine as a graphic design firm that may do the occasional website every once in a while. A couple years later, it felt like all we did was build websites. A few years after that, we moved to a full-service marketing firm. What you’re doing today probably won’t be what you should do a year from now. Everything around your company is going to change, so your company will need to change in response to it. PWL: With that in mind, what’s next for Imagine? King: At the moment, we’re developing concepts for seminars to be held in the spring of 2016. These seminars are designed for business owners to develop skills and knowledge to market their businesses. They are free to attend, but space is limited. A few of the topics we plan to cover are email marketing and the right way to re-brand. Aside from the seminars, we have a few business ideas in the works, but I’m keeping my eyes and ears and options open for inspiration on who we’ll be in the future. For more information regarding the seminars or about Imagine, please visit Imaginedc.net. Tracy Shevlin (tshevlin@princewilliamliving.com) is a native Virginian and long-time Manassas area resident. She is a full-time office manager and holds a BIS degree in business communication from George Mason University. prince william living December 2015 | 19

family fun

Elf on the Shelf and Beyond Story and Photos by Amanda Causey Baity

he spirit of Christmas is upon us, and one of our family’s favorite holiday traditions is the oh-so-popular Elf on the Shelf. This “magical” elf usually appears (or rather is unpacked from the Christmas decoration containers) around Thanksgiving. He comes with a book that explains his story: In short, he uses his magical powers to fly back and forth to the North Pole each night while your child sleeps to tell Santa all about your family’s behavior––you know, to make sure everyone stays on the “good list.” But the real fun behind the elf is finding him in the morning and discovering what kind of mischief he got himself into overnight. The first year I did Elf on the Shelf for the kids we just hid him in different spots. The second year I got a little more creative and started letting “Jangles” get into mischief around the house. Depending on how hard he partied the night before I had a huge mess to clean up the next day, which was a little bit annoying at times. The third year I decided to do scenes from the kid’s favorite movies and have Jangles act them out. One of the best was ‘Tarz-angles’ and we had Jangles in a leopard loin cloth swinging from vines. After the third year, the kids lost interest a little so I would take Jangles with us on out outings and holiday adventures and take his photo while we were there. On Christmas, I gave the kids a book that included all the photos. They were excited to see that he was there with us, and they never knew! Jangles went Black Friday shopping with us, to see a holiday movie and to visit our family in Georgia where we went to our favorite restaurant in Atlanta, The Varsity. 20 | December 2015 prince william living

(continues on page 22)

Let Us Introduce Your Child to the World of the Arts

Body, Mind and Free Spirit!

DANCE ART MUSIC

Ages 3 ½ to Adult

Ann Boyle Artistic Director

(703) 878-1000 www.danceetc.com

703-670-7884 “Leak Detection Specialist”

Roofing • Repairs • Vinyl Siding Seamless Gutter Systems • Gutter Guards Replacement Windows • Skylight • Attic Fan

Guaranteed Quality Work Since 1985 3 Top Rated by Washington Consumers’ Checkbook Licensed – Bonded – Insured E-mail: sales@FurrRoofing.com

Pride • Passion • Possibility Outdoor Leagues

RECREATIONAL ■ Youth Fall Leagues ■ Adult Summer Leagues ■ TOPSoccer

Resident since 2012

Welcome to Westminster at Lake Ridge. This is a community of beautiful apartment and cottage homes nestled among quiet tree-lined streets and walking paths. Here you will find the most exciting, joyful and fulfilling experience you can imagine, shared with the active and engaged friends and neighbors who make our community home, all with peace of mind that comes with quality on-site health care.

Westminster at Lake Ridge is accepting wait list reservations! Call (703) 822-4781 today to schedule your personal tour!

(The Outreach Program)

COMPETITIVE ■ Select U9 – U19 ■ Classic U13 – I19 Also...Year-Round Indoor Sports Clinics at the Courage Sports Center

For registration or more information pwsi.org ■ 703-670-6061

www.wlrva.org • 703-822-4781 12191 Clipper Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 prince william living December 2015 | 21

(continued from page 20)

W Wi Wig Wigg Wiggl Wiggle Wigglet Wiggleto Wiggletoe Wiggletoes

a step-by-step pre-dance program for parent and child (age 2-3) that promotes rhythm, balance and coordination Winter Session Starts January 4th Register NOW

tiny dancers

Ballet | Tap | Jazz | Wiggletoes

Classes for ages 2-12

Fast forward several years and you can now buy accessories for your elf and the popular online handmade marketplace Etsy is full of different items to personalize to fit your lifestyle including NFL team jerseys. While there are many people who think the concept is a little creepy…having an elf “spy” on your children to Santa, and others who seem to forget to move the elf or create new mischief each night, the purpose is to create holiday memories. If you do not wish to use Elf on the Shelf as a fun holiday tradition, there are alternatives including non-elf options.

Elf Magic Elf Magic’s Santa’s magic Elf Dolls give you more variety on doll appearances. They also have more accessories and instead of spying on you to Santa, these elves stay with you throughout the holiday season and return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. They do get into mischief at night with their ‘Elfcapades’ it is very similar to elf on the shelf with the main difference being the doll is completely plush. Available online at elfmagic.com.

activities as well as a list of Mensch Rules, such as giving gifts to the less fortunate, and making sure to use your Shamash candle to light your menorah. Available at themenschonabench.com.

Traveling Wise Men This tradition supports the meaning of Christmas. Written by local Woodbridge author Chelsea Wojcik, “Traveling Wise Men” follows the Elf on a Shelf concept except instead of using an elf you use the Three Wise Men from your nativity set. Read your book with your children and use your wise men to create ‘ADVENTures’ in your home. Your children will be delighted in each morning’s discovery of where the Wise Men have traveled on their way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Prince William Living is giving away one this month at pwliving.com/contests but they are available for purchase online at travelingwisemen.com. There are many other options for creating fun holiday traditions with your family. Visit Prince William Living’s Pinterest page for more ideas at pinterest.com/ pwliving.

Mensch on a Bench In Gainesville at Virginia Gateway

703.754.2210

www.tinydancers.com 22 | December 2015 prince william living

Created by Neal Hoffman after his son wanted an Elf on the Shelf, Mensch on a Bench spreads the Jewish tradition and the importance of being a good person. The book that comes along with the Mensch contains Hanukkah songs and

Amanda Causey Baity (acausey@ princewilliamliving.com), Prince William Living’s marketing director and photo editor, also blogs about thrifty family activities on her blog GreenOwlCrafts.com.

Because Your

Deserves the Best

When baby isn’t quite ready to go home, we have the Stafford region’s only Level II Nursery to keep her close by. While here, be assured of the best care thanks to Stafford Hospital’s partnership with the specialists of Children’s National. Learn more at MyBaby.mwhc.com.

MyBaby.mwhc.com

home & hearth 6 Holiday Home Security Checklist Tips By Niki VanEch

uring a holiday vacation, no one ever wants to have that nagging feeling that something could be happening back at home. Unfortunately, holiday trips are the perfect time for criminals to steal property. There are, however, some steps you can take to reduce the chance of any crime taking place.

We have roots, where others have branches.

1. Alert your neighborhood watch group. It’s a good idea to inform the group of your vacation plans so they can be extra alert to suspicious activity. If there is no formal watch group, then ask a neighbor or friend to check up on your residence. You can ask them to remove any packages on your doorstep or accumulated newspapers. 2. Secure all entryways. Make sure all the locks work. Repair any cracks in doors or windows. Sliding doors should have bars that prevent giggling them open. Don’t forget second story windows. 3. Conceal valuables. Keep valuable items out of sight from peepers outside the house. Most criminals “case” houses that will be worth their while. They will do this by looking through windows or checking the property for items such as flat screen TVs and laptops, which can be easily resold. 4. Stop mail and newspaper delivery while you are out of town. 5. Make your house look lived in. Use automatic light timers for holiday lights if your house is decorated with these to fool burglars that you are home. Keep a car in the driveway. In a survey of burglars, 51% said they checked for a car in the driveway before committing their crime. 6. Avoid social media updates. While everyone wants to update their family and friends about exciting trips, those without the strongest privacy settings on their social media accounts could be notifying more people than they expect. As the trip comes closer, refrain from posting exact dates and times in which you will be out of town because social media accounts are a great place for a third party to get information.

Niki VanEch is an interior designer who has been helping clients in the metropolitan D.C. area for more than 20 years. Her home furnishings store, VanEch Studio, is located in Occoquan, Va., and at VanEchStudio.com. 24 | December 2015 prince william living

PEGGY BURKE

(703) 819-8388

Brkworks@aol.com

Resale and New Homes Seller & Buyer Representation

BILL BURKE

(703) 216-8309 b.burke4475@gmail.com

Land and Commercial Properties

Virginia Realty Partners, LLC 4004 Genessee Place #209 Woodbridge, VA 22192

virginiarealtypartners.com

Happy Holidays Saturday, December 5th 4 pm – 7 pm Pictures with the Grinch & Craft Table

Saturday, December 12th 6 pm – 8 pm Orchestra performance & S’mores making (while supplies last)

305 Mill Street, B-1 Occoquan, VA 22125

703.490.1175

www.patriotscuba.com

EXPLORE A WORLD LIKE NO OTHER.

Saturday, December 19th 4pm – 6pm Ice Carving Demo, Face Painting & S’more Making

(while supplies last)

stonebridgeptc.com

Learn to dive, keep diving, or Go Pro with Patriot Scuba. We offer the full range of classes, equipment, and travel to take you from beginner to Pro. Ask us today about joining one of our classes such as: • Discover Scuba Diving • Divemaster • Open Water Diver • Rescue Diver • Advanced Open Water Diver • Instructor Start your next dive adventure today!

www.robertjinksphotography.com | 703-401-7695 prince william living December 2015 | 25

local flavor

PETRA GRILL

Worldly Food with Authentic Flavor By Helena Tavares Kennedy | Photos by Linda Hughes

s you enter Petra Grill’s new Manassas location, it’s like stepping into another country with beautiful Turkish tiles and varying spices aroma providing a feast for your nose. The wide variety and freshly made offerings are a delight for all your senses. Marwan Almasri, Petra Grill’s Owner, has been in the restaurant business since college. The objective when opening his first restaurant at the Potomac Mills Mall food court in December 2006 was to bring authentic overseas cuisine at an affordable price for locals. Almasri says the most rewarding thing about Petra Grill for him is to be able to offer a unique place unlike any other in Prince William County with the blend of Middle Eastern/ Lebanese/Mediterranean cuisine. He frequently hears from appreciative customers because they used to drive to Fairfax, Arlington or even Washington, D.C., to get good Lebanese or Middle Eastern food.

Memorable Menu Petra Grill’s Chef Mahbuba Maizi comes with a plethora of Lebanese cooking experience, including previously working at Lebanese Taverna in Tysons Corner. Her menu expands beyond the usual kabobs and includes Shawarma (Lebanese style), Gyro platters, Falafel, Manaeesh, Baba Ghanouge, Fattoush Salad, Hummus, Grape Leaves and more. Chicken kabob and the mixed grill are some of the most popular items with customers, said Maizi. The mixed grill is especially popular with customers because it includes so many different meats like chicken, lamb and kufta kabobs. It is a nice way to sample several different menu items. The Gyro Platter and Chicken Shawarma are also popular choices even though Shawarma was initially the hardest thing for people to get used to because many have heard of kabobs and gyros but not shawarma. 26 | December 2015 prince william living

The Real Deal From the beginning, Almasri wanted to keep his food offerings authentic. According to several customers, he has succeeded. “We’ve been to the Middle East, and this reminds us of what we ate there. The food is consistently great, unique and authentic. Especially for the price and what you get, it is fantastic,” said Ralph and Linda Ciampa, customers who visit the Manassas location at least once a month. Everything on Petra Grill’s menu is hand prepared daily and made fresh. It is fast in that it can take 10 minutes to receive your food order that is much quicker than many sit down restaurants, but since it is made to order, it can take longer than fast food like McDonald’s. Since it is freshly made, and nothing is microwaved, customers find the 10-minute wait worth it for the fresh ingredients and preparation. “My 11-year-old son saw Shawarma mentioned in the Avengers movie so he wanted to try it. Once we visited their Manassas restaurant, we were hooked on the quality of the food. We keep coming back for not only the Shawarma but the Fattoush salad and more,” said Kristina Crossley, another customer at the Manassas location. The grape leaves taste refreshing and cool while the homemade pita bread is soft, warm and soothing. The Mediterranean Platter consisting of beef shawarma is delicious and flavorful. The made from scratch hummus is so creamy and smooth that it’s hard to believe it’s a healthy food. The Zaatar with cheese has a nice mild cheese flavor with a soft, perfectly textured warm bread base, topped with thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and olive oil paste to create a winning combination. Lahm Bajeen has the same soft bread base but is topped with a ground beef spread flavored with tomatoes, onions and spices. Hot mint tea is complimentary with any entrée that is a nice bonus, especially on a cold day.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated with a Middle Eastern style.

Mix Grill Kabob with a variety of Lebanese appetizers, served with fresh baked pita bread.

Two Locations, Two Different Experiences Petra Grill’s first location in Potomac Mills is where a former kabob grill was located, which led to some initial challenges because customers would ask for certain things the Indian/ Pakistani style kabob grill had served before Petra Grill moved in. It took a bit for people to get used to the Middle Eastern/ Lebanese style cuisine that Petra Grill offers. Almasri estimates that about 35 percent of the Potomac Mills mall location customers go out of their way to visit Petra Grill and are not just stopping by because they are already in the mall. Over the years, Almasri received customer requests asking if he would open a restaurant location that was a more private, sit down place they could take their family and out of town visitors. That led him to open the Manassas location on Galveston Court in October 2014. Now Petra Grill employs about 20 employees between the two locations. Shuaib Alhajebi, a Petra Grill Manassas location employee, said the best thing about working there is that the customers are so great. “They love the food, they are friendly and interesting,” said Alhajebi. The most common question he gets from customers is “What is Shawarma?” “The locations are a bit different in that there are more pick-up/ take-out orders in the Manassas location as people are on their way home from work and call ahead or stop by to get dinner on the way,” said Almasri. He also said customers love the new Manassas location because they have more parking, and it is less crowded than the Potomac Mills food court location. It’s also a place they can take their family or visitors for a unique dining experience.

“It’s neat when customers comment on the authenticity. We especially get a lot of military, government and Quantico people visiting the Manassas location on their way home from work. They love the food because it tastes like what they had when they were stationed or visiting overseas. There are a lot of kabob restaurants out there but none like us that have grape leaves, shawarma and other unique Middle Eastern foods,” said Alhajebi.

Something for Everyone There are many vegetarian items as well as non-bread items for any staying away from gluten, so it’s easy to find something for people with special dietary needs. Customers can make substitutions so if there is a platter or entrée you really like but you don’t like the side listed, you can replace it for another side at no extra charge. For example, you can replace the rice side that comes with many menu items with hummus instead. Catering is available, as is call-ahead for pick-up on your way home. Almasri will sit down with you, plan out the menu to customize it for you and discuss what your favorites are to make sure they are included for your event. If you are looking for a way to step into another world full of delicious, healthy food without leaving town, Petra Grill is the place to go. Visit their website at petramediterraneangrill.com for contact information for both locations, their menu and other details. Helena Tavares Kennedy (hkennedy@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and nonprofit communications director. She has lived in Prince William County with her husband and children for more than 15 years. prince william living December 2015 | 27

your finances Four Psychological Traps Investors Should Avoid By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor

nvesting in the stock market has its ups and downs. And it’s not just because the stock market is unpredictable. It’s easy for individual investors to get tripped up by the psychology of investing. Investors need to be aware of these four common behaviors and plan accordingly. 1. Eternal optimism. When money is involved, it’s tough to keep feelings in check. It’s completely normal — even expected — to believe your stock will go up in value even if it’s heading in the other direction. The problem is that wishful thinking can keep you in the game when you may want to be calling it quits. 2. Herd instincts. Individual investors tend to follow the crowd, buying popular stocks (perhaps influenced by a mention in the news or a friend’s recommendation) and selling when they see others cutting loose. The wise investor bases decisions on sound research, not the crowd mentality. 3. Fear of failure. No one likes to lose, so investors often delay the sale of a losing stock and instead sell winners (thinking they’re smart to turn a profit). Savvier investors know how to turn a losing stock into an advantage by selling it to offset gains and reduce their net tax bill. 4. Super-ego. If you think you can beat the market, think again. Timing the market is a strategy that doesn’t work well over time. Even if you do get lucky once in a while, it’s pretty unlikely you will get better overall results buying and selling stocks than the institutions that employ sophisticated software models, closely monitor market trends and have entire departments devoted to stock market analysis. The bottom line? Forget about outsmarting the market and resist the urge to do it all yourself. Instead, seek advice when it’s time to invest. Focus on making investment decisions that are aligned with your long-term goals and are backed by experience, research and insight. Bennett Whitlock, CRPC ®, is a private wealth advisor and managing director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a franchise of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Learn more at WhitlockWealth.com or call 703-492-7732.

28 | December 2015 prince william living

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE

WE’RE NEARBY 20+ BRANCHES IN NOVA

ONLINE & MOBILE BANKING Auto Mortgage Home Equity Student Credit Card Business

Proudly serving anyone who lives, works, worships or has a business in Prince William County, or the Cities of Manassas or Manassas Park.

AppleFCU.org

Equal Opportunity Lender. Federally Insured by NCUA.

Meet your future with confidence. Take the first step toward having peace of mind in retirement with our proprietary Confident Retirement® approach. We’ll work with you to address the four basic principles of retirement. Call us today to get started at 703.492.7732. Bennett C. Whitlock III, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor Whitlock Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 12848 Harbor Drive, Suite 101 Lake Ridge, VA 22192 bennett.c.whitlock@ampf.com www.whitlockwealth.com

The Confident Retirement approach is not a guarantee of future financial results. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (8/14)

Sponsor of Lunch with the Publisher— Make the Most of Prince William Living

Custom Events Celebrate your next event with us!

You Deserve It All And you’ll find it at Potomac Place!

Celebrating 25 years of senior living excellence! Potomac Place offers the largest assisted living apartments (with full kitchens!), the best care, and the most affordable prices in Prince William County. Delicious dining, friendly faces, a variety of fun social events, and great amenities are all found in one place — Potomac Place. Here, you have the peace of mind knowing that yes, you can have it all!

Private room available for rehearsal dinners, lunch meetings, birthday celebrations, retirement receptions. Many menu options available.

Call us today at 703-494-3817 to schedule your personal visit.

Voted Best of Prince William for 3 Years!

703-330-2729 www.okras.com

2133 Montgomery Ave | Woodbridge, VA 22191 | www.potomacplace.com

9110 Center St. | Manassas, VA

Coordinated Services Management, Inc. - Professional Management of Retirement Communities Since 1981

Vintage Moving & Storage Moving Your Life’s Treasures

Vintage Moving & S

Moving Your Life’s T

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. PERSONALIZED CARE. Residential Moving Commercial Moving

Interstate Moving Specialized Services

703.392.6260

www.vintagemoving.com prince william living December 2015 | 29

calendar

december

Outdoor Ice Skating

The Harris Pavilion – Historic Downtown Manassas 9301 Center Street, Manassas What a fun way to celebrate winter and the holiday season. All sessions are open skate, no time limit. Daily, 10day and seasonal passes available for adults and children. Lessons offered as well. Check the website for pricing, hours of operation and holiday hours. harrispavilion.com/ice_skate.php

Swing Machine Big Band

Thurs. Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Celebrate the holiday season with Swing Machine - DC’s Premier Big Band. The Combined Prince William Chorus, a county-wide group of talented students, presenting toe-tapping special arrangements that will fill you with holiday spirit will join the band. Come join this family friendly event. hyltoncenter.org/calendar/list/2015/12/

Merry Old Town: Christmas Tree Lighting

Fri. Dec. 4 | 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Manassas Museum Lawn 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas Make time to enjoy old-fashioned family fun at the “Merry Old Town” celebration in Old Town Manassas! The holiday fun begins at 5:30 p.m. with holiday music and at 6 p.m. Santa arrives at the Manassas Depot on the VRE train. The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Manassas Museum. Take a free hayride around Historic Downtown and go for a skate at the Harris Pavilion ice rink. Of course, Santa will hear the Christmas wishes of all the children at the Harris Pavilion gazebo.

70th Annual Christmas Parade

Sat. Dec. 5 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Historic Downtown Manassas | Center Street

Join us for the 70th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade on December 5, 2015. Please visit gmchristmasparade. org for details, including parade route.

Manassas Chorale “The Spirit of Christmas” Winter Concert

Sat. Dec. 5 | 5 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas The Manassas Chorale presents “The Spirit of Christmas” Winter Concert. Get into the spirit with traditional carols and timeless songs of the season, performed by 100 auditioned singers and live orchestra. Concert with a Cause: Please help support SERVE by bringing a nonperishable food item.

The Holidays at Rippon Lodge Sun. Dec. 6 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rippon Lodge 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge Take a stroll through Christmases gone by as the historic home will be decked out for the holidays inside and out. Bring a nonperishable food item for donation to local food banks. $5 per person. Visit pwcgov. org/ripponlodge for additional dates.

Carriage Rides Around Historic Downtown Manassas Sun. Dec. 6 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Manassas Train Station 9431 West Street, Manassas $10 per ride. Visi visitmanassas.org/ for additional dates.

Prince William Living Network—After Hours at Travinia Dec. 8 | 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Stonebridge Center 15001 Potomac Branch Dr. #100, Woodbridge Join our Network! Meet the people behind the award-winning magazine, Prince William Living. Enjoy nonalcoholic beverages and light appetizers. Start a tab for other beverages and even make plans to stay for dinner! princewilliamliving.com/network/

Osbourn Park High School’s Messiah Sing- Along Thurs. Dec. 10 | 7 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Choir and orchestra students from Osbourn Park, Patriot and Brentsville District High Schools come together to present Handel’s Messiah in the form of a Sing-Along. Featuring professional soloists from the DC metro area. Bring your music to join in or just enjoy the show! hyltoncenter.org/calendar/ list/2015/12/

Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Child’s Play Sat. Dec. 12 | 3:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center The Manassas Symphony’s annual family concert celebrates the imagination of children at play. Featuring Patriot High School flutist Natalie Wong and Kid Pan Alley, with new songs written and performed by students from Chris Yung Elementary School in Bristow. hyltoncenter.org/calendar/list/2015/12/

The Nutcracker Thurs. Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Manassas Ballet Theatre and Manassas Ballet Theatre Orchestra present everyone’s holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Prices: $25 – $65 (discounts available, including military) Visit hyltoncenter.org/about/residentarts.html for tickets and additional showtimes.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra–Handel’s Messiah Fri. Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sat. Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fri.: First Baptist Church, 13600 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge Sat.: All Saints Catholic Church, 9300 Stonewall Road, Manassas The Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra (OBCO) will be holding their annual Sing-Along featuring the performance of Handel’s Messiah. Both performances will feature the Celebration Singers, the New Dominion Choraliers, the First Baptist Church Choir, and the All Saints Catholic Church Choir. Tickets are free;

Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar. 30 | December 2015 prince william living

Discover Prince William & Manassas

DiscoverPWM.com

ith the holidays in full swing, it is time to start thinking about those classic traditions that shape the way we celebrate the season. From hanging a new ornament on the tree to spending an evening singing your favorite carols, there are endless opportunities to build lifelong memories with friends, family and loved ones this holiday season here in Prince William & Manassas. Meander down the garland clad streets of Historic Occoquan for last minute holiday shopping. Find unique ornaments and gifts at The Golden Goose, where the holidays are celebrated 365 days a year. Sip on hot chocolate at the Blue Arbor Café or pick up a delicious homemade pie at Mom’s Apple Pie. Gather friends and family for a visit to Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm in Nokesville to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Be sure to stop by the Christmas house to warm up and nibble on complimentary cookies before heading home, and browse the wide array of handmade evergreen wreaths, festive ornaments and décor.

Step back in time and experience the holidays as they were in the 1840s at Liberia Plantation on December 5. Tours begin at the Manassas Museum and transportation will be provided. Enjoy hot apple cider while taking a stroll at Rippon Lodge, the oldest house remaining in Prince William County, and see holiday decor from the 18th & 19th centuries.

verP W

@Disco

Facebook.com/pwcmanassas

Magical horse drawn carriage rides in Historic Downtown Manassas will take place on December 6, 13 and 20. Attend the 70th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade, where actor Ed Asner will serve as grand marshall, and have lunch with Santa at the Old Manassas Courthouse on December 5. Don’t forget to shop local this season at one of the many Historic Downtown Manassas shops. Prince William & Manassas offers holiday traditions that are fun for the entire family. For more on things to do with your family visit DiscoverPWM.com. Ann Marie Maher is the President/CEO of Discover Prince William & Manassas. Stay in touch with Prince William and Manassas by connecting with us on Facebook or Twitter @ DiscoverPWM.

however, donations will be accepted! A holiday-themed reception will follow Friday’s performance. Questions? Please email obco.arts@gmail.com.

Dumfries Christmas Parade Sat. Dec. 5 | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. 17755 Main Street Dumfries The Dumfries Christmas Parade starts at Dumfries Town Hall. Christmas Tree Lighting at 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. Christmas carols, school chorus and bands, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Come out to enjoy the Christmas festivities with Dumfries. dumfriesva. gov Questions? Please email tbarnes@ dumfriesva.gov All events are subject to change. Check to verify dates, times and locations.

1-800-432-1792 DiscoverPWM.com prince william living December 2015 | 31

You make the list. We’ll get it done. Take it in. A thorough, customized cleaning from a team you trust—guaranteed. Then enjoy a little time for yourself.

merrymaids.com

$100 Off Save $00

Receive $ 40.00 off of your first cleaning and

Offer goes here.when you sign $20.00 Description off your next three cleanings up for ongoing service.

Area listed here

Prince William County 000-000-0000 703-650-0647 Area listed here 000-000-0000

Sometimes life holds an endless list of challenges, until you discover an ABUNDANCE of SOLUTIONS. If you have questions about senior living, we have answers. Aging is often difficult with a seemingly endless number of decisions and changes. Let us offer simple solutions. We’ll share with you information on your many options and offer a helping hand to assist you on your journey.

For more information, call the community nearest you.

Brookdale Lake Ridge

Assisted Living | Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 3940 Prince William Parkway Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 680-0600 VAKW-P10-0615-ROP HW

32 | December 2015 prince william living

Brookdale Manassas Assisted Living 8341 Barrett Drive Manassas, VA 20109 (703) 392-0102

brookdale.com

Brookdale® is a trademark of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Nashville, TN, USA.

lifelong learning Virginia STAR Program Brings Out the Best By Olivia Overman

s coordinator of the STAR program for the state of Virginia, Chuck Drake is either on the road delivering computers and hardware to various schools or working at Forest Park High School, the model site for the STAR program. Virginia STAR stands for the Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment program. This program allows the state’s high school students to repair and refurbish surplus hardware from local government agencies, private companies and the federal government. These refurbished computers are then donated to local families, non-profit organizations. “The program was started by Aneesh Chopra, former chief technology officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia who later became the nation’s first chief technology officer under Barack Obama,” said Drake. Having worked with Mr. Chopra previously, when the idea of saving money through refurbishing computers came about, Drake and Forest Park High School were among the many schools to submit a request for proposal to the U.S. Department of Education. Today, the STAR program, is administered through the Prince William County public schools and its SPARK Education Foundation. Started in 2008, the program is a collaborative effort of the Secretaries of Education and Technology and the Departments of Education and General Services to introduce Virginia’s students to the field of IT repair. The ultimate goal of the program is to create a sustainable educational program that takes surplus hardware from state agencies or private companies to offer students IT. But, it has become much more than that for many schools. “It is a wonderful program where students get to use what they are learning in technology to help students without the advantage of having technology at home. Many times in education we assume students have a computer to use. We’ve refurbished and donated over 500 computers to students and larger groups over the course of the program,” said Stephanie Evers, Battlefield High School coordinator, Virginia STAR computer refurbishment program. The program is sometimes offered as part of the curriculum in schools while in other cases the schools offer it as an afterschool program. This is the case at Battlefield High School. The BEST club, which stands for Bobcats Evaluating and Servicing Technology, is run completely by volunteers. “The students do not receive any credit or grades. They do it because it’s rewarding,” Evers said. Overseen by the school’s network

administrator Carl Binsted, students do things like clean out the computers, work on imaging tasks, testing modules, kits of cables and other tasks. Some work individually, others work together. It depends on the task. And when it comes to the give-away event, the students are completely in charge. “The students have to do all the refurbishment as well as conducting the give back/ donation event,” said Drake. Officially known as the ‘Bridging the Gap (BTG)’ event, each school has to hold at least one. “The VA STAR program has had an extraordinary impact on our students and the families who receive the refurbished computers,” said Lynn Morris, VA STAR coordinator at Deep Run High School in Richmond, Va. “Deep Run CIT students love to participate year after year, even when it is not part of a class assignment. They love working with the receiving families to train them on the use of the computer and are excited to share their passion for technology with others.” Funding for the program comes from the government while companies such as MICRON (Manassas) and Lockheed Martin (Manassas), Microsoft and Best Buy, and organizations such as NASA and local and state governments donate the computers. The program has grown significantly in 2015, with funding received to reach 37 school districts and 60 different sites across the Commonwealth. As the success of the program continues, the benefits to families and both for-profit and non-profit organizations are tremendous. Schools interested in offering the VA STAR program to their students should refer to vastar.org. A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Olivia Overman (ooverman@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer for online and print publications. prince william living December 2015 | 33

Your gateway to great gifts VAgateway.com

For the fashionista to the tech lover and those in between, find the perfect gift for everyone on your list at Virginia Gateway! Shop over 130 brands including J.Crew Mercantile, Best Buy, LOFT, White House Black Market, Great Gatherings, Charming Charlie, Chicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Stein Mart, DSW Shoes, Justice, Pier 1, Yankee Candle and more.

Located at the intersection of US 29/Lee Highway and Linton Hall Road in Gainesville.

tambourines and elephants A Crash Course in Clichés By DeeDee Corbitt Sauter I first noted a friend’s propensity for clichés several years ago when she quite randomly started to list movie stars whom she considered to be “eye candy.” I had never heard that phrase, but using context and my powers of deduction, I eventually figured out it meant the actor’s aesthetics were as delicious to the eye as candy to the taste buds. Of course, while deciphering the cliché, I could not help but visualize salt water taffy stuck in someone’s left eye. Thus the problems of those who have a propensity for literal translations. It was a disturbing side effect to which I have never admitted because I am sure once armed with the knowledge that my brain often gets tangled, she would unrelentingly bombard me with then making all conversations a virtual verbal minefield. A self-proclaimed introvert who frequently announces how she hates being the center of attention, she can nevertheless not stop sharing her opinions. Ever. She carries with her a Kindle behind which she disappears when she runs out of relevant idioms. Her desire to be isolated while attracting attention is almost as frustrating as clichés themselves. Clichés can be useful and often capture the correct mood or relate the experience with a nominal number of superfluous words. But entire conversations cannot be based on American idioms, common clichés and superlatives. It was after the candy in the eyeball conversation that I determined I hate clichés. It was also during this period that I discovered every time my husband discussed politics, he used more snippets of these tired, overly used phrases. My intense adversity to them is simply not reasonable. I want my husband to use words that describe his feelings or opinions without actually repeating the news reporter’s verbiage. I want to hear about the day without listening to repetition. “Oh my gosh,” my friend once exclaimed as she plopped, then rolled over on my fine pleather couch. “Today is so disgustingly hot. It’s the hottest I have ever felt in FOREVER. It’s hotter than a mouse in a wool sock.” Once again the visual of a tiny cartoon mouse sleeping in a colorful yarn stocking popped in my head. I hadn’t heard that one before, and it didn’t make sense. No creature would willingly remain in a nest of wool if overheated. But more significantly, it wasn’t that warm outside. The temperature had topped at 86 degrees that day, which for a Virginia summer day is far from deserving of the superlatives. She continued her rant: “I had the most horrid food today. It was dry as a bone, tasteless and disgusting. I could barely eat it. Where

did they even learn to cook? How did they even become a chain?” I couldn’t figure out why she had come over. I neither needed a weather report nor a culinary review. I needed a nap. Her one-sided conversation continued imparting nothing but her large collection of trite commentary. She was able to talk for hours without actually saying anything. Though full of descriptive nonsense and superlatives, it lacked the content to merit a reply. My eye-rolling and heavy sighs went unnoticed as I pretended to pay attention. Even though I have acquired an intense disdain for such a common way of communicating, I am very aware how difficult they are to master when English is not the native language. My mother was born and raised in Germany. Learning English started at the elementary levels, but she fined-tuned her language skills by eventually immigrating to the U.S. where she watched American TV, read voraciously, married a wonderful man and had two daughters who brought idioms and strep throat home without prejudice. Regardless of our teachings, she still got several phrases wrong. We still use them because they remind us of her. That, and they are just plain silly. Our favorite phrase, which is still used as often as possible, was first uttered at the dinner table. One of us—either my sister or me—kept talking about a particular subject without rest. After a tedious amount of jabbering, my mother finally slapped the table with authority. “That’s it!” she exclaimed. But this is where is went horribly awry. Her intention was to utter the cliché, “Don’t beat a dead horse,” a kind way of telling us that no matter how much we chatter, interest in the subject at hand cannot and will not be revived. In short, “shut up.” Instead of using this well-known phrase, she admonished, “Don’t sit on old cakes!” All subjects were forgotten within the raucous laughter that followed. No one knows what she could have been thinking, but it has never been forgotten. Clichés can be horribly boring, repetitive and unimaginative. Whole conversations should not be based on idioms, but there can be opportunity to pull out the occasional phrase. Just don’t sit on old cakes. DeeDee Corbitt Sauter is a resident of Northern Virginia. prince william living December 2015 | 35

Yellow Cab

photography

marketing, special event, family

Serving PWC since 1978

creative thinking workshops

703-492-8215

www.imagewerks.net

Commercial Photography Branding

| Web

mgcre8v.com 571-249-5566

Family Owned & Operated Pre-paid Fare Cards Senior Citizen Discounts Wheelchair Accessible Book by Phone, App or Online

www.YellowCabPw.com

703-491-2222 or 703-369-2100

Magnificent Belly Dance Belly dance for the everyday woman... • Classes • Parties

571-229-5185 www.magniﬁcentbellydance.com

www.actspwc.org 703-441-8606

703-330-8145 www.casacis.org

Vintage Moving & Storage Moving Your Life’s Treasures

Vintage Moving & St

Moving Your Life’s Tr

703.392.6260 www.vintagemoving.com

Advertiser Index ACTS...........................................................................................36 Ameriprise–Whitlock Wealth Management.............................28 Apple FCU..................................................................................28 Beautiful Moments by Amy......................................................36 Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute................................................8 Boys & Girls Clubs.....................................................................36 Brookdale...................................................................................32 CASA...........................................................................................36 City of Manassas Park—Parks & Recreation.............................9 Dance Etc....................................................................................21 Discover Prince William & Manassas......................................31 FURR Roofing.............................................................................21 Greater Prince William Community Health Center.................36 Harris Pavilion............................................................................25 House of Mercy..........................................................................16 Imagewerks................................................................................36 Madison Cresent........................................................................17 Magnificent Belly Dance...........................................................36 Mark Gilvey Creative.................................................................36 Mary Washington Healthcare...................................................23 Merry Maids...............................................................................32 Okra’s .........................................................................................29

36 | December 2015 prince william living

Patriot Scuba..............................................................................25 Peggy and Bill Burke, Virginia Realty Partners, LLC...............24 Piedmont Physical Therapy......................................................16 Potomac Place............................................................................29 Potomac Shores Golf Club..........................................................9 Pride Air Conditioning & Heating.............................................17 Prince William Chamber of Commerce...................................32 Prince William Courage.............................................................36 Prince William Ice Center............................................................9 Prince William Soccer...............................................................21 Robert Jinks Photography........................................................25 Semper K9..................................................................................36 Stonebridge................................................................................25 Tackett’s Mill..............................................................................29 The Pope Institute......................................................................25 Tiny Dancers..............................................................................22 Tribute at Heritage Village....................................................... C4 VanEch Studio............................................................................31 Vintage Moving & Storage.................................................29, 36 Virginia Gateway.......................................................................34 Westminster at Lake Ridge.......................................................21 Winestyles .................................................................................16 Yellow Cab.................................................................................36

subscribe Order your subscription today to Prince William Living magazine for only $15 per year! Order online today at www.princewilliamliving.com/subscription or complete this form and mail it to the address below. Your information: Name:____________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________

Subscription rate: Subscription rate is $15 per year, (12 issues) continental U.S. only. Subscription will begin with the next issue after this form is received. Allow two weeks after receipt of form. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Include a check or money order for the total amount to:

State/Zip:__________________________________________

Prince William Living ATTN: Circulation Department 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55 Dale City, VA 22193

Country:__________________________________________

Prince William Living also accepts Visa and Mastercard*:

City:______________________________________________

Phone:____________________________________________

Name on Card:_____________________________________ Number:__________________________________________

Fax:______________________________________________

Expiration Date: ____________________________________

Email:____________________________________________

Signature:__________________________________________ *When paying by credit card, please fax your order to (703) 563-9185.

Pick up a free copy of Prince William Living at one of the following fine locations: Chairman At-Large Appliance Connection Corey A. Stewart 13851 Telegraph Road, Suite 101, Woodbridge McCoart Administration Building City of Manassas 1 County Complex Court, Prince William 9027 Center Street, Manassas Brentsville District City of Manassas Park Jeanine Lawson One Park Center Court 9440 Innovation Drive, Manassas Manassas Park Coles District Discover Prince William & Manassas Martin E. Nohe 10611 Balls Ford Road, Suite 110, Manassas 13476 Dumfries Road, Manassas Edward Kelly Leadership Center Potomac District 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas Maureen S. Caddigan, Vice Chair Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building Historic Manassas Inc 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 145, Woodbridge Visitor’s Center at the Train Depot 9431 West Street, Manassas Gainesville District Pete Candland Manassas Park City Schools 7001 Heritage Village Plaza, Suite 210, Gainesville One Park Center Court, Suite A, Manassas Park Manassas Park – Parks and Recreation 99 Adams Street, Manassas Mason Enterprise Center 10890 George Mason Cir., Bull Run Hall, Rm 147, Manassas Northern Virginia Community College Manassas Campus, 6901 Sudley Road Woodbridge Campus, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road Prince William Association of Realtors 4545 Daisy Reid Avenue, Woodbridge Prince William County McCoart Administration Building 1 County Complex Court, Prince William

Neabsco District John D. Jenkins 4361 Ridgewood Center Drive, Prince William Occoquan District Michael C. May 2241-K Tackett’s Mill Drive, Woodbridge Woodbridge District Frank J. Principi Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 140, Woodbridge

Prince William Parks and Recreation Prince William Public Library System 14418 Bristow Road, Manassas 12964 Harbor Drive, Lake Ridge 12993 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge 4249 Dale Boulevard, Dale City 18007 Dumfries Shopping Plaza, Dumfries 4603 James Madison Highway, Haymarket 2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge Prince William County Tourist Information Center 200 Mill Street, Occoquan The Sign Shop 2603 Morse Lane, Woodbridge Town of Dumfries 17755 Main Street, Dumfries Town of Haymarket 15000 Washington Street, Haymarket Town of Occoquan Town Hall, 314 Mill Street, Occoquan Town of Quantico 337 5th Avenue, Quantico Virginia Realty Partners 4004 Genessee Place #209, Woodbridge

Prince William Ice Center 5180 Dale Boulevard, Dale City

prince william living December 2015 | 37

Assisted Living Like Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Never Seen Before! SM

Opening Early 2016! Call For Your Hard Hat Tour.

13650 Heathcote Blvd.

Gainesville, VA

TributeAtHeritageVillage.com Hello@TributeAt HeritageVillage.com

703-468-1895

AT The Glen

Woodbridge, VA 4151 Old Bridge Road For More Information, please email: Hello@TributeAtTheGlen.com

At One Loudoun