VIP Alexandria Magazine | October 2023

OCTOBER 2023

Pink Warriors STOR IE S O F LOV E, LO SS , P E R S E VE R AN C E + ST R E N GTH 1

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

V I P A L E X A N D R I A M AG A Z I N E VO LU M E 5 • I S S U E 8

PUBLISHER | DESIGNER KELLIE GUNDERMAN E D I TO R C RYS TA L M O S S E R A N D E R S O N C O P Y E D I TO R A N D R E W G AT E S AC C O U N T S M A N AG E R MEGAN CRESCIO WRITERS B R I A N AC TO N • A LYC I A B U R A N T DAW N K L AVO N • L I E S E L S C H M I DT C OV E R P H OTO G R A P H E R J O N AT H A N T H O R P E C OV E R M O D E L JOI DREAMS E V E N T P H OTO G R A P H E R S L E E D O L I V E R I A • S A N DY S C H A E F F E R • LU C I A S M I T H DISTRIBUTION TL DISTRIBUTIONS

W W W.V I PA L X M A G . C O M @ V I PA L X M A G

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR "The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members...”

- CORETTA SCOTT KING

One of the greatest benefits of living in our area is the supportive community. The month of October (Breast

Cancer Awareness Month) is a time where we really see the Alexandria community come together for a cause.

We at VIP are excited to be joining the force in a big way this year. Welcome to our Pink Warriors Issue.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment. By

raising awareness, the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign encourages women to be proactive about their breast health and

empowers them to take control of their own well-being. Throughout October, various events and activities are organized to raise

funds, provide support to survivors and honor those who lost their lives to the disease. This year, we are proud to be partnering with ALX Community to host the first ALX PINK GALA, raising funds for the National Breast Center Foundation!

Inside this issue, you will find stories of love, loss, perseverance and strength. Read on to find detailed accounts of six

inspiring, strong women who courageously share their breast cancer journey. Thank you to BOWLERO Arlington,

who opened their doors for us to come in and photograph our cover, center spread and of course, our pink warriors.

Thank you so much for being a loyal reader. This month, VIP celebrates 5 years of storytelling here in Alexandria and as

this book was sent to press... we are heading to The Chamber ALX Best In Business Awards as a FINALIST. (Wish us

luck!) Needless to say, we have so much to be grateful for this month... and always. The whole VIP team is so thankful

for you, this inspiring community and the opportunity to spend another five years sharing the stories that matter.

Crystal Mosser Anderson CRYSTAL MOSSER ANDERSON, EDITOR

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CONTENTS

OCT23 MAINSTAYS

14 • Calendar of Events 18 • Healthy Minds: Women's Health Top 5 Stressors + How To Manage Them

22 • D1 Youth Athlete of the Month Mia Becerra Nunez

28 • ALX Impact | From Cradle to Career The Campagna Center

42 • VIP SuperDad Jason Edwards

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45 • Art of Living | Book Getting A Few Things Off Their Chests

50 • Food + Dink A Culinary Adventure: Zuki Moon

53 • Perfect Pairings Rack of Lamb + Les Roses

60 • What's In Her Bag? Kristen Jones

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COVER FEATURE

34 • Pink Warrior Stories 36 | Joi Dreams 37 | Delia Sullivan 38 | Roxana Guerra 39 | Gayle Palmer 40 | Amy Eggers 41 | Aleseia Saunders

EVENTS

16 • Gunston Hall Riverside Garden Grand Opening 25 • Chamber ALX Golf Classic 32 • Drink Pink on the Patio

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56 • American Horticultural Society’s Annual Gala 58 • Mount Vernon Colonial Market & Fair

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SAVOR THE EXTRAORDINARY 13

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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Westin Alexandria Old Town, 6-9pm

Crystal City Sports Pub, 529 23rd St. South Arlington, 8:30am

The Chamber ALX Best In Business Awards

ALX Chamber Networking Breakfast

Join the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for a celebration of the best in

Promote your business before the workday even begins. These breakfasts

business, honoring a Business Leader of the Year and companies in various

focus on roundtable power networking and give attendees the chance to

categories of competition. This is our version of the Oscars as we roll out

exchange business cards, develop new prospects, and share a 60-second

the red carpet and share the stories behind the success of Alexandria

commercial with each table.

Register: www.thechamberalx.com

businesses. Judging is competitive and winning is a tremendous honor.

Tickets: www.thechamberalx.com

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Halloween Trivia

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WEBA Happy Hour

Mount Purrnon, 109 S Alfred St., 2-4pm

Test your knowledge of all things spooky, creepy and festive!

Taste of Asia, 362 S Pickett St, 5-7pm

Bring plenty of business cards! You will meet many new people and

RSVP: www.mtpurrnoncatcafe.com/events

drink tickets, raffles and door prizes and reserved seating.

O C TO B E R 2 0

contacts during this Networking and Socializing opportunity. Enjoy two

ALX Pink Gala

Register: www.alexandriaweba.org

Above ALX Community, 277 S Washington St, 7-10pm

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This formal event is "pink-tie optional" to bring in the color of breast

Holistic Hair Studio Grand Opening

cancer awareness, and will benefit the National Breast Center Foundation,

1433 Powhatan St, 2-4pm

an organization that provides mammograms & diagnostics to uninsured

An event full of nourishment for both hair and soul. Enjoy a delicious

and underinsured women.

spread, Lost Boy Cider, free card readings, skincare secrets and free samples!

Tickets: www.alxpinkgala.org

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O C TO B E R 2 0

Oronoco Bay Park, 11am-4pm

Building Momentum, 5830 Eisenhower Ave., Suite C, 6-9pm

Paws in the Park

Weld a Pumpkin

Previously known as Alexandria Love Your Pet Day, Paws in the Park is

Create some unique DIY Halloween decorations for your home this year

entertainment, activities, vendors and, of course, a whole lot of adorable

– learn how to weld, make and paint a horseshoe pumpkin, and take home

a FREE, fun-filled day for the whole family (including pets), featuring

with Welded Pumpkins! Get your hands dirty with Building Momentum

adoptables!

a fall-themed welded creation!

Learn more: www.pawsintheparkva.com

Register: www.buildmo.com/fun-for-all

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O C TO B E R 2 1

Fort Hunt Park

John Carlyle Square, 11am-5pm

8th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer

Alexandria Oktoberfest

Join us for a morning of mindfulness and movement while we celebrate the

Features German food, beer, and fun. So, shake off your finest lederhosen,

loop around the park.

of artisans and crafters, good food, live music and dancing performed by

polish your stein, and indulge in beer while taking in the festivities. Lots

survivors in our lives and honor those we've lost. The walk is a 1.2 mile flat

authentic German bands all for your entertainment! Free admission. Dog

Register: www.walktobustcancer.org

friendly. Rain or shine event.

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O C TO B E R 2 1 - 2 2

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Mount Vernon, 9am-5pm

Starts at Whiskey + Oyster, 301 John Carlyle St., 2-6pm

Fall Harvest Festival

3rd Annual Carlyle Halloween Stampede

Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and

demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon. During this event, you can meet George Washington and celebrate fall with 18th-century activities

and demonstrations like candle making, cooking, horseshoeing, and textile production.

Tickets: www.mountvernon.org

Features all-day festive cocktails, signature party favors, costume contests, photos ops, giveaways and more. Guests can start the crawl and pick up

their wristbands at any of the participating restaurants: Whiskey & Oyster, Sweet Fire Donna’s, Tequila and Taco or Lost Boy Cider. Costumes are recommended. There will be costume prizes for the most festively dressed participants. 10-100% of the registration fee will be donated to the nonprofit ALIVE in Alexandria.

Regeter: www.eventbrite.com

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DRBA Cocktails & Connections Zuki Moon, 1909 Mt. Vernon Ave., 5:30-7:30

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& Connections - a casual business networking event hosted at the new

Starts at The Dog Park, 705 King St., 1-5pm

Join the Del Ray Business Association for its bimonthly DRBA Cocktails

Old Town Doggie Trick or Treat

Del Ray Restaurant, Zuki Moon. This month's event is sponsored by

Bring your dog for a howling day of walking through Old Town and

CommonwealthOne Bank.

Join the DRBA: www.visitdelray.com

visiting participating merchants who will offer treats for your four-legged companion. Start at The Dog Park boutique, located at 705 King Street.

Learn more: www.oldtownbusiness.org

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6th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl

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All aboard for an adults-only costume party! Cross the gangway (if you

E. Bellefonte Avenue + Mount Vernon Ave, 2pm

Lighthorse, 615 King St., 4pm

dare) for a hauntingly good time. DJ, open bar, food, costume contests, and raffles will all take place at the floating heritage center and aboard the Providence. Join us for an evening

27th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade Children, pets, and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes. This parade ends with live music and an award presentation

the Mount Vernon Rec Center field. This hometown favorite event is a

Register: www.eventbrite.com

must-see!

Learn more: www.visitdelray.com/latest-events

O C TO B E R 2 8

Tall Ship Providence Presents Ghost Ship Providence

O C TO B E R 3 1

All aboard for an adults-only costume party! Cross the gangway (if you

Enjoy live music, wine specials, $5 tacos, cigars on the patio and an adult

Tall Ship Providence, 7-10pm

dare) for a hauntingly good time. DJ, open bar, food, costume contests, and raffles will all take place at the floating heritage center and aboard the Providence. Join us for an evening

Sonoma Cellar Halloween Bash 207 King St., 7-10pm

costume contest with exciting prizes at 9pm! www.mysonomacellar.com

Tickets: www.tallshipprovidence.org

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

GUNSTON HALL RIVERSIDE GARDEN GRAND OPENING

Photography by Lucia Smith George Mason’s Gunston Hall recently hosted a grand opening to celebrate their new Riverside Garden. Guests enjoyed immersing themselves in the beauty of nature while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, garden themed cocktils and music by Washgint’s Camerata.

Gunston Hall is proud to be The Home of the American Rights. The restoration of George Mason’s Riverside Garden brings back to life the Gunston Hall that George and Ann Mason and their family knew and loved in the 18th Century. The garden was inspired by traditional English walled gardens and Italian villa design.

Learn more, book and event or plan your trip to Gunston Hall at www.gunstonhall.org.

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

WOMEN'S TOP FIVE

+ HOW TO MANAGE THEM brought to you by H E A LT H Y M I N D S T H E R A P Y story by A LYC I A B U R A N T, M A , L P C , C M H I M P

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When the sound of your partner’s name no longer brings butterflies to your stomach, but rather feelings of emptiness and despair; when you long for the touch of your mother’s soft, warm, caring hand on your face just one more time; when the place you filled with so many memories, laughter and joy is now filled with moving boxes, dust piles and empty halls; when your body is no longer full of energy and health, but feels worn out and dragged down and when your thriving career that filled you with purpose and passion is suddenly ripped away, leaving you feeling directionless and hopeless, you may not know where to turn. As a woman, it is likely you will experience one of these stressful life events while simultaneously needing to carry on your other responsibilities of maintaining the household, paying bills, keeping food on the table and seemingly “doing it all” with a smile on your face.

Divorce, death of a loved one, moving, health concerns and job loss are the top five stressors someone can face. Stress is not unique to women, but as women, we wear many hats, often exasperating the amount of stress we endure. When we encounter a major life stressor, it is important we know how to take care of ourselves, as we often want to put others first and prolong our own healing process. With all these stressors, the common thread and theme is typically grief. With change comes loss. Often during these times of stress, we are grieving the loss of what was comfortable, safe and reliable. When a top five stressor hits a woman’s life, her world is rattled and her foundation is shaken.

I want to offer hope that things will get better. I want to share words that we are all grieving. I want to share some techniques that may offer some respite during these difficult times. These are three techniques to help alleviate stress during these times of grief:

one G R I E F P O I N T E X E R C I S E

We carry so much grief with us that transcends generations and experiences. Often, we are triggered in situations of loss and transitions of things we are not even consciously aware of. Often, we want to ignore our grief and make it go away. In this exercise, we acknowledge it, create space for it and touch the center of where grief manifests: our hearts.

• •

Along the sternum, over the heart, is one point that is more sensitive than others.

Find that point, gently touch it and allow yourself to feel and release the pain.

Now, come down four finger widths further from the thymus point (this is six finger widths from the collar bone/clavicle soft spot).

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• • • • • • •

Use your middle finger to feel for areas of tension on the breastbone. This is the grief point.

Apply gentle pressure to the grief point, close your eyes and breathe.

Allow yourself to feel the losses you’ve had, not to fight or resist them.

Enter into the heart, where grief is held. You may feel a softening or lightening of pain or tension.

Do not judge, seek, nor yearn. Simply pay attention.

Do this for a minute.

Take your hand away and give yourself a moment, then open your eyes.

two A D A P T O G E N S

Adaptogens help one deal with stress by increasing the capacity to cope and respond. Adaptogens are plants and extracts that provide support to adrenal function, therefore building endurance and decreasing fatigue that may be brought on by stress from major life events. Women sometimes don’t realize how high their stress levels are. Incorporating adaptogens into our nutrition and wellness can fight off illness when we are feeling run down and overwhelmed by grief and loss. Women specifically can endure increased health symptoms beginning with stress: fatigue, irritability, menstrual cycle distress, depression, pain, fibromyalgia, insomnia, anxiety, food addictions and digestive distress. Stress sets off a cascade of physical responses that affect immune function, our hormones, our cognitive function and, importantly, our internal clock, called our circadian rhythms. If these stressors persist, this leads to chronic illness. Here are a few adaptogens I recommend starting with to help alleviate stress: • Polarity Tea • Licorice • Fenugreek • Fennel • Rhodiola • Ashwagandha • Eleuthero

three K E E P T A L K I N G

Whether you lost your job, your marriage ended or a loved one has passed away, it is important we keep talking about it. We must move through our grief and talking about it can help. Women sometimes feel like a burden to others when sharing grievances and sadness with friends or family. It is likely that is not the case. Your supporters want to be there for you in times of stress. Here are three tips to help “talk about it” to help process the change: 20

Dedicate 20 minutes each day to actively acknowledge the loss and change. Give yourself a dedicated safe space and time to cry, vent, yell, etc.

Write. This can be in the form of journaling, quick bullet points, poetry, prose or any other form that helps you express your feelings in a space where they can be revisited and reflected upon later.

Talking out loud. Record yourself speaking your thoughts and feelings aloud or engage in a conversation with a loved one, whether in person or virtually.

There are many ways to heal and address change, grief and loss.

The most important part is that you do it. As women, we have lots of ambition, motivation and societal pressure to do it all.

The reality is, life has other plans. I want you to feel comfortable and supported that when one of these stressors happen, you have resources that will help you towards the path of healing.

If you are feeling particularly uneasy or the grief is unmanageable, Healthy Minds Therapy is here to assist. Portions of the information from this article are adapted from Dr. Leslie Korn’s Integrative Medicine Institute website: https://drlesliekorn.com

Lady

TURKISH COFFEE

NEW MENU brings authentic Turkish cuisine, bakery treats, and delicious Mediterranean sweets to Old Town, Alexandria!

A L Y C I A B U R A N T , MA, LPC, CMHIMP Alycia is the founder and owner of Healthy Minds Therapy, a

thriving group practice in Northern Virginia. Alycia is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over two decades of experience providing direct patient care to adults, adolescents, children and families. She is a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider as well as a Level 1 Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist. Alycia is also a Board Approved Clinical Supervisor for the state of Virginia.

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Every food culture tells a unique story.

Enjoy a fun culinary experience with a special Fall Tasting Menu. Choose from 3 or 4 courses.

Includes traditional Turkish coffee/tea.

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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Y O U T H AT H L E T E O F T H E M O N T H

Mia Becerra Nunez story by L I E S E L S C H M I DT | photography courtesy of D 1 T R A I N I N G A L E X A N D R I A

Basketball is a sport that requires strength, agility, dynamic power and strategic thinking. For Mia Becerra Nunez, strategic thinking and the desire to improve what she physically brings to the game are what brought her to D1 Training earlier this year.

The 13-year-old attends eighth grade at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, VA, where she maintains an A average. As dedicated a student as she is, Nunez does have her favorites. “I love civics, Spanish and geometry,” she says.

Her smarts off the court translate into her game through her approach to training. “I got injured playing basketball and after all of the rehab to recover from my injury, I wanted to strengthen my muscles so that I wouldn't get injured again,” she says.

Naturally, training under the guidance and expertise of the professionals at D1 gives her the opportunity to strengthen her muscles in ways that avoid injuries and is both more intentional and targeted. Understanding her goals and working towards achieving those objectives, Nunez’s training regimen at D1 focuses on weight training, flexibility and endurance.

The results she sees in her games and practices are a confirmation that these last months of training at D1 have been effective. “I started going to D1 because I want[ed] to get stronger, quicker, 23

more agile and more athletic,” she says. “Since I started there, I've noticed that I’m stronger and I don't get tired as easily. I can play longer now, so that has made me a stronger player for myself and for my team. I enjoy playing the sport I love and now, I am playing it at a different level.”

My training has given me confidence in what I can do when I’m playing basketball as well as other areas of my life.

Off the court, Nunez has seen changes in other things, as well.

“My training has given me confidence in what I can do when I’m playing basketball as well as other areas of my life,” she observes.

In her spare time, Nunez likes to crochet, spend time with her chihuahua and play with her niece.

To learn more about D1 Training Alexandria, please visit www.d1training.com/alexandria.

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

Marine Corps Veteran turned Yoga Instructor, Justin Blazejewski, founded VETOGA to provide yoga, meditation, wellness retreats and healing arts to military, veterans, their families, and communities.

vetoga.org | @vetogadc

OCTOBER IS

CAR CARE MONTH October is Fall Car Care Month and the perfect time to prepare your car for hazardous winter conditions.

If you’ve been putting off a repair or maintenance service, now is the time to stop by or make an appointment!

10% OFF

Take 10% OFF any repair or maintenance.

Limit $100 discount. Cannot combine with any other offer or promooon.

Expires 10/31/23

yatesautomoove.com | (703) 683-5300 317 E Braddock Rd. 24

THE CHAMBER ALX GOLF CLASSIC

Photography by Lucia Smith The Chamber ALX Golf Classic was recently presented by MGM National Harbor. Teams gathered to enjoy lunch at the Springfield Golf & Country Club's club house followed by a shotgun start to the scramble style tournment. Traveling the course, players had the opportunity to meet with sponsors, play games and participate in mini-comptitions. After hours of play, everyone met back up at the club house for the 19th hole reception, seated dinner and raffle.

To learn more about The Chamber ALX and all Signature Events, visit www.thechamberalx.com.

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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Parkour • Tricking + Freerunning Aerial Silks • Gymnastics • Yoga Dance • Circus Skills • More!

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

A L X I M PA C T

FROM CRADLE TO CAREER story by DAW N K L AVO N | photography courtesy of T H E T W I G

One of the best kept secrets in Alexandria is the work of one of its most active groups. Over 2,000 children and families utilize services from the Campagna Center (TCC) daily, making it one of Alexandria’s leading non-profit organizations.

With a mission to make a measurable difference in the lives of children and families, the long-standing organization is meticulous in its methods. The group tracks the progress of its numerous programs, with impressive numbers to back up their successes.

The group strives to equip children and families with helpful tools to improve their education and futures. TCC has made significant contributions to the community by offering invaluable resources to children and adults.

Campagna Middle School Programs

TCC offers extraordinary programs for middle school students, including after school enrichment opportunities, weekend events and spring or summer camps. College preparatory resources are available, and students can participate in The Campagna Center’s Building Better Futures Program. There, they can consider compelling post-secondary pathways through college visits.

“The Campagna Center is a really unique place here in Alexandria,” says TCC President and CEO, Dr. Tammy Mann, in a video on the website.

“Our middle and high school programs are meeting a need in the Alexandria community,” says Randy Gore, Senior Director of Out of School Time Programs at the Campagna Center. “There are quite a few programs at the elementary level, but the Campagna Center is unique in that we’re one of the organizations in the city that’s rising to meet the unmet need with children and youth— especially at the middle and high school level.”

The organization was founded in 1945 when a group of local women organized the Campagna Center, then known as the Alexandria Branch of the YWCA. At that time in Alexandria, the program was the only place where women of all ages, regardless of race or creed, could gather for social activities that promoted “leadership, morale and inspiration,” according to TCC’s website.

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TCC’s Performing Arts Academy offers voice, acting and dance lessons, with the opportunity to perform in a theatrical production. “[Students] take classes multiple days a week, as well as on the weekends, in private voice lessons, acting; they take classes in technical theater, so they’re learning things such as prop making and stage design,” says Gore. “They also take lessons in modern jazz dance and musical theater dance.”

Each year, TCC holds four to five productions—including dance productions and large musical theater showcases—in which students can perform and display their skills.

“We’re leveling the playing field for students across economic barriers. We’re not charging middle school students for the services; they just have to join,” Gore said.

TCC’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy offers a maker lab, robotics lab and visual arts studio, as well as the chance to compete on a robotics team.

“It gives [students] a chance to come alongside peers and learn in a group,” says Gore. “We always tell students, you don’t have to feel like you’ve mastered something in STEM to participate in our enrichment classes or on one of our teams.”

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

STEM Academy students may participate in the First Lego League Robotics Team, developed in partnership with Virginia Tech University.

“It’s really a learning exploratory approach,” Gore says. “We have classes in Lego robotics, 3D printing, classes in things such as print making and user technology. We’re always looking for new technology that we can introduce [the kids] to.”

Building Better Futures

Building Better Futures is a Campagna Center program focused on equipping middle and high school students to prepare them for success. Valuable college prep information is provided as part of a variety of services to students considering next steps, college applications, as well as resume and cover letter writing.

“We are trying to get these students on a college career track before they get to high school—working with them incrementally—providing services to these students and their families to get them on a track to start thinking about what’s next,” Gore says.

In order to achieve academic success, tutoring support and incentives are available to middle and high school students.

“By the time [students] get to high school, we have seminars happening every month and college tours happening just about every month,” Gore says. “It’s not just college; [students] look at trade schools, military schools, things like that.”

- K AT R I N A F O E L S C H E

New Neighbors Program

D I R E C T O R O F Y O U T H L I T E R A C Y A N D A D U LT L A N G U A G E P R O G R A M

TCC New Neighbors reaches out to immigrants and refugees 30

with programs for English-language learners, virtually and inperson. The English classes offered are meant to aid those from other countries who now live in Northern Virginia and help families become self-sufficient.

“The idea really is to provide them with support and a community within the community of Alexandria,” says Katrina Foelsche, Director of Youth Literacy and Adult Language Program.

Foelsche says students may sign up each semester, which lasts 12 to 14 weeks, and will attend classes three times a week for two hours at a time. So far this fall, 75 students are registered for the program.

Eight levels of classes are offered. Last spring, there were 29 home countries represented in the programs.

“When we talk about services, there are other kinds of enrichment programs like job readiness, citizenship classes and family literacy events,” she says.

Foelsche says there often is overlap between services utilized, as new residents may register for Head Start or the reading programs for children through TCC, in addition to the New Neighbors Program.

“Really from birth to adulthood, we’re serving entire families,” Foelsche says.

Volunteers are essential to running the program. Many volunteers say it’s as gratifying for them as it is the students.

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“We’ve had good success and I’m very happy I’ve done it,” says New Neighbors volunteer teacher, John E. Lennon, on a video on TCC's website. “All of the students in there really are an inspiration for me.”

Ways to Help

Friends of Campagna is a volunteer group for those wishing to serve the non-profit organization. Members must serve at least one day annually. Registration involves donating $75 annually—a tax-deductible donation. More information can be found online at https://www.campagnacenter.org/volunteer. TCC also accepts support in the form of cash, estate gifts and bequests, stock, corporate gifts, in-kind donations and gifts made through the United Way and CFC.

The Work Continues

TCC will carry on, reaching out to inspire, educate and unite families of Alexandria. Committed staff members like Gore, who has served at the non-profit for over 17 years, find the community work supremely gratifying.

thank you,

alexandria!

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE YOUR ‘STORYTELLER.’

“That’s what’s kept me here so long—being able to know that I am giving back to my community, to the community that my family lives in,” he says. “I’m making a real impact and I’m able to see tangible results.”

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

DRINK PINK ON THE PATIO

Photography submitted by Martha Carucci + Allison Priebe Last month, Hummingbird Bar + Kitchen hosted a fundraiser for the National Breast Center Foundation. Drink Pink on the Patio featured pink libations, such as sparkling rosé wines and, craft cocktails, and light bites. ‘Mary’s Angel Wings’ were on display for photos, and donations were accepted.

To learn more, please visit www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org.

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FR O N T: J O I DR E A MS, GAYLE PALMER, ROXANA G UERRA BACK : A M Y E GGE R S , DE LI A S U LLIVAN, ALESEIA SAUND ERS + MART HA CARUCC I 34 34

STO R I E S BY LI E S E L S C H MIDT | PHOTOG RAPHY BY JONAT HAN T HORPE S PE C I A L TH ANKS TO BOWLERO ARLINGTON

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

Joi

Dreams

“ LIFE POST- CA N C E R IS A N E W B E G I N N I N G . I T I S M Y O P P O RT U N I T Y TO E N JOY EV ERY ASPEC T O F T H IS G IF T CA L L E D L I F E . I LOV E T H AT I A M H E A LT H Y A N D ALI VE A ND THAT I A M S U RRO U N D E D BY P E O P L E T H AT LOV E A N D S E E M E . G O D GOT M E H E RE A N D I A M S O T H A N KF U L F O R T H AT.” When she was given the news that she was cancer free in 2020, Joi Dreams just had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.

But, as hopeful and life-giving as those words were, Dreams still had a seed of doubt.

Three years after hearing those words, she is, indeed, cancer free and actively advocating for other women to get exams and not to be afraid. “I was and still am just grateful to be cancer free, to have an amazing group of friends that are more like family and to keep doing what I love,” says Dreams, who owns Joi Dreams Salon in Alexandria. “Prayer and fasting were both a huge part of my recovery. I had a prayer partner that would call me to encourage and speak words of life over me weekly. I learned to allow others to help.

People always have told me I am strong, but I never took the time to think about what that meant or if I actually was strong. After my diagnosis and recovery, I have been able to see the grace and strength God has given me. Cancer was a chapter in my life that God got me through, hopefully being better for myself and others.

“The report from the tissue samples came about a month after my surgery, after I’d already been told I was cancer free,” she says.

“Anxiety is a real thing after a cancer diagnosis, regardless of what you must do procedure-wise. You are ecstatic to know you are cancer free, but that damn anxiety doesn’t allow you to enjoy and rest in it for too long. Every pain, pimple or bump, unusual period or anything that seems slightly suspicious can cause the fear to come back. Thankfully, this subsides.”

Dreams remembers vividly the November day she was diagnosed in 2020. “I was eating lunch with my son upstairs from my salon and my cellphone rang,” she says. “I saw it was the office where I have been getting mammograms for six years and when I answered, the woman on the phone said, ‘Your results are back. You have cancer.’ First, I was numb. I listened to all her instructions, but heard nothing, and I hung up the phone not knowing what to feel. I walked downstairs to start working on a friend who is also a client. As I started her relaxer, it hit me—I have cancer! My knees buckled and I began to cry.”

“My life has always been about doing my best to be helpful to my kids, family, friends and whomever seems like they need help,” she continues. “I never thought about it. I needed help. I see me now.

It is still a work in progress, figuring out how to do for myself the way I do for others, but I see myself now and [I see] that I have to take time for self-care."

Living her life now, Dreams sees how things have changed for her over the past few years. “Life post-cancer is a new beginning,” she says. “It is my opportunity to enjoy every aspect of this gift called life. I love that I am healthy and alive and that I am surrounded by people that love and see me. God got me here and I am so thankful for that.”

Dreams’s friends and her faith saved her in that moment. She realized she had the strength to face the incredible battle before her. And so she did, with surgery to remove the tissue where the cancer cells—ductal carcinoma in situ—had been found.

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Sister strong. Those are two words that Delia Sullivan heard over and over during a paddleboard race she’d entered in 2014 at her brother’s encouragement, after her cancer treatments had ended. “Bald and not feeling very strong, I did it together with my brother as he cheered me on the whole two miles,” Sullivan recalls. “Now, I look forward to the race each year as a reminder cancer is behind me.”

Sullivan received her diagnosis in June of 2013, three days before her daughter Annie’s 15th birthday, at the age of 49.

Several months before, her annual mammogram detected calcifications, prompting a follow-up appointment scheduled six months later. A self-exam in May revealed a lump, so she decided to have it examined. She was given the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma ductal situ - stage 2.

“When I heard those words, ‘It’s not what we were hoping for,’ from the doctor, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions and uncertainty,” Sullivan says. “It was recommended that I undergo a biopsy and I received a call to come into the office urgently just three days later. I happened to be in Delaware and drove the three hours to the doctor's office thinking, ‘This is the first day of the rest of my life.’”

Over the next months, Sullivan underwent lumpectomy surgery to remove the tumor that ultimately led her to the decision for a double mastectomy. After a three-month course of chemotherapy, she began breast reconstruction in January of 2014.

A decade later, Sullivan has been living the life of a survivor—stronger and more fully—though she might use another word to describe herself. “Surviving is about enduring and persevering through challenges,” she says.

“However, being a thriver goes beyond that; it's about living passionately and purposefully. I would call myself both."

Part of thriving is not just living for herself, but living for others. “It means using my voice to inspire and support others who are recently diagnosed with breast cancer,” she goes on. “I find fulfillment in sharing the tools and practices that have enriched my life, such as yoga, connecting with nature and nourishing food. It's about turning adversity into an opportunity to make a positive impact and live life to the fullest.”

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From her current perspective, Sullivan sees the ways her life is different now than it might have been and the lessons it taught her. “I learned the importance of prioritizing myself during that challenging time,” she says. “I also granted myself permission to focus on my well-being, understanding that taking care of myself was not selfish, but necessary for my journey to recovery. These transformative lessons, prioritizing self-care, using my voice and giving back meaningfully, are integral aspects of how I now live my life.

I might not have learned these invaluable skills and perspectives without the challenges I faced during this battle.”

Sullivan devotes herself to others fighting the battle and has been a member of the Walk to Bust Cancer committee since 2016. She has contributed a chapter to a women’s anthology due out in January of 2024, in which she shares her story, connects with others and hopes to inspire positivity and resilience in those facing challenges.

She also continues to teach gentle and restorative yoga after 18 years and is passionate about promoting body awareness and fostering a positive mindbody connection. Additionally, Sullivan co-facilitates a monthly Women's Wisdom Circle in Alexandria, leads local day retreats, offers yoga instruction and leads women's circles at non-profit organizations in her community.

She is looking forward to embracing a new season of life as she turns 60 in December.

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

Roxana Guerra may never hear the words “cancer free,” but she’s living in the moment—every moment—as someone who will always be in treatment to stay free of active disease.

Guerra was first diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2015, with another diagnosis in February of 2016 with ERPR+HER2-LCIS stage 3C. Later that year, she was restaged to metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

“When I first heard that I had breast cancer, I was in disbelief,” says Guerra, who was 41 at the time of her diagnosis. “Back then, I thought it was a genetics issue. Since I did not have a history in my family of someone with breast cancer, I never expected to hear those words spoken to me. It did not sink in right away that that was what I was diagnosed with.”

After her diagnosis, Guerra went through eight cycles of AC-Taxol chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy. In November of 2016, after being restaged to MBC, she decided to have an oophorectomy to have her ovaries removed—which revealed the presence of a three-centimeter malignant tumor on her left ovary. She has been taking Ibrance along with Anastrozole since July 2017. Since removing her ovaries, she has been with no evidence of active disease for almost seven years.

Guerra

“While I am not cancer free, the fact that I have no evidence of active disease means I will be in treatment forever,” Guerra says. “Every six months when I get my scans and get results of no evidence of active disease, that is more time. Every day is a blessing and a gift. I get to be present in my loved ones’ lives, especially my son's. So I celebrate life every day ... I see my life in a different set of lenses now that I am going through this battle.”

She goes on, “I appreciate the opportunity of waking up every day to continue this fight. I try not to stress about things as much as I used to prior to my disease. It's not worth it at the end. I try to keep smiling as much as I can and keep going.”

"E V E RY DAY I S A BLE SSI N G A N D A G IF T. I GE T TO BE P R E SE N T I N M Y LOVED O N E S’ LI V E S, E SP E C I A LLY M Y S O N' S . S O I C E LE BR AT E LI F E E V E RY DAY ... I S EE MY LI F E I N A DI F F E R E N T SE T O F LENS ES NOW T H AT I A M GO I N G T H R O U GH T HIS B AT T L E.” Knowing the gift that she has been given to live—to thrive—each day that she has, Guerra feels the deep need to give others the blessing of what she has learned. “I have dedicated myself to breast cancer advocacy for Spanishspeaking women and men in my community throughout the DMV,” she says. “I attend a support group at Nueva Vida, [a] non-profit organization that serves Spanishspeaking women with cancer in the DMV, where I try to be their voice as a Spanish-speaking woman myself.”

She is also an alumni with LBBC's Hear My Voice program, 2021. “My area of expertise is in emotional support and peer referral to breast cancer resources available in Spanish as well as English,” Guerra notes. “I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with my community. My personal experience living with breast cancer is the reason I decided to not only advocate for myself, but for my Spanish-speaking community.”

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Naturally, being in this place—and standing in it for the second time—has affected Palmer’s outlook on life. “I’ve been reflective and a bit emotional,” she says.

“My world has grown by leaps and bounds since my last ‘dance’ with cancer. So many new grandchildren— five added, so I now have 10! I think about my family constantly. I can’t believe all the wonderful things that surround me. I notice everything a little differently.

Sometimes, my head actually spins in amazement. All the kind words that people have spoken to me, the support of my wonderful friends, my doting family and a loving husband—they all make me feel safe.

Cancer is wicked, but I’m lucky right now. I’m very grateful.”

Gayle

Palmer

Palmer and her husband moved to Old Town in 2019, when she also became part of the Boxwood Old Town family. Having met Martha Carucci from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Palmer got an appointment with a doctor within a week of finding a lump in her breasts. When cancer was confirmed in October of 2022, Palmer was naturally shocked. Her first bout with cancer resulted in a mastectomy, so the diagnosis was unexpected. Once again, she was faced with chemo—this time, with the addition of radiation.

By June of 2023, she had completed both.

“I am so thankful for these new pills they have me on,” Palmer says. “They almost make me feel normal again, plus my hair is coming back!"

I KN E W T H AT C H E M O A N D RAD IAT IO N WO U LD N OT KI LL M E . T H E Y W ERE While Gayle Palmer may not be in remission and still hasn’t heard the words that she is cancer-free, she is staying positive that she’s won this round of the battle. She’s thriving in the face of the challenge.

“I tolerated all treatments well and I won’t see the doctor until November,” says Palmer, who was first diagnosed with HR2 negative breast cancer in 2013 and then again in 2022. “A clear sign that there might be something wrong is that you may be slow to bounce back after chemo, which requires six weeks of recovery and radiation, [which] typically [needs] three weeks of recovery. If you feel energetic, you are keeping your routines and sleeping and eating well, they consider that a good sign that the treatments were successful. So, I’d say I am in very good shape. I feel almost 100 percent. I’m taking a chemo pill, which is an anti-estrogen pill daily, and will for at least seven years. This is great progress, and I’m thankful that I’m done.”

"I NOTICE EVERYTHING A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. SOMETIMES, MY HEAD ACTUALLY SPINS IN AMAZEMENT. ALL THE KIND WORD S THAT PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN TO ME, THE SUPPORT OF MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS, MY DOTING FAMILY AND A LOVING HUSBA ND—THEY ALL MAKE ME FEEL SAFE. CANCER IS WICKED, BUT I’M LUCKY RIGHT NOW. I’M VERY GRATEFUL.” 39

SI M P LY GO I N G TO SLOW M E D OW N...

GO D DR AGGE D M E TO T H E F INIS H L INE. “When I received my diagnosis, I knew that chemo and radiation would not kill me,” she goes on. “They were simply going to slow me down. This time, I knew what to do: good food, sleep, water, family and friends.

And God dragged me through the finish line. My husband and my children were my cheerleaders, and my ten grandchildren inspired me, as well. There are so many things left to do with my family, and that was a huge incentive. Knowing you have battled cancer several times gives you [a] different perspective. I’m not as rushed, and I don’t get as anxious as I had been in the past. I’m not unrealistic that this may pop up again, but I am so thankful that I live now and not 20 years ago. Medicine is getting better, and physicians have so many new treatments options to tailor to different cancer needs. It is so important to be your own advocate for your health. Mammograms are critical, and we must step forward together to be good to ourselves. We deserve it!”

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

Fortunately, Eggers’s initial prognosis was that her cancer was treatable because of its early stage; but more exams were needed.

“Always more exams and scans,” she recalls. “I had ultrasounds, MRIs, a PET scan, dexascans and I'm sure I'm forgetting some— the appointments and worrying and wondering never seemed like they'd end. Having cancer is a full-time job.”

Indeed, it was a full-time job, as over the next months, Eggers spent what seemed like every waking moment fighting. “I had my first surgery on May 4, 2022,” she says. “I had a central lumpectomy and nine of my lymph nodes removed for biopsy. It was determined that the margins were not clean, so I had to have a second surgery in June, followed by a third in July to install my port for chemotherapy.

Two of the nine lymph nodes were malignant, so I opted to receive four months of chemotherapy. I then received radiation treatments from November until the end of December 2022.”

Initially, the news that Eggers was cancer-free did not reassure her.

Because it spread to her lymph nodes, she did not believe she was in the clear. She was concerned that there was still disease on a microlevel. But now that she knows, in her heart, that she is truly free of cancer, she has embraced her life as a survivor.

“Having gone through this changes your perspective on nearly everything,” says Eggers. “I live a much more positive life, I don't take things too seriously, I avoid drama and dramatic people at all costs and I take more time for myself and to spend time with my family.”

Eggers credits her husband, son and her support system with giving her the strength she needed to fight. “I received nearly 100 scarves from friends and family all over the country and I would post a ‘scarf of the day’ picture on social media, thanking the person who gave me that specific scarf,” Eggers recalls.

The word “survivor” means something different to everyone. To Eggers, it feels like the punctuation to a question that could have ended quite differently. “It's still surreal that it even happened to begin with,” she says. “But I put my mind to the fact that I would survive. Now, my mission is to help those less fortunate going through this same ordeal, whether it's due to language barriers, financial obstacles or not having a social or emotional support system."

“I do feel like I lost a year of my life,” she goes on to admit. “In retrospect, though, I wouldn't have had time to ‘stop and smell the roses.’ I’m in real estate, so I still like to hustle, but I now actually take breaks and enjoy my surroundings and try to live in the moment.

When Amy Sills Eggers got the news that she was cancer-free, she gathered all of her medical papers and burned them in a bonfire to symbolize the end of the battle and the beginning of her future.

As the flames engulfed the papers, all of the months of fear and uncertainty became smoke and ashes.

Life now looks different for Eggers than it did pre-cancer—and she’s grown as a person. “After having gone through this, I feel that I have extreme empathy for anyone going through anything tough,” she says. “We're all in this together and need to give each other a leg-up sometimes. I am now a huge believer in the power of positive thinking and hope that my message and story can help even just one person.”

Eggers’s diagnosis came on April 1, 2022, on the heels of a routine mammogram, a scan that showed results needing further confirmation with an ultrasound and biopsies. After all of the tests were run, she was looking at stage 1B HER2-Ductal Carcinoma.

“I remember feeling disbelief and wondering if this was going to be treatable,” Eggers says. “Was I going to die? My nine-year-old son and husband were all I could think about.”

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Saunders A new year was only hours away from starting when Aleseia Saunders received the news that she was cancer-free on December 31, 2014. “It was absolutely the best news I could receive on New Year’s Eve,” she says. “I was entering the new year with an actual new chapter in my life. I could focus on myself and my eight-monthold and actually begin to be an engaged mother. All I wanted to do was celebrate with my family and friends! My ‘village’ was very important during that time.”

Indeed, it was, because, as Saunders went through the rigors of aggressive treatments to battle her cancer, she fought not only for her life, but for the life of the baby girl she was carrying. “Prior to being diagnosed in August of 2013, I felt a lump in my right breast but shrugged it off as being a cyst,” Saunders explains. “During that same time, I discovered that I was pregnant with my first child. I went to the OB/GYN to confirm my pregnancy and he conducted a breast exam while I was in the office. He decided it was best for me to get an immediate biopsy at a nearby hospital. A week later, I received the call that I had breast cancer.”

“When I received the diagnosis, I immediately fell to the floor crying,” she recalls. “All I could think about was my baby growing inside and if I was going to die.”

Over the next year, Saunders rode a rollercoaster of emotions as she fought against her stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma. She was even advised to terminate the pregnancy and begin aggressive treatment due to her age and lack of family history. Ultimately, Saunders sought a second opinion and underwent genomic testing, which revealed the cancer to be contained within the tumor with 41

a low risk of spreading. It was determined that she could continue her pregnancy and that a lumpectomy, radiation and hormonal therapy were the most effective treatment options, so Saunders underwent surgery and later received 39 rounds of radiation— the latter occurring within the first two months of delivering her daughter. “I was extremely fatigued and sore from the radiation, which made it difficult to care for a newborn,” she says.

She also began three years of hormonal therapy, which caused mood swings, cognitive issues, night sweats and hot flashes—all while coming off pregnancy hormones. “On top of that, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression,” she says. “It was an extremely tough time.”

As tough as it was, Saunders was never alone. “My drive, my faith and my village got me through my battle,” she says. “I was determined to live for my daughter. I also had so many people pray for me, pray over me and continuously check on me. I even had an aunt come live with me for a couple of months to help with my newborn while I underwent radiation.”

A decade after hearing those devastating words, Saunders has defeated a formidable foe and is showing her children—now numbering three—what being a survivor means. “It means that I’m unstoppable and fearless,” she contends. “I feel that my level of resiliency is unmeasurable and I can conquer anything. I live my life with a purpose now instead of just existing. I live in the moment and prioritize myself because this entire battle has shown me that today isn’t promised.”

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

VIP SUPERDAD

Jason Edwards story by L I E S E L S C H M I DT

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Jason Edwards has been a father for the better apart of two decades.

A year and a half ago, after the loss of his wife, Mary (pictured left), he became a single father.

Hearing him speak of Mary and the kind of mother she was, it’s clear that she has inspired him to not only be every bit the father she would want him to be, but also to be the best human possible— even under the most adverse circumstances. Hers was an ability to always aim to fly above the impossible, to recognize what is important in life—and she instilled that in her family, as well as the knowledge that every spirit is special, and one should never be overcome by the challenges they face.

“Mary was the kind of person that believed that it was more important to have a smile on your face and be happy than to have wealth or social status,” Jason says. “She lived that every day. She was the skater mom for our daughter Dakota, she was the Scout mom and the baseball mom for our son Hunter—and never a moment of drama with any of it. She always had a smile, no matter what!

“When we first had our kids, we struggled financially. There were a lot of seemingly stressful times over money, school, business, the house…” he goes on. “Mary was always so calm and relaxed about everything, and there was a very synergistic balance between us.

What one needed, the other had. It helped us get through so much together. It helped us get through so much together. Because of that, I now try to focus more on my kids’ happiness and sense of family. Mary and I shared the belief in importance of family and faith.”

"There is a strength about them that always amazes me. Sometimes I think that their faith and emotional strength are stronger than mine.”

Naturally, now that Jason is raising their two teenagers on his own, his involvement in the day-to-day has deepened. “I try to make sure that they have things Mary would have been on top of,” Jason says.

“I know I can never replace her love for them or take away their feeling of loss for her, so I try—not always successfully—to do as much as I can to provide the things she would have, emotionally and spiritually. There are certain things that a mother and a father each provide for their children, and they’re not always interchangeable.

The hardest parts for me are the times that the kids just wish they had their mom. They miss her, and there's nothing you can do for them to take that pain away or fill that void. I'm so very proud of them for the way they have come to cope without having their mom.

There is a strength about them that always amazes me. Sometimes I think that their faith and emotional strength are stronger than mine.”

Strength is a running theme in this family.

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Jason photographed with daughter, Dakota, and Martha Carucci, Director of the National Breast Center Foundation, in front of Mary's Angel Wings.

Almost a decade ago, the Edwards's family was rocked by news that Mary had breast cancer shortly before her 50th birthday. “I always think back to that moment and remember how fast life changed,” he says.

Mary later joined the committee for the National Breast Center Foundation’s (NBCF) Walk to Bust Cancer. A few years later, she had an inspired idea: to paint massive wings on a set of panels.

“When she told me about it, I was puzzled,” Jason admits. “Then when I got home and saw this amazing creation, I was in awe. Mary explained to me later that morning, standing in front of the wings and admiring her work, ‘The purpose was to provide something uplifting for everyone—and in a big way. This is how I feel about the Foundation.’”

Now, what Jason sees when he looks at those wings—which have become part of the walk in tribute to Mary—is a reflection of his wife. “I see her childlike, ear-to-ear smile, standing in front of the wings,” he says. “It’s the smile she had before that day that changed [her] life, that relaxed and happy face that she had before she was diagnosed with cancer. I look at the detail and marvel at how this was created in such a short time. I can’t help but think that there was a higher power at work here. Her inspiration was way beyond my comprehension at that point."

Those wings mean even more now than ever. “Martha Carrucci of the NBCF adopted the wings as their symbol for the walk,” he continues. “It helps all of us keep her spirit alive and remember her for the courageous and beautiful spirit that she was and still is. She was flying above cancer. She always kept fighting and each time she had bad news, she would regroup and fly above. Hopefully, her story will inspire others to fight—and still others to help support the fight.”

If you are interested in learning more about Mary's Angel Wings and the National Breast Center Foundation, please visit them at www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

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Getting a Few Things Off Their Chest THE DR. JOHN + LIZA MARSHALL STORY story by DAW N K L AVO N

Life threw the Marshalls a curveball. In 2006 at the age of 43, Liza was diagnosed with high-risk breast cancer. Her husband John, a Georgetown University medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers, was forced to look at cancer from a whole new perspective.

The Arlington-based couple's experience resulted in their book, Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer.

The deeply personal book walks readers through Liza’s treatment and the complex decisions the couple made about her health, from mastectomy to chemotherapy, radiation and finally, the elective removal of her other breast.

“We really brought different perspectives to it—the caregiver, the physician, the patient, the clinical trial, the advocate—all of those pieces,” John says.

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As for Liza’s part, she shared about the uncertainty and shock that came from being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, the most deadly form of the disease, whose survival rate at the time was just 50% percent.

“It’s disbelief—I think particularly at a young age, it just doesn’t seem as if that could be right,” she says. “I was incredibly lucky that I had somebody ( John) that already had his oxygen mask on.”

The book came about after an article from a local magazine was published about the couple in 2013. A friend encouraged them to collaboratively chronicle their experiences in a book to benefit others going through the ordeal of cancer. The book took the couple six years to find the right time to write.

“We needed the head space and the distance,” John says. “We went to separate corners and didn’t tell the other what we were writing.”

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

“The cancer itself brought us back together.

We were already in parallel play back then— the cancer said ‘nope, you’re back together.'"

- DR. JOHN MARSHALL

After writing their own perspectives, the Marshalls collaborated, piecing together the book.

“The cancer itself brought us back together,” says John. “We were already in parallel play back then—the cancer said ‘nope, you’re back together.'"

“We did view it as a joint project,” Liza says.

Up until that time, John had been outspoken in his resentment and envy of the dominance of breast cancer advocacy and research over other cancer specialties.

Not only did Off Our Chests delve into Liza’s journey with breast cancer, but also how John’s perspective treating his own cancer patients changed.

“They figured out how to get it through advocacy, through savvy marketing and they understood the importance of that fundraising,” he says. “That’s really what I was more jealous of, of that dominance.”

“I could no longer be very objective,” he said, and began giving out his email address and cell phone number to patients.

He also began sharing his ‘vote’ on what treatment should be while allowing patients and families to have a vote as well. At Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center, where Marshall worked, he also attempted to build infrastructure that could improve the patient experience. Marshall started giving much more credence to caregivers who accompanied patients to appointments.

WORDS OF WISDOM Nonetheless, the couple advises cancer patients who have just been diagnosed.

“After the experience, I sort of saw them as the most important person in the room,” he says. Caregivers, after all, would keep on top of prescriptions, upcoming appointments and other vital details.

“Say yes to people when they offer to help,” says Liza. “A lot of us don’t want to be a burden on people—but everybody wants to jump in and do something for you.”

FINDING THE HUMOR

Both Marshalls also stress the importance of obtaining a second opinion for a cancer diagnosis, noting it could validate or confirm what doctors already believe, or it may present another approach.

The Marshalls have a witty take on their experience, which may come from being cancer free for 17 years.

Also, finding an outlet to talk is another suggestion from the Marshalls.

“Our cocktail party joke is, ‘1st wife, 5th set of breasts,’” John says, lightheartedly reflecting on Liza’s multiple surgeries over the years.

The couple wholeheartedly reflects on lessons learned from their cancer experience, noting it came at a time when John was busy with his career and Liza, a former attorney, was all in as a homemaker.

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“Women talk to each other about it; men go to their basement and worry. From a man’s perspective, there are big gender differences on how we manage cancer,” John says. “It affects you, so what kind of help do you get? There’s advocacy groups, there’s [therapists], there’s church, there’s exercise, there’s so many decisions. Recognize the emotional impact as well as the physical.”

Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer has been well received, winning 10 literary awards, John notes.

"Off Our Chests offers an unusually intimate and revealing glimpse into the reality of dealing with a cancer diagnosis,” writes journalist Katie Couric on the book’s website. “At once deeply personal and bracingly universal, this book can offer cancer patients and healthcare workers alike the chance to meet one of life's most devastating situations with a rare sense of mastery and, yes, even hope."

Other notable locals agree.

"This book is a must-read for anyone going through cancer of whatever kind,” wrote Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera on the book’s website. “As with so many, I was blindsided by my cancer diagnosis. I felt lost on an unfamiliar field, facing an intimidating foe. Off Our Chests is a captivating and informative playbook for anyone thrown into the cancer game, but it is also a candid story about one couple's experiences with cancer which strongly resonated with me and my own recent cancer journey."

For now, the Marshalls continue to lend support and advice to those walking through cancer and believe their book can be a positive resource.

“It was good therapy for sure to do it and we’re hoping it's helpful to others,” John says.

CONTINUE READING

an intimate glimpse into the world of cancer... ...this book can offer cancer patients and healthcare workers alike the chance to meet one of life’s most devastating situations with a rare sense of mastery and, yes, even hope.

- KATIE COURIC

available at

w  h l e, J o h n & Liz a 47

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

OR AT OFFOURCHESTSBOOK.COM

HOPE CONNECTIONS One way in which the Marshalls continue to support cancer patients is through their work with Hope Connections for Cancer Support. Hope Connections provides professionally led programs, in person and virtually, throughout the greater Washington area and beyond to help people with cancer and their caregivers deal with the emotional and physical impacts of cancer.

All programs are provided free of charge. Liza was a founding member and is a longstanding volunteer for the organization. John serves on the Medical Advisory Board and is actively involved in their programming.

Hope Connections serves 4,000 people a year through programs such as disease-specific, caregiver, bereavement and general support groups, yoga and Pilates classes, social programs and a lovely boutique of gently used items run by current and former participants.

For more information, please visit www.hopeconnectionsforcancer.org.

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

FOOD + DRINK

A CULINARY adventure

ZUKI MOON A Women-Driven, Japanes/Filinpino Concept Breathes New Life into former Del Ray Restaurant STORY BY DANIEL WHARAM, ZUKI MOON OWNER

Meshelle Armstrong, of the Eat Good Food Group, which included the highly acclaimed Restaurants EVE, Kaliwa on the Wharf and Hummingbird Bar and Kitchen, has joined forces with Stacey Wharam, Operations Director of hotspots, Fontaine Café and Crêperie, Sonoma Cellars, and Grape & Bean Rosemont, to create an exciting new restaurant concept. The duo will be transforming owner, Daniel Wharam's former Del Ray Japanese spot, Kaizan, into a fun dynamic Filipino/ Japanese restaurant.

Zuki Moon, invites you to embark on a culinary adventure, as Armstrong and Wharam bring beloved Gastrobar food from Japan and the Philippines. Armstrong, a native Filipino and contributor to We Cook Filipino, a cookbook presenting food as something central to Filipino culture says “Our vibrant menu and craft cocktails stem for our favorite, culinary travels and adventures from street foods stalls to the vibrant, colorful, Asian markets that capture the essence of these rich culinary traditions."

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“Our vibrant menu and craft cocktails stem for our favorite, culinary travels and adventures from street foods stalls to the vibrant, colorful, Asian markets that capture the essence of these rich culinary traditions."

- MESHELLE ARMSTRONG

Guests can indulge in a diverse range of offerings, from Yakiniku assorted skewers with a Calamansi Ginger Aioli, to Bone-in Pork Chop Ramen, classic Filipino lumpia, and the bold and savory chicken adobo marinated with Kane vinegar peppercorns and Bayleaf.

To complement the flavors of the cuisine, Zuki Moon launches a bar program headed by Chef and Mixologist Aung (Kelvin) Pyaesone.

Drawing inspiration from his Southeast Asian heritage, Aung creates visually stunning cocktails using high-quality ingredients. From his Kimchi Bloody Mary to Luscious Blossom, guests can expect an innovative drinks menu.

Zuki Moon will opened its doors the first week of October, offering a preview menu for eager diners. The full menu, curated by Chef Julie Cortes, of Hiraya and formerly of the Michelin Bib Gourmand Kaliwa, will be launching soon, promising even more culinary delights.

NOWOPEN OPEN NOW EMBARK ON A CULINARY ADVENTURE AS WE BRING YOU BELOVED GASTRO BAR FOOD FROM JAPAN, AND THE PHILIPPINES.

EXPLORE THE MENU AT

WWW.ZUKIMOON.COM 51

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Enjoy

our Chef’s divine creations

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RACK OF LAMB + LES ROSES

perfect pairings

BROUGHT TO YOU BY UNWINED STORY & RECIPE BY BRIAN ACTON 53

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

the wine Some of the most captivating expressions of a given grape variety come from marginal locations where the grapes fully ripen, but at a hard-won struggle. For Syrah, for now anyway, this is in the northern Rhône—the lesser-known half of the Rhône Valley wine region, about 25 miles south of Lyon and some 75 miles north of Avignon. While the region is littered with place names that translate to phrases like "burnt earth" and "roasted slope," these are relative terms. Syrah certainly finds powerful expressions in the southern appellations of the region, but when forced to battle for sugar accumulation, Syrah yields enticing nonfruit aromas ranging from delicate flowers and herbs, such as violets, lavender, thyme, rosemary and bay, to more meaty-spicy elements such as olive, smoked meat and cracked pepper. It is these beguiling characteristics, accenting just ripe blackberry fruit and licorice and an abiding freshness supporting the power of these wines, that keeps me coming back for more.

The wine I would like to recommend to you today is the 2020 Barruol/Lynch Côte-Rôtie “Les Roses” ($90). Côte-Rôtie, which is the aforementioned “roasted slope,” is the northern most appellation in the Rhône. Its slopes are some of the steepest in France, with portions at a gradient of 55 degrees or more. Handbuilt terraces line many of the vineyards in an effort to keep the region’s legendary schist and granite-based soils in place, but even

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these frequently collapse after a rain. Jean-Paul Jamet, one of the region’s cult producers, has been quoted by Rhône expert and author Matt Walls as saying, “You’ve never finished repairing the walls.

You could spend your whole life doing it.” Given the precarious nature of the vineyards, most vines are not trained on wires, as is the common practice in most wine regions. Instead, the vines tend to be grown in bushes trained between two wooden stakes, referred to as échalas. Needless to say, the farming and harvesting is painstakingly conducted by hand.

“Les Roses” is the product of a collaboration between Louis Barruol, 14th generation vigneron at the 16th century Château de St. Cosme based in Gigondas in the southern Rhône, and American importer Kermit Lynch. Although Barruol is based in the south, he has an abiding passion for Syrah from the north and knowledge of small conscientious growers. While Kermit, for his part, being one of the first major American importers of wines from France, has set the standard for traditionally made wines in many regions, it is his engagement with the wines of the Rhône, especially its northern reaches, that is most profound. He has worked with some of the revered vignerons in the region: Thierry Allemand, August Clape, Marius Gentaz, Jean-Paul Jamet, Raymond Trollat and so on. Together, with their combined knowledge and passion, Louis and Kermit produce a few barrels of a cuvée in the northern Rhône appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage each year. Their winemaking methods also pay homage to the traditional practices of the region: spontaneous fermentation without destemming, aging in barrel and bottling without filtration.

These are some of my most prized wines in my personal collection.

read thermometer. This could take anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes depending on the thickness of your racks.

Heat oil over high heat in a 12-inch cast iron skillet until it just begins to smoke. Carefully add the racks of lamb fat-side down and sear them until a crust forms. This should take approximately two minutes.

Flip the racks and add anchovy butter. Continue to cook the racks and begin basting them with the foaming butter. To prevent scorching, reduce the heat to medium once the butter begins to foam. To baste, tilt the pan toward you so that the butter pools near the handle. Using a wide spoon, scoop up the butter and pour it over the lamb. Aim for any light spots.

Continue flipping and basting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the rack reaches 125° for medium-rare or 130° for medium, which should take between five to 10 minutes total.

Immediately transfer the lamb to a large heatproof plate and pour pan juice over them. Let the lamb rest for five to 10 minutes. Carve and serve.

“Les Roses” is a cuvée that represents their most floral, aromatic and elegant Côte-Rôtie barrels each year. In 2020, it is a blend of three lieux-dits, or named vineyards. It is 75% Rozier, 20% Grand Vigne and 5% Tilleuil and comes from 30 to 50-year-old vines. To pair, I recommend an anchovy butter basted rack of lamb with a fennel/potato mash.

the recipe

Anchovy Butter

Ingredients • • • •

In a food processor, whiz together eight ounces of softened unsalted butter, 10 oil packed anchovy filets, zest of half a lemon and a sprig of rosemary leaves until everything is well combined. Wrap the mixture in Saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.

Two racks of lamb with 4 bones Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 4 tablespoons anchovy butter

Fennel/Potato Mash

Directions Pat the lamb dry and season generously all over with salt and pepper. Place the lamb on a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate the lamb until ready to cook.

Place the baking sheet with the lamb in an oven preheated to 250°F and cook it until the center of the rack registers 110° on an instant55

Peel and chop a pound of Yukon Gold potatoes. Trim and quarter, then slice one fennel bulb. Boil it all in salted water until tender, then drain the water. Return the potatoes and fennel to the pot and season them generously with kosher salt, pepper and some glugs of your best olive oil. Hit the mixture with the juice of half a lemon and stir it together with a large wooden spoon until it begins to break up.

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

A M E R I C A N H O RT I C U LT U R A L S O C I E T Y ’ S A N N UA L G A L A

Photography by Sandy Schaeffer Photography Earlier this month, bouquets of vibrant flowers outshined the grey clouds and rain at the American Horticultural Society’s annual Gala. Despite the inclement weather, over 250 members, neighbors, elected officials, horticultural experts and gardening enthusiasts from across the nation joined the AHS in celebrating 50 years at River Farm. Themed, “Simple Pleasures of the Garden,” the magical night raised $350K for River Farm’s maintenance, critical improvements, beautifucation, and preservation and reaffirmed AHS’s enduring commitment to its beloved historic headquarters.

To learn more, please visit www.ahsgardening.org.

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3rd Annual ON THE AVENUE

halloween themed cocktail bar

Carlyle Halloween Bar Crawl Saturday October 28th 2pm-6pm

Patio Party Costume Contests With Prizes!

Spooky Themed Drinks King Street Trolley Free Photo From SnapStream!

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$10 Registration fee will be donated to ALIVE!

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| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

MOUNT VERNON COLONIAL MARKET + FAIR

Photography by Lucia Smith Guests of George Washington’s Mount Vernon were recently invited to step back in time to enjoy the sights and sounds of an 18th-Century marketplace. The event included traditional handcrafted food and wares, 18th-century garden games, live music of the colonial era and crafting demonstrations by expert artisans. As always, General and Lady Washington were available for visits in the General’s Tent.

To learn more about George Washington’s Mount Vernon, please visit www.mountvernon.org.

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SUNDAY, OCT. 15 | 11AM-4PM ORONOCO BAY PARK OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA THIS AD IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THE HOMEGROWN RESTAURANT GROUP 59

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WHAT'S IN HER BAG?

kristen jones

R E A LT O R | M O M | FA S H I O N I S TA

Story by Liesel Schmidt | Portraits by Jonathan Thorpe

Since becoming a Realtor seven years ago, Kristen Jones has become a name synonymous with professionalism, expertise and personal service, making her one of the top agents in Old Town Alexandria and throughout the DMV. As someone who enjoys working with people and connecting them with a home that meets their needs and wants, Jones is naturally suited to the real estate industry—and it shows through her success.

“I love listening to people’s stories—their ‘why,’ where they came from and how they got where they are,” she says. “I was a teacher in my past life and a lot of those qualities transfer to real estate: patience, compassion, trust and constantly educating.

The traits needed to be a successful Realtor are a natural fit for my personality. I truly love helping people and working with people of all different backgrounds. Buying a home is one of the most stressful life events and usually the biggest asset in a client’s investment portfolio. I love when my clients ping me and ask for advice on paint colors, the best new restaurant in town, recommendations for contractors or whatever else they may want suggestions for, even after a transaction has 61

closed. I’m proud to say many of my clients have become great friends! Some clients have called me the ‘Alexandria concierge.’ They say, ‘Just text Kristen. She’ll know.’”

Jones is raising two boys with her husband. As busy as her schedule is, it can be a challenge to balance work and family.

“It’s a work in progress,” she says. “We often spend our quality time on a beach, out on the water fishing and boating or on

a ski mountain as a family. I love to cook and bake together with our teenage boys—the kitchen is the heart of the home!”

In her spare time, Jones loves to shop and support local Old Town businesses, do interior design work for clients and for herself, cook and bake in the winter and watch her hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with friends and neighbors in the fall.

| VIP ALEXANDRIA october 2023

What's In Her Bag, continued...

The custom navy-blue CHRISTIAN DIOR BAG was a gift to me.

The CHANEL WALLET in metallic gold holds my cards and essentials like keys to my listings in the zipper pocket.

The SV CAR KEY is for my "Special Vehicle" that takes my clients and me to see homes.

The ELECTRIC METER helps me during a pre-home inspection with clients to see if there is electricity in an outlet and lights up red if it has power to the outlet.

The CARPET SWATCHES are for me to take to a design client.

I help clients source carpet too!

WESTMAN ATELIER LIP GLOSS is one of my favorites to throw on and go. I love throwing on lip gloss because it makes me feel put together when I’m on the run.

The fluted CERAMIC TILE is for a backsplash project I am doing for a client. I do it all!

You never know when you need a TAPE MEASURER in my industry. This one is small and retractable.

My TOM FORD LIPSTICK is an essential.

A PICTURE OF SABRINA, my assistant. She is an invaluable part of my business, as there is nothing she cannot do. I am so lucky to have her.

A CUSTOM KRISTEN JONES REAL ESTATE FOLDER, made by a local Alexandria printer, holds all of my special listing paperwork, property information and brochures.

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Rising Sol Yoga 400 N Henry St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 261-4453 www.risingsolyoga.com

Kimberly Sickmen isn’t just the owner of a yoga school; she’s a firm believer in the power of the practice. That belief inspired her to open her own business

in 2013. Originally opened as Zweet Sport Hot Yoga, Sickmen rebranded in 2022 as Rising Sol Yoga School, in homage to her daughter's name.

story by L I E S E L S C H M I DT

photography courtesy of R I S I N G S O L YO G A S C H O O L

Small Business Spotlight brought to you by

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65 2023 65 | | VIP VIPALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIAseptember october 2023

"It is far too easy for us to lament, to regret our past and to have a fear of what the future brings.”

KIMBERLY Kimberly Sickmen isn’t just the owner of a yoga school; she’s a firm believer in the power of the practice. That belief inspired her to open her own business in 2013. “Yoga has been a guide through some of the most difficult times in my life,” she says. “It has taught me how to love more fully, to accept my present moment and to be thankful for my life. It is always my hope that I can offer this practice to our students as a way to alleviate pain—both physical and mental. It is far too easy for us to lament, to regret our past and to have a fear of what the future brings.”

“Alexandria is extremely lucky to be home to a number of incredible, women-owned yoga studios that are small businesses,” Sickmen says.

Supporting businesses like Parker’s through a range of small business loans is one of Spectra Credit Union's greatest points of pride—and one of the ways they help grow the local business community. From first-time business owners, to women- and minority-owned businesses, Spectra believes in the value of local support.

Originally opened as Zweet Sport Hot Yoga, Sickmen rebranded in 2022 as Rising Sol Yoga School, in homage to her daughter's name. “One of the most important factors of our school is that we are just that: a school,” Sickmen observes. “Our view is that yoga is a practice and a discipline, and we focus our attention on yoga, rather than offering a multitude of options that can distract a student from their practice.”

All classes are heated, which is complementary to the types of yoga taught at Rising Sol, which include Vinyasa, Power Flow, Bishnu Ghosh, Dharma, Nidra and others. The school also holds workshops, national and international retreats and teacher training.

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