Two Sully Police Officers Honored
Because snow cancelled February’s meeting of the Sully District Police Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee, two officers of the month were honored last week. Station Commander Ed O’Carroll recognized PFC John Kolcun for February and PFC Joe Compher for March. He and the CAC feted both officers during the CAC’s March 12 meeting at the Sully District Station. O’Carroll said Kolcun was being acknowledged for “his diligence out on the streets. He’s permanently on night duty so, when we’re all home sleeping and safe, he’s out there fighting crime.”
CVHS Film-Production Classes Inspired Him
A 1996 Centreville High grad, Jason Corgan Brown is the producer, director and co-writer of the independent film, “Falcon Song.” And it’s having a sneak preview, this Sunday, March 23, at 2 p.m., at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Ashburn. Tickets are available now at http://drafthouse.com/movies/falcon-song/northern_virginia. Fresh from the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where it premiered in February, the PG-rated movie is a contemporary western in which a guitar-playing drifter helps a rancher's granddaughter find her true calling. It explores themes of land conservation and soul searching in a world filled with quirky, colorful characters and magical realism. The ensemble features Gabriel Sunday (“Year One”) with Rainey Qualley (daughter of Andie MacDowell), plus Martin Kove (“Karate Kid”), James Storm (“Dark Shadows”), Michael Yebba (“R.I.P.D.”) and David Hayward (“Matlock”).
The Annual Shamrock Crawl
Clarendon Boulevard was filled with participants on the annual Shamrock Crawl on Saturday. March 15.
Mathnasium Makes Learning Math Fun
The husband and wife team of Keni and Punam Patel has brought the Mathnasium concept of learning to Centreville area students. The Mathnasium opened in February in Centreville Square II near the Party Depot. Inside the storefront, an open area is filled with tables and games; oversized math “scribbles” decorate the walls. Keni Patel received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering from Boston University and was subsequently an Advanced Studies Research Fellow at MIT. He is currently an applied mathematician in the Advanced Technology Group at Boeing Defense in Fairfax.
Obituary: Howard Hollis “Bo” Callaway, Sr.
Howard Hollis “Bo” Callaway, Sr., died Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Columbus, Ga. Callaway, age 86, was Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation in Pine Mountain. He was the son of the late Cason and Virginia Callaway, co-founders of Callaway Gardens.Callaway was born April 2, 1927, in LaGrange, Ga. He graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria. From 1944 to 1945, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta leaving there to become a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point earning letters in boxing, tennis, and squash. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in Military Engineering.During his military career, Callaway served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was a platoon leader in Korea, an instructor in tactics at Fort Benning, Ga., and was the recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, three Campaign ribbons, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Callaway ended his military service in 1953 to return to his home in Hamilton, Ga., and help his father develop and manage Callaway Gardens, a nationally recognized 6,500 acre garden and resort in Pine Mountain.
United Way Awards $259,862 to Nonprofits
United Way of the National Capital Area recently awarded 20 grants totaling $259,862 to member organizations serving Arlington. The funds came through designations to the Arlington Community Impact Fund in United Way NCA's annual workplace giving campaign. Each of the grants addresses programs that fall within United Way NCA's focus areas of education, financial stability and health.In total, $1.7 million was raised through Community Impact Funds in United Way NCA's eight regions thanks to the support of employees from more than 800 workplaces with more than 3,000 locations throughout the Washington, D.C. region.
Letter to the Editor: ‘The Eminent Domain Council’
To the Editor: On Saturday I attended the public hearing on approving the Special Use Permits (SUPs) of two used car dealers whose businesses are located on the 1300 block of King Street. The city in all its wisdom has decided that these two used car lots are non-conforming uses for King Street. They did however give them until October to find alternate spaces elsewhere in the city. This is easier said than done as finding affordable alternative and accessible sites elsewhere is almost impossible.
Letter to the Editor: MVCCA Opposes ESI’s Request
To the Editor: An article in last week’s Gazette (“Green Energy or a Closed Landfill”) seemed to miss the purpose of EnviroSolutions’ (ESI) request for a Special Exception Amendment, which is to substantially expand the capacity of the Lorton construction and demolition debris (CDD) landfill and extend operations for 22 years. The Mount Vernon Council of Citizens’ Associations’ Environment and Recreation Committee, which I chair, was asked to review this application by ESI’s representative, Conrad Mehan. We worked closely with colleagues in the South County Federation (which opposes the SEA request) and with ESI, and conducted our own research to understand this complex and contentious case. Majorities of MVCCA Environment and Recreation and Planning and Zoning Committees voted to support a resolution opposing ESI’s request, which was adopted by the full Council on Feb. 26 (see www.mvcca.org/Resolutions/res-J-2014-01.pdf ).
Letter to the Editor: Making a Trial Run
To the Editor: The conditioned vote on the King Street bike lane was a heartening start to using compromise to produce a better solution. Vice Mayor Silberberg and Councilman Chapman are to be commended for their outreach efforts that created a bike lane pilot project whose performance at the end of 18 months will contribute to the final configuration for combining pedestrians, vehicles, bikes, and residential needs.
Letter to the Editor: Fiscal Blindness
To the Editor: I enjoyed Annabelle Fisher’s Feb. 13 letter on business as usual in City Hall. She was spot on, the $100,000 spent on civic engagement, it is equivalent to losing about $10,000,000 in the real estate tax base. It is truly a complete waste. However what can we expect from a city government whose secret motto appears to be “We don’t listen, and we don’t care.” This abuse of the taxpayer is typical of Alexandria politicians.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s Contributions to Arlington Free Clinic Top $1 Million
March 05, 2014 - Baltimore — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) plans to contribute another $110,000 to Arlington Free Clinic to help the Northern Virginia health clinic better coordinate care during the next year for more than 500 uninsured patients – many of who have chronic diseases that require increased monitoring and adherence to strict medication schedules. Arlington Free Clinic intends to use CareFirst’s latest funding to strengthen its relationship with its network of community medical partners, equip diabetic patients with more resources and education to help them control their disease, and increase its patients’ compliance with recommended immunization schedules.
Commentary: Iron Mike, Two Wash Basins and Me
Years ago I was a member of a gym (or “Health Club”) located on Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase. Joining this gym was an easy choice for me, since the gym occupied the penthouse floor of the same building in which my office was located. For a time, in the late 1990s — when he was past his heyday as the heavyweight boxing champ of the world — Mike Tyson occasionally visited my gym. He would arrive in the early afternoon, I was told, accompanied by his trainer and a couple of bodyguards, and spend a couple of hours working out. Because I could schedule my visits to the gym only after work, in the late afternoon or early evening, I never laid eyes on Mr. Tyson myself.
Letter to the Editor: Unacceptable For 2014
To the Editor: The article on March 13 regarding extending and expanding the construction debris landfill at Lorton raises yet again the question of why Fairfax County is even considering revising the current deal, which calls for the landfill to cease operations in 2018.
Obituary: William "Bill" Hopke, Jr.
William "Bill" Hopke, Jr., of the William B. Hopke Company Inc. died Saturday, March 1. Beloved husband of Joan M. Hopke; father of Patricia Hopke Casey (the late Rob), Michael W. Hopke (Ann) and Frank J. Hopke (Carla); brother of James T. Hopke; grandfather of Kristen, Shannon, Ryan and Brenna Casey and Brooke, Scotty, Matt and Michelle Hopke.
Commentary: U.S. 1 Version 2.0: Public Hearing Next Week
On Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m., the second public hearing regarding the U.S. 1 Multimodal Transit Alternative Analysis Study will take place at the South County Government Center. The study was funded by a $2 million budget amendment secured by Sen. Toddy Puller and I last session and is being administered by Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transit. It is probably the most important study for the future of our area to ever take place. The purpose of the study is to consider all factors clearly define the key transportation needs for our community, consider a range of multimodal transportation solutions to address the needs, and arrive at a recommended program of transportation improvements and accompanying land uses to lay the groundwork for development in our area through the year 2035.
Letter to the Editor: Support Angel Fund
To the Editor: We would like to thank Edgar Espinosa and the staff at Picante! Restaurant in Chantilly for their very generous offer to Angel Fund. Mr. Espinosa sent us coupons enabling customers to donate 10 percent of their meal’s bill to Angel Fund. Readers may visit our website: https://www.angelfundva.org/donate to print out the coupons or write Lu Ann McNabb at l.mcnabb@cox.net for copies.
Eleanor Bune Celebrates Her 96th
Sharp as a tack and mentally “with it” as a younger person, Eleanor Bune, an Arlington resident, is not missing a beat. On March 14, she turned 96-years-old. With a full head of her own hair that often draws compliments from strangers, she had her hair done on her birthday and wanted to look her best for a night out on the town. Her birthday was celebrated at Essy’s Carriage House in Arlington with her daughter, Karen L. Bune, and friends.
Happily Ever After
MVCCT presents “Once Upon A Mattress.”
Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairytale, "The Princess and the Pea," comes to the stage as a musical comedy in the Mount Vernon Children’s Community Theater spring production “Once Upon a Mattress.”
Classified Advertising March 19. 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Casino Night at Ritz-Carlton for Boy and Girls Clubs
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Fairfax Region runs clubs that serve children and teens in Mount Vernon and Falls Church, and held its inaugural Casino Night at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons on Friday, March 7. About 200 attended and enjoyed gaming, good food, music and live and silent auctions for a good cause.