A Purr-fect Marriage
Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA) found the purr-fect marriage of volunteerism and the ardor to support the humane treatment of animals when the organization was founded in 1974. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, FMCA continues to live its motto, “Dignity for Animals.” In matrimony, the 40th is known as the Ruby Anniversary from the belief that the precious stone possesses an eternal inner flame and symbolizes passion. With the same zeal, FMCA’s volunteers devote hours of focus and care fostering animals until they can find their “forever homes.” The group also conducts cat adoption clinics on Saturdays at the Germantown PetSmart and operates a trap/neuter/return/place (TNR/TNP) initiative to help reduce animal overpopulation in feral colonies in Montgomery County.
Brief: Resident Dies in Traffic Collision
The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a fatal traffic collision that occurred at 700 S. Pickett Street on Tuesday, Feb. 11. At approximately 7 p.m., a vehicle traveling southbound on S. Pickett Street crossed into on-coming traffic and struck several vehicles before stopping when the car hit an electrical pole.
‘To Honor Our Beginnings’
Since the Center for Alexandria’s Children opened in 2007, a number of dedicated individuals has kept its child abuse education and prevention programs running, growing and thriving. Three of these individuals will be honored at its Fifth Annual Gala Benefit on Friday, Feb. 28, at Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town. The organization hopes to raise more than $120,000 at the gala, which is its biggest fundraising event of the year. Center staff, volunteers and affiliates will take some time at the event to honor some key players in the Center’s history.
Brief: Memorial Fund To Honor Lawson
For the last 20 years, The Walk to Fight Breast Cancer has helped support mammograms and other diagnostic screening for Alexandria women who are uninsured or not adequately insured. To honor the Walk’s founder, Vola Lawson, who died in December 2013, the Walk will be renamed. A fund has been created in her memory, the Vola Lawson Breast Cancer Memorial Fund. Since its inception in 1994, the Walk has helped more than 8,000 uninsured Alexandria women receive free mammograms and other diagnostic screenings.
Looking for Homes
Dogs and cats, rabbits and birds are just a few of the animals that may be adopted at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
"Penelope's Pesky Pen," performance at the Athenaeum
Dancers from the Jane Franklin's Dance company performed on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Athenaeum in "Penelope's Pesky Pen." They will be performing there again in a children’s show on March 16, at 4:30 p.m.
Westfield High To Present One-Act Play Festival.
Postponed because of snow, Westfield High’s Winter One-Act Play Festival has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 9 in the school theater. On the bill are comedy, drama and even a full-length musical. Here’s what’s on tap:
Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit Starts March 1
Woodlawn, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will showcase the work of skilled needlers from across the country, including objects created by First Ladies and First Family members, during the site’s annual needlework show that begins on Saturday, March 1. “After celebrating the 50th anniversary of the needlework show last year, we wanted to do something special that would build on that excitement and success this year,” said John Riley, interim director of Woodlawn. “This year’s program will feature a blend of contemporary and historic needlework that is as impressive in its craftsmanship as it is in its historical significance.” In addition to hundreds of high quality needlework items on display throughout the Woodlawn mansion, the work of First Families on loan for the special exhibit, “Needlework and the White House: A First Family Tradition,” includes a rug by Barbara Bush, napkins embroidered by Edith Roosevelt, and Dolley Madison’s pin cushion. Visitors will also see needlework ornaments from the 1991 White House holiday display.
Feb. 5, 2014 (Fairfax Station, Va.) --- Today, Rob Wasinger (R-VA) launched his campaign for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat.
“In launching this campaign, I promise a conservative resurgence,” declared Wasinger. “From Fairfax to Winchester, Manassas to Leesburg, Loudoun and McLean, and all points in between, with the good people of Virginia’s tenth congressional district, we will put an end to the corruption of the cronies and the lobbyists, and restore the basic freedoms of limited government of, by and for the people.”
Mountain View Department Awards
Mountain View High presented the following Department Awards, Feb. 5, to graduating seniors: English, Nina Iandolo; Business, Alexis Kharin Arriola; P.E., Reynaldo Gonzalez Martinez; Art, Nina Iandolo, Joshua Todd McDow, Trong LeDuc Bui; EFE, Aya Elhadi Abdelhalim; Family and Consumer Science, Chakoda Lanora Robinson. ESOL: Level 1, Jose Ramos Cantarero; Level 2, Ting Shi Zhong; Level 3, Evelin Clavel Delgado, Reynaldo Gonzalez Martinez; Level 4, Milton Fernandez Lemus, Maria Villafuerte Pineda.
Celebrating and Remembering Haiti
Community Coalition for Haiti is holding an event to Celebrate and Remember Haiti. This is an opportunity to remember, respect, reflect and revel 25 years of service by the CCH and its predecessor organization. The CCH is looking forward to honoring all those who have served and supported CCH over the years and to celebrate the future and rebuilding of Haiti. They will also take time to recognize the work of Karen Carr in furthering the mission and vision of CCH during her 10 year tenure as Executive Director. You are invited to join a casual evening March 1, 5-8 p.m. for food, drinks, music, a silent auction and memories from the past 25 years. The event is being held at the Inova EPIC Training Center 8111 Gatehouse Rd, Falls Church.
Petersen Report: Senate Addresses Health Care
Last Thursday, Feb. 20, we rolled out "Marketplace Virginia," an idea conceived by Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan). "Marketplace" takes the $2 billion in taxes paid by Virginians under the Affordable Care Act and keeps it in Virginia, where it can provide insurance for the 400,000 Virginians not currently covered.
Seeing How Slaves Lived
In observance of African American History Month, Mount Vernon Estate offers a Slave Life specialty tour once a day throughout the month of February. The tour provides insight into the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. The tour includes living quarters, working gardens as well as reproduction clothing, tools, furniture, cookware, ceramics, and children’s toys of the many enslaved individuals who lived there. Inclusion of the slave quarters provides a complete history of what life was like on the plantation; both those who owned it as well as those who toiled there. While there, visitors may run into the last serving valet to the late General Washington, Christopher Sheels (portrayed by Jonathan Wood). He walks the plantation as one of the important people from Washington’s world. More than 300 slaves “contributed heavily to the success of Mount Vernon,” Wood said. Seeing a live actor portray the character of one of the enslaved individuals guides visitors toward an understanding that Washington, while a great national hero, was also a conflicted individual. “General Washington did not free his slaves until his death” and the display of the slave quarters is a “part of telling his whole story,” Wood added.
Week in Vienna
Kids and Healthy Relationships A free, parent workshop, “How to Talk to Your Kids about Healthy Relationships,” will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 7:30- 9 p.m., at the Club Phoenix Teen Center, 120 Cherry Street SE. This workshop is designed to help parents understand what a healthy teen relationship looks like and the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Preregister by contacting Tammy Funk at 703-255-5736 or tfunk@viennava.gov.
Former Vienna Resident Receives French Legion of Honor Award
The father of a Vienna woman was one of six World War II veterans of the D-Day invasion who were awarded the French Legion of Honor award for their service to France at a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 18, held at Fort Myer. John C. Sheban, 91, was a staff sergeant and waist gunner on a B-24 liberator bomber and participated in three bombing missions under heavy fire over Normandy, France and inland German positions during the June 1944 D-Day invasion. Sheban previously received a number of medals from the Army for his actions during the invasion that turned the tide of World War II in Europe.
Vienna Writer Wins ‘A Gift’
Chris Stezin appointed writer-in-residence at professional First Draft Theater.
"Chris Stezin (Vienna) is, hands down, one of First Draft's biggest crowd pleasers," said Leslie Kobylinski (McLean), First Draft artistic director. "He's a prodigious writer who continues to be inventive and original. Just when you think you know his writing style, he'll surprise you.” First Draft is a professional nonprofit theater company dedicated to developing new plays and enlivening audiences with free play readings in Arlington and D.C. The free readings provide immediate audience feedback to playwrights to enhance their fresh, new works. In announcing Stezin's appointment as writer-in-residence Kobylinski noted that "our audiences love what he has to say...I get the most enthusiast emails after a Chris Stezin play."
Week in Vienna
Photo Contest and Exhibit at Community Center
The Vienna Parks and Recreation Department's annual Photography Contest and Exhibit will be held Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, March 16, from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE. Entries will be accepted Thursday, March 13, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Friday, March 14, from noon to 3:45 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Photos will be judged by local professional photographers and ribbons awarded in eight categories: animals, architecture, digital, nature, pictorial, photojournalism, portraiture and scenic. There will be a separate contest section for middle and high school students. The entry fee is $10 per person. Entries are limited to four photos per person and a maximum of two in any one category. The contest is open to all metropolitan area amateur photographers. Photo contest and exhibit is assisted by the Vienna Photographic Society. For more information, call Vienna Parks and Recreation at 703-255-6360 or visit www.viennava.gov.
Horner’s Corner Pet Salon Marks Anniversary
Kelli Horner, owner of Horner’s Corner Pet Salon, announces the seventh anniversary of her pet salon in Vienna. She would like to thank all the pet owners who have supported her by bringing in their pets for grooming over these years. Her slogan of “Let Us Love Your Pet” is a goal that is earned every day. It is easily achieved because the staff loves to see those precious four-legged members of your family. Horner’s Corner Pet Salon is located at 420 Maple Avenue, East, Vienna. For more information or to make an appointment for your pet, call 703-560-2299.
Synetic Theater Offers Street Theater Camp
Synetic Theater and dog & pony dc are teaming up to offer a week-long intensive course in street theater for high school and college students at Synetic's new studio space in Crystal City. It runs March 10-15 and costs $350. Classes will culminate on Saturday, March 15 with public performances that take students from Crystal City to Freedom Plaza in the District. “This year, we are very excited to be working with dog & pony theater,” said Camp Director Elena Velasco. “They use social media and are very focused on audience reaction and audience relationships.” She added, “With dog & pony, it will be how we can invite the audience into the action ... How do we incorporate that into social media — Twitter, texting — how can we expand that performance circle.” Under the guidance of senior Synetic teachers and artists from dog & pony dc, students will study the disciplines of collaborative creation. Street theater offers a means of honing one's skills as an actor, and performers use their craft to empower their community and transform public spaces into arenas of artistic exchange.
Don’t Thank Me
To the Editor: To all the neighbors (yes, neighbors, plural) on the south side of Old Courthouse Road between Course Street and Pine Valley whose sidewalks I shoveled today: Don’t thank me, I didn’t do it for you. I did it for all the kids – including mine – who walk to school, or who would, if only there were a safe pathway to walk. I know the sidewalks probably don’t seem important to you; after all, once you cleared your driveway, you’re pretty much good, going straight from your car into your house through the garage or carport. You may even think the sidewalks aren’t even your responsibility, being public property and all. (You’re wrong on both counts.