People

Fine Tuning Songwriting Skills

Chantilly teen attends Grammy Camp in California.

This fall, junior Jason Saitta will be one of the leads in Chantilly High’s musical, “Evita.” But his summer was also none too shabby.

How It’s Done

George Washington erected a stone gristmill in 1771 to increase production of flour and cornmeal and to be able to export high quality flour to the West Indies, England, and Europe. In 1797, Washington's Scottish farm manager James Anderson encouraged him to build a whiskey distillery adjacent to the gristmill. The distillery was the largest in America, producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey in 1799, making it one of the most successful economic enterprises at Mount Vernon. Demonstrations of the mill are given by millers in early-American attire from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance to the site is included in admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon. Admission to the Distillery & Gristmill is also sold separately for $5 for adults, $2 for youth ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under.

‘Read – A Need You Can Feed’

Church members read with London Towne Elementary students.

London Towne Elementary’s summer reading program was called, “Read — A Need You Can Feed.” And that need was met in two ways. When children came to brush up their reading skills, they were fed literally, getting to enjoy treats such as pizza, hot dogs, chips, juice and pudding. Their minds were also fed, as volunteers from Centreville Presbyterian Church (CPC) came to school and read stories with them.

‘My Crew Chief and Medic Saved Lives’

Vietnam veterans also share their stories.

Each year, Rocky Run Middle School invites veterans to participate in its annual World War II day. This year, it extended an invitation to veterans of more recent wars, as well, and they, too, enjoyed imparting their knowledge and reminiscences to the students.

Veterans Share Their Stories

Rocky Run Middle holds annual WWII Day.

A veteran of three wars, Russell O’Connell helped protect Gen. George Patton. Elmer Smith flew President Roosevelt to the “Big Three” meeting with Stalin and Churchill. And Ruth Erno was a Navy communications officer. They were among the more than 80 veterans who participated in June in Rocky Run Middle School’s annual World War II Day. It’s hosted each year by the seventh-grade class and organized by history teacher Jamie Sawatzky.

Opinion: White House Bound

Commentary

While studying diesel engines at school in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1954, Thomas* received the highest class grade — which came with the promise of getting to serve in the White House. And though the Army’s promise never came to fruition, Thomas and his two best buddies (who happened to receive the next two highest grades) did get to accompany a group of scientists at the North Pole for experimental work.

Military Notes

Navy Seaman Recruit Christopher G. Glenn recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Smith Takes Stage at Jammin’ Java

Singer-songwriter A.J. Smith headlines hometown show.

Growing up in Herndon, A.J. Smith went to see plenty of shows at Jammin’ Java in Vienna. On Sunday, Aug. 4, the singer-songwriter went to another show at the venue, but this time he was the headliner.

Local Author To Discuss Writing

Potomac Library to host book talk with Susan Keselenko Coll.

Looking for a way to beat the summer heat? On Aug. 8 at 7 p.m., the Potomac Library will be hosting a book talk with local author Susan Keselenko Coll where she will discuss her novels "Beachweek", "Rockville Pike", "karlmarx.com", "Acceptance" and her forthcoming novel "The Stager" which will be released next summer. "Acceptance" was made into a Lifetime movie.

Hometown Concert on the Green

Atlas Road Crew, with Great Falls Native Patrick Drohan, performs in weekly concert series.

The weekly Concerts on the Green at the Great Falls Village Centre always feature a regional band, but the show Sunday, Aug. 4 was as close to home as it gets. The band, Atlas Road Crew, a rock quintet from South Carolina, featured Patrick Drohan, a Great Falls native, on drums.

Sullivan Named to Fairfax County Park Board

Rip Sullivan named by Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) to represent Dranesville district.

McLean resident Richard "Rip" Sullivan has been named the Dranesville representative for the park authority board, replacing Kevin Fay, who stepped down in July.

Brief: St. Marks Scouts Take 184-mile Ride

Fourteen Scouts from Troop 1978, sponsored by St. Marks Church, Vienna set out on a four-day bicycle tour of the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Md., to Washington, D.C. Friday, July 12.

Opportunity Neighborhood

Organization celebrates first anniversary with bus tour.

Opportunity Neighborhood, a group that helps children succeed in school and life, celebrated its first anniversary with an 11-stop bus tour targeting Mount Vernon schools and neighborhoods along Route 1. The tour highlighted the areas that are served by the organization which supports young people from “cradle to college to career.” The tour started at the South County Government Center, which houses Human Services agencies in Fairfax County.

Classes Offer Liquified-Fun

Mount Vernon RECenter offers 13 water aerobics classes.

For people with joint or arthritis problems, the gentle resistance that water aerobics provides is the perfect remedy for fun and exercise.

Church Outfits 1,000 Children

11th annual Brother’s Keeper event reaches out to underserved students.

In an effort to give back to the community, the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church distributed new backpacks, school supplies and clothing to hundreds of Alexandria schoolchildren on Saturday, July 27. The church’s 11th annual Brother’s Keeper outreach project welcomed an estimated 500 underserved children and their families who registered in advance for the event. Items also will be delivered to some area schools and shelters for another 500 children.

The Connection