‘respond rapidly, engage and neutralize the...
TRANSCRIPT
HomeLifeStylePage 2
‘How You React Will Determine Survival’News, Page 5
‘Respond Rapidly, Engage And Neutralize the Threat’
News, Page 3
In a darkened room, instructors (in orange vests) supervise while first responders tend to several “victims” during a joint training exercise.
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Home LifeStyle
By Marilyn Campbell
As the time of year wheremore time is spent indoorsslowly approaches, spruc-
ing up an interior space can helpease the transition. From pillowsand candles to wreaths and arearugs, local designers show howsmall touches can make a big im-pact as seasons change.
A new rug can set the tone foran entire room. “I just finished aliving room where we added aluxurious leather sofa that’s bothelegant and timeless,” said de-signer Sally Kane of Chantilly.“There is a loveseat in a chintz fab-ric and circular rug with warmshades of brown beige and tur-quoise. It’s almost too pretty towalk on and can be changed outas the seasons change. It showshow adding the right rug can el-evate a room.”
Throw pillows in bold hues can add a burst of au-tumn color into a space, easing it from summer tofall. “I’m currently working on a family room wherea deep, hunter green is the base color,” said ToddGranger, interior designer and design graduate stu-dents at Marymount University. “I’m adding throwpillows with a yellow palette, including mustard, cit-rus and chartreuse.”
“The Pantone color of the year for 2018 was UltraViolet and I’m definitely seeing bold, deep purplesbeing used this fall in interior design,” continuedGranger. “I’m incorporating them in spaces for myclients who appreciate bold colors. Buying throwpillows is an easy and inexpensive way to make yourspace match the season.”
Table linens and serveware are a simple way totransition to fall when entertaining, advises Alexan-dria-based interior designer Beth Mahoney. “For myown home I purchased some dark blue,monogrammed linen napkins that pick up a shadeof blue in my china pattern,” she said. “Placemats,tablecloths and candles are all inexpensive things thatcan make an big impact when it comes to changingseasons.”
A wreath in the rich autumnal colors hanging onthe front door is a definite harbinger of fall, addsMahoney. “Wreaths made with pretty combinationsof fall foliage like pine cones, berries and even pump-kins can be hung in a foyer or the front door,” shesaid. “Gooseberry, lavender and herbs like sage andbay also make great additions to a wreath.”
Design Upgrades for FallMinor elementscan make anmajor impact asseasons change.
Throw pillows in bold autumn colors can add warmthto a space as the season changes from summer to fall.
Accessories inwarm, richshades canhelp transitiona home’sinterior fromsummer toautumn.
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News
By Bonnie Hobbs
With an ever-increasing num-ber of active-shooter inci-dents nationwide, every po-lice officer and firefighter in
Fairfax County is receiving six weeks of in-tensive training in preparation. And a fewmonths ago, they held an active-shootersimulation at a Fair Lakes office buildingloaned to them by the Peterson Cos.
“We’ll work in tandem with the police totreat patients, so we’ll get used to workingtogether in emergency situations,” said FireDepartment Battalion Chief Lee Warner, atthe outset. “If it’s a hostile incident, we waitfor the police to call us in, so we don’t addto the problem.”
Police Lt. Brian Ruck, an expert in active-shooter training, said, “We’re constantlyevaluating and updating our tactics. Ourofficers are trained to respond rapidly tothe threat, engage and neutralize it.”
The simulation began with a call fromdispatch telling police to respond to the FairLakes address for a report of an activeshooter. “The suspect is described as a whitemale, wearing tan pants and a black shirtand carrying a rifle,” it said. “The suspecthas shot multiple people on the second floor,and the caller can still hear gunfire in thebackground.”
Through the radio in a police cruiser, on-lookers could hear various police units tell-ing each other where they were and whatthey were doing. Officers also directed eachother where to go next.
Then, inside the building, fire and policepersonnel searched for, found and treatedthe “victims” in low light, while sirensblared and people screamed. Afterward,instructors critiqued their treatment andgave them pointers on doing it better.
The “victims” were special, 180-pound,battery-operated mannequins that canmove and bleed. As the first-responders at-tended to them, applying chest seals andtourniquets as needed, police MPO PaulDeHaven, a tactical paramedic, told them
officer or firefighter is a combat veteran.So this type of scenario — with the loudnoises and bodies missing limbs — is im-portant to do and helps us out tremen-dously.”
Normally, said Warner, about 75firefighters would respond as a team to amass-casualty incident. They’d don theirballistics gear and be ready to deploy to theincident command site when called to doso by the police.
“We do this training in the police and fireacademies as part of our Rescue Task Forceand Joint Operations training,” he said.“Joint training is important because, forexample, we use thermal imaging to findpeople in fires, and we realized we couldlend this equipment to police to use, too.”
Warner said everyone participating in thesimulation has another full-time job withintheir organization and does this training asan ancillary duty. But, said Ruck, “We pullour guys from specialty units to do this, andit’s been very effective.”
During the simulation, a firefighter por-trayed the suspect, running through thebuilding, firing blanks. Meanwhile, 25 po-lice officers and 25 firefighters respondedto three floors.
“We do 56 revolutions of this over sixweeks,” said Warner. “We also do it for other
jurisdictions.”“We’re continually training,” added Ruck.
“In this simulation, police will come downa hallway, the shooter will shoot, police willengage him, and fire and police will even-tually treat patients. The trainees don’tknow the scenario details ahead of time.”
Some “victims” were designated fatallyshot. But for those still “alive,” said Ruck,“Police will treat them first to stop the bleed-ing before the Fire Department comes in.Firefighters carry Rapid Trauma Kits withchest seals, tourniquets and collapsiblestretchers; police carry smaller versionswithout the stretcher.”
Knowing how valuable is the experiencegained during these scenarios, Warner said,“The firefighters know each other before-hand, but police officers work alone. How-ever, in incidents like these, they have toassemble a team quickly. The bottom line iswe can’t do this alone, so we have to worktogether.”
Furthermore, he said, “This can apply toother calls, if we know each other in ad-vance. If we know each other’s names, wealready have a relationship established. Sothis is where Fairfax County is different frompretty much every other county in the U.S.— our fire and police departments worktogether as a team.”
‘Respond Rapidly, Engage and Neutralize the Threat’
Police, firefighters work together on active-shooter training.
Carrying a weapon loaded withblanks, this firefighter portrayedthe shooter in the scenario.
Guns drawn, police search for the “shooter” in an office building.
Sully District Police MPO Troy Hillexplains the importance of active-shooter training.
With sirens and screams in the background, police and firefighters treatpretend shooting “victims” (mannequins).
At far right, Police MPO Paul DeHaven, a tactical paramedic, critiquesthe firefighters and police on how well they treated the “victims” on thefloor.
to “Check all sides of the patient, includingthe back and armpits, in case there are otherwounds not immediately visible.”
“When the door first opens and you seethe flashing lights and loud noises, you’re alittle disoriented,” said MPO Troy Hill, apatrol officer who served in the Marinesduring Operation Desert Storm. “But onceyou see the bodies, training kicks in andyou focus on the mission. Not every police
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4 ❖ Centre View ❖ September 12-18, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
By Sharon Bulova
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
If you enjoyed Fairfax County’s 275th Anni-versary Celebration last year, the adven-ture continues! Lord Nicholas Fairfax (a
direct descendent of our county’s namesake)will be back in town on Sept. 22-25, 2018 tolead a motorcycle charity excursion to benefitfour local charities here in Fairfax County:
Bethlehem Baptist ChurchCommunity Support Pro-gram, Fairfax CountySheriff’s Office Project Life-
saver, Fairfax-Mason Research Fund at GeorgeMason University, and The Lamb Center.
If you are a history buff and/or motorcycleenthusiast, this event is for you. Participantscan ride via motorcycle or car on a one-day,two-day or four-day trip around the bound-
County’s 275th Anniversary ContinuesWith motorcyclecharity ride.
Sharon Bulova and John Mason at the FairfaxStone in fall of 2017.
Commentary
aries of the original Fairfax LandGrant.
This vast and beautiful area,which has been associated withthe Fairfax family since the late1600s, spans between the Potomacand Rappahannock rivers from theChesapeake Bay to the FairfaxStone in West Virginia.
Along the way, there will be op-portunities for camping, seeingmultiple historic sites, witnessinghistoric sign unveilings, hearingstories from colonial era re-enact-ment groups, and meeting plentyof great people who share of loveof Fairfax history. The ride kicksoff at the Patriot Harley-Davidsonstore in the City of Fairfax on Sept.22 at 8 a.m. To register for theLord Fairfax Charity Ride and tomake a donation to the charitypartners, please visitwww.lordfairfaxride.org.
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A Connection Newspaper
By Laura Mayer
PRS CrisisLink,
Program Director
From an early age, weare all taught that ifthere is an emer-
gency we should dial 9-1-1. We know when we makean emergency call, someone who is trained tohelp us will answer and eventually an ambu-lance, a fire truck or a police officer will soon
arrive. I remember watch-ing television shows as achild in which a 9-1-1 dis-patcher was helping people
provide CPR or bandaging a wound, and theyhad flip charts on their desks helping themguide a caller through their emergency.
For many people, their crisis does not fit thisresponse. When the crisis is your own panic,fear, depression, anxiety, or trauma it is harderto know what to do. There are many numbersavailable for therapists, doctors, and services
for which you can schedule an appointmentto be seen for specific problems. But what hap-pens when you are not sure what the problemis? What happens when your pain is emotionaland unbearable, and you cannot wait for a fewweeks or even a couple of days to talk aboutit? What is the 9-1-1 response for thoughts sopainful it might not feel like you can live an-other moment?
The number is 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-273-TALK. This is the National Suicide Preven-tion Lifeline and this number is answered inyour very own community. This number is nota call center in another state; this number isanswered locally by people who are just likeyou.
As the director of PRS CrisisLink, I am oftenasked why people call our crisis center; whatproblems are they experiencing and how dowe help them? The answer is simple: peopleconnect with us when they are in emotionalpain. They have limited options in their livesand they need someone to help them sort itout. They need someone who cares to listen
and help them find solutions. PRS CrisisLinkis staffed with a mix of highly trained employ-ees and volunteers. Many of our crisis work-ers have been through their own difficultiesand are using their experiences to help others.Some are in school working towards becom-ing a mental health provider and some havelost loved ones to suicide and helping othersis a way to honor those who died. Our crisisworkers are all people living and working inyour community and who have empathy forthe challenges life throws at us. We do not useflip charts or standardized responses. We useour humanity and our kindness to offer a safeplace to work together to find solutions; some-times the solution is feeling cared for, heardand understood.
We know that for every person who dies bysuicide in our community, roughly 250 peoplelive through those thoughts. We want you toknow that we are here for you, night or day,no matter your need, we are here to help livethrough your thoughts. We are your local, com-munity-based crisis center, and we care.
We Are Your Crisis Center
Commentary
Commission ReviewsShopping Center
The Planning Commission will meet onThursday, Sept. 13, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at theFairfax County Government Center, 12000Government Center Parkway, Fairfax in theBoard Auditorium. The meeting will be tele-vised live on Channel 16.
The following Sully District case is on theagenda:
❖ PA 2018-III-BR1 (Boundary Change-SullyStation Shopping Center) As a result of boardaction on May 15, PA 2018-III-BR1 was autho-rized for review by Planning Division staff. Thisplan amendment would incorporate the SullyStation Shopping Center into the larger Dulles
Suburban Center. No other modifications suchas use recommendations, densities, or substan-tive text changes are proposed as part of thisamendment.
A separate plan amendment, SSPA 2018-III-1BR, submitted through the Site Specific PlanAmendment (SSPA) Process for the same siteis proceeding through a distinct SSPA review.
For more information on PA 2018-III-BR1,visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-zoning/sites/planning-zoning/files/assets/docu-ments/compplanamend/dscsullystation/2018-iii-br1-staff-report.pdf.
For more information on the SSPA nomina-tion, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-zoning/plan-amendments/sspa-sully-station-shopping-center.
Free CarseatInspections
Certified technicians from the Sully DistrictPolice Station will perform free, child safetycarseat inspections Thursday, Sept. 13, from5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 StonecroftBlvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is neces-sary. But residents should install the childsafety seats themselves so technicians mayproperly inspect and adjust them, as needed.
Because of time constraints, only the first35 vehicles arriving on each date will be in-spected. That way, inspectors may have enoughtime to properly instruct the caregiver on thecorrect use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.
Roundups
Centre View ❖ September 12-18, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
See Survive, Page 7
News
By Bonnie Hobbs
Turn on TV, pick up a newspaper orcheck the news feed on your phoneand, chances are, there’ll be infor-
mation about the latest school or workplaceshooting, home invasion or other tragedy.So it’s a good idea to be as prepared as pos-sible, should the unthinkable occur.
Toward that end, the Sully District PoliceStation’s Citizens Advisory Committeehosted a program presenting possibly life-saving tips to local residents. And Lt. BrianRuck — now in his 20th year with the FairfaxCounty Police Department — told themwhat they can do to help survive an act ofviolence.
Currently the School Liaison Commanderfor FCPS, he served 16 years on the SWATTeam and then joined the Firearms Train-ing Unit, teaching police officers what todo when facing a violent situation. Andbecause it’s such a critically important topicnowadays, he’ll also be giving his presenta-tion to workplace employees throughout theU.S. and the world.
Showing attendees photos of the Pulsenightclub and Las Vegas mass-shooting vic-tims, Ruck said, “We focus on the victimsbecause these were the lives that were shat-tered. Life-and-death situations are prettyhairy. Over the years, the level of violencehas increased — and the sad truth is thatbad people will find ways to hurt goodpeople.”
Since 2000, he said, there have been morethan 200 mass-shooting incidents. And thatnumber doesn’t reflect the number of peopleshot during each tragedy or the total injuredand/or killed overall. Notably, only threeof these events involved more than oneshooter.
“Typically, they’re over in fewer than 10minutes,” said Ruck. “At Virginia Tech [inApril 2007], Seung-Hui Cho killed 31people in less than 10 minutes. And that’simportant because the average responsetime in Fairfax County is 3-4 minutes — soyou need to figure out how to survive untilthe police get there.”
“Once the shooter is down/contained, theactual threat is minimal, even though ittakes time [for authorities] to clear all ar-eas,” he continued. “But victims have bledout from non-lethal wounds while await-ing care.”
Ruck said there’s no set profile of an ac-tive shooter, although they tend to be male.“It could be anybody,” he said. “But peoplesee the signs and are either afraid to saysomething or don’t attach enough impor-tance to them.”
He then showed a video instructingpeople caught up in an active-shooting situ-ation or act of violence to run, hide and/orfight. It also told them what to do whenlaw enforcement arrives on the scene and
what informationthey should pro-vide to police or tothe 911 operator.
The movie ex-plained thatpeople’s motiva-tions for commit-ting violent actsare different, vary-ing from person toperson. “But the
devastating effects are the same, and youneed to be prepared for the worst,” said thenarrator. “Your survival may depend onwhether you have a plan.”
❖ Run: First, said the narrator, “If you canget out, do — run. And don’t let otherpeople’s indecision slow you down. Leaveyour belongings behind and get out ofharm’s way. Then prevent others from go-ing into the danger zone and call 911.”
❖ Hide: “If you can’t get out safely, find aplace to hide,” said the narrator. “Act quicklyand quietly. Secure your hiding place, turnoff the lights and lock the doors. Silencethe ringer and vibration mode on your cellphone, and do your best to remain quietand calm.”
❖ Fight: As a last resort, said the narra-tor, “If your life is in danger, act with ag-gression. Improvise weapons and committo taking the shooter down and incapaci-tating him, no matter what.”
Then when law enforcement arrives, ad-vised the narrator, “Remain calm, followinstructions and keep your hands visible atall times. And don’t have anything in yourhands.”
Ruck said these instructions are crucialtoward preventing a further tragedy, as adark-colored cell phone can look like aweapon to an adrenaline-fueled officer re-sponding to a crime scene. “The police willbe amped-up to take down a shooter, sofollow police commands,” he said.
Still, in an ever-changing world, no onecan ever be certain how the next attack willplay out. For example, said Ruck, “Whathappened in Las Vegas was a completelyuntraditional event. [The perpetrator] wasshooting from the 30th floor of a hotel. It’salso hard to defend against people drivingvehicles into a crowd.”
He said police rapidly deploy to a threat,assess the shooter’s location, make entryand start seeking the threat so they can shutit down. And as they’ve gained more expe-rience responding to such incidents, they’vealso adapted the way they deal with theinjured victims.
“We now treat people’s wounds before themedics get there and carry bleeding-con-trol kits with us,” said Ruck. “And our FireDepartment now trains with us and we havea coordinated, hostile-incident response. Allpolice and Fire Department recruits receivethis training.”
Basically, he said, “If we can get injuredpeople to a hospital quickly, there’s a goodchance of saving them. So we’re now teach-ing civilians how to save lives by stoppingbleeding. It can be after a car accident, a
How To SurvivePolice adviseresidents on life-or-death situations.
Ruck
6 ❖ Centre View ❖ September 12-18, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Sports
By Will Palenscar
Many of the games in the area had alreadybeen postponed due to thunderstormswhen the Centreville and South County
game started on Friday, Sept. 7. The possibility washigh that the game would likely be postponed.Centreville jumped out to an early 7-0 lead whenJordan Wright rushed in from 5 yards out.
South County would answer in the 2nd quarterwhen Xavier Collins rushed in from 4 yards out. SouthCounty was then successful with on a two point con-version giving South County an 8-7 advantage.
In the 2nd quarter Centreville would take the leadfor good when Jaquan Price scored the Wildcats’ sec-ond TD of the game.
A failed two point conversion kept the score at 13-8 Centreville. With 5 minutes to play in the 2nd quar-ter the game was postponed due to lightning strikesin the area. When play resumed on Saturday after-noon, Centreville would add to its 5 point lead whenPrice would run in from 10 yards out to give theWildcats a 20-8 lead. Later in the 3rd quarter ZionDayne made it a one score game when he rushed infrom 1 yard out.
However, the Wildcats went back to Wright who
essentially finished off the Stallions when he scoreson a 45-yard run to extend the lead back to 26-14.
Jordan Wright scored two touchdowns and rushedfor 107 yards on 16 carries, while teammate JaquanPrice ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 12carries.
With the 26-14 win over South County, Centrevilleimproves to (3-0) and will play at Forest Park HS (1-2). South County falls to (1-2) and will host Hayfield(2-0).
Gavin Thomas #78 of Centreville looks to bring down South County QB MatthewDzierski #8.
Centreville Defeats South County
Anthony Ramos #28 carries the ball forthe visiting Centreville Wildcats.
CarringtonNickens-Yzer#4 stops SouthCounty QB JoeSheffield on4th down justshort of thegoal line.
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Centre View ❖ September 12-18, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
SurviveFrom Page 5
News
serious fall, etc. The campaign is called,‘Stop the Bleed, Save a Life.’”
People may obtain kits to control bleed-ing at Inova Hospitals and viawww.bleedingcontrol.org. Each kit containsgauze, scissors, a tourniquet and chest seals(for holes in torsos), and usage instructionsare available on that website.
“Call 911 first and then put pressureabove the wound and apply the tourniquetuntil it hurts worse than the injury,” saidRuck. “That way, it’ll be tight enough toclamp the artery to the bone.”
Ruck also told residents, “In your dailylife, you should be in a state of relaxedawareness. But if you notice somethingwrong, you move into focused awareness.High-alert mode is when you’re taking someform of action — running, hiding or fight-ing. You don’t want to be comatose — inshock, unable to function in response to athreat.”
He said law-enforcement officers operatein a particular, behavior pattern every day.“We observe, orient, decide and act —OODA — in a constant loop,” said Ruck.“For example, if there’s a shooter on thethird floor of a building, I observe the situ-ation and determine where am I in relationto him. I decide to run, but then I see himdown the hall and I have to reset my OODAloop.”
The same is true, he said, for both vic-tims and the perpetrator of a violent situa-tion. “The shooter wants to find the easiesttargets,” said Ruck. “But if you make itharder for him, you’re disrupting his OODAloop and making him change his decisions.”
To protect children, he also advocated fora police presence in Fairfax County’s el-ementary schools. “Our high schools andmiddle schools all have SROs [police schoolresource officers], but our elementaryschools are unprotected,” said Ruck. Butthat wasn’t always the case, before countybudget cuts. Noting that elementary schoolshere used to have SEOs (police school edu-cation officers), with a police cruiser parkedoutside, he encouraged residents to requestthem again for the elementary schools.
At the end of Ruck’s presentation, he an-swered various questions from attendees.In addition, Gary Orski, a volunteer para-medic with Fire Station 11 in Prince Will-iam County, shared his own experience withan active-shooter incident.
“I work at the Navy Yard [in Washington,D.C.] and I was there during the shootingon Sept. 14, 2013,” he said. Orski then de-scribed what the terror was like that dayand the horrified looks on people’s faces asthey tried to evacuate the building.
“When something so unexpected occurs,we can’t believe this is happening to us be-cause we feel safe and secure in our sur-roundings,” he said. “So you have to over-ride your senses and do what you’re trainedto do — and remember to run, hide andfight.” Summing up, Ruck said, “In a life-or-death situation, you’re going to have anemotional and physical reaction. And howyou react will determine whether you’ll sur-vive.”
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Now that I’ve spent the last two publish-ing weeks moaning and groaning about my potentially life-changing CT scan results from my upcoming Sept. 26 scan, I think it’s time to buck up, don’t you? I mean, how long can I continue to drone on before I bore even myself? Talk about putting the cart before the horse, I’m putting myself before the cart.
If I’ve learned/assimilated anything in my nine and half cancer years, it is that waiting for results rather than presuming or anticipat-ing and/or especially overreacting to them in
as negative/problematic is, highly recommend-ed. Much easier said than done I understand, but the alternative “butters no parsnips,” to quote Mrs. Patmore from the Downton Abbey kitchen.
And if one has been compromised, as I have been by a “terminal” diagnosis (2/27/09), fol-lowed by years of chemotherapy and the vari-ety of associated side effects, wasting any time or energy on pursuits which don’t enhance life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is a pursuit not worth pursuing.
Moreover, given how little control one has over the entire cancer experience – from initial screening/testing/diagnosing/staging to lab-test-ing/treating/maybe even “surgerizing” (to use of of my late father’s made-up words), it would seem the sooner the patient/survivor accepts and sort of embraces their place in the cancer feedback loop, the better. Otherwise, the process likely becomes even more excruciating than it already is.
The problem is that cancer can be, shall we say, uncooperative.
Adding to its “uncooperativeness” is its effect on a patient (yours truly) who has lived years beyond the presumptive treatment guide-lines oncologists refer to. Generally speaking, stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer survivors of nearly 10 years are few and far between so there’s very little empirical evidence/informa-tion available advising oncologists how to treat the anomaly. (I’ve been called worse.)
They’re challenged enough determining how to treat the 234,030 new cases projected for 2018 (according to the American Cancer Society). When it comes to treating an old case – mine, common sense and trying to not make things worse seems as much a reasonable course of action as any, especially as I try not to count the days until my next scan. It will get here soon enough – or not – so I see no advantage in obsessing about it and staring at the calendar.
Oddly enough, outliving one’s prognosis by as many years as I have presents its own pecu-liar set of problems.
I never thought I’d be quoting/invoking a Doris Day song but, “Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be, The future’s not ours to see, Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.” And though I realize Doris wasn’t singing about cancer per se, it was more so about life.
Nevertheless, if there’s one subject that us cancer patients could use all the uplifting lyrics sung and/or talked about, it is words which can minimize the slings and arrows of the outrageous misfortune which has befallen us
us living. So what if I have to wait a month for the
other shoe to potentially drop? I’m alive and reasonably well. Besides, there’s no guarantee that the shoe dropping will be the cancer shoe. Maybe it will be the non-cancer shoe?
Regardless, whatever shoe drops on or
some bootstraps, buckle up and get on with it.
A Declaration of Semi Independence
8 ❖ Centre View ❖ September 12-18, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Entertainment
Hurricane FlorenceDue to predicted inclement weather,
some events may be postponed or can-celled.
Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.
WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 12College Applications: Essays That
Open Doors. 7:30-8:30 p.m. atCentreville Regional Library, 14200St. Germain Drive, Centreville. Col.Carla Bass has received rave reviewsfor her writing workshops, based onher book “Write to Influence.”Grades: 10 to adult. Visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/4194935.
SATURDAY/SEPT. 15Tag Day. Westfield High School music
students will visit the communityduring their annual Tag Day event,scheduled for the morning ofSaturday, Sept. 15. Students fromBand, Chorus, and Orchestra will bevisiting their neighborhoodsrequesting donations to the WHSmusic program for the 2018-2019school year.Music programs willaccept donations made to WHS MusicBoosters and mailed to WestfieldHigh School Music Boosters at 4700Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151.
Ride to Thrive Polo Classic. 1 p.m.at Chetwood Park in The Plains, Va.The Northern Virginia TherapeuticRiding Program (NVTRP) will holdthe 12th Annual Ride to Thrive PoloClassic. Participants will enjoy anafternoon of polo, live and silentauctions, music, drinks and dining ona private estate. This event willbenefit NVTRP’s mission to provideequine-assistedactivities tochildren andadults withdisabilities,youth-at-risk,military servicepersonnel andtheir families.$85. Visit www.nvtrp.org/polo-classic.
Chinese Dance. 2-3 p.m. at CentrevilleRegional Library, 14200 St. GermainDrive, Centreville. Learn aboutChinese dance, which has a history of5,000 years and is drawn from 56ethnic groups. Dance showcase anddemo lesson. Ages: 6 to adult. Visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/4137353.
SUNDAY/SEPT. 16ASHA-JYOTHI 5K Run. 8 a.m. at
Fairfax Corner, 4100 MonumentCorner Drive, Fairfax. After monthsof research and planning, Asha-Jyothihas donated over $106,000 toChantilly High School towards theconstruction of a state of the artinnovation lab so that all students atCHS will have the opportunity toexplore STEAM skills. Asha-Jyothisponsors an annual 5K Run/Walk inlocations throughout the UnitedStates. A discounted price of $10(regular price $25) will be given toparticipants from Chantilly HighSchool. To sign up, participatingstudents and/or their families mayvisit www.asha-jyothi.org/5K-registration-form/?event_id=8135.
2018 Bichon Bash. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.at Bull Run Park, 7700 Bull RunDrive, Centreville. The Bichon Bash isa family friendly event where Bichonscan play together in a safe outdoorarea, and experts can provide adviceon the breed. This is an annualfundraiser for the Bichon Frise Clubof America rescue group, a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization. Bichonsonly. $15 pre-register online; $20 atgate; $5 children under 12. Call 703-401-9551 or www.bichonbash.org.
Folded Flag Project. 1-3 p.m. atChantilly Regional Library, 4000Stringfellow Road, Chantilly. Helpfold miniature American flags foractive duty units to serve as a pocket
full of home, hope, love and support.Other fun activities for youngerparticipants. Free. Call 703-362-7774or visitfoldedflagproject.wixsite.com/home.
NTRAK Scale Model Train Show. 1-4 p.m. at the Fairfax Station RailroadMuseum, 11200 Fairfax StationRoad, Fairfax Station. The Northern
Virginia NTRAKmembers willhold a N gaugemodel trainshow. Ages 16and older, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 andunder, free. Visitwww.fairfax-
station.org, www.facebook.com/FFXSRR, or call 703-425-9225.
Wedgwood Society Meeting. 2-3:30p.m. at Total Wine & More, 13055-CLee Jackson Highway, Chantilly.Wedgwood’s Portrait Medallions:Famous (and some not so famous)Faces. Jeffrey Hoffman, a longtimeWedgwood collector and researcher,will speak about the Portraitmedallions produced by theWedgwood Company from the 1770suntil the present. Light refreshmentsare served after the meeting. Open tothe public. Free. [email protected] or visitwww.WedgwoodDC.org.
MONDAY/SEPT. 17Writer of Chantilly – Query Letters
and Publishing. 6:30-9 p.m. atChantilly Regional Library, 4000Stringfellow Road, Chantilly. Thisseminar offers tips, information, andresources to help craft an effectivequery letter that will get a literaryagent’s attention. Bring a draft queryletter for feedback. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ch or call 703-502-3883.
TUESDAY/SEPT. 18Lunch and a Movie. 1-3 p.m. at
Chantilly Regional Library, 4000Stringfellow Road, Chantilly. Forpreschoolers and parents. Bringlunch and join in for a showing of“The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.” Ages birth toKindergarten. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ch or call 703-502-3883.
WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 19Speed of Sound Lab. 3-4 p.m. at
Centreville Regional Library, 14200St. Germain Drive, Centreville.Discover the secrets of how sound
travels through different medium. Abasic understanding of Algebra I isrecommended. Violin Instructor DrewRobertson will lead this workshop.Grades: 7 to 12. Visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/4127599.
THURSDAY/SEPT. 20Lost Puppies Rescue. 4:30-5:30 p.m.
at Centreville Regional Library,14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville.Meet the Australian Shepherd dogs,Max and Tucker. Hear the true storyon their animal rescue efforts at BullRun Regional Park. All ages. Visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/4229088.
FRIDAY/SEPT. 21OLGC Golf Classic. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at
Westfields Golf Club, 13940 BalmoralGreens Ave., Clifton. A fun-filled daywith contests, food, and company. Allproceeds benefit Tuition Assistance atOLGC School. Registration deadlineis Sept. 7. $200 Visit olgcva.org/fellowship/golf-classic.
Ready for School Storytime. 2-3p.m. at Chantilly Regional Library,4000 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly.Early literacy storytime program forchildren ready to be on their ownwithout caregivers or siblings. Ages4-5. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ch or call 703-502-3883.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY/SEPT. 21-23Capital Home Show. Friday-
Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11a.m.-6 p.m. at Dulles Expo Center,4320 Chantilly Shopping Center,Chantilly. More than 250 companieswill be on hand to showcase thelatest products and services in homeremodeling, renovation, home décorand redesign. Headlining will beVern Yip, star of “Trading Spaces.”$3-$10. Visit capitalhomeshow.com .
SUNDAY/SEPT. 23Memories of the Orange and
Alexandria RR. 1-4 p.m. at theFairfax Station Railroad Museum,11200 Fairfax Station Road, FairfaxStation. A special exhibit incooperation with the Burke HistoricalSociety will highlight the legacy ofthe Orange and Alexandria Railroad -the railroad the Fairfax Station wasconstructed to service. Ages 16 andolder, $4; 5-15, $2; 4 and under,free. Visit www.fairfax-station.org orcall 703-425-9225.
Photo by Myrna Miller
Wedgwood Portrait Medalions – Samples of the manyportrait medallions made by the Wedgwood Company.
Wedgwood Society MeetingWedgwood’s Portrait Medallions: Famous (and some not so famous) Faces. Jef-
frey Hoffman, a longtime Wedgwood collector and researcher, will speak about thePortrait medallions produced by the Wedgwood Company from the 1770s until thepresent. Light refreshments are served after the meeting. Open to the public. Sun-day, Sept. 16, 2-3:30 p.m. at Total Wine & More, 13055-C Lee Jackson Highway,Chantilly. Free. Email [email protected] or visit www.WedgwoodDC.org.