WellbeingPage 2

Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern ExpandsNews, Page 3

‘Party in Paris’ Held in HerndonNews, Page 6

Honored for CreativityNews, Page 2

Dr. Liz Noto, Herndon High School principal (top left) joins students Solveig Reda, Jake

Dyer, Estelle Kim, Diane Kovalchuk, Breeana Rivera, and Abby Wilson as they display their

award-winning and honorable mention entries in the 2018 Scholastic Art Award competition.

online at www.connectionnewspapers.com February 7-13, 2018

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2 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Wellbeing

By Marilyn Campbell

Flu season is in full swing and,according to the latest statis-tics from the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention,

it’s packing a powerful punch. Accord-ing to the most recent CDC report, theflu is widespread in most states, andhealthcare providers report an uptickin influenza-related hospitalizationsand deaths.

While The thought of eating mightbe unappealing to someone who isbattling the flu, nutritionists andhealth care providers say certain nu-trients are essential for keeping upone’s strength. Soothing and healingingredients are key allies when fight-ing this season’s virus.

“The thing you need most is water,” saidSara Ducey, professor of Nutrition and Foodat Montgomery College. “You need suffi-cient water to bring nutrients to your cellsand take away the waste. As you hydrate itgives your immune system more of a boost.”

Protein, says Ducey, will help one’s bodybuild and maintain strength. “It’s importantfor supporting the immune system and forhelping your body breakdown medicineslike Tylenol,” she said. “One of the best

sources for protein when you have the fluis real, bone-based soup, not ramen noodlesthat have chicken flavoring.”

Bone broths, like those made fromchicken or beef, offer hydration, protein andamino acids, added Ducey. Broth can besipped or used as the base for a soup. “It’s anatural healing and restorative food,” shesaid. “At this point, everyone can assumethat they’re going to get the flu and pre-pare some bone-based broth ahead of timeand keep it on hand in the freezer. You canalso buy boxes of it.”

Fresh ginger can work as an anti-inflam-matory, soothe an upset stomach and boostone’s immune system, says nutritionist

Debbie Hynes of Practical Ayurveda. “Warmwater with grated ginger and honey cansoothe a sore throat or upset stomach,” shesaid.

Foods that are high in Vitamin C like or-ange juice, particularly a variety that con-tains pulp, can boost your immune system,says Ducey. “It’s a powerful antioxidantwhich is important for keeping your musclesstrong especially when you’re sick.”

Garlic is another ingredient that Hyneslikes to include in flu-fighting recipes. “Ithas antibacterial properties, especially whenit’s raw,” she said. “I add it to chicken brothalong with chili flakes to sip when some-one in my family has a stuffy head. Thecombination can clear the sinuses. And ifyou can stand to eat it, raw garlic has thestrongest antibacterial properties.”

Turmeric works as an anti-inflammatoryand antioxidant, says Hynes. “It’s beenknown for those properties in Chinese medi-cine for centuries,” she said.

Ducey uses the spice in a creamy drinkshe creates called Golden Milk. “I take a cupof milk, a teaspoon or two of honey and alittle black pepper and put it in the micro-wave to warm it,” she said. “You can usealmond or coconut milk if you can’t toler-ate dairy. Turmeric is very poorly absorbedby the body, so adding a little black pepperhelps absorb it. It sounds bizarre, but it’sstrangely comforting.”

Feeding the Flu What to eat when fighting the flu.

“One of the best sourcesfor protein when youhave the flu is real, bone-based soup.”— Sara Ducey, Professor of Nutrition

and Food, Montgomery College

Courtesy of Sara Ducey

Turmeric, powderedginger, honey andalmond or coconut milkcan create a soothingand healing drink forthose who are battlingthe flu, says nutritionistSara Ducey.

Garlic is creditedwith having anti-bacterial properties.

Fresh ginger can be asoothing ingredient forthose who have the flu.

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Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

NewsHerndon Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or herndon@connectionnewspapers.com

Herndon Rotary Club will honorReston resident, SusanUngerer, Founder and Presi-

dent of the nonprofit organization, KidsR First as their Citizen of the Year 2018at the organization’s 52nd Annual Rec-ognition Banquet. This year’s banquetwill be held at the Crowne Plaza HotelHerndon, 2200 Centreville Road onWednesday, March 7.

Tickets for the event are available ei-ther online at 123formbuilder.com/form-

1279411/The-Herndon-Rotary-Clubs-52nd-Citizen-Of-The-Year-2018 or by checkmade out to “Herndon Rotary Club” andmailed to Herndon Rotary Club, PO Box321, Herndon VA 20172. Ticket price is $65per person.

The Rotary Club of Herndon is honoringUngerer as Citizen of the Year, theorganization’s highest honor because ofoutstanding service and contributions to thecommunity. As a retired teacher, Ungerersaw children from lower income families in

the area coming to school without neededsupplies. Knowing every child required thetools to learn and succeed, in 1998, she anda small group of friends set out to make adifference. They formed Kids R First, a non-profit organization dedicated to educationand helping children and youth in gradesK-12 from families with limited financialmeans have the same opportunities as theirpeers by receiving much-needed school sup-plies at the start of the academic year.

This year KRF seeks to serve 32,000 chil-

dren in need at 100 schools in Fairfaxand Loudoun Counties. Since KRF firstbegan, the organization has provided208,400 needy children with new schoolsupplies appropriate to their grade andsupply lists. For more information or ifyou would like to speak at the dinner,contact Pat Williams at 703-582-9482 orpat@gracefulcare.com or ChrisMogensen at 703-582-8242 orchrislmogensen@gmail.com.

— Mercia Hobson

Herndon Rotary Club to Honor Reston Resident Susan UngererTickets available for the 52nd Annual Recognition Banquet.

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

After five years of hardwork, hopes, anddreams, Jimmy’s OldTown Tavern located in

Herndon on the corner of Eldenand Spring Streets, held grandopening ceremonies for their Buf-falo Wing and Beer Garden, a largeexpansion project of the currentrestaurant town gathering place.

Asked what the hardest part ofthe build had been, Jimmy Cirritoconfessed, “Worrying about themoney ... We are very excited butvery nervous at the same time;similar to when we opened in1997.” What kept him goingthough, Cirrito professed, are thepeople in his life.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, HerndonMayor Lisa C. Merkel stood at oneofficial ribbon and Mike O’Meara,podcast personality and the hostof The Mike O’Meara Show at thesecond ribbon. With a crowd ofmore than 200 patrons and spe-cial guests present including hislongtime friend and one of co-owners of the building, RichardCurtis, Merkel and O’Meara cutthe ribbons, celebrating the open-ing of Jimmy’s “Buffalo Wing andBeer Garden.” Jimmy’s Tavern isa longtime anchor in the down-town district. Nearly every nightof the week, the establishmentdraws longtime friends and newpatrons.

During his remarks before theofficial ribbon cuttings, JimmyCirrito told the standing-room-only crowd about his dream. Howin 1996 on Nov. 11, Veterans Day,the initial build began. He toldhow six months later, on Memo-rial Day 1997, Jimmy’s Old TownTavern opened. Sixteen years wentquickly by and in 2013 on SuperBowl Sunday; he announced plansfor the Buffalo Wing and Beer Gar-

den. “And now, in 2018, on SuperBowl Sunday once again, here weare...We are opening the ‘BuffaloWing and Beer Garden’ during TheSuper Bowl LII halftime show…And it’s because of very importantpeople here tonight. Each of you.”

Word of the grand opening hadspread quickly through the town.Congratulations poured in evenbefore the ceremonial ribbon cut-tings.

“Dream it, Build it, Enjoy it”Vicki Wilhelm had engraved on

her newly purchased commemo-rative brick, her gift to Cirrito. Itwas installed into the long path ofcommemorative bricks leading tothe Beer Garden.

The bricks were and will remaina funding raising project for indi-viduals and businesses to help sup-port the build.

On Facebook, Linda Downer ofHerndon wrote: “Congratulations,Jimmy! Richard and I have lookedforward to this for years.”

Merle Rogers wrote: “Jimmy, Iam so proud of you! Perseverance,hard work, and a whole lot of faithfinally paying off for you! Loveyou, brother!”

Merkel shared her words withthe gathered crowd before she andO’Meara cut the ribbons. Merkelsaid, “Jimmy took a chance onHerndon in 1997 and was a cata-lyst for all the great things to comein the downtown. He’s the King ofBuilding Community and the towncouldn’t be more thrilled for theBuffalo Wing and Beer Garden,”she said.

O’Meara said, “I’m thrilled to beback in Northern Virginia to cel-ebrate this wonderful day for myold friend and best restaurateur Iknow. Jimmy Cirrito is a true origi-nal, and I know JOTT will be aninstitution in Herndon and theD.C. area for many years to come.I’m very proud of him.”

Cirrito credited his wife, daugh-ter and all those around him. “Ihave been very blessed to have thesupport of my wife Maureen, ourdaughter, Kelsey, incredible staff,and countless friends and pa-trons.” Cirrito recalled that in1996, Maureen had said to him,“Do it while you are young or youwill never do it.”

“And here we are, doing it again,together,” Cirrito said. “Only big-ger and better. And we’re not doneyet.” A brewery waits.

Herndon institution opensBuffalo Wing and Beer Garden.Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern Expands

Mayor of Herndon, Lisa C. Merkel cuts theCeremonial Opening Ribbon for the GrandOpening of the Buffalo Wing and helpscelebrate the culmination of hard workand five-year perseverance of JimmyCirrito for his expansion project atJimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon.

Mike O’Meara, podcast personality andthe host of The Mike O’Meara Showcuts the ceremonial ribbon to theentrance of the Beer Garden, a muchawaited part of Jimmy’s Old TownTavern’s expansion product.

Jimmy Cirrito gives hiswife, Maureen, a kissand a bouquet of rosesduring the Opening ofthe Buffalo Wing at JOTT.

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4 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Opinion

To the Editor:The following open letter was addressed to state

Sen. Steve Newman, chair of the Education andHealth Committee.

As graduates of Thomas JeffersonHigh School for Science and Tech-nology (TJHSST), we were deeplytroubled to read that the Education

and Health Committee of the Virginia StateSenate struck down Senate Bill 787, the pro-posal by state Sen. Scott Surovell to make theadmissions policies at Governor’s Schools suchas TJHSST more equitable. While debates will

continue about whetherSenator Surovell’s legisla-tion is the right instrument,its intent to significantly al-

ter Jefferson’s admissions procedure to accountfor class is sound. No serious action has beentaken on this issue at the state or local levelsince the school was designated as a magnetschool and that has to change. Outreach ef-forts have had modest success in the past, butthey are not enough to make Jefferson equi-table. For this reason, we strongly support theintent of the senator’s bill and ask the commit-tee to work with Senator Surovell to draft leg-islation to make progress on this urgent issue.

All of us attended Fairfax County PublicSchools. There’s one among us who still hasher yearbooks and class pictures from kinder-garten through 12th grade. And in those im-ages from schools like Saratoga ElementarySchool and Mark Twain Middle School are thesmiling faces of friends and classmates of allraces, as well as friends and classmates wholived in a nearby HUD housing development.None of the kids from that housing develop-ment made it into TJ, not one. And virtuallynone of the Black and Hispanic students inthose other photos were admitted either.

The racial and economic composition ofJefferson has been an annual news story justabout every year since it became a magnetschool, and it’s never good news. Last year, only17 Black and Hispanic students were admit-ted — 3.4 percent out of 490 students. Andonly eight students (1.6 percent) eligible forfree or reduced-price lunches (an indicator ofstudents living in low-income or poor families).This despite the fact that Fairfax County Pub-lic School students overall are 25.4 percentHispanic, 10.1 percent Black, and 29 percentare eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

This disparity between Jefferson’s enrollmentand the racial and socioeconomic compositionof Fairfax County is unacceptable and easilyremedied. Countless elite institutions — espe-cially elite colleges — have modified their ad-missions procedures and requirements in re-cent years because they have realized that theirold criteria have long been leaving talent onthe table. They have softened their standard-ized testing requirements, engaged in admis-sions outreach, and sought out partners in highschools and middle schools to create a pipe-line of under-represented and low-income stu-dents to draw from. These students (whowould never have been admitted under the oldadmissions protocols) have thrived at theseelite institutions — often overperforming theirstandardized test scores. Yet Jefferson’s admis-

sions policies proceed ignorant of these devel-opments.

We live in a time when headlines and Twit-ter feeds constantly observe the pernicious ef-fects of systemic inequality and racism in thedaily lives of the poor and people of color. Andthe state of Virginia has a long legacy of rac-ism that the world was reminded of last yearduring and after the events that took place inCharlottesville. White supremacy is not justNazis marching in the streets; it also lies inmaintaining a high school that excludes thepoor, African-Americans, and Latinos, and thencalls itself the greatest, most meritocratic highschool in the country. You and the other 12members of the committee who struck downthis modest change to Jefferson’s admissionspolicies have voted to maintain a blatantly rac-ist and classist flagship school.

This is a shameful display when it wouldhave been so easy for you to answer the im-passioned requests of so many parents andalumni, as well as Senator Surovell. We un-derstand that the committee has framed itsobjections to this bill in terms of local rights.While in many cases local school boards arebest situated to make local educational deci-sions, when a board ignores a pressing issueaffecting its most vulnerable anddisempowered constituents over decades, thestate has an obligation to step in and remedythe injustice.

The one way that Jefferson, with the help ofthe Fairfax County School Board and the Vir-ginia legislature, could truly differentiate it-self is by showing that it is working deliber-ately and intentionally to combat the structuraland systematic racism and class privilege thatfeeds students into the school. Thousands ofschools and nonprofits around the countryhave already made meaningful change in thisarea, it’s time for Jefferson and those in chargeto take responsibility for this problem and dothe same.

Alexis Clements, TJHSST ‘98, BA Emerson College‘01, MS London School of Economics ‘06

Daniel Morales, TJHSST ‘98, BA Williams College‘02, JD Yale Law School ‘05

Kristina Danahy (Buenafe), TJHSST ‘98, BS/MSUniversity of Virginia ‘03, Ed.M Harvard ‘08

Kristen Olvera Riemenschneider, TJHSST ‘98,BSEE University of Virginia ‘01, JD University ofVirginia ‘06

Koyuki Smith, TJHSST ‘96, BA Columbia University‘01, MA Columbia University Teachers College ‘03

Megan Radek, TJHSST ’93, BA University of Virginia’97, MA University of Illinois ’04

Veronica Pillar, TJHSST ‘06, AB Princeton University‘10, MS Cornell University ‘14

Christopher Lee Rollins, TJHSST ‘04, BA College ofWilliam & Mary ‘08

Séain Gutridge, TJHSST ‘89Diane-Marie Johnston, TJHSST ‘98, BA University

of Virginia ‘02Tamara Metz, TJHSST ‘99, BA Bryn Mawr College

‘03, MA University of Arizona ‘11Joe Zarrow, TJHSST ‘97, BA Brown University ‘01,

MA New York University ‘06Rachel Yi-Feng Lei, TJHSST ‘96, BA Johns Hopkins

University ‘00, MA Fuller Theological Seminary ‘06Jennifer Love King, TJHSST ‘98, BA University of

Virginia ‘01Matt King, TJHSST ‘98, BA University of Virginia ‘02,

PhD University of Maryland ‘08Anwar Omeish, TJHSST ‘14, BA Harvard College ‘19Richard Berman, TJHSST ‘89, BA University of

TorontoCorinne Pender, TJHSST ‘05, BS Caltech ‘09, PhD

MIT ‘18Abby France, TJHSST ‘99, BS Northwestern

University ‘03Swathi Manchikanti, TJHSST ‘06, BS NJIT ‘10,

MSPH Johns Hopkins University ‘13Jack Levenson, TJHSST ‘90, BA St. Mary’s College of

MD ‘98Ramón Zabala, TJHSST ‘99, BS VA Tech ‘08Hillary Kolos, TJHSST ‘98, BFA New York University

‘02, SM MIT ‘10Sienna Lotenberg, TJHSST ‘14, AB Brown University

‘18, MAHL ‘21 and Rabbinic Ordination ‘23Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Sheryl Wallin Abrahams, TJHSST ‘98, BA RiceUniversity ‘02, MPH UNC-Chapel Hill ‘07

Christine Contreras-Slaughter, TJHSST ‘07, BADuke University ‘11

Samuel Leven, TJHSST ‘03, BA University of Virginia‘07, JD University of Virginia ‘10

Danielle Ahn, TJHSST ‘98, BA University ofRochester ‘02, MD University of Virginia ‘06

Michael Freedman-Schnapp, TJHSST ‘98, BAUniversity of Virginia ‘02, MUP NYU ‘09

Tenzin Lhanze, TJHSST ‘14, BS College of Williamand Mary ‘18

James Wu, TJHSST ‘96, BS Virginia Tech ‘01Jean Smith, TJHSST ‘98, BA University of Virginia

‘02, PhD University of California, Santa Barbara ‘13Saniya Suri, TJHSST ‘13, BA Washington University

in St. Louis, ‘17Sanjana Verma, TJHSST ‘13, BS The College of

William Mary ‘17Martha Burtis, TJHSST ‘92, BA Mary Washington

College, MA Teachers College, Columbia UPichchenda Bao, TJHSST ‘98, BA University of

Virginia ‘02Rohit Raghavan, TJHSST ‘96, BA Catholic Univ. of

America, ‘01, JD, Univ. of Illinois,, ‘05Alison Slade, TJHSST ‘99, BA University of Virginia,

‘05, MS Johns Hopkins University, ‘12Terence McDonnell, TJHSST ‘96, BA University of

Virginia ‘00, PhD Northwestern University ‘09Andrew Hayes, TJHSST ‘99, BA University of Virginia

‘03, PhD University of Maine ‘12Alan Hevelone TJHSST ‘96 BFA Savannah College of

Art & Design ‘00Brian Horne, TJHSST ‘96, BA University of Virginia

‘00, MA University of Chicago ‘04Russell Smith, TJHSST ‘96, BA Pennsylvania State

University ‘00Janna Harris, TJHSST ’98, BA University of Virginia

’02, PhD Virginia Commonwealth University ’08Nick Berning, TJHSST ’98, BA Macalester College ’02Anne Marie Creighton, TJHSST ‘10, AB Harvard ‘14Keryl Brown, TJHSST ‘10, BFA University of

Southern California ‘14Brittany Zuñiga Fulton, TJHSST ’07, BA William

and Mary ’11, MSW University of Michigan ‘16Elizabeth Carlson, TJHSST ‘97, BA Tufts University

‘01, PhD UCLA ‘11Kate Hao, TJHSST ‘14, BA Washington University in

St. Louis ‘18Kassandra Dove McMahon, TJHSST ’90, BS

Virginia Tech ’97, MS American IntercontinentalUniversity ’00

Jessica Wyman, TJHSST ‘97, BA New YorkUniversity ‘01, MBA Columbia University ‘08

Kimberly Taylor, TJHSST ‘91, BS University ofVirginia ‘94, PhD University of Wisconsin ‘05

William Tarpeh, TJHSST ‘08, BS Stanford University‘12, MS UC Berkeley ‘13, PhD UC Berkeley ‘17

Alec Rose, TJHSST ‘86, BA Tufts University ‘90, JDUniversity of California, Davis ‘93

Kripa Patwardhan, TJHSST ‘04, BA University ofVirginia ‘08, MPP George Mason University ‘10

Rob Heittman, TJHSST ’88Aaron Balasingam Koenig, TJHSST ‘10Dave Algoso, TJHSST ‘99, BA University of Virginia

‘03, MPA New York University ‘11Jorge A Torrico, TJHSST ‘98, BA University of

Virginia ‘04Sam Brinton, TJHSST ‘10Tamara Krmoholz, TJHSST ‘01, BA University of

Virginia ‘06, MT University of Virginia ‘06Richard Joyce, TJHSST ’00, BA University of Mary

Washington ’06, MA American University ’10Emily (Stanford) Colson, TJHSST ‘95, BA

University of Virginia ‘98, MD Eastern VirginiaMedical School ‘03

Caroline Odom, TJHSST ‘10J. M. Harper, TJHSST ‘95, BS Carnegie Mellon ‘99,

JD George Mason ‘06Wendy Guo, TJHSST ‘14, BS College of William and

Mary ‘18Jennifer Gilbert Manly, TJHSST ‘07, BA University

of Georgia ‘11Sharon Gentges, TJHSST ‘92, BA University of

Chicago, BArch Washington University

An Opportunity To Improve TJ

Commentary

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Oak Hill & Herndon

Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Herndon High School (HHS)has some of the most giftedstudent artists in the countrydemonstrating unique talent,

technical skills, and originality. Just askElizabeth Noto, Ed.D, Herndon High Schoolprincipal who announced that the Alliancefor Young Artists & Writers named sixHerndon students recipients of the 2018Scholastic Art Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarshipand recognition initiative for creative teensin grades 7-12.

The website for the Scholastic Awardsstates the young artists and writers werefree to explore any and all topics; therewere no pre-defined prompts, and nowork would ever be disqualified from theScholastic Awards because of the natureof its content. As for judging criteria, threeareas dominated: originality, technicalskill, and the emergence of a personalvoice or vision.

According to Scholastic Awards, judgeslooked for work that “...breaks from con-vention, blurs the boundaries betweengenres, and challenges notions of how aparticular concept or emotion can beexpressed...Work that uses technique toadvance an original perspective or a per-sonal vision or voice, and show skills beingutilized to create something unique, pow-erful, and innovative..., (and) Work with anauthentic and unique point of view and

style.”Fairfax County Public Schools, an Affili-

ate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writ-ers, was a sponsor of the Scholastic ArtAwards for the Fairfax County Region. Eachyear, students from public, private, andhome schools in Fairfax County submit art-work to be judged blind, meaning with noname visible, by professional artists and arteducators from the area.

Tammy Morin, art teacher at HerndonHigh School, said, “We are very apprecia-tive that our students are afforded the op-portunity to showcase their talents beyondthe classroom walls.”

The Herndon High School studentsnamed honored recipients of the 2018 Scho-lastic Art Awards and Honorable Mentionsare: Abby Wilson, 15, Honorable Mention;Breeana Rivera, 15, Honorable Mention;Solveig Reda, 16, one Gold and two SilverKey Awards; Jake Dyer, 17, one Gold KeyAward and two Honorable Mentions; EstelleKim, 16, one Silver Key Award and one Hon-orable Mention; and Diane Kovalchuk, 19,one Gold and three Silver Key awards.

Students who received Gold Key and Sil-ver Key awards will be celebrated in a cer-emony held Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, atthe Northern Virginia Community College,Annandale Campus, Ernst Cultural Center,8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale.Their artwork will be on exhibition thereFeb. 9 - March 15, 2018.

Artists whose works received a Gold Keywill automatically be advanced to competi-tion at the national level.

Herndon Students Named Among Most CreativeThe Alliance for Young Artists & Writers recognized powerful and innovative works.

Diane Kovalchuk, 19, withone Gold Key and three SilverKey awards: “This is a good op-portunity to help get ready forcollege.”

Abby Wilson, 15, HonorableMention: “I chose to make apenguin mask. ... I wanted tocapture how perfectly uniquethey are in a piece of art.”

Jake Dyer, 17, Gold KeyAward and two Honorable Men-tions: “This experience givesvalidation to an artist’s skill leveland gives students an opportu-nity to receive judgment frommore experienced artists. I willinclude this award in my pend-ing college applications.”

Solveig Reda, 16, one GoldKey and two Silver KeyAwards: “I am so thankful forhaving the opportunity to par-ticipate in Scholastic. I can’twait to participate and moveforward with my artwork. Mypieces were completed digi-tally, and I plan on pursuing acareer in digital and sequentialart.”

Estelle Kim, 16, Silver KeyAward: “When I first receivednews of my Silver Key Award, Iwas both honored and surprisedas my piece, ‘High school,’ wasmy first time experimenting withmixed media. Inspired by themany factors of high school, itwas fun to explore a theme thatmany individuals are familiarwith and approach my art withan illustrative dramatic style.”

Breeana Rivera, 15, Honor-able Mention: “When I wasentering my piece, I was nervousand excited about it. I’m glad Ientered because I had neverdone this before and I plan oncontinuing to show my art.”

The Nysmith School Debateteam’s victory in lastweekend’s Broad Run

High School Invitational Tourna-ment was achieved in competitionwith 45 schools throughout thestate in 12 different speech catego-ries. The individual members/teams that won are:

❖ First Place-JV Public Forum/High School Division:

Sarang Arun, eighth grader fromFairfax and McKenzie Hiek, eighth

grader from Great Falls;❖ Second Place-JV Public Fo-

rum/High School Division:Aaron Joy (Herndon/seventh)

and Ben Joel (McLean/seventh).The debate was affirming/ne-

gating the resolution for Spain togrant Catalonia its independence.As a result of taking two of thethree top places in the competi-tion, the Nysmith team, coachedby Maria-Theresa Dragg of Fairfax,was awarded the Sweeps Cup.

Front row,from left:CameronHiek, SahithiAtluri, IreneZhoa andAmalWoolridge;back row,from left:Ben Joel,Aaron Joy,McKenzieHiek andSarang Arun.

Nysmith School DebateTeam Wins Tournament

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Join Herndon Village Net-work (HVN), a nonprofit501 (c)(3) organization

for an afternoon of coffee, tea,and sweets on Sunday, Feb. 11,2:30-4 p.m. at ArtspaceHerndon, 750 Center St.,Herndon. Proceeds from theticketed event will benefit theoperation of the HVN, “Neigh-bors Helping Neighbors OneRide at a Time.”

HVN is part of NV Rides, anetwork of service providersaiming to enhance and improvevolunteer driving programsthroughout Northern Virginiafor non-driving older adults sothat they can get where theyneed to go. HVN strives to pro-vide their members with the

transportation they need throughthe generosity and service of theirvolunteer drivers.

During the Valentine event,there will be a raffle, six tickets for$5 (cash).

HVN thanks the following localbusinesses for their support: EldenStreet Tea Shop, Weird BrothersCoffee, Candy Drawer

Confectionary, Brama ItalianCuisine, Noshy Cookies, EOTH,and Right On Records.

Tickets are $20 per person,and must be purchased ahead.If you would like to purchase aticket to the event or find outmore about HVN, visitherndonvillagenetwork.org.

— Mercia Hobson

Herndon Village Network to Present A Valentine Tea

Photo Courtesy of Herndon Village Network

From left: Rosemary Kendall, Jenny Phipps, andCharles Marts are board members of Herndon VillageNetwork, a nonprofit organization that provides theirmembers with the transportation they need through thegenerosity and service of volunteer drivers.

Proceeds willbenefit the op-eration of theorganization.

6 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

It was time for daughters of allages to put on their prettydresses and dancing shoes and

head over to the Herndon Commu-nity Center escorted by their fathersor other special gentlemen in theirlives for the time-honored FatherDaughter Dance held Saturdayevening, Feb. 3.

Herndon Parks and Recreation pro-duced the semiformal event, themedthis year, “Party in Paris.” The eveningpresented a unique “date night” fordads, grandfathers, uncles, and maleguardians to celebrate with theirdaughters.

With a sparkle in their eyes, attend-ees tripped the light fantastic from6:30-9 p.m., with an estimated 160people dancing to music by DiscJockey, Aaron Hahn, president andfounder of Basement Media Produc-tions. Guests enjoyed heavy hors-d’oeuvres, fancy desserts, and pinkpunch and when they needed an ex-tra blast of fun tried out the photobooth where silly stick props themedfor Paris awaited them.

— Mercia Hobson

‘Party in Paris’ Held in HerndonHerndon Parks and Recreation Department offers anenchanted evening at their “Father Daughter Dance.”

Juliana Anselene, 3, ofHerndon get a little stepup, dancing on daddy’sshoes at the FatherDaughter Dance producedby Herndon Parks andRecreation and heldSaturday evening, Feb. 3,2018. Dad, Jeff Anselenedid not mind a bit, andtogether they took a spinon the dance floor.

Shaela Mahoney, 7, ofHerndon and her dadDevin shine as they hitthe dance floor atHerndon Parks andRecreation’s FatherDaughter Dance.

Photos by

Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Nearly nine years into a “13 month totwo-year” prognosis, I can hardly believe mygood fortune. And though I rarely look a gift-oncologist in the stethoscope, I am happynonetheless to count my blessings as I con-tinue to look ahead rather than stress behind,and try not think about what was said andwhen.

At the initial “Team Lourie” meeting withmy oncologist, I was told that there was nocure for lung cancer. I could be treatedthough. As to whether I might live beyondtwo years, I remember my oncologistresponding to our desperate query by say-ing: “Could you be the one? Sure.”Reassuring it wasn’t, but hopeful? It sort ofwas.

As the years have passed and research intolung cancer has grown, an interim step to acure has evolved: treating lung cancer as achronic (has opposed to acute/dire) disease,similar to diabetes, as an example. Not as yetcurable, but manageable over a longer periodof time. A disease with which, I’m fond ofsaying, one can live. Live beyond the applica-ble word because, I have to tell you, at thebeginning of my treatment, based on whatmy oncologist had described, living was along way from what he was anticipating myoutcome would be. Nevertheless, I begantreatment the following week and the rest ishistory you regular readers have been privy tosince June of ‘09 when I first published a “ca-ncer” column (as I call them).

Feb. 20, 2018 will be nine years since myinternal medicine office called me at workwith the results of my previous week’s biopsy.He said the tumor was malignant. I rememberasking him what that meant. (Duh!). He saidhe’d rather let the oncologist answer anyquestions and referred me to the doctor, thesame doctor with whom I’ve been a patientall these years. Sure enough, a week later weheard the news: non-small cell lung cancer,stage IV. And I’ve been up to my whatsis inreal or imagined anxiety ever since.

And I’m still present and accounted for asare more and more of us previously-characterized-as-terminal, non-small cell lungcancer “diagnosees.” We are not just patientsany more. We are survivors, surviving longerthan ever before. We are not cured but nei-ther are we dying. Our treatments are modi-fied when the results warrant it and life con-tinues to go on. As much as a cure would be,and continues to be, the goal, life continues,relatively normally, for many of us. It’sunlikely however, that we’ll ever get out fromunderneath the weight of our cancer diagno-sis. Rather than dying from it though, we’renow able to live with it months/years longerthan many patients previously diagnosedwithin the disease.

So what’s the next step? Maybe a bigger,bouncier, longer step than before, but morethan likely, more of the same, moving for-ward, one step at a time. To one whose pre-sent was hardly a given nine years ago andwhose future seemed like a taken – away,being able now to actually live in the presentwithout fearing/forfeiting the future is theopposite scenario many of us lung cancerpatients, especially those of as staged as IV,ever imagined. Day by day was the best wecould muster.

Now we’re mustering months and yearsand living longer more fulfilling lives. We’renot victims anymore nor are we victimized byour circumstances. We’re advocating andbeing advocated for. We don’t exactly havelung cancer on the run, but we may have iton the trot. I don’t know if I’ll live to see acure but I have lived long enough to havegiven myself a nickname, one which I’m mostproud to have earned.

“Chronic Ken”Submit civic/community announcements at

ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos andartwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, atleast two weeks before event.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATIONChild turning 5 years old by Sept. 30? If so,

contact your child’s school to makearrangements for kindergarten enrollment. Mostschools begin getting information together nowfor parents of incoming kindergartners, andmany host an orientation or open house. Allkindergarten programs are full-day and locatedin FCPS elementary schools. Check your school’swebpage or contact the school directly forspecific enrollment information and dates oforientationor visit www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 7Five Pillars of Brain Health. 2-3 p.m. at Reston

Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road,Reston. In this hour-long, interactive sessionlearn about the five pillars of a brain-healthylifestyle, share your brain-boosting activities andbe inspired by others. For more information orto register call 703-390-6157 or emailkaren.brutsche@fairfaxcounty.gov.

First Wednesday with Supervisor Hudgins.4-6 p.m. Reston Regional Library, 11925Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Stop by to speakwith Supervisor Cathy Hudgins directly one-on-one. No appointment necessary. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/huntermill/.

THURSDAY/FEB. 8Brain Health Workshop. 1-2 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.

at Southgate Community Center, 12125Pinecrest Drive, Reston. Baycrest Hospital isproviding a free brain health workshop for thosebetween 40 and 79 years of age. At this freeworkshop, you will receive brain health score, apersonalized score report, and best tips to keepthe brain healthy. Call 703-860-0676.

Award Nomination Deadline. 5 p.m. Nominatea volunteer or volunteer group that has made apositive impact on the Fairfax Countycommunity at www.volunteerfairfax.org. TheFairfax County Volunteer Service Awards is acommunity-wide celebration of volunteerism.For a complete list of categories and guidelines,visit www.volunteerfairfax.org or call KristenMoore at Volunteer Fairfax at 703-246-3531.

FRIDAY/FEB. 9Section 504 - What Parents Need to Know.

10 a.m.-noon at Dunn Loring Center for ParentServices, 2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room100, Dunn Loring. Learn how students with adisability may qualify for a Section 504 Planunder Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, a federal civil rights law that prohibitsdiscrimination against individuals on the basis ofa disability. Kathy Murphy, FCPS Section 504Specialist will present this workshop and answeryour questions. Register at bit.ly/2E6X15C.

Grant Application Deadline. 5 p.m. The Townof Herndon is accepting grant proposals up to$4,500 through the Virginia Commission for theArts (VCA) for projects to be implemented in FY2019. For information about this program andother grant opportunities, review the newlyadopted 2018-2019 Guidelines for Funding whichare available at www.arts.virginia.gov/grants_guidelines.html.

SATURDAY/FEB. 10Super Transition Saturday. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at

Lanier Middle School, 3801 Jermantown Road,Entrance 1, Fairfax. Learn about Career andTransition Services (CTS) programming andcourse options for students with disabilities.Breakout sessions will cover postsecondarysupport services, student self-determination, andin-school CTS supports that are available forstudents with special needs as they progressthrough their secondary years towardgraduation and beyond. Register at bit.ly/2Bbelnp.

TUESDAY/FEB. 13Family Caregiver Telephone Support Group.

7-8 p.m. Fairfax County’s Family CaregiverTelephone Support Group meets by phone onTuesday, February 13, 7-8 p.m. This month’s topicis Maintaining Relationships While Caregiving.Call 703-324-5484, TTY 711 to register.

Bulletin

8 ❖ Oak Hill/Herndon Connection ❖ February 7-13, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.

ONGOINGArt Exhibit. Through Feb. 17, various

times at the Greater Reston ArtsCenter, 11900 Market St., Reston.Featuring the work of Paulina Peavy,namesake of “Paulina Peavy: AMessage to Paulina.” Visitwww.restonarts.org for more.

Homegrown Yoga. Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday nights atArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St.,Herndon. Alison Adams is bringingHomegrown Yoga to ArtSpaceHerndon. All levels welcome. Drop inand take a class. $25 two weekunlimited pass or drop-in available.www.homegrownpoweryoga.com tosign up.

The Elden Street Tea Shop.Saturdays in ArtSpace Herndon, 750Center St., Herndon. Sip tea andenjoy a variety of locally made snacksand pastries while enjoying the latestart installations in the gallery. Visitwww.eldenstreettea.com.

All-comers’ Group Fun Run atPotomac River Running.Tuesdays and Thursdays. RestonTown Center, 11900 Market St.,Reston. For beginners or competitiverunners, come out for a fun, low-keyrun that is safe and social. Call 703-689-0999 potomacriverrunning.com.

Over-40 Softball League. A Fairfax-based league is looking for enoughplayers to form another team. Playersmust be at last 40 years of age to beeligible. All games are doubleheaders- played on Sundays at Bready Parkin Herndon between 11 a.m. and 6p.m. If interested, emailskeduman@aol.com for more.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 7Tröegs Reston Event. 5-8 p.m. at

Crafthouse Reston, 1888 Explorer St.Reston. Local folk artist Marni

Manning will join with TröegsIndependent Brewing to host a publicevent at Crafthouse. Free signedprints by the artist will be availableat the event. Manning, along with 13other artists, was commissioned byTröegs to create a poster design fortheir yearly Nugget Nectar unveiling.Free. Visit www.troegs.com.

Embrace New Beginnings. 7 p.m. atReston Regional Library, 11925Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. GerryGorman will lead this meditationpractice. Registration opens Jan. 24.Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Read and Sip. 6-8 p.m. Scrawl Booksreaders will meet at The TastingRoom in Reston Town Center todiscuss books over a glass of wine.Visit www.scrawlbooks.com/event/wine-wednesday-book-chats.

FRIDAY/FEB. 9Have A Heart Hop. 8:30-11:59 p.m.

at Dulles Hilton, 13869 Park CenterRoad, Herndon. The GottaSwingHave A Heart Hop will include aSilent Auction to raise money forVets & Pets (Honor Flight and LuckyDog Animal Rescue). Dance lesson at8:30. followed by three hours ofdancing. $25 per person. Visitwww.haveahearthop.net.

SATURDAY/FEB. 10Handmade Valentine’s Workshop.

9:30 a.m. Create one of a kindvalentines for someone special! Signup the whole family for thisworkshop led by GRACE staff tomake some fun, creative cards. Note:Parents will need to assist childrenwith the creation of cards andchildren must be accompanied by aparticipating adult. Adults may comeon their own and do not need to beaccompanied by a child. All ages. $5residents/$10 non-residents.Sponsored by Reston CommunityCenter. Register atwww.restoncommunitycenter.com/register-for-classes-activities.

Sisters in Crime Write-a-Thon. 10a.m. at Reston Regional Library,11925 Bowman Towne Drive,

Reston. Come write in with Sisters inCrime mystery authors. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Meet the Artists. 3-4 p.m. at theReston Community Center, HuntersWoods, 2310 Colts Neck Road,Reston. Members of the League ofReston Artists display paintings,drawings, mixed media, photographsand two-dimensional works suitablefor wall hangings. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org

Love Songs. 6:30-8 p.m. at UnitedChristian Parish, 11508 North ShoreDrive, Reston. Come join us for a freecommunity concert featuring MashaFeygelson and friends singing lovesongs to get us in the mood forValentine’s Day. Free. Call 703-620-3065 or visit ucpreston.org.

“Word Becomes Flesh.” 8 p.m. atReston Community Center,CenterStage, 2310 Colts Neck Road,Reston. Letters from a father to hisunborn son. Note: Recommended foradults ages 18 and older; youngeraudience members must beaccompanied by a parent orguardian. This performance runs 1hour and will be followed by a PostShow conversation with the artists.Tickets: Reston $20, Non-Reston $30.Call 703-476-4500 or visitwww.restoncommunitycenter.com.

SUNDAY/FEB. 11,Author Event. 4-6 p.m. at Scrawl

Books, 11862 Market St., Reston.Author C. V. Wyk will be at the storeto discuss her new YA fantasy novelBlood and Sand. Visitwww.scrawlbooks.com/event/blood-and-sand-c-v-wyk.

Mardi Gras Celebration. 5-7 p.m. atUnited Christian Parish, 11508 NorthShore Drive, Reston. Celebrate MardiGras with live entertainment fromReston’s top talent, including theReston Divas for an evening of music,dance, food and more. The event isfree and fun for all ages. Call 703-620-3065 or visitwww.ucpreston.org/event/1070505-2018-02-11-mardi-gras/.

TUESDAY/FEB. 13Design and Wine. 7-9 p.m. at

ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St.,Herndon. Design and Wine: WinterColors with Lorrie Herman. $40 perperson covers wine, light snacks andsupplies. Limited to 25 participants.Registration is required with paymentin advance. No prior art experiencenecessary. Call 703-956-9560.

James A. Bland Music ScholarshipCompetition. 7:30 p.m. RestonCommunity Center Hunters Woods,2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Solomusicians from local schools with avariety of voice, piano andinstrumental talents compete toadvance to regional round ofcompetition. Admission is free. Visitwww.restonlions.org.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 14Color Me Happy. 7 p.m. at Reston

Regional Library, 11925 BowmanTowne Drive, Reston. Relax, unwind,and color your cares away in ouradult coloring session. Coloringpages and pencils provided, or bringyour own. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

THURSDAY/FEB. 15Reston Historic Trust to Host

Program. 7 p.m. at the RestonHistoric Trust & Museum, 1639Washington Plaza N., Reston. OnDiversity — An Exploration of BobSimon’s Goal in Reston 2018. Jointhe Reston Historic Trust & Museumfor an interesting panel discussion.The program will be held in the JoAnn Rose Gallery at RestonCommunity Center Lake Anne and is

free to the public. Seating is limited,so reservations are welcome. Contact703-709-7700 orrestonmuseum@gmail.com.

THURSDAY/FEB. 16Great Decisions Series. 2 p.m. at

Reston Regional Library, 11925Bowman Towne Drive, Reston.Watch the film produced by theForeign Policy Association andparticipate in the roundtablediscussion on current events and U.S.foreign policy options. The topic forthis month is “Russia’s ForeignPolicy”. Discussion materials will beavailable at the Info Desk two weeksbefore the event. Light refreshmentswill be served. Call 703-689-2700 orvisitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Application Deadline. GreaterReston Arts Center invites artists tosubmit a proposal for new artwork inresponse to the prompt, “If you coulddo anything, what would that be?”Five artists will be selected by GuestCurator Don Russell and GRACEAssociate Curator Erica Harrison toparticipate in the 2018 Mary B.Howard Invitational: STRETCH.Selected artists will receive a $250honorarium and $1,000 formaterials. Call 703-471-9242 or visitrestonarts.org.

SATURDAY/FEB. 17Bluegrass String Quintet. 7-9 p.m.

at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St.,Herndon. Bluegrass String Quintet:Two Ton Twig, honoring a time andspirit when music was more raw andhonest, the string quintet combinesemotion and depth with their raucousand carefree attitude. The result isboth captivating and foot-stompin’ fun.Visit www.artspaceherndon.org/new-events/2018/2/17/two-ton-twig

SUNDAY/FEB. 18Piedmont Bluz. 2 p.m. at Reston

Regional Library, 11925 BowmanTowne Drive, Reston. Piedmont BluzAcoustic Duo plays traditionalAfrican American folk music. Theyhelp preserve this music throughworkshops and presentations.Sponsored by the Friends of theReston Regional Library. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

MONDAY/FEB. 19Children’s Performing Arts Series.

10:30-11:15 a.m. at HerndonCommunity Center, 814 FerndaleAve., Herndon. Rocknoceros. CoachCotton, Williebob, and BoogieWoogie Bennie perform wildlypopular award-winning music for thewhole family. Rocknoceros hasdominated the DC children’s musicscene for many years. Ages 1-10. $4in advance/$5 at the door perperson, per show. Children under theage of one are free. Call 703-787-7300 or visit herndon-va.gov.

TUESDAY/FEB. 20Sam’s Book Club. 7 p.m. at Reston

Regional Library, 11925 BowmanTowne Drive, Reston. Join formerlibrary director Sam Clay as he leadsa lively book discussion. February’stitle is Little Paris Bookshop by NinaGeorge. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

WEDNESDAY/FEB. 21Book Club. 12:15-1:15 p.m. at Scrawl

Books,11911 Freedom Drive, RestonTown Center. Scrawl Books, lunch-time book club on the 3rdWednesday of each month. The firstbook is Girl Waits with Gun by AmyStewart. Visit scrawlbooks.com orcall 703-966-2111.

Calendar

Alison Adams of Homegrown Yoga.

Yoga @ ArtSpaceAlison Adams is bringing Homegrown Yoga to ArtSpace Herndon. All levels

welcome. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at ArtSpace Herndon, 750Center St., Herndon. Drop in and take a class. $25 two week unlimited pass or drop-in available. Visit www.homegrownpoweryoga.com to sign up.