Mt. Vernon’S Premiere Contemporary Subdivi- Sion of Wessynton
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Vol. XXI, No. 24 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper June 17, 2010 ‘Runway House Bought Ready’ To Stop Flooding Neighbors criticize National Park Fashion students Service’s drainage strategy. take their talent By Gale Curcio on the parkway around the and run with it. The Gazette Collingwood Road exit in the late ‘80s. By Grace Powell n 1982, Bill and Valerie “When they put the median in The Gazette Howe purchased a home on and did the road repairs, they I East Boulevard Drive. It [NPS] messed up,” said Conway. ith all the cameras, was a beautiful setting and “They know they’re in the wrong.” Wmakeup and high a great location. There was one Starting in 2006, the Conways heels, it seemed like major problem, however — the started exchanging emails with the nearly everyone at West back and side yards were prone to Park Service and had numerous Potomac High School’s “Run- flooding. meetings to complain about the way Ready” fashion show on When the flooding issues. June 12, was somehow famous. Howes’ daughter, “They didn’t And many were. Debbie Conway, “They didn’t know know where the Like Bianca Golden and Ises and her husband, water was com- King from America’s Next Top by Photo Cliff, purchased where the water ing from and Model and D.C. avant-garde the home in they didn’t know designer Emore’J Couture. Or 1997, the flood- was coming from what to do,” said Kenny Flanagan, who has de- Grace Powell ing continued. and they didn’t Conway. “I really signed outfits for stars like When they in- wanted it fixed, Rihanna. The show even fea- stalled a pool in know what to do.” and we tried to tured clothes from world re- 1999, they no- — Debbie Conway seek damages, nown fashion designer Betsey ticed the flood- but lost.” Johnson. /The Gazette ing even more. In January Yet then there were the stu- At times, the flooding in their yard 2009, the Conways received a let- dents. Alana, Emily, Kiadra, was so bad that it came up to the ter from the Park Service offering Nicole, Lily, Sonya, Nuku and first step of their deck. to buy their house. Latasja: Eight girls ready to “Over time, it eroded more and “It was a complete surprise,” graduate high school and ready more,” said Debbie Conway. “The said Conway, who had a meeting to show the famous people Senior Latajsa Rousey created model Bianca Golden’s crawl space also floods.” scheduled with a contractor two (right) outfit along with her partner Kiadra Faulkner Conway blames the flooding on days later to sign an agreement See Fashion, Page 4 (behind). the drainage work that was in- stalled after a median was placed See Home, Page 15 Veterans Volunteer To Help Wounded Soldiers hike — entitled the Leisure Explo- or her choice. The voucher option County partners with Ft. Belvoir to provide ration Opportunity — at the Great would enable the recovering sol- adaptive therapeutic recreation services. Falls National Park. dier to informally go to a recre- For those soldiers who are not ation center anywhere in the interested in a structured physical county and participate in an orga- By Gerald A. Fill fully recovered from their injuries. hind a new partnership between recreation program, they can opt nized or impromptu activity avail- The Gazette One element of a recovering Fairfax county’s Department of to receive a recreation center able at the center. soldier’s transition and recovery Community & Recreation Services voucher entitling the holder to 25 he Base Realignment deci- emotionally and physically is to and Fort Belvoir’s wounded war- visits to a recreation center of his See Veterans, Page 9 Tsion (BRAC) transferred a engage in recreation activity. riors in transition program to pro- portion of the combat in- Area resident Charles Voccio, a vide community-based recreation jured rehabilitation responsibili- Vietnam veteran active in a local services to wounded soldiers. 6/18/10 ties from Walter Reed Medical American Legion Post and the After months of planning and home in Requested material. Center to Ft. Belvoir. This includes county’s senior center program, organizing with Ft. Belvoir and Time-sensitive assisting soldiers who were saw an opportunity to help county staff, Voccio’s vision of a Postmaster: wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan wounded soldiers in a personal personalized therapeutic commu- Attention Permit #482 Permit to transition to a new assignment, way and convinced others to fol- nity recreation program for recov- VA Alexandria, PAID return to civilian life, or return to low his lead. ering soldiers will be launched Postage U.S. their former assigned unit once He’s been the driving force be- June 17 with a supervised trail STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 17-23, 2010 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 17-23, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Hoke Retires from St. Aidan’s Hoke over the past several years. Odom appointed Hoke received her bachelor’s new director. degree in education from Penn State University. She and her hus- band James have two children, By Gerald A. Fill Kristina and Lara. The Gazette Q. Why did you stay at St. et back some 50 yards off Aidan’s all these years? You Riverside Road in Mt. clearly could have taught in SVernon, the St. Aidan’s the public school system or Episcopal Day School is a moved elsewhere to teach. popular and, according to the A. It was and always has been a teachers and parents who have caring supportive community. I sent their children to the school, a loved what I did and the children, positive and influential preschool parents, teachers, and the entire for many children in the commu- community responded positively. nity since its opening in 1966. Just I had no desire to be anywhere else Kathy Hoke with driving back off the main road to or to do anything else. preschool children. the large parking lot surrounded by carefully kept grounds, one Q. What was your most filled creative program for the chil- File Photo senses a sanctuary for children to challenging experience in dren. A vehicle parked on a front lawn south of Huntley Mead- socialize, play, and develop. There all these years? ows Park earlier this year. is the carefully maintained garden, A. The flood that occurred last Q. What are you planning the immaculately kept school, a year one week before we were to on doing in retirement? large playground area, and of open the school for the new year. A. First, I plan on traveling to course, St. Aidan’s Episcopal The storm drains backed up and California for an upcoming wed- Send in the A-Team Church. flooded our basement area, caus- ding for my daughter, Lara. Be- St. Aidan’s Day School offers ing a lot of destruction of three yond that, I haven’t given a lot of constructive and organized play classrooms, the kitchen, and bath- thought to my plans. I will think Supervisor McKay suggests county for 135 children ages 30 months room spaces. But the parents, about it more and plan accordingly use private collections services through 5 years of age. There are church, staff, and the entire com- with my husband Jim, who still 16 teachers on staff. Until very re- munity came to our rescue to clean works so that will have to be taken to go after zoning deadbeats. cently, none have been more in- up, renovate, and replace furni- into consideration. fluential than Kathy Hoke who, ture, etc., all in time for our school after more than 20 years, the last opening. It was a terrible experi- WHAT OTHERS SAY By Michael Lee Pope outside service to get dues for an 11 as the school’s director, has re- ence and also a gratifying one to Dare Hurley, parent: “The school The Gazette after-school program. Ever since tired. Her legacy of leadership see the entire community come to is a blend of caring teachers who the General Assembly passed au- lives on through the teachers and our rescue. inspire our children; the teachers hat abandoned car down thorizing legislation in 2009, the new director, Suzanne Odom, are very supportive and work well Tthe street is a nuisance. more and more county depart- who was hired and mentored by Q. What was the most together.” About Kathy Hoke: “She But is its owner paying the ments and agencies are moving gratifying experience you has been a calming force. Positive, price of the zoning violations is- toward the more aggressive col- had over the years as sincere, and always has our kids sued by Fairfax County judges? lections operations. While the St. Aidan’s director? at heart.” Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay need is partly based in the Philosophy A. The day-to-day experience to Colleen Ferguson, parent: “St. says in many cases, the fines are county’s need for money, it’s also be a part of the caring, nurturing, Aidan’s, for me and my children, “We strive to promote a loving, never collected until a property is the result of fallow properties caring atmosphere rich in experience, loving support provided by the is like family. Kathy Hoke has been up for sale. The catch-me-if-you caught in the middle of the eco- materials, and equipment to nurture parents and staff, and the special a strong, quiet, steadying influ- can environment is troubling to nomic crisis.