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Spring 2018 HomeLifeStyleHomeLifeStyle Style Inside Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper March 15, 2018 Life Alexandria Lo cal Me dia Con Gazette Packet nect ion LLC o nline at www .conne ctionn ewspap ers.com Intersection of Business and EducationHome Chamber hosts Brabrand, three principals at Belle Haven Country Club. By Steve Hibbard The Gazette Hibbard/The Gazette by Steve Photos he Fairfax County Schools Superinten- T dent Dr. Scott Brabrand and three local principals explained the in- terconnections between business and education at the Mount Dr. Matt Ragone, principal Vernon Lee Chamber of of South County High Commerce’s March 8 Business School. Breakfast at the Belle Haven Coun- try Club. Kathryn Falk, vice presi- Following a welcome from dent of Cox Business. Chamber President Sonja Caison, About 50 people attended the meeting of the Mount who runs The Cleaning Authority, Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday, she introduced some strategic March 8 at the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. partners, including Cox Business Vice President Kathryn Falk, and has been overseeing 2,700 stu- cipal at Langley High and now at some new chamber members. Be- dents at West Potomac, said she is South County since late 2014, sides Brabrand, the three princi- looking forward to partnering with added: “One of the projects we pals who spoke were Dr. Tangy the local business community. “As have is a Military Connected Youth Millard, principal of West business owners, you know what Process Action Team. I’m working Potomac; Dr. Matt Ragone, princi- you need coming out of high with the student services depart- pal of South County; and Dr. An- school and college are students ment, and our goal is to make sure Dr. Anthony Terrell, thony Terrell, principal of Mount who can collaborate; students who the community knows and has the principal of Mount Vernon Vernon high schools. can problem-solve; high-order information to support military- High School. “First of all, FCPS is open for thinking skills; innovation; cre- connected youth as they transition business. We are here to forge new ation — so, we’re moving into this in and out of Fairfax County,” he and deeper relationships with the next layer of learning,” she said. said. “Fairfax County does a tre- business community,” said “Starting in 2020, our high schools mendous amount for these kids Sonja Caison, president of Brabrand, a former classroom vol- are looking to be one-to-one across and these families but not every- the Mount Vernon Lee unteer, social studies teacher, and the board, and that means every body knows about it. So, our goal Chamber of Commerce. principal in Fairfax County student will be given a laptop that is to get the word out on how to schools. “Good schools are good they will use as their tool for welcome kids in and help them for business. And good business school learning throughout the transition out.” conditions are also good for school year, and our school district He continued: “Our big initiative schools. We need to continue to will be supporting that.” also is to become the best aca- attract and develop and enhance In addressing a school-business demic institution in South County, the business climate here in Fairfax partnership, she added: “We will in the state of Virginia. Our AP County for a great quality of life, need the level of support from the scores are going up; our AP enroll Dr. Scott Brabrand, Super- for more opportunity for our kids learning side where you guys (lo- intendent of Fairfax County as they graduate and for our whole cal businesses) bring real-world See Brabrand, Page 20 Public Schools. community to be successful.” experiences to our students — giv- During his talk, he touched on ing them opportunities to hear three “E’s” and a “J” — Excellence, from you, coming as visitors and 3/16/18 Equity, Effectiveness and Joy. “My speaking about what you do ev- home in Requested material. focus is about making Fairfax ery day as business owners, as well Time-sensitive County Public Schools the pre- as what skills are necessary to do Postmaster: miere school system in this coun- the work that you do, and also giv- Attention Permit #482 Permit Dr. Tangy Millard, principal try and a beacon school system ing our students the opportunity VA Alexandria, PAID of West Potomac High really in the world,” he said. to intern with you.” Postage U.S. School. Millard, who for seven months Ragone, who was a former prin- STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 15-21, 2018 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 15-21, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Teens at Stony Brook Apartments praised Making a Difference in Smarter Growth presentation. By Mary Paden group of teens, who received county awards for their regular Agrounds and stream cleanups around their Stony Brook apart- ments and Little Hunting Creek, were fea- tured in a “walking tour and forum series” event of the Coalition for Smarter Growth last month. The nonprofit coalition spon- sors educational events and works in the metro area to help plan for growth that is green and transit-centered. In the community room of Stony Brook Apartments at 3600 Buckman Road, Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the coalition, Monica Billinger of the Audubon Naturalist Society, and others gave presen- tations on how the planned EMBARK de- velopment along Route 1 may influence Contributed Photos stormwater management in Hybla Valley. Schwartz saw EMBARK as an exciting chance to right some of the wrongs of de- velopment of the 1950s that paved over huge areas for parking lots and channeled streams to carry flood water to the river as fast as possible, gouging themselves out and removing all life forms. Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay (center) praised teens who participated in several stream clean-ups. New trends in development allow runoff water to soak back into the Corporation, which owns the 204 volvement of communities, especially youth, Dangale said she was still getting used to it ground through green sur- apartments. The apartments in protecting streams as they flow through but feels like she is helping out. faces, holding ponds, and sport solar panels on the roofs neighborhoods. The teen group is two-time defender of meandering streams before and rain barrels at the drain- Various civic leaders, some from the the Fairfax County Youth Volunteer Group reaching the river. Billinger pipes. The grounds are litter downstream areas of the creek, attended of the Year Award from Volunteer Fairfax, stressed the importance of free, thanks in part to the stu- the briefing. They were joined by Lee Dis- and is nominated again — and Racheal is neighborhoods’ understand- dents suggesting trash cans trict Supervisor Jeff McKay on the grounds nominated for Youth Volunteer of the Year. ing the water cycle and act- near the mailboxes. along the creek, which is fenced off from Barton, who works full-time at Stony ing to keep water clean Little Hunting Creek origi- most apartment property. Brook, is now also working with CPDCs through rain capture, stream nates on the east side of Route Asked why they participated in clean ups, other properties to expand youth volunteer clean up, green spaces, and 1 and runs behind Walmart, the teens — three girls and two boys — gave opportunities in locations such as Southeast, other environmental actions. Costco and Audubon Mobile the first reason as “he [Barton] gives us D.C.; Reston, Va.; and Silver Spring, Md. Five of the dozen or so teens Home Park, then turns east food” — pizza to be exact. But Barton noted “People are listening to young people, from the apartments who have runs through large residen- that the teens kept working many hours these days,” McKay said. “When our com- Trash awaiting participated in about 10 stream tial developments such as after the pizza was finished. munity was built here there were no envi- clean up. clean ups attended the meeting Creekside, Sequoia, and Stoney “At first I didn’t want to touch those dirty ronmental standards and most of the prob- and told the community leaders Creek. It parallels Buckman Road and flows things,” said Stephanie Agyemang-Manu, lems we see are a result of that. As the area who attended why they helped out. back under Route 1 where it widens and “but now I find clean- up relaxing — sort of redevelops with EMBARK, this is exactly the The teen group is led by Ryan Barton, flows through residential areas to enter the therapeutic.” Racheal Appiah said she just right time to be in this part of the county. manager of community impact strategies for Potomac River at Riverside Park. Barton and wanted to help out her community. Carmela We are focusing on all positive things.” Community Preservation and Development Billinger stressed the importance of the in- Ryan Barton, manager of community impact strategies for Community Preservation and Development Corporation, which owns Stoney Brook Apartments, surrounded by his teen volunteers shows a group of civic Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay applauded the work of the group and leaders how the creek flows through several apartment complexes. said, “This is exactly the right time to be in this part of the county.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 15-21, 2018 ❖ 3 4 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 15-21, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News SUNDAY OPEN Alex/Riverside Estates $589, 900 NEW 1-4 8543 Mount LISTING Vernon Hwy Photo Contributed Photo Newly remodeled 3 level colonial w/ 4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, huge over- sized garage, all on a lovely .41 acre lot.