BurkeBurke Reverend Prepared to Perform Same-Sex Follow on Twitter: @BurkeConnection on Twitter: Follow Marriage News, Page 3 Classified, Page 10 Classified, Inside ❖ Newcomers & & Community Guide Guide 2014-2015 Sports, Page 6 ❖ Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael of Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke went to the Jayden (right) has a great time practicing his soccer moves Fairfax Courthouse to meet any- Burke with family friend Kevin Galan at Rolling Valley Park. Photo by Renée Ruggles/The Connection one who might have come out in www.ConnectionNewspapers.comLocal Media Connection LLC Burke online Connection at www.connectionnewspapers.com❖ Newconers & Community Guide 2014-15 ❖ 1 response to the Supreme Court’s Entertainment, Page 7 Newcomers decision to postpone legal gay & Community Guide marriage in Virginia. Samantha Bird Fall for the Book Wins Gold in Triathlon in September News, Page 3 News, Page4 Photo by Tim Peterson/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comAugust 28 - September 3, 2014 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comBurke Connection ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2014 ❖ 1 POTOMAC RIVER 3750 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Alexandria, VA 22305 ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA 703-684-0710 TOYOTA TOYOTA www.alexandriatoyota.com Service Department Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00am to 9:00pm Saturday, 8:00am to 5:00pm TOYOTA LIFETIME GUARANTEE Mufflers•Exhaust Pipes•Shocks•Struts Toyota mufflers, exhaust pipes, shocks, struts ServiceCenters and strut cartridges are guaranteed to the 27 YEARS OF original purchaser for the life of the vehicle Keep Your Toyota RECEIVING THIS when installed by an authorized Toyota dealer. Let’s Go Places a Toyota HONOR See us for full details. You Have Saturdays Off That’s Exactly Why We Don’t! 2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Church Reverend Prepared to Perform Same-Sex Marriage Rev. Scott Sammler- “It’s not the end. And it’s Michael was part of going to happen. I predict statewide effort. By it will be here by this time Tim Peterson Tim By Tim Peterson next year, if not before. The Connection It’s on the move.” “ would expect most people wouldn’t — Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline /The Connection want to get married on the spot by a Iminister they don’t even know,” said ginia, the original ban on gay marriage was Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, minister approved by voters. of Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church In a statement, president of the D.C.- in Burke. Sammler-Michael, himself from based National Organization for Marriage Fairfax, was one of 30 clergymen around Brian Brown said, “We had called upon the Northern Virginia and 60 across the state Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael went to the Fairfax Courthouse to meet Court to take this step and are gratified that that had been organized and planned to be anyone who might have come out in response to the Supreme Court’s they will now be able to carefully consider present at local courthouses on Thursday, decision to postpone legal gay marriage in Virginia. the issues.” Sammler-Michael and Gorsline Aug. 21. were greatly disappointed by the latest rul- On that day, Virginia’s ban on same-sex protesters.” Yet Herring was also in favor of the Supreme ing, but maintain a positive outlook. marriage was supposed to be effectively Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline, president and Court’s action postponing allowing gay “Change happens,” said Sammler-Michael. overturned by February’s decision from the CEO of POFEV, was going to be on hand in marriage to take place. His stated concern “I tend to be optimistic. I try to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond for the same purpose, “with my was preventing legal ambiguity for gay long view of history. Even if it happens, in Richmond. Immediately after that initial husband of 17 years,” he said. “Thursday couple who would have married on Thurs- the end, it’s for good reasons.” ruling, the Richmond-based group People was our 15th anniversary of our commit- day, just to potentially have their marriages of Faith for Equality in Virginia ment ceremony in Brooklyn, N.Y. We nullified by a future ruling. THE ACCOTINK CHURCH MINISTER (POFEV) had begun planning for the ban’s would’ve been thrilled of course to have “I understood [Herring’s] reasoning,” said rode his bike to the courthouse in Fairfax strike down to take effect. been able to get married here. Of course, it Sammler-Michael. “He didn’t want to have on Thursday anyway, just in case there were POFEV wanted there to be a mixed-faith didn’t happen.” to untangle a lot of people’s marriages who demonstrators representing either side of showing at courthouses across the state, were legally wed.” the ruling. By the time he arrived — mid- with clergymen offering information, a calm BY THE EVENING on Wednesday the “I admire him a great deal,” Gorsline said. morning — there was nothing but typical presence and the opportunity for couples 20th, it was released that the U.S. Supreme “I would say to him: We’ve lived with that traffic in and out of the main entrance. “It’s to marry immediately after securing a li- Court would delay on Virginia’s enforce- kind of uncertainty for so long; we would’ve an amazing time to live through all this cense — thanks to Virginia’s zero wait time ment of the overturned ban. Same-sex been happy to at least have had a taste of stuff,” said Sammler-Michael, “where it policy. couples would have to wait for weeks, per- legal marriage. We’re sadly still very used looks like we’ve regressed 40 years; but you “This is when people would be in danger haps months, for the Court to make another to the fact that there’s always somebody take a couple steps forward, a couple steps of being harassed,” added Sammler- ruling based on petitions from Virginia and who thinks we should wait — we’ll upset back. You’ve gotta hope that you can enjoy Michael, who performed marriages in Wash- several other states with bans on gay mar- somebody. We’re accustomed to it.” the show.” ington D.C. this past Valentine’s Day and is riage. On the opposite side of the issue, anti- “It’s only a delay,” said Gorsline. “It’s not no stranger to demonstrators. “We wanted Unique to Virginia was the fact that Gov- gay marriage groups are applauding the the end. And it’s going to happen. I predict to be there so people didn’t have to look far ernor Terry McAuliffe and Attorney general Court’s patience and respect for the gov- it will be here by this time next year, if not and wide. Or help them if there were any Mark Herring refused to defend the ban. erning rights of individual states. In Vir- before. It’s on the move.” Samantha Bird Wins Gold in Ulman Cancer Fund Triathlon granted.” level fitness, Bird trains between eight Iron Girl all-female Bird, an intelligence and 10 hours per week during the sum- consultant for the mili- mer. race took place in tary, has lived in Burke Her husband is also into triathlon and for four years with her ultra-endurance races, so they take turns Ellicott City, Md. husband and twin 5- watching the children while the other Photo courtesy Samantha Bird courtesy Photo By Tim Peterson year-old girls. She’s one trains. Unless they get a sitter. competed in triathlons “I think it’s a great example for my The Connection periodically since high kids,” Bird said. “I think it inspires them school, but focused on to get outside and exercise. They want inishing more than 10 seconds swimming during a ca- to do a race, so next year we’ll look for a ahead of her closest competitor, reer on the varsity team mini.” FBurke resident Samantha Bird at West Point. With or without her husband, Bird was the overall champion at the Iron Girl Though Iron Girl was enjoys the camaraderie of training part- all-female sprint triathlon held in Ellicott a sprint distance — .62- ners. She works out with Ignite Endur- City, Md. on Aug. 17. Her time of mile swim, 16-mile bike, ance, a Washington, D.C.-based triathlon 1:26:46.91 beat out roughly 1,700 other 3.4-mile run — Bird is a team, as well as Team Red, White, and athletes; all of them competed to ben- decorated veteran of Derek and Samantha Bird, of Burke, stand un- Blue, a nonprofit organization aimed at efit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young longer races. Earlier in characteristically still after completing the helping veterans reintegrate into society Adults. 2014 she captured victo- Naylor’s Beach Triathlon. through athletics. “It’s always an honor to win,” said Bird. ries in the Naylor’s “I just enjoy participating and meet- “You never know who’s going to show Beach Triathlon and Culpeper Triathlon — completed three Ironman triathlons. “Those ing unique people through training and up. There’s definitely a lot of fast people both “international” distances: 1500-meter were all pre-kids,” said Bird. racing,” Bird said. “It’s a supportive and in the area so you never take a win for swim, 24-mile bike, 10K run. She’s also To prepare and maintain competition- outgoing community.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2014 ❖ 3 News Fall for the Book in September Local book festival Where and When with something for The 2014 Fall for the Book Festival will be held Sept.