Mcleanmclean Page 16

Page 16 McLeanMcLean “The Thought,” a statue by Public Art Robert Cole, is Public Art Robert Cole, is unveiled at the Tysons West development, which will serve thethe SpringSpring HillHill Metrorail sta- tion,tion, onon Mon-Mon- UnveiledUnveiled atat day,, AprilApril 15.15. Classifieds, Page 22 Page Classifieds, ❖ ❖ TysonsTysons WestWest News, Page 6 Sports, Page 20 20 Page Sports, ❖ ❖ Entertainment, Page 13 13 Page Entertainment, ❖ ❖ Opinion, Page 12 12 Page Opinion, Cooper Celebrates 50th AnniversaryNews, Page 3 Autism Speaks Volumes for ❖ 1 ❖ April 24-30, 2013 Student Volunteers McLean Connection Student Volunteers online at www.connectionnewspapers.com News, Page 4 Photo by Alex McVeigh/The Connection McVeigh/The Alex by Photo www.ConnectionNewspapers.comApril 24-30, 2013 2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ April 24-30, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com McLean Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photo by Photo Alex McVeigh /The Connection Photos by Photos Alex McVeigh From left, Kaitlyn Arcari, Maggie Bellaschi, Lauren Markwart and Elizabeth Hoeymans, seventh graders at Cooper Middle School, try out the live Angry Birds game at the school’s 50th anniversary Saturday, April 20. /The Connection Cooper Celebrates 50th Anniversary From left, Stella Koch of Great Falls and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair- From left, Supervisor John Foust (D- Alumni, students come together man Sharon Bulova at the annual Fairfax Dranesville) names Bill Sudow of McLean to celebrate golden anniversary. County Volunteer Service Awards Thurs- the Dranesville Community Champion at day, April 18, where Bulova presented the annual Fairfax County Volunteer Ser- Koch with a Community Champion award. vice Awards. By Alex McVeigh tors and staff. The Connection “I learned that years ago the faculty loved to play pranks on ames Fenimore Cooper each other,” she said. “I heard Dranesville Volunteers Recognized JMiddle School opened one story about a teacher who its doors in the fall of was waiting to hear the results her Community Champion. Koch has lived in Great 1962 and will wrap its 50th on a test for a class she was tak- Bill Sudow, Stella Koch Falls since 1984, and has been a constant environ- school year up in June. On Sat- ing, and other teachers con- named Community mental advocate throughout the county. urday, April 20, they welcomed spired with her husband to put She serves on the Fairfax County Environmental back alumni, faculty, staff and a fake notification in the mail- Champions by supervisors. Quality Advisory Council, and founded the Fairfax administrators to look back on box.” League of Conservation Voters and the Fairfax Envi- the school’s history. Tracie Becker helped coordi- ronmental Network. “I figured I might be the old- nate the celebration, and she By Alex McVeigh “Stella personifies environmental leadership in est alumni here when I realized credited the school’s faculty and The Connection Fairfax County,” Bulova said. “She is extremely the only people I recognized staff for their interest in cel- knowledgeable, hardworking and uses her skills to were the retired principles,” ebrating the anniversary. wo Dranesville District residents were assist the board to realize the county’s environmen- said Douglas Goralski, who “We didn’t want the celebra- honored at the annual Fairfax County tal vision.” graduated Cooper in 1971. tion to be too taxing on school TVolunteer Service Awards Thursday, April Koch has also spearheaded several stream clean Goralski had at least one time and resources, but the staff 18. The annual awards ceremony recog- ups in the Great Falls area, and currently serves as classmate at the anniversary and administration were a nized individuals and groups across the county who co-chair of the Great Falls Citizens Association’s en- celebration Saturday, one who dream to work with,” she said. dedicated their time to others. vironmental committee. is still a part of the school’s com- “Their only concern was that “Volunteerism is very serious business. It makes a Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) named Bill munity. Eighth grade Assistant everyone had a good time.” difference in the community, it is a statement of our Sudow, a McLean resident, as Dranesville’s Commu- Principal Frank Stevens also The day also featured the values,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11). “Fairfax nity Champion. Sudow, an attorney, has served on graduated from Cooper in burial of a time capsule. Stu- County would not exist without volunteers, from the the board of the McLean Revitalization Corporation 1971. dents planted a time capsule in libraries to volunteer firefighters and auxiliary po- for the past five years. “I think it’s great that so many the 70s, but it hasn’t been found lice and mentors, and everything in between. In hon- According to Foust’s nomination, Sudow has “a current students made the trip since then. This year, the school oring the people here today, we honor that incred- special talent for getting things moving.” The corpo- here today. Many of them are has taken measures to ensure ible tradition of volunteerism that makes Fairfax ration is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the involved in sports and other this capsule can be found when County such a rich and caring community.” downtown business area of McLean. activities today, but so many needed. The 154 honorees at the ceremony performed a “Mr. Sudow used his dedication as well has his in- made time to stop by,” he said. “We joined the International total of 150,224 hours over the past year, which valuable real estate and development experience to “I always tell the kids that some Time Capsule society,” Stevens equates to a donation $3.2 million. make things happen,” the nomination reads. of the friends they’ll have for said. “We give them the GPS co- “Fairfax County is unique and does have a culture “Through his involvement with the McLean Revital- the rest of their life can come ordinates of where we’re plant- of volunteerism and a culture of engagement, that ization Corporation, he has been instrumental in from middle school. The best ing the capsule, and they’ll we take in Fairfax County to an art form,” said Sharon bringing about the McLean Utility Undergrounding man and a groomsman at my track it and give us updated Bulova, chairman of the county’s Board of Supervi- project, which will ultimately result in putting utili- wedding are guys I met here at coordinates every few years.” sors. “I think that‘s a sign of a very healthy and en- ties underground in the busiest intersection in down- Cooper, and they’re my closest The capsule contained items gaged community.” town McLean this summer.” friends in the world.” such as CDs and cell phones, Each member of the Board of Supervisors named Sudow helped collect the required easements for Principal Arlene Randall said as well as copies of a survey a “community champion,” which recognizes volun- the undergrounding project. He also represented the she learned a lot about the filled out by students with their teers who continuously work to further the quality McLean Revitalization Corporation in helping the school’s anecdotal history by favorite movies, music, foods of life for county residents. McLean Community Center search for a possible new talking to former administra- and books. Bulova named Great Falls resident Stella Koch as downtown location. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com McLean Connection ❖ April 24-30, 2013 ❖ 3 The County Line Autism Speaks Volumes for Student Volunteers Photos by Photos According to a recent survey by the Fairfax County Public Florida Institute of Technology, nearly two- Schools use latest thirds of young moms and dads are con- cerned their child will be diagnosed with techniques to teach Ross Victoria ASD. “Since the average school bus holds 50 autistic students. to 55 children, that means, statistically speaking, on average there is one child with parent-reported ASD on every school bus By Victoria Ross /The Connection in America,” reported the National Institute The Connection of Mental Health. The increase, experts say, is largely due n many ways, the three best friends— to improved diagnosis of ASD by doctors or Anna Kate Martin, Devin Martin and other health professional in recent years, ISarah Carmen—are typical sixth- especially when the symptoms were mild. grade girls. Along with increased awareness, the so- They listen to Taylor Swift, play soccer, On April 2nd, Oakton Elementary cial landscape has changed dramatically for and enjoy sleepovers and shopping. School participated in “Light it up students diagnosed with autism. They can tell you what’s cool (Dance Blue Day,” a national day of aware- Drama teachers Bernie DeLeo Politically, autism is a hot-button issue Moms) and what’s so over (Gangnam ness and acceptance of people (Thoreau Middle School and West that’s on the agenda of many lawmakers, Style). affected by autism. Sixth-grader Springfield High School) and who advocate a range of services, from re- But when most of their classmates at volunteers Devin Martin, 12; Anna Stacey Jones (Luther Jackson spite services to mandated health insurance Oakton Elementary School are outside dur- Kate Martin, 12, and Sarah Middle School) have produced coverage for various therapies like applied ing recess, the girls are inside doing some- Carmen, 11, have given up recess plays and school news spots for behavior analysis (ABA). thing not so typical: volunteering with the to volunteer with autistic students. Autism Awareness Month. Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41), whose school’s 20-plus autistic students. brother-in-law has autism, has been a long- “I love the kids. I love interacting with standing advocate for expanded health in- them and all the special bonds that we’ve Did you know… surance coverage for autism spectrum dis- formed,” said Anna Kate Martin, who be- AUTISM order, and co-patroned several bills that gan working with autistic students when she ❖ is a developmental disability that can significantly impact communication, social skills and behavior; address the issue.

Load more