Springfield Springfield English Teacher and One of the Said
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SpringfieldSpringfield FranconiaFranconia ❖❖ KingstowneKingstowne John Cowles, owner of Springfield ❖❖ Gardens Apartments, has submitted a NewingtonNewington nomination to the BRAC Area Plans Review that would see the complex converted into higher-end apartments. HighHigh AndAnd LowLow News, Page 3 GassingGassing UpUp OrOr EatingEating Out?Out? News,News, PagePage 44 Classified, Page 22 ❖ New Trial for Faith, Page 21 ❖ Convicted Killer News, Page 3 Sports, Page 18 insideinside Leisure /The Connection A Hole Sport In One Miniature golf continues to be a summer favorite. By Eric J. Gilmore “Perils of the Lost Jungle” The Connection course includes stoned- faced statues, snakes, alli- aybe it’s the menagerie of di- gators, treasure hunters nosaurs and elephants, fire and a T-Rex. Woody’s is Arts❖Entertainment❖Leisure Mpits and waterfalls, jokers one of the most expensive and gargoyles, pirates and courses (a regular round P h explorers, loopty-loos and right angles. Per- costs $9.25), but is also in- o t haps it’s the rainbow hued balls littering the teractive and has more at- o s links, or merely the ridiculous addicting tractions. b y challenge of staying on par. But Fitzhugh, who opens R o What draws us, as humans, to miniature his course in mid-May and b b i golf, one of the summer’s staples? closes once school restarts, e H More than its more professional uncle, the likens the experience to a a m sport — or is it? — transcends age, gender movie — the better the m e and social background. The winding theater, the higher con- r / T courses, often impossible to follow even sumers are willing to h e ation for families, spend. It translated to a with a map, are a destin C vacationers and couples. Heck, it’s even record season in 2007, but o n ately 700 n The Gesture, bronze by Gwen spurned a professional industry. with approxim e c Locally at TopGolf USA, located across the weekly visitors this sum- t Lockhart i o road from Edison High School and a favor- mer, his numbers are n Lockhart Show ite for professionals playing hooky, the down. Kingstowne golf complex has 36 holes “I don’t know whether A golfer walks across the ‘green’ at TopGolf At Loft Gallery spread over two 18-hole courses. The two last year was exceptionally USA in Kingstowne. par-60 courses are of varying degree of dif- good because of the weather or whether the By the fall of 1930, more than 25 million he Loft Gallery will have a re- ficulty and possibly more importantly, both economy has slowed down a little bit,” said people were miniature golf fans and 50,000 Tception on Sunday, Sept. 7, are themed, one catering to the mountains Fitzhugh. mini-golf courses littered the landscape. The Robbie Hammer from 1-3:30 p.m. for Gwen and the other a fad died off briefly, but experienced a re- Harrison Lockhart, who regularly ex- desert theme. M INIATUR E birth in the baby-boom 1950s. hibits at The Loft Gallery in Occoquan According to Terry “It’s something the whole GOLF’S origins In some respects, however, miniature golf and in her studio at The Loft Art Cen- Fife, the general can be traced to is as popular as ever. The sport boasts sev- ter. Lockhart sculpts in manager of TopGolf family can enjoy.” 1916, when James eral trade associations: the US ProMiniGolf clay, plastilene or wax, USA, the golf com- — Terry Fife, TopGolf USA Barber hired archi- Association, the Miniature Golf Association, Gallery creating animals, heads plex accounts for ap- tect Edward the Professional Miniature Golf Association and busts, or full figu- proximately 6-8 per- Wiswell to design a and the World Minigolf Sport Federation rative pieces. Many of cent of the total revenue. During the sum- course behind his summer home in among them. There’s even a pro circuit, with her sculptures have been molded and mer, the peak season, Kingstowne brings in Pinehurst, N.C. In 1926, New York City’s Master’s and U.S. Open events that attract cast in bronze, using the lost wax pro- 1,200-1,400 mini-golfers weekly. first outdoor miniature golf course was built players from around the world. cess. Browse through other artists’ ex- “It’s certainly a small piece of the pie, but on a skyscraper roof. Miniature golf was no Miniature golf may not show up as an hibits of original fine art in various it’s also a very important piece as well,” Fife longer miniature. ESPN primetime special — the national media. Gallery hours are Monday said. “Our numbers have been consistent if A year later, businessman Garnet Carter championship was aired for four years — through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat- not better this year over previous years both built a miniature golf course on Lookout but the game is still played by millions ev- urday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, at the facility itself and in mini-golf. We’re Mountain in Tennessee to attract patrons ery year with approximately 5,000 minia- 12-5 p.m. 11 – 5. The Loft Gallery, not seeing a decline.” to his hotel and full-length course. After a ture golf courses throughout the country. 313 Mill Street, Occoquan. Call 703- However, economics are different while, the miniature course had become so “First and foremost, it’s something the 490-1117. throughout the miniature golf landscape, popular, more people wanted to play on it whole family can enjoy. Realistically, there as exemplified by Herndon-based Woody’s than on the regulation greens. Carter even- aren’t too many activities where that’s true,” Golf Range, where owner Woody Fitzhugh tually discovered an artificial surface. Fife said. “It’s something the parents can maintains a driving range, putting green, In short, miniature golf was no longer look forward to because they can bring their Photo by batting cages and miniature golf course. His miniature. children as well.” Area Miniature Golf Courses Name Address Phone Number TopGolf USA 6625 S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria Cameron Run 4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria 703-960-8719 www.ConnectionNewspapers.comCloseup of The Gesture, by Upton Hill 6060 Wilson Blvd., Arlington 703-534-3437 Gwen Lockhart Centreville Mini-Golf6206 Multiplex Drive, Centreville 703-631-0550 Fountainhead 10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax 703-250-9124 Jefferson Falls 7900 Lee Highway, Falls Church 703-573-0444 Send entertainment notes to the Connec- Woody’s 11801 Leesburg Pike, Herndon 703-430-8337 tion at [email protected] or Pohick Bay 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton 703-339-6104 call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated Oak Marr 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton 703-281-6501 announcements should be submitted at least IronWood 8581 Cinder Bed Road, Springfield 703-339-3122 8-15-08 home in Requested two weeks prior to the event. Lucky Duck 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield 703-569-0285 A selection of putters Time sensitive material. sensitive Time Auguust 14-20, 2008 Volume XXII, Number 33 Postmaster: Attention PERMIT #322 PERMIT U.S. Postage U.S. Easton, MD Easton, PRSRT STD PRSRT PAID www.connectionnewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ August 14-20, 2008 ❖ 1 UNDER CONTRACT 2 ❖ Springfield Connection UNDER UNDER CONTRACT CONTRACT ❖ August 14-20, 2008 UNDER CONTRACT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection Editor Michael O’Connell News 703-917-6440 or [email protected] Apartments May Get Upgrade New Trial Proposed redevelopment For Ahmad of Springfield Gardens Judge grants new trial Apartments moves forward. for convicted baby By Derek B. Johnson killer, previously The Connection sentenced to 40 years. he Springfield Gardens Apartments on Cumberland Avenue have been around since By Ken Moore T the early 1950s. Built after World War II to The Connection provide low-rent housing, the complex in recent years has been a focal point of criticism from com- ohammad A. Ahmad was munity leaders and busi- sentenced 12 months ago to ness owners. 40 years in prison for kill- “We’re always Complaints of loitering, M ing 21-month-old Myles public drinking and various Simon, a toddler his wife cared for in an concerned incidents of high-profile unlicensed day-care center she operated at crimes have emanated in their Springfield townhouse. about the safety by Photo and around the apart- After convicting Ahmad, then 26, of sec- of the residents ments, though statistics ond-degree murder in May 2007, a Fairfax provided by police officials jury took less than 15 minutes to recom- of the show the level of crime Robbie Hammer mend that the maximum sentence for sec- there is not significantly ond-degree murder be imposed. community and higher or lower than other Myles was just 33 inches tall when he areas in Springfield. Sur- suffered one blow to his head that resulted neighbors.” rounding streets and park- in complex fractures of his skull and instan- ing lots are also used by — John Cowles, owner /The Connection taneous death. Myles also suffered one blow of Springfield Gardens day laborers as they wait to the abdomen that resulted in laceration for their rides, causing con- Apartments of his liver and bruising of his kidneys, co- sternation among shops lon, bladder and diaphragm. and stores that share “We hate that our son died a horrible streets with the complex. death that no human deserves,” Myles’ However, the apartments in their current form may be mother, Michelle Leete, testified, at Ahmad’s in their final years of existence after owners John Cowles John Cowles, owner of Springfield Gardens Apartments, sentencing hearing in August 2007 before and Thomas Davis nominated their property to be torn has submitted a nomination to the BRAC Area Plans Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Leslie down and redeveloped into higher end apartment units Review that would see the complex on Cumberland M.