Mt. Vernon Area? Attending

Vol. XXI, No. 33 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper August 19, 2010 Eyes and Ears County needs help from residents to enforce zoning violations. By Michael Lee Pope But on many streets in Fairfax the Gazette County, old and abandoned cars linger on front lawns. In other ar- hat car parking in the eas, residents are driving onto front lawn down the their lawns each day to park their Tstreet isn’t just an eye cars there. County records show sore. It’s illegal — pun- 3,000 complaints logged in the last ishable by a $500 fine for the first three years. offense and $200 for subsequent “It’s really starting to make the Jenna Martin offenses. Fairfax County zoning neighborhood look trashy,” said and Lucy codes prohibit cars from being one Mount Vernon resident, who Roberts take a parked on lawns for more than 48 wished to remain anonymous for few twirls in hours. That’s a grace period meant fear of retribution. “And it’s only some of the for cleaning, repairs or loading. Yet getting worse.” costumes. in many neighborhoods around the county, that’s not how it works. See Complaints, Page 6 Seriously Shakespeare Summer Camp Local Actor, Screen Heather Sanderson leads a group of students in a summer Shakespeare at St. Aidan’s. The students are learning their lines for a performance of “The Merchant of Venice.” Writer, Wins Awards By Gerald A. Fill The Gazette ‘Hard to Be Me’ Emily Lyon as The television pilot which Edward Antonio goes n award of excellence for Bach wrote the screen play for and is the a new television pilot, leading actor, in “Hard to Be Me” is over a scene A described as a new family friendly story with Josh “Hard to Be Me” and an with an edge, and web 2.0 savvy. Bor- Turner as award as a leading actor went to rowed from storylines about real life Bassanio. Edward Bach in the Accolade and not reality TV the promoters’ litera- Competition in July. ture describe the film series, which is a candidate for network television pro- “I’m thrilled to be honored for duction, as reminiscent of the best Photos by my acting on screen in ‘Hard to Be comedy dramas of the past three de- cades. Life, love, success, Louise Me,’ said Bach. “As the creator and writer of the pilot I am very disappointment, and the ability to over- Krafft come life’s foibles are the themes The Gazette pleased that the concept, idea, and depicted in the non-political side of fam- BJ Ramkesson Isabella Diaz as presentation are all being so well ily life in the Nation’s Capitol. The story Portia. received by the judges and public line revolves around the exploits of an rehearses for a part art school sophomore, Kevin Hamilton as Shylock. … but to make an actor’s perfor- (played by Bach). Kevin prefers to ex- mance award-worthy you also press himself through his art, but is need a great director, editor, ac- forced to face his fear of public speak- tors, and producers — we had all ing when he receives an assignment to post a weekly ‘vlog’ for his Communica- those working on this pilot. tions 101 course. Through this takeoff Work- “Cyndi Lauper, multi-platinum we get to know Kevin, his art school shop selling music artist, has also friends, his family, and a host of quirky director agreed to lend her considerable characters. ‘Hard to Be Me’ focuses on the value of relationships and links be- Heather tween people. Sanderson See Pilot, Page 6 See: www.hardtobeme.tv goes over a few parts 8/20/10 with the home in Requested material. actors. Time-sensitive Postmaster: Attention Permit #482 Permit Alexandria, VA Alexandria, Josh Turner works on his lines as Bassanio. PAID U.S. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 19-25, 2010 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ August 19-25, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com County Notebook News Route 1 Expansion On Hold Money that U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) announced he had secured months ago to pay for the expansion of Richmond High- Veteran Teacher Retires way around Fort Belvoir has moved out of reach. The transpor- tation project is expected to be delayed at least for several pleasure. The months, according to several Fairfax County officials. D’Orazio moves on after mindset in and Language that would have allowed officials to spend $130 around this area million on the highway expansion was taken out of a bill before 39 years of teaching is that education the U.S. Senate passed it earlier this month. Moran has inserted is really impor- the same language into another bill but congress is not expected elementary school. tant,” she said. to take up that item until after the November elections. By Alexander Slippen Additionally, The delay makes it almost impossible for the highway expan- The Gazette D’Orazio looks sion to be completed by the time several thousand new employ- back fondly on ees move to Fort Belvoir’s campus as a result of changes related fter 39 years as an educator, Nancey many of the to the national base realignment and closure committee’s deci- D’Orazio of Mount Vernon will settle into small pleasures sions. retirement this year. D’Orazio has spent found in the Moran had tied the $130 million to the new hospital currently A the latter part of her career teaching at commonalities being constructed on Fort Belvoir just inside the Pence Gate. Waynewood Elementary School, where she has of a school day. “I The facility, which will serve all branches of the military, will worked since 1992 mostly teaching fifth-grade will miss those see 500,000 outpatient visits annually, according to Supervisor classes. A role model who has helped shape the lives ‘aha!’ moments Gerry Hyland (D-Mount Vernon). of many children, D’Orazio is an advocate of “coop- kids have … “We have been working on this for years and there is abso- eration” and “respecting individual differences” when kids are Nancey D’Orazio lutely no debate about the need. That section of Route 1 in front within education. “If everyone gets along, you open looking at micro- of Fort Belvoir is in massive need of improvement. … I look at the avenues for education to be able to flow freely,” scopes in science this as a major setback,” said Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee). she said. class and say to themselves, ‘I’ve found the light!’ Richmond Highway is the only option for people accessing D’Orazio received a bachelor’s degree in education That can be taken a couple of different ways,” she the hospital from the north or the south. McKay said it makes from Michigan State University and a social founda- said. no sense for the military to have spent over $800 million on a tions of education master’s degree from the Univer- According to Waynewood Principal James T. Meier, new hospital that military personnel and veterans will have to sity of Virginia. D’Orazio has fond memories of spend- D’Orazio possesses a number of teaching qualities sit in traffic to access. ing a year as an instructional assistant at that will make her a difficult teacher to “Every day that passes where we don’t have the money is an- The American School in Japan, located replace. “She’s passionate about what other day of gridlock on Route 1. It will be frustrating for people in Tokyo. “I had these kids who were bi- “I will miss she does, she’s thorough, and she cares trying to get to the hospital,” said McKay. lingual, but I didn’t speak any Japanese about every student in that classroom. so they translated for each other, which those ‘aha!’ She wants to ensure the success of ev- was a great learning experience for me,” ery student in a class, and she is a TJ Employee Sentenced she said. Following her time in Japan, moments teacher who’s a credit to the profession Susan Thanh Litwin was sentenced to 15 months in prison, D’Orazio returned to the United States kids have ...” of education.” followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing more and graduated from Michigan State a year Although D’Orazio is retiring from than $279,000 from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science later before later receiving her master’s. — Nancey teaching on a full-time basis, she plans and Technology. The former finance technician at Jefferson re- She then sought a teaching position in D’Orazio on remaining involved at Waynewood ceived her sentence Aug. 13, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Fairfax County, eventually receiving a by volunteering and substitute teaching. office for the Eastern District of Virginia. position under the guidance of a more experienced “I think the best thing about subbing is going to be Litwin was responsible for overseeing funds that had been “mentor teacher” at Woodley Hills Elementary in Al- that I don’t have to do lesson plans or report cards. donated for student activities like clubs, athletics and dances. exandria. Also, I won’t miss getting up early [so frequently],” She pleaded guilty to theft from an organization receiving pub- After a period of time there, D’Orazio began teach- she said with a smile. lic funds on May 6. ing at Waynewood in 1992. Since her start there, In addition to continuing to take an active role at Litwin stole the money from the school by writing checks to she has taught mostly fifth-grade classes, an age she Waynewood in retirement, D’Orazio plans to travel herself and making unauthorized withdrawals ranging from thoroughly enjoys.

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