FairfaxFairfax StationStation ❖❖ CliftonClifton ❖❖ LortonLorton Riding and Marwan Mohey-el-Dien (left) for Gaurisco Gallery and Fiona Seager (right) for Los Tigres battle for possession in the NVTRP Ride to Thriving Thrive Polo Classic. News, Page 3 Follow on Twitter: @LFSCConnection on Twitter: Follow Classified, Page 14 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 12 ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 Bridging Group Hands Political Candidate A Sweet Surprise Divide News, Page 3 News, Page 4 Fall Page 8 Fun 2014 Photo courtesy of Kelsey Gallagher online at www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.comSeptember 25 - October 1, 2014 Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection ❖ September 25 - October 1, 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 ❖ Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection ❖ September 25 - October 1, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Lorton/Fairfax Station/Clifton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Riding and Thriving Program holds annual Polo Classic. By Tim Peterson ers, a children’s craft station, 50/ The Connection 50 raffle and a carriage demon- stration by the Piedmont Driving t 3 years old, Blythe Club of Northern Virginia. There Champion was diag- was a presentation of colors by the A nosed with herpes en- St. Andrews Society of Washing- cephalitis, a rare and of Kelsey Gallagher courtesy Photos ton, D.C. and NVTRP Military Rid- aggressive central nervous system ers Dylan Arthur and Jonathan infection. The infection put her Alsum. into a coma; when she woke up, After a primer on the rules and she was blind. Eventually Cham- techniques used in playing polo, pion regained her central vision, the four-period match (periods are but never peripheral. called chukkas or “chukkers”) be- The Centreville resident suffered tween Los Tigres and Guarisco permanent brain damage that im- Gallery got underway. Players pairs her ability to judge anything came from around Virginia, and as spatial — what is up, down, left, far away as Argentina. right. Walking and navigating For the uninitiated, each team space are difficult, and driving is consists of four mounted players out of the question for Champion, who attempt to use long mallets now 27. But she started riding (From left) Sarah Maceyak (NVTRP volunteer), Jonathan Alsum (NVTRP rider, Air to drive a small white ball into the horses 16 years ago, working with Force), Patrick Johnson (NVTRP volunteer, Air Force), Wendy Goyette (NVTRP volunteer, opposing team’s goal. The seven- a side-walker and a leader. Marines), Dylan Arthur (NVTRP rider, Marines) and the St. Andrews Society of Washing- minute chukkers are a fast-paced Gradually Champion achieved ton, D.C. color guard open the Ride to Thrive Polo Classic. flurry of stomping hooves, swing- more independence on the horse, ing mallets and rapidfire changes developing the ability to walk the gram (NVTRP) in Clifton. Her in- left.” roughly 270 bow-tie- and in possession. animal by herself. Next came trot- structor is also the program’s ex- Not only is Champion a rider sundress-sporting supporters to “I tend to equate it to hockey on ting. Then cantering. And canter- ecutive director, Kelsey Gallagher. with the NVTRP, but she also vol- Chetwood Park in The Plains, Va. horseback,” said NVTRP executive ing fast. “She’ll stand in the middle of the unteers to secure donations for the on Saturday, Sept. 20. director Kelsey Gallagher. “It’s a Champion attends weekly 45- ring and tell me where to go,” said program’s biggest annual little rough, fast and fun to watch. minute lessons at the Northern Champion. “I’m moving the horse, fundraiser: the Ride to Thrive Polo PRIOR TO THE MAIN EVENT, There’s not a lot of down time.” Virginia Therapeutic Riding Pro- she’s saying left, straight, a lot of Classic. The latest edition drew attendees were treated to appetiz- See Ride, Page 13 Group Hands Candidate A Sweet Surprise Democratic Women of Clifton and by Photos NoVa host fundraiser for Foust. he Democratic Women cans, and Independents that we Ross Victoria Tof Clifton and Northern decided to host a fundraiser to Virginia (DWCNV) help him win his election,” Barker hosted a fundraiser for John said. Foust, the Democratic Candi- State Senator George Barker /The Connection date for the Virginia 10th Con- gave an entertaining history les- gressional District, on Saturday, son about the ever-changing Sept. 20. boundaries of the 10th district The event, which drew about during the event. 50 people to the Clifton home “You may have heard about the of Terry Matlaga and Kevin Bell, Israelites wandering in the desert included many Democratic no- for 40 years? Well, that’s us. Jane Jane Barker, chair of the Democratic tables, including Virginia Sena- and I moved here in 1980….and Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia, tors George Barker (D-39), our district’s boundaries kept hands John Foust, the Democratic Dave Marsden (D-37) and Chap changing. Every time we would Democrats give John Foust, the Demo- candidate for the 10th Congressional Petersen (D-34), Del. David elect a Democrat, we got redis- cratic candidate for the 10th Congres- District, a white chocolate version of the Bulova (D-37) and Fairfax tricted into (Republican terri- sional District, thumbs up for his candi- Capitol dome and a 3-D puzzle of the County Board of Supervisors tory),” Barker joked. dacy Saturday, Sept. 21 at the fundraiser Capitol building at the fundraiser Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at- Sen. Barker told the crowd that hosted by the Democratic Women of hosted by the group in Clifton on Satur- large). the modern 10th congressional Clifton and Northern Virginia. day, Sept. 21. Jane Barker, Chair of the district was formed in 1952. DWCNV, noted that the last “So, we haven’t had an open sented with a 3-D puzzle of the and each of us has a piece in help- [email protected] fundraiser the group held was seat in this district since 1952. Capitol building, and a model of ing him get elected,” Jane Barker or visit the DWCNV website at in 2005, the year the organiza- Electing John Foust is our best the Capitol dome made from said. www.democraticwomenofclifton.org. tion was formed. chance of getting a Democrat back chocolate. “It doesn’t get sweeter For more information on the Meetings are held on Sundays “We feel so strongly that we in the 10th district in a genera- than this,” Foust said. Democratic Women of Clifton and from 3 - 5 pm in the Clifton need Supervisor John Foust to tion,” Barker said. “We all put the puzzle together. Northern Virginia (DWCNV), Community Hall. represent Democrats, Republi- During the event, Foust was pre- The idea is that ‘every vote counts,’ email — Victoria Ross www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection ❖ September 25 - October 1, 2014 ❖ 3 Election 2014: Candidate profiles Bio Candidate: John W. Foust Bridging Political Divide Political Party: Democrat Current position: Member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Democrats hope since 2007. Represents the Dranesville district, which includes McLean, Great Foust’s reputation as Falls, Herndon and portions of Vienna and Falls Church. a ‘bridge-builder’ Born: Sept. 5, 1951 in Johnstown, Pa. Residence: McLean connects with voters. Occupation: Attorney Spouse: Dr. Marilyn Jerome Foust By Victoria Ross Children: Matthew, Patrick The Connection Education: B.A. Economics, University of Pittsburgh; MBA, Law degree, First in a series of candidates’ profiles. George Washington University Law School traightening his tie, John Foust is Community Organizations: Former preparing for yet another “meet- President of McLean Citizens Associa- and-greet” event at the Clifton tion and District Chairman of Boy S Scouts. Current Member Board of home of Democratic supporters Terry Matlaga and Kevin Bell. Supervisors, Chairman of Audit and It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Sep- Economic Advisory Committees and tember, a good thing since the event is be- Vice-chairman of Budget Committee. ing held outside. Foust smiles when his wife, Marilyn 63, in his ambition to be the first Demo- Jerome Foust, who frequently accompanies cratic representative of Virginia’s 10th dis- her husband to these events, reaches up to trict in more than three decades. pat down his hair. According to the Rothenberg/Roll Call “You look wonderful,” she tells him. Political Report, the 10th district seat held It’s just seven weeks away from Election firmly for 34 years by retiring U.S. Rep. Day, in what’s considered one of the hot- Frank R. Wolf could be the rare bright spot test Congressional races in the country, and for Democrats this midterm election. Foust’s mood is upbeat. While some GOP strategists say Foust People who know him well say Foust might be “punching above his weight class” genuinely enjoys meeting new people and in the congressional race, other strategists listening to their concerns, a skill that served maintain the 10th district — once deeply him well during his seven years as a Fairfax Republican — is now considered “Leans County supervisor. Republican.” “He always has time for you. John is a Foust is vying for the seat against fellow true public servant who demonstrates solid McLean resident Barbara Comstock, a GOP working-class values,” said Grace Han Wolf, member of the Virginia House of Delegates.