Serving Serving Areas of Burke FairfaxFairfax Areas of Burke On the March Camps & Schools, Page 17 Man Stabbed To Death News, Page 3 Annie Rowson, a member of the Robinson color guard, concentrates on her routine while march- Jury Acquits ing step with the rest of her section. Fawn Scott News, Page 3 Classified, Page 23 Classified, ❖ Faith, Page 21 ❖ Sports, Page 19 insideinsideinside Requested in home 8-22-08 /The Connection Time sensitive material. Attention Postmaster: U.S. Postage PRSRT STD PERMIT #322 Easton, MD PAID Robbie Hammer Photo by Photo www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Auguust 21-27, 2008 Volume XXII, Number 34 Fairfax Connection ❖ August 21-27, 2008 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Fairfax Connection ❖ August 21-27, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection Editor Michael O’Connell News 703-917-6440 or [email protected] Audubon Volunteers to the Rescue Audubon Society relocates Franklin, naturalist and programs coordinator for the Northern Virginia chapter of the Audubon Society. dozens of native plants Franklin and her fellow volunteers spent most of Friday morning and afternoon replanting over a from HOT Lanes site. dozen different species of native plant life at the school’s new Living Classroom, one of many gardens the society has set up at various schools, churches By Derek B. Johnson and parks across Northern Virginia. The goal of these The Connection open gardens is twofold: finding new, safe homes for these uprooted plants and providing easily ac- hen the Virginia Department of Trans- cessible locations all over the region where mem- portation (VDOT) began digging up bers of the community can come to learn more about Wthe ground along the vegetation surrounding them. Little River Turn- According to Darcy Levit, execu- pike near the Capital Beltway to tive director of the Audubon by Photo make way for the HOT Lanes last “Native plants are Society’s Northern Virginia arm, month, the Audubon Society of very, very beautiful the sites serve as a valuable com- Northern Virginia had a clear mis- munity resource. In addition to Derek B. Johnson Derek sion: save the plants. plants.” moving the plants to safe sites, the That would be native plants, the — Jeanette Stewart, Lands society also gives plants away to types of flora that have populated volunteers or visitors who are Virginia forests, creeks and valleys and Waters looking to take the fight to their since before the colonies of homes. Jamestown and Williamsburg were established by “When you come out to place like this, you learn Europeans in the early 17th century. American Holly, what’s an invasive and what’s a native. Then you can /The Connection Ironweed trees, Partridge berries and a host of other go and apply that to your yard,” said Levit. species of vegetation were dug up by volunteers with the cooperation of VDOT, sometimes just hours be- ACCORDING TO Franklin, though native plants are fore they would have met untimely ends under the still prevalent within Virginia and are far from being crushing wheels of bulldozers and tractors. From endangered, the state could still benefit from having there, they were relocated Friday morning, Aug. 8, more of them. Aside from being better suited to the to the Daniels Run Elementary School on Old Lee soil, they have adapted and evolved along with the Volunteer Madeline Pott spent Friday morning, Aug. 8, Highway in Fairfax. local wildlife. with her mother Sharon (not pictured) replanting over “Anywhere in Northern Virginia is good for these a dozen different species of native plant life at Daniels See Preserving, Page 22 plants. We’re happy to help them survive,” said Elaine Run Elementary School in Fairfax. Not Guilty of Murder City Man Charged “The case is a tragedy, Jury acquits Fairfax City it is a tragedy because In Fatal Stabbing Ms. Scott was forced to woman of murdering her make a decision to take Crime marks first murder in City boyfriend. the life of Mr. Richardson, the man of Fairfax since October 2007. By Ken Moore she loved,” Butorac said The Connection at the beginning of the By Derek B. Johnson trial, presided over by Photo File The Connection rom his City of Fairfax duplex on Warwick Av- Chief Judge Dennis J. Fenue, Dexter Otto Richardson told 911 opera- Smith. uan De Dios Morales, a resident tors that his girlfriend, Fawn Scott, stabbed of the City of Fairfax was ar- Sheriff’s Photo Sheriff’s him in the heart after she left the Woodburn Center RICHARDSON BE- Fawn C. Scott Jrested and charged Sunday, Aug. for Community Mental Health on the afternoon of FRIENDED Scott as 10 with the stabbing death of a Hon- Oct. 18, 2007. she battled drug and duran man at his home. Richardson, 50, died from the 6-inch alcohol addiction, and welcomed her According to a City of Fairfax Po- deep stab wound to his chest. in his home, according to Scott’s at- lice release, a call was placed Satur- Scott argued self-defense during her “This case is a torneys. day night, Aug. 9, from inside the Juan De Dios weeklong trial, and last Friday, Aug. But despite their ensuing multiple- residence in the 10500 block of Ce- Morales 15, 2008, a Fairfax County Circuit tragedy.” year romantic relationship, dar Ave. advising of trouble. Police Court jury found Scott, 32, not guilty — Dawn M. Butorac, Richardson had alcohol abuse prob- officials declined to identify the caller. of murder after deliberating almost 13 lems and an inability to control his “It was basically a caller that said there was a problem at hours. defense attorney rage, Butorac told the jury. the house,” said Sgt. Pam Nevlud, public information officer “Justice was served. The jury heard Butorac and McGarrity told the jury for the City of Fairfax Police. all the evidence and realized Ms. Scott acted in self- that Scott lived through a history of domestic abuse, Officers responded to the residence, a single family home, defense,” said defense attorney Dawn M. Butorac, including a time Richardson broke Scott’s nose when at approximately 11:47 p.m. When they arrived, police found following the verdict Friday afternoon. they were living in Newport News, and other times See City Man, Page 7 Butorac represented Scott with Teresa McGarrity See Jury, Page 7 — both are public defenders. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ❖ August 21-27, 2008 ❖ 3 News Week in Fairfax Patriot Center Gets Facelift Last Week, George Mason University put the finishing touches on the first phase of a three-phase renovation of the Patriot Center. As part of the $10 million project, workers added a new centralized box office at the west entry of the 10,000-seat arena. Two new concession stands and bathrooms at the north entry are currently under construction as part of phase two of the project. Phase three, which will add the same features to the south entry along what Washington Sports and Entertainment release called a “cosmetic facelift” of the concourse. “The entire concourse will have fresh paint and new ceiling tiles to finish off the renovation,” said Sheila Francis, GMU’s director of event and venue public relations. Renovation of the facility, entering its 23rd year of operation, by Photo is scheduled to be completed in early 2009. Senior Olympics Deadline Set Bonnie Hobbs Organizers of the 2008 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics have set Friday, Sept. 5 as the deadline for those interested in signing up for the competition. This year’s NVSO competition runs from Saturday, Sept. 20 through Thursday, Oct. 2. /The Connection Men and women who are 50, by Dec. 31, 2008, and over, and who live in one of the sponsoring jurisdictions are eligible to compete. Events take place at nine different venues in Northern Virginia. Many are divided into five or 10-year age groups and some are divided by gender. Participants will compete in the following events: track and field, swimming and diving, pickleball, tennis, table tennis, yo- Brothers Coleman, left, and Chris Bunn of Fair Oaks have fun at the farmers market. yo tricks, eight ball pool, ice skating, scrabble, shuffleboard, bunco, Frisbee throw, women’s 3x3 basketball, team line danc- ing, scrabble, duplicate bridge, chess, cribbage, bait casting, backgammon, golf, miniature golf, basketball free throw, bowl- Bountiful Harvest in Fair Oaks ing, softball hit and throw and chess. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be presented following each event. granola bars. They taste so good and have excellent For a $10 registration fee, participants will be able to com- Weekly farmers market ingredients. And all of these things would make good pete in one event. Each additional event requires a $1 fee. Ad- gifts, too.” ditional fees are charged for bowling, golf and miniature golf. sets up in Whole Foods’ To learn more and to request a registration form, call 703-228- parking lot. FAIR OAKS RESIDENT Brent Bunn brought his 4721 or download from www.novaseniorolympics.com. sons Coleman, 7, and Chris, 4. “They wanted some- By Bonnie Hobbs thing fun and different to do this morning, and this Libraries May Reduce Hours The Connection is convenient,” said Bunn. Coleman said he liked the flowers the best “because they look and smell good.” Fairfax County Public Libraries is considering reducing its ine-ripened tomatoes, homemade soap Chris’s favorite thing was the bread because he liked hours next year to cope with potential budget cuts. and lip balm, almond amaretto creamed how it tasted. Then they headed off to buy some fresh The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors asked each govern- honey, fresh flowers, sweet-potato bread fruit.