Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper June 23, 2011 Photos by Louise Krafft/The Gazette West Potomac High School Senior Class Secretary Nia Copeland waves to her family at the June 17 graduation ceremony held at Hayfield Secondary School’s field house. More photos, page 4. Brian Fitzsimmons delivers a message to his fellow Mount Vernon High School classmates during Com- mencement Exercises on June 17 in the Michael J. Skinner Field House. More photos, page 3. Graduation 2011 6/24/11 Requested in home in Requested material. Time-sensitive Postmaster: At the conclusion of Supervisor Gerry Hyland’s remarks he asked that the students Attention Permit #482 Permit form a chain by holding hands, as their experiences together form part of a lifelong VA Alexandria, PAID bond with the community. Pictured are Irene Akomeah, Kelly Akuama Akyena, Dillon Postage U.S. Nathaniel Alexander, Paola Michelle Algarin Troia and Sarah Naa’ku Allotey. STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 23-29, 2011 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 23-29, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Education●Learning●Fun Mount Vernon principal Nardos Francisca Aboagye breaks into a King begins the presentation of smile as she is presented with her diplomas to the Class of 2011 in diploma by principal Nardos King. the Michael J. Skinner Field Choral director Judi Belzer receives a goodbye hug from one of her House on June 17. senior Madrigal singers. Mount Vernon High Students Receive Diplomas Photos by Louise Krafft/The Gazette The Mount Vernon Madri- gals under the direction of Judi Belzer sing the National Anthem as the Colors are presented. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland took a chair on Family and friends of the graduating class cheer as the the floor to address the class enters the field house on Friday afternoon. Class of 2011. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 23-29, 2011 ❖ 3 Education●Learning●Fun Photos by Louise Krafft/The Gazette Students, families and friends gather at the Doris Torrice Field House at Hayfield Secondary School for West Potomac’s 2011 Commencement Exercises. Liliana Alvarez and Amanda Yong Alves greet West Potomac Students friends in the cafeteria before the graduation procession is called. Gather for Graduation Senior Class President Anna Manalo welcomes all to the 2011 Commence- ment Exercises. Students search the stands for the familiar faces of family and friends during the Rachelle Husband, right, sings a medley of songs with the procession into the field house. West Potomac Chorus in a Prelude Concert. The audience cheers as members of the Senior Class Treasurer Jennifer Long and Administrative assistant Barb Miller helps Senior Class graduating class take their seats in the Class Historian Lauren Pak lead the recit- Administrator Alexander B. Case with his university hood field house. ing of the Pledge of Allegiance. before the start of the ceremony. 4 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 23-29, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News The speakers included, from left, Pilar Carpenter, parent; Police Officer Bruce Ferguson; Commonwealth Attorney Ray Morrogh; George Mason University student Pat Keough; Dr. William Hauda, Inova Hospital Emergency physician. Addressing Teenage Binge Drinking Schools, police lead forum Statistics College students between the ages of 18-24 suffer nearly on college culture 700,000 assaults and 600,000 injuries each year that are alcohol-related. of drinking. The percentage of teenage alcohol use in Fairfax County among 12th graders is estimated to be 72 percent. In a recent Fairfax county Youth Survey binge drinking (five or By Gerald A. Fill more alcoholic drinks in a row) is practiced by 24 percent of 12th graders. There is no significant statistical differ- The Gazette ence on use between boys and girls for the surveyed behavior. In contrast, nationally, the Center for Disease anelists at Mount Vernon High School ad- Control, the Atlanta-based epidemiological research and investigative arm of the U. S. Department of Health and dressed “The Perils of the College Drink- Human Services (HHS) says that 90 percent of underage Ping Culture,” discussing the depth of the drinkers are binge drinkers. problem of teenage alcohol abuse. The forum, held June 8, included Raymond Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education. The film Morrogh, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax describes a well respected and well liked high school County; Dr. William Hauda, Inova Fairfax Hospital; and college student-athlete, 18-year-old Lynn Gor- Captain Bruce Ferguson, Commander, Youth Services don Bailey who, as a freshman, because of binge Division, Fairfax County Police Department; Pilar drinking and an alcohol problem died one night at Carpenter, mother of a 2001 Mount Vernon High his college fraternity house at the University of Colo- School graduate whose binge drinking and drug use rado. The film includes testimonials of his fraternity led her daughter to drop out of college (but eventu- brothers, parents, sister. The theme was that they ally to return and graduate), and Patrick Keough, were unaware of the extent and danger of the young George Mason University student and member of its man’s binge drinking and that the tragedy could have Alcohol Task Force. been avoided. His death has given rise to a founda- After brief welcoming remarks by Sara Freund, tion to prevent binge drinking. Panelists discussed chair of a countywide initiative to reduce underage the film, and the subject of preventing underage teen drinking, and member of the Unified Prevention drinking and binge drinking from their various per- Coalition; Lisa Adler, president-elect of Unified Pre- spectives and background. vention Coalition, and Randy Joyce, Commander, Morrogh said, “I was delighted to participate in Mount Vernon Police Station chief, the audience the Mount Vernon High School Forum against un- watched a film provided by the Gordie Center for derage and binge drinking. I hope the presentation will help keep our kids safe as they transition to adult- hood.” Details Freund commented that state legislation has been CONTACT INFORMATION: enacted which, as of September, 2010 mandates a drivers education parent-student education program AWARD-winning prevention education film HAZE is prior to a student receiving his or her driver’s ed available at : [email protected] UPC website: www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org permit. This program is implemented through the Health Education in Fairfax county public schools: Liz Payne, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and high school UPC: [email protected] or drivers’ education programs. Upcoming Prevention Forums on Underage Teen alcoholism and binge drinking: July 20 at West Springfield High The forum attracted fewer than 10 students in at- School, and July 27 at Westfield High School. tendance. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 23-29, 2011 ❖ 5 News Eight Isn’t Enough Bail bonds industry prepares First and second graders for new regulations. of the lower school Grey team cool off in a leaky water relay. Pictured are By Michael Lee Pope to receive bipartisan support in the Herve Roussel (lower The Gazette General Assembly. In March, it was school French teacher), signed by Republican Gov. Bob first grader Sophia and he name says it all — McDonnell. Next month, the new second graders Graydon, Eight Percent Bail provisions will go into effect. Al- Chohee and Quinn. TBonds. When the com- though bail bondsmen will still be pany launched in able to loan people money to meet 2007, the industry standard in their bail, they will no longer be Contributed Northern Virginia was 10 percent. able to charge insurance. And all But Eight Percent would spring a bondmen will be required to loved one from jail at a cutthroat charge at least 10 percent, a re- price — literally slicing into the quirement that some are challeng- Field Days at Browne Academy books of his competitors. The idea ing as an affront to the free-mar- The last week of school at Browne Academy was spent in Field Days. Water sports, field games and was the brainchild of Kevin ket system. ball games in the gym kept the students moving, giggling and cool in the excessive heat. Coumes, who says his en- emies have pulled a fast one. Starting next month, a new “It’s unconstitutional. regulation will force him to by Photos charge 10 percent. They slipped it in “It’s unconstitutional,” said under the rug without Coumes, who has now Krafft Louise changed the name of the a lot of people knowing business to Eight Bail Bonds. “They slipped it in under the about it.” rug without a lot of people — Kevin Coumes, knowing about it.” /The Gazette They would be Eight owner of Eight Bail Bonds Percent’s chief rival, Free- dom Bail Bonds. As the industry “This isn’t the free market sys- leader in Northern Virginia, Free- tem,” said Del. David Albo (R-42). dom is a sprawling empire of “We’re not talking about hamburg- agents from Arlington to Mount ers here. These are criminals, and Sixth graders James and Vernon. Created by Northern Vir- it’s important for judges to have Andrew watch the com- Eighth grader Isaiah takes aim at a target on the red ginia bailbondsman David some kind of expectation about petition from the stands. team. Gambale 30 years ago, Freedom what the real cost of the bond is has become the regional leader going to be.” and a force in Richmond. During the most recent session of the Gen- WHEN THE BILL was under con- eral Assembly, lawyers and lobby- sideration in Richmond, judges ists with Freedom worked to cre- supported the measure as a way ate a new law forcing to have some kind of expectation bailbondsmen to charge 10 per- for what people are charged.