Voters’ Guide Inside Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper October 20, 2011 Double Challenge For Freshman Del. Scott Surovell faces a Republican conservative and a tea-party independent. /The Gazette By Michael Lee Pope The Gazette Campaign Funds SCOTT SUROVELL Louise Krafft onventional wisdom Total receipts $202,909 holds that freshman Cash on hand $47,435 Clegislators are the JOHN BARSA most vulnerable. Total receipts $11,332 Photos by Photos Even if they are in safe seats, Cash on hand $7,848 The ribbon is cut at the conclusion of the Fort Williard Park dedication ceremony elected officials who are finishing JOE GLEAN on Saturday, Oct. 15.. their first term in office often face Total receipts $150 their most significant challenge of Cash on hand $10 their careers. With Del. Scott SOURCE: Virginia Public Access Project Dedicating Fort Willard Park Surovell at the end of his first two- year term in the House of Del- cal analyst for the Virginia Center egates, he’s facing a double threat for Politics at the University of Vir- ort Willard, originally constructed as Re- July 2, 1863. The fort was the southernmost forts at the polls — conservative Repub- ginia. “But this isn’t a competitive Fdoubt “D” to Fort Lyon (Cameron Station in President’s Lincoln’s defense of the city of Wash- lican John Barsa and tea-party in- seat, and there’s a possibility that presently) was built in 1862 by the Union ington and overlooked Little Hunting Creek and dependent Joe Glean. whatever Republican votes exist Army. Regiments from the 34th Massachusetts the Potomac River. Sixty-three forts were built for “It’s certainly easier to beat a here could be split by the two chal Infantry, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, 10th the defense of Washington during the American freshman than an entrenched in- New York Heavy Artillery, and the 1st Wisconsin Civil War from orders from the Commander in cumbent,” said Kyle Kondik, politi- See Surovell, Page 3 Heavy Artillery were garrisoned at the fort. The Chief after the Battle of Manassas. fort was renamed later in honor of Colonel Gen- The Olmi family, one of the original land devel- eral George Willard who died at Gettysburg on opers, granted the circle of land to the Fairfax County Park Authority and donated funding to State Police Seek Help restore the fort and to do historical interpretation on the history on the land. In Fatal Hit-And-Run On Saturday, Oct. 15, Mount Vernon County Board Supervisor Gerry Hyland, members of the irginia State Police are ask- medical examiner’s report, his in- Fairfax County Park Authority, and the Belle Have Ving for the public’s assis- juries are consistent with being Citizens Association, and the Belle Haven Garden tance involving a motor struck by a vehicle. Club along with park benefactor Gene Olmi par- vehicle that struck and killed a Kim and a passenger were trav- ticipated in the dedication of the park surround- Philadelphia man on Interstate eling from Annandale when the ing Fort Willard. 495. The incident occurred in the incident occurred. For unknown early morning hours of Aug. 24, reasons, Kim stopped and exited on I-495 east near Telegraph Road the vehicle — then entered I-495 in Fairfax County at approximately when he was hit. Prior to Kim be- 2:49 a.m. ing struck, investigators believe Trooper M.D. Hagy initially re- the Nissan Frontier was involved sponded to a report of a disabled in a previous minor collision in the vehicle. When he arrived on scene, same area earlier. Evidence at the Hagy found a man’s body in the scene showed the truck had rear road near a 2011 gray Nissan end damage. Virginia State Police Frontier. The individual was the are still working to piece together Belle Haven Citizens driver of the Nissan and has been the exact location and time of that Association presi- identified as Dohyung Kim, 30, of incident. dent Craig Shapero Philadelphia, Pa. According to the See Hit-And-Run, Page 6 thanks all the resi- Park and land dents and the Fairfax benefactor Gene County Park Author- 10/21/11 Olmi listens as ity and former asso- home in Requested material. neighbors offer ciation president Time-sensitive thanks for the Caulley Deringer for Postmaster: Caroline and Max Constandy investigate donation at the their work leading Attention Permit #482 Permit and explore the new cannon that now conclusion of the up to the dedication VA Alexandria, PAID sits at the park enclosure at Ft. Willard. ceremony. on Saturday. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 20-26, 2011 ❖ 1 There’s Never Been a Better Time For a Change… Teachers Say…Get Educated! Did you know? Teachers and Parents Agree on School Board candidates! Did you know that the Fairfax Education Association, Fairfax Zero Tolerance Reform, and the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, are endorsing the SAME CANDIDATES for School Board? • It’s time for a change that will bring the necessary resources to our neediest students, and provide differentiated support for all FCPS kids, • It’s time for a change that will bring greater sensitivity and a restorative, educational, and therapeutic discipline process to our children, • It’s time for a change that will bring greater professional autonomy for our teachers to start teaching with creativity, and not ‘to the test’. These candidates will bring about change for the better: • Braddock: Megan McLaughlin • Lee: Tamara Derenak Kaufax • Providence: Patty Reed • Dranesville: Louise Epstein • Mason: Sandy Evans • Mt. Vernon: Dan Storck • Hunter Mill: Pat Hynes • At-Large: Lolita Mancheno-Smoak, Steve Stuban Every child, parent, and teacher matters. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8th ~ SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS MATTER! Congratulations to • SANDY EVANS (Mason) • TINA HONE (At-Large) • PATTY REED (Providence) Recipients of the 2011 Fairfax County Federation of Teachers President’sPresident’s AwardAward For Outstanding Advocacy for the Employees of FCPS. Thank you all for your continuous support, empathy, and service. You are appreciated! VOTE FOR THE FCPS BOND REFERENDUM ON NOVEMBER 8TH TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS! 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 20-26, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Two Against Surovell From Page 1 been better” because of the ex- pected increase to traffic along the lengers anyway.” corridor as a result of the Base During the recent Republican- Realignment and Closure controlled redistricting, the 44th Commission’s decision to add District became slightly more thousands of new employees to Democratic, an indication that the Fort Belvoir. On the campaign trail, GOP was willing to concentrate Glean said, he heard from a num- Democratic votes here in an effort ber of “old-timers” who supported /The gazette to make other Northern Virginia “taking a jackhammer and getting seats more competitive. According rid of Route 1 so that people would to an analysis conducted by the stop coming to this area.” Virginia Public Access Project, 47.3 “Of course that’s a radical, but I percent of voters in the old district thought it brought up a good voted for Republican Gov. Bob point,” said Glean. “We want to be Montie Martin McDonnell while 46 percent of careful to accommodate the traf- voters in the new district voted for fic that’s here, but we also want the Republican gubernatorial can- to be careful about making it too by Photos didate. inviting so that indefinite improve- Nia Ashenafi, a kindergarten student, and Families from around the neighborhood “It’s certainly a safe seat for ments continue to happen and we her father Belay stuff scarecrows at the and greater Mount Vernon community Surovell to keep barring some kind start looking a lot like California, Burgundy Farm Country Day School fair. shared games, food and good times. of personal scandal,” said Kondick. where they’ve got those triple- “I’ve even heard his name men- decker exit ramps all over the tioned as a statewide candidate at place.” some point in the future.” Community Gathers at Fall Fair THE CANDIDATES have starkly IN ONE-ON-ONE interactions different opinions on a range of By Montie Martin essential of Burgundy, there’s so much collaboration with voters and in candidate fo- issues, including everything from The Gazette needed to pull it off” rums, Surovell trumpets his first taxes and regulation to style. Dur- Nearly 2,000 people attended this year’s fair, in- term in office as a success. He fre- ing a candidates’ forum hosted by cluding neighbors, students, parents, teachers and quently cites his record in the first the Mount-Vernon Lee Chamber of he Burgundy Farm Country Day School alumni. term, introducing 45 bills and Commerce, Surovell responded to welcomed students, families, friends and “I come back every year to see old friends, teach- passing seven of them — more criticism about his vote against the Tneighbors to the annual fall fair held ers and eat some really great chili,” said Njeri Sum- than any other freshman Demo- governor’s budget by describing it Saturday, Oct. 15, under perfect weather and good cheer. mery, a 2009 alumni who traveled from her high crat in the minority. As he did dur- as taking money out of schools, Fall fair activities included scarecrow stuffing, live school in Colorado for the event. ing his first campaign, Surovell mental health, prisons, mental student performances, face painting, book sales, Preparation for the fall fair is a six-month process, says his top priority in Richmond health for the poor and transpor- games as well as great food. and requires collaboration between parents and will be revitalization of the Route tation improvements to the Route “It’s a real community event,” said Bob Evans, neighbors.