HomeLifeStyle Page, 7 From left: Muslim American Society members Fatima Abdallah and Asiya Akyurt enlightening attendees at Oakton Library of the religious, po- litical, and technological contributions of Islam. Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, v Entertainment, Page 8 v Oakton Library Hosts Opinion, Page 4 Muslim Culture Event News, Page 6 Recycling Efforts Gain Steam in Fairfax County News, Page 12 Requested in home 7-11-19 home in Requested Time sensitive material. material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Postmaster: Attention ECR WSS ECR Lone Star Gospel Singer Customer Postal 322 # permit Easton, MD Easton, PAID Draws Crowd to Tysons Postage U.S. Entertainment, Page 9 STD PRSRT Photo by Mackenzie Williams/The Connection by Mackenzie Williams/The Photo July 10-16, 2019 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com 2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ July 10-16, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photos contributed Photos Fairfax County Fire Chief John Butler helps a child with her toys at the Fairfax County Fire Chief John Butler, second from right, working with Firefighters and Friends Toy Distribution Day in December of 2018. Liberian firefighters in January of this year. Fire Chief John Butler To Set Vision place, we can hold you accountable. That’s The road from Liberia to Fairfax County, with vision to regain the the platform I have for here — I won’t tol- erate cyberbullying or any behavior that reins of an organization bruised by claims of bullying and harassment. disrupts the workplace.” Butler, 52, holds a Master of By Jeanne Theismann replace Chief Richard Bowers and Science in management from The Connection was formally sworn in Sept. 4, Johns Hopkins University and a 2018. Prior to that he served 26 Bachelor of Arts from the Univer- airfax County Fire and Rescue De- years with the Howard County sity of Baltimore. He is a gradu- partment Chief John Butler didn’t Department of Fire and Rescue ate of the National Fire Fgrow up wanting to be a Services. He began as a Academy’s Executive Fire Officer firefighter. Born in Liberia, he was firefighter-paramedic, rising Program and from Harvard 12 years old when his family was forced to through the ranks to serve in a University’s John F. Kennedy flee the country following a military coup variety of roles, including as bat- School of Government Leadership in April of 1980. talion chief, emergency medical in Crisis Program. “My father was among those identified services chief and administrative as someone the new regime wanted to do chief before being named IN 2014, Butler was the recipi- away with,” Butler said in recalling the cir- Howard County’s first African ent of Johns Hopkins University’s cumstances that led to his immigration to American Fire Chief in 2014. Photo contributed Global Achievement Award for the U.S. “I’m not sure why since he was not “Howard County [Fire and Res- John Butler addresses the media after being sworn his humanitarian work in Africa. involved in politics or the military — he was cue] is a high performing organi- in as Fairfax County Fire Chief Sept. 4, 2018. Butler He has made multiple trips to the a businessman. But life had become tumul- zation, but it was time to take on is the first African American to hold the position. Republic of Liberia, most recently tuous and my parents decided that was not new challenges,” Butler said of in January of this year, when he how they wanted to raise their family.” his move to the helm of Fairfax County, a said. “We have a talented, diverse depart- assisted in training recruits for the Liberian Less than a month later, the family had department three times the size of Howard ment but we can’t solve problems using the National Fire Service and visited the resettled in Columbia, Md., where Butler County. “I always thought highly of Fairfax same thinking that created those problems.” Sayklon Orphanage. Butler uses his per- graduated from Oakland Mills High School. Fire and Rescue and am mindful of the more sonal vacation time and pays for all ex- He would go on to serve in the U.S. Marine recent challenges. I thought I could bring BUTLER HAS CREATED an equity and penses out of his pocket. Corps and was home on leave when he ac- something to the table — to help them get inclusion council and implemented code of “Whenever I return from trips such as this, companied a friend to take the test to be- realigned and continue going in a positive conduct and social media policies. Social I am reminded of how fortunate we are to come a Howard County firefighter. That direction.” media policies in particular have been un- have the things we have, the infrastructure decision would change his life, leading to a In addition to his firefighting experience, der scrutiny since the 2016 suicide death and quality of life that we enjoy and most career in firefighting and ultimately to his Butler served in the Marines for 21 years, of firefighter Nicole Mittendorff following often take for granted,” said Butler follow- being named the first African American fire including two combat tours. claims of online bullying. ing his most recent trip. chief in Fairfax County. “Joining the Marines is one of the best “We need to reestablish and rebuild the Butler, who is married with three adult “I wasn’t looking for a job,” Butler said. decisions I ever made,” Butler said. “In com- relationships that have taken a hit over the children, hopes to have a positive impact “I was loving being a Marine. But while I bat is where I grew a lot of my character. years,” said Butler, who was a defendant in in Fairfax County. was waiting for my friend a recruiter con- It’s where I learned how to lead teams and a termination suit brought by a Howard “I am really loving the department, the vinced me to take the test and when I how to lead others on a shared mission and County battalion chief based on social me- people I am working with and the direc- passed, I thought ‘Why not this?’ As I look vision.” dia postings. tion we are going,” Butler said. “Most im- back on this path, the wild ride from that Butler’s vision for FCFRD is to regain the “The case — Buker vs Howard County — portantly, I hope that my emphasis on trust, lobby to where I am now is never lost on reins of an organization bruised by claims went to the Supreme Court,” Butler said. courageous conversations and human en- me.” of bullying and harassment. “We prevailed and stuck to strong social gagement is making a difference. But the “I came here to establish guardrails, set a media policies and a code of conduct that best way I can impact the organization is BUTLER WAS NAMED last summer to vision and build a healthy team,” Butler basically says that if it disrupts the work- by modeling good behavior.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ July 10-16, 2019 ❖ 3 Opinion Vienna & Oakton www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Special Session on Gun Violence An independent, locally owned weekly newspaper delivered to homes and businesses. tective Order (Red Flag law), allowing law Published by Eight proposed bills enforcement and the courts to temporarily Pet Connection, Local Media Connection LLC separate a person from firearms if the person would make the exhibits dangerous behavior that presents an Send Photos 1606 King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 immediate threat to self or others. This would The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special commonwealth safer. prevent suicides. edition, will publish the last week of July, and Free digital edition delivered to ❖ Legislation prohibiting all individuals sub- photos and stories of your pets with you and your email box. Go to embers of the Virginia General ject to final protective orders from possessing your family should be submitted by Thursday, connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe Assembly were scheduled on firearms. The bill expands Virginia law which July 25. MJuly 9 to convene in a special currently prohibits individuals subject to final We invite you to send stories about your pets, NEWS DEPARTMENT: session intended to address protective orders of family abuse from possess- photos of you and your family with your cats, [email protected] gun violence. After the May 31 mass shooting ing firearms, keeping guns out of the hands of dogs, llamas, alpacas, ponies, hamsters, snakes, in Virginia Beach, Gov. Ralph Northam called domestic abusers. lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whatever other crea- Kemal Kurspahic ❖ for a special session of the General Assembly ❖ Legislation enhancing the punishment for tures share your life with you. Editor 703-778-9414 [email protected] to address gun violence. Last week, he an- allowing access to loaded, unsecured firearm Tell us the story of a special bond between a nounced a package of eight bills for consider- by a child from a Class 3 Misdemeanor to a child and a dog, the story of how you came to Andrea Worker ation during the special session. Class 6 felony. The bill also raises the age of adopt your pet, or examples of amazing feats Contributing Writer ❖ Legislation requiring background checks the child from 14 to 18. of your creatures. [email protected] on all firearms sales and transactions. ❖ Legislation allowing localities to Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favorite Jean Card The bill mandates that any person sell- Editorial enact any firearms ordinances that are pictures include both pets and humans.