Christopher Gachko, in green, of Reston, walks with his mother and father Lorraine Reston and Michael Gachko, of New Jersey. Christo- pher is captain of the ‘Pineapple Avengers’ and was inspired to walk in honor of his mother, a cancer survivor. Classifieds, Page 15 Classifieds, ❖ Sports, Page 14 ❖ Seahawks Win Calendar, Page 13 Battle of ❖ Battle of The Grads News, Page 10 Opinion, Page 6 School Budget Life Triumphs Adds Big Fees And Program Cuts At Reston County Line, Page 8 Requested in home 5-27-10 home in Requested Time sensitive material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Attention Relay #86 PERMIT Relay WV Martinsburg, PAID News, Page 4 Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Photo by Deb Cobb/The Connection Photo online at www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.comMay 26-June 1, 2010 ❖ Volume XXIV, Number 21 Reston Connection ❖ May 26 - June 1, 2010 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ May 26 - June 1, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photos by Photos Amir Noorbakhsh The Spinal Research Foundation’s volunteers for We Got Your Back fun run and Spinal Research Fair at /The Connection Wiehle Avenue in Reston Fun Run/Walk Mike DiCicco Attracts Hundreds Photo by Photo From left, Washington Airports Task Force President Leo Schefer and Committee for n Saturday, May 22, Redskins Cheerleaders. The Dulles President Tanya Matthews present MWAA CEO Jim Bennett with a painting Othe Spinal Research event allowed the public to commissioned for his retirement. Foundation hosted its learn about how the spine third annual We’ve Got Your works and how individuals can Back 5K race, 1-mile fun run/ prevent injury and spinal prob- walk and Spinal Health Fair in lems. DXA Scans were also Community Wishes Reston at the Virginia Spine available for the public to indi- Institute’s office on Wiehle Av- cate the risk of bone fractures enue from 8 a.m.-12 noon. and Osteoporosis. About 500 residents partici- “This event has been created MWAA CEO Bon Voyage pated in the fun run. The pro- to inspire our patients and the gram took place during May to public to set goals to improve correspond with National Os- their health,” said Schuler. “We teoporosis Awareness Month. also do this to show that with Under Jim Bennett, airports authority took over Metro Spinal Surgeon Thomas C. modern spinal health care, neck construction, among other accomplishments. Schuler M.D., president of the and back problems can be Spinal Research Foundation, solved simply and safely which spoke during the opening cer- enables them to enjoy their lives By Mike DiCicco D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty (D), D.C. Department of emonies about the foundation’s and contribute to society. Many The Connection Transportation Chief Engineer Nick Nicholson re- goals and efforts. Ethan of the runners today have suc- called Bennett telling him a few years ago that in his Albright, Raeed Doughty, Chris cessfully undergone surgery el. Tom Rust (R-86) had brought a cer business, “Every goal is safety.” It was that attitude, Samules and James Thrash of which allows them to compete tificate of appreciation for Jim Bennett Nicholson said, that made Bennett stand out in his the Washington Redskins made today.” from Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), but he field. an appearance at the event D — Amir Noorbakhsh said he wasn’t going to read it because “Getting big things done really takes stamina and along with the Washington it was much too long. Instead, Rust made his own determination and leadership,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry statement of appreciation for the retiring CEO of the Connolly (D-11), speaking on behalf of the Virginia, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Maryland and Washington, D.C. congressional del- (MWAA). “Northern Virginia is the economic engine egations. He noted that Bennett had led the airports of Virginia, and Dulles Airport may very well be the authority through difficult times in the years after economic engine of Northern Virginia,” he said. “He’s the 9-11 attacks, helped bring Dulles Airport into contributed so much to the economic viability of this the 21st century and managed what amounted to “a area.” small city.” Rust said Bennett had built upon the foundation During Bennett’s tenure, the AeroTrain was built he had inherited and “taken this airport to the next at Dulles Airport, a new air traffic control tower and level.” And, he added, without Bennett’s leadership, two new parking garages were added, a concourse Rail to Dulles probably would not have happened. was expanded, the fourth runway was completed, Rust was one of several speakers at a retirement and the access highway was improved. ceremony for Bennett on Friday afternoon, May 7 at “But perhaps nothing challenged Jim’s leadership the Fairview Park Marriott Hotel in Falls Church, as much as Rail to Dulles,” Connolly said, recalling where hundreds of guests packed the banquet hall. the battle over burying the rail under Tysons Corner The event was staged by the Committee for Dulles, and the ambivalence of the Federal Transit Adminis- the Washington Airports Task Force, the Dulles Area tration, which nearly withdrew federal funding for Transportation Association, the Dulles Corridor Rail the project. Association, Visit Fairfax, and the Dulles Regional Under Bennett, MWAA took ownership of the and Loudoun County chambers of commerce. Dulles Toll Road and took over construction of the Bennett is moving on to work for the Abu Dhabi Metro Silver Line. Now, Connolly said, construction Airports Company on the expansion of the Abu Dhabi was underway. “We can almost touch Rail to Dulles.” Director of Research and Spine Surgeon Brian R. International Airport, a project that he said was “ex- Charles Snelling, chairman of the MWAA board, said Subach M.D., We’ve Got Your Back Director of Volun- citing stuff” from an airport development standpoint. his service to the board began around the time Bennett teers Christine Rodriguez and Chief Executive Officer and Spine Surgeon Thomas C. Schuler M.D. THANKING BENNETT on behalf of Washington, See Bennett, Page 9 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection ❖ May 26 - June 1, 2010 ❖ 3 News Week in Reston Cancer Treatment Center Named After Ann B. Rodriguez Community members, physicians, hospital leaders and the friends and family of Ann Rodriguez gathered in the Radiation Oncology Pavilion at Reston Hospital Center to celebrate Rodriguez’s legacy, and the naming of the hospital’s cancer cen- ter in her memory. “Ann was not only a friend of the hospital, but the entire com- munity,” said Bill Adams, president and CEO of Reston Hospital Center. “She had a special way of bringing people together — and she continues to do so even today, as we name the Ann B. Rodriguez Cancer Center in her memory.” A field full of tents at South Lakes High School. Teams supply refreshments to their In addition to the naming of the Cancer Center, Sen. Janet participants during the long night of walking. Howell (D-32) and Del. Ken Plum (D-36) presented Rodriguez’s son Paco Rodriguez with a state resolution honoring her memory and all that she has done for the Northern Virginia community. “I always looked up to my mother and thought she was amaz- Life Triumphs at Reston Relay ing in all that she did for our family, for others, and for the com- munity.” said Paco Rodriguez. “Actions like the one that Reston n Saturday, May 22, South Lakes High mit to having at least one representative walking on Hospital Center is taking today make me realize that she wasn’t School hosted the Reston Relay For the track at all times during the event. In the words just amazing to me, but she had a huge impact on others’ lives as Life. More than 90 teams participated of the ACS, “a world with more birthdays is a world well. It is only fitting that this place of hope and healing now O in the event, raising over $215,000 for with less cancer.” bears her name.” the American Cancer Society. Teams com- Photos by Deb Cobb/The Connection Ann Rodriguez was a beloved advocate for the arts and quality of life issues in Reston and Fairfax County. Her work on countless com- munity organizations, including the Reston Hospital Center Board of Trustees, improved the lives of many. After being treated at Reston Carole Stadfield of Reston is surviv- Hospital Center, Ann lost her battle at home in November 2009. ing leukemia and loves celebrating each birthday. She has been walk- Picnic Pavilions Open at ing at the Relay since 1997. She is getting a massage from Reston Lake Fairfax Park resident Rick Morgan, of Newly completed picnic shelters located along the shore of Lake Rejuvinations Massage in Herndon Fairfax Park were officially opened this month. Members of the who organized the massage tent to Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Park Authority Board ensure walkers would have access and other dignitaries gathered to cut the ribbon and officially to massage throughout the event. open these new, highly sought-after pavilions. The half-million dollar project, funded by the 2008 Park Bond, provides two large picnic shelters, each with an 88-person capacity and two large grills; one catering station for the large picnic shelters; two small picnic shelters, each with a 60-person capacity, one grill and ca- tering station, as well as concrete access ways and walks. Some of the members of Love Your Body Day at team S.T.O.M.P. accom- pany cancer survivor Reston Town Center Susan Bainwol, third Beloved Yoga will lead the way as Northern Virginia’s best yoga from right, around the instructors and alternative health care providers treat the com- track for the first lap of munity to Love Your Body Day, Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.