INSIDE: Report: Health of Potomac River slips a bit • Page 5 Serving Arlington & Beyond for over 25 years A tradition of 11 16 exceptional WOMAN’S CLUB GRAND CANYON service EFFORT HELPS ADVENTURE and success SUPPORT THOSE 703.538.6030 |RAISES brockrealty.com FUNDS IN NEED OF HELP FOR AREA EFFORT Bret Brock • 703.538.6030 • brockrealty.com Sun Gazette ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935 VOLUME 86 NO. 1 DECEMBER 17-23, 2020 Rouse Estate THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Return-to-Class Preservation Efforts Rebuffed Effort Seems by County Board To Be Failing Leaders Say They Can’t SCOTT McCAFFREY Sta Writer Make Decisions for APS Efforts to place the 9-acre SCOTT McCAFFREY Rouse estate at the corner of Sta Writer Wilson Boulevard and North McKinley Road into a local A request that Arlington County Board historic district appear to have members use their inuence – whether through pushed the property owner to sweet-talking or something more forceful – to move forward with the “nuclear get county schools back up and running fell option” – tearing it down before largely on deaf ears Dec. 12. such government action can take Board members said place. they were working with And, county ofcials say, their School Board there is not much they can do to counterparts, but had no prevent it. power to force a reopen- “Our hands are pretty much ing of schools that have tied,” County Board Chairman been shuttered since last Libby Garvey said Dec. 12, effec- March. tively rebufng a request that the Acknowledging for county government take stronger the record that the situa- actions to reduce the likelihood tion is “really, really frus- that the estate’s circa-1907 main trating,” County Board “Our role is to property might be razed. Chairman Libby Garvey At the board’s Dec. 12 meet- said the county govern- provide the best ing, Tom Dickinson – who last ment was providing re- ideas for whatever April made the request that the sources to make an even- course [school parcel be designated a local his- tual back-to-class rollout leaders] choose. “ toric district – voiced concerns possible, but the nal say – County Board member about the county’s issuing paper- on resuming classes was Christian Dorsey work necessary for the structures not theirs. on the site to be demolished, “We really are providing all we can,” said and asked that county leaders Garvey, a former School Board member who, in “immediately intervene” on the her re-election bid this year, occasionally opined Perhaps because they represent a sense of normalcy in very abnormal times, local organiza- on the need to get classes back in operation. matter. tions that have been selling Christmas trees this year report large crowds and quick sell-outs as families prepared for the Christmas holiday, now about a week away. METRO CREATIVE Continued on Page 19 Continued on Page 19 ONLINE https://sungazette.news l On Facebook: sungazettenews l On Twitter: @sungazettenews @sungazettespts Local Postal Customer Postal Local 4444Years 703.528.2288 PERMIT NO. 260 NO. PERMIT EASTON, MD EASTON, PAID www.BuckRealtors.com U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT 703.528.2288 www.BuckRealtors.com 703.528.2288 www.BuckRealtors.com Stopping lung cancer starts with a screening. Current or former smoker over 55? Learn if you’re eligible at 202-866-6201 or MedStarHealth.org/LungScreening. Offered at four convenient locations. 6883_MGCI_Lung_Cancer_Screening_FY21_PrintAd_Arlington_9.5x13_Final.indd 1 10/9/20 1:25 PM 2 December 17, 2020 sungazette.news Cooperative Extension Perseveres in an Unusual Year SCOTT McCAFFREY line, including (for the rst time) the an- Sta Writer nual 4-H summer camp, which operated for three days in a “virtual” environment. From 4-H to nancial literacy to gar- “It was a place for our 71 campers to dening, with food safety and conservation connect – and have some fun in a really added to the mix, the programming pro- tough summer,” said Caitlin Verdu, the vided by Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Arlington counterpart to Morris. Arlington and Alexandria ofces long has Kirsten Conrad, an Extension agent tended to be of the “high-touch” variety. focusing on agriculture and natural re- Until COVID arrived, that is. sources, noted the resilience of staff and As a result, 2020 has been “a little bit volunteers during the tumultuous time. different from what we’re accustomed to,” “We continue to nd ways to nd al- said Reggie Morris, the Cooperative Ex- ternatives,” she said, noting that many of tension agent for 4-H in Alexandria, at the education programs have managed to the organization’s annual showcase, which see four to ve times normal attendance Reggie Morris, who oversees 4-H youth development for Virginia Cooperative Extension in Al- drew about 75 participants on Dec. 11. now that they are available online. exandria, helps to lead a showcase of Cooperative Extension programs in Arlington and Alex- In ordinary times, the event would have (That said, Conrad and others pined andria, held online this year due to public-health conditions. been a breakfast gathering at Fairlington for a return to in-person programming. Community Center, but with that facility “We hope to see a gradual resumption of highlights reported at the Dec. 11 gather- saving advice. closed (and in-person gatherings strictly our most popular events” as soon as pos- ing: • The 160-volunteer Arlington Re- limited anyway), Cooperative Extension sible, she said.) • Financial-education programming gional Master Naturalists program “had went with an online program to highlight The Alexandria half of the Virginia pivoted to a virtual environment, but not to re-think everything” in the wake of the its services in a most unusual year. Cooperative Extension program oper- before hosting (prior to the pandemic) a pandemic, said Marion Jordan, its presi- “Even though things were different . ates out of the Nannie Lee Center, which “Reality Store” that provided 400 high- dent. Overall service hours provided by . we knew we could thrive. Arlington and is open on a limited basis. The Arlington school students with a look at the choices volunteers, which totaled 14,000 in 2019, Alexandria have discovered new ways to half is based at Fairlington Community they will have to make after leaving the unsurprisingly nosedived in 2020, but the create opportunities for all,” said Morris, Center, which like many Arlington-gov- nest. organization (supported by Virginia Co- highlighting efforts by various facets of ernment facilities has remained closed • The Energy Masters program took operative Extension and other state agen- Virginia Cooperative Extension, a state even when similar facilities in other ju- some of its training out-of-doors and is cies) is nding ways to make an impact in agency overseen by Virginia Tech and Vir- risdictions have reopened. “We are really working to keep volunteers prepped for the current environment. ginia State University. looking forward to returning to the Fair- the day when they can return to local • The 4-H program’s efforts with youth “We have transformed,” said Kirsten lington Community Center soon,” said homes to dispense energy-saving advice, are continuing in creative ways, as well, Kelley, an Extension agent focused on Conrad, who has worked at her post for said Stephanie Tsao, the program coordi- Verdu said. family nutrition. She, and others, noted 14 years. nator. The program this year marked the No matter what 2021 may bring, “4-H that much programming had moved on- Among some of the programmatic 1,000th unit it had supported with energy- isn’t going anywhere,” she said. Our Counseling Services: Our Counselors LIFE• Family PULLING Behavioral Issues YOU INMatthew TOO Ryan, MANYMA, LPC, NCC DIRECTIONS? • Learning Disabilities ADD/ADHD,OUR COUNSELORS Anxiety, Depression & Sports Performance The• Adjustment right Disorders Matthew holds a B.A. in Psychology from George Washington DUFFY • Behavioral Diagnosis University, a M.A.MATTHEW in Clinical Psychology, RYAN, and MA, is a LPC, graduate NCC of COUNSELING • Sports Performance Georgetown PrepaADD/ADHD,ratory High Anxiety, School. Depression Matthew & is Sports also a PerformanceClinical therapist Supervisor for residentsMatthew inholds counseling. a B.A. in Psychology from George Washington CENTER • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) University, a M.A. in Clinical Psychology, and is a graduate of • Georgetown Preparatory High School. can• Failure help to Launchyou Patrick Ryan, MA, LPC Adolescent • School Transitions - College, HS, MS ADD/ADHD, Depression, Anxiety & Grief, Substance Abuse navigate the Patrick holds B.APATRICK. in Psychology RYAN, from GeorMA,ge LPC Mason University, a Adolescent Specializing M.A. in Clinical PsychADD/ADHD,ology, andDepression, is a grad Anxietyuate o &f Gon Grief,zaga Substance College Abuse and Adult High School andPatrick is also holds a ca ncerB.A. in s urvivor.Psychology from George Mason University, way.in the Behavioral a M.A. in Clinical Psychology, and is a graduate of Gonzaga Counsand Adulteling and Emotional Effects of: College High School and is also a cancer survivor. • ADD / ADHD Katharine Rosenbaum, MA, LPC Adolescent GirlsKATHARINE, ADD/ADHD, P ROSENBAUM,TSD & Trauma MA, LPC Counselingand • Anxiety Adolescent Girls, ADD/ADHD, PTSD & Trauma Katharine holds BKatharine.A. in Psyc holdsho loB.A.gy in f roPsychologym Mary mofromun Marymountt Univers ityUniversity,, a • Depression M.A. in Clinical Psya M.A.chology in Clinical, and Psychology, is a graduat ande isof a Stongraduatee Rid ofge Stone Sch Ridgeool Testing of the Sacred HeSchoolart. of the Sacred Heart. and Testing • Substance Abuse WE ARE SEEING PATIENTS IN OFFICE! We are still offering teletherapy as well. What Our Patients Are Saying 703.255.1091 Committed to the Safety of Our Patients by sanitizing all touch points every hour, wearing masks, and following ALL CDC guidelines for your safety.