Serving Fairfax Areas of Burke Late Summer Fun Page 8 ‘Annie’ Comes to Fairfax Summer Fun, Page 8 From left—David Smith, State Senator Chap Petersen (D- 34) and Greg Conrad perform “A New Deal for Christ- Follow on Twitter: @ffxconnection on Twitter: Follow mas” in the City of Fairfax Theater Company’s sold-out production of “Annie” last week- end at Lanier Middle School. Classified, Page 14 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 12 ❖ Entertainment, Page 11 VA Adopts: Campaign for 1,000 News, Page 3 Unlocking the Door to Affordable Housing News, Page 4 Photo by Todd Parola Photography www.ConnectionNewspapers.comAugust 1—7, 2013 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comFairfax Connection ❖ August 1-7, 2013 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Fairfax Connection ❖ August 1-7, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Photos by Photos Victoria Ross Victoria /The Connection Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova welcomed From left—Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock); Ryan Kelly, Office of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell during the event at the Fairfax County Governor Bob McDonnell; Janet Kelly and Kelly’s mother. Janet Kelly Government Center on Tuesday, July 30 to promote the governor’s “Vir- spoke about the couple’s adoption experience during the event at the ginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000” initiative. Fairfax County Government Center on Tuesday, July 30. Learn More ❖ Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell urges anyone VA Adopts: Campaign for 1,000 considering becoming a foster parent or adopting to visit: www.VirginiaAdopts.Virginia.Gov. Twitter: @Virginia Adopts Governor McDonnell Facebook: VirginiaAdopts Supervisor Pat #VAdopts promotes adoption, Herrity (R-Spring- #Campaign for 1000 field) spoke about ❖ For more information about Fairfax County foster and adoption services, go to foster care during his adoption experi- www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/childrenyouth/ ence during the fca.htm event to promote ❖ Attend an Orientation Meeting: The Fairfax Fairfax County tour. County Department of Family Services hosts the governor’s orientation meetings for prospective foster and “Virginia Adopts: adoptive parents the second Monday of each By Victoria Ross Campaign for month at 7 p.m. at the Pennino Building, 12011 The Connection Government Center Parkway. For more 1,000” initiative information, call 703-324-7639 or held Tuesday, July TTY: 703-222-9452 he atmosphere was festive as 30. Daughter more than 100 people—includ- Valeria, now 21, Ting adoptive parents, children joined Herrity’s Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Culi- and state and local officials— family in 2002. nary School.” gathered in the Fairfax County Government Nancy, Valeria, Pat Herrity admitted it was difficult for him Center atrium Tuesday, July 30 to welcome and Sean Herrity in to say “adopted daughter.” Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) during the a recent campaign “She’s my daughter, period. I asked her statewide tour to promote his “Virginia photo. permission before I publicly talked about Adopts: Campaign for 1,000” initiative. her. She said if I can help somebody else Photo contributed get adopted, that’s okay.” THE GOAL of the campaign is to match 1,000 children currently in foster care with dren currently in Virginia’s foster care sys- now 21, and about to graduate from culi- NANNETTE BOWLER, director of the adoptive families. The governor launched tem are over the age of 10 and many a part nary school. Fairfax County Department of Family Ser- the statewide campaign on May 17 from the of a sibling group. He also acknowledged “As an adoptive parent this campaign is vices, served as mistress of ceremonies for steps of the Governor’s Mansion during the grim statistics for children who age out close to my heart,” Herrity said. “By match- the event. Virginia’s Foster Care Month. of the foster care system: within two years ing kids with adoptive families we are giv- “The Department of Social Services is “Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, of aging out, about 25 percent will be in- ing these children a shot at a life, a chance grateful to the governor for his leadership pro-choice, pro-life, adoption can transcend carcerated and 54 percent will be homeless. to stay in education, and a place to call in heightening the awareness of the great those issues,” McDonnell said at Tuesday’s “Of the 4,000 children in Virginia’s foster home.” need for adoptive homes for our foster chil- event. “Even in affluent place like Fairfax, care system, about 1,000 children are ready Herrity said he and his wife first met their dren who are available for adoption, yet do there are children in need of loving homes.” for, and eagerly awaiting, adoption,” daughter when she was playing with his not have adoptive placements, particularly McDonnell said the General Assembly McDonnell said. “Each of these children sister’s children. She had been adopted from children ages 12 to 17 years of age,” said provided $1.5 million for the campaign, and deserves a secure, stable home environ- Russia by a local couple, but that adoption Bowler. the money will be used to help prospective ment. Together, we can help these children wasn’t working out. Currently, about 300 youth in Fairfax adoptive parents with medical and other find loving families and make Virginia a “It was a bad situation. We met her and County are in foster care, according to expenses associated with adopting a child. better place.” we started having her over to our house. county Bowler, and when children cannot “I’m passionate about this,” McDonnell Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) The last thing I thought I’d be doing that return home safely, county officials attempt said. “Children in foster care are there and Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) summer is adopting a child,” Herrity said. to provide adoption or permanent-place- through no fault of their own, and just as sat with McDonnell and gave the welcome “There was a need and somebody needed ment services for them. much as any child, they deserve a loving, and closing remarks. to step up and help this girl. “I think anytime we can bring this issue secure and stable family and home.” Herrity spoke movingly about his own “When she came into our lives, she didn’t to the forefront, especially at such a high McDonnell noted that in 2012, 708 chil- experience as an adoptive parent. He and know the days of week or how to tell time,” level, it can only help to get the word out dren were adopted from foster care in Vir- his wife, Nancy, adopted daughter Valeria Herrity said during the event. “By the end about the dire need for the children to have ginia. He said that most of the 4,000 chil- in 2002 when she was 9 years old. She is of this year, she will have graduated from a loving, permanent family,” Bowler said. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ❖ August 1-7, 2013 ❖ 3 News Photo by Virginia Supportiv by Virginia Photo Photo by IKEA Designs Photo e Housing Photo by Victoria Ross/The Connection by Victoria Photo The Crossings in Charlottesville, built by Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), is the type of affordable housing Fairfax County is considering. Hailed as a “game- Small and affordable doesn’t necessarily changer” for homelessness and a regional mean boring. Many furniture companies, solution to affordable housing, the Cross- such as IKEA, Target and Macy’s, offer ings has 60 small studio apartments with trendy furniture and rooms specifically support services in a mixed-income com- designed for small living spaces, such as munity. Thirty units are designated for studio apartments. This small kitchen homeless clients and 30 units are avail- space is one of IKEA’s recent designs on its able to individuals earning 50 percent or website. less of the area median income. Edwin C. Roessler Unlocking the Door to Roessler Named Affordable Housing County Police Chief lice headquarters in 2016 and County considers estab- Voice Your Opinion New police future infrastructure growth The Board of Supervisors recommended that the Planning chief vows fo- planned in many communities lishment of residential stu- Commission conduct additional outreach in the form of work throughout Fairfax. sessions or other public engagement opportunities. The board Roessler was appointed act- dio option to create afford- will hold its public hearing on Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. For more cus on diversity. information visit: ing police chief in March by http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoningordinance/pro- By Victoria Ross Fairfax County Executive Ed able housing options. posed. The Connection Long. “I am pleased to name Ed Roessler as Fairfax County’s By Victoria Ross ing and a minimum of 80 percent of units have to be dwin C. Roessler, named new police chief,” said Board of The Connection affordable to low-income earners, those making Fairfax County’s police about $45,000 per year or less. The maximum square E Supervisor’s Chairman Sharon chief at Tuesday’s Board footage for the units would be 500 square feet, plus Bulova. “Not only has he per- n a move designed to increase affordable hous- of Supervisor’s meeting July 30, a bathroom and kitchen. formed exceptionally well in ing options for working-class individuals, the promised to launch a Diversity “As parts of the county continue to urbanize, higher his role as acting police chief, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors took a step Council in an effort to recruit, I densities can be achieved, which makes the inclu- but he also possesses a wide toward adoption of zoning changes that would promote and respond to Fairfax sion of more affordable housing more practical,” range and depth of experience encourage the development of low-cost studio apart- County’s increasingly diverse Pesto said.