McLeanMcLean WellbeingWellbeing PagePage 66 The Stoddard family of McLean: Andrew, Rebecca, Emily and Fiona got there early for a prime spot. Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 ❖ Opinion, Page 4 McLean Celebrates with Fireworks News, Page 3 Dolley Madison Library Gears Up for a Busy Summer News, Page 8 ‘Footloose’ coming To Alden Stage Entertainment, Page 8 Photo by Steve Hibbard/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJuly 6-12, 2016 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comMcLean Connection ❖ July 6-12, 2016 ❖ 1 2 ❖ McLean Connection ❖ July 6-12, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com McLean Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] The early crowd lines up for the fireworks on the track of Churchill Road Elementary School’s playground. Photos by Steve Hibbard/ Trying to stay dry in the rain are Rick Saddic, James Thomas, Dr. Nicole The Connection Thomas and Drew Thomas of McLean. McLean Celebrates with Fireworks espite the intermittent down- pour, McLean Community DCenter’s Fourth of July Fire- works Celebration was held at Churchill Road Elementary School on Mon- Enjoying the day, July 4, with a couple of hundred people firework fes- in attendance versus the usual thousands tivities are of spectators in years past. On the 240th Katrina and Ivy birthday of the nation’s independence, there Chen of was musical entertainment by a local disc McLean. jockey and food trucks on the grounds sell- ing a variety of entrees and snacks. The fire- works were lit and launched over the trees at nearby Cooper Middle School. People wait in line for the ice cream truck before the —Steve Hibbard fireworks begin. Trying to stay dry with their umbrellas are Rensso Morales and The Tallant Family of McLean before the festivities: Kimmy, Alyson, Chanaporn Sripha of Springfield. Becca, Robert and Tony. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com McLean Connection ❖ July 6-12, 2016 ❖ 3 Opinion McLean Locations for Summer Meals www.ConnectionNewspapers.com An independent, locally owned weekly Hungry in Summer http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/pdfs/ newspaper delivered summer_meals-2016_open_sites.pdf to homes and businesses. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/pdfs/ Published by There are hungry children in Northern Virginia, summer_meals-2016_closed_sites.pdf Local Media Connection LLC 1606 King Street Fairfax County operates more than 20 open Alexandria, Virginia 22314 more so in summertime. sites in areas where more than 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced meals Free digital edition delivered to your email box. Go to ummer for most children in Northern lower at 27.5 percent, but in many areas, more where students can go in summer for break- connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe Virginia is a time of fun and activities, than 50 percent of students qualify for subsi- fast and/or lunch. These locations are along camp and vacation, trips to the pool dized meals at school. the Route 1 corridor, in Herndon, Reston, S NEWS DEPARTMENT: and possibly to the library. Specialized In Arlington, more than 30 percent of stu- Fairfax, Chantilly, Lorton, Falls Church and [email protected] camps and activities tuneup sports skills and dents qualify for subsidized meals at school. more. See links above for locations. Kemal Kurspahic academic skills. Parents try to ensure snacks But most of the students who counted on It also falls to many nonprofits and food pan- Editor ❖ 703-778-9414 are at least somewhat healthy. school meals during the school year are not in tries to fill the gaps, and those organizations [email protected] In this environment, most of us don’t come school for the summer. need help keeping food available. Abigail Constantino into much contact with families that might be Editorial Assistant having trouble feeding their children. We can’t 703-778-9441 [email protected] imagine that there are children who are hun- Submit Photos to Pet Connection gry in summer. The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special identify everyone in the photo, give a brief Ken Moore Community Reporter But many children in our region don’t know edition, will publish on July 27, and photos description what is happening in the photo, 240-393-2448 what their next meal will be in summer. Dur- and stories of your pets with you and your fam- and include address and phone number (we [email protected] ing the school year, many have depended on ily should be submitted by July 17. will not publish your address or phone num- Jon Roetman school to provide breakfast and lunch during We invite you to send us stories about your ber, just your town name). Sports Editor the school year. Volunteers have stepped in to pets, photos of you and your family with your Email to [email protected] [email protected] provide backpacks to go home with hungry cats, dogs, llamas, alpacas, ponies, hamsters, or submit online at @jonroetman students on the weekend. snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whatever www.connectionnewspapers.com/pets. In the City of Alexandria, 60 percent of stu- other creatures share your life with you. For advertising information, email ADVERTISING: For advertising information dents in public schools qualify for subsidized Our favorite pictures include both pets and [email protected] or call 703- [email protected] meals at school. humans. 778-9431. 703-778-9431 In Fairfax County, that overall number is Please tell us a little bit about your creature, Trisha Hamilton Display Advertising Letters to the Editor 703-624-9201 [email protected] men led by Alexander Hamilton a key leader in combating climate summer to focus on this cause. Andrea Smith What Was decided they didn’t much care for change. Contact Classified Advertising 703-778-9411 the way the country was governed Having lived in northern Vir- [email protected] [email protected] Founding and constructed a new form of ginia all my life, I am proud to see for volunteer opportunities to Debbie Funk government with less Democracy our state standing up for the envi- join me. National Sales Fathers’ Intent? and a much more powerful cen- ronment. Those living in Norfolk 703-778-9444 To the Editor: tral government. But Alexander and Tangier Island are already Marley Finley [email protected] On this Independence Day (July Hamilton, despite all the musical struggling with rising sea levels, Falls Church David Griffin 4, 2016) I am reading Paul hoopla on Broadway, was not a and Richmond has been named an Marketing Assistant 703-778-9431 Carlock’s letter (“Gross Misreading “Founding Father.” (He is more Asthma Capital by the Asthma and [email protected] of the Second Amendment,” The correctly referred to as a Allergy Foundation of America. Deafening Connection, June 29-July 5, 2016) “Framer.”) In fact, of the 56, Across the state, myself and other Editor & Publisher setting forth his views on the Founding Fathers only a handful asthma patients, today’s children, Silence Mary Kimm meaning of the Second Amend- played any role in writing the Con- and the elderly have and will con- To the Editor: [email protected] ment. In his letter he is suggest- stitution or any of its amendments, tinue to be particularly hurt by the All of us recall that during her @MaryKimm ing that our Senator, Tim Kaine, and only six Founders signed the effects of climate change. The ac- last campaign Rep. Barbara Executive Vice President and our Congressman, Gerry final document. Consequently, it’s tion Governor McAuliffe took yes- Comstock made a major issue of Jerry Vernon 703-549-0004 Connolly, “simply do not under- a bit of a stretch to claim to be able terday benefits us all. being demeaned as a woman. Dur- [email protected] stand history.” Well, I don’t know to discern what the Founding Fa- But the path toward cleaner en- ing the current election cycle the Editor in Chief how well either of these gentle- thers intended. They were, for the ergy we’ve started on could still top of her ticket is a man who con- Steven Mauren men understand history, but I sure most part, hardly involved. veer off in the wrong direction. It stantly and Managing Editor hope they have a better grasp of it is vital that we encourage Gover- consistently degrades women. Kemal Kurspahic Art/Design: than does he. His insistence on his Peter M. Storm nor McAuliffe to ensure that the What do we hear from Comstock Laurence Foong, John Heinly understanding of what he refers Vienna Virginia power plan truly helps about this? I’m listening hard and Production Manager: to as “the truth behind the create a healthier environment for am deafened by her silence. In fact Geovani Flores Founder’s intent when they wrote our families. Carbon emissions what she does say is that she has Special Assistant to the Publisher the Second Amendment,” gives Focus on Wind should be reduced by improving “moved past” the coming election. Jeanne Theismann [email protected] one pause. Let’s review! Our na- energy efficiency and transitioning Really? It matters so little to her @TheismannMedia tion was founded on July 4, 1776. and Solar Power to clean, renewable energy who becomes the President of the Our Founding Fathers were those To the Editor: sources. Contrary to what fossil United States? CIRCULATION: 703-778-9427 who, on that day, pledged their Virginia’s transition to clean en- fuel lobbyists insist, natural gas is I want a representative who [email protected] lives, their fortunes, and their sa- ergy is now underway. On Tues- not the solution we need due to cares about who runs this country cred honor. During the course of day, June 28, Governor Terry its emissions.