Serving Fairfax Areas of Burke As part of the Adopt a Soldier program, volunteers gather at Little River Glen Senior Center on Saturday, Jan. 7 to pack care packages for U.S. troops stationed overseas. Classified, Page 12 Classified, ❖ Sports, Page 10 ❖ AdoptionAdoption Calendar, Page 8 ProgramProgram News,News, PagePage 33 A Place for The Community News, Page 2 Requested in home 1-15-10 home in Requested Time sensitive material. sensitive Time UFC Reigns Postmaster: Attention PERMIT #322 PERMIT Easton, MD Easton, PAID At Patriot Center Postage U.S. Sports, Page 10 STD PRSRT Photo by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection January 14-20, 2010 ❖ Volume XXIV, Number 2 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ❖ January 14-20, 2010 ❖ 1 Fairfax Connection Editor Michael O’Connell News 703-778-9416 or [email protected] Breaking New Ground Plans for a community center have been discussed City breaks ground on for many years by City Council and other officials, but as Cross said, no plans were ever financially vi- new Stacy C. Sherwood able. However, in January 2008, the wife of Stacy Community Center. Sherwood, a former town and City Council member as well as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, told officials that she wanted to make a $5 million By Justin Fanizzi donation to the city on the condition that it is used The Connection for a community center. In addition, the terms of her donation also stipulated that the center have a strong esidents of the City of Fairfax can finally focus on the cultural arts. The city agreed, and plan- see the light at the end of the tunnel in ning soon began. Rits quest for the long-awaited Stacy C. The city enlisted Hughes Group Architects of Ster- Sherwood Com- ling to design the building and, munity Center. after a bidding process early last City officials, dignitaries and “This is going to year, selected the SIGAL Corpo- citizens gathered in front of ration of Arlington as general the police station on Old Lee provide a facility that contractor. According to Direc- Highway Saturday, Jan. 9 for tor of Parks and Recreation the center’s groundbreaking. we’ve always wanted to Mike McCarty, the center will be /The Connection The center, fully funded by a 14,330 square feet in size, in- $5 million donation from have but was not cluding a 5,000 square foot per- Sherwood’s widow, Geraldine, financially possible.” formance space and a 1,000 is envisioned as a central hub square foot rehearsal space. The for the arts. — Councilmember Joan Cross center, McCarty said, will host Justin Fanizzi Justin “This is going to provide a youth and adult recreation pro- facility that we’ve always wanted to have but was grams, cultural activities and arts-related activities, not financially possible,” said City Councilmember including dance and theater classes, plays, concerts Joan Cross. “We have wonderful, generous people and more. Photo by Photo in the city and Mrs. Sherwood’s gift is an example of City officials and the Sherwood family preparing to See Community, Page 7 that. It’s moved our facilities forward five years.” break ground. Miranda Raff Elana Goldenkoff Haydn Johnson Sarah Metzel Gallery Show Frost Middle students display artwork at annual exhibit. variety of student art was on display on Thursday, Jan. A7, at the Frost Middle School Student Art Show. Stu- dents, parents and the community had the opportu- nity to view student work at this annual event. Eight students representing each of the eight academic teams received awards for their artistic accomplishments on a night that truly cel- ebrated the arts. JaHyun Yang Keith Follansbee 2 ❖ Fairfax Connection ❖ January 14-20, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Lake Braddock Secondary seniors, from left, Alanna Whearley, Laura Volunteers pack items for overseas troops on Saturday, Jan. 9, at Little Valin and Tara Nutcharoen write River Glen Senior Center. notes to be included in the care packages. /The Connection Packed with Care Volunteers prepare packages for troops deployed overseas. Craig Sterbutzel n Saturday, Jan. 9, volunteers reation Services and America’s Adopt a Sol- gathered at Little River Senior dier (AAAS) program. Founded in 2009, Center in Fairfax to pack 100 AAAS’ mission is to make a difference in Photos by Photos O care packages for U.S. troops the lives of U.S. veterans, soldiers and their Volunteers write notes to stationed overseas. families. Rebecca Zerfas, a kindergartner at military personnel stationed The event was organized by the Fairfax To learn more about the program, visit Sangster Elementary, writes a note. overseas. County Department of Community and Rec- www.americasadoptasoldier.org. This Is What Your Neighbors Want In their own words, locals speak out substance abuse programs. Witt is chair of the higher cost of living and services in the board’s intellectual disabilities (previ- Northern Virginia, many people with dis- at Virginia General Assembly hearing. ously known as mental retardation) abilities still have a hard time finding home committee. health care aides at such a low pay-grade. By Julia O’Donoghue ones proposed by Kaine. Looking at Kaine’s budget proposal, Witt “It takes some people up to six months to The Connection About one-third of the people who took said he was most concerned about two get a personal aide,” said Witt. their Saturday morning off to speak to items. bout 60 people showed up to tes- Fairfax County’s senators and delegates had First, Kaine proposed freezing the num- BRUCE NOVITSKY hopes to see local leg- Atify before the Fairfax County del- serious concerns ber of medical waivers available to people islators vote egation to the Virginia General As- about how with intellectual disabilities, which means against a bill that sembly at a Jan. 9 hearing. The representa- Virginia’s budget no people with intellectual disabilities who would make tives, including state senators and del- would impact qualify for state-subsidized assistance spouses pay child egates, headed to Richmond for the start of residents with dis- would be able to receive it in the following support to their the legislative session on Jan. 13. abilities who re- year. ex-husband or ex- Virginia’s budget is one of the top, if not ceive or are wait- Six-hundred and thirty-six people are on wife until their the top, priorities for most state legislators ing to receive as- the Falls Church-Fairfax County waiting list children are 23 in 2010. The General Assembly only passes sistance from the to receive a waiver for their intellectual dis- years old. a new budget once every two years and the commonwealth. abilities. Only 618 people with intellectual Novitsky, a di- current spending plan has a $4 billion short- Other speakers disabilities in the Falls Church-Fairfax area vorcee, said he has fall. addressed a range have such a waiver and receive state assis- every intention of Bruce Novitsky, Former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) proposed clos- of topics including Woody Witt, City tance. The waiver allows payment for com- helping his chil- Burke resident ing Virginia’s budget gap through a mix of taxes, the local of Fairfax resident munity-based care, like group homes, over dren out finan- tax increases and cuts in services before court system and institutional care. cially when they leaving office this month. Among other state funding for Fairfax schools. “There are more people on the waiting are over 18, but he thinks that once a child things, Kaine’s plan included a $60 million Here are excerpts of what people said to list than we currently have slots for,” said becomes an adult, it should be a personal reduction in Fairfax County Public Schools’ Fairfax County’s senators and delegates: Witt. matter between a parent and child. For ex- state funding. Witt is also concerned about a 5 percent ample, he said he would rather pay his child Unlike his predecessor, newly sworn-in WOODY WITT sits on the Fairfax-Falls reduction in the commonwealth’s reim- directly than have the money given to his Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) has said he will Church Community Services Board, which bursement for services obtained through the ex-wife. “I am helping my child out but that not raise taxes to balance the budget, which oversees local programs and assistance waiver. Though a local adjustment is in should be between a child and his father,” could mean deeper cuts to services than the provided to people with disabilities and place for the reimbursement, to account for said Novitsky. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Fairfax Connection ❖ January 14-20, 2010 ❖ 3 Week in Fairfax News Dust Off That Old Violin Instruments in the Attic That expansion occurred over the summer, as Phaup had the desire to use the program to assist program collects used not only Mason students, but also music students in local schools and area community organizations. musical instruments. Phaup enlisted the help of Mason’s Potomac Arts Academy, which offers music, theater and art classes, By Justin Fanizzi private music lessons and summer programs, to The Connection branch out into the community and forge relation- ships with interested groups. Paul VI juniors Anastasia Richter, Catherine ohn Kilkenny, the George Mason University Since then, the program has taken off substantially, Schifferli, Matthew Madigan and Mark percussion teacher and Potomac Arts Acad- bringing several community groups into the fold. Schierling, who were accompanied by members Jemy assistant director, knows that the only According to Kilkenny, Potomac Arts Academy has of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry regiment, present a way to create beautiful music is to put in- formed partnerships with the Fairfax Symphony Or- wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.