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Great Falls Library Promotes Summer ReadingNews, Page 3

Experiencing History at Colvin Run MillNews, Page 3

Great Falls Resident’s ‘Most Exciting Job’People, Page 7

Great Falls resident Richard Cogan holds a model of the Saturn V rocket, which sent Apollo 11 on its way to the moon. Cogan was recognized for his contribu-tion to the historic mission to the moon.

2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ July 17-23, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Great Falls Connection ❖ July 17-23, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By Zachary Schonfeld

The Connection

While students have abreak from school as-signments this summer,the Great Falls library is

making an effort to keep students read-ing.

Residents of all ages began signing upfor Fairfax County public libraries’ an-nual summer reading program earlierlast month – the library offers three dif-ferent challenges for kids, teens andadults. This year’s theme, “It’s Showtimeat your Library!” will feature musicalguests and other events to encouragestudents to read during their time offfrom school.

Readers can sign up online or in-per-son at the library to receive a readinglog to partake in the challenge. Thechallenge’s requirements depend on theparticipant’s age: birth through thirdgraders read 15 books, fourth throughfifth graders read 10 books and sixthgraders through age 17 read 5 books.Participants can read eBooks or listen toaudio books, which are both availablethrough the library.

Participants who complete the appro-priate requirements by Aug. 31 can visitthe library to receive a coupon bookfilled with discounts for food, attractionsand more from more than 20 businessesand organizations.

“No matter what your summer is like,you can create your own experience,”Devin Parris, the library’s youth servicesmanager, said. “You can travel throughthe library and through books all sum-mer.”

While the challenge is underway, thelibrary will host free events like an artshow and a performance by LatinGrammy winning children’s musician,123 Andrés; teens can even participatein teen-exclusive events, includinghenna tattooing. The summer will con-clude with an ice cream social to cel-ebrate the summer reading program fin-ishers on Aug. 22.

“The library is a welcoming, fun andadventuring place for all kids and theirfamilies,” Parris said. “It’s all about mak-ing memories. You can remember eachsummer by your favorite book you read.”

The Great Falls library will also hostan adult reading program this summerfor ages 18 and up. Participants can ei-ther read five books, or read four booksand complete a suggested challenge, likefollowing the library on social media orusing one of the library’s online data-bases. Readers will receive a coupon book and canalso enter a raffle for autographed books and otherspecialty items.

“Our mission is to bring books and libraries to our

News

communities as much as we can,” Parris said.FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE of programs and

more on the summer reading challenge, visitfairfaxcounty.gov/library.

Participants can display their name in many areas ofthe Great Falls Library – even a Lego area.

The Great Falls Library will raffle autographed booksand other items for some finishers of the challenge.

As part of the program, the Great Falls Library willhost events, like musical performances and an icecream social throughout the summer for participants.

Great Falls Library PromotesSummer Reading

Photos by Zachary Schonfeld/The Connection

Great Falls Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Anna Karl

The Connection

Children and adultsfrom all around thearea gathered at

Colvin Run Mill on Sunday,June 30, to learn about the mill-ing process in the “Run of theMill” class.

Stephen Golobic, the expertmiller on the site, ran a hands-on program demonstrating allhe knows about milling and theColvin Run site specifically.

The property was onceowned by George Washington,and the mill itself was builtaround 1810. It was in use un-til 1934, and then lay dormantuntil 1968 when Fairfax Countybought and began to restore it.

The county restorationstrived to take the mill back to1810, no longer using a watermill and instead building andrestoring it to the way it was

originally used. Around 70 per-cent of the building is original.

“Our goal is education andpreservation,” Golobic said.

The class began with a de-tailed tour of the building’s fourfloors, each accompanied by ex-planations and demonstrationsby the miller.

Following the tour, commu-nity members were given theopportunity to partake in themilling process themselves.Golobic instructed the attend-ees on how to clean, mill, andsift grains using their antiqueequipment, and each personwas able to take home theirown sample of what they pro-duced.

There will be an identicalclass on Sunday, July 14 from 1to 3 p.m.

Colvin Run Mill, 10017Colvin Run Rd, Great Falls, VA22066, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/colvin-run-mill

Experiencing Historyat Colvin Run Mill

Miller Stephen Golobic gives a detailed history of theColvin Run Mill.

Issac Siren, 7, of Oakton, learns about the millingprocess by examining a disassembled grinding station.

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Opinion

By Bill Woolf

Executive Director, Just Ask Trafficking

Prevention Foundation.

The recent news about JeffreyEpstein’s arrest in New York onnew sex-trafficking charges in-volving allegations that date to the

early 2000s is alarming to many.It wasn’t for us. That’s the bad news. The

Just Ask Trafficking Prevention Foundation, aglobal leader in combating human trafficking,is all too familiar with cases like Epstein’s.

The good news is we’re doing some-thing about it. Our real-world experi-ence and global knowledge about com-bating human trafficking enable us todo much more than sympathize withEpstein’s victims of these alleged newcrimes. We know how to fight back, andwe are.

To better understand what we do andwhy we first must understand what sextrafficking is. The federal governmentdefines It as the recruitment, harboring,transportation, provision, obtaining,patronizing, or soliciting of a person forthe purposes of a commercial sex act,in which the commercial sex act is in-duced by force, fraud, or coercion, or inwhich the person induced to performsuch an act has not attained 18 years ofage (22 USC § 7102).

There’s a lot more to sex traffickingthan just prostitution. The sex traffick-ing industry is a part of the world’s sec-ond largest and most lucrative criminalenterprise grossing more than $150 bil-lion annually.

Defeating a billion-dollar industry isn’tmerely a battle. It’s a world war withthe good guys significantly outgunnedfinancially. For example, the UnitedNations Voluntary Trust Fund, createdin 2010 to provide humanitarian, legaland financial aid to victims of humantrafficking to increase the number of those res-cued and supported, and broaden the extentof assistance they receive, only received $6.7million as of May 2019. Jeffrey Epstein’s pro-posed bail package is estimated to be as highas $77 million alone.

Winning the battle is simply a matter of un-derstanding and then eliminating the logisticsbehind the world’s second largest criminal en-terprise. Logistics? Yes, we need to reduce both

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly spe-cial edition, will publish the last week ofJuly, and photos and stories of your pets withyou and your family should be submittedby Thursday, July 25.

We invite you to send stories about yourpets, photos of you and your family withyour cats, dogs, llamas, alpacas, ponies,hamsters, snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, orwhatever other creatures share your lifewith you.

Tell us the story of a special bond between achild and a dog, the story of how you came toadopt your pet, or examples of amazing featsof your creatures.

Just a cute photo is fine too. Our favoritepictures include both pets and humans.

Please tell us a little bit about your creature,identify everyone in the photo, give a briefdescription of what is happening in the photo,and include address and phone number (wewill not publish your address or phone num-

ber, just your town name).Email to

[email protected] orsubmit online atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/pets.

For advertising information, [email protected] or call703-778-9431.

— Mary Kimm

[email protected]

the supply of victims for human traffickers andthe demand for them. Our best weapon? Hu-man trafficking awareness and prevention isthe most effective and least expensive methodto reduce and ultimately eliminate the supplyand demand for the sex trafficking industry.

First, we must stop the supply of human traf-ficking victims by educating at-risk populationsabout what human trafficking is, how they canbe targeted, and what to do to become immuneto their tactics. Most victims fall prey to thelikes of predators like Epstein because they areunaware they are being lured in by lies or false

promises for things like money, prestige, power,or safety until it is too late. Then, trapped, thevictims become resolved to their fate, impov-erished, or worse, suicidal because of theirsense of hopelessness. On average, once a per-son becomes involved in human trafficking,their life expectancy plummets to just sevenyears because of the enormous stress and physi-cal abuse, their bodies and minds endure.

Secondly, we need to acknowledge criminals

like Jeffrey Epstein exist. Our awareness ofthem is the first step toward defeating them.As awareness grows for potential victims,awareness grows for prospective clients ofhuman traffickers. By educating potential sextrafficking clients about the realities of prosti-tution and sex trafficking as a crime, researchhas proven it lowers demand by swaying themnot to purchase sex or tolerate or support thepractice of buying sex within their peer groups.In addition to awareness programs, the en-forcement of our human trafficking laws canhelp deter future criminals by making it clear

to the public that if you participate in hu-man trafficking, you’re going to get caughtand more importantly, you’re going to beheld accountable.

The Just Ask Trafficking Prevention Foun-dation is a global leader in education andawareness campaigns for people of all ages,demographics, occupations and nationali-ties. One of our most effective programs isour school-based curriculum, which hasreached more than 160,000 students world-wide and continues to grow. In northern Vir-ginia, two counties, Fairfax and Loudoun,employ our programming directly throughthe school system’s Family Life Education(FLE), maximizing the opportunity to en-gage our children when they are most atrisk. Programming in schools is critical be-cause it’s where most of the victims are. Sta-tistically speaking, while anyone can be apotential victim of human trafficking, theprimary target for predators are girls be-tween the ages of 14-16 years-old.

Just Ask does more than educate children,though. We educate parents, teachers,school officials, police officers, businesses,politicians, local, state, federal governmentemployees, and even world leaders aboutwhat human trafficking is and how to com-bat it. ...

The bottom line is we have to conditioncommunities to not only resist becoming vic-tims of human trafficking but remove the

desire to participate in it as customers as well.Criminals who are always on the prowl for suc-cessful money-making opportunities will va-cate human trafficking as a business modelonce they see the funding potential dry up. ...

If you want to help, us eradicate human traf-ficking, visit our website atwww.justaskprevention.org.

Just Ask Trafficking Prevention Foundation is basedin McLean.

Human Trafficking Supply and Demand

Pet Connection, Send Photos

Photo Contributed

Bill Woolf receives the 2018 PresidentialMedal for Human Trafficking efforts fromSecretary of State Mike Pompeo.

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Geovani Flores

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Great Falls


News

Ponchos forHospitalizedChildren inMemory of Gavin

Meg Smith of Great Falls and herfriend and business partner, CindyHargroves, are on a mission to providefun, warm, fuzzy ponchos to hospital-ized children. Meg’s son, Gavin, was astudent at Colvin Run ElementarySchool, Vienna, during which time hewas in and out of hospitals battling CVIP,Common Variable Immune Deficiency.Meg designed ponchos for Gavin to wearbecause robes, sweaters and jacketsaren’t functional with IV and PICC lines.The poncho design of the capes providewarmth in hospital beds, wheelchairs,and when traveling between home andhospital.

On Monday, June 24, Meg and Cindy,through their business CapeIvy.com, de-livered 22 ponchos to INOVA Children’sHospital in Fairfax. Through purchasesof ponchos from their website (buy oneand CapeIvy.com donates one) andmonetary gifts to CapeIvy.com, theyhope to give away as many capes as pos-sible to “frequent flier” children in hos-pitals to honor and remember Gavin,who lost his battle with his disease 2years ago.

CapeIvy.com’s “cape wagon” provides colorful ponchos tohospitalized children. The Child Life staff at the hospitalsreceive the ponchos to distribute to children with ill-nesses that cause them to visit hospitals often. At INOVAChildren’s Hospital, several patients selected their favor-ite poncho from the wagon.

Meg Smith (left) and her friend, Cindy Hargroves,have a mission to distribute ponchos to hospitalizedchildren in honor of Meg’s son, Gavin.

Gavin Smith, shown with his father, Keith Smith, hasa visit from a therapy dog. He is wearing a ponchomade by his mother, Meg Smith. (December 2016).

Photos contributed


MAIN STREET HOME IMPROVEMENTSiding - Decks - Roofing – Windows – Patios

By Marilyn Campbell

A collection of rocks collected at Mt.Vesuvius in Naples, a souvenir from theleaning tower of Pisa, crayon-on-con-struction paper drawings of the beaches

in Naples, Italy are all part of the travel journals thatSonia Pruneda-Hernandez preserved. These are keep-sakes that her son began creating when he was inpreschool. Recently she perused those journals, re-living the memories with her son who is now a 22year-old college student.

“As a military spouse I had the opportunity to livein Naples, Italy,” said Pruneda-Hernandez, who nowworks as the Director of Early Childhood EducationInitiatives at Montgomery College. “When we trav-eled in Europe, I provided my son travel journals. Asa preschooler, he drew pictures of the places we vis-ited and I would write parts of our conversations onthe drawings. As he learned to write, his travel jour-nals began to become more complex with him draw-ing and writing. I saved those journals and he is ableto relive the memories of thoseexperiences.”

Journals created during summervacations allow families to main-tain the experience of their tripslong after they’ve returned home.Whether one’s plans include a sa-fari in Kenya or a staycationamong the monuments along theNational Mall, keeping detailedrecords gives children who are liv-ing in the age of selfies and socialmedia posts, a thoughtful optionfor holding onto memories.

“Travel journals are importantbecause they [allow children], tohave those memories of those ex-periences,” said Pruneda-Hernandez.

Advanced planning leads to creative journals thatare a form of self-expression, suggests Wendy Rowe,a writing tutor and art teacher. “Before you leave foryour trip, ask your child to think about what they’remost excited about and the type of journal they’dlike to keep,” she said. “For example, my daughterlikes to paint watercolor pictures of things that shesees. Other children might make a journal that’s awritten narrative. What’s important is that parentsallow children to choose the type of journal they wantto make and then purchasing and packing the sup-plies that they might need, whether it’s colored pen-cils and craft paper or a simple notebook and a pen.”

Such diaries can spark family conversations andcreate opportunities to practice writing skills, advisesMichelle Villano, a fourth grade teacher who encour-ages her students to write accounts of their summeradventures. “Children can enjoy a vacation and learnfrom the scenes around them,” Villano said. “A child’stravel journal shouldn’t just be a list of things that

they did or saw. Parents shouldencourage them to engage all oftheir senses like sound, touch,taste and feel. For example, ifyou’re on a vacation in Paris, didyou smell freshly baked baguetteswhen you walked into a restaurantfor lunch? If you ate a croissant,could you taste the butter or feelthe flakes on your tongue?”

The options for both the formatof journals and the way that achild chooses to describe their ex-periences are abundant, saysRowe. “Children can include mu-seum tickets, airplane boardingpasses, leaves they collected from

a park they visited,” she said. “Parents should en-courage them to think long-term about things theymight enjoy remembering later.”

“Travel journals allow young children to be activelyinvolved in the experience of their journey,” addedPruneda-Hernandez. “They do not have to be writ-ten. Children that are not able to write yet, shouldbe provided opportunities and materials such as asimple notebook, markers, crayons, or pencils to drawwhat they see and their experiences.”

Prompts can be used to encourage those who areresistant to keeping a record of their vacations, saysVillano. “Start by asking them to write about some-thing they saw by describing its color or shape,” shesaid. “They can describe the shape and color of arock they saw while hiking in the Grand Canyon.”

“Parents can sit and ask open-ended questions atthe end of the day,” said Pruneda-Hernandez. “Thisprovides a [them] an opportunity to express them-selves orally and provides opportunities for them tothink about the experience.”

Helping children capturevacation memoriesthrough journaling.

Creating Travel JournalWith Children

Photo courtesy of Sonia Pruneda-Hernandez

Sonia Pruneda-Hernandez createdthis journal with her son when hewas younger. Now that he’s 22, heenjoys looking at them and relivingchildhood memories.

“Travel journalsallow youngchildren to beactively involved inthe experience oftheir journey.”— Sonia Pruneda-Hernandez,

Director of Early ChildhoodEducation Initiatives at

Montgomery College


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People

On this week’s 50th an-niversary of Apollo 11landing and historicfirst steps on the

Moon, Great Falls resident RichardCogan reflects on his contributionto the space program.

In 1969 he was a software engi-neer working at Goddard SpaceCenter in Greenbelt, Md. His teamwas responsible for testing the soft-ware which would provide telem-etry streaming to and from thespacecraft. Just before MemorialDay of that year, Cogan discovereda problem with the software. He anda colleague worked long hoursthrough the holiday weekend to re-solve it. They finally succeeded onMemorial Day.

Cogan was so elated that he wrote a let-ter to Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, reas-suring them that the telemetry software hadbeen thoroughly checked. To his great sur-

prise and delight, he received a reply fromthem, just days before the launch.

For Cogan, working on Apollo missions8 through 17 was the most exciting job inhis career.

Richard Cogan reflects on his contribution tothe Apollo 11 mission.

Great Falls Resident’s‘Most Exciting Job’

Photo contributed

Great Falls resident Richard Cogandisplays an award he received for hiswork on the Apollo 11 mission.

The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC)event for Aug. 20 features Ronni Jolles,Artist. Jolles creates her signature paint-ings using an innovative process that shecalls “Painting with Paper.” Jolles’s net-work of paper sources located aroundthe world include countries such asThailand, France, Italy, Bhutan, China,Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, Philippines,Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Mexico. Herpaper artworks are featured in galler-ies, craft shows, and art spaces through-out the country. Jolles has also creatednumerous commissioned works for busi-nesses, hospitals, hotels, libraries, and

Great Falls Senior CenterAnnounces August Event

Week in Great Falls

Ronni Jolles with her paintings with layered paper.

many private clients.The Aug. 20 event will be held at The

Great Falls United Methodist Church,10100 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls from11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes lunch.Donations are appreciated. Reservationsshould be made with Polly Fitzgerald [email protected] or call 703-759-4345. The Event sponsor is BrightviewGreat Falls, an assisted living andmemory care community in an environ-ment of possibilities, independence andchoice with independent living, assistedliving and memory care needs, located10200 Colvin Run Mill, Great Falls.

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Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artworkencouraged.

ONGOINGDrop-in Mah Jongg. Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-

noon at McLean Community Center, 1234Ingleside Ave., McLean. Players should have abasic understanding of the rules and shouldbring their current American MJ League card.For McLean District residents. [email protected] for more.

Oak Marr Farmers’ Market. 8 a.m.-noon atOak Marr RECenter, 3200 Jermantown Road,Oakton. Every Wednesday through Nov. 13, rainor shine. Vendors include produce, meats, eggs,cheeses, pies, cured and smoked meats,popsicles, sorbet, bread, croissants, falafelsandwiches, humus, and pesto. Call 703-281-6501 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/oak-marr for more.

McLean Farmers Market. Fridays, through Nov.15, 8 a.m.-noon at Lewinsville Park, 1659 ChainBridge Road, McLean. Sixteen local farmers andproducers will sell fresh produce and fruits;meats; breads and pastries; jams; dairy productsand eggs; herbs; flowers, coffee, and more. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/mclean.

Great Falls Farmers Market. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 778 Walker Road, Great Falls. Music,vendors, fresh produce, fresh prepared food,delightful bakery, spices from around the world,wild-caught fish, grass-fed, free-range meats,organic-fed poultry and eggs. [email protected] for more.

Oakton Farmers Market. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1p.m. at Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 HunterMill Road, Oakton. Year-round weekly farmersmarket in Oakton. Local produce, meats/eggs,dairy, baked goods, and more. Admission is free.Visit community-foodworks.org.

THURSDAY/JULY 18Nottoway Nights: The Aloha Boys. 7:30 p.m.

at Nottoway Park, 9537 Courthouse Road,Vienna. Thursday evenings, through Aug. 22.Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair. For lastminute weather cancellations call 703-324-7469one hour prior to the program start time.

FRIDAY/JULY 19Get Hooked on Fishing. 5:30-7:30 p.m. at

Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St., GreatFalls. Riverbend is offering “River Fishing byBoat.” In this class, participants age 5- adult willlearn to fish for smallmouth bass and sunfishfrom a canoe or jon boat. Previous experiencerowing or paddling is not required, and boats,PFDs, fishing rods and bait are provided. Therewill be a maximum of three participants perboat, one of whom must be 16 or older. Eachparticipant must register. $16 per person. If theweather’s bad or river conditions are hazardous,the program will be canceled. Call 703-759-9018 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend.

Summer on the Green: Chillin’ on Church:Mudlark (classic rock and blues). 6:30p.m. on Vienna’s Town Green. Friday nightsthrough Aug. 23. Bring chairs and/or blankets.No alcoholic beverages are permitted. Considerleaving pets at home. In the event of rain, checkthe weather line at 703-255-7842. Learn more atwww.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/JULY 19-21Seussical The Musical. Friday-Saturday, 7:30

p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. at Alden Theatre, McLeanCommunity Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. The McLean Community Players returnto the Alden Theatre with the musical“Seussical,” which opens July 12, 2019, andruns weekends through July 28. “Seussical”brings together many beloved Dr. Seusscharacters. $15-$28. [email protected] or visitwww.McLeanPlayers.org for more.

SATURDAY/JULY 20Open Mic Night. 7-10 p.m. at Caffe Amouri, 107

Church St. NE, Vienna. Every Friday, a featuredhost is the main performer and also the emceewho introduces other performers who show upto play music, recite poetry, or do a comedyroutine. Free admission. Call 703-938-1623 or

visit caffeamouri.com/events-calendar.

SUNDAY/JULY 21Visit Colvin Run Mill. Noon-3 p.m. at Colvin

Run Mill, 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls.See, hear and taste history with a visit to ColvinRun Mill. Grinding demonstration turns wheator corn into flour and meal, and free woodcarving lessons onsite. Mill tours are $8 foradults, $7 for students 16 and up with ID, and$6 for children and seniors. All ages are invitedto enjoy these historic demonstrations, and noreservations are required. Call 703-759-2771 orvisit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/colvin-run-mill.

Summer Concerts: Justin Trawick and theCommon Good. 5 p.m. in the gazebo ofMcLean Central Park, 1468 Dolley MadisonBlvd., McLean. The Alden at the McLeanCommunity Center is again sponsoring freesummer concerts in the gazebo of McLeanCentral Park featuring a mix of musical genres.Call 703-790-0123 or visitwww.aldentheatre.org.

Concerts on the Green: the Unfinished. 6-8p.m. on the Great Falls Village Centre Green.Bring picnic baskets, chairs and blankets for anevening of live music. Free. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org.

Summer on the Green: Vienna CommunityBand. 6:30 p.m. on Vienna’s Town Green. Bringchairs and/or blankets. No alcoholic beveragesare permitted. Consider leaving pets at home. Inthe event of rain, check the weather line at 703-255-7842. Learn more at www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

TUESDAY/JULY 23Kids on the Green: Michael Cantori

(magician). 10 a.m. on the Vienna TownGreen. The Kids on the Green series is a weeklycollection of interactive animal shows,magicians, puppet performances, and more,running through Aug. 20. Free. Visitviennava.gov for more.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 24Stories, Songs & Sprinklers. 1 p.m. on the

Freeman Store lawn. Partnering with HistoricVienna, Inc., the Town of Vienna invites youngchildren and families to an afternoon ofstorybook reading, short songs, and fun withwater sprinklers. Free. Visit viennava.gov formore.

Family Movie Night: The Incredibles 2. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church,1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Lewinsville’sfourth Family Movie Night of the summer willfeature The Incredibles 2 (PG). A dinner of pizzawill be served. Bring a lawn chair and friends.The community is welcome, visitors do not needto be a member of Lewinsville. Visitwww.lewinsville.org/events/family-movie-night-4/.

THURSDAY/JULY 25Nottoway Nights: Randy Thompson Band.

7:30 p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9537 CourthouseRoad, Vienna. Thursday evenings, through Aug.22. Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair. For

last minute weather cancellations call 703-324-7469 one hour prior to the program start time.

FRIDAY/JULY 26Summer on the Green: U.S. Army Band:

Swamp Romp (Louisiana jazz and folk).6:30 p.m. on Vienna’s Town Green. Fridaynights through Aug. 23. Bring chairs and/orblankets. No alcoholic beverages are permitted.Consider leaving pets at home. In the event ofrain, check the weather line at 703-255-7842.Learn more at www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/JULY 26-28Seussical The Musical. Friday-Saturday, 7:30

p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. at Alden Theatre, McLeanCommunity Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.,McLean. The McLean Community Players returnto the Alden Theatre with the musical“Seussical,” which opens July 12, 2019, andruns weekends through July 28. “Seussical”brings together many beloved Dr. Seusscharacters. $15-$28. [email protected] or visitwww.McLeanPlayers.org for more.

SATURDAY/JULY 27Open Mic Night. 7-10 p.m. at Caffe Amouri, 107

Church St. NE, Vienna. Every Friday, a featuredhost is the main performer and also the emceewho introduces other performers who show upto play music, recite poetry, or do a comedyroutine. Free admission. Call 703-938-1623 orvisit caffeamouri.com/events-calendar.

SUNDAY/JULY 28Summer Concerts: Slippery When Wet: The

Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute. 5 p.m. in thegazebo of McLean Central Park, 1468 DolleyMadison Blvd., McLean. The Alden at theMcLean Community Center is again sponsoringfree summer concerts in the gazebo of McLeanCentral Park featuring a mix of musical genres.Call 703-790-0123 or visitwww.aldentheatre.org.

Concerts on the Green: Dr. Guy Van Syckle.6-8 p.m. on the Great Falls Village Centre Green.Bring picnic baskets, chairs and blankets for anevening of live music. Free. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org.

TUESDAY/JULY 30Kids on the Green: Blue Sky Puppets. 10

a.m. on the Vienna Town Green. The Kids on theGreen series is a weekly collection of interactiveanimal shows, magicians, puppet performances,and more, running through Aug. 20. Free. Visitviennava.gov for more.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 31Stories, Songs & Sprinklers. 1 p.m. on the

Freeman Store lawn. Partnering with HistoricVienna, Inc., the Town of Vienna invites youngchildren and families to an afternoon ofstorybook reading, short songs, and fun withwater sprinklers. Free. Visit viennava.gov formore.

THURSDAY/AUG. 1Nottoway Nights: Radio King Orchestra.

7:30 p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9537 CourthouseRoad, Vienna. Thursday evenings, through Aug.22. Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair. Forlast minute weather cancellations call 703-324-7469 one hour prior to the program start time.

FRIDAY/AUG. 2Summer on the Green: The Rockits (rock

and Motown). 6:30 p.m. on Vienna’s TownGreen. Friday nights through Aug. 23. Bringchairs and/or blankets. No alcoholic beveragesare permitted. Consider leaving pets at home. Inthe event of rain, check the weather line at 703-255-7842. Learn more at www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

TUESDAY/AUG. 6Kids on the Green: Groovy Nate (kids songs

and puppets). 10 a.m. on the Vienna TownGreen. The Kids on the Green series is a weeklycollection of interactive animal shows,magicians, puppet performances, and more,running through Aug. 20. Free. Visitviennava.gov for more.

Self-Driving Cars. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at OaktonLibrary, 10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton.Assistant Director of the Mason ExperimentalGeometry Lab, Anton Lukyanenko, will showparticipants how an algorithm can program thepath of self-driving cars and witness ademonstration with mobile robots. Free. [email protected] for more.

THURSDAY/AUG. 8Nottoway Nights: The Johnny Artis Band.

7:30 p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9537 CourthouseRoad, Vienna. Thursday evenings, through Aug.22. Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair. Forlast minute weather cancellations call 703-324-7469 one hour prior to the program start time.

FRIDAY/AUG. 9ESL Playdate Cafe. 1-2 p.m. at Oakton Library,

10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton. Meet othercaregivers of young children. Adults practiceEnglish while children enjoy play time in thesame room. Birth-5 years with adult. Free. Call703-242-4020 or visitibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/5260042.

Summer on the Green: Shenandoah Run(folk). 6:30 p.m. on Vienna’s Town Green.Friday nights through Aug. 23. Bring chairs and/or blankets. No alcoholic beverages arepermitted. Consider leaving pets at home. In theevent of rain, check the weather line at 703-255-7842. Learn more at www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

SUNDAY/AUG. 11Concerts on the Green: Vinyl Invention. 6-8

p.m. on the Great Falls Village Centre Green.Bring picnic baskets, chairs and blankets for anevening of live music. Free. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org.

TUESDAY/AUG. 13Kids on the Green: Wildlife Ambassadors

(live animals). 10 a.m. on the Vienna TownGreen. The Kids on the Green series is a weeklycollection of interactive animal shows,magicians, puppet performances, and more,running through Aug. 20. Free. Visitviennava.gov for more.

THURSDAY/AUG. 15Nottoway Nights: The Seldom Scene. 7:30

p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9537 Courthouse Road,Vienna. Thursday evenings, through Aug. 22.Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair. For lastminute weather cancellations call 703-324-7469one hour prior to the program start time.

FRIDAY/AUG. 16Summer on the Green: Big Bad JuJu (rock

and dance covers) . 6:30 p.m. on Vienna’sTown Green. Friday nights through Aug. 23.Bring chairs and/or blankets. No alcoholicbeverages are permitted. Consider leaving pets athome. In the event of rain, check the weather lineat 703-255-7842. Learn more atwww.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3997.

Seussical The MusicalThe McLean Community Players return to the Alden Theatre with the musical “Seussical,” which opens

July 12, 2019, and runs weekends through July 28. “Seussical” brings together many beloved Dr. Seusscharacters. Running weekends: July 19-21 and July 26-28; Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.at Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. $15-$28. [email protected] or visit www.McLeanPlayers.org for more.

Calendar


Submit civic/community announce-ments at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at leasttwo weeks before event.

CAMPSCamp Invention. Monday-Friday, July

22-26, at Wolftrap ElementarySchool, 1903 Beulah Road. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $265. Camp Inventionchallenges children in grades K-6 tofind their inner inventor. VariousSTEM-based activities; at the end ofthe program, each camper will bringhome a robot. Visit invent.org/camp.

Summer Choir Camp. Monday-Friday, Aug. 12-16 and Sunday, Aug.18 at Church of the Holy Comforter,543 Beulah Road NE. $125 feeincludes lunches, recreationalactivities, music education and campt-shirt. All children in rising 2nd-7thgrade are welcome. No prior musicexperience or training required; solidreading skills are highlyrecommended. Scholarships areavailable. Download registrationforms at www.holycomforter.com.

THURSDAY/JULY 18Caregivers Support Group. 10-

11:30 a.m. at Unitarian UniversalistCongregation of Fairfax - ProgramBuilding, 2709 Hunter Mill Road,Oakton. For caregivers to adultfamily members with dementia. Firstand third Thursdays of every month.Hosted by Shepherd’s Center ofOakton-Vienna, scov.org. Contactfacilitator Jack Tarr at 703-821-6838or [email protected].

Memory Cafe. 2-4 p.m. at AndrewChapel United Methodist Church,1301 Trap Road, Vienna. Connectwith others living with loved oneswith dementia. Helping those withdementia and their caregivers find

fun, resources and “family.” EmailCarol Blackwell at [email protected] call at 571-236-6933.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 24Fairfax County Park Authority

Board Meeting. 7:30 p.m. in theHerrity Building, 12055 GovernmentCenter Parkway, Suite 941, Fairfax.The Park Authority Board’s 12appointed members establishstrategic policy and direction for thePark Authority. Open to the public.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/boardagn2.htm or call 703-324-8662.

SUNDAY/JULY 28Movie Screening: Proof of Heaven.

2-4 p.m. at Unity of Fairfax, 2854Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Best-selling author of Proof of Heaven: ANeurosurgeon’s Journey into theAfterlife, Dr. Eben Alexander willdescribe his personal near deathexperience and the lessons he haslearned. $25. Register atproofofheavenunity.eventbrite.com.

THURSDAY/AUG. 1Nomination Deadline. The

nomination process for the 2019annual Fairfax County Champions ofCharacter Awards are underway. Theprogram honors youth, coaches andparents for extraordinary service inpursuing victory with honor invarious athletics programsthroughout Fairfax County. Anyonecan nominate a player, coach orparent for consideration of aChampions of Character Award. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/athletics/champions-of-character formore.

Bulletin

See Bulletin, Page 11


News

By Mike Salmon

The Connection

Let’s face it, it mightnot be a dream job,riding on the back ofa truck, jumping off,

throwing in more trash, withthe smell plus possibility offlies, maggots, rodents, andother surprises. There are nicerjobs, and lately the labor forcenumbers have been showing ashortage of trash collectionworkers. It’s having an impacton trash collection schedules.

Some are cutting back fromtwo days a week to one, andthe residents are feeling thecrunch.

According to the NationalWaste & Recycling Associationlocated in Arlington, the solidwaste industry directly em-ploys about 420,000 people as of early 2018 with atotal payroll of more than $21 billion. BrandonWright, the communications representative forNWRA noted the staffing shortages for the industry.“The labor market is tight in our industry,” he said.There is a driver and mechanic shortage “felt by anumber of companies,” he said.

In Fairfax County, private collection companies pickup trash and recycling for ninety percent of residentsand businesses while the county trash service is onlyresponsible for 10 percent. Residents are billed bythe collection company or pay via their Home OwnerAssociation fees.

“The (county) Solid Waste Management Programis aware of the national driver shortage,” said Mat-thew Kaiser, the information officer for the FairfaxCounty Department of Public Works and Environ-mental Services. The county is running advertise-ments for heavy equipment operators, i.e. trash truckdrivers, and they’ve even gone as far as making avideo to attract applicants.

Occasionally cans go untouched on trash day.

Trash Collection Staffing Is Tight,Resulting in Cutbacks of Service

Photos by Mike Salmon/The Connection

In Fairfax County, private collection companies pick uptrash and recycling for ninety percent of residents andbusinesses while the county trash service is only respon-sible for 10 percent.

“Endless opportunities here with the county,”said the person in the video. The message they arepromoting includes great pay and benefits, a fam-ily friendly atmosphere and the room for advance-ment.

The driver shortage has not impacted the countycollection schedules, but Kaiser is aware of privatecollection companies that have reduced their collec-tion frequency. They are still meeting code require-ments though, Kaiser said. Companies that fail tomeet the requirements are handled through enforce-ment actions.

Some county supervisors’ offices have heard fromtheir constituents about missed trash pick-ups, pos-sibly the result of staffing. In Mount Vernon, thisoccurred a few times in June but they haven’t heardany complaints since then.

In Springfield, the issues were with housesthat were under contract with Republic TrashServices. Republic has not returned any mes-sages about this issue.

The county isrunning adver-tisements forheavy equip-ment opera-tors, i.e. trashtruck drivers.

❖ What’s your experience with trash collection? Send letters to [email protected]


From Page 9

TUESDAY/AUG. 13Family Caregiver Telephone Support Group.

7-8 p.m. Fairfax County’s Family CaregiverTelephone Support Group meets by phone onTuesday, February 13, 7-8 p.m. This month’sfocus is an open discussion on caregiver stress.Share experiences, gain support and getinformation without having to travel. Call 703-324-5484, TTY 711 to register.

THURSDAY/AUG. 22Hispanic Connect NOVA. 8:30-9:30 a.m. at

8300 Boone Blvd. in the Partners’ ConferenceRoom, Suite 450, Vienna. Join the VirginiaHispanic Chamber for this recurring event seriesdesigned for chamber members and newcomersalike. Members, business owners, communityleaders, entrepreneurs and more connect withtheir peers, share ideas and gain usefulknowledge. Free for members, $10nonmembers. Register at www.vahcc.com/hispanic-connect-nova.

SUNDAY/NOV. 3Low Cost Rabies Vaccine Clinic. 9-11 a.m. at

Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West OxRoad, Fairfax. Cost is $15 per pet, cash andcheck only. Dogs, cats, and ferrets may bevaccinated at the clinic. Dogs must be onleashes; cats and ferrets must be in carriers. Allpets will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination. Toobtain a 3-year vaccine, bring pet’s rabiescertificate (not tag) showing the current rabiesvaccination expiration date. 2019 county doglicenses will be sold for an additional $10 perlicense. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/communityassistance/rabiesclinics for more.

SUPPORT GROUPSParent Support Partners, a service of the

Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, are all parentswho have received training and are qualified tooffer education, support and assistance at nocost to families or caregivers. They providereliable information that families can use indecision-making and are familiar with servicesand resources that can help families in distress.Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/healthymindsfairfax or www.nami-northernvirginia.org/parent-peer-support.html.

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton ViennaCaregivers’ Support Group takes place firstand third Thursday of each month, 10-11:30a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregationof Fairfax (UUCF) - Program Building, 2709Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. For caregivers toadult family members with dementia. First andthird Thursdays of every month. Hosted byShepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna, scov.org.Contact facilitator Jack Tarr at 703-821-6838 [email protected].

Haven of Northern Virginia Support Group.703-941-7000, www.havenofnova.org [email protected].

Virginia Chronic Pain Support Group Meetsfrom 1:30-3 p.m. the 2nd Wednesday of eachmonth at Kaplan Center for IntegrativeMedicine, 6829 Elm St., Suite 300, McLean.Group leader, Jodi Brayton, LCSW. 703-532-4892.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDSTEM Professionals Needed. Volunteers are

needed to assist K-12 STEM teachers in northernVirginia as part of the American Association forthe Advancement of Science’s STEM VolunteerProgram, stemvolunteers.org, during the 2019-20 school year, beginning in September. Pleasecontact Don Rea at 571-551-2488 [email protected].

Assistance League of Northern Virginia, avolunteer nonprofit, invites community membersto join the organization to participate in itsReading Express program. Volunteers provideone-on-one tutoring to first grade studentsduring the school year. To learn more contactVP Membership Mary Gronlund [email protected] or Program Coordinator LynnBarron at [email protected].

Volunteer Adult Mentors Needed. Help assistthe Department of Family Services’ BeFriendA-Child mentoring program. The mentors provideopportunities for companionship, guidance andsupport to children who have been abused andneglected, or who are at risk of abuse andneglect. Contact Ibrahim Khalil [email protected] or 703-324-4547.

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