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24 HOURS IN FAIRFAX | SUN GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 2016

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hey can be called the masters of the early morning. The very early a.m., to be exact. They begin arriving before sunrise at 5:30 a.m. at indoor and outdoor pools throughout Northern Virginia and the D.C. region to participate in the yearround program named Lane4 Swimming. It is the largest masters swimming program, beginning 31 years ago, in the U.S., with 940 members. “They don’t mind the early morning; that’s when swimmers swim,” said Sandy Veatch, a coach with the program for 22 years. “They arrive ready to go, they are enthusiastic and they enjoy their time in the water.” The swimmers typically swim for 90 minutes or so, sometimes longer on the weekends. Some 30 swimmers were on hand for a recent early-morning Labor Day practice at the outdoor Old Keene Mill pool in Burke. That venue is preferred by the masters because it is one of the area’s rare 50-meter pools, allowing for longer swims with fewer turns. The age of swimmers ranges from the youngest being recent college graduates to the oldest in their 80s. All ages and abilities are accepted. Prospective new swimmers can join for up to three workouts at no cost. “One of the things that makes our program unique is it is all-encompassing,” said Frank Marcincowski, the head coach and founder of the program. “We take

people of all ages and abilities, and we have good coaches and well-run practices. People know that and want to join and remain members.” When the program began in 1985 there was one facility, Burke Racquet & Swim Club, and some 20 members, falling to only seven a couple of years later. Now, Lane4 Swimming uses more than 12 pools throughout the D.C. region. A member can swim at any of the venues. During the summer months, three Northern Virginia outdoor pools are used along with the year-round indoor facilities, including Spring Hill, Oak Marr, Providence, Claude Moore and Audrey Moore recreation centers in Fairfax County and Chinquapin in Alexandria. The most popular practice is in the early morning, leaving participants time to get to work. Marcincowski said the swimmers enjoy the outdoor pools during the summer months, despite the changing weather and pool variables. The masters swim for various reasons: to train for competitions and the swimming portion of triathlons, or to just keep physically fit. Beginners are part of the program. “Many swim to cross-train, rehab from an injury or for health and recreation reasons,” said Marcincowski, who explained the 35-to-40 age group is the most popular in Fairfax County. Added Veatch: “Some don’t participate in any competitions, they just come to swim and enjoy.”

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SEPTEMBER 2016 | SUN GAZETTE | 24 HOURS IN FAIRFAX

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Baseball diamonds are alive early Sunday mornings DAVE FACINOLI | STAFF WRITER

hile some sleep in and others take a casual approach to lazy Sunday mornings, baseball fields across the D.C. region are alive and active with adult games in the Ponce de Leon Baseball League. That’s been the case for 26 years, with contests for players ages 30 and over beginning as early as 8 a.m. in an organization more casually referred to as the Sunday-morning league. The league has three seasons – spring, summer and fall – and offers a one-week winter camp in Florida. Games are nine innings with a three-hour time limit. Pitchers can only throw five innings, and there is a four-run limit per inning in the early frames. Arlington resident Bill Murray, 68, has been playing during the spring season for 16 years. Despite two knee replacements, he wants to continuing playing as long as possible. “I don’t want to stop,” Murray said. “In baseball you are still reacting to things. I like that and the team camaraderie.” Murray has pitched, caught and played infield positions during his time in the league. George Madison is another Arlington resident. Though he no longer plays in the league, having become more serious about golf, he has fond memories. “I really enjoyed it,” Madison said. “You had a lot of

‘washed-up’ guys of all ages who still like the game and [slowpitch] softball didn’t do it for us. Everybody who played just wanted to get back out there. It’s a strong and well-run organization.” Parking lots at game sites are full of the type of vehicles typically driven by male baseball players – Jeeps, SUVs and muddy pickup trucks. “We don’t get a lot of fans,” Murray acknowledged. Players are of varying shapes and sizes and ages, with the competition being stiff and the games played quickly. Pitchers throw the ball, taking little time between pitches. Games are played at Barcroft Park and Yorktown High School in Arlington. There are many venues in Fairfax County, such as Waters Field and Nottoway Park in Vienna, Langley Forks, Nike Park and George C. Marshall High School. “I’d reserve the field at Yorktown from 9 to 12 on Sunday mornings so our team could always have home games and cut down on travel,” Murray said. There are games also played in Montgomery County. Teams play about a 10-week regular season schedule, then all make the playoffs. For more information about the league or to register, see the Web site at www.leagueone.com or e-mail poncedeleonbaseball@gmail.com.

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SEPTEMBER 2016 | SUN GAZETTE | 24 HOURS IN FAIRFAX

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Vienna Traffic Court Offers FastPaced Glimpse at Judicial System BRIAN TROMPETER | STAFF WRITER

bserving Fairfax County General District Court’s weekly traffic and criminal proceedings at Vienna Town Hall is instructive, enlightening and sobering. You don’t want to end up there if possible, but the outcome probably won’t be that bad if you behave yourself. Court sessions take place Mondays starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Council chambers upstairs at Town Hall. General District Court Judge Tina Snee presided when the Sun Gazette popped by for a visit Aug. 22. Merely witnessing the proceedings took some effort. Security was tight. Officials blocked off one set of stairs leading up to the chambers and forced those about to enter to put their keys, belts and pocket items in plastic bowls and walk through a magnetometer. A linebacker-sized security guard with a handheld metal detector did follow-up inspections, if necessary, and deterred entrants from even thinking about trying to scoot past unscrutinized. Inside the Council chambers, the atmosphere was subdued and a bit tense, with no one talking loudly. Those in attendance represented the whole spectrum of ages and races, nearly all of whom had dressed up for the occasion. The two left front rows of seats were occupied by Vienna police officers, all of them men, who were dressed in dark blue uniforms and loaded down with service pistols, handcuffs, radios and other tools of their trade. These

were not the department’s brass, but rough-and-ready street officers who must confront lawbreakers daily. A bailiff walked in from the left side of the dais, informed all present to rise and announced Judge Snee would be handling the day’s cases. Defendants had the option of pleading guilty, not guilty or no contest. Some appeared with legal counsel in tow, while those accused of minor traffic offenses usually addressed the judge themselves. Snee tried some defendants in absentia, but on a few occasions reopened those cases if the accused showed up in court. She in one instance issued a bench warrant for a woman with a lengthy criminal history who was absent from the proceedings. Other defendants, clad in dark-green jumpsuits, were brought in through a side door by deputies and typically faced more serious charges. Judge Snee, wearing the traditional black robe and seated in the central chair that’s occupied by the mayor during Town Council meetings, moved swiftly through the case docket, addressing police officers, defense counsel and defendants in polite, civil tones – and expecting the same in return. She never got cross with defendants, but instructed some firmly to carry out her directives. Snee told one man not to mumble when he spoke, but softened those words by acknowledging the nervousness people often feel in court.

Police officers, who confirmed during individual oaths that their affidavits and testimony would be truthful, often assented to the dismissal of charges if motorists proved they had updated their driver’s licenses, obtained current license tags and stickers, or had their vehicles inspected. “Sometimes tickets remind us of what we were going to do,” Snee told one such defendant. The judge sometimes found her options limited by state law, which mandates penalties for drunken driving and drug possession. She instructed one defendant to retain an attorney or find out if he was eligible financially for a court-appointed one. “We want to make sure folks have attorneys,” she said. “These are important cases.” Some key impressions: • Judges process dozens of cases within a few short hours, so defendants must listen carefully and have their materials in order. • Motorists who likely will have their driving privileges suspended should bring their licenses to court. The clock toward running down their suspensions starts as soon as drivers turn over their licenses to authorities. • Cooperation is key. Defendants who show humility and respond civilly more likely will receive better dispensation than those who foolishly argue with the judge. • Judges will give defendants second chances, but come down hard if lessons that should have been absorbed are not taken to heart. Woe to those who do not complete agreed-to community-service hours or stints at rehabilitation programs. • Cell phones may not be used in the courtroom; brown-uniformed Fairfax County sheriff ’s deputies enforce this rule rigorously. Judge Snee fined some defendants, set hearing dates for others and instructed some to go out to the lobby and be processed (i.e., fingerprinted) by a law-enforcement officer. “Have a good day,” she told each defendant.

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What Makes for a Good Sermon? Religious Leaders Sound Off BRIAN TROMPETER | STAFF WRITER

ermons inspire, motivate, instruct and console. Choosing the right words is key for religious leaders hoping to sway their congregations. The Sun Gazette asked leaders from several local religious institutions what constitutes an effective sermon and how they make it happen. Here’s what they told us: Pastor Sandy Kessinger, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean: What are the keys to a successful sermon? “In our tradition, every sermon is to ultimately proclaim the grace and unconditional love of God through Christ. We do not avoid the topic of sin, but in the end the grace is to shine through. People want honesty and they also want me, as a preacher, to struggle with the Biblical passages in a real way. And a good joke thrown in never hurts.” Where do you find your inspiration for a good sermon? “Most of my inspiration comes from the day-to-day activities as I interact with people throughout the week. I read the commentaries to understand the context of the Biblical passage, but it is the quiet time that I spend dwelling on the Word that brings it to life. I pay close attention to the news to address current events. I also pay close attention to what is happening in the life of our congregation to be inspired. People (and their stories) inspire me.” Has your view of what a sermon should impart to the congregation changed over time? I have been a pastor for 21 years and when I read my earlier sermons, I am not that impressed! The way I develop a sermon has definitely evolved over time. [The sermons] have become more contextual, less technical and much more reflective and accessible to the people. I have also learned to become more vulnerable in my sermons while keeping healthy boundaries.” What’s the ideal length for a sermon? “In our congregation, I have to watch our time, as we have three services back-to-back. I also understand that we live in a world where our attention span is limited. Most of my sermons are no more than 15 minutes long. Formerly I was a computer-science professor and I taught my students that CPU (central processing unit) also means concise, precise and understandable. I take that to heart when I am writing a sermon.” When you’re visiting another house of worship, how do you judge the sermon you are hearing? “I try really hard to not be judge over the sermons of others, as I know how difficult it is to come up with something new to say each week. However, I do enjoy sermons that have a clear message and do not wander too much from the theme of the day. Stories are always good as long as they are relevant.” Which sermons have parishioners told you they liked the most and why? “The congregation I currently serve is unique in this respect. My sermons are posted on the Web site and I receive concrete comments about them almost every week – either to clarify something that I said or for people to share how helpful it was to hear that message (that I spoke directly to them).” What topics won’t you broach in a sermon and why? “In this part of the country, politics of any sort are off-limits.” Senior Rabbi Amy Schwartzman of Temple Rodef Shalom in McLean: What are the keys to a successful sermon? “A relevant topic, presented in an engaging way, that has components that challenge the listener and those that resonate with the listener. A good sermon has many textures to it – story, quotes, strong voice, comforting voice, etc.” Where do you find your inspiration for a good sermon? “Traditional texts such as the Hebrew Bible, newspaper articles, movies, personal experiences.” Has your view of what a sermon should impart to the

congregation changed over time? “While my sermons have changed over the 26 years of being a rabbi, the basic philosophy of imparting wisdom from my tradition and challenging the listener has not.” What’s the ideal length PASTOR SANDY KESSINGER for a sermon? “You don’t need 30 minutes to get your point across. Most of my sermons are between 10 to 15 on regular weeks. On special occasions or holidays, they are a bit longer.” When you’re visiting another house of worship, how do you judge the sermon you are hearing? “[I ask] how does it connect and speak to me? Do I feel I learned something and was I challenged in a new way?” Which sermons have congregants told you they liked the most and why? “My congregants are all over the map on my sermons – some love the political ones, others love the personal, more emotional ones.” What topics won’t you broach in a sermon and why? “The clergy should not support a candidate from the pulpit. But I have discussed political issues and themes.” Rev. David Lucey, rector at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls: What are the keys to a successful sermon? “Successful sermons do two things: 1) Remind or convince people of God’s love for his creation as shown in Jesus, and 2) Encourage and support Christians in becoming more faithful (faithfulness being the actions which draw the person closer to God) . . . the theology must be clear and concise.” Where do you find your inspiration for a good sermon? “I am a connector. I see God’s actions in lots of everyday events. Therefore my inspirations come from the world around me through encounters with family, friends and parishioners; reading and listening to current events; and reading history and theology.” Has your view of what a sermon should impart to the congregation changed over time? “I used to believe that my sermons should be about ‘saving’ people, or possibly converting them to a life in Christ, by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. This was a very ‘evangelical’ concept coming from my own experience of being ‘born again,’ a movement in American Christianity strong in the 1970s and 1980s. I still believe in the core of this theology, but as a parish priest I have found that my call in the pulpit is to remind my parishioners of their preciousness to God through Christ, and to help them develop the disciplines of love as described in their tradition. My focus has moved from conversion to faithfulness.” What’s the ideal length for a sermon? “The agreed-upon optimal time for a sermon in my tradition is supposed to be about 12 minutes, plus or minus two minutes. The reasoning behind this time frame has to do with an overall idea that one hour is the optimal time for a church service, plus or minus five minutes, and the attention span of the average parishioner.” When you’re visiting another house of worship, how do you judge the sermon you are hearing? “Normally I judge the sermon by the standards that I set for myself: 1) Does it engage my whole being? 2) Is there one theological concept, idea or notion that I can myself around? 3) Does it instruct me compel me to action? Beyond this is the issue of style. Some preachers are simply better at delivery than others, but the very best draw me in on all of the above standards, as well as delivering it very well.” Which sermons have parishioners told you they liked the most and why? “The sermons my parishioners always like

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the best have to do with acts that I am involved with in ministering to others, in confessing my own challenges with people, theology and action, and in dealing with my family. ” What topics won’t you broach in a sermon and why? “There is no subject I will not deal with in a sermon, because sermons are about our whole being with God and we cannot compartmentalize our lives. That means the areas of common taboo – politics, religion and sex – are still in my sermon topics. Since I preach from the Biblical texts offered each week, and those texts have all of the above topics in them, I cannot ignore them.” Pastor C. Craig Burns of Vienna Assembly of God Church: What are the keys to a successful sermon? “The keys I try to follow and use are found in 2 Timothy 4:2 (New Living Translation): ‘Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke and encourage your people with good teaching.’” Where do you find your inspiration for a good sermon? “I’ve had ideas come unexpectedly in unlikely places and scenarios. The key is staying in God’s presence no matter where you are or what you are doing.” Has your view of what a sermon should impart to the congregation changed over time? “Not really, but what has changed is how many other voices a congregation is tuning into and receiving impartation. Realistically, a weekly sermon is just one of many inputs a congregant is listening to. Entering into and growing in one’s relationship with God through Christ Jesus remains a primary topic to impart.” What’s the ideal length for a sermon? “A 20- to 30-minute sermon is optimal. It can stretch to 30 to 40 when a particular sermon is hitting a sweet spot.” When you’re visiting another house of worship, how do you judge the sermon you are hearing? “I always enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to visit another house of worship to see how other congregations function and just relax and enjoy the service. I find a couple of things to be disturbing: 1) When a sermon is all about the person giving the sermon, and 2) When the person giving the sermon has lost confidence in God’s Word. Which sermons have parishioners told you they liked the most and why? “The sermons that bring transformation are the most liked. My current series on ‘Empowering Summer Service’ has included gender equality and distinctions, and that has created some good transformational conversations.” What topics won’t you broach in a sermon and why? “Some topics are more or less appropriate in our congregation when children are present. Topics should be addressed and given one’s best understanding of what the scriptures say, with the caveat that it is possible to not fully understand the biblical text on a particularly hot topic. One of my best-loved commentators, Gordon Fee, summed up my feelings on easily misunderstood texts when discussing a passage in 1 Corinthians, [which he called] ‘a text so difficult that it has defied our best scholarly guesses over centuries.’

SEPTEMBER 2016 | SUN GAZETTE | 24 HOURS IN FAIRFAX

TIME: 1:00 P.M.

Spanish Speakers Learn, Expand Abilities During Library Conversations BRIAN TROMPETER | STAFF WRITER

onversation is the quickest way to discover one’s foreignlanguage weaknesses and an enjoyable, challenging method of correcting those errors, learning new

words and making friends. Those with a bent toward Spanish can engage with Daniela Dixon, branch manager at Great Falls Library, during informal group conversations at 1 p.m.

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each Monday. Dixon and fellow Spanish speakers of various ability levels meet in a small conference room lined with framed artworks. The facilitator keeps a huge Oxford English-Spanish dictionary at her fingertips in case participants needs to find specialized words. During one such session Aug. 22, Dixon began by casually getting to know McLean resident Tiffany Parise, a rising freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, and the author, whose Spanish has been selftaught except for one conversational course at Northern Virginia Community College three years ago. Gauging the participants’ abilities, Dixon slowed down her speech a bit and enunciated clearly so listeners could understand what she was saying. This proved invaluable, as listening to the lightning-fast word onslaught on Spanish-language radio, television shows and movies can be daunting.

Dixon did not know which accents were used by local Spanish-radio personalities, but said Central Americans, such as those from Honduras and El Salvador, especially are prevalent in the Washington, D.C., area. California is home to more Mexican natives, and Dixon said she found their accents the easiest to comprehend. Spanish speakers from Caribbean countries, however, talk very quickly, she said. Forced to listen attentively and contrive answers immediately, program attendees learned which nouns, verbs and phrases they over-relied upon. Attendance at summer sessions tends to be lighter, as many participants are retirees who have the means to take vacations, Dixon said. Smaller groups allow for more focus and camaraderie, however, with participants gleaning and volunteering personal details LEARN

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about themselves. The author admired Parise’s curly pelo rojo (red hair) and told her it reminded him of his Irish-blooded wife’s. Great Falls resident Rose Atwood was born in Iran, moved to France when she was 14 and finally came to the United States. She learned Spanish initially during an intensive, three-week course in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but let her abilities lapse when she came back to the United States. She had trouble coming up with the exact phrase, but Dixon helped: Tengo vergüenza (I’m ashamed). Atwood speaks Farsi, French and English and is sharpening her Spanish skills to help her with her international staffing business, Unique Personnel & Temporaries Inc. Parise, 14, will have to give up the sessions when school starts in September. She has taken the National Spanish Exam and hopes one day to travel to Spain. Dixon, born to an Italian mother, speaks Italian as well as Spanish and noted the Latin-based languages are quite similar. Great Falls resident Maria Mercer joined the group later in the session and queried whether the author would alquila un coche (rent a car) during an upcoming trip to Chile. Sí, por supuesto (yes, of course). Mercer once spent six months in Ecua-

Maria Mercer, Daniela Dixon, Rose Atwood and Tiffany Parise sharpen their Spanish skills during informal conversation sessions that Dixon hosts every Monday at Great Falls Library. PHOTO BY BRIAN TROMPETER

dor and flew two hours to the Galápagos Islands, where she saw dolphins and sea lions, the latter of which has lost their fear of people. She showed group members a photo of a blue-footed booby on her smartphone. Great Falls Library’s Spanish-conversation program began two years ago at the suggestion of community volunteer

Margot Gould, who is Chilean. Those who wish to participate in the free sessions must not be starting from scratch. “When people ask about it, I tell them they have to speak some Spanish,” Dixon said. To learn more about the Spanish sessions, call the library at (703) 757-8560. Arlington County residents can take

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Over $2 Billion Over 2.6 Billion Sold Sold Tours of These & Other Homes at www.margenau.com

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Virginia’s Leader in Luxury and International Real Estate | Over $97 Million Sold in 2013

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619 Kentland Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066

$6,250,000

Gorgeous home in Great Falls on nearly 2 acres, landscaped to perfection! Backyard with built-in BBQ, covered patio, pool/spa, pool house with full bath, and outdoor kitchen great for entertaining! Lower level large rec room with elegant stone 2-sided fireplace, wet bar. Master suite with fireplace on main level. Lovely kitchen with stainless steel appliances and spacious sun room. Great value, a must see!

W NE ME HO

8611 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22102

$6,250,000 1031 Bellview Road, McLean, VA 22102

$3,985,000 1344 Woodside Drive, McLean, VA 22102

$3,200,000

1063 Silent Ridge Court, McLean, VA 22102

$2,999,900 6924 River Oaks Drive, McLean, VA 22101

$2,949,900 1503 Woodacre Drive, McLean, VA 22101

$2,295,900

W NE ME HO

1908 Dalmation Drive, McLean, VA 22101

W NE ME HO

$1,699,900 1047 Gelston Circle, McLean, VA 22102

Casey Margenau Fine Homes & Estates, Inc.

W NE ME HO

24 HOURS IN FAIRFAX | SUN GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 2016

$1,375,000 2351 N. Daniel Street, Arlington, VA 22207

$2,195,000