The Zebra Press November 2019

GOOD NEWS IN ALEXANDRIA

FREE

FOUNDED IN 2010

CIDER

IS MAKING A COMEBACK See Page 44

BLACK AND WHITE AND READ ALL OVER

12 LIVING LEGENDS: JASON & LOREN YATES

NOVEMBER ’19

32 HAPPY THREE SCORE AND TEN TO TODD HEALY!

www.thezebra.org

40 ALIVE! WANTS YOU TO VOLUNTEER

50 DEL RAY HALLOWEEN PARADE

Christine Garner Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Braddock Heights

Rosemont NG

$1,799,000 FABULOUS CRAFTSMAN TUCKED AWAY IN SERENE SETTING!

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5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, on a spacious professionally landscaped lot. Front porch with loads of seating space! Open floor plan with wide planked wood floors, abundant windows, incredible craftsmanship and finishes throughout. Chefs kitchen with Carerra Marble, family room with cathedral ceilings, gas fireplace and floor to ceiling windows.

Amazing Owner’s Retreat with soaring ceilings and luxurious en suite bath. Lower level family room with wet bar, 2 bedrooms, 4th full bath and outdoor egress to a large deck and covered patio.

Old Town NG

$1,495,000 HISTORIC BRICK COLONIAL IN THE HEART OF D TOWN

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HEART OF DEL RAY STEPS FROM “THE AVENUE” & CONVENIENT TO METRO!

CUSTOM COLONIAL ON A SPACIOUS LOT WITH AN ATTACHED GARAGE! Fabulous 4 bedroom (all upper level), 4.5 bath residence custom built by a prominent builder in 1948 as his personal residence.

Many recent updates to this home featuring over 4,600 sq. ft. of interior space with generous room sizes, tall ceilings, custom built-ins, 3 fireplaces, hardwood floors, replacement windows and an attached garage. Gourmet eat-in kitchen, Master suite with custom walk-in and dressing area plus a brand new luxury Master bath! Situated on a spacious 9,315 sq. ft. lot with a large patio for entertaining, a stone fireplace, lawn and gardens with irrigation.

Old Town / Washington Square

$799,900

STEPS FROM SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS WITH 2 GARAGE PARKING SPACES!

!

LD SO

Beautiful updated 3 bedroom (including 2 suites), 3.5 bath home in South Old Town with an attached garage plus an underground parking space.

Over 2,000 sq. ft. of living space on 4 above ground levels with 2 relined wood burning fireplaces, hardwood floors, crown moulding and replacement windows throughout. Entry level family room with wet bar and French doors to a patio. Updated kitchen, separate dining room and living room with 2 Juliette balconies. Steps from shopping and restaurants and convenient to Metro.

Sought after south-east QUAD and just a block off kins Street with shops and restaurants! This plaqued home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3 gas fireplaces,dual staircases with period woodwork and built-ins has been thoughtfully updated.

Geoorgetown patio with private gardens and side alley access to street. Over 2,700 sq ft of history!

$849,000

$1,495,000

Del Ray !

LD SO

Charming 2/3 bedroom, 2 bath 1930’s bungalow on a spacious lot with an oversize detached 2 car garage with an unfinished upper level studio/ office! Welcoming front porch, living room with vaulted ceiling, large updated eat-in kitchen with granite counters, natural wood cabinetry, SS appliances including double wall ovens. Finished walk-out lower features a family room with built-ins, bonus/guest room with full bath and laundry room. Freshly painted interior, 2 screened-in porches, fenced back yard with alley access and endless opportunities for expanding.

Rosemont $835,000 Delightful Aladdin Catalog Craftsman Bungalow blocks from METRO and Maury Elementary!

!

LD SO

Loads of charm and character in this 2/3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a wide wrap around porch, 10’+ ceilings and tall windows. Living room with relined wood burning fireplace and French doors to a den. Spacious dining room and light filled eat-in kitchen with access to screened in back porch. Large walk-out lower level with recreation room, full bath and lots of storage. Fenced back yard with gardens, patio and off street parking.

Christine Garner • 703.587.4855 ® Weichert www.ChristineGarner.com 1988 • 31 years of Real Estate in your neighborhood ... and counting! • 2019 2

ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Inside this Issue ARTS..........................................28-37 ASSIGNMENT EDUCATION............62-63 BUSINESS NEWS.........................56-60 CALENDAR OF ZVENTS................36-37 COMMUNITY NEWS......................4-20 COLUMNS: Agenda Alexandria..................................9 Around the World with Zebra...................3 Art Digest.............................................31 Art Newz..............................................31 Ask Genie Char.....................................21 Book of the Month................................28 Cat in a Box..........................................18 Explore........................................... 44-45 In The Dirt............................................72 In Z Hood.............................................38 Little Alexandria...................................47 Living Legends......................................12 Memories and Musings..........................17

On Exhibit.............................................30 On Watch.............................................73 Press Stop............................................19 Scene Around Town...............................51 Training Time.........................................75 Volunteer Alexandria.............................55 Where Will Your Paws Go Today?..........76 Z Movies..............................................34 Z-Music................................................35 Z-Pick of the Month..............................39 Z-Real Estate Beat................................61

DEL RAY DOINGS........................48-50 FOODIE NEWZ............................ 22-27 GIVING BACK............................. 52-54 PETS.......................................... 74-78 PUZZLES..........................................46 SENIOR LIVING........................... 70-71 SPORTS......................................66-68 WORSHIP...................................64-65

NOVEMBER ’19

STAFF Mary Wadland Publisher/Editor-in-Chief mary@thezebrapress.com

Advertising Leilani Allwine leilani@thezebrapress.com

James Cullum Managing Editor james@thezebrapress.com

Elijah W. Griffin, Sr. elijah@thezebrapress.com

Kris Gilbertson Column Editor Kevin Dauray Newsletter Editor kevin@thezebrapress.com Debby Critchley Calendar and Food Editor debbyc@thezebrapress.com Sara Dudley Brown Theatre Editor sdbg@cox.net Kelly MacConomy Arts Editor kelly@thezebrapress.com Maureen Schweers Del Ray Editor maureen.schweers@gmail.com Shenise Foster Production and Sales Assistant shenise@thezebrapress.com Mina Forsythe Rempe Paginator and Designer Linda Hill/CEO lhill@thezebrapress.com

Contributing Writers Glenda Booth Kevin Dauray Ellen Epstein Marcus Fisk Kris Gilbertson Linda Greenberg Ray Greenstreet Amy Jackson Karen Johnson Melanie Modlin Elizabeth Moscoso Robert Murray Louise Muth Pat Malone Ralph Peluso Jay Roberts Michael Salmon Amanda Socci Matt Thompson Lillis Werder Carolanne Wilson Photographers John David Coppola Elijah W. Griffin, Sr. Kelly MacConomy Harry Merritt Lucelle O’Flaherty Lillis Werder Wayne Hulehan

DISTRIBUTION

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

As we put the finishing touches on this issue, the Washington Nationals just made history and captured the World Series! Alexandrians came together at watch parties all over town, and social media was exploding with encouraging quips for the hometown team from our Mayor, area churches, and businesses. Kids came dressed as Anthony Rendon and Max Scherzer to the Del Ray Halloween parade, and parents decked out strollers paying tribute to our wild card, underdog team.

Inside this edition we direct your attention to some of Alexandria’s wild cards making a difference. Did you know the ALIVE! Organization is now 50 years old? Helping feed over 3,000 Alexandrians in need every month is only part of the nonprofit’s mission. Read more on page 40.

Kenya!

Explore

Ben Bishop wrote in, “In September, Zebra and I enjoyed a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobi, Kenya.”

Next time you travel to someplace interesting, take a photo of you and a copy of Zebra! Send it to editor@thezebrapress.com and we will send you a prize.

Ben just picked up a $25 gift certificate to Tempo Restaurant!!

On the Cover: NOVEMBER 2019

And yes, cider IS making a comeback as you will learn on page 44.

Ask anyone who has visited Tristan Wright’s Lost Boy Cider Company in Alexandria. As Wright says, “Cider is alluring - a fascinating world with endless combinations of flavor profiles

and blends. Cider is a chameleon of alcoholic options. it is everything fun, witty, boisterous, sophisticated, pleasant, lively, entertaining, and merry, and it can be enjoyed at any occasion.”

Beyond that we have incredible photos and stories of Art on the Avenue, the Halloween Parade, runner Noah Lyles, artist Todd Healy who has called Alexandria his muse for the last 40 years, the ACPS Sports Hall of Fame, Bryan Porter’s new books, Rock of Ages Music, Aldo’s Italian restaurant which has lines out the door, Alexandria Living Legends’ Jason and Loren Yates, and a veteran’s story on page 14 you do not want to miss. It’s too much to mention it all— just start reading!

Happy Thanksgiving and be sure go to thezebra.org to sign up for our weekly newsletters to keep up on even more good news!

—Mary Wadland

30,000 copies delivered by hand each month to households and businesses in the following neighborhoods and high-traffic areas: Arlington Alexandria Alexandria West Belle Haven Beverley Hills Braddock Heights

Crystal City Del Ray Fairlington Great Falls Jefferson Park Mount Vernon Old Town

Park Fairfax Rosemont Seminary Hills Shirlington

PUBLICATION DATES Zebra is printed monthly.

UPCOMING DEADLINES 2019 Deadline November 15 December 13

Publication Date December 2 January 6

CONTACT The Zebra 2800 Eishenhower Avenue, Suite 220, #166 Alexandria, VA 22314 info@thezebrapress.com

For advertising info on our print, newsletter, website or podcasts, call 703-919-7533 or email sales@thezebrapress.com

Cider Makes a Comeback See Page 44

Tristan Wright, founder and owner, Lost Boy Cider (Photo: Glenda C. Booth)

WHY ZEBRA? When we launched in 2010, we wanted to be a horse of a different stripe within the community news landscape. Zebra was a zippy name, we could brand ourselves on a teeny budget, and we hoped it was a name you’d remember. Plus, it was a creative way to play tribute to the classic old newspaper joke, “What is black and white and READ all over?”

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COMMUNITY

CITY BRIEFS

Here’s the Latest on the Proposed Pedestrian Zone in Old Town THE CITY WILL BE COLLECTING INPUT FROM RESIDENTS AND, FACING LIKELY APPROVAL BY COUNCIL, WOULD BE IN EFFECT BY NEXT SPRING. Remember about 10 years ago when the Alexandria City Council approved a pilot program for a pedestrian zone in the 100 and 200 blocks of King Street? Business owners and residents weren’t too pleased about it, but reception from the visiting public was otherwise positive.

Now, however, with Waterfront Park open at the foot of King Street and the Tall Ship Providence docked at the waterfront, Mayor Justin Wilson and Councilman John Chapman think that it’s the perfect time to bring back the pedestrian zone.

“We will be conducting a public process over the winter to solicit input, determine the challenges and devise mitigation,” said Wilson, who believes that the project can expand outdoor dining in the area. “I think our previous implementation had some challenges; although it was very popular. We will be learning from those issues to make sure this is successful.”

The city will be collecting input from residents and, fac-

Get Out And Vote! Election Day is Nov. 5 Hey Democracy lovers! Got anything scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5? If so, don’t forget to stop by your local polling place to vote. After all, it’s election day in Virginia!

The Nov. 5 ballot in Alexandria includes contests for Virginia State Senate in the 30th, Image: Pete Linforth for Pixabay 35th, and 39th Districts and the House of Delegates 45th and 46th Districts, as well as Alexandria Clerk of Court.

All regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more, go to https://www.alexandriava.gov/Elections.

Photo: Visit Alexandria

The 100 block of King Street in Old Town, Alexandria.

ing likely approval by council, would be in effect by next spring.

Over the summer, Bert Ely, former vice president of the Old Town Civic Association, said that the plan is a bad idea.

“I remember very well when they tried it before, and the objections will be the same. First of all, it creates traffic problems on adjacent streets, and adds parking

problems on those streets,” Ely said. “Where are Lyft and Uber going to drop people off? It’s just going to add to the congestion - and there’s all these food delivery third party companies. Where will all those drivers double-park to pick up deliveries? Food delivery services were not factors when they looked at this before, but they are today.”

ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES SCHOOL TO CONTINUE USING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT FT. WARD PARK

Courtesy photo

The Alexandria Courthouse.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Job Opening Ever dreamed of working in the Alexandria Courthouse? The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for the City of Alexandria is looking for an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for assignment to a district court docket with additional responsibility for felony cases as assigned.

The job required that you have excellent written, research, and oral communication skills and are a self-starter. You’ll need to be licensed to practice law in Virginia, and prior prosecutorial and trial experience is a plus.

The initial application includes a wiring sample, resume, and cover letter. Send your credentials to Bryan. porter@alexandriava.gov. Applications are being accepted until Nov. 8!

City Leaf Collection Program Begins Nov. 4

Students from St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School have just been given three more years to use Ft. Ward Park for recreation. The school, which has used the property at 4401 Braddock Road since 2000, has been given exclusive access to the soccer field for school curriculum and athletic activities between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday from Sept. 1 to May 31. The agreement also allows SSSAS use of the tennis courts between 3:00 and Photo: Visit Alexandria 5:30 p.m. during the week. The Ft. Ward Park, 4401 Braddock Road. school, which is paying the city more than $23,000 annually for the license extension, also gets first dibs on special activities and sporting events after getting a permit from the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities.

The City of Alexandria will begin its annual leaf vacuuming and leaf bag collection program on Monday, Nov. 4.

Leaf collection Photo: cocoparisienne from Pixabay is expected to continue into January. Alexandria is divided into five collection zones, each with a specific start date. Each zone will receive three passes. Residents who receive City trash and recycling collection services may recycle leaves in three ways: 1. Rake leaves to the curb for vacuum collection; 2. Place leaves in paper leaf bags for collection (leaves in

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NEW DASH RIDE GUIDE AND SERVICE CHANGES NOW IN EFFECT Effected Routes:

AT1 AT2 AT3 AT4

AT5 AT7 AT8 AT9

AT10

For more information, visit dashbus.com/schedules

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NOVEMBER 2019

Elizabeth Anne Campagna (1919-1991) Celebrated on 100th Birthday

Alexandria Gratitude Table Providing Free Thanksgiving Meal For 6th Year What does Thanksgiving mean to you? There are so many memories-in-waiting during the holiday season,

FAMILY, CIVIC AND POLITICAL LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER AMAZING LIFE AND LEGACY and Thursday, Nov. 28, will mark the sixth annual Alexandria Gratitude Table at Meade Memorial Episcopal Church. The free meal is the only one of its kind in the city, and is made possible

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Photo: James Cullum

Matthew Ian Gillette.

Where else can you get a Thanksgiving meal in Alexandria?

Bridget Flint, Carter Fleming, Mason Montague Bavin and Peggy Anshutz.

Elizabeth-Anne Campbell Campagna, for which The Campagna Center in Alexandria is named, passed away far too early in 1991 at the age 72. Former Congressman Jim Moran, family and members of the community gathered to reminisce and share her legacy.

Granddaughter Delia Sullivan remembered Campagna as a “dramatic, but very charismatic person” who “often experienced opposition to progress from various groups, but soon turned her opponents into allies.”

In 1962, Elizabeth Anne Campagna joined the YWCA as director and

by churches, volunteers, and charitable organizations.

“We always have room.

We’ve never gotten close to turning people away,” said Matthew Ian Gillette, who came up with the idea for the annual meal. “It’s a festive atmosphere.

It’s not just about putting something on a plate, but File Photo more about having a place where people can feel like they have a sense of community.”

Gillette wears many hats in the Alexandria, including as the co-chair of Hunger Free

Christ House, 131 S. West Street, gives out free meals 365 days of the year. The meal that day has three seatings - at 5 p.m, 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Guests should arrive at 4:30 to sign in, and anyone who arrives after 5:30 p.m. can get food in a to-go bag.

#ThisIsYourTime

turned it into a powerful actor in the community.

As the merits of Head Start were being debated nationwide, the YWCA, in partnership with the city of Alexandria, secured funding to run Alexandria’s first Head Start program.

In 1991 the Alexandria YWCA was renamed the Campagna Center in honor of her commitment to

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TISSOT PR 100 SPORT CHIC. TOP WESSELTON DIAMONDS. TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION

ALE

ANDRIA Transit Vision

Your City. Your Transit Network.

Your DASH/Metrobus route could be changing as part of the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan! Let us know what you think!

The Alexandria Transit Vision Plan is designing a future bus transit network for the City of Alexandria that will improve overall mobility, accessibility and cost efficiency.

WE WANT YOUR INPUT!

Get Involved & Take Our Survey! www.dashbus.com/transitvision

For more information on the project including draft recommended network maps visit dashbus.com/transitvision NOVEMBER 2019

Public Workshop:

Cathy Bradford, Dr. Tammy Mann and Nina Tisara.

KINGSJEWELRY.NET 609 KING STREET OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA 703.549.0011

Wednesday, November 13 5:30 PM ATC Board Meeting Alexandria City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Fl. 301 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Get there using the King Street Trolley or other DASH routes.

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You’ve left your mark, now where is your marker???

Alexandria City Council Reaffirms Commitment to Refugees THE WHITE HOUSE JUST ASKED IF THE CITY WANTS TO RECEIVE RESETTLED PEOPLE, AND ALEXANDRIA SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

Since 1856

Ivy Hill Cemetery 703.549.7413 • www.ivyhillcemetery.net

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Alexandria will continue to take in poor, tired, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free. That’s according to a resolution that the City Council approved Tuesday, Oct. 22. At issue was the recently signed Executive Order 13888, which asks for a “locality’s consent to the resettlement of refugees.”‬ “The Administration is attempting to have local governments insert themselves into this process and presumably resist the resettlement of refugees in their communities,” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson prior to the council decision. “We reject this attempt and reaffirm our intent to continue helping those in need.”

According to the order, within 90 days of the date it was issued (Sept. 26), the Secretary of State and Secretary of Health and Hu-

Photo: James Cullum

Alexandria City Council Chambers

man Services “shall develop and implement a process to determine whether the State and locality both consent, in writing, to the resettlement of refugees within the State and locality, before refugees are resettled within that State and locality under the Program. The Secretary of State shall publicly release any written consents

of States and localities to resettlement of refugees.”

In case you missed it during the summer, Wilson joined neighboring localities in decrying the exploration by the government for detention centers for unaccompanied alien children from South America.

‘Safer Country’ Set to Launch Organization Aims to Improve Background Checks for Firearms Safer Country, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping guns out of unsafe hands and focused on making the background check system work, will celebrate their founding with a launch party fundraiser on Wednesday, November 20 from 7-9 pm at the home of David Lord and Greg Parks at 1005 Russell Road.

Alexandria activist and non-practicing attorney Paul Alan Friedman created and is leading the organization. He previously served as Executive Director of the Virginia Tech Victim’s Family Outreach Organization.

“We’ve already begun working with policymakers and legislators at the state and national level to stop people with violent or dangerous records from legally buying guns. We’re also promoting red flag laws, which have been enacted in various forms in 17 states and Washington, D.C.

Fundamentally, these laws allow people who see something seriously wrong with someone to say something to protect lives. The federal government and states can do much better. We can make a real difference by pushing for government transparency to track whether existing laws and policies are being effectively enforced,” Friedman urged.

Mike and Kristin Song to Speak

Photo: Song Family Collection

Ethan Song accidentally shot and killed himself with a .357 Magnum that had been stored in the bedroom closet at a friend’s home. His parents successfully fought to gain passage of Ethan’s Law in their home state of Connecticut, which requires gun owners to store firearms, whether they are loaded or unloaded, in a securely locked container, if a person under the age of 18 is likely to gain access to the weapon without permission.

The event will feature Mike and Kristin Song, who lost their 15-year-old son Ethan to an accidental shooting and successfully advocated for passage of “Ethan’s law” in Connecticut, which added a new and vital element to the state’s safe storage law - another priority of Safer Country.

Also speaking will be pollster for Sen. Tim Kaine (and numerous oth-

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CITY BRIEFS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

plastic bags are considered refuse, and are thrown away as trash); or 3. Compost leaves and yard waste at home.

Do not mix brush or other items with leaves, as these items may injure City workers, damage equipment or private property, or cause delays. Residents may receive leaf collection status updates by signing up for the Alexandria eNews service and subscribing to “Resource Recovery Updates,” or by following the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To determine specific collection zones and dates, and to find locations where complementary leaf bags may be picked up, visit alexandriava.gov/LeafCollection or call the City’s leaf collection hotline at 703.746.5323 (LEAF).

LONNIE C. RICH WILLS AND TRUSTS lcrich@rrbmdk.com 703/299-3440

Welcome sweet November, the season of senses and my favorite month of all.

—Gregory F. Lenz

5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search In today’s market, low inventory dominates the conversation in many areas of the country. It can often be frustrating to be a first-time home-buyer if you aren’t prepared. Here are five tips from realtor.com’s article, “How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind.”

Courtesy photo

The Freedom House Museum at 1315 Duke Street.

The Freedom House Is Up For Sale The Freedom House Museum, which was once home to the largest domestic slave trading firm in the country, is up for sale. The four level office/townhome at 1315 Duke Street is owned by the City and the Northern Virginia Urban League, and has a listing price of $2.1 million.

Alexandrian Glenn Klauss wants the city to buy the property so that the building is publicly accessible.

“The dealers that did business at 1315 Duke Street were considered the largest traders of enslaved people in the US, with about a million children, women, and men passing through the building,” Klauss wrote to city council on social media. “I would prefer to buy the house now, stabilize it, and mothball it while we search for a nonprofit partner.”

According to the listing on loopnet.com, the four level, 20-room building is “[i]deally suited for association or non-profit headquarters, law firm, public affairs or other professional firm.” The building includes an elevator, six bathrooms, a sprinkler system, and a private parking lot that can accommodate a dozen cars. Its real estate taxes in 2019 were $19,411.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that the city is actively working to keep the building open to the public.

“We are working to ensure this property remains publicly accessible (as) we expand the interpretation of the significant history on this site,” Wilson said on Facebook.

City Hosting Brainstorming Sessions on Poverty, Affordable Housing, Mental Health Alexandria is inviting the public to attend brainstorming sessions on approaches to mental health, affordable housing, and poverty challenges in the community. During the upcoming sessions, the community will propose solutions related to the underlying causes of poverty, lack of affordable housing and poor mental health. Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, and American Sign Language interpreters will be available, and childcare will be provided.

• Mental Health Session: Nov. 4, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at The Garden by Building Momentum (5380 Eisenhower Ave., Suite C) • Affordable Housing Session: Nov. 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 W. Reed Ave.) • Poverty Session: Nov. 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.) For more, go to alexandriava.gov/Health.

NOVEMBER 2019

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search One way to show you’re serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage. Even if you’re in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach. This will help you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a home well outside your price range.

2. Know the Difference Between Your ‘Must-Haves’ and ‘Would-Like-To-Haves’ Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Before you start your search, list all the features of a home you would like. Qualify them as ‘musthaves’, ‘should-haves’, or ‘absolute-wish list’ items. This will help you stay focused on what’s most important.

3. Research and Choose a Neighborhood Where You Want to Live Every neighborhood has unique charm. Before you commit to a home based solely on the house itself, take a test-drive of the area. Make sure it meets your needs for “amenities, commute, school district, etc. and then spend a weekend exploring before you commit.”

4. Pick a House Style You Love and Stick to It Evaluate your family’s needs and settle on a style of home that will best serve those needs. Just because you’ve narrowed your search to a zip code doesn’t mean you need to tour every listing in that vicinity. An example from the article says, “if you have several younger kids and don’t want your bedroom on a different level, steer clear of Cape Cod–style homes, which typically feature two or more bedrooms on the upper level and the master on the main.”

5. Document Your Home Visits Once you start touring homes, the features of each individual home will start to blur together. The article suggests keeping your camera handy and making notes on the listing sheet to document what you love and don’t love about each property you visit.

Bottom Line In a high-paced, competitive environment, any advantage you can give yourself will help you on your path to buying your dream home.

Betsy Grady-Carey Artistry in Real Estate

Realtor

BetsyGrady@LNF.com

Cell: 703-861-4941 www.longandfoster.com/ BetsyGradyCarey

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“Sometimes you need to say things with a flourish, with attitude, and with fancy letters!”

Bryan Porter, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Alexandria, outside the Alexandria Courthouse.

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Photo: James Cullum

Interview: Bryan Porter Writes Book About Charles Severance Case “I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD OUTWEIGHS EVIL, LOVE OUTWEIGHS HATE, AND LIGHT OUTWEIGHS THE DARKNESS JUST BY A LITTLE BIT. AND THAT GIVES ME SOME OPTIMISM FOR WHERE HUMANITY IS GOING,” PORTER SAID.

BY JAMES CULLUM It was important for Bryan Porter that he didn’t screw this one up. It is one of the most important cases of his career and it left a lasting impression on Alexandria. Three city residents were the victims of a serial killer, and it was Porter’s job to deliver justice and determine that the man they had in custody - Charles Severance - was guilty of killing Nancy Dunning, Ronald Kirby, and Ruthanne Lodato. In Jan. 2016, Porter and his team got

their decision - three life sentences plus 48 years for Severance.

Porter has since written a book about his experience trying the case.

“The Parable of the Knocker” was released in August.

The lifelong Alexandrian felt duty bound to deliver for his city, for the distraught families of the victims, and needed to keep Severance off the streets.

“I had some real concerns about whether I could put the case together,” Porter told The Zebra. “Of course, the me-

dia was going crazy. I mean, I’d only been in office for one month and I’ve got CNN calling. Every time I would go outside of the courthouse there would be a gaggle of reporters wanting me to make some comment. So, I was unprepared for the media attention and the idea that everyone expected me to have the answers.”

At his darkest period, Porter was having trouble eating and sleeping as he weighed charging Severance with all three

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DID YOU KNOW? BRYAN PORTER ALSO WROTE A KIDS’ BOOK! As if Bryan Porter isn’t busy enough! The Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Alexandria just published a second book!

Porter has just released “Kit Dreamer and the Case of the Unlucky Lemur” a book designed to get younger kids to consider law careers.

“When the publisher asked me to write it, I was like, ‘Well, look, I’ve never done anything like this. I don’t have kids. I’m not sure,” Porter said. “It was fun writing. We’re in discussions of writing a second book with the same characters.”

The book is geared to-

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Kit transports her to a world where animals wear clothes and go to school. While at lunch one day in the dream world, a lemur is accused of stealing a sandwich from another animal. Kit then conducts an investigation into the incident and becomes the lemur’s attorney.

Was the lemur Courtesy image framed?!

Who could have done ward kids ages 7 to 11, and something so dastardly? opens with a young Latina Find out by buying the book girl whose father works at at www.waldorfpublishing. the State Department and com/products/kit-dreamgives her a magical meerkat er-and-the-case-of-the-unnamed Kit Dreamer. When lucky-lemur. the little girl goes to sleep,

NOVEMBER 2019

Mary Lee Anderson

Tracey Johnson

Jane King

Vivek Sinha

FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES

Agenda Alexandria to Explore Aging in Place

BY MICHAEL POPE Will aging seniors be forced out of Alexandria? What is the future of memory care, and how will a growing population of people with dementia live in the city? What are the challenges and opportunities for aging in place in Alexandria? These are some of the questions that will be on the table for Agenda Alexandria’s November meeting on November 25 at the Hermitage.

“The tendency now is to try to support older adults with services that will allow them to age in place and stay in their homes,” says Mary Lee Anderson, executive director of Senior Services of Alexandria. “In the past there was a lot of focus on assisted living and continuous care, but I think now there’s a realization that those are [only] great options for people in certain circumstances, particularly if they have a lot of money.”

Until the 20th century, most people aged with extended families.

But after World War II, the nursing home industry became an important part of how people approached aging. Now advances in science are allowing people to live longer than they ever have in previous generations, which is creating new challenges and opportunities for aging in place. It’s become a thriving industry in Alexandria and beyond.

“In the last five years, I’ve seen a huge growth of services providers,”says Vivek Sinha, medical director at Silverado Memory Care Community on King Street. “There are more imaging companies that are able to come out to the home and do X-rays and ultrasounds and echocardiograms. There are more blood draw companies that can come in and order lab work for their patients in their homes.”

From memory care to home care and everything in between, Agenda Alexandria will discuss the latest trends in the industry and explore what that might mean for the future.

The panel discussion will explore trends in the industry as well as look

NOVEMBER 2019

All images: Courtesy of Agenda Alexandria

Annual cost of care in Virginia

at recent advances in senior care.

“People are not taking advantage of assisted living soon enough,” says Tracey Johnson, director of sales at Sunrise Living of Alexandria.

“We’re trying to get the word out that you don’t have to wait until you just absolutely can’t do anything for yourself.”

PANELISTS Jane King is chairwoman of At Home in Alexandria, a nonprofit organization that provides practical, social, and emotional support to Alexandria residents over the age of 55.

She developed an interest in creating livable communities for the ag-

ing while working for AARP. She is a former chairwoman of the Alexandria Commission on Aging, where she spearheaded the development and implementation of the Alexandria Strategic Plan for Aging.

Mary Lee Anderson is executive director of Senior Services of Alexandria. A Pennsylvania native, she has a bachelor of arts in French from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. She worked in international communications for years, then launched a business as a money manager for older adults. She joined Senior Services of Alexandria in 2011 and became executive director in 2013.

Tracey Johnson is director of sales at Sunrise Senior Living of

What: For the Rest of Our Lives, Aging in Alexandria Where: Hermitage, 5000 Fairbanks Ave, Alexandria VA 22311 When: Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 Time: Reception starts at 6:30 pm, program starts at 7:15 pm Cost: $5 at the door, optional dinner for $32 Details: agendaalexandria.org

Alexandria. A native of Pittsburg, Johnson moved to Northern Virginia in the early 1990s. She has a bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Pittsburg and a master of arts in human resource management from the Keller Graduate School of Management. She worked as director of admissions at DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management before working in the senior living industry.

Vivek Sinha is medical director for the Silverado Memory Care Community. A native of St. Asaph in Wales, his family immigrated to America when he was a child. He attended State University of New York at Stony Brook and worked as a firefighter before earning a Doctor of Medicine degree at Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean. In 2014, he opened Belleview Medical Partners, a practice in Alexandria that provides house calls for seniors who want to age in place.

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9

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BOO! Alexandria Kids Bring Their Inventions to Spooky Mad Science Expo IT WAS A SPOOKY AFTERNOON OF SCIENCE FUN AT THE WATERGATE LANDMARK!

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Ever wonder what happens to your blood in the vacuum of outer space? Have you tried manufacturing polymers in your spare time? And if you’ve ever wondered how to make elephant toothpaste, then the place to be on Saturday, Oct. 15, was the Spooky Mad Science Expo at the Watergate Landmark! The third annual event highlighted the scientific work of Alexandria students and was attended by hundreds.

“This is a wonderful event that brings people together that are working hard to teach math and science to the children,” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson.

More than 100 of Alexandria’s future scientists, astronauts, mathematicians, and engineers proudly displayed their spookiest Halloween costumes in the spirit of this year’s expo. The event was also attended by Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker,

Courtesy Photos

The Spooky Mad Science Expo, Oct. 5, 2019.

School Board Member Megan Alderton, representatives of the Alexandria Sheriff, and Rene Paschal, the principal of Samuel Tucker Elementary School.

Additionally, the organizations conducting experiments included the National Science Foundation, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the American Chemical Society, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Science is a year-round pursuit for Zohreh Khoshnamak who started the science club at the Watergate. They even have their own robotics team!

“It all started with my son and his friends getting together after school and turned

into a science club that meets twice a month,” Khoshnamak said. “This year’s event is a great opportunity for everyone in the community to help teach the kids about different areas of science and technology. We have everyone from doctors to scientists. People see the Mayor and just keep coming. It’s a great inspiration to other neighborhoods too!”

Bennett-Parker went from booth to booth and talked with students about their projects.

“It’s really wonderful to see so many kids learning about science,” she said. “I’m grateful to Zohreh for organizing such a great event.”

To find out more about the club, and to learn about teaching kids science, technology, engineering, art, and math you can contact Zohreh Khoshnamak at khoshnamak@gmail.com.

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This rarely seen 1856 bird’s eye rendering of the University of Virginia has recently been painstakingly recolored by Alexandria artist, Todd Healy.

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CAMPAGNA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 the community. With the addition of a middle school program in 2012, The Campagna Center stands as the only nonprofit in Alexandria serving children across the education spectrum, from birth through high school.

Throughout its long history, the Campagna Center has been a catalyst for community involvement and continues to serve the Alexandria community by promoting a commitment to learning at every level. Today, with Dr. Tammy L. Mann at the helm and

NOVEMBER 2019

almost 200 staff members, 25 board members, and more than 750 volunteers dedicated to the well-being of Alexan-

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ALEXANDRIA 2019 LIVING LEGENDS

Jason and Loren Yates

BY JEANNE THEISMANN The busy intersection of Braddock Road and Mount Vernon Avenue is a vibrant hub of community activity, with a lively restaurant and retail businesses that serve as an anchor for the Del Ray and Rosemont neighborhoods.

It wasn’t always this way. For more than 30 years, the intersection was an eyesore, a 50-year-old strip mall and abandoned service station and typewriter repair shop with boarded up buildings and potentially hazardous soil contaminants. But Loren and Jason Yates envisioned something more for the desolate property sitting across from the family-owned Yates Automotive Service Center.

“It was very run down and dangerous and nobody wanted to go into the 7-Eleven,” says Jason Yates.

“But Loren and I had a dream and believed it could be transformed into something that could benefit the entire community.”

The dream didn’t become a reality overnight. In 2005, the Yates’ began a years-long process of negotiating with three different property owners, handling the remediation of soil contamination, and navigating the City’s building and permitting processes. Finally, in October 2012, they broke ground and a year later the 7-Eleven became the first business to open at Yates Corner.

“The neighbors in Del Ray and Rosemont were fantastic and we had complete community support for the project,” Jason says.

That relationship began decades earlier, in 1964, when Jason’s father John, a retired Navy veteran, purchased his first service station in Alexandria. Jason, the youngest of five brothers born to John and Lena Yates, grew up working alongside his father.

“I always liked minibikes, gokarts, cars—anything with an engine,” Jason recalls. “With my dad having a repair shop, it was a wonderful childhood.”

After John Yates purchased the Braddock Road Mobil station in 1977, Jason spent all his free time working there. In 1986, Jason purchased the Braddock Road station from his parents and that same year he married Loren.

Credit Tisara Photography

Together the couple set out to improve the appearance of Yates Automotive. They added two additional repair bays in 1982 and in 1994 a brick façade went up on the station’s exterior, along with a copper roof.

“My dad always taught me that a service station is just as important in the community as a doctor or lawyer,” Jason says. “It was important to me to change the perception of the service station industry in the neighborhood.”

About that time, the couple’s vision expanded to include the abandoned properties on the one-acre lot across from their own business. The result of their hard work and perseverance is Yates Corner, which includes Lena’s Woodfired Pizza & Tap restaurant, Yates Drycleaners, and a new Yates 7-Eleven.

The building was constructed using LEED technologies, including geothermal heating, a rain catchment system, and other ecofriendly features. The businesses are thriving, with Lena’s being named by The Washington Post as one of 12 best restaurant patios in the Washington metro area. And the 7-Eleven? Today it is recognized by the 7-Eleven Corporation as one of the top 10 performing 7-Elevens in the DC metro area, averaging 1,500 customers a day.

“The primary focus for Jason and Loren has always been providing neighbors with products and services to make their personal and professional lives easier and more convenient,” says Lee Emery, who nominated the couple as Living Legends of Alexandria. “A byproduct of their vision is that they now employ nearly 150 team members, providing jobs with benefits and directly helping their families.

It should be noted that they were providing health insurance benefits years before it was mandated by the government.”

Over the past 30 years, Jason and Loren Yates have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to support various nonprofit organizations in the community. In 2017, they began the “Give Your 2 Cents” program, which donates two cents of every gallon purchased at Yates Automotive to a different local charity each month.

“The most important thing we wanted to do was add value to the community,” says Jason, “with responsible growth and great service, creating jobs and a positive environment that’s good for our employees and good for the neighborhood.”

The Yates family business, which began expanding into the Kingstown area in the 1990s, is now on

its third generation of Yates service providers. Jason Yates Jr., a University of Virginia graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, has been learning the business from the ground up and was hands-on in the design and building of Yates Corner.

“Without the vision and commitment of Jason and Loren, the Yates Corner lot would most likely still be the eyesore it was for 30 plus years,” Emery says. “With Jason Jr., the presence of the Yates family will bless Alexandria for years to come.”

Among the many accolades the Yates family has garnered is the 2017 Washington Business Journal’s Family Owned Business Award.

“To look back on it now, we have done so much,” says Loren Yates.

“But we have enjoyed it every step of the way because we have done it together as a family. Jason and I have been together ever since our first date almost 39 years ago and he was the same ambitious, charismatic man back then that he is today. He loves what he does, and it shows in everything he has done.”

John Yates passed away in 1989 and Lena Yates passed away the following year. But Jason and Loren’s commitment to Yates customers lives on.

“We have customers that have been coming to us for 40 years and have built community relationships on trust,” Jason says. “My dad taught me to take care of our customers no matter what. We aren’t a gas station; we are a service station.

Service is what we do.”

Living Legends: The Initiative The mission of Living legends of Alexandria, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is to identify, honor and chronicle the lives of individuals who have made significant contributions to improve the quality of life in Alexandria. This initiative was conceived and the organization founded in 2006 by 2015 Living Legend Nina Tisara in order to create an enduring, documented record of the people whose vision and dedication made a positive, tangible difference to the quality of life in the City of Alexandria, VA. For information, to volunteer, become a sponsor or nominate a future Legend, visit www.AlexandriaLegends.org or contact AlexandriaLegends@outlook.com.

Visit www.thezebra.org to sign up for subscriptions 12 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

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13

The Zebra Salutes Capt. Don Kellerman on Veterans Day!

BY JAMES CULLUM

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QUOTABLES

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself in acts of bravery and heroism.

—Alexander Hamilton

Editor’s Note: In recognition of Veterans Day, which falls on Nov. 11, the Zebra wanted to tell the story of a fascinating veteran, and was privileged to speak with Capt.

Kellerman. We invite you to hear the stories of veterans you might know, too, and you may just find a unifying thread that they’re all interesting!

The millions of women and men who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces are tightly wound into the fabric of the country, and their experiences are often inspiring, captivating, and motivating.

This one time in 1959, Don Kellerman was landing on an aircraft carrier in the Meditterenean at night and something went wrong. He was in the co-pilot’s seat of a fourman Grumman S-2 Tracker [an anti-submarine warfare aircraft], and just finished a

ZEBRA VIDEO PODCAST Oct 29

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson

Nov 13

Realtor Alison Goodhart DuShuttle (The Goodhart Group)

See the shows on www.thezebra.org/ podcast and on our Zebra Facebook page.

If you have a suggested guest, would like to advertise or be a sponsor, or have any great ideas for the show, shoot a note to zebrapodcast1@gmail.com

14 ZEBRA PRESS

Nov 27

Entrepreneur Adnan Hamidi (Alexandria Cupcake)

Photo: James Cullum

Above: U.S. Navy Capt. Don Kellerman (Ret.) and his wife of 64 years, Nancy, at home in Alexandria.

At left: Don and Nancy Kellerman on the day they met in Annapolis.

Courtesy image

Ross Kellerman was en route to the South Pacific to prepare for the invasion of Japanese-held islands. The elder Kellerman had a profound impact on the young Eagle Scout, who saw his uncle win the Bronze Star for his efforts.

Eight years later, and with the Korean War in full swing, Kellerman competed with 400 other candidates vying for one of three appointments to a service academy by applying with then-Colorado

mission looking for Soviet subs. But as his plane landed there was a malfunction with the tailhook, and Kellerman found himself barreling down the runway of the USS Lake Champlain toward a neat collection of parked naval aircraft.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you they’re not scared to death of landing on a carrier at night,” Kellerman told The Zebra in a recent interview from his Alexandria home.

“I remember how everything slowed down, and the skipper did exactly what he told us not to do. He got on the brakes, and we started the skid sideways, and I could see the pack of planes getting closer.”

Turned out that the shoe to the tailhook that Courtesy image catches the cable Ensign Don Kellerman aboard the USS was cracked, and it Stormes. fell to pieces once coming into contact with the wire. A bolt Sen. Edwin C. Johnson. He holding the device together was appointed to the U.S. ended up catching the wire Naval Academy in July of and the plane came to a sud- 1951 and graduated four years den jerking halt. It was an ex- later. During that time, howtraordinary ending to what ever, he met someone extra was otherwise just another special - his future wife Nanday at work at the beginning cy. There was only one probof the Naval aviator’s 30-year lem. She was going out with career. this roommate.

“We were in church one The Academy and Beyond day and I said, ‘Roger, that Kellerman, now 86, grew girl Nancy. I really like her. up in Denver, Colorado, and You mind if I date her?’ He was inspired to join the mili- said it was fine. He didn’t tary at an early age. In 1943, his uncle, Navy aviator Capt.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 NOVEMBER 2019

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KELLERMAN

A Second Career

“One of the advantages of military career is that you CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 have the opportunity for a care. And three months later second career at around the we were engaged,” Keller- age of 50 to 55,” Kellerman man said. said. “I looked up and inThat was 64 years ago, and terviewed with Dean WitNancy Kellerman said she tier and told them I’d like to made the right choice. She be a stockbroker. They said, was an elementary school ‘Oh, really?’And I said, ‘Reteacher for decades, and spent ally,’ and the next thing I a lot of time raising their two knew I was training there in kids and working while her New York City in Tower II husband was deployed. Their of the World Trade Center. I most exotic deployment to- came back and they gave me gether, though, was in Gaeta, a phone, a phone book, and a Italy, for two computer in years. a small office “Some guys, to share with you know, another guy they’re just named Carnot interestol.” ing or they’re Kel ler m a n rude to you,” made it work, Nancy Kelland after 16 erman said. years made “Don and I his son a partgot along, ner in his and I’ve had company and a happy life. retired comCourtesy image Sure, I’ve had fortably. Now Don Kellerman in his uniform a husband who he’s a member at the U.S. Naval Academy. was at sea a lot, of the Sons of but there are a the American lot of women like me, spous- Revolution, is involved with es like me. That’s America. the Rotary Club of AlexanThat’s what the deal is, and dria, and regularly plays golf that’s a positive situation.” and shoots skeet.

After graduating at the Nancy Kellerman said that Academy, Kellerman’s career she raised her children to rebegan as an ensign on the spect the military.

USS Stormes. A year-and“I said to my children, a-half later he was promot- ‘Your father is doing all these ed as the Gunnery Depart- wonderful things for this ment head - just in time for country. Don’t you ever act the Suez Canal Crisis. After rude. Always be respectful.” returning home, he went to Kellerman said that the aviation school and got his most important lesson in leadwings in 1958. The following ership he learned throughout year, he was landing planes on his career is to have resolve. aircraft carriers.

“Know what the heck you Kellermen spent a number want done and how it should of deployments in Italy, and be done and and demand that steadily moved up in rank. it be done up to standard,” He would continue tracking Kellerman said. “When I the Soviets from the air, and think about the leaders I most would be promoted to com- admired they are the ones mander of the Fleet Air Re- who knew what the hell they connaissance Squadron 4, were doing and then demandwhich was made up of 94 offi- ed that everybody does it. I cers and 450 enlisted men. He mean, it’s good to be friendlater received a master’s de- ly, caring, and understanding, gree from the Industrial Col- but to me that was far more lege of the Armed Forces, and important than all the other was promoted to Captain. He touchy feely stuff.” joined the faculty of ICAF, and then retired in 1980.

NOVEMBER 2019

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BY JAMES CULLUM It takes courage to fight society when you know you’re right, and 80 years ago five African American men made Alexandria history. On Monday, Aug. 21, 1939, William “Buddy” Evans, Morris Murray, Edward Gaddis, Clarence “Buck” Strange, and Otto Tucker threw a proverbial rock at a hornet’s nest when they were denied library privileges at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library and sat down, started to read, and refused to leave.

Alexandria’s shining example of courageous civil disobedience was commemorated at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library on Monday, Oct. 21, in a standing-room-only event with a panel discussion with descendants of sit-in participants. The audience included residents, city staff, the entire city council, and former elected officials.

“If you come up against somebody who’s treated poorly then you take a stand, but there’s a way to do it,” said author Kimberley Evans-Reed. “My grandfather did something that could have gotten him arrested, could have gotten him beat down, maybe even go after people in his family. I mean, [my daughter] wouldn’t be here, my father wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be here if he had been killed. And that’s what was at stake.”

80 YEARS LATER: STANDING-ROOM-ONLY AUDIENCE CELEBRATES ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY SIT-IN

Photos: James Cullum

The 80th anniversary commemoration of the Alexandria Library Sit-In, on Oct. 21, 2019, at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library.

Above: Relatives of the Alexandria Sit-in participants with Commonwealth Attorney Bryan Porter and Mayor Justin Wilson on the right.

File photo

Above: (Left to right) William “Buddy” Evans, Otto Tucker, Edward Gaddis, Morris L. Murray and Clarence “Buck” Strange being led out of the Barrett Branch Library by police on Aug. 21, 1939.

Below: Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson.

Taking a Stand By Sitting Down Alexandria established a whites-only public library in 1937, and denied library cards to U.S. Army Sergeant George Wilson and attorney Samuel W. Tucker. The pair tried working with City Manager Carl Budwesky and the city attorney before filing a writ of mandamus, which forced the city librarian to issue them library cards. Two years later, their organized group of five men made their mark by sitting down in the library and reading books.

“They were 19 to 22 [years old]. What courage. What courage to challenge everything they knew, the system that they had grown up with, but yet they did that,” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, who also presented a city

16 ZEBRA PRESS

Above: (Left to right) Alexandria City Council woman Amy Jackson, Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Mayor Justin Wilson, Councilman Canek Aguirre, and Councilman Mo Seifeldein.

At left: Alexandria Library Executive Director Rose T. Dawson. At left: Alexandria Library Executive Director Rose T. Dawson.

Above: (Left to right) Stephen A. Martin, Joyce Angela Evans-Jackson, and Kimberley Evans Reed speak for their relatives who participated in the Alexandria Sit-In. At right: Michele Chapman and her son, Alexandria City Councilman John T. Chapman.

proclamation. “And it was a spark, a template that was used for decades in this country to challenge systems that were manifestly unjust.”

The men were arrested while reading in the public reading room and charged with disorderly conduct – charges which stuck until last month, when Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter successfully petitioned the Alexandria Circuit Court to have them dismissed.

The court found that the men were “lawfully exercising their constitutional rights to free assembly, speech, and to petition the government to alter the established policy of sanctioned segregation at the time of their arrest.”

Rose Dawson, executive director of the Alexandria Library, said that the sit-in was ahead of its time.

“For a person like me, who grew up in the schools, North Carolina, I always heard about the Greensboro Sit-In, but that didn’t happen until the early 60’s,” Dawson said. “But here we are in ’39 and Tucker has figured out how they need to prepare for what the laws were on the books that they would possibly try and arrest them for.

And even if they didn’t violate any of those, the chances were they were going to be arrested.”

Less than a month after the protest, City Manager Budwesky presented city council with a plan to buy land and build the blacks-only Robert Robinson Library, which opened the following year. The library was named after a freed slave who co-founded the William McKinley Industrial School, and it served African American residents for more than 20 years.

Stephen A. Martin is the nephew of sit-down protester Morris Murray, but only found out four years ago that his uncle participated in the event. Martin, a graduate of Parker Gray High School, became an Alexandria Police officer in 1968 – and was the second African American to join the force. “[The Protest] was something that was done that is more appreciated now than it was then,” Martin said. “Sometimes we do things as they occur and we don’t realize the value of it at that time.”

NOVEMBER 2019

Memories and Musings

BY NINA TISARA

On Greeting Cards

BY NINA TISARA Recently I was referred to as an archivist and thought, really? So I went to a dictionary to check and found that an archivist is a person who has the job of collecting and storing materials in an archive, and it defines archives as a “collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.”

So yes, I’m an archivist. I’m not speaking here of collections of my photographs of Alexandria people and places, large parts of which have been donated to either the Office of Historic Alexandria or the Special Collections section of the Alexandria Library. I’m talking about our home archives. Most of us have them, collections of photographs and stories about our families and ourselves.

Which brings me to greeting cards, which are part of my personal archives. Every so often I go into a decluttering mode and for years I have been

Photo: Nina Tisara

Some of my kids’ cards.

eyeing a basket of old greeting cards. Since I’m also in a recycle/reuse mode, I got the idea to repurpose them, give them to my friend Sharmila Karamchandani, who facilitates a weekly art workshop through a nonprofit named Heard.

According to its founder Jane Collins, Heard’s mission is “to foster creativity, confidence, self-worth and life skills for adults who are marginalized, underserved, unknown, and unheard by offering them

artistic expression through experiential instruction and participation.” I thought Sharmila could use them and it turns out she could.

Before I could let go of the cards, though, I had to read them. And after I read them I found I couldn’t let go of many of them. There is still a seven inch stack of cards from my children, mainly birthday cards and Mother’s Day cards.

They are reminders of the me I aspire to be. Most were

store-bought.

It was interesting to find that over the years my daughter Julie’s cards centered on our friendship. And I could see that my son David’s were selected with care. Especially precious were the hand-drawn ones, like This Buds For You by my son Steven, circa 1991.

Last year I asked the kids not to send cards but instead to write out a childhood memory. My youngest, Lynn, wrote: “I remember you combing my hair, trying to get the tangles out. You would have one hand at the top of my head, gently combing down but it hurt so much. Finally finding a product appropriately named ‘No More Tears’. You used to take your finger and curl the little tendrils by my ears.

“I remember you kneading bread, rolling it out one direction and then the other.

The bread would grow, then shrink, then grow again. I’m not sure what you were making but sometimes you made cinnamon rolls and those awe-

some yeast rolls that made the house smell so good. You said that every time you made bread, you could see your grandma’s hands. I see yours now when I’m kneading the dough, when Tom and I make puffs….

“I see your hands making blintzes with the small skillet.

We filled some of them with the potato and some with the cheese mixture. So, so good.

“Your hands typing so fast; cutting the glass for the stained glass lamp; shooting a camera; adjusting the tilt of a head for a portrait; and creating your beautiful mosaic art.”

I cried when I read it, so touched was I to know that she remembers my hands with love. I see them as old and gnarled, and I often forget the miracle that they work mostly, that I can still touch people with love, and that I can still make art.

Artist-Photographer Nina Tisara is the founder of Living Legends of Alexandria.

The Goodhart Group is extremely grateful to be recognized by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce as the Best Overall Business in 2019. We’re proud to call the city we live and work in home.

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NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

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2019 Alexandria Beautification Awards Presented by Mayor Wilson and City Council On October 16, 2019, the Alexandria Beautification Commission held its annual Beautification Awards ceremony at the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria. The event honored residents, businesses, and organizations for their exceptional contributions to the beautification of the city of Alexandria through landscaping, architecture and sustainable design.

Commission member, Joseph Crowell, served as the evening’s emcee and announced the winners.

Mayor Justin Wilson and members of City Council, Canek Aguirre, Del Pepper, and Amy Jackson presented the winners with their award

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Above: Members of City Council and the Alexandria Beautification Commission: (left to right): Kevin Dunne, Richard Dorrier, Councilwoman Del Pepper, Geoff Montross, Emily Freeland, Donald Kent, Mayor Justin Wilson, Councilwoman Amy Jackson, Christina Mazurkevich, Mary Ensch, Denise Tennant, Monica Murphy, Kathryn Chiasson, Joseph Crowell.

At left: Laurent & Margaret Janowsky, owners of Del Ray Café, receive the award for Commercial Beautification.

Keynote speaker Joan Honeyman, ASLA. Zebra Newspaper 11-15-19_Layout 1 10/25/19 11:37 AM Page 1

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This mischievous feline lives with Alexandrian, Susan Pries.

The next time your cat finds his or her way into a boxy predicament, snap a photo and send it to us. If we publish it, you will win a $25 gift card to an area retailer or restaurant. Be sure to include your cat’s name, your name, and your home address in case you win (so we can mail you your prize!). Please send to editor@thezebrapress.com with CAT IN A BOX in the subject line, along with a descriptive sentence or two.

Susan just picked up a $25 gift card from TEMPO Restaurant in the West End!

NOVEMBER 2019

PRESS STOP Sen. Kamala Harris Just Spoke in Kingstowne!

Photos: James Cullum

Above: U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks at the home of Alexandria Living Legend Ronal Butler, Oct. 27, 2019.

At top: U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks in a private home in Kingstowne on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.

Above: Del. Charniele Herring (D-46) speaks at a fundraiser with Sen. Kamala Harris.

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) stopped in Kingstowne for a quick fundraiser for Virginia Democrats, on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Harris briefly appeared alongside Virginia House Democratic Caucus Chair Del. Charniele Herring (D-46) at the Kingstowne home of Alexandria Living Legend Ronal Butler, and spoke to a standing room only crowd about the challenges facing the country. She did not mention her Democratic competitors or call out President Donald Trump by name.

“Many of us have been saying, ‘Are we going to be ok?

What’s happening with our country?

Can we survive this? There have been so many of us who have been throwing things at that inanimate object called the television, going to individual or group therapy about it all,” Harris said. “Nothing that we have achieved in this country that has been about progress came without a fight. We like a good fight.”

Herring, who is running unopposed for reelection, told the audience that they could witness the first House Democratic majority in a generation.

“Because of the success of this event, tomorrow morning I’ll be wiring the House Democratic Caucus $50,000,” Herring said. “This is our time.”

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lette said. “There are a lot of opportunities for people to go for help, but often they don’t get there because there is no relationship connection.”

The meal, which is attended by hundreds, includes all the trimmings possible, with 11 turkeys and sides from Old Country Buffet, and homemade offerings from dozens of volunteers.

Interested in giving or donating to the Alexandria Gratitude Table? Send an email to alexandriagratitudetable@gmail.com.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Alexandria, executive director of Restore Alexandria, and as a director at the National Community Church in Potomac Yard. He was able to get support for the effort from Elevate Church, the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, Volunteer Alexandria, and Meade Memorial.

“At the end of the day, everybody has a desire to be known and to know,” GilNOVEMBER 2019

At right: Democrats gathered at a private fundraiser in Kingstowne for Virginia House Democratic Caucus Chair Del. Charniele Herring (D46) with her guest, Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA).

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19

PORTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 murders, which occurred in 2003, 2013, and 2014. And then, as if in a story, after waking up one morning he heard a woman’s voice speaking inside of him.

“And I actually heard a voice,” Porter said. “It was a woman’s voice, and maybe I was losing my mind a little bit, but the voice said, ‘You’ve got to trust your gut. It got you this far.’”

The Interview Zebra: You’re a busy guy. You’re managing the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, you’ve got a family, and now you’re a published author. How did you make that last part work?

Porter: The genesis of it was after I completed the trial of the Charles Severance case there was interest from authors. I’d met with two different authors who were interested in writing that story, and both of them were published, were professionals. And so I met with one guy who’s a very good guy, I liked him personally. And he seemed interested in it. He definitely knew what he was doing, and I think he would have done a good job. But he had not lived through it, the way that I had lived through it. I just felt like the only way the truly accurate story would be out there was if I did it myself.

That case had been a huge personal journey for me as well. It started right about the time I got elected. It had a huge impact on the community, and the third offense occurred just one month into my first term. So, I basically was presented with a careerchanging case one month into my first term, and honestly was not prepared for it. I was not sure that I had it in me to professionally put that investigation and case together and bring it to a successful conclusion.

Zebra: What did Severance do for work?

Porter: He had a couple of jobs where he was an engineer. I think he worked for the Wastewater Treatment Plant here in Alexandria, but he always had problems with his bosses. He was very antisocial, would get in trouble. I remember there’s one anecdote in which he was fired because he kept arguing with his boss, and he would drape himself in a Soviet flag. And so finally, they had enough with them.

Zebra: What happened?

Porter: In the early 2000’s, there was a very difficult custody battle for Severance here in the city courthouse. Sever-

20 ZEBRA PRESS

ance represented himself and filed sarcastic and really disturbing documents against the mother of his child. The judge, among other things, at one point ordered Severance to undergo a mental health exam and he refused to do it.

Finally, the judge ruled that the kid would go with the mother and gave her full custody. Severance was very angry about that, and if you look at his writings it just comes up over and over again. Even 15 years after the event he was still very angry about the child custody dispute.

Zebra: How was Severance caught?

Porter: On the morning of March 6, 2014, then-Police Chief Earl Cook gave a press conference in which he said we’ve linked all three of these offenses through firearms and ammunition evidence. And then, by coincidence, a detective knocked on Severance’s girlfriend’s door that afternoon to try to interview him, because his name had come up in the investigation. He was one of 1,000 tips… They just left a business card that said they needed to talk to Charles Severance. That’s all it said.

In his mind, he must have felt like, “My arrest is imminent. They’re on me.”

What he did is the next morning was that he emailed the detective and it said he received the business card, period, and didn’t say he would talk to the police. Then he went in his car, drove to DC, parked in a parking lot, and walked out to the Russian Embassy. He had on several layers of clothing and a poncho, and on top he had on a tricorn hat, like from the Revolutionary War because he saw himself as a revolutionary patriot. And he goes to the Russian embassy. You can’t make this stuff up.

I think that he was trying to change his appearance, because we released a composite sketch out there detailing a very thin white guy. I think he was trying to make himself look much more bulky. It’s in the book from the Russian embassy. He goes there dressed in his very odd attire and he sneaks in the compound. He tries to sneak in and the Russian guards grab him and ask him what he’s doing, and he says, “I’m been requesting asylum. The City of Alexandria is persecuting me. They took my son away from me, and they’re persecuting me and I want asylum.”

In his mind, he thought that at least in the last two murders he was doing acts of revolution against a corrupt government.

That’s how he convinced himself to kind of cobble together his political theory. The Russians called the Secret Service and they showed up and interviewed him, and he looked

like the composite. So, they followed him back to his car and then they stopped him and asked if they could search his car, and he refused. They did not search the car, which is unfortunate because I think the guns were in the car that afternoon. What they did do is they took pictures of him and they took pictures of his car, the red 1999 Ford Escort station wagon. That evening, they forwarded their report

most people would agree on is that murder is wrong, right?

Any murder is a crime against the very foundations of civil society, and basically what I got out of that book is that I should stop feeling sorry for myself. I was very stressed out, I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating. But this is a crime against the victims, and you’ve got almost a sacred obligation to remember the people that were hurt as a result of this, you’ve

“We couldn’t keep putting this decision off.

And I actually heard a voice.

It was a woman’s voice, and maybe I was losing my mind a little bit, but the voice said, ‘You’ve got to trust your gut. It got you this far.’”

— Bryan Porter and the pictures to the Alexandria police department. The next morning a detective saw the car and remembered the video from the scene.

Zebra: So, how did you approach this case? You can’t screw up on this one.

Porter: He’s not the kind of person to back down and change his ways. It was a serious test, and I think there were all sorts of pressures. It’s true that the police are the primary investigators, but I’m the one that has to have the final answers to questions like: Are we charging him with a crime?

If so, is it murder? If so, is it one murder, or two murders or three murders? And then once the murders are charged, do we seek the death penalty? That’s a big question. And that’s all on my shoulders.

At the time I was filled with a lot of self doubt. I had some real concerns about whether I could put the case together.

Of course the media was going crazy. I mean, I’d only been in office for one month and I’ve got CNN calling. Every time I would go outside of the courthouse there would be a gaggle of reporters wanting me to make some comment.

So, I was unprepared for the media attention and the idea that everyone expected me to have the answers. Maybe for a little bit I even felt sorry for myself.

But what happened was that my brother, Scott, who was a prosecutor gave me a book by Vincent Bugliosi, who was the Helter Skelter Charles Manson prosecutor, and became an author who wrote a book about all sorts of crimes. The book he gave me was about the OJ Simpson case called “Outrage”. Basically, the prosecution got caught up in the media part of it. They didn’t focus on the victims.

If there is such a thing as natural law, the one thing

got a duty to your hometown to put an end to the killing hold this man accountable for it, and to make sure that he can’t hurt anybody else. And you’ve also got a duty to society in general, and I think that that was a turning point for me, because I started seeing things differently.

Zebra: How did you change throughout this experience?

Porter: The first thing is that by going through this crucible it really changed my opinion about what my job is and what I’m really supposed to be doing. And it helped me grow, I think, as a person, both as a lawyer, obviously, but just as a person to have a better understanding of how all of these senseless acts of violence can impact not just the people directly involved in it, but the community at large.

Collectively, we were able to make a lot of really tough decisions that, in the end, worked out because we brought the case to a successful conclusion. I’ve learned lessons that I’ve tried to impart to other prosecutors, but also to other people.

I’ll give you an example: Back when we were figuring out whether we were going to charge him or not with more, he was charged on a different offense, like there was a firearms charge that we brought against him from Loudoun County to get him off the street while we were kind of putting the case together. As the summer progressed somebody had to make a decision.

Were we going indicted for murder, and if so how many?

So, I went to a bunch of people that I respected who had a lot more experienced than me, prosecutors from different jurisdictions. And I would go over the facts with them and talk to them and get their opinion. What I want-

ed everybody to say was that I should indict him all three murders, but instead I got a lot of varying opinions.

So, true story. This was keeping me up at night, and I woke up one morning and I had to make a decision. We couldn’t keep putting this decision off. And I actually heard a voice. It was a woman’s voice, and maybe I was losing my mind a little bit, but the voice said, “You’ve got to trust your gut. It got you this far.”

Now obviously, probably what that is was was me waking up from a twilight sleep where I was worried about it, even in my dreams. It’s not like I really think I had an angel speaking to me or anything like that, but I do remember the voice and I remember it specifically. And so I came to work and felt like I knew this case, and my gut was telling me the case only made sense if I charged all three of these murder charges together. I talked it over with my team and they all agreed with me.

And we did.

Zebra: Even though your book ends, the city still needs to heal. How important was it for Alexandria to have some kind of resolution?

Porter: If you remember back when this was occurring, the panic in the city was at a fever pitch. Now, it wasn’t as regional as like the DC sniper case, but in the city, once it was obvious that these offenses were linked.

Zebra: What’s the moral of the story?

Porter: Well, I think the moral of the story is like the end of my closing argument. I started discussing the problem of evil, the fact that evil is allowed to exist in the world. I do in some ways believe that there’s something more to existence than just we are a random collection of atoms. But the world I live in, it really seems more like it’s two opposing forces - good battling evil. A more cogent explanation would be, if you want to believe in deities - you’ve got a good deity and a bad deity and they fight it out. It seems many times like the bad one’s kind of winning, right? But then I realized that if the evil outweighs the good of humanity, then we wouldn’t be here.

It may be just by a hair’s breadth, but the good outweighs the evil, because otherwise we would have been dispatched millions of years ago. We would never have evolved. So, I strongly believe that the good outweighs evil, love outweighs hate, and light outweighs the darkness just by a little bit. And that gives me some optimism for where humanity is going.

Read the full interview at www.thezebra.org!

NOVEMBER 2019

Ask Genie Char

By Char McCargo Bah

Researching Veterans One of the many ways of celebrating Veterans Day is to highlight a veteran’s military career. Researching your family member who served in the military can be very rewarding. There are several ways that you can research them.

First, determine when your veteran served in the military; second, identify which branch of military your veteran served in; third, you want to obtain the veteran’s DD214, which is a document issued by the United States Department of Defense when a military service member’s retirement, separation or discharge from active duty. This document can be found with the living veteran or in their personal papers, or with the federal government; fourth, if the veteran is living, you can fill out the paper work for him/her to obtain a copy of their military record. Depending on the veteran’s service, whether it was the civil war or a more recent service, you might be restricted if you are not a close relative.

You can find out how to order a veteran’s military record through the National Archives Administration at https://www.archives.gov/ veterans/military-service-records, this site will also help you to locate a DD 214/Separation Documents, Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals and Medical and Health Records.

Part of this column will answer questions on research and genealogy.

In this edition, “Asking Genie Char,” answered questions from Vivian and Sheryl.

SAFER COUNTRY

vid Lord, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter and Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, playwright and television producer Jason Odell Williams, and March of Dimes CEO Stacey D. Stewart.

Safer Country was incorporated in Virginia on the first anniversary of the Parkland mass shooting, February 14, 2019, and holds 501(c)(3) status. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

To see suggested donation levels and register for the Safer Country Launch Party, text SAFERCOUNTRYTIX at 41444. For more information contact paulfriedman@safercountry.org.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 er Democrats) Pete Brodnitz.

Safer Country’s board president is Gene Rossi, who served 27 years as a federal prosecutor before running for the Lt. Governor nomination in 2017 and is now practicing law at Carlton Fields in D.C. Other board members are Friedman, retired Army Colonel Mike Jason, Boyd Walker, Lisa Sales, Attorney Vincent Smith, and Laura Mandala of Mandala Research, LLC. The organization’s Advisory Committee includes Alexandria's Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney DaNOVEMBER 2019

Vivian – Ohio Researcher Vivian’s e-mail: I am baffled by my DNA results. I have a new DNA second cousin whose DNA match is closer than my first cousin. Can you explain this relationship?

Vivian, if you have not done so, please do a genealogical research on that family line.

Then obtain a professional genealogist whose specialty is DNA. Have that genealogist examine both you and your second cousin’s genealogical research and DNA results to see whether some additional information can be undercover to justify your results. You can find a list of professional genealogists through the Association of Professional Genealogists at https://www.apgen.org/.

contact one of the churches and ask whether the Catholic Church recorded enslaved individuals’ baptism prior to the Civil War. Second question, Can you recommend ways to connect slave owners to their slaves when there is no apparent listing of the enslaved person by name since they were viewed as property?

Sheryl, your question is broad and not specific. The broad answer is that slaves were considered property prior to 1865. Because enslaved people were consid-

ered property, you must research the slave owner’s business dealings which include deeds, bill of sale and etc. If the owner(s) died prior to the civil war, you will find a list of his property in his probate record. If that owner was ever sued in court prior to the civil war, you might find his slaves mentioned in the equity (chancery) court records.

The probate and equity court records usually mention slaves by their given name.

In the next edition of “Ask Genie Char,” I will discuss holiday traditions. Please

feel free to share any of your families’ holiday traditions by e-mailing me at AskGenieChar@gmail.com. You questions or stories will be shared in the next edition.

Char McCargo Bah is a published author, freelance writer, independent historian, genealogist and a Living Legend of Alexandria. She is a columnist for three newspapers and she maintains two blogs, http://www. theotheralexandria.com and http://www.findingthingsforu. com.

p m u t S t “Tha ” ! e n o G is

Sheryl – Louisiana Researcher Sheryl’s email: My first question, do you think the Catholic Church records listed slaves’ baptism prior to the Civil War in Louisiana?

Yes, the Catholic Church has many different types of records on their members.

First you want to identify all the Catholic churches that were in your family’s geographical area. Out of these churches, identify the ones that were there prior to the civil war. Then you want to

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BY DEBBY CRITCHLEY

FOODIE Our Favorites are Growing

What’s new you ask?

St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub is planning to open another lo-

Also under development is a Southern-style market and kitchen in a historic warehouse. The Mill will occupy the warehouse at 10 Duke Street near the waterfront. The building previously housed a mess house and commissary for the Union Army during the Civil War. The Mill will first floor will be modelled after a tav-

The new location of Cheesetique will offer a brighter and larger space

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How about a latte at St. Elmo’s

to their current location provides a lot more dining space.

Here’s hoping they meet their plan to open in early November.

cation at 529 Montgomery St. in North Old Town. The location is part of the new development of the apartment building. The coffee pub will have approximately 80 seats for customers. More expansion of local favorites includes Cheesetique in Shirlington, which is taking over the Luna Grill site with large windows on two side and lots of natural light. This new location next

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Courtesy image

10 Duke Street, as envisioned by Murray Bonitt

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We carry a wide selection of wines, exotic and local beers and other refreshing libations

Ed McIntosh of Pendleton Carryout Co., 362 S Pickett St., knows good food when he tastes it. He has added the extraordinary Freed Biscuits to the mix of offerings. Freed’s extra fluffy biscuits are filled with buttery flavor as a result of Freed making his own buttermilk. The house cured gravlax on a The line-up includes a biscuit will blow your mind. classic buttermilk biscuit with a side of maple butter. My favorite is the za’taar – a rich biscuit with the savory spice. Order biscuit sandwiches such as biscuits and gravy, bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit sandwiches and house cured gravlax with chive cream cheese, tomato, and red onion available from 8 am to 12 pm Friday through Sunday. Freed will offer his family’s version of shakshouka - this version includes schug (spicy!), egg, and feta cheese all squeezed between a flaky biscuit. Vegetarians can look forward to the beyond burger patty on a biscuit with egg and cheese.

100 Bowls from Herndon VA is also offering their fresh, nourishing and from scratch soups! Soup lovers can expect hearty plant-based meals for lunch and dinner. These soups offer a gluten free, dairy free option for carry out and delivery!

Check 100 Bowls minestrone soup – loaded out the Moroccan with lots of veggies is delish!

Lentil!

NOVEMBER 2019

HOSPITAL FOOD HINTS I remember the last time I was in the Alexandria hospital - I was given a trifold printed menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You circled what you wanted and it was picked up and you got what you ordered. Recently, when I was there for a few days following a Remember the dome will surgery, I discovered that nowadays keep your food hot but soggy they give you a multiple-page menu! The menu features items that cover your three meals a day. Call the number on the menu and someone answers: Room Service. Don’t be fooled. Let me offer a few suggestions. Clear liquids include toast which you would think would be a safe bet but it comes under a dome and gets a bit soggy. And, be very clear you want jelly with your toast or you may get jello like I did. If you want bacon, tell them how many strips you want. Same with butter, coffee cream, and sugar. If you want coffee, ask one of your visitors to bring you some. Trust me, skip the eggs and the egg salad! Soups are always salty unless you ask for the low sodium version. I’ve had some tasty soups when I remembered that. Surprisingly, hospitals seem to do fish and veggies quite well. The pot roast was tasty but had a rather unusual texture. And, the mashed potatoes? They actually tasted like real not, reconstituted potatoes. Ice cream and sherbet, always soft. Don’t expect fine dining – just choose carefully and concentrate on getting well!

–Debby Critchley

FOODIE NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 ern serving casual food such as clam chowder, crab cake sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches and other southern favorites. The bar will feature Virginia craft beers.

A market will fill the rear of the first floor where customers will be treated to various pastries, croissants, breakfast sandwiches, boxed lunches, carryout meals, and wine, beer, and other beverages.

The second floor will house indoor dining with two balconies. Menu items include crab cakes, fried oysters, and other seafood dishes. The lower, basement level will provide quick food items including lobster and crab corn-

will operate as a walk-up frozen custard stand. Their application states that they are planning to serve carry-out frozen custard, coffee, and baked goods daily from 6 am to 11 pm. Goodie’s is known for its frozen treats including the Food Network approved Boogie Woogie, a turtle pecan sundae made with vanilla bean frozen custard topped with Georgia’s fines buttered pecans and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. The menu will also feature shakes, sundaes, and pints to go.

Their custards and toppings are made in their own kitchen with natural ingredients.

5101 Seminary Rd., currently a dry cleaner, will be the location of a new restaurant open from 6 am to 2 am. The menu will feature breakfast, lunch, and dinner with both indoor and outdoor dining. The menu will include shwarma, beef, and chicken.

Vernon Ave. The founder is Jeff Martin who may look familiar because he has appeared on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. The shop features a variety of gourmet cupcakes, cupcake-infused ice cream, and other tasty treats.

Don’t forget to get some doggone good puppy treats.

Let’s Meat on the Avenue, is offering a variety of fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving. In addition to the organic Murray’s and heritage Kelly Bronze and Dartagnan Red Bourbon turkeys, they are also featuring certified, humanely raised turkeys.

You can order a variety of birds including goose, quail, and pheasant. They can create crown roasts or other special-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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Turkey, Ham, Roasts and More for the Holidays Heritage breed turkeys 2403 Mount Vernon Avenue

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Del Ray is always the place to be New to Del Ray is SmallCakes Bakery at 1506 Mt. Pure delight served at Goodie’s

dogs, burgers, and more.

Goodie’s Frozen Custard is applying to open a location at the Mutual Ice Co. Ice House at 200 Commerce St. Mutual Ice Co. was founded in 1900 to provide ice to residents and servicing rail cars along the Potomac Yard rail line. This location

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THE ZEBRA PRESS

23

FOODIE NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

“It’s the real thing!"

“Aldo brings family recipes from the old country!”

“Aldo spent years at Galileo in D.C. and A la Lucia in Alexandria!”

Classic Italian. Eat In or Take Out. 2850 Eisenhower, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-844-3326 • aldositaliankitchen.com

Photo: Debby Critchley

A perfectly roasted Kelly Bronze turkey

Alexandria’s Best-Kept Secret

ty presentations to make your holiday memorable. Order now. Also available at Let’s Meat on the Avenue is Ayoba-Yo – featuring Biltong and Droëwors. Ayoba-Yo was founded by the van Blommestein Family, who moved to the United States 19 years ago from South Africa. They found replacements for most of the things they loved but they missed their South African Biltong and Droëwors that started making their own. Their premium dried meat snacks are made from grass-fed beef. They contain

NOVA keeps getting recognized Thrillist cites Beenie Weenie, 2680 Shirlington Rd. and opened in 1954, as the birthplace of half smokes in DC area, served as breakfast with an egg on top. The half-smoke was first manufactured by local meatpackers Briggs and Co. Now, people line up for half-smoke sandwiches for breakfast or smothered in chili at lunch time. Just a little secret, we smuggled in one of those half smokes with chili into the hospital for a sick friend! FYI, they close when the sun goes down. Need a half smoke and are close to Old Town? Hit Haute Dogs and Fries, 610 Montgomery St., for a half

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Free parking.

Reservations suggested.

Open daily 11:30 am-2:30 pm Dinner 5:30-10 pm

Tempo

4321 Duke Street Alexandria

(703) 370-7900

temporestaurant.com

Here are just a few of your choices at Haute Dogs Ayoba-Yo offers a variety of Biltong and Droëwors

zero trans-fat, preservatives, gluten free, msg, nitrates, and of course, zero sugar. Recently, Ayoba-Yo, has been selected as a finalist for Amazon’s Small Business of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on November 8th 2019.

smoke that can be served 20 different ways not counting the “Choose Your Own Toppings” option. Maybe not as traditional but just as good.

Until next time, eat well and enjoy!

Do you have the inside scoop on some foody newz?

Let me know at debbyc@thezebrapress.com

Weenie Beanie on Shirlington Rd.

Congratulations and Many Thanks to ALIVE! 50 Years Helping Alexandrians in Need

703-828-7862 • Catering@BBQDelRay.com

PORK BARREL BBQ www.BBQDelRay.com

24 ZEBRA PRESS

BEAUTIFICATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 certificates. Mayor Wilson remarked that Alexandria continually ranks high on many lists as a top place to live and work, in large part due to community participation and the Commission’s beautification efforts.

Joan Honeyman, ASLA, owner of Jordan Honeyman Landscape Design and adjunct professor of Sustainable Landscape Design at George Washington University, delivered the keynote address.

Ms. Honeyman spoke about the recent renovation of the Ramsay House garden at the Alexandria Visitors Center, one of the oldest buildings in historic Old Town, “into a more useable and more beautiful civic amenity.” Holding

true to the past and the future, the concept was twofold: to respect the historic content of the space; and to create a functional, beautiful and resilient contemporary garden space for visitors and residents.

Ms. Honeyman also spoke about the power of village participation, which she defined as “people coming together in a mindful and supportive manner to get something done,” as it related to the renovation project. She stated, “It’s been determined that thoughtfully designed urban green spaces have the capacity to establish a sense of community that’s beautiful, safe, social and connected,” which ultimately results in community empowerment and ownership.

[Editor’s Note: For all photos and awards, visit thezebra.org]

NOVEMBER 2019

EAT & DRINK

Tequila & Taco

Charles Schwab Pop-Up with Sweet Fire Donna’s and Lost Boy Cider

at the top restaurants in Old Town.

All in one night. All for one price.

All for children.

Whiskey & Oyster

Thursday, Nov 7, 2019

Joe Theismann’s Restaurant

General Admission $125

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Vermilion

Augie’s Mussel House

The Majestic

Columbia Firehouse

VIP $300

Reception 5:00pm – 6:30pm After Party 9:00pm – 11:00pm

Get tickets at RocktheBlocks.org Benefitting

NOVEMBER 2019

Pizzeria Paradiso

Urbano 116

Mia’s Italian Kitchen

THE ZEBRA PRESS

25

Alexandria’s Premier Location for Fine Food, Wine and Elegant Dining

Delizioso: Aldo’s Italian Kitchen Will Make You Smile THE ITALIAN RESTAURANT HAS BEEN OPEN FIVE YEARS!

BY JAMES CULLUM

1725 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703-634-2720 www.bistrosancerre.com

127 North Washington Street Old Town Alexandria

703-548-4661 www.lerefugealexandria.com

Old Town’s Longest Running Family-Owned French Restaurant Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.

QUOTABLES

—Erma Bombeck

JAVA GRILL

TM

www.javagrill.com | (571) 431-7631 611 King Street, Old Town Alexandria Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

8 AM - 10 PM Sun - Thu | 8 AM - 11 PM Fri - Sat

Pastries | Rolled Gelato TM | Wine | Beer

Have you tried the Eggplant Parmesan at Aldo’s Italian Kitchen? It’s outta this world! And the Chicken Piccata? Forget about it. Close your eyes and take a bite and you’ll think you’re sitting in a deli in Parma, Italy. Actually, it was in a similar place that Aldo’s owner, Emanuele Cognetti, was raised, and his entire life has been focused around cultivating and preparing delicious food and putting smiles on the faces of his customers.

“My thing has always been caring about the customer,” Cognetti told The Zebra in a recent interview. “We always go out of our way to accommodate their needs.”

Aldo’s Italian Kitchen, at 2850 Eisenhower Ave, has been open for five years, and every day at lunchtime there is a line that goes out the door.

Photos: James Cullum

Emanuele and Sylvia Cognetti in their restaurant, Aldo’s, at 2850 Eisenhower Ave.

netti.

“I’ve been in the business since I was a baby, around kitchens and food,” Cognetti said. “When I was a little

Cognetti attended culinary school, and then sailed around the world as a waiter for the Home Lines passenger shipping company. Before settling in New York City in the early 1980s, he visited the North Sea, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Portugal, and England. Once in the states, Cognetti evenThe Old Country tually worked his way in restaurants to WashCognetti was born ington, D.C., where in the northern Italian he managed chef Rocity of Parma, which is berto Donna’s flagship famous for its Parme- So Good! Here’s a pepperoni pizza from Aldo’s restaurant Galileo. He san cheese and Parma Italian Kitchen. then opened Enzo’s, a ham. His grandfather, restaurant with Donna Endrea Cognetti, owned a deli and a dairy farm and em- boy I would help out by roll- and Enzo Fargione, and after ployed his sons, including ing wheels of cheese, slicing it closed was the manager at A Cognetti’s father, Aldo Cog- the cold cuts, and making the La Lucia for 10 years in Old prosciutto and salami.”

Town.

Cognetti and his wife, Sylvia, were introduced to the space at 2850 Eisenhower Ave. by friends, who helped in the conceptualization.

Sylvia Cognetti said that Italian food is, in fact, healthy.

“When we go over to Italy, sure they have pasta and bread, but Emanuele’s sisters are my age and they look 20 years younger,” she said. “They’re always active, they’re always with family, they’re always Emanuele Cognetti and a photo of his father, Aldo Cognetti.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

A la Lucia, an Old Town Tradition, with a fresh new menu!

A new restaurant with rave reviews in Old Town Alexandria !

4.5

Seasonal Selections, Home Made Pastas, and Delicious Pizzas!

The holidays are just around the corner Gather with friends in our wine room this season.

Our space can accommodate 40 guests, For information please visit us online at www.alalucia.com

315 Madison St. Alexandria Va. 22314 (703)836-5123

26 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Tanger Kabob House THE FOOD OF LIFE

Photo: James Cullum

Urbano 116.

“A lot of food and so delicious with so much variety!”

Hungry? A Dozen Alexandria Restaurants Are Participating in ‘Rock The Block’

“My vegan friends say it is the best in Alexandria!”

WANT TO HELP THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN WITH A NIGHT ON THE TOWN? “ ROCK THE BLOCK” IS ON THURSDAY, NOV. 7.

Want to help the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children while enjoying a night on the town? The NCMEC will host its second annual “Rock the Block” event on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5 to 11 p.m., at a dozen of Old Town’s most popular restaurants.

Last year’s fundraiser was a big hit, and this year’s “Rock the Block” also marks the 35th anniversary of the NCMEC, which has been located in Alexandria for two decades.

Attendees will get a wristband and restaurant map to plan their evening of culinary delights and specialty cocktails.

Participating restaurants:

ALDO'S

eryone by name and he knows a lot of things about them, and you don’t get that most places.”

Cognetti said that his heart will always be in Italy, but that the road to Alexandria has been fulfilling. One thing’s for sure, though - just like back in Italy, you’ll always find fresh Parmesan cheese at Aldo’s.

“I always wanted to have my own place,” Cognetti said. “My father was a positive man, and he had a hard life. I think he would be very proud.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 having an event and they’re very close. And also, they eat a lot of vegetables, a lot of salad and a lot of fruit.”

Are You Into Italian Food?

The bustle of business from neighboring offices means that the daily rush is often full of familiar faces, like David LeGrande, a bankruptcy specialist who eats lunch at the restaurant almost every day of the week.

“Emanuele is very personable. You’ll be amazed,” LeGrande said. “If you sit here long enough he will call evNOVEMBER 2019

Augie’s Mussel House, 1106 King St. Urbano 116, 116 King St. The Majestic, 911 King St. Vermilion, 1120 King St. Whiskey & Oyster, 301 John Carlyle St. Columbia Firehouse, 109 S. St. Asaph St. Mia’s Italian Kitchen, 100 King St. Pizzeria Paradiso, 124 King St. Tequila & Taco, 540 John Carlyle St. Sweet Fire Donna’s Barbecue, 510 John Carlyle St. Joe Thiesmann’s Restaurant, 1800 Diagonal Rd. A Lost Boy Cider, 317 Hooffs Run Dr.

Aldo’s Italian Kitchen is open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then from 4 to 8 p.m.

The occasion will also feature appearances from special celebrity guest restaurateurs Spike Mendelson and Victor Albisu.

General admission is $125, which includes food and drink at participating restaurants from 6 to 9 p.m. VIP admission is $300 and included a private reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and an after-party from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Buy tickets at https://bit. ly/2BBLIPn

QUOTABLES

“I love the live music on the weekends” Open Mic Night Every Wednesday

Tanger Kabob House Dine-in & Take out Seven Days a Week 5735 Telegraph Road (A Stone’s Throw From Old Town) 703-329-4860

It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.

—Paige Addison Allen THE ZEBRA PRESS

27

BOOK OF THE MONTH

4 STRIPES

Virginia’s Murder Trial of the 19th Century On Friday, March 13, 1885, Thomas Judson Cluverius killed his cousin and lover, Fanny Lillian Madison, who was eight months pregnant with his child. The Columbus Daily Enquirer called this an act “as dark as any that can be found in all the calendar of crimes.”

From their illicit affair to the scandalous crime and a damning final piece of evidence—a lost watch key found at the site of the murder—everything made dramatic headlines, throughout Virginia and nationwide, from the time of the crime through the trial two months later.

Cluverius insisted upon his innocence. He gained support from favorable public

played out. Nevertheless, Cluverius was hanged.

D.J. Wilson’s first novel, based on the facts of this 135-year-old case, takes us through this provocative tale of the “kissing cousins,” from the discovery of the Lillian

D.N. Wilson

opinion. Hundreds of Virginians tried to save the condemned man, literally to the last hour, and he maintained hope as the drama of a possible gubernatorial reprieve

It’d Be a Crime to Miss It! Join Alexandrian D.N. Wilson to talk about his new book and the shocking crime that inspired it. Drawing on true historical events, Wilson brings to life the men and women who found themselves at the center of this gripping murder trial.

When & Where Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria Saturday, November 9, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Cluverius v. The Commonwealth: Virginia's Murder Trial of the Century Contact Lee-Fendall House for more information at: 540-431-8241, by email at contact@leefendallhouse.org, or at their website www.leefendallhouse.org/

Madison’s body in the Old Marshall Reservoir through the events of the rushed trial.

This book is not only about the intrigue of a murder trial; it is 83 days of Richmond history. It’s replete with all the elements of a great story: forbidden love, sex, murder (perhaps multiple murders), lasciviousness, lying, cheating, witness tampering, corruption. All juxtaposed with honor, duty, perseverance, loyalty, and adherence to the law. And it takes place under the scrutiny of a voracious local and national press.

Richmond was only 20 years removed from the devastation of the Civil War, trying to heal and to find a post bellum identity. The story is considered in the context of Virginia’s long history of victories and losses, achievement and failure, morality and immorality. D. N. Wilson brings to light the conflicts and choices that men and women in those times faced: war and peace, law and order, the role of the federal government, sectionalism, social pressures, race, and corruption.

The author views these issues as important to continual renewal and redefinition of the

Review: Cluverius V. The Commonwealth, A Novel Based on True Characters and Events Author: D.N. Wilson Publisher: Self Published, available through Amazon Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor Zebra Rating – 4 Stripes (Out of 5)

Literary Editor Ralph Peluso

“American Experiment.”

The author’s view of these historical events, including his own research, did not go unnoticed, even drawing inflammatory comments on his conclusions. This is a terrific read for history buffs and those with more than a casual interest in Virginia history. A solid 4 Zebra stripes.

The Survivor: Alexandria’s Kate Ranta Just Released Her Story IT’S A STORY OF TRANSFORMATION AND COURAGE. Kate Ranta’s story is not for the faint of heart, and it starts the same way as many romantic relationships. Everything seemed so perfect that she ignored all of the red flags and lived for years in a bubble of disbelief and wishful thinking. The only good news that came from it all is that she and her family survived to tell the tale, and that years of domestic violence turned this Alexandrian into an author and fierce activist on gun reform and violence against women.

“My thing going forward is if I see it, I say something,” Ranta said at her book signing at the Brady Campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4. “I want other people to understand, to read

28 ZEBRA PRESS

this and understand that this is happening so much, and it’s not okay. So, I’m really happy that this is out in the universe.”

Turning Tragedy into Triumph All of it came to a head in Nov. 2012, when Ranta’s then-husband, Former U.S. Air Force Major Thomas Maffei, shot her and her father at her home in Coral Springs, Florida. Since then, Ranta has completely changed her life. She moved to Alexandria to raise her young son William and be near her other son, Henry, who lives with his father.

“Killing Kate: A Story of Turning Abuse and Tragedy into Transformation and Triumph” is Ran-

ta’s story - without boundaries. It goes into great detail on nearly every aspect of her previous relationship. She wrote the book with Alisa Divine, the author of #SheWins. The foreword was written by actress Evan Rachel Wood, who is a domestic violence survivor and worked with Ranta to get the Phoenix Act passed through the California legislature.

“I’ve been very public about this for a long time,” Ranta said. “But I haven’t gotten to tell the grim details. And this is very personal stuff that happened and was said that people just don’t know, and I’m just one woman saying this.”

The book was also released in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness

Photo: James Cullum

Month. An estimated 20 people per minute are victims of domestic violence in the U.S., according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Ranta said she couldn’t have written the book without Divine.

“It’s been a labor of love,” Ranta said. “It was so hard.

I avoided even doing the recordings that I needed to do to tell the story to give to her.

She pushed me to just keep going, and I can’t even tell you how hard that was, and the editing process and retriggering myself. But this is the culmination of it. And

I’m just I’m so proud of us and can’t believe I can’t believe we did this.”

Divine said she was inspired to help Ranta write the book shortly after meeting her.

“I said, ‘Kate, I want to tell your story. Can I write your book? I think that I can help you. I think that I can do it,’” Divine said. “Getting to see this transformation in her in this process, and when the book came out it has been incredible, because she just owns it. And she wants to help other people. I’m just so proud for her.”

NOVEMBER 2019

Did you catch Art on the Avenue 2019 in Del Ray? The annual event is one of the best in Alexandria, and thousands descended on Mount Vernon Avenue to nod approvingly and talk about why they like this or that piece of art! Regional musicians played on four stages, artists sold their creations, kids got their faces painted - the whole deal.

Enjoy the pictures!

At left: Art on the Avenue 2019 in Del Ray, Oct. 5, 2019.

Photos: James Cullum

ART ON THE AVENUE WAS PACKED! THE ANNUAL EVENT ATTRACTED THOUSANDS TO DEL RAY

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and his wife, Alex.

Amy Vongvises smiles at her husband, Dan.

Photographer Eli Wilson outside his booth.

Harper, 6, and Catherine, 3.

Bill Blackburn (on left) and Alexandria Sheriff's Deputy Victor Ignacio.

Gayle Todsen Reuter with Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne

NOVEMBER 2019

Former Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille.

Alexandria Living Legend Nina Tisara (on left) with Kelly MacConomy

THE ZEBRA PRESS

29

Pet Portraits

On

$90 (8 X 10)

$150 (11 X 14) $250 for 2 pets (16 X 20)

COME VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION

LOCAL COLOUR

Old Town LLC Art Gallery and Boutique 408 Mill Street, Occoquan VA 22125. www.localcolouroldtown.com 571-308-8738

QUOTABLES

If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.

—Gerald Good

Exhibit REACHing Out: Portraits of Courage

BY KELLY MACCONOMY

Photos: Kelly MacConomy

Portrait of Courage of wounded warrior Daniel Casara by President George E. Bush.

BY KELLY MACCONOMY

19/20

Season Autumn Cello & Dvořák Saturday, Nov 16, 2019 ∙ 8 p.m.

SuNday, Nov 17, 2019 ∙ 3 p.m.

The ASO welcomes the changing of the seasons with Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor with cellist Wolfgang Schmidt and Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony under the direction of Maestro James Ross.

Adult: $20-$85 Student: $10 Youth: $5

(703) 548-0885 • www.alexsym.org

30 ZEBRA PRESS

Portrait of Lt. Col. Kent Graham Solheim, 23 year Army veteran,

by President George W. Bush

Sergeant Leslie Zimmerman 2001-2004, Portrait of Courage

by President George W. Bush on exhibit at the REACH.

pressed through images of wounded soldiers: “Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief ’s Tribute to Ameri-

tour, imparting a reflective ambience to the experience.

On September 7, the The comportment of the subREACH, the Kennedy Cenjects varies from beaming, exter’s expansion projpansive smiles, perhaps ect that was in the because the President is works for several painting their portrait, years, opened at long to a more plaintive, last to great fanfare painful capture of exand praise. On Exhibit istential angst in heart, was privileged to atbody, mind, and soul. tend the opening day The pathos of warceremonies on a glotime engagement is rious, sunny fall day palpable.

President along the Potomac.

Bush’s brushwork has The plethora of live developed measurably performance and visusince his brief dallial art experiences culance with pretty stillminated in a full cholifes and pastoral landral, en plein air Peace scapes. These portraits Plaza performance of are far more than an Beethoven’s Ninth homage to courage and Symphony by the Nasacrifice. tional Symphony OrThey are a lament. chestra.

Mr. Bush paints boldREACH stands ly, in both movement for Renew, Experiand palette. The effect ence, Activate, Create, is confident despite apHonor. Community pearing deceptively engagement with free Artist at work on a new portrait of JFK for The naïve, with an almost and affordable access to REACH. accidental expressionthe arts is the maxim of ist bravado. This work this exciting new pubis remarkably humble. lic art space. Drawn from the ca’s Warriors,” paintings in oil Unsigned. The canvas is not words of the center’s name- on canvas and board by Presi- polished or otherwise consake, President John F. Ken- dent George W. Bush. The trived. Composition barenedy, the REACH aspires to exhibit opened to an enthusi- ly reaches the edges, with being an new incarnation of astic reception October 7 and unprimed khaki canvas exthe town square for the arts: runs through November 15. posed here and there. This “Inspiration is a human right The installation of the ex- body of work is cathartic. that belongs to us all.” hibit is unusual. Galleries are One man’s penance assuaging The inaugural visual arts darkened with subdued spot- the unheralded courageousexhibition in Studio K is, fit- lighting directed onto the ness of many men and women tingly, the work of a former canvases mounted upon gun- warriors’ undisclosed, covert American president spotlight- metal-gray walls. Music plays pain. ing the pathos of war as ex- throughout the self-guided

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

NOVEMBER 2019

• The Art League Gallery at the Torpedo Factory “Origins”, work that explores deep cultural roots, be they mythological, familial or otherwise. Juried

by Antonio McAfee, the show opens November 5 and continues through December 8.

Opening reception is November 14, 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

• The Athenaeum 209 Prince Street. The 2019 Invitational “Board Out of Our Minds”, a creative exploration of board games and life, closes November 10. #lastcall • Del Ray Artisans 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue. The $100 & Under show is back this month just in time for the holidays. All media is on exhibit and priced for gift giving. The show runs November 1 through December 1. New work is added as the art sells so come early and come often!

• Local Colour, LLC At their new location in Occoquan. Owner Rachael Bright along with her gallery of artists and artisans are getting in the holiday spirit.

Lots of diversions ready to gift!

ON EXHIBIT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

Art Digest

Art

• Mount Vernon Unitarian Church 1909 Windmill Lane.

“Mosaic Meditations” by Nina Tisara November 2 - December 29, 2019 on exhibit 10:00 a.m. - Noon Reception Sunday, November 17, 3-5 p.m.* RSVP ninat@ninatisara.com • Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery ~ Studio 29 First floor of the Torpedo Factory gets the holidays started with “Let’s Party,” their annual holiday show which runs from November 5 until January 5, 2020.

• Principle Gallery 208 King Street. The Dual Exhibition of Louise Fenn and Paula Rubino continues until November 15 when the Visiting Masters Exhibit opens with a reception from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Free and open to the public.

NewZ • River Farm 7931 West Boulevard Drive. On Exhibit through December 31, 2019, “A Celebration of Trees” by abstract and realist artist Mark Coffey.

Curated by Robert F. Murray of the Von Brahler Ltd. Gallery. A holiday coffee and art talk with the artist will be held Friday, December 13 from 1-3 pm. Admission to River Farm and the gallery are free and open to the public.

• Site 3 Project Gallery Third floor of the Torpedo Gallery through December 2. A photography exhibit by the F11 Women’s Collective consisting of eight members, including Zebra Press cover photographer Lillis Atkins Werder displaying images of the Potomac River waterways. The show is cu-

rated by photographer Jo Ann Tooley.

• Sonoma Cellar 207 King Street. Continues to feature Old Town resident Joyce Frank as the current artist in residence with her show “Wine And Water” on exhibit throughout the month.

• Target Gallery “45: An Anniversary Exhibition” November 9 - December 8. Torpedo Factory founder Marian Van Landingham is the guest curator for this special anniversary show reuniting many of the original Torpedo Factory Artists exhibiting current and retro works.

• There is an Anniversary Ball on November 16 @ 7:00 10:00 pm celebrating the 100th year of the building and its 45 years serving as an active art center. Dress like it’s 1919 or 1974! #farout and #21skidoo!!

To list gallery and exhibit events in the Art NewZ Calendar contact Kelly@thezebrapress.com

What can you do to advocate for our veterans?

Change the way you think about the invisible wounds of war, Post Traumatic Stress and traumatic brain injury. Eliminate any preconcieved notions or stigmas. Understand that with effective treatment and support, these injuries can be overcome.

Take the time to understand the issues facing veterans in your community and share what you learn with others.

Hire, develop, retain, and support veteran employees and their spouses.

Learn about and support— with your time A veteran genuflects in front of the 4-panel and your monmural honoring members of the U.S. military ey— ef fect ive who have served with honor since 9/11. o r g a n i z a t ion s that help veterans. sively and offers insights into If you know a veteran the warriors’ existential jour- who is transitioning out of neys returning to civilian life. military service and needs Note: intensive security bag support, encourage them to search and body wanding oc- visit Bushcenter.org to find othcurs before door entry to the er helpful resources. gallery. It is advised that you leave jackets and bags in your vehicle or at coat check.

Admission to the exhibit requires timed passes. Visit Kennedy-Center.org/Courage.

The Portraits of Courage book is available for sale in the Kennedy Center gift shops.

The book examines the backstory of each portrait exten-

NOVEMBER 2019

QUOTABLES

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

—Oprah Winfrey THE ZEBRA PRESS

31

First in Frame, First on Zebra, First in Everyone’s Heart

Courtesy photo

Todd Healy hand-colored this antique lithograph of UVA, shared by Vito Germinario, who is allowing copies to be sold.

A print launch party will be held at the Jefferson Hotel in D.C.

Alexandria Artist Todd Healy working on a custom frame in his studio at the Lafayette Gallery.

Courtesy photo Photo: Scott MacConomy

Holiday ornament depicting the Old Town Seaport, designed by Todd Healy.

HAPPY THREE SCORE & TEN TO TODD HEALY!

BY KELLY MACCONOMY Even as the character of small business in Old Town is changing in this 21st Century, one constant remains: Todd Healy’s Gallery Lafayette. Housed in an 19th century townhouse at the corner of South Royal and Prince Streets, Todd’s eclectic gallery and frame shop epitomizes Old Town’s tradition of excellent craftmanship and personalized customer service.

On a rainy late October afternoon, as many in Port City scurried to their World Series activities, Gallery Lafayette’s door was wide open, welcoming passersby to step in for a look-see, a Hershey’s kiss, or a treat for the pooch.

32 ZEBRA PRESS

From former Mayor Allison Silberberg: A very Happy Birthday to my good friend, Todd Healy! It is a picture-perfect day for someone who has a great eye, is a brilliant, talented artist who brings beauty to our world. Happy, Happy Birthday Todd!

Big hug, Allison.

Todd was busy in the back, adjusting the frame of a historic print. Framed certificates honoring esteemed historians who presented the Ford Book Talks at George Washington’s Mount Vernon awaited pick up by the curator. Images of the first and sixteenth presidents filled the gallery. A copy of esteemed journalist Cokie Roberts’ book, Capitol Dames, sat on

a candlestick table in the corner. The book includes Todd’s masterpiece map of Lincoln’s unfinished Capitol.

“Lincoln said, ‘Keep working on it!’” Todd noted with admiration.

Reviving history History is illustrated—and animated—at Gallery Lafayette. Todd painstakingly hand-colors finely detailed,

bird’s-eye historical street maps of great cities circa the 1800s—Alexandria, Annapolis, Philadelphia, and Washington. The time invested in each map or print varies from 180 hours for the small map of Alexandria to more than 300 hours for an outsized image of the streets of Philadelphia.

“If it takes me 300 hours to complete the colorization,

imagine how long it took Charles Magnus three centuries ago, without planes or drones or sophisticated cameras,” he says. Charles Magnus was the 19th-century cartographer and printmaker behind many of the maps, city views, and patriotic prints in the gallery (and the outsized image above the City Council Chamber dais).

Magnus used a hot air balloon to get the aerial views of the original maps. The oldest maps, which predate balloon travel, were created from ships cruising colonial America’s waterways.

Todd transforms each map illustration into a vivid interpretation of life as it once was and, on many blocks in Old Town, is still very much

NOVEMBER 2019

From Vitto Germanario, head of the Mid-Atlantic Make-A-Wish Foundation Todd: Congratulations and best wishes for the happiest birthday you’ve ever had.

Your values and love of family have long been an inspiration to me.

Happy Birthday my brother, Love, Vito

imaginable. His originals command a high price and are coveted by map aficionados, some living mere blocks away. Todd also produces museum-quality giclée prints that sell quite reasonably and are popular with tourists and Port City devotees. His contemporary depictions of the streets where we live are as much an Old Town institution as pineapples and red brick sidewalks.

Another, if newer, tradition that lives on is the Gallery Lafayette annual Alexandria wall calendar.

Its 37th edition will come out for 2020, Photo: Zebra archive with each month deEverything old is new again! The cover of the picting an Old Town very first edition of the Zebra featuring street scene. AlexanTodd Healy. dria, its history and

people, are Todd Healy’s muse. His inspiration for each calendar month’s image is, Todd says, “…inspired by the sense of home and community.

My hours of effort honor the significant contributions of the craftsmen who built them and made Alexandria a very special place to live and work, then and now.”

Family and Community

Photo: Kelly MacConomy

Sold signs abound in the gallery along with antique images of George Washington, Lincoln, charming contemporary and vintage framed pieces, as well as iconic Healy colorized maps.

Creativity runs in the Healy family. Todd’s only child, Lauren, a graduate of St. Mary’s and Bishop Ireton, majored

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

Photo: Mary Wadland

Proud grandparents of June Carter Flora and owners of Gallery Lafayette Todd and Laraine Healy.

Photo: Scott MacConomy

Portrait of the artist as forever a young man. Happy 70th Birthday, Todd! Wishing you an amazing new decade of you!

Stop by Gallery Lafayette at 130 South Royal Street to congratulate Todd on his 70th birthday, his 43rd year in Old Town, and the 37th annual publishing of the Alexandria wall calendar. Stay for a chat. Buy local art. Pick up a calendar or three.

The holidays, and 2020, are coming.

Courtesy photos

Above: Lauren Healy-Flora with her daughter June Carter Flora last year during treatment for leukemia.

At left: “June Bug” Carter Flora today, 18 months after her diagnosis and treatment, all smiles in the Flora fashion brand, Blue Bones.

NOVEMBER 2019

Gallery Lafayette, 130 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA. 22314 Todd4art@aol.com, 703-548-5266.

Also on Facebook and Messenger.

THE ZEBRA PRESS

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ON VIEW at MOVIES Hollywood Comes to Hunt Country SALAMANDER RESORT HOSTS THE 7TH ANNUAL MIDDLEBURG FILM FESTIVAL

BY KELLY MACCONOMY October is kick-off time for the DMV film festival season, with tony Middleburg retaining its crown as the region’s premier festival, attracting A-list film makers and shakers from far and wide. Thirty-four films were previewed before limited or wide release worldwide, which is six more than last year. At this pace, the Middleburg Film Festival may

soon grow too big for its jodhpurs.

It’s not just for the DMV anymore.

MFF is a crystal ball for the Oscar short list. Of 38 films screened at the MFF in 2018, 28 earned Academy Award nominations with 23 receiving Golden Globes. The full slate of foreign films presented last year were all Oscar nominated and several went on to earn awards. So it may be too early in awards-season film releases to make official predic-

tions, but in the case of Harriet, I am willing to take the risk.

Harriet This isn’t your Disney-sanitized biopic or Tarantino tirade on slavery. It is the story of abolitionist saint Harriet Tubman. What most Courtesy photo people know about Harriet Tubman A bold new twist on the biopic: Harriet scarcely touches on her Herculean screened at the MFF to standing ovaCONTINUED ON PAGE 43 tions. Don’t miss this epic film.

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34 ZEBRA PRESS

OPEN DAILY for LUNCH and DINNER (Sunday Dinner Only) HAPPY HOUR 4 to 7 EVERYDAY

NOVEMBER 2019

Who’s Got Music Tonight?

Friday, November 8th Tanger Kabob House • Jazz Trotters (jazz) 7 PM Paradiso • MoonDaddies (classic rock) 8 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Freddie Long (pop/rock/soul) 8:30 PM

Tuesday, November 19th

Sunday, November 24th

Thursday, November 14th

Hard Times Cafe • Open Mic (open mic) 9 PM

Tuesday, November 26th

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Rocky Guttmann (singalong) 8:30 PM Friday, November 15th Tanger Kabob House • Heavy Traffic Ahead (blugrass) 7:30 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • DCeivers (alternative/rock) 9 PM • Pat Carroll (Irish, bluegrass) 9 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Rocky Guttmann (Irish, singalong) 8:30 PM • Poehemia (Irish rock) 8:30 PM

Village Brauhaus • David Andrew Smith (top 40) 9 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • Dan Wolff Trio (folk/americana) 10 PM

Saturday, November 9th

Village Brauhaus • Chuggalug (pop/rock) 9 PM

Tanger Kabob House • Nancy & “The Professor” (Americana) 9:30 PM

Daniel O’Connell’s • Pete Baker (rock guitar) 10 PM

Paradiso • OMG Band (rock) 8 PM

Tanger Kabob House • Hot Rod Rockers (rock & roll) 7 PM

Saturday, November 16th

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Pat Carroll (Irish, bluegrass) 9 PM • DCeivers (alternative/rock) 9 PM

Paradiso • Old Town Tradition (bluegrass, folk, roots) 8 PM Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Rocky Guttmann (Irish, singalong) 9 PM • Poehemia (Irish rock) 9 PM

Village Brauhaus • High Five (modern rock) 9 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • Chasing Autumn (pop, rock) 10 PM

Sunday, November 10th Daniel O’Connell’s • Brian Gaffney (Irish) 5 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Sean Chyunn (covers) 8:30 PM

Tuesday, November 12th Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Freddie Long (pop/rock/soul) 8:30 PM

Village Brauhaus • Run For Cover (rock) 9 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • 19th Street Band (old school) 10 PM

Sunday, November 17th Daniel O’Connell’s • Fergus & Stevie (Irish) 5 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Pete Baker (rock guitar) 9 PM

Hard Times Cafe • Open Mic (open mic) 9 PM

Monday, November 18th

Wed, November 13th

Paradiso • Open Mic (open mic) 7:30 PM

November 2019

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Pete Baker (rock guitar) 8:30 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • John McGrath (Irish) 8:30 PM

Wed, November 20th Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • John McGrath (Irish) 8:30 PM

Thursday, November 21st Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • John McGrath (Irish) 8:30 PM

Village Brauhaus • Brian Franke (rock, pop & indie folk) 9 PM

Friday, November 22nd Paradiso • Wickerlee Band (rock & roll) 8 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Fighting Jamesons (Irish) 8:30 PM • John McGrath (Irish) 9 PM Village Brauhaus • Troll Tribe (alternative/reggae) 9 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • Jesse Trask Trio (folk, rock, lo-fi) 10 PM

Saturday, November 23rd Tanger Kabob House • Melissa Quinn Fox (pop, rock) 7 PM

Paradiso • Shades of Grey (rock, county, blues) 8 PM Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Fighting Jamesons (Irish) 9 PM Village Brauhaus • Practically Einstein (alt pop) 9 PM Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • John McGrath (Irish) 9:30 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • Driven to Clarity (pop/acoustic) 10 PM

Daniel O’Connell’s • Brian Gaffney (Irish) 5 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Siobhan O’Brien (Irish singer/songwriter) 8:30 PM Hard Times Cafe • Open Mic (open mic) 9 PM

Wed, November 27th

Paradiso • Open Mic (open mic) 7:30 PM Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Siobhan O’Brien (Irish singer/songwriter) 8:30 PM

Thursday, November 28th The Carlyle Club • Satin Doll Trio (jazz) 2 shows: 1 PM & 4 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Siobhan O’Brien (Irish singer/songwriter) 8:30 PM

Friday, November 29th Tanger Kabob House • Vale Street Bluegrass (bluegrass) 7:30 PM

Paradiso • Black Friday with DC-4 (rock) 8 PM Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Siobhan O’Brien (Irish singer/songwriter) 9 PM • Freddie Long (pop/rock/soul) 9 PM Village Brauhaus • Nick Ian & The Machine (rock/pop/reggae) 9 PM

Daniel O’Connell’s • Station 1201 (rock) 10 PM

Saturday, November 30th Paradiso • Symlin’ Jack (power classic rock) 8 PM

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub • Freddie Long (pop/rock/soul) 9 PM • Siobhan O’Brien (Irish singer/songwriter) 9:30 PM Daniel O’Connell’s • Shag (British rock) 10 PM

Alexandria Live, Premier Venue Members & Sponsors:

Murphy’s Irish Pub 713 King Street 703.548.1717

Village Brauhaus 710 King Street 703.888.1951

Daniel O’Connells 112 King Street

Hard Times Cafe

703.739.1124

1404 King Street 703.837.0050

Tanger Kabob House

The Carlyle Club

5735 Telegraph Road 703.329.4860

2050 Ballenger Avenue 703.548.8899

Paradiso

6124 Franconia Road 703.570.1604

The Zebra Press

2800 Eisenhower Avenue 703.224.8911

Please visit AlexandriaLive.com for additional shows, music news, & more!

NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

35

NOVEMBER Z-Vents

NOVEMBER 7

Shine Together - Alexandria’s Lantern Night 5:00 pm-6:00 pm Convergence Arts Initiative 1801 N Quaker Lane Shine Together - Alexandria’s Lantern Night is a community project hosted by The Alexandria Kinderchoir, with support from Convergence, and Upcycle, benefiting the Center for Alexandria’s Children. Together they bring light and warmth to the November night with lanterns, songs, and stories. The Alexandria Kinderchoir starts the gathering with songs of hope and light in the sanctuary. Outside they will light up the November night with a beautiful display of lanterns and community singing. Upcycle is offering two lantern making workshop leading up to the Lantern Night, so that participants can bring their own handcrafted lanterns to the event. As a night of service, they will collect donations benefiting the Center for Alexandria’s Children. http://centerforalexandriaschildren. org/_donate/.

NOVEMBER 8 Friday After Work Concert Series 6:00 pm-8:00 pm The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum 201 S Washington St. Co-sponsored by the Office of Historic Alexandria and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, join us for monthly Friday-night concerts on the second Friday of the month. The November concert features Cuban and Brazilian folk music from INÃ. Great music with a $15 suggested donation for the musicians. No ticket required – show up and enjoy the music! Beer and wine for sale, light refreshments available as well.

NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 9 George Washington Whiskey Festival 6:00 pm-9:00 pm George Washington’s Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Join Mount Vernon for its George Washington Whiskey Festival. Meet titans of the whiskey industry, taste spirits, and learn more about how Washington’s whiskey was made. Enjoy some of the finest spirits from Virginia craft distillers and other famous whiskey producers. Chat with celebrated distillers and learn more about George Washington’s whiskey operations at Mount Vernon.

NOVEMBER 10 Family Dance 10:30 am-11:30 am Lost Boy Cidery 317 Hooffs Run Dr. Skip, twist, leap! Join Kylie Murray at Lost Boy Cider for a fun-filled creative movement class at that will inspire imagination and creativity in your whole family. After class, adults can enjoy a pint of cider (included with ticket) while the kids play. $20 for a family ticket one adult + one child, one cider included, $10 each additional adult, one cider included, $5 each additional child. https://clients.mindbodyonline. com/classic/ws?studioid=353453&stype=106&sView=day&sLoc=0

NOVEMBER 10

Flag Placing for our Vets / BBQ 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society 2823 King St. Please come out and help place flags for our vets and enjoy a BBQ lunch.

Veterans’ Day Open House 1:00 pm-4:00 pm Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal St. The Gadsby’s Tavern buildings were saved from destruction thanks to the efforts of local American Legion Post #24, To honor this special

NOVEMBER 13

NOVEMBER 10

Book Talk with David Rubenstein “The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians” 5:00 pm George Washington’s Mount Vernon Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Rubenstein takes readers on a sweeping journey across the grand arc of the American story through revealing conversations with our greatest historians. In these lively dialogues, the biggest names in American history explore the subjects they’ve come to so intimately know and understand. Registration is required: www. mountvernon.org/rubensteinbook Free

NOVEMBER 12

NOVEMBER 10 Cluverius V. The Commonwealth: Virginia’s Murder Trial of the Century Starting at 7:00 pm Lee-Fendall House 614 Oronoco St. Join author D.N. Wilson as he discusses his new book and the shocking crime that inspired it.

Drawing on true historical events, Wilson brings to life the men and women who found themselves at the center of this murder trial that gripped Virginia in the late nineteenth century.

Tickets are $5, members of the Lee-Fendall House are free. Space is limited. Book signing and refreshments to follow. (703) 548-1789

connection, tours of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum will be free for all guests on the Sunday of Veteran’s Day weekend.

pornographic friend John Wilkes, and his “infidel” opponent David Hume. Dr. Damrosch will transport the audience back into a world of brilliant conversations and arguments among an extraordinary group of people whose ideas helped to shape their age, as well as our own. $35 members; $45 non-members

The Club: Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age 6:45 pm Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum 201 S. Washington St. In 1763, the painter Joshua Reynolds proposed to his friend Samuel Johnson that they invite a few friends to join them every Friday at the Turk’s Head Tavern in London to dine, drink, and talk until midnight. Eventually the group came to include Edmund Burke, Adam Smith, David Garrick, and James Boswell—it was known simply as “the Club.” In this lecture Dr. Leo Damrosch brings alive this eccentric cast of notable writers, artists, and thinkers. With the friendship of the “odd couple” Johnson and Boswell at the heart of his narrative, he conjures up the precarious and often brutal world of late 18th century Britain. Dr. Damrosch also will talk about lesser known luminaries such as painter Frances Reynolds (younger sister of Sir Joshua), Sir Joshua Reynold’s secret confidante Hester Thrale, his black servant Francis Barber, his

Wildlife Conservation in a Changing Climate 7:00 pm-9:30 pm Huntley Meadows Park Visitors Center 3701 Lockheed Boulevard Please join the Friends of Dyke Marsh to hear Dr. Sally Valdes, who will explore how climate change is affecting wildlife and offer some steps for addressing this threat. Climate change is happening now. Even if we drastically reduce emissions soon, changes will continue into the future because greenhouse gases already emitted can stay in the atmosphere for decades.

How will this affect wildlife? Can wildlife adapt?

What can we do to help? Climate change on its own, and in combination with other stresses, may push many species to their limits.

NOVEMBER 14 “The Property of the Nation: George Washington’s Tomb, Mt. Vernon, and the Memory of the First President” 7:30 pm-8:30 pm Gadsby’s Tavern Museum 134 N. Royal St. Join Matthew Costello, senior historian at the White House Historical Association, as he shares insights from his new book, “The Property of the Nation: George Washington’s Tomb, Mt. Vernon, and the Memory of the First President”. Through the story of Washington’s tomb, he traces the shift of America’s attention from Washington’s death to spontaneous visits by citizens, thus reflecting the building of a memory of America’s first president. $12 per person, $10 for GTMS members/GTM volunteers

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Have an event you want to see in Zvents? Submit it at http://thezebra.org/events/submit-an-event 36 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Z-VENTS

NOVEMBER 17

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13th Annual

NOVEMBER 16 Silly Goose and Val perform All Things Fall Durant Center 1605 Cameron St. Val’s award-winning and participatory performance features 40 minutes of music, puppets, ventriloquism, dancing, singing to delight audiences of all ages.

With bold voice talents and contagious dances, little ones get up, move, and laugh together. Silly Goose and Val Ventriloquist, musician, composer, and performer Valerie Leonhart Smalkin has performed across America as well as in France and Belgium. She was one of the writers, performers, and co-producers as well as the head puppeteer of the Emmy-Award winning It’s Kindertime on Baltimore’s WMAR-TV. Her three albums: A Gentle Halloween, Sing! Sing! Sing!... and Dance!, and Love Bug!, all received Parents’ performs and composes music for ages 2 through 10.

NOVEMBER 16 “They Shall Not Grow Old” Film Screening 1:30 pm-3:30 pm Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum 201 S. Washington St. Join us for a screening of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed World War I documentary. The film includes original World War I footage that Jackson and his team brought to life with modern production technology. As The Guardian film critic Mark Kermode noted, that “Jackson has done something quite remarkable: using 21st-century technology to put the humanity back into old movie stock.

The result is utterly breathtaking.” Free popcorn, soft drinks, beer, and wine for sale.

NOVEMBER 16, 17

Jazz at Meade 4:00 pm-6:00 pm Meade Memorial Episcopal Church 322 North Alfred St. Jazz at Meade is proud to welcome back Nasar Abadey for the fifth concert in the 2019 concert season. Nasar Abadey, the educator, composer, and band leader happens to be a talented drummer from the Washington, DC area. Frank Rubio, Cadence Magazine, said of him. “He is not a background drummer. He is up front and expressive, aggressively pounding out a wide array of propulsive rhythms.“ Mike Joyce, Washington Post, adds, “As a composer he’s also responsible for the strong spiritual current that runs through much of his music.”

Celebrating Independent Film for 13 Years!

November 7–10 AlexFilmFest.com #AlexFilmFest @AlexFilmFest

NOVEMBER 23 Kids’ Krafts 10:00 am-1:00 pm Friendship Firehouse Museum 107 S Alfred St. Come create and take-home decorations and craft projects inspired by early firefighting history. They will make great gifts for the holidays, or any time of year! For ages 5-8 and their caregivers. Children and caregivers work on crafts and visit the historic firehouse together. Tickets must be purchased for both adults and children. Space is limited, pre-purchased timed tickets are required and may be purchased at https://shop.alexandriava.gov/EventPurchase.aspx $5 per child includes a craft kit and museum admission, $2 for adults

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.

—Cicero

QUOTABLES

WE ARE PROUD TO POWER THEZEBRA.ORG CHECK OUT THEIR NEW SITE!

NOVEMBER 23 Alexandria Cider Festival

ASO Presents: Autumn Cello and Dvorak 8:00 pm at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, 4915 E Campus Dr. 3:00 pm at George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr. 4915 East Campus Dr. We celebrate fall by setting our intention with Boulanger’s Old Buddhist Prayer, in which the ASO will be joined by members of the Alexandria Choral Society and Fairfax Choral Society. Elgar wrote one of his last notable works–Cello Concerto in E minor–after enduring both physical and psychological turmoil; this passionate and contemplative work features world-renowned soloist Wolfgang Schmidt. An optimistic, lyrical piece inspired by Bohemian folk music, the program concludes with Dvorák’s sunny Eighth Symphony. $20-$85

1:00 pm-5:00 pm Office of Historic Alexandria 220 N. Washington St. Enjoy a selection of ciders from more than 10 Virginia cideries. Ticket includes tastings, a souvenir glass, live music, and fun fall activities. Food truck available. Dress for the weather – this event is outdoors. (703) 746-4554 $45 pre-sale; $55 at the door

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IN

HOOD

Photo: Kelly MacConomy Photo: Kelly MacConomy

Children play joyfully around the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza at the Mount Vernon Rec Center.

Photo: Kelly MacConomy

The National POW/MIA Recognition Day poster which inspired the iconic POW/MIA flag.

The Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial and location of the Veteran’s Day observance at the Mount Vernon Rec Center in Del Ray.

One Brave Man: The Rocky Versace Memorial Enters Its 20th Year

BY KELLY MACCONOMY Voters heading to the polls routinely pass it by on Election Day. People may give it a casual glance when entering the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. On any day, children can skip across the gold-starred plaza or enjoy a game of tag around the bronze sculpture, an homage to one of Alexandria’s mostdecorated heroes: Captain Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace.

Captain Versace was a 1959 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who first served in Korea, then in Vietnam. He was captured by the Viet Cong in 1963, just two weeks before he would have shipped home. Rocky was held captive for two years, then executed in 1965.

The statue depicts him playing ball with two Vietnamese children. Rocky Versace was of Italian/Puerto Rican descent and a devout Catholic, and in captivity was fiercely defiant—able to tell his captors “where to go” in three languages, (Vietnamese , French, and English)—but he had an endearing way of engaging village children.

The sculpture by artist Antonio Tobias Mendez, on the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Plaza is dedicated to all 67 Alexandrians who were killed or are still MIA from the Vietnam conflict.

Rocky Versace’s courage and valor has been acknowledged in many ways. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the POW Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the

At noon on November 11, the Friends of Rocky Versace will host the 18th annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony inside the Mount Vernon Rec Center. The names of all 67 Vietnam War Fallen Heroes honored at the memorial will be read. The Rec Center is located at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria 222305.

Volunteers are needed to read the names of the memorialized and to hand out lapel pins, as well as to help set up and break down following the event. For information about the event or to make a donation contact Kevin Rue at 703931-3721 or via email at forv59@gmail. com. You may also go to GiveGab.com and select the Friends of Rocky Versace.

Vietnam Campaign Medal.

And finally, on July 8, 2002, Captain Versace was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States of America’s highest military decoration, by President George W. Bush. The nonprofit organization Friends of Rocky Versace advocated for this great honor based on Rocky’s heroism, valor, and dedication above and beyond the call of duty.

This was the first time that America’s highest honor was bestowed upon a POW for his courage in the face of the cruel adversity, the abject humiliation, starvation, and isolation he endured in captivity. Rocky Versace suffered unrelenting hardships in his captors’ attempts to break his indomitable spirit. But the West Point Green Beret, Army Ranger, and Special Forces warrior remained steadfastly unbroken.

After completing military service, Rocky Versace had planned to enter the seminary. He hoped to become a Roman Catholic priest, return to Vietnam, and serve the needy people of the land that held him captive.

On this past September 20, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Friends of Rocky Versace celebrated his memory by hosting a screening of the awardwinning documentary The 2 Sides Project, by Alexandria’s Istrico Productions.

Col. Kevin Rue, (Ret.) USA and USMA, who spearheads the memorial foundation, and Jack Bohman, Lt. Col. (Ret.) and USMA Class of 1959, shared their memories of Rocky and their passion for the Friends of Rocky Versace.

For them, the memorial is both emblematic of Rocky’s spirit and a labor of love and honor.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 47 Photo: Kelly MacConomy

Rocky Versace, playing with Vietnamese children, as he was known to do, memorialized by the artist Antonio Tobias Mendez.

38 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

HEALY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 in fashion design at Virginia Commonwealth University.

She then spent four years in New York working at a fashion house before moving to Richmond to open a vintage clothing boutique called Blue Bones, with her husband Jeremy Flora.

When Lauren presented the first grandchild, June Carter Flora, about two years ago, Todd and his wife, business partner, and main muse, Laraine (referred to always as “my bride”) were over the moon with joy.

But the joy of grandparenting their little blue-eyed angel was suddenly shaded in summer 2018 when their “June Bug” was diagnosed with leukemia. Expenses for treatment were astronomical, and Todd and Laraine, with generous support from friends, fans, and colleagues in the Alexandria business community, organized a fundraising raffle last year to help offset the costs of June’s cancer treatment.

Friendship often proves boundless in Alexandria. The posh women’s boutique Sara Campbell Ltd donated 15 percent of the November 28, 2018 raffle sales; Chadwick’s, an Old Town institution unto itself; the always amazing Del Ray Café; the authentically French and fabulous bistro Le Refuge; the sadly departed Society Fair; and blingtastic Kings Jewelry, among many others, rallied to the cause by donating gift cards and prizes toward the fundraising effort.

Roc Solid After 18 months, June is responding well to treatment, turning handsprings and jumping in piles of leaves.

In addition to all the tangible community support, June Bug’s fight for her life was enhanced by the Roc Solid Foundation.

Founded in 2009 by childhood liver cancer survivor Eric Newman, who lost two first cousins to pediatric cancer, the organization “PLAYS it forward,” building specialized recreational equipment and hospital “Solid Ready” toy bags. Because children in cancer treatment are at extremely high risk for infection, they cannot have toys from home and, when discharged, must avoid public playgrounds.

“Roc Solid” comes from the stuffed animal Eric received when he was hospitalized. It was embroidered with his nickname “E-rock,” but when sanitized before Eric could touch it, the K came off. Roc Solid stands for the tenacity of children battling cancer.

A recurring donation of $25 a month provides a family enduring pediatric cancer a Roc Solid Ready bag. Any contribution made in June Carter Flora’s name is greatly appreciated.

Todd Healy turns 70 on November 4. Poised in his studio, he stands with arms akimbo, his work apron shielding a crisp pink Oxford cloth shirt, sporting a fishing-lure themed Peter Blair bowtie and a needlepoint belt holding up the bluest of blue jeans. It’s classic Old Town comportment for one of Alexandria’s most beloved local denizens.

Todd gets teary-eyed recounting all that combined to make Alexandria his hometown haven. “The love that I get from the city,” he says, “and my reward for doing this all these years is that I get to keep doing it.”

To volunteer or to make a donation to the Roc Solid Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, visit: info@rocsolidfoundation.org 3333-B Station House Road Chesapeake, VA 23321

PICK OF THE MONTH THE WINTER VILLAGE AT CAMERON RUN REGIONAL PARK Are you the kind of person who likes to get into the spirit of things? If so, you’ll love the Winter Village at Cameron Run Regional Park - our November Z Pick of the Month!

If you’ve ever wanted to go ice skating beneath brightly colored holiday lights, or roast marshmallows on an open fire, this is the spot for you. And this isn’t just your run-ofthe-mill winter light show that you drive through while the kids get bored in the back seat, either!

This year, the park will be transformed into a fun focused, winter themed village, complete with and ice-skating rink, a fire pit, light tunnels, music, food, and more.

Bring the whole family, because kids of all

Courtesy photo

ages are bound to enjoy this interactive family fun experience. The park will be open nightly starting Nov. 15, through Jan. 5, from 5 to 10 p.m. For more, visit www.novaparks.com/events/ice-lights.

—Matt Thompson

Thank you Alexandria for voting us BEST DENTIST. We are a dental practice devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures that will result in beautiful, long lasting smiles! Our team strives to promote green initiatives throughout our practice and our personal lives.

Dr. Julie Tran and Dr. Jorge Way 4 Herbert Street • Alexandria, VA 22305 Phone: 703-836-2213 4delraysmiles.com

NOVEMBER 2019

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ALIVE! Wants YO

The nonprofit is now in its 50th year! Ca

BY JAMES CULLUM

Last year the organization gave away 500,000 pounds of food to more than 3,000 Alexandrians per month, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than 2,800 families to pay for their bills [up to $500 per utility bill], helped with medical expenses, and provided housewares and furniture.

James Crumley has volunteered with ALIVE! for the last 14 years.

Like Davis, he volunteers one day of the month.

“For me it means just helping others who need a helping hand. And that’s what I was taught growing up,” Crumley said. “We were poor and were always taught that we enriched ourselves by giving back to others.

My daughter is grown now and I see

It was the morning of the last Saturday of October at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center, and you should’ve seen Mackenzie Davis helping folks out. Seriously! For more than four hours, the 15-year-old student at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School did what she does every month - volunteer with ALIVE! (ALexandrians In Volved Ecumenically). Her job that day was to help food recipients receive boxes of produce, and she seamlessly alternated between speaking English, Spanish, and sign language. No kidding! At one point, Davis used sign language to tell a deaf woman her name and asked if she needed any help carrying her box full of food. The woman responded that she did.

“Personally, it’s a great accomplishment for me,” Davis said of volunteering for ALIVE! “It’s hard for folks who don’t know two languages, and you just see their faces light up when they know you speak Spanish.

They come thinking they’re going to have to demonstrate what they need with hand gestures, and it’s really nice to know that they have that one Jennifer Ayers with Ann Patterson, the ALIVE! Food properson who can help gram director. them.”

ALIVE! ended up giving away approximately 11 tons of that same giving spirit in her, that food at three distribution points that willingness to give back and benefit day. And, as immigrant populations others.”

By the way, ALIVE! needs volunmay be wary of government enforcement, there was a note clearly vis- teers and food donations! What’s your ible at the sign-in desk, which read in schedule look like?

English and Spanish: “No personal information you provide is shared with any government agency. The information is for Now in its 50th year, ALIVE! Is our internal use to help us develop a better bigger than ever, but the need is food program for you.”

The Need Is Increasing

About the ALIVE! Child Development Center The ALIVE! Child Development Center is a full-day, year-round nationally accredited early education and child care program for 3 to 5 year olds living in Alexandria. ALIVE! provides tuition assistance on a sliding-fee scale based upon family income and size.

Parents and/or guardians must be working at least 30 hours per work or attending school full-time to qualify for assistance.

There is space available! For more on the Child Development Center, call 703-548-9255 or email smoore@alive-inc.org.

Volunteers for ALIVE! at the Last Saturday Food Distribution at Leonard “Chick” Armstr

40 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

OU To Volunteer!

an you spare one day out of the month?

ALIVE! Needs Nonperishable Food, Including: • Canned meat [tuna, chicken, beef stew, etc.]

• Canned vegetables, beans, soups, and fruits • Cereal • Peanut Butter [and jelly] • Rice, spaghetti, and other forms of pasta • Macaroni and cheese • Granola bars and healthy snacks for children Food can be dropped off at the ALIVE! Warehouse / Alexandria Food Center at 801 South Payne Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Interested in hosting a food drive? Contact ALIVE! Food Director Ann Patterson at apatterson@alive-inc.org. also increasing, according to Jennifer Ayers, the nonprofit’s executive director. Ayers took over in August, and manages seven full time staff and hundreds of volunteers. She estimates that the charity, which gives food to 13 pantries, is experiencing a 5 percent increase in demand for its food assistance programs.

“We’re trying to understand it.

We’re seeing changes in immigration patterns and we’re also seeing more people come into the City of Alexandria, and we do think a lot of it comes from the high cost of living,” Ayers said.

While Alexandria’s unemployment rate hovers at around 3 percent, having a job doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of poverty. In 2010, 70 percent of more than 12,000 Alexandrians living at or below the federal government’s poverty threshold were employed, according to a 2014 study.

That means that one in five Alexandrians have a hard time putting food on the table.

ALIVE! stores donated food in a

Photos: James Cullum

warehouse on South Payne Street in Old Town. On a recent visit, the warehouse was about 75 percent full, which was due to a huge donation on World Food Day on Oct. 16. It was also Alexandria Food Day, and the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington’s St. Lucy Food Project gave ALIVE! 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food!

“Donating this amount of food in one delivery is just an incredible experience,” said Vincent A. Cannava, program director for the St. Lucy Food Project. “What you see is the result of countless parishes across the diocese offering food to those in need. There are a lot of people who will not go to bed hungry as a result of their generosity.”

Alexandria Sheriff’s Deputy Morgan Garner was inspired to participate by an article in The Zebra, and donated more than three hours in the rain.

“I love it,” Garner said. “I was born

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Alexandria Sheriff’s Office staff and ALIVE! volunteers on Alexandria Food Day at Market Square, Oct. 16, 2019.

rong Recreation Center, Oct. 26, 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

41

ALIVE! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 and raised here, so it feels great that I’m able to give back to the people I grew up with, the people who raised me.”

Ann Patterson became the director of the ALIVE! Food Program at around the same time as Ayers, and volunteered with the organization for a number of years. She said that the need has steadily increased over the course of the last two years.

“In the last two fiscal years, the amount of food provided to the community pantries is up 28 percent,” Patterson said. “On Wednesday, we had a huge donation, but before that I was getting concerned of how we were going to meet our needs.”

Ayers said that the need can be greatest after the holidays have passed. Those cold winter months can be a brutal period, and she encourages groups to organize food drives and volunteer. Financial donations are also always welcome. Aside from the last Saturday of the month, the organizations’ biggest distri-

butions are home deliveries three day supplies of groceries that are delivered to seniors and other families in need once a month.

“We need volunteers across the board,” she said. “We need them for every program, food particularly - even to help Ann at a supermarket on a Saturday with tables to collect food and bring it back and sort it. The furniture program also needs volunteers on a regular basis.”

Patterson has lived in Alexandria for 20 years, and said that the city has a charitable spirit.

“For being an urban center right outside of DC, there is a homey and neighborhood feeling with neighbors helping neighbors. There’s definitely that sentiment to our city,” she said.

Welcome to ALIVE! House For nearly 50 years, ALIVE! has also run a transitional housing program for single mothers and their children. Hundreds of Alexandrians have lived rent-free in the home, which is offered for up to two years. Families live in an undisclosed townhouse in Old Town, and sleep

Jennifer Ayers with ALIVE! House Social Worker Pharrah Poliard.

in rooms with bunk beds and share a bathroom and common areas.

“It’s a humbling experience. I’m here to support them, and I learn from them.

Got Housewares? Take Them to Fairlington United Methodist Church The ALIVE! Housewares Program accepts donated housewares, including pots and pans, utensils, towels, sheets, blankets, dishes, and silverware. These housewares are brought by donors to Fairlington United Methodist Church, 3900 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 and then distributed to those in need.

If you wish to drop off any of the above gently used items, they can be brought to the church and placed just outside the designated room located on basement level (down the stairs from the parking lot door). For more, call 703-837-9300 ext. 5, or email housewares@alive-inc.org.

Flower ideas this season to entertain two to two hundred!

They’re resilient, they all have different stories, and it took a lot for them to get here,” said ALIVE! House Resident Manager Pharrah Poliard.

“I’m here to help them with whatever it is that they need, helping them with what they need to learn while they’re here - just walking with them as they go through their journey.”

Hundreds of women and children have worked their ways to better lives by living in ALIVE! House. When there is an opening, families are referred to the program through the Alexandria Office of Community Services.

“My role is basically to be here in the evenings and

weekends,” said Poliard, who has lived at ALIVE! House for the last five year. “It can range from helping them with supplies, their having someone to talk to. Maybe they need to have something moved, or, you know, any maintenance issue with the house.

So, that’s really what my role is. It’s more of a peer support type role.”

ALIVE! House Director Betsy Sciavolino said that volunteers are welcome.

“We need like some kind of maintenance superhero to come in, for sure,” Sciavolino said. “It’s a big challenge.

We’re always doing maintenance. We’re always looking for volunteers to help with maintenance issues around the house.”

Sciavolino is also looking for volunteer mentors to work with ALIVE! House residents, like Realtors and beauticians.

She also currently needs allpurpose cleaner, diapers (sizes 5, 6, and pull-ups 2T–5T), dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, and Swiffer wet refills.

“We have really low barrier. Basically, we don’t have a lot of requirements to entry, for the most part. So a criminal record is fine,” Sciavolino said. “Everything that I do is just focused on being an encouraging, supportive, and enriching community for the families that live here.”

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of ALIVE! at the 5th Annual Empty Bowls Alexandria & ALIVE! event at 6 p.m. on Nov. 16. The event costs $50 per person and includes food, a raffle, and entertainment.

The ALIVE! Furniture Program ALIVE! collects furniture from Alexandria residents and delivers it every Saturday morning. The organization can pick up furniture in the following ZIP codes: 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22206 east of I-395, 22314, and the areas of 22311 and 22312 that are in the city of Alexandria.

ALIVE! volunteers pick up furniture from Alexandria donors on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Clients currently need: • Mattresses • Beds • Tables • Chairs • Sofas • Dressers • Chests of drawers • Lamps To donate or volunteer, email furniture@alive-inc. org and provide your name, address, phone number, and a list of what you would like to donate.

Alexandria’s Fabulous Designer for Over 30 Years

I’m from Canada, so Thanksgiving to me is just Thursday with more food. And I’m thankful for that.

(703) 684-6650

royce@royceflowers.com 42 ZEBRA PRESS

QUOTABLES

— Howie Mandel

NOVEMBER 2019

MOVIES

Matt Damon in a race to the finish at Le Mans.

Sheila Johnson and MFF Executive Director Susan Koch consider the 2019 Middleburg Film Festival a resounding success, possibly the best ever. But they aspire to elevate each year’s experience. Given the sweeping splendor of Virginia hunt country and the ambience and incomparable hospitality of the Salamander experience, how much room for improvement can there be?

Still, the best is always yet to come with these dynamo film patronesses. Sheila and Susan forever fail to disappoint. After the sold out Saturday Night Showcase afterparty, guests were led by handheld lanterns to the posh Salamander stable—Middleburg’s answer to real horsepower!

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

strength and courage in the face of unrelenting trials and tribulations. Deftly portrayed

by British Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo, she is a historical superhero: Wonder Woman, X-Woman, Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Sojourner Truth combined.

Harriet is directed to perfection by Kasi Lemmons, who earned the Agnès Varda Trailblazing Filmmaker Award.

Courtesy photo Gregory Allen Howard’s Dr. Amani Ballour portrays one woman’s fight against the cruel tides of war in Nat Geo’s The Cave. script was collecting dust in do it who-dunnit Knives Out, nee Edward Norton is the dia Disney office when veteran speed racers Ford v Ferrari, To- rector/writer/producer/star Hollywood producer Debra Sentimental favorite Willie urette Clouseau’s Motherless of Motherless Brooklyn, a who Martin Chase rescued it and was named Best Documen- Brooklyn, and A Beautiful Day dunnit of a different kind, as approached Ms. Lemmons to tary by festival goers. Willie in the Neighborhood with Tom much for the premise as the tweak the script and take on recounts the story of Willie Hanks in the acclaimed lead- plot. Last but absolutely fast the direction.

O’Ree’s struggles confront- ing role as the beloved Mr. is Ford v Ferrari starring Oscar Harriet was filmed entireing racism and discrimination Fred Rogers. winners Christian Bale and ly in Virginia, an experience as the first African American Martin Scorsese reprises his that the director and producer hockey player in the NHL. operatic mobster tragedy thecalled phenomenal. Filming O’Ree was present at the sis by reuniting Al Pacino with was dubbed HTH (Harriet screening, along with Neal Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci.

Tubman Hard) by the crew, Henderson, future NHL Hall Rodrigo Prieto received the referring to the challenges of Famer and director/coach Distinguished Cinematograand hardships that Virginia of the Fort DuPont Cannons phy Award for The Irishman for weather extremes and night Youth Ice Hockey Program. technology that moves the trio shooting presented to OscarTed Leonsis, Washington back and forth in time with aswinning cinematographer Capitals co-owner and co- tonishing authenticity.

(Legends of the Fall and Braveexecutive producer of WilKnives Out is a hilarious rollheart) John Toll. lie along with MFF founder/ er coaster of a murder-mystery Terence Blanchard, the owner of Salamander Re- ride with an all-star cast of A genius behind the evocasort and Spa Sheila Johnson and B-plus list actors: Daniel tive music for BlacKkKlsman, brought the Stanley Cup to Craig, Chris Evans, Michael composed the score, which Middleburg to highlight the Shannon, the ever-studly Don was complemented by Afoccasion.

Johnson with asides by the rican American spirituals gracefully maturing Queen and mashups of contempoof Scream and smirk Jamie rary tunes. Without missing Mainstream releases that Lee Curtis, and Toni Collette. a beat, the audience joined Photo: Kelly MacConomy in singing the opening hymn screened at the MFF and are Sneak-peekers were sworn to MFF Executive Director Susan Koch in a post-screening Q&A with and clapped exuberantly with sure to be box office draws are secrecy not to reveal the twistHarriet Director Kasi Lemmons, Producer Debra Martin Chase, and Scorcese’s much-anticipated ed turn of events. the closing spiritual. composer Terence Blanchard.

Three-time Oscar nomiCasting Leslie Odom Jr., The Irishman, the who didn’t winner of a Tony as Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, was

inspired, despite his upstaging even Harriet in almost every scene. And filmgoers will love Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures, Moonlight) as Marie.

Willie

Looking to the main

The Cave National Geographic went for the Oscar hat trick this year by screening The Cave before its late October release. (Free Solo earned a Best Feature-Length Documentary last year, with Jane winning the Oscar in 2017.) The Cave speaks to profound and boundless compassion in the most dire trials of the heart and soul. Dr. Amani Ballour, a young, Muslim pediatrician and managing physician at the underground hospital known as the Cave, asserts her feminist backbone and resolute determination to make a difference in this world with charm and unwavering grace.

Much like Harriet Tubman, she is a superhuman force of womanhood.

NOVEMBER 2019

Northern Virginia’s newest destination for vintage, antiques, furniture and home décor.

Wed-Fri 10-3, Sat 10-4 8742 Cooper Road Alexandria, VA 22309 (703) 780-4301

www.UrbanRedeux.com

THE ZEBRA PRESS

43

Explore Cider’s Comeback ONCE AMERICA’S DRINK OF CHOICE, THE APPLE REIGNS AGAIN

BY GLENDA C. BOOTH Candidates for elected office today pass out pens, flyers, and bumper stickers. When a young George Washington ran for the Virginia House of Burgesses before the American Revolutionary War, he wooed voters with hard cider and other spirits.

Hard cider was once the drink of choice in America, especially in the 1600s and 1700s, when potable water was often not available.

Forefathers like Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams imbibed eagerly, as did the common shopkeeper, farmer, and soldier.

Hard cider is fermented like wine, not brewed like beer.

It is the oldest craft beverage in the country. Cidermakers grind and press many varieties of apples to a pulp and ferment the juice. Some ciders are apple blends or blends with other fruits. In Virginia, hard apple cider can be up to 10 percent alcohol by volume without adding sugar to the unfermented juice, a process

called chaptalizing. If apple juice is fermented above 10 percent alcohol, it must be labeled apple wine. If chaptalized, the alcohol content is limited to seven percent.

The Revival John Adams had a tankard of cider before breakfast, a practice he believed gave him good health and a long life. Thomas Jefferson praised cider as “nearer to silky Champagne than any other,” but after their time, cider’s popularity waned.

Photos: Glenda C. Booth Some attribute its de- Marc Chretien of Mount Defiance Cidery serving cline to the Industri- his Five-Pepper Cider

al Revolution and a growing immigrant population that preferred wine and beer. Prohibition, 1920 to 1933, also depressed cider production and consumption.

But enterprising entrepreneurs in Virginia and elsewhere have revived this classic beverage.

Today, the Commonwealth is home to at least 28 cidermakers. In 2012, Virginia became the first state to have an official cider week, proclaimed by then governor, now U.S.

More Ways to Know Hard Cider Alexandria Cider Festival, www.visitalexandriava.com/event/ alexandria-cider-festival/15421/ Cider Virginia Week, ciderweekva.com/ Virginia Cideries, virginiacider.org/ U.S. Cider Industry, ciderassociation.org/ Northeast Cider Trail, Virginia to Maine, www.northeastcidertrail.com/trailmap

Photos: Glenda C. Booth

Castle Hill’s tasting room is in a barn in Keswick, Virginia

44 ZEBRA PRESS

Senator Tim Kaine.

Nationally, cider sales grew faster than beer, wine, or spirits last year. (It was edged out by flavored malt beverage.) Cider production in the South grew nine percent. Cider retail sales dollars are 10 times greater today than 10 years ago, reports the U.S. Association of Cider Makers. “There’s an explosion of appreciation,” said Laura McCarthy Louden of Cobbler Mountain Cidery in Delaplane, Virginia.

Drinking and Pairing Cider Hard cider appeals to many as a mildly boozy, gentle alternative to other alcoholic beverages. As Trevor Gibson of Castle Hill Cidery in Keswick put it, “You can have a few glasses and not get wasted.” Cider is “guilt-free drinking,” said Brian Shanks of Bold Rock Cider in Nellysford. “It’s gluten free and better for you, healthier,” said Lost Boy Cider’s Tristan Wright.

Wright put whiskey and beer behind him after being diagnosed with a gluten and soy allergy. He trained in cider production and now handcrafts a natural and “100 percent awesome” cider in Northern Virginia’s first cidery, a former warehouse at 317 Hoofs Run Drive, Alexandria. Lost Boy Cider opened in June.

“The proper glassware [to drink cider] could be anything from a wine glass to a jelly jar,” according to Albemarle Ciderworks’ website. You are urged to enjoy the bouquet, to “funnel the aromas of the cider to your nose…Next take a small sip, allowing the cider to coat your palate; notice acidity, tannin, sweetness, savory flavors, ripe fruits. And as you swallow, take note of the finish—is it long and bold, short and sweet, bright, lively, etc.

Repeat at your leisure!”

Foodies maintain that cider pairs well with many dishes.

The experts at seriouseats.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 45 NOVEMBER 2019

advise cooks to think of dishes that you’d cook with apples, like pork chops and butternut squash.

But the taste of cider varies widely. According to ciderweekva.com, “Sophisticated chefs…know that cider is a food friendly beverage that dances well with many flavors, often a better partner than wine. Dry tannic cider acts like a red wine, pairing well with many meat dishes. Crisp acidic cider contrasts perfectly with rich buttery dishes. Off dry cider [cider with slightly more residual sugar than dry cider] loves spice and smoke, excelling with grilled vegetables and fish. Sweet cider does the tango with spicy Thai or vinegary BBQ. And dessert ciders complement fruit desserts of any kind.”

At left: Tristan Wright, founder and owner, Lost Boy Cider Below: Anne Shelton serving cider at Castle Rock’s Ciderfest

Regional cideries to explore Lost Boy Cider, Alexandria www.lostboycider.com All Lost Boy ciders are “bone dry,” says Wright, with no sugar and an alcohol content of 6.9 to 9 percent. He uses 18 varieties of Virginia apples, including Stayman, Pippins, ginger golds, and Albemarle Gold Rush. His Comeback Kid heritage cider is all apples, no other flavors. Wingman combines apples and raspberries. The Porch Sipper is a sweet tea cider. Thunderbolt has coffee and is cold steeped in the fermentation process.

Mt. Defiance, Middleburg www.mtdefiance.com Marc Chretien’s goal for his ciders is for each to have color, bouquet, a smooth feel, taste, and finish. He says most apples cannot do all five. Chretien has four ciders on tap, including Farmhouse Style, a citrusy beverage which feels like prosecco on the tongue, and beer-like Old Volstead.

He ages General’s Reserve in bourbon barrels and makes Ginger Cider with fresh ginger root. His crisp Five Pepper Cider has poblano, Anaheim, Hungarian wax, bell, and jalapeño peppers.

Above: Jeff McCarthy, owner, Cobbler Mountain Cider, explains cidermaking to Alexandria Susan Koscis At right: Charlotte Shelton, owner, Albemarle Ciderworks

Bold Rock, Nellysford www.boldrock.com Over 20,000 cases of hard cider roll out of Bold Rock every year for sales throughout the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. Co-founder Brian Shanks, a transplanted New Zealander, says he “makes what customers want.” He maintains that his Pear Cider (60 percent pears/40 percent apples) is unique, produced in his stateof-the art, timber-frame cidery overlooking Nelson County’s Rockfish River.

Other cider varieties: Rosé, Ginger Turmeric, Blood Orange, and Blackberry.

Albemarle CiderWorks, North Garden www.albemarleciderworks. com The Shelton family is recreating classic American cider from heirloom apples, not “bastardizing” it with flavors.

“We’re purists,” said Charlotte, producing “a carefully crafted product” and spotlighting “what the apple can

do.” The ciders are 100 percent apple, blended for a balance of aromatics, tannins, and acidity from apple varieties particularly suited for cider. All are sparkling and carbonated, which helps open up the flavors to the palate.

Castle Hill, Keswick www.castlehillcider.com On this 600-acre farm, Trevor Gibson makes eight ciders from 100 percent lo-

November 15 to 24 is Virginia Cider Week November 23, Alexandria Cider Festival, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street. Ten Virginia cideries, music and food. $45 pre-sale; $55 at the door.

cally grown apples and bear names like Celestial, Levity, and Serendipity. They are balanced to be consumed with food. Castle Hill ages one of the ciders in terracotta vessels called kvervi, from the Republic of Georgia. It is a method used 700 to 800 years ago. Cider has been made at Castle Hill since 1764.

Winchester Ciderworks, Winchester www.winchesterciderworks. com All Winchester Ciderworks ciders are pressed, fermented, and bottled in-house from Frederick County apples. Their signature ciders

CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

Cobbler Mountain, Delaplane cobblermountain.com Jeff and Laura McCarthy Louden both produce cider and host a cider pub, the Tasting Tavern, on their bucolic family farm. They use apples from Warren, Fauquier, and Clarke Counties in ciders that include Traditional Jeffersonian, a hand-crafted, hard cider and a range of flavored ciders with names like Smackin’ Orange (red delicious apples and oranges) and Harvest Pumpkins (red delicious apples, cinnamon, pumpkin, and spices).

NOVEMBER 2019

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NOVEMBER PUZZLERS

Ins & Outs Across 1 ___ Alto, CA 5 Interlock 9 Chemical suffixes 13 “What a pity!”

17 Muzzle 19 Hip bones 20 Cummerbund 21 Origami bird 22 Putting down, like carpet 24 On the blink 26 Vivacity 27 Droops 29 Fencing move 30 Tea type 33 Future fish 34 Deuce topper 35 Elevator man 38 Excessive 41 Painter’s medium 44 Imitates a hot dog 46 Disfigure 47 Dwarf buffalo 50 Silent assent 52 Arizona city 54 Collided with 58 Movie trailer 60 B.&O. stop 61 Keep ___ on (watch) 64 Nasty 65 Endeavor 66 Snuggled 69 Fragrant oil 72 After teen or golden 73 Airport abbr.

74 Hidden 77 High craggy hill 78 Smelting waste 79 Bar, legally 80 Type of cuff 82 Giants 85 Camelot lady 87 Tibetan priest 88 Altar in the sky 91 Egyptian judge of the dead 92 Fragrant compounds 94 Insults 96 Reporter’s question 97 Well, in Rome 99 King Kong, e.g.

101 Dishonest sort 102 Aardvark’s tidbit 104 Doghouse bound?

110 Stamp sellers, briefly 111 Biblical plot 114 Before, in poetry 115 Strand 117 Take a breath 120 ___ Piper 122 Conquer

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125 127 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Zebra Press 11/19 Sudoku

Astronaut’s aim Impossible to satisfy Stream Slanted type (Abbr.)

Remove from office Place Princes, e.g.

Trawling equipment Big name in hotels River to Donegal Bay Greek letter Sister of King Arthur Red ink amount Frontier settlements “Paradise Lost” author Biblical high priest Go astray Crones Polygonal shape Motion sickness Time zone Abridge

13 14 15 16 18 21 23 25 28 31 32 35 36 37 39 40 42 43 45 48 49 51 53 55 56

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Bongo Smidgen Stimulates the juices Jalousie spline Lushes Wife of Saturn Frick collection Lots of bucks Defense acronym Tourtiere, e.g.

Trodden track

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Door sign Poetry Muse Depressed Hardens Mystery writer’s award Shows excessive affection M.P.’s quarry Pro ___ First name of 35 Across Baptismal water holder Thanksgiving dish Put on board Faucets Pen point Compass pt.

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Part of some splits Greek H Indian lodges Jazz junkie, once Bay windows Golfer’s gadget Artificial Beat badly Scottish dagger Hosp. areas Kimono sashes Enormous birds of myth French bread British submachine gun New Look designer Above, in Berlin Joie de vivre Chowed down Rapa ___ (Easter Island) Retired flier letters Dutch city

PuzzleJunction.co

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

8 9

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 74

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5 Copyright ©2019 PuzzleJunction.com

46 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Photo: Erica Barker

The writer with her little one.

Little Alexandria

By Erica Barker

It’s Time to Plan for Your Little One’s Holidays!

BY ERICA BARKER With the holiday season upon us, I like to take a step back from my Amazon Prime addiction and head to one of the many local children’s stores in Alexandria. Here, we are spoiled by choice, with a host of unique children’s stores that fit every style and budget. I will be covering my favorite Old Town shops in this month’s column and other Alexandria shops in my December column, so be sure to add these lovely local gems to your holiday shopping stops.

Pink & Brown is a favorite boutique for interesting children’s clothing, toys, and gifts.

It’s a special place to stop in if you’re looking for a gift for a new baby or a specialty book or artisan toy. Pink & Brown is located at 1129 King Street, and can be reached online at pinkandbrownboutique.com.

529 Kids Consign should be the next stop on your list. It offers the best of both worlds: a great mix of consignment items (including maternity) and new and unique items for kids. The shop also offers great deals on baby gear. 529 Kids Consign is located at 122 S. Royal Street; www.529kidsconsign.com.

Monday’s Child is another sweet spot if you’re looking for something special for your little one. The shop focuses on classic children’s clothing and gifts. It’s a great place to get

toy and gift section with educational and fun items for kids. Hooray for Books! is at 1555 King St; www.hooray4books.com.

Here are my top picks for your upcoming weekends: November 9: Check out one of the many free and interactive storytimes across Alexandria. Storytime at Hooray for Books! is from 10:30 to11:00; Saturday Stories at the Charles Beatley Jr. Central Li-

Above: Classic kids' wear at Monday's Child At right: Some great books at Pink & Brown

dressier items and perfect if you like kids’ clothing with a timeless, vintage flair.

Monday’s Child is located at 218 N. Lee Street; mondayschildclassics.com.

Hooray for Books! is a locally owned, independent children’s bookstore and one of my favorite places to shop. Not only do they have a great selection of books for little readers, but they also have a

VERSACE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 The 2 Sides Project explores the journey of six adult U.S. Gold Star children as they travel to Vietnam in search of the exact places where their fathers died and their encounters with their Vietnamese counterparts.

Istrico’s Director of Photography/Animator Jared Groneman and Editor/Creative Director/screenwriter Nora Kubach represented the production team at the screening. The 2 Sides Project is available through PBS. org and will be featured at the Sedona Film Festival in Arizona on Veterans Day. Six of the original Gold Star subjects NOVEMBER 2019

Courtesy photo

Rocky Versace

plan to attend.

Following screening, Friends of Rocky Versace presented the Alexandria City Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities with a check in the amount of

November 16: Head across the Potomac to National Harbor and enjoy a family-friendly holiday movie showing on the jumbo screen.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles will be showing from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the waterfront. Bring chairs and some snacks to enjoy with the little ones.

November 23: Friendship Firehouse Kids’ Krafts Day is a ticketed event from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where kids and parents get together to make crafts and ornaments inspired by early firefighting history. Friendship Firehouse is located at 107 S. Alfred Street in Old Town. Later that evening, check out the Alexandria Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Market Square on King Street.

December 1: Head to the John Carlyle Holiday Market at 300 John Carlyle Street to enjoy the market and holiday festivities. The market has a great space for little ones to run around and the adults in your group can pick up some specialty items.

brary from 11:00 to 11:45; and Saturday Morning Stories at the James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library from 11:00 - 11:30.

$16,714 to go toward $18,000, the amount needed to maintain and refurbish the Rocky Versace Memorial Plaza and Statue.

This month when you head for the polls or drop your kids off for an activity at the Mount Vernon Rec Center, stop for a moment to honor a man who represented the highest caliber of the military code: duty, honor, country. An inscription encircling the base of the statue conveys the haltingly articulated memories of writer Marie Teresa Rios, Rocky’s mother: “He often did...does. His eyes are...were brown.” It’s a moving memorial to one great and beloved man, and to more than a few good men. Duty, honor, country.

Erica Barker is the founder of littleoldtown.com, where she shares fun activities in the Alexandria area for parents and kids and she enjoys exploring the local area while keeping her toddler entertained.

CIDER

General Banastre Tarleton led a march to Monticello in 1781, to capture VirginCONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 ia Governor Thomas Jefare fermented in the east- ferson, he stopped at Castle ern English style, off dry. Hill farm where the WalkDrawing on five varieties er family faked being loyalof apples, cidermaster Ste- ists. They welcomed Tarphen Schuurman’s Malice leton for lunch and plied is lightly effervescent, while him with tankards of cider.

Pious Pear is a blend of ap- As Tarleton sipped, slurped, ples and pears, lightly car- and dallied, the Walkers bonated. Wicked Wiles is dispatched Jack Jouett to aged in bourbon barrels at warn Jefferson that Tarleton’s troops were headleast nine months. ed his way. Jouett arrived at Monticello before the Brits and Jefferson escaped.

Cider is winning hearts And so, according to Castle and taste buds today, but in Hill’s Trevor Gibson, “Cithe past, it actually helped der won the Revolutionary win a war. When British War.”

Cider won the war?

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Del Ray DOINGS

November 2019

Issue 43

The Del Ray Docket November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Del Ray Farmers’ Market The Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, at the intersection of Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenue, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

This year-round market offers fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheeses, breads, fresh pasta, baked goods, cut flowers, and more. There’s always something enticing to see/buy.

November 4-10 Friends of Duncan Library Fall Book Sale 2501 Commonwealth Avenue

The top finishers of the 2018 Alexandria Turkey Trot. Photo by Will Niccolls/DRBA

Alexandria Turkey Trot Registration Open A Thanksgiving morning tradition, the 44th annual Alexandria Turkey Trot is the Mid-Atlantic’s premiere Turkey Trot. With nearly 6,000 runners, including some of the fastest elite runners on the East Coast, the Turkey Trot is a great way to start your holiday morning.

The five-mile run/walk, which takes place at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 29, winds through the heart of Del Ray, starting and ending at George Washington Middle School. The event is Metro accessible via the Braddock Road Metro Station. Dogs and strollers are welcome and have their own starting area.

“I chose the Alexandria Turkey Trot mostly because it has a history of fast competition and a unique small-town feel to the race,” said elite runner Matt Deters. “Several of my teammates have done the race in the past and it has been their favorite Turkey Trot.”

In the spirit of the holiday, runners and spectators are encouraged to bring two nonperishable food items to support ALIVE!, a nonprofit organization serving Alexandria’s needy. In 2018, the event raised more than $5,000 for ALIVE!, with runners donating some 2,000 pounds of food.

For complete information on the race and to register, visit www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com.

DEL RAY HALLOWEEN WINNERS Judge’s Choice 307 E. Clifford St

People’s Choice 410 E. Nelson

The Friends of Duncan Library will host their annual Fall Book Sale, featuring books, CDs, and DVDs for all ages. The sale opens with a Members-only night on Monday, November 4. For hours, visit friendsofduncanlibrary.org.

November 11 18th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, 1:00 p.m.

The City of Alexandria and the Friends of Rocky Versace will host the 18th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony honoring posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Captain Rocky Versace, all Alexandrians who died during the Vietnam War, and all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in attendance.

November 28 44th Annual Alexandria Turkey Trot Start/Finish line at George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, 9:00 a.m.

A Thanksgiving morning tradition! This fast, flat, USATF-certified 5-mile course through the heart of Del Ray is the Mid-Atlantic’s premiere Turkey Trot. The race features over 6,000 runners, including some of the fastest elite runners on the east coast as well as stroller and dog divisions. For registration information and to register, visit www.alexandriaturkeytrot. com.

December 6-8, December 13-15, and December 20-22 Del Ray Artisans’ 24th Annual Holiday Market 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue Fridays: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays: 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Del Ray Artisans’ Annual Holiday Market offers unique handmade fine arts and crafts from local artists, including pottery/ceramics, photography, jewelry, fiber, paper crafts and glass. Different artists will be featured each weekend. For more information, visit www.delrayartisans.org.

Best Decorated Houses

Honorable Mentions

People’s Choice:

Artifacts Pork Barrel BBQ Waxing the City

410 E. Nelson

Judges Choice: 1st 307 E Clifford 2nd 410 E Nelson 3rd. 4 W Custis

Honorable mentions: 104 W Monroe 8 E Bellefonte

Best Decorated Businesses: 1st - The Garden 2nd - Del Ray Psych & Wellness 3rd - Front Porch

48 ZEBRA PRESS

Parade Costume Winners

Best Overall The Seas are Rising and So Are We

Best of Pets Most Creative

Strollers:

Mario Cart

Most Creative Signs of Elements & the Atoms Family

Best Team

Less is More DJ Joe & Hype Mom Humorous Thank You for Being A Friend Best Group Dawn of MTV

Batman, Robin, Wonder Women + Villians and Super Girl (this was a tie)

December 8 The Del Ray Holiday Season Kick-Off The Pat Miller Neighborhood Square, located at the intersection of Oxford and Mount Vernon Avenue, 6:00 p.m.

Kick off the holiday season with a community tree lighting, carols, an appearance by Santa, and more. Participants are encouraged to bring diapers, toiletries, and nonperishable food for Carpenter’s Shelter. For more information, visit www.visitdelray.com.

How Could You Do This to Me Chocolate Taco

Vola Lawson Best in Show Racehorse & Jockey

QUOTABLES

I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner.

All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast.

– Charlie Brown

NOVEMBER 2019

Del Ray DOINGS

November 2019

Issue 43

Art On The Avenue Draws Record Crowd More than 70,000 attendees packed Mount Vernon Avenue during the 24th annual Art on the Avenue on October 5. The multicultural arts festival featured over 350 area artists and craftspeople, international food, live music on multiple stages, plus children’s craft activities and entertainment.

The event also featured a pie baking contest, which raised money for the Vola Lawson Breast Cancer Fund, in memory of longtime Art on the Avenue volunteer and pie contest coordinator Pam Fitzgerald.

Winners of the pie baking contest were:

Adults 1st place: Crust Lovers’ Apple Pie

by Mary Jane Candaux 2nd place: “I Can’t Tell A Lie” Cherry Pie by Sarah Smith 3rd place: Fall Rustic Apple Pecan Caramel Pie by Anne Marie Dinardo

Youth 1st place: Princess Pecan Pie by Zoe Young 2nd place: Snowy Lime Mountain

by Finn McNabb 3rd place: Brown Sugar Pear Pie

by Maeve Hill

Photo: James Cullum

Above: Paul Haire (center) with staff from Your Dog's Best Friend and The Dog Store.

Photos Will Niccolls/DRBA

Above: An estimated 70,000 attended the 24th annual arts festival.

Photos Will Niccolls/DRBA

Above: Every year, Art on the Avenue provides free crafts and activities for children, including pumpkin painting.

Below: The 2019 pie baking contest was held in memory of longtime community volunteer Pam Fitzgerald.

NOVEMBER 2019

At left: Over 350 artists, including Emma Sage of Emma Sage Fine Art, participated in this year’s Art on the Avenue.

Below: Boyle School of Irish Dance performed with the Irish Breakfast Band.

THE ZEBRA PRESS

49

November 2019

Del Ray DOINGS

The Del Ray Halloween Parade

Issue 43

Steve Beggs with his daughters Rosie (on right) and Annie.

MOUNT VERNON AVENUE WAS PACKED ON SUNDAY, OCT. 27!

A morning rainshower gave way to a balmy October day as thousands of costumed heroes, fairies, unicorns, and even members of the Addams Family walked along Mount Vernon Avenue in the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.

The event cost the Del Ray Business Association more than $20,000, but was free for the public thanks to thousands of generous donations provided by area businesses and individuals. It took hundreds of volunteers hanging street signs, filling goodie bags, cooking hot dogs, and herding costumed crowds to make the parade another rousing success. Enjoy the photos!

Photos: James Cullum

At left: (Left to right) Sage Duskie-Billen with her parents, Andra and Russ as members of the Addams Family.

Below: A stick figure family.

Above: Royce Tuxford Cobblepot at the Del Ray Halloween Parade.

At right: Batman, Robin, and Batgirl.

Below: (Left to right) Emily Hammond, Rachel Eddy, and Scarlett Meazell.

Above: Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and City Councilwoman Amy Jackson (on left).

Unicorns Kathryn and Scott Blair with their 1-yearold son, Blair.

Above: Former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg with kids inside Mount Vernon Recreation Center.

At left: (Left to right) Elissa Laderach, Daniela Spigai, Bobi Bomar, Ellen Patrick, and Mera Patrick as characters from Alice in Wonderland.

50 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

All Photos by Lucelle O’Flaherty unless otherwise indicated.

At left: Kelly Grant with dog, PIPER, and Keghley Gedney celebrating the opening of the ALX Community’s second location at 201 N. Union St.

At left: James Harrison, Alexandria City Public Schools’ Building Services Supervisor Support Staff of the Year!

At left: Laurent and Margaret Ticer Janowsky at the Alexandria Beautification Awards, where their restaurant, Del Ray Café, was recognized.

Below: Mayor Justin Wilson, Sean Lapp with dog, BELLA and Keith Economy with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary during Seaport Day.

Above: Wayne Griffith holding ZELDA, with Sally Macklin and Yonie Mela Dow embracing REX at the Montgomery Dog Park in North Old Town.

At right: Fernando Torrez, Diane Freeman, Maryann Burstein, Steve McKay and Naima Hylton at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the West End Business Association (WEBA) at the Mark Hilton Hotel.

At left: Lucelle O’Flaherty, Monte Durham (“Say Yes to the Dress”), Resa O’Flaherty, and former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg celebrating at Hummingbird Restaurant party announcing Monte’s new salon opening next spring in Old Town.

Above: Vicki Forness and Acting Fire Chief, Corey A. Smedley, at the Alexandria Rotary Taste of Giving.

Lisa Van Riper, Director of Communications at AlexRenew, explained the fascinating (really) ins and outs of wastewater management in Alexandria to Commonwealth Republican Women Club members.

Pictured are Ms. Van Riper and Eileen Brackens, President, CRWC.

NOVEMBER 2019

Scene Around Town

Photo: Linda Greenberg

THE ZEBRA PRESS

51

Giving Back News

Alexandria Bride Shares Wedding Day with Girl Whose Life She Saved SARAH AIKEN AND KINLEY STROHL HAD NEVER MET IN PERSON, BUT THEIR DNA HAD

BY ELIZABETH MOSCOSO Wedding days are always special, but for Alexandria resident Sarah Aiken, tying the knot was exceptionally touching because of one particular guest.

In 2012, Aiken donated bone marrow to a stranger. The stranger happened to be little six-year-old Kinley Strohl from Delaware, OH, who had been battling blood cancer and needed a transplant to survive.

A year after the transplant was complete, Strohl’s mother connected with Aiken and shared the miraculous news that her daughter’s transplant was a success. The incredible uniqueness of each person’s DNA means that finding a matching donor is extremely rare.

It’s no surprise that a strong connection was formed over the next seven years after the transplant. Aiken and Kinley kept in touch online, but they hadn’t met in person. Once Aiken got engaged though, she knew she needed Strohl by her side at her wedding.

“We were crying when she hugged me,” Strohl said. “It was like we’d met

bridesmaids the morning of the wedding, helped put on Aiken’s wedding shoes, and fixed her dress.

“Sarah saved my life,” said Kinley.

“I feel special and honored to have received her bone marrow, especially when there are kids still fighting for their lives. She’s a loving, caring person and is like an older sister.”

Matching Marrows

Photo: Breanna Shaw, Photography by Brea, LLC

Sarah Aiken and Kinley Strohl shared a long-awaited embrace at the wedding. “I have a bond with her no one else has,” Strohl said.

before. I have a bond with her no one else has.”

The now 14-year old Strohl had flown in with her parents and older brother from Delaware, Ohio, for the wedding at Celebrations at the Bay in Pasadena, Md.

“[It’s as] if we’ve been best friends for years,” Aiken said. ““I believe everything happens for a reason. Things are meant to be, and people are meant to meet. And our families are meant to be intertwined.”

Strohl spent time with Aiken’s

Their incredible transplant story was recently covered in the New York Times, which reported it all started in 2009 when Aiken, now 31, was a senior studying nursing at the University of Pittsburgh. When she heard about a bone marrow drive on campus with DKMS, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ending blood cancers and finding donors, Ms. Aiken volunteered to help run the drive and registered to be a donor.

“It takes only 30 seconds to swab your cheek,” said Aiken. “Knowing I’d be taking care of people with cancer, and seeing strangers signing up to help save people’s lives, made me want

CONTINUED ON PAGE 61

SCAN to Host Blue Tie Gala, Toast to Hope SPECIAL GUESTS DONNA & PETE CUVIELLO TO BE HONORED WITH 2019 CLEARY AWARD On November 16, 2019, SCAN will host its 17th annual Toast to Hope gala at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington. For the first time in its history, the annual fundraiser will be a “Blue Tie Gala” where guests are invited to wear blue, the national color of child abuse prevention.

Toast to Hope: A Blue Tie Affair will raise critical funds for SCAN’s growing child abuse prevention programs and is especially significant this year as the organization completes its 30th year of programming that protects children and prevents child abuse across Northern Virginia.

52 ZEBRA PRESS

In addition to a cocktail hour, silent auction, and seated dinner, the evening will include the presentation of the 2019 Cleary Award to Donna & Pete Cuviello. Donna

and Pete Cuviello have been champions of SCAN for nearly a decade. They each had long, successful careers— Donna in human services and national nonprofit manage-

ment, along with executive management in the private sector, and Pete in information technology and cyber security as a Lt. General and ultimately the CIO/G6 for the U.S. Army and then as a Managing Director at Deloitte & Touche. In 2013, Donna joined SCAN’s Board of Directors and spent the next five years taking on leadership roles, eventually serving as Board President. Donna currently serves as the Honorary Board’s Chairwomen. Donna and Pete’s team investment of leadership, time, and finances has affected not only SCAN’s strategy, but ultimately its impact on children and families

in our community.

Special thanks to the gala’s Principle Sponsor, The Robert Yager Family, along with Champion and Leader Sponsors, Custom Ink, Wells Fargo, McEnearney Associates, and Daniela Spigai Realtor with Homes of Alexandria, as well as the media sponsor, The Zebra Press.

For tickets, visit www.scanva.org/toast SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) is the only region-wide organization focused on preventing child abuse and neglect across Northern Virginia. Learn more at www.scanva.org

NOVEMBER 2019

United Community’s 50th Anniversary On Saturday, October 19, 2019, United Community celebrated its 50th Anniversary Homecoming with nearly 200 people joining the festivities at the Mount Vernon Country Club. Attendees included the organization’s current and past board members, staff, partners, donors, volunteers, elected and county leaders and, most importantly, community residents.

The evening’s theme, Honoring Our Past, Embracing our Future, was headlined by keynote speaker Sharon Kelso, who led United Community for more than 25 years. The former executive director was awarded the Gerald W. Hyland Humanitarian Award from Photo: Courtesy the award’s namesake, Kel- From Left to right: Board Member Tom Curcio, Former Mt. Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland, Board Chair Ken Disselkoen, Former Exso’s dear friend and former ecutive Director Sharon Kelso, Board Member Lisa Jones, Executive Director Alison DeCourcey, and Board Member Elin Bohn.

Mount Vernon Supervisor, Gerry Hyland. Kelso, now 80 years-old, traveled from legacy, it’ll be here for many board member Lisa Jones. nity, they can shake the pull one thrives. United CommuLas Vegas to Alexandria to years to come.”

Now a resident of the of poverty. nity empowers our neighbors be among friends, remi“As an agency, our path Creekside community, “The power of Commu- in need to transform their lives nisce, and support United forward is clear,” Alison Jones shared her story of nity is knowing that some- through wrap-around programs Community’s aspiration of DeCourcey, United Com- how she and her daugh- one cares about you, is em- and services that support chilending multi-generation- munity’s current execu- ter overcame homeless- pathetic to your needs, and dren, youth, and families in al poverty in southeastern tive director shared with ness with help from Unit- is truly contributing to your southeastern Fairfax County.

Fairfax County. the guests. “While we will ed Community and other self-sufficiency,” Jones ex- For 50 years, United Com“I’m so grateful to all of continue to give direct aid, human services organiza- plained. “That’s what sets munity has been advocating for, you for being such an inte- United Community can tions in the county. Jones United Community apart.” supporting, and serving lowgral part of this organiza- and will disrupt the systems expressed confidence that income residents in Northern About United Community (formerly tion and of my life,” Kelso that institutionalize poverty even though many residents Virginia. Learn more at unitsaid. “It’s because of your in our region.” face financial difficulties, United Community Ministries) edcommunity.org support that this organizaGuests also heard from their hope and dreams are United Community envisions tion is celebrating 50 years United Community neigh- stronger – and with just a a community where everytoday. And through your borhood ambassador and little help from the commu-

Photo: Jennifer OKeefe

LOCAL DAR CHAPTER HONORS ALEXANDRIA’S FIRST RESPONDERS Police Sergeant Misti Battle and Roberta Schneickert from Alexandria›s Dr. Elisha Dick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution dropping off cupcakes to the Alexandria Police Department on National Day of Service. The chapter also dropped off cupcakes to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Department.

NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

53

The Rotary’s Annual Taste for Giving Shows Off Good Cuisine and Draws a Crowd

BY JENNIFER HOLTZMAN

Raising Hard Cash for Charity

Last Friday night, my husband Miles and I were lucky enough to be guests at the Alexandria Rotary’s Taste for Giving, their big annual fundraiser. It was a glittering affair of sample tables and clinking glasses in the beautiful U.S. Patent & Trademark Office building in the Carlyle complex.

This clever event has restaurants from all over Alexandria showing off their cuisines to a vibrant and charitable crowd.

I was really jazzed to go.

My friend talked it up as a great event with free-flowing drinks, food, and a fabulous silent auction. She said her bidding last year almost won her an exotic vacation.

It sounded like a good night of charity to me.

Taste for Giving is in its 12th year and attracts an impressive array of folks.

Miles and I were thrilled to see so many familiar faces. Friend and former mayor Allison Silberberg was there (Allison actually married us on our friend’s boat at the bottom of King Street — she’s very special to us!).

Allison likes supporting Taste for Giving and said, “I love the Alexandria Ro-

Alexandria Rotarians volunteer for the event. They sign you in. They pour your wine. They manage the silent auction. The Rotary Club of Alexandria is comprised of 117 business and community leaders. It’s part of a larger international conglomerate of 33,000 Rotary clubs with more than 1.2 million members.

These clubs work internationally, regionally, and locally to eradicate hunger, provide education, improve sanitation, promote peace and more.

While the volunteer bartender was pouring me a glass of Pinot Grigio, I complimented him on the event.

Turns out, it was John Moorman, the Alexandria Rotary’s President-Elect.

I asked if he knew how much money they raised.

John said, “We won’t know for a while, but last year we raised $80,000.” [Hard numbers unfortunately won’t come in until after press time]. Last year’s funds were enough to support 50 Alexandria charities!

Gant Redmon and Amanda Hayes.

Photos: Lucelle O’Flaherty

Judy Hughes Brinegar with John O. and Lucy Goddin.

Jennifer and Miles Holtzman, with Cathy K. Bradford and Allison Silberberg.

tary Club’s Annual Taste for Giving! Always a terrific crowd, a lot of fun, great food, and all the proceeds

go to support local nonprofits, thereby helping some of our most vulnerable.” Allison expanded, “Kudos to

you’re free of fees

The Fourth Annual Walk to Bust Cancer was held October 6, Convenient 2019 at Fort Hunt Park.

Checking Account Approximately 700 participants helped the National Breast Center Foundation raise over No monthly $106,000 to assist in fees, providing screenings and treatment for lowno minimum income and uninsured balances and women. In addition to moving words from no ATM fees Dr. David Weintritt, nationwide Photo: National Breast Center Founder of the NaFrom left to right: Judella Sauntional Breast Center ders (Aleseia’s mother), Aleseia and Foundation, othSaunders (Breast Cancer Survier distinguished guests vor), Dr. David Weintritt (Founder, included Mayor Justin National Breast Center and FounIf using logos less than 75% size, please switch to logo size 2.

Wilson and Maimah dation), Martha Carucci (ExecuKarmo, President and tive Director, National Breast CenCEO of the Tiger- ter Foundation), Julia Saunders lily Foundation. The and Ayla stroller).

At Your Service Since 1852 At Saunders Your Service(in Since 1852 event drew huge community support and featured a mindfulness meditation by Gina White, the Mindful Junkie, a warm-up by Meredith Patel of Barre3 Old Town, stretch and cool-down by Tara Casagrande of Ease Yoga, the ArtSpire Dancers, parkour obstacle course by PK Move and much more. For additionAt Your Service Since 1852 At Your Service Since 1852 al information, please visit www.walktobustcancer.org or www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org.

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$106,000 RAISED AT RECENT WALK TO BUST CANCER

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the Alexandria Rotary Club for all they do locally and to all the Rotary Clubs around the world.”

54 ZEBRA PRESS

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VOLUNTEER ALEXANDRIA Family Volunteering During the Holiday Season

Photos: Courtesy of Volunteer Alexandria

Family Volunteer Day brings our community together in a good cause.

BY MARION BRUNKEN Volunteering together as a family has many benefits. Working side by side provides opportunities for a shared experience, connection, and conversation, and family members get to see each other in a new light.

Volunteering also cultivates empathy, encourages kindness and gratitude, and shows even the youngest child how a small positive act can make a big difference.

Making sandwiches for people who don’t have enough food is a good way to introduce your child to volunteering. Children generally enjoy helping others, which springs from their natural empathy and compassion. It’s up to us adults to foster this instinct and to provide opportunities for our kids to give to others and to be grateful for what’s given to them.

Volunteer Alexandria has two opportunities coming up for families to help our community, and we invite you to join us.

Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, November 23, needs volunteers to create 300 goody bags, which will be distributed to families in need during our Community Drive in December.

Volunteers will decorate bags, fill them with candy and small toys, and create gift tags for the toys. There are no age limits for this family activity. We can accommodate 100 volunteers, but space fills up quickly, so please register right away at www.VolunteerAlexandria.org.

NOVEMBER 2019

Together with the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services, Volunteer Alexandria also hosts the Annual Community Toy Drive from November 13 through December 16. The toy drive serves 300 families, including 700 children. Volunteers age 6

Above: Organizing and distributing toys is a big holiday event December 20 and 21.

At left: Making sandwiches for people who don’t have enough food is a good way to introduce children to volunteering.

Below: Children naturally enjoy helping others, and their families can provide a way to do that.

and older are needed on December 20 and 21. Our volunteers will sort and count toys and set up tables for the toy distribution. We will also create gift tags for parents who want to wrap their gifts themselves.

“Our family volunteered with the Community Toy Drive for 15 years and we loved every minute of it. It’s a great way to involve the entire family, adults and children alike, in doing something meaningful and helpful for the community,” says Mary Huber, a parent and volunteer. “It’s also a lot of fun! We looked forward to it every year.”

Join us by registering for

the Annual Community Toy Drive at www.

VolunteerAlexandria.org.

Unable to volunteer?

Here are other ways to help: • Donate goods. Wrapping paper and tape.

Order online at bit.ly/ VolWrap and have it shipped directly to us or stop by at 123 N Alfred Street.

• Collect toys. The community toy drive starts on November 13 and runs through December 16. If you are interested in collecting toys, please complete the online form at www.surveymonkey. com/r/toys19.

• Donate to support Family

Volunteering at www.VolunteerAlexandria.org.

Other family volunteer opportunities include: • Creating greeting cards for soldiers, a hospital, or nursing home • Visit with a senior and/or homebound person • Make a no-sew fleece blanket for a shelter, hospital, or

nursing home For more information about these, go to www.VolunteerAlexandria.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Volunteer Alexandria mobilizes and connects people, six and older, with community needs.

For more details about volunteering, visit VolunteerAlexandria. org or call 703-836-2176.

THE ZEBRA PRESS

55

BUSINESS NEWS CEO Joe Haggerty

QUOTABLES

COO Maria Ciarrocchi

Turkey for the girls and Turkey for the boys. My favorite kind of pants are corduroys.

Gobble gobble goo and Gobble gobble gickel. I wish turkey only cost a nickel.

Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

– Adam Sandler, The Thanksgiving Song Courtesy Photo

REAL. LOCAL. SAVINGS. See how much you could save on car insurance today.

Many Alexandria restaurants like to get into the spirit of things during the holidays. Last month, The Reserve, which is a fine dining concept on the second floor of Del Ray Pizzeria, got completely decked out for Halloween. The 30-seat space was transformed into a Halloween-themed pop-up bar named “Bar Wicked.” The bar offered guests some devilishly creative themed foods and guesome cocktails, including the deviled eyes [they’re eggs] and the Poison Apple, which tastes amazing but maybe should have been left untouched.

Regulars of The Reserve need not fear the metamorphosis, as the “normal” menus and reservations are available. Reservations can be made for Thursday-Saturday nights at delraypizzeria.com/reserve.

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56 ZEBRA PRESS

QUOTABLES Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.

— Jim Bishop NOVEMBER 2019

Stephanie Landrum Named Alexandria Business Leader of the Year!

SEE WHO ELSE WON AWARDS FOR BEING THE BEST IN BUSINESS IN ALEXANDRIA THIS YEAR! Stephanie Landrum has made a difference in Alexandria, and on Oct. 2 made history! Landrum, who is the president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, is the 2019 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leader of the Year.

Landrum was honored for a pivotal role in bringing Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus to Alexandria and Amazon’s HQ2 to Arlington.

“This is my hometown,” Landrum said. “I look forward to the implementation of these projects and I am committed to continuing to work in Alexandria.”

Charlotte Hall, board chair of the chamber, said that the organization values Landrum and her team for their effectiveness.

“There are many things we have yet to accomplish,” Hall said. “We sure hope that she’s going to remain here with us for a few more years. We value her intelligence, confidence and her competence.”

The Chamber’s Best in Business Awards also recognized:

Overall Business of the Year:

Photos: James Cullum

Stephanie Landrum receives an honorary jersey from Virginia Tech President Tim Sands at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Best In Business Awards, Oct. 2, 2019.

(Left to right) Joe Haggerty, CEO of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Sue Goodhart, and Chamber Board Chair Charlotte Hall.

Mike Porterfield of Tartan Properties.

Brandywine’s Ray Dennison.

The Goodhart Group

Small Business of the Year:

Tartan Properties Commercial

Medium Business of the Year:

Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Bar & Restaurant

Large Business of the Year: Brandywine Living

Nonprofit/Association Business of the Year: Del Ray Business Association

Del Ray Business Association President Sue Kovalsky.

Threadleaf owner Nicole McGrew.

Rising Star:

Threadleaf Congratulations To The Winners!

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BUSINESS FEATURE Setting the Stage: Rock Of Ages Music Teaches Young Rockers the Rules of the Road DOES YOUR KID WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR?

BY JAMES CULLUM Close your eyes and imagine the sound of all that applause your child could witness after their band wraps up their latest hit onstage.

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of becoming a successful rock and roller is something that other people do, but not in Del Ray. For the last eight years, Rock Of Ages Music at 114 E. Day Ray Ave. has taught hundreds of students that it’s not only possible, it has set the stage for their success.

“For these young kids, you never know what it’s going to take to get you to the next level of success as a touring band or musician,” said ROAM founder and owner John Patrick. “One of the things I tell my older bands is to actually start taking this very seriously.

My best advice for them is to make friends with everybody they can. In the world of music, the more friends you have the more people are going to give you opportunities going forward. You might get an opening gig for a band that’s got a sound completely opposite of yours, but you know what?

If you do your thing there might be 15 or 20 people out of that crowd of 250 that begin to follow you.”

Learning To Rock It’s not an easy road to success, and Patrick, the former drummer with Virginia Coalition, knows what he’s talking about. The Alexandria native has played

Photos: James Cullum

John Patrick of Rock of Ages Music.

At left: A studio/ classroom at ROAM.

Below: ROAM owner John Patrick was a founding member of the band Virginia Coalition.

in front of thousands of people, in an untold number of gigs on the road in high profile venues including the 9:30 Club, The Fillmore, and The Chicago House of Blues. His team of 17 parttime instructors made up of prestigious local talent, currently teach upward of 300 private students, with 25 individual rock bands enrolled

in the rock school.

Singer and guitarist Ebin Trail, 13, started playing with ROAM three years ago. He wants to be a professional musician, and said his teachers have not only helped him improve technically, but on the realities of what it takes to be successful.

“I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with the guitar with just playing. I’ve also gotten a lot more comfortable in front of people and singing in front of people and just performing in general,” said Trail, who plays in the band Thicc Bear.

“When we get a song down, just playing it feels really good. When all of us know our parts and all of us can play it really tight and it sounds really good, it’s just a really good feeling.”

ROAM guarantees that anyone who joins the program will play on a legitimate stage and venue. The school hosts the annual ROAMFEST at Union Stage in Washington, D.C. every January, and bands play at the Del Ray Music Festival and other events throughout the year.

“When they get up on that stage and they start getting that experience going, that really does something for their confidence,” said Patrick, who co-chairs the Del Ray Music Festival Committee with his wife, Ellen.

“What we’re doing here is helping the kids be the best they can be. Whatever they do with it is their choice. If they’re in the Rock School program, we want them to have fun and enjoy the experience of what it’s like to be in a band and play on an awesome stage and awesome venue.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 60

58 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

BUSINESS PROFILES

Leaving the Nest: One Good Tern is Closing its Doors “I GOT TO PUT MY OWN MARK ON IT AND CONTINUE A LEGACY THAT WAS ALREADY WELL KNOWN IN THE BIRDING COMMUNITY,” SHOP OWNER CHARLES STUDHOLME SAID

BY JAMES CULLUM Charles Studholme has spent most of his life looking at birds. In all, the 67-yearold owner of One Good Tern at 1710 Fern St. has seen 582 bird species, and is closing shop as soon as almost everything is sold at a discount.

That includes world-class birding optics like the Zeiss Victory binoculars, which once focused properly make you feel like you’re sitting right there on a branch with a beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak.

“The shop has pretty much been my identity. I got to run things the way I like and made it warm and friendly,” Studholme told The Zebra. “Birds are fascinating because they are such a vibrant expression of life.”

Studholme is experiencing end-stage kidney failure, and plans on doing a lot of bird watching in his spare time. In fact, for being such a strong seller, Zeiss gave him a pair of Victory binoculars.

“That’s one of the top two best binoculars in the world,” he said. “I’m usually pretty busy in here, and for 19 years I really haven’t had a lot of days off. You know, seven days a week before the sun came out and leaving after the sun goes down a lot of the time. Once I retire, I’ll be able to do a bit more birding from my rocking chair.”

The shop, which looks like a birdhouse and has been open in Alexandria since 1986, carries everything a birder could want, from field optic lenses and spotting scopes to guidebooks, bird seed, birding memorabilia, and more. Incidentally, the bird seed is the only merchandise that’s not on sale.

Head In The Clouds Studholme was born and raised in Newburyport, MA, NOVEMBER 2019

Photos: James Cullum

Above: Charles Studholme of One Good Tern.

At left: One Good Tern has been in Alexandria for decades.

Below: One Good Tern kind of feels like being inside of a bird house.

Below: One Good Tern, 1710 Fern St. is closing.

by a father who worked in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He keenly remembers his first birding experience, which occurred when he was five years old.

He was at a clambake on Plum Island with his family and met environmentalist Rachel

Carson, who told him all about the birds he was marveling at on the beach. They watched as a small collection of cute birds raced after the receding water on the shoreline, leaving little tracks, and then ran away from the water as soon as it rushed back to

shore.

“She pointed at these little birds running on the beach after the waves and she said, ‘Look at those! Those are sanderlings. They run down the beach after the wave and then run back so they won’t get wet,’” Studholme said. ” I never did get to Alaska, but my lower 48 life list is 582 species. There was a time when that was a pretty big deal.”

Buying The Birding Shop

ton, and after the shop closed turned his attention to nature photography, bathroom remodeling, and organizing birding trips around the country. He started working at One Good Tern part-time in 2000, and a year later owner Jenny McNair, a former employee who bought the shop from its original owner, convinced Studholme to buy it from her.

“I got to put my own mark on it and continue a legacy that was already well known in the birding community,” Studholme said. “It took a number of years to build the binocular selection inventory, and we wound up at our peak with 20 different manufacturers and about 100 models in stock. We had undoubtedly the best selection of birding optics in one place you can put your hands on at least in the Mid-Atlantic.”

Studholme has never tried for the ultimate in birding – going for a Big Year, which is a huge competition for enthusiasts who race around the world in an effort to identify as many species of wild birds in their habitats. He does, however, know all of the real-life birders portrayed in the film “The Big Year” with Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson.

“I know all of the protagonists in the movie, and prior to that the book,” he said. “you know, birding is all about the honor system. You don’t say you saw something when you didn’t, and you try to try to be really sure before you start blowing horns and mistakes are made.

And most of the birders very quickly own up to it and explain why they made mistakes. It just is a good community where people help and share with each other. It’s like hunting, but you just get to write it down.”

For 17 years, Studholme was the manager of Williamsburg Hardware in ArlingTHE ZEBRA PRESS

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BUSINESS PROFILES Old Virginia Tobacco Company to Take Over The Scottish Merchant/John Crouch Tobacconist THIS WILL BE THEIR SEVENTH LOCATION IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

BY JAMES CULLUM What’s your favorite cigar?

Well, the spot you might usually go to pick it up in Old Town is changing hands.

Old Virginia Tobacco Company is taking over The Scottish Merchant/ John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King Street, and over the course of the next couple of months you’ll start seeing some major changes.

“It’s an old shop and it needs some investment, and that’s what we’re going to do,” said Gary Pesh, the owner of Old Virginia Tobacco. “I’m excited for the opportunity. The guys that work there now are great, and we’re going to keep them. They’re dedicated tobacconists.”

All the Scottish memorabilia is on sale, and that includes kilts, hats, jackets, and jewelry. The shop will also undergo a renovation, and Pesh anticipates closing for only a

Photo: James Cullum

Old Virginia Tobacco Company is replacing The Scottish Merchant/John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King Street.

week to do some of the major work in January of February. Once refurbished, the shop will have a lounge at-

mosphere, with couches and a television.

“We’re going to do a complete refurbishment with up-

Founded in 1971, Old Virginia Tobacco has six other locations, and is a member of the Tobacconists Association of America, which entitles it to special cigars from such celebrated brands as Arturo Fuente and Padron.

Dan Geller owned the shop for more than 30 years, and merged it with the existing Scottish Merchant business.

Now, all Scottish clan and jewelry items are on sale, and that includes kilts and jackets.

John Pann has worked at the shop for several years, and said he’s looking forward to the renovations.

“It’s a great place to work,” Pann said. “From what I understand, it’s going to look like the other Virginia Tobacco Company stores. They’re pretty nice and they’re all over the area.”

grades, and that means new paint, a new floor and walls, and a new product mix,” Pesh said.

ROAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58

Making Music In Alexandria Patrick co-founded Virginia Coalition while attending T.C. Williams High School.

Three years after graduating, he decided to become a fulltime musician, and toured the country for nearly a decade before settling back down in Alexandria to open his rock school in 2011.

“We did a lot of amazing things, played with a lot of amazing bands, shared the stage with some really big acts. They were some of the best moments of my life, It was so much fun,” Patrick said. “When I was a kid, if my mother told me that there was a place like ROAM, I wouldn’t have refused.”

Patrick was a teenager when he realized he wanted to be a musician. He never played for the school band, preferring sports to music class, and spent his spare time learning to rock out with his friends on a drum kit bought for him by his parents. Incidentally, Patrick’s mother, Roxann, is the office manager at ROAM. “I would play every day after school, and it was just infectious. I couldn’t stop. Still, I would have to say that it

60 ZEBRA PRESS

Future rock star Ebin Trail plays drums at ROAM.

took me probably well into 10 years of playing and touring with the band and watching all the drummers in all the bands we played with, that’s when I became a lot more cerebral about it. It definitely took time,” Patrick said. “We did very well. I’m super proud of what we accomplished, when you consider how hard it is to be a touring musician. When we were on the road we hardly had to keep warmed up, because we were playing show after show... It was your typical rock and roll lifestyle. I mean, we’d play a show that would be over at midnight, we’d be done loading out at 1:30 and then we’d have to decide whether to drive nine hours to Tennessee or stay in a hotel, or go halfway.”

ROAM Is On A Roll Patrick has outgrown his current footprint, prompting him to lease four additional studio spaces on Mount Vernon Avenue. ROAM currently employs 17 music teachers, and many are touring musicians like Anthony Pirog, who plays in the Fugazi rhythm section, and Adam Orlando, the drummer for RDGLDGRN. “They’re able to bring that real world experience right into the classroom with these kids, and give it to them firsthand,” Patrick said.

Orlando has taught with ROAM for the last seven years, and spends a good chunk of the year touring with RDGLDGRN. He’s currently teaching more than

John Patrick outside ROAM, 114 E. Del Ray Ave.

70 students in Alexandria, and said that he teaches kids more than just how to play music, but also communicating with other players, making charts of songs, and learning parts to songs.

“Some people don’t even know how to approach learning a song. They get overwhelmed, and they give up.

I wish I’d had something like this when I was a kid,” Orlando said. “Musicians tend to develop very strong personalities, and they can be good leaders, too. And you can see a lot of times with musicians that when they’re in a group of people, they’re usually the alpha.”

Patrick, who also lives in Del Ray with his wife and four-year-old daughter, has seen impressive growth in his

students. The trick, he said, is in making it collaborative and fun.

“I have no interest in telling somebody kind of music I think they should be playing,” Patrick said. “A really important thing is how the kids are learning at a young age to communicate, to compromise. I know firsthand that musical artistic ideas are collaborative. So, you need to learn how to compromise and how to come up with ideas that work for you and for somebody else. They learn these concepts early on in life through this program while working as a band with their fellow peers.”

Find out more at www.roamdelray.com.

NOVEMBER 2019

REAL ESTATE BEAT

BY ALLISON GOODHART

Look for a Stronger than Usual Fall Market

BY ALLISON GOODHART

even further in mid-September by the Fed. They cut interest rates by a quarter point to a target range of 1.75 to 2 percent, along with a 30-basis-point cut to the interest paid on so-called excess reserves. So this is a great time to buy or refinance! Please let us know if you need a recommendation for a local lender to talk to about your options.

The fall market has arrived!

So far in 2019, the Alexandria market has been strong, with some neighborhoods seeing their property values rise. Overall, however, sales in the City of Alexandria are down 17.3 percent year over year, the median price is up 1 percent, and the median price per square footage is up 5.2 percent. So, what is affecting these changes and how are things shaping up for the fall market? As we see it, the five areas below have had the biggest impact on today’s market in our city.

4. Talk of a looming recession

homes that are priced right and prepared properly for market are seeing increased prices and generating more attention from buyers. We’re also seeing a big increase in off-market sales due to programs like Compass Coming Soon. So far this year, our team has sold 34 homes (26 percent of our team’s total sales) off of the active market!

If you’re a buyer and aren’t working with a local agent in the know, you could be missing out on opportunities as

homes are selling before they ever reach the MLS.

There is a lot of chatter in the news about an impending recession. However, 65 percent of CFOs say the U.S. economy will not experience a recession in 2020, and a majority of CFOs say that the current level of interest rates are “appropriate.” (CNBC) As of now, recession discussions haven’t had much of an impact on our local market.

3. Interest rates are low again!

5. No federal elections or government shutdowns

TASTE FOR GIVING

auction and I will say people scared me a little during the last ten minutes — it was competitive. Suddenly, tiny little women seemed like NFL defensive ends blocking you from getting a touchdown.

And of course, one thing that couldn’t be ignored that was unique to this year’s Taste for Giving was the Washington Nationals playing in the World Series. The Rotary Club handled it head on, sending word out earlier via social media that the game would be live streaming. There were projectors

1. Amazon HQ2 is having an impact Last fall, speculation around a potential Northern Virginia HQ2 caused investors and developers to watch our market more closely. When the news hit at the end of 2018 that National Landing was officially the location for Amazon’s second HQ, the market was impacted overnight. Although we haven’t yet seen a notable influx of Amazon employees, we have seen a rush of renters wanting to purchase while more and more potential sellers have cited the Amazon

Photo courtesy of the Goodhart Group

decision as a reason to hold onto their properties (even though it is a very favorable time to sell!). And this leads us to point #2.

2. Historically low inventory + off market sales What explains the decrease in sales and increase in price?

Low inventory! While it has been a trend over the last couple of years in our market, 2019 inventory is at a record low. Low inventory means

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 54

Auction Fever

Photo: Breanna Shaw, Photography by Brea, LLC

Kinley Strohl and mom Michelle Strohl get teary during the reception.

BRIDE

About DKMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

to do the same.”

Seventy percent of people suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers must rely on donors outside their families. It’s critical that organizations like DKMS have as many registered donors as possible to increase the likelihood of having a match.

If you want to register to be a potential lifesaver, you can request a swab kit online through DKMS at dkms.org.

NOVEMBER 2019

DKMS is an international nonprofit organization, founded 28 years ago in Germany by Dr. Peter Harf when he lost his wife Mechtild to leukemia. Peter promised her that he would help every blood cancer patient find a matching donor. At that time, there were only 3,000 potential stem cell donors available to provide a transplant in Germany and within one year of founding DKMS, the number of stem cell donors increased to 68,000. Today, DKMS, which stands for “Deutsche KnochenMarkSpenderdatei” (in German) translates to “German Bone Marrow Donor File,” has registered over 9 million potential donors worldwide.

One of the ways they attract funds is through the auctions.

Another friendly face we ran into was former Councilman Frank Fannon, who donated a stay at his place in Naples, Florida for the live auction. Other things up for bid included a getaway to Little Washington, and a private dinner for six with renowned Chef Barry Koslow.

There was also the silent

Interest rates are still incredibly low, and real estate loves low interest rates! Last fall, we saw rates increase steeply only to come back down earlier this year. They dropped again at the end of summer and have remained consistently attractive since then. Rates were lowered

Even while this talk of a recession continues, there are no federal elections or talks of a government shutdown this fall. Historically speaking, this means we should have a stronger than usual fall market.

all around and come eight o’clock, it was, “Play Ball!”

Some people dressed with nods to the Nats, and we saw people doing the Baby Shark thing. It was pretty special to be in a room with so many locals watching the World Series while doing so much good for Alexandria.

Jennifer Holtzman is the author of the Old Town Post, a local blog chronicling the adventures of she and her husband, Miles, in and around Alexandria.

Tempo and Nando’s Restaurants were among the many showcasing their best.

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ASSIGNMENT EDUCATION

SCHOOL BRIEFS

Courtesy photo

Mayor Wilson and Senator Adam Ebbin joined Councilwoman Del Pepper and Child & Family Network Center’s Executive Director Lisa Carter and staff for the grand opening of two new classrooms.

The Child & Family Network Centers Open New Classrooms EXTENDING SERVICES INTO ALEXANDRIA’S WEST END THANKS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SUPPORT Forty-five children in the West End area of Alexandria will have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten educational services in new Child and Family Network Centers’ (CFNC) classroom space.

CFNC used a combination of public funding, private contributions, and pro bono support from across the Alexandria community to create classroom space in a West End apartment complex. The Alexandria City Council approved $41,000 for the renovation as a part of their initiative to expand access to Early Education in the community. The rest came from private donations including Marietta McNeil Morgan and Samuel Tate Morgan Jr. Trust, Van Metre Foundation, and an anonymous donor.

“Early education is a priority for The City of Alexandria and we are honored to partner with The Child and Family Network Centers to provide free preschool to Alexandria families in this underserved community,” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson.

Local architect, Mike Detomo of Cole and Denny Architects, donated his services to design the space. Biscayne Contractors completed the renovation and provided pro bono services to ensure the project was completed on-time and on-budget.

“In 1984, mothers in Alexandria started CNFC to ensure their children would be ready to learn when they started school. Today, we are proud to continue their vision by opening these classrooms in the neighborhood where they are needed the most. All of Alexandria’s children deserve access to high-quality pre-K, and adding these classrooms to the other six we operate ensures children in our community are ready to learn and succeed,” said Lisa Ferrari Carter, Executive Director of CFNC. The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC) provides free preschool education for 139 children and families living at or below 250% of the poverty line, who earn too much to qualify for Head Start but not enough to afford their children with a private preschool education. Providing a unique blend of preschool education and family support services including free health services, in-home visits and counseling, CFNC currently operates 8 classrooms in apartment complexes, recreational centers and other locations throughout Alexandria where these families live. Learn more at http://cfnc-online.org.

All Alexandria City Public Schools Fully Accredited for First Time in 20 Years “IT HAS TAKEN THE HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT OF SIX SUPERINTENDENTS AND MANY STAFF OVER THE COURSE OF 20 YEARS TO GET ACPS TO WHERE IT IS TODAY,” SAID SUPERINTENDENT GREGORY C. HUTCHINGS, JR. The Alexandria City Public School system has hit a milestone! For the first time in 20 years, all schools within ACPS are fully accredited for the 2019-20 academic year.

The Virginia Department of Education confirmed that all ACPS schools met the state benchmark for the first time since the accreditation system first began in 1999. Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School will be fully accredited for the first time since 2008. T.C. Williams High School, which has missed accreditation benchmarks in recent years, is also

fully accredited.

“This kind of success doesn’t happen by chance, nor does it happen overnight.

It happens through planning, preparation and dedication for all students to experience success regardless of their life circumstances,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. “It has taken the hard work and commitment of six superintendents and many staff over the course of 20 years to get ACPS to where it is today. We are delighted to see the progress of our work validated. This will benefit our entire Alexandria

community.”

While the accreditation results are positive for ACPS, the school division is also aware that it still has much work to do to ensure all students are engaged in a high quality education. Reading in particular will be a key focus area for ACPS this school year. Although achievement gaps have narrowed, ACPS continues to see achievement gaps within math and English among Hispanic students, Black students, economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

Photo: John David Coppola.

The 2018 T.C. Williams High School Graduation.

This School News page made possible by

TWG

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62 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

The Basilica School of St. Mary Celebrates 150 Years in Alexandria AND THE SCHOOL WILL BEGIN ITS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION PROJECT NEXT SUMMER!

BY JAMES CULLUM Back in 1869, the Basilica School of St. Mary opened its doors to 40 students – 20 boys and 20 girls. These days, 150 years later, the Catholic school is at capacity with 711

students and waiting lists for most grades except kindergarten. On the weekend of Oct. 18, the school celebrated its past with an anniversary weekend that included a family day and alumni dinners.

“It has always been a great

representation of what the city is looking for in terms of a parochial school,” Principal Daniel V. Cinalli told The Zebra. “Right now we are just about maxed out with what our current footprint can hold. We have a wait-

Courtesy image

Rendering of the completed Basilica School of St. Mary.

ing list on most of our grades.

We’re hoping with the expansion we will be able to increase our capacity a little

bit.”

The school, which has been

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

Mention this ad and get first lesson FREE upon registering for your first month of lessons

Supporting Alexandria musicians since 2011

Private Lessons for All Ages and Rock School Program

114 E. Del Ray Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301 (703) 838-2130 • ROAMDELRAY.COM

Photo: James Cullum

Celebrating 150 years of the The Basilica School of St. Mary.

Walk through the doors of Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School on any given morning and chances are high you will see children engrossed in a book while riding bikes — albeit stationary ones. Head over to our Chance for Change Academy or Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology and you will find similar scenes as students study and cycle at the same time. And soon, Mount Vernon Community School will be excitedly welcoming their own fleet.

For April Rodgers, physical education teacher and founding staff member at Ferdinand T. Day, the value of the bikes is immeasurable.

“From helping children with autism to focus, to physical well-being to boosting brain power, the possibilities are endless. Learning to incorporate movement into their day gives our students a strategy for life. They

NOVEMBER 2019

GRADES K–8

Brain-Boosting Stationary Bikes Coming to All ACPS Elementary Schools Effective Communicator Independent Learner Community Minded Citizen Balanced Individual

START STRONG. START HERE. Photo: ACPS

are empowered by learning that movement is so important,” said Rodgers, who was named ACPS teacher of the year in April.

Dr. Rene Cadogan is the principal at the ACPS Chance for Change Academy, an alternative high school classroom environment that caters to students who need a different setting to the traditional school setting. He took delivery of seven stationary bikes last

year and can vouch for the benefits.

“When we have students who come here stressed or angry we find spending five to ten minutes on the bikes gets the frustration out and we often use them to prepare for the day,” Cadogan said. “We’ve noticed a big difference — the students go into class engaged and levels of concentration have improved.”

At ACDS, we challenge and inspire students with a rigorous curriculum in a safe, welcoming, and studentcentered environment. The result: confident, caring, and futureready community members who distinguish themselves as exceptional communicators.

www.acdsnet.org

Join us for an OPEN HOUSE: Nov 2  Nov 14  Dec 10  Jan 9

THE ZEBRA PRESS

63

Worship WORSHIP DIRECTORY ANGLICAN Christ the King Church 1801 N. Quaker Lane Alexandria, VA 22302 (703) 535-6815 www.ctkalexandria.org Opened 2006

Services

Sunday Worship services at 8:30 & 10:00 Sunday Education & Formation at 11:30-12:15 Tuesdays: Worship service at noon

BAPTIST Alfred Street Baptist Church 301 S. Alfred Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 683-2222 www.alfredstreet.org Opened 1818

Services

Saturday at 6:00 pm Sunday at 7:30a m 9:30 am and 11:30 am

CATHOLIC Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 1427 W. Braddock Road Alexandria, VA 22302 (703) 998-6100 blessedsacramentcc.org Opened 1946

Services

Weekday Masses 6:30 am and 8:30 am/ Wednesdays 7 pm Saturday morning mass 8:30 am/Vigil Mass 5 pm Sunday Masses: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm (Spanish), and 5 pm

EPISCOPAL Christ Church 118 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-1450 www.historicchristchurch.org Opened February 27, 1773

Services

Sundays: 8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite I 10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite II (with Children’s Chapel) 5:00 p.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite II with laying on of hands for healing Wednesdays: 12:05 p.m. - Chapel of Bethlehem

To be part of our Worship Directory and pages, please contact Mary Wadland, mary@thezebra.org or 703-919-7533.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 228 S. Pitt Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-3312 www.stpaulsalexandria.com Opened 1809

Services

Sundays 7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I - a traditional spoken service.

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Family Service - a child-friendly service featuring the children’s choirs and Damascus Road Dogs band, with and messages geared to the littlest worshipers.

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Choir - a service using contemporary language that incorporates the music of St. Paul’s Adult Choir.

Children’s chapel is offered as part of every 11:00 a.m. service. The children depart for the choir room before the Gospel reading for prayers and a brief homily; they return to the service at the Peace.

The first Sunday of the month is Rite I. 2:00 p.m. South Sudanese worship service in Dinka 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II with Healing - a candlelit service that incorporates elements of ancient practice with timeless music in a modern context.

Saturday Faith@5 service at 5:00 p.m. in Norton Hall (“A comeas-you-are service of Holy Eucharist”) and Wednesdays 12:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist in the Chapel.

EPISCOPAL/ANGLICAN Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill 3606 Seminary Rd. Alexandria, VA 22304 Phone: 703-370-6555 www.Immanuel-on-the-Hill.org Opened: 1941

Services

METHODIST Alleyne A.M.E. Zion Church 1419 King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Services

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00a.m. Worship Service 703-548-3888 Established 1949

Beverley Hills Community UMC 3512 Old Dominion Blvd.

Alexandria, VA 22305 www.bevhillsumc.org Opened 19438 A Reconciling Community where all are welcome and a VOICE member congregation.

Services

Services weekly Sunday at 10 am Sunday School for all ages at 9 am Nursery for 5 and under

Del Ray United Methodist Church 100 E Windsor Ave Alexandria, VA 22301 www.delrayumc.org 703-549-2088

Services

Sunday School Classes for all ages at 9:15am Worship 10:30am on Sundays Prayground (Children's Service) 2nd & 4th Sundays of the Month at 9:15am

Sundays 8:00 AM - Holy Eucharist, Rite I, Zabriskie Chapel, 3606 Seminary Rd. 9:00 AM - Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Zabriskie Chapel, 3606 Seminary Rd. 10:15 AM- Sunday Education and Formation 11:00 AM - International Anglican Congregation Holy Eucharist, Zabriskie Chapel, 3606 Seminary Rd. 11:15 AM - Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Immanuel Chapel, 3737 Seminary Rd. WEDNESDAY EVENING 6:00 PM - Holy Eucharist, Zabriskie Chapel, 3606 Seminary Rd. MONDAY-FRIDAY MORNINGS 10:00 AM - Morning Prayer, Zabriskie Chapel, 3606 Seminary Rd.

Trinity United Methodist Church

JEWISH

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

2911 Cameron Mills Road Alexandria, VA 22302 (703)-549-5500 www.trinityalexandria.org Established 1774

Services

Sunday School classes for all ages 9:30am Worship 11am Each Sunday Child Care provided 9:30am-12:30am Trinity’s Table (dinner and programs) Wednesday nights 5:30pm-9pm

Beth El Hebrew Congregation

All Saints of America Orthodox Christian Church

3830 Seminary Road Alexandria, VA 22304 (703) 370-9400 www.bethelhebrew.org Opened 1871

A mission of the Orthodox Church in America

Services

Services

Shabbat Every Friday Night 7:30 pm Torah Study Saturdays 9 am Shabbat Morning Service Every Saturday 10:30 am

LUTHERAN Immanuel Lutheran Church 1801 Russell Road Alexandria, VA 22301 (703) 549-0155 immanuelalexandria.org Opened 1870

Services

Sunday Divine Service, 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday: Matins, 11:00 a.m. (when school is in session); Vespers, Evening Prayer, Compline, or Divine Service (check schedule), 7:00 p.m.

Services at Reineker Hall at Cameron United Methodist Church 3013 Franconia Road, Alexandria https://www.orthodoxalexandria.org/ Divine Liturgy, Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Vespers, Saturday 5:00 p.m.

Archpriest Michael Koblosh 703-417-9665

PRESBYTERIAN Westminster Presbyterian Church 2701 Cameron Mills Road Alexandria, VA 22302 (703) 549-4766 wpc-alex.org Opened 1942

Services

Sundays 8:30 AM in the Chapel 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary Sunday School classes at 9:45 AM. .

Visit www.thezebra.org to sign up for subscriptions 64 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Church of the Woods In 1773 an Alexandria news until given the name Christ source stated, “Christ Church Church in 1816. It was deis built so far outside of the clared a National Historic tiny town of Alexandria that it is called ‘the church of the woods.’”

Christ Church, 118 North Washington Street, opened its doors in 1773 to serve the Church of England’s Fairfax Parish. The building was designed by Col. James Wren, a Photo above taken from a stereograph card, circa 1861-1869. descendant of Sir Christopher Wren.

George Washington helped Landmark in 1970. fund the construction of the Christ Church now has church. more than 2,400 members Until the twenty-first cen- and is in the heart of the tury, it was tradition for sit- City of Alexandria. All are ting presidents to attend a welcome. Tours are availservice. Franklin Roosevelt, able Monday through SaturWinston Churchill, and El- day from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. On eanor Roosevelt visited the Sundays there are worship church on January 1, 1942 to services in the morning and commemorate World Day of evening with tours available Prayer for Peace. The church from 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. was known as Fairfax Church

Blessing of the Animals On Sept. 28, 2019, Trinity UMC Alexandria held its annual Blessing of the Animals with many community participants acknowledging their love for their pets. Annually now, on or around October 4, Christians worldwide celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis with a blessing of animals.

The Rev. Grace Han led the blessing, which was open to all, and each pet received a special certificate. In attendance were dozens of dogs and one cat.

Photos: Lucelle O’Flaherty

Tour de Faith Alexandria Bridging Religious Divisions HOW MANY HOUSES OF WORSHIP HAVE YOU ATTENDED IN ALEXANDRIA? THESE FOLKS ARE GOING ON A YEAR-LONG TOUR...

BY JAMES CULLUM Prejudice can be compounded by ignorance, and a new local group is launching an effort to bridge divisions and eliminate animosity between religions with an interfaith tour of houses of worship throughout the area. Tour de Faith Alexandria started during the summer with 10 members, and the group will held a community launch event at Beatley Central Library on Sunday, Oct. 13.

“This is an opportunity for Alexandrians to come together in groups to visit and worship in places that are different from their own,” said Blair Forlaw, a member of the Tour De Faith Alexandria steering committee. “We recNOVEMBER 2019

ognize that Alexandria has an abundance of various kinds of people who attend different houses of worship, and we think in many cases we are skeptical or apprehensive of our neighbors of different races primarily because we don’t know them.”

The event included Opening comments from Alexandria Living Legend Rosa Byrd, a presentation by City Demographer Sierra Latham, a conversation on “Understanding Our Religious Identities” with Benjamin P. Marcus, a religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center, a speech on changing communities by Rev. Dr. Angelique WalkerSmith, and closing thoughts with Opal Boyer of the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

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SPORTS Best of the Best: Titan Athletes Inducted Into ACPS Hall of Fame “I’M IN GREAT COMPANY. I APPRECIATE IT AND RESPECT IT!” SAID INDUCTEE TANYA GALLOWAY-WHITE

BY MATT THOMPSON A group of Alexandria’s most illustrious former student athletes were honored Oct. 3 at T.C. Williams High School to celebrate their induction into the annals of history. More than 250 people attended the event, including Alexandria’s finest athletes of the past and their families.

“These athletes represent who we are as a city and a school. They represent Alexandria’s past in the form of the ’71 Titans who stood up for integration, our present students who stand up for equality and know it is not yet a finished task, and our future Titans who will continue the work to see an equitable learning environment in all schools for all students,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. The sixth annual Alexandria City Public Schools induction also featured presenters T.C. Athletic Director James Parker, and speaker and Hall of Fame member James “Jimmy” Lewis, a former Parker-Gray HS basketball star, who was also the first

their contributions to the advancement of civil rights. Julius Campbell, for instance, was a member of the newly integrated and 1971 state championship winning Titans team that went 13-0 and was immortalized by the film “Remember the Titans.”

Before integration, the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

Photos: Matt Thompson

The sixth annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at T.C. Williams High School, Oct. 2, 2019.

African-American coach ever at Duke University.

“These athletes represent our Titan spirit and have demonstrated first-hand not only great determination but also the values for which T.C. Williams stands,” said James Parker, the director of athletics and student activities at T.C.

The 2019 Inductees: • Julius Campbell - Football, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1973 • Walter Densmore -Basket-

•

• • • •

ball, George Washington High School, Class of 1957 Tanya Galloway-White -Track and Field, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1988 Ricky Garcia - Track and Field, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1979 Cavanaugh Hagen - Basketball, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 2001 Frank Holloway - Basketball, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1977 Samella Koroma - Track and Field, T.C. Williams

High School, Class of 2007 • Arnold Thurmond Basketball Coach, Parker-Gray High School • Glenn Williams - Basketball/Football, T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1984 • The 1957 Boys Basketball Team, ParkerGray High School Many of the evening’s honorees were recognized not just for their athletic prowess but for

From 1975-1977 Frank Holloway played basketball, football, and track.

He led the basketball team to a 28-0 record and earned a football scholarship to the University of Florida.

Domination: Bishop Ireton’s Marymargaret Quinn is the Zebra Athlete of the Month!

“I’VE LEARNED THAT IF YOU WORK AS HARD AS YOU CAN, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL,” QUINN SAID.

BY MATT THOMPSON Bishop Ireton’s Marymargaret Quinn is a beast on the playing fields of any sport she chooses! The senior Cardinal is currently a forward on the varsity field hockey team, but it’s really on the lacrosse field that she shines. The 18-yearold will take a partial athletic scholarship to play lacrosse at the University of Richmond next fall. In the meantime, however, she’s tearing it up as the leading scorer of the field hockey team with seven goals this season.

“I have two older brothers, one’s 24 and the others 20, so I grew up playing against them, and all the neighborhood boys,” Quinn said.

66 ZEBRA PRESS

Photo: James Cullum

Marymargaret Quinn at Bishop Ireton High School.

“They would play backyard tag, football, and other sports.

My brothers were the hardest on me when it came to backyard sports. They wouldn’t let me play with them unless I

was good enough to compete.

They didn’t want me to embarrass them in front of their friends, and I am super competitive because of that.”

Cardinal Field Hockey

Coach Erin Simons credits Quinn’s success to twice-aday workouts in the off-season, being aggressive on the field, and being a good teammate. Quinn transferred to BI in her sophomore year and immediately started playing on the varsity team.

“She has that quick first step. She’s first to the ball and she’s tenacious in the circle,” Simons said. “She’s not only a great field player, she’s a great teammate. She’s been the captain for two years and she is just phenomenal with her teammates.”

Quinn is also a player in the U.S. Lacrosse National Team Development Program, and in her spare time likes to snowboard, hike, cook, and

hang out with her friends.

The Interview The Zebra: Are you going to put down the field hockey stick when you get to the University of Richmond?

Quinn: I probably will put it down just because the stress of one college sport. It’s a lot and I don’t know if two sports in college would be the best thing for me.

The Zebra: What does it take for you and the team to be successful on the field?

Quinn: On the field, leadership. You lead by example.

Everyone’s eyes are on you,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69 NOVEMBER 2019

SPORTS Over the Bar: Tynita Butts Wants to Make it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games THE ALEXANDRIA HIGH-JUMPER HAS A WINNER’S MENTALITY.

BY MATT THOMPSON Noah Lyles isn’t the only T.C. Williams Titan making headlines on the track. Tynita Butts most recently represented the United States this past month at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, placing eighth in the women’s high jump. She jumped 1.93 meters (almost 6 feet 4 inches), which is a personal best.

“That’s definitely one of the highlights of my career,” Butts said, “I’m just chasing my dreams. I want to make it to the Olympics, that’s my goal.”

The 28-year-old Butts is no stranger to accolades. She’s

Photo: Facebook

Tynita Butts makes it over the bar.

been setting records since joining the T.C. Williams track team in 2006, where she was also a decorated sprinter.

Butts broke T.C. Williams’ records in the 200 meters, the 100 meters, the long jump, and the high jump.

“I’m the first female in the state of Virginia to jump 20 feet in the long jump,” Butts said. “I don’t think anyone has touched it yet.”

Butts earned the top ranking in the country for the high jump in 2009, her senior year, and the number two rank in the long jump.

She was a four-time Nike Outdoor champion, a twotime state champion, and a two-time Penn Relays champion in the jumping events.

She has also been named a Washington Post Athlete of the Year, a Gatorade athlete of the year, and was inducted into the Alexandria City Public School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. She attended

East Carolina University on a full track scholarship.

Before her track career Butts grew in rural Georgia where she played outside with her three siblings.

“I grew up in Georgia, you know, the country,” she said.

“We raced bikes and ran, racing each other at the park, and I realized that since I was beating all the boys, that I was pretty fast. I started in track at age eight as sprinter and then later I started jumping.”

Butts and her family moved to Alexandria in 2006, and her journey as a track and field athlete hasn’t always been smooth. Throughout her career she has had to over-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 68

Where It All Started: Noah and Josephus Lyles Come Home to T.C. Williams High School “IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST AND DO SOMETHING THAT NO ONE HAS EVER DONE, YOU NEED TO CARVE A PATH THAT NOBODY HAS EVER TAKEN,” NOAH LYLES SAID.

BY JAMES CULLUM Did you catch Noah Lyles win the 200 meters at the World Athletic Championships in Qatar earlier this month? He finished the race in 19.2 seconds! The former T.C. Williams Titan returned home to Alexandria with his brother, fellow pro athlete Josephus Lyles, to talk to students about track and to give the school a little present.

“I’m donating this trophy to you guys,” Noah, 22, told T.C. Williams High School Track Coach Michael

Hughes. “This is my fourth Diamond League Trophy.

Nobody has won four Diamond League trophies.”

The brothers, who currently live and train in Clermont, Florida, return once or twice a year to their alma mater.

The pair became professional athletes after graduating from T.C., and have signed with Adidas. They are currently training for the 2020 Olympic trials.

Home Again In Alexandria “I was in high school like three years ago, and it feels

Noah Lyles presents T.C. Williams track coach Mike Hughes with his IAAF Diamond League Trophy.

NOVEMBER 2019

weird coming to high school and seeing all the kids,” said the 21-year-old Josephus.

“Having them come and take pictures with you, it’s like, man. I was that kid three years ago.”

T.C. running coach Michael Hughes said that the brothers were great teammates.

“It was very obvious at a very early age that they are as good as they are,” Hughes said. “They were awesome as teammates. They were always willing to run the next race.

All the way through they ran

Photos: James Cullum

Josephus (on left) and Noah Lyles at T.C. Williams High School, Oct. 10, 2019.

everything they could and they were always game for it.”

Setting Their Sights On Olympic Gold Josephus, who holds the American Junior record in the

T.C. Williams High School runners look at Noah Lyles’ 200m gold medal from last month’s world championship.

4x400 meters relay, joined his brother straight out of high school to become a pro athlete.

“We’re thinking about the Olympics. That’s the great stage,” Josephus said. “So, we’re definitely visualizing it, getting ready for it.”

Noah, who has said that he plans on winning three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, said that a goal that he and his brother share is to be the best in the world.

“If you want to be the best and do something that no one has ever done, you need to carve a path that nobody has ever taken,” Noah said, who credited much of his success to the running program at

CONTINUED ON PAGE 69 THE ZEBRA PRESS

67

SPORTS T.C. Alum Realizes Dream of Being Redskins Photographer

BY MARY WADLAND Elijah Griffin, Sr. has been known to throw a football or two in his life, but basketball was really his game. He probably could have given pro sports a shot himself, but he loved photography just as much. Plus he always dreamed he’d photograph Washington’s famous football team from the sidelines.

“After three years of calling, emailing, and reaching out to various people, tonight I finally reached my dream of being a photographer at an NFL game,” said Griffin during a preseason game on August 15.

A few weeks later, Griffin noted, “Being an NFL Photographer is a lot of hard work. I have a lot of respect for the ones that do it because it is not as easy as it looks. I almost passed out from all the walking around, but I made it.”

Griffin’s passion for sports comes honestly. His dad, Oreal Griffin Sr. was a three-time state champion, with Parker Gray High School (1955-57) who was voted in the top 100 athletes in Alexandria history by the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club and was posthumously inducted into the Alexandria City Public Schools’ Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

Griffin is also the Executive Direc-

of 2017 from colon cancer. It has given scholarships to four T.C. Williams students this year.

When not catching the Redskins in his lens, Griffin also covers DC United, the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, and own his own photography company, Griffin Vision. He lives in Alexandria with

his wife, Michele, and their two children, Peyton, 6, and Elijah Jr, 4.

“The best part [of being an NFL photographer] is being able to see players up close and talk to them about various things in addition to football,” Griffin told the Zebra. “It’s my dream job. It’s everything I expected and more.”

Photos: Elijah W. Griffin, Sr.

T.C. Williams teacher Felix Trammell and Elijah Griffin, Sr. on the sidelines at FedEx field. Said Griffin of this photo taken on September 4, “Just two kids born and raised in Alexandria, VA trying to carve out our spot in this industry. Once a Titan, Always a Titan.”

tor of the Debra Deneise Smith Foundation (https://www.debradsmithfoundation.org), a nonprofit started to honor his mother who died in August

Football is Family. Ohio State alumni Dwayne Haskins, Nick Bosa, and Terry McLaurin pose for a picture after the game.

BUTTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 67 come plenty of injuries.

“I started getting injured at the high school level. It started with ‘jumper’s knee’, and my worst injury was my ACL tear at the NCAA championships in 2014. I was in the running to win against a girl from Romania, and on my second attempt I tore my ACL. I felt it. I had jumped well enough before the tear that I ended up getting second place,” Butts said, “Then I tore my meniscus. I’ve had a tear in my ankle, and I’ve almost broken my neck in the high jump because there was a brand-new mat that wasn’t broken-in yet.”

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Butts has not let any of these serious injuries keep her down.

“I think I am mentally stronger because of what I’ve been through. I know that I can overcome a lot more if I put my mind to it,” Butts said, “I’ve learned that if you don’t believe in yourself in this event, nine times out of 10, if you don’t believe you’re go-

ing to get over that bar, you’re not going to get over it. That’s what I really love about my job in track and field. It really prepares you do deal with a lot of rejection and adversity in life.”

Besides the life lessons Butts has learned from athletics, she also enjoys the perks of being an international athlete.

“I enjoy meeting people from all over the world. I’ve made friends with two Australian high jumpers. They’re so awesome and so sweet. I just love the different languages.

Track is a sport that brings everyone together.”

What’s Next for Tynita Butts?

Currently, Butts is living and training with her husband, track star Roger Townsend, in Arizona. Butts has just proudly received a professional sponsorship from Puma, which will help alleviate some of the financial burdens of being an Olympic hopeful. Her next steps in competition are the Diamond League circuit, a professional league in Europe, followed by another World Championship, and finally the Olympic Trials which will be held next June in Eugene, Oregon.

NOVEMBER 2019

QUINN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66 and so, I like to think of leading by serving, by getting the balls in the cages and just being a good example for my teammates.

The Zebra: So, you do a lot of the grunt work?

Dan Blaine and his son, Finn, 1, a future student at The Basilica School of St. Mary, at the schools’ 150th anniversary celebration, Oct. 19, 2019.

BASIILICA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63 at its current location since 1950, will undergo a $12 million expansion next summer.

The building entrance will be renovated, elevators and handicap access ramps will be added, the school buildings will be linked by a large connector building, which will include a 3,000 square foot media center, and there will be a new tower dedicated to St. Mary.

Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of St. Mary’s Basilica, said that the school has grown by consistently instill-

ing positive values in students.

Incidentally, St. Mary’s was founded in 1795 and is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“The important part of the faith is education,” Hathaway said. “It’s not just a secular school with the religion class added. It’s a gospel atmosphere, so you have people of faith who choose to teach here, parents who want the values and virtues that they want to form in their children, and we talk about God and have a biblical understanding of the world. People who have God in their lives seem to be happier and find peace and meaning.”

Quinn: Yes, exactly and then taking that into life, I’ve learned that if you work as hard as you can you will be successful. And so, I do my

TOUR DE FAITH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 Yavapai-Apache Nation and Grassroots Alexandria, and Lance Fisher of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe Tour de Faith Alexandria plans to visit houses of worship for the next year. For every tour, a guide will meet with visitors before the service or provide reading material explaining certain theologies and holy rituals that might be unfamiliar. By receiving context for each tour, participants can better understand the service, improving

ACCREDITED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 62

Work Left To Do James Lane, the Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, congratulated Alexandria educators.

“Alexandria’s accomplishment is especially noteworthy given how far the division has come,” Lane said. “The journey to accreditation has been strategic due to a great team of teachers, educators, and leaders who have an equitable and innovative focus on every child. We have followed

NOVEMBER 2019

Upcoming Outings for Tour de Faith Alexandria Nov. 16 – Interfaith breakfast and meal packing with Islamic Relief USA Dec. 3 – Christ Church, for their choral evensong Dec 20 – Hanukkah celebration at Beth El Hebrew Congregation

the growth trajectory in Alexandria for the past few years with excitement and know it has taken the entire community and many partners to make this moment of celebration possible.”

This past school year, ACPS has been deliberate and intentional about developing and implementing improvement planning for all schools, with a particular focus on math. This includes analysis of data in quarterly meetings, monthly professional learning, and intensive equity training for instructional leaders.

The Zebra: How do you react to unruly teammates who might not prescribe to your philosophy?

Quinn: I try to be supportive. I think bringing negative energy into things isn’t going to make a good impact. So, I try to be positive about it and lift them up and try to get them as excited about something as I am. If you bring

Ricky Garcia Track 1st Team All-American reached the semi-finals at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials. Led TC to their first Virginia State Indor Championship where he won the 1600 and placed 2nd in the 1000 meters.

ACPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 66

the overall educational value.

At the kickoff, the grassroots group told participants about their principles and distributed the following itinerary for the first three months of the tour.

You can join the group at any time.

best in the classroom, I work as hard as I can. I do it at home with my chores. I try to put my all into whatever I’m doing so that I’ll be successful.

1957 Parker-Gray Boys Basketball Team boasted a 26-0 record against teams in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. The team won the school’s third consecutive state championship, and was invited to the National Negro High School Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee.

Cavanaugh Hagan, a multisport athlete who lettered in basketball, soccer, and tennis, flew all the way from San Diego to be recognized as one of

LYLES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 67 T.C. “Most of the things that I do today [are] because of what I learned in high school. So, we learned visualization... We learned how to prepare days in advance for track meets, we learned how to travel through high school.”

Noah said it can be weird to be called the fastest man on the planet.

“I always imagine it with this thought when you’re a kid and you imagine, ‘Oh, I’m going to be the greatest.’

You keep saying it and saying it and by the time you get there, you’re like, ‘I thought I already was,’” he said. “It’s kind of like that.”

A Winning Mindset While they train four hours

them down too much it’s not going to make them any better. I just try to be positive.

The Zebra: What motivates you?

Quinn: I like to win. But I also just love being out here.

When you’ve got a group of people and we’re all working hard to achieve the same goal, I think that’s pretty cool. You don’t get that, really, in school. It’s something you really get from playing on a sports team or being a part of a club. It’s a family.

Cavanaugh Hagen earned four varsity letters in basketball, three in soccer and three in tennis.

She was the most valuable player in basketball and soccer, and earned all-district honors in basketball. She earned more than 1,000 points during her basketball career with the Titans.

the women receiving plaques at the evening’s proceedings.

“I walked in and I’m so used to seeing the gym differently,” Hagan said. “Just seeing this magical group of Alexandria athletes and their family members supporting each other; I was blown away by everything. I didn’t know what to expect, but it surpassed my expectations.”

The night culminated with each inductee escorted through an arch of Reserve Officer Training Corps sabers to a platform in front of a draped wall. Once everyone was gathered, the curtain

was lifted, revealing a row of polished golden plaques, each with a portrait of the athlete and their accomplishments.

Tanya Galloway-White, a former T.C. Williams shot put champion who still lives in Alexandria and mentors youth in the community.

“I’m grateful to have been in the presence of all these people. They did an amazing job. The city of Alexandria showed up and showed out. Everybody felt honored,” Galloway-White said. “I’m in great company. I appreciate it and respect it!”

a day, winning is more than athletics. A lot of it is a mental game.

“In track and field you have a call room, and that’s the area you’re in before you go into a track meet,” Noah said. “A lot of people will lose that race in that call room. You can just look into somebody’s eyes and see, ‘Oh, you don’t believe you’re going to win,’ and you can even see it on the line. I can watch a track meet on TV and look at races, and I’m like, ‘That person doesn’t believe they’re going to win. They’re not going to win.’”

Noah said that winning in his sport takes teamwork even in individual races.

“Yes, we are an individual sport, but you have more teamwork happening than you might think,” he said.

“You have agents, doctors, sports psychologists, family,… explaining to them how you

are feeling at all times is probably the best thing you can do for yourself, because they can’t help what they don’t know.”

T.C. senior Athena Salomons was in disbelief that the Lyles brothers were back at T.C. “The fact that they’re here hasn’t exactly hit me yet,” said Salomons, who runs track, and plays lacrosse, soccer, and swims for the Titans. “Like, when you go to a school that just produces so many successful people and you see them - I don’t know how to put it into words. It’s insane. A couple of years ago these people were in the same position that you are in, and now they are literally at the top of the world. And I don’t even know if it’s registered for them yet, either.”

THE ZEBRA PRESS

69

Alexandria’s Senior Ambassadors deliver valuable information about local resources to adults and their families.

Photos: Courtesy of Alexandria Senior Services

Making a Difference in an Older Adult’s Life through Volunteering

BY MARYANNE BEATTY On November 12, Senior Services of Alexandria will honor its Volunteer Corps at an annual appreciation luncheon. This is our chance

BY MARY LEE ANDERSON to thank our most dedicated supporters for their commitment to helping older adults age with dignity. SSA couldn’t carry out its mission MARYANNE BEATTY without these terrific people.

They are the backbone of the organization, as well as the heart and soul.

SSA is always looking for additional folks to deliver meals, pay a friendly weekly visit, shop and deliver groceries, deliver food for pets of low-income seniors, and share information about upcoming activities and services across Alexandria’s various communities. Check out the details of our programs and the wide range of volunteer opportunities: Meals on Wheels – SSA delivers Meals on Wheels 365 days a year to more than 100 Delivering Meals on Wheels is a direct way to prevent hunger among older or homebound residents.

SENIOR LIVING

seniors who are homebound or have limited mobility.

This translates to over 50,000 meals a year! To volunteer for this vital service, you must

complete an application, undergo a background check, and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.

SSA provides training. The

Deep friendships often grow through the Friendly Visitor Program, as has been the case for Mrs. S and volunteer Dina.

70 ZEBRA PRESS

time commitment is flexible.

Meal deliveries start at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 11:45 on Sunday. It takes about an hour and a half to complete an assigned delivery route.

Groceries to Go – This program pairs volunteers with seniors with limited mobility who have difficulty doing their own shopping. Clients choose to have SSA do their shopping at either Giant or Safeway every two weeks, and they may place their order over the phone. Our volunteers deliver and unpack the groceries, thereby helping older adults get food they like while maintaining their independence. There are some 80 senior clients in the program.

The time commitment for each volunteer is about two hours.

Friendly Visitor Program – SSA pairs volunteers with socially isolated older adults for weekly visits. Over 3,000 friendly visits are made each year to more than 60 seniors.

Volunteers agree to visit their senior for about an hour every week for at least six months.

Training is provided. In many

CONTINUED ON PAGE 77

Groceries to Go volunteers help older adults eat well and nutritiously.

NOVEMBER 2019

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20% off Tuesdays

Purple Goose Reunions

10% off dry-cleaning

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10% off any tour for 2 (with online code SilverService)

10% discount, Weekdays, 11am-5pm, on food and non-alcoholic beverages

10% off all merchandise on Mondays

Stomping Ground

10% off in-store purchases

Free Small Coffee, Tuesday – Friday

Wear Ever Jewelry

Purchase 3 home care visits, get 1 free

10% off all purchases (except special orders & classes)

Hairy Situations Dog Grooming

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Tempo

10% off lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch (Does not include Monday/Tuesday dinner specials (three course dinner for two plus a bottle of wine) or holidays and special events.)

Theismann’s Restaurant 15% off food and nonalcoholic beverages

Trademark Drink and Eat

Vola’s Dockside Grill

Free Fountain Drink with Sandwich, MondayFriday before 5pm

Caffi Services, Inc

Hysteria Old Town

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Palette 22

Pork Barrel BBQ

ing consultation ($200 regular fee) and 25% off on-going coaching

10% off all clothing

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Greener Cleaner 20% discount

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Health

15% off any grooming package, Tuesday-Friday

Ease Yoga & Café

Premium Family Dental

10% off any class package

25% off for Premium Family Dental

Four Directions Wellness 5% discount on Four Directions Wellness educational offerings

PK Move $60 for 10 classes (based on availability)

Teamdunston, LLC 10% off all personal training packages

Services Atlas Services 10% off all services

Blue Apricot $50 off 90-minute initial Executive and Life Coach-

Poppy Nails & Spa 10% off all services Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10:00am-4:00pm

Ready Hands Home Care 1 free 4-hour shift and 10% off of services on an ongoing basis

Salon DeZEN 10% off

Financial John Marshall Bank – Alexandria office Additional .10% on nonpromotional CDs

This space made possible by The Hoffman Family and the Hoffman Town Center NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

71

IN THE DIRT

BY RAY GREENSTREET

Refreshing Your Home With Air-Cleaning Plants

BY RAY GREENSTREET On a large scale, we can appreciate that the trillions of trees in the world work around the clock to absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from our atmosphere.

While it’s completely natural to worry about the pollution outside your door, you might not be aware of the pollutants that are emitted right inside your house. Luckily, decorating your home with air-purifying indoor plants can help to refresh your living space, making it a cleaner and safer environment for you and your family.

The Best Indoor Plants for Air Quality The cleaning ability of plants is just one of the benefits of bringing them home.

Luckily, there is a variety of efficient air-cleaning houseplants to choose from, so you can make sure yours check all the boxes for both function and beauty! Here are the best indoor plants for improving air quality: Spider Plants: Named for their long, narrow foliage, spider plants are low-maintenance houseplants that are perfect for newbies! They look great spilling from hanging containers, filtering out formaldehyde and xylene from above. Water them a few times a week and your

Photos courtesy of Greenstreet Gardens

Both Boston ferns and spider plants are efficient at cleaning indoor air.

spider plant may even reward you with some dainty, white flowers.

Golden Pothos: A charming, climbing houseplant with heart-shaped leaves and yellow streaks, golden pothos is perfect for cascading over hanging baskets or windowsills.

It tolerates bright indirect or low light or fluorescent lighting indoors.

Pothos are toxic if ingested, so you’ll especially want to keep them up high if you have any dogs, cats, or children that might want to nibble on their leaves. This pothos cleans the air in your home, ridding it of a variety of pollutants. It’s super easy to care for, just water when the plant gets dry, and then you can set it out of reach and pretty much forget

The charming Golden pathos is easy to care for, but don’t forget to water!

Easy to love the beauty of English Ivy, but keep them away from pets and children.

about it.

Dracaenas: Dracaena plants offer a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, so there’s bound to be one to suit your space. Many cultivars are large, tree-like plants while others are smaller. The houseplant dracaena exhibits an upright form no matter the cultivar. Their foliage and eye-catching color patterns are sure to be a focal point in whatever room they’re in.

Care involves keeping the soil of a houseplant dracaena moist, but never soggy.

Drooping or yellowing leaves

indicate over-watering or poor drainage. Learning how to care for a dracaena includes finding well-draining soil in which to grow your houseplant dracaena. This houseplant will remove a variety of pollutants from your home, without asking for much in return. Dracaena is toxic to dogs and cats, so place it out of reach of your furry friends!

English Ivy: It’s hard not to fall in love with the delicate, dark green leaves of English ivy, and those who suffer from environmental allergies will love them even more! This climbing evergreen removes not just pollutants, but also airborne mold, allergens, and even airborne feces from your home. Since English ivy can flourish in a range of light conditions, including lowlight, it’s a good idea to stick them in a hanging basket or a high shelf because they’re toxic to both animals and people.

Boston Ferns: As one of the first plants ever to be recognized as a houseplant, Boston ferns have had a long time to perfect their air-cleaning abilities. They’re one of the best plants for filtering toxins and molds, and you’ll find that their finely-toothed, pinnate leaves and shaggy appearance add character to the room.

They’re a little higher maintenance. They need bright indirect light such as a northfacing window, and like humidity and cool temperatures (60-70 degrees, always away from a heat source). Allow the top third of the soil to dry out before watering as they don’t handle overwatering well.

They are not toxic and anyone can easily learn how to care for them properly.

We have more than enough hazards to worry about these days. Your home should be a haven—a place where you feel safe and comfortable.

Breathe a little easier knowing these guys are working day and night to keep your home fresh and clean.

Read us online at http://digital.thezebra.org 72 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

ON WATCH

BY MARCUS FISK

Can You Spell Impeach?

BY MARCUS FISK The U.S. has a wonderfully rich, riveting, bouncy history. No literary novelist could make this stuff up.

Every so many decades in America, We the People simply get bored with elections as staged and we start mumbling “impeach.”

The Floundering Fathers1 knew a lot about our populace and realized that, once in a while, a P.T. Barnum might slip through the cracks of our system and wind up at the helm of the country (or in some pivotal office) and wreak havoc with the natural order of things. These characters, argued the Fathers, had to be held in check and, if need be, voted out of office rather than removed by a coup d’etat of angry locals carrying pitchforks and torches, hell-bent on poking or torching anything to show their displeasure.

So the wise Fathers included a kind of “In Case of Emergency: Break Glass” in Article II Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. Impeachment. Just in case one of these guys crawled out of the sludge and shed darkness wherever they went.

Our first foray into impeachment was with our 17th President, Andrew Johnson. In the waning days of the Civil War,2 Abraham Lincoln was looking at the Gallup Poll of his day and realized that, since the war wasn’t over and he had to secure some loyal southern voters in the election, he needed a southerner to balance the ticket. Besides, his current VP was Hannibal Hamlin from Maine,3 an abolitionist and not that popular south of the Mason-Dixon line. And who would vote for a guy named Hannibal twice?

Lincoln selected Senator Andrew Johnson to come on his ticket since Johnson was, like Lincoln, a man of humble beginnings. Johnson’s mother was poor, a single mom in North Carolina who had indentured young Andy to a tailor, James Selby. Andy didn’t get much schooling at all. His future wife Eliza taught him to read and cipher when he wasn’t handstitching some of the finest suits in the Piedmont.4 Eventually, Andy took off from Selby’s shop and ran away to Tennessee, where he got into politics when he wasn’t altering someone’s trousers. He held all sorts of offices until he wound up a Senator. When the war broke out, Johnson split with his party and opted to stay with the Union instead of heading south to Richmond5 with the Confederates.

Well, it worked and Lincoln was re-elected. Everyone went absolutely gaga over the pairing of LincolnJohnson as a sign of the times—until the inauguration. Andy liked to tip a few and showed up hammered. He gave a rambling, largely incoherent speech at the inauguration until some of his fellow politicos escorted him off the stage.6 Lincoln gave a smashing speech, which helped ease the bad PR. A month later John Wilkes Booth

NOVEMBER 2019

Photos: Library of Congress Digital File

Andrew Johnson always looked like he had just bit down on a lemon but was well respected for staying with the Union during the Civil War. It was only later that Congress discovered that this was his look when he learned they were impeaching him. It’s not an appealing look but his wife Eliza was just crazy about him.

shot Lincoln and while he was slipping these earthly bonds, someone in the cabinet at the president’s bedside said, “Hey, someone better get Andy, quick.”

Johnson was sworn in as president and then things took a turn for the worse. Although Tennessee had gone anti-slavery and Johnson had signed the legislation, he wasn’t what you might call a strong advocate of newly freed slaves doing anything other than jobs in the “service industry” and certainly not running anything.

He gave great speeches about equality and the Constitution but he clearly had missed the memo and many of his references included the ‘n’ word.

At a speech in Cleveland he said, “I am sworn to uphold the Constitution as Andy Johnson understands it and interprets it.” Then, in 1867, he got into a skirmish with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a Lincoln appointee, over which generals to appoint to what assignments and things got really ugly. Finally, Johnson had troops try to forcibly remove Stanton from his office. Congress went ballistic.7 And that’s when Congress first employed Article II and the House of Representative impeached Johnson for high crimes and misdemeanors.

In May 1868 the Senate convened for the trial of Johnson with Chief

Justice of the Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase presiding. Johnson is reported to have said at the time, “Notwithstanding a mendacious press; notwithstanding a subsidized gang of hirelings who have not ceased to traduce me, I have discharged all my official duties and fulfilled my pledges.”

After ten days Johnson was acquitted by a vote of 35-19. It was one vote

by Senator Edmund Ross of Kansas who swung the balance by voting “Nay” on the vote to find Johnson guilty. Ross was heralded as a man of great principle by many, including having a chapter devoted to him by Senator John F. Kennedy in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage. Historians have since disclosed that Ross wasn’t really the deciding vote, that some four other senators were waiting to vote “No” as well, depending on how the vote went. But at that time, Ross commanded the headlines. Unfortunately, Ross lost his bid for re-election to his senate seat two years later.

Since 1868 the country has impeached two presidents, Johnson and Bill Clinton. Both were acquitted.

Clinton was impeached because he said “yes to the dress” in a sex scandal and then lied about it under oath.

Richard Nixon was threatened with impeachment because several of

Endnotes Yes, I meant ‘Floundering Fathers.’ These energetic and morally-driven men tried valiantly to cobble together a country with absolutely no Ikea assembly or operating instructions. The fact that we have a functioning country of any kind today is a testament to their creativity as well as their sense of humor. Remember, many of our most lasting tenets, clauses, doctrines, and laws were established in our founding taverns, pubs, and boarding houses of the time.

1

OK – since we’re in Alexandria I know I should have said the War Between the States or, as another Virginian corrected me, the Great Unpleasantness. But, then again, I was born in Ohio and I think we won, so we can call it whatever we want.

2

Maine is about as far north as you can get in the U.S. unless you burned your draft card or loved Canadian geese or great skiing.

3

Not many men had suits in North Carolina in those days but if you did, you called on Andy Johnson. He was the Halston of the Piedmont.

4

5

If you saw pictures of Richmond back then, who could blame Johnson?

General U.S. Grant was known to imbibe, too, but he was beating the pants off the Confederate Army. Johnson was known for great alterations of pants but wasn’t as good a drinker as Grant.

6

Back in those days you couldn’t fire cabinet members under the Tenure of Office Act. My, how times have changed.

7

Eliza McCardle Johnson later in life. She taught her husband to read and write and was totally enamored with his tailoring, but she stayed in her White House room the entire time he was President.

his buddies broke into the Democratic National Headquarters in an election year and he lied when he said he didn’t know about it. At the time he said, “I am not a crook.” But when Congress investigated and a bunch of his friends and staff members said that “…there was a cancer growing in the White House…” and that Nixon was in on it, he resigned before being impeached.

Many thought that he had gone over the edge, wandering the halls of the White House with a scotch on the rocks in his hand, talking to presidential portraits. Years later, Nixon was trumpeted as a great statesman whose only hubris was that he just couldn’t stand losing, so he did anything to win.

Since 1789 Congress has initiated impeachment 62 times, including 15 federal judges, 13 district court judges, a court of appeals judge, an associate Supreme Court justice, a senator, and a cabinet secretary. But their track record on getting rid of recalcitrant presidents hasn’t been good, so we’ll just have to see how they do this time at bat.

One good thing for Washington D.C. during this Impeachment Season is that, as of this writing, the Nationals are headed to the World Series. Regardless of where you stand on our current impeachment soiree, and whatever the WS outcome, we can all cheer on the great season the Nats gave us to enjoy.

Marcus Fisk is a retired Navy Captain, Naval Academy graduate, sometime actor, sculptor, screenwriter, pickup soccer player, and play-wright.

He and his wife Pamela are former long-time residents of Alexandria and currently live in Connecticut where they travel the New England shore in their 42’ Grand Banks Trawler ADAGIO.

THE ZEBRA PRESS

73

Alexandria Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters There's nothing like your own bed

Put Your Business Here

The Zebra Press 11/19 Sudoku

get the best pet sitter.

Call Kevin Dauray 703-635-0491 or email kevin@thezebrapress.com

703.278.2275

The Unleashed Pet www.theunleashedpet.com

19 Crossword

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NOVEMBER ANSWERS

PUZZLES ON

Sudoku SolutionPAGE 50

CROSSWORD

Solution

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74 ZEBRA PRESS

M I L T O N

T A L R I O L I S O N T A B S T L O U E N S I S B E N I D E N I R E R S P K I N

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8 9 6 7 2 3 5 1 4

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NOVEMBER 2019

Training Time

QUOTABLES

The best way to thaw a frozen turkey? Blow in it’s ear.

—Johnny Carson

By Sandy Modell

Holiday Cheer for You and Your Dog

BY SANDY MODELL As the holiday season approaches, the air is filled with excitement and glee. We look forward to spending time with family and friends, preparing and eating traditional comfort foods, partaking in holiday libations, and enjoying the smells and sounds of the season.

This time of year can be lots of fun but it can also be stressful. This holds true for our family pets, as well. Dogs can be particularly vulnerable to holiday stressors because they can’t prepare for many of the things that come with it.

There may be an onslaught of new visitors, particularly little children running around that your dog may not be used to seeing.

Suddenly, the house becomes decorated with all sorts of new stuff that can be concerning or outright harmful to your dog. Although humans understand all this holiday hubbub, dogs may need to be desensitized to these environmental changes. Extra precautions should be made to keep your dog safe around plants and foods that can be dangerous to them.

Manners and Life Skills: Dogs, Holiday Guests, and the Ham Everyone appreciates a dog with good manners. A dog that can gracefully interact with family and friends during the holidays is a joy to behold. But not all dogs are there yet, and some may not even want to interact with the guests. If you haven’t brushed up on your dog’s appropriate

King Street Cats is proud to be the only all-volunteer, cat-exclusive, no-kill rescue facility in Alexandria, Va. Because we are a free-roaming facility, you can come visit with the “cat-friendliest cats” in town.

To meet a King Street Cat, please email contact@kingstreetcats.org.

SKIPPER Male, age 6 months Playful baby boy loves to be hugged

GRACE

door greetings or addressed his excellent counter surfing skills, then managing his environment to set him up for success is key. How many dogs can resist a ham or a sweet potato pie sitting on the counter if they are not trained to do so?

Although holiday commotion and festivities can overwhelm dogs, there are tips and guidelines to follow to keep your four-legged family members safe and happy, so that everyone can have a very merry holiday season: • Create a “safe zone” for your family dog, such as a crate, a comfy room away from holiday hubbub, or on the other side of a baby gate. Kids running around, doorbells ringing, noise, strangers coming and going—all these can be very stressful for your pet.

• Provide your dog with mental and physical ex-

ercise before your guests arrive. Play recall games, ball retrieve or tug. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog!

• Prepare some frozen Kongs, stock up on bully sticks, Himalayan yaks, or the like. Before you sit down to the holiday table, filled with all sorts of wonderful smells and goodies, designate a place for your dog to go so he can enjoy his own smorgasbord.

• Never leave your dog unattended with children.

Even if your dog loves kids, supervise all interactions. Always think safety first!

• Teach children how to interact with your dog.

Many dogs don’t like to be hugged or patted on the head. If your dog is timid around kids, provide a safe and comfortable space for him to get away from the kids.

• Interactive food puzzle and treat dispensing toys can occupy your dog and keep her relaxed while your guests are in the next room having some holiday cheer or ringing in the New Year. Not only will you engage her physically, you’ll challenge her ability to problem solve and lessen her boredom while you’re tending to your guests.

• Don’t tempt fate by leaving delicious holiday goodies in your dog’s reach. Mince pies, plum

Female, age 6 “One and only” best friend has a truly prize-winning purrrr

WANDA (A.K.A. LITTLE NUGGET) Male (yes, male), age 6 months Sweetest kitten with soulful eyes is a super snuggler

TUX Male, age 5 Handsome, quiet boy will be your loyal companion

TIGER Male, age 5 Handsome sweetheart seeks quiet purrson to love, love, love

LUCKY Male, age 1 Sweet boy with excellent manners wants to be your “one and only” best friend

TIZZY Female, age 11 Impeccably mannered girl adores snuggling on the couch with her purrson

Our adoption open houses are every Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

KING STREET CATS

25 Dove Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 www.kingstreetcats.org

CONTINUED ON PAGE 77 NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

75

Where Will Your Paws Go Today?

By Karen Johnson, PawsGo

Wandering Old Town’s Red Brick Sidewalks

BY KAREN JOHNSON

In October, Conde Nast Traveler announced that Alexandria ranked third in Best Small Cities in the U.S. This honor was bestowed upon us by Conde Nast Traveler’s readers.

Our great town was bested only by Charleston and Santa Fe. PawsUp for us!

The travel magazine readers noted Old Town’s red brick sidewalks and street after street of charming row houses. I agree. Boomer, Poppy, and I love to wander Old Town’s main streets, side streets, and alleys, never knowing what might be around the corner. Wandering like this is great for a dog’s enrichment. Actually, it’s visually and mentally stimulating for all three of us!

On a recent fall morning, we took the path through Waterfront Park and popped up on Union Street, where we made a wonderful discovery and a new friend.

Old Town Books is a new, independent, and locally owned book shop located at 104 South Union Street. This shop is warm, friendly, and charming. It’s packed with carefully curated titles and, best of all, it’s dog friendly. They even have a shop dog named Scout, who will greet you upon entering. Scout also provides book recommendations; you can find his picks on the store’s web-

site www.oldtownbooks.com.

We stopped in Old Town Books just as one of their popular book clubs was ending and I noticed that one of the participants had her dog!

From Old Town Books we took our time going street to street, enjoying the historic row houses that made Alexandria a traveler’s favorite.

I let Boomer and Poppy determine our route, so it’s no surprise that we landed in front of The Enchanted Florist at 139 S. Fairfax Street. They weren’t looking for flowers. All Alexandria dogs know that there is a bone box packed with dog treats right outside the shop.

While we’ve passed The Enchanted Florist and made a withdrawal or two from the bone box numerous times, today we made a great discovery: Cooper, The Enchanted Florist shop dog. Cooper is very well behaved, friendly, keeps an eye on the shop, and most likely alerts the

All photos: Karen Johnson

The Bone Box, the worst kept dog secret in Alexandria!

Scout is the shop dog at Old Town Books, find his favorite reads at www.oldtownbooks.com.

Boomer recommends dog-friendly Old Town Books.

76 ZEBRA PRESS

Cooper greets customers, minds the shop, and monitors Bone Box levels at The Enchanted Florist.

owners when the bone box is getting low!

Boomer, Poppy, and I walked around Old Town for about an hour.

In that time, we met wonderful people and friendly shop dogs, and we appreciated our good fortune to live in Alexandria.

Karen Johnson is the founder of PawsGo (www.pawsgo.com) the Alexandria-based online community for humans and their dogs, promoting an active lifestyle for both! PawsGo merchandise can be found online and locally at From Head to Tail Grooming and Spa, Bon Vivant Café and Farm Market and Reunions.

NOVEMBER 2019

HOLIDAY CHEER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 75 puddings, chocolate, and sugarless chewing gum all have ingredients that can be extremely toxic for our pets. The Christmas Poinsettia is also poisonous to dogs, so keep such plants out of reach. Remember, even the most well-behaved dog can turn into a counter surfer if tempted.

• Trash cans filled with turkey bones or other food stuff can be very tempting. Dogs are scavengers and resourceful animals.

Keep them out of reach or use a trash can with a locking lid.

• Keep small toys, wrapping paper, tinsel, ornament hooks, and the like out of your dog’s reach, just as you would with a small child. Dogs investigate the world with their noses and mouths, so prevention is truly the best medicine. Gift ribbons and dec-

VOLUNTEERING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 70 cases, long-lasting friendships form through these visits.

Animeals on Wheels – This partnership with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides food and supplies for the pets of low-income seniors. The food is delivered once a month. Volunteers collect pet food from the Animal Welfare League and deliver it to homes in the City of Alexandria. The time commitment is about two hours. Each volunteer must be able to lift and carry 20 to 25 pounds.

Senior Ambassador Program – This flexible volunteer opportunity can be accomplished right at home.

orations can be very harmful if eaten.

Household décor with moving or hanging pieces also pose a threat, so be sure to watch for these items.

• If your dog has a long waggy tail or is overly interested in the lovely tree you now have in your home, you may want to put a baby gate or x-pen around it. Neither broken ornaments nor knocked over trees will add to your holiday cheer.

• Consider enrolling your dog in a little pre-holiday manners class. Wholistic Hound Academy offers a number of one session behavior workshops that can help with effective tips and techniques to help you and your dog navigate through the holidays successfully.

Ambassadors serve as liaisons to their communities, delivering valuable information about local resources to adults and their families. Training is provided. Ambassadors receive a weekly message with timely updates to share in whatever way works best for their respective communities.

Right now there are 70 ambassadors at work in Alexandria, in residential communities, houses of worship, and senior centers.

If you want a way to give back to your community and to help older adults, give volunteering with an SSA program a try! You can get more information at SSA’s website, www.seniorservicesalex.org, or call the office at 703-836-4414. We want to hear from you.

Based in Del Ray and available online, PawsGo is a favorite of dog-lovers around the region and the country!

The holidays can be a wonderful time to reconnect with family and friends. Your dog

is part of your family and you should include him in the festivities. By following this list of guidelines, you can help set him up for success and keep him safe during the holidays. Wholistic Hound Academy wishes you and your canine companions a very safe and happy holiday season!

Allergies? Tummy Troubles?

We can help what ailes your pup!

We treat the Whole Dog — from stimulated play, overnights in their own suites to food & supplements that help kick allergies, tummy troubles, canine cough, immune issues, etc. Even some fun things for dog owners!

Check us out today!

4748 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 22304

(703)751-3649

www.wholedogz.com www.wholedogz.com/Store

430 Hume Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 571-312-7989 | www.headtotailspa.com

Have a dog that’s a joy to live with!

Local artists create our designs.

Merchandise is produced locally.

Many items support local animal welfare and rescue organizations.

Alexandria’s premier training and learning center for people and their dogs!

Wholistic Hound Academy

18 Roth Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22314

See them all at

www.PawsGo.com NOVEMBER 2019

Sandy Modell, CPDT-KA, is the Founder and CEO of Wholistic Hound Academy, Alexandria’s award winning, premier canine training and learning center -- offering classes and private lessons in puppy training and socialization, adult dog manners, behavior modification, agility, dog sports, canine fitness and conditioning, kids and dogs, pre-pet planning and pet selection. Classes starting soon! Visit www.wholistichound.com to enroll in our programs, like us on facebook.com/wholistichound and follow us on Instagram at Instagram. com/wholistichound.

703-962-6335 www.wholistichound.com

Private Lessons Classes & Workshops Agility & Dog Sports Positive Training Powerful Results

THE ZEBRA PRESS

77

Find your best bun

at the

rabbits like me love cuddles!

curious, smart and silly are my middle names!

i’m a couch bun-tato!

Think a pet rabbit is the right fit for your family?

STop by the animal welfare league of alexandria to meet adoptable rabbits like...

jerry DeSilva Studios, LLC

favorite places visited so far: that one extra comfy couch with the cozy blanket

bugs

phoebe

DeSilva Studios, LLC

has run out of witty replies to “what’s up, doc?” but will gladly discuss any recent netflix releases

Alison Lane Photography

Interests include treats, clicker training and heirloom carrot varieties

see all of our adoptable rabbits at alexandriaanimals.org/adopt

@AlexandriaAnimals

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

@AlexAnimals

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 22304

@AlexAnimals

703-746-4774 info@alexandriaanimals.org

78 ZEBRA PRESS

NOVEMBER 2019

Be a part of Alexandria’s favorite Thanksgiving morning tradition!

44th ANNUAL DEL RAY 2019

REGISTER NOW! www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com "As a Del Ray resident and former Del Ray Citizens Association president, I have seen the tremendous growth in the Del Ray neighborhood, thanks to the great efforts of the

Del Ray Business Association.

Del Ray is the perfect example of how small, local, and independently-owned businesses, working together with dedicated neighborhood volunteers, build strong communities."

-- ALEXANDRIA MAYOR JUSTIN WILSON

HOLIDAYS ON THE AVENUE IN DEL RAY Del Ray Holiday Kick-Off

December 8, 2019, 6 p.m.

Pat Miller Neighborhood Square

Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting, carols, an apparance by Santa, luminarias lining the Avenue, and more!

Shops of Del Ray’s Ladies’ Night Out December 12, 2019, 6 to 9 p.m.

Along Mount Vernon Avenue

Shop local and enjoy exclusive promotions while sipping wine.

Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl December 14, 2019, 12 to 6 p.m.

Along Mount Vernon Avenue

Take a break from the holiday bustle and enjoy specialty cocktails, beer, and food specials at select Del Ray restaurants during a community bar crawl to benefit local nonprofits.

Del Ray Holiday Pop-Up Market December 14, 2019, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Pat Miller Neighborhood Square

Find the perfect gift at this pop-up market featuring local artisans and at-home entrepreneurs.

Throughout the Season

Hand-painted holiday windows, a Christmas Tree decorating contest, and more!

The Del Ray Business Association is an organization of business owners and professionals that strive for growth, visibility, and success of our members. We serve as an advocate, representative, and educator for businesses within the community of Del Ray in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, to view our member directory, or to join the Association, visit www.visitdelray.com

NOVEMBER 2019

THE ZEBRA PRESS

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