Richmond Highway Revitalization Continues Apace

Vol. 13 No. 29
Serving Mount Vernon, Lee, and Alexandria
July 23, 2014 50 Cents
Richmond Highway Revitalization Continues Apace
From Huntington to Woodlawn, revitalization of the Richmond Highway corridor
is continuing this summer as projects large
and small proceed, and transit options for
the highway are under consideration.
Regarding transit, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit and contractor AECOM are studying options, with
the third and final public meeting scheduled for September, to include express
bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, and a combination of Metro extension and bus rapid
transit options, according to the Southeast
Fairfax Development Corporation.
At its next general meeting scheduled for
Wednesday, July 23, the Mount Vernon
Council of Citizens Associations is scheduled to consider a transportation committee resolution endorsing the “hybrid option” of Metro and bus rapid transit.
The resolution notes that the MVCCA has
urged Fairfax County, Virginia and federal
officials to install rail service between the
Huntington Metro Station to Fort Belvoir
along the Richmond Highway corridor for
more than 20 years.
The resolution states that the hybrid option, which includes the extension of the
Yellow Line underground to Hybla Valley and then bus rapid transit, “is the only
alternative under consideration that has
the ability to create long term economic
growth and bring significant investment to
Mount Vernon-Lee.”
Also, according to the proposed resolution, from Huntington via North Kings
Highway to Hybla Valley on Route 1, the
road infrastructure “does not have room
for dedicated transit lanes,” and adds that
the hybrid option is projected to cost $3
less per rider than a light rail system.
Staff photo/Steve Hunt
This view of Penn Daw from Beacon Hill shows the traffic congestion as well as the new construction of
mixed-use residential developments which will be bringing thousands of new residents to the area.
The resolution resolves that “the MVCCA supports and votes to endorse the hybrid option, including a bus rapid transit
system to be started immediately and a
two-stop Yellow Line extension to be constructed after 2025.”
It further resolves that the MVCCA supports out-of-turn Comprehensive Plan reviews for the entire Richmond Highway
corridor to create a long-term vision that
supports the extension of the Yellow Line
to Fort Belvoir and hence to Prince William
County to bring economic growth to a revitalized Richmond Highway corridor.
In the meantime, the SFDC in its July
Status of Projects report, lists the latest
information on the developments on the
corridor which include a new Fairfield Inn
at 6421 Richmond Highway in the Penn
Daw area, which is making progress, residential leasing at The Beacon of Groveton
at the corner of Richmond Highway and
Memorial Street is approximately 95 percent, CVS has filed a by-right site plan for
First the Stripping,
then the Striping
The
Virginia
Department
of
Transportation has been busy
stripping off the old pavement
on Sherwood Hall Lane between
Richmond Highway and Fort Hunt
Road, putting down new asphalt, and
re-striping the roadway to include
new bike lanes and left turn lanes
at major intersections, including at
Fordson Road, right.
Staff photo/Steve Hunt
the current Exxon property at the corner of
Richmond Highway and Lockheed Boulevard, and Fairfax Water’s water main
replacement project along the corridor is
continuing with completion anticipated
for this fall.
Also in Hybla Valley, Starbucks has applied for a tenant build-out permit for the
former Checkers location at at 7511 Richmond Highway, and at the former Homegoods store in the Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping center at 7844 Richmond
Highway, Ross Dress for Less is progressing with interior demolition.
Also, according to the SFDC, the leasing broker has publicized that Mattress
Warehouse is also moving to the center,
but there is no signage and no record of a
building permit application.
Residential mixed-use projects continue
to dominate new development at Huntington and Penn Daw in the area surrounding
the Huntington Metro Station.
In Huntington, the former 40-year old
VSE Building on Huntington Avenue has
been demolished and the developer, MRP
Realty has plans to replace it with a 390unit, four-to-six story multi-family residential development, a 15-story, 260,000
See Richmond Highway Page 8
Pets of the Week
Smokie is a neutered male,
black and red Miniature
Pinscher believed to be about
4 years old. For more information on adopting Smokie,
call the AWLA and ask for
information about animal
ID #A039734.
How Time Flies
Four Years Ago This Month …
Smokie
Snowflake
Gus is a neutered male,
black and brown Miniature Pinscher and Parson
(Jack) Russell Terrier who is
believed to be about 5 years
old. For more information on
adopting Gus, call the AWLA
and ask for information about
animal ID #A060770.
Tina
Snowflake is a spayed
female, white Domestic
Shorthair believed to be
about 4 years old. For
more information about
Snowflake, call the
AWLA and ask for information about animal
ID #A060511.
The “new” Martha Washington Library on Fort Hunt Road was readying for its
Grand Re-opening on July 10, 2010.
Gus
Tina is a spayed female, white
and brown tabby Domestic
Mediumhair and Manx who is
believed to be about 4 years old.
She is a calm, sweet kitty looking
for a forever home who enjoys
lounging around and greeting
people and loves to play with her
kitty toys. For more information
on adopting Tina, call the AWLA
and ask for information on animal ID #A059909.
… Martha Washington herself made an appearance
to cut the ribbon for her namesake library.
The Hollin Hall Animal Hospital is proud to sponsor the
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Pets of the Week.
For information on adopting this week’s pets go to
www.alexandriaanimals.org. (703) 746-4774
File photos
www.hollinhallanimalhospital.com
2
July 23, 2014
And over on Holland Road, four years ago this month, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community
Services Board hosted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated
Joe and Fredona Gartlan Center for Community Health.
Moran Barred from Entering Russia
Russia announced Saturday that
it is barring U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), along with 12 other
Americans, from entering the
country The Washington Post reported.
Moran said he suspects the action is due to his amendment
banning the U.S. purchase of helicopters from Rosoboronexport,
the Russian state arms dealer
and principal supplier to the the
Assad regime in Syria.
The Moran amendment in the
FY 13 and FY 14 Defense Appropriations Bills prohibits money from being used by the De-
partment of Defense to train the
Afghan Special Mission Wing
to operate or maintain Russianmade Rosoboronexport Mi-17
helicopters.
Both passed the House by overwhelming margins.
Most recently Moran joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers led
by U.S.Reps. Rosa DeLauro (DConn.) and Kay Granger (R-Texas) in writing Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel to cut off taxpayer
dollars to Rosoboronexport.
The group highlighted Russian
actions in Ukraine that threaten
the state’s “peace, security, sta-
bility, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity.”
Moran, a senior member of the
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has no plans to travel
to Russia.
“While this does clarify my
overseas travel plans, it seems
that the Putin regime would be
better served by addressing the
consequences of encouraging
and enabling Donetsk separatists
to perform such a heinous act of
cold blooded cruelty or utter incompetence that resulted in the
mass murder of nearly 300 innocent civilians,” Moran said.
Mount Vernon
Antique Center
Washington Area’s
Oldest Antique Mall
Custom Framing Available
Antiques, Furniture
Collectibles
Mon., Wed.–Sat. 11 am–7pm
Sun. 12 pm– 5 pm
(CLOSED TUESDAYS)
8101 Richmond Hwy.
Alexandria
703-619-5100
ginia colleges and universities by
focusing on accessibility, affordability and completion.
The event also included a special
presentation from Jason Bearce,
the Associate Commissioner for
Strategic Communications and
Initiatives at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education,
as well as a panel discussion on
existing promise programs across
the country.
Krupicka said he is looking forward to introducing legislation
and working with his colleagues
on these issues.
“Ensuring all families can afford, take advantage of and graduate from our state’s great colleges and universities is a critical
piece of ensuring that families
and our state thrives,” Krupicka
said.
Beth Lovain, a board member
for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, attended the event and
commented that it provided an
excellent opportunity for representatives from higher education
institutions and college access
programs to strategize on improving college affordability for
students in the commonwealth.
“As a college access program,
the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria is always looking for ways
to better support our students, not
just by providing scholarships,
but also by providing financial aid advising to help college
dreams come true,” she said.
“We will use the information
shared at the symposium to better
serve our students and look forward to working with Del. Krupicka and the General Assembly
to increase college access for all
Virginia residents.”
Krupicka said that he was impressed that in Indiana, with their
promise scholarship and other
financial aid programs, every
student sees themselves getting
some form of education after
high school.
“This is our goal in Virginia,
but we have not gotten to a place
where every student sees it as
their own goal,” he said.
— Staff report
Ft. Belvoir Getting New Elementary School
Fort Belvoir Elementary is already one of the largest, if not the
largest, elementary school in the
Fairfax County Public Schools
system and the Washington Metropolitan area serving approximately 1,200 students from PreK through sixth grade.
Fort Belvoir elementary, a
136,000 square foot facility with
57 classrooms, opened in September 1998, replacing three existing elementary schools.
But even the current facility is
not large enough to handle the influx of students which have come
to the area in recent years.
Friday, FCPS announced that it
has been awarded a $23.7 million
grant by the U.S. Department of
Defense which will be combined
with nearly $6 million in nonfederal matching funds to construct a new elementary school
on the post, as well as to renovate
the existing school.
In addition to the renovations,
the grant will fund construction
of a new school with 20 general
education classrooms with a projected completion by the start of
the 2016-17 school year.
The new school will create a total available capacity for nearly
1,600 students, which will allow
FCPS to address both current and
future capacity issues and allow
for enrollment growth.
FCPS Supt. Karen Garza said
the funds will enable FCPS to
meet the growing enrollment at
Fort Belvoir by providing additional capacity for the children of
active duty military personnel.
“Overcrowding has been an ongoing issue at Fort Belvoir Elementary and, as a temporary solution, we moved some students
to schools off the base,” she said.
Fort Belvoir officials and FCPS
agreed that base students should
remain on base property and
grant funding will enable us to
See New School Page 10
mountvernonvoice@
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www.mtvantiques.com
info@mtvantiques.com
GRAND
Krupicka Tackling ‘Higher Ed, Lower Debt’
Virginia’s public colleges and
universities are well-respected
across the country as among the
best in the nation, public or private.
However, for many young
adults with aspirations of attending a prestigious college such as
the University of Virginia, even
in-state tuition is out of reach for
many.
On July 16, state Del. Rob Krupicka (D-45th) along with the
Education Trust and the Lumina
Foundation’s Strategy Labs hosted the “Symposium on Higher Education; Higher Ed, Lower Debt:
College for All in Virginia.”
The event was attended by Virginia Secretary of Education Ann
Holton as well as representatives
from the lieutenant governor’s
office, the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia and financial aid officers from colleges
and universities across Virginia.
The symposium, held in Charlottesville, focused on finding
short- and long-term steps that
could be taken to improve Vir-
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OPENING
Saturday, July 26
Grand Opening Discounts
On Every Store Item
Through August 1, 2014
UCM’s Back Porch Thrift Store
has relocated to
8794-A Sacramento Drive
(In the Sacramento Shopping Center next to the Dollar Tree)
One mile north of Ft. Belvoir Main Gate
www.backporchthrift.org
www.backporchthrift.org
Store Hours:
Mon-Sat 10-6:30
Sunday 12-6:30
Donation Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10-5
Phone: 703.799.7015
Bring this ad in for 20%
off your next purchase.
Valid through 8/15/14.
MVV-02
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July 23, 2014
3
COMMUNITY NOTES
IMVH CEO to Address
MVCCA Wed. Night
UCM Seeking Donations
for School Supplies
The Mount Vernon Council of Citizen’s
Associations,invites the public to meet the
new CEO of the Mount Vernon INOVA
Hospital, Deborah Adoo. Adoo will make
remarks and take questions as a prelude to
the MVCCA’s regular monthly meeting on
Wed., July 23 at 8 p.m.at the Mount Vernon
Government Center on Parkers Lane.
The MVCCA’s general meeting will begin at approximately 8:30.
organize and distribute the supplies.
Road, starting at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, go to www.ucma- On Friday, July 25, Billy Coulter will pergency.org or e-mail alexandra.delgado@ form roots/rock at Mount Vernon Nights
at Grist Mill Park, 4710 Old Mount VerNow through Wednesday, Aug. 6, United ucmagency.org.
non Road, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Community Ministries is seeking backOn Saturday, July 26, Alexandria Kleztet
pack and financial donations for school Free Summer
will perform jazz/jewish music at Mount
supplies so that 1,000 low-income students Concerts Continue
Vernon Nights at the Workhouse Arts
in southeast Fairfax County will be prepare
The area’s free summer concerts continue. Center at Lorton, 9601 Ox Road, at 7 p.m.
for the upcoming school year.
The deadline for donations is to allow On Wednesday, July 23, Nora Jane And on Sunday, July 27, Tamecca will pertime for UCM to place the bulk orders for Struthers & The Party Line will perform form R&B, jazz, pop and rock and roll at the
discounted supplies and to fill the back- roots/rock music at the Lee District Nights Fort Hunt Park on the George Washington
packs. Volunteers are also needed to help series at Lee District Park, 6601 Telegraph Memorial Parkway starting at 7 p.m.
CRIME LOG
ALCOHOL ENFORCEMENT
CHECKPOINT
Franconia-Springfield Parkway/
Spring Village Drive, 7/18/14.
Officers conducted a DWI checkpoint searching for drunk drivers.
Six-hundred-ninety-four vehicles
passed through. Seven drivers
were charged with DWI and two
summonses were issued.
The following incidents were
reported by the Mount Vernon
District Station of the Fairfax
County Police Department for
the period July 15 — 21.
INDECENT EXPOSURE
*Janna Lee Avenue 8000 July 17,
12:55 a.m. A woman had stepped
outside her residence when a man
exposed himself. The suspect was
described as black and wearing
dark clothing.
ROBBERY
*Richmond Highway 7600 block
— July 17, 4:43 p.m. The victim
was sitting inside a restaurant when
two suspects approached him. The
suspects assaulted the victim and
took cash and property from him.
The victim was transported to a
local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Responding police
officers located the suspects and
took them into custody. Khareem
Anthony Joyner, 19, of Woodbridge was charged with robbery
and assault. A 17-year-old Alexandria area male was charged with
robbery and illegal possession of
tobacco by a juvenile.
BURGLARY
*Republic Court 7500 block
— July 14. A resident reported
someone entered the residence
and took property.
PEEPING
6100 block of Paulonia Road
6100 block — July 15, 12:45
a.m. A resident looked out the
window and saw a man looking
into the room. The suspect fled
prior to police arrival.
LARCENIES
*7900 block of Audubon Avenue, tools from vehicle
*7900 block of Fort Hunt Road,
beer from business
*2300 block of Mary Baldwin,
property from residence
*7400 block of Vernon Square
Drive, bicycle from residence
*2300 block of Fairview Terrace, documents from vehicle
*8400 block of Frye Road, beverage from business
*2300 block of Huntington Avenue, beer from business
The following incidents were reported by the Franconia District
Station of the FCPD.
BURGLARY
*Cross Gate Lane 7400 block
— July 15. A resident reported
someone entered the residence
and took property.
LARCENIES
*Backlick Road/Rhoden Court,
bicycle from school
*6000 block of Craig Street, bicycle from residence
*5700 block of Kingstowne
Boulevard, wallet from business
*5800 block of Kingstowne
Boulevard, merchandise from
business
*6800 block of Loisdale Road,
backpack from vehicle
*6600 block of Telegraph Road,
purse from park
*5900 block of Kingstowne
Towne Center, money from business
*9400 block of Lorton Market
Street, merchandise from business
*9400 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
*4300 block of Backlick Road,
purse from vehicle
*7200 block of Beverly Park
Drive, license plate from vehicle
*7200 block of Commerce
Street, money from residence
*5700 block of Hanover Avenue, wallet from vehicle
*6300 block of Springfield Plaza, wallet from business
*5900 block of Barclay Drive,
license plate from vehicle
*6600 block of Frontier Drive,
tools from vehicle
*9500 block of Richmond Highway, tools from vehicle
*7100 block of Braddock Road,
money from business
*6000 block of Hanover Avenue, property from residence
*6600 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
*7700 block of Richmond Highway, bicycle from business
*7900 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
*7800 block of Richmond Highway, cell phone from business
STOLEN VEHICLES
*2600 block of Arlington Drive,
2005 Kawasaki Ninja
*6300 block of South Kings
Highway, Hyundai Accent
*6600 block of Quicksilver
Court, 2011 Sentra
*6800 block of Springfield Boulevard, Chevrolet Captiva
*6600 block of Baclick Road,
2014 Chevrolet Captiva
*9500 block of Hagel Circle,
2000 Toyota Tacoma
ADVERTISE IN THE VOICE
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Reach over 12,000 readers
on both sides of the Richmond Highway corridor.
For information about rates, call 703-360-0080 or e-mail mountvernonvoice@aol.com.
Discounts for long-term contracts are available.
4
July 23, 2014
OPINION
Define a Voice Reader
A longer version of the following was sent to us
the other day and it made us think about about our
own readership.
Besides describing yourselves as being involved,
concerned citizens, how would you — our readers —
define yourselves?
Enjoy the tongue-in-cheek reader descriptions below and then take a minute to finish the phrase “The
Mount Vernon Voice is read by people who …. “
Send your answers to mountvernonvoice@aol.
com. We look forward to sharing them with your
fellow readers in the near future.
“The Wall Street Journal is read by the people
who have bought the country.
The Washington Post is read by people who think
they run the country.
The New York Times is read by people who think
they should run the country, and who are very good
at crossword puzzles.
USA Today is read by people who think they
ought to run the country but don’t really understand
The New York Times. They do, however, like their
statistics shown in pie charts.
The Los Angeles Times is read by people who
wouldn’t mind running the country, if they could
find the time — and if they didn’t have to leave
Southern California to do it.
The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country.
The New York Daily News is read by people who
aren’t too sure who’s running the country and don’t
really care as long as they can get a seat on the
train.
The New York Post is read by people who don’t
care who is running the country as long as they do
something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.
The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people
who aren’t sure that anyone is running the country;
but if so, they oppose all that they stand for if they
are Republicans.
The National Enquirer is read by people trapped
in line at the grocery store.
The Seattle Times is read by people who have recently caught a fish and need something to wrap it
in.”
And the Mount Vernon Voice ...
What We Think
By Mary Paden
Do you think the traffic on Rt. 1 is getting better or worse?
Ester Dickinson
Surrey on Potomac
“I only go on Rt. 1 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturday, I was waiting at Panera at Beacon Mall
for a friend coming from Kingstowne. She was 45
minutes late because of traffic mainly along Rt.1.”
Suzanne Cleary
Collingwood
“I avoid Rt. 1 at all costs.
I use Fort Hunt Road.”
Daniel Cohen
Collingwood
“It has always been bad. As they increase the
personnel at Ft. Belvoir it will probably get worse.
I hope the urban planners are working on it.”
Leah Choudhury
Waynewood
“I know for sure that it is getting worse,
especially at the Walmart at Penn Daw.
They should have longer turn lanes there.”
Lynn Alsmeyer-Johnson
Hollin Hall
“It is definitely worse. I avoid driving on Rt. 1,
but it is even hard to drive across it because the
traffic lights are so long at Fordson Road and
Boswell Road.”
Mimi Stevens
Wilton Woods
“I drive Rt. 1 from Beacon Center to Sherwood
Hall Lane during non-rush hour times and
I think it is getting better recently.”
Publishers: Marlene Miller, Steve Hunt
Editor: Marlene Miller
Writer, Photographer: Steve Hunt
7946 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308
Phone: (703) 360-0080
mountvernonvoice@aol.com
www.mountvernonvoice.com
Contributors
Michael Castleberry
Mary Paden
Paginator
Jo Deckert
July 23, 2014
5
Summertime
… and the Living Is Easy
As we head toward the end of July, Mount Vernon, Lee and Alexandria residents
have come up with a myriad of ways to spend their summer days. Running, biking,
exploring parks and anything on or near the water have proved popular pursuits.
Photos/Nicholas Lindsey
Many turn out to run along the bike path near Belle View.
Runners have to share the
bike path with avid bikers,
above.
Families enjoy boating
near Dyke Marsh.
David Bond, from Maryland,
explores Fort Hunt Park
with his children Anthony
and Alexis, right.
The Progressive Firefighters
of Fairfax County host a
cookout at Fort Hunt Park.
Jamey Turner plays the glass harp at the corner
of Union and King in Old Town.
Jose Wender Linder and his son Allen enjoy
a day at Huntley Meadows Park.
The Randolph String Quartet perform classical pieces
by the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria.
6 July 23, 2014
July 23, 2014 7
Changes Continue to Progress on Rte. 1 Corridor
Richmond Highway from Page 1
square foot office/retail building, and a 200-room hotel.
The rezoning application for
the project was approved in November 2012 and the construction process has begun for the
apartments and parking garage,
according to the SFDC.
Also on Huntington Avenue
at Biscayne Drive, after a long
period of discussion, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and
Housing Authority approved a
change to the Huntington Conservation Plan and the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors
approved the rezoning application in January. The developer
See Richmond Highway Page 10
Staff photos/Steve Hunt
In photos clockwise from top, CVS
has proposed building a pharmacy at
the corner of Richmond Highway and
Lockheed Boulevard where an Exxon gas
station is currently located; the site where
the former Fairview Motel was located at
6421 Richmond Highway in Penn Daw
will soon be a brand-new Fairfield Inn;
the former Home Goods store, which had
been AJ Wright before that, located at
7844 Richmond Highway in Mount Vernon
Crossroads, will become a Ross Dress for
Less; and Starbucks has plans to open
yet another coffee shop at the site of the
former Checkers fast food restaurant at
7511 Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley.
8
July 23, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
SUBSCRIBE TO THE
Don’t Miss ‘Seeing Boyhood’
MOUNT VERNON
VOICE
MOVIE TALK
The MOUNT VERNON
VOICE is the only
newspaper published on the
Richmond Highway corridor
to serve residents of both
the Mount Vernon and Lee districts.
By MICHAEL CASTLEBERRY
Contributing Writer
Writer/Director Richard Linklater has been doing films his way
for almost 30 years, innovative,
creative, off-beat, with a keen
ability to identify gifted young
talent. And much of his young
talent continues to work with him
in film after film, lead roles, small
cameos — there is something
about the man and his work that
inspires confidence in acting professionals.
His latest is Boyhood, unique
even by Linklater’s standards. He
employs a documentary format
to follow a young man, Jason
(Ellar Coltrane) for 12 years,
from age five until age 18, and the
result is a unique and remarkable
film even for an artist as creative
as Richard Linklater.
If you recognize his name then
you probably have seen many
films in his body of work, beginning with the film short, Woodshock, a parody of the film documentary of Woodstock based on
the Austin Music Festival, followed by his first full-length film,
It’s Impossible To Learn To Plow
By Reading Books. The films
made the rounds of art film houses and early film festivals and
people took notice of the writerdirector’s talents.
But it was his 1991 film Slacker
that put him on the map. Made for
$23,000 dollars, the story of as
odd a bunch of misfits to inhabit
any town anyway, made a huge
impact with teens and young
adults and was a film circuit fa-
vorite. It also brought the word
‘slacker’ into the nation’s vocabulary. In these early films he
displayed increasing confidence
in a laid-back, episodic style with
a careful attention to the nuances
of his actors but his creative story
line, with actors going in and out
of each other’s lives, was seamlessly handled by so young a directorial talent. People liked his
films and actors liked working
with him.
So Hollywood came calling and,
in 1993, and with lots of cash to
work with, the result was the ultimate last day of high school film: Dazed And Confused (which
included a young Matthew McConaughey). It was a big hit and
Linklater followed it up with
the first of his three films with
Ethan Hawk and Julie Delpy,
Before Sunrise, two 20-somethings on the train to Vienna as
the first stop in finding out who
they are. Followed nine years
later by Before Midnight, which
found the 30-somethings in Paris,
and then in 2004 Before Sunset,
with the 40-somethings on a trip
to Greece with kids in tow but
with the same question about life.
These films were similar to some
of Linklater’s early work, e.g.
the free-form work with actors,
lots of improvisation, and a episodic format. Boyhood goes far beyond what
Linklater was trying to do in these
earlier films. You’ll have no problem figuring out the stages Mason
will go through, boyhood, youth,
pre-teen adolescence, and the full
throes of the later teen years. What is remarkable is that there
is only a partially scripted film, it’s
clear that the actors are ‘talking’
with each other, and particularly
good is Coltrane as Mason and
Linklater stalwart Ethan Hawk
as his father. It seems to be something of film that transcends traditional fidelity to script as well as
structured scenes and lines. And,
to the viewer, it all seem to unfold
in real time. It’s as though you are
really there with the boy in these
different segments of his life, just
watching it unfold.
This is a remarkable film from a
truly remarkable director. To tell
you highlights of the film would
be to spoil the creative experience. You see this boy’s life unfolding in front of you and you
feel as though you are there. Few
films can ever generate such a
sensation and Linklater manages
to sustain it for 15 years!!
There is a risk in trying to analyze and present how Linklater
does this, especially since he just
wants you to watch and let it unfold. And he’s right. It is a unique
film from a man who is becoming
a master film-maker. It’s warm
and funny and evocative and real,
all at the same time. If you’re at
all adventuresome in your filmgoing, you owe it to yourself to
check it out. And look out for what Mr. Linklater might do next! Free Summer Concert Series
Lee District Nights
Lee District Park Amphitheater
6601 Telegraph Road — Wednesdays at 7:30 pm
July 23
Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line (Bluegrass)
July 30 Rossikye Musikanti (Russian Dance/Music)
August 6
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (Folk)
August 13 Sierra Hull (Country)
August 20 The United States Navy “Commodores” (Jazz)
August 27 The Nighthawks (Blues)
Concerts are cancelled if there’s a threat of bad weather.
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July 23, 2014
9
Face of the Corridor Continues to Change
Richmond Highway from Page 8
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VERNON VOICE is
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serve residents of both
A&R Development is planning
for 141 residential units along
with 3,500 square feet.
Other projects that are progressing in the Huntington/North Gateway area are Huntington Club
Condominiums, which calls for a
mixed-use development containing 1,200 to 1,800 housing units,
600,000 to 1 million square feet of
office space, and 127,000 square
feet of retail space and Cityside
Huntington Metro, which calls
for a five-story 145-unit infill
apartment building on the site of
the existing Cityside property on
Richmond Highway.
Also at Huntington Gateway,
Sunoco had been planning to reopen the long-closed gas station
at 5928 Richmond Highway but
the plan was dropped after difficulties in the Special Exception process. An offer was made
for the property to become a car
title lender, but, according to the
SFDC Sunoco may want to to
re-open its Special Exception application.
In Penn Daw, Insight Property
Group is constructing a 240unit luxury apartment building
on a 3.38-acre site at the corner
of North Kings Highway and
School Street. It is anticipated
File photo
Sunoco had been planning to reopen its service station at 5928 Richmond Highway in Huntington
once the Route 1 interchange at the Beltway was completed, however the plan was dropped
after difficulties in the Special Exception process. Earlier this year, there were plans for it to
possibly become a car title loan place, but those plans were apparently dropped as well. Now,
according to the SFDC, Sunoco may want to re-open its Special Exception application.
that the $60 million development
will open this fall.
Also, what is known as One
Kings, Combined Properties, the
longtime owner of Penn Daw Plaza, plans to demolish the 50-year
old shopping center and replace
it with a mixed-use development
including 490 apartments and
ground level retail and nearby
the Mount Vernon and
Lee districts.
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July 23, 2014
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at the Adler Shopping Center is
slated to become The Grande at
Huntington with 275 residential
units and 25,000 square feet of
ground-level retail.
In Hybla Valley, a by-right site
plan for a two-story office building has been approved for a halfacre site located at the corner of
Richmond Highway and Napper
Road.
A little further south on the corridor, the owner of the Best Way
Center, has filed an application
for the replacement of the Holly,
Woods and Vines structure and a
pad site at the southern front of
the site, according to the SFDC.
As far as infrastructure and
transportation, the widening of
the highway through Fort Belvoir from Telegraph Road to
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway through Fort Belvoir began
in April with construction scheduled to be completed in 2016.
And, the long-awaited Mulligan
Road/Jeff Todd Way connector
route between Richmond Highway and Telegraph Road is expected to be opened in August.
Also, regarding a proposed
transit center, three sites remain
under construction on Richmond
Highway at Haft Drive, at the
South County Center at 8350
Richmond Highway, and at an
unnamed new site, according to
the SFDC.
— Steve Hunt
New Elementary School Set
New School from Page 3
educate all base residents on Fort
Belvoir property.”
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (DVA), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S.
Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) applauded the approval of the grant.
Warner, who previously pressed
the Pentagon to make improvements to DoD school infrastructure after reports of failing facilities shocked many in Virginia,
said that when the country sends
its men and women into harm’s
way, the nation has a responsibility to provide their dependents
with a quality of life that reflects
the high standards of the nation
they defend.
“Especially during a time of record high deployments, we owe
it to our military families to take
care of their children,” he said.
Kaine said it is terrific news for
the families at Fort Belvoir.
“Facilities at Fort Belvoir Elementary School have been at 57 percent
over capacity, and additional classrooms will help to alleviate this
serious problem,” Kaine said.
Moran said the children of the
nation’s service members deserve the best possible education
and it is unfair to leave the surrounding community with the
entirety of that commitment.
“I’m glad the Department of
Defense has stepped up to meet
its responsibility to our service
men and women and their children,” Moran said.
— Staff report
CLASSIFIED
Vol. 13 No. 1
Happy New Year Mount Vernon, Lee, and Alexandria
January 1, 2014 50 Cents
Vol. 13 No. 6
Serving Mount Vernon, Lee, and Alexandria
Citizen Input Sought on Route 1 Widening
Photo/Chuck Hagee
Area residents Charles and Pat
Locke point to a section of the
Rt.1 Improvement Project that is of
particular interest to them during a
public hearing Dec. 17 at Hayfield
Secondary School.
By CHUCK HAGEE
as alleviating congestion for the surround- by February 2016, according to Robert A.
Morris, senior project manager, FWHA
Contributing Writer
ing area.”
More than 40 area residents circulated As noted during the walk-around public Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division.
through the Hayfield Secondary School hearing, “The project involves widening “We designed this project in such a way
that the horse stables
cafeteria on Dec. 17
to learn of proposed “We designed this project in such a way that the horse across the highway
from the Woodlawn
changes coming to
Mansion
Route 1 due to in- stables … could remain. The decision of whether the Plantation
remain. There is
creased traffic as the
— FWHA could
stables stay or go [was] up to them.”
an underpass planned
result of “the 2005
from the Woodlawn
Base Realignment and
Closure (BRAC) ... and the opening of the a 3.5 mile stretch of Rt.1 through Ft. Bel- National Trust property to where the stanew Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.”
voir.” It is currently in the design phase, bles are now located large enough to acAccording to the Federal Highway Ad- with construction scheduled to commence commodate heavy equipment. The deciministration (FHWA), which is managing in the Spring of 2014 and be completed sion of whether the stables stay or go is up
to them,” Morris said at the hearing.
the project in cooperation with the VirThis second hearing concentrated on Secginia Department of Transportation, Fairtions A and E of the total project. It focused
fax County government, and Fort Belvoir,
on improvements east of Pohick Road to
BRAC and the new hospital “have led to a
750 feet east of Cook Inlet Drive and from
significant traffic increase on what was alFt. Belvoir to Mount Vernon Memorial
ready a busy road.” The stated goal of this
Highway. The initial public hearing was
project is “to improve the quality of life for
held in September 2013 and concentrated
those serving within Fort Belvoir, as well
on Sections B,C, and D of the project.
Section E is perhaps the most controversial due to its new alignment which
directly impacts “the Woodlawn property,
Road, is usually a peaceful, quiet place.
stables and the Otis-Tufton Mason House.”
But on Monday, Dec. 23, police were
The latter “will be relocated prior to conswarming the area following the robbery
struction,” according to Morris. Other hisof the BB&T Bank branch.
toric properties impacted by this project,
Around 2:45 p.m. that day, a man entered
as identified on the construction web site,
the bank and demanded cash from a teller,
include Pohick Episcopal Church, Woodpolice reported. An undisclosed amount of
lawn Baptist Church and Cemetery, Woodcash was handed over the perpetrator fled.
See Inside
See Rte. 1 Page 2
See Robberies Page 3
Hollin Hall, Franconia Banks Robbed
The robber was wearing a green reflective
vest, white hard hat and sunglasses when
two local banks were held up within days
two days of each other right before Christmas, and Fairfax County police are investigating whether the perpetrator may be the
same person.
The Hollin Hall Shopping Center, located
in a primarily residential area on Fort Hunt
February 5, 2014 50 Cents
All You Would Ever Want/Need
To Know about Mount Vernon
Former Lt. Gov. Don Beyer
State Sen. Adam Ebbin
Mayor Bill Euille
Micah Edmond
8th District Hopefuls
See page 3.
By STEVE HUNT
Staff Writer
Once again, Mount Vernon residents proved that five hours and 15
minutes is simply not enough time
for Supervisor Gerry Hyland’s annual town meeting.
This year’s meeting, Hyland’s
27th annual, began with coffee
and exhibits at 7:45 a.m. Saturday,
and following remarks by several
candidates for congress, presentations by Fairfax County officials,
Hyland’s virtual tour of the district,
and three question and answer sessions, the meeting wrapped up
about 20 minutes after its scheduled ending time of 1 p.m.
After welcoming the crowd in
Mount Vernon High School’s “Little Theatre,” Hyland introduced
several candidates for Congress
seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Jim
Moran (D-8th) who announced he
would not be seeking re-election in
November.
Candidates who spoke during the
town meeting were former Lt. Gov.
Don Beyer, state Sen. Adam Ebbin
(D-30th), Del. Charniele Herring
(D-46th), Del. Patrick Hope (D47th), Republican Micah Edmond,
radio talk-show host Mark Levine,
Staff photo/Steve Hunt
Supervisor Gerry Hyland presides over his 27th Annual Mount
Vernon Town Meeting Saturday.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, and
Del. Mark Sickles (D-43rd). (See
story, page 3.)
Following several of the candidates who were given two minutes
to introduce themselves, Hyland
couldn’t resist making a statement
of his own regarding his political
future.
“After much thought, and weighing the pros and cons,” Hyland
paused for a moment while the
audience waited with bated breath
See Town Meeting Page 8
EMPLOYMENT
CLEANING
Experienced Officers
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by Alexandria Security Patrol.
Armed and unarmed patrol.
DCJS 11-1027
Call 703-765-0407
J & W CLEANING SERVICE
Residential experts
Houses or apartments
Weekly or biweekly visits
Call for free estimate
703-635-5608
YARD SALE
REMOVAL SERVICES
Garage Sale
Free Hands Junk Removal
Steel, copper, metal
Ovens, washers and dryers
Free removal
Call for price on removal of
other items.
(202) 415-0965
(571) 572-1370
Levine Takes the Helm at GSH
Jeff Todd Way Dedicated
The late Jeff Todd, owner of the local Roy Rogers
Restaurant franchises, was honored at a ceremony
on Dec. 18 renaming the portion of Old Mill Road on
the west side of Richmond Highway in his honor.
Todd, a former Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of
Commerce chairman and philanthropic businessman
who died in a car crash in 2011, was known for his
generosity to local non-profit organizations and
schools. In photo, from left, are chamber president
Ashley McNeff, daughter Kimberly, Mount Vernon
Supervisor Gerry Hyland, daughter, Hannah, wife
Becky, Lee Supervisor Jeff McKay, and Del. Scott
Surovell (D-44th). Todd’s Roy Rogers Woodlawn
restaurant is located at the corner of Richmond
Highway and what is now known as Jeff Todd Way.
Staff photo/Steve Hunt
Del. Patrick Hope
Del. Charniele Herring
Mark Levine
Del. Mark Sickles
By STEVE HUNT
Staff Writer
David Levine had a busy first
week as the new executive director of Good Shepherd Housing and
Family Services.
However, since he had been deputy director since 2009, Levine
could hit the ground running.
Sanjiv Mahan, chairman of the
GSH board of directors, commented that Levine “brings to the job
the critical attributes of a strong
leader for GSH, which includes his
passion for the organization’s mission, compassion for its clients and
desire to improve their lives, and
Staff photo/Steve Hunt
finally the respect of the staff, the
board and his peers in the nonprofit New Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services executive
director David Levine pointed out GSH properties along the
world.”
See GSH Page 2 Richmond Highway corridor on a bus tour for supporters last week.
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Getting Ready
Vol. 13 No. 2
Vol. 13 No. 4
Serving Mount Vernon, Lee, and Alexandria
January 22, 2014 50 Cents
Moran Won’t Run for Re-election
Will ‘Close This Chapter in My Life’ after 35 Years in Public Office
Stocking
Up Before
the Storm
Staff photos/Steve Hunt
Mt. Vernon’s Gillespie
Hopes to Challenge
Warner for Senate
By STEVE HUNT
Staff Writer
After more than two decades in Congress,
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran has decided it’s time
for him to call it quits.
On Wednesday, Moran (D-8th) announced that he will not seek re-election
this year, which leaves the heavily Democratic district with a wide-open field of potential candidates.
“After 35 years as a public servant, as
mayor of Alexandria, and for the past 23
as a member of the House of Representatives, it’s time to close this chapter in my
life and move on to the next challenge,”
he said.
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran
By STEVE HUNT
Staff Writer
The U.S. Senate race in Virginia this year
may turn out to be a battle between a Mount
Vernon Republican and an Old Town Alexandria Democrat.
Last week, Mount Vernon resident Ed Gillespie announced that he is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen.
Mark Warner in November.
File photo
In a video statement, Gillespie, said he is
running for the senate because the “Ameri- Mount Vernon resident Ed Gillespie, who announced last week he is running for
can dream is being undermined by policies U.S. Senate, with his wife, Cathy, center, attended the Good Shepherd Housing and
Family Services gala in 2012. With them are Mount Vernon residents Jay McConville,
See Gillespie Page 11 chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, and his wife, Sue.
Serving Mount Vernon, Lee, and Alexandria
Democrats from the state level to President Obama lauded Moran for his service
to the public and his commitment for progressive policies during his tenure in elective office.
On a personal level, Susie Warner, Moran’s district director, has worked for Moran since 1990, starting as a field director
during his first campaign for Congress,
and has been with him ever since.
She described the years working for him
as wonderful.
“He’s the best boss I’ve ever had,” she
said, noting that she had worked for three
other members of Congress before Moran.
Obama issued a statement saying in his
years in Congress, “Jim Moran has pushed
to create jobs and economic opportunity
for hardworking Virginians and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to
growing a strong American economy..
“And because of Jim’s leadership, our
brave service members and veterans are
better protected, our civil service is stronger, and our air and water are cleaner and
safer,” Obama added. “Michelle and I
thank Congressman Moran for his service,
and we wish him and his family the very
best in the future.”
Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark
Warner and Tim Kaine praised Moran,
and in particular his dedication to federal
workers.
“Jim Moran is a good friend and a formidable legislator who has fought hard
for his district and the entire northern Vir-
See Moran Page 10
Two Fairfax County Public
Schools, including Lorton Station
Elementary, have been named Title I Distinguished Schools by the
Virginia Board of Education.
The award recognizes schools
that have raised academic achievement for economically disadvantaged students and are based on
state assessments during the 201213 and 2011-12 school years.
Lorton Station and Belvedere Elementary are among 57 schools
statewide that are recognized for
maintaining full state accreditation under Virginia’s Standards
of Learning program for two consecutive years and achieving reading and math SOL pass rates at the
60th percentile or higher.
Title I of the federal Elementary
and Secondary Education Act provides funding to school divisions
and schools to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk of academic failure.
It requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives
for increasing student achievement
on statewide assessments in reading and language arts, and in math.
— FCPS report
Blaze Damages
Area Apartment
Unattended food on a stove
caused a fire at a home in the Engleside area Thursday, the Fairfax
County Fire and Rescue Department reported.
Firefighters encountered smoke
coming from the third floor of the
apartment at 8201 Russell Road
around 10 a.m.
Firefighters conducted an aggressive attack and quickly brought the
fire in the kitchen under control.
No one was home when the fire
broke out. Two adults and two
children have been displaced.
There were no injuries.
The Red Cross is assisting the occupants. Damage is estimated at
$60,000.
— FCFRD report
January 8, 2014 50 Cents
Legislators Name
Their Top Priorities
Lorton Station
Elementary Is
‘Distinguished’
Early Tuesday morning the snow plows were ready and waiting on Shenandoah Road.
What a Week!
The first week of 2014 came in
with a vengeance with about an
inch of snow Friday followed
by temperatures in the 20s
which made roadways, such
as Shenandoah Road in Hollin
Hall, above, slippery. However,
those
temperatures
seemed
like a heat wave compared to
the single digits and wind chills
below freezing caused by the
polar vortex Tuesday. At right,
the temperature shortly after 10
a.m. Tuesday according to the
Virginia Commerce Bank branch
on Richmond Highway was 8
degrees. Below, ice formed on the
Potomac River near Dyke Marsh.
Staff photos/Steve Hunt
2108 Shenandoah Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22308
n jodeckert@gmail.com n 703.768.2091
n
jo
graphic
design
Jo Deckert
Graphic Arts Studio
Communication design
Specializing in print products
By STEVE HUNT
“I have introduced legislation
Staff Writer
that would require school sysLocal state senators and dele- tems using electronic textbooks
gates have a wide range of priori- such as Fairfax County to proties coming in to the 2014 General vide a free computer and broadAssembly session which begins band connection to any child
Wednesday, all designed to im- who cannot afford one by July 1,
prove the quality of life for their 2017,” he said.
constituents and all Virginians.
Surovell said that Henrico and
For
Del.
Albemarle
Scott Surovcounties al“Failure to act [on Medicaid] ready proell (D-44th),
is political malpractice.”
his number
vide comput— Del. Scott Surovell ers to every
one priority
is addressing
and
(D-44th) child
health care
Chesterfield
for children in his district.
County has requested bids.
“The 44th District has the larg“Fairfax County’s schools are
est Medicaid population in north- now officially lagging behind
ern Virginia — 9,000 children,” multiple school systems in the
said Surovell. “If you are under Commonwealth,” he said.
the age of 18 in the 44th District
In addition, Surovell describes
(which includes much of the the State Corporation CommisRichmond Highway corridor in sion as “the most powerful state
Mount Vernon and Lee districts), agency you’ve never of” and says
there is one in three chance you it is not subject to the Freedom
receive your healthcare from of Information Act due to a 2011
Medicaid.
Supreme Court decision.
“Every one of those kids has
“That needs to change,” he
parents without health insur- said.
ance,” he noted. “The expansion
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th)
of Medicaid would save taxpayer said his top priorities for the 2014
dollars and create 30,000 jobs.
session will be ethics reform, re“Failure to act is political mal- pealing the tax on hybrid vehipractice,” he commented.
cles, and reducing victimization
Surovell said his second priority in the Latino community from
is to secure $4 million for pre- legal fraud.
liminary engineering for the preHe said he is also working to
ferred transit alternative selected hasten the processing of sexual
by the U.S. 1 Multimodal Transit assault kits to better prosecute
Analysis Study.
rapists and beginning the proSurovell and state Sen. Toddy cess of repealing the anti-equalPuller (D-36th) were successful ity Marshall-Newman marriage
in securing funding last year for amendment.
the study, and Surovell pointed
Sen. George Barker (D-39th)
out that obtaining the $2 million said that for him improving the
for the study took 30 years.
economy and creating more jobs
“We need funds for the next in Virginia are top priorities.
phase now,” he said.
“While Virginia has fared better
Surovell also wants to address than most states through the diffithe “digital divide” in Fairfax cult times of the past six years we
County, especially in the 44th have challenges such as sequesDistrict, between students who tration and loss of federal conhave computers at home and ac- tracting jobs,” Barker said. “As
cess to broadband internet, and part of this effort, we must make
those who do not.
See General Assembly Page 3
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July 23, 2014
Photo/Nicholas Lindsey