endeavor - Annandale Chamber of Commerce

ENDEAVOR
Annandale Chamber of Commerce
July 2010
2
Message from the
President
3
Our Home Town
Summer Activities
Building the Annandale Marketplace
www.annandalechamber.com
The Fairfax County Public
Library System
The Virginia Room where local history comes alive
5
From Capitol Hill
6
Health Watch
7
Annandale: The
Crossroads of NV
8
County Budget
9
Light Rail
10
Finance: Planes,
Trains, & Automobiles
12
The American Flag
13
Normandy: The
Defining Moment
15
VIEW ON NATURE
16
Retrospective:
2000
19
New Members
24
TAX TALK
27
What’s Cooking:
Barbeque
29
Chamber Chat
32
Calendar of Events
By: M. Callahan
In a short five year period, from 1941 to 1946,
over 300,000 individuals came to Washington, DC
in support of the war effort. Many remained after
their officials duties ended and began life as civilians throughout the area. Fairfax County experienced an exponential growth in numbers, sentiments, values, regional customs, and education
because of these new residents along with higher
expectations for continued community development. Many to most of the new residents were
college educated professionals who contributed
greatly to the development of local art, culture,
social structures, sports, and educational projects.
They also advanced the need for expanded library
services, echoing J.A. Langford’s statement,
“The only true equalizers in the world are books; the
only treasure-house open to all comers is a library; the
only wealth which will not decay is knowledge; the only
jewel which you can carry beyond the grave is wisdom.”
From obscure beginnings to the largest public
library system in the Commonwealth, the Fairfax
County Libraries have answered the research and
reading needs of its citizens. In 1939 the Board of
Supervisors established a countywide free library
system with an appropriation of just $250.00. The
State Library Board and the Federal Works Progress Administration provided matching funds on
Bookmobile 1944: Photos courtesy of the Fairfax County Public
Library Photographic Archive.
First County Library (1940) was a 24 foot square cinderblock
building located behind the old Court House and cost $1,090 to
construct. The garage was needed to house the bookmobile.
a four-to-one basis and within one year a 24 foot
square cinderblock structure was built at the cost
of $1,090. Located on land behind the historic
brick courthouse, it included book shelves, electric wiring and a garage. A bookmobile was purchased and sent to various established deposit
stations such as Helen Caperton’s Beauty Shop in
Clifton, Stafford’s store on Popes Head Road as
well as sites at both Ft. Myer and Ft. Belvoir. Six
hundred books could be accessed by side panels
in this Chevrolet truck, and later a new and larger
bus, cleverly inscribed with slogans such as
Check Us Out or We Circulate made the rounds.
Although the library budget increased steadily, it
was not nearly enough to permit construction of
additional sites. Local Friends of the Library
demonstrated their determination and community
spirit by raising funds for the first year’s rent and
utilities. With funding from their Friends, Annandale’s George Mason Library was the third
branch to open in February 1955. (Space was
leased for five years in the new building owned
by David Scull of Turnpike Press. It then moved
to slightly larger quarters on Annandale Road
where it remained until 1965 when a new structure was built at the present library location.)
Finally, in November of 1959 the first Library
Bond of $2 million went to the voters. A new
headquarters building in Fairfax and six branches
were opened as a result.
Inside the headquarters building, the Virginia
continued on page 18
July 2010
2
ENDEAVOR
Message from the President
Building Community is Good for Business!
By: Gavin Dock
Greetings, 안녕하세요, Saludos,
Summer is in full swing and it’s hard to concentrate on business when swimming pools beckon, kids are already bored
and, I hope for many of you, that much deserved vacation is
just round the corner. However, here at the Chamber, business goes on, albeit at a slightly more sedate pace. The
Board welcomes new directors Karen Fuentes of Fairfax
County OP3 and Todd Reigel of Cox Cable and has shuffled
its leadership roles. My name is Gavin Dock and I have the
great honor of taking up the President’s gavel, Marilyn
Hoosen of BB&T joins Dan McKinnon as Vice President,
whilst Vicki Burman continues as Executive Director. I will
do my best to fill the huge shoes of Marv Rodney who so
ably led the Chamber these past two years.
As you know, our Chamber is primarily a volunteer organization. Members of the Board
donate many hours of their time
to help ensure that the services
ANNANDALE
the Chamber offers its members
Chamber Of Commerce
and the events it brings to the
Board of Directors
Annandale community are relevant and successful. As a memPRESIDENT:
ber, you too are part of this enGavin Dock, Clarocode
terprise and I encourage you to
maximize the benefits your
PRESIDENT ELECT:
Marilyn Hoosen, BB&T Bank
membership will bring by attending events and volunteering
VICE PRESIDENT:
Carol Zach Reuss
Annandale Shopping Center
Dan McKinnon, USN retired
SECRETARY:
Dr. Barbara Saperstone
Provost, NVCC
TREASURER:
George Kresslein, CPA
IMMEDIATE PAST
PRESIDENT:
Marv Rodney,
American Legion
BOARD MEMBERS:
Pat Sawhney, Realtor
Re/Max 100
Kurt Langenwalter
First Command Financial
Richard Owen, President,
Knights of Columbus
Helen Winter, Annandale
CBD and Beautification
Planning Committee
Karen Fuentes, County Office
of Public Private Partnerships
your time and talents. Not only will
you meet a wonderful cross-section
of the Annandale business community, but you’ll also have fun! And
let’s not forget that through the relationship-networking that is a core
part of the Chamber’s driving principles members generate hundreds of
thousands of dollars in business each
year.
On that note, planning for the Fall
Parade and Festival on October 23 is
in full swing and it’s not too late for you to get involved. Also,
please start planning to be part of the parade (a benefit of membership) or to showcase your business at the festival – application
forms are on our website.
I look forward to working with you over the next year to build
our businesses, to strengthening the services our Chamber offers,
and to continue to enhance our wonderfully diverse community.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your suggestions and
comments, and have a great summer!
Gavin Dock
THE BEANETICS QUIZ:
How well do you know Annandale?
1950
Where in Annandale would this
structure have been found?
(Hint: It overlooked ecumenical activity.)
The first person to email the correct answer to
[email protected] will receive a prize from
Beanetics Coffee Roasters: 7028 Columbia Pike, Annandale
(Annandale Shopping Center)
Owners, employees, and the families of any business mentioned in the quiz
are prohibited from entering the contest.
Winners are limited to one prize per year.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
3
Our Home Town
Great Summer Activities Close to Annandale
Fairfax County Park Authority - Trips &
Tours
Need to get-away for a relaxing day of fun? Join a chartered bus
tour on one or more of these exciting day trips. Bring a friend
and leave the arrangements and driving to them. TOURS HOTLINE at 703-324-8687 (324-TOUR) for recorded information.
Email [email protected] Call 703-222-4664 for tour
reservations.
Rappahannock River Cruise & Winery Tour: Tappahannock, VA
Sunday, August 1
Atlantic City - Showboat Friday, August 6
Rehoboth Beach
Saturday, August 7
Mt. Explorer Dinner Train:
Durbin & Greenbrier Rail Road, Elkins, WV
Saturday, August 7
Whale and Dolphin Watch: Cape May, NJ
Sunday, August 8
Dead Man's Cell Phone: Wayside Theater, VA Saturday, August 14
Savor Solomons, Calvert County, MD Saturday, August 14
Tighlman Island Land and Sea Tour Sunday, August 15
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg VA Saturday, August 21
Baltimore Aquarium & the Inner Harbor: Baltimore MD Sunday,
August 22
Virginia DARE Cruise: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, VA Saturday, August 28
Mid-Life! - The Crisis Musical: Allenberry Theater, Boiling
Springs, PA Sunday, August 29
dock Road, bordering Alexandria and Annandale, Pinecrest Golf
Course is a par 35, 9-hole executive course, measuring 2,462
yards. The challenging, narrow course is dotted with hills and
ponds that create a golfing environment suited for novices and
more serious players alike.
Pinecrest Golf Club House
Facilities include a full service clubhouse, pro shop and snack
bar. Golf clubs, riding and pull carts are available for rent. Pinecrest features a practice putting green, 10 driving cages and an
indoor practice area. Group or individual golf lessons at Pinecrest Golf Course may be scheduled through the Every Body
Golf School. The accessible course is open all year, weather
permitting.
Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce Street, Annandale (one block off Hummer Road) 703-941-1065
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hiddenoaks/public.htm
Rappahannock River Cruise followed by a tour and luncheon at
Ingleside Plantation Winery
Pinecrest Golf Course The Best Kept Secret Inside the Beltway
6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312 703-941-1061
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/pinecrest - corner of Little River Turnpike
and Braddock Road
Located at the corner of Little River Turnpike (236) and Brad-
Set within the 52 acre Annandale Community Park, Hidden
Oaks Nature Center is located a few minutes inside the Capital
Beltway, just a block off of Hummer Road. The woods surrounding the center feature an easy loop trail 1/3 mile long. Seasonal brochures enable visitors to discover the changing nature
of the woodland at points along the trail. For further exploration,
additional trails lead through the woods to two streams. Bird
watching and photography are special pleasures in these quiet
surroundings.
The Park is rich in history. While strolling through the woods,
visitors can view a railroad embankment built just before the
Civil War. This railway, never completed, is part of the Virginia
and National Historic Landmark Manassas Gap Railroad. Hidden Oaks Nature Center also serves as an information source for
the public on local flora and fauna. Students are welcome to use
the resource library for research projects.
continued next page
July 2010
4
Our Home Town
continued...
Have your next meeting minutes inside the Beltway in a 52-acre
woodland oasis! Hidden Oaks Nature Center offers meeting
accommodations for groups up to 100. Available for rent is a
multi-purpose auditorium measuring 40 ft. by 35 ft. (at the
widest point), approximately 700 square feet, Groups may
use our 15 six-foot collapsible tables and 85 folding chairs
for classroom or auditorium-style setup. Groups of 8 may opt
for plush chairs around a large conference table. The room
enjoys a woodland view to a backyard habitat and night time
users may spot a flying squirrel visiting the wildlife feeding
stations.
Birthday Parties at the Nature Center
Your little king or queen will be feted in style at their Hidden
Oaks birthday party! Choose your party topic -- dinosaurs,
insects or reptiles -- and prepare for a memorable experience! Complete a party request form, available at the front
desk or call 703-941-1065 to have the form emailed to you.
August 1 Sunday—Campfire: Evening Hike and S’mores
August 7 Saturday - Otter-ly Wonderful
August 14 Saturday - Goodnight Walk: Abounding Bats
August 15 Sunday - Water Festival and Science Day
August 21 Saturday - Monarch Tagging & Monarch Waystation
Butterfly Gardening
August 29 Sunday—Monarch Tagging & Monarch Waystation
Butterfly Gardening
Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312 . 703-642-5173
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/
Off Braddock Road across from Pinecrest Golf Course
There's something here for everyone: a wooded stream valley
with ponds, a naturalistic native plant garden, over 20 the-
ENDEAVOR
the Garden Gate Plant Shop and our two gift shops, where you'll
find gift ideas ranging from books and gardening gloves to china
and wind chimes. Green Spring will educate, inspire, and delight
you. The gardens are always changing, so come back often for
new ideas. And, if you are planning a meeting or a special
event, there is a beautiful large room in the Horticulture Center
available for rentals. Imagine your event amid this beautiful
garden!
August 28 Saturday, 9-4:30pm - 28th Annual Begonia Show & Sale
August 29 Sunday 12-3:30pm - 28th Annual Begonia Show & Sale
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Family Story Time: New Expanded Summer Schedule
The Historic House built in 1784 is set amid the gardens at
Green Spring. Visitors can enjoy changing art exhibits, enjoy tea
with a tour or presentation, and visit our unique Museum Shop.
The house is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m. For more
information, call 703- 941-7987.
August 19: 1-3pm
Take a relaxing docent-led stroll
through the demonstration gardens and enjoy an afternoon tea
at the Historic House. This is a
delightful introduction to the
mission and history of Green
Spring Gardens, one of the
preeminent places for horticulture in the Washington, D.C.
area. Individuals and groups are
welcome. $27
August 29 (Sunday) - The Fabulous Flapper
1-3pm. In the 1920s, a new kind
Tea at the Manor
of woman was born. She voted,
drank, smoked and danced the
Charleston. She wore short hair and short skirts. How shocking!
We'll explore the birth of the Flapper Girl and the decade - the
Roaring Twenties - that gave life to her unique image and attitude. A traditional English tea follows each program. $27
August 23 (Sunday) - Silhouette Art: Portraits in Shadow 13pm. Silhouette artist Anne Leslie will trace the history of this
early form of portraiture and tell us how she mastered the highly
skilled and now rare art form. Ms. Leslie will demonstrate her
own freehand cutting, transforming a piece of black paper into
an exact likeness of a subject's profile. A traditional English tea
follows each program $27
The Historic Manor House at Green Spring Gardens
matic demonstration gardens, a greenhouse filled with tropicals, and a well-stocked horticultural reference library. Visit
Private Tours of the Gardens and Historic House
Large and small groups are invited to reserve private tours. Master Gardener docents guide you through the demonstration gardens and Historic House staff share our fascinating history. The
house tour includes the second floor, usually not on public view.
Light refreshments are served. Please call 703-941-7987 for
more information. Minimum guests: 8
continued page 21
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
5
From Capitol Hill
Washington: As Economic Picture Brightens, We Must Keep Our Eyes on the Deficit
By: Congressman Gerald E. Connolly
As economic indicators point to a slow, but steady upswing
in the economy, I feel strongly that Congress should not upset this fragile recovery by passing unfunded spending bills
that add to the deficit. For that reason, late last month I cast
my vote in the U.S. House of Representatives against a $115
billion spending bill because a big chunk of it, $31 billion,
was not paid for and would have increased the federal deficit. While there were many worthwhile and important elements in the bill, I didn’t support it because it was not deficit
neutral.
Early last year, when I took office as your Congressman, our
nation was faced with the worst economic meltdown since
the Great Depression. On the advice of economists from all
sides of the political spectrum, Congress passed legislation to
jumpstart the economy and now we are seeing many signs of
improvement including an increase in our Gross National
Product for the third straight quarter, six straight months of
increased consumer spending, a 10-month upswing in manufacturing activity, a 20 percent jump in car sales, and increases in home sales across the nation for the last five months,
equating to a 6.8 percent increase in Fairfax County home
prices over the last year.
But as our economy improves, we also need to get a handle
on wasteful spending and rein in the deficit that has been
building since 2001. That is
why I voted last month against
H.R. 4213, despite pressure
from the House leadership and
the White House to support it.
That recent vote is in line with
past votes I cast against
measures that increased the
federal deficit. Last December, I took my lumps for opposing a $154 billion spending
bill because it wasn’t paid for,
but I believed then, and believe now, that it was the right
thing to do.
I voted twice to deny automatic pay raises to members of Congress because, as I said at the time, Congress doesn’t deserve a
pay raise while so many are still looking for work. I also fought
with the leadership to steer unused TARP bank bailout funds to
deficit reduction, rather than spend it on new programs.
I was a strong supporter of PAYGO legislation, which requires all
spending included in bills before the Congress to be offset by
comparable cuts to make them revenue neutral – and PAYGO is
now the law of the land. The previous PAYGO legislation expired in 2002, and I was among those in the House who pushed to
get in reinstituted so we can bring spending under control.
During my years in Fairfax County government, I balanced 14
budgets so I know it can be done. Congress needs to get serious
about spending and the deficit. I don’t want to suggest that we
will turn around the federal deficit overnight, but Congress needs
to look closely at every dollar it spends, practice fiscal responsibility, and ensure that our nation remains on the path to economic
recovery.
I welcome your thoughts and your comments on this and other
issues. Please don’t hesitate to call my Annandale District Office
at 703-256-3071, my Capitol Hill Office at 202-225-1492, or send
me your thoughts through my website at Connolly.house.gov.
July 2010
6
ENDEAVOR
Health Watch
Beware of Copperheads
An unusually high number of copperhead snakes have recently been reported in Fairfax County. Copperheads are venomous snakes that are found here and throughout Virginia. Copperhead snake bites have been reported across Fairfax County
in the Dranesville (Riverbend Park), Hunter Mill (Reston),
and Springfield (Clifton) Districts. Typically, reports of snake
bites (and sightings) do not peak until between August and
October when baby copperheads are hatching.
Virginia is home to three poisonous species of snakes, the
Timber Rattlesnake, the Cottonmouth and the Copperhead.
It’s important to remember that while death from snake bite is
Virginia is extremely rare, they can be painful and cause a
number of symptoms such as; swelling and bruising, sweating, weakness, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching and a metallic taste in the mouth. It is important to seek medical attention if you or your pets are bitten.
The Fairfax County Wildlife biologist recommends
the following safety tips:
•
•
•
•
•
Keep grass and vegetation mowed short on private
property – Snakes like to hunt in tall grass
Stay on the sidewalk and park trails
Supervise children at all times
Do not approach a copperhead - NEVER pick up a
snake
Keep dogs on leash at all times
April Beanetics Quiz
Name six of the original stores that operated in the
Annandale Shopping Center between 1957 and 1960?
Quiz Answer:
A&P Grocery, Drug Fair, Suburban Savings & Loan, Bradshaw
Shoes, The Annandale Bakery, The Annandale Self Service Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Annandale Sports and Hobby, Annandale
Paint Center, B&C Jewelers (later McCormick Jewelers), Villa
Maria Restaurant, Galanis (Nick & George) Mobile Station, Tops
Restaurant. Deavers Appliance took up residence in the 1960’s.
•
•
Do not overturn rocks or logs
Wear appropriate protective clothing when outdoors
If you are bitten by a snake:
•
Stay calm
•
Do not apply a tourniquet
•
Keep body part immobilized and area level with
heart
•
Seek immediate medical attention (nearest hospital)
For more information on copperheads or other local
wildlife, please visit the Fairfax County Government website
at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/animals/wildlife. For more
information, or to report a copperhead incident, contact
Vicky Monroe the Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist at 703324-0240.
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Annandale:
7
The Crossroads of Northern Virginia
and a suburb of Tysons
By: C. McNeill
Until 1968 Tysons Corner was a quaint crossroads surrounded
by farms. Then, Tysons Corner Shopping Center, Tysons Galleria, and thousands of businesses joined the landscape. Now it
is the 12th largest business district in the United States. Although categorized as an edge city by the Census Bureau, Tysons
is only one twelfth the size of DC, but has a daytime population
pushing one third the number of DC.
Tysons Corner 1956
(Courtesy Library of VA Photographic Archive)
On April 8th, the Chamber hosted their monthly luncheon with
Dr. Gerald Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax County
Economic Development Authority, as speaker. Gordon remarked
that Fairfax County now has more jobs than DC; and, it could be
said that DC is now a suburb of the county. Tysons is home to
major corporations such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One,
Freddie Mac, Gannett, Hilton Worldwide, SAIC, USA Today,
Northrop Grumman, Xerox, and Vie de France to name just a
few. Although this enormous population generates a great deal
of tax revenue it also creates the need for more roads, road repairs and public services. In fact, Fairfax County contributes
25% of all income taxes in Virginia but receives from Richmond
only 19 cents on the dollar in return. Consequently, Gordon
stressed that continued business growth is essential in order to
increase the county’s tax base.
Tysons Corner has numerous hotels, fine restaurants, shops, and
soon a metro system. It offers all the attractions needed for corporate relocation while Annandale (only 9.2 miles away) stands
to inherit some of the smaller fringe companies spun off the corporate platter. The residential real estate market in Annandale
and neighboring communities often becomes home to many of
Tysons employees helping to stabilize dramatic fluctuations. The
county population (projected to be 1,059,468) increased 29.4%
in the past ten years and is expected to grow by another 25% in
the next twenty years.
Presently, Annandale does not have sufficient office space to
attract significant commercial development and until the existing county vacancy rate (14%) drops by half, very little development of office buildings will take place outside of Tysons
and the Dulles metro corridor. One important marketing con-
sideration for any of the often wished for businesses thinking
of expanding into Annandale is the total square footage of
commercial space available which translates directly into a
potential customer base. Annandale currently has a commercial space inventory of 4,287,066 square feet as opposed to
Merrifield’s
15,042,933
or
Springfield/Franconia’s
22,157,903. However, Annandale does have an ideal central
location only minutes from every major highway which has
earning her the nickname, “The Crossroads of Northern Virginia.”
July 2010
8
ENDEAVOR
COUNTY BUDGET—2010
How will it affect your wallet?
Real Estate Tax Rate:
Increased from $1.04 to $1.09 per $100 assessed value.
Personal Property Tax Rate:
Remains at $4.57 per $100 assessed value.
Refuse Collection Rate:
Remains at $345 per household in FY 2011.
Refuse Disposal Rate:
Remains at $60 per ton in FY 2011.
Leaf Collection Rate:
Remains at $0.015 per $100 assessed valuation in FY 2011.
Sewer Availability Charge:
For new single-family homes, this charge increases to $7,750.
Sewer Service Rate:
Increases to $5.27 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption
from $4.50.
Countywide Special Tax District for the Control of Pest
Infestations:
Tax rate remains at $0.0010 per $100 assessed valuation in FY
2011.
Stormwater Services District Levy:
The FY 2011 tax rate increases from $0.010 per $100 of assessed value to $0.015.
Vehicle Registration License Fee:
$33.00 for most vehicles
The new county budget calls for cutting 176 positions and the
Annandale’s New Historic Markers
Civil War Skirmishes Remembered
Across from the George Mason Library is a heavily treed area
known as Poe Terrace Park. Although overgrown and not yet
manicured for park use, there are some beautiful culverts and
earthen works built by the Manassas Gap Railroad in the
1850’s. Evidence of this building project can also be seen on
the south side
of Walton Lane
and in the Annandale Community
Park.
The
railbed
construction
was completed
but the money
ran out before
the rails themselves could be
laid.
(ENDEAVOR, July
2009,
page
5)
addition of one position for the Office of the Financial and Program Auditor. It will transfer $1.77 billion or 53.5% of total
county disbursements to the Fairfax County Public Schools for
both Operating and Debt Service. This plus state funding will
completely fund the School Board’s operating request of $2.2
billion and will restore programs such as band & music and language immersion.
New fees will be charged for Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate tests and athletic participation. Summer
school has been eliminated except for special education students,
credit recovery for high school students and self-supporting programs. The extended learning program has been eliminated although funding for a transition period of one year has been requested. Class size ratio is to be maintained as well as a salary
freeze for employees.
The projected enrollment for FY 2011 is 175,296 or 1,723 additional students. Enrollment has increased steadily over the past
three years adding substantive expense to the school budget.
Consequently, some support positions in the schools and particularly at central office including clerical staff, custodians, and
assistant principals will be eliminated.
For complete details on the county and school budgets see:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov and www.fcps.edu
What remained
was a wide navigable foot path
often used by
both Union and
Confederate soldiers when traveling
through
Annandale.
Recently an historic marker was
placed in front of
the library to
commemorate a
Civil War skirmish involving Federal troops from Blenker’s Division of the
Forty-fifth New York Volunteers and members of a Confederate
cavalry unit.
The second marker is located on Championship Drive near
Frontage Road. It commemorates a skirmish between Mosby
and Capt. Joseph Schneider of the 16th New York Cavalry.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
9
Annandale’s Future Redevelopment Center
Light rail would certainly help
Recently, Arlington County approved $3,000,000 for a two
year plan and design study of the proposed 4.7 mile streetcar
line running from Pentagon City to Skyline (Bailey’s Crossroads). This money will come from a fund created through a
commercial real estate tax. On Columbia Pike the electric
cars would run along the curb lane allowing passengers to
use existing sidewalks as platforms while alleviating some
rush hour traffic. This environmentally friendly transportation project will have 15 stops approximately one third of a
mile apart with cars running every 6 minutes during rush
hour. A constant flow of foot traffic will be created which
allows for businesses to prosper and encourages redevelopment of the area translating into the addition of a variety of
new retail and business establishments.
It had been hoped that Fairfax County would elect to extend
the line along the remainder of Columbia Pike into Annandale. For now, this is not to be. In the County Comprehensive Plan the Board of Supervisors recognized that,
“One of the primary implications of the trends and
forecasts for Fairfax County is that traffic conditions are
likely to deteriorate further, even with extraordinary expenditures to improve the transportation infrastructure... A keystone policy for future planning and facilities includes
achievement of a multi-modal transportation system to reduce excessive reliance upon the automobile.”
Annandale needs redevelopment. Annandale needs to attract
a vast variety of new retail & restaurant establishments. Annandale needs immediate relief from rush hour traffic. The
streetcar line extending to Annandale held out promise.
Hopefully, the issue is not dead, just delayed.
Officials in Arlington County promote the
benefits of a modern Streetcar Line:
Attractive vehicles with large windows are compatible
with the urban scale of the area and with the walkable “main
street” environment Arlington is developing along Columbia
Pike
Electric motors and steel tracks provide a quiet, comfortable ride and encourage transit use
Streetcars are large enough to handle increased ridership as
the corridor redevelops
Vehicles are powered from a single overhead wire that
would have minimal visual impact
The streetcar line would encourage the private sector to invest
in the revitalization of the corridor. (Based on the experience of
cities such as Portland, Oregon and Tampa, Florida, the streetcar system would promote new development along Columbia
Pike.)
For more information on the Street Car project or Fairfax
County transportation issues: www.arlingtonva.us
10
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
The dash to Destination Quality
By: Marilyn Hoosen
BERNARDAUD
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703-354-2110 800-357-2110
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4417 JOHN MARR
DRIVE,800-357-2110
ANNANDALE, VA 22003
SPODE
Sovereign debt accrued by nations had become all the rage in
the ‘90s and this millennium. Traders looked to cash in on
these spending and savings habits among nations, betting that
higher interest rates would have to be paid out through creditdefault swaps. The problem with this approach? Deepening
debt as interest is serviced at higher rates, while social safety
TOWLE
FITZ & FLOYD WALLACE
Assessing current conditions is always tricky as these moving
parts remain unpredictable, much like the Gulf Oil spill.
Once Greece had declared near default, global investors fled
the Greek market as quickly as their brokers could place their
sell orders. Surrounding nations suffered a similar assault on
their debt, as investors exhibited fear that the infection might
spread, and spread fast. The acronym PIIGS coined earlier,
symbolizing Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain, identified problem nations in the EU that were a very real threat
and could sink the Euro.
One thing is clear: our globe is shrinking and becoming more and
more interconnected as tragedy in one part of the world affects
almost every other part. Hence, the flight to quality, US treasuries, caught the market unaware. Just a few years ago we were
warned to take advantage of mortgage purchases and refinances
as much as we could. A correction would certainly occur soon
and borrowers would see the window of opportunity close quickly. This almost certain predictability proved itself wrong. The
only certainty is uncertainty. A wise investor always needs a
back-up plan and needs to keep a constant eye on current conditions.
PORTMEIRION
In the world of financial planning, our goal must be to remain
focused on the long-term objective and double-down our
commitment to persevere through all perils and pitfalls while
on our path to prosperity. The dash to a destination called
Quality (the quality of our real and financial assets) is the
best sprint we can make to protect our principal holdings.
This spans the spectrum of FDIC instruments, Treasury bills,
municipals and solid investment grade equities and bonds
which ferret out the risks (both systemic and institutionspecific) while conducting due diligent reviews of holdings.
As investors’ assets board planes, trains and automobiles in
their dash to destination Quality, greater care is now required
to ensure that the pursuit indeed leads to happiness.
nets eat away at larger chunks of the public purse. When the
Greeks introduced their austerity measures, citizens took to the
streets and protested in greater numbers, decrying their dependence on public assistance. Yet, the government had no choice but
to cut expenses, as tax revenues alone could not close the gap.
As investors looked around the world, and despite our own domestic spending woes, they knew that the safest place to park
their assets has been the US Treasury. Thus the flight to quality
and safety emerged as more and more investors purchased Tbills, ETFs and ETNs that price treasuries, driving down the
treasury yield due to high demand and allowing an inadvertent
reduction in the trickle down to mortgage rates.
GORHAM
In the movie, “The Pursuit
of Happiness,” Will Smith
plays the role of Chris
Gardner, a man who went
from being penniless to
prosperous by overcoming
numerous hardships. He
knew that the struggle
served as preparation for
the happiness he would
later enjoy. He took his
son on this journey, giving
him a first-person account
of the slog and struggle.
As he honed his skills on
the investment platform at Morgan Stanley, he outperformed
all of his peers, not even drinking a glass of water for that
would naturally lead to a bathroom break, thus stealing valuable phone time with a potential investor. One of the many
lessons we can draw from Gardner’s pursuit, is that the marathon toward happiness, requires the ability to endure setbacks
while never taking your eye off the prize.
[email protected]
4417 JOHN MARR DRIVE, ANNANDALE, VA 22003
BERNARDAUD TUTTLE WATERFORD ORNAMENTS TOWLE
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Planes, Trains and Automobiles...continued
As any statistician would tell you; building good decision
trees, preparing for any number of possible outcomes, while
weighing each outcome’s probability of occurrence, is the best
way to mitigate risk, and plan for the unknown. In speaking
with a client, he shared an experience he had in San Francisco.
Outside a church he was approached by homeless persons who
asked for compassion and mercy, and fiscal relief...they needed money for food. Interestingly, these individuals were not
high school drop-outs nor unskilled individuals, but former
engineers, IT professionals, middle and upper management
workers who had earned six figure incomes. They had fallen
on hard times as their firms made decisions to close plants and
offices in the state of California due to unfavorable taxation
policies. This is food for thought on the question of corporate
taxation and how such policies can affect workers at professional and entry levels alike. As such, these now homeless and
skilled unemployed individuals had not just lost their homes
and jobs, but they lost their will to keep trying after so many
subsequent job rejections. The average rate of unemployment
is now near 10% nationwide. California is somewhat of an
anomaly, with an average of 15%, and in Marin County, it is
near 20% - staggering indeed, but even more significant when
one sees the names and faces of the people behind these num-
The Police Team Places First
Annual Bed Race & Carnival
The Chamber’s annual Bed Race was held on Saturday, May
15th in front of K-Mart along John Marr Drive. The Bed Race
is a fundraiser for Virginia Special Olympics and the Annandale Chamber of Commerce, organized in cooperation with
the Fairfax County Police Department. Pediatric hospital beds
are provided, and teams of five decorate and race their bed
through a course on John Marr Drive in a timed competition.
The winning Police Team with
Congressman Gerry Connolly
The
Fairfax
County Police
Department won
the race with
Magill’s restaurant taking second, and Silverado’s restaurant third. Hapmudo
Martial
Arts Studio, in
the Annandale
Shopping Center, provided an
energetic
demonstration
11
bers. As the familiar adage reads, “But for the Grace of God,
there go us all.”
We hear the government speak of retooling skill sets for individuals that will make them more relevant to the marketplace,
but those are long-term objectives. Training does not happen in
a day and companies that outsource are looking for cheaper
payrolls. For those who have lost their jobs, especially the
99ers (unemployed for 99+ weeks), the chances of a firm hiring
them become slimmer by the day. The problem deepens as
recent college graduates enter the workplace, giving companies
the chance to meet lower pay-grades and receive longer productivity cycles. Yes, the gloom and doom is widespread. Economic recovery data is signaling a positive trend while Congress seems less inclined to extend benefits to the long-term
unemployed.
Take the time, none like the present, to assess your current situation. See where gaps exist and work on closing them now.
Chris Gardner realized early that setting a vision would never
be enough in his pursuit of happiness. He had to work hard to
meet his goal. He achieved it with dignity, humility and sweat
equity. We can all learn this lesson and make it part of our pursuit toward quality, sustained and unsullied happiness.
Marilyn Hoosen
Private Financial Advisor, BB & T Private Financial Services
(703) 924-2216 (office) - Email: [email protected]
and Congressman Gerry Connolly, a long standing member of
the Annandale Chamber and US representative for the 11 th
Congressional District, handed out prizes.
In six short years the Bed Race has become one of Annandale’s
favorite events. Plans
are underway to add a
junior competition next
year in the form of a
wagon race.
The Spring Carnival,
held in conjunction
with the Bed Race in
the K-Mart parking lot,
ran from May 13-23rd.
This is an annual
event much anticipated by Annandale families...especially the
little ones. A hearty
than you goes to Carol Zach Reuss who
organizes both events
each year.
12
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
The American Flag
A visible symbol to our Nation and to the world
By: Marv Rodney
Keeping with the
theme of addressing
one national holiday each quarter, I
am expanding the
article this issue to
provide some general
information
about the History of
our Flag. This is
particularly timely
since we recently
celebrated Flag Day (June 14th) and Independence Day (July
4th) – two dates in which our Flag figures prominently. Since
it was first designed, the American flag has seen and weathered much. It has been a symbol of hope, strength, courage,
and faith.
When Betsy Ross designed the American flag in 1777, the
Revolution was still ongoing, and it was a pure tossup as to
whether it would succeed. The American flag, then with its 13
stars (each one representing a colony) and 13 stripes gave the
patriots a new confidence, and it rivaled the “Union Jack,” in
its beauty. From then on, the American flag would be a staple
in each battle. Eventually, victory would be theirs, and the
entire world would come to recognize the importance of the
stars and stripes.
Another milestone for the American flag was in the War of
1812. After seeing the British Royal Navy inflict severe damage on Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, poet Francis Scott
Key was amazed to see that the flag still flew. This inspired
him to write the now famous “Star Spangled Banner,” which
would be forever connected with the American flag.
During the American Civil War, both sides showed a reverence for the American flag. The North, which never considered the South truly gone, still kept 34 states on their flag. The
South, which believed that it held to the vision of the Founding
Fathers, had a flag that somewhat resembled the American
flag. It bore the same colors, 13 stars, (they hoped throughout
the War that Missouri and Kentucky would be added to their
11 states) and, especially pronounced in early versions, three
stripes.
In 1892, another familiar tradition began when Boston Baptist
minister, Francis Bellamy, wrote the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
From Columbus Day of that year onward, when President Benjamin Harrison recited it for the first time, the pledge has been
forever connected with the American flag. Today, every
morning, school children around the country recite, “I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…”
Like the country it represents, the flag has changed. In fact, it
has changed 28 times since 1777 with the last change on July 3,
1960 when Hawaii became a state. The Flag has grown,
changed, and developed. Nonetheless, it has continued to be a
visible symbol to much of the world representing prosperity,
hope, and all that is possible if a dream is given flight.
If you have any questions or would like more details on this
article, please contact your Post 1976 Service Officer, Marv
Rodney at 703-328-3052. Better yet, stop in your Post 1976
home at 4206 Daniels Avenue, Annandale, and meet some of
our friendly people. Information contained in the above article was extracted from the web.
Memorial Day Ceremonies in Annandale
On Memorial Day, May 31, 2010 American Legion Post 1976
honored local veterans by placing flags on each veteran grave at
the Annandale United Methodist Church Cemetery.
A second ceremony was held at Cannon Park on Columbia Pike
where Legionnaires, family and community members assembled to attend the ceremony and hear the keynote address provided by Congressman Gerry Connolly and an eloquent reading
of In Flanders Fields by Wilma Ranck. In addition to Congressman Connolly, State Delegate Vivian Watts, Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, Mason
District Supervisor Penny Gross, and Braddock District Supervisor John Cook attended the celebration.
Our Veterans
358,000 The number who served during both the
Vietnam era and in the Gulf War.
315,000 The number who served during
both the
Korean and Vietnam wars.
69,000 The number who served during
three periods:
World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam
War.
263,000 The number who served in
World War II and
the Korean War.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
13
Normandy
The defining moment of the 20th century
By: Zachary C. Miller
Beside the often overlooked Annandale cannon, which sits on
the corner of Columbia Pike and Backlick Road, stands a small
stone tablet that reads, “That which we do for ourselves dies
with us. That which we do for others remains.” For a community that lies within minutes of Arlington National Cemetery
and the WWII Memorial, this is a most fitting inscription.
These sentiments strike deeper at the heart when walking
amongst the headstones at Arlington, where soldiers from every American war now lay at honorable rest; or, through the
WWII Memorial that commemorates those who fought in the
defining moment of the 20th century.
While on spring break, during a semester abroad, seems an
unlikely time to initiate an understanding of the sacrifice made
by those buried within minutes of my hometown, Annandale.
In fact, take a poll of likely spring break destinations and Normandy probably comes in right above Bosnia. But like the
young
soldiers
who, around the
same age, embarked across the
English Channel
in June of 1944
towards northern
France, I and four
fellow
students
headed to the
same destination - a place I found
German Gun Casemate
that I knew little
about. Nearly every American history class throughout school
started in 1492 with Columbus, but never reached past Pearl
Harbor into 1942 or beyond. If mentioned at all, D-Day and the
Normandy landings were briefly
referenced in the
closing remarks
of class before
final exams. I’ll
let the reader determine
how
much time was
left for discussion
of the Korean
Vietnam
German fortification...If you drop a grenade in the War,
top ventilation hole it passes through a U –shaped War, or Desert
channel and comes out the bottom.
D-Day landing at Omaha Beach—June 6, 1944
Storm. If the importance of history lies within our ability to
learn from past mistakes, then perhaps this lesson has never
been more vital than in the midst of our most current war
against terrorism.
When on our tour we reached the city of Bayeux outside of
Normandy, we met with an enthusiastic young British man who
would serve as our tour guide for the next eight hours, the highlights of which included St. Mere Eglise, Utah Beach, Omaha
Beach, and a bluff overlooking the two called Pointe Du Hoc.
The celebrated amphibious landing of 11,000 Allied ships on
these beaches was preceded by the deployment of paratroopers
further inland whose mission was to disrupt communication
and prevent reinforcement of the
coastline. The C-47
pilots
carrying
these soldiers had
little training; were
flying at night;
and, came under
heavy enemy fire,
which resulted in
severe misplacegun placement overlooking Omaha Beach
ment of the troops. German
provided some cover during the landings
To further compliand subsequent Allied assault.
cate the matter, the
Nazis flooded the marshes leaving only a few open causeways
connecting inner France with the beaches. On top of this, old
Viking farms had created hedgerows covered in thick brush
nearly impossible to penetrate. All of this combined to form a
nightmarish situation for the troopers. The difficulties encountered inland foreshadowed that of those landing on the Normandy coast a few hours later.
July 2010
14
Normandy
continued
ENDEAVOR
Looking at the breadth of the beaches from the cliffs, I thought
of the average soldier, barely out of high school, and wondered
how men so young and innocent to warfare could summon such
unimaginable courage. Today, thousands of Americans still
remain on this bluff overlooking Omaha Beach at the Normandy
American Cemetery and Memorial, including three recipients of
the Medal of Honor and Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Those
who died here; the bravery they displayed here are remembered
by every visitor.
Dominating the cemetery’s landscape stands a twenty-two foot
bronze statue above an inscription which reads, “The Spirit of
American Youth Rising from the Waves”. Never have I felt
such a sense of loss; never have I felt so proud than standing
amongst the graves of boys who, if alive today, would be old
enough to be my grandfather. Whether in Annandale or thousands of miles away in a foreign country, I will forever honor the
sacrifice and struggle of American servicemen.
Crater from the bombings
(Photos courtesy of the author)
Utah Beach suffered the fewest casualties of any landing, losing only 197 of nearly 23,000 men. Conversely, littered with
hidden Nazi bunkers, Omaha Beach was the place you’d least
like to land on D-Day. Nearly 2,400 Americans lost their lives
there, and by the end of the day the blood stained water was
described as having purple waves and pink surf. Still, the
highest percentage of casualties occurred at Pointe Du Hoc, a
100 foot high cliff overlooking the sea between Omaha and
Utah Beaches.
On this cliff German concrete casemates (pillboxes) had been
built to house 155mm artillery guns. Taking these guns was a
high priority as they would disrupt the landings on both beaches. Fortunately but inexplicably the guns had been moved inland shortly before the landings. Taking and then defending
this strategic high ground from numerous German counterattacks; then finding and destroying the guns, resulted in a significant casualty count. Enormous craters are evident all
around these casemates from the naval bombardment and aerial bombings laid down immediately before the invasion.
Amazingly, the 7ft thick rebar reinforced concrete was left
without a crack but the Allied advance was notably delayed by
rifle and machine gun fire from these pillboxes.
An additional testament to the quality of German engineering
was a “U” shaped ventilation duct that allowed for the fresh
flow of air while preventing grenades from being thrown into
the casemate. In fact, Allied forces were never able to successfully enter the casemates even after the beaches were taken
until the soldiers unlocked themselves from within.
“The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves”
Normandy American Cemetery is the resting place of 9,387 servicemen.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
15
VIEW ON NATURE
Commemorate!
By: Michael McDonnell, Hidden Oaks Nature Center
7701 Royce Street, Annandale
Perhaps you’ve
seen the new
garden and banner at Hidden
Oaks
Nature
Center?
The
Fairfax County
Park Authority
is celebrating
its 60th year
(December 6th
1950)
with
events throughout the year. The need to commemorate is instilled in human
nature. Most of our religious, secular and seasonal celebrations
are cyclical. “Commemoration,” a word with the same roots as
“memory,” does not merely mean a celebration, but a
“remembrance” of a previous event. Perhaps it’s our internal
circadian rhythms that drive our desire to mark seasonal and
anniversary celebrations. We are cyclical beings, with internal
biological clocks that commemorate the passage of about 24
hours. Although scientists speculate its obvious relation to the
Earth’s rotation, they’re still learning about the unknown biological or chemical processes that trigger our cyclical selves.
Most other organisms also have biological rhythms. Have you
heard the birds celebrating and singing in the morning or heard
them announce spring’s return? Well, perhaps too anthropomorphic for some, but it is a natural sign that the cycle is starting again. The Earth’s revolutions around the sun are deemed
worthy of celebration by most human cultures, if not other species.
Remember the “controversy” of chronology that surrounded the
Y2K turnover? Those events were based on an arbitrary distinction in the Julian/Gregorian calendar. Even pedants such as
me – who insisted that, under our system, we were still in the
old century during 2,000 (since year 1 through 100 was the first
century) – had to admit its arbitrary construction.
The Egyptians were probably the first Western culture to commemorate cycles using a solar calendar, for they noticed that
the floods of the Nile routinely followed the reappearance of
Sirius, the Dog Star, annually. The Romans, from whom we
get our current calendar names, followed a Greek calendar that
started in March, ended in December, and ignored the entire
winter, almost 60 days. Not a bad practice in my view! Those
60 winter days had become January and February, so named by
Numa Pompilius 800 years BCE to designate two extra tax
months. The two-faced Janus was the god of gates and doors.
A door could look both ways and so January was the
“connection” – either the end of the previous year or the start of
the coming year. Februalia was the early Latin designation for
a length of time dedicated to sacrifice, to atone for ones sins.
That’s why it was good for taxes!
In 46 BCE Julius Caesar, on the advice of the astronomer Sosigenes, created the current system with its 12 months comprising 365 and 1/4 days. To catch the calendar up to the solar
cycle, the Romans decreed the year 46 BCE to be 445 days
long. They commemorated it as the “Year of Confusion,” as
good a name as any for many a year I’ve witnessed. Every
month had variously 30 or 31 days except February, which
contained 29, and every fourth year had 30. Thus leap year
was invented. Caesar also took a perfectly good month
“Quintilis,” (which referred to the fifth month when March was
the first,) and renamed it in honor of himself, naturally. So we
have “July.” Caesar Augustus then of course had to have his
month, so the former “Sextilis,” for sixth, became August. One
can only speculate that Tiberius, Caligula and the rest were
uninterested in monthly names. So that is why September
(seventh), October (eighth), November (ninth) and December
(tenth) are, in fact, not!
On the more modern cyclical calendar of commemorations,
besides the aforementioned 60th Anniversary for the FCPA,
Hidden Oaks Nature Center just celebrated its 40th anniversary
with much fanfare. Most of us love birthdays (up to a point!)
Regardless of the perhaps bittersweet reminder of our age and
the passage of time, a good birthday commemoration tells us
we’re among family and friends, a special place to be. So, sit
back and commemorate something in your life! Oh, and
Caesar’s leap year? Well, by 1582 the system had gotten behind the solar year by three months. Pope Gregory the XIII, in
order to catch up, turned October 5th into October 15th. Presto!
Ten days gone. However, the calendar would simply fall behind again. So the astronomers were yet again consulted, and
the Pope decreed that, in addition to the routine leap year,
which is always a year evenly divisible by four, only those century years divisible by 400, instead of four, would be leap
years. So the next century leap year after 1600 was 2000! The
years 1800 and 1900, although they all qualified as routine leap
years, were, arbitrarily, not leap years. So February 29th, 2000
was extremely special. I hope you celebrated. If not, it’s never
too late for a party. Because to commemorate that event again,
you’ll have to wait until the year 2400!
ADVERTISE IN
ENDEAVOR
Discounted rates for Chamber Members
For more information:
[email protected]
16
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Photo Retrospective: Annandale of Old
The Year Was 2000: A joyous welcome to the new millennium
GOVERNMENT
US President: William Jefferson Clinton (D)
Vice President: Albert Gore, Jr. (D)
VA Governor: James Gilmore III
US Senators from VA: Charles S. Robb (D) &
John W. Warner (R)
Chief Justice US Supreme Court: William
Rehnquist
Speaker of the House: Dennis Hastert
MAJOR EVENTS:
Hopes for peace in Ulster gain support May 6th as
the Irish Republican Army offers to open its secret
weapons arsenal to international inspection as a
means of meeting peace negotiators
The U.S. destroyer Cole docks at Aden for refueling
October 12 and is heavily damaged by explosives
that kill 17 of those aboard and injure 38 others in
the first such attack on a U.S. warship.
The U.S. presidential election ends in an unprecedented dead heat. Texas Gov. George W. (Walker)
Bush (R) is finally declared the victor over Vice
President Al Gore (D) in December 2000 because of
a legitimate dispute over Florida ballots.
The U.S. Treasury issues its first $100 million worth
of gold-tinted $1 coins in April, circulating them
through Wal-Mart stores and in 5,000 boxes of
Cheerios cereal.
British authorities accuse former Sotheby's chairman
A. Alfred Taubman and former Christie's chairman
Sir Anthony Tennant in April of having conspired in
the early 1990s to limit competition by fixing commissions charged to buyers and sellers. Taubman
pleads guilty in October.
Y2K greatest concerns: fears that computers would
not shift from 1999 to 2000 correctly. However, by
the end of 1999, many companies had already converted to new, or upgraded their existing, software.
Some even obtained Y2K certification. In the actual
event, relatively few problems occurred.
The entire world celebrates the coming of the new
millennium with joyous New Year Festivities.
The Tate Modern Gallery opens in London.
Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde aircraft, crashes
into a hotel in Gonesse just after takeoff from Paris,
killing all 109 aboard and 4 in the hotel.
NASDAQ peaked at 5132.52 before the Dot Com
Bubble Bursts and thousands of DotComs go bust.
Mad Cow Disease causes alarm in Europe
AWARDS & PRIZES
Nobel Peace Prize: Kim Dae-jung, South Korea
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: Interpreter of Maladies by
Jhumpa Lahiri
Miss America: Heather French (Miss Kentucky)
Best Picture of the Year: Gladiator
Best Actor: Russell Crow, Gladiator
Best Actress: Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich
SPORTS
NCAA Basketball Champion: Michigan State
NBA Championship: Los Angeles Lakers over
Indiana Pacers 4-2
College Football Champion: Oklahoma
Heisman Trophy Winner: Chris Weinke, QB at
Florida State
US Open Winner: Tiger Woods
Super Bowl XXXIV: The St. Louis Rams
(formerly the L.A. Rams) defeat the Tennessee
Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers) 23 to 16
World Series Champion: NY Yankees over NY
Mets 4-1
Heavy Weight Boxing Title: Evander Holyfield
Indianapolis 500 Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
President Bill Clinton
Wimbledon Singles Champions: Pete Sampras
and Venus Williams
Loaf of Bread: $1.72
Tour de France: Lance Armstrong
Dozen Eggs: 89 cents
EVERYDAY LIFE:
Montgomery Ward files for bankruptcy December
28, announcing that it is eliminating 450 jobs immediately and will go out of business after 128 years,
closing its 250 stores and dismissing the 28,000
associates who operate them.
America Online and Time Warner announce January
10 that AOL will acquire Time Warner.
The comic strip "Peanuts" makes its final appearance January 3 after nearly 50 years.
The U.S. bison (buffalo) population reaches
300,000, up from fewer than 30 in 1900
Half of all US households have personal computers.
1 pound of Bacon: $2.97
Oil Tops $30 per barrel
Life Expectancy: 77.5 years
Minimum Hourly Wage Rose to $5.15
BIRTHS: Noah Cyrus
DEATHS: Admiral Elmo Zumwalt (ret.), Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, Hedy Lamarr, Tom Landry,
Sir John Gielgud
MOST POPULAR MOVIES:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Gladiator, Erin
Brockovich, Traffic, What Lies Beneath, The Legend
of Bagger Vance
World Population: 6,070,581,000
US Population: 281,421,906
Average Cost of a new house: $207,000/median
cost in US $169,000
Average Income per year: $40,343.00
Average Monthly Rent: $675
Average cost of a new car: $24,750
Cost of a gallon of gas: $1.26
Cost of ground coffee per LB: $3.44
US Postage stamp: 33 cents
Average cost of new car: $16,300.00
Average cost of a new house: $134,150.00
Millennium Celebration
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
17
ANNANDALE in 2000
Fairfax County Population: 933,641
Annandale Population: 54,994
Annandale: latitude 38.830N, longitude -77.196W
elevation 361 feet, Eastern Standard Time Zone
Median household income: $72,561
Median family income: $80,459
Number of households: 19,927
Real Estate Tax Rate in Fairfax County: $1.23 per $100 assessed value
LOCAL NEWS: 2000
The average sales price of a new home in the Annandale area is $213,815 in
2000, rising to $283,489 by 2004.
The Fairfax County Park Authority celebrates their 50 th birthday with a celebration at the Ernst Center on the Annandale Campus of the Northern Virginia
Community College. The Park Authority began with the donation of multiple
acres in Annandale where the first park was established.
The average interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 7.17 at local
banks.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshiro Mori, visited Thomas Jefferson HS in
2001.
March 24, 2000: Annandale bids farewell to a favorite son and respected
leader. John C. Webb, 84, a Northern Virginia lawyer and developer who
served from 1952 to 1962 as a Democrat in the Virginia House of Delegates,
where he became known for opposing the segregation policies propounded by
the majority of his party, died of an aortic aneurysm. During his tenure representing Fairfax County, he frequently clashed with the powerful Democratic
Party political organization led by Sen. Harry F. Byrd Sr. (Va.). That organization opposed racial integration measures. In a 1957 editorial, The Washington
Post noted that Mr. Webb "stood for moderation and reason and respect for the
law in regard to race." Mr. Webb, who sat on the House Appropriations Committee, chose not to run for reelection in 1962. By that time, he had become an
established developer in Northern Virginia. His projects included two in Annandale he built in the 1960s: the Americana-Fairfax complex, which includes
the Heritage Mall Shopping Center; and a 46-acre tract that contains Parliament Village Apartments, Little River Shopping Center and Markham Street
Shopping Center.
The Pentagon after Terrorist attack—September 11, 2001
Crime Statistics in Fairfax County 2000: This is a significantly lower crime
rate. In fact, it is the lowest seen in Fairfax County between 1980 and 2005.
Manslaughter/Murder: 2
Rape: 30
Robbery: 107
Aggravated Assault: 15
Vehicle Theft: 313
Larceny Theft: 8864
Burglary: 1033
Total Crime: 10.355
August 20, 2000: Annandale Terrace Elementary was named one of the nations most improved schools by the Los Angeles Times.
November 30, 2000: Annandale resident Mary Otis donated her 25 foot / 19
year old blue spruce tree to the city of Alexandria to be used for the city’s
holiday celebrations in front of City Hall. Mrs. Otis reported that the tree had
overgrown her yard and would have to be taken down in the near future. When
this offer from Alexandria came along she knew it was the right time to cut it
down and give it a magnificent send off.
September 11, 2001: The west side of the Pentagon is hit by the hijacked
American Airlines Flight #77 out of Dulles in a terrorist attack. The Boeing
757 was traveling at 345 mph and carrying 10,000 gallons of fuel while flying
very low over Route 50 toward the Pentagon. Vibrations caused pictures to
fall off walls in some Annandale homes. 189 people died including all on
board the aircraft. The Arlington Co. Fire Dept. led an heroic multi-day effort
to distinguish the fire and provide care for the injured.
Terrorist attack on Trade Towers in NYC
September 11, 2001
18
July 2010
The Fairfax County
Library System continued...
Room would be housed where thousands upon thousands of old
letters, newspapers, photographs, and significant publications
that represent the historic heritage of Fairfax County are safeguarded. This is a place where history comes alive.
Scholars, genealogists, students, and interested citizens have
access to these materials along with the expert guidance and
advice of a knowledgeable professional staff. Beginning as a
yard wide shelf of books, the historic collection migrated from
the basement of one building to the 4,200 square foot top floor
of another. The Historical Society of Fairfax County generously purchased furnishings in the 1960’s while the Fairfax Genealogy Society purchased and donated any number of materials
for the Virginia Room. Since the library budget was then and
still remains quite small, most of the current collection has been
gathered by donations, often from local citizens who are downsizing or clearing out their personal collections.
The Virginia Room has now stretched to 14,000 square feet and
occupies the entire upper floor of the new Fairfax City Regional Library (opened Feb. 2008). Located on the corner of North
Street and Chain Bridge Road the Virginia Room is a jewel in
the county’s crown of benefits. Climate controlled storage
space allows the staff to safely store and catalog the many donations and acquisitions.
Housed are original county maps and an extensive photographic archive. For those researching local births, a glance at the
1903-1912 account books of Dr. Jones, MD may be helpful.
Since no birth certificates were required at that time, these
books may be the only birth record for some. There are oral
histories of local seniors which provide fascinating insights into
daily life and records from century old stores showing the cost
of goods and services. An extensive collection of books and
manuscripts on Virginia and Fairfax County history are shelved
including many rare and out-of-print volumes. Old newspapers
are on microfilm and microfiche, community directories, gov-
ENDEAVOR
ernment publications, the legislative
data base, and even
the ENDEAVOR
are available for on
-site viewing.
However, the best
resources housed at
the Virginia Room
are the librarians
themselves. They
are not only fluent
with the collections
but they have also
established contacts
with professionals
1960-1965 on Annandale Road
all over the county,
the
Commonwealth, and even beyond who can provide further avenues for
research. Interviewing Suzanne Levy, a Virginia Room Librarian, is a treasured experience. She quotes multiple research
avenues to any question posed. She provides names and phone
numbers for outside collections. Her fingers fly over the keyboard locating specific information obscurely buried in little
known tombs. It is obvious Suzanne and her fellow librarians
have mastered their profession through advanced education and
experience. It is also obvious that they truly enjoy helping
library patrons. These librarians are a group of outstandingly
dedicated, highly skilled professionals to whom we owe much
gratitude. Take a trip to the Virginia Room and experience the
local past and remember Carl Sagan sentiments,
“The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully
extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the
best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history,
to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the
health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested
by how well we support our libraries.”
Because of cuts to the Fairfax County budget, Annandale’s
George Mason Library will be forced to reduce their hours as
of July 1, 2010 to:
Monday and Wednesday - 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
Tuesday - 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday and Friday - 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday - 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
The Fairfax Library Foundation cautions that private donations
are critically needed since, “Less than one cent of every tax
dollar is used for the Fairfax County Public Library.” Donations can be made online at www.fairfaxlibraryfoundation.org
George Mason Library at 7001 Little River Turnpike opened January 3, 1965
With grateful acknowledgment to “Books and Beyond: Fairfax County Public
Library’s First Fifty Years” by Nan Netherton; Suzanne Levy; and, the Fairfax
County Public Library System for providing information & photos for this
story.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
19
New Member Spotlight
Looking for a Summer Day Camp
Annandale’s Kenwood School has one of the Best!
Kenwood Camp: Kindergarten through 8th grade Summer
Day Camp at Kenwood is a wonderful summer experience for
all kids! Taking advantage of our location, we go on daily
field trips to exciting destinations including water parks, mini
golf, roller skating, amusement parks and more. In addition to
the field trips; activities, arts & crafts, sports clinics, and camp
overnights are also offered while the children are here at our
Annandale campus. Every hour of the day is filled with excitement and entertainment. With our week by week signup you
can choose which weeks you want to attend; our camp works
around your family's schedule. Registration forms are available
at www.kenwoodschool.com or [email protected]
Kenwood School Kenwood School is a small yet impressive
elementary school conveniently located in Annandale, just off
Backlick Road. Since its founding in 1957, Kenwood has provided a top of the line education for many leaders in our community. Our 3-acre campus is located in the heart of Annandale, just inside the Beltway but still maintains a peaceful, secluded feel. The school is a converted farmhouse so the classrooms have a home-like atmosphere. From our spacious playground to the meadow down the hill, the students here never
feel crowded.
Kenwood is a charming environment to learn in; the classes are
small (average of 10, maximum of 15) which offers more oneon-one time with the teacher than your average school. The
students receive an individualized experience which helps them
grow and learn more than is possible in a large classroom setting. We pride ourselves on our home-like atmosphere and
loving faculty.
Our curriculum follows and exceeds the Fairfax County and
Virginia Standards of Learning. Our teachers are able to expand their lessons past the state standards due to the small classes and the flexibility of the administration. They have freedom
to add units which interest the children and keeps them engaged. The product of this great work is consistent, aboveaverage test scores, and students who truly have a love of
learning. We do not administer the SOLs; instead, we give an
achievement test which is a more accurate measurement of
their abilities and achievement over the course of the school
year.
Contact us today to set up an interview with the Director and
reserve your place at this great educational institution. Your
children deserve the best education we can offer them. Before
and after school care is available for Kenwood students.
Kenwood School & Summer Day Camp
4955 Sunset Lane
Annandale, VA 22003
703-256-4711 phone www.kenwoodschool.com
The Top 10 Boys & Girls Names for 2009
Jacob
Isabella
Ethan
Emma
Michael
Olivia
Alexander
William
Daniel
Jayden
Sophia
Ava
Emily
Madison
Abigail
Noah
Chloe
Anthony
Mia
20
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Aarondale Assisted Living
and Retirement Community
Long Standing Member Profile
Situated near the intersection of Braddock and Backlick
Roads, Aarondale Retirement Community occupies an elegant
Georgian estate home surrounded by gardens and greenery.
It’s what experts have called one of the most progressively
designed senior residences in the country. Aarondale brings
seniors the finest environment for assisted retirement living.
The Knights of Columbus were founded by Father Michael J.
McGivney, curate at St. Mary’s parish in New Haven, Conn.
Chartered on March 29, 1883 in Connecticut, the Knights have
grown to 13,000 councils nationwide. As Father McGivney
explained to the small group of men meeting in the church
basement, his purpose was to help Catholic men remain steadfast in their faith through mutual encouragement; to promote
closer ties of fraternity among them; and, to set up an elementary system of insurance so that the widows and children of
members in the group who might die would not find themselves in dire financial straits.
We are proud of Aarondale and its state-of-the-art programs
and facilities. We offer a full calendar of social and recreational activities to help our residents maintain an active and vibrant lifestyle. Aarondale focuses on independence and resident involvement. All residents, whether they need very little
assistance or a special living environment due to memory impairment, are encouraged to take an active part in activities,
their daily care, and have the freedom to make daily choices.
Our services include Independent Retirement Living, Assisted
Living, and Specialty Care for Dementia. Based on an assessment of your needs, we will help you choose a level of care
designed just for you. In each level, you can also choose from
an extensive list of customized and premium services. We
enjoy providing a tour through our home. Please call us for a
free, no-obligation tour. Come see why we say, "At Aarondale, life can be simple!"
Aarondale Assisted Living & Retirement Community
6929 Matthew Place - Springfield, VA 22151
703-813-1800 - www.rui.net/aarondale
The Knights of Columbus
Chartered in 1958, the Annandale chapter holds the official
title of John Paul II Council and has been continuously active
in the Annandale Community. They have contributed much
time, labor, talent, and financial assistance to many church and
community activities. Every April the Knights participate in
the state wide KOVAR tootsie roll drive. During the Holidays
they deliver Christmas Baskets for the less fortunate of the
community. They sponsor free throw basketball and soccer
contests for boys and girls. They generously cook meals for the
homeless and team with the Fairfax Elks to run a bingo at the
Martinsburg, WV Vets Hospital. They also actively support
the Annandale Chamber of Commerce with its membership,
Fall Festival, Parade, Holiday Lighting Ceremony, and Awards
Ceremony.
The Knights also have a beautifully appointed meeting room
available for rental. For more information contact Richard
Owen at [email protected].
Knights of Columbus
Richard Owen, President
4200 Martin Street
Annandale, VA 22003
703-992-0129
[email protected]
www.kc4522.com/Pope-John-Paul-II-Council-4522.htm
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Our Home Town
continued...
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road, Masons Neck, VA 22079 . 703-550-9220
http://www.gunstonhall.org/grounds/index.html
Open 9:30 am – 5pm everyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s
Gunston Hall was
once the center of a
5,500-acre
tobacco
and corn plantation.
Its owner, George
Mason IV (17251792), was a fourth
generation Virginian
who became a senior
statesman and one of
the era’s most influential figures. As author
of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, Mason was among the first to
call for such fundamental American liberties as religious toleration
and freedom of the press. Thomas Jefferson once referred to Mason as
“a man of the first order of wisdom.”
Mason’s home, constructed between 1755 and 1759, is an outstanding
example of Georgian architecture. The elaborate carvings of the interior, designed by indentured servant William Buckland, are among the
finest creations of artisans working in Colonial Virginia. Mason’s
“regular” garden, south of the mansion, features the original configuration of gravel pathways, a 250 year old boxwood allée, massive
earthen terraces, and vistas of the Deer Park leading to the Potomac
River and Maryland shore beyond.
P l a n t a t i o n Sleuth Family Program: Architecture Antics
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in July and August • 9:30 am –
3:30 pm. Solve an architectural mystery from 1759 when the Mason
family moved into Gunston Hall. Young detectives and their adult
companions seek vital clues throughout the plantation. The story
unfolds during a child-friendly tour of the house. $9/adults; $6/6-12
years; $2/children 2-5 years or $25 Family Admission. Reserve a
Sleuth tour for any day of the week for a group of ten or more at the
rate of $5/child.
Teachers’ Day Out at Gunston Hall - Wednesday, August 4 • 8:30
am - 5:30 pm. Open to elementary, secondary, and home school
teachers (8 re-certification hours) Spend an informative and relaxing
day at Gunston Hall devoted to the life and ideas of George Mason. Indulge in a specially-designed plantation tour, deepen your
knowledge of Mason documents, and learn strategies for making the
patriot come alive in your classroom. $20 fee covers the program,
related materials, and a continental breakfast. Reservations are necessary.
“A few years' experience will convince us that
those things which at the time they happened
we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have
proved our greatest blessings.”
George Mason
21
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. Charlottesville, VA 22902 . (434) 984-9822
www.monticello.org
Monticello was the
estate of Thomas
Jefferson famous as
the principal author
of the US Declaration
of Independence and
third President of the
US. His neoclassic
home is atop an 850
foot peak near Charlottesville. Begun in
1768 Jefferson built
and rebuilt his estate
for forty years often adding the ideas he acquired in Europe while
serving as US Secretary of State. The Monticello plantation of 5,000
acres was a center of agriculture and industry, and was home not
only to the Jefferson family, but to workers, black and white, enslaved and free. The gardens at Monticello were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world. Monticello's standard
operating hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through November and
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December through February.
HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR: Get an intimate look at the extraordinary house Thomas Jefferson built and furnished for himself and
his family. See the books, gadgets, art, furnishings, and objects that
reveal Jefferson’s unique mind. The guided House Tour covers the
rooms on Monticello’s first floor and lasts about 30 minutes. Your
admission ticket also includes access to the grounds and two optional
outdoor guided tours, of the Plantation Community and of the Gardens and Grounds, which are offered daily April-October. $17/
Adults - Jan & Feb, $22 Adults – March-October, $8/6-11 years year
round, free/children under 6 year round. If you would like to schedule your tour for a specific time, you can make reservations online.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time.
See website for details.
Plantation Community Tours (April -October)
Monticello Plantation Life interpreters lead visitors down Mulberry
Row, the plantation "street" along which slaves lived and labored.
These 45-minute walking tours feature a look at how the Monticello
plantation operated. Hourly 11 am – 4 pm, April 1- Oct. 31. Reservations no required
Gardens and Grounds Tours (April - October)
Explore Jefferson's lifelong interest in gardening, botany, and agriculture while enjoying the beauty and variety of Monticello's restored flower and vegetable gardens, grove, and orchards. Monticello
interpreters lead these 45-minute walking tours, offering historical
background, plant identification, and stories about the gardens. Hourly, April 1-Oct. 31. Reservations not required.
Throughout the month of August and September, Monticello hosts
programs on Tomato Tasting, Summer Fruit Tasting, Creating an
Herbal Potpourri, Tour of the Visitor Center Landscape, Historic
Plants Symposium, and their great Heritage Harvest Festival on
September 11th. See their website for details.
July 2010
22
Our Home Town
ENDEAVOR
continued...
Great Falls Park
The Lincoln Cottage
Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA . 22066 . (703) 285-2965
http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm
Upshur Street, Washington, DC
www.lincolncottage.com
From trading to recreation, people have been
drawn to Great Falls for
thousands of years. At
Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up
speed and force as it
falls over a series of
steep, jagged rocks and
flows through the narrow Mather Gorge.
Great Falls Park offers
Great Falls on the Potomac
many opportunities to
explore history and
nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre just 25 minutes from Annandale.
Located on a picturesque
hilltop in Washington,
DC, President Lincoln's
Cottage is the most significant historic site directly associated with
Lincoln's
presidency
aside from the White
House. During the Civil
War, President Lincoln
and his family resided
here from June to November of 1862, 1863
and 1864.
Hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicing and
family sports are all enjoyed within view of this awe inspiring natural
wonder. The Potomac River moves very, very fast along this stretch.
NO swimming is allowed.
Sully Plantation
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA 20151
703-437-1794 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully/
Built in 1799 by Richard
Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first US Congressman and uncle of General
Robert E. Lee, Sully heralds both Georgian and
Federal
architecture.
According to their website, Sully also includes
original
outbuildings,
representative slave quarter and gardens. Guided
tours highlight the early
19th century life of the
Richard Bland Lee famiSully Historic Site
ly, tenant farmers and
enslaved African Americans. Programs reflect the history of Fairfax
County through the 20th century.
Guided tours of the main house are given on the hour. Open daily
from 11am-4pm, closed Tuesdays. Last tour at 4pm. January and February, last tour is 3:00pm.
Cost: $6/Adult, $5/Student (16+), $4/Senior (age 64 by December 31,
2009), and $4/Child (5-15), per tour. Cost for both tours, approximately two hours in length: $8/Adult, $6/Student, $6/Senior and child.
See website for more details and other tour information.
202-829-0436
“South Façade of President Lincoln’s Cottage”
Courtesy of President Lincoln’s Cottage
(Photo by Carol M. Highsmith)
President Lincoln used the Cottage as a quiet setting
for
important meetings, family relaxation, and solitary reflection as he pondered decisions of profound national importance. All tours of President Lincoln's Cottage are guided and require a ticket $12/Adult, $5/
Children, $10/Military with ID. The Cottage is located on the
grounds of the Soldier’s Home, the Armed Forces Retirement Home
with 1200 current residents. Consequently you are asked when planning a visit to make reservations online or for directions see
www.lincolncottage.org or by phone at 1-800-514-3849. Please bring
a photo ID and arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour. Enter by the
Eagle Gate at Upshur Street.
* Advance ticket purchase is the only way to guarantee your spot on
a tour. On-site ticket purchase is subject to availability.
* The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Account for additional time to
explore the many other site offerings.
* Due to battlefield imagery and tour length (approximately 1 hour),
the tour is suitable for children 6 and older, accompanied by an adult.
* All visits begin in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.
Please check-in 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
* Age appropriate group educational tours for kindergarten through
12th grade are available. Programs meet state and national standards
of learning criteria. For more information on education programs call
Callie Hawkins at 202-829-0436x31223 or [email protected]
President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home
offers a unique and historic setting for both private
and corporate events. The
site is comprised of two
historical structures, President Lincoln's Cottage, an
1842 Gothic Revival
home, and the Robert H.
Smith Visitor Education
Center, a 1905 Beaux Arts
Photo courtesy of Pres. Lincoln’s Cottage
style building, and the
beautiful surrounding landscape. The site offers a wide variety of
options for indoor and outdoor entertaining. Ample parking is available on the grounds and both buildings are fully accessible.
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
23
Investing For All Your Goals
Provided by Kurt Langenwalter, CFP
7236 COLUMBIA PIKE • ANNANDALE, VA 22003
(703) 941-4411 • FAX (703) 941-4412 •
E-MAIL:[email protected] www.ABGC.ORG
ABGC is the oldest youth soccer club in the Washington area. We are 50
Years Young and never deny anyone for lack of funds. TO REGISTER –
Call ABGC at 703-941-4411 or go to www.ABGC.ORG Students eligible
for Free or Reduced Lunch receive reduced or free registration.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Coaches, Referees, and Commissioners are needed!
Basketball and soccer referees especially needed for the 2008/2009 season. No experience necessary, but must have knowledge of basketball or soccer rules. Basketball
games are on Saturdays (some Sundays) from January – March. Soccer is played in
the Fall and in the Spring. Coaches, Umpires and Commissioners are needed for
teeball. Call ABGC at 703-941-4411 for more details or to sign up.
CHEERLEADING –Contact Joy Lynch at 703-725-0138 or visit our
website for more information.
LACROSSE - For boys and girls in grades 3-8. Players may register at
www.annandalelacrosse.com
BASKETBALL - For grades K-12. Registration begins in October, with
practices starting in December. The basketball season runs from January
through March.
WRESTLING – Registration opens in October for winter wrestling ages
5014 and the program starts in November.
INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUES - Indoor soccer leagues for youth start
forming in October for the winter sessions. Games are on Saturdays at the
Annandale Sports Center in North Springfield for ages 5 – 10 only.
REC/TRAVEL SOCCER – Pre-K - 12th Grade. Registration for the Fall
rec soccer season usually begins at the end of May. The Spring registration
starts in mid-February. Contact Bo Amato at [email protected] for travel
soccer information.
SPRING BREAK SOCCER CAMP - Held mid to late March. Registration will begin mid-January.
BOXING - Boxing lessons are available year-round for ages 7-adult and
are held at the Annandale Sports Center. Call Leo at 571-436-5983 for
more information.
If you had only one financial goal,
retirement, for example—investing money
to reach it would be simple.
But you don’t have only one goal; you have several. You may
need money for a down payment on a home, a child’s college
education, or retirement. Because all your goals are different,
how soon you’ll need the money will help determine the types of
investments you make to reach them.
In the Near Future
You’ll probably want to invest money that you’ll need for shortterm goals, like buying a new home, in income investments that
don’t present a lot of risk to our principal. Bonds, Treasure bills,
and other fixed-income investments pay interest, usually at a
fixed rate, over the term of the investment, which may be a few
days to several years.
Going the Distance
Your retirement money and other funds that you won’t need for
several years generally should be invested mainly in growth investments with the potential to increase significantly in value
over time. Certain stocks and mutual funds are examples of
growth investments. Because they are typically more volatile,
growth investments are considered riskier than income investments.
Some dividend–paying stocks of well established companies provide both growth and income opportunities. Your financial professional can help you choose investments that are right for your
goals, time frame, and risk tolerance.
TEEBALL - Registration for youth teeball will begin mid-February. Teeball is available for Kindergarten – 2nd graders.
FOOTBALL – Contact
[email protected].
Robert
Meadows
for
information
at
FIELD HOCKEY—New & experienced players grades 3-8. Email Katie
Stribling at [email protected]
COACH PITCH BASEBALL— Spring sport for grades 3-6. Email Todd
Harford at [email protected] for more information.
KUNG FU/TAI CHI - Kung Fu and Tai Chi lessons are available yearround at the ABGC Auditorium for youth and/or adults. Call Binh Dang at
703-914-1584 for more details.
JAZZERCISE - Contact Melany at 540-846-2592 or send email to:
[email protected]
ZUMBA - Contact Asuka at 703-300-7448 or send email to:
[email protected]
Kurt Langenwalter, CFP, MBA, Financial Advisor
5285 Shawnee Road, Suite 305
Alexandria, VA 22312
703-658-2943 office, 703-864-6343 mobile
[email protected]
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Mutual funds are sold by prospectus, which includes information on charges, expenses, and risks. To obtain a current prospectus, please contact your registered representative. Please read the prospectus carefully before
you invest or send money. Kurt Langenwalter, CFP is a Financial Advisor at First Command
Financial Services in Alexandria, VA. This article was written by Newkirk, and it is intended
to promote the professional services of First Command.
24
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
TAX TALK
OPPORTUNITY FOR 2010 TAX PLANNING WITH ROTH IRA
By: George Kresslein, CPA
You as a taxpayer have a unique opportunity this year to do long-term
retirement planning under very favorable conditions. For 2010 only, it
is possible to roll over funds from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA
without penalty and to postpone taxation of the rollover until 2011 and
2012. Also, for the first time, there is no income limitation for IRA to
Roth rollovers. Prior to 2010, only those persons with adjusted gross
income of $100,000 or less could convert to a Roth.
Roth IRAs are different from traditional IRAs because they are more
liquid—you can pull money more easily out of a Roth before retirement age without penalty, after you have had the Roth for more than 5
years. Also, earnings on a Roth may never be taxed at all if you do not
withdraw the earnings portion until after age 59 ½. With Roths, you
have no minimum distribution rules, so you do not have to withdraw
funds at age 70 ½ if you do not want to.
Another major difference is that Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax
money. You get no deduction for contributions to a Roth. So when
you convert a traditional IRA, which has never been taxed, into a Roth
IRA, you must pay the income tax on the portion of the account that
was funded with pre-tax dollars.
Extension of Popular Tax Breaks Close to Passage
The House and Senate are close to resolving their differences on the so
-called “Extenders” bills passed by each side over the last few months.
The extenders bill contains a one-year extension of popular tax breaks
such as the tuition deduction, the research credit, and the new markets
credit. Reacting to the Gulf oil leak, Congress has just added to the bill
an increase in the excise tax on oil to fund clean-up efforts. The House
passed H.R. 4213 in December 2009, while the Senate passed its
amended version of the measure in March 2010. Both Houses are
working on a combined version, trying to resolve the conflicts in how
to pay for the tax breaks contained in the bills. The new bill with the
same number, H.R. 4213, has now taken on the title of the “American
Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010.”
Under Congressional rules, the tax breaks in the bill have to be paid
for with revenue increases (the “pay-go” rule.) The House wants to
raise tax revenues by targeting the foreign operations of U.S. corporations. The House bill also contains a provision to increase taxes on
hedge fund and other investment fund managers on appreciation of
investments (so-called “carried interests”). Under the bill, these interests would be taxed at higher ordinary income rates rather than the
lower capital gains rate of 15%. The Senate previously opposed this
provision but negotiations are headed toward a compromise. A group
of Senators wants to exempt venture capitalists from the carried interest provision.
S Corporation Shareholders Payroll Tax Increase
Senate negotiators added a provision imposing additional payroll taxes
on S Corporation income. The provision would apply payroll taxes to
all the service-related income of shareholders of S corporations primarily engaged in service businesses. The provision is targeted at
service professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, who route their self
-employment income through S Corporations. It would apply to S
Corporations whose service business is based on the reputation and
skill of 3 or fewer individuals or an S Corporation that is a partner in a
professional business.
the S Corporation Association of America has opposed the idea as
harmful to small businesses, the backbone of the U.S. economy. In
fact, the S Corporation is the most common business form for small
businesses. If the bill passes, it will take away what is known as the S
Corporation payroll advantage, which allows S Corporation owneremployees to draw a set salary subject to social security and Medicare
tax, while taking the remaining profits out of the business subject only
to income taxes. The bill also states that service professionals cannot
use an LLC or LLP to avoid payroll taxes.
Employers Get 2010 Payroll Tax Holiday for New Employees
Despite Congress’s stalemate on many legislative agenda items, both
sides of the aisle put aside their differences and quickly passed a jobs
bill in mid-March. H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (the “HIRE Act”) was signed into law by the President
on March 18, 2010. The bill gives employers a payroll tax holiday
during 2010 for hiring unemployed workers.
Specifically, the HIRE Act relieves employers from having to pay the
employer’s share of social security taxes on wages paid to new employees between March 19, 2010 and December 31, 2010. The social
security tax rate for employers is 6.2% on wages up to $106,800 for
2010. (The new law does not cover the 1.45% Medicare tax.) A special
rule allows a portion of payroll taxes already paid by employers in the
first quarter of 2010 to be applied as a credit against the employers’
second quarter tax.
Health Care Tax Provisions
The 2010 Health Care Act passed by Congress in March is an amazingly complicated piece of legislation. It contains many tax provisions,
both in the form of incentives and disincentives for individuals, businesses and insurance companies designed to increase health insurance
coverage for U.S. workers. Most parts of the bill are phased in over
time or do not take effect at all for several years.
Health Coverage Mandate
It is important to understand the overreaching feature of the law: individuals are required to obtain health insurance coverage for themselves
and their dependents after 2013. The law exempts the following persons from this requirement:
● individuals who cannot afford coverage (according to a poverty calculation),
● taxpayers with income below the income tax return filing threshold,
● members of Indian tribes,
● individuals who have short coverage gaps, and
● hardship cases.
It also mandates that businesses with more than 50 workers will have
to offer health coverage or pay a $2,000-per-worker penalty if any of
their employees have to seek government-subsidized coverage on their
own.
To offset the effects of these requirements, the bill offers tax credits for
individuals and for businesses to acquire private health insurance. As
your tax professional, I have been studying the legislation to determine
which provisions will have the most immediate and far-reaching effect
on you and my other clients. As part of my initial assessment, here is a
description of some of the key elements of the new Act and how such
elements may affect you or your business.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
25
The Police Beat
Don’t wait in the tall grass, call for assistance.
Here are some guidelines from Fairfax
County that may solve a problem you are
having. “It is unlawful for any owner of
any occupied residential lot or parcel which
is less than one-half acre (21,780 square
feet) to permit the growth of any grass or
lawn area to reach more than twelve inches
in height/length.”
First try to speak to your neighbor. Possibly they need some assistance. If the property is vacant or you receive a blank stare from the property
owner, report the property to the county at http://
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/
grass_height.htm or call 703-425-9300. Because property
owners must be given legal notice before the county sends in
the lawnmowers, be patient. It can take 30 days to slightly
more.
Fairfax County Police Dept.
Emergency 911
NON Emergency calls: 703-691-2131
Two Arrested in Khat Bust
On Saturday, May 15th Mason District Police Officers made an
arrest in Falls Church for
possession and distribution
of Khat, a Schedule 1 amphetamine. It is smoked,
chewed or sprinkled on
food and comes from a
flowering evergreen shrub
native to East Africa and
the Arabian Peninsula.
About twenty-one pounds
were seized during the
arrest and another one hundred eleven pounds were subsequently discovered and seized from one of the suspect’s home. This
is the largest seizure of Khat in the county’s history.
Mason District Station
6507 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone number: 703-256-8035
Celebrate the Trees of Fairfax County
son, landmark or institution.
Commemorative Tree: Tree or group of trees planted as a
memorial of an event or person.
Favorite Tree: Any favorite tree (only one nomination per
person accepted).
According to the rules: “Eligible trees will receive an honorary designation as a Celebrated Tree of Fairfax County.” Big
trees will go into the county’s Big Tree Database, as well as
be submitted for consideration in the Virginia Big Tree Program.”
The Fairfax County Tree Commission is asking all residents
to celebrate with them by nominating trees that mean the
most to you. Is there a special tree you climbed as a child? Is
there a tree more magnificent than any other? Is there a tree
planted in memory of a loved one? Whatever your attachment, submit a nomination in one or all of the following categories.
Big Tree: Tree that’s one of the largest of its species
Historic Tree: Tree associated with a significant event, per-
NOMINATION CRITERIA
Only native or naturalized trees in Fairfax County may be
nominated. Nominators do not need to identify a tree species
in order to submit a nomination and may be submitted anytime of the year. Contact the Fairfax County Tree Commission with any questions.
Nomination forms can be filled out and submitted electronically (with attachments) to [email protected], or
printed and mailed with additional documents to:
Fairfax County Tree Commission
c/o Urban Forest Management Division
12055 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 518
26
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
Roads and Rage
NOISE WALLS and the HOT Lanes
Much discord has arisen with
the mass deforestation of the
Beltway to make way for
HOT Lanes. No amount of
discussion could possibly
have prepared the population
to the sight of this total annihilation. Green space has
always been a prized hallmark of the Washington
Beltway and the three Annandale exits. Some areas of
the HOT Lanes had noise
walls prior to project start
and they are to be reconstructed at project end.
However, many areas depended on deep and attractive natural noise barriers –forests. Although a promise has been made
to reforest, no guarantee of the size or quantity of trees has been made.
In fact, the caveat quietly whispered is, “If funds allow.”
In 1989, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) formally
established a policy to lessen the impact of highway traffic noise on
people in neighborhoods and in other noise-sensitive areas, such as
churches, schools, hospitals and certain public recreational areas. Engineers use computer models to analyze and predict noise levels for
future conditions based on the loudest hour of the day. They also
measure existing noise levels in various locations along the proposed
highway project when there is no existing roadway to use for the computer models.
Along with the road's design, they consider the area’s topography, the
distance between the road and nearby properties, traffic speeds, and
sounds created by different types of vehicles. Using that data, the
computer model predicts the future noise level, which is then compared with Federal Highway Administration and VDOT noise criteria.
If this comparison identifies an impact, VDOT engineers must investigate noise reduction options.
Noise walls are specially designed structures built to reduce noise
levels created by nearby highway traffic. They are built only after
noise impact studies are conducted for federally funded highway improvement projects. These projects must meet one of the following
conditions. A highway is being built on a new location, an existing
highway is being redesigned with a significant change in its alignment,
or the number of through traffic lanes on an existing highway is being
increased. The Washington Beltway HOT lanes project meets the last
two criteria.
On non-federally funded highway improvement projects, the locality
can obtain partial funding from VDOT to build noise walls if the locality meets eligibility requirements outlined in the state noise policy.
When considering how to reduce noise levels, VDOT engineers can
design the road by shifting it away from the populated properties.
They can also consider reducing the speed limit, restricting heavy
truck traffic, or designing the road so its surface is lower through the
affected area, creating a natural sound barrier. Another option is the
use of earthen berms to block noise. If designing the road differently
will not reduce noise, VDOT engineers then consider noise walls. The
walls can reduce traffic noise significantly and improve quality of life
for people living behind them.
If you or your homeowner association are alarmed by the increased
noise caused by the HOT Lanes, contact your elected officials. Let
them know what you think and ask for their support. Those mentioned
below have championed efforts to safeguard Annandale’s green space
and noise abatement.
US Congressman Gerry Connolly
[email protected]
VA Delegate Vivian Watts
[email protected]
Sharon Bulova, Chairman
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
[email protected]
Penny Gross,
Mason District Supervisor
penny.gross
@fairfaxcounty.gov
Potholes and Long Grass
Up until two years ago, Fairfax County received $20 to $25 million a
year from the state for secondary road construction. Then the budget
was slashed. (The Secondary Road Construction budget includes construction of additional traffic lanes or turn lanes, maintenance of the
roads, new traffic signals & neighborhood road calming measures.)
This year there will be a further ninety-nine (99%) decrease! In Virginia, the state and not the county owns and maintains all secondary
roads. Some, but not all, potholes created during the February blizzard
have received a cold patch but that will just hold for a short period of
time. Repaving is the only valid solution. VDOT has announced
through this lack of funding that there will be NO repaving of secondary roads this year. Fairfax County contributes 25% of all income
taxes in Virginia but receives from Richmond only 19 cents on the
dollar in return. Clearly, Fairfax County is being short sheeted once
again.
At a bare minimum, report all potholes using the form on VDOT’s
Web site at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp or by calling
800-367-ROAD. Make certain that VDOT knows that the residents of
Northern Virginia are not satisfied with their lack of road care.
VDOT has abdicated almost all responsibility for mowing along the
secondary roads. Due to budget reductions, nearly half of VDOT’s
annual mowing budget was eliminated. Consequently, the commonwealth’s transportation department will cut grass along most secondary roads no more than twice. To supplement the reduced state service,
VDOT is looking for volunteers by expanding its Adopt-A-Highway
effort to include a grass-cutting program. Those looking to get involved must first obtain a permit through VDOT, at: http://
www.virginiadot.org/programs/volunteer_mowing.asp.
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
27
What’s Cooking?
Barbeque Sauces: Vinegar, tomato, and mustard based
Tomato Base Barbeque Sauce
Original recipe created by J. Leonard
Ribs in a vinegar based sauce
1 cup light oil (safflower)
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup white or cider vinegar
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. paprika
3 springs of fresh Thyme or ¼ tsp. dried leaves.
3 springs of fresh Oregano leaves or 1 tsp. of dried leaves
(do not use ground oregano)
2 TB Stone ground mustard
(do not use yellow mustard)
½ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
2-3 TB sugar
4 cloves of garlic
½ white onion
BARBEQUE SAUCE
Barbeque sauces are divided into three categories: vinegar, tomato, and mustard based. Vinegar is the secret ingredient of
North Carolina Barbecue, particularly apple cider vinegar. To
avoid a strong bitter flavor, give the vinegar time to work its
way into the meat. The vinegar will balance the sweetness of
slow cooked meat.
Vinegar Base Barbeque Sauce
1 ½ cups cider vinegar
½ cup of ketchup
2 TB sugar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. of hot red pepper flakes
Stir all ingredients in a bowl to dissolve sugar. The sauce keeps indefinitely. This is a particularly good recipe for pulled pork.
Mustard based sauce
In blender add all ingredients and blend thoroughly until creamy in texture.
Baste on chicken or beef reserving some to be served directly on top of grilled
meat at the table.
Mustard Base Barbeque Sauce
Often found in South Carolina Barbeque
1 cup prepared mustard
1 cup of honey total
¼ cup cider vinegar
1 TB cup light oil (safflower)
3 springs of fresh Thyme minced or ½ tsp. dried leaves
3 springs of fresh Oregano leaves minced or 1 tsp. of dried leaves (do
not use ground oregano)
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
¼ tsp. cayenne or ½ tsp. of hot red pepper flakes
Kabobs with tomato based sauce
In a saucepan combine all the dry ingredients and add enough vinegar to make a
28
July 2010
ENDEAVOR
What’s Cooking
Barbeque Grilling Safety: Prepare properly for
cookouts and avoid tragedy
paste. Mix well and place over medium heat adding the remaining ingredients.
Turn up heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer for 10 minutes
turning heat to low.
Grilling is a year round occurrence for many. Prepare properly
and avoid tragedy and never use gasoline to start a charcoal fire.
Instead use charcoal lighter fluid safely and prudently. Adding
more fluid on hot coals may ignite the stream of fuel and burn
back into the can, causing it to explode. Try using a UL electrical starter and avoid the lighter fluid altogether.
Plan an English Tea
at Green Spring Gardens Historic Manor House
(Entrance on Braddock Road across from Pinecrest Golf Course)
If using lighter fluid, let it soak in for two to three minutes.
Instead of a loud roar when lighting, the fire will gently roar
over the coals. Charcoals are ready for use when the coals are white
and hot. Look for the smoke coming off the coals to also be white.
Move grills away from structures and combustibles (minimum
15 feet) so they will not tip over or ignite objects above them.
One of the biggest dangers with grills is trying to use them on
Traditional English Tea
Programs are by reservation only and require a non-refundable prepayment. A traditional
English tea is included in each tea program. Groups may call to reserve a private tour
and tea, or if you have any questions at 703-941-7987. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/
gsgp/
Private Teas for Bridal or Baby Showers
Experience a special shower at Historic Green Spring. We’ll present a
lighthearted history of bridal traditions or motherhood before we serve a
traditional English tea. (16-36 guests) Favors available upon request.
apartment or condominium balconies. This practice is unsafe
and against the law.
Never bring a grill into the home. The carbon monoxide produced by burning charcoal is dangerous, and deadly.
Keep a garden hose or a portable fire extinguisher handy in case
fire. If the grill gets out of control, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Keep children and pets away from fires and grills. Curiosity can
cause unintentional burns.
Though coals may appear to be cool, always soak them with
water. Coals retain enough heat to reignite for days after a fire.
If your bag of charcoal gets wet, leave it in a well ventilated
area away from the house. During the drying process spontaneous ignition can occur in confined areas.
For more information about proper use, storing, and disposing of other flammable
materials and other safety information, contact the National Fire Protection Association at http://www.nfpa.org, the National Safety Council at http://www.nsc.org, or
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire.
ENDEAVOR
Chamber Chat:
July 2010
29
News, notices & bulletins posted by
Annandale Chamber Members
Xoçai™ Healthy Chocolate: 2010-2011 Chamber Partner
Delicious, dark, decadent, mouth-watering Belgian chocolate!
This chocolate contains
twice the antioxidants of red
wine and three times that of
green tea. It contains no
refined sugars, no bad fats,
no waxes, no fillers, no
preservatives, and no caffeine. It's diabetic and vegan-friendly as well as Kosher-certified. Xoçai™ is
delicious, dark and decadent, yet it's healthy for your body. Contact: George Kresslein, Independent Distributor @ 703-354-1750
phone
http://mxi.myvoffice.com/georgekresslein/
Annandale Fall Festival:
SAVE THE DATE: Annandale Fall Festival
and Parade: On Saturday, October 23, 2010,
the Annandale Chamber of Commerce will
sponsor a spectacular Fall Festival in the Safeway parking lot on Little River Turnpike. This
is the largest public event in Greater Annandale. From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM scores of
merchants with hand made and fashion jewelry, art work, quality giftware from major manufacturers, exquisite crafts and so much more will unveil their treasures.
Costumed international dancers, local bands, a D.J. and “The Taste of
Annandale” with food from many culinary cuisines will be featured at
this festival. The Kid’s Zone will delight and challenge with a Climbing
Wall, 24’ Dual Slides, Bungee Basketball, Bungee Run, a Sticky Wall,
an Obstacle Course, Moon Bounce, Face Painters, a Reading Tent with
costumed characters, a Musical Petting Zoo, a Treasure Hunt, and interactive games for toddlers to teens. The Annual Parade, held since 1950,
will finish at the Festival Grounds bringing thousands more with it. For
further information or Vendor, Volunteer, Entertainment, or Sponsorship forms
go to www.annandalechamber.com or write [email protected]. Plan to participate, volunteer, and have
fun!
Annandale Volunteer Fire Department: Starting in 2009 Annandale
Volunteer Fire Department provides an exciting bingo game and lots of
opportunities to win every Thursday and special times throughout the
2009 year. Average Payouts of over $14,136 per night. Doors open
4:30pm – Early Birds start at 6:45pm – Regular Session starts at
8:00pm. Starting 1 January 2009, AVFD BINGO goes to a nonsmoking inside format. We also start Thursday night only BINGO
along with several special events throughout the year. See AVFD BINGO special events 42” LCD TV monitors display next ball to be called.
Must be 14 yrs of age to play, ATM machine available. Bingo Hotline
is 703-941-1328.
AnnSandra: Join us throughout July for our preseason Christmas Sale.
Holiday China and ornaments up to 75% off. We have Lenox Holiday
and Winter Greetings, Portmeirion Holly and Ivy, Spode Christmas
Tree and Woodland, and Bernardaud Grenadiers as well as ornaments
by Towle, Wallace, Waterford, Tuttle and Spode all significantly discounted for the sale. For more information: www.annsandra.com or
703-354-2110.
Buyer's Guide Newspaper: Need more customers? Hello, my name is
Jane Boire. For nearly 30 years, I have been helping businesses just like
yours get new customers. Let us spread the word about your company.
Ask about our $1, Double-Your-Ad-Size special for Annandale Chamber Members. Call me today at 703-866-5159. For more information
about our direct mailed newspaper, visit www.bguide.net.
Billimoria (WORLDIMART): Part-time opportunity - Online Retail
distribution for our exclusive brand of ENERGY DRINKS throughout
the USA. Looking for ambitious people willing to work hard and possess the proper focus & discipline to work from home. If interested APPLY HERE to Pre-Register: http://FarhadBillimoria.com/gogreen/nutrilite/performanceliquids/xs/xs-affiliate-partner-program/
Burke & Herbert Bank: A top-rated bank with over 20 convenient
offices in Northern Virginia, has provided banking excellence since
1852 for individuals, families and businesses. Annandale Manager Pat
Leugers, 4235 Annandale Road, can assist you with your banking, borrowing and investment needs. Visit us today! Phone: 703-5191627. Member FDIC.
ENDEAVOR
The Most Effective Advertising Vehicle in the Greater Annandale
Area.
E a c h e d it ion i s p ub li s h ed o nl in e a t
www.annandalechamber.com and archived for two years, so your advertising is exponentially viewed. Read about issues that concern Annandale. Get to know Chamber members and their businesses. Read
interesting columns such as The Police Beat, Roads & Rage, View on
Nature, and The Beanetics Coffee Quiz: How well do you know Annandale? Stay informed with the Finance Column, Tax Talk, and Our
Home Town. Hear views from our elected officials and see concert and
local social schedules. Support fellow advertisers by shopping in Annandale. Contact: [email protected] for rates. Chamber
members receive discounted rates.
First Command Financial Planning: Is conducting free evening educational seminars on "Planning Confidently for Your Financial Future"
in July and August, and "Savvy Social Security Planning" in August
and September. Call Kurt Langenwalter, CFP (R) 703-658-2943 to
reserve a spot or email [email protected]. A Registered
Investment Adviser firm, First Command develops and delivers comprehensive financial plans to assist American families in their efforts to
reduce debt, build wealth and pursue their financial goals and dreams.
Through a values-centered approach to financial planning and a clientfirst philosophy, First Command has for 50 years established lasting
relationships with hundreds of thousands of client families. We’re committed to helping you plan confidently for the future and to accompanying you on your financial journey. www.firstcommand.com -- 5285
Shawnee RD, Suite 305, Alexandria VA 22312.
Annandale Boys and Girls Club: View our ad in this edition to see
everything the Annandale Boys' and Girls' Club has to offer. This year
we are celebrating our 51st Anniversary!
Green Spring Gardens: See our Summer Program Schedule in this
issue or on our website at www.greenspring.org. Need a meeting
room? Perfectly appointed for meetings or seated meals of up to 70.
30
July 2010
Located in our Horticulture Center, there are garden views from every
window. 703-256-7717
Hidden Oak Nature Center: Located at 7701 Royce Street, Annandale (one block off Hummer Road)
For more information see www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hiddenoaks/
or call 703-941-1065.
Kenwood School Day Camp: Kindergarten through 8th grade Summer Day Camp at Kenwood is a wonderful summer experience for all
kids! Taking advantage of our location, we go on daily field trips to
exciting destinations including water parks, mini golf, roller skating,
amusement parks and more. In addition to the field trips; activities,
arts & crafts, sports clinics, and camp overnights are also offered
while the children are here at our Annandale campus. Every hour of
the day is filled with excitement and entertainment. With our week by
week signup you can choose which weeks you want to attend; our
camp works around your family's schedule. Registration forms are
available at www.kenwoodschool.com or [email protected]
Levine Design Studio: Providing architectural and planning services
to local businesses and residences. Current projects in the Annandale
area include the remodeling of the Sunset Grille restaurant and bar,
and feasibility studies for Independent Living Facilities for senior
citizens. Please contact us for a free initial design consultation. Jeffrey Levine: 202-628-0729 or [email protected]. See
our website at www.levinedesignstudio.com
Little River Yoga: Little River Yoga (www.LittleRiverYoga.com), a
small yoga studio, specializing in the individual student, will have a
Yoga Camp for Kids August 16-20. Contact Stair Calhoun, 6399
Little River Tpk., Annandale. 703-203-8510
M&T Bank: Visa Credit Cards are designed just for M&T customers. Get our lowest rate. Reward yourself every day while enjoying
exclusive benefits. Overdraft protection when linked to checking, no
annual fee, 0% intro APR on balance transfers. One reward point for
every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. Rewards including cash,
gift cards, travel and merchandise. Combine rewards with your enrolled M&T Check Card. Double rewards points for the first six
months. No pre-set spending limit. After six billing cycles, your rate
for balance transfers will be the same as the purchase rate, and will
vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. See our website for
more details at www.mtb.com or come by the branch located at the
Heritage Shopping Center, Annandale.
Office of Public Private Partnerships identifies opportunities for
businesses, public agencies and community organizations to work
together and ways to engage with Fairfax County that benefit your
company and your community. Interested in increasing your business’s visibility with the public and increasing the perception of your
organization as a community leader? Here is a link to a short list of
opportunities immediately available:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/
partnerships/csr_brochure.pdf To see what others in the community
are involved in, please read our Spring 2010 newsletter: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/partnerships/op3_newsletter
spring_2010.pdf
Pinecrest Golf Course: Pinecrest offers group packages for up to 36
persons. To schedule your next group/company outing, please call
703-941-1061. Located at the corner of Little River Turnpike (236)
and Braddock Road, bordering Alexandria and Annandale, Pinecrest
Golf Course is a par 35, 9-hole executive course, measuring 2,462
yards. The challenging, narrow course is dotted with hills and ponds
that create a golfing environment suited for novices and more serious
ENDEAVOR
players alike. Facilities include a full service clubhouse, pro shop and
snack bar. Golf clubs, riding and pull carts are available for rent. Pinecrest features a practice putting green, 10 driving cages and an indoor
practice area. Group or individual golf lessons at Pinecrest Golf
Course may be scheduled through the Every Body Golf School. The
accessible course is open all year, weather permitting.
Pinecrest School: Pinecrest School, a preschool-grade 6 private
school in Annandale, will begin offering preschool after-care for 2010
-11. Pinecrest currently has after-care for K-6 students until 6 p.m.
and will now be able to offer preschool families the same option. For
more information, please visit pinecrestschool.org or call
703.354.3446.
Pyne Studios, Inc. is remodeling more than just beautiful homes this
year. We have created a new monthly e-newsletter, and have totally
remodeled our website and added a blog. We even have a new domain
name. We have gone from www.pynestudios.NET to
www.pynestudios.COM where you can sign up for our newsletter
and view helpful homeowner and home remodeling information
which we’ll expand over time. Each month our e-newsletter will
bring you interesting articles about remodeling, home design, innovative home products and more. Sign up now!
Subway on Columbia Pike offers Lunch Programs tailored to your
organization’s needs. Whether your school, college, church, mosque,
rec-sport center, or corporate cafeteria is self-operated or run by a
contractor, our Annandale Subway Lunch Program provides the flexibility to select a program that suits your needs. We are able to set up
temporary kiosks, build semi-permanent kiosks, or even a full size
restaurant for you. If there isn’t space for a kiosk, you can choose our
Delivery Program. Select which sandwiches you want, and we will
deliver them to you on a schedule that works for you. Please contact
Annandale Subway at 7120 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Phone: 703914-0391. Email the owner at [email protected] or call
his cell at 703-789-3459
Sunset Grille: We offer daily blue plate specials until 3 pm for only
$6.00. Our quick friendly service will allow for a great lunch and
plenty of time to get back to the office. Visit our website at
www.thesunsetgrille.com for more information or drop in the next
time you pass. We have live evening entertainment and a menu that
is sure to please. 7250 Columbia Pike, Annandale 703-658-0928
Tim Frazier Tree Service: Do your trees need trimming, topping,
cabling, or removing? Did the blizzard leave damaged trees in your
yard? Do you need landscaping services, edging & mulching, seeding
and sodding, top soil, lot cleaning, or hedge trimming? Do your gutters need cleaning? Please give me a call. My business is fully insured and satisfaction is guaranteed. 1-888-873-8746 toll free. I
have worked for many Chamber members. Contact the Chamber office for references at 703-256-7232 or [email protected]
Virginia Commerce Bank: Get the VCB buzz! Hear Peter Converse, President and CEO of Virginia Commerce Bank, on the air
waves of WTOP (103.5 FM), MIX 107.3 and WMAL (630 AM) with
news about VCB's dedication to relationship banking and role as
trusted financial advisor. Also spot the Bank’s message in area papers, including The Washington Post. Call Soo Yeo of VCB's Annandale branch at 703-256-8889 to learn more. 4230 John Marr Drive,
Annandale.
Virginia Heritage Mortgage: First time homebuyers can qualify for
up to $10,000 that need not be repaid if the buyers stay in the home
for five years. Learn more! Call Bruce Gordon at 703-855-4087.
ENDEAVOR
July 2010
31
Falls Church High School
Building on Our Success...One Child at a Time.
Jaguar Joe
A Cup Above the Rest
Our own sensational blend of coffee.
Buy our coffee for your office or restaurant
and support Annandale Students.
7521 Jaguar Trail
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-207-4000
[email protected]
www.fcps.edu/FallsChurchHS
July 2010
32
ENDEAVOR
Calendar Of Events
All reservations and entrée selection for luncheons can be made on the Chamber website at www.annandalechamber.com or by emailing: [email protected]. Luncheons
are generally $20.00/members and $25.00/non members. RESERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY. Breakfasts are $12.00 members and $15.00/non members.
Date
Event
Location
Time
Description
Thurs. Sept. 9
Luncheon
Juke Box Diner
7039 Columbia Pike
NOON – 1:30 PM
State of the Commonwealth
State Delegate Vivian Watts
Tues. Sept. 28
Networking Breakfast
Magills Restaurant
7201 Little River Tpk.
(across from Giant Food)
8:30 AM
Networking Opportunity
Thurs. Oct. 7
Board Meeting
Knights of Columbus
4200 Martin St.
NOON
Thurs. Oct. 14
Luncheon
Juke Box Diner
7039 Columbia Pike
NOON – 1:30 PM
Sat. Oct 23
Annual Parade
Fall Festival
Columbia Pike
Safeway Shopping Center
10 AM—NOON
10 AM—5 PM
Fun , food, & games for the entire family!
Thurs. Oct. 28
Networking S
Happy Hour
Silverado Restaurant
7052 Columbia Pike
4-5 PM
Networking Opportunity
Thurs. Nov. 4
Board Meeting
Knights of Columbus
4200 Martin St.
NOON
Wed. Nov. 10
Inter-Service
Luncheon
Little Theatre Dining Room, FCHS
7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church
NOON – 1:30 PM
Thurs. Dec. 2
Board Meeting
Knights of Columbus
4200 Martin St.
NOON
Fri. Dec. 3
Holiday Lighting
Reception
Toll House Park
Burke & Herbert Bank
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
Carols and lighting of the town tree.
Music, food, and merriment
Sat. May 21, 2011
Bed Race to benefit
Special Olympics VA
John Marr Drive
10 AM
Start putting your team together!
May 6-22, 2011
Spring Carnival
K-Mart Parking Lot
Thurs. June 9, 2011
Annual Awards
Green Spring Gardens
Ceremony & Luncheon
The Labor Market & the War for Talent
Strategies that make talent acquisition less stressful
& successful.
Annandale Revitalization & New Transportation Plan
SAVE THE DATE
Annual event for the entire family.
NOON-2:30 PM
Limited seating—make your reservations early.
No Breakfasts or Luncheons in July or August or Board Meeting in August.
For Vendor, Entertainment, Volunteer, and Sponsorship Opportunities for the Festival or for the Parade Entry Form please download directly from www.annandalechamber.com.
Annandale Chamber of Commerce
7263 Maple Place, #207
Annandale, VA 22003
[email protected]