All Fairfax Reads celebrated, and concluded, its fifth successful season in September. The program began in 2004, when county residents were encouraged to read Harper Lee’s forceful novel To Kill a Mockingbird. With the choice of Hosseini’s bestseller The Kite Runner in 2005, the program soared. All Fairfax Reads is a comprehensive effort to promote literature, an initiative spearheaded by the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). From May through September, every adult in the county is challenged to read and discuss one book, which has been nominated by a committee of enthusiastic, knowledgeable readers. Study guides for the book, library talks, blogs, lectures, films, and demonstrations are components of AFR. The event culminates during The Fall for a Book Festival, a week-long series of lively literary activities at or near George Mason University.
In 2008, Alan Bennett’s novel The Uncommon Reader was chosen for All Fairfax Reads. Bennett is considered one of England’s foremost contemporary playwrights. Since his first play was produced in 1960, he has kept audiences in stitches. “What a brilliant choice!” his many Fairfax fans undoubtedly exclaimed. Others less familiar with his writing might have been put off by the volume’s plain cover, its brevity, and its seemingly prosaic title. But the truth of a couple of old saws becomes quickly apparent; good things do come in small packages, and judging a book by its cover is indeed shortsighted. After the first few paragraphs, the title’s clever pun is revealed. When the Queen’s rowdy Corgis are introduced on the second page of the slender novella, readers are enchanted – and hooked, relishing every turn in the plot and savoring each delicious phrase.
The planning of All Fairfax Reads is managed by the office of Katie Strotman, the FCPL Programming Coordinator. Each year, a book is nominated, and a committee, composed of residents, professors, FCPL personnel and Board members, staff from other County agencies and representatives from the business world, develops program ideas. Strotman and her committee have a realistic, but inspiring goal for the program: “We hope this project gives our citizens a comfortable place to start reading and discussing books with friends and neighbors, and maybe that will lead to continued conversations and a deeper understanding of others and of the community.”
George Mason University’s Theater of the First Amendment (TFA) was a valued participant in All Fairfax Reads. A Celebration of Alan Bennett was offered on Sept. 23 at the Old Town Village Gallery in Fairfax. TFA Managing Director Kevin Murray picked the play Habeas Corpus for this presentation because, he observed, “it struck me as the most accessible and funniest of the plays I read. Much of Bennett’s work is commentary on the political and social life of Britain, and I am not an expert in that area. But I know comedy. It's also refreshing for TFA, which often does serious, thought-provoking work, to have a little fun with this.” And fun they had with Bennett’s mildly risqué, wildly funny farce. The staged reading sparkled. Cast members included Naomi Jacobson, Lynn-Jane Foreman, Frank Robinson, Jr, and Lisa Nanni-Messegee, who have all performed in previous TFA productions. “The City of Fairfax and Fall for the Book both sponsored the event, and we were proud to be part of it,” concluded Murray.
Like book clubs all over Fairfax, the Democratic Women of Clifton’s book club focused on The Uncommon Reader. The group, which is organized by Peggy Azouqha, held its September meeting in Springfield. Leah Johnson, who lives in Little Rocky Run, was the moderator. She began by presenting a brief biography of Alan Bennett, then moving on to questions in the FCPL study guide. Clifton resident Jane Barker commented that everyone at the meeting enjoyed the novella. Captivated by the British humor, they “loved the irony of the title.” The unanticipated ending delighted the participants immensely. Gretchen Klimoski, also of Clifton, found it interesting that such a “small book” could make an extremely important point. “Through her reading, the Queen learned how little she knew of real people and their concerns. Can we make a comparison with the Queen and our political leaders today? Do our elected officials read, and if they do, what is the impact of their reading?” To Klimoski, “this funny little story’s relevance to our choice of leaders today” is significant.
Many activities to enhance our appreciation of The Uncommon Reader were developed by the Fairfax County Public Library. The Web site is easy to use and informative (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/allfxreads/). It contains not only a thought –provoking reading guide, but also Her Majesty’s Reading List, which is impressive. Discussion groups were scheduled at the Oakton and Burke Centre Libraries and the George Mason, Reston, Sherwood and Centreville Regional Libraries. In addition, horticulturist Bruce Nash gave a well-attended lecture and demonstration on The Art of Flower Arranging, UK Style, at Pohick. Helen Mirren’s 2006 Film, The Queen, was screened at the George Mason Regional Library, and British writer Alison Larkin spoke about her recent novel, The English American.
The Uncommon Reader gives us a peek into a world unfamiliar to most of us. While presentng a vision of the insularity of leaders who must depend on their staff for information, it emphasizes the importance of reading widely with style and charm. In describing The Uncommon Reader, Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, commented astutely: “This year’s book selection is a witty, quick read that speaks to the importance of literacy in an active community. I strongly encourage you to read this book, or any of the previous All Fairfax Reads selections, and discuss them with family, friends and neighbors.” What a ringing endorsement both for the book and for the many activities surrounding it!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
ARTS BY GEORGE! An Evening of Enchantment - August, 2008
The third annual ARTS By George! will be held on September 27 at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts (CFA). The event supports student scholarships at the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as the CFA Great Performances at Mason series. Organized by an energetic core of volunteers and staff members. ARTS By George! is co-chaired by Fairfax Station residents Shirley and Charles Joyce, whose dedication to the arts is well-known in the community. The sponsorship chairs are Carolyn Peterson, Enrique Tessada, and Julie Dyson. The Steering Committee includes Robert C. Buchanan, Don and Tota Conwell, Richard Henneberg, Don and Sonja Palomaki, Robert Purks, Candy Reeder, Carole Scanlon, Sue Skaddan, and Judy Weltz.
This group of art aficionados, who have worked together for many months, had one overriding goal: introducing the College of Visual and Performing Arts to the community. Although audiences in Northern Virginia are devoted to the Center for the Arts, many are less familiar with Mason’s dynamic student productions. Guided by a dedicated, gifted faculty, CVPA students routinely give brilliant presentations at impressive recitals, plays, concerts, operas, and gallery shows.
Guests who previously have attended ARTS By George! anticipate a celebration of exceptional artistry. The format of the evening is unique. When guests arrive at the university’s Fairfax campus in the late afternoon, they are ushered to reserved parking, greeted by Mason Student Ambassadors, serenaded by musicians, and escorted to the Performing Arts Plaza. There, they enter different studios in the Performing Arts Building, viewing “behind-the-scene” artistic presentations by Mason’s outstanding students. Along the way, hungry guests eat their fill of delicacies prepared and graciously served by RSVP Catering.
The visual arts will be showcased at every venue, in the Welcome Tent, along the hallways of the Performing Arts building, and in the Concert Hall’s lobby. The exhibit presents an extensive display of original paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures by students and faculty. The Art and Visual Technology (AVT) Department chair Harold Lnton explains that printmaking for collectors receives special emphasis in the AVT Show, which he describes as “masterfully curated by Solomon Wondimu.” In Linton’s opinion, it provides a perfect opportunity for art lovers to build their collections and contribute to scholarship funds.
A new feature has been added to ARTS By George! Committee members Sue Skaddan and Bob Purks, along with Nyla Louh, CVPA’s Assistant Director of Development, have orchestrated an unusual silent auction. Visitors can bid on premiums while strolling from one student performance to another or they can view them and bid online. What kinds of items are offered at the ABG! silent auction? Consider these: A week’s vacation at an exclusive condo in North Carolina; a Chilean wine-tasting and tapas buffet for ten; private gallery tours with artists Chawky Frenn in Washington and Peter Winant in New York City; a behind-the-scene tour and luncheon with members of the Dance Department; an hour-long lesson on conducting with Professor Anthony Maiello; courtside seats at a GMU men’s hoops game and a basketball signed by Coach Jim Larranaga. The entire list is a bidder’s dream!
At 8 o’clock, ARTS By George! participants will settle into premier orchestra seats at Mason’s imposing Concert Hall to enjoy a performance by baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell. Described by The New York Times as “the last leading man,” Mitchell has performed with many of the world’s foremost classical conductors and their orchestras, including Leonard Slatkin, John Williams, and Michael Tilson Thomas. He has starred in performances of works such as Porgy and Bess, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, Carnival, Kismet, and Ragtime. Awarded a Tony for Kiss Me Kate, he has received several Tony nominations, a Helen Hayes Award, and a Theater World Award. In addition, he has acted on TV shows such as Crossing Jordan, Frasier, and Trapper John, M.D. What versatility! The Washington Post commented that Mitchell is “a talented musician and an engaging personality, but his rarest gift is for knocking show tunes over the moon.” His admirers are awaiting his fabulous renditions of Embraceable You, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and The Impossible Dream.
The performance will be followed by a champagne and chocolate reception, saluting the end to a memorable celebration. Mitchell will join the guests, and many of Virginia’s elected officials will also attend the on-stage reception. Fairfax resident Carole Scanlon, who has assembled a star-studded Honorary Committee, which features Governor Timothy Kaine as the 2008 Honorary Chair. In addition, Mason’s own stars, President Alan Merten, former President George Johnson, and Coach Larranaga, will assuredly please the crowd of their faithful fans.
ARTS By George! is an unforgettable evening. Participants meet the students and their teachers, savor a delectable meal, watch impressive student performances, and enjoy Brian Stokes Mitchell’s beautiful baritone. But most important of all, guests support the scholarship fund for talented young dancers, singers, musicians, dramatists, film-makers, visual artists, and arts managers – or support the Center for the Arts program, which benefits everybody in our region. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Web site (www.artsbygeorge.com) or call Deborah Paez (703.993.4188).
This group of art aficionados, who have worked together for many months, had one overriding goal: introducing the College of Visual and Performing Arts to the community. Although audiences in Northern Virginia are devoted to the Center for the Arts, many are less familiar with Mason’s dynamic student productions. Guided by a dedicated, gifted faculty, CVPA students routinely give brilliant presentations at impressive recitals, plays, concerts, operas, and gallery shows.
Guests who previously have attended ARTS By George! anticipate a celebration of exceptional artistry. The format of the evening is unique. When guests arrive at the university’s Fairfax campus in the late afternoon, they are ushered to reserved parking, greeted by Mason Student Ambassadors, serenaded by musicians, and escorted to the Performing Arts Plaza. There, they enter different studios in the Performing Arts Building, viewing “behind-the-scene” artistic presentations by Mason’s outstanding students. Along the way, hungry guests eat their fill of delicacies prepared and graciously served by RSVP Catering.
The visual arts will be showcased at every venue, in the Welcome Tent, along the hallways of the Performing Arts building, and in the Concert Hall’s lobby. The exhibit presents an extensive display of original paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures by students and faculty. The Art and Visual Technology (AVT) Department chair Harold Lnton explains that printmaking for collectors receives special emphasis in the AVT Show, which he describes as “masterfully curated by Solomon Wondimu.” In Linton’s opinion, it provides a perfect opportunity for art lovers to build their collections and contribute to scholarship funds.
A new feature has been added to ARTS By George! Committee members Sue Skaddan and Bob Purks, along with Nyla Louh, CVPA’s Assistant Director of Development, have orchestrated an unusual silent auction. Visitors can bid on premiums while strolling from one student performance to another or they can view them and bid online. What kinds of items are offered at the ABG! silent auction? Consider these: A week’s vacation at an exclusive condo in North Carolina; a Chilean wine-tasting and tapas buffet for ten; private gallery tours with artists Chawky Frenn in Washington and Peter Winant in New York City; a behind-the-scene tour and luncheon with members of the Dance Department; an hour-long lesson on conducting with Professor Anthony Maiello; courtside seats at a GMU men’s hoops game and a basketball signed by Coach Jim Larranaga. The entire list is a bidder’s dream!
At 8 o’clock, ARTS By George! participants will settle into premier orchestra seats at Mason’s imposing Concert Hall to enjoy a performance by baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell. Described by The New York Times as “the last leading man,” Mitchell has performed with many of the world’s foremost classical conductors and their orchestras, including Leonard Slatkin, John Williams, and Michael Tilson Thomas. He has starred in performances of works such as Porgy and Bess, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, Carnival, Kismet, and Ragtime. Awarded a Tony for Kiss Me Kate, he has received several Tony nominations, a Helen Hayes Award, and a Theater World Award. In addition, he has acted on TV shows such as Crossing Jordan, Frasier, and Trapper John, M.D. What versatility! The Washington Post commented that Mitchell is “a talented musician and an engaging personality, but his rarest gift is for knocking show tunes over the moon.” His admirers are awaiting his fabulous renditions of Embraceable You, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and The Impossible Dream.
The performance will be followed by a champagne and chocolate reception, saluting the end to a memorable celebration. Mitchell will join the guests, and many of Virginia’s elected officials will also attend the on-stage reception. Fairfax resident Carole Scanlon, who has assembled a star-studded Honorary Committee, which features Governor Timothy Kaine as the 2008 Honorary Chair. In addition, Mason’s own stars, President Alan Merten, former President George Johnson, and Coach Larranaga, will assuredly please the crowd of their faithful fans.
ARTS By George! is an unforgettable evening. Participants meet the students and their teachers, savor a delectable meal, watch impressive student performances, and enjoy Brian Stokes Mitchell’s beautiful baritone. But most important of all, guests support the scholarship fund for talented young dancers, singers, musicians, dramatists, film-makers, visual artists, and arts managers – or support the Center for the Arts program, which benefits everybody in our region. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Web site (www.artsbygeorge.com) or call Deborah Paez (703.993.4188).
Monday, August 4, 2008
PROTEST AT PETLAND - September, 2005
The Protest at Petland—Who Is Right?
Located in the Picket Shopping Center in Fairfax, Petland is a modern, well-run business. Brightly lighted and clean, it markets an array of topnotch supplies for pets, and it features cage after cage of beautiful animals. As I entered the store, I was greeted by Vinnie, a handsome English Bulldog introduced as the “store manager.” Near the entrance, a stunning rose-breasted cockatoo and a flashy scarlet macaw caught my eye. I was mesmerized by the exotic birds the snoozing ferrets, the cuddly hamsters, the showy fish, the outlandish reptiles, and the amusing hermit crabs. Next I spotted the adorable puppies, and like all the other visitors, I was enchanted.
Why, then, do protesters stand on Pickett Road each Saturday, challenging Petland’s policies towards animals? Through these weekly demonstrations, animal welfare activist Holly Sternberg hopes to focus attention on the many homeless animals in shelters throughout Northern Virginia and to dissuade prospective owners from purchasing dogs and cats at pet stores.
What’s wrong with getting one of those irresistible pups at pet stores? By buying one, according to Sternberg, you support midwestern puppy mills. Petland’s animals, she claims, are born in puppy mills. There, dogs are bred “solely for profit. In a typical puppy mill, adult dogs are confined to cramped cages for their entire lives. They are given the cheapest food available; they live in filth; their injuries and diseases go untreated; and after being bred over and over until their bodies wear out, they are killed.”
Kareem Koshok, who opened Petland in 2003, is puzzled by Holly Sternberg’s opposition. Along with his brother and dad, who are his partners, he is proud of the store and the animals. His description of puppy mills agrees with Sternberg’s, and he emphasizes that he purchases his puppies from reputable breeders. He has visited their facilities, which are sanitary and comfortable. Breeding operations are professional, “by the book.” Like Sternberg, he is concerned about the quality of the dogs. He looks for good teeth and eyes, shining coats, energy, and friendly dispositions. “I try to make the breeders better by buying only the best pups available. I have high standards”
Holly Sternberg criticizes the trucks that transport the puppies. The young dogs, she notes on the recently published Web site, www.petstorecruelty.org, are stuffed into small cages, loaded onto trucks, and shipped to pet stores. The cages are jammed together, the air is foul, and the stench of ammonia is overpowering. “Not my dogs!” disagrees Koshok emphatically. He invites customers to inspect the vans which deliver the pups to Petland. Health issues are a concern for both Sternberg and Koshok. She adds that many of the puppies have contracted respiratory ailments when they reach their destinations. Koshok, however, maintains resolutely, “I don’t sell sick animals.” His dogs have five vet checks before they reach the store. A veterinarian visits the store weekly, he and the head kennel technician talk daily to the vet, and each new owner receives an additional free checkup by the store’s vet within the first four days of ownership. Vaccinations and worming are up-to-date.
How do you identify a store which sells dogs from breeding mills? What conditions in a store are considered inhumane? Many violations are easy to spot: mesh flooring that catches tiny legs and feet; cages with inadequate resting platforms; cramped or dirty cages; sick, malnourished, or dehydrated animals. If the pet store has cages filled with different breeds of puppies, you can assume that these babies were produced at a puppy mill, Sternberg asserts. Not so with Petland, rebuts Koshok. He knows his breeders, and he picks the puppies he wants. He features a wide variety of purebred dogs because his customers request them. In addition, the cleanliness of Petland, the exuberance of the dogs and their condition attest to their care. “Every animal gets the same care as if he were privately owned. Every time I turn around, a puppy gives me a kiss,” he affirms with a smile.
“I know what I’m doing is right,” Kareem Koshok continues. “If you know a better way, show me. Teach me.” The protesters organized by Holly Sternberg, carrying tombstone-shaped placards and dressed in black, are also right to mourn the 133,000 dogs and cats killed in Virginia shelters in 2003. Holly and Kareem have similar goals. Both want to discourage people from buying pets indiscriminately, then discarding them like old shoes. The families cooing over the lovable babies at Petland, however, would not see themselves, or the store, as contributors to this horrendous problem.
Holly Sternberg’s Web site is extremely informative—and heartbreaking. The opinions she expresses about the Petland chain of stores are hers, however; I could not verify them. I had a difficult time reconciling the grim picture she painted with my visits to the attractive Petland on Main Street. I could barely be restrained from buying the spunky Irish Terrier as a buddy for my adopted, rescued Airedale, and after hearing about the store, my son-in-law marched right in and bought a perky Boston Terrier.
Located in the Picket Shopping Center in Fairfax, Petland is a modern, well-run business. Brightly lighted and clean, it markets an array of topnotch supplies for pets, and it features cage after cage of beautiful animals. As I entered the store, I was greeted by Vinnie, a handsome English Bulldog introduced as the “store manager.” Near the entrance, a stunning rose-breasted cockatoo and a flashy scarlet macaw caught my eye. I was mesmerized by the exotic birds the snoozing ferrets, the cuddly hamsters, the showy fish, the outlandish reptiles, and the amusing hermit crabs. Next I spotted the adorable puppies, and like all the other visitors, I was enchanted.
Why, then, do protesters stand on Pickett Road each Saturday, challenging Petland’s policies towards animals? Through these weekly demonstrations, animal welfare activist Holly Sternberg hopes to focus attention on the many homeless animals in shelters throughout Northern Virginia and to dissuade prospective owners from purchasing dogs and cats at pet stores.
What’s wrong with getting one of those irresistible pups at pet stores? By buying one, according to Sternberg, you support midwestern puppy mills. Petland’s animals, she claims, are born in puppy mills. There, dogs are bred “solely for profit. In a typical puppy mill, adult dogs are confined to cramped cages for their entire lives. They are given the cheapest food available; they live in filth; their injuries and diseases go untreated; and after being bred over and over until their bodies wear out, they are killed.”
Kareem Koshok, who opened Petland in 2003, is puzzled by Holly Sternberg’s opposition. Along with his brother and dad, who are his partners, he is proud of the store and the animals. His description of puppy mills agrees with Sternberg’s, and he emphasizes that he purchases his puppies from reputable breeders. He has visited their facilities, which are sanitary and comfortable. Breeding operations are professional, “by the book.” Like Sternberg, he is concerned about the quality of the dogs. He looks for good teeth and eyes, shining coats, energy, and friendly dispositions. “I try to make the breeders better by buying only the best pups available. I have high standards”
Holly Sternberg criticizes the trucks that transport the puppies. The young dogs, she notes on the recently published Web site, www.petstorecruelty.org, are stuffed into small cages, loaded onto trucks, and shipped to pet stores. The cages are jammed together, the air is foul, and the stench of ammonia is overpowering. “Not my dogs!” disagrees Koshok emphatically. He invites customers to inspect the vans which deliver the pups to Petland. Health issues are a concern for both Sternberg and Koshok. She adds that many of the puppies have contracted respiratory ailments when they reach their destinations. Koshok, however, maintains resolutely, “I don’t sell sick animals.” His dogs have five vet checks before they reach the store. A veterinarian visits the store weekly, he and the head kennel technician talk daily to the vet, and each new owner receives an additional free checkup by the store’s vet within the first four days of ownership. Vaccinations and worming are up-to-date.
How do you identify a store which sells dogs from breeding mills? What conditions in a store are considered inhumane? Many violations are easy to spot: mesh flooring that catches tiny legs and feet; cages with inadequate resting platforms; cramped or dirty cages; sick, malnourished, or dehydrated animals. If the pet store has cages filled with different breeds of puppies, you can assume that these babies were produced at a puppy mill, Sternberg asserts. Not so with Petland, rebuts Koshok. He knows his breeders, and he picks the puppies he wants. He features a wide variety of purebred dogs because his customers request them. In addition, the cleanliness of Petland, the exuberance of the dogs and their condition attest to their care. “Every animal gets the same care as if he were privately owned. Every time I turn around, a puppy gives me a kiss,” he affirms with a smile.
“I know what I’m doing is right,” Kareem Koshok continues. “If you know a better way, show me. Teach me.” The protesters organized by Holly Sternberg, carrying tombstone-shaped placards and dressed in black, are also right to mourn the 133,000 dogs and cats killed in Virginia shelters in 2003. Holly and Kareem have similar goals. Both want to discourage people from buying pets indiscriminately, then discarding them like old shoes. The families cooing over the lovable babies at Petland, however, would not see themselves, or the store, as contributors to this horrendous problem.
Holly Sternberg’s Web site is extremely informative—and heartbreaking. The opinions she expresses about the Petland chain of stores are hers, however; I could not verify them. I had a difficult time reconciling the grim picture she painted with my visits to the attractive Petland on Main Street. I could barely be restrained from buying the spunky Irish Terrier as a buddy for my adopted, rescued Airedale, and after hearing about the store, my son-in-law marched right in and bought a perky Boston Terrier.
THE FAIRFAX COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER - October, 2005
Located on West Ox Road near Fair Oaks Mall, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s facilities are impressive, its atmosphere reassuring. A visitor, walking through a plant-filled atrium, is struck by the colorful bulletin boards, educational materials, and stacks of donated supplies. The 48 dog kennels are spacious, each large enough for a Great Dane. A separate room is devoted to cats. Its 28 stainless steel cages are filled with adult cats and kittens. In the vestibule between the cats and dogs dwell several rabbits, a parakeet, and a huge iguana. Everything is clean, and the animals have cushions and toys.
The shelter is staffed by professionals and volunteers who care deeply about animals and their welfare. Clearly, pets and people are treated with respect and understanding. An older man, in tears, returns a puppy so full of energy he can’t manage her. A couple and their cancer-ridden, soon-to-be-euthanized Labrador patiently await their appointment while an enthusiastic family, eager to take home a kitten, fills out an adoption form. A mother and her teen-age daughter clap their hands with joy because they have just found their lost Jack Russell. On the weekends, parents and children throng the shelter, looking for just the right pet.
Adoption is a major goal that is successfully met. In 2004, 2,621 animals were adopted while another 1,527 were redeemed by their owners. A stray animal with a collar is held for at least 11 days before adoption is permitted; without a collar, an animal can be adopted after 7 days. If the owner has voluntarily relinquished custody, the pet is available immediately. To qualify for adoption, you must be at least 18, own or rent a home in Northern Virginia, and agree to observe state and local laws concerning animals. You must spay or neuter your pet, get a license, keep your cat inside, and walk your dog on a leash. Other requirements include rabies shots, vet exams, food, water, shelter, and humane treatment. Because most of the approximately 4,000 animals euthanized each year have behavior problems, you are encouraged to provide training. New owners, in other words, are asked to be responsible, to treat their adopted pets with kindness.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers many additional services to the community. Group support meetings are sponsored on the third Wednesday of the month. Anyone grieving for a pet or expecting a loss is invited to attend. Sharing grief with others, especially if the pet’s illness has been lengthy, helps you deal with sorrow that can be overwhelming.
Volunteers are always welcome. They are needed to walk the dogs, assist in the kennel and cat room, give tours of the Shelter, help in the front office, and counsel people about adoption. A volunteer must be at least 16, willing to take training classes and to work a minimum of 8 hours a month for 3 months. A fall training class will be held in November; deadlines for applying to later sessions are Jan. 15, March 12, and June 11. If smiles, cheeriness, and courtesy characterize happy workers, volunteers at the Shelter obviously enjoy their tasks.
Rabies is a serious problem in Northern Virginia, where foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats may carry the virus. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers rabies clinics five times a year. For $10, your cat or dog can receive a lifesaving vaccination against a disease that has no cure. The last clinic of the year will be held on Nov. 13 from 12-2.
Providing information about spaying and neutering is a vital service. Several local agencies cooperate with the Animal Shelter to offer lower-cost spaying and neutering. Why is this so important? Each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the United States, compared with 10,000 humans (www.doghause.com). From the Feral Cat Coalition, we learn that “a pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.” Animal welfare activist Holly Sternberg reminds us that in 2003 approximately 133,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in Virginia shelters. Moreover, “U.S. animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually.” (www.feralcat.com)
Perhaps your family is looking for a new pet. Before calling a breeder who advertises in the newspaper or driving to a pet store, visit the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. There you will see at least 30 lovely cats who need homes. Across the hall in the dog kennels, you will meet Golden Retrievers and Labradors, who look lovingly at you. You’ll see many other dogs who might fit nicely into your life -- an adorable dachshund, a handsome Akita, a frisky Wirehaired Fox Terrier. You’ll also observe several more aggressive dogs, such as Pit Bulls and German Shepherds, that will probably never find homes. As you scurry past these dogs, you wish their original owners had believed in spaying, neutering, and obedience training
The shelter is staffed by professionals and volunteers who care deeply about animals and their welfare. Clearly, pets and people are treated with respect and understanding. An older man, in tears, returns a puppy so full of energy he can’t manage her. A couple and their cancer-ridden, soon-to-be-euthanized Labrador patiently await their appointment while an enthusiastic family, eager to take home a kitten, fills out an adoption form. A mother and her teen-age daughter clap their hands with joy because they have just found their lost Jack Russell. On the weekends, parents and children throng the shelter, looking for just the right pet.
Adoption is a major goal that is successfully met. In 2004, 2,621 animals were adopted while another 1,527 were redeemed by their owners. A stray animal with a collar is held for at least 11 days before adoption is permitted; without a collar, an animal can be adopted after 7 days. If the owner has voluntarily relinquished custody, the pet is available immediately. To qualify for adoption, you must be at least 18, own or rent a home in Northern Virginia, and agree to observe state and local laws concerning animals. You must spay or neuter your pet, get a license, keep your cat inside, and walk your dog on a leash. Other requirements include rabies shots, vet exams, food, water, shelter, and humane treatment. Because most of the approximately 4,000 animals euthanized each year have behavior problems, you are encouraged to provide training. New owners, in other words, are asked to be responsible, to treat their adopted pets with kindness.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers many additional services to the community. Group support meetings are sponsored on the third Wednesday of the month. Anyone grieving for a pet or expecting a loss is invited to attend. Sharing grief with others, especially if the pet’s illness has been lengthy, helps you deal with sorrow that can be overwhelming.
Volunteers are always welcome. They are needed to walk the dogs, assist in the kennel and cat room, give tours of the Shelter, help in the front office, and counsel people about adoption. A volunteer must be at least 16, willing to take training classes and to work a minimum of 8 hours a month for 3 months. A fall training class will be held in November; deadlines for applying to later sessions are Jan. 15, March 12, and June 11. If smiles, cheeriness, and courtesy characterize happy workers, volunteers at the Shelter obviously enjoy their tasks.
Rabies is a serious problem in Northern Virginia, where foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats may carry the virus. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers rabies clinics five times a year. For $10, your cat or dog can receive a lifesaving vaccination against a disease that has no cure. The last clinic of the year will be held on Nov. 13 from 12-2.
Providing information about spaying and neutering is a vital service. Several local agencies cooperate with the Animal Shelter to offer lower-cost spaying and neutering. Why is this so important? Each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the United States, compared with 10,000 humans (www.doghause.com). From the Feral Cat Coalition, we learn that “a pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.” Animal welfare activist Holly Sternberg reminds us that in 2003 approximately 133,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in Virginia shelters. Moreover, “U.S. animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually.” (www.feralcat.com)
Perhaps your family is looking for a new pet. Before calling a breeder who advertises in the newspaper or driving to a pet store, visit the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. There you will see at least 30 lovely cats who need homes. Across the hall in the dog kennels, you will meet Golden Retrievers and Labradors, who look lovingly at you. You’ll see many other dogs who might fit nicely into your life -- an adorable dachshund, a handsome Akita, a frisky Wirehaired Fox Terrier. You’ll also observe several more aggressive dogs, such as Pit Bulls and German Shepherds, that will probably never find homes. As you scurry past these dogs, you wish their original owners had believed in spaying, neutering, and obedience training
ADOPTING A DOG - Your New Family Member - September, 2005
"Adopting a dog has got to be about as hard as adopting a child," commented the Sears technician knowingly as he repaired my refrigerator and simultaneously greeted my new Airedale. When I questioned him, he told me about the two Labrador puppies he had adopted a year ago. During the first week that Tessa the Airedale joined our family, I quickly learned that one of my neighbors had adopted two Shelties, while another was the proud owner of a pair of black Labs she had also adopted. Erin Drake, a young equestrian who works at CliftonSaddlery, boards her horse in Fairfax Station, and exercises one of my nags, added that she, too, had adopted a dog recently. Even the pet store clerk, who sold me a stylish collar for Tessa, was an adoptive dog owner.
The process of adoption is not easy, we all agreed. Hopeful dog parents contact the adoption service and fill out a lengthy application form. After a telephone interview, a volunteer visits you, discusses the prospective dog with you, and inspects your house and yard. Questions during the telephone interview and the visit give the adoption agency insight into your philosophy of dog rearing: How do the other members of your family feel about the dog? Who is the primary caregiver? Where will the dog sleep? Do you have a fence? How many hours a day are you away from the house? What will happen to the dog when you take a vacation? Who is your vet? How do you discipline your pets?
Before Helga Adams, the Fairfax coordinator of the Metropolitan Washington Airedale Rescue and Adoption Committee, visited us, I vacuumed up the Corgi hair, wiped the paw prints off the storm doors, brushed our other two doggies, and picked up the bones. I really wanted to make a good impression because to us life without an Airedale isn't quite complete. The interview seemed successful. Helga wasn't even too concerned about my rickety fence, which I thought might be a stumbling block. We were approved officially that evening.
And then we waited for the call to pick up our new dog...and we waited...and we waited. The first dog we might have adopted wasn't quite right for our family; neither was the second or the third. Discouragement, doubt, sadness, even annoyance passed through my mind. Weren't we good enough to adopt a dog somebody else had discarded? Finally, the long anticipated call came, and Tessa the Princess entered our lives, surely a match made in Heaven.
Why the delay? Acquiring a pet from a rescue and adoption agency is serious business. Many of the animals have had hard lives, and the service wants to make sure that the home you provide will be the best possible one for a particular dog, and the last one, too. My husband and I, for example, wanted a young, friendly, female Airedale who liked other canines, and that is exactly what we got. Placing the right dog with the right family is the primary goal. Breed adoption groups in different parts of the state and even across the country work together to find this perfect match.
After the home visit, Helga gave my name to Elizabeth Berry, her Richmond Airedale Adoption counterpart. Elizabeth, managing nine homeless Airedales at the time, explained that "Often more than one person will be involved in an adoption. One group or person has an approved home, while another person might have the dog or dogs." Another reason for the delay in acquiring a dog, this cooperation ensures the best possible match between family and pet.
Rescue and adoption agencies which concentrate on one breed are common in Northern Virginia. Jack Russells, collies, greyhounds, Labs, cocker spaniels, Shetland sheepdogs, Golden Retrievers, and just about any other breed you can name have their advocates. They are staffed by volunteers who know the characteristics of a particular breed. According to both Helga and Elizabeth, they also know the characteristics of people who make good owners for different breeds. Amazing!
Perhaps you aren't interested in a specific breed. You want a sweet, playful, cuddly dog, and you would really like to help a homeless animal because you have a kind heart. In that case, HART is the place for you. The Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) sponsors the adoption of more than 1000 dogs and 400 cats in our area each year. Every weekend HART representatives bring 10 to 20 pups and adult dogs to local pet stores, which hold "adoptions days." There, potential owners can view the animals, become acquainted with them, and begin adoption proceedings.
My granddaughter, Tori Mandes, who lives on Mason Neck, recalls the day her family adopted Skippy. Tori, her brother Evans, and her dad drove expectantly to a pet store in Woodbridge. "There were cages filled with dogs. Some of the large cages had several puppies in them. The dogs were barking, and lots of people were playing with them. My dad picked Skippy right away because he has such beautiful eyes--and he wasn't barking!" Before Skippy could join his new family, however, they had to complete successfully HART's thorough adoption process. HART requires an application, interviews with several staff members, and a home visit. A volunteer will even call your vet to see if you have taken care of your previous pets' medical needs.
Animal rescue and adoption services prefer for pets to stay with their original owners. After all, these are the humans who selected them first and who promised to love and cherish them. However, like marriages, relationships between pets and people don't always work out. When pet owners decide to give up their dogs and cats, they frequently mention several reasons to HART volunteers, such as rental problems, allergies, unruly or destructive conduct, aggression, barking, housebreaking accidents, and clawing furniture. To this list Helga and Elizabeth added several others, including death, divorce, illness, and moving to a nursing home. As breed rescuers, they are sensitive to special concerns: the owner who chained a large Airedale on the deck during the day and put the dog directly into a crate at night; the would-be breeder who housed three males in cages outside and tied his four females inside a barn; the hunting Airedale who chased his master's horses. Many problems are not insurmountable, however. The HART web page contains information about each of the common negative behaviors, as well as suggestions for correcting them.
When animals are relinquished, adoption and rescue groups turn to dedicated foster families, who have agreed to take in abandoned pets, care for them, calm their fears, and provide a link to the new family. If a foster family is not available, the pet is housed in a kennel. During this time the dog is evaluated for temperament, especially important for large dogs. Veterinary care includes shots, heartworm tests, and heartworm medication. If health issues are uncovered, they are treated. Rescue organizations licensed in Virginia are also required to spay or neuter all dogs sponsored for adoption. Finally, the Airedale Rescue Committee microchips their orphans, while HART gives each dog a distinctive identification tag. Families approved for adoption receive dogs who closely suits their needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Recommendations for training are provided; the Airedale Rescue even offers the assistance of a behaviorist, an expert who combines the skills of a trainer, psychologist, and nutritionist. "We give the best help we can," concludes Helga Adams.
Why should you adopt a dog? Helga, who has rescued dogs for 25 years, explains that they "give you so much in return; they are so grateful for everything, so worth it." Information about adopting or becoming a foster parent is as close as your computer. A search on the Internet yields page after page of rescue groups for every imaginable breed and type of dog. HART's Web address is www.hart90. org; its telephone number is 703.691.HART; and the mailing address is P.O. Box 7261, Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Telephone or email a rescue and adoption agency; check out the classifieds for "Dogs to Adopt;" spend time getting acquainted with the many available dogs; and finally have fun and years of companionship with your new friend.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2005 South County Chronicle.
The process of adoption is not easy, we all agreed. Hopeful dog parents contact the adoption service and fill out a lengthy application form. After a telephone interview, a volunteer visits you, discusses the prospective dog with you, and inspects your house and yard. Questions during the telephone interview and the visit give the adoption agency insight into your philosophy of dog rearing: How do the other members of your family feel about the dog? Who is the primary caregiver? Where will the dog sleep? Do you have a fence? How many hours a day are you away from the house? What will happen to the dog when you take a vacation? Who is your vet? How do you discipline your pets?
Before Helga Adams, the Fairfax coordinator of the Metropolitan Washington Airedale Rescue and Adoption Committee, visited us, I vacuumed up the Corgi hair, wiped the paw prints off the storm doors, brushed our other two doggies, and picked up the bones. I really wanted to make a good impression because to us life without an Airedale isn't quite complete. The interview seemed successful. Helga wasn't even too concerned about my rickety fence, which I thought might be a stumbling block. We were approved officially that evening.
And then we waited for the call to pick up our new dog...and we waited...and we waited. The first dog we might have adopted wasn't quite right for our family; neither was the second or the third. Discouragement, doubt, sadness, even annoyance passed through my mind. Weren't we good enough to adopt a dog somebody else had discarded? Finally, the long anticipated call came, and Tessa the Princess entered our lives, surely a match made in Heaven.
Why the delay? Acquiring a pet from a rescue and adoption agency is serious business. Many of the animals have had hard lives, and the service wants to make sure that the home you provide will be the best possible one for a particular dog, and the last one, too. My husband and I, for example, wanted a young, friendly, female Airedale who liked other canines, and that is exactly what we got. Placing the right dog with the right family is the primary goal. Breed adoption groups in different parts of the state and even across the country work together to find this perfect match.
After the home visit, Helga gave my name to Elizabeth Berry, her Richmond Airedale Adoption counterpart. Elizabeth, managing nine homeless Airedales at the time, explained that "Often more than one person will be involved in an adoption. One group or person has an approved home, while another person might have the dog or dogs." Another reason for the delay in acquiring a dog, this cooperation ensures the best possible match between family and pet.
Rescue and adoption agencies which concentrate on one breed are common in Northern Virginia. Jack Russells, collies, greyhounds, Labs, cocker spaniels, Shetland sheepdogs, Golden Retrievers, and just about any other breed you can name have their advocates. They are staffed by volunteers who know the characteristics of a particular breed. According to both Helga and Elizabeth, they also know the characteristics of people who make good owners for different breeds. Amazing!
Perhaps you aren't interested in a specific breed. You want a sweet, playful, cuddly dog, and you would really like to help a homeless animal because you have a kind heart. In that case, HART is the place for you. The Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) sponsors the adoption of more than 1000 dogs and 400 cats in our area each year. Every weekend HART representatives bring 10 to 20 pups and adult dogs to local pet stores, which hold "adoptions days." There, potential owners can view the animals, become acquainted with them, and begin adoption proceedings.
My granddaughter, Tori Mandes, who lives on Mason Neck, recalls the day her family adopted Skippy. Tori, her brother Evans, and her dad drove expectantly to a pet store in Woodbridge. "There were cages filled with dogs. Some of the large cages had several puppies in them. The dogs were barking, and lots of people were playing with them. My dad picked Skippy right away because he has such beautiful eyes--and he wasn't barking!" Before Skippy could join his new family, however, they had to complete successfully HART's thorough adoption process. HART requires an application, interviews with several staff members, and a home visit. A volunteer will even call your vet to see if you have taken care of your previous pets' medical needs.
Animal rescue and adoption services prefer for pets to stay with their original owners. After all, these are the humans who selected them first and who promised to love and cherish them. However, like marriages, relationships between pets and people don't always work out. When pet owners decide to give up their dogs and cats, they frequently mention several reasons to HART volunteers, such as rental problems, allergies, unruly or destructive conduct, aggression, barking, housebreaking accidents, and clawing furniture. To this list Helga and Elizabeth added several others, including death, divorce, illness, and moving to a nursing home. As breed rescuers, they are sensitive to special concerns: the owner who chained a large Airedale on the deck during the day and put the dog directly into a crate at night; the would-be breeder who housed three males in cages outside and tied his four females inside a barn; the hunting Airedale who chased his master's horses. Many problems are not insurmountable, however. The HART web page contains information about each of the common negative behaviors, as well as suggestions for correcting them.
When animals are relinquished, adoption and rescue groups turn to dedicated foster families, who have agreed to take in abandoned pets, care for them, calm their fears, and provide a link to the new family. If a foster family is not available, the pet is housed in a kennel. During this time the dog is evaluated for temperament, especially important for large dogs. Veterinary care includes shots, heartworm tests, and heartworm medication. If health issues are uncovered, they are treated. Rescue organizations licensed in Virginia are also required to spay or neuter all dogs sponsored for adoption. Finally, the Airedale Rescue Committee microchips their orphans, while HART gives each dog a distinctive identification tag. Families approved for adoption receive dogs who closely suits their needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Recommendations for training are provided; the Airedale Rescue even offers the assistance of a behaviorist, an expert who combines the skills of a trainer, psychologist, and nutritionist. "We give the best help we can," concludes Helga Adams.
Why should you adopt a dog? Helga, who has rescued dogs for 25 years, explains that they "give you so much in return; they are so grateful for everything, so worth it." Information about adopting or becoming a foster parent is as close as your computer. A search on the Internet yields page after page of rescue groups for every imaginable breed and type of dog. HART's Web address is www.hart90. org; its telephone number is 703.691.HART; and the mailing address is P.O. Box 7261, Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Telephone or email a rescue and adoption agency; check out the classifieds for "Dogs to Adopt;" spend time getting acquainted with the many available dogs; and finally have fun and years of companionship with your new friend.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2005 South County Chronicle.
THE WASHINGTON GLORY– Women’s Pro Softball in Fairfax - August, 2007
By Trish Mandes
Sports at George Mason University(GMU) continue the meteoric climb to glory with women’s professional softball. The Washington Glory, the National Pro Fastpitch softball league’s newest team, will call Mason home until 2011. Although new to our area, women’s professional softball got its start in the early 90s. In 2002, the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league was launched, and Major League Baseball joined hands with the league to promote female athletes and to encourage women’s interest in baseball. As a result, expansion teams attracted talented NCAA All-Americans, gold medalists from the 2004 Olympics, and of course enthusiastic fans.
Paul Wilson, the Washington Glory’s owner and general manager, is perhaps the most dedicated fan of all. A lifelong athlete, he operates a first class, on-line sporting goods store, Paul’s Sports (www.paulssports.com), which offers everything a softball or baseball player could ever hanker after. To show teams the quality and variety of his equipment, he began displaying it at area tournaments. When Wilson’s elementary school daughter accompanied him to a fastpitch exhibition, she fell in love with the sport. Within three days of that game, he hopped a plane to a league championship in Chicago, to discuss buying a team. Negotiations continued for a year and a half, and in January 2007 the Glory became his.
The Washington Glory has created an extraordinary win-win situation in Fairfax. To Wilson, the possibilities of building the team in partnership with GMU are unlimited. “Mason’s location in the heart of Fairfax is fantastic -- very convenient for our fans throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District ,” Wilson commented. “But it’s the university’s entrepreneurial spirit, talented administration, and gifted student body that really solidified our decision to play at Mason.” As the team grows, he foresees internships for students in nursing, sports medicine, physical education, marketing, management, communications, development, and finance. Bringing the Washington Glory to Mason has required major improvements in the university’s softball complex, located on Rapidan Road near Route 123—and a major investment in the community by Wilson. He has added lights for night games and television. stadium seating for 1,300 cheering fans, and temporary concession stands and bathrooms. Permanent structures will be installed in 2008.
The Washington Glory is made up outstanding athletes. Glory draftee pitcher Monica Abbott developed a huge fan club at the University of Tennessee, where she racked up the most wins in the history of the NCAA; she was the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year; and she’s on the 2008 Olympic training team. University of Alabama graduate Kelly Kretschman, an outfielder, won Olympic gold in 2004. Several members of the team have ties with Virginia. GMU graduate and Falls Church resident Christa Dalakis will play with the Greek Olympic team in 2008. Sara Larquier, a UVA alum, was the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Rookie Jessica Moore, a native of Chesapeake, VA, just graduated from Liberty University, where she was named Big South Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and 2007. Farmville’s LaDonia Hughes, while at LSU, was in the SEC Top Ten in runs, hits, batting averages, triples, total bases and stolen bases.
Glory Head Coach Carie Dever-Boaz has led the team to spectacular wins since the exhibition game on May 27. The New England Riptide and the National Teams of China and Venezuela faltered as they faced power hitters Amber Jackson, Sara Larquier, Kelly Kretschman, Oli Keohohou, Jessica Moore, and Nichole Thompson. After the series with the Akron Racers in late June, the team sprinted into first place, with pitchers Desiree Serrano and Sarah Pauly smashing the competition. Matches with the Mid-Michigan Ice, the Philadelphia Force, the Chicago Bandits, and the Rockford Thunder are scheduled for later in the season
Wilson explains proudly that the Glory’s amazing athletes are true role models, demonstrating to girls of all ages the possibilities, opportunities, and success derived from hard work. If fans want a photograph, a handshake, a smile, or an autograph, they will get it from the Washington Glory. If fans want a closer look at this team, they can sign up for the recently announced Diamond Elite Training Summer Series, where individuals, small groups, and even teams will have the chance of a lifetime for one-on-one training or practice with Glory coaches and stars.
In six months, Paul Wilson’s accomplishments have been extraordinary – buying the Washington Glory, filling its roster with talented players, securing a home for the team, making significant upgrades to Mason’s softball complex, and starting a community-oriented sports program. How has he managed this feat? First, he credits the Fairfax County government, especially Chairman Gerry Connolly, for its support. Next, he praises the university. “I owe a debt of gratitude to the entire administration. How are we going to get this done?” he reflects, is their approach to any problem. “Without having George Mason, Fairfax County, and the League pulling in the same direction, we couldn’t have done it.” And what a glorious experience we fans would miss -- our chance to see a professional sports team in Washington that is winning!
For more information about the Washington Glory, the schedule, and tickets, please visit the Web site (www.washingtonglory.com).
Sports at George Mason University(GMU) continue the meteoric climb to glory with women’s professional softball. The Washington Glory, the National Pro Fastpitch softball league’s newest team, will call Mason home until 2011. Although new to our area, women’s professional softball got its start in the early 90s. In 2002, the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league was launched, and Major League Baseball joined hands with the league to promote female athletes and to encourage women’s interest in baseball. As a result, expansion teams attracted talented NCAA All-Americans, gold medalists from the 2004 Olympics, and of course enthusiastic fans.
Paul Wilson, the Washington Glory’s owner and general manager, is perhaps the most dedicated fan of all. A lifelong athlete, he operates a first class, on-line sporting goods store, Paul’s Sports (www.paulssports.com), which offers everything a softball or baseball player could ever hanker after. To show teams the quality and variety of his equipment, he began displaying it at area tournaments. When Wilson’s elementary school daughter accompanied him to a fastpitch exhibition, she fell in love with the sport. Within three days of that game, he hopped a plane to a league championship in Chicago, to discuss buying a team. Negotiations continued for a year and a half, and in January 2007 the Glory became his.
The Washington Glory has created an extraordinary win-win situation in Fairfax. To Wilson, the possibilities of building the team in partnership with GMU are unlimited. “Mason’s location in the heart of Fairfax is fantastic -- very convenient for our fans throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District ,” Wilson commented. “But it’s the university’s entrepreneurial spirit, talented administration, and gifted student body that really solidified our decision to play at Mason.” As the team grows, he foresees internships for students in nursing, sports medicine, physical education, marketing, management, communications, development, and finance. Bringing the Washington Glory to Mason has required major improvements in the university’s softball complex, located on Rapidan Road near Route 123—and a major investment in the community by Wilson. He has added lights for night games and television. stadium seating for 1,300 cheering fans, and temporary concession stands and bathrooms. Permanent structures will be installed in 2008.
The Washington Glory is made up outstanding athletes. Glory draftee pitcher Monica Abbott developed a huge fan club at the University of Tennessee, where she racked up the most wins in the history of the NCAA; she was the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year; and she’s on the 2008 Olympic training team. University of Alabama graduate Kelly Kretschman, an outfielder, won Olympic gold in 2004. Several members of the team have ties with Virginia. GMU graduate and Falls Church resident Christa Dalakis will play with the Greek Olympic team in 2008. Sara Larquier, a UVA alum, was the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Rookie Jessica Moore, a native of Chesapeake, VA, just graduated from Liberty University, where she was named Big South Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and 2007. Farmville’s LaDonia Hughes, while at LSU, was in the SEC Top Ten in runs, hits, batting averages, triples, total bases and stolen bases.
Glory Head Coach Carie Dever-Boaz has led the team to spectacular wins since the exhibition game on May 27. The New England Riptide and the National Teams of China and Venezuela faltered as they faced power hitters Amber Jackson, Sara Larquier, Kelly Kretschman, Oli Keohohou, Jessica Moore, and Nichole Thompson. After the series with the Akron Racers in late June, the team sprinted into first place, with pitchers Desiree Serrano and Sarah Pauly smashing the competition. Matches with the Mid-Michigan Ice, the Philadelphia Force, the Chicago Bandits, and the Rockford Thunder are scheduled for later in the season
Wilson explains proudly that the Glory’s amazing athletes are true role models, demonstrating to girls of all ages the possibilities, opportunities, and success derived from hard work. If fans want a photograph, a handshake, a smile, or an autograph, they will get it from the Washington Glory. If fans want a closer look at this team, they can sign up for the recently announced Diamond Elite Training Summer Series, where individuals, small groups, and even teams will have the chance of a lifetime for one-on-one training or practice with Glory coaches and stars.
In six months, Paul Wilson’s accomplishments have been extraordinary – buying the Washington Glory, filling its roster with talented players, securing a home for the team, making significant upgrades to Mason’s softball complex, and starting a community-oriented sports program. How has he managed this feat? First, he credits the Fairfax County government, especially Chairman Gerry Connolly, for its support. Next, he praises the university. “I owe a debt of gratitude to the entire administration. How are we going to get this done?” he reflects, is their approach to any problem. “Without having George Mason, Fairfax County, and the League pulling in the same direction, we couldn’t have done it.” And what a glorious experience we fans would miss -- our chance to see a professional sports team in Washington that is winning!
For more information about the Washington Glory, the schedule, and tickets, please visit the Web site (www.washingtonglory.com).
Thursday, July 17, 2008
HORSE BUSINESS BOOMS IN FAIRFAX
An updated Equine Survey Report was recently published by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with the National Agricultural Statistics Services. Detailed questionnaires were sent to horse owners and businesses in 2006, seeking information about their livestock and related expenses. When the first Equine Survey was released in 2001, Virginians owned 170,000 horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys; now we have approximately 215,000, an increase of 26%. They are housed at 41,000 facilities statewide, in contrast with 29,000 in 2001. These equines are valued at $1.65 billion, with an average cost of $7,697. In 2006, 15,600 equines traded hands at a cost of almost $107 million. Based on these sales figures, equines are now Virginia’s sixth most important agricultural product.
Virginia’s Northern District includes Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Loudoun, Culpeper, and nine other counties. Approximately 71,500 equines call this area home. Their value of $813 million dwarfs the value of equines in the other districts. In Fairfax alone, we support 5,800 horses and ponies. Many of them live in Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Mason Neck, Great Falls, and Oakton, where farms and backyard barns still flourish. Horses thrive in Fairfax, in part, because they are fostered by strong local organizations and services.
The Clifton Horse Society (CHS), which has more than 300 members, has made invaluable contributions to the community since 1977. Founded by a handful of horse enthusiasts, the group has four aims: recreation, education, service, and social activities. The overriding goal is making sure that horses remain “a part of the future of this area of Virginia, as they have been in the past” (www.cliftonhorsesociety.org). A glance at the CHS calendar reveals a monthly whirlwind of events – hay rides, barbecues, 4th of July parades, and Christmas caroling on horseback in the Town of Clifton. The club also hosts monthly rides throughout Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, arranges seminars and clinics, and helps maintain the trails along the Occoquan Watershed. CHS volunteers work tirelessly on the trails at Hemlock Overlook, Fountainhead Regional Park, Bull Run Regional Park, and Bull Run Marina. Thanks to them, you can walk for miles on the clearly marked trails without losing your way or tripping on underbrush.
During the 2007-08 fiscal year, reports Mary Flowers, a Fairfax Station resident who has been a member since 1988, CHS contributed approximately $6,700 to worthy causes. These included veterinarian hospitals, rescue organizations, publicly-operated equestrian facilities, and therapeutic riding programs. The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center just received a generous donation for its molecular research laboratory, and on May 9, Virginia Tech vet student Leslie Rhodes was awarded a CHS scholarship. The monthly newsletter, The Lead Line, edited by Katie Teitel, provides a wealth of information about equines and responsible horse ownership. To learn more about this hard-working, fun-loving group, visit their Website or send an e-mail to forhorses@cox.net.
The Mason Neck Horse Coalition (MNHC) supports horse and nature lovers in the South County area. Its slogan says it all -- "Horses and the Environment: Compatible Companions!” The group's mission includes preserving open land and conserving natural resources, while emphasizing the rich role of horses in Virginia's history and their contribution to the protection of open spaces. Marilyn Hildebeidel continues as MHNC’s “terrific president,” reports Board member Holly Perlick. She also notes that Brian Purdy “has volunteered countless hours in working with Pohick Bay Regional Park, Gunston Hall Plantation, and Meadowood Special Recreation Area to coordinate work parties and special recreation days for the community. Perlick credits Purdy with developing “close relationships with those three parks, which are extremely horse friendly.”
In 2007-08, the Coalition’s members were amazingly busy. Volunteers mended fences, cleared and marked trails, and built new trails in the local parks. They helped with the Wild Mustang and Burro Adoption Days at Meadowood, rode their horses in Lorton’s 4th of July parade, and sponsored fund raisers for charitable groups. They raised $3000 for Saddle Up for St. Jude, a trail ride which benefits the celebrated children’s research hospital. Turning to the needs of local programs, the MNHC sponsored a trail ride and scavenger hunt in April; at this event, they raised $4500 for Simple Changes, a therapeutic riding group at Meadowood. They also enjoy helping Girl Scouts the coveted horse-related badges. and have a blast introducing their horses to the troops.
Fairfax4Horses (F4H) got its start in 2002, when equestrians became concerned about the loss of land to development. Their unease was spurred by the closing of two large barns, Centreville’s Bay Ridge and the Great Falls Horse Center, within a year of each other. Because many of the lessons at these facilities were offered through Fairfax’s recreational and park programs, F4H President Kevin O’Connor and Vice-President Beverley Dickerson began a campaign to include riding facilities at the new Laurel Hill Park in Lorton. Both the Park Authority and the Park Foundation agreed to work with F4H to develop and help fund the proposed equestrian center. Initial construction will begin this fall when several of the ramshackle buildings and sheds near the prison dairy barn will be torn down. A ring and parking lot are scheduled, and nearby trails will be cleared. This construction will be financed by proffers from developers and funding from a 2004 bond. F4H, lovers of horses, and proponents of land preservation in Fairfax County are grateful to the entire Park Authority Board, especially to Gilbert McCutcheon of the Mt. Vernon District.
The price of a horse is cheap compared with the upkeep. Virginians spent $783 million on their horses in 2006, largely on bedding, feed, capital improvements, and equipment. These categories include shavings, straw, hay, grain, saddles, helmets, fly spray, brushes, buckets, carts, tractors, rakes, fencing, and a myriad other items to keep horse and rider happy and safe. In our area, horse owners probably headed straight to Woodlawn Saddlery on Richmond Highway or to Clifton Saddlery. A beautiful store with exceptional merchandise, Woodlawn was opened in 1986 by Joan and Cindy Mitchell, who also own Woodlawn Stables. To the sadness of its clientele, Woodlawn Saddlery closed on June 30, 2008.
Clifton Saddlery had its own change of hands almost two years ago. This charming shop, located in the heart of picturesque Clifton, was launched by Sue and Gary Clairmonte in 1987. After putting it on the market for a while, the Clairmontes considered closing the business altogether. But to the rescue raced Liz Nuti, who lives two miles down the road in Fairfax Station and owns four horses. As a rider, she felt that “an institution like the Clifton Saddlery” shouldn’t vanish. As an accountant,” she reflected, “I run businesses for others. Why not for myself?” In February, 2007, Liz purchased the Saddlery. Longtime customers are happy to find that the welcoming atmosphere and the excellent service have not changed.
To draw new visitors to Clifton Saddlery, Liz has instituted one or two changes. Last summer, for example, she scheduled a visit from Thumbelina, the world’s tiniest horse. During the weekend of Thumbelina’s appearance, hundreds of fans, vendors, therapeutic riding groups, riding clubs, and community members thronged the town. It was Clifton Day in miniature! In conjunction with the town’s many holiday festivities in December, the Saddlery sponsored a Blessing of the Animals. Hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, cats and dogs were all welcome. In addition to hosting events like these, Liz Nuti is testing the waters – “getting her feet wet locally,” she explains – with a mobile tack shop, which she has taken to horse shows at Frying Pan Park. During the winter, she plans to hold workshops on different aspects of horsemanship. What a great opportunity to get out with your horsy friends when it’s too cold for most of us to ride!
Associations like the Clifton Horse Society, the Mason Neck Horse Coalition, and Fairfax4Horses and stores like the Clifton Saddlery are outstanding community resources. They are major factors in the growth of our horse industry. Riding is a life-long skill, not a sport you put aside like basketball or soccer when you grow up. Owning horses is a way of life, “a passion,” explains CHS president Jean Voss, which Fairfax County residents are fortunate to indulge.
Virginia’s Northern District includes Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Loudoun, Culpeper, and nine other counties. Approximately 71,500 equines call this area home. Their value of $813 million dwarfs the value of equines in the other districts. In Fairfax alone, we support 5,800 horses and ponies. Many of them live in Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Mason Neck, Great Falls, and Oakton, where farms and backyard barns still flourish. Horses thrive in Fairfax, in part, because they are fostered by strong local organizations and services.
The Clifton Horse Society (CHS), which has more than 300 members, has made invaluable contributions to the community since 1977. Founded by a handful of horse enthusiasts, the group has four aims: recreation, education, service, and social activities. The overriding goal is making sure that horses remain “a part of the future of this area of Virginia, as they have been in the past” (www.cliftonhorsesociety.org). A glance at the CHS calendar reveals a monthly whirlwind of events – hay rides, barbecues, 4th of July parades, and Christmas caroling on horseback in the Town of Clifton. The club also hosts monthly rides throughout Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, arranges seminars and clinics, and helps maintain the trails along the Occoquan Watershed. CHS volunteers work tirelessly on the trails at Hemlock Overlook, Fountainhead Regional Park, Bull Run Regional Park, and Bull Run Marina. Thanks to them, you can walk for miles on the clearly marked trails without losing your way or tripping on underbrush.
During the 2007-08 fiscal year, reports Mary Flowers, a Fairfax Station resident who has been a member since 1988, CHS contributed approximately $6,700 to worthy causes. These included veterinarian hospitals, rescue organizations, publicly-operated equestrian facilities, and therapeutic riding programs. The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center just received a generous donation for its molecular research laboratory, and on May 9, Virginia Tech vet student Leslie Rhodes was awarded a CHS scholarship. The monthly newsletter, The Lead Line, edited by Katie Teitel, provides a wealth of information about equines and responsible horse ownership. To learn more about this hard-working, fun-loving group, visit their Website or send an e-mail to forhorses@cox.net.
The Mason Neck Horse Coalition (MNHC) supports horse and nature lovers in the South County area. Its slogan says it all -- "Horses and the Environment: Compatible Companions!” The group's mission includes preserving open land and conserving natural resources, while emphasizing the rich role of horses in Virginia's history and their contribution to the protection of open spaces. Marilyn Hildebeidel continues as MHNC’s “terrific president,” reports Board member Holly Perlick. She also notes that Brian Purdy “has volunteered countless hours in working with Pohick Bay Regional Park, Gunston Hall Plantation, and Meadowood Special Recreation Area to coordinate work parties and special recreation days for the community. Perlick credits Purdy with developing “close relationships with those three parks, which are extremely horse friendly.”
In 2007-08, the Coalition’s members were amazingly busy. Volunteers mended fences, cleared and marked trails, and built new trails in the local parks. They helped with the Wild Mustang and Burro Adoption Days at Meadowood, rode their horses in Lorton’s 4th of July parade, and sponsored fund raisers for charitable groups. They raised $3000 for Saddle Up for St. Jude, a trail ride which benefits the celebrated children’s research hospital. Turning to the needs of local programs, the MNHC sponsored a trail ride and scavenger hunt in April; at this event, they raised $4500 for Simple Changes, a therapeutic riding group at Meadowood. They also enjoy helping Girl Scouts the coveted horse-related badges. and have a blast introducing their horses to the troops.
Fairfax4Horses (F4H) got its start in 2002, when equestrians became concerned about the loss of land to development. Their unease was spurred by the closing of two large barns, Centreville’s Bay Ridge and the Great Falls Horse Center, within a year of each other. Because many of the lessons at these facilities were offered through Fairfax’s recreational and park programs, F4H President Kevin O’Connor and Vice-President Beverley Dickerson began a campaign to include riding facilities at the new Laurel Hill Park in Lorton. Both the Park Authority and the Park Foundation agreed to work with F4H to develop and help fund the proposed equestrian center. Initial construction will begin this fall when several of the ramshackle buildings and sheds near the prison dairy barn will be torn down. A ring and parking lot are scheduled, and nearby trails will be cleared. This construction will be financed by proffers from developers and funding from a 2004 bond. F4H, lovers of horses, and proponents of land preservation in Fairfax County are grateful to the entire Park Authority Board, especially to Gilbert McCutcheon of the Mt. Vernon District.
The price of a horse is cheap compared with the upkeep. Virginians spent $783 million on their horses in 2006, largely on bedding, feed, capital improvements, and equipment. These categories include shavings, straw, hay, grain, saddles, helmets, fly spray, brushes, buckets, carts, tractors, rakes, fencing, and a myriad other items to keep horse and rider happy and safe. In our area, horse owners probably headed straight to Woodlawn Saddlery on Richmond Highway or to Clifton Saddlery. A beautiful store with exceptional merchandise, Woodlawn was opened in 1986 by Joan and Cindy Mitchell, who also own Woodlawn Stables. To the sadness of its clientele, Woodlawn Saddlery closed on June 30, 2008.
Clifton Saddlery had its own change of hands almost two years ago. This charming shop, located in the heart of picturesque Clifton, was launched by Sue and Gary Clairmonte in 1987. After putting it on the market for a while, the Clairmontes considered closing the business altogether. But to the rescue raced Liz Nuti, who lives two miles down the road in Fairfax Station and owns four horses. As a rider, she felt that “an institution like the Clifton Saddlery” shouldn’t vanish. As an accountant,” she reflected, “I run businesses for others. Why not for myself?” In February, 2007, Liz purchased the Saddlery. Longtime customers are happy to find that the welcoming atmosphere and the excellent service have not changed.
To draw new visitors to Clifton Saddlery, Liz has instituted one or two changes. Last summer, for example, she scheduled a visit from Thumbelina, the world’s tiniest horse. During the weekend of Thumbelina’s appearance, hundreds of fans, vendors, therapeutic riding groups, riding clubs, and community members thronged the town. It was Clifton Day in miniature! In conjunction with the town’s many holiday festivities in December, the Saddlery sponsored a Blessing of the Animals. Hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, cats and dogs were all welcome. In addition to hosting events like these, Liz Nuti is testing the waters – “getting her feet wet locally,” she explains – with a mobile tack shop, which she has taken to horse shows at Frying Pan Park. During the winter, she plans to hold workshops on different aspects of horsemanship. What a great opportunity to get out with your horsy friends when it’s too cold for most of us to ride!
Associations like the Clifton Horse Society, the Mason Neck Horse Coalition, and Fairfax4Horses and stores like the Clifton Saddlery are outstanding community resources. They are major factors in the growth of our horse industry. Riding is a life-long skill, not a sport you put aside like basketball or soccer when you grow up. Owning horses is a way of life, “a passion,” explains CHS president Jean Voss, which Fairfax County residents are fortunate to indulge.
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