happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald

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AROUND THE REGION June 13, 2008 FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES GRANT Chantilly Regional Library, a branch of the Fairfax County Public Library, is one of 34 libraries nationwide that has received “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant to help increase literacy services to adult English language learners. Each of the winning libraries receive a one-time award of $5,000. The grants are funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and implemented by the American Library Association (ALA). Chantilly Regional Library will use the grant to provide books, workbooks and materials for students in its Tuesday morning conversations for recent immigrants to the U.S. The Tuesday morning program is designed to ease their transition to the U.S. and help them develop their language skills and understanding of American culture. Currently 15-18 adults participate. “These non-traditional students are so eager to learn and are extremely appreciative of the opportunity this class affords them,” says Jaye Lahlou, Adult Services Librarian for Chantilly Library. “The library is now a place where they meet to learn, share and feel respected in their community. It has been a privilege to be a part of this process.” Public libraries have long been a cornerstone of the American dream, providing equal access to information. It is one of the first places to which many immigrants turn for help in learning to read, write and speak English. “As a longtime supporter of literacy and education, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to fund the ‘American Dream’ grant initiative,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s CEO. “Public libraries are in a unique position to directly reach immigrants and help them assimilate into a new community. These grants will enable local libraries to provide the English language literacy services most needed in their area.” The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) recently found that 11 million U.S. adults or approximately one in 20, many of whom are immigrants, have such limited English skills that they can’t read a newspaper, understand the directions for medication or help their children with schoolwork. “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant was founded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and ALA to meet the growing demand for English language literacy services. A complete list of the winning libraries is available at www. ala.org. Archive issues are available at www.metroherald.com! LEGGETT HIGHLIGHTS DISABILITY HIRING PROGRAM Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has praised the County’s Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) report on County Government Hiring of Persons with Disabilities, and highlighted a unique public internship program designed to create flexible work opportunities in County government for individuals with significant disabilities. Challenged to help alleviate the high unemployment rate of people with disabilities, this program is at the leading edge of what other County and State agencies are doing to provide work opportunities for people with disabilities. Since October 2007, the program has created nearly two dozen parttime jobs in County departments. “We commend OLO for their thorough review of the County government’s practices regarding the hiring of persons with disabilities,” Leggett said. “The recommendations are useful and we look forward to more discussion of the findings and recommendations at an upcoming Council session.” The County Customized Employment Program is administered through the Montgomery Works One Stop Workforce Center. An employment specialist meets with County department managers to prepare a list of tasks to be created for a specific job. The job tasks are advertised via emails to community support organizations and a variety of interview methods, including work trials, are used to find the best candidate for the position. The career specialist works in coordination with the Department and the County’s Office of Human Many battles have been fought over the centuries, but none more delicious than the one now simmering just below Capital Hill in Washington. The BBQ sauce will be at full boil the first weekend of summer, June 21st and 22nd, 2008, when the Safeway Barbecue Battle transforms historic Pennsylvania Avenue into a colossal arena of food, music, interactive exhibits, cooking demonstrations, and sensory pleasures fit for an Emperor! The Barbecue Battle is not only a Washington tradition, but one of the world’s largest contests of its kind, challenging local, regional, national and international barbecue enthusiasts to battle or behold the National Barbecue Championship contest. Both locals and visitors can follow the savory smell of barbecue downtown to enjoy a weekend of free food samples in the Safeway Sampling Pavilion, celebrity chefs, and on-going cooking demonstrations on multiple stages. Top barbecue restaurants and caterers from across the country will offer every type of lip-smacking, multi-napkin barbecue, while 30 Ike Leggitt Resources to complete the hiring process. The career specialist coordinates initial on-the-job training, as well as any necessary accommodations and job coaching. Ongoing job coaching and support, when needed, is provided by community support organizations. Follow up is provided throughout the internship to ensure success. Total fiscal year 2008 funding for the project is $150,000, of which $50,000 is used for job identification, matching tasks to individual interns and coordinating the overall effort through a contract with TransCen, Inc. Interns work between one and 18 hours per week, with the number of hours determined by the needs of the department and the abilities and interests of each applicant. Interns are paid $7.20 per hour and do not accrue leave or receive health benefits. The project is overseen by the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to provide interns with an opportunity to learn and refine skills so that they can compete for merit positions within the County and elsewhere. Subscribe to The Metro Herald! RIDE ON TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL “DUMP THE PUMP” DAY To promote awareness of the role public transportation plays in improving the environment and conserving fuel, Ride On will observe National “Dump the Pump” Day on Thursday, June 19 by promoting Ride On and transit use. “More than 28 million Ride On bus passengers last year got the message that Ride On is a great way to save gas and reduce the stress of commuting,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “And, with Ride On’s SAFEWAY’S 16TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CAPITAL BARBECUE BATTLE VIRGINIA LAUNCHES CLICK IT OR TICKET In an effort to save more lives on Virginia’s roadways, the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Virginia Highway Safety Office is partnering with law enforcement across Virginia and the nation to increase seat belt and child safety seat use with the Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization. According to preliminary numbers from the Highway Safety Office, 1,026 people died on Virginia roads in 2007, and 749 of those deaths occurred in vehicles equipped with safety restraints. Sixty percent (452) of the 749 people who died were not wearing restraints. “Virginia experienced the highest number of roadway fatalities in a decade in 2007, and far too many of these tragedies were due to someone not buckling up,” said D. B. Smit, Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner, the Governor’s highway safety representative. “Clearly, this needs to change, and that is why we are joining with law enforcement to enforce all traffic laws so that needless deaths will be prevented.” “The goal for seat belt use in Virginia for 2008 is 82 percent, which will require all of us to remember to buckle up. If you don’t, our law enforcement community will be out in force to remind you,” Smit said. “Virginians are known for taking a challenge and exceeding expectations. I challenge everyone in Virginia to make the commitment to this goal that will reduce the number of fatalities on our roads.” In Virginia, law enforcement can cite drivers of vehicles where occupants under age 16 are not wearing seat belts or are not properly restrained in a child safety seat. Drivers stopped for other violations can be cited if they are not buckled up. This law also applies to all front seat passengers 16 years and older. fantastic rock, R&B, jazz, and blues bands perform on three state-of-the-art stages. This year’s musical entertainment includes rock icon Leon Russell, popular jazz star Roy Ayers, Washington’s own “Godfather of Go-Go” Chuck Brown, boogie-woogie master Deanna Bogart, and young rockers Fools & Horses and Jimmies Chicken Shack. The Battle also hosts scores of thrilling interactive exhibits like the NBA Nation Basketball Tour and Disney premiere movie tours, along with magicians, games and surprises to round out the family fun. There’s so much to eat, see and do at the Battle you’ll need two days to experience it all! For the first time ever this year, the nation’s two largest competition barbecue organizations-The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) and the Memphis in May world barbecue contest (MIM)—will pit teams against each other to vie for the title of National Barbecue Champion. Tens of thousands of cheering spectators will watch the Nation’s bravest and best barbecue battalions battle for over $40,000 in cash and prizes. Safeway’s “duel” sanctioned clash of the smokers will pit northern and southern camps against each other right on our country’s historic Mason-Dixon Line. On Saturday, June 21, teams will cook in the KCBS Barbecue Challenge Contest. Categories include beef brisket, chicken, and pork, with a special prize going to the “Rancher’s Reserve Beef Champion.” Saturday’s winner will also receive guaranteed entry into the prestigious American Royal BBQ Contest in Kansas City, Missouri. On Sunday, June 22, contestants in the pork-centric Memphis in May world barbecue contest will be chomping at the smoker to compete in pork shoulder, rib, and whole hog categories for the enviable title of “National Pork Champion.” The winner of this contest will be awarded entry into the 2009 Memphis in May World Barbecue Championship, the pinnacle of the competition pork-cooking world. Past Safeway Barbecue Battle teams have traveled from as many as twenty-nine states to compete for the National Pork Champion title. The Safeway Barbecue Battle has been voted a “Top 10 BBQ Event” by The Travel Channel and Discovery. com and has been featured on broadcasts all over the world. The Battle is the largest annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Metropolitan Police Clubhouses, and has raised almost a million dollars for this vital organization. Event tickets are only $10/adults, $5/kids 6-12, and free for children under 6. Admission includes a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs, lots of free food samples, all the great live music, six cooking stages, celebrity chefs and other fun family entertainment. Visit www. bbqdc.com for more details or call the event info line at (202)828-3099. commitment to environmentally friendly buses, passengers are thinking globally and acting locally by helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.” Nearly one-third of Ride On’s fleet of buses is environmentally-friendly, running on compressed natural gas or using hybrid diesel-electric technology. The County has been aggressively acquiring a multi-technology fleet of alternative-fueled vehicles so it can benefit from expected improvements in operations, costs, and environmental impacts as different technologies evolve. The celebration is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). According to APTA, American public transportation systems help to create a healthier environment by reducing smog-producing pollutants and greenhouse gases. Public transportation produces nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger mile, compared to private vehicles, and saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline every year—the equivalent of 108 million cars filling up in a year. So far this summer, the Washington D.C. region has had two Code Orange and two Code Red Air Quality Action Day alerts when regional ozone levels were expected to exceed Federal air quality standards. Cars account for 30 to 40 percent of the pollutants that cause ozone in the Baltimore/Washington area. Residents can reduce this impact on air quality by carpooling, telecommuting, or taking mass transit to work. Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant that damages human health, vegetation, and many common materials and is the key ingredient of urban smog. Repeated exposure to groundlevel ozone may cause permanent damage to the lungs. Inhaling ozone may trigger a variety of health problems including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation, and congestion. It can also aggravate bronchitis, heart disease, emphysema, and asthma, and reduce lung capacity. For more information about Ride On bus routes, visit www. montgomerycountymd.gov/RideOn, or call 240-777-RIDE (7433). 4 THE METRO HERALD
AROUND THE REGION June 13, 2008 METRO URGES BUS RIDERS TO SWITCH FROM CASH TO SMARTRIP® Metro wants more people to pay for their bus trips with SmarTrip® and has launched an advertising campaign that reminds passengers that paying their Metrobus fares with SmarTrip® saves 10¢ a ride, eliminates the search through purses and pockets for exact change and cuts boarding times on buses. “Join the Revolution,” one ad says. “Get to your seats faster. Be on your way sooner. Save 10¢ every time you ride Metrobus.” The advertisements aim to heighten bus riders’ awareness about SmarTrip®, tout the benefits of SmarTrip® and increase usage of the plastic, rechargeable farecard on Metrobuses to speed the boarding process. The ad campaign includes three creative executions in both English and Spanish. They are appearing on the exteriors and interiors of buses, bus stop information cases and Metrorail stations. In addition, radio ads in English and Spanish will run through the end of the month. To get information to passengers as they wait for buses, “SmarTrip® Street Teams” are targeting busy bus stops in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia through June 12, and handing out SmarTrip® brochures and a limited quantity of mints in a SmarTrip® tin. When Metro raised fares in January, the cost of bus fares paid by cash increased 10¢ to $1.35, but riders using SmarTrip® paid the same $1.25 fare. In addition, as part of the fare increase package approved by Metro’s Board of Directors last year, Metrobus plans to eliminate paper transfers in January 2009. Only riders who pay with SmarTrip® will be able to transfer from one Metrobus to another for free beginning next year. Currently, about 25 percent of trips on Metrobus and 65 percent of trips on Metrorail are made by customers using SmarTrip® cards. Metro first introduced the SmarTrip® card in 1999 as a fast and convenient way to pay for Metrorail fares. In 2004, all Metrobuses accepted Smar- Trip® as a form of payment. In addition to Metrorail and Metrobus, passengers can use Smar- Trip® to pay for travel on regional bus systems including ART, CUE, DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC and the DC-Circulator, and for parking at Metro parking facilities. SmarTrip® can be purchased on Metro’s Web site, at Metro sales offices at Metro Center, the Pentagon and Metro headquarters, at the Northern, Western, Landover, Royal Street and Four Mile Run Metrobus divisions, from vending machines at Metrorail stations that have parking facilities, at regional transit stores and at select Giant stores. VIRGINIA AUTHOR RELEASES LATEST IN “POSSUM” CHILDREN SERIES Virginia author Jamey M. Long returns to the literary scene after previously releasing several books in the “Possum” series. Three new children’s books, all published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, release nationwide this week. “A Possum’s Night on the Titanic” was written to help children discover the history and importance of the Titanic’s maiden voyage to New York during the night of April 14, 1912. A curious possum named Opie learns all about the “ship of dreams” as he explores the Titanic and meets some of the most famous people on board the ship. In “A Possum’s Pot of Gold,” Opie the possum chases a rainbow in search of the pot of gold and meets a mischievous leprechaun who teaches him truths that are much more valuable than any monetary gain. Opie learns the love, fun and trickery that the annual celebration can bring. “A Possum’s Happy Halloween” follows Opie as he bobs for apples with the boy and his friends, goes Trick-Or-Treating through the neighborhood and eats lots of candy on Halloween night. Long says his passion is to help children learn so their dreams can be made possible. The books are available at any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through the publisher at orders@ tatepublishing.com, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com or target.com. Tate Publishing also offers the eLIVE feature for these titles, meaning each printed copy contains a code to redeem a free audio download from their website, TatePublishing. com. eLIVE—Listen, Imagine, View, Entertain. Long is the author of A Possum’s Christmas Tale, A Possum’s Happy Easter, A Possum’s Happy Thanksgiving, A Possum’s Pot of Gold, A Possum’s Happy Halloween, and A Possum’s Happy Valentine’s Day. He earned a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University, an MBA from the University of Mary Washington and is currently employed at the University of Mary Washington, George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College as an operations manager and adjunct instructor. DRIVER’S LICENSES ISSUED BEGINNING JULY 1 VALID FOR EIGHT YEARS COST REMAINS SAME, $4 PER YEAR Starting July 1, 2008, driver’s licenses issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be valid for eight years instead of five. However, the validity period for identification cards will remain the same, five years. The cost of a driver’s license, $4 per year, will not change. An eight-year driver’s license renewal will cost $32. “Reducing the frequency of customer visits to DMV is the goal of this new law that is cost-effective for both customers and Virginia,” said DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit. “The legislation will lower DMV’s operational costs and produce a future savings for taxpayers.” Instead of visiting a DMV customer service center (CSC), eligible customers may renew driver’s licenses through the Internet (www. dmvNOW. com), telephone (1-888- Just as the official start of hurricane season began on Sunday the Montgomery County Department of Parks announced the completion of construction on the Lake Needwood Dam in Rock Creek Regional Park. “We are happy to welcome trail users back to the park this summer now that construction on the dam is complete,” said Department of Parks Rock Creek Regional Park Manager Jim Humerick. A portion of the park’s Westside Trail has been closed since last March as the Department of Parks began the first phase of the remedial measures program initiated for the dam following the significant storms of June 2006, which included having a specialty contractor install a grout curtain below the Fairfax County officials announced that the Burke VRE parking garage opened recently, offering 1,292 spaces for commuters. These are helpful hints for using the new garage: • The entrance is at the east end of the building, with the exit at the west end. • The station platform can be accessed through the garage’s second level. • Spaces for people with disabilities are on the first and second levels. Although the garage is now open, construction will continue on the two parking lots outside that will offer an additional 300 spaces. New sidewalks are still being installed, and the “kiss and ride” drop-off area is also under construction. Friday, June 13, will be the last day of service for Fairfax County’s free shuttle bus service between the VRE station and the Burke Centre Library and Saint Mary’s Church. These two sites provided commuters with additional parking while the garage was under construction. However, EZ Bus will continue to operate its north and south routes to the Burke Centre station. These buses are 337-4782) or mail. Customers must visit a DMV CSC every other renewal for a vision screening and new photograph. Other important changes regarding driver’s licenses and ID cards include: TEENS Driver’s licenses issued to 16- and 17-year-olds will expire at age 20. State law says that anyone under 21, who is convicted of a moving violation, must take the written knowledge exam again when renewing their driver’s license. SEX OFFENDERS Convicted sex offenders are an exception to the new eight-year driver’s license validity period. These customers must visit a CSC to renew their driver’s license at least every five years. PARKS DEPARTMENT COMPLETES NEEDWOOD DAM CONSTRUCTION Needwood Dam to reduce seepage through the dam’s rock foundation. Additional repairs included upgrades to the outlet control tower and the dam monitoring system. The last major phase of the project involved installation of a sand and gravel blanket drain on the downstream face of the dam to collect and control any residual seepage through the bedrock foundation. Now all phases are complete and as a result public access to Rock Creek Regional Park and its popular Lake Needwood is no longer restricted. There will be some minor clean-up work and parking lot repairs in the coming weeks, but that work will be scheduled to minimize any disruptions for park users. FAIRFAX COUNTY OPENS BURKE VRE GARAGE free and subscriptions are no longer necessary. In the mornings, EZ Buses arrive at the station five to 10 minutes before VRE trains 324, 326, 328, 330 and 332 depart. In the afternoon, EZ Buses leave the station five minutes after VRE trains 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335 and 337 arrive. The county also recently completed two trails to allow pedestrian access to the garage. Residents from the adjacent Burke Shire Commons and Walnut Woods neighborhoods can now walk or bicycle to the garage. Fairfax County officials worked closely with the surrounding neighborhoods to develop a design consistent with the area. For example, the garage incorporates inlays of red brick, a common building material used throughout Burke. Two clocks were built into the main elevator tower to make the garage reflect Burke’s rural character. The stair and clock towers were designed to complement the Victorian architecture of the VRE station. Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services was responsible for the overall project management and construction administration for the garage. The total cost of the project is approximately $28 million. COMMERCIAL DRIVERS Commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) will be valid for eight years beginning July 1. However, CDL holders with a HAZMAT endorsement must continue to follow federal guidelines and renew their HAZMAT endorsement every five years. LIMITED DURATION For customers with limited duration identification, their driver’s license or ID card will continue to be valid only for the amount of time they are legally authorized to be in the U.S. This new law also encourages customers to renew vehicle registrations (decals) online, over the phone or through the mail. Customers are urged to avoid renewing vehicle registrations at DMV customer service centers where a $5 fee will be added. Internet renewals are discounted by $1. “During recent rain events the dam has responded well,” added Humerick. “We routinely monitor levels at both lakes Needwood and Frank using a newly installed remote monitoring system.” In coming years, park visitors can expect expanded boating and fishing areas within Lake Needwood as the County Council recently approved $3.8 million for a much-needed project to dredge the lake. In December, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved preliminary engineering designs for the dredging project, which includes structural improvements to the lake’s existing forebay and upper portion of the main lake. Lake Needwood was regularly dredged until about 1990 when funding constraints discontinued regular dredging. Since that time, continued siltation has impacted the function of the forebay and limited boating and fishing within the main body of the lake. The timing of the dredging project will be coordinated with the completion of ICC construction in the area and is expected to occur over the winter of 2010, 2011. For more on recreational opportunities at Rock Creek Regional Park including boat rentals at Lake Needwood, visit www.MontgomeryParks. org. BLACK FACT On June 13, 1967, Thurgood Marshall, U.S. solicitor general, was named to the Supreme Court by President Johnson. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 30 and became the first black Supreme Court justice. THE METRO HERALD 5
Page 1 and 2: VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 24 IN THIS ISSU
Page 3: AFRICA UPDATE June 13, 2008 ATTACK
Page 7 and 8: AROUND THE NATION June 13, 2008 INS
Page 9 and 10: HEALTH & WELLNESS June 13, 2008 PHY
Page 11 and 12: EDUCATION June 13, 2008 PITNEY BOWE
Page 13 and 14: FATHER’S DAY 2008 June 13, 2008 A
Page 15 and 16: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT June 13, 2008
Page 17 and 18: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT June 13, 2008
Page 19 and 20: SPORTS & RECREATION June 13, 2008 O
Page 21 and 22: CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS Jun
Page 23: June 13, 2008 24 THE METRO HERALD

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