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About:

Lorton Valley Star Newspaper
monthly and on the web
www.LortonValleyStar.com

Covering the greater Lorton, VA area from Fairfax /Franconia Parkway to Prince William Parkway.

Contact Information:

Floyd Harrison,
Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
Lorton Valley Star Communications, LLC

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Lorton Valley, VA 22199

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© 2005 Floyd Harrison T/A
Lorton Valley Star Comm.
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Mother's Grieving Heart

On November 10, 2000 Maria's daughter Crystal was killed in a terrible accident. Maria went through what no mother in the world wants or expects to go through.

Go To Site…

To moms who have suffered the loss of a child:

When Maria was faced with the death of her child, all the books she read provided the same answer. This answer was not good enough. She began to write poetry. Her poetry was a way for her to find the answers to the terrible crisis that she could not find in any book. Through writing her poetry, Maria became closer to God and she found during her journey, that God's mercy is a sufficient answer to any crisis or devastating situation.

Those poems are now available in the book, "Crystal, A Mother's Grieving Heart" published by Lorton Valley Star. It is available in Occoquan at the Coffee House of Occoquan and at Attic Treasures. It is also available online from Maria's web site.

Buy the book now…

Copyright © 2003 Maria Carneiro, of Montclair, Prince William County, Virginia, USA

All international rights reserved.

94 Pages
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1994 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.



Catalog Data:

Carneiro, Maria A.
Crystal, A Mother’s Grieving Heart
Original Publication:
A.D. 2005
ISBN 0-9764770-0-9

Grief, Poetry

Library of Congress Number TXu1-189-869

Cover Art:
Michelle Carneiro
Graphics and Layout:
Floyd Harrison




Publisher:
Lorton Valley Star Communications
P.O. Box 1436
Lorton, VA 22199
USA

See Coffee House

See Attic Treasures

What You Can Do!

Richard is sure that adding this feature to your home can halve your need for air-conditioning. “Tar roofs are replaced every five to 10 years. Converting to an Icehouse Roof at replacement time would cost little more.”

You can adopt other strategies from this remarkable passive solar home to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

• 10 inches of Styrofoam insulation in your roof would give you the equivalent of six foot of earth cover.

• You can install ‘barn door hardware’ to super-insulate your doors and windows

• Dedicate a closed foyer or laundry room as an entry vestibule or add a second door to create an airlock

• Limit solar access in summer with awnings and by closing heavy drapes.

• Increase solar access in winter: for example add a south facing window, open drapes during days, fit a storm door to southern doors and leave the solid door open on sunny days.

• Add thermal mass inside where the sun will fall on it on winter days, or in well insulated rooms; for example an aquarium, a dark tiled floor, brick/stone feature or wall

Lower tech solutions include sealing and weather stripping all air leaks, fitting pelmets and insulating drapes to all windows, insulating walls and ceilings, adding a window box greenhouse/heater to a south-facing window, adding radiator reflectors, insulating accessible hot water pipes, add a hot water tank jacket and insulate it with reflective foil, and providing cold air supply to woodfires.

Shiloh’s Youth Writing contest in Celebration of Black History Month

During Black History month we remember and celebrate people and events that have had a significant role in Black history. It’s held in February in an effort to bring national attention to the contributions of black Americans. Carter G. Woodson organized the first annual Negro History Week in 1926. He chose the second week of February in honor of the birthdays of two pivotal black supporters; Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
This year, Shiloh Baptist Church’s youth ministry decided to sponsor a writing contest for black history month to see who or what event their youth most remembered. Youth in all grade levels were invited to participate. The topic was “Remembrance… What black history person or event do you most remember? Why?” Trophies and awards were given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, along with each participant receiving a certificate and bookmark. The judges came together with their scoring criteria and began to work. (This could not have been an easy task, because they were all winners.) Finally, the numbers were in and the following are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
The 1st place winner, Cayla LesPierre, wrote about the Greensboro Four sit-in. She recently attended a program at the National Museum of American History. This event allowed her to learn more about the four college students from North Carolina A&T that started the sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter, and to also participate in a sit-in. Cayla said “I realized that being a member of a sit-in was very hard and sometimes scary. I admire the Greensboro Four for taking a stand for what was right.”
The 2nd place winner, Kimberly Clark, wrote about Martin Luther King, Jr. Kimberly said she wrote about Martin Luther King, Jr. because “he was a strong black leader that believed in God, peace and justice to help win more freedom for black people, and he worked for equal rights for all minorities.”
The 3rd place winner, Brandon McGhee wrote about Jackie Robinson. Brandon said he wrote about Jackie Robinson because “he encouraged a lot of African Americans to participate in professional baseball”.

SBC Black History Month Writing Contest
Remembrance…. What black history person or event do you most remember? Why?
By: Kimberly Clark
Early in America’s history almost all black people came from Africa to work as slaves. White people in the South wanted cheap help to work the land. So people from Africa were taken from their homes to come to America to work the farmland in the South. When they got here they were sold to white people. They didn’t have any rights or freedom to do anything on their own. And that wasn’t right.
It was later written in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson that “all men are created equal”. But that wasn’t true because slaves were treated differently than white people. They couldn’t go to school, vote, or go to the same places as white people. But there were people in the North that wanted slaves to be free. And freeing slaves was one of the issues during the Civil War. After this war slaves were finally given their freedom. But white people were not happy and a lot of laws were passed to keep black and white people apart.
It took someone who believed in God, peace and justice to win more freedom for black people. And that man was Martin Luther King, Jr. He showed the world how black people were being treated. His strong leadership gave black people the courage to continue to fight for what they believed in but without violence. This was the beginning to stop keeping people separate because of the color of their skin.
I will always remember Martin Luther King, Jr. because he worked for equal rights for all minorities. He also made a way for me and my white friends to understand each other better. He died on April 4, 1968 but America will remember him each year on the third Monday in January.
Grade: 4th

Black History Writing Contest Featuring
Jackie Robinson
Submitted by Brandon McGhee
My name is Brandon McGhee and I chose to write an essay on Jackie Robinson. The reason I chose Jackie Robinson is because he encouraged a lot of African Americans to participate in professional baseball.
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie was the youngest of five children and was raised by a single mother. They grew up in poor conditions. Jackie went to John Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College. He was a great athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball. In 1938 he was named the region’s Most Valuable Player in baseball. He was inspired by his older brother, Matthew, to accomplish his talents and show his athletic ability. Jackie went on with his education at the University of California in Los Angeles. At UCLA he became the first student to get Varsity letters from four sports. In 1941, Jackie had to leave UCLA due to financial issues. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii so he could play semi-professional football for the Honolulu Bears. The season had to be cut short because of World War II. From 1942 to 1944 Jackie served as a second lieutenant in World War II. Unfortunately, he was arrested during boot camp after he refused to move to the back of the segregated bus during training. The charges were later dropped but he had to leave the army. After he left he decided to pursue baseball professionally. But back in those days African-American and white leagues were segregated. He decided to play for the Negro League, but soon he was chosen by Branch Rickey, Vice President for the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate major league baseball. So, he decided to join the Montreal Royals, an international team, in 1945. He moved to Florida in 1946 to start spring training with the Royals and played his first game on March 17 of that same year. It was very rough for Jackie with all the racism; even his family got death threats. He was so good that he was promoted to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His debut game was on April 15, 1947, which marked the first time an African American played major league baseball. He became the highest paid Dodger player in history. He encouraged other baseball players such as Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. He also participated in several marches for civil rights. He was married to Rachel Isum and they had three children together. Jackie Robinson died on October 24, 1972 in Stanford, Connecticut. The cause of his death was diabetes and heart problems. His wife, Rachel, started a foundation in his honor called the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
Jackie Robinson and I have something in common. Both of us love sports. I would someday like to be a professional athlete like Jackie.

SBC Black History Month Writing Contest
Remembrance… What black history person or event do you most remember?
By Cayla LesPierre

The black history event that I most remember is the Greensboro Four because I recently attended a program at the National Museum of American History Museum in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The Greensboro Four were four black male North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College (A&T) students. On February 1, 1960, the four students sat at the all white lunch counter in Woolworth’s store and were refused service. They sat at the lunch counter all day until the store closed. For the next couple of days more college students came to Woolworth to participate in the sit-in. The sit-ins were in protest of segregation. The Greensboro Four inspired similar sit-ins across the state of NC and the South. In July of 1960, Woolworth integrated all of its stores.

At the museum’s program, I learned how to be a member of a sit-in. A sit-in is a non-violent protest. Those that participate can not show any emotion or respond to name calling, hitting or stuff being poured over their heads. If a person was likely to fight back or show anger, he would not be able to participate in the sit-in. I realized that being a member of a sit-in was very hard and sometimes scary. I admire the Greensboro Four for taking a stand for what was right.

Grade: 5th

Trip to Iwo Jima

By: Casey Scott, Quantico Young Marines

On February 26, 2010, a Continental passenger jet took off from the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Oahu was certainly a different place 65 years ago. The world for that matter was a different place. The time was 1945 and World War II had been raging on for almost seven years. In 1945, not a single civilian passenger jet would have headed for the South Pacific, let alone take off from Oahu. But this is 2010 and this jet was heading for the South Pacific, more specifically Guam.
My name is Young Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Casey Scott, I am 15 years old and I was on that flight. The plane was filled with residents of Guam and tourists, but it also carried real American heroes. On that flight were 23 survivors of the battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marine Corps. These heroic survivors were on their way to the island of Iwo Jima (now renamed Iwo To) to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the battle; and I was going with them. I was with a group of fifteen fellow Young Marines and we were tasked to escort and assist the veterans during the trip. Just being able to meet the veterans was a great honor, but getting to know them on a personal level was also a great privilege. During our time on Guam, we had a chance to tour the island. We did everything from visit the battlefields and museums to learning how to shell a coconut at a cultural village; all while getting to know the veterans.
All of the touring and fellowshipping built up to the main reason for the gathering, the chance to go to Iwo Jima. Continental Airlines supplied two Boeing 737s to take the group of 23 survivors and 250 friends and family members to the island. The pilots and flight attendants all generously volunteered for the flight, doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. During that plane ride, I had a chance to reflect on what had happened so far. Everything came flooding to my mind when something hit me. “In just a short while, I was going to be setting foot on the island of Iwo Jima.” This was very gripping by itself, but I also realized that I would not be doing this alone. Twenty-three survivors of the battle would be there with me. All of the names, all of the stories, and all of the memories that were shared with me, were all going to culminate on the island where it all took place. In the midst of everyone talking in the small cabin, I heard a voice come over the intercom. “Iwo Jima is now coming up on the left side of the plane.” A sudden eerie hush fell over the plane as everyone stretched and craned to see the island. As the island came into view it all became very real to me.
The first place we went was to the base of Mt. Suribachi. Here, we stopped to look at two anti-submarine guns that were used as artillery pieces during the battle. It was cool to be able to see these, but it was also very somber. To see the field of fire from the guns was just shocking; it amazed me that anyone ever made it off the beaches alive. After surveying the guns, we were shuttled to the top of Mt. Suribachi. The ride up Mt. Suribachi was not long, but as we climbed the mountain, the tension grew inside of me. As cave after cave entrance passed, the more and more anxious I grew. The van rounded the last corner and the various monuments against the blue sky filled my vision. The top of Mt. Suribachi is relatively small, not much bigger than a basketball court. Among the various monuments atop Mt. Suribachi, one in particular caught my eye, the monument marking the spot of the iconic flag raising. This is a humble yet powerful monument that captivates every Marine, and every person. After visiting this and various other monuments atop the mountain, we took some pictures and took some time just to admire the view. The view atop Suribachi is magnificent. One is able to see the entire island all from one vantage point. From atop Mt. Suribachi, eight square miles looks a lot smaller. It was and still is hard to believe that such atrocity took place on such a small island.

About noontime, the Japanese and American delegations gathered at the Reunion of Honor monument near the invasion beach. The ceremony that ensued was magnificent. From the speeches, to the Marine Silent Drill Platoon, it was certainly a once in a lifetime experience. After the ceremony, we were allowed to go down to the invasion beaches. It was definitely an experience to be able to walk the beaches that, 65 years earlier, were filled with thousands of Marines. Pondering how anyone even got off the beaches, I looked up to see Mt. Suribachi looming in the distance. As I stood there thinking of the whole experience, I began to wonder how my family was at home. I then wondered how many other people, American and Japanese, had looked at that same mountain and thought that same thought, 65 years earlier.
On February 19, 1945, American and Japanese forces met in a battle that would pit soldier against soldier, boy against boy. No matter what some historians may say, each person on that island was fighting for the same thing. They were fighting for their mothers, their families, their countries. It is this common bond that has brought these two countries, these veterans, together every year on that hollowed ground to remember the lives lost in that battle. My trip was a humbling and eye opening experience that I will never forget.

Special guests delight Belvoir crowd at Women's History Month observance

A recent Women's History Month observance at the Officers' Club had all the ingredients for a success. A presentation of colors by the Joint Color Guard of Fort Belvoir's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a rousing musical selection by members of the Army Entertainment Road Show and two special guest speakers.

Isabelle Slifer, who retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Army Reserve in 2005, was the first to the podium. She works as assistant director for Army Reserve Affairs and, at one time, taught high school history while serving in various units throughout western New York.

In the spirit of celebrating women's history, Slifer said it was fitting that she was not only accompanied to the afternoon's lunch by her husband, but by a former female student who eventually became a command sergeant major in the Army.

"I promised her I wouldn't mention her age. Besides, it would probably tip you off to how old I am. We sure don't want that," Slifer joked with the audience. "But, she's just one example of how proud I am of what women have been able to do during our remarkable history as a nation. We have so much to be proud of."

As a former teacher, Slifer is quite aware of women's accomplishments and admits she can run off a list of names as if it were a contest. During her speech, she noted the likes of Dr. Mary Walker - an abolitionist during the time of the Civil War and the only female to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

She also mentioned Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire, who serves as senior leader for the Development Office of the Chief of Staff - U.S. Army and the only female to be promoted to general grade from the military police corps. Slifer also highlighted the success of Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the current commanding general for the U.S. Army Materiel Command and the first woman in uniformed history to achieve a four-star officer grade.

"Let's not forget the Hello Girls of 1917, either. That was a group of bi-lingual telephone switchboard operators from the U.S. Signal Corps during the time of World War I," Slifer said. "They were the first women's group in history to be deployed to the front lines. In my opinion, that's what's fascinating about our history. It shows us who we are, where we've been and that we're continuing to move on."

Her words served as a perfect springboard to the program's keynote speaker, Michele Jones. A retired command sergeant major from the Army Reserve, Jones is the special assistant to the Secretary of Defense - White House liaison. During her career, Jones would distinguish herself as the first woman selected class president at the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy and the first woman to serve as a division CSM.

According to her, being the first in anything should not be about you individually, but rather an acknowledgement to those before you. She then added a strong message to all the female Soldiers in attendance.

"Every time you put on that uniform, you're an ambassador for every woman who has ever served," Jones said. "We're merely continuing the legacy that previous generations of women started. If not for their contributions, we would not be where we are today."

Jones then recalled a story from her days as a PFC. While on assignment in California, she said she met an elderly African American woman in the lobby of a hotel and the two struck up a conversation. Jones said the woman reminded her and acted a lot like her grandmother. She soon learned the woman once served in the military and was very proud of her service.

Before saying their goodbyes, Jones said the woman told her, "Keep going and, whatever you do in life, just do your best." Those words and their time together resonated with Jones later that evening, when she got the news that her grandmother had just passed away.

"That experience reminds myself of what I call the five Ls. They are loyalty, leadership, liberty, life and legacy. The last one being a testament to how you lived," Jones said. "This woman was content with what she had done in life, but was especially grateful to those who served before her. It's important to stand tall and be proud of ourselves, but we must also pay homage to all those amazing women that paved the way for us."
Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt and Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane thanked Slifer and Jones for visiting Belvoir and said they were two magnificent role models.

Marny Malin Photo Editor Belvoir Eagle 703-799-8931

Resolutions Are Overrated

By Floyd Harrison

Most of us have given up on resolutions because we fail to keep the promise to ourselves. Starting with the most noble intentions we set goals unreasonably high. Often it’s to flat stop our worst custom. Any pattern is usually not changed instantly even if we could lock ourselves away from it. And if that is a psycological addiction there will be mental conflict. Resolutions are seldom solutions and they subject us to cruel self condemnation. Many resolutions made for the new year are carelessly made without much thought. Resolutions are Overrated.
Not to rule out trying for self improvement, we can be positive about it and make life changes more creature friendly. Self esteem is at the root. If your esteem of your self suffers, that’s the first issue to address. The tendency is to resolve the whole big most obvious failing which is probably too deeply rooted to change instantly without an attitude change.
Start with positive affirmation of yourself and begin to consciously insist that doubts are not true. If you believe you can’t do something, that you’re somehow not good enough then there is no hope of success. You are already defeated. Why condem yourself?
If you consciously affirm good and positive things about yourself, you can retrain the subconscious mind to believe the positive things instead of the defeatist self condemnation. Then you have a shot and motivation to overcome can blossom. Did you ever wonder why two people of similar intelligence and training can have such vastly different successes? Why should you be left behind when the only difference is faith? Now, back to those resolutions. Attitude alone may be the underlying needed resolution. Try it. Just go to bed saying positive things.
If goals are reasonable, and partial improvement is considered success then you be can be encouraged that we can improve step wise. You can build rewards into your plan. Don’t make a resolution to improve something you don’t really want to fix. You need to want to please someone else as part of your character.
Start with halving your original goal and then make a plan to meet a part of the goal every day or week. Analyze and address just one facet of the problem. Progress toward that part of the goal gets a reward.
If your goal is to be more positive and happy then dash one negative belief at a time. You can. You are good enough. You are smart enough. There is a way.
If your goal is to lose weight, then half of the goal is to stop gaining weight. Try dropping just one bad habit at a time. Hold the line for one week and treat yourself to some desire. Hold the line for two weeks and your are succeeding. If you can do that, then you are encouraged that your new life style could get you to succeed. Divide and conquer.
If your goal is to quit being critical, you might find that hard as you don’t realize when you are being critical at first. So halve the goal: For everytime you catch your self being negative, say something positive to counter that. Soon you’ll have your brain trained to recognize the difference and catch yourself sooner. Then try turning it around. When you want to criticize, say the positive thing first. Think, I am a positive person. Do you still feel the need to say the negative thing? OK then say another positive thing after that. Then analyze the response coming back to you.
If your goal is to quit cheating on you significant other … half way may not work on that. But you can always replace a bad thing with a worthwhile good activity. There is lots of need for volunteer activity in Lorton. It’s not just for the conscience but also so you can retrain the belief of the subconscious mind.
In short, be good to yourself, believe in yourself, be a positive person, break the big goals down to the root pieces or causes and resolve to correct a smaller goal. It’s still a noble cause and yet much kinder and gentler on yourself. Enjoy your resolutions so that your resolutions won’t be overrated.

Dr. Hugh Ross Presents Universe as Plan

Review by: Floyd Harrison

Dr. Hugh Ross presented his theories of the Universe and how current observations in astronomy support the idea that Creation is a plan not just some mere chance. He was speaking at New Hope Church in Lorton.
Though he professes to be a Christian and his effort is to build faith, his views met with mixed acceptance as his explanations seem to support some evolutionist ideas. He was quized about the length of a day in Genesis. Still, his observations about how impossible our evolution is are quite astounding.
He allows for an old Earth and a long time for our development and justifies this saying that the Hebrew language of scripture had just one word “day” for anything from a literal morning and evening to an indefinite period of time. Yet, vast impossibility and the extreme precision required for our development rules out Darwinian Evolution. And, yes, Ross is aware of Carl Sagan and that even his observations demonstrate order beyond accident.
Dr. Ross says that we live in the perfect time in the history of the Universe and in the best spot to be able to observe the whole of time and space because from our dark vantage point, we can see out to the far edge and back to the first instant and the future. He also said that because of the continuing exponential expansion, future observations will be of the decay of the Universe relative to being able to support life as we know it.
The Bible predicts that there will be a new ‘Heaven’ and a new ‘Earth’. The sciences of Physics and Astronomy show us that this will indeed be necessary. Without faith in the Second Creation, it’s a dismal outlook.
Dr. Ross founded a science-faith think tank called Reasons To Believe. He and his colleagues keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share news of what’s being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, The Genesis Question, A Matter of Days, Creation as Science, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, and More Than a Theory.

Pants Are Overrated: (the overrated series)

Radical Opinions of The Old Grouse

Skirts are unbifurcated garments. That means they are not divided into two leg openings. Unbifurcated garments are practical with advantages over pants. Everyone looks better in them because they obscure bulges and cracks. If you think you don’t look good in an unbifurcated garment, solve the problem, pants are not the solution. Pants are overrated.

Seriously, though pants were invented in the middle east thousands of years ago and were common to people who fought on horses like Knights. Bifurcated garments did not come into general usage until the time of colonizing America and then only for men. Other than in the trade capitals of the world, where European style and American English are now the order of business, everyone else is still wearing unbifurcated garments. In all the World, this country or continent has the most perverse attitude about skirts. But, why?

The most powerful footed armies in history have been clad in armor over short skirts. It was considered manly. Even during the little Ice Age, the Highlanders adopted the pleated wool Kilt. Until the end of the Rennaissance, peasants and Kings alike wore shirts or short dresses. Long garments were only for scholars, clergy, and powerful government officials. To this day, we graduate in gowns, priests officiate and judges rule in robes.

Admittedly pants have advantages for dirty and abrasive work environments. Jeans make sense for cowhands and people pouring molten and caustic substances or for sanitary work environments. These are predominently men’s jobs but, by-the-way, there are also Men’s Unbifurcated Garments or MUGs for work, dress and casual wear. But, let’s look at the advantages of unbifurcated garments for less hostile environments and we’ll just call them all skirts because it’s easier to say.

• Skirts give freedom of movement, you won’t have any ripped out seats.
• Skirts encourage movement because they are more fun to walk or dance in.
• Reduced chaffing from crotch seams on long hikes.
• Possible to change clothes in public using a full skirt.
• Skirts let you answer the call of nature without disrobing.
• Skirts, especially full knee-length ones, help regulate body temperature: The more you move, the more heat is generated in thigh muscles, the more cooling is needed but movement also causes more air to be pumped providing cooling. The secret is keep moving.
• Skirts expose knees to cold telling the brain to stoke-up the fires of metabolism to keep your body warmer so you won’t shiver and the blood flow will adjust to insulate you. The knee joint, however will be warm with blood from the working thigh muscle.
• Skirts encourage back healthy exercise by reminding you to lift with your legs instead bending over straining your back.
• Skirts are more appealing to the opposite gender.
• Skirts are underwear optional; Avoid wedgies or get a thong and get over it.
• Skirts are an easier fit.
• Skirts obscure bulges, sags and cracks. Somebody had to say it.
• Skirts are more comfortable once you’re accustomed to them.
• Skirts represent that you are secure and well poised.
• Skirts, being less common these days, represent an attitude of defiance toward social subjection. They represent freedom.

How can pants beat that? Ok, being fair, if you ride a horse, and a girl has a tight body, then tight riding pants and tall boots are pretty sexy. Apparently, someone told women that the power is in the pants. Actually, it’s in the mind. Plus, blue jeans aren’t really comfortable. They are hot when it’s hot and cold when it’s cold. Cotton holds moisture and doesn’t move it to keep you comfortable. It’s thoughtless degenerate fashion.

Show that you gave some thought to what you put on before you left the house. Rethink for yourself what is appropriate. Women wear men’s pants with pockets they won’t use and carry a purse anyway. What sense does that make? Men’s big decision is which Tee shirt: Shall I be humorous today or advocate some philosophy, sport or hobby? No one is going to notice anyway.

Wanna be noticed? Break out of drab normalcy and wear an unbifurcated garment, enjoy the advantages. By the way, guys, wear a nice shirt. Ladies, quit pretending that pants are hiding something; that’s a lie. Face facts; Don’t lie to your self about your condition. We can all tell if you are out of shape. Wearing the unbifurcated garment will encourage healthy exercise and remind you of your commitment to get in shape. You do have a commitment to modify your lifestyle and get in shape this year don’t you?

It’s true that cold makes arthritic joints stiffer but warming exercise counters that and there is absolutely no danger that cold causes arthritis. The Kilt evolved in the Scottish Highlands where 70 is a hot day a 20 is frequent. We softies make a lot of excuses about cold and dark depression while productive civilizations live on the arctic circle. Speaking of the Kilt, MUGs have additional benefits for men.

• The Kilt or whatever native garb represents pride in native culture.
• The Kilt is not just a skirt but is well designed for modesty of men who don’t learn to sit like the ladies do.
• The Kilt is an example of military uniform which is also formal dress.
• The pricey wool fabric Kilt is a good value and will last much longer than department store duds which become next year’s house work clothes.
• A MUG represents self determination, defiance of tyranny and security.
• A MUG is more accommodating of male anatomy. Again, somebody had to say it.
• A MUG is more fun to wear than anything besides being comfortable.
• A MUG guarantees that you will not be mistaken as a slave to the fashion represented in the Weekend paper sales flyers as if that’s anything to copy.
• A casual MUG is great for taking it easy or sporting activity.
• MUGs are more green. Most MUGs are manufactured in their native lands not in Asian sweat shops. Tartan Kilts are made in the UK or America. Utility Kilts are made in America. If you still think Kilts are cold, a popular brand of work Kilt is made in Sweden and demand outstripped production capability.

Kilts and MUGs come in every material but are heavier than women’s skirts. They aren’t likely to fly in the breeze but so what even if it did, guys have been enjoying girls skirts flying longer than you’ve been alive so it’s just time you can grow up.

But, we were discussing pants. Actually, I can’t remember why we were discussing pants. Your native pride might include lederhosen or those middle eastern garments with pants which haven’t changed in four thousand years. Well, anyone would agree that a suit looks nice on a man. And if you happen to not want to be the distraction at some meeting, pants are a good option. Skirts wouldn’t be such a distraction if more people wore them. Otherwise, I see little reason to prefer pants. When you go clothes shopping you need to dress according to what you want to buy. If you go in pants, you’ll probably end up in more pants.

Skirts are for girls and pants are for men? Which is it ladies? Why are you wearing pants? You approve of everyone wearing what they want to? You see the commercials, when it’s important for the product that a woman look attractive, they are in skirts. I’m tired of the trouser tyranny dress stardard but it’s falling. I’m especially tired of pants on women except the riding breeches. Unbifurcated garments are for strong, secure, self directed people. MUGs are for real men. Kilts are for Celts. There are lots more reasons to prefer unbifurcated garments, some surround health, but how many do you need? Number one: You like it and you can. Pants are Overrated.

I enjoy wearing my Tartan Kilts and Utilikilts frequently. My local source for Utilikilts just moved after two years in Manassas to downtown City of Alexandria on Union Street about a block from King Street and also from Waterfront Park. There you can try one on for yourself.

Green Before Its Time

The Ultimate Solar Home in Lorton, Virginia

a feature report by Sally Ramsden (a center pull out in the February print issue)

Seen from the air, it’s almost invisible. That’s because it is 92% earth covered.

Meet ‘Terra Uchi’, a 3400 square-foot concrete home in Lorton Valley. Instead of a house, from above it looks like a bright green lawn! Literally translated, it’s ‘inside earth’, it means ‘home’ in Japanese. It is pronounced tare-ra oo-chee.
Well lit by skylights, a built-in greenhouse, huge glass panels, and sliding glass doors, ‘Terra Uchi’ is far from dark and dreary. “I set out to prove that underground doesn’t have to be ugly.” says owner-builder-architect Richard Hibbert. “This house was green before ‘Green’ was a word”.

The only home maintenance required is mowing the roof during the warm seasons. Callers might hear a telephone answering machine saying “Please leave a message because I may just be on the roof!”

From inside, we can hear the leaves being blown off the roof, and I’m invited up onto the roof. The outside air is close to freezing; leaves are swirling. The home and gardens sit in a tiny clearing in the woods.

Jennie shows me around her gardens on the roof-top, side-slopes, and at ground level, where her three-tier brick composting system is sited, near to her fruit and vegetable garden, the wood pile and the back door.

Inside ‘Terra Uchi’ though, it’s a comfortable 68°, and feels warmer. This home is quietly heated by design, not by a noisy furnace. Room temperature varies naturally from 66° in winter to 74° in summer.

This home demonstrates ‘Passive Solar Design’, which means the home is warmed, and cooled, by the sun. Passive Solar Design takes advantage of the gradual change in the angle of the sun as it falls on the earth from season to season.
‘Terra Uchi’ was specially sited, for the passive solar advantage, and designed to fit the landscape perfectly. “I looked for a south facing ridge or hill” says Richard “We built it on bare rock, pulling together things I have learned in my prior life as an architect”.

Richard was Chief Architect for Navy Housing, he has consulted with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and privately designed a number of active and passive solar homes for Northern Virginia.

The house is fireproof, all reinforced concrete, 400 tons of it. “Sure, I used a lot of concrete, it’s very stabilizing”. Inside relative humidity is 40% year-round, fresh and dry, never “musty like Grandma’s basement”.

Richard and Jennie Hibbert built the home themselves between 1980 and 1983, with help from high school boys. They’d pre-cast concrete walls flat on the slab, complete with door and window holes.

Once raised and fixed into place, this concrete structure is strong enough to support the earth-covered roof and walls, and probably anything that nature can throw at it.
Hurricane Isabel blew a huge tree right across the roof, causing zero structural damage. This home needs little if any maintenance. While other homes demand exterior handymen, glaziers and painters, this home asks only for a gardener.

“The kids built the roof, as freshmen in college.” The earth-covered roof consists of poured-in-place concrete, 4 inches of Styrofoam insulation, a self repairing waterproof membrane, 6 inches of round gravel, silt trapping cloth, 2 feet of earth, and a lush covering of lawn.

It’s as if the home is 6 feet under. In Lorton Valley, six feet beneath the ground, the soil and bedrock remains a constant temperature of 55° a year round, as a result of solar warming of the earth.

So how does the room temperature in this home get from 55° to average a comfortable 72° year-round?
In Lorton’s chilly winter, Richard’s passive design features take the 55° air and heats it. This heated air rises, collects and concentrates at the apex of the cathedral ceiling. A fan pushes this superheated air, which can be as hot as 86°, down beneath the floor, into a tank-like ‘plenum’.

The floor surface itself is warm and comfortable to touch. Specially placed vents release the hot air, washing all of ‘Terra Uchi’s massive walls with warmth, and keeping the home consistently warm.

Most of the sun-facing south front “wall” of ‘Terra Uchi’ is a single glazed, sealed greenhouse. On hot days, the greenhouse is sheltered from the sun by overhanging eaves. Windows let excess hot air outside.

During the winter the greenhouse stays wonderfully warm by day, but doesn’t freeze at night. Jennie cuts back her annual flowering pots, over-winters them inside, and they re-grow each spring. This greenhouse satisfies Jennie’s fondness for flowers and year-round gardening, and low-cost flowering gardens early each spring.

Deep in winter, the sun angles perfectly through leafless branches, perpendicularly in through the sloping front wall of the greenhouse, passing through the back wall of the greenhouse, and falling right across the back of a deceptively beautiful stone feature wall gracing the dining area.
Because the sunny-side of this foot thick stone-faced concrete ‘Trombe Wall’ is painted matt black, the warmth of the sun falling there penetrates and is stored in the wall, creating a ‘heat bank’. The wall provides ‘thermal mass’.

Do you remember the air being released constantly from the plenum? Some of this sub-floor air is released at floor level into the 5” gap between the Trombe Wall and the back wall of the greenhouse.

The air heats further by direct contact with the hot black wall surface, and begins rising. The rising hot air pulls more air in behind it to be heated. Ultimately this hot air concentrates in the home’s apex, ready to be pumped down into the plenum, re-circulated around the walls to warm them, or reheated as it moves up the Trombe Wall.
After the sun goes down, the Trombe Wall continues to give up its stored heat until it reaches room temperature.”

Back Up Heating
For those dull, sun-less weeks in winter, when the room temperature is at its minimum of 66°, a wood-burning stove may be lit to top up the warmth. On average it burns just seven days a year, because it is rarely needed.
No resistance heating was installed. There’s a backup 5 ton heat pump, also rarely if ever used, because ‘Terra Uchi’ easily creates and conserves her own heat in winter, and even cools herself in summer!

More Passive Solar Heating
Do you see ‘Terra Uchi’s high windows in the photographs? These windows heat the main room in winter, by allowing the low-angle cool-season sun to flood inside. This sun’s warmth is stored by beautiful, and massive, stonefaced feature wall and dark concrete beams. They’re called clerestory windows (pronounced “clear-story”).

How is the heat conserved? Passively!
The cold winter night sky sucks heat from the earth and from most homes. Lorton homes tend to lose most of their warmth through un-insulated ceilings, doors and windows.
Three strategies are used here to protect windows and doors of this amazing home from heat loss.

1. Night Insulation Panels
To protect the clerestory windows above the main room from heat loss to the winter night sky, Richard designed in rotating insulated panels which are easily closed on cold winter nights. Skylights are also fitted with insulating doors. These fixtures prevent heat loss by passive means.

2. Weather Vestibules
Entryways include an airlock, two sets of doors with a turnaround space in between, so that only one door need be opened at a time, and cold air cannot rush straight in.

3. Barn Door Hardware
“Hasn’t that painting moved?” I ask “Oh, the whole wall moves!” Actually, it’s a sliding door that looks exactly like a wall. They’re installed over sliding glass doorways that connect bedrooms to beautiful garden exteriors, effectively insulating to R28.

Turning Off The Passive Solar Heating
As winter moves into spring and summer, the angle of the sun changes until the sun simply stops falling on the Trombe Wall. This passive heating feature turns itself off as effortlessly as it runs all winter.
The steeper summer sun coming through the clerestory windows becomes blocked by the night insulation panels at rest in their open position. The sun ceases falling into the main living room.
‘Terra Uchi’s panels on the clerestory windows can be closed too, on scorching summer days for insulation, this time to keeping heat out. The skylights can be closed at these times too.

Stop Summer Scorching
In summer, hot sun beats down day after day onto at least one side of most roofs. attics, ceilings, windows etc. get hot, our air-conditioners work overtime. What if your roof could be redesigned to self-evacuate all that hot air as soon as it is formed?

Passive Solar Cooling
That doesn’t make sense… or does it? Richard designed a simple self-evacuating ‘Ice-house Roof’ feature for ‘Terra Uchi’s small metal roof area, which successfully eliminates any build up of summer heat. It maintains a 70° to 74° summer room temperature range. This feature is also turned on and off by the suns angle as it changes from season to season.

Affordably Comfortable!
This home saves its owners $2000-$5000 per year. Real estate agents estimate ‘Terra Uchi’s utility bills to be 1/3 to 1/2 of the bills that owners of a conventional home of similar size and location must pay each year. “Much of what we’re doing isn’t being done elsewhere” says Richard.

As a licensed architect in Virginia, Richard loves consulting with homeowners wishing to design and build green homes, or ‘retrofit’ existing homes for greater energy efficiency. He also, passionately, works with homeowners to make homes happier for people with handicaps, or with limited mobility. Having spent time in a wheelchair himself, Richard understands what it takes to refit a home to make it comfortable for the handicapped.

For example, “a dining room can be converted to a bedroom. A garage becomes a ground-floor suite so handicapped members can interface with the rest of the family.” We then build another garage in front of the old one.

Richard and Jennie participate each year in the Annual Metro Washington Solar Home and Building Tour. “People come from far way to see this home” Jennie says. We’ve been part of the solar tour for more than a decade.

The future is not set in concrete! “Possibilities exist to change certain aspects of the home: There’s no reason you can’t do away with the cost of electricity” Richard has designed the home to easily accept addition of photovoltaic panels to provide all the electricity the home needs, and to sell surplus back to the grid.

It wasn’t economical to install such in 1980. Todays solar panels are efficient enough to make adding a photovoltaic system worthwhile. Seen as an investment, this may return around 7% ROI pa.

‘Terra Uchi’ may be offered for sale in the years to come. “We hope to find a family who loves her as much as we do – who appreciates the passive solar, local material and natural harmony features (for example the kitchen fixtures are made from the timber cut to clear the building site), and who will keep up the tradition of the solar home tour.” An ‘Energy Efficient Mortgage’ may be available to purchasers.
Richard Hibbitt can be reached by e-mailing <jhibbert@cox.net>,

For a reprint of this article e-mail: <publisher@LortonValleyStar.com>,

Terra Uchi is for sale!

Choice To Be Green At Home

One person thinks green is alternative fuels, another thinks green is alternative plastic leather products but these approaches also have carbon costs. The only direct solution is solar and wind and hydro which are all solar. But if you burn something or make pleather from petroleum, you’re still responsible for generating heat and carbon dioxide at least.
Even some “offsets” such as biofuels are not without cost. Capturing methane is a good choice. When methane from decaying biomass escapes into the atmosphere it oxidizes releasing heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. If it is captured, you get to use the heat and prevent an even greater greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.
Though the value of planting trees has been debated, still their contribution to carbon sequestering is pure and we need the free oxygen green plants release to breathe. In fact, it’s the green biota which makes our planet a living one. Plants are beautiful, beneficial, and everyone can enjoy planting them. It’s the purely green thing nature’s way.
The best things you can do to be green are to make your home more solar efficient, drive a smaller car less miles and plant trees in all the places you can find to plant them. Ideal locations are, a wind break of evergreens to the north of your house and deciduous trees to the south of the house for a seasonal solar control. Separate recyclable refuse from biomass. One more: try to reject buying off-shore made products.
Cutting back on background electrical usage can be significant also. It is estimated the 7% of home electricity usage goes to equipment that is off but plugged in. This amount could be as high as 25% for some homes. If it uses a wall wart power supply, turns on with a remote, or has a clock timer, it is definitely using some power all of the time. Does it feel warm? That’s energy expense. Those old fashioned “instant on” TVs ran the CRT heater filament all the time. Use power strips to plug in cell phone chargers and such devices so you can really switch them off when you don’t actually need them. All of the wasted electricity goes up in heat which may be fine in the winter but in the summer it’s that much more your AC has to remove so that you are spending the energy twice: Once to consume it for nothing and again to remove it. Now, think what else you could do with 15% or more of your $200 dollar electric bill after buying a few outlet strips to turn the background power wasters off. It’s easily an extra dinner out every month or entertainment tickets or whatever your pleasure is. If the power generating companies had a cutback of 7-20% in demand, that’s saving a lot of coal and transmission losses. That could slow down the need to build more generating plants which no one wants in their back yard. Every drop counts.
But, one way or the other, potential energy when converted becomes heat all of which escapes through the atmosphere and is lost to space forever increasing the entropy of the Universe which in turn is running down to become disordered and lifeless. That’s just the rudimentary physics of it.
In short, being an activist at home is a lot more efficient than traveling to a meeting to complain about what someone else should do. Green starts at home whatever your solution. Lead the way, set the example. And let Lorton Valley Star know what your personal method is.

Mistaken Beliefs:

1 Wasted heat collects in the atmosphere.
False; All converted energy becomes heat and it’s all lost to the Universe. Without the sun, the Earth would be as cold as Neptune and all the coal fired steel mills and power plants in the world couldn’t take the chill off. Observe how much more quickly the temperature drops on a clear night than on a cloudy night because the clouds keep surface heat from radiating out to space.

2 Man’s industry causes a majority of the heat and greenhouse gasses released from the surface of the Earth.
False; Although Industry causes most of the pollution; Industry is a minor part of the heat and carbon dioxide released. Heat comes from solar, chemical including life and geothermal. Carbon dioxide comes from chemical including animals and forest fires. Methane comes from decay and fossil fuel deposits. It’s cave and swamp gas.

3 Fuel saving systems can make a large vehicle as fuel efficient as a small vehicle.
False: The most profound influence on the energy consumption of a vehicle is the weight and the acceleration. Diesel locomotives, the original hybrid, use lots of fuel to pull great weights but they are efficient because they don’t start like jackrabbits but rather lumber off burning barely enough to get rolling. Cars are not as efficient because we covet the 0-60 mph rating for entering highways.
By the way efficiency is defined by work accomplished for energy expended; it’s a percentage. The only conversion that is 100% is generating heat from electricity because any other process produces some heat or exhaust which is waste.

4 Running your car heater on low saves on fuel consumption.
False. All of the heat in your standard automobile is a fraction of the waste from generating the propulsion. All of the heat your engine throws off to the outside would literally cook you. There is a hardly noticeable drain to run the electric fan. So crank it up there and enjoy. Future ideas for making cars more efficient include generating electricity from exhaust heat. The discussion changes for fuel-cell powered or electric cars which won’t have much waste heat.

5 Coal burning causes the greatest pollution.
Spent nuclear reactor fuel is dangerously radioactive, doesn’t decay nearly fast enough, can’t be converted with current technology, and has to be stored in containers which are not secure enough and stocked in mountain caves. Which barrel would you prefer in your back yard: Coal ash or nuclear reactor waste?

6 We save money by buying products manufactured off shore.
In the long run we pay for the product, the shipping cost which includes more energy running the cost of all oil up, exporting causes more pollution over the Earth, and it takes jobs out of our own economy. So, who’s paying now?

Do you see how being informed and thinking for yourself instead of thoughtlessly accepting political agendas heralded by journalists can drastically alter your view of the world?

Story of The Fourth Magus

by Noble Johnson
Review by Floyd Harrison

Who is the Fourth Magus; Was he a wise man? Who is The Little Drummer Boy and where did he come from? What other pure hearts surrounded the compound miracle we call Christmas? ‘The Fourth Magus’ audio CD would make an inspiring gift for a thoughtful person this Christmas season.

The first Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew tells us of three kinds of gifts that were opened before the holy child. How many Magi and shepherds is left to legend along with the Little Drummer Boy. The story of ‘The Fourth Magus’ fills in the origin of our other Christmas traditions. Is he Arteban?

‘The Fourth Magus’ will likely come to take a prominent place among our other holiday traditions as it presents a delightful unification of legends. It gives us the untold story of the Little Drummer Boy. Noble Johnson’s story is sure to bring a blessing of joy to your holiday observance.

This inspirational family time program is written and performed by the consumate story teller Noble Johnson. Lortonites know his daughters, Heather and Rebecca as the local musical group Ceylon which entertained us at the Lorton 4th of July Parade, the Coffee House of Occoquan and Skinifatz. The girls continue in their musical careers. Heather is the Producer, Editor and Sound engineer for the Album.

‘The Fourth Magus’ is available at The Coffee House of Occoquan, The Golden Goose, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and at the Fort Belvoir General Store and online at http://cdbaby.com/cd/noblejohnson At $12.97 you’ll want more than one.

All answers to the crossword puzzle are used in the Crude Intelligence story and are all derivitives of crude oil refining. Some are raw material for yet other products. This is a small illustration of our dependence.

Across:

2 Synthetic moldable polymer materialS
4 Yellow chemical element, symbol S, of odorous compounds
7 Heavy lubrication used in suspension components
8 Petroleum raw material for solvents, additives & plastics
10 Low smoke solid fuel and reducing agent in smelting iron ore
12 Thick black weather proof sealant
13 Natural gas used for heating and cooking
14 Additive for making high octane gasoline

Down:

1 Binder for road surfacing aggrigate
2 Bottled gas for fuel and torches
3 Thin & dissolve oil based products
4 Cleaning agents in detergents
5 Reduce friction and wear of moving parts
6 Bug killing chemicals
7 Small vehicle motor fuel
9 Wax for sealing and candles
11 Fuel for oil lamps and heaters

Crude Intelligence, Petroleum Puzzle

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel for our vehicles are made from crude oil taken from wells in the Earth but did you know that only 40% of the barrel is made into gasoline? We depend on a wide range of petroleum products for our everyday lives so that even if we could greatly reduce the need for transportation fuel, we would still need oil wells and refineries. The oil companies won’t go broke, neither would we want them to. Here’s what happens to the remainder of the crude.

The many products contained in crude are separated in a process called fractional distilling where longer heavier carbon molecules condense at the bottom of a column and the lighter fluids and gasses condense at the top. This immediately yields basic product range of coke and tar, fuel oils, lubricating oils, diesel fuel, kerosene, gasoline, naptha, liquid gas and cooking gas which is natural gas or methane. Most of these raw products go through additional chemical processes of cracking, reforming, and alteration or alkylation to make the additives and blending that give the products grades and finished qualities such as motor oil weight or gasoline octane. Some fractions are the raw material for yet other products.

The variety of petrochemicals is vast and includes grease, asphalt, petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, many solvents, surfactants for cleaning, benzine, pesticides, jet fuel, home heating oil, sulfur and sulfuric acids, propane and monomers to be polymerized for production of a range of plastics and synthetic fibers. You are probably wearing a petroleum product right now and having a drink from a petroleum plastic bottle while the kids use crayons.

Imagine life without all of these products in cheap abundance. You see it’s not all about energy. You may be upset about the price of gasoline but do you really want to punish the oil companies? It’s gonna cost you one way or another. All of these products help pay for the crude refining process and making the range of products causes the combined process to be more efficient. So to uncouple our economy from foreign oil we need to both drill and conserve on energy use which has the additional benefit of holding down pollution. But, there is no uncoupling our future from the success of the oil companies.

Enjoy the crossword puzzle made of petroleum products.

Nurses, Our Heroes

By Gail Rodriguez, Lorton

Nurses are Dynamic, Powerful, Courageous, Compassionate, Caring, Dedicated, Critical Thinkers and they are devoting their lives to helping others. Nurses are everywhere, they are found in hospitals, long term care facilities, assisted living facilities, dialysis units, high schools, universities, lawyer’s offices, shopping centers, homeless shelters, community settings and wars.
Nurses are walking or have walked among us whether we are at work, grocery shopping, playing with our kids, visiting a theme park, playing sports, driving in traffic, driving our kids to daycare or school and during many other activities of our daily lives. Unfortunately it is during these busy times, situations can develop which require medical attention. It is so comforting to know that nurses are among us and are willing to give a helping hand. In times of crisis, they help save lives, comfort or support with healing hands. Let’s not underestimate their contribution and the vital part they play in our everyday lives and the within the healthcare system.
Everyday, they are stepping up and helping to save lives whether at their place of work or during off duty hours. Nurses have participated in wars, school shootings, traffic accidents, natural disasters, terrorism attacks and have saved lives during many public events just because they were there. They could have walked away but they didn’t.
In the past, nurses have been recognized for their exceptional acts of valor and received awards from the American Red Cross and the American Nurses Association. However, many have not been recognized so if you know of anyone who is a nurse, please make an effort to say “Thank you”.

Court Questions College Breaks

By Gary Bauer

It’s not often that I can report good news from the courts – especially courtrooms in California. But Monday a California appeals court called into a question the legality of a state law that allows illegal aliens to attend college at the same tuition rates as state residents. The California law blatantly contradicted federal law, but worse yet it discriminated against U.S. citizens. Out-of-state students, some of whom challenged the law, had to pay $17,000 more in tuition. Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri law professor and attorney for the plaintiffs, said, “California taxpayers are spending over $100 million dollars a year subsidizing the higher education of illegal aliens who cannot legally work in California.” According to one report, nine other states have similar laws that may now be in jeopardy.
If you are interested in receiving Mr. Bauer’s daily report by e-mail, call 703-671-9700, visit http://www.amvalues.org

Securing the Homeland

A Simple Way to do Your Part

The Coast Guard needs your help! If you recreate or work near the water, America’s Waterway Watch needs your eyes to help secure Virginia’s 5,000 miles of shoreline.  The program provides a way for citizens to report any suspicious activity they witness near bridges, tunnels, power plants and other critical infrastructure. Law enforcement personnel cannot be everywhere to observe what’s going on and that’s where you come in!
Citizens can telephone the National Response Center at 1-800-24-Watch to report any activity that just doesn’t seem right. Examples would include: boaters videotaping or taking photos of waterfront installations, boating or scuba diving near sensitive waterfront locations and unusual night operations. Taking note of people asking odd questions is important too and that helped law enforcement nab one very dangerous individual.

Vigilance is one of our best deterrents against terrorist acts. Become part of our nation’s first line of defense and participate in America’s Waterway Watch!

Not long ago, a tour boat captain in Miami encountered a passenger asking unusual questions about access to bridges and cruise ships. The passenger also took numerous photos with his camera phone. Becoming suspicious, the captain immediately telephoned America’s Waterway Watch. The FBI soon questioned the individual, Sayed Abdul Malike, but released him after confiscating the camera phone. He remained under surveillance though and was tracked to New York were he was arrested for attempting to purchase explosives, which court documents say, was enough to “blow-up a mountain”.

One strength of America’s Waterway Watch, is its simplicity. With just a set of eyes and ears, anyone can help protect our homeland. A local partner in this program is the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They can supply you with decals and wallet cards so you can always keep the National Response Center phone number handy. There is also a brochure that gives examples of what to look for and where. You can call the Auxiliary’s local marine safety officer at 703-690-8341 for a supply of each. Or visit www.AmericasWaterwayWatch.org for all the details.

Men in Northern Virginia are fortunate to be able to buy all sorts of Kilts on the rack in nearby downtown Alexandria.
A man wanting a Kilt needs a retailer who understands. Macy’s and Nordstrom don’t have them yet. If he wants a casual American style Kilt, he needs a merchant selling freedom. Those aren’t available at the Irish and Scottish importers.

Brad Hutchins, a body builder and information Tech consultant, just celebrated the one year anniversary of The Kilted Nation store near the Manassas VRE station. It’s convenient to be able to try them for size and get a hint of what wearing one out would feel like and come home with a starter outfit.

You can order the traditional wool-plaid versions if that’s what you need. Wearing one of those says you care enough to pay the price for opulence. But, those are a bit warm for temperate climates and indoor work places.

The trend is toward casual as in everything else and the utility kilt style is the Kilt equivalent of jeans or Kakis made of similar material as work pants and come with a much more modest price tag. That is most of the stock at The Kilted Nation. The first contemporary-kilt boutique in the Washington region, Hutchins’ store is stocked with Sport Kilts for the athletic, AmeriKilts for the budget-minded, and versatile Utilikilts for the most discerning clients.

Sooner or later, someone is going to call it a skirt or ask where your bagpipes are. That’s OK. “You have to be secure about yourself to walk out that door wearing one,” Hutchins said. “Nobody owns just one,” said Kathryn Hutchins, Brad’s wife and the store’s co-owner, “And there’s an instant kinship among the faithful of this all-American hybrid as among Harley owners.”

Generally the notice and comments are approving. Guys are giving up shorts for the style and comfort of the casual kilt. The store was an instant success. A couple of teenagers from a nearby high school bought their first kilts during opening week, raising his hopes for a fad. It’s actually a bit of a Goth thing.

Kilts are knee length, but there is a lot of weight of material in the pleats. The pleats act like a bellows to move air as you walk. They promote healthy exercise because they regulate temperature as you move and encourage correct use of the legs to lift instead of the back for lifting.

They are what is classified as a Male Unbifurcated Garment. MUGs only have one hole for both legs. MUGs aren’t new. Actually, five hundred years ago in Europe, the only two legged garents were worn by Knights and Sailors. Still, outside of the world trade capitals, most cultures have men in skirted garments. The World extremes are India where pants were adopted 2500 B.C. and Scotland where formal black-tie attire is the Kilt. Oh, and North America where the MUG was forgotten in the last hundred years since mother’s dressed their young sons in “dresses” that made them look like girls. Clergy, Scholars and Judges still officiate in long robes as in Midevil times.

The Kilted Nation has a range of prices on easy care casual or utility kilts. The Amerikilt is the low price winner with a self matching sporran. Utilikilts with pockets range from the simple “Original” to the “Workman” to the “Tuxedo-Kilt” which dresses up but still isn’t wool plaid. The wash and wear poly-viscose plaids are actually inexpensive but give the impression of being a casual wool-plaid. The Alpha Kilts are coming too.

Check out The Kilted Nation at http://www.kiltednation.com. Learn more about Utilikilts at http://www.utilikilts.com.
The Kilted Nation also has some ladies things: Mini-Kilts, Erasaids, Sarongs, Jackets and Capes at 115 S. Union St. Suite A100, Alexandria. Call 703-330-7072. Sometimes, brad is out vending and enjoying the music and dance at the Scottish and Celtic events so check the web site schedule. Maybe you’d want to see some more real men wearing utility kilts before you buy in.
Consider for yourself, visit The Kilted Nation, show your friends, accept the challenge, reveal your Celtic heritage, declare freedom, learn the comfort, enjoy the glances.

Slight And Slant On This Old House

Many are asking what’s up with The Old Country Store on Gunston Road because they’ve seen it sit gutted for so long. It’s making progress now after a long County delay being restored to the original house under the second floor roofline.
The frame was jacked up and construction began below grade where it got a proper foundation which it never had. Much of the put back is to be with original material. Of course it would be quicker to tear down the old and throw up a totally new one which would satisfy those with no feeling for the history.

It was home to Plaskets, Wileys, and Sherif Nevitt. Many Mason Neck neighbors remember it from childhood days as Shepherd’s Store or King’s Store where it was the favorite place for penny candy, and others remember the coldest beer and the first gasoline station for miles. It was a community gathering place where you could catch up on the neighbors. As late as 1987 it was The Cracker Barrel.

It fits the description of a house across the road from the original Pohick Church, which foundation marker is still on the grounds of Cranford Church, indicating that it may have been the original vestry house. That would make it quite old and the Victorian features merely home improvements.
Since the mid 1800’s, additions in about eight segments and siding hiding the original clabbords changed the look considerably. A large portico sheltered the gas pump. Recently, lacking maintenance and a slumlord owner allowed the building to suffer significant rot. Plaster walls turned to sand. All of the additions have been removed.

Today, it is the property of Marilyn Breedlove Giampa who’s parents moved to Mason Neck fifty years ago. Her dream to return the old landmark to its glory as a center of local supply and meeting place progresses in spite of challenges. A few naysayers such those who encouraged the demise of Hillbilly Heaven and Lorton Station still complain.

Marilyn hopes to make the corner at the entrance to the pristine Mason Neck a farmer’s market with seasonal agricultural products and kids gardening projects. Before partial demolition, October pumpkin sales and Christmas tree sales again drew neighbors to talk abut the good old days. A Fall party gathering with Skystone Bluegrass Band drew 400 and a flea market that went clear around the house, saw the Prince William Art Society selling art paintings and photos of the house in its most recent form. Construction has made the use of the property unsafe but we are promised that a revived corner is coming.

Plaque Recognizes Conservation Work

By Joe Chudzik

A Plaque Unveiling Ceremony was held on September 6, 2008 at Mason Neck State Park. The bronze plaque set into a natural stone monument near the Park Visitor Center and Elizabeth Hartwell Environmental Education Center recognizes the contribution by the founder of the Conservation Committee for Mason Neck formed on August 3, 1965. The plaque reads as follows:

“VISION, INITIATIVE AND DECICATION”

“This magnificent area, a nesting place of the American Bald Eagle and home to a variety of other birds and wild-life, was threatened in 1965 with intense development. To preserve this unspoiled, historic and scenic area along the Potomac, citizens formed the Conservation Committee For Mason Neck (1965-1970). The committee spearheaded a vigorous and successful campaign with the help of federal, state, and county authorities. Its successful efforts demon- strate the importance of dedicated ctizen action in achieving environmental goals that set a model for other such undertakings by ordinary citizens around the nation.

In recognition of this hard work we thank the Committee members: Chairman William R. Durland, Vice Chairs Elizabeth Hartwell and Charles Majer, Secretary and Treasurer Joyce Wilkinson, Clive L DuVal II, David B. Cobey, Melvin Siegel, Noman M. Cole, Jr., Albert C. Scartz, James H. Dillard II, and Mrs. George Robinson.

At the ceremony, Jess Lowry, manager, Mason Neck State Park gave an Introduction. Comments were given by: Joyce Wilkinson, former Conservation Committee secretary and treasurer; former Conservation Committee chairman William (Bill) Durland; and Marty McClevey, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge Complex.