hi, everyone. i'm veronica johnson. we're going to show you some interesting local stories making news this week. among them how georgetown restaurants are making a comeback just a year after potomac flood waters swamped the hot spots. and now pink wildlife could be roaming the area. what the color has to do with keeping ticks away. and a local olympic hopeful shares his determination. first a remarkable accomplishment by surgeons at the university medical center.

22 face transplants have been performed around the world. but the one they performed on a virginia man was the most extensive one to date. erica gonzalez reports on his transformation. >> reporter: richard norris' high school prom picture. normal in most standards. then in 1997 a terrible gun accident left the virginia man severely disfigured. >> you can see the individual as he lived for 15 years of his life behind a mask. >> reporter: this is norris after multiple rounds of reconstructive surgery. little did he know that over the last ten years, doctors at the university of maryland had been working on how to perform the most extensive full-face transplant. originally intended for combat veterans injured by ieds. >> this is the most remarkable thing i have ever seen. >> reporter: once it was ready to be tested, norris was selected to have the trial surgery.

the transplant opportunity came after a man died and his family donated his organs. >> in their terrible, terrible grief and their terrible moment of loss, they were able to think of others in need. >> reporter: four people received the heart, two lungs, kidney, and liver. and norris received the man's face including jaw, teeth, and tongue. >> we look at the donor and richard, it's a blend of two individuals. >> reporter: after 36 hours of surgery and the assistance of more than 150 nurses and physicians, this is the new richard norris. >> before people used to stare at richard because he wore a mask. the hardest thing for him was to eat. obviously he understands that children would look at him. that was fine. but to have adults to stare at him. now they have another reason to stare at him. >> reporter: physicians also say he'll have to have a few more outpatient procedures in order to get him back on the road to recovery. in baltimore, news4.

>> and that is a remarkable accomplishment for surgeons and patients alike. cherry blossoms. they're one of the signs of beautiful in d.c. they're gone for the year. for japanese fleeting nature is one is part of makes them so special. we're shown a new documentary to see cherry blossoms in a whole new way. >> it's enchanting. this canopy of soft paint. this cloud of petals. it hovers like a still life. time, worries, deadlines all momentarily suspended as we are bathed in the blossoms' pale glow. they're called sicora in japanese. the blossoms appear each spring for thousands of years. it's said once a tree is very old, it can be inhabited by a god and the spirits of the dead.

>> reporter: last year just weeks after the tsunami killed so many in japan and destroyed so much, something wondrous happened. the cherry blossoms started to bloom. >> reporter: in her new documentary, the tsunami and the cherry blossom, lucy walker documents the small glimmer that emerged in this heartbroken and grieving community. as they witnessed the cherry blossoms coming to life in the midst of this devastation. >> the cherry blossoms have always had a wonderful significance about preciousness of life. they're so beautiful. >> reporter: walker was in town recently for a showing of her movie in the d.c. environmental film festival with a message of resilience from the japanese people. >> it's about how human beings

can come through tragedy. how do you get up the next day when your town has been literally, literally washed away? >> reporter: the japanese have blossom viewing parties to ponder the transient nature of life, its beauty, and its brevity. this is why the blossom is the symbol of the samurai warrior. in world war ii the kamikaze pilots painted blossoms on the sides of their planes. like the blossoms, life is vulnerable. something to cherish, something to think of. >> wendy telling a story in a way no one else can. the film was nominated for an academy award. you can see it soon coming to hbo. well, now to a resurgence in one of d.c.'s most famous neighborhoods. nearly a year ago flood waters swamped georgetown. some parking garages were completely under water and several businesses were

evacuated and eventually forced to close. some georgetown restaurants, they are poised and ready to make a comeback. >> it's been a rough year. >> reporter: these last few weeks couldn't have come quickly enough for restaurant owner tony cybill. three of his family's restaurants were destroyed by the flood waters from the potomac last april when the flood gates were let down. >> i stood at the top of the stairs and could look in and the chairs were floating around. >> reporter: the river pushed the 12 feet of water into tony and joe's riverside grills and other restaurants and businesses. this is how it looked from above that day. water logged cars from the parking garage. workers cleaning up. residents and office tenants out until portable generators could be brought in. they've lost millions of dollars in revenue. spent a year rebuilding cooking what they can on their patio. >> we've gotten a lot of the

heavy duty construction behind us. and we're getting red did to start doing some of the finished work. >> reporter: tony and joe's will have a whole new look and nick's riverside grill has been gutted and expanded into the old restaurant space. >> hopefully they'll get it renovated and bring everyone back. >> reporter: in addition to the repairs, a $20 million renovation is underway at the complex. they're revamping the fountain area which will turn into an ice rink in the winter. >> it's a great place to work. and all the surroundings and the work they're doing here is going to make it a better place. >> reporter: better days are ahead. >> we're excited to have everybody back. we're going to be new and better than ever soon. >> reporter: in georgetown, news4. >> sounds like they just may be ready for the summer. well, buying a new appliance can put a huge dent in your budget. still ahead on "news4 this week," liz crenshaw gives tips on what to look for before something breaks. and up next, we'll meet a

young heart transplant

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get another one free. verizon. former vice president dick cheney had a heart transplant this spring after battling heart problems for decades. news4's darcy spencer recently sat down with a young lady in arlington whose own transplant came much earlier than she expected. it was before her 21st birthday. veronica now has a story she wants you to hear. >> reporter: veronica stempo is only 21 years old but already has been a recipient of a heart transplant. she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. >> my heart started failing to the point i couldn't climb up the stairs. i couldn't breathe. nothing. >> reporter: that happened when she was 20 years old. she was hooked up to a heart pump and was on the wait list for a new heart for ten months. >> every time your phone rings, you have this anticipation that it's -- oh, you know they found

something. they got something for me. anytime, even -- it sounds horrible. even when you see a crash you're like i hope i get a heart soon. >> reporter: her father don had the same heart condition and received a heart transplant. he passed away in 2009 just a few months later his daughter's heart got worse. >> i kind of wish i had him to share my story with and compare and everything. i guess he's in my heart too. >> reporter: veronica says it took a few months but she's back to her normal activities. >> i still hang out with all my friends. i go to concerts. i do things that normal people do. i just have a big scar. >> reporter: one lasting change, all the meds. she's taking about 20 pills a day. >> i take a lot of colorful pills. they're all my anti-rejection, my steroids, there's stuff just

to everyone ease my stomach from having so many medicines. >> reporter: veronica is studying education in college and she would like to get the message out that donors are always needed. >> i'm grateful. i mean, i wish i didn't have to go through this, but i did. and i feel like it's just made me so much stronger. >> reporter: darcy spencer, news4. >> what a great attitude. veronica has signed up to be an organ donor and hopes more people will become informed about being donors as well. we love and remember her dad well. well, some dance students in the washington area may find themselves tv stars this year. the audition to be part of a new dance company which will be chronicled on the show called "chance to dance." in just a month they'll get ready for a charity show performed in new york city. formal london ballet dancers are

the stars of the show. what a chance for them. when it comes to the olympics, sometimes even failure is not enough to dash an athlete's dreams. still ahead, a local kayaker coming out of retirement in a quest to make it to the london games. but first when we return, you shouldn't be alarmed if y [ older brother ] hey, that's the last crescent. [ younger brother ] oh, do you want it? yeah. ok, we'll split it. [ female announcer ] made fresh, so light... ...buttery and flaky... this is half. that is not half. guys i have more. [ female announcer ] do you have enough crescents? and these are the ones you'll love as dinner. grands! mini pizzas. grands! biscuit dough... plus 3 ingredients make an easy dinner everyone loves. grands! mini pizzas... from pillsbury.

pink is in. don't be too surprised if you spot some pink wildlife in our area. especially in fairfax county. it's part of a new study that's trying to reduce deer tick population and prevent the spread of lyme disease. >> reporter: tucked into sully woodlands park, this contraption is the latest contraption aimed at killing deer ticks and the lyme disease they can spread. >> we want to kill ticks.

we want to possibly reduce the immediate threat to humans. >> reporter: it's called a four poster deer feeding station. corn fills two troughs. special paint rollers are sprayed with pesticide and pink dye. any deer that comes to feed is both treated and marks so research can be conducted on the effectiveness of the stations. >> as they come in to eat the corn out of the trough, they have to tilt their head back just slightly and that'll make them rub up against the rollers. >> reporter: as part of a three-year study, 15 of the stations have been placed in sully woodlands. biologists on the project say residents should not be alarmed if they see deer with pink racing stripes. >> if they see pink wildlife of any variety that are attracted to the corn, they have been treated with the pesticide. >> reporter: wildlife biologists will be checking in at the four poster stations frequently. but they'll have the extra

coverage of cameras in the trees. the number of lyme disease cases in fairfax county has doubled in recent years with 200 cases reported annually. janice knows well the toll it can take. she and her two sons contracted lyme disease in 2003 and 2005. and she's still being treated for recurrent symptoms. she welcomes the research project. >> i look at this as a piece of progress because permethorin is something that can kill ticks immediately. >> reporter: she hopes soon tick killing efforts won't be limited to parkland but go to subdivisions too. news4. >> in this case, we really like pink. well, anyone who's had to replace a major appliance or do any home improvement knows how repairs can put a big dent in your wallet. knowing when to anticipate that something is about a break may help cushion the budget a bit.

liz crenshaw has answers to the question how long should it last. she turned to personal finance for a bit of help. >> i presume you have a washing machine? >> i do. >> how long should a washing machine last? eight years, 12 years or 16 years before you replace it? >> at least 12. >> reporter: she's right. both washing machines and dryers last about 12 years. here's an everyday appliance. >> how long should a dishwasher last? seven, ten, or 13 years? >> ten? >> reporter: actually, it should last 13 years according to the appliance manufacturers. dish washers require very little maintenance as long as you run them regularly. next. >> how long should a furnace last? ten years? 20 years? or the life of your house? >> i think 20 years would be nice. >> actually, 20 years is right. >> reporter: the department of

energy experts say furnaces should last between 15 and 20 years. furnace filters, however, only hold up one to three months. be sure to change them accordingly. >> how long should a coat of sealer last? three years, five years, or ten years? >> three years. >> reporter: he's right. water repellant deck stains and sealers generally last about three years. industry experts say it depends on exposure and traffic. >> have you had your house painted? >> yes. >> so how long should a coat of exterior paint last? six to ten years? ten to 14 years? or 14 to 18 years? >> six to ten. >> reporter: he's right. manufacturers say a properly applied coat of exterior paint should last between six and ten years. next. >> do you know how long a standard incandescent lightbulb should last?

>> i'm going to go with the second one. >> 8,000? >> reporter: actually, a standard lightbulb should burn 1,000 hours. compact bulbs live longer but cost more. >> how old is your mattress? >> it was a hand me down. >> how long should a mattress last? five to seven years? ten to 12? or as long as it feels comfortable? >> i would say as long as it feels comfortable. whatever works for you. >> reporter: she's right. even though the better sleep council recommends replacing five to seven years, they age differently. if you don't notice any back or sleep problems, hold on to it. >> and stay awake for this next story. the harlem globetrotters. they're known around the world

for their fancy skills. what were they doing hitti [ mom ] to me, chex is not just a little bowl of cereal, it's kind of a big deal. to find nutritious and gluten-free cereals my whole family actually loves? well, the word "wow" comes to mind. and then a friend told me chex has five flavors that are gluten-free. even a cinnamon one the kids love. a nutritious cereal that makes everybody happy? like i said, wow. [ male announcer ] chex cereal. five flavors. good and gluten free.

if you love outdoor sports, here's an inspiring story for you. check out this two-time olympic kayaker from our area. he's hoping to paddle his way to the olympic games in london. scott parsons. he's come out of retirement because of some unfinished business that he says he has to do. zachary keisch has the story. >> it's an interesting sport. it attracts all kinds of people. i think for me it's a lot about being an individual. >> reporter: doing things differently is part of two-time national champion kayaker scott parson's way. his deliberate approach towards life. but it's on full display every day as the two-time u.s. olympian takes his commute to the office on the feeder canal. >> you can't beat the two-minute

walk down to the main training site. this neighborhood where i live is kind of the center for kayaking in this area. i knew even while i was going to high school that the day after graduation i was packing up my car and moving to brookmont. >> reporter: by 12 he was winning. >> basically the idea is to negotiate the course set using these gates. >> reporter: the seasoned champion is in the process of qualifying for his third olympic games in london. but it almost never happened. after a crushing mistake in beijing. >> after first runs i was in third. had a mistake at the bottom of the course. i missed a gate. the three or four years of that work was done in an instant. >> reporter: the loss killed parsons' competitive spirit and he retired. it wouldn't last long. >> there is redemption at work

here. that left a pretty sour taste. i think i was pretty close to achieving -- i mean, i guess it's been a life-long dream. >> reporter: the course design requires parsons to work both with and against river's natural current. he'll make his way through 20 of these gates in about 90 seconds. while the feeder canal lacks the intensity of the man-made courses parsons will ride in competition, it allows him to work on technique. the proven winner knows there's always room for growth. this time it's all or nothing. >> i want to win and i want an olympic medal really badly. i mean, that's pretty huge. but there's just something about getting better each day and working hard to get better. >> reporter: news4 sports. >> yeah. i could tell that getting through those gates, navigating back and forth, it didn't make

sense to zachary either. that's why he's an olympian. and he's not an olympic hopeful but our own doug kammerer, he took to the court with the world's best basketball players. that's our chief meteorologist makes that layup. he took on the harlem globetrotters. he misses the next shot there but gets his own rebound. points for that. he played as part of the international elite team. a globetrotter called special-k, he appeared to be doug's nemesis. but doug looks like he had a great time. isn't that what it's all about? that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. thanks for joining us. be safe. be healthy. be happy. until next time. only $79.99 for a lucid by lg ?

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