January 23 — 29, 2020
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXIX No. 49
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
A New Approach: ‘Restorative Justice’ Dehghani-Tafti Begins Her Term By Easing Up on Marijuana by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
The Arlington District Court, which covers the City of Falls Church, swore in its new Commonwealth Attorney last month and since Jan. 1, in her first few weeks in her new role, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti is already keeping her campaign promise about choosing not to prosecute most simple marijuana possession arrests and also doing much more. In an exclusive interview with the News-Press Friday, she talked about a much more ambitious agenda she is hoping to advance in her first four-year term, one which turns the recent decades’ approach to criminal prosecution and even the core notion of the function of the American criminal justice system on its head. It is centered on the notion of “restorative justice” instead of merely punitive justice. Namely, in the last few decades, the focus of criminal justice has become almost entirely punitive, rather than rehabilitating, with laws since the 1980s focused on stiff sentences and “three strikes
you’re out” approaches to tough enforcement that has led to a veritable explosion in the number of persons either in prison or caught in the criminal justice system in one way or another. Earlier debates on how to approach criminal justice from the standpoint of the rehabilitation of the offender were effectively quashed. But that has led to an unacceptable cycle of abuse that is to the detriment, disproportionately, of the poor and has led to skyrocketing costs to the public, increasingly poor treatment of those caught in the system, and record levels of incarceration that far outstrip the rest of the advanced nations of the world. This is the heady problem that Dehghani-Tafti, elected to her current position for the first time in November following an upset victory over the incumbent in the Democratic primary last June, is setting out to tackle in her new and influential role. One of her first moves since taking office earlier this month was to bring on Cari Steele as her chief assistant to establish continuity with the operations of the outgoing team. Steele, as it turns out, was the department’s chief person handling the Falls Church court and will continue in that role.
Continued on Page 5
MARCHERS MAKE THEIR WAY UP S. Washington St. during the fourth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march Monday, hosted by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church & Vicinity. (Photo: Sal Said)
F.C. City March Commemorates MLK Jr., Civil Rights Movement
by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in the City of Falls Church was headlined by a civil rights movement activist sharing her experiences helping desegregate Northern Virginia with the crowd.
Hosted by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the Falls Church Social Justice Committee & Vicinity, residents from in and out of the City attended the fourth annual event that started with a half-mile march from the Tinner Hill arch on S. Washington Street to and ended at the Falls Church Episcopal church.
Following short speeches from Tinner Hill Foundation and Social Justice Committee members as well as a rendition of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” keynote speaker Joan Trumpauer Mulholland took the stage.
Continued on Page 4
Inside This Week Justice High Teacher Arrested for Sexual Student Relationship
News-Press Winter Real Estate Special
Mason High Girls Basketball Shuts Down Warren Co.
See News Briefs, page 9
See pages 13 — 20
See Sports, page 24
Fairfax County Police say the teacher, 57-year-old Philip Spivey of Falls Church, is facing four felony charges of indecent liberties by a custodian for an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student at the area high school.
A new duplex springs up in Falls Church, residents express concern over native oak trees dying in the City, experts compare 15- and 30-year mortgages and more Little City real estate news inside.
The Mustangs came out firing Tuesday night and cruised to a 54-16 win over Warren County High School at home.
Index
Editorial........................................................ 6 Letters.................................................... 6,30 News & Notes.....................................10–11 Comment......................................... 7,12,21 Business News..........................................23 Sports........................................................24 Calendar.............................................26–27 Classified Ads............................................28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword..................29 Crime Report.............................................30 Critter Corner.............................................30
PAGE 2 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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F.C. March Commemorates Martin Luther King Legacy
Continued from Page 1
The Arlington native recounted her younger days as a civil rights activist and Freedom Rider in the local area. That included organizing sit-ins from Cherrydale to Shirlington with Howard University students, helping spread the Negro National Anthem to Barcroft Elementary School and attending a secret meeting at the then-Little Falls United Presbyterian Church. Once, as she described, “all of Northern Virginia was open,” she and fellow activists went to the Glen Echo Park, Maryland and its pools to lead desegregation efforts there. Mulholland also thought it was only fair that she attend Tougaloo College, a black liberal arts university in Jackson, Mississippi, to make integration a two-way street and “Not just a couple of black students at a time going through virtual hell.” It wasn’t a friction-less effort. Some low points included spend-
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ing a summer in prison — including a short stint on death row intended to scare her and others who’d been arrested for breaching of the peace. But Mulholland never flinched, simply highlighting how spacious the cells were and how much better the food was. A short Q&A session following her speech had Mulholland advising grandparents to lead by example when it came to instilling a sense of civic responsibility in their kin. She also dispelled any fears about serving jail time for protesting, because, as she said cheekily, “They’re gonna give you a bed and food. And you won’t have to go to school.”
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PAGE 4 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 5
New Commonwealth Attorney to Seek ‘Restorative Justice’
Continued from Page 1
Also, Dehghani-Tafti has already met with police chiefs and other law enforcement directors in court jurisdiction, and that has included Falls Church Police Chief Mary Gavin, whom she described as “always delightful and very easy to work with.” She said that a lot of common ground was established in these initial meetings. She was due in Richmond this week for a meeting of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth Attorneys to consider legislation to support in the current session. With the new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, she said that she is backing bills calling for either the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana. Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy has a legalization bill, and State Sen. Adam Ebbin has a decriminalization bill. She is also favoring legislation calling for a “writ of actual innocence” which would permit persons convicted and serving time
on the basis of “junk science” techniques that have been discredited to appeal for a new trial, a bill introduced by Del. Charniele Herring. There is also a bill introduced by Del. Foy calling for greater transparency in the use of data collection in the consideration of bail that includes a provision that “bail is to be construed so as to give effect to a general presumption in favor of pretrial release.” She also has a bill to stop the automatic suspension of driver’s licences for failure to pay court fees. Dehghani-Tafti is advocating a no cash bail policy, notwithstanding conditions, and the term for her long-term impact passion project involves winning a grant from the Annie Casey Foundation, a Baltimorebased philanthropic organization that works across the United States to “develop a brighter future for millions of children at risk or poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes.” The Casey Foundation has
Arlington County and Falls Church Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa DehghaniTafti. (Photo: News-Press) granted the Arlington court the use of the services for a year of a professional facilitator for its “restorative justice program.” Liane Rossell, a
senior policy associate with the Casey Foundation is on loan to Arlington, and she and the “restorative justice” approach was introduced at a public forum on Jan. 11. Dehghani-Tafti will be working with an array of Arlington County agencies concerned with youth and adults alike involving law enforcement, the public schools and mental health groups such as the Arlington Mental Health Disability Alliance. In law enforcement cases, they often involve a facilitator who can work with victims and perpetrators, alike, to develop better outcomes for all involved. Where this is in effect, such as in the District of Columbia, the approach works only when the victim wants it, but has been shown to lead to a lot of healing, Dehghani-Tafti said, and to reduce recidivism. The basic idea, she said, is to find a meaningful and just alternative to the prison pipeline for the vast numbers who are not dangerous criminals but who have
been caught up in circumstances where they’ve broken the law, many times due to social or economic pressures. These are not hardened criminals and will not become as such, but need a solid and just way to be restored, themselves and their victims. This is especially the case, she said, where so many crimes involve persons who know one another or are family. Last week, Dehghani-Tafti signed onto an amicus brief signed by 57 criminal justice leaders and the Disability Law Center involving a case in the Shenandoah Valley. It argued that detained immigrants and other children should be entitled to traumainformed care. It stated in part, “The denial of (immigrant children’s) right to receive care that would help them cope and avoid additional trauma while detained is beyond disappointing and speaks to the work that remains for us to see beyond the harsh punitive lens that colors our entire system of justice.”
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PAGE 6 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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Editorial
E D I TO R I A L
Amazing Reforms In Richmond
Amazing stuff is unfolding in Richmond in just the first two weeks of the Democratic-controlled (at last) legislative session. First, we can’t overlook the excellent job done by Gov. Ralph Northam and his team, with the aid of U.S. intelligence agencies, in keeping the mass pro-gun demonstration peaceful and orderly on Monday. Let this be a signal to any and all lunatics who harbor the fantasy that they can rise up with their guns and impose their will on the American people that this simply will not happen the way they may envision it. If they want things their way, they’re going to have to do it at the ballot box just like the rest of us. As for their hopes of insurgency, that option was proven impotent by the excellent coordination of peace forces last weekend. Hopefully, it will become a model for preventing the kind of violence some hoped for last weekend from being realized anywhere. But beyond that, it has been in the peaceful and orderly operations of our state government that the real revolutions are happening on an almost daily basis now. A veritable plethora of amazing legislation is getting passed out of committees and even on the floors of one or both houses already. They include, as just a sampling, a bill to end the pro-Confederate LeeJackson Day holiday and replace it with one making election day a holiday. There’s one that allows birth certificates to be modified if the gender of a person changes following birth. This one, introduced by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, also allows for a name change if a court order can be shown. Another, part of an important and growing national trend, bans the use of so-called conversion therapy as a way of abusing LGBTQ persons, especially youth. State Sen. Adam Ebbin is the sponsor of legislation to establish “meaningful and wide-reaching non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community.” His bill, SB868, represents, he has written, “the combined efforts of equality-minded legislators and a coalition that includes Equality Virginia, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Center for Transgender Equality.” The bill is significantly more comprehensive than previous proposals that sought more modest progress by codifying the non-discrimination protections in public employment embodied in gubernatorial Executive Orders. Ebbin said that SB868 is a “shining example of the progress that is possible under the new majority.” Other bills will decriminalize or legalize marijuana and some other criminal justice reforms pertaining to bail, appeals of sentences if it can be shown they’re based on “junk science,” and the automatic suspension of drivers’ licenses upon failure to pay court fees. All this comes on top of measured but impactful gun control, women’s health, environmental reforms and more to come, almost all of which Gov. Northam can be counted on to sign into law.
Letters
We Must Address Corrupt Campaign Finance System Editor, Jan. 21 marked the 10th anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling which, combined with lax campaign finance laws in Virginia, unleashed a flood of money in our elections. Electoral contributions in Virginia totaled $121.5 million in 2019, double from 2011, with nearly $25 million coming from outside
the state. In Virginia, legislators, unique in our nation, are bound by no limits on campaign contributions which they can then use for personal use. Historically this has allowed business and special interests to dictate state pipeline policies, underfund schools, and keep tobacco taxes low and payday interest rates high. Yet, last
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year, over 10 campaign finance bills were introduced in the last Virginia General Assembly where they died. Eighty percent of Americans, irrespective of party, are increasingly disenfranchised by the domination of our political system by corporate interests. In a recent survey undertaken by the Virginia chapter of American Promise, which works to end the corrosive impact of money, nearly 90 percent of respondents supported campaign finance reform in Virginia while 80 percent want Virginia to join the 20 other states who passed resolutions endorsing a constitutional amend-
ment to the U.S. Constitution to get big money out of politics. In Jamestown, last year, we celebrated the 400th anniversary of representative democracy in our country. Yet, in 2020, we are being held hostage to unregulated money and a government not responsive to the people. To date, 209 legislators in the House of Representatives, including Reps. Beyer, Connolly, Spanberger, McEachin, and Wexton, have signed a resolution proposing an amendment to the U.S. constitution which allows Congress to
Letters Continue on Page 30
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CO MME NT
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 7
G u e s t C o m m e n ta ry Get Involved to Help Stormwater Task Force Succeed By Dave Gustafson
“A task force is where issues go to die a slow death in prioritization exercises.” That’s what one of my neighbors whose house flooded in July warned me in October as I mentioned that City Council had just approved creating a Stormwater Task Force. Now that I’m on that new task force, I hope we can prove him wrong. On July 8, stormwater and sewage invaded dozens of Falls Church homes as a 200year storm walloped our city with more than four inches of rain in some areas. Six months later, how is Fall Church faring in its preparations for its next major, costly storm? From my perspective, the biggest success remains the ongoing engagement of concerned citizens as well as city leaders and staff. Leaders and staff deserve kudos for their quick — and continued —action, including: • Waiving bulk collection and building permit fees for flooded homes • Holding a town hall meeting soon after the storm and visiting flood-damaged neighborhoods • Installing some water-resistant sanitary sewer manhole covers • Repairing a damaged bridge on S. Oak St. • Hiring a firm to conduct initial engineering assessments in neighborhoods at risk of flooding again • Launching a backflow preventer rebate program for sewage-affected homes • Ongoing operational maintenance of the stormwater and sanitary sewer systems • Creating the new Stormwater Task Force Many homes damaged on July 8 had flood-
ed before, yet the historic storm galvanized citizens to seek lasting solutions from their city. The seriousness of our city’s flooding issues was underscored by 38 citizens applying for a handful of volunteer positions on the task force, which met for the first time in December.
“How is Fall Church faring in its preparations for its next major, costly storm?” Councilmembers Dan Sze, Letty Hardi and Ross Litkenhous, and City Manager Wyatt Shields deserve special thanks for spending so many hours interviewing dozens of concerned citizens. The task force they assembled includes an impressive mix of expertise in climate change, water management, engineering, communications, software development, real estate and more. So what will our task force do? For starters, we have indeed been tasked with a prioritization exercise. We will discuss criteria for ranking eight stormwater projects identified by city staff after the July storm. Two small projects could be done with the city’s own engineering staff: Laura Drive/Poplar Drive and Lincoln/West. Six larger projects would require hiring engineering consultants: • East Columbia/Harrison Branch • Ellison Branch/Lincoln Avenue
• Two areas on Hillwood Avenue • Sherrow Avenue/South Virginia Avenue • Trammel Branch Should our task force consider any other stormwater projects? Email Mike Domenica, the city’s liaison, at mdomenica@fallschurchva.gov. How exactly should we prioritize these eight projects, and any others that citizens may suggest? Among the evaluation criteria being considered: • Severity of flooding damage • Flooding frequency • Timing of related projects • Constructability • Environmental impacts • Neighborhood acceptance • Impact on other properties • Operations and maintenance requirements • Capital/lifecycle costs Knowing of at least two citizens getting sick from sewage exposure, I’ve suggested that health concerns be considered as well. Citizens should also be aware that city efforts to protect against residential flooding are designed for 10-year storms — less severe than the July 8 storm. That’s typical for many municipalities’ designs. The task force will also discuss the city’s stormwater fee. In December, city staff told us that an increase in the stormwater fee will be required and that a consultant is conducting a rate study. The task force has been given an aggressive timeline that includes advising City Council by May on stormwater projects to prioritize, along with updates to the 2012
Watershed Management Plan that focused on water quality issues. Outside of the task force’s assignments, what else must happen in the short term to ensure that our city’s aging infrastructure can better handle more stormwater and sewage due to a denser population and more frequent, more severe storms caused by climate change? My suggestions include: • Adding more water-resistant manhole covers and conducting flow rate studies in sewage-affected neighborhoods • Developing and enforcing a plan to remedy older homes’ illicit drain connections and cracked laterals that eat up precious sanitary sewer capacity and cause dangerous sewage backups in homes with kids and seniors • Investing more in prevention measures to keep leaves, garbage and muddy runoff from construction from entering storm sewers • Creating a long-term funding plan to maintain infrastructure that can handle more residents and more severe storms To ensure the long-term health of Falls Church’s sanitary sewer and stormwater system, citizens must remain involved. How can you do that? Attend meetings. Ask questions. Request information. Talk to your neighbors. Share what you’ve learned about protecting your home from flooding on the Little City Waterproofers listserv. The Stormwater Task Force’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, in Council Chambers. Dave Gustafson is a member of Falls Church’s Stormwater Task Force.
Question of the Week Do you agree with new Commonwealth’s Attorney Dehghani-Tafti’s approach of “restorative justice?” • Yes • Not sure
• No
Last Week’s Question:
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PAGE 8 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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MLK March Features Civil Rights Era Speaker
THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY celebration in the City of Falls Church was headlined by a Civil Rights-era activist sharing her experiences helping desegregate Northern Virginia with the crowd. Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, an Arlington native, recounted her younger days of activism that included organizing sit-ins from Cherrydale to Shirlington with Howard University students, helping spread the Negro National Anthem to Barcroft Elementary School and attending a secret meeting at the then-Little Falls United Presbyterian Church. (Photos: Sal Said)
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JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 9
NEWS BRIEFS
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Villa Ridge Residential Subdivision Denied, 6-0 Before a large turnout of neighbors to the site Tuesday night, the F.C. Planning Commission at its twice-monthly business meeting voted 6-0 to deny a petition for a subdivision of the residential lot at 807 Villa Ridge because, in the words of F.C. Planning Director Paul Stoddard, “It did not meet the zoning requirements related to lot width.” The contentious issue was subject to two Planning Commission work sessions on Nov. 4 and Dec. 16 last year that led to extensive commentary from City Attorney Carol McKoskrie. Even though the City staff recommended approval of one of the options for the subdivision Tuesday night, the commission, following a lengthy closed session, voted to deny the subdivision. The property in question, mostly surrounded by single family residential homes, houses an existing two-story frame house built around 1950. The original proposal was for a “pipe-stem” division of the lot but the preferred request that came to the commission Tuesday night was for a non-pipe stem option.
Justice High Teacher Arrested for Sexual Relationship with Student A teacher at Justice High School has been arrested for having a sexual relationship with a student at the school, police announced Wednesday afternoon. Fairfax County Police say 57-year-old Philip Spivey of Falls Church is facing four felony charges of indecent liberties by a custodian for an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student at the Falls Church area high school. Detectives arrested Spivey Wednesday, after learning of the unlawful sexual conduct and he is currently being held at the county’s Adult Detention Center without bond. According to the Justice High School website, Spivey is an ESOL teacher at the school. Police report he is also employed as a private Philip Spivey. music teacher. Detectives ask anyone who has information or may have (Photo: Fairfax Co. Police) had inappropriate contact with Spivey to call the Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web or mobile, app “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers.” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.
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F.C. City Council ‘Retreat’ is Saturday The Falls Church City Council will conduct its annual “retreat” to discuss vision and longerterm issues before it this Saturday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the library of the Henderson Middle School. The meeting is open to the public. At 10:30 a.m., the Council will trek to the nearby site of the new George Mason High School under construction for a hardhat tour of its progress.
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From its Matthews, North Carolina, headquarters, the Harris Teeter grocery company issued a thank-you statement to its “loyal shoppers and valued associates who donated more than $1.5 million to local food banks during the Harvest Feast Roundup campaign in November and December.” During that period, shoppers were invited to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar. The contributions equated to 15 million meals, it was
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PAGE 10 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes ‘Passport’ Performances At Cauldron Revealed The Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) has announced its lineup for this weekend’s portion of the “Passport Around the World” series, which runs until Feb. 12. Friday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. — David Kline Band Tribute to Jimi Hendrix: The global sound and the hard rocking fiddle of Dave Kline leads his band of international musicians through original compositions and interpretations of Hendrix with special guests Lynn Veronneau (vocals) and Ken Avis (vocals/guitar). Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. — Irene Jalenti’s “Anima Latina:” Irene, who brought her
Beatles jazz homage to the 2019 festival, pairs with 2019 Grammynominated Cuban-Venezuelan pianist César Orozco and Venezuelan percussionist Francisco Vielma to explore the music of Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, and Cabo Verde. The Italian vocalist with a sultry voice has been touring in Europe and China during the past year. Sunday, January 26 at 7 p.m. — Burns Night with Sean Heely: Fiddle champion, vocalist and all-around multi-instrumentalist Sean Heely with the finest Celtic musicians in the region, pipes in the Haggis for a Burns night to remember. Heely is a Strathmore artist-in-residence graduate who has been touring his high-energy traditional music in the British
Isles and Latin America during the past year to rave reviews. For more information about these shows or to purchase tickets to a performance, visit creativecauldron.org.
Young Adult Book Festival Announces 2020 Line Up Sabaa Tahir, a New York Times bestselling author of the “Ember Quartet” series, leads the author line up released today for the 7th annual NoVaTEEN Book Festival coming to Marshall High School in Falls Church on March 14. The free festival, which has grown from around 300 attendees in 2014 to 1,000 last year, brings together authors and readers to celebrate and promote Young
Adult (YA) fiction. Previous NoVaTEEN festivals have featured Jason Reynolds (“Long Way Down”), Karen M. McManus (“One of Us is Next”), Holly Black (“The Cruel Prince”), Julie Murphy (“Dumplin’”) and Marie Lu (the “Young Elites” series). In addition to the keynote address, the day-long event will include moderated author panels, breakout sessions, games, writing workshops and author signings. NoVa TEEN will announce the full schedule next month. Many of the authors will also spend time on Friday meeting students at area high schools. One More Page Books, an independent, neighborhoodoriented bookstore in the Falls
Church/Arlington community, cohosts the event with Arlington Public Library, Fairfax County Public Library, Loudoun County Public Library, George Mason University’s Fall for the Book, Friends of Arlington Public Library (FOAL) and other area public library and school systems to offer this day-long literary event. Tickets are available now at novateenbookfestival.com In alphabetical order, the authors announced are: Anna Bright, “The Beholder;” Mintie Das, “Brown Girl Ghosted;” Alechia Dow, “The Sound of Stars;” MK England, “Spellhacker;” Mia García, “The Resolutions;” Adalyn Grace, “All the Stars and Teeth;” Robin Ha, “Almost American Girl;” Olivia
EVEN THE UTILITY BOXES are getting a little glamour outside of City Hall. The unsigned artwork decorates a power box on the corner of Park Ave. and Little Falls St., and is a nice touch to the completed City Hall renovations that were wrapped up last spring. (Photos: Courtesy News-Press)
Send Us Your News & Notes!
The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Hinebaugh, “The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me;” Christina June, “No Place Like Here;” Ariel Kaplan, “We Are the Perfect Girl;” Brigid Kemmerer, “A Heart So Fierce and Broken;” Ryan La Sala, “Reverie;” Mackenzie Lee, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky;” Katie McGarry, “Echoes Between Us;” Alexandra Monir, “The Life Below: The Final Six #2;” Caroline Richmond Tung, “Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Love & Food;” Kristen Simmons, “Scammed: Vale Hall #2” Zack Smedley, “Deposing Nathan;” Phil Stamper, “The Gravity of Us;” Danielle Stinson, “Before I Disappear;” Sabaa Tahir, “A Reaper at the Gates;” Robin Talley, “Music from Another World;” Nandi Taylor, “Given;” Katy Upperman, “How the Light Gets In;” Ismée Williams, “This Train is Being Held” and Ashley Woodfolk, “When You Were Everything.” The festival will be held March 14 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). The event is free and open to the public; tickets are available in advance at novateenbookfestival.com.
Chinese New Year Celebrated At Jackson Middle The 13th annual Chinese New Year Festival will be held for one day only by the Asian Community Service Center, on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Snow day alternative: Feb. 8). There will be live performances, including dragon and lion dances, Asian food, the writing of Chinese names, language, craft and business booths, children world and also a lunar new year dragon parade. The event will run from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Luther Jackson
Middle School (3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church). Free parking and Admission: $5. 2020 is the year of the Rat. Because Rat is the Zodiac head, this year’s theme is “Return to Tradition.” For more information, contact Tiny at 571-336-6098, website: ChineseNewYearFestival.org.
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 11
Amadeus Orchestra with Sivan Silver, Piano Soloist Sivan Silver, in her first solo appearance with Amadeus Orchestra, opens the Beethoven Year on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. at Saint Luke Catholic Church (7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean). Silver will perform Beethoven’s sparkling Concerto No. 1, which he wrote to feature himself as a soloist. Two French rarities bracket the concerto: Saint-Sean’s Rigaudon and Gounod’s Symphony No. 1. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased at the door, online at amadeusconcerts.com or via telephone at 703-759-5334. Students 17 and under and active military are admitted free of charge. A pre-concert lecture by Music Director A. Scott Wood will begin at 3:15 p.m., 45 minutes prior to the start of the concert. A reception will follow the concert, at which attendees may meet and chat with the performers and fellow concert goers.
Arts Competition Returns To Alden Theatre High school students are invited to showcase their artistic achievements in the 2020 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition. Sponsored by The Alden (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean), this
SO LONG BILL ABEL! The watercolor painter, crossing guard and yoga instructor (center, in plaid jacket) at Karma Yoga on W. Broad St. bid adieu to his co-workers at the studio in a private goodbye celebration last Friday at Ireland’s 4 Provinces. Abel’s future plans will no longer involve the Little City, but what is known is Karma Yoga will miss him dearly. (P����: C������� O����� J������) competition encourages local youths’ artistic development and promotes the study of the arts. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 24. The competition is open to 9th –12th-grade students who reside or attend school in Dranesville Small Tax District-1A. A $1,200 scholarship prize will be given to first-place winners in each of the following categories: Dance, Theater, Vocal Music and
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Instrumental Music; second-place winners in all four categories will receive $800 and third-place winners will each receive $400. Starting this year, the first-place instrumental music award will be named in honor of Anita Lamkin, a long-time friend of young musicians and supporter of music performances in McLean. There are no restrictions on the use of the award money. Finalists must perform in the preliminary
round of the competition the week of Feb. 3, and at the final competition on March 18, to be eligible to receive an award. Applications can be completed online by following this link: surveymonkey.com/r/ TheAldenMacdonald2020. A nonrefundable, $20 fee is required for each application form submitted. For more information, visit: mcleancenter.org/performing-arts/ community-arts-2.
PAGE 12 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Monday’s Day of Service to commemorate the example set by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was successful, by most accounts. Thousands of volunteers in the Metro region spent the day, or a good portion of it, helping others, such as collecting food to restock food pantries, packing boxes of needed items for troops overseas, and filling reusable bags with non-perishable food items for distribution to needy schoolchildren and their families. One well-attended effort, held at the First Christian Church of Falls Church in Seven Corners, was organized by healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente (KP), and focused on family health. More than 200 reusable shopping bags of food were packed for distribution, and KP physicians provided preliminary medical screening for children and adults. A mobile dental van from the Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) was on site for dental exam services for children. One little girl sat comfortably in her mother’s lap in the dental chair as the young volunteer dental hygienist taught her (the toddler, not the Mom!) to open her mouth wide for a brief exam. Not a whimper was heard as the hygienist performed what probably was the child’s first dental experience. The MCCP van, which has two dental suites, and is fully accessible via a wheelchair lift, is so popular that there is a waiting list for community events. More than 1,000 children have received dental exams at the van, just since August! Also on site was a larger van, operated by KP and fully accessible, with two medical exam rooms and separate space for immunizations and medical counseling. The vans represent significant investments ($500,000 for the fully outfitted MCCP van) in com-
munity health; MCCP volunteers must raise a lot of money to support their programs. Participants in Monday’s Day of Service agreed that their service was all about partnerships and the community. Indeed, other participants at First Christian included the Culmore Clinic, which provides medical care to uninsured residents and works to connect patients to a medical home; the MAPS clinic, a partnership with nursing students at George Mason University that provides complementary services; Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, whose Social Services Department provides food, rental assistance, sewing classes, and other activities to help needy families across the community; and the Fairfax County Police Department, an important partner in ensuring that our community stays the safest jurisdiction of its size in the nation. When police officers get to know the community they patrol in peaceful times, they are better able to respond to calls for service in not-so-peaceful times. Just like in any neighborhood, getting to know who’s who makes for a stronger bond and a friendlier, more cohesive, community. Community celebrations are ongoing in our diverse community. This weekend features the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat. Celebrations are being held at the Eden Center, Luther Jackson Middle School in Merrifield, and other locations. The rat is the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac, and is considered to be clever and a quick thinker. Not the reputation of rats!
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
R EA L E STATE
R��� E����� W����� 2020
Duplexes Might Cure Affordability, But Might Change Neighborhoods
BY MATT DELANEY
WINTER 2020 | PAGE 13
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
A unique zoning designation permitted a new duplex to spring up in the heart of the City of Falls Church, but the development may not be a one-off if proposed legislation to upzone all single-family lots to accommodate multifamily structures passes down in Richmond. The bill’s goal of increasing affordability remains unclear, however, it will likely face opposition to the visual changes to neighborhoods it invites. The house at 517 Great Falls St. is soon to be 517 A/B once
Michael Albrittain of Albrittain Group Realty completes the construction and puts the rental properties on the market within the next month. The lot became available after a two-alarm house fire burned down the home in March 2018. Albrittain purchased the lot in Sept. 2018 for $926,250 and, upon viewing the property’s details, discovered that it was zoned to allow a duplex on it, or a “two-family dwelling” in the City code. “It was kind of an aberration. Not a lot of other locations in the City have that option,” Albrittain said. John Boyle, the City’s zoning
administrator, highlights just how rare the designation is. The lot has to be zoned as R-1B, the code for medium density residential, which a chunk of the City’s northwestern portion along Great Falls St. is. Although the minimum lot size has to be 12,000 square feet, instead of 7,500 square feet. for a typical R-1B lot, and it has to have a minimum lot width of 100 feet, instead of 60 feet that is standard for medium density residences. He hopes to court a long-term rental, and will pitch its proximity to the upcoming Founders Row development that’s a short walk away from the nearby Washington
ONE OF THE REASONS developer Michael Albrittain chose to make his soon-to-be-completed duplex on Great Falls St. a rental rather than put it up for sale is because the road’s high activity makes it more palatable without a long-term commitment. (P����: N���-P����.) & Old Dominion Trail. The homes themselves are 4,500 square feet with five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. They also include granite countertops, hardwood flooring and stairs, a fireplace, a screen porch and a back patio, a
large fenced in yard on both sides with an eight-inch “party wall” to buffer noise between the two residences. Growing up in a development family, Albrittain learned that if
Continued on Page 14
INSIDE: 15 or 30 Year Mortgage? ���� 17 | Native Oaks Could Be Down with the Sickness ���� 18 | F.C. Real Estate Market #s ����� 19-20
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R EA L E STATE
PAGE 14 | WINTER 2020
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Bill’s Passage Would Clear Way for Two-Family Dwellings in State
Continued from Page 13
he spent enough time on a project it was wiser to rent it out rather than sell it — especially since his price point for a sale wasn’t where he thought it should be. Still, despite backing into the decision to rent it out, the homebuilder who has the duplex listed as “luxury” homes on his website doesn’t consider them affordable housing. A different strain of thought seems to be budding up in Richmond. House Delegate Ibraheem Samirah from the 86th district, which covers parts of Chantilly, Herndon and Sterling, introduced HB 152 and its intent to upzone all single-family lots to allow duplexes and other kinds of housing structures. In the bill’s own words, it requires “...all localities to allow development or redevelopment of ‘middle housing’ residential units upon each lot zoned for singlefamily residential use. Middle housing is defined as two-family residential units, including duplexes, townhouses, cottages, and any similar structure.” Samirah’s rationale for this bill, articulated in a press packet obtained by the News-Press, is about using the market to achieve a social good. “Not only would these housing types help alleviate Virginia’s housing shortage, but they are the type of units that are relied on by low-income people and people of color,” Samirah’s statement reads, citing the history of singlefamily zoning to enforce racial and economic segregation. “My bill to legalize middle housing is a rare chance to pursue equity by empowering the market rather than regulating it.” There is a precedent for this kind of legislation in parts of the country. According to Politico, the Minneapolis city council approved changes to its comprehensive plan with its aim to abolish all single-family housing zoning last year. Oregon went a step further in 2019 as well, passing a law statewide where cities of more than 1,000 people in the Portland metropolitan area and those of more than 25,000 in the rest of the state will have to allow up to fourplexes in singlefamily neighborhoods, while cities between 10,000 and 25,000 would have to at least allow duplexes, per Oregon Public Broadcasting.
TWO VIEWS, SAME SPECS. The duplex will be listed as 517 A/B when it is up for rent within the next month and offers identical structures with the layouts reversed. Both residences will include five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-car garage, which is better seen in the left picture. The right picture gives an idea about the layout of the lawn and driveway, where fenced in front and back yards will be featured in both of the properties. Along with that, granite countertops and hardwood floors and stairs will be a part of both units, as well as a fireplace, a screened in front porch and a back patio and an eight-inch “party wall” to buffer any noise between the homes. (Photos: News-Press) Emily Hamilton, a housing policy researcher at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, tells Reason.com that high-end areas where old homes are torn down and replaced by McMansions — such as Falls Church, McLean and Fairfax — could see developers pivot to building duplexes instead if HB 152 were to become law. Albrittain said the finances do make sense from the development side. In his case, he’s building one less finished wall and accounting for less windows, but it’s still one structure just divided into two with reversed layouts. However, Samirah’s logic is uncertain. Christina Stacy, a senior research associate in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute, told the News-
Press that it’s too soon to tell if a lift on single-family zoning will have any effect on an area’s affordable housing problems. She said the thinking among housing economists is that increasing supply in the middle to high income markets is likely to have a positive effect on affordability at the lower end. While it will take some time to see if the evidence will bear that out, ideally, Stacy continues, allowing for increased density would have to be paired with the availability of accessory dwelling units to really take a chunk out of the 264,000 low cost units the Washington, D.C. region is recommended to build by 2030, per a recent Urban Institute report. In the here and now, Falls Church City Commissioner of Revenue Tom Clinton is neither
for nor against the Great Falls St. duplex, though he did say that it is “certainly not workforce housing,” or the kind of home within reach of low-wage workers or even teachers and firefighters. But what is catching homeowners’ eyes is the potential for similar outside-the-norm houses to start dotting their neighborhoods. As the bill continues, “Such structures shall not require a special use permit or be subjected to any other local requirements beyond those imposed upon other authorized residential uses. Localities may regulate the siting, design, and environmental standards of middle housing residential units, including setback requirements, provided that the regulations do not, individually or cumulatively, discourage the development of all two-family
housing types permitted through unreasonable costs or delay.” Taken to the extreme, builders could assemble duplexes in single-family neighborhoods at will. Albrittain’s testament to the favorable cost-benefit analysis of two-family developments makes it an avenue that other firms could find worthy of exploring. Clinton, who is also on the board for the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, mentioned that other members enjoy their single-family aesthetic, and believe that houses should look reasonably like other houses along the same block. He noted that nearby Vienna’s saturation of McMansions doesn’t come off as consistent or planned at all — a problem that could pop up with duplexes if they were to become en vogue.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
R EA L E STATE
WINTER 2020 | PAGE 15
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PAGE 16 | WINTER 2019
R EA L E STATE A Falls Church News-Press Advertorial
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
M e e t Fa l l s C h u rc h’ s Re a l E s t a t e E x p e r t s A����� B�����, K����� W�������
T��� M�K�����, K����� W�������
I, like many others, have chosen to live, work, and raise my children in the Little City™. I am such a strong advocate of our wonderful community and I bring over 10 years of real estate experience in sales, rentals, and renovation. Bred from a family of small business owners I understand the importance of consistently delivering a high level of customer service to all my clients. Prior to setting down roots in Falls Church, I began my real estate career over a decade ago in New York City where I held a sales position at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan. After leaving New York, I settled in the United Kingdom. I specialized in luxury residential real estate in Prime Central London working for top agencies and one of the largest privately-owned property businesses — the Grosvenor Estate. Leading real estate teams, driving marketing and branding initiatives, I successfully negotiated hundreds of real estate transactions while representing buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. After returning stateside several years ago, I decided the time was right to utilize my experience and wealth of knowledge from larger national and international markets, to create a brand with a focus of providing the right advice to clients, backed by the highest level of customer service, and the best marketing. To show your house in the best light, we hire top designers, writers and photographers. Which is why The Bitici Group attracts forward-thinking clients and exceptional real estate to prove that fantastic results are achieved with a bespoke, tailored approach. For an intelligent, personalized approach to buying and selling, contact The Bitici Group at Keller Williams.
Tori McKinney LOVES being a Realtor—perfectly blending her passion for Falls Church and finding her clients their dream homes in her beloved community. After moving to Falls Church in 1998, McKinney immersed herself in community advocacy and served as Housing Commission Vice-Chair. McKinney is on the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation Board and is the Executive Producer of Tinner Hill Music Festival occurring this year on June 13, 2020. She is a member of the NVAR Multi-Million Dollar Club and a Lifetime Member of the NVAR Diamond Club. Named Pillar of the Community by Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, she is annually voted Best Realtor by Falls Church News-Press readers. McKinney is Falls Church’s expert, eager to provide home buyers and sellers ROCK STAR service. Tori McKinney, ROCK STAR Realty Group, KW Metro Center 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201 • 703-867-8674 ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com
K�� T������, TTR S������’� I������������ R�����
As a Lifelong resident of Falls Church City, I’ve experienced first hand the growth and changes to the local and regional real estate market. My past experiences in mortgage & finance, running local small businesses, volunteering, being involved in the local school systems, and building relationships over the past decades, gives me a unique perspective and advantage in representing my clients in the local Northern Virginia Real Estate Market. I am fully committed to providing you with a higher level of service that will make your real estate experience as easy and stressfree as possible.
Regularly recognized as one of Washington, DC’s top producing Realtors®, Ken has more than 25 years professional experience combined in the legal and real estate fields. Prior to becoming a top producing Realtor®, he was a successful litigation attorney and draws frequently from that experience in his real estate career: “The skills to be a successful Realtor® are the same skills it takes to be a successful lawyer: I focus on delivering the highest level of integrity, professionalism and expertise to my clients.” In addition, Ken’s ability to tell a home’s story has landed his listings on the pages of The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal. This ability to create a buzz about a property has helped his listings sell more quickly and for top dollar. Ken also regularly hosts Home Trends with Ken, a video series that helps homeowners create their dream home while adding equity to one of their most valuable assets. For more detailed information about Ken’s real estate practice and to view past episodes of Home Trends with Ken, visit KenTrotterHomes.com.
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Ken Trotter, J.D., Realtor, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 703-863-0650 (c) 745-1212 (o) KenTrotterHomes.com
Albert Bitici, The Bitici Group, KW Metro Center 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22201 • (571) 775-0468 thebiticigroup.com
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
R EA L E STATE
WINTER 2020 | PAGE 17
Lenders Weigh in on Benefits of 15 vs. 30 Year Mortgages BY PATRICIA LESLIE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Whether a buyer seeks a 15or 30-year mortgage is based on their plan for their life, but both present unique advantages that should be hammered out before committing to one over the other. A lengthier term has a lower rate, allowing a consumer to have more money for education, household goods, vacations and paying off higher-interest bills, which is a reason “to keep more of your money,” according to Kevin Parker, the vice president for field mortgage originations at Navy Federal Credit Union. Plus, added inflation reduces monthly payments in real dollars. “A 15-year is attractive to persons with a lot of cash on hand, who don’t want to be burdened with long-term debt, who have the money to pay the higher note,” Parker added. “The longer term you can go out, the better, since you’re holding on to your money at a lower rate,” John Tomasello, a vice president for consumer mortgages at Burke & Herbert Bank said.
But he “absolutely” recommends 15-year loans to those who can afford them. “A 15-year loan and its higher payments make it tougher when an emergency happens,” Ana C. Tolentino, senior loan officer at Atlantic Coast Mortgage, said, but she, too, recommends them. For a hypothetical $500,000 mortgage, Tomasello quickly figured up the difference in monthly payments between a 15-year loan and a 30-year which came to about $1,200 less for the longer term, based on last week’s rates. But, paying one month’s principal early on the front end of a 30-year loan can shave several years off a loan life, Tomasello said. And, by making extra principal payments during the life of the loan, borrowers can reduce their balances owed since lenders can only charge interest based on balances. Tolentino said many older mortgagees don’t want to be burdened with a monthly obligation when they approach fixed income status. She and Tomasello both mentioned lower monthly obligations
with 20-year mortgages, which are sometimes overlooked. “It has a little bit higher interest rate,” Tolentino said, “but it cuts years off your loan.” And then there are adjustablerate mortgages. Remember them? “They get such a bad rap,” Tolentino said. “Many don’t have the best feelings about them,” — but — “they are not such a bad idea, for five, seven, or ten years” out when older persons may be thinking later about moving to a retirement home, assisted living or moving in with family. The interest rates for adjustable rate mortgages are slightly lower, and last week on the web, they matched rates (three percent) for 15-year loans. According to the terms, their interest fluctuates every few years, and the rate can actually diminish. “They make sense if you are going to sell your home in five or seven years, and they are not a lot of risk,” Parker said. He should know since he got one four years ago. Timing is critical for these loans “which have a lower inter-
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est rate because risk is reduced and reset every five years or whatever the term is.” In 2017 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 63 percent of homeowners have mortgages of which 90 percent are 30-year loans, according to a report the same year by Freddie Mac, the government entity which buys mortgages and sells them to investors. “The internet has plenty of
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PAGE 18 | WINTER 2020
R EA L E STATE
Experts Not Definitive About Diagnosis of Weakening Oaks
by Christopher Jones
Falls Church News-Press
With native oak trees appearing unseasonably ill and eventually dying off, speculation that a disease spreading throughout the region could be infiltrating Falls Church abounded. But despite a troubling eye test from residents, local experts have yet to reach the same conclusion. “It was heartbreaking!” said area resident Allison Dobbins about the loss of the massive oak tree in her front yard in the Poplar Heights neighborhood, just outside the City of Falls Church. One day, she said the massive tree had vitality, and then, “the very next day, it just wasn’t — it was completely dead and had to come down.” Soon after, a commercial arborist determined another mature oak in the front yard would have to be removed. The cost: thousands of dollars, according to Dobbins. And, the tree die-off seemed to be spreading, block to block. “All of a sudden it pops up on trees in the neighborhood. They look like fall trees in the summertime, while all the other trees are alive and well,” said Dobbins. Has Oak Decline, a tree disease caused by the pathogen phytophthora, come to the City of Falls Church? Not yet, according to Kate Reich, City of Falls Church arborist and Charles Prince, Falls Church Urban Forester, though they have seen significant oak tree problems just
next door in Arlington County, where, per Reich, oak decline was pretty scary looking. Shannon Shy, consulting arborist with Ax Tree Services serving Falls Church and arborist for the Town of Vienna, said cases have been confirmed in Prince William County and parts of Maryland, but not yet in Falls Church City. To explain why oak decline has hit Arlington County and not yet the City of Falls Church, Reich highlighted faster urbanization causing tree stress in the county. “Arlington is more urbanized than we are…,” she said, “and, we’re less paved than Arlington.” For Reich and Prince, the oak tree die-off is explained, not simply by one particular tree fungus, bacteria or pest, but from a complex set of variables associated with a much wider array of causes, from climate and weather stresses (drought and excessive rain) to damaged root systems, poor soil structure, improper tree care and maintenance. Recent droughts in the area have particularly exacerbated the problem. “Historically, Northern Virginia doesn’t have a drought season,” Reich said, “But, we’ve been seeing a lot of drought. In fact, this last summer, the National Weather Service called it a ‘flash drought.’ I have never heard of that in my life,” she said. Even though major oak decline hasn’t yet exploded in the City, Reich indicated many red oaks have suffered from bacterial leaf scorch.
BUT OTHERS, such as Allison Dobbins’ dead oak tree in the Poplar Heights neighborhood in greater Falls Church, has been enough evidence for residents to conclude that something is amiss with the local crop. (Photo: Christopher Jones)
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SOME TREES, such as this one planted outside Sfizi Cafe on the corner of West Broad and Oak St, have been healthy enough to hold their leaves through the winter, according to City of Falls Church Arborist Kate Reich. (Photo: Christopher Jones).
Analysis of trees along West Broad Street has found that the trees in the median with higher soil volume at the base are faring better than the trees along the sidewalks in the smaller planter areas. Some trees near the Giant Foods at West Falls Plaza shopping center have suffered significantly and have required more pruning than usual. “It is quite possible that once it’s run its course and killed a lot of red oaks, it’ll pick something else,” Reich said. Aware of local concerns about oak decline, Reich and Prince would like to “combat misinformation” about the syndrome and help residents properly care for their trees. They’ve posted a new flyer on the Falls Church City government’s website entitled: “Oak Decline in Northern Virginia.” “In recent years,” in northern Virginia, it begins, “oaks in the white oak group… have started dying in significant numbers. Some reports indicate other oaks are affected as well.” The die-off is caused by “water stress ” as well as “construction damage” on or “near your property.” Homeowners can take a variety of steps to mitigate risks to their trees, including working with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist who is “not associated with a tree service company” for guidance on tree and root damage prevention. Within the City of Falls Church, tree care contractors are required to have an annual permit, according to Reich and Prince, and the City will provide homeowners a list of all tree companies who employ ISA Certified contractors.
According to Reich and Prince, mounding up a large pile of mulch in the shape of a volcano against the base of a tree’s trunk (i.e., “volcano mulch”) is one of the worst things a homeowner or tree service can do, because it risks rotting the tree’s root and bark systems, and can often kill a tree. The flyer also suggests giving trees “space” by considering replacing grassy lawn areas surrounding the base of the tree with mulched and shrubbed zones (since the roots of grasses run deep and compete for nutrients with the trees’ roots.) Being sure to have proper soil tests before applying potentially “unnecessary” or harmful fertilizers or sprays is also important. The flyer places special emphasis on avoiding treating “diseases or insects without knowing the cause of [a tree’s] decline,” since “treating for diseases that are not present or treating when it will not help the tree’s likelihood of survival will waste your money and can cause negative impacts to our local ecosystems.” They also list five “Secondary Factors” identified by tree specialists as causing “stressed trees,” for which treatments are not likely to “improve your tree’s health.” These include: Armillaria root rot, Hypoxylon Canker, Ambrosia Beetles, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, and Two-Lined Chestnut Borer. The flyer also provides many helpful links for the homeowner concerned about tree care. For Reich and Prince, who oversee and protect the City’s inventory of 10,000 trees, vigilance is essential. “Falls Church has a tree culture and we want to support that,” Reich reassured.
R EA L E STATE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Real Estate
WINTER 2020 | PAGE 19
Top Falls Church Home Sales
October-December #2 $1,646,600
#1 $1,950,000
#4 $1,605,142 #3 $1,612,500 Top 5 F.C. Home Sales October 1 – December 31, 2019 Address BR #1 3621 Stanford Cir. 7 #2 1504 Crane St. 6 #3 2160 Royal Lodge Dr. 5 #4 6512 32nd St. 6 #5 3502 Pinetree Ter. 6
FB
4 5 5 5 6
HB 1 1 1 1 0
List Price
$1,999,999 $1,650,000 $1,650,000 $1,619,000 $1,559,000
Sale Price
$1,950,000 $1,646,600 $1,612,500 $1,605,142 $1,559,000
Zip
22041 22046 22043 22046 22041
Date Sold
12/23/19 10/3/19 11/4/19 10/11/19 11/20/19
Source: MRIS, Inc.; Photos: MRIS, Falls Church News-Press
#5 $1,559,000
R EA L E STATE
PAGE 20 | WINTER 2020
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Falls Church Area Housing Market — 4th Quarter 2019 Report Zip Code Area Median Price Number of Homes Sold
Average Days on Market
22046
City of Falls Church $769,200
48
22041
Bailey’s Crossroads
$358,000
61
27
22042
Sleepy Hollow
$575,450
98
18
22043
Pimmit Hills
$634,250
60
24
22044
Lake Barcroft
$663,250
28
23
26
Home Sales Vs. 1 Year Ago
Home Prices Vs. 1 Year Ago
Change in # of Homes Sold: 4th Quarter ‘19 vs 4th Quarter ‘18
Change in Median Home Price: 4th Quarter ‘19 vs 4th Quarter ‘18
-30.43%
Change in Falls Church City (22046)
-3.85%
Change in Falls Church City (22046)
-29.89%
Change in Bailey’s X-roads (22041)
+20.13%
Change in Bailey’s X-roads (22041)
+6.52%
Change in Sleepy Hollow (22042)
+14.63%
Change in Sleepy Hollow (22042)
-6.25%
Change in Pimmit Hills (22043)
+5.71%
Change in Pimmit Hills (22043)
-28.21%
Change in Lake Barcroft (22044)
+21.70%
Change in Lake Barcroft (22044)
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. Copyright © 2020 Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
The Senate GOP Parade of Lemmings
Tuesday’s first-day’s commencement of the impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate of Donald Trump, slogging deep into the night as it did, resulted in a set of identical 53-47 votes that demonstrated the lemming-like march toward political self-destruction by Senate Republicans the likes of which observers for centuries to come will mark with wonderment and countless really good Saturday Night Live jokes. The Senate Republicans simply don’t grasp how clownish, foolish and absurd, from the standpoint of history much less voter constituencies this November, their astounding Monty Pythonish “silly walk” appears. Repeatedly rejecting motions for documents or witnesses Tuesday, they became blatantly obvious accomplices to the egregious and clearly evident crimes of FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS Trump by way of a massive cover-up. As the Democratic National Committee stated (the GOP having nothing to say on its side except to whine and vote “No” to it all), “This isn’t about a handful of papers; it’s about multiple first-hand witnesses and a paper trail that will provide critical information about the charges against Trump.” Summarizing, the information being denied includes the following: Witnesses — Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton, who said he is willing to testify. Trump’s acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who at Trump’s direction coordinated the plot to withhold Ukraine’s security assistance and White House meeting until Ukraine announced an investigation into Trump’s political opponent Michael Duffey, a key witness to Trump’s abuse of power. Duffey, a political appointee at OMB, has intricate knowledge of the military aid freeze that Trump demanded. Robert Blair, a top aide to Trump’s acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who coordinated Trump’s pressure campaign against Ukraine. Blair followed Trump’s directive not to comply with the impeachment investigation and has refused to testify. The Senate needs to hear from him. White House documents related to — The White House’s internal meetings discussing the Ukraine scheme, including the firing of Ambassador Yovanovitch. Trump’s request for investigations into interference in the 2016 presidential election and his political rival. Trump’s direct communications with President Zelensky. Trump’s unlawful hold of the $391 million of military aid. Concerns of White House officials reported to NSC legal counsel. The Intelligence Community Inspector General Whistleblower complaint. State Department documents — Emails from Ambassador Gordon Sondland regarding Trump’s demand that Ukraine announce political investigations. Those emails were sent to some of Trump’s top aides and advisors, including Mulvaney, Pompeo, and Rick Perry. Notes from Ambassador Bill Taylor, who described a “little notebook” in which he would “take notes on conversations.” Contemporaneous memos written by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent about conversations he’d witnessed related to the aid freeze. The first-person cable Ambassador Taylor sent to Pompeo expressing concerns about the aid freeze. Records related to Pompeo’s communications with Rudy Giuliani. OMB documents — 20 emails the White House is refusing to release between Robert Blair and Michael Duffey. Documents collected in the White House review, including communications between officials in the White House, National Security Council, OMB, and the State Department that reportedly paint an “unflattering” picture of the administration’s response as the White House tried to find “an after-the-fact justification” for Trump’s hold on military aid. Michael Duffey’s June 19, 2019, email to DOD that “the President has questions” about the security assistance. Robert Blair’s July 12, 2019, email to Michael Duffey stating that “the President is directing a hold on military support funding for Ukraine.” Michael Duffey’s email — less than two hours after Trump’s July 25 call with President Zelensky — instructing DOD to continue to “formalize” the hold on security assistance. An August 2019 memo drafted by OMB’s National Security Division, International Affairs Division, and Office of Legal Counsel to Acting OMB Director Russell Vought about Ukraine security assistance. Michael Duffey’s August 30, 2019, email to DOD stating that there was “clear direction from POTUS” to continue the hold. OMB documents released late Tuesday night — The New York Times’s Ken Vogel wrote: “At 11:58 p.m., the White House released nearly 200 pages of OMB emails related to Ukraine, including a bevy of emails to/from the officials Senate Dems want to subpoena. On quick read, they are so heavily redacted as to be almost indecipherable.” Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
CO MME NT
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 21
Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
Seven years after Arlington garnered sour, nationwide publicity over its million-dollar bus stop (only a prototype!), work began last month on more-modestly priced glass kiosks that will shelter riders and demystify bus schedules on ever-trafficky Columbia Pike. The contract for four initial stops of a planned 23, for $500,000 apiece at Buchanan and Oakland Sts., Four Mile Run and Glebe Rd., went to the lowest bidder. That’s what I’m told by community activist Kim Klingler, now in her 10th month as executive director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization. The nonprofit coalition partnered with the county in publicizing the coming new stops, she said in her storefront office across from Arlington Village. “Arlington’s Oldest and Newest Main Street,” read its posters surrounding bulletin boards packed with neighborhood event notices for the annual Blues Festival, Hispanic Heritage Month and park cleanup. Columbia Pike presents an opportunity for development and an enhanced county tax base that is simultaneously economically vulnerable. Its four-and-a-halfmile stretch hosts 32,000 households and 1.5 million square feet of commercial floor area — yet the potential of its by-right property is only at 37 percent, says the nonprofit’s strategic plan. Current construction has blocked car lanes in the pike’s west end, costing businesses in Columbia Pike Plaza
a 30-50 percent decline in customers. So Klingler’s team organized a Martin Luther King Day push to “hop on a bus, bike or scooter” to grab lunch or dinner to support these businesses. “Retail on the pike is a-changin’,” Klingler says. An October commercial market study performed with Arlington Economic Development found a consensus among businesses on a need to update a 2003 edition of the form-based zoning code. They would move away from auto-dependency to a more urban, mixed-use plan stressing groundfloor retail below apartments or condos up to seven stories, she noted. The nonprofit is partnering with business groups to explore “what kind of retail will create foot traffic.” There remains a desire to preserve the pike’s lack of snobby pretention. “It’s amazing the number of people whose first place in Arlington was on the pike — Dorchester or Barcroft Apartments,” said Klingler, who moved several years ago from North Arlington to nearby Walter Reed Dr. “There’s not a lot of bells and whistles, but that does keep it affordable.” The partially county-funded CPRO’s new quarterly report showed dues-paying membership growth up 86 percent over last year; 17 percent are businesses, 83 percent residents. With a full-time staff of three and one part-timer, CPRO is redesigning its website (adding more history) and negotiating afford-
able new digs. “We would like it to be more central,” nearer the pike’s middle at Glebe and George Mason Dr. to better “showcase the future.” She likes the storefront arrangement. “At first I didn’t think we’d get walk-ins, but one day we got 10.” A multi-pursuit activist and health care consultant who ran for county board, Klingler met with her five predecessors after taking the job she loves. “Who else has the opportunity” she asks, “to take passion and volunteer work and make it salaried, and use professional skills?” Gazing over the horizon, Klingler noted the December WMATA forecast that in a decade or two the pike may gain a new Metro Silver line. Given her energy and youth, Klingler may be around to boost it. *** The miracle of caller ID allows our household to ignore cold sales calls that jangle our phones all the live-long day. But I can’t help noticing the preponderance of caller numbers originating in Farmville, Big Stone Gap, Abingdon, Mechanicsville, Port Royal — fine Virginia locales I’ve visited but where we know literally no one. I checked the unemployment rates in the relevant counties, all nearly double that of fortunate Arlington’s 1.7 percent. Wise County, home to Big Stone Gap, has the highest at 4.9 percent. I sympathize with my fellow Virginians’ need to earn a living. But here’s hoping they can land something more pleasant (for all) than telemarketing.
PAGE 22 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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Brine Shutters in Mosaic District Brine Restaurant, located at 2985 District Avenue in the Mosaic District, has closed. The locally sourced restaurant owned by Travis Croxton, featured a raw bar and offered MidAtlantic fare from seafood to regional meats and produce. Croxton is the co-owner, along with his cousin Ryan Croxton, of Rappahannock River Oyster Company, which has been credited with rebuilding the Virginia oyster industry using ecologically friendly aquaculture harvesting techniques. For Brine’s oyster loving fans, there are local Rappahannock Oyster Bars at 1309 5th St NE in Union Market and at 1150 Maine Avenue, SW, at the Wharf. There is also a raw bar kiosk at the new Whole Foods in Tysons Corner. For more information about the Rappahannock Oyster Company, including additional locations in southern Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina and Los Angeles, visit www.rroysters.com.
Grace Christian Academy Hosting Open House Jan. 29 Grace Christian Academy, serving students from pre-K through 8th grade, will be hosting an admissions open house on Wednesday, Jan. 29 beginning at 7 p.m. Grace is accredited with exemplary status by Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation, Association of Christian Teachers and Schools, National Council for Private School Accreditation, and is recognized as a fully accredited private school in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the Virginia Council for Private Education, as authorized by the Virginia Board of Education. Attendees to the Open House will be able to tour the facility, learn about academic and extracurricular programs, and meet the staff. For those not able to attend, Principal Hurley offers personal tours by appointment. For more information, visit www.GraceChristianAcademy.org or call 703-534-5517.
F.C. Business License Renewals in the Mail This Month The 2020 Falls Church City business license renewals will be mailed later this month from the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office’s vendor. All paid 2019 City business license holders are considered to be in good standing until March 1, 2020, when the 2020 business license renewal will be due. Business license renewals should be postmarked or received by March 2, 2020 as March 1 falls on a Sunday. Questions and comments are to be directed to the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office at (703) 248-5450 or commissioner@fallschurchva.gov. Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
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PAGE 24 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
Swimming
THE GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL boys swim team continued their successful streak on Jan. 10 in Manassas, winning its double dual meet scoring 69 to 25 against Brentsville District High School and 83 to 8 against Central High School. The Mason Girls team emerged from the pool with two victories as well, scoring 68 to 26 against Brentsville, and 72 to 20 against Central Woodstock. While achieving a coveted state cut has proven more challenging this season with tougher Class 3 times, Mason keeps building its states-bound roster. (Photo: Ari Autor)
SPO RTS
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Mason Crumbles in 4th Quarter by Caitlin Butler
Falls Church News-Press
One final push fell just short for George Mason High School’s boys basketball team in its 45-41 loss to Broad Run High School last week on Jan. 15 The Mustangs lost their chance to win late in the fourth quarter last Wednesday when a threepoint attempt by junior guard Deven Martino couldn’t convert and ultimately sealed the game’s outcome. But the lack of scoring in the second quarter was what foreshadowed the eventual defeat, as the 7-2 scoring advantage from the Spartans killed Mason’s early momentum. Things started out well for the Falls Church locals. After senior forward Daniel Miller sank two long threes to help carry the Mustangs to a 9-4 lead, Mason continued to apply pressure and nailing down shots from a distance. The Mustangs also shut down the Broad Run offense to end the first quarter up 19-14. But senior forward Hunter Broxson’s free throws served as the team’s only points in the second quarter and went into the half
JUNIOR GUARD Bobby Asel put up five of the team’s seven points during its near comeback (Photo: Carol Sly) tied at 21-21. Martino helped bring the Mustangs back to life with a successful drive and foul shot to follow to start the third. With Mason up 26-21, Martino continued to lead the charge in the quarter for the Mustangs by adding a deep three to push Mason’s lead to 34-28. Broad Run countered with a smooth layup to end the third quarter down four and parlayed that into a hot start entrance into the final quarter. Eight straight points from the Spartans completed a 10-0 run
and gobbled up six minutes of the fourth. Junior guard Bobby Asel wound up scoring five of the team’s seven points for the home team to make Mason competitive, but the Mustangs faltered on too many offensive possessions to take back the lead. The Mustangs were on the road Tuesday night against Warren County High School where they claimed 65-50 victory and boosted their record to 7-6 record on the season. Mason will host Central High School for their next game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Defense Suffocates Wildcats in Major Win by Caitlin Butler
Falls Church News-Press
Individuals with state cuts include Ellen Chadwick in the 100, 200 and 50 Yard Free; Marie Roche in the 100 Yard Breast, Ryan York in the 50 & 100 Yard Free as well as the 100 Yard Back; and Jack Lindly in the 50 Yard Free. Mason will also send multiple relay teams including the Girls 200 Yard Free Relay, Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay, Boys 200 Yard Free Relay and Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay. With last Saturday’s meet postponed due to weather, Mason will resume competition on Friday at 7:50 p.m. against John Handley and Millbrook High Schools at Jim Barnett Park, 1001 Cork St., Winchester). (Photo: Ari Autor)
George Mason High School’s girls basketball team had an impressive defensive performance in a 54-16 win over the visiting Warren County High School Tuesday night. The Mustangs came out firing and finished the first quarter up 20-3 after shutting down the Wildcats’ best player and only senior Brianna Hogan. “We were keyed in on their best player and making sure we limited her touches and making sure we play a team defensively. We want to make them as uncomfortable as we possibly can and take them out of their comfort zones. We did a good job of that tonight,” said Mason head coach Chris Carrico. Defense often set the table for offense in this contest. For instance, steals by sophomore guard Zoraida Icabalceta allowed Mason to notch its first bucket early in the game. That carried over into the second quarter, where the Mustangs continued to hold
down the Wildcats offense by only allowing them to add just seven points. Meanwhile, the Mustangs’ aggressive man defense kept generating steals and easy scores, tallying up 17 more points for Mason by halftime. The early 37-10 cushion after two quarters allowed Carrico to rotate reserves into some game action. “Just getting all 11 girls engaged right from the get-go. That keeps everybody more into the game” said Carrico. The second half of the evening was no different than the first. Scoring slowed down a
bit with the bench players getting more court time, but the Mustangs were still able to add 17 more points between the last two quarters and outscore the visiting Wildcats by wide margins. “Today it was definitely the defensive intensity and just focusing on shutting down their offensive abilities. Then generating our offense off the way we play defense,” said Icabalceta on the Mason victory. The Mustangs will be on the road for their next game on Friday at Central High School with at tipoff set for 7:30 p.m.
SOPHOMORE GUARD Zoraida Icabalceta (right) helped steer Mason’s defensive-led win with her steals. (Photo: Carol Sly)
LO CA L
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 25
THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY �ifth graders shared their models from their annual Sex Creature Expo on Tuesday, with everything from penguins to octopi being created by the students. Another class decided to make historic �igures instead, with examples being Jane Gooddall and Jackie Robinson (P����: FCCPS P����/C���� S��)
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S����� N��� � N���� Henderson Top Geo Bee Contestants Determined The final for the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Geography Bee was last Thursday and finished in just under an hour. The top three placers were 7th grader Ruben Krishna in first, 8th grader Alessio Azimipour in second and 6th grader Attikus Kim in third. They were joined by assistant principal and judge Rory Dippold and Farrell Kelly, who organizes the event. Krishna will take the state test in the next few weeks to place into the state competition in Farmville in March.
Mulch from Sports Boosters Available for Purchase Interested gardeners are advised to order mulch from the George Mason High School Athletic Boosters at mason-fan-shop. myshopify.com/collections/mulchspring-only. The athletes will deliver the three cubic foot bags of high quality, shredded mulch to a buyers home on March 28 for $5 each, benefiting Mustang sports programs.
Beech Tree Students Learn from Children’s Author #KidsNeedMentors is a program with the goal of enriching young lives through the power and love of reading books. It’s a program
that matches authors with educators in a literary partnership that lasts throughout the school year. When Beech Tree Elementary second grade teacher Nadya Abu-Rish got wind of this program through Twitter, she knew she had to sign her class up for it. In August 2019, Abu-Rish received the long-awaited email with a match for her class, that would be mentored by award-winning author and illustrator Angela Dominguez. Dominguez has written several children’s books including “Stella Diaz Has Something to Say” and “Let’s Go Hugo” as well as has illustrated “Marta Big and Small” and “Kaia and the Bee.” Since their partnership started in August, Dominguez and the second graders have communicated through letters, videos and Google hangout. In the fall, the author visited their classroom, reading to the class and modeling how to draw one of her favorite book characters. She has even offered advice and guidance on the writing process.
Spring Sports Interest Meeting at Falls Church High Feb. 5 Falls Church High School (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church) spring sports interest meeting for all students who are intending to try out for a spring sport (baseball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis or track/field) is on Feb. 5 at 3:05 p.m. in the main gym. Important try out informa-
tion will be distributed and try out guidelines will be discussed. Spring sports tryouts begin on Monday, Feb. 24.
Fairfax Schools Hold Job Fair Next Saturday Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the largest school system in Virginia, is searching for educators with a strong academic background and a passion to make a difference in the lives of students during the 2020-21 school year. Principals and program managers will interview candidates at the FCPS Instructional Job Fair on Saturday, Feb. 1 (inclement weather date: Saturday, Feb. 8). Instructional candidates interested in becoming a part of a dynamic and diverse community that offers a challenging academic program for all students are encouraged to visit the job fair webpage to learn more and apply online. Instructional positions include teachers, counselors, librarians, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech pathologists. FCPS offers support to new instructional employees through an intensive mentoring program, professional development opportunities, and outstanding health and retirement benefits. Job fair interviews are by invitation only. Questions should be directed to the FCPS Department of Human Resources at 571-423-3000.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 Bouncing Babies. Interested attendees can join Tysons-Pimmit library staff for stories, activities, fingerplays and songs to engage infants. For ages birth – 18 months with adult in attendance. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-7908088. Author Talk with Jeffrey Peterson. Local author (and City of Falls Church resident) Jeffrey Peterson will discuss his recently published book, “A New Coast: Strategies for Responding to Devastating Storms and Rising Seas.” Drawing from his work over four decades with the EPA and other government agencies, Peterson examines how climate change is pushing our coasts inland and what policies
need to be adopted to address it. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m . 703-248-5034.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 3-on-3 Basketball Shootout. Free basketball activity for Grades 4-8. No registration necessary. All skill levels welcome. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 3:30 – 5 p.m. 703-2485027 (TTY 711). Chess Club. Interested attendees can learn chess from coach Ashley Xing, a member of the U.S. delegation to the 2018 World Youth Chess Championships. Participants can come to play chess, meet other chess players and learn. Players of all ages and levels are welcome. Boards and sets are provided. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 703-790-8088.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Winter Farmers Market. The year-round market is stocked with fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and much more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5034. Sing Books with Emily. A singing storytime with illustrated songs. Emily’s repertoire includes hundreds of songs to delight audiences of any age, many enhanced by instruments like guitar, glockenspiel, kazoo, foot tambourines and limberjack. Residents are encouraged to join the musical fun and illustrated song with the whole family. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 – 11:45 a.m. 703-248-5034.
MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Monday
Night
Yoga
(Space
Limited). Interested residents can join instructor Casie Anderson for a free one hour yoga class at the library. Attendance limited to 35 people due to high demand, so participants need to arrive early for tickets. Attendees should wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat and towel. All levels welcome. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. 703790-8088.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 Great Books Discussion. A “Great Books” discussion concentrating on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday most months. This week’s book is the “Anti-Federalist Papers:” Brutus #1 & #4 by Robert Yates and Cato #4 by George Clinton. Open to all and no registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8:30 p.m.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” Adapted from the New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner), the lives of two Afghan women are inextricably bound together. In the war-ravaged Kabul, Miriam and Laila become unlikely allies in the face of the insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life. Hopes of a new life lead to an unselfish and shocking decision, changing the course of their futures forever. Arena Stage (1101 Sixth Street, SW Washington, D.C.) $76. 8 p.m. arenastage.org.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 “Passport to the World.” A musical tour of the world in an intimate cabaret space, with a diverse musical line up curated by Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau of the Wammy Award-winning jazz samba group Veronneau. Music includes blues, jazz, Latin, fusion, bluegrass, folk and a musical experience only the well-travelled know. The 9th installment of the
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“Passport to the World” allows guests to travel the world without ever leaving Falls Church. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) $25. 7:30 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
“Bloomsday.” A young couple meet on a walking tour of James Joyce’s Dublin, but a misunderstanding keeps them apart. Thirty-five years later, they return to retrace their steps and confront their younger selves about the missed opportunity. An area premiere of this time-bending romance. Undercroft Theatre (900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.) $50. 8 p.m. stageguild.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 “Shear Madness.” First seen in Boston in 1980, and opening here at the Kennedy Center in 1987, the show reinvents itself every performance— pulling from the news of the day, and on-goings of the DMV, to improvise timely witticisms and gags. Set today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, this record-breaking comedy is Washington’s hilarious whodunit. After more than 12,000 performances, the show has stayed in great shape. Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW Washington, D.C.). $50. 2 p.m. kennedy-center.org.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, JANUARY 23
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 Dan & Chuck. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. The New Birth. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Union Stage presents at The Miracle Theatre — Glass Cannon. Miracle Theatre (535 8th St. SE Washington, D.C.). $35 – $75. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Masters of Hawaiian Music (encore performance on Sunday night at the same time and price). Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27. 8 p.m. 703-2551900. Scott Miller with Steve Schillinger. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. FFME & Jehovah’s Favorite Choir. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. The Glorious Sons + Des Rocs. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington D.C.) $20. 8 p.m. 202-265-0930. Kiss the Sky — A Tribute to Jimmi Hendrix. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $17 – $20. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300.
Ripe + New Respects. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington D.C.) $22. 7 p.m. 202-265-0930.
JMM. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
Run River North with New Dialogue. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $30. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25
Roshambo Tour with Nitti Gritti & Wuki. U Street Music Hall
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 27
(1115 U St. NW Washington, D.C.). $10 – $20. 10 p.m. 202588-1889.
Sean Tracy. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.
Karaoke. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-8589186.
CA L E NDA R
Brook Yoder. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Newmyer Flyer presents The Best of Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.
SEAN TRACY will be at Dogwood Tavern tonight (Photo: Facebook.com/SeanTracyMusic) Murder Mystery Comedy Show: Hit Me 90’s One More Time. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25. 7 p.m. 703-2551566. Blue Book Value. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. Twiddle + Scrambled Greg. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington D.C.) $23. 8 p.m. 202-265-0930. The Legwarmers — D.C.’s Biggest 80s Retro Dance Party. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $20. 9:30 p.m. 703237-0300. Legends of Rock: Tributes to Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age with Deja Foo and A Song for the Deaf. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 10 p.m. 703-255-1566. Swell. Dogwood Tavern (132 W.
Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333. A Tribute to Female Hip Hop and R&B feat. Band of Roses Live and In Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 Bachapalooza: South Riding & Landsdowne. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $5. Noon. 703-255-1566.
MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Bleeder, Don Zientara. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-525-8646.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 Women Who Rock: Ashleigh Chevalier + Rachel Ann Morgan + Mary-eL. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $12. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
Acoustic Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.
Shamans of Sound with Nkula. U Street Music Hall (1115 U St. NW Washington, D.C.). $10 – $15. 7p.m. 202-588-1889.
Sweet Yonder. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 6:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Ariella. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Cory Wong + Scott Mulvahill. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington D.C.) $25. 7 p.m. 202-265-0930.
Cowboy Junkies. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $55. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 28 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA A public hearing on the following is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard. (TR19-41) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UPDATE AND REPLACE CHAPTER 5, “NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT” WITH “ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES CHAPTER OF THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN”
All public hearings will be held in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@fallschurchva. gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).
CELESTE HEATH CITY CLERK PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING On Monday, February 3, 2020at 7:30 p.m., the Planning Commission will hold a public meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 to consider the following item:
Auction AUCTIONS ATTENTION.AUCTIONEERS Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@ vpa.net
Information on the proposed comprehensive plan amendments can be viewed at City Hall at 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA, Monday through Friday (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). You may contact the Planning Division at plan@fallschurchva.gov with any questions or concerns. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711) The above legal advertisement shall run on January 16, January 23, and January 30, 2020. Please call Shaina Schaffer, Planner at 571-419-7268 or email sschaffer@fallschurchva.gov to confirm the receipt of this ad and if you have any questions.
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(TR19-41) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UPDATE AND REPLACE CHAPTER 5, “NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT” WITH “ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES CHAPTER OF THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN” On Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., the City Council will hold a public meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 to consider the same items (TR19-41) described above.
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KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
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1. Org. implicated in the Snowden leaks 4. Shutterbug’s setting 9. Before it merged with Exxon, its tagline could have been “You can’t spell [this answer] without [circled letters]” 14. Take part in an auction 15. Site of some Chicago touchdowns 16. Chilling 17. Lumberjack’s tool 18. Florida senator Marco 19. Verbally 20. Hasbro brand whose tagline could be “You can’t spell [this answer] without [circled letters]” 23. Inner tube? 24. Blinking and sweating, in poker 25. Assumed name lead-in 28. Amounts to fry 30. Entered gradually 33. Spanish Mrs. 34. Whole bunch 36. Lakshmi of “Top Chef” 37. Anheuser-Busch brand whose tagline could be “You can’t spell [this answer] without [circled letters]” 40. Gender-neutral possessive 43. One poker chip, perhaps 44. ____ mai (Asian dumplings) 47. Like some diets 50. Moves a little unsteadily 52. Animal seen on every carton of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream 53. Duck with soft feathers 55. Symbol gotten on a PC by typing CTRL + ALT + E 56. Food brand whose tagline could
STRANGE BREW
Across 1. Org. implicated in the Snowden leaks
JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020 | PAGE 29
be “You can’t spell [this answer] without [circled letters]” 59. Novelist Joyce Carol ____ 62. Outside the city 63. Part of a tuba’s sound 64. Choreographer Twyla 65. Stick out like ____ thumb 66. Brian who composed “The Microsoft Sound,” which, ironically, he wrote on a Mac 67. Toyota model whose tagline could be “You can’t spell [this answer] without [circled letters]” 68. Choreographer Cunningham 69. ____ Jones industrial average
DOWN
1. Standout hoopsters 2. Like a U.S. senate term 3. Legendary soprano ____ Patti 4. Defense in a snowball fight 5. Went back and forth 6. Woodworking tool 7. Bay window 8. Folks 9. Reaction to a bad pun 10. The first “O” in YOLO 11. A few lines on one’s Twitter profile, say 12. Post-OR destination 13. Played the first card 21. Like Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony” 22. Costa Rica’s ____ Peninsula 25. Tack (on) 26. Most common Korean surname 27. Santa ____ winds 29. “Star Trek” officer who famously kissed Kirk in 1968
JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
31. ____ demon 32. Listen here! 35. Fried rice legume 37. Wite-Out seller 38. Common way to exit a haunted house 39. Curve with rising action 40. “No Scrubs” singers 41. “Yoo-____!” 42. “Barf!” 44. Ate noisily, as soup 45. Familia member 46. Morale-boosting mil. event 48. Kind of room or center 49. Style of yoga in a heated room 51. Org. in “Breaking Bad” 54. Put out, as a fire 56. Frau’s mister 57. Kid’s game with a rhyming name 58. Get out of Dodge 59. Like Benadryl: Abbr. 60. “I have an idea!” 61. Scot’s headwear Last Thursday’s Solution A L G A E
P O I N T
D E F Y
X T R A
Y H A T Y S A
B U N D S T U B I C E E T D A O I L Y
U K E S
P E S O
A L T O
B I E N
L A H E R I T C E Y A D O R E G E T A U R I L T
S H I A
T K O U I C N T H N D S O E N C B L A H B E C T C E T C T A R A A Y A D A N T H E P O I O L I C E I T O S E S
O H I O
K Y A T R D N
L E E R
A N T I
H O C K
A I R E S
S N E A K
A T A R I
By The Mepham Group
Level 1 2 3 4
4. Shutterbug's setting 9. Before it merged with Exxon, its tagline could have been "You can't spell [this answer] without [circled letters]" 14. Take part in an auction 15. Site of some Chicago touchdowns 16. Chilling 17. Lumberjack's tool 18. Florida senator Marco
1
19. Verbally 20. Hasbro brand whose tagline could be "You can't spell [this answer] without [circled letters]" 23. Inner tube? 24. Blinking and sweating, in poker 25. Assumed name lead-in
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
28. Amounts to fry NICK KNACK
© 2020 N.F. Benton
1
1/26/20
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 30 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas
20 s Yearo Ag
is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . p a s is the Now for all time cows good me to to coaid of the their.
BACK IN THE DAY
20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press
Falls Church News-Press Vol. IX, No. 46 • January 27, 2000
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
Falls Church News-Press Vol. XIX, No. 48 • January 28, 2010
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner 10 Year s Ago
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
Schools Need $730,000 More For Fields, Enrollment Woes
Parents, Students, Teachers Urge F.C. School Board Not to Cut $
The Falls Church City Council gave preliminary approval Monday to provide an additional $730,000 to meet emergency needs for the Falls Church Public Schools. Those funds cover renovations to the George Mason High School athletic fields and burgeoning enrollment numbers.
A standing-room-only crowd of parents and teachers packed solid the main meeting chamber at the Falls Church City Hall Tuesday to urge the School Board to avoid the deep cuts, as much as 8.6 percent of the total budget, due to the steep revenue shortfall facing the jurisdiction.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Week of Jan. 13 – 19, 2020 Sexual Assault, 900 blk Ellison St, Jan 13, 10:30 AM, a male, 44, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for sexual assault. Driving Under the Influence, 1000 blk E Broad St, Jan 14, 1:49 AM, a female, 28, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for driving under the influence.
Destruction of Property, 200 blk N Maple Ave, sometime between Jan 8 and Jan 14, unknown person(s) caused damage to a parked vehicle by carving letters into the door. Larceny, 1200 blk W Broad St, Jan 15, 8:00 AM, unknown person(s) stole a wallet that was left at a bus stop. Destruction of Property, 800 blk
W Broad St, Jan 15, 6:12 PM, unknown person(s) caused damage to a parked vehicle by scratching the paint finish multiple times. Drunkenness (DIP), 100 blk E Broad St, Jan 15, 5:57 PM, a male, 57, of Alexandria, VA, was arrested for appearing drunk in public. Fraud-False Pretense, 200 blk W Broad St, Jan 17, 3:27 PM, an unknown person attempted to fraudulently cash a check using someone else’s identity.
LILYS AND RUBYS UNITED on James Thurber Ct. over the holiday break a few weeks back. and got a chance to visit their dogs Lily Zaveri and Ruby Slonim. Just to be clear (from left to right): Ruby Zaveri with her dachsund Lily and Lily Slonim with her golden retriever Ruby. Try to keep up, will yah?
Credit Card Theft and Fraud, 1100 blk W Broad St, between Jan 16 and Jan 17, unknown suspect(s) stole a victim’s credit card and used it multiple times to make purchases.
Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
News-Press
LETTERS
CHOOSE CAR SEAT: BY AGE & SIZE
THE ONES
WHO ACTUALLY DO.
Continued from Page 6
limit big money in politics. Kudos to them. Meanwhile, let’s push our Virginia legislators, including Senator Saslow and others, to tackle our corrupt system by doing the right thing by passing bills imposing limits on campaign contributions, banning donations by public service corporations, restricting personal use of campaign contributions, increasing disclosure, and investing in the public funding of elections. Nancy Morgan Alexandria Martin Lancaster Falls Church
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
[ LETTERS ]
KNOW FOR SURE
Email: letters@fcnp.com Mail: Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/THERIGHTSEAT
AGX-2A001D 3.5x10 4CMG.indd
AGX-2A001D AD COUNCIL “NHTSA Pencil” Non-Bleed: 3.5” x 10” 4/C Magazine Thin Vertical Line Screen: 133 Pubs: Various Insertion Date: 2012
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Initials
S. Gordon Henry N. Chambers S. Lundberg Creative Director None Production Manager J. Adler-Kerekes Account Executive S. Pollitt Client Ad Council
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PAGE 32 | JANUARY 23 – 29, 2020
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