January 28 - February 3, 2010
Falls Church, Vi r g i n i a • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • Vo l . XI X N o . 48
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week F.C. ‘Pleased’ With Fairfax Court Stay
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields said he is pleased the Fairfax Circuit court order has been stayed after the judge postponed the enforcement of the court’s decree prohibiting Falls Church from taking an annual “return on investment” from its water fund. See News Briefs, page 7
Locals Rush to Aid Victims of Haiti Quake Local residents, rescue squads and area businesses are doing their part to aid Haiti victims following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastation that’s resulted in over 150,000 causalities. See page 19
Helen Thomas: GOP Medical Wrecking Ball President Obama set a goal to change the way Washington works. That was a far-fetched dream, to say the least.
See page 12
Parents, Students, Teachers Urge F.C. School Board Not to Cut $ On City Side, Council OK’s Offer of Early Retirement
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
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, that are being considered due to the steep revenue shortfall facing the jurisdiction. One of the largest contingents
Pizza
ever seen at the chamber, with promises of more to come, included a stream of petitioners that came to the microphone to urge the School Board to pressure the City Council to minimize budget cuts. Joel Block, past president of the Falls Church Education Association, said, “We have to ask for what we want, and we need what we have.” But faced with a revenue shortfall adding up to more than $10 million below its $68 million bud-
for a
get adopted last spring, the Falls Church City Council, who will be ultimate arbiter of how much the schools will get this spring, began taking painful budget-cutting steps of its own at its meeting Monday night. The Council approved a plan by City Manager Wyatt Shields to offer early retirement to 58 City employees, including police, to mitigate the number of involuntary layoffs that are almost certain to come with the adoption of the
Cause
Korean Crime Thriller ‘The Chaser’ An expert serial killer film from South Korea and reminder of what a well-made thriller looked like in classic days. See page 26
Index
Editorial..................6 Letters................6, 8 Community News & Notes..............10-11 Comment........12-15 Business News & Notes...................16 Sports.............20-22 Calendar.........24-25 Roger Ebert....26-28
Restaurant Spotlight ............................30 Comics, Sodoku & Crossword...........33 Classified Ads......34 Business & Services Directory..............35 Critter Corner.......36 Business Listing..37 City Focus......38-39
GEORGE MASON High School Principal Tyrone Byrd (inset: right, with Flippin’ Pizza’s Mike Brumagin) helped serve pizza along with GMHS students at the Flippin’ Pizza on West Broad last Thursday to raise money for Haiti relief efforts. A reported $1,190 was raised. A GMHS student-faculty basketball game with proceeds for Haiti relief is now slated for next Wednesday, Feb. 3. (Photos: Gary Mester)
Fiscal Year 2011 budget at the end of April. City Hall is already roiling in controversy, the result of a confidential memo that was circulated which was intended, according to City Manager Wyatt Shields, to be a very preliminary assessment of what positions in the City government might be terminated. On the early retirement offer, Richard Parker, the City’s HR specialist, said that only about 10 employees can be expected to opt for the plan, as the vast majority of
Continued on Page 4
PAGE 2 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2010
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JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2010 | PAGE 3
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LOCAL
PAGE 4 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2010
Much Push-Back Expected Vs. Cuts in School Budget Continued from Page 1 the Council’s painful heavy lifting lies ahead. Among the toughest decisions it will face comes to funding the schools, and if Tuesday’s School Board hearing is any indication, it will not be done quietly. Parents, students and teachers alike urged the School Board to not do the Council’s work for it by volunteering to cut its budget request below what the schools actually need. Speakers Tuesday included students from George Mason High School and M.E. Henderson Middle School. Mason Senior Jack Western, president of the student band organization, reported on a petition he’d circulated at the school urging that the at-risk position of band paraprofessional Larry Allen be protected. Allen’s position was included on a list placed on the School Board’s web site of those most
likely on the chopping block in the budget deliberations. It’s a part-time position, but Allen was named the school system’s “Paraprofessional of the Year” last year for his work in the band programs for students from fourth grade through 12th. Others also urged the School Board to retain the position of Career College Specialist at the high school currently filled by Judy Bracken. “She has been so instrumental in helping students identify and complete the application process for their best college options,” the School Board was told. The School Board made no comments at the hearing, except to encourage participation by the public and to listen to an hour and a half of comments. Other positions and programs being considered for elimination or paring back, as posted on the schools’ web site. The options presented include:
• A seven percent reduction in non-personnel costs, • A reduction of two staff work days for all employees, • Possible reductions or eliminations of up to 24 staff positions, • Reductions in employee benefits, • Reductions or changes in instructional programs, including music, art, foreign language and kindergarten, • Reductions or elimination of extracurricular stipends, including athletics, academics and performing arts, • Reduction or elimination of tuition assistance programs for staff, • Implementing student activities fees, • Increases in student parking fees, • Transferring the cost of IB and AP exams from schools to families, • Charging tuition for typical peers to attend the school divi-
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCH School Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin is presiding over the most difficult budget process in the F.C. system’s history. (Photo: News-Press) sion’s pre-school program. “I have taught in schools where the kids are just products in a factory, and it’s not what anyone should stand for,” Block said Tuesday. The School Board will deliberate through the next month, including with more public hearings, and will approve its final budget to forward to the City
Council on March 2. The Council will hold two Town Hall meetings on the budget, one at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 and a second at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, both in the Community Center. The Council will craft its budget in March and April, including its transfer to the schools, and take its final vote on April 26.
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LOCAL
Fairfax EDA’s Jordan Touts Area’s Economic Prospects by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Contending that Northern Virginia is a beneficiary of national recessions, with an unemployment rate now of only 4.5 percent compared to over 10 percent countrywide, the head of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority stressed in a Falls Church talk last week that the continued growth of the region is dependent on maintaining the quality of its educational systems. Jerry Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax EDA, told a luncheon meeting of the Merrifield Business Association at F.C.’s Italian Cafe Thursday that an astonishing 90 percent of business owners in the region said in a recent survey that the top reason to live and do business here is the quality of the schools. “The schools provide a quality workforce,” he explained, and stressed in a recent meet-
ing he had with Fairfax School Superintendent Jack Dale that the schools don’t “create a self-fulfilling prophesy” by being willing to cut too much in the current recession-driving budget crisis. The area also offers the highest median family income in the U.S., and compared with other major business centers, one of the lowest costs of living and doing business. Gordon noted that of five nationally-prominent corporate headquarters that have relocated recently, four have come to Northern Virginia, and he’s intently negotiating to bring a fifth, Northrup-Grumman, to Fairfax County. The company announced it is moving out of California to this region, but has not yet selected a specific location here. Recently moved to the county have been the CSC, SAIC, Volkswagen and Hilton Worldwide. By being a “government town,” he said, the Washington D.C.
Region spins off a lot of private business opportunities. “In the current climate, if you can survive the next couple of years in this region, you will find you’ve been sitting on a gold mine,” he said. “We will come back faster than the rest of the nation,” he offered, noting that the County will not cut its economic development budget despite the tough times because it recognizing it is key to generating new revenue. While it is not his job to shake lending capital loose from banks, Gordon said, he noted that there was only one venture capital company in Fairfax County in 1997, and now there are 34. And while the big corporate heavyweights are moving in, still 90 percent of companies in the county are small businesses with a growing amount of diversity. There are 360 foreign-owned businesses, he said, fromk38 different countries. There are increasing numbers of Hispanic, Asian and women-
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2010 | PAGE 5
JERRY GORDON (left), chief of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, chatted with Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth following Gordon’s talk to the Merrifield Business Association at the Italian Cafe in Falls Church last Thursday. (Photo: News-Press) owned businesses, as well. In addition to information technology, government contracting, telecom and banking services, bioscience and bio-technology companies are also on the rise in the region, and they will create a lot of spin-off business opportunities, Gordon said. While Fairfax County had 455,000 residents in 1978, it grew to 819,000 by 1990, now it’s over a million, and is expected to add another 250,000 by 2030. The five years of congestion
in Tysons Corner resulting from the construction of the Metro rail line through the area will not drive people or business away, Gordon said, as it didn’t during the construction of the Big Dig in Boston or in other big projects. But further diversity is needed in the county, he said, because the new administration in the White House is tending to reduce the level of outsourcing of government services, which may diminish the business activity here.
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Vol. XIX, No. 48 January 28 - February 3, 2010 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •
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EDITORIAL
Editorial
Falls Church’s Bright Future, But Only If...
The City of Falls Church has a bright future as a unique, independent jurisdiction, a relevant player in what promises to be one of the most vibrant and progressive regions of the entire nation, and even the globe. But this is conditional on the resolve of some very strong local leadership. The picture painted last week by Jerry Gordon, chair and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, at a speech in Falls Church, as reported in this edition, centers on the recent decisions by four major U.S. corporations to relocate from California and other locations to Northern Virginia. And a fifth, Northrup Grumman, has already announced it is moving to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, and is being wooed by Gordon and representatives of other jurisdictions. “We (meaning Northern Virginia-ed.) benefit from national recessions because in tough times, people want to come this way,” Gordon said, adding that while double-digit unemployment levels are causing deep crises everywhere else in the U.S., it is only 4.5 percent in Fairfax County. It is also true that the sight of hardhats and heavy earth-moving equipment may be extremely rare right now in most places, the Tysons Corner is being ripped up to make way for the extension of the Metro rail system, and ambitious plans for development around the new stations are moving ahead. What does all this mean for the tiny City of Falls Church, beset with its revenue shortfall woes exacerbated by the unfortunate court ruling earlier this month to forbid the City from extracting an annual “return on investment” from its water system? From one point of view, the City may appear to be facing its Waterloo (no pun intended). However, in the context of Gordon’s robust vision for the economic growth of the region, the current difficulties facing Falls Church are dwarfed by its future potential for prosperity and the perpetuation of its exemplary school system and quality of life. From our point of view, the City can proceed toward that latter path to prosperity if, and only if, its local political leaders have the intestinal fortitude to establish the preconditions required for it to happen. Put simply, the City must lay the groundwork with zoning and other legal changes. The City has to wake up to some critical changes it needs to make on matters of density and parking requirements, in particular. It also needs to be ready to wheel and deal on some swaps with the neighboring counties aimed at enhancing its potential for dense development near the two Metro rail stations just beyond its boundaries. If the City stalls in the traditional “Falls Church ways” on matters of radically modifying parking requisites, altered in the context of a rapid construction of a downtown parking garage, and density, then it is doomed to be absorbed into a larger neighboring jurisdiction in a manner that is guaranteed to disappoint every citizen who lives in its borders now. It comes right down to that.
Letters
What Planet are F.C. Councilmen Living On?
Editor,
I was very disappointed and slightly outraged by the tone and content of your January 20, 2010 article entitled “F.C’s Balance could Fall Below 0 Without Big Tax Hike.” According to the article, Vice Mayor Hall Lippman and Councilman Dan Maller are calling for “dramatically” higher taxes. Mr. Maller has the nerve to suggest that any large tax increase can be absorbed by the residents
of Falls Church City due to the (relatively) high median household income. What planet are these council members living on? Are the citizens of Falls Church City an endless well of money? Is the primary solution to immediately start calling for major tax hikes in a weak economy! Perhaps – before raising taxes – they need to look at how the City has been managed under their tenure (to include Mayor
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Gardner et al.). I believe it is time for a change of management. The City’s current elected leadership is not serving the best interests of the citizens. Mark Kaye Falls Church
A ‘Stiff Bite’ Affordable for Local Taxpayers? Editor,
In the January 21-27 edition of the News-Press, Councilman Dan Maller noted, with much hubris and disdain, that with a
Northern Virginia median income of $100,000 a “stiff added tax bite would be affordable.” Perhaps the Councilman might ponder that with Northern Virginia’s high cost of living many households have very large mortgages, expensive monthly bills, and are struggling to save for college, retirement, or the next unexpected big bill. It is very possible that many residents of Falls Church City are tired of paying much higher taxes than surrounding jurisdictions for fewer and fewer services. And while the More Letters on Page 8
COMMENT
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G u e s t C o m m e n ta ry
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 7
5 Keys to Falls Church City’s Future Sustainability
A
By David Snyder
braham Lincoln is credited with stating: “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” During 16 years on City Council, including as mayor, this summarizes my philosophy of City government. I add this corollary: After giving the people the facts, we should listen carefully to them, and as a rule, do as they ask. Our citizens are an impressive and diverse group of people, with breathtaking knowledge and expertise. Whether as diplomats, chief executives, journalists, advocates, scientists, litigators, judges, soldiers, teachers, or physicians, they have life experiences that are second to none. It is an honor to serve them. They deserve respect and civility. Here are five keys to the City’s future sustainability. First, the Council needs to heed the people they represent. When the City’s elected and appointed officials have listened to our citizens, we have always been right. But in recent times, some City Council actions have gone against their wisdom, whether in certain real estate developments or in summarily moving the elections against the weight of citizen opinion and without according the people the right to determine their governmental framework. As bad, citizen dissenters, including our most
revered activists, have been categorized and marginalized. Second, Falls Church is not an island, and we have a long tradition of mutually beneficial cooperation with our neighboring jurisdictions. I believe firmly in regionalism and have sought to further it as former chairman of the Metropolitan Washington
“Citizen dissenters, including our most revered activists, have been categorized and marginalized.” Air Quality Committee and as a charter member of the DC Region’s Emergency Preparedness Council. This regional cooperation has benefitted us all handsomely over the years in improved service, quality of life, and efficiency. Nowhere have these benefits been greater than in the transportation. As previous chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and now of the Region’s Transportation Planning Board, I have been able to support the Region on major infrastructure improve-
ments, including Rail to Dulles, with more to come, even as I have helped assure that Falls Church is treated fairly. Yet, this tradition of regionalism, too, has recently been ignored, most notably in the City’s preemptive strike against Fairfax over water in the form of a lawsuit subsequently thrown out by the courts. Now, we are embroiled in a retaliation lawsuit that has potentially dire consequences for the City. Third, the relationship between State government and Northern Virginia localities must change, and I have strongly advocated for that. Richmond takes millions of dollars of sales and income taxes from Falls Church families and businesses, but returns pennies on the dollar, even as it exerts control over what we can do, and issues unfunded mandates. Meanwhile, the State shifts financial burdens to localities even as Richmond increasingly fails to fund its own obligations and exerts control that prevents us from securing the safety of our citizens through its restrictions on our ability to address highway safety, guns and other critical safety and security matters. Fourth, the City’s current budget crisis is partly the result of the general financial turmoil, but also the consequence of management mistakes and the financial fallout from the failed water litigation. I have advocated a long-term planning citizen advisory body that is now finally in place. And, while we on the Council ask our citizens to support cuts and increased tax rates, we should lead
by example. That is why I opposed the pay increase City Council voted itself on the eve of the financial crisis and refuse to accept it. Fifth, as Bobby Kennedy said: “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Other men dream dreams of things that never were and ask why not.” Our job is to ask both why and why not. It means preserving and supporting the core services—specifically our schools, emergency and environmental services, and public infrastructure as well as maintaining the uniqueness of our heritage and arts—while constantly looking for better ways to deliver these services. It also means visioning and planning for the future, supporting and attracting increased commercial activity and providing the long-term funding for improved infrastructure, such as a transit hub, a parking garage, and light rail or improved bus service. That is why I have opposed the current management’s proposals to all but eliminate the funding for capital projects. I have been privileged to serve the citizens of this city and know that they have the intelligence and commitment to meet any challenge. Listening to them and doing as they ask, applying the values and principles that had successfully governed this City, and searching for better ways to do things, is the surest way to the best future for us all. David Snyder is a member of the Falls Church City Council, currently in his fourth term.
Question of the Week Should Falls Church City Public Schools retain the position of music paraprofessional?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
Last Week’s Question: Should Fairfax County relocate Graham Road Elementary School?
Log on to www.FCNP.com to cast your vote
FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientific polls.
[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]
The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and are writers are limited to one apperance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.
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PAGE 8 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
News-Press
TO Letters THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6 City’s schools are excellent they are now comparable to the schools in nearby Fairfax and Arlington. So the Councilman might remember to always check his assumptions and I will remember him very well in May. Helene Wolff Falls Church
Assails Focus Of Coverage of Controversy Editor, It is disheartening that instead of focusing on the fortuitous visit by the President of the United States to one of Falls Church’s own elementary schools honoring its excellence, your article instead inserts divisive racial politics into an otherwise great moment. The faculty and students at Graham Road Elementary School are doing a great job, so much so, the President decided to use them to represent the success he would like to see at so many other schools. Kudos to Graham Road! Instead, your article leads with the controversy over the school’s relocation, giving credence to those who misleadingly claim that race was a factor. The choice to relocate Graham Road ES was made so that all its students, of any race, would have an outstanding school facility, with outdoor fields, tucked away from the traffic-choked, siren-riddled Graham Rd./50 intersection. The new school location, only ½ mile down the road, will be great for ALL the children at Graham Road ES, providing them much needed tools to build on their success. Maybe we should focus on that. Sonya Breehey Falls Church
Says Laziness Causes Deterioration Of Neighborhood Editor, On my way to work last week, I passed a shopping cart in the front yard of a neighbor’s house. OK, perhaps it had arrived there the night before by some kids fooling around, but I don’t think so. Slowly, and sadly our Virginia Forest neighborhood is deteriorating and not because of the “Great Recession,”
but from laziness and disregard for our neighbors. It doesn’t cost anything to be neat and tidy. Down the street on Poplar is a house for sale over a million dollars and around the corner sits a couch on the curb for days and days. Doesn’t this seem odd? Someone nearby thought this was such a good idea, there is now a dresser on the curb in front of their house. I’m an anthropologist, so I try and try to figure out human behavior. Perhaps our mostly indoor lives have made us less interested in how our homes look from the outside. This could certainly explain the trend toward additions that bear no architectural relation to the original house; it’s all about the inside. The bright green house on the corner has so many additions, front doors, and driveways it’s beginning to look like a pueblo! The homes around Falls Church are expensive, so why do so many inhabitants take such little care of them? I do not mean this to be a rant and rave. I would like to know what our ordinances, rules, regulations allow and disallow. Then, I am very interested to know if the City does anything proactively about this. If I called and complained I know they would do something, but I’m not sure if a reactive government is the best bang for my tax dollar buck. I would like to request that someone from the City respond to this, and perhaps wonder if other residents are bothered or frustrated by some of the trends in our neighborhood activities. We can deny the fact that many of our neighborhoods are degrading (because it’s downright depressing when you think about how expensive it is to live here), or we can choose to be respectful of our neighbors. Erica Stein Falls Church
COMM E NT Happy With News of Big GOP Victory Editor, As I walked outside last Wednesday morning, I thought what a beautiful day this will be. The newspaper headlines read “Republican wins Kennedy’s seat” and “GOP Victory Upends Senate.” In this solidly Democrat state of Massachusetts, Scott Brown won handily because he ran a clean, charismatic and simple campaign with an old GM pickup truck and he ran as the 41st vote against Obama health care and increased government spending. On this same day, Senate Democrats proposed a bill that
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
would allow the federal government to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion to pay its bills, a record increase that would permit the national debt to reach $14.3 trillion. Last year’s budget deficit hit a phenomenal $1.4 trillion, and the current year’s deficit promises to be as high or higher. Yes sir, the Obama administration has increased our national debt by more than $1.4-trillion in one year tripling our prior highest ever deficit total, a sum of money that not even the Bush administration could spend in his entire eight years of office. Does anyone remember back on December 16, 2009 when the Democrats in Congress narrowly passed a house bill for an additional $290 billion to increase the amount of debt the U.S. Treasury is allowed
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Drunkenness, 600 blk. Park Ave., January 20, 11:47 a.m., police arrested a male, 43 of NO FIXED ADDRESS, for DIP. Burglary, Commercial, New Moon, 6619 Wilson Blvd., unknown person(s) broke the front glass door to gain entry into the establishment and stole an undisclosed amount of cash and a Toshiba television. Incident to the case, the safe and juke box was damaged. Tampering with Auto, 100 blk. W Greenway Blvd., January 21, 11:16 a.m., unknown person(s) removed the left fog light from a vehicle. Larceny from Vehicle, 200 blk. N Washington St., January 25, 2:30 p.m., police arrested a female, 42, Arlington, VA for stealing a Blackberry cell phone .Larceny, Purse Snatching, Giant Food, 1230 W Broad St., January 21, 4:58 p.m., unknown person(s) stole victim’s wallet out of the purse. The wallet contained a VA driver’s license, social security card and (3) bank/credit cards. Larceny from Vehicle, Giant Food, 1230 W Broad St., January 21, 8:30 p.m., unknown person(s) smashed the front
passenger side window of a vehicle and stole a red and blue Estee Lauder tote bag containing an umbrella, medicine, a planner and makeup. Larceny from Vehicle, 900 blk. W Broad St., January 21, between 5:15 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., unknown person(s) smashed the rear driver’s side window of a vehicle and stole a black Kate Spade purse containing credit cards, driver’s license, government ID cards, and cash. Larceny from Vehicle, GMHS, 7124 Leesburg Pike, January 21, 9:54 p.m., unknown person(s) shattered the window of a vehicle and stole a Canon Camera. Larceny, Shoplifting, CVS, 1150 W Broad St., January 21, 10:27 p.m., unknown person(s) entered the establishment and stole an undisclosed amount of items. (See FCNP.com for suspects’ descriptions -ed) Larceny from Vehicle, GMHS, 7124 Leesburg Pike, January 21, 11:26 p.m., unknown person(s) smashed the right front passenger’s side window of a vehicle and stole a purse containing a driver’s license and other personal documents.
to have? Then on Christmas Eve while “We the People” were focusing on the health care bill little did we know that same day the U.S. Senate passed the bill that Congress approved on the 16th however this was done with little fanfare or press coverage. Does anyone know the total debt that “We the People” owes? The answer is $12.016 trillion. Now this year the Obama administration and Senate Democrats are seeking an increase to the federal government’s borrowing limit by $1.9 trillion lifting the total amount the U.S. government can owe to $14.294 trillion. If this is “Change” that we should believe in then I am horrified to see what “Hope” brings us. Ed Hillegass Falls Church Driving under the Influence, 300 blk. Hillwood Ave., January 23, 12:50 a.m., police arrested a male, 33, of Alexandria, VA for DUI. Driving under the Influence, 6400 blk. Arlington Blvd., January 23, 12:56 a.m., police arrested a male, 30, of Springfield, VA for DUI. Destruction of Property, 200 blk. W Rosemary Ln., January 23, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., unknown person(s) damaged the sunroof area of a vehicle by walking on top of it. Assault, Aggravated, 900 blk. Ellison St., January 23, 11:47 p.m., police arrested a male, 33, of Falls Church, VA for Malicious Wounding. Incident to the case, the victim was transported to Fairfax Hospital for treatment. Larceny, Shoplifting, CVS, 134 W Broad St., January 24, 4:58 p.m., unknown person(s) entered the establishment and attempted to steal $902.74 worth of items. Burglary, Commercial, Carinas, 400 S Washington St., January 25, 12:28 a.m., unknown person(s) broke the rear window of the door to gain entry into the establishment and stole a cash register containing $250.00, bottles of cologne and pieces of jewelry. Larceny from Building, 200 blk. Garden Ct., between December 31 and January 13, unknown person(s) stole an assortment of checks.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
LOCAL
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 9
Fa l l s C h u r c h
News Briefs F.C. ‘Pleased’ With Fairfax Court Stay Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields said in a statement yesterday that he is “pleased the (Fairfax Circuit) court order has been stayed,” after Judge R. Terrence Ney entered a consent order that postpones the enforcement of the court’s Jan. 6 decree prohibiting Falls Church from taking an annual “return on investment” from its water fund. The stay is pending the outcome of Falls Church’s appeal of the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Fairfax Water Authority has dropped its initial opposition to the stay. The ruling of the Supreme Court is expected before April 6. Additional counts in the Fairfax Water/ Falls Church lawsuit are scheduled to be heard in the Fairfax Circuit Court beginning Feb. 1.
F.C. Assessments Due in Homes Feb. 10 Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields reported Tuesday that a revised schedule for the issuance of annual real estate assessments in the City has been implemented, pushing back the dates when City residents can expect to receive their assessment reports in the mail to Feb. 10 and days thereafter. The assessment report will be available on the City’s web site Feb. 8. Overall, real estate assessments are down 6.6 percent, Shields said, with the deepest drop in the value of commercial properties.
Murray Announces Candidacy Vs. Moran Alexandria resident Patrick Murray, a retired U.S. Army colonel with 24 years of active service, announced last week that he will run against Democratic Rep. Jim Moran in the 8th District of Virginia this year. Neither his announcement nor his web site indicate his party affiliation.
JanMedia Agrees to Print City Calendar Falls Church’s JanMedia Company has agreed to donate the printing of the Falls Church City Calendar, featuring art contributions from the City’s youth, it was announced at a F.C. Chamber of Commerce social mixer Tuesday. The F.C. City Hall cut the calendar from its budget in a cost-saving move last fall.
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F.C. Offers Parking Fine Waivers The City of Falls Church Treasurer’s office is offering a one-time waiver for parking fine penalties, F.C. officials announced today. Beginning this week, City Treasurer Cathy Kaye’s office will mail courtesy notices to citizens who have unpaid parking tickets, advising them they have a 30-day reprieve from penalties if their overdue parking fines are paid by Feb. 26. Citizens who believe that they have delinquent parking fines, and do not get a letter, are advised to contact the Treasurer’s office at 703-248-5046.
Chipotle: Still No F.C. Lease Signed The Falls Church Economic Development Office’s Becky Witsman confirmed to the News-Press yesterday that the much-anticipated opening of a Chipotle restaurant in the Broaddale Shopping Center still awaits the signing of a lease.
2 Robbed Outside Merrifield Store Two people were robbed outside a check cashing store in Merrifield last Saturday, Fairfax County police reported. A 60-year-old woman, an employee of Checks Cashed at 2929 Gallows Road, was waiting for her 68-year-old husband to pick her up at 8:30 p.m. When she got into the car, two men ran up and one of them pointed a gun. They pulled the victims out of the car and demanded money. A suspect took personal property from the male victim’s pocket. The suspects fled before they could obtain anything else. The victims did not require medical attention.
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PAGE 10 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
LOCAL
News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes F.C.’s Corpus Christi School Hosts Open Houses Corpus Christi School campuses will hold evening open houses on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. The elementary campus (3301 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church) and early childhood campus (7506 St. Phillips Ct., Falls Church) will both be participating at each location. The schools’ curriculum covers pre-school through eighth grade, including advanced middle school math and Spanish programs. Year-round daycare, parttime/full-time/all-day preschool, all-day kindergarten and beforeand after-school care (K-8) are also offered. Registration for the 2010-11 school year will open to
the public on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Corpus Christi School is a 2009 winner of the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award. For more information, call 703-8207450 ext. 10 or visit www.corpuschristischool.org.
Public Invited to Noland Open House Noland’s Bath & Idea Center (157-A Hillwood Ave., Falls Church) will hold its grand opening today, Thursday, Jan. 28 from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres from Open Kitchen will be served all afternoon. Those interested should RSVP to 703-2412371 or yrsarraga@noland.com. For more information, call 703241-2371.
Nearing Last Chance to Register for Lacrosse Clinic For those interested, this week is the last chance to register for the George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) Winter Lacrosse Clinic. This all-day clinic is open to girls from all schools ages 8-18. All equipment is provided for free to learn a new sport. The clinic groups participants by age and skill, including ages 8-12 or 13 and up, with skill levels ranging from beginner to intermediate/advanced. All sessions will now run on area teacher workday, Friday, Jan. 29. Space is limited, so those who remain interested are encouraged to register now to save a seat. To
“Embracing the Dream, Celebrating Our Blues Heritage,” presented by the McLean Community Center on Sunday, Jan. 17, brought a diverse crowd together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program participants included: (from left) Dr. Ed Jackson, Jr., executive architect of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., Rev. Dr. Robert F. Cheeks, Jr., Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, McLean, Rev. Todd A. Brown, pastor of First Baptist Church of Chesterbrook, McLean, Julie Rasmussen, executive director of the McLean Community Center, Michael Hill, bandleader of Michael Hill’s Blues Mob and John Foust, Dranesville District Supervisor, pose around a rendering of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial’s Stone of Hope. (Photo: Courtesy Sabrina Anwah)
register, e-mail Coach Depaz at ncdepaz@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.seen.itgo. com.
Event to Benefit Earthquake Victims in Haiti The Alliance Française and Doctors Without Borders (DWB) will be hosting a fundraising event on Monday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to DWB to benefit victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. The event will be held at Alliance Française (2142 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.). The benefit will feature a short discussion by Guillaume Debré, U.S. correspondent for TF1 French Television. It will be
followed by a speech by Stanley Lucas, a representative from DWB, about the work being done on the ground and the progress of the relief effort. A raffle and auction will be held. The minimum requested donation is $25. For more information, visit www.francedc.org.
Locals Earn Dean’s List, Graduate Falls Church residents Eleonora Figliuoli, Maya Gueron, Mariah Walker, Irene Foley, Ksenija Kapetanovic, Amy Leinkram, Xi Yan Lu, Victoria Marcos, Irene Morrison-Moncure, Laura Parente, Fiona Balestrieri, Ryan Blackwell, James
TWO MEMBERS OF THE George Mason High School (GMHS) Student Council appeared before the Falls Church City Council Monday night to report that $1,190 was raised for Haiti relief at a student fundraiser held at the Flippin’ Pizza on W. Broad Street last Friday night. They also announced a Haiti relief fundraiser will be held on the GMHS campus in the form of a student-faculty basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 3. Shown here are Rebecca Gomez and Yates Jordan. (Photo: 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 out best!
Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 450 West Broad St. #321, Falls Church, VA 22046
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Evans, Jeffrey Hollomon, Paul Norland, Jonathan Oh, Blackmore, Stephanie Delenick, Elena Lepekhina, Roger Beaman, Mayssa Chehata, Alexander Douglas, Liv Elfstrom, Christine Kennedy, Karmen Leun, Karen Morrison, Margaret Person and So-Jung Youn were recently named to the dean’s list at the College of William & Mary for the fall 2009 semester. In order to achieve dean’s list status, a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student must take at least 12 credit hours and earn a 3.6 quality point average during the semester. Shandani Charles of Falls Church, was named to the honors list at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine for the spring semester. Simone Perez of Falls Church, Class of 2010 at Skidmore College, earned highest honors for the fall semester. Highest honors are awarded for a quality point ratio of 3.670 or more from a possible 4.0. Pinthip Kaitlin Huynh of Falls Church, was named to the academic honor roll for the fall term at Northfield Mount Hermon School. Freshman Thomas Hickey of Falls Church made the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. Hickey is enrolled in the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business. His brother, junior Edward Hickey of Falls Church, made the dean’s list with first honors, 3.65 or higher, for the fall 2009 semester at University of San Diego’s School of Business Administration.
‘Gals in the Gallery’ Returns With ‘Art of Jewelry’ McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) brings back Gals in the Gallery next Wednesday, Feb. 3 from
7 – 9 p.m. JJ Singh will present “The Art of Jewelry.” Reservations are limited to 60 people, and there’s a suggested donation of $10. Those interested are asked to RSVP by e-mail to info@mpaart.org. For more information, call 703-790-1953.
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 11
F.C. Rotary Club Hosts Sleep Apnea Discussion Friday The Falls Church Rotary Club will hold its regular dinner meeting this Friday, Jan. 29 at Harvest Moon Restaurant (7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) at 6:30 p.m. Ed Grandi, executive director of the American Sleep Apnea Association, will speak about the problems and symptoms of sleep apnea. Dinner costs $11 and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.fallschurchrotary. org.
Seniors Invited to Annual Chili Lunch & Bingo Aurora Hills Senior Center (735 18th St. S, Arlington) will host its annual Chili Lunch and Bingo for ages 55 and up this Friday, Jan. 29 from noon – 2 p.m. The center provides the chili lunch and prizes. Advanced contributions to the prize table are welcome. Milton Nelson will entertain at the piano. A $6 pre-registration is required. For more information, call Julie Albers at 703228-5722.
D.C. Zoo Hosts Goodbye Party for Giant Panda After more than four years at the National Zoo, giant panda Tai Shan will say goodbye to Washington and return to China to enter a breeding program Feb. 4. The last day for visitors to see D.C.’s favorite bear will be Wednesday, Feb. 3. A free farewell bash for Tai
LAST MONDAY, the Arlington-based Metropolitan Chorus, directed by Barry Hemphill, joined others in performing at the Inaugural concert of the 2010 Season at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic. Featured soloists included Erica Powell, Cherry Duke, Adam Russell, Mark Watson and Geraint Llyr Owen. (Photo: Courtesy Arupa Gopal) Shan will be held Saturday, Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.). Attendees are invited to write panda goodbye cards for Tai Shan and check out the photo showcase of his journey since he was born at the zoo four years ago. Those interested are reminded that, at about 1:30 p.m., zoo officials will give Tai Shan a celebratory treat in his yard. For more information, call 202-633-4470.
Carver Community Center Hosts Drop-in Gym Session There will be a free teen/adult drop-in session of Open Gym & Game Room Monday, Feb. 1 at the Carver Community Center (1415 S. Queen St., Arlington) from 7 – 9 p.m. For more information, call Chris Clarke at 703-228-5706.
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CELEBRATING THE 100TH Firstfriday, to occur next week, the monthly social mixer of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce hosted by Art and Frame of F.C. Tuesday included an elegant birthday cake prepared by Kendall’s Cakes and decorated by resident artist Bill Abel. The event was catered by the Arlington Catering Company. (Photo: News-Press)
PAGE 12 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
NATIONAL
The Populist Addiction
Politics, some believe, is the organization of hatreds. The people who try to divide society on the basis of ethnicity we call racists. The people who try to divide it on the basis of religion we call sectarians. The people who try to divide it on the basis of social class we call either populists or elitists. These two attitudes – populism and elitism – seem different, but they’re really mirror images of one another. They both assume a country fundamentally divided. They both describe politics as a class struggle between the enlightened and the corrupt, the pure and the betrayers. Both attitudes will NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE always be with us, but these days populism is in vogue. The Republicans have their populists. Sarah Palin has been known to divide the country between the real Americans and the cultural elites. And the Democrats have their populists. Since the defeat in Massachusetts, many Democrats have apparently decided that their party has to mimic the rhetoric of John Edwards’ presidential campaign. They’ve taken to dividing the country into two supposedly separate groups – real Americans who live on Main Street and the insidious interests of Wall Street. It’s easy to see why politicians would be drawn to the populist pose. First, it makes everything so simple. The economic crisis was caused by a complex web of factors, including global imbalances caused by the rise of China. But with the populist narrative, you can just blame Goldman Sachs. Second, it absolves voters of responsibility for their problems. Over the past few years, many investment bankers behaved like idiots, but so did average Americans, racking up unprecedented levels of personal debt. With the populist narrative, you can accuse the former and absolve the latter. Third, populism is popular with the ruling class. Ever since I started covering politics, the Democratic ruling class has been driven by one fantasy: That voters will get so furious at people with MBA’s that they will hand power to people with PhDs. The Republican ruling class has been driven by the fantasy that voters will get so furious at people with PhDs that they will hand power to people with MBAs. Members of the ruling class love populism because they think it will help their section of the elite gain power. So it’s easy to see the seductiveness of populism. Nonetheless, it nearly always fails. The history of
David Brooks
populism, going back to William Jennings Bryan, is generally a history of defeat. That’s because voters aren’t as stupid as the populists imagine. Voters are capable of holding two ideas in their heads at one time: First, that the rich and the powerful do rig the game in their own favor; and second, that simply bashing the rich and the powerful will still not solve the country’s problems. Political populists never get that second point. They can’t seem to grasp that a politics based on punishing the elites won’t produce a better-educated work force, more investment, more innovation or any of the other things required for progress and growth. In fact, this country was built by anti-populists. It was built by people like Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln who rejected the idea that the national economy is fundamentally divided along class lines. They rejected the zero-sum mentality that is at the heart of populism, the belief that economics is a struggle over finite spoils. Instead, they believed in a united national economy – one interlocking system of labor, trade and investment. Hamilton championed capital markets and Lincoln championed banks, not because they loved traders and bankers. They did it because they knew a vibrant capitalist economy would maximize opportunity for poor boys like themselves. They were willing to tolerate the excesses of traders because they understood that no institution is more likely to channel opportunity to new groups and new people than vigorous financial markets. In their view, government’s role was not to side with one faction or to wage class war. It was to rouse the energy and industry of people at all levels. It was to enhance competition and make it fair – to make sure than no group, high or low, is able to erect barriers that would deprive Americans of an open field and a fair chance. Theirs was a philosophy that celebrated development, mobility and work, wherever those things might be generated. The populists have an Us versus Them mentality. If they continue their random attacks on enterprise and capital, they will only increase the pervasive feeling of uncertainty, which is now the single biggest factor in holding back investment, job creation and growth. They will end up discrediting good policies (the Obama bank reforms are quite sensible) because they will persuade the country that the government is in the hands of reckless Huey Longs. They will have traded dynamic optimism, which always wins, for combative divisiveness, which always loses.
GOP Medical Wrecking Ball WASHINGTON – President Obama set a goal to change the way Washington works. That was a far-fetched dream, to say the least, at a time where there is no comity in the country and no move toward political reconciliation. The Washington scene reflective of the nation is fragmented between nay-saying conservatives who Hearst Newspapers seem against every thing, and liberals and moderates in search of a middle ground. It seems impossible to find that mythical location. The divisions are propelled by anger, dissatisfaction and undoubtedly some fear of the future. Obama is the fall guy for this, raising Republican hopes of taking back the White House in three years.
Helen Thomas
The buzz saw of Republican opposition is notable for its solidarity and for its failure to offer serious alternatives. The president cannot be blamed for a lack of trying to find compromises with his opponents but he has found them disinterested in solving problems. Rather, they are single-minded in their goal of denying him any victory. Their target in the president’s first year was his goal to enact universal health care for all, including the poor, the sick and the maimed. The health insurance industry, drug companies and medical affiliates poured millions into the hands of Washington’s lobbyists _some of them former members of Congress who know their way around Capitol Hill. Opponents also shelled out big money for television commercials that spread scary falseContinued on Page 36
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Bernanke Conundrum A Republican won in Massachusetts – and suddenly it’s not clear whether the Senate will confirm Ben Bernanke for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman. That’s not as strange as it sounds: Washington has suddenly noticed public rage over economic policies that bailed out big banks but failed to create jobs. And Bernanke has become a symbol of those policies. Where do I stand? I deeply admire Bernanke, both as an economist and for his response to the financial crisis. (Full disclosure: before going to the Fed he headed Princeton’s economics department, and hired me for my current position there.) Yet his critics have a strong case. In the end, I favor his reappointment, but only because rejecting him could make the Fed’s policies worse, not better. How did we get to the point where NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE that’s the most I can say? Bernanke is a superb research economist. And from the spring of 2008 to the spring of 2009 his academic expertise and his policy role meshed perfectly, as he used aggressive, unorthodox tactics to head off a second Great Depression. Unfortunately, that’s not the whole story. Before the crisis struck, Bernanke was very much a conventional, mainstream Fed official, sharing fully in the institution’s complacency. Worse, after the acute phase of the crisis ended he slipped right back into that mainstream. Once again, the Fed is dangerously complacent – and once again, Bernanke seems to share that complacency. Consider two issues: financial reform and unemployment. Back in July, Bernanke spoke out against a key reform proposal: the creation of a new consumer financial protection agency. He urged Congress to maintain the current situation, in which protection of consumers from unfair financial practices is the Fed’s responsibility. But here’s the thing: During the run-up to the crisis, as financial abuses proliferated, the Fed did nothing. In particular, it ignored warnings about subprime lending. So it was striking that in his testimony Bernanke didn’t acknowledge that failure, didn’t explain why it happened, and gave no reason to believe that the Fed would behave differently in the future. His message boiled down to “We know what we’re doing – trust us.” As I said, the Fed has returned to a dangerous complacency. And then there’s unemployment. The economy may not have collapsed, but it’s in terrible shape, with job-seekers outnumbering job openings six to one. Nor does Bernanke expect any quick improvement: last month, while predicting that unemployment will fall, he conceded that the rate of decline will be “slower than we would like.” So what does he propose doing to create jobs? Nothing. Bernanke has offered no hint that he feels the need to adopt policies that might bring unemployment down faster. Instead, he has responded to suggestions for further Fed action with boilerplate about “the anchoring of inflation expectations.” It’s harsh but true to say that he’s acting as if it’s Mission Accomplished now that the big banks have been rescued. What happened here? My sense is that Bernanke, like so many people who work closely with the financial sector, has ended up seeing the world through bankers’ eyes. The same can be said about Timothy Geithner, the Treasury secretary, and Larry Summers, the Obama administration’s top economist. But they’re not up before the Senate, while Bernanke is. Given that, why not reject Bernanke? There are other people with the intellectual heft and policy savvy to take on his role: among the possible choices would be my Princeton colleague Alan Blinder, a former Fed vice chairman, and Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Fed. But – and here comes my defense of a Bernanke reappointment – any good alternative for the position would face a bruising fight in the Senate. And choosing a bad alternative would have truly dire consequences for the economy. Furthermore, policy decisions at the Fed are made by committee vote. And while Bernanke seems insufficiently concerned about unemployment and too concerned about inflation, many of his colleagues are worse. Replacing him with someone less established, with less ability to sway the internal discussion, could end up strengthening the hands of the inflation hawks and doing even more damage to job creation. That’s not a ringing endorsement, but it’s the best I can do.
Paul Krugman
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
NATIONAL
An Hour Late, A Dollar Short
Coming out of his State of the Union message, President Obama’s scheduled announcement today to deploy $8 billion in stimulus funds for high-speed rail in 13 major U.S. transportation corridors is good news, even if it is the proverbial “hour late and dollar short.” Better had it come a year earlier, and a magnitude far greater than what’s now proposed. Rail construction not only creates jobs, it’s a way to beat the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The mantra is that rail can move a ton of freight 423 miles on a single gallon of fuel. In fact, rail’s efficiency over every other form of transport is stunning. Some trace the nation’s current epochal economic crisis to the ill-advised decision by President Eisenhower in the 1950s, Falls Church news-press influenced by Big Oil, to direct the last great national infrastructure mobilization to an interstate highway system, rather than a massive rail construction program. The inefficiency of truck transport compared to rail is so astonishing that it’s hard to believe that Big Oil could hold so much sway in the matter, and that the country, as a whole, would begin so eagerly to transition to a selfish, suburban consumer culture in that context. But stimulus efforts now are simply not on a scale sufficient to steer the country back to long-term health. Were the massive public works efforts by FDR in the last Great Depression, which were critical to help set the preconditions for an eventual recovery, matched in the current economic situation, they would dwarf Obama’s entire stimulus package. The 1930s effort included a huge public relations component, such as putting all the novels of John Steinbeck on film, helping the organization of labor unions, and engaging the entire nation in a push to address the needs of the huge waves of the unemployed and displaced. Now, all the commentaries around the President’s State of the Union last night define the issues in the context of “Inside Washington” partisan bickering and not from the long-term perspective of the nation’s overall direction or, in terms of what’s really going on, a primordial struggle between the haves and the have-nots. Beneath all the political posturing is the grim reality of class warfare, a fact that becomes much clearer, to some at least, during economic crises. All the super-rich’s massive resources of cultural suasion are directed to preventing the general public from recognizing the class warfare underpinnings of the national political debate. Their news media, entertainment and related tools of social control work overtime to define reality in terms of political parties and other sports competition-like metaphorical substitutions for reality that serve as smoke screens, diversions and false flags dissembling the general public’s ability to figure out what’s actually going on. Were the public to actually figure all this out, the 95 percent who are being systematically screwed by the ruling five percent would represent an overwhelming force for some very basic remedies to society. Without that, however, things will only get worse, despite efforts by President Obama to take more, if modest stimulus steps. The chief of Elliott Wave International, Robert Prechter, was on national TV Tuesday forecasting that another steep stock market nosedive is on the horizon. Prechter forecast the market crash of October 1987, and while he uses some exotic tools to make predictions, his call is grounded in “the long-term weakness” of the U.S. economy. Unemployment numbers are an outward manifestation of this, and will only get worse as one-time stimulus efforts to save some state and local jobs dry up. It is obvious that the budget crises now facing state and local governments building into this spring will result in a deterioration of core services everywhere, ranging from infrastructure and aid to the needy to education at all levels, and a subsequent explosion of more under and unemployment. Combined with a further drop in commercial real estate values, existing unemployment levels and a huge wad of adjustable mortgage resets coming due, these factors will undercut any impulse toward an improved economic environment. There’s no solution in the works. Obama’s rail initiative points in the right direction, but without anything like the scale needed.
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 13
Nicholas F. Benton
Nicholas Benton may be e-mailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
Bringing Sexy Back WASHINGTON – He’s The One, all right. The handsome, athletic pol with the comely wife and two lovely daughters who precipitously rose from the State Legislature to pull us all together. The fresh face and disarming underdog America’s been waiting for, someone who suffered through his parents’ divorce, watched his mom go on welfare and survived some wayward youthful behavior to become disciplined and successful – a lawyer, a lawmaker and a devoted family guy who does dog duty. Someone who’s always game for a game of pickup basketball, loves talking sports and even boasts beefcake photos. A pro-choice phenom propelled into NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE higher office by conservatives, independents and Democrats, a surprise winner with a magical aura. The New One is the shimmering vessel that we are pouring all our hopes and dreams into after the grave disappointment of the Last One, Barack Obama. The only question left is: Why isn’t Scott Brown delivering the State of the Union? He’s the Epic One we want to hear from. All that inexperience can really be put to good use here. Obama’s Oneness has been one-upped. Why settle for a faux populist when we can have a real one? Why settle for gloomy populism when we can have sunny populism? Why settle for Ivy League cool when we can have Cosmo hot? Why settle for a professor who favors banks, pharmaceutical companies and profligate Democrats when we can have an Everyman who favors banks, pharmaceutical companies and profligate Republicans? Why settle for a 48-year-old, 6-foot-1, organic arugula when we can have a 50-year-old, 6-foot-2, double waffle with bacon? Everyone in Washington now wants to touch the hem of President-elect Brown – known in the British press as “the former nude centrefold” – who has single-handedly revived the moribund Republican Party. It uncannily recalls the way they once jostled to piggyback on the powerful allure of One-Term Obama. The capital is abuzz. What did Scott say about that? Has anybody checked with Scott? Let’s not make a move without consulting Scott! One of the most famous political figures of the age, John McCain, was thrilled (and no doubt envious) that
Maureen Dowd
a newbie unknown a week ago made robo-calls for him in his tightening Arizona re-election race. Before the Senate rejected a debt-reduction commission on Tuesday, reporters pressed for Brown’s hypothetical intentions: Would he have voted yes if he had been seated? (Yes, his spokesman told The Politico’s David Rogers.) The Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, has even christened Brown “41,” usurping Poppy Bush’s nickname. That’s because Brown, the only Republican in the Massachusetts congressional delegation, gives his party the needed 41st vote to filibuster unmolested. Even some in the Obama White House secretly wonder if the wonder from Wrentham, Mass., is The One. Could he be a more authentic version of their guy, who also swept in as a long-shot outsider only 14 months ago? Obama is coming across as plastic and hidden, rather than warm and accessibly all-American. (Brown has even been known to do his daughter’s laundry when she gets too busy.) Whereas Obama had to force himself to nibble French fries and drink beer (instead of his organic Black Forest Berry Honest Tea) during the Pennsylvania primary, Brown truly loves diners, Pepsi, Waffle Houses and the unwashed masses. David Axelrod, Obama’s senior strategist, praised Brown for his “spectacular” campaign. And Obama aligned himself with the new symbolic force, telling ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that “the same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they’re frustrated.” Even though Brown opposes Obama’s plan to tax big banks, the president tried to wrap himself in Brown populism: “And here in Washington – from their perspective – the only thing that happens is that we bail out the banks.” Stephanopoulos pointed out the obvious difference between Barry and Scotty, telling the president with the populist mask: “But you’re in charge now.” At the moment, President-elect Brown is a new blank slate in an old pickup truck. As the president scrambles to freeze some spending and unfreeze his persona, Obama strategists hope that, in some weird way, Brown will help revive the president’s fortunes. They say that if Brown turns out to be as independent as Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, he can help the president bypass the conservative troglodytes on the Hill and pull out of his slump.
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S t ra ig ht
Tea Party or Tea Purge? The more I read about the Tea Party, the more it becomes vividly clear that this is nothing more than a Great Tea Purge of Republican moderates and independent thinkers. It is a brilliant coup by Big Business to co-opt the American government, by using dim-witted fundamentalists and under-educated, under-employed rural folks to carry their water. Look at the issues: 1) Climate Change: Irresponsible members of Big Business do not want to pay to stop the damage corporations have done to our planet. They want to continue polluting and exploiting our natural resources. The best way to do this is to trick people, by flooding the Internet with fake science, into believing climate change is not man made. The next step is to turn the government into a bogeyman, so “the people” will reduce its power to regulate corporate excess and corruption. 2) Taxes: One of the most irresponsible parts of this “movement” is that Americans should not have to pay their fair share of taxes. This whole idea that you can get something for nothing is a mirage and the poor families who scream and act the fool at Tea Bag protests are the ones who will be left without basic services if this radical agenda becomes enacted. Of course, when “the people” become angry over the situation, these titans will spend millions of dollars on propaganda to blame the deterioration of America on liberal morals and government incompetence – even as they starve the government of the resources it needs to effectively do its job. 3) Health Care: The CEO’s have used this gullible Tea Bag crowd to convince a majority of people that the government is inefficient and should stay out of health-care. I guess these “real Americans” are content having potential treatments for their children rejected by faceless insurance company bureaucrats sitting in sterile cubicles with the job of protecting a corporation’s bottom line. Do these tools realize how they have been tricked by hucksters like former Congressman Dick Armey (R-TX) – who now runs FreedomWorks, an umbrella for Tea Party groups? Armey is a corporate shill who is robbing your family of its future. However, too many people think he is on their side because he wears cowboy boots and uses quaint, folksy sayings. 4) Illegal Immigration & Gays: The corporate titans realize that if they ran on a platform of, “We manipulate the system to steal your money and you go broke”, they would not do so well in elections. So, they have developed the cat-with-a-laser technique. When I want to distract Critter, my cat, I shine a laser on the wall and he runs to attack it. He never actually catches the gosh-darn-red-light, but he always feels like he’s getting close. More importantly, he expends a lot of energy – and then takes a multi-hour slumber. Tea Baggers – you are the cat and the issues of immigration and gay rights are the laser. You are being distracted, busied on a circular obstacle course and ultimately being put to sleep – even as you feel you are accomplishing something. I have news for you. You are never going to stop people from crossing the border, as long as there are better economic opportunities in America. You are never going to stop gay people from dating and mating. No matter how high you build that wall, or how many Constitutional Amendments banning gay marriage you spend millions of dollars to enact. You are essentially wasting your time and money. They want you focusing on us, so you won’t notice that you can’t afford to send your children to college or that your job has been shipped overseas. Then, when you finally get a job making half as much as you used to bring home, they will praise you for you work ethic and pretend you are the “backbone” of America. “If you just scrub that toilet a little bit harder, you’ll be an entrepreneur in the opportunity-based society and one day smoke cigars on the country club golf course with Rush Limbaugh,” I can hear the hired PR guns say. 5) Guns & Prayer: Most of the CEO’s don’t really care about these social issues. However, they realize that guns and fundamentalist prayer helps newly disempowered people cope with feelings of low selfesteem and helplessness. You see, if the misery is God’s Plan, and not the result of selfish and destructive economic plans by greedy CEO’s and politicians, the pain is easier to swallow. The Tea Party crowd must realize that it is being used and exploited by large financial interests. It is time “the people” wake up and grow up, before they permanently drive this country into a destitution ditch.
Wayne Besen
Congressman Moran’s News Commentary By James P. Moran
Virginia’s 8th Congressional District Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives
Just two weeks ago, an earthquake clocking 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked the tiny island nation of Haiti. The worst disaster to hit the Caribbean in more than two centuries, it is estimated to have taken close to 200,000 lives with another 1.5 million left homeless amidst the rubble of Port Au Prince’s ruined infrastructure. All this in a country that ranks among the poorest, least developed in the Western Hemisphere. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and the Haitian-American community. All told, the American people have responded to the disaster with overwhelming generosity and compassion, donating hard-earned money and time to help the victims. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Americans have given more than $220 million to major relief groups thus far, with an unprecedented $22 million donated via cell phone text message alone. Among the first to respond to the disaster was the International Urban Search and Rescue Team of Fairfax Country. At last report, the team has saved 16 lives and recovered critical medical equipment and supplies. They have
continued their rescue efforts, despite that fact that the United Nations called off the official search for survivor’s days ago. Washington has also been doing its part. The Department of Homeland Security has implemented temporary immigration relief measures for Haitians currently in the United States who are unable to return home due to the devastation. Haitian B-1 or B-2 visa holders, for example, may file for an extension of status for an additional six months. If you or someone you know is in this position, contact the U.S. Department of Citizenship and Immigration or call my district office for more details. Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow individuals who donate money to help victims of the quake claim their donations on their 2009 tax returns (rather than having to wait to file in their 2010 tax return). For those who choose to donate by text message, a cell phone bill will count as proof of donation for tax purposes. Congress enacted similar tax provisions for individuals who made charitable contributions to tsunami victims in 2004.
In the weeks ahead, Congress will also be working on legislation to extend a repatriation program critical for helping evacuate the thousands of Americans currently in Haiti. The program has already used up much of its $1 million budget responding to disasters in other countries. The program assists American citizens trying to flee foreign countries because of destitution, illness, war or other crises and includes help with securing and paying for airfare and finding temporary lodging, food, and medical assistance. I am supportive of efforts to increase funding for this program in light of the extreme situation in Haiti. Haiti has a tough road ahead. Historically, the country has been mistreated by foreign powers, which has lead to great internal strife. This major natural disaster has crippled a nation which was struggling from these historical injustices. Still, it is my hope that the people of Haiti will be able to rise from the rubble to chart a new destiny for the nation. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the American people and our international allies, they’ve at least got a shot.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
COMMENT
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
The date for the long-awaited special election for the Mason District School Board seat was announced last Friday by the Fairfax County Circuit Court. The special election to choose a successor to Kaye Kory will be on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at all regular polling places in Mason District, from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. All registered voters in Mason District are eligible to vote. Information about voting in person or absentee will be available on the Fairfax County Electoral Board Web site, www. fairfaxcounty.gov/eb, or call 703/324-4700. The Mason District School Board seat has been vacant only since January 12, when incumbent L. Kaye Kory officially submitted her resignation after winning election to the Virginia House of Delegates last November. Speculation about when the resignation would be submitted had been swirling for weeks, and the local Democratic and Republican committees had endorsed candidates, anticipating a special election as early as mid-January. School Board positions are classified as non-partisan in Virginia, but most candidates run with a party endorsement. Democrat Sandy Evans will face Republican Samantha Rucker in the March 2 contest. Sandy is a former journalist and PTA president who has been active on school issues since her children, now in college, were young. She lives in the Falls Church area of Mason District. Samantha Rucker is a lawyer in the State Attorney General’s office, and lives in Annandale. A potpourri of other activities in Mason District includes the good news that the Higher Horizons Head Start program, based at the Bailey’s Community Center, is a recipient of Early Head Start expansion funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The federal stimulus money was announced by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine in December, and will provide services to an additional 76 pregnant women, infants, and young children under age three. Early Head Start services will provide both home-based and center-based options; 20 new jobs will be created. Higher Horizons is a private non-profit provider of early childhood
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Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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services since 1963, and its programs have enabled thousands of Mason District children to enter school fully ready to learn and succeed. For additional information, log on to www.higherhorizons.org. Congratulations to Master Police Officer Chip Conner, who was selected as the 2009 Mason District Station Officer of the Year. Officer Conner is well-known by Mason District residents as a premier Crime Prevention Officer, who works with Neighborhood Watch and civic organizations to address concerns in the community. Chip joined the Fairfax County Police Department in 1982, and came to the Mason Station in 1991 as a patrol officer. The Ed Smith Award, named in memory of a long-time volunteer with the Mason Station’s Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), will be presented to Officer Conner on Tuesday, February 2, at 7:30 p.m. during the monthly CAC meeting. Did your holidays bring you new electronic gifts? And now you need to get rid of the obsolete ones? The Fairfax County Division of Solid Waste Collection and Recycling will host monthly “Electric Sundays” for residents to recycle televisions, computers, monitors and peripheral electronic devices such as printers, scanners, speakers, keyboards, mice (the non-furry kind!) and external drives. Residents also may recycle their fluorescent and CFL bulbs at these events. It’s very easy, and faster than ordering a drive-thru burger! Electric Sundays will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, August 22, September 26, and November 21 at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax, and on Sunday, March 28, July 25, and October 24 at the I-95 Landfill Complex, 9850 Furnace Road in Lorton. The e-waste recycling program is a free service for Fairfax County residents in cooperation with Covanta Energy, Inc., the operator of the county’s waste-to-energy facility.
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JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 15
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple’s
Richmond Report Hello from Richmond, where the 2010 General Assembly is in full steam! I want to provide a basic view of the Session and introduce the 31st Senatorial District team (your team!) in the Senate. The 2010 General Assembly Session Although I have the experience of fifteen sessions, every one is different and this one is definitely the most challenging of my career. Never in my service in the Senate has the budget situation been so dire. According to the Senate Finance Committee, the budget shortfall for the next biennium is $4.3 billion. Throughout this budget process, I am committed to safeguarding the quality of our education, our public safety and those most vulnerable among us. Last month, Governor Kaine proposed a balanced budget that already included significant budget cuts. Governor McDonnell has rejected that plan, whereby forcing an additional $2 billion in cuts ($4.3 billion instead of $2.3 billion). McDonnell’s cuts will mean the elimination of more critical services and thousands of layoffs to public employees, including our teachers and public safety professionals. We still await Governor McDonnell’s detailed plan on how he would make his additional $2 billion in cuts. Your Senate Team in Richmond I have put together an excellent team for the Session. First, Arlene Spinelli is my Legislative Assistant after my long time aide, Janie Burton, retired last summer. She manages the office and my agenda. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Arlington 32 years ago. She worked in banking for 13 years as vice president of investment banking at what was then American Security Bank (now part of Bank of America). For the 10 years prior to this summer, she has worked part-time for Fairfax County Public Schools as
health liaison. I have known her for almost 20 years as a member of ABC (Arlingtonians for a Better County) and the Arlington Democrats. Second, Evette T. Roots is serving as our Intern. She is a third-year Political Science student at Virginia Commonwealth University after a 14-year career as a real estate broker. Her extensive experience includes working with former Senator Robb, in Mary Sue Terry’s campaign, and for the Richmond City Council. As the Intern, she assists with legislative research and constituent services. Next, Patricia Ann Jennings is back as our Receptionist. She is a native of Danville, but considers herself a “Southwest Virginian.” She is a Virginia public service retiree. Her job is critical as she is the initial interface with visitors and the public. Finally, this year I am fortunate to have the extra help of Jaime Areizaga-Soto, Esq. as my Policy Advisor. He is an Arlington resident, a former White House Fellow at the U.S. Treasury Department, a graduate of Stanford Law School, active in the Democratic Party, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. As the Caucus Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, I coordinate the operations (communications, coordination, and position-making) of the majority Caucus in the Senate. Jaime supports and advises me on legislation and Caucus-related issues. If you need to contact any of my team members please feel free to call or email us in Richmond at district31@senate.virginia.gov or 804-698-7531. I am confident that my team and I will serve you proudly in Richmond this Session. Senator Whipple represents the 31st District in the Virginia State Senate. She may be emailed at district31@sov.state.va.usv.
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Fa l l s C h u r c h
Valentine’s Day FEBRUARY 14.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Business News & Notes Action Music Comes to Falls Church Action Music is now located in the rear basement of Shreve McGonegal located at 212-B N. West Street. The music store previously located in Arlington has more than 250 guitars in stock and a revolving stock of used, vintage, and new-old stock instruments. They also carry a large selection of vintage amps, new effects pedals, vintage pedals, vintage speakers and hard-to-find parts. Action Music is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon – 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-4801 or visit www.actionguitar.com.
New Family Photo Studio Opens
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20% OFF YOUR O $19 99
Virginia Payne Photography has opened the Falls Church City Gallery and Studio at 105 N. Virginia Ave., Suite 100. Virginia Payne, recently listed by Family Magazine as one of the area’s best baby and children’s photographer, specializes in newborns, babies, children, families and maternity photography in and around Northern Virginia, Maryland and the greater Washington D.C. metro area. For more information, call 703-847-0005 or visit www.virginiapaynephotography.com.
FIRSTfriday Celebrates 100th Event
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The 100th FIRSTfriday of Falls Church will take place at various locations on Friday, Feb. 5. The event was created by Tom Gittins of Art and Frame of Falls Church more than eight years ago to highlight local art and artists and to build the local business community. FIRSTfriday events and specials are now offered by dozens of local businesses in Falls Church. For details on FIRSTfriday art exhibits, promotions and special offers, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com.
F.C. Chamber Announces New Sponsors
Our Patients Make Us Smile Call Today to Make An Appointment
New Smiles Always Welcome 200 Little Falls Street, Suite 506 Falls Church, VA
703.532.3300
www.DoughertyDDS.com
Atlantic Realty Companies and The Young Group have confirmed their 2010 Partner level support of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. Additional sponsors renewing their commitment to the Chamber this year are Gold Sponsor Diener & Associates, CPAs, Silver Sponsors Akridge Real Estate Development, William V. Dougherty, DDS, Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC, Original Pancake House and John Rodock/Ober|Kaler Attorneys and Bronze Sponsors Oshinsky Limited Partnership and Falls Church Animal Hospital. The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship packages provide promotional and event specific benefits year-round. For more information, call 703-532-1050 or e-mail sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
F.C.’s Analysis Group Among Area’s Fastest-Growing Companies The Analysis Group, LLC, a Falls Church-based veteran-owned business specializing in novel techniques for research, analysis, and articulation of key Department of Defense issues, was named by Washington SmartCEO magazine as a Future 50 winner for the fourth consecutive year. In partnership with Clifton Gunderson LLP, Washington SmartCEO magazine’s Future 50 program recognizes the 50 fastest-growing companies within the Greater Washington area based on employee and revenue growth. The Analysis Group and the other Future 50 winners will be recognized at the Washington SmartCEO/Clifton Gunderson basketball-themed “Nothing but Net” Future 50 event, scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. For more information, visit www.tag-llc.com.
Nominations for BIE Partner of the Year Now Open
For the Best Updates on Falls Church, D.C. and Northern Virginia
@ FCNP
Nominations are open for the 2010 Business In Education Partner of the Year, which recognizes a Falls Church business, individual or nonprofit oganization for its longstanding partnership with the Falls Church City Public Schools. The winner will be announced at the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Awards Gala and Silent Auction March 6. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 5. Copies of the nomination form are available at www.fccps.org/bie/poy.htm. Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be e-mailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
The Peak Oil Crisis
A Meeting in California by Tom Whipple
Falls Church News-Press
Last weekend, one of the more out of the ordinary meetings in recent memory took place out in Berkeley where some 30 people gathered to begin planning for the world’s transition from the industrial age to whatever is to come. They were a diverse group, coming from all over North America and representing an array of disciplines. Most had grey hair and among them held many advanced degrees and had written stacks of books and papers. There was, however, a common thread that held them together. Not a person in the room needed to be convinced that the world is entering upon a great paradigm shift that will sweep away much of industrial civilization, thoughts of economic growth, and the lifestyles that have grown up in the age of ubiquitous fossil fuels. To the agreement of those present, speakers quickly outlined the problem. In a nutshell, the world is dangerously close to “peak everything” – oil, coal, natural gas, water, minerals, soil, phosphorous, fish, and perhaps the most important of all, the capacity of the atmosphere to absorb more carbon without triggering off life-destroying phenomena. Problem two is the financial collapse from efforts by too many governments to spend their way out of recession. The final phenomenon that will force changes, is that there is no sign that mankind is about to make the efforts required to stop spewing carbon into the already saturated atmosphere. Without at least some moderation, it is likely that the atmosphere eventually will have its revenge by raising global temperatures so much that there will be no higher forms of life left. Absent from the meeting was any representation from our political leadership who are currently busy:1) denying there is a problem; 2) trying to spend our way out of the recession; or 3) simply overcome by the pace of events and do not want to rock the boat by speaking publicly on such matters before the next election. The meeting’s organizer, a seven-year old think-tank called the Post Carbon Institute, has no
problem with this, for they know that leaders everywhere will soon enough grasp the message they don’t want to hear. Oil will run short, the financial system will collapse, or the atmosphere will do such terrible things to us, that every last person on earth will understand – our lifestyles are not sustainable and we will soon transition to some other manner of life or die off like so many species before us. The underlying assumption of all this is that in a few decades mankind is going to be left with dwindling supplies of carbonbased fuels, land that will no longer grow sufficient food for the 7+ billion of us, oceans that
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As they already have a pretty good idea as to what is about to happen, the Post Carbon folks are starting to look at what it will take to keep some semblance of humanity functioning – hence the emphasis on transition. Obviously some things than are now taken completely for granted by many such as food, water, shelter, sanitation, medicine, public health will have to change radically. When cheap artificial fertilizers disappear the amount of food available is going to drop precipitously as our agricultural land has become dependent on them. The end of cheap liquid fuel for transportation will make urban and suburban life increasingly difficult. While some lucky few can migrate closer to what will be left of food supplies, many of the 4 billion or so urban dwellers are going to be caught in that “carrying capacity” problem. So what can a handful of people sitting around a room in California do about all this? The short answer is to begin assembling enough information so that the rest of us can understand what is happening – when we come to grasp the magnitude of the problem – and then to assemble information on how we might transition to and live in a post-carbon world. Many of the people that assembled in California know something about agriculture, ecology, biodiversity – the skills humanity will need to survive after a 200 year binge on fossil fuels. The next step will be sensitizing people to the problem. Currently this is a difficult task as fossil fuels, water, and food are still relatively cheap and abundant. While those who have recently lost their jobs and cannot find work may be starting to realize there is a deeper problem, most still hope that the politicians can put things back the way they were. Somewhere in the future, and it may be months, years, or perhaps decades, nearly all of us will realize that life as we have known it is over forever.
ithout some modera-
tion, it is likely that
”
the atmosphere eventually will have its revenge.
will not supply fish, dwindling water supply, and an atmosphere that is becoming increasing hostile to live in. What sets the Post Carbon Institute’s efforts apart is that, unlike most, they recognize the seriousness and inevitability of the problem and are starting the search for solutions concerning what mankind can do get through a very bad era-to-come with some semblance of humanity and its cultures still intact. This, of course, may be much more difficult than most realize for discussions are underway about how many people the earth can sustain without fossil fuels and abundant fresh water, and with ravished soil and dead oceans. There are currently about 6.9 billion of us (growing at nearly 80 million a year) of which 50 percent live in cities where not much food is being grown. Some population experts think the earth’s “people carrying capacity” in the conditions we are about to encounter will be on the order of 1 or 2 billion. Some pessimists think we should be talking a few hundred million. If this should prove the case, not many of us are going to have descendents a few centuries from now.
Tom Whipple is a retired government analyst and has been following the peak oil issue for several years.
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 17
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Mary Riley Styles Gets a Tech-Over The Falls Church City Library Introduces New, User-Friendly Catalog by Dean Edwards
Falls Church News-Press
After 10 years of enduring an antiquated system, recent upgrades to the Mary Riley Styles Library Integrated Library System has made time between bookshelves a whole lot easier for patrons and librarians alike. “Working with the new system has made operations much faster than with the old clunker,” said Mary Riley’s head of automation, Lynn Stewart. Stewart, who’s seen the library computer system evolve over the past 28 years, installed the new, $120,000 system last week, with help from City Hall technicians. “The new program, Innovative Interfaces, Inc., or Triple-I, as we call it, is more intuitive than the system we’d used for 10 years,” Stewart said. Employees at Mary Riley have received nine days of training with the new system, with the acquisitions department yet to undergo a separate, three-day
training. Patrons have been “reasonably happy with the system’s self-sufficiency,” said Marshall Webster, the head of the reference department. “We anticipated that people might be somewhat startled by the new interface.” The new online catalog, Encore, “operates much like a Google search,” he said, and is far more user-friendly than before. “Before, the system was like an old card catalog on steroids,” Marshall joked, noting that the new program allows patrons to type in a simple search of a title or author name, which Encore will recognize to conduct a more refined search. The page of search results is sleek, sorted by relevance, with options to narrow the search by a number of fields. The item’s due date, hold requests and keywords are displayed in a neat interface, with images of the item’s front cover to the side. By clicking on the cover image, patrons can view the table of contents. The recent switch also
improves patrons’ access to their own records and their ability to pay fines online, Stewart said. She added the library hopes to have the online payment system active by next week. Patrons can also view their past checked out items, with the option to tailor the list. With an ability to send overdue notices immediately upon the due date, Stewart said the new system goes hand in hand with the library’s move to go paperless. “Before we’d send out a notice two weeks later. Now we can send an e-mail two days before the due date, one on the due date and so on,” she said. “It’s made life a lot easier for us, too,” Stewart added. The new system allows the librarians to update and change the catalog electronically. “When the library decided to put all of the travel guides into one section devoted to travel, I had to scan the books individually, changing their call numbers and updating the computer,”
THE LIBRARY’S ENCORE SYSTEM allows patrons to easily access and navigate the large catalog from any web browser. (NewsPress photo)
Stewart said. “That’s completely changed. Now, tasks like that are made with a simple switch on the computer.” However, she said the main concern is how the public will feel about the new catalog. The library is offering monthly classes, with sessions throughout the library’s open hours, to train patrons how to maneuver within Encore. Interested patrons can
inquire at or call the library’s Reference Desk. “We recognize the changes may be disorienting, and we’re happy to offer individual tutoring,” Webster added. Patrons can access Encore through the Mary Riley Styles web site, www.falls-church. lib.va.us, or directly by visiting encore.fallschurchva.gov. The library is located at 120 N. Virginia Ave. in Falls Church.
Whipple, Scott Paint Grim Picture in F.C. Town Hall by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
In a town hall meeting at the Falls Church Community Center last Saturday, State Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple and State Del. Jim Scott told constituents that they were “very discouraged” going into the “incredibly difficult” budget deliberations in Richmond this month. They noted that, faced with $4 billion in shortfalls, the new Republican Governor, Bob McDonnell, and his Republican majority in the House are adamantly opposed to raising any new taxes to help offset the impact on the expenditure side of the budget ledger. “Budgets are about balancing revenues and expenditures. We go through that every year. But when revenues are down as badly as they are now, it becomes incredibly difficult when one side involved in that balancing is taken away,” Whipple said. “Gov. McDonnell says that while he won’t raise any new taxes, he won’t cut the state bud-
get for economic development because that is an investment in the state’s future,” Whipple said. “But there are other programs that involve investments in the state’s future as well, such as the enormous cost savings that derive from funding programs for at-risk four-yearold preschool programs. If these children can read at or above grade level by the third grade, the chances for their entire lives are enormously enhanced, and the results of the investment are immediate. We’re going to be very hard-pressed to hold onto that program,” she said. “But there are lots of ways to look at investments.” She also made her point by citing the impact of Medicaid waivers that help keep the elderly in their homes, compared to the much higher cost of forcing them into nursing homes. Medicaid waivers that allow for early treatment of elderly issues such as routine podiatry care wind up saving the state tens of millions, she said, noting the startling statistic that $43 million in Medicaid was
FALLS CHURCH’S RICHMOND representatives, Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (left) and Del. Jim Scott, spoke at a Town Hall meeting in the F.C. Community Center last Saturday. (News-Press photo) spent on amputations last year. With unemployment rising in Virginia and in some parts of the state, as in Martinsville, over 22 percent, the effect of the state budget cuts will be to cost 10s of thousands of jobs, Scott noted. “Instead of reversing the unem-
ployment trend, we’re going backwards,” he said. Scott said that he “doesn’t hold out much hope” for his proposed local option to add a halfcent to the sales tax to relieve local revenue pressures, because of the GOP’s opposition to any
new tax options and the fact that there is no evidence of a groundwell of demand for it coming out of local and regional jurisdictions. He noted that having the option would add $80 million in new revenues for Fairfax County alone.
LOCAL
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Locals’ Domestic Efforts Reach Haiti Earthquake Victims Abroad by Natalie Bedell
Falls Church News-Press
Local rescue teams, schools and business are raising money and offering ground-zero aid to Haiti victims following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastation. The death toll estimate there rose to 150,000, said Haitian Communications Minister MarieLaurence Jocelyn Lassegue Monday. Fairfax County-based Virginia Task Force 1 (VATF-1), a domestic and international disaster response resource sponsored by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, deployed a full-fledged rescue team to Haiti Jan 13. Equipped with approximately 48 tons of equipment and supplies, a team of 72 personnel, six search and rescue canines, search and technical rescue personnel, physicians, paramedics, structural engineers and others arrived in Port-au-Prince less than 24 hours after the quake hit. A second VATF-1 search and rescue team of 42 personnel, one canine and additional equipment joined the first squad in Haiti on Jan. 14. Spokesman Dan Schmidt told the News-Press that the teams had rescued 16 people as of Monday. The rescue workers are expected back in Northern Virginia Thursday, Jan. 28, at 4 p.m., when they land at Dulles International Airport. A press release said “those who wish to greet the team may begin arriving 30 minutes prior to landing and follow signage marked ‘Fairfax USAR Haiti Event.’” Relatives of VATF-1 have asked for privacy, but Schmidt said a family support group provided a teleconference between family members and their loved ones on a daily basis during their time apart. The White House Press Office announced Wednesday that Rebecca Knerr of Chantilly would be representing her husband, Capt. II Joseph Knerr, in First Lady Michelle Obama’s box at the 2010 State of the Union last night. Joseph is the task force leader of VATF-1, having worked as a Fairfax County Firefighter for 15 years. He currently serves as station commander at Fairfax Fire
and Rescue Station 18. Baptist World Alliance (BWA), headquartered in the City of Falls Church, is overseeing its own BWAid Rescue24 team serving at a clinic in Port-au-Prince, where the squad arrived Jan. 17. The crew is composed of two Hungarian members and five North Carolina members of BWA, many of whom are medically trained, said BWAid Assistant to the Director Lee Hickman. BWAid Director Paul Montacute, who communicates directly with the team via Skype, said, “They told me it was horrendous when they first arrived, and these were experienced rescue workers.” Updates from the team posted on BWA’s Web site reported they encountered “immense chaos, confusion and the terrible smell of dead bodies.” Montacute told the News-Press Tuesday that Rescue24’s second team recently arrived on the island and that a third team is prepar-
‘‘ T
from Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church have vowed to shave their heads if students there can raise $8,000 by Feb. 15. The money will be donated to Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everyone), a U.S. health care organization with 29 medical volunteers stationed in Haiti. Bishop Ireton High School (BIHS) in Alexandria has a sister school in Haiti, the Louverture Cleary school. Area students have been conducting mission trips there for seven years, donating $10,000 to 15,000 on average to the school annually. “Our students have a personal connection to the kids there – they know these people personally,” said Campus Ministry Director Mary Kelly. Bishop Ireton’s student club, Haitian Alliance, has already organized fundraising efforts at basketball games, drama club performances and the school’s upcoming Winter Ball, where students are being asked to forgo a new dress or suit and make a donation instead. Juniors Sarah Rupp and Carrie Gillespie, both members of BIHS’ Haitian Alliance, were shocked by the news, having just taken a missions trip to Haiti last Thanksgiving break. “We’d just been there a few months before, so it was really scary not knowing if the families we’d worked with were okay or not,” said Gillespie. Rupp said she immediately grew nervous for the orphanage she and others had worked at during their trip. They’ve learned some children at Louverture Cleary were injured during the earthquake, but that no one was killed. Kelly said the suburban school did, however, suffer structural damage. Rupp and Gillespie rounded up over 4,000 contacts on Facebook, where they spread the word on how to get involved. Aside from monetary donations, the students have been collecting new and used shoes of all sizes. Footwear will be collected through Feb. 15 for Shoes2Share International, a nonprofit organization donating footwear to Haitian victims. “The students are on fire to help,” said Kelly, who added that $8,000 has been raised thus far. Also raising money for Haiti victims is Dogwood Tavern in
hey told me it was horrendous when they first arrived, and these were experienced rescue workers.
”
ing to ship out. It is not yet clear when Rescue24 team members will return home. They are staying on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince at a base overseen by Global Outreach, a Christian organization that supplies resources to missionaries. So far, the Falls Church BWA has raised over $200,000 for victims. But local rescue teams aren’t the only domestic efforts reaching those abroad. George Mason High School (GMHS) created the GMHS Haiti Relief Fund. Students have already raised $1,190, thanks to a fundraiser held at the Flippin’ Pizza in Falls Church last Thursday. GMHS student council members Rebecca Gomez and Yates Jordan announced at this week’s F.C. City Council meeting that donations will also be accepted next Wednesday, Feb. 3 during the student-faculty basketball game. Raising the stakes, half a dozen teachers, including two women,
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 19
A RESCUE24 TEAM MEMBER for the Falls Church-based Baptist World Alliance treats a wounded child in Haiti following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake. (Photo: Courtesy Lee Hickman) Falls Church. Manager Tamara Powell put out a collection jar in the restaurant without any high expectations. “I thought most people would drop change in, but I was surprised when we started seeing bills pile up,” said Powell. She plans to keep the jar, which has already garnered a couple of hundred dollars, out through Valentine’s Day, after which all of the money will be mailed to the American Red Cross. “We figured people who come to the restaurant and watch the news may not know how to help. But it’s as simple as opening your pocket and emptying out your loose change into the jar, whether it’s pennies or dollars,” said Powell. Dogwood Tavern’s sister establishment, Ragtime Restaurant in Arlington, will be hosting a prize raffle this Friday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. to raise money for Partners in Health (PIH), a medical non-profit organization that aids Haiti. Prize winners will be drawn before the Alan Scott Band takes the stage around 10 p.m., with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting PIH. Like Dogwood, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill on East Broad Street has also chosen the Red Cross as its charitable organization. General Manager Richard Soto said diners are able to add a donation to their receipts when they pay with a credit card. Cash donations are also accepted. The
Falls Church restaurant has raised over $800 so far from customer donations. Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do studio in Falls Church is doing its part by partnering with Medical Missionaries President Dr. Gilbert Irwin, a practicing internist in Manassas who’s been working with medical clinics in Haiti for 13 years. Medical Missionaries oversees a clinic in Thomassique, Haiti that serves 85,000 regional residents. At the advice of Irwin, the martial arts students have each been asked to donate a care package to ship to Haiti, containing bar soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste and a wash cloth. Master Chun Rhee’s goal is to involve his younger students more by asking for tangible items instead of money. “We have a lot of kids, so typically parents are the ones who’d be making financial donations. This way, it’s more in touch with something the students can participate in and understand,” said Rhee.
more at FCNP.com From charity yoga classes to businesses collecting care packages, find out how to help these and other local efforts offering assistance to Haiti earthquake victims by visiting www.fcnp.com.
PAGE 20 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
SPORTS
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Mason Swimmers Break Records, 10 Qualify for State Tournament by Dean Edwards
Falls Church News-Press
AT 6-FOOT-7, MASON’S Jordan Cheney (center) has dominated the court for the boys team. (Photo: Alex Prewitt/News-Press)
Mustang Jordan Cheney Bound for Swarthmore by Alex Prewitt
Falls Church News-Press
Cheney, a 6-foot-7 senior and center on the boys basketball team, recently announced he will be enrolling in Swarthmore College in the fall to take the floor for the Garnet. It’s the culmination of a lengthy basketball career at Mason, one which will end in the coming months. Cheney joined the Mustangs varsity team his sophomore year as a center, hitting the gamewinning shot as time expired in Mason’s Region B, first-round 52-50 victory over Wilson Memorial High School. As a junior, he was named a member of the Second Team All-Bull Run District, a year in which he nearly averaged a double-double. Cheney will join a blossoming Swarthmore program, which competes in the highly lucrative Continental Conference. Coach Lee Wimberly, who is in his 23rd year on the Garnet bench and once coached at Pomona-Pitzer
with current San Antonio Spurs leader Gregg Popovich, first saw Cheney at the Hoop Group Elite Camp, held at Albright College in Reading, Penn. What impressed Wimberly the most was Cheney’s dedication to sports and academics, something the coach pinpoints as a trait all Swarthmore athletes hold. For Cheney, the mix of academics and top-notch basketball made Swarthmore his choice. “That’s the first thing, the academics,” said Cheney, who plans to enter Swarthmore’s engineering program. “I always wanted to use basketball to get me into a good school. Swarthmore obviously isn’t a basketball powerhouse, but a great academic institution like this allows you to have a great social life on the side but still pull in the good grades.” Cheney and Mason still have six Bull Run District games left remaining on their schedule, but having his future all planned out has taken off some of the edge. “I’m excited,” he said.
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George Mason High School’s swim team set another milestone at Saturday’s meet versus Freedom High, with six new records, 10 qualifying times posted and 31 personal best times for the swimmers. The successes came despite the team as a whole losing 162-120 to the Freedom High Eagles. New state qualifiers were junior Will Doty in the 200 Free, senior Karen Hamill in the 50 Free and junior Sam Butler and senior Kelley Frank in the 100 Free. Freshman Julia Estrada set a school record in the 500 Free, as did the boys relay team (freshman Lucas Cherry, senior Sam Parker, Doty and Butler) in the 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle. Next up, the Mustangs face Broad Run High this Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Claude Moore Rec Center pool before moving on to the Dulles District Championships on Feb. 5. This is the first year for Mason, a single-A school, in the larger Dulles District.
MASON STATE QUALIFYING SWIMMERS junior Will Doty (top) and senior Kelley Frank (below). (Photo: Courtesy Brian Doty)
McLean Hockey Wins, 8-7, Vs. Woodson McLean High School’s young varsity ice hockey team beat Woodson High Friday, 8-7, to improve their season record to 5-2. The close win put the Highlanders two points behind division leader, Langley High, in the standings. Freshman Ajmal Behsudi led the point-scorers for McLean with three goals. Sophomores
Connor Glmartin, Julian Kell and junior Tommy Borman came in with one goal and one assist each. Junior Matt Stewart and sophomore Nick Baker added two goals to the tally, and sophomores Maury Winter and Max Alm contributed with one assist each. The young team’s point lead-
Falls Church Lacrosse Announces Spring 2010 League Registration Falls Church Youth Lacrosse Club (FCYLC) announced the official opening of its registration period for lacrosse teams for 2010 spring season leagues. Team slots are available for ages 5 – 15 for both boys and girls. Registration is available on the FCYLC Web site, www.fclaxclub.com. FCYLC is a 100-percent volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching lacrosse
to boys and girls in and around Falls Church. FCYLC has been in existence for 12 years. All FCYLC head coaches are certified, undergo background checks and are experienced in teaching lacrosse. The club serves the Greater Falls Church area, and its players eventually feed into the George Mason, Falls Church and J.E.B. Stuart High School lacrosse programs. Scholarships are available for children from
ers for the season thus far include Stewart with 17 points, 10 goals and seven assists; Baker with 15 points, two goals and 13 assists; Gilmartin with 13 points, eight goals and five assists; and Winter with 12 points, six goals and six assists. McLean takes on Mountain View High this Friday, Jan. 29. families with limited financial resources. FCYLC enrolled 160 kids and 10 teams in 2009, with team brackets from ages 7 to under 9 (U9), 9 to under 11 (U11) and 11 to under 13 (U13). In 2010, Falls Church Youth Lacrosse is opening registration to new teams in an under-7-year-old (U7) coed, non-contact team for youngsters, as well as a new team for boys between 13-15(U15). The Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (NVYLL) fields over 450 teams in 24 clubs. Registrations are open through March 11, for the spring season, which begins in March.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SPORTS
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 21
Mason Wrestling Heads S p o r t s R o u n d u p Into District Competition McLean Girls Basketball Take Rotary Cup; by John Pitas
Special to the News-Press
For the second week in a row, George Mason High School’s varsity wrestling coach Bryan Harris spent the bus ride back from an event stressing about his team’s fate. His Mustangs had just completed the Bull Run District Duals at Madison County High School with a 1-4 record, but he was more concerned about the health of several of his starters. The day before the Duals, 125-pound wrestler Jackson Thomas had been declared out of the lineup due to a shoulder injury, and the day prior to that Harris had received word that starting 103-pound wrestler John Glover had a concussion and was likely done for the season. To top it off, starter Alborz Alaeddini had aggravated an old injury at the Duals and his season’s fate was up in the air, too. “These guys have worked so hard and now their season may be over just when it really matters,” said Coach Harris. “I know they are disappointed and upset. Everyone on the team is a little shellshocked at the suddenness of it. Two weeks ago, the team was flying high and now they are pretty down. We don’t have anyone available to replace them, so we will enter the final week of the regular season and the postseason with holes at those spots,” Harris continued. “We all feel pretty bad for those guys.” As to the weekend results, there may have been little for
the team as a whole to celebrate, but several individuals stood out, particularly Danny Seidita, Manuel Veiga-Diaz and Natan Lailari. Performing well at the Duals is important because it is one of the primary methods of seeding entries in the postseason District tournament. With a perfect 5-0 record against his district competition, Seidita has likely earned himself the number one seed in the upcoming Bull Run District (BRD) Tournament. His victories included two pins and convincing wins over Clarke’s Ben Genda, who was seventh in the state last year, and Manassas Park’s Victor Cruz, a state qualifier last year. Veiga-Diaz overcame a 16-13 opening round loss to the state’s third-ranked Rob Wallace of Clarke County to roll through the rest of his competition. Along the way, Veiga-Diaz recorded three pins, including one in 12 seconds over Madison’s Chris McHaney, to solidify a likely number two seed in the BRD tournament. One of the meet’s surprises was 145-pound wrestler Natan Lailari, who came away 3-2. By many accounts, his weight class was the toughest at the Duals, and Lailari’s efforts will help him get the number three seed at the Districts. Of particular note was Lailari’s win over eighth-ranked Daniel Clement of Rappahannock County. “Natan has been improving very rapidly lately and it shows in today’s positive results,” HarContinued on Page 22
Lady Statesmen Beat Seahawks, 65-61 FALLS CHURCH H.S. The Falls Church High School boys basketball team lost to Hayfield 71-60 on Tuesday, and the girls team fell to Hayfield 71-25, despite 14 points from Cyndi Gordon. The girls defeated Stuart 44-37 last Friday, but the boys lost 66-44. The two teams return this Friday, with the boys at Yorktown at 7:45 p.m. and the girls hosting Yorktown at 7:45 p.m. The Jaguar girls swim and dive team dominated Stuart 21095, winning all but one event; but the boys team narrowly lost 164-151. The dive team returns to the pool on Thursday for district competition, and the swim team starts district competition on Friday with preliminaries at Washington and Lee, with the finals to follow on Saturday.
GEORGE C. MARSHALL H.S. Behind 18 points from Theresa Hackett, the Marshall High School girls basketball team defeated South Lakes 65-61 on the road on Tuesday; but the boys basketball team lost to South Lakes 66-58, despite 21 points from Will Simonton. The boys basketball team defeated Fairfax 59-54 on Friday behind 35 points and 10 rebounds from Simonton; and the girls lost to Fairfax at home 49-47. The boys host McLean on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and the girls are next back on the court on Friday at McLean for a game at 7:30 p.m. The swim team had a rough go of it against Madison, with the girls losing 240-75 and the boys falling 205-103. The team is now preparing for the Liberty District meet this Friday and Saturday. The Marshall gymnastics team finished sixth at an event on Monday with 41.65 points.
J.E.B. Stuart H.S.
MASON’S DANNY SEIDITA (TOP) works to pin his Warren County opponent in the Bull Run Districts. (Photo: Courtesy John Pitas)
The Stuart High School boys basketball team defeated rival Falls Church 66-44 last Friday, steadied by 26 points from Antonio Harris. The team lost to Wakefield on Tuesday 52-38, and returns to the court at 7:45 p.m. this Friday at Edison High. The Stuart girls basketball team fell to Wakefield 51-31, and Falls Church 44-37. Bianca
MCLEAN’S GIRLS BASKETBALL claimed the Rotary Cup, beating Langley High, 55-34, its second cup in a row. Pictured above are McLean’s (left to right) Lauren Sutherland, Melissa Wilson, Brittany McCray and Caitlin Baker. (Photo: Courtesy Jennifer Baker) Cesaratto had 12 points against Falls Church. The team hosts Edison on Friday at 7:45 p.m. The Stuart High wrestling team participated at the National District Duals two-day event at Hayfield last weekend. The squad participated in seven matches, with victories against Falls Church 77-0 and Wakefield 39-29. The team is at a tri-meet this Friday at West Potomac High School.
GEORGE MASON H.S. The Mason High School boys basketball team defeated
Strasburg 59-51 at home on Friday. The Mustangs were led with 16 points from Aaron Young and Michael Wolfe, improving their record to 7-10. The team returns to action Tuesday at Madison at 7:30 p.m. The girls hoops team host Strasburg at 7:30 p.m. The swim team had some struggles against Freedom High, with the girls losing 162-120 and the boys falling 156-126. Despite the lopsided team scores, the squad did set six new Continued on Page 22
Matrix Girls Basketball AAU Plans 2010 Season Tryouts Girls in grades 3 – 11 are invited to register online for the upcoming 2010 Matrix Atheltic Amateur Union (AAU) girls basketball tryouts. Tryouts will begin in midFebruary and run through early March for the spring 2010 AAU season. There are over 20 volunteer coaches on the Matrix coaching staff, virtually all with prior travel, AAU and high school
coaching experience. To see the 2010 Matrix coaching staff, tryout schedule and to register their children online for tryouts, parents can visit the team’s Web site, www. MatrixBasketball.net. For details about the Matrix program and other questions, parents can also contact Matrix Basketball President Liz Reed via e-mail at Liz.Reed@ MatrixBasketball.net.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SPORTS
GM Wrestling
Picking Splinters By Mike Hume
Continued from Page 21
ris said. “Clement is a well-known and highly regarded wrestler and Natan handled him very well. He has positioned himself nicely for the postseason.” All in all, Harris said he was pleased with the efforts of his charges. Teddy Rueckert, Keiyon Tyler, Ben Tourkin, Alex Castueble and Mike Larcamp were 2-3 after the day but Harris said he chose to see the bright side of their efforts. “Teddy was sick all day so he was not at his best,” he explained. “He will still be the number four seed, and with a little luck, so will the rest of the group. That will put them in a decent position in the tournament. After that, it is up to them to show they can do the job.” “The mind set changes in the postseason,” Harris added. “Naturally, we want every wrestler to win it all, but in reality, the goal is to progress to the next level. Harris said, “Everyone’s primary concern is to get through the district tournament and advance to the regional tournament, and from
Hoyas Losses Lead to Frustration
MASON JUNIOR MIKE LARCAMP at the Bull Run District Dual Meet last week at Madison County. (Photo: Courtesy John Pitas) there to the state tournament. Each of these guys had one or two close losses, so with a couple of additional weeks of work, they have a chance to do just that. No one is out of it at this point.” Mason wraps up its regular season this coming Saturday, Jan.
30 with a home meet in the Mason Pit. Mason will host Brooke Point, Wakefield, Potomac School and Stafford in a dual meet round robin. It will also be senior recognition day. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m.
Roundup Continued from Page 21
team records. The Mustangs return to the pool on Saturday at Broad Run High.
MCLEAN H.S. The McLean High School boys basketball team defeated Jefferson 48-40 on Tuesday, and the girls basketball team won 53-33 behind 11 points from Lauren Sutherland. The Lady Highlanders beat Langley High, 55-34, Friday night to claim the Rotary Cup for the second consecutive year. Scoring was led by Melissa Waton with all 17 points in the second half. The McLean swim and dive team had a successful meet against Stone Bridge last Friday, with the boys winning 175111and the girls 179-107. For the boys, Charlie Putnman, Colin Fitzgibbon, Bill Kim and Ben Southern were all triple winners; and on the girls side, Margaret Harlow and Annie Springsteen each won four events and Katie Yensen won three. The McLean gymnastics team finished third out of six teams at an event on Monday.
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 22
MCLEAN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM came in third Monday in a field of six schools, with 110.115 points. Marshall’s team came in last with 41.65. (Photo: Gary Mester) The team scored 110.115 points, while winner Langley scored 136.45. Individual highlights include Abby Neuberger winning the bars exercise; and Claire Sanders finishing second in the all-around, vault and floor,
and fourth on bars. Next up for the team is the Liberty District Championships on Monday at Stone Bridge. The wrestling team is getting ready for the Stone Bridge Duals this Saturday at Stone Bridge High.
If I had only one word to describe the humbling 17-point loss handed to the Georgetown Hoyas by the Syracuse Orange on Monday night, it would be this: Frustration. It was frustrating for the Hoyas watching a 14-0 lead evaporate. It was frustrating that virtually every attempt to puncture the Orange’s 2-3 zone resulted in a turnover. It was frustrating that the few times the Hoyas managed to reach the rim with the ball, Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson swatted the shot away. Simply put, it’s rather frustrating when your biggest rival is a legitimate national title contender. Now the Hoyas have a lot to work on before the Orange visit Washington for their second matchup Feb.18. And it starts with breaking down the 2-3 zone. This year, perhaps more than any other I can recall, Syracuse features a lineup of long-armed defenders that deny passing lanes with their active, lanky arms. That alone limits the options for a teams trying to move the ball against them, isolating them to the perimeter and forcing them into taking three-pointers rather than higher percentage shots near the hoop. Now add in another degree of difficulty. Every time a pass pushes the ball to a corner or too close to the sidelines, Syracuse defenders will try to double team the ballhandler to force a turnover. The zone is not known for its ability to force steals. That much is evident from the fact that Syracuse, who runs the 2-3 zone as well as any team in the nation, has only ranked in the top 50 for steal percentage once since 2004 (No. 31 in 2006). This season, they’re No. 2 with a mark of 15.5 percent. Monday night, Syracuse forced 19 turnovers from Georgetown, and the Hoyas never looked comfortable breaking the zone. Part of that was personnel. Julian Vaughn has been terrific this season, growing into a solid frontcourt sidekick for Greg Monroe. But his slow decision-making with the ball on Monday allowed the Orange defenders to swarm him, leading to a pair of turnovers and just two field goal attempts. Freshmen Jerrelle Benimon and Hollis Thompson seemed overmatched off the bench. And Monroe? The big man celebrated nationally for his ability to distribute the basketball to open teammates? He finished with zero assists and six turnovers before fouling out. The second part of the Hoyas’ ineptitude against the zone was their tentative approach. Georgetown would often set up their three guards in an umbrella around the perimeter of the zone and probe it for openings. You can’t do that against this zone. If you’re slow moving the basketball, if you’re slow making decisions, it allows the defenders to get set and take away driving and passing lanes, or worse, trap the ball handler. You have to attack this zone. You have to make it move. Make the defenders commit and then have players cutting to fill the area vacated by that defender. You can’t station players on the perimeter and expect to beat Syracuse with lob passes. I realize I’m no basketball coach, but I sketched this out at a bar with five French fries and a cherry tomato and I can tell you this is the right approach. Don’t believe me? Let’s look at Pittsburgh then. The Panthers are the only team to top the Orange this season. And they did it at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Georgetown fans got a glimpse of how the Panthers pulled off their upset when the Hoyas clashed with them a week ago. Pitt’s ball movement is outrageously fast. Their passes are decisive, their drives are aggressive and they force the defense to react to them. This is what kept Georgetown off balance for most of the game. Against Syracuse, Pitt was not precise, with 18 turnovers, but they shot 44.2 percent from the floor and attempted 36 free throws. That last part is key because it usually means the defense was committing those fouls because defenders were out of position. Georgetown toed the foul line just 11 times. And before anyone mentions referee bias, two of the three officials were the same Monday as in Pitt’s upset win. To be sure, Georgetown received Syracuse’s best effort on Monday, but the Hoyas will have to be much sharper if they hope to win the second half of the series. If they continue to pass the ball around the perimeter and don’t make their defenders move, it’s safe to predict the result will be similarly frustrating. Mike Hume may be e-mailed at mhume@fcnp.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Fa l l s C h u r c h
School News & Notes FCPS School Board Holds Public Budget Forums The Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) School Board invites the public to attend a special forum on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget. The forum will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6
from 9 a.m. – noon at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Participants will learn more about the budget, which will be submitted to the board for approval on Feb. 4, as well as how to involve the public in the budget process.
LOCAL
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 23
Local High School Student Recruited to College Team Christine Grilliot, a standout athlete at George C. Marshall High School, has committed to play softball at the University of Mary Washington next year. Christine has been recruited as a pitcher for the 2010-2011 season. As a member of the varsity softball team, she was named AllDistrict 1st team and Marshall’s Most Outstanding Player Award for softball during her sophomore and junior seasons. During the 2009 season, Christine led the Lady Statesmen on the mound and also behind the plate in batting average, RBIs and total hits.
Students Face Faculty in Charity Basketball Game The students of George Mason High School are challenging their teachers and staff at the yearly basketball game fundraiser. A halftime presentation will explain the game’s benefit, the George Mason High School Haiti Relief Fund. All proceeds go to the fund. Tickets are $3. The game takes place in the Mason “Pit” gymnasium (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). The game starts at 7 p.m.
Dr. Leila Saba, DDS Proudly Announces the Opening of Her Falls Church Office
Falls Church Dental Care Hablamos Español
Participates In Most PPO Insurance Plans
Saturday Hours Available 2 blocks from West Falls Church Metro Station
7115 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 205 (West Metro Plaza) www.fallschurchdentalcare.com
DR. LEILA SABA
College Student Receives University Scholarship SHARMEEN MUSTAFA (seated, left) of Falls Church High School and Mary Hoath (seated, right) of Mt. Vernon High Schools were recipients of $10,000 In Hope Freedom Rings scholarships. The students demonstrated excellent scholarship and activity in their communities. (Photo: Courtesy Jeanine Andricosky)
Jefferson Pham of Falls Church, has been awarded merit scholarships and endowed scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. Pham will be a pharmacy major.
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GEORGE C. MARSHALL HIGH’S THESPIANS return to the stage this Saturday, Jan. 30, part of the Virginia High School League Liberty District One Act Play Competitions, hosted by the school (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). The Marshall cast (above) will perform “Tongues” at 4 p.m. Rival McLean High School takes the stage at 2 p.m. Admission is free, and the entire competition runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Photo: Courtesy Valerie Karasek)
Weekdays (except Tue) ---> 9 am to 8 pm Saturday ---> 10 am to 6 pm Closed
---> Tue & Sun
No appointment Necessary Most Insurances Accepted
CALENDAR
PAGE 24 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
Community Events Thursday, January 28 Dialogues in Mexican Photography. Photos from the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City and a selection of five contemporary photographers in Mexico. Cultural Institute of Mexico (2829 16th St. NW Washington, D.C.). Free. 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. 202-728-1628. Noland’s Bath & Idea Center Grand Opening. Don’t miss this red carpet opportunity to welcome Noland’s new Bath & Idea Center. Noland’s (6607 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church) 4:30 — 7 p.m. 703-241-2371 or yrsarraga@noland.com. Rotary Club Meeting. Ed Grandi, Executive Director of the American Sleep Apnea Association, will speak about the problems and symptoms of Sleep Apnea at the Falls Church Rotary Club’s dinner meeting. Harvest Moon Restauarant (7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). Dinner is $11. Visitors are welcome. 6:30 p.m.
Friday, January 29 World Hunger Benefit Concert. Columbia Baptist hosts bluesgrass bands to make some music and raise funds for Columbia’s Spend Yourself for World Hunger Fund.
Performances by King Street Bluegrass Band, Andrew Acosta and the New Old-Time String Band with Speedy Tolliver. Columbia Baptist Church (103 W. Columbia St., Falls Church). Free. 7:30 p.m. www. spend-yourself.org.
Saturday, January 30 Cooking Up Romance. Men learn how to cook a romantic meal for your sweetheart just in time for Valentine’s Day. Art and Soul Executive Chef Travis Timberlake will be teaching a class. Art and Soul (415 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.). $50. Noon — 2 p.m. 202-393-7777.
Sunday, january 31 Author Discussion & Signing. Kyoko Mori will be discussing and signing her new memoir “Yarn: Remembering the Way Home.” Politics and Prose Bookstore (5015 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, D.C.). Free. 5 p.m.
Monday, February 1 Juried Arts Showcase. The exhibit showcases “wet” or “dry” photos by members of the Multiple Exposures
&
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Send community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at calendar@fcnp. com; fax 703-532-3396; or by regular mail to 450 West Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.
Gallery. Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St., Alexandria). Free. 11 a.m — 5 p.m. 703-838-4565. Haiti Relief Fundraiser. Come out and do your part to help fund raise for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Haitian music sets the scene for this soiree at the Alliance Francaise. Donations go directly to Doctors Without Borders. Alliance Francaise de Washington (2142 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25 donation. 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. 202-234-7911.
Tuesday, FEBRUARY 2 Learning the Craft. Learn to make your own bias binding for your clothes, home decorator projects and quilts. G Street Fabrics Store. Falls Church Sew and Go (6250 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) Open to the public. 7 — 8:45 p.m. Marjie Curia. 703-256-5610. mcuria53@ gmail.com. Navigating Herbs. Learn about growing and using herbs from Jo Sellers, Landscape Design Critic and member of the Herb Society at the Falls Church Garden Club. Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Free. 7:30 p.m. 703-248-5077.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 The Art of Jewelry. Part of the “Gals in the Gallery” series, JJ Singh leads this workshop on the art of jewelry. Reservations are limited to 60. McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Suggested donations $10. 703790-1950. www.mpaart.org. GMHS Students Vs. Faculty Basketball. The students of George Mason High School (GMHS) challenge their teachers and staff. All proceeds will benefit the George Mason High School Haiti Relief Fund. George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). $3. 7 p.m. 703-248-5500.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Open Houses. Corpus Christi School, pre-K – 8th grade, and a 2008 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, invites parents to explore the school’s elementary campus (3301 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church) and early childhood campus (7506 St. Philips Ct., Falls Church). Free. 6 – 8 p.m. 703-820-7450 ext. 10. www. corpuschristischool.org.
Theater Fine Arts Thursday, January 28
‘The Miser.’ A classic comedy about the problems of investing too much value and time into money, brought to life by one of France’s renowned playwrights, Molière. Clark Street Playhouse (601 S. Clark St., Arlington). Paywhat-you-can for performances through the Saturday matinee. 8 p.m. 703-418-4808. www. washingtonshakespeare.org.
Saturday, January 30
‘Rockapella: Live in Concert.’ This five-man a cappella powerhouse thrilled audiences when they last appeared at the Center. Of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” fame, Rocka-
pella returns with their welcoming humor, style and artistry; their amazing and innovative “vocal percussion”; and their winning combination of soul, rock, R&B and jazz. George Mason Center for Arts (4400 University Dr., Fairfax). 2 – 8 p.m. Tickets are $42, $34, $21. Youth through grade 12 half price when accompanied by an adult. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit cfa.gmu.edu.
VHSL One Act Play Competitions. Falls Church area high schools will be competing in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Liberty District One Act Play competition. All eight district schools will be performing throughout the day, with McLean High School at 2 p.m. and George C. Marshall at 4 p.m. George C. Marshall High School Auditorium (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Free. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, January 31 ‘Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan.’ The company blends Asian folklore with modern dance, performing “Moon Water,.” The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2700 F. St. NW Washington, D.C.). 8 p.m. Tickets range from $22 – 65. 202-467-4600.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
‘Antony and Cleopatra.’ Synetic Theater presents a wordless production of Shakespeare’s geopolitical tale. Shakespeare Theatre Company – Lansburgh Theater (450 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 – 55. 202-547-1122. www.synetictheatre.org.
CALENDAR
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
live_music&nightlife
THURSDAY, January 28 Songwriters Association of Washington. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $5. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095.
Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Cowboy Mouth. With Junior Brown. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 8 p.m. 202-265-0930.
1964: The Tribute. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.
Ben Sollee. With Carie Rodriguez. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $15. 9 p.m. 703-5228340.
Charlie Mars. With Danni Rosner. Seated show. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
HOMO/SONIC. Alternative/queer dance party. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 9 p.m. 202-667-4490.
Haiti Aid Concert. Performances by Wes Tucker, Adrian Hardkor, Alex the Red Parez and more. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). Donations encouraged. 8 p.m. 703522-8340. Breakups. With The Scotch Bonnets. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $8. 9 p.m. 202-6674490.
Friday, January 29 Cravin’ Dogs. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $7, includes later show. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095. The Kennedys. With Maura Kennedy’s solo release. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Shawn Mullins. With Justin Trawick. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt.
King Soul. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $7, includes earlier show. 10 p.m. 703-534-0095. The Loud Tour. Featuring Frayz, Whitefolkz, Dia, Tese Fever, Rated R, E-Skillz, K-Beta and more. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 10 p.m. 703-255-1566.
SATURDAY, January 30
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 25
Exit Clov. With Olivia Mancini, Poor But Sexy. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 9 p.m. 703-522-8340. Cryfest Dance Party. The Cure vs. The Smiths music provided by DJs Steve EP, Killa K and Krasty McNasty. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 9 p.m. 202-6674490. The Legwarmers. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $16. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300. Jelly Roll Mortals. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $7, includes earlier show. 10 p.m. 703534-0095.
SUNDAY, January 31 Chips For Chips Fundraiser. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 1 – 6 p.m. 703-5340095.
Jimmy Lee. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $7, includes later show. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095.
Blues Jam. With Hot Rods and Old Gas and Hot Roddess Lisa Lim. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 6 p.m. 703-534-0095.
Suzanne Westenhoefer. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-5497500.
David Sanborn. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.
WP Presents Tea Leaf Green. With Elmwood. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $17. 8 p.m. 202265-0930.
Those Darlins. With Pine Hill Haints. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 9 p.m. 202-6674490.
Monday, February 1 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Monday Movie Night. Ages 18+. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., movie starts at 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300. Dale Watson. With Justin Jones. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $15. 8 p.m. 703-5228340.
Tuesday, February 2 Josh Rouse. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Girls Rock! with Ivy Rose. With Mad Brenda, The Shields Brothers Band. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Givers. With Deutschmarks. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 9 p.m. 202-667-4490.
Wednesday, February 3 Open Mic Night. With special performance by Todd, Rich and James (of Brother Shamus). Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). Free. 8 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Special performance at 9:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.
Planning Ahead...
I
t’s not clear yet just how much snow will get dumped on us Saturday, but if you want to get out of the house, but remain in one cozy location where you can pig out on live hoops all day, then the Verizon Center’s basketball doubleheader is for you. The fun begins when Duke and Georgetown square off in what will undoubtedly be a rousing men’s college game at noon, and continues when the NBA’s Knicks and Wizards tip off at 8 p.m. If you go for both, you’ll naturally have to exit the premises between games, which means you won’t get to see how they change all the logos on the hardwood floor. But you can hang out in the Green Turtle, in the same building, or in Clyde’s, or in a Japanese or Thai restaurant, or Louie’s sports bar, go bowling, or maybe drop into the Regal Cinemas for one of a dozen movie offerings, all options connected inside, without having to go into the snow. Tickets could be a problem for the sold-out Duke-G-town game, but it’s not the best of seasons for either the Knicks or Wizards, so there will plenty of good seats for sale at the ticket office for that one. Good luck on getting home after all that!
What: Basketball Doubleheader When: Saturday, January 30, starting at noon Where: Verizon Center, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC See ticketmaster.com or stubhub.com for tickets
Saturday, Feb. 6 – Young at Heart. The City of Fairfax’s Senior Center hosts its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser, open to everyone, including walk-ins. City of Fairfax Senior Center Cafeteria (4401 Sideburn Rd., Fairfax). Pre-purchased tickets are $7 per adult, $6 per student/senior, $5 per child under 10, and free for children under two. Make checks payable to “The Young at Heart.” 703-359-2487. Saturday, Feb. 6 – Chocolate Lovers Festival. Fairfax’s annual Chocolate Lovers Festival returns this year with a number of fancy treats to sample and purchase from vendors, while viewing art and entertainment where chocolate is the muse. Old Town Fairfax (Main Street and University Drive, Fairfax). 703-385-1561. www.chocolatefestival.net.
Calendar Submissions 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.
Email: calendar@fcnp.com Fax: 703-342-0347; Attn: FCNP Calendar Mail: 450 West Broad Street, #321, Falls Church, VA 22046
PAGE 28 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
N o r t h e r n Vi r g i n i a
Art Beat Art Gallery Nuptials
Coveted Sanctuary
“Till Death Do Us Part,” at the Longview Gallery (1234 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). The exhibit runs from Feb. 5 – March 1. The opening reception for this art show will also feature the actual wedding of two wellknown D.C. artists, Matt Sesow (www.sesow.com) and Dana Ellyn (www.danaellyn.com). There’s no telling how crazy this one will get, but you’ll just have to find out. To join in the fun, send an RSVP to info@longviewgallery.com.
Visiting Artists Program, at the Torpedo Factory (105 N. Union St., Alexandria). The application deadline is Feb. 28. For complete details and application forms, visit www.torpedofactory. org/vap. There is no application fee, but artists will be required to cover the nominal rental fee for studio space. The juror for this pilot program will be the director of American University’s Katzen Center, Jack Rasmussen. Studio spaces will be
available for one to three months between June 1 – Aug. 31. With some inside knowledge here, I can tell you applicants better bring their A-game in a big, big way on this one. The Torpedo Factory has set a course to break loose of their somewhat staid reputation. Having been one of the participants in the critique and ideation process, we can only say it’s good to see it all coming to fruition. Several prime ground-floor studio spaces are being vacated for this period (one of which is right next to the front door), and will be occupied by the selected artists. The call for applications is going out to just about every artist within a several state radius. Competition for slots should be tougher than titanium, and Rasmussen is no push over. Anybody thinking this is all about safe decorator art, guess again: the principals involved are digging as hard as they possibly can to find fresh blood, and fresh thinking. This is a fabulous opportunity for any artist.
Neon & Styrofoam Joseph Barbaccia / Craig Kraft / Judy Southerland in Focus Exhibitions, at the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) (12001 Market St., Suite 103, Reston). The exhibit runs through Feb. 20. The gallery is open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday. For more details, call 703-471-9242 or visit www.restonarts.org. Barbaccia shows another round of sequin-encrusted Styrofoam shapes. One of the finalists in the 2008 Trawick Prize competition, he’s also coming off a recent solo show at Neptune Gallery in Bethesda. In general, Barbaccia sculpts Styrofoam shapes, which he covers with sequins secured with stainless steel push pins. The effect reminds one of Judith Leiber’s
“UNINTENTIONAL DRAWING I,” by neon artist Craig Kraft, uses neon lighting in intricate graffiti-esque patterns which can also be viewed from behind the Plexiglas.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
“TILL DEATH DO US PART,” oil on canvas, by Dana Ellyn, now on display at the Longview Gallery. whimsical handbags. Mind you, Leiber’s bags are largely kitsch evening wear accessories for the uber-wealthy. Barbaccia is after a more sober, yet quite decorative end-product. These seven sculptures called “Currents” deal with forms we associate with sea creatures. A six-tentacle octopus-like form titled “Praise” may be the most successful. The textured pattern design of its sequins gives the finished work a visually seamless covering, allowing us to see beyond the surface decoration and tedious work. Only then are we able to take the work in as a unified marriage of form and color. Neon Artist Craig Kraft is the one responsible for the giant neon “X” sculpture on the facade of the Arlington Arts Center. Kraft’s three blue neon works here – argon with a mercury kick-
“PRAISE,” ONE OF BARBACCIA’S sea-themed Styrofoam molds, in this case, a six-tentacled octopus-like creature.
er if you want to be specific – are based on doodles Kraft did while on the phone, or otherwise engaged. As such, they are nonsensical designs, aside from any subconscious reasoning that may have entered the artist’s process. The largest piece, titled “Unintentional Drawing I,” incorporates words, numbers and quickly scrawled looping shapes. The final work has a graffitiesque air about it. We linger over the semi-legible words, and find some order in the 1-2-3 notations at the lower right. While the final piece doesn’t have any grand message per se, the entertaining complexity of shapes, vectors, and notations hold the viewer’s attention. In the end, we’re comfortable letting the central word, “dream,” hold sway. This piece also has a clear Plexiglas backing that allows the viewer to safely see the flickering business end of this 240,000 volt monster. Like a glass-backed watch, the novice can find just as much entertainment in the seemingly abstract workings as the finished facade. Finally, Judy Southerland is a Corcoran instructor whose work was last seen at McLean Project for the Arts in their 2009 edition of the Strictly Painting biennial. Her print and painting work here continue her figurative depictions. The Northern Virginia Art Beat is compiled by Kevin Mellema. See www.fcnp.com for photos and more. To e-mail submissions, send them to kevinmellema@gmail.com.
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 29
Jan
28 ay
sd Thur
Charlie Mars Jammin’ Java 8 p.m. 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna 703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com
by Mike Hume
Falls Church News-Press
Carrie Rodriguez is a bit of a dabbler. Perhaps it was a little bit of an adolescent backlash from her early years performing classical musical, or as she puts it, “trying to recreate something that was written 300 years ago down to the exact phrasing and bowing dynamics.” Perhaps its a more ingrained aversion to staying static, as demonstrated by her
refusal to take part in “nap time” as an elementary school student. Instead of sleeping away the day, she wandered into a nearby classroom where students were learning the violin, her first introduction to the instrument for which she would be celebrated as one of the country/ blues scene’s top fiddle players. “I was so focused on classical violin for the first part of my life, and in that medium, the whole goal is to play it as perfectly as you can,” Rodriguez says. “I think that’s a beautiful
Carrie Rodriguez Iota Club & Café 9 p.m. 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington 703-522-8340 • iotaclubandcafe.com
Feb
1
ay
Mond
Gulley Jimson Quartet Galaxy Hut 9 p.m. 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington 703-525-8646 • galaxyhut.com
2
day
Tues
Josh Rouse Birchmere 9 p.m.
Carrie Rodriguez (Photo: Sarah Wilson)
This week, the FCNP crew cured their musical munchies with these fixes:
Nicholas Benton - White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria 703-549-7500 • birchmere.com
Jody Fellows - Rad Omen by Rad Anthem
Natalie Bedell - Your Love’s A Drug by Leighton Meester
Dean Edwards - Like a Drug by Kylie Minogue
art form, but it was restrictive to me creatively. When I started branching out into other styles, I think that’s when music started becoming really exciting for me.” Her career blossomed in turn. She was recruited as a sideman from a live show at the South by Southwest Music Festival by Chip Taylor, who originally penned classics “Wild Thing” and “Angel of the Morning.” She later collaborated and toured with country/folk/rock artist Lucinda Williams. Today that early inclination for new excitement is evident in her upcoming release, Love and Circumstance, a collection of cover tunes ranging from songs played by her father and great aunt, Eva Garza, to artists like Townes Van Zandt and her aforementioned touring partner Lucinda Williams. Exhibiting a wide variety of her influences, Rodriguez puts her own spin on the selections, not content to simply leave them as they were. “It’s been a matter of taking them and trying to make them my own,” Rodriguez says. “I like to play the song enough until I forget that I didn’t write it.” The album is her third LP, following the release of She Ain’t Me in August of 2008. That record consisted of a collection of co-written songs that all tended to defy genre-specific labels, but were linked by Rodriguez’s smoldering and easy-to-fall-for vocals and feisty fiddle-playing. “I’ve done a lot of co-writing, which suits me because I love playing with other musicians and I love the back and forth and seeing how someone else does it,” Rodriguez says of her previous work. “ I love adding what I’ve got to what they’ve got and getting something even better. I’d say I’ve done more of that than anything else.” She continues to embrace the ability to play in various musical circles, even if it may be preventing her from pinning down a sound that she feels is distinctly her own. In fact, she’d be just fine if she never found it. “I love the process of creating music and I hope I never finally arrive as one thing that is ‘Carrie Rodriguez,’” she says. “I get excited when I find a new arrangement for one of my songs I’ve been playing for five or six years. I hope I’ll be able to do that for the rest of my life. Limiting what I do to a specific sound or genre isn’t quite as exciting to me.” • Carrie Rodriguez performs at IOTA Club & Cafe Jan. 29. For more on her music and her constantly evolving career, visit www.carrierodriguez.com.
123 Featuring PHO WHY SPEND $5 ON A FOOT LONG???
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The First Name in Pancakes
F re e
Ristorante FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS Murali| FCNP.COM 395
Restaurant Spotlight
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Bamian Restaurant
5634 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA bamianrestaurant.com • 703-820-7880
Navy D r.
7
395
Saigon Saigon
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Bamian Restaurant in Falls Church offers some of the most traditional Afghan food without diners having to book a flight. The entreés are filled with flavor and a variwww.edencenter.com Also weekdays: Free Wi-Fi ety of spices, making Bamian theTry perfect place for guestson a fresh baguette! a Bahn Mi sandwich 29 at selected locations and a new Senior Menu! who are looking to stir up their taste buds. Only $2.50 to $3.00 per sandwich, MANY OF WASHINGTON'S 7700 Wisconsin Ave. 12224 Rockville Pike BEST RESTAURANTS The elegantly appointed dining area is following decoratedEden withCenter locations: the 1201 at S. Joyce St. Bethesda, MD Rockville, MD WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE AND chandeliers on the high ceilings and is equipped with a row 301-986-0285 301-468-0886 WASHINGTON POST REVIEWED of closed off seating as well as open seating in the dining room for those who are celebrating a special occasion with friends and family. Diners should start their meal at Bamian by trying one of its traditional appetizers such as the Mantu ($4.50), a Authentic Afghan Cuisine Call for Reservations dumpling filled with ground beef and served with spicy 124 N. chutney sauce. This melt-in-your-mouth traditional-style Lunch: 11 am-2:00 pm Washington St. dumpling will be sure to tickle any guest’s taste buds. The Dinner : 5 pm-10 pm Falls Church, VA Bahn sandwich spicy chutney sauce adds an extraTry kicka to theMi flavor of theon a fresh baguette! By the intersections Sunday 5-10 • VA 22046 105 W. Broad St.• Falls Church, Only $2.50 to $3.00 per sandwich, of Rt. 7 & 29 ground beef. Free Parking in Rear the following Customers looking for variety atshould aim forEden theCenter locations: Phone: (703) 536-4566 (703) 534-1033 popular Kabob platter ($14.95 lunch, $17.95 dinner). It 924 W. Broad Street Falls Church, VA 22046 includes three skewers of meat, which consist of chicken, a ground beef patty and lamb. This dish might seem a bit pricey, but it’s well worth it. With its generous portions large enough to split between people. Other popular kabob entreés include the Kabob Murgh ($10.95 lunch, $12.95 dinner), pieces of boneless chicken marinated in special herbs and spices, and broiled on a skewer. Restaurant & Lounge Kabob platters are prepared only with hilal meat (meat that is permissible to eat according to Islamic Law) and range from boneless chicken to tender lamb. All kabob entreés are served with rice and tradiCall for Reservations tional Afghan bread, made fresh everyday in the kitchen. 1/2 OFF ENTREE Restaurateurs looking for something a little less filling might want to try the Palau ($9.95 lunch, Buy One Entree, Get A 2nd Of Equal Or Lesser Value 1/2 OFF. www.theharvestmoonrestaurant.com One coupon per party. Not valid with any other offer. $11.95 dinner). This entrée includes seasoned tender pieces of lamb atop a mound of saffron rice, 105 W. Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046 (Graham Center across from Loehmann’s Plaza) Valid with Valpak. coupon only. 7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042 served with meatball sauce. Bamian also offers variations of this dish with different meats and spices. Alternatives to meat dishes include the Vegetarian Rice Platter ($10.95 lunch, $12.95 dinner). This combination of sautéed pumpkin, stir-fried spinach and eggplant is served with seasoned rice. BISTRO It will be sure to satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Picky eaters should keep in mind that des Célestins Bamian has something for everyone, including a kids’ menu, complete with burgers and chicken nuggets. Don’t forget to save room for a little something extra. This writer recommends finishing off the CA F È evening with traditional Jelabi ($4.20), a candy-like desert made with wheat flour, sugar, corn oil, egg Tel: (703) 538-3033 and coated with honey. This delicate treat will be sure to leave any sweet tooth satisfied and wanting Fax: (703) 573-0409 6876 Lee Highway more. Arlington, Virginia 22213 Patrons can come in on weekends and enjoy live music while they dine. This mix of eclectic tones www.lacotedorcafe.com are perfect for those looking to get their energy pumping before a night out on the town. Diners will be sure to leave Bamian having scored authentic, home cooked Afghan food, right in their back yard. The restaurant also offers a dance floor and stage ideal for private parties ranging from corporate events to wedding receptions. Live entertainment is also easily accommodated. 370 West Broad St. Falls Church,VA 703-891-0148
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PAGE 32 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
W ine of the W eek
2006 PradoRey Roble
If, like us, you break with tradition when it comes to drinking sherry with tapas, or if you’re just in the mood to experiment, we suggest a bold and lively Spanish red as an alternative. A fine place to start would be with the 2006 PradoRey Roble (about $12 at wine shops), a blend of 95 percent tinto fino (a tempranillo alias) abetted by By Colette & John Bancroft dashes of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. New York Times This charmer begins with a heady aroma compounded of mellow leather and roses and segues into a smooth and soft fruit-forward palate with plenty of complexity. Flavors of blackberry, chocolate and a bit of bramble lead off, followed by nuances of plum (John thinks it’s thundercloud plum, but Colette thinks he’s pushing it), vanilla and a faint whiff of coffee. It finishes medium long and medium dry, making it perfect for quaffing with a variety of small plates involving anything from cheeses to red and white meats to seafood. The wines of PradoRey come from the Real Sitio de Ventosilla estate in Spain’s Ribera del Duero appellation, where the tempranillo grape reigns supreme and goes by its tinto fino handle. Vintage estate bottlings can fetch prices as high as the mid hundreds, but for everyday sipping and pairing with tapas, this modestly priced gem is just right. Colette Bancroft is the New York Times’ book editor, and John Bancroft is a freelancer specializing in food, wine and travel.
Poker After Dark with The Girls One of my favorite poker shows on television is Poker After Dark. I remember a great PAD match that featured wellknown Danish poker pro Gus Hansen and The Girls – that is, Clonie Gowen, Erica Schoenberg, Vanessa Rousso, J.J. Liu and Beth Shak. With the blinds at $100/$200, Beth Shak opened for $600 under the gun with A-J offsuit. Erica Schoenberg called from second position with 9c-8c and everyone else folded. The flop came Q-Q-8 and Shak bet out $1,200. Schoenberg called immediately. A five hit on the turn and Shak fired out a $2,500 bet. This time, Schoenberg took some time before eventually making the call. The river card was a nine. Shak quickly shoved $5,000 into the middle. Schoenberg assessed the situation, let out a sigh, and finally folded her hand. Let’s break down this hand. Shak’s first-position opening bet of $600 was the standard play. Schoenberg’s second-position call with 9c-8c wasn’t necessarily a bad play but I would have folded in this situation. Why? Well, first off, she was in bad position. If any of the four remaining players had reraised before the flop, she would have been forced to
fold her hand. Also, deciding to play a hand like 9-8 puts pressure on your reading ability. If the flop comes 10-8-2 or Q-Q-8, you have to decide whether your hand is winnable or not. I like Shak’s $1,200 bet on the flop. It was aggressive and gave her a chance to win the pot right there if Schoenberg calls with a hand like A-10 or K-J. And it gives her a chance to win the pot with the worst hand, too, if Schoenberg is playing a small pocket pair. Schoenberg’s $1,200 call was the natural play. On the turn, Shak really stepped up her playing aggression. Beth’s $2,500 bet was a pure bluff! She probably sensed that Schoenberg had the best hand at the time but also must have realized that Schoenberg wasn’t that strong, either. All in all, that was a good situation to attempt a bluff. And though I do like Shak’s bet, I probably would have just given up and checked. But Shak’s bet gets the nod because it enabled her to fire the $5,000 third bullet bluff bet on the river. Schoenberg’s $2,500 call on the turn was standard. Now, Shak’s $5,000 bet on the river was a great play albeit a bit too risky for my taste. It’s
just so rare to see a player with the courage to bluff three times in one hand. Beth Shak has guts! I don’t mind Schoenberg’s fold on the river. She either thought that Shak indeed had bluffed three times, or had a pocket pair higher than eights, or that the nine on the river had improved her hand, or she had three queens. Over the years, much has been written about the ability to fire the mythical third bullet on a bluff. That, in fact, is one of the traits that separated the late, great poker pro Stu Ungar from the rest of us mere mortals. Most sane poker pros (me included) are simply too timid to fire the third bullet. It’s tough to do when you just know you’re going to get called. So why risk your chips in a hopeless situation? Look, this hand wasn’t played during the WSOP Main Event but you still have to give Beth Shak credit for playing so courageously on Poker After Dark. Firing out three bullets on a bluff – wow! Learn more about Phil Hellmuth at www.PhilHellmuth. com and www.PokerBrat.com. © 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
By David Levinson Wilk 1
2
3
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5
6
17
18
23 28
24
29 37
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© 2010 David Levinson Wilk
Across
1. Clothing lines 5. When flowers bloom: Abbr.
61
62
1. Clothing lines 5. When flowers bloom: Abbr. 8. “If ____ broke ...” 14. Sector 15. Lac contents 16. Tenant 17. Investigative journalist’s output 19. Only planet named after a figure in Greek mythology 20. Comparatively noisy 21. They’re not wealthy 23. San Francisco’s ____ Hill 25. Commuter’s choice 26. TLC VIP 31. Bank holdings: Abbr. 36. “The Neverending Story” author Michael 37. Ewe said it 38. F equivalent 39. Medical sch. class 40. Sports bar amenity 42. R&B singer India.____ 43. 2006 Owen Wilson title role 45. Piggy 46. Film composer Nino 47. Located 48. “Va-va-voom!” recipient 50. ____ few rounds 52. CPR provider 53. Health scare in 2009 news 58. Carousing 63. Outfielder Minnie 64. Scientific name for 53-Across ...
THE QUIGMANS
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 33
and this puzzle’s theme 66. Gridiron play also called a sweep 67. Iron ____ 68. 1930s migrant 69. Fly the coop 70. Horse course 71. John Kerry and others: Abbr.
Down
1. “That’s a good one!” 2. Times on the History Channel 3. “Wordplay” star Reagle 4. ____-masochist 5. React to a slap, perhaps 6. Pussy foot? 7. Hurry 8. Message on a Valentine candy 9. Mrs. John Kerry and others 10. Straight ____ arrow 11. “Ignorance ____ excuse” 12. Unaligned: Abbr. 13. Julia’s role in “Ocean’s Eleven” 18. Longtime Georgia senator Sam 22. Gent on a cent 24. Bric-a-____ 26. Flip decision? 27. Ho-hum feeling 28. Conform 29. Raison ____ 30. “____ say ...” 32. Kind of school 33. Chocolate substitute 34. Shopworn
35. Asparagus piece 38. Like some bets 41. Lug 44. Moves gradually closer 48. Actor Linden 49. Magazine founder Eric 51. “Six ____ ...” 53. Disney pirate, 1953 54. Prevails 55. Where the Capitol Bldg. is 56. “A Doll’s House” wife 57. “This doesn’t look good” 59. 2010 y 2011, por ejemplo 60. Wisecrack 61. Has ____ with 62. Pop music’s Bee ____ 65. “... good witch ____ bad witch?”
Last Thursday’s Solution V O L T S
L O O I E
A M U L E
I N A W E
N O F A T
B U R R S
G R O M A R A S B
S I C A S P A H I S A M A T C U P P H I S H I R L E D O R N N S O S A G R E N B U L E E E L E A V E R C L I N A R A E S T O S
S S A S T E P O Y A L C W O K J A M E Y B O T S N S S A E I R G E R I L K D O E E V E L E M E D O V
S I N N T O O T T F O O T E
O T T O I
P H O N O
A C A R E
F U N G I
L A D E N
Buddy Hickerson
8. "If ____ broke ..." 14. Sector 15. Lac contents 16. Tenant
Level: 1
2
3 4
17. Investigative journalist's output 19. Only planet named after a figure in Greek mythology 20. Comparatively noisy 21. They're not wealthy 23. San Francisco's ____ Hill 25. Commuter's choice 26. TLC VIP 31. Bank holdings: Abbr. 36. "The Neverending Story" author Michael 37. Ewe said it 38. F equivalent NICK KNACK
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
1/31/10
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 www.sudoku.org.uk
© 2010 N.F. Benton
© 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
PAGE 34 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 Help Wanted
Public Notice
100 WORKERS NEEDED. Assemble
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
crafts, wood items, sewing. Materials provided. To $480+ wk. Free information 24 hr. 801-428-4893
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For Rent 4 BR HOME with 3 baths in Falls Church City. Available Feb 1. $3,000. 703-8639998. FALLS CHURCH CITY Beautiful 1 BR, 1 Bath unit in sought after Covent Gardens in Falls Church City. Walk to express bus to Metro. Updated everything including snazzy kitchen with granite counters new bath and new w/w cpt. Small pet case by case. $1200 Month. Call Merelyn Kaye, McEnearney Assoc., 703-241-2577 ROOM W/ SHARED BA and kitchen. pool, sauna, 24 hour security, includes utilities, 5 minutes from Tyson’s $600. Call 703-798-4743
Services BATHTUB AND TILE Reglaz-
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Resolution (TR10-09) was given first reading by City Council on January 11, 2010. Ordinances (TO10-03) and (TO10-04) were given first reading by City Council at the continuation of its meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. All three items were referred to the Planning Commission and other boards and commissions for recommendations. Listed below is the schedule for public hearings and action for each item: (TR10-09) Resolution To Grant A Special Exception For Residential Development Within Mixed Use Projects Under Section 48-90 In A B-2, Central Business District On .64 Acres Of Land Located At 350 South Washington Street [FCHC Wilden] February 1, 2010 - Planning Commission public hearing - 7:45 p.m.; Council Chambers February 16, 2010 - Planning Commission public hearing - 7:45 p.m.; Council Chambers February 22, 2010 – City Council 2nd reading & public hearing - 7:30 p.m.; Council Chambers (TO10-03) Ordinance To Amend Chapter 48, Zoning, Of The Code Of The City Of Falls Church, Virginia, By Adding A New Section 48-455(3), Special Exceptions In The B-1, Limited Business District; Section 48-488(4), Special Exceptions In The B-2, Central Business District; And Section 48-523(3), Special Exceptions In The B-3, General Business District Uses; In Order To Allow By Special Exception, With Approval Criteria, Modifications To The OffStreet Parking And Loading Requirements. February 1, 2010 - Planning Commission public hearing at 7:45 p.m.; Council Chambers February 8, 2010 – City Council second reading and public hearing; Council Chambers (TO10-04) Ordinance To Amend Chapter 48, Zoning, Of The Code Of The City Of Falls Church, Virginia, By Adding A New Section 48-1142(F) In Order To Provide For An Administrative Site Plan Amendment Process To Allow The Planning Director To Permit, With Approval Criteria, The Construction Or Modification Of A Patio Or Attached Open Deck Or Porch In Site Planned Communities Where Such Features Were Not Shown On The Approved Site Plan. February 1, 2010 - Planning Commission public hearing at 7:45 p.m., in Council Chambers February 8, 2010 – City Council second reading and public hearing; Council Chambers All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or by calling 703-248-5014. 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 703 248-5013 (TTY 711). KATHLEEN CLARKEN BUSCHOW CITY CLERK
Deadlines: Every Tuesday 2 p.m. classads@fcnp.com
CLASSIFIEDS PUBLIC NOTICE:
The Board of Zoning Appeals of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on February 11, 2010 at 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following subject: U1488-08 (MUNIS #20080767) an application for a Special Use Permit by BB& T Bank for a bank drive-through facility as an accessory use to proposed construction at 1230 W. Broad Street, such accessory use not otherwise permitted by right and as provided by Code Sections 38-23(b)(10) and 38-37(4) [recodified as Sections 48-454(10) and 48-867(4)], on the premises known as Lot 1 Broadwater Estate RPC #51-219-011 of the Falls Church Real Property Map Zoned B-1, Limited Business. The Planning Commission forwarded its recommendation for denial to the Board of Zoning Appeals on September 8, 2009 and the Board of Zoning Appeals had originally scheduled the public hearing for September 17, 2009. Information on this item is available in the Zoning Division, City Hall, West Wing 301, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA.
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EP Henry & Belgard Pavers Patios, Walkways, Driveways Retaining & Decorative Walls
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Say Goodbye To Your Junk! Misc. Trash Sofa Removal Office Junk Garage Cleanout Appliance Removal Basement Junk you name it...we haul it all
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Home Improvement N.G. PAINTING BentonUSA Potter & Murdock, PC Residential & Commercial “MILLENNIUM, PAINTING”
See all of the Falls Church listings as soon as they hit the market!
Interior & Exterior Painting Plastering & Drywall Repairs www.bpmlawyers.com PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT Wall Paper Removal Power Washing • Carpentry Power Wash Clean Wall Paper Removal & Installation Licensed & Insured
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Family Ophthalmology Exams, Glasses Prescription Medicare provider
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Lawn & Garden Leaf Removal, Gutter Cleaning, Mowing, & Mulching Free Estimates
Thanks so much, Nick! Would you mind if I made two changes? I'd rather list my website instead of a fax number. Could you please add www.potomaclandresearch.com instead of my fax information? And also, I'd like to change my email in the ad from brace_kristin@yahoo.com to kbrace@potomaclandresearch.com. Thank you! Also, in the bottom section, there is a typo in "commercial". Please correct from "commerical" to "commercial". Thanks so much! Kristin
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Make a Joyful Splash! with
Eileen Levy Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative variety of tools and brushes. Held at 111 Park Avenue Falls Church on Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Cost: $90 On-going monthly enrollment Enroll on-line at www.creativecauldron.org Or call 571-239-5288
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PAGE 36 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner
BACK IN THE DAY
laz y The dog. c k q u i fox sly p e d jum e r o v lazy the g . d o is Now time the all for o d g o to cows
15 s Yearo g A
to come aid the ir of there. pa stu is Now e the timall for o d g o to cows to come aid the ir of there. pa stu
10 & 15 Years Ago in the News-Press
Falls Church News-Press Vol lV, No. 46 • February 2, 1995
‘Henenberg Judge’
Elected
District
It is no the timw e for g o all o cows d to go to the aid of the pa stu ir re. *** **
Falls Church News-Press Vol IX, No. 47 • February 3, 2000
10 Year s Ago
Thro w it up. Pour it up It now is the time for all go od cows to go to the aid
Court
‘Homeless Shelter Filled to Capacity In Recent Storms’
“The Virginia General Assembly last Thursday, elected Falls Church resident Karen A. Henenberg as a Judge to sit on the 17th Judicial District court. “We have chosen an outstanding Judge,” declared Del. Bob Hull of Falls Church. “I could not be more pleased that we have chosen the first Falls Church Judge for the District. She has a strong background in all areas of the law and legal procedures.” Ms. Henenberg is the first Judge elected from the City of...”
“Falls Church’s Winter Emergency Homeless Shelter, now tucked into a corner of the second floor of a City-owned office building on Gordons Road, has been booked to the maximum through the snow storms, ice and frigid weather of January. The worst winter, to date, of the last four, has resulted in a concerted effort to keep the shelter open throughout, reports Carol Jackson of the Friend of the Homeless Shelter organization. “We are...”
Helen Thomas Continued from Page 12
hoods about pending health care legislation. The Obama administration is not blameless. It apparently assumed that no lawmaker would actually vote against the healthcare needs of some 47 million people. Wrong. Obama also can be fairly criticized for sending mixed signals about what he wanted in health care reform and seemed to lack strong convictions. The president naively failed to send a comprehensive health reform proposal to Congress with his strong personal imprimatur. He made the mistake of depending on Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a flaccid supporter of reform, to carry the ball.
The president, who had served as a state senator in Illinois and then as a member of the U.S. Senate, seemed to approach health care legislation from a parliamentary perspective, rather than as a crucial bread-and-butter issue that affects all Americans. He was eager to slice and dice and cut deals in the Senate to cobble together the votes to pass a very modest bill, instead of rallying voters behind his vision. Heat from the electorate will always trump deal-making in Congress. But he didn’t stoke the fires. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., last year outlined the Republican strategy of unrelenting opposition in the name of scoring political points. DeMint, urging a stonewall opposition to Obama’s health care plan, said: “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” Rarely has naked political motivation been so clearly stated.
Republicans should know that their partisanship means they are rejecting medical security that is available in most countries of the world for its citizens. Shame on them! The president has not dropped his search for bipartisanship, though that quest is an impossible mission. Obama, trying to find his populist voice in the wake of the stunning Republican upset victory in the Massachusetts election to replace Sen. Ted Kennedy, is moving on to the critical domestic issues of unemployment and poverty. The president recognizes the fact that the bonanza bailouts for Wall Street have added to the public disenchantment with his handling of the still-sick economy and the continuing hardships. The question comes to this: Will the Republicans also ignore this national need? And will the voters wise up?
Lost Cat! Please help us find Milo. As you can see, Milo is a large, orange tabby and is already neutered. Milo’s mom says that “he is very social and likes to walk kids to and from TJ Elementary (601 South Oak Street, Falls Church). This lovely orange kitty hasn’t been home since Sunday, Jan. 17. His owners began construction on their house on Monday, Jan. 18 and they think that may have upset him. Unfortunately, Milo is not wearing a collar. If you have any information regarding Milo, please email his owner at beavsfan2@hotmail.com.
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JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 37
Accounting
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Diener & Associates, CPA. . . . . . . . . 241-8807 Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . 538-2394 Mark Sullivan, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511 Peter J. Gouvis, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 966-8418 Hassans Accounting & Tax Services . 241-7771 Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs . . . . . 533-3777
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ANTIQUES & cOLLECTIBLES
Falls Church Antique Company . . . . 241-7074 Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642
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Mark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300 Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255
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Attorneys
Automotive
Beyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000 Integrity Tire & Auto Repair . . . . . . . . 639-0700
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banking
Cleaning Services
Pressure Washing/Deck, Siding . . . . 980-0225 Affordable Carpet Resoration . . . . . . 978-2270 A Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892-8648 Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922 Carpets, Ducts, Windows . . . . . . . . . 823-1922
Computer services
Fast-teks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496-7807
Dr. William Dougherty . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-3300 Dr. Nimisha V. Patel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1733
Equipment REntal/Sale
VA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . 207-2000 Ace Tool & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-5600
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FLorists
BCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181
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FRames
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chiropractor
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Dr. Solano, solanospine.com . . . . . . 536-4366
Catering
home care
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home improvement
Dentists
Eyewear
Jon Rizalvo, PAYCHEX . . . . . 698-6910 x27045
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Carol S. Miller, LCSW . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-4980 Josette Millman, APRN . . . . . . . . . . . 855-0396
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BUSINESS SERVICES
health & FItness
Counseling
Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. . . 519-1634 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505 TD Bank/www.TDBank.com . . . . . . . 237-2051 Acacia Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506-8100
book Binding
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lawn & garden
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Junk B Gone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-5522
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pharmacy
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Plumbing
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real estate
masonry massage
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medical
www.healthybyintention.com. . . . . . . 534-1321 Sheraton Premiere Women’s Massage403-9328 Dr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine . 533-7555 The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy . . . 536-4042
Academy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054 World Childrens Choir . . . . . . . . . . . 883-0920 Columbia Institute - Fine Arts . . . . . . 534-2508 Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393
ophthalmology
Sweet Garden Lawn Care . . . . . . . . . 627-7723 Gabriel Lawn Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 691-2351 Seven Brothers Landscaping . . . . . . 241-4990 Masonry Specialist LLC . . . . . . . . . . 443-2308 Jeff L. Cadle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698-1390
Music
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State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105
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Gifts
hauling
Ram Home Improvement . . . . . . . . . 641-5892 Doug’s Handyman Services . . . . . . . 556-4276 Ambassador Home Improvements . 499-7095 FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . 534-0630 N.G. Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312-0032 Millennium, USA Painting . . . . . . . . . 409-8563 The Vinyl Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793-3111
insurance
Falls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333
Stifel & Capra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770
Human Touch Home Health . . . . . . . 531-0540
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Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500
Art & Frame of Falls Church . . . . . . . 534-4202
Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0140 Reliv Independent Consultant . . . . . . 408-3663 Sacred Well Yoga and Healing . . . . . 989-8316
John Karickhoff, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-2400 Broad Street Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .533-9013 The Wiz LLC Plumbing Services 703-268-4228 Merelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218 www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196 Rosemary Hayes Jones . . . . . . . . . . .790-1990 Kim Maller, kimworksforyou.com. . . . .606-2762 Leslie Hutchison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675-2188 The Young Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800 Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999 www.TheJeffersonatBallston.com . . . 741-7562 Susan Fauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-8741
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real estate Services
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Shoe Repair
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tailor
Potomac Land Research . . . . . . . . . . .864-4150 Global Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237-4558 Tailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886
Sam’s Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 580-7511
All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.
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Make Your Pet a Star! Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Januar y
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, HURCH FALLS C IA VIRGIN • COM FCNP. WWW. • FREE
2008 17 - 23,
D
FOUNDE 1991 • VII VOL. X NO. 46
WEEK INSIDE THIS
$ FOR UPPORTS NVTA S IN F.C. GARAGE PARKING Virginia
The Northern Authority met School Transportation Mason High all the at George and approvedFalls last week by projects submitted One of the Phase Church for massive transportation region’s plan. SEE PAGE
City OK for New cil Preliminary ted by Coun Center Gran HER
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STICKING
TOGET
Vote Unanimous Plan Moves F.C. Reality Closer to
KATERS FIGURE S AUL NO. VA. ST. P at the LOOK TOWARD men’s event
Falls Churcha The ambitious project received thumbs-up City Center unanimous The senior Figure Skating Monday. critical, City Council 2008 Eastern looked like and resolufrom the ChampionshipsD.C.-area get 7-0 votes All six ordinances passed by only a Washington, skaters from tions were standing-room with together and before a in Council chambers Fairfax, Alexandria the medals. audience sweeping project Annandale at City Hall. million 19 feet of SEE PAGE The $317 of million square adding a to 8.7 acres : comHOMAS new development downtown HELEN T PLAY Falls Church’swill now undergo GENDER RACE & mercial area, review by various ROLES gender of 40 days POLITICAL and and commissions not, race City boardsof public hearings, choice Like it or the roles in the and a set back to will play The of a Democratic standard before coming approval. for final vote on the presidential Council can’t be hopes to 25. bearer. It Council even though by Feb. gone avoided, final version which has leading candidates The project, of modifications hatchet. the party’s of series to bury the through a have decided original parameters the City 10 since the between SEE PAGE a partnership its Economic Church, and the & LATIFAH of Falls Authority was LANE, HOLMES MONEY’ Development a AD Realty Company, (right) addresson Atlantic out last fall. GO FOR ‘M the new comedy Alex Ovechkin stars took time hammered building heights & Louise” “Mad Money,” (left) and even The Caps’ While by “Thelma follows Mike Green on its residential directed Arlington. of the game of hockey, $124 Khouri, CAPITALS’Middle School in came downbuildings, hotel plans 13-year, writer Callie Reserve employees signed a the intricacies and office recently commentary students to accommodate THE WASHINGTON at Williamsburg three Federal beat the Ovechkin the local player. For ) structure, students attempt to go were expanded to teach of the kids. crowd of 180-room to an NHL PHOTO: NATE TAYLOR and their afternoon could possibly with some ever given a first-class hall and banquet -PRESS Wednesday in a scrimmage system. What the largest page 18. (NEWS with meeting a six-level parking Capitals, on the and wrong? participating with Splinters” 26 facilities, thrown in. The numSEE PAGE million contractdeal, see “Picking rental units deck was on the historic 412, and ber of residential down to condominiwas scaled captured more age-restricted were added. the team twice ums, up to 134, six years cover both of last added to championship, the up and once Retail was Maple bringing the state almost unheard as runner of S. the team’s square feet, finishing has sides total to 53,000 place. streak fifth success. a little history straight in retail In winning of 17,000. Here’s added to While the up from very proud Jamie Scharff: from coach years, the Mason made the coach not-so-secret These modifications INDEX Harris Teeter a high six won Spotlight kids, Scharff’s one — have the plans a major a six-story the last team has Restaurant smarter than and every his is a simple Are you High academic Editorial.................26 ............................32 supermarket 5 six strategy and practice. a George the district championship Sodoku ...............35 school student? on Page Letters...............2, in the past smart kids gather twice a week not, if it’s ........5 Continued Probably School academic year. Four times team has won Comics................35 Crime Report Students ..........35 of — 21 Comment.......10-13& CrosswordAds.....38 Mason High is the home So years, Mason’s on Page News championshipother Classified Continued Community regional athletes. the bowler. GMHS & Services academic record is the finished second the Notes .............14-15& Business .............39 in champion News Directory 1 Business season their though the they years. Three times Focus 40-4 far this 20-0, Notes ..................16 Weekly of two Corner......42 an impressive just a fraction Sports ............18-20 Critter are ...26-28 Business Listing .43 20 wins Roger Ebert
Mason’s
.........29 Press Pass Calendar........30-31
s
stic Succes
‘Silent’ Schola
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PAGE 38 | JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
for the week of January 28-February 3, 2010
City Offers Unpaid Parking Fine Amnesty
Tax Preparation Help is Free
The City of Falls Church is offering a one-time waiver for parking fine penalties. The City Treasurer mailed courtesy notices this week to those who have unpaid parking tickets, advising them they have a 30-day reprieve from penalties if they pay their overdue parking fines by Feb. 26, 2010. Those who believe that they have delinquent parking fines and do not get a letter should contact the Treasurer’s Office immediately. This is the first time the City has offered a parking fine penalty waiver. The waiver program will save citizens any additional collection fees. The Treasurer’s Office receives and processes all payments for parking fines and penalties. For questions about payment, contact the Treasurer at 703-248-5046 (TTY 711) or e-mail treasurer@fallshcurchva.gov. The Treasurer will not be able to abate or change parking tickets. Questions about parking tickets should be addressed to the Falls Church Police Department at 703-241-5053 (non-emergency).
The Housing and Human Services Division is offering FREE tax preparation for eligible taxpayers who live or work in the City of Falls Church. If your income was less than $49,000 in 2009, you may qualify for free tax preparation. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. through April 13 By appointment only. Call 703 248-5005 (TTY 711). Documentation required: • Photo identification • Social Security cards (or Individual Tax Identification Number, ITIN) for the taxpayer, spouse and all dependents • All wage and earnings statements: W-2, W-2G, 1099INT, 1099DIV forms • Other income documentation (unemployment or worker’s compensation, retirement, pension, Social Security) • Day Care expenses paid in 2009 and the day care provider’s name, address and federal ID number • Student loan interest payments, Form 1098-E • Student tuition and fees, Form 1098-T • Copy of last year’s (2009) federal and state returns • Banking information (voided check) for refund deposits
city
Nominations Sought for Employee of the Year
Who Should Be the 2010 Memorial Day Grand Marshal? The Falls Church City Memorial Day Parade & Festival Committee is seeking nominations for the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade. Please contact Jenny Elmore in the Recreation & Parks Division at 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) or jelmore@fallschurchva.gov with nominations or questions.
The City of Falls Church Human Resources Division is accepting nominations for the 2009 “Employee of the Year” award. If you have observed a general government employee whom you feel merits consideration, please nominate him/her for this award. The criteria used to evaluate Police Sergeant E. Lancaster was the 2008 Employee of the Year. nominations are: • An accomplishment of outstanding worth in advancing and improving public service in the City of Falls Church. • The nominee must be involved in and identified with the achievement and be a permanent full-time or part-time employee who has successfully completed his/her probationary period of employment. Appointed officials, elected officials and their employees, general managers, and division directors are not eligible. • There must be tangible results achieved as a result of this performance; results might be higher morale, more effective operations, lower costs, or acts beyond the call of duty. • The achievement was remarkable or an unusual performance of the nominee’s assigned duties, or above and beyond those duties. • The achievement occurred between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009.
2010 City Calendar Available at www.fallschurchva.gov Download the 2010 City Calendar and never miss an important event! The calendar includes City Council and boards and commissions meetings, City events and holidays, and FY11 Budget dates. It can be found in the News & Announcements scroll and under Popular Topics on the Web site homepage.
Winter Weather Preparedness Tips on City Website Be prepared for inclement weather this winter. There are simple precautions you can take for a safe winter at home and on the road. Learn about the City’s snow emergency routes, snow removal policy and operating status by visiting www.fallschurchva.gov.
Nomination forms are available at City Hall (300 Park Ave.), the Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.), and the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.). Nominations should be submitted by Friday, Feb. 19.
www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news m.
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2009 Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Jessie Thackrey.
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Questions or Comments?
City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 • 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JANUARY 28 - February 3, 2010 | PAGE 39
Mustang Scholastic Bowl Team Takes Regular Season
BBC Features GMHS Autistic Graduate
The George Mason scholastic bowl team heads for the Bull Run District tournament this week full of confidence; and with good reason. The team swept all 15 of its matches this year without a single loss. Its latest two wins came last week in same-day, back-toback victories over Madison The GMHS Scholastic Bowl team. Front row: (l to r) County and Clarke County. Anuraag Sensharma, Jakob Hand, Mary Ma. Back Heading into the dis- row: Jonathan Ross, Asher Morse (captain), Ross trict tournament Saturday, Wilson and James Scharff (sponsor). January 30th, at Rappahannock County High School, the Mustangs are hoping to avenge their 2nd place showing last year; the first year in a decade in which they weren’t district champions. The team is currently averaging 322 points-per-game; more than 100 points higher than at this point during last year’s season.
Like most fathers, Robin Bray takes pride in touting the accomplishments of his son, John Paul, a 2006 George Mason High School graduate. “He’s not a doctor or a lawyer, just a shopping cart collector; a simple but necessary job that he found despite the downturn in the GMHS 2006 alum John economy.” Bray. “I’m not autisJohn Paul, who is autistic, is Paul tic. I’m a hard working working in Charlotte, North Carolina young man.” and loving every minute of it. “His job is his social life,” Bray said, “and it is hard for me to get him to take time off for a vacation.” Bray captured John Paul’s work experience in a series of moving photographs that proved to be so inspirational, they are being featured by the BBC this month in a slideshow called: “In pictures: His own man.” To view the images now being seen around the world, visit: www.fccps.org/bbc.
Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch Digging to China. The show provides a detailed view into the issues surrounding modern day China and airs on FCC-TV at the following times: • Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. • Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. • Sunday at 7:00 p.m. You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywhere in the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.
BIE Partner of the Week Mike Brumagin Flippin’ Pizza
School involvement: Worked with George Mason High School principal Ty Byrd to raise more than $800 for the GMHS Haiti relief efforts; donated 2010 birthday card coupons to all FCCPS staff. Why Mike is a BIE partner: “The Falls Church community responded with great generosity to this fundraiser for Haiti, and we are glad to have been part of the first of many Falls Church events that will raise money for this important cause.” For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.
Foundation Footnotes Gift expands collection of learning materials for elementary students A generous gift from a private donor will be used to purchase learning materials at Mt. Daniel and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools. The funding is being shared equally between the two schools to support the Primary Years Program’s (PYP) “Units of Inquiry.” The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at (703) 538-3381. School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.
Special Education Study The Falls Church City Public Schools conducts regularly scheduled studies for each major program area. The Special Education Study will begin in February 2010. Two parents from the elementary, middle and high school levels are asked to participate in this comprehensive review process. If you are interested in serving on this committee, or desire more information, please contact Elizabeth Mackie, Director of Special Education, 800 W. Broad Street, Suite 203, 703-2485630, or emackie@fccps.org.
Calendar for January 28 - February 4, 2010 Testing 1/28 Midterm Exams (GM) 2/4-8 IB English Oral Exams (GM) January 28 End of 2nd Quarter 6:00 p.m. McLean @ Mason (Wrestling) 7:30 p.m. Family Life Education Adv. Committee (CO) Professional Day (Schools Closed/Day Care Open) 29 30 10:00 a.m. Mason @ Bull Run District Championship (Scholastic Bowl) (Rappahannock Co.) 10:00 a.m. George Mason Dual Tournament (Wrestling) (GM) 5:45 p.m. Broad Run @ Mason – (Swimming) February 1 Professional Day (Schools Closed/Day Care Open) 6:00 p.m. EIP / HEP Tutoring 7:30 p.m. Potomac Falls @ Mason (G Basketball) 3rd Quarter Ends 2 7:00 p.m. Potential School Board Work Session 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Madison County (B Basketball) 3 7:00 p.m. Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game (GM) (Haiti Relief Fundraiser) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Madison County (G Basketball) 7:30 p.m. PTSA (GM) 7:45 p.m. Clarke Co. @ Mason (B Basketball) 4 For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar. (MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office www.fccps.org - The official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news
Schools
FCC-TV Spotlight: Digging To China
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