Falls Church News-Press 1-4-2024 by Falls Church News-Press

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January 4 - 10, 2024 Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXXIII No. 47

The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia

F.C. Council Set Monday To Elect a New Mayor

RINGING IN 2024, F.C. STYLE

After a Decade of Tarter, Certain to Be a Woman by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

The newly constituted Falls Church City Council will commence its business this coming Monday night with the election of a new mayor. With David Tarter now off the Council, choosing not to seek re-election in November to end an unprecedented and accomplished 10-year stint as mayor, Monday’s vote will be for someone new for the first time since 2013. Sources have told the NewsPress that only one thing is almost certain at this point, which is that the new mayor will be a woman. That is because as a result of last November’s election and the official swearing in of the newlyelected ones last month, fully six of the seven seats on the Council will be held by women. With the three women elected last November – current vice mayor Letty Hardi being re-elected to a third four-year term and newcomers Erin Flynn and Justine Underhill being elected for the first time – the Council now consists of those three plus Marybeth Connelly, Caroline Lian and Debbie Shantz-Hiscott. The lone member upholding the cause for the male species is veteran David Snyder, who has been on the Council since 1994. A City Council composed of six out of seven women! That is unprecedented in the City’s 75 year history, and such a lopsided majority for women is highly uncommon for any senior governing body of any jurisdiction in the entire U.S., it may safely be said. It is not lost on many

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AT MIDNIGHT SUNDAY, the Big Star droped along W. Broad St., ushering in 2024 while over 1,000 Little City residents enjoyed Watch Night festivities, including live entertainment on the main stage, amusement rides, and more. (Photo: Gary Mester)

Little City’s Many 2023 Accomplishments Cited

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

The picture of a proverbial “million and one” accomplishments is contained in the City of Falls Church’s 16-page 2023 Year in Review report issued last month and highlighted in a full page ad in the News-Press last week. It is centered on the current year-long celebration of the City’s 75th anniversary of being incorporated in 1948 as an independent city in Virginia’s nationally-unique jurisdictional system. There are only 41 of what are

known as “independent cities” in the U.S., and 38 of them are in Virginia. Such jurisdictions, as in Falls Church’s case, set their own tax rate and run their own school districts, and basically run their own show. As Falls Church’s 2023 Year in Review report shows, as an independent city, Falls Church has been doing a bang-up job in its 2.2 square miles for its roughly 15,000 citizens. Of the many accomplishments included in the report, ones highlighted in the NewsPress ad included a 89 percent

quality of life rating, meaning that 89 percent of those polled found the overall quality of life in Falls Church to be a major feature of its appeal, while $400,000 was saved in banking fees due to smart planning and investment policies, including AAA bond ratings. One hundred percent of uniformed police officers, sheriff deputies and dispatchers have been trained in crisis intervention, while the speed limit has been lowered to 20 miles per hour on most streets in the city and more than 80 city employ-

ees have been trained in live language and interpretation services to provide for a diverse population base. (A telling supplement to the report was the results of the report released last week by the Smart Assets financial advisory firm showing that Falls Church ranks first among all Virginia jurisdictions in income growth of its citizens in the last 10 years, led by a $360,152 growth in median home value “raw growth,” a number far out-

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A new study from the Smart Asset financial advisory firm released last week shows that the City of Falls Church ranks Number One among all jurisdictions in Virginia in “experiencing the most wealth generation over the last 10 years.” The study measured increases in median income, investment income and home values. This is most reflected in numbers showing a $360,152 median home value “raw growth” in that period, far ahead of the next highest $257,164 for Loudoun County, $245,817 for Fauquier County and $239,031 for Arlington. Other categories evaluated in the study are median income and investment income growth, leading to an overall wealth income growth index. The top 10 in the overall growth index are City of Falls Church, Loudoun County, Rappahannock County, Manassas City, New Kent County, Arlington County, Poquoson City, Charlottesville City, Fauquier County and Abermarle County. According to the firm, its methodology involved the following: “We started the analysis by calculating the Investment Income for each county by evenly weighing the Ordinary Dividends, Qualified Dividends, and Net Capital Gains. From there we calculated the change in Median Home Value, and the Median Income for each county, and ranked them on all three metrics. We calculated a Wealth Index for all U.S. counties based on a combination of these three metrics and ranked them accordingly to provide a holistic view of which areas of the U.S. are accumulating the most wealth. We then took the raw change of the three metrics as well as the Wealth Index to rank the counties with the greatest increase in wealth over a 10-year period.”

Selby Honored With Special Plaque From Meridian H.S. Marian Costner Selby, the first African-American student to attend and graduate from Falls Church’s George Mason High School (now Meridian) was feted with a special commendation last month when she appeared at a public

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event there for the first time since she graduated in 1964. Selby spoke at an instrumental music concert, where she introduced a piece called “The Nine,” written to recognize the nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1954. As recounted by Falls Church Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, “She spoke about her own experience integrating GMHS as a sophomore in 1961, which was challenging, but in the end more good than bad. She used her speech as a call to action to everyone to be better at working together.” Earlier that day, Ms.Selby visited with students and enjoyed a tour of the school with students from the Black Student Union. Associate Principal Peter Laub presented her with an appreciation plaque from the F.C. Schools which read as follows: “Marian Costner Selby, George Mason High School, Class of 1964. Presented by the Falls Church City Public Schools with gratitude for your courage as a tenth grade student faced with integrating George Mason High School in September 1961. Through your actions, you paved the way for generations of students to attend school together. You persisted, despite unfathomable challenges, Meridian High School is proud to recognize you as a trailblazer – the first African American graduate of the Falls Church City Public Schools.”

N.Y. Times Sues A.I. Giants for Content Theft The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement last week, opening a new front in the increasingly intense legal battle over the unauthorized use of published work to train artificial intelligence technologies. The Times is the first major American media organization to sue the companies, the creators of ChatGPT and other popular A.I. platforms, over copyright issues associated with its written works. The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, contends that millions of articles published by the Times were used to train automated chatbots that now compete with the news outlet as a source of reliable information.

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F.C. Council Set to Elect Mayor

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that this development comes as the City’s first woman mayor, Carol DeLong, having served four terms in the role in the 1980s, passed away just last month at age 93. (Now, some are hoping for a national news-making seven out of seven sweep after the next Council election in November 2025, but Snyder, as the only remaining male now, or other males contemplating a run, may have something to say about that). Although there have been no formal or informal meetings among the new Council going into this Monday night (being that the law forbids any assemblage of more than two Council members for purposes of any political decision making without giving formal advance public notice). But there have been countless opportunities for casual exchanges between two of the members at any given time, including while crossing paths on a sidewalk, at a supermarket, at a public event or at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Out of such informal encounters, or by shared notes, email, text messages or phone calls, it is almost certain that a consensus, or near consensus, may have already been reached by a majority on the Council, and so it can be expected that come this Monday night, no great amount of time will be taken nominating and voting either for the mayor, or the vice

mayor, for that matter. There may be speeches, of course. But no one is sharing information on plans for this Monday, not with the News-Press at least, other than the comment of Council member Marybeth Connelly that “there is a general agreement that while Mayor Tarter did a highly commendable job for 10 years, no one thinks that one person should ever serve that long as mayor again in Falls Church, especially given that the position is not elected directly by the public.” It may be that there is a plan afoot for a formal provision to require that the mayor’s post be rotated every two years, as is the case now in Arlington with the chair of its county board. But that may not take the form of a formal change to the rules, but merely an informal one. Informal oddsmakers are predicting that current Vice Mayor Hardi will be elected mayor Monday, having been the top vote getter in the November 2023 election and on the basis of her current role as vice mayor. But while this Monday’s first meeting of the newly constituted Council will be largely ceremonial, the business of running the city will quickly take center stage over the course of the month, keyed around the push to adopt new annual operating, school and capital improvement budgets and whether there will be room for any further real estate tax cuts beyond the 13-cent cut it adopted two years ago.

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City of F.C. Report Card for 2023 Showed A Lot of Gains tion of new seating and repairs to the mural, irrigation, lighting, and masonry, to encourage downtown visitation, developed parklet designs for the S. Washington St. corridor to support investment and economic activity in the area, and closed the sale of the Northern Virginia Center to make way for the future headquarters for HITT Contracting and home of Virginia Tech National Center for Smart Construction. In addition, it noted, the City accomplished more: “Founder’s Row theater site plan amendment and building permits were approved, along with the Broad and Washington with Whole Foods planned opening in fall 2024, Founder’s Row II building permits issued, with stormwater, sanitary sewer, and streetscape

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stripping all jurisdictions. While the report did not propose the reasons for this, others have pointed to the impact of the City’s top drawer school system, over and above as other general quality of life factors.) In the economic “sustainability and vitality” category in the City’s 2023 Year in Review report, the following accomplishments were noted: the City “began a tourism website to increase City visitor numbers and patronage to local businesses recovering from the pandemic in partnership with the Virginia Department of Tourism, completed a market study on postpandemic retail trends to identify preferred commercial uses in new developments, refreshed Mr. Brown’s Park, including the addi-

infrastructure improvements underway, processed application for the Quinn/Homestretch Senior Living Redevelopment project with reviews by City Boards and Commissions. In addition to the economic sustainability and vitality category, others composing the City’s

report include Safe Streets for All, Social Equity, Inclusion and Affordable Housing, Public Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Effective and Responsive Government Services. The latter category included sections on public meetings and communications, and investment

in the workforce. It was noted that there are 2,788 signed up to receive weekly newsletter emails and 31,921 social media followers. The City “is rated higher on services than the average regional benchmark,” with high marks for street maintenance and parks and trails.

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‘My Life Belongs to the Whole Community’ Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

“The only joy in the world is to begin. It is good to be alive because living is beginning, always, every moment. When this sensation is lacking—as when one is in prison, or ill, or stupid, or when living has become a habit—one might as well be dead.” – Cesare Pavese. This by the Italian writer Pavese was one of the playwright Tennessee Williams’ favorite quotes. “It was a quote that got him up and working,” it is said. Work Williams did, no matter what he was up to the bright before, he would awaken, go to his typewriter and write for hours each morning. It is fitting to be accompanied by the famous remark delivered a century earlier of English playwright George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” I am not sure which part of this immortal statement impacts me the most. Maybe it is, “Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment.” But then there is this, “The true joy of life (is) in being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being

a force of nature.” Or, “My life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can.” Or, “I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.” Or, that it stands for all of this by contrast to, “A feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” If there is anything the world needs at this point as we face the daunting task of ridding ourselves of the menace of putrid Trumpism, it is words and sentiments such as Mr. Shaw has presented here. I suggest that at the root of this Trumpism is a sickness which has always been around but which entered the mainstream of our discourse and culture with the so-called Reagan Revolution of the 1980s, taking the form of a popularized radically selfish form of entitlement, something entirely counter to and devoid of the national spirit of social camaraderie and common purpose that thrived and dominated following the Second World War. Nothing was a purer form of this sickness than the January 6 insurrection, which had no content other than the groundless “Stop the Steal” in the name of violently raping and pillaging the very roots of our democracy. Clearly, much of our society did not learn from that obscenity, but has allowed it to continue to fester like a foul puss staining our social fabric. There is no doubt that all the enemies of democracy, foreign and domestic, are doing all they can to foment this continued ill, either. While the forces of good are striving to overcome it, they too often address only the symptoms and not the core problem, which is so well addressed by Shaw’s words above, about both the good and the bad. I am not sure what the best approach is, or if there is any single one, to redress this, except that it must become the subject of all our conversations and discourses, like when actor Jeff Goldblum recited it from memory on The Colbert Show recently.

An Unserious Plan by Adam Ebbin Virginia State Senator

Governor Youngkin’s Proposed Budget Fundamentally unserious. Those two words fairly summarize the proposed state budget from Governor Youngkin. To its core, the Governor’s proposed state budget ignores the warnings of nonpartisan staff, and some of his own economic advisers. Youngkin’s fiscal proposal could result in an out-of-balance state budget. As the nonpartisan staff director of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee told members, including myself, less than two months ago: “Recent increases to the standard deduction have reduced individual income tax revenue, the primary [general fund revenue] source, and staff would caution against further changes without adjusting spending or increasing other revenue sources.” Faced with warnings that Virginia’s budget environment is tight – revenues and programmed spending being closely matched – Governor Youngkin’s budget calls for reduced spending levels for critical investments, including public education, over the next two years. To make matters far worse, Youngkin is again calling for a permanent tax break to predominantly benefit Virginia’s wealthiest residents. To pay for it, Youngkin wants to increase the regressive state sales tax on all Virginians. After unveiling his budget proposal, Governor Youngkin added an even deeper note of unseriousness – a throw-away line in his speech about the Car Tax. Despite having two years to come up with a way to pay for it, Youngkin provided no plan – instead asking the General Assembly to improvise within its upcoming 60-day session. Now is a time for thoughtful leadership – not slogans or shoddy math. The budget of the Commonwealth of Virginia is not a game to be conducted with play money. As a returning member of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, I will scrutinize the budget and do everything I can to protect core investments in public education, Metro, affordable housing, mental health and public safety.

Legislative Agenda During this year’s legislative session, Senators are limited to introducing 21 pieces of legislation. The House of Delegates has not established such a cap. Given the new limitation on the number of bills that I can introduce, I will be advancing progressive priorities through my own legislative portfolio, as well as working closely with colleagues. I look forward to defending and advancing Virginia’s progress on LGBTQ equality and gun violence prevention. I will again introduce my amendment to Virginia’s Constitution to finally remove the discriminatory stain on our governing document that prohibits marriage equality, and instead enshrine an affirmative right to marry for two consenting adults in Virginia. I will also carry legislation to ban the carrying of an assault weapon in public, as well as other gun violence prevention bills. Stay tuned as I finalize the remainder of my legislative portfolio. Potomac Yard Development Proposal The proposal for an arena in Potomac Yard by the Commonwealth, the City of Alexandria, and Monumental Sports & Entertainment, has generated much interest and discussion, both locally and statewide. I was not involved in the development of this proposal. However, I firmly believe it is a non-starter without a fully-functioning Metro system, and I was dismayed that the Governor did not include additional funding for Metro in his proposed budget. The Governor needs to understand that new Metro investment is a requirement for the continued economic vitality of our region. We cannot even begin to consider his proposal for Potomac Yard without assurances that Metro will continue to adequately serve Northern Virginia. Upcoming Town Hall Meeting Save the date for a 39th Senate District Town Hall Meeting. Please join me and Delegates Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Charniele Herring, Alphonso Lopez, and Delegate-elect Adele McClure at Alexandria City High School on Sunday, January 21st, at 1 pm.

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Since 1991, an award-winning LGBT-owned general Interest community newspaper. Vol. XXXIII, No. 47 January 4 - 10, 2024 • 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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News-Press Role in F.C.’s Prosperity

As 2024 was ushered in with a friendly and copacetic New Year’s Eve Watch Night event Sunday night in the heart of Falls Church, 2023 has been considered a banner year for The Little City, with even more to be expected on the same line in 2024. This doesn’t count what may happen in the nation and world this coming year, which may be far more distressing, but here, at least, looks good. One of the premiere indicators of our city’s strength was the report released last week by the Smart Assets financial advisory firm which showed that the City of Falls Church ranks No. 1 among jurisdictions in the entire commonwealth for growth in income of its citizens in the last 10 years. This is most reflected in numbers showing a $360,152 median home value “raw growth” in that period, far ahead of the next highest $257,164 for Loudoun County, $245,817 for Fauquier County and $239,031 for Arlington (see story elsewhere this edition). In Falls Church’s case, this comes as real estate taxpayers have also enjoyed a 13-cent (per $100 of assessed valuation) tax cut in the last couple years. We are obligated to remind the beneficiaries of all this of the role your local newspaper, the mighty Falls Church News-Press, has played in your prosperity, as affirmed in the remarks of City Councilman Phil Duncan. As reported in our edition of Dec. 21, Duncan was quoted speaking at the December luncheon of the F.C. Chamber of Commerce noting how economic development in the City was “kick started” beginning with “the News-Press’ drumbeat editorial emphasis on the need for economic development to pay for the schools” that began with the founding of the paper in the early 1990s. This was affirmed by prominent local developer Bob Young, chair of the City’s Economic Development Authority, who was quoted on the subject of our paper’s role in “the central Falls Church question of revenueproducing real estate development” saying, “Nick (Benton, News-Press founder and owner) role was pretty seminal. He very consistently backed responsible development.” That quote comes from the 2023 book, “Life and Times of the Falls Church News-Press” by the late Charlie Clark. So over our 33 years, the News-Press has and continues to champion the kind of revenue producing real estate development that has not only funded a premiere school system in the nation but local retail growth and robust growth in residential real estate values that has put Falls Church at the top of the list in the entire commonwealth of Virginia. We say these things not to toot our own horn, but to remind our readers that the service we have provided, a free community newspaper distributed to every household in Falls Church unfailingly for 33 years, is something that is going to require more community support if it is to continue in this national environment that is so hostile now to print media.

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CRIME REPORT Week of December 25 - 31, 2023 Fraud – Felony Bad Check, Hillwood Ave, Nov 22, 10 AM, victim reported receiving a felonious bad check during the sale of an automobile. (Delayed report) Driving under the Influence/ Possession of Controlled Substance, E Broad St, Dec 25, 5:16 AM, a white male, 35, of Hyattsville, MD was arrested for Driving under the Influence – third offense, Refusal of Breath Test, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute, and two warrants served for outside agencies. Fraud – Obtain Money by False Pretenses, Riley St, between October 26th and December 24th, victim reported sending money to an individual. (Delayed report) Larceny, W Broad St, between 6 PM on December 24th and 2 PM on December 26th, an unknown suspect stole a license plate from a vehicle. Shoplifting, W Broad St, Dec 28, 11:01 AM, a black male, 49, of the District of Columbia, was arrested for Shoplifting.

Stolen Automobile, E Broad St, between 6 PM on December 27th and 10 AM on December 28th, unknown suspect(s) stole a gray Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle was later recovered by Prince George’s County Police Department. Public Intoxication/Trespassing, W Broad St, Dec 28, 6:03 PM, a black female, 42, of Annandale, VA, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Trespassing. Destruction of Property, Grove Ave, Dec 29, 11:12 AM, an incident of graffiti was reported to have occurred. Stolen Automobile, E Broad St, between 6 PM on December 8th and 4:39 PM on December 29th, unknown suspect(s) stole a silver BMW 650i. Public Intoxication, Wilson Blvd, Dec 29, 8:35 PM, a black male, 48, of Fairfax County, VA, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Public Intoxication/Carelessly Damaging Property by Fire, S Washington St, Dec 31, 8:06 PM, a black male, 44, of no fixed address, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Carelessly Damaging Property by Fire.

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Senator Dick Saslaw’s Richmond Report

The start of 2024 brings a new class of legislators to Capitol Square in Richmond. On January 10, the General Assembly will convene to consider policy ideas and vote on their passage. This year offers a new opportunity as Democrats hold a majority in both chambers. This shift in power will require Republicans and Governor Youngkin to seek compromises and find commonground to be successful. Headlining the coming session will be the 2024-2026 biennial budget. This budget marks an important milestone for Governor Youngkin, as this will be the final two-year budget he will sign into law. This budget will cement his legacy as governor and will guide the decisions of his remaining two years in office. However, this year will be especially challenging given the Democratic majorities in both chambers. In December, the Governor released his budget proposal,

outlining his vision of more tax cuts from the top down. At the core of his budget is a change to income tax brackets. He has proposed a cut from 2 percent to 1.75 for individuals in the lowest bracket, and a cut from 5.75 percent to 5.1 percent for individuals in the highest bracket. Recognizing these changes would significantly disrupt state revenues, the governor proposed an increase of our sales tax, from 4.3 percent to 5.2 percent, to offset that cost. I have many issues with this approach. First, this topdown tax cut approach provides the biggest benefit to the wealthiest Virginians, not working-class families. Additionally, shifting the tax structure to rely more heavily on sales tax is regressive and further puts the burden on families struggling the most. Aside from what is included in his budget, it’s important to highlight what has been omitted this year. Notably, his plan calls for no additional funding

for Metro, despite the transit system’s current $750 million shortfall. Additionally, as pandemic relief funds from the federal government are drying up, his proposal for public education is lackluster. When state experts say we have severely underfunded our schools for years, thanks to a faulty funding formula, I find it simply disappointing that this budget does not do more to address that deficit. Fortunately, this is just the beginning of the budget process, as both the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee will create budgets of their own to be reconciled and offered to Governor Youngkin to sign into law. Outside of his budget proposal, Governor Youngkin has shared his goal of eliminating the car tax this session. Many years ago, Governor Gilmore proposed the same policy but was unsuccessful. Instead, we

agreed for the Commonwealth to subsidize part of the cost, providing relief for individuals and covering the lost revenue for localities. However, the Commonwealth now has a nearly $1 billion obligation for every budget moving forward. This diverts a sizable portion of our revenues and complicates our ability to fund other critical services like education. In fact, prior to the car tax relief, we used to cover two-thirds of the cost of in-state college tuition, leaving families and individuals on the hook for paying the remaining one-third. Today, that is flipped, and our budget can only cover one-third of the cost, burdening families with much greater responsibility. If we plan on eliminating the car tax, we need a solution that doesn’t continue to rip money away from public schools and doesn’t place an unfair burden on localities. While these issues will be debated heavily in the coming

session, for the first time in 48 years, I won’t be there to share my perspective. Instead, I’ll be enjoying the retired life with my wife, daughter, and grandchildren. As my final days in office come to a close, I would like to thank you all for your support over the years. When I first ran for the House of Delegates back in 1976, I could have never imagined that I would spend more than four decades making a difference in my community and Virginia as a whole. I am proud of the work I was able to accomplish over those many years. While we have made great progress, we still have a ways to go to make Virginia a better place for everyone, especially those most vulnerable. I have full faith that the Commonwealth is in good hands with the next generation of legislators. Once again, thank you all for your support over the years. Here’s to retirement!

CA L E NDA R

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THIS WEEK AROUND F.C. THURSDAY JANUARY 4

Foreign Language Film: Kon-Tiki Shown in Norweigan with English subtitles. A dramatized story of Thor Heyerdahl and his Kon-Tiki expedition of 1947. Heyerdahl, an ethnographer and explorer who was convinced that the Polynesian islands were colonized by pre-Columbian South Americans sets out to prove his thesis by sailing on a balsa wood raft from Peru to the South Pacific. Rated PG-13. McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA), 1:00 p.m.

Board of Equalization Case Hearing The F.C. Board of Equalization hears case appeals. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

to Fall Church City Public Schools. Panera (450 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Pipo Romero

Troy Bond

Pipo Romero is a composer and acoustic guitarist from Cádiz, Spain, whose compositions come from the heart, blending an original compendium of styles (folk, flamenco, classical, country, Celtic music, tango, and many more). Free to attend; first come, first served. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 6:00 p.m.

Troy Bond is a comedian and writer based in New York, known for his sharp crowdwork skills and tongue-in-cheek Modern Seinfeld sketches that helped to build his fast-growing audience on TikTok and Instagram. Tickets and details at dccomedyloft.com. The Comedy Loft of D.C. (1523 22nd St. NW, Washington, DC), 7:30 p.m.

Flower Power Happy Hour Flower Power Happy Hour Band performs. JV's Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m.

FRIDAY

JANUARY 5

FCCPS Give Day Fundraiser

Board of Equalization Case Hearing

Order online using code FUND4U at panerabread.com, or the Panera app, or at the in-café kiosk and 25 percent of proceeds will be donated

The F.C. Board of Equalization hears cases. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

LGBTQ+ Social @ The Commentary Meet LGBTQ+ folk and make meaningful new connections. This social event happens the first Friday each month in the Westin Arlington Gateway's restaurant bar/lounge. Complimentary self-parking available; simply park and let the front desk know you are there for the social to get your ticket validated. The Commentary (801 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA), 7:00 p.m.

Big Tow Big Tow, whose members first started playing together in F.C.

JANUARY 7

SATURDAY

Last Chance: Intersection

JANUARY 6 The D.C. Big Flea

Saturday and Sunday (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). $10 admission for both days at thebigfleamarket.com. Antiques, jewelry, art, mid-century modern, vintage clothing, sustainable, and more. Dulles Expo Center (4368 Chantilly Ctr., Chantilly, VA), 9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

6th Annual Resolution Buster Congratulations, you made it six days — now blow your resolution in style. Enjoy craft beer and lobster rolls specials, from noon until they sell out. Settle Down Easy Brewing (2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 5 p.m.

MCC 3rd Annual Winter Block Party

Final day to view artist works expressing the intersection of their identiity and their culture of origin or the culture in which they find themselves. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Three Kings Day Join for Gala's annual Three Kings Day Celebration! This festive end to the holiday season features the timeless story of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, and free gifts for children. One adult allowed for every three children; free tickets available at the box office starting at 12:45 p.m. Gala Theatre (3333 14th St. NW, Washington, DC), 1:30 p.m.

Passport Festival: Raymi

Join MCC for the 3rd Annual Winter Block Party. Participants will enjoy entertainment, games, food, and a wide variety of outdoor amusements, crafts, and more. Free admission for this kid-friendly event. McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA), 1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Raymi performs. Part of the "Passport to the World of Music Festival," with multiple performances weekends through February 3. Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 2:00 p.m.

Passport Festival: The Kennedys

Amit Peled & Seonmi Lee

The Kennedys perform. Part of the "Passport to the World of Music Festival," with multiple performances weekends through February 3. Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

Odeon Chamber Music Series presents Amit Peled (on cello) performing with Seonmi Lee (on piano). Peled is an internationally renowned cellist, acclaimed as one of the most exciting and virtuosic instrumentalists on the concert stage today. Admission to this concert is free, though donations of $20 or more are appreciated to partially defray costs. A wine and cheese reception will follow the concert. Find out more at odeonchambermusicseries.org. St. Patrick's Episcopal Church (3241 Brush Dr., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m.

X-Maleya at The Lincoln CHILDREN AND families gather at last year's Annual Winter Block Party at McLean Community Center. The event returns for its third year this Saturday. (Photo: MCC)

SUNDAY

during the late 1960s, performs its brand of melodic rock. Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m.

X-Maleya performs. Tickets at thelincolndc.com. Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St. NW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CA L E NDA R

JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024 | PAGE 9

EVENTS, LIVE MUSIC, & ART Ken & Brad Kolodner

Ken & Brad Kolodner perform. Part of the "Passport to the World of Music Festival," with multiple performances weekends through February 3. Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

tional Championship Game on Mosaic's big outdoor screen. Strawberry Park (Mosaic District, Fairfax, VA), 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

JANUARY 9 Electoral Board Meeting

MONDAY

JANUARY 8

Electoral Board meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Poverty: A Solvable Problem

Board of Equalization Case Hearing

On January 8 1964, the United States declared an “unconditional War on Poverty." On the 60th anniversary of this declaration, join Dr. Katherin Ross Phillips from The Shared Humanity Project to discuss whether that war has been successful and what we can all do to support our neighbors. She will introduce you to the innovative National Plan to End Poverty, featuring data for the Falls Church area and a catalog of over 300 best practices where you can identify an action that you can take to be part of the solution. Register free at mrspl. org. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

The F.C. Board of Equalization hears cases 011-23AB and 021-23AB. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

City Council Meeting The City Council meets the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. The public is welcome to address the City Council on any topic during the public comment period. Sign up to speak at fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. All members of the public may view the meeting live or on-demand after the meeting at fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings and on FCCTV. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

College Football Viewing In The Park Watch the College Football Na-

Housing Commission Meeting Housing Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Economic Development Authority Meeting Economic Development Authority meets. Viget Offices (105 W. Broad St., 5th Floor, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.

FCCPS School Board Meeting School board meeting for Falls Church City Public Schools. The public is invited to attend. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/ Court Room, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 10:30 p.m.

Spanish Conversation Group Looking to practice your Spanish speaking skills? Adults are welcome to this casual conversation group, led by Jaqui Ferrara, a certified Spanish instructor with Arlington Public Schools. Register for free at mrspl.org. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

BIG TOW, whose members met in Falls Church in the late 1960s, return to The Little City to perform their brand of melodic rock at Solace Outpost this Friday. (Courtesy Photo)

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10

Waste Mgmt. Plan Adv. Committee Meeting Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee (SWMPAC) meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Citizens Transportation Adv. Cmte. Meeting The Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.

Appointments Committee Meeting The City Council Appointments Committee meets to interview candidates for boards and commissions and conduct exit interviews. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 8:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

PAGE 10 | JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024

Fa l l s C h u r c h School News & Notes

Mustangs Shine with Record Performances at Polar Titans Invite The Mustang Track team closed out the calendar year as they took on more prominent schools at the Polar Titans Invite. The Invite had pictureperfect weather, which helped athletes put on some great performances, ending with 15 personal records or season bests, three regional qualifiers, and three top-eight finishes. Next up, the Mustangs will get a chance to compete indoors as they travel to Christopher Newport University for the CNU Showcase Invite on Saturday, January 6. Personal Record / Season Best: Ally Campbell (55m & 300m) Jenna Hall (55m) Katie Anderson (1600m) Wendy Abstone (500m) Sanaa Washiko (300m) Michelle Malherio (3200m) Gia Khan (300m) Kaitlyn Henrikson (Long Jump) Demetri Boubouras- 55m Campbell Micheal- 1600m Greyson Carney- 500m William Anderson- 3200m Owen Hoffman- 3200m Hayden Micheal- 3200m Regional Qualifiers: Gia Khan- 300m Michelle Malherio- 3200m Hayden Micheal- 3200m

Top-Eight Finishers: Ally Campbell (5th, 300m) Kaitlyn Henrikson (6th, long jump) Boys Team (7th, 4x800m)

Meridian Singer Helps F.C. Rings in 2024 at Watch Night

MHS singer and songwriter Ruby Jones was the opening act on the main stage at the city’s Watch Night event on New Year’s Eve. Jones performed original pieces and a Taylor Swift favorite to crowd of at least 1,000. Many FCCPS students of all ages and their families were in attendance, enjoying musical acts, popcorn, a climbing wall, carnival rides, and more.

MEHMS Teachers Blend Baking, Language, Math in Cookie Workshop

Who knew that baking, practicing a new language, and math had so much in common? Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School teachers did! Before the winter break, Mr. Buck, Ms. Avila, Mrs. Philips, Mrs. Bournigal, and Mrs. Ronco hosted a group of ten students in the FACS classroom to make cookies. Students worked in small groups with the aid of teach-

STUDENTS FIGHT food insecurity by volunteering at last year’s GIVE Day, which returns across FCCPS on January 15. (FCCPS Photo)

SCHO O L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

ers to read a recipe, use measuring tools, and count carefully to ensure a quality product. Communication was key to sharing responsibility and completing all the parts of the baking process. The group had so much fun that this will likely become an annual event.

FCCPS GIVE Day To Encourage Student Civic Engagement

On January 15, GIVE Day (Get Involved, Value Everyone) will provide an opportunity for children and adults to spend their MLK holiday taking action as a community to fight food insecurity, both locally and globally. For months, student Ambassadors have worked in their schools to generate enthusiasm and to encourage participation to make this a rewarding experience for all FCCPS families. On the day of the event, elementary students and the community will meet in the Meridian High School gymnasium to assemble ‘Power Packs’ filled with food items for local students who need additional nourishment on weekends or after school. These packs will be distributed through Food for Others, a regional food bank. The goal is to assemble over 1,500 food packs at an estimated cost of $4 per pack. In the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School cafeteria, students will host a meal-packing event in partnership with The Outreach Program, a nonprofit that provides safe water, food, medical care, and education to those in need, locally and abroad. Community members are encouraged to get involved by donating on GIVE Day (the committee is working to raise $16,000 to cover the cost of the projects) at bit.ly/FCNP0124ge (Elementary GIVE Day Club) and/or bit.ly/FCNP0124gm (Secondary GIVE Day Club). Business sponsorships are also available, with three levels available, all of which will be split between both clubs. GIVE Day is a great way to help children experience empathy in real time, and to show them how to take action to help others.

BAKING, LANGUAGE, and Math are blended during MEHMS’s First Annual Holiday Cookie Workshop (Photo: Amanda Ronco)

SLEEPY HOLLOW Preschool invites community members to an open house on Wednesday, January 24. (Photo: SHPS)

MERIDIAN MUSTANGS had a great showing at the Polar Titans Invitational on December 16. (Photo: Mustang Athletics)

Sleepy Hollow Preschool To Hold Open House On January 24 Sleepy Hollow Preschool invites community members to their Open House on Wednesday, January 24, at 9:30 a.m.

Take a tour with a current parent, meet school leadership, and learn what a cooperative preschool is all about. Enrollment is open for ages 2-5. No RSVP necessary. To find out more about Sleepy Hollow Preschool, visit sleepyhollowpreschool.org

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024 | PAGE 11

News-Press

Community News & Notes

CARA LINDA with theatre aficionado supreme Barbara Bear at Creative Cauldron’s ‘Drag The Halls’ Cabaret Dec. 18. (News-Press Photo)

March With Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation on MLK Day January 15

The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation invites community members to join them on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. at the Tinner Hill Civil Rights Monument (510 South Washington St., Falls Church). Participants will march to The Falls Church Episcopal (115 E Fairfax St., Falls Church) to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Following the march, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church & Vicinity will conduct breakout sessions inside the church to discuss various social justice topics. Closing remarks will be made by Michelle Leete, President of Fairfax County NAACP, and Rev. Steve Martin, President, of Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. The event is free and open to the public of all ages. Registration is not required.

Creative Cauldron Touts Artes Para Todos Success

A couple of years ago, Creative Cauldron realized there were many children in the greater Falls Church region who did not have the same access to the arts as the students within The Little City’s boundaries. In response, they started a Artes Para Todos, an initiative that is breaking down traditional language barriers and welcoming a sector of our community that is vastly neglected by many educational theater programs. Through “Artes Para Todos” (Spanish for “Arts for All”), they have forged a deep partnership with Second Story, a local nonprofit serving at-risk students attending Title I schools in Fairfax County. 90 percent of these students come from households where Spanish is the primary language. Through the initiative, they

offer free after school theater workshops at Second Story’s community-based “Safe Youth” sites, and sometimes help with their drug prevention activities through improvisational drama exercises. Creative Caudron offers these students scholarships to their Arts Adventure camps, provide complimentary tickets to productions, and even provide transportation. As a result of the initiative, Learning Theater productions at the Cauldron now feature Spanish language elements, making productions more accessible and enjoyable to both students and families. The program has also resulted in a strong relationship with Westlawn Elementary School, a Fairfax County Title I school where 70 percent of the student population qualifies for free and reduced lunch, most of whom come from primarily Spanishspeaking households. Artes Para Todos has established a year-round after-school drama club on-site at Westlawn with 28 students currently participating. This coming spring, the club will present a production of “Tales from the Americas,” an original adaptation of Central and South American folktales, for school attendees. With support from Arts Fairfax and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and individual donors, Artes Para Todos was able to provide $27,000 in scholarships to participants this past year, and almost $2,500 in complimentary tickets. Many of the young people had never been to a camp or a performance before. One young boy, who immigrated to this country with his family from Guatemala only a few years ago, recently joined their professional cast as a performer in “Monarch: A Mexican American Musical.” This year, Creative Cauldron is trying to raise $150,000 to move the theater to a a new home in the Broad & Washington development currently under construction. To donate, visit creativecauldron.org/artes-paratodos.

STUDENTS ENJOY Arts Adventure Camp, part of Creative Cauldron’s “Artes Para Todos” initiative (Courtesy Photo)

Community Honors Veterans on Wreaths Across America Day

On December 16, community members placed over 180 wreaths honoring Falls Church Veterans at the historic Oakwood Cemetery. Mayor David Tarter thanked the volunteers for donating and placing the wreaths, and Chuck Robbie, President of Oakwood Cemetery told the assembled crowd about Civil War Veteran Milton Roberts (buried in Section A) who was the inspiration for a

famous Walt Whitman poem. Councilwoman Erin Flynn and Harry Shovlin from the Greater Falls Church Veterans Council, along with Girl Scouts, students from area high schools and other community members, participated in the event. The F.C. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted the event, and their members led volunteers to place the wreaths at Veteran gravesites. Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery has become an annual event for Falls Church.

MAYOR TARTER thanks volunteers for placing wreaths on Veteran tombstones at Oakwood Cemetery (Courtesy Photo)

PAGE 12 | JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice

Truist Bank, located at 3030 Annandale Rd, Falls Church VA 22042, is in possession of assets owned by decedent, Henry Straube, who was domiciled in Massachusetts at the time of death. In accordance with Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-609(A), Truist Bank hereby gives public notice that the funds will be transferred to Robyn Baker, Personal Representative of the estate. Delivery is to be made after the lapse of thirty (30) days from the completion of due publication of this notice, pursuant to the Code, once a week for four successive weeks. Written claims and inquiries to said funds should be sent to Truist Bank at the address above. Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board Board of Equalization Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation City Employee Review Board Environmental Sustainability Council Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Human Services Advisory Council Urban Forestry Commission Regional Boards/Commissions Advisory Social Services Board Continuum of Care Board Fairfax Area Commission on Aging Long Term Care Coordinating Council Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission Virginia Career Works Northern Region

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ABC NOTICE Crabby Noodles, 6795 Wilson Blvd. Falls Church, 22044 is applying to the Virginia ABC board for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

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Ad Hoc Committee Sold Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee: This Committee will advise the City Council in the development of the

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024 | PAGE 13

F.C. Rings in 2024 at Watch Night

WATCH NIGHT rings in the New Year in The Little City, in person and outdoors for the first time since 2019. (Photos: Gary Mester, Carol Sly)

LO CA L

PAGE 14 | JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C.’s Most Popular Books of 2023 C ritter C orner

by Brian Reach

Falls Church News-Press

This week Mary Riley Styles Public Library released its lists of the most popular books of 2023, based on checkouts by library patrons. The library announced readers’ top ten lists across six genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Teen Fiction. In the Fiction genre, the most popular book was “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver. Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction, featured on Oprah’s Book Club and a New York Times top-ten book for 2022, “Demon Copperhead” is the story of Demon, a boy born in southern Appalachian. A modern-day “David Copperfield,” Demon’s story of survival and resilience speaks to the invisibility of abandoned rural people. The most popular Nonfiction book of 2023 was “Spare,” a Prince Harry tell-all memoir explaining the 2020 decision he and his wife, American actress Meghan Markle, made to give up their royal titles, move to Canada, and seek meaning from life. A #1 New York Times bestseller, “Spare” is a recounting of Harry’s perspective from the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, through the reaction of the public, press, and royal family to his marriage to Markle. Another #1 New York Times bestseller, the most popular book in the Mystery genre was “A World of Curiosities,” the 18th book in author Louise Penny’s series following Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as she uncovers one mystery after another while investigating a decadesold murder. Reader reviews suggest this riveting story is best enjoyed after reading previous installments of Penny’s “Three Pines” series (also an Amazon television series). Topping off the Romance genre was “The Love Hypothesis,” by Ali Hazelwood, whose novels often follow women in academia within STEM fields. “The Love Hypothesis” is a story of the unlikely romance between Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith, who doesn’t believe in love, and young hotshot professor Adam Carlsen, well-known for being a

jerk. Hazelwood (which is a pen name for an Italian neuroscience professor) derived the book from her 2018 Star Wars fan fiction portraying a romance between Rey and Kylo Ren (the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia). Of novels in the Science Fiction & Fantasy genre, “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros was most popular in The Little City. “Fourth Wing” is the first of two books in “The Empyrean Series,” preceding the also highly acclaimed “Iron Flame” (which was released on November 7 of this year). The series follows the journey of twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail after her mother, the commanding general of elite dragon riders known as the Navarre, orders her to enroll as a cadet at Basgiath War College, where fiercely competitive candidates seek to become Navarre, as war escalates outside and threatens their kingdom. The most popular Teen Fiction novel of 2023 was “One of Us Is Lying,” a 2017 book by Karen M. McManus, follows four Bayview High students after the apparent murder of Simon (“the outcast”), the creator of a notorious gossip app that promised to post juicy reveals about each of them the next day. Yale-bound Bronwyn (“the brain”), homecoming princess Addy (“the beauty”), probation-supervised Nate (“the criminal”), and baseball star Cooper (“the athlete”) all had secrets to hide, but was concealing them motivation enough to kill Simon, or is a killer still on the loose? A New York Times bestseller, “One of Us Is Lying” is the first in a threebook series, and was adapted into a Netflix series in 2021. Other top books of note

from MRSPL’s lists include Nonfiction works “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Terror” by David Grann, and “Poverty, by America” by Matthew Desmond, and Fiction novels “Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese, “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano, and “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett. We at the News-Press would love to hear what books our readers loved in 2023 — let us know your favorites on Facebook!

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The LGBTQ+ Reach

by Brian Reach

Falls Church News-Press

Interracial Gay New Year’s Eve Kiss Triggers Conservative Outrage CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage this year has apparently caused quite the stir among conservatives. The program was hosted by prominent gay television personalities Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, and was its usual silly, fun — and at times a bit messy — display of tequila shots and banter between the two real-life friends. As the ball dropped and 2024 arrived, however, the camera panned to the crowd, and the first image many saw was an interracial gay kiss between two men. Conservatives across social media have lost their minds over this, labeling the kiss (which was tame) as “graphic,” “gross,” “not representative of America,” a “psychological operation… designed to intrude on Middle America,” and “a salacious, sickening, interracial gay tongue lashing session.” Kelly Clarkson Hosts Gay Marriage at Vegas NYE Celebration At Kelly Clarkson’s New Year’s Eve performance of her Las Vegas residency, “Chemistry: An Intimate Evening,” the star was walking through the crowd when two men, Brian Artzt and Marcello Cialini, caught her attention. The couple, who are Clarkson “superfans,” got engaged at one of her concerts in 2019, informed her that they’d brought an officiant to the show, and asked if they could get married — right there in the crowd. Clarkson enthusiastically agreed, handing her microphone to the officiant, who shared their vows before declaring that “by the power of the Kelly Clarkson show in Las Vegas, New Year’s 2024, I pronounce you both husband and husband.” A beaming Clarkson wished the couple good luck before continuing the show. Artzt, the assistant principal at Bronx Health Sciences High School, was also congratulated by New York City Public Schools on social media. Report Shows D.C. Has Highest LGBT Percentage in U.S. In December, The Williams Institute released its 2023 Adult LGBT Population in the United States report, estimating the percentage and number of LGBT adults by location and age across the United States. The report estimates that just under 14

million Americans identify as LGBT, with 35.9 percent of those living in southern states — just over 5 million. According to the report, Oregon is the state with the highest percentage of LGBT people, with 7.8 percent identifying as LGBT. Virginia was 18th on the list, with 5.9 percent identifying as LGBT. The states with the lowest percentage of LGBT identifying adults were West Virginia and Mississippi, both with 4.1 percent, followed by North Carolina at 4.4 percent. The District of Columbia ranked above any state, with 14.3 percent of adults identifying as LGBT. In 2019, the same report found that 9.8 percent of D.C. adults identified as LGBT. With a population of just under 680,000, it is estimated that D.C. is home to about 81,400 LGBT adults — more than 14 states (12 of which have larger populations). The immediate region is likely much closer to the D.C. numbers than those of Virginia as a whole. In 2006, The Williams Institute conducted a survey that, for the first time (and only time thus far, it seems), showed the LGB population by U.S. Congressional District. This showed that the districts closest to D.C. (the 8th in Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church, the 11th in central Fairfax and Prince William, and the 10th in greater Fairfax and Loudoun) had significantly higher LGB populations than the state as a whole. At the time, the LGB population in D.C. was estimated to be 8.1 percent, 7.4 percent in VA-8, 5.6 percent in VA-11, and 2.9 percent in VA-10. Out of 435 U.S. Congressional Districts, only 13 had a higher LGB population than D.C., and 17 had a higher LGB population than VA-8. Outside California and D.C., VA-8 had the tenth highest percentage of LGBidentifying adults in the country. The December 2023 report also shows a significant difference in LGBT identification is seen between age groups, both nationally and locally. Nationally, 15.2 percent of young adults (ages 18-24) identify as LGBT, compared to 9.1 percent of those ages 25-34, 4.1 percent of those ages 35-49, 2.7 percent of those ages 50-64, and 1.8 percent of those ages 65 and above. In D.C., those that identify as LGBT made up 31.4 percent of those age 18-24, 20.9 percent of those ages 25-34, 9.7 percent of those ages 35-49, 6.3 percent of those ages 50-64, and 4.3 percent of those ages 65 and above. The numbers are likely higher across the board, with many reluctant to self-identify as LGBT, especially amont older populations and in more conservative states.

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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2024 | PAGE 15

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Vote for the Best in Virginia Virginia Living, the monthly magazine, is taking a survey of the Best in Virginia 2024. Readers are asked to cast their votes January 3-31 for their favorites in dining, drinking, shopping, destinations and more between. The results will be published in a special issue of Virginia Living, Best of Virginia 2024. The link to vote is virginialiving.com/vote2024.

Restaurant Week Coming Soon Falls Church restaurants will welcome families and foodies during restaurant week, January 19-28. Over 40 restaurants representing international cuisine will feature top selections from their menu in lunch or dinner specials, and some will offer three course meals. Participating restaurants include Chasin’ Tails, Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Ellie Bird, NUE, Plaka Grill, Scramble and Thompson Italian. The Falls Church Economic Development Office and the Virginia Tourism Corporation are sponsoring Restaurant Week with support from the American Rescue Plan Act to boost visitors and local restaurants.

IRS Offers Penalty Relief The IRS announced a program to help people owing back taxes in their 2020 and 2021 tax returns. This applies to individuals, businesses and tax-exempt organizations which weren’t sent automatic collection notices during the pandemic. Although the reminders were suspended, the failure-to-pay penalty continues to accrue for those who didn’t fully pay their bills upon the initial balance due notice. Collection notices will restart in 2024 marking the end of the pandemic pause.

Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a New Business The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) will present a panel of small business experts in an interactive in-person workshop on how to start your own business on Tuesday, January 9, 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. The fundamentals will be covered with steps to registering a business, permitting requirements, business feasibility and business plan basics, business certifications, financing options and government resources. The workshop is free, and registration is required. For more information, contact BusinessDiversity@fceda.org.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.

NO ONE GETS A DIPLOMA ALONE. If you’re thinking of ﬁnishing your high school diploma, you have more support than you realize. Find teachers and free adult education classes near you at FinishYourDiploma.org.

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