Falls Church News-Press October 2

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Index

Walking into the local branch of Wachovia Bank at the intersection of N. West and W. Broad Streets in Falls Church this week, you couldn’t tell from looking around that anything had happened.

The massive fire sale on Wall Street Monday morning to avert the collapse of the

gigantic Wachovia organization, the fourth-largest bank holding company in the U.S, requiring emergency action by both Citibank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), did not result in a visible beehive of frenzy on Broad Street in Falls Church.

On the contrary, there was an almost-eerie mood of calm in the popular Falls Church branch. Wachovia, nationally,

experienced a run on its retail accounts last week, precipitated by depositor fears, driving it near bankruptcy over the weekend.

However, as one regular customer noted, “there was no panic here.” He attributed it to the fact that personal relationships had been cultivated with many customers over the years.

Buoyed by national polls showing almost two-thirds of newly-registered voters favor Sen. Barack Obama for president, volunteers for Obama are fanning out by the hundreds from the campaign’s Falls Church headquarters in a final push before the voter registration deadline of Oct. 6.

Kate Stanton, a volunteer coordinator at the S. Maple St. Obama office, told the NewsPress yesterday that every Metro station, the Northern Virginia Community College campuses, groceries stores and all heavilypopulated assemblies are being inundated with campaign volunteers to find new people to register.

Stanton, a graduate of McLean High School, just graduated from the University of Michigan and is now a full-time, non-paid volunteer for Obama.

She spoke with the News-Press over the clamor of scores of volunteers working phone banks and otherwise crawling over the expansive space that the campaign rented at 360 S. Maple.

“Come in here around 6 o’clock tonight, and you’ll see hundreds of people cramming into this place,” she said.

A major “canvass” of the City of Falls Church, involving 45 volunteers, was slated last night, involving going door-todoor to promote their candidate and register voters where needed.

This weekend, canvassing teams will pour out of the office at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, and noon and 3 p.m.

Sunday.

Stanton said she had no inten-

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October 2 - 8, 2008

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Make no mistake about it: the heaviest lifting for the races for president and the U.S. Senate in the next month in Virginia will necessarily happen right here: right in the prime distribution area of the Falls Church News-Press, including all of the 8th, 10th and 11th Congressional Districts, and the Mason, Dranesville and Providence districts, depending on how you prefer to identify your boundaries.

Here, where the overwhelming margins for Gov. Mark Warner, Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. James Webb were built to provide, statewide, thin margins of victory for all three Democrats this decade, is where the business of concerned activists must, for the next critical month, be focused on carrying through a clean sweep of Democrats, all supported by this newspaper. We heartily endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president, Gov. Mark Warner for the U.S. Senate, and Rep. Jim Moran, Chairman Gerry Connolly and Judy Feder for the U.S. Congress.

If such an endeavor can be achieved, in a collective exercise of extraordinary will, in conjunction with a majority of the U.S. population as a whole, the nation and the world will undergo a cultural and political sea change of epochal proportions. All elections are important, but this one will be truly historic for mankind as a whole.

The unprecedented meltdown of the nation’s financial system in the last nine months is the final testament to the consequences of the abject immorality and greed that has gripped the nation since 1980. It stands as one last dire warning, one last call to repent, before a massive disintegration of the global economy condemns modern civilization, itself. The orgy of Republican-led unconscionable deregulation, which maxed out in 2005 when investment banks were sanctioned to lever every $1 to $40 in debt to set the stage for the current decomposition, has brought the globe to the brink of self-destruction.

A gigantic, grass roots-driven “heave-ho!” is required to dislodge this foul scourge from the corridors of power in America, especially from the White House and Congress. There is no doubt that if Obama is elected president next month, there will be a planet-wide, massive sigh of relief. All of the world’s problems will remain far from solved, but a pathway forward will have been found.

This, dear reader, requires an extraordinary effort from us all, especially from those of us in Northern Virginia. Immediately, is the effort needed between now and Monday to register as many new voters before the deadline as possible. Not only can you volunteer with a campaign directly, you can assemble your personal e-mail lists, or marshal your friends on MySpace or Facebook, and send out “blast e-mails” to everyone you can, reminding them of the Oct. 6 deadline and providing information or links that tell them how they can register, or change their registration if they’ve moved, by Monday. Get going!

Editor, Like all Americans and indeed the entire world I have watched with fascination the financial turmoil of the past weeks and months. It is very tempting to cast blame on “Wall Street” or our Federal Government or President Bush, but of course all of us have a share of the blame for taking advantage of the easy money and lax regulatory environment of the past decade. Rapid and unprecedented globalization has removed much of the ability of our government to insulate our economy from the rational flow of capital which

now threatens to destroy the very foundations of our economy.

In addition to the consumer binge that our “leaders” have encouraged in order to keep our economy moving after the shock of 9/11, we are now facing what T. Boone Pickens has called the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world. Every day, we import about 14 million barrels of oil now worth somewhere from $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion, or approaching $700 billion per year. At some point over the past two years, this has crossed a tipping point and caused mil-

lions of Americans to be unable to meet their obligations.

As I said the other night, $700 billion is ~$2,333 for every man, woman and child in the Country or about $9k for a family of four. Based on some simple math, assuming the average home is worth about $300k, the problem is that the value of the home has fallen by maybe 20% or $60k and needs to fall another 10% at least for the market to stabilize. Assuming that there are 50 million homes in the U.S. that means that another $1.5 trillion will disappear, on top of the $3 trillion that has already evaporated from the residential real estate market. Much of this is collateral for loans that will not be repaid, and there is little that the government can do except intervene directly in the market because right now the rational thing for an individual to do with a few thousand dollars

from the government would be to buy gold, fuel oil, food and other tangible things that will do nothing to address the issue of falling real estate prices, and even less to address the issue of rising energy prices.

Dan Maller, Member Falls Church City Council

Editor, The Citizens for a Better City (CBC) share a common commitment, that of supporting a strong flourishing community.

CBC will turn 50 next year. An organization established in 1959, it is based on the belief that an independent and responsive city More Letters on Page 6

October 2 - 8, 2008

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tion of becoming so involved when she moved back to McLean after graduation to help her mother move into a new home. “I showed up to volunteer one day, and the next thing you know, I was roped in full-time. I didn’t have a job lined up, so I was available.”

Now, she says she works from 9 a.m. to midnight, many nights, seven days a week.

“It’s exhausting, but the reward will be so great if we beat Sen. John McCain,” she said.

“Everybody’s really excited and happy.”

Northern Virginia is considered key to Obama’s chances, nationally. It provided the margin of victory in three statewide Democratic wins this decade, starting with Gov. Mark Warner in 2000, followed by Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. James Webb.

Many of the campaign signs posted in the headquarters and available for distribution by volunteers include the name of Warner, now running for the U.S. Senate against former Gov. Jim Gilmore, on them.

October 2 - 8, 2008

Every rush hour, morning and evening, volunteers have been registering voters at all the Northern Virginia Metro stations, coming away with 15 to 20 new registered voters during each three hour period at each station.

“We also have people walking into our office asking for 100 or 200 registration forms to take to an event they’re going to,” Stanton said.

Betty Coll, chair of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee, has been in charge of voter registration efforts at the weekly farmers’ market in Falls Church, and at other local events.

There is no one dominant demographic among those being registered, Stanton said, but there are a lot of young people.

“We’re getting a lot of people who will be both registering and voting for the first time, including many who have been old enough but just not used to voting. It is very important for us to help make sure they’re properly registered, for one thing, since they have only until Monday to do that,” she said.

Many are unaware that if

they’ve moved, they need to re-register with their current address. It is also important for us to remind people to check if their friends, their family members and neighbors are also properly registered.

“We’re also reminding people that if they’ll be working or otherwise unable to get to the polls on election day that they can go vote ‘absentee’ at City Hall right now,” she said.

The non-partisan Falls Church League of Women Voters has also been actively promoting voter registration efforts, providing information on how to register and check the status of registrations.

While registration forms can be pulled off the Internet and mailed in, they must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 6, to be valid, Joan Lewis, local league chair, noted.

Persons can register at the Falls Church City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, or at any office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms are available on the Internet through links at http:www.sbe.virginia.gov.

Status of registration can also be confirmed through links on that site.

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“I, for one, came to them with my concerns, and I was advised in detail on appropriate actions, and my fears were allayed.”

In particular, he credited the affable financial specialist Carolina Vasquez, who has been at the branch for a decade. He noted that she went through the savings and loan crisis as a banker in Texas in the late 1980s, and has been able to hold the hands of a lot of her customers as news of Wachovia’s problems began to mount earlier this year. Branch manager Jamin Olney, who has been there for two years, was also credited.

In fact, because the Falls Church branch has reportedly been a strong performer in the region, its lobby was just enhanced with a modest, more user-friendly renovation.

Asked Monday, a branch employee told a customer that all branch employees were informed of the sale of the bank

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to Citibank by e-mail shortly after the news broke at about 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Everyone was told it is “business as usual,” he told the customer, and by mid-afternoon, calm continued to prevail and only a small trickle of customers was meandering into the bank.

According to wire reports, Wachovia is selling its retail bank, corporate and investment bank, and wealth management businesses to Citigroup, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

The terms of the transaction were enhanced by deft moves on the part of the FDIC to help guarantee the coverage of bad debt losses.

The FDIC entered into a loss-sharing arrangement on a pre-identified pool of loans.

Citigroup will absorb up to $42 billion of losses of the $312 billion pool, and the FDIC will absorb any losses beyond that.

In return, Citibank has granted the FDIC $12 billion in preferred stock and warrants to

compensate it for the risk.

Despite initial reports that Wachovia would retain its name under the new arrangement, this is now uncertain, according to sources, and whatever major shifts in name and personnel matters probably won’t become evident before January.

The purchase of the securities division of Wachovia was not offered by Citibank because of its size, having processed $250 billion in revenues in retail brokerage services in the last year, with operations in the U.S. and six Latin American countries.

Everyone, however, concedes that most issues remain up in the air, concerning the details of Wachovia’s open banking activities and new corporate arrangements. The goal, according to one news report, is to have no perceptible changes for Wachovia customers.

Name changes, however, are not new to the Falls Church branch of Wachovia. It was originally Dominion Bank, located in the small shopping

center adjacent to the Amigo Market a half-block away until the corner location was acquired, and the new drivethrough bank constructed.

The name was then changed to the First Union National Bank when that bank bought Dominion, before First Union was acquired by Wachovia.

Susanna Ojeda, had been a beloved and legendary teller for a whopping 30 years at

the branch, and a big hoopla attended her retirement two years ago. Tellers now reflect the language and ethnic diversity in the region.

Vasquez, who is now among the most tenured bankers in Falls Church, hails from Texas and is fluent in Spanish. Her empathy and “bedside manner” was hailed by customers for calming many through the recent troubled times.

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government can only be sustained through the involvement of informed citizens with diverse independent views willing to serve to protect the quality of life for all of its citizens. This vision has traditionally been promoted by searching for and nominating experienced, qualified, and independent minded candidates for office when City elections are held. Our candidates currently serve on both the City Council and the School Board. We also encourage future candidates to gain experience through their participation in school organizations and on city boards and commissions. Additionally, the CBC is an information gathering and dissemination center.

As we move forward in the 21st century, the CBC can only continue to meet this vision by attracting eager volunteers, needing both the young and the mature.

We welcome all Falls Church citizens to join. We are striving to bring the City away from a recent history of polarizing politics to embrace new members that will enhance a broader more diverse view. If you are a new member of our community we invite you to learn more about CBC. If you

October 2 - 8, 2008

have been in the community for several years and have not been a part of the CBC, we invite you to take a second look. Through team work, we can make Falls Church a “Better City� by expecting and supporting a city government that will represent the interest of all citizens, including our schools, our children, our senior citizens, our businesses, and our environment.

Please contact us at cbc1@ fallschurchcbc.net and review the CBC “principles� by visiting our website www.fallschurchcbc.net.

Gordon Theisz, Deb Gardner CBC Executive Committee

Editor, I read with interest how the

updated bus route schedule will “better serve our students and parents.�

My grandaughter, who takes the bus to my house each day, has been better served by having a 40-45 minute bus ride under the new schedule as opposed to the 15 minute ride she had under the old schedule. My daughter will be better served by being forced to pick up her child at school each day so she doesn’t have to spend three quarters of an hour on a bus so crowded that there are 3 children to a seat.There are students in Loudoun County who don’t spend 45 minutes on a bus - how can it be neccessary in a two square mile area? Who in the City is supplying the definition of “better served�? If the powers- that-be are trying to cut gasoline costs, let them just say so!

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Citing their opposition to the elevation of an openly-gay priest to bishop status in the church, the defectors aligned with the so-called Council of Anglicans in North America under the leadership of the right-wing Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. The defectors have claimed their right to ownership of the property under terms of a post-Civil War Virginia statute, so far upheld by Judge Bellows.

But on Oct. 14, the diocese will argue that ownership properly resides with the Christ Church of Alexandria, which was deeded title to the land by a U.S. Supreme Court decision made on Mar. 11, 1824, and which has not voted to defect from the Episcopal denomination.

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F.C. School Board OKs Free Meals for Students Recognizing that current economic difficulties may lead to financial hardships for some families in the City of Falls Church, the F.C. School Board voted at its last meeting to subsidize reduced-price student meals for students who meet federal family income guidelines. Beginning Oct. 1, for the rest of the school year, any family with students in the Falls Church City Public Schools that qualifies for the reducedprice student meals will be provided meals at no charge. Students who qualify will receive electronic meal cards that are identical to those given to students who are not eligible for free meals. As the debit system is computerized, all payment and free meal information will be kept confidential. “The research is clear that healthful, nutritious meals are a fundamental component of student wellness, learning and success,” School Board member Joan Wodiska said. “Our vote to subsidize meals for families that meet federal income guidelines was the right thing to do for our students, and we strongly encourage every eligible family to apply for the school meals program.”

Income guidelines and applications are available at http://www.fccps.org/meals, or by calling 703-248-5534.

Fairfax Police Identify Homicide Victim Fairfax Police undergoing a homicide investigation in the death of a 29-year-old woman at her 6166 Leesburg Pike apartment identified the woman last week as Genevieve “Gini” Paulette Orange. They reported she appeared to have died from blunt force trauma to her upper body some time Wednesday night, Sept. 24. A 2001 graduate of Virginia Tech, she was active in the McLean Bible Church and employed as a manager with Futures in Washington, D.C. She was the daughter of Lloyd E. Orange of Blue Ridge, Virginia, who died Jan. 12, and Marilyn Orange. Services were due to be held last night at McLean Bible Church, and graveside services were set to be conducted by the Curtis Funeral Home, Thomson, Georgia. Police indicated they did not have any suspects to date.

250 Brave Rain for ‘Run for the Schools’ Rain did not deter 250 runners from participating in the third annual “Run for the Schools,” a 5K race and 1K fun run benefiting the Falls Church Education Foundation Sunday morning. Spirits were raised by the participation of Washington Nationals’ giant-headed Teddy Roosevelt, whose presence was sponsored by the Falls Church News-Press. All four Falls Church City Public School mascots were also present, along with prominent city and school officials. Winners in different categories included the following: Phoebe Galt (F19-under), Marina El Ghod (F2029), Rali Roesing (F30-39), Maribeth Spellman (F40-49), Sarah Bayldon (F50-59), Theresa Romer (F60-69), Jordan Ricker (M19-under), Joseph Martinez (M20-29), Kevin Callahan (M30-39), Andrew Cline (M40-49), Myron Kremer (M50-59), and Hal Lippman (M60-69).

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Most people know him as the quick-witted Dwight Schrute on NBC’s “The Office,” but Rainn Wilson proved he’s more than just a funny face last Sunday during “An Afternoon with Rainn Wilson” at George Washington University, an alumni event sponsored by the Falls Church-based Tahirih Justice Center. Wilson challenged the audience to help make the world a better place.

The Tahirih Justice Center (TJC) is comprised of lawyers, doctors and volunteers who help female refugees suffering from gender-based violence in foreign countries get established in the United States. The center is named after Tahirih, a women’s rights figure from the teachings of the Bahá’í faith. Raised Bahá’í, Wilson said he makes an effort to back organizations that parallel his own moral convictions in a sit-down interview with the News-Press.

“As I became more of a celebrity, many places started contacting me to be a spokesperson and I really wanted to use the attention that having me aboard a project would bring.

The ideas of social justice and education are central spiritual tenants of the Bahá’í faith, and they’re also central to the Tahirih Justice Center,” said Wilson.

Executive Director of TJC, Layli Miller-Muro, told the NewsPress that after hearing word of Wilson’s previous involvement with the Mona Foundation, another organization geared towards gender equality, she pulled a few strings to get Wilson on board.

However, she said it wasn’t too much of a challenge to persuade

Page 9

the “Office” mate.

“He was really responsive and insisted on paying for his own ticket. He even wanted to pay for his own hotel room, but we got Marriot to donate it.

Then he made a donation too, and here we were thinking we were going to use him,” said Miller-Muro.

Prior to Wilson’s campus appearance, he emceed at TJC’s 11th Annual Fundraising Benefit at the Crystal Gateway Marriot in Arlington last Saturday evening.

Hours before his Master of Ceremonies duties ensued, Wilson had lunch at MillerMuro’s Falls Church home with four female clients of TJC who shared their stories of escaping abuse, some of whom are still in danger and were unable to be photographed. Afterwards, Wilson said he was still processing the overwhelming amount of information shared with him.

“It’s so very clear that the subjugation of women is so severe and present in so many cultures. It’s a kind of slavery – from arranged marriages to female genital mutilation – it’s designed to keep women subservient in these cultures, to dehumanize them. And it’s just so rampant throughout the world that something needs to be done,” said Wilson.

Though genuine concern fuels his involvement, “The Office’s” Scranton spirit surfaced when Wilson was asked what he expected his status would bring to TJC and charities alike. “Cash, baby,” said a straight-faced Wilson, channeling his character Dwight.

Following with all seriousness, Wilson said that he hoped having a celebrity involved would

“THE OFFICE” STAR stuck around to sign autographs for the children of abused women refugees. (Photo: News-Press)

get more volunteers aboard the cause.“It’s really about them, not me,” said Wilson.

Miller-Muro also attested to that as she recalled a memorable moment of Wilson’s visit to her home. He asked for friendship from a little girl wearing a “Best Friends Forever” t-shirt.

The young girl was one of the daughters of a TJC client present at the luncheon, who’d been living in shelters with her kids until she became legal in the United States, and could look for work.

She agreed and he gave this little girl a fist-to-fist bump right before she showed him that the back of her shirt read ‘No boys allowed.’ He did a whole ‘Oh, I’m so hurt’ bit, and then she ran around the rest of the day telling everyone they were best friends. “He was so immediately comfortable with the kids,” said Miller-Muro.

Wilson stuck around to sign autographs for the children and take pictures with the women, the whole time cracking jokes and asking if their snapshots turned out good enough. Though perhaps it was Wilson’s attentiveness during the women’s heartbreaking stories that stuck out the most for Miller-Muro, who said he was “very moved.”

One woman, who goes by the name Elizabeth, told her story of enduring female genital mutilation (FGM) at the age of seven while visiting her grandmother in Senegal, Africa.

Elizabeth’s mother, also in attendance, said she was against the procedure and tried to protect her daughter, but was instead beaten by a group of tribesmen who woke Elizabeth during the night. At the time of the beating, Elizabeth’s mother was pregnant and said her daughter’s screams resembled that of “an animal.”

Elizabeth, now 36 years old, still remembers having to crawl on hands and knees for weeks following the procedure.

“In the United States, we hear about violence against women and we hear about these customs, but I’m not sure we realize the profound life-threatening nature of them and the degree to which people go to ensure conformity to their notions of morality,” said Miller-Muro.

She went on to note that “that kind of fanaticism [in foreign countries] isn’t a huge leap” from some of our own ideological convictions of “only one way being the right way.”

One little girl, running around in a princess dress at the luncheon, suffered from dwarfism and had escaped her homeland with her mother after tribal leaders suggested the only cure for what they considered her impurity was for both her and her sister to undergo FGM. After that, they said that if the 2-year-old

RAINN WILSON, left, spent the afternoon at Layli MillerMuro’s Falls Church home to hear female victims of genderbased violence tell their stories. (Photo: News-Press) girl could survive a severe ritualistic beating, then her dwarfism would go away. That’s when the girl’s mother decided it was time to flee, though the family’s troubles didn’t end once they entered the United States.

“After they escaped, they ended up living in a homeless shelter because they didn’t qualify for a domestic violence shelter since she was suffering abuse from someone in another country,” said Miller-Muro.

Between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day, everyone would be kicked out of the shelter and told to look for a job. The only problem, according to MillerMuro, was that the girl’s mother was unable to look for honest work toting around three youngsters, not to mention being an undocumented immigrant.

The woman told stories of riding the Metro Transit for hours or taking her kids to the park until she was able to return at 7 p.m.

While illegal immigrants remain a hot topic in news and politics, Miller-Muro believes there’s more to it than meets the eye for women refugees in search of a safe haven for themselves and their children.

She said becoming documented takes at least nine months, but more often than not, one year.

Many women refugees must wait this one year out in shelters, unable to legally work.

“As a lawyer, I firmly believe in obeying the law, but I think it’s important for people to hear this story to know that there are people who are compliant, who make the best efforts to follow the law, who face imminent, life-threatening conditions and are attempting to deal with our flawed system,” said MillerMuro. “Flawed isn’t even the right word – it’s impossible.”

Over $200,000 was raised at Saturday night’s sold-out benefit, where TJC recognized Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) with a Pillar of Justice Award for his legislative and personal efforts to protect women and girls fleeing human rights abuses. Miller-Muro said the fight for justice continues for these women with the coming of each day.

“It’s both heartening and depressing at the same time to watch this organization grow into what it is today,” said MillerMuro. “Each day, I think I’ve seen it all with these women, and then I’m floored again.”

How to Help the Women at TJC Female clients of the Tahirih Justice Center (6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 220, Falls Church) have formed Tahirih’s Wings, a support group with a mission to give back to the center by helping women like themselves. Their first project is to collect donations of children’s clothes and toys to give to the women who escape to the U.S. with youngsters who are without either.

Donations can be brought to the Falls Church office.

In the spring, the women will be looking for citizens willing to volunteer their yards for yard sales.

Proceeds will benefit the Tahirih Justice Center. The women of Tahirih’s Wings can be contacted directly at wings@tahirih.org. For a full list of TJC volunteer opportunities or to learn more about the organization, call 703-575-0070.

Page 10

October 2 - 8, 2008

In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt inherited an economic crisis. He understood that his first job was to restore confidence, to give people a sense that somebody was in charge, that something was going to be done.

This generation of political leaders is confronting a similar situation, and, so far, they have failed utterly and catastrophically to project any sense of authority, to give the world any reason to believe that this country is being governed. Instead, by rejecting the rescue package, they have made the psychological climate much worse.

George W. Bush is completely out of juice, having squandered his influence with Republicans as well as Democrats. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is a smart money man, but an inept legislator. He was told time and time again that House Republicans would not support his bill, and his response was to get down on bended knee before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

House leaders of both parties got wrapped up in their own negotiations, but did it occur to any of them that it might be hard to pass a bill fairly described as a bailout to Wall Street? Was media darling Barney Frank too busy to notice the 95 Democrats who opposed his bill? Pelosi’s fiery speech at the crucial moment didn’t actually kill this bill, but did she have to act like a Democratic fundraiser at the most important moment of her career? And let us recognize above all the 228 who voted no – the authors of this revolt of the nihilists. They showed the world how much they detest their own leaders and the collected expertise of the Treasury and Fed. They did the momentarily popular thing, and if the country slides into a deep recession, they will have the time and leisure to watch public opinion shift against them.

House Republicans led the way and will get most of the blame. It has been interesting to watch them on their single-minded mission to destroy the Republican Party. Not long ago, they led an anti-immigration crusade that drove away Hispanic support. Then, too, they listened to the loudest and angriest voices in their party, oblivious to the complicated anxieties that lurk in most American minds.

Now they have once again confused talk radio with reality. If this economy slides, they will go down in history as the Smoot-Hawleys of the 21st century.

With this vote, they’ve taken responsibility for this economy, and they will be held accountable. The short-term blows will fall on John McCain, the longterm stress on the existence of the GOP as we know it. I’ve spoken with several House Republicans over the past few days and most admirably believe in freemarket principles. What’s sad is that they still think it’s 1984. They still think the biggest threat comes from socialism and Walter Mondale liberalism. They seem not to have noticed how global capital flows have transformed our political economy.

We’re living in an age when a vast excess of capital sloshes around the world fueling cycles of bubble and bust. When the capital floods into a sector or economy, it washes away sober business practices, and habits of discipline and self-denial.

Then the money managers panic and it sloshes out, punishing the just and unjust alike.

What we need in this situation is authority. Not heavy-handed government regulation, but the steady and powerful hand of some public institutions that can guard against the corrupting influences of sloppy money and then prevent destructive contagions when the credit dries up.

The congressional plan was nobody’s darling, but it was an effort to assert some authority. It was an effort to alter the psychology of the markets. People don’t trust the banks; the bankers don’t trust each other. It was an effort to address the crisis of authority in Washington. At least it might have stabilized the situation so fundamental reforms of the world’s financial architecture could be undertaken later.

But the 228 House members who voted no have exacerbated the global psychological free fall, and now we have a crisis of political authority on top of the crisis of financial authority. The only thing now is to try again – to rescue the rescue. There’s no time to find a brandnew package, so the congressional plan should go up for another vote on Thursday, this time with additions that would change its political prospects. Leaders need to add provisions that would shore up housing prices and directly help mortgage holders. Martin Feldstein and Lawrence Lindsey both have good proposals, of the sort that could lead to a plausible majority coalition.

Loosening deposit insurance rules would also be nice.

If that doesn’t happen, the world could be in for some tough economic times (the Europeans, apparently, have not even begun to acknowledge their toxic debt), but also tough political times. The American century was created by American leadership, which is scarcer than credit just about now.

WASHINGTON – John McCain, the Republican nominee for President, ridicules as naive his rival Barack Obama’s promise to talk to the leaders of the nation’s adversaries – among them Iran and North Korea.

So would McCain prefer to keep the U.S. in a state of permanent hostility, possibly leading to war? He falsely claims that Obama would enter a dialogue without preparation.

No U.S. leader would come to any summit meeting with a designated enemy without an agenda – but no responsible leader would fail to seek all possible roads to peace.

Would McCain prefer to start another war rather than discuss formidable issues with other nations? For those who prefer war, any such contacts are foolishly called “appeasement.”

Not true.

War should be the last resort rather than at the top of the agenda as the neo-conservatives would have it. Those who prefer hostilities usually leave

the fighting and dying to others. McCain and his followers want to impose conditions before any U.S. talks with Tehran and Pyongyang. Why would a sovereign nation submit to conditions imposed by an adversary simply to begin a dialogue? Iran and North Korea are under constant threat from U.S. policy makers. The result is not to scare those countries, but to bolster their belligerence.

We live in a dangerous and changing world and the first thing American leaders have to learn is that – despite our military might – we cannot call all the shots. Pax Americana no longer applies, especially with the economic train wreck we now face. So why not talk?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the World War II military commander, said at the beginning of the cold war that he would go anywhere, anytime, in pursuit of peace. No one dared to call Ike an “appeaser.” At the outset of his administration he pushed for co-existence with the former Soviet Union.

Most leaders who followed Eisenhower to the White House understood the value of sounding out our adversaries and negotiating with them.

Continued on Page 38

It’s 3 a.m., a few months into 2009, and the phone in the White House rings. Several big hedge funds are about to fail, says the voice on the line, and there’s likely to be chaos when the market opens. Whom do you trust to take that call?

I’m not being melodramatic. The bailout plan released Sunday is a lot better than the proposal Henry Paulson first put out – sufficiently so to be worth passing. But it’s not what you’d actually call a good plan, and it won’t end the crisis. The odds are that the next president will have to deal with some major financial emergencies.

So what do we know about the readiness of the two men most likely to end up taking that call? Well, Barack Obama seems well informed and sensible about matters economic and financial.

John McCain, on the other hand, scares me.

About Obama: it’s a shame that he didn’t show more leadership in the debate over the bailout bill, choosing instead to leave the issue in the hands of congressional Democrats, especially Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. But both Obama and the congressional Democrats are surrounded by very knowledgeable, clear-headed advisers, with experienced crisis managers like Paul Volcker and Robert Rubin always close at hand.

Then there’s the frightening McCain – more frightening now than he was a few weeks ago.

We’ve known for a long time, of course, that McCain doesn’t know much about economics – he’s said so himself, although he’s also denied having said it. That wouldn’t matter too much if he had good taste in advisers – but he doesn’t.

Remember, his chief mentor on economics is Phil Gramm, the arch-deregulator, who took special care in his Senate days to prevent oversight of financial derivatives – the very instruments that sank Lehman and AIG, and brought the credit markets to the edge of collapse. Gramm hasn’t had an official role in the McCain campaign since he pronounced America a “nation of whiners,” but he’s still considered a likely choice as Treasury secretary. And last year, when the McCain campaign announced that the candidate had assembled “an impressive collection of economists, professors, and prominent conservative policy leaders” to advise him on economic policy, who was prominently featured?

Kevin Hassett, the co-author of “Dow 36,000.” Enough said.

Now, to a large extent the poor quality of McCain’s advisers reflects the tattered intellectual state of his party. Has there ever been a more pathetic economic proposal than the suggestion of House Republicans that we try to solve the financial crisis by eliminating capital gains taxes? (Troubled financial institutions, by definition, don’t have capital gains to tax.)

But even President Bush has, in the twilight of his administration, turned to relatively sensible people to make economic decisions: I’m not a fan of Paulson, but he’s a vast improvement over his predecessor. At this point, one has the suspicion that a McCain administration would have us longing for Bush-era competence. The real revelation of the last few weeks, however, has been just how erratic McCain’s views on economics are. At any given moment, he seems to have very strong opinions – but a few days later, he goes off in a completely different direction. Thus on Sept. 15 he declared – for at least the 18th time this year – that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.” This was the day after Lehman failed and Merrill Lynch was taken over, and the financial crisis entered a new, even more dangerous stage.

But three days later he declared that America’s financial markets have become a “casino,” and said that he’d fire the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission – which, by the way, isn’t in the president’s power. And then he found a new set of villains – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored lenders. (Despite some real scandals at Fannie and Freddie, they played little role in causing the crisis: Most of the really bad lending came from private loan originators.) And he moralistically accused other politicians, including Obama, of being under Fannie’s and Freddie’s financial influence; it turns out that a firm owned by his own campaign manager was being paid by Freddie until just last month.

Then Paulson released his plan, and McCain weighed vehemently into the debate. But he admitted, several days after the Paulson plan was released, that he hadn’t actually read the plan, which was only three pages long. OK, I think you get the picture.

The modern economy, it turns out, is a dangerous place – and it’s not the kind of danger you can deal with by talking tough and denouncing evildoers. Does McCain have the judgment and temperament to deal with that part of the job he seeks?

October 2 - 8, 2008

Grizzled Democratic Rep. Barney Frank slapped down pretty boy GOP Rep. Eric Cantor twice in two days on national TV this week. It was an amusing, if not so dead serious, display of superior intellect and integrity by Frank that also cut to the core of the differences between the two major parties in face of the current financial crisis, and going into the national election barely a month away.

Appearing on Wolf Blitzer’s Sunday morning “Late Edition” on CNN, the two squared off to discuss the impending $700 billion Wall Street bailout legislation that failed to pass the House Monday afternoon.

While they both generally concurred about the need for such an extreme bailout, when the conversation went to how things got so bad, Frank blamed “the terrible policy of complete deregulation that got us here.”

But then Cantor could not help but regurgitate the arch-conservative, free market mantra that blames the nation’s economic woes not on too little regulation, but too much.

He had the audacity to blame the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, under the Carter administration, for setting the preconditions for the mortgage meltdown.

That bill, he said, “would punish banks if they did not extend credit to some un-creditworthy borrowers.”

Frank retorted, “I am very disappointed that Eric would (so) characterize efforts to prevent racial discrimination…It’s wrong.

The Community Investment Act never said you had to lend to unworthy borrowers. The anti-discrimination things never said that. They said you can’t discriminate. You can’t walk away from whole neighborhoods.”

Cantor said, “It was Congress 20-some years ago that set the bar and said…we’re going to loosen underwriting guidelines for good intentions…the regulations went wild and really began to punish institutions if they weren’t able to demonstrate they had bad loans.”

“There’s terrible history here,” Frank rejoined. “Yes, the bill passed in 1977. The regulations were mostly promulgated after that by the Reagan administration…In 1994…(a Democraticcontrolled-ed.) Congress told Alan Greenspan to try and have it so that credit-worthy African Americans and Hispanics and people in poor neighborhoods got it, and not others. And Greenspan, as a true conservative, said the market knows better, and I won’t do it.”

When the Republicans took control of Congress in early 1995, any talk of such regulatory reform was dashed, and, in conjunction with Greenspan, the contagion of deregulation began to escalate in Washington. It peaked in 2005 when key investment banks were cut free of any restraints on leveraging, and began selling debt for up to $40 for every $1 in base value.

This is what House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi was referencing in her fiery remarks prior to the bailout vote Monday. She denounced Republican policies “built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything-goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision, and no discipline in the system.”

Other than that one sentence, however, the rest of her remarks spoke to the need for the bill to pass, and denounced Wall Street excess.

But when the bill didn’t pass, who but Eric Cantor, the suddenly high-profiled GOP whiner, stepped to microphone waving a text of Pelosi’s remarks. Laughably, he blamed her for killing the bill because of the partisan nature of what she said.

To him, it seems, attacking deregulation is akin to attacking mother. It really gets his designer spectacles all fogged up.

Once again, it took Rep. Frank to step forward and slap-slap Cantor. “We don’t believe they had the votes, and I think they are covering up the embarrassment of not having the votes. But think about this: ‘Somebody hurt my feelings, so I will punish my country.’ I mean, that’s hardly plausible. There were 12 Republicans who were ready to stand up for the economic interest, but not if anybody insulted them!”

In his wry humor, Frank drove home the point. “I’ll make an offer. Give me those 12 people’s names, and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them, and tell them what wonderful people they are, and maybe they’ll not think about the country.”

It was rumored that Cantor skulked away in search of some remnant of his lunch, which Frank had eaten  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Page 11

Paul Newman taught me how to peel a cucumber.

My eating habits were so bad for many years that I didn’t actually know the intricacies of making a salad. So when the man who has made $250 million for charity with Newman’s Own dressings and sauces asked me to help him make a salad in 1986, while I was writing a profile of him for The New York Times Magazine, I mangled my cucumber so thoroughly that he snatched it away and showed me how to do it.

At a moment when America feels angry and betrayed, when our leaders have forfeited our trust and jeopardized our future, we lost an American icon who stood for traits that have been in short supply in the Bush administration: shrewdness, humility, decency, generosity, class.

When I asked W. in 1999 if he identified with any literary heroes, he said no, but he was drawn to Paul Newman’s defiance in “Cool Hand Luke.”

The Texan cast himself as an anti-hero and rebel. But as president, he only knew how to strut in photo-ops, not when actual calamities loomed or hit.

Newman was a rare liberal who loved the label; he made it onto Nixon’s enemies list for supporting Eugene McCarthy’s anti-Vietnam run.

In 1997, I called him when he began writing a bit for The Nation (where he was an investor). He ranted about right-wingers “popping out of rat holes” but also faulted the Clintons.

“Everything is about what’s winnable, not about the morality of the issues,” he told me.

In politics, as in racing cars, he said: “You can do anything if you are prepared to deal with the consequences.”

I was nervous the first time I met the star, because he’d been a teenage crush – along with William F. Buckley Jr. (I loved Buckley’s sesquipedalian dexterity – a lost art in the anti-intellectual conservative set of W. and Sarah Palin.)

We met at a restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where he proceeded to interview me.

Newman: “What do you know about nuclear disarmament?”

Dowd: “Ummm.”

Newman: “How can you justify The Times’ editorial position on the moratorium?”

Dowd: “Ummm.”

He was deeply uncomfortable at getting adulation for play acting, acknowledging that “there’s something very corrupting about being an actor. It places a terrible premium on appearance.”

With a Butch Cassidy grin, he told me that he pictured his epitaph being: “Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.”

He did not want to talk about his movies; he wanted to talk throw-weights. He liked Bach and Budweiser and playing goofy practical jokes.

(Once, when we were driving, he began highspeed bumping the car in front of us, driven by his friend.) He was bored by fashion and embarrassed by women who brazenly flirted with him or asked him to take off his sunglasses to show his blue eyes.

Once, when he was handing out punch at a Westport, Conn., charity event, a dowager asked him to stir her drink with his finger.

“I’d be glad to,” Newman replied, “but I just took it out of a cyanide bottle.”

He recalled how utterly flummoxed he was the time a stunning call girl approached him on Fifth Avenue and offered to waive her fee.

“You want to send her off with something classy and stylish, the way Cary Grant would, or Clint Eastwood,” he said. “You think, how would Hombre handle this? And when this woman came up to me – the guy who played Hud – what comes through? Laurel and Hardy. Both of them.”

He said he was not like his sultry, flamboyant characters: “You don’t always have Tennessee Williams around to write glorious lines for you.”

He and his wife were reputed to have one of the happiest marriages in Hollywood, but the outspoken Joanne Woodward admitted that it took a lot of therapy to cope with the fact that, even though she got an Oscar first, he was able to stay a leading man for four decades. She told a magazine that she was always “uncomfortable and even angry” that “Paul was so much bigger than I was ... Because he was living my fantasy” to be a star.

She would not talk to me for The Times’ profile that her husband did to promote “The Color of Money” – even just on the topic of his role as the director of five movies that she had starred in.

She said she only did interviews solo or jointly with him – not about him. That byzantine deal reflected the rivalry that threaded through their romance.

He said that he appreciated her, as he looked around his elegant Fifth Avenue apartment, observing dryly: “If anyone had ever told me 20 years ago I’d be sitting in a room with peach walls, I would have told them to take a nap in a urinal.”

Page 12

Earlier this month, I went to Alaska to counter Focus on the Family’s sexual engineering festival, Love Won Out, where they claim to help people pray away the gay. The event became national news after Sarah Palin’s church was caught promoting the event. Everywhere I went, including her hometown of Wasilla, people were talking politics. The excitement of the election reached a fevered pitch when Palin made her long-awaited journey home. (presumably to check up on Russia to make sure they weren’t up to any funny business in her absence) Yet, when I went to the Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage to speak, I refrained from endorsing political candidates.

Now, as a political animal, I had the desire to bark out my choice for president. However, because I represented Truth Wins Out and spoke in a church that was also a tax-exempt organization, I refrained from engaging in illegal political activity.

As an individual, the first amendment gives me the right to speak my mind, including whom I will vote for president. And, in my weekly column I have repeatedly expressed my preference for Barrack Obama.

However, I have never posted such columns on the Truth Wins Out website because I respect the law. In order for donors to get a tax break for giving to our charitable work, I make a pact with the government that I will not abuse this privilege by having taxpayers subsidize my political opinions or ambitions.

On Sunday, a band of anti-gay churches brazenly decided they are owed special rights and don’t have to play by the same rules.

Sponsored by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, 33 pastors in 22 states loudly trumpeted their support for John McCain within their church walls. In doing so, they defiled the law and openly defied the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the Associated Press, the ADF provided these renegade pastors with “legal assistance” to “ensure maximum effectiveness in challenging the IRS.” Armed with his legal brief, a suburban Milwaukee pastor, Rev. Luke Emrich, thundered to his New Life Church, “I’m telling you straight up, I would choose life…I would like to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

The IRS responded by saying that it “will monitor the situation and take appropriate action.” Well, the preachers have spoken and now their churches must be stripped of their tax-exempt status. To flout the rules so flagrantly can only be met with the maximum punishment.

Letting these churches get away with such audacious behavior while forcing other non-profits to abide by the law is far worse than inequality. It is a gross violation of the constitution because it essentially establishes a state church with supremacy over civil society.

Now, I can understand why these holy men thought they could get away with such lawlessness. Under the Bush administration, religious organizations have been showered with undeserved faithbased money. And, thanks to ambitious politicians (Obama and McCain) pandering for “values voters,” the wall between church and state has become rather porous.

I can also understand the allure of politics and gaining the ear of powerful leaders in Washington. It is certainly more enticing than speaking to the same flock each week and dealing with their marital problems.

Indeed, former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson once commented on the movie stars that would flock to watch his team by saying that they wanted to be him and he dreamed of being them. In much the same way, it seems politicians want to be preachers, while the preachers want to be politicians. So, they make periodic forays into each other’s universes.

But, this is a nation of laws. If these reverends are dissatisfied with their careers, they can run for office – as did former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. However, they have no right to transform their churches into crass political machines at the expense of the taxpayer.

The American Bar Association ought to also consider slapping down lawyers at the ADF who are aiding and abetting this criminal activity. It is one thing to defend a client and quite another to organize this stunt less than two months before a presidential election.

In my view, it seems that the ADF is urging churches to break the law to give McCain a last minute boost. Sure, these churches might get in trouble, but they figure it would be worth it to put McCain and Palin into the White House. This outrageous political ploy is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately.

In America, there should be no special privileges given to elitist clergy who think they are better than the rest of us. If they can’t play by the rules, they should be taken out of the game. The IRS should move swiftly to ax the tax exemption from these political action committees posing as churches.

October 2 - 8, 2008

Congress voted Monday on a package designed to rescue the financial industry and pull our economy from an expected major downturn. It failed by 12 votes. That afternoon the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 778 points, the largest point drop in U.S. history.

I voted for the plan. I did so because I believe Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke have the nation’s best interests in mind when they say that our economy may enter a major recession, even depression, if we don’t act to free up our beleaguered credit markets. In a sign of the gravity of the situation, it was the first time I can remember the White House and House and Senate Leaders of both parties were in agreement on a legislative decision that was publicly UNPOPULAR. Unprecedented.

A major reason the bill failed was the way it was sold to the American public. It was the White House’s plan but President Bush seemed reticent to support it vocally in public. He left most of the media interaction to the highly intelligent but less than public relations-savvy Paulson.

That void was filled by conservative talk radio and the liberal blogosphere who railed strongly against it. Many in the public were left feeling the package was just a sop to Wall Street rather than a proposal benefitting average Americans.

Clearly Main Street wasn’t convinced and the flood of calls and emails into congressional offices proved it.

Key aspects included of the proposal voted on Monday

Virginia’s 8th Congressional District Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives

included: • Provides $250 billion immediately to the Treasury Secretary to purchase securitized home and commercial mortgages. Another $100 billion would be subject to the president’s request should more funding be needed. The final $350 billion could be available upon another presidential request but would be subject to a congressional disapproval resolution, which would then be subject to a presidential veto. If the initial $250 billion was able to stabilize the economy, no more money would be released.

• Limits “golden parachutes” that have given departing executives of troubled financial firms millions in severance bonuses.

• Establishes an oversight board consisting of the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce and the Chairmen

of the Securities Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve. Required to report regularly to Congress.

• Gives profit-sharing “warrants” so taxpayers can gain as the economy recovers.

The major policy prescription I felt should have been included in the bill was to allow bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of distressed mortgages. Both the lender and the homeowner benefit if consumers are able to continue paying their monthly mortgage instead of defaulting on the loan. It was pulled in order to attract Republican support, but I am hopeful it will be reconsidered if we have another vote.

On Thursday, following Rosh Hashanah, the House will come back into session.

The thought is that we will take up a revamped version of the financial rescue package.

But the way forward remains unclear. Monday’s vote may be one of those historic moments portending disaster. I pray that is not the case. But every day we delay in passing legislation to free up our credit markets is a day closer to realizing what I believe will be an economic disaster that will take years to recover from.

October 2 - 8, 2008

Page 13

The second installment of Fairfax County’s Lines of Business review on Monday focused on public safety services, which are maintained around the clock in the county. Sheriff Stan Barry, Fire Chief Ron Mastin and Police Chief David Rohrer presented, in sometimes excruciating detail, staffing levels, workload, and proposals to meet County Executive Anthony H. Griffin’s request for a 15 percent reduction in agency budgets for the next fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors also heard from the Office of Emergency Management and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Much of Sheriff Barry’s presentation focused on the Adult Detention Center, which has experienced an inmate growth of about 36 percent, from an average daily population of 984 in FY 2001, to 1,335 in FY 2008.

In addition, sheriff’s deputies were charged with escorting 21,481 prisoners to and from court in FY 2001; that figure rose to 30,354 in FY 2008. Courthouse expansion and additional judges added to the challenge. Most of the Sheriff’s duties are mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia; however, the Commonwealth pays only a small portion of the overall costs of the ADC and the courts. For example, maintaining a prisoner for one day costs about $135; the state reimbursement is between $11 and $14, leaving the remaining $120 or so for Fairfax County taxpayers to assume. Two of the Sheriff’s identified cuts probably will meet considerable anger: eliminating security checkpoints at the courthouse and in the civil courtrooms, and eliminating the Community Labor Force, which uses inmates to provide bus shelter and bus stop maintenance, roadside cleanups, and other “dirty” jobs.

Fire Chief Mastin noted that Fire and Rescue responded to 91,936 incidents in FY 2008. Seventy percent were for emergency medical services (EMS) rather than the traditional fire suppression calls. One of the challenges for Fire and Rescue today is meeting the response time for calls. The department

Two Saturdays ago, Jean and I attended a joyous event – the 25th anniversary celebration of the joining together of Jay Fissette and Bob Rosen.

Jay is a longtime member of ichard the Arlington County Board Barton and, I believe, the first openly gay elected official in Virginia. Bob is an internationally known psychologist and advisor to major CEO’s all over the world.

More than 200 of their family, friends, and colleagues filled the Clarendon Ballroom for an evening of great food, drink, singing and dancing.

The guests were a remarkably eclectic group. Political leaders from the whole Washington metropolitan area, members and clergy from Bob and Jay’s church, business men and women, young people, Generation Xers, senior citizens like us, and Bob and Jay’s family – all loving friends having a wonderful time.

There was a relatively short but moving program. The young woman who acted as the master of ceremonies told us that both

R

exceeds the goal of getting an ambulance unit on scene within nine minutes of a call, but has greater difficulty getting an engine company to a structure fire within five minutes, often due to the area’s traffic congestion. The chief identified 47 programs for potential reductions, including consolidation of Equal Employment Opportunity and Woman’s Programs, public information, and perhaps even closing fire stations. He clearly was not happy making any of the recommendations.

Police Chief Rohrer outlined the organizational structure of the department, and reminded Board members of the mandates in both state law and county code. In determining areas for reduction, the Chief said that maintaining operational capacity for the core mission to protect people and property was tantamount. Among the programs on the chopping block are operating expenses for the Neighborhood Watch programs, reduction of unscheduled overtime, eliminating the Sexual Assault Free and Empowered Program for women, the Traffic Safety Program, Crime Solvers Program, the Marine Unit, the Cadet Program, the Sexual Predator Enforcement and Detection Team, the Crime Prevention Officers program and the Bike teams. Closing the Fair Oaks Police Station was another option.

Clearly, none of the identified reductions in public safety is very palatable, to the departments, the Board, or the citizenry. No decisions have been made about these identified cuts; the LOBs review allows the Board of Supervisors and county staff to look at all the services provided by the county, using taxpayer dollars, as we face a very difficult budget cycle next year. Next Monday’s LOBs review will focus on human services and the Park Authority.

Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov 

were her uncles – and the best uncles a girl could have. Then Bob and Jay took the floor, sitting on two high stools. They set up a dialog, answering three questions: What were your first impressions of me? What do I love about you? How have I changed during our 25 years together?

Some of the things we learned: they both are into fitness; they love to travel, though Bob likes first class and five star hotels while Jay is bicycles, coach, and cheap hotels. When they first met, Bob embarrassed Jay on a bicycle excursion with a group of his biking buddies by throwing his bicycle in the back of a truck and passing them all, meeting them at the destination.

What emerged during about 15 minutes was a wonderful picture of a loving and caring couple who had survived beautifully the viscitudes of time, the tensions from the melding of two different personalities into one, and the daily give and take required for any good marriage to succeed.

After this, the crowd danced the night away. You haven’t experienced anything like see-

ing Arlington’s finest bouncing around, hands in the air, singing and dancing to songs from “Mama Mia!” I kept asking myself, “What is wrong with this picture?”

The answer, of course, is that they are not married – at least within the meaning of marriage in the legal system. Several of the guests, many friends of ours, were gay and lesbian couples who have been in loving and committed relationships even longer than Jay and Bob. This certainly beats the record of many heterosexual marriages.

But they cannot be married, at least in Virginia and almost every other state in the union.

It is a stupid and callous policy.

They should be able to get married, and I believe that the long range trend in this country is that eventually they will be able to. It can’t be too soon.

But that is not what the gathering in the Clarendon Ballroom was all about. It was a marvelous evening of camaraderie and celebration of a great marriage, a great partnership.

Congratulations to Jay and Bob on their silver anniversary.

Last week, as a guest substitute for Sen. Whipple, I wrote about a very enlightening trip to Taiwan that may very well result in trade opportunities for both Virginia and Taiwan.

This week, as the economic news turns from bad to worse, increasing trade with a vibrant, high-tech economy that can not only supply workers, and can also supply products that we need, as well as buy products Virginia sells, sounds even more interesting.

In the meantime, we must brace ourselves for painful cuts at all levels of government. As the state and local revenue projections become known, there is little doubt that mutually beneficial relationships with other non-traditional partners can benefit both parties.

Unfortunately, localities and the state must begin now to determine how to reduce and eliminate spending. The Commonwealth and many localities have asked managers to review budgets and prepare specific reductions of 5%, 10% and 15% that they will be able have to live with.

In short, many of the difficult cuts will not be temporary, but permanent.

I know of no one who is proposing tax increases to reduce the pain of permanent staff cuts and service reductions.

And, the transportation funding shortfalls that resulted from partisan refusal to raise revenue to keep this critical element of any economic development strategy from falling further behind becomes more and more important. With the party-line vote (all Republicans but one voting “nay” in the House) to kill a compromise trans-

portation funding measure, it appears that no additional state revenues will be available for at least two years.

We may even lose Federal funds because we do not have the matching funds required to release them.

School funding formula also at risk Historically, the implicit compact between state and local governments has been that the state pays 55% of the cost of public education, and localities pay 45%.

Unfortunately for Northern Virginia, the 55% has been allocated in a manner disadvantageous to Fairfax County, Falls Church and other jurisdictions north of the Occoquan. My bill last year to increase the allocations for jurisdictions with large numbers of students who are native speakers of languages other than English would have begun to remedy that problem. It received little support in the House.

As I have written before, some of the leadership, at least in the House, want to reduce the state obligation to public education funding.

To do that, they want to redefine the “actual cost” of education. Today that definition includes all expenses incurred the previous year by localities and the state.

Some members of the House leadership want to redefine reimbursable cost to include only those expenses approved by the General Assembly. I am afraid that argument will become more attractive as the state faces enormous shortfalls in revenues.  Delegate Scott represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at deljscott@ aol.com

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October 2 - 8, 2008

Starr Speaks at McLean Chamber Luncheon

ALSO ON THE NOVEMBER ballot for the U.S. Senate in Virginia are two lesser-known candidates, who showed up to watch the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce debate between their rivals Democrat Mark Warner and Republican Jim Gilmore recently. William Redpath, left, is the candidate of the Libertarian Party and Gail Parker is the candidate of the Independent Greens. (PHOTO: NEWS-PRESS)

Alice Starr, former president of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and prominent McLean community activist, will be the featured speaker at the TML Copiers Power Networking Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Oct. 2.

Starr will discuss her involvement in the development of the Chamber, the role of public-private partnerships in the business community and development in Tysons and downtown McLean. Attendees will have the opportunity for preevent networking with Starr, a lunch from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (1960-A Chain Bridge Road, McLean). Tickets are $25, pre-registration required. For online reservations, visit www. mcleanchamber.org or call 703356-5424.

Falls Church FIRSTFriday Coming this Weekend

ON SEPT. 15, from the left, Ciara Theisz, Evan Lawrence and Delaney Theisz enjoyed a tour of the green roof atop the Read Building, which uses several green innovations throughout the structure. The building is located at 405 W. Broad St., Falls Church. (PHOTO: COURTESY GORDON THEISZ)

Falls Church is preparing for October’s FIRSTFriday, which is held the first Friday of each month, creating an opportunity for residents to enjoy local artwork, learn about the city’s history and take advantage of businesses in the downtown area. The following businesses will be participating in FIRSTFriday on Oct. 3: Art and Frame of Falls Church, Falls Church Arts’ Gallery, Clay Café Studios, Ireland’s Four Provinces Restaurant, Curves, Monkey Business, Stifel and Capra, Sunrise of Falls Church Terrace Room and Dominion Camera. At Impulsive (502 W. Broad St., Falls Church) an art

exhibit and sale featuring local artist Staci Palmer of Pink Tulip Glass Art will be held.

Come see her handmade fused glass art including dishes and trays. Complimentary Cabot Cheese by Cabot Creamery Cooperative will also be offered from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Impulsive will also take 10 percent off any item excluding sale items. For more information on FIRST Friday, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com.

Russian Vocalists Perform in Falls Church This vocal ensemble, “Lyra,” from St. Petersburg are professional musicians that have sung in different churches around their home city. On Oct. 3, they will perform at The Falls Church (115 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church) at 8 p.m. in the main sanctuary. Through their performances, they want to introduce the musical heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as traditions of Russian folk music to anyone interested in Russian history and culture. Admission is free, a freewill offering will be taken. For more information, call 703-533-7831.

Sears Hearing Aid Center Promotes Awareness In honor of Hearing Aid Awareness Week Sept. 28 – Oct. 4, Sears Hearing Aid Center (6211 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) wants to promote awareness of hearing-impaired people who avoid getting hearing aids. It is estimated that 80 percent of the 31.5 million hearing-impaired people in the United States that could

benefit from a hearing aid do not have one.

McLean Holds Family Harvest Festival The McLean Community Fall Family Harvest Festival is an indoor-outdoor family event at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). The event will be held from 11 a.m.

– 5 p.m. Oct. 4. Featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts for kids, fun, food and special attractions. Activities will include face painting, craft projects, moon bounce, pony rides, prizes, buy and decorate your own pumpkin ($3-4 per pumpkin), food concessions and more. For more information, call 703-790-0123.

Native American Museum Explores Culture in Film The National Museum of the American Indian and the National Gallery of Art have come together to present a eight-part film series about the contemporary Native American experience starting at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at the East Building Auditorium of the National Gallery of Art (7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.), with films “Conversion” and Disney’s “Pocahontas.” Admission is free. For more information, contact Leonda Levchuk at 202-633-6614 or visit www. nmai.si.edu.

Naomi Project Strives to Mentor New Mothers The Naomi Project needs volunteers who will be trained

October 2 - 8, 2008

to serve as mentors to disadvantaged pregnant women and new mothers in the Northern Virginia area.

Mentors are matched with a client in a one-on-one relationship, and help clients in a variety of ways such as stressing the importance of vaccinations for the baby, breast feeding or properly mixing infant formula. Mentors may also assist in locating necessities such as safe car seats and cribs. Experienced area supervisors help mentors develop and manage a relationship with a client in their area.

Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. The mission of the Naomi Project, a free, confidential, interfaith program sponsored by the Virginia Council of Churches, is to promote healthy pregnancies, babies and mothers.

The next training session for volunteers is from 8:30 a.m.

– 3 p.m. Oct. 4, at Falls Church Presbyterian Church (225 E. Broad St., Falls Church). A $20 registration fee covers a background check, study materials and lunch. For more information, please contact Pilar Jones at 703-860-2633 or visit www. naomiproject.org.

Art Festival Comes to McLean Central Park

McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean) will hold the McLean Project for the Arts Art Fest, and will be covered in mini-art galleries selling the works of 40 juried artists and craftsmen. The Art Fest will include live entertainment, food and children’s activities. Admission and parking is free. For more information, visit mpaart.org.

St. John’s Medieval Fest Offers Weekend Escape St. John the Beloved Catholic Church (6420 Linway Terrace, McLean) is holding a Medieval Festival from 11 a.m.

– 7 p.m. Oct. 4. The festival will include wine tasting, an ancient Christian art exhibition, a Shakespeare play, traditional

Page 15

music and dancing, children’s crafts, food fair, local artisans and more. Admission is free.

For more information, visit St. John Institute of Catholic Culture at www.sjicc.com.

Petco Puts Hamsters on the Starting Line in Derby At the Bailey’s Petco (5825 Leesburg Pike, Bailey’s Crossroads), a Hamster Ball Derby will be held Saturday Oct. 4. Hamsters, mice, rats and gerbils are invited. If you have a ball for your pet, practice rounds start at 1:30 p.m., with official races from 2 – 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-845-2780.

Children Invited to Annual Fairfax Fall Festival The 16th annual Fall for Fairfax Kidfest from 9 a.m.

– 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway #266, Fairfax). Fall For Fairfax admission is free for attendees; all entertainment and most programs are also free of charge.

Some activities have a minimal fee to participants, however Fall for Fairfax keeps all activities affordable for event visitors. Fall for Fairfax is produced by the non-profit organization, Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. For volunteer information, contact Meagan Lindsay or call 703-324-5457. For more information on the event, visit www.fallforfairfax.com.

AT AN AREA FUNDRAISER to support efforts to defeat the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 in California, organizers Toby Quaranta and Drew Perraut (left) talked with special guest and speaker Jonathan Rauch (right), a columnist for the National Journal, and of the Brookings Institution, who authored “Gay Marriage: Why It is Good for Gays, Good for Straights and Good for America.” (Photo: News-Press)

Greater Chamber of Commerce Holds Drive The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and West*Group present a monthly breakfast networking for area professionals at J. Gilbert’s Steakhouse (6930 Old Dominion Drive, McLean) from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Oct. 8, to celebrate its membership drive.

Pre-registration is required for this event. $20 for members, $25 for non-members. For more information, visit www.mcleanchamber.org.

AS PART OF THE SERVICE Employees International Union’s “Walk a Day in My Shoes” campaign, former Virginia governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner assisted Personal Care Attendant Shareen Miller of Falls Church and her client Marisa Laios. Warner helped in lunch preparation and service, exercises and wheelchair transport and worked with Laios on her college application. The “Walk a Day in My Shoes” campaign also informs politicians about union member’s work by inviting them to spend time at union members’ homes and workplaces. So far, 21 candidates and six presidential candidates have donated time to the program (Photo: Courtesy © 2008 William Melton Jr. / SEIU)

Stifel & Capra “Art & Ornament for your Wonderful Life”

Friday, Oct 3rd from 5 to 8pm Saturday, Oct 4th from 10 am to 5pm Join us for a “Monumental Art Opening” Patriotic pre-election Art & Acessories Light refreshmen & Convivial conversation Save the date: Seasonal Sidewalk Sale is Oct 11th Always: Mon – Sat 10am to 2pm 210 Little Falls Street, Falls Church

703-407-0770 www.StifelandCapra.com Local Art - Vintage Treasures-Artisan Jewelry-Unique Gifts-Home

Page 16

October 2 - 8, 2008

Falls Church artist and Art and Frame of Falls Church employee Bev Rocco will be the featured artist at the FIRSTfriday reception hosted by Art and Frame on Friday, Oct. 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. More than a dozen other businesses are hosting art events or offering FIRSTfriday specials. For details on special offers and events, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.com.

To celebrate the upcoming elections and Falls Church’s proximity to our nation’s capitol Stifel and Capra is hosting a “Monumental Art Show” showcasing patriotic, political and scenic art & accessories from 5 – 8 p.m. Oct. 3. Light refreshments will be provided. The show & sale continues from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Oct. 4. For a sneak peek at the featured art, or to learn about the upcoming Sidewalk sale, please visit stifelandcapra.blogspot.com.

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the Falls Church locations of Anthony’s and the Original Pancake House are donating proceeds to PRS’ Adult Education Program. On Wednesday, October 8 Anthony’s is donating 50 percent of their profits while the Original Pancake House (OPH) does the same on Thursday, Oct. 9. PRS provides supports and services to persons with serious mental illness.

The funds raised through this project will provide PRS clients with a teacher trained in both adult and special education. Anthony’s is located at 309 W. Broad St. while OPH is located at 370 W. Broad St. For more information, visit www.prsinc.org.

Dogfish Head Alehouse is hosting Octoberfest Beer Dinner Monday, Oct. 27 starting at 7 p.m. For $50 (which includes tax and tip), guests can enjoy perogies paired with Shelter Pale Ale, Spinach Salad paired with Midas Touch, German Sauerkraut Soup paired with Theobroma, sauerbraten with spaetzle paired with Indian Brown Ale, and Apple Strudel and ice cream paired with Punkin Ale. Dogfish Head Alehouse is located in Seven Corners at 6363 Leesburg Pike.

Sunrise Assisted Living in Falls Church is hosting a “Senior Networking Mixer” for businesses which service seniors. The event will take place from 5 - 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Sunrise. Appetizers and drinks will be provided at this free networking event. RSVP to Myra Gourley-Robinson at 703-534-2700. Sunrise is located at 330 S. Washington St., Falls Church.

Falls Church’s Tomoko Kawasumi is one of the principles behind a new internet venture offering politically-themed items for dog lovers. “Bark Obama” and “McK9” products are now available on the new Pawlitical Products website which was created to “raise awareness that our canine companions still do not have the right to vote!” Sales generate a donation to the American Humane Society. Customized dog products are also available. Kawasumi is also the owner/operator of the Organic Doggie Kitchen, which offers organic dog treats available in boutique pet shops throughout the area. Visit www.pawliticalpooch.com to learn more about the new website and offerings.

Plan Ahead Events, a full service event management company, has a new Falls Church location at 7604 Helena Drive under the ownership of local resident, Julie L. Houk. Houk has more than 20 years consulting in sales and marketing, brand development and internet marketing strategies. Plan Ahead Events is the first home-based franchise in the corporate meetings and events industry.

It provides full-service management and planning for meetings, conventions, trade shows, special events and incentive travel. For information about Plan Ahead Events in Falls Church, please contact Julie Houk at 703-309-3683. For franchising information, please call 800-466-2812 ext. 1397 or visit www.planaheadevents.com.

Local entrepreneur Dan Greenwood is now offering car, SUV and truck detailing services for Falls Church residents, business leaders and employees. Greenwood is known for his work with The Unity Club and Event Solutions and for his volunteer efforts with Watch Night and the co-founding of Taste of Falls Church. To secure a quote and/or schedule an appointment, call 703-477-9242.

Congratulations to local residents, Suzanne Smith and Carol Klein who have both recently received promotions to Office Manager of their respective health care practices. Smith now manages Family Medicine in Falls Church, now offering flu shots for current and prospective new clients, while Klein manages the Falls Church Foot and Ankle Center. Both practices are located at 104 A. East Broad St. For information about the general medical practice, visit www.fmifc.com. For more information about the podiatry practice, visit www.fcfac.com.  The Business News & Notes section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@ fallschurchchamber.org.

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October 2 - 8, 2008

We are witnessing one of the most eventful weeks in modern history. Stocks and oil prices plunged on Monday and bounced on Tuesday; credit markets seem to be freezing; the Congress remains in gridlock as members watch the approaching elections fearful of what could happen to their incumbency.

In the South gasoline supplies have been short for two weeks and prices there have bounced back to $4 a gallon.

The economic news gets worse with every release of new numbers.

Start with the gas shortages. Here in Northern Virginia we have lucked out.

Despite the fact that our gasoline and diesel usually comes through a pair of pipelines from Louisiana and Texas, we are close enough to the Northeastern refineries and gasoline import terminals so that gasoline can be brought into the region from the North rather than being totally dependent on the Gulf refineries as are most of the Southern states.

While the two hurricanes did not do much physical damage to oil facilities along the coast, the widespread electrical outages and evacuation inland of oil workers means that a month after the first hurricane, Gulf oil production is still only 40 percent of normal.

While production and refining will be restored in the next couple of weeks, the bigger problem is that the oil companies have let our stockpiles of gasoline sink to the lowest levels in 40 years. Refilling these stocks could take a long time and will depend on the oil companies’ ability to import more finished gasoline from Europe.

In the cities such as Atlanta with serious shortages, there were runs on the pumps with people filling up at every opportunity. Governmental action mostly was limited to investigating price gouging, but in some areas either the gas stations or local governments were limiting the amount that could be purchased in order to spread available supplies as far as possible.

A number of observers have noted that the hurricane-induced gas shortages offer us a preview of what life could be like in the years ahead when gasoline shortages begin to develop from inadequate production and imports. Hopefully governments

Page 17

will absorb the lessons of these shortages and will take steps to mitigate the consequences of inadequate supplies when they develop.

The more important problem of the week, however, is the financial/liquidity crisis and the deteriorating economic situation. At the minute, the oil markets are telling us that without a “solution” to the current financial squeeze, a major recession or worse is likely and world oil consumption is likely to plummet. Don’t become too hopeful

for further drops in gasoline prices as the OPEC cartel is already contemplating production cuts to keep prices above $100 a barrel.

How does peak oil fit into all this? Somewhere in the next few days (or perhaps weeks) the U.S. Congress either will or will not pass some sort of multi-billion financial bailout that is supposed to restore confidence in the financial system and set the economy growing again. Many find this absurd.

The U.S. has problems in the trillions of dollars so bailouts in the 100s billions are unlikely to have more than a short term impact. While an “affordable” bailout may unfreeze loans, it certainly will not solve the myriad of economic problems that are accumulating.

In recent months, world oil consumption has been dropping due to high prices and the worsening economic situation.

Whereas worldwide demand for oil had been increasing by about 1.5 million barrels a day (b/ d) every year, that is probably down to a few hundred thousand b/d annual increase and if current trends continue, demand for oil seems likely to go into an

actual decline.

If, as seems probable, the financial bailouts do little good and the world goes into a prolonged period of recession, then we have seen the peak of world oil production. Demand will drop, production will be slowed, and new multi-billion dollar oil projects will be deferred or cancelled due to lack of demand for oil or the capital to pay for them.

The world, however, will still be producing some 31 billion barrels of oil each year. This number, of course, will drop as the situation deteriorates, but we are still likely to be draining billions of barrels from the world’s oil fields each year. As new production projects come to a halt, depletion will take over so that it is virtually certain that we will never again reach the production highs we have seen in recent years.

Peak oil, however, has another even more important message for us. In recent days there has been much discussion of the “business cycle” and the “rebound” that has always occurred in the past. Some believe that the rebound will start as soon as Congress bails out Wall Street, others say in a few months, a few say in “quarters”, or if you are really pessimistic, in a few years. No one outside of those who understand the meaning and imminence of peak oil recognize that the “business cycle” of the industrial age is about to be turned on its head.

Talk of “rebounds” during an era when oil, natural gas, and eventually coal production will be declining shows a failure to understand the reality, which is that we depend on prodigious quantities of cheap energy for nearly everything. Unless in the unlikely case that we stumble upon some great breakthrough, there are many decades of tough economic times ahead.

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The George Mason Varsity Football team dropped its third out-of-district game in a row on Friday night, losing to Luray 16-0. It was a sloppy game all around, as wet conditions and hustling defenses kept both offenses in check for most of the night.

Luray did its scoring periodically, putting together a scoring drive in three of the four quarters. On one of their first drives of the game, junior Bulldog quarterback Will Logan hooked up with senior wide receiver John Earnest for a 19-yard touchdown strike just eight minutes into the first quarter.

The Bulldogs did not strike again until three minutes left in the third quarter, when they were able to march deep in Mason territory with a pounding running game that featured junior running back Garrett Cook. The drive, however, stalled out and Luray was forced to settle for a 32-yard field goal from senior placekicker Anthony Palermiti. The field goal gave Luray a 10-0 lead with just 15 minutes remaining in the game.

Cook was the centerpiece of the Luray offense, pounding out tough yards, in addition to his big plays against a Mason defense that possessed a lot of on-field speed and strength. He also capped off Luray’s scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run with five minutes left to play.

The ensuing point was not successful, and the score would hold up to be the final for the game.

Even without the services of reigning Bull Run defensive player of the year Joel Chandler, the Mason defense only surrendered 16 points to the home team.

Led by a linebacker group consisting of juniors Matt Palmieri, Misael Benitez and Manuel Veiga-Diaz, the Mustang defense had a solid evening, swarming ball carriers the majority of the game. However, due to a stagnant Mason offense, the

October 2 - 8, 2008

defense was on the field much longer than they had planned.

“Our defense played well, but [Cook] did a really good job running the ball.

He made us pay by breaking a lot of arm tackles,” noted senior tight end/nose guard Andrew Lieber.

Despite the defense keeping Cook and company in check, the Mustang offense was unable to find any type of swagger.

Their running game was derailed early on and often made for a frustrating evening for the Mason offense.

Lieber was disappointed with the performance of the offensive line. “We weren’t able to open up any holes for our backs, and we didn’t give our quarterbacks any time to throw. They didn’t have any time to find open receivers,” said Lieber.

Mason is now 1-3 for the season, having not won a game since the season’s first week. They round out their nondistrict schedule on Friday with a home game against 1-3 Goochland, also nicknamed the Bulldogs.

While they have been outscored 3680 in their three out-of-district losses, the Mustangs remain confident that they will turn their luck around in time for Bull Run District opponents. The team was in a similar situation in 2006 when they went 1-4 in non-district play before going on to become undefeated district champions.

George Mason begins the district season with their homecoming game against Manassas Park. Although aspirations for a repeat of the ‘06 season may be somewhat of a stretch, several players noted that the talent is in place and they should not be disregarded just yet.

“It’s frustrating to lose these games, but they don’t count for anything. We’re going to work as hard as we can on our technique, and watch a lot of film as we prepare for Goochland but I know we all have Manassas Park in the back of our minds. That’s when it starts to count,” said Lieber.

The George Mason High School Mustangs Varsity Girls Volleyball team played the Rappahannock County High School Panthers in their most recent match on Sept. 25. This was their first home district match of the season. The Mustangs lost to the Panthers by scores of 25-19, 25-8 and 25-16.

It has been a learning experience for the George Mason team. They dropped to 0-5 in non-district play, and have not started off with a bang in the district play, having played two district level games last week and losing both. That did not mean Thursday’s match disappointed the crowd.

In the third and final game of the day, the team started off slowly, with the Panthers at a tremendous point advantage, Panthers 23 – Mustangs 7. Following a change of service, the Mustangs charged ahead, capturing their next seven points. According to the Mustangs’ Head Coach Elizabeth Schreiner-Rizzi, the mood on the Mustangs’ gym court was enthusiastic.

“The other team had game point and we were way down,” said Schreiner-Rizzi.

“Vanessa Mann went back to serve and the team suddenly came back. The Mason fans were cheering and the gym really came alive.”

Even so, the energy didn’t last long before the rally fell short. The Mustangs

failed to stop the Panthers from scoring the game and match point.

The Mustang team spirit, however, remained high. “Although it was disappointing to lose on our home court, the fact is that we played our hardest and as a team, kept our spirit up.

Not one of us walked off the court ashamed of how we represented our school,” said junior Rebecca Ward.

She pointed to the plays of sophomore Katie Breen and freshman Bria Platenburg, noting their important hits and vital kills throughout the match. Schreiner-Rizzi and her Assistant Coach Joy Nystrom have been working with a young squad that boasts only one senior.

The team roster this year carries only three returning varsity players. Despite the team’s overall inexperience, the season outlook for the Mustangs is optimistic. The Mustangs are led by juniors Christina Perez, who was sick for the Rapahannock contest; Gwen Edwards, the team’s captain who had just returned from a neck injury and Taylor Bottock. The sophomores include current team Captain Rachell Hassan and Mann, who is the team’s libero – the player who is able to play the back line at any point during the game.

The Mustangs are away in their next match in Strasburg where they will play Strasburg High School at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 30.

THE FALLS CHURCH YOUTH LACROSSE CLUB recently started their fall clinics with a record number of new and experienced players, according to Coach Mark Johansen, via the help of Marymount University coaches. “The Marymount coaches and players have been instrumental in providing our players strong instruction,” said Coach Johansen. Here, Marymount University Head Coach Jon Reynolds, left, instructs Sebastian Kaye on defensive positioning.” (Photo: Courtesy Mark Johansen)

October 2 - 8, 2008

Page 19

Area Sports Roundup

TJHSST Cross Country Girls Race to 1st Place

teams placed 13th and third, respectively at Carlisle.

Madison H.S. Suffers Field Hockey Loss

After easily winning the Oatlands Invite’s Girls Varsity B race in Leesburg, Va., the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Girls Cross Country Team continued their winning streak with a dramatic victory in the Girls Reebok Challenge Race over some of the top girls teams from Pennsylvania at the Carlisle Invite in Carlisle, Penn., this past Saturday, Sept. 27. Jefferson outran 27 teams, including second-place Cumberland Valley High School by a score of 118 versus 129.

Jefferson was led by their freshman runner Sarah Stites of Reston who finished the five-kilometer course in ninth place with a time of 19:13.

Also placing for Jefferson were Stephanie Marzen of McLean (21st in 19:47), Lisa Junta of Springfield (31st in 19:55), Katherine Sheridan of Vienna (34th in 20:04) and Neesha Schnepf of McLean (43rd in 20:13).

The Jefferson Girls J.V. team placed second in their race and was paced by freshman Rekha Schnepf of McLean (20:47), who claimed first place out of nearly 300 runners. The Jefferson boys varsity and J.V.

Marshall H.S. Makes Up For Stone Bridge Debacle

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology won a close contest decided in overtime. The game against Madison High was played with a lot of energy but remained scoreless at the end of regulation. TJ’s defense turned away several Madison attacks in the second half. The Colonials went into overtime with renewed purpose, keeping pressure on the Madison defense. The offense kept the ball in Madison’s circle and the winning goal was scored by Lauren Wendlberger of Fairfax Station about midway through the first overtime.

George C. Marshall High School Varsity Football Team garnered an impressive 28-0 win over J.E.B. Stuart High School last Friday, following their quitethe-contrary 63-0 fallout versus Stone Bridge High. The win comes on the heels of the previous week’s upset at Langley.

While last Friday’s game was previously scheduled as a home game for Stuart, the rainy weather caused for a last minute location change to the Statesmen turf. Marshall’s Freshmen and J.V. teams also won their pigskin battles over the Raiders. Next up for the Statesmen is tomorrow night’s Homecoming game against McLean High School.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Golfing Highlanders Snag 3rd Place The McLean High School Boys Golf Team came in third place in the Liberty District tournament at Herndon Centennial.

Senior Thomas Harris and sophomore Sam Nelson qualified for the Regional tournament, to be held Oct. 6 - 7 at Fairfax National Golf Club.

Mustangs Finish 2nd at Bull Run Tourney This past Monday, Sept.

29, the George Mason High School Co-ed Golf Team placed second at 339 overall at the Bull Run District Tournament, held at the Jackson Chase Golf Club. A sweet ending to their undefeated season, this was the second collaborative dual for the Mustangs, though a large improvement from their last where they placed 20th overall.

Next up for the Mustangs is next Monday’s Region B Tournament at The Manor Golf Club.

After 102 losses, Washington, D.C.’s long Nationals nightmare is over. With the end of the baseball season last Sunday, the District’s baseball fans will no longer have to avert their gaze from the team that racked up baseball’s worst record in 2008.

Problem is, it turns out there will be a season in 2009.

If the Nats don’t want to stare down the century mark in the loss column for a second consecutive season, it’s going to take a whole lot of cabbage. And I’m not talking about infusions from the team’s farm system.

While some of the youth movement has blossomed with Zimmerman and John Lannan, the top draft picks and prospects the team was trusting to have an impact have developed more slowly than anticipated. With few prospects ready to make a major league leap, the Nats will have to turn to free agency.

In theory, with a so-far small payroll and the income generated by the new city-funded stadium, the team’s coffers should be flushed with cash. Even with attendance falling short of expectations in the first year of Nationals Park, Washington should be in prime position to chase after a particularly robust free agent class that includes Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu and Ben Sheets.

Recent history, however, suggest the team’s owners, the Lerner family, are unwilling to spend on any significant free agent upgrades. Last off-season, it was reported the team would up its payroll from $36 million to $70 million or so. Instead, it increased about $14 million with mostly busts like Paul LoDuca and Johnny Estrada brought in through short-term free agent deals. Now comes Monday’s report in the Washington Post that team president Stan Kasten is unhappy with the Lerner family and is considering leaving because of the padlock they have placed on the team’s purse.

This is important, so I’ll make it simple. If there are no significant free agent acquisitions this off-season, the franchise and its ownership will invoke some serious ire.

The District paid for the stadium. The fans, an average of 29,005 every night, paid for the more expensive seats inside of it. Unless the Lerners, who are refusing the pay $3.5 million in rent because the stadium wasn’t technically completed on time, want to embrace the image of Ebeneezer Scrooge, it’s time for a little quid pro quo. And it needs to happen now, before things get any worse.

The Nats’ attendance this

year was the lowest ever for the first season of a new stadium.

The television ratings required an electron microscope to read.

While many factors, including a diminished economy, contributed to those dubious honors, there are 102 reasons that head my list. No one in this town wants to back a loser.

If there’s one thing Washington should have learned last year, it’s that success on the playing surface breeds success at the gate. In November, with the team struggling to an abysmal 815-1 start, Washington Capitals tickets could hardly be given away.

As the team turned itself around and eventually completed its remarkable run to the Southeast Division crown, the Caps became one of the hottest attractions in town, with seven sellouts to end the season. The same held true a few years earlier for Georgetown basketball, where fans were few and far between before John Thompson III’s troops bested the Duke Blue Devils and officially announced the program’s resurgence.

Without a serious infusion of cash, there is little possibility that the Nats will experience a similar improvement. As compensation for its wretched performance in 2008, the Nats will own the top pick in June’s draft. Most likely, that pick will be pitcher Steven Strasburg, and it’s also likely it will require multiple millions above the recommended “slot” price to sign him to a contract.

That’s what kept the team from signing first round choice Aaron Crow this year. Will they cough up the cash this time?

On the free agent market, the team could pursue players like A.J. Burnett or Mark Teixeira, both of whom have ties to the region and could drastically bolster the team’s chances of success … for a price. A lineup topped by Cristian Guzman (.316), Milledge (14 HR in 138 games), Ryan Zimmerman (14 HR in 103 games) and Teixeira would sound pretty good, no?

Something to get excited about?

But to bring in talent of that caliber, the Nats are going to have to convince these players that this team is not just spinning its wheels while its depleted farm system takes root. To do that, it will take money. Lots of money. But the longer the team waits, the more convincing players (and fans) will need that the Nats are worth their time.

If that’s an investment the Lerners aren’t prepared to make this off-season, they’re going to lose a lot more than baseball games in 2009.

Page 20

October 2 - 8, 2008

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Connessione: Things in Common, at Falls Church Arts Gallery (111 Park Ave., Falls Church). The showing begins Oct. 3 and runs till Oct. 25.

Gallery hours are: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The opening reception is a part of FIRSTFriday in Falls Church, from 6 – 8 p.m. Oct. 3. There will be free ice cream and munchies as long as they last. This open-call show was juried by Lisa Semerad, an instructor for 25-plus years at the Art League School (in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria). Thematically, the show deals with the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. Semerad will also give a talk titled “Inside the Juror’s Eye” from 7 – 9 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Falls Church Arts Gallery.

She will discuss the process of judging art shows and what she looks for while doing so, all in an attempt to help those submitting art works for future competitions. These events are free and open to the public. Note: FCA has an open call for works 12-inches or less. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 24. For complete details and entry forms, see www.fallschurcharts.org.

Art Down the Street Art on the Avenue, along Mt . Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

The event is from 10 a.m.

– 6 p.m. Oct. 4. Located in

the funky Del Ray section of Alexandria this Saturday, the annual street art fair reportedly features some 300 artists booths, bands and a pie baking contest followed by pie eating.

This will be the last day for the “Picture Me!” self-portrait show at Del Ray Artisans, on Mount Vernon Avenue. I especially liked Sherry Loveless’ image of herself as a half-horse halfwoman titled “Centaur.” Also of note, Emily Lyle Kelly’s silkscreen titled “Dark Angel.” For complete information, see www. artontheavenue.org/index.html.

Art in the Park MPAartfest, in McLean Central Park at the intersection of Dolley Madison Boulevard (Rte. 123) and Old Dominion Drive. The event runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m Oct. 5.

This is a rain-or-shine juried art fair featuring 40 area artists, with their own booths/tents.

Sunday is supposed to have good weather, but Washington weather can only be so predictable. Should it be a rainy day, MPAartfest will be located indoors at the nearby McLean Community Center (123 Ingleside Drive, McLean).

Since the park here has no parking lot, per se, free satellite parking will be available at Cardinal Bank located at the intersection of Dolley Madison Boulevard (Rte.123) and Beverly Road.

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Learn From a Master Edward J. Reed portrait painting demo, in the Art League gallery of the Torpedo Factory (105 N. Union St, Alexandria).

The event is from 1 – 4 p.m.

Oct. 5. As I relayed in a recent review of this show, Reed can do some serious portrait painting. Here we see him in action.

This is the last weekend to catch his show, and the last of three painting demos he’s giving in the same gallery space. Reed teaches painting at the Torpedo Factory. Coupled with his past life as a litigator, Reed is not one to fumble for words. He knows what he is doing, and is able to articulate it clearly and effortlessly. Having attended the last half hour of his last demo, this is likely to be the best free art instruction you’ve ever had, or ever will have. If you haven’t overdosed on art by this point in your weekend, this one is highly recommended – and you finally get to sit down!

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able at 6862 Elm St. Free and frequent shuttle bus service will be available to and from both parking locations The residential streets in this area lack curbing, which has people parking on residents’ lawns – which predictably does not go over well at all.

People are vociferously requested to please park in the provided parking areas, and not park on the residential streets around the library and community center behind the park. Additionally, golf cart service will be provided for handicapped use. Dropoff area and handicapped parking spaces are available at the library directly behind the park itself, off Ingleside Drive. There will be plenty of food, music, children’s events, lectures on contemporary art collecting and framing. For map and complete information, see www.mpaart. org/artfest.php. (Click on map for expansive PDF list of events, lecture times and subjects, etc.)

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Greater Reston Art Center is accepting applications for the May 2009 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in the Reston Town Center. There are two deadlines – Nov. 1 and 15, the later date carries an additional $35 late fee on top of the normal $40 entry fee. This twoday, all-weather event carries no commission fees for art sales.

For complete information and forms, call 703-471-9242, or see www.restonarts.org/Festival/ ArtistApplication.htm.  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.

Page 24

October 2 - 8, 2008

THE VERY FIRST “AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL” FOR CHILDREN was held last Saturday, Sept. 27 at Seven Corners’ Eden Center, a local Asian dining and shopping facility. The Celebration of Lights featured games, entertainment, a children’s art contest, lantern contest and even a Miss Eden Pageant, bottom left.

The festival also held a parade, bottom center, fully-equipped with a traditional lion dance, common to many lantern festivals. (Photos: Gary Mester)

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October 2 - 8, 2008

“‘LAKEVIEW

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The incomparable Samuel L. Jackson is riveting to watch!”

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★★★★”

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NOW PLAYING

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

GENE SHALIT SHALIT GENE

“IT’S A MILE-A-MINUTE THRILLER.”

There is one merciful element to “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” The playlist is not infinite. The movie trudges around the Lower East Side of Manhattan in pursuit of a group of 17-somethings who are desperately seeking a mysterious band named Where’s Fluffy.

Clues are posted on the walls of toilet stalls, which are an unreliable source of information.

Nick and Norah have no relationship to the hero and heroine of “The Thin Man,” which I urgently advise you to watch instead of this film. That movie stars William Powell as a man who steadily drinks martinis and is never more than half-percolated. This one has a best friend

Nick ....................... Michael Cera Norah ................... Kat Dennings Thom ......................... Aaron Yoo Dev . ....................... Rafi Gavron Caroline . ................. Ari Graynor Tris ....................... Alexis Dziena Lethario .......... Jonathan Wright Gary ................... Zachary Booth Tal ........................ Jay Baruchel Sony presents a film directed by Peter Sollett. Produced by Kerry Kohansky, Andrew Miano, Chris

character named Caroline (Ari Graynor) who drinks, I forget, I think it was banana daiquiris, and gets so drunk she ends up near Times Square in a toilet in the bus terminal, where she is fishing, not for Where’s Fluffy clues, but for her gum, which

“HILARIOUS AND“ ”TOTALLY FUN!” Bryan Erdy, INSIGHT CABLE

BEN LYONS LYONS BEN

“IT’S A DEFINITE MUST-SEE.”

Weitz and Paul Weitz. Written by Lorene Scafaria, based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Photographed by Tom Richmond. Edited by Myron I. Kerstein. Music by Mark Mothersbaugh.

Running time: 90 minutes.

Classified: PG-13 (for mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior).

fell into the toilet while she was vomiting. Didn’t Ann Landers warn that this was one of the danger signals of alcoholism?

Nick and Norah are played

by Michael Cera, best remembered as “Juno’s” boyfriend, and Kat Dennings, best known for “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” where she played anything but. They work well together, are appealing, and desperately require material as good as those films. Here they’re not stupid; it’s just that they’re made to act stupidly. There’s not much to recommend an all-night search through the dives of Manhattan for a lost friend who makes Britney Spears seem like a stayat-home.

The two meet at a club, when Norah needs Nick to pose as her boyfriend to make her exboyfriend jealous. He is named Tal (Jay Baruchel). My first Chicago girlfriend was named Tal, which is Hebrew for “the morning dew.” I don’t think he knows that. So then, let’s see, the plot requires an ex-girlfriend for Nick. This is Tris (Alexis Dziena), a blond vixen of the type that in most teeny movies is infinitely unattainable for nice kids like Nick.

Give Nick credit, he knows all about playlists. Tris has broken up with him as the movie opens, and he cuts many custom CDs for her in an attempt to Think the Real Estate Market Has Gone to the Dogs?

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October 2 - 8, 2008

Page 27

memoir by Toby Young (Simon Pegg), fired by Vanity Fair magazine, where he sent a strip-o-gram to the office on Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, blew through deadlines, vomited on people, wrecked parties, brushed with libel, suggested offensive story ideas, alienated the celebrities he was paid to celebrate, and became shunned by most of the publicists in America. With Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Bridges, Gillian Anderson and Danny Huston. Rating: Three and a half stars. ows with underlit milkiness, and lordy!

What a noisy sound track. With Mark Ruffalo, Juianne Moore, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal. Rating: One and a half stars.

A

KAT DENNINGS (LEFT) AND MICHAEL CERA (RIGHT) in “Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist.” (PHOTO: © 2008 SONT PICTURES) win her back. These fall into the hands of Norah, who adores them, and What a Coincidence that Tris’ ex is the very same guy she picked to play her pretend boyfriend. Ohmigosh. How Norah never previously saw Tris and Nick together is a good question since, every character in this movie has built-in GPS equipment that allows them to stumble across any other character whenever the plot requires it.

I was relieved to observe that Nick doesn’t drink as he pilots his battered Yugo around Manhattan. Ever notice

how Yugos look like stretch Gremlins? People spot its bright yellow paint job and hail him, thinking it’s a cab. This is impossible, since he doesn’t have an illuminated sign for an Atlantic City casino on his roof.

“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” lacks some of the idiocy of your average teenage romcom. But it doesn’t bring much to the party. It sort of ambles along, with two nice people at the center of a human scavenger hunt. It’s not much of a film, but it sort of gets you halfway there, like a Yugo.

PPALOOSA (Western, R, 115 minutes). Ed Harris plays a sheriff and Viggo Mortensen is his deputy. They travel the Old West, cleaning bad guys out of LASH OF GENIUS (Drama, towns. Appaloosa lives in dread of PG-13, 120 minutes). The an evil rancher (Jeremy Irons). A story of how Ford, followed cute young miss in a fetching frock

by Chrysler, stole the secret of the (Renee Zellweger) arrives in town intermittent windshield wiper from a on the stage. It’s all atmospheric, little guy named Robert Kearns (Greg touching, involving. Harris, as direcKinnear). He bull-headedly fought the tor, tells a story that may remind you case in the courts for 13 years, aided of “Lonesome Dove.” Rating: Three by a committed, long-suffering lawyer stars.

ROLAND (MACAULAY CULKIN) (LEFT), MARY (JENA MALONE), (Alan Alda). player of AND CASSANDRA (EVAKinnear, AMURRI) IN often UNITED AaRTISTS ' COMEDY "Slight AVED!" © 2004 - UNITED ARTISTS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED comedy, does a convincing job of LINDNESS (Drama, R, 120 making this quiet, resolute man into a minutes). One of the most giant-slayer. Rating: Three stars. unpleasant films I’ve seen: a metaphor about a group of people who OW TO LOSE FRIENDS & survive under great stress. Frankly, I ALIENATE PEOPLE (Comedy, would rather have seen them perish.

R, 110 minutes). Based on a Visuals that combine muddy shad-

F

B

H

★★★★

“ AN AMERICAN CLASSIC.” –– Shawn Shawn Edwards, Edwards, FOX-TV FOX-TV

★★★★!...HILARIOUS...

An all out fun experience that will make you fall in love with the magic of movies.”

- Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

“A WILD, COMING OF AGE COMEDY REMINISCENT OF THE EARLY JOHN HUGHES FILMS.” - Jim Ferguson, KGUN TV

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OU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (Comedy, PG-13, 113 m., 2008). Adam Sandler’s new comedy is shameless in its eagerness to extract laughs from every possible breach of taste or decorum, and why am I even mentioning taste and decorum in this context? He plays a Mossad counterterrorist who sneaks out of Israel to become a New York hairdresser. His superhuman abilities make him a super-warrior and lover, in a movie that’s a comic hymn to vulgarity. Co-starring John Turturro, Lainie Kazan, Nick Swardson, Emmanuelle Chriqui. Rating: Three stars.

T

“

COLUMBIA PICTURES AND MANDATE PICTURES PRESENT A DEPTH OF FIELD PRODUCTION MICHAEL CERA “NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST” KAT DENNINGS MUSIC ALEXIS DZIENA ARI GRAYNOR AARON YOO AND JAY BARUCHEL SUPERVISOR LINDA COHEN MUSICBY MARK MOTHERSBAUGH PRODUCERSCO- NICOLE BROWN KELLI KONOP PRODUCED EXECUTIVE

BY KERRY KOHANSKY CHRIS WEITZ PAUL WEITZ ANDREW MIANO PRODUCERS JOE DRAKE NATHAN KAHANE ADAM BRIGHTMAN SCREENPLAY DIRECTED BASED ON

BY LORENE SCAFARIA

BY PETER SOLLETT THE NOVEL BY RACHEL COHN & DAVID LEVITHAN

R

ELIGULOUS (Documentary, R, 101 minutes). The movie is about organized religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, TV evangelism and even Scientology, with detours into pagan cults and ancient Egypt. Bill Maher, host, writer and debater, believes they are all crazy and could lead us prayerfully into mutual nuclear doom. He doesn’t get to Hinduism or Buddhism, but he probably doesn’t approve of them either. It’s really funny, except possibly when he gets to your religion.

Rating: Three and a half stars.

NEW LINE CINEMA PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH AXON FILMS A GROUNDSWELL PRODUCTION VIGGOMUSIC MORTENSEN ED HARRIS

BY JEFF BEAL RENÉE ZELLWEGER JEREMY IRONS “ A PPALOOSA” TIMOTHY SPALL LANCE HENRIKSEN PRODUCED EXECUTIVE

BY ED HARRIS ROBERT KNOTT GINGER SLEDGE PRODUCERS MICHAEL LONDON TOBY EMMERICH SAM BROWN COTTY CHUBB BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY DIRECTED

BY ROBERT KNOTT & ED HARRIS

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MOBILE USERS: For Showtimes, Text Message APPALOOSA and Your ZIP CODE to 43KIX (43549)

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HE HAPPENING (Drama, R, 91 m., 2008). One day in Philadelphia people start killing themselves. The survivors flee the city, although the cause of this “event” may also be ahead of them. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel find themselves trekking with the child of a friend through Pennsylvania farmlands, while the thought develops that the planet’s vegetation may be taking its revenge on man. Thoughtful, oddly compelling; too uneventful for some, I suppose, but it wove a spell for me. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”).

Rating: Three stars.

R

OMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED (Documentary, not rated, 100 m., 2008). Marina Zenovich’s surprising documentary builds, brick by brick with eyewitness testimony, a story of crimes against the justice system carried out by the judge of Polanski’s infamous child molestation case, Laurence J. Rittenband.

So corrupt was this man that the documentary finds agreement among the defense attorney, the assistant D.A. who prosecuted the case and the child involved, now a well-spoken adult. All agree Polanski may have done the right thing by fleeing the country before being sentenced, Rating: Three and a half stars.

I

RON MAN (Action, PG-13, 126 m., 2008). Robert Downey Jr. is absolutely terrific as Tony Stark/ Iron Man, delivering a performance that is both comedic and poignant.

This is an outstanding superhero action adventure that is well-directed and features strong supporting per-

Continued on Page 28

Page 28

October 2 - 8, 2008

Continued from Page 27 formances -- especially from Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. Rating: Four stars. (Bill Zwecker)

F

ORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL (Comedy, R, 110 m., 2008). The latest issue from writer-producer-director Judd Apatow’s anti-stud farm, a sibling of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad.” Part of the fun is the way these films mix and match

names and faces to produce the randy-but-tender recombinant comedy that has become synonymous with the Apatow brand. After his TVstar girlfriend leaves him for a ridiculous British pop singer, Peter (Jason Segel, also the screenwriter) goes to Hawaii to recover -- only to find them staying at the same resort. Ranks with the aforementioned Apatow-produced films for laughs and smarts.

With Kirsten Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Jack McBrayer, Bill Hader. Rating: Three and a half stars.

(Jim Emerson)

S

EX AND THE CITY (Comedy, R, 145 m., 2008). The continuing stories of the four consumerist Gal Pals from the HBO series, who scarcely have a witty line among them and march with curious banality through awkward situations involving “turista,” broken hearts, masturbating dogs, designer labels, lust, runaway cell phones and misunderstandings.

Probably just the movie fans of the HBO series are hoping for. With Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Chris Noth as the stolid and distant Mr. Big. A newcomer, Jennifer Hudson as Parker’s assistant, is the warmest and most human character in the movie.

Rating: Two stars.

D

ECEPTION (Thriller, R, 108 m., 2008). “Deception” -which, deceptively, has been tracked under such aliases as “The List,” “The Tourist,” “Manipulation” (in France) and “Untitled Hugh Jackman Project” -- trades in the title commodity, and you don’t believe a second of it. Meek, bespectacled auditor Jonathan McQuarry (as in McVictim, played by Ewan McGregor) meets suave, predatory lawyer Wyatt Bose (Jackman) in a conference room late one night. The former finds himself on “The List,” the envy of Eliot Spitzers everywhere, which involves hot Wall Street babes calling him for anonymous sex at ritzy hotels. Oh, but it’s never that simple, is it? Rating: One star. (Jim Emerson)

L

EATHERHEADS (Comedy, PG-13, 114 m., 2008). George Clooney stars in and directs this slapstick, screwball romantic comedy about the birth of “professional” football in the Midwest in 1925.

John Krasinski is the war-hero star of the Duluth Bulldogs, and Renee Zellweger is the wily Chicago reporter who’s out to write an expose that will cook the Boy Wonder’s goose. The script is less than effervescent, but as a director and an actor, Clooney’s got it all: smarts, wit, timing, a winning face, a good eye -- hell, he’s probably even got great legs. Rated: Three stars. (Jim Emerson))

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October 2 - 8, 2008

Ledo Pizza Restaurant & Pub Anthony’s Restaurant 309 W. Broad St., Falls Church • 703-532-0100 • Type of Food: Greek, American & Italian Cuisine • Features: Breakfast (Sat. & Sun. Only) • Hours: Mon. - Thur. -10 a.m. - 11 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. -12 a.m., Sat. 8 a.m. - 12 a.m., Sun. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Argia’s Restaurant 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church • 703-5341033 • www.argias.com • Type of Food: Italian • Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants, Zagat Rated, Full Bar, No Reservations • Hours: Lunch: Mon. - Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Dinner: Mon. - Thur. 5 - 9:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 5 - 10:30 p.m., Sun. 5 - 9 p.m.

Bear Rock Cafe 2200 Westmoreland St. (Westlee Condominium Building), Arlington • 703-532-0031; Catering: 703-532-0118 • Type of Food: American • Features: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Kids' Menu, Alcoholic Beverages; Catering, Free Indoor Parking • Hours: Mon. - Sat. 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Bubba’s BBQ & Catering 7810-F Lee Hwy, Falls Church • 703-560-8570 • Type of Food: American/Family, Salads w/ Meat & Ribs • Features: Best BBQ East of Mississippi • Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Dogfish Head Alehouse 6363 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church • www.dogfishalehouse.com • 703-534-3342 • Woodgrilled food, speciality ales • Hours: Mon. - Wed. 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m., Thu. - Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Harvest Moon Restaurant and Lounge 7260 Arlington Blvd. (Graham Center across from Loehmann’s Plaza), Falls Church • 703573-6000 • www.theharvestmoonrestaurant. com • Type of Food: Chinese • Features: Lunch / dinner buffets, banquet facilities up to 700 people • Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily.

Hoang’s Grill and Sushi Bar 502 W. Broad St., Falls Church • 703-536-7777 • Type of Food: Pan-Asian • Features: Single and Mingle Thursday Nights. • Hours: Mon. - Thur. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Fri. - Sat. 11 a.m.

- 10:30 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Ireland’s Four Provinces 105W.BroadSt.,FallsChurch•www.4psfallschurch. com • 703-534-8999 • Type of Food: Irish • Features: Full Bar, Live Entertainment, Sunday Brunch • Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily.

7510 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church • 703847-5336 • Type of Food: Pizza & Pasta, American/Family • Features: Full Bar, Wine Menu, 5 TV’s-Sports • Hours: Mon. - Thur. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sun. 12 - 10 p.m.

The Original Pancake House 370 West Broad Street, Falls Church • 703891-0148 • www.originalpancakehouse.com • Type of Food: American/Family • Features: Breakfast, Weekday Specials - Breakfast & Lunch • Hours: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily.

Panjshir 924 W. Broad St., Falls Church • 703-5364566 • Features: Authentic Afghan Cuisine • Hours: Lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dinner, 5 - 10 p.m.

Pie-tanza 1216 W. Broad St., Falls Church • www.pietanza.com • 703-237-0977 • Dine-in, Carryout and Catering • Gourmet Wood-fired Pizza and Italian Fare • Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Pilin 116 W. Broad St., Falls Church • www.pilinthairestaurant.com • 703-241-5850 • Features: Authentic Thai Cuisine • Hours: Mon. - Thurs., 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., 5 - 10 p.m., Fri. - Sat., 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., 5 - 11 p.m., Sun. 5 - 9 p.m.

Sign of the Whale 7279 Arlington Blvd. (Loehmann’s Plaza), Falls Church • 703-573-1616 • Type of Food: American • Features: Seafood Night and Steak Night • Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m., 7 days a week.

Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant 6304 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church • 703237-3888; 2153 Chain Bridge Rd., Vienna • 703-319-3888 • www.crystalsunflower.com • Type of Food: 99% vegan • Features: Japanese, Chinese, Continental • Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun. 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Sweet Rice Thai Restaurant 1113 W. Broad St. (next to Don Beyer Volvo), Falls Church • 703-241-8582 • Type of Food: Thai Cuisine • Features: Free delivery ($15 min., limited area) • Hours: Mon. - Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Dinner: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri. 11:30 am - 11 p.m.; Sat. Noon - 11 p.m.; Sun. Noon - 10 p.m.

Narita Sushi & Rice Bowl

Velocity Five

8417 Old Courthouse Road (accross from Residence Inn), Vienna • 703-893-2008 • Type of Food: Sushi • Features: Lunch & Dinner Box specials • Hours: Mon.–Thur. 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 4 - 10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 4 - 10:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 10:30 p.m., Sun. noon - 9:30 p.m.

8111 Lee Hwy. (Merrifield Plaza, Lee Hwy. and Gallows Rd.), Falls Church • www.velocityfiverestaurant.com • 703-207-9464 • Type of Food: American Grille • Features: 50 HD TVs, Private Banquet Rooms, DJ after 9:30 p.m. • Hours: Sun. - Mon. 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

SUBTLE COLORS ADD TO the demure atmosphere patrons enjoy at Falls Church's Pilin Thai Restaurant & Lounge. (Photo: News-Press) Pilin Thai is one of the finer Thai restaurants in Falls Church. Besides the peaceful, quiet and chic atmosphere, this venue boasts a wide array of cuisine, from the Spicy Crispy Catfish to Pad Thai and Shrimp Panang Curry.

The dinner menu also includes hot and cold appetizers, three different salads, curry, various soups and Thai specialties for dessert like fresh imported Mango and Homemade Thai Custard.

The restaurant is intimate, and the tables are classic dark wood adorned with elegant flatware. The walls are lined with modernist, pastel-colored paintings and fabric screens. Dim, golden light is cast by the blue and silver fixtures that hang throughout the restaurant. At the back is a small full bar featuring many different liquors and beverages.

The lunch menu is smaller and only has some entrées, yet offers a choice of a Regular or Deluxe Lunch Special. I ordered the Deluxe Lunch Special ($9.95), which gives the option of soup or salad, a spring roll, a soft drink and an entrée. For the main course I chose the Chicken in Chef’s Roasted Red Chili Sauce.

I also sampled the Thai iced tea ($3). The tea is very sweet, with vanilla and cinnamon flavors mixed together with cream into a heavy consistency and poured over ice. Even though it was a bit expensive, its thickness and delicious flavor made up for the price. Other drink options at Pilin Thai include Thai iced coffee, an extensive wine list, soft drinks and several mixed beverages.

A cup of Wonton soup was brought out before the meal. Although a small serving, the cup was filled with scallions and a generous portion of wonton dumplings. The warm, dense broth was not spicy and instead had a light, salty taste.

Following the soup was a large, expertly prepared spring roll, deep fried and stuffed with ground pork, chicken, taro- a leafy vegetable widely used in Asian cuisine- carrots, noodles and mushrooms.

It was served with a sweet orange sugar sauce, celery and raw carrots cut into wheels. The roll was crispy but not flaky or difficult to chew, and the meat inside was tender and slightly spicy.

Served piping hot, the Chicken in Chef’s Roasted Red Chili Sauce entrée included crunchy onions, carrots, scallions and celery, all simmering in a large white bowl over a mound of white rice. The red chili sauce, drizzled over huge slices of juicy, tender chicken and heavily buttered cashew nuts, sat at the bottom of the bowl and gave the dish a spicy punch.

Overall, the food at Pilin Thai was fantastic. At lunchtime on a Monday, the atmosphere is quieter than it probably is on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Before noon there were few guests, but eventually the lunch crowd arrived and the restaurant filled. The wait staff is professional, and I was served promptly after ordering.

The bonus, on top of the great fare, the competent staff and the easy-going environment, was the price.

Altogether, with the Deluxe Lunch Special ($9.95), the Thai iced tea ($3) and a tip for my server coming to under $20, the experience was well worth the price. Pilin Thai is one of Falls Church's more affordable and attractive restaurants and a definite “go-to” spot.

Page 32

October 2 - 8, 2008

Level: 1 3

2 4

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

10/5/08

© 2008 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

1. 1975 #1 Barry Manilow hit 6. One who never gets out?

11. Pep squad shout 14. “____ begins in delight and ends in wisdom”: Frost 15. Harden 16. Gardner of Hollywood 17. What an expert at memorization possesses?

19. Cheadle of “Hotel Rwanda” 20. Highs 21. Cyberchatting 23. “____ the Walrus” 24. Isr. neighbor 25. What a two-year-old exotic dancer might use during a performance?

27. You are: Sp. 29. Not close gently 31. Stuff 32. CBS forensic drama 35. Unwritten 37. Map lines: Abbr.

38. What a meteorologist might predict?

42. John 43. Priest of the East 44. Send packing 45. “Currently serving” military status 47. A big fan of 49. Lenient 53. What paparazzi assigned to British royalty might have once yelled in Latin?

55. Waiting room read 58. Actress Carrere 59. Diana of jazz 60. Some deodorants 62. Droop 63. Classic anti-war song by Pete Seeger (and a hint to 17-, 25-, 38- and 53-Across) 66. What makes a drink clink 67. “I’m ____ here!”

68. Swiss mathematician Leonhard 69. Flanders on “The Simpsons” 70. Houdini’s birth name 71. Clarinetist’s supply

1. Peppermint Patty’s friend 2. Having no radiating processes 3. “Sorry, I’m busy” 4. Judge 5. Workout spots, for some

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© 2008 David Levinson Wilk

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

1

Across

6. Cruise ships

39. Found the means?

40. Prefix with potent 6.

8. One Peltwho never gets out?

41. ____ Plaines, Ill. 9. Suffix withshout ranch 42. Commits unalterably 11.

Pep squad 10. Sparked anew 46. Lance ____ (USMC rank) 14. "____ begins in delight and ends in wisdom": Frost 11. It spanned the ‘30s and ‘40s 48. Greek vowels 15. Harden 12. Frequent caller?

50. Peter of “Goodbye, Mr. 16. of Hollywood 13. Gardner They often stay in the Chips” closet 51. Shot 17.

What an expert at memorization possesses?

18. Cheadle ____ 10of(acne medication) 52. Stun guns 19.

"Hotel Rwanda" 22. Detroit datum: Abbr.

54. Nudge 20. Highs 25. Like rhubarb 56. “What ____ my chanc21.

26. Cyberchatting Mutual of ____ es?”

23. thechem.

Walrus" 28. "____ Biol. or 57. TV marine 30. Isr. Liteneighbor 60. Picnic pests 24.

33.

Weekly 90-min. show 61.

“Cocktail” actress 25. What a two-year-old exotic dancer might use during a performance?

34. “If you’d just listen to me ...” Elisabeth 27. You are: Sp. 36. “Superman” villain Luthor 64. Want to undo 29.

38. Not Didclose a 6K,gently say 65. “Is ____, Lord?”

1. #1 Barry Manilow 7. 1975 QB boo-boos: Abbr. hit

31. Stuff

32. CBS forensic drama

W I S H E S

A V A I L S

S H O M I O N G A O X B E

L I T T L E

L E I C A

E S T H

I T M I D O S E R V I R N E M O S A I M A U N I N R R U E N S D S

P H O N E T I C S F O I S T

F O R G E

F L I P S

D O E C E E A I N N S K I E D Y E

T E A X G I O S T U P T I P N E E N T G E R R R E E T A T S H E E A L

A S E R A Y S L E T O M E

M I F F O S R

P L I A N T

P E O R I A

S E N D E R

© 2008 N. F. Benton

October 2 - 8, 2008

Page 33

We’re barely out of the summer doldrums and news keeps breaking in the world of adult beverages.

Here’s a sampling of some of the more interesting tidbits you can use to amaze and amuse your friends at the next cocktail party or beer blast you attend: • Battle of the Bubblies: Ah, bubbly vodka. The folks who got there first are not exactly welcoming any competition.

Phillip Maitland, president of International English Distillers Ltd., which introduced 02 brand sparkling vodka to the U.S. market in January, has taken the offensive against hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and his plans to release a sparkling vodka in a joint venture with Drinks America.

“I am very complimented that Dr. Dre has recognized how innovative and special our sparkling vodka is, and is trying to copy it,” Maitland said.

“My concern is that it isn’t produced by our patented method and may well turn out to be a very poor imitation. I hope that consumers will not be swayed by the celebrity endorsement of a copycat product by Dr. Dre.” He added: “There are a lot of mixed messages going on. Dre’s unreleased album (which will go on sale at the same time as the drink) is even called ‘Detox,’ to add a bitterly ironic twist.”

No word yet on Dre’s response to Maitland, but rest assured one will be coming.

(For a review panel’s view of O2, go to dowdtastingnotes. com.)

• A Truly Exclusive Scotch: Morrison Bowmore has launched a new Scotch whisky expression from its Islay distillery, Bowmore 16 Year Old Wine Cask Matured.

The single malt is bottled at its natural cask strength of 53.5 percent ABV (107 proof). It has been aged principally in Bordeaux wine casks.

North American consumers will have to pull some strings to obtain a bottle. Bowmore is selling it exclusively through specialist retailers in the U.K. Recommended retail price: $107.80 U.S. • Alcohol Energy Drinks Halted: It obviously was targeted at the younger set, if its cartoonish Web site (sparks.com) is any indication.

That didn’t set well with a lot of law enforcement types, and attorneys general from 25 states, who asked MillerCoors to keep its new caffeinated, alcohol-laced energy drink, off the market.

The product, Sparks Red, contains 8m percent alcohol. It was scheduled for an October 1 launch. The company said in a statement Friday that is will hold off on the debut even though it had said as late as Wednesday that it would proceed with the launch.

The attorneys general made the request because, they said, young people would be particularly vulnerable to the combined affects of caffeine and alcohol.

It should be noted that the federal government had earlier approved the Sparks Red formula.

The pullback seems to be a developing trend in the beverage industry. In June, Anheuser-Busch said it would reformulate its Tilt and Bud Extra brands to remove the stimulants they contain.

The action was take as part of a settlement with 11 attorneys general who had objected to the drinks.  William M. Dowd covers the adult beverage industry online at BillDowd.com.

Complete Professional Nail & Waxing Under New Management Specials September 2008

20% Off

Services of $30.00+

6725 Curran Street # 100, McLean, Va. 22101 • 703-883-1880 Behind Boston Market & Three Doors Down Sushi Miyagi Offer good until further notice. Two per Customer.

May not be combined with any other special offers. No cash or Credit Value

There are many different opinions regarding the best way to play small pairs from early position. In my opinion, though, there’s one option that’s clearly the best when playing these hands in no limit hold’em tournaments.

The value of small pocket pairs comes from the possibility of flopping three of kind and winning a sizable pot. To that extent, playing this type of hand is a low risk/high reward proposition.

If you get lucky and hit a set on the flop, you’ll have a great chance to win big, especially if one of your opponents hits the top pair on the board. And if you don’t get lucky, well, it’s usually pretty easy to fold your hand.

So, here’s how you can play small pairs from up front.

Move all-in. This play immediately turns your small pair into a high risk/low reward proposition.

If an opponent calls your bet, he’ll either have two overcards, like A-K, or worse, he’ll have a pair higher than yours.

The benefit to moving all-in is that you’ll win the blinds a high percentage of the time since your bet will probably be very large in comparison to the blinds. An allin bet would likely force out any opponent who was thinking about playing a marginal hand.

Moving all-in with a small pair from early position only makes sense when you are severely short-stacked and desperately need to pick up the blinds.

Fold. This, by far, is the safest play. Small pairs simply aren’t hands that have to be played from early position, particularly if you’re in an aggressive game with plenty of raising and reraising before the flop.

If you feel outclassed at the table, fold your hand. If your chipstack isn’t quite short but isn’t healthy either, folding is a reasonable option.

Limp in. This is how most players play this type of hand.

But there’s a problem with this approach. Limping in can easily turn your bet into bait for an aggressive player who’s waiting to attack from a position of strength. He’ll see your limp as a sign of weakness and just might opt to raise you back.

Also, because it’s so common for players to limp in with small pairs, your hand can become transparent; a skilled opponent will have you pegged for holding a small pair.

It’s never a good thing when an opponent has a solid read on you pre-flop. And limping in just screams small pair!

On the other hand, limping in often induces a multi-way pot which produces better value for

your hand. It also reduces your investment since you’re putting in the absolute minimum.

Make a small raise. Now, in my opinion, this is the very best option.

First, you’ll have a chance at picking up the blinds because your opponents might fear that you have a strong hand since you raised from early position.

Second, other players probably won’t look to attack a small raise. They’re more likely to just call with a hand that they would have raised with had you limped in instead.

For example, if your opponent has a hand like pocket nines, he might elect to call your small raise rather than reraise. Had you

limped in, he might h a v e attempted to take control by reraising a much larger amount than your initial small raise.

As with most poker-related concepts, it’s always best to mix up your play and use all of your available options from time to time. But when dealt a small pocket pair in early position, making a small raise should be your go-to play.  Online poker training is now available from Daniel Negreanu.

Visit www.PokerVT.com. © 2008 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

THE GERMAN ROMANTICS Music of Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rheinberger and more Friday, October 17 - 8 pm Concert Director’s Insights, 7 pm The Falls Church 115 East Fairfax Street, Falls Church, VA Tickets/info: www.choralis.org

703 237-2499

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Page 34

October 2 - 8, 2008

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,MJQD?DIB ,@MNJI<GDU@? /JIBN *Independent AJM /@MDJPNGT %GG CDG?M@I Charities of America Seal

Announcements

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Yard Sales MULTI-HOUSEHOLD YARD SALE

MORALES LANDSCAPE & LAWN CARE LLC Fall Clean up, Leaf removal, Brick

SATURDAY OCTOBER 4 - 7529

PIANO LESSON IN FALLS CHURCH Extensive experience in creative

Saturday, October 4, 8am - 12pm, no early birds pls, Sherrow Avenue, off S. Virginia Avenue.

Everything priced to sell.

Fairwood Lane close to Shrevewood School Large quantity houshold items and much more.

8:00am - 5:00pm

TAKE AN HOUR FOR YOURSELF TO RELAX The Student Clinic at the National

FIREWOOD Seasoned Oak. Free Delivery. (703)623-0101

$199/Cord.

Massage Therapy Institute, at 803 West Broad Street in Falls Church is open to the public. One hour sesions of Swedish massage are available at $35.00 per session ($25.00 Senior Citizens). The clinic operates Monday - Saturday. To schedule an appointment, or for more information call 1703-237-3905.

THE ALL AROUND ARTISAN

Handyman/ Home Repairs/ Remodeling meticulous work/ reasonable rates. Greg Wright 703-217-7253

Public Notice

Help Wanted CUSTOMER SERVICES ALEXANDRIA, VA CALL CENTER OPERATOR FT position. Must have transportation. Reqs exec verbal & cust serv. skills, must type 45-65 WPM. Fax resume to Tracy @ 703-845-8540

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HELP WANTED Sheet Metal Mechanic or

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For Rent 1 BR. OCEANFRONT TIMESHARE - Sleeps 4, 1st & 2nd Week 01/09, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, GORGEOUS, $2,000/wk. Call 202-821-9399 eves.

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CEMETERY PLOTS 4 plots in National

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Fls, 2 Car Attached gar, 2668 Hillsman Street, Falls Church, VA, new carpet, Form DR, Two Storeyed LR, 2 Gas FP, eat-in kitchen, fenced yard, W/O Bsmt, Call Manish 202-549-0229. Pictures of the property can be see at http://picasaweb.google. com/2668hillsman

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JEWELRY REPAIRS Broken clasp?

String stretched out? Call Hazel (703-901-3738) for a costume jewelry repair estimate. Visit www. ofallthebeads.com

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HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES. Low rates. Good references. Call Dolores 571/232-1091.

FURNISHED 1 BEDROOM APT SHORT OR LONG TERM New, fully

furnished 2 bedroom apartment in FCC.Walk to East FC metro. all utilities & Dish except telephone included. $1700 per month. (No pets or smokers please.) call: 703 501 1398 or kamel.linda@ gmail.com

PUBLIC NOTICE Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Call the City Clerk, Kathleen Buschow (703-248-5014, or e-mail cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov) for an application form or more information.

Requests for reappointments must also be made through the City Clerk. Applications are being accepted until the end of the month. Vacancies that have been advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month before monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end.

Architectural Advisory Board City Employee Review Board Economic Development Authority Environmental Services Council Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Home Advisory Board Historic Architecture Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Human Services Advisory Council Local Board of Building Code Appeals Planning Commission [4 vacancies for terms beginning 1-09] Private School & Day Care Facility Board Public Utilities Commission Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Retirement Board Senior Citizens Commission Towing Advisory Board Citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Advisory Committee on Transportation Tree Commission Board of Zoning Appeals Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee

CBIRT PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE Wednesday, 8 October 2008 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:30 AM City Hall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Administrative Conference Room (307E)

Regional Boards/Commissions: Fairfax Area Commission on Aging Long Term Care Coordinating Council Workforce Investment Board

The Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chesapeake Bay Interdisciplinary Review Team (CBIRT) will review the following project for compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Protection Ordinanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (CBPO) General Performance Criteria to ensure that the development disturbs the environment and water quality as little as possible.

REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Application CB08-13, proposal to construct two new structures (a hotel and an above-ground parking structure) at 706 West Broad Street within the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resource Management Area (RMA) The CBIRT will not review aesthetics, construction scheduling, massing, or functionality. Concerns other than CBPO General Performance Criteria should be directed to the appropriate City staff prior to the meeting.

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Capital Improvement Program (CIP) NVRPA has released a draft CIP and is seeking public comments on the proposed plan that will guide capital project spending for fiscal years 2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2014. A public hearing will be held on October 16, 2008 at 6 pm at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA 22182. For more information and to view the draft CIP, visit www.nvrpa. org or call NVRPA at 703-352-5900.

www.FCNP.com

MECHANIC OR DETAIL SHOP FOR RENT Two car garage available for car related business / or storage. Location: Falls Church, 703-964-6457

Services

your

!

ck a b s i s circu

NOW THRU OCT 13

DULLES TOWN CENTER at the intersection of rts 7 & 28

mON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

Oct 1

Oct 2

Oct 3

Oct 4

Oct 5

7:00

7:00

12:30 4:30

Oct 8

Oct 9

Oct 10

Oct 11

Oct 12

11:00 7:00

Oct 6

NO SHOW

Oct 7

7:00

11:00 7:00

11:00 7:00

11:00 7:00

12:30 4:30

12:30 4:30 12:30 4:30

Oct 13â?&#x2013;

12:30 4:30

Sold out

peak perFormanCeS

â?&#x2013; ColumbuS day

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GIT RID OF IT For Removal of Junk, Trash, Yard Debris, Appliances, Furniture & Estate clean-ups. Call 703-533-0094. We will beat most competitors prices!

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The Board of Zoning Appeals of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on October 16, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Ave nue, for consideration of the following subject:

lent job call Maria 703.277.1098/703.626.0665

HALLOWEEN DECOR! Spook

out your house with handmade decorations of your choosing. Perfect for all Halloween occasions! Call 703-380-9093.

HANDYMAN SERVICE Windows, doors,

rotted wood, petdoors, lighting, fans, faucets, fences, bath, Flat screen TV installation and kitchen remodeling. Insured Free estimates. Call Doug (703) 556-4276 www.novahandyman.com

HOUSE

CLEANING

SERVICE

Available 7 days a week. Week, biweekly, monthly or one time. Good references in Falls Church City.

10 years experience. For further information call me at 703-901-0596. Senior discount, Ask: Susy.

V1484-08 an application for a variance to Sec. 38-16(E)(3)(a) to allow a rear yard setback of thirty-two (32) feet instead of forty (40) feet on premises known as 621 Laura Drive, Lot 20 Section 2 of the Timber Lane subdivision, RPC #52-604-009 of the Falls Church Real Property Map Zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential; applicants Nisha and Pradeep Sensharma, owners.

Information on this item is available for review at the Zoning Division Office, 3 rd Floor West Wing of City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia.

October 2 - 8, 2008

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Page 35

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT Since 1981

YASMEEN HASSAN JONES PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT

SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING PAYROLL SERVICES INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESS TAX PREPARATION BUSINESS CONSULTING

Walsh & Assoc.

PC Attorneys

RE/MAX Allegiance 5100 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22302 mobile. 703-868-5999 office. 703-824-4800 ShaunMurphy@remax.net

WINDOWS

REPAIRS

Seven Brothers Landscaping Service

Benton & Potter, P.C.

Licensed and Insured. Free Estimates.

With Personal Service

WILLIAMS PLUMBING

Spring Cleanup, mulching, mowing, edging, trimming.

Residential & Commercial Tree Service & Snow Removal

www.motternmasonry.com

We’ll help you find the perfect paint color!

JOSEPH HOME IMPROVEMENT Drywall • Paint Exterior / Interior, Bath & Kitchen Remodeling, Basements, Handyman, Moving, Clean Garage, All kinds of hauling

Joseph

Licensed Work

Cell 703-507-5005 Tel 703-507-8300

Gutters Cleaned

Government contract law, all areas of business and corporate law.

In Falls Church 703-992-9255, in D.C. 202-416-1660

REMODELING & ADDITION, CERAMIC, TILE, FINISHED CARPENTRY, CROWN MOLDING, CHAIRS, DECK RAILS, STAIR, WINDOWS, DOORS, CONCRETE, SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS, BRICK INSTALLED & REPAIRED

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Weaver Enterprises

OTHER SERVICES Grand Opening!

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Make a Joyful Splash!

ArlingtonColorConsultants.com

with

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703-241-8548

Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative variety of tools and brushes.

FOOD & DINING

Ledo Pizza Caterers Tysons Station • 7510 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA

Held at 111 Park Avenue Falls Church on Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Cost: $90 On-going monthly enrollment

Pizza • Pasta • Wings • Subs • Salads • Desserts

Enroll on-line at www.creativecauldron.org Or call 571-239-5288

(703) 847-5336

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703-532-3267 Phone # Cell Number

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Licensed and Insured...

Free Estimates

For Plumbing & Electrical Work call: 571/263-6405 571/274-6831 (cell)

Powerwashing Screening and repairs Estimates by phone Licensed and insured Tom. 703/855-3031

www.bentonpotter.com

Driveways • Steps Sidewalks • Patios Small Jobs Welcome

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Small and large repairs.

Free estimates Licensed and insured.

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703-496-7491

CGA IMMIGRATION ASSOCIATES

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GUTTERS

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ROOFING SIDING & TRIM

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703-241-7771 www.hassansacctg.com

Skyline Plaza Falls Church

LAWN & GARDEN

(571) 330-3705

HENRY HASSAN, MSFM, EA

TAX ACCOUNTANT – IRS ENROLLED AGENT

Family and Employment Based Immigration Petitions

HOME IMPROVEMENT

VA License #2705 023803

703-848-8322 703-901-2431

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Page 36

Mayor Robin S. Gardner . . . . . . . . . .

Vice Mayor Harold Lippman. . . . . . . . . . .

City Council Nader Baroukh. . . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel Maller . . . . . . . . . . . . .

David F. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel X. Sze . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lawrence Webb . . . . . . . . . . .

City Manager Wyatt Shields. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Home Page <www.fallschurchva.gov>

October 2 - 8, 2008

The Week

703-534-8644 703-237-9089 703-992-9433 703-731-8433 703-241-0419 703-538-5986 703-532-1043 703-248-5004*

* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

city calendar

OCTOBER 2

Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

Book Discussion Group, 7:30 p.m.

3 FIRSTfriday Event 4 Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-Noon 6 2008 Personal Property Tax Bills Due (Paid in Treasurer’s Office) Last Day to Register to Vote before the November 2008 Elections Yard Waste & Special Collections Last Day for Bundled Brush Collection Until Jan. 5, 2009 Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

City Council Work Session, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

National Fire Prevention Week 7 Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

Economic Development Authority, 6:30 p.m.

8 General District Court in Session Story Hour, 7 p.m.

Yom Kippur Begins at Sundown 9 Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee, 7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur 11 Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-Noon Fall Cleanup & Picnic, 10 a.m., Community Center Farm Day, Cherry Hill Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

13 City Hall, Courts, DMV Select, Library, Schools, Senior Center, Sheriff’s Office Closed Community Center Open School Makeup Day (If Needed) No Yard Waste, Bundled Brush, or Special Collections Volunteer Fire Department Business, 8 p.m.

Columbus Day

Voter Registration Deadline Oct. 6 In order to vote in the November 4 Presidential election, your voter registration application must be postmarked

by Monday, Oct. 6. Download the application at www.sbe.virginia.gov.

Flu Shots For Seniors INOVA Healthsource will be administering flu shots to seniors age 50 and older on Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Falls Church Senior Center from 10 a.m.-noon. Flu shots are free for seniors with Medicare Part B cards and $25 for those without a Medicare Part B card. You must show your card in person. No reservations will be taken. For more information, call the Senior Center at 703-248-5020 (TTY 711).

Register for the City’s Online Newsletter at www.fallschurchva.gov

Register to Receive Emergency Alerts

provided as a public service by the city of falls church

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).

8th Annual Student Art Contest Submission Deadline Tomorrow Would you like to see your artwork in Falls Church City’s 2009 Calendar?

Then enter the Falls Church City Student Art Contest today! This year’s theme is Growing Up Green in Falls Church City.

Judges will select 13 entries to feature in the 2009 City Calendar. The Mayor will present awards to students whose work is selected at a City Council meeting this fall. A special reception will be held at the January 2 FIRSTfriday event at Art & Frame of Falls Church, where all entries will be on display throughout January.

Submission Requirements: • Illustrate the theme: Growing Up Green in Falls Church City. Is it by recycling, taking GEORGE or other forms of mass transit, or planting a tree? Growing Green ideas are available at www.fallschurchva.gov.

• Must be original to the 8th Annual Student Art Contest.

Do not resubmit artwork from previous contests.

• Must not be edible (e.g. Cheerios, macaroni noodles, etc.).

• Submissions containing recycled food or beverage containers must be clean and dry.

• Must not require storage at a certain temperature or in a special setup.

• Must include the following information on the back of the entry: name, age, grade, school attending, parent/guardian, address, and phone number.

Deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.

Students must either attend a City of Falls Church school or reside in the City. No more than three entries allowed per person.

Mail or deliver entries to: Office of Communications Falls Church City Hall 300 Park Avenue, 303 East Falls Church, VA 22046 For more information, call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) or e-mail publicinfo@fallschurchva.gov.

Become a Certified Emergency Volunteer Responder The City of Falls Church is seeking volunteers for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course this fall. Emergency responders will train members of the residential and business community in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for the Falls Church City area, such as assisting with search and rescue, searching through debris after hurricanes and tornadoes, barricading roads, and assisting law enforcement personnel at public events.

The course is free and open to persons ages 18 and older. The course takes approximately 38 hours to complete, and classes will meet midOctober through mid-December.

The training will address disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search and rescue team organization, disaster psychology, and more.

Class schedule and registration information is available at www.fallschurchvfd.org.

Community Blood Drive Friday, Oct. 10 The City of Falls Church is hosting a community blood drive on Friday, Oct. 10.The Inova Bloodmobile will be parked outside the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) for residents and City staff to donate blood from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

The blood shortage is so critical right now that there is less than a one-day supply of most blood types. Please donate to help patients in our community! Most healthy people can be blood donors, but you must meet the following requirements: Age

17 years minimum (no maximum limit) Health Good general health – no symptoms of illness,including colds,for three days prior to donating Weight 110 pounds minimum Time

56 days after a whole blood donation, 14 days after a platelet donation Identification Photo ID (such as driver’s license) Please call the City’s Human Resources Office at 703-248-5128 (TTY 711) to schedule a time for your blood donation.Each donor should allow 30 to 45 minutes for the regular blood donation process.It is important to eat something, especially foods rich in iron, and drink plenty of fluids 4-6 hours before donating.

FOR THE WEEK of

Classes and Events Special Events

Farm Day Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave. Enjoy old-fashioned activities for the entire family, including hayrides, pony rides, a petting farm, scarecrow making,pumpkin painting,beekeeping, blacksmithing, live music and more! Free tours of the 1845 Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn are also available.Admission is free, however nominal fees apply to some activities. Call 703-248-5171 (TTY 711) for more information.

Classes

Fridays through Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sr. Wellness Training 50 & up Sr. Wellness Training Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Mondays Only Through Dec. 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays Only Through Dec. 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Hip-Hop 2/3 (Ages 8-11) Thursdays through Dec. 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Paid registration required. All classes meet at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) unless otherwise indicated.Call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) for fees and more information.

Preteen Hip Hop (Ages 9-11) Thursdays through Dec. 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

KidSpanish, Level A (Ages 6-10) Saturdays through Nov. 15, 10:45-11:30 a.m.

Afternoon Preschool Program (Birthdates Oct. 1, 2003- Sept. 30, 2005) Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Dec. 19, 1-4 p.m.

Gentle Yoga (Ages 18 & up) Thursdays through Nov. 20, 9:30-10:25 a.m.

Tiny Dancers (Ages 3-4) Fridays through Dec. 12, 11-11:45 a.m.

Preschool Cheer & Tumble (Ages 3-5) Tuesdays through Dec. 2, 4-4:45 p.m.

City of Falls Church Farmers Market Every Saturday from 8 a.m. - Noon

Oil/Acrylic Painting (Ages 18 & up) MOOD & STYLE

Growing Green 20th Annual City of Falls Church Fall Cleanup Join in the fun of working together!Volunteers are needed for the City’s 20th Annual Fall Cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 11. Meet in front of the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) at 10:30 a.m. to pick up gloves, bags and tools, and receive work assignments. After an hour or so of litter pickup, participants are invited back to the Community Center for a “thank you” picnic featuring delicious food donations from Falls Church City restaurants.The Fall Cleanup is co-sponsored by the Department of Environmental Services and the Falls Church Environmental Services Council.Call 703-248-5176 (TTY 711) to volunteer or for more information.

Fight the Bite! Protect Yourself From West Nile Virus The City of Falls Church wants you to say “NO to Mosquitoes” this fall.

Despite cooler fall temperatures, mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry, including West Nile Virus (WNV), continue to be a threat. Take the following steps to Fight the Bite and protect yourself from WNV:

• Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.

• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors.

To report standing water, dead birds, or other WNV-related problems, contact the City’s Housing & Human Services Division at 703248-5005 (TTY 711) or register a report at www.fallschurchva.gov/ CommentBox.

• When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.

• Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.

• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.

• Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.

Remember to Tip and Toss to eliminate mosquito breeding sites around your property: • At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.

• Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water.

• Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.

Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division 223 Little Falls Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5077* Phone Numbers Open Gym/Weather Hotline 703-248-5125* Special Events Hotline 703-248-5178* Fax 703-536-5125 Senior Center 703-248-5020*/21* Community Center Hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. - Midnight Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Midnight Sunday Noon - 6 p.m.

Open Gym Hours Open Gym hours are updated on a bi-weekly basis and are also posted on the Open Gym Hotline, 703-248-5125*. All hours are subject to change. * Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

October 2 - 8, 2008

Page 37

ly Focus

Chairman: Ronald Peppe II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vice Chairman: Susan Kearney . . . . . . . . . . .

School Board Rosaura Aguerrebere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kathryn Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Charlotte Hyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kieran Sharpe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joan Wodiska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Superintendent: Dr . Lois Berlin . . . . . . . . . . .

government and the falls church city public schools

october 2-8, 2008

For more news about the Falls Church City Public Schools visit: www.fccps.org

Call for Outstanding Teacher Nominations Do you know a great teacher in the Falls Church City Public Schools who deserves recognition? Why not nominate him or her for the 20082009 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Translation: “Chilean students come to George Mason” to begin a two week cultural exchange and friendship-building among students on both sides of the equator.

The annual award is presented by the Washington Post to one teacher in each metropolitan area school system.

The winners will be recognized at a reception and will receive a $3000 cash award from the Washington Post.

The program’s goals are to recognize excellence in teaching, encourage creative and quality instruction, and contribute to improving education in the Washington metropolitan area.

Anyone can nominate a Falls Church City public school teacher for the honor. Additional information criteria and nomination forms are available at www.fccps.org/amota.

George Mason High School students traveled to Chile during spring break to immerse themselves in the South American country’s culture

and society. This fall, the Mustangs are returning the favor by hosting 18 Chilean students and two chaperones during their visit to the United States which concludes Saturday.

The exchange program, now in its fourth year, was created by former George Mason Spanish teacher Andrea deGatica, whose sister is an instructor in the Chilean school that hosted the Mustangs in the spring.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary teacher Jed Frei received the 2007-08 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award.

Printed copies can be requested by calling the school division’s central office at (703) 248-5600. Completed nomination packets are due in the central office by December 12, 2008.

The central office is located at 803 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, Va 22046.

SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES ARE SubjEcT To chAngE Testing now – 10/10 PALS (grades 1-3) now – 10/31 DRA Testing (grades 1-2)

Q/SRI Testing (grades 3-5) October 2 7:00 p.m. Sophomore/Junior Parent Night (GM) 7:00 p.m. Back-to-School Night (TJ) 7:15 p.m. Madison Co. @ Mason (Volleyball) 3

7:30 p.m. Goochland @ Mason (Football)

4

3:00 p.m. Masonstock!

Outdoor Concert (GM)

6

11:45 a.m. Mason @ Region B Tour.

(Golf) 6:45 p.m. Special Ed Advisory Committee (TJ) 7:15 p.m. Potomac Falls @ Mason (Volleyball)

7

Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch Ablevision .

Ablevision is a 30 minute show produced entirely by people with disabilities .

They’ve covered issues such as pet therapy, living as a blind person, and selfdefense for the handicapped . Ablevision airs on FCC-TV at the following times: FCC-TV airs on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2 . For more information about FCC-TV, or complete schedule of the variety of community programs on FCC-TV, visit www.fcctv.net or call 703-248-5538 .

BIE Partner of the Week Tavia Buchanan Apple Federal Credit Union School Involvement: Apple Federal Credit Union opened a studentrun branch at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School where teachers and students can open accounts and make deposits and withdrawals .

Why Tavia is a BIE partner: “Apple has partnered with 35 middle and high schools in recent years . The program is a unique way to introduce students to real-world banking . We are delighted to open our first Falls Church City branch this month .”

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

Run for the Schools attracts runners from all over the region

Despite soggy conditions, runners competed for cash and prizes at the 3rd Annual Run for the Schools on Sunday, September 28th. While the event hosted many out-of-state runners, most top prizes went to local residents. The top two overall male winners were Luis Navarro, Ellicott City, Md. (17 minutes, 57 seconds) and Mathew Dean, Falls Church, Va. (20 minutes, 19 seconds). Top two overall female winners were Elizabeth Jones, Falls Church, Va. (21 minutes, nine seconds) and Jinny Lay, Falls Church, Va. (22 minutes, 40 seconds). Top finishers received a $100 cash card from Commerce Bank or a weekend getaway at the Westin Arlington Gateway. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes in 6 age categories were also awarded at the post-run ceremony. Age group prizes were provided to winners by Brooks, Dogwood Tavern and Vantage Fitness For a complete listing of results, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.fcedf.org and go to Run for the Schools. Run for the schools is an annual fundraiser for the Falls Church Education Foundation.

School content published in The Weekly 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.

7:00 p.m. School Board Worksession (MEH) 7:15 p.m. Mason @ Clarke Co. (Volleyball)

FCC-TV Spotlight: Ablevision

• Mondays at 9:30 a .m . • Thursdays at 10:30 a .m . and 6:30 p .m .

703-536-8638 703-536-7564 703-237-6993 703-536-3130 703-533-1248 703-248-5601*

* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

GMHS Chilean Cultural Exchange “El intercambio escolar de los alumnos Chilenos viene a George Mason!”

703-534-4951 703-532-0321

8

5:00 p.m. Mason @ Rapp. Co. (Cross Country) 7:00 p.m. PTA (MEH)

Nearly 20 Chilean students wait for their George Mason hosts outside the school after arriving last week.

Ten ‘Commended’ at Mason Ten members of the George Mason High School Class of 2009 have earned the distinction of National Merit Commended Students, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced last week .

The students placed among the top five percent of the more than one million students who entered the 2008 competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test .

These ten students are in addition to the two George Mason National Merit Semifinalists announced last week .

9

6:30 p.m. Odyssey of the Mind (TJ) 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Pep Rally (GM)

10

7:45 a.m. Parent/Teacher Mini Conferences (GM) 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Game vs.

Manassas Park (Football)

11

TBA Mason @ Glory Days Invit.

(Cross Country) 8:00 p.m. Homecoming Dance (GM)

13

6:30 p.m. School Board Worksession 8:30 p.m. Regular School Board Meeting

George Mason National Merit Commended Students: (l to r - back) Nick Settje, Jack Brorsen, Johnny Vroom, Mayssa Chehata, Alexa Peyton, (front) Johanna Garg, Robert Hill, Will Walton, Janine Baumgardner and Amelia Nemitz.

Carter Named NAA Semifinalist A George Mason senior has been named a semifinalist in the 45th annual Achievement Scholarship Competition .

Maya Carter is among 1,600 African-American high school seniors nationwide receiving the honor having been chosen from more than 130,000 applicants .

The National Achievement Program, conducted by the GMHS interim principal Mary McDowell (l) conNational Merit Scholarship gratulates Maya Carter, a National Achievement Program honors academically Award semifinalist. Photo by: Christina Dacanay promising African-American students across the country . Since 1964, more than 27,000 young men and women have received awards totaling about $86 million . Finalists will be announced next Spring .

(MD) Mount Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High Check the FCCPS Web site for more calendar information. www.fccps.org

GMHS Principal Search Survey www.fccps.org/gmSurvey

Deadline Oct. 6th.

Survey input will be used to help craft the principal job description and advertising materials .

Page 38

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 Ag

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

October 2 - 8, 2008

Falls Church News-Press Vol lll, No. 29 • October 7, 1993

“Joseph R. Livinsky, Falls Church’s Director of Public Utilities for the last 11 years with a 26-year career in the department, leaves his job Friday, having been asked by City Manager David R. Lasso to resign. Livinsky told the ‘News-Press’ yesterday that Lasso gave him the option of resigning or being asked to leave. Lasso and members ...”

Continued from Page 10

In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said “we should never negotiate in fear or fear to negotiate.” Kennedy met in Vienna with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and was shocked at Khrushchev’s ranting, but

Falls Church News-Press Vol VIII, No. 30 • October 8, 1998

It is no the timw e for g o all o cows d to go to the aid of the ir pa stu re. *** **

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

“While the City Council develops its budget based on projected growth figures, we develop ours in a different way, based on what we perceive are our needs,” Falls Church School Board Chair John Durham told the News-Press yesterday in summarizing results of the School Board’s annual retreat. Durham said the School Board determined ...”

the U.S. and Soviet Union later set up a “hot line” to speed up communications in any crisis.

It served both nuclear-armed superpowers well during the Cuban missile crisis.

President Richard M. Nixon also initiated arms reduction talks with Moscow and ushered in an era of detente. With the Helsinki Accords, President Gerald R. Ford paved the way to breaking down Soviet trav-

el barriers in Eastern Europe.

Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan also took strong stands on the Cold War but stood ready to talk to Soviet leaders.

So the predecessors of President Bush understood the value of seeking rapprochements with antagonists. As part of the neo-con philosophy Bush invaded Iraq without giving the nation an honest reason for the war. America and Iraq have paid a heavy price for that war.

U.S. officials are hoping for “victory” in Iraq, but this is an impossible dream. With heavily armed American troops still in Baghdad, U.S. officials are speaking of winning the war.

McCain says it is a “must” and while casualties are down, the war is far from over. And

Traffic came to a crawl when this slightly muddy snapping turtle slowly made its way across Shreve Road traffic to Jefferson District Park. Cars were stopped in both directions, allowing the reptile ample space and time for its long journey. Most snapping turtles inhabit ponds, streams or lakes.

As omnivores, these turtles consume both plant and animal matter, including small mammals. Some people believe these turtles can be safely lifted by their tails, which is not true. This actually injures the turtle and should be avoided. Most turtles just prefer to be left alone, so they can bask in the sun perched on an old log or float quietly on the surface of shallow waters. the neo-cons, whose philosophy of empire building is being repudiated, have fled to the safe houses, universities and Washington right-wing think tanks.

The administration has found a way to diminish the num-

ber of Iraqi fighters by paying 90,000 Iraqis not to fight us.

When is the U.S. going to get its act together?

Let’s hope the new leader we pick on Nov. 4 will opt for peace and arms negotiations instead of mindless war.

ELISE TUB BY MTI

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Appointments Recommended To Schedule Call

www.noland.com

(703) 241-5000

October 2 - 8, 2008

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ACCOUNTING

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Diener & Associates, CPA.. . . . . . . . . 241-8807 Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . . 538-2394 Hassans Account & Tax Services . . . 241-7771 Mark Sullivan, CPA. . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511 Walsh & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448-0073 Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs. . . . . . 533-3777 n

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ATTORNEYS

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BANKING

Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co.. . . 519-1634 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505 Acacia Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506-8100 n

BOOK BINDING

BCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181 n

BUSINESS SERVICES CARPET CLEANING

Mike’s Carpet Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 978-2270 n

CATERING

Bubba’s Bar-B-Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560-8570

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COUNSELING

Drs. William Dougherty, Julie D. Tran 532-3300 Drs. Mark A. Miller, Melanie R. Love . 241-2911 Dr. Nimisha V. Patel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1993 n

EQUIPMENT RENTAL/SALE

VA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . . 207-2000 EZ Tool Rental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531-4700 Ace Tool & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 532-5600 n

EYEWEAR

Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500 n

FLORISTS

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FRAMING GIFTS

Stifel & Capra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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JEWELRY

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LAWN & GARDEN

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Caliber Mower Service & Repair . . . . 691-2995 Weaver Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323-9251 Lawn Care Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 691-2351 n

REAL ESTATE

Merelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218 www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196 Rosemary Hayes Jones. . . . . . . . . . .790-1990 Leslie Hutchison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675-2188 www.Mortgage1040.com . . . . . . . . . . 448-3508 The Young Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800 Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999 www.TheJeffersonatBallston.com . . . 741-7562 Susan Fauber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-8741

INSURANCE

www.ofallthebeads.com . . . . . . . . . . . 901-3738

PET SERVICES

Dog Trainer - Nicole Kibler. . . . . . . . . 593-6340 n

IMMIGRATION SERVICES

design2follow llc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-1610

Art and Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-4202 n

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Bob Snyder - Life/Health/Disability . . 449-0117 State Farm Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105 n

MUSIC

Academy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054 World Children’s Choir . . . . . . . . . . . . 883-0920 Columbia Institute - Fine Arts. . . . . . . 534-2508 Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393

CGA Immigration Associates, LLC. . . 578-3556 n

Galleria Florist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0770 Falls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333 n

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HOME CARE

Arlington Color Consultants . . . . . . . . 241-8548 Courthouse Kitchens & Baths . . . . . . 352-3011 Andy Group Construction. . . . . . . . . . 503-0350 Joseph Home Improvement. . . . . . . . 507-5005 FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . . 534-0630 Shiner Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560-7663 J & S Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448-1171 The Vinyl Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793-3111

MEDICAL

Dr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine. . 533-7555 The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy. . . . 536-4042

Human Touch Home Health. . . . . . . . 531-0540

CONSTRUCTION

DENTISTS

Sheraton Premiere Women’s Massage 403-9328 n

HEALTH & FITNESS

Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0140 Sacred Well Yoga and Healing . . . . . 989-8316

Carol S. Miller, LCSW . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-4980 Josette Millman, APRN . . . . . . . . . . . 855-0396

Jon Rizalvo, PAYCHEX . . . . 698-6910 x27045 n

COMPUTER SERVICES

GUTTERS & SIDING

Thomas Most - Gutters Cleaned . . . . 855-3031

Alba Construction, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-0733

AUTOMOTIVE

Beyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000 Swedish Motor Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-0988

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NADsys - Computer Sale & Repair. . . . . .534-3800 Systems Management Technology . 891-1491 x14

ASSISTED LIVING

Bose Law Firm: Former Police. . . . . . 926-3900 Mark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300 Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255 n

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Sunrise of Falls Church . . . . . . . . . . . 534-2700

CLEANING SERVICES

Direct Cleaning Services . . . . . . . . . . 858-4589 Pressure Washing/Deck, Siding. . . . . 980-0225 Liberty Chem Dry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-0239 Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922 Carpets, Ducts, Windows. . . . . . . . . . 823-1922

ARTS

Falls Church School of Ballet. . . . . . . 532-2221

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Dr. Solano, solanospine.com . . . . . . 536-4366 n

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Falls Church Antique Company . . . . . 241-7074 Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642

CHIROPRACTOR

TAILOR

Tailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886

TRAVEL

All Travel & Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970-4091

TUTORS

Your Computer Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-2821 TCY Learning Solutions, LLC. . . . . . . 371-9067

MASONRY

Mottern Masonry Design . . . . . . 571-212-1711 n

MASSAGE

Massage & Hair Removal . . . . . . .571-282-4522 Healthy by Intention, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 534-1321

All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be!

Visit Us Online

Snap a pic of your critter and email it to: CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM OR mail it to Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 450 W. Broad Street #321 Falls Church, Va 22046

www.fcnp.com News•Photos•Online Polls•Sports and More

Page 40

October 2 - 8, 2008

Two New Listing in Falls Church City - Open Sunday 1-4

Charming 2 bedroom cottage surrounded by an English country garden! Updated kitchen, HW floors, separate dining room with door to deck overlooking private rear yard. Walkout basement with rec room & loads of storage. Walk to restaurants, park, tennis, and express Bus to Metro. $449,000 Dir: 7 -Corners W. on Rt 7, L Wash St., R. on Westmoreland to 110

Merelyn Kaye Selling Falls Church Since 1970

Life Member, NVAR TopProducer Member 20+ Million Dollar Sales Club Top 1/2% of all Agents Nationwide

Pristine 4 Bedroom, 2 bath charmer located on 15,448 Sq Ft lot. Loads of updates! Kit with marble counters, HW floors, sunny LR w/FP and built-ins, stunning WO lower level w/large nearly new Rec Rm, BR & full bath. Private screen porch overlooks peaceful, lovely yard. Walk to express bus to Metro. $749,950 Dir: 7-Corners West on Rt 7, L on Berry St to 711

Home 241-2577 Office 790-9090 X418 Mobile 362-1112

Just Google â&#x20AC;&#x153;Merelynâ&#x20AC;?

For Your Real Estate Needs

1320 Old Chain Bridge Road McLean, Virginia 22101