October 26 – November 1, 2017
FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE
FOU N D ED 1991 • VOL. XXVI I NO. 36
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I����� T��� W��� M����� ����� G��� T�� OK F��� C��� C������ A final vote was taken Monday night by the Falls Church City Council to transfer a City-owner home, the Miller House, to Community Residences, Inc., to develop a group home for adults with intellectual disabilities. SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 8
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Former Interim F.C. School Chief Schiller Weighs In for Referendum
Esteemed Educator Opts to Endorse New GMHS Plan
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
NOVA Firearms is back for a second go-around in Falls Church after taking over The Gun Dude’s lease in September. With an added emphasis on security as well as community engagement, NOVA’s owners are looking to make their re-entry into the Little City as harmonious as possible. SEE PAGE 10
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Exiled by his movie-industry colleagues, Harvey Weinstein has taken refuge among the scorpions and cactuses of Arizona, where he’s immersed in what has been described as rehab. He certainly needs help. Or maybe he’s just a merciless tyrant and creep, and to dress him in clinical language is to let him off the hook. SEE PAGE 14
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George Mason Mustang football lost their third straight game with a lopsided 52-8 loss to Central High School last Friday on the road in Woodstock. SEE SPORTS, PAGE 28
INDEX
Editorial................... 6 Letters..................... 6 News & Notes 12–13 Comment ...........14-16 Calendar ......... 34–35
Sports .................28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........37 Business News ...30 Critter Corner......38 Classified Ads .....36
THE LONE INCUMBENT running for re-election to the School Board on Nov. 7, current board chair Lawrence Webb (far left, speaking) is �lanked by a host of new faces at last Friday’s School Board debate in the City Council chambers. (P����: N���-P����)
With 1 Incumbent, New Faces Highlight F.C. School Board Race
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Unlike the campaigns underway for the Falls Church City Council election on Nov. 7, where three of the five active candidates running are wellknown incumbents, there is only one incumbent among six candidates running for the Falls Church School Board in the election next month, which puts a greater burden on the voters in the City to get to know the five
new candidates and where they stand on the issues. A School Board candidates’ debate was scheduled to be held last night at the American Legion Hall, taking place too late for this edition. One held last Friday at City Hall gave the public a chance to view the candidates, but with the candidates expressing more in common than otherwise, it may have proven difficult for many among the full house of attendees to pick favorites.
Lawrence Webb, currently serving as chair of the School Board, is the only incumbent on the ballot. His history now goes back a dozen years, to when he was first elected as a new City resident to the City Council, where he served one four year term. As an incumbent and the chair of the board, Webb is the most enthusiastic supporter among the candidates for the passage of the
Continued on Page 5
A renowned educator with a lengthy career serving in highlevel administrative positions in public high school systems across the U.S. has weighed in with a ringing endorsement of a “yes” vote for the school bond referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot in the City of Falls Church. Dr. Robert Schiller, who stepped away from retirement last January to serve a critical four months as an interim superintendent of the Falls Church City Public Schools, issued a public statement this week contending that “an affirmative vote (on the referendum) will ensure the continuing success and achievement” of the Falls Church school system, “while sustaining Falls Church City’s reputation as a wonderful place to live and educate children.” In his 45-year career, Schiller has served as the superintendent of four school districts and two state school districts in his career, which included being called in as the CEO and CFO of the famous 1997 reorganization of the Baltimore School System and a period heading the City of Los Angeles School System with its 729,000 students. His tenure as an interim superintendent in Falls Church earlier this year came at a time when the School Board and City Council were wrestling with major issues concerning the future of the 65-year-old George Mason High School facility, and began evaluating what became 13 different options for moving forward. In that process, Schiller threw one option into the mix last February that became the subject of controversy when he suggested a
Continued on Page 4
PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMEBER 1, 2017
Learn the Facts. Secure our Future. Vote YES on Nov. 7th.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM What will take place if the referendum PASSES? • Fourteen-month planning phase allows detailed project review and negotiation of proposed economic development. • Bond financing takes place in three phases: Early 2018 issuance to cover project planning expenses; 2019 Phase I construction cost financing; 2020 Phase II construction/completion financing. • Bond issuances will be sized based on a final plan fine-tuned to maximize potential savings and leverage acceptable economic development.
Why is the school bond referendum taking place now? • 65-year old George Mason HS has not been updated since 1995. • For more than a decade, the City’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan has called for construction at GMHS. • After 10 years of study and expert review of 13 options, the School Board and City Council determined the most effective approach (fiscally responsible, forward-looking, minimally disruptive to students) is new construction. • Economic development of up to 10 acres at the site can significantly reduce the cost for taxpayers. Can Falls Church City afford issuance of up to $120 million in bonds? • Yes. Financial reserves have been built up and a long-term financing plan has been presented to bond rating agencies. These steps are designed to shore up the City’s ability to pay while softening the near-term burden on taxpayers. • Projected property tax increase related to the bond issuance after allowing for impact of economic development is $0.04 per $100 of assessed value, or $280 for the median $700,000 home.
• New high school opens for students in September 2021. What will take place if the referendum FAILS? • Critical improvements to infrastructure and facilities must be made to the existing GMHS campus within the next 5 years (estimated at $40 million or more). • Expansion to deal with current overcrowding and projected population growth will require up to a $30 million expenditure just for classrooms with no steps to address undersized and outdated cafeteria, auditorium and athletic facilities. • Financing for these critical improvements will have to be addressed immediately through tax increases or short-term bond issuances to match the incremental nature of the expenditure. No possibility exists for offsetting economic development.
DELAY, DEFER AND DENY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. Find more detailed information on project analysis, projected financial impact, and the path forward at www.yesforfallschurch.com.
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PAGE 4 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Schiller Urges Voters to Seize Opportunity
Continued from Page 1 low-cost hybrid solution that some in the community have continued to point to. However, Schiller made no reference to that in his recent statement, “The current high school facility for George Mason High students cannot be the school for the future. A replacement for GMHS is necessary and overdue by at least a decade...Though well-maintained, the building no longer serves the changing needs of students and the sophisticated programs and services of the 21st century.” The current superintendent, Dr. Peter Noonan, determined along with the current School Board members to refrain from outright advocacy for the referendum, adopting the posture of providing information for the citizens instead. Still, of the six candidates now running for four seats on the School Board in the Nov. 7 election, all but one is on record in support of a “yes” vote on the referendum. Supporters on the ballot include current School Board chair Lawrence Webb and four challengers, while the only opponent is challenger Alison Kutchma. In her statement on the bond vote submitted to the Falls Church
League of Women Voters (whose complete voter guide is published elsewhere in this edition of the News-Press), Kutchma wrote, “I will be voting No. The voters need to understand fully the financial risks and obligations before committing to the project. They do not. There are too many unknowns to vote Yes on a project of this size.” The only other candidate on the ballot with a negative view is incumbent City Council member Dan Sze, who was one of two No votes on the seven member Council to place the referendum on the ballot in July. His response to the League of Women Voters was to affirm that if passed, he will fully support the effort to “get the project done.” Otherwise, all five active Council candidates, including incumbents David Snyder and Marybeth Connelly, have taken stands in support of the referendum. Though not on the ballot this year, Council member Phil Duncan has taken a major role in arguing with a handful of citizens on the local “Falls Church Way” blog in defense of the risk mitigation factors in the project, including taking on Kutchma’s claim in the School Board candidates debate last week that the economic de-
velopment component of the development project would involve “1,000 new apartments.” Also, in a question to City Manager Wyatt Shields in this Monday’s Council meeting, Snyder elicited a confirmation that under the terms of the referendum, no sale of any of the $120 million in bonds for the new school would occur without agreements in hand for the 10-acre economic development portion of the project that meet the approval of the Council. Some critics of the referendum have been accused in the online exchanges of “obfuscation and deceit,” being “caustic and defamatory,” in claiming that the referendum is based on “blind faith” and “overly dramatic stories.” The impact of large scale mixed-use projects on growing school enrollment numbers was one bone of contention, with Duncan citing that of the 2,670 Falls Church School System students, only eight percent have come from the seven mixed use condo or rental apartment buildings that have opened in the last 15 years. While others disputed that number, Duncan argued that “because of their low public service costs, these seven buildings, taken together, are strongly revenue
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
positive for the City. They pay far more taxes than they cost in public expenditures.” In his statement this week, Schiller said, “As a small city, Falls Church faces a challenging situation, a critical need for an infusion of a new and substantial revenue stream to fund a high school facility and other City capital projects. The City also has, within its grasp,
the opportunity to tap that revenue stream. Many other communities would be envious of this opportunity. Don’t waste it!” He added, “The decision to advance a bond referendum to construct a completely new GMHS and to dedicate 10 acres for development is the best informed and most strategic decision for the City.”
VOTE Ross Litkenhous Falls Church City Council
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LO CA L
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Aspiring Newcomers to School Board Come from a Variety of Backgrounds Continued from Page 1
school bond referendum on the ballot next month, as he played an integral role in every aspect of the deliberations and decision making that went into the ultimate decision made late last July to ask voters to approve the referendum which will give the Council and the School Board sanction to borrow up to $120 million for purposes of construction a new George Mason High School facility. “I am a 100 percent supporter” of passing the referendum, Webb said at last Friday’s debate, which was co-sponsored by the Falls Church League of Women Voters and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society. But he had a lot of other candidates chiming in likewise, including Greg Anderson, Shawna Russell, Richard Crespin and Shannon Litton, all enthusiastic in their support for it. The only opponent among the candidates is Alison Kutchma, a 15-year resident of the City with three children who’ve graduated from the Falls Church School
System. She was an unsuccessful candidate among eight contenders for the School Board two years ago. She cited a lack of transparency in the deliberative process for her opposition, saying that sufficient details of the plans were not made available to the citizenry. “We need responsibility and transparency in financial management,” she said. “We need to be proactive in professional development and to be good stewards of our money.” All of the candidates spoke glowingly of the Falls Church system’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which now covers all grades from kindergarten through the 12th grade, and the system is the only one in the state that does so. Greg Anderson, a scientist, came to Falls Church in 2009 with a child who began at Mt. Daniel and is now a freshman at George Mason High. Since moving here, he’s volunteered as a technology expert for the schools. Standing for civil discourse, he said, “I’m committed to public service and I want to serve my community as a
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 5
School Board member.” Richard Crespin describes himself as “a lifelong entrepreneur and business owner” who wants to make sure that a dollar’s worth of results derives from every dollar spent. “I’m running in part to show my children that a life spent in public service is a life well spent,” he said. Shannon Litton has lived in Falls Church for over a decade and wants the Falls Church Schools to “be a world class system that meets the needs of all learners.” She has three children in the schools, and while supporting passage of the school bond referendum, she said “we must consider plans for commercial development (10 acres on the school site) carefully and cautiously.” Shawna Russell moved to Falls Church a dozen years ago “being drawn here by the sterling reputation of the public schools” for her two children. She’s “fallen in love,” she said, “With the warm community feel of a small town.” She’s spent many hours volunteering and is the president of the Elementary PTA.
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Barbara Johns High School
Tonight is apparently the big night when the Fairfax County School Board convenes at the Luther Jackson Middle School near the intersection of Route 50 and Gallows Road in the greater Falls Church area of Fairfax County to decide on a new name for the high school that currently goes by the name of a Confederate General, J.E.B. Stuart High School. Stuart was a man who took a leadership role in killing many fellow American citizens in order to perpetuate slavery. Tonight promises to be a momentous and historic occasion, and we urge the board to rise to the occasion of just that, to proudly stand up for racial and social justice, and to resolutely correct that badly-stained, racist decision made in the 1950s to apply that murderous Confederate J.E.B. Stuart name in retaliation for the 1954 Supreme Court decision to racially integrate America’s public schools. These types of moves are symbolic, yes. But that does not mean they’re not important. In this case, it definitely matters, just as Black Lives Matter. Our nation still has a long way to go to redress the evils of slavery and other forms of institutionalized cruelty that are a regrettable part of our history. We’ve learned in the recent period that, sadly, racial prejudice is still a big part of our nation’s history. So, taking the step to resolutely and without apology repudiate this is what the school board has the opportunity to do tonight, and it should not let it pass. When undertaking something of the highly moral nature of this, there is no room for wishy-washy and unsatisfying compromises. Reports that the new name favored by a number on the school board may be something as generic and nondescript as “Justice” High School is troubling in this regard. It would be, as they say, surprisingly “vanilla” and we are fearful it would become the subject of derision for its spineless and empty content. Justice? Whose justice? In Mississippi this month, when a move was taken to expunge the name of a Confederate from a local school, the matter didn’t take two years. It took two weeks. The new name of the school is Barack Obama. Now, that’s the kind of decisiveness in the face of a clarion call for real, serious justice that this kind of matter calls for. It appears that a consensus among the activists who’ve taken up this cause, from the time not long ago when it was just a group of students and considered dead in the water, wants the school named for high school racial integration activist Barbara Rose Johns. We support that choice. The affront associated with the J.E.B. Stuart name was directed against the African-American community and anyone who supported school integration. It would not make up for that to name the school for anyone who was not a living, breathing African-American hero. We urge the school board to go for that historic and momentous choice.
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Call for Tolerance During & After November Election Editor, “Believe it or not, reasonable people can disagree on issues…. It would be shameful and ironic if the discussions about the education of our future leaders are full of vitriol, confrontation, accusations, disrespect, and divisiveness rather than community, listening, constructive criticism, and compromise.” The words above come from a letter published right here a year and a half ago on the tone of
budget discussions, yet they seem truer than ever as we approach voting on the referendum to fund a new high school. I have witnessed individuals — on both sides — disrespect or intimidate others, acting as though anyone who disagrees is wrong, ill-informed, doesn’t care about children, or doesn’t care about rising taxes. Elected leaders have been attacked despite sacrificing a lot of time to serve our community and often
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putting the City before their own jobs or family. Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, on Nov. 8 we will still be neighbors, walking dogs past each other’s houses, bumping into each other at the farmer’s market or block party, borrowing sugar, taking classes at the community center, or cheering our children on the soccer fields. Whether the bond passes or fails, the only certainty is that there will still be many difficult decisions to make. Unless we act as community, listening and tolerating dialogue and disagreements, our challenges will be even greater. Erik Pelton Falls Church
Headline Not Clear On Sze’s Referendum Position Editor, Please explain your Oct. 19 page 1 headline “Sze Shifts on Bond Referendum.” The text of the article merely states that while Councilman Sze voted against putting the referendum on the ballot, he expects the referendum to pass in November. I see nothing more. Should it pass, your article cites him saying he will support the building of the school.
Letters Continued on Page 25
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
CO MME NT
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 7
G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� Barbara Rose Johns Should Be Stuart High’s New Name B� K�� L�������
With the vote by the Fairfax County School Board to rename Stuart High School scheduled for tonight, Oct. 26, I would like to summarize why I believe that “Barbara Rose Johns High School,” is the most appropriate and strongest name for our high school and to ask the School Board to support that name on Thursday. “Barbara Rose Johns,” or “Barbara Johns Powell,” is a unifying name that is acceptable to all who support a new name. All of the young people who appeared before you – black, white, mixed race, Asian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim – asked you to rename their school in honor of Ms. Johns. I heard no objections to the name of this young Virginia hero. When I first proposed Barbara’s name, I assumed that given increasing attention to disadvantages that women and girls face in schools, employment and politics, Democratic women on the School Board would be keenly interested in naming a high school after a young woman who did so much for Virginia and America. However, the argument for supporting a Barbara Rose Johns High School goes beyond recognizing the heroic achievements and contributions of this young woman, impressive as they were; the main goal is to encourage and validate the concerns and ambitions of young women including the ten who appeared before you advocating for a school named after someone like them-
selves. Indeed, support in our community for naming one of our high schools in honor of a woman is growing. In the community vote, twelve women’s names received a
“However, black Virginians have a special connection with the name of this school... Therefore, we think it �itting and just that our views on a new name should be given special consideration.”
combined total of 1,005 points, more than for Stuart, Justice Marshall, Mendez or Peace Valley. I believe that “Justice,” “Marshall,” “Mendez” or “Peace Valley” are not the most suitable names for several reasons. Justice Marshall deserves the many honors he has received. But for this purpose his name would confusing and add little to his renown. There are already 69 schools named after Mr. Marshall, and “Justice” is clearly a substitute for “Marshall,” as “Stuart” is a stand in for “J.E.B. Stuart.”
“Justice” would be a confusing name subject to various characterizations. To some it would refer to a moral and legal concept, to others it would refer to Justice Marshall, and to others, Justice Antonin Scalia. A high school named after Johns, on the other hand, would be in accord with the spirit and letter of School Board Regulation 8170.7 and could not be confused with any other school in the area. “Mendez” does not enjoy broad support. It was a last minute alternative to the two black names, Johns and Marshall. This proposal, which did not come from the Hispanic community, received only 328 points, compared to 737 for Johns and 763 for “Justice/Marshall.” Significantly, I think, support for Justice and Marshall came primarily from the residents of Lake Barcroft. “Peace Valley,” trailing with 494 points, would be the first Fairfax County high school named after its street location. Stuart, which began as a school for whites only, now has a very diverse student body. However, black Virginians have a special connection with the name of this school. The Civil War was fought over slavery. “Massive resistance” and the naming of “Stuart” were designed to keep us out of schools like Stuart. These tactics were aimed at us and no one else. Therefore, we think it fitting and just that our views on a new name should be given special consideration. We think it fair to use this opportunity
to honor civil rights leaders, particularly the frequently invisible black women who risked their lives to open our schools not only to African Americans but to everyone. That is why, with the exception of a very few people, the black communities support a “Barbara Rose Johns High School.” By the way, the more things change, the more they remain the same. A year ago, in a letter to the editor in the Falls Church News Press, I noted, “There are 26 (sic) high schools in Fairfax County. Not one is named after a female, a person of color, or a young person.” Since then, I discovered that there is only one high school in Virginia – Maggie Walker, a regional magnet high school in Richmond City – named after a woman. Of course Virginia has many high schools named after men, including at least one honoring a colored man, Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk. If “Stuart” becomes “Justice” this will still be true. “Justice” has neither gender, race nor age. Already, I have heard several people ask, “Why does Fairfax County find it so difficult to name a high school after an African American? Why an abstract concept instead of a real Virginia hero, who was female and black?” How long is this injustice to continue? Ken Longmyer is a parent to a student at J.E.B. Stuart High School.
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Fa l l s C h u r c h
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Miller House Finally OK’d by F.C. Council The final vote was taken Monday night by the Falls Church City Council to transfer a City-owned home, the Miller House at 366 N. Washington St., to Community Residences, Inc., to develop and operate a group home with four group home beds for adults with intellectual disabilities. The sale will be for $1 and the City will transfer $300,000 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services. The existing home, which has been in the City’s hands since 1973 and was previously used as a group home for adults with disabilities, will be demolished within 120 days and a new accessible group home for four persons and one supported living apartment for low to moderate will be constructed by May 2019. The assessed value of the property is $460,000.
F.C. Council OK’s Lease for Temporary City Hall Digs
VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th AUTHORIZED BY RE-ELECT SHERIFF BITTLE CAMPAIGN DEMOCRAT FOR SHERIFF Paid for by Re-Elect Sheriff Bittle Campaign
As the reconstruction and renovation effort at the Falls Church City Hall looms, the F.C. City Council Monday OK’d the execution of a 12-month lease of 7,916 feet of temporary office space at $17 per square foot at 400 N. Washington St. to be occupied during the City Hall construction starting January 1, 2018. The cost of the lease will be $117,691. The space is needed to house staff and serve the public during the City Hall renovation effort. The City will relocate staff to the Property Yard, Gage House and the leased space. Police operations will be moved to the Property Yard, Public Safety Dispatch operations will be relocated to the Fire Station on N. Washington, Human Services will be relocated to the Gage House, the Registrar of Voters, Economic Development office and Sheriff will move to new swing space in City Hall and all other City officers will relocate to the 400 N. Washington location. Efforts remain underway concerning the relocation of other uses, including the courts, the City Council, School Board, Planning Commission and other board and commission meetings, probably to a combination of the Community Center, School Board offices and Henderson Middle School sites.
F.C. Property Taxes Revenues Up for 1st Quarter Falls Church’s new Director of Finance Kiran Bawa presented the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1 to September 30, 2017) City revenue and expenditure results to the City Council Monday night, and while all the data remains too preliminary to establish any important trends, Bawa reported, the most notable was a jump of $408,000 above projections in personal property tax revenues, eight percent above expectations associated with the addition of 177 cars in the first quarter and a boost of 20 percent for business equipment and furniture. Meals taxes were up from expectations, but sales tax revenues were slightly behind. Expected revenue from licenses and permits was down, primarily attributed to the delay in the Founder’s Row project.
Sierra Club Endorses 5 F.C. Council Candidates Adding to its earlier endorsements of incumbents Marybeth Connelly and Dan Sze, the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club announced yesterday its endorsement of three more Council candidates on the Nov. 7 election ballot, bringing to all five of the active campaigns its blessing. Ross Litkenhous, Dan Maller and incumbent David Snyder joined to the list.
DMV in City of F.C. Announced for November The City of Falls Church Commissioner of the Revenue announced this week the opportunities for Department of Motor Vehicle services in The Little City in November. The full-service “DMV 2 Go” bus will be in front of City Hall, 330 Park Ave., on Friday, November 3 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The accessible mobile office provides all DMV transactions including applying for and renewing driver’s licenses, applying for hunting and fishing licenses, obtaining E-Z pass transponders, obtaining ID cards (including photos) and Virginia’s veterans ID cards, obtaining copies of driving records, vehicle titles, license plates, decals, and transcripts, obtaining certified copies of Virginia vital records including birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, ordering disabled parking placards or plates, taking road and knowledge tests and, updating an address after a move for DMV and voter registration. The limited “DMV Connect” service for conducting all DMV transactions listed above, except providing vital records and knowledge testing, will be at the American Legion, 400 N. Oak St., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, Thursday, Nov. 15, and Friday, Nov. 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. All customers who intend on visiting either the limited “DMV Connect” service or the full-service “DMV 2 Go Bus” should bring the necessary documention in order to complete transactions.
PAGE 9 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMEBER 1, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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PAGE 10 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
NOVA Firearms Returns to Falls Church After Taking Over The Gun Dude’s Lease BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Local gun store NOVA Firearms re-entered Falls Church last month, taking over the lease of former gun store, the Gun Dude Cafe, at its site above Bedo’s Leatherworks. City residents are likely somewhat acquainted with the returning store — the business was previously in the same location it is now before relocating to McLean in 2013. In addition, NOVA Firearms also had a short stint in Falls Church proper when it opened amid controversy across the street from St. James School on West Broad St. in February 2016 before closing just two months later. Back then the establishment suffered from some internal conflict when one of its investors had a different vision for a gun store’s role in the community, according to coowner Rachel Dresser. When a wind storm caused a patio umbrella from Einstein Bros. Bagels’ to cut loose and break store windows, owner-
ship determined it wasn’t the right time to set up shop in Falls Church. Now roughly a year and a half later, NOVA Firearms has returned under new management, though that wasn’t planned either. With a Republican president, the gun industry cooled and caused NOVA to downsize. A new landlord was ready to bring them onboard in McLean, but a Facebook post erroneously accused co-owner JB Gates of participating in August’s “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville and gave the landlord cold feet. Fortunately, the Gun Dude was closing up shop and owner Joshua Karrasch offered to pass the baton off to Dresser and Gates for their second stay in Falls Church. “We weren’t aware of the nature of Falls Church and how close everything was,” Dresser said. “It was after we sat down and talked with [Karrasch] and let him know we didn’t mean to step on his toes with our business [back in 2016]. That led to [Karrasch] being hugely helpful with us. We wouldn’t have
made it through that four-week period of no business if not for him.” City of Falls Church Chief of Police Mary Gavin believes that Karrasch put forth a good template for the NOVA owners to follow. The openness the Gun Dude possessed about discussing gun ownership along with the infrastructure such as gun cages in the store’s back helped insure there’d be less overhead costs for NOVA. NOVA is looking to take that a step further and introduce themselves to the City’s elected officials during the public comment section at a City Council meeting in the near future. The store also received a big leg-up from Bedo’s familiarity with the business. “He wasn’t afraid of the industry,” Dresser continued. “He knows the regulations, and that we have the cages and the security. We understand we’re a target...We’re a desirable [entity] with high regulations so people who think we don’t meet those regulations will try to come after us.”
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
ALL DISPLAY items are locked away at night. (P����: N���-P����) Bedo’s being accustomed to the gun industry is important for NOVA to land its lease, but it doesn’t mean that residents are willing to greet them with that same acceptance. “They should change their name. [Former owner] Dennis Pratt had a bad reputation,” Carol Luten said. Luten, a Falls Church resident, is a local anti-gun violence advocate who stages monthly vigils outside the National Rifle Association’s Fairfax office while also pushing legislation that would restrict access to gear such as suppressors and assault rifles. “They should also consider having a softer marketing touch for Falls Church. A sign that has a bullet in it is not welcoming,” she said. Luten added that she thinks the store should conduct universal background checks (which are required
for federally licensed firearms dealers) as well as provide training with gun purchases. One final area of concern is the sale of bump-fire stock attachments, that gained both notoriety and popularity following the mass shooting in Las Vegas. The attachment, which allow legal semi-automatic gunfire to mimic illegal fully automatic gunfire, are also not a part of the store’s inventory and never have been due to a lack of interest in local gun owners. For now, the focus for NOVA is about fostering a connection with the community and increasing awareness about gun facts to ease any possible tension. Luten believes that hosting a joint forum between her group of advocates and the owners of NOVA can provide an opportunity for locals to do just that.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 11
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HAUNTED FIGURES await to challenge the nerves of brave (child-age) souls that dare venture over to the Sleepy Hollow Manor neighborhood. (P����: P������� L�����)
Sleepy Hollow Receives Ghoulish Makeover for 8th Successive Year BY PATRICIA LESLIE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night are not always make-believe. In Falls Church’s Sleepy Hollow Manor neighborhood, a witch’s flyover unearthed life-sized creatures at a normally quaint house. This is the place where Frankenstein can be seen rising from his coffin, a ferocious threefaced dog named “Fluffy” barks, growls and emits smoke, and giant, creepy spiders with legs as long as broomsticks can almost reach out and touch someone found meandering through their spooky spider tunnel. The “Sleepy Hollow Halloween Maze” is the ever-expanding creation of Cat Tallant who’s been working on her passion for constructing monsters with flashing red eyes, werewolves and other Halloween delights for neighborhood children of all ages in her eighth season of free entertainment for the community. “I do it because I love it,” Tallant said while clicking a handheld device to ignite the howls of growling scarecrows and standing cadavers. No knives, gore or chainsaws for her, please. That’s not Tallant’s talent. She goes in for the traditional: the witches, pumpkins and zombies with fangsome teeth and bewitching
grimaces. All she needs to craft her scares are duct tape, zip ties and a prayer and away she goes, building the new and patching the old. Though Tallant warns that the very young may still be too frightened. “I love the season and have always loved Halloween,” Tallant gleams in her devilish play place. This real estate agent, nurse and a student builds her own props. This year she’s added a lighted maze to the front yard where a tall burlap fence guides thrill seekers on a scary trail to the back yard. There, sound effects greet guests who pay a visit to the gruesome cemetery with a skeleton swinging over a pond, ghosts flying in trees and bodies rising from tombs. Surprises await at the turning of every back, including a special one for Tallant’s daughter, Ashlynne, 26, who doesn’t know it yet, but crawling up a ladder to her bedroom window are a zombie bride and groom, an early wedding present from her mom. (Ashlynne is getting married next year and is not quite as enthusiastic about her mom’s passion as are other family members.) “When my daughters were little-little, I started collecting props and building a Halloween village” which has grown over the years, too, and now lies about 20 feet long in “Dracula’s Mansion.” Tallant estimates she spent $10,000 last year on new items and equipment; annual expendi-
tures normally range from $4,500 to $6,000. About 300 batteries are the norm, and she doesn’t have any idea what all this costs electricitywise since her bill is averaged over 12 months. “I never looked to see,” she said. Her biggest concerns “are the cars and keeping everyone safe,” making sure no one trips or falls, or gets bitten by a vampire or spider. (Witch’s salve may help.) With her other daughter, Abigail, 24, Tallant has been assembling, taping and repairing the presentation full-time since September. They’ll be working right up until show time which begins Saturday at 6 p.m., before they take it all down after Halloween. Tallant invites everyone to come and take a prowl and join the 100 or so who visit nightly. Last Sunday evening she led neighborhood children on a scream advance. Her neighbors don’t mind the spectacle, Tallant said: “They are great and are so supportive. We’ve got the greatest neighborhood!” Sometimes they help with the supplies, but a few have put their houses on the market. Perhaps they’re scared off by creepy, crawly things or thin red eyeballs which blink and glow in the dark. The haunted trail is open at 6415 Carolyn Drive, Saturday through Tuesday nights, 6 – 9 p.m until it closes for the year at the end of Halloween night. Beware the jumping giant spider.
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PAGE 12 | OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2017
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Community News & Notes
SPROUTING UP all across the window panes of Falls Church businesses are these Halloween-centric designs, such as this one painted onto the front of the Doodlehopper 4 Kids on West Broad St. The paintings took place between Oct. 7 – 14 and have run the gamut from typical fare of Halloween ghouls, goblins and witches to classic takes on the holiday such as the Peanuts inspired right window. (Photo: News-Press)
Tinner Hill Foundation’s 20th Annual Meeting
Lyft Offering Free Rides for Halloween Weekend
The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation invites the general public, with a special emphasis on the Falls Church community, to its annual meeting on Thursday, Oct. 26 at the American Legion Post 130 (400 N Oak St., Falls Church). This year is Tinner Hill’s 20th year since incorporation. Also, this spring the foundation will be hosting the 25th annual Tinner Hill Blues Festival, as well as a number of events leading up the festival. The foundation will be talking about what it has in store for the people in the Falls Church community throughout 2018. Light refreshments will be served at the metting. The public is invited, as well as all the incumbent and prospective officials who are running in the upcoming election.
Preparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half (45 percent) of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, free Halloween Lyft rides will be offered to deter impaired driving throughout Falls Church on Saturday, Oct. 28. Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2017 Halloween SoberRide program will be in operation beginning at 10 p.m. on Oct. 28 and continue until 4 a.m. on Sunday, October 29, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday. During this six-hour period, area residents age 21 and
ENJOYING some of the down-home tunes of the Leesburg Pike Bluegrass Band are these two young visitors to the Falls Church Arts Open House held at The Kensington this past weekend. The two boys were quite entranced with the bluegrass band’s music and caused quite a spectacle for passersby at the Open House as they would stop and soak in the music. (Photo: Courtesy Gary Mester)
older celebrating with alcohol may download Lyft to their phones, then enter the code DCHALLOWEEN in the app’s “Promo” section to receive their no cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. The SoberRide code is valid for the first 1,500 Lyft users who enter the code. The charity also offers its SoberRide program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and the winter holidays this year starting on Dec. 15 and operating through and including New Year’s Eve.
Trunk or Treat at Columbia Baptist this Saturday Columbia Baptist will host Trunk or Treat on Oct. 28 from noon – 2 p.m. at its Falls Church campus (103 W Columbia St., Falls Church). The free community event will offer inflatables,
a pumpkin patch and obstacle course, crafts, cotton candy, popcorn and over 40 themed trunks for trick or treating. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Lunch will be available for a small fee. For more information, contact Kim Murphy at Columbia Baptist Church, 703-534-5740 (x263) or kmurphy@columbiabaptist.org; or visit the church’s website at columbiabaptist.org/trunkortreat.
Friends of Pimmit Barn Host Annual Fall Festival The Friends of Pimmit Barn annual fall festival is on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The festival will have a costume contest, story time, cake walk, face-painting and more. In addition, there will be a raffle with lots of wonderful prizes donated by the local business. In case of
inclement weather, event may be postponed. For more information, email PimmitBarn@gmail.com or visit the festival’s website at pimmitbarn.org and Facebook page facebook.com/pimmitbarn
New Dominion Chorale Kicks Off 27th Season New Dominion Chorale will begin its 27th season on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church (7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean). The program, entitled “Songs Celestial,” will be conducted by Thomas Beveridge, Artistic Director, and will feature organist Paul Skevington, baritone James Shaffran and countertenor Chris Dudley. Other featured instrumentalists include flautist Karen Johnson, harpist Cecile Schoon, bassist Jeffrey Koczela and per-
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cussionist Manny Arciniega. The concert will feature the premiere performance of Beveridge’s “Song of Celestial Love” with a text by the 19thcentury Hindu saint, Sri Ramakrishna, for chorus and an unusual combination of instruments: alto flute, harp, bass viol and tabla (Indian drum). Other works on the program: “Chichester Psalms” by Leonard Bernstein, “Five Mystical Songs” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Three Divine Hymns” by Sergei Rachmaninov, “Cantique de Jean Racine” by Gabriel Fauré, and Franz Schubert’s “Deutsche Messe.” Dr. Skevington, now in his 25th season as the Minister of Music and Liturgy at St. Luke Church, will play Olivier Messiaen’s “Apparition de l’église éternelle” on the church’s 61-rank pipe organ. The 200-voice New Dominion Chorale is one of the Washington area’s largest choral societies. Its performances have been praised in The Washington Post as “opulent, precise and powerful.” In addition to its performances at St. Luke Church, the Chorale performs regularly at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria. The Chorale has also performed at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington Hebrew Congregation and the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Chorale has performed most of the standard works for large chorus and orchestra and has given the premiere performances of Thomas Beveridge’s works, including “Symphony of Peace” and “Yizkor Requiem,” which has received over 25 performances in the United States and Europe and has been recorded twice on the Naxos Label: by The Choral Arts Society of Washington and by The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
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OCTOBER 26 - NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 13
Prescription Drug Takeback Day this Saturday On Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the City of Falls Church Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will offer the community a chance to help prevent pill abuse and theft by emptying their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Residents should bring their pills for disposal to the Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Note that the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Tinner Hill & Dulin Plan “Race and Reconciliation” The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and Dulin United Methodist Church (513 E. Broad St., Falls Church) will hold a Race and Reconciliation service from 4 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at Dulin. Speakers will include the Reverend Laura Martin of Rock Spring Congregational Church in Arlington. Rev. Martin was
THE BAHA’IS of Falls Church City hosted a community celebration for the 200th Anniversary of the birth of the faith’s founder, Baha’u’llah, on Saturday, October 21, in Cherry Hill Park. There the youth performed a song about the importance of unity to the approximately 80 people in attendance. Local resident Layli Miller-Muro (founder and CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, a national non-pro�it) also gave a presentation re�lecting on the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah, which include the importance of community service, the equality of men and women and justice. (P����: C������� P���� A�������) a leader of the triage teams in Charlottesville and assisted the first wounded to be brought to the hospital, including a woman who required over a dozen stitches to close a wound. Pastor James Page of Galloway United Methodist Church in Falls Church and the Rev. John Ohmer, rector of the Falls Church Episcopal, will also speak. Pastor Dave Kirkland of Dulin will speak and then moderate the discussion, during which people will be encouraged to express their concerns and ask questions. Tinner Hill President Alex Boston will chair the meeting. Afterward, a reception of rec-
t lec E Re
onciliation will be held at the church. For additional information, please contact Tinner Hill at 703241-4109.
American Legion Hosting Food Drive Until Nov. 13 American Legion Post 130 (400 N Oak St., Falls Church) is having a food drive starting this week and running until Monday, Nov. 13. The post is also collecting unwrapped toys until Dec. 10 as well, when the toys will be donated to Toys for Tots. Both donated food and toys can be dropped off seven days a week
between 3:30 – 9 p.m at the American Legion Post.
Neighborhood Tree Planting Day Takes Place Oct. 28 Join local volunteers in planting street trees throughout the city. Street trees shade local streets, cool and clean the air and beautify the neighborhoods. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather and also bring gloves and shovels if you have them. 8:30 a.m. – noon. For exact start location, contact Seth Heminway at heminway.seth@gmail.com or call City Arborist, Kate Reich at 703-248-5183.
DAVID F.
FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL Excellent Schools & City Services Commercial Development That Lowers the Tax Rate & Respects Neighborhoods Local & Regional Leadership For more information, please visit: www.snyderforfallschurch.com th
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CO MME NT
PAGE 14 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Congressman Beyer’s Commentary
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
The Arts Council of Fairfax County presented its annual Arts Awards on Friday, and Dan Sheehy of Mason District was honored with the 2017 Arts Achievement Award. Most residents may be familiar with Dan as the founder and leader of the wildly popular Mariachi Los Amigos, which began in his Bailey’s Crossroads basement in 1978. But Dan’s musical reach extends far beyond the Beltway. With a PhD in ethnomusicology from UCLA, Dan was recruited to develop the Smithsonian’s annual Folklife Festival. Later, he served as the director of the National Endowment for the Arts Folk and Traditional Arts program, and later returned to the Smithsonian to direct the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and become curator of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, which has received five Grammy Awards. Although Dan retired from the Smithsonian last year, he continues to perform with Mariachi Los Amigos, and help the world understand itself better by experiencing the world’s diverse music and cultures. Although he has received national and international awards for his work, Dan eschews the spotlight on himself, always highlighting the work of others. Dan Sheehy certainly is a national treasure, but he’s also our neighbor, and deserves our thanks and congratulations for his many contributions to the colorful tapestry that makes up our community and our world. Other recipients of the 2017 Arts Awards were Todd Hitt — Arts Philanthropy Award; Washington West Film Festival – Emerging Arts Award; and Dewberry — Jinx Hazel Arts Award. This year’s awards were designed by Reston artist Wayne Schiffelbein, using mill aluminum to create unique stabiles and mobiles for each award. As Dan Sheehy
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
remarked, “I’m going to need a bigger bookcase!” The Arts Council also announced it’s rebranding as ArtsFairfax, with a new colorful logo, but the same mission: to foster a dynamic and diverse arts scene throughout Fairfax County, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, by providing vision, leadership, advocacy, funding, and education. In the cacophony of campaign ads for Virginia’s November 7 statewide elections, one important ballot measure in Fairfax County may have been overlooked. The 2017 Public School Bonds Referendum asks Fairfax County voters to consider whether to approve a $315 million school bond. If approved, the bond funds would support planning and construction of two new elementary schools, additions at three existing high schools, including Stuart, and planning or renovation for 15 other schools. At long last, Annandale Terrace and Braddock Elementary Schools, both serving Mason District students, and Falls Church High School are on that list. Fairfax County’s AAA bond rating is one of the highest in the nation, and indicates confidence in the county’s strong financial performance. The AAA bond rating lowers the county’s borrowing costs, and has saved taxpayers nearly $800 million in interest on bond and refunding sales. Virginia law requires that voters approve general obligation bonds through a referendum. If approved, the Board of Supervisors will be authorized to sell bonds for the purpose described; if not approved by the voters, the county cannot issue bonds for that purpose. I hope you will join me in voting “YES” on the school bond referendum. It’s a good investment now and for future generations. Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Where I Stand On Gun Legislation BY DONALD S. BEYER
All of us were horrified by the mass shooting in Las Vegas weeks ago, the worst in modern American history. Since that day hundreds more Americans have been shot. The epidemic is with us constantly, inflicting suffering and death on American families. I strongly believe that Congress has a moral duty to act on this crisis. Preventing gun violence has been a major priority since I took office. I participated in the House sit-in to demand solutions to gun violence, and remain outspoken on this issue. Here are my positions on some legislation related to firearms and gun violence: Gun Violence Restraining Orders: Data shows that many acts of gun violence, particularly suicides and mass shootings, are committed by people in moments of crisis. I introduced the Gun Violence Restraining Order Act (HR 2598) with Rep. Carbajal to give families and law enforcement the chance to remove gun access from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others. This measure has already proven effective in Connecticut and California. Background Checks: I support requiring a background check for every gun purchase. I also support targeted measures to restrict gun access from people convicted of hate crimes (HR 2841) or domestic violence (HR 2670). Weapons of War: The Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment is not an unlimited right. There is no need for civilians to own military-style rifles, expanded-capacity ammunition magazines, and armor-piercing bullets. I support and cosponsor legislation to ban the sale of these weapons of war outside of law enforcement and the military. I am a cosponsor of the Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act, which would ban devices, including bump stocks like the ones used in Las Vegas, which effectively transform semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. Research and Legal Recourse: The gun lobby has held
significant influence in Congress for decades, and that influence has bought the gun industry protections which no other industry receives. I support lifting the ban on CDC research into causes and possible remedies for gun violence (HR 1478), and have cosponsored a bill to lift legal protections with which Congress has shielded gun manufacturers from liability for malfeasance and wrongdoing. Additionally, I cosponsored legislation to create a Select Committee in the House to investigate causes and propose legislative solutions that could reduce the number of Americans killed by guns every year. Silencers, the SHARE Act, and Concealed Carry Reciprocity: In 2016 I led the charge against the SHARE Act, a bill which would end environmental and wildlife protections as well as deregulate certain armorpiercing ammunition and loosen restrictions on some interstate firearm trafficking. This year that bill is back, and its Republican sponsors have added a measure to deregulate firearm suppressors, commonly known as silencers. I fought this bill in Committee and voted against it, and will continue to strongly oppose both the SHARE Act and any bill to reduce restrictions on silencers. I also oppose concealed carry reciprocity legislation, which would override state and local laws restricting who can carry firearms. Both of these measures are widely opposed by law enforcement because they would make our communities less safe. Gun violence claims over 30,000 American lives per year. I do not believe it is enough to offer “thoughts and prayers;” we must honor the victims of gun violence by passing responsible, commonsense gun safety laws to save lives. Rep. Donald Beyer can be reached through his website at www.beyer.house.gov, on Twitter @RepDonBeyer or his office at (202) 225-4376.
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YO U DON T H AV E T O BE SO STRONG BUT IF I’M NOT, WHO WILL?
Being a caregiver takes a special kind of commitment. We know your strength is super, but you’re still human.
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F I N D S U P P O R T F O R Y O U R S T R E N G T H.
Scary stuff, Our Man in Arlington indeed. Reese was
By Charlie Clark
Recently I heard one of our area’s grimmer historical tales, that of a serial murderer who by day was a jazz musician and salesman in Arlington. Melvin Rees (1933-95) went down in the annals of infamous killers, websites to which I was steered by jazz buff Ken Briley of Arlington Independent Media. In the late 1950s, folks in Northern Virginia and Annapolis, Md., were terrorized by tough-tosolve torture-murders and sexual assaults. Rees was the murderer in our midst. Before he was apprehended in Arkansas, Rees played piano and saxophone with Arlingtonian Lenny Cuje, a jazz vibraphonist who had two connections to the killer before he was exposed. Cuje bought a vibraphone from Rees when he worked at Swiller’s Music store in Clarendon, where he offered accordion lessons. Cuje also played jazz with Rees in clubs around the Washington area. On the piano, sax or clarinet, Rees – who was called by his middle name Dave – “was not an especially good musician, but we needed musicians,” Cuje told me. Cuje would help Rees’ wife, a dancer at the clubs they played in, after Rees was arrested, and was interviewed by the FBI. “If he came to practice all pumped up and playing well,” Cuje later realized, “it meant he had just done a killing.”
caught after three years of detective work by Washington and Prince George’s County police and the FBI linking cases two years apart. In the first case, on June 26, 1957, Margaret Harold and her Army sergeant boyfriend were heading toward a secluded “lover’s lane” near Annapolis. A man in a green Chrysler forced them off the road. Displaying a gun, the criminal demanded cigarettes and money. He then shot the woman in the face, at which point the sergeant fled, eventually reaching a farmhouse to call police. Investigators found that the killer had sexually assaulted her corpse (that and pornographic findings would earn Rees the name “Sex Beast”). The second case unfolded in Apple Grove, Va., on Jan. 11, 1959. Carroll Jackson, his wife Mildred, and two young daughters went missing. A two-month manhunt led to the father’s decomposing body in a ditch, victim of a gunshot. The female victims were found in a forest near Fredericksburg, with signs of sexual torture. Some news coverage was sensational, with a psychic reporting a controversial link between the two cases. But the real tipoff was an anonymous letter from “a buddy” of the musician’s and a police raid on his home that uncovered Rees’s own description of the Jackson murder. What was Rees like? Profiles
in the Washington Post and Evening Star after his arrest on June 24, 1960, describe a “handsome, 6-foot-3-inch 170-pounder” member of the musicians union. Rees had gone to military school in South Carolina in the early 1940s and graduated from Hyattsville High. He joined the Army and played in its band before switching to the Air Force band. He took courses at the University of Maryland, married and had a son. Rees was never prosecuted for several other murders he was suspected of. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he died of heart failure in 1995. His final employer, the West Memphis, Ark, piano store manager, said he was “a nice quiet guy who didn’t sell much.” *** Former state Sen. from Arlington Mary Margaret Whipple will speak at the Dec. 4 ceremonial groundbreaking in Richmond for the Virginia Women’s Monument, Voices from the Garden. The fruit of a 2010 act of the General Assembly, this first-ofits-kind assemblage of bronze statues will acknowledge genius and creativity in 12 Virginia women and their contributions to the Commonwealth. The donation-funded, interactive monument will make up for neglect of women’s unsung roles — “women simply have not been recognized,” I was told by Whipple, who, working with historians and women’s studies specialists, helped with the selections.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
offender and insurance information was exchanged.
CRIME REPORT
Assault, 912 Ellison St (The Fields of Falls Church), Oct 21, 4:38 PM, police responded for a fight in progress. All involved declined prosecution. Later an involved party obtained a warrant and a male, 18, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested Oct 22 at 5:36 PM for assault
Week of Oct. 16 — 22, 2017 Smoking Violation, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #50 (Hung Café Billiards), Oct 16, 7:23 PM, a male, 48, of Fairfax, VA, was issued a summons for Smoking in a Restaurant. Smoking Violation, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #50 (Hung Café Billiards), Oct 16, 7:23 PM, a male, 51, of Washington, DC, was issued a summons for Smoking in a Restaurant.
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OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 15
Larceny – Theft from Building, 352 W Broad St (Palm Beach Tan), Oct 16, between 3 and 3:15 PM, items of value were taken from an unsecured purse. Drunk in Public, 444 W Broad St (The Spectrum), Oct 17, 11:35 PM, a male, 44, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for being Drunk
in Public. Drunk in Public, 116-B W Broad St (The Unity Club), Oct 20, 2:42 PM, a male, 44, of Herndon, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Larceny – Theft from Building, 200 blk Gundry Dr, Oct 20, 5 PM, witness observed packages being taken from a porch by a group of juveniles. All offenders were identified and property was recovered. Smoking Violation, 6757 Wilson Blvd, #15 (Hung Café), Oct 21, 12:12 AM, a male, 44, of Falls Church, VA, was issued a summons for Smoking in a Restaurant. Hit and Run, 6751 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center), Oct 21, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Using information left by a witness, officers contacted the
Assault/Destruction of Property/ Drunk in Public, 804 S Washington St (7-11), Oct 22, 12:36 AM, a male, 26, of Falls Church, VA was arrested for assault (3 counts), destruction of property and being drunk in public. Trespass, 912 Ellison St (The Fields of Falls Church), Oct 22, 3:24 AM, a male, 18, of the City of Falls Church, was issued a summons for Trespass.
Other Arrests
Oct 22, 5:24 PM, a female, 34, of Alexandria, VA, was arrested on outstanding City of Falls Church warrants for one count of embezzlement and two counts of forgery.
PAGE 16 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
NATI O NA L
The Secret of Russian Propaganda
Next Wednesday, Nov. 1, Facebook and Twitter executives will be among those called to appear before a congressional committee looking into how the Russians used their electronic platforms, and others, to influence the 2017 U.S. presidential election. This probe could be among the most important, game-changing inquiries in modern U.S. history, if its potential is fully exploited. That is, it will represent, at least potentially, a unique window into just how America’s adversaries work to bend the minds of ostensibly freedomloving citizens into acting against their own actual self-interests in behalf of an alien objective. In this “art,” if you will, the Russians over more than the last century, consider themselves highly sophisticated and skilled, and indeed they are. The FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS “art” involves subtlety and nuance, and the more investigators try to reduce it down to lowest-commondenominator terms, the more they’ll miss the opportunity to correct the problem. This fine art of persuasion utilizes some of the time-worn techniques of deception often mastered in truly amazing ways sometimes by your dimestore con artist. What sociopathic con artists often have an uncanny ability to do is tap into the inner fears and longings of potential victims to tell them what they want to hear, and by so doing figure out how to separate them from their cash and other valuables. This art is too often dismissed as common and unimportant. But it is the art that Madison Avenue spends billions on trying to get people to spend those bucks on something they may not really need, but from which they can gain some psychological satisfaction. Maybe this is why America has become so susceptible to the cons of a hostile foreign power, in fact. Our culture has become saturated by all sorts of cons to the point that nobody truly knows anymore where truth lets off and wishful thinking begins. Is that Ford truck really better for the potential buyer than a Chevy, or does the buyer really need either one? It has almost become indicative of our culture these days for people to allow themselves to be conned, to be lured into unconstructive actions or behavior in the name of self-aggrandizement or guilty pleasures. We don’t feel we need to handle unfiltered truths any more, they’re too stressful. So everything gets sugar-coated a little, or a lot. How much of the nation’s opioid epidemic can be traced, at least in part, to this pervasive socio-cultural trend? Here’s what the our adversaries count on to dupe us: our own unfulfilled or unrealistic expectations. Dammit, there’s not enough of this or that. Turn that sentiment into petulant anger, like a two-year-old, and you have the “secret sauce” capable of motivating a person to act against their own real self-interest. So, how many of these fake Russian ads on the Internet invoke false expectations and anger? How many are aimed at turning the unsatisfied viewer against their own government, against democracy itself, in the name of instant gratification, that gratification which can come from either casting an angry protest vote at the ballot box, or by denouncing the democratic system, altogether, by refusing to even vote. The role of superstition is important to this, superstitions that take almost any form, including religious ones, or those that persuade you that you can, indeed, win the lottery. They’re all based on a cruel hoax that the expectant victim is willing to go along with in hopes of some fantastical reward. They all require one thing in common, that the mind be turned off. The ability of the rational faculties of the mind to discern the best, most reasonable pathway to concrete improvement is tuned out, and some form of absolute, if irrational, outcome is substituted, like a wasted vote for a marginal candidate or an act of self-destructive violence. Don’t even try to reason with such people. They know what they hate and what they want. No persuading them otherwise, and therein lies the real problem: The refusal to accept the merits of rational arguments is what cuts us off from constructive change and is what the Russians are trying to do to us.
Nicholas F. Benton
Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
The Sham of Harvey Weinstein’s Rehab Exiled by his movie-industry colleagues, Harvey Weinstein has taken refuge among the scorpions and cactuses of Arizona, where he’s immersed in what has been described as rehab. He certainly needs help. What we need is a better way of talking about why. The phrase “sex addict” has been tossed around, encouraged by his own sparse words since dozens of accusations of rape, sexual abuse or sexual harassment were made public. In a self-pitying statement, he vowed to embark on a journey to “conquer my demons.” That was followed by a self-serving email to agents and studio executives, whom he asked for understanding as he tended to his wounded psyche. Three times he NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE used the same three syllables — “therapy” — and thus cast himself as a patient at the mercy of an affliction. Perhaps. Or maybe he’s just a merciless tyrant and creep, and to dress him in clinical language is to let him off the hook. We’ve been down this road before — with Anthony Weiner, for example — and if Bill O’Reilly ever cops to wrongdoing, he’ll surely cite mental distress or disease and check himself in somewhere, claiming that he didn’t have total control and thus implying that he doesn’t bear full responsibility. Those pesky demons did it. I’m not equating these men. I’m noting a pattern in how a certain breed of brute explains and partly excuses himself, and I’m questioning the quickness with which so many of the rest of us adopt that vocabulary. There’s an itch to identify some pathology, render a diagnosis, layer science onto sheer boorishness. And it’s an insult — to victims, to legitimate psychiatry and to the roles that choice and values play. On the subject of sexual harassment, we routinely move the focus and unintentionally shift the blame away from the individual culprits, calling out corporations that haven’t provided the right sensitivity training, lawyers who impose nondisclosure agreements, enablers with situational blindness. All of these dynamics matter, but none would be relevant if we didn’t have bad apples in the first place, and none lessen the stink of that rotten fruit. Sex addiction has never even been officially recognized by the American psychiatric community. “I remain unconvinced that it’s a pathology in its own right,” Paul Appelbaum, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, told me. He cautioned that “it is so easy to assume that people who behave badly
Frank Bruni
in one way or another can’t help themselves when it may only be the case that they don’t want to help themselves.” Besides, sex isn’t the whole story, and it’s probably not the main one. Weiner thrilled to being watched, and what he did with his smartphone and crotch fell on a continuum that included his fevered monologues on the House floor and his star turns on MSNBC. Weinstein thrived on his ability to toy with and torture people, and his hotel-room horror shows had as much to do with humiliation as with lust. His were “problems of power and status,” wrote The Atlantic’s James Hamblin, a physician. “So it feels especially jarring to hear that same person professing a lack of agency.” Especially convenient, too. Our turn toward psychiatry as a Rosetta Stone for wretchedness is on vivid display in discussions about Donald Trump. Aghast critics chalk up his self-obsession to narcissistic personality disorder and his fictions to pathological lying. But while they mean to condemn him, their language does the opposite: A head case has significantly less to be ashamed of and to apologize for than a garden-variety jerk does. Their language also distorts the relationship between malady and conduct. “The underlying assumption is that if you have a psychiatric diagnosis, you’re unfit to serve,” Maria Oquendo, the chairwoman of the psychiatry department at the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school, told me. But, she added, there are people with narcissistic personality disorder and an array of other clinical designations who “are functioning brilliantly.” Mettle and morals, along with the management of these conditions, come into play. Marc Lewis, a neuroscientist who wrote the 2015 book “The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease,” has no problem with the idea that someone can be addicted to sex, shopping or the like. He does have a problem with regarding that addiction as an actual, agency-depriving illness. “Then it becomes a little fortress that people can hide behind,” Lewis told me. “As soon as you go into that territory, all of our mechanisms for living together go out the window.” Free will is removed. Responsibility is expunged. Guilt is assuaged. There are no bad characters, just bad conditions. But to appraise Weinstein’s behavior in full dress as well as in the buff is to recognize that as bunk. There are indeed bad characters. He was among the worst of them before rehab, and I wouldn’t hope for much better after.
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VIRGINIA GOVERNOR THE OFFICE
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The Virginia Governor cannot serve two consecutive terms. The Governor appoints cabinet members who serve as advisors and
administrators of several state agencies. The Governor presents a budget proposal to the General Assembly. Legislators recommend changes in Virginia law for the Governor’s analysis and action in favor or opposition.
CANDIDATES FOR THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN ONE)
Ralph S. Northam Party: Democrat
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.ralphnortham. com Phone: (804) 592-1106 OCCUPATION: Lieutenant Governor and Pediatrician EDUCATION: I’m a proud graduate of public schools on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. I went to VMI and served as an Army doctor during the Gulf War. EXPERIENCE: I’m a lawmaker & doctor, & for 18 years I’ve served as the volunteer medical director at a kid’s hospice, seeing some of the toughest people I have ever met. Now, more than ever, Virginian needs a governor who will make sure every Virginian has economic opportunity, no matter who they are or where they live. That will always be my number one priority. QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in the process of redistricting would you support and why? A: One of the first bills I signed onto in 2008 was redistricting reform, and I have fought for it for a decade. One of my first acts in legislative session will be to send down a bill to
Edward W. “Ed” Gillespie Party: Republican
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: edforvirginia.com/ OCCUPATION: Business Owner EXPERIENCE: Ed Gillespie is a business owner and a longtime conservative leader. The son of an Irish immigrant, he grew up working in his parents’ grocery store. Ed started his career as a Senate parking lot attendant and eventually worked his way up to become Counselor to President George W. Bush. He is a former Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and the Republican National Committee. QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in the process of redistricting would you support and why?
Clifford D. Hyra Party: Libertarian
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: cliffhyra.com Phone: (804) 823-7979 OCCUPATION: Lawyer Education: B.S. Aerospace Engineering, magna cum laude, Virginia Tech J.D., magna cum laude, George Mason University School of Law Experience: Lifelong Virginia resident, father of four, small business owner and law firm partner QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in the process of redistricting would you support and why? A: We should establish an independent redistricting commission with non-partisan criteria, to remove the conflict of interest that politicians have when they draw their own districts. The commission should be given specific criteria to use for drawing the maps, that prohibit them from using political data and make voting districts fair, keep communities together,
create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. I will also veto any redistricting bill that is not the product of a bipartisan or non-partisan redistricting commission. Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all Virginians? A: With the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association reaffirming its proposal to cover the state’s portion of Medicaid expansion, we have a funding mechanism. Both the medical community and the public favor passing it. Let’s bring the GOP to the table to get this done. No matter what DC does, I will fight to cover those with pre-existing conditions and ensure access to reproductive health care. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected? A: We need to push back against reckless policies coming out of Washington, especially on the economy and healthcare. Just as importantly, the folks I hear from around Virginia want a good job that they can support their family with. To do that, we have to continue expanding the circle of opportunity for Virginians who need access to affordable and quality health care, who want their children to have access to a world class education system and who want to raise their families in safe communities. Q: What would you support, such as new or changed regulations, for improving and preserving our environment,
such as air and water quality, land preservation, mitigation of recurrent flooding, etc.? A: As a Chesapeake Bay native, I’ll defend Virginia from offshore drilling and cuts to Bay cleanup funds. I’ll retool the Department of Environmental Quality to protect our natural resources and hold polluters accountable, and I’ll invest in clean energy to reduce our impact on climate change and create new, high paying jobs. I’ll also create an environmental justice task force to address threats in vulnerable communities, in areas like energy infrastructure siting, air quality and drinking water Q: How confident are you that the current requirements for financial disclosure and reporting by candidates and elected officials meet the standards for ethics and transparency? What changes, if any, do you support? A: As governor, I’ll fight for disclosure from all outside groups that seek to influence Virginia’s elections. There is bipartisan support for these reforms –Montana just enacted a similar bipartisan measure. There has been interest from the Republican side of the aisle in Virginia as well. Virginia’s gubernatorial elections are always awash with dark money. This year will probably see even more.
A: -no response Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all Virginians? A: A healthy Virginia is vital for our economy to grow and prosper. The cost of Virginia’s healthcare safety net programs are rising rapidly. Ed will work to reduce healthcare costs and make sure patients are in charge of healthcare decisions. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected? A: It’s time for a plan to get Virginia growing again with across-the-board policy reforms that cover taxes, regulation, education, transportation, healthcare and public safety. Ed has and will continue to put forward a serious and substantive vision for Virginia to create jobs, raise take-home pay and help people lift themselves out of poverty. This includes,”Cutting Taxes for ALL Virginians”, “FAITH in our Government”, and his “Effectiveness + Efficiency Government for ALL Virginians” Plan.
Q: What would you support, such as new or changed regulations, for improving and preserving our environment, such as air and water quality, land preservation, mitigation of recurrent flooding, etc.? A: Ed will work to protect our environment, champion agriculture -- Virginia’s first industry -- and redouble efforts to expand exports and open new markets for Virginia products. He will work to expand the production of safe, reliable and affordable energy in the Commonwealth, including the development of oil and natural gas reserves off our deep sea coast and stopping the regulatory assault on our coal sector. Q: How confident are you that the current requirements for financial disclosure and reporting by candidates and elected officials meet the standards for ethics and transparency? What changes, if any, do you support? A: - no response -
and avoid rigging elections. Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all Virginians? A: Repeal the Certificate of Public Need laws that prevent the opening of new medical facilities, to stimulate competition between health providers. Give more power to nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and mid-level dental providers to fill in for doctors and dentists, especially in rural areas where healthcare providers are scarce. Repeal restrictive mandates for health insurance coverage. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected? A: First, give Virginians meaningful tax reform, eliminating the state income tax on the first $60,000 of household income to provide $3,000 in tax relief for the average Virginia family each year. Second, reform our draconian drug laws and criminal justice system, ensuring those struggling with substance abuse receive the help they need instead of incarceration and a criminal record. Third, eliminate absurd occupational licensing requirements and burdensome business regulations and taxes. Q: What would you support, such as new or changed regulations, for improving and preserving our environ-
ment, such as air and water quality, land preservation, mitigation of recurrent flooding, etc.? A: I support more competition in the electric power sector to make room for independent power producers and solar co-ops, and incentives for investment in a smart electric grid that is capable of handling the intermittent power generation of wind and solar. I also support land use reform to encourage smart growth and walkable, mixed-use development. Incentives to local government, developers and property owners should be aligned with respect to environmental impacts of new development. Q: How confident are you that the current requirements for financial disclosure and reporting by candidates and elected officials meet the standards for ethics and transparency? What changes, if any, do you support? A: Current financial disclosure requirements in Virginia are pretty good. Information relating to donors and expenditures are readily available to the public. I do not support restrictions to freedom of speech, including political speech, so strong disclosure rules are essential. One related change we should make is to forbid politicians from using campaign donations for their own personal use.
GENERAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 POLLS OPEN 6:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. PAGE 2
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CANDIDATES FOR VIRGINIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ON NEXT PAGE
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10/19/17 8:17 PM
VIRGINIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THE OFFICE
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia who is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately and thus may be of different political parties. The
lieutenant governor serves as the President of the Senate of Virginia and is first in the line of succession to the Governor; in the event the Governor dies, resigns, or otherwise leaves office, the Lieutenant Governor becomes governor. Unlike the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia may run for re-election.
CANDIDATES FOR THE VIRGINIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN ONE)
Justin E. Fairfax Party: Democrat
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.fairfaxforlg.com PHONE: (703) 672-0791 OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: J.D., Columbia Law School, Columbia Law Review; A.B., Public Policy Studies, Duke University EXPERIENCE: Counsel, Venable LLP; Former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Deputy Coordinator of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force; 2013 Candidate for Attorney General of Virginia, earned The Washington Post endorsement and more than 48% of the statewide democratic primary vote; Vice-Chair, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in the process of redistricting would you support and why? A: I support nonpartisan redistricting in Virginia. As Lt. Governor, I will work with nonpartisan groups to ensure that the voic-
Jill H. Vogel
Party: Republican BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: EDUCATION: Jill received her J. D. from the DePaul University School of Law after completing her undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary. EXPERIENCE: Jill Vogel has a proven record of getting results throughout her ten years of service in the Senate of Virginia. As a entrepreneur, Jill started her own successful small business, becoming a nationally-recognized ethics attorney while balancing her duties as a citizen legislator with her responsibilities as a working mom with children in school. QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in the process of redistricting would you support and why? A: In Virginia’s Senate, I have taken the lead on redistricting reform by introducing legislation and a constitutional amendment requiring districts be fair, compact, and contiguous, as well as prohibit drawing any district to favor a specific person
es of the people do not get drowned out by biased and unfair redistricting. I would also review the constitutionality of any legislation passed by the General Assembly on redistricting and advocate for a non-partisan process for redrawing districts. Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all Virginians? A: I will fight to expand Medicaid in Virginia. Currently there are 400,000 Virginians who could receive healthcare coverage under Medicaid expansion. Failing to expand Medicaid has cost Virginia $10.4 billion and 30,000 jobs. I also support expanding health insurance premium tax credits to more Virginians. More people who work should receive high-quality health insurance as an employment benefit. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected? A: Economic security for all Virginians: Increase the minimum wage, fill 175,000 well-paying “middle-skills” jobs, and ensure equal pay for equal work. Education: Make higher education affordable, refinance high-interest student loan debt, provide universal Pre-K, and improve our K-12 public education system. Criminal justice reform: Reform juvenile justice, end the “school-to-prison pipeline,” prioritize rehabilitation, reduce recidivism rates, and restore the voting rights of returning citizens.
Q: What would you support, such as new or changed regulations, for improving and preserving our environment, such as air and water quality, land preservation, mitigation of recurrent flooding, etc.? A: I will prioritize the development and use of renewable energy sources, such as through the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. We also need to dedicate a steady state-level funding source for Chesapeake Bay restoration. I support efforts for Virginia to join regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and plan for rising sea levels, because we are already seeing flooding events in Hampton Roads. Q: How confident are you that the current requirements for financial disclosure and reporting by candidates and elected officials meet the standards for ethics and transparency? What changes, if any, do you support? A: I support campaign finance reform in Virginia. Disclosure and reporting by candidates is not sufficient. We do not have contribution limits for state and local campaigns unlike 38 other states and federal campaigns. Unlimited campaign contributions can lead to special interests having undue influence and so I will support legislation that seeks to set contribution limits in state and local races.
or political party. As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to support good government policies like the redistricting reforms I proposed in the Senate. Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all Virginians? A: Although most health care policy is now set in Washington following the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Virginia itself can lower costs through compromise on COPN reform, cutting red tape, reducing abusive lawsuits against doctors, expanding telemedicine, fostering healthier lifestyles through education, and ensuring our universities can graduate an appropriate number of medical professionals. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected? A: If elected Lieutenant Governor, my top three priorities will be improving our economy through policies which foster job creation and a return to economic growth, strengthening our ethics and transparency laws to restore integrity and trust in public service, and seeking greater efficiency and better outcomes in our delivery of core government services such as transportation, education, and public safety through evidence-based reforms which allocate resources where they do the most good. Q: What would you support, such as new or changed reg-
ulations, for improving and preserving our environment, such as air and water quality, land preservation, mitigation of recurrent flooding, etc.? A: In Virginia’s Senate, I have a strong record of supporting land conservation as well as the clean air and water vital to our health, our quality of life, and our economy. If elected, I will continue my work on land conservation and protecting our water quality. I will also work to reduce barriers and prepare for a future where research and innovation reduce our environmental impact through greater adoption of market-rate clean energy technology and development of Virginia’s renewable resources. Q: How confident are you that the current requirements for financial disclosure and reporting by candidates and elected officials meet the standards for ethics and transparency? What changes, if any, do you support? A: Financial disclosure is essential for transparency and I have proudly worked to strengthen ethics in general. I wrote legislation banning personal gifts from lobbyists and special interests, as well as banning the use of campaign funds for personal expenses. I also introduced the Constitutional amendment for independent redistricting, ensuring voters choose their leaders, not the other way around.
VOTE
GENERAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017 POLLS OPEN 6:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. PAGE 3
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CANDIDATES FOR VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL ON NEXT PAGE
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VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL THE OFFICE
The Attorney General is elected for a four-year term and has no term limits. The Attorney General is second in line for succession to the Governor. The AG provides legal services to the Commonwealth’s agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and universities and defends
the interests of Virginians and the Virginia government. When requested by local Commonwealth’s Attorneys, the Attorney General may assist with specialized prosecutions. Resources are offered for consumer protection, identify theft prevention, internet safety, and many other public safety measures to provide for secure communities.
CANDIDATES FOR THE VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN ONE)
Mark R. Herring Party: Democrat
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: http://herringforag.com PHONE: (804) 477-3438 OCCUPATION: Attorney General of Virginia EDUCATION: Bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia. Graduated with honors from the University of Richmond School of Law. EXPERIENCE: Mark Herring has served as Attorney General of Virginia since January 2014. Prior to that, he represented Loudoun and Fairfax counties in the Virginia Senate and served as a member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. QUESTIONS: Q: What proposals would you support for reform of sentencing and incarceration? A: In the area of criminal justice reform, I would support proposals such as increasing the felony larceny threshold, removing barriers to unemployment such as driver license suspension when court fees and costs are not fully paid off, increased Rehabilitation and Prevention in our Juvenile Justice Programs to reduce recidivism, and automatic restoration of rights. Q: Explain how you would proceed if legislation was proposed or passed that resulted in conflict between federal and Virginia state law. A: If legislation is proposed that is in conflict, I would work with the General Assembly and Governor to amend or alter that
John D. Adams Party: Republican
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.johnadamsforva.com PHONE: (804) 496-1876 OCCUPATION: Attorney EDUCATION: University of Virginia School of Law, JD, Managing Editor, Virginia Law Review, 2003 Virginia Military Institute, BA, Economics, 1996 EXPERIENCE: -Navy veteran -Former federal prosecutor in Richmond, prosecuting violent criminals, white-collar felons and corrupt public officials -Clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court -Associate counsel in the Bush White House -Department Chair at McGuireWoods, one of the nation’s largest law firms QUESTIONS: Q: What proposals would you support for reform of sentencing and incarceration? A: As a former federal prosecutor, I have seen first hand the importance of our judicial system, as well as the impact committing a crime has on someone’s life. Job one of the attorney general is keeping Virginians safe. That includes getting serious about the dramatic rise in violent crime and gang activity we are seeing in communities around Virginia. But we also must be proactive to keep people from committing crimes in the first place and en-
language so it is no longer in conflict. When Virginia law is in conflict with federal law or the Constitution, the Attorney General needs to chart a course to resolve those issues. During my time we’ve dealt with several complex issues related to this, most notably the state’s prohibition on same-sex marriages. Virginia ended up being a leader in that effort, and we worked to ensure every individual’s rights were protected and won in every court we argued in. Q: Explain any changes to the VA Constitution that you would favor or oppose. A: I believe Virginia should include language to ensure non-partisan redistricting. Elections shouldn’t be decided by the politicians who draw the lines, they should be decided by the people. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected. A: My number one priority is to keep Virginians and their families safe. That means continuing and bolstering our efforts to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic, achieve justice for victims of sexual and domestic violence by ending the backlog of untested rape kits, and crack down on violent gangs. Second is to protect consumers, seniors, veterans, military families, and students from fraud and scams. I’m proud that my Medicaid Fraud Unit was rated best in the nation by the Office of the Inspector General, and my team and I were able to recover nearly $100 million in relief for veterans and military families. We also won the largest Fraud Against Taxpayers Act settlement in Virginia history, recovering more than $63 million. Third is to defend the rights & civil liberties of all Virginians. I’m proud that I was able to help lead the fight to bring marriage equality to Virginia and the fight against President Trump’s Muslim ban.
We started an initiative to respond to the rise of hate crimes in Virginia, because Virginia is and must remain an open and welcoming place for all. We’ve also worked to strengthen the relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, especially in communities of color. I look forward to continuing efforts like these in my next term. Q: What are the most important changes needed in Virginia to ensure voting access for all qualified Virginians? A: The right to vote is fundamental, and as Attorney General, I’m committed to doing everything I can to defend people’s right to vote and to expand access to the ballot box. I believe we need to make voting easier in Virginia, not harder. That’s why, as a state senator, I authored and supported legislation to do things like expand early voting and make it easier to vote absentee. Also, as a state senator, I opposed policies like voter ID laws. As Attorney General, I’ve supported the efforts of our Governor Terry McAuliffe to restore the voting rights of thousands of Virginians. So many of those Virginians have come up to me as I travel across the state to let me know how much it means to them to have had their rights restored. I would like to see our General Assembly take action to make the restoration of voting rights automatic after an individual has served his or her time and paid restitution. I also supported the decision of Governor McAuliffe to reject requests by President Trump’s commission on voting for the personal information of millions of Virginians. Governor McAuliffe saw that commission for what it is, an attempt to suppress the vote with false and unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.
suring that those who have are ready to be productive members of society after they have served their time. While it is now the attorney general’s job to advance legislation, I will defend laws passed by the General Assembly to address this issue. Q: Explain how you would proceed if legislation was proposed or passed that resulted in conflict between federal and Virginia state law. A: The number one job of the attorney general is to be Virginia’s lawyer. That means defending the laws passed by the legislature, even if the attorney general disagrees with them. Our current attorney general has repeatedly ignored the laws of Virginia or turned on his client – the Commonwealth of Virginia. It also means advising the Virginia General Assembly through the legislative process. If they are considering passing a law that violates the Constitution, I will do my best as a lawyer to give them good advice and ensure that laws that are passed are Constitutional. Finally, I will stand up to federal overreach, regardless of who is in power in Washington, D.C. Q: Explain any changes to the VA Constitution that you would favor or oppose. A: Changes to Virginia’s Constitution take place legislatively and at the ballot box, not in the Attorney General’s office. The role of the attorney general is to defend the laws passed by the citizens through their elected representatives in the General Assembly and enforce the rule of law. Our current Attorney General has politicized the office and substituted his
own will for that of the people. I will not use the Office in such a manner. Q: Explain your top three priorities if elected. A: 1. Get the politics out of the office. I’m running for attorney general because of what I see is the over-politicization of the office by our current attorney general. Mark Herring has spent the last four years advancing his own personal political agenda, rather than representing the citizens of Virginia. 2. Provide the best legal representation possible for the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am not a politician and have never run for office. As a Navy veteran, former federal prosecutor, and lawyer in private practice at one of the largest law firms in Virginia, I will use my experience outside of politics to be the best possible lawyer for Virginia. 3. Bring together local, state and federal law enforcement officials and stakeholders to keep our children and communities safe. This includes working to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic and rising violent crime in neighborhoods across Virginia. Q: What are the most important changes needed in Virginia to ensure voting access for all qualified Virginians? A: As Attorney General, I will work to protect the civil liberties of all Virginians by protecting the integrity of our electoral process. The General Assembly has passed a voter ID law to do just that, and as Attorney General I will defend that law when it comes under attack.
VOTE
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CANDIDATES FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES, SHERIFF, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, TREASURER, AND CITY COUNCIL ON NEXT PAGE
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MEMBER HOUSE OF DELEGATES 53rd DISTRICT THE OFFICE
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of two parts in the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. The Speaker of the House is elected from among the House
membership by the Delegates. It has 100 members elected during odd-numbered years for two-year terms.
CANDIDATES FOR THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES 53rd DISTRICT (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN ONE)
Marcus B. Simon Party: Democrat
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: marcussimon.com/ CAMPAIGN PHONE: (571) 327-0053 OCCUPATION: Small Business Owner and Lawyer BIOGRAPHY: A lifelong resident of Fairfax, Marcus and his wife, Rachel, have two children, Emily and Zach. After law school he joined the US Army JAG Corps and then started a small business. Marcus was first elected to the House in 2013. QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in Virginia’s method of drawing electoral district lines (redistricting) would you support?
Mike S. Casey
Party: Independent BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: casey53.org/ CAMPAIGN PHONE: (703) 798-6307 OCCUPATION: Software Engineer BIOGRAPHY: Mike Casey was born and raised in Fairfax County. A graduate of TJHSST and Virginia Tech, Mike is an engineer who has worked in satellite communications, telecommunications, and currently works for CHAP, a health services non profit. QUESTIONS: Q: What changes in Virginia’s method of drawing elector-
A: Voter’s must be allowed to pick their elected officials. Not the other way around. I support a bi-partisan or non-partisan redistricting commission be empowered to draw legislative maps starting with the 2021 redistricting process. The criteria they use should include competitiveness as a goal to avoid packing that may result from self-segregation. Q: How would you ensure voting access for all qualified Virginians? A: Since my first term, I have introduced and supported legislation to make it easier for Virginians to vote. Automatic registration, same day registration, no-excuse absentee, expanding the time frame for in-person absentee, automatic voter registration, and pilot programs for voting by mail and voter centers are just some of the bills. Q: What options would you propose to increase highway
and public transportation funding? A: The 2013 transportation legislation was a long overdue compromise, but more can be done to ensure adequate transportation funding. Our tax system should be reviewed to more accurately reflect the times we live in. This means a harder look at the subsidies and credits we offer (particularly to dying industries) as well as raising the gas tax. Given the traffic issues in Northern Virginia, our long-term plans need to include multi-modal options, like bike trails, metro extension, bus lines. Q: What are your legislative priorities? A: I will continue my work on campaign finance reform, addressing the student loan debt crisis, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid and mental health reform, and advocating for gun violence prevention policies.
al district lines (redistricting) would you support? A: I support establishing a commission, independent of the legislature to handle redistricting. Non-partisan would be ideal, but we can come close by ensuring the commission has a balance of both partisans (from both sides) and independents. The process must be as transparent as possible to restore and maintain faith in our democratic process. Q: How would you ensure voting access for all qualified Virginians? A: An easy way to increase voter access and participation is to make it so people can vote early. Right now in Virginia, you can only vote early if you have an excuse that fits a list. There’s no need for such a restriction, and I support removing it. Q: What options would you propose to increase highway and public transportation funding?
A: VDOT leans very heavily on earmarked funding, from gas taxes, tolls, and portions of sales taxes. Such earmarking makes it politically easier to tax, but provides little practical benefit. Obviously, we could increase the gas tax, and in particular the regional gas taxes, but I would support pooling those taxes in the general fund, and determining funding based on what we need rather than what we can get out of a specific stream. I support focusing that funding on mass transit solutions. Q: What are your legislative priorities? A: My top priority is election reform. I support an independent commission for redistricting, ranked choice voting, and restricting how much money candidates can take from corporations. Next would be investing in mass transit in Northern Virginia, and third is reforming our healthcare system to ensure that all citizens receive a basic level of care.
CITY OF FALLS CHURCH SHERIFF, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, AND TREASURER CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS RUNNING UNOPPOSED SHERIFF: S Stephen Bittle COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE: Thomas D. Clinton TREASURER: Jody P. Acosta
FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL THE OFFICE
The seven-member City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions, approves budgets, sets tax rates, and establishes policy.
THE QUESTIONS: 1. What kinds of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT would you support to address residents’ concerns about increases in city taxes? 2. How can Falls Church continue to be AFFORDABLE for all citizens? 3: Will you vote for or against the HIGH SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM and why?
CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN FOUR)
David F. Snyder Attorney
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.snyderfor fallschurch.com EMAIL ADDRESS: davidflemingsnyder@gmail.com TELEPHONE: 703-241-0419 BIOGRAPHY: City Council—1994-present, Mayor—1998- 2000, Vice Mayor—1996-1998, 20102015; chair of regional transportation, air quality, and emergency preparedness bodies; 30+ year City resident; first responder-EMT; father of Richard and Sarah, FCCPS graduates
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QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Most mixed-use developments have yielded net positive returns in tax revenue. Still, we need to require more commercial in these buildings and less residential with its related public services costs. We would benefit from a wider variety of housing types, including condos that younger and older buyers desire. We must ensure that developments work well with adjoining neighborhoods. And we must maintain the uniqueness and diversity of businesses that attract visitors to spend time and money here. AFFORDABLE: Affordability is a worthy goal. So, too, are quality education, safe streets, attractive parks, first-rate public services, and effective regional cooperation—from transportation to emer-
gency preparedness. Elected officials and City staff continuously review long- and short-term expenditures to try to balance and accomplish all these goals. The City’s tax deferral program for older citizens and continued emphasis on economic development also aim to help keep Falls Church affordable. BOND VOTE: Recognizing the size of the school project, I consistently advocated that our citizens have the final say. I will abide by their decision. At the same time, I serve on the economic development group that is seeking how to maximize revenue from commercial development on the remaining 10 acres at the school site while providing the kind of activity we want. I will personally vote for the referendum to return to others the great gift of excellent public education given to us and our children.
CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL (Continued)—(VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN FOUR)
C. Ross Litkenhous
Commercial Real Estate Consultant BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.rosslitkenhous.org EMAIL ADDRESS: rosslitkenhous4fcc@gmail.com BIOGRAPHY: Business Leader, Real Estate Adviser, Property Tax Expert, Commercial and Economic Development Experience, MBA-American University, BA-Political Science and History-BirminghamSouthern College, Married with 3 daughters (8,5,3) QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Higher
density
Daniel X. “Dan” Sze
Clean Energy & Development Expert BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: danszefallschurch. com/ EMAIL ADDRESS: dansze2006@verizon.net TELEPHONE: (703) 300-2720 BIOGRAPHY: Daniel (Dan) Sze lectures on sustainability strategies, works on clean energy initiatives, is involved with several international start-ups, and is a consultant to businesses, organizations and government. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-x-dan-sze
Marybeth D. Connelly
Education/Community Outreach BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: marybethconnelly. com EMAIL ADDRESS: mbforcitycouncil@gmail.com TELEPHONE: 703-200-2426 BIOGRAPHY: A 20-year resident of Falls Church, Marybeth is completing her first term on City Council, serving as Vice-Mayor. She works for Falls Church City Public Schools, building community partnerships. The Connelly family loves living in Falls Church. QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Falls Church needs
commercial developments, primarily located near the outer edges of the city. Use types would vary; including office, retail, hospitality and community space. Any inclusion of multi-family would be designed and planned for unit size and mix to effectively minimize the impact on school enrollment estimates. I support special commercial taxing districts in major planning areas like the GMHS campus development site to help further reduce the property tax burden on home owners. AFFORDABLE: Reduce the overall property tax burden for homeowners through higher commercial tax revenue sources. Focus on urban planning to provide a more diverse housing stock that includes unit types and pricing for people regardless of their
stage in life. Expand tax credit programs for those in need. Maintain a top tier school system to ensure the value of residents’ homes continue to grow, generating equity and financial gain in the process. BOND VOTE: I’m voting in favor. The current GMHS is functionally obsolete and beyond its useful life. We need a facility constructed for 21st century teaching and learning. Renovation would not address enrollment growth nor would it be prudent financially. Approving the referendum opens up the surrounding land for commercial development to generate much needed tax revenue. Along with our City Council and School Board I can help lead a successful delivery of a new building under budget and on time.
QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Our city is land constrained. Maintaining our standard of living supported by quality public services and schools requires an increasing stream of revenue. Annual staff costs each year are 3-5%. A revenue base dependent solely on residential property tax and commercial sales will not keep up with the demand. I support growing a well-designed city that yields substantial net revenue value. I am an Architect and my Master’s was in Urban Design. I support environmentally sustainable development. AFFORDABLE: Affordability is key in my campaign. Maintaining excellence in our city and schools along with fair taxes is dependent on attracting the right kind of growth. I support the high quality commer-
cial/retail we are seeing more of. Development of the west end campus needs to encourage regionally significant facilities, perhaps a research hospital aligned with adjoining universities and counties. I will work hard so that you get value out of every penny you pay on the tax rate and you can stay here. BOND VOTE: Should our citizens vote to approve the $120M high school bond referendum, I pledge to reach out and collaborate with all involved parties to get this project done. I will utilize all the skills, knowledge and experience I have accumulated over a long career in building and infrastructure to make this project a reality for our City. I completely agree that GMHS is in decline. This is an extraordinary, existential, multi-generational challenge and opportunity that will affect all citizens.
to maximize location between Arlington & Tysons Corner, close to DC, major highways & Metro. Thriving medical and wellness practices, tech and cybersecurity, hotels & entrepreneurs should be encouraged to bring growing businesses here. We need to entice visitors from the region to stop and spend money in Falls Church. Should the GMHS campus site become available for development we need to bring in the highest and best use of 10 acres to spur development in the West End AFFORDABLE: Falls Church is expensive, in part, because it is a desirable community. The challenge is to maintain desirability while making it more affordable. We need to work diligently to hold or reduce tax rate. We need to expand affordable housing requirements for all new developments to provide more affordable housing options. We need
to review & refine tax deferral and abatement for long-time residents. We need to partner with nonprofit or faith community to build an affordable housing development. BOND VOTE: I will vote YES. After years of review and study, we are ready. A community that prides itself on public education needs a high school that reflects our values. A YES vote maintains property values. The plan to mitigate expense of new school with commercial development is solid, and getting better all the time. Because current building is end-of-life, a NO vote won’t save money or reduce taxes. Expensive repairs and renovation will be required & no economic development can occur on the land.
QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: - no response AFFORDABLE: - no response BOND VOTE: - no response -
Spencer P. E. Parsons BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Candidate did not respond.
Daniel K. “Dan” Maller Attorney and Executive
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: EMAIL ADDRESS: Dan@Maller.com TELEPHONE: 703-731-8433 BIOGRAPHY: 3 kids, GMHS Class of ‘15, ‘18 & ‘22. Resident for ~30 years, as investor & entrepreneur I keenly appreciate synergy between excellent schools and property value. Graduate of Occidental College & George Mason School of Law, served on Council ‘06-10 QUESTIONS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Our tax base is $4
Billion, with too high a % being SF homes. In order to bend the tax curve, the next Billion needs to be different. The 10 acres we own at the WFC Metro is worth ~$50M, but development should add ~250M+ to the pie, and help to balance the burdens including jobs and other economic activity. There are other properties with like potential; we need to be smart & aggressive with all of our tools to bring commercial and other development that provides real sustainable net revenue AFFORDABLE: We offer compelling value to young families with high incomes, but we need to attract & retain other demographics. We should include significant affordable and workforce housing in new development, and expansion of tax deferral for seniors as allowed by Law. This will promote economic &
social health in our community by offering a diversity of housing. By having the discipline to be smart & aggressive in redevelopment, and creative in approaching other issues, we can and will do this. BOND VOTE: I support a “YES” vote, because I believe a new school is a smart investment in our future even though I harbor doubts about the City’s information campaign. I pledge that I will not vote to sell the bonds absent a detailed and accountable plan to generate the long-term revenues needed to support that multi-generational project to assure that we do not harm the goose that lays the golden eggs, whether you believe that is our world-class schools or our livable, walkable neighborhoods.
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CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD ON NEXT PAGE
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FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD THE OFFICE
The School Board’s primary responsibilities are to set policy for the school division, approve the annual budget, develop a strategic plan, and hire a superintendent to operate the school division in accordance with board policy.
THE QUESTIONS: 1. Will you vote for or against the HIGH SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM and why? 2. How would you balance the school system’s FUNDING with the funding for City services and obligations? 3: Is there a part of FCCPS (technology, special education, gifted and talented, English language learners, etc.) where ADDITIONAL RESOURCES need to be directed immediately (in the next 1-3 years)?
CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD (VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN FOUR)
Gregory John Anderson Scientist, Program Manager
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.gregfor fccps.com; facebook.com/gregforfccps EMAIL ADDRESS: gregforfccps@gmail.com TELEPHONE: (571) 354-7436 BIOGRAPHY: City resident and FCCPS volunteer since 2009. Father of freshman at GMHS. Scientist,large program manager, and supervisor in government, academia, and nonprofit sectors for over 15 years. UC Berkeley bachelor’s; UC San Diego Earth sciences PhD.
Alison B. Kutchma Education Advocate
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: https://www. alisonkutchma forschoolboard.com EMAIL ADDRESS: alisonkutchma@gmail.com TELEPHONE: 703-507-4465 BIOGRAPHY: A 15-year resident, Alison has raised 3 GMHS graduates (2010,13, & 15). Alison’s advocacy, comments at school board meetings and budget work sessions (for 4 years) has inspired budget transparency dialogue and increased access for every child.
Lawrence L. Webb
Senior Enrollment Specialist BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: www.webbfor fallschurch.com EMAIL ADDRESS: webbforfallschurch@hotmail. com TELEPHONE: 703-532-1043 BIOGRAPHY: Lawrence Webb has served as a member of the Falls Church City School Board since 2014 and was selected by the members of the board to serve as chairman for 2017.
Shawna E. Russell
Full-time parent and volunteer BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: shawna4school board.com EMAIL ADDRESS: shawna4schoolboard@gmail. com TELEPHONE: 703-887-1866 BIOGRAPHY: Mother of 2. FCC resident since 2008. M.A. in Communications. Former FCEPTA President. Executive PTA Board Member multiple times. Regular room parent & classroom volunteer at MD and TJ, FCEF volunteer. Created the Hippo-TigerGiraffe games.
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QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: I intend to vote for the referendum. Our current school has insufficient capacity and critical systems at risk of failure, and is ill-suited to 21st century learning. Passing the referendum would allow us to replace our current school, but doesn’t put us onto a highway with no off-ramps. There would be lots of hard work yet to come, which, as a Board member, I would tackle collaboratively with my Board colleagues, City Council, school and city staff, and the community. FUNDING: City Council ultimately sets the balance, working with the School Board. The Board must make decisions in students’ best interest, but within the broader City context. As a Board member, I would foster this partnership through personal con-
nection. I also support (1) a transparent, collaborative budget process to identify efficiencies and (2) considering novel methods to set the school budget allocation while preserving educational quality, perhaps even including a revenue sharing model. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Rising operational costs are a key concern. I’d allocate resources to (1) an external review of FCCPS operational practices to identify possible cost containment measures that wouldn’t harm student outcomes; (2) implementing the most beneficial approaches; (3) a streamlined, FCCPS-wide professional development plan to reduce cost while providing recruitment and retention incentives for top-quality educators; and (4) an updated comprehensive plan to optimize facilities and related investments.
QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: I will be voting No. The voters need to understand fully the financial risks and obligations before committing to the project. They do not. There are too many unknowns to vote yes on a project of this size. Passage can start the clock ticking on the bond which reduces our bargaining position with developers. Let’s move forward, design our needs, while assessing developer interest. Let’s avoid another Mt. Daniel fiasco. Let’s do this project in the right order and scale for our community. FUNDING: It begins with transparent school budgets complete with clear and meaningful data. For example, computer purchases should not be under the heading “Other Rentals”. Spending should be accounted for clearly with costs to date with year end
analysis. Look again at combining school and city functions and eliminating non essential positions. Keep teachers and student outcomes our first priority. The right balance will provide a secure future for the City of Falls Church and all of its taxpayers. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Yes. We need to address achievement gaps particularly in the subgroups of Limited English Proficiency, Economically Disadvantaged, and Students with Disabilities immediately and have students graduate with basic skills. Analyze recently generated ESOL and Special Education audits to create action plans. Conduct audits for all programs and subgroups at least every 5 years. Use the generated data to assess effectiveness of programs and direct resources where needs are identified.
QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: I will be voting in support of the school bond referendum. The replacement of George Mason High School is long overdue. We have kicked the can down the road for over a decade and the only thing that was accomplished was band-aiding the problem, while cost continued to escalate. I worked over the last three years with my board colleagues, the city council, community, and outside consultants to review 13 options that included renovation and new construction. We decided on new construction. FUNDING: I worked with the city council this year as chairman of the board to sit down and discuss the real needs, and not the wants, of the school system during the most recent budget season. I understand
that we are one community that has other obligations to make our little city sustainable. Great schools are an important part of that helping to maintain the value of homes in the community. However, we must also pave our streets and provide for public safety. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: There are always needs in those areas that can use additional resources. Realistically, we must prioritize where we can put additional resources. For example, we updated laptops across the system as it is a high-level need to have functional technology. I also want to address priorities that have been identified in recent audits with both the English Language Learners program. We need additional staff to provide additional support to help students succeed.
QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: A new high school is pivotal to our community’s continued success. I toured Mason with the FCCPS Facilities Director and saw firsthand how it is far beyond its useful life and poorly designed for modern secondary education. My yes vote supports a functional building with a 50+ year lifespan and the cost substantially offset by new commercial tax revenue. A no vote kicks this can down the road another ten years while spending tens of millions just to bring a poor facility up to code. FUNDING: We must balance funding our schools with City services and obligations. I have witnessed many budget cycles as a spectator and I know a lot goes into the planning and forecasting; it can be a tense and difficult process. When I first moved to
Falls Church, School Board and Council worked together well. Both groups wanted our schools and the broader community to succeed, supported by a healthy balance of shared investment and community support. We need to find that balance again. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Every part of FCCPS could do more with more resources. However, I’m not running to promote investment in one group of students over another. My focus is on FCCPS as a whole. The new school board will be focused on returning stability to the school system and moving forward after the voters have spoken on the high school referendum. We need leaders on the school board who know our schools and can work with teachers, administrators, and our community to maintain our success and high standards.
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CANDIDATES FOR FALLS CHURCH SCHOOLBOARD (Continued)—(VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN FOUR)
Richard J. Crespin C.E.O.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Web site: www.votecrespin. org EMAIL ADDRESS: Vote@letsgofallschurch.org TELEPHONE: 9176050742 BIOGRAPHY: Richard is a lifelong entrepreneur. His firm, CollaborateUp, works to accelerate collaboration among businesses, governments, & NGOs when they work together to solve big problems. He is an alumnus of George Washington & the Harvard Business School. QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: I’m voting YES & invite others to as
Shannon A. Litton Government Relations
BIOGRAPHICAL INFO: Website: shannonforschoolboard17.weebly.com/ EMAIL ADDRESS: Shannon_ashpole@hotmail.com TELEPHONE: 202-834-3967 BIOGRAPHY: Shannon and her husband Sean have lived in the City for over ten years and currently have children at Mt. Daniel, MEH, and George Mason. Shannon currently works at an education non-profit and has worked on federal and state education policy. QUESTIONS: BOND VOTE: I support the bond referendum be-
well. GMHS is falling apart. Our schools are a big part of our community. If their reputation wanes so will our community & our property values. A referendum is like a pre-approval for a mortgage. No developer will take us seriously until we approve it. Only then can we get more detailed information. But voters should ask WHO they want overseeing city and school finances? As a lifelong entrepreneur, I have the experience to ensure we manage effectively. FUNDING: We need whole systems thinking. Instead of pitting one part of our community against another, we should look at the whole community & work to accommodate multiple needs. Ex: build a branch of the public library in the new high school or offer greater senior services on the redeveloped site. I will work with my School Board & City
Council colleagues to develop more inclusive & less contentious budgeting. Other districts use budget processes with greater transparency, flexibility, & stability. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Vocations. Preparing students for the 21st Century increasingly means careers without 4-year college degrees. Superintendent Noonan recently addressed closing the achievement gap: we do a good job serving students at the top & bottom but not middle. Vocations can cost effectively close the gap. Again, we need a whole systems approach, addressing multiple needs at once. Ex: Food services head, Richard Kane, integrated nutrition into curriculum, growing food & teaching STEM, ag, & business skills.
cause GMHS is in a state of disrepair and we need to act to address the pressing space, access, safety, and infrastructure issues at the facility. Passing the referendum is the first step in moving forward on a plan and while I support the referendum, I believe we must consider plans for commercial development carefully and cautiously. Ensuring safe routes to school, adequate green space, and turning our space into a lifelong learning campus should be considered. FUNDING: Our City currently does a good job balancing the needs of the school system with the broader City needs, spending about half the budget on schools and the other half on city needs, and I do not expect a major deviation away from the current balance. My vision is that Falls Church will be a
‘lifelong city’ where people want to spend their entire lives. Everyone benefits from having a diversity of ages in our community, so balancing the needs of a variety of groups in the budget is essential. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Recent third party studies looked at areas for improvement in our district ELL and Special Education programs and found attention should be paid to adequate staffing levels, teacher training, and planning time between teachers. I would also note that students still spend a significant portion of their day mainstreamed into the classroom, so ensuring appropriate class size and qualified teachers in every classroom is essential for providing all students with the help and assistance they need.
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TO LETTERS THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6 Was your headline implying that he previously said he would oppose building the school if the referendum passed? If not, then the headline seems like nothing more than an unsubstantiated charge of flip-flopping by a Council candidate. Jon Ward Falls Church
School Bond is Premature, Need to Think Outside the Box Editor, I have no problem with a new Falls Church high school but want it built economically while balancing competing City priorities and the citizens’ ability to pay. The current proposal has a $120 million bond issue that City Manager Shields says will initially add $0.06 to the property tax rate (4.6-percent increase). This increase is before any assessment increases that will, of course, increase actual taxes still more. Consider: 1. The new school will have two gyms. 2. Air rights for commercial development above the school buildings were not considered and school proponents have no interest in the concept. 3. No significant interim revenue is planned from empty classrooms overbuilt initially for future expansion. 4. Former Superintendent Schiller proposed a $60 million alternative school concept. School proponents say that his proposal is most like alternative 4 of 13 considered and would cost over $100 million. Schiller was not consulted on this conclusion since he has left Falls Church. 5. Previously, a developer proposed a “free school” as part of his plan for the site; the School Board followed up with an RFP for similar proposals; two were received. School proponents say none provided a “free school,” but it is unclear whether portions of those proposals might significantly save costs to the taxpayers. Now, Mr. Shields says the City will clear the bond issue only after development options have been fully evaluated by the City and could take eight years to decide on an issue of the school bonds. So, why the rush to judgment?
A $120 million bond issue for the school is at the outer limit of costs for the alternatives; if bonds are approved for that amount, the politicians ultimately will spend it. If the bond issue fails, the city is not left with only a draconian alternative of renovating the existing plant. Instead, they should scrub the proposals further thinking outside the box on both costs and revenues and bring a revised proposal for a smaller bond issue to the voters in a future election. I plan to vote no on this premature bond issue. James E. Schoenberger Falls Church
Our Responsibility To Provide for Future City Needs Editor, Our family relocated to the D.C. area in 2001. We sifted through the options for buying a home with good schools, a strong community, and close proximity to downtown to shorten the commute. We found all of those things in the City of Falls Church. Good schools not only enable the future for our kids, but they also are a key determinant of property values – so they’re in all of our best interest whether we have students in the schools or not. Two of our children have graduated from George Mason and are away at college; one is a student at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. Even if construction of a new high school were to start this fall, there is only a remote chance our middle schooler would get to spend any of her academic career at the new high school. Yet I strongly support the Nov. 7 referendum to replace our aging facilities at Mason. The GMHS facility has now outlived its useful life and needs to be replaced. A patch job will not fix the problems, and in fact will make them more difficult and expensive to fix later. It’s much like a decision we faced at home recently: do we spend a minimum of $400 to fix a 14-year old dryer that failed, and more to fix its paired washer when it fails? Or do we invest in a new set of appliances that will hopefully last another 14 years? We chose the latter. We found good schools when we moved to Falls Church because those who lived here before us paid it forward, investing in the schools
LE TTE RS and the community. Thackrey preschool, Henderson Middle School, and the expansions at TJ and Mt. Daniel are all testimony to this foresight. Now our high school is in need of investment. We’ve spent three years studying and refining options and it’s time to move. This responsibility is now ours to provide for current and future needs of our City and its schools. Please join me in voting Yes on the referendum on Nov. 7. Daren Coppock Falls Church
Webb Deserves Re-Election to F.C. School Board Editor, I had the honor of serving as the Interim Superintendent for the Falls Church City Public Schools. For almost six months, I had the privilege of witnessing an outstanding educational program, working with highly dedicated staff, and partnered with the committed leadership of the School Board members. I hold in high esteem all seven FCCPS board members. I believe the F.C. community owes a debt of thanks to those members who are leaving the Board in a few months: Michael Ankuma, John Lawrence, and Margaret Ward; and to Lawrence Webb, who is seeking another term of public service as a board member. Their dedication, countless hours of commitment, and unswerving desire to do the right things for FCCPS and the City must be recognized. Mr. Webb rose to the many challenges of serving as Chairman this past year when critical decisions had to be made. He has brought to the role incredible grace, dignity, integrity, and passion for the schools, students, and staff. As the Chairman, Lawrence shepherded through the Board many challenging and difficult matters. He unselfishly gave his time, late at night, early in the morning, and during the workday, whenever asked. I have worked with many board chairpersons over the course of a very long career in many states and districts. Mr. Webb ranks in the highest echelon of those dedicated public servants to public education in their communities. High quality school districts are characterized by the continuity of leadership at the board level. I urge the you support Lawrence Webb for re-election to the FCCPS Board of Education. The Board, the School Division, and the City benefits greatly by his calm presence, thoughtfulness, and dedication.. Robert E. Schiller Stuart, Fla.
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 25
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PAGE 26 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
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Election 2017: F.C. City Council Candidate Statements
The News-Press invited all those running in the City of Falls Church’s November School Board and City Council races to submit 400-word candidate statements for publication. This week’s statements are from Falls Church City Council candidates Marybeth Connelly, Ross Litkenhous, Dan Maller, David Snyder and Dan Sze. Candidate Spencer Parsons, who qualified for this November’s ballot, did not submit a statement. Falls Church School Board candidate statements were published last week and are available online at www.fcnp.com.
M������� C������� Marybeth Connelly is running for a second term on City Council. Her campaign is built on six cherished beliefs about Falls Church City. There’s No Place Like Home Falls Church is a special place in the heart of Northern Virginia. At the historic crossroads of Routes 7 and 29, commerce, and community thrive. To be sustainable, Falls Church has to embrace regional growth, while maintaining unique identity as an independent city. As a member of City Council Marybeth is committed to ensuring that Falls Church grows, while maintaining friendly, accessible neighborhoods. Public Education is the Heart of Falls Church Strong schools have been vital to Falls Church since our 1948 founding. City Council has the responsibility to provide funding for schools that ensures top notch programs, staff and facilities. Marybeth is a strong proponent of collaboration among stakeholders: community, School Board, businesses owners, employees, and neighbors in Fairfax, Arlington, and at universities. Economic Development is Key to Sustainability Falls Church has a dedicated business community comprising locally-owned businesses, regional chains, and national brands. Our business community provides bustling sidewalks, outdoor cafes, unique businesses. City Council works to increase revenue from commercial development so that more tax revenue comes from economic activity. In the past 10 years mixed use development provided $3.8 Million net revenue, keeping 9 cents out of the tax rate. When done right, mixed-use development works. We’ve learned many lessons, and projects keep
getting better. People Make our City Strong As a member of City Council, Marybeth is committed to maintaining Falls Church as a special place where people want to live, work, shop, learn, and play. Falls Church is for everyone: families, young people, retirees, immigrants, elderly. Parks, schools, bike paths, sidewalks, library, and neighborhoods allow people to meet and form strong bonds. We are Still Making History The first known Falls Church settlement dates to 1699. Since then history has happened here: Colonial, Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, GI Bill, Vietnamese resettlement. Marybeth is committed to growth and progress in a welcoming city. Experience Matters Marybeth has been involved in Falls Church since 1995. A longtime volunteer, she has worked for Falls Church City Public Schools since 2005, and was elected to City Council in 2013. Marybeth ran for City Council to ensure that the people who are “doing” things in Falls Church by volunteering and participating, are represented in City decision-making.
R��� L��������� As a community we have reached a pivotal crossroads on many fronts. Building and expanding multiple schools to meet enrollment growth and replace functionally obsolete buildings; a rising property tax rate resulting from overdue capital improvement obligations; evolving economic development initiatives meant to spur new revenue growth; and the numerous operational responsibilities that come with managing a small independent city. In a word: daunting.
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However, these tremendous challenges are exactly why I decided to run for office. For 15 years, I have worked in the commercial real estate industry advising on property tax matters, economic and commercial development initiatives, real estate valuation, big data solutions and technological innovation. I have worked extensively with state and local governments, developers, investors, citizens, and public officials to deliver smart solutions to complex problems. I am confident I can do the same for our city. My wife Sarah and I moved to Falls Church with our three daughters for the best in class schools and the sense of community. Upon arrival we completely immersed ourselves both personally and professionally. Sarah opened a counseling practice here in town and I joined a variety of local organizations. We worked very hard and waited quite some time to be able to move here, and from the very beginning we have been committed to giving back to preserve and build on what attracted us to the city in the first place. This November we are voting for more than just a candidate; more so than at any point in the last few decades. The decisions we make on who will lead this city down a very difficult road will truly impact all of us, regardless of your stage in life. I made the decision to enter this race because I have the experience, passion and commitment to ensure we deliver not only on the promises of good schools and affordability, but also understanding that our solutions to challenges around commercial development, city finances and transportation will not be one size fits all. These decisions will be difficult and we will need individuals with experience beyond public service to keep a steady and balanced hand on the wheel. On November 7th I am asking for your vote, and in return I promise to serve you through transparency and always with an eye on what is in the best interest of our city’s future.
D�� M����� Our City needs careful and visionary management. We are on the threshold of decisions that will shape our future, which require the best cross-section of our considerable talent to guide us. I have decades of private sector experience in law, finance, real estate, governance, compliance, and communication, and also many years of applying these skills to the challenges of our local and regional affairs. I respectfully ask for your support to serve you on the Falls Church City Council. The basic role of the City Council is to provide oversight over the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, to enact laws and policies, and to be a conduit for the interests of Citizens and Businesses in our oversight and legislative functions. My experience in working within these processes in private and public settings enables me to listen, to offer both pragmatic ideas and a unique and visionary perspective to push the envelope beyond conventional approaches. I pledge to stand for real transparency, more and better ideas, and accountability. Our tax base is $4 Billion, with too high a percentage being Single Family and Town Homes. In order to bend the tax curve, the next Billion needs to be different. The 10 acres we may develop at the WFC Metro is worth ~$50M, but development should add ~$250M+ to the pie, and help to balance the burdens including jobs and other economic activity. There are other properties in the City with like potential; we need to be smart and aggressive with all of our tools to bring commercial and other development that provides real, sustainable net revenue. We also need to consider affordable and workforce housing, and programs that allow
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seniors to remain to afford us the benefit of their years and presence in our neighborhoods. It is vital to our system to ensure the transparency of our governmental processes so that citizens may provide input conveniently and effectively. I support a “YES” vote on the School Bond Referendum, because I believe a new school is a smart investment in our future, even though I harbor doubts about the City’s information campaign which seems to have been slanted too much to “what” we need to do and to have neglected a fulsome discussion of “why” and “how.” I pledge that I will not vote to sell the bonds absent a detailed and accountable plan with broad community support. Thank you.
David F. Snyder Recent hurricanes, massshootings, and terrorist attacks remind us of the critical importance of local government in preventing and responding to extraordinary events. At the same time, local government has the daily responsibility to create an inclusive and progressive environment that provides first-rate public safety services, great schools, inviting parks and library facilities, and reliable social services and transportation, even as it supports businesses and historic and cultural resources.
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All this must be done while assuring value for each taxpayer dollar and tax rates that are no higher than necessary. Working together, we in the independent City of Falls Church have accomplished much toward achieving every one of these goals. This crucial work is never done; it is ongoing and involves all of us. Therefore, I voted to submit the George Mason High School (GMHS) project to the voters and will vote for the referendum. I will also continue to support our schools by voting for budgets that maintain quality teaching, small class sizes, and otherwise ensure high-quality public services. Further, I am committed to achieving the GMHS, library, and City Hall projects on time and on budget, just as our team did when we built Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. Falls Church is not an island. Recognizing this, our citizens and elected officials have long participated in regional groups. In this tradition, I have chaired the regional air quality committee that announced historic progress on clean air standards, and transportation groups that initiated new transit projects and brought resources home to Falls Church, such as bike share. I now chair the National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council, an umbrella group focused on our collective preparedness for natural catastrophes and man-made threats. I fully realize that affordability is a growing issue for many of our citizens. In response if re-elected to City Council, I will continue to scour each budget, look for ways to support business, seek regional funding to help defray local costs in applicable areas, review our tax deferral program with the goal of improving it, attract more
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 27
commercial tax revenue through neighborhood-friendly development, and achieve significant commercial development to offset the GMHS project costs, if approved by the voters. I have also called for a City-wide initiative to determine how we can tap the expertise of our citizens to use technology to improve services, reduce costs, and best prepare our community for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Dan Sze I’m running for re-election for Falls Church City Council in the November 2017 Elections. Affordability is central in my campaign. Last time, I asked for your help to keep the tax rate fair, to maintain great schools and work to achieve a well-designed city. These issues remain front and center. The equation of maintaining excellence in our city and schools along with fair taxes is dependent on attracting the right kind of growth. I will work hard to ensure that you get value out of every penny you pay on the tax rate. The single most important issue before us this November is the $120 million bond referendum on a new high school. The decision will have an impact on our entire community, affecting those who have children in our schools, as well as folks like me, who don’t have children in the schools, but
take pride in our schools’ achievements. I want to make sure that if you want to stay in our City you can do so. Elisabeth and I made the decision to stay here after my retirement from full-time employment a few years back. During my career, I served with the Department of Energy, Department of Defense and Department of State in various capacities as deputy office director, acquisition executive, program director, strategic policy manager, contracting officer, construction manager, chief information officer and Foreign Service Officer. I also have private sector experience with architects and development companies. The trajectory of the current GMHS is of continuing decline. Should the referendum pass, I will ensure proper outcomes in process and product. I have been an Architect for over 30 years and my Master’s was in Urban Design. Over my career, I have designed retail (shopping center), commercial, multi-family and hotel developments, as well as constructed embassies and nuclear submarine bases. I will put all the skills, knowledge and experience accumulated over a long career in buildings, urban infrastructure, environmental sustainability and clean energy technologies to make this project a reality for our City. I will work to reduce all components of risk and utilize prudent and appropriate business practices before we issue the bond, since once we issue the bond, our leverage to get the best possible deal from the development community will be extinguished. This is an extraordinary, existential, multigenerational challenge and a huge opportunity that will affect all citizens. Quite simply, we must get it right.
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Three Consecutive Losses Drop Mason to 5-3 BY ALEX MOORE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
George Mason High School’s football team couldn’t end the Central High School Falcons’ undefeated streak last Friday, suffering a 52-8 loss on the road to a powerhouse in Woodstock, Virginia, but still appear poised to end the season strong. The Mustangs’ record fell to 5-3 with the loss. The Falcons improved to 9-0. Despite the lopsided score in this high school football game, the Mustangs did fare better against their opponents than other recent competitors have. In its previous two outings, Central had shut out its opponents entirely while accumulating 117 points. The Falcons dominated the game from the beginning, though. They scored a defensive touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage, and then capitalized on a short punt at the end of the next George Mason drive, giving them an early 14-0 lead. Although Mason would drive the ball deep into Falcons territory twice in the first half, it wouldn’t come away with any points. The
SUPER ROOU BROTHERS. The tandem of senior running back Finn (left) and freshman linebacker Walter Roou led the Mustangs on both sides of the ball, as Finn’s 167 yards rushing carried the offense while Walter led the defense with 12 tackles. (P����: C������� T���� R���) Falcons would put the game out of reach with a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half, several minutes before Mustangs senior running back Finn Roou
would score his team’s first points on a five-yard run. The loss was tough, but the Mustangs season is far from over. Although they have a tough road
game coming up against the 8-1 Clarke County HIgh School next week, they’ll have a chance to finish the season at home against a weaker opponent, the 2-6 Madison
County Mountaineers. Additionally, the Mustangs appear poised for improvement. The team has been playing without some critical players, such as junior running back Jack Felgar, whose speed is an important key to the offense. As he and other players return to health, the team should benefit the experience other players have gained in their absence. Head coach Adam Amerine pointed to freshman linebacker Walter Roou as an example. “We played him at safety and I thought he kept his head up and did great,” said Amerine, noting that the youngster had led his team in tackles. Amerine also observed that his players haven’t let a tough series of games get into their heads. “The effort and energy is still there at practice and on the field,” he said. “These kids have great character and are going to continue to battle until they tell us we can’t anymore. Our locker room leaders have done a great job keeping the focus.” Mason’s on the road again as they travel to play Clarke County in Berryville on Oct. 27.
Mustangs Make History, Sweep Rappahannock Co. for Season Series BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Heading into the postseason George Mason High School’s volleyball team takes a big 3-0 win over Rappahannock County High School that was a preceded by a 3-2 loss to Bull Run District leader Madison County High School on Oct. 19. Tuesday’s win over Rappahannock County was momentous for a few reasons. By beating the Panthers, Mason locked up the second seed in the Bull Run District and earns one final home game during the District tournament next week. It’s also the first time the Mustangs beat Rappahannock County at home during head coach Hillary Trebels’ four-year run, as well as the first time they’ve swept the season-series against them in recent history. “We’ve never beat [Rappahannock County] in three sets before, so it was really nice,” senior libero Hannah Trauberman said. “This year was the first year we’ve won against them in five sets at their school, and we won at home too which is awesome.” It was a three-set sweep for
Mason, but definitely no easy task. Two sets were pushed into extra rallies and there were 14 lead changes in total throughout the match. The Mustangs actually had their easiest victory in the first set, where a 7-3 lead ballooned to a 18-12 advantage until the Panthers turned up the heat and came within one at 19-18. Thankfully big hits from junior outside hitters McKenzie Brady and Riley Ruyak along with help from seniors in the form of setter Jaden White’s ace and middle hitter Kait Daniels’ spike came to help Mason earn a 25-20 victory. In the second set Rappahannock County aimed to even the scoresheet with Mason. The Panthers went up 11-6 in a hurry, but the Mustangs didn’t flinch and evened the tally at 12 apiece after a Ruyak hit. Rappahannock County continued to pace Mason, answering each of their runs with one of their own, and were primed for a win when an ace put them ahead 22-20. Though after a Panther error and a Mustang ace, junior setter Evelyn Duross assisted three of the next four points to snatch away another set from Rappahannock County in a
26-24 win. Typically a scrappy loss such as in the second set would sign the silent contract and make the third set a mere formality. However, the Panthers came out strong and held a brief 9-8 lead after Mason was up early. The Mustangs eventually bolted to a 19-13 margin, but eased up and allowed Rappahannock County to storm back and take a 25-24 lead and a point away from extending the match. That was until Brady, with a boost from some solid passing, brought the hammer for Mason’s final three points and capped off the team’s senior night. “For the most part tonight our passing was really good, so we could run a bunch of different hitters,” Trebels said. “The more balanced we can be and the more threats we can use, the less balanced the other team is and they can’t react as fast.” Last week against Madison County, Mason put up a good fight but ultimately fell to the hosting Mountaineers in five sets. It was an improvement over their 3-1 home loss earlier in the month, but the Mustangs still have trouble keeping up with the district leader. Both are on a path to be competing
TICK TICK BOOM goes senior middle hitter Kait Daniels (center) and the Mustang student section en route to the team’s 3-0 win over Rappahannock County. (P����: C���� S��) a third time on Nov. 2 Mason will square off against the winner of Saturday’s Bull
Run District tournament opener at home on Oct. 30 before advancing to the 2A Region tournament.
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SUPRISE! The Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) presented over 30 teachers with Todd Hitt Fund for the Arts Grants and FCEF 2017 Super Grants on Friday, awarding the recipients over $132,000 in grant monies for projects ranging from Augmented Reality Sandbox to Music Therapy. (P����: FCCPS P����/M������� C�������)
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S����� N��� � N���� IB Parents Invited to Information Session The parents of current junior and senior International Baccalaureate (IB) students who are pursuing an IB diploma and the parents of current sophomores considering an IB diploma should attend an information session on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. with IB Diploma Programme Coordinator, Dan Coast in the Mustang Cafe at George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). GMHS has 238 students registered to take 724 IB exams in May 2018.
Mason’s Peter Haensel Receives State Recognition George Mason High School’s own Peter Haensel has been selected as the number one jazz tenor saxophonist in the state of Virginia. Haensel will perform for educators as part of the All Virginia State Jazz Ensemble in November at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. Directing the group is saxophonist and flutist Denis DiBlasio. He leads the jazz program at Rowan University in New Jersey and is known worldwide for his recordings and
arrangements. The students and staff at GMHS offer their congratulations for Haensel.
College Visits Begin Picking Up at Mason College visits at George Mason High School are on the upswing, and juniors and seniors are encouraged to take advantage of presentations by representatives of over 20 more colleges and universities between this week and Tuesday, Nov. 14. Students should register at least one day in advance and keep their teachers in the loop by sharing a confirmation of registration. Parents and students can consider using the Nov. 6 and 7 teacher work days as chances to visit schools, take tours and touch base with enrolled Mason alumni on campuses.
Annual Halloween Hootenanny Set for Friday The annual Halloween Hootenanny will take place this Friday, Oct. 27 from 5 – 8 p.m.. There will be booths to play games, raffles with prizes including an iPad, a free breakout room and a moon bounce. One of the biggest attractions is the
Haunted House, with this year’s theme being a Haunted Carnival. All proceeds go to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
Annandale Student Selected to All-American Band Angel Estrada, of Annandale High School, was officially selected as a 2018 U.S. Army All-American during a celebratory selection event, joining an elite group of marching band members who will perform during halftime at the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. “Being a successful band member not only requires great skill, but also a commitment to teamwork,” said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. “To be an Army All-American requires students to excel musically and academically, but most importantly, as young people of character. ” The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country. The All-American Bowl will be nationally televised, live on NBC at noon CST on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018.
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 29
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Fa l l s C h u r c h
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Business News & Notes Kiddar Capital Funds Advertising Grants to Help Local Businesses Kiddar Capital has funded advertising grants now available through the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. The grants are to help local businesses with revenue of less than $250 advertise in the Falls Church News-Press. Kiddar Capital, founded by construction and real estate industry veteran Todd Hitt, is a private equity firm that originates, structures, and manages strategic equity investments in a variety of business disciplines. Core investments include real estate, including in Falls Church, and technology and innovation. For grant eligibility and guidelines, go to FallsChurchChamber.org and click on Resources.
Foxcraft Design Group to Sponsor DC Design House Falls Church-based Foxcraft Design Group is sponsoring the DC Design House, “A Decade of Design,” at 9004 Congressional Court in Potomac. Tours of the 27,256 SF, $10.28 million home with 9 bedrooms and a ballroom, cinema, 2-story library on 2 acres of property with a pool, pool house, and apartment are available through Sunday, Oct. 29. Foxcraft is a 28-year old award winning design/build firm and licensed contractor that that specializes in assisting clients through the decision-making process while balancing budget considerations. For free tickets courtesy of Foxcraft Design call 703-536-1888 or email chandler@foxcraft.com for complimentary admission. For more information, visit foxcraft.com.
Falls Church Wellness Center Hosts Ladies Night this Friday
TICKETS ON
Falls Church Wellness Center is hosting Ladies Night, an evening of dance, refreshments, and socializing on Friday, Oct. 27 from 7 – 9 p.m. Attendees will learn and practice new dance techniques while enjoying snacks and beverages. No previous experience is required. The Falls Church Wellness Center provides client centered integrative healthcare in the mental health, physical health and internal health fields. Visit FallsChurchWellness. com for more information. The Falls Church Wellness Center is located at 520 N. Washington Street.
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Locker Room Collects Two Truckloads of Supplies for Puerto Rico
FEB 21-25, 2018
Edward Jones Cuts the Ribbon in Falls Church
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The Locker Room Sports Bar and Grill partnered with #SOSDC4PR to collect needed items for people in Puerto Rico. Two truckloads of personal care products were collected, transported to Baltimore, and shipped to victims of the recent hurricanes.
Financial Advisor Kevin McFarland’s relocated Edward Jones office was officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 19. The ribbon cutting included appearances from the landlord, Dominion Jewelers’ Rachelle Barimany, Edward Jones Branch Office Administrator Jo Anne Lauterbach, City of Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly and Diener & Associates Michael Diener. In the photo, McFarland (right) is flanked by Virginia Delegate Marcus Simon (left) and Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly. Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
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FO O D &D I NI NG
Party Like Your’re a Kid on Halloween With Kid-Friendly Books & Recipes BY EMILY YOUNG TAMPA BAY TIMES
Do your kids love Halloween candy and costumes, but quaver at creepy decorations and horror stories? If so, we’ve got your back. Try reading these two Halloween books, which will make you laugh, warm your heart, occasionally make you groan in disgust, but never truly scare you. Children can help make the accompanying recipes based on the stories.
BUNNICULA: A RABBIT-TALE OF MYSTERY
by Deborah and James Howe Is Dracula too scary for your kids? Try Bunnicula — an adorable vampire bunny who sucks juice from vegetables. His new owners have no idea they’ve rescued a paranormal rabbit, but Harold the dog and Chester the cat suspect something’s wrong. After all, “where a rabbit’s buck teeth should have been, two little pointed fangs glistened.” Animal lovers will especially enjoy the book’s quirky humor, as the dog befriends Bunnicula and the cat becomes increasingly paranoid. (In the end, the cat consoles himself with selfhelp books like Finding Yourself by Screaming a Lot.) This is a chapter book, so feel free to read it aloud to younger kids. What to make: Bunnicula loves to sink his teeth into tomatoes and drain them dry. In his honor, drink some Vampire Blood Tomato Soup, with a side of Bunnicula Grilled Cheese. (You can even serve the soup in test tube vials to make it look authentically bloody.) Although the recipe calls for red pepper flakes, feel free to keep the soup more mild and kid-friendly by omitting those. Your little ones
can help use a bunny cookie cutter to shape the grilled cheese into Bunnicula-themed sandwiches.
IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN
by Charles M. Schulz In Schulz’s classic picture book, young Linus spends his Halloween night in a pumpkin patch, waiting for the mythical Great Pumpkin to appear. His friends dress up in costumes, trick-or treat and munch on caramel apples. They ridicule him for spending his night alone. But Linus’ faith in the Great Pumpkin never wavers — even when his only “visitor” turns out to be Snoopy the beagle. This story is one of the sweetest Halloween tales out there. What to make: Kids will love decorating Frosted Sugar Cookie Pumpkins. Who knows? When he sees your offering, maybe the Great Pumpkin will be honored enough to visit your house this Halloween. Vampire Blood Tomato Soup With Bunnicula Grilled Cheese For the soup: 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ fennel bulb, chopped (about 2½ cups) ½ large onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 4 cloves garlic, smashed 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon fennel seed ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional 1 (28-oz.) can plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano 2 cups homemade vegetable broth or low-sodium canned 2 cups tomato juice 6 basil leaves, torn 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Fresh ground black pepper, to
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 31
taste
For the grilled cheese: 16 slices Westphalian Pumpernickel, or other thin black bread ½ cup apple jelly 8 slices Muenster cheese, about 3 oz. 8 slices yellow cheddar cheese Optional garnishes: dill pickle rounds, fennel fronds, Spanish olives with pimentos Make the soup: Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pot over medium-high heat. Add fennel, onion, garlic, salt, fennel seed and crushed pepper, if using, and cook until vegetables soften and brown slightly, about 5 minutes. Drain and reserve juice from the tomatoes, then crush tomatoes gently with your hands. Add the tomatoes, increase heat to high and cook until they begin to brown slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved tomato juice, vegetable broth, tomato juice and basil leaves. Bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until vegetables are cooked through and soup reduces and thickens, about 30 minutes. Remove pot from stove and puree the soup in batches, with an immersion blender, regular blender or food processor. Stir in lemon juice and season with pepper. Divide among 8 bowls. Make the grilled cheese: Toast bread in toaster or toaster oven until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes (or less if using a toaster.) Spread one side of each slice of bread with apple jelly. Layer cheese over the apple jelly, top with slice of bread. Cut out with bunny-shaped cookie cutter. Garnish as desired. Serves 8. Source: Adapted from Food Network
Frosted Sugar Cookie Pumpkins For the cookies: ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 3 cups all-purpose flour 1¼ cups butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract For the frosting: 4 cups powdered sugar 4 tablespoons butter, melted 3 to 5 tablespoons milk, plus more for thinning 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract Orange and green food coloring Heat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl, combine salt, baking powder and flour until well combined. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth and well combined. Beat in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla or almond extract. Add flour mixture to wet mixture and beat until just combined. Place on lightly floured surface and roll to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into a pumpkin shape using a cookie cutter and place on parch-
ment-lined baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are just lightly golden brown. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets. Transfer to wire cooling rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter and milk until smooth and well combined. Use enough milk to create a frosting that is smooth but firm enough to pipe through a pastry bag. Place ¼ of the frosting in a small bowl and color with green food coloring. Color remaining frosting in large bowl with orange food color. Place a small amount of the orange and green frostings in pastry bags or zip-top bags with the end snipped off. Use orange frosting in pastry bag to pipe a border around the edge of the pumpkin. Add an additional 1 to 3 tablespoons milk to the remaining icing until it is slightly softer and runs a little more freely. Spoon a small amount of icing into the center of each lined cookie. Tilt the cookies around so icing in center completely fills the outlined cookie. Repeat process with the green frosting on the stem. Allow cookies to set, about 30 minutes. Source: Adapted from Bon Appétit
PAGE 32 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
with
Barb Wire Dolls
October
27 y
Frida
Hayley Fahey Clare & Don’s Beach Shack 6 p.m. 130 N Washington St., Falls Church
703-532-9283 • clareanddons.com
28 ay
d Satur
Kiti Gardner Show JV’s Restaurant 4 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com
Maggie Rose with Scott Kurt
Wolf Trap 8 p.m. 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna
703-255-1900 • wolftrap.org
29 ay
Sund
BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
In a musical era where electronically produced sounds constitute a majority of the most popular songs, Grecian classic/punk rock band, Barb Wire Dolls, takes a sledgehammer to that standard with their homage to a time when guitar riffs and raw vocals corralled crowds. With an upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. on Halloween night, lead singer Isis Queen shared her thoughts on the band’s rise, evolution and against-the-grain existence with the News-Press. The Barb Wire Dolls started on the island of Crete, Greece in 2010 when Queen and lead guitarist Pyn Doll were living outside of an artist commune. Being constantly surrounded by artistic individuals coupled with their affinity for classic and punk rock guided the two toward starting a band. Given both of their novice experiences of the band life, the live-and-let-live attitude of punk rock was a natural attractor. “It was easy for us to start a band because we were into punk rock,” Queen said. “You don’t really need to know your rules or instruments... That kind of music gave me the encouragement to do what I do because of the no-rules aspect.” Soon after the duo recorded a demo, the Barb Wire Dolls got some airtime on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. Positive feedback from their American radio debut led Queen and Doll to come stateside to perform and eventually where they sold out their first show at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood. It was clear early on that the two were tapping into something in the American market, and after self-releasing their first two EPs, a Kickstarter campaign helped the band put out their next album, Slit, in 2012. What followed was stretch of intensive touring that spanned most of the continental U.S. and Europe from 2012-14, all in the name of promoting Slit. And while the duo had become a more well-rounded band in the process – adding drummer Krash Doll, bassist Iriel Blaque and rhythm
BARB WIRE DOLLS. (P����: A���������PR) guitarist Remmington Pearce to the mix – they also engineered an international following that was beginning to take after their devil-may-care approach on stage. “We don’t compromise on our music,” Queen continued. “We allow ourselves to grow artistically, and our fans grow with us. It’s a rollercoaster because you never know what’s going to happen around the corner, but that’s good — it keeps it exciting.” By 2015 more important heads were starting to turn when the Barb Wire Dolls came to town. A prime example being the late-Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead, who went on to sign the band to his record label, Motörhead Music. Kilmister’s interest was a huge vote of confidence for the group and was also a sign that their music resonated with a broad swath of humanity. Though you wouldn’t believe it if you looked at the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the Imagine
Dragons, who themselves are more alternative rock than a tried and true rock band, there are few representatives of the genre in mainstream music anymore. This would normally leave popular opinion to decree rock “dead” (again), which is why the Barb Wire Dolls’ ascension is all the more impressive. “Punk rock’s an attitude at the end of the day, it’s not a genre. A lot of the bands forget that and then it becomes stale and boring and, yes, it could inevitably end up dying because of that,” Queen added. “When [Kilmister] signed us, he didn’t sign us because we were a punk band. He signed us because we were rock and roll, and that is what we are.” The Barb Wire Dolls will be playing at the The Pinch (3548 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.) Tuesday, Oct. 31. Tickets can be found at bandsintown.com/BarbWireDolls.
Anna Nalick with Kathryn Dean
Jammin’ Java 7:30 p.m. 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna 703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com
These singles wet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week: Nicholas Benton – Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Jody Fellows – When the Saints Go Marching In by Louie Armstrong
Matt Delaney – Georgy Porgy by Toto
SE NI O R LI V I NG
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SENIOR LIVING
S����� N��� L���
having enough money for a long retirement, it’s us. At the very least, we should know what our monthly retirement budget looks like. To see how you do on the retirement quiz, go online to retirement.theamericancollege. edu. Scroll down to the red box on the lower right. There are 38 questions. After you take the quiz, you can check your answers. *** If you’ve considered getting a pet, this might be the perfect time to adopt one. A side effect of all the hurricanes we’ve had is the number of animal shelters that are completely filled. Either the owners can’t be found or the families have no homes to go back to and are living in shelters that won’t allow pets. In hurricane-hit areas, adoptions have plunged because people have so much to do just to take care of their families. Across the country, other shelters have taken up the cause and have run caravans (even planes) to bring rescued animals to areas that weren’t hit by hurricanes. Many shelters have lowered adoption fees so more animals can find homes. When adopted, all the animals will have been through quar-
Will Your Money Last Through Retirement? BY MATLIDA CHARLES
KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
Think you have your retirement financial planning well in hand? Well, a new study shows that you might be in for a rude surprise when the time comes. The American College New York Life Center for Retirement Income commissioned a survey of retirement income planning, and the results are disturbing. Only 35 percent of men passed the quiz; only 18 percent of women were able to. The quiz covered a dozen different categories, and judging by the results, the topic of annuity products in retirement was the most difficult. Women equaled men in the Medicare insurance planning section, with both getting 76 percent of answers correct. Women also
bested men (just barely, at 38 percent versus 35 percent) in paying for long-term-care expenses. The survey found the most glaring problem is that while many women know they’re not knowledgeable about retirement income planning, the majority still believe they’ll have enough money to live on. Why is that? Are women secretly depending on men to be on top of financial planning, answering on the quiz that they make joint decisions, while the men replied that they (the men) were actually the ones in charge? There is one ray of hope in the survey: The majority of women believe that it’s important for their financial adviser to educate them ... while a minority of men responded that way. Ladies, we live longer. If anyone should be more concerned about
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OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 33
antine and given shots and exams. What do you get out of it if you adopt a pet? The short list is more social interaction, less stress, lower blood pressure, increased physical exercise and structure to your days. Add to that the gratitude of an animal that’s been through crisis and is now in a loving, forever home. If it’s not possible for you to adopt a pet, consider being part of the welcoming committee when the animals arrive. They’ll be anxious from the long ride, eager to move around. They’ll need lots of TLC to calm down, and baths and
soothing words. The shelter might need extra toys, leashes, food and blankets. Perhaps you can volunteer to be a collection point for those items. Or you could foster an animal on a short-term basis. Who knows ...it’s possible that in opening your home and heart to a homeless cat or dog that you’ll decide to make the arrangement permanent. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
Walk-In Clinic at
920 West Broad Street Falls Church 703-538-1505
HOURS:
Weekdays (except Tue) ---> 9 am to 8 pm Saturday ---> 10 am to 6 pm Closed
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PAGE 34 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
CA L E NDA R
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26
more information. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave, Falls Church). 8 – 10 p.m. This literary event is for ages 18 and up.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
Teen Knitting Club. Interested teens should bring their knitting, crocheting or other needle arts to work on. This is not a class, but the group can troubleshoot and learn new knitting techniques together in a creative setting. For grades 6-12, registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.
Financial Planning Day. Opportunity for free, private consultation on financial issues with a highly qualified certified financial planner. UVA Northern Virginia Center (7054 Haycock Rd., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Register for this event by visiting FinancialPlanningDays.org/DC.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29
Murder Most Victorian. Lust. Poison. Greed. Dismemberment. Interested attendees can experience an evening of 19th century villainy as they uncover the true, murderous crimes that inspired the Victorian authors to craft the scary stories of their day. Cost is $5 per person. Reservations required. Call 703-248-5171 (TTY 711) to reserve a spot and for
Race and Reconciliation Service. The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and Dulin United Methodist Church will hold a Race and Reconciliation service this Sunday at Dulin Methodist. A variety of local pastors and reverends from other congregations will be speaking at the event. Dulin United Methodist Church (513 E Broad St., Falls Church).
4 – 6 p.m. For more information about the event, call Tinner Hill at 703-241-4109. Halloween Carnival. Infants through sixth graders are invited to enjoy the carnival experience at the Community Center in their Halloween costumes for spooky fun, including puppet shows, moon bounces, haunted trails, crafts, carnival games, a creepy creature show and candy. From 6 – 7 p.m., the Halloween Carnival is appropriate for ages 0-6. From 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., the Halloween Carnival is appropriate for ages 6-11. Cost is $2 child at the door. Adults and infants can attend the Halloween Carnival for free. A special thanks is extended to the Communikids Language Immersion School for sponsoring this annual community event. Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 6 – 8:30 p.m. More information about the event can be found at fallschurchva.gov/642/ Halloween-Carnival.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 Preschool Storytime. Stories and fun for ages 0-5. Drop-in. All storytimes are followed by playtime with the Early Literacy Center toys. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 10:30 - 11 a.m. 703-248-5034. Playtime with the Early Literacy Center. Explore educational and manipulative items (aka toys) to teach early literacy through play. Ages birth to 5 years. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 703248-5034. ESL Conversation Group. A general conversation group (for adults) learning English as their second language. Meets every Monday (except holidays) at regularly scheduled time. No registration required; all are welcome. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 “An Act of God.” Written by 13-time Emmy Award winner David Javerbaum (“The Daily Show”), this exceptionally witty comedy delivers a new meaning to the phrase divine intervention. God is back. And he’s got a lot to say. Inhabiting the body of beloved DC actor Tom Story (Round House Theatre’s “Angels in America,” MetroStage’s “Fully Committed”), and flanked by his ever-faithful archangels, the Supreme Being gifts his mortals with an entirely new set of Ten Commandments in a sinfully funny whirlwind of comedy heaven. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $40. 8 p.m. sigtheatre.org.
THURSDAY, 2 SATURDAY,FEBRUARY OCTOBER 28 “Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been...” A fictional account of the demons and dilemmas faced by Langston Hughes while attempting to write a poem on the eve of his appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Performed against the backdrop of searing
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blues and the ever-present poetic hues of Langston. MetroStage (1201 N Royal St., Alexandria) $40. 8 p.m. metrostage.org.
Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.
“The Mistress Cycle.” Jezebel, Siren, Vixen or Enchantress? “The Mistress Cycle” tells the story of five women: Tess, a struggling 30-something Manhattan photographer; Anais Nin, the famed sexual adventuress of the early 20th century; Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henri II in France in the 16th century; Lulu White, a turn-of-the-last-century New Orleans Madame; and Ching, a 14-year-old concubine in 12th century China. Though they come from different times and cultures, they share a sisterhood. An intelligent new musical work filled with stories of passion, compromise, heartbreak and renewal. Creative Cauldron (410 S Maple Ave., Falls Church). $30. 8 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
Hayley Fahey. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 “Assassins.” While “Assassins” entreats audiences to a tuneful carnival filled with portrayals of history’s most notorious presidential assassins and would-be killers, it also tests the limits of free speech and questions “The American Dream” itself. With no seat more than 20 feet from the game with the highest stakes in the land, NextStop’s production promises a profound, Presidential theatrical experience you won’t soon forget. NextStop Theatre (269 Sunset Dr., Herndon). $40. 2 p.m. 1ststagetysons.org.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, 2 THURSDAY,FEBRUARY OCTOBER 26 Damian Wolfe. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-237-8333. John Lodge of the Moody Blues: The 10,000 Light Years Tour. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $60 – $75. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Ken Block & Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25 – $35. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Dave Chapell Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd.,
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OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 35
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
Susan Werner “An American in Havana” Album Release Show feat. Mayra Casales. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $22. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Sachal Ensemble. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $45 – $55. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. The Legwarmers – Friday Halloween Bash. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $18. 9 p.m. 703237-0300. Wicked Jezebel Halloween Party. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703241-9504. Tejas Singh. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333 The Later Late Show: Main Stage Comedy Showcase with Rob Maher, Danny Charnley, Kim Ambrose and many more. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $8 – $10. 10:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 Kiti Gardner Show with Zach Sweeney (No Cover). JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504. Ellis Paul + Sophie B. Hawkins. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25. 6:30 p.m. 703-2551566. Tom Paxton & Friends 80th Birthday Bash. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500. NoBetterOff featuring Martinez & Guthrie along with the Tricia Bailey Trio. Art & Frame Falls Church (205 W. Jefferson Street, Falls Church) $10. 7:30 p.m. 703534-4202.
WICKED JEZEBEL will be at playing at JV’s Restaurant in Falls Church on Friday (Photo: Wicked Jezebel)
Maggie Rose with Scott Kurt. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $22 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Young Relics Halloween Party. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703241-9504. The Legwarmers – Saturday Halloween Bash. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $18. 9 p.m. 703237-0300. Halloween Party. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333. Heady Entertainment Presents: The Fritz. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 10 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Spookappella Halloween Jam Hosted by PBC + On The Verge + Drop The Mic + Impitched. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $15. 10 p.m. 703255-1566.
Ile. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25 – $30. 8 p.m. 703-237-0300.
Dan Sachs Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Woodgrove, Real Daggers. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.
Anna Nalick “At Now” Record Release Show with Special Guest Kathryn Dean. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31
Jackie Venson. Bikentics (201 W. Jefferson St., Falls Church). $20. 7:30 p.m. 202-656-2748.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29
Memphis Gold All Star Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.
Jazzet Show Live and In Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1:15 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Derechos. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30
Balmorhea with Adam Torres. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 8 p.m. 703255-1566. Sol Roots and the Carly Harvey Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Whitehorse featuring a performance by folk artist Ken Yates. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 36 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
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Tel: 703.217.2632
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Fax: 703.832.3236 400 Maple Ave., So., Suite 210, Falls Church, Virginia 22046
C L AS S I F I E DS For Sale
Public Notice
HOUSE FOR SALE
FAMILY COURT of the STATE of NY, County of Nassau In the Matter of Proceeding under Article 6, of the Family Court Act. Docket Nos: V- 8196-16, LORENSO DEJESUS ROMERO-MUNGUIA, Petitioner,vs. MARGARITA RIVAS DEARGUETA, Respondent. In the name of the People of the State of New York. To the above-named Respondent: MARGARITA RIVAS DEARGUETA, who is found at Falls Church, VA. A motion having been filed with this Court requesting findings by the Court with regards to the following minor: JOSSELIN ESTEFANY ROMERORIVAS, DOB 09/05/05. You are hereby summoned to appear before the Nassau County Family Court, Referee Robert LoPresti, located at 1200 Old Country Rd., Westbury, NY 11590 on December 14, 2017, 3:00pm to answer the petition and be dealt with in accordance with the Fam.Ct.Act. On your failure to appear as herein directed, a Warrant may be issued for your arrest, or an order may be issued on your default. Dated: 10/06/17, Rosalie Fitzgerald, Clerk of Court. To the Above-Named Respondent: The fore-going summons are served upon you by publication pursuant to CPLR 308, and order of the Nassau County Family Court.
5729 Norton Road Alexandria VA 22303 $472,740. Phone: 202-742-7290 Senate Realty Corporation 909 U Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 FAIR HOUSING & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REALTOR
Help Wanted TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER
(Falls Church, VA) – Provide technical direction for technical aspects of multiple computer systems development projects from definition phase through implementation. Resumes to: Astegic, Inc., 7600 Leesburg Pike, West Bldg, Suite 320, Falls Church, VA 22043-2004, Attention: Human Resources. Must reference “Technical Project Manager” when applying.
Services HOUSE KEEPING SERVICE Dust-Sweep-VacuumDisinfect-Mop-LinensTrash Removal Great References 20 Years Experience Falls Church Resident Call Rosane Cell 703-462-4316
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Wanted SHARE HOME Quite area near Ballston, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Enclosed, landscaped backyard, patio. Non-smoking. $1,500 per month. 571-419-1796 Former Military.
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We are pledged to the letter andspirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
.
#BeUnderstood
SOME PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS TO TRY HARDER. SOME KIDS ARE TRYING AS HARD AS THEY CAN. Learning and attention issues can look different to parents and kids. That’s why there’s Understood, a free online resource with answers, advice and tools to help your child thrive. Go from misunderstanding to understood.org.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
By David Levinson Wilk 1
2
3
14
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1. Stir-fry vessel 4. "The Bicycle Thief" director Vittorio De ____ 8. They may be involved in close shaves 14. Neon or helium 16. City about 250 miles SW of Topeka, KS 17. Most gangly 18. Giving two tablets, say 19. Third-party candidates, typically 21. Suffix with planet 22. "Angela's Ashes" author 26. Feature of Garbage Pail Kids trading cards 32. Mexican artist Kahlo 33. Typical Scottish Brexit vote 34. Goes under fast 41. "____ late!" 42. About 90% of people have one 43. Words of solidarity 49. Place with screwdrivers and rusty nails 50. Unit now known as a siemens 53. "Up All Night" boy band ... or something featured in 19-, 26-, 34- or 43-Across 59. Country crooner Randy 62. "If I may ..." 63. Patronize, as a restaurant 64. Worker's advocate 65. Refuses 66. Many an Instagram user 67. Suffix with sex
© 2017 David Levinson Wilk
OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | PAGE 37 36. Crime film genre 37. Two of nine? 38. Raid target 39. One-named singer with the 2016 #1 hit "Cheap Thrills" 40. Hamilton's place 44. Valuable discoveries 45. Lasting forever 46. Inflicts upon 47. Iraq War subj. 48. Composer Shostakovich 51. Subjects of some loans 52. Common lunch hr. 54. "Hmm, how shall ____ this?" 55. Artist Magritte 56. Pennsylvania's "Gem City" 57. "Quit your joshin'!" 58. Gift on a 10th anniversary 59. Scores by RBs and WRs 60. Narrow inlet 61. "____ day now ..."
DOWN
1. Name hollered in the "Flintstones" theme song 2. Broadcasting sign 3. Saxophonist featured in the video of Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" 4. Awaken 5. The Beach Boys' "____ Around" 6. Check alternative 7. Study of the heavens: Abbr. 8. Blue-pencil 9. Amount to "kick it up" 10. Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve ____" 11. Amo : I love :: ____ : I hate 12. Burgundy of "Anchorman" 13. DreamWorks ____ (film studio) 15. Film studio once owned by Howard Hughes 20. Bird on Australia's coat of arms 23. "Let me think ... yeah, that's stupid" 24. Reddish-brown 25. Sequoia, e.g. 27. Subj. of the 2006 film "Bobby" 28. Surgery locales, for short 29. R.S.V.P. part 30. '80s missile shield plan 31. "The Great Dictator" Oscar nominee Jack ____ 34. Admission evidence 35. College just north of New York City
Last Thursday’s Solution A M I T A R P T H E U S T F L I T H I G H M I N E K S E R I A T O B M A N O S T O S H U P T O B E R N
S I N E
S T I R S
C O L R O P A N S K O I B N O S E
E S T C R A C K O F D A W N
S A O
C A M O M I L E T E A
L I E U
A R O S E
D E S E L R A P P E T A W E R O L F A K K M S
U P W A R D L Y M O B I L E
S E S I P E M I X A S E R U M I E S P E E R S I N
E D S Y E S I N D S I A
Across
1. Stir-fry vessel 4. "The Bicycle Thief" director Vittorio De ____
STRANGE BREW
JOHN DEERING
8. They may be involved in close shaves
Sudoku Level:
1
2
3
By The Mepham Group 4
14. Neon or helium 16. City about 250 miles SW of Topeka, KS 17. Most gangly 18. Giving two tablets, say 19. Third-party candidates, typically 21. Suffix with planet
1
22. "Angela's Ashes" author 26. Feature of Garbage Pail Kids trading cards 32. Mexican artist Kahlo 33. Typical Scottish Brexit vote
LOOSE PARTS
DAVE BLAZEK
34. Goes under fast 41. "____ late!"
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
NICK KNACK
1
© 2017 N.F. Benton
10/29/17
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.
© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 38 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner
BACK IN THE DAY
dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas
20 s Yearo Ag
is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . p a s is the Now for all time cows good me to to coaid of the their.
20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press
Falls Church News-Press Vol. VII, No. 33 • October 30, 1997
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVII, No. 34 • October 25, 2007
10 Year s Ago
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
Northern Virginia Voter Turnout Key to Election Outcome Tuesday
Key F.C. Council Vote Moves City Center Closer to Reality
As the clock ticks toward the high noon showdown Tuesday, the campaigns of Falls Church businessman Don Beyer and his Republican counterpart Jim Gilmore are zeroing in on opposite sides of what clearly has become the pivotal issue of this year’s gruelling campaign for Governor of Virginia. Gilmore has escalated his effective three-word-slogan, “No Car Tax,” with TV ads showing disgruntled average citizens pronouncing their hatred for the personal property tax on vehicles.
The push for the development of a new City Center in downtown Falls Church took a giant leap forward Monday night, when a diminshed City Council, only four members present, voted unanimously to give final approval to a revamp of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The move paves the way for Atlantic Realty, which has secured the land rights for construction of the entire section of the project on the south side of West Broad, to bring forward special petitions.
Kenneth Finch of Arlington Dies at 87 Kenneth Finch, 87, of Arlington, died Thursday, Oct. 5,, at ManorCare of Arlington, following a long illness. He was born on April 7, 1930 to William Kenneth Finch and Agnes McDonald Finch and was the oldest of their four children. Finch grew up in St. Louis and graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1948 and St. Louis University in 1952. Finch served in the US Naval Reserve while in high school and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force Reserve upon graduation from St. Louis University in 1952. Finch had a varied and rewarding career in the Air Force. He was an instructor at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, he attended a psychological warfare course at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1952, and he flew from Billy Mitchell Field in Milwaukee in F-89 Scorpion aircraft as a flight Intel officer. He completed his Air Force service as a reserve officer with USAF-JAG affiliation and retired in 1971 at the rank of Major. Finch was a graduate of Marquette University Law School and Georgetown University Graduate
Law School where he attained a Masters in law. After practicing law in Milwaukee, he worked at the Federal Communications Commission for over twenty years. From the late 1950s to 1960s he worked on issues related to space law and was chairman of the Space Subcommittee of the International Law Committee of the Federal Bar Association. He was asked by Vice President Johnson to compile a bibliography of space literature and subsequently represented the US in an international debate concerning space exploration. Finch was passionate about his Irish heritage. He was a devout Catholic and was very proud of his Jesuit education. He was a master carpenter and he loved the theater and movies. He directed and crewed on many Hexagon Musical Theater productions in Washington, D.C. Finch is survived by his beloved sister, Suzanne DeBlaze of St. Louis, MO, his nephew and nieces, and many devoted friends. Twin younger brothers, Basil and Barton, predeceased him. Finch
GUARDING THE WHITE FAMILY HOME is Lucy, a six-month-old Wolf Trap Rescue dog – an Australian cattle dog, shepherd, retriever and mongrel mix. She has brought love, energy, curiosity and only modest additional security to the White house. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
was always concerned with the welfare of others, and was intensely loyal to democratic principles. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church). Inurnment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. Donations in Ken’s memory may be made to your favorite charity serving Veterans.
AMERICA, LET’S DO LUNCH
(A) Go ask your mother. (B) Because I said so. (C) We’ll see.
TM
John Gaul, SINCE 1925. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t look his best. Now, he and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions more live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
There are no perfect answers in parenting. AdoptUSKids.org
PAGE 39 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
A V , y t n u o un C o d u o L 1 # VA , h c r u h C #2 Falls VA , y t n u o C #3 Fairfax D M , y t n u o dC r a w o H 4 # CO , y t n u o C as #5 Dougl M N , y t n u o sC o m a l A s o #6 L TN , y t n u o C son m a i l l i W #7 A V , y t n u o nC o t g n i l r A #8 J N , y t n u o don C r e t n u H #9 A C , y t n u o ra C a l C a t n a #10 S
2017. Based on rbes.com July 13,
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Source: “ Americ
$125,900 $122,092 $112,844 $110,224 $109,926 $107,126
$104,367 $104,354 $102,797 $102,191
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median annual ho
PAGE 40 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Open Sunday 2-4pm
Under Contract ct Contra ys! in 4 da
SOLD
SOLD
ct Contra ys! in 3 da
1822 Taylor St | Arlington
8216 Holland Rd | Alexandria
Beautiful colonial on over 1 acre of land featuring 5 BD/3.5 BA, large dome shaped addition perfect for family room or dance studio! Walk to the Potomac River from this fantastic location. Offered at $824,900
4905 17th St | N Arlington
Adorable expanded N. Arlington Cape with stone front and 3 finished levels. Featuring 4 BD/3 BA, hardwood floors and numerous updates. Price: Low $900’s
1021 N. Garfield St, #918 | Arlington
Spectacular 2 BD/2 BA condo in vibrant downtown Clarendon, steps to Metro, rooftop pool and gym. Offered at $675,000
Representing Buyers Stunning 5 BD/4.5 BA Craftsman in sought after Cherrydale neighborhood. Gourmet kitchen, hardwood flooring, built-ins. Detached garage and private yard. Offered at $1,550,000
SOLD
SOLD
405 Hillwood Ave | Falls Church City
Look no further! Absolutely stunning 2 BD/2.5 BA AND den in sought after Byron in the heart of Falls Church City. Lovely views from the balcony and THREE garage parking spaces and TWO storage units. Pristine condition. Offered at $765,000
Stop by our Falls Church City office (conveniently located next to the Hilton),
Louise Molton Phone: 703 244-1992 louise@moltonrealestate.com
and let us know how we can help you with your real estate needs.
Pristine 4 BD/2.5 BA town home in Whittier Park. Many updates and shows beautifully. 2 car garage and walk to all that Falls Church City has to offer. Offered at $839,000
513 W Broad St #704 | Falls Church City
710 W Broad St, Falls Church VA 22046 ~ 703-596-5303 Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
Under Contract
Light, bright and inviting! Six bedrooms ( one on main level + au paire suite), den/office and five baths. Gorgeous master bath has slipper tub and separate shower. Stunning gourmet maple and granite kitchen adjoins large family room with fireplace, and door to deck and back yard. Inviting front porch with room for rockers! Walk out rec room, media room and tons of storage. Hardwood floors on main and upper levels. Second fireplace in spacious LR. Wonderful open floor plan. 6609 Gordon Ave, Falls Church, Va 22046. Priced at $1,225,000.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
®
REALTOR