Falls Church News-Press 10-27-2022

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

By a unanimous vote, the Falls Church City Public Schools’ elect ed board sent a strong message to the Youngkin administration in Richmond last night denouncing the governor’s and current state Department of Education’s proposed changes on student transgender poli cies.

A substantial 1,500 word submission by the F.C. School Board constituted its reply to the Republican Governor Youngkin’s attempt to reintroduce discriminatory and biased practices against transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary students on the contention that such new “model policies” would “cause harm.”

The board voted to issue its conviction to “oppose the proposed policies, the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity and Respect for all Students and Parents.” It stated, “The model policies take too narrow a view of gender to be useful in protecting transgender students.” Falls Church City Council member Phil Duncan quipped at this week’s Falls Church Chamber

‘Addams Family’ Delights

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

of Commerce social mixer that he wondered if City residents were paying sufficient attention to the action taken by the Council this Monday night in the form of a unanimous approval for

Good Shepherd’s ‘Addams Family’ going

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is a new creation.

perfect show to see during Halloween

modifications to the Trammel Crow company’s senior housing project that will go up on the West End property now under development. That’s because, as he noted,

This Years Halloween Decorating Contest Winner

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what the Council approved will be the tallest building, by far, in the 2.2 square miles of the Little City, 15 stories.

BRIEFS

F.C.’s Chavern Now CEO Of Consumer Brands Assn.

The News/Media Alliance’s current President and CEO David Chavern has accepted a position at the Consumer Brands Association as president and CEO. Chavern lives in the Greater Falls Church area after a stint on the Falls Church City Council in the early 2000s.

Below is a statement from Maribel Perez Wadsworth, president of Gannett Media and chair of the board of the News/Media Alliance, about Chavern’s contributions to the organization:

“We are grateful for David’s many contributions to the news and magazine industries during his tenure at the News/Media Alliance. Under David’s leadership, the Alliance was completely rebuilt and transformed into a powerful and effective champion for the future of quality journalism. The organization now enjoys the support of a broad range of the great news and magazine publishers, from the largest national outlets to a wide array of small and local publications. Most important, publishers are now aligned and fully focused on the need to fight for a digital future that rewards and sustains great reporting. This includes the immediate fight for the Journalism Competition & Preservation Act.

“Chavern will remain with the Alliance until the end of the year to continue that fight through the end of this Congress. The Alliance also benefits from having a strong team and we are confident in the organization’s continued growth and impact. We will begin the process of working with David on a transition plan and identifying his successor.”

McKay Calls for Investigation Of Ballot Mailing Errors

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay called this week for a full investigation into an incorrect elections mailing that was sent to 25,000 voters in the towns of Herndon, Clifton and Vienna in the county.

The county board unanimously agreed to a move by McKay to call on the county’s General Assembly delegation for an inquiry into the botched mailing. Herndon residents were directed to an incorrect polling location in the City of

Fairfax.

McKay called the issue “the worst breach of election integrity” he has seen in the county.” “At best, a mistake. At worst, nefarious,” he added.

Late last week, the Fairfax County Office of Elections sent letters to affected residents providing correct voter information. The Virginia Department of Elections attributed the mistake to a “printing issue.”

Planners to Mull F.C. Proposed Transitional Zone Change

Next Wednesday, Nov. 2, the Falls Church Planning Commission will hold an open public “listening session” with the public to mull changes to the City’s transitional zone designation that could allow for more housing diversity in those areas that are designed to buffer commercial from residential areas.

The hybrid session will be held in public in the Council chambers of City Hall at 7 p.m.

Kaine, Warner Hail Expanded Silver Line Opening

Virginia’s U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced an agreement with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) that will allow for the opening of the Silver Line ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday:

“After brokering productive discussions with WMATA and Metro Safety Commission last week and over the weekend, we are pleased to see a plan that will allow more 7000 series cars back on the tracks ahead of the busy holiday season. This plan, if carefully followed, will allow the safe and timely opening of the Silver Line to Dulles by Thanksgiving, assuming the remaining routine matters are handled diligently. Once open, the Silver Line will alleviate road congestion and enhance access to economic, entertainment, and travel opportunities in the region—all without compromising rider safety. We look forward to continuing to work with WMATA and the Metro Safety Commission to provide oversight over the careful execution of this plan.”

F.C. Schools Submit Transgender Statement

Instead, the board’s statement calls on the Department of Education to “ask each member district to submit a report describing how its politics and regulations apply relevant to protecting and supporting transgender students while “appropriately involving parents in implementing the policies and regulations.”

In its action, the Falls Church board echoed similar responses from its neighboring Fairfax County, where its Board of Supervisors adopted a similar strongly-worded rejection of the governor’s new policies.

The outline of the Falls Church statement, authored by School Board member David Ortiz and signed by all on the School Board, begins with a summary, then describes the Falls Church School System, a section noting that “Model Policies Put School Districts and Parents in Opposition,” a section noting that “The Model Policies Take Too Narrow a View of Gender,” and “The Model Policies Would Cause Harm to Transgender Students,” and ending with “The Virginia Department of Education Should Compile a Record Regarding How Transgender Students are Treated and Protected.”

A statement put out by the F.C. School Board and staff, including Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, to parents recently stated that the board “wants to assure our community that we value and sup port every student in our charge. We have codified our stance with respect to nondiscrimination and anti-harassment in numerous School Board policies, and will continue to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect in our schools.”

It added, “We are committed to follow ing the Virginia Human Rights Act and the settled law of Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, 972 F.3d 586 (4th. Cir. 2020), which requires respect for the gender identity of transgender students just like any other student in FCCPS…We believe all students deserve a community that promotes inclusion and celebrates authenticity and assure you that FCCPS will maintain consistency with settled law and our adopted nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies.”

In its statement to Youngkin and the Department of Education, the F.C. School Board said it “encourages parents to be active members of the school com munity and advocates for the education, care, and support of their children and all children in the district. Parents and teachers are expected to work together to help serve the particular needs of students.”

In our elementary schools, it noted,

“FCCPS faculty ask parents to submit a form regarding their children’s learning style, interests, and needs. This form includes information regarding gender identity if applicable. This information is essential for FCCPS to be able to provide the appropriate support to the student, whether it is access to non-gendered restrooms, requests to be referred by a different name or pronoun, among other possible accommodations. In the middle and high schools, teachers are expected to communicate directly with parents regarding their children’s academic per formance and social well being.”

By contrast, it noted, “the model poli cies, being framed foremost as main taining the rights of parents, make an implicit and incorrect presumption that school districts somehow are making decisions regarding students without the input of parents.”

In the proposed model, the F.C. state ment says, “policies refer only to trans gender students, which is too narrow to adequately describe the range of chal lenges that a school division may face. Indeed, some students may be transgen der, but others may be gender noncon forming or gender non-binary. Moreover the definition in the model policies, i.e. that a transgender student can only be identified by a parent submitting written documentation attesting as such, fails to recognize that any transgender (or more generally gender nonconforming) person feels this way independent of written documentation.”

The F.C. board statement then asserts that “the most concerning aspect of the model policies is that if they were imple mented as drafted, they would codify practices that would harm transgender and gender nonconforming children.”

“In the model policies,” the F.C. let ter states, “accommodations for trans gender students require that parents request such accommodation and that they be placed into the students ‘offi cial record.’ Our experience helping to support transgender students is that we initially work informally with parents, teachers, and school administrations to determine appropriate accommodations well in advance of any ‘official’ action being taken.”

The F.C. statement adds, “To require that parents make requests for ‘official’ changes raises the bar unnecessarily and would delay needed support. Further, FCCPS, and we suspect most other dis tricts in the Commonwealth, maintains an official student record for the purpos es of documenting identity and academic achievement.”

Construction

The West End Partners in the development of the 10-acre site handed off the senior living building to experts in the development of such things, the Trammel Crow company, filing under the name of TC MidAtlantic, which redesigned the original plans to provide for an impressive 15-story structure that will be twice the height of any existing or currently scheduled building in the City.

The new plans had to win the approval of the City Council and other advisory entities, and no one has seemed to mind.

Bill Brewer of the Trammel Crow group appeared before the Council this Monday to outline the new plans that, among other things, calls for the deployment of $228,412 in cash to the City’s Affordable Housing Fund in lieu of designated affordable units in the building in an arrangement negotiated by consultant Ted Richter.

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields explained the preference for the “payment in lieu” arrangement, because

it will allow for residents to move around in the building in response to their different stages of care.

Of the 217 residential units planned, 140 are senior independent living units, 55 are senior assisted living and 22 are senior “memory care” units. It is designed that as some residents age, they can be moved from one level of care to the next higher one.

The accommodations are provided “not on a rental, but on a services base,” Shields noted.

Construction on the building, set in the middle of the 10-acre development site, is slated to commence in 12 to 14 months, and to be completed 30 months after that. It will be located along the boulevard that will be constructed through the center of the site running from Route 7 to the West Falls Church Metro station.

Council member Debbie Hiscott noted that this goes with the City’s commitment to care for its residents ranging from child care to elder care.

In addition to the residential

units, the plan calls for 7,700 square feet of ground floor retail. Kitchen facilities designed to serve the residents at their different stages of care can also be utilized by a major ground floor restaurant that may occupy part of the space.

There is space for 125 parking spaces with amenities beyond the housing units set for the first, second, third, fourth and 15th floors.

The City staff articulation of the changes were presented by Henry Zhang.

Whereas the staff was not able to provide estimated net income to the City numbers for the building, it was noted that the 10-acre project, overall, projected to bring upwards of $5 million a year to the City coffers.

Meanwhile, WMATA is continuing to elicit public comment on its plans at the West Falls Church Metrostation site to eliminate the south surface parking lot, thereby reducing the total number of parking spaces, reducing the total number of bus bays, reducing the capacity of the Kiss and Ride spaces and eliminating or reducing hourly parking meters.

Chamber board members prior to the social, and reminded them he’s still the F.C. State Senator, despite redistricting, until the next election in a year (N���-P���� P����)

Let’s Say Gay

Last month, the new presi dent of advocacy group Hu man Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, posted a six-and-ahalf minute video to introduce herself and frame the mission of her organization, which was founded 40 years ago by gay ac tivist Steve Endean to help fund political campaigns for progay-rights candidates. In the video, Robinson talked about voting rights. She talked about transgender kids in school. She talked about abortion access and workers’ rights. She said a lot of things, including getting “to a world where we are free and liberated without exception — without exception — without anyone left behind.”

Not once, however, did she say the word “gay” or “lesbian” or “bisexual.”

She’s not the only one. The word “gay” is increasingly being substituted by “queer” or, more broadly, “LGBTQ,” which are about gender as much as — and perhaps more so than — sexual orientation. The word “queer” is climbing in frequency and can be used interchangeably with “gay,” which itself not so long ago replaced the dour and faint ly judgy “homosexual.”

The shift has been especially dramatic in certain influential spheres: academia, cultural in stitutions and the media, from Teen Vogue to The Hollywood Reporter to this newspaper. Only ten years ago, for exam ple, “queer” appeared a mere 85 times in The New York Times. As of Friday, it’s been used 632 times in 2022, and the year is not over. In the same periods, use of “gay” has fallen from 2,228 to 1,531 — still more commonly used, but the direction of the evolution is impossible to miss. Meanwhile, the umbrella term “LGBTQ” increased from two mentions to 714.

“It is quite often a generation al issue, where younger people — millennials — are more fine with it. Gen Xers like myself are somewhat OK with it. Some you might find in each category,” Jason DeRose, who oversees LGBTQ reporting at NPR, said of the news organization’s move

toward queer. “And then older people or boomers, maybe, who find it problematic.”

But it’s not only older people who bristle. “The mainstream media, and mainstream ‘LG BTQ’ media, treat the word ‘lesbian’ like it’s the plague,” noted Julia Diana Robertson in lesbian publication The Velvet Chronicle.

Let’s be clear: Many lesbians and gay people are fine with this shift. They may even prefer um brella terms like “LGBTQ” and “queer” because they include people who identify according to gender expression or identity as well as sexual orientation. But let’s consider those who do not and why. For one thing, “gay” and “queer” are not synony mous, as they are increasingly treated, particularly among Gen Zers and millennials. Likewise, the term “LGBTQ,” which sometimes includes additional symbols and letters, represents so many identities unrelated to sexual orientation that gays and lesbians can feel crowded out.

Last week on “CBS News Sunday Morning,” writer Da vid Sedaris said he was done “fighting the word ‘queer.’” He went on, “Like the term ‘Latinx,’ ‘queer’ was started by some humanities professor and slowly gathered steam. Then well-meaning radio producers and magazine editors thought, ‘Well, I guess that’s what they want to be called now!’ But I don’t remember any vote being taken.”

This raises a question for me, a language obsessive and some one interested in the ways word choices reflect and drive the culture: Why change the word for same-sex orientation? And to echo Sedaris: Who decides these things anyway?

Let’s start with the basic dictionary-sense differences between the words. “Gay” has a clear, specific meaning that applies to both men and wom en: “homosexual,” which is the first entry in most dictionaries. “Lesbian,” of course, bears the same meaning, but strictly for women.

Whereas the first definition for “queer,” according to Oxford

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Seeking a crystal ball for next steps in the Missing Middle housing debate, I watched the Oct. 17 meet ing of credentialed volunteers on the Long Range Planning Committee, part of Arlington’s Planning Commission.

The tone was civil, and mem bers have clearly heard the protests against the preliminary framework mostly from single-family home owners. But it was clear from the session led by James Lantelme and James Schroll that the planning staff, though seeking research and four public hearings, expect to execute whatever the county board might finalize.

I wondered what would be per mitted during rewriting of the 1930 zoning ordinance and the 1961 General Land Use Plan.

The goal of a useful zoning code, the officials said, is for owners and builders to have “clear and objec tive standards applied uniformly” for most properties under simple administrative approval. That avoids expensive and time-consuming involvement by the county board. There’s also a desire to spell out the public’s opportunity for input on controversial projects (such as eightplexes). But some warned against “layering on more public approval” for fear of inhibiting construction.

Several called for architectural reviews that might “allay some com munity concerns.” Among the crite ria could be “compatibility with sur rounding neighborhoods.” Because of state laws on lot owners’ rights, the tree canopy is best protected through the coming Forestry and Natural Resources plan, requiring keep ing or replanting trees to “enhance beauty and a sense of place.” Most

felt no need to cap the number of new housing types that get built, forecast ing that the number won’t be inordi nate. The staff would, however, track the new types. Final policy on park ing minimums will vary by location. And there’s wide interest in reining in “McMansions.”

Matt Ladd, Arlington’s principal planner, told me that currently there is no design-review—except in histori cally designated neighborhoods such as Maywood. The precise definition of a neighborhood “is not some thing done in the zoning ordinance,” he said, noting Arlington’s 60-plus civic associations that might define them differently. Zoning maps done in 1930, 1942, and, most relevant, 1950, cover “every square inch” of Arlington as residential, commercial, mixed use or industrial, all of which call for differing standards. But Ladd doesn’t agree with critics of Missing Middle who say it would “end single family zoning,” noting that singlefamily homes would still be allowed by right and would form the bulk of new construction. When debaters refer to the ordinance as a promise to protect single-family homes, they’re referring to 1960s and ‘70s discus sions during planning for Metro.

One zoning attorney who asked not to be identified told me the zoning map is “a patchwork of zones next to each other that kind of happened over time and evolution.” While we must await actual language, a rewrite could specify, say, that R-6 to R-10 zones could allow “only duplexes,” but authorize eight-plexes in others.

“Even within a zoning district, there are differing criteria” on, say, set backs, the attorney added, to assure the building is appropriate for the lot. The code can “microzone” — that’s what commercial zoning does on a major thoroughfare, “not advancing

into a single-family home commu nity.”

Steven Krieger, a housing attor ney, believes the current Missing Middle proposal would not achieve its goals. “Most people are in favor of affordable housing for the middle class, librarians, police, teachers and firefighters who contribute to the great life in Arlington,” he said. “But if you take the more expensive sin gle-family neighborhoods and build a duplex, you get two residences the Missing Middle can’t afford. The plan would increase population, overcrowd schools and dilute the money Arlington pays for services.”

Could neighbors block the coun ty’s rezoning? “If a community want ed to challenge the new ordinance, it would have to demonstrate that it is unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious or created in bad faith,” Krieger said, citing the 1959 Fairfax case Board of Supervisors v. Carper. “To defeat a community challenge, the county would need only identify some justi fication for the rezoning.”

***

Amid the tangle of campaign signs on N. George Mason Dr. at Washington Blvd., one familiar blue-and-gray panel stood out. “The Name Will Always Be WashingtonLee,” it said, its old logo showing George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Since the Arlington school board changed the high school name to Washington-Liberty in 2018, I can confirm that some alumni still resist. I asked current school board candi date Dr. James “Vell” Rives if he’d heard of any movement to revert to the old name. No, he said.

My friends in the W-L class of ’71, who invited me for a history talk at their 50thyear reunion Oct. 9, printed a program bearing the name Washington-Lee.

A ‘Standing-O’ for F.C. School Board

Last night was the deadline for the public to comment on Gov. Youngkin’s proposal that the Virginia Department of Education and school boards in Virginia adopt new policies on the treatment ot transgender students.

It is downright appalling that the governor, now clearly weighing a bid for election to a national political office, would launch this broadside as a political tactic against clearly the most vulnerable of young people among us.

We “standing-o” applaud the Falls Church City Public Schools board for unanimously OKing a solid and in-depth total repudiation of the governor’s cruel action, submitted to the Department of Education yesterday. We applaud those on the F.C. City Council for moving to second that action by our school board, and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for likewise taking bold action with only one negative vote among them (see article, elsewhere this edition).

It is truly sad to see how enemies of democracy, as most of those in the current leadership of the Trumpian Republican Party in the U.S. are, have set their sights on the most vulnerable youth to aim their fire.

If anyone thought this is just a minor matter, because it is limited to the schools, they should bear in mind that Russian butcher Vladimir Putin has singled out the very issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender identities for his most important pronouncements about the “degeneracy” of the West made in the last month to justify his genocidal invasion and assault on the people of Ukraine.

Indeed, it is the celebration of beautiful human diversity, reflective of the glorious diversity of life on this planet, that underlies these matters in the West that are our civilization’s latest events in the pursuit of democracy’s cornerstone affirmation boomed out for the whole world to know in the U.S. Declaration of Independence that all people “are created equal.” The United States was born of this affirmation and a lot of blood has been shed defending it over the last 246 years even as the definitions and appreciations of its application have expanded to more fully include race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.

As a society, we have come more and more to appreciate the invaluable contributions that we all gain from the affirmation of this diversity among us.

Its enemies have been the same type of autocratic tyrannies that have vexed human civilizations from the beginning of recorded history. Tyrannies, whether in the form of George the 3rd, the Confederacy, Hilter, Stalin or Putin and too many more, have fed off an exploitation of differences arising from our diversities, as if they are something to be opposed or feared. They’ve used their propaganda and political tools to stoke fear for the purpose of blunting the overwhelming social value of our diversity.

But they will succeed now no more than when enemies of the American revolution tried to stop us way back then.

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School Calendar Ignores Holidays

Editor,

I am writing to address a short piece in last week’s “Community News & Notes” regarding the new school calendar policy. The piece omitted the most significant change to the school calendar: the elimination of the four days off for four of the holiest non-Christian religious holidays observed by members of our community. Despite approving these four days off just a few years ago, after years of fighting for recognition,

the School Board backtracked on its promise of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. The School Board’s decision puts the City of Falls Church out of step with several of its neighbors, and likely will harm the City’s ability to retain and attract minority faith families and school employees. Currently the schools’ website says “FCCPS is a studentcentered, innovative, and inclusive community.” Now that the School Board has eliminated recognition of the four minority-faith holidays from the calendar, can it still say that?

Beth Heleman City of Falls Church

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1. Keep the news clean and fair.

2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy.

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial comment.

4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6.

by Benton Communications,

‘History, Hope & Healing:’ Tinner Hill Raises Awareness With Various Programs

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, located in Falls Church, was founded 25 years ago to “preserve the early civil rights history of Falls Church and vicinity.” Named after the historic area in Falls Church, the founda tion has created memorials, orga nized cultural events, such as the annual Tinner Hill Heritage Music Festival and upcoming fundraiser at Harvey’s restaurant, to recog nize the achievements of “special individuals and groups.”

Edwin Henderson, the founder and incorporator of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, said the organization was started to bring awareness of a history “forgotten or omitted from recognition, as it was something foundational in the City of Falls Church.” Joseph Tinner, a descendant of Tinner Hill namesakes Charles and Mary Tinner, teamed with Henderson’s grandfather, Edwin Bancroft Henderson, to fight for civil rights and later founded the first rural branch of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Throughout the 25 years since the foundation began, numerous programs have occurred to raise awareness of Tinner Hill and its goals. Various fundraisers have been set up to help the foundation, such as the upcoming “Boos, Blues and Brews” event happening at Harvey’s restaurant on Thursday, October 27th.

Tori McKinney, a board mem ber of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, said 10 percent of sales made during the entire day will be donated toward the “over all production” of the Tinner Hill Heritage Music Festival.

The Tinner Hill Heritage Music Festival is an annual event that takes place on the second Saturday of June in Cherry Hill Park and allows many national and area blues musicians to play. The event is the “premier” charity event that celebrates and honors the African American legacy, one of the foun dation’s missions. McKinney said the funds raised by the music festi val allows the foundation to “carry out its additional programs,” such as the MLK Jr. March, February’s Black History Month event, the March Falls Church City Women’s Walk and more.

Harvey’s owner, Thomas Harvey, said the restaurant decid ed to host the fundraiser due to Tinner Hill being “a wonderful part of Falls Church.” The event will have a blues band, costume contest and serve food and bev erages from local breweries and wineries. Harvey said the idea to incorporate a blues band in the event was to tie it in with the music festival and “bring the fun of Tinner Hill to us.” He also stat ed he hopes the event will raise awareness of the foundation, as well as “bring some money in so they can make the festival nicer.”

McKinney said she also hopes the event at Harvey’s will “increase and heighten the awareness” of the foundation. She said that about four years ago, the community had minimal knowledge of Tinner Hill, but after the music festival and numerous programs and fun draisers, she has had friends travel from out of state to attend the various events hosted by the foun dation.

“It’s allowed us to broaden the audience and make a much larger community aware of the founda tion and its mission,” McKinney said.

As for future endeavors, the foundation is currently in the process of doing public art, which includes two murals at the Blacksmith Shop on Fairfax Street and Bike Club off of South Washington Street. Several more are in the works so that “22,000 cars that come up and down Washington Street every day will be able to know the history of Tinner Hill even without having to get out of their automobiles.”

A “self-guided” walking tour of the historic Tinner Hill site trail is

also being worked on by the foun dation. Recently, Henderson stat ed that the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation was involved in the help of making the historic pan els located at South Washington Street Street and North Maple “more diverse and inclusive.”

“I want people to know that [Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation] are trying to be agents for change,” Henderson said. “We live in a mul ticultural society and as such we need to empathize and celebrate our diversity.”

THE TINNER HILL HERITAGE MUSIC FESTIVAL is the “premier” char ity event for the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. (News-Press Photo)

Email Thomas@harveysva

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By Supervisor Penny Gross

A Fairfax County tradition continued last Tuesday, as the Board of Supervisors and Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. participated in the 2022 Salute to Lord and Lady Fairfax honorees. The tradition began in 1984 to recognize outstanding residents of the county for exceptional volunteer service, philanthropy, and commitment to the community.

This year’s awardees represented the face of Fairfax County in diversity, generations, and service – the high school founder of the Glass Recycling Network, a couple from India who came to the United States to pursue the American dream, a Latina who organized a community garden for fresh vegetables, and an Arab-American woman who donates 60 percent of her real estate commissions to local non-profit organizations – among others. Arts, philanthropy, civil rights, environmental action, programs for special needs youth, and public safety were among the many activities highlighted during the awards ceremony.

For Mason District’s Lord and Lady Fairfax, I selected two longtime residents –retired Fairfax County police officer Eduardo “Eddy” Azcarate, and his wife, Penney, who is the first female Chief Judge of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Eddy was born and raised in the Bailey’s Crossroads area, enlisted in the Navy after high school, graduated from Old Dominion University, and then joined the Marines. Uniforms must appeal to Eddy, as he spent more than two decades as a Fairfax County Master Police Officer, serving many multiple assignments at the Mason Station, retiring as a very popular Crime Prevention Officer. Eddy still delights in participating in community events, where his popularity among children and youth in our diverse community is readily apparent.

Penney Azcarate is a trailblazer. A Marine

officer who served in Operation Desert Storm, creator of Virginia’s first Veteran Treatment Docket, implementer of the Fairfax County Drug Court, she is Chief Judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court, and the first woman to hold that position. Judge Azcarate chairs the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Veteran Specialty Docket, and the Judicial Administration Committee. Judge Azcarate has been a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney, and a civil litigator in Fairfax County. She garnered international fame for Fairfax County this spring when she coolly presided over the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation lawsuit, which attracted weeks of media attention. Congratulations to Lord and Lady Fairfax, Eddy and Penney Azcarate.

Fairfax County voters may vote early, in-person, beginning on Thursday, October 27, at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, and at the Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church. Voting hours weekdays are from 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, October 29 and November 5 from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 30, from 1 until 5 p.m. You must be a registered Fairfax County voter to qualify to vote at satellite locations, but the election officials are prepared to generate the proper ballot for any of the three congressional races, depending on where you live. The last day to vote absentee, in person, is Saturday, November 5. On Election Day, November 8, please go to your regular polling place between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Fairfax County offices and the satellite locations will be closed on Election Day. Voting is a civic duty; get out and VOTE!

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

Larceny from Building, S Washington St, October 23, 1:35 pm, a comic book was shoplifted from a place of business. At 3:26 pm, the stolen merchandise was recovered on N Washington St and the suspect, a 32 year old male was arrested for Concealment of Merchandise and Inhaling Drugs or Other Noxious Chemical.

Drunk in Public, Wilson Blvd, October 23, 1:00 am, a male was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Fraud, W Broad St, October 22, 12:36 pm, two unknown suspects used a fraudulent credit card to purchase merchandise valued at $6,201 and then attempted to use the fraudulent credit card at another place of business.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Chanel Ter, between 8:00 pm on October 21 and 8:30 am

on October 22, unknown suspect(s) removed a catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius.

Aggravated Assault, Larceny, W Broad St, October 21, 8:16 pm, a male, 52, of Ft. Washington, MD, was arrested for Strangulation of Another, Assault and Battery, and Concealment of Merchandise.

Larceny, W Marshall St, October 20, 4:12 pm, three unknown suspects took power tools and construction materials from a backyard shed.

Counterfeiting/Forgery, Hillwood Ave, between October 18 and October 19, a false check for $9,500 was cashed to an unidentified suspect.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Gundry Dr, between 6:00 p.m. on October 17 and 7:00 a.m October 18, unknown suspect(s) removed a catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius.

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Sustainability in Action at MHS

As an IB World School, sustainability is implicitly embedded in Meridian High School. They believe that by teaching students to be advocates for the environment, the economy, and social equity and justice, they can build a sustainable future within a better and more peaceful world.

The school is exploring ways to recognize and celebrate students’ efforts regarding sustainability. In the coming weeks, more information will be communicated regarding the Sustainability in Action Awards and a Sustainability Scholar graduate distinction.

MHS Band Students Ready to Work

Have a yard full of leaves that need raking? Or kids that

need babysitting? Or a child interested in music lessons? Or some other fall project that needs tackling? If so, consider participating in M.U.S.I.C Days — the MHS band’s annual fundraiser that gives people the opportunity to hire band students for fall jobs.

Money raised during M.U.S.I.C. (Many Useful Students in the Community) Days will help students pay for travel to perform in Nashville, Tennessee in March. MHS hopes many residents will hire band students for jobs like yard work, babysitting, dog walking, animal sitting, spreading mulch, car washing, musical performance, holiday decorating, gift wrapping, etc.

The fundraiser runs from October 29 through December 3rd. If one has a job request for the students, please fill out this Google form: https://rb.gy/lcm3ky Questions? Email volunteer coordinator Laura Hill at lauraohill@gmail.com.

CyberPatriots Start Season

In an outstanding start-of-season performance, the Meridian High School “Cache Money” CyberPatriot team finished at the #1 spot in the world, stunning the international cybersecurity scene. On Friday, October 14th, senior team members Jay Humphreys, Sean Lester, Joe Donovan, Danny Oppenheimer, and Owen Bruce accumulated all 300 out of 300 points faster than any other team in a competition aimed at solving security vulnerabilities on computers. One other senior team finished top 100 internationally, and the club is looking forward to a great fall season.

Keeping Oak Street Community Safe

This year, 90 fifth-grade students have proudly stepped up to serve their classmates in the hallways, on the sidewalks, and on all OSE buses

as Safety Patrols. In addition to monitoring arrival and dismissal, a team of Patrols is responsible for putting up and taking the flag down daily. Led by PE teachers Nathan Greiner and Julie Huber, the school participates in this national program sponsored by AAA, which provides training, belts, and badges.

Joint PTA Meeting

Coming to MHS

Brought to the community by FCEPTA, Henderson and Meridian PTSAS, there will be a 10-minute large group meeting to conduct PTA business on Wednesday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. The rest of the time

will be dedicated to the speakers of the meeting: “Mindfulness Techniques to Help Tweens & Teens with Stress and Anxiety.” Hosted at Meridian High School.

FCEPTA Trivia Night Coming Soon

On Friday, November 4th at the Falls Church Community Center from 6:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the FCEPTA will be hosting a trivia night. One can create a six-person team of their friends to compete against others. Space is limited, so register at https://rb.gy/i8jaxa

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL’S CYBERPATRIOT TEAM took the #1 spot in the world, stunning the international cybersecurity scene on Friday, October 14th. (P����: FCCPS)

HALLOWEEN SCENES FROM AROUND FALLS CHURCH Falls Church News-Press’ first annual halloween decorating contest was a great success. This years winner is Jason Hoese.

LOCAL

‘Addams Family’ Delights for Halloween at Good Shepherd Players

BY MARK DREISONSTOK

It looks like an antique yet aristocratic room as the husband reclines on a chaise lounge and his loving and beautiful wife is by his side as the children play on the floor. A picture of the tranquil American family ideal. Only one thing is different: a bodiless hand is changing the records on the phonograph. This and other vintage “New Yorker “cartoons by Charles Addams featuring an upper class, eccentric, and ghoulish family gave birth to the Addams Family, which is now much more widely known through television and films.

The version now staged at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Fairfax is based on the 2010 Broadway musical and is a new creation; while the characters behave in familiar ways, the show does follow not a storyline drawn from the earlier films or television shows. Rather, the show centers around Wednesday Addams, who now has a serious boyfriend and now

wishes to introduce the families to each other. Naturally, the boyfriend comes from a traditional midwestern household which is vastly at odds with the eccentric Addams’ family members… not to mention the Addams “Ancestors” whom the living members of the family sometimes call forth from the family crypt! Although young Wednesday Addams makes great efforts to try to appear conventional, humorous chaos erupts when the two families finally meet.

While Uncle Fester, played here by Chris Dockins, is often a bit of a side character in Addams Family shows, here he acts as a sort of host for this musical offering. Mr. Dockins portrays Uncle Fester in the same likeness as one would see in the Addams Family movies, engaging deeply in his role, theatrically using the Grim Reaper’s scythe as a cane. It is delightfully campy Halloween fare! Yet there are romantic elements as well, with Fester smitten with the moon. Mr. Dockins sings his

love song “The Moon and Me” beautifully.

The debonaire Gomez is well-acted by Dr. Gregory LaNave, who is an academic by day. Dr. LaNave sings in “Two Things” and “Wednesday’s Growing Up.” A similarly wellvoiced Wednesday (Maggie Lees) is heard in “Pulled.” Morticia Addams is portrayed excellently by Christine Maxted. As Morticia, she wonderfully belts out the delightfully macabre and jaunty “Death is Just Around the Corner.” Son Pugsley Addams was played by Cecilia Laird in the humorous solo “What If?” Even the butler Lurch (Jesper Sullivan den Bergh) lurches into the act, singing “Move Toward The Darkness” with a sonorous bass-baritone voice.

The show’s music touches different tastes in music. The numbers “When You’re an Addams” and “Tango de Amor” have a Latin flavor, with an elaborate tango dance performed between Gomez and Morticia. “The Moon and Me,” on the other hand, is more classically

makes an appearance as well, with the audience enthusiastically finger-snapping along.

Wednesday Addams (Maggie Lees) is front and center with Ancestors in the background.

Save the Date: Veterans Commemoration

On Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, the City of Falls Church will honor four George Mason High School alumni who died while serving in the mili tary during the Vietnam War years. There will be a commem oration at 11 a.m. at the com munity center to honor Captain David Rockwell Crocker, Jr., Class of 1961; Sergeant Charles Richard McNulty, Class of 1965; Captain Neal Emil Monette, Class of 1958; and Lieutenant JG David Gerald Smith, Class of 1955.

Varsity Mustang Cheer Team Advances to Nationals

Meridian Mustang Varsity and JV cheer teams placed 2nd and 1st in Game Day NonTumbling Cheer at the October 8th National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) GameDay Division Qualifier in Glen Allen, Virginia.

The varsity team will travel to Orlando’s ESPN Wild World of Sports this winter to compete in the national championships

with teams from across the United States.

This is only the 2nd time in the school’s history the team has earned an NHSCC bid.

Despite injuries and illnesses challenging the team during the semester, the Mustangs persist ed through daily 2-hour prac tices and weekly tumbling drills as well as participating at the Mustang football games.

The varsity Mustangs are coached by Head Coach Alli Cray and Elizabeth Watkins, both former college cheerlead ers who led the Mustangs to the school’s first-ever Nationals bid in February 2022. The junior varsity team is coached by Vikki Spencer.

The cheer teams are judged on athletic and performance skills including stunting, coor dinated movements, and routine complexity. According to Coach Cray, the team will be fund raising this winter to help pay for the travel and participation costs.

Celebrate Native American Heritage at National Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

will celebrate Native American Heritage Month (November 1st through November 31st) with numerous events honoring American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans. Visitors can celebrate the diversity and contributions of these Native cultures with a variety of free public events in Washington, D.C., New York City, and online. Programs include festivals, performances, talks and family activities.

Falls Church Restaurant Crawl to Benefit Workers

Falls Church restaurants will host a crawl to benefit employ ees of Ireland’s Four Courts in Arlington, where a driver crashed in August, causing inju ries and damage.

The Crawl for the Courts will be held Saturday, November 5 from 3:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. Attendees can purchase a $100-per-person voucher to enjoy a bite and drink specials at six participating Falls Church restaurants. All proceeds will be given to Ireland’s Four Courts.

The crawl is being organized by Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Ireland’s Four Provinces to

support Ireland’s Four Courts staff. Participating restaurants include Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Liberty Barbecue, Northside Social Falls Church, Dogwood Tavern and Harvey’s.

Leaf Collection to Begin in Late October in F.C.

Leaf collection season is about to begin in Falls Church as more leaves start to change colors and fall from trees. The City of Falls Church will start leaf collection on Monday, Oct. 24 and continue into January 2023.

Leaf collections will happen in residential areas with mul tiple passes north and south of Broad Street. Crews vacuum the leaves from the streets to help prevent clogs in the stormwater system and supplement street sweeping to remove debris.

Residents are asked to prepare for leaf collections by raking leaves to the curb but not in the street and away from storm drains and water meter covers. Leaf piles should only contain leaves, as items like stones, branches, litter or other yard waste can damage the vacuum machines. Residents should also avoid parking their car on a leaf pile, as it can be a fire hazard.

Falls Church Veteran Receives Home Repairs

Local nonprofit, Rebuilding Together/Arlington/Fairfax/ Falls Church, and Marylandbased global security and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin, have teamed up to pro vide a Korean War veteran with no-cost home repairs and acces sibility modifications.

Mr. R. and his wife have loved living in their home for more than 35 years. Following his service in the Army during the Korean War, he was in an accident that caused lifelong issues with his hips and legs. Now that he uses a wheelchair and walker, his home is no longer safe to navigate. Making interior and exterior modifications

and repairs, such as building a wheelchair ramp, and installing grab bars, railings, and light fixtures, will allow him to move safely around their home.

The event will occur at 1807 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church on Thursday, October 27th, starting at 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Absentee and Early Voting Reminder for F.C.

On Friday, October 28th at 5:00 p.m., the deadline to apply for an absentee by-mail ballot is due. One can find the application for an absentee ballot form at https://www.elections.virginia. gov/media/formswarehouse/ absentee-voting/applications/ SBE-701-Absentee-BallotApplication-Rev7-17-long.pdf

Starting on Saturday, October 29th, it will be the first Saturday of early voting from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. at City Hall. On Sunday, October 30th, Sunday early voting will begin at 12:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.

On Wednesday, November 2nd, early voting will stays open late until 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Saturday, November 5th will be the last day of early voting from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Early in-person voters must bring a valid Voter ID, which as of July 1, 2020 includes their Voter Information Notice (aka Voter Card) or a utility bill with their name and registered adress on it. Valid Photo IDs — such as a Virginia Drivers License, U.S. Passport or Employment Badge — are still accepted as Voter ID as well.

Harvey’s Hosting “Blues, Boos & Brews” This Thursday

On Thursday, October 27th, Harvey’s will be hosting their “Blues, Boos and Brews” event at 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The event will feature a performance by the Bobby Thompson Trio, a costume contest and beverages from local breweries such as Audacious Aleworks and Metro Cellars.

THE MERIDIAN VARSITY CHEER TEAM will be traveling to Orlando’s ESPN Wild World of Sports this winter to compete in the national championships with teams from across the United States, only the second time in the school’s history to earn the bid. ( Photo: Leslie Gilliam)

Ten percent of sales from the entire day goes to the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

be there to judge for best overall costume, best homemade cos tume and best couple costume. Prizes will be Harvey’s gift cards and tickets to the Tinner

Hill Music Festival.

Church Station. The proposed changes would allow Metro and its private development partner to move forward with redevelopment plans, including future mixeduse development and transit

facility modernization. The proposed changes are intended to promote transit-oriented development, increase Metro ridership, and modernize transit facilities. Proposed changes to the site include: Eliminating

the south surface parking lot, thereby reducing the total number of parking spaces, reducing the total number of bus bays, reducing the capacity of the Kiss and Ride spaces, eliminating or reducing hourly

THE SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN will celebrate Native American Heritage Month from November 1st through the 31st with numerous

honor ing Native American veterans and celebrating Native cultures with a variety of free public events (Photo: Alan Karchmer)

A PROCLAMATION declaring November as Live Local Pledge Month in the City of Falls Church was presented by the F.C. City Council to the F.C. Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Elise Bengtson (left) and current board chair Emily Jenkins. The proclamation encourages resi dents

patronize local businesses in Falls Church, pledging to keep 20 percent or more of

in the City during the month. It sighted the “multiplier effect” of how buying

economy in a wide range of ways. (Photo: Alan Karchmer)

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

BLUES, BOOS AND BREWS

Harvey’s will be hosting the Bobby Thompson Trio as well as a costume contest for best couple costume, best homemade costume and best overall costume. 10 percent of sales from the entire day will go to the Tinner Hill Foundation. 513 W. Broad Street, Falls Church. 5:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

GRIEF & GHOSTS TOUR

Explore Victorian mourning traditions coupled with stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House. Located at Lee-Fendall Museum (614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria). 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. $15 per person.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY

Mark's Pub will be hosting a Halloween Costume Party.

CALENDAR

Jehovah's Favorite Choir will be performing. First place wins $350. Hosted at Mark's Pub (2190 Pimmit Dr., Falls Church).

OUTDOOR MOVIE

Join the Eden Center for an outdoor showing of the movie "Ghostbusters." Free popcorn and candy will be served as well. The first 25 children to attend in a costume will receive a $5.00 Eden Center gift certificate. 6763 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church. Begins at 6:00 p.m.

FESTIVAL OF FRIGHTS & TRUNK OR TREAT

Come join the Old Firehouse (in one’s best Halloween cos tume) for a night of live music, games, food, contests and tons of candy. Located at the Old Firehouse (1440 Chain Bridge Road, Mclean). 5:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.

BISPHOP ROBINSON AT FALLS CHURCH

Falls Church Episcopal is welcoming Bishop Gene Robinson from 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. in the Historic Church, South Washington and East Fairfax Streets, Falls Church, Virginia. The event is free and open to

the public and reservations are highly recommended.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN AT SETTLE DOWN EASY

Join Settle Down Easy Brewing for their Haunted Halloween. The Wharf Rats will be perform ing and a costume contest will be held. 2822 Fallfax Drive, Falls Church. 5:00 p.m.

TRUNK OR TREAT.

Join Falls Church Presbyterian for their Trunk or Treat event. Children of all ages are invited to come in costume and walk from car to car to collect special Halloween treats. Located at Falls Church Presbyterian from 2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30

HALLOWEEN RUN

One can sport their best Halloween outfit in this spooky 5k event at Fairfax County Park’s beautiful, trailed parkland. Located at South Run Center (7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield). 7:00 a.m.

MOSAIC HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

From store open to store

close, stop by the shops for trick-or-treating. Shop around the FRESHFARM Market from 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. and enjoy face painting at the Vienna Singing Princesses glamour tent from 2:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. Layout a picnic blanket and enjoy a movie on the big screen in Strawberry Park starting at 6:00 p.m. District Avenue (Fairfax).

TRUNK OR TREAT

Bring a bucket or bag to collect candy while strolling through the Columbia Baptist Church parking lot of decorated trunks. Costumes are encouraged. 103 W. Columbia Street, Falls Church. 3:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

TRUNK OR TREAT

Kids 13 years old and younger are invited to attend this fun event. People can dress in their Halloween best and enjoy "trunk-or-treating" in the Chesterbrook parking lot. 2030 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church. 5:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

(Photo: Sabrina Anwah)

THE MOSAIC HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR on October 29th allows both adults and children to celebrate the Halloween season. Shopping, face painting and a movie are just a few of the activities hosted from 9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC THEATER & ARTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

DAVE CHAPELL BAND

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:00 p.m. (703) 241-9504

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

THE LEGWARMERS

The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church, VA) 9:30 p.m. (703) 237-0300

YOUNG RELICS

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

SHARTEL & HUME

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St, Falls Church) 5:30 p.m. (703) 532-9283

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

CONVERTIBLE JERK

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St, Falls Church) 5:30 p.m. (703) 532-9283

WICKED JEZABEL

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

CASH UNCHAINED: ULTIMATE JOHNNY CASH EXPERIENCE

Jammin Java (227 Maple Ave., Vienna). 7:30 p.m. (703) 255-1566

MARK SCOTT

Dogwood Tavern (132 W Broad Street, Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. (703) 237-8333

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

Head Over Heels

“Head Over Heels” is the bold new musical com edy from the visionar ies that rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q, and Spring Awakening. This laugh-outloud love story follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their kingdom from extinction. This hilarious story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs “We Got the Beat” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” The show features musical direction by Joe Walsh and chore ography by Stefan Sittig. Showing at the Concert Hall at George Mason University. 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY,

OCTOBER 29

Elektra

This royal family is set up for royal dysfunction. Tragedy follows Elektra as she plots revenge against her father’s murderer — her own mother — in Richard Strauss’s epic opera inspired by the Greek tale. “Elektra” is 100 minutes of power-packed, “fasten your seatbelt” opera, from its dramatic, harrowing music to its hair-raising finale. "Superstar" soprano Christine Goerke plays the title role of a daughter possessed. Shown at the Kennedy Center. 7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30

Both Sides Now

Longtime friends and onetime lovers Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen are

songwriters and storytell ers of the past 50 years. Celebrate their mutual influence on the other’s work with some of their beloved chart-toppers including “Cactus Tree,” “Hallelujah,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Suzanne,” “Both Sides Now” and many other unforgettable tunes that defined a genera tion. Showing at Signature

THE

the State Theatre

(Photo: Todd Harris)

"ICHABOD: LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW" will be having its last performance on Sunday, October 30th at Creative Cauldron at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The play is an adapta tion of Washington Irving's classic tale of lore, love and leg endary Headless Horseman. (Photo: William Gallagher)

Chasin’ Tails Serves Seafood and Southern Hospitality

by Patricia Leslie Falls Church News-Press

Back in my younger years, “chasin’ tail” meant something besides eating seafood, but at “Chasin’ Tails” in Arlington, it means lots of seafood however you like it.

Crispy and crunchy is the way I like it and that was exactly how “Tony” brought out our dishes when Blake and I went in to sample the goods of what’s coming to Founders Row.

Plenty of fried calamari and shrimp ($19 each) with Cajun fries arrived, enough for me to take some home and more, like more of everything I ordered, which included a luscious parmesan crab dip (also, $19) which came with toasted baguette pieces and, honestly, tasted better the next day (although it was good enough in the restaurant, especially if you like warm appetizers).

To satisfy my green needs, I also ordered a salad which was huge and full of everything healthy, lettuce, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, croutons and a good nutritious balance to the fried foods I like so much.

Several groups were around us who seemed to be enjoying their shareable meals, like the “superfeast” for four or five who were picking (piggin’ on?) a pound of king crab legs, clusters of snow crab legs, two pounds each of shrimp and crawfish, garlic noodles, potatoes, sausage, and corn for $249.

For a smaller size party, there are crab legs and shrimp with all the sides for $79 for one or two persons, plus several other shareables are available.

One of Chasin’s top selling drinks is a combination of two of my favorites, corona and a margarita, called (you got it right): coronarita. Chasin’ pops the little beer bottle upside down in a healthy-sized margarita, the beverage which gradually disappears as you drink it

while the glass slowly fills with the beer, but each taste is distinctive and not mixed.

I was a little reluctant to go for a coronarita, remembering my college days and “boilermakers” of beer and whiskey we’d drink which are not recommended if you need to stand up over the next five hours.

The coronarita was not as strong as a boilermaker, and for $15 and an automatic service charge of 20% (which Chasin’ makes sure you know about ahead of time), the price is a “healthy” fee worth it, at least once.

Chasin’ Tails is a landmark at the corner of Langston Blvd. and North Westmoreland in Arlington to become no doubt a hot spot at the corner of West Broad and West.

Happy Endings Hospitality (HEH), the umbrella organization, is bringing three restaurants to the Founders Row table, all joined by a common kitchen, restrooms and, when necessary, shared staff, accord ing to two of the owners, Di Dang and Tuyet-Nhi Le, who designed them all.

One of the new restaurants is a fine dining concept with a bar and lounge and named after a painting by Le’s great-uncle, Lê Phổ, (19072001). “Nue” sold for $1.4 million in 2019, one of the highest prices ever paid for Vietnamese art. The restaurant’s theme and design stem from flowers and nature which defined much of Phổs art, Le said.

The third restaurant will be the second location for Roll Play, a Vietnamese “fast-casual” grill and to be mostly takeout.

It’s a “three-in-one-concept,” Dang said, who with Le led me on a walk-through of the new spaces which looked far from completion for a December 7 opening, but Dang showed no concern. The builder has a great reputation and will get the job done in short order, Dang said confidently. No worries.

For several reasons the owners decided to move Chasin’ Tails from Arlington but not too far from

Arlington.

Parking is “always troubling” there on weekends (customers will be able to park for free in the Founders Row garage) and “we almost outgrew the space” which was “kind of breaking down,” Dang said. The new space will be larger.

“This [Founders Row] is the right clientele.”

Chasin’ Tails will carry over its popular choices from Arlington and add new ones such as charbroiled oysters and more “shareables” like a “seafood tower,” Surf ‘n’ Turf, garlic butter lobster tails, bigger and premium crab legs and new signature sauces for the seafood boil.

Dang said “the staff is testing a sauce, leaving a margarine-based sauce for butter, using French tech niques. Our sauces will be signifi cantly upgraded in taste and quality.”

The new restaurants will be “more of an elevated experience.”

Dang may be the first person I’ve ever interviewed who has his own Wikipedia page, earned from playing online poker when he was a student at the University of Virginia. With the money he won in poker, he invested in restaurants to recreate his family’s long-standing traditions and fun with their backyard seafood boils in Louisiana.

After starting the restaurant, he realized he couldn’t handle poker playing and restauranteuring simultaneously.

In a restaurant backroom, he’d be playing poker “for thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars and be called out to the restaurant to settle a $10 catfish bowl complaint,” he laughs. He chose restaurants. Now, he may play small poker games “for fun.”

His focus is on “everybody having a really grand experience” at Chasin’ Tails which will be “bigger and better.”

Dang and Le have been a team for 10 years: “We’ve grown up and we wanted to rebuild the restaurant,” she said. In addition to her design

The restaurant automatically adds a 20% tip to bills which a waiter told us immediately upon entering the restaurant, and another waiter repeated to us to make sure we got the message. The menu says Chasin’ has “replaced tipping with a 20% service fee because it will help us provide our entire team a year-round living wage.”

Le said they spent months discussing the tip change. For takeout, Chasin’ Tails adds a recovery fee of 20%.

The couple said the original name of the restaurant was going to be “Heads or Tails” until it was discovered to be trademarked by another restaurant. Chasin’ Tales became the title after a Facebook

contest won by Dang’s cousin. Arlington Magazine just named HEH as one of the “Best Places to Work” in the Washington area.

The new eateries will have more than 100 seats outside for customers who like to eat under the sky.

Chasin’ Tales is open at 2200 North Westmoreland in Arlington 22213 from 5:00 — 9:45 p.m. (Thursday); 5:00 — 10:45 p.m. (Friday), 12 — 10:45 p.m. (Saturday), and 12 — 9:45 p.m., Sunday. The staff is in train ing on other days, Dang said. The Arlington location will prob ably close in November. (703) 538-2565; arlington@chasin

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: The coronarita, parmesan crab dip, fried calamari, salad and fried shrimp, all served at Chasin’ Tails.

at Founders Row, Tuyet-Nhi Le (left) and Di Dang (right) are

SCHOOLS

Meridian Cross Country Heads to Regional Championships

by Ryan McCafferty and Nick Porr

Meridian High School

The Mustang football team was able to finally break into the win column this week! Freshman QB Cruz Ruoff and a potent rushing attack led by Omar Dabbourah and Alden Harrison pushed Meridian over visiting Park View on Friday night in their 34-28 victory. The Mustangs jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and held on the rest of the way in front of a packed crowd.

Meridian’s girls’ field hockey squad finished 2nd in the District playoffs, beating Kettle Run 3-0 on Tuesday but falling in overtime to Fauquier on Thursday by a score of 1-2. Their season will continue in the Regionals, as they are set to host an opponent to be determined this Thursday.

Meridian Girls volleyball split its pair of road games this week, beating Brentsville 3-0 on Tuesday but then falling to Skyline 0-3 on Thursday. They’ll play host to James Monroe on Tuesday and Skyline on Thursday this upcoming week.

Boys Volleyball played four matches this past weekend and went 4-0. They are now 10-4 in the season, with playoffs beginning next weekend.

Falls Church High School

Football (2-6) took a tough loss to the Annandale Atoms (3-6) 28-27 at home Friday night. A late touchdown from the Jaguars was not enough to push them over the top, as they fell to their local rivals. They will be back in action Friday at John R. Lewis (1-7).

Field hockey was bounced from the Region tournament Wednesday night, falling 2-4 to West Springfield.

Volleyball opens their district tournament Monday night against Justice High School. If they win, they will play in the District semifinals Wednesday. The Finals are scheduled for

Justice High School

Football (0-8) was demolished at home by Washington-Liberty (4-4) 42-0. It’s been a long and rough season for the Wolves so far. The offense has struggled mightily, scoring just 8.75 points per game. They will have another shot to wake up the offense this Friday against the Annandale Atoms (3-6).

This past week Volleyball split their results, losing 3-1 to Thomas Jefferson and defeating Mount Vernon 3-0. Monday night Volleyball (16-12) will play their first District playoff game against Falls Church. Should they win they will compete in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Cross Country struggled at the FCPS JV jamboree, with the Boys finishing 23rd out of 23 teams and the girls finishing 13th of 18.

Cheerleading had a successful week, winning the District Championships Saturday night,

have little time left to add to the win column. They play Wakefield (0-9) Friday night at home.

Field Hockey will enter the Region tournament in the quarter finals Wednesday night. Volleyball shut out McLean

place finish from senior Henry Wilder.

The Girls didn’t send a full team, just competing with three runners. Freshman Emma Kops led the trio with a 24:58 finish placing 106th.

Mustangs Hold Off Park View, Finally Win in 2022

by Ryan McCafferty Falls Church News-Press

Another week brought another fresh opportunity for the winless Meridian Mustangs football team to break into the win column this season, this one their next to last chance as they hosted the Park View Patriots on a chilly Thursday evening in Falls Church. Determined to finally get the monkey off their backs, the home team got off to a fast start by marching straight down the field on its opening possession, which Alden Harrison capped off as he found the back of the end zone about halfway into the first quarter to put the Mustangs up 7-0 following a Luke Russell extra point. Things got even better for Meridian when Kyle Jinks picked off a Park View pass on their ensuing drive, and then on the very next play, Russell caught a Cruz Ruoff pass and took it the distance. A Patriots 3 and out led to a third Meridian

MERIDIAN BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY are Northwestern District Champions, the first time since 2010. (Photo: FCCPS)

THE MERIDIAN MUSTANGS defeated the Park View Patriots with their first win of the 2022 season.

(Photo: Ryan McCafferty)

OUTLOOK

The Battle Between Pocketbooks and Principles Charles Blow NEW YORK TIMES

You are never in the voting booth alone.

You bring with you your hopes and fears, your expectations and your disappointments. Your choice is made through a maze of considerations, but it hinges primarily on how the candidates — their principles and their party — line up with your worldview. Would they, if elected, represent and promote the kind of community and country you want to live in? Are they “on your side,” fighting for you and people like you?

Often, the things that are top of mind as you consider those questions are urgent and imminent, rather than ambient and situational. Issues like the economy, for instance, will almost always take top billing, since they affect the most people most directly.

Anger over abortion can also be potent, and in some races, it

may determine the outcome, but it is a narrower issue. First, no person assigned male at birth will ever have to personally wrestle with a choice to have an abortion or deal with health complications from a pregnancy that might necessitate an abortion. So, for half the electorate, the issue is a matter of principle rather than one of their own bodily autonomy.

Furthermore, at the moment, abortion is still legal in most states.

Yes, clinics have disappeared completely in 13 of the 50 states, according to the latest data from the Guttmacher Institute, but for millions of American women living in blue states, abortion access hasn’t changed since the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs.

That is not to diminish the outrage people do and should feel about this right being taken away from them. It doesn’t diminish my personal outrage, nor does it assume that abortion rights are safe in the states that have yet to outlaw the practice.

But I mention it as a way to understand something I’ve seen over and over in the electorate:

Incandescent rage, however brightly it burns at the start, has a tendency to dim. People can’t maintain anger for extended periods. It tends to wear on the mind and the body, as everyday issues like gas and rent and inflation push to get back into primary consideration.

I have seen repeatedly how people abandon their principles — whether they be voting rights, transgender issues, gun control, police reform, civil rights, climate change or the protection of our democracy itself — when their pocketbooks suffer. There is a core group of people who will feel singularly passionate about each of these problems, but the rest of the public adjusts itself to the outrage and the trauma, shuffling each issue back into the deck. They still care about these problems as issues in the world, but they don’t necessarily see them as urgent or imminent.

In a New York Times/Siena College poll released this week, voters were asked “What do you think is the MOST important problem facing the country today?”

A plurality, 26 percent, said

Crime: Red Delusions About Purple Reality

Paul Krugman NEW YORK TIMES

During last week’s Oklahoma gubernatorial debate Joy Hofmeister, the surprisingly competitive Democratic candidate, addressed Kevin Stitt, the Republican incumbent, who — like many in his party — is running as a champion of law and order.

“The fact is the rates of violent crime in Oklahoma are higher under your watch than New York and California,” she declared.

Stitt responded by laughing, and turned to the audience: “Oklahomans, do you believe we have higher crime than New York or California?”

But Hofmeister was completely correct. In fact, when it comes to homicide, the most reliably mea sured form of violent crime, it isn’t even close: In 2020 Oklahoma’s murder rate was almost 50 percent higher than California’s, almost double New York’s, and this rank ing probably hasn’t changed.

Was Stitt unaware of this fact?

Or was he just counting on his audience’s ignorance? If it was the latter, he may, alas, have made the right call. Public perceptions about crime are often at odds with reality. And in this election year Republicans are trying to exploit one of the biggest misperceptions: that crime is a big-city, blue-state problem.

Americans aren’t wrong to be concerned about crime. Nationwide, violent crime rose substantially in 2020; we don’t have complete data yet, but murders appear to have risen further in 2021, although they seem to be declining again.

Nobody knows for sure what caused the surge — just as nobody knows for sure what caused the epic decline in crime from 1990 to the mid-2010s, about which more shortly. But given the timing, the social and psychological effects of the pandemic are the most likely culprit, with a possible secondary role for the damage to policecommunity relations caused by the murder of George Floyd.

While the crime surge was real, however, the perception that it was all about big cities run by Democrats is false. This was a purple crime wave, with murder

rates rising at roughly the same rate in Trump-voting red states and Biden-voting blue states. Homicides rose sharply in both urban and rural areas. And if we look at levels rather than rates of change, both homicides and violent crime as a whole are generally higher in red states.

So why do so many people believe otherwise? Before we get to politically motivated disinformation, let’s talk about some other factors that might have skewed perceptions.

One factor is visibility. As Bloomberg’s Justin Fox has pointed out, New York City is one of the safest places in America — but you’re more likely to see a crime, or know someone who has seen a crime, than elsewhere because the city has vastly higher population density than anyplace else, meaning that there are often many witnesses around when something bad happens.

Another factor may be the human tendency to believe stories that confirm our preconceptions. Many people feel instinctively that getting tough on criminals is an effective anti-crime strategy, so they’re inclined to assume that

the economy, and 18 percent said inflation or the cost of living. Just 7 percent said the state of democracy, and 4 percent said abortion.

After the Supreme Court struck down Roe, Democrats saw a measurable shift in their direction, as voters began to say that they were leaning toward the Democrats in the midterm elections. The anger among many voters was palpable; the offense was fresh. But now, that momentum has stalled, and some see a swing back toward Republicans as we get further out from the ruling and worrisome economic news retakes the headlines.

I still believe that anger over abortion will be felt in the midterms. I believe that taking away such a fundamental right feels like a betrayal that must be avenged. I believe that many parents of daughters are incensed at the idea of those girls inheriting an America where they will have less say over their bodies than their mothers had.

But I also know that energy attrition in the electorate is real. I know that historical trends are on the side of Republicans going into

places that are less tough — for example, those that don’t prosecute some nonviolent offenses — must suffer higher crime as a result. This doesn’t appear to be true, but you can see why people might believe it.

Such misconceptions are made easier by the long-running disconnect between the reality of crime and public perceptions. Violent crime halved between 1991 and 2014, yet for almost that entire period a large majority of Americans told pollsters that crime was rising.

However, only a minority believed that it was rising in their own area. This tendency to believe that crime is terrible, but mostly someplace else, was confirmed by an August poll showing a huge gap between the number of Americans who consider violent crime a serious problem nationally and the much smaller number who see it as a serious problem where they live.

Which brings us to the efforts by right-wing media and Republicans to weaponize crime as an issue in the midterms — efforts that one has to admit are proving effective, even though the breadth of the crime wave, more or less equally affecting red and blue states, rural and urban areas and so on suggests that it’s

the midterms, and even a minor stalling of momentum and erosion of energy could make the already slim chance that Democrats would hold the House of Representatives an impossibly long shot.

In the closing days of this campaign cycle, Republicans are driving home perennial issues: the economy and crime. Democrats are arguing big issues of policy: abortion and protecting democracy. In this battle of pocketbooks and principles, which will win out?

For those with any sense of political vision and history, the policy side must take precedence. Economic issues are cyclical. They’ll always present themselves. But grand issues like bodily autonomy can define generations. And protecting democracy can define empires.

What is the point of a cheaper tank of gas, if it must be had in a failed democracy that polices people’s most intimate choices about their own bodies?

By Charles Blow © 2022 The New York Times

nobody’s fault.

It’s possible that these efforts would have gained traction no matter what Democrats did. It’s also true, however, that too few Democrats have responded effectively.

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul was late to the party, apparently realizing only a few days ago that crime was a major issue she needed to address. On the other hand, Eric Adams, New York City’s mayor, has seemed to feed fearmongering, declaring that he had “never seen crime at this level,” an assertion contradicted by his own Police Department’s data. Even after the 2020-21 surge, serious crime in New York remained far below its 1990 peak, and in fact was still lower than it was when Rudy Giuliani was mayor.

I’m not a politician, but this doesn’t seem as if it should be hard. Why not acknowledge the validity of concerns over the recent crime surge, while also pointing out that right-wingers who talk tough on crime don’t seem to be any good at actually keeping crime low?

By Paul Krugman © 2022 The New York Times

Don’t Let Democracy Slip Away in Critical Elections

Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

My fellow Americans, arise! Don’t forget that as voting is currently underway, November 8 Election Day 2022 is now barely over a week away. It may be the most impactful election in the nation’s history. In Virginia, while in Falls Church there is only one race on the ballot for voters to decide on – with our remarkable Congressman and Falls Church Favorite Son Don Beyer facing two opponents – the biggest races with national import are just to our south and west, and local activists reading this are urged to impact those races absolutely as much as possible.

With the future of women’s reproductive rights and American democracy more generally at stake in these elections, it really, really matters. Give what you can, do what you can! The incumbencies of Elaine Luria, Jennifer Weston and Abigail Spansberger must be upheld as part of a nationwide defense of the most core values that freedom-loving people share.

Since the Civil War a century and a half ago, this nation has never found itself with objective enemies to the republic on the ballot, quite the equivalent of this time. It has been a long time in the making, but the ugly spectors of racism and sexism have eaten through the fabric of our culture to the point where some 300 candidates on the ballot this fall in the country are pledged to the fundamental undoing of our democratic institutions.

Our enemies today remain the kin to those who dared carry the evil pestilence embodied in the flags of two of our nation’s most hateful foes – the debased and pro-slavery racist Confederacy and the genocidal German Nazi horror – through our hallowed halls of government in a rampage of destruction and defilement that day of January 6, 2021. There is no gray in this, there is good and there is evil. We must arise and stand up for the good, even as we are asked to do so little by comparison to those multitudes who sacrificed with their very fortunes and

lives to help ensure that this relatively non-violent day of reckoning would be facing you and me.

We, you and I, need to reach back to our roots, to the better days of our youth, when it seemed the options were simpler and more plain, when honesty and fairness seemed so obviously preferable to whatever else, whatever marginal, hateful poison was being spilled in our school halls and yards by menacing elements threatening our free, orderly and democratic way of life.

This was an insidious rot that leaked through our unattended morality that we’d come to take too much for granted. It foisted itself in the high-minded name of “postmodernism” upon our values, cynically assailing the very foundations of our thought and purpose with nihilistic alternatives that hit away at our basic commitments to truth, science and fair play in the name of “might makes right” and pleasure for its own sake.

Those were the new mantras of postmodernity, of nihilism, that began polluting our minds in the 1970s, subverting the best sentiments aimed at advancing our ideals of freedom and inclusion of the previous decade that were embodied in the commitments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others.

These were the bearers of the black flags of chaos and extreme selfishness that assailed our democratic impulses with angry and cruel options of instant gratification and lurid extremes. Asleep at the switch, our nation began falling under the sway of these elements in the 1970s and after. Even though there had been pro-Confederacy and pro-Nazi elements here from much earlier, they’d been tamped down by the rising tide of postwar optimism and opportunity after World War 2 until, that is, they weaseled their way back to play bigger roles than every before, bringing us to this defining moment in our history.

These forces of hate and tyranny stand opposed to democratic values, to the nation’s core notion articulated in our Declaration of Independence from 1776, that all persons are created equal, as simple and as profound, and revolutionary, a notion as that.

It is not overstating the stakes facing us now that this is what we are called to fight for in this impending election, my friends.

Pamela Paul: Let’s Say Gay

and Dictionary.com, is “strange, odd.” Another definition refers not only to gay people but also to “a person whose sexual orientation or gender identity falls outside the heterosexual mainstream or the gender binary,” according to Dictionary.com. That could mean “transgender,” “gender neutral,” “nonbinary,” “agender,” “pangender,” “genderqueer,” “demisexual,” “asexual,” “two spirit,” “third gender” or all, none or some combination of the above. Being queer is, as bell hooks once said, not “about who you’re having sex with — that can be a dimension of it — but queer as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and it has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live.”

While we’re here, the Q in “LG BTQ” currently can stand for both “queer” and “questioning.”

Confused? You should be! “Queer” can mean egories around gender and sex, particularly binary ones like men and women, straight and gay. Saying you’re queer could mean you’re gay; it could mean you’re straight; it could mean you’re undecided about your gender or that you prefer not to say. Saying you’re queer could mean as little as having kissed another girl your sophomore year at college. It could mean you valiantly plowed through the prose of Judith Butler in a course on queer ness in the Elizabethan theater.

Given the broad spectrum of pos sibility, it’s no surprise that many people — gay or straight — have no idea what it means when someone self-identifies as queer.

But this is important: Not all gay people see themselves as queer. Many lesbian and gay people de fine themselves in terms of sexual orientation, not gender. There are gay men, for example, who grew up desperately needing reassurance that they were just as much a boy as any hypermanly heterosexual. They had to push back hard against those who tried to tell them their sexual orien tation called their masculinity into question.

“Queer” carries other connota tions, not all of them welcome — or welcoming. Whereas homosexual ity is a sexual orientation one cannot choose, queerness is something one can, according to James Kirchick, au thor of “Secret City: The Hidden His tory of Gay Washington.” Queerness, he argues, is a fashion and a political statement that not all gay people sub scribe to.

“Queerness is also self-con sciously and purposefully marginal,” he told me. “Whereas the arc of the gay rights movement, and the indi vidual lives of most gay people, has been a struggle against marginality. We want to be welcomed. We want to have equal rights. We want a place in our institutions.”

Many gay people simply pre fer the word “gay.” “Gay” has long been a generally positive term. The second definition for “gay” in most dictionaries is something along the lines of “happy,” “lighthearted” and “carefree.” Whereas “queer” has been, first and foremost, a pejorative. For a certain generation, “queer” is still what William F. Buckley, jaw clenching, called Gore Vidal on ABC in 1968 — “Listen, you queer” — before threatening to “sock you in your goddamn face.”

What I hear most often from gay and lesbian friends regarding the word “queer” is something along the lines of what Sedaris pointed out: “Nobody consulted me!” This wasn’t their choice.

So how did it happen? Partly it’s the force of academic and institutional language, which has permeated the influential worlds of the arts, Hollywood, publishing and fashion. Another part is generational: Gen Zers — 21 percent of whom identify as “LGBT,” according to Gal lup, a percentage that has nearly doubled in just four years — of ten use social media to frame the conversation. As linguist Gretchen McCullough explained in her book “Because Internet,” word shifts take hold much faster these days.

“Queer” bobbed around the academy in semiotics and gen der studies classes for decades before activists unleashed it with the help of social media in the past decade or so. “Queer ness” and “queering” now mate rialize in all manner of contexts, whether it’s queering John Wes ley, queering the tarot or queer ing quinceañeras.

In recent years, other activist terms have followed light-speed trajectories. The term “Latinx” overtook academic institutions and briefly became fashionable in the media, still prevalent in some influential publications, including The New Yorker, even though only 3 percent of Hispanics (or Latinos, if you prefer) use it. Similarly, the word “fat.” As Sarai Walker, au thor of “Dietland,” has written, “fat activists use the word proudly in

an effort to destigmatize not only the word, but by extension, the fat body.” For her, the word rep resents not merely acceptance but also the promotion of body positivity.

To be clear: There’s nothing wrong with embracing a partic ular word to describe yourself. The problem arises when a new term is used in ways that misrep resent or mischaracterize some of the very people it’s meant to include. This is especially true when people in the population in question outright reject the fash ionable term. Such is the case, it seems, for overweight people, who, according to a number of studies, rank “fat” among their least desirable descriptors. For many, the word “fat” remains a fourth-grade way to shame someone. Choosing a euphe mism like “curvy” need not be denounced as complicity or avoidance. Nor should a medi cal term like “overweight” be considered verboten, as it is by some activists, because it im plies the existence of a norma tive weight.

Language is always changing — but it shouldn’t become inflexible, especially when new terminologies, in the name of inclusion, some times wind up making others feel excluded. In the case of “queer,” it’s especially worrisome and not only because it supersedes widely accepted and understood terms but also because the gay rights move ment’s successes have historically hinged on efforts at inclusion.

Gay people, lesbians and bi sexuals fought for a long time to be open and clear about who they are. That’s why they call it pride.

By P amela P aul © 2022 The New York Times

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITY

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for City of Falls Church, Virginia, Independent City

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within the Independent City of Falls Church, Virginia. These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed flood hazard determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for the Independent City of Falls Church, Virginia. These flood hazard determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are effective for floodplain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities affected and the locations where copies of the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/ fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877336-2627).

AUCTIONS

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LOCAL

Ichabod Star Finishes First Professional Performance

by Julianna Vandermark Special of the News-Press

Falls Church News Press: I’m curious, how did you get into acting in Falls Church and what was your path in acting and theater that led you to this role?

Colum Goebelbecker: Where do I start? I started ac ting when I was in high school. I was very much a sports kid and only played sports until I saw my sister in a production of Cin derella. That was when I was in eighth grade, and I was like, ‘Whoa, she’s making people

laugh on stage.’ I think there was just something about how she was expressing herself that really drew my attention, even even as an eighth grader. I did musicals throughout high sch ool, but it was mainly just a hobby. I then went to George town and got a degree in go vernment. It was really during Covid that I realized I wanted to pursue acting. It just gave me a lot of time to really get in touch with my arts and how I wanted to serve the world, be cause I’ve been really thinking about wanting to do social im pact work.

I kind of naively thought of theater as almost a narcissistic thing, which I’ve fully put aside, but just as a thing for me. But then, I found this company that I currently work for, the Lab for Global Performance and Poli tics, which has the mission to harness the power of perfor mance to humanize politics. So they use theater for social change and academic context and performance contexts in their work with policymakers, and it just drew my attention.

I auditioned and thought nothing of it. Because I’ve been learning as an actor, you need to just audition and then forget the auditions because you do so many and more, even the most successful actors. I heard this from a person who recently got

like three out of 10 auditions. And those are people who are working and successful. So you know, I auditioned and didn’t think anything of it, and then in mid-July, I got an email. And that’s what brought me to this show.

FCNP: Do you remember your first day of rehearsal for Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? Can you describe it to me?

CG: I do remember the first day of rehearsal. I was very ner vous because I looked up at my fellow actors who are all pheno menal. I looked up their bios, and these people had acted in shows throughout DC and toured with Broadway compa nies. It was a bit intimidating to be walking in as the youngest person in the room, but also playing Ichabod and wanting to show people that I could do it and own it. The people were very welcoming from the start.

FCNP: What were your ex pectations about the theater and the experience going into it?

CG: I have a friend who I met at auditions who I told right away when I got cast, because I knew that he knew of the thea ter. But beyond that, I didn’t know much about the theater. I really like being able to really feel the audience. The actors were walking right in front of people in the front row

throughout the show. So from the first day, when I walked in, I enjoyed realizing how tight the space was. Just how much magic you can create and how you just walk into this little space and it’s just like this whole world. Margie Jervis, our amazing set designer has just done some in credible art in there. and she has a beautiful art piece of trees. This is great energy to have in the theater.

FCNP: What was your expo sure to, or knowledge of, the story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow before the production?

CG: It’s America’s most fa mous ghost story. I had heard of it and I knew of the town. But, I really didn’t know much about the story. There’s a 1922 silent film that I watched to try and get in touch with some of the mannerisms that the people used back in the day.

FCNP: Is there kind of an idea or topic that you think The Legend of Sleepy Hollow repre sents as a symbol?

CG: I think it’s just an alle gory for love and heartbreak. There’s so many similarities today to the urban rural divide, especially in our polarized poli tical scene in DC.

FCNP: How has your back ground in government informed your experiences in theater and with this production?

CG: I work as a project asso

ciate for this program called In Your Shoes, which is essentially a performance methodology that’s all about cultivating em pathy, across differences. I now work for the program and I’m doing like a different iteration. I’m working on a program in collaboration with Georgetown Center for US China dialogue, so it’s between Chinese students and Chinese American students and American students. And that, as I shared earlier has really just piqued my interest in the political ramifications of theater. I’m always thinking about how whatever show I’m in relates to political dimen sions.

FCNP: What have you learned from your time so far in this production?

CG: I’ve learned to just cultivate an even deeper sense of gratitude. For collaborators who, especially like directors, who operate in a very horizontal way. I’m very passionate about theater and parks. But there’s something special about it since this is my first professional show in a theater. I’ve learned to appreciate it so much more from this show.

“Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is being performed at Crea tive Cauldron until October 30th. One can buy tickets for the show at https://www.creativecauldron.org/ ichabod.html.

F.C. School Board Submits Student Defense Policy to Richmond

It goes on, “The model policies leave open a door for bullying and harassment of transgender students.

The proposed model policies state that a district shall not compel personnel or students to refer to transgender students according to their chosen names or pronouns. But personal affirmation is essential for all students. To permit district personnel or other students to deliberately refer to students in a manner contrary to how they view themselves is bullying, plain and simple, and causes harm.”

“Further,” the F.C. policy states. “The proposed model policies could put students at risk.” The notion “that districts shall not conceal information from parents” runs counter to the need for “students often share information with

teachers, counselors and other personnel that they do not share with their parents.”

While the Board acknowledges that “providing the complete range of accommodations for transgender and gender nonconforming students requires deep parental involvement,...situations occur in which students may feel unsafe revealing that they are transgender or gender nonconforming to their parents, so that in the best interests of the students, districts should not be compelled to reveal.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also formally opposed Youngkin’s proposed model policies, saying they would limit the rights of transgender and other gendernonconforming students.

In a letter approved at a Fairfax County board meeting Tuesday, board chair Jeff McKay said that the

policies would have a negative effect on the county’s economic position and cites the human impact on students.

McKay stated, “Youngkin’s model policies – and the discrimination inherent to them – will have a chilling effect on our continued ability to attract the world’s most innovative companies to Fairfax County. To put it bluntly, discrimination is bad for business,”

McKay in his letter stated that Youngkin’s proposed policies “put the county’s children at risk by denying support and affirmation to transgender students.”

He noted, “A young LGBTQ person attempts suicide every 45 seconds in the United States. Key drivers of high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among transgender youth are the lack of social support and affirming

experiences that they often face,” the letter states.

Meanwhile, the Fairfax County School Board passed, 7-4, a resolution on “inclusive education” at its meeting Tuesday, The resolution

affirms the county’s support for teachers and administrators when it comes to “inclusive curriculum and instruction.” The resolution is symbolic and does not change county policy.

COLUM GOEBELBECKER plays the lead role of “Ichabod” in Creative Cauldron’s performance of “Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. (Photo: Colum Goebelbecker)

THE FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL Board met Tuesday and agreed unanimously to forward a sharp statement to Richmond repudiating the governor’s proposed new transgender policy. (Photo: News-Press)

Falls Church News-Press Vol. VII, No. 32 • October 23, 1997

Planning Commission Votes to Let State Theatre Work Begin

After three successive meetings refusing to grant permission to the new owners of the State Theatre to begin renovating their site, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 Monday to OK the start of work.

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXII, No. 35 • October 25, 2012

F.C., Fairfax Agree to Court Mediation To Resolve Long-Standing Water Roil

The City of Falls Church released a state ment late yesterday afternoon reporting that the City, Fairfax County and the Fairfax Water Authority have mutually agreed to a voluntary mediation of their long-standing disputes over the operation of the Falls Church system to the county.

ritter

These numbers show the prowess of the orchestra of twelve band members and one conductor, appropriately making an unlucky thirteen. The Addams Family would be proud! As for the orchestra, it is brilliantly conducted by Colin Taylor.

Staging and costuming are both quite creative. Particularly noteworthy is Ben Marple’s creative use of classical Ja panese-style umbrellas as moons (and stars) in order to create a nocturne ambiance. The set, designed by Bob Hall, is simple but effective; it includes elements drawn from the origi nal Addams Family New Yorker cartoons—a nice touch! The Addams Family members them selves are attired to maintain their classic look but incorpo rate occasional modern elements which serve to suggest the events taking place on stage occur in our own time period. However, deceased Addams Fa mily members sport Gothic, Ro coco, and even flapper cos tumes, effectively signifying earlier generations which have passed on; these costumes are executed brilliantly by designer Ingrid Sánchez-Seymour.

The Addams Family is, at the end of the day, about family, a topic celebrated in the humo rously misleading song title by the company called “Move To ward the Darkness.” We would note here that Christine Maxted, who plays Morticia Addams, is in real life the mother of Cecilia Laird (Pugsley Addams) and wife of James Maxted (Mal

Beineke). We should mention at this juncture (as we are always on the watch for Falls Church connections) that Katie Pisocky, who portrays the Amazonian Addams Ancestor, is a resident of Falls Church and Megan Fisher, who plays the Flapper Addams Ancestor, sings in the choir at The Falls Church. The show (especially in this excellent production by Steve McBride) has something for everyone, with its engaging the mes, tributes to spirited dances such as Ray Anthony’s Bunny Hop and Chubby Checker’s Twist as well as ubiquitous Broadway elements. This pro duction is wonderful entertain

ment for those in search of a Halloween-themed show for late October. Says Nancy La vallee, the director: We chose ‘The Addams Family’ not just because of its hilarious book and great songs, but because of the theme that ‘family is every thing,’ a timely and important message for a church-based theatre group! This wonderfully entertaining show runs from Oc tober 21-October 30th, 2022, at Good Shepherd Players, located at 9350 Braddock Road, Burke, Virginia 22015. Further infor mation may be found online at: Good Shepherd Players – The Church of the Good Shepherd (good-shepherd.net)

Local Restaurants Team Up to Help Ireland’s Four Courts Employees

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

Over two months ago, horror struck a popular Arlington Irish pub, leaving the restaurant damaged and many not knowing when it would reopen again. Despite being closed, local Little City restaurants are coming together to support the restaurant’s employees.

The Falls Church restaurant community is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, November 5th, named “Crawl for the Courts.”

The money being raised will go to Ireland’s Four Courts employees, the restaurant that was crashed into by a driver apparently suffering a medical emergency. Three employees were reported to be among the 12 who suffered injuries due to the incident.

The six local restaurants participating in the fundraiser are Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Liberty Barbecue, Northside Social, Dogwood Tavern and Harvey’s. The owners of Clare and Don’s and Ireland’s Four Provinces are the organizers of the fundraiser, with Clare and Don’s owner David Tax stating his involvement is “voluntary” after seeing the “tragedy” that happened at the pub.

Although there is a GoFundMe created by the owner of Four Courts, Tax said he and Ireland’s Four Provinces owner, Colm Dillon, wanted to show their support in the Falls Church area.

“Our interest is only

humanitarian,” Tax said. “We just want to try to do what we can to help.”

The restaurant crawl will feature various foods and beverages from the six participating restaurants.

According to the fundraiser’s press release, in order to participate in the event, a person will need to buy a voucher, with the vouchers being available for purchase at each restaurant. These vouchers are available online or in person. The cost is $100 per person and 100 percent of the proceeds raised will go to the employees of Ireland’s Four Courts.

Colm Dillon, the owner of Ireland’s Four Provinces and co-creator of the restaurant crawl, said he has known the owner of Four Courts since 1984 and since the area has a “small restaurant community,” he “had to do what he could to help.”

“When you have restaurants, you can’t be an island,” Dillon said. “There will be times where you need to borrow some things from the other restaurants.”

After discussing with Tax on how they could help, they decided to host the restaurant crawl. One important feature of the fundraiser is that there is no starting order on where one can begin and end the crawl. Dillon said he wants participants to be able to “scatter” rather than going in order, and said it is important because “we don’t want our partners overwhelmed.”

As for what each participating

restaurant will be serving, Tax said Clare and Don’s will have six various fried shrimp options and possibly a grapefruit “crush” — grapefruit juice mixed with vodka, triple sec and lemon lime soda. There will also be the possibility of a vegetarian option for those who want it.

Harvey’s will be giving deviled eggs and one draft beer or wine from a limited list. Harvey’s owner Thomas Harvey said he was approached by Tax to be a part of the fundraiser, which was a “very quick yes” from Harvey.

Sam Saslowsky, the general manager of Dogwood Tavern, said his restaurant wanted to become involved with the fun draiser because of the past few years being “difficult for all members of the food and bever age industry,” while also having to deal with this unfortunate event. Dogwood Tavern will be serving Reuben Rolls, a spring roll wrap filled with corned beef, swiss cheese and sauer kraut; and a Hot Mulled Cider with Irish Whisky.

The fundraiser will also host a silent auction, with some restaurants donating gift certificates for their business. Dillon stated that anyone who is interested in donating items to be auctioned can contact him through irelandsfourprovinces@ gmail.com.

“We are just being good neighbors,” Dillon said. “The goal is to raise as much money for the staff as we can.”

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Taco Bama Continues Expansion

Taco Bama, which started nine years ago in Falls Church, has grown into a chain of taco restaurants. The company expanded into Rockville last year and is opening another restaurant in Gaithersburg. Another eatery is planned for Washington, DC and expected to open in the winter of 2023. Taco Bama makes each menu unique to the location with the goal of giving that neighborhood its own version of the eatery.

Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs

The annual Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Program is under way, offering women entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, peer networking opportunities, and a $5,000 business education grant plus access to 0 percent interest loans. Applicants must meet certain criteria to apply, including being a woman entrepreneur who owns the largest or equal stake in a qualifying business. Applications close November 3.

BAE Releases Second DEI Report

BAE Systems, Inc. has released Caring for our People, Culture, and Communities, the company’s second annual report highlighting the significant progress made in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Caring for our People, Culture, and Communities follows A Decade of Progress, the company’s first report, which detailed efforts in the last decade to increase DEI in the workplace. The report covers employee population, employee spotlights, and an overview of the company DEI strategy and goals. Key accomplishments around senior leadership roles, accountability, and a new sponsorship program for people of color are included.

BAE Systems Contract

BAE Systems in Falls Church received a $143 million contract from the U.S. Navy to continue to support the integration of various mission equipment, combat systems, and computer programs for the U.S. Navy’s Surface Combat Systems Center in Wallops Island, Virginia.

Small Business Credit Survey

Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences. Did your business seek financing such as loans or lines of credit in the last 12 months? How would you rate the financial condition of your business? The Federal Reserve’s 2022 Small Business Credit Survey is open for responses, and the Virginia SBDC Network is a partner on this effort. By taking the survey, you contribute to data that directly informs the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—ultimately benefitting your business and other businesses like yours. Take the 10-minute survey now. The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch. All responses are confidential. The survey closes November 4, 2022. Questions? Contact Grace Guynn at grace.guynn@atl.frb.org.

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.

FALLS CHURCH RESTAURANTS ARE Organizing a fundraiser Help Ireland’s Four Courts Employees! (Courtesy Photo)

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