Falls Church News-Press 10-8-2020 by Falls Church News-Press

October 8 – 14, 2020

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Downtown Site Developers Tighten Up Plan Before F.C. Council Vote Design Changes, Parking Issues Addressed In Proposal Being Presented To Council Tuesday Night BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Developer Insight Property Group who are captaining the proposal for the Broad and Washington project are still making changes in the days leading up

to a critical vote before the Falls Church City Council this next Tuesday. The proposed development in the center of the City of Falls Church with a mega-Whole Foods market as its anchor will come before the Council on Tuesday to

F.C. Council Skeptical About Stormwater Project’s Costs BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

City of Falls Church residents are faced with the prospect of up to a doubling of stormwater fees in the next few years, the fact that such an added financial burden will benefit in the range of only 48 houses in the City, and that such benefit will be only for modestly-sized storms in an era of violent climate change-driven weather events. The Falls Church City Council, considering approving a bond issuance later this month to cover some immediate needs, was briefed on this mix of options for prospective stormwater capital improvements by City Manager Wyatt Shields, the City’s interim public works director Zak Bradley and members of the City’s Stormwater Task Force last month. Given Council concerns expressed then, Bradley provided the Council with a four-page memo with more details of the prospects presented at this week’s Council work

session that confirmed the parameters of the issues involved. Council members Letty Hardi and Ross Litkenhous led the concerns expressed by the Council for the combination of high costs to all City residents and limited benefits, including the narrow impact on homes in the City’s flood plain and the limited benefit given the recent years’ growing severity of weather events. The current policy is to “maintain the standard 10-year, 24-hour storm protection” (from a hypothetical once-every-10-year storm, a metric that has been obliterated by the recent years’ climate-change instigated weather events). Hardi and Litkenhous urged the Public Works staff to explore more adequate options to simply putting larger pipes underground at six key areas around the 2.2-square mile City, which is essentially the limit to what the current plans are calling

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vote on whether or not to move the process toward a potential approval. The project’s supporters are cautiously optimistic that a majority of the five Council members who will vote next week will send the plan to the next step, which is a two month review by all the

City’s relevant advisory boards and commissions and groups like the independent F.C. Chamber of Commerce and Village Preservation and Improvement Society. If it is moved along Tuesday night, the final destiny of the plan

won’t come until just after the new year, when a second vote on the special zoning exceptions being sought, and an even more critical vote on the sale of a half-acre of City-owned land at the location

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THE FIRST WAVE of Falls Church City Public School students began phasing back into class this week using a hybrid return model, with special student populations being prioritized in the early going. Come November, grades as a whole will be reintroduced in a similar hybrid model throughout the elementary level. (P��: FCCPS P��/P�� N��)

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The 2020 Fall Real Estate Guide takes a deeper look into the Cram House and its possible avenues for its sale, as well as how the housing market in Falls Church has rebounded throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. See Real Estate, page 11

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3 P�� H�� W. B�� A�� An adult and two minors were hit by a car at the intersection of W. Annandale Road and W. Broad St. around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to police. F.C. City police said all three victims were taken to Virginia Hospital Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. See News & Business, page 17

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters........................................... 6,22 Comment ...................................7,9,10 News & Notes..................................... 8 Crime Report .................................... 10 Calendar ........................................... 19 Classified Ads ................................... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 21 Critter Corner.................................... 22 News Briefs ...................................... 23

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Diﬃculty Quan�fying Stormwater Impact Makes Council Hesitate

Continued from Page 1

for. Even acquiring some of the properties in the highest-impact areas to dedicate to catch basins that would hold water during the peak periods of major storms would be a less expensive alternative, they said. Councilman David Snyder asked whether the 10-Year-Storm metric is still realistc given the more severe weather patterns being experienced in recent years, or whether adhering to it now would be more like “just having a bandaid applied” when that limit is regularly being exceeded. While neither Shields or Bradley could answer that question directly, except to cite difficulties that could arise from trying to adjust that metric, Council member Hardi echoed the concern and said that the City of Alexandria is currently undertaking a study of just that matter. The question, she said, is “Is this metric the right one or is it out of date?” adding “$12 million is a lot to spend on something that’s no longer a functioning standard.” Still, the Public Works department is looking to get the OK by the Council to proceed with its current plans at next Tuesday’s meeting. According to Bradley’s memo, the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes intensity-duration-frequency curves that are revised periodically to reflect for higher or lower storm intensities and durations and frequencies of the so-called “10-Year, 24-Hour Storm” for any particular location and “should climate change continue to generate storms with increasingly greater intensities, durations and frequencies, a city such as Falls Church has two options for maintaining the standard protection.” They are to “1. Periodically increase the size of all stormwater infrastructure in the city, including inlets, pipes, stream channel capacities, or 2. Implement upstream stormwater management techniques to reduce, retain or delay runoff from the watershed and thus reduce increased downstream flooding.” He says that the first option “would be expensive and disruptive to neighborhoods and streets, with a virtually constant ongoing capital replacement program.” The inadequacy of this approach, he said, is why the Stormwater Task Force was tasked “with prioritizing investments based on frequency flooding and severity of damage to private property.”

This has led to the second alternative, he says, which “has been undertaken by many cities nationwide with varying degrees of success but not without substantial costs.” Its water management components include property acquisition to move or raise flood-prone properties out of the watershed, repurposing open properties to stormwater detention and retention facilities, major reduction of impervious areas throughout the watershed, reopening or resurfacing historic stream channels and maintaining adequate open channel conveyance capacity, aggressive enforcement of stormwater “best management practices” (payments, fines, etc.), and maintenance of an expanded in-house stormwater management staff. That alternative requires “an aggressive, long-term commitment to stormwater and watershed management throughout a jurisdiction,” and therefore “is expensive” and is dependent on some requisite conditions pertaining to density, eminent domain laws, aging of the existing system, and a “socio-political commitment.” High costs of implementing such plans are usually due to years of ignoring and underinvesting in the

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F.C. COUNCIL’S LETTY HARDI (top left) said the price is high considering metrics may be outdated. (S��: N��-P��) infrastructure, known as a “run to failure” mode, and now, for Falls Church, “the City’s infrastructure is quickly deteriorating and is well past its expected design life.” Of $900,000 being utilized this year, according to the report, $400,000 is being spent on smaller projects on Midvale and Poplar Drive. The remaining $500,000 is to continue engineering on three to four projects according to priorities recommended by the Stormwater Task Force, and the Council is to decide later this month. Overall, a $12 million bond (or $17 million estimate if a 30

instead of 20 year bond) stormwater improvements to be considered by spring would be applied to six major projects, and Bradley in his memo questions whether there is any cost effective alternative. “Historically, projects involving underground detention of stormwater have been very costly and need a significant amount of land to be effective. This was demonstrated to the City in the design and construction of the stormwater storage tanks under the tennis courts near City Hall. Extensive use of underground will quickly exceed the currently estimated $12 million,” he asserted.

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‘Whole Foods Effect’ Heads Economic Bene�its of Downtown Development

Continued from Page 1

will require a Council “supermajority” to OK. Even with the addition of one new member to the Council through the special election on Nov. 3 to fill the seat vacated by the death of Councilman Dan Sze in July, a minimum of five members of the Council will need to vote “Yes” for the sale of the land in order for the whole project to proceed. That vote will also most likely take place in earlier January even though it will be on the agenda for this Tuesday’s meeting. In an update on new modifications to the project’s plans at this Monday’s Falls Church City Council work session, Maury Stern and Scott Adams from the Insight team concluded with an emphasis on the fiscal benefits to the City of the project, including the estimates that the plan if completed will bring $2.28 million in new revenue annually to the City’s coffers, compared to the

$116,000 annually that the City currently receives from the same three acres. They pointed out that the estimated $2.3 million to the City is in considerable excess of the estimated $1.57 million that an earlier version of the corner’s development, one with some significant Class A office space that won unanimous approval by the Council, achieved in 2018. The revenue estimate is especially impressive given the current trends in the wider economy in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as it is expected that the current recession will deepen considerably. It was also noted that there is the so-called “Whole Foods Effect” on community development, cited in a regional RCLCO Real Estate study, citing areas like the 14th Street NW corridor in Washington, D.C. where the strategic location there transformed a run-down neighborhood into a major revitalization of the entire

wider neighborhood. That kind of impact has resulted in an average of a six percent value added to everything there including real estate. But the developers reported Monday night that one of the stumbling blocks to a wider appreciation of the deal — the impact, even if temporary, it will have on parking prospects of three adjacent businesses, has been mitigated in the past week by a written deal of a neighboring business to offer its parking lot for use by the three establishments, bringing the total to 65 of the total spaces now contracted for that use and equalling the number that will be temporarily lost with the conversion of the City-owned parking site to the Insight property’s use. The loss of the spaces will be for only three months during the construction process, when the alternative spaces will be provided by contract with Insight. Adams told the City Council it’s extraordinary that such a special

arrangement has been achieved by a developer more than three years before it will be needed. Stern also cited some architectural design changes improving the project’s look on Park Place, behind the two restaurants on N. Washington and across from residences on Lawton Street, and said there will be more presented at Tuesday’s meeting. Also added to the mix for next Tuesday’s meeting is a strongly-worded letter signed by most members of the volunteer board of directors of the Creative Cauldron,

OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020 | PAGE 5

the City’s award-winning theatrical troupe that has been promised 5,000 square feet to double the size of their current nearby blackbox theater venue. Speaking more than just to the benefit of their operation, but to the benefits to the entire community of the project, it hails the prospects of the development’s impact on a new “lively, diverse live-work-play area in downtown Falls Church.” There will “finally be a there there,” the letter touts. (The letter is published in full elsewhere in this edition).

Status Update on Monday, October 5 City of Falls Church Date Cases Hospitalizations Monday, October 5 72 13 Monday, September 28 70 13 Thursday, September 24 70 13 Monday, September 21 68 12 Wednesday, September 16 66* 10* Monday, September 14 67 11 Wednesday, September 9 66 11 Wednesday, September 2 66 11 Monday, August 31 66 11

Deaths 7 7 6 6 6* 7 7 7 7

# Cases per 100,000 People 487.4 473.9 473.9 460.3 453.6 453.6 446.8 446.8 446.8

*NOTE: These numbers went down as the Virginia Department of Health found that the individuals lived in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church, not the City of Falls Church.

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E D I TO R I A L

Win-Win, But Not Veto Power

As with so many development projects that seek to modernize and generate fabulous new revenues for a community, there are two sides that line up in opposition to each other. The one is the side standing for the general good of the community, and the other is the side standing up for the narrow self-interest of some near the site who perceive the change will bring a disadvantage to them. One stands for the good of the community, the other is selfish. The latter group is often nicknamed, “NIMBYs,” as in “Not In My Back Yard.” The remarkable success of the City of Falls Church in attracting lucrative and beneficial development in the last 20 years has been largely the result of local leaders and visionaries keeping the “NIMBY” impulse at bay, although it has almost always been there in debates over new projects in one degree or another. Part of the success at this has been the result of persuading the neighbors to a project that there is a significant upside to the project coming in, in the form of revenues to keep their property taxes low, generous contributions to the growth and development of the local school system, landscaping and infrastructure benefits and attractive amenities of the projects themselves that make for a better community for everyone. Because smart citizens have been willing to see these upsides in new and handsome developments, the reputation of the City of Falls Church among the most progressive elements of the regional development community has grown significantly in the past two decades. To developers, it’s not just the positives of a community that matter to them, but the willingness of a community to be open to new and creative development ideas and to see issues facing a project from both the community’s and the developers’ point of view. It’s led to a lot of good for Falls Church. Now, the community-good-versus-“NIMBY” issue is back involving the City Council’s sought approval for a major project at the central downtown intersection of Broad and Washington, where a developer is ready to provide a state-of-the-art Whole Foods megamarket and generous space to house the City’s premiere theatre troupe, Creative Cauldron, and much more. The project is projected to add $2 million annually to the City’s tax roles, compared to the $116,000 annually that comes from that property. In these highly uncertain Covid-19 pandemic times, the prospect of that is downright amazing. What’s most bothersome here is the notion by some on the Council that they will approve the project only if the neighbors say OK. Good government is defined by providing for the best interest of the whole community, not condescending to only one or two tiny segments. While seeking a win-win is always a meritorious goal, the Council should not give any singular entity a veritable veto power over such matters as this.

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F.C. City Must Push Through With The Downtown Project Editor, No matter what decision the Falls Church City Council makes about the Broad and Washington development, there will be people who are unhappy. Some people will never support the project, no matter what accommodations are made. A “Yes” decision on the Broad and Washington development will provide the following to everyone in Falls Church:

* The City will receive approximately $2 million in tax revenues per year. * The City will receive payment for the existing City parking lot and after construction is complete will have 64 free public parking spaces available in the center of the City. * In addition to the 64 free public parking spaces, the center of the City will have an additional 76 public pay to park spaces. The Whole Foods

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grocery, Creative Cauldron, other commercial users, and residents will have their own parking in the garage. * During construction, the developer is providing 65 off-site parking spaces that are 40 to 120 feet from the existing restaurants for their customers to use. The developer is also working on a plan to provide lunchtime parking spaces for the two restaurants during the three to six-month period when there will be no on-site parking. * During construction, the developer is offering to compensate retailers to help offset their rent to minimize any additional impact of the project on their parking and business.

* The City will have approximately 13,820 square feet (10 percent of the site) of green space for public use, including a public plaza and a passive walking park area. * The City will have 21 new affordable housing units in perpetuity. * Instead of building office space that will remain empty due to the changing business models that have become the norm since Covid-19, the developer is providing nine live/work units, with the option to add 18 more, that will address the new work from home model. * The residential units will pro-

Letters Continued on Page 22

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CO MME NT

OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020 | PAGE 7

Point-Counterpoint: Vote To Redistrict In Virginia By Allison Brown and Wendy Frieman

Vote 'Yes'

This year, Virginia voters finally have the power to end gerrymandering. Constitutional Amendment Number 1 is a crucial issue on the ballot this fall - it establishes a citizen-led commission that will draw district lines for future elections. We need this change urgently — currently there are towns in Virginia broken into multiple districts designed to protect incumbents, with one side of the street voting for one unopposed candidate and the other side of the street voting for another. Timing is of the essence here. Redistricting happens only once every 10 years, immediately following the Census. The Virginia Constitution currently gives the power to draw lines to the General Assembly alone. That means that, absent the amendment, the legislators themselves will draw the lines that will determine state and Congressional representatives for the next ten years. If the constitutional amendment passes, it will create, instead, a bipartisan commission to draw Virginia’s electoral maps; the commission will include both citizens and politicians. The amendment guarantees that the redistricting process will be done transparently, with open meetings and public records — protections for the public that have been completely absent from past district drawing. The amendment also enshrines specific voting-rights protection for persons of color into the Virginia Constitution for the first time, incorporating all federal and state laws and court decisions regarding racial and ethnic fairness. The transparency guaranteed in the new process also will assist communities of color in ensuring strong representation in the state legislature and in Congress. Indeed, past racial gerrymandering in Virginia has disenfranchised African American voters by packing persons of color into racially gerrymandered districts, thereby diminishing the strength and importance of the community’s vote. That is, in the past, Virginia’s legislature has taken districts that were already electing representatives of color and packed more voters of color into them. When legislators draw districts and pack minority voters in at 50 percent levels rather than (for example) 30 percent levels, minority voters lose their potential influence in neighboring districts, leaving those districts overwhelmingly White. And then voters of color lose their political voice elsewhere in the state, diluting their impact on legislation. In fact, courts have struck down GOP-drawn maps, crafted after the 2010 Census, that undercut minority voting clout.

If the amendment passes, majorities of members of both parties on the commission would have to agree to the new districts, which would make old-fashioned closed door, partisan gerrymandering a thing of the past. The amendment would authorize the General Assembly to pass or reject the commission’s lines, but it could not change them. If the commission deadlocks, the map-drawing would be turned over to the state Supreme Court, which in many states is the designated arbiter when a legislature deadlocks. In most cases, a court chooses to turn the process over to a special master with expertise on the issue. While members of the state Supreme Court are in fact appointed by politicians, politically appointed judges in other states have shown a willingness to be nonpartisan in districting endeavors — judges tend to have an institutional bias to stay out of politics. The proposed amendment might not be perfect. But are politicians who have benefited from this broken system likely to create and pass a better one? Virginia has no process that lets citizens put constitutional amendments on the ballot; this has to be done by the legislators who benefit from the status quo. The other states with fully nonpartisan redistricting commissions did so through citizen initiatives, not by waiting for incumbent politicians to work against their own interests. The nonpartisan State League of Women Voters has endorsed Amendment 1, with the organization’s president, Deb Wake, saying that “it is past time to bring citizens into the redistricting process and stop voter suppression.” For more information, see lwv-va.org/redistricting. Join the League of Women Voters of Virginia, the Washington Post Editorial Board (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-democrats-have-cold-feet-on-redistrictingreform-voters-shouldnt-be-fooled/2020/09/02/ c88e7e9e-e965-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_ story.html), and other non-partisan organizations across the state in saying Yes to Amendment 1. National experts have weighed in, too. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project’s director, Sam Wang, has devoted his career to nonpartisan analysis intended to eliminate partisan gerrymandering across America. He said Amendment 1 would “set an example for the nation in how to draw fair districts.” Today, partisan gerrymandering — the practice of manipulating district lines to gain an advantage for one party — is perfectly legal in Virginia. It’s time to end this practice.

Allison Brown and Wendy Frieman are Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters Falls Church

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

By Marcus Simon

Vote 'No'

Virginians deserve the opportunity to choose their representatives in the legislature through free and fair elections. For years, though, conservative politicians have done everything they can to consolidate power to ensure their reelections. By deliberately drawing district maps to dilute the power of communities of color in Virginia, a small minority of White, male elites extended their power by limiting the voting power of the rest of us. The history of gerrymandering has always been about much more than partisanship. This November, there will be a constitutional amendment on the ballot — Amendment 1 — that will, once again, allow politicians and political parties to pick their voters instead of voters picking their representatives. If approved by voters, this deeply flawed Amendment would shift the power to redraw congressional and state legislative districts from the 140 member General Assembly to a 16 member commission composed of legislators and a hand picked group of citizens. While my good friends from the Yes side argue this amendment gives citizens a seat at the table, House and Senate party leaders would still choose all of the commission members, erasing any veneer of independence on the commission and locking in the power of a small group of politicians to draw political district boundaries. If the commission is able to create the new district maps (any two legislators from the House or any two from the Senate can veto the maps), they would be sent to the General Assembly for a simple up or down vote with no additional changes or amendments. If the General Assembly rejects this map, the redistricting commission would draw a second map to be voted on. If the second map was rejected, or if the commission is unable to come up with a map the Virginia Supreme Court (whose members are appointed by the General Assembly-see where this is going?) would make the final determination of district boundaries without any public review. What we need now are fair, transparent districting maps created by a commission of concerned voters and experts to ensure that communities of color are protected and everyone can make their voice heard equally. We need a process that protects racial and language minority groups, requires that districts be compact and contiguous, and does not favor one political party over another. Voters should be able to choose their politicians through a fair and non-partisan redistricting commission, instead of politicians using the illusion of a citizen led

redistricting committee to choose their voters. Politicians should not be involved in this process. We need to give power back to the people, not give more to those already in power. It’s past time. Republicans support this Amendment because they think it will help them maintain their power. This amendment itself offers no ban on gerrymandering and no guarantee of minority representation in the map-drawing process. Instead, the amendment relies upon the protections put into law by HB1255, legislation that passed the General Assembly without a single Republican vote in favor. While legislation is a strong first step, Virginians deserve to enshrine these protections in the constitution. Amendment 1 doesn’t do that. The consequences are enormous — if passed, gerrymandering will essentially be written into the Constitution of Virginia. Since drafting the Virginia Constitution, White lawmakers have restricted the voting ability of Black people and carved out state legislative maps to ensure they protected incumbents they liked, while pitting their rivals against one another in the same districts. What we need now are redistricting maps created by a commission of non-partisan experts to ensure that communities of color are fully protected, that politics are taken out of the process, that districts are compact and contiguous, and that there is transparency every step of the way. This is how Virginians should be able to choose their representatives — through a fair election process based on equitable maps drawn by an independent and non-partisan redistricting commission. The question is not whether we need to change the way we do redistricting – we absolutely do. The change we choose matters. With Amendment 1, legislators are still entrenched in the system, making it impossible to have an independent or non-partisan process. The people of Virginia, not our legislators, should decide who represents us. We need to level the playing field and create competitive districts that give voters genuine choice at the ballot box. It is worth the wait to pass an amendment that is fair to all of us, not a select few who hope to gain political capital at the expense of many. We need to vote NO on this partisan political power grab and ensure that the power stays with the people. For more information on how you can spread the word about this flawed Amendment, I encourage you to visit www.fairdistrictsva. com. Delegate Marcus Simon represents the 53rd District in Virginia, which includes the City of Falls Church

The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

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PAGE 8 | OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� N�� N�� Dulin Church Does Virtual Blessings of Animals Dulin United Methodist Church will be having its Virtual Blessing of Animals during its 10 a.m. online service on Sunday, Oct. 11. Pastor Dave will bless parishioners’ cats, dogs, hermit crabs or whatever other pets they have. Those interested in joining in should watch the service at 10 a.m. at dulinchurch.org, in order to make sure that important member of their family receives a blessing.

Marymount Rises in ‘Best College’ Rankings For the third consecutive year, Marymount University has risen in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings from 2021. After jumping more than 20 spots in last year’s list, Marymount is once again moved up among the Best Regional Universities in the South – now ranked at No. 31 in the region (No. 37 in 2020 Rankings). The University also improved its standing in four other regional categories as well: • No. 1 for Most International

Students (#2 in 2020) • No. 2 for Campus Ethnic Diversity (#3 in 2020) • No. 18 for Best Colleges for Veterans (#21 in 2020) • No. 51 for Best Value (#58 in 2020) “We are at the beginning of a new era for this University, one in which we will reach national recognition for our student success, alumni achievement and faculty and staff excellence,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “These latest rankings prove what we at Marymount already know – our community is incredibly unique, we have something important to offer all of our students and that momentum is on our side. This is great news, and it’s so rewarding to have our efforts recognized.” According to data that stretches back to 2014, the 2021 ranking of No. 31 overall in the region is the highest mark that Marymount has achieved in the Best Colleges Rankings. The scores from U.S. News & World Report are determined through several weighted key measures of quality that consist of graduation and retention rates, graduation rate performance,

social mobility, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduate indebtedness.

New Board Members for F.C. Homeless Shelter Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide winter shelter and other services to individuals with need in the Greater Falls Church area, recently elected new board members and officers. In conjunction with New Hope Housing, Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter operates the City of Falls Church’s winter hypothermia shelter on Gordon Road in Falls Church. The shelter is open every night from Nov. 15 – March 31. Two new members were also elected to Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter’s board, Luis Frontera and Robert Sharp. Both have been long-term committed supporters of the Shelter. Lastly, John Krotzer was elected as Co-Vice Chair of the board and Jim O’Keefe was elected as Recording Secretary of the board.

TREE OF POSITIVE ACTIONS is a sculpture by Falls Church artist Marc Robarge where audience participation is crucial to its expressive power. Observers are asked to respond by reflecting, then writing a specific positive action they will take to address systemic racism. The piece is a part of Sculpture Now 2020 at McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Learn more at mpaart.org. (P��: C�� M�� R��) The officers were elected for two-year terms, beginning immediately. Robert Fletcher will continue as Chair of the board;

Frankie Clogston will continue as Co-Vice Chair; and Martha Mothershead will continue as Corresponding Secretary.

Send Us Your News & Notes!

The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

Drive-in movie night at Eden Center – Saturday Oct 10 at 6:30pm Featuring a ghostly family Halloween movie Check out edencenter.com for details Costume contest and candy for the kids, arranged by Bioprep LLC, for safety.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The Madman on The Balcony

This week in the history of humankind. How can it be explained? A new plague hits that a madman in the White House decided was not something to take action against but whose paranoia led him to see it as a personal threat to his rule. Now, the White House is contaminated. The plague has zeroed in on it, threatening the lives of everyone therein. It is rife in those corridors. The madman sees it as a badge of honor. Gasping for breath against its assault on his aging respiratory system, he stands on the White House balcony like Evita, not singing but gasping for air. He has had the benefit of the most extraordinary medical attention on the planet, yet his message to his people FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS is to be like him and “tough it out.” “Don’t let it dominate your life,” he says, speaking to the fields of the dead, the over 200,000 who’ve died from this in America in just six months. “Those whom the gods would destroy, they first drive mad.” The American poet Longfellow has the ancient Greek titan Prometheus announce this verdict in a work, “The Masque of Pandora,” in 1875. It derives from a similar phrase by Sophacles in “Antigone” from ancient Greece. “Evil appears as good in the minds of those the gods lead to destruction,” Sophacles wrote. So, is it America the gods are intent to destroy now? Have we so violated the paths of righteousness that at the hands of our commanderin-chief we are now being subjected to sheer madness as a prelude to our destruction? This is the twitterverse in which mad things happen, bombs are sent off, retaliations are swift and for most of us, we have no idea what’d happened. A flash of light, a terrible noise and then, like the ending of “The Sopranos” — nothing. We’ve died, you see. Like so many before us, senselessly but we don’t know that because we’re dead. But for many of us, looking at a madman saluting on the White House balcony waist deep in coronavirus, the signal of our death has been given. This is not going to end well, my friends. But here, as with all great tragedies, the awful outcome lies with the foreshadowing, because that is where we’re being told what’s to come, in the hours before the pitch black, and where the chance still exists to do something. Do something! Who saw the Great War coming? Who, that is, who thought it really shouldn’t be allowed to happen? Many saw it coming, and all they did was to set about turning it to their advantage in one way or another. Even now, the madman saluting as he gasps for breath on the White House balcony is signaling to us all a great bath of poisoned blood soon to engulf us. We all like stunned hairy little mammals stare at what we see and have no plans but to do what we always do. Maybe actually vote this time. Well, maybe. Our menace is our prophet. The gasping man on the balcony is signalling to us. He means us no good, but in foretelling our doom, he is also predicting our chance. Prometheus cries out the prophetic truth, and it tells us that we must change our habits, we must be ready for an impending destiny that will call out of us our native energy, our native connections. Dear ones, this orb upon which we mostly slumber is all we’ve got, for quite awhile, at least. It’s a long way to our neighbors who we’ll find need us more than we need them. Is it more fear or sloth that inhibits us? Face the fear, and you can vanquish it. Sloth requires a terrible ghost to score its release. Look at that ghost, my friend. He’s you, mangled, distorted and horrid. Let his visage stun you deeply and spur you to take up arms for the salvation of all. The madman on the White House balcony is beckoning you now. He’s empty and tells you that his emptiness is your destiny, right now, unless you twist and violently set yourself free. Cut yourself free.

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OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020 | PAGE 9

Nicholas F. Benton

 Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Attention outdoor recreators: Culture clash just off the Washington & Old Dominion trail. Certain mountain bikers have blazed new unauthorized trails down the historic hillock known for 300 years as Brandymore Castle. They’ve angered tree stewards and parks protectors who bemoan damage to plant life on that secluded tree-lined formation in Madison Manor Park. I recently climbed that topographic feature (near the 1700 block of N. Roosevelt St.) with Jo Allen, a Virginia master naturalist and volunteer park co-steward for Brandymore Castle. We met at the official bike trail’s historic sign that explains how the rocky outcropping was first described in a 1724 survey by Charles Broadwater. The problem, Allen said, is not that mountain biking is inherently bad, but that a few practitioners lack education in the environmental impact of their behavior on a hill that “takes your breath away.” She is sentimental about the site, showing me Minie balls found by her late husband in the 1950s on the natural lookout site containing earthworks perhaps from the Civil War. As a youth, her husband met the “get off my lawn” old man who lived in the hill’s sole house. Allen and volunteers recently removed an old boiler, bed springs and golf clubs from its still-visible foundation. Those volunteers worked for

months cataloguing plants and pulling out invasive ones (garlic mustard). “The sad upshot is that we created a perfect hill for mountain bikers to ride down,” Allen said. Consensus is that the culprits are young kids, socially isolated during the pandemic, she noted, who, without expert planning, cut what are called “commuter trails” or “goat paths.” Those muddy grooves “will eventually undermine tree roots,” which leads to erosion. Plus, stones “that have been here for thousands of years” have rolled down the slopes. When we reached the hilltop, we found a freshly burned fire pit, trash and graffiti painted on trees (“love” and “Jesus”). Mountain bike advocacy groups acknowledge the problem. “Part of our review process is to verify trails by comparing what was submitted to land manager maps,” said Zander Goepfert of the MTB Project, referencing a recommended Arlington route by MORE (Mid-Atlantic OffRoad Enthusiasts). “Sanctioned trails are built with sustainability in mind, mitigating erosion and limiting impact on sensitive areas.” But MORE’s website promotes mountain bike rides atop Brandymore. Jon Levine of the 200-member Facebook group Arlington Trails says “Brandymore is a flashpoint,” but bike groups are 95 percent in agreement on sustainability. He has spoken to the kids who made the illegal trails, hoping

to educate them. But his group thinks Arlington’s policy banning bikes on natural trails should be eased for responsible users. Parks department spokeswoman Susan Kalish verified that natural trails are to be used only by walkers. “Wheels on trails compact the ground and have impact on flora and fauna,” she said. We’ve taken steps to inform users about appropriate uses, including placing signage along the trails, increasing Park Ranger presence and have installed some barriers.” Repeat violators can be banned. Others see a need for greater public education. “There are limited personnel for enforcing rules in our 148 parks,” says Bill Ross, chair of the Park and Recreation Commission. Allen agrees that public education is key, given the limited enforcement capabilities. Mountain biking “is fun — your own personal roller coaster,” the tree protector acknowledges. “If I were younger, I’d do it.” *** County Manager Mark Schwartz on Sept. 29 delivered his delayed-by-pandemic commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Arlington taking its name. Unveiling modern analysis of census data from 1920 (combined with a shout-out to the 2020 work of Arlington’s Complete Count Committee), Schwartz took to Facebook, YouTube and county TV to demonstrate a nifty new tool from the mapping office. It allows you to hover over a century-old street map online and view photos of the same site today.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Penny for Your Thoughts

INSTALLS ON NEW & EXISTING GUTTERS

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

The lines remain long, as voters continue to converge on the Fairfax County Government Center to cast absentee ballots in person for the 2020 presidential election. On Monday, a beautiful Fall day, voters waited patiently from the building entrance all the way to Government Center Parkway. Finding a convenient parking place was a bit challenging, although there were plenty of available spaces on the western side of the immense parking lot. Next week, on Oct. 14, the satellite voting locations will open at 1 p.m., with ballot drop boxes available for those who wish to avoid sending their absentee ballots through the postal service. Hours of the satellite locations, which include the Mason District Governmental Center (6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale) and the Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd. in Falls Church), are 1 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The last day for satellite voting is Saturday, Oct. 31. The ballot is a long one, and election observers indicate that lines are delayed when voters, not prepared for the state constitutional amendments and county bond referenda, decide to read that information only when they enter the voting booth. Ballot information is available on-line at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bond/bond-ballot-question, but here is a snapshot of the county bond questions, on which voters may vote YES or NO. The Library Bond asks for $90 million to renovate and upgrade the Patrick Henry Community Library ($23 million) in Vienna, the Sherwood Regional Library ($18 million) in the Mount Vernon District, and the George Mason Regional Library ($15 million) in Mason District. Those libraries were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s and were last renovated in the mid-1990s. Bond funds also would support relocating the Kingstowne Regional Library from a rental location to a new, county-owned facility with several co-located services that would be funded with other bond funds A $112 million Park Bond would provide $100 mil-

lion for additional parks and park facilities, preservation of open space, and improvement of existing parks owned and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. Mason District properties on the bond include improvements and renovations at Providence RECenter in Falls Church and upgrades to Dowden Terrace Park in Bailey’s Crossroads. The additional $12 million is intended to fund Fairfax County’s share of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s capital program. The Transportation Bond for $160 million would finance Fairfax County’s share of the cost of transportation and facilities in the Washington metropolitan area, under the 1967 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact (Metro). Fairfax County is an original member of the interstate compact. Northern Virginia jurisdictions help finance Metro’s Capital Improvement Program, along with some state funding and other local funds. Fairfax County’s share of the current six-year Capital Improvement Program is $265.8 million. The fourth bond question is the Community Health and Human Services Bond for $79 million. The majority of the bond funds, $58 million, would renovate or relocate the Joseph Willard Health Center, built in 1954. The facility is woefully outdated and lacks space to serve the programs and services essential to the well-being of infants, children, women, and families. The balance of the bond proceeds would renovate the Crossroads facility, a residential substance abuse and rehabilitation center in the southern part of the county. Fairfax County voters traditionally support bond referenda, recognizing that the county’s coveted Triple A bond rating makes these infrastructure and facility investments beneficial for both the taxpayers and the investors.

CRIME REPORT Larceny from Vehicle & Credit Card Fraud, 700 blk Randolph St. September 28, unknown suspect(s) unlawfully entered a parked car and stole a wallet. A credit card taken from the wallet was used to make an unauthorized purchase.

blk Wilson Blvd. October 1, 9:35 pm, an unknown suspect attempted to steal merchandise from a business and fled the area once confronted by store security.

Robbery, 300 blk W Broad St. October 3, 10:30 am, an unknown male suspect assaulted two individuals and stole money and cell phones from them. The suspect fled in a car before police arrived. The investigation is ongoing.

Motor Vehicle Theft, 1000 blk E Broad St. Police received a late report of two stolen vehicles from the parking lot of a car dealership. The vehicles were stolen between March 12 and June 26. Attempted Larceny-Shoplifting, 6600

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Larceny from Vehicle, 500 blk Lincoln Ave. During the overnight hours of October 3, unknown suspect(s) unlawfully entered a parked car, rummaged through its contents, and stole an item of value.

Larceny-Theft from Building, 6700 blk Wilson Blvd. September 28, an unknown suspect stole money from a business. Fraud-Impersonation, 400 blk S Maple Ave. September 30, an unknown suspect posed as a business manager and convinced an employee, via text, to purchase gift cards and provide the redemption codes to the suspect.

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

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALL 2020 | PAGE 11

R��F��E�� 2020

Cram House’s High Price Makes Subdivision Sale Option Possible

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Victorian-style home once occupied by beloved City of Falls Church resident Barb Cram is on the market just four months after her passing, but its lofty price tag has made the option of purchasing a parcel of its land a bit more appetizing — especially to home construction companies. “There’s been a great deal of builder interest in the lot,” listing agent Tori McKinney, of Rock Star Realty, said. The possibility of buying a chunk of the lot was brought

into the equation by Steve Cram, Barb’s husband. He submitted a request to the City’s planning commission — which has subsequently been approved — for the lot to be subdivided, shaving off about a quarter of an acre in the rear of the home, where its driveway, detached garage and the rear of its garden is situated. “There aren’t many lots available in this neighborhood. That’s the reality. The market reality,” Cram said. As it stands now, the home and all 0.7 acres of land it sits on is going for $2.7 million. After two open houses in late September that, according to

McKinney, welcomed in about 200 people, there has yet to be any significant bites so far. If someone were to purchase the lot for $750,000, then it would knock down the price of the home and the remaining half acre to $1.95 million. Outside of land alone, the price would be reduced since the added solarium, or sunroom, of the home that houses its multi-purpose pool would have to be demolished to create more space for the other home to be built. The listing prices are well above City averages. According to Redfin, the median sales price in Falls Church is $972,000. And

A VIEW FROM THE GARDENS that serve as the entrance to the Cram’s Victorian era home along Jefferson Street. The garden and home were featured in Virginia’s Historic Garden Week in April 2016 after the garden had fully matured after 30 years. (P��: N��-P��.)

the average days on market is 25, per Redfin, which the Cram house recently eclipsed. McKinney wouldn’t go as far as to say selling the home is a challenge, but it is an acquired taste. Historic homes usually

have to appeal to people who would rather a home with some patina over one that’s recently constructed. And she said the pool of historic homes is differ-

Continued on Page 12

INSIDE: F.C. Housing Market Bounces Back, But Overall Sales Prices Down �� 15 | F.C. Real Estate Market #s (insert) �� 16

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PAGE 12 | FALL 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Builders Showing Interest in Quarter-Acre Lot for Potential New Home Site Continued from Page 11

ent to choose from locally as opposed to where she started out in the Boston metropolitan area, with the Washington, D.C. region having more row homes in it. Despite this Beech-Lester house originally being built in 1906, the 6,200 square foot residence feels anything but. Cram talked about a four year labor of necessity in renovating the home top-to-bottom, removing everything but a couple of interior walls, a few floor joints and the flooring that forms the wraparound back patio. The family completely remodeled the kitchen, living and dining area by knocking down the walls separating it. They even added what they call a “ballroom” behind the common area where they would host parties, and when no one was around, put their couch and TV. In the furthest part of the house is where the solarium is located. Elements of the original structure exist as well. The parlor and library to the immediate left and right, respec-

tively, of the foyer remain mostly unchanged. The five bedrooms on the second level have all been updated, though the eagle’s nest that sits on the third level had been converted into the master bedroom, and the two additions of the ballroom and solarium doubled as a private back deck for the third level. Meanwhile, Cram described the home’s lavish garden as his wife’s labor of love. Barb, as Steve put it, said a garden takes 30 years to mature. “And so, she spent the first couple of years preparing the soil and preparing the site for her plan. Then she began to execute the plan literally 30 years ago,” Cram said. Everything from Guillermo’s Walk in the front with its hedges serving as archways to a bench with Devonian Age stone from 375 million years ago were a part of Barb’s vision. The dedication from her and Steve landed them as a featured home during the Historic Garden Week in Spring 2016; nearly 30 years exactly from when the couple purchased the home in 1986. But for now, McKinney and

THE SOLARIUM would be the one addition of the Cram’s house that would be lost if the subdivided lot is sold separately from the entire package. (Photo: Courtesy Rock Star Realty) Cram wait. And as the home hopes to attract the right buyer, Cram isn’t rushing to any kind of judgment about what’s next

for him. “I’m taking everything a day at a time — literally,” Cram said. “It’s been only four months

since my wife died, and it’s been a very busy four months getting everything ready, so I take tomorrow when it comes.”

R EA L E STATE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALL 2020 | PAGE 13

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R EA L E STATE

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M e e t Fa l l s C h u rc h’ s Re a l E s t a t e E x p e r t s Bethany Ellis

Bethany Ellis owns and operates a highly successful real estate business in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. She is an experienced Realtor® whose goal is to exceed your expectations. Her knowledge of the local market, attention to every detail, excellent negotiating ability, and effective communication ensures that your real estate transaction will go smoothly from start to finish. Bethany has direct access to lenders, home inspectors, new home developers, settlement groups, and local service providers (painters, plumbers, carpet suppliers, handymen, electricians, plumbers, and more). If you’re looking to find a new home, build your dream home, get market statistics for your home or neighborhood, sell your existing home, make improvements to your current home, buy or sell an investment property or need answers to any real estate questions, make Bethany Ellis your real estate resource. Bethany Ellis, Long & Foster 1355 Beverly Road, Suite 109 McLean, VA 22101 703-307-7003 • BuyandSellWithBethany.com

Tori McKinney Being a Realtor® perfectly blends Tori’s passion for Falls Church and finding clients their dream homes in her beloved community. After moving to Falls Church in 1998, she immediately immersed herself in community advocacy as a 10-year Housing Commissioner and a 20-year ongoing public school volunteer. While maintaining her NVAR Lifetime Diamond status, she is a Top Producing Realtor in the Washingtonian and Arlington Magazine. Named Pillar of the Community by Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, she is annually voted Best Realtor by Falls Church News-Press readers. McKinney is Falls Church’s expert, eager to provide home buyers and sellers ROCK STAR service. Her participation with Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation led to becoming Executive Producer of Tinner Hill Music Festival, the Foundation’s premier fundraiser taking place next year on June 12, 2021. This philanthropic work in the arts combines her prior music industry career with her ongoing dedication to LIVE music and the musicians who are the creative fabric of our community. Tori is ever so grateful for all of her ROCK STAR clients and the community that she serves. Call Tori to help you find the home you LOVE! Tori McKinney | CEO & Realtor® | ROCK STAR Realty Group 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201 703-867-8674 • ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com

Louise Molton

For over three decades I have been fortunate to call Falls Church home, sending my children to the amazing school system and making deep friendships with the people I’ve met along the way. With extensive local knowledge and a heart for the community,helping people find homes has been my passion for the past 15 years . Five years ago marked a milestone in my real estate career as I opened a brand new Brokerage, RE/MAX West End in downtown Falls Church City, with the mission to provide the highest level of client service

and expertise to our community. Our 26 exceptional agents assist clients at every turn, from first time home buyers to experienced investors, from downsizing to relocating.We serve DC , MD and Virginia and have expanded to Delaware and the Williamsburg area. Even during Covid, we have been busier than ever, our client’s health and safety always our top priority. Every situation is unique, but the one constant is our commitment to excellence and exceeding your expectations! We are all committed to supporting local organizations like Children’s Miracle Network, Homestretch and Bridges to Independence and love to host events to support the community. If you have any real estate needs or questions,please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help you! Louise Molton,Remax 710 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-596-5303 • LouiseMolton.com

Casey Margenau With more than 40 years in sales, $3 billion in real estate sold, over 30 years as a Top Producer in Northern Virginia, Casey Margenau uses his wealth of experience to ensure the financial success of his clients. In 2013 Casey saw a need for a boutique real estate company for the higher end market and he established Casey Margenau Fine Homes & Estates. His in-depth market knowledge allows him to ensure the financial success of his clients. By custom tailoring a marketing strategy for each property, Casey provides the greatest exposure to achieve the goal of the highest offers possible in the shortest period of time. Many area builders rely on his expertise when making development plans. As a Certified Relocation Professional, Casey is able to access the corporate relocation purchaser and a vast worldwide referral network. His professionalism and attention to detail have led him to the very top of his field. Casey Margenau, Fine Homes and Estates 8478A Tyco Road, Vienna, VA 703-442-8600 • Margenau.com

Jean Reid I love Real Estate. I have 25 years of experience as a international mover. I have moved 19 times in 25 years! My worldwide travels have made me an expert on moving and I am ready to help you find your dream home. I am an expert in helping clients with relocation from a global to a local perspective. I am happy to help you with any questions about your upcoming move. No one will work harder to help you find or sell a home. My business acumen enables me to see houses objectively for you. Throughout my career, I have gathered insights that are invaluable for my clients, from listing, selling and moving perspectives. I continuously strive to build a positive and professional real estate business experience by providing my clients with more than they expect. I will work with you to uncover your needs, wants and goals to help you achieve overall real estate happiness. I am a member of BrightMLS, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR). I am also rental certified. I have been married for 25 years and have two children and a Labrador Retriever. I am a breast cancer survivor. I love the Washington Nationals! I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jean Reid, Weichert 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd, McLean, VA 22101 703-336-3808 • jean-reid.weichert.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

R EA L E STATE

FALL 2020 | PAGE 15

F.C. Housing Market On Upswing, But Cheaper Family Homes Staying Put

BY PATRICIA LESLIE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

It only took about ten days for the Falls Church housing market to spring back from its Covid-19 winter lull, though the lack of midtier homes available has revealed a year-over-year decrease in sales price. That’s the time Thai Hung Nguyen, Falls Church veteran agent and Better Homes and Garden broker, estimates the market paused after Governor Ralph Northam called for a shutdown and people stayed home. “Buyers took a step back. Sellers took their properties off the market, but near the end of March, we started to receive inquiries.” Since then, the pace has only quickened. Another longtime Falls Church and Northern Virginia agent, Jeff Wu with Keller Williams Capital Properties, said, “After they stopped binging on Netflix, people went to Zillow and other places on the Internet and started looking.” The two agents said vacant homes sold fastest because no one had to worry about germs

THOSE LIVING IN condos have been part of the group wanting to move up ever since the pandemic with tenants wanting to reduce the amount of common surfaces they touch. (P��:P�� L��) too much, and those homes were move-in ready. Most industry specialists predict the “spring thaw” will con-

tinue well into next year and maybe beyond. Chris Finnegan is the chief marketing and communications officer

for Bright Multiple Listing Service and its 95,000 real estate professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region. He said, “Falls Church is the

really hot area benefitting from the halo effect” of Amazon’s move to Northern Virginia. Combine Amazon with the federal government and its relative insulation from Covid-19’s economic effects in “a market that’s on fire to begin with” and you get “Northern Virginia, one of the hottest and widely examined markets in the U.S. — and this is not hyperbole,” Finnegan said. Lisa Sturtevant, the chief economist for Virginia Realtors, said that in addition to Falls Church’s attractiveness, other prime reasons for the area’s continuing momentum was the commonwealth’s strong housing market before coronavirus. “Some markets were already seeing a slowdown. Our peak occurred later and more slowly.” Plus, Virginia was better prepared than the northeastern U.S., particularly New York City. “A lot was in place to help mitigate some of the slowdown,” including the governor’s stay-at-home order. “Northern Virginia and Falls Church did dip a little bit more than the U.S. and Virginia statewide,”

Continued on Page 16

Falls Church City Premier Homes 212 E Jefferson Street

Treasured Cram Estate ~ Historic Home, Historic Gardens ~ This remarkable 5 Bedroom, 3 Full & 2 Half Bath Victorian, c. 1904 is perfect for both the garden enthusiast and entertainer. As you stroll up the front brick and stone walkway, you become immersed in the inviting English-style gardens. With carefully selected foliage, each corner has a garden within a garden. The home's interior is equally impressive and features a stately marble and mahogany foyer, parlor and library, grand ballroom, and a tree-top Owner's Oasis. Timeless touches from the past blend perfectly with the comforts of today. ~ Victorian beauty and celebrated gardens ~

308 Poplar Drive

Imagine awakening in Tuscany without stepping on a plane! This magnificent custom home with the finest of architectural features resembles a European villa and offers the perfect space for seamless indoor and outdoor entertaining and living. Multiple French doors lead you to the stately stone terrace overlooking the nearly 1/2 acre of manicured grounds. The verandas allow for relaxing with a glass of wine while imagining your Italian lifestyle. The 2-Story library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and an impressive stone fireplace to cozy up with a vacation novel. The open floor plan in this over 6,500 sq ft home presents a substantial family room and chef's kitchen with coffee bar, ice machine, and everything needed for prepping those sumptuous delicacies to be served outside or inside in your informal dining room. The epicenter for entertainment includes your 1,000-bottle glass-enclosed wine cellar & tasting room is the beginning of the spectacular lower level A dramatic Owner's Oasis in its own wing upstairs awaits you with a wet bar and private tree-top balcony - perfect for sunrise coffee. ~ One of a kind Architectural masterpiece ~

R EA L E STATE

PAGE 16 | FALL 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Tenants From Condos, Townhomes Moving Out Quicker Due to Virus

Continued from Page 15

but that was mainly because “there was nothing to buy.” A smaller inventory helps explain why spring and summer prices in Falls Church fell below last year’s, explained Nguyen. Because there was little available in the $700,000 to $900,000 range this year, cheaper townhomes and condos which sell faster brought down averages. “We had a lot of people who got out of condos and moved up,” he said. “It usually takes 30 to 60 days to close, and only in May and June did we start to get more inventory, but not much.” Inventory continues to be a major problem for buyers. Anthony Fields, Bright’s lead market researcher and data analyst, estimated Falls Church’s inventory is a month (14 homes) or less. (Nguyen says two weeks.) “Buyer demand won’t be satiated anytime soon,” Fields said. August 2020 figures reveal the median sold price for a Falls

Church City home was $642,500, down 13 percent from a year ago, but just five percent year-to-date ($800,000). This compares with the area’s August, 2020 median price of $515,000, and nationally, $315,000, for existing homes and $312,800 for new ones. Nguyen tells of one house in Falls Church City listed at $700,000 which received 18 offers and sold for $780,000. Multiple offers are not uncommon. “The sweet spot in Falls Church is between $700,000 and $900,000,” and those homes are on the market for a week or less. “Homes at a million dollars are in a different category and they may stay on the market slightly longer, but if you see any property for longer than 10 days, it’s a chance to negotiate.” Condos, long the bane of any type of residential housing, have lost some cache, according to Wu, because no one wants to share elevators, hallways, or be close to neighbors. Nguyen said condos are still selling in Falls Church, espe-

cially to first-time buyers who can almost find “free money.” Finnegan called the low interest rates “through the floor.” Wu said: “It’s almost like they are giving it [money] away.” Most predict low rates will last another year, at least. Many homeowners have begun re-evaluating their lifestyles and retrofitting their homes to meet 2020 needs. “Once people realized what the new reality looked like, they began thinking and wanting outdoor features, a yard, a deck, a screened-in porch,” said Wu. And if it can’t be redesigned, well, there are always cheaper properties not too far distant, like in Winchester, Fredericksburg and even Charlottesville, which Sturtevant says are luring Northern Virginians away. “Working from home may become permanent,” she said. “Residents may realize ‘I don’t need to be in Northern Virginia and as good as Falls Church is, we can have a quality of life that’s more affordable in a rural market.’”

FALLS CHURCH REAL ESTATE BY THE NUMBERS Falls Church Area Housing Market — September 2020 Report Zip Code Area

MODEST, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES have been harder to come by for buyers, with inventory issues in Falls Church being more pronounced this spring and summer. (Photo: Patricia leslie)

More at FCNP.com Oakwood Reinvented as Falls Green (Monday) What was formerly the Oakwood Apartments along Roosevelt Boulevard in the City of Falls Church has undergone an extensive renovation and rebranding as the Falls Green apartments. Read all about the complex’s new look from developer Insight Property Group and residents when this story goes online on Monday, Oct. 12 at noon.

Under Contract in 2 Days!

Median Price Number of Homes Sold Average Days on Market

22046

City of Falls Church $928,384

22041

Bailey’s Crossroads $433,212

22042

Sleepy Hollow

$628,565

22043

Pimmit Hills

$634,250

22044

Lake Barcroft

$663,250

Condo For Sale in Heart of Falls Church City Beautiful 1018 square ft top floor 2 BR 1 BA condo with newly renovated kitchen and bath. Walking distance to many Falls Church destinations Harris Teeter, State Theatre, Farmer's Market, WO&D bike trail. Easy access to Routes 7, 50, 66, 495, Metro and two airports. $364,500.

For appointment Call: Steve/Debbie 703-866-8199 OR 703-298-6653

Jean Reid REALTOR®

Weichert Realtors, McLean 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd. McLean VA 22101

703- 760-8880 office 703-336-3808 Mobile

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

LO CA L

OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020 | PAGE 17

News & Business 34% of F.C. Registered Voters Already Cast Ballots According to Falls Church’s Voter Registrar David Bjerke, over 34 percent of all the registered voters in the City of Falls Church have already cast their ballots in advance of this Nov. 3 election. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 13 and to vote in person in advance of Election Day is Oct. 30.

F.C. Council Declares Oct. 12 ‘Indigenouis Peoples Day’ The Falls Church City Council has issued a proclamation declaring Monday, Oct. 12 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Falls Church, and encouraged the community to reflect upon the many contributions as well as the continuing struggles of indigenous peoples. Most City of Falls Church offices and services will be closed in observation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, including: City Hall and all government offices (including the Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer’s Office, and Elections Office). There will be no in-person early voting on Monday, Oct. 12. Curbside pick-up from the Mary Riley Styles Public Library will not be available Sunday or Monday, Oct. 11 and 12. The City Council will have a virtual regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

F.C. School Board Sets School Name Issue Timeline The Falls Church School Board, during a Special Meeting last night, finalized a timeline for a process to determine whether either Thomas Jefferson Elementary or George Mason High School shall be renamed on grounds that the schools are currently named after slave owners. On Oct. 13, the School Board will receive cost information on possible name changes. On Oct. 14 — the consulting firm K-12 Insights will conduct a two-week survey of all staff and parents and all students at Henderson Middle School and George Mason. On Oct. 22 and 29 public hearings will be held to gather comments from the community. The hearings

will be held online via Zoom and those wishing to speak shall preregister by noon the day before each hearing. On Nov. 10 at a work session the School Board will review draft results of the survey. On Nov. 13, K-12 Insights will deliver the final survey results. On Nov. 17 the School Board will meet to review all information. On Dec. 8 the School Board will conduct a final vote on whether to move forward with renaming the schools. If yes, a new process would then commence to determine the new name(s).

as authorized by statute, advise the requester that the records are being withheld entirely as authorized by statute, advise the requester that the records could not be found or do not exist, advise the requester that it is not practically possible to provide the records or to determine their availability within the five-workday period and provide an explanation of the conditions that make a response impossible.

3 Pedestrians Hospitalized in W. Broad Accident

The third annual Indigenous Peoples’ Coat Drive benefiting the Oglala-Lakota Nation will be at F.C. City Hall starting Friday, Oct. 9. Community members can donate the following items, which will be shipped to the non-profit Re-Member on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota: Hooded winter coats, all sizes (new or gently used); baby blankets (new or gently used); new socks, all sizes; hooded sweatshirts (“hoodies”), all sizes (new or gently used); and, bars of soap (no plastic bottles please). The donation drop box will be located near the elevator of the West Wing entrance of City Hall (300 Park Ave.) All visitors to City Hall must wear a mask or face covering before entering the building. Donation dropoff days and hours are: Friday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 1 – 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For additional information visit Re-Member.org or email kamel. linda@gmail.com

An adult and two minors were hit by a car at the intersection of W. Annandale Road and W. Broad St. around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to police. Falls Church City police said all three victims were taken to Virginia Hospital Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The driver remained on the scene, per the police. Police said W. Broad St. was closed for 30 minutes following the incident, and authorities added that the collision is still under investigation.

Herring Opines for Current FOIA Deadlines Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring issued an advisory opinion this week upholding the response times that public agencies must follow when it comes to responding to Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests. According to Herring’s opinion, “The Virginia Code does not authorize a locality to suspend FOIA’s time limits for responding to requests for records” and “does not authorize a locality to enact an ordinance that modifies or indefinitely extends the time limits for responding to requests for records set forth in FOIA.” Herring also noted that, “the statute provides that a public body that is the custodian of requested records ‘shall promptly, but in all cases within five working days of receiving [the] request,’ do one of five things: Provide the records in full, provide the records in part but with portions withheld

F.C. Indigenous Peoples’ Coat Drive Oct. 9-15

Del. Kory Hosts Town Hall on TJHS Admissions Policy State Delegate Kaye Kory announced this week that she will host an online town hall on the current plans to reform the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions policy aimed at “creating a more diverse student body than is currently the case.” A long-time Fairfax County School Board member and member of the Virginia Secretary of Education’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, Kory stated she

SCHOOL BUSES are back in action around the City of Falls Church. (Photo: News-Press) “has been intimately involved in this effort for years, and I firmly believe we can make impactful changes, but must listen to many voices raised and opinions expressed.” The online event will be held from noon – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 and the public is urged to register in advance. Inquiries can be sent to delkkory@ house.virginia.gov.

Body Dynamics Inc. Offering Free Zoom Classes Body Dynamics Inc. is offering a series of free Zoom classes on Thursdays at 2 p.m.Scheduled classes include Balance with Barbara Benson on Oct. 8, Pilates with Ashley Templer on Oct. 15, Functional Movement with Lisa Clarkson on Oct. 29, and Recharge in 20 with Jorge Villabos on Nov. 5. For more information, visit www. bodydynamicsinc.com.

Original Pancake House Falls Church Extends Hours The Original Pancake House in Falls Church has extended its hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hours Monday through Thursday are still 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Owned and operated by Jeff Bulman and Jane Bulman, the breakfast and lunch restaurant is located at The Shops at West Falls Church, 7395 Lee Highway. For more information, visit www. ophrestaurants.com/.

Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival Starts October 10 Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival will take over a week-long period starting October 10. During that time, artists will be around the area painting outside with their

subjects in full view. The competition will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 at noon. Paintings will be on display for judging and for purchase at the Falls Church Farmer’s Market. Competitors will vie for prizes. For more information, visit www.fallschurcharts.org.

Home Run for the Homeless Will Take Place Virtually The third annual Home Run for the Homeless will take place virtually over a 3 week period in October. Participants will run or walk the 5 K anytime, anywhere they choose between Saturday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 31. The event is presented by and benefits three local nonprofit organizations: Homestretch, Bridges to Independence and Community Lodgings. All three provide housing, employment and child care services to homeless parents and their children in Northern Virginia. To register, go to https:// bit.ly/2FqytpO.

Casual Pint Now Hosting Trivia Night Tuesdays Casual Pint is now hosting a trivia night on Tuesdays from 7 – 8 p.m. in their covered breezeway. Participants are to download TrivNow onto their phone in order to play along. Casual Pint is located at 6410 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.Fallschurch.thecasualpint.com.  Business News in this section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@ fallschurchchamber.org.

PAGE 18 | OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FALLS CHURCH

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

411

FALL 2020 VOTERS' GUIDE GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 POLLS OPEN 6:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. Go to VOTE411.org to get personalized information about your ballot and verbatim responses of candidates to ques tions important to voters. City Council candidates are not listed in VOTE4 7 7 .org, but each candidate has a website with information about their views. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.

Early voting: You do not need a justification; any registered voter may vote early by mail or in person (see more below). On the Ballot: President and Vice President of the United States, Member of the U.S. Senate, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Member of the City Council, Special Election for unexpired term to end De cember 31, 2021, Two Proposed Amendments to the Commonwealth of Virginia Constitution.

Ward 3: Falls Church Community Center 223 Little Falls Street (Park in Community Center lot or on Little Falls Street)

Contact the City of Falls Church Voter Registration and Elections Office at (703) 248-5085 (TTY 711) or email: vote@fallschurchva.gov regarding voter identification requirements, absentee voting by mail or in-person and sample ballots. Online, go to www.fallschurchva.gov/ vote. In-person absentee voting is available through Saturday, October 31 at 5 p.m. at 300 Park Ave. Center Level, Suite 206. See below for more information.

A photo ID is not required. ID options include: voter registration card, current or expired driver's license (if the information is accurate), a recent official document with your name and address (e.g. a utility bill). Find a list of all acceptable types of IDs at: www.elections. virginia.gov/registration/photo-ids-required-to-vote/. Voter ID is not absolutely required. You may sign an ID statement affirming your identity, and you will be able to vote a regular ballot. If you do not sign an ID statement, you may vote a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if you provide a copy of your ID, or complete the identity state ment.

CITY OF FALLS CHURCH The City of Falls Church was incorporated as an inde pendent city in 1948 and covers a 2.2 square mile area. Falls Church operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City has its own school system, library, police department, public works, recreation and parks, and other departments. It has its own District Court but combines with Arlington County to make up the 17th Judicial District of Virginia. The City's fiscal year begins July 1 and end June 30 of each year. A complete list of city services and information can be found at: www. fallschurchva.gov. Registered voters who live in the City of Falls Church are eligible to vote at the appropriate po Iiing place for their residences. Ward 1: Thomas Jefferson Elementary School 601 South Oak Street Oak Street Gym entrance (Park on Oak Street, Fellows Court, Parker Avenue or Timber Lane) Ward 2: Falls Green Apartments 501 North Roosevelt Street Main Building, conference Room (Park in back lot and enter next to Convenience Store)

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS TO VOTE HAVE CHANGED:

ABSENTEE or EARLY VOTING You no longer need a justification for early/absentee voting! Any REGISTERED voter can vote absentee without an excuse. For mail-in ballots, you need to sign your ballot, however this year you do not need a witness signature on the back of Envelope B. If you are voting for the first time, you must also pro vide proof of a valid ID when returning your ballot. Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, and must be received by noon on Friday, November 6. Absentee voting by mail: A request for an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the Voter Registra tion and Elections Office by 5 p.m. Friday, October 23. You will be mailed the absentee ballot which must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 3 and received no later than noon on Friday, November 6. Apply by mail or on line now!

If possible, APPLY ONLINE FOR A MAIL (ABSENTEE) BALLOT, go to www.bit.ly.voteLWV. In order to re quest a mail ballot online, you will need your Virginia driver's license or a DMV identification card. You will also need your full Social Security number. You must be a registered voter to vote. You can also apply for a mail ballot using a paper application form, which can be downloaded online or from your local registrar's office. Carefully read and follow all instructions. When you have completed your ballot, place it in the ballot envelope; fill in the information required on the back of the envelope, including your signature. RETURN COMPLETED MAIL BALLOT (Four options): • BY MAIL. Postage is prepaid. Allow at least two weeks. It is best to mail your ballot no later than Octo ber 20 to be sure it will be counted. • BY COMMERCIAL DELIVERY SERVICE. You may return your ballot via a service such as UPS or FedEx. • IN PERSON TO THE REGISTRAR. You can hand-de liver your ballot-but no one else's ballot-to your local registrar's office. • BY DROPPING IT OFF. This is a new option for this election. There will be drop off locations at your local registrar's office, at each satellite vote center open during early voting, and at each polling place on Election Day. Be sure to use both envelopes - just the same as if you were mailing the ballot. Voters do not have to deposit their own ballots in the mail or in a drop box. One person may mail or deposit in drop boxes any number of completed mail ballots that others have entrusted to them. NEW! If you make a mistake or leave out important information on the ballot return envelope, your registrar will try to contact you to give you an opportunity to correct errors, as long as your ballot arrived before October 31. Otherwise, your ballot will be rejected. Absentee voting in-person: Absentee voting in person began September 18, 2020. You may vote in person at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and on Saturdays, October 24 and October 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The last day to vote in-person absentee is on Saturday, October 31.

CANDIDATES AND RACES Candidates for each office are listed in the order in which they appear on the ballot. See VOTE411.0RG for candidates answers to questions from the League of Women Voters.

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Electors for Joseph R. Eiden, President; Kamala Harris, Vice President

REPUBLICAN PARTY:Electors for Donald J. Tmmp, President; Michael R. Pence, Vice President

LIBERTARIAN PARTY: Electors for Jo Jorgensen, President; Jeremy F. "Spike" Cohen, Vice

President

PAGE1

MEMBER UNITED STATES SENATE

MEMBER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 8TH DISTRICT

Mark R. Warner-D

Donald S. Beyer Jr.-D

Daniel M. Gade-R

Jeff A. Jordan -R

MEMBER CITY COUNCIL Debora "Debbie"Schantz-Hiscott Joshua S. Shokoor

Simone V. Pass Tucker

CANDIDATES FOR PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON NEXT PAGE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020 | PAGE 19

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION 1

BALLOT QUESTION

lists created by party leaders in the Senate and the House. Members and employees of Congress or the General Assembly cannot be citizen commissioners. Each party leader in each house gives the selection committee a list of at least 16 candidates, and the committee picks two from each list for a total of eight citizen commissioners.

Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to establish a redistticting commis sion, consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts that will be subsequently voted on, but not changed by, the General Assembly and enacted without the Governor's involvement and to give the responsibility of drawing distt·icts to the Supreme Comt of Virginia if the redistticting commission fails to draw distticts or the General Assembly fails to enact districts by certain deadlines?

For a plan to be submitted for the General Assembly's approval, at least six of the eight citizen commissioners and at least six of the eight legislative commissioners must agree to it. Additionally, for plans for General Assembly distticts to be submit ted, at least three of the four Senators on the commission have to agree to the Sen ate distticts plan and at least three of the four Delegates on the commission have to agree to the House of Delegates distticts plan. The General Assembly cannot make any changes to these plans, and the Governor cannot veto any plan approved by the General Assembly.

EXPLANATION CURRENT LAW: Under the cmrent Constitution, the General Assembly and the Gov

ernor are responsible for drawing new election districts for the U.S. House of Repre sentatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates. These distt·icts are required to be compact and contiguous, and to have populations that are equal to each other.

The amendment also adds a requirement that distticts provide, where practicable, op p01tunities for racial and ethnic communities to elect candidates of their choice.

PROPOSED LAW: The proposed amendment would shift the responsibility of draw

ing these election distticts from the General Assembly and the Governor to a biparti san commission, made up of 16 persons, half being members of the General Assembly and half being citizens of the Commonwealth. This commission would draw the elec tion districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the state Senate, and the House of Delegates and then submit the maps to the General Assembly for approval. If the commissioners are unable to agree on proposals for maps by a certain date, or if the General Assembly does not approve the submitted maps by a certain date, the com mission is allotted additional time to draw new distticts, but if maps are not then sub mitted or approved, the Supreme Comt of Virginia becomes responsible for drawing these election distticts.

A "yes" vote will make a bipartisan commission responsible for the initial drawing of election districts.

A "no" vote will leave the sole responsibility for drawing the distticts with the General Assembly and the Governor.

YES - FO R THE MEASURE

Proponents say that this is an historic opportunity to include citizens in the redistrict ing process, add tt·ansparency, and place in our state constitution important protections against genymandering based on the residences of ethnic and racial minority groups.

The eight legislative commissioners are appointed by the political party leadership in the state Senate and the House of Delegates, with an equal number from each house and from each major political party. The eight citizen commissioners are picked by a committee of five retired circuit court judges. Four of the retired judges are selected by party leaders in the Senate and the House from a list compiled by the Chief Jus tice of the Supreme Comt of Virginia. These four judges pick the fifth judge from the same list. This selection committee then chooses citizen commissioners from

NO - AGAINST THE MEASURE

Opponents say that the process would remain partisan under the Amendment's rules providing that half of the Commission members would be legislators. Opponents also object to the fact that if the Commission and the General Assembly cannot reach a de cision, the Supreme Comt of Virginia would be authorized to draw the election district boundai·ies, instead of legislators drawing their election distticts.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION 2

BA LLOT QUESTION

exemption would not get back any taxes paid on his motor vehicle prior to Januai)' 1, 2021. Under this amendment, a motor vehicle that is owned by the spouse of a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard with a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability could also be free from taxation. The General Assembly is allowed to pass a law that places conditions or restrictions on this exemption.

Should an automobile or pickup ttuck that is owned and used p1imai·ily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be free from state and local taxation? EXPLANATION CURRENT LAW: Generally, the Constitution of Virginia requires all property be

A "yes" vote will mean the Constitution of Virginia will be amended to exempt one automobile or pickup truck that is owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States armed forces or the Virginia National Guard who has a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability from state and local taxation.

taxed. However, there are certain types of property that the Constitution specifically says is not subject to taxation.

PROPOSED LAW: This amendment would add to the list of property that is not sub

ject to state or local taxation one motor vehicle owned and used primarily by or for a veteran of the United States aimed forces or the Virginia National Guai·d who has a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected, permanent, and total disability. The amendment says that motor vehicle means an automobile or pickup truck. The mo tor vehicle would be exempt from taxation beginning on the date the veteran gets the motor vehicle or JanuaI)' 1, 2021, whichever is later. A veteran who claims this tax

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FALLS CHURCH

A "no" vote will leave the Constitution of Virginia unchanged and automobiles and pickup ttucks owned and used p1imaiily by or for a veteran of the United States aimed forces or the Virginia National Guai·d who has a one hundred percent (100%) service connected, permanent, and total disability will continue to be subject to state and local taxes.

The Fa/12020 Voters' Guide was prepared, using monies from the LWV Education Fund, by: � Like us on Facebook League of Women Voters of Falls Church

League of Women Voters of Falls Church P.O. Box 156 Falls Church, VA 22040 www.lwvfallschurch.org

VOTE 411 ELECTION INFORMATION YOU NEED

PAGE 20 | OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020 AUCTIONS ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

HOME IMPROVEMENT Vinyl Replacement Double Hung Window $249* Installed w/Free Trim Wrap. Call 804-739-8207. Siding, Roofing and More! GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule your FREE in-home assessment today. Call 1-844-947-1479 Special financing for qualified customers. Thinking about installing a new shower? American Standard makes it easy. FREE design consultation. Enjoy your shower again! Call 1-866-854-7620 today to see how you can save $1,000 on installation, or visit www.newshowerdeal.com/vapress ATTN. CONTRACTORS: Advertise your business statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions to reach Homeowners. Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

REAL ESTATE ATTN. REALTORS: Advertise your listings regionally or statewide. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions that get results! Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

SERVICES Juvenile Community Service During COVID. Heavenly Nest LLC and Able Woman, helping children reach their service hours by reading children’s books on Audio. For Details: 804 821-8799 https://www.facebook. com/Heavenlynest20 DIVORCE-Uncontested, $395+$86 court cost. WILLS $195.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.

Help Wanted Seeking laborers to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt.28:16–20). Goto WWW.JWNMINISTRIES.COM Contact John at eternaltest@aol.com

classads@fcnp.com

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CLASSI F I E DS

Cleaning Services

Senior Care Services

House Cleaning Service Available 7 days a week Weekly - By Weekly - Monthly or by Time Move Out - Move In • 14 years Experience Good References • Senior Discount For Further Information: Call Susy • Cell (703) 901-0596

CERTIFIED CAREGIVER COMPASSIONATE, dependable and experienced personal care for the Elderly. Light housekeeping, good cook, run errands. Own transportation. Excellent references. Call Naana 630-200-9592

Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinance referenced below was given first reading on September 14, 2020. Public hearing, second reading and final Council action is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TO20-18) ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 26, “MOTOR VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC,” ARTICLE III, “CITY VEHICLE LICENSE,” SECTIONS 26-68 THROUGH 26-74 This amendment would allow for permanent, rather than annual, auto decals, as well as other updates to this code section. Public hearings will be held electronically. To speak on a public hearing item, complete a speaker form at www.fallschurchva.gov/ PublicComment before noon on the day of the Council meeting. Following submission of the form, you will receive emailed instructions to join the virtual Council meeting. Written public hearing comments may be sent until noon on the day of the meeting to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. Council members will attend the meeting through electronic means and members of the public may view the meeting at www. fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings and on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva. gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

fcnp.com

Other Services

A CLEANING SERVICE 703-892-8648

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

Home Improvement

Licensed, Bonded and Insured since 1985 www.acleaningserviceinc.com

Over 30 years of providing cleaning services to NOVA, DC and MD Best Cleaning Company Award winner 2011-2017 If you like our service, please leave a review on Google or Yelp. If you have concerns about our service, please give me the opportunity to address it.

Attorney

Robert Beatson II Attorney/Accountant, Former IRS Attorney All Federal, State, Local & Foreign Taxes Admitted to DC, MD, VA & NY Bars 703-798-3590 or 301-340-2951

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Handyman Service All repairs, plumbing, drywall, windows, doors, rotted wood, siding, lighting + FREE estimates, Licensed & Insured

Call Doug (703)556-4276 www.fallschurchhandyman.com

KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy Staying fit it is for me, Not to trip, that’s the key!

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

5 14

15 18

21 26

29 35

41 44 47

49 52

20 22

60 66 69

1. Scratchy voice 5. Archipelago part 10. Cookie container 13. Pays (up) 15. Agitates 16. Palindromic brand in the kitchen 17. Comment from someone with their mouth covered? 20. Skye of “Say Anything ...” 21. “Bill & ____ Excellent Adventure” 22. Looking good when covering one’s face? 29. Goes on a second date with 30. “Mad Men” channel 31. “Wheels” 34. “I could ____ horse!” 35. So far 37. Mine cart contents 38. Offerings provided by those favoring facial coverings? 42. ____ talk 43. More introverted 44. Fork prong 45. NFL rushing units 46. The Blue Jays, on scoreboards 47. Dance done to the 2015 hit “Watch Me” 49. The perfect facial covering for your feline? 52. Club ____ 55. His Twitter handle is @Pontifex 56. Hit reality competition series in which you can’t see the person performing ... and this puzzle’s theme 64. De-squeak 65. Alpha’s opposite

STRANGE BREW

OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020 | PAGE 21

66. Easily fooled 67. Washington, D.C. legalized it in 2014 68. First or economy 69. Secluded valley

Down 1. One making a ewe turn? 2. “Pick a card, ____ card” 3. Mo. town 4. Louvre pyramid designer I.M. ____ 5. Neighbor of a Pakistani 6. Philosopher Kierkegaard 7. Falsehood 8. Tree in many street names 9. Wanders around JFK? 10. Laughing matter 11. Fired 12. Towel holders 14. Vengeful feeling 18. Beans high in protein 19. Investor’s purchase: Abbr. 22. Like J.Crew clothing 23. Brought up 24. Prevents, by law 25. Jazz or Blues 26. Oscar ____ hot dogs 27. USA part: Abbr. 28. 1970s-’80s sketch show on which John Candy and Eugene Levy got their starts 31. Canc˙n kitchen 32. Skybox locales 33. Pursue again, as an elected position 35. Director Kurosawa 36. Opposite of NNW

39. Subj. for Galileo 40. One going on foot? 41. Unit in a shopping cart 47. Snoozes 48. Got room service, say 49. Hoover ____ 50. Some digital videos, briefly 51. Musical endings 52. “Enough!” 53. Answer to the old riddle “What’s round on the ends and high in the middle?” 54. Neighbor of a pec 57. Bronx-born congresswoman, familiarly 58. T-shirt choices, briefly 59. Mauna ____ (Hawaii’s tallest mountain) 60. Unlikely race favorite 61. Dodgers legend Hodges 62. Expectant time 63. Kylo ____, “Star Wars” antagonist Last Thursday’s Solution M A Z D A S I A T H A N K S U P E O N E W I N E T U R L A O T T A M I D A M E I H A V E A T E U S E R

A N K A R A D R A T E N S

R E A D I N G E G O D I T I O R E B O W L S B M T O N A T N I G H T E C U W A B H R O W B E E R O N T G O T H A D I A N Y A

S A J A P I A N S F R I D O E L A U N S L R I S T E T A R F E V E R A E T A L T C G A C K H U L E A A L L D A L E I C S L E E

JOHN DEERING

Level 1

10/4/20

Solution to Last Week’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

K O A L A

S I R Y A P

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | OCTOBER 8 – 14 , 2020

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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25 � 10 Y�� A�� N��-P�� Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 29 • October 5, 1995

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 29 • October 7, 2010

Is City Looking To Give the Boot To Unity Club?

Will Justice Department Mind F.C.’s Undo of November Election Date?

Leaders of the Unity Club and others in the Falls Church community are concerned that forces at City Hall may be looking for a way to force them out of their meeting place in the 100 block of West Broad Street. They say the City has given them an Oct. 30 deadline to identify sufficient parking for the club’s participants. The Unity Club is a nationally known nonprofit, all volunteer meeting place for participants in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Dismissing any prospective objection from the U.S. Department of Justice as “speculation,” and with the notion of a “disenfranchisement of voters” called “a pure straw man and red herring,” by the mayor, five members of the Falls Church City Council moved this Monday to place two items on this Monday’s business meeting agenda aimed at undoing an action taken earlier this year to increase voter turnout in the City’s municipal elections.

N��-P��

LETTERS Continued from Page 6

vide the density needed to nourish our small businesses and restaurants and bring vitality to the center of the City. • There will finally be a “there there,’ a lively diverse live-workplay area in downtown Falls Church. We support moving forward with the Broad and Washington project and all the benefits it will provide the City, its residents, and the surrounding communities that visit, work in, and regularly patronize businesses in the Falls Church City. Gina Caceci, Martha Meserve, Michael Diener, Mark Werblood, Rich and Elizabeth Meade, Nicole Johnston, David Ortiz, Nicholas Benton, Laura

TO THE

EDITOR

Connors Hull, Andrea Robles, PhD, Solon Simmons, PhD, Rob Donovan, Jeff Thiebert, Becky Manicone, Andres Jordan, Sharon Van Duizend. Falls Church

Quote In School Name Change Story Not Accurate Editor, Since I feel that my words stated in the past week’s article were taken out of context, I wish to state for the record what my stance is. The new high school being built in Falls Church should have a new name. One that inspires humanity and decency, as well as one that denounces the sins of the

past and crimes against humanity. The problem with honoring the Southern Founding Fathers and the Founder of the Confederacy is that they both viciously and brutally denied African Americans their humanity. Creating a false narrative as to why they should do so and justifying their actions and torturous tactics. We must not continue to honor a past that we now recognize is not true to our better nature. The history of slavery and the lessons learned from the Confederacy are not who we say we are. If we say we are, ”… the land of the free and the home of the brave.” And if we also say that we have, “… liberty and justice for all”, we cannot honor those who would deny humanity to someone based on the color of their skin or the race, sexual orientation or religion they belong to. Change the names so that we can find names that inspire and advocate an honorable future. Edwin Henderson Falls Church

There’s a time to check whether your kid’s in the right car seat. This isn’t it.

Car crashes are a leading killer of children 1 to 13. Is your child in the right car seat? Don’t think you know. Know you know.

safercar.gov/TheRightSeat

FELIX THE CAT was born in Mexico in 2005 and moved to Falls Church in 2008. In 2012, he moved to Havana, Cuba, returning to Falls Church in 2015. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CA L E NDA R

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR In response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affecting the globe and policies enacted to avoid social gatherings, the News-Press will publish a list of virtual events weekly in lieu of its regular listings. If you have a virtual event you’d like to see listed, please email calendar@fcnp.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday weekly.

LOCALEVENTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 Silent Witness Against Racial Injustice. The Social Justice Committee of Falls Church & Vicinity, a part of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the Falls Church faith community invite people to demonstrate against voter suppression. Rain or shine. Bring a sign and water. Masks required. Social distance of 6-10 feet. Parking available at

Falls Church Presbyterian. Broad St. 5 – 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Falls Church Farmers Market To Go. The Falls Church Farmers Market has converted to a preorder, to-go event. All orders must be placed in advance of Saturday’s market which will be open from 8 a.m. – noon for pre-order pick-up only in front of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). A list of participating vendors and information on pre-ordering can be found at fallschurchva.gov/547/ Farmers-Market-To-Go.

VIRTUALEVENTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 Teen Craft with Clay Cafe (Curbside Pickup). Interested participants can spend a creative afternoon at home with a Grab and Go Craft kit provided

by Clay Cafe. Everything a participant needs to paint a pencil cup will be available in the kit. Craft Kits will be available via curbside pickup starting Thursday, Oct. 8, while supplies last. Participants should return their painted pencil cup to Clay Cafe Studios at 101 N Maple Ave, Falls Church for completion. Intended for grades 6-12. Pick up at the library’s temporary site (601 S. Oak St., Falls Church). 3 – 3:30 p.m.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 City Council Meeting (online). City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues and the public is invited to speak. All participating members of the City Council will be present at

OCTOBER 8 – 14, 2020 | PAGE 23

this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via www.fallschurchva.gov/ CouncilMeetings. Video will be available after the meeting both online as well. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 Voter Registration Deadline. Today is the deadline to register to vote in Virginia. Visit vote.elections.virginia.gov/Registration/DmvLookup for more information. All day.

THEATER&ARTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 “Laundry and Bourbon” & “Lone Star.” A pair of popular, interlocking one-act comedies by James McLure that take place in smalltown, Maynard, Texas. The two plays combine for a wildly entertaining, and occasionally poignant, evening of live theater. 6 p.m.

Shows take place Oct. 8 & 10, and Oct. 15 & 17. Providence Players have established new procedures to make sure all activity is in accordance with regulations from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Visit providenceplayers.org

LIVEMUSIC FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 Spiral Trine with Pako’s Fresh Mex Food Truck. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-8589186.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Rain & Snow. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-8589186.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 Open Mic at the Still featuring Dead Jams Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-8589186.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS & HELP US KEEP COMMUNITY JOURNALISM ALIVE & WELL IN THE LITTLE CITY. Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to provide independent and honest journalism to the Falls Church community. We recognize and appreciate the support the City, its businesses and residents have shown us for the past 29 years. Now, we need your help to con�nue with our mission. If you ﬁnd value in our work and believe the News-Press contributes to the be�erment of the Falls Church community, please consider becoming a member today and help us keep you informed on all the happenings — big and small — in The Li�le City. Never before has the ﬁght to ensure a free press been more important.

Visit FCNP.com/members to become a member of the News-Press today

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 24 | OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020

For Sale in Falls Church • Priced Adjusted $549,999

ROCK STAR Realty ... ROCK STAR Service

Virtual Tours

en 3 Op ay 1nd Su

ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com/Open-Houses

FOR SALE!

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$749,900 305 Douglass Ave, Falls Church City

Brick rambler on lovely tree-lined street located in the desirable Fenwick Park neighborhood of Falls Church. Living room has hardwood floors and a large front window for lots of natural light, separate dining room also with hardwood floors and updated kitchen with dishwasher installed in 2020. The family room addition has a gas corner fireplace with sliding glass door leading to a 2 tiered 800 square foot deck with retractable awning and private back yard. A total of 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths (includes master bedroom and bath) office and den. There are pulldown stairs for easy access to the attic and ample extra storage space. Location has easy access to 495, I-66, Rt. 50, and The Dunn Loring Metro is just a couple of miles away with a bus stop just up the block. Walkable to the adjacent Shops at West Falls Church center for groceries, restaurants, and other conveniences.

FOR SALE!

Open Sun 2-4

$485,000 202 S Virginia Ave, Falls Church City

4 Bed

Updated Kitchen

2 Beds

Walk to Shops & Dining

4 Bathrooms

Fully Finished Lower Level

1.5 Bathrooms

Minutes to METRO

FOR SALE!

$1,999,900

$2,700,000 5 Beds, 6,000+ Sq ft. Victorian 3 Full & 2 1/2 Baths Beautiful Mature Gardens $1,950,000 - House & $750,000 - Lot Falls Church City/Planning Commission approved building lot. The property is being offered in its entirety at $2.7m, or the house and the lot can be purchased separately.

308 Poplar Drive, Falls Church City 6 Beds

2-Story Library

6.5 Bathrooms

Gourmet Chef's Kitchen

CALL 703-867-TORI

Tori@ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com 2101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

REALTOR®

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Falls Church News-Press 10-8-2020

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