Currents throughout the City of Falls Church’s corridors of government, education, economic development and general good will were shaken to learn of the passing this Monday night of Robert A. “Bob” Young, for two dozen years a ubiquitous fixture in the life of the Little City as a first-rate developer of commercial and residential properties but more than that, as an advisor, prophet and doer of much of the good that has befallen the City in this era.
A true Renaissance Man in the manner true to what that term was meant to represent, Young brought to the City beginning in the late 1990s and forward the first representations ever seen here of Art Nouveau in buildings he put up, renovated and managed. He was also chair of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) who directed that organization through some of its most creative contributions to the Little City, the most visible being the wayfinding signage that are now landmark parts of the City fabric. The City of Falls Church’s
SHARP AS A RAZOR
“SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Stephen Sondheim’s popular Broadway musical, was executed flawlessly by student performers at Falls Church’s Meridian High School last weekend, directed by Shawn Northrip with the orchestra conducted by Mary Jo West. The dark theme of the show was subordinated by the superb singing voices of Addison Turner as Sweeney Todd, Mia Schatz as Mrs. Lovett, Gavin Jones as Anthony, Eudora Neal as Beggar Woman, J.P. Tysse as Judge Turpin, Hugo Ratheau as Beadle, Aubrey Marrow as Johanna, Marshall Vogel-Rogers as Tobias, Will Albaugh as Pirelli and Jack Kreul as Fogg. (News-Press Photo)
enriched the City over the last dozen-plus years.
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced this week that long-time City Planning Director Jim Snyder will be retiring this coming January. Snyder has been with the City since 2011 and has played a seminal role in the surge of new commercial and mixed use development that has
Snyder’s decision will further deplete the City’s talent pool at its higher administrative levels. Earlier this month, the Director of Planning Paul Stoddard announced he will be taking a job with the City of Alexandria and earlier this year Falls Church’s Director of Public Works Zak Bradley left
for a position as the public works chief operating engineer in Arlington County.
The “brain drain” among three leaders at City Hall who played instrumental roles in the last decade’s extraordinary developments in the City has left some at City Hall concerned, the News-Press has learned. The talents of the three leaders applied to the major
challenges in Falls Church in the recent past has, among other things, clearly increased their value beyond what the Little City may have been able to offer in terms of compensation. Also, the administrative change at City Hall resulting in the elevation of two new persons to positions as deputy
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
He attended and led, albeit virtually, his last meeting of the EDA at City Hall last month, and for years to that point also had a perfect attendance record at the News-Press’ Monday information sharing lunches, except for travel to visit his family in California and South Africa.
A communique from his family was submitted to the News-Press yesterday which stated the following:
“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robert A. Young. Robert passed away peacefully on the evening of Monday, November 18 at the age of 82 following a courageous battle with cancer. In the coming days, we look forward to celebrating his extraordinary life and the lasting legacy he left for the City of Falls Church and its citizens. A tribute honoring his remarkable contributions will appear in an upcoming edition of the Falls Church NewsPress.” Respectfully, Peter Young (son), Courtney Alston (daughter), Leah Young (daughter-in-law), Vernetta Alston (daughter-in-law), and his grandchildren Gillian, Grant, Reese, and Davis.
A native of LaJolla, California,
Young attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and worked years for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) before going into the real estate development business first in McLean and then coming to Falls Church in 1999.
In Falls Church, he applied the use of newly-developed Mixed-Use Redevelopment (MUR) guidelines resulting in the groundbreaking development that brought the city’s first mid-rise residential condominium. That same project brought a rethinking use of the site’s existing office building at 450 West Broad, allowing renowned establishments like Panera entry to our community.
Development and construction of the Art Nouveau-styled Read Building at 402 W. Broad brought dedicated workforce housing to the City for the first time. That same building, recognized in 2007 with an Environmental Stewardship Award, also brought the concept of a living green roof to the City. That feature was continued when Young’s firm developed and built the Art Nouveau-inspired so-called “Flower Building” at 800 W. Broad which continues to
house the U.S. Post Office for the City. It won acclaim as the City’s first “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) certified structure in the City.
Young’s development work in the City also included buildings enhanced with stories-tall flowers of many varieties: yellow lilies at Fairfax Square and the Scramble building, and tulips at the shops at 300 S. Washington. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings was part of his process. An award from the City for the Most Improved Commercial Property was given for the transformation of Washington Market, which houses the Elevation Burger.
His transformative eye guided both Washington Commons’ and Fairfax Square’s reclamation transformations, and most recently turned a former bank building on West Broad into a drive-through Smoothie King and physical therapy use. Young’s assemblage of parcels and enablement brought the Hilton Garden Inn, the first new hotel development in the City in decades.
His pioneering push extended to the now acclaimed Railroad Cottages community of 10 scaled houses developed for the 55+ active
adult community, a project that has brought award recognition both by the Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association.
Another side to his commitment to community development here led to his role as a founding member of the Falls Church Education Foundation, established to support the school system and its teachers.
His guidance given the EDA helped oversee and played an important title role in the remarkable West End 10-acre project still under construction. His steady hand is credited with guiding the whole process successfully through the trying times of the Covid pandemic.
His work in the City secured recognition from the F.C. Chamber of Commerce as a recipient of their Pillar of the Community award bestowed with the text, “with appreciation for distinctive contribution to the enrichment of life within the greater Falls Church area.”
Young built his personal home on Poplar Drive in the City built along Art Nouveau guidelines and it contains many artistic works of the German WMF Metalworks company from over a century ago. He lived at his Falls Church home with
his much-beloved English Springer Spaniel, Brandy, who almost always accompanied him to the offices of The Young Group in the “Flower Building.”
Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi, who was strongly supported by Young since the early days of her foray into local politics, submitted the following statement to the News-
Snyder’s Retirement Announcement from City Manager Shields
city managers and thereby distancing Shields from direct contact with the planning and public works departments may have been a factor, according to News-Press sources.
In another Planning-related development, Rob Puentes, chair of the City’s citizenled Planning Commission announced that he is leaving that seven-person volunteer body that plays a critical role in helping provide advice and consent and overseeing development in the City in January.
Shields announced the Snyder move at Monday’s weekly Employee Town Hall at City Hall. In his statement, Shields said,
“Jim Snyder has informed me and the Community Planning and Economic Development Services team of his intention to retire in January in the coming year. This is a big decision as Jim has made such a positive impact on all of us here in the City.
“Jim joined the City in 2011 as we were recovering from the great recession. He came with 33 years of experience with Arlington County where he played a central role in planning the Roslyn-Ballston Corridor, and immediately understood and connected with the planning and economic development needs of the City. I can recall that one of his first projects was to redecorate and upgrade the Planning and Building Safety offices in the ‘old City Hall’ to make it a more professional working environment for the team. He worked with the team to develop the ‘Plan for Planning’ and we are all proud that the eighth of eight Small Area Plans was adopted last year (the East End Area Plan).
“In 2019, we reorganized the department, to combine Economic Development with Planning, Building Safety and Zoning into the Community Planning and Economic Development Services (CPEDS), which has worked with City Council, the Economic Development Authority (EDA),
the Department of Public Works and all City departments to help recruit and oversee the redevelopment of key sites in the City.
“Jim helped facilitate the smaller infill redevelopments – like the outdoor dining at Dogwood, and Northside Social, and medical offices across the City.
“Jim has represented us well as Chair of the D.C. Area Council of Governments (COG) Planning Directors group, as a founding member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Association, and through his work with the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech schools of urban planning and architecture. He has provided tremendous support for the City Council, EDA, and the Planning Commission over his years with the City.
“What Jim always focuses on and enjoys the most is recruiting and promoting our great CPEDS staff. He has been a tremendous leader and mentor for so many in the City.
“We know that with Paul Stoddard’s leaving and Jim’s
latest announcement, that our great staff of CPEDS will be called upon to meet new challenges and opportunities.”
JIM SNYDER, Falls Church’s Planning and Economic Development czar, announced he’s retiring in January. (News-Press Photo)
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It was entirely not like Bob Young to be a no-show at the News-Press’ weekly info sharing lunches on Mondays in the Little City. So a number of regulars began to be concerned starting a couple months past. But there were assurances from Bob via text messages and some on his staff that everything was OK. He just needed time to rebound from surgery, we were told. He clearly did not want any information about his true medical condition to become known.
But Bob passed away this Monday night, Nov. 18. He was 82 although up until recently, he both looked and acted decades younger. He exhibited boundless energy as chair of the F.C. Economic Development Authority and as a 24/7 on-call patron of the best outcomes for the Little City. His biggerthan-life presence was an indispensable part of the City’s remarkable growth over the last two decades. His affinity for the Art Nouveau architectural and artistic style reflected his inner self, as did the accouterments in his dream personal home that he built on a Poplar Drive corner lot. There is a giant Mucha poster in there and a lot of shiny German WMF steel antique pieces. There was added a deeply humanizing element, a young English Springer Spaniel named Brandywine, Brandy for short, whose magnetic personality charmed all at Young’s office where he took her every day only blocks from his home.
We don’t often see people of Bob Young’s intellectual and cultural magnitude in normal walks of life. He beat his head against the wall trying to get things done in his first area home in McLean before learning of an urge for growth just up the road in little Falls Church, where he showed up in 1999. While Falls Church had also had a reputation of downright hostility to commercial growth, we at the News-Press had begun a decade earlier challenging that sentiment on grounds that growth was required to pay for the good schools everybody wanted.
In Falls Church, Bob Young was not everyone’s cup of tea, but then innovators and city builders seldom are because they stand for new ideas and change for the better. He generated an aura of impatience that offended some, but we at this newspaper loved his brash can-do approach and endless flood of new initiatives and ideas. The City has become a mecca for good development, schools, cuisine and general quality of life with a tax rate that is heading in the opposite direction of every other jurisdiction around. Please read the story cobbled together about all he’s done here on Page One of this edition. No real point in repeating it all in this space, so take that story as an extension of this commentary.
Among other things, like another Renaissance Man before him, W&OD Trail pioneer Walter Mess, Young was among the few who expressed a true appreciation for the benefit of the News-Press to this community. Platform
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Cultural Brainwashing That’s Elected Trump
Nicholas F. Benton
Evaluating the factors that account for the current accelerating descent of American culture jettisoning democracy and embracing authoritarian fascism, while strong elements of this tendency have always been among us, it was in the 1970s that the process began to metastasize into a new, more robust and terminal form. What we are seeing in the Trump coup today had its origin in the answer by the global elites to the antiwar, pro-civil rights ferment of the late 1960s.
This counter-revolutionary offensive went unnoticed by virtually every mainstream social medium, including those tasked with chronicling such trends in the popular media, academia and traditional political and faith-based institutions. A full-court press was initiated to defuse and reverse growing public sentiment toward significantly-furthered equality and justice arising from that period.
The decisively-new roots of this offensive can be traced back further, to the post-Korean War period of the 1950s, when social control techniques adapted from ancient Chinese methods were first experimented with in the west, including what went under the term, brainwashing. A major warning about this was issued through a 1959 novel by Richard Condon, made into a major Hollywood movie starring Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansbury in 1962, “The Manchurian Candidate”, as much as its true purpose was obfuscated.
Projects like the CIA’s MK-Ultra’s experimentations with mind control, including by use of mind-altering agents like LSD, weaponized this approach that in the 1960s was determined to be more effective when used in a small group, or cult, environment to enable required constant reinforcement. By the 1970s, the assault on progressive currents in American society took the form of a proliferation of such cults, some religious, some political in nature, all aimed at beheading the “enemy” seen as reflected in an evolving pro-equality domestic culture.
Central among the targets of this of-
fensive, apart from their political forms that included anti-war, civil rights, feminist and gay liberation aspects, was basic cognitive function, itself, including the powers of reason and common sense. Advancing this in the wider culture involved encouraging, sponsoring and popularizing the socalled “postmodern” movement in the arts, philosophy and social norms. This often took the form of anti-rational, anti-scientific assertions, including as defining the social declarations of the popularized French pseudo-leftist, profascist Michel Foucault, who assaulted notions of love, loyalty and solidarity with nihilist and atomist claims that the only authentic human strivings are those for power and pleasure.
From this, the Christian fundamentalist current was emboldened to adopt a political posture for the first time, and the women’s and gay movements were diverted toward strictly hedonistic and self-serving objectives, with the effect on the fine and performing arts decimated by the AIDS epidemic. Thus came the Reagan Revolution of 1980, and from it the “Greed is good” mantra of that era, evolving forward to the present day.
We now find ourselves in a culture that has legalized and is widely abusing mind-altering and deadly drugs (marijuana being far more potent now than in the hippie days of the early 1970s) like fentanyl (far more potent than heroin), legalized and promoted, senseless sports and other forms of gambling (despite the reality that “the house always wins”), and wildly popular games despite being widely recognized for routinely inducing brain damage in its participants (football and mixed martial arts), the modern equivalent of Roman gladiator and other “bread and circuses” diversions.
The demise of your news, dear reader, has to be appreciated in this context. It used to be that the nightly news was always presented by the networks free from ads in order to avoid even a hint of being tainted by untoward influence. Now, all news is subordinated to the almighty dollar and outfits like Fox News have dropped all pretense at objectivity or fairness, cynically adopting the slogan, “fair and balanced.”
No wonder Trump can now assert that black is white and be cheered for it. No wonder, in this context, everyone else in the news industry gets held to an impossible standard of denuded nonpartisanship, of so-called “objectivity” and of a mandated assignment of moral equivalency.
It’s not just Trump. Our culture and way of life have been corrupted to become almost beyond recognition.
A Penny for Your Thoughts
By Penny Gross
Former Fairfax County Supervisor
Postmortems about the 2024 election will go on for months, perhaps years, as analysts and pundits evaluate the electorate and figure out why people voted as they did. One culprit may be the lingering effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted America’s approach to almost everything – the workplace and employment, the cost of purchased goods, especially groceries, personal and family relationships, community events, access to health care, education from kindergarten to graduate school, and more.
Although some grocery prices have relaxed, the cost of food and everyday grocery items still pinches, and you have to be a “member” of a store to take advantage of lower price offerings. That membership allows the grocery chain to track your purchases and create more darn algorithms that seem to plague every electronic device you use. Years ago, I bought a couple cans of cat food while cat-sitting for my daughter. The cat crossed the rainbow bridge at least a decade ago, but I still get
pop-up ads for cat food! Today’s visits to a grocery store can be either short – don’t even bother to stop at the meat counter – or long, taking time to examine every aisle for that unexpected bargain or finding a discounted price for a “pull date” item.
Employer requirements for a return to work in person are being met with a good deal of resistance as employees found that working virtually from home absolved them from traffic commutes, business wardrobes, lunch costs, and chitchats around the water cooler. Returning to a traditional office environment appears to be passe, and the commercial real estate market is reflecting that in office vacancies and repurposing some buildings for residential use. It will be interesting to see how the new administration will approach federal employees’ return to the office. Virtual or inperson? Or just fire them all, as the president-elect has threatened? Added to the pandemic effect is a changing population. For decades, voters who grew up during the
City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT
Week of Novemeber 11 — 17, 2024
Larceny from Building, S Maple Ave, between October 7 and 12:00 p.m. on November 5, an unknown suspect cut the lock off and stole a blue Recreational Equipment Incorporated Co-op, City 1.1 bicycle from the bicycle parking area of an apartment garage. (Delayed report)
Fraud – Credit Card/Identity Theft, Timber Ln, Nov 11, 9:28 a.m., victim reported multiple credit cards were opened in their name without their authorization, as well as a fraudulent charge made to their credit card.
Larceny from Building, S Maple Ave, between November 8 and 10:00 a.m. on November 11, an unknown suspect cut the lock off and stole a 2018 silver Fuji Absolute 1.9 road bicycle from the bicycle parking area of an apartment garage.
Public Intoxication, Wilson Blvd, Nov 12, 6:34 a.m., officers responded for a report of shoplifting. Officers arrived and recovered the stolen merchandise, but the employee did not want to prosecute. A female,
42, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
Reckless Driving/No Valid Operator’s License, S Cherry St, Nov 13, 10:52 a.m., a male, 25, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Reckless Driving and No Valid Operators License.
Larceny from Motor Vehicle/ Destruction of Property, Wilson Blvd, Nov 14, 10:05 a.m., an unknown suspect broke the rear driver side window to the victim’s vehicle and stole a backpack, which was later recovered. The suspect is described as a black male wearing a green shirt and green shorts.
Commercial Burglary/Destruction of Property/Larceny from Building, Rowell Ct, between 10:00 p.m. on November 14 and 9:05 a.m. on November 15, an unknown suspect broke a window to gain entry to a business and stole merchandise.
Investigation is ongoing.
Trespassing, S Washington St, Nov 15, 10:19 p.m., a male, 67, of no fixed address, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, W Broad St, Nov 15, 10:36 p.m., a
Great Depression and World War II saw Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as the pathway out of poverty and wartime violence. Many in that generation have passed away, and the rest are aging quickly. The “Silver Tsunami” has already begun, as Baby Boomers retire and receive their Social Security benefits, another of FDR’s signature achievements. Democrats held the White House for 28 of the 36 years between FDR’s first election in 1932 and Richard Nixon’s election in 1968, but the presidency has seesawed between the parties in the years since, often with very close election results.
Younger voters and new citizens have been part of those close results for some time. The 2024 election was not their first foray in elective politics but earlier elections did not put democracy on trial to the extent that 2024 has. Our differences may be fewer than our similarities, but the United States is a huge nation, whose people have divergent views and opinions about issues that affect them personally, not necessarily the nation as a whole. It will take a lot of work during the next several years for the Democratic and Republican parties, to bring the political pendulum back toward the center, and that work needs to start now.
male, 54, of no fixed address, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, W Broad St, Nov 16, 2:09 p.m., a male, 36, of Centreville, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Domestic Assault and Battery/Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Birch St, Nov 17, 5:23 a.m., a male, 28, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for Domestic Assault and Battery and served with an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Upcoming Local Arts Events to Celebrate the Holiday Season
The Studios At 307 Artist Community
OPEN STUDIOS CELEBRATION!
SAT, DEC 7 FROM 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Studios at 307 • 307 E. Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA Located inside Art and Frame of Falls Church.
City Of Falls Church Holiday Events
Toys for Tots, Managed by the Police Department: Donate by Thursday, December 5 at 6 p.m. Santa’s Ride Toy Drive, Donate by Monday, December 9. Bring new, unwrapped toys to a donation box located in the City Hall lobby.
Moravian Stars, Saturday, November 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Avenue. Registration Required: Please contact Holly Irwin at hirwin@fallschurchva.gov or call 703-2485171 (TTY 711) to register.
A Very Victorian Christmas, Saturday, November 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Avenue.
Free Event: Drop by any time and stay as long as you like!
Winter Wonderland in The Little City,
Get into the festive spirit with a winter wonderland at Modera Founders Row and the City. Tuesday, December 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Market Square is in Founders Row, 109 Founders Avenue, and there is free parking in the Founders Row Parking Garage from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free Event.
Annual Holiday Gift and Craft Show with Children’s Shoppe, Saturday, December 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Children’s Shoppe open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street. Free Event:
Watch Night New Year’s Eve Celebration, Tuesday, December 31, from 7 p.m. to Midnight. Star Drop Countdown at 11:55 p.m. near the intersection of Broad and Washington Streets.
Creative Cauldron’s Madeline’s Christmas
Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, Book and Lyrics by Jennifer
Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier, Directed by Matt Conner, Music Direction by Merissa Anne Driscoll. December 1 –17, 2023. Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 PM & 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00pm & 4:00 p.m. Tickets: creativecauldron.org/madelineschristmas. html
GMU Center for the Arts
Canadian Brass Making Spirits Bright Experience one of the world’s most famous
brass quintets in a genre-bending and infectiously positive performance that includes original arrangements and signature takes on beloved holiday classics such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Christmas Time is Here,” “Silver Bells,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and songs of Hanukkah. Saturday, November 30 at 8 p.m.
TAKE 6
The most awarded a cappella group in history, Take 6, brings its superlative vocal genius to the Center for a gospel-infused holiday concert. Sunday, December 1 at 2 p.m.
American Festival Pops Orchestra
Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
Enjoy a festive evening of seasonal favorites designed for the entire family, including “Night Before Christmas,” and toe-tapping classics from the orchestra’s embedded Big Band, and an appearance by the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble. Saturday, December 1 at 4 p.m.
Vivid!, All-Media Exhibit Falls Church Arts
Forty-seven artists will exhibit fifty-five of their boldest, brightest pieces at Vivid!, an all-media exhibit, at the gallery at Falls Church Arts from November 23 to January 5. The show officially opens with a meet the artists’ reception on November 23 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Vivid! will be on view at the Falls Church Arts gallery at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. Admission is free and the gallery is open Tuesdays-Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Sat-Sun from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
TAKE 6 performs at GMU Center for the Arts. ( Photo: John Abott)
We Happy Few Streams Ground-breaking Early Science Fiction Play “R.U.R.”
by Mark Dreisonstok
The Capitol Hill-based theatre company We Happy Few is currently presenting Karel Čapek’s groundbreaking play “R.U.R.” Produced by Artistic Director Kerry McGee, the show was initially presented live, but the production was obliged to close early due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, the troupe follows the theatrical dictum “the show must go on:” it is continuing to present its unique version of the 1920 play via streaming the recorded performance.
“R.U.R.” stands for “Rossum’s Universal Robots.” The play is famous for introducing the word “robot” to the world! (Čapek credited his brother for actually coining the word, which comes from Czech words related to forced labor and slavery.) The plot revolves around Domin, who, while dictating a letter to his robot secretary Sulla (played by a stoic Emilia Pazniokas), is visited by Helena Glory, daughter of the president of the unspecified country in which the plot takes place.
Helena is not only the privileged daughter of the president but is also an idealist who represents the Humanitarian League, which
is concerned that the robots being produced by R.U.R. do not have rights and that their dignity is not respected. Domin and his managers counter this with a utilitarian “greater good” argument, maintaining that robot labor will cause lower prices, eliminate poverty, and free humans to fulfill their own mission of “perfecting themselves.”
Helena reminds one in name and in beauty of the classical Helen of Troy, but her role is more like the Trojan princess Cassandra: she has the foresight to warn of future troubles but is also cursed in that no one listens to her. As the robots begin to revolt, does hope remain for humanity?
With our society’s current focus on technological innovation and artificial intelligence, such a play naturally raises many relevant ethical questions. The robots in both the original productions of the play, and also in We Happy Few’s presentation, are not clanky metal machines, but are humanoid as well as biological in nature and sometimes in behavior. Should they be treated humanely and not as machines? Should they, as Helena proposes, be allowed to have human appetites, human feelings,
and perhaps even souls? Also, what of the humans themselves? If freed from the demands of work, what will they do with their limitless leisure time…perfect themselves, or instead themselves become as mindless as their robot creations?
We already see in Act One of the play that Domin and his managers have themselves become a bit like robots, with Domin coldly proposing marriage to Helena while looking at his watch as he awaits his robot-prepared lunch. In fact, the play has great resonance for us today for raising the question very present in today’s world as to what work the labor force will find when displaced by AI and other forms of automation. Later, when a character talks about his ability to grow plants quickly, we are reminded of doubts about the wisdom of tampering with nature, a concern many have raised with genetic modification of plants, animals, and even humans today.
“R.U.R.” is an example of retro futurism, that is, how people in the past viewed the future. In the costumes worn by the actors and actresses, traditional early twentieth-century fashions (designed by
Lee Gerstenhaber) prevail, such as the long dresses and covered-up appearances of Sulla and Helena. This choice complements the staging, which presents a metallic and mechanized vision of technological progress driving the creation of the future. Props such as a dial phone, a vintage typewriter, a world globe, a ship model, and a slanted mantlepiece are mixed in with abstract and Expressionist set pieces. These have been executed by director Matt Reckeweg to represent the clash between modern development in technology (including robots) with traditional views of humanity.
The acting, too, is both modern and “retro.” Both robots and humans behave in a very theatrical, stylized fashion. Made Key, who plays Helena, gestures in a way reminiscent of silent films of the 1920’s “R.U.R” era, and Matthew Sparacino, as the Edwardian suitwearing Domin, employs a clipped way of speaking that cleverly serves to place the audience in a past age while also suggesting his overly utilitarian robot-infused humanity. The acting of the robot characters such as Scott Whalen as Radius (the especially intelli
gent robot assigned to a library to absorb the world’s knowledge) similarly fuses machine-like and human qualities.
We Happy Few’s thoughtful production of “R.U.R.” will continue to stream through Thanksgiving. Readers interested in this fascinating and increasingly relevant play with its ethical concerns for our times may view the production by visiting: wehappyfewdc.com/
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SCOTT WHALEN as the clever robot Radius and Made Key as the humanitarian Helena in We Happy Few’s “R.U.R.” ( Photo: Sam Reilly.)
Nat’l Museum of Women in the Arts: ‘Suchitra Mattai: Myth from ‘Matter’
by Patricia Leslie
For an intriguing visit to a local museum over the holidays, your family may love the exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, “Suchitra Mattai: Myth from Matter,” by “a multi-disciplinary Guyanese American artist of South Asian descent.”
It is the first solo show in the District by Mattai who, in her paintings, her fibers, collages, large sculptures, tapestries and more, focuses on “others,” women and the marginalized.
The big and bright show spanning several galleries has something for everyone, including materials she has found and recycles into her works, and some worn by her family, friends, herself and others, all combining to make the display more interesting.
It has 12 historically and complementing pieces from Europe and South Asia loaned by major institutions which hang adjacent to Mattai’s works and spark conversation, thought and discussion when two pieces of the same subject are compared.
Adding bright embroidery floss,
applique and beads to a classic work, Mattai’s products easily stand out in stunning results.
She practices “brown reclamation” by sewing brown thread over white Europeans who are typically the models in landscapes from past centuries. By this methodology, she demonstrates the marginalized people who have been excluded from life “as we know it.” (The partial title of one of her works.)
She pays tribute to immigrants and their contributions to society, often overlooked and submerged by societies of past centuries.
For instance, the cover of the exhibition’s catalog features “future perfect,” which Mattai made last year of embroidery floss, freshwater pearls, “found objects” and more.
In it she “reimagines” Jean Honoré Fragonard’s “Young Girl Reading” (c. 1769) which hangs nearby, on loan from the National Gallery of Art.
The words in Fragonard’s book which the girl holds are obscured, while Mattai’s version includes “future” in beaded pearls on the open page, encouraging the girl to choose her own destiny, according to the label copy.
As a youngster, Mattaii learned sewing and embroidery from her grandmothers. She was born in 1973 in Georgetown, Guyana where her great-grandparents were indentured laborers, taken there from northern India to work the sugar plantations when the British ruled Guyana and India.
When Mattai was a toddler, her family moved to Canada. She attended colleges in the U.S., India and London.
A multi-disciplinary artist who prides herself on her Caribbean and Indian heritages, her artist’s statement on her website says she is “interested in how memory and myth allow us to unravel and re-imagine historical narratives.”
Her “primary pursuit is to give voice to people whose voices were once quieted by focussing on oral histories and family archives. Using both my own family’s ocean migrations and research on the period of colonial indentured labor during the 19th Century, I seek to expand our sense of “‘history.’”
Besides Mattai, the museum has a new photography exhibition by Samantha Box, and short videos of eight contemporary artists, “In
Focus: Artists at Work.” Plus, there is “Remix: The Collection,” an ongoing exhibition.
At the museum shop, the softbound Mattai catalog of 112 pages with full color illustrations is $27.95.
Visitors may see the exhibit for free on the first Sunday (Dec. 1 and Jan. 5) and the second Wednesday (Dec. 11 and Jan. 8 ) of each month and the museum is open until 8
p.m. on the third Wednesday. Mattai closes Jan. 12, 2025. 1250 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005. Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Ph. 202-783-5000. Admission: $16, adults; $13, D.C. residents and those over age 70; free for members and those under age 21 and/or with disabilities.
SUCHITRA MATTAI, “re-union,” 2023. VIntage saris and found mannequins. Collection of Beth Rudin DeWoody. (Photo: Patricia Leslie)
Phillips’ ‘Breaking It Down: Conversations from the Vault’
by Patricia Leslie
The Phillips Collection’s newest exhibition features 90 plus works from its permanent collection by its biggest and brightest stars to mix the old with the new in “Breaking It Down: Conversations from the Vault.”
The museum says its mission is to emphasize dedication to and connection of living artists with classic stars like Georges Braque, Georgia O’Keeffe, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Paul Cezanne, Arthur Dove, John Marin and Richard Diebenkorn, to name a few who are in the show.
For example, the “Vault” pairs nine works by Washington’s own Sam Gilliam with Lucy T. Pettway from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a quilter. Works by Diebenkorn and Kate Shepherd are shown with Matisse and Piet Mondrian.
The Phillips was founded in 1921 by Duncan and Marjorie Acker Phillips and prides itself on being America’s first museum of modern art “where the intimate and experimental meet,” according to its website.
The newest show certainly answers the call with versatility, color and splash.
In one gallery are works by Dove, Marin, O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz and one by Sadakichi Hartmann, while in another hall, Sylvia Snowden, Karel Appel, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Toko Shinoda and Aaron Siskind are grouped.
A separate gallery finds the quartet of Braque, Cezanne, Sharon Core and Joel Meyerowitz, and there are more, like the duo of Augustus Vincent Tack and Albert Pinkham Ryder.
It’s a debut at the Phillips of some works by William Christenberry, Walker Evans, Gilliam, Meyerowitz, Sean Scully, Siskind, Snowden, Renee Stout, and Joyce Wellman.
Hidden in the labels, one can find surprises, like the description of “Marinitis” which photographer and collector Stieglitz, claimed was the condition of founder Phillips after Phillips bought nine watercolors by John Marin.
Stieglitz’s wife was the famed Georgia O’Keeffe who, after her husband died, gave the museum 19 of Stieglitz’s photographs to honor his friendship with Phillips. (Only one Stieglitz is on display here though: “Equivalent.”)
Several O’Keeffe paintings
are included like “Red Hills, Lake George” from 1927 which she said was “a memory of an autumn sunset” she recalled from the couple’s vacation home.
One gallery features works by Braque whom Phillips honored in 1939 with the first Braque solo exhibition in the U.S. In 1927 Phillips bought Braque’s 1926 “Plums, Pears, Nuts, and Knife” for $2,000 (on display) which was the first painting by Braque to enter a U.S museum collection. (About 100 years later, Braque’s 1907 “Paysage à la Ciotat” sold for close to $16 million, a record then.)
Fascinating photographs, programs and original correspondence between the artists and the Phillips are displayed in glass cases.
The Phillips has more than the “Vault” to satisfy your art cravings like the “artist of the people,” the first exhibition in Washington dedicated to William Gropper (1897-1977), “a social realist artist” whose parents were immigrants from Romania and Ukraine.
Gropper focused on social issues and 30 of his works are presented with a warning that they may be too extreme for some visitors. It closes
January 5, 2025.
The Phillips is also proud to host until February 2, 2025, “Creative Aging” devoted to the many benefits art has for older adults, a program which is coordinated with local senior centers.
Like Diebenkorn was inspired by his visits to the Phillips when he was stationed at Quantico, Virginia during World War II, Phillips’s director Jonathan P. Binstock wrote in a statement that the museum hopes this exhibition has the same effect on others “by offering a space for discovery, learning, and joy.” It closes Jan. 19, 2025.
The Phillips is open Tuesday
through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with members only permitted 10 11 a.m. on Sundays. Admission is $20, adults; $15, seniors (age 62+); $10, students and educators (with I.D.); $12, active and retired military; and free for members and those under age 18.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s, and other days. Free admission from 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month with extended hours until 8 p.m.and “paywhat-you-wish” every day from 4 p.m. Reservations, recommended. 1600 21st St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. Ph. 202-387-2151.
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE, “My Shanty, Lake George,” 1922, The Phillips Collection. (Photo: Patricia Leslie)
N ew Art Cla sses
la b le
Upcoming Local Arts Events to Celebrate the Holiday Season
Native American Heritage Day
Honoring Zitkala-Sa with Hoop
Little Theatre of Alexandria
Christmas Carol
Alexandria’s favorite yuletide tradition continues! From the first “bah humbug” to the final “wassail,” this timeless classic is sure to rekindle your holiday spirit. Join all your favorite Dickens characters – Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family; the Fezziwigs; the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come; and, of course, everyone’s favorite curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge –as they transport us to Victorian England and remind everyone of the meaning of Christmas. (Estimated) 1 hour, presented without intermission. A family/child friendly production. All persons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to attend. https:// thelittletheatre.com/performances/ Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 8 pm Special Weekend Matinee Times:
Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Tickets: $25 Reserved Seating. 600 Wolfe St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Falls Church Tree Fest
TREE Fest is back this year. Where holiday spirit meets charitable giving! A Silent Auction — Fundraiser. Friday, December 6th, 5 p.m. — 9 p.m. Saturaday, December 7th , 1 p.m. — 9 p.m. Ireland’s Four Provinces. Entrance is free. Sponsored by VPIS.org. vpis.org/ culture-vpis-tree-fest. 105 West Broad Street.
Dancer Starr Chief Eagle, Friday, November 29 I National Mall. 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Native Art Market, Saturday and Sunday, December 7 — 8. 10 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. I National Mall.
NVHG Thanksgiving Art & Craft Show
The Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild (NVHG) Thanksgiving weekend show will be held on November 29 - December 1, 2024, at the Vienna Community Center in Vienna, VA. Friday - Saturday - 10am - 5 p.m., Sunday — 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. Admission is $3.00 (for all three days) and children 12 and under are free. Vienna Community Center – 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna 22180
McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival
The Festival will be held on December 6 – 8, 2024, at the McLean Community Center (MCC) in McLean, Virginia. Friday 10am-7pm; Happy Hour VIPs 4 p.m. -7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Admission is $3.00 (for all three days) and children 12 and under are free. McLean Community Center — 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101, USA
National Harbor Maryland
Nightly Tree Light Tree Show, Runs every half from sunset 9 p.m. Watch our 60-foot RGB tree come to life nightly. The breathtaking light show dances alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band.
Festive Fireworks, Join us Saturday nights from November 11 – December 30 at 5:30 p.m. for a spectacular fireworks display following the tree lighting show.
ICE! AT GAYLORD NATIONAL, Step into a wonderland carved by artisans out of two million pounds of ice. Experience the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ in larger-than-life sculptures and even plunge down slides made entirely. November 19th – December 31st.
Washington Revels
Join us at the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) at Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring for five performances, December 20 — 22, as quirky characters, rustic tunes, pub carols, joyful anthems, and rousing dances, come together in this classic tale, performed by our multigenerational cast (ages 8 — 92). For ticket information, visit revelsdc.org.
Signature Theatre
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, It’s a comedy tonight in Sondheim’s zany, hysterical, Tony Awardwinning musical romp. In one of the greatest musical comedies of all time, three households reside next to each other in ancient Rome. Just outside their doors, the exploits of a quick-thinking Roman slave, a braggart soldier, a beautiful courtesan, a lovesick young man and others devolve into uproarious chaos in a fast-paced, witty and monumental escapade. With mistaken identities, wily ruses, madcap chases, a love story, and a happy ending of course, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’s” audacious and irreverent spectacle has something for everyone. October 29, 2024 – January 12, 2025. MAX Theatre
Job, The D.C. Premiere. A psychological thriller with a shocking and disturbing twist that will leave you breathless. A young woman whose screaming breakdown at work has gone viral must receive an evaluation from a crisis therapist before she can return to her job at a well-known tech firm. During the appointment, however, secrets emerge, and filters strip away as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown. An Off-Broadway sensation and New York Times Critic’s Pick, this intense play skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work and the menace behind the social media smile. January 28 – March 16, 2025. ARK Theatre
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington,
DC
The Chorus presents their annual holiday blockbuster Show. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) continues their 44th Season, PRIDE, with The Holiday Show, GMCW’s popular annual holiday extravaganza returning with an all-new edition as they celebrate holidays around the world. This year’s edition includes eclectic
“A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM ” playing now at Signature Theatre. ( Photo: Christopher Mueller)
GAY MEN’S CHORUS of Washington, DC. presents its annual holiday show. ( Photo: Gay Men’s Chorus)
Seventh Annual Falls Church Tree Fest
A festive fundraiser for our community service organizations, sponsored by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS).
Friday, December 6th, 5 pm to 9 pm & Saturday, December 7th, 1 pm to 9 pm*
*Bidding stops at 8:30 p.m.
Tree pick-up: Sunday, December 8th, 11 am to 1 pm
Ireland’s Four Provinces 105 West Broad Street, Falls Church
We invite any Greater Falls Church area non-pro t interested in taking part in this fundraising event to contact: lisavarouxis58@gmail.com for more details.
F.C. Schools Join Regional Appeal for Performance Delay
A joint statement signed by the chairs of eight School Boards in Northern Virginia public school divisions, including the Falls Church City Public Schools, was issued urging the Virginia Board of Education and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to delay the implementation of the new School Performance and Support Framework for at least one year.
The delay would allow sufficient time to fully develop the Framework and ensure successful implementation that advances educational excellence and supports educators.
The joint statement was signed by the School Board chairs of Alexandria City, Arlington, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Loudoun, Manassas City, and Prince William County Public School divisions.
The Framework was adopted by VDOE in August 2024—well after school divisions planned and budgeted for the current school year—to establish a new school accountability system aimed at enhancing educational standards across the Commonwealth.
In the statement, it was affirmed that the Northern Virginia public schools fully support a strong accountability system and request the delay to allow sufficient time for school division leaders, educators, families and other stakeholders to review, provide feedback, and strengthen the new Framework in collaboration with the VDOE.
F.C. Council Will Vote on Legislative Package Monday
As the Falls Church City Council prepared at its work session this week to vote next week sending an extensive legislative agenda to Richmond in advance of the next legislative session, a sticking point emerged on the question of a component of the City’s stand on affordable housing policy.
It was noted that the F.C. Environmental Sustainability Council advocated an update to state building codes supporting a change to allow for single staircase multi-family dwellings on grounds it would help maximize usable square footage in residential buildings.
But Council member David Snyder objected for safety reasons. In a brief statement to the News-Press, Snyder asserted, “A minimum of two exits has meant the difference between life and death in fires. While I support actions to make housing more affordable, I will never support actions such as this that will inevitably jeopardize life and safety.”
VPIS New Officers Elected At Annual Fall Meeting
Lorraine O’Rourke was elected the new president of the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society at its fall meeting last weekend, replacing Mark Gross. Robert Tarrt was elected vice president, Ellen Gilmore treasurer and John Murphy secretary.
U.S. Rep Don Beyer Introduces The Security Clearance Review Act
U.S. Reps. Don Beyer of Falls Church and Ted Lieu of California this week introduced the Security Clearance Review Act to reform the process by which security clearances are approved for political appointees in the Executive Office of the President (EOP). The move comes amid reports that Presidentelect Donald Trump and his advisors intend to bypass traditional background checks to grant security clearances to political appointees.
The bill would codify the FBI’s role in conducting background check investigations for EOP employees, and require congressional notifications in cases where the President overrules the FBI on granting such employees access to classified information.
“During his first presidency, Donald Trump secretly gave favored staffers and family members access to our most sensitive classified information despite serious objections raised by career staff and his own Chief of Staff. Early signs suggest he will be even more brazen in subverting the integrity of the security clearance process in his second term,” said Rep. Beyer.
“Congress must not allow corruption to threaten our national security. The Security Clearance Review Act would prevent untrustworthy people with major security concerns from secretly being given access to our most sensitive intelligence ever again, adding crucial Congressional oversight to the process.”
F.C.’s Holiday Craft Show Announced for Dec. 7-8
The City of Falls Church has announced that local businesses, artisans, and merchants will be featured at the annual Holiday Gift and Craft Show with Children’s Holiday Shoppe at the F.C. Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8.
Admission to both craft show days and the Children’s Shoppe is free. The show is open on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21
F.C. Chamber Orientation
Are you thinking about joining the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce? Have you recently joined the Chamber? Are you already a member, but would like a better understanding of your benefits? If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you should join us for a Chamber Orientation. We will provide an overview of the Chamber's mission, Chamber Benefits, how to use the Member Information Center to effectively update information, add events and hot deals, and more! There will be plenty of time for your questions to be answered. Skin Lab Med Spa, 1140 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046. 5:30 p.m6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22
Saint Anthony of Padua Open House
Saint Anthony of Padua School (PreK – 8th grade) is having an Open House at 4 p.m. for prospective families. The Preschool program serves students from 2.5 years of age through Junior Kindergarten with a developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum. The Elementary grades offer a robust academic experience in addition to Art, Computer Science, Music, PE and Spanish classes for all students. Advanced Math courses, a stateof-the-art science laboratory, and team sports (practice in our gym and outdoor athletic fields) enhance the Middle School experience at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic School. Come meet our Principal, Preschool Director and current parents on November 22nd at 4 p.m. to learn more about the wonderful opportunities we can offer your child in a small, nurturing, faithfilled environment. No reservations necessary. Address: 3301 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church VA 22041
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 23
Vivid!
Falls Church Arts
Vivid!, an all media exhibit, heralds in the holiday season from November 23 to January 5 at Falls Church Arts. For this exhibit, participating artists were invited to submit their boldest, brightest pieces. The show officially opens with a meet the artists’ reception on November 23 from 7:00 –9:00 p.m. The Juror’s Choice Award will be announced during the program. The event is free and is open to the public.
Barbara Januszkiewicz, juror for the show, is a Washington, D.C.-based American multimedia artist, creative activist, and teacher known for her stained neo-Color field abstract expressionism paintings. Vivid! will be on view at the Falls Church Arts gallery at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. Admission is free and the gallery is open Tuesdays –Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays – Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are optional and guests are asked to postpone their visit if they are not well. Artworks can also be viewed online at https://www. fallschurcharts.org. All pieces can be purchased at the gallery or on the website. The Juror’s Choice Award and People’s Choice Award for this exhibit are sponsored by Lavender Organizes, an Alexandria-based professional organizing business. For more information, visit lavenderorganizes.com or email info@lavenderorganizes.com.
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 24
Alice in Wonderland
"Curiouser and curiouser" Down the Rabbit Hole we go! Come join Alice on her fantastical journey through Wonderland. The White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar, The Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts, all your favorite characters are here in this musical adaptation of the classic Lewis
Carroll tale. Alice gives the entire family a chance to spend an utterly "Mad, mad day" at the Cauldron, enjoying one of the most famous and enduring children's classics of all time in a new bi-lingual format. Creative Cauldron, 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046. Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.Sundays at 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 25
Welcoming Falls Church Community Dinner
Welcoming Falls Church looks forward to sharing a meal that includes traditional American Thanksgiving dishes and foods from around the world, representing the nations and cultures of the families who have resettled in Falls Church and those taking English classes through our Adult and Family Literacy Center. 6 – 8 p.m. ary Ellen Henderson Middle School Cafteria, 105 Mustang Alley Falls Church, VA 22043. If you have questions – or if you interested in serving as a Table Host –please email us at info@welcomingfallschurch.org
is “El
de
by
Vivid!, AllMedia Exhibit Opens on November 23 With Evening Reception at Falls Church Arts. Forty-seven artists will exhibit fifty-five of their boldest, brightest pieces at Vivid!, an all-media exhibit, at the gallery at Falls Church Arts from November 23 to January 5. The show officially opens with a meet the artists’ reception on November 23 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The Juror’s Choice Award will be announced during the program. The event is free and is open to the public. 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 (Photo: Falls Church Arts )
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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.
Falls Church Business News & Notes
Corcoran® Welcomes First Local Franchise
Pamela Liebman, President and CEO of The Corcoran Group®, announced the addition of Corcoran McEnearney as its first franchise in the DC metropolitan area on Tuesday, continuing its expansion in prominent residential real estate markets. John McEnearney opened the first McEnearney Associates office in 1980 and his daughter, Maureen McEnearney Dunn has served as President of Corcoran McEnearney since 2007. McEnearney Associates later joined forces with Middleburg Real Estate/Atoka Properties in June of 2023. The Corcoran Group® has been a leading residential real estate brand for 50 years with New York City, Hamptons, and South Florida brokerages.
Casual Pint LIVE
The Casual Pint is hosting a Live broadcast by 106.7 tomorrow, November 22, from 2:00 – 6:30 pm. Enjoy the show, The Fan’s sport talk duo, Grant and Danny. This is part of their Friday Field Trip Series. Casual Pint is also promoting Thanks and Giving for the month. They are donating $1.00 to Ronald McDonald House Charities serving Virginia, DC, and Maryland with every pour on Tap No. 4 in November.
New Restaurant Openings
Dolan Uyghur has opened its third location in the former Pizzeria Orso space. This site is adding Mediterranean cuisine to its specialties of Kawa Manta and Dolan fare. Hamid Kerim plans to add breakfast and brunch in the near future. And Casa Mariachi Bar and Grille opened in the former Caribbean Plate space on Annandale Road. Serving an extensive Tex-Mex and Latin menu, it also has a full bar.
Pies and Sides
Northern Virginia Magazine has recommended several locals for placing Thanksgiving orders in advance. Bakeshop, The Happy Tart, and Northside Social and Arlington Magazine named these as well as Jake’s Ice Cream which has Thanksgiving-themed ice cream cakes. Arlington Magazine also named local restaurants with great sides for take out to include Thompson Italian and Harvey’s. GDIT and AI
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) has joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Artificial Safety Condortium. They will be supporting the development of new standards that address AI risks and provide technical expertise to support the development, deployment, transparency and evaluation of AI technologies. GDIT will also assess large language models and analyze training data using the Luna Al Digital Accelerator. Local Contracts Awarded
Northrop Grumman in Falls Church has received $540.9 million from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to fund the development of the Glide Phase Interceptor, a technology that detects and intercepts hypersonic weapons.
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) has been awarded a $5.57 billion U.S. Air Force contract to support mission partner environment operations.
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
Delegate Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report
If you’ve made it this far, you are still reading some news. And I’m glad my Richmond Report column has made the cut for you!
In my family, it remains difficult to consume news from mass media sources as we are bombarded with breaking news alerts that would be shockingly atrocious if we hadn’t been told exactly what to expect.
The silver lining, and I’ll concede it is the thinnest of thin silver linings, is that the party that wins the White House tends to suffer from a backlash in Virginia’s odd year elections the following cycle.
So, the good news is we don’t have to wait two or four years to register our feelings about the incoming Administration and the policies they are likely to implement. We have an election in 2025 who will allow us to elect leaders that want Virginia to remain a safe haven for abortion rights in the south, a leader on voting rights, and a place that protects workers and their paychecks while maintaining an excellent business environment.
Although the national results weren’t what most of us voted for, the state and local level results begin to tell us the story of what matters to Virginians.
Election Statistics
Perhaps because Virginia is considered safely blue, neither campaign devoted massive resources here. The result was that overall turnout fell off a bit from prior presidential years. Virginia had 69.8 percent voter turnout in 2024, below the 75 percent we saw in 2020 and 72 percent in 2016.
The City of Falls Church saw a 76% voter turnout rate, with just under 80% of those votes case going to the HarrisWalz ticket. Not quite as high as 2020 or 2016, which indicates to me that many folks willing to vote for the GOP nominee in 2016 and 2020 couldn’t bring themselves to cast a vote after what they witnessed on January 6, 2021.
What’s Next?
As desperate as things may seem at the national level, we have an opportunity in 2025 to send a message that our values in Virginia haven’t changed. All three statewide offices – Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General – are up for election as well as all 100 members of the House of Delegates.
We currently have the slimmest possible majority in the House and Senate, but Tim Kaine won 59 of Virginia’s
100 House of Delegates districts, and Harris-Walz won 58. That means we have a real opportunity to expand our House majority.
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Starting in January, one of the very first things the 2025 General Assembly will take up will be three major constitutional amendments – codifying a right to an abortion (HJ 1), voting rights restoration (HJ 2), and repealing the same-sex marriage ban that is still on the books in Virginia (HJ 9).
Last week, the House Privileges and Elections Committee voted to advance these amendments, first introduced during the 2024 Session and carried over, to the House Floor for 2025.
HJ 1 enshrines the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, prohibiting the Commonwealth from penalizing or prosecuting an individual for exercising this right. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, we’ve seen how conservative states have severely reduced or eliminated abortion access.
HJ 2 restores voting rights for those who have been released from incarceration after a felony conviction. This amendment restores their rights automatically upon their release. Currently, only the Governor has the power to restore voting rights once an individual has applied for restoration. As a result, the process is very opaque and applied sporadically without providing details for a denial.
HJ 9 repeals the current constitutional amendment that prohibits samesex marriage and affirms the right to marry. The only reason that same-sex couples can get married in Virginia right now is because of the 2015 US Supreme Court case, Obergefell v. Hodges, which made this legal across the country. If that is ever overturned, then we will revert to the marriage prohibition that still exists.
For these three constitutional amendments to appear on the ballot, we must pass the amendments during the 2025 Session, have the intervening 2025 November election, and then pass them again in the exact same format in 2026. Then, the amendments go to the voters in November 2026. This means Democrats must maintain control of the House in the 2025 election. If the Virginia GOP takes over again, none of these amendments will survive.
You can view the full text of these proposed constitutional amendments by visiting lis.virginia.gov.
Robert (Bob) Young Built Far More Than Buildings in Falls Church
Press yesterday:
“I am terribly sad about Bob’s passing. It’s hard to imagine a Falls Church without him. Falls Church knew Bob as a visionary, passionate real estate developer and businessman, often with strong opinions about city happenings because he cared about getting things done for the betterment of all.
“We were his chosen home for over 20 years and he saw the potential in Falls Church from the beginning. I also knew Bob as a neighbor and friend. He was a quiet, ardent supporter of the schools, small businesses, and affordable housing.
“Those who truly knew him also know that the time and energy he gave was both limitless and selfless. He was a proud parent, brother, and grandfather – he beamed when he shared with me stories about his travels with his family, his kids’ professional accomplishments, the aftermath of the grandkids visits, and his Covid-puppy Brandy.
“Bob leaves a remarkable legacy that will shape Falls Church for
years to come, not just in the physical spaces around the Little City but also in the lives of so many, including mine. Our hearts go out to his family and friends as we mourn this huge loss together.”
Other statements on the passing this week of Bob Young included this one from his colleague on the EDA, Ross Litkenhous:
“Bob was a force of nature. He shared a passion and tenacity for advancing economic development in this city that only comes along once in a generation. While Bob was known primarily for his expertise and passion in real estate, he quietly yet generously supported many of the most cherished institutions in our Falls Church community including the arts and schools. Bob worked tirelessly to elevate our city’s standing in the region, doing whatever he could to support growth and prosperity within our business community until the very end of his life. Bob Young will be missed, and I’m personally grateful to him for his many meaningful contributions to this community over the years.”
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields added the following:
“Among many community leadership roles, Bob Young served as Chairman of the Economic Development Authority for many years. He helped guide the City to be a welcoming place – supporting City businesses, working to expand affordable housing for people who work in the City, and making the public spaces in our business districts more beautiful. He didn’t accept things as they are and challenged us to see things as they could be. When he was impatient with our progress, which was frequently the case, we knew it came out of his deep love for the City. We will miss him very much.”
Joe Wetzel of The Young Group, former Chamber chair who’s worked with Young for the entire time he was in Falls Church, told the News-Press that there will be small, family-only ceremony this coming weekend, and that a larger celebration of life will be next month to which the larger Falls Church community will be invited.
Citizens for a Better City Selects 3 Logo Finalists
The CBC Executive Committee has selected three finalists from among the 11 logo design submissions received in response to the recent announcement of the contest to celebrate the organization’s 65th anniversary and update its long-standing predecessor. The finalists are FCCPS students, Leesa Margarella (design #1) and Sylvia Witt (design #2), and City resident, John Creed (design #3). The finalists’ designs have been forwarded in a ballot to the CBC membership to determine a winner. In reaching their decisions voters have been asked to consider the designs’ creativity, originality, visual appeal, and reflection of CBC
core values. The deadline for votes to be received and counted by the Executive Committee is December 2, 2024 and the winning design will be revealed at CBC’s Annual Meeting on January 24, 2025. All of the designs will be posted on CBC’s website, www.fallschurchcbc. net by November 22nd.
CUPCAKE IS A SWEET yet mischievous 13-year-old Quaker parrot. She enjoys soaring around home, relaxing on various perches, grooming herself to perfection, and collecting treats and cuddles from her loving flock of humans. Though she’s gotten a bit camera shy in her middle age, you can still catch photos of her on Instagram, @cupcakethequaker.
Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Please send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
(Courtesy Photo)
LEGAL NOTICENOTICE
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD (RPS) FILING
During its 2020 Session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted Chapters 1193 (HB 1526) and 1194 (SB 851) of the 2020 Virginia Acts of Assembly. These duplicate Acts of Assembly, known as the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”), became effective on July 1, 2020. The VCEA, inter alia, establishes a mandatory renewable energy portfolio standard (“RPS”) program (“RPS Program”) for Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) in § 56-585.5 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”). Subdivision D 4 of Code § 56-585.5 requires Dominion to submit annually to the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) plans and petitions for approval of new solar and onshore wind generation capacity (“RPS Filing”). The Commission must determine whether the RPS Filing is reasonable and prudent, giving due consideration to the following factors: (i) the RPS and carbon dioxide reduction requirements in Code § 56-585.5, (ii) the promotion of new renewable generation and energy storage resources within the Commonwealth, and associated economic development, and (iii) fuel savings projected to be achieved by the plan.
On October 15, 2024, Dominion submitted its annual RPS Filing to the Commission (“2024 RPS Filing” or “Petition”). The 2024 RPS Filing requests that the Commission:
(i) Approve the Company’s annual plan for the development of new solar, onshore wind, and energy storage resources (“RPS Development Plan”) in connection with the mandatory RPS Program pursuant to Code § 56-585.5 D 4;
(ii) Grant certificates of public convenience and necessity (“CPCNs”) and approval to construct and operate two utility-scale projects totaling approximately 208 megawatts (“MW”) (“CE-5 Projects”) of solar pursuant to Code § 56-580 D;
(iii) Make a prudence determination for the Company to enter into 24 power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) for solar and energy storage resources totaling approximately 588.4 MW of solar and 377 MW of energy storage (“CE-5 PPAs”) pursuant to Code § 56585.1:4;
(iv) Approve to recover through the Rider CE rate adjustment clause the costs of (a) the CE-5 Projects and related interconnection facilities, (b) two distributed solar projects totaling approximately 6 MW and related interconnection facilities (“CE-5 Distributed Solar Projects”), and (c) the CE-5 PPAs, pursuant to Code §§ 56585.1 A 5 and A 6; and
(v) Approve an update to Rider CE for recovery of costs associated with the previously approved CE-1, CE-2, CE-3 and CE-4 projects, the CE-2 and CE-3 distributed solar projects, and related interconnection facilities; and the costs associated with the CE-1, CE-2, CE-3, and CE-4 PPAs previously approved by the Commission.
RPS Development Plan
Dominion states that its RPS Development Plan reports on the Company’s progress toward meeting the solar, onshore wind, and energy storage development targets outlined in the VCEA and presents the Company’s development plan for solar, onshore wind, and energy storage facilities through 2035. The Company’s RPS Development Plan calls for additional investment in solar, onshore wind, and energy storage through 2035.
The Company also provides a consolidated bill analysis calculating the projected monthly bill through 2039 for residential, small general service, and large general service customers for each of the four primary portfolios presented in the Company’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (“2024 IRP”). According to Dominion, the VCEA with Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Portfolio from the 2024 IRP is consistent with the 2024 RPS Development Plan. Using the methodology approved by the Commission in Case No. PUR-2020-00134 and the VCEA with EPA Portfolio, RPS Program related resources, including new nuclear modular reactors, are projected to increase the monthly bill for a Virginia residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (“kWh”) per month in 2039 by $88.66 compared to the May 1, 2020 level of $116.18. The Company’s bill projections are not final, and all customer rates are subject to regulatory approval.
Further, the Company also presents its 2023 RPS Program Compliance Report in the Petition, certifying compliance with the RPS Program for compliance year 2023.
CE-5 Projects
Dominion seeks CPCNs and approval to construct or acquire and operate two utility scale projects totaling approximately 208 MW of solar. The name, size, locality, interconnection, and projected commercial operation date (“COD”) for each of the CE-5 Projects is provided below:
The Company asserts that the CE-5 Projects are needed to comply with the VCEA and to serve customers’ capacity and energy needs. According to the Company, the total estimated costs for the CE-5 Projects are approximately $605.0 million, excluding financing costs, or approximately $2,908 per kilowatt (“kW”) at the total 208 MW rating.
CE-5 PPAs
In its 2024 RPS Filing, Dominion also seeks a prudence determination for the CE-5 PPAs. The 24 CE-5 PPAs consist of (i) 11 PPAs for utility-scale solar resources totaling approximately 550.4 MW; (ii) one PPA for a solar plus storage facility totaling 20 MW of solar and 7 MW of storage; (iii) four PPAs for stand-alone energy storage resources totaling approximately 370 MW; and (iv) eight PPAs for distributed solar generating facilities totaling approximately 18 MW.
Dominion asserts that the CE-5 PPAs are needed to comply with the VCEA and to serve customers’ capacity and energy needs. Rider CE
In this proceeding, Dominion makes two requests related to Rider CE. First, the Company seeks to update Rider CE for the recovery of costs associated with (a) the CE-1, CE-2, CE-3, and CE-4 projects and related interconnection facilities previously approved by the Commission; (b) the CE-2 and CE-3 distributed solar projects and related interconnection facilities previously approved by the Commission; and (c) the CE-1, CE-2, CE-3, and CE-4 PPAs previously approved by the Commission.
Second, Dominion requests recovery through Rider CE of the costs of (a) the CE-5 Projects and related interconnection facilities, (b) the two CE-5 Distributed Solar Projects and related interconnection facilities; and (c) the CE-5 PPAs. The CE-5 Projects and CE-5 PPAs are discussed in more detail above. The CE-5 Distributed Solar Projects consist of two distributed solar projects totaling approximately 6 MW and related interconnection facilities.
The Company asserts that the CE-5 Distributed Solar Projects are needed to comply with the VCEA and to serve customers’ capacity and energy needs. According to the Company, the total estimated costs for the CE-5 Distributed Solar Projects are approximately $27.7 million, excluding financing costs, or approximately $4,619 per kW at the total 6 MW rating.
The Company also requests recovery in the present case for costs associated with the development of the Peppertown Solar project presented in the Company’s filing in Case No. PUR-2023-00142, which the Commission did not approve. The Company asserts that the limited development costs were reasonably and prudently incurred
in order to develop sufficient detail on the project to allow for a thorough analysis and review by the Commission. Dominion proposes that, if approved, the Peppertown development costs would be recovered in the next RPS Development Plan proceeding as part of the 2024 calendar year true-up for Rider CE.
Dominion asks the Commission to approve revised Rider CE for the rate year beginning May 1, 2025, and ending April 30, 2026 (“Rate Year”). The Company is requesting a total revenue requirement of $181,633,855 for Rider CE for the Rate Year. If the proposed total revenue requirement for the Rate Year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementation of its revised Rider CE on May 1, 2025, would increase the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month by approximately $0.79 when compared to the combined total residential rates in the current Rider CE. Interested persons are encouraged to review Dominion’s Petition and supporting documents in full for details about the Company’s proposals in this case.
TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Petition and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Petition and supporting documents.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Petition. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Company’s Petition shall be convened telephonically at 10 a.m. on February 18, 2025. On or before February 11, 2025, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission: (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
Beginning at 10 a.m. on February 18, 2025, the Commission will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.
On February 18, 2025, at 10 a.m., or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Commission will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Petition from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission Staff.
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
An electronic copy of the public version of the Company’s Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the public version of the Petition and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information
On or before February 11, 2025, any interested person may submit comments on the Petition by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00147.
On or before December 13, 2024, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/ efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company at the address listed above. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00147. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.
On or before January 7, 2025, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia. gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 520140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00147.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice. The public version of the Company’s Petition, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information
