Falls Church News-Press 11-26-2020 by Falls Church News-Press

November 26 – December 2, 2020

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F.C. Shelter Remains Closed For Winter

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No Space For Distancing Forces Tough Call BY MSTT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Falls Church Homeless Shelter is one of many smaller area shelters that will keep its doors closed this winter, causing local authorities to adjust where and how they will house the homeless population as its peak season coincides with rising Covid-19 rates throughout the nation. Three words can summarize why the Friends of Falls Church decided to keep their hypothermia shelter closed during its usual November – March stretch for this year: not enough space. “You have to have a certain amount of physical space for distancing in shelters, and we simply did not have that space,” Bob Fletcher, the chair of the shelter’s board, told the News-Press. “The decision was made that we would not be able to operate the shelter.” Its home at 217 Gordon Road in the City of Falls Church can

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THE CLASS OF 2021 got to say one �inal goodbye to George Mason High School by (literally) leaving their mark on the building. The high school will be torn down and replaced by the new high school just across the rear parking lot, with students expected to be walking its halls come January. (P��: C�� FCCPS P��/C�� S��)

Founders Row Site Loses Movie Theater Commitment

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

To many observers, it or something like it was bound to happen as a consequence of these extraordinary times.

Even as the largest development project in the history of the City of Falls Church has continued to be under construction at the intersection of W. Broad Street and N. West Street anticipating residential move-ins to begin late

next summer, one cornerstone of its plans has fallen victim to the economic fallout from the current pandemic. The Studio Movie Grill that promised to bring multiple movie theater screens to the project has

declared bankruptcy and won’t be filling its much-anticipated role in the center of the Falls Church commercial district. Although sources tell the

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The 13th annual graduation ceremony for sewing academy graduates took place at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, where Islamic Relief USA holds its Social Services Department. The ceremony was supposed ot take place in March, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. See Community News & Notes, page 9

B�� Y�� W�� I�� CBC “S�� A��” City of Falls Church developer and chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority won the Citizens for a Better City’s first-ever “Shoutout Award” for leading the EDA’s effort to distribute microgrants to Falls Church businesses that were suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. See News & Notes, page 9

2 F.C. C�� M�� S�� S�� N�� C�� Falls Church City’s Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly and council member Letty Hardi issued separate statements about their support of changing the names of George Mason High and Thomas Jefferson Elementary amid the School Board’s current deliberations. See News Briefs, page 15

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters........................................... 6,18 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 News & Notes..................................... 9 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18 Business News ................................. 19

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE

NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 3

fcnp.com/holidayshopping2020

The City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department Presents

Holiday Gift & Craft Pop-Up Shops Saturdays, December 5 through December 19 from 8 a.m. to Noon At the Farmers Market (City Hall, 300 Park Ave.)

Shop Local! Shop Small! Shop Safely! Visit the website for crafters, artists, and more. www.fallschurchva.gov/PopUps Future Pop-Ups Jewelry Designs by Mary Ruth (beaded, leather and fabric jewelry); Herban Avenues (herb teas, soaps, fizz bombs, scrubs, and aromatherapy); SASstitch (doll clothes, crocheted gifts) and K&S Wood Crafts (spoons, cutting boards, chess sets).

www.fallschurchva.gov/PopUps

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Alternate Facilities, Hotels Used to Compensate For Lack of Shelters

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house up to 10 men and two women, so the total number of people is less of a problem than how much separation they can get. The men sleep in one room, with six in individual beds and four on two bunk beds. The women stay in a small room with two beds. Fletcher said that attempts to refit the shelter in a way that accounts for proper distancing were tried, but ultimately unsuccessful. In his words, “The idea of only operating with two or three guests a night was not feasible.” So the roughly 30-40 unique guests the shelter gets each year will have to turn elsewhere. According to Thomas Barnett, the deputy director at Fairfax County’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, the county has been working all year long to plan for its usual winter surge. Barnett said they scouted over 50 locations throughout Fairfax County before landing on a few publicly owned buildings that are

either under-utilized or not being used at all due to the pandemic. An emergency order by Fairfax’s Board of Supervisors signed off on eight locations that can be rotated in place of the smaller hypothermia shelters that won’t operate this winter. Substitute shelters that are local will be at the Lincolnia Senior Center in the Alexandria area, per Barnett, as well as the Container Store that’s along Leesburg Pike in the Tysons area. Barnett didn’t commit to that location being opened by its target date of Dec. 1, but is confident it will be following necessary building and fire code reviews. One of the reasons the county has been working so hard to find new shelters is a typically reliable source — houses of worship — not only lack space, but are also run by people who are more susceptible to Covid-19. “Faith community volunteers happen to be older, so they provide a particular vulnerability to the virus and can get seriously ill,” Barnett said.

Hoteling is the other strategy Fairfax officials are using to help homeless shelters manage their resident populations. Thanks to funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the county can purchase a group of rooms in a hotel and keep overflow residents in there if need be. It’s also an overlap with a program that the county started to help people in multi-family housing self-isolate if they tested positive for Covid-19. Barnett said the hotels will also serve that function for homeless individuals, as well as for those who are demonstrating virus symptoms and are awaiting test results. Lastly, the rooms will be used by those who are at risk of getting seriously sick from coronavirus because of their age or their condition — which Barnett said is increasingly common since the average age of the county’s homeless population is rising. Despite large parts of the economy being shut down and many people finding themselves out of

We are OPEN and ready to safely serve your dental needs! Currently accepting new patients

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TIGHT QUARTERS at the Falls Church Homeless Shelter made it impossible for its hypothermia program to run this winter and early spring. (P��: J. M�� W��) work, Barnett said that he doesn’t see the demand for shelters increasing this year. He estimated that Fairfax County’s total homeless population will likely hover around the 1,200 mark as it did last year, though cautioned that could change depending on how evictions are handled once the moratorium ends after Christmas. Even with their shelter closed, the Friends of Falls Church aren’t sitting on their hands this winter. Fletcher said the board has a number of proposals they’re currently considering, such as an emergency

assistance fund that homeless individuals or organizations that serve the homeless could tap into. They’re also trying to work more closely with the Falls Church Community Service Council for help with food assistance. “What we’re trying to do is make sure we can stay involved in the community this year and provide support to various organizations,” Fletcher said. “[Those] that directly support homeless people and that support other parts of the community that help people stay housed.”

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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 5

Thousands of Potential Retailers Vetted, Up to 6 in Negotiations

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News-Press the news was circulating around City Hall for weeks, it was broken publicly for the first time last Thursday at one of Mill Creek’s periodic public updates provided to neighbors and other stakeholders related to the project. The briefing by Mill Creek’s public face to the City, Joe Muffler, also included the news that the City Works eatery, under lease to open in Founders Row, has closed its Tysons Corner location until further notice. Muffler stressed that City Works is still under its lease and it is hopeful that a recovery from the pandemic in the coming months will allow it to reopen in Tysons and be ready to launch its new site in the City. As far as the Studio Movie Grill is concerned, it is well documented how the pandemic has had a particularly devastating impact on movie theaters nationwide. Muffler insisted that Mill Creek “will leave no stone unturned” to find a replacement movie theater company to move in at the Falls Church site, even though he said that almost no new movies are being released in

theatres now due to the pandemic. In remarks exclusive to the News-Press this week, Muffler said he is very bullish on prospects moving forward in the Little City, pertaining not only to the Founders Row project, which at 4.3 acres is the biggest development ever undertaken here, but his company is also still planning to move ahead with the acquisition and development of the large parcels that will be combined across the street from the Founders Row, being the currently vacated Rite Aid and carpet store sites. And as construction of Founders Row continues to advance, Muffler said that Mill Creek has contacted “more than a thousand potential commercial tenants” and is currently in lease negotiations with “five or six of them.” He said as far as potential new retail clients for the Founders Row location, his company will “see who is still standing” after “we make it through the winter.” “There is tons of interest in the active seniors community that is part of this project,” he continued. He added that the work of constructing Founders Row project is

“proceeding well,” with the first residential move-ins expected in late Summer 2021. Traffic signals will be installed and other transportation improvements will be finished in 6-8 months. A design for a mural on the east side of the main building will come to the F.C. Planning Commission for review next month. Meanwhile, the F.C. City Council is busy coping with requests that have to date remained behind the scenes of the Gateway Developers chosen to begin the construction of the massive 9.4-acre West End mixed use development shortly after the new year. In short, there have a number of closed sessions of the Council, the most recent being this Monday, that included members of the development team of EYA, Hoffman and Regency, in response to requests for changes to the terms of the agreement reached last year. One Council member, David Snyder, voted against going into a closed session to discuss the matters, saying the public should be made aware of what’s going on, but as long as the matters involve negotiations over financial terms, it is proper for considerations to be

WITH LESS THAN A YEAR before the first wave of people move into residential units, the Founders Row project is left looking for a new movie theater tenant. (Photo: News-Press) mulled behind closed doors. The third large scale mixed use project, the Insight project at the intersection of Broad and Washington that includes a megaWhole Foods market, is now being reviewed by an array of City boards and commissions, whose recommendations will come back to the Council in January, with a final vote on the project due at the end of January. Two local restaurants adjacent

the site — Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Thompson Italian — have been given assurances about parking options during the construction phase of the new project, changed their earlier objections and now become supporters of the project, along with the Ireland’s Four Provinces just down the street who look to the expanded customer base that over 339 new residential units there will bring to the immediate area.

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The Best Over The Worst in Us

The best editorial cartoon of the week shows Ivanka with Don Jr. and Eric in front of a TV where members of Biden’s new cabinet are being introduced, and the clueless Ivanka exclaims, “Wait. Those aren’t Biden’s children!” It’s by Mike Thompson of USA Today. Right you are, Ivanka! How gaslighted we’ve become to accept the bizarre makeup of the White House under Trump for how a country should be run! (Gaslighting has become a term of contemporary usage these Trump years, referring to a classic 1944 film with Ingrid Bergman playing a wife being slowly poisoned by her evil husband such that as she sinks toward death, she never really knows what’s happening to her. Trumpian toxicity has been doing that to us.) The team that President-elect Biden has put together is an A-Team of talent and acumen, what a presidential cabinet should look like. What’s astonishing here is how twisted things in the White House have become, revealed only by the bold steps Biden has taken so far for a return to normal, or as it has been aptly stated, to a climate whereby America can “build back better.” While nothing about what’s come out of the White House the last four years should shock us, many aspects will still be astonishing and continue to dazzle and amaze us as we recover from our gaslighting. Among them, as folks line up to apply for jobs in the new administration, is the discovery of how few executive branch positions were actually ever filled by Trump. He really did have no interest in applying the energy and concentration required to run this country, instead preferring us to watch his big fat derriere chip away at golf balls while his minions stole more and more from the public dole. He’s been too dumb and selfish in the process to be much of a Russian agent, although he did and will continue to do things to strengthen Putin’s hand. His latest stunt has been to pull the U.S. out of the Open Skies Treaty and to destroy the planes we used in that effort, thereby empowering the Russians, among other things, to build up undetected for an invasion of Europe. But we can be confident our extremely skilled national intelligence teams have unfolded measures to correct for that. Our intelligence agencies are the true heroes of these last four years, keeping the stupendously f*d up Trump and his cohorts contained such that we are not all nuclear powder by now. There was a lot of double overtime in that. Going forward the nation needs to double down on the flaws that were allowed over the last half-century to fester into the puss-laden mess that the White House has become. Freedom that does not favor the best over the worst in us is a prescription for disaster. We need to put a lot of thought into what that means.

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Bad Look For School Board Members To Oppose Survey Editor, I was distressed to read that two members of the Falls Church City school board have suggested that the will of the vast majority of respondents to the recent survey asking whether the community supports changing the names of George Mason High School and Thomas Jefferson Elemetnry School should be ignored when the board meets on Dec. 8 to vote

on the issue. The people have spoken. What kind of message would it send for the board to ignore the democratic process and vote in favor of a name change based on the personal opinions of board members? I would hate to be a civics teacher and try to explain that. James Callahan Falls Church

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F.C. School Board’s Anti-Survey Rhetoric Is Over The Top Editor, Tuesday’s School Board “discussion” of the school name change issue was an embarrassment and, frankly, an insult to this community. The name of the schools may fall within the Board’s political authority, but it is not an issue about which the Board is uniquely qualified to decide. This is a matter of our community identity and how we, as Falls Church, want to

tackle the challenges of race and history. The Board must listen to and follow the clear expression from the community it serves in support of maintaining the names of Mason and Jefferson and find a balanced and reasonable way to move forward. Faced with what was, evidently to some on the Board, the shock and disappointment of the results of a robust and professional survey that found overwhelming (nearly 3-to-1) opposition to name change, with clear majorities from every segment of our Little City,

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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 7

Gratitude for What We Have Is Foundational to Holidays B� C�� F��

As we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving, I like to reflect on the power of gratitude. There is an old saying that “gratitude turns what we have into enough.” Gratitude is more than a feeling; it is a spiritual discipline to be practiced on a daily basis. Gratitude is a garment we put on when we feel down, an elixir we imbibe when we are fatigued. Gratitude revives us, by reminding us of all we have been given. At Homestretch, we welcome homeless parents and children into our care, who are escaping domestic violence, human trafficking, chronic poverty and war. These parents often come to us with little hope, feeling lost and scared. Their problems can feel overwhelming. For these families, with nowhere to lay their heads, mired in debt, without jobs, their savings depleted, often with chronic health conditions, suffering from anxiety and depression, and with dependent young children, it can feel as if they have drained their last vestiges of faith and hope. We place these families in homes and then surround them with services designed to address all of their needs and aspirations. Step by step, increment by increment, we reignite their hope by equipping them with education and job skills, repairing credit and building savings, restoring health, and helping them

to enter career paths. We help with childcare and transportation and scholarships to school. We ensure that their children are healthy, happy and able to excel in school. Families who once thought they had

“Gratitude is more than a feeling; it is a spiritual discipline to be practiced on a daily basis. Gratitude is a garment we put on when we feel down, an elixir we imbibe when we are fatigued.” no real future now find doors opening to promising new opportunities. Over three decades, homeless parents in Homestretch have become nurses, accountants, teachers, pharmacy techs, dental assistants, social workers, master plumbers, business analysts, cosmetologists, realtors and pastors. Best of all, outcome studies by local universities prove that 90 percent of these families never return to homelessness, a success

rate unparalleled nationwide. One thing our most successful graduates have in common, and what successful people worldwide share, is an ability to recognize how blessed they are, and a willingness to express their thanks to others who helped them. They share a recognition that we never achieve anything important alone; any success we achieve is built on the foundations that others have laid before us. Our graduates often say, “You all believed in me more than I believed in myself.” Once their hope is reignited, anything is possible. When children observe their parents overcoming adversity with grit and determination, they learn to do the same. These parents, once mired in loss and despair, see themselves become heroes in the eyes of their children for how they face and surmount life’s obstacles. Given so much, they seek to carry that love forward. We must carry that love forward. We are living in a very turbulent time, with 12 million people losing their benefits the day after Christmas, a third of all renters behind in their rent, and millions of families facing homelessness once the moratoriums on eviction are lifted. A quarter of a million people have already died in the pandemic, and the numbers of infected are increasing every day. It may seem odd to appeal to gratitude in such a time as this, with so many people suffering and things appearing so

bleak. I would argue that yes, it is precisely at times like these that we should focus on expressing gratitude. The first official Thanksgiving holiday came about in an even greater time of upheaval, in the midst of America’s own bloodiest period, our Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln thought it prudent for the public to set time aside to give thanks for all the blessings they did enjoy in life. Lincoln said in his 1863 proclamation, “with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, (let us) commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers” and “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.” Lincoln recognized that gratitude was a critical discipline necessary to survive the calamity of the times. Lincoln was right. Let us remember, whatever good we have in life, is because others have laid the path for us to walk. This week let’s bless others, as we have been blessed, and pray for healing of our great nation. Christopher Fay is the Executive Director for Falls Church nonprofit, Homestretch

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[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

Last Week’s Question: Will the survey showing little interest in changing school names put the issue to bed?

27% Yes 20% Not sure

53% No

FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientiﬁc polls.

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 | NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020

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Little City Lover & Fairfax Co. Teacher, Fran Turner, Dies at 77 Frances Sours Turner, age 77, of Falls Church, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Nov. 19. She was born in Roanoke, and attended Jefferson Senior High School. Fran went on to attend Queens College (now University) in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at Queens, she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Katherine Hughes Sours as well as by Fran’s husband Robert of 43 years. She is survived by her sons Christopher and Andrew Turner of Denver, Colorado, and her granddaughter Hayley Grace Turner of Boulder, Colorado. Hayley was one of the highlights of Fran’s life, bringing joy to her days. She loved to tell her friends all about her current adventures. She was a life-long educator, beloved by her students and other teachers, taking time out only to raise her sons. Even after Fran retired, she

continued to substitute teach until 2018. She began her teaching with the Richmond Public Schools, before moving to Northern Virginia to teach at Masonville Elementary School. Fran then went on to Haycock and Churchill Elementary Schools for the last 25 years of her career, all in Fairfax County. She was a member of The Falls Church Episcopal Church and was also a member of the PEO Sisterhood. Fran enjoyed traveling, both domestically and internationally, regularly spending time at the beach during her summers off, walking and socializing with friends. She was always full of conversation. Fran loved living in the City of Falls Church; she even moved back to a different house on Forest Drive after a few years living in New Jersey. There will a Celebration of Life in Falls Church and burial in Clifton Forge, VA, at a later date. We will always carry Fran’s memory in our hearts.

FRAN SOURS TURNER (top center), longtime City of Falls Church resident, beloved and talented teacher in the Fairfax County School System, died at age 77 last Thursday. She is shown in this older photo with her family, including (left to right) son Chris Turner, husband (now also deceased) Robert Turner, son Andrew Turner and granddaughter Hayley Grace Turner. (Courtesy Photo)

Make &

Your Shop Local Resources For The Holidays! December 3 - 17th issues Holiday Shopping Guide! Included in these 3 issues: • MarketSpace - our online business directory to give you local shopping options • Holiday Ad Spotlights offering gift suggestions for local shopping options • Gift Guides that will offer local suggestions for specific gift giving needs • Foodie Gift, Family Gift, Falls Church Branded Gift, Child Gift, Stocking Stuffer Gift, and others

If you are a local business and would like to be included in any of these holiday resources please contact Melissa Morse at mmorse@fcnp.com or 703-532-3267 Contact us for Discounted Participation Rates and even Free Options!

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Want to Wish You A Safe and Healthy

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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 9

C�� N�� N�� F.C. City Band Boosters Open Pop-Up Shop Falls Church City Band Boosters has launched a virtual pop-up shop open through Dec. 7. The online shop, accessible through the boosters website or fancloth. shop/HWHZM, offers a variety of clothing and gift items featuring traditional Mustang logo merchandise, as well as band and music themed designs for George Mason High School. There are select designs for Mary Ellen Henderson band and music as well. The sale benefits Band Boosters General Fund to advance opportunities for student equity, excellence and engagement. Lesson scholarships for students in need is a particular priority this year. Items will be delivered directly to purchasers in about four weeks.

Marshall High’s X-Mas Tree Sale Lives On in New Location The George C. Marshall High School Boosters will run its annual Christmas Tree Sale starting Nov. 28. Due to Covid-19, the sale has relocated to Idylwood Presbyterian Church (7617 Idylwood Rd., Falls Church). Hours are: Saturdays from

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sundays from noon – 6 p.m. and weekdays from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. The sale will offer Christmas Trees, wreaths, garlands, tree stands, White House ornaments and Marshall Statesmen spirit wear. All proceeds benefit Marshall Athletics. The tree supply is limited this year, so interested buyers are encouraged to make their purchase early. All customers must wear a mask on the tree lot and follow social distancing guidelines.

Jammin’ Java Awarded Grant To Help Out During Pandemic Jammin Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna) has been awarded one of the 20 grants issued by the new Live Music Society to help address the needs of small U.S. music venues that were forced to shut their doors with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Live Music Society has committed to giving $2 million in grants in its first two years of operation to support the live music ecosystem around the United States. The Live Music Society Grants help music venues that have been in operation for three years or more with a sellable capacity of 250 occupants or less, with maximum

A SEWING ACADEMY held its 13th annual graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Dar Al Hijrah, where its Social Services Department administers the program. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place in March, but Covid-19 forced a months-long delay. The 12 women received certificates and sewing machines at a socially-distanced ceremony. (P��: C�� S�� H��/I�� R�� USA) one-year individual grants ranging from $10,000 – $50,000.

Northam Signs Order Bringing Back School Sports Local public school student athletes will be allowed to return to competition in December, according to an Executive Order signed last week by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. School divisions will be expected to abide by the Guidelines for Return to Participation, developed by the Virginia High School

League in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health. These guidelines address safety standards on a sport by sport basis. High school athletes will be able to begin practice on Dec. 7. Fairfax County Public Schools said it plans to begin practice for the winter season on Dec. 7 for basketball and on Dec. 14 for all other winter sports. Student athletes should check their school website for practice and tryout information. FCPS is currently evaluating whether to allow spectators to

attend competitions. Modifications outlined in the Guidelines for Return to Participation are meant to decrease potential exposure to respiratory droplets by encouraging social distancing, limiting participation in administrative tasks to essential personnel, and allowing for appropriate protective equipment. Recommendations are provided for cleaning and disinfecting; mask protocols; transportation; and how to run activities safely for individual sports and activities.

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!

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SE NI O R LI V I NG

SENIOR LIVING

Senior News Line

Using the Internet To Enrich Our Lives by Matlida Charles

King Features Syndicate

With most of us spending most of our days at home, it’s time for us to take advantage of the internet. Here are some resources that can enrich our lives. Inquire at the local senior center about any exercise classes online. Some classes will be live on Zoom and others will be videos that the instructors record and post on the center’s website. If they’re not hosting any classes, search online for “seniors exercise at home” and look for some that are produced by other senior centers. Virtual art classes can open up new areas of interest and reveal talents you didn’t know you had. Better yet, if you’re a beginner or are exploring a new art medium,

look for videos that you can review over and over. Look online for free art classes online for seniors. Exercise and art aren’t the only free classes you’ll find online. Yoga and tai chi, sewing, baking and cake decorating, creative writing, a new language — if it can be done online, there’s a class for it somewhere. And don’t forget Class Central (www.classcentral.com). Check the website for a list of MOOCS (massive open online courses). There 15,000 different free and low-cost classes in its searchable database from colleges and universities around the world. Imagine taking a philosophy course from the University of Edinburgh or Introduction to Classical Music via Yale University. (I put art history into its search box and got

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cold outside, wrap up and go outdoors anyway. Don’t try this if there’s ice, of course, but even a few minutes spent walking around outside in fresh air can raise your spirits. Grab your camera. Set up still shots around your house. A fabric background on a table or shelf, a few small statues or trinkets (especially ones from trips you’ve taken) and a lamp for lighting, and you might discover that you have a real eye for photography. Or read a new author, learn to watercolor, take a free online course, watch zoo cams... The idea is to try new things, even given our “stay at home” limitations. As of this writing, most states are seeing big increases in corona-

virus levels, even states that were stable with relatively low rates just a few weeks ago. We seniors are, unfortunately, in the high-risk group because of our age, even if we don’t have health concerns. And as of this writing, the U.S. has more active cases of the coronavirus than any other country in the world, including India. It has four times the population but half the deaths that we do. It’s everywhere, and we can’t let down our guard. Stay home, stay safe and look for new things to occupy yourself.  Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

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back 165 results.) Read the details for any class you’re considering. It will tell you if the class is selfpaced, whether it’s free to audit, the class level and how much time per week you can expect to spend on the work, as well as reviews from other students. If you’re unsure of your internet skills, search for “internet basics for seniors” on Google. *** Are we bored yet? Of course we are. We’re staying indoors, especially now that cold weather has arrived, not shopping, not visiting friends, not doing much of anything. Somehow we have to get through this winter, though, and now might be the time to explore things that are new and different to us. Here are some ideas: Change the channel. If you watch the same television news every night, switch to a different one (or better yet, skip a night or two). If you watch the same shows all the time, consider watching something different, even if you think it won’t appeal to you. Step outside. Even though it’s

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NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 PAGE 11

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PAGE 12 | NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

The coronavirus pandemic means that a smaller, socially distanced Thanksgiving celebration will be the menu for many families this year. Despite the dearth of family and friends gathering in-person on Thursday, there is much to be thankful for, even during this most peculiar and anxiety-ridden year. In no special order, here is a list, and readers may add many more, I am sure: • Thankful for the health care professionals, who have worked tirelessly to attend patients afflicted with Covid-19, and their families. The mental, physical, and emotional toll is enormous, but they powered through, and saved many lives. Covid-19 also gave us all a new appreciation for face masks, once the almost-exclusive province of health care, but now an everyday need for all. • Thankful for the first responders who continue to keep our community safe. Public safety is a core responsibility of local government, and police, fire and rescue personnel, and emergency management staff are on duty 24/7, regardless of pandemics, weather conditions, or protests, peaceful or otherwise. • Thankful for the election officials and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure that every voter was served and every vote counted in the 2020 presidential election. Thousands of voters stood in line for hours at the Mason District Governmental Center, in good weather as well as rain, to cast ballots absentee in-person. The operation ran smoothly and garnered many compliments; the ballot drop boxes were popular, and I am hopeful that the Commonwealth will permit them to be used for future elections. • Thankful that the majority of people are wearing facemasks correctly, covering both the nose and mouth. Facemasks protect everyone. Wearing a mask when outside of one’s own household is a civic responsibility. Not wearing one is not a right; it’s thoughtless and dangerous. • Thankful for the workers who routinely serve customers face-to-face, and whose jobs (and health)

may be in jeopardy during the pandemic — grocery, pharmacy, and retail clerks, restaurant servers (both dine-in and carry-out), postal employees, and so many others whose jobs cannot be done remotely. Stocking the shelves, delivering the mail, filling prescriptions, etc. makes us appreciate what “normal” life looks and feels like. • Thankful for a mostly positive partnership between Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). VDOT’s response to road maintenance issues in Mason District, especially, is the result of good relationships developed across many years. Of special significance is the announcement, this week, that the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) awarded a National Excellence Honor Award to the ABC Weekend Superstructure Replacement Project – a long name for the rebuild of the Wilson Boulevard Bridge over Route 50 that occurred in August 2019. ABC refers to Accelerated Bridge Construction, which allowed the small, heavily-used bridge to be rebuilt off-site (much of it was done on the vacant parking lot adjacent to the Willston Multicultural Center), and installed in just one weekend, minimizing closure time for this busy thoroughfare. Some follow-up work, which did not necessitate closure, included installing sidewalks and new bridge railings and walls. There were 215 national entries in the competition, and the Wilson Bridge project was one of the top 32 selected. The project proved that good planning, jurisdictions working together, and getting it done in record time provide a template for future projects. Communication with residents and motorists was paramount, and apparently successful, as there were no recorded complaints registered with any jurisdiction involved. Have a Happy, and safe, Thanksgiving!  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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Trump’s 2 Weeks Inflicting Worry

At first we thought it might be Election Day itself, Nov. 3, when the world could explode in pent-up joy and relief at the demise of Don the Horrible Trump. But no, thanks to the news media’s tortured ways we had nothing conclusive then, and the acid levels grew. Frankly, I thought I’d stayed up late enough Election Night that when I came into the office on midday Wednesday, I’d find spirited polkas and empty champagne bottles. But no, only droopy faces despite my protests that things were headed in the right direction. Worried visages haunted me at every turn until the great Saturday, Nov. 7, when at last by mid-afternoon the major news organizations announced that Joe Biden FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS had secured enough delegates to put him and Kamala Harris over the Electoral College top. Ah yes, there was a celebration then. Alas, but the bloated Don the Sour was not done kicking over our picnic blankets. He puffed up his fat face as big as he could make it, scowled his best imitation of his mama’s stink eye, and set out a bunch of loonies across the land to intimidate, threaten and lie that they had the goods on the theft of the election. Poor Rudy Giuliani, now forever the laughing stock of the land, regretted that he doubled up on his Just for Men hair dye dosage, probably because he was still fantasizing about consummating that scene of his in the new Borat film (“Where is she, where is she?” his eyes examining the media gallery in that parking lot outside Four Seasons Landscaping Company where Trump organizers told the press to show up for a major press conference at the Four Seasons Four-Star Hotel). That was one press conference before Rudy’s Emmy-worthy meltdown a few days later that came amidst a blithering, incoherent rant about vote fraud that lacked, well, a single shred of evidence. By then the absurdity of Don the Pink (the orange is a dye) and his pathetic, laughable Keystone Cops effort to claim he won the election was more clearly evident than ever. But it was just then that it became the most dangerous. That’s when he started contacting election officials in key states, and summoning them to the White House, including a team from Michigan. So, if he can’t lie his way through this, then how about a good old fashioned Mafia-style threat, in person, with a bloodied horse head on the Oval Office couch? Then came news that, yes, one or more of the Republicans on the Michigan election certification team tasked with rubber stamping the outcome of the election, an election that Biden won by more than 150,000 votes, signalled they might not vote to certify the election, but to call for a delay in order to call into question the votes cast in heavily black and pro-Biden Detroit. This would have been a wholly unprecedented move, an illegal move at that, but which might have signalled that Don the Dump was going for a wholesale coup, and that there was enough backing for that among leading Republicans around the country who could potentially make it stick. With his darling head of the General Services Administration, a Ms. Emily Murphy, blithely refusing to certify the election in order to trigger the process of transitioning from one president to another, notwithstanding assurances that no one need worry from leading Democratic pundits, there were the considerations that Don the Toilet had received over 70 million votes (albeit six million short of Biden), and partly as a result that many in the GOP behind him held such enormous power without ever challenging that before, and Don the Busted Bidet had never shown the slightest hesitance to bust up the institutions of democracy. And finally, that Don the Sewer might well have the full force of the Russian oligarchy’s dirty tricks efforts behind him as well. On that latter point, we’re going to find out that an extraordinary effort by U.S. covert counterintelligence ops foiled numerous sophisticated Russian schemes to do just that. It was that which, finally, broke the capacity of Don the Russian Traitor from carrying out his coup plans.

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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Great multitudes in Arlington are giving thanks to the “church for people who don’t go to church.” That’s how Grace Community Church is described by lead pastor John Slye Jr. He recently updated me on the pandemic-era good works of the 20-year-old congregation that owns no property and meets — during normal times — in two borrowed locations. I first took note of Grace Community last January when it donated an astonishing $250,000 to the Chantilly-based CRi, the nonprofit that helps persons with mental health needs or developmental disabilities. That group is using the funds to build a new house near N. Glebe Rd. and Lee Highway to house six clients. And though most, if not all, houses of worship are meeting online during the crisis, Grace Community is unusual in that it has never spent its offerings money on stained glass, pews, steeples or a parish hall. Its parishioners (currently 2,000) since its founding on Christmas Eve of 2000 have assembled at sites like Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington and at George Mason High School in Falls Church. “We don’t have traditional hymn books, but put the words on a screen,” Slye said. “There’s a little more rock and roll” than at a conventional service, with electric guitars. “But when it comes to Christmas, we’re more traditional.”

Grace’s ministerial outreach is aimed at “the least likely person in America to go to church — the young professionals” so numerous in the Washington area, he said. “The average church is 90 percent people who’ve gone to church their whole life. But 40 percent of us have never gone, or not in a long time. They self-classify as non-church-goers.” The result is a scattered congregation that is “really diverse between young and old — the average age is early 30s, though we try to mix it up,” Slye said. There’s plenty of racial diversity, with African-Americans reflective of the county’s just under 10 percent, with Latinos too. These folks give. Since the Covid crisis hit, Grace — working with partners at other churches and nonprofits — has aided more than 6,000 needy locals and invested $170,000 in Covid-19 relief. That includes food distribution with partners such as Chick Fil-A and Giant Food, rent assistance to more than 100 families facing eviction, plus a school supplies drive. Slye has a bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies at what is now the University of Valley Forge and a master’s in divinity. He is a local boy, having attended Thomas Jefferson Middle and Wakefield High School. He is a fan of Arlington historical trivia, occasionally citing anecdotes from this columnist in his sermons. Someday, when the crisis has eased, Slye vowed, Grace Community would like to acquire

its own property. That would cement a highly spirited ministry. *** Preservation activist Tom Dickinson can boast of demonstrated impact. Last April he filed a last-minute application to designate a local historic district to protect the 19thcentury Febrey-Lothrop home at Wilson Blvd. and N. McKinley St. Since the death of longtime owner Randy Rouse in 2017, the county and commercial homebuilders have been eying that rare residential nine acres. But it was revealed at the Nov. 18 (virtual) meeting of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board that an unsolicited bid this summer from a contractor hoping to construct several dozen homes on the space was canceled. That’s according to attorney Tom Colucci, representing the Rouse trust, which seeks to avoid “interference” in its goal of maximizing the estate’s value via a “highquality development.” Some board members expressed interest in preserving the storied house while accommodating a builder’s goal of placing new homes around it. So they instructed county staff to study new ways of dividing the property’s 15 lots, which might take six months. Dickinson’s reaction: “I feel mildly vindicated, but in the long run, I don’t know if LHD designation will impede” the builder. “The historic main house might be saved, but surrounded by $2 million-a-pop McMansions on minimum lot size.”

PAGE 14 | NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2020

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR LOCALEVENTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 8 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit fallschurchva. gov/547/Farmers-Market-To-Go. Turtle Thanksgiving. Interested participants can come help the park’s staff make Thanksgiving dinner for its turtle population. The group will chop up fresh fruits and veggies, then give them worms for dessert. For ages 3 – 6. Register child only, but caretakers must attend. To register, contact 703-228-4747. And for information, contact 703228-6535. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 2 – 3 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 Tiny Tot — Hibernation. Tiny Tot programs provide opportunities to interact one-on-one with young children while discovering the wonders of nature. Each program will engage children with hands-on learning and may include a variety of activities like songs, crafts, finger plays and mini-hikes. Adults must remain during the entire program. Ages 1 – 3. $5 fee due upon registration. To register, contact 703-2284747. Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park (3608 North Military Rd., Arlington). 10 – 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 703-2286535. Bike Trips for Teens. Teens ages 11 – 17 come take a bike ride with Glencarlyn park’s Office for Teens. Riders and staffers will meet at the Glencarlyn Bike Loop (301 S. Harrison St., Arlington). 4 – 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Northern Virginia Bird Club Walk. Interested attendees can join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for one or all of these informal walks through Long Branch and Glencarlyn Park in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcomed. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and field guides if they have them. Register by contacting longbranch@arlingtonva.us. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Falls Church). 8:30 – 11 a.m. 703-228-6535.

VIRTUALEVENTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Online Preschool Story Time. Those who are interested can join the Mary Riley Styles Library staff live on the library’s Facebook page for a virtual fun time of stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 0-5. Visit facebook.com/mrspl to join in on the activities. 10:30 – 11 a.m. ESOL Conversation Group (online). Interested participants can practice their English with a weekly ESOL conversation group. This program meets online via Zoom. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8:30 p.m.

LIVEMUSIC FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Shopping Mans Dead, The Sequel — Live at the Still. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 3 p.m. 703-858-9186. Mars Rodeo Show Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 5:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

LINWOOD TAYLOR will be performing with Sol Roots Band at JV’s Restaurant on Friday. (Photo: Facebook.com/Linwood-Taylor-Band)

Karl Stoll and The Danger Zone. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Red Shoes Band. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-858-9186.

A Song & A Slice (Indoors + Distanced!): Wandering Lies Album Release + Jake Mimikos (of The Frontier). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $7 – $12. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Caligula Blushed — A Tribute To Morrissey & The Smiths. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-2370300.

The Seldom Scene and Dry Branch Fire Squad. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Mary Chapin Carpenter: One Night Lonely. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $20. 8 p.m. 703-2551900. Linwood Taylor Show with Sol Roots & The Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Groovequest Live and In Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703241-9504.

Charles Esten. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $55. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500. A Song & A Slice (Indoors + Distanced!): #FEELintheBLANK Some Never Really Get Music. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $5 – $10. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566. New Blue Soul with Mary Shaver. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Dan Chute and Vernon Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 3 p.m. 703-

241-9504. (Indoors + Socially Distanced!) Comedy Cornucopia! Benefiting Vienna VA Foodies. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566 Josh Allen Band (Beatles Night). JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Trio Acoustic Show with a special guest. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Collective A’Chord. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 7 p.m. 703237-0300. Old Time Radio Remix from Comedian & Producer Rahmein Mostafavi — Live and in Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 7:30 p.m. 703-2551566.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

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NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 15

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Connelly, Hardi Come Out for School Name Changes Falls Church City’s Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly and Council member Letty Hardi issued separate statements about their support for changing the names of George Mason High and Thomas Jefferson Elementary amid the School Board’s current deliberation on the subject. Hardi announced in her regular online newsletter last Friday that “as one of the few people of color elected to public office in Falls Church,” she favors changing the names of both schools on grounds that the Founding Fathers after whom they are named owned slaves. Both Hardi and Connelly’s opinion bucked the results of a survey announced last week where almost three-to-one favored keeping the current names. Hardi counselled that citizens should “listen to historically marginalized voices,” should “not believe we’re too good for racism in this progresssive little city,” and that a renaming “should be coupled with a commitment to meaningful anti-racism policy changes.” Connelly, in her blog post last Friday, wrote, “To most of us, slavery happened in the past, perpetuated by and suffered by long dead people. We fiercely reject the terrible things that were inflicted on enslaved children and families for 250 years in America. In our modern world, child abuse, family separation, rape, forced labor are horrors that we detest. And yet… that is what these men, Mason & Jefferson, symbolize to Black people who live in our community – to people who are our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and leaders. That should be enough.” The F.C. School Board members will take a vote on Dec. 8 about whether or not to change one or both of the school names, and if they do, will then consider what new names to give the schools.

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‘Use of Force’ Group Seeks Extension Representatives of the City of Falls Church’s Use of Force Review (UFR) Committee came before the virtual business meeting of the Falls Church City Council Monday to request an extension of the body’s term of service to the end of February 2021. A survey currently circulating around the City has already received more than 300 responses, according to committee vice chair Brian Cheswick, and is open for community responses through Dec. 4. There have also been over 200 comments and recommendations already received. There are 10 questions on the survey. Meanwhile, the citizen committee is studying 125 cases over the last five years when use of force by the F.C. Police or Sheriff’s Department was involved. A review of other documents pertaining to incidents, policies, orders and methods for mitigating violence are also being reviewed. F.C. Police Chief Mary Gavin and Sheriff Matt Kay were in the discussion Monday night. There have already been 12 two-hour meetings of the citizen group over the last seven months.

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Fairfax Health Official Warns of Rising Covid-19 Infection Rate While the City of Falls Church has reportedly had the lowest rates of positivity of any jurisdiction in Virginia in recent months, positivity rates (the percentage of those tested being positive for the virus) has increased across the Commonwealth, and in Northern Virginia as well, Colin Brody of the Fairfax County Health Department reported to the F.C. City Council at its virtual meeting this week. The positivity rate here grew from 6.4 percent to 8.3 percent between Nov. 13 and Nov. 23 he reported. It is now at its highest level since May 17. Most transmission is coming through “innocuous contacts” from often nonsymptomatic persons in smaller social settings where masking and distancing are relaxed.

F.C. Preparing for Annual Santamobile Tours Dec. 15-23 The City of Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department announced that the popular Santamobile will once again make its way through the City and neighboring communities this year. Due to the pandemic, however, Santa has determined his elves will be unable to distribute candy canes or safety literature. Santamobile tours begin Tuesday, Dec. 15 and run through Wednesday, Dec. 23. The first five nights, Santa will visit each neighborhood in the City of Falls Church. The remaining nights are reserved for make-up routes and excursions into neighboring Arlington and Fairfax counties. A map of the planned routes will be available at fallschurchfire.org/santamobile and residents and interested viewers are asked to refrain from calling the fire station for information on Santa’s intended routes. Additionally, the Volunteer Fire Department’s Public Education Team asks viewers to complete a short survey to help the fire department provide the safety presentations that would be most useful for them. The survey can be found at fallschurchfire.org/public-education-survey.

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PAGE 16 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS DRPT FY22 PUBLIC NOTICE: The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is accepting applications from qualified eligible applicants for transit, rail, and transportation demand management (TDM) grants for the 2022 fiscal year. The state’s annual grant application period is open from December 1, 2020, through February 1, 2021. Transit and TDM funds are available through multiple state and federal funding sources to support transit service, human service transportation, and commuter assistance programs in Virginia. Eligible project categories include capital purchases, administrative and operating costs, technical assistance, demonstration grants, and commuter assistance program costs. Funds are available for rail initiatives through the Rail Preservation program. In addition, funding to provide access to freight rail shipping for Virginia businesses is available year round through the Rail Industrial Access program. Complete details on eligibility and the application procedures for DRPT grant programs are available online. To learn more about transit, rail, and transportation demand management funding in Virginia, visit www.drpt. virginia.gov. Applications can be submitted online at https://olga.drpt.virginia.gov/. DRPT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. DRPT will also provide reasonable accommodations and interpretive services for persons who require special assistance to participate in the grant application process as required by the ADA. For accommodations, additional information on how to file a complaint, please contact our Title VI Compliance Officer, (804) 786-4440, or 600 E. Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219, or visit our website at www.drpt.virginia.gov

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

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LIVESTOCK SALE TOTAL PERFORMANCE BULL SALE. Friday, December 4, 2020 at Noon. Featuring 178 Angus, Polled Hereford, Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls. Knoll Crest Farm, Red House, VA. Pre-register before sale day by calling 434-376-3567 or at www.KnollCrestFarm.com.

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 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.

WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114.Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312313-9671 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

LEGAL NOTICE

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NOTICE: The meeting for which this agenda has been posted will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members of Planning Commission will be present at this meeting through electronic means; and all members of the public are welcome to view the meeting at www.fallschurchva.gov/PC and on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35).

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 1-877-636-0738 Special financing for qualified customers.

On December 2, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., the City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a virtual public meeting. Public comments will be accepted electronically only until the end of the public hearing. Please submit comments to plan@fallschurchva. gov. The Planning Commission will con-

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sider the following items and recommendations to City Council:

PUBLIC NOTICE

To claim any of these items, please provide proof of ownership to:

(TR20-33) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY HALF AN ACRE OF LAND KNOWN AS THE CITY LOT LOCATED ON PARK PLACE (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBER 53-104-015) FROM “BUSINESS” TO “MIXED USE” ON THE CITY’S FUTURE LAND USE PLAN MAP, ON APPLICATION BY BROAD AND WASHINGTON, LLC.

In accordance with VA 15.2-1720, the public is hereby notified that the City of Falls Church Police Department has recovered the following bicycles:

City of Falls Church Police Department Property/Evidence Unit 300 Park Ave., G2 Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5060 (please call for appointment)

(TR20-34) RESOLUTION (1) TO GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND (2) TO INCREASE THE BUILDING HEIGHT WITH A BONUS OF SIXTEEN (16) FEET TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF NINETY ONE (91) FEET FOR A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON APPROXIMATELY 3.16 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 100 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET, AND 127 AND 131 EAST BROAD STREET, AND PARK PLACE (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 53-104-051, 53-104-036, 53-104050, AND 53-104-015), ON APPLICATION BY BROAD AND WASHINGTON, LLC. (TO20-XX): ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY-OWNED LAND OF APPROXIMATELY .49 ACRES KNOWN AS THE PARKING LOT PROPERTY ON PARK PLACE [REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBER 53-104-015] The Planning Commission will also consider the following item for recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals scheduled for December 17, 2020. VARIANCE APPLICATION V1618-20 BY FCGP DEVELOPMENT LLC, APPLICANT, FOR VARIANCES TO SEC. 48-933 TO ALLOW (1) THE STACKING OF PARKING SPACES AND (2) PLACEMENT OF COLUMNS LESS THAN THREE (3) FEET FROM THE DRIVE AISLE WITHIN A PARKING GARAGE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A PARKING GARAGE AND RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM ON PREMISES KNOWN AS 7124 LEESBURG PIKE, RPC #52-221-006 OF THE FALLS CHURCH REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, ZONED B-2, CENTRAL BUSINESS. Meeting agenda and materials will be available on the following page prior to the public meeting: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. The application materials for the Broad and Washington development proposal is available on the project webpage: http:// www.fallschurchva.gov/broadwashington This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)

ABC NOTICE First Watch Restaurants, Inc., Trading as: First Watch #446, 5880 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, 22041. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine & Beer On Premises; Mixed Beverage On Premises. Jay Wolszczak, Secretary, Chief Legal Officer, Authorized Signatory First Watch Restaurants, Inc., the Operating Member of First Watch #446. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

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KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy He’s fake, No, he’s not the Wizard of Oz, Just because...

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

14 17

16 19

18 20

33 40

45 52

44 48

50 56

1. “I should ____ lucky” 5. D.C. baseballers 10. Late-night host before Carson 14. Autobahn sights 15. Allergy season sound 16. Shoppers’ headache 17. Scones or biscuits, e.g. 19. “No ifs, ____ or buts” 20. “____ oui!” 21. Breaking off a relationship 23. Knitter’s stitch 24. Head of a hive 25. A lot of Top 40 music 26. Sch. where Spike Lee earned his M.F.A 28. Evidence in paternity suits 29. Mandela player in a 2013 biopic 31. Alaskan export 33. 0%, in the dairy aisle 38. Serious heart surgery 42. Mall sweepstakes prize, maybe 43. Half-____ (coffee order) 44. “____ Excited” (Pointer Sisters hit) 45. Rebellious Turner 48. He’s memorialized with MLK at Indianapolis’ Landmark for Peace Memorial 50. Plural ending 51. Good practice for the show “It’s Academic” 55. Troubles 57. Disparage 58. Grey Goose competitor

STRANGE BREW

NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 17

59. Quick, in trade names 60. Person who calls the first play ... or this puzzle’s theme 64. Mideast’s Gulf of ____ 65. Hunted for morays 66. Greenland’s capital 67. Actress Helgenberger of “CSI” 68. Brees, Bledsoe and Barrymore 69. Hawks have sharp ones

Down 1. Kind of sauce, for short 2. National bird of Australia 3. Luxury resort amenity 4. Word before nod or buzz 5. Slaps the cuffs on 6. From l. to r. 7. What’s exited in Brexit 8. Given for a time 9. Soaking wet 10. Fallback strategy 11. All-Star Danny who played for the 1980s Celtics 12. Actress MacDowell 13. Breather 18. Pottery need 22. ____ event (regardless) 23. Get chummy (with) 24. Witticism 25. Not electives: Abbr. 27. The “Y” of TTYL 30. Fruit drink 32. Inc. relative 34. Popular nail polish brand 35. Animated series whose episodes include “Encyclopedia Griffin” and “The Giggity Wife”

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

36. Barnyard brayers 37. Chinese menu possessive 39. Architect Piano who codesigned Paris’ Pompidou Center 40. Grey tea 41. OMG, like, the greatest pal 46. Treated badly 47. Walk shakily 49. 1970s singer ____ Dee 51. War on terror target Al ____ 52. Milk container 53. Using Facebook Chat, briefly 54. One who might create a big splash 56. Dick Cheney’s wife 57. Stoker who created Dracula 58. Govt. guidelines 61. “<<” button: Abbr. 62. “____ pasa?” 63. Barnes & Noble’s stock symbol, aptly

Last Thursday’s Solution D A T E A C A I R I N G WIN D S H T D R W H I E R T O O N K I T B A L E C S M S H O R E WIN S A G

A D D S

M O S I E P S O D Y O A G B A E C L L A S S

A N I L D A D L O V E L L

R E D D

T H E W E E B N D E E D DWIN I R A E

C I T E

A R B I T R A R Y A T E S T

T WIN A T L E P E R S A WIN G T K I S T S G O B O S U O R I G O E W R E

G E O P E S S E N U R E

R S V P S

E B A N

S Y N E

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

11/15/20

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. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

LO CA L

PAGE 18 | NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 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. 36 • November 23, 1995

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 39 • November 25, 2010

Undefeated Mustangs Win First Round Of State Tourney; On to Salem Dec. 1-2

F.C. Retains AAA Bond Rating Despite Fairfax Water Suit Loss

The undefeated George Mason varsity girls’ basketball team trounced the Trojans from Essex High School 80-33 in the quarterfinals of the State Tournament last night in front of a celebratory packed house at home and will realize their dream of going to Salem, VA, Dec. 1 and 2 to compete in the state championship.

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields reported to the Falls Church City Council Monday night that a meeting with Fitch, one of the three leading Wall Street bond rating agencies, following the City’s loss of its final appeal in its lawsuit against Fairfax Water earlier this month determined that Fitch has maintained its perfect AAA bond rating for the City.

N��-P��

LETTERS Continued from Page 6

the Board members who spoke on Tuesday resorted to shaming and, intentional or not, emotional manipulation. The Board members’ who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting insinuated that racist intent, or at least racial insensitivity, underlie the survey results. They act as if there is only one correct path — their path of canceling Mason for being a slaveholder (and, logically, Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Hamilton, and even Amerigo Vespucci, all of whom owned slaves) and scrubbing our history. They act as if this community is incapable of finding another

TO THE

EDITOR

“progressive” way to move forward — a more moderate path instead of buying into the cancel culture they desire to impose on those with “less enlightened” views. Joe Green Falls Church

F.C. City Should Get Decibel Meters To Curb Noise Issues Editor, In its Nov. 12 article, “F.C. Distillers Mulls City Exit Over Music Cut-Off,” the News-Press notes that the Falls Church Police Department responded to noise complaints but apparently took no enforcement action.

What’s missing from the article is the likely reason: the City owns no decibel meters and apparently refuses to purchase any of these relatively inexpensive items. Why? It is almost certainly due to the City’s refusal to enforce its noise ordinance in connection with the many whole house generators that are found throughout the Little City. Virtually all of which violate the noise caps according to the specifications provided by the generator manufacturers. Perhaps the City Council should ask Mr. Shields why we don’t have any decibel meters and why our noise ordinances are not properly enforced. And if Falls Church Distillers isn’t violating the noise ordinance, the police department should let their patrons enjoy the music until the not terribly late 10 p.m. witching hour. Stewart Fried 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

MY NAME IS CRICKET and I am a brand new resident of Falls Church City. My family brought me home in September. I love exploring all of the trails and my new Falls Church friends. I live on East Jefferson Street with the LaFave/Murphy family! 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

Fa l l s C h u r c h

LO CA L

Business News & Notes Broad Street Pharmacy Closing Its Doors Broad Street Pharmacy is closing its doors Monday, Nov. 30. The more than 13 year old independently owned and operated pharmacy will transfer prescriptions to the CVS location at 134 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. Stop by 450 W. Broad Street (behind Panera) for over the counter items, cards, and gifts available at 70 percent off and to wish owner Reza Ghaderi well. For more information, visit www.broadstpharmacy.com.

NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020 | PAGE 19

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS Get your news early!

Local Businesses Celebrate Small Business Saturday by Offering a T-Shirt Several local independent businesses have partnered to celebrate Small Business Saturday by offering a t-shirt to help locals show their support of small, independently owned businesses. The front of the shirt has Shop Read Eat Live LOCAL while the back includes the logos of participating businesses: Bakeshop, Botanologica, Cafe Kindred, CD Cellar, Lemon Lane, One More Page Books, Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, Stylish Patina, Tint: A Modern Makerspace, Trade Roots, Two the Moon, and Yayla Bistro. Shirts can be purchased at www.bonfire.com/ small-business-saturday-2020-in-northern-va/.

The Kensington F.C. Is Hosting Free Thanksgiving Eve Virtual Concert The Kensington Falls Church is hosting a free Thanksgiving Eve Virtual Concert on Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 6 – 7 p.m. The prerecorded event will feature The Kensington’s Activities Coordinator, Erin Clark, who will perform holiday opera and theater pieces. For more information, visit The Kensington Falls Church’s Facebook page or www.thekensingtonfallschurch.com.

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 28. Small Business Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 28. Held the day after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 to encourage people to shop small and do more holiday shopping with small businesses. Supporting the local businesses is more important than ever given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the community. Visit www. FallsChurchChamber.org for links to local businesses and a key word search to find specific services, products, and businesses. Visit the Live Local Falls Church Facebook group for special offers and promotions.

Tea with Mrs. B Hosting Mini Photo Shoot in a Winter Wonderland Tea with Mrs. B is hosting a Mini Photo Shoot in a Winter Wonderland with a Pony on Sunday, Nov. 29 from noon – 5 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to ride a bespoke miniature pony into a live Christmas tree forest. Hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies will be available in the tea room before and after. Fees range from $185 to $245 and parents will receive 3-6 photos for holiday cards and letters the week following. Tea with Mrs. B is located at 136 W. Jefferson Street in Falls Church. Visit www.teawithmrsb.com for more information or to register.

Grace Christian Academy Hosting Virtual Children’s Book Fair Grace Christian Academy is hosting a Virtual Children’s Book Fair through Friday, Dec. 4. The fair, located at www.scholastic.com/bf/grace, is designed to help young readers discover new books and raise funds to support the school’s tuition assistance programs.

• Get the Front Page Early • Breaking Stories and more.. Visit our website for More perks! 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.

Never before has the fight to ensure a free press been more important.

The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is hosting MASKerade The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is hosting MASKerade, a virtual Gala and community celebration of the business community on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 7 – 8 p.m. The event will include a tribute to local icons lost this past year and a thank you to those who have supported others during the pandemic. Information about the event and its online auction are available at www.FallsChurchChamber.org.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 20 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020

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Falls Church News-Press 11-26-2020

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