Falls Church News-Press 12-16-2021

Dec. 16 - 22, 2021

Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free

Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXI N o . 44

The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia

F.C. May Lose Simon, Saslaw by Redistricting

Holidays In the Little City

New Maps Currently Under Scrutiny in Public Hearings

by Nicholas f. benton

Falls Church News-Press

The deadline looms for public reaction to the latest proposed redistricting of Virginia’s congressional and state legislative boundaries, which according to what has been proposed to the Virginia Supreme Court so far, would realign maps around the City of Falls Church resulting in altogether new representation in Richmond. According to the proposed maps drawn up by appointed bipartisan “special masters” in this new process, the City would lose its State Senator Dick Saslaw and State Delegate Marcus Simon, having them replaced by Sen. Barbara Favola and Del. Patrick Hope.

Del. Simon told the NewsPress yesterday that the first of two virtual hearings this week, held yesterday afternoon, has seen a lot of concern and objections with the proposed plan. A second and final virtual public

Continued on Page 4

DRIVING AROUND Falls Church neighborhoods this time of year can be a special treat. The lights, the colors, the special exhibits like this adorable front lawn send beautiful greetings to all. It may not be a white Christmas this year, and who knows, maybe all this warmth around town has something to do with it. (Photo: News-Press)

F.C. Police Receive 12% Salary Boost Next Week

by Nicholas f. benton

Falls Church News-Press

A big jolt in City employee paychecks is coming next week, while City taxpayers learned they could be enjoying another big tax cut (up to 4 cents,

depending on how it goes) in the spring and plastic bag users at the City’s supermarkets and drug stores will be charged a nickel per bag come April 1.

These were among the big decisions the Falls Church City Council made at its marathon

meeting this Monday which convened at 7:30 p.m. following a reception honoring the swearing in of new and re-elected Council members, the departure of one, and did not finally adjourn, including a closed session, until 1:08 a.m. It was the

Council’s final meeting of the year and there was a lot on its plate.

The biggest news came in a report on an internal study of the Falls Church Police Department

Continued on Page 5

Inside This Week New Creative Cauldron Play Makes Spirits Bright

“The Christmas Angel” made its debut last weekend at Creative Cauldron. This new play is sure to get you in the holiday spirit during its limited run time. The whole family will love this soon-to-be classic.

See Review, Page 3

Local Restaurant Parking Issues Resolved

See Pages 12-13

La Tingeria recently opened a brick and mortar location in the city.After recieving parking complaints, they were unsure if they would be able to stay in business.

However, the issues have been resolved.

See Story, Page 2

Index

Editorial................................................ 6 Letters.................................................. 6 Comment..........................................7,8 Crime Report....................................... 8 News & Notes.............................. 10,11 Calendar......................................16,17 Business News.................................. 19 Classified Ads.................................... 20 Comics............................................... 21 Critter Corner..................................... 22

PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

“La Tingeria” To Retain Its Original Certificate of Occupancy

by Alex Russell

La Tingeria, owned and operated by David Peña, opened approximately three weeks ago at 626 S. Washington St. Formerly a food truck, Peña decided earlier this year to operate his business from a “brick and mortar” establishment which received parking related complaints earlier this month that have since been resolved.

A Dec. 3 email sent to Peña by Falls Church Zoning Administrator John Boyle alerted the business owner of parkingrelated complaints filed by city residents, which, according to the email, constituted a “violation” of La Tingeria’s “certificate of occupancy” as well as “Sections 48–58 and 48–1004” of the Falls Church City Code. The notice concluded that unless appealed, this violation would result in the revocation of the certificate after 30 days’ time.

The complaints by and large dealt with the restaurant’s customers’ use of street parking in the residential area near the establishment.

The neighborhood in question does have parking signs through-

out, but they only specify “2-hour parking: 8 a.m. — 5 p.m., Mon– Fri, except by permit.”

By the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 10, the City published a public statement on Facebook declaring that “the owners of La Tingeria… have worked with our zoning staff to alleviate the residential parking issues…since opening.” The statement continued, “our Public Works team is working with” the owner “on other solutions such as short term parking in the commercial zone of the street.” The statement ended by saying that La Tingeria’s owner was “informed… that the Certificate of Occupancy stands and will not be revoked.”

A week before the City’s decision, Peña expressed strong desire and commitment to do all he could to resolve the issue, but did share that the email he received felt “kind of sudden.”

Following the email, he took to Instagram to explain the situation to his customers and followers, where he also shared a visual aid that delineated where customers should and should not park, as per the complaints.

A public Facebook group called “Live Local Falls Church” had a number of residents sharing their thoughts on that matter with the consensus being that of concern and discontent with Peña’s predicament.

One F.C. resident commented that the situation is “discouraging,” but added that “hopefully, the city can work with the business and find a solution to the problem.” Another Facebook user contributed: “The city has a parking problem, why are other establishments not being targeted?”

In response to Friday’s statement regarding the matter, many expressed continued displeasure and frustration, with one person commenting “This business should never have been threatened with losing their cert of occupancy.

Glad that the publicity on this from local media led to a change in course.”

Another F.C. resident echoed the sentiment: “This should never have happened in the first place.

Street parking is legal and available to patrons. By contrast the City has never issued any notices to the

nearby mechanic businesses with the illegal over two-hour parking.”

One commenter, responding to the statement, simply shared: “I would certainly hope so, the city issued the building and business license knowing all this before.”

Several other residents’ views expressed the same point of view: that this was an easily-avoidable and unnecessary issue in the first place.

While the City worked towards making a decision, Peña set up a large cardboard sign indicating where La Tingeria customers may park. Peña also “got rid of two picnic tables” outside his establishment to open up more parking space and had to employ a parking attendant to alleviate congestion.

Jim Snyder, Director of Development and Community Planning. expressed that Peña and the city were “working together to create solutions” to the parking issue. He cited the fact that Peña had “already made improvements by marking…onsite parking.” He added that the city anticipated “not revoking” Peña’s certificate of occupancy by the 30-day deadline.

When asked to what extent parking considerations factor into the permit review process before a business is allowed to set up and begin its operations, Snyder explained that inspections typically employ a “building safety group” that looks into “the building itself…the outside, not so much.”

The exterior area falls under the zoning department’s purview.

A segment of the Falls Church City Code of Ordinances states that “An application for a special use permit shall be reviewed with due regard to the nature and condition of all adjacent uses and structures, and the probable effect upon them of the proposed use. The review shall also take into account the proposed special characteristics, design, method of operation, effect on traffic conditions, or any other aspects of the particular use or structure.”

Initially, La Tingeria was open exclusively on the weekends, but considering the City’s new position on the matter, Peña’s plan to “open up more days” may soon become a reality for the burgeoning local eatery.

Art Meets Reality in New Book “The Obituary Writer”

by Mark Dreisonstok

Patrick Oster lived in the Washington area for ten years covering the White House, State Department, and CIA as the Chicago Sun Times’ Washington Bureau Chief. He became managing editor at “Bloomberg News” and is now that venue’s obituary writer. A writer of fiction thrillers such as “The German Club” and “The Hacker Chronicles,” his most recent novel release is “The Obituary Writer.”

Yet the eponymous obituary writer of the murder novel is a far cry from real-life obituary writer Patrick Oster. Rather than enjoying the stellar Oster career, obituary writer Wallace “Mack” Macrae is down-on-his luck, having been fired from his respectable position as investigative journalist of a renowned newspaper known simply as the “Journal” due to his alcoholism. This, in turn, was caused by his depression in the face of his wife Helen’s terminal disease.

Mack is now taking the only job he can get, which involves writing obituaries which sensationalize and bring to light notorious scandals of

the lives of the dearly departed.

Mack prepares obituaries for the still-living, as Mr. Oster tells Falls Church News-Press is common for obituary writers of celebrities. (The author of this review has also served as a writer of obituaries and can confirm this.) Mack has been on the heels of 92-yearold Dieter von Gehlen, a German national who immigrated to the U.S. and whom Mack believes to have had something to do with the Nazis in the past. Meanwhile, von Gehlen has developed a superior weight-loss wonder drug, for which he longs for the Nobel Prize for his efforts. Then, unexpectedly, the nonagenarian commits suicide.

Much of the rest of the novel involves efforts by Mack, with the assistance of von Gehlen’s widow Nadya, to prove this was not suicide at all but murder.

In addition to a thrilling plot line, there are welcome literary allusions. Some of the action takes place in the “Sleepy Hollow” of upstate New York, the haunt of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman of Washington Irving’s classic tale. Mack’s sinister boss

of the online obituary “service” is Anton Teufel, the surname being German for “devil.” Small wonder that Mack refers to his “boss from hell” and the feeling he has made a “Faustian bargain” after his fall from the grace of legitimate journalism. On a macabre note, the company Mack writes for is named dead.com If the novel betrays Mr. Oster’s cultured literary taste of Irving and perhaps Goethe, it relates even more to real life. “I wrote a novel about a millennial who was a hacker, and I know a lot about hacking and cybercrime and so on because I covered it” as a journalist in real-life. Hacking also makes its way into the current novel as a theme, for Vassily, a person of questionable background in the employ of Teufel, utilizes these skills to assist Mack learn more of the background and associates of von Gehlen’s final days.

Using an exciting narrative technique, Mr. Oster cross-cuts between Mack’s search for the possible killer of von Gehlen and conversations between two individuals who might be responsible for this

crime. An interesting scene has the two who are likely responsible for the crime meet in Donald J. Trump State Park. This park straddling New York’s Westchester and Putnam Counties actually exists, and Mr. Oster dryly explained its real-life origins in our conversation exactly as he does here in the novel — another case of everyday reality turned into the novelist’s art for “The Obituary Writer” and for Patrick Oster, the obituary writer.

We can recommend warmly Patrick Oster’s “The Obituary Writer” on several fronts. It is, first and foremost, a first-rate detective story in the venerable tradition, reminding one at times of the hard-boiled school, at times of the armchair sleuthing of more genteel mystery stories. The novel also has literary references which readers of classic fiction will appreciate. Finally, the book draws on the author’s own experiences as a wide-ranging journalist, with his deep knowledge and observations from a lifetime of journalism into areas such as white-collar corruption, cybercrime, scandals, international affairs, and, of course, life

THE OBITUARY WRITER by Patrick Oster (Photo: Courtesy of Patrick Oster)

stories as a writer of obituaries.

The book is published by Padraig Press and, at $14.99 per paperback copy, may be the right holiday gift for yourself or someone you know interested in murder mysteries and the diverse interests and beats of a journalist.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 3

Creative Cauldron Creates New Christmas Classic

by Amanda Snead

Falls Church News-Press

Based on a book written over 100 years ago, Creative Cauldron brings the Falls Church community a new Christmas classic— “The Christmas Angel,” which made its debut last weekend.

Adapted from a book of the same name, the creative team at Creative Cauldron worked to create an original script, music and costumes to get the audience in the holiday spirit.

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Angelina Terry, a wealthy woman estranged from her brother and scorned by Christmas.

She discovers a box of old toys given to her years ago by her brother, Tom, when she was a child.

In the box she finds a Jack in the Box, Noah’s Ark, a stuffed dog and a doll. The audience sees flashbacks to Angelina’s childhood as she received these gifts and as Tom slowly had less and less money to buy her something. The final item she pulls out of the box is an angel, handmade for her by her brother as he couldn’t afford to buy her

something that year.

With some Christmas magic, the angel shows Angelina the beauty of giving to those who need it during the holiday season and helps her create a family of her own.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the play but I found myself blown away. Kanysha Williams, who plays Angelina Terry, and Gabriela Simmons-Robles, who plays the Christmas Angel, were some of the most talented singers I have ever seen live. All of the original songs by Matt Connor and Stephen Gregory Smith were fabulous, as is always expected from a performance at Creative Cauldron.

The story echoes that of “A Christmas Carol” but with unique twists added such as the main character being a woman and the toys helping to move the story along.

The cast features a mix of professional actors alongside teens from the Musical Theater Training Ensemble, all of whom are incredibly talented.

This show is perfect for all ages and sure to get you in the holiday spirit. I can truly see this show

KANYSHA WILLIAMS AND CARL WILLIAMS in “The Christmas Angel.” (Photo: William Gallagher) becoming a classic. The show is only playing for a short time and closes this weekend so be sure to see it while you can!

This performance closes this weekend. Performances take place

Thursday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 19 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in

advance online at creativecauldron.org. Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid is required for everyone 12 and over. All patrons must wear masks while in the theater.

Happy Holidays ARLINGTON REALTORS CARE

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PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Redistricting Could Change Leadership in Falls Church Continued from Page 1

hearing, set for Friday afternoon, will consider comments that have to be submitted via email by 1 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 16).

The biggest concern about the fate of Falls Church in this complicated new process has to do with disconnecting it from adjacent areas of Fairfax County that consider themselves part of “Greater Falls Church” and putting the City in an area that otherwise consists entirely of the County of Arlington.

In addition to disconnecting from areas like Culmore and Pimmit Hills, the change for Falls Church will subsume it under a much larger and cohesive jurisdiction of Arlington that would entirely overshadow the Little City. Whereas Arlington would continue to function as the integrated entity it always has been, the addition of Falls Church as an outside entity would tend to relegate it to second-class status.

Even more potentially impactful would be the effect

that new boundaries might have on the City’s ability to maximize the impact of its 10-acre west end megadevelopment, especially in terms of its integration into the the adjacent properties owned by Virginia Tech and WMATA (that is, the West Falls Church Metro station), both of which would fall outside of the proposed new districts. Currently the whole 43-acre integrated plan all falls within the state delegate district represented by Del. Simon.

In the 51-page memorandum that the “special masters” (being Bernard Grofman and Sean Trende) submitted on Dec. 7 with their proposed new boundary maps, it was noted that criteria for the new district lines “shall be drawn to preserve communities of interest,” such communities being defined as “a neighborhood or any geographically defined group of people living in an area who share similar social, cultural and economic interests” (and not based on factors of political affiliation, while acknowledging that no formal definitions

exist).

Moreover, the memo acknowledges with the creation of a proposed District 40, anchored in Arlington/Falls Church that there was “some debate in the COIs [communities of interest–ed] about whether to place Falls Church with Arlington or with Fairfax.”

Simon conceded to the NewsPress in a telephone interview Tuesday that he did not feel he would fare as well in the proposed new maps compared to his current district that includes Falls Church.

It has long been thought that when the 81-year-old Sen. Saslaw retires, for example, that the 51-year-old Simon would be the logical candidate to replace him, and it is not clear how that would work out with the new maps as they are now.

Per Falls Church’s official response, City Manager Wyatt Shields, in a brief statement in response to a request from the News-Press, stated, “We will review the proposed redistricting maps and coordinate with the City Council on any com-

ments the City may want to public comment, specifying the Dec. 17 date, that should make in the coming days.”

As for Del. Simon, he was include the requester’s name originally part of the Virginia and email address and indicate C200492ar1.tif 2 JC 85 200503 12/2/02 what area of the commonwealth Redistricting Commission but 11:10 resigned this fall because, he the person resides. In response, said in a letter to the Virginia a meeting link will be sent by Attorney General Mark Herring, email in advance of the hearing. “it is not clear what the mem- Requests must be received at bers’ parameters are for speak- least 24 hours before the start of ing to the media or in general the public hearing. Individuals settings regarding the commis- will be given an amount of time to provide comment not sion’s work.”

Specifically, he was con- to exceed three minutes…The cerned that the terms of par- court’s Special Masters will be ticipation “prohibit members of listening to all comments.” the commission from granting interviews to members of the media verbally or in writing, or prevent them from writing guest columns, letters to the editor or op-eds regarding their experiences as commissioners,” and requested an opinion from the attorney general.

In order to participate in Friday’s hearing, participants, according to a memo from the Supreme Court, “must notify It’s her future.Do the math. the Clerk of Court prior to the meeting by sending an email www.girlsgotech.org to ‘redistricting@vacourts.gov’ indicating they wish to offer

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 5

Falls Church Police Department to See Salary Boost Next Week

Continued from Page 1

where it was determined by an internal study to immediately introduce a 12 percent salary increase across the board. That will go into effect next week at the same time overall City employee compensation will be increased by three percent, on top of $1,500 bonuses and additional $1,500 special bonuses for employees for their special efforts during the pandemic.

These changes will all show up in paychecks arriving on Dec. 22, and City officials hope they will work to reverse the current serious manpower shortages that have shown up all across the City government.

The swift action by the Council, especially in the major increases authorized for the City pollice, underscored the seriousness of the manpower shortages that the Council was made privy to in the last couple weeks. In the case of police, filling vacancies may not occur overnight because of the requirements for qualifying new employees, but it will make a huge difference in morale and the

mid- to longer-term health of the department.

The immediate 12 percent salary adjustments will bring the City force into the middle of the pack of jurisdictions in the region, said Council member Phil Duncan.

“This represents a significant signal from the Council to City employees,” he said, about the willingness to fairly compensate its workforce.

With the close proximity of police, for example, with those of neighboring jurisdictions in training facilities and other interactions, the comparative levels of compensation have been widely known and the City has been facing an increasing shortage of police personnel being lost to other jurisdictions right around it.

It was deemed that the Council could not wait to act as soon as possible, and all the proposed increases passed unanimously by 7-0 votes.

The Council voted 7-0 on how to allocate the federal funds coming as part of the pandemicrecovery American Rescue Plan that included sharing 50 percent with the City schools, designating

funding for stormwater protections, affordable housing, business development, and a middle school HVAC system in addition to salary and other compensation moves and sidewalk improvements.

In hearing from the developers of the One City Center 4.6 acre mixed use project slated to go in above and adjacent the Ireland’s Four Provinces restaurant in the City’s central downtown intersection of Broad and Washington, they learned of the Atlantic Realty developers willingness to increase the percentage of residential units that will officially be offered a “affordable” rates to 10 percent of the total units, matching what has become the new baseline for such units in the City.

That project is also set to include a 25,000 square foot grocery and 8,300 square feet of ground floor retail, as well as major upgrades of the facades to the existing George Mason Square building there. Buildings will go up to 115 feet.

The project is projected to bring close to a million annually into City coffers and to add significantly to the redevelopment in

that downtown area, being across that central intersection from the Insight Group’s already approved even bigger project anchored by a Whole Foods market and a permanent home for the Creative Cauldron theater performance and educational program.

“It will become a true, walkable mixed use community in the core of the City in tandem with the Insight project and the Harris Teeter just up the street,” said Andrew Painter of the F.C. Chamber of Commerce and consultant for the project.

“Retail begets retail,” noted Adam Schulman of Atlantic Realty.

In a discussion of budget recommendations for the coming year, the Council mulled prospects for robust revenue growth that could accommodate the School system’s projected 6;2 percent growth needs, and after that offer relief for City taxpayers of “zero to four cents” on the tax rate, potentially exceeding last spring’s rate cut from $1.355 to $1,32 per $100 of assessed real estate value.

A more precise number could not be projected since, among

other things, the City’s new assessor comes to work starting next week.

The Council was unanimous in calling for the plastic bag tax, coherent with what other jurisdictions in the region will be charging. The 5 cent tax, effective as of April 1, 2022, is not seen as a revenue source, but simply to “send a signal about the enormous cost to the solid waste system” of those bags, said City Manager Wyatt Shields.

In a reception at City Hall prior to the meeting Monday, the Council welcomed those reelected and elected last month, including Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly, Debra Shantz-Hiscott, David Snyder (who attended the meeting remotely from San Diego, where he was on a business trip) and newcomer Caroline Lian, It also recognized Ross Litkenhous, who will be leaving the Council next month who delivered emotional remarks, calling his service on the Council “the most rewarding and purposeful thing I’ve ever done in my career.”

Join us th Christmas season for our virtual and in-person services. is

STMAS EVE I R H C • Services • FRIDAY, DEC. 24th

Christmas Concert SUNDAY, DEC. 19th •

5p.m. - Our family Service - virtual only Light candle and sing "Silent Night"

4p.m.

8 p.m. - Lessons & Carols virtual and in-person

A virtual and in-person service of music featuring the Dulin Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs, and instrumentalists.

Featuring seasonal music, scripture and Holy Communion Have your juice and bread ready for virtual Communion

NEW YEAR'S EVE • FRIDAY, DEC. 31st 7p.m. - Worship Service - virtual and in-person A Service of Scripture, prayer and taize chant

513 East Broad St, Falls Church 22046 703-532-8060

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Note! For all in-person events, seats are limited. Please register at Dulinchurch.org

dulinchurch.org

@dulinfallschurch

- dulin church

12/10/21 4:26 PM

PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 

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‘West Side Story’ & Loving Again

There are all the usual must-see events back in person after the great pandemic this season, and the saying is true that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” just watching, for example, mice and nutcrackers go at it.

It is also the time for some blockbuster motion picture releases, and this year, we feel particularly motivated to call attention to what, in our view, is one of the amazing and poignant Hollywood offerings, the remake of the 1950s Broadway hit musical, “West Side Story.” We are saddened by its poor box office performance in its first weekend, but, come on people, we all as a culture have nothing to lose and everything to gain from making a special effort to tap into our cultural roots from a better time, especially when it is done as well as this production.

A “better time?” That will always be a topic for important discussions.

But we look at it from the standpoint of the post-World War II era of optimism, when the seeds of so many of the social changes we’ve seen since began to sprout.

The remake of “West Side Story” is a full-fledged triumph, even if it calls us to reflect about the difference between the American culture of 1961, when the play first hit the big screen, and today, and that difference may account its tragically poor box office performance in its first weekend.

There used to be, in Rita Moreno’s youth (she was a star of the original, brought back for the remake 50 years later), the year our editor graduated high school, a great cultural belief in the power of love. This has changed.

Back then, Camelot was in the White House, after all. In 1963, that it all started to change with the assassination of JFK. Now, this half century later, we believe not in the power of love but the love of power. This is the real tragedy so beautifully invoked by this great masterpiece of a film.

As the BBC’s Caryn James wrote this week, “There was a magical, once-in-a-lifetime quality in that initial collaboration: Leonard Bernstein’s heart-piercingly beautiful music, Stephen Sondheim’s trenchant yet romantic lyrics, Arthur Laurents’s book and Jerome Robbins’ classicallyinspired choreography. And there is a similar alchemy in the glorious new version. Directed by Steven Spielberg at his most masterful, with a smartly-conceived screenplay by Tony Kushner and crisp new choreography by Justin Peck, the film honours the production’s roots while giving it a 21st-Century sensibility. Full of energy, wit, passion and tragedy, looking backward and forward at once, it is one of the most moving films of the year.”

It’s taken this collaboration of geniuses – Sondheim, Bernstein, Spielberg, Kushner and the others over decades – to call from us our better angels to fly back to when we, as a nation, believed better in love.

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Lakota Coat Drive Success

Editor, Thank you Falls Church City! …for your kindness, generosity and all of your beautiful donations of warm, hooded, winter coats (all sizes), gloves, mittens, hats, cute and warm baby blankets & pink wraps, lots of packets of warm new socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, underwear, little toy cars, activity books, puzzles, cute diaries notebooks, pencils, winter boots, soap bars, new micro fleece blankets, adorable new plush animals, National Parks wild animals plush animals, kids snow sets and the biggest, cutest pink piglet plush and more.…

All your items are greatly appreciated ….at Pine Ridge the thermostat is already in the teens and dipping to digits this week and snowy.

On behalf of the residents on Pine Ridge Reservation and the non profit Re-Member.org Pilmayaye (thanks!)

Linda Kamel Falls Church

[ LETTERS ]

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Send us a letter and let us know what you think.

The deadline for Letters to the Editor is 5 p.m. Monday each week of publication Letters should be 350 words or less.

Email letters@fcnp.com Fax 703-342-0347 Mail or drop off Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

In Reponse to Kaye Kory’s Column Last Week Editor, Del. Korys’ Richmond Report did an excellent job of summarizing Virginia Democrats’ views toward parents in the commonwealth. To anyone not following the education issue closely, it may come as a surprise that parents are being condemned for being concerned about 1) Lasting effects of the pandemic school closures, 2) Children being taught racial bigotry in the classroom (under the guise of Critical Race Theory -—CRT), and 3) An incident that happened in the Loudoun schools unfit to reprint in a family newspaper that both the school and press have worked tirelessly to cover up.

Her diminishing parents’ concerns in scare quote “outrage”, and oversimplifying concerns over Critical Race Theory’s teaching as “dog whistle politics” perfectly mirrors those that we saw from Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign, and the results of the 2021 elections speak for themselves.

Personally, I find Korys’ honesty refreshing, and encourage her to look for bigger and better platforms to amplify this sentiment.

And for supporters of CRT, do you really want to entrust government schools to teach the bigotry that you can pass along so much more effectively at home? In the words of the urban poet Joseph Belladonna, “Keep it in the family”.

Jeff Walyus Falls Church

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 7

G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� F.C. Mayor Shares Developments and Plans for 2022 B� D���� T�����

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror and 2022 rapidly approaching, the NewsPress asked that I give readers a preview of the new year here in Falls Church. Although the past one has been challenging, the pandemic hasn’t slowed City progress on important community priorities. These include: Continued Economic Development — The 10-acre West Falls project (next to the high school) should break ground this spring and will be the City’s largest. The development promises to be a regional destination with hotel, office, a retail promenade, senior living and residential uses, along with convenient access to the West Falls Church Metro Station. When fully built out, the project’s tax revenue alone (not including ground rent payments) will be over $5 million per year (that’s over eleven cents on the tax rate)!

Likewise, Insight’s Washington and Broad project should begin demolition this spring and will provide a full-service Whole Foods, a new home for Creative Cauldron — our award-winning local theater, and a new high of 10 percent on-site affordable units. The project will provide a strong retail anchor for this important intersection.

These and other developments in the pipeline will continue the City’s steady and measured growth and provide new vibrancy and energy to our downtown – all the while providing a growing stream of tax revenue to support our schools and City services, and

laying the groundwork for further reductions in the tax rate.

Infrastructure — Upgrading our aging (and at times, failing) infrastructure has been a top priority of City Council. To ease

“Although the past one has been challenging, the pandemic hasn’t slowed City progress on important community priorities.”

the burden of these costly expenditures on our tax payers, we have actively sought (and obtained) federal, state and regional grants and funding from other sources like the America Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) to cover these critical improvements.

To address neighborhood flooding, City Council recently appropriated $7.4 million for extensive storm water system upgrades, including major projects on West Columbia, Shadow Walk, Hillwood and Sherrow Avenue. Work should begin next year and provide much needed relief to affected areas.

More to come.

Sidewalks, traffic calming and pedestrian and bike safety continue to be major priorities with a number of significant projects underway or expected to get underway in the near future.

The South Washington Street improvements are nearly complete and are a major boost to this commercial area. The upgrades include wider sidewalks, street trees and lights, crosswalks, utility undergrounding and new markers telling the City’s history.

The $9 million cost was paid by state and federal grants.

Likewise, a “Great Streets” grant will allow similar upgrades for sidewalks, streetscape, and utility undergrounding along Park Avenue from the Library to the State Theater. Preliminary design and community engagement are set for next year.

Other upcoming projects include new flashing light “Hawk” crosswalks along Broad Street, new walking trails in Berman Park, more marked crosswalks, bike lanes, and a tripling of the annual budget for “missing link” sidewalks connections.

Equity — We continue to reexamine our policies to ensure equity and social justice City-wide. The City is implementing the recommendations of the Police Use of Force Review Committee and has joined the Government Alliance for Racial Equity to help implement best practices. We have asked all of our Boards and Commissions to re-examine the way we do business through the equity lens. Next year, we are putting our $3.7 million Amazon Reach grant to use promoting affordable homeownership, and we have recently purchased three quadplexes to provide more housing opportunities in the Virginia Village area. Our efforts to ensure equity are not one-time, but will

be on-going.

Sustainability — Climate change and environmental sustainability continue to be areas of action. Our schools continue to lead with plans for solar cells on the roofs of the middle and high schools putting Meridian on the path to becoming a net zero facility. The Dan Sze Sustainability Dashboard honors one of the City’s leading voices on the environment and will provide real time sustainability data to future generations of Meridian learners. The system will also be adding two new electric school buses.

Similarly, the police are beginning their transition to clean energy with the purchase of three new electric police vehicles. Recent developments in the City have been LEED Gold, continuing our efforts to ensure that private development does its part as well.

We are also working on our Community Energy Plan, which will provide a long-term City roadmap to implement the goals of the Paris Accord.

There are many more exciting developments for 2022 than will fit in an 800word column. Stay tuned to the News-Press for more updates regarding our progress.

My colleagues on City Council: Marybeth Connelly, Phil Duncan, Letty Hardi, Debbie Hiscott, Ross Litkenhous, Dave Snyder and I (and soon newly elected Caroline Lian) are honored to serve you and look forward to a safe and successful new year.

Tarter is the mayor of the City of Falls Church.

Q������� �� ��� W��� Do you plan to travel for the holidays this year?

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PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Fifty years is a long time — for marriages, for nonprofit organizations, and for many other institutions.

This past week, two of those groups celebrated 50 years of service to Fairfax County, reflecting on the strides made since they were founded.

Fairfax County has changed dramatically since 1971. Its population then was barely 450,000, a third of today’s residents; the median age in 1971 was 25.2 years; today the median age exceeds 37 years. Seventy percent of housing units were single family detached homes; townhouses accounted for less than six percent. Today, those figures, respectively, are 46 and 24 percent. Only three percent of residents were age 65 or older (13,674 residents in 1970); today’s population of residents 65 and older is 14 percent, but the actual number is a staggering 164,033.That’s more than the entire city of Alexandria!

The Fairfax County Commission on Women was created by the Board of Supervisors on September 8, 1971, with the purpose of promoting full equality for women and girls in the county. The name later was changed to Commission for Women in 1976. The Commission was created before the Roe v. Wade decision, before Title IX, before the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, before the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that prohibits credit discrimination based on gender, marital status, and other classifications. Many opportunities available to all today simply did not exist when the Commission for Women was instituted. Single women could have credit in their birth name, but when they got married, that credit would be issued, or reissued, in their husband’s name only. Most female staff members who worked in Congress were not permitted on the Senate and House Floors; those few who were allowed had to wear stockings, heels, and dresses with sleeves as proper attire. Women were not admitted to the service academies until 1976.

Sadly, violence against women, one of the issues that led to the Commission’s creation, still is a serious issue in our community. To advance the work of the Commission, partnerships have been established with the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, Domestic and Sexual Violence Service, League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, and the National Associations of Commissions for Women. Their advocacy has supported the Turning Point Suffrage Memorial, paid family medical leave, and the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (successful in the first two; not so for the third). In 2020, the Commission recognized women as heroes on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic and public health crisis. Congratulations!

Similarly in 1971, Fairfax Opportunities Unlimited, known familiarly as the Op Shop, started as a small nonprofit organization to serve disabled young adults and provide them with skills and day programs that would help them be “the best that they could be.” From those small beginnings, the Op Shop became ServiceSource, which has expanded to serve more people across the country, while maintaining many of the original day programs that allow parents and adult caregivers to continue their outside employment and, in many cases, place clients into paid jobs. ServiceSource clients work at the EPA mailroom, at a Quantico Marine Base coffee shop, and other government agencies.

ServiceSource moved to a new office in Oakton, but many of their programs are maintained in Mason District, where they have been welcomed for decades.

A video made for their 50th anniversary echoed common themes: “What a blessing!” and “Thank you.”

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

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h

C RIM E R EPO RT Week of Dec. 6 — 12 Larceny-Purse Snatching, W Broad St, Dec 7, between 11 AM and 12 PM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from an unattended cart.

Fraud - False Pretense, Hillwood Ave, Dec 7, between 2 and 4 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Larceny-Theft of Vehicle Parts, E Fairfax St, between 5 PM, Dec 6 and 9 AM, Dec 7, unknown suspect(s) removed the catalytic converter from a Toyota

Prius.

Larceny from Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, Dec 8, 1:35 PM, unknown suspect described as a 30 YOA Asian male, wearing white skinny style jeans and a black winter coat, took items of value from a vehicle.

Driving Under the Influence, Leesburg Pike, Dec 9, 1:44 AM, a White male, 31, of Centreville, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Larceny from Vehicle, W Broad St, Dec 10, between 8 AM

and 4:46 PM, unknown suspect(s) took the driver side trim from a vehicle.

Destruction of Property, Ellison St, Dec 10, 8:47 PM, a known suspect slashed the rear passenger side tire of a vehicle.

Larceny from Building, Grove Ave, between Dec 9 and 11, unknown suspect(s) took an unsecured purple mountain bike.

Tampering with Auto, E Jefferson St, between 6 PM, Dec 11 and 6:30 AM, Dec 12 unknown suspect(s) rummaged through a vehicle.

Destruction of Property, Ellison St, Dec 12, 8:18 PM, unknown suspect(s) threw a rock through the window of a residence.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Delegate Marcus Simon’s

Richmond Report One of the quirky things about Virginia is that we don’t allow our Governor to run for re-election.

We also adopt biennial budgets in the even years. This creates another quirk, in that one of the very last acts the Governor is required to do is propose a new budget to the General Assembly, a few days before his successor is sworn in to replace him.

Of course, this year the Governor’s mansion is changing partisan hands.

Over the past week, Governor Northam has announced a series of crucial pieces of his last official budget, and he will continue to unveil important elements of the 2-year spending plan between now and the end of the year.

I’d like to focus on two of the more important rollouts we’ve seen so far, on public education and gun violence prevention.

Governor Northam’s proposed education budget builds upon our successes of the past two years and makes strategic investments, ensuring that Virginia remains one of the best education systems in the country.

A cornerstone of this investment is a 10 percent pay raise for teachers over the biennium. This means that Virginia teacher pay will exceed the national average.

Overall, the proposed budget includes $2.4 billion in new general fund spending for preschool through 12th grade. This highlights our continued commitment to having a world-class education system for every school aged child in the Commonwealth.

In the last several years we have expanded early childhood education to more Virginia families than ever before. We’ve even received national attention for investments in an early childhood teacher incentive grant program.

This pandemic has underscored our need to increase access to mental health services, including within our schools. To that end, we’ve increased the budget to hire more school counselors.

After graduation, some seniors will directly enter the workforce, attend a college or university, or trade school. Investing in our kids includes investing in their futures, which means making it easier to attend an institution of higher learning or to start their careers.

Virginia high school students are now eligible for financial aid

and in-state tuition, regardless of their citizenship status. And we’re expanding need-based financial aid for public undergraduate students — a $64 million investment is more than any Governor’s administration in Virginia history. Even students at private universities benefit thanks to our increasing the Tuition Assistance Grant to $4,000.

We’ve made the largest-ever investment in HBCUs — $328 million over three years. This includes $297 million for capital projects and nearly $32 million in operating support.

Our tuition-free community college program now helps working people who choose career paths in high-demand fields, such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and skilled trades, early childhood education or public safety may be eligible.

The Governor’s other major budget announcement addresses gun violence prevention, introducing legislation to establish a Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention & Prevention. His proposed budget includes $27 million to support the new Center with 13 employees to oversee the program.

The Center’s mission will be to collect and report data on firearm violence. Bringing together public safety and public health experts to analyze this data and ultimately recommend strategies and best practices for violence prevention.

The Center will also offer support to localities and community-based organizations working to address gun violence, coordinating a state and local response to these issues.

For decades, special interest groups have fought organizations that wanted to collect this data, which severely limits our ability to combat this crisis. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control announced specific funding for this kind of research.

The Center will build on recent, commonsense legislative achievements that enhance public safety and allow us to start proactively addressing the root causes of gun violence instead of simply reacting once a tragedy has occurred.

Governor Northam’s entire final budget will be released on December 16th.  Delegate Simon represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

More Than Contempt, This Is Treason

All that documentation that Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows dumped onto the Select Committee examining the January 6 insurrection has provided a wealth of proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in egregious and explicit acts of high treason against the U.S. government.

Treason, that is, as carefully defined by the U.S. Constitution. a crime punishable by death. It is the worst of all possible crimes. It is the crime of attempting to overthrow the FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS lawful government of the U.S. by violent and unlawful means.

The revelations of the recent days, in a 51-page report based on materials provided by Meadows before he abruptly cut off cooperation with the committee, have made it unmistakably clear that high treason is the only valid explanation for Trump’s role on January 6.

For over three hours, he ignored pleas from those in his own orbit, including his own son, to call off the riot.

One of the most densely packed days of such revelations also showed, among other things, that Fox News was wittingly engaging in outright lies to the American people, urging Trump in numerous texts to call off the riot on the one hand, and going on TV to claim the riot was being caused by Antifa, on the other.

This irrefutable documentation puts the January 6 events in a whole new light, not altogether different than as seen before, but even uglier and more, well, treasonous.

This is the big pill that the American people are now being asked to swallow. It threatens to not only result in dead-serious criminal charges against Trump and others in his circle, but to shatter the whole edifice of the Republican Party as it is known today. To the extent that leaders of that party continue to front for Trump, they will bear the responsibility for aiding and abetting in Trump’s crimes, and history will not look upon them kindly, to say the least.

It will start with Meadows, whose sudden decision not to cooperate with the investigation led committee chair Rep. Bernie Thompson to state of Meadows, “History will record that in a critical moment in our democracy, most people were on the side of finding the truth, of providing accountability, of strengthening our system for future generations. And history will also record, in this critical moment, that some people were not.”

Harshest in her verbal indictment of Trump was Wyoming congressman Lyn Cheney, daughter of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and one of only two Republicans on the select committee.

She is the one who set the tone for introducing the concept of treason directly against Trump. “Did Donald Trump, through action or inaction, corruptly seek to obstruct or impede Congress’s official proceeding to count electoral votes?,” she asked rhetorically.

While the immediate business before the committee was a vote to seek a criminal contempt action against Meadows, the criminal matter most obviously on the minds of the committee was Trump’s treason.

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Colorado, cited the law on treason in remarks before the committee Tuesday morning.

He cited, “18 USC 115, that states, ‘Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levees war against them or adheres to their enemies giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere is guilty of treason and shall suffer death.’ This is a death penalty statute! ‘Or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000 and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States,” he said.

He added, “Just the memos that have been disclosed to this point, in my opinion, are treasonous. We danced around this a lot and we talk about obstructing Congress and things like that, but this was an effort to have a coup, to overthrow the country, to break the pledge of allegiance we make to this country and to the constitution.

“This was an effort to have a coup, to overthrow the country,” he said. It was treason, punishable by death!

Later, the full House voted 222-208 to refer Meadows for criminal contempt of Congress.

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DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 9

Nicholas F. Benton

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Despite decades as an Arlingtonian, I still get lost in the glass-tower maze of Crystal City.

So I was drawn to the Dec. 8 Arlington Committee of 100 presentations, via Zoom, on the dynamic development doings at National Landing. Its multi-hued banner is omnipresent in the on-the-ground campaign to unite the neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City and the Alexandria-enclave of Potomac Yards.

The spurt of construction and new planning fertilized by Amazon (its new HQ is actually in Pentagon City) has prompted remarkable cooperation among business, government and residents. All are pursuing the holy grail of balance among the demands of office space, housing, transportation, parks, education and culture. And the accelerated change comes just as the state came through this month with $134 million for redesigning Route 1.

Tracy Gabriel, the National Landing BID president who bills herself at the “storyteller in chief” for the area’s “radical transformation,” oozes pride that Crystal City has become Virginia’s largest walkable urban center, rivaling downtown Austin and Oakland and approaching Miami’s. There’s a correction underway to offset the 1970s “vehicle-oriented planning” with exciting new construction for “on the ground experience” offering “storefront walkability, an attractive multi-model experience, and inviting retail.”

Though many retain a “mental

image” of Crystal City as offices, it has “one of the most balanced housing to business” ratios, she said.

The $8 billion in private investment being added to state and county funding that could attract 70,000 new housing units will also include a “game changing investment” in “inclusive and equitable growth.”

That’s exemplified by the 1,300 affordable housing units being created by the Washington Housing Conservancy’s project at Crystal House and plans for more openspace parks for a “biophilic experience.”

Michael Dowell, representing Livability 20222 (the zip code shared by Aurora Highlands, Arlington Ridge and Crystal City residents), talked up “holistic” planning for all aspects. “Young people today are raising the bar on quality-of-life expectations and are not willing to do the commute,” he said. What they want “can’t just be a great place to work, can’t just generate tax revenue, but has to be a great place to live.” He’s pleased the county responded to his group’s “codified” requests for “housing affordability, day care and essential services” such as a walkable library, a site for a new elementary school, dog parks, an urgent care center, and short-distance transport focused on pedestrians and bicycles.

Citing this “decade of climate change” and decline of tree canopy, Dowell also pressed for sustainable parks, which could include “connectivity” walks between parks and perhaps a new “escape” at Roaches Run. He is seeking ideas to repurpose the “brutalist” but valuable

Crystal City Underground and implement pedestrian safety measures to make it easier to traverse Route 1 to patronize restaurants on both sides.

Matt Matthauszek, the county development master who is planner for Crystal City, promised several key reports for early 2022. “You drive by and you see a lot of cranes and concrete being poured for dozens of floors, and construction fencing,” he noted. The planning requires a lot of staff time for public consultation, visual drafting and engineering, made easier by the help from neighborhood volunteers.

Arlington has made “a lot of progress,” he said. “But we will see painful moments initially to reach the ultimate result, which will allow us to be proud.” *** Some heavy-hitter employers in government cybersecurity gathered in Crystal City Dec. 9 to celebrate the Melwood nonprofit’s successes at placing special-needs computer enthusiasts onto career paths.

Executives from Mitre and General Dynamics Information Technology described how they orient their staffs on the need for “neurodiversity” to overcome skills shortages in jobs focused on thwarting cyber-attacks. Graduates of the donor-funded organization (founded in 1963 by parents at Andrews Air Force Base) who register on the autism spectrum explained how they are trained and coached in interviewing skills.

Patrick Gorman and his mother Karen expressed gratitude for their referral to Melwood from the Arlington Employment Center.

PAGE 10 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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News-Press

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes Virginia Hospital Center Toy and Coat Drives Virginia Hospital Center Pediatrics is hosting a toy and coat drive this month for its vulnerable patients who rely on donations from these drives to stay warm and receive toys that they may not otherwise receive this holiday season. VHC Pediatrics offers comprehensive, affordable, quality healthcare in a culturally sensitive environment, serving over 3,600 underserved infants and children in Arlington County with family incomes at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

The toy drive is taking place now through Tuesday, December 31. New and unwrapped toys and gifts for ages 0 — 18 can be dropped off at the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation (1701 N. George Mason Dr. Arlington, VA) on Monday — Friday from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m.

The winter coat drive is taking place now through Friday, January 28. New and gently used coats, hats and gloves of all sizes (youth and adults) for both boys and girls are needed. Drop offs can be made at the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation on Monday — Friday from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m.

All gifts are tax-deductible. To schedule a drop-off and ensure you have a receipt, please contact Rosemarie O’Connor at roconnor@virginiahospitalcenter.com or 703-717-4499.

American Painting Fine Art Presents Small Treasures In the midst of continuing Covid concerns, goods shortages and “normal” seasonal havoc, American Painting Fine Art presents the ultimate stressbuster—its annual Small Treasures exhibition and sale.

Short of a trip to reopened local art museum venues, a visit to Small Treasures is an event that will soothe, succor and surprise every variety of art enthusiast, from casual to critical. Collectors of important American art (traditional and abstract) will have many excellent opportunities to add to their walls.

Notable among the works on

display will be pieces by renowned North American artists Ginger Levant of NYC, Michele Martin Taylor of Salem, OR, Stevens Jay Carter, of Oakland, CA and Nancy Tankersley of Easton, MD. Rounding out the national nature of this show will be works by Jacalyn Beam, of Greenville, DE, Seth Hill of Clarksburg, WVA and David Zimmerman of Durham, NC. Other artists of note selected include Alexangel Estevez of Petersburg, VA, and Washington DC local artists Christina Blake, Michael Francis, Marelle Myers and Grace Peterson.

Members of the vaunted Washington Society of Landscape Painters will, of course, be represented, including Yolanda Frederikse, Mimi Hegler, Pattee Hipshen, Mary Kokoski, Andrei Kushnir, Barry Lindley, Richard Ray (recently turned 101!), Genevieve Roberts (still going strong at 101!), Bill Schmidt, Jean Schwartz, Lida Stifel and Robert Thoren.

Regular Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, by appointment from 11 a.m. — 7 p.m. until February 5 Admission is free.

The gallery is located at 5125 MacArthur Blvd., NW Suite 17 in Washington, D.C. Call (202) 2443244 or visit classicamericanpainting.com for more details.

Waterskiing Santa in Alexandria on December 24 Now in its 36th year, this favorite D.C.-area Christmas Eve event returns to Old Town Alexandria. Gather along historic Alexandria’s Potomac River waterfront for a spectacular show

by Waterskiing Santa and his merry crew. The prime viewing area is Waterfront Park (1 King St. and 1A Prince St.), with more great views from the Alexandria City Marina (0 Cameron St.), Founders Park (351 N. Union St.), and Point Lumley Park (1 Duke St.). Come early to see the pre-show (on jet skis).

This event takes place at 1 p.m. on December 24 at Alexandria’s waterfront. For more information, go to visitalexandriava.com.

“The Christmas Angel” Closing Weekend Based on a little-known 1910 novel by Abbie Farwell Brown, this tale about an elderly spinster and her heartwarming transformation into the Christmas spirit echo Dickens and the journey of Ebeneezer Scrooge. Creative Cauldron’s award-winning creative team, Conner and Smith, put their signature stamp on what is sure to become another classic Christmas show.

Performances take place on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at creativecauldron.org. Please note that proof of vaccine or a negative Covid test are required for those 12 and older. Masks are required inside the theater.

Little Lights Petting Zoo at Columbia Baptist You and your family are invited to join the church on Christmas Eve for a service tailor-made for all wiggles, giggles and fun.

The experience starts in Columbia Baptist’s parking lot with a petting zoo and then moves inside to celebrate Christmas Eve with music, games, a children’s message and more.

The petting zoo begins at 2:30 p.m. and the Christmas Eve service begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 24.

For more information about the Little Lights service, please email Rev. Layci Clifford at lclifford@ columbiabaptist.org.

Columbia Baptist is located at 103 W. Columbia St. in Falls Church.

Camps Offered Over School Breaks The City’s Rec & Parks team is ready to entertain your kids on school breaks!

Spots are still available for the camps listed below; find out more details online, fallschurchva.gov/ BreakCamps.

The Cheer and Hip-Hop program focuses on teaching fun

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS of Creative Cauldron, Falls Church’s award winning theater troupe, held their holiday party at the Italian Cafe Tuesday night. (Photo: News-Press) cheers and modern hip hop movements with a vivacious urban feel.

The hip hop portion of the camp will focus on rhythm and musicality, how to “find the beat,” count music and dance with a team.

Different styles of hip-hop dance will be combined with fun choreography. The cheer portion of the camp will teach various dance and cheer combinations, basic stunts, and fun choreography. Along with these skills, participants will receive daily take home activities that build teamwork, confidence and leadership skills. On the last day participants will provide a performance to showcase what they have learned. This camp takes place at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church) from December 27 — 30 from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. for ages 6 — 13. Registration is required.

How do detectives and investigators use science to solve a mystery? Participants will spend the Spy Science! camp understanding forensic science and learning the tricks of the spy trade.

They’ll investigate fingerprints, spying techniques (surveillance), secret codes, invisible ink, evidence under a black light, and other sneaky science! Materials are included in the price of the camp. This camp takes place at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church) from December 27 — 30 from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. for ages 6 — 12.

Registration is required.

For a full list of all of the camps being offered and to register your child, visit fallschurchva. gov/BreakCamps.

Creative Cauldron’s Holiday Cabarets ‘Tis the season to join some of the DMV’s greatest musical theater performers and musicians for some festive holiday fun. Join performers live in person or streaming online. Jim Van Slyke will perform Sunday, December 19 at 7 p.m., Sally Imbriano will perform on Monday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m., Stephen Carter-Hicks will perform Tuesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Kanysha Williams will perform Wednesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the in-person event and streaming can be purchased online at creativecauldron.org.

Holiday Market and Winter Village It’s the most wonderful time of the year — celebrate the season with local artisans and makers from the Fairfax area!

Visit The PARC at Tysons this Saturday for a pop-up shop of handcrafted goods and holiday-inspired gifts made by local artisans.

The PARC will be transformed into a festive winter village, featuring an artisan’s market, an iceless ice-skating rink and other activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Admission to the Holiday Market & Winter Village is free.

The PARC is located at 8508 Leesburg Pike in Vienna.

Mount Vernon Tours by Candlelight Visit with Mrs. Washington

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

and other 18th-century residents of Mount Vernon in a 45-minute candlelit tour of the historic area at Mount Vernon, followed by a reception with live music, cider, and cookies.

Costumed character actors portraying George Washington’s family, friends, and enslaved or hired staff will share stories of Christmases’ past.

Discover the dining and hospitality traditions of 18th-century Virginia as you visit the Slave Quarters, outbuildings, and Washington’s Mansion.

Candlelit tours take place on December 19. Tickets and more information can be found online at mountvernon.org.

An Irish Carol at Keegan Theater The Keegan Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and team of Matthew J. Keenan’s “An Irish Carol,” Keegan’s own holiday tradition returning for its 11th year, as part of Keegan’s 25th Anniversary Season.

“Since its world premiere in 2011, “An Irish Carol” has been a special part of every Keegan season,” remarks production director and Keegan founding director

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Mark A. Rhea, “but this year feels extra special as we return to live, in-person performances after going virtual last season. We always look forward to sharing this original work with patrons – many of whom return year after year as part of their holiday traditions – and connecting with our community through its story of friendship, compassion, and redemption. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the ‘Diskin’s Pub’ properly for the first time since 2019!”

The cast features returning favorites Kevin Adams, Dave Jourdan, Mike Kozemchak, Timothy H. Lynch, Jessie Power, Josh Sticklin, and Jon Townson. Michael Replogle and Matthew J. Keenan round out the cast, and Donagh Gilhooly joins for a special guest appearance.

An Irish Carol is directed by Keegan’s founding director Mark A. Rhea. The artistic team also includes Mary Doebel (Stage Manager), Ben Harvey (Master Electrician), Cindy Landrum Jacobs (Properties & Set Dressing Designer), Matthew J. Keenan (Set Designer), Dan Martin (Lighting Designer), Craig Miller (Hair & Make-up Designer), Jake Null (Sound Designer), Kelly Peacock (Costume Designer), and Matt Rippetoe (Original Music).

The show runs December 10-31,

2021 with evening performances Monday-Saturday at 8:00 pm and performances on Sundays at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. To find more information about “An Irish Carol” or to purchase single tickets or build a custom tickets package, visit www. keegantheatre.com

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 11

Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights The 2021 Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights is open nightly through Sunday, January 2, 2022, including all holidays.

Enjoy even more lights this year as Meadowlark Botanical Gardens sparkles with displays of flowers, animals, wrapped trees, and winter holiday scenes.

Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite by searching “2021 Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights.”

Manassas Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” Northern Virginia’s favorite Nutcracker comes to life on the Hylton stage with eight performances presented by Dominion Energy and Miller Toyota.

Gorgeous sets, costumes, and live music by the Manassas Ballet

Fruit Favorites Gift Box ONLY

* 99 $23 Special, limitedtime offer!

NEW FALLS CHURCH SCHOOL BOARD members sworn in by Arlington Circuit Court Clerk Paul Ferguson (right) Tuesday night included (left to right) Tate Gould, Kathleen Tysse and David Ortiz. Not present was Lori Silverman (P����: N���-P����) Theatre Orchestra help make MBT’s Nutcracker the highlight of the holidays.

Live performances are December 16-23 at Hylton Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $35 and are available through the Hylton Box Office: 703-993-7759 or https://hylton.calendar.gmu.edu/ manassas-ballet-theatre-39-s-the-

nutcracker/ Online streaming begins December 24 at 7:30 pm for Cast A and December 25 at 2:00 pm for Cast B. Access is $25 and is available through the links below: Cast A: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/mbtnutcracker Cast B: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/mbtnutcrackercastb

Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation

Is seeking leaders to apply to join its Board of Directors!

NVMHF pays for goods and services that are part of behavioral health treatment plans for families and individuals receiving services at the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board when no other funding is available.

Learn more or apply today at https://www.novamentalhealth.org/apply

SAVE $15!

Reg. Price $37.99

Falls Church - Annandale LIONS

Club Fruit Sale For Charity Saturdays, December 18, February 19 March 19 8:15 AM: Until Sold Out

Location: Annandale Swim and Tennis Club,

Call 1-844-666-7583 to order item 296X or Visit HaleGroves.com/H2YP27 * Only $23.99 (reg. $37.99) plus $5.99 shipping and handling per pack to 48 contiguous states. Some restrictions may apply. IC: H2YP27

(Look for the Craig Moving Van)

7530 Little River Turnpike Between Wendy’s and McDonald’s.

fc-alions.org

PAGE 12 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

H O L I DAY SHO PPI NG GU I D E

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Christmas is so close you can practically smell the turkey. Fortunately, there are only a few details left to sort out.

Here’s your final check­ list.

PACK A LITTLE HEAT INTO THOSE STOCKINGS THIS YEAR.

EXCLUSIVELY AT DISTURBINGLY DELICIOUS FOODS 455 S MAPLE AVE FALLS CHURCH

­ ­ ­

703-533-7393 •

www.foxesmusic.com 416 Washington St. Falls Church, VA 22046

And to get you in the holiday spirit...

Remember to pause and enjoy quality time with loved ones. This week, consider going for an evening stroll to admire the lights or spending an afternoon baking cookies.

• Wrap your gifts (or have them wrapped at a local shop), and then find a place to hide them.

• Pick up your turkey and any non-perishable menu items for your party.

• Clean each room from top to bottom before you welcome people into your home.

• Create a playlist for the party, and prepare a few activities to enter­ tain your guests.

• Ask guests how they plan to get home, or make arrangements for them to stay over.

• Buy fresh produce and any other last-minute items you need for your holiday feast.

• Tidy up the house, and stock bathrooms with toilet paper and fresh hand towels.

• Clear a space in your front entrance for guests to leave their boots and coats.

Happy Holidays!

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

HO LI DAY SHO PPI NG GUIDE

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 13

Delivery Specials FREE DELIVERY 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046

through Uber Eats Scan the QR Code to order!

clareanddons.com

Sundae Game Day

Taco Tuesday

Wednesday Humpday

$5 Bloody Marys $5 Money Wings

$5 House Margaritas

$5 Lemon Crushes

Thirsty Thursday $5 HouseMargaritas

(pucker up!)

Weekday Lunch Specials (Tues-Thurs)

Soup-N-Sandie Combo Chicken Breast Sandwich Prepared Your Way with a Cup of Homemade Soup of Your Choice

Trivia every Thursday night at 7 pm with $5 pints of 3 Floyd's Gumballhead

Free Delivery with Uber Eats

lazymikesdeli.com

• Office Luncheons • All Day Breakfast • Homemade Ice Cream • Custom Cakes

Lazy Mikes Deli • 7049 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22046

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PAGE 14 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CELEBRATE

AT COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH 103 W. COLUMBIA ST., FALLS CHURCH

"Christmaphobia" - Holiday Sermon Series

How fearing the worst robs us of the best Sunday Mornings in December | 9:30 & 11:15 am

Columbia Flute Choir Holiday Concert Saturday, December 18 | 7 pm The Columbia Flute Choir presents a variety of classical holiday music and original works for flute choirs. Held in our historical chapel.

Little Lights Christmas Eve Celebration For Families with Young Children Friday, December 24 | 3 PM This service is filled with your Christmas Eve favorites delivered in a way sure to spark the wonder and joy of the season in the youngest hearts. Come early to visit our festive petting zoo starting at 2:30 pm.

Christmas Eve Services

Christmas at The Falls Church December 18th

Live Nativity and Lights ve h li s! t i l w ma ani

Entry from Broad Street Come along between 6 - 8 pm December 19th

Advent Lessons and Carols with Communion December 24th

December 25th

thefallschurch.org

A Narrated Children's Nativity with Communion

10am Historic Church 4:30pm Contemporary Church

Candlelight Christmas Eve Communion

10:30pm Historic Church

Christmas Service with Communion

10am Historic Church

The Falls Church, 115 East Fairfax Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Friday, December 24 | 5 pm & 7 pm Join us for a wonderful evening of Christmas music, Advent wreath lighting, and a special message of Hope. Both services will conclude with a candlelight singing of Silent Night.

COLUMBIABAPTIST.ORG/CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 15

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

NEWS BRIEFS Unique Bipartisan Effort Distinguishes Va. Delegation In an article this week in the Newport News’ Daily Press by Dave Ross, the unique way the Virginia U.S. congressional delegation works was highlighted in an article citing the monthly meetings of the entire group.

Ross wrote, “Virginia has something unique on Capitol Hill — its two senators and 11 members of Congress meet once a month to discuss the state’s needs and agree on ways to tackle them.”

He quoted Sen. Mark Warner, “Thirty years ago, every major state did, but we’re the only one now…It shouldn’t be an applause line.”

Virginia seems poised to lead the way on one major issue: voting rights, said Sen. Tim Kaine.

He’s been a lead negotiator on a Senate bill that would follow Virginia’s recent reforms for early voting, married with a requirement for nonpartisan redistricting and better disclosure about who pays for political ads during campaigns.

It would also address an issue that Warner fears leaves the nation “one step away” from the kind of faked elections that authoritarian leaders stage.

The legislation would bar partisan bodies, like a state legislature, to overturn decisions about election results reached by independent election commissions and courts.

He said the caucus agrees on the voting rights bill. Part of what makes such things possible, Ross wrote, is the cooperative efforts forged in the Virginia delegation’s unique monthly gettogethers.

The meetings started with the late Sen. John Warner, a Republican deeply committed to bipartisanship, said Democrat Mark Warner. “I don’t agree with everybody’s politics but we work together for Virginia,” Warner said. And, he said, there are concrete results from that cooperation.

Falls Church’s Meredith Named CEO of Boomi Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Falls Church native David Meredith as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 31, 2022. Meredith comes to Boomi from NASDAQ-listed Everbridge, where during his tenure as CEO, the company experienced rapid revenue growth. He brings to Boomi over 25 years of executive leadership across both multibillion-dollar public companies as well as private equity-backed technology platforms. Meredith will succeed Chris McNabb, who plans to retire.

“I am confident David is the executive best suited to guide Boomi through this next chapter and I look forward to working closely together with him to ensure a smooth transition,” according to a statement by McNabb.

According to a report, the timing of the changing of the guard at Boomi is noteworthy. The move comes months after Dell Technologies sold Boomi to private equity firms Francisco Partners and TPG for $4 billion. And it comes just a month after the company held its annual user conference, dubbed Out of This World 2021.

The report added that recruiting Meredith from Everbridge “signals that Boomi’s new owners want to see faster growth. The company posted doubledigit growth during his two-and-a-half years at Everbridge, the provider of SaaS-based critical event management and national public warning software solutions.

Before joining Everbridge, Meredith had served as COO of Rackspace and president of CenturyLink.

“David’s track record scaling category-leading software-as-a-service and infrastructure providers and his thought leadership within the industry make him the perfect choice to lead Boomi through its next phase of growth,” according to a statement

by Francisco Partners’ Brian Decker and Andrew Kowal.

Universal Preschool Key To ‘Build Back Better’ U.S. President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion “Build Back Better” spending plan includes a potentially life-changing plan to make universal preschool free nationwide, making it easier for some parents, primarily mothers, to work outside the home, according to a White House report.

“The White House’s top economic advisers have advocated that the return of women, and particularly mothers, to the workforce is key to economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and faster growth for years to come,” the report stated.

“The U.S. labor market was stronger before the pandemic, but millions of Americans still have not returned to work after becoming unemployed during the crisis. Determining exactly how many mothers would join the workforce if free schooling became available on a voluntary basis for all 3 and 4-yearolds is difficult. But the past may offer some clues.

“Kindergarten, or education for children who are generally 5 years old, became a bigger part of the public school system over the first half of the 20th century; however, it wasn’t until the 1980s that it became free or subsidized in every state.

“Single mothers who had 5-year-olds and no younger children saw the largest employment gains, researchers say.

“It is ‘indisputable’ that free pre-K will provide an incentive for a parent with a child of the right age, who is not working now, to start working, said Elizabeth Cascio, an economics professor at Dartmouth College who studied the labor market effects of expansions of kindergarten and preschool programs. ‘It is just a matter of what degree.’”

Protect the ones you love,

get your flu shot today.

@vaccinatevirginia

PAGE 16 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR LOCALEVENTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 Baby Storytime. Join TysonsPimmit Library for songs, rhymes, stories and activities for you and your baby. Build an early literacy foundation while enjoying time together in your lap. Meets in person at Tysons Pimmit Library.

Space limited to 15 children with one caregiver each. No registration, customers will be allowed in on a first come, first served basis. Check in at the Children's Information desk for tickets.

This class is best for babies 0 — 18 months and their caregivers. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 — 11 a.m.

Five and Under Storytime. Join Thomas Jefferson Library for stories, songs, and activities that build early literacy skills. Ages 0 — 5. Space is limited to ticketed attendees for in-person events.

Tickets are free and first-come, first-serve at the information desk 30 minutes before each program. (1545 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 10:30 — 11 a.m.

Woodrow Wilson Storytime.

Visit Woodrow Wilson Library to read stories, move your feet and have fun. Attendees will also be learning Spanish words as they fit with the theme of each program.

Please note masks are required for all people ages 2 and up. This program is limited to the first 15 people total. (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church). 10:30 — 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 Do You Want to Build a Snowman.

Come to Tysons-Pimmit Library to create a snowman from various crafting supplies. All materials will be provided. Ages 4 — 12.

Register on the library’s website. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4 — 5 p.m.

more. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/547/FarmersMarket-To-Go. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 8 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Saturday Morning Stories. Start your weekend off at the Woodrow Wilson Library. Enjoy our in person Saturday Morning Stories event with Ms. Nancy. Guests will hear 3 to 4 stories and find new stories to check out. All ages are welcomed. (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church). 10:15 — 10:45 p.m.

Family Storytime. Ages 0 — 5.

Share the joy of playful learning together at Tysons-Pimmit Library. Children and their caregivers participate in music, movement and song in this program that promotes bonding and highlights the natural rhythms in language. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 — 11 a.m.

Kids in Motion.

Come join Tysons-Pimmit Library for motion and movement. This is an interactive experience that engages kids to form healthy fitness habits and empowers them to enjoy movement and fitness. Come dressed ready to move. This is for ages 3-8 with one parent, if you have questions about the appropriate age for a program or its content please call the branch at 703-7908088 (option 4). Due to space limitations we only have room for one adult with each registered child. All employees and visitors — regardless of vaccination status — are required to wear a mask while inside all Fairfax County facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Room capacity will be limited to 40 people. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church).11 — 11:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

Solace Outpost Winter Market.

Join Solace Outpost for their First Annual Winter Market. There will be vendors selling last minute Christmas gifts and live music as well as pictures with Santa from 1 — 3 p.m. and free arcade games from 3 — 5 p.m. (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 12 — 5 p.m.

Falls Church Farmers Market.

The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday at City Hall, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and

Paws to Read with Lucy. Read aloud to Lucy, a trained therapy dog. Bring your own book or choose a book from the library.

Walk-ins welcome. Age 6 — 12. (1545 Arlington Blvd., Falls

Church). 2 — 3 p.m.

Gift Jar Craft. Come decorate jars of holiday treats at Tysons-Pimmit Library. Ages 12 — 18. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 2 — 5 p.m.

Family Movie: The Grinch (2018).

Kick off Winter Break with your family at Woodrow Wilson Library’s showing of “The Grinch” (2018). This animated rendition features the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Tristan O'Hare, Scarlett Estevez and Angela Lansbury. This movie is rated PG. This program is for all ages. No food or drink will be allowed during the movie to ensure safety. Per county standards all library visitors ages 2 and up must wear a mask while in county buildings. (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church). 4 — 5:30 p.m.

Live Nativity at Sleepy Hollow UMC. Join Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church for a live nativity scene with characters portraying the manger scene and live animals. (3435 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church). 5:30 — 7:30 p.m.

Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 5 — 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21 Create Your Own Winter Terrarium. Create your own winter wonderland terrarium at Tysons-Pimmit Library. All of the essential materials are provided but you're welcome to add your own flair afterwards to truly personalize your masterpiece. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 2 — 2:30 p.m. for kids and 3 — 3:30 for teens.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22 Needlecraft Circles. Want to get crafty? Each Wednesday Thomas Jefferson Library teaches a new needlecraft. Supplies provided.

This event is for adults. (1545 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 — 2 p.m.

THEATER&ARTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

Holiday Yarn Tree Craft. Come make some winter themed tree decor at Tysons-Pimmit Library.

All supplies provided. This program is for ages 8-18 only, if you have questions about the appropriate age for a program or its content please call the branch at 703-790-8088 (option 4). Register on the library’s website. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 3 — 5 p.m.

The Christmas Angel. Based on a little-known 1910 novel by Abbey Farwell Brown, this tale about an elderly spinster and her heartwarming transformation into the Christmas spirit echo Dickens and the journey of Ebeneezer Scrooge.

Creative Cauldron’s award-winning creative team, Conner and Smith, put their signature stamp on what is sure to become another classic Christmas show. This production features adult professionals and students enrolled in the Musical Theater Pre-Professional Training program. Please note: all patrons must wear masks. Social distancing and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test is required for everyone 12 and over. Performances take place until December 19 with shows on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (410 South Maple Ave., Falls Church). 703-436-9948.

Maker Mondays. Let your imagination run wild as you build and create with Thomas Jefferson Library’s Lego, Keva Planks, Squigz, Mega Magnets, Magna-Cars, Marble Run, Gears, and more.

For school-age children. (1545

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. In this holiday favorite, Junie B. Jones, First-Grader, is super-excited about the upcoming Holiday Sing-Along and Secret Santa gift exchange at her school in this play by Providence

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20 Storytime Fun for Preschoolers.

Space limited to 15 children with one caregiver each. No registration. Please check in at the information desk at Tysons-Pimmit for tickets. Masks are required once more at the library regardless of vaccination status. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church).

10:30 — 11 a.m.

Players. Too bad tattletale May keeps ruining all of Junie B.’s fun. So, when Junie B. draws May’s name for Secret Santa, she comes up with the perfect plan to teach her nemesis a lesson! But will the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interfere before she can give you-knowwho what she deserves? A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park. Suitable for children and families. Performances will take place December 10 — 19 with performances at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday and 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church). 703-425-6782.

Rent. La Vie Boheme! The iconic rock musical’s pure rush of adrenaline, passion, energy and joy is boldly and immersively reimagined in Signature Theater style for a triumphant reopening. At the end of the millennium, a group of bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggle with gentrification, love, loss and legacies amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Through songs such as “Seasons of Love,” “One Song Glory,” “I’ll Cover You,” “Out Tonight” and more, they embrace hope, find strength and survive. Winner of the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking phenomenon defined a generation as it redefined the American musical and has never been more essential in today’s world. November 2 — January 2. Performance times vary. (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). 703820-9771.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 Michelle Swan. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m.

703-858-9186.

Mama’s Black Sheep + Christine Havrilla. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $30. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Carbon Leaf. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Dan ‘N’ Friends. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-237-8333.

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

The Slackers with The Aggrolites.

The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $20 — $25. 8:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 Shartel & Hume Duo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.

Dan & Chuck. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-5329283.

Dan Lipton & the Whiskey Disciples. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-8589186.

Brook Yoder. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-534-8999.

Carbon Leaf. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 Smokin’ Lounge Duo Janna & Rob. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Stealin’ the Deal. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Brook Yoder. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-534-8999.

Tom Papa. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Skinny Wallace Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.

The Allman Others Band: Allman Brothers Tribute. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10.

8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Johnny Folsom 4: A Tribute to Johnny Cash. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $20 — $25. 9 p.m. 703237-0300.

Scott McMahon. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church).

9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.

CARBON LEAF will be bringing their Hunting Ground tour to the Birchmere in Alexandria this week. (P����: E��� T����) (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 7p.m. 703-2370300.

The Nighthawks. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25.

7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Karl Stoll & Danger Zone. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19

Luther Re-Lives Holiday Show featuring William “Smooth” Wardlaw. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Josh Allen Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 3:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Wolf Blues Jam. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Diablos Negros. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church).$35 — $40. 9 p.m. 703237-0300.

Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-8589186.

Sean Tracy. Dogwood Tavern (132

Soul Crackers. The State Theatre

The Ex Files. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25.

8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20 Tom Saputo & Friends. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-

6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044

703-532-5161 www.everlycommunity.com

9504.

Exit 245 + the BlueTones. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Puddles Pity Party. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $49.50. 7:30 p.m.

703-549-7500.

Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Clauster Eve Songwriters Circle.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $16. 8 p.m. 703-2551566.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22

Kenny G. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $75 — $85. 8 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Todd Wright Live and in Concert.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21

Max Weinburg’s Jukebox. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $65. 7:30 p.m.

703-549-7500.

Maysa Live and in Concert. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $69.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Open Mic. JV’s Restaurant (6666

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

PAGE 18 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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Fa l l s C h u r c h

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

School News & Notes Senior Recognition Yearbook Pages This year, for the first time, Senior Recognition pages are free for quarter pages. The goal is to include everyone. Are you looking for more of a presence?

Pay for an upgrade to a half or full page. Prices are half-page $175, and full-page $300. All proceeds go directly to paying for the actual pages’ manufacturing costs. The deadline for the Senior Recognition pages has been extended to December 31, 2021, but you can turn it in now if you’re ready. Visit the MHS website for more information.

IB Parent Survey Due Friday As part of the FCCPS 5 year review cycle with the International Baccalaureate program, all parents in FCCPS are encouraged to complete a 10 question survey. Your responses are all anonymous.

The data obtained from the survey will be combined with the information received from teachers and students and is designed to help improve the delivery of the IB programmes in FCCPS schools.

All three IB coordinators are available to answer any questions you may have.

Primary Years Programme (K-5th grades): Ms. Carrie Checca at checcac@fccps.org Middle Years Programme

(6-10th grades): Dr. Rory Dippold at dippoldr@fccps.org Diploma Programme (1112th grades): Mr. Daniel Coast at coastd@fccps.org You can find the survey on the FCCPS website or in the Morning Announcements email sent on Monday, December 13.

Final School Board Meeting of 2021 For the last meeting of the calendar year, the Fall Church School Board began by honoring four members who are leaving at the end of the month. Special recognition was given to former Board Chair Dr. Greg Anderson and current Board Chair Shannon Litton for their years of service.

Thanks to Edwin B Henderson II and Dr. Sonia Ruiz-Bolaños for serving out interim terms this year. The Board worked through a packed agenda that included approval of the 2022-2023 School Calendar, four new courses at Meridian High School, the five-year Capital Improvements Program, and its Legislative Package.

New School Board Members take Oath Before this week’s School Board meeting, new Falls Church School Board members Tate Gould, Kathleen Tysse, and David Ortiz were sworn into office by Arlington Clerk of Court, Paul

FAMILY AND FRIENDS enjoyed a full night of great music at Meridian High School on Thursday night, including many holiday favorites from “Jingle Bell Rock” to” A Canadian Brass Christmas Suite.” Diverse music included Middle Eastern and Latin music and everything from opera overtures to film scores.

Four groups performed: the Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony, with soloists featured for songs and instrumentals (Photo Carol Sly

Ferguson. New board member Lori Silverman could not attend and will take the oath of office later. All will begin their fouryear terms in January.

Cheer Team will Host Clinic in January Due to the popularity of the Cheer Clinic this month, the Meridian Cheer Team will host another cheer clinic on Saturday, January 8 (Registration 8:45 a.m./ Clinic 9-12:00). Kindergarten through 5th graders are welcome.

No experience is necessary. A $40 fee can be paid at the door.

Includes a 3-hour cheer clinic and a bow. Participants will cheer with the team on Friday, January 14, at the MHS Basketball game (6:30 p.m. warm-up/7:00 p.m.

Game Time). Please email Coach Amos at amosa@fccps.org if you have any questions or would like to support an attendee financially.

18 Band Musicians Audition into Districts THE MUSTANGS boys basketball team started off the season with a home win over trinity Christian (Photo: Lisa LaCroix

On Saturday, December 4th, 14 Meridian students and four Henderson students traveled to Glasgow Middle School to audi-

tion for All-District Band. Since October, students have been preparing for the rigorous audition of scales, sight-reading, and challenging etudes. All 18 students scored and ranked exceptionally well up against other top musicians in our region through all of their efforts, including Fairfax County and Alexandria City schools. After making it into All-District Band, students will attend the All-District Band event on February 3-5 at Hayfield Secondary School and perform on February 5th.

Boys Basketball Wins Home Opener The Mustangs won their home opener Wednesday night 53 — 22 over Trinity Christian.

Duncan Miller led the way with 12 points..

Scholastic Bowl Team Starts with a Win On Monday, December 6th, the Meridian Scholastic Bowl team began its season with a trip to Warren County High School.

The Mustangs were victorious in both matches against Warren, winning by the scores of 295 — 40 and 215 — 120. MHS wish-

es congratulations to the team of Ailene Neal, Terah Nguyen, Avery Pike, Nicholas Pratt, AJ Strang, and Alexander Werner, all of whom contributed to the victory.

Varsity Basketball Win Over Yorktown The Meridian varsity boys basketball team defeated Yorktown High School on Friday 63 — 60. The Mustangs were led by outstanding performances from Duncan Miller, Wyatt Trundle, and Thomas Downs.

“Fun Challenges” for Students The Curriculum Instruction and Achievement team invites students and their families to participate in activities to promote family engagement and social interaction with peers. The activities created aligned with academic content without any expectation of completion.The goal is to encourage exploration and socialization in a fun way.

Change the challenges or topics to meet your family’s needs, and enjoy! A list of activities can be found in Wednesday’s edition of “Morning Announcements.”

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h Business News & Notes Pinkston Acquires Pliris Pinkston, a strategy and communications consultancy based in the D.C.-metro area, today announced its acquisition of Pliris Strategies, a messaging and communications firm based in Oklahoma City. The acquisition enables Pinkston to serve its rapidly growing client base with the immediate integration of experienced communications professionals into the southern United States. Founded in 2001, Pinkston offers an integrated collection of earned- and owned-media capabilities, including strategy, messaging and writing, media relations, social media, video production, web development, digital marketing and graphic design. Pinkston serves a wide range of clients including Fortune 100 companies, technology startups, national non-profits, international industry associations and numerous New York Times best-selling authors.

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 19

Protect the ones you love,

get your flu shot today.

VCA Applicants Transition to SAM In April 2022, the federal government will transition from the use of the DUNS Number to a new SAM. gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) as the primary means of entity identification, which is required to apply for and receive federal awards. If you have a current or inactive registration in SAM.gov, your UEI has already been assigned and can be viewed on SAM.gov. New applicants are able to register for a UEI number directly through SAM.gov, with or without a full SAM registration.

General Dynamics Deal Falls Church-area based General Dynamics Information Technology secured a 10-year, $4.5 billion contract from the Springfield-based National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for user-facing and data center services. GDIT will provide such IT services in support of multiple security domains and networks, including the Intelligence Community’s cloud and desktop environments from various locations worldwide.

Arlington Readers’ Pick includes Local Businesses A number of Falls Church Chamber businesses were among the top Readers Picks in the December 12 issue of Arlington Magazine. Congratulations go to: Galleria Florist, Eden Center, Dominion Jewelers, Lemon Lane Consignment, New to You, Doodlehopper 4 Kids, The State Theatre, Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Creative Cauldron, Burke and Herbert Bank, John Marshall Bank, Body Dynamics, Sunstone Counseling, Preservation Biscuit, Dogwood Tavern, Thompson Italian, Dominion Wine and Beer, and Lost Dog Cafe.

Lions Club Fruit Sale The Falls Church-Annandale Lions Club will resume their fruit sale this Saturday, December 18 at the Annandale Swim and Tennis Club, 7530 Little River Turnpike. Look for the Craig Moving Van. Sales open at 8:15 a.m. and run until they have sold out. All proceeds go to charity. They will also have fruit on February 19 and March 19.

Antique Annex Closing Upstairs Booths The Falls Church Antique Annex at 250 W. Broad Street has been a part of Falls Church for many decades. They are consolidating their collection to in order to close the upstairs dealer spaces. Now is the time for good deals on the antique and vintage items that you have had your eye on! The very last day for the upstairs is December 31, 2021. Don’t worry, the downstairs booths will remain open!  Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.

@vaccinatevirginia

PAGE 20 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

C L AS S I F I E DS

Public Notice

RECRUITMENT

NOTICE OF EAST COAST TRUCK & TRAILER SALES, INC.’S HEARING ON OPERATION OF DEALERSHIP

BY MANUFACTURER

HIRING? We can help you fill your open positions! Promote job listings regionally or statewide! Affordable Print and Digital Advertising Solutions reaching potential candidates. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), under the Code of Virginia §§ 46.2- 1572(4) and 46.2-1573 is conducting a formal evidentiary hearing at the request of East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc., a Commonwealth-licensed motor vehicle manufacturer. East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. seeks an eligibility determination to be both a manufacturer and a dealer of franchises in the community or trade area of Manassas, Virginia. According to Va. Code § 46.2-1572(4), East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales, Inc. must establish that there is no dealer independent of the manufacturer available in the above-mentioned community or trade area to own and operate the franchise in a manner consistent with the public interest.

The formal evidentiary hearing will take place on January 21, 2022, starting at 10:30 a.m.

EST at the offices of DMV, 6306 Grovedale Drive, Alexandria, VA 23310. Any party interested in this matter is invited to attend the hearing and provide relevant information.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Sale will be held online at LockerFox.com.

Pictures can be viewed at that site. Bidding will begin at 9:00am on December 20th and will conclude at 9:00am on December 26th winning bidder will be required to pay a $100.00 per unit refundable clean-out deposit (cash).

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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT PUZZLE NO. 116

PUZZLE NO. 115

Copyright © 2022, Penny Press

ACROSS 1. Fine sand 5. Donate 9. Offbeat 12. Smell 13. Generations 14. Very small 15. Be overly fond 16. Clears, as profit 17. Type of wood 18. Proclaim 20. Video’s partner 22. Side streets 25. Toward the back, matey 28. Some toothpastes

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 21

29. Imprint with acid 33. Depict 35. Wrestler’s surface 36. Chance 37. Nitwit 38. Send forth 40. Bodybuilder’s place 41. Change the title of 43. Defame in print 46. Hinted 51. Verse poem 52. Work on copy 55. Acclaim 56. Bar order

57. Road marker 58. Applies frosting to 59. Animal’s shelter 60. Lean 61. ____ up (make lively) DOWN 1. Fizzy beverage 2. Wedding vows: 2 wds.

3. House sites 4. Birch or willow 5. Wellmannered guys

6. Ill temper 7. Large tank 8. Short composition 9. Was in debt 10. Salami seller 11. Salesman’s model 19. Cloth shred 21. Employed 23. Pack animal 24. Guessed roughly 25. State further 26. To’s counterpart 27. Knock 30. Price mark 31. Blubber

32. Sewn edge 34. No longer are 39. Bo Derek’s number 42. Vote into office 43. Pack 44. Do nothing 45. Has-____ (one-time star) 47. Clasp 48. Fancy fabric 49. At any time 50. Student’s need 53. John ____ (everyman) 54. Stopover spot

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 115

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

10. Put into service 11. Topaz or opal 19. Agricultural plots 21. John Wayne film 23. Part of mpg 24. Modify 26. Brief message 27. Hard metal 28. Spotted BREW 29.STRANGE Canaveral or Horn 30. Floating

31. “____ Darn Cat!” 35. To’s counterpart 38. Laid off 40. Wobble 44. Considerate 46. Gesture of greeting 47. Santa’s ride 48. Strong desires 49. Some are personal 50. Chop 51. Copy JOHN DEERING 53. Paver’s goo 54. Snoop

Copyright © 2022, Penny Press

ACROSS 1. Real 5. High point 8. Medicine 12. Charged atoms 13. Hooter 14. Luxury 15. Long narrative 16. “____ More Night” 17. Wineglass part 18. Reattach a label 20. Fearful admiration 22. Dad 25. Bert’s friend on “Sesame Street”

29. Provided food 32. Yarn 33. Hearth residue 34. Unwanted breeze 36. Foot digit 37. “War and ____” 39. Fake 41. Moth-____ 42. Ripped 43. Solicit 45. Full of gossip 49. Woeful word 52. ____ a boy!

55. Yarn 56. Foolish person 57. Brief sleep 58. Constant

59. Drove very fast 60. Towel off 61. Ruby and cerise DOWN 1. Cake layer 2. Strong cord 3. Group of soldiers 4. Run away 5. Also 6. ____ up (confess) 7. Not guilty, e.g.

8. Arid land 9. Hamelin pest

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 116

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

SPORTS QUIZ

By Ryan A. Berenz 1. In 1999, Ray Rhodes compiled a record of 8-8 in his only season as head coach of what NFL PUZZLE NO. 117 team?

PUZZLE NO. 118

21. Serious plays 23. Snarl 24. Skirt style 25. Bird of ill ____ 26. Titanic’s foe 27. Mama’s fellow 28. Amazed 29. Egg beverages 30. Toil

31. Eagle’s 7. Policeman dwelling 8. Saga 2. Name the NHL player from Sweden who served as captain of the Ottawa Senators from 199934. Dig up 9. Poison-ivy 2013?

39. Part of a result circle 10. Annoy 3. What punch -- illegal in most combat sports -- is a blow to11. theHusky’s back ofload the head or neck, or the 41. Cuban Castro base of the skull?

43. Catholic 19. Above, in leader verse 4. Who scored 47 points to lead the Texas Tech Lady Raiders an 84-82 win 44. versus Ohio State in Worshiped 21.toToss object the 1993 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game?

22. Physicians, 45. Christmas shortly 46.ofMusic and legend 23.reserved Milky jewel 5. What university’s basketball arena has an unoccupied seat in honor coaching literature, e.g.

25. Strikeout Henry Iba? 48. Shortcoming number 51. Mine Cancel a in the 1940s 6. What is the name of the slow, high-arcing, off-speed pitch27. developed byrock Pittsburgh space launch 53. “____ Are My Pirates righthander Rip Sewell?

Sunshine” 29. Tennis stroke 30. Finds a total 54. Discontinue

7. Name the Basketball Hall of Famer from Serbia who had his No. 21 jersey retired by the SacraCopyright © 2022, Penny Press mento Kings?

52. Sailor’s 28. Female ACROSS response Answers pronounLast Week’s 1. Wooden nail 29. Cooling device 55. Bard 4. Palo ____, California woody 32. Fuel guzzler 56. Tall, Answers 8. Is mistaken 33. Beast of 1. The Great Outdoor Gamesplant • 2. The Aztecs • 3. TO ThePUZZLE Unified ANSWER NO.Team.

117 57. Negative burden 12. The whole 4.

“Happy Gilmore” • 5.

David Akers • 6.

Austria. prefix amount 35. Work by 58. Room 7. The Montreal Expos.

Shelley 13. Dog’s bark extensions 36. Stallone’s 14. Bucket 59. Contained moniker 15. Glide over (c) 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc 37. Smallest bill 60. Flop snow 38. City divisions 16. Housetop 40. Great Barrier DOWN 17. Land amid ____ water 1. Mas’ mates 42. Take a 18. Dolls and 2. Lodge breather yo-yos, e.g. member 43. Fiesta decor 3. Sparkling 20. Yearned 22. Be overly fond 47. Foot part 4. Cockeyed 24. Imprint firmly 49. Stink 5. At liberty CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING 6. Moreover 26. Met musical 50. Galloped

33. Vulgar 36. Least common 39. Involved with 40. Crate 42. Client 43. Flat hill 44. Pound 45. Beret 46. Tint 47. Pen and ____ 49. Contend

Copyright © 2022, Penny Press

ACROSS 1. Night hooter 4. Apiece 7. Sailing vessel 12. Big hairdo 13. “Where the Boys ____” 14. Royal headwear 15. Blow upon 16. Disappointed 17. Transform 18. Tired 20. Anxious 22. ____ space 24. Riot crowd 27. Scenic view 30. Shade of green 31. Roused

32. Complainer 34. Wooden pins 35. Snatching 37. Newspaper spots 38. Lariat 39. Bakery worker 41. Morsel 45. Fine dishes 48. December 31, e.g.

50. Briny expanse 51. Cousins’ moms 52. Moral crime 53. Hazardous curve 54. Type of tea 55. Golf gadget

56. College cheer

DOWN 1. Not ons 2. Covering 3. Sole 4. Meadow 5. Memorable time 6. Exchange for cash 7. For men only 8. Easter flower 9. Cookie grain 10. Prospector’s find 11. Accepted standard 19. Cozy corners

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 118

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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PAGE 22 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXI, No. 40 •December 15, 2011

Proctor House Move Will Close Broad St. Saturday Morning

West End Plan’s Architectural Look Draws Mixed Reviews from Council

Weather permitting at 6 a.m. this Saturday morning East Broad Street in Falls Church will be closed for up to three hours to permit the momentous move of the old Proctor House onto former Don Frady Park land. The move is expected to commence about 6:45 a.m. and should not take more than half an hour.

Co-developers of the City of Falls Church’s massive West End Gateway Project, presented some visuals to a joint work session of the City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority on the kind of architecture they’re currently considering for seven buildings of their project.

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MAGGIE MAE loves spending time with her grandpa and sitting in his lap!

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

WWW.FCNP.COM

KENDRA MCCULLOUGH grew up in Chantilly, Va and currently resides in Oakton. While going to Marymount University and studying fashion design she landed an internship at New To You, Inc in Falls Church where she has worked for the past 11 years.(P����: J. M������ W�����)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021 | PAGE 23

Where to Pick Up The • 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd • Amazing Smiles, 444 W Broad St – D • Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd. • Audacious Aleworks, 110 E Fairfax St. • Ballston Quarter (Box) 4238 Wilson Blvd. • BB&T Bank, 225 W Broad St. • Bikenetic, 201 W Jefferson St. • Bowl America, 140 S Maple Ave. • Clarendon Blvd & Courthouse Rd. Bus Stop (Box) • Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W Broad St. • Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W Broad St. • Brown’s Hardware, 100 W Broad St. • Burke & Herbert Bank, 225 West Broad St. • Byron Apartments, 513 W Broad St. • Timberlane Condos Bus Stop, 7368 Lee Hwy • Lee Hwy/ Hollywood Rd. Bus Stop • Café Kindred, 450 N Washington St. • Celebrity Delly – Graham Park Plaza, 7263A Arlington Blvd. • Clarendon Metro, 3021 Wilson Blvd. • Clay Café Studios, 101 N Maple Ave. • Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N Washington St. • Courthouse Parking Lot, 2100 Wilson Blvd. • CVS, 1150 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 134 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd. • Falls Church Distillers, 442 S A. Washington St. • Across from Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center (Box), Route 7 & Rio Dr. • Differences Hair Designer, 8122 Arlington Blvd.

• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St. • Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W Broad St. • East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St • Einstein Bros. Bagels, 913 W Broad St. • El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy. • Elevation Burger (Box), 442 S. Washington St. • Exxon Gas Station, 400 W Broad St. • Fairfax Auto Parts, 431 S Maple Ave. • Falls Church Animal Hospital, 1249 W Broad St. • Falls Church City Government, 300 Park Ave. • Falls Church City Public Schools, 150 S. Washington Street, Suite 400 • Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd. • Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. • Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310 • Falls Green Apartments (formerly Oakwood), 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Flippin’ Pizza, 800 W Broad St. • Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax • Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St • Galleria Florist, 248 W. Broad Street • George Mason & Wilson Blvd (Box), 5015 Wilson Blvd • George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike • Giant – Graham Park Plaza, 7235 Arlington Blvd. • Giant Food, 1230 W Broad St. • Goodwin House, 3440 South Jefferson St. • Grand Hunan Restaurant, 5845 Washington Blvd. • Harris Teeter, 301 W Broad St. • Hillwood Cleaners, 165 Hillwood Ave. • Hilton Garden Inn, 706 W Broad St. • Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2300 & 2311 Pimmit Dr. • Indian Spices, 1067_B W Broad St. • Inns Virginia Hotel, 421 W. Broad St. • Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 W Broad St. • Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta, 5555 Lee Hwy. • Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, 1136 W Broad St. • Kensington Falls Church, 700 W Broad St. • Lazy Mikes Deli, 7049 Leesburg Pike • Ledo Pizza, 7510 Leesburg Pike • Liberty Barbecue, 370 W Broad St. • Lil City Creamery, 114 W Broad St. • Lincoln At Tinner Hill Apartments, 455 S. Maple Ave. • Long Foster Realtors, 6299 Castle Rd. • Madison Apartments, 600 N Roosevelt Blvd. • Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike • Merrill House Apartments, 210 E Fairfax St. • Metro Diner, 4711 Lee Hwy. • Metro Dunn Loring, Gallows Rd & Belleforest Dr. • Mr Tire Auto, 105 Falls Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046 • Moby Dick House of Kabob, 444 W. Broad St. • Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike • N Virginia Av & W Broad St (Box), 105 N Virginia Ave. • N. Washington & E. Columbia St., 106 E Columbia St. • Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W Broad St #103 • Northern Virginia Center, 7054 Haycock Rd.• Northgate Apartments (lobby), 450 N Washington St. • Northside Social, 205 Park Ave. • Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy. • Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave. • Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr. • Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave. • Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd. • Pho 88 Restaurant, 232 W Broad St. • Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike • Pizzeria Orso (Tax Analysts building), 400 S. Maple Ave. • PNC Bank, 402 W. Broad St. • Point of View, 701 W. Broad St. • Professional Building, 313 Park Ave. • Providence Recreation Center, 7525 Marc Dr. • Quick Copy, 417 W. Broad St. • Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St. • Read Apartments, 402 W Broad St. • Re/Max West End, 710 W Broad St • Roosevelt Towers, 500 N Roosevelt Blvd.• Safeway, 5101 Wilson Blvd. • Safeway, 2500 N Harrison St. • Safeway – Route 29, 7397 Lee Hwy.• Sfizi Café, 800 W Broad St. • Silver Diner, 3200 Wilson Blvd. • Sislers Stone, 7139 Lee Hwy. • Smokey’s Garage, 1105 W Broad St. • Sonic Car Wash, 1050 W Broad St. • The Spectrum, 444 W. Broad St.• Spectrum Cleaners, 444 W Broad St. • Stratford Motor Lodge, 300 W. Broad St.• Sunrise of Falls Church, 330 N. Washington St. • Super A Market, 2800 Graham Rd. • Target, 500 S Washington St. • Target – Skyline Mall (Box), 5107 Leesburg Pike • West Broad Building, 301 W Broad St. • Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd. • Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave. • Unity Club, 116-B W Broad St. • UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr. • US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd.

• Virginia Hospital Center (Box), 1701 N George Mason Dr. • Virginia Hospital Center ER (inside), 1702 N George Mason Dr • Virginia Tech, Courthouse 7054 Haycock Rd. • Washington & S. Broad St. (Box) 101 W Broad St. • West Lee Apartments, 2200 N Westmoreland • Wendy’s – Bus Stop, 7391 Lee Hwy.• West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd. • Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 24 | DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2021

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