Dec. 2 - 8, 2021
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXI N o . 42
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
Watch Night to Return This NYE
Changing Seasons
Set to return after last year’s cancellation. by Amanda Snead
Falls Church News-Press
Watch Night, a New Year’s Eve celebration that involves closing the street in the 100 block of West Broad in Falls Church, has been a tradition in the Little City for many years now, leaving citizens disappointed last year when it was cancelled for the first time ever due to the pandemic. But according to its new team of organizers, it’s back! Citizens will be getting more information as the date nears, but the big news is that they can plan on spending that big night right in the center of the Little City as thousands have for the last 25 years. The event grew out of the realization that New Years is often a celebration designed for adults, leaving children and parents unsure of what to do. Given the number of families in the city, a group got together with the idea of creating a family-
Continued on Page 4
NOBODY DOES IT BETTER than Mother Nature herself when it comes to exploding beauty, and every fall season is the same for how she manifests herself throughout town in this Tree City, USA. (Photo: Gary Mester)
Merelyn Kaye Feted With FCNP Lifetime Honor
by Nicholas f. benton
Falls Church News-Press
The warmth of this special holiday season (special because it is a recovery from a year of pandemic lack) combined with this year’s milestone of the 30th anniversary of the
Falls Church News-Press’ unbroken weekly publication, has compelled the News-Press to use this occasion to publicly announce and salute its first ever Lifetime Honoree, longtime Falls Church resident, local realtor par excellence and generous community leader Merelyn Kaye.
Merelyn Kaye’s quiet contributions to the wider Falls Church community have been legendary, and that has included her role in the early success of the News-Press. She remains to this day the only local business person who has advertised in every single edition of the News-
Press since Day One in the maiden edition of the paper that hit the streets on March 28, 1991. It has been a win-win situation all along. She has made it known that the News-Press was a major
Continued on Page 5
Inside This Week Supporting Local Businesses This Holiday
There’s lots of ways to support small businesses this holiday season and find something for everyone on your list. Whether you haven’t started shopping yet or just need something last minute. See Holiday Guide, Pages 12 and 13
Ways to Help Fight Food Insecurity This Season
See Pages 12-13
The season of giving is upon us. As the holidays approach, there are many local families facing food insecurity. Many local resource centers are in need of help to allow them to continue aiding families. See Article, Page 2
Index
Editorial................................................ 6 Letters.................................................. 6 Comment..........................................7,8 Crime Report....................................... 8 News & Notes.................................... 10 Calendar............................................ 16 Business News.................................. 17 Classified Ads.................................... 20 Comics............................................... 21 Critter Corner..................................... 22
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Combating Food Insecurity in Fairfax County as Winter Holidays Approach
by Alex Russell
With Thanksgiving over, the first of a number of major wintertime holidays has once again come and gone. Starting in early December, holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s will undoubtedly bring a sense of joy and ease to many in the Falls Church community following what has been a predominately difficult year. However, the winter holiday season does not signify the same thing for all households, especially following the widespread and detrimental economic difficulties following the recently receding peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though Fairfax is one of the wealthiest counties in the state of Virginia, the unfortunate reality is that many families in Fairfax County — and in fact across the country — have been burdened with food insecurity and many others will continue to face this serious problem as time goes on. Specifically, food insecurity does not mean that a certain household is always battling this issue; it can be temporary or it can come up on a slightly recurring basis. However, the lack of access to nutritious food, as well as a household’s need to make trade-offs between basic needs like paying rent and medical bills and purchasing nutritionally adequate food only exacerbates related stress and can lead to the development of severe mental and physical health problems. For all the societal strides made in 21st century America, immutable factors like one’s race and/or ethnic background are still overwhelmingly large factors in terms of food insecurity. Age is another immutable characteristic that greatly affects this problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that lack of access to high-quality and nutritionally abundant food can lead to increased early-childhood hospitalizations, poor bone density, increased risk of obesity and diabetes, and increased risk of depression and anxiety, among other illnesses. Seniors are another demographic that is at higher risk for food insecurity, with the high cost of medication as well as mobility issues being some of the major factors attributed to seniors not having proper access to healthy food options.
Feeding America, a nonprofit organization and nationwide network of approximately 200 food banks feeding more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based services, found that 60 percent of seniors have to choose between buying food or paying their utility bills — a decision that becomes even harder during the colder holiday months. In terms of physical health, when a household opts for cheaper but unhealthier food options, this can lead to life-long battles with diseases like obesity, diabetes, and a variety of cardiac problems. In terms of mental health, stress related to not being able to afford necessary, nutritious food can intensify to such a degree that both immediate and long-term mental and physical health become jeopardized. In fact, anxiety and depression are two of the mental health conditions that have been linked to food insecurity. In the Little City, Falls Church Presbyterian Church, off of East Broad Street, has been pitching in to help fight food insecurity in their local community. “In the heart of the city since 1848,” F.C. Presbyterian Church is the result of a long history of local Presbyterians assembling to worship in the area. The Welcome Table program, a twicea-month dinner program for those who suffer from hunger and food insecurity, is one of their largest and longest-running community outreach and support efforts. Beginning in 2011, Welcome Table took place once-a-month, providing visitors with freshlyprepared, nutritious food served up in-person at the church on ceramic dishes — organized and operated completely by volunteers. Gail Robarge, chair of the Welcome Table Planning Team, offered up some insight into the program and shared how during the beginning, F.C. Presbyterian Church “had an interim pastor” who “had been involved in meal programs previously. Since we had space and a good kitchen facility, he and his wife encouraged us in launching a regular free meal for anyone in the community.” Robarge continued, “Over the years, we have gotten to know many of our guests…the fact that they make the effort to come for a
meal and a small gift card shows how great the need is.” “The initial dinners we offered…started out very small but grew steadily. We had perhaps 12 – 15 guests at our first dinner. We served food from 6 – 7 p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We focused on providing healthy, interesting recipes, and each meal was a different menu. We worked to get the word out through various local service organizations, and within a short time, we were regularly serving 50 – 60 people.” Robarge shares how the church surveyed their Welcome Table guests “about what other things might be useful to them, and based on the responses” began offering toiletry items to those in need. Over time, the church was able to “add a $10 Giant gift card” to their monthly services. “As word spread about the gift card, our regular attendance quickly grew to about 300 a meal. At some point, we added a second dinner per month.” This was back in 2013, when the program expanded its services and ever since, F.C. Presbyterian Church has been serving dinners on the first and third Wednesday of every month, from 4 – 6 p.m. When asked about how the holidays affect the Welcome Table program, Robarge shared that “the number of guests doesn’t change all that much over the holidays.” She added how the church has been “fortunate in the dedicated, ongoing volunteer support from FCPC members.” The church has been welcoming of “volunteers from throughout Falls Church to participate — signing up is easy through the FCPC website. Volunteers are always needed and welcome, no experience necessary.” As December approaches, Robarge says that their biggest concern during the colder months is “the weather.” “We do our best to have the food ready and packaged so that our guests won’t have to wait in the cold for long. We try hard to stick to our regular schedule, and we hardly ever cancel due to bad weather.” As a result of the Covid pandemic, F.C. Presbyterian has been serving to-go meals to visitors (in an effort to maintain social distancing and curb infection rates). The meals are handed out outside the church building; the church
suggests guests wear a face mask and practice social distancing of at least 6 feet. Regarding their work during the pandemic, Robarge shares that early on, when “little was known about how the virus was spreading, we gave out small bags with snacks, toiletries, and the $10 gift card, and all distributions were done outside. After some months, we decided we could cook again — as long as we limited the indoor staff to 10 or less (due to restrictions on gatherings of groups) and we served the to-go meals outside.” “We made many adaptations over time, as we learned more about what works for to-go meals. Our recipes tend to be simpler, so that prep and cooking time is reduced and packaging is not too complicated. We start packing up food by 3:30 p.m. This is because we changed our hours to start serving earlier, hoping that would avoid people gathering and then waiting in line for food. It helped, but there is always a line at the door when we start serving at 4 p.m.” “For over a year,” Robarge continues, “we provided the meal and $10 gift card twice a month, as we recognized that many of our guests were in dire circumstances. This resulted in the number of guests at each meal climbing to 600 – 700.” She also highlights how “the generosity of FCPC members and others in the Falls Church community enabled us to sustain the extra gift cards through June of 2021.” At the first Wednesday dinner, volunteers offer each adult guest a full-size toiletry item; at the third Wednesday dinner, each adult guest is offered a $10 grocery store gift card. Those wishing to volunteer their time and help out those in their community who struggle with food insecurity and lack of access to nutritional food can sign up online at https://signup.com/ client/invitation2/secure/109376/ false#/invitation. In addition to the lead roles of head chef and grocery shopper, potential volunteers can sign up for setup, utensil wrapping, meal prep, meal packaging, food distribution, cleanup, and organic waste transporter. These roles run from 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. For those who are unable to volunteer but still wish to help, the church accepts donations of full-size toiletry items
as well as money for Giant Food gift cards. Toiletry items can be dropped off at the church virtually any time; monetary donations can be mailed to the church (Falls Church Presbyterian, 225 East Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046) or made online at https:// www.fallschurchpresby.org/giving/. December’s Welcome Table meals are as scheduled: first Wednesday’s to-go meals were distributed outside in front of the church on Wednesday, Dec 1 from 4 – 6 p.m. and third Wednesday’s to-go meals will be distributed Dec 15, same time and place. More information on the Falls Church Presbyterian Church Welcome Table program can be found online at fallschurchpresby.org. The Falls Church Presbyterian Church Drop & Dash Food Drive supports the Knox Presbyterian Food Pantry through Falls Church Community Service Council, Inc. by collecting food and household items the third Sunday of each month from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Those wishing to donate items can make their drop-offs at the aforementioned time at the front of F.C. Presbyterian Church. Donations are sorted and delivered to Knox the next day. For more information, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/5080448afad283-drop. The following is a list of food providers in the Falls Church area that are currently accepting fresh produce: Columbia Baptist Church (3245 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041), which can be contacted at foodpantry@columbiabaptist.org and accepts food Fridays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Falls Church Community Service Council, Knox Presbyterian Church (7416 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042), which can be contacted by phone at 703-237-2562 or through email at fcswecare@aol. com and accepts items Monday – Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wexford Manor Community Resource Center (2802 Hollywood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043). The Community Resource Center accepts donations Monday – Thursday. Contact Abby Gurara at 571-253-3399 to coordinate donation drop-off.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 3
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Watch Night Returns This New Year’s Eve in the Little City Continued from Page 1
friendly way to celebrate the new year in a safe environment. Watch Night was created by the City of Falls Church Tricentennial Committee, produced by a CityTricentennial Committee established in 1995 to celebrate 300 years of Falls Church history. The late Barbara Cram was a key organizer from the start. Local nonprofits and businesses stepped in to help make the event a success such as the Village Society, the Tinner Hill Foundation and the Victorian Society at Falls Church who helped by donating venues, money and their time. After its success in the first year, the event quickly became an annual tradition that has happened rain or shine for two dozen years. Due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic, the celebration was cancelled in 2020. Regardless of weather conditions, huge crowds turned out every year since the event began— making 2020 the first year without. As the City has grown, so has the event with various business,
religious, non-profit, volunteer, and arts, theater, culture and history groups supporting the annual tradition. Through the support of these organizations, the event continues to remain free for the public with opportunities to support local businesses by buying food or other items and donating to nonprofits. The Little City CATCH Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to arts, theater, culture and history in the city, is the main sponsor of the event this year and has been for many years in the past since it was started almost a decade ago. While legendary Falls Church civic organizer Dave Eckert started the event and ran it until 2006 (when he moved), it was then taken over by Barbara Cram until her passing in 2019. Now, Keith Thurston is in charge of organizing the iconic event. The final details of the event this year are still being worked out but the event is on and will be happening on Broad Street starting at 7 p.m. on New Years Eve. Some venues, vendors and
AFTER BEING UNABLE to celebrate Watch Night as a community last year, citizens look forward to another celebration like this on New Year’s Eve. (P����: G��� M�����) businesses have already committed to the event while others are still in discussion. Many local small businesses were greatly impacted by the pandemic and are unsure if they will be able to
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support the event this year or not. A finalized list of vendors, businesses and live musicians is expected to be released after Christmas and updates will be posted soon on the Watch Night
website at watchnightfallschurch. com/. Mark your calendars for December 31 because the event will be back and promises to be better than ever!
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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News-Press Hails Kaye with Lifetime Honor for Contributions
Continued from Page 1
contributor to her success as a realtor over the years, as she locked in a half-page ad on the back page of the paper beginning with that first edition and continuing non-stop until the Great Recession a decade ago caused her not to stop, but simply to downsize to a quarter page. Those ads made Merelyn a local celebrity and quickly home sellers realized they had to jump on board her iconic ads to enjoy the maximum effect. Her loyalty to the News-Press persisted through the ups and downs of the market to the present day. From Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where she graduated college, met and married her husband Art, she moved to Falls Church in 1965 and has lived here since. She got her real estate license in 1970, and when she was approached by a young and inexperienced ad salesman for the yet-to-be-published News-Press in early 1991, her instincts told her not to pass up the opportunity. Her business exploded as a result. With David Howell of the larger realtor firm she aligned with negotiating annual contract renewals with the paper, and the unyielding support
of husband Art until his passing in 2016, she supplemented her iconic back page ads with special spreads inside the paper for special projects. In fact, it was her commitment to spend extra for full color in her ad that became the centerfold for the paper in 1993 that marked a turning point. The News-Press had never done color up to that point, but her decision to add it changed everything. The color in the center of the paper allowed color to also be used on the front page, according to how papers are printed, and so for the first time, the News-Press was adorned with a front-page news photo (not an earth-changing event, just kids diving into a local swimming pool). It suddenly made the paper look wellto-do, as from that day forward the constant refrain about whether the paper would survive suddenly disappeared from local discourse. In more recent years she has shared her business with her daughter, Karin Morrison. Merelyn Kaye’s long-standing relationship with the News-Press has always been about business, about a mutually-beneficial and respectful business relationship, which in the business world is as it should be. A
mutual admiration society, perhaps. But throughout her burgeoning success as the City’s Number One realtor, she has also been, as Charlie Moore and Keith Thurston of the Historic Falls Church’s board, attested, “a stalwart supporter of the Falls Church community fabric with her participation and quiet financial support of many organizations.” They wrote, “Beside her long term commitment to the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS), she was a significant financial supporter of the founding of the Victorian Society of Falls Church. She was also the key sponsor for the launch and operation of the New Year’s Eve Watch Night in Falls Church for over a decade, and without her support in its early years, “the annual celebration could not have occurred,” according to Thurston. Working quietly and often behind the scenes, she has been on the board of directors of Historic Falls Church, Inc., since its founding in the 1970s and has been its president since 1995. The organization works to preserve historic properties in Falls Church, holding preservation and conservation easements on many of the large
MERELYN KAYE is the �irst recipient of the Falls Church NewsPress’ Lifetime Honor. (C������� P����) and visible historic homes in the City. Architect Charles Moore said, “Merelyn is the consummate real estate professional working for the community’s good. She has always provided her expertise and her real estate services on a pro bono basis for preservation efforts.” “It has been clear that she has been among a small group of influential community leaders quietly working to save the character of the City one house at a time,” Thurston added.
But it has been the consistent and ongoing (to the present day) role of Merelyn Kaye and the reputation she developed as the City’s foremost realtor achieved through her relationship with the News-Press that formed the basis for her many community achievements in her adopted hometown. For this reason, we are truly moved to present her before the readership of the News-Press as our first ever choice for designation as a News-Press Lifetime Honoree.
PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
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E D I TO R I A L
News-Press Holiday Party Set Dec. 16
The News-Press is happy to announce that its annual Holiday Party free to all its friends in the Falls Church community is on for this season, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 400 N. Oak Street. A great Falls Church tradition, the annual party has been a fixture since the News-Press’ first year in 1991 and has drawn hundreds of folks of all ages, stripes and stations in life. This year, the party will include, as it often has, live jazz ensemble music by the talented musicians from Meridian High School and catering by the classic Falls Church fixture, Anthony’s Restaurant, out of its new Annandale Road site. Len Michalowski is no longer around but don’t be surprised if Santa makes a special appearance. In addition to lobbying the Big Red-Fabricked One for gifts and more, the event usually includes a heavy participation from local politicos eager to deliver your every request. Again this year, it is hoped again that all our local celebrities will show up. After all, we can point out that of the four candidates the News-Press endorsed for City Council this fall, two are Republicans and two are Democrats. That’s pretty good for diversity, right? In the context of this aura, if not era, of good feeling, the F.C. City Council and School Board will convene this Monday in a joint meeting at the new high school that will include a meal. Mayor David Tarter got the holiday season off to a rousing start with the annual downtown tree lighting event at Mr. Brown‘s Park Monday night, and this Monday’s joint meeting will reaffirm the goal of revenue sharing between the Council and School Board that the School Board has sought for for many years. The Council’s main mission this month will be to address salaries for its employees, but that is being done in the context of a large infusion of new federal pandemic relief funds and City budget surpluses. It is believed that shortages in City personnel, including police, can be effectively met through some generous salary increases, which we will be looking to the Council to provide this holiday season. The new School Board, with three new members elected in November, will be sworn in mid-month, and the City Council, with its new members, will be sworn in on January 3. Both the School Board and Council will choose from among their seven members who will be the new chair and vice chair, and in the case of the City, the new mayor and vice mayor. It is rumored that the Council, in a friendly way, may be considering a new mayor as Mayor Tarter completes a fourth consecutive two-year term, tying the record for the Little City. Given that four women will be serving on the Council starting in January, a woman as mayor may be called for.
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Holiday Spirit in Public Safety in Falls Church the Little City Editor, My wife tried to dust the chandelier in our entranceway and the small cone around the light chain dropped down two inches from the ceiling. I couldn’t tell if it was just a decorative challenge or if the light itself might fall on a grandchild and nobody wants to be known as the grandpa who damaged a grandchild through negligence. I called Gus from United Exteriors who had inspected our roof and cleaned out our gutters before. He said our roof was in good shape, but recommended a treatment plan for the moss blooms common to our area. He didn’t have a ladder that would do my chandelier job, but offered to talk to Greg from Hot H20 Powerwashing, who power washed our house this last year. They coordinated the effort and got to our house before noon with ladders galore. They declared the chandelier safe, got the cone back into place, changed our light bulbs and didn’t charge us anything. We loaded them up with homemade jellies and jams and wished everyone happy holidays. I mention all this because this is the season where we each appreciate a helping hand or friendly face. Ken York Falls Church
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Editor, Thank you so much for your article on the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)! I too have wondered why there hasn’t been more coverage given the potential for such amazing findings. Perhaps it has to do with the astonishing fact that even if we find intelligent life, simply communicating with them will not be simple. With our few very closest stars over four light years away, it would be a minimum of eight and a half years before we would even get a response from this intelligent life. Charles Crum Falls Church
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 7
G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� EAC Continues to Advocate for F.C. City Employees B� C������ S�����
The Employee Advisory Council (EAC) was established by the employees of the City of Falls Church in 1973. Its main objective is to discuss policies, activities, and programs of interest to City employees and to act in an advisory capacity to the City management. The council is made up of seven elected employee members. In recent years we have participated in and contributed to such committees as the Use of Force Review Committee, the Covid19 Committee, Benefits Committee, and Training Committee. I have served since 2019 after the passing of former Chair Gary LaPorta. The EAC has advocated for compensation-related issues at past City Council and Town Hall meetings concerning budget reductions and compensation matters. Our 2020 work plan declared compensation a priority – addressing compensation disparities both within the organization and between the salaries of our jurisdiction and neighboring localities. We called for action by management concerning City employees who were being paid below the poverty line in the very community they serve. We emphasized the need to increase diversity and opportunity in employee growth, and expand employee benefits such as parental leave and college tuition reimbursement programs. In the last few years there has been a lot
of positive progress in these areas, and this is in part due to the EAC’s continued efforts to elevate these issues. EAC
“Throughout the pandemic the Employee Advisory Committee has continued to advocate for F.C. employee compensation.”
members worked with a benefits committee to expand the City’s tuition program and institute a 457 matching program to incentivize enrollment. A compensation study was performed for one of the lowest paid departments, the Public Works Operations division, which yielded salary increases to bring the department up to regionally competitive levels and assured that no City employee was living below the poverty line. Parental leave was recently expanded from two weeks to six weeks. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic the EAC has continued to advocate for employee compensation and benefits. Following the announcement of the more than $3M budget surplus at the end of fiscal year 2021, the EAC requested the 3.5 percent increase that was cut from the FY21 budget be restored, and that
employees’ salaries be made whole following the economic fallout from Covid19. It has been difficult to work around the City’s financial policy that surplus money only be used for “one-time expenditures”, but the EAC has asserted that the budget cuts due to Covid-19 were an unprecedented but necessary measure, and so likewise, restoring our salaries and budgets may be an unprecedented action, but should be considered necessary. The original recommendation for the budget surplus included a one percent salary increase, a one-time bonus for employees, plus an additional “premium pay” bonus to be paid out to those employees working in-person during the shutdown. Many have applauded the employees’ efforts during this time as heroic and extraordinary, but the EAC feels the compensation offered so far has not matched these sentiments. Staffing levels are down at least 15 percent and employees continue to leave. The EAC circulated a petition requesting the 3.5 percent increase be restored, in addition to the one-time bonuses. 132 employees signed the petition in support of our request and we presented the petition and our comments to Council at the November 22nd meeting, at which City Management presented the budget ordinance for first reading. City Council members heard the EAC’s petition as well as several public comments made by City employees who were in attendance, and made a motion to bump the
salary increase to 2.5 percent, and added $200,000 to the employee compensation package. We continue to work with City Management, Finance, and HR on the details of how that additional money will be deployed. The EAC is a vehicle for City employees to feel heard and we’re proud of the work we’ve done supporting employee welfare. For me personally, as someone who grew up in the City and has multigenerational family ties here, there’s a much bigger picture to what the EAC is currently doing. Advocating for the City staff is also advocating for the City residents. Residents pay a premium to live in the Little City, and it’s not only for the schools. It’s also for the services, the safety, the community, and the programs. The employees worked tirelessly through a global pandemic to safeguard the continuity and delivery of all those things and more. Most of my colleagues did not grow up in the City, nor do they have special ties to the community. But they work as if they do. Their commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication to the people, the policy, the safety, and the vision of the Little City is the most heroic and extraordinary effort of them all. We thank the City Council for their support and hope for continued partnership and solidarity in our efforts to make the City both an amazing place to live and work.
Sobsey is a member of the EAC
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PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Discovery of a new Covid-19 variant, dubbed “Omicron,” is creating renewed concern for public health officials and medical personnel. In Fairfax County, where more than 75 percent of the adult population has been vaccinated for Covid-19, the Health Department recommends getting a booster (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. Face masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing also are recommended, especially during the busy holiday season. Sadly, the predictions are correct: the pandemic is morphing into global variants, and reasonable precautions still must be taken. Stay healthy, so you can enjoy the holidays. The 25th annual Mason District Holiday Town Gathering will be held on Monday, December 6, 2021, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale. This should be the 26th annual gathering, but the pandemic caused cancellation of last year’s gathering, so it’s actually the 25th time I’ve hosted this kick-off to the holiday season. Refreshments, door prizes, and live entertainment by an ensemble from the very popular Irish Breakfast Band will be featured, along with my annual State of Mason District report. Masks are required to enter county buildings, and seats will be placed farther apart to accommodate social distancing. The Holiday Town Gathering is designed to be family friendly, and I look forward to greeting constituents next Monday night. The current Art in the Mason District Governmental Center features local artist Marni Maree’s watercolors. Vivid blossoms, “Corona Abstracts” painted during the Covid-19 lockdown, and a couple of proud camels are among the items featured in the show, which will continue until January 30, 2022. Maree teaches at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, and is a
member of the Potomac Valley Watercolorists, the Springfield Art Guild, and the Virginia Watercolor Society. The Art in the Mason District Governmental Center has featured many talented local artists since its inception in 1996. The artists’ works, some for sale, may be viewed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, December 7, will be the last scheduled meeting for 2021. The Board will adopt new maps for nine magisterial districts, and conduct a public hearing about proposed changes to the lowincome real estate tax relief program. Pursuant to state law, Fairfax County may provide income and asset-based real estate tax relief to qualified individuals who are at least 65 years of age, or permanently and totally disabled. Under current eligibility, the applicant’s gross household income may not exceed $72,000, and they may have no more than $340,000 in total assets, excluding the home’s value and one acre of land. The program limits have not been changed or updated since Fiscal Year 2006; in calendar year 2019, the county’s tax relief program approved approximately 6,600 real estate tax relief applications, relieving roughly $28.7 million in taxes. Currently, about 900 Mason District households qualify for senior tax relief. Proposed amendments to the program would increase both income and assets to qualify, and add a tax deferral option (deferred amounts would be recouped at the time of property transfer).
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 Nov. 22 — 28, 2021 Larceny, Park Ave, Nov 24, 11:38 AM, unknown suspect(s)
took an unsecured blue Marin bicycle. Indecent Exposure, Hillwood Ave/S Cherry St, Nov 25, 7:47 AM, an incident of indecent exposure
www.FCNP.com
was reported. A warrant has been obtained. Destruction of Property, S Washington St, between Nov 12 and 10 AM, Nov 24, unknown suspect(s) slashed the driver side front and rear tires of a vehicle. Drunk in Public, S Washington St, Nov 27, 11:54 AM, a male, 39, of no fixed address, was arrested for Drunk in Public.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Senator Dick Saslaw’s
Richmond Report The holiday season has arrived and we are in the final month of the countdown to the start of January’s General Assembly Session. It has been a very busy fall with no shortage of campaign “promises,” redistricting, constituent meetings, and numerous legislative briefings that included the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Retreat in mid-November. The annual event is usually attended by elected Senators from every district in Virginia. It is a deep dive into the state of the economy with professionals and staff presenting the realities of Virginia’s revenues as well as the short and long-term expenses. Despite the pandemic, Virginia has a revenue surplus thanks to the infusion of ARPA funds and other federal monies earmarked for the Commonwealth. Let me remind you that this is a one-time good news story that cannot be factored into long-range fiscal planning. Campaign rhetoric on tax relief often sounds sweeter than hard facts. Since Labor Day, the airwaves have been inundated with “Day One” pledges. To be clear, tax reform is not done with an executive order. With equal clarity, the legislature will play its significant role in any tax reform dialogue. Some of us still recall the infamous “no car tax” pledge, which continues to have a major local impact. It now costs taxpayers almost a billion dollars in the state spending plan. The Governor-elect continues to look at eliminating the sales tax on groceries. Not a terrible idea, but again one with a serious impact on our localities. Local budgets are supplemented with millions of dollars that are generated from this revenue source. Those funds are often invested back into schools, community services, and other items that sometimes get shaved in leaner times. The lost revenue will need to be replaced, likely by the Commonwealth. Another idea being considered involves the gas tax. Much of my adult professional career came as a gasoline/ service station owner and operator. I speak from experience in saying that the $80 to $100 you may save from a 10 cent suspension of the state gas tax will be more than eaten up by the mechanic’s bill you get for a new tire and alignment after hitting a pothole that the revenue from the gas tax currently repairs. Last fiscal year, the gas tax generated nearly $1 billion in revenue. This revenue goes towards supplementing Metro, the Virginia Railway Express, and also provides funds for road and highway maintenance. Potholes, road
resurfacing, and snow removal on the main thoroughfares are the obvious items that require increased revenue, not a cut. To be candid, I hear from constituents more about road conditions than any other issue in the 35th District. Covid-19 hit Virginia families hard. As we meandered through the unknown challenges of the pandemic, Governor Northam’s leadership helped minimize health risks and deaths. However, our kids experienced learning loss, minimal socialization, and in many cases developed mental health issues. With the schools shuttered, and the various roles of public education evolving, families coped as best as they could. There was a migration to private schools as well as unique arrangements for those who could afford it. This is attributable to a 10 percent decline in public K-12 enrollment. As you may know, enrollment is the basis for local funding for public education. Annually, local school boards are allotted funds based on student enrollment. This process is called rebenchmarking. In 2021, school districts were “kept whole” with ARPA funds despite enrollment declines. That revenue stream will disappear as we move forward. Bear in mind that fixed overhead such as payroll, climate control, additional student assessments, and identified needs trend upwards. Statistics show the significant benefit of early learning. There is no denying that the earlier a child gets into a structured program such as Pre-K, the better the chance for lifetime success. During the pandemic, enrollment in both Pre-K (by approximately 8 percent) and kindergarten (by approximately 4percent) declined. Virginia provided $50 million in the current fiscal year to expand the Virginia Preschool Initiative Program to include at-risk three-yearold’s, provide compensation supplements to early childhood teachers, and incentivize public-private delivery models of preschool. Public education reaches most Virginians. Going back to Richmond, I will continue to lead the fight for the next generation by building on long-term priorities. I extend my sincere greetings of the season to each of you. As we continue to emerge from the grips of the pandemic, may you and yours enjoy good health and prosperity from the economic recovery we are experiencing. Best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year.
Senator Saslaw represents the 35th District in the Virginia State Senate. He may be emailed at district35@senate.virginia.gov.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Brian Williams Pinpoints The Attack on America
A report in the Bulwark earlier this week noting that Sen. Ted Cruz has nudged closer to endorsing the goal of the Texas secessionist movement, stating publicly that “I’m not there….yet,” triggered MSNBC nighttime host Brian Williams to wrap up his evening broadcast musing about what he called “the slow death of truth and consequences” that threatens democracy in America. Williams succinctly put together all the pieces in his brief homily, linking the “death of truth” (an actual FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS philosophical movement begun in the 1970s, a radical form of Foucaultian postmodernity that proclaims the triumph of ultimate subjectivity and leads directly to Trumpism), contributing directly to the rise of “grievance culture wars” arising from the social media’s “cheap anonymity” and “gaslighting,” and the hardening of new forms of “anything that drives us apart” to “turn Americans against Americans.” This, he said, feeds on the news that tends to make us feel bad about ourselves, things such as new instances of mass gun violence, the Rittenhouse verdict, mass social repudiation of vaccines and this season’s new flash-mob gang violence in shopping malls, to weaken the public resolve to stand up for and defend core democratic institutions. They constitute, he stated, nothing less than Soviet “active measures” to undermine our democracy, being effective assaults on our nation by a hostile foreign power, hostile to our nation and our democratic values. What he painted is not a pretty picture, and yet as this man, once considered a highly-esteemed future Walter Cronkite-like figure in U.S. news reporting, was taking one of his last big shots across the bow as he prepares for his exit from his show later this month, and apparently an uncertain future. Count me among those who will always question the circumstances of Williams’ sudden fall from grace in 2015 after 11 years as the anchor of NBC’s prime time national newscast during which time he scored no less than 12 Emmy Awards. In 2015 he was severely demoted for ostensibly misrepresenting events during the war with Iraq in 2003 but was given his late late night slot on MSNBC, nonetheless. I am not here to defend Williams for whatever happened then. I am here to salute his sign-off report this week. That was something. It summarized everything that’s seriously wrong and has put our nation in the great peril it now faces. The worst part is that the nation is by and large unaware of this peril in its midst, except for its representation in bits and pieces, such as the January 6 insurrection and the worst excesses of the Trump presidency. It’s all been fractured into sound-bite sized ingredients that obfuscate the big picture, which is that there is a very active subversion of our nation and its democratic institutions now underway along just the lines that Williams summarized earlier this week. Sadly, the media, including institutions like Fox News but also others that have worked by way of insinuation into the interpretation of events, have played a major, major role. Despite their excuses for it, they created the Trump candidacy going all the way back to 1987, when it was first reported through intelligence sources that Moscow first determined Trump would be their chosen agency of influence through a presidential candidacy to advance its aims against the U.S. I have been on this case a long time, and tried my best to summarize my findings and analysis in the pamphlet, “The January 6, 2021 Capitol Sacking: Putin’s Role” (available on Amazon). My conclusions are almost identical to what Brian Williams sought to summarize this week. We can’t deal with this situation by treating the overt players as the cause agents. We can’t deal with it by throwing our hands in the air and blaming society in general, either. The problem needs to be identified as an assault on the nation every bit as dangerous as by any military invasion. Correction: In last week’s column I misreported who the James Webb Space Telescope is named for. It is named for James E. Webb, the NASA administrator during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations who led much of the development for the Apollo missions.
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DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 9
Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
The oldest school building in Arlington remains the red-brick edifice built in 1891 on current-day South Arlington Ridge Road. The Hume School was named for Confederate Army veteran, politician and grocery-store whiskey magnate Frank Hume (18431906). Though it hasn’t hosted students since 1956, it boasts a slot on the National Register of Historic Places, and has housed, since 1963, the Arlington Historical Society and its museum. It is among my holiday hopes that this vintage structure be given the means to continue in hostworthy condition. The Hume building’s history (including changing exterior colors) was recently enhanced with research by Marymount University History Professor Mark Benbow (the museum’s curator) and the Arlington-based architectural firm John Milner Associates Preservation. Frank Hume, from his estate in Alexandria known as Warwick, was active as a state delegate and in planning Arlington’s transportation development. In 1891, he sold land to the county for a bargain $250 and donated extra acres so the school could open in 1893. The architect Stanley Simmons (18721931) earned at age 19 one of his first commissions, and went on to design dozens of downtown fixtures, including the Fairfax Hotel and the National Metropolitan Bank.
The Hume School boasted two first-floor classrooms, one for grades 1-3 and one for grades 4-6. Because Hume doubled as a community center, the second floor opened up into a meeting hall that could hold 200. Many of the students (whites only) had to walk up a steep hill on a still-extant path that goes down to modern-day Crystal City. Initially the school lacked electricity (power was installed sometime in the 1940s) and relied on coal for heating. (After the school was shuttered, excavators discovered seven tons of unused coal in the basement.) The school’s first teacher and principal was Julie “Abbie” Dishman (married name Arnold), from King George County, Va. She recruited three teachers and a maintenance man from her office on the second floor (now refitted as a model old-time classroom). She made a ceremonious return in 1968 and donated artifacts including her teacher’s license, a textbook and keys to the building. Though Hume’s capacity reached as high as 110 students, by the 1950s attendees had shrunk to 60, many of them with learning disabilities, and others had transferred to nearby Oakridge Elementary built in 1950. Arlington Public Schools closed Hume in 1956, citing the costs of renovating such essentials as fire escapes. It sat empty for five years (birds nested inside), and plans were made for demolition. But Frank Hume’s deed had required that the land be used for educational purposes. So his
granddaughter Margaret Cooke Birge proposed that the county buy it, and it was then given to the historical society (founded in 1956). After a $45,000 renovation to create exhibit space, the museum opened in September 1963 (still open weekday afternoons). Six decades later, funds are sought for a sorely needed new renovation. “The deterioration of the windows, combined with an outdated HVAC system can have a damaging effect on our artifact collection” of some 4,000 items, notes Annette Benbow. (Disclosure: I serve on the board with her and husband Mark.) There is also a threat of water leakage, a need to upgrade bathrooms and perhaps install an elevator to widen access. History lovers can do their part by donating at Arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org. *** The pandemic continues? One sign is the outdoor bourbon-andscotch tastings still hosted five nights a week by Ashton Heights Civic Association President Scott Sklar. I attended the Nov. 24 edition with a dozen other Arlingtonians in front of the renewable energy activist’s mostly solar-powered home. (My hopes for a prize for traveling the furthest distance—from East Falls Church—were dashed by a vacationing Dutchman.) Sklar serves from quite a stash of mash. His free get-togethers have endured for 18 months as a way of keeping human contact via the relative safety of the suburban outdoors. You must be 21 to attend!
PAGE 10 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
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C�������� N��� � N���� 4th Annual Oglala-Lakota Holiday Coat Drive Now through December 12, the City of Falls Church will be hosting a coat drive for the Oglala-Lakota residents of Pine Ridge, S. Dakota, through the non profit Re-Member. org. They are looking for new or gently used winter coats of all sizes, new socks of all sizes, baby blankets, plush animals, bars of soap (no plastic bottles), toothbrushes and toothpaste. Donations can be dropped off at Mary Riley Styles Public Library at 120 N. Virginia Ave in Falls Church. For additional information on Pine Ridge please visit Re-Member. org or Kamel.linda@gmail.com.
Santa Visiting Gentle Touch Dentistry Santa will be making a visit to Gentle Touch Dentistry in Falls Church on Saturday, December 11 from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. Santa will be taking photos with people of all ages and reading stories aloud. You do not have to be a patient of Gentle Touch to attend this event. Gentle Touch Dentistry is located at 6716 Arlington Blvd in Falls Church.
Creative Cauldron Live Streams This Weekend As a thank-you in this season of fundraising, Creative Cauldron is live streaming two events free on creativecauldron.org this Saturday. First: The Princess and the Pea, an original movie musical by kids and for kids, streaming live at 5:30
p.m. at creativecauldron.org and youtube.com/creativecauldron Next: Live Fundraising Telethon, hosted by Matt Conner, and featuring performances from everything coming up at Creative Cauldron: songs from holiday cabarets, “The Christmas Angel”, “Into the Woods”, plus games, prizes and more. Streaming live at creativecauldron. org and youtube.com/creativecauldron.
Second Annual Live Nativity and Food Drive in Falls Church On Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11 from 6 — 9 p.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host its second annual drive-through live nativity display and food drive in the parking lot of its chapel on the corner of Great Falls Street and Kirby Road in Falls Church. The event will include a food drive to benefit SHARE of McLean, a local food bank operated by McLean Baptist Church, and the Komak Foundation, which serves Afghan refugees in this area. “Last year, we were so gratified at the generosity of our community, which donated enough food to last for two months at SHARE,” said Christy Lucia of McLean, president of the women’s Relief Society for McLean Stake, a group of eight congregations in the McLean/Falls Church/ Arlington area. “We hope to see even more generosity this year.” Nativity displays will include a manger scene and Bethlehem scenery, with shepherds, angels, and wise men scattered throughout various
areas of the parking lot, and over 20,000 Christmas lights. Displays will also include live llamas, sheep, goats, donkeys, miniature horses, chickens, and rabbits. A podcast will provide narration of the Christmas story (in English and Spanish) and seasonal music for those attending. Last year’s event proved very popular. Organizers estimate that over 1,000 cars drove through during the two nights, with multiple people in most cars, so around 3,000 people likely viewed the nativity scenes. Based on last year’s overwhelming response, the event has been extended by an additional hour each night this year. Jim Stansel of Arlington, President of the McLean Stake, commented that “the message of Christmas, and of the other holidays celebrated by numerous faith groups at this time of year, is a joyous and hopeful one. We look forward to celebrating that joyous and hopeful spirit with our community neighbors of all ages again this year.” Information about the activity can be found at www.mcleannativity.org. Christmas information and service suggestions can be found at www. comeuntochrist.org and www.justserve.org.
BalletNova’s Nutcracker Returns This Weekend BalletNova’s “Nutcracker” has become a holiday tradition with thousands of families and they are delighted to be back in person performing at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington. This is a professional production that includes children and
is a great way to be introduced to ballet and live theater for the first time. BalletNova is proud to present a brand-new production of the holiday classic for the 2021 season. Experience new costumes, new characters and new choreography. Performances will take place on Thursday, December 2nd at 7:30 p.m., Friday, December 3rd at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 4th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 5th at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Please note: Fully vaccinated dancers over the age of 12 will not be wearing masks while performing. Attendees 12 and over will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test dated within three days of performance. All attendees will be required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Please direct questions to info@ balletnova.org. Tickets and more information can be found online at https://balletnova. org/.
Bull Run Festival of Lights Now Open Every year from November until just after New Year’s Day, you can experience the Bull Run Festival of Lights, 2.5 miles illuminated by holiday light displays. Drive the festival route from the comfort of your car; turn off your headlights and just follow the magical glow. The 2021 Festival of Lights is the season’s best, brightest and socially distant activity to enjoy with your family and friends! The festival is open every night through January 2, opening at 5:30
p.m. every night and closing at 9:30 p.m. Monday — Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday — Sunday and holiday nights. The Bull Run Festival of Lights is more than just a light show! After the light displays, don’t forget to stop at the Holiday Village. Complete with bonfires, s’mores, holiday merchandise, the Holiday Village is fun for the whole family. Tickets are $30 per vehicle online and $40 per vehicle at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at https://www.novaparks. com/events/bull-run-festival-oflights.
Washington Sinfonietta Family Holiday Concert December 12 The Washington Sinfonietta returns to the stage with its annual Family Holiday Concert -- a joyful musical celebration that has come to be beloved in and around the Falls Church community! Under the baton of Music Director Joel Lazar, the orchestra will perform timeless classics and festive tunes ranging from “Greensleeves” and Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite”, to “Sleigh Ride” and choruses from Handel’s immortal Messiah. The program will also feature the talented Meridian High School Chamber Singers, an audience holiday carol sing-along, and a visit from Santa! Admission is free for adults and children of all ages. Proof of Covid vaccination or negative test within 72 hours required – please visit www.washingtonsinfonietta.org for full details and more information.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 11
The Holiday Season Comes Upon Falls Church
THE ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE TREES at Mr. Brown’s Park in downtown Falls Church and the Victorian Christmas at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse marked the onset of the holiday season in Falls Church, with plenty more to good stuff to come! (Photos: Gary Mester)
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PAGE 12 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
12 Ways to support This Holiday
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM
START SHOPPING EARLY
You might be surprised by the wide variety of shops in your area. Find out more about what each store carries to spark gift ideas and make your holiday shopping a breeze. Certain places even offer custom creations, allowing you to give your loved ones unique presents.
The longer you wait to do your holiday shopping, the more tempting it is to purchase last-minute gifts from large online retailers that offer rapid delivery. If you want to support local businesses, avoid lineups and keep your stress to a minimum, start early. This also ensures everything you’re looking for is still in stock.
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SEND ONE-OFA-KIND CARDS
DECORATE WITH HANDMADE ITEMS
If you want to send out cards to let your friends and relatives know you’re thinking about them over the holiday season, see if any artists or boutiques in your area sell handmade cards. These handcrafted works of art will look beautiful on a mantel, and they may even feature depictions of local landmarks.
When it comes time to decorate your home for the holidays, deck the halls with locally sourced creations. From wreaths and garlands to Christmas tree ornaments and stained-glass window hangings, the artists in your area are sure to offer handcrafted pieces that’ll imbue your home with the spirit of the season.
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BUY FROM FESTIVAL VENDORS
UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE
Does your community host Christmas markets, parades or outdoor performances ? These present a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, so make the most of visiting them. Buy a round of hot chocolate for your friends, treat your kids to seasonal snacks or surprise your partner with a little something from one of the stalls.
A new outfit will help you put your best foot forward at your upcoming holiday office party or New Year’s Eve bash. The staff at your local stores can help you put together a look from head to toe. You may also want to keep an eye out for the perfect ugly Christmas sweater or matching pajamas for the whole family.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Local Business Season
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 13
Foxes Music Co.
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BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS
TREAT YOURSELF TO A MEAL OUT
If you’re short on inspiration, gift baskets make ideal offerings for co-workers, housekeepers, personal trainers and your child’s teacher or babysitter. Many stores have a selection of pre-made baskets, or you can build your own with an assortment of locally sourced jams, soaps, teas, scented candles, chocolates, wine and more.
Indulge in the magic of the season with a night out at a restaurant. This can be a great way to take a break from all the cooking and cleanup that comes with hosting holiday celebrations. Plus, many establishments have live music, special menus and seasonal cocktails during this time of year to mark the occasion.
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REMEMBER TO TIP GENEROUSLY
KEEP IT LOCAL WHEN YOU BUY ONLINE
‘Tis the season to give, and one way to show your appreciation is by leaving a generous tip for the people who help make the holidays special. This may include the staff at a restaurant, hairdresser or beauty salon, as well as an employee who offers to wrap your gifts or helps you strap your Christmas tree to the car.
Shopping online is a convenient way to quickly check items off your gift list (not to mention avoid crowded stores). Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between convenience and supporting local merchants. Many of the stores in your area have websites where you can buy what you need from the comfort of your couch.
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OPT FOR GIFT CARDS OVER CASH
COOK WITH LOCAL INGREDIENTS
Some people are harder to shop for than others. If you want to leave the choice up to them, consider offering a gift card rather than money. Not only will this guarantee the cash goes toward a local business, but a gift card is more personal as it shows that you took the time to select a store based on the person’s interests.
Whether you’re planning an elaborate Christmas dinner, preparing your contribution for a holiday potluck or looking for the perfect hostess gift, you’ll get nothing but the best from regional producers. Visit the markets and shops in your area for everything from artisanal cheeses and pastries to seasonal produce and craft liquor.
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DMD, MS, FACP Implants, Dentures & Family Dentistry
Wishing Everyone a Healthy Holiday!
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Friday, December 3rd, 5 pm to 9pm Saturday, December 4th, 1 pm to 9pm Tree pick up: Sunday, December 5th, 11 am to 1 pm Ireland’s Four Provinces 105 West Broad Street, Falls Church This event showcases a display of trees creatively decorated for the holidays. Funds for the organizations represented will be raised via donations and a silent auction, presenting you with an opportunity to win the tree of your choice. Members of the Meridian High School Chorus will perform Saturday afternoon (2 pm to 3 pm) followed by a performance by the Band (5:30 pm to 6:45 pm).
Participants in the event include:
Tree submissions will benefit the American Heart Association, Arlington Philharmonic, Aurora House, Ellie & Evangeline Foundation, Falls Church Arts, Falls Church Cable Access Corporation, Falls Church City Public Schools Band Boosters, Falls Church City Public Schools Choral Boosters, Falls Church Homeless Shelter, Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, Falls Church Women’s History Group, Grace Christian Academy, HARK Center, The Kensington, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue, and VPIS.
Event sponsored by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS)
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Fa l l s C h u r c h
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
School News & Notes MHS Competes in Championships The regional championship football game lived up to the hype last Friday between two very evenly matched teams. Unfortunately, Brentsville walked away with the last-second win. The game was 7-7 until the last 6 seconds when the Tigers scored on an RB screen pass. Patrick Whitaker had the lone Mustang TD, and Noah Holmgren kicked in the extra point. The game was a defensive slog throughout. Graham Felgar forced two fumbles and recovered one, and David Ziayee picked up the other. George Papadopoulos stripped the ball from an offensive player for a turnover, and Patrick Whitaker intercepted a ball. The Mustangs took the Runners Up trophy, capping an outstanding season.
Covid-19 Testing Program Set to Begin Seven hundred thirty-one students and staff are currently registered for the ViSSTA Covid-19 Screening program. Screening tests are available only to those who sign up and are in the testing pool. Please note: 30 percent of those who sign up for the testing pool will be selected each week randomly. However, those in the collection
can request to be selected for a specific date. (e.g., pre-and postholiday travel). A medical professional does these free tests at school, and their testing vendor will report results in 24-48 hours. If anyone in the pool tests positive, technology has advanced so that the lab can determine precisely who in the pool is positive. Others in the pool will not have to pause. The randomly selected students and staff will be notified via email and the tests will be administered on Thursday every week starting this Thursday, December 2. It’s not too late to register your student. All are encouraged to sign up for this program. More information can be found on the FCCPS website.
FCCPS Covid-19 To-Do List Check the Health Monitoring Checklist on FCCPS daily to ensure it is safe to send your child to school. Get your child vaccinated if they are eligible. There are many options to find vaccinations locally. Check out the Fairfax County Health Department webpage for more info. Once your child is fully vaccinated, provide Proof of Vaccination to the school. (Note: This proof of vaccination is required for your student to participate in extracurricular
CHARLIE TAYLOR, a violinist from Meridian, successfully auditioned for the District Honors Orchestra. The District Orchestra event will be held at Hayfield Secondary School on January 14th and 15th. (Photo Courtesy Fccps)
THREE FORMER FCCPS SUPERINTENDENTS got a personal tour of the new Meridian High School on Monday from current Superintendent Peter Noonan. (from left) Stewart Roberson, Mary Ellen Shaw, and Lois Berlin got an up-close and personal look at the new facility. (Photo Courtesy FCCPS)
clubs and activities. It also speeds up contact tracing if there is a Covid-19 positive case). Sign Up to include your child in the (optional) FCCPS ViSSTA Covid testing program.
OSE Yearbook PreSale Has Started Please order a yearbook now for the discounted price of $15. (The price will increase to $20 on January 1, 2022). Only online orders are accepted for pre-sale on the FCCPS website. Yearbooks will be distributed in June of 2022. Note— if you think your child would like a yearbook but cannot purchase one, please complete the form online on the FCCPS website..
Meridian Students Donate Blood On Tuesday, November 23, approximately 75 students took time out of their busy day to donate blood. These courageous students took part in this great act of service before the long holiday break. Meridian Senior Class SCA sponsored the Blood Drive. INOVA Blood Donation Services continues to have a shortage of blood donors. If you are able, there are many local opportunities for blood donation. More information can be found at https://www.inovablood.org/.
MUSIC Days Now Through December 5 FCCPS asks Falls Church City families to consider participating in Meridian MUSIC Days by hiring students for jobs like yard work, babysitting, dog walking, animal sitting, spreading mulch, car washing, musical performance, holiday decorating, gift wrapping, etc. The fundraiser runs now through Dec 5th. If you have multiple jobs, please fill out this form for each one. You may submit jobs as far in advance as you’d like. They’ll confirm receipt of your job request via email, and then during the week before your job (by Thursday), you can expect another email from them with the names of the students assigned to your job. It will also include instructions on how to make your donation. For more information and to book a job, visit https://musicdays.square.site/.
Graduation Celebration Event Join fellow Meridian High School parents at the outdoor fire pit at the Moore’s (215 N. Cherry St.) from 4 — 6 p.m. and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa at the first 2022 All Night Grad Celebration (ANGC) fundraising event. ANGC is a safe, inclusive and drug and alcohol-free allnight party on graduation night that the entire Falls Church City community funds and organiz-
es. Help meet fundraising goals while you socialize with old and new friends.
Meridian High School Yearbook On Sale If you would like to place an order for a 2021 — 22 Yearbook, the current rate is $88 and can be purchased on the FCCPS website by December 31, 2021. Commemorate your senior by sending them a Yearbook Recognition Ad. Yearbook Recognition Ads is a great way to share your child’s achievements and important milestones with Meridian High School. This school year, 1/4 size senior ads are free in this year’s yearbook! 1/4 page will be free of charge, whereas the upgrades for 1/2 or full page are regularly priced. The deadline for purchase is December 31, 2021.
Nominate FCCPS Employees for Awards Now’s your chance to nominate an FCCPS employee whom you think does an outstanding job! The letters of support a staff member receives in their nomination packet mean more than you could ever guess. Nominations for these awards can be found on the FCCPS website. Please contact HR Director Amy Hall before starting a nomination to confirm that the nominee is eligible for the award.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 15
Holiday Party Free and Open to All Friends of the News-Press
Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. American Legion Hall, 400 N. Oak Street.
Faces of Falls Church
BORN IN MISSISSIPPI, KELVIN RIMMER spent much of his life in the south before heading north and finding his place at Galleria Florist. I caught up with him at their new location on West Broad St. (Photo: J. Michael Whalen)
CA L E NDA R
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 16
FALLS CHURCH
CALENDAR LOCALEVENTS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 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. 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.Best suited for 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.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 Tysons-Pimmit Library Friends Booksale. Come and find some gems at Tysons-Pimmit Library’s used book sale. This event will take place Friday — Sunday from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. each day. Sunday is the used book bag sale — fill a bag for just $10. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. Origami Snowflake Making. Come make some fun snowflakes to use for holiday/winter decor at Tysons-Pimmit Library. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4 — 6 p.m. Tree Fest. This event showcases a display of trees creatively decorated for the holidays. Funds for the organizations represented will be raised via donations and a silent auction, presenting you with an opportunity to win the tree of your choice. Members of
the Meridian High School Chorus will perform followed by a performance by the Band. (105 West Broad St.). 5 — 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 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 more. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/547/FarmersMarket-To-Go. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 8 a.m. — 12 p.m. Holiday Gift and Craft Show: Day 1. Shop from local crafters, jewelry makers, potters, and more at this two-day event. A Children’s Shoppe on Saturday as well as entertainment and raffles both days round out this special event. Deck the halls during the holiday season with special gifts from the annual Holiday Gift and Craft Show at the Falls Church Community Center. More than 50 crafters and merchants show their wares selling unique handmade items, baked goods, and more. Enjoy music from the Chamber Singers from 12 — 1 p.m., and then the Oak Street Elementary Fifth Grade Band from 1 p.m. — 1:30 p.m. Raffle winners will be announced on the loudspeaker in the Community Center and winners will get to choose from a variety of items donated by the Gift and Craft Show vendors. (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. Children’s Shoppe. Children can visit the Children’s Holiday Shoppe in a new location this year — at the Community Center. With the help of volunteers, kids can pick out gifts ($6 and less) for their friends and family. Volunteers can also wrap the gifts for free! Hosted by the Friends of Cherry Hill Farmhouse. This takes place within the Holiday Gift and Craft Show, but note the special hours. (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Tree Fest. This event showcases
a display of trees creatively decorated for the holidays. Funds for the organizations represented will be raised via donations and a silent auction, presenting you with an opportunity to win the tree of your choice. (105 West Broad St.). 1 — 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 Holiday Gift and Craft Show: Day 2. Shop from local crafters, jewelry makers, potters, and more at this two-day event. A Children’s Shoppe on Saturday as well as entertainment and raffles both days round out this special event. Deck the halls during the holiday season with special gifts from the annual Holiday Gift and Craft Show at the Falls Church Community Center. More than 50 crafters and merchants show their wares selling unique handmade items, baked goods, and more. The Meridian High School Ensembles will perform from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Raffle winners will be announced on the loudspeaker in the Community Center and winners will get to choose from a variety of items donated by the Gift and Craft Show vendors. (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6 City Council Work Session. The City Council meets in-person in City Hall’s Council Chambers. In-person capacity may be limited due to Covid19 safety, and all attendees must wear a mask and stay socially distant at all times. The meeting can be viewed live online (fallschurchva.gov/ CouncilMeetings) or on FCCTV (Cox channel 11, RCN channel 2, Verizon channel 35). There is no public comment at a work session. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 7:30 — 11:00 p.m.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 EmiSunshine Live and in Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-2551566. Squirrel Nut Zippers. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Honky Tonk Casanovas. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27+. 8 p.m. 703255-1900.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 Josh Allen & Garrett Aldan Duo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703241-9504. MJP Power Trio. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186. Christmas with Cantus: Lessons and Carols for Our Time. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $44. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1900. Chris Botti. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $110. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. The Fabulous Dialtones: Holiday Show. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Gerry Timlin. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-534-8999. Shartel and Hume Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504. Lez Zeppelin. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $27 — $52. 9 p.m. 703237-0300. Willem Dicke. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 Memphis Gold & the Scrap Iron Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Blue Book Value Band. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-858-9186. Chris Botti. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $110. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Gerry Timlin. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-534-8999. Bad Influence. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. The Legwarmers. The State
Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 9:30 p.m. 703237-0300. Franklin Music. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 Jazz/Blues Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186. The Steel Wheels. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 — 30. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Dar Williams. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500. Wolf’s Blues Jam. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
THEATER&ARTS VIRTUAL (ON DEMAND) The Princess and the Pea. With some movie magic by Margie Jervis and music by Conner and Smith and the live stream studio donated by the community last Giving Tuesday, this performance has come to life as a fantastic movie musical. Filmed outdoors, this is a musical adventure that celebrates the Learning Theater Program and the triumph of creativity during Covid-19. This streams for free on Creative Cauldron’s website (creativecauldron.org/) and their YouTube Channel on Saturday, December 4, at 5:30 pm. Any donations made in support of this broadcast go to supporting educational programs offered throughout the year by Creative Cauldron.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 Joy: A Classic Brass Christmas. This annual favorite from Choralis celebrates the holidays with a stunning candlelight processional and both old and new music from around the world. Selections will include a work from their awardwinning CD, “In Winter’s Arms: Seasonal Music by Bob Chilcott.” Peppered throughout the concert are audience carol sing-alongs, adding a joyful finishing touch to the festivities. To purchase tickets and find out more information, visit the Choralis website at /choralis.org/. (5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, D.C.)
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 17
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Fa l l s C h u r c h
NEWS BRIEFS Meridian H.S. Singers Join Sinfonietta’s Dec. 12 Concert The Washington Sinfonietta will resume in-person performances Sunday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. with a 2021 Family Holiday Celebration at the Falls Church Episcopal Church. Joining the concert will be the Meridian High School Chamber Singers and the concert will include an audience sing-along of traditional holiday carols. Under the baton of Music Director Joel Lazar, the orchestra will perform a wide range of festive selections including “Waltz of the Flowers” from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” and Leroy Anderson’s iconic “Sleigh Ride.” “It’s fitting that our return to the stage take place with our Family Holiday Celebration, since over the years this annual concert has become such a beloved event within the Falls Church community,” says Maestro Lazar. “We look forward to once more sharing the spirit of this joyful time of year with our audience. And rumor has it that Santa is already making plans to stop by!” The 4:00 p.m. concert will be held at The Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E. Broad St., Falls Church. Admission is free for concert goers of all ages. All attendees will be required to present proof of either full Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test for admission. Founded in May 2006, the Washington Sinfonietta enriches the cultural life of the Greater Washington, D.C., community through quality symphonic and chamber music performances as well as community outreach activities. The Sinfonietta is a recipient of a Falls Church Arts and Culture Project Grant.
Bailey Comes on As New Assessor for F.C. Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced this week that Erwving Bailey has been hired as the new Assessor of Real Estate for the City of Falls Church, starting Dec. 20. He replaces Ryan Davis, who left last May after 17 years serving in the post. Bailey comes from Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessment with over 13 years of experience in real property tax assessments. During his tenure with Arlington County, he was a Senior Appraiser and Commercial Assessment Supervisor. Bailey earned the designations of Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES) and Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS) through the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). An IAAO professional designation is a symbol of knowledge, experience and com-
petence recognized around the globe. Bailey earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University and his Master’s in Business Administration from Troy University. “We are pleased to welcome Bailey in this important role of Real Estate Assessor. His expertise and knowledge of the local real estate market will be of great value and we look forward to working with him in the City of Falls Church” stated City Chief Financial Officer Kiran Bawa.
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CECA’s Hamme Says Holidays Are Key Nathan Hamme, long time Falls Church resident now president of the non-profit CECA Foundation, issued a statement this week on the importance of the holidays for supporting good causes. “It’s important during the holiday season to take time to reflect on the past year. There have been challenges, to be sure. But most importantly, we should all take the opportunity to celebrate our achievements,” Hamme wrote. “For starters, healthcare workers have administered 451 million vaccine doses to Americans, helping stem the tide of a devastating pandemic that particularly impacts our most vulnerable populations.” He added, “Moreover, they have shown grace and kindness while making incredible sacrifices. We have asked more of them, and they have delivered.” The CECA Foundation’s mission “is to celebrate excellence in caregiving by recognizing those that go above and beyond for our loved ones. Whether it is a soft smile or a gentle hand during a high stress situation, outstanding care is worth rewarding and CECA resources are doing just that. Hamme said that “The pandemic has reminded us that life is a gift and that it should be lived fully. Healthcare workers help those they serve live more fully every day.”
Child Tax Credits Boosting Virginia Households U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Northern Virginia released a new report from the Joint Economic Committee this week estimating that statewide 941,000 monthly tax credits went to families in November alone for a total of $396.9 million. The average tax cut was $422. “As families manage holiday season expenses, the Child Tax Credit tax cuts are putting more money back into their pockets,” said Wexton. “The November payments delivered hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of hardworking Virginians the week before Thanksgiving to help them pay for groceries,
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Fa l l s C h u r c h Business News & Notes Hanukkah at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Sufganiyot, the decadent jelly doughnuts topped with powdered sugar that are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah, are available for a limited time at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. Additional Hanukkah treats offered include the Hanukkah mini box with ornately adorned, petite doughnuts, or their glazed Hanukkah cookies. These Hanukkah treats are available through December 15 at 7511 Leesburg Pike #103, Falls Church as reported in Arlington Magazine.
Code Ninjas Collaboration with Microsoft MakeCode As part of a national effort to inspire kids’ interest in computer science, Code Ninjas Falls Church will offer free one-hour coding-education sessions where students will learn how computer coding is being used to solve real world problems. During the “Hour of Code,” students will use the Microsoft MakeCode Arcade Platform to build a video game focused on preventing forest fires. David Ryan, owner of Code Ninjas Alexandria and Falls Church says, “Building games is a fun way to learn about coding and with this theme, we’re showing students how they can affect change through computer science.” Students must register in advance for the “Hour of Code” at https://bit.ly/CSEdWeekatCodeNinjas2021. Code Ninjas’ support for CSEdWeek features a collaboration with Microsoft MakeCode, an open-source platform for creating engaging computer science learning experiences that support a progression path into real-world programming.
#ShopLocalFC for the Holidays
@vaccinatevirginia
Shopping local retailers is the emphasis this December. The Falls Church Chamber encourages the #LiveLocalFC to continue through the holidays with shoppers photographing their favorite stores, purchases and experiences. The new competition, set to out-perform the November #LiveLocalFC competition, runs through December in which the individual with the most posts will receive a gift card to his/her favorite Falls Church retailer. Use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via https://woobox.com/kwg2wk
Falls Church Holiday Craft Show & Children’s Shoppe This holiday market features 50-plus artisans and food purveyors on Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. If you have kids who want holiday shopping options beyond the dollar store, bring them along with you on Saturday, December 4, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. when they will find trinkets for $6 or less and free gift wrapping. The $1 admission covers attendance on both days. Visit the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church and Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church.
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Creative Forces Arts Programming for Military-Connected Creative Forces is an NEA initiative in partnership with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs which seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers. The deadline to apply for these new grants is December 15, 2021. For the complete guidelines and to apply for a Creative Forces Community Engagement grant, visit www.maaa.org/creativeforces .
Virginia employers: Get Reimbursed for Staff Bonuses The Return to Earn initiative, launched in June, is an effort to assist small businesses and organizations in finding and retaining talent while also bringing the unemployed back into the workforce. There are basic eligibility requirements, the SkillSource Group, Inc. and Virginia Career Works Northern are available to make access to this program easy and the application, enrollment, and reimbursement process as simple as possible. The program encourages a $500 reimbursable bonus as helpful to retention and workplace morale for qualified businesses. To learn more, go to https://vcwnorthern.com/return-to-earn/.
Kristie Grinnell of GDIT Steps Down Kristie Grinnell, GDIT’s global CIO and chief supply chain officer, has announced her departure. The General Dynamics executive is credited with the rapid response and guidance of the Falls Church IT business unit through the pandemic through remote work capabilities while ensuring the federal customers remained operational as well. She was a 2020 Women Who Mean Business Honoree and has sponsored nine employee resource groups to connect the diverse workforce during the pandemic and social justice movements. Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 19
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR REVISION OF RATE ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE: RIDER US-2, SCOTT, WHITEHOUSE, AND WOODLAND SOLAR POWER STATIONS CASE NO. PUR-2021-00238 •Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion”) has applied for approval to revise its rate adjustment clause, Rider US-2, by which it recovers the costs of three solar power stations. •Dominion requests $11,339,380 for its 2022 Rider US-2. According to Dominion, this amount would increase the monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month by $0.05. •A Hearing Examiner appointed by the Commission will hold a telephonic hearing in this case on March 14, 2022, at 10 a.m., for the receipt of public witness testimony. •An evidentiary hearing will be held on March 15, 2022, at 10 a.m., either in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or by electronic means. Further details on this hearing will be provided by subsequent Commission Order or Hearing Examiner’s Ruling. •Further information about this case is available on the Commission website at: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. On October 5, 2021, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia, filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an annual update with respect to the Company’s rate adjustment clause, Rider US-2 (“Application”). Through its Application, the Company seeks to recover costs associated with (i) the Scott Solar Facility, a 17 megawatt (“MW”) (nominal alternating current (“AC”)) facility located in Powhatan County; (ii) the Whitehouse Solar Facility, a 20 MW facility located in Louisa County; and (iii) the Woodland Solar Facility, a 19 MW AC facility located in Isle of Wight County (collectively, “US-2 Solar Projects” or “Projects”). In Case No. PUE-2015-00104, the Commission approved construction of the US-2 Solar Projects. In conjunction therewith, the Commission also approved a rate adjustment clause, designated Rider US-2, which allowed Dominion to recover costs associated with the development of the Projects. The US-2 Solar Projects achieved commercial operations in 2016. In this proceeding, Dominion has asked the Commission to approve Rider US-2 for the rate year beginning September 1, 2022, and ending August 31, 2023 (“2022 Rate Year”). The two components of the proposed total revenue requirement for the 2022 Rate Year are the Projected Cost Recovery Factor and the Actual Cost True-Up Factor. The Company is requesting a Projected Cost Recovery Factor revenue requirement of $8,885,656 and an Actual Cost True Up Factor revenue requirement of $2,453,724. Thus, the Company is requesting a total revenue requirement of $11,339,380 for service rendered during the 2022 Rate Year. For purposes of calculating the revenue requirement in this case, Dominion utilized a rate of return on common equity (“ROE”) of 9.2%, which was approved by the Commission in Case No. PUR-2019-00050. The Company states that that the Commission will set a new ROE in the Company’s triennial review proceeding, Case No. PUR-2021-00058; the Commission-approved ROE will be applicable for use in the Projected Cost Recovery Factor component of the revenue requirement ultimately approved as part of this proceeding. If the proposed Rider US-2 for the 2022 Rate Year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementation of its proposed Rider US-2 on September 1, 2022, would increase the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month by approximately $0.05. The Company indicates it has generally calculated the proposed Rider US-2 rates in accordance with the same methodology as used for rates approved by the Commission in the most recent Rider US-2 proceeding, Case No. PUR-2020-00231. In the triennial review proceeding, the Company proposed updates to certain components of its lead-lag study, and used an updated revenue lag, the only component of the updated lead-lag study applicable to Rider US-2, in its cash working capital calculations. The Company acknowledges that the revenue lag determined in the triennial review proceeding will be applicable for use in the calculation of the revenue requirement ultimately approved as part of this proceeding. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals. TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Application and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Application and supporting documents. The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Application. On March 14, 2022, at 10 a.m., the Commission will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before March 10, 2022, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting. On March 15, 2022, at 10 a.m., either in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or by electronic means, a hearing will be convened to receive testimony and evidence from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Further details on this hearing will be provided by subsequent Commission Order or Hearing Examiner’s Ruling. The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health issues related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter should be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”). Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive Information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information, of the Rules of Practice. Any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 371-9838 to arrange the delivery. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information. An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Lisa R. Crabtree, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or LCrabtree@mcguirewoods.com. On or before March 10, 2022, any interested person may submit comments on the Application by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/ casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2021-00238. On or before December 29, 2021, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at: scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2021-00238. On or before February 1, 2022, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, including, but not limited to, 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2021-00238. Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice. The Company’s Application, the Commission’s Rules of Practice and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY d/b/a DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA
PAGE 20 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 Public Notice AT&T proposes to collocate antennas (tip heights 119.5’ & 121’) on the building at 6200 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA (20211109). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties. Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board (Alternate) Board of Equalization Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation City Employee Review Board Economic Development Authority Historic Architectural Review Board Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Towing Advisory Board (Towing Representative) Regional Boards/Commissions Long Term Care Coordinating Council Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA City Council scheduled a public hearing and final action for the following item for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TR21-32) RESOLUTION TO NAME THE STREETS AT THE WEST FALLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The ordinance referenced below was given first reading on November 8, 2021. Public hearing, second reading, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TO21-14) ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 40, “TAXATION,” OF THE FALLS CHURCH CITY CODE TO ADD A NEW ARTICLE XX, TO IMPOSE A TAX ON THE USE OF CERTAIN PLASTIC BAGS This would impose a tax of five cents per bag on disposable plastic bags on certain retailers. The ordinances referenced below were given first reading on November 22, 2021. Public hearing, second reading, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matters may be heard. (TO21-15) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCES 2026, 2027, 2032 AND 2034 REGARDING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 FOR THE GENERAL FUND, SCHOOL OPERATING FUND, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FUND, AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS This would amend the FY2022 budget to appropriate new revenues, primarily from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and FY2021 year-end balance. (TO21-16) ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT, AND RECODIFY CHAPTER 42, ARTICLE V, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH TO RECONSTITUTE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (TO21-17) ORDINANCE APPROVING DEED OF PARTIAL RELEASE OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, DEED IMPOSING NEW RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND DEED
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
C L AS S I F I E DS TO VACATE EXISTING EASEMENT WHICH TRAVERSES THE CENTERLINE, FOR LOT(S) A AND B AS PART OF PROPERTY AT 405 NORTH VAN BUREN STREET RPC# 53-101-128, FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, BY OWNER/APPLICANT STEPHEN HISCOTT All public hearings will be held in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA. Public comment will be heard from those attending the meeting. Public comment will also be heard remotely from those who complete a speaker form at www. fallschurchva.gov/ PublicComment before noon on the day of the Council meeting. Written public hearing comments may be sent until noon on the day of the meeting to cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK
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ACROSS 1. Barnyard male 4. On’s opposite 7. Single printing 12. Smallest bill 13. Major-league athlete 14. Showery 15. Pigment 16. Roof goo 17. Miss ____ (“Dallas” role) 18. Sample 20. Youngsters 21. Mr. Redding 23. Elephant hue 26. Uncle’s wife 27. Night light 28. Mister
31. Government 33. Regard highly 35. Viper’s sound 36. Surrounded by 38. Pens’ contents 39. Blemish 40. Shopper’s aid 41. At the summit 44. Bumpkins 47. Flutters 49. Chick’s mother 50. Oolong, e.g. 53. Identical 54. Long fish 55. Go wrong 56. Smooth 57. Withered
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58. Traitor DOWN 1. Reel’s partner 2. Whatever 3. Office gatherings 4. Chooses 5. Campus group, shortly 6. Precede 7. Fierce anger 8. Like some pretzels 9. Farm building 10. Individual 11. Watches closely
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
PUZZLE NO. 112
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 110
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING
ACROSS 1. Baths 5. Busy activity 8. Melt 12. Corridor 13. Do wrong 14. Paper or pudding 15. Solar or lunar events 17. Exploited 18. Slalom competitor 19. Mets, e.g. 21. Get bigger 23. Excellent 27. Scarf 29. Drink 31. Join together 32. Sedan, e.g.
21. Pays up 22. Mama’s fellow 23. Garden bloomer 25. Fire-setting crime 27. Horrible 29. Passed beyond 30. Evergreen tree 31. So long, in London: 2 wds.
29. Make a choice 32. Clip 33. Garbage 35. By means of 36. Pack animal 37. To’s opposite 38. Used up 40. Jars 42. Neighborhood 43. Bothersome dispute 47. Train parts 49. Pimples 50. Messy fellow 52. Take up a skirt 55. Display 56. Lose interest 57. Valuable mineral
34. Checks 39. Duffer’s goal 41. Detest 43. Jumble 44. Throbbing pain 45. Igloo material 46. Embroiders 48. Still sleeping 51. Mislead 53. Period of time 54. Grown boys
DOWN 1. “____ So Cold” 2. Fill tightly 3. Crocodile’s relative 4. Trickier 5. Stubborn animal 6. Eating plan 7. Start 8. Brass instrument
PUZZLE NO. 113
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 111
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021 | PAGE 21
8. Bullets, for short 9. Kind of plane 10. Be indebted to 11. Naturally! 17. Pens’ contents 19. Mistreat 22. French ____ soup 24. Like some tea 25. Angered 26. Attempt BREW STRANGE 27. Woeful expression 28. Be bold enough
29. Rim 31. Sporting facility 34. Teach 37. “When You Wish ____ a Star” 43. Hazes 44. Dog’s pest 46. Water body 47. Queue 48. Hero 49. Information 50. Unruly crowd JOHN DEERING 51. Some 52. Wow! 53. Roadside lodging
Copyright © 2021, Penny Press
58. Chops 59. Convey 60. Turn brown
DOWN 1. Impersonate 2. Mountain moisture 3. Sugarcoats 4. Welfare 5. Twist 6. Feel terrible 7. Revere, for one 8. Not us 9. Seasoning green 10. James ____ Jones 11. Different 19. Moving truck
59. Whiskeys 60. Positive answer 61. Leading performer
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
Copyright © 2021, Penny Press
ACROSS 1. Radio promos 4. Exchange 8. “Of ____ I Sing” 12. Church bench 13. Operatic highlight 14. Repair 15. She-sheep 16. Scot’s skirt 17. Strays 18. In a dead heat 20. Wander 22. Middle Eastern bread 24. Benefit 26. Fight site 28. Disintegrate
34. Lump or mass 36. Like some tales 37. Make a touchdown 39. Faulty item 41. Circus safeguard 42. Scream 44. Talk back 46. Gooey stuff 48. Warm 51. Stereo: hyph. 54. Part of a phone number: 2 wds. 56. Fifty-fifty 57. ____ an egg 58. Maple, e.g.
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 112
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING
SPORTS QUIZ By Ryan A. Berenz 1. What member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame played 12 NFL seasons from 1987-98 as a defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks? 2. A rooster named Footix was the official mascot for the 1998 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament hosted by what country? 3. Name the U.S. track and field Olympian who won gold medals in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the 1976 Montreal and 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games? 4. What traveling football team, established in 1922 by dog breeder Walter Lingo, played two seasons in the NFL and had Jim Thorpe as a player and coach? 5. When British commentator Rob Walker says his catchphrase, “Let’s get the boys on the baize!,” what sport is he covering? 6. Ebonite, Brunswick, 900 Global and Motiv are manufacturers of equipment for what sport? 7. What long-running TV game show often includes a golf putting challenge called Hole in One (or Two)?
Last Week’s Answers Answers 1. Raghib with 5,295 yards (Qadry had 5,137) • 2. Philadelphia. 3. The New Jersey Generals • 4. Dennis Rodman. 5. The Australian Open • 6. Leland D. Melvin. (c) 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc
ACROSS 1. Thin opening 5. Grandmother 9. Delight 12. Sit for a portrait 13. Huge quiz 14. Shepherd’s charge 15. Sound 16. Wood-eating insects 18. Playground item 20. Hither and ____ 21. Voice disapproval 23. Smooch 27. Lemon drink 30. Coffee server
31. Neck scarf 32. Boy 33. Slalom competitor 35. Important age 36. Squabble 38. Solemn lyric poem 39. Society girl 40. Drip 41. Convent inhabitant 42. Out of operation 45. Contact the office: 2 wds. 50. Fragrant shrub 54. White House staffer 55. Dollar
56. Fellow 57. Realize 58. Quick farewell 59. Mentally healthy 60. Wiggly creatures
DOWN 1. Baths 2. Earring’s location 3. Land amid water 4. Golf pegs 5. Television company 6. Chopper 7. Not
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 113
CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING
LO CA L
PAGE 22 | DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
BACK IN THE DAY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXI, No. 38 • December 1,, 2011
Minus Rush Hour: On-Street Parking Trial Set Monday
Fairfax Supervisors Mull ‘Knock Out Punch’ Water Legislation Tuesday
By a 5 — 2 margin Monday, the Falls Church City Council voted Monday to uphold its earlier decision to conduct a week-long test beginning next Monday of on-street parking around the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 29, although the test will not include the original plan for including a rush hour period.
In defiance of what Falls Church officials contend was a court-mandated agreement to permit free competition for water services in 2010, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors may act next Tuesday to enact an ordinance requiring all new developments in the county to hook up to Fairfax Water.
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Anna Elizabeth Hennessey, age 24, passed away at home after a year-long battle against cancer, on November 11, 2021, surrounded by family and loved ones. Anna lived her life guided by her faith. As the lead altar server and a Confirmation peer minister at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC, she shared her faith with hundreds of young people through words, action and sacramental preparation. Following high school, Anna attended the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, joining her new faith community to fill a pew at Sunday evening Mass and volunteering at a local elementary school. When she was diagnosed with melanoma in June 2020, Anna was finishing a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest in Sitka, Alaska, where she served as an Independent Living Specialist/ Outdoor Recreation and Community Access Coordinator at Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL). Anna’s love for all of God’s creatures is reflected in her time spent fostering puppies for Wolf Trap Animal Rescue and volunteering at Lift-Me-Up Therapeutic Riding Center. Spending a semester abroad in Tanzania, she broadened her interest in conservation biology through her research project on elephants. Then in Sitka, she followed her lifelong love of birds when she fell in love with Sophie, an American Kestrel, while volunteering at the Alaska Raptor Center. Her college admissions essay described her connection with horses, and her happy place was snuggling with her favorite pups on the couch. From sports to school, Anna always gave everything her best. She grew up playing soccer and basketball in Falls Church City leagues. She then played on the inaugural field hockey team at George Mason High School. She was also on the school’s lacrosse team and coached youth basketball in her spare time. At Holy Cross, Anna played club rugby and rode equestrian. In Sitka, she discovered the beauty of hiking, kayaking through crystal clear waters, and exploring cascading waterfalls. Anna was a lifelong learner and a devotee of science. She graduated with an IB diploma from George Mason High School in 2015, and earned her bachelor of arts degree from Holy
PIPPY is a 5-month year old foster rescue. She hasn’t met a face that she doesn’t like to lick or a dog that she doesn’t want to play with. When she isn’t playing she likes to burrow in and snuggle next to the closest human. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com. Cross in 2019 where she majored in biology and minored in neuroscience. Anna’s many friendships were deep and vast. She accepted people as they were and valued their unique qualities. From her oldest friends to the most recent ones made through melanoma support groups, emergency department visits, imaging centers, infusion rooms, and hospital stays, she engaged everyone with a smile, even when in pain. As she often said, she never wanted to be the worst part of someone’s day. Her life was far too brief but still, she lived it well and will be missed by so very many. She is survived by her parents, Jim and Annette, and her brother Jack, as well as many family members and friends. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC on December 4th at 10:30 a.m. with private inurnment in Holy Rood Cemetery. The funeral mass will also be available via livestream from Holy Trinity Church at www.trinity.org/ anna. Her family will hold visiting hours on Friday, December 3rd from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at National Funeral Home in Falls Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Life With Cancer (Fairfax, VA) which helped Anna and her family deal with the challenge of cancer or SAIL (Sitka, AK) which supports and provides services to Sitka’s most vulnerable communities.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 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 2 - 8, 2021
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Under Contract In Falls Church City!
ROCK STAR Realty ... ROCK STAR Service
TM
COMING SOON!
FOR SALE!
369 Gundry Dr, Falls Church City 3 Bedrooms 2 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms
$1,475,000
End unit w/large Back Yard
28 Wolfe St, Alexandria 3 Bedrooms
Renovated Kitchen & Hardwood Floors
2 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms
2 Garage Parking Spaces & Elevator
$799,000
Renovated Kitchen & Baths
JUST SOLD! Beautifully updated 2bed/1bath condo with fantastic outdoor space in the heart of Falls Church. This turnkey home features a spacious outdoor patio great for entertaining, an updated kitchen & bath, new flooring, and proximity to all the joys of living in the City of Falls Church. The open living space is filled with light from the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy cooking in the modernized kitchen that is well equipped with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, white cabinetry, and a breakfast bar for additional seating. Both bedrooms provide ample closet space allowing for extra storage. Walk to the Middle/High school as well as the West Falls Church Metro!
310 N Oak St , Falls Church City 4 Bedrooms
Renovated Kitchen
2.5 Bathrooms
New Stone Patio perfect for entertaining!
CALL 703-867-TORI
Tori@ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com 2111 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
REALTOR®
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
© 2021 Tori McKinney, LLC