Falls Church News-Press 12-28-2023 by Falls Church News-Press

December 28, 2023 January 3, 2024

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F.C. Announces DRAGGING US ALONG New Police Chief Shahram Fard, Starts Jan. 14 As Chief Gavin Sets to Leave After 16 Years by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced yesterday the hiring of Shahram Fard as the new City of Falls Church Police Chief and Director of Public Safety. Fard will join the City in this leadership position on January 22, 2024. “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Fard to the City of Falls Church,” Shields said in a written City Hall statement. “Throughout the interview process it was clear that with Mr. Fard’s record as a senior leader in Northern Virginia’s law enforcement community that he is a perfect fit for our community. I look forward to working with him and continuing the high standards for community-based public safety for which our police department is known.” Fard’s career includes service with the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office where he currently serves as Chief Deputy, leading the Judicial and Field Operations Bureau. Fard is a 25-year veteran of the City of Alexandria Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to

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See Pages 10 and 11

ANOTHER FIRST for the City of Falls Church came last week at the Creative Cauldron theater in the form of an official drag show benefit for a near sell-out crowd. The entertainers who focused on holiday favorites were Tula, Cara Linda, Evita Peroxide and Regina Jozet. (Photo: Brian Reach, News-Press)

1st Person to Integrate F.C. Schools Speaks Out

by Brian Reach

Falls Church News-Press

In a poignant moment that captivated the full house audience at the Meridian High School Winter Band Concert earlier this month, Marian Costner Selby offered a glimpse back in time to 1961, when she began her sophomore year at the school (then known as George Mason High School) as its first Black student. It was then that Falls Church City Public Schools finally took its turn in ending America’s policy of school segregation follow-

ing the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown Vs. Board of Education ruling of 1954. In the fall of 1957, the eyes of the nation were fixated on Little Rock, Arkansas, where nine brave students, widely known as “The Nine,” stepped up to integrate Little Rock Central High School. That year, on September 4, the Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, called in the Arkansas National Guard to prevent these Black students from entering, justifying the move by claiming he was attempting to “preserve

the peace” in face of threats of violence. Just under three weeks later, on September 23, President Eisenhower issued an Executive Order federalizing the Arkansas Guard, ordering them to escort the students into the school instead of keeping them out. Community opponents of integration demonstrated viciously outside the school, with displays of intimidation, threats, and hostility that underscored the prevalent deep-seated racism of the time. It was all reported on the national news. In Virginia — home to one

of the five cases involved in the Brown vs. Board decision (the others were Delaware, Kansas, South Carolina, and Washington D.C.) — the desegregation mandate was met with extreme defiance. In 1955 a plan to repeal compulsory school attendance was nearly implemented, and in 1956 a policy of “massive resistance” was adopted. In 1959, the school systems in Charlottesville, Front Royal and Norfolk were shut down. For years that followed, and in

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Amazon Now Region’s Top Private Sector Employer

over the 12-month period employed residents grew 1.6 percent to 4,108,300.

Amazon is now the region’s top private employer, according to Arlington County’s latest Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The federal government remains the No. 1 employer overall. Amazon, which opened its second headquarters site in the Crystal City area of Arllington, known as HQ2, with 8,000 employees earlier this year, comes in ahead of accounting company Deloitte and tech firm Accenture. Rounding out the top 10 employers in Arlington are the Virginia Hospital Center (No. 6), Lidl (No. 7), BNA Bloomberg (No 8), Nestlé (No. 9), and Booz Allen Hamilton (No. 10). It was noted that a only a decade ago, the top five employers were government related, including the Department of Defense, Arlington County government and schools, the Department of Homeland Security, Deloitte, and the Justice Department. The report cites overall, “Arlington is home to an estimated 214,600 jobs, as of January 1, 2023. The service sector comprises a significant share of jobs in Arlington. About 27.6 percent of all jobs are in the professional and technical services sector. Another 21.3 percent of jobs are in other service sectors, including administrative, education, and health. The government sector also continues to comprise a large share of Arlington jobs. About 20.8 percent of the County’s January 2023 employment is estimated to be in government,”

New Laws Noted That Begin With New Year

Regional Job Growth Matches Statewide Numbers Northern Virginia’s year-over-year increase in total jobs is comparable to the state as a whole. The Northern Virginia economy added 25,500 to the employed workforce in the period between November 2022 and November 2023, according to figures reported this month by the Virginia Employment Commission. That increase to 1,549,600 equates to a 1.6-percent rise. That’s the same percentage rise for the state as a whole, where

Among the new laws that will go into effect on January 1 are the following, according to State Sen. Barbara Favola: Foster Care & Adoption: The home studies done by a local board of social services or licensed child-placing agency that are required in foster care and preadoption placements can now be transferred to other localities, local social services boards, and licensed child-placing agencies within Virginia if the families being evaluated have moved within state. There are regulations in place that specify the content matter of these studies so uniformity is fairly consistent. Moreover, this new law will streamline the process for placements without compromising the safety of the child. Health Care Coverage: Health insurers will have to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for people 18 years or younger when recommended by an otolaryngologist, a specialist who treats ear, nose and throat conditions. The hearing aid coverage includes one hearing aid for each impaired ear every 24 months, up to a cost of $1,500. The new law will apply to policies; contracts; and plans delivered, issued, or renewed on and after January 1. Expanding Counseling Services: Virginia entered a national Counseling Compact. This compact allows eligible licensed professional counselors from compact states to practice in Virginia and a reciprocal license is granted to Virginia licensed counselors. Twenty states are participating in the Counseling Compact, including the neighboring states of Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. I am particularly excited about the entrance of Virginia into the national Compact given the shortage of counseling professionals. Medical Cannabis: Oversight of the state’s medical cannabis program will move from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA). All retail and product licensing functions will transfer to the CCA. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy will continue to license healthcare providers who are eligible to grant permission to use medical cannabis.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 3

National Recruitment Effort Lands New City Police Chief

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Deputy Chief of Police. He has held leadership positions with the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy and the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is currently an adjunct faculty member with the George Mason University Department of Criminology, Law, and Society. “I am deeply honored to have been chosen as the Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the City of Falls Church. It is with great humility that I express my gratitude to City Manager Shields for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity,” Fard said in a written statement. He added, “I would also like to

recognize Chief Mary Gavin for her years of exceptional leadership and service to the Northern Virginia public safety community, as well as for her many accomplishments in Falls Church. Joining the Falls Church Police Department team is an absolute thrill and a privilege. I am excited to contribute and help uphold the tradition of excellence they are known for locally and nationally. I am eagerly looking forward to collaborating with everyone in the City of Falls Church community to provide exceptional public safety services.” According to City Hall, Fard belongs to a number of professional associations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Virginia Association

of Chiefs of Police, the FBI National Academy Associates, the National Sheriff ’s Association, the Virginia Sheriff’s Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum. Fard earned a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from the Johns Hopkins University. He also earned a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia and a Certified Public Manager credential from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government and George Washington University’s Institute for Regional Excellence. The City undertook a national recruitment upon the announcement of Chief Mary Gavin’s retirement, which will take effect January

1, 2024. The City was assisted by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police in the interview and vetting of thirty-seven qualified candidates. Three finalists were interviewed by a series of panels: one composed of community representatives, a second panel of members of the Falls Church Police Department, and a third panel of current and retired Police Chiefs from across Virginia. The three panels provided the City Manager with insight and perspective in the Chief selection process. Deputy Chief Major Jiwan Chhetri will serve as Interim Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the three weeks between Chief Mary Gavin’s retirement and Chief Shahram Fard taking office on January 22.

SHAHRAM FARD will become F.C.’s new Police Chief and Director of Public Safety beginning January 22. (Photo: City of Falls Church)

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Marian Costner Selby, FCCPS Integration Pioneer

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myriad ways, a widespread and coordinated effort ferociously blocked efforts to integrate any Virginia school. As she recounted in her remarks this month, on her first day of school in Falls Church in 1961, Selby remembers a boisterous school bus falling entirely silent as she boarded. The driver, whom she sat behind, then asked her — in an apparent attempt to make conversation — how she liked America. Selby responded with a question of her own: “compared to what?” Her response highlighted the absurdity of the question, underscoring the fact that Selby, an American citizen, had never been to another country. Shortly thereafter, Selby says, the name-calling began. Back then, Selby’s mere presence at George Mason High School triggered backlash from many in the community, as she recalled. Disturbingly, her home (which notably shared the same address as the current News-

Press office building) became a target for acts of intimidation, with a burning cross placed on her front lawn as a chilling symbol of racial hatred. In another harrowing incident, Selby said a voodoo doll representing her was left at her doorway, underscoring the depth of prejudice she faced. “I noticed that all the needles were stuck into the doll’s back,” Selby noted, continuing “which meant they couldn’t face me. Cowards.” The hateful response extended beyond individual acts of hatred. Selby shared her memory of when several adults came to her house to speak to her parents. The nearby Army-Navy Country Club, which had been the venue for the George Mason High School Prom for years, had — in a stark display of racism — informed the school that if Selby attempted to attend, she would not be allowed to enter. They shared that ANCC had told them, in a brazen admission of their discriminatory policies, that “We’ve never allowed a n***** into our club, and we

aren’t about to start now.” The school decided to relocate the prom, allowing Selby to attend. The hostility Selby encountered in Falls Church was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader struggle faced by Selby and others in the face of deep-rooted prejudices that permeated communities across the nation. Selby’s shared experience serves as a testament to the enduring struggle for equality and justice, and a reminder that progress — though often slow and fraught with challenges — is essential for creating a more just and inclusive society. Despite the challenges she faced, Selby told the Meridian High School students, “I want to let you know that the good things far outweighed the bad and the ugly.” As the event marked a commemoration of the courage and perseverance of Marian Costner Selby and others who blazed a trail towards equal access to public education, it was also cause for reflection on the

THE FIRST BLACK student to integrate FCCPS, Marian Selby, shares her story at MHS on December 7. (Photo: FCCPS YouTube) work that remains to be done, Costner noted. Selby’s closing words provided an appropriate end to this story. “When I graduated, it was from George Mason High School. Now it is Meridian High School. I know the name has changed. I want to let you know that we have to do more than just changing a name. We need to make sure that our hearts change, our mindset is changed, and we start viewing others, no matter where they come from, what they look

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like… [with] some compassion. Get to know them. You may be surprised. You might like them.” Selby’s appearance this month was her first for Falls Church City Public Schools. She was the subject of an interview by Darien Bates in the Falls Church News-Press in 2005 when the story of Falls Church’s struggle to integrate its schools was first recounted in-depth in an exclusive, lengthy two-part series.

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Standing on the Side of Democracy in the News Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

As congregations throughout the United Methodist Church, the second largest protestant denomination in terms of membership in the U.S., are roiling to one degree or another over the issue of same-sex relationships, the Washington Post last week published a long article on the coping of exiled congregations in churches that have actually voted out of the denomination over the issue. Needless to say, it is a contentious issue even while an awful lot has changed in the last 20 years on the matter. The latest big development has been Pope Francis of the Catholic Church asserting the church’s embrace of gay people, something that was considered unheard of only a few years ago but generally in keeping with the exemplary posture of this unique pope, even as he copes with the uncomfortable infirmities of age. Civilization does not advance at an even pace, and the division within the United Methodist Church is characteristic of that. Opponents of a positive embrace by the church of LGBTQ+ people are convinced society and the church are on a slippery slope toward abandonment of what they consider core values of faith. On the other hand, open acceptance of LGBTQ+ people is grounded in an evolving appreciation of the role of democratic institutions in our society and the wounds that eons of severe discrimination have inflicted on certain innocent individuals. This writer, in his function as owner-editor of a weekly community newspaper in the small Northern Virginia community known as Falls Church, was in the middle of such a contentious church schism that consumed the better part of our new century in its first decades. The fight is over for now after years of court fights and bruised feelings, and the more progressive current has prevailed. I am happy to report that my newspaper, and my editorials, played a major role in that outcome, and it is a living illustration

of just one of the ways a responsible, independent newspaper can have a huge impact that goes beyond just functioning as an indifferent scribe reporting on events. In the course of a seeming taking of sides in a heated debate like that one, a good newspaper, I believe, has a responsibility to not treat all views as equal, but to divine the underlying issues in any given debate and to stand on the side simply of the most core of all values in a democracy as embodied in the dictum of the Constitutional notion of the equality of all persons. This is entirely consistent with the role of a responsible newspaper in a free society. Certainly there are newspapers and organizations that have no intention of striving for such a posture, as they clearly represent partisan interests whether openly or secretly, and the law cannot require anything different from them. But a true representation of a free press in a democratic society can be found in those entities which do follow such a narrow path. “Objectivity” in the usual sense neither is nor ought to be the main the goal of such an organization, but facts that arise from a context defined by the assumption of equality, and their fair reporting. “Assuming equality is the standard” could be the way coverage of any event or comments might begin, and in fact the posture of any good news organization should be seen as applying that standard. Had that standard been applied to coverage of the campaign for the presidency of Donald Trump, for example, especially in its first year, the outcome most certainly would have been markedly different. His campaign was covered in a socalled value-free way, and that became an unmitigated disaster. I find that core flaw exhibited throughout the memoir, “Collision of Power,” of former Washington Post managing editor Marty Baron, for example, in the paper’s coverage of the Steele Dossier, for example. The challenge was not to pick away at the veracity of the minutiae but to operate in a scientific manner from an hypothesis concerning the broader issue of whether or not Trump and his associates were acting as Russian agents, and then to test that hypothesis in the material and in its application to events.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 5

A Christmas Gift From the Bond Market by Paul Krugman New York Times

It has been a strange few days on the Donald Trump front: He said something about himself that I actually believe and something about the economy that’s mostly true. On the personal side, Trump has been sounding a lot like Adolf Hitler lately — I don’t mean his general tone, I mean his specific statement last week at a New Hampshire rally that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” echoing what Hitler wrote in “Mein Kampf” almost word for word. (And if you think it was just a one-off, he said the same thing in a September interview.) But Trump claims never to have read “Mein Kampf,” and I believe him, just as I believe that he’s barely skimmed the Bible or any of the great books or, I would guess, “The Art of the Deal.” Pretty clearly, reading isn’t his thing. What’s happening, presumably, is that Trump talks to people who have read Hitler, approvingly, and that’s how Nazi language gets into his speeches. Are you reassured? On the economic side, the stock market has recently been close to record highs, but Trump has dismissed these gains as just making “rich people richer.” It’s hard to imagine a worse person to deliver this message, since Trump constantly boasted about the stock market when he was in office and predicted that the election of Joe Biden in 2020 would cause the market to crash. As an aside, one thing I haven’t seen emphasized in the vibecession debate — why are Americans so negative about an economy that looks very good by conventional measures? — is the fact that Trump himself keeps saying things

about the economy that are flatly false, including his claim that the price of bacon is up “five times” under Biden. It’s actually up 18 percent. Nonetheless, Trump is correct to suggest that most people won’t see much personal benefit from rising stocks. A narrow majority of Americans have some stake in the stock market, largely indirectly, via retirement accounts. But for most people, these stakes are small, while the richest 10 percent of families on average own millions in stocks. Although stock prices don’t directly matter much for most people, however, you know what does matter? Bond prices, which are the flip side of interest rates. (Higher bond prices correspond with lower interest rates, and vice versa.) Interest rates soared for much of 2023; the benchmark yield on 10-year bonds hit almost 5 percent in October, up from around 2 percent before the pandemic. Since then, however, yields have retraced a significant part of that rise, down more than 1 percentage point. Why? As I’ll explain in a minute, nobody really knows. But rising interest rates threatened to have widespread negative effects, so seeing them recede even part of the way is very good news. Why are high interest rates a problem? First and foremost because high rates deter investment. Businesses are less willing to make capital outlays when interest costs are high. For example, high rates were a factor in the delay or cancellation of several offshore wind projects. Mortgage rates are a key expense for homebuyers, so high rates are bad for the housing market and housing construction. There are also other problems with high rates. In the U.S. system, high mortgage rates tend to

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Since 1991, an award-winning LGBT-owned general Interest community newspaper. Vol. XXXIII, No. 46 Dec. 28, 2023 - Jan. 3, 2024 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

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E ditorial

E D I TO R I A L

The 2024 Task: Banish Trump

Welcome to the imminent 2024! We may be heading into the most consequential year for the planet since that six-mile-wide meteor slammed into the Yucatan peninsula slightly over 66 million years ago and wiped out all the dinosaurs on Earth. Then, of course, the most advanced of our sentient forebears to our knowledge had no idea what was coming. These days we do. Also, the crisis now is of domestic origin, a meteoric-sized wrecking ball known as MAGA or the Trump movement, which if not shut down in 2024 could bring on a nuclear winter and send everyone on this planet back to the drawing boards. It would be such a shame, too, because it would come as we are now just short of mastering and deploying in a usable form the fundamental power source that drives the universe, including our own sun: nuclear fusion energy. According to our very own Congressman and Falls Church native son Donald S. Beyer Jr., who is the foremost expert on this subject in the U.S. Congress, mastering the fusion process is now only a few years away and he’s promised a game-changing essay on the subject to this newspaper, hopefully in time for next week’s edition, to spell out what it all will mean for us. In an exclusive interview with the News-Press this week, Rep. Beyer stressed that achieving this capability will truly be the “silver bullet” that will shatter all wrecking balls, real or potential, threatening to get in the way of a bright and happy future for us all going forward. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore Labs have begun to repeatedly produce the critical results demonstrating that controlled nuclear fusion is doable, and depending on how optimistic one is, the inexhaustible and incredibly powerful energy source could begin to feed into the national energy grid by the early 2030s. This would rapidly outrun not only fossil fuels but all varieties of existing alternative clean energy sources currently feeding into the grid. The only fuel it takes to make it work as water. This is all just 10 to 15 years away. It will, our visionary and prophetic congressman contends, reverse and get rid of carbon pollution and rapidly fix all the ailments of humankind that derive from lack, including most critically, in its form as human poverty. Of course, it also speaks to the issue of peace. This all may sound too optimistic to really be true, but if one steps back and looks to the ways in which the discovery and universalized use of fossil fuels has transformed the potential of humanity in the last century or so, and then applies the same potential to controlled thermonuclear fusion energy, one can begin to get a glimpse of what‘s possible here. So, fellow Earthlings, let us find the resources among us to eradicate Trumpism from our world, and look forward to such better things ahead. Coming right up, 2024 will tell the tale.

Platform 1. Keep the news clean and fair. 2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy. 3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial content. 4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe. 5. Accept no charity and ask no favors. 6. Give ‘value received’ for every dollar you take in. 7. Make the paper show a profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

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Krugman: Explanations For Rising Interest Rates

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freeze people in their houses, making them unwilling to sell because that would mean giving up mortgages locked in at lower rates. And the falling value of banks’ bond portfolios — again, bond prices are the flip side of interest rates — helped cause a brief banking panic in March. So far, that panic seems to have been contained, but falling rates clearly reduce the risk of a second round. Oh, and the cost of U.S. government borrowing has a big impact on the federal fiscal outlook, which isn’t healthy but looks less dire than it did two months ago. So, rising bond prices are good news all around. What’s going right? Basically, nobody knows. When an individual stock rises or falls, that might reflect traders’ special information or expertise. But bond traders work off the same macroeconomic data available to anyone with internet access. Analysts offered a variety of explanations for rising interest rates this year — it was the fed-

eral budget deficit, which shot up because of a decline in revenues; it was the boost to business investment caused by the Biden administration’s industrial policies; it was optimism about future economic growth driven by artificial intelligence. But as far as I can tell, there’s no solid evidence for any of these hypotheses. And there hasn’t been enough information over the past two months to justify significantly revising these stories. We’ve gotten good news on inflation, which points to significant reductions in short-term interest rates (which the Federal Reserve controls) over the next year or two. But that shouldn’t be having big effects on long-term interest rates, which are supposed to reflect expected Fed policy over the course of many years — yet, even 30-year rates are down about 1 percentage point. My guess is that we’re mainly looking at market psychology rather than deep economic forces. Whatever is happening, however, it’s good news. Never mind the stock market; the rising bond market has given us a holiday gift, and a reason to be more optimistic about next year.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 7

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

In the summer of 1997, when Nick Benton asked me to consider writing a weekly column for the Falls Church News-Press, I doubt that either of us could have anticipated that, more than 26 years later, both the newspaper and the column would still be going strong. I had been Mason District Supervisor for only 18 months, and Nick was looking to expand the paper’s coverage to “Greater Falls Church.” Since Mason District had three or four times as many Falls Church addresses as the City of Falls Church, the potential symbiosis was clear. Nick’s request was completely unexpected, so I sought advice from others about whether I should embark on such a journey. I clearly remember the advice I received from Vic Gold, then a Lake Barcroft constituent who was an author and an occasional columnist for the Washingtonian magazine. Vic said yes, I should accept Nick’s invitation, but he added that I should have someone else

(staff?) write the column for me since I would be too busy to do it myself! I followed the first half of his advice, but determined that, if my name was attached to the column, I had better write every word myself. More than 1300 columns, and 750,000 words later, I can say, for better or worse, I wrote all my columns. It is the most disciplined thing I do: at least 500 words to Nick by 5:00 p.m. every Tuesday afternoon. Over time, the columns focused on more than “greater Falls Church.” Mason District has about 120,000 residents, including Annandale, Lincolnia/ Alexandria, and a bit of Springfield and Fairfax, so some focus was on Mason District as a whole. And there were many times, especially after 9/11 and the more recent dystopian Trump administration, where my focus went way beyond Falls Church. As a political scientist and longtime observer and participant in elective politics, the seismic shifts of political thought and

action call into question both the health of our fragile democracy and the motives of those who wrap themselves in the flag in the name of protecting American rights and values. Whose rights and whose values? A few years ago, a reader took me to task for writing such “negative” columns about Donald Trump. Apparently, he had read a couple of columns that summer, and was quite upset. I went back through all my columns that year (there probably were 25 or 30 by that time), and wrote back to him, thanked him for being a reader of the column, and that I had written about Donald Trump exactly four times that year. His chagrined response was apologetic. As an elected official and not a trained journalist, I was surprised when I was invited to speak to a journalism class at George Mason University. They had lots of questions – how did I come up with ideas about what to write, how much research did I do (not much,

frankly), whether I get paid to write the column (I don’t), my thought process when writing, etc. I told them about writers’ block, that sinking feeling when a column is due and all you have is a blank computer screen in front of you. Sometimes the writing is slow to come, and other times there is so much to say that the column is done in less than an hour. The challenge is to try to make it as interesting to the reader as it is to the writer, and I suspect I may have failed on that front at times! Last year, I thought I might like to put some favorite columns into a book, and I reviewed all 1300-plus columns across the years. Although the book idea still is in development, the topics range from the exotic to the mundane – terrorism and safety, diversity and immigration, women’s issues, the environment – with some county budget and Covid thrown in for good measure. Political and Mason District columns topped

the list, which should not be surprising. As I sign off on this last column as Mason District Supervisor, I want to thank Nick Benton and his staff for encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone and embark on a decades-long journey of opinion writing. Thank you to my staff, too, who proofread each column and sometimes gave me ideas when the well seemed dry. And I want to thank the readers of FCN-P. You are the audience; without you, a column would simply be a rough draft, possibly destined for the circular file. Thank you for the opportunity to share thoughts these many years. Happy New Year, and keep supporting your local newspaper. It’s all about community, our commonalities, and our shared future, for all generations.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 9

2023

CITY OF FALLS CHURCH

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80+ Employees Trained on Live Language Interpretation Services

Scholarships Funds Awarded for Recreation and Parks Programs

fallschurchva.gov/2023

11,750+

Little City Gift Cards and Bonus Cards Sold

20 MPH

On Most City Streets

Read the Full Report!

PAGE 10 | DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Watch Night Falls Church 2023 New Year’s Eve Big Night in the City of Falls Church is held downtown on the 100 block of West Broad Street, which is closed to traffic. The event can easily be found near the intersection of Route 7 & 29 and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Venues are both indoor and outside. It is a FREE EVENT and starting at 7:00 pm - Midnight.

Crossroads Stage (100 Block West Broad Street)

Outdoor Stage: Ruby Jones (7p.m. - 7:45 p.m.), No Better Off Band (8 p.m. - 9 p.m.), DMV Skyline Band (9:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.) Interactive Amusements: Bronco Shark, Rock Wall, Moon Bounces, Amusement rides, Karaoke.

The Historic Falls Church (115 E. Fairfax Street)

Historic Falls Church Episcopal Church docent tours 6pm - 8:30pm. Indigo Boulevard Band, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (East Fairfax Street entrance)

Thank Our Watch Night Sponsors The Village Preservation and Improvement Society

www.WatchNightFallsChurch.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 11

December 31st, 2023 New Year’s Eve

Watch Night The Falls Church Presbyterian Church (225 East Broad Street) 20 KV - Concert for kids 7pm Northern Lights Dance Orchestra (8pm) Fairy Magic Show (2 shows) Victorian Pictures and Family Portraits in Period Attire

Sponsors:

City of Falls Church East Falls Church le

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150 S Washington St

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Parking in designated areas around the event - see map

Co-Sponsor by:

www.FallsChurchVA.gov/WatchNight

PAGE 12 | DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024

LO CA L

News-Press

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes house at ARTfactory on January 6 from 2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.. Wearable art will be judged on site after other categories have been announced. To attend, RSVP at bit.ly/FCNP1223af.

Passport to World of Music Returns to Creative Cauldron for 14th Year

SEAN HEALY’S Celtic Experience will perform in “Passport to the World of Music” on February 3. (photo: Creative Cauldron)

Drag The Halls Cabaret at Creative Cauldron Brings Holiday Cheer

On December 21, the holidays sparkled like never before at Creative Cauldron, where they hosted “Drag The Halls,” a new installment in their annual Holiday Cabaret Series. A packed audience enjoyed special table seating options, donned their gay apparel, and enjoyed special performances by Tula, Cara Linda, Evita Peroxide, and Regina Jozet — four incredibly talented performers, most of whom are local to the region. Funds from the evening benefited the Juan Febles Fund, which honors the late Juan Febles and his surviving partner, Melbourne Jenkins. Jenkins, who was in attendance, offered a heartfelt thanks to patrons and the Cauldron during the first portion of the show, emphasizing the importance of the venue’s “Artes Para Todos” programs and art workshops, camps, classes and complimentary performances for underserved children, particularly those attending Title One Schools. Our own News-Press Editor-in-

Chief, Nick Benton, was one of the sponsors of the incredible night of holiday cheer. Be sure to check out our photos from the evening on the News-Press website at fcnp.com.

ARTfactory Hosts Annual Off The Wall High School Art Exhibit & Competition

The ARTfactory is pleased to present the 20th Annual Off the Wall High School Art Exhibit & Competition. Each year area high school students are invited to share their talent by participating in the juried high school art exhibit and competition, presented by the ARTfactory. The competition encourages student expression and creativity in a professional setting. Off The Wall includes student work in the following categories: Art & Technology, Painting/ Drawing, Poetry, Wearable Art, and Photography. Each category is adjudicated by a professional in the field. This year’s exhibition features 45 student artists with a total of 36 hanging works of art, viewable December 15 through January 30 at ARTfactory (9419 Battle St., Manassas, VA). Awards will be presented at an open

Creative Cauldron’s popular annual “Passport to the World of Music Festival,” featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the D.C. area and beyond, will launch on January 6 and run through February 3, 2024. The “Passport to the World of Music Festival” is curated by Wammy Award-winning artists Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau and features musical styles and genres from folk, latin, jazz, blues, along with global musical traditions. Each weekend has its own theme, a festival within a festival. The 2023 Passport to the World of Music Festival schedule of performances includes the following: Week One: Passport Favorites (January 6-7): The Kennedys. DC’s legendary folk-pop duo featuring Pete & Maura Kennedy, returning from New York City for one special show. Rami. Juan Cayrampoma and his band bring the haunting sounds and mystic power of the Andes using traditional zamponas, moscenos, quenas and tarkas with contemporary drums and guitars. Ken & Brad Kolodner. This renowned, dynamic father-son team weave together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo blurring the lines of old-time, bluegrass and American roots music. Week Two: American Classics (January 12-14): “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” A Tribute to Chuck Berry. An all-star band led by Kenny Pirog, celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Chuck Berry. Newmyer Flyer Presents: A Tribute to The Everly Brothers. One of the most important vocal duos in rock history. With more than 20 top ten hits, you’re in for a fabulous night in the company of some of DC’s finest including David Kitchen, Willie Barry, Ruthie Logsdon, Jess Elliott Myrhe, Bill

Starks, Andy Rutherford, Louie Newmyer, and Tom Fridrich. Shenandoah Run. This eight member ensemble presents traditional and contemporary folk music, along with a wide selection of Americana from the acoustic ‘60s and ‘70s in a manner that delights a diverse mix of music lovers of all ages. The Other Side of Nat King Cole. Award-winning jazz and soul vocalist Alison Crockett highlights some of Cole’s songs with her unique arrangements and interpretations, featuring some of the area’s finest jazz musicians. Week Three: Guitar Fest Weekend (January 19-21) Nate Najar & Daniela Soledade “Love & Bossa Nova.” Florida based duo Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar, create an enchanting soundscape of irresistible Brazilian

rhythms. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Soledade’s family roots are steeped in Bossa Nova’s inception. Telemasters of the Anacostia Delta. Two Masters of the Telecaster performing the music of Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan and other legends of DC guitar history. Get ready for a guitar jamboree covering the gamut of music from the 1950s and on (country, blues, rock, and jazz). “Guitar Alchemy” With Ken Avis & Friends. Four solo musicians perform an in-the-round concert, exploring the more exotic instruments of the guitar family. The Guitar Renegades. A brand new project featuring the area’s most exciting jazz guitar soloists performing as a quintet: Cristian Perez (Project Locrea), Jan Knutson (The Great Guitars), and Connor Holdridge (Hot Club of

SKY CUBACUB’S art is on display in DISRUPT AND RESIST at GMU’s Fairfax campus through February 3. (Courtesy photo)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Baltimore). Week Four: DC Women in Music (January 26-28): Iona “Celtic Traditions.” One of the leading Celtic music groups in the region. Founded by lead singer, bouzouki, guitar and bodhrán player Barbara Ryan and Bernard Argent, and featuring percussive dancer and singer Marsha Searle, the band performs a unique, acoustic weave of the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man, Asturies and Galicia, and their transplants in America. Wicked Sycamore. An allfemale trio of multi-instrumentalists and songwriters, grounded in traditional roots, Americana, and bluegrass music. Intricate vocal harmonies, thoughtful arrangement, and instrumental prowess are the bedrock for their eclectic, touching and fun musical explorations. Seven Voices: A Tribute to Patsy Cline. A rare team of talented DMV artists to pay tribute to the First Lady of Country with classic renditions of Cline’s songs, and reimagined versions featuring new instrumentation and creative arrangements played by internationally-touring, award-winning musicians: Jess Eliot Myhre (Bumper Jacksons), Maureen Andary (Sweater Set), Be Steadwell, Nicole Saphos, Dave Chappell, and Ele Rubenstein. Week Five: Passport to the World Fest — Finale Weekend (February 3-4): Sean Healy’s Celtic Experience. It’s always a party when champion fiddler, and singer Sean Heely is at the Cauldron with his band. One of the most creatively versatile and captivating Celtic artists of his generation, Sean is a U.S National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award-winning Irish Fiddler, singer, and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Veronneau’s Passport to the World Fest Closing Party. Award-

winning Quebecoise vocalist Lynn Veronneau and British guitarist Ken Avis close out the Passport festival with multi-lingual, original and classics from the world of jazz, bossa nova, chanson, swing and blues. For more information about the series, and to purchase tickets, visit creativecauldron.org or call the box office at 703-436-9948.

Burt Solomon Hosts Two Local Book Talks For New Murder Mystery Book

This month, local author Burt Solomon will hold two book talks celebrating his latest book, “The Murder of Andrew Johnson.” The third in a trilogy of historical murder mysteries featuring John Hay as the detective at different stages of his life, “The Murder of Andrew Johnson” is a coming-of-age story for Hay, recently married and a new dad. The first book talk will be held January 11 at 7:00 p.m. at One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington, VA). To attend, register for free at bit.ly/FCNP1223op. On January 21 at 2:00 p.m., Solomon will hold a second book talk at Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). To attend, register for free at bit.ly/FCNP1223aj. Andrew Johnson was called The Great Commoner, appealing to the masses, loathing the establishment and anyone he deemed elitist. Once Johnson made an enemy, you became his enemy for life. He saw insults where none were intended and personal loyalty meant everything… and his devoted fans would follow him into the depths of Hell. He was also the first U.S. President to be impeached. Time, however, waits for no man — and even the famous (or infamous) must leave this world eventually. But when a man has as many enemies as the Devil, what death could really be a natural one?

LO CA L From political opponents to most of his own family, the suspects are endless… and the truth, not really wanted. John Hay, a lawyer, sometimes governmental bureaucrat, and now journeyman investigative reporter, is set on finding that truth — and it may wind up killing him. Solomon is a contributing editor for The Atlantic and National Journal, where he has covered the White House and many other aspects of Washington life. In 1991 he won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency. He is also the author of the acclaimed “Where They Ain’t,” a history of baseball in the 1890s. Solomon, his wife, and their two children live inside the Beltway.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 13

Notable Exhibitions on Display at GMU Arlington and Fairfax Campuses

Mason Exhibitions presents two returning exhibitions, Faces of Resilience at Mason Exhibitions Arlington and DISRUPT AND RESIST at Gillespie Gallery on the Fairfax campus. Faces of Resilience features works by 14 previously or currently incarcerated artists who participate in year-round art workshops at SCI Phoenix, Southeast Pennsylvania’s maximum-security prison for men located 33 miles outside of Philadelphia, supplemented by the works of three professional artists. The exhibition aims to humanize each of the artists’ experiences leading up to and during their incarceration, and to consider alternative paths beyond the existing carceral system. Although many of the artworks employ portraiture, each artist had the freedom to incorporate various art media and subject matter to bring meaning to their lives through art. DISRUPT AND RESIST: A Love Letter to the Disability Community on What Showing Up for Each Other Can Be showcases works of ten contemporary disabled designers and artists. The

GAINESVILLE H.S. student Jai Park’s “Lia,” part of ARTfactory’s “Off The Wall” exhibit, on display through January 30. (Courtesy photo) exhibit engages in disability advocacy through creative resistance and anti-ableist disruption, and aims to amplify the ways disabled artists show up for themselves and each other, shining a light on the joy of their lived experiences, and exploring accessibility, disability justice, radical joy, belonging, and inclusivity. Standing as a celebration of the unique beauty of each individual proudly identifying as disabled and neurodivergent, the exhibit demonstrates the use of art and activism as powerful tools for empowerment and transformation, and presents a diverse range of

media, including video, photography, sculpture, and sound design. Faces of Resilience will be on view at Mason Exhibitions Arlington (3601 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA), Thursdays — Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., January 6 through March 30. DISRUPT AND RESIST will be on view at the Gillespie Gallery on Fairfax Campus, Mondays — Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., January 16 through March 30. For more information, previous event recordings and other resources, visit masonexhibitions.org.

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PAGE 14 | DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

THIS WEEK AROUND F.C. THURSDAY

DECEMBER 28 FCCPS Holiday Closures

Falls Church City and Fairfax County Public Schools are closed for winter break, reopening January 2. FCCPS (School Buildings, Falls Church), all day.

Board of Equalization Case Hearing

The F.C. Board of Equalization meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Drive-in Movie: Home Alone

Eden Center presents a free drivein screening of Home Alone in the parking lot, shown on a 40' screen! Sound will be broadcast to your car speakers. Free popcorn, snacks, holiday candy, and more! Eden Center (6751-6799 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY

DECEMBER 29 Last Chance: Altar

Final day to view Altar, a sculpture enshrining the Python code AlphaGo, marking the first moment when some experts believe artificial intelligence surpassed human potential by displaying creativity. National Academy of Sciences, East Gallery (2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC), 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Ice Skating at Cameron Run

Enjoy ice skating, nightly through January 1. Tickets at bit.ly/FCNP1223cr. Cameron Run Regional Park (4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA), 12:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

SATURDAY

DECEMBER 30 Falls Church Farmers Market

Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! City Hall

Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Intersection: Identity and Culture

Identity can be expressed in many ways, including in terms of the self, environment, cultural influences, and gender. For this exhibit, artists were invited to share works expressing the intersection of their identity and their culture of origin or the culture in which they find themselves. On display through January 7. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

SUNDAY

DECEMBER 31 Watch Night New Year's Eve Celebration

Watch Night is a free, fun, and family-friendly annual event with live music, activities, and entertainment for everyone! View this issue's center pages for detailed information. Various locations (Main Stage at 134 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 12:00 a.m.

Holiday Closures

The City of Falls Church Government, including the F.C. Community Center, is closed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, reopening January 2. Mary Riley Styles Public Library is open December 31, but closed January 1. Throughout Falls Church (City Buildings, Falls Church), all day.

Wicked Jezabel's Wicked NYE Party

All the fun and dancing you can stand, all night long, with Wicked Jezabel performing at 9:00 p.m. $40 tickets available at wickedjezabel.com. JV's Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 1:00 a.m.

Last Chance: An Irish Carol

Final performance. This comic and touching play, set in a modern Dublin pub, follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self-protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve,

David’s life may change forever. Tickets at keegantheatre.com. Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St. NW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m.

MONDAY

JANUARY 1 $1 Mystery Movie at Regal Ballston

Be the first to see a new movie before its release date for only $1. 2024 release; rated R. Tickets at regmovies.com. Regal Ballston Quarter (671 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA), 7:00 p.m.

Evening Art Critique Group

Bring a piece of art for feedback from a community of artists. Free and open to all levels; meets first Monday each month. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

TUESDAY

JANUARY 2 Board of Equalization Case Hearing

The F.C. Board of Equalization meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3

NOVA Community Service Happy Hour

Join NOVA Community Service and Social for a happy hour to meet new friends and learn about member service projects. Cue Club Café (7016 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA), 5:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Alex Hamburger

Local flutist, vocalist and composer Alex Hamburger performs a free concert. Hamburger recently released her highly anticipated sophomore album What If?, which explores perception, transition, and the boundaries of human experience. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 6:00 p.m.

SMRITI KESHARI'S "Altar," 2019, gold acrylic, LED light tube, at National Academy of Sciences. (Photo: Nick Korompilas)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The LGBTQ+ Reach

DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 15

walls against hate. Hold your heads up high, and be a visible antidote to lies about our existence. Plant those The NRA's Na onal Firearms Museum presents collec on of Tom Selleck's A Year In Review seeds wherever you go. We will personal firearms including his Sharp's Rifle from Quigley Down Under, The fight for LGBTQ+ rights this The Largest Bad: Gun Show in Metro DC!prevail. Guns, Knives & Accessories! a set of custom Colt pistols from Magnum P.I., & many revolvers from his Westerns. year — both at home and abroad — Ethiopia began raiding estabVA & Utah Co was, frankly, utterly exhausting. lishments that provide services to A Request For LGBTQ+ Allies In the United States (assuming LGBTQ+ people. To the allies reading this, one ofyour Last Nation’s Gun VA and Utah Conc r t py ea WE S ar Saturday or Sunday $1 Show Before ap ine’s the next couple days are quiet), the India’s Supreme Court ruled that the main reasons we have so many St w Y ang! N H U t G e FirearmTrainingStor Christmas!!! N aB len ! ACLU tracked a total of 510 antithey could not legalize same-sex anti-LGBTQ+ bills — and so many th Va Day wi LGBTQ+ bills across 47 states in marriage (or civil unions) in October, varying and conflicting arguments Low 2023 — by far the most ever intro- despite majority popular support. justifying anti-LGBTQ+ views — VPN ge duced in a single year. The decision wasn’t “against” gay is ultimately to wear you out. 1300 TABLES! Buy! Sell! Trade! led 00counow g! that S! This follows a previously record- marriage, but rather that13 theLE The hope is, eventually, n n K B rt aini about setting 2022, when 278 anti- try’s legislature should TAmake the you will get sick of pehearing Ex & Tr LGBTQ+ bills were introduced decision, not the courts. LGBTQ+ rights — and of w instead ! Lo reject (some organizations include as many Russia banned the “International rejecting the hate, will es us. ity BEAT THE TRAFFIC!! r c b i ele out! Pr okay to be as 350 in their counts) — which fol- LGBT Cmovement” (with penalties Let me be clear: it’s NEW HOURS g ila n a v Tra A lowed 2021, which at the time set includingH rjail massive fees, and sick of this — nobody is sicker of pytime, FRIDAY 1PM - 8PM in s i C the record, with over 100 bills across work eligibility restrictions) — and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights than 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151 NRA Museum presents every WW I & WW II 35 states. raided several gay bars. manufacturer queer people. It’s okay to change represented. Includes a North American FRI: 1 - 8 | SAT: 9 - 5 | SUN: 10 - 5 So things have escalated quite a Uganda lawmakers passed &a abill channel toworth something Singerthe Over $100,000 of 1911's.happy. VA & Utah CCW Courses | (571) 237- 9138 bit. criminalizing merely identifying as We don’t ONLINE expect you to be a walkTICKETS SOLD ONLY LGBTQ+ (or promoting or abetting ing encyclopedia about every detail All CDC & VA GOVERNOR GUIDELINES MUST BE FOLLOWED! International LGBTQ+ Rights: A homosexuality), despite already pun- regarding our lives. Like anyNof us, EW Mixed Bag HO RS! ishing same-sex relationships with your first priority should be toUtake www.TheNationsGunShow.com | www.ShowmastersGunShows.com Outside the United States, wlife imprisonment. The bill also care of your own mental wellbeo s! LGBTQ+ rights mostly improved,L icfurther expanded application of the ing — but please hold firm in your e Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE Limited Time Offer! r P with some notable exceptions. death penalty against queer folks, convictions, and direct any feelings when tackling your roof! Larry Vickers - Meet & Greet!!!! SAVE! thoughProfessionals, I can’t quite figure out how, Selection of exhaustion or frustration towards Expert Enormous & Training! Up to After Before Join or Renew your NRA membership The Good: as gay sex is already punishable by those forcing the topic into conr at the show and get in FREE! ou Curacao, Estonia and Slovenia death there. stant relitigation, not those they’re t y ear r a St w Y a ON YOUR INSTALLATION legalized same-sex marriage. antagonizing. Ne a B Finland, Hong Kong and Spain A Message For LGBTQ+ Be barriers to hate, even when th The NRA National Firearms Museum presents a Collection of Arms from one of America's most TAKE AN ADDITIONAL wi extraordinary chief executives, Nobel Prize and Medal of Honorwe recipient Theodore Roosevelt. expanded protections for Trans Readers aren’t in the room. Make your Get Your Supplies While You Still Can!!! FREE ESTIMATE folks. To our LGBTQ+ readers, please allyship visible. In the face of bad 1.844.902.4611 Additional savings for military, health Cyprus and Iceland banned don’t lose hope. Of the 510 bills behavior, silence can quickly be workers and first responders Expires 12/31/2023 Expert Professionals, Enormous Selection & Training! conversion therapy. introduced this year, 227 were perceived as a signal of endorseNew orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase Selection, Prices, required. Other restrictions may apply. Huge This is an advertisement placed on Low behalf of Erie ConstructionExpert Mid-West, Inc Dealers! Taiwan approved adoption defeated, and 197 are (seemingly) ment. Those with a hateful agenda (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or rights for same-sex couples. stuck in the mud. 84 passed — and will leverage and exploit every its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list MADE IN THE U.S.A. or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. Bulgaria recognized LGBTQ+ though this is terrible, most of this opportunity to overstate or imply License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/erie-licenses/. VA License Number: 2705029944. people as a protected class. was a “piling on” by folks desperate broad consensus. Mauritius ruled anti-LGBTQ+ for attention ahead of next year’s Last, do your best to recognize laws unconstitutional. Presidential election. the manipulative tactics often South Korea recognized the This doesn’t change the fact that employed in the rhetoric of the rights of same-sex couples. these bills do greatly affect the lives prejudiced. Don’t permit the conBrazil ruled that using homo- of those living in the states that flation of LGBTQ+ individuals phobic slurs would be punishable passed them, or our mental health with pedophilia. Don’t allow the by prison. from afar. It doesn’t mitigate the use of anecdotes as evidence to jusThe Cook Islands decriminal- hateful speech and violence they’ve tify discrimination. Don’t permit ized homosexuality. encouraged, or the way it makes us predictions of anti-LGBTQ+ backNepal recognized the first less safe, regardless of where we live. lash to justify the slow-walking of gay marriage — though hedged But still, please, don’t lose hope advances in the fight for equality. by registering them separately, — and don’t let this wave of bad Demand better from your friends ostensibly to make it easier to behavior succeed at intimidating you. and family, neighbors and coworkannul them if legal challenges Anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation relies, ers. succeed. heavily, on the silence and seclusion And don’t ever let fatigue keep Kenya (where homosexual- of LGBTQ+ people. When people you from voting. We have an elecity remains prohibited) ruled that know they have queer friends, neigh- tion every year in Virginia. Vote LGBTQ+ organizations would be bors, and family, they become fire- every time.

by Brian Reach

Falls Church News-Press

allowed to register, and that freedom of expression and assembly applied to them.

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• Medical Building, 407 N. Washington St.

• Target, 500 S Washington St.

• CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd.

• Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley

• Target – Skyline Mall (Box), 5107 Leesburg Pike

• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St.

• Merrill House Apartments, 210 E. Fairfax St.

• Tasty Dumpling, 112 W. Broad St.

• Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

• Metro Diner, 4711 Langston Blvd.

• The Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W. Broad St.

• Dominion Wine and Beer, 107 Rowell Ct.

• Moby Dick House of Kabob, 444 W. Broad St.

• The Byron Apartments, 513 W. Broad St.

• Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W. Broad St.

• Modera Founders Row. 110 Founders Ave.

• The Falls Church Episcopal, 115 E Fairfax St.,

• East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St.

• Mom’s Organic Market, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax

• The Kensington Falls Church, 700 W. Broad St.

• El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy.

• Multicultural Center. 701 W. Broad St.

• The Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W. Broad St. #103

• Elevation Burger, 442 S. Washington St.

• Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike

• The Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy.

• Eaves Fairfax Towers, 2251 Pimmit Dr.

• N Virginia Av & W. Broad St. (Box), 105 N. Virginia Ave.

• The UPS St.ore, 1069 W. Broad St.

• Exxon Gas Station, 400 W. Broad St.

• N. Washington & E. Columbia St., 106 E. Columbia St.

• Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd.

• Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B W. Broad St.

• Northern Virginia Immigration Law, 180 S. Washington St.

• Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave.

• Falls Church City Public Schools, 800 W. Broad St.

• Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates, 107 N. Virginia Ave

• Unity Club, 116-B W. Broad St.

• Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd.

• Northgate Apartments (lobby), 450 N. Washington St.

• UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr.

• Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.

• Northside Social, 205 Park Ave.

• US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd.

• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310

• Falls Green Apartments, 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Verso Founders Row, 105 Founders Row

• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Lobby

• Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave.

• Westlee Condominium 2200 N. Westmoreland

• Five Guys, 913 W. Broad St.

• Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr.

• Wendy’s – Bus St.op, 7391 Langston Blvd.

• Flippin’ Pizza, 800 W. Broad St.

• Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave.

• West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd.

• Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax

• Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd.

• Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101

• Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St.

• Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike

• Giant Food, 1230 W. Broad St.

• Pizzeria Orso (Tax Analyst building), 400 S. Maple Ave.

Arlington Blvd.

Knollwood Dr. • Yayla Bistro, 2201 N. Westmoreland St.

Interested in a subscription, please email us at delivery@fcnp.com or give us a call 703-532-3267

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PUBLIC NOTICE ABC NOTICE

KURKA Inc.trading as Santis Chicken and Steak, 2828 Graham Road, Falls Church, Fairfax County, VA, 22042. is applying to the Virginia ABC board for a Beer and Wine and Mixed Beverage for Restaurant. Ronald Hernandez, President,KURKA Inc. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200 Crabby Noodles, 6795 Wilson Blvd. Falls Church, 22044 is applying to the Virginia ABC board for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

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Home Improvement Doug's Handyman Service Interior/Exterior Repairs FREE Estimates Licensed, Bonded & Insured Call: 703-556-4276 www.fallschurchhandyman.com

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

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His first football season, Isaiah told us, ‘Wear a jersey with my name on it. I want everyone to know you’re here for me.’ Darnell and Denna, adopted 16-year-old Isaiah

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The SMILE you want. The attention you deserve. Currently accepting new patients THIS IS CLOVER! Clover is an 11 years young lab mix who loves to play dress up (for the cookies and attention, of course). This year she couldn’t decide if she should be a shark or Beetlejuice for Halloween... maybe both? Sharklejuice! Sharklejuice! Sharklejuice! Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com!

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Throw Missile at Occupied Vehicle, S Maple Ave, Dec 18, 6:45 PM, victim reported an altercation occurred that resulted in an identified suspect throwing an unidentifiable object at their vehicle. Larceny from Vehicle, Hillwood Ave, Dec 19, between 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM, an unknown suspect stole items of value from an unsecured vehicle. Shoplifting, W Broad St, Dec 20, 11:15 AM, an unknown suspect took items of value without paying. The suspect is described as a black male, wearing a green jacket and blue jeans.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, Dec 20, 5:55 PM, two unknown suspects took items of value without paying. The suspects are both described as black males between the ages of 20-25. One suspect is described as wearing a big black jacket, blue hoodie, light blue jeans and red/white shoes, and a yellow hat; the other suspect is described as wearing a black hoodie, blue jacket, blue/white jeans and black shoes. Trespassing, W Broad St, Dec 22, 11:01 AM, a black male, 51, of Baltimore, MD, was arrested for trespassing. Public Intoxication, Wilson Blvd, Dec 22, 11:18 PM, an Asian male, 38, of Springfield, VA, was arrested for public intoxication. Assault, W Broad St, Dec 23, 3:15

PM, an Asian female, 28, of the city of Falls Church, was arrested for assault. Trespassing, W Broad St, Dec 23, 5:07 PM, a white male, 29, of no fixed address, was arrested for trespassing. Shoplifting/Trespassing, W Broad St, Dec 23, 6:05 PM, an identified suspect previously banned from the business took items of value without paying. Shoplifting, W Broad St, Dec 23, 10:06 PM, an unknown suspect took items of value without paying. The suspect is described as a black male, possibly in his early to mid-50s, wearing white shoes, blue pants, and a black jacket with a yellow hat. Driving under the Influence, W Broad St, Dec 24, 2:02 AM, a white male, 42, of Centreville, VA was arrest-

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024 | PAGE 19

News-Press Holiday Party Was 33rd

THIS YEAR MARKED the Thirty Third Annual Falls Church News-Press holiday Party, hosted on December 14. (Photos: News-Press, Shaun Van Steyn)

PAGE 20 | DECEMBER 28, 2023 - JANUARY 3, 2024

Win ner

BUILDING CUSTOM HOMES SINCE 2007

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM