Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
February 15 - 21, 2024 Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXIV No. 1
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
Commercial Assessments Defy Region, Up 9% in F.C.
THE CHIEF TURNS 80
Contrasted to Collapse in Values Around N. Va. by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Commercial real estate assessments for the City of Falls Church released this week have gone up very favorably, in stark contrast to the “disastrous” commercial assessments being experienced by neighboring jurisdictions. So the chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority told the News-Press yesterday. Bob Young explained that “Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax have seen their office assessments reduced by billions with office vacancy rates over 20 percent as many office buildings have sold for 75 percent less than their assessments/values in 2019. It is really hurting their income.” By contrast, he said, “Falls Church is in a very comfortable and enviable position,” with the just-released assessments on commercial buildings being up 9.48 percent, according to City Hall. The annual Falls Church real estate assessments have been released at City Hall, and while residential assessments are up modestly, at 3.72 percent, less than the rate of inflation, predicted whopping increases in commercial properties have resulted in an overall rise of 9.48 percent. That adds up to a net increase of 5.33 percent, it has been reported. Individual property assessments will be posted in the mail
Continued on Page 3
FOUNDER, OWNER and editor-in-chief of the mighty Falls Church News-Press, Nicholas F. Benton celebrated his 80th birthday, becoming an “octopus” in his words, with a contingent of friends and family at the Italian Cafe at a party on February 9 that featured two fabulous drag performers. Guests included Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi and City Manager Wyatt Shields, along with Benton’s younger (not by far) brother Chris who flew in from Santa Barbara, California, and sister-in-law Jeannie who flew down from Boston, and others in the raucous group pictured here. The event coincided with the start of the News-Press’ 34th year of consecutive weekly publication. (Photo: Jonathan Harper)
Sen. Salim, Del. Simon Hold Town Hall Ahead of ‘Crossover’ by Brian Reach
Falls Church News-Press
Last Saturday was the first opportunity of Falls Church’s new State Senator Saddam Salim to report to his constituents here on what’s transpiring in the current legislative session in Richmond. Salim was joined by now-veteran State Del. Marcus Simon at a town hall held in the Council chambers of City Hall here in The Little City.
The event came just three days ahead of Tuesday’s “Crossover” in the Virginia Legislature, marking the halfway point in the legislative session when bills passed by the House of Delegates are sent to the Senate, and vice-versa. If a bill introduced by either chamber fails to pass by Tuesday evening, it is dead for the remainder of the session. Last November the entire Virginia legislature was on the ballot, and the result had led to Democrats
now enjoying razor-thin single-seat majorities in both the House and Senate. The 2023 election was a particularly transformative one for the legislature, with a number of seasoned lawmakers retiring, and newly drawn districts across-theboard resulting in dual-incumbent contests — and even for those with a single incumbent, a great deal of uncharted constituent territory, with some incumbents facing majoritynew districts. Thirty-seven of the
100 Delegates and 17 of the 40 Senators are new to their roles. The narrow advantage Democrats now hold in both chambers has had major implications on the current session, though the future of any bills that pass both houses will remain uncertain, as they must be signed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin before becoming law. The Democratic majorities are not
Continued on Page 4
PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Little Orphan “Annie” Brightens Little Theatre of Alexandria
“Little Orphan Annie,” the popular comic strip by cartoonist Harold Gray, ran in U.S. newspapers during much of the twentieth century. The character also had her own radio show during the Great Depression of the 1930s in which her serialized adventures extolled the virtues of individual initiative, hard work, and “pitching in” to help others. Jaclyn Robertson, Falls Church resident and co-producer of the musical “Annie” now playing at Little Theatre of Alexandria, reminds us that the character has a nineteenth-century precedent in the 1885 poem “Little Orphant Annie” by James Whitcomb Riley. Yet for most people today, “Annie” remains the beloved Tony Award-winning musical which has been filmed multiple times. “Annie” in Alexandria is under the fine direction of Krissy McGregor, whose “Director’s Notes” in the theatre program provide an excellent background of some of the more serious Depression-era themes the original comic strip addressed. As for the musical, little orphan “Annie” at Little Theatre tugs at our heartstrings. In the story, the poor but plucky 11-year-old red-headed Annie has spent most of her life in an unpleasant
orphanage under its heartless director Miss Hannigan, a drunken, bitter woman. After Annie’s unsuccessful attempts to escape the misery of the orphanage, good luck comes her way as wealthy Oliver Warbucks, in a spirit of noblesse oblige, has invited an orphan, little Annie, into his posh home for two weeks at Christmastime. Under the sinister designs of Miss Hannigan’s brother “Rooster” and his accomplice Lily St. Regis, an attempt is made to deceive Annie that they are her parents in order to claim a large reward offered by Mr. Warbucks. How will Annie elude this trap? And what will happen to her dog Sandy? To adopt the catchphrases popularized by Annie and Sandy in the comic strip, “Leapin’ lizards! Arf!” This production is unique in that there are two different casts of Annie and her fellow orphans, a “red cast” and a “blue cast” which alternate performance days. “There are two sets of children because the performance schedule as LTA is very rigorous,” producer Robertson explains. “While adults with a lot of experience can handle it, it’s tougher for children.” We attended the Sunday matinee production with the “red cast,” featuring Anna
Jones in the titular role of Annie; in several other performances, Milly Gerstenberg of the “blue cast” enacts the eponymous role. Anna as Annie portrays her character with warmth and with strong voice, particular in two renditions of the show’s optimistic anthem “Tomorrow” as well as in the equally catchy but lesser-known tune “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here.” Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks is played well by Michael E. McGovern, coming into his own especially in a melodic salute to the Big Apple entitled “N.Y.C.” Thanks to a large wardrobe team, there are beautiful 1930’s period costumes in the “N.Y.C.” production number— costumes which are highly saturated à la a Sunday newspaper comic strip! Signs indicating venerable New York landmarks such as Radio City Music Hall also surface in this sequence. Amanda Silverstein plays Miss Hannigan with aplomb, especially in her Kurt Weill-style showstopper “Little Girls.” An audience member at the Sunday performance commented: “My favorite characters in ‘Annie’ are ‘Rooster”’ Hannigan and Lily St. Regis, and they did not disappoint in this production!” Enacted by Shakil Azizi and Rachael
Fine, the two roguish characters are especially engaging in their trio with Miss Hannigan celebrating indolence and malfeasance: “Easy Street.” Heather Hanna is in fine, indeed operatic, voice as Grace Farrell, secretary to Mr. Warbucks, and the orphans are fun to watch in their antics in “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” Last but not least, Sandy the dog goes over very well with the audience! The set design by Rebecca Kalent and Adam Ressa of row houses in the foreground and New York City skyscrapers in the background is excellent in presenting the city as a business district as well as a home to the people who live there. A recreation of a vintage radio show in which Mr. Warbucks and Annie
FEBRUARY 17-29
PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE
appear affords the Little Theatre audience the opportunity to attend virtually a “live” radio program of the 1930s, complete with a toothpaste radio jingle performed by the “Boylan Sisters” trio (Jennifer Thomas, Fosse Thornton, and Rachel Ferguson). The live orchestra, conducted by keyboardist Josh Cleveland, is superb throughout the proceedings. “Annie” at Little Theatre of Alexandria is at once fun family entertainment and highly enjoyable nostalgia, running at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 through March 2, 2024. For more information, please visit: thelittletheatre.com
1953
ES MUS OXOur I
71
st
C
Foxes Music Company
“ANNIE” (ONCE A RADIO SERIAL) again appeals to a “radio audience” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. Cast members in photo; Matt Yinger, Michael Santos Sandoval, Jennifer Thomas, Fosse Thornton, Rachel Ferguson, and Anna Jones as Annie. (Photo: Heather Regan)
F
by Mark Dreisonstok
2024
Anniversary Fa lls Church
CLEARANCE PRICES ON SELECTED 2023 STOCK GUITARS • BASSES • AMPS • DRUMS • KEYBOARDS
Instant Rebates On Select Martin and Fender Guitars Blow-Out Prices on All Fender Amps Electric Guitars …………………...from $189 Acoustic Guitars…………………..from $159 Guitar Amps……………………….from $99 Ukuleles – Huge Selection…........from $35 Fractional Guitars………………...from $149 Portable Keyboards……………....from $179 Digital Pianos……………………...from $479
FOXES MUSIC COMPANY
A locally owned, independent business for over 70 years
416 S. Washington St. Falls Church,VA 22046 703-533-7393
FENDER • MARTIN • CORDOBA • ORTEGA EASTMAN • ROLAND • CASIO • MAPEX
2 5.00 Off
$
Any purchase of $10.00 $25.00 or more with this coupon. FOXES MUSIC
Not valid with other discounts, Not valid with other discounts, specialsoror rentals. specials rentals. Offer expires2/29/12 2/29/24 Offer expires
.00 10 5.00 Off Off
20.00 Off
$$
$
Any purchase of $50.00 $25.00 or more with this coupon. FOXES MUSIC MUSIC FOXES
Any purchase of $100.00 or more with this coupon. FOXESMUSIC MUSIC FOXES
Not valid with other discounts, Not valid with other discounts, specials rentals. specials or or rentals. Offer expires2/29/12 2/29/24 Offer expires
Not valid with other discounts,
Not Not valid valid with with other other discounts, discounts, specials or rentals. specials specials or or rentals. rentals. Offer expires 2/29/24 Offer Offer expires expires 2/29/12 2/29/12
COUPONS GOOD ON NON-SALE ITEMS ONLY THRU 2/29/24
Support your community by shopping locally this president’S day! We match or beat most online pricing and provide a level of customer service no website can offer!
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 3
F.C. Annual Assessments Are Out, Commercial Way Up
Continued from Page 1
this weekend, City Hall reports, and will be on the City’s website next week. The total taxable assessed value for all properties in the City of Falls Church, as of January 1, 2024, is now $5,637,906,000, up by $285.48 million from a year earlier. Single family homes and townhomes had varying changes but were up 3.64 percent and 2.46 percent overall, respectively. Residential condominiums had varying changes, but increased 5.37 percent overall. Although office property values decreased modest 1.88 percent, commercial property values increased 9.48 percent overall since January 2023 due to what the City Hall statement called “a strong retail market and hotel properties continuing to recover. Multi-family property values increased 9.31 percent overall largely due to new construction.” New construction, valued at $55.28 million, accounts for 19.4 percent of the increase in assessed value. Residential new construction accounted for $19.12 million of growth and commercial new construction accounted for the remaining $36.17 million of growth. In addition, new construction at the West Falls development adjacent to Meridian High School is assessed currently at $173.26 million as of this January 1.
“Real estate tax payments from this project will come to the City over the four year construction period under the terms of an Economic Development Agreement,” the City statement says. According to EDA head Young, the residential assessments “appear in line” with the level of wider regional economic realities. As set forth in the Virginia Constitution, real estate is assessed at 100 percent of fair market value. The City’s Office of Real Estate Assessment, headed by Assessor Erwving Bailey, on the job here since December 2021, calculates property value annually using mass appraisal techniques that are standard in the real estate assessment industry. The notice of assessment is an appraisal of the fair market value of the property that goes into the mail later this week is not a tax bill. As property tax payments will be due in two installments on December 5, 2024 and June 5, 2025. property owners will receive bills prior to these dates. The real estate tax rate will be determined in May, when the Falls Church City Council adopts the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program and sets the tax rate.. Homeowners wondering if their assessment is correct can contact the Office of Real Estate Assessment at 703-
248-5022. If one disagrees with the value established by the assessor, an appeal can be submitted to the assessor or to the Board of Equalization. Property owners must prove that their property’s market value is either inaccurate or unfair. State law puts the burden of proof on the property owner to demonstrate that the assessment is incorrect. Assessor Bailey came to Falls Church in December 2021 from Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessment with over thirteen 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 competence recognized around the globe. Erwving earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University and his Master’s in Business Administration from Troy University.
A hot bowl of pho at Eden Center. Voted best shopping center in the DMV!
PAGE 4 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Salim, Simon Hold Town Hall Here on Their Richmond Work
Continued from Page 1
enough to override any veto issued by the governor. The Virginia legislative session is quick, alternating between a short 30-day session in odd years and a longer 45-day session in even years (usually with 15-day extensions making them 45- and 60-day sessions, respectively). On even years, such as 2024, the session ends with the passage of a new biennial state budget. Youngkin, elected in 2021, has until now enjoyed a Republican majority in the Virginia House, preventing many controversial bills from crossing his desk. This year is different, with Democrats able to advance bills that will force Youngkin to go on-record on a number of hot-button issues for the first time, at least officially. Sen. Salim and Del. Simon began the town hall with an overview of the governor’s proposed budget, which includes cuts to public education (which Simon says is intentionally obfuscated in the Governor’s proposal) and a number of tax policy adjustments that they say are regressive, including an income tax reduction that favors higher-income Virginians, a sales and use tax increase from 4.3 to 5.2 percent (and expansion of sales tax application to digital and streaming services) that most burdens those living paycheckto-paycheck, and yet another attempt by a Virginia Governor to eliminate the state’s car tax. Overall the budget is smaller, in part due to predictions of a small recession in 2024, concerns that have largely dissipated as inflation has eased in recent months.
Issues that loom large in 2024 include retail cannabis, a proposed casino in Northern Virginia, a sports and entertainment complex in Alexandria, data centers, solar energy and impacts on agriculture, filling State Corporation Commission Judge vacancies, and enshrining reproductive choice and same-sex marriage protections in the Virginia Constitution. Sen. Salim, whose upset primary ouster of long-time incumbent Chap Petersen in the Democratic primary last year paved the way for a November victory, entered his first legislative session with an aggressive agenda, introducing 21 bills, the maximum a senator can carry, this session. Salim highlighted several of his bills during the town hall: 1. SB 55, which proposes a threeday minimum waiting period for firearm purchases, allowing time for licensed dealers to obtain criminal history records. Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville) introduced a similar bill, SB 551, which proposed a two-day minimum. Both bills were ultimately combined into SB 273, introduced by Suhas Subramanyam (D-Loudoun), which proposed a five-day waiting period. SB 273 passed the Senate, and was assigned to the House Committee on Public Safety at Crossover. 2. SB 304, which would require localities to allow Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs), within certain parameters, beginning July 2025. The bill passed the Senate on a nearly party-line vote, with two Republicans joining Democrats to vote yes, and one Democrat voting against. 3. SB 305, which would allow
localities to prohibit or regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. A similar bill was introduced in the House, by Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Great Falls). Over 100 cities and towns across the country have banned the equipment, as well as the entire state of California, due to their environmental impact: one hour of leaf blowing produces emissions equivalent to driving 1,100 miles in a motor vehicle, which the California Air Resources Board has pointed out. Besides producing combined emissions to rival the total emissions of vehicle traffic in the country, leaf blowers are also quite loud, with many able to cause hearing damage in just one minute of use. Though the bills only allowed localities to consider restrictions, opposition was strong enough from Republicans in both chambers to kill both bills in their respective committees. 4. SB 306, which would require signage at retailers identifying invasive plants and notifying consumers of their sale. The bill passed the Senate on a bipartisan 37-3 vote. 5. SB 316, which would allow the Town of Vienna to require that new developments and subdivisions replace any tree canopy to the minimum specifications in 10 years instead of 20. The bills passed the Senate on a bipartisan 28-12 vote. 6. SB 335, which would direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study “the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.” The bill passed the Senate on a party-line 21-19 vote. Salim also introduced a number of budget amendments, including
an expanded rebate for Virginia residents who purchase an electric vehicle and funding a number of programs with a 10 percent tax bracket on income in excess of $1 million (including a child care subsidy, a housing trust fund deposit, and additional public education funding). Del. Simon’s bills include HB 54, which would “remove the requirement in the City of Falls Church charter that board and commission members be qualified voters, replacing it with an age requirement of at least 18 years of age while leaving the city residence requirement,” allowing The Little City to expand civic participation to non-citizen residents. Other bills introduced by Simon include HB 81, which would abolish the categorization of suicide as a common-law crime, HB 173, which would prohibit the manufacturing, sale, and import of plastic “ghost guns,” HB 183, which would require firearms to be stored in a biometric safe in residences where minors are present, HB 265, which would limit the signature period for any attempt to recall or remove public officers to 90 days — and not allow failed attempts to be repeatedly introduced — to reduce abuse of the process, and HB 1539, which would prohibit the extradition from Virginia of any person charged by another state with crimes related to seeking or providing reproductive health services that are legal in the Commonwealth. Both Simon and Salim discussed controversial data centers, which generate a great deal of revenue for the state and localities, but take up precious land that could
otherwise be used for affordable housing, and use energy and water at alarming rates that could harm the environment and cause spikes in utility costs. Simon said his main concerns were ensuring that retail consumers don’t end up paying more for energy due to center usage, and Salim said he wanted to see incentivized alternative energy use, as well as water use requirements and stormwater protections. Del. Simon explained that the Governor’s desire to approve a proposed sports complex in Alexandria, as well as the need to pass a budget, provides an opportunity for Democrats. “The Governor really wants the stadium,” Simon said, adding that Democrats plan on leveraging this to ensure that the complex, which he predicts will ultimately be built, is only approved alongside concessions, including restoring public education funding in the state budget and ensuring that sufficient transportation improvements are included (including Metro funding). Simon continued that excess tax revenue added by the complex’s construction should be structured in a similar way to the City of Falls Church deal with the Paragon Theater currently under construction at Founders Row, with only the added revenue used for stadium funding. He says Democrats want to first use the added revenue to pay off any bonds required to fund the project, then ensure that revenue is used to further fund education, expand affordable housing, and add transportation improvements. Under the current proposal, “we are being played by developers and billionaires,” Simon said.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Super Bowl, America’s Dark Night of the Soul Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
“Dark night of America’s soul happening right now.” This is what I wrote on social media during the Super Bowl game last Sunday. I’m not surprised, I guess, that it didn’t elicit a single response, positive or negative. Yes, America with all its grave deceits was well on display during the game. The first, and foremost, was the game itself. Tackle football. All of America was watching and cheering during this spectacle, despite the fact that most of us know by now the game by its very nature is inflicting permanent brain damage on its players with almost every play. But even though the evidence is convincing and incontrovertible about this, no one in the context of that big game wanted to acknowledge it. As such, there is no lie, no deception, bigger than this one. Occasionally a late night talk show host, such as Steven Colbert, will make an offhand humorous comment on the subject, but that is the extent of it. So, millions upon millions of Americans are complicit in this massive deception, of avidly and enthusiastically watching these athletes subjecting themselves to massively debilitating damage to their brains. How can we expect the people of this nation to insist on honesty and transparency from their elected officials when they are so complicit with this life or death matter in this way? Then there is the sports gambling, which was plugged throughout the broadcast of the game, and the statistic that emerged from it that fully 26 percent of the American Adult population has gambled in this way on this year’s Super Bowl. And of course, the “house always wins,” which means this is a massive deception, as well, in which top celebrities have been recruited into creating a cultural environment that tempts the average Joes all over the country to spend money they, in the vast majority of cases, can’t afford to lose. With the vast majority of us living from paycheck to paycheck,
living one paycheck from the street, often desperate people are induced to risk their families’ basic wellbeing for a hopeless chimera. The old image associated with such gambling, that of the desperate dad who precedes a roll of the dice with the exclamation, “Baby needs a new pair of shoes,” is a tragic testament to the way essential needs too often do, in fact, get sacrificed through gambling. Next, there is the way the Super Bowl also functioned as an environment for direct deception in the political process, such as the way the deceptive third party candidacy of Robert Kennedy made invaluable gains through one TV ad played to such a huge audience. The biggest single factor that could result in the election of the fascist Trump this November stands to be the entry of a seemingly credible third party candidate into the race to draw votes away from Biden. The Super Bowl proved a massive platform for just that. It came in the same week that the appalling language of a special prosecutor concerning President Biden, painting a highly opinionated and distorted image of the effects of his age, was matched by Trump’s delivery of incredible remarks calling for the effective dismembership of NATO in the face of Russian aggression. There are other indicators, as well, of the wholesale deterioration of our culture that translates into an effective incapacitation of the public’s capacity for reasonable thought and decision making. One is the effective hijacking of the Christian faith by its seriously flawed and, to use a term from that tradition, heretical, so-called “evangelical” wing, and displayed with the two highly deceptive “He’s Like Us” ads that played during the Super Bowl. The backers of these ads, which are also flooding regular programming on TV almost every day, are among the same vicious anti-”woke” enemies of women and LGBTQ+ rights. Once again, as in the 1970s, mainstream and progressive expressions of the faith are “missing in action” in the face of this onslaught. The most rational voice is now no less than the Pope himself, but on this continent churches, synagogues and temples representing variants of a shared Abrahamic faith are being found wanting as extreme cultists, “evangelicals” and their ilk, are eating their lunch.
CO MME NT
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 5
PAGE 6 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
Since 1991, an award-winning LGBT-owned general Interest community newspaper. Vol. XXXIV, No. 1 February 15 - 21, 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 •
Nicholas F. Benton Founder, Owner & Editor-in-Chief nfbenton@fcnp.com
Nick Gatz Managing Editor ngatz@fcnp.com
Sue Johnson Advertising Sales sjohnson@fcnp.com
Brian Reach News Reporter Breach@fcnp.com
IN MEMORY Charlie Clark Columnist Ted White Copy Editor Julio Idrobo Circulation Manager delivery@fcnp.com
To Contact the News-Press phone: 703-532-3267 fax: 703-342-0347 email: fcnp@fcnp.com display advertising sjohnson@fcnp.com 703-587-1282
classified & Legal ads classads@fcnp.com letters to the editor letters@fcnp.com News & Notes newsandnotes@fcnp.com Obituaries obits@fcnp.com subscriptions distribution & delivery delivery@fcnp.com
www.fcnp.com The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 105 N. Virginia Ave.., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2024 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.
E ditorial
E D I TO R I A L
On the Future Of Newspapers
“The internet dissected your daily newspaper into its constituent parts, letting readers find the news they want without ever buying a paper or visiting a homepage – and handing the most lucrative part…, the advertising business, to companies such as Meta and Google that don’t produce news.” In one succinct sentence, Washington Post opinion writer Megan McArdle told just about the whole story of the demise of local news in her column entitled, “The Great Age of Cord Cutting is Approaching Its End” published in the Post this Tuesday. Our founder, owner and editor Nicholas F. Benton will be addressing the monthly luncheon meeting of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce on just this reality, its implications and what can be done about it this coming Tuesday, February 20, at the Italian Cafe in Falls Church. He will bring his more than 33 years of experience making the Falls Church News-Press work for more than 1,700 consecutive weekly editions delivered to every household in The Little City to bear on this question that is vital to our democracy. The landscape for local news in Northern Virginia has changed dramatically over those more than three decades, and the News-Press has endured to become just about the only general news source in the region that still comes out in print. How to understand what that means for the community it serves, and for those who have lost such a benefit over the years, as well as how and what needs to happen to ensure it continues to get done will be our editor’s subject. The new book, “Life and Times of the Falls Church News-Press,” by the late Charlie Clark, will be available for sale as a resource at the talk, which will also be recorded. A good newspaper is more than just a chronicle of events in a community, but serves as a vital glue for the components that not only make up, but also seek to advance a community’s ability to provide for its public’s needs, especially as they involve core human and democratic values. For Mr. Benton, this has taken the form of continually shining a light on the community needs for, among other things, smart development, affordable housing and above all education of the young. The internet and strictly digital sources have unwittingly contributed to the undermining of this approach by shattering information into countless discrete categories, thus disabling the ability of a community’s citizens to function from the standpoint of an overview of these combined values and needs. Benton and the News-Press since its founding in 1991 have operated from the standpoint of advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and that has meant promoting education for the young by encouraging the kind of economic development that can pay for a quality educational system. It has meant taking sides in opposition to those who resist such developments for selfish reasons, be they big corporate interests or citizens against constructive change.
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.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
L etters to E ditor Is twenty plenty? How about 60?
Editor,
I was hit by a car, as pedestrian. Twice. Once just outside FC city limits (near Chasing Tales), and, couple of weeks ago, in front of Harris Teeter. Not my fault, not at all. The first hit was horrible — I flew in the air some 10 yards (according to the police report). The second was a real “pleasure.” The lady behind the wheel was just texting while driving. My question is, as always, simple: How hard is it to enforce basic traffic regulations in our beloved little city? Not enough officers or police cars? I can understand driving at 30 mph, but 50 or more, as often happens? Ignoring stop signs? Simeon Savov
Mayor Hails Editor’s Birthday Editor, Please permit me to join with your many friends in extending
congratulations and best wishes on the momentous occasion of your 80th birthday. Your life embodies an important part of the story of Falls Church and I hope that your memories fill you with happiness and pride. As owner of the Falls Church News-Press your work has kept local news in circulation since 1991. Along with coverage of local and national issues, the Falls Church NewsPress provides the community service of being the newspaper of record for the City of Falls Church and the certified publisher of the City’s official legal notices. The longevity of the paper is due to the tireless dedication of the News-Press staff guided by your management, to reporting on local events and issues important to Falls Church residents. Please accept our wishes for a joyful 80th birthday and many more years of coverage and reporting on the life of the City by the Falls Church News-Press. With warm regards, Mayor Letty Hardi City of Falls Church (This letter was presented to Editor Benton at this Monday’s meeting of the Falls Church City Council, which joined in a rousing version of the Happy Birthday song upon its presentation.)
Tell us what you think? Email letters@fcnp.com
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Falls Church’s State Del. Marcus Simon reported this week that an amended request from the City of Falls Church that he is carrying in the current Richmond legislative session passed the House of Delegates by a 91-2 vote and has been sent over to the Senate. The sought-for change is to allow a wider range of persons than currently permitted in the City’s charter to apply to serve on City boards and commissions. The amendment, Simon told the NewsPress, is “instead of adding to the lot of people who are eligible to serve on boards and commissions, we simply deleted the whole section of the charter that limited who could be appointed to the boards and commissions. Now, the only limitations on who can serve are those that exist under the general laws of Virginia. It should accomplish the same purpose, which will be to expand the pool of people available to serve.” But some have expressed concern that the move to welcome persons who are not residents of Falls Church would open up local bodies to outside politically-motivated elements hostile to the City’s values, who could also use it as a pretext to sue for the right to compete for election to the local School Board or City Council.
McLean Citizens Group Vs. Office to Residential Switch The McLean Citizens Association voted last week to oppose the repurposing of an approved office building with a 240-unit residential structure at the Arbor Row development in Tysons Corner. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in November 2012 approved the original 19.4acre rezoning for the 2.61-million-square-foot, mixed-use Arbor Row development. But the applicants now want to rezone a 2.92-acre parcel of the site located on the south side of Westpark Drive between West Branch and Jones Branch drives. The site currently is approved for up to a 275,650-square-foot office building with retail. That building could be up to 210 feet tall, including a 30-foot-tall penthouse area for mechanical equipment.
Rep. Connelly Hails Dem Special Election Win U.S. Rep. Gerry Connelly of Virginia’s 11th District west of Falls Church, issued the following statement yesterday following the Democratic victory in the special election in New York to fill the seat vacated by the expulsion of George Santos: “Last night, we flipped a red seat in the House, further reducing the Republicans’ slim
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 7
majority. For the past year, the American people have watched with horror as Republicans have used their majority to careen us from crisis to crisis, attack Joe Biden and his family, and not do a single thing to address the issues American families care about. Last night, the people of New York’s 3rd Congressional District said enough was enough, and voted for a Representative who will serve their interests.”
Sen. Salim’s Accessory Dwelling Units Bill Moves In Richmond, the State Senate passed Sen. Saddam Salim’s SB 304 by a vote of 22-18. The bill mandates localities to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as an accessory use in residential zoning districts. The legislation also prohibits a locality from requiring rear or side setbacks for the ADU that are greater than the setback required for the primary dwelling, or four feet, whichever is less. Additionally, the legislation limits what a locality may require to the following: No more than one ADU to be located on a lot; A rental period for such ADU of at least 30 days; Replacement of a primary dwelling’s required parking if the construction of the ADU eliminates such parking; Dedicated parking for the ADU; Square footage of the ADU not to exceed 1,500 square feet or 50 percent of the primary dwelling’s square footage, whichever is less; and compliance with (i) building codes; (ii) water, sewer, septic, and stormwater requirements; and (iii) historic and architectural districts and corridor protection restrictions.
REAL ESTATE SERVICES Falls Church Expert
Sen. Kaine Assails Trump Threat Vs. NATO Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s threat that if elected he would encourage Russia to “do whatever they want” against NATO. “This week, Donald Trump made one of his most reckless statements in recent memory — and that’s saying something. “Speaking in South Carolina, Trump told the story of when one of the presidents of a big European country asked him what the U.S. would do if they were attacked by Russia. “Trump responded: ‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want.’ “His statement is completely unhinged and should concern every single American, not to mention the message it sends to European democracies — and Vladimir Putin. “Donald Trump wants to be president of…
Continued on Page 22
REAL ESTATE AGENT
F.C. Charter Change Request Advances in Richmond
LO CA L
SOLD $995,000
SOLD $1,081,748
3020 Aspen Lane Falls Church Va 22042
117 S. Lee St. Falls Church Va 22046
SOLD $1,850,000
SOLD $1,145,000
6437 Quincy Pl. Falls Church Va 22042
2824 Woodlawn Ave Falls Church Va 22042
703.303.3700 realestate@stylishpatina.com stylishpatina stylishpatinashop www.stylishpatina.com
Learn More
PAGE 8 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
Why I Am Now Deeply Worried for America by Paul Krugman
New York Times Syndicate
Until a few days ago, I was feeling fairly sanguine about America’s prospects. Economically, we’ve had a year of strong growth and plunging inflation — and aside from committed Republicans, who see no good, hear no good and speak no good when a Democrat is president, Americans appear to be recognizing this progress. It has seemed increasingly likely that the nation’s good sense would prevail and democracy would survive. But watching the frenzy over President Joe Biden’s age, I am, for the first time, profoundly concerned about the nation’s future. It now seems entirely possible that within the next year, American democracy could be irretrievably altered. And the final blow won’t be the rise of political extremism — that rise certainly created the preconditions for disaster, but it has been part of the landscape for some time now. No, what may turn this menace into catastrophe is the way the handwringing over Biden’s age has overshadowed the real stakes in the 2024 election. It reminds me, as it reminds everyone I know, of the 2016 furor over Hillary Clinton’s email server, which was a minor issue that may well have wound up swinging the election to Donald Trump. As most people know by now, Robert Hur, a special counsel appointed to look into allegations of wrongdoing on Biden’s part, concluded that the president shouldn’t be charged. But his report included an uncalled-for and completely unprofessional swipe at Biden’s mental acuity, apparently based on the president’s difficulty in remembering specific dates — difficulty that, as I wrote Friday, everyone confronts at whatever age. Hur’s gratuitous treatment of Biden echoed James Comey’s
gratuitous treatment of Clinton — Hur and Comey both seemed to want to take political stands when that was not their duty. It’s a case of bureaucrats overstepping their bounds in a way that’s at best careless and at worst malicious. Yes, it’s true that Biden is old, and will be even older if he wins reelection and serves out a second term. I wish that Democrats had been able to settle on a consensus successor a year or two ago and that Biden had been able to step aside in that successor’s favor without setting off an intraparty free-for-all. But speculating about whether that could have happened is beside the point now. It didn’t happen, and Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee. It’s also true that many voters think the president’s age is an issue. But there’s perception and there’s reality: As anyone who has recently spent time with Biden (and I have) can tell you, he is in full possession of his faculties — completely lucid and with excellent grasp of detail. Of course, most voters don’t get to see him up close, and it’s on Biden’s team to address that. And yes, he speaks quietly and a bit slowly, although this is in part because of his lifetime struggle with stuttering. He also, by the way, has a sense of humor, which I think is important. Most important is that Biden has been a remarkably effective president. Trump spent four years claiming that a major infrastructure initiative was just around the corner, to the point that “It’s infrastructure week!” became a running joke; Biden actually got legislation passed. Trump promised to revive American manufacturing, but didn’t. Biden’s technology and climate policies — the latter passed against heavy odds — have produced a surge in manufacturing investment. His enhancement of Obamacare
has brought health insurance coverage to millions. If you ask me, these achievements say a lot more about Biden’s capacity than his occasional verbal slips. And what about his opponent, who is only four years younger? Maybe some people are impressed by the fact that Trump talks loud and mean. But what about what he’s actually saying in his speeches? They’re frequently rambling word salads, full of bizarre claims like his assertion Friday that if he loses in November, “they’re going to change the name of Pennsylvania.” Not to mention confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi and mistaking E. Jean Carroll for one of his ex-wives. As I also wrote last week, Trump’s speeches make me remember my father’s awful last year, when he suffered from sundowning — bouts of incoherence and belligerence after dark. And we’re supposed to be worried about Biden’s mental state? Over the past few days, while the national discussion has been dominated by talk about Biden’s age, Trump declared that he wouldn’t intervene to help “delinquent” NATO members if Russia were to attack them, even suggesting that he might encourage such an attack. He seems to regard NATO as nothing more than a protection racket and after all this time still has no idea how the alliance works. By the way, Lithuania, the NATO member that Trump singled out, has spent a larger percentage of its gross domestic product on aid to Ukraine than any other nation. Again, I wish this election weren’t a contest between two elderly men and worry in general about American gerontocracy. But like it or not, this is going to be a race between Biden and Trump — and somehow the lucid, well-informed candidate is getting more heat over his age than his ranting, factually challenged opponent. As I said, until just the other day I was feeling somewhat optimistic. But now I’m deeply troubled about our nation’s future.
For More News and Information Follow Us At: fcnp.com
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Delegate Marcus Simon’s
Richmond Report What a difference a year (and an election) makes. This time last year, I used my monthly column to write about how the short 45-day 2023 Session was winding down and how the only significant legislation left to deal with was the state budget. I went on to talk about how the House version of the budget, then crafted by the Republican Majority, fell short in meeting the needs of hardworking Virginians. How it focused on multi-million-dollar corporate tax breaks, putting our critical services in jeopardy. A rather bleak outlook for sure. Fast forward to February 2024 and we’re having a very different conversation. First, we aren’t nearly done yet. We’ve still got a month left in our long 60-day session. And we’ve got a Democratic Majority in both chambers, which means that not only are the bills we’re passing looking radically different, but the House budget will also look dramatically different when it comes out on February 18th. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point, or Crossover, we’ve had a couple of marathon days on the House Floor, ensuring that we get through all the House bills that passed committee so they can get to the Senate for review. My Legislative Update I’m also happy to report that 16 of my bills have officially passed the House and are headed to the Senate! Here are some highlights: It looks like the 3rd time may be a charm for Falls Church City’s charter change request. This year I amended HB 54 on the floor to get in a format that would get bipartisan support and a 97-2 vote. The charter update will allow more Little City residents to participate on local boards and commissions. I also got significant bipartisan support for my bill to abolish the common law crime of suicide. The criminal status of suicide stigmatizes those who have passed and escalates the pain families face following the tragedy of a loved one’s death. I even got a bipartisan vote on the floor to advance HB 173 which bans these unserialized “ghost guns” and plastic firearm components in the Commonwealth. Another firearm safety bill, HB 175, prohibits the carrying of certain (loaded or unloaded) semiautomatic weapons on any public street, public park, or any other
place that is open to the public. That passed the House on a strict party line vote, as did another common-sense gun safety bill, HB 183, which requires that firearms be stored in a biometric safe when individuals under the age of 18 are present. To avoid fraudulent or duplicative removal petitions for certain public offices, HB 265 states that removal petitions will not be certified when the asserted grounds have been previously filed and dismissed against the same public official. It also requires the signatures collected on a removal petition be collected within 90 days of the first signature being collected. A consumer protection bill, HB 418, makes it possible for class action lawsuits to be established in Virginia. Under the bill provisions, the Supreme Court of Virginia is tasked with creating regulations to govern such actions. The last bill I introduced, HB 1539, prohibits extraditions of those who travel to Virginia for reproductive health services. It also prohibits the sharing of personal reproductive or sexual health information without the consent of the consumer under the VA Consumer Protection Act. Crossover Stats During the 2024 session, there were 1,547 House bills introduced and, of these, 734 passed the House and 185 were continued to the 2025 Session. Legislation ran the gamut this year, covering topics like retail cannabis, raising the minimum wage, gun safety, abortion access, housing affordability, solar accessibility, tax policy updates, and campaign finance reform — just to name a few. To get a little more into the weeds, 253 of the total House bills introduced went through House Courts, 187 went through General Laws, 91 through Public Safety, and 140 through Rules. That’s a grand total of 671 bills that went through my 4 committees – or 43 percent of the total bills introduced! In the Senate, 737 Senate bills were introduced and the 430 that passed will be crossing over to the House. To keep things moving, we’ve started hearing Senate bills in my committees and I’ve already been over to the Senate to present a couple of my bills this week. We’ll continue on this path until the end of session on March 9th.
HEALTH
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
HEA LTH & WE L L NE S S
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 9
& WELLNESS Nova
remier Dental
See Pages 10 -13
PAGE 10 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
City Residents Lead Humanitarian Relief Efforts In Honduras
by Brian Reach
Falls Church News-Press
In October 1998, Central America — in particular Honduras — was slammed in slow-motion by the second-deadliest hurricane on record at the time, Hurricane Mitch. Moving about as quickly as the average person walks, the large storm pummeled the country with high winds — and up to 36.5 inches of rain (some unofficial totals claimed as high as 75 inches). Over nearly a week of constant destruction, the storm claimed over 7,000 lives in Honduras (a country of just over 6 million people at the time), while wiping out 70 percent of clean water access, 70 percent of crops, 23 percent of classrooms, and 70-80 percent of the roads and bridges in the nation. 20 percent of the population — 1.5 million people — were left homeless. In 1999 Dr. Barry Beyer, a resident of the City of Falls Church, recruited a group of physicians and nurses to travel to Honduras for a week, to see how they could help. Initially a
humanitarian relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Mitch, the trip was the genesis of what is now the VHC Medical Brigade, a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in The Little City. Mary Ellen Egan, who retired from Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) after 35 years, serves as the Brigade’s volunteer Director of Operations. She has volunteered with the Brigade since 2000, and has served in her current role for over a decade. During the early days of the organization, when she still worked at VHC, “Dr. Barry was recruiting people.” Egan recalled. The physicians and nurses he assembled were VHC employees, and all of them planning an outof-country trip was a disruptive proposal — but Dr. Barry, who Egan called the “Pied Piper,” was upbeat and enthusiastic. The group was ultimately granted vacation time for the trip, and when they returned, “it was glowing feedback,” Egan said. That’s when she joined. After a few years of oneweek trips, the group determined that they weren’t leaving behind
HONDURAN CHILDREN SHOW their smiles after receiving toothbrushes and toothpaste (left side). The Brigade’s medical team poses with one of their younger patients in a Honduras medical facility (right side). (Photos: VHC Medical Brigade) enough tools for ongoing care. As a result, sustainability became a central concern for the Brigade, and services were adjusted to provide not only surgery, but clinics, education, nutrition, and clean water access. Around 2004, the News-Press sent reporter Darien Bates down with the Brigade. “He wasn’t afraid to go out with the teams, so he got to see the water devel-
opment, the hospital, the whole process.” Egan said, “He got to know the volunteers… he dove right in.” Today the Brigade sends four teams to Honduras each year, with volunteer physicians and nurses from across the country covering their own travel, room, and board to bring the country much-needed optical care, physical therapy, surgeries, supplies, equipment,
and training. The Brigade helps Honduras deal with chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, diagnoses and treats astigmatism, provides cataract surgeries (which Egan says is a huge issue for children in the country due to sun damage), and in 2024 is focusing on women’s health,
Continued on Page 13
Stop dieting!
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
TRANSFORM AND REVITALIZE YOUR HEALTH WITH AN EXPERT NUTRITION HEALTH COACH FOR A HEALTHIER YOU!
Personalized One-on-One coaching
Healthy Life Starts Today!
• 3-MONTH PROGRAM • 6-MONTH PROGRAM
I offer a 30-minute complimentary health assessment
4FoldLife Health Coaching:
Book your appointment via phone or text
LINDA BAH, MSc
INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION HEALTH COACH (INHC)
(703)-389-7028
INTEGRATING BODY, MIND, SPIRIT HEALTH IN COMMUNITY
Call today and receive a
Drs. Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. We have created a warm, caring environment that allows our patients to feel comfortable and safe. We take time to listen to our patients so that we can truly understand their individual needs and goals for their dental health.
FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF
Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years. We are proud to have served the community in ways beyond dental care.
Drs. Love & Miller, PC Melanie R. Love, DDS, Mark A. Miller, DDS
BEST of FALLS CHURCH 2023
Finalist
Make an appointment with this award winning dental team. www.loveandmiller.com • 703-241-2911 (of�ice) • 703-534-3521 (fax) 450 W. Broad Street, Suite 440, Falls Church, VA 22046
We are appreciative of our patients’ continued confidence in our ability to 1-877-591-9950 maintain proper safety measures, With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must allowing us to care their dental present offerfor at time of purchase. CSLB health. 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
HEA LTH & WE L L NE SS
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 11
We have a 4 star rating
We bring quality healthcare to your home! Nursing, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Special Personal Care Services Call for FREE Nursing Assessment or FREE Home Safety Assessment
(703) 269-2238 • Info@avalonnursingrehab.com 6402 Arlington Blvd, Suite 720, Falls Church, VA 22042 Fully covered under Medicare and we take most Health Care Insurances
PAGE 12 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
CA MPS A ND SCHO O LS
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
New Team Providing LGBTQ+ Focused Therapy in Arlington
by Brian Reach
Falls Church News-Press
A new group of queeridentifying psychotherapists have opened a new counseling practice in Arlingtion, with a focus on serving the LGBTQ+ population, called The LGBTQ+ Counseling Collaborative (4620 Cherry Hill Rd., Suite 213, Arlington, VA). The practice is a much-needed resource for the area. In December 2023, The Williams Institute released its 2023 Adult LGBT Population in the United States report, which found that D.C. had the highest percentage of LGBT adults, with 14.3 percent of residents identifying as LGBT. In 2006 The Williams Institute conducted a survey that estimated the LGB population by U.S. Congressional District, which found 8.1 percent of D.C. residents identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual — and 7.4 percent here in VA-8 (Arlington-Falls Church), the tenth highest outside California or D.C. Combining these two datasets, it’s fairly safe to estimate that 10 percent or more of the Arlington-
Falls Church area currently identify as LGBT. With nearly 800,000 residents of VA-8, that’s a sizeable population. The U.S. Census Bureau has found that LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher levels of anxiety and depression than their nonLGBTQ+ counterparts. Despite having one of the highest LGBTQ+ populations in the country, many services in Northern Virginia’s have lagged far behind those in D.C. in terms of LGBTQ+ competence, focus, or representation — and mental health services are no exception, though several LGBTQ+ affirming or identifying therapists do practice in the area. The team currently consists of three clinicians, all of whom are fully-licensed psychotherapists who specialize in queer and genderexpansive topics and themes — with lived experience in those communities: Sarah Nealy, LPC, Brian Rink, LCSW, and Michelle Wade, LPC. Nealy, the Collaborative’s clinical director, who identifies as non-binary and queer, is a married parent living in Arlington, who
SARAH NEALY (pictured) opened an LGBTQ+ focused group therapy practice with two other queer-identifying clinicians in Arlington last year. (Courtesy Photo) studied at Marymount University. She founded the practice last year, after 15 years in the field either as a member of traditional group practices or, more recently, in her
own standalone practice. The Collaborative provides individual counseling, group counseling, couples and partner relationship counseling, non-faith
based premarital counseling, sex therapy, perinatal mental health care
Continued on Page 13
The SMILE you want. The attention you deserve. Currently accepting new patients
Win ner
Bestoffc.com
703.532.3300 | www.doughertyDDS.com 200 Little Falls Street #506, Falls Church VA 22046
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
HEA LTH & WE L L NE S S
VHC Medical Brigade Brings Care
Continued from Page 10
bringing pregnancy care, prenatal vitamins, education, and nutritional support to the communities they serve. The Brigade also equips villages with large tanks to store clean water, which they hire an organization to monitor to ensure the water has proper chlorine levels and is safe to drink. The Brigade also takes steps to ensure the water is being used residentially, and not diverted for washing coffee — the country’s number one export. Residents of villages where the tanks are installed can connect their homes to clean running water, provided by the Brigade’s tanks, for just a couple dollars per month. A Florida physician is currently in Honduras, on a grant from UCLA to start the country’s first Emergency Room residency program, an idea the Honduras government is supporting, with supplies from the Brigade. In March a team will travel there to provide rehab, eye care services,
Nova
and education. In April a team will train community health workers at rural village community clinics, three of which have been opened by the Brigade. “VHC Medical Brigade brings transformational health and development to the most vulnerable in Honduras,” the organization’s mission reads, “We empower communities to solve their challenges, provide life-changing surgeries and health technology solutions, and invest in building a robust Honduran medical system. Sustainability, community contribution, and a focus on empowering the vulnerable are integral to everything we do.” The Brigade sends two 40-foot shipping containers of supplies to Honduras every year. Last year, through a partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Brigade provided 200,000 soybased meals — with long shelf lives — primarily for school lunches. This September, the Brigade will celebrate its 25th anniversary at The Winery at
Bull Run (15950 Lee Hwy., Centreville, VA), which Egan encourages community members to attend. More information will be made available as the event approaches on the Brigade’s website, vhcmedicalbrigade. org. The Brigade is currently seeking donations of over-thecounter medications, such as liquid acetaminophen for kids, clothing, clean sheets and towels, blankets, toiletries, and medical equipment (crutches, wheelchairs, etc.). Any community member can volunteer to sort and stock the Brigade’s warehouse in Falls Church, and those with specific skills to contribute (in particular those with medical, I.T., inventory, business, and grant writing expertise) who are willing to donate a couple hours of their time per month (or more) are encouraged to complete a volunteer form at vhcmedicalbrigade.org/ volunteer. Those interested in learning more or making a donation may do so on the Brigade’s website.
remier Dental
703-532-7586 DR PETERSON HUANG, DMD, MS, FACP Implants, Dentures, & Family Dentistry
My specialty is in the esthetic and functional rehabilitation of the entire mouth. Whether from decay, accidents, or cancer, I can correct those issues through the use of dental implants, surgical procedures, dentures, and orthodontics.
Dr. Peterson Huang is a Dual Board Certified Prosthodontist, dedicating 14 years to honing his craft. He grew up in Vancouver, Canada. He received his specialist certificate from the University of Maryland where he is a Clinical Assistant Professor. He is also on staff at Inova Fairfax Hospital Tumor Board.
313 Park Ave., #306, Falls Church, VA 22046 novapremierdental.com
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 13
LGBTQ+ Health Care
Continued from Page 12
for birthing persons, gender affirming care, religious trauma deconstruction or recovery, and more. Though happy to work with people “of any sex, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or belief,” as their website states, their passion is serving the LGBTQ+ community. The Collaborative currently holds three regular group therapy sessions — one for mixed-orientation couples, one for those who have experienced religious trauma, and most recently a female empowerment group, which started this week. “It means a lot to us personally and professionally to provide a safe space for queer people to seek help from therapists with similar lived experiences,” said Nealy, “something that few of us ever found outside of here.” Nealy says the Collaborative is unique for several reasons. First, the three therapists that comprise her practice have experience across a wide range of LGBTQ+ issues, from
religious trauma, to eating disorders, to couples therapy and beyond. Clinicians are required to provide 20 percent of their cases on a slidingscale cost basis, allowing the uninsured or financially insecure an opportunity to receive care. The group hires one-at-a-time, adding a new clinician only when the current team reaches a full-time case load — this stands in contrast to most group practices which add staff in groups, causing friction between new hires competing for clients. Nealy says the Collaborative is currently hiring for a fourth clinician. The Collaborative does not accept insurance, though insurance reimbursement is available for those with plans that include out-of-network coverage. Those interested in scheduling an appointment with The LGBTQ+ Counseling Collaborative should book a free consultation at lgbtcounselingdmv.com, email info@lgbtcounselingdmv.com, or call 703-239-3469.
PAGE 14 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Creative Cauldron Latest Producation “Working” On Stage Now
by Patricia Leslie
Creative Cauldron’s localization of Studs Terkel’s “Working” is nothing short of spectacular, its newest production to be a special chapter in its book of success stories. Pulitzer Prize winner Terkel (1912-2008) wrote “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do” in 1974, and it was made into a Broadway play, nominated for five Tony Awards. Creative’s program notes it is “rare for a show’s composer to allow theatre directors to alter their scripts in any way,” but one of the composers, Stephen Schwartz working with Daniel C. Levine, permits “localizations,” thereby ensuring winners. Although the topic and the title may sound dull, it’s anything but, loaded with action and great singing as one after another of the actors tells what it’s like to be a trucker, a welder, a phone operator, a parent and more. Director Matt Conner weaves local people in the musical, complete with videos from Falls Church residents, including some number (but not all) of important contributors to the Cauldron, who briefly tell what they do and how they like their jobs. The manager of Harvey’s in Falls Church says her 49 years in
the restaurant business are what she craves, and she does it well. Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi talks. Students from Creative’s acting school get in on the act, listing what they want to be when they grow up. What do you want to be? Person by person, job by job, the outstanding cast assumes multiple roles telling their stories and why they have meaning, but...they really wished they could have been something else like they sing in “If I Could’ve Been.” Stefan Sittg’s choreography is excellent, especially in the humorous number by the daffy waitress (Molly Rumberger) who sings “It’s An Art” while dancing with a tray and bouncing from one end of the stage to the other, in between impatient customers and a maitre d’ who wearily show their irritation. Another hilarious piece is the scene when actors who move up and down like robots in the manner of Verizon’s customer service “representatives” who answer the phone with an automated message. This, after a hedge fund manager (Oscar Salvador) summons their help while stock market numbers run in the background and his receptionist (Sally Imbriano, the best singer in the show) argues for increased recognition. Tony Lemus is a happy delivery man who gleefully rides a bicycle propped upon the benches, with
MOLLY RUMBERGER, Sally Imbriano, Oscar Salvador, Tony Lemus, Chelsea Majors, and Erin Granfield (Photo: William T. Gallagher Photography) video running behind him of a ride down a lane which looks a lot like summertime along the W&OD trail, for probably the best video clip in the show which has plenty of them. Applause to James Morrison, the projection designer whose visuals are critical elements, embellishing the stories and adding to the play’s enjoyment. Costumer Margie Jervis has overdressed Erin Granfield as a third grade school teacher in stuffy clothes. In her teaching roles with letters of the alphabet running, Granfield laments “now” compared to “then” in the classroom, wishing the classroom was a bit more orderly. “Nobody Tells Me How” she wails.
Chelsea Majors is another important member of the ensemble who makes it a complete sixpack. She joins the crew in “Something to Point To,” at the end when they proudly claim their accomplishments. Where would we be without these folks? Paige Rammelkamp is the musical director with orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In one early scene they use paper cups as musical instruments. Who would have thought? Lighting director Lynn Joslin never missed a cue, constantly changing lights and colors, outlining columns, ceiling, and perimeters of
the walls in different shades. Jervis’s set is a modern design with large cement-like columns reminiscent of Carl Andre’s sculptures, but these light up and make merry, changing colors and effectively shielding most of the musicians backstage, Benches which the cast moves about in every scene are used for, yes, seats, a podium, tables, parts of the bicycle and more. The story tellers have “creatively” meshed the story’s ending with Creative’s move to its new 5,000 square feet home at Broad and Washington where theatregoers can become part of the production.
F.C. Social Justice Committee Discusses Ways to Combat Racism
by Patricia Leslie
The leaders said they were “preaching to the choir,” but, after all, it was at a church, Falls Church Presbyterian, that the group, primarily from the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church, met to discuss ways to combat institutional racism. Labeling the attendees as “apostles” to carry forth the words and actions they heard Saturday afternoon would not be an exaggeration. Inga Watkins, a conflict management coach, and Rich Scott, the leaders of the free workshop, urged those present to get active in civic groups, attend public meetings, urge others to join them, run for office and speak up against racism whenever possible. “Be that voice” in city
affairs and hold elected leaders accountable. Become a leader and a model for good behavior, Watkins urged. “Increased awareness of institutional racism is powerful.” “Help those to disagree in a constructive way.” Racism is everywhere, lurking in unforeseen spaces and places one would never suspect, and so is sexism, one participant noted which could be the subject of another workshop, Watkins said. Early in the afternoon attendees met in breakout sessions to discuss racism they had experienced and observed and how these relate to present day. They were urged to talk to and listen more to black colleagues and acknowledge places where racism occurs. The session began with “getting to know you” when
participants taped playing cards on their foreheads and were instructed to treat others according to the number on the card. The higher the number, the more respect a person got. Some who are used to being treated well “get a little shook up,” Watkins told the group. “It’s important to place value on people regardless of selfconcepts. Unwittingly, you can find yourself reacting to roles by people who look a certain way.” Racism can be overt or covert and it’s found in every aspect of life, ranging from healthcare to education to employment and environmental injustice like Flint, Michigan. (Consider its 57 percent black population, 40 percent below the poverty line and its yearslong water crisis.) .Self-fulfilling prophecies can be bad, very bad. One attendee said data shows that
some teachers segregate students by what teachers think the students are, which can become self-fulfilling stigmas to follow students for years. People fear upsetting the status quo and taking risks. Watkins advised those to never underestimate opportunities nor mentors who may be nearby to help. Frank Burdette and Debbie Massey were two committee members who attended and another person, a 2016 transplant to Falls Church from Chicago, Jane Michaels, said she came “to learn more about racial justice.” The George Floyd murder in 2020 woke her up. Watkins and Scott are also committee members who volunteered their time and expertise to develop the presentation and they welcome other opportunities to address
the issue, Watkins said. The Social Justice Committee of Falls Church operates under the auspices of the TInner Hill Heritage Foundation and “is a network of community members, civic organizations and faith groups exploring how to create a local culture united in diversity with a mission of engendering hope, respect, and healing,” according to its website. In their presentation they defined the racial or systematic racism as “policies and practices that exist throughout a whole society or organization that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment of others based on race or ethnicity.” Students from Meridian High School managed the registration desk for this Black History Month event.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
CA L E NDA R
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 15
THIS WEEK AROUND F.C. THURSDAY
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 15
FEBRUARY 17
Arts and Humanities Council Meeting
Falls Church Farmer's Market
Arts and Humanities Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
FCCPS Secondary Parent Coffee
A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham
Parents/guardians of students at MEHMS and MHS are invited to a parent coffee to discuss issues impacting the secondary campus and the community. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (105 Mustang Alley, Falls Church), 1:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Share the Love PostValentine's Hangout
Join Falls Church Forward for an informal hangout. See familiar faces, meet new people, and bring a friend at this no-pressure meetup. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
Env. Sustainability Council Meeting
Environmental Sustainability Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 16 Early Voting
Early voting for the March 5 dual party Presidential primary. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through February 28. Saturday voting February 24 and March 2, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed President's Day. More at fallschurchva.gov/vote. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Budget and Finance Committee Meeting
Budget and Finance Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.
This Black-led contemporary dance company aims to create a body of dance-based work that is galvanized by Black culture and history. GMU Center for the Arts (4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax, VA), 8:00 p.m.
SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 18 Las Hermanas Palacios
Dive into the vibrant chaos of 1985 Miami as Cristina García's gripping play, "The Palacios Sisters," catapults Chekhov's "Three Sisters" forward to Miami in the 1980s. Tickets at galatheatre.org. Gala Theatre (3333 14th St. NW, Washington, DC), 2:00 p.m.
MONDAY
FEBRUARY 19 President's Day Holiday Closures
F.C. Schools, City Hall, early voting, Library, and most City services are closed for President's Day. Community Center is open. Throughout F.C. (City Buildings, Falls Church)
TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 20 Chamber Networking Luncheon
Monthly networking opportunity over lunch. Meet Owner/ Editor of the Falls Church News-Press as he speaks on the future of newspapers, and enjoy a delicious meal. $30 tickets ($35 for
nonmembers, $5 walk-in fee) include your meal, available at fallschurchchamber.org. Italian Café (7161 Langston Blvd., Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:15 p.m.
Electoral Board Meeting
Electoral Board meets. City Hall (300 ParkAve., DogwoodA-B, Falls Church), 3:30 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
City Council Work Session
Work Sessions are open to the public and conducted to allow council members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. Watch live or on-demand at fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings or on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21 Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Library Board of Trustees meets. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting
Planning Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
Urban Forestry Commission Meeting
Urban Forestry Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Annie: The Musical
Leapin’ Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals, based on the popular comic strip. Tickets at thelittletheatre.com. The Little Theatre of Alexandria (600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA), 8:00 p.m.
A.I.M BY KYLE Abraham, on stage at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on Saturday. (Photo: Tony T)
PAGE 16 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
SCHO O L
News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
School News & Notes
MOUNT DANIEL students came to school dressed in blue and learned about hydration during Red Ribbon Week. (Photo: Motrya Manalac)
A TEAM OF fifth graders at Oak Street Elementary interviewed News-Press reporter Brian Reach for their 2024 Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibit. (Photo: Brooke Davis)
THE MERIDIAN BOYS Basketball team celebrated seniors Raden Chaves, Evan Davis, Boston Fitzpatrick, Grant Greiner, Ryan Grubb, and Carey Heard at Senior Night. (Photo: Fitzperfect)
MOUNT DANIEL students stayed comfy while learning about sleep on Pajama Day, part of Red Ribbon Week. (Photo: Amanda Morey)
THE MUSTANGS Cheer Team headed to Orlando, Florida last weekend for the National High School Cheerleading Championship at Disney World. (Photo: Brooke Davis)
Check out full School News & Notes stories, extra pictures, and more at: fcnp.com
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SCHO O L
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 17
THIRD GRADERS enjoyed a field trip to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum last week. (Photo: Ali Kulman)
MOUNT DANIELS students participated in a variety of fun activities, including 100 piece puzzles and 100 cup structures, in celebration of their first 100 days of school. (Photo: Julia Noble)
COACH LISA and her team at Girls On The Run. 2024 GOTR registration is open now through February 27. (Photo: Coach Lisa)
THE GIRLS basketball team honored Senior Class of 2024 members Marin Baroody, Tilly Gale, Ava Smith, and Maureen Tremblay at Senior Night. (Photo: Becki Creed)
MUSTANGS INDOOR Track & Field started the postseason strong with four all-district honors, six regional- and two state-qualifiers at Shenandoah University. (Photo: Mustang Athletics)
PAGE 18 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
LO CA L
News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes
CITY COUNCIL celebrated News-Press owner and editor-in-chief Nicholas F. Benton for his 80th birthday during the council meeting on Monday. (News-Press Photo)
Virginia Announces $12.5 Million in Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Funds
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced the continuance of funding opportunities to increase flood protection across the Commonwealth through the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund. The Fund, established in 2022 as a self-sustaining program to aid communities and property owners impacted by flooding, is offering up to $12.5 million in loans for localities. Funds are available to advance projects that will improve flood resilience in two distinct categories: • Local Match for Non-Federal Programs: $5 million in loans to localities to meet local costshare requirements for nonfederal flood mitigation grants. • Hazard Mitigation of Buildings: $7.5 million in loans to localities for the hazard mitigation of buildings. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until midnight on June 30 or when the funds have been exhausted. All applications must be submitted online via the DCR WebGrants portal.
Detailed information including the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund grant manual, a link to the grants management portal, training materials and contact information are available at dcr.virginia.gov/rvrf.
F.C. Police Warn Community About Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement
The City of Falls Church Police Department wants community members to be aware of an active phone scam in the area and recommends being cautious of anyone requesting payment or gift cards, especially over the phone. Officers have received reports stating that callers contact them claiming to be members of the police department. The law enforcement impersonator may: • refer to the community member by name • tell the community member the call is being recorded • state they need gift cards or money or a warrant will be issued for their arrest, or they may turn themselves in to jail Sometimes scams such as these will include spoofing a legitimate
police agency phone number and using a law enforcement officer’s actual name to gain the victim’s trust. No government agency of any kind takes gift cards as payment. If you receive a similar call, disconnect without providing any information or taking any instructions from the caller. The City of Falls Church Police reminds you to be aware that: The City of Falls Church Police does not call individuals and demand or request money from community members under any circumstances. The City of Falls Church Police or any other legitimate law enforcement agency does not call community members seeking payment for outstanding traffic citations or warrants. This includes claims of unpaid federal or state taxes. Individuals claiming to collect debts may try to instill fear in potential victims to persuade them to forward money. If you fall victim to these scammers with financial loss, you are encouraged to file a report by calling the City of Falls Church Police’s Non-Emergency line at 703-2415053 (TTY 711). Tips to help avoid becoming a
THE MARY RILEY STYLES Public Library’s annual Chet DeLong Award this year went to Kathy Breen (right), shown here with veteran library supporter DeLong at Monday’s City Council meeting. Breen has been storytelling for children at the library for 19 years. (News-Press Photo) victim to this scam: • Never give personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller or email. • Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. • Stay private. Regularly update privacy settings for social media sites. Scammers often make their stories more believable by trolling for personal information on Facebook, Twitter and similar sites. • Remember that anyone who has the number on a prepaid card has access to the funds on your card. Never wire money or provide debit or credit card numbers to a stranger. For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Scam Alert website at consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count at a Virginia State Park
Identify the birds around you while contributing to science in the
annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Each year in February, millions of people count the variety of birds that can be seen and heard in their own backyards over a four-day period. Virginia State Parks invites community members to participate in the bird count that takes place February 16 — 19. The Great Backyard Bird Count brings people from all over the world together to connect and share their love of birds while learning about migration patterns. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. All you need to do is log the birds that you count in a 15-minute period on at least one of the four days of the event. Download the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify the birds in your area, or use the eBird Mobile app to enter your bird sightings. “Virginia State Parks offer a unique and scenic location to view various birds this time of the year,” said Powhatan State Park manager Amelia Hulth. “Our park is perfect for anyone to enjoy birdwatching
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
alone or with friends and family. On Saturday, February 17, we will offer a fun ranger-led activity where guests will discover more about our feathered friends that can be found in the park or in their backyard. For the second part of the program, we’ll use peanut butter or vegetable shortening, sweet gum balls, sticks and pinecones to make feeders that provide tasty treats for our winged friends. You can hang the feeder in your backyard and see who comes to visit.” Those interested in participating in this year’s bird count can find an event or related program at one of several participating parks. Virginia State parks that are having an event include Bear Creek Lake (Cumberland), Caledon (King George), Claytor Lake (Dublin), Hungry Mother (Marion), Mason Neck (Lorton), Natural Tunnel (Duffield), New River Trail (Max Meadows), Pocahontas (Chesterfield), and Powhatan (Powhatan). Your participation matters and your bird count contributes to a global study that helps protect bird populations all over the world. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to connect with birds, nature and each other.
News-Press Owner and Editor Nicholas Benton Recognized by City Council on Birthday
On Monday at the City Council meeting, News-Press founder, owner, and editor Nicholas F. Benton was surprised by F.C. Mayor Letty Hardi and the rest of City Council with a a heartfelt letter of recognition — and a rousing version of “The Happy Birthday Song” — in celebration of Benton’s 80th birthday last Friday. Read the full letter on page 6 of this issue.
Small Group of Men Protest Family-Friendly Drag Event at
Clare and Don’s on Saturday
On Saturday at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, the first of a new family-friendly monthly Drag event, Miss Evita’s Family Drag Lunch, was protested by a small group of men wearing red sashes and holding signs. Read more in The LGBTQ+
LO CA L
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 19
Reach on Page 23.
Falls Church Homeless Shelter to Honor Partners at Little City Big Heart Winter Gala
Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter is excited to honor its community partner, Falls Church Presbyterian Church, and its corporate partner, Ledo Pizza Falls Church, at its upcoming Little City Big Heart Winter Gala at the State Theatre on February 24, 6:30 p.m. — 10:30 p.m. F.C. Presbyterian has served as a community partner with the shelter for over 20 years. In addition to financial support, the congregation provides dinner for shelter guests on Monday nights and the Sunday School classes provide bag lunches. Each year, the youth group helps prepare the shelter for its opening at the start of the winter season. Ledo Pizza F.C., owned by Jim Robertson with Marquette Hudson as Managing Partner, has been donating several pizzas to the shelter every Saturday night for many years. They have also collaborated with the shelter on fundraisers and are serving as a sponsor for this year’s Gala. The event will also include live music by Organ-ized, a silent auction and raffle, heavy appetizers and dessert, and emcee Matthew Cappucci, and will benefit the F.C. Homeless Shelter. Tickets and sponsorships are available at fcshelter.org. The Falls Church Homeless Shelter operates a hypothermia prevention program from November 15 – March 31 for single adults and depends on the support of all its partners to operate the program.
ORGAN-IZED PERFORMED at Solace Outpost on Monday at a Mardi Gras party, hosted by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and Rock Star Realty. (News-Press Photo)
A SMALL GROUP of men decided to protest a family-friendly Drag Queen event at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, holding up signs along the other side of N. Washington St. (Photo: Evita Peroxide)
COMMUNITY MEMBERS including Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Mayor Letty Hardi and other City Council members, F.C. Sheriff Cay, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, and F.C. Chamber Board Chair Dave Crance celebrated Lunar New Year at Eden Center. View more pictures online at fcnp.com. (Photo: Gary Mester)
PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The following were read and referred to City advisory boards at the August 7, 2023 City Council meeting. A public hearing and possible action on the matter is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TR23-23) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OFFICIAL FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, BY RECLASSIFYING APPROXIMATELY 0.623 ACRES OF LAND, LOCATED AT 360 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET (LOT 27, REAL PROPERTY CODE 52-306-027) FROM “BUSINESS’ TO “MIXED-USE”, FOR A MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, KNOWN AS QUINN/HOMESTRETCH SENIOR LIVING, ON APPLICATION BY QUINN ENTERPRISES, LLC (TR23-24) RESOLUTION TO GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN A MIXEDUSE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND TO INCREASE THE BUILDING HEIGHT WITH A BONUS OF UP TO FOURTY(40) FEET TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN (115) FEET FOR A MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, KNOWN AS QUINN/HOMESTRETCH SENIOR LIVING, ON APPROXIMATELY 1.866 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 350 AND 360 S. WASHINGTON STREET AND 303 S. MAPLE AVENUE (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS, #52-306-026, #52-306027, AND #52-306-028) ON APPLICATION BY QUINN ENTERPRISES, LLC City Council will consider an application by Quinn Enterprises LLC (latest submission January 4, 2024), a mixed-use redevelopment project, which includes senior age-restricted housing, medical office, and ground floor retail uses at the addresses listed above. All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-2485014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www.fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. 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
FOR SALE National Memorial Park, Falls Church, VA. 2 double depth plots in Block HH Current Price $13,000 each - selling for $6,000 each. Phone (910) 575-0258
fcnp.com
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
C L AS S I F I E DS AUCTIONS
AT T N . A U C T I O N E E R S : A d v e r t i s e 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 804-5217576, landonc@vpa.net
FARMS/FISH Live Fish for stocking ponds. Many varieties available. Delivery to your pond or pickup available. Call Zetts Fish Farm for information 304-995-9202, Cell 304-820-6986.
HOME IMPROVEMENT Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-9471479 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-844-902-4611 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-614-6667 The bathroom of your dreams in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today! 1-844945-1631
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-877-591-9950
SERVICES DIVORCE-Uncontested, $475+$86 court cost. WILLS-$295.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https:// hiltonoliverattorneyva.com. Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-608-4974
Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance PublishingTrusted by Authors Since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-888-366-7596 or visit dorranceinfo.com/vapress
After
fcnp.com Limited Time Offer!
SAVE!
50% OFF Up to
ON YOUR INSTALLATION
FREE ESTIMATE
1.844.902.4611
Other Services
House Cleaning Service Avaliable 7 days a week Weekly - Bi Weekly - Monthly or One time Jobs Move out - Move in 28 years Experience • Good references • Free Estimates
Expires 3/31/2024
10% OFF
TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and first responders
New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“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 its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/erie-licenses/. VA License Number: 2705029944
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
R
For Information Call Susy
703-901-0596
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-888-550-3083 www.dental50plus.com/ virginia #6258 Alaska, Europe, Hawaii plus dozens of other popular trips! Starting at $1649 per person (double occupancy req’d.) YMT Vacations plans everything, leaving you to relax and enjoy. Call 1-855-7430491 for more details. Use promo code YMT2024 for $250 off. Limited time only.
Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! Before
Cleaning Services
Call 844-947-1479 to schedule your free quote!
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
LEGAL NOTICENOTICE
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 21
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PETITIONS BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY AND APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY, FOR DETERMINING THE TREATMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CUSTOMERS’ RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES FOR PURPOSES OF EACH UTILITY’S RPS PROGRAM COMPLIANCE CASE NO. PUR-2024-00010 During its 2020 Session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted Chapters 1193 (HB 1526) and 1194 (SB 851) of the 2020 Virginia Acts of Assembly. These duplicate Acts of Assembly, known as the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”), became effective on July 1, 2020. The VCEA, inter alia, established a mandatory renewable energy portfolio standard (“RPS”) program (“RPS Program”) in § 56-585.5 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”), which requires Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion”) and Appalachian Power Company (“APCo”) to procure and retire renewable energy certificates (“RECs”) for an increasing percentage of the utility’s total electric energy sold in the previous calendar year. The VCEA directed that all costs related to compliance with the mandatory RPS Program, including costs related to the retirement of RECs, shall be recovered from all retail customers as a non-bypassable charge, regardless of generation supplier, with certain limited exceptions. Additionally, Code § 56-585.5 D requires Dominion and APCo to submit annually to the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) plans and petitions for approval of new solar and onshore wind generation capacity (“RPS Filing”). In APCo’s 2023 RPS Filing, two proposals were presented relating to the proper calculation of total electric energy for the prior compliance year. The first proposal was to count the RECs from Rider WWS and Rider REC towards APCo’s RPS Program compliance, and the second proposal was to remove the 100 percent renewable customers’ load from the calculation of “total electric energy,” thereby reducing the number of RECs required for RPS compliance. In its Final Order in that proceeding, the Commission found that the issue warranted additional consideration and directed APCo and Dominion to make a filing addressing these issues and presenting specific proposals for approval, including any proposed mechanism for netting the benefits of such RECs. Specifically, the Commission determined: On or before January 16, 2024, APCo and Dominion shall make a filing, either jointly or separately, containing the proposed treatment of RECs associated with (i) customers taking service under each [utility’s] voluntary renewable tariffs [(“Renewable Utility Customers”)] and (ii) shopping customers purchasing 100 percent renewable energy, for purposes of RPS Program compliance [(“Renewable Shopping Customers”)]. Such filing shall include any associated proposal for netting the benefits of such RECs, including applicable tariff language. On January 16, 2024, in Case No. PUR-2024-00009, APCo submitted its petition (“APCo Petition”), which stated that the Commission should exclude the load associated with the Renewable Utility Customers and Renewable Shopping Customers from the calculation of APCo’s annual RPS requirement, thereby allowing them to bypass VCEA compliance costs, if the Commission finds that approach to be permissible under current law. APCo asserts that using RECs to meet the utility’s RPS requirement that have either been dedicated to one of its voluntary renewable energy riders or have been purchased by Renewable Shopping Customers is an impermissible double-counting of the RECs. Further, APCo claims that participants in voluntary renewable energy programs would effectively subsidize non-participants to meet the utility’s RPS compliance requirement. Also on January 16, 2024, in Case No. PUR-2024-00010, Dominion submitted its petition (“Dominion Petition”) (collectively with the APCo Petition, “Petitions”) requesting that the Commission reconsider its decision in Case No. PUR-2020-00164, in which the Commission held that RPS Program compliance requires recognition of RPS eligible renewable sales from competitive service providers (“CSPs”). Dominion requests that the Commission instead find that the RECs of Renewable Shopping Customers cannot be used by the utility for its RPS Program compliance. Dominion further asserts that, if the Commission determines that Renewable Shopping Customer RECs may be used for a utility’s RPS Program compliance, their load should be deducted from the utility’s calculation of “total electric energy” and they should be excluded from paying Rider RPS. Dominion further states that if the RECs of Renewable Shopping Customers can be used for compliance, the RECs of other similarly-situated customers, specifically Renewable Utility Customers, should also be used to reduce the utility’s compliance obligations. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Petitions and supporting documents in full for details about these and other proposals. The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, consolidated the two Petitions into one case, Case No. PUR-2024-00010, and scheduled public hearings on the Petitions. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Petitions shall be convened telephonically at 10 a.m. on July 31, 2024. On or before July 24, 2024, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia. gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting. Beginning at 10 a.m. on July 31, 2024, the Hearing Examiner will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above. On July 31, 2024, at 10 a.m., or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Petitions from the Petitioners, any respondents, and the Commission Staff (“Staff”). To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding. An electronic copy of the Dominion Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the utility: Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com. An electronic copy of the APCo Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the utility: Noelle J. Coates, Esquire, American Electric Power Service Corporation, Three James Center, 1051 East Cary Street, Suite 1100, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or njcoates@aep.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the Petitions from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. On or before July 24, 2024, any interested person may submit comments on the Petitions by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00010. On or before March 28, 2024, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation 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 Petitioners. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-2030, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00010. On or before June 5, 2024, 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 Petitioners, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, 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-2024-00010. 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 Petitions, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY and APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
LO CA L
PAGE 22 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
Meridian Boys Complete Dominant Regular Season by Ryan McCafferty
Having already locked up the top seed in the regional playoffs, Meridian High School’s boys’ basketball team was playing simply for pride on Tuesday night – or perhaps as a dress rehearsal for the postseason. Perhaps the most important thing for the Mustangs was that the team was back to full strength, with starters Daylen Martino and Isaac Rosenberger both returning to the lineup against visiting Trinity-Meadow View. The game started with a bit of a twist, as Martino shot a pair of technical free throws before any time ran off the clock due to a pregame
dunking infraction by the visitors. He made one of two, and then scored a layup on Meridian’s opening possession to give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead – and it only grew from there. The home team went ahead 14-4 in the opening three minutes and rocketed out to a 29-8 advantage by the end of the first quarter, using the transition game as a lethal weapon to score virtually at will. The second period brought more of the same, and Will Davis capped it off with the highlight of the night, making a turnaround catch-and-shoot threepointer just as the clock expired to give the Mustangs a 57-16 lead into the break.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
C ritter C orner
Head coach Jim Smith plugged in his backup unit for the entirety of the second half, and with a running clock for most of the remainder of the contest, Meridian ended up being held to “only” 25 points the rest of the way, winning 82-35. Martino had 12 points to lead the way while Davis added 11, and all fourteen – yes, fourteen – of the Mustangs who saw the floor scored at least once. Meridian, which completes its regular season at 20-2, now awaits its opponent for Friday’s playoff opener. Both the boys and girls will be at home for the duration of the Regional Tournament.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CR IM E R E PORT Week of February 5-11, 2024 Larceny from Building, Founders Ave, between January 30th and 4 PM on February 4th, unknown suspect(s) cut a bicycle lock and stole a bicycle from a secured storage area. The bicycle is described as a black Rad Power electric bike. No Valid Operator’s License, N Oak St, Feb 6, 8:25 AM, a white female, 27, of Stafford, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License. Driving While License Suspended, Noland St, Feb 6, 9:33 AM, a black female, 62, of Manassas, was arrested for Driving with Suspended License. Fraud, Park Ave, Feb 6, 1:52 PM, victim reported transferring money to an unknown suspect claiming to be a police officer with a warrant for their arrest. Larceny from Building, S Maple Ave, between December 15th and 7:30 AM on February 6th, unknown suspect(s) stole a bicycle from a secured storage area. The bicycle is described as a black Jamis mountain bike. No Valid Operator’s License, N Oak St, Feb 6, 8:25 AM, a white male, 27, of Fairfax County, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License. Intimidation/Fraud, Park Ave, Feb 7, 1:52 PM, victim reported receiving a
phone call from an unknown suspect claiming to be a police officer seeking payment for an arrest warrant. Driving Under the Influence/Refusal Blood or Breath Sample, Brook Dr, Feb 7, 11:34 PM, a white male, 32, of Springfield, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Unreasonable Refusal of a Breath/Blood Sample. Graffiti, S Washington St, Feb 9, 8:31 AM, a report was taken for graffiti. Graffiti, Rees Pl, Feb 9, 8:40 AM, a report was taken for graffiti. Graffiti, S Washington St, Feb 9, 8:51 AM, a report was taken for graffiti. Graffiti, E Annandale Rd, Feb 9, 9:03 AM, a report was taken for graffiti. Fraud, Wilson Blvd, Feb 9, 11:15 AM, victim reported unknown suspects using fake money orders to purchase merchandise on January 24th. The first suspect is described as a Middle Eastern male in his early 50`s, medium build, approximately 5`6ft in height, clean shaven, with dark hair and eyes wearing all black clothing. The second suspect is described as a Middle Eastern female, 30-40 years of age, average build, approximately 6`0ft in height, wearing a light colored dress, with dark hair and eyes. Fraud/Identity Theft, N Tuckahoe St, Feb 8, 11 AM, victims reported unknown suspect(s) impersonated them to withdraw money at multiple banking
institutions out of state. Fraud, Park Ave, Feb 9, 1:26 PM, victims reported unknown suspect(s) removing money from their banking accounts. Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Roosevelt Blvd, between 6PM on February 9th and 12 PM on February 10th, unknown suspect(s) removed the driver side mirror from the victim’s vehicle. Shoplifting, W Broad St, Feb 10, 12:15 PM, victim reported an unknown suspect stole merchandise without paying. Officers later located the individual, and the merchandise was recovered. Shoplifting, W Broad St, Feb 10, 3:57 PM, an unknown suspect stole merchandise without paying. The suspect is described as a black male in his 50`s, wearing a black jacket and blue face covering. Larceny from Building, W Broad St, Feb 11, 4:28 PM, victim reported their wallet being stolen.
MEET HAZELNUT! This young lady (Australian Labradoodle) is well-known around the Great Falls neighborhood. She typically wants to play and chase a tennis ball, and loves to cuddle. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com!
NEWS BRIEFS Continued from Page 7
what country again? “This is why I worked for years to pass a law blocking any president from leaving NATO. And it’s one reason I’m fighting so hard to win reelection — to ensure we have a Democratic Senate that could serve as a backstop to a potential Trump
The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted
IN AS LITTLE AS A DAY
1000 OFF
$
Shoplifting, W Broad St, Feb 11, 9:31 PM, an unknown suspect stole merchandise without paying. The suspect is described as a white male juvenile. Trespassing, N Oak St, Feb 11, 11:56 PM, an Asian male, 53, of no fixed address, was arrested for Trespassing.
presidency. “We have to send a message that pro-Putin comments like these cannot be allowed from someone who wants to be President of the United States. As long as I’m in the Senate, I will not allow any president to abandon our allies. NATO and the global world order it ensures is too important.”
*
AND
No Payments & No Interest For 18 Months **
OFFER EXPIRES 3/31/24
CALL NOW
(844) 945-1631
*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires 3/31/24. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2024 BCI Acrylic, Inc.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
The LGBTQ+ Reach
by Brian Reach
Falls Church News-Press
The Hate Mark Robinson (R-NC), North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor, is running for Governor of the state this year. Though two others are vying for the GOP nomination, Robinson is almost certain to win the state’s March 7 primary — a recent Meredith Poll showed him supported by 34 percent of Republican voters, with only 9 percent going his leading opponent. Robinson has been exceedingly vocal with his anti-LGBTQ+ views. In a 2021 sermon in Winston-Salem, he called straight couples “superior” to gay couples because they can produce their own biological children together. He continued by calling LGBTQ+ people “filth,” and equated gay people with “maggots,” “flies,” and “what the cows leave behind.” “Yes, I called it filth, and if you don’t like that I called it filth, come see me and I’ll explain it to you,” Robinson said. In 2023, as he was gearing up for his gubernatorial bid, Robinson spoke to a church, saying “it makes me sick every time I see it — a church that flies a rainbox flag — which is a direct spit in the face of God almighty.” Robinson also said “God formed me because he knew there was going to be a time when God’s learning was going to be intolerable to the wicked. When children were going to be dragged down to go see the drag show. When pornography was going to be presented to our children in schools.” On the campaign trail this year, Robinson has taken his transphobic and homophobic rhetoric even further, including two campaign rallies on February 3 (in Greenville and Cary). “If you’re a man on Friday night, and all of the sudden on Saturday you feel like a woman and want to go in the women’s bathroom in the mall, you will be arrested — or whatever we got to do to you,” Robinson said at the Cary rally. He repeated this line at the Greenville rally, adding that “if you are confused, go find a corner outside, you know… we’re not tearing society apart because of this.” In December, Donald Trump endorsed Robinson — the first Black lieutenant governor of the Tar Heel State — by calling him “better than Martin Luther King.” The Irony Obviously I’m not a huge fan of Mark Robinson — the things he says are absolutely vile, and have no place in public discourse. The irony of the MLK comparison is hard to miss — not that it came from Trump, but that Robinson is calling for people to be arrested for using “the wrong” restroom. How are Robinson’s words (and those of anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans across the
nation) any different from the sentiments behind laws segregating Black people into separate bathrooms, schools, neighborhoods, and other public facilities in our country for 100 years following the abolition of slavery? They aren’t. It’s the same hate. The Protest On Saturday, Evita Peroxide (who is also a board member for NOVA Pride) held her first Family Drag Lunch, a family-friendly event with storytime, fun activities, special guests, and dancing. The event, held at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church) was well attended. Across the street, a group of men gathered, wearing red sashes and holding signs that read “Drag Queen Story Time = Childhood’s End,” “Honk to Protect Our Children,” and “Praying Repentation for Drag Queen Story Hour.” The men were part of an independent group of Catholics that have separated from the church in the wake of the Pope’s inclusive stances. Families, guests, staff, and even a large delivery truck worked together to block the protesters from view and protect those inside. “Yelling at families going to a story time is pretty pathetic.” said David Tax, who together with his sister owns Clare and Don’s. “People have a choice each day — to do something negative for society or to do something positive. The haters chose to be negative, and that’s unfortunate.” Clare and Don’s will continue to welcome Miss Evita’s Family Drag Lunch every second Saturday of the month at 11:30 a.m. The Future Last week, four bright young students — fifth graders at Oak Street Elementary — interviewed me as part of their Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition project. The topic the students selected was acceptance of the LGBTQIA++ youth community, with a main focus on gender identity. Check out our School News & Notes section on page 16 for a picture of us all! On March 7, all fifth grade student teams at OSE will present their PYP Exhibition projects at the 2024 PYP Exhibition Showcase, and community members are invited to attend the event, which takes place in the school at 5:00 p.m. Thankfully for us all, young people — like the students who interviewed me last week at Oak Street Elementary — are the future. Their positive energy provided me with the fortitude necessary to encounter the hateful protest on N. Washington St. and read Mark Robinson’s anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. I personally can’t wait for the four students I met last week to start changing the world — and despite all the bad news lately, I’m more confident than ever that they will make the world a better, kinder place.
FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024 | PAGE 23
Falls Church Business News & Notes Planning For Your Future – Medicaid and More
Kensington hosts an in-person session on Thursday, February 22, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., on protecting your wealth from healthcare costs during retirement. This will address the importance of financial health. Partnering with Bethany Kazakevicius, CRPC, Investment Advisor Representative with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, you’ll learn more about long-term care and what Medicare does and does not cover. She’ll touch on longevity and spending rates of retirement accounts. There will be time to ask questions. Reservations are required and can be made online at thekensingtonfallschurch.com/ events/planning-for-your-future-series-part-ii-protecting-your-wealth-from-healthcare-costs-during-retirement/
Marketing Session for Businesses The Mason Small Business Development Center is hosting an online session Thursday, February 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for businesses to review the latest in effective marketing of goods and services. The webinar will cover how to choose target groups, market definitions, market segmentation, competitive analysis, branding and online SEO and offline marketing. Senior Counselor Bernard Ferret will lead the session and the link will be shared upon registration at clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=110440005&nocache=y
Chicken Salad Chick Coming Soon A new chicken restaurant is coming to Falls Church. Devon Chamberlin will open a franchise, Chicken Salad Chick, this spring in Idylwood Shopping Center. The restaurant will carry a number of variations on chicken salad as well as soups, salads, and sides. Chicken Salad Chick is operating in ten states and has another one planned for Chantilly, opening in late summer/fall.
Fortunoff Signs Lease The New York outdoor furniture retailer is expanding south. Fortunoff Backyard Store has leased space in Crossroads Place at South Jefferson Street and Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. It joins tenants Burlington, Home Goods and World Market. Space has also been leased at Parkway Crossing East in Woodbridge and Sugarland Crossing in Sterling.
Lions Fruit Sale On Saturday, February 17, at 8:15 a.m., the Falls Church – Annandale Lions Club will sell fruit at the Annandale Swim and Tennis Club, 7530 Little River Turnpike, until they sell out. Look for the Craig Moving Van. All proceeds support local charitable work. For more information, visit fc-alions.org.
Compass Coffee Approval The second drive-thru Compass Coffee application has won the support of the Fairfax County Planning Commission. This will utilize the lanes of the vacated BB&T Bank in the Shops at West Falls Church. One lane will serve in-person orders while the other will serve online and mobile orders, supporting a total of 14 vehicles at a time with traffic adjustments. Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
PAGE 24 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2024
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Custom graphic design by Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. artists to be used on T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other apparel. Perfect for clubs, organizations, teams, groups, PTA, special events, limited and wider distribution, extracurriculars, school events, work events, family, individuals or for no reason whatsoever. Tel.: 703.992.9400 ext. 1 Fax: 703.992.6656 E-mail: fcnp.ad@janmedia.com
Powered by:
RATED A+ ON BBB FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED (c) 2024