February 6 — 12, 2020
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXIX No. 51
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
New Children’s Indoor Play Back Where It Belongs Center Set for E. Fairfax Lot Use Approved by Episcopal Church Vote
by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
A new, single-story children’s play and exercise center is the latest project unveiled by Falls Church-based developer and chair of its Economic Development Authority Bob Young. His proposal would bring Scramble, a European-style indoor play center for infants and children, to a new building in the Falls Church Episcopal-owned lot adjacent to the Lily building on E. Fairfax St. In a deal that required a vote of approval at the annual meeting of the church last Sunday, its result eliciting a cheer from the attendees, the project will be built on land owned by the church and leased by Young. It is on part of the land, currently used as
a parking lot, Young has leased that houses the strip of businesses along E. Fairfax renovated in the characteristic Young-style of art nouveau design. The lot, located at 130 E. Fairfax St. across from the Falls Church Episcopal, is now used for overflow surface parking for the church. Outside of Sunday services, however, it is often vacant, and the church was enthusiastic to learn that Young had struck a deal for its development. The building will be constructed “by right,” but will need site plan approval from the commission. While the response from the commission, being introduced to the plan for the first time, was favorable, it was not so with vice chair Brent Krasner.
Continued on Page 5
VIRGINIA HISTORIC MARKER T-40, “Lincoln Reviews Troops at Bailey’s Crossroads,” was lost in 2017 after it was temporarily removed for sidewalk renovations. After efforts from Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross (front, left) and History Commissioner Naomi Zeavin (front, center) to locate the missing marker were to no avail, help from State Senator Dick Saslaw secured an order for a new placard which was installed in December. (Photo: News-Press)
As LWV Centennial Celebrated, Voter Registration Deadline Looms
by Christopher Jones
Falls Church News-Press
As last weekend marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters with a robust celebration hosted by the Falls Church chapter, the league’s local chapter has contin-
ued to work up to the deadline to get citizens to register to vote in the March 3 “Super Tuesday” Democratic primary in Virginia. That deadline is this Monday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. Persons can check registration status or register online at vote.virginia.gov or at the City Voter Registrar office at
City Hall, 300 Park Avenue. The LWV student chapter at George Mason High School, the only such chapter in Virginia, has been out in force on the Mason campus this week following participation in the anniversary celebration with the word that one can register if turning 18 anytime
before to Nov. 3 general election, and vote in the March 3 primary, as well. The Falls Church branch of the League of Women Voters commemorated a century of the parent organization’s existence and the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that grant-
ed women’s suffrage last Sunday. Attended by Mayor David Tarter, Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly, City Council members Letty Hardi and Phil Duncan and the City’s first woman mayor, Carol DeLong (1980-88), all
Continued on Page 4
Inside This Week F.C. Curbside Recycling Nixes Glass Starting Feb. 19
East Falls Church Metro Station Will Close for Summer
Mustang Boys Basketball Gets Back on Winning Track
See page 14
See News Briefs, page 9
See Sports, page 16
The City of Falls Church is joining a regional effort, moving glass recyclables from curbside collection to a central location, with a new pilot program, “Purple Can Club,” it hopes will dispose of the waste in a more effective manner.
Representatives of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority told the City Council Monday that the East Falls Church Station of the Metrorail system’s Orange Line will be closed to the public between May 23 and Sept. 7 for repairs and upgrades.
This week’s 62-29 thumping of Brentsville helped George Mason High School’s boys basketball team regain their winning momentum after reeling from two road losses.
Index
Editorial........................................................ 6 Letters.......................................................6,8 News & Notes.....................................10–11 Comment........................................7,12–13 Business News..........................................15 Sports........................................................16 Calendar.............................................18–19 Classified Ads............................................20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword..................21 Crime Report.............................................22 Critter Corner.............................................22
PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2020
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F.C. League
Continued from Page 1
joined the celebration at the Fall Church Episcopal that included period costume performers from the Victorian Society of Falls Church, a jazz trio, catered table spreads and historical exhibits exploring the struggles of the first women to gain the right to vote in
LO CA L Little City. The program included a reading by the mayor and council members of the City Council’s Jan. 27 proclamation expressing the City’s appreciation for the FCLWV and honoring four “life members” of the group who have served over 50 years — Betty Allan, Betty Blystone, Doris Doran and Ann McCleary. Students from the George Mason
High School League of Women Voters Club (the only Virginia school club affiliated with the League) were applauded as the “future of the league,” by League liaison Bob Crowe and faculty sponsor Pam Mahoney. Delivering the keynote, the League’s former national executive director, Nancy Tate, highlighted the importance of exploring local history to appreciate the struggles
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of the first suffragettes. “This is a wonderful celebration,” she declared. “The League came into being before the 19th Amendment was ratified in anticipation and with knowledge of the fact that just having the constitutional right to vote was not enough. You needed to actually go vote and to know something about the issues.” The twin goals of non-partisan issue education and voter registration have served as the pillars of the League’s mission to this day. The need to persist has also never disappeared. Not until 1952 did Virginia ratify the 19th amendment, a year after the Falls Church League first offices opened. Tate informed the gathering about the 2020 Women Votes Centennial Initiative to educate the public about this year’s commemorations. Following Tate’s talk, the jazz trio struck up “Happy Birthday” to the League and the 19th Amendment, attendees sang appreciatively. Tarter was called upon to cut the ceremonial cake, where he remarked on FCLWV’s “education of our community, getting voters to turn out for elections, raising key questions, increasing the quality of dialogue and discourse, just a whole wealth of things that are critical for the democratic process.” For Wendy Frieman and Johanna Barry, the co-presidents of the League, recalling the sacrifices of the women’s suffrage movement serve as an inspiration. “I think people take for granted the right to vote,” said Barry, “It’s more than just a civic duty. It’s real-
ly the heart and soul of this democracy… and the fact that women suffered and died and were tortured to get the vote.” People also don’t realize, said Ms. Frieman “how long it took and how many women and other supporters of the cause died without ever seeing voting rights happen. It was really the pathbreakers that made it possible.” The co-presidents also recalled fondly the early actions of the FCWLV’s ‘Observer Corps’ who would attend all City Council meetings and public hearings wearing a League button “so that officials [knew] someone from the League [was] there and listening and reporting back to the members.” Hardi added that, as a first generation immigrant, she cherishes the right to vote, remembering her parents’ naturalization ceremony and how much the right has meant to her family. Duncan discussed how the Falls Church League serves as the “heartbeat of [the City’s] progressive instincts” and continues to be a major contributor to Falls Church’s civic and political scene. For 18-year-old Grace Tarpgaard, the student League of Women Voters club leader at Mason, the right to vote is particularly salient now as she will be casting her very first presidential election vote in November. Her club’s active membership of 8-12 students is working on educating the student body on the key political issues of the day. “Imagining a time when women didn’t have the right to vote,” she said, “is insane for me.” So, to the women who fought for these rights are a true inspiration to her.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
LO CA L
FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2020 | PAGE 5
Indoor Play Center Scramble Coming to F.C.
Continued from Page 1
“To me, it just seems very outmoded...I don’t know how much room there is to rethink things, but I think there is potential to do more,” Krasner said, while adding on later, “I look at it as a building that isn’t going to add a whole lot to that part of town.” Young said that “having a building there at all instead of a filthy parking lot that has no stormwater management “is a step in the right direction.” Along with the added benefits of putting the space back on City tax rolls, Young noted the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the church’s congregation. Krasner conceded that something was better than nothing on the lot, but couldn’t endorse the aesthetic of the building’s design. Commenting that it appeared “suburban” and had a “strip mall feel,” particularly the synthetic stucco material the structure will use for its exterior, Krasner felt it didn’t speak to the vision that the City was trending in. Architect Jack Wilbern noted that since it was in more of a tertiary location, the visual aspect of the property was less of an emphasis, to which
Krasner replied that the project shouldn’t be “building down” to its place. But Krasner seemed to be alone with his concerns. Commissioner Cory Weiss expressed her support of the project’s purpose and Chair Andy Rankin chimed in to say that, for a by-right development, this was a solid proposal. Krasner countered by arguing the bar was being set low, though Rankin stated that “when we give them unrealistic suggestions, it’s not beneficial,” and that, logically, there wasn’t much the commission needed to change. In conjunction with the proposed building itself, bump outs will be added along E. Fairfax St. and the adjacent Douglass Avenue at crosswalks to shorten the distance families have to traverse the streets as well as serve as traffic calming measures. Waivers for the project covered removing some of the parking spaces in the rear of the building to replace them with landscaping as a part of the bioretention system and creating a caraccessible entrance along Douglass Avenue near the front of the site. The parking lost by the church will be spread across two neighboring lots, including the Lily-motif
strip mall immediately next to the site and the Tower Square shopping center behind the planned structure with the new Aldi grocery store. Young also said that, per his agreement with the church, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Sundays the establishment can only be used by parishioners. A review of Capital Improvement Projects by Deputy City Manager Cindy Mester followed the work session on 130 E. Fairfax project. In her report presented to the commission, a bulk of the budget for CIP programs that span from FY 2021-26 will focus largely on transportation — 80 percent in FY 2021 and for the years that follow. That includes local funding for traffic calming as well as infrastructure improvements to bridges, pavement, traffic signals and multimodal connectivity and accessibility. Furthermore, besides the shutdown of the Orange line in Falls Church this summer, the pressure for reinvestment from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority on the City budget is still increasing. Originally, the net increase was
F.C. DEPUTY CITY MANAGER Cindy Mester lays out the scope and �inancing of future Capital Improvement Projects with the Planning Commission Monday night. (P����: N���-P����) nearly $800,000, but with the help of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority regional money and debt service in the out years, the City was able to drop down to $550,000. Weiss raised some concerns that the City doesn’t have a green infrastructure plan in place to handle stormwater. She noted how green infrastructure can help avoid grey infrastructure costs, and then cited how Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s green plan avoided capital costs of up to $120 million. Weiss wondered if there’s any consideration for green infrastructure plans for public
and private projects, especially with their benefits to overall costs. Mester said that, while the recently-formed Stormwater Task Force is focused on specific projects, the City is looking into ways to partner developers where they can look into capital costs. For example, that included talking with the faith-based community with a lot of parking available and how their drainage is handled. Commissioner Melissa Teates also wanted an update the usage rates for the Capital BikeShare program the City kicked off last May.
PAGE 6 | FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020
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E D I TO R I A L
Books, Books, Books!
Umberto Eco’s compelling first novel, “The Name of the Rose,” is a gripping mystery involving unusual deaths in 1327 at a remote Benedictine monastery in Italy. Written in 1980, it was later (1986) made into a powerful movie starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater and even more recently into a BBC miniseries. The work is really about a library, the one at the monastery where after centuries monks still engaged in drafting elaborate copies of sacred texts (moveable type not yet invented for more than another century). Satan is blamed for the deadly mayhem going on at the monastery, but it turns out it was just some unhappy monk in authority who went to all that trouble to keep his big secret — that he had sealed off from any public access thousands of books he deemed sinful because of their promotion, in one form or another, of humor and laughter. Alas, the denial to humanity of access to learning, to science, to truth, to, in summary, books, is as old as civilization itself because, in one form or another, so is evil. Trump isn’t the only despot to decry the media, the access to truth, facts and knowledge, as “the enemy of the people.” Hopefully his insistence that he is the only arbiter of truth, in a manner similar to what other bloody tyrants have done throughout history, is only a temporary aberration on the American body politic, but there is no way to know for sure. The lust for ignorance and abject obedience to authority is a strong force among people who fear the real world. So much of all of this has to do with books. There is evidence to show that the newly emerging generation is beginning to turn its back on solely electronic forms of reading, longing for the tattered, corners-bent, note-scrawled forms of real books, solid books, books to fit into coat pockets where they can be walked beyond the gaze of prying eyes, clear off the grid, if need be, to refresh and enlighten the souls of knowledgehungry persons of all ages and stripes. Yes, the City of Falls Church must take great pride in being a sanctuary for books and all the wonderful things associated with them. This is why we reiterate our call for the City Council to give a final vote of confirmation to move ahead at last with the long-overdue renovation and expansion of its beloved Mary Riley Styles Public Library. The Council voted a narrow 4-3 preliminary OK to the new guaranteed price terms for the job, despite the 2-to-1 overwhelming vote in favor by a referendum of the people in 2016. We hope the vote will be more emphatic this coming Monday, strong enough to show the world the City is not fazed by slight fears of adversity such that its biggest callings, like its sanctuary role for knowledge, science, and books, including funny ones, are firmly in command here.
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Falls Church Deserves The Library We Voted For Editor, Budgets are about choices and priorities. The residents and taxpayers of Falls Church voted in a referendum to provide money to upgrade our Mary Riley Styles Library. Our library receives well over 300,000 visits per year and is available to all of the residents in our city. The planned upgrades will provide an increase in meet-
ing spaces at the library for events such as the one I recently had the pleasure and privilege of attending, in which Jeff Peterson introduced his recently published book, “A New Coast,” on the effects of rising seas along our eastern coastline. Mr. Peterson was articulate and erudite, and his conclusions were thoughtful. At the end of his talk, I told the librarian that I
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hoped the library would host other speakers. He agreed. The taxpayer approved funding will also increase critically needed spaces for young children who visit the library with their parents. It will pay for LEED certification and make our library environmentally friendly. Our library’s HVAC system desperately needs an upgrade and its decrepit elevator is so old that parts are difficult to replace. I’m most concerned about spending the money to make our library ADA compliant. Failure to do so would invite an expensive lawsuit. I attended a city council meeting last Monday evening with a num-
ber of other Falls Church residents and taxpayers where the Council was attempting to deal with the budget. One of the items discussed was the increased funding needed to upgrade library. Despite the voters’ approval to renovate the library in a recent citywide referendum, the rising costs of construction appeared to be giving some of the councilors cold feet. Budgets are about choices and priorities. They are also about promises that are made. Peter Markham Falls Church
More Letters on Page 8
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
CO MME NT
FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 7
G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� Now is the Time to Fund & Finish F.C. Library Project B� C������ “C���” W. D�L���
I sympathize with the commuter of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad who used the soubriquet “Delay, Linger, and Wait” for that rail line. In 2012, which was 20 years after an expansion of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, it was evident to Library Board members that the population estimates of the 1990s were far too conservative. City growth was booming and expected to continue. Attendance and use of the library were very high, the facility infrastructure was beginning to deteriorate. Board members realized an expansion was needed, as well as renovations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Board investigated how other libraries were coping with the electronic and online information advances and decided to find an architect who could provide a space study plan for the library. The Planning Commission rejected an initial plan to raze and rebuild, citing the $16–18 million cost as too expensive. At the request of the Planning Commission, the Board conducted additional design and analysis developing the 2014 Master Plan addendum that proposed a renovation and expansion project for $8.3 million. After extensive public discussion and input, this plan was approved by the City and scheduled for a public referendum. The referendum was approved by 66 percent of voters in 2016 and the project
was put into the City Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with an $8.3 million budget. It seemed that the project was on its way. But there were delays about parking, delays about adding LEED requirements, delays to add streetscape features, delays to accom-
“The suggestion by some Council members that the project be delayed for the possibility of a project ‘reboot’ in 10 years does not make good �inancial sense.” modate stormwater needs. The Board finally received approval to go to full design in June 2017. After more public comment and input, the design was finalized in 2019. The project was ready to go for construction, which brings us to present day. Recognizing that inflation since 2014 and that City requirements have added another appreciable sum, the project ended up with a $2.6 million deficit from the original budget, even after intense negotiations with the contractor. Voluntary Concessions will reduce that def-
icit by about $300,000. The final Maximum Guaranteed Price for construction is to remain in effect only until mid-February. Although construction costs have increased, the City was fortunate to receive lowerthan-expected interest rates to finance the project for a savings of $110,000 per year over 20 years. If the Council decides to delay the project for further study, there will be several major problems. First, any delay can only lead to higher cost, now rising about 5 percent a year. Delay also puts the favorable financing package at risk, and the contractor would have good reason to question the City’s good faith in the negotiations. The final problem is that if delays kill the project, the City will have spent over $1 million in planning and design costs for no gain, not to mention all the staff time used to get to this point. That is not a desirable position for the City to be in. The suggestion by some Council members that the project be delayed for the possibility of a project “reboot” in 10 years does not make good financial sense. In addition to the above mentioned loss of more than $1 million spent-to-date in planning and design, there is also a three year deadline for spending the money bonded for the project: November 2022 at the latest. If the funding is only spent on a renovation in the next couple of years to modernize systems (heating and cooling, security, low voltage) and to address ADA code compliance, the Library will suffer from at least
a 25 percent reduction in space. Will the public and Council seriously consider an expansion or raze or rebuild in ten years? Last week’s Falls Church News-Press guest commentary also discussed the level of transparency for the library project. We feel there has been more than adequate transparency: the project has been included in Capital Improvement Plans since 2009. The Board conducted a space study in 2013 that included significant public engagement. The Master Plan Addendum in 2014 and subsequent referendum also included reaching out to the public. Since 2017, the library project has been a regular agenda item on the public Library Board meetings. City staff and the project architect conducted additional public forums for design. The project management team has been to approximately 20 public meetings between the Planning Commission and City Council to present and discuss the project. So let’s have no more “Delay, Linger, and Wait”. The surplus is available to fund this project now, and the Council has the opportunity to finish the Library project without further borrowing. The Board agrees with Council Member Dan Sze when he said at the Jan. 27 Council meeting: “If we don’t build it now, we never will.” Chester “Chet” DeLong is vice chair of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Board of Trustees.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Will a new indoor children’s play center be a good addition to Falls Church? • Yes
Last Week’s Question:
Should the F.C. library renovation go forward despite a $2.6 million budget shortfall?
• No • Not sure
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Editor, I am totally bemused by the stance of two Falls Church City Council members and the highly tentative support of the remaining Council and mayor regarding the renovation of the public library, which citizens very clearly indicated they wanted done in a referendum three years ago. In that interim, the Mary Riley Styles Library has been pushed back and back again on the schedule of proposed projects, asked to reduce the scope of their design, asked to accept reductions in their funding, and finally and most ignobly lumped by the Council in a new package equating the library with sewers and sidewalks. In response, the library administrators have brilliantly negotiated a contract (which the Council now imperils) that removes much City liability for cost overrun, sought citizen and professional input on adapted design, and worked with the professional aplomb that characterizes them in helping citizens deal with the delays, the reduced resources, and the continued lack of accessibility that the Council’s delays have incurred. And why is this long delayed, much needed/mandated renova-
tion once again being imperiled? Because a minority of the Council fears cost overruns might happen. Enough! Honor the proposal approved by the citizens you were elected to serve. (And this time, try to monitor ongoing costs and heating installation.) To not proceed with the voterapproved, long delayed renovation of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library seems tantamount to telling your third daughter that, even though she has a scholarship, you will not send her to college because her two older siblings spent too much money. Sally A. Brett Falls Church
Maybe City Should Combine Public & High School Libraries Editor, With the City’s poor performance record with capital spending, has any attention been given to combining our public library with the library for George Mason High School? Combined infrastructure and resources should yield a strong and efficient partnership between City and schools. Traffic and use of public libraries has declined in recent decades and combining infrastructure and resources may yield stakeholder buy-in and support. Ernest Rodriguez Falls Church
[ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR] The deadline for Letters to the Editor is 5 p.m. Monday each week of publication. Letters should be 350 words or less. All letters printed in the News-Press become property of the Falls Church News-Press and may be edited for clarity and length. Email letters@fcnp.com • Fax 703-342-0347 Mail or drop off: Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 Please include full name, address and telephone number with each submission. Anonymous submissions will not be printed.
Muddy Trail in City Needs LongTerm Solution
Editor, I would like to address the issues regarding the trail that goes between W. Marshall St. and W. Westmoreland Rd. The trail is often muddy and unpleasant to walk on. A few years back, the city put mulch on the trail and it was so much better than the dirt path, but it did not last long. It all got washed away because of the hill. Everyday this trail is used, for example, kids coming home from school each day. It is important that the city comes up with a more long-term solution to this issue. Christopher Draper Falls Church
Benton Got Facts Wrong in Buttigieg Column Editor, Nicholas Benton got two basic facts wrong in his recent column about national politics (“The Faith Identity of Pete Buttegieg”) in the Jan. 30 - Feb. 5 NewsPress. I won’t use this letter to argue why I (a retiree) think everyone on Mr. Benton’s list of “five formidable candidates” is too old, too inexperienced or too Socialist to top the Democratic ticket. But he had two errors in his single sentence which dismissed Amy Klobuchar from his list of five, the candidate whom I think is the best choice to head the Democratic ticket in 2020. First Mr. Benton misspelled “Klobuchar,” and second, he erroneously said that the New York Times endorsed her for vice president. The Times, in an unusual move, decided to endorse two Democratic candidates for president, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, and said voters should determine for themselves which candidate’s policies they most support. Senator Klobuchar has been endorsed by the New York Times (as well as New Hampshire’s Union Leader), and this fact should be accurately reported so people will take a closer look at her candidacy. Kathleen Thompson Falls Church
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East Falls Church Metro Station to Close for Summer Representatives of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority told the F.C. City Council at its work session Monday that the East Falls Church Station of the Metrorail system’s Orange Line will be closed to the public between May 23 and Sept. 7 this summer as part of the system’s platform repair and upgrade program. In addition to the East Falls Church station, the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will also be closed during the same period. The West Falls Church station will remain open because it is equipped with two platforms that can be repaired and reconstructed one at a time. The West Falls Church station will be the terminus of the Orange Line during the period, with continuous singletracking through the East Falls Church station with no rail stopping. In addition, Silver Line stations from McLean to Wiehle-Reston East will remain open, but with reduced service.
Cauldron Scores 9 Hayes Award Nominations Falls Church’s rapidly-emerging regional theater powerhouse, the Creative Cauldron, scored an astonishing nine Helen Hayes Award nominations for the past season, it was announced this week. The prestigious Hayes awards honor the top theater productions in the wider D.C. metro region every year. The nine nominations came from three qualifying productions, with “Disenchanted” receiving two nominations, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” three nominations, and “On Air” four nominations. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in D.C. later this spring. “Disenchanted”’s two nominations were for outstanding ensemble and best supporting actress (Molly Rumberger), “Beauty & the Beast”’s for lead actress, actor and director in a musical (Eleanor Todd, Josh Simon and Matt Connor) and “On Air”’s for outstanding musical direction, lighting design, ensemble and lead actress (Refiye Tappan, Lynn Joslin, the ensemble and Nora Palka).
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Voter Photo ID Law Repealed in Richmond Virginia State Sen. Dick Saslaw, the Senate majority leader who represents the City of Falls Church, announced Tuesday that the recent law requiring photo IDs to vote in state elections has been repealed. “We didn’t need this law when it was passed, and we don’t need it now,” Saslaw stated, calling it “unnecessary.”
N.Va. Women’s Activist Invited to State of Union U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, whose 8th District of Virginia includes the City of Falls Church, Tuesday welcomed Lisa Sales to the President’s State of the Union Address at the Capitol. Sales chairs the Fairfax County Commission For Women and is a leader of VA Ratify ERA, Virginia’s campaign to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). “Lisa Sales is one of many deeply committed advocates whose tireless efforts helped win ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment after years of struggle,” said Rep. Beyer. “I’m deeply proud that Virginia’s ratification of the ERA brought it across the national threshold. We still have more work to do at the federal level to ensure that the ERA is officially added to the US Constitution, and I look forward to voting to move forward on that work soon.” Sales added, “Virginia’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment was a great moment in history, and a long time coming. As a sexual assault survivor, I believe the Equal Rights Amendment can strengthen protections for women who are survivors of sexual violence. Despite the overwhelming support of Virginians, we had to fight for years to get here.”
Herring Joins Fight Vs. Predatory Lending Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing a proposal by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to preempt state usury laws that regulate payday and other high-cost lending. Usury laws prevent predatory lenders from taking advantage of consumers by charging extremely high interest rates on loans. The FDIC’s proposed regulations would enable predatory lenders to circumvent state usury laws through “rent-a-bank” schemes, in which banks act as lenders in name only, passing along their state law exemptions to non-bank payday lenders. “The Trump Administration has shown time and again that it is more concerned with giving predatory lenders more ways to exploit folks than it is with actually protecting borrowers,” said Attorney General Herring. “It is critical that Virginia, and other states, have the ability to protect consumers from predatory lenders and high-interest loans.”
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Community News & Notes Congressman Beyer Holds REAL ID Event Congressman Don Beyer will host his DMV Connect, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ “office in a suitcase,” during a special REAL ID event on Saturday, Feb. 8 for those who still need to get their REAL ID. Space for this event will be
extremely limited and available only to those who sign up in advance, but Beyer intends to host more REAL ID events to assist constituents in the future. To sign up, visit eventbrite.com/e/ congressman-beyer-hosts-real-idevent-tickets-91380480477. Virginians can visit DMV Connect to upgrade their driver’s license or identification card
to a REAL ID, or complete any other DMV transaction, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Wakefield High School (1325 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington). Interested attendees are advised to RSVP for each person who will be applying for a REAL ID or completing another DMV transaction during the event. Residents are also welcome to stop by to get more information about REAL ID. Beginning Oct. 1, federal identification requirements are changing for domestic air travel. Virginians who want to continue to use their state-issued driver’s license or identification card as the ID required for this purpose will need to upgrade their current credential to a REAL ID. Residents can also present an alternative form of federally approved identi-
fication such as a passport or some military IDs. REAL ID also affects access to secure federal facilities and military bases. Because these facilities have the ability to set their own entry requirements, DMV advises Virginians to verify the identification needed for access prior to their visit. Effective immediately, some military bases may no longer accept non-REAL ID compliant credentials displaying “Federal Limits Apply.”
All-Member Show at F.C. Arts Opens This Weekend One hundred and forty-seven artists from throughout the area will gather for a gala reception at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Falls Church Arts Gallery (700
W. Broad St., Falls Church) and Famille cafe for the All-Member FCA Show. Meet the artists on Saturday for this fascinating show that runs from Feb. 8 – March 8 at the gallery and adjacent Famille Café. A huge selection of paintings, photography, watercolor, fiber arts, collage, mixed media and terra cotta will be on sale at the gallery and café. Admission is free. Show hours are 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday and 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Flamenco Dance Group Comes to McLean The Alden in McLean is presenting New York City-based dance company Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana for a single per-
GEOBEES WERE BUZZING with young local talent the past few weeks. Haycock Elementary School fourth grader Sabina Hagen (left) won her school’s National Geographic GeoBee on Jan. 23. And from the Langley School, fifth grader John Bitar (center, wearing red) won among 10 competitors at his school. Now Hagen and Bitar will will take a qualifying test to determine state competitors. Up to 100 of the top scorers on this written exam from each state will then face each other in their statewide Geography Bee on March 27. State winners will eventually participate in the national championship in Washington, D.C. with a chance to win a trip to the Galapagos Islands. (Photos: Left — Courtesy Mona Sehgal/ Right — Courtesy Sharon Vipperman)
Send Us Your News & Notes!
The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
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formance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8. The acclaimed company, hailed as “America’s premier Spanish dance company,” promotes the art form by producing quality dance works that foster cultural connections. Tickets are $40 for the general public, $35 for seniors and $30 for residents of Dranesville Small District 1A. The theater is located inside the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). “Reflejos Flamencos” (Flamenco Reflections), the newest production by Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, celebrates the fundamental emotions that connect us while honoring the individual human spirit inherent in flamenco. A new work by Jose Maldonado, heralded by The New York Times for his “bursts of brilliance and uncommon invention,” explores the notion of personal limits and connections across borders — both literal and figurative. “Reflejos Flamencos” includes traditional solos highlighting the dancer’s technique and improvisation, offering a complete experience of dance and live music. For more information on tickets or other questions visit aldentheatre.org or call 703-790-0123, TTY: 711. For ADA accommodations, contact Patron Services Manager Evelyn Hill at evelyn. hill@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 571-296-8385.
Vienna Arts Society Hosts Paper Craftswoman The Vienna Arts Society presents Julia Malakoff, who will demonstrate making personalized papers using the Gelli Plate, and then creating mixed media artwork. The event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 13, 7 – 9 p.m. Vienna Art Center, Windover
FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 11
Building, 243 Church St., NW, Vienna. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 703-319-3971 or visit ViennaArtsSociety.org
Candidates for McLean Board Now Being Sought Local residents who are looking for ways to make a difference in the community should consider running for a seat on the McLean Community Center’s (MCC) 2020-2021 Governing Board. MCC is seeking district residents to run for seats on its 11-member volunteer board, which provides oversight and guidance for MCC programs and facilities, including the Robert Ames Alden Theatre (“The Alden”) and The Old Firehouse Center (OFC). To run for a seat on the volunteer board, a candidate must reside in the Center’s tax district (Small District 1A-Dranesville). Three adult positions and two youth positions are open this year. To have their names placed on election ballots, candidates are required to obtain the signatures of 10 McLean tax district residents in their respective categories (either adult or youth). Candidate petition packets have been made available at MCC (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) since Tuesday, Jan. 21. The three adult candidates who receive the three highest vote counts will serve three-year terms. Youth members will serve oneyear terms. Adult candidates must be at least 18 years of age as of McLean Day (Saturday, May 16). Youth candidates must be 15-17 years of age as of McLean Day. One youth member will be elected from the McLean High School boundary area and one will be
A CASUAL STROLL by Falls Church Arts Gallery had Shaun Van Steyn come across Rajendra KC (second from left) and some of his students. KC will be a part of the All Members Show that debuts this weekend, More information on the event can be found on page 10. (P����: C������� S���� V�� S����)
elected from the Langley High School boundary area. Youth candidates are not required to attend either school, but they must reside in the boundary areas served by those schools respectively, as defined by Fairfax County Public Schools. Key upcoming election dates: • Friday, March 13: Completed Petition Packets are due at MCC by 5 p.m. • Saturday, March 14: Candidates’ Orientation. • Wednesday, March 18: Absentee Voting begins at the MCC and The Old Firehouse Center (1440 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean). • Wednesday, May 13: Absentee Voting ends at 5 p.m. • Saturday, May 16: Elections
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‘The Royale’ Continues Run at 1st Stage Theater Inspired by the life of Jack Johnson, the first AfricanAmerican heavyweight world champion, “The Royale” features Jay “The Sport” Jackson and his dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But in the racially segregated world of boxing in 1905, the odds are stacked against him. When a crooked boxing promoter hatches a plan for “the fight of the century,” “The Sport” might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion. The 1st Stage and Olney
Theatre Center co-production of “The Royale” by Marco Ramirez features James J. Johnson, Chris Genebach, Lolita Marie, Clayton Pelham Jr., and Jaysen Wright. Paige Hernandez directs the production with fight choreography by Cliff Williams III. The design team includes: set and costume design by Debra Kim Sivigny, lighting design by Sarah Tundermann, sound design by Kenny Neal, and projection design by Kelly Colburn. The Royale will run at 1st Stage Theater (1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons) from Jan. 30 through Feb. 23 with show times as follows: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
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A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
The impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump highlights, sadly, the deep divisions in our nation, not just in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, or between Democrats and Republicans, but deep divisions in basic beliefs, behavior, and trust. It may be hard to pinpoint exactly when those divisions began. Democracy, by its nature, is ever evolving and changing with the times. One huge change was 100 years ago, when women secured the right to vote. The Great Depression brought significant economic changes and new laws, followed quickly by World War II, which validated this nation’s commitment to freedom and democratic ideals. A re-reading of earlier American history also indicates that political campaigns could be just as freewheeling and negative as they are today, but once the campaign was over, the winners had to exercise governance — for the broader public good. In midcentury America, party identification was important, but sometimes it was just a D or R after one’s name, not a rigid rule that colored all political decisions. In the Congress of the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, Members of Congress worked together to advance policies that literally united, rather than divided, the nation. One example is the Interstate Highway System, a signature policy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. When some Democrats opposed the Republican president’s proposal, others worked to arrange different sources of funding, a compromise that gained favor and led to transportation connections that we use every day in this region, and around the country. How can we get back to a more moderated approach to governance that addresses the broader
public good, and provides solutions to challenges, both identified and unknown? A significant amount of ego drives elective politics but, once the campaign is over, the hard work of governance begins, and that requires collaboration and cooperation, along with a hefty dose of leadership, not ego. Respecting, not demonizing, opposing views, and working toward a middle ground for workable solutions, should not be characterized as failure. “Winner take all” may be understandable for a victorious Super Bowl team, but good governance is not football. Good governance does require team effort. Good governance relies on differing points of view to help craft eventual solutions. It relies on the rule of law and the democratic processes that level the playing field. Issuing multiple Executive Orders is not governance; rather, it’s an indication of a demagogue undermining the political and social processes that used to be held dear. Good governance depends on a variety of partners — and that’s all of us. We don’t always have to agree, but we do have to show respect. We don’t all have to win, but we need to ensure that the “game” is played fairly, with the same rules applying to all. The Trump impeachment trial will be concluded by the time this column is published, but the deep divisions will not. It will take sustained leadership at many levels to get off this destructive dystopian path, and back onto a wider trail that accommodates everyone. Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Senator Dick Saslaw’s
Richmond Report We are speeding toward the halfway mark of the General Assembly. Feb. 11 is Crossover and all introduced bills in either chamber must be acted upon or left in the heart of the committee they have been assigned. While it is debatable which legislation is the highest priority for many stakeholders, there is no mistake that the Omnibus Transportation Bill (SB 890/HB 1414) may be the most consequential piece of legislation of the 2020 General Assembly. There are some differences between the two measures, but the bottom line goals are to improve transportation and its underlying infrastructure, enhance other methods of moving people and goods in the commonwealth, and provide revenues to meet our growing needs. Passenger rail service, maintenance of aging bridges and other structures, plus investments for local transit are key components of the bill. Revenue will come from increases in fuel taxes over three years, vehicle registrations, and local taxes, including those to address full funding for Metro. Past headlines focused on noteworthy themes of gun violence prevention, the passage of the ERA, and movement toward the repeal of impediments for access to women’s healthcare. While these issues have been significant, they are just a fraction of the many bills coming out of the House and Senate each day. Black History Month provides all of us an opportunity to pay tribute to generations of African Americans who struggled through adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. On the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I am glad that we have taken steps toward a fairer voting process that encourages and increases access to this most fundamental right in our democracy. No excuse absentee voting has passed the Senate. We expect the House to follow suit in knocking down some of the many unnecessary obstacles to voting. Currently under review by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, SB 219 provides for automatic voter registration (with an opt out) when an individual applies for a license or an ID card, or renews their current license. There are several
bills working their way through committees that revisit the issue of redistricting. There appear to be three camps of stakeholders. One group remains committed to the bipartisan citizen legislator commission; another embraces the commission with significant changes to the original resolution; and the third is being labeled as the “winner takes all” — desiring to keep the process in the hands of the majority party at the time of redistricting. Senator Creigh Deeds is the chairman of Senate Privileges and Elections and presiding during this critical session prior to redistricting in 2021. Public Safety remains a top priority for every legislator but often a partisan approach to policy seems to shape the issues before the legislature. Moving forward, we have advanced a ban on the use of handheld phones while driving. Last year, the ban was on using phones in work zones. The 2nd Amendment demonstration organized by the Civil Defense League on Jan. 20 made national news. Whether intended or unintended, it was a very stressful day at the General Assembly, pitting thousands of people against each other. Hundreds of Virginia State Police and Capitol Police were joined by the City of Richmond Police to provide a safe work environment for us without incident. Fortunately, there were no Charlottesville repeats. I applaud the brave men and women who put in many hours to serve and protect everyone on both sides of the debate. Another top issue for this General Assembly is the biennial budget. The Governor made his priorities known on Dec. 17. It is now up to the legislature to adopt its budget. Based on the outreach to my office, there continues to be no shortage of needs Virginians would like addressed. When the process is complete, the budget will be structurally sound and balanced. Expect to see serious investments in economic and workforce development, pre-K -12 as well as higher education. The Senate and House money committees will deliver their own proposals for the biennial budget on Feb. 16. Senator Saslaw represents the 35th District in the Virginia State Senate. He may be emailed at district35@senate.virginia.gov.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Buttigieg & A New LGBTQ Paradigm
With this week’s first primary outcome in Iowa, as damaged by computer glitches as it has been, the sudden emergence of the Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg at or near the top is properly one of the biggest news stories of this or any presidential election year. As competent as Mayor Pete proved himself to be on debate stages in the runup to this start of the actual race, there is no comparison between good debate performances and even poll numbers, on the one hand, and a voter turnout effort when the votes are actually being counted, on the other. What this week proved is that Buttigieg is the “real deal,” a man capable of defeating formidable opponents in his own party and, by extenFALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS sion, the presidential election. In the ongoing struggle to achieve equality by all segments of the U.S. population, what the Buttigieg result means for LGTBQ Americans simply cannot be overstated. It is fully equivalent for that population, myself included, as President Obama’s rise was for the African-American population earlier in this decade. Just as the longer-term impact of Obama’s achievements will be appreciated and seen as even more profound and epochal by the impact of time, so it will be with Buttigieg. This bright and articulate young man is not only advancing his candidacy for the presidency, almost by his very being, he is engaged in a profound paradigm shift in American culture with respect to LGBTQ persons and ripple effects extending far beyond, and indications are that he is aware of this. Of course, he is standing on the shoulders of other great names in the LGBTQ movement, including the scores of highly qualified elected officials serving today at all levels of state, local and federal government, dating back to, in the modern “post-Stonewall era,” the historic role of martyred Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco in the 1970s. They, in turn, stand on the shoulders of western civilization’s greatest figures advancing human rights for all and democratic institutions and pioneers legitimizing LGBTQ persons from Walt Whitman forward. Buttigieg’s rise comes at a time when LGBTQ people are sorely in need of a culture that affirms their distinguished, respectable and serious role in wider democratic society, as a whole. Sadly, some of Buttigieg’s sharpest critics are coming from within the so-called “gay community” who claim he does not represent “gay culture.” But these critics most often have vested interests in institutional elements of older urban LGBTQ subcultures, and associated lifestyles. In the modern scholastic sociological and psychological, including Freudian, distinctions between Apollonian (law abiding) and Dionysian (law breaking) paradigms, the LGBTQ option has been identified as falling on the Dionysian side. Yet, as I have argued in my own scholarly work on this subject (my book “Extraordinary Hearts”), the Appollonian-Dionysian dichotomy in modern social studies is a fallacy because it ignores a third option associated in Greek mythological terms with the figure of Prometheus. Prometheus gets ignored or suppressed by scholarship because he is portrayed as a radical humanist that many associated with the American revolution identified with. Prometheus in mythology is the enemy of Zeus (Apollo) because he founded the human race and gave humanity the gift of fire (and invention, by extension). Zeus punished him ruthlessly but could not prevent the benefit of what Prometheus brought humanity independent of Zeus. If the role of LGBTQ persons in society is seen through the lens of a Promethean, rather than an, in particular, Dionysian, paradigm standpoint, then the impact of that on the self-identity and self-esteem of LGBTQ persons can be truly profound. Buttigieg is evidence that a Promethean paradigm for LGBTQ persons is valid, and elevates a paradigm that brings to the gifts and talents of all such persons a new sense of importance for civilization as a whole not only in politics, but in the arts and literature, dramatic arts, education and every manner by which such persons, as myself, contribute to a culture grounded in hope and optimism. As a role model, Buttigieg could not be more important to LGBTQ persons at all ages and levels. Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
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Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
“Square the box!” That was the short-lived rallying cry of state Del. Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun County) last month when he proposed a solution to the Republicans’ problem of a new Democratic majority in Richmond: Reunite Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. “Offload the liberal swamp of Arlington and Alexandria!,” LaRock said on Facebook. “Disgusted with liberals rushing to rob you of your ability to defend your family as they seek to release violent convicted criminals into our neighborhoods, to raise taxes and squander the monies to pay for late term abortion and gender mutilation surgery, to ban free speech and religious expression?...SQUARE THE BOX and let Virginia heal.” Not to be outdone, state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Page County) on Jan. 31 offered a bill to recreate 19th-century geography and retrocede “pro-slavery” Arlington and Alexandria, as he said, back to D.C. (Parliamentary objections prevented him.) Thus did the historic 1846 retrocession of Virginia land from the 100-square-mile box that was the original D.C. return to current news. As Arlington marks the centennial of its name-change from Alexandria County, I thank the conservative solons for the chance to revisit retrocession. The reasons the Virginia jurisdictions separated were mani-
fold and slightly mysterious. Remember that District residents since 1790 had had no vote in Congress or in presidential elections. Alexandrians had long wanted federal funding for military installations and the Alexandria Canal (built from 1833-1843 to connect Old Town to the Aqueduct Bridge, now Key Bridge). But hopes faded. Remaining in the District was thought to mean higher taxes. And Alexandria, being a nationally recognized hub of slave trading (the Franklin and Armfield pen on Duke Street was recently acquired by city preservationists), feared a growing abolitionist movement in D.C. First stirrings of retrocession began as early as 1804, when a proposal prompted a backlash led by newly arrived landowner George Washington Parke Custis (just starting construction of his Arlington House). He spearheaded a petition to Congress opposing separation as “injurious” to property. But by 1846, the tide had shifted — mostly because of the canal and Alexandria’s struggles to compete with the port of Georgetown. The Alexandria Common Council received petitions. According to Carole Harrick’s history of Chain Bridge, Custis chaired a debate in a tavern at Balls’ Crossroads (now the Ballston Macy’s) of rural residents mostly in opposition. But Congress approved a bill requiring a new referendum, and President James Polk signed it into law July 9, 1846. Custis presided over a commission running the citizen
vote, and retrocession passed in September by 763-222. (Custis himself abstained). In Old Town, townspeople celebrated with torches, flags and cannon, according to Michael Lee Pope’s history of “Alexandria, D.C.” The General Assembly the following year gave full blessing to its implementation. Arlington historians display no consensus on the role of slavery. C.B. Rose claims that the Arlington area was a refuge for runaway slaves, which had to be curbed. But downtown writer Mark David Richards notes that the congressional vote did not break down on pro-slavery and anti-slavery lines. John Richardson, an Arlington Historical Society stalwart currently doing fresh research on retrocession, told me that “very little of the argumentation for retrocession addressed slavery and why Alexandria’s slave dealers would be better off without Congress looking over their shoulder…. But slavery may have been the elephant in the room.” *** To the landscapers of Virginia Hospital Center, I say, “nice try.” For several appointments recently, I parked on N. Edison or 16th St. and walked straight toward the main entrance. That meant stepping through a nicely designed and mulched shrubbery bed. Sticklers for the rules would have taken the longer route further down toward an actual break in the shrubbery aligned with a pedestrian zebra stripe. But neither I, nor others I observed, took the time.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Cardboard Congestion Dies Down, New Glass Recycling Rules BY BRIAN INDRE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
A cardboard pile up at the Gordon Road recycling center has more to do with the excesses of the holiday season than negligence on the part of City of Falls Church residents. The City will also soon test out moving glass recyclables from the curb to a central location as it joins the regional effort to dispose of the waste in a more effective manner. Lonnie Marquetti, the solid waste program manager for the City of Falls Church, said that the amount of cardboard brought in by residents from the holiday season was to blame. Larger than usual cardboard boxes that contained flat-screen TVs and a heavy dosage of Amazon boxes were all part of the overflow and contributed to the stuffed disposal bins. Marquetti mentions that it is very seldom that there is an issue of overflow in any of the containers at the center, and not a problem with the current capacity. The center was just severely overwhelmed with byproducts of gifts due to the holidays.
“Next year I have made the arrangements for additional hauling services to be able to accommodate the week of Christmas and the week following, so that we don’t experience the same pile up next year,” Marquetti said. There are currently three 30-yard containers strictly for cardboard, and one marked mixed paper that can also take cardboard at the recycling center, if necessary. The facility gets serviced once a week, and only the containers that are full will need to be hauled off and emptied. “Nine times out of ten, every week I am pulling all three of the cardboard containers to be emptied,” said Marquetti. When it comes to cardboard box recycling, it’s imperative that people adhere to the instructions posted on the side of the containers. Also, boxes that are being deposited should be broken down properly in order to help save space for other disposals. “If you were to go to the recycling center on the day before it is serviced, which is on Thursdays, all three cardboard containers will appear full. But often times, peo-
NOT AS TIGHT OF A SQUEEZE inside Gordon Road Recycling Center’s cardboard containers post-holiday season, which were over�lowing about a month ago. (P����: N���-P����) ple don’t break down their boxes or check all the slots amongst the containers for available room and then leaving them on the ground which is not allowed,” Marquetti explained. Marquetti emphasized that there is plenty of capacity for normal weekly recycling loads at the center, and from here going forward the appropriate measures will be taken in order to be ready for the influx of product coming in over the holiday season.
As tempting as it may be to leave recyclables on the ground if a bin appears full, doing so is strictly prohibited, per Marquetti, who instructs those who do observe improper disposal of cardboard to call the solid waste hotline that is listed on signs at the recycling center. The newest member of the “Purple Can Club” is the City of Falls Church, as well. According to the City website, starting on Feb. 19, the City will launch its
pilot program and will request that residents stop placing glass bottles and jars in their curbside recycling bins. Those who do wish to recycle glass will need to deposit it at the purple bin located at the Gordon Rd. facility. Otherwise, residents have the option of putting their glass recyclables in the trash. Condominium and apartment tenants should consult their property management group about their own disposal methods.
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FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 15
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F.C. Chamber Hosting Networking Breakfast Feb. 13 The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce will host an informal networking breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 8 – 9 a.m. at the Original Pancake House. The event is open to everyone interested in meeting local business professionals and learning about the Chamber. There is no fee or need to register but attendees are required to pay their own checks. For more information, visit www.FallsChurchChamber.org.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Pressure Helps Mustangs Break Brentsville, 62-29 by Caitlin Butler
Falls Church News-Press
Tuesday night’s 62-29 thumping of Brentsville District High School helped George Mason High School’s boys basketball team regain their winning momentum after reeling from two road losses. “Just a great start, I was worried coming off two losses last week [we’d be] kind of down and out and I didnt think these guys were ready. We beat them by 30 last time and I always get nervous that we’re not gonna be prepared or overlook them. We came out and got that 11-0 run to start and never looked back,” said Mason head coach Michael Gilroy. The Mustangs owned the first quarter crediting their aggressive full-court press having multiple steals and shutting down the visiting Tigers from scoring. Junior guard Deven Martino helped the Mustangs seal their lead by claiming 10 points of his own with two of those successful shots being threes. “Our defensive pressure to start they were having trouble just get-
JUNIOR GUARD Deven Martino helped lead Mason’s strong defensive effort in its 62-29 win over Brentsville District High School. (Photo: Carol Sly) ting across half court so, just being able to get some steals and run outs,” said Gilroy on his team’s successful defense. Mason remained on track ending the first quarter with an
18-point lead with a score of 22-4. Going into the second quarter the Mustangs continued to apply pressure in the front and backcourt to Brentsville District, only giving up seven points while Mason
scored 11 points of their own. The hawkishness of the Mustang defense caused the Tigers to have multiple turnovers. Mason consistently scored off Brentsville District’s mistakes in
the third quarter. The Mustangs would end the period with a layup from the hands of senior guard Alexander Kryazhev giving Mason a sizable lead at 49-18. The Tigers scored 11 points, but it was too little, too late. The Mustangs added 13 of their own and brought the game to its final tally. “We had a good effort. We came out early and we played defense and didn’t let up. We just came into it early and kept going throughout the game. Also our defensive intensity we didn’t let off the gas. We stayed on their necks the whole game,” said Martino on their evening win. The Mustangs hold a season record of 10-8 with four games remaining. Gilroy hopes to focus on rebounding as the team heads into the end of their season, “Always just rebounding,” he said. “Other teams have us in size, so we were always working on rebounding and boxing out in practice.” Mason will host William Monroe High School this Friday with a tip-off at 6:30 p.m.
Mason Girls Keep Streak Alive with Decisive Victory Over Skyline by Caitlin Butler
Falls Church News-Press
Adding another “W” into their current win streak is George Mason High School, which downed Skyline High School 48-31 last Friday. “Playing together is the biggest thing. It’s other girls stepping up in a team effort,” Mason head coach Chris Carrico said about the winning streak. “Our second biggest thing is defense. If we get people out of their comfort zones and playing at our pace while making them shoot contested shots that’s our strength.” The first quarter of the evening started out as a neck-toneck battle between the visiting Hawks and the Mustangs. The home team struggled to play to their full potential after the first eight minutes and ended only leading 13-7. Mason immediately came to life once the second quarter got underway. A putback shot from the hands of senior forward Emma Rollins was the beginning of an 8-1 run where the Mustangs caused multiple
turnovers on their way to a 21-8 advantage. As the second quarter progressed sophomore center Rianna Arsenault capitalized two back-to-back offensive rebound putbacks that took the Mustangs to a score of 27-10 sealing their lead by 17 points. The Hawks could only claim one additional basket to end the first half at a score of 27-12. “We scored tonight off our defense so, when we were able to get turnovers and run outs that’s when we were successful. If we got defensive rebounds we finished before they could get their defense set up. That was our strength tonight,” Carrico added. Mason lacked the same scoring oomph in the third quarter, allowing Skyline to outscore them 9-5. But the Mustangs bounced back in the fourth quarter with another opening quarter basket by Arsenault. The lack of rebounding held the visiting Hawks in check with the Mustangs capitalizing off nearly every rebound they claimed. “Communicating with each
SOPHOMORE GUARD Bella Paradiso launches a corner three in the team’s 48-31 win over Skyline High School last week. (Photo: Carol Sly) other, staying hype. We have been working on communication through-out the entire season. As long as we support each other.” said Arsenault on their win. A 16-point final quarter helped Mason cement the game’s result. The team’s success on the
boards and in close to the basket is likely to be a formula going forward. “To continue to build on what we’ve been doing lately. We don’t want to hit any road bumps heading into the postseason. Staying with knowing what
our team goals are and staying focused,” Carrico stated. The Mustangs will be on the road for their next two games this Friday and Feb. 14 before returning home on Feb. 18 hosting Central (Woodstock) with a tip off time of 7:30 p.m.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 17
MANDARIN STUDENTS AT BASIS INDEPENDENT McLean (BIM) performed at its fourth annual Chinese Lunar New Year festivities, complete with the Dragon Dance, Umbrella Dance, shadow shows, skits and food to bring in the Year of the Rat. (P����: C������� M��� C���������)
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S����� N��� � N���� Local Schools Showout At Math Competition The Northern Virginia Regional MathCounts Competition was held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at George Mason University. The regional competition combines the Fairfax, George Washington and Northern Virginia Chapters of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers. About 460 students in sixth through eighth grades at 54 elementary and middle schools competed at the events. They have been practicing since the fall and were selected to represent their schools at the competition. Students compete as school teams and as individuals. The top local teams, team members and coaches from the Northern Virginia chapter area are the following: By team — in first, Longfellow Middle School coached by Patti Freeman with students Michelle Kang, David Wei, Laura Zhang and Angeline Zhao; in second, BASIS Independent McLean, coached by Tyler Sullivan with students Aiden Feyerherm, Neha Reddy, Max Yan and Brian Zhou and in third place James Fennimore Cooper Middle School, coached by Stuart Baumgardener with students Dylan Cheng, Claire Guo, Ian Liao and Michael Wang. By top scoring students — Michelle Kang, Longfellow Middle School; Aiden Feyerherm, BASIS Independent McLean; Max Yan, BASIS Independent McLean;
David Wei, Longfellow Middle School and Brian Zhou, BASIS Independent McLean.
2 Henderson Students Make All-District Chorus Back in January, two Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School band students traveled to St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Upper School in Alexandria to participate in the 2020 All-Star District Jazz Band. The students spent Thursday and Friday rehearsing with other gifted jazz students from the area to prepare to perform in a roaring concert Saturday evening. Sixth-grader Liam Ries made second chair in the District for drum-set, and seventh grader Casey Dimock, a veteran of the ensemble, made 1st chair for trombone. Congratulations go out on passing the rigorous auditions and for an excellent performance.
F.C. Teachers Nominated For Year-end Awards Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) announced 16 nominees for FCCPS Employee Awards recently. These employees were nominated by colleagues, students and parents for their dedication to the students and community. Nominees were surprised by a prize patrol that included Superintendent Peter Noonan Falls Church Education Foundation president Cecily Shea, FCEF executive director Debbie Hiscott and other FCCPS staff and their school
administrators. Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year Award — Ann Beckman, ESOL teacher, Mount Daniel Elementary School; Jeff Buck, 7th grade Civics & Economics teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School; Tammy Chincheck, Social Studies teacher, George Mason High School; Jaclyn Harper, Kindergarten teacher, Mount Daniel Elementary School; Peter Laub, English teacher, George Mason High School; Layton McCann, 5th Grade teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School; Amanda Morey, Second Grade teacher, Mount Daniel Elementary School; Terry Mountain, Kindergarten teacher, Mount Daniel Elementary School; Shelly Skomra, Fourth Grade teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and David Sikora, Kindergarten teacher, Mount Daniel Elementary School Support Staff Employee of the Year Award — Ken DiCesare, Paraprofessional, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School; Sara Henderson, Paraprofessional, George Mason High School; Luis Sorto, Paraprofessional, George Mason High School; Tito Sorto, Food Services manager, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and Beth Stoffel, Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Professional Specialist of the Year Award — The sole nominee for this award is Vicki Galliher, Athletic Trainer, George Mason High School
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FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Bouncing Babies. Interested attendees can join Tysons-Pimmit library staff for stories, activities, fingerplays and songs to engage infants. For ages birth – 18 months with adult in attendance. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-7908088. New Yorker Discussion Group. If any residents enjoy The New Yorker but wish they had someone to chat about it with, they are encouraged to drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. Attendees can pick up the magazine at the Senior Center or at the circulation desk of the Mary Riley Styles Public
Library. A librarian will coordinate the discussions. Senior Center @ Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 2 – 3 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 3-on-3 Basketball Shootout. Free basketball activity for Grades 4-8. No registration necessary. All skill levels welcome. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 3:30 – 5 p.m. 703-2485027 (TTY 711). Chess Club. Interested attendees can learn chess from coach Ashley Xing, a member of the U.S. delegation to the 2018 World Youth Chess Championships. Participants can come to play chess, meet other chess players and learn. Players of all ages and levels are welcome. Boards and sets are provided. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 703-790-8088.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Winter Farmers Market. The year-round market is stocked with fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, and much more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5034.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Valentine Tea. Interested attendees can pour the love while a costumed docent will pour the tea at the Historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse Valentine Tea. Guests will dine on sandwiches, assorted sweets, scones and, of course, tea. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting cjannicelli@fallschurchva.gov. $33 per person. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). 2 – 4 p.m.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 ESL Conversation Group. A gener-
al conversation group (for adults) learning English as a second language. Drop-in. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Preschool Storytime. Stories and fun for ages 0-5. Drop-in. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-248-5034.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Lovin’ Our Library Party. Interested residents can join library staff to celebrate the love for Mary Riley Styles Public Library. Attendees can play minigolf in the Adult Fiction section, create crafts in the Children’s Room and participate in raffles for prizes sponsored by the MRSPL Foundation. Visit or call the Youth Services Desk at 703248-5034 for more information.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” Adapted from the New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (“Kite Runner”), the lives of two Afghan women are inextricably bound together. In the war-ravaged Kabul, Miriam and Laila become unlikely allies in the face of the insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life. Hopes of a new life lead to an unselfish and shocking decision, changing the course of their futures forever. Arena Stage (1101 Sixth Street, SW Washington, D.C.) $76. 8 p.m. arenastage.org.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 “Passport to the World.” Jay “The Sport” Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but in the racially segregated world of boxing in 1905, the odds are stacked against him. When a crooked boxing promoter hatches a plan for “the fight of the century,” “The Sport” might land a place in the ring with the reigning white
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heavyweight champion. Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jack Johnson, the first AfricanAmerican heavyweight world champion. 1st Stage Theatre (1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons) $42. 8 p.m. 1ststagetysons.org.
“Bloomsday.” A young couple meet on a walking tour of James Joyce’s Dublin, but a misunderstanding keeps them apart. Thirty-five years later, they return to retrace their steps and confront their younger selves about the missed opportunity. An area premiere of this time-bending romance. Undercroft Theatre (900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.) $50. 8 p.m. stageguild.org.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 “Gun Powder.” Inspired by a true story, make way for the sisters Clarke in a dynamic, moving and inspiring world premiere musical of notorious outlaws who ruled the Wild West. To help their mother settle a sharecropper debt, Mary and Martha Clarke—African American twins—pass themselves as White to seize the funds by any means necessary. However, their bond of sisterhood is tested when they fall in love with two very different men, one Black, the other White. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $80. 2 p.m. sigtheatre.org.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Mars Rodeo Acoustic. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-2378333. Lizz Wright. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. The Music of Simon & Garfunkel feat. Swearingen & Kelli. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Union Stage Presents at The Miracle Theatre — The DC Moth StorySlam. Miracle Theatre (535 8th St. SE Washington, D.C.). $15.
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FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 19
7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. California Guitar Trio with Montreal Guitar Trio. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $32. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Karaoke. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-8589186. Thrillbillys. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 4Play. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703532-9283. Acoustic Soul. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-241-9504. Art Garfunkel (encore performances the following two nights at the same time and price). Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $82. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. The Skip Castro Band. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $40. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. JC Almira Jazz. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. Bruce in the USA — The World’s #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (encore performance the following night at the same time and price). The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300. Shartel & Hume Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9:15 p.m. 703-2419504. The Silverbeards. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Rocky & Stealin’ the Deal. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.
ACOUSTIC SOUL will be at JV’s Restaurant tomorrow (Photo: Facebook.com/BookAcousticSoul) 2 From The Heart. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Jack Broadbent. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18 – $20. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Union Stage presents at The Miracle Theatre — Eric D’Alessandro: Fame-ish Comedy Tour. Miracle Theatre (535 8th St. SE Washington, D.C.). $25 – $50. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Carter Farm Band. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. Tommy Lepson Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-2419504. Bob Marley’s 75th Birthday Tribute Event feat. Adwela & The Uprising + Space Koi + Reckless
Island. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $22. 9:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Something Shiny. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Dominic Cicala with Guests. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-2419504. Red House Jazz. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. Grateful Jam (open mic). Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186. Union Stage Presents at The Miracle Theatre — Ross Mathews “Name Drop” Tour. Miracle Theatre (535 8th St. SE Washington, D.C.). $35 – $100.
7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Jimmy Coles Show with Guests. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 The Bachelor Boys Band. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Tony MacAlpine with Schiermann and Dante Frisiello. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $30. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Maggie Miles. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $5 – $10. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Vernon Santmyer. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2020
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Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The ordinance referenced below was given first reading by the City Council on January 27, 2020; second reading and public hearing are scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard. (TO20-02) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDI-
NANCE 1995 AND 1996 AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED BY ORDINANCE 2003 REGARDING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FUNDS This ordinance would amend the FY2020 Budget to increase reserves for permit fee revenues by $600,000 and transfer additional funds to the capital improvements programs totaling $3,252,789 using a portion of FY2019 year-end balance of $2,456,000 and reprogramming FY2020 unused debt service of $1,850,000. This ordinance would also amend the FY2020FY2025 Capital Improvements Program to increase appropriation for School Facilities Reinvestment by $389,211, Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program by $400,000, Mary Riley Styles Public Library Expansion/Renovation by $2,313,578, and the West Falls Church Planning Project by $150,000, using transfers from the General Fund. Additionally, the ordinance includes an amendment to appropriate the voluntary concessions received for the Library Expansion/Renovation project in the amount of $296,817. All public hearings will be held in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH CITY CLERK
NOTICE OF PUBLIC CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
VOLUNTEERS who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/ BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board (alternate) Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Equalization Board of Zoning Appeals (alternate) City Employee Review Board Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Urban Forestry Commission
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ZONING APPEARS CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on February 13, 2020 at 7:30 PM in
the City Hall Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, to consider the following items: Variance application V1610-19 by David Ogden, applicant and owner, for a variance to Section 48-238(3)a, to allow rear yard setback of 37 feet instead of 40 feet, for the purpose of constructing a 1-story rear addition on premises known as 610 Oak Haven Drive, RPC #51-121-053 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential. Variance application V1611-20 by Mill Creek Residential Trust, applicant, for a variance to Section 48-1265 to allow the following: 1) Section 48-1265(1), to allow three (3) walls signs instead of two (2); 2) Section 48-1265(1)a., to allow a total wall sign area of 144 (rounded up) square feet instead of 50 square feet; 3) Section 48-1265(2), to allow two (2) projecting signs instead of one (1); 4) Section 48-1265(2)a., to allow a total projecting sign area of 303 (rounded up) square feet instead of 20 square feet; 5) Section 48-1265(2)b., to allow placement of projecting signs to extend above the lower sill line of the second floor windows, and to project 16 feet from the building instead of 4 feet. 6) Section 48-1265(10), to allow five (5) building identification signs instead of one (1), with a total sign area of 368 square feet instead of 80 square feet, to be partially composed of on-individually stylized lettering, and for two (2) of such signs to be mounted on a non-street-facing side of the building; on premises known as 110 Founders Avenue, RPC #51-222-001of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned B-1 Limited Business. Prior to the BZA public hearing, this item will be reviewed at a public meeting by the Architectural Advisory Board (AAB) on February 5, 2020 for recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals Appeal application A1612-20 by Rani Doyle, appellant, to appeal a determination by the Zoning Administrator dated December 12, 2019, and amended and corrected in a letter dated December 13, 2019 in response to a request for determination regarding the subdivision application for 807 Villa Ridge Road, RPC #53-207-048 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential. Information on the above application is available for review at: Zoning Office 300 Park Avenue, Suite 103 East Falls Church, VA. 703-248-5015 (option 1) zoning@fallschurchva.gov
ABC LICENSE
WSC19, LLC., Trading as: SOLACE OUTPOST 444 WEST BROAD STREET, FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA 22046-3362. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Brew-
ery – 500 Barrels or less license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages, Jon Humerick, Manager. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc. virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.
ABC LICENSE
WSC19, LLC., Trading as: SOLACE OUTPOST 444 WEST BROAD STREET, FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA 22046-3362. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On and Off Premises and Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages, Jon Humerick, Manager. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc. virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.
CITY OF FALLS CHURCH FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Final day of registration is Monday, February 10, 2020 for the March 3rd, 2020, Democratic Party Presidential Primary. Sample Ballots can be found online: http:// www.fallschurchva.gov/vote All citizens, including those who are currently 17 years old, who will turn 18 years old by the November 3, 2020 General Election are eligible to register and vote. Online Voter Registration and early/absentee ballot by mail applications: http://www.vote. virginia.gov/ Deadline for applications submitted online via the Virginia Department of Election website is 11:59 pm on February 10, 2020. Only applicants with a DMV license or identification card can submit an application electronically and these applications may also be untimely if missing material information. Please note: those applications filled out online that are required to be printed and delivered to the registrar should be treated as regular mailed in applications and need to be postmarked by February 10, 2020, to meet the deadline. The 5:00 p.m. deadline on February 10, 2020, applies if any of these are submitted in-person at the registrar’s office. The deadline for mailed in applications remains that they be postmarked by February 10, 2020. Early/Absentee Voting for the City of Falls Church In-Person Absentee voting began in January at our newly renovated office at City Hall, 300 Park Ave, and will continue through Saturday, February 29, 2020. During that time, residents wishing to vote by In-Person
Absentee ballot can do so 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Saturday preceding the election, February 29th. The office is closed Monday, February 17th, 2020. Vote By Mail: The recommended deadline to apply for an absentee by mail ballot is Tuesday, February 18th to ensure USPS delivery of the ballot both to the voter and back to the Office of Elections by Election Day. The legal deadline is February 25th but we don’t recommend that you wait that long. Election Day Reminders for the City of Falls Church Residents are reminded that on Election Day, street parking is available on both sides of Little Falls Street by the Community Center and on Oak, Seaton, Fellows, Parker, Timber, and Jackson near Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Additional details, including a voter ward map, can be found online at www.fallschurchva.gov/Vote. Contact the Registrar’s office at 703-2485085 (TTY 711) or vote@fallschurchva.gov for more information. The Ward 2 Polling Place will be at Falls Green Apartments (formerly known as Oakwood Apartments) now that renovations are completed. David B. Bjerke, MPP, CERA, VREO Director of Elections & General Registrar of Voters, City of Falls Church Office of Voter Registration & Elections 300 Park Ave., Room 101E , Falls Church, VA 22046 Office: 703-248-5085; Fax: 703-248-5204; 703-248-5014 (TTY 771) vote@fallschurchva.gov; http://www.fallschurchva.gov/vote
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1. Actor Killam of both “Mad TV” and “SNL” 6. ‘90s-’00s first baseman Martinez 10. “Begone!” 14. “She ____ meat today” (“The Taming of the Shrew”) 15. Swim with the fishes, maybe 17. Newswoman Paula 18. Prideful? 19. “According to the grapevine ...” 21. Sales talk 23. What the Titanic had a disastrous encounter with 24. French “you” 25. Suffix with legal 26. Baseball’s “Slammin’ Sammy” 29. Letter-shaped bridge support 31. Ones with good habits? 33. Greek philosophical group 37. Cousin of -trix 38. Particulars, in slang 40. Scamps 42. DVD special feature ... or what’s seen in 1-/6-Across, 21-/23-Across, 55-/57-Across and 76-/77-Across 45. Mauna Loa, e.g. 46. “Cheeseburger, large fries and a Coke,” e.g. 49. Prefix with potent or present 52. Alfred who plays Diego Rivera in “Frida” 54. Larger-than-life 55. Unforeseen problem 57. ____-a-doodle-doo 59. It abuts the Fla. panhandle 60. The Beatles’ “____ Mine”
STRANGE BREW
Across 1. Actor Killam of both "Mad TV" and "SNL"
FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2020 | PAGE 21
61. Third-longest river in Europe, after the Volga and Danube 65. Kid 67. It might have two stars 71. Gary of “Lethal Weapon” 73. “Cómo ____ usted?” 74. “Throw ____ From the Train” (1987 Danny DeVito comedy) 75. Gladiator’s milieu 76. Right on the map 77. Walnut, for one 78. Low opera voice
DOWN
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JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
35. Prefix with logical 36. Ashley, to Mary-Kate 39. Sign of a packed house 41. Sgt., e.g. 43. Dutch ____ disease 44. Six-point completions for a QB 47. Actresses Atkins and Brennan 48. Label for Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” 49. “Intriguing ...” 50. Drink served in a champagne flute 51. 2000s events in North Korea, for short 53. Play a part (in) 56. “Ben-____” 58. Skewered dish 62. Kind of sleep 63. Admit frankly 64. Wheels of fortune? 66. Vibrant glow 68. Bit of horse feed 69. Genre for Fall Out Boy 70. Pocketful or mouthful, say 72. NBA legend ____ Ming Last Thursday’s Solution N B A M V P S
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By The Mepham Group
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6. '90s-'00s first baseman Martinez 10. "Begone!" 14. "She ____ meat today" ("The Taming of the Shrew") 15. Swim with the fishes, maybe 17. Newswoman Paula 18. Prideful? 19. "According to the grapevine ..." 21. Sales talk
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29. Letter-shaped bridge support NICK KNACK
© 2020 N.F. Benton
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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
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Falls Church News-Press Vol. XIX, No. 50 • February 11, 2010
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Planners OK More $ To Fix School Fields
F.C. Digs Out, Digs Back in to Making Tough Budget Choices
The Falls Church Planning Commission gave its unanimous approval Monday to City Schools’ request for an additional $730,000 of capital improvement funds to complete the renovation of the athletic fields at George Mason High School. The request comes to the City Council for final approval this Monday night.
High winds accompanying blizzard conditions drove the snowfall sideways in Falls Church and along the entire eastern seaboard yesterday, paralyzing the operations of government, business, schools and households even more than the storms’ predecessor that dumped 20 inches of snow last weekend.
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CRIME REPORT Week of Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2020 Drug/Narcotic Violation, 900 blk E Broad St, Jan 28, 2:11 AM, a male, 24, of Stafford, VA, was issued a citation for possession of marijuana. Larceny-Theft from Building, 100 blk E Fairfax St, Jan 26, 8:00 AM, unknown suspect(s) stole cash from an office building. Drunkenness/Trespassing, 100 blk W Broad St, Jan 28, 1:52 PM, a male, 68, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for appearing drunk in public and trespassing. Larceny, 1000 blk Fowler St, Jan
30, 9:36 AM, unknown suspect(s) removed an item of value from the front yard of a residence. Motor Vehicle Theft, 100 blk Rees Pl, sometime between Jan 30 and Jan 31, unknown suspect(s) stole a motor vehicle from a private parking lot. Drunkenness, 100 blk E Annandale Rd, Jan 31, 9:00 AM, a male, 38, of Annandale, VA, was arrested for appearing drunk in public. Credit Card Theft and Fraud, 500 blk W. Broad St, Jan 31, 11:07 AM, unknown suspect(s) stole several credit cards and attempted to make unauthorized purchases with
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them. Destruction of Property, 300 blk S Washington St, sometime between Jan 29 and Feb 1, unknown suspect(s) caused damage to a parked vehicle. Destruction of Property, 300 blk S Washington St, sometime during the overnight hours of Jan 31 into the morning of Feb 1, unknown suspect(s) caused damage to a parked vehicle. Larceny, 400 blk S Maple Ave, Feb 1, 5:16 PM, unknown suspect(s) removed an item of value from the back of a moving truck. Larceny-Shoplifting, 400 blk W Broad St, Feb 2, 1:15 PM, unknown suspect(s) stole several items of merchandise from a business. Driving Under the Influence / Drug Narcotic Violation, 1000 blk W Broad St, Feb 2, 2:37 AM, a male, 35, of Springfield, VA, was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
OH, WAS THIS YOUR SPOT? Bandit clearly wasn’t done getting attention from his human, hence the passive aggressive move not just onto the bed, but under the covers, too (cats, man). I guess this kitty is aptly named since he has a knack for stealing what isn’t his in the most criminal fashion. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
We reach some of the
FEBRUARY 6 - 12, 2020 | PAGE 23
SMARTEST, HEALTHIEST & WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THE NATION. DO YOU? The City of Falls Church: #3 Healthiest Community in America, 2019 U.S. News & World Report #4 Richest County in America, 2019 Forbes 80%+ F.C. residents 25 years+ with Bachelor’s Degrees or Higher, U.S. Census Bureau Also... #1 Best County in the U.S. to Live In, 2018 USA TODAY #1 Fastest Growing County in America, U.S. Census Bureau #1 Traditional High School in Virginia (George Mason H.S.), 2018 U.S. News & World Report
Contact us today to reach the smartest, healthiest and wealthiest readership in the country. Call 703-570-5813 or email ADS@FCNP.COM More info at fcnp.com/advertising
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