Merelyn Kaye Dies

and Karin Morrison, grandmother to Jessica, Emily, Katherine, and Taylor, and great-grandmother to Inanna, Paul, and Ahnuway.

Merelyn was born on November 15, 1937 and grew up in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with her father Merle, mother Josephine, and brothers Jeff and Phil. She met her husband Art at a dance while they

2023 Senior Living Issue

The first Senior Living issue of the 2023 year is here! Articles on heart health, varioius activities offered at different, local senior living facilities and a story about a F.C. resident turning 100 while still remaining active are all in this issue!

See PageS 7 -14

Valentine’s Day in F.C.

Valentine’s Day in the DMV can be a very romantic experience. However there are also some unique more casual ideas.

Patricia Leslie shares some gift ideas that couples can enjoy outside the tradional gifts of chocolate and flowers.

See Page 20 were attending Shepherd University and they shared their love of dancing throughout their marriage.

Merelyn and Art moved to Falls Church in 1965. A few years later they purchased their home “Woodbrook”, built in 1890 with a functional windmill and barn. She

$350 million in savings for electric customers? We’re all ears.

Legislation being considered by the Virginia General Assembly strengthens regulatory oversight and lowers the cost of electricity, saving Dominion Energy customers at least $350 million. That means a savings of about $6 to $7 a month for the average residential user, according to the State Corporation Commission, the agency that regulates utilities in Virginia. In a time of high prices for food, clothing and gas, it’s commonsense rate relief that will help us continue to do what we do best: meet the needs of our customers.

To take action, visit DominionEnergy.com/RateRelief paid for by dominion energy the June primary to represent the Democrats on the ballot for the seat in the November General Election. Petersen currently represents Senate District 34; only 44 percent of his current constituents are within the new district, though he is referred to as an incumbent.

Yalowitz left Colombia for London in 2002 and first moved to the United States in mid-2006. After returning to Colombia to complete her Bachelor of Political Science, Government & International Affairs Degree at Rosario University in Colombia, she permanently moved to the U.S. in 2007. During her years in London, she learned English as a second language, and volunteered for human rights campaigns at Amnesty International. Yalowitz lives in Tysons with her husband of sixteen years, Neil, and eight year old daughter Antonia.

Yalowitz touts a background of community work and advocacy. “I know firsthand the challenges facing our families and communities, from pedestrian safety to the need for better youth development opportunities,” she said in her announcement,

“and, as a Latina, a working mom of an FCPS student and active Labor Union member, I understand the importance of fighting for working families in this diverse community, and creating a brighter future for our children.”

As one of three Court Officers serving the Arlington and Falls Church Courts (a combined court), all family, juvenile and domestic court cases pass by Yalowitz to determine the proper course of action — including substance use or gun-related cases in Arlington Public Schools (APS) and Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS). The unit is now handling the tragic case of a young student, who died last Thursday after a fentanyl overdose in the bathroom at APS’s Wakefield High School two days before.

“There is an enormous sense of urgency due to the lack of services available to tackle addiction in youth,” said Yalowitz, who grew up in Colombia and has vivid memories of guerrillas invading the Supreme Court and survived bombs exploding in the streets of Bogota during the “War on Drugs” of the 1990s, “efforts of prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation are insufficient.”

Yalowitz wants to expand more services to combat the opioid epidemic, including exploring mobile rehabilitation units that can come to homes or schools. “At the moment all there is are teachers and parents equipped with Narcan in case of overdose.” Yalowitz, whose “dynamic” daughter attends Spring Hill Elementary School in Tysons, added. She continued that this places an unreasonable burden on teachers, “As if teachers didn’t have enough to deal with, they now have to run to save a students’ life on a moment’s notice.”

This is not the first time Yalowitz ran for office. She ran for Fairfax County Supervisor for Providence District, in a fiercely competitive fiveperson primary in 2019. Though successfully winning several precincts, she and all other candidates were handily defeated by now-Supervisor Dalia Palchik (D-Providence), who ultimately won the seat.

Yalowitz says her exposure to overdose court cases, and concerns as a parent, give her both motivation and competence on the issue. “I am seeing first-hand the tip of an iceberg that can be prevented with prompt and assertive action,” she said. “I will work tirelessly to win the voter support necessary to make it happen.”

Salim, who announced a primary bid for the Senate seat two weeks ago, grew up in Bangladesh until floods, droughts, and the desire for a better education and life for their children drove his parents to relocate his family to a friend’s basement — in greater Falls Church. Saddam’s father worked his way up to chef at the Haandi Indian Cuisine on W. Broad St., where he worked for over twenty years.

Salim attended Falls Church High School, where he was the President of