3-13-2025

School Board

HOWIE MADE IT HAPPEN

by Nicholas F.

The Falls Church City School Board approved its Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget at its regular meeting this Tuesday, pulling back slightly from an earlier recommendation by the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Peter Noonan to seek more than the F.C. City Council allotted in its guidance earlier in the year.

All eyes are now focusing on F.C. City Manager’s recommendations that he will present that Monday night, March 24, for the overall City operations budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. While surrounding jurisdictions are already experiencing significant pain due to declines in commercial real estate values, it is anticipated that Shields’ budget may include a 2 cent real estate tax rate cut, even with the full School Board budget request.

That will be because of the City’s aggressive economic development commitment that has yielded major revenue gains derived from its new commercial and real estate developments.

However, the cautionary aspect of this centers on how extensive the Trump administration’s slash and burn federal program cuts and personnel firings will be felt here, something that will be difficult to calculate this soon. Extensive job losses and resulting residential vacancies, for example, may take a major toll in ways that will become clearer in the coming months.

Dishes FF.C.’s Overall Plan Monday Continued on Page 3

Virginia’s venerable federal legislators, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and, for this area, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, have taken numerous strong stands against the moves by the Trump-Musk administration in the last two months since Trump returned to the White House.

U.S. Sen. Warner assailed the Trump tariffs that went into effect yesterday. The 25 percent tariffs target foreign steel and aluminum, triggering additional tariffs and retaliatory fees and hurting consumers.

Warner said in a statement, “Let’s be clear, today’s action by the Trump administration to levy a 25 percent tax on the importation of all steel and aluminum into the U.S. will jack up costs for consumers and small businesses across the Commonwealth and the nation. These tariffs will significantly increase input costs for small businesses, put homeownership further out of reach for Virginians, and threaten goodpaying manufacturing jobs across America.

“They will also endanger the Commonwealth’s greatest economic engine – the Port of

Virginia – by targeting commerce and potentially threatening activity at the port. Americans don’t want a reckless and misguided trade war. I’m going to keep working to lower prices for families and fighting to ensure we don’t turn our back on our allies.”

Congressman Beyer issued a statement Tuesday on Musk and Trump’s mass firing of thousands of employees at the U.S. Department of Education. He said,

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s political purge of the Department of Education is a gross betrayal of American stu -

dents. It is also illegal: Trump is plainly trying to eliminate by fiat a department established in law by Congress.

“Gutting the Department of Education would have horrific effects on American students and schools. Teachers will be fired, students will go hungry, college will be less affordable, and the worst harm will fall on students with disabilities and students of color. All this just to put a few more dollars into the pockets of billionaires – it is truly disgusting.

“Department of Education

Continued on Page 4

YOUNG HOWIE CATES (center) was honored by the Falls Church School Board at its meeting Tuesday for his seminal role initiating the establishment of important accessibility features of a playground at the Oak Street Elementary School. He was joined by Superintendent Noonan, members of the School Board and his family. (News-Press photo)

Benton Falls Church News-Press

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

Lincoln, King Recalled in Goodwyn House Talk on Their Faiths

by Courtney Mussen

The fruit of a collaboration between Goodwin House in Baileys Crossroads and the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA), Wednesday’s talk at Goodwin House senior living home near Falls Church entitled “Their Faith Moved Mountains” sought to situate faith at the center of the lives of two of America’s greatest statesmen, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. It was the second event in a twopart speaker series, The Journey Continues, the first of which, entitled “Through My Eyes,” was held last month.

Following a musical introduction, Retired U.S. Army Colonel, Jim Paige, CCNA’s Executive Director, invited a costumed Lincoln, who had himself visited Baileys Crossroads in November 1861 for a troop review, to recite the Gettysburg address. It served as a timely reminder, that this nation was “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Reverend Dr. Francis H. Wade, a retired Episcopal priest, then addressed “faith as a compass” with a view to orienting the audience to the panel discussion to follow. A belief, he said, is a commitment to an idea that lives in our heads or an ideal that lives in our hearts, all men are created equal being a case in point, while faith is the act of putting our beliefs into practice, or as the saying goes: “Belief is hearing the music of the future; Faith is dancing to it.” He noted that while many people accept the idea of equality, they are not always moved to act upon it, either in their own lives or in the

life of the community. As Rabbi Spinrad later explained, this call to put one’s faith into practice is also part of the Jewish tradition: the Hebrew word “Amen” combines the meanings of the English words belief and faith, with a focus on faith as an act of lifting others up or sustaining them. In other words, faith requires action. Wade continued that having made a commitment to act on our faith, we run up against power, which he characterized as the ability to cause or prevent change. He noted that most of us underestimate our own power or fail to recognize opportunities as they arise. Indeed, even Lincoln is said to have first encountered the cruelty of slavery as a boy on a flatboat trip to New Orleans, together with a recognition of his own powerlessness to change it. Lincoln later used his presidential powers to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which Wade characterized as one of this nation’s first steps on the journey to fulfilling the promise of equality for all people. In conclusion, the Reverend spoke of stewardship, meant to capture the idea that our faith ought to be conceived of as being in service to something greater than ourselves, whether that be God, family or the greater good.

Building on Mr. Wade’s introduction, a distinguished panel of speakers addressed human dignity and its roots in faith, as manifested in the lives of Lincoln and King. The panel comprised: David Gerleman, a professor in history at GMU, specializing in the U.S. Civil War era, military history and Abraham Lincoln; Dr. Leslie Dillard, Retired U.S. Army, Minister, Author and Speaker; and Rabbi David Spinrad of

Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, VA.

As Assistant Editor for the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, Gerleman had the opportunity to research many of Lincoln’s papers at the National Archives. He characterized Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation as a political document, one that reflected the reality that Lincoln had no power to touch the institution of slavery. He further noted that Lincoln would later sign the resolution which, following his death, was adopted as the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the United States.

Turning to the issue of faith, Rabbi Spinrad recounted Lincoln’s faith journey, starting as a religious skeptic in his youth, but through the years coming increasingly to place faith at the center of his life, though he rarely spoke about his religious views. Dr. Dillard described Dr. King’s spirituality as rooted in the strength of his personal relationship with Christ. According to Dillard, King sought to follow His example in the way he lived his life, how he spoke to people, the way he treated them, particularly in the face of social injustice. One of King’s greatest strengths was his ability to bring communities together, regardless of faith or skin color on the basis of their common humanity. Building on Dillard’s remarks, Rabbi Spinrad referenced a high priest in ancient Jerusalem whose vestments bore the words “Kodesh L’Adonai” (a transliteration of the Hebrew, meaning Holy Unto God). Spinrad was of the view that if only we could all approach people with this foremost in our minds, we

couldn’t help but respect each other and hold each other up. The importance of recognizing other people’s humanity was echoed by Dr. Dillard for whom communication, taking time to talk to each other, to truly share our experiences, was a way to better understand one another, a vehicle to cultivating dignity and mutual respect.

To reinforce the centrality of cultivating community, Col. Paige highlighted an initiative in Alexandria that brings older women into local schools, known as the Grandmother’s Table. The women act as mentors to young girls, finding ways to lift them up, befriend them, offer them advice and guidance.

The panelists’ closing remarks recalled the importance of each of us speaking out against injustice as a way of putting our faith into action. Rabbi Spinrad spoke of his work with the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project and its partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. The latter’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice is the nation’s first comprehensive memorial dedicated to thousands of African American victims of racial ter-

ror lynchings. More than 4,400 killed between 1877 and 1950 are remembered, their names engraved on over 800 steel pillars—one for each county where a racial terror lynching took place. One of the pillars commemorates the two documented lynchings of African American teenagers in Old Town, Alexandria in the 1890s: 19 year-old Joseph McCoy and 16 year-old Benjamin Thomas.

Dr. Dillard highlighted the life experience and wisdom of the audience members, encouraging them to recall their purpose and share their experiences with the younger generation – “we’re not here for ourselves, we’re here for each other.” Professor Gerleman emphasized the importance of knowing our own history. He characterized the current movement in favor of patriotic American history as doing a disservice to young people and the nation’s history.

A video of the full event can be found on Goodwin Living’s YouTube Channel https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=1O_ WEEhSq8w

A video of last month’s first event in this series is also available: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=X6VAtBNw_W0

For now, the schools’ and Shields’ budget proposals, as will be outlined this Monday, with Superintendent Noonan and School Board chair Tate Gould presenting the School Board adopted budget in conjunction with Shields’ presentation, are based on the new real estate assessments announced last month and school enrollment projections for the coming year.

The price tag for the approved budget is $69,547,486 and requires a city appropriation of $55,525,284, which now aligns with the guidance provided by the City Council.

With the School Board vote this Tuesday, for the seventh consecutive year, the school system has met the guidance provided by the City Council while, as School Board members stressed Tuesday, “continuing to address the needs of a growing student population and maintaining high-quality educational programming.”

“This budget reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring we meet the needs of our growing population of students and

staff,” said School Board Chair Tate Gould.

The Board’s approved budget includes several key elements for the coming fiscal year:

1. Funding to make permanent several positions currently funded through temporary sources, including a math specialist, school counselor, and ESOL teacher,

2. Addition of 4.5 general education classroom teachers to accommodate enrollment growth,

3. The addition of one special education teacher and three paraprofessionals,

4. Funding for a full-time assistant director of athletics and student activities,

5. Continued funding of psychology services previously supported through pandemic funds.

The School Board also approved the FY2026 Food Service budget in the amount of $1,621,448 and the Community Services Fund budget of $2,663,200, which requires a city appropriation of $107,500.

As part of the approval process, the School Board chose to place funding for a proposed International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) coordinator

position into a staffing reserve. This decision will allow the administration flexibility to address potential enrollment increases or other staffing needs that may arise before the final budget adoption in May, the board decided.

Superintendent Noonan and School Board Chair Tate Gould will present the school budget to the City Council this Monday in conjunction with a presentation by Shields of the overall City operations budget recommendations.

While the Falls Church school budget fully funds all the programs considered vital to maintain the high level of quality for which the system is nationally known, it is a far cry from the situation in Fairfax County where revenue shortfalls are causing big program cuts.

For example, after-school and summer programs that serve thousands of middle school students are at risk of ending under Fairfax County’s proposed budget.

To close a projected $292.7 million funding gap, County Executive Bryan Hill pitched a fiscal year 2026 budget last month that cuts nearly $60 million in spending and 208 staff positions across multiple agen-

affecting everything from public safety to housing assistance programs and park maintenance.

The proposed reductions include $4.13 million from the county’s

Virginia Federal Delegation Turns Up Heat on Trump-Musk Trashing

workers, many of whom I represent, learned of their terminations in waves last night that included the elimination of entire offices. These steep cuts heavily targeted hundreds of attorneys, student aid workers, and civil rights office staff. Trump and Musk’s abysmal abuse of the federal civil service is only getting worse, and the loss of these workers and their expertise will further harm the delivery of key services to the American people – in this case to our students.

“I will be joining colleagues to conduct vigorous oversight of this matter. This provides still more reason to vote against continuing the status quo of Trump-inflicted destruction of the federal government and mass firings of federal workers, if any were needed.”

Sen. Warner and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act, legislation aimed at protecting recently fired federal workers. The legislation would ensure that if and when employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probation-

ary period for the same job they previously held. The legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.).

“Over the past 50 days, more than 20,000 non-political civil servants have been ruthlessly booted from their jobs without cause. Unsurprisingly, a number of these individuals are now being reinstated, either through legal proceedings or because the Trump-Musk administration has realized that these jobs were necessary, and these employees not easily replaced,” said Warner.

“This important legislation would ensure that those dedicated civil servants are able to pick back up where they left off and finish out their probationary periods without penalty.”

“The Trump-Musk illegal purge of federal employees has unfairly harmed thousands of dedicated civil servants and their families, while threatening the critical services they provide day in and day out to the American people. There is clearly no method to this madness – swept up in this chaos were longtime career

employees who were recently promoted, along with others who had received glowing performance reviews for their good work. We will continue fighting to reverse these reprehensible actions in the courts – and as those efforts allow employees to return to their jobs, this legislation guarantees that these employees don’t have to restart the clock,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

Warner has been outspoken about the ramifications the TrumpMusk administration’s reckless actions will have on the federal workforce. During Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Warner grilled him on his plans to ‘traumatize’ federal workers.

Warner has also repeatedly warned of the impact these actions will have on public health, national security, and veterans’ services. He highlighted the real-world impact of these cuts during President Trump’s State of the Union Address, bringing Ashley Ranalli, a recently fired National Park Service ranger, as his guest.

Troop 1996's newly minted Eagle Scouts include (bottom row, left to right) Connor Tweddle, Jack Taylor, Gael Hiromoto, Conrad Diemel, Josh Casey and Cameron Dunn. Troop leaders (top row, from left to right), include: Scoutmasters Chad Fulgham, Wayne Casey and Todd Friedlander. To learn

Commentary: Why Women’s History Month Matters Today

by Marty Meserve

The Falls Church Women’s History Group strives to bring awareness to our community of the contributions of women since the founding of Falls Church. Honorees are representatives of ALL the women who continue to make life better, one day at a time, for those they love and for society at large. These women are inspirations for girls who see in their examples the many possibilities for service available to them. Our women’s struggles and accomplishments need to be remembered.

A few examples from our list of honorees illuminates what inspires us. Harriet Foote Turner was a woman of color who worked at the Fitzhugh plantation where her job was to pick up newly arrived enslaved people from the Alexandria slave market. In 1851, instead of delivering twelve people to the plantation, she led them on a perilous journey to freedom in Canada.

Laura Connors Hull had a dream. Guided by the belief that creativity is a fundamental need

of the human spirit, she founded Creative Cauldron, first in parks across the region, then to borrowed temporary spaces in Falls Church, until a home was secured in 2009 in Pearson Square. She has provided enrichment to people of all ages, incomes, backgrounds, and abilities. Successes led to the culmination of her dream with the opening of a new home on Broad Street in February.

Annette Mills was an environmental activist before sustainability became a household word. She was the inspiration behind and founder of curbside recycling, Operation Earthwatch, and the VPIS Neighborhood Tree Program. Annette also launched the ongoing Spring and Fall Citywide cleanups and the ongoing leaf mulch program. In 1995, As an active member of the League of Women Voters she chaired a study and was the primary author of a booklet titled “Sustainable Development in the City of Falls Church.” Annette’s efforts for reducing the waste stream in Falls Church won

national recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

It may seem a bit absurd that women are still struggling for equality in 2025. Indeed, the current purge of women from leadership positions in the federal government is another step backwards, and a warning sign that things may get worse.

Unfortunately, women’s’ history has been obscured. It wasn’t until 1980 that President Jimmy Carter tried to shine a light on the contributions of American women with a proclamation creating National Women’s’ History Week. It took another seven years for Congress to pass a law declaring March as Women’s’ History Month.

Why was it necessary to fight for women’s rights? It was necessary because women were treated as second class citizens who couldn’t even vote until 1920. It was necessary because doors were closed to women’s entry and advancement in the workplace. It was necessary because sexual harassment and sexual abuse

went unpunished. It was necessary because the contributions that women have made since the founding of America were left out of the history books. Although progress has been made, women are still struggling against efforts to marginalize, disrespect, and disregard them. Some gains have been lost. Women are still underrepresented in the board room and in corporate America, sexual harassment continues, discrimination by the military has been reestablished, and most seriously, women have lost the right

to determine their own medical care decisions. A return to a white male autocracy threatens to erode women’s rights even further.

Falls Church has more than its share of notable women in government, civil rights, education, business, social services, the creative arts, and more. Please take a look at our web page FallsChurchWomensHistoryWalk to learn more about the women of tomorrow and today who have made our community a better place. And don’t give up the fight!

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A Perfect Storm Is Unfolding

With his annual new fiscal year budget recommendations coming this Monday, Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields will be flying blind to some extent, like all the rest of us wide-eyed and reeling from the thoughtless and deep federal program cuts emanating out of the White House. His budget plan will address all the major issues our local jurisdiction faces, including giving the School Board all it’s asking for this go around, and on top of that, he may propose a two cent real estate tax rate reduction. If he doesn’t, surely the F.C. City Council will be looking to do it and maybe more by the time it finally votes on its budget in May.

But Shields’ budget will be buffeted on all sides by the looming aura and practical realities of what the Trump-Musk administration is doing, unable to take the consequences fully into account at this early stage. But it is shaping up as a perfect storm for the entire region. Massive federal and federal contractor job losses resulting in plunging residential real estate values and collateral havoc in the service sector could spell a bonafide catastrophe. Some may argue this is only temporary, or not actually so bad, but insofar as it fits with the parameters of the so-called Project 2025 plan to deconstruct the administrative state, as authored not by Trump or Musk but by the likes of Russell Voight, head of the White House Office of Management and Budget, it is indeed intended to become our new reality.

So, make no mistake, this is a dead serious matter for all our regional jurisdictions and therefore, we feel it is incumbent on our local government to be ready with emergency options, or a roadmap to exercise them, as this unfolds. There need to be priorities set, for example, between what are programs that need to be genuinely maintained and those which can be delayed or cancelled. There need to be hotlines readied between jurisdictions to address emergencies that arise.

There also needs to be transparency in all this, too. Our leaders need to be forthcoming and telling us what they’re doing to be ready for the storm that is coming. Given the ugly realities we are likely to be encountering, are efforts underway to accommodate a mass of delinquencies, for example? What about support for local restaurants that suddenly experience a major loss in business? Is there a fund, or is one being set up, to help with this? If so, we need to know.

Most of all, there needs to be an extraordinary effort put into resisting an “every man for himself” approach by jurisdictions. There need to be overarching institutional mechanisms set up to carry the weight of the crises that are already coming down on us. Great credit needs to go to our Congressman Don Beyer for organizing the resource fair held last weekend at Wakefield High School in Arlington. Many more are called for.

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Letters to Editor

Boys Basketball Correction

Editor,

Congratulations to this year’s edition of the Meridian boys’ basketball team and Coach Jim Smith on finishing an undefeated regular season, winning the Region 3B championship, and proceeding as far as the State semi-finals. This is a notable achievement.

Contrary to the p. 23 article in the February 20th issue of the News-Press , however, it is not the first Mustang boys’ basketball team in school history to complete an undefeated regular season. Instead, the 201516 squad under Coach Chris Capannola actually holds that particular honor. That team also won a regional championship and also suffered its only loss in the State semi-finals.

Joel Hamme

At Ecumenical Christian, Not Christian Nationalist

F.

I have been asked to share more of my personal faith.

The two words, ecumenical and Christian, are inseparable in my faith. While I confess to being a Chrisitian in the ways I outline here, it is not in an exclusive way. I am decidedly not what today is being called a “Christian nationalist,” and in fact my convictions are in profound contradiction to that. I affirm an ecumenical commitment in the sense that my faith is decidedly not exclusive in terms of the language of any one religious tradition but shared with the best elements of many others, as well.

When I first, as an adult, entered the Christian faith and chose to enter graduate theological seminary, the spirit of ecumenicism was strong in the world, and my chosen denomination, the United Church of Christ, had been recently recast by a merger of the Congregational Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. But this ecumenical climate changed dramatically with the rise of a “postmodernism” that contended divisions are superior to finding common ground.

I believe in God. I am convinced that what the term, God, or the ultimate God, the God above the Gods, refers to is an actual reality and not a mental construct. I mean this in the sense that Einstein said “I believe in the God of Spinoza.” This is not a reductionist notion of God, one which paints him for the sake of storytelling or primitive imagery as a distinct person in the sky, a patriarchal figure or tribal leader. This notion of God I point to is one with the massive and infinitely complex universe that we are only beginning to appreciate. It is a universe so vast in its scale that it is impossible to comprehend, and yet that vastness also extends to the infinitely microscopic level, where atoms that

make up our very physical existence are by 99.9 percent empty and where wave functions, more than particles, are the basis for reality as we know it so far.

In this incredible universe, with its manifestations on our planet Earth exhibiting the richest and more amazing possible diversities of things and laws being cause for deep and profound gratitude by those of us who find ourselves as the most advanced of sentient beings here, we enjoy the amazing gift of being able to witness and reflect upon this creation, and to live, to live with consciousness, perhaps the greatest possible gift.

God, as we humans have sought to appreciate over eons of recorded history, is of the nature of the creator of all this, according to laws that we are only just beginning to grasp, laws that operate on a deeper level than ones governing our day-today lives, that even Einstein was amazed by and could not understand. The best we can do is advance our thinking in pursuit of the lawfulness of this all while remaining in awe of this world and its stunning beauty.

Prayer, in my view, is not about wanting things, so much as to bring one’s own consciousness and behavior into line with the best intentions that God has for one’s life. It is about an internal conversation in the form of a petition from the finite seeking the infinite as a guide for living. I see the Lord’s Prayer as an affirmation, not as a request. These simple things are not what we ask of God, but what we affirm God to be.

Jesus Christ puts a human face on God and instructs us on how we should conduct our lives. The testimony of his life shows us that fully participating in God’s world is not devoid of struggle and pain, or death, but comes within and through all of the limitations and restrictions that being alive and growing up and through this world present to us. His is a testament to the power of love, above all: to compassion, to empathy, to giving a damn about the least among us. His is an affirmation that amidst all this creation in which we find ourselves, the way forward in his universe embraces the challenges of loving, caring and going the extra mile.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor

Watching Mr. Trump address the Congress and the nation last week was like watching a train wreck. You don’t want to stare at the carnage, but you can’t look away either. Carnage may be too strong a word; no one died – yet – because of the 99-minute-long speech, but one could make a case that the truth died as a result of his comments. So, too, did any sense of bipartisanship, grace, or statesmanship. Rather than offer ideas to resolve challenges, Mr. Trump used the House chamber to litigate old grievances, attack elected Democratic officials and demonstrate the same boorishness we’ve seen on the campaign trail, and, recently, in his Oval Office meetings. In every way and every day, Mr. Trump reflects and reiterates his “I am your retribution” campaign promise. The speech to Congress was less a focus on the future and more a blast from the past. The House of Representatives can be a bit raucous at times, although nothing like the British House of Commons, but Trump’s lengthy diatribe contained so many lies

and misinformation that his speechwriters probably need to go to confession. Millions of Social Security recipients are not living to extraordinary ages. The blame lies squarely on outdated computer systems that failed to record recipient deaths for some people born in 1920 or earlier. In fact, there are fewer than 90,000 Americans over the age of 100, or 0.027 percent of the entire population. That statistic easily can be verified, even by the President of the United States and his henchmen but wouldn’t make the kind of headlines they crave.

“Tariffs” may be Mr. Trump’s favorite word, but it is clear, perhaps to everyone but him, that the importer pays the tariff and passes the cost along to the customer. Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) revealed that the Congressional Joint Economic Committee estimates that tariffs threatened by the Trump Administration will cost the average American family $1600 to $2000 annually. Even more curious is that Trumpthreatened tariffs are targeted against our closest allies,

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of March 3 - 9, 2025

Trespassing, Hillwood Ave, Mar 3, 6:53 a.m., male, 33, of no fixed address, was arrested for Trespassing.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Mar 3, 11:55 a.m., a black male, 51, of Arlington, was arrested for Shoplifting.

Larceny, W Broad St, between 3:00 p.m. on Mar 2 and 6:00 PM on Mar 3, an unknown suspect stole a locked black Segway 9Bot Electric Scooter.

Public Intoxication, Hillwood Ave,

Mar 3, 8:21 p.m., a white male, 49, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

Failure to Return Vehicle, W Broad St, Mar 4, 8:32 a.m., victim reported that a known suspect failed to return a rental vehicle, a white Ford Transit cargo van, after multiple requests to do so.

Destruction of Property, W Broad St, Mar 4, 9:14 a.m., a report for graffiti was taken.

Public Intoxication/Trespassing, S Washington St, Mar 4, 10:21 p.m., a male, 67, of no fixed address, was arrested for

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Canada and Mexico. Pushback from those North American leaders was eloquent but pointed, and Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada’s tariffs in response to Trump’s actions will remain until the Americans “show us respect.” Following market plunges and outcries from industries, Trump deferred implementing his tariff scheme to April 2 rather than the more apt April Fools’ Day.

As chief disruptor and chaos commander, Trump’s damage to democracy, less than two months into his second term, is dangerous and extraordinary. In his zeal to be the center of attention, he threatens, bullies, and denigrates friends and foes alike – our allies, the press, women, LGBTQ+, federal employees, veterans, the legal profession. He picks fights where there are no fights to be picked, and doubles down when questioned. There appear to be no guardrails, and no rational adults to counsel a pullback from the precipice. Where is the moral backbone? The courage, integrity, duty, and devotion to the Constitution that were the high principles we traditionally expected from our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle? The train wreck is happening, and we must not look away, or fail to act.

Public Intoxication and Trespassing.

Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, W Broad St, Mar 5, 10:34 p.m., a male, 31, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.

Tampering with Auto, E Fairfax St, between 4:45 p.m. on Mar 6 and 6:20 AM on Mar 7, victim’s unlocked vehicle was tampered with.

Assault, E Annandale Rd, Mar 9, 3:25 a.m., victim reported they were assaulted by two unknown suspects. No suspect description available.

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VPIS Offering Stormwater Mitigation Grants

The Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) has announced 2025 grants to City of Falls Church residents for projects to reduce stormwater runoff.

Grants are available for projects to install rain gardens or conservation landscapes and for purchase of rain barrels to store rain water.

The grants are part of the RainSmart Program implemented by VPIS with support from the City of Falls Church. The Program is intended to help City of Falls Church residents implement practices, such as rain barrels and rain gardens, that help rainwater soak into the ground on-site to prevent flooding and protect water quality locally and in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Program also includes public information and outreach programs to promote stormwater management.

Rain Barrel Grants – An easy way to manage stormwater is to install rain barrels to catch runoff from roofs. Under the RainSmart

News & Notes

Program, City residents can apply for grant funds for up to two rain barrels with a limit of $50 for each barrel. Residents may apply for rain barrel grants throughout the year and can purchase rain barrels from a commercial source or from VPIS at a cost of $80.

Residents are responsible for installing and maintaining rain barrels.

Rain Garden Grants – Another opportunity to improve local stormwater management is to install a rain garden that is designed to help rainwater soak into the ground and help reduce high volumes of runoff that carry sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants into local streams.

Under the RainSmart Program, City residents can apply for grant funds to cover up to 50% of the cost of a project or $1,500, whichever is less.

Grants are also available for landscape conservation projects that have stormwater benefits. These projects need to be designed and installed by contractors approved by the RainSmart Program.

Funds for both rain barrel and rain garden grants are limited.

Applications for rain barrels or projects will be considered on a

continuing basis until available funds for the year are committed.

FCArts Announces New Spring Window Painting Day

Falls Church Arts has announced it is sponsoring a new community wide event on March 22.

The “Little City Spring Window Painting Day” will bring together local businesses and community members to paint family-friendly Spring designs on store windows in the city’s business district.

The event builds on the 16 years long success of Falls Church Arts’ Halloween Window Painting Festival. Painters will return to clean up their artwork on April 19.

Last fall, nearly 300 young painters from across the community joined forces with more than 40 local businesses to paint Halloween-themed designs on storefront windows along Falls Church City’s major thoroughfares.

“Little City Window Painting Days” are a free, volunteer-led, community service of the local nonprofit Falls Church Arts.

U.S.REP. DON BEYER (left) held a roundtable on the importance of maintaining Medicaid coverage at his Alexandria office last Friday. He is shown here with (l. to r.) Freddy Mejia of the Commonwealth Institute, Mary Lee Ruby of SEIU Virginia, and Michael Thomas of The Arc. In Virginia 681,000 depend on Medicaid, but if the federal funding portion drops below 90 percent, everyone in the state loses coverage. (Photo: News-Press)

‘Faces And Figures’ Show Seeks Artist Submissions

Falls Church Arts invites artists to submit work that focuses on faces and figures for an exhibition at the organization’s gallery on W. Broad St. slated to run from April 19 to June 1. The deadline for entries is March 16, and the show will launch with an artists’ reception on Saturday, April 19, at 7 p.m.

The show’s juror will be Teresa Oaxaca, an American-born artist based currently in Washington, D.C. She is a full-time painter whose works can be seen in collections and galleries throughout the United States and internationally. Her talent has been recognized and rewarded by museums and institutions such as the American Museum of the Cowboy, the former Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Art Renewal Center, the Elisabeth Greenshields Foundation, the Posey Foundation, and the Portrait Society of America, as well as the Museu Europeu D’Art Modern in Barcelona.

Tariffs Vs. Canada to Impact Newspaper Production Costs

According to the Columbia Journalism Review, Canada has long been a major supplier of American

newsprint—it now provides an estimated 80 percent of the paper used by US newspapers. A tariff would add a significant burden to publishers already struggling with high costs of production and thin margins, and analysts say the mere looming threat of one has complicated life for printers. Almost anything that is done here is going to be increasing prices for newsprint.

LGBTQ+ World Pride Coming To D.C. Starting May 17

The Washington, D.C. region is hosting World Pride this year, one of the world’s top LGBTQ community gatherings. People from around the globe will flock to Washington to join the festivities, which will begin on May 17 and continue until June 8. WorldPride, observed bianually, is being held in Washington in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Pride in DC. Events will be sprinkled throughout the weeks leading up to the WorldPride DC Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Ninth and Third St. on June 7 and 8. Cynthia Erivo is slated to be the headline performer on June 7.

AT THE RESOURCE FAIR for federal workers and contractors hosted by Rep. Don Beyer at Wakefield High in Arlington Saturday, over 1,000 showed up. At the City of Falls Church table where over a dozen full time City jobs were advertised, intern Anna Shine, HHS office’s Leslyn Barrow, City Council’s Laura Downs and City schools’ Ashlie Kendrick and Devita Godette-Eason were on hand. (Photo: News-Press)

Creative Cauldron Presenting Learning ‘Snow White’ Show

Falls Church’s own Creative Cauldron is producing its first Learning Theater Ensemble production in their new E. Broad St. home with “Snow White-Blancanieves” beginning Friday, March 21.

Based on the iconic fairy tale, the production will feature music and lyrics by award winners Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith along with an updated script written by Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull and Learning Theater alum Lorien Jackson. It will feature Spanish language elements by Artistic Associate Lenny Mendez.

The show is presented by Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater Ensemble which is composed of elementary and middle school aged students and a professional actor. “Snow White-Blancanieves” is sponsored by Halm Jenkins PLLC. The production runs through April 6, 2025.

“With Disney’s new live action ‘Snow White’ being released in theaters on the same day as our first performance, we felt like it was the perfect time to revisit the classic story. We wanted to bring the original Brothers Grimm tale to life with a fresh take that has not yet been seen,” said the Cauldron’s Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull.

News & Notes

“The original story leans more toward the darker side of the tale, so when adapting the script we wanted to focus more on the comedic side of the story.”

She added, “As a part of our Artes Para Todos Initiative, we also wanted to add in Spanish language elements as a way for our Spanish speaking audiences to enjoy the story.”

Cast and creative team include the professional Lenny Mendez (Evil Queen), who has co-directed multiple Learning Theater shows including “The Princess and The Goblin,” “The Snow Queen,” “The Adventures of Pinocchio-Las Aventuras de Pinocho,” and “The Princess and The Pea-La Princesa y el Guisante.” Her professional acting credits include shows from around the DMV at theaters such as Creative Cauldron, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Studio Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Workhouse Arts Center, and the Alden Theatre.

The title role of Snow White will be shared by Isla Bitici and Savannah Wheeler, both of whom have appeared in multiple Learning Theater Ensemble productions.

The rest of the cast is made up of this years Leanring Theater Ensemble which features Jonah Denis, Emma Lynch, Francesaca Pava, Charlotte Mitchell, Tatiana Lund, Tosca Inglis-Nela, Vlaire Corey, Maya Sendra, Julia Kent, Lydia Jacobovitz, Ely Tarrant, Madeline Corley,

Alec Goldenberg, Jessica Stein, Sophie Sproesser, Miles Weiss, Olivia Wolfe, Olivia Sloan, June Tuss, Hanna La Croix, Marie Solander, Diana Alison, Aarya Sridhara, Coralie Ennis, Marco Romero, Emerson Kellher, Whit Jenkins, and Julia Kieffer.

Harvey’s Celebrates 3rd Anniversary This Week

The popular downtown Falls Church restaurant, Harvey’s, is celebrating its third anniversary this week. Founder Thomas Harvey stated this week, “Our goal and passion are summed up in our tagline, ‘Small Town Feel With a Modern

Flair.”Harvey’s was founded on the idea of change and adaptability. Dining has been forever changed with the current events and the ease of technology. Our restaurant will combine multiple ways of dining, finding farm fresh ingredients, homewares with neighborhood style hospitality. The Little City is a perfect place for us to call home.”

Meridian H.S. Offering $50k in Scholarships

Meridian High School is facilitating the distribution of over $50,000 in scholarships to its students, provided by various

partnering organizations, supporting a wide range of interests and career aspirations, including specific fields such as engineering, music, and math. There are also opportunities for students who have excelled in sports, vocal performance, or community service. Whether your student comes from an immigrant family, is considering community college, or plans to pursue a non-traditional career path, there are scholarship options tailored to their unique circumstances. To view and submit applications for awards stewarded by FCEF, students must be logged into their FCCPS accounts.

CLINT DELONG (center) long-standing member of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, is shown here celebrating his 100th birthday with members of the library staff. (Photo: Gary Mester)

A CELTIC MUSIC concert in the comfort of a Falls Church living room, as captured by photographer Gary Mester. (Photo: Gary Mester)

10 | MARCH 13 - 19, 2025

THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13

Light & Dark: Contrast – Falls Church Arts Exhibit Showcases Local Photographers

March 1, 2025 – April 6, 2025

Falls Church Arts Gallery

700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

The creativity of forty-four local photographers will be presented at the exhibit Light & Dark: Contrast. The exhibit continues the organization’s long-standing support of arts in the community. The sixty-piece exhibit will open Saturday, March 1, with a meet-the-artists reception from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the gallery. The event is free and open to the public. The Juror’s Choice Award will be announced at the reception.

Visitors are invited to vote for the People’s Choice Award at the gallery before March 21. The color and black and white images will be on display from March 1 to April 6, 2025. Admission to the gallery is free. The gallery is open Tuesdays–Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Needlework Show

March 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025

Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House

9000 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309

This is the largest and longest-running needlework show in the United States. This year's show will recognize the 50th anniversary of Nelly's Needlers, a volunteer organization whose mission is to further appreciation of the needle arts and support the preservation of Woodlawn. Tickets: $20.00 at https:// franklloydwright.org/site/pope-leighey-house

A Room in the Castle: Presented by Folger Theatre

March 4, 2025 – April 6, 2025 Folger Theatre

201 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC

How does a woman survive the court of Denmark?

How does anyone? A Room in the Castle finds Ophelia, her handmaid, and Queen Gertrude on the other end of a wild prince’s antics and realizing just how dangerous life in this castle has become. A universal thriller that explores how we help one another through harrowing times, what mothering a potential madman means, and what responsibilities generations have to each other, "A Room in the Castle" rebrands the stories of the women of Shakespeare’s Hamlet into a hilarious and heartrending drama with music and defiant hope for the future. Tickets $20.00 – $84.00 at www.folger.edu

On Stage: In The Heights

March 6, 2025 – May 4, 2025 Signature Theatre

4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA Lights up on Washington Heights, NYC where the streets are full of music, and everybody’s got a dream. With the neighborhood on the brink of gentrification, and a life-changing winning lottery ticket somewhere in their midst, the vibrant inhabitants share hope, loss and love as they plan their futures while cherishing their home. Latin rhythms and hip-hop lyrics infuse “96,000,” “Paciencia y Fe,” “Carnaval del Barrio” and the title song as this breathtaking celebration of community and culture energetically bursts off the stage with Signature’s trademark immersive style. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org.

The Old Money Project Exhibition

March 6, 2025 – March 23, 2025

The DC Arts Center (DCAC)

2438 18th St NW, Washington, DC

Unlike traditionally trained curators, these curators, who work in government by day, bring a distinctly DC perspective to their work, blending creativity and civic insight to highlight narratives that resonate within the community. Their deep

connection to the community and dedication to amplifying unique voices in contemporary art have made their work stand out. Reception: Friday, March 7, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Light refreshments and beverages provided. Free. 2025 Youth Art Show

March 6, 2025 – March 16, 2025 McLean Project for the Arts 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA

Featuring work by FCPS Langley and McLean Pyramid students from elementary grades through high school. More information at www.mpaart.org.

Riverdance 30 – The New Generation

March 6, 2025 – March 16, 2025

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC

Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its Grammy Award®–winning fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions. Now the show is embarking on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences worldwide. Tickets $39.00 – $199.00 at www.kennedy-center.org.

The Dumb Waiter presented by DC Arts Center

March 7, 2025 – March 23, 2025 The DC Arts Center (DCAC) 2438 18th St NW, Washington, DC

Stanley, former Executive Director of The DC Arts Center, steps back into the spotlight for a special limited engagement of Harold Pinter’s "The Dumb Waiter," presented by Theatre Du Jour. The production, running March 7–23, reunites Stanley with longtime collaborator Jerry Herbilla. Set in a stark, windowless basement, The Dumb Waiter follows Gus and Ben—two hitmen awaiting their next orders—who find their routine disrupted by a series of bizarre messages demanding increasingly absurd plates of food. As tension mounts, their banter shifts from the mundane to the menacing, forcing them to confront their fears, obedience, and the unseen forces that control their fate. Tickets $30.00 and $25.00 at https://www.theatredujour.org/current-om

Solace Outpost Falls Church March Madness Brackets March 13, 2025 – March 20, 2025

Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA March Madness! Participate in Solace Outpost Falls Church’s March Madness Brackets for your chance to win a $100 Gift Card for the Falls Church location. Join the group and complete your bracket after selection on Sunday on March 16. No entry fee, no experience necessary, only one entry per user. Once the tournament begins the entries will be locked. Employees of Solace Brewing Co. and Solace Outpost Navy Yard and Solace Outpost Falls Church are not eligible. Questions – info@solacebrewing.com

Heirloom Silver and Brass Restoration Services

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

4101 Chain Bridge Rd Suite 104, Fairfax, VA

Do you have an heirloom that is blackened with years of tarnish or in need of repair?

The Silversmiths at Bel-Air House of Silver can restore your silver and brass heirlooms with expertise and love. They provide restoration for tea sets, flatware, hollowware, trays, candelabras, tortoise shell combs, boar brushes, hand mirrors, lamps, chandeliers, trophies, hardware, tabletops, fireplace tools... and much, much more. Bel-Air House of Silver is based out of Charlottesville, Virginia and their Silver Restoration Experts come to Fairfax on Mondays and Thursdays to provide services for your area.

Falls Church Fiber Artists

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Drop in for this informal weekly group to knit and crochet. Share what you're creating. Get advice from other knitters and crocheters. Or just chat while you work on your own project! All are welcome.

Preschool Nature Nuts: Peculiar Plants

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna

Designed for curious kids ages 2-4, this program reveals the strange and wonderful ways plants protect themselves and thrive in nature. In our conservatory, we will check out the cool Mediterranean plants that have interesting ways to protect themselves. Our little botanists will also decorate their own plant pot and plant a "Mother of Hundreds"—a unique succulent that grows tiny baby plants along the edges of its leaves. This weird and wonderful plant will be a fun keepsake to take home and watch grow. Join us for a hands-on adventure in the amazing world of plants! $10.00 per preschooler, register at www.novaparks.com.

Harvey’s 3-year Anniversary 3iesta 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Harvey's

513 W Broad St STE 130, Falls Church, VA Tacos and Margaritas specials! Commemorative T-shirts will be on sale as well!

Chamber Event: Informal Networking Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

The Original Pancake House

7395 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA Join members for great conversation over breakfast. We'll discuss the latest news, new developments, and chamber events and opportunities. Prospective members are welcome. No need to RSVP - just join us in the back room and cover your own breakfast.

PYP Exhibition at Oak Street Elementary School

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Oak Street Elementary School

601 S Oak St, Falls Church, VA

Please join us to see the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our exceptional 5th grade students.

The Humanities Lab: Shakespeare 101 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Folger Theatre

201 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC Thursday, March 13 and Thursday, March 20 Join us for a dynamic, two-day Shakespeare workshop hosted at the Folger. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or looking to brush up your Shakespeare, this experience is designed to be fun, engaging, and full of surprises—no boring lectures or pop quizzes, we promise! Dive into the fascinating world of Shakespearean bookmaking, explore rare materials from the Folger’s collection, and enjoy lively discussions where everyone’s voice matters. Registration: $100 includes both sessions. Register at www.folger.edu

Solace Outpost Trivia Night

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Solace Outpost

444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Join us for live trivia every Tuesday and Thursday presented by Pour House Trivia! Come drink, eat and win! First place teams $30 gift card. Second place teams $20 gift card. Thursday Night District Trivia

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack

130 N Washington St, Falls Church,VA District Trivia! Bring your friends and show off your trivia chops!

Sleep Issues Discussion

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA

A free discussion series for parents presented by the Safe Community Coalition in partnership with the McLean Community Center. We will delve into the causes and consequences of sleep issues and their impact on mental health. This presentation will cover common sleep disorders, the mind-body connection in sleep and evidencebased techniques for improving sleep quality. Attendees will learn practical strategies for managing insomnia, reducing stress before bed and creating healthier sleep habits. This session is ideal for anyone interested in understanding how to achieve restful sleep and support mental wellness.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

Harvest at Home: Mastering Vegetable Gardening in Containers 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Virtual

In this session, attendees will learn the essentials of vegetable container gardening, including how to choose the right containers, soil, and plant varieties for a successful vegetable harvest at home. Extension Master Gardener Benton Murphy will cover practical tips for maximizing space, managing water and sunlight, and addressing common challenges like pests and plant diseases. By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to start their own thriving container vegetable garden, no matter how limited their outdoor space. FREE. RSVP online at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-publiceducation-classes/ to receive the link to participate.

Kensington Memory Café w/ Insight Memory Care 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA A Monthly Social Gathering for Caregivers & Loved Ones with Mild Memory Loss. Deepen connections with your loved one and build new support networks in a safe, supportive and engaging environment. The Kensington is proudly partnering with Insight Memory Care Center and Falls Church Arts to host our bi-monthly Memory Café. Our group meets on-site at Falls Church Arts and is a social gathering: an opportunity to make new friends and interact with others without fear of embarrassment or being misunderstood. Many also find it an avenue for sharing concerns and providing support. Come and share a cup of coffee, participate in an activity while meeting others for support, companionship and fun. For information khulbert@kensingtonsl.com.

Mary Riley Styles Library Used Book Sale - Preview 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church This is a preview sale of our Used Book Sale for all patrons! There is a 5 item purchase limit.

Quinn's In-Home Online Art Auction 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Virtual

This auction features some Large framed original and reproduction oil painting on canvas. Register at www.quinnsauction.com

Pi(e) Day Celebration with Cookbook

Author Brian Noyes

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

One More Page Books

2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA

Celebrate Pi(e) Day with us as we hear from cookbook author Brian Noyes and

taste test some of his famous pies! Register at www.onemorepagebooks.com.

Live Music: Adam K Music 5:00

SATURDAY,

MARCH 15

needed. Come dressed for and prepared to work outdoors. Gloves and snippers are recommended, but extras may be provided if needed. Meet at the picnic shelter (located in main parking lot). Free and appropriate for ages 9 and up. In the event of inclement weather, event may be cancelled (participants will be notified if so). Participants must preregister at www.novaparks.com

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Carlyle House Historic Park 121 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA Alexandria has grown from a small town in the 18th century to a bustling small city in the 21st century. Join us for a tour of Alexandria as we explore looking at the various Architecture styles that adorn the city streets and make it one of the best places to live and work. $20 per person. Reservations are required as space is limited. Please wear comfortable shoes for this 1.5 hour guided tour. Tours are held rain or shine unless there is severe weather. To register please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org.

Hip-Stangs Reading Club 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA The Hip-Stangs Reading Club is a reading buddy program led by high school volunteers. Kids in grades K-1 will practice reading aloud with the support of their high school buddy. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes before your reading time to choose which book you would like to read with your buddy. Register for one reading time only. Duplicate registrations will be deleted. Registration is required at www.mrspl.org.

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Carlyle House Historic Park

121 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA

Hip-Stangs Reading Club

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

The Hip-Stangs Reading Club is a reading buddy program led by high school volunteers. Kids in grades K-1 will practice reading aloud with the support of their high school buddy. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes before your reading time to choose which book you would like to read with your buddy. Register for one reading time only. Duplicate registrations will be deleted. Registration is required at www.mrspl.org.

Northern Virginia Roller Derby

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Michael & Son Sportsplex at Dulles Dulles Sportsplex, 21610 Atlantic Blvd, Sterling, VA Roller derby season is back! This high-energy Double Header will feature NRD’s fierce travel teams, the SuperNOVAs and the Solar Sirens, as they battle it out against Shenandoah Valley’s formidable Rocktown Rollers A & B teams. But this isn’t just about hardhitting action, it’s about giving back to the community. This season opener will spotlight NoVA Prism Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in Northern Virginia by providing access to educational and community resources. Tickets $15 for Adults (18+) $5 for Teens (12-17) FREE for Children (11 and under) and may be purchased at the door.

Monthly FREE Kettlebell Intro Class

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Functional Fitness VA

2840 Graham Rd, Falls Church, VA

Come learn the basics for free! Join us for our monthly, free introduction to kettlebell fundamentals. We'll teach you how to "Move Better" and "Get Stronger" using the kettlebell swing, deadlift, squat and press. There's no experience necessary and the class is scalable to suit individual ability levels.

Birth Art with Amoula the Doula

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Join Amoula the Doula at the library!

Whether you are trying to conceive, expectant parents, parents, or have had experience with infant or pregnancy loss, you are invited to participate in some birth art. Register at www.mrspl.org.

Raptors of the Potomac

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

2845 Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA

Soar on down to this program about local avian predators! Learn about native birds of prey and the amazing adaptations they use to hunt, meet the raptors we care for at the park, and watch a naturalist feed a live bird of prey! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the nature center. $7 per participant for ages 8 and up. Any attendee over 8 (to include adults) is considered a participant. Must preregister at www.novaparks.com.

Live Music: Tyler Goldstein

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA Tyler returns for a dinnertime set to celebrate St. Patrick's Day Weekend!

Live Music: Houk Robinson Duo

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack

130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

MEHMS PTA Parent Social

7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

105 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA

It's a great chance to spend the evening meeting other parents, relaxing and having fun, all while supporting our PTA through this fundraiser.

Synetic Theater: The Immigrant 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre

125 S Old Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA

It is a simple, comedic story about the arrival of a new immigrant in turn of the 20th-century New York, with all the trials, adventure, mishaps, and high hopes of the American immigrant journey.

As a theater founded, led, and populated by immigrant artists, Synetic considers this the perfect time and opportunity to adapt, expand, and develop its own version of story, bringing its adept physical comedy, innovative style, and great heart to the legacy of this cinema classic. Tickets $35.00 to $65.00 purchased at www.synetictheater.org

Jimmy Vivino Band 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Jammin Java 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA

Jimmy Vivino has always considered himself “a blues man with a job”. Although best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist and bandleader, his experience in the music business predates that by 20 plus years. Jimmy V has produced, lead bands and recorded with a countless number rock and roll and blues artists for five decades including the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Keith Richards and Elvis Costello, just to name a few. Tickets $24.00 - $30.00 at https:// www.unionstagepresents.com/jammin-java/

Live Music: JMM Funk 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

JMM Funk returns to bring the house down in honor of St. Patrick's Day!!

SUNDAY,

MARCH 16

Golden Girls - The Laughs Continue Capital One Hall 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA

This stage show brings the sassiest seniors to the stage for one more hurrah. They will be performing two shows at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. We find Sophia out on bail after being busted by the DEA for running a drug ring for retirees. Blanche and Rose have founded CreakN, a thriving sex app for seniors. And Dorothy is trying to hold it all together with help from a new (much) younger sex-crazed lover. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.goldengirlstour.com.

Sunday Morning Walking Club

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Karma Yoga: Classes, 246-A W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Free to join, meet at Karma Yoga studio to walk and talk and make new friends or connect with old ones along the W&OD. You can grab a coffee after or jump into yoga class.

Falls Church Feeds the World 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Christ Crossman United Methodist Church

384 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

Christ Crossman UMC will partner with Rise Against Hunger to assemble 20,000 meals to be packed and shipped around the world to those experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers of all ages are needed! Come have some fun and make a difference in the fight against hunger. Visit christcrossman.org to sign up as a volunteer or to donate towards our fundraising goal.

Tarot and Oracle Workshop

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment

222 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

This is the first of 2 sessions on Tarot and Oracle. Participants will learn about the mythology associated with each sign, and using the signs of the Zodiac, will learn how to correspond with Celestial star patterns. Practice working with Tarot and Oracle card decks. This is open to both beginners and more experienced readers. This will be offered again on May 17.

CALENDAR

Critters Up Close: Turtle Time

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Winkler Botanical Preserve

5400 Roanoke Ave, Alexandria, VA

Meet some of NOVA Parks’ turtle ambassador animals. Learn about our heroes in a half shell. Get the chance to touch and even feed them! Register at www.novaparks.com.

Spring Native Plant Walk

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA

Experience the beauty of spring woodlands on a guided walk-through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' Potomac Valley Collection. What to Expect: An hour-long guided walk along our hilly, mulched trails, enjoy the serene beauty of spring woodlands bursting with native blooms, insights into spring native plants and their roles in our ecosystem, learn how native plants can enhance your own yard, providing improved habitat for wildlife, Engaging storytelling from a seasoned nature interpreter. Participants must be able to walk on hilly, mulched trails for the hour-long tour. This program is geared to adults and ages 10 and older. $8 per person. Online registration required at www.novaparks.com.

Concert: Take a Classical Break Now and Then 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Falls Church Episcopal

115 E Fairfax St, Falls Church, VA This concert will feature a rich selection of choral classics spanning from the past to the present, including both beloved works by iconic composers and lesser-known gems by today’s most acclaimed voices. Audiences can expect timeless pieces that have resonated across generations, alongside fresh, contemporary compositions that highlight the evolving artistry within choral music. Tickets $15.00, $25.00, $30.00 at https://www.vocalartsfairfax.store

MONDAY, MARCH 17

St. Patrick's Day at Ireland's 4 Provinces 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Ireland's Four Provinces

105 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046, 4 P's is THE place to be on St. Patrick's Day! Who's ready for k'eggs?! St. Patrick's Day Breakfast, Irish or American, 8-10am. And then all day we'll be serving up ALL your favorites from the kitchen *and* the bar! (Prize for best St. Patrick's Day costume, for the extra spirited!)

Live Music: Celtic Underground

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack

130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

Live Music: Stevie Oneshoes

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Stevie Oneshoes!

Parkinson's Foundation

Communication Club

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Virtual The Parkinson’s Communication’s Club establishes a wellness and prevention program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, with a focus on maintenance of communication skills. The club is not therapy, rather, it is an exercise group designed to improve volume. The approach helps people speak loudly and clearly in order to make themselves heard. Most importantly, this club is designed in a group setting – one for all and all for one – a team effort to be loud. If people can’t hear you, they assume you don’t know. Make your voice heard! Exercise and Socialization is the best medicine for living successfully with Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise your voice as well as your body. This group is appropriate for anyone desiring to improve volume or verbal expression. Ask for link at kpeters@kensingtonsl.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18

Quinn's Auction Galleries 2021 Mazda CX-30 Auction 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Quinn's Auction Galleries presents this 2021 Mazda CX-30 Auto Auction. This low mileage vehicle starts and run without issue. Please note 25% buyers premium for our auction. Payments accepted: bankers check, cashiers check, cash, or money order. Must clear before pickup. Please email lori.taylor@quinnsauction.com for any payment questions. Email weekly@ quinnsauction.com to schedule a preview appointment. Request link at www.quinnsauction.com

The Todd & Claire Show 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Clare & Don's Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

Quinn's Auction Galleries 2003 Honda Civic EX Manual Auction 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Virtual Quinn's Auction Galleries presents this 2003 Honda Civic Auto Auction. This vehicle is a MANUAL TRANSMISSION, and starts and drives without issue. Please note 25% buyers premium for our auction. Payments accepted: bankers check, cashiers check, cash, or money order. Must clear before pickup. Please email lori.taylor@quinnsauction. com for any payment questions. Email weekly@ quinnsauction.com to schedule a preview appointment. Request link at www.quinnsauction.com.

Quinn's Auction Galleries Fine Jewelry Auction 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Virtual Quinn's Auction Galleries is proud to present our Fine Jewelry Auction. Featuring an array of beautifully crafted women's and men's jewelry and watches. First lot closing at 11:00am Eastern, 27% Buyer's Premium. Credit card charges are subject to approval for high value invoices. Invoices over $2000.00 require bank wire, check or money order payment. Request link at www.quinnsauction.com

The One More Page Chocolate Tasting Bracket Extravaganza! 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. One More Page Books

2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA

The ultimate sugar showdown returns! Join us for March Madness—One More Page style! We’ve crafted a bracket pitting 16 of our chocolates against each other to crown one true Chocolate Champion! The tasting will begin at 6:30, with a half-hour for people to taste and vote for which chocolates will advance to the Edible Eight, and then shorter following rounds. At the end of the evening (7:45-8), we'll announce the winner. Sparkling wine is included with admission, as well as sample of each of our competing chocolates. $16.00 to play, register at www. onemorepagebooks.com

Chamber Networking Luncheon

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Italian Cafe 7161 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA

Join the Chamber for a delicious and informative presentation by different speakers each month. Check in at 11:30 am for networking with members and their guests, members of the community, and elected officials before lunch. Please let us know if you have any food restrictions. This month we welcome State Delegate Marcus Simon and State Sen. Saddam Salim who will give us an update on the General Assembly session. We are pleased to have the Greater Merrifield Business Association join us for this special luncheon. Register at www.fallschurchchamber.org.

Armchair Travel: South Africa 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Let's spend some time in Cape Town exploring a nexus of cultures in a stunning setting.

MARCH 13 - 19, 2025 | PAGE 11

We will take the Garden Route and visit the heart of South Africa's wine country. Maybe we will have time to go on a safari, too! Drop in!

Celtic Rhythms & Irish Cheer

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Kensington Falls Church 700 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA Join us at The Kensington Falls Church for a lively St. Patrick’s Day celebration filled with the spirit of Ireland! Enjoy an evening of festive entertainment featuring Irish dancers, delicious Irish-inspired fare, and refreshing drinks to toast the occasion. Don’t miss this chance to embrace the magic of St. Patrick’s Day. RSVP at https://thekensingtonfallschurch.com/events/celtic-rhythms-irish-cheer.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

Body Dynamics Class: Dance Fitness 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Body Dynamics Inc 410 S Maple Ave #106, Falls Church A 55-minute dance class for all levels. No previous experience necessary. Dynamic warm-up, mobility and stability challenges, aerobic challenges, all through the lens of a lively dance class. Emphasis will be placed on use of proper body mechanics to facilitate increased body awareness. Each class will devote time to learning a dance combination which challenges the dancer to develop their own style of movement! Information/ register at ghegyi@bodydynamicsinc.com.

Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA Most of us are always on the go in some capacity, tasking ourselves to keep things running smoothly or remedying situations that aren’t going as we hoped. The practice of mindfulness meditation gives us the skills to step out of our habitual mode of doing, and allows us to have mindful recognition of what is present here and now. In our group setting we investigate the practical application of bringing mindfulness into our daily lives. Open to beginners and experienced meditators. Register at www.mrspl.org.

Operation EarthWatch

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA Join Operation EarthWatch at the library! Students in Grades K-5, accompanied by their caregivers, are invited to the MRSPL conference room to work on this month's activities.Operation EarthWatch is a free environmental action program open to students in Grades K-5 and gives children the opportunity to learn about and promote environmental action at home and in the community. Each month (October- March), students will complete an activity sheet about a different area of Earth stewardship. Students who complete and submit all the activity sheets will receive a free t-shirt, a certificate, and the chance to walk with Operation EarthWatch in the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade. Registration is requested for this program so that Operation EarthWatch knows how many participants to prepare for. For more information and to register visit www.mrspl.org or call 703-248-5034.

Sangha, Mantra & Philosophy

7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Karma Yoga: 246-A W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 Sangha night is free to join, bring your own food or snacks to share.

Oceans Across the Universe

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC Earth isn’t the only place in our solar system with oceans, but these oceans aren’t quite what you’re used to here on our home planet. Join Julie Castillo-Rogez from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Free event but registration required at airandspace. si.edu/whats-on/events/oceans-across-universe.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA Monday, March 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

City Council will hold a public hearing on the following on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard:

(TO25-06) ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, CHAPTER 28, “MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES,” ARTICLE VII, “WEAPONS”, TO REQUIRE THE FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FALLS CHURCH SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO DESTROY UNCLAIMED AND DECOMMISSIONED FIREARMS

The proposed changes are to require that all unclaimed firearms in possession of the City’s two law enforcement agencies be destroyed when legally permissible, and to prohibit the reselling of decommissioned service firearms to firearms dealers in return for rebates or discounts when new firearms are purchased by the City Police Department and Sheriff’s Office.

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. For copies of legislation and other information, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www.fallschurchva.gov/ councilmeetings. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711) or e-mail cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

ABC NOTICE

GrillMarx VA LLC trading as GrillMarx Steakhouse & Raw Bar, 510 S. Washington St., Falls Church, Fairfax, VA 22046 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant License to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Jacqueline Baker - Nees /Owner. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

WV AR1 LLC trading as Westville, 2800 Clarendon BLVD UNIT 620, Arlington, 22201 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, on and off premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Yaniv Cohen Officer/ Owner. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

Kajiken Falls Church LLC trading as Kajiken, 7505 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, 22043 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Beer and Wine On and Off Premises, Mixed Beverages Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Kam Wong, Managing Member. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

54 Crab House trading as Jason’s Crab House, 6751 Frontier Drive, Springfield, 22150 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a On and Off Premises Beer and Wine and Mixed Beverages license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Jason Minn, Managing Member. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc. virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

WANTED

Instructional Coordinator: Develop and implement curriculums and standards; organize teacher conferences; mentor/ coach teachers as needed. Send resume: Ivy College, 1980 Gallows Rd, Ste 300, Vienna, VA 22182 Attn: B. Kim

AUCTIONS

Truck and Trailer Auction! March 20th10:00AM! Over 30 Tractor Trailers available! Bid Live or Online! See Woltz.com for a complete inventory list and additional information. Auction representative will be onsite for previews on 3/7, 3/8, & 3/15 from Noon – 4PM. Property located at 1550 Lynn Brae Drive, Roanoke, VA 24012.

10% Buyer’s Premium Woltz & Associates, Inc. Real Estate Brokers & Auctioneers Roanoke, VA (VA #321) 800-551-3588.

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Promote your upcoming auctions statewide! Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audience. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

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Falls Church Business News & Notes

Pi Day Local Specials

Arlington Magazine ran their annual article on Pi Day specials and two locals were included. Bakeshop is offering a free cup of coffee when purchasing one of the owners signature icebox pies. Justin Stegall carries Coconut Cream, Hot Chocolate, Key Lime, PB Nutella and Bailey’s Irish Cream. At Happy Tart, the new owner Kerrigan Firth is offering deals on chicken pot pie and apple pie. Baked goods there remain gluten-free.

Try Foundational Fitness

Foundational Fitness is offering a monthly, free introduction to kettlebell fundamentals. Join the class on Saturday, March 15, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The class will teach you how to “move better” and “get stronger” using the hip hinge, silverback deadlift, hardstyle plank, swing, goblet squat, cheat clean and overhead press. There’s no experience necessary and the class is scalable to suit individual ability levels.

Dining for Dollars

The Casual Pint invites you to come out for a great cause! On Sunday, March 16, 12:00 – 9:00 p.m. the Pint will be donating a portion of proceeds from dine-in and carry-out food and drink sales all day to support the great work of the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia.

Best Places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Arlington Magazine listed Ireland’s Four Provinces as one of 16 places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in and around Arlington. The restaurant is known for serving Irish whiskeys and “k’eggs”, beer and eggs, in the morning with other Irish classics like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. Live Irish music is also featured. Note that reservations are required.

Virginia Dream FC in U.S. Open Cup

Virginia Dream FC drew the Richmond Kickers (Richmond), a professional team from United Soccer League One, in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. The match will take place at The City Stadium in Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. The team had a successful 2024 season and faces its first professional opponent in an official match. The U.S. Open Cup gives all teams, professional, amateur, and semiprofessional, the opportunity to compete. As a single elimination tournament, teams that win will move on while those who lose go home. : https:// www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup/schedule?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY7 RQng0DCXfX2ZVWUD9DL3PQPJPvTZ-IQcLO8m48y_PttGl2ZuXbcNnLA_aem_ HccLfrmnfM5icTk_Ez4O5w

Or for updated Virginia Dream FC team information go to: https://www.instagram. com/VirginiaDreamFC/?hl=en

Nominees Announced for Business Awards

The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce will hold the Annual Business Awards Gala at the State Theatre on Thursday, April 3, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. For Small Business of the Year, the nominees are Acton Academy, KiPS, Preservation Biscuit, The Toy Nest, and Vigeo Physical Therapy. For Nonprofit of the Year, the nominees are Falls Church Arts, Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department, The Arc of Northern Virginia, and the VFW Post 9274. The nominee for Company Culture of Excellence is Andworx. The nominee for Pillar of the Community is Peter Noonan, Superintendent of Falls Church Public Schools. Brown’s Hardware Store and staff will be recognized as well. The community is invited to celebrate the local businesses and dress in the theme of the 70s for The Disco Ball. Dinner, live music, a silent auction and live auction are planned. Tickets are available through the chamber and at https://auctria.events/ DiscoBall2025BusinessAwardsGala.

New Middle Eastern Eatery opens in Seven Corners

Idris Mashriqi has opened his first local Hamza & Madina Restaurant in Seven Corners Center. Designed for takeout, he offers platters featuring chicken, lamb, fish, kofta, or falafel over rice or salad. The menu also includes gyros, burgers, wings, cheese fries, baklava and sweet potato pie. Mashriqi began his business with a food cart on New York and now runs 10 restaurants in New York and New Jersey.

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.

Our Man In Arlington

Bill Fogarty

“What’s Going On” in Arlington? Well, a remarkable thing happened on Tuesday night, March 4, at the plaza outside the Ellen Bozman Government Center. A regular Joe (actually his name is Steve) put out a call for a vigil to be held during the president’s address to Congress. Steve was not part of any group or organization. He just felt a need to do something, to be with others during a tense moment in our civic lives. He had no history of mobilizing people for social action. In his words, “When I set this up, I thought I’d go, and a few of my friends would show up as well.”

To his amazement, over 100 people showed up to be in community with him, and with others. Steve spoke a few words of welcome, confessing that “I am way out of my comfort zone.” He then asked random members of the crowd to read aloud some inspirational words designed to give comfort and hope.

The evening concluded with a woman reading an email from a friend in Ukraine, and a wonderful sing-along of a short selection from Leonard Cohen’s ”Anthem,” with the famous line that “there is a crack, a crack in everything.”

What is going on in Arlington? That same day there was an organized protest held on South Glebe Road, in the location of the Tesla dealership, with over 70 people holding hand-made signs with a general theme of unhappiness with Elon Musk. These protests are being held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. One of the organizers has noted that there were people who said they had never been to a protest before.

Having witnessed these two events on March 4, I started thinking about the meaning of the phrase, “a grassroots movement.” Wikipedia will tell you that grassroots movements encourage community members to contribute by taking responsibility and action for their com -

munity. The history of the phrase is obscure, so, as I often do, I look to our local history. And I go back to 1946, when the Arlington school system was dysfunctional and unresponsive to parents.

Oscar LeBeau, an Arlington resident who worked at the Department of Agriculture, put out a call through a notice in the local newspaper, announcing that he was arranging a meeting for people who were interested in the creation of kindergarten classes in Arlington. At that time there was no kindergarten, and the first and second grades were half-day classes, due to overcrowding.

The meeting took place at a community center in Buckingham, and the response was overwhelming. This was the birth of an organization called the Citizens Committee for School Improvement (CCSI). The organization grew into a mighty advocacy group; its influence was dramatic. One of the fun facts I have learned about the CCSI is that they were extremely well-organized. They had over ten committees; they even had created an officer position of “historian.” And their communication skills were incredibly detailed.

They used the old-fashioned concept of “phone trees” to get the word out quickly about events. Today we have computers in our phones; we get the word out by social media instead of phone calls. But the basic desire remains, to gather in community and contribute by taking responsibility and action for our community.

I am grateful for the opportunity to write this column, inspired by the columns written by Richard Barton and Charlie Clark in the past 20 years. I aim to explore various themes, including the history of Arlington’s grassroots organizations. Some, like the CCSI, no longer exist, while others have merged or evolved into lasting community contributors. If anyone has any suggested groups to highlight, just let me know.

In Memoriam: Lois Ann Mulcahey

Lois Ann Mulcahey passed away on February 12th, at the age of 98. She died at home surrounded by her daughters, Colleen Hobson, Joanne LynchBachbauer, Cathleen Lynch, Marybeth Lynch, and son-in-law Kuno Bachbauer. Lois Ann is also survived by her son James Lynch, granddaughter Elaine, great-granddaughter Elise, son-in-law Lloyd Southam and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her grandson Matthew Lynch and her two brothers, John Frances and Richard Thomas Mulcahey.

Lois Ann was born during a snow storm in Niagara Falls, N.Y. to Alice G. Ryan and John Frances Mulcahey, Sr. Her early years were spent in New Bedford, Massachusetts where her family experienced the horrific hurricane of 1938. Her stories were vivid and recounted the fear that it was the end of

the world.

Since her father worked for Immigration and Naturalization Services, her family frequently relocated to several states in the northeast. Her family did live in Melrose Ohio for a short time during WWII where her mother was the air raid warden and Lois Ann’s first job was rolling bandages for the Red Cross. The family moved to Upper Darby, PA where she graduated from Haverford High School before attending West Chester Teacher’s College.

Lois Ann eamed a BS in Biology and met her future husband James Lynch. After college she moved to Washington, DC and married James Lynch in June 1949 (divorced 1988). She taught at Holton Arms before leaving teaching to raise her five children. The Lynch family moved to Falls Church where Lois Ann raised her children and lived for over 70 years. Lois Ann always worked outside the home, most notably with the Bell Phone Company and Fairfax County Juvenile Court. She also provided child care to several families in the area. She loved the families and children she met and fostered lasting connections and friendships. Lois Ann was an aesthete – she was an avid reader and pianist. She was creative, artistic, ano sought natural beauty. She was an artist at heart. She

worked in water colors, oils and paper mache. She not only sold her works but placed in many local art shows. For the last fifty years Lois Ann expressed her love of beauty by nurturing and developing her garden. Initially the garden was filled with vegetables and fruits, but over the years the entire backyard became a magical place filled with flowers. From early spring to late fall, from sunrise to sunset, you would find Lois Ann in her garden. It was there she found solace and spiritual grounding. Lois Ann was also an active member of the High Hopes and the Falls Church Garden Clubs. It was her participation in these clubs that not only promoted her interest in gardening, but where she found kindred souls and life long friendships. Everyone who met Lois Ann was touched by her radiant, delightful, loving presence. Lois Ann’s family will miss her dearly, but know that her kindness, creativity, heart, wisdom, humor and love will always be with them. We will hold her in our hearts and cherish her forever.

Details of her celebration of life in late Spring/early Summer will be forth coming. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to one of the following organizations in Lois Ann’s honor: National Wildlife federation – nwf.org or Habitat for Humanity – habitat.org.

SAMMIE OPITZ-SMYTH pictured in february enjoying the snow.

Boys’ Dream Season Ends In State Semifinals Loss To Hopewell

by Ryan McCafferty

The Meridian High School boys’ basketball team entered Friday night with a perfect record of 27-0, only one win away from earning a chance to play for a State Championship next weekend. That said, this hurdle would be by far the toughest one they’d face all year long, on the road against a formidable Hopewell Blue Devils squad with a visible advantage over Meridian with its size and physicality. The Mustang faithful traveled well to just south of Richmond, and the boys would need every bit of their support.

Will Davis got things going with a quick three-pointer and then John Lyman made a layup to give Meridian an early 5-0 lead, but Hopewell responded with the next six. Another Davis three put the Mustangs ahead 8-6 before the Blue Devils scored

11 of the next 13, and from that point onwards, it was an uphill battle. After trailing 10-17 at the conclusion of the first quarter, Meridian stayed within striking range but struggled to string consecutive baskets together, and went into halftime facing a 25-30 deficit.

Davis hit a third deep ball out of the break to bring the Mustangs within 28-30, and the two teams began trading baskets as Meridian remained behind by a possession or two throughout the third quarter. They closed within 37-39 on a John Alverson three after trailing 30-37 and then entered the fourth quarter down by four, but Hopewell locked down defensively and began to slowly inch away. Meridian was blanked through much of the final frame, and after the Blue Devils went ahead by eight, they

started holding the ball with no intention of scoring. Hopewell was able to wind nearly two minutes off the clock before the Mustangs were forced to begin intentionally fouling, and at that point the deficit was simply too much to overcome. Meridian got a few late buckets in desperation but it wasn’t enough, and the visitors fell by a final tally of 54-43.

“We just ran into a really good team,” said head coach Jim Smith postgame. “We gave them all we had but they were just a little bit better… that’s just basketball.”

On the season as a whole, there’s absolutely nothing for Meridian to be ashamed of. The Mustangs experienced their most successful campaign since going 29-1 in 2015-16, and it was a season full of magical moments.

Davis’ buzzer beater over Skyline back in January will surely go down as an all-time high school highlight for him and his teammates, and Meridian’s dominant victory over William Monroe to clinch the Mustangs’ Regional Championship was a clinical display of teamwork and execution in a high-stakes situation that felt a season in the making. Most importantly of all, though, the camaraderie and the community that this senior-stacked squad developed over the course of the past few years reflects the type of growth in which it’s clear that valuable lessons were learned both on and off the court. This team was truly bigger than basketball.

“This was a special group,” Smith reflected, a sentiment he’s repeated throughout the year. “I’m just so grateful at this stage

of my career to have been able to coach a team like this one. You can’t ever take these opportunities for granted.”

Meridian will now graduate five players from its 2024-25 roster, including starters Jarrett Jardine, Isaac Rosenbeger, Lyman, and Alverson. The fifth, Billy Asel, unfortunately could not finish the season after breaking his foot in the closing seconds of the Mustangs’ Regional Semifinals win against Skyline, but he remained a fixture on the sidelines in support of his teammates. Davis, who had 13 to lead the team in its loss, figures to headline next year’s returners while key reserves Marquis Myles and Mason Pye should be among those set to enter starting roles.

The ride may be over, but the memories won’t be forgotten.

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL boys’ basketball season comes to a tough end with a 54-43 loss to Hopewell. Their season closes with a 27-1 overall record. ( Photo: Carol Sly)