Falls Church News-Press 3-14-2024

Schools’ 1st Collective Bargaining Pact OK’d

Springtime for Sports

The Falls Church City Schools’ Board approved unanimously at its meeting Monday night two landmark collective bargaining agreements with the Falls Church City Education Association, representing certified and non-certified employees of the Falls Church City Public Schools, marking a milestone in fostering what a school system statement called “a supportive and collaborative working environment for all our staff members.”

The move came in the context of the School Board’s adoption, again unanimously, of its FY24 proposed budget that will now be folded into the Falls Church City Manager’s proposed budget. The manager’s budget will be introduced to the City Council on April 1. Expected to include a modest real estate tax reduction, it will be deliberated by the Council leading to a final adoption at the end of April before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

The collective bargaining agreement is a first, as the School Board agreed to enter into collective bargaining with its teachers and staff for the first time a year ago, following on action by the State Legislature to permit it.

After months of diligent negotiations and collaborative efforts, the collective bargaining agreements “stand as a testament to the shared dedication of

Continued on Page 4

Del. Simon: Key Bills Passed in Richmond

by Marcus Simon (D) Virginia State Delegate

(Exclusive to the News-Press )

The 2024 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly came to a close on Saturday, adjourning sine die (i.e. with no firm date to reconvene) at 5:05 p.m.

During this “long” session (every other year at 60 days instead of the alternative years’ 45), legislators considered just over 3,500 pieces of legislation, sending about 1,000 bills to the governor for his review.

The legislature will consider any actions by the governor at a reconvened session in midApril.

Actions included a longawaited passage of a proposed charter amendment for the City

of Falls Church lifting the residency requirement for applicants to City boards and commissions. (see below).

On the last day of the 2024 Session March 8, legislators voted on the Budget Conference report, which represented the final compromise version between the two houses. It included a record investment in public education for both K-12 students and Virginia’s higher education system.

The final version of the budget headed to the governor included over half a billion dollars as the state share of a three percent teacher pay raise as the General Assembly embarked on a three year plan to raise Virginia teacher salaries to at least the national average.

The budget also included $150 million in funding for Metro that had been omitted from earlier versions of the Senate budget.

The budget also required Virginia to re-enter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and fully held localities like the City of Falls Church harmless by replacing income lost to the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries in 2022.

“Our Number One priority has been, and always will be, building a better future for our children and for hardworking Virginia families. Full stop. That is what we have been working towards in the last two months and that is what this budget reflects. I am thankful for the leadership of Chairman Torian

and Chairwoman Lucas who have crafted a fiscally responsible budget that will grow our economy, support our workforce, and invest in our public schools,” said Delegate Don Scott, Speaker of the House of Delegates.

The budget was also notable for what it did not include, which was any language that would have facilitated the relocation of Monumental Sports and their sports franchises, the National Hockey League’s Capitals, and the National Basketball Association’s Wizards, to Potomac Yards in Alexandria. Legislation to do the same passed narrowly in the House of Delegates but died

Continued on Page 7

NEWS BRIEFS

Beyer Secures $850,000 for F.C. Affordable Housing

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer announced last week that he secured federal funding for 15 projects in his VA-8 congressional district. The total included two local projects: $850,000 for affordable housing in the City of Falls Church and $500,000 for street signal reconstruction at the intersection of Hillwood and S. Roosevelt in the Seven Corners area.

The funds were included in FY24 appropriations legislation which the House passed on a bipartisan vote yesterday. It is expected to pass in the Senate and be signed into law by the end of the week.

“Affordable housing is a major need in Northern Virginia, and I am thrilled that I could help address this issue by securing federal funds for housing projects in all of the jurisdictions I represent: Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County,” said Rep. Beyer.

“I also secured funding to support crime prevention efforts and domestic violence victims, expand early childcare, and make infrastructure improvements, including projects to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist routes, and expand charging infrastructure to support electric bus fleets. And I was able to secure funding for several social service nonprofits working everyday in our community to serve those in need. Even in the minority amid a divided and chaotic Congress, I am laser focused on helping my constituents and benefitting Northern Virginia.”

State Legislature Honors

FCNP Columnist Barton

The Virginia General Assembly honored the late Arlington civic leader Richard Barton, the first “Our Man in Arlington” columnist for the Falls Church News-Press prior to Charlie Clark, for his decades of service last week. Barton’s “talents as an organizer and flair as a raconteur served him well as a civic volunteer and community leader who worked diligently to enhance the quality of life any way he could,” noted the resolution, patroned by Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington).

Barton, who died Nov. 25 at age 85, was lauded by the legislature as “a pillar of the Arlington community.” In addition to his professional career on Capitol Hill and in the government-affairs arena, Barton chaired the Arlington County Democratic Committee and at various times served on the county’s School Board, Planning Commission, Transportation Commission and Economic Development Commission. He was appointed by Gov. Chuck Robb to the board of visitors of George Mason University, where he also taught classes.

Meridian H.S. Student Wins C-SPAN Award

This week C-SPAN announced that

Meridian High School student Sesh Sudarshan has been awarded $1,500 as a second prize winner in C-SPAN’s 20th annual StudentCam competition for video composition.

Sudarshan’s video documentary, “Head In The Clouds,” about cloud computing, will air on C-SPAN on April 3 at 6:50 a.m. and throughout the day.

“In recognition of the 20th anniversary of C-SPAN’s StudentCam competition, student entrants were asked to either look 20 years into the future or to reflect on a topic of importance to them and its past,” said Craig McAndrew, director of C-SPAN Education Relations. “Students have skillfully blended their perspectives with in-depth research and an array of expert interviews, and we are thrilled to share their accomplishments with their local communities, and the nation.”

Local News Compensations May Be Coming, CEO Says

Chances are “pretty good” that Google’s precedent-setting decision in December to compensate Canadian news sites $100 million for the use of their content could translate into billions of dollars in payouts to local news sites in the U.S. So says Conan Gallaty, chairman and CEO of the Tampa Bay Times and Times Publishing Co, who predicts that U.S. news organizations could receive an $11 billion windfall a year if the bill passes.

“If you are in the local news business, the chances of a windfall — and a continued windfall because it wouldn’t just be a one-year payment, it would be an ongoing payment — those chances are building by the day. There’s a lot of strong momentum,” he said Tuesday at Borrell Miami.

Area Home Sales On Rise 1st Time Since 2021

February home sales in Northern Virginia grew 2.2 percent from the previous year, the first time since November 2021 according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR). In addition, total sold volume jumped 16.3 percent as interest remained high in buying homes.

“Spring is always strong for the Northern Virginia real estate market, but this one is looking particularly positive as we are seeing more listings coming on the market as compared to a year ago, and those who are buying are willing to spend a little more,” said NVAR Board Member David Raffinengo. “People are getting over the mortgage rate sticker shock, and with the potential for rates easing more, I believe we will see even more sellers willing to put their houses on the market.”

Home sales were up from the previous February as well as this January. Total sales dollar volume grew up significantly from last year and January 2024.

F.C. Schools OK 1st Collective Bargaining Pact & Budget

the public school system and the education association to enhance the quality of education and working conditions of our educators and support staff,” a statement from the school system said.

The agreements encompass a range including salaries, benefits, and some working conditions “to ensure that our employees are supported and providing for the continuation of the PEAC and SEAC employee organizations and the creation of a labor-management committee,” the system statement added.

“The negotiation process was

guided by mutual respect and a common goal: to ensure the highest standards of education for our students while recognizing and valuing the critical role our staff plays in achieving this mission,” the schools’ statement said. The full texts of the agreements are posted on the school system’s website.

School Board Chair Tate Gould expressed gratitude to the negotiating teams, stating, “These agreements reflect our collective commitment to creating a positive and nurturing environment for our staff and students. We extend our deepest appreciation to everyone involved in the negotiation process, espe-

cially the members of the education association (FCCEA) and the city public schools (FCCPS) staff, for their patience, dedication, and commitment to reaching this agreement.”

FCCEA President Pam Mahony said, “We are grateful for the formalized contract structure that allows staff to engage with the board to solve issues that affect working and learning conditions. We are happy that, together, we have created a process to ensure a more sustainable workforce in a community that we all love.”

It was in this context that the Falls Church School Board unanimously approved an advertised budget for the 2025 fiscal year, building upon the comprehensive proposal first presented by Superintendent Peter J. Noonan in January. The revised budget was described as “incorporating strategic adjustments to further align with the district’s goals and the evolving needs of its expanding student body.”

Noonan noted that the budget “underscores the district’s commitment to sustaining educational excellence amidst growth. The original plan to add five new elementary

teachers, two half-time paraprofessionals, and an additional teacher for the secondary campus remained intact, preparing FCCPS for an expected increase of 85 students in FY 2025 and 125 students in FY 2026.”

In response to community feedback and a thorough review of district needs, the School Board adjusted the proposed budget by reducing health expenditure allocations. It now includes the addition of an Elementary Reading Specialist, reinforcing FCCPS’s dedication to literacy and foundational learning skills.

The budget also maintains its commitment to competitive compensation for FCCPS staff, with a proposed step increase for all eligible employees and a 3.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA), translating to an average pay increase of 6 percent.

In his remarks Tuesday, Noonan highlighted the budget’s balanced focus on growth, staff compensation, and educational quality. “This budget reflects our unwavering commitment to our students and staff. By adjusting our health expenditures and enhancing our

educational staff with an additional elementary reading teacher, we are poised to continue providing exceptional educational experiences for all students,” he stated.

“We are immensely proud to approve this budget, which is a testament to our collective dedication to not only meeting but exceeding the educational needs of our growing community,” said School Board Chair Gould. “This budget results from extensive collaboration among board members, district staff, and our community, ensuring that we continue to provide a high-quality education that prepares our students for the future.”

Despite the backdrop of potential public education spending adjustments at the state level, FCCPS’s strategic financial planning, bolstered by a robust local economy and a revenue-sharing agreement with the City Council, ensures the district’s capacity to meet its objectives.

Meanwhile, this Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting has been cancelled, pending the plan to meet on April 1 to hear City Manager Wyatt Shields’ FY25 overall budget recommendations.

Virtue: The Indispensable Component of Democracy

Nicholas F. Benton

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

President Biden’s State of the Union address last week may go down in history as one of the greatest ever. He has my vote.

The speech has marked a sea change in the 2024 Presidential election campaign. Through the force of Biden’s political voice and acumen, the focus on his age has retreated and the contrasts have shifted from age (given, alas, his opponent is almost as old as he) to competency.

For the sake of posterity I am reprinting the transcript of the concluding portion of his epochal speech, as follows:

“I’m optimistic. I really am. My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are; it’s how old are our ideas. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas. But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done. Tonight, you’ve heard mine.

“I see a future where we’re defending democracy, we don’t diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms, not take them away. I see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and the wealthy have to pay their fair share in taxes.

“I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence. Above all I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans. And I will always be President for all Americans because I believe in America. I believe in you, the American people. You’re the reason I’ve never been more optimistic about our future than I am now.

“Let’s build the future together. Let’s remember who we are. We are the United States of America. And there is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.”

Biden cited his age as a strength,

not a weakness. He referenced his entire adult lifetime of adept political achievements, having been born when the fight against Hitler, both here and abroad, was fully engaged as well as the fight for the achievements of FDR’s New Deal, including the establishment of Social Security and other critically progressive programs that have made such a difference for Americans of all ages.

Biden has been on the side of good on these matters his entire adult life, since becoming the nation’s youngest U.S. Senator. His opponent, and his father, have been that whole time on the other side, the side of Nazi sympathizers.

Biden’s State of the Union speech underscored the need for a revival of core American values in the general population, and there has been a lot of talk about reviving civics in high school classrooms or even instituting a civil service draft for American youth post-high school, something along the lines of the Civilian Conservation Corps under FDR which contributed to the kind of sentiments in the U.S. which contributed so much to the morale and commitment of U.S. troops and our war machine to beat the Nazis in World War II.

The subject of an op-ed in the Washington Post last week by Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, was entitled, “The Founding Fathers Knew the Antidote to Demagoguery. We’ve Forgotten It.”

“Classical and Enlightenment thinkers defined happiness as the pursuit of virtue – as being good rather than feeling good,” he wrote. “It remains to be seen whether Americans today can find the virtuous self-restraint to put the public interest before the angry partisanship the Founders most feared. What’s clear, however, is that nothing less than the future of the republic is at stake.”

He cited Madison, who wrote in the “Federalist Papers” (No. 57):

“The aim of every Constitution is or ought to be first to obtain for rulers, men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue to the common good of the society, and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous, whilst they continue to hold their public trust.”

“Virtue” is the indispensable component of democracy.

Since

an

Liberty Christian’s Discriminations

Letters to Editor

The New Building at Broad & Washington

Editor,

•

fax:

Congratulations to the girls basketball team from Falls Church’s Meridian High School for making it to the final state Class 3 championship game in Richmond last week. It bodes well for the future as many players on that team will be back again next year. This year, the team lost by a razor-thin margin in the last minute, 44-43, to Lynchburg’s Liberty Christian Academy (LCA), a private school. The Meridian effort was described as a “valiant upset bid” by area media.

But the game has left a lot of questions about Liberty Christian’s qualifications for participating as a private school in the Virginia High School League (VHSL). Founded by the late, controversial right-wing religious figure, Jerry Falwell, LCA filed an antitrust lawsuit against the VHSL in 2015 seeking $1.5 million in damages in an effort to gain entry into its playoffs, as reported in last week’s News-Press. An emergency meeting of the VHSL was held at the time, and a vote was taken to avert the damages by admitting the school into the VHSL.

While that tactic was considered controversial in its own right, LCA has gone on to what are considered violations of VHSL standards, including a blatant disregard for the Virginia Standards of Learning and its Common Core standards, instead counting itself committed to academic standards “through a Biblical framework.”

A closer look at the school’s website reveals that this so-called “Biblical framework” justifies blatant discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons, in particular, in violation of both federal and state law. The website states, “As a Christian ministry birthed by (Falwell’s) Thomas Road Baptist Church with the same doctrinal statement, LCA adheres to Biblical teaching regarding homosexual practices and transgender lifestyles. LCA does not employ teachers, nor does it admit or retain students, who are engaged in homosexual or bisexual practices, or have a transgender or transsexual lifestyle.”

While this affirmation of its practice of blatant discrimination should be sufficient in its own right to disqualify the school from participation in the VHSL, it is also reported that the school engages in another violation in the form of the recruitment of athletes to play for its teams in VHSL competitions. The star of the school in the high school girls’ basketball playoffs, for example, hails from distant San Diego, California, and has already been accepted on an athletic scholarship to play for Falwell’s Liberty University, down the street from the LCA.

So, notwithstanding the legal and financial pressures brought against the VHSL in 2015 to coerce it to accept LCA into its ranks, this is nine years later, and a lot has changed in the meantime in terms of advancing anti-discrimination standards in public life, including in education.

LCA can indeed propagate discriminatory values, but not in a way that interferes with public policy. In the 1960s, when Brigham Young University touted anti-black prejudices, its policies changed when rival schools refused to compete in athletics with it.

Platform

1. Keep the news clean and fair.

2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy.

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial content.

4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6. Give ‘value received’ for every dollar you take in.

7. Make the paper show a profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

I am appalled at the new building that is now taking shape on the corner of Broad and Washington.

This building should never have been allowed. It is completely out of scale with all the other buildings in the City, and certainly with the buildings in its immediate surroundings. It is too high, has too long an unbroken frontage, and is much too close to the road. It is also extremely ugly.

How was this hideous monstrosity ever permitted?

We need far stricter development controls, if our lovely City is not to end up looking like Ballston.

We need height restrictions, increased set back requirements, and limits on the frontage length of new biildings, as well as strict aesthetic controls. Otherwise, Broad Street, and other streets, will become ugly, soulless canyons.

Developers do not care about our City; they make their profits, and leave us to live with the consequences for many decades to come.

We must put a stop to this now.

Julia Liebeskind

The Electoral College: One Party, Not Both

Editor,

While I agree that the Electoral College is clearly undemocratic, it is not true “that both major political parties want

it that way.”

The Democrats have been working to support presidential elections based on one-personone-vote.

The National Popular Vote Compact is state legislation that would effectively provide for the election of the president based on the national popular vote.

The compact has been enacted in 29 states and the District of Columbia, which currently comprise 205 of the 538 Electoral College votes. The law comes into force once states and jurisdictions comprising 270 electoral votes, enough to win the presidency in the Electoral College, have enacted the compact. These states, when they meet the 270 electoral vote threshold, will award their electoral votes for president to the winner of the national popular vote.

The bill has been enacted into law in Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, California, Illinois, New York, and the District of Columbia (via nationalpopularvote.com/state-status).

In Virginia, the legislation was introduced in 2020 by Delegate Cia Price with our own Delegate Marcus Simon as chief co-sponsor, both Democrats. It passed the Virginia House of Delegates, but failed to pass in the Virginia State Senate.

Passing the legislation would be beneficial for all voters by focusing campaigns more broadly across the country, rather than in a few “swing” states. This voter enfranchisement effort has been led by Democrats.

Elisabeth M. Drabkin

without a hearing in the State Senate.

Legislation to allow for a casino in Tysons was carried over to the 2025 session.

With Democrats in control of both the House and Senate, albeit by the narrowest of margins, the Assembly focused on fostering economic justice, with initiatives to raise the minimum wage (HB 1), eliminate outdated wage exemptions rooted in Jim Crowera policies (HB 157), and establish a prescription drug affordability board (HB 570) to alleviate financial burdens on Virginians grappling with essential expenses.

Another theme that emerged during the 2024 session was an effort to preserve Virginians fundamental freedoms. To that end, the General Assembly advanced a series of progressive measures aimed at safeguarding Virginians’ rights.

Notable among these were bills affirming access to contraception (HB 609 and HB 819), safeguarding the privacy of health and medical data (HB 78 and HB 1539),

and upholding the right to marriage irrespective of gender, sex, or race (HB 174), which the governor has already signed into law. Additionally, legislative actions were taken to protect the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring all citizens’ right to participate in free and fair elections (HB 623).

The session also witnessed spirited debates over abortion access, with lawmakers successfully thwarting efforts to impose sweeping restrictions on reproductive rights, including a bill that would have banned all abortions at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother (HB 404).

In an effort to address the pressing issue of gun violence prevention, the General Assembly passed comprehensive measures aimed at curbing firearm-related violence.

These included bills aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence from lethal firearms (HB 46 and HB 362), restricting the proliferation of military-style weapons in communities through an assault weapons ban (HB 2 and

HB 175), banning auto-sears, dangerous firearm modifications that allow almost any gun to mimic the action of fully automatic weapons (HB 22), and prohibiting the sale of untraceable “ghost guns” (HB 173).

A long sought change to the Falls Church city charter to allow the local City Council to determine that non-residents can serve on boards authorities and commissions, finally passed the legislature with near unanimous support after a shift in tactics.

Previous versions of the charter change had taken out the existing language that limited participation on such public bodies to registered voters. This raised some suspicion among GOP delegates and the governor that the City had a secret agenda to stack the boards with undocumented immigrants.

The bill that passed and is on the way to the governor deleted the entire subsection of the Falls Church charter, leaving it silent as to eligibility to serve, as is the case with most city charters. Under the bill, the only restrictions on membership on boards authorities and commis-

sions would be those that exist under laws that apply to the entire Commonwealth.

Now, all eyes are on the governor as he weighs the decision

to sign these landmark bills into law, a choice with far-reaching implications for Virginia’s educational, economic, and societal landscape.

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Penny Gross

Hello again! When I retired from the Board of Supervisors at the end of December, I thought I had filed my last column. I wrote my weekly column for more than 26 years, rarely missing a deadline, but assumed that the end of my term as Mason District Supervisor signaled the end of my weekly task to submit at least 500 words to the Falls Church News Press by Tuesday afternoon. It was a surprise, though not unwelcome, when Nick Benton asked me to consider continuing “A Penny for Your Thoughts.”

When I retired from 28 years on the Board, I promised myself to take at least two months with my feet up, a “downshift” of sorts, to adjust to both retirement and widowhood (my husband, Hal, passed away in November). I needed to take some deep breaths, clean and reorganize our house, sort through mountains of files, and adapt to having Tuesdays free. Tuesdays are “Board” days, reserved for either full day televised formal board meetings in the imposing Board Auditorium, or less formal, but still televised, committee meetings in the conference center.

Today I am restarting the column, with a broader perspective or, at least, not as focused on Fairfax County. I’m sure it will have a political side most times, as my career has been in elective politics for nearly six decades. I always enjoyed Charlie Clark’s “Our Man in Arlington” column with historical context and human-interest stories. Likewise for John Kelly’s longtime Washington Post columns and Bob Welch’s “My Oregon” columns in my hometown Eugene Register-Guard . All had personal touches, reflecting humor, pathos, and the occasional head scratch. I hope to provide some of that and welcome your ideas about possible subjects.

President Biden’s State of the Union address last week reflected energy, experience, and occasional flashes of Irish

temper that surprised even diehard supporters of the President. In short, it was a tour de force. It’s not easy to stay standing and focused for a more than hourlong formal address that was televised around the world. There were some small flubs in delivery but overall high marks for a significant speech that outlined past accomplishments and set the stage for future efforts. Those expecting chaos in the House Chamber may have been disappointed; members, for the most part, seemed to show appropriate respect for the Office of President and venue, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) red MAGA baseball cap and sloganed tee shirt notwithstanding.

Response from the opposite party dates back to 1966, when Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and Congressman Gerald Ford (R-MI) appeared on television, replicating their “Ev and Jerry” weekly press conferences during Lyndon Johnson’s final term. More recently, Virginia lawmakers have been highlighted: Governor Tim Kaine in 2006, Senator Jim Webb in 2007, Governor Bob McDonnell in 2010, and Delegate Elizabeth Guzman in 2018, who gave her response in Spanish. The choice of Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) appeared to check several boxes for the Republican response – younger, a mother, southern, attractive on-camera. However, the choice of setting – a kitchen (was it hers or a studio set piece?) – and her histrionic delivery did a disservice to the very women the GOP was trying to convince. Instead of using the gravitas of her status as a senator to demonstrate achievement and leadership as a female role model, she reverted to batting her eyelashes, cutesy smiles, and voice modulations at strange points in her speech. Instead of political operatives advising her, a high school drama coach would have been much more helpful. During Women’s History Month, we should be celebrating women’s achievements, not relegating them to the kitchen!

A hot bowl of pho at Eden Center. Voted best shopping center in the DMV!

Meridian Spring Sports Start, Girls Lacrosse Picks up Win

by Ryan McCafferty

With basketball now in the rearview mirror, it’s a quick turnaround to Spring sports season, where Meridian High School will feature teams in a plethora of sports including baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis. Three of them were in action at home on Tuesday night to open up their 2024 campaigns, and though baseball lost 3-1 in extra innings and softball fell 12-5 (both to Kettle Run), the girls’ lacrosse squad played Lightridge and had a bit better luck.

The Mustangs returned nearly every notable offensive player from last season, including Lila Deering, Ally Campbell, Caroline Carmody, Cassie DuBois, and Tilly and Zoe Gale. Campbell quickly asserted herself as the top scoring threat for the night, finding the back of the net 19 seconds into the game to give Meridian a 1-0 lead, and then two more times in

the first eight minutes while Carmody also scored. The Mustangs led 4-1 after Campbell’s third goal, and Hannah Rosenbusch and Tilly Gale tacked on a few more while Lightridge also got one back before the end of the first quarter.

Campbell added another in the second period while Gale scored two more times to give Meridian a 9-4 advantage at the break, and though Lightridge got back within three early in the second half, they’d get no closer as the girls earned a 16-9 win in their opener. Campbell scored six times in total while the older of the Gale girls had three, and Lila Deering accounted for four tallies.

They’ll be back on the field on Friday when they play at Independence. Meanwhile, softball is at Wakefield on Thursday and baseball is off until the weekend when they compete in tournament play at Washington-Liberty High School.

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of March 4-10, 2024

Driving on Suspended License, W Annandale Rd, Mar 4, 2:37 PM, a male, 61, of Bristow, was arrested for Driving on Suspended License.

Animal Bite, S Virginia Ave/Sherrow Ave, Mar 6, 8:32 AM, victim reported they were scratched and their dog was bitten by another dog that got loose from its yard.

Fraud – Credit Card, Roosevelt Blvd, Mar 7, 8:52 AM, victim reported buying a gift card for a scammer that claimed they owed money.

Simple Assault/Threats, W Broad St, Mar 7, 4:34 PM, two victims reported

being assaulted by an identified suspect; one of the victims was also threatened after the fact. Prosecution was declined by both victims. Other Jurisdiction

Warrant Service, Hillwood Ave, Mar 7, 11 PM, a female, 22, of Fairfax County, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.

No Valid Operator’s License, 16th St N, Mar 8, 9:39 AM, a male, 22, of Burke, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.

Destruction of Property, N Roosevelt St/Roosevelt Blvd, Mar 8, 1:05 PM, a report was taken for graffiti.

Simple Assault, S Maple Ave, Mar 9, 3:50 PM, victim reported being assaulted by an identified suspect.

E.B. Henderson II Chronicles His Grandfather in New Book

by Aaron Stark

This past Saturday, The Mary Riley Styles Public Library held an author event in its lower-level conference room to promote the publication of Edwin Bancroft Henderson II’s nonfiction biography, “The Grandfather of Black Basketball: The Life and Times of Dr. E.B. Henderson,” which follows Edwin Bancroft Henderson, his grandfather. The event was open to high school students and adults but primarily attracted elderly individuals.

The event was held in the lower conference room of the library and had a large attendance of just under 50 people.

Additionally, it was recorded for Falls Church Community Television. Henderson II attributes the attention to his family’s ties to Falls Church.

“When I saw all the seats taken, I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I was very pleased,” Henderson II said. “I know that people are interested in this story because it’s a local story. There’s a portion of the history here in the book that’s very much about the history of Falls Church. It’s a direct connection with the city and the library and local history.”

Henderson II, who is a resident of Falls Church and the founding president of the Falls Churchbased Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, used the majority of the hour presenting a slideshow detailing the many chapters of his grandfather’s life, particularly his introduction of basketball to

African Americans and activism.

Henderson originally learned the game of basketball at Harvard University before bringing the sport to blacks in D.C. In 2013, Henderson II helped to have his grandfather enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport.

In 1918, Henderson founded the first rural branch of the NAACP in Fairfax County. He also performed a large portion of his activism through writing. In 1939, he authored “The Negro in Sports,” and claimed to have published thousands of letters to editors in newspapers in Virginia and D.C. advocating for racial equality.

Henderson II also covered Henderson’s history as a citizen of Falls Church.

The Mary Riley Styles Library hosted Henderson II in the past for a presentation on the city’s history of practicing eminent domain, which is when the government seizes private property, typically land, and transforms it for public use. Henderson II covered the topic at the author event as well, focusing on the weaponized use of the practice to target and exclude African Americans.

“I did a presentation here a few years back about eminent domain here in Falls Church,” Henderson II said. “It basically was about what I was talking about in my presentation. How they took portions of my family’s land to put in Lee Highway. That was pretty well attended too, but nowhere near as big as [the author event].”

Henderson II chose to hold his event at Mary Riley Styles Library because of his deep ties with the library and the City of Falls Church.

“I’ve worked closely with a number of the people here in the library. A lot of it from my association being on the Falls Church Historical Commission for almost 20 years,” Henderson II said. “When I told them I was coming out with a book, they said, ‘We need to have you come and do a book talk.’ It was really a no-brainer. I know all the people here. I live here.”

After the slideshow,

Henderson II opened up the conversation for a Q&A session followed by a book signing to close out the event.

Henderson II originally wrote his book because he felt his grandfather wasn’t recognized enough for his work.

“I did this to honor my grandfather because I felt that [it] was long overdue. Just like when we got him into the Basketball Hall of Fame, I felt that was long overdue,” Henderson II said. “My whole thing was to let people know his legacy, whether it’s athletics and sports, civil rights, [or] literary accomplishments.”

Henderson II hopes his work will give readers a unique perspective of history from an African-American lens.

“A lot of history is history that has not been written about from an African-American perspective. By writing my book, I get to tell [the] story my way,” Henderson II said. “That’s why I wrote the book, that’s why the history of Falls Church that I wrote about is written the way that it’s written. Because a lot of times it’s written from someone else’s perspective. It’s very important to tell your own story.”

EDWIN B. HENDERSON II spoke before a full house at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in Falls Church last Saturday about his new book on the life of his pioneering grandfather Dr. E.B. Henderson entitled, :The Grandfather of Black Basketball.” ( News-Press Photo)

THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.

THURSDAY MARCH 14 Chamber Networking Breakfast

Stop by for an informal gathering to meet fellow Chamber members. No agenda and no cost other than the cost of your breakfast. The Original Pancake House (7395 Lee Hwy., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.

Legislative Committee Meeting

Legislative Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. Chamber Orientation

Are you thinking about joining the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce? Have you recently joined the Chamber?

Are you already a member, but

would like a better understanding of your benefits? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join for a Chamber Orientation. An overview will be provided of the Chamber's mission, Benefits, how to use the Member Information Center to effectively update information, add events and hot deals, and more! There will be plenty of time for questions to be answered. Register at fallschurchchamber.org. National Funeral Home (7482 Lee Hwy., Falls Church), 5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

Historical Commission Meeting

Historical Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.

Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY MARCH 15

Budget and Finance Committee Meeting

Budget and Finance Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 8:30 a.m. — 10:30 a.m.

Brown's Park Fashion Show

Lemon Lane Consignment and New To You hold a small outdoor fashion show modeled by local adult and children. Free and open to the public. Mr. Brown's Park (100 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m.

Private Jones

A gripping, inspiring and unexpectedly funny world premiere musical adventure about a deaf Welsh sniper in World War I. After losing his hearing, Gomer Jones is left behind

when the rest of the young men enlist. However, when fresh recruits are needed, he fakes his way into a battalion alongside a group of colorful, misfit trainees. Once the “bastards,” as they call themselves, reach the front, Jones becomes a celebrated sniper, but getting everything he thought he wanted might mean losing himself in the process. With rousing songs and an innovative soundscape, and featuring a cast of hearing, Deaf and hard-of-hearing actors. On stage through March 10. Tickets at sigtheatre.org. Signature Theatre (3200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY MARCH 16

Falls Church Farmers Market

Shop the award winning market every Saturday, yearround! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

The Many Disguises of Robin Hood

In merry ol’ England, the townspeople are overtaxed and unfulfilled. Lucky for them, the mysterious outlaw, Robin Hood, is outsmarting the rich with clever disguises and returning their funds to the poor. Frustrated by these tricks, the sheriff, his daughter and the prince scheme to capture Robin Hood and maintain control of the taxes. Are Robin Hood and the band of outlaws ready for their riskiest deceit yet?

Saturday and Sunday, Young Dranesville Small District 1-A actors bring their talents to the stage to recreate a beloved tale of "the haves vs. the have nots." Tickets are $10 and available at mcleancenter.org. The Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA), 2:00 p.m.

Let 'Em Play ALS Benefit

An all-day music festival benefiting the ALS Association. Settle Down Easy Brewing (2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church), 3:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

Quijote y Sancho Panza

Brimming with lively music and uproarious laughter, this bilingual play follows the gentleman from La Mancha and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, as they embark on a fresh series of misadventures. Join them as they defend the helpless, challenge convention, and stumble upon hilariously mistaken identities. Tickets at galatheatre.org. Gala Theatre (3333 14th St. NW, Washington, DC), 3:00 p.m.

Arlington Chorale: The Stranger

"The Stranger" is a powerful composition that urges us to address the plight of refugees worldwide. Using religious texts from many faith traditions, as well as first-person immigrant poetry, this music emphasizes our shared humanity and inspires us to create a world where all are welcome. The Stranger serves as a call to action, compelling us to confront the challenges faced by millions of individuals displaced from their homes. The concert will feature three Afghan musicians who fled Afghanistan in August 2021, and the Chorale will be joined by guest soloist Lebanese-American mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar. Tickets availalbe at arlingtonchorale.org. Westover Baptist Church (1125 Patrick Henry Dr., Arlington, VA), 5:00 p.m.

Virginia Opera: Madama Butterfly

Virginia Opera’s season concludes with one of opera’s most beloved works, Giacomo Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly," a haunting score filled with unforgettable music of unparalleled beauty that will stay with you long after you’ve left the theater. This ever-popular opera will feature an all-female, Asian creative team, bringing a new lens to this tragic tale. Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Tickets at cfa.calendar.gmu.edu. GMU Center for the Arts (4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax, VA), 7:30 p.m.

YOUNG DRANESVILLE actors perform "The Many Disguises of Robin Hood," this weekend at Alden Theatre. (Photo: McLean Community Center)

EVENTS, LIVE MUSIC, & ARTS

SUNDAY

MARCH 17

May The Road Rise to Meet You

In collaboration with the Central Texas Choral Society and in preparation for their tour to Scotland and Ireland next summer, the Symphonic Chorus of the Fairfax Choral Society presents a concert that will take you on a musical journey where all roads lead home!

Tickets at fairfaxchoralsociety.

org. Providence Presbyterian Church (9019 Little River Tpk., Annandale, VA), 4:00 p.m.

Falls Church Arts Exhibit: Images

FCA exhibit "Images," featuring 60 pieces from 47 photographers, on display in the gallery through April 14.

Details at fallschurcharts. org. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

The Princess and the Pea

The King and Queen have decided that it’s high time for their son Prince Dillon to find a wife. They task the Court Jester with finding a suitable bride, but what he unleashes is a never-ending line of young women with serious flaws – one is an egomaniac, one is a maniac, and one has an unnatural attraction to ketchup. Finally, one stormy night, a young woman knocks on the castle door seeking shelter. Is she the match he is seeking? His mother’s ridiculous test of worthiness involving a pea, and some magical help from the local wizard will reveal the answer.

Running through March 24. Tickets at creativecauldron.org.

Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m.

Drag Bingo with Evita Peroxide

Miss Evita Peroxide hosts her monthly Drag Bingo. Enjoy bingo games and drag performances. Tickets at

bit.ly/FCNP0124db. Clare and Don's Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church), 5:00 p.m.

Women's Storytelling Festival

The Women's Storytelling Festival will take place online and inperson from March 14 through March 17, featuring 21 storytellers performing spoken word stories in a variety of styles, intended for a mature audience. More information at bettersaidthandone/womens-festival.

Old Town Hall (3999 University Dr., Fairfax, VA), 8:00 p.m.

MONDAY MARCH 18

Daytime Art Critique Group

Bring a piece of art to share for feedback from FCA's community of artists. Meets the third Monday every month. Free and open to all levels. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

TUESDAY MARCH 19

Chamber Richmond Report Luncheon

Join Del. Marcus Simon (DFalls Church) and Liam Fischer, a representative from the office of Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Falls Church), who will share recent developments out of the Virginia Legislature. Tickets at fallschurchchamber.org. Italian Café (7161 Langston Blvd., Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:15 p.m.

School Board Work Session

FCCPS School Board work session. The public is invited to attend in-person or virtually at meet.google.com/mei-wpsq-yuo. Falls Church City Public Schools - Central Office (150 S. Washington St., Suite 400 Conference Rm., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 10:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 20

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Library Board of Trustees meets. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting

Planning Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting

Urban Forestry Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

VIRGINIA OPERA presents Madama Butterfly, this weekend at the GMU Center for the Arts. (Photo: Tom Meinhold)

Community News & Notes

Get Your Chamber Gala

Tickets!

Tickets are still on sale for the annual F.C. Chamber Gala, happening Thursday, March 21 at The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). “Escape to Paradise” is the theme for this year’s annual event, which includes an awards celebration, silent auction, and live entertainment.

Award nominees include:

• Small Business of the Year: VIGEO Physical Therapy, Erik M. Pelton & Associates, Welsh Printing

• Large Business of the Year: Dogwood Tavern

• Nonprofit of the Year: VFW Post 9274, Falls Church Arts, Volunteer Fire Department, The Arc of Northern Virginia, Homestretch, Easterseals Company Culture of Excellence: Andworx, New Editions Consulting

Pillar of the Community: David Quinn, David Tarter

Take the Council Chambers

Art Survey

In honor of the City of Falls Church’s 75th Anniversary, City Council plans to modernize the art in Council Chambers. The City wants to commission portraits that reflect the rich and diverse history of The Little City that will bring a fresh vision to the Chamber.

City Council is giving the community the opportunity to provide input on this project via survey at tinyurl.com/FCNP0324as.

Mayors’ Fitness Challenge

Begins March 16

The Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, a friendly annual tri-town showdown between the Town of Vienna, City of Fairfax, and City of Falls Church, will run March 16 through May 11, and is free to participate in ($5 for a challenge tshirt). Registration is now open at tinyurl.com/27v4pfn3.

McLean Art Society Hosts Free Oil Painting Demonstration

McLean Art Society will host local artist, Denise Phalan, who will share her personal sketch books that serve as an important component in her process of oil painting, creating mixed media and collage, at a free event on Friday, March

22 at 11:00 a.m. at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA).

ALNV Releases March Wish List, Announces Fundraiser

Assistance League of Northern Virginia (ALNV) is celebrating its 20th year with a featured wish list each month targeting a specific program area. For March, ALNV’s focus is on basic sweatpants and leggings for elementary school boys and girls. Children are always growing and families with limited resources are often unable to afford new clothes to replace ones that have been outgrown.

Visit tiny.alnv.org/wish/leggins to make donations, and be sure to select Assistance League of Northern Virginia as the shipping address to ensure prompt delivery.

Bob Kovacs recently produced a video about ALNV’s clothing program at youtu.be/cph4Tu3n68Y.

ALNV also opened ticket sales for its Literary Luncheon and Fundraiser on Sunday, April 28 at the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club. Guests will listen to the featured authors, Judith Pearson and Christopher Gorham, who will discuss their biographies of two amazing women, followed by a question and answer session moderated by Peggy Fox. A live and silent auction will be held, with more items added every week.

Learn more about the luncheon program and buy your tickets at ALNV2024.eventbrite.com. The deadline for ticket purchase is April 17, 2024.

City Manager to Present

Proposed Budget on April 1

City Manager Wyatt Shields will join the Superintendent and School Board to present the proposed FY 2025 Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) at the City Council meeting April 1. The meeting will be available live and on-demand on the City’s website (fallschurchva.gov/ CouncilMeetings), YouTube, and FCCTV (RCN 2, Verizon 35).

The budget meeting schedule is posted on the City’s website calendar at fallschurchva.gov/budgetcalendar, and meeting documents and videos will be posted as they become available at fallschurchva.gov/budget.

THE WOMEN who run The Little City were celebrated at City Hall on Monday when City Council proclaimed March as Women’s History Month. (News-Press Photo)

ED SALTZBERG was presented a plaque in appreciation for his service on the F.C. Industrial Development Authority and Economic Development Authority since November 1983. (Photo: Sarah Swinton-Nussbaum)

F.C. Community Mobilizes to Tackle Teen Food Insecurity.

“Kids don’t learn when they are hungry,” stated Raven Jones, Principal of Luther Jackson Middle School, where students, community members, and partnering organizations joined Food For Neighbors to tackle teen food insecurity.

Local volunteers collected and sorted approximately 5,000 pounds of donated food and toiletries from over 370 households for students in the Falls Church area, including at Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church High School, Justice High School, Annandale High School, and Cedar Lane School. The donations represent a portion of the over 26,500 pounds of food that Food For Neighbors collected from over 2,000 households to help students in Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties.

“Every bin our community filled today equates to a kid with food insecurity who is going to have a full stomach,” said Karl Frisch, Chair and Providence District Representative of the FCPS School Board, who spent the morning sorting and packing food, “Food For Neighbors plays a vital role in addressing food insecurity throughout Fairfax County. They go above and beyond to serve our communities and make a positive impact in the lives of many students and their families. Being around such caring and committed individuals is always a rewarding experience.”

To get join the Red Bag program, volunteer, or donate, visit foodforneighbors.org/get-involved.

Va. State Police Urge Road Safety on St. Patrick’s Day

Virginia State Police encourages Virginians to please designate a sober driver if you plan to drink over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Drunk driving is not only deadly, it can also be costly. If caught drinking and driving, you can face jail time, lose your driver’s license and vehicle, and pay up to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, car towing, higher insurance rates and lost wages. In 2023 there were 124 crashes involving alcohol in Virginia, six fatalities, and 66 injured the week of St. Patrick’s Day.

If you’re going to party, then party with a plan:

• Ensure you have a designated sober driver, a plan to use public transportation or a ride share service before any drinking begins.

• Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Be honest with yourself and know that even if you only plan on having one drink, you should plan on having a designated driver.

• Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly. Being under the influence can cause a lack of

attention to surroundings and put pedestrians at risk of being hit by a vehicle.

• If you see a drunk driver on the road, pull over safely and dial #77 on a cell phone or call 911.

• If you know someone who has been drinking and is about to drive, take the keys and make arrangements to get them home safely.

• If you are driving, keep an eye out for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users on the roadways.

2024 Recreational Trails Program grant round open

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is now accepting applications for $1.9 million in Recreational Trails Program grants through May 7. Applications are due via email no later than May 7 at 4:00 p.m. Eligible applicants include:

• Counties, cities and towns

• Park and recreation authorities

• Tribal governments State agencies

• Federal agencies

• Nonprofit organizations with support from a governmental body

A virtual informational session and application workshop will be held April 2 at 1:00 p.m., with registration available at dcr.virginia. gov/recreational-planning/trailfnd. For more information, email recreationgrants@dcr.virginia.gov.

The Shepherd Center Seeks Volunteer Drivers

Have some extra time to help a neighbor? The Shepherd Center needs volunteer drivers. Not only do drivers help those in need, they also get to meet wonderful folks, often with very interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. Those interested in driving for the Center are able to pick their own schedule, whether available once a week or once a month.

Shepherd’s Center of McLeanArlington-Falls Church (SCMAFC), is an all-volunteer organization. Its mission is providing free transportation to seniors for medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies.

For detailed information or to apply, please visit the Center’s website at scmafc.org/volunteer or call (703) 506-2199 and leave a message. Shepherd Center is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been operating since 2006.

Choral Excellence “Ovation” Awards Nominees Announced

The Choralis Foundation has announced the date for their annual gala and “Ovation” awards ceremony, to be held April 20 at the Fairview Park Marriott in F.C. Visit fcnp.com for a full list of nominees.

Choral

board members, donors and appreciative fans of all D.C. choruses are invited to attend; ticket information is available at choralis.org/GALA2024.

Virginia State Parks to hire more than 1,000 rangers

Virginia State Parks invites job seekers interested in summer seasonal and hourly wage positions to explore the opportunities available at parks across the state.

Daily duties, pay rates and employment dates will vary depending on the position and park’s needs. Seasonal and wage positions can lead to full-time careers, so opportunities for advancement are possible. Jobs in demand include:

• Administrative assistant

• Contact ranger

• Education support specialist

• Food service ranger

• Groundskeeper

• Housekeeping ranger Lifeguard

• Maintenance ranger

• Office assistant

• Park interpreter

• Trades technician

For more information about seasonal, wage and full-time opportunities and to apply, please go to virginiastateparks.gov/jobs.

Virginia State Parks Announces ‘Let’s Go Adventures’ Series

Virginia State Parks is offering a new series of programs to help visitors experience a diverse range of outdoor activities under the guidance

of experienced rangers.

Let’s Go Adventures kicks off this month and features camping, kayaking, hiking, fishing, orienteering, and archery. The programs are designed to help break down barriers for firsttime participants and give them the skills and confidence needed to recreate at Virginia State Parks.

Not only will participants learn the basics of each activity, including selecting the proper equipment and how to use it, but they will also learn about Leave No Trace Principles, park etiquette and safety guidelines.

The programs will be held yearround, allowing participants to explore different parks and landscapes across Virginia. To learn more and find an upcoming Let’s Go Adventures program, visit virginiastateparks.gov/lets-go-adventures.

First Va. Inmates Certified As Peer Recovery Specialists

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has certified its first group of incarcareted individuals as Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS). On January 10, nine inmates at Buckingham Correctional Center officially earned their certification from the Virginia Certification Board. Peer Recovery Specialists are self-identified people with lived experience with a mental health and/ or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) who are in successful and ongoing recovery from mental health and/ or SUD challenges. Through their experiences, PRS support other people’s recovery journeys.

The PRS program is evidencebased and seeks to improve the lives of inmates in recovery. Inmates receive compensation for their PRS work. The PRS program within the VADOC focuses on peer-centered wellness and recovery.

SALT Requests Action Against Solitary Confinement in Va.

Social Action Linking Together (SALT) has joined in solidarity with other social justice advocacy organizations during the past years in calling for the end of solitary confinement in Virginia. This year legislation restricting the use of solitary confinement has passed in both the Virginia House and Senate: HB1244 and SB719.

SALT is asking advocates to modify and send the following to Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA):

“I believe that the justice of a society can be measured by how the most vulnerable are treated. Prolonged use of solitary confinement is not only dehumanizing treatment of the incarcerated, it is also a form of torture, a cruelty that many voters and taxpayers, acting against their conscience, are required to unwillingly support with their tax dollars. I urge you to sign HB 1244/SB 719, legislation restricting the use of solitary confinement in Virginia’s prisons.”

Visit tinyurl.com/fcnp0324sa to sign and send the letter to Governor Youngkin by the end of this weekend, or deliver your message by calling the office of Governor Youngkin at 804-786-2211.

directors, choristers,

FAIRFAX COUNTY School Board Chair, Karl Frisch, rolls up his sleeves with community members to help sort food and toiletries into bins bound for nearby schools. (Photo: Food For Neighbors)

THE MERIDIAN Science Olympiad Team secured a spot in the state competition after a strong showing at the Lake Braddock Regional Competition last weekend. (Photo: David Ly)

FOUR TEAMS are advancing to states after winning their problems in the Odyssey of the Mind tournament last weekend. (Photo: FCCPS)

HUMAN ANATOMY & Physiology students used clay to make models of various muscles of the human body. (Photo: Chrissy Henderson)

MOUNT DANIELS students enjoyed dressing up as their favorite story book characters last week. (Photo: FCCPS)

ACTON ACADEMY students were visited by the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department last week. (Photo: Acton Academy Falls Church)

Celebrating Women’s History In Falls History

When we read or hear that March is Women’s History Month, it is easy to think that history means celebrating people from the past who have made major contributions to the City of Falls Church. Of course that’s true, but focusing on the past alone prevents us from seeing that we are making history in the City of Falls Church right now! History is a living thing! Women are and have been a major part of all recent history in the City.

Falls Church became an independent City 75 years ago, in 1948, and that took courage. To both succeed and then thrive has required dedication and determination from generations of our civic leaders.

Driving down Broad Street you can’t help but see the transformation that has taken place in recent years. The City Council laid the groundwork for all this growth with the passage of the Special Exception Ordinance in 2001. The Little City is bustling with new residences, and new businesses and restaurants, many of which are owned by women. The mixed-use development on the old school property has helped to make our new state-of-the-art Meridian High School a reality. When the community voted “Yes” on the 2017 referendum to build the high school, promoted and supported by a woman-led PAC, we were making history. When students walked into that high school in February 2021, they were making history! In recent history, Falls Church gained its own theater: Creative Cauldron; art gallery and arts organization: Falls Church Arts - both through the initiatives of women.

Not only has the Little City

had historic growth in its physical infrastructure, but our recent history includes initiatives to make Falls Church a more diverse, caring, and welcoming place. With an emphasis on increasing the number of affordable housing units, and services and help for financially insecure local families and refugees, Falls Church is making history by building its social infrastructure as well. Initiatives, such as Welcoming Falls Church, Better Together Falls Church, and the Family Assistance Fund of the Falls Church Education Foundation, are some examples of organizations led by women.

For the first time in the City’s history, six of the seven members of our City Council are women: Mayor Letty Hardi, Vice-Mayor Debbie SchantzHiscott, Marybeth Connelly, Erin Flynn, Caroline Lian, and Justine Underhill.

Last week as part of a new Falls Church City Public Schools Inclusive Local History Curriculum, the Women’s History Group presented panel discussions for middle and high school students entitled: Falls Church, Past, Present and Your Future.

Students had the opportunity to learn about women in Falls Church history through the eyes and experiences of some amazing women. Speakers included Mayor Letty Hardi; Nikki Graves Henderson, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation; Marty Meserve, Creative Cauldron and former Council member; restaurateurs Carey Tang, Ellie Bird, and Tuyet-Nhi Le, Nue, Chasin’ Tails and Roll Play. The speakers made connections between the remarkable women in our community’s history and the City we have today. They told stories about getting involved, launching

businesses, and making change. They encouraged students to get involved. Students participated with enthusiasm when they recognized places and people in our community. Keep an eye out for a video of the presentation that will be released later this month. You are guaranteed to learn something new!

The Falls Church Women’s History Group invites everyone to help us continue to celebrate women past and present who have made the City of Falls Church a better place to live.

Please come join us on Saturday, May 11 at Cherry Hill Park for the 2024 Falls Church Women’s History Walk. The self-guided Walk will be accessible from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Walk pays homage to the panoply of women who have shaped our community since its beginnings. This year we add seven honorees to this long line: Grand Marshals Betty Allan, Maureen Budetti, Cynthia Garner, Mary Gavin, and Marian Costner Selby, and Honorees Merelyn Kaye and Nancy Stock. Seventy Herstory stations, spread throughout the Park, will highlight the work of these honorees from the 1600s to the present. We are confident their stories will inspire you to make a difference.

A great thing about being part of a growing, thriving City is that Cherry Hill Park on a Saturday morning is the place to be. Please stop by after the Farmer’s Market or before your library visit. Come enjoy the history, the company, the books, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, new plants, and the fresh air with Falls Church neighbors. Be inspired to get involved and keep making Falls Church a great place to live, work, go to school, play . . . and make history!

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be!

The LGBTQ+ Reach

by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press

Ruby Corado Arrested in D.C.

On Tuesday, Ruby Corady was arrested by F.B.I. agents at a hotel in Laurel, MD.

In 2012 Corado founded Casa Ruby, a D.C. nonprofit that served homeless LGBTQ+ youth, with a focus on the Trans community. Corado resigned as executive director in 2021 after the shelter lost an $850,000 grant from the DHS that supported a 50-bed emergency shelter that was housing at least ten people, as well as a center for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Her replacement, Alexis Blackmon, resigned in February 2022, complaining she was unable to access bank accounts for the organization that were still under Corado’s control. Casa Ruby shut down in July 2022, unable to pay rent or its employees.

During the pandemic, Casa Ruby received more than $1.3 million in funding from the paycheck protection and other pandemic relief programs. An investigation was opened in 2021 by the D.C. Attorney General’s office, who in 2022 filed a complaint to the D.C. Department of Human Services alleging Corado had stolen over $400,000 of Casa Ruby funds, transferring them to her personal bank accounts in El Salvador, between April and September 2021.

When the investigation became public in late 2022, Corado allegedly sold her home and fled to El Salvador.

Corado faces charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering — each of which carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years.

Corado has denied the allegations, claiming that they are retaliation against her for criticizing Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration.

Loudoun School Board Disappoints All

On August 11, 2021, the school board for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) approved Policy 8040: Rights of Transgender and Gender Expansive Students, by a vote of 7-2.

The policy was developed after then Governor Northam (D) signed a bill passed by the Virginia Legislature requiring the Department of Education to develop model policies for school boards regarding the treatment of Trans students, including maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students, prevention of and response to bullying and harassment, student records and identification, protection of student privacy, enforcement of sex-based dress codes, and participation in sex-specific school activities and events and use of school facilities.

The law states that “each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department of Education.” Read the corresponding section of the Code of Virginia at

tinyurl.com/FCNP0324tr.

In response, Policy 8040 was written, and it was considered a huge win for LGBTQ+ equality.

The policy includes language that school staff will not disclose a student’s LGBTQ+ status with parents, or even internally among school personnel, that their preferred names and pronouns would be respected, and that Trans students should be allowed to participate in sports according to their consistent gender identities. Bathrooms would remain gender segregated, however Trans students would be allowed to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity, and single-occupancy gender-neutral bathrooms would be installed.

In a document released at the time explaining the policy, LCPS said “Policy 8040 affirms LCPS’ commitment to providing an equitable, safe and inclusive learning environment for all students regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity or gender expression… some other policies may need to be developed or expanded to be more gender-inclusive or to emphasize specific protections for transgender, nonbinary, and genderexpansive students.”

When Governor Youngkin (R) came into office, his administration took over the Virginia Department of Education, and in July 2023 they released new model policies on the treatment of Trans students that reversed most of these protections. Under the new model policies, parents may be notified if school staff discover a child is LGBTQ+; students would only be allowed to use bathrooms or locker rooms (or other school activities/facilities) based on their sex assigned at birth, and students would only be addressed by legal name or pronouns corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.

Falls Church, Arlington, and Fairfax schools have rejected these model policies, retaining their existing ones and restating their commitment to protecting Trans youth. In Loudoun, however, spines are seemingly in short supply.

On Tuesday the LCPS school board declined to take the issue up, after once again allowing the sharing of disinformation and hate speech against Trans youth and the LGBTQ+ community.

Despite this seeming like a win for the community — the previous policy is, at least for now, still in place — repeatedly allowing hate speech targeting the LGBTQ+ community to be proclaimed with impunity during a school board meeting is, in and of itself, a win for the extremists seeking to harm a vulnerable minority within the student body they are responsible for protecting.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Happy Anniversary

Today is the 3rd Anniversary of Preservation Biscuit. Congratulations to Tricia Barba. Harveys celebrates its 2nd Anniversary on the same day.

Are You Interested in a Franchise?

The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia is hosting a free session on franchises. This will cover an overview, what to look for in a franchise, which do well and don’t in the region, and the various state and local regulations. Learn more about recent trends and options for franchising. The session will be held online Wednesday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. More information is available at cbponline.org and the link will be shared upon registration at wbcnova.centerdynamics.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10440068.

‘A Life Like Yours’ Benefit Breakfast with The Arc

The Arc of Northern Virginia will hold the annual fundraising breakfast at the Hilton Tysons Hotel on Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 a.m. There is no cost to attend but attendees will be asked to make a meaningful contribution. During the breakfast program, guests will hear firsthand from self-advocates who have lived with their disability, and the family members who fight so hard to ensure they can live “A Life Like Yours.” These are the families who benefit from the programs and services provided by The Arc of Northern Virginia, and who benefit directly from your generosity. Email Events@thearcofnova.org for reservations.

Restaurant Highlights

Northern Virginia Magazine included Bakeshop in their article on Instagram-worthy photos of desserts, citing the Xtreme Sprinkles Cake. They also received coverage for Pi Day desserts and one especially for St. Patrick’s Day, the Baileys Irish Cream pie, a new seasonal flavor just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Standards were also recommended. Note that a free cup of brewed coffee comes with the purchase of a slice of any icebox pie. The magazine included Maneki Neko in Falls Church in coverage of seven Japanese restaurants. Maneki Neko focuses on Okinawa with unique dishes such as pork knuckle soup and green tea-flavored cold soba noodles with tempura.

Lions Club Fruit Sale

Saturday, March 16, 8:15 am at the Annandale Swim and Tennis Club - The Falls Church-Annandale LIONS Club will hold its last fruit sale until November. All proceeds benefit the Falls Church and Annandale communities.

Look for the Craig Moving Van at 7530 Little River Turnpike and they will be on site until all fruit is sold. For more information, visit fc-alions.org.

St. Patrick’s Specials

In Falls Church, Ireland’s Four Provinces will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day over the weekend. From 4:00 p.m. March 15 — 2:00 p.m. March 16, revelers may dine on traditional Irish food. K’eggs, beer and eggs, will be served on St. Patrick’s Day from 8:00 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. The menu progresses through the day with housemade cottage pie, salmon Kilkenny, a three-course prix fixe menu and Irish Delight. Reservations are recommended.

 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.

3

DIVORCE-Uncontested,

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

Book Review: Diana P. Parsell’s ‘Eliza Scidmore’

by Patricia Leslie

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better now that winter is (mostly) behind us and spring is upon us, along comes a book about the American woman who spearheaded the effort to bring the Japanese cherry trees to Washington, written by a Falls Church resident, no less, and titled “Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees.”

All this during Women’s History Month! I tell you it’s time to celebrate!

Diana P. Parsell’s idea to write a book about “E.R. Scidmore’’ stemmed from her purchase, in the 1990s, of Scidmore’s book about Java — which Parsell found in Indonesia, where she and her husband Bruce Parsell were living while he was on a diplomatic assignment.

When she returned home to Falls Church, like many of us on travel, Parsell laid the book aside for a while (years) until one day she picked it up from her bookshelf to discover an impressive writing style — and that the writer

was a woman!

“Who is this woman?” Parsell wondered, and she was shortly on Scidmore’s trail to find out.

Not only had Scidmore (pronounced SID-more) traveled to many of the same places in Indonesia that Parsell had visited, but Parsell soon learned that Scidmore was a critical piece in the cherry tree puzzle in Washington, D.C.

“I had never heard of her and had lived here 30 years, and no one else I knew had heard of her,” Parsell exclaimed in a telephone interview.

Parsell soon found out Scidmore (1856-1928) was a world explorer, journalist, and author of seven books and 800 magazine and newspaper articles about her travels to Alaska, Japan, Java, China and India — whose story lay untold — until... Parsell started digging.

With her writing and research skills, Parsell began putting together Scidmore’s biography, never anticipating the time, frustrations and rejections (30+ agents refused to take her book) which lay ahead over the next ten years.

At the New York Public Library Parsell found hundreds of original letters by Scidmore which had never been published. She uncovered more Scidmore letters at the National Geographic Society, where Scidmore was an active member , having first joined the organization in 1890 — two years after it was established, becoming its first female board member.

Parsell traveled to research institutions across the U.S., Alaska (the site of Scidmore’s first book), and Japan, where Scidmore lived off and on for 40 years with her mother and her brother, a consular officer.

“Today, Scidmore is treated as somewhat of a celebrity in Japan. There’s a big interest in her there,” said Parsell, who counts her as “an early friend.”

Scidmore defended the Japanese nation during the antiAsian movement in the 1920s and received a medal from the Japanese emperor.

Scidmore became an expert on Japanese culture. Some Japanese still make biannual visits to her gravesite, where her ashes are buried alongside her family in Yokohama.

Parsell is working on having her book translated in Japanese, but, first she had to get it published in English, which almost didn’t happen.

After years spent on the project and after all her rejections, she was on the point of no return until one day, on a plane trip to Boston, she sat beside a science writer like herself, who urged her to contact his editor at Oxford University Press

Four days later “Eliza Scidmore” took off in Oxford

Besides writing and having a relative employed in foreign service, Scidmore and Parsell shared two other elements in their success stories: persistence and vision.

What “kept me going through all the rejections and the frustrations,” Parsell said, was “the vision of wanting to see a book with my name on it on the shelf at the Library of Congress.”

Today “Eliza Scidmore” is found in the Library of Congress and on shelves at the Mary Riley Styles and Fairfax County Public Libraries, on the publisher’s website, and on Amazon in hardback and Kindle formats.

C ritter C orner

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

Parsell is exploring having an audiobook made. Scidmore had a vision, too, no doubt of cherry trees blossoming in Washington for until she was able to sell her idea to First Lady Helen Taft in 1909,

it took her 20 years for her idea to soar.

If you can see it, you can believe it and that’s what drove these two insistent women whose works we celebrate today.

REDBIRD THE Guinea Pig, a rescue from the Metropolitan Guinea Pic rescue serving the DMV, was announced as one of the Cadbury Bunny finalists for 2023. (Photo: Terrance Wilson)

DIANA PARSELL under the cherry trees, last year at the Tidal Basin (Photo: Wakako Hisaeda)

‘Songbird’ Soars at Kennedy Center

by Mark Dreisonstok

“A remarkable performance full of valor and verve” — words sung by one of the characters in “Songbird” — is a fitting description to Washington National Opera’s comic opera production at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater. Based on Jacques Offenbach’s “La Périchole,” “Songbird” maintains the nineteenth-century Offenbach French operetta tradition and the spirit of his can-can style, while also rendering the production modern and unique.

and French, creating a very special charm. Similarly, the 1920s jazz reimagining has elements of French chanson added to the beautiful melodies of Offenbach. Instead of a large symphonic orchestra usually expected to accompany opera, there is a wonderfully versatile jazz band on stage. Pianist Jo Ann Daugherty played stride and has especially fine moments in “O mon cher amant.”

To enhance the humor, musical sounds and instruments were used not only for dance music and lilting arias but also for sound effects — not unlike musical accompani-

Timmy Burrow. Offenbach’s operettas are already a wonderful example of a segue between the worlds of opera, the American musical theatre, and the 1920’s ambiance — with Broadway, and vaudeville routines enhancing this feeling to the point that audience members were heard afterward to ask, with delight, “Did I just see an operetta or a musical?” What they saw was, in fact, an amalgamation of opera, jazz, and a little bit of Broadway. The talented conductor, orchestrator, and arranger James Lowe keeps the essentials and authenticity of all

bêtes!” (alternating in English with “Ah! Men are such fools!”).

“My Songbird” is sung by Ramin Karimloo as Piquillo, Songbird’s fellow struggling artist with whom she is in love and whom she unknowingly marries. Better known for famous Broadway roles, Mr, Karimloo displays his versality in a voice with qualities of both an operatic tenor and a musical theatre star.

Perhaps the most enjoyable character is Don Andrès, sung and enacted with joie de vivre by Edward Nelson. A highly negative character who shames Songbird through his evil plot to make her his mistress by, ironically, getting her married to someone else, he nonetheless dons many humorous disguises, sings with a delightful baritone voice, takes a turn at the piano with the band, and performs a duet with the clarinet as he intones “Nobody Tells Me No!” Another entertaining comic turn had Mr. Nelson dressed in a conspicuous splashy style while singing ironically about his “successful” incog-

Mardi Gras elements as well, such as streamers, “Queen of the Mardis Gras,” and the aforementioned costumes.

The production runs 75 minutes with no intermission andcontinues through March 23. For further information visit tinyurl.com/4jf436an.

It being Offenbach, there are can-can musical moments, and this being the 1920’s “Songbird” version of Offenbach, there are flamboyant

ISABEL Leonard (Songbird) and Ramin Karimloo (Piquillo) infuse an 1800s Offenbach operetta with a 1920s vaudeville act in Washington National Opera’s “Songbird.” (Photo: Tom Meinhold)

Custom graphic design by Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. artists to be used on T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other apparel.

Perfect for clubs, organizations, teams, groups, PTA, special events, limited and wider distribution, extracurriculars, school events, work events, family, individuals or for no reason whatsoever.

Tel.: 703.992.9400 ext. 1

Fax: 703.992.6656

E-mail: fcnp.ad@janmedia.com