Falls Church News-Press 3-22 2018 by Falls Church News-Press

March 22 – 28, 2018

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I�� T�� W�� F.C. P�� C�� S�� N� P�� B�� C�� Implementing any kind of a body camera program in the City of Falls Church doesn’t fit the same need as it does for Fairfax County Police, says City of Falls Church Police Chief Mary Gavin.. SEE STORY, PAGE 5

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Falls Church City Hall is shutting down this Friday for 10 months or so as the renovation and expansion effort kicks into high gear and staff is now finishing its move into temporary office across the City.

Shields, Noonan Agreed Each Would Offer 3% COLA for Their Employees T�� S��?

‘Deal’ for New Budget Was Cut in December, Hiking Schools’ Need

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

SEE STORY, PAGE 4

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Despite our differences, we devote our lives to the same experiment, the American experiment to draw people from around the world and to create the best society ever, to serve as a model for all humankind. SEE PAGE 14

W��’� H�� W�� E�� 2�� Y�� The second annual Falls Church Women’s History Walk took place last Sunday afternoon as hundreds of locals turned out to enlighten themselves on the historic contributions of City residents throughout its nearly 70 year history. SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 16

INDEX Editorial.................6 Letters...................6 News & Notes10–11 Comment ........ 12-14 Business News ...15

Calendar .......18–19 Classified Ads .....20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Critter Corner......22

WITH THE OFFICIAL START to Spring on Tuesday, Falls Church residents were eager to welcome in the new season and its warmer temperatures. Mother Nature had other plans, however, and instead we got a boatload of snow. The fourth nor’easter of the month hit the East Coast and turned Wednesday into a snow day in The Little City, cancelling school and closing down the City government. Residents made the best of it, as they tend to do, taking to yards and hills and more around town to revel in the new and still-falling snow. Here, �ive-year-old Bridget Edwards creates a magni�icent Spring snow angel in Winter Hill Wednesday morning. (P�� : K�� E��)

It came to light late in the combined Falls Church City Council and School Board budget work session Monday night that City Manager Wyatt Shields and School Superintendent Peter Noonan met in December and agreed that each would offer a 3 percent cost-ofliving salary increase for all the employees under their watch. The agreement, which is seen as a solid move to enhance concord in the City, in and of itself accounts for the discrepancy in the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budgets for the City operational and School Board functions, a matter the Council will provide a preliminary vote on at its meeting this Monday night. Both Noonan and Shields confirmed the fact to the News-Press yesterday. Shields said, “We both expressed that it was important and a priority for us” to provide the increase, noting “it was in the context that we knew most peer jurisdictions in our region were planning to provide between 3 and 5 percent salary increases.” It was noted at last Monday’s work session that because the Schools employ more than twice the number of employees — teachers and all others — than the City, the cost of a three-cent salary increase would be $1.050 million for the Schools compared to $480,000 for the City. The differential between the two more than accounts for the fact the School budget request has been for a 2.8 percent increase in the current budget. While that increase is the smallest in many

Continued on Page 23

PAGE 2 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

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Wilson Boulevard over Route 50 Bridge Rehabilitation Fairfax County Public Information Meeting Tuesday, April 3, 2018 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Presentation begins at 7 p.m. Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, Cafeteria 3333 Sleepy Hollow Road Falls Church, VA 22044 Find out about plans to rehabilitate the one-way bridge linking the eastbound Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard) service road to eastbound Wilson Boulevard in Seven Corners in order to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. The bridge was built in 1958. The planned improvements include reconstructing the bridge’s existing sidewalk, adding a new sidewalk on the opposite side of the bridge, and upgrading the bridge railings. Stop by between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to view displays and learn more about the project and its preliminary design. A presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Project staff will be available to answer your questions. Review project information at the VDOT project website (www.virginiadot.org/projects), at the information meeting, or during business hours at VDOT’s Northern Virginia District Office at 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax. Please call ahead at 703-259-3256 or TTY/TDD 711 to ensure appropriate personnel are available to answer your questions. Give your written comments at the meeting, or submit them by April 13, 2018 to Mr. Vicente Valeza, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, or email meetingcomments@VDOT.virginia.gov. Please reference “Wilson Boulevard over Route 50” in the subject line. VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 703-259-1775 or TTY/TDD 711. State Project: 0613-029-380, P101, B647 UPC: 111320 Federal: STP-BR09 (297)

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Falls Church City Hall is shutting down this Friday. Not for good, of course, but for 10 months or so as the renovation and expansion effort kicks into high gear. Mark your January 2019 calendar for a celebratory reopening (sorry, we can’t be more specific about the date yet!). But carrying on without a hitch are the functions of City Hall, many of which have already moved to new locations for the interim. There are the operations of the Housing and Human Services department which have been moved to the little Gage House next to the basketball court up behind City Hall. Most of the police and sheriff’s department functions have been moved out to the City’s Property Yard on Gordon’s Road. But most of the offices have migrated to the three-story, older brick building at 400 N. Washington Street, and that’s where the last shift is moving this Friday out of the East Wing of City Hall, including the offices of the City Manager, Clerk, Attorney and more. “So far, it’s been kind of like going on a field trip, a summer vacation,” Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester told the News-Press last week, noting a lot of the moves have had the feel of packing up the Studebaker and going on a road trip. Mester has been in charge of the logistics of the move, and she’s remained upbeat, and the City staff has been by and large patient and long-suffering. (It helps, of course, that City Manager Wyatt Shields has proposed an across the board threepercent salary hike for the coming fiscal year). There have been no major headaches yet, either amidst City staff or the public, given efforts to keep the public informed of the moves that have gone in shifts since December. Two departments that attract the greatest numbers of the general public to the halls of the City government, the offices of the City Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue, made their move last weekend and were open for business in their new temporary location as of 1 p.m. this Monday. They are on the ground floor of

GETTING USED TO THEIR new, but temporary Falls Church City Hall digs at 400 N. Washington St. are (left to right): Paul Stoddard, Director of Planning, and senior planners Carly Aubrey and Akida Rouzi. (P��: N��-P��) the 400 N. Washington St. building. Treasurer Jody Acosta and Revenue Commissioner Tom Clinton said this week that the transition came off without a hitch, and a brisk business in the payment of taxes and registering businesses, and so forth, was underway. Acosta was particularly pleased that her customer counter from her City Hall office was moved with the help of the City’s Public Works crews to her new digs. Mester said that one of the pluses from the move has been the camaraderie that it has engendered among the City Hall employees at all levels. “A lot of us got to meet people we have hardly seen before (because of the natural compartmentalization at City Hall),” she said. “A lot of folks have gotten to meet and greet one another, and offer helping hands.” Notwithstanding Mester’s buoyant attitude toward the whole messy move, coming with echoes of “Kumbaya” in her voice, the phased moving was well-organized and smooth, and with the final East Wing offices departing the old City Hall Friday, the construction work will intensify at City Hall. A short history of the City Hall building has been posted on the City’s website, noting it was first built in 1957 (Falls Church was incorporated as an independent city in 1948) and last renovated in 1986 when the East Wing was added. It has been a central gathering point for the City, hosting over 400 community meetings

every year. Before the City Hall was first built and put in use, the acting City Hall was at the building now known as the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment next to the State Theater at 222 N. Washington St. That structure, which was originally the home of a congregational church, was put to City Hall functions at a time when the City had only one police car and a small jail was built inside the building. Among the anecdotal stories about those Mayberry-ish days was one by way of the late Don Frady, the City’s first public works chief who was instrumental in getting the new City Hall built. He said that there was a proverbial “town drunk” who would spend a lot of nights in the old jail and that when the City Council would gather to meet, the drunk would be placed in the single police car and driven around town so he would not disrupt the Council meetings. Even with the new City Hall in 1958 and its expansion in 1986, police and court services have continued to be underserved by the building, which is one of the most important features that the current renovation and expansion is designed to correct. In fact, the City was effectively ordered by the Arlington Circuit Court to make a series of necessary improvements for security and other reasons in order for court services, including court proceedings themselves, to be

Continued on Page 23

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MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 5

Falls Church Not Following Fairfax Co. In Implementing Police Body Cameras

by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

In February the Fairfax County Police Department began testing a pilot program for body cameras by equipping 230 officers with them at the Mason, Mount Vernon and Reston district police stations to be used on everything from emergency situations to routine traffic stops. However, don’t expect the City of Falls Church Police to follow suit. Implementing any kind of a body cam program in the City doesn’t fit the same need as it does for Fairfax County Police, according to City of Falls Church Police Chief Mary Gavin. The City’s roughly 15,000 residents is a fraction of one percent of Fairfax County’s 1.142 million inhabitants and is in a far more condensed area compared to the county’s. Additionally, Falls Church residents are generally affluent and not prone to violent crimes — per neighborhoodscout.com, the City experiences 1.93 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. That’s below Virginia’s average (2.18) and the national median (4). A low pro-

pensity for violence allows City police to effectively enforce the law without requiring the extra levels of transparency that typically spur calls for body cams. Even with that reality, surveillance equipment is a growing need for all modern police departments and the City’s employs its own through a camera system built-in to each patrol vehicle. “We’ve researched [body cams], but we feel the in-car camera system meets our current needs,” Gavin said. “In-car cameras have served officers well when taking in surrounding areas during specific situations.” In-car cameras are activated whenever there is a “hot call,” or a chance that force may be used by a police officer or a citizen at-large. From inside the car, the officers can position the cameras to focus on areas of attention and provide recorded data for later review. These cameras have proved useful for City Police during hot calls over the years, such as a robbery at SunTrust Bank and a shooting incident at the State Theatre in Jan. 2016. Hot calls are also situations

when officers and nearby citizens are at risk, making safety paramount. Gavin believes that body cams can make officers too worried about violating policy rather than acting in the best interest of their safety as well as the safety of fellow citizens, so she hesitates to commit to their use on her own volition. Along with that, Gavin also feels that body cams can be seen as intrusive to victims. Gavin referenced a hypothetical domestic violence incident where a victim may be less willing to divulge details of the altercation when they know they are being recorded on camera. The same goes for witnesses, she says who may also become less cooperative once they notice the body cam. Gavin continued by stating that any footage from body cams are subject to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and can become publicly distributable from that point on. In the hypothetical domestic violence case, the presence of video would not only be used in court but also in news programs and reporting as well. It runs the risk of putting

FALLS CHURCH POLICE CHIEF Mary Gavin says she doesn’t feel body cameras are needed for police in the City and that current, in-car cameras meet the force’s needs. (Photo: News-Press) out sensitive information regarding the identities of both witnesses and victims and re-traumatizing the person involved during one of their most distressful moments. Instead, Gavin believes the body microphones that all officers are outfitted with serve the need better. The mics capture the voices and words of witnesses with clarity while protecting their physical identity. Furthermore, they can be used as effectively in court to try cases and land convictions. Gavin added that when complaints of force are fielded and investigated by City police,

witnesses and persons involved who are interviewed are less likely to follow through with questioning when they are told they might be recorded on video. However, it’d be wrong to assume that Gavin is completely opposed to body cams, despite the financial hill to climb in acquiring them. “I’m not opposed to body cams, but I don’t see a need,” Gavin continued. “If the community is demanding body cams, it would definitely be considered. But I’m not sure if the community is intent on the department using body cams at this time.”

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PAGE 6 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

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E D I TO R I A L

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Why So Stubborn Vs. School Budget?

There seems to be an odd disconnect in the understanding of some on the Falls Church City Council concerning the Falls Church public’s disposition toward the City schools and their needs. Those arguing the hardest to oppose an extra $350,000 for the schools in the current annual budget deliberations above the 2 percent so-called “guidance” they were allotted in December claim to be doing so in the best interests of the City’s public. Let us suggest that one point may provide some clarity. It seems that whenever the subject is government transparency, or community values and long-term plans, Falls Church voters and potential voters are referred to as “citizens” and “the public.” But whenever the subject turns to taxes and tax rates, they are suddenly referred to as “taxpayers,” instead. This could be contributing to the fuzzy thinking that says our citizens who voted overwhelmingly last November to absorb a $120 million debt to build a new high school would suddenly rise to their feet as taxpayers and angrily protest a $350,000 increase in the City’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget because it would result in a very modest increase in the tax rate. This is just wrong. What is coming across from opponents to the Schools’ request on the Council is taking on a more punitive tone to the idea that the Schools should not dare to cross the “guidance” of the Council, than the idea that there are pretty solid needs for why the schools are asking for what they are. Who is violating whom? The perception that the Schools are taking advantage of the Council to ask for more than they should could be modified to show that their opponents are being unreasonably stubborn. Anybody who wants to run for the City Council these days would not dare to posture as anti-school, and for good reason. The City’s extraordinary success in so many spheres the last two decades has been built on the solid foundation of having one of the most outstanding school districts in the U.S. So we are puzzled by the nit-picking over the $350,000 the Schools are seeking over their Council-mandated arbitrary “limit.” The Schools have made it clear that their request for the smallest increase in many years (2.8 percent) is for only two things: 1. a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment which City Manager Wyatt Shields and School Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan agreed to in December, and 2. one additional psychologist for the otherwise underserved system. On the other hand, there are over $1,370,354 in needs identified by the Schools that are not included in their budget request in the interest of holding the line on costs. In fact, we would think there are many in this community who would be quite justifiably unhappy with the fact that the School Board agreed to get along with as little as it has in the coming fiscal year.

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Is Falls Church Becoming A City for the Wealthy?

Editor, What am I missing? Tax overhaul reduces property tax writeoff a few months ago. Check. Falls Church City property assessments rose last month (mine by $89,000). Check. Now the City Manager Wyatt Shields calls for a 5.5 cent tax rate hike for FY 2019? When is enough truly enough? There are many great qualities of our Little City. But most would agree that the best of all is the

diversity of the citizenry we enjoy. How does making it challenging for the middle class to live in the City of Falls Church qualify as a goal, let alone an accomplishment? Is this becoming a city for the wealthy? I fully recognize that a new high school is needed. But why aren’t plans being modified, given the changing economic times. Due to the new tax law, it will be more expensive to live here for home-

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owners. Shouldn’t assessments go down, instead of up? I admit a downward adjustment may be coming in the future, but in the meantime, all homeowners in the Little City will have less disposable income. I have lived here for 13 years and witnessed tremendous growth in commercial enterprise. One would think the larger tax basis from commercial activity would reduce the tax burden required from residential property owners. And yet, our taxes only continue to rise. Is this the goal? Bring in more commerce, but pay for it on the backs of the citizens that own homes (because we benefit from more restaurants and grocers?)

These are challenging times for elected officials. Worries about inflation are back after a decade without it. Foreign investment continues unabated. Now this? As someone who qualifies as both a current resident and a future one (I am in the process of building a new house here), I worry that the demographics will change. The fabric of our community will slowly shift to more homogeny, based upon the ability to afford living here, rather than contributing to the diversity of our neighborhoods because it has been a financial possibility. Have I made a mistake contracting for a new home here? Tony Scardino Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 7

We Can Make the City of Falls Church Safer B� S�� D��

Another mass shooting in America. Another week goes by, and we ask, again, “what can we do to stop this mass murder of children by children?” What we can’t do right now is pass federal or state laws because of the power of the gun lobby. We can’t even pass local laws here in Falls Church because of the power of the gun lobby and the Dillon rule which limits local governments to enact ordinances only in areas where the General Assembly has granted explicit authority. So, what can we do as a community? We can, as a community, pledge to keep our children safe by securing all guns in our homes and vehicles. We can stop the next school shooting from happening by guaranteeing that it doesn’t start in our homes. The Little City is a fantastic place. We rightly cherish our school system; it is the reason many of us moved here. We give our precious children to our schools, and we expect them to be safe. We entrust enormous responsibility to our children’s teachers, school leaders, staff, and school resource officers. We hope they will do everything they can to save our children. This responsibility, however, cannot be only on the shoulders of our schools. We must, as a community, work together to ensure that our schools are safe. Keeping our children safe in school means that we all

must take responsibility in our homes. Our homes must not be the place where the next school shooter gets their guns because they are angry. Kids are impulsive and may make poor decisions out of anger, sadness, and even fear that can lead to tragic consequences.

“Keeping our children safe in school means that we all must take responsibility in our homes.” Let’s ensure that this is not our kid. According to the Asking Saves Kids (ASK) program, one out of three homes with children have guns that are unlocked. Each day, nine children and teens are shot in gun accidents, and 80 percent of unintentional firearm deaths occur in the home. The Sandy Hook shooter had an arsenal of guns in his home, guns that his mother had purchased for him. According to a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the lead cause of death for children age 10 to 17 is suicide and “adolescent suicide is strongly associated with firearm availability.” Also, the AAP recently announced

new recommendations that call for families with a depressed teen to develop a safety plan to restrict the young person’s access to lethal means of harm which includes firearm access. I have been working on gun violence prevention as a full-time volunteer since 26 innocent lives were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary on Dec. 14, 2012. My son was in the 3rd grade, almost the same age as the kids who died. I used to drop my son off in front of Thomas Jefferson Elementary school before the doors opened and waved goodbye, leaving him alone in front of the school to chat with his friends. The day after the Sandy Hook shooting, I began parking my car and walked him to the doors of the school, and waited with him until he went into the school in the rain, snow, sun and cold. I was not going to let a school shooter murder him without me being there for him. I was going to do whatever it takes to protect my little boy. I thought once he was inside the walls of the school, everything would be okay. Now I hope and pray that once he is inside the school that he will remain safe and that at days end, I will hear all about his day. Since Sandy Hook, I have worked every day to ensure that we have a safer community and a safer country. We can make Falls Church City safer.

I ask that everyone in the community with children in the school system sign the Falls Church City Parent Safety Contract and I encourage the Falls Church City School Board to incorporate the Parent Safety Contract in the yearly student registration process (aka infosnap). Please visit the website FallsChurchParentSafetyContract.com to sign the contract and then contact the School Board and ask that they include the Parent Safety Contract as part of their Code of Conduct for every parent and every child in our Little City. Falls Church City Public Schools Parent Safety Contract: We pledge: In acknowledgment of our shared community responsibility to keep every child in this school district from endangering themselves or other children in the school district, we promise to keep any guns in our home or vehicles under lock and key. Furthermore, we acknowledge the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that guns stored in homes where children live or visit are safest when stored unloaded with ammunition and gun locked and stored separately. Safe storage of firearms is no different than safe storage of other potentially dangerous household items, such as prescription opioids. Thanks to the One Day, One Voice project for inspiration.

Q�� W�� Should the F.C. City Council grant the School Board’s request for an extra $350,000? • Yes

• No

Last Week’s Question:

Who makes the best fried chicken in Falls Church?

• Not sure

Log on to www.FCNP.com to cast your vote FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientiﬁc polls.

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS] The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the

Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

Email: letters@fcnp.com | Mail: Letters to the Editor, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church 22046 | Fax: 703.340.0347

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UCCESS:

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED IN THE WORKPLACE—AND EVERYDAY LIFE!

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

NEWS BRIEFS

A Motivational Experience by Peter Colwell, Author of "Spell SUCCESS in Your Life"

Friday, March 30, 2018 from 2-3pm at Chesterbook Residences Open to the public Get ready for an uplifting experience as Peter Colwell shares principles from his book to provide a roadmap for success and ongoing motivation! • Strive – Pour Your Soul into Your Goal • Understand – Conquer Emotional Clutter • Create – Turn Your Ideas into Action • Condition – Cultivate your “SUCCESS: How to Stay Motivated in the Workplace – Seeds of Greatness and Everyday Life!” • Envision – Paint a Positive Picture for your Future by Peter Colwell, • A Motivational Savor –Experience Celebrate Each Day and Take Time for Yourself Author of Spell SUCCESS in Your Life Soar Stay and Keep Challenging Yourself Friday,• March 30, 2018– from 2-3pm Sharp at Chesterbook Residences 2030 Westmoreland St, Falls Church, VA 22043

Peter will be autographing books afterwards – available at $10 a copy. Get ready for an uplifting experience as Peter Colwell shares principles from his book to provide a roadmap for success and ongoing motivation! • • • • • • •

Strive – Pour Your Soul into Your Goal Understand – Conquer Emotional Clutter Create – Turn Your Ideas into Action Condition – Cultivate your Seeds of Greatness Envision – Paint a Positive Picture for your Future Savor – Celebrate Each Day and Take Time for Yourself Soar – Stay Sharp and Keep Challenging Yourself

**********************************************************

Peter will be autographing books afterwards – available at $10 a copy.

703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org | 2030 Westmoreland Street | Falls Church, VA 22043 A nonprofit, nondenominational community sponsored by Chesterbrook Residences, Inc. Coordinated Services Management, Inc.—Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981.

Tax Analyst Briefs Chamber on New Tax Law The monthly luncheon of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce this Tuesday featured Robert Goulder, a counselor at the Falls Church-based Tax Analysts, who briefed attendees with an overview of the new Republican-backed comprehensive federal tax reform law that went into effect in January and broke down completely on the partisan party lines of Congress. The law represents the biggest reform of the U.S. tax code since 1982, he said. Impacts on individuals and the larger economy such as the $10,000 limit on combined mortgage, non-profit giving and related deductions may not be immediately known, he said, but the law “widens the gap between the rich and poor,” and includes “no social justice components.” He noted the law’s foundational shift from “worldwide” to “territorial regime” in its impact on foreign investment, both ways. Tax Analysts’ new president and CEO, Cara Smith, was also present at the luncheon.

Pearson Square ADU Units Available, City Says The Falls Church Department of Housing and Human Services announced this week that two separate affordable dwelling units (ADU) are available for rent at Pearson Square, 410 S. Maple Avenue in Falls Church. The first unit is a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment at $1,158 per month plus utilities. The second is a two bedroom, two bath apartment at $1,324 per month plus utilities. An ADU lottery among applicants will be held Tuesday, April 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the Winter Hill Apartments Community Room, 330-B, S. Virginia Avenue. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, have total household liquid assets not exceeding $40,000 and total household incomes between 50 and 80 percent of the federal HUD area median income. Priority will be given to current City of Falls Church residents and employees as well as to those who work in the City, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Applications are available at www.fallschurchva.gov/Rental and the HHS office located at the Gage House behind City Hall, 401 Great Falls St. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 4.

Kaine, Warner Co-Sponsor Anti-Bullying Bill

26 days to Tax Day! Did you have childcare expenses? Don’t forget they’re deductible!

Monday, Virginia U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine co-sponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act, legislation requiring schools to take greater measures to prevent bullying and harassment. This follows a Department of Education study which found that one in five children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be impacted by bullying. There is currently no federal law in place to comprehensively and expressly address issues of bullying or harassment. “Every child deserves to learn free from fear of bullying and harassment,” said the senators in a joint statement. “We’re proud to introduce legislation that will help protect Virginia students from harm, and work toward ensuring that our schools make children feel safe and welcome.” Research shows that bullying and harassment have adverse long-term consequences, including decreased concentration at school, increased school absenteeism, damage to the victim’s self-esteem and increased social anxiety. As of 2018, 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted enumerated anti-bullying laws. This legislation was originally sponsored by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa). The act would require schools and districts receiving federal funding to specifically prohibit bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. It would also ensure that schools and school districts focus on effective prevention programs in order to better prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment both in school and online.

Getting a GED May Become Easier in Virginia

Certified Public Accountants (703) 241-8807

125 Rowell Ct, Falls Church

It will be easier for Virginians who drop out of high school at 16 or 17 to earn their high school equivalency diploma if Gov. Ralph Northam signs a bill approved by the General Assembly. House Bill 803, sponsored by Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Washington, would reduce the age for taking the General Educational Development tests from 18 to 16. Supporters say the measure could save some teenagers time and money in pursuing a GED diploma. “There’s been young people who have dropped out of school in our region at 16 or 17, and they’ve realized, ‘Hey, shouldn’t have done that. I’d like to get my high school diploma so I can go to work,’ and they’ve had to wait until they were 18,” said Jacob Holmes, O’Quinn’s legislative director. (Capital News Service)

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

News-Press

Community News & Notes

MCLEAN COMMUNITY CENTER will hold Spring Fest, a spring-themed event for young children, from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 31. Tickets are $5 per person; free for children under 3 yerars old. Advance registration is required; walk-ins will not be admitted. The event will be held at St. Luke’s School located at 7005 Georgetown Pike. Designed for children ages three to 8, Spring Fest is a special event that includes a variety of activities. (Photo: McLean Community Center)

St. Mark’s Offers English Language Course St. Mark’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry is seeking new students and volunteers to participate in the upcoming Spring 2018 Term, starting Tuesday, April 10. The ministry’s goal is to “Welcome the Stranger” and provide a program where adults from all ethnic and religious backgrounds can come and learn English and acclimate better to life in the U.S. Interested volunteers can help over 150 adult learners master the English language, prepare for American citizenship, learn to converse fluently in English, improve their writing skills and integrate into the local community. All classes take place on

Tuesday and Thursday evenings at St. Mark Christian Formation Center (9972 Vale Road, Vienna). Registration for Spring Term is Tuesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 5 from 7 – 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church . For additional registration information or to volunteer, call Monica at 703-980-9380, Pete at 703-789-3128, email stmarksesl@gmail.com, or see the Web site at www.stmarkesl.org.

Dulin Methodist Holds Easter Egg Hunt Dulin United Methodist Church (513 E. Broad St., Falls Church) will be having an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31, beginning at 11 a.m on the church’s front lawn. Crafts and activities will be available for

all ages as well as a chance for children and their parents to meet and take photos with the Easter Bunny. For more information about the egg hunt, call the church’s office at 703-532-8060 (x200) or visit dulinchurch.org.

F.C. Resident Nominated as Historic Preservation Chair President Donald J. Trump has announced his intent to nominate Falls Church resident Aimee Jorjani as the first full-time chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Jorjani will be the ACHP’s first full-time chairman since the December 2016 enactment of theNational Park Service Centennial Act, which contained amendments to the National Historic

FALLS CHURCH NATIVE Erika Lozano (right) was the featured artist at the premiere of the “Passion for Rememberance” art show at the Falls Church Art Gallery. She is seen with her family here and her work, “Waiting,” in the background (Photo: Courtesy Jane Podesta)

Preservation Act (NHPA) converting the current part-time chairman to a full-time position. The chairman provisions took effect on January 20, 2017, commencing a four-year term for that position. The chairman is nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Current ACHP Chairman Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA will serve until Mrs. Jorjani is confirmed.

“I congratulate Aimee on her nomination as chairman of the ACHP,” Donaldson said. “Her leadership and dedication to historic preservation will ensure a bright future for the agency. She is a strong advocate for historic preservation, and her presence will add to the national preservation program.” Jorjani has nearly 20 years of experience in the fields of government and cultural resources

Send Us Your News & Notes!

The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

the Pimmit Hills Senior Center (7510 Lisle Ave, Falls Church). The parade route will go behind Westgate Elementary School where the ceremony takes place at the turf field behind the parking lot. For more information, visit fckll.org.

Rotary Club Plans Walk for Peace this Weekend

THE LASSO was one of 13 high school digital publications to receive a Crown Award this year. Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) to a student print or digital medium for overall excellence. Judges are experienced former advisers to student media, professional journalists and other professionals such as photographers or online specialists with particular expertise needed for the judging exercise. (From left to right) Melissa Boyle, Erin Dean, Sequoia Wyckoff, Sierra Sulc, Estelle Timar-Wilcox (Lasso Managing Editor), Peter Laub (adviser), Edmund Sullivan (Executive Director of CSPA), Sarah Lambert, Zach Jepson, Eleanor Kay and Anna Tarter. (P��: C�� P�� L��) from a variety of perspectives including both executive and legislative branches, as well as the non-profit sector. Her career began on Capitol Hill working as an aide to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). She later moved to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and held several positions, including serving as the Deputy Secretary’s Special Assistant for Historic Preservation and as DOI’s first Department-wide Historic Preservation Officer.

Local Dentist Plans Mission Trip to El Salvador On July 7, Dr. Roberto A. Morabito, DDS, his staff and other medical and dental professionals will be traveling to the Children Development Center on a mission trip to El Guayabo, El Salvador. Morabito and his team

will be providing dental services to the local children and their families, and are seeking volunteers to join them. Families in this area live in extreme poverty. The average income is only $100/ month. 50 percent of the population does not have electricity and no one has public water. If interested, email business@ morabitodds.com to discuss what volunteer options are available. Interested volunteers do not need to be in the dental field to help; there are plenty of volunteer opportunities that anyone can do. If anyone is unable serve as a volunteer but would still like to help, Morabito and his team are also looking to raise $100,000 for necessary supplies and additional equipment to ensure their trip is a success. The team has currently raised around $70,000 and openly accepts and appreciates any amount patrons are able

to donate. Donations go a long way to provide a child and his or her family proper dental care they will not otherwise be able to receive. For example, a $50 donation would give one child a much needed dental cleaning. A $100 donation would provide a necessary extraction that could prevent infection and further health concerns. If you would like to donate, visit donatenow.networkforgood.org/missiontrips.

F.C. Kiwanis Celebrate 70th Anniversary Season The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League is set open up league play on April 7 and will commemorate its 70th anniversary, making it the oldest little league organization in Virginia. The festivities begin with a parade starting at 8:30 a.m. from

The Falls Church Rotary Club has scheduled its familyfriendly Walk for Peace and Peace Expo awareness and fundraising event at Falls Church High School (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church) on Saturday, March 24 from 9 – 11 a.m. Community organizations promoting peace through their labor will showcase their work at the start of the event and offer ideas for participation. Of note will be inspirational speakers and a 2.2-mile walk through a scenic area nearby. Registration is a $25 donation at FallsChurchRotary.org.

McLean Art Society Hosts Meeting this Friday Hanna Emrich, an established artist and member of the McLean Art Society, will be presenting a demonstration of special collage techniques at the Friday, March 23 meeting of the Mclean Art Society from 10 a.m. – noon at Dolley Madison Library (1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean). Emrich uses special solutions on magazine pages to lift images and create multicolored special effects which can then be utilized in collage. All guests are welcome. For more information, call 703-356-9519.

Local Teen Seeks Guidance For Upcoming Pageant Shakhrizoda Rajabova of Falls Church was recently selected to participate in the 2018 Miss Jr. Teen pageant on Sunday, April 8.

MARCH 22 - 28, 2018 | PAGE 11 Rajabova will be competing in one of four divisions that will have contestants ages seven through 20. The competition will consist of modeling routines, which includes both casual wear and formal attire. Along with that, Rajabova will display her personality and interviewing skills while discussing with the judge’s panel. If Rajabova were to win the title of Miss Jr. Teen, she would represent her community at the National Competition that will take palce in Orlando, Florida to compete for a $30,000 top prize. Community businesses, organizations and private individuals are encouraged to assist Rajabova in the competition by becoming one of her official sponsors and helping her train for the pageant. Any business, organization or individual interested in sponsoring Rajabova should contact the Miss Jr. Teen pageant coordinator at 1-877-910-4190.

Falls Church High Needs Help With Mulch Sale Falls Church High School (FCHS) seniors will be helping deliver mulch on Saturday, April 7 for the school’s annual sale benefitting the All Night Grad Party and the school is currently in need of help to carryout the sale successfully. The following are the team assignments so parents can sign up to help when their child will be scheduled: 8 – 11 a.m. — JV/ Varsity Boys Soccer, JV/Varsity Girls Soccer and Track & Field; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. — JV/Varsity Baseball, JV Boys Lacrosse, JV/ Varsity Girls Lacrosse and Girls Tennis and 2 – 5 p.m. — JV/ Varsity Softball, Boys Tennis and Varsity Lacrosse. To become a volunteer: Go to signup.com/go/SUjbPQD, enter your email address. Once parents choose their spots,SignUp.com will send an automated confirmation and reminders.

Holy Week and Easter with The Falls Church Episcopal March 25th Palm Sunday

March 30th Good Friday

Blessing of the Palms & Holy Eucharist 10:00 am Historic Church

All are Welcome

March 29th Maundy Thursday

The Lord’s Supper: A Holy Eucharist See www.thefallschurch.org for more information about this special service 7:30 pm Main Sanctuary

115 E. Fairfax Street

Children’s and Family Service 5:30 pm Main Sanctuary Liturgy of Good Friday with Taize´ Meditations 7:30 pm Historic Church

March 31st Holy Saturday

April 1st Easter Sunday

Festive Eucharist with Children’s Chapel 8:00 am & 9:30 am Historic Church 10:00 am Main Sanctuary Easter celebration on the lawn following the 9:30 am & 10:00 am services

A Service for All Who Mourn 9 am Churchyard Chapel

w w w.The Falls Ch ur c h.or g

703.241.0003

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Attendees at the annual Mason District budget town meeting last week got a closer look at the proposed FY19 county budget from County Executive Bryan J. Hill and Chief Financial Officer Joe Mondoro. The nearly hour-long formal presentation was followed by a lively question and answer period that covered a range of issues – schools, roads, bonding capacity, human services, and taxes. As noted in previous columns, the proposed budget fully funds the School Board’s transfer request, and also includes a 2.25 percent Market Rate Adjustment (MRA) for county employee salaries. One young father, whose wife is a teacher, asked how the county plans to keep qualified teachers since teacher salaries are not keeping pace with other jurisdictions. The answer, of course, is two-fold: the schools’ transfer request includes salary increases for teachers, and the Commonwealth of Virginia (General Assembly) needs to include more funding for teachers in the state budget. One woman pointed out that, when she lived in another state, if you maintained and plowed your own roads, a tax break was granted. Her homeowner’s association (HOA) takes care of its own roads, and she wondered why there wasn’t a tax break for the neighborhood. What was explained in the conversation was that most HOAs, including hers, own their roads, making them private, not public. The Virginia Department of Transportation, the state agency that controls and maintains most public roadways in Fairfax County, has neither the authority, nor the responsibility, to maintain private roads. HOAs with private roads also can control parking, and enforce it (towing, for example) without involving VDOT or the county. Owning a private road also means that

potholes, paving, etc., are the HOA responsibility, too. Fairfax County’s advertised tax rate, based on the recommendation of the County Executive, calls for a 2.5-cent increase, from $1.13 per $100 valuation, to $1.155. The eventual adopted tax rate can be less than advertised, but cannot exceed the advertised rate. Nearby jurisdictions that have advertised tax rates include Prince William County, remaining flat at $1.125; Loudoun County, a very slight decrease to $1.105 from $1.125; and the City of Fairfax, $1.085, an increase from the current $1.06. The City of Falls Church has not advertised a proposed rate yet, but City Manager Wyatt Shields proposed a 5.5 cent increase, from $1.33 to $1.385. The advertised rate will be announced on March 26 by the City Council. In Virginia, funding for local services must come from local taxpayers and rate payers. Income taxes are paid to the state and federal governments, but less than 25 cents of every tax dollar sent to Richmond comes back to Fairfax County, so county services rely heavily on the colonial structure of property tax. Counties in Virginia may not create new sources of revenue without authorizing legislation by the General Assembly, and any new source of revenue, like a meals tax, is subject to voter approval. Ensuring efficiencies in county government programs, eliminating duplication, and using scarce revenues wisely to serve all Fairfax County residents provide a basis, and a goal, for budget deliberations and decisions.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Arlington Hosp.....er, sorry, Virginia Hospital Center, is scrambling daily to find space for its patient overflow. The medical nerve center of our county built in 1944 (whose name was delocalized in 2001) has 394 beds, but commonly needs more than 421 per day, said Adrian Stanton, vice president and chief marketing officer of Arlington’s only hospital. Stanton, plus an experienced county planner and a friendly critic representing wary neighbors, spoke March 14 to the Arlington Committee of 100 to update impatient Arlingtonians on when the long-discussed land swap between the county and the hospital will be consummated. But the hospital’s hoped-for expansion won’t occur before a bit of community relations triage. The hospital at N. George Mason Dr. and 16th St. is ranked highly for patient satisfaction and gets an A for safety, its marketer says. It has prestigious partnerships with Georgetown University Medical School and the Mayo Clinic. Its 3,400 employees and 1,200 doctors provide care to 77 percent of Arlingtonians (delivering 83 percent of our babies). It treats 120,000 outpatients yearly. But it has struggled to accommodate 37 percent growth since 2009, Stanton stressed, growth that’s projected to continue. When wards are full, managers sometimes keep patients in the emergency room or intensive care

longer than normal. “If the doctors see there are no beds, they will send patients to other hospitals, and that’s what we don’t want for Arlington.” So the hospital’s strategists eyed aging county-owned structures on 5.8 acres on Edison St. abutting their campus. For decades they housed behavioral health services, but they now stand empty since the providers moved to Sequoia Plaza near Lyon Park. The pending deal is for the hospital to trade 11 acres on Carlin Springs Rd. (its urgent care center) for the Edison St. land. It would then build a pavilion, with parking garage, to house outpatient services – radiology, imaging, physical therapy and the pharmacy, plus physician offices. The cancer, surgical and mental health units would stay put, but two current floors of the main building would be freed for 88 new beds. Sounds healthy. But Tracy Greiner, chair of a task force of three nearby civic associations, said the hospital has “failed to effectively address three years of homeowner feedback.” Neighbors — some who’ve been in Halls Hill for three generations, others who just bought in — worry about traffic, nighttime lights and construction. Neighbors call the planned pavilion “The Wall.” They want larger setbacks surrounding the 90-foot garage, plus more trees, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. “Some feel the county is

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h

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Week of Mar. 12 – 18, 2018 Driving Under the Influence, E Annandale Rd/Hillwood Ave, Mar 14, 06:37 AM, a male 35, of Vienna, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Larceny from Vehicle, 500 blk S Spring St, between 9 PM, Mar 13 and 7 AM, Mar 14, two locked vehicles were entered and small items of value taken. There were no signs of forced entry. When it comes to being a parent, there are no perfect answers — just being there is enough. So don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who will love you just the same.

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Tampering with Auto, 700 blk Poplar Dr, between 8 PM, Mar 13 and 8 AM, Mar 14, an unsecured vehicle was rifled through by an unknown suspect. Residential Burglary, 600 blk S Spring St, Mar 15, resident reported that on Mar 1 between noon and 1:30 PM, unknown suspect(s) entered the unsecured home and took items of value.

Hit and Run, 442 S Washington St (Parking Lot), Mar 15, 5:49 PM, a blue Chevy SUV with MD tags struck another vehicle and left the scene. Investigation continues. Drunk In Public, 132 W Broad St (Dogwood Tavern), Mar 16, 1:25 AM, a male, 28, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Destruction of Property, 513 E. Broad St (Dulin Methodist Preschool), between Mar 15, 11 AM and Mar 16, 11 AM, unknown suspect(s) broke into a shed. Urinating in Public, 244 W Broad St (Parking lot), Mar 18, 12:49 AM, a male, 30, of Arlington, VA, was issued a summons for Urinating in Public. Drunk in Public, E Columbia/N Underwood St, Mar 18, 3:24 AM, a

MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 13 going to rubber-stamp it, so why should we care?” he said. In Arlington “there are no easy sites,” said Nancy Iacomini, who chairs the hospital expansion Site Plan Review Committee. Its Arlingtonian thoroughness involves monthly meetings with transportation and parks staff, and specialists in aging and disabilities. The group should arrive at consensus, with some compromises, soon, she said. “You get to a point where, if you’re still talking about it, you’re not going to change it.” The hospital wants county board approval by June, at which point it will cut a deal to close the gap between the $12 million assessed value of the Edison St. grounds and the $10 million facility on Carlin Springs Rd. Then expect 24-30-months construction time. The county needs land for schools and transport. The neighbors want planning — with surgical precision. *** Affluent Arlington for next year is planning an austerity budget. The proposal released in February contained no tax rate increase but scrapes away funds from at least three projects I’ve profiled. It would reduce Arlington Independent Media funding by 20 percent, or $90.852. It would cut the Lee Highway reimagining process by $500,000 and trim neighborhood colleges by $40,000, or 80 percent. The budget is currently the subject of hearings and heads to a final county board vote April 21. male, 45, of Stone Ridge, VA, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Hit and Run, 706 W Broad St (Hilton Garden Inn – Parking lot), between 7:30 PM, Mar 17 and 11:30 AM, Mar 18, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Hit and Run, Lincoln Ave/N Oak St, Mar 18, 8:30 AM, a vehicle in the intersection was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Striking vehicle described as a silver Honda Odyssey. Drunk in Public, W Broad St/Birch St, March 18, 4:32 PM, a male, 34, of Ft. Belvoir, VA, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Drug/Narcotic Violation, 1400 blk N Tuckahoe St, Mar 18, 9:57 PM, a male, 35, of Charlottesville, VA, was arrested for Possession of Heroin. OTHER ARRESTS Mar 12, 8:40 PM, a male, 32, of Glen Burnie, MD, was arrested by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding Capias from the City of Falls Church. Underlying charge was Driving Under the Influence

PAGE 14 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

NATI O NA L

A Paean to ‘Pi Day 2018’

A convergence of two or more uniquely poignant, visible events in the same time frame can signal that a transformational alteration of the cosmos has taken place. This happened abundantly on “Pi Day” this year, on March 14, 2018, named “Pi Day” because by being 3-14 on the calendar, it corresponds with the first three digits of the infamous “Archimedes constant,” or what you get dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter, also known as the Greek letter, pi. By being an “irrational number” that has no end (i.e. 3.14159 and on and on in perpetuity), ‘pi’ is already associated with concepts of the infinite and cosmic, subject to all kinds of spiritual connotations and interpretations in the process. FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS So, on March 14, 2018, the mere fact it was “Pi Day” was signal in and of itself, signal Number One. But then there were these other things: Signal Number Two — The result of the special election in Pennsylvania was finally determined, with a Democrat scoring an astonishing victory in a special congressional election in the heart of Republican country. Signal Number Three — it was a national high school student walkout day, when tens of thousands of high schoolers from all across the U.S. filed peacefully out of their classrooms at 10 a.m. and gathered for solemn commemorations of the 17 students slain one month earlier in the Valentine’s Day massacre at a school in Parkland, Florida, and to protest the lack of significant legislative action on gun control in the meantime. The juxtaposition of the Democratic upset by Conor Lamb and the mass action of youth from coast to coast was clearly a sign, a signal, a radiant new morning in America, an invitation to unleash a tsunami of optimism that can transform the entire globe. Signal Number Four — As if to seal the deal, the passing beyond the limitations of this earthly realm of the world’s most accomplished cosmologist Stephen Hawking was perhaps the most conclusive omen, ratifying and sanctifying the other three. So, let’s focus on the main point before us: That three million Americans will turn 18 this year, becoming old enough to vote for the first time, and royally pissed at the fakery, hypocrisy and cowardice of today’s Republican majority establishment. When there are images in your head of your cherished high school friends having their brains blown out and splattered on a wall before your very eyes, whether you were an eyewitness or can visualize it through powers of empathy, you don’t have a lot of patience for the mumbling dissembling of pasty old white men pleading to defend their inaction and continued support for the NRA. That, plus the energy of a revived women’s sensibility beginning with the marches of millions following the regrettable inauguration 14 months ago and gaining steam with the #metoo and #timesup movements, and we have a veritable revolution of society’s systemic disenfranchised. What has arisen out of the dark side is an almost perfect archetype of the white male supremacist pig in America’s current president Trump. He has internalized the attributes of pure evil, a grotesque kraken-like figure whose demeanor and behavior embody in almost mythic proportions an overlord who objectifies, terrorizes and subjugates his subjects, women, children and slaves. His insatiable appetite for a certain type of much younger woman takes the allegorical form of a pornographic cannibalism, a devouring, and he is cruel and indifferent to children, the elderly and all over whom he claims, by being a white male, dominion. This foul vision has stirred in his would-be subjected people a primordial urging of fear, anger and resolve to resist and overcome that has not been called forth from the free and sovereign people of the United States since its revolution to cast off tyranny and establish the republic it its beginning. It is a visceral reaction arising out of the depths of a free and freedom-loving people. This is the spirit loose in the land today, the spirit now endorsed and enhanced by the cosmic convergences on “Pi Day 2018.” It will carry us through to vanquish the enemy and set forth our new Golden Age.  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Nicholas F. Benton

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

What Holds America Together

Last week I went to Houston to see the rodeo. That rodeo is not like other rodeos. It’s gigantic. It goes for 20 days. There can be up to 185,000 people on the grounds in a single day and they are of all human types — rural ranchers, Latino families, African immigrants, drunken suburban housewives out for a night on the town. When you are lost in that sea of varied humanity, you think: What on earth holds this nation together? The answer can be only this: Despite our differences, we devote our lives to the same experiment, the American experiment to draw people from around the world and to create the best society ever, to serve as a model for all humankind. Unity can come only from a common dedication to this experiment. The American consciousness can be formed only by the lab reports we give one another NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE about that experiment — the jeremiads, speeches, songs and conversations that describe what the experiment is for, where it has failed and how it should proceed now. One of my favorites of these lab reports is Walt Whitman’s essay “Democratic Vistas,” published in 1871. The purpose of democracy, Whitman wrote, is not wealth, or even equality; it is the full flowering of individuals. By dispersing responsibility to all adults, democracy “supplies a training school for making first class men.” It is “life’s gymnasium.” It forges “freedom’s athletes” — strong and equal women, courageous men, deep-souled people capable of governing themselves. Whitman had hoped that the end of the Civil War and Lincoln’s sacrificial death would bring the nation together. But instead there was corruption, division, demoralization and inequality. For Whitman, America’s great foe was feudalism, the caste structure of Europe that Americans had rebelled against, but that always threatened to grow back: “Of all dangers to a nation, as things exist in our day, there can be no greater one than having certain portions of the people set off from the rest by a line drawn — they not privileged as others, but degraded, humiliated, made of no account.” Whitman feared economic and social feudalism, but above all he detested cultural and moral feudalism. He believed that writers, artists, musicians, poets and preachers were the real legislators of mankind, and in America they were detached from the nittygritty American experience. They still looked back to Europe — to the parlor, the perfumed courtier and the spirit of gentility — for their models of character, manners and education. They looked down on

David Brooks

America’s democratic mass. That left a spiritual vacuum, he believed. Americans had no way to see how their daily exertions contributed to a common spiritual cause. They saw no way to achieve individual salvation through community effort. America has created a brilliant political constitution, Whitman wrote. It has amassed untold wealth. But it has not created a democratic culture that captures, celebrates and ennobles the way average Americans live day to day. “The problem of humanity all over the civilized world is social and religious, and is to be finally met and treated by literature.” When there is no common sense of mystical purpose, you end up with alienation, division, distrust, “universal ennui,” a loss of faith in the American project. “Never was there, perhaps, more hollowness at heart than at present, and here in the United States,” he observed. Whitman was not, however, pessimistic. He had worked as a nurse during the Civil War, watching men recover and die, and the experience had given him illimitable faith in the goodness of average citizens. Average American soldiers showed more fortitude, religious devotion and grandeur than all the storybook heroes, he wrote. They died not for glory, nor even to repel invasion, but out of gratitude to have been included in the American experiment. They died “for an emblem, a mere abstraction — for the life, the safety of the flag.” Whitman spent his life trying to spiritualize democratic life and reshape the American imagination, to help working people see the epic heroism all around them that unites the American spirit. He didn’t mind a little healthy rudeness, what we would call the politically incorrect. He thought that the cause of democracy is sometimes aided not by “the best men only, but sometimes more by those that provoke it — by the combats they arouse.” And above all, he pointed out that the American experiment is young. It is just getting started. “Thus we presume to write, as it were, upon things that exist not, and travel by maps yet unmade, and a blank. But the throes of birth are upon us.” True democracy is still in the future. So much of what he wrote rings true today: the need to see democratic life as an exhilarating adventure, the terrible damage done when you tell groups that they are of no account, the need for a unifying American mythos, the power of culture to provide that mythos and, above all, the reminder that this is still early days. We’re still a young country. The times may be discouraging, but the full strength of American democracy is still waiting to be born.

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MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 15

F� � � � C � � � � �

B�� N�� N�� The Local Market Closes in Falls Church The Local Market has shuttered its doors at 246 W. Broad Street on Sunday, March 18. The shop, which specialized in local produce, and locally sourced meats and packaged goods, was founded by Tom and Laura Coates in 2011 and purchased by local residents Patrick Fleming, Mary Elizabeth Fleming, and Tamara Powell in July of 2015. Since its purchase by the Flemings and Powell, The Local Market had become an active supporter of the Falls Church City Schools and nonprofit community while also supporting City and local events and promoting the healthy eating and lifestyle options.

City of F.C. Wellness Fair Set for May 3 The City of Falls Church Human Resources department is inviting local businesses to participate in its Wellness Fair for City staff and their families. The goal of the fair is to educate staff about their benefits and engage them with fun, interactive resources that inspire them to foster their total wellness: physical, financial, emotional, and more. The event will take place Thursday, May 3 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Falls Church Community Center Gym, 223 Little Falls Street. Businesses interested in participating are to contact Meaghan DeCelle in Human Resources at mdecelle@fallschurchva.gov. Space is limited, so participation will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

NYT Best Selling Author Presenting at Congressional School Congressional School is hosting an author presentation, “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed” by educator, journalist and New York Times best-selling author Jessica Lahey, on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. Congressional School serves more than 320 students, infant through Grade 8, and 2,000 campers annually through its academic and summer programs on its 40 acre campus in Falls Church. The school encourages students to explore, embrace challenges, and grow through its innovative academic program. The event, hosted in partnership with Mothers of North Arlington, will take place at the Congressional School, 3229 Sleepy Hollow Road in Falls Church. For more information or to register, visit www.congressionalschool.org/ lahey.

F.C.’s Markon Solutions Earns Award for HQ Expansion Falls Church-based Markon Solutions has been awarded WELL Certification at the silver level for its headquarters expansion project by the International WELL Building Institute. This is the first project in Virginia to achieve this certification. The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL Building Standard, which is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the built environment. The project includes 1,905 square feet of office space, storage, a conference room, and kitchenette. Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. Markon’s headquarters expansion earned the distinction based on seven categories of building performance — Air, Water, Light, Nourishment, Fitness, Comfort and Mind — and achieved a Silver level rating. Founded in 2007, Markon Solutions is a nationally recognized consulting firm with employees across the US and overseas in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa supporting commercial clients, as well as intelligence, defense, and civil agencies. Markon specializes in facilities support, financial management, acquisition management, security consulting, and training services. For more information, visit www.markonsolutions.com.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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Women’s History Walk Makes Strides in 2nd Year

THE SECOND ANNUAL Falls Church Women’s History Walk took place Sunday afternoon as hundreds of locals turned out to enlighten themselves on the historic contributions of the City’s female residents throughout its nearly 70 year history. Posthumous standouts such as City luminary Mary Riley Styles and public servant Cathy Kaye as well as current women making history including Midge Wang, Carol Luten, Mary Gavin and many others were all recognized for the role they’ve played in Falls Church’s evolution. (P��: J. M�� W��)

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MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 17

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STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS turned up in droves to help with The Langley School’s first-ever Day of Giving on March 17. All those on-site packed 75,000 meals to help feed those struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The Day of Giving was the final event in the school’s inaugural Week of Giving that took place from March 12 – 16. (Photo: Sharon Vipperman)

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Keenan Stands Strong Once More, Moves Onto Nationals At a statewide Speech tournament Saturday in Palmyra, Virginia George Mason High School junior Grace Keenan placed second in Original Oratory and third in Dramatic Interpretation. The awards qualify her to compete at the National Speech & Debate Association’s 2018 tournament this June in Florida. She’s the first Mason student to qualify for this annual tournament, the largest of its kind in the U.S.

Mason High Boys Soccer Claims Top Prize in Tourney George Mason High School boys soccer traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee last week to play in the Smoky Mountain Cup, one of the premier high school soccer tournaments in the nation. Mason won their division against fierce competition. The first game was a 3-3 draw. The Mustangs then won their second game 1-0, and in their final match, Mason played reigning Tennessee A-AAA State Champions Greeneville High School to earn a 4-2 win. The team extends its gratitude to ERVA Stone & Design for their corporate sponsorship, and to the Falls Church community for participat-

ing in the team’s winter youth soccer fundraisers for this trip. Mason hits the road to play at Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond on Friday

Henderson Choir Earns Top Marks in District Assessment Last Friday, the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Chamber Choir performed prepared pieces and did a group sight-singing exercise for adjudication at District X Assessment at Sandburg Middle School. The group received straight superior ratings from all four judges, which is the highest possible score they could earn.

Spanish Language Award Winners Announced At Wednesday’s International Dinner, the Falls Church Education Foundation announced the 2018 Peter Raudenbush Spanish Language Award winners. Raudenbush supports and encourages continuing study of the Spanish language and emphasizes its importance through these scholarships. Five awards of $250 scholarships went to Eva Williams – 8th grade, Evan Lankford – 9th grade, Sofia Heartley – 10th grade, Serena Otto – 11th grade

and Hannah Rollins – 12th grade. The $400 grand prize award winner is Sophie Matton, a senior. George Mason High School received more applications for the awards than ever before.

McLean & Marshall Students Win at DECA Competition A total of 303 students from 17 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), including a handful from local FCPS high schools, were recognized at the Virginia DECA State Leadership Conference held during the weekend of March 2-4 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Local FCPS students placed first in 3 events, with 228 total county students in 27 categories earning the right to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference on April 21-24 in Atlanta. The top prize winning students are: Maya Casey and Christopher Walton for Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making – Marshall High School. Philena Sun for Entrepreneurship Series – McLean High School. Evan Bremser and Mason Davis for Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making – McLean High School.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS

(1644 N McKinley Rd., Arlington). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-228-5260.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Wobbly Walkers. Singing, dancing, clapping to nursery rhymes and simple stories will introduce young children to the joys of language and literature. We encourage full and active participation of the accompanying adults.No registration required. Attendance is first-come, first-served until seating capacity is reached. Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 S 18th St., Falls Church). 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. 703-228-5715.

Farmer’s Market. The awardwinning market returns every Saturday to the City Hall parking lot, filled with fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, chocolates, gifts, music, and so much more! Note: January – March, the Farmers Market operates on winter hours, 9am – noon. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – noon.

Stop in for Stories. This fun and interactive program combines activities such as read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards and introduces children to listening skills, picture books, the library, and the joy of reading. No registration required. Attendance is first-come, firstserved until seating capacity is reached. Westover Branch Library

Pinwheel Garden Planting. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the City of Falls Church is working to raise awareness about the safety and well-being of children. A pinwheel garden will be planted at the entrance of Cherry Hill Park followed by a proclamation at the City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.. Falls

the

MONDAY, MARCH 26

Church). Members of the community are invited to both events and encouraged to wear blue, the official color of child abuse and neglect prevention. The pinwheel is the symbol of child abuse prevention and reflects childhood hope, health and happiness. Pinwheel gardens are planted by organizations, schools, and businesses in communities throughout the nation during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. ESL Conversation Group. A general conversation group (for adults) learning English as their second language. Meets every Monday at regularly scheduled time. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 Great Books Discussion. A “Great Books” discussion concentrating

on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting at 7 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday most months.This month’s book is “Beowulf.” Open to all and no registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 9 p.m. For more information, call 703-2485034 or e-mail Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 Selling Your Home. Learn how to make your house stand out from the others on the market, including techniques for how to negotiate and get the best price for your home while minimizing the hassle associated with selling your home. Free program led by Bruce McBarnette, a realtor with Keller Williams, Dulles. Registration required. To reserve a spot, please stop by the Reference Desk or call 703-248-5035 (TTY 711) Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5035.

THEATER&ARTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 “Translations.” It is 1833, and change is coming to rural County Donegal: While a hodgepodge group gather at an Irish-language hedge school to study classics of Greek and Latin literature, British army engineers arrive to map the country, draw new borders, and translate local place names into the King’s English. Languages and histories collide, kindling romance and inciting violence. A modern classic from an Irish master, directed by Studio’s Belfast-born Associate Artistic Director, “Translations” reminds us how personal the political can be. Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.). $20. 8 p.m. studiotheatre.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY SATURDAY, MARCH 242 “Harvey.” The 1944 Pulitzer Prizewinning comedy by Mary Chase, features a principal character who is ever present but never apparent. “Harvey” is a whimsical “forget-all-your-worries” flight of fancy, principally powered by the endearing eccentricities of Elwood P. Dowd, a middle-aged

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

bachelor who, in his own words, wrestled with reality all his life but “finally won out over it.” Elwood is the only member of the cast (or audience for that matter), who can see and converse with Harvey, an invisible six-foot threeinch mythical rabbit. The Players first brought Harvey to the Grange 30 years ago, and there are those local citizens who swear, despite the rabbit’s “disappearance” after the last show of the 1986 run, that he never left. After all, he has the power to stop a clock so that no time passes. Grange Theatre (9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls) $20. 8 p.m. mcleanplayers.org.

“410[Gone]” The Chinese Goddess of Mercy and the Monkey King think they control the Land of the Dead until their newest arrival, a Chinese-American boy, defies the system that they currently have set in place. Can an arcade dance game be the only thing that stands between the boy and his transmigration? Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s dark and dazzling play about the afterlife explores identity, love and what it takes to forge a new path. Atlas Performing Arts Center(1333 H St., Washington, D.C.). $30. 8 p.m. rorschachtheathre.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25 ”The Snow Queen.” This classic tale of bravery and friendship follows the journey of young Gerda as she attempts to rescue her best friend Kai from the clutches of the Snow Queen. With the help of some unique friends and a little magic Gerda is determined to break the Snow Queen’s spell and melt the ice that has taken hold of Kai’s heart before he is lost to her forever. Creative Cauldron (410 S Maple Ave., Falls Church). $18. 2 p.m. creativecauldron.org.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, MARCH 22 Neil Hilborn “The Future Tour” Many Rooms. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $16 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. The Second City: Look Both Ways Before Talking (Comedy shows all weekend; visit wolftrap.org

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for more information). Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27 – $32. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Runnin’ Down a Dream: Celebrating the Music of Tom Petty. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Brad Rhodes. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 David Davol. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Happy Hour: Shartel & Hume Duo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-241-9504. Jammin’ Java presents Phil Wickham at McLean Bible Church. McLean Bible Church (8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna) $15 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Back To The ‘90s: Right Handed Lefties (The Cranberries) + Evolution (311) + Stacked Actors (Foo Fighters) + Sex Type Thing (Stone Temple Pilots). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 703-255-1566. Young Relics. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. Something Shiny. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24 Twisted Mister. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. 2 From the Heart. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Sam Burchfield + Justin Trawick. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 7 p.m. 703255-1566. An Evening with Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m.

DIXIELAND DIRECT will be at JV’S Restaurant in Falls Church this Sunday. (Photo: BandMix.com)

703-549-7500. Jenny Poppen & Moonshine Society. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. The Days. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Memphis Gold All Star Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504. Heterodyne, Joy on Fire. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 26

Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Mike + The Mechanics. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Sol Roots Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Katastro + allthebestkids. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 10 p.m. 703255-1566.

Pierce Pettis with Jennifer Ferguson Smith. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

James McMurtry & John Moreland. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

An Intimate Evening with Langhorne Slim with Skyway Man, “The Lost at Last Tour.” The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Wolf Blues Jam Weekly Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Frances Luke Accord with Eli Pafumi. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

Open Mic with the Bob Hume and Martha Capone Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Arlington). 8 p.m. 703-522-8340.

Dixieland Direct. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-241-9504. The Conrads. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. The Teskey Brothers Braddock Station Garrison. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

An Evening with EmiSunshine & The Rain. Jammin’ Java (227

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

PAGE 20 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

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Public Notice ABC LICENSE DON POLLO LLC, Trading as: Asadero Bucaros, 7810 Lee Hwy, Suite G, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia 220427712. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On Premises. license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Barry David Solarz, 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 two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 200.552.3200.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinance referenced below was given ﬁrst reading by City Council on November 13, 2017; second reading and public hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard. (TO17-09) AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, BY REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 0.90 ACRES OF LAND AT 131 EAST BROAD STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBER 53-104-050) FROM T-1, TRANSITIONAL DISTRICT TO B-2, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ON APPLICATION BY BROAD AND WASHINGTON, LLC. The resolutions referenced below were heard by City Council on November 13, 2017; and public hearings are scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TR17-17) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 2.68 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 100 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET, AND 127 AND 131 EAST BROAD STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 53-104-051, 53-104-036 AND 53-104-050) FROM “BUSINESS” AND “TRANSITIONAL” TO “MIXED USE” ON THE CITY’S FUTURE LAND USE PLAN MAP, ON APPLICATION BY BROAD AND WASHINGTON, LLC. (TR17-18) RESOLUTION TO GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND TO INCREASE THE BUILDING HEIGHT WITH A BONUS OF FIFTEEN (15) FEET TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF NINETY (90) FEET FOR A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON APPROXIMATELY 2.68 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 100 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET, AND 127 AND 131 EAST BROAD STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 53-104-051, 53-104036, AND 53-104-050), ON APPLICATION BY BROAD AND WASHINGTON, LLC. All public hearings will be held in the Falls Church Community Center, Senior Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church, Virginia. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s oﬃce at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls

Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH CITY CLERK

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED BOND FINANCING BY THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Falls Church, Virginia (the “City”) will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 7:30 o’clock p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City in the estimated maximum amount of $27,750,000, in one or more series at one time or from time to time, to finance the costs, in whole or in part, of various capital improvement projects of the City. The City expects that more than ten percent of the total bond proceeds may be used to finance all or a portion of the costs of each of the following projects: (a) public safety renovations to public buildings, including renovations and expansion of City Hall and related parking improvements and (b) construction, expansion, reconstruction, equipping and/or reequipping, in whole or in part, of a new or improved City high school. A portion of the bond proceeds is also expected to finance the costs, in whole or in part, of certain other capital improvement projects, including without limitation, vehicle and voting equipment acquisition and improvements or upgrades to and/or construction, renovation, expansion or replacement of a public safety firearms range, a library (including an archive/heritage center), an elementary school, parks, roads, sewers and stormwater infrastructure. All public hearings will be held in the Falls Church Community Center, Senior Center, 223 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, Virginia. Copies of legislation may be obtained from the City Clerk’s office (703-248-5014) or at cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

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We are pledged to the letter andspirit 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.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

I 14

R N 15

11 17

18 20

32 34 39

25 30 33

53 55

57 60

Across

1. What one can be forgiven for thinking the spelling of 67-Across is given the descriptions offered by 13-, 29-, 49- and 60-Across 2. Diana or Bob 6. Direct-selling company since 1959 11. Against 12. Hitchcock's "The 39 ____" 13. Bad description of the first letter of 67-Across 18. Words repeated before "like a morning star" in "Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me!" 19. First planet to be discovered with the aid of a telescope 20. Schlep 21. They're billed as the "tiny, tangy, crunchy candy" 22. Alan with 34 Emmy nominations (and six wins) 25. One corner of a Monopoly board 28. "God Save the ____!" (Russia anthem from 1833-1917) 29. Bad description of the second letter of 67-Across 31. Slugger nicknamed "Slammin' Sammy" 32. In 1997, she died five days before Mother Teresa did 33. ____-mo 34. Gadot of "Wonder Woman" 36. Audrey Hopburn or Honey Boo Brew, e.g. 38. Mel who returns as a ghost in "Field of Dreams" 41. Hair removal stuff 45. Exam for a future suturer 49. Bad description of the third letter of 67-Across 51. Wild pig

STRANGE BREW 1. What one can be forgiven for thinking the spelling of 67-Across is given the descriptions offered by 13-, 29-, 49- and 60-Across

52. Schreiber of "Ray Donovan" 53. Remote control button 54. U.S. senator Duckworth 55. Easy gait 57. Freaks out 58. Rivera who was the first Latin American to get a Kennedy Center honor 60. Bad description of the fourth letter of 67-Across 63. Slender woodwinds 64. "Victory is mine!" 65. Abstain from 66. Many a charity run 67. A bird

MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 21 30. Not feel 100% 35. "Kung Fu" actor Philip 37. Build up, as a river's edge 38. Barn ____ 39. ____ chi ch'uan 40. Poet who said "Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood" 42. "Funny because it's ____" (cable network slogan) 43. Jokester 44. Cleaned the dishes? 46. "Santa Claus Is ____ to Town" (1970 TV Christmas special) 47. Car repair chain near the start of telephone book listings 48. Meeting on the DL 50. Message on an Election Day sticker 54. Get some sun 56. El ____, Texas 57. "Get the Party Started" singer 58. Drawback 59. "Veep" airer 60. Frontiersman Carson 61. Wonderment 62. Something confessed in a confessional

DOWN

2. Pep rally cries 3. Her Twitter bio reads "IMAGINE PEACE" 4. Disco ____ of "The Simpsons" 5. Military address 6. Where to find Java 7. Peak sacred to the Shinto goddess Sengen-Sama 8. Young girl in Glasgow 9. Hairy primate 10. Haute couture inits. 13. Easter activities 14. "You ____ Beautiful" (1975 Joe Cocker hit) 15. TV actresses Gilbert and Ramirez 16. How some Pride Parade participants dress 17. Letters before xis 20. Stone Age cutting tool 22. High-level, as a farm team 23. Hallucination producer 24. Like a handyman's projects, for short 26. ____-equipped 27. Writer Tolstoy 29. "If I may ..."

JOHN DEERING

2. Diana or Bob

Last Thursday’s Solution

B A B A S F L E S H F L A S H I C A T T A C K D O O G I E A N T I C S S I E T E O R A L B Y U M A R I D C E C I L T H E M O R O A R A B N I R B S

Sudoku Level:

M A N I A

O C T A D

D D O A M L I S H N I O N T E

A N A H E S H E P A S U A M F F I G R D R E O A C S T O T E L T E R E O I N G A F E M I S P R

F O N S I

T R A I T

D A M E S

A H O L D

M A G M A

T E E M

T E R A M I I S M

By The Mepham Group 4

6. Direct-selling company since 1959 11. Against 12. Hitchcock's "The 39 ____" 13. Bad description of the first letter of 67-Across 18. Words repeated before "like a morning star" in "Shoo, Fly, Don't Bother Me!" 19. First planet to be discovered with the aid of a telescope 20. Schlep

21. They're billed as the "tiny, tangy, crunchy candy" 22. Alan with 34 Emmy nominations (and six wins) 25. One corner of a Monopoly board 28. "God Save the ____!" (Russia anthem from 1833-1917) 29. Bad description of the second letter of 67-Across NICK KNACK

LOOSE PARTS

DAVE BLAZEK

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

3/25/18

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Critter Corner

BACK IN THE DAY

dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas

20 s Yearo Ag

is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . p a s is the Now for all time cows good me to to coaid of the their.

20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. VIII, No. 3 • April 2, 1998

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVIII, No. 4 • March 27, 2008

10 Year s Ago

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

Rivera Submits No-Tax-Hike Budget & Cut in School Request

F.C. Council Puts Ceiling on Tax Rate, Average Tax Bill Will Drop

In keeping with guidelines that he was given by the Falls Church City Council last September, City Manager Hector Rivera unveiled a recommended Fiscal Year 1999 budget Monday night that limited net growth in expenditures to 2 percent, and, as a result, includes no increase in real estate or personal property taxes. While Rivera was able to get to his notax-hike budget with no layoffs of City staff, he did at at no small cost: the schools will receive $359,010 less than requested.

It came as a startling revelation to some on the Falls Church City Council Monday that, despite some prospects of raising the real estate tax rate from $1.01 to $1.04 to balance the coming fiscal year budget this spring, the result will be that homeowners in Falls Church will pay an average of $112 less in taxes. That’s due to the fact that a sharp average drop in residential real estate values will more than offset the three-cent increase in the tax rate.

Documentarian & McLean Resident Don DiLoreto Dies Donald H. DiLoreto, resident of McLean, died Feb. 28 at Fairfax Hospital. Don is survived by his wife Marilyn, his children Don, Jean Marie and Steve, his grandchildren Amanda, Ana, Don and Olivia, and brother Jerry. Don was born on June 28, 1932 in New Britain Connecticut, to Louis and Anna DiLoreto and he was the eldest brother to Jerry, Louis, LuAnn and Robert. Upon graduating from New Britain High School, Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in the Korean War as a forward air controller and communications specialist. Don earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland. He joined the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, where he

enjoyed a long and distinguished career. After retiring from the CIA, Don founded Video Scenes and produced many training and military documentary films. He was most proud of his work on the United States Marine Corp aviators and the Marines who served in China prior to the outbreak of World War II. His love of family was paramount. Not only for his immediate family, but all of those from the outside that he brought into the fold. He passed down his parents’ strong belief in family to his children and grandchildren. As a DiLoreto, he believed that one should be a loving, caring, kind, loyal and dependable person. A memorial for Don’s life will be Saturday, June 2 at 2 p.m. held at Immanuel Presbyterian

7-YEAR-OLD Samantha Young took some time to pen what she liked most about her dog, Lucy. “Lucy is our dog. She is 9 1/2. She can catch treats in her mouth. She loves food, especially if it’s from the table! She loves to snuggle with her sisters and family. We sure love our Lucy girl!” Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com. #BeUnderstood

Church located at 1125 Savile Lane, McLean, VA 22101. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the United Service Organizations (USO) at uso.org

ALGUNOS NIÑOS TIENEN PROBLEMAS PARA ENTENDER LO QUE LEEN. ALGUNOS PADRES TIENEN PROBLEMAS PARA ENTENDER A SUS HIJOS. Las dificultades de aprendizaje y de atención pueden lucir diferentes para los padres que para los niños. Es por eso que existe Understood, un recurso gratuito en línea con respuestas, consejos y herramientas para ayudar a su hijo a salir adelante. Aclare sus dudas en understood.org.

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feedthepig.org Un recurso gratuito presentado por 15 organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

LO CA L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MARCH 22 – 28, 2018 | PAGE 23

Shields, Noonan Cut Deal for COLA Increase in December Continued from Page 1

years, it was still above the 2 percent “guidance” that the City Council instructed the School Board adhere to in December. The differential between the 2 percent “guidance” and 2.8 percent request has developed into the biggest bone of contention as the Council and Schools wrestle with the FY19 budget that is scheduled to culminate in a Council vote on April 23. The differential is $353,182, while the differential between the City and Schools of the 3 percent salary increase is close to $600,000. “In a budget of $91 million, it is exasperating that the fight comes down to a mere $350,000,” one prominent local citizen quipped this week. “Can’t we figure out a way to get beyond that without it becoming such a sticking point?” But for some on the Council, it has become a cause celebre in itself, led by Councilman Phil Duncan, but with at least two others – Letty Hardi and Ross Litkenhous — expressing sympathy with his view. Duncan argued that the 2 percent number was “very carefully determined,” but others disagreed. Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly reminded her colleagues that the December meeting to set the 2 percent “guidance” for the schools, the discussion was much more in flux, some insisting 2 percent was a “starting point” for deliberations, even though the final vote of 5-2 was in favor of locking in

the 2 percent. The School Board, including Chair Lawrence Webb and Vice Chair Phil Reitinger, argued at Monday’s work session that the School Board “is very mindful and responsive to the need to limit its budget this year,” due to the added burden on taxpayers of having to begin paying for the debt on the construction of a new high school and major improvements at City Hall and the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. So, beyond the 3 percent salary increase, the only basis for growth in the School Board budget is a request for a psychologist serving the entire system. The Board has prided itself on finding savings within its existing programs to make improvements. But included in a handout at the work session Monday was a list of unfunded budget requests that came from school principals, teachers and others in the system. The unfunded requests totaled 11.4 full time equivalent positions at a cost of $1,370,354 including International Baccalaureate coordinator positions at Mt. Daniel and Thomas Jefferson Elementary, a special education administrator, a Mt. Daniel STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program teacher, a Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School classroom teacher, deans of students at Henderson and George Mason High School as well as a counselor, social worker, assistant athletic director at Mason, an accountant position and computer technician in the Central Office and the replacement of two out-

A JOINT WORK SESSION on the Fiscal Year 2019 budget bringing together the Falls Church City Council and School Board was held at the Community Center on Monday night. (Photo: News-Press) dated buses. Overall, even with a 2.8 percent increase for the Schools, with the City operations coming in at a 1.7 percent increase, the impact of the two combined would warrant a 3 cent (per $100 of assessed valuation) decrease in the real estate tax rate for FY19. But this is offset by a 6 cent increase for the new high school (4 cents), and City Hall and library improvements (2 cents). The other factor built into the City Manager’s proposed bud-

get is an as-yet undetermined increase in the City’s obligation to WMATA, because of the huge financial demands of the Metrorail system. So far, the “worst case scenario” for the City would require an increase of $1.1 million, or 2.5 cents on the tax rate. All three of these factors – the City/Schools operational costs, the debt service on the three major capital improvement projects and the WMATA hit — will require a 5.5 cent increase in the real

F.C. City Hall Finishing Move Into Temporary Space held at the City Hall. It’s been more than a half dozen years since that mandate came down, but the City is finally complying. The overall cost of the renovation is $16.95 million, and unlike the issuing of bonds of a new high school and library, this one did

not require a public referendum since it is a vital matter of government operations and security. In the Fiscal Year 2019 budget now being mulled by the City Council, it includes $11.3 million. The renovations include the following: A secured one-level parking garage behind City Hall for police, sheriff and courts to allow

for secured prisoner and weapon transport. A central front entrance and receptionist to remove public confusion about how to reach destinations, addressing safety concerns and provide clear paths through the building. A connection between the east and west wings of the building (there was only one corri-

dor), with two new hallways, one secured for staff. Public services will be brought to more convenient locations for the public while separation needed for police, sheriff and court functions will be enhanced. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards will be brought current. Also, sheltering in place locations

and upgraded electrical, sprinklers, plumbing, generator and HVAC will be included. The new City Council/court chambers will be in approximately the same location as before, but will face in the opposite direction. City officials tell the NewsPress they are confident this will not tamper with “feng shui” that has provided for the high quality of government that the City has become accustomed to for the last 60 years.

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estate tax rate, notwithstanding the ongoing negotiations on the WMATA funding issue could lower that component significantly (probably not to be decided before mid-April). So, it is likely that the “first reading” of the overall FY19 budget that the Council will consider at its business meeting this Monday will be for a 5.5 percent real estate tax rate hike, though some on the Council may push to lop off a penny’s worth from the Schools’ component.

PAGE 24 | MARCH 22 – 28, 2018

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