M a rc h 2 8 – A p r i l 3 , 2 0 1 9
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • Vol. X XIX N o. 6
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week Women’s History March in F.C. Sunday
Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, the Women’s History March in Falls Church will kick off from the area of the Tinner Hill Monument to culminate one mile up the road at Cherry Hill Park. See News Briefs, page 9
Aubrey Named F.C. Employee of the Year
Carly Aubrey, Principal Planner in Community Planning and Economic Development Services, has been named the 2018 City of Falls Church Employee of the Year, City Hall announced.
Crunch Time: Deals for New School & Economic Project Near Deadlines Rubble Before the Rise
Mid-May Target Looms to Keep All Parts on Schedule
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
mize delays in the completion of the year-long project, even as the Council also had to vote to spend an extra $27,000 on rent at its temporary 400 N. Washington digs due to delays that will keep it there until close to the end of April, almost three months after the work was supposed to be done.
Turning the corner into spring, in the manner to wit warmer temperatures attest this week, the target date for launching the next critical phase of the major development at the City of Falls Church’s west end is looming large, and includes some nail-biting concern for meeting contract agreements by the time the big day of Wednesday, May 15 arrives. On that date, as school prepares to let out for the summer at George Mason High, a first “guaranteed maximum price” (GMP) contract with the team of Gilbane, Stantec and Quinn-Evans, set to build the new high school, needs to get signed. It is no coincidence that it is also set to be the day that a “site plan exception” agreement, essentially a “go” for the development team selected for the project, is signed by the City with the developers of the 10.3 acre West End Gateway development on the site. All this is needed for the project to remain on schedule, School Superintendent Peter Noonan and F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields told a town hall forum at the Community Center last Sunday in order for the flowering of the full, expected potential of the overall game plan to proceed as hoped. The president of the Falls Church Education Foundation, Cecily Shea, asked how this is going at the forum, saying that persons around town are wondering, even though there was no specific indicators of problems.
Continued on Page 4
Continued on Page 5
See News Briefs, page 9
Cauldron’s Newest is ‘Alice in Wonderland’
“Alice in Wonderland” isn’t just a performance but a showcase for the Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater program which is an intensive eight-week children’s theater course for kids ranging from age 7 – 13. See page 17
Mason Shuts Out Lee, Picks Up 3rd Win
Back in the saddle again, George Mason High School’s boys soccer team defeated Springfield-based Robert E. Lee High School Tuesday. See Sports, page 14
A SCENE FROM A post-apocalyptic Mad Max set, right in downtown Falls Church? No, this is what the 4.3 acre site of the future Founders Row mixed-use project, that will eventually sprout a movie theater complex, restaurants, retail and urban residential living options, looks like for now with the demolition of the old structures at the site. (Photo: News-Press)
City Hall Redevelopment Limps To Finish Line With Headaches
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Index
Editorial................ 6 Letters.................. 6 News & Notes.10–11 Comment...... 12–13 Sports................ 14 Business News.. 16
Calendar...... 18–19 Classified Ads.... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword......... 21 Crime Report..... 22 Critter Corner..... 22
After expressions of smooth sailing and copacetic vibes in voting a unanimous “first reading” preliminary approval for the coming fiscal year City of Falls Church budget, the City Council subsequently ran afoul of some heartburn at its meeting Monday night. With a budget coming
in at just under $100 million with no tax rate increase despite major projects, the Council is now compelled to cough up an extra $350,000 for last minute “change orders” to complete the $13.35 million City Hall renovation. The funds, according to City Manager Wyatt Shields, are technically for work already being done, due to the effort to mini-
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
PAGE 2 | MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
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PAGE 4 | MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM FoxesFALLS Music
Free Extra $350K Needed to Finish F.C. City Hall your inner Continued from Page 1
The City’s public works director Mike Whitfield told the Council that a dispute with the principal contractor for the project, Hitt Construction (not affiliated with recently sentenced felon Todd Hitt, though related) led to a move by the City to retain a different contractor, LV Comm-Sec, to complete work that, according to Whitfield, Hitt has contended was not in its contract to perform. While the City continues to review the contract with its architect and Hitt, the “construction managers at risk,” according to City Attorney Carol McCoskrie, work has commenced to install a necessary public safety infrastructure, including the installation of conduit and junction boxes for lock control, garage doors and security cameras. It was subsequently also found that portions of the necessary conduit for voice and data low voltage systems throughout City Hall were not included in the original plans. In order to avoid delay claims against the City, the work was approved to correct these problems by Shields, administratively, and is
substantially complete, according to a staff report to the Council. The cost of the rectifications was $166,000 for one portion and $70,000 for another, and other change orders on the contract to date totalled $295,230. The Council approved an expenditure of up to $350,000 for this, to include a cushion that Council member Dan Sze staunchly advocated as one experienced in the realities of construction projects. It is expected, according to the staff report, that a budget amendment will be sought in May to use “anticipated underspending in the current operating budget to cover the added expense of this contract modification.” But McCoskie told the Council Monday she hoped the money would be recovered through the negotiating process with Hitt, instead. Council member Ross Litkenhous expressed “the general level of frustration shared by everyone,” and joined Council member Letty Hardi in voting against authorizing the money. Sze, on the other hand, said, “I am not willing to invest emotions on this,” while arguing for extra contingency money.
The current plan is to begin moving into the renovated City Hall around the third week of April, and to have almost everything moved by the end of the month. Hope was expressed that the final vote on the Fiscal Year 2020 budget would be held in the new Council chambers at the new City Hall on April 22. As for that budget, the Council voted 7-0 to approve a preliminary approval with no tax rate changes. Mayor David Tarter hailed the “unprecedented cooperation,” including with the School Board, that went into it, saying, “I am excited about this coming year.” Shields noted that not only is there no change in the tax rates in this budget, despite heavy expenditures in the new high school and renovations of City Hall, the library and more, but that tax rates are not expected to rise going forward, either. The debt service component of this year’s $99.3 million operating budget is rising by 46 percent to $13.4 million to cover the costs of the new construction, and other major parameters include $40.2 million for generalB:9.75” government expenditures, $43.3 T:9.75” million for a transfer to the City schools and $1.8 million S:9.75”
for the City’s annual contribution ing in people and in our future and to WMATA. Added funding for the process has been way more enhanced tax relief and deferral pro- pleasant.” But she added, “We’re not going to have it this good next grams for PRIVATE the elderly and disabled is LESSONS•DEGREED TEACHERS also included. ALL INSTRUMENTS•ALL STYLES•ALL year,” AGES and spoke to the need to do more about affordable housing. Councilman Phil Duncan noted 416 SOUTH WASHINGTON ST., The Council took under advisethat it “compensates theCHURCH employFALLS ees and provides new facilities.” ment the request from the City’s 703-533-7393 Councilman David Snyder said, Voter Registrar David Bjerke to • SALES “This budgetLESSONS does what local gov- increase the salary for a deputy reg• REPAIRS ernment isRENTALS supposed to do,” and istrar from part to full time, given Councilman Sze chimed in, “This the added tasks associated with the is a very good budget,” though significant population growth the LESSONS•DEGREED TEA The ask was he cautioned that “constraints are City has experienced.PRIVATE coming” with an expected slow- for about another $40,000 for the position in an office that depends down in the wider economy. Council member Hardi echoed on a heavy contribution of volthat concern, saying, “I am happy unteer help by members of the with where we are. We’re invest- Electoral Board to function.
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Deadlines for City’s West End Projects Approaching Quickly
Continued from Page 1
The problem with any significant delay beyond May 15 would mean that the occupancy of the new high school might not be ready by December 2021, and given how school years work, the delay would push back the date of occupancy by a full six months to June 2022. That would, in turn, throw the economic development effort off kilter, which will not be able to commence until the old (existing) high school is vacated, the buildings demolished and the land cleared. But although there is a lot to be hammered out in the negotiations for the two contracts, Noonan and Shields suggested there are no stumbling blocks at this point which might lead to any delays, though, Shields said of the economic development part, “This is a pretty high level and pretty sophisticated land deal,” and “We are working hard to keep on
track.” Still, some fingers are crossed in town. The F.C. Planning Commission is expected to vote on the proposed site plan exception for the economic development component this Monday, April 1, and the target date for signing the economic development piece with the team of EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency the same May 15 date that the schools’ GMP deal with its construction team is due. Meanwhile, Noonan reported some filling in on the design development of the new school plan following deliberations with the City’s Architectural Advisory Board and Planning Commission, affirming at the outset that the entire site will be Americans With Disabilities Act accessible. The tree canopy on the site will exceed what was requested in the original “request for proposals,” there will be bioretention plantings and fields, “one earth” paving in outside areas, “Socrates
benches,” bollards, bike racks, a grove outside the main entrance where donor bricks will be moved from their current location at the existing high school, a “kiss and ride” drop-off area in front of the new school that will be separated by portable bollards from the drive through street in front of the school (to be called “Mustang Alley”), lighting for the new softball and multi-purpose fields (as already exist for the football/soccer and baseball fields), “dark sky” lighting, and different colored brick and metal panel exteriors with clear and blue glass. Noonan cited a meeting with the high school athletic boosters and baseball parents last week that addressed needs to spruce up the baseball field by fixing some drainage issues in one of the dugouts and adding upgrades to the press box and snack bar, and even add more restrooms, to the facility that serves both the football/soccer and baseball fields.
MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 5
FALLS CHURCH SCHOOLS Superintendent Peter Noonan (right) updated a Sunday town hall forum on latest design developments for the new George Mason High School. (P����: N���-P����) Concerning the proximity of the planned new softball field to the main high school building, Noonan said he has a standing offer of $100 for any softball player who can hit the ball so far that it breaks glass in the building. A final submission of design drawings are due April 5, and the School Board is expected to sign off on the plan May 6 before the contracts are signed May 15. If this schedule holds, the
school construction is due to be sufficiently completed for moving in to begin by December 2020, and open to students upon their return from winter break by January 2021. The project will be finally completed by August 2021. On this timetable, the demolition of the existing high school should commence by February 2021 to permit construction of the 10.3 acre economic development component to begin.
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PAGE 6 | MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
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WWW.FCNP.COM The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2019 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.
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E D I TO R I A L
March for Women Sunday
The last 15 years has seen a consistent commitment of leaders in the City of Falls Church not only to fairness, equity and non-discrimination in all public matters, but to the welcomed eradication of symbols of the slavery and Confederacy’s treasonous assault against the modern world’s first and most enduring Constitutional democracy. At the F.C. City Council meeting last Monday, no less than six deftly-worded proclamations underscoring the City’s commitment to equality and protection for the vulnerable and marginalized were presented. They declared Child Abuse Prevention Month (along with a very poignant pinwheel planting ceremony before the meeting on the Park Avenue edge of Cherry Hill Park, still very visible there), Fair Housing Month, Community Development Month (in support of communityserving non-profits), Equal Pay for Women Day, Local Government Education Week and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. All came with thoughtful language identifying the issues and concerns they are designed to speak to, and we note the Local Government Education Week for its worthy focus on the way in which local government functions to directly benefit the lives of citizens in ways that, even with the bigger numbers, state and federal governments can’t. For example, in acknowledging Fair Housing Month Monday, the Falls Church Council’s Letty Hardi was able to speak to the Council’s wish to include “sexual orientation” among the criteria protected in the spirit of fair housing by the City, even though the so-called Dillon Rule prohibits the City from officially adding that to lists prohibiting discrimination. The Dillon Rule is that antiquated remnant of the old Byrd Machine in Virginia that prohibits local entities from passing laws that are not specifically authorized by state law. It is one more reason why the push must continue to overthrow the current Republican majority in Richmond in state legislative elections later this year. In the wake of the Charlottesville white supremacist riot and the troubling rise of hate groups and assaults across the U.S. in the last two years, it is vital that jurisdictions in the state are able to stand strong against discrimination and, oh by the way, to restrain unreasonable gun use as well. In this spirit, we commend the Women’s History March set for this Sunday in downtown Falls Church. In the Equal Pay Day proclamation last Monday, the Council statement noted that the pay gap between men and women still exists in the land, with women earning on average 80 percent of what men earn and that college educated women working full time earn more than half a million less than their male peers over a lifetime. It is the American Association of University Women that is bringing greater public attention to this matter. Here, the F.C. chapter is holding an annual book sale at the Community Center on the weekend of April 12 and 13. We urge everybody to march Sunday and buy good books April 12 and 13.
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Please Get Facts Straight On City of F.C. Tax Rates Editor, Your paper promotes the virtues of Falls Church City, which is fine, but please stop making false statements about the taxes here. In your March 14 edition, you say on page 5 that our $1.355 tax rate is “par for the course in the region” and then compares it to higher commercial tax rates in Fairfax County. On page 6, you say
that not raising the Falls Church tax rate for the next fiscal year means “no new costs for City taxpayers to bear.” Both statements are wrong. Your comparison of the Falls Church residential property tax rate to a commercial property tax rate is meaningless. Here are the neighboring residential tax rates for the current year, all significantly below the Falls Church rate: Arlington
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County - $1.006; Fairfax County - $1.15; Alexandria City - $1.13; Loudoun County - $1.085. Because the high Falls Church tax rate is applied to the high property values here, two independent analyses of Virginia-wide taxes call tax payments in Falls Church the “highest in the state” and “one of the highest median property taxes in the United States.” (www.investopedia.com; www.tax-rates.org). Further, your statement that freezing the tax rate for next year equates to no new taxes ignores your report in the same edition that assessment values will increase 3.4 percent, which means
everyone will in fact pay, on average, 3.4 percent more in taxes for the upcoming year compared to the current year. People may have differing opinions on the value residents receive for their taxes, but please get the facts right. Brian Gish Falls Church
[ LETTERS ] Email: letters@fcnp.com Mail: Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� Justice is Measured By Doing Right By the Community B� T��� S�����
A prosecutor is no ordinary lawyer. As Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson once said, a good prosecutor is one “who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.” It is with these qualities and virtues that I have sought to lead my office as your Commonwealth’s Attorney for the past seven years and I ask for your vote in the Democratic primary on June 11 for another term. The Commonwealth’s Attorney is the prosecutor for all crimes charged in the courts of Arlington and the City of Falls Church, from traffic infractions to murder. My team of 17 lawyers handles hundreds of felonies and misdemeanors each year. Ensuring public safety, protecting the rights of victims and working to get a just result in every case are our priorities. This is a serious job for a serious-minded person. Experience is the touchstone for leading this office. In 31 years as a prosecutor, I’ve had more than 100 jury trials and more than 1,000 bench trials. I have never had a conviction overturned on appeal and there has never been a wrongful conviction during my tenure as Commonwealth’s Attorney. I have tried every type of case that can come before our courts – murders, rapes, robberies, gang violence, crimes involving child victims, drunk driving, and
domestic violence. I understand and respect what a Commonwealth’s Attorney has the power to do and I respect the limitations on this office set by our partners in the legislative and judicial branches.
“Our job is not about prosecuting crime, it is about the pursuit of justice.” It is because of my leadership that we are in the seventh year of a robust drug court that offers a meaningful alternative to incarceration. Our drug court enhances public safety by providing an integrated system of treatment and judicial supervision with a goal of reducing recidivism — and it’s working. This innovation, as well as our bond diversion, magistrate diversion and other initiatives, demonstrate my commitment to meaningful criminal justice reform. The combined strategy of smart policing and smart prosecution has contributed to a consistent decline in crime rates since 2011. I am happy to report that at the start of 2019, the jail population in the Arlington County Detention Facility — which also serves the City — was the lowest it has been in more than five years. In the past two years, not
one juvenile in Arlington or Falls Church has been tried as an adult and soon there will not be a single juvenile from our jurisdiction serving the equivalent of a penitentiary sentence in a state juvenile facility. I support coordinated community responses across disciplines to best prevent crime and reduce recidivism. In addition to the two programs mentioned above, my office participates in training police officers from Arlington and other departments known as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training. Officers learn how to deal with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, enabling fraught and potentially dangerous situations to be diffused without incident or involvement in the criminal justice system. Additionally, as chair of our community’s Sexual Assault Response Team, I led the creation of a state-of-the-art protocol for addressing sexual assault and intimate partner violence that serves as a model for the Commonwealth. Statewide, I created our prosecutors’ association’s Justice and Professionalism committee where we work on adopting best practices for investigating officer-involved shootings, expanding criminal discovery avoiding wrongful convictions, and more. We take our responsibilities as prosecutors so seriously that, as co-chair of the committee, I invited the head of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to meet with us to discuss how to collaborate with them should there
ever be an instance when a Virginia prosecutor is alerted to a wrongful conviction. Convicting a person for a crime that he or she didn’t commit is one of the worst things that can befall a person in the criminal justice system. Every prosecutor I know works tirelessly to avoid such a miscarriage of justice. Our job is not about prosecuting crime, it is about the pursuit of justice. With my race for re-election underway, we have already knocked on thousands of doors. I’ve been gratified with the response of so many voters in this community who appreciate the work of my office. I hope to continue to bring additional reforms to our processes and policies that reflect the values of this community and I’m proud of my record as a proven, principled, and progressive prosecutor. In keeping with Justice Jackson’s admonition, justice is not measured by the number of convictions. Justice is measured by doing right by the community. My office will continue to make use of alternative sentencing and diversion programs, but our core mission remains unchanged and that is the principled prosecution of criminal offenders and the vigorous protection of victims’ rights. Theo Stamos is the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. She is running for reelection and is seeking the Democratic nomination in a primary this June.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Will all deadlines be met to get F.C.’s West End projects underway on time? • Yes
• No
• Not sure
Visit www.FCNP.com to cast your vote
Last Week’s Question:
Are you excited about the changes underway in the City of Falls Church?
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[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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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
April Events Blooming at The Kensington Falls Church
CAREGIVER CONNECT
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm at The Kensington Falls Church Share time connecting with other family caregivers and discussing common challenges.
MEMORY CAFÉ
Mondays, April 8 & 22, 2019 10:30am-noon Hosted by The Kensington Falls Church at Famille 700A West Broad Street Make connections for you and your loved one during this social experience for adults with memory loss.
TAKE STEPS TO LIVE WELL WITH PARKINSON’S: Parkinson’s Pointers Webinar
Thursday, April 4, 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm at The Kensington Falls Church Doors open at 6:00pm Gain practical information and get questions answered in a positive, live-streamed setting.
SUNDAY BRUNCH OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, April 14, 2019 11:00am-2:00pm at The Kensington Falls Church Celebrate spring! Stop to smell the flowers and enjoy a delicious meal with residents, family and friends.
VA HOSPITAL CENTER MEDICAL BRIGADE BASEBALL HATS FOR HONDURAS COLLECTION Sunday, April 7, 2019 3:00pm-5:00pm at Famille 700A West Broad Street Donate new or gently used baseball hats and join us for a hot dog and some popcorn during this kickoff event.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH For more details and to RSVP, call (703) 844-1078 or email kjanney@kensingtonsl.com
(703) 992-9868 | 700 West Broad Street | Falls Church, VA 22046 www.TheKensingtonFallsChurch.com Kensington Park, another Kensington community located nearby in Kensington, MD
A JOGGER ON THE W&OD trail in Falls Church. (P����: N���-P����)
F.C. Ranked Va.’s Healthiest Community, #3 in Nation The City of Falls Church is still healthy, it’s just not the healthiest. A year after it was named the healthiest community in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, The Little City comes in third in the latest rankings from the online news magazine, behind top-ranked Douglas County, Colorado and runner-up Los Alamos County, New Mexico. Douglas County was runnerup to Falls Church in last year’s rankings. Measuring health and wellness across the United States, the rankings scored close to 3,000 counties based on 81 metrics like smoking rate, cancer prevalence, life expectancy, diabetes prevalence, voter participation rate and park proximity in the 10 categories of infrastructure, community vitality, public safety, environment, food and nutrition, housing, popula-
tion health, equity, education and economy. On a scale of 0 to 100, Falls Church scored 92.8 in population health, 64.1 in equity, 100 in education, 95 in economy, 51.1 in housing, 67.2 in food and nutrition, 63.1 in environment, 96.9 in public safety, 71.9 in community vitality and 86.2 in infrastructure. According to U.S. News, “population health and equity are the most heavily weighted categories, based on the assessments of more than a dozen leading experts on what matters most to a community’s health.” Other area communities ranking in the top 25 of the list include Loudoun County at #5, Howard County, Maryland at #10, Fairfax County at #13, City of Fairfax at #18 and Arlington County at #25. — Jody Fellows
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 9
NEWS BRIEFS Women’s History March in Downtown F.C. Sunday Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, the first Women’s History March in Falls Church will kick off from the area of the Tinner Hill Monument in front of the Target on S. Washington Street, to culminate one mile up the road at Cherry Hill Park. Honored marshals for the march will be long-time City activists and public servants Nikki Graves Henderson, Lindy Hockenberry, Laura Hull and Jane Scully. Falls Church Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly is the principal organizer of the event. There will be 19 “stops” on the parade route to call attention to the contributions of key women in the Little City’s history, beginning with ones for Harriet Brice, Mary White, Harriet Foote Turner, Tanya Gaskins Hardy, Cay Wiant, Nancy Sprague, Fran Richardson, Leah Porzel, Mildred Tinner Leake, Caroline Kerfoot, Mary Ellen Henderson, Louisa Henderson, Eliza Henderson, Edna Frady, Cathy Kaye, Jane Dexter, Betty Blystone, Marty Meserve, Betsy Read, Lola Saunders, Carol DeLong, Sarah Wren, Barbara Cram, Midge Wang, Mattie Gundry, Jessie Thackrey, Viola Hudson, Jackie Bong Wright, Marian Costner Selby, Alixa Naff, Andrew Brown, Mary Riley Styles, Mary “Mollie” Edwards Pultz Riley, Ruby Bolster, Merelyn Kaye, Audrey Kelly, Mary Madeline King and Mildred Pope.
Aubrey Named F.C. Employee of the Year Carly Aubrey, Principal Planner in Community Planning and Economic Development Services, has been named the 2018 City of Falls Church Employee of the Year, City Hall announced this week. The citizen-led Employee Review Board selected Aubrey for her exemplary work taking on project management of the West Falls Church Economic Development Project after a key staff member left the City. “By the strength of Carly’s professional skill and determination, the West Falls Church redevelopment effort was kept on schedule and is poised to positively transform the western end of the City,” said Paul Stoddard, Director of Planning, who nominated Aubrey. Aubrey has worked for the City for four years, and she was the project manager for the West Falls Church project through a critical time: the closing of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to selecting a development partner and Council’s subsequent vote on an Interim Agreement (IA) with the development partner. Aubrey has been personally or jointly responsible for almost every analysis, staff report, and presentation related to the project since taking on the role of project manager. “We are thrilled with the selection of Ms. Aubrey as our 2018 Employee of the Year,” said Deputy City Manager and Director of Human Resources Cindy Mester. “She is the embodiment of our Leadership Guiding Principle that the quality and success of our City is a shared responsibility. Her leadership as a project manager is unparalleled.” The public is invited to join the City at two upcoming 2018 Employee of the Year celebratory events on Monday, April 8. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Cherry Hill Farmhouse followed by a presentation at the City Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center.
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Beyer: ‘Mueller Report Should Be Released Soon’ Speaking before a surprisingly large turnout of over 200 at a town hall at Edison High School in Franconia Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat who represents the 8th District of Virginia that includes the City of Falls Church, said he’s “confident” the full report submitted by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller last week will be made public soon. He cited the earlier 420-0 vote in the House favoring its release to the public, and praised Mueller, whom he said, “I know pretty well,” for being an “honest, careful man.” He noted that while Mueller may have chosen not to include new indictments with the report, 17 persons have been indicted as a result of the probe, and the report clearly “did not exonerate” the president, leaving open the potential for action by the Southern District of New York, the New York Attorney General and others. Beyer reported his new role as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which recently voted unanimously to preserve the mandate for accepting “existing conditions” in U.S. health care law, as the chair of the Climate Change Task Force of the New Democratic Caucus, and as the principal fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Caucus, adding that he’s challenged fellow male members of Congress to take the “Gender Avenger” pledge not to agree to serve on any panel or board of three or more where at least one is not a woman. – Nicholas F. Benton
125 Rowell Ct, Falls Church (703) 241-8807
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Community News & Notes League of Women Host Candidate Forums at Mason
chance to submit questions of their own to the candidates.
On Sunday, April 7, the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Falls Church and George Mason High School LWV Student Unit will host two candidate forums, Virginia Senate District 35 (currently held by Senator Dick Saslaw) and Falls Church/Arlington Commonwealth Attorney (currently held by Theo Stamos). The program will be held at George Mason High School auditorium (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) at 3 p.m. Student members of LWV, who attend Mason, will moderate both forums. The forum is open to the public. Audience members will have a
‘Voices of Spring’ Concert Takes Place in McLean Interested attendees can listen to international star singers from Washington Opera Society in a performance titled “Voices of Spring,” hosted by the McLean Community Village Association at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) The singers will perform Johann Strauss’ “Frühlingsstimmen” and large ensemble selections from Vicenzo Bellini’s “I Puritani,” accompanied by the Washington Opera Society String Quartet. This event is designed to guide
STUDENTS FROM SAINT ANNE’S in Arlington will be making sandwiches for the Bailey’s Community Shelter, with third and fifth graders making them between 3:15 – 4 p.m. today and sixth graders doing their part on April 4 (Photos: Courtesy Saint Anne Catholic School)
everyone through the performance with narration by the Maestro so all can experience the power of opera. Tickets to the event cost $25 for McLeanCVA contributing members and $35 for general tickets. Contributing members will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with the opera company and its maestro in a postperformance reception with light refreshments. For more information and tickets, call 703-300-1751 or go to mcleancva.org/SpringOpera.
F.C. Resident Wins Top Prize At Piano Competition Pianist, composer, teacher and Falls Church resident James Fernando won first prize in the
Young Artists Jazz competition as a part of the 9th West Virginia International Piano Competition and Festival, hosted by the School of Music at West Virginia University. For his performance, Fernando won a cash prize of $1800 and performed with the WVU Jazz Band over the weekend on their main stage at Lyell B. Clay Theatre. Additionally, Fernando was awarded a performance slot at this year’s West Virginia Wine and Jazz Festival.
Temple Rodef Shalom Sponsors Pop Up Shop Temple Rodef Shalom will sponsor a Passover/Judaica Gift Pop-Up Shop on Sunday, March 31 at Temple Beth Torah (4212 Technology Ct., Chantilly). The
shop will be open from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. There will be a variety of Judaica available for purchase including mah jongg items, jewelry, books, assorted gift items, as well as Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Chanukah, Passover and Shabbat items. For more information contact Faith Abzug at faith.abzug@ gmail.com or by calling 319-3299802.
Literacy Council of No. VA Hosts Fundraising Breakfast The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV) on March 29 will be hosting “A Taste of Literacy” event from 7:30 – 9 a.m. at DoubleTree by Hilton McLean Tysons (1960 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean).
NANCY VINCENT (left), the director of the City of Falls Church’s Department of Human Services, stands at the ready to handout pinwheels to City elected officials (from left to right) Letty Hardi, Tom Clinton, Mayor David Tarter, Phil Duncan and City Manager Wyatt Shields. The pinwheels symbolize the start of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. (Photo: News-Press)
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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THE THIRD WEEK OF MARCH marked donations by the Woman’s Club of McLean to three local charities, including the McLean Volunteer Fire Department. Kathryn Mackensen (left), president of the McLean Woman’s Club, presents a donation to Kay Hartgrove, president of the McLean Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo: Courtesy Laura Sheridan/Women’s Club of McLean) “A Taste of Literacy” will enlighten guests about the efforts of LCNV to promote literacy in Northern Virginia and hear accounts of the challenges faced by families and adults who are not able to read, write or speak in English. There is no cost to attend, and a hot breakfast will be served. RSVP at lcnv.org/breakfast. The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (Parade magazine’s “Outstanding Charity for Virginia”) serves 1,500 adult learners annually with its mission to teach the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English so they can access employment and educational opportunities and more fully and equitably participate in the community. LCNV is one of only a few non-profit organizations in all of Northern Virginia that complies with federal education standards as it serves the most beginninglevel adult learner.
Mason Grad Tartt Makes All Region at NVCC After averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Northern Virginia Community College men’s basketball team,
sophomore Robert Tartt, George Mason High School graduate (‘16), was named NJCAA AllRegion 20 Division II honorable mention, which was voted on by the coaches and committee members. Tartt, who played in all 26 games for the Nighthawks, hit the double figure mark 13 times in the second half of the season. He scored a season-high 35 points in the 90-87 overtime victory over CCBC Catonsville in February. The Falls Church native led the Nighthawks in rebounding in eight games and also had six double-doubles this season. Tartt grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds at Anne Arundel (Feb. 9) and also scored 24 points in the win. Tartt is the eighth Nighthawk to pick up an all-region nod since the 2013-14 season.
Bambino Babysitting Makes Its Way to Falls Church Alicia Carmody, a Falls Church resident and mother of three, is bringing a new babysitting app to Falls Church and the surrounding areas. Bambino (bambinositters. com) is a mobile app that modernizes the way parents find, book and pay trusted local sitters.
Through social and local proximity, parents are connected to babysitters right in their own neighborhood who have already been reviewed and recommended by friends and neighbors. Bambino has more than 35,000 registered sitters and over 40,000 parents since its release in June of 2016. Students from George Mason University, Marymount University, George Mason High School, Marshall High School and Yorktown High School have signed up and are ready to babysit. For more information, email alicia.carmody@bambinositters. com or download the app.
‘Color Riot’ Show Debuts At F.C. Arts This Weekend Forty-six artists who created colorful, abstract art will be featured for the opening night of the “Color Riot” exhibition at the Falls Church Arts gallery (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church) on Saturday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. The “Color Riot” show will run through April 28 at the gallery, which is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is free.
MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 11
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A Penny for Your Thoughts
#BeUnderstood
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
It looks like spring finally may be arriving, and more thoughts turn to the environment. At the Board of Supervisors meeting last week, I was pleased to announce the return to two popular programs: Solarize Fairfax County, and LED Lightbulb Exchanges. The Solarize campaign begins on April 16 and ends on June 14. During the campaign, homeowners and businesses can receive a free, no-obligation solar site assessment. Participants who decide to install solar panels can benefit from discounted prices, vetted installers, financing options, a federal tax credit, and Fairfax County’s solar incentives, which include a waiver of the permit application fee and a five-year solar energy equipment tax exemption. For the first time, installing electric vehicle charging stations are included in the program. Fairfax County is partnering with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the nonprofit Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) to offer this opportunity. Three information sessions are planned: Monday, April 22, at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax; Wednesday, May 8, at the South County Government Center in Alexandria; and Thursday, May 30, at the North County Government Center in Reston. All sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. Or, you can log on to www.solarizefairfaxcounty.org to sign up for the free assessment to see if solar is right for you and your property. After last year’s incredibly popular LED Lightbulb Exchanges, the program will be repeated in April and May. In collaboration with the Fairfax County Public Library system, Energy Action Fairfax is giving away one free LED lightbulb per household, and you can receive up to four additional LED bulbs in exchange for four incandescent or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, but only while supplies last. In Mason District, the LED exchange will occur on
Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. until noon, at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. Last year, when I stopped at the library to exchange my lightbulbs, there were 100 people in line, so plan to get there early! You can save up to $75 a year simply by replacing your five most frequently used bulbs with LEDs. At the same Board of Supervisors meeting last week, the Board adopted a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program (C-PACE) that will offer third-party financing for business owners who wish to upgrade their properties with energy efficient systems. The C-PACE concept has been around for several years, but the legal responsibilities of the program had to be clarified before the Board could adopt an ordinance. The C-PACE tool provides incentives for replacing or rehabbing existing HVAC and other building systems, reducing energy usage and emissions. Congratulations to the recruits of the 144th Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy class, who graduated on March 15, and immediately began their duty shifts the following morning. Seventeen recruits became probationary firefighters and EMTs after an intense six months of training at the academy in Chantilly. A couple of days later, the Volunteer Fire School 2023 celebrated graduation from a similar course in the High Bay of the academy. At least two of the volunteers are members of the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Station #10, and are qualified to respond to calls and assist the professional members of the county’s Fire and Rescue Department. Congratulations to all who work to serve our community. 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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Barr Letter is Not Mueller’s Report
Democrats are oh-so-thankful for the caring advice of Republicans like Joe Scarborough whose column headline Monday was “You Lost This One, Democrats. Move On.” Or George Will, or David Brooks. Thanks for nothing. They all jumped aboard the bandwagon, joined by a ton of major media editors and writers, taking Attorney General William Barr at his word — not Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s word, but Barr’s — that the Mueller report found the president not guilty of collusion with the Russians in the 2016 election, and that Trump should not be indicted, even though he was not exonerated by the report. It’s been a sad few days of unquesFALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS tioned vindication of Trump, ignoring the word “not” in “not exonerated,” by his team and a lot of very wishy-washy others. Typical of Trump and his types, the momentary perceived vulnerability was exploited to jump onto an offensive, like that moment when a cat looks the other way so that it can be grabbed, nailed to a garage door and set on fire. Trump’s reaction to the Barr letter about the Mueller report has been to verbally excoriate his critics in the media and Democratic Party, threatening all kinds of horrible retaliation for the crime of calling him into question, and, yes, some high pitched screams could be heard emanating from behind too many of the conciliatory comments, headlines and the like in the last few days. But as always, the facts are quite different from what Trump and his allies contend, just as we’ve grown accustomed to them being for as long as anyone has known him. There are two overriding realities that the Barr letter has not addressed at all, and that only a thorough examination of the full Mueller report might, or begin to. First, Trump is a crook. His contemptible behavior, personality, and penchant for lying (8,000 lies in two years, according to the Washington Post) are all beside the point when it comes to his corrupt and illegal business and personal practices dating back to his Roy Cohn and New York Mafia days of the 1970s, and that includes his working from that period with the Russian Mafia, which flooded Brighton Beach in the early 1970s under the terms of Nixon’s corrupt so-called “detente” with Moscow, and muscled its way into the construction trades, drug, trafficking, blackmail, money laundering and other Mafia enterprises that Trump quickly became associated with. Undoubtedly, evidence of this came out in droves in the course of the Mueller investigation. Mueller is an expert at building airtight legal cases against such criminals, and without a doubt, he handed off tons of the evidence that he’s obtained to the Southern District of New York, from whence prosecutions will come that are outside the ability to Trump to dismiss. These will be in the form of massive RICO (“Racketeer and Influenced and Corrupting Organizations”) indictments that should be able to put Trump behind bars for life. Second, the Russians’ massive attempt to interfere in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election has been confirmed beyond a doubt, including with the expressed purpose of electing Trump and defeating Hillary Clinton. Major arrests of Russian operatives have already been made to underscore this fact. The Russians used social media to flood with their deftly-developed propaganda and disinformation, not to recruit unwitting people to their cause, but simply to sew division and hate, to drag the American electorate into an ugly world of self-loathing and sheer chaos. It has also been well documented that the Russians, and undoubtedly other adversaries of the U.S., continue to do this. These two points are not resolved, in any way, by the Barr letter, and they raise the question of a third point, which if it doesn’t rise to the level of criminal behavior, or collusion, in the opinion of some, still is gravely troubling. That is, why has Trump and his Republican allies done everything in their power to cover up and obfuscate this Russian interference in U.S. elections, such that most of the 17 people indicted or found guilty to date have had to do with lying and covering up the truth? Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
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Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
Arlington’s perennial part in our larger national history was on display last week. I was honored to attend a unique event at the Library of Congress: The first-ever reunion of the “code girls” who did so much to crack enemy communications and help win World War II. The appellation “Code Girls” is the title of the ground-breaking 2017 book by Arlingtonian Liza Mundy. And — as many know now but didn’t for decades — much of the drama of that lifealtering secret operation unfolded at Arlington Hall. My mother, longtime Arlingtonian Cynthia Landry Clark (1922-2010) — was a code girl. As was common, the subject seldom came up in our household, and then only in the context of how my parents met. So my two siblings and I were knocked silly this month when we learned I would join dozens of other offspring (and actual code girls now in their 90s) in the backrooms of the world’s largest library to march in a procession. We would hear testimonials and receive a (long-overdue) certificate honoring those women’s vital unheralded feats. Broadcast live via YouTube, the March 22 ceremony during Women’s History Month was ably coordinated (like an uncertain wartime adventure) by the library’s Veterans History Project. Guests descended from the
heroines carried framed photos of our loved ones. Author Mundy — gratified at such proof of her book’s impact — praised the code girls as the “hidden figures of the Greatest Generation.” She recounted new stories that reached her after release of the book (now in paperback). Most were variations on how the former code girls were so fearful of violating secrecy that there were miscommunications among families. Many men, Mundy said smilingly, had assumed the women worked as secretaries. Human-factor details were shared. The “government girls” recruited to Washington were “unchaperoned for the first time.” All remembered when the D.C. liquor stores closed. Speaking for children of code girls was Bill Nye the Science Guy, the comedian and educator. Nye choked up at the memory of his late mother — who, I judged from her photo, resembled him. His wit returned in recalling his dad’s experience as a prisoner of war. Nye counseled, “If you get a chance to be a P.O.W., don’t do it.” By prearrangement, family members presented library staff with envelopes containing donated letters. The event prompted my sister Martha to dig out our mother’s unpublished memoir. As a college senior and language major in New Orleans, Mom received an Army Signal Corps letter inviting her to study cryptography.
So she took a correspondence course, and by September 1943 was immersed in a “vague job” at Arlington Hall and living in a swampy barracks near Arlington Cemetery. “My job involved learning Japanese so as to translate decoded cables — it was hard, boring, fascinating, and romantic all at once,” she wrote. “I was surrounded by men — my co-workers were Signal Corps inductees…Plenty of blind-date invitations were extended,” said this innocent. “We worked hard — five and a half day weeks, three shifts, but laughed and played a lot. We also drank a lot.” My giddy feelings at the ceremony gave a taste of the way it must have felt, during World War II, to be thrown in with strangers from all over the country for a shared slice of history. That afternoon, we all then returned heartened to present-day life. *** Alarms have sounded over the news that the fiscal 2020 budget for Arlington schools includes zero dollars for the popular Outdoor Lab. Staff and advocates for that rural gem in Fauquier County are calling for a show of support to save the enclave that since 1967 has connected Arlington student field-trippers with true nature. Superintendent Pat Murphy feels pressure to cut $9 million in overall spending. The Arlington Outdoor Education Association posted a website clock counting the seconds before the do-or-die budget hearing April 9.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Mason Boys Get Juices Flowing with 4-0 Win Over Lee by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
Back in the saddle again, George Mason High School’s boys soccer team defeated Springfieldbased Robert E. Lee High School 4-0. Tuesday night’s win was the first time this season that Mason (3-1-1) shut out its opponents — and a higher-classified one at that. But it wasn’t looking optimistic for Mason in the game’s first 25 minutes when the Lancers were making deep runs into Mustang territory. Two golden opportunities went awry for Lee and muted its momentum, allowing Mason to respond with two-goal spurt in a 10 minute window to give them a permanent advantage. “It definitely felt good to have a good performance on both offense and defense,” Mason head coach Frank Spinello said. “It was the little things, like [sophomore midfielder] Declan Quill going back and defending, [senior defender] Miles [Lankford] covering all the ground in the back and making up for the mistakes. That stuff just energizes everybody else and the
SENIOR FORWARD Nick Wells, seen here in a late season game against Strasburg High School last year, has provided some creativity on Mason’s offensive end (Photo: Carol Sly) goals just come when we’re playing like that.” After withstanding Lee’s initial push, Mason scored the first of its goals when a free kick just beyond midfield was lined into the penalty box. The ball deflected off the knee of freshman midfielder Benjamin Atkeson before sophomore forward Smith Kraft
rammed it in with a low header around the 26th minute. With about eight minutes to go in the first half the Mustangs would strike on another free kick. Lee was flagged for a violation toward a Mason defender and the ensuing set piece was a lofted through ball that senior forward Nick Wells caught on his right
foot. Wells’ sent a sharp cross into the box which was fished into an opening by Kraft to convert his second goal of the game. The Mustangs wasted no time putting up points in the second half. Quill fed a ball to Wells along the left side, who created a lane to the net after a nifty move against a Lancer defender.
Wells’ outside the foot shot was thwarted by Lee’s keeper, as was junior forward Zorhan Boston’s follow-up attempt. But junior midfielder Hunter Broxson converted on a third try right after in the 43rd minute to boost Mason to a 3-0 margin. Lee had a chance to cut the lead to two and regain some of its earlier fervor in the 58th minute when a set piece left its forward with an open look at goal. However, it pinged off the post. Three minutes later, Boston fired into the Lancers’ goalkeeper once again, with junior midfielder Corwin Miller cleaning up the rebound for the Mustangs’ final goal. The win was a good sign for Mason. Holding an opponent from a bigger school scoreless and – more so – squeezing the life out of them over the course of the end of the first half and the start of the second half is sign of the team’s potential. Spinello believes the gelling process is taking hold and will only improve as they check off more games on the schedule. Mason will play Loudoun County High School at home on April 4.
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STUDENTS IN BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN’S advanced placement US history class got a handson lesson with the National World War II Museum traveling history exhibit called Operation Footlocker by interacting with authentic artifacts from a WWII footlocker. (P����: M��� C���������)
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Dean of Students, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.
Falls Church City Public Schools announced its Support Staff of the Year and Professional Specialist of the Year nominees last week. All nominees will be recognized at the FCCPS Celebration of Excellence on May 9. A full list of the nominees for both categories are below. 2019 Nominees for Support Staff Employee of the Year are: • Brian Fowler — Maintenance Supervisor, FCCPS • Jennifer Lee — Food Services Manager, Food Service Dept. and Bus Aide, Transportation • Molly Narburgh — Human Resources Specialist, Central Office, Licensure • Noel Obusan — Bus Driver, Transportation Services • Norma Sorto — Special Education Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School 2019 Nominees for Professional Specialist of the Year are: • Sharon Hoffman — School Psychologist, George Mason High School • Mary Manzione — Speech Language Pathologist, Jessie Thackrey Preschool • Carol Seaver — School Counselor, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School • Adam White — Special Education Administrator and
Mason Robotics Team Invited To World Championships Over two days this weekend, the George Mason High School robotics team, Vae Victus, competed against 40 other schools and formed alliances to work to achieve top honors and an invitation to the World competition in Detroit at the end of April. The alliance that propelled Mason to the top was with Chantilly’s team #612 and Oakton’s Pinnacle Academy team Pumatech. The Mason team’s ranking is fifth overall in the Chesapeake District. The weekend also saw the team earn the Innovation in Control Award and recognition for their safety protocols.
Congressional School Wins ‘School of the Future’ Award Patcraft, a leading provider of performance flooring solutions, has recognized Congressional School as a “Schools of the Future!” honoree. The annual program, which is a nationwide competition of K-12 or higher education institutions, has been designed to identify schools that are dedicated to transforming the performance of learning environments. Patcraft donates $1,000 to the recipients in an effort to spot-
light and honor school facility transformations For the contest, Congressional School submitted details of their recent renovation and rebranding project, and how the installation of carpet tile from Patcraft transformed the learning environment inside the 60-year-old “Big School” building, said Chris Pryor, Congressional School’s Assistant Head for Advancement. Congressional School’s renovation project began in 2015 and is intended to keep the school competitive with Northern Virginia’s many other private schools.
TJ Elementary Performs Well at WordMasters The team from Thomas Jefferson Elementary achieved Highest Honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge — a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students. In the second of three meets this year, TJ’s 5th-grade team scored 188 out of 200, finishing eighth in the nation. Competing in the Gold Division, third-grader Kate Walters and fifth grader Claire Weatherly each earned a perfect score of 20. Other TJ students achieving outstanding results were 5th graders: Oliver Hardi, Binyamin Hassan, Lorien Jackson, Alec Mahini, Evija Plummer and Sylvia Witt.
MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 15
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PAGE 16 | MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
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ProBike FC and the Athlete Development Center are co-hosting talk on bicycle crash law with Bruce S. Deming, Esq. on Thursday, March 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. Deming, of TheBikeLawyer.com, has three decades of experience as a lawyer and a cyclist. He will discuss the rights of cyclists, common cycling accidents and how to avoid them, and what to do in the event of a bicycle crash. Light refreshments will be provided. The event will take place at the Athlete Development Center, 102 E. Fairfax Street in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/834486040239829.
Re/Max West End Hosting Free Shredding Event Saturday
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RE/MAX West End is hosting a free shredding event on Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. – noon. Shred-It will be in the parking lot behind the office at 710 W. Broad Street and breakfast will be provided by Kamelia Sacks and Stewart Title. Visit RE/MAX West End’s Facebook Page for more information.
Meet the Artists of F.C. Art’s New Exhibit Falls Church Arts is hosting a meet-the-artist reception for its new exhibit “Color Riot” on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Color Riot is an abstract exhibit that will be shown through April 28. The reception and exhibit are at Falls Church Arts Gallery at the Kensington, 700 W. Broad Street, Falls Church. The event is free and refreshments will be provided. For more information, visit www.fallschurcharts.org.
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Falls Church Distillers is hosting a live-music showcase, An Evening of Three Guitars, on Saturday, March 30 at 8 p.m. The unique format will include three hour-long performances by each of three performers who will perform hip hop, folk rock and flamenco. Falls Church Distillers is located at 442 S. Washington Street in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.fcdistillers.com/events.
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Bikenetic is now offering Click + Collect, a new program that enables customers to shop online at www.bikenetic.com and then pick up the purchased items in store. Bikenetic, a bicycle, bike accessory, and repair shop focused on service and commuter needs, is located at 201 W. Jefferson Street in Falls Church.
Mad Fox on Draft at Nats Park Through End of April Falls Church-based Mad Fox Brewing Company’s Rock Star Irish Red will on draft at the Nationals Park March 28 through the end of April. This year marks the sixth year in a row that Mad Fox beer has been sold during Washington Nationals home games. For more information, visit www.madfoxbrewing.com or www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark. 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.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
ENJOYING A CUP OF TEA during one of the iconic scenes from “Alice in Wonderland” are (clockwise from left to right) Marianne Meade as the Doormouse, Libby Brooke as the March Hare, Madeline Aldana as Alice, and Aashna Kapur as the Mad Hatter. (P����: K���� W����� K� P����������)
Child Actors Go Entirely Bonkers in Cauldron’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ BY ORRIN KONHEIM
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Few children’s literary works are filled with as much whimsy and imagination as Lewis Carroll’s one-of-a-kind “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Originally created by a 19th century British mathematics professor as a way to entertain three restless children on a boat ride, it’s only fitting that the Creative Cauldron uses the play as a springboard to showcase the talents of the participating children in their Learning Program. In this spirit, “Alice in Wonderland” isn’t just a performance but a showcase for the Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater program which is an intensive eight-week children’s theater course for kids ranging
from age 7 – 13. Ellen Selby, who runs the Learning Theater program, adapted and co-directed the play with Creative Cauldron creative director Laura Connors Hull. Borrowing from both of Carroll’s seminal novels “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” Selby and Hull mix things up but retain much of the complexities of the word play and opportunities for imagery that makes Carroll’s work so distinct. Aside from three professional actors – Izzy Smelkinson as the White Rabbit, Will Stevenson as The Queen of Hearts (whose enthusiasm for the catch phrase “off with their head” is contagious), and E. Augustus Knapp as the King of Hearts — the production is made up entirely of
children. “We wanted to push them,” said Selby. At times, the children appeared overwhelmed by the complexity of the material, but no one can accuse Creative Cauldron of letting them coast on easy material. There’s a certain thrill in its own right of seeing children be challenged by difficulty and an even greater thrill when they nail it. In particular, Aashna Kapur and Libby Brooke get the absurdist rapport of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare and are able to deliver the irony with glee. Similarly, Emily Martin as the tragic mock turtle delivers a soliloquy (Carroll’s play on an antiquated dish: Mock Turtle Soup). Each of the soloists brings something to the role that indicates potential.
MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 17
If the legend is to be believed, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (or at least the story’s key outline) was made up on the spot when Carroll (then known as Charles Dodgson before adopting a Latinization of his name as a pen name) was tasked with entertaining his friend’s children. Dodgson was a professor in mathematics, a lover of games and was known among his peers as an inventor of word puzzles and ciphers. His seminal pair of works are therefore littered with double meanings, word plays and literary tropes that spark the reader to reimagine their reality. The character of the March Hare, for example, comes from the old British saying “Mad as a March hare” and the character of the Cheshire cat comes from a common simile of the time “to grin like a Cheshire cat.” The “caucus race” where the characters run around in circles without purpose or destination, is supposed to be satire of the politics of the time as is much of the show. “The most important thing to empower them was ‘how do we give 19th century syllogisms meaning? We have to own it’ I taught them so we looked at things scene by scene,” said Selby. “Our hope is that the kids will enjoy it on one level and the adults will enjoy it on another level and that there will be some room where they’ll meet in the middle. But even if not, the show works on so many levels that you don’t have to be some literary genius to enjoy the upside-down world of Alice in Wonderland,” said musical director and choreography Matt Conner. Conner composed nine songs for the production and co-arranged them with synthesizer. Although the songs are somewhat aurally simple, they do encapsulate a variety of genres with “Beautiful
Soup” sounding a little like a doowop number, “The Caterpillar Song” (belted with a memorable ferocity by Owen Thiebert) sounding psychedelic, “The Tea Party” sounding like a baroque minuet and “The Walrus and the Carpenter” being accompanied by a bouncy stride piano motif. Conner felt that the material was so dense, he didn’t want to try to distract and while his music is mostly about giving call or response numbers, there’s something that’s added by the ferocity. Carroll’s book is unique because it uses wordplay and verbose imagery to transport a child to another world with relative ease. A play adaptation generates the same sense of wonder albeit more through sensory opportunities. In that sense, when certain phrasings are lost to the audience (particularly the young ones), it’s Conner’s music and the set and costume design that ably cover the gap. Maggie Jervis, who has over 20 years experience in the industry, designed the costumes and sets here. It was during the opening weekend’s question and answer session that she deservedly received a slice of the star treatment by some of the children for her work. Of the 17 years that Creative Cauldron has been in operation, they have been doing the theater for ten years, and it’s been one of their biggest successes. “We do these 16 performance runs, and many of our seasonpass holders who don’t have children, they come because they are amazed at the levels these children get to, but it’s certainly very friendly of course, so it’s entertaining on all levels,” said Laura Connors Hull. “Alice in Wonderland” runs through April 14 at the Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church).
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS
Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28
FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Animals with Pouches. Interested attendees can come learn about all the animals that have built-in pockets and the ways they use them. Parents are invited to stay and observe, or those with younger siblings may visit the rest of the building during the program. Parents must remain on-site. Registration required. $5 fee due upon registration. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Tiny Tot. Tiny Tot programs provide opportunities to interact one-on-one with young children while discovering the wonders of nature. Each program will engage children with hands-on learning and may include a variety of activities like songs, crafts, finger plays and mini-hikes. Adults must remain during the entire program. Ages 1 – 3. $5 fee due upon registration. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 10 – 10:45 a.m. 703-228-6535.
Crafts for the Community. Interested attendees can decorate tote bags for a special library project and will have the option to make a tote bag for themselves, too. For grades 6-12, registration required. Mary Riley Styles
Animal Costumes Campfire. Families are invited to join the staff at the Long Branch amphitheater for some old-fashioned entertainment. This program will be filled with entertaining activities which
may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs as well as s’mores. Families of all ages. Register children and adults; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. $5 fee due upon registration. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-228-6535.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 Library Used Book Sale. Books will be available at affordable prices. The used book sale will also take place on Sunday, March 31 from 1 – 5 p.m. All proceeds directly benefit the library. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 703-2485034.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31 Women’s History Walk. With 2019 marking the beginning of
the celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, a coalition of women leaders in Falls Church has organized a onemile walk through downtown Falls Church. Honorary grand marshals will be standpoint women Falls Church leaders Nikki Graves Henderson, Lindy Hockenberry, Laura Hull and Jane Scully. The Lincoln at Tinner Hill (455 S Maple Ave., Falls Church). 1 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Northern Virginia Bird Club Walk. Interested attendees can join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcomed. Participants can bring binoculars if they have them. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Falls Church). 8:30 – 11 a.m. 703-228-6535.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” Three women—an art restorer, her nurse and their military captor—are trapped in a ravaged museum during a catastrophic hundred years war. Tasked with restoring a damaged Rembrandt painting, the women find common shreds of humanity as they try to save a small symbol of beauty in their broken world. Signature Theatre (420 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $40 – $89. 7 p.m. sigtheatre.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 “Alice in Wonderland.” “Curiouser and curiouser” down the Rabbit Hole we go! Come join Alice on her fantastical journey through Wonderland. The White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, all your favorite characters are here in this musical adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll tale. Another one of the original
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
adaptations that is being revisited for the 10th anniversary season, Alice gives the entire family a chance to spend an utterly “mad, mad day” at the Cauldron enjoying one of the most famous and enduring children’s classics of all time. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) $18. 7:30 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
“columbinus.” Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the tragic 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, this docudrama combines fact and fiction to illuminate the dark realities of adolescence. Weaving together excerpts of real interviews with parents, survivors, and community leaders and powerful characterizations of contemporary teens, “columbinus” thoughtfully explores the Columbine shooting and the conversations that continue to this day. 1st Stage Theatre (1524 Spring Hill Rd.,Tysons) $39. 8 p.m. 1ststagetysons.edu.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31 “August: Osage County.” A missing father, a pill-popping mother and three sisters harboring dubious little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoma family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling mysteries. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you’ve got a major play that unflinchingly—and uproariously—exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family. James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Rd. Falls Church) $17 – $20. 2 p.m. providenceplayers.org.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, MARCH 28 Joe Bernui. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-237-8333. Fatai - The Road Less Traveled Tour with Anna Pancaldi. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $25. 8 p.m. 703255-1566.
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MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 19
An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories with Graham Nash. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $85 – $95. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Dave Chappell. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 David Davol. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Happy Hour: David Kitchen & Cathy B. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-241-9504. Soul Crackers Dance Party feat. Tommy Lepson & The Too Much Sisters. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Mountain Man with Jake Xerxes Fussell. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $25 – $30. 8 p.m. 703255-1900. Great Northern. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-8589186. Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $17 – $20. 9 p.m. 703237-0300. Jamison Greene. 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 30 Twisted Mister. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.
ZOSO will be at The State Theatre tomorrow night (Photo: ZosoOnTour.Com) Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186.
– $17. 1 p.m. 703-255-1566.
$5 Comedy Night. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $5. 9 p.m. 703237-0300.
Jumpin Jupiter. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.
The Cherry People — Last Call. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $40. 9:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Anthony Rosano & Bobby Thompson. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186. Mike Mains & The Branches with OWEL + Weatherworn. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-2551566.
Swell. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
Memphis Gold & his All Stars. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
The Big Cheese Band. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31
MONDAY, APRIL 1
Andrew Acosta. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-241-9504.
3 Guitars. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls
Erin McKeown. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15
James Madison High School Jazz Band. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7 p.m. 703255-1566. American Television, Alright,
Late Bloomer. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-525-8646.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2 Crazy After Midnight Open Mic. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Majestic: LGBTQ Night. Diva Lounge (6763 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 571-234-2045.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Damian McGinty Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $35 – $100. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Head for the Hills. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $10 – $13. 8:30 p.m. 703-237-0300. Bob Hume. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Arlington). 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.
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 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
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Sexual harassment by a landlord or anyone related to your housing violates the Fair Housing Act. If you receive unwelcome sexual advances or are threatened with eviction because you refuse to provide sexual favors, you may file a fair housing complaint. To file a complaint, go to or call
hud.gov/fairhousing
1-800-669-9777
If you fear for your safety, call 911.
FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 3678530. Toll free call (888) 5513247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
By David Levinson Wilk 1
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© 2018 David Levinson Wilk
1. 60-Across user’s cry upon seeing what’s in this puzzle’s circled letters (7) 8. Like a crucifix (7) 15. Kind of scan (7) 16. Former home of the Colts (7) 17. Discharge, as a liquid (7) 18. Temple of ____, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (7) 19. Logic game with matchsticks (3) 20. Tennis barrier (3) 21. Cause a major disturbance in (7) 25. High-ranking angels (7) 30. Some stage assistants (7) 31. Polar bear’s resting spot (7) 32. Most slippery (7) 33. Movie credits caption (7) 34. Neither Dem. nor Rep. (3) 35. Puppy’s cry (3) 36. Cpl. or sgt. (3) 37. Kind of food or footage (3) 40. Org. for Penguins and Ducks (3) 43. Italian diminutive suffix (3) 44. Cacophony (3) 45. Yoko who loved John (3) 46. “Hollywood Squares” win (3) 47. ____ Fridays (restaurant chain) (3) 48. ____-Locka, Florida (3) 49. Poem of praise (3) 50. !!! (3)
Across 1. 60-Across user's cry upon seeing what's in this puzzle's circled letters (7) 8. Like a crucifix (7)
STRANGE BREW
MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019 | PAGE 21
51. Cain or Abel, to Adam and Eve (3) 52. Observe Ramadan (4) 54. Xerox rival (5) 56. Batty (4) 57. Storms away angrily (13) 60. Amusement park attraction suggested visually by the black squares in the center of this puzzle’s grid (11) 61. Besides (4) 62. Caesar’s “to be” (4)
DOWN
1. Mid-April addressee, for short (3) 2. “____ whiz!” (3) 3. Like Tylenol PM, for short (3) 4. French shooting match (3) 5. What Rihanna and Madonna are each known by (7) 6. Tour guides, often (7) 7. Mercury, e.g. (7) 8. Buses and trains (7) 9. Car accident sound (7) 10. Hall fixture (7) 11. Ending with many fruit names (3) 12. Juice brand with a distinctive bottle (3) 13. One of the record industry’s former Big Four (3) 14. ____ Moines, Iowa (3) 21. Not forced to smell a factory’s fumes, say (8) 22. Seymour Skinner, to Bart JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
and Lisa (9) 23. “Wait ...” (10) 24. Commercial lead-in to Pen (3) 26. Patriots’ org. (3) 27. Don’t take any chances (10) 28. Cleaning, as a sidewalk (9) 29. Critical tennis situation (8) 37. A. A. Milne hopper (3) 38. Julie who played Mary Poppins (7) 39. “Alas!” (7) 40. Never (7) 41. Big kerfuffles (7) 42. Myrna of “Love Crazy” (3) 53. Story (4) 55. “Zero Dark Thirty” org. (3) 56. Beach hill (4) 58. Actor Kilmer (3) 59. That dude’s (3) Last Thursday’s Solution A S S A M
W H E R E W R A U S M I
O R A N G E M A N
S A W T O
X I N G S
I D I O M
K E E K R C H O I A S E B R O D S I I O R O M A T Y E A W I A V H Y
K E L S O
A R I E L
R A T I C A G H T
O R W A G H S E O R I G H C O T H I I A S A T T
F O R A Y T A N
C R A R I L I G S S D E B T A A W L B A D G E T A S I G P A L S T E
M Y R R H
S E E I T
T H E A R C H E R
S A D E L T O N
By The Mepham Group
Level 1 2 3 4
15. Kind of scan (7) 16. Former home of the Colts (7) 17. Discharge, as a liquid (7) 18. Temple of ____, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (7) 19. Logic game with matchsticks (3) 20. Tennis barrier (3) 21. Cause a major disturbance in (7)
1
25. High-ranking angels (7) 30. Some stage assistants (7) 31. Polar bear's resting spot (7) 32. Most slippery (7) 33. Movie credits caption (7)
NICK KNACK
© 2019 N.F. Benton
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
1
3/31/19
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 22 | MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2019
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.
BACK IN THE DAY
20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. IX, No. 3 • April 1, 1999
Day, Jones Announce Plans to Leave Chamber of Commerce Long-time Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce servants Robert S. “Hap” Day and Lois Jones jointly announced plans to terminate their contracts came in the Chamber newsletter last month. Day has been the Chamber’s executive director since 1985, and Jones its executive secretary since 1977. They will both officially leave their positions with the Chamber on June 30.
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. XIX, No. 5 • April 2, 2009
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner 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
F.C. Council Hosts Saturday Meet On Budget, Critical Decisions Due The Falls Church City Council has scheduled another special opportunity this Saturday morning for citizens to bring their concerns and priorities about the extraoridinary next fiscal year budget. Billed as an “informal discussion” with some members of the Council, it will be at 10 a.m. at the F.C. Community Center. Faced with the unprecedented need to cut spending, the Council is considering raising the real estate tax and cutting seven City jobs.
F.C. Resident, Teacher Kathleen McFall Dies Kathleen McFall of Falls Church, Virginia, wife of Bob McFall and loving mother of Erin, Cara and Abigail, went home to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, March 4 after a courageous battle with cancer. Kathleen was born and raised in Northern Virginia and was the youngest of five children born to Walt and Margaret Barbee. Kathleen was a devout follower of Jesus and an active member of The Falls Church Anglican, a talented artist, a dedicated art teacher at Pine Spring Elementary School and Ambleside School, and a thoughtful friend. She spent many hours on the pool deck supporting and volunteering for her daugh-
ters’ swim teams. Her family and community will greatly miss her. Kathleen was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her husband Bob and daughters Erin, Cara and Abigail as well as her sister Nancy Candeto and three brothers James Barbee, John Barbee, David Barbee. A service of thanksgiving for the life of Kathleen will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Columbia Baptist Church, located at 103 W. Columbia Street, Falls Church, VA with a reception to follow at The Falls Church Anglican located 6565 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Week of March 18 – 24, 2019 Hit and Run, 800 blk W Broad St, Mar 18, 7:28 AM, a vehicle traveling east bound was struck by a white 18 wheeler truck that failed to stop. Drug/Narcotic Violation, 1100 blk W Broad St, Mar 19, 7:36 AM, following a traffic stop, a male, 25, of Laurel, MD, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana. Hit and Run, 1120-D W Broad St (Road Runner Sports), Mar 20 between 8 AM and 2:00 PM, an unoccupied vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene.
Destruction of Property, 310 Park Ave (Cherry Hill Park), Mar 20, between 4:20 and 5:47 PM, unknown suspect(s) destroyed a sign affixed to a tree. Larceny from Vehicle, 300 blk Grove Ave, between 8 PM, Mar 20 and 7 AM, Mar 21, items of value were taken from a parked vehicle. No signs of forced entry. Hit and Run, 6763-R3 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center), Mar 22, between 1:40 and 2:40 PM, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Hit and Run, 1014 W Broad St (Jiffy Lube), Mar 22, between 9 AM and 5:30 PM, a vehicle was struck by another
SPARKY is owned by Sam, the father of Delegate Marcus Simon, up in McLean. Clearly this pup’s good looks are an asset on the campaign trail (during his rare appearances, of course — don’t want Sparky stealing the show) Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
James S. Dryden, Jr. Dies at 75
KATHLEEN MCFALL Capital Caring Halquist Center located at 15th Street North, Arlington, VA 22205. vehicle which left the scene. Smoking Violations, 6757 Wilson Blvd #15, Mar 23, 12:14 AM, a male, 41, of Fairfax, VA, was issued a summons for smoking in a non-smoking establishment.
Long time Falls Church business owner and dentist James S. Dryden, Jr, succumbed to brain cancer. For over 40 years Dr.. Dryden served the communities of Falls Church and surrounding area. His staff and dental family are broken hearted by his sudden departure. He went home to the Lord on Jan. 5. His wishes were for no big announcement or fanfare. However he wanted you, his dental family, to know how much he cared for you all and that he could enjoy his retirement knowing he had left you in extremely capable and caring hands.
JAMES S. DRYDEN, JR.
Smoking Violations, 6757 Wilson Blvd #17, Mar 23, 12:14 AM, a female, 37, of Centreville, VA, was issued a summons for smoking in a nonsmoking establishment. Smoking Violations, 6757 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center), Mar 23, 12:32 AM, a male, 32, of Falls Church, VA, was issued a summons for smoking in a non-smoking establishment. Driving Under the Influence, 400 blk E. Broad St, Mar 24, 12:17 AM, a male, 32, of Gaithersburg, MD, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Drug/Narcotic Violation, 2800 blk W Marshall St, Mar 24, 1:23 PM, following a traffic stop, a male, 23, of Falls Church, VA, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana.
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