Falls Church News-Press 4-29-2021 by Falls Church News-Press

F.C. Womens History March Set for Sunday see page 3 April 29 – May 5, 2021

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‘Meridian’ & ‘Oak Street’ to Be New F.C. School Names School Board Officially Replaces ‘Mason’ & ‘Jefferson’ BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Fall Church City School Board voted to change the name of George Mason High School to Meridian High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary to its original name, Oak Street Elementary, at its meeting this Tuesday night. Meridian High School was among the five finalist choices forwarded to the board from a citizen committee that worked arduously on the renaming issue this spring. It gained favor with a majority of the board as Falls Church is on the original 1791 meridian delineating the boundary line between the District of Columbia and Virginia. Also, the name recognizes the school’s long history of educating its students to become global citizens through the International Baccalaureate program. The Board unanimously selected Oak Street Elementary because, among other things, it is the school’s original name. The new names will take effect on July 1. The decision followed a 10-month, two-stage deliberation and decision-making process that

began in June of last year. The first stage was a six-month reconsideration of the schools’ names based on the division’s policies on equity and inclusion. While the names of the two schools honored Founding Fathers, George Mason and Thomas Jefferson, they also owned enslaved people. In the spirit of the heightened sensitivity to issues of racial injustice stemming from the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the resurgence of the “Black Lives Matter” movement nationally that, among other things, spurred a student-led march down Park Avenue in Falls Church where hundreds participated, the Board solicited and received public comment and other relevant information to guide the Board’s decision about changing either school’s name. On Dec. 8, the Board voted unanimously to change both names and designated Superintendent Peter Noonan to form two volunteer citizen advisory study committees to recommend five names for each school. The committees included a diverse group of 46 Falls Church

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COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH”S historic steeple was removed on Wednesday, making way for a new, larger one as part of the church’s extension renovation and expansion. (P��: C�� C�� W��)

F.C. Council Cuts Tax Rate by 3¢ for Fiscal Year ‘22 BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

By a series of unanimous votes to adopt the Fiscal Year 2022 budget Monday night, the Falls Church City Council voted to lower the City’s real estate tax rate by 3.5 cents to $1.32 per $100 assessed valuation. It

marked the first time since 2006 that the F.C. Council voted for a reduction in the tax rate. The cut, significantly below the modest one cent reduction originally proposed by City Manager Wyatt Shields in March, was realized without the benefit of some significant help due from the fed-

eral government this summer. But, as Councilman Phil Duncan put it, it has come “from hard work and prudent management by the Council” and, most of all, the benefits of the City’s robust economic development that have begun to bring major yields

Continued on Page 4

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SEE STORY, PAGE 2

SEE STORY, PAGE 16

Davis covers how people under 40 are finicky when it comes to substantial commitments and more in his first book, “Dedicated: The Case for Commitment In An Age Of Infinite Browsing,” which hits store shelves on May 4.

David Thong, a local musician, recalls playing a show this past winter when it was only 38 degrees outside, saying he was surprised just how many people came out in the cold to see live music. Now Covid-19 vaccinations increasing, he’s eager to see droves of fans return to shows after a long year. SEE PRESS PASS, PAGE 18

The Johnsons Café is a homey, New York style deli that just opened at the corner of Annandale Road and South Washington Street with its no frills exterior appearance giving no hints about the delectable foods that await patrons on the inside.

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 News & Notes.............................10-11 Crime Report .................................... 12 Business News ................................. 15 Calendar .....................................16-17 Classified Ads ................................... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 21 Critter Corner.................................... 22

PAGE 2 | APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. Native Publishes His 1st Book on the Importance of Commitment by J. Roslyn

Special to the News-Press

Pete Davis has put his finger on the pulse of those under 40 years of age and found the vast majority split between the excitement of what he has labeled “Infinite Browsing,” or the “Culture of Open Options” and the “Counterculture of Commitment.” Davis covers all of this and more in his first book, “Dedicated: The Case for Commitment In An Age Of Infinite Browsing,” which hits shelves on May 4. Davis writes that his book “is about the tension between these two cultures.” He likens the open options to a hallway with rooms. A young person can bounce to one or more rooms, i.e., experience new jobs, new relationships, new cities, or commit to stay in one “room” or live in the hallway. Davis writes that some of his peers “don’t commit to a career path because we’re worried that we will be stuck doing something that doesn’t quite fit our true self. Others of us are forced from job to job by a precarious economy. For many of us, it’s a little bit of both.” Is this a new syndrome or has Davis locked onto an ageold problem that the young have struggled with in the last one hundred years? Post-World War 1, a generation of survivors of that war took to speakeasies and sexual affairs with a mania born out of disgust. They tired of the commitments older generations had imposed on them, which led to a slaughter of vast numbers of young men on the battlefields of Europe. Joined by young women who had nursed the bloody soldiers or who had lost husbands, boyfriends and siblings, these “Bright Young Things” revelled in the illusion that they need not choose one of the many choices in front of them. The ‘60s also spawned a generation of free-thinking individuals who got stuck on the old existential problem, “Why am I here?” Just as today, there was massive upheaval as the young protested the war in Vietnam. While that was mostly successful, the fight against racism, bigotry, misogyny, and homophobia still had decades to go before there were major societal changes, and we are still fighting for many of those changes today. So, has Davis simply redressed an age-old problem in 21st

Century clothing? No, I think he has used his brilliant laser focus to effectuate a change in his generation that no one else is championing, and which prior generations of young men and women grew old without understanding how they left the excitement of change behind. He has done this by framing the Counterculture of Commitment not as a giving in to the monotony of adult life, like the protagonist in Herman Wouk’s “Marjorie Morningstar,” or the giving in to untethered philosophy of the beat generation, or the rejection of everything by the hippies. Instead, Davis extolls the “Long Haul Heroism” of individuals who have spent decades creating and building the institutions that nurture and create stability in society, and he uses the “little city” of Falls Church, Virginia as the canvas for his discussion. Addressing the low attention spans and “low commitment spans” of his generation, Davis writes “when you look at what we have real affection for — whom we admire, what we respect, and what we remember — it’s rarely the institutions and people who come from the Culture of Open Options. It’s the master committers we love.” As Davis introduces us to these master committers, we see that he also is penning a love letter to his hometown, Falls Church. He writes: I also grew up in a town — Falls Church, Virginia — that had a strong identity. It had a small school system and a rich civic life, especially for children: Boy and Girl Scouts, Operation EarthWatch, youth soccer and Little League every Saturday morning, the Falls Church News-Press at everyone’s door every Thursday, the fall festival in October, the Memorial Day parade in May. Behind every beloved institution in town was a dedicated person. Howard Herman helmed the weekly farmers’ market. Nikki and Ed Henderson were in charge of the annual blues festival. Nick Benton kept the News-Press running. Barb Cram kept the local art shows going. Sue John kept the preschool open. Tom Prewitt coached the youth basketball teams. Every one of the named master committers built or rebuilt their passion from scratch. For example, Benton drove into Falls Church one day in 1991 and said,

“this town needs a newspaper,” and day after day for 30 years, he has produced that newspaper every week. Nikki and Ed Henderson moved back to Falls Church in 1994, from studying in Africa, and because of them Falls Church has the wonderful Tinner Hill’s Blues Festival. Davis uses an analogy from Pete Seeger about a seesaw to explain the long-haul dedication required to build something and to effectuate changes. One side is planted firmly on the ground, weighed down by boulders. The side in the air has an empty basket atop it. A small group of people patiently work to fill the basket with sand, one teaspoon at a time. The crowd watching scoffs, because nothing is changing. But one day, the whole seesaw is going to flip — not little by little, but all at once. People will ask, “How did it happen so suddenly?” The answer, of course, is all those teaspoons over the years. Davis writes that he wrote his book to inspire others of his generation to become committers, committed to entering into “faithful relationships” with “particular causes and crafts, places and communities, professions and people.” He writes: If you care about advancing the continuing liberation struggles that will give people even more options and free people from even more involuntary commitments, then you need to care about commitment, too. We are only as free as we are today because committed citizens, patriots, builders, stewards, artisans, and companions got us here. And every struggle for justice that remains today will only be advanced if enough dedicated people step up again. Pete Davis has written an insightful book that also is an important book that, hopefully, will inspire, not just his generation, but all generations to dig deep and make the kind of commitments that will spark both creativity and stability. On Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m., Davis is having a (virtual) book launch at One More Page Books (2200 N Westmoreland St., Arlington) for his book. Three locals profiled in the book have been invited to participate in a panel: Marybeth Donahue Connelly, Nikki Graves Henderson and Hannah Jordan to discuss it.

AUTHOR PETE DAVIS, and the cover of his inaugural work. (Photos: Top Photo — Courtesy Facebook.com/petedavis1989/ Bottom Photo — Courtesy SimonandSchuster.com)

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 3

F.C. Women’s Walk Returns After Pandemic Forced 2 Year Hiatus BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

When you have to wait for something, it makes it all the more sweet when you finally get to enjoy it. That’s definitely the case for the fourth annual Women’s Walk through the City of Falls Church on Sunday, which hasn’t been able to be enjoyed by citizens for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The walk, which is the brainchild of Nikki Graves Henderson and organized by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, the Elected Women of Falls Church and Falls Church’s Women’s History Group, will have a different look and feel this year due to Covidsafe precautions — which include mask-wearing and social distancing throughout the entire walk. However, the interest in hoofing the tour of the City is as high as it’s ever been. “I’ve heard nothing but excitement from people who are really looking forward to getting out and seeing each other and doing something fun,” Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly said, who’s

one of the lead organizers of the events. “A lot of times, we get to this point in the year or any point in the year, and there’s like 1,000 things to do. And we haven’t had anything to do. So I do feel like this is going to be a lot of people.” One of the ironies of the virus mitigation measures is that it will allow the walk to be done in the free range way organizers had always intended. While in years past everyone would show up at the same time and march through the walk together, Connelly said the need to stay distant this year will encourage a more choose-your-own-adventure vibe to the walk. That means that people can start at any of the three major landmarks on the trail — Big Chimneys Park, City Hall or Tinner Hill Park — and begin their roughly two-mile trip around town. (Connelly does have a recom- A NEW SIDEWALK along South Maple Avenue has women’s history factoids engraved onto them. mended route, however, suggest- They have been integrated into the Women’s Walk taking place this Sunday (P��: N��-P��) ing walkers start at Big Chimneys Park since it www.solaceoutpost.com is a good midway grand marshals have been done Black teachers to work at an inte- Mary Ellen Shaw, a former teachaway with. This year’s honor- grated school, Doris Newcomb, er and superintendent with Falls point.) 571-378-1469 And just because things are ees are Alma Amaker, a lifelong owner of Tower Square Shopping Continued on Page 14 a bit different doesn’t mean the teacher who was one of the first Center and an AM radio station,

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PAGE 4 | APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021

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Ability to Lower Tax Rate Seen as Valida�on for Major Developments

Continued from Page 1

from a number of large scale mixed use projects to the City’s tax base. With the new rate, the Council unanimously adopted its Fiscal Year 2022 budget of $106 million, including the full sum requested by the City Schools. Components include $100,000 to the City’s Affordable Housing Fund, a first, and the full amount requested by the City’s School Board in February. The 3.5 cent tax rate reduction comes as other jurisdictions in the region are also cutting their rate, Alexandria by 2 cents, Loudoun County by 5.5 cents and Fairfax County by a penny. Despite this last year’s Covid-19 pandemic, revenues from sales at supermarkets and on the Internet remained strong. In Falls Church’s case, the Mill Creek group did not scale back its development of the 4.3 acre Founder’s Row project at W. Broad and N. West Streets. This is despite the fact that, as Shields told the News-Press in an interview Wednesday, a lot of local businesses, including restaurants, continue to struggle with revenues “way below what they used to be” prior to the pandemic.

While preferring an even deeper cut, Councilman Ross Litkenhous said he supported the cut to $1.32 because it signals three things to City taxpayers and the wider region. First, it shows the Council’s willingness to give back to the taxpayers; second, it demonstrates the use of voluntary concessions by major mixed use developers to relieve the City’s debt burden; and third, the benefits of robust economic development as promised to the community. He noted that even though we’ve endured a pandemic along with investing in major renovations for two of the City’s five schools and the construction of a new, state-of-the-art high school, the growing vibrancy of the City proves the Council’s “plan is working.” He predicted more tax cuts to come, lowering the rate to as little as $1.20 in five years, and $1.10 after ten years. “This is an incredible achievement,” Litkenhous said. “It is an embarrassment of riches, a beautifully-designed perfect storm.” He added that “We will have the courage to repeat the accomplishments of this year, to make this the norm and not the exception.” Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly

noted that this marked the third straight year that the City and its school system operated “in the spirit of revenue sharing,” with the schools staying within the guidance provided by the Council yet again. Mayor David Tarter said that “economic development and careful planning” have been key, and that there is a lot more to come. He cited the ability of the City to provide the revenue asked for by the schools, the prospects for a new mega-Whole Foods coming downtown, the 10-acre project coming at the West End, the Founders Row project approaching completion at W. Broad and N. West Streets, all driven by the Council’s “careful, thoughtful process” that has “turned the corner on the tax rate.” Council member Debbie Hiscott said, “I am happy to have made it through my first budget session on the Council. I am really pleased we were able to lower the tax rate while continuing to support excellent schools and City services.” Components of the $106 million FY2022 budget includes the real estate tax of $1.32 for every $100 of assessed value, a decrease of 3.5 cents from the previous year,

the general government operating budget of $41.3 million, which is a 2.3 percent growth over the previous year, and the City schools budget at $43.9 million, or 2.5 percent growth over the previous year. According to the City, the tax rate decrease was made possible by eliminating a contingency fund, eliminating $450,000 of capital projects, and using $460,000 of voluntary concession funding from the Founder’s Row development project

Date

Doses Administered 11,339

4,419

Monday, April 19

9,825

3,858

Monday, April 12

8,433

3,127

Monday, April 5

7,289

2,542

End of March

6,185

2,151

End of February

3,237

1,144

End of January

1,077

*NOTE: This data point decreased as the Virginia Department of Health found that the individuals lived in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church, not the City of Falls Church.

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to pay down part of the high school construction debt. The capital projects that were cut are expected to be eligible for federal grant funding in the coming year. The Council also set a new stormwater utility billing rate of $18.72 per 200 square feet of impervious surface, an increase of two percent from the current rate. The increase would result in an approximate $5 increase

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 5

‘Oak Street’ Vote Came Quick, But ‘Meridian’ Endured Some Debate

Continued from Page 1

schools community members; staff, alumni, citizens, and students, which made up 20 percent of the total membership. Their deliberations stretched 13 public meetings over three months, including an interim and final presentation to the School Board. At Tuesday’s meeting, there was virtually no debate over the new name of the elementary school and it was resolved with a unanimous vote in half an hour. The main alternative choice was Tripps Run Elementary, noting the creek that runs by the school on S. Oak, but it was noted that some households in the City have suffered from flooding rising out of that creek, it may not serve as the best name for the school. There was also consideration of making it “South Oak” in deference to the fact that, technically, the City’s other elementary school, Mt. Daniel, has a North Oak Street address. But the appeal of restoring the school’s

original name was compelling. There was much more contention around renaming the high school. Edwin Henderson II, recently appointed as an interim board member following the resignation of Shawna Russell, pointed out that, as an early consensus began to form around the Meridian name, that the whole exercise of removing the names of slave owners was “speaking to the righting of wrongs.” Therefore, he suggested, “choosing a name that inspires,” that “honors the importance of racial equality,” would be better, such as the “Tinner Hill” name that was among the final five recommendations. Other suggestions included naming it for civil rights activist Sara Rose Johns or the late U.S. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but aversion to naming the school for a person ruled those out. School Board member Phil Reitinger proposed the alternatives of West Falls Church, West Falls or West End as names. Those gained more interest from his colleagues,

but there was concern that a name similar to the existing Falls Church High School not far away in Fairfax County could lead to confusion that could even wind up having emergency vehicles sent to the wrong place. Board member Susan Dimock said she still liked the name Meridian, however, as “it is not really generic and is kind of unique.” Reitinger replied, “The more we talk about Meridian, the more I don’t want it. It has no real connection to the City.” He favored West Falls Church or West Falls. Henderson reiterated his concern that the name reflect social justice issues and should be more aspirational. Chair Litton called for a vote, and as Reitinger noted, it would come as a non-consensus. The motion was made and seconded for calling the school Meridian, and it passed 5-2 (Henderson and Reitinger voting no.) Superintendent Noonan said that the new high school, which is also brand new as a $120 million effort, in

JEFFERSON IS GOING RETRO when it changes its name to “Oak Street Elementary” — the school’s original name — come July 1. That will mean that small parts of the school’s campus, like this Little Library, will need to be repainted. (P��: N��-P��)

addition to having a new name, will provide opportunity “to really dig in on issues of racial justice” with the formation of a racial justice group meeting on the fifth floor of the new

school. He suggested that the new school’s slogan, with its new name, might be “Where the World Comes Together.”

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E D I TO R I A L

All Hail Meridian High!

One name is from a global perspective. The other is hyper-local. Yes, the saying goes that consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, and there is no way the talented assortment constituting the Falls Church City Public Schools’ School Board could be accused of that. Choosing the new names for two of the City’s five public schools Tuesday night after almost a year of deliberations, the board settled on the high-minded worldly name of “Meridian” for its high school and down-home local “Oak Street” for its elementary school. The names replace George Mason and Thomas Jefferson, respectively, officially as of July 1, arising from heightened concern over the past year of mass public mobilizations on the issues of racial injustice that both of those Founding Fathers owned slaves. We supported the board’s decision to change those names made by a unanimous vote among them last fall, even while many, including many highly respectable leaders and former leaders in the community, opposed the idea, many vehemently. Two of the seven School Board members resigned in the interim, though neither said it had to do with this contentious issue. It was not primarily about the virtues or lack thereof of the Founding Fathers in question, in our view, nor about established traditions here. No, it was about the Years 2020 and 2021 and what an aroused American public expects today. This aroused public, after all, accomplished one of the most remarkable and courageous feats in the nation’s modern history when it mustered the resolve against crushing odds to unseat a sitting U.S. president who was an amazingly flawed and corrupt, racist crook. This American public adopted the slogan, “Black Lives Matter,” and that helped carry it to victory against Donald Trump last November. It is this American public that, really, has been acknowledged and honored by the school name changes in little ol’ Falls Church. A name like “Meridian” is reflective in the minds of those on the board who talked about it, of the school’s exemplary International Baccalaureate program, focused on training and equipping world citizens, and not just ordinary ones. It has an elevated ring to it, the kind of name a devotee of the Renaissance or the Enlightenment might have preferred. In that context, it is a name that the otherwise exemplary Founding Fathers whose names were removed by Tuesday’s School Board vote, too, could like because it over-arches any particular moment or imperfect person’s contribution to the, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King called it, “long arc of the moral universe that bends toward justice.” They were part of that, as are we today. Not like those Confederate knaves that racists promoted by naming schools, streets and monuments after in areas all over the South. Those names were of people on the wrong side of history, willing to spill the blood of fellow Amercans by the hundreds of thousands to perpetuate the cruel and inhuman institution of slavery.

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Hooray for F.C.’s Tax Cuts! And ‘Hooray’ For New School Names... Editor, Let’s give a big “Thank You!” to City Council for reducing our local tax rate for the first time in 15 years. Their efforts will put more money in the pockets of Falls Church families. As we return to public life, we can spend this extra cash at local restaurants and businesses who need their customers back. Our School Board deserves a much smaller “thanks” for finally concluding the school re-naming process. “Meridian” is the least awful alliteration, but it’s hard to muster hometown pride for a name we share with a mutual fund, an insurance company, and a charter school in D.C. If only the Board hadn’t paid $8,000 for a survey that showed we prefer “George Mason,” maybe we could afford both a new name and a new logo without the “M.” During the pandemic, the Board’s time and our money should have been spent re-opening our schools rather than re-naming them. Dave Russell Falls Church

‘Little City’ Spirit Should Extend To Keeping F.C. Clean

Editor, Thanks to the City of Falls

[ LETTERS ]

Got Beef? Send us a letter and let us know what you think.

P�� 1. Keep the news clean and fair. 2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy. 3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial comment. 4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe. 5. Accept no charity and ask no favors. 6. Give “value received” for every dollar you take in. 7. Make the paper show profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

Church for providing recycling services on Gordon Road where we can recycle our cardboards and glass among some other items. Recently, I noticed a person sweeping around the big purple bin for glass. With a broom and dustpan at hand, he carefully scooped up bits and pieces of glass. I thanked him, thinking he was employed there. Then I found out he was not. He had a flat tire there once and wanted to protect the rest of us from such an experience. I thanked him again, for inspiring me to do more for others. Often times, we are in a rush and do not realize our carelessness can create more problems for others. Let us take a few seconds to thank the overlooked good samaritans all around us. Let us take a moment to clean up after ourselves in public spaces. I see discarded masks on the grounds. I see shopping carts left randomly by shoppers too lazy or busy to take back to designated spots. My car was hit by such a flyaway cart. I have also stepped on gum spat out on the sidewalks. The movie theaters, when they were open, often had sticky carpeted aisles from spilled drinks and popcorn. Yes, sometimes there are employees paid to clean up. Often they only make minimal wage. Please be respectful and considerate. Make life better for everyone by doing what we can to minimize our own trash. If you can shovel snow out of the sidewalk in front of you by a bus stop, you can even save lives! Helen Litjoy Falls Church

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APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 7

All Are Welcome at 4th Annual F.C. Women’s History Walk B� B�� H��

The story of Falls Church is best told through the lives of some of its most daring, accomplished, and consequential residents — the women of Falls Church. Since its founding in 1699, Falls Church has been shaped by women who saw a need and found a way to make their community better. On Sunday, May 2, you are invited to the 4th Annual Falls Church Women’s History Walk to learn about these pioneers, abolitionists, educators, entrepreneurs, politicians, historians, artists, and activists whose civic engagement and dedication have helped establish Falls Church as a vibrant, responsive, and wellloved community. This year’s Walk is a little bit different than years past — beginning with the date! While Women’s History Month is celebrated in March, organizers this year chose May 2 for the Walk in the hopes that more people would be vaccinated against Covid-19 and that better weather would allow for a more enjoyable experience. Also due to Covid concerns, and unlike years past, no gatherings are planned prior to the beginning or the ending times of the event. The rain date is May 16 (with the announcement made by 9 a.m. on May 2). The Walk will be a self-guided 2-mile loop encompassing many sites within the City. The “Her-Story” Stations will be open between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participants may start at any point along

the route, any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and enjoy the walk at their leisure. Please note—docents will be available to provide guidance and directions at three locations along the route: Big Chimneys Park, Tinner Hill Park, and City Hall. A limited number of brochures with a map

“Since its founding in 1699, Falls Church has been shaped by women who saw a need and found a way to make their community better.” will be also be available at those locations, but you can see the map and learn more at sites.google.com/view/fc-womens-historywalk/home. QR codes at each “Her-Story” Station offer a great way to read about each of the women honored by the Walk. Important: All participants are asked to adhere to mask and social distancing guidance. This year’s Walk Grand Marshal honorees are Alma Amaker, a lifelong educator with deep Falls Church roots who was one of the first African-American educators to teach in integrated schools in Fairfax;

Doris Newcomb, one of Falls Church City’s longest-tenured business owners and a longtime member of the City’s Chamber of Commerce; Sally Phillips, a community activist who served on the Planning Commission, the Library Board of Trustees, several City boards and commissions, the League of Women Voters, and more; Ellen Salsbury, a dedicated community leader who served on the School Board, the Housing Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, the Library Board of Trustees, and the League of Women Voters; Mary Ellen Shaw, a dedicated Falls Church City educator who dedicated 34 years to our schools, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent; Marie Hirst Yochim, a champion of the DAR and a 10th-generation community member of Falls Church who was instrumental in the restoration of the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse. While these honorees will be at Big Chimneys Park briefly at noon, their “HerStory” Stations will be posted at the park for the duration of the Walk. As we begin to emerge (cautiously!) from the fog of the global pandemic, we hope this Walk will provide the opportunity to think about bravery, determination, health, purpose, community, connection, and sisterhood in a way that empowers each person to make a difference for others. We focus on the women of Falls Church

because too often, women’s roles and contributions are overlooked, underappreciated, or dismissed. The small gains that women have made towards equality over the past several decades are being threatened by Covid-19 and its disproportionate effect on women. This is why we walk — to tell the stories of countless women in our tiny corner of the globe who helped lay the foundation upon which all of us stand and thrive today. The more we look to the past to learn about, honor, and celebrate these women, and the more we recognize the women of the present who continue the work, the more likely we are to advocate for gender equity and equality in the future, to build a better future — not just for women, but for everyone. The Women’s History Walk is presented by The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, Falls Church Elected Women, and The Falls Church Women’s History Group, and is sponsored by: The Daughters of the American Revolution, Falls Church Chapter; Village Preservation & Improvement Society; Citizens for a Better City; The Falls Church League of Women Voters; Falls Church Jazzercise; Falls Church Branch of the American Association of University Women; City of Falls Church; and Falls Church City Public Schools. Beth Hahn is a member of the Falls Church Women’s History Group

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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.

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NEWS BRIEFS

We're thrilled to announce that our staff has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since February.

Walk-In Vax Appointments Now at Tysons Site

At The Kensington Falls Church our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own. Call and schedule a virtual tour with us today!

The Kensington Falls Church 700 West Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046 703-992-9868 • www.thekensingtonfallschurch.com

We are OPEN and ready to safely serve your dental needs! Currently accepting new patients

The Tysons Community Vaccination Center now offers walk-in appointments. While appointments may still be scheduled ahead of time, the former Lord & Taylor site in Tysons is offering firstcome, first-served walk-in appointments Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The former Lord & Taylor site is at 7950 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va, 22102. Before receiving a shot, individuals will need to complete a pre-vaccination questionnaire that asks health-related questions and acknowledgment of receipt of information about the vaccine. In addition to the vaccination locations managed by the Health Department, individuals can also use the VaccineFinder.org site to schedule an appointment with participating vaccine providers, including private providers and pharmacies.

Voting Now Underway For June 6 Primary Over 8,000 Fairfax County voters have already requested mail-in ballots and over 300 have already voted in the June 6 Democratic primary election. While the GOP will determine its candidates at a convention, incumbent Democrats are engaged in a number of hotly-contested primaries including in races for state delegate in this area. Those races include in the neighboring 38th District covering Sleepy Hollow where 11-year incumbent Kaye Kory is facing a challenge from Holly Hazard, the co-founder of an animal protection firm. In the 34th District of McLean, incumbent Kathleen Murphy is facing a challenge from Jennifer Adeli. In the 36th District, incumbent Ken Plum is facing a challenge from Mary Barthelson, and in the 49th District that includes the Culmore District adjacent Falls Church, incumbent Alfonso Lopez is facing a challenge from Karishma Mehta. The races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are also on the ballot. Five gubernatorial candidates include

Del. Jennifer Foy, Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Del. Jenn McClellan, Del. Lee Carter and Lieutenant Gov. Justin Fairfax. Attorney General candidates are incumbent Mark Herring and Del. Jerrauld Jones. Lieutenant Governor candidates are Del. Haya Ayala, Del. Mark Levine, Andrea McClellan, Sean Perryman, Del. Sam Rasoul and Xavier Warren. June 8 is also the deadline for candidates seeking ballot status for the November Falls Church City Council and School Board elections to qualify. Incumbents seeking re-election to the City’s Treasurer, Sheriff and Commissioner of the Revenue positions have all already qualified, according to the City’s Registrar of Voters.

2 Theater Companies Eyeing Founders Row It was reported at last week’s meeting of the F.C. Council’s Economic Development Committee that the Mill Creek developers of the 4.3-acre Founders Row project at W. Broad and N. West Streets are currently evaluating proposals from two movie theater groups interested in occupying part of that space. The news comes after an initial group that had signed up for a multi-screen operation there went bankrupt under the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is also reported that initial residential rental occupancies at the site will begin by late this summer.

Police Body Cameras Coming Soon in F.C. F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields told the News-Press Wednesday that the City is going ahead with the acquisition of body cameras for members of its police department in the current fiscal year based on the receipt of grant funds for that purpose. The cameras should arrive in the next couple months, he said. The City will use some of its anticipated $650,000 surplus in the current fiscal year to set up the ongoing operation of the program.

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APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 9

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes

VISITING FALLS CHURCH from her current home in Charleston, South Carolina, Donna Englander (right) met with former Council member Hal Lippman (center) KC RAJENDRA (second from right) can be spotted leading his Plein Air painting and current City Treasurer Jody Acosta. Englander, head of the F.C. Education classes on the lawn between City Hall and Cherry Hill Park most days where the Foundation when she was here, is now a fundraiser for The Citadel, a prominent college in the South. (Photo: News-Press) weather cooperates. (Photo: Courtesy Shaun Van Steyn)

Walk & Bike to School Day Slated for May 6 On Thursday, May 6, Falls Church students, parents and school staff are encouraged to stroll or pedal their way to school for the return of the City’s annual Walk and Bike to School Day. The Health and Wellness Advisory Committee for Falls Church City Public Schools and the City’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation (CACT) are partnering to promote this year’s event, which is part of a National Center for Safe Routes to School-led effort to encourage

physical activity, improve pedestrian and bike safety, and promote green transportation options. “If you’ve never walked or biked to school before, it’s a good idea to do a trial run on an evening or weekend to figure out the shortest, safest route and where you’ll park your bike,” said Dave Gustafson, chair of the CACT. In 2019, more than 7,000 walking and biking events were held around the country. Despite the pandemic, more than 1,300 events were held in 2020. For more information, visit walkbiketoschool.org.

Update on W&OD Dual Trails Project NOVA Parks provided the latest update on the Dual Trails Project along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in the City of Falls Church. The update, which was published on April 23, said that the project is expected to be complete by August. Stormwater pipe and structures have been completed. Grading and earthwork operations are nearly complete. Removal of the existing asphalt trail and preparation of new trail

subsurface to begin the week of May 3rd. Installation of new trail asphalt will follow as each section is prepared for pavement. Pavement work will be completed in sections (between street crossings), and the trail will be inaccessible in these areas until new pavement is installed. The process for each trail section is expected to take approximately 4 weeks, and the trail closures and detours will be in place throughout this work, including weekends as required. Trammel Branch stormwater pipe installation by the City of Falls Church is expected to be

completed in June. Paving of the trail section between Great Falls St. and Little Falls St. will be completed once the new Trammel Branch storm pipe is in place. Site stabilization and landscape planting will be done after site work is complete.

Father-Daughter Dance On Friday at McLean Center Program staffers at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) have reimagined the center’s popular Father-Daughter Dance that was

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, 105 N. Virginia Ave #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

held in 2019 but was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, a new FatherDaughter Silent Disco Dance will be held from 7 – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 30, in the center’s parking lot. Admission is $25 per participant; $15 for MCC district residents. Pre-registration is required. The dance is for fathers and daughters of all ages. Participants will be required to wear masks and social distancing will be enforced. Each couple or group will be assigned to their own dedicated spaces and will be given headphones with a choice of three, family friendly music genres. DJ BigCourt will provide music and entertainment and participants will receive snack bags and glow products to help get the party started.

NOVA College Graduation Next Weekend Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will be celebrating the great achievements of its students for the classes of 2020 and 2021. This year’s theme is “Believe, Aspire, Achieve.” This event will be held across three days, and is slated for May 5 – 7. In prioritizing the health and safety of students, families, faculty and staff, NOVA’s upcoming graduation will be conducted in a series of online ceremonies for graduates of May 2021, December 2020 and May 2020. The NOVA Commencement will be recorded and closedcaptioned for viewing purposes and will be made available on the NOVA website. The event will be facilitated by “Marching Order,” a visual service provider. For frequently asked questions, visit nvcc.edu/commencement/

index.html. For questions about graduation, email graduation@ nvcc.edu.

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 11

F.C. City Robotics Team Wins Scrimmage Challenge Team 1418 finished the 2021 FIRST Infinite Recharge season this weekend by winning the D.C. FIRST Robotics Challenge Invitational Scrimmage in Maryland. The team was joined by two Washington, D.C. public school teams: Team 1915 from McKinley Technology High School and Team 2912 from Phelps ACE High School. Senior team captain Anuragi Thapliya, with mentor Don Brobst, was recognized as the “Most Well Rounded Robotics Student” at the event This win marks the end of the robotics season during which Team 1418 participated in the Infinite Recharge @ Home challenges, including skills videos of the robot in action and an interview with FIRST Robotics judges. Team 1418 ranked #11 out of 47 teams in our FIRST Chesapeake District and #11 out of 177 in our FIRST National group.

Langley High Senior Named Nat’l Student Leader Spencer Nash, a senior at Langley High School, was recently named as a Bank of America Student Leader for 2021. He’s the only Fairfax County resident selected, as well as one of five high schoolers from the Washington, D.C.-MarylandVirginia region, and is among approximately 300 young people from across the country to be selected as a Student Leader. Nash was picked because (among other qualifications) he is Langley’s National Honor Society president and DECA vice president, and is also a math and coding

NEW ENTRANCE IS COMING ALONG. Mary Riley Styles Public Library is starting to look unrecognizable — which means that the project’s completion date slated for this summer should be right on track. (P��: N��-P��) tutor. Along with that, he founded Langley’s Finance Club to help educate fellow students on financial topics. These students then engage in a summer-long paid internship with Bank of America, assisting local non-profits, receiving leadership training, and participating in a week-long leadership summit in D.C., at the end of the summer (as shown in this WJLA-TV report).

Amazon Hiring for 2 New Grocery Stores Amazon is now hiring for two new grocery stores that will open in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. The company plans to fill hundreds of full- and

Seeking friendly and motivated individuals to add their skills to our staff for Full-Time Retail Deli/Grocery Customer Service Call Cliff to set an interview time. Email resume to info@germangourmet.com, or fax to 703-379-6117

German Gourmet 5838 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041 703-379-8080 www.germangourmet.com

part-time positions, including managerial roles, to support stores located in the Logan Circle neighborhood of D.C., and in Franconia in Fairfax County. All roles offer a wage of at least $15 per hour and various benefits packages starting on the employee’s first day on the job. Amazon also provides employees with access to its Career Choice program, which provides education and training for in-demand jobs. Interested candidates can visit www.amazonstores.jobs to learn more and apply. One of the many benefits of working at an Amazon grocery store is the opportunity to crosstrain in a variety of roles. Grocery associates will learn everything

from customer service, stocking shelves, and cashiering to picking and packing customer orders. Kitchen associates work in the store’s culinary area, preparing, fresh food offerings for customers each day. Food service associates work with produce, meat, seafood, and other fresh foods, and deliver knowledgeable customer service. Whole Foods Market is also hiring for positions in stores in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. To learn about available opportunities in those areas, visit joinwholefoods/dc and joinwholefoods/northern-virginia. To learn more about working at Amazon, visit aboutamazon.com/ working-at-amazon.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

The Board of Supervisors marked up the proposed FY 2022 county budget on Tuesday, and will adopt the final budget on May 4. As regular readers of this column may know, state law requires local budgets to be balanced; we cannot run a deficit like they do across the river. The marked-up budget is based on a tax rate of $1.14 per $100 of assessed valuation, one cent lower than the current rate. Nonetheless, increases in real estate values countywide means that many homeowners will see a modest increase in their tax bill. The Stormwater Services district tax rate remains at $0.0325 per $100 valuation. The Refuse Collection Fee (for county trash collection) will increase from $370 to $400 per household, and county leaf collection, for those in Sanitary Service Districts that have the service, is maintained at $0.012 per $100 valuation. For the second year in a row, the County Executive’s budget proposed in February did not include compensation increases for county employees. Recognizing the hard work of employees to maintain county services in the face of the pandemic, the Board re-directed the $20 million Economic Recovery Reserve to employee pay, as well as $9.9 million balance from the Third Quarter Review, attributable to updated revenue projections and BPOL (business, professional, and occupational license) taxes. Those adjustments result in a one percent increase in pay for county employees, and 15 percent salary supplements for support staff in the Office of the Public Defender and state probation and parole officers. Additionally, the Board directed the County Executive to prioritize funding for the county’s full compensation program as part of the FY 2023 budget. Legislation signed by Governor Northam granted teachers across the Commonwealth a five percent salary increase in FY 2022. The cost for Fairfax County would be $122.9 million, but the state provides funding only for two percent of that five percent raise, or $22.4 million. Localities must provide

a local fund match, requiring an additional $100.4 million of local funds, or an additional four cents on the tax rate, to fully fund the Commonwealth increase. Fairfax County must provide at least a two percent match to draw down state funding, resulting in a net cost to our school system of $40.2 million, with the state cost being $8.9 million. Teachers deserve a raise but, like the proverbial gift horse, this is one offer that needs a careful look. On behalf of the Board, Chairman Jeff McKay sent a letter to the Governor last month, asking that the local match requirement be suspended for this biennium, but no such adjustment has been forthcoming from Richmond. State elected officials, with great fanfare, often announce, K-12 compensation increases in the state budget, a confusing message since such a small percentage actually is funded by the state. It’s a nice sound bite, and may look good on a campaign mailer, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, relying instead on local taxpayers to make state promises a reality. The marked-up county budget provides about half of what is needed for a minimal raise, with the School Board responsible for finding the other half in its budget. Like most budgeting, that will require some difficult choices. Fairfax County is sponsoring a shredding event this Saturday, May 1, at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale. Shredding trucks will be available at 7 a.m., and shredding will continue until 11 a.m., or earlier, if the trucks get full. County residents may bring up to four medium-sized boxes of documents to shred, and vehicles must be in line before 11 a.m., when the line will close. Non-sensitive documents, magazines, newspapers, and other papers may be placed in your own curbside recycling container; they do not need to be shredded before recycling.  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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CRIME REPORT Week of April 19 – 25, 2021

Fraud, Falls Ave, April 21, 11:22 AM, an incident of fraud was reported. Disorderly, Drunk in Public, Wilson Blvd, April 22, 01:55 AM, a 40-year-old Asian female of Lorton, VA, was arrested for disorderly conduct and appearing drunk in public. Identity Theft, Lincoln Ave, April 22, 9:54 AM, identity theft was reported.

Larceny from Building, Timber Lane, April 23rd, 08:46 AM, an external front door knob was reported stolen. Larceny from Building, E Broad St, April 23rd, 09:43 AM, miscellaneous lawn equipment was stolen from an unsecured garage where the equipment was stored. DUI, No valid O/L and False ID to Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), Hillwood Ave, April 24th, 11:09 PM, a 29-yeart-old white male of Alexandria was arrested for DUI, No valid OL and False

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Jan. 6 Capitol Sacking: Putin’s Role (Part 3)

Putin’s ongoing hands-on role in the cultivation and advancement of the QAnon and other radical right movements in the U.S. is not going away, despite the setback these operations suffered primarily by failing to win re-election for Putin’s agent Trump last November, which would have been tantamount to election for life had it succeeded. The January 6 sacking of the Capitol was one step in the effort to re-group and press ahead. The November election effort failed for one principal reason and one only: the rising up of the American citizenry to generate a record electoral turnout to throw the bum out. Voters understood better than the pundits and commentators, and even better than Trump’s opposition political leadership, what a foul and dangerous menace to FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS American society Trump and his movement represented. That movement now circumscribes a large majority of the Republican Party. This Trumpian menace is going to be with us for the long-haul, and must be met by a massive counter-mobilization that goes far deeper into our culture than just “get out the vote” efforts for the next round of Democrats. This is World War 3 in the minds of Putin and savvy U.S. counterintelligence professionals. It will be a protracted war that Putin is resolved to win, to achieve total victory, rendering democracy globally moribund. Putin’s ambitions are every bit as grandiose as Hitler’s ever were. He aims to take over the globe against democracy, and sees the U.S. and the Atlantic Alliance currently as the biggest single obstacle to that. In this context, Putin is every bit as anti-semitic and ruthless as Hitler ever was. He and his allies have the mindset of vicious old-world oligarchs who have frequently practiced ethnic cleansing over the centuries to advance their causes. His designs on China are even more long-term and sophisticated. China is anticipating this by, among other things, jailing and “re-educating” a million Uyeghurs in its northwest territories to protect its “New Silk Road” ambitions through that area but also to blunt whatever ethnic-driven advantages the Russians might seek to exploit in the future. The ancestors of these people were horrified by the Enlightenment and everything that led up to it, including the invention of moveable type, that led to the American revolution, the first true revolution against their world. They’ve always sought to rule by fostering ignorance and fear-driven antiscience superstition among the masses. The wacky belief system of QAnon these days is only the latest manifestation of that eons-long effort. It was in the early 1970s, as I calculate it, that the clumsy very expedient and temporary alliance between the Soviet Union and the West to stop Hitler had played itself out and the Soviets and their allies were ready to use the pretext of the shadows of that alliance to trick a semi-witting Nixon, under the pretext of a “new detente” to go along with a major Soviet intervention into U.S. society. The portal of entry was the U.S. “counterculture” that had been steered by U.S. domestic counterinsurgency elements away from seriouslychallenging civil rights and anti-war movements, with the help of the mass proliferation of mind-altering drugs like LSD, into a malleable, stupefied “sex, drugs and rock-and-roll” phenomenon. The deals cut between the Soviets and Nixon included the deployment of thousands of Russian emigres to the U.S., in particular mafia thugs and criminals, to ostensibly help Nixon deal with his domestic problems represented by the Italian mafia and the residual youth-oriented “counterculture.” The political leadership of the counterculture would be cleaned out and morphed into an anti-liberal force. An “alliance” between Left and Right among key elements in the counterculture, advanced with the help of clueless but important U.S. figures like the rightwing scion William Buckley and his “Young Americans for Freedom” movement. The first objective was to crush the remains of the liberal “Old Left” influencers in the counterculture. It turned out surprisingly easy to do. The impact of the old Communist Party U.S.A. and Socialist Workers Party, among others, was effectively muted by thug attacks, including with use and threatened use of nunchucks, at their meetings. (To be continued).

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APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

 Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Among the many benefits of the new W&OD Bridge over Lee Highway is its recovered view of the old rusted railroad tracks. Thanks to preservationists who pressed planners to save the nearby Benjamin Elliott coal trestle, the chipped rail ties rescued from decades of overgrowth expand the viewable remnants of Arlington’s glory days of train transport. You can still enter the old Southern Railways caboose open weekends along the trail at Bluemont Park. And the truly curious can read display panels near the Marymount University building at Fairfax Dr. and N. Glebe Rd. for a nifty history of the Lacey Car Barn’s trolley service a century ago. But the special place of railroads — “the Internet” of the 19th century — in our area is easily forgotten. So I put together a sketch with help from history enthusiast Bernie Berne. The tale involving a dense family tree of owner-investors begins in 1848, with the organizing of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. As the City of Alexandria says proudly on its website, the city emerged as a major hub linking cargo shippers in the North to central Virginia towns. The Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire line expanded in the 1850s until disruption by the Civil War. Then came a new array of rail companies, as detailed in the history Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Revisited by David A.

Guillaudeu and Paul E. McCray. By 1900 the Southern Railway had taken over the tracks through Arlington to allow shipping of wheat and dairy products from farms, and to carry vacationers to the town of Bluemont at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enter Washington Post owner John McLean and U.S. Senator Stephen Elkins, who assembled what became the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. They began in 1901 by purchasing the embryonic Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad. By 1906, their firm had laid tracks for leisure seekers to ride from the District of Columbia through Arlington and out for a picnic overlooking Great Falls (the current route of Old Dominion Drive). Lots of fun for recreators and commuters, though segregation laws caused anguish and occasional clashes between whites and “colored” passengers. A W&OD employee timetable from 1939 specified: “Conductors shall set apart and designate in each car certain seats to be occupied by white passengers and rear seats to be occupied by colored passengers, and shall not discriminate between the races as to the quality or convenience.” Most important to average Arlingtonians, the rail companies branched out into the electric trolley business. In 1896, the Washington, Arlington & Falls Church Railway began running trolleys from Rosslyn to Falls Church (the present routes of

Fairfax Drive and I-66). By 1907, that line linked downtown Washington to Ballston, Vienna, and the Town of Fairfax, says the county’s marker. By 1924, the larger Washington-Virginia Railway had 64 trolley stops in Arlington alone, on four branches. Lines crossed the Potomac on the old Aqueduct Bridge and on another branch on what became the 14th Street bridges, taking passengers through “Arlington Junction” in what became Crystal City and all the way to Mount Vernon. The trolley railway to Fairfax City ceased in 1939, but W&OD passenger service lasted until 1951. After the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway purchased the W&OD in 1956, freight shipping continued until 1968. Then came rails to trails. And this year’s bridge. *** Admirers of the Rosslyn skyline lost a benefactor April 11 with the death of developer Stanley Westreich, at 84 in San Diego. Beginning in the 1950s, his Westfield Realty constructed 10 buildings on four million square feet in the formerly run-down neighborhood known for pawn shops. Those towers at 1000 and 1100 Wilson Blvd., formerly occupied by Gannett/USA Today, were his. Westreich later helped found Kastle Systems and served on the first board of Capital One, according to his publicist. His son Anthony is CEO of Rosslyn-based Monday Properties.

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Self-Guided Women’s Walk Will be Slightly Longer to Allow for Proper Covid Safety Continued from Page 2

Church City Schools and Sally Phillips and Ellen Salsbury, who were prominent volunteers within the school system, and either served on City boards and commissions or on the school board (or both). The late Marie Hirst Yochim, who passed away in 2012, is the final grand marshal. She’s best known for her decades of work with the Daughters of the American Revolution, which includes serving as the national president of the DAR for three years. Outside of grand marshals, Connelly said that the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce will be recognizing 44 female entrepreneurs in the City with their own section along South Maple Street. The section will consist of the small yard-style signs where the womens’ picture and their responses to the three questions — Who inspires you? What’s the best part about owning a business? What’s your superpower? Connelly added that 18 notable Falls Church students will also be

acknowledged during the walk. Called the “Young Women of Action,” they include the students who organized the protest following the killing of George Floyd last year, as well as the leaders in the SCA, Black Student Union, Social Justice Clubs, Women’s History, Mental Health and the School Board. These new sections are meant to help flesh out the walk more as Covid precautions have temporarily canceled the feature where esteemed women in the City would talk to passersby. Formerly, some of those women were Mary Gavin, the City’s Chief of Police, and the late Barb Cram, a volunteer maven for decades in Falls Church. But even if there aren’t docents to interact with along the walk, people should notice that some of the new sidewalks along Maple Street will have their own text to read from. “When the City added some sidewalk there on that block of Maple Avenue that was never there before. And this was when Nikki suggested it should have women’s history inscribed on it,” Connelly

said, who added that there are roughly 12 sidewalk blocks with text on them. “So in front of the Henderson house, it’s written in stone and it’s Henderson history. And if you go a little further along in front of Borek G, it has women’s history. The hope is that, as sidewalks get added throughout that neighborhood, we’ll be able to add more women permanently instead of just on once a year signage.” Connelly did point out that there won’t be a rally-like event at the end, as there has been previously. But she believes that people just bumping into those they haven’t seen in a while will help satisfy the social itch so many are fiending for right now. The walk will also have partnerships with restaurants who will be offering special deals as well. Connelly didn’t want to reveal a definitive list since it’s still being hammered out, but she did say that the Johnson’s Cafe and Happy Tart are looking to provide walkers with something unique. The walk is self-guided and will take place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Faces of Falls Church

THOUGH IRELAND’S FOUR PROVINCES has been a staple of the Falls Church scene since 1997, Kevin has been manning the helm for over 10 years. When asked if he’s seeing a solid return of business his reply was, “slowly, but surely.” (Photo: J. Michael Whalen/JMichaelWhalen.com)

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Business News & Notes Urbano Mexican Fare Hosting Cinco de Mayo Festival at Mosaic Urbano Mexican Fare is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Festival at Mosaic District on Wednesday, May 5 from noon – 9 p.m. The event will be outdoors with some tent coverage on the block of District Avenue and Merrifield Town Center Drive. A live DJ will perform from 4 – 6 p.m. and be followed by a live band from 6 – 9 p.m. Attendees must be 21 and older to enter the block party area. Tickets for food and drinks will be sold. For more information about Urbano and its Tex-Mex inspired food using fresh ingredients, visit www.urbano116.com.

Falls Church Arts Hosting Finger Painting for Adults Falls Church Arts is hosting Finger Painting for Adults: Creating Your Own Abstract Figure Art on Saturday, May 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. This virtual workshop, taught by Erin Pedati, will teach attendees a variety of traditional and playful mark-making techniques and ideas to create figure-based art. Students will walk away with an overview of figurative abstraction, looking to female painters such as Jennifer Packer, Marlene Dumas, and Joan Brown as inspiration, and confidence in their own ability to draw/paint the most challenging subject, the human body. Pedati is an award-winning creative who focuses primarily on the human figure and how physical materials can directly express movement, thoughts, and mood in an abstract way. She has been featured in several shows in the DC/Northern Virginia area. For more information, visit www.fallschurcharts.org.

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Local Organizations and Businesses Sponsoring FC Women’s History Walk A number of local organizations and businesses are sponsoring the Falls Church Women’s History Walk on Sunday, May 3 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is being presented by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, Falls Church Elected Women, and the Women’s History Group and sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution’s Falls Church Chapter, Village Preservation & Improvement Society, Citizens for a Better City, Falls Church League of Women Voters, Falls Church Jazzercise, Falls Church Branch of the American Association of University Women, the City of Falls Church, Falls Church City Public Schools, and the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. The event is a self-paced two mile loop that includes information about past and present women who have made or are making an impact on the Falls Church Community. The free event will have three starting points to help attendees maintain social distancing. For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/view/fc-womens-history-walk/ home/2021-womens-history-walk.

Code Ninjas Falls Church Hosting Summer Camp Open House May 2 Code Ninjas Falls Church is hosting a Summer Camp Open House on Sunday, May 2, noon – 3 p.m. Attendees will get a sneak peek of Code Ninja’s new camps including Stop Motion Animation, Music Coding, Storytelling with Scratch, and more. Code Ninjas is located at 479 S. Maple Avenue in Falls Church. For more information or to register, visit www.codeninjas. com/va-falls-church.

Homestretch Hosting Virtual Benefit Breakfast on May 6 Homestretch is hosting a Virtual Benefit Breakfast on Thursday, May 6 from 8 – 9 a.m. The event will include information about the nonprofit that lifts homeless families out of poverty and testimonials from those who have benefited from its programs. For more information, visit www.homestretchva.org.  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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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR LOCALEVENTS THURSDAY, APRIL 29 News-Press “Spot of the Week.” Interested readers and supporters of the Falls Church NewsPress can join the staff at a restaurant in or around the City of Falls Church to celebrate the paper’s weekly publication. Learn how to become a member of the News-Press, get a chance to purchase one of the paper’s books, “The Front Page: The First Five Years: 1991 – 1996” or just get to know members of the staff better. This week the News-Press will be at the Italian Cafe (7161 Lee Hwy., Falls Church) from 6 – 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 Animal Tracks. If you’ve ever seen animal tracks in the mud, how would you like to take

your own footprints home? Participants will make plaster animal feet with Arlington Parks staff. While the prints set, the group will hike the forest looking for animal tracks and traces. Ages 6 to 10. Register children and adults; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. To register, contact 703228-4747. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 1 – 2:30 p.m. Pop-Up Park at Bluemont Park. Interested attendees can join Arlington Parks staff at Bluemont Park, where they can meet a naturalist or historian at one of the parks while discovering the nature and history of Arlington. The staff person may bring hands-on learning items, artifacts or activities for attendees to enjoy. No registration is needed. Cancelled if raining. Bluemont Park (601 N Manchester St.,

Arlington) 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 1 Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 8 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit the Calendar item’s page at fallschurchva.gov/547/ Farmers-Market-To-Go. ArlinGnomes Scavenger Hunt. Interested park goers can participate in a self-guided ArlinGnomes scavenger hunt, starting on April 24 and going until May 24, at Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park. Here’s how to play: Find all ten gnomes along the trail; scan the QR code next to each gnome to earn a letter and learn fun facts about the element of nature each gnome protects;

at the end of your journey put all of the letters together to form a password and then enter the password to become a Guardian of ArlinGnome. If any participants don’t have a phone, pamphlets will be located at the entrance of the park as a low-tech way to participate. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington).

SUNDAY, MAY 2 Falls Church Women’s History Walk. The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and Elected Women of Falls Church invite the community to walk the City and learn about the women whose efforts forged Falls Church. Forty-four “Her-Story” Stations along the two mile walk showcase the activism, commitment and contributions of notable women in Falls Church from the 1600s through today. The walk will be a self-guided 2-mile loop from Falls Church

City Hall to Cherry Hill Farmhouse. Participants may start at any point along the route, but please note - docents will be available to provide guidance and directions at three locations along the route: Big Chimneys Park, Tinner Hill Park and City Hall. Due to Covid-19 concerns, no gatherings are planned prior to the beginning or the ending times of the event. All participants are asked to adhere to mask and social distancing guidance. For more information, visit sites. google.com/view/fc-womens-history-walk/home. All day.

VIRTUALEVENTS THURSDAY, APRIL 29 Falls Church Amateur Writers Group. A group for aspiring writers. Participants meet to discuss and offer constructive criticism for each other’s work. Contact psullivan@fallschurchva.gov to get the invitation to the group. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 City Nature Challenge. The City Nature Challenge is a friendly, annual, global event to record

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biodiversity. The City of Falls Church is participating as part of the Washington DC metro area. From April 30 – May 3, participants will document wild plants, animals, and fungi using the iNaturalist mobile app and website. Following the observation period, we’ll all pitch in, with the help of experts, to identify what we’ve seen in our region — and compete globally for most species observed. Global results will be announced on May 10.

MONDAY, MAY 3 ESOL Conversation Group (online). Interested participants can practice their English with a weekly ESOL conversation group. This program meets online via Zoom. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8:30 p.m. City Council Work Session (online). City Council work sessions are held the first and third Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. All participating members of the City Council will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings. The meeting may also be viewed on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. The virtual meeting will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

THEATER&ARTS VIRTUAL (ON DEMAND) Daniel J. Watts’ “The Jam: Only

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APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 17

Child” (online). In Daniel J. Watts’ “The Jam: Only Child,” a nod to his great-grandmother’s plentiful recipe and the spirited spontaneity of jazz, 2020 Tony Award nominee Daniel J. Watts (Hamilton, Ike Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) recounts his life as the only child of a single mother. From the fierce growing pains of boyhood innocence to the awkwardness of teenage years to a proud Black man, Daniel digs through his memory’s attic in a powerful and playful story of metamorphosis. Bursting with lyricism, dynamic tap dance, and heart, this delectable treat is a little bit savory, a little bit sweet, and a little bit sticky — but it’s all good. $35. Sigtheatre.org.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, APRIL 29 Bobby Thompson Band — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Michelle Swan and Friends. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186. Free Flowing Musical Experience. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2370300. Sol Roots Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 Josh Allen & Garrett Acoustic Show Live and In Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Super Funk 5. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-858-9186. Jerry Tripsters (Jerry Garcia Tribute) — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave.

SQUID INC. will be Falls Church Distillers on Saturday. (Photo: Facebook.com/SquidIncReggae) E, Vienna). $20. 7 p.m. 703-2551566.

A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-8589186.

Mother’s Little Helper: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703237-0300.

Born Cross Eyed (Grateful Dead Tribute) — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Chris Timbers Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.

SATURDAY, MAY 1 Smokin’ Lounge (Janna Audey and Rob Santos). Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186. Randoll Rivers Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703241-9504. Squid Inc. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste

Jehovah’s Favorite Choir: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300. Country Six Pack Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:45 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SUNDAY, MAY 2 Mark Werblin. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186. Too Extra Band Live and In Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church).

3:45 p.m. 703-241-9504. Cosmic Carl’s Drum Circle Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186. Robbin Kapsalis and the Vintage #18. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300. Karen Jonas Live — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Linwood Taylor Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:45 p.m. 703-2419504.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 Rewind Wednesday’s with David Thong and Friends — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, 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 18 | APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

with

David Thong

APRIL

29 AY

SD R U H T

Bobby Thompson Jammin’ Java 7 p.m. 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna 703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com

30 AY

FRID

Super Funk 5 Falls Church Distillers

6 p.m. 442 S Washington St., Falls Church 703-237-0300 • fcdistillers.com

Mother’s Little Helper The State Theatre 7:30 p.m. 220 N Washington St., Falls Church 703-858-9186 • thestatetheatre.com

MAY

BY BRIAN INDRE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

A lot of bars and music venues are ramping up their outdoor concerts as we move into spring, and as the pandemic continues to cancel indoor shows or by limiting the capacity too much, hardly making it profitable. David Thong, a local musician, recalls playing a show this past winter when it was only 38 degrees outside, saying he was surprised just how many people came out in the cold to see live music, but seeing eager fans helped restore inspiration and hope during these hard times. With warmer weather here, David Thong & Friends will be the featured performance for Jammin Java’s ongoing weekly “Rewind Wednesday” outdoor concert series, which kicked off last week. Also in celebration of Jammin Java’s 20th anniversary, the outdoor concert series are free, with donations being accepted to support the musician(s). Thong is excited to play the “Rewind” concert series, which is an impromptu show where he’ll take requests from the crowd covering hit songs that range from the 1960s to the 2000s. This concert series started last summer, and Thong said that it was quite successful with great support from a few local businesses. What makes this show so much fun is Thong’s ability to read the crowd much like a DJ, only with live instruments as he takes listeners on a nostalgic trip through the different genres of music. “With arena shows cancelled and the lack of national touring bands playing, this is the year to focus on the local music scene, which live music fans will be looking into while we try to get through this summer,” Thong said. “It is looking bright as far as more people getting vaccinated in the area. I already got my first shot, and get my second in a couple weeks.” Thong has enjoyed performing and singing in front of a crowd since he was a kid, but it was

DAVID THONG. (C�� P��) around the time he moved from Richmond to Arlington in 2007, that his hobby transitioned into something more serious. “I started listening to Michael Jackson as a kid, and really got into the alternative rock scene in the 1990s, with bands like Weezer, Green Day, and Sublime, which would best define my sound,” said Thong. “I was in college when I picked up the guitar; I’m self taught and never took any lessons, but soon started playing in coffee shops, busking in the streets and playing open mic nights to start making a name for myself,” said Thong. He explains that playing regular open mic nights at the Front Page bar and restaurant in Arlington, which closed a few years ago, was where he really got his start. He also played at many bars and ven-

ues throughout Ballston and Clarendon, back when you could hear music from live bands pouring into the streets from a plethora of bars. Throughout the pandemic, Thong has been playing once a month at the State Theatre’s outdoor area, and getting creative by recording collaborative videos with bandmates over the internet. “This summer is looking a lot better than last summer, and with Covid cases hopefully going down, and with people getting vaccinated, we need to look to the local scene to bring back the music,” said Thong. “We really need to support our venues and restaurants that are still struggling.” David Thong & Friends will be playing at Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave East, Vienna) on May 5 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit jamminjava.com.

RD SATU

Country Six Pack JV’s Restaurant

7:45 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church

These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:  Nicholas F. Benton – Totally Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler  Matt Delaney – React by Erick Sermon featuring Redman 

Nick Gatz – Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses



Ted White – Rumble by Link Wray

SPO RTS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 19

Sports Roundup: Board Takes 11th in States, Softball Opens With a Bang by Mike Abler

Falls Church News-Press

Cross Country Last Week, Senior Colson Board finished 11th in the 5000 meter race with a time of 16:43 and earned an All-State Medal for his efforts. His performance was the fastest time for a Mustang at States. It was also the highest finish for a Mustang in the state tournament since 2012.

Softball & Baseball The Mustangs softball team opened their season with a 6-4 road win over Manassas Park High School on the road to open up their season on Monday. The pivotal moment was a solo home run by junior centerfielder Elle Erhlich over the left-center part of the field. The rest of the Mustangs were there to greet her as she reached home plate. The Mustangs’ next game was Wednesday night on the road against Skyline High School on the road. Results were not avail-

able by press time. The Mustangs baseball team will open the season against Brentsville District High School at home on Friday.

Tennis On Monday, the Boys and Girls Tennis teams opened their seasons with 9-0 wins over Skyline. Both the boys and the girls are 3-0 to start the season. The girls will travel to Brentsville District High School on Friday, while the boys will host Brentsville District this Friday at Wakefield Park.

Lacrosse On Wednesday night, the Mustangs Girls Lacrosse teams opened their season on the road against Paul VI Catholic High School. Results were not available by press time. The boys’ team will open its season on Thursday when they host John Handley High School. The girls will travel to Handley that night for their second game of the season.

COLSON BOARD placed 11th in states by running his 5000 meter race in well under 17 minutes. He was the highest placer the Mustangs in nearly a decade. (Photo: Carol Sly)

Soccer This Friday will be the opening game for the Boys Soccer team as they take on Manassas Park

High School on the road. The Mustangs will try to regain their States Title which they earned in 2018. The girls soccer team will begin their season at home host-

ing Manassas Park, and will look to start another decade-long state championship run after Maggie Walker Governor’s School ended it in 2019.

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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 hereb y 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) 5513247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

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Week of| FCNP.COM 4/26/21 - 5/2/21 FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Crossword

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 21

by Margie E. Burke

The Weekly Crossword ACROSS 1 Parade entry 5 Idina Menzel's "Frozen" role 9 Prefix with manage or wave 14 Safe, at sea 15 It's out on a limb 16 Open, as a jacket 17 Unwavering 19 Far from fresh 20 Huge crowd 21 Protected 23 Certain believer 25 Hitchcock film, "____ Window" 26 Kitchen cleaner 28 Parsley, e.g. 32 Fido's foot 33 Kind of spray 36 "The Divine Comedy" author 37 Doohickey 39 Big commotions 41 Hold on property 42 Paparazzi target, briefly 44 Yard machine 46 Recurrent twitch 47 Supersize, say 49 Forcible seizure 51 Straight, at the bar 52 TV, radio, etc. 53 Home, to Americans abroad 57 Opening words 60 Like some tabloid headlines 61 Occupation featured in "Six Feet Under" 63 Japanese cartoons 64 It follows that 65 Axis of ___ 66 Heron, eg. 67 Distort, in a way 68 Depend (on) DOWN 1 Quite a party

by Margie E. Burke

21 24

33 38

35 40

STRANGE BREW

JOHN DEERING

41 45

51 54

29 36

25 28

2 High in the Andes 3 Useless type 4 Make numb 5 Little toymaker 6 Smallest in degree 7 Scout's uniform item 8 Lingering light 9 Frank topper 10 Part of I.R.S. 11 Captain of industry 12 Anger, with "up" 13 Pundit's page 18 Lower oneself 22 Grassy meadow 24 Usher's offering 26 Nutmeg, e.g. 27 Eucharistic plate 29 Tagalong's lack 30 Ale holder 31 Consequently 34 Now and then 35 Big deal 38 In the _____.. (for now)

40 Dried up 43 Puppy supplier 45 Pie cuts, essentially 48 Lots of fun, slangily 50 Lobster feature 52 Combine

53 Picnic dish 54 Yellowfin, e.g. 55 Like Death Valley 56 Unhip sort 58 Commuter line 59 Nothing but 62 Kind of truck

Sudoku

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

Answers to Last Week's Crossword:

C E D E D S E R A B O O M

O X I D E

A I M E R

C L I N I C T R A R E L A T M I G C A L E S I N K N C E E E T

H E N U S V E A R P O N R E O S U S S I R K

A L T O

C A I S S G O A N G S E L A L D I M P I S N E

E N V O I D O T E B R E E

S E E

A R A U R G N A A T T R E B S C T O V E L A D O S S E S S P A A L

B U B B L E J E T

E L L A

D E E N

N O N E

D E E M

B L I N I

E A V E S

S M E L T

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

4/18/21

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. © 2021 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

1. On May 6, 2019, what caused an 18-minute delay in the start of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park? What Billiken African soccer was the 2.1. The — agreat charm doll first player to score goals in four difdescribed as “The God of Things as ferent FA Cup final matches? They Ought to Be” —JoeisRobbie the mascot 2. Attorney/politician and for what Jesuit Danny university’s actor/comedian Thomasathletic were programs? the founders of what NFL franchise? 3.3.What horse beat Triple Crown What University of Florida Gators winner War Admiral a head-tooffensive tackle did the in Detroit Lions selectmatch in theatfirst round Race of theCourse 1985 head Pimlico NFL Draft? in 1938? With hisPark bronze medal in isthe 4.4.Goodison in Liverpool the 100-meter dashofatwhat the 2002 Sydney home stadium English PreOlympic Games, Obadele Thompson mier League football club? won the first Olympic medal in the 5. Billy Johnson, an NFL wide history of what Caribbean nation? receiver and return specialist was 5. “Saturday Night Live’s”who Kenan famous for his touchdown dances, was Thompson made his motion-picture known nickname? debut by in what whatpopular 1994 Disney sports 6. Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky comedy sequel? and6.Bo Jackson superWhat 1964were U.S.animated Open winner retiredinfrom competitive golf in 1967 heroes what Saturday-morning carandseries went on a 35-year career as a toon thattoaired on NBC in 1991? lead analyst for CBS Sports? 7. What all-female professional 7. What teamsponsored won the first baseball team, by three Coors National Collegiate Women’s Ice HockBrewing Company, barnstormed ey Championships from 2001-03? across America from 1994-97? Answers LAST WEEKS ANSWERS Answers 1. Didier Drogba. 1.2.AThe swarm of bees. Miami Dolphins. 2.3.Saint Louis University. Lomas Brown. 3.4.Seabiscuit. Barbados. D2: TheF.C. Mighty Ducks. 4.5.Everton Ken Venturi. 5.6.“White Shoes.” The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. 6.7.ProStars. © 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc. 7. The Colorado Silver Bullets. © 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� C��

25 � 10 Y�� A�� N��-P�� Falls Church News-Press Vol. VI, No. 10 • April 25, 1996

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXI, No. 11 • April 28,, 2011

Special Prosecutors Clean Bill of Health Clears Lasso of Allegations

F.C. Council Finalizes $65 Million FY12 Budget, Vows Economic Growth

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney S. Randolf Sengel, appointed by a Circuit Court judge in January as a Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations of misconduct levied against Falls Church City Manager David R. Lasso and other city officials, said he found no evidence of wrongdoing.

A 13 percent decline in the size of the City’s workforce in three years, combined with a salary freeze over that time, added to a zero-growth transfer to the school system to balance a $65 million Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the City of Falls Church approved by the F.C. City Council Monday at a real estate tax rate of $1.27

Lower Taxes Continued from Page 4

for the average homeowner. The stormwater utility rate increase is needed to address increased investment in repairs and maintenance of the City’s stormwater system. The new budget allocates $100,000 to the Affordable Housing Fund which will be used to accelerate the City’s affordable housing programs, supplement the Amazon REACH grant funds that have been awarded to the City, and leverage future

developer contributions to the affordable housing fund. In addition to approving the operating budget for FY2022, the City Council approved the FY2022-FY2027 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) as recommended by the Planning Commission. This is the first CIP to undergo the Equity Lens Diagnostic Assessment of the investments that are in the six-year plan. The process will continue to be refined over time to guide future project planning efforts that the City will take on. The CIP will meet many critical needs, including:

Transportation: $3.3 million; projects include West Falls Transportation Project, Park Avenue Great Streets Project, and North Washington and Columbia Intersection Improvements; Stormwater: $8.5 million; six major flood mitigation projects prioritized by the Stormwater Task Force; Sanitary Sewer: $986,000 for Arlington and Alexandria wastewater treatment plant upgrades; Parks: $150,000; trails and playground equipment; Fellows Park master plan project; Public Safety: Police body worn camera video storage.

MAKE SURE THEY’RE IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT

NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat

The Dunn family of Falls Church adopted Bella (right) back in February), a spaniel mix. She was reunited with her brother Ollie soon after for a playdate and melting ice for dessert. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

A cry of anguish. Two masks tossed to the ground. A rippling golden robe. As a revenge-seeker makes her escape, tragedy unfolds in the ancient Greek city of Corinth. Justice High School’s production of Medea was a compelling look into the internal conflict of the titular character Medea. Medea is a classical Greek piece of theatre translated into English by David Kovacs. It follows Medea when she and her two children were abandoned by her husband Jason and banished from their home. With her knowledge of medicines and poisons, she concocted a plan to take revenge on Jason by killing everyone he loved — including her two children. With a small cast of six people, the majority of the actors in Medea were double cast as both individual characters and members of the chorus. Even when faced with the challenging task of switching roles and staying on stage throughout the major-

ity of the show, the actors easily navigated the stage. The costume changes were consistently seamless and transitioned naturally between scenes, allowing the audience to become engaged in the story. Sofie Edwards as Medea was captivating, as her character navigated her emotional turmoil. With a strong grasp on emotion complemented with closedoff body language, Edwards excellently captured the heartbroken and furious Medea. Additionally, Elijah Kassa as Medea’s husband Jason was a great foil to Edwards, with a wide range from an easy-to-hate antagonist to a grief-stricken father. Notably, the chemistry between Edwards and Kassa shone in their introductory argument. During Medea and Jason’s arguments, the pair balanced their characters’ former relationship with the anger at each other in the present. The chorus of Medea, led by Kaila Bertha, tied the whole production together. From narrating the situation to putting a voice to Medea’s internal con-

flict, the chorus was an entertaining and vital part of the production. Their use of overlapping dialogue and repetition added a sense of turmoil without being overwhelming. The minimal technical elements heightened the production by emphasizing the actors’ performances. The blocking (Elizabeth Cheek) was eyecatching in its variances and managed to fill the stage even with a small cast. The justasymmetrical placement of the chorus added a level of visual intrigue to the show, drawing the audience’s attention and adding to the tension of the scenes. The seamless integration of the main cast and chorus tied together with Medea’s internal conflict, showcasing just how present her doubts were as she prepared to take revenge. With a small yet powerful cast and thought-provoking performances, Justice High School’s newest production delivered the tragic tale of Medea beautifully, leaving a powerful impression on the audience.

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PAGE 24 | APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021

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