Falls Church News-Press 5-11-2023

May 11 - 17, 2023

Founded 1991

Vol. XXXIII

No. 13

The

New F.C. Budget OK’d With No Tax Change

Unanimous Vote Culminates Copasetic Budget Season

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

In one of the more copasetic annual budget deliberations in memory, the Falls Church City Council Monday unanimously adopted its Fiscal Year 2024 budget with no real estate tax increase and no new general government debt. The $119 million budget was almost identical to what City Manager Wyatt Shields initially recommended last month.

Led by Council member Marybeth Connelly, high praise was afforded the recently crafted revenue sharing agreement between the City government and the Falls Church City Public schools for removing a large portion of what had been contentious budget deliberations in the past. That policy shift by the Council, long sought by the schools, has enabled the schools, in their funding request from the City, to come within their budget without having to impose on the Council for more funding at the last minute.

A late proposal to lower the real estate tax rate by a penny from

Continued on Page 3

Inside This Week

Senior Living

F.C. FORWARD’S ‘FAB 5’

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

Board unanimously voted Tuesday to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, complying again this year with the F.C.City

Senior Living has seen many changes so don’t miss out on this section that includes housing and care options for older adults who may require assistance with daily activities or those who pre fer a community setting with other seniors.

See Pages 7 - 10

local funding, representing 80.4 percent of the total budget. With the addition of expected state and federal revenue, the total

Church City Public Schools, it was noted that “This is the fifth consecutive year the School Board has met City Council

School Board chair Laura Downs noted, “The School

See Page 11

Local Dem Leader Objects to Petersen as Speaker

Former Falls Church Democratic Committee chair Peg Willingham issued a statement yesterday protesting the decision to have State Sen. Chap Petersen be the keynote speaker at a Memorial Day service. Willingham wrote, “I was taken aback to see that State Senator Chap Petersen will be making remarks at this year’s Memorial Day program. Perhaps the organizers are not aware of the following?

“1) He is not our State Senator; Falls Church is still represented by Senator Richard Saslaw. 2) Petersen is running in the June 20th Democratic primary to succeed Senator Saslaw. It is highly inappropriate to have one candidate speak but not the other. To be balanced, the organizers should also allow the other candidate, Mr. Saddam Salim, speak as well. 3) Petersen is not a veteran, unlike either Senator Saslaw or our Delegate, Marcus Simon (who has never been invited to speak at this event, even though Delegate Simon has represented the city in the General Assembly for the past decade.)”

Former House Speaker Endorses State Sen. Candidate Salim

Former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn issued a statement Monday endorsing Saddam Salim in the upcoming Democratic primary for the State Senate 37th District seat. In a statement, she said, “As Speaker of the House of Delegates, I worked with Governor Northam and Democratic leadership to pass historic gun safety legislation to keep our communities safe. With each passing week, it becomes even more clear that we must take further action to curb our nation’s gun violence epidemic, including passing an assault weapons ban. We need leaders in the Virginia Senate who will vote on the side of Virginians, not the gun lobby — Saddam Salim will be that leader. I know he will work to expand our progress to make our communities safer, and so much more. I am proud to endorse Saddam in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 37.”

Fairfax Chair McKay Says New County Budget is “Balanced”

Following the Board of Supervisors’ adoption of its new fiscal year budget Tuesday, Fairfax County Board chair Jeff McKay wrote that “this budget that I have worked on with my colleagues takes a balanced approach by investing in our workforce, providing car tax relief, reducing the real estate tax rate, and investing in our community’s priorities, particularly our highest priority the Fairfax County Public

Schools. This budget recognizes the impact of inflation on our residents and on our ability to recruit and retain employees. It provides funding for key priorities in affordable housing, environmental protection, parks, libraries, protecting our most vulnerable residents, mental health treatment, and recognizes our future is uncertain and we must prepare for tougher times ahead.”

GOP Candidate for State Senate Visits F.C. Council

Ken Reid spoke at the public comment section of Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting to introduce himself as the Republican candidate for the 37th State Senate District seat in November.

Creative Cauldron Awarded Ross Roberts Funding

Creative Cauldron, the City of Falls Church’s pioneering theater and educational troupe, was notified by founder Laura Hull this week that it has been awarded a $20,000 Ross Roberts Fund for the Arts grant for its “Artes Para Todos” work in the community. It is the second time the troupe has received the award

Va. Jewish Communities Hail Signing of Anti-Semitism Law

Following the signing into law this week of HB 1606, which adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, Virginia’s Jewish Communities issued the following joint statement:

“With today’s ceremonial bill signing, Virginia joins 29 other states and the District of Columbia in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as an educational tool to identify and combat antisemitism. The Virginia Jewish Communities of Northern Virginia, the Peninsula, Richmond and Tidewater are grateful for the partnerships that unified our communities as we educated our elected representatives about Jewish identity, antisemitism, and the value of the IHRA definition as a tool for combating the hatred of Jews. These partnerships will continue to benefit our communities for years.

“We especially appreciate our elected representatives in the Executive Branch and the General Assembly learning about the IHRA definition and engaging with our communities about the rising problem of antisemitism. We know that a definition alone will not erase antisemitism, but it is an important step affirming that the Commonwealth will not tolerate antiJewish hate.”

New City Budget Continues Efforts at Providing Excellent Services

Continued from Page 1

Council member Phil Duncan last week, participating through a remote hookup from his hospital bed just prior to his double lung transplant surgery, did not gain sufficient support from his colleagues. So, it will remain at $1.23 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The personal property, or vehicle, tax rate goes up by 50 cents to offset an 18.3 decline in used car values and the net effect is a 8.8 percent decrease in that tax. The sewer tax goes up by 3 percent, and the stormwater fee by 4 percent.

But overall the new budget that goes into effect on July 1 continues the City’s efforts at providing excellent government services, funding its award-winning schools, continuing its transformative Capital Improvements Plan, advances community priorities and reflects excellent financial management, said Mayor David Tarter.

“It is a responsible and responsive budget to perpetuate the City’s goals to be a great place to live, work and do business,” said Council member Debbie Hiscott.

The new budget reflects what

matters to the people of Falls Church, added Connelly in her remarks Monday. With the revenue sharing agreement making the process more predictable and making a “huge difference,” she said, “Things are just going to keep getting better.”

“It’s a good budget. We’re doing a lot,” chimed in Council member David Snyder. Council member Caroline Liam noted that unfunded needs not included in the budget will continue to be tracked.

Late modifications included dipping into the contingency fund to add to environmental sustainability programs and to fund special events (such as the New Year’s Eve Watch Night and July 4 events), and with use of reserves to add $850,000 to street paving, $360,000 to traffic signals and $430,000 to sidewalk improvements.

$140,000 was added to the affordable housing fund to extend offerings to families at an even lower 40 percent of area median income, and money was put in to extend the hours of the Mary Riley Styles public library by two hours on the weekends. The budget puts $30,000 toward purchasing 100 percent renewable energy credits for

City government operations and new energy data management software. These energy components will help the City reach its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

In a statement issued out of City Hall, Mayor Tarter added, “This year’s budget continues support for community priorities like school excellence, pedestrian safety, affordable housing, the environment, and fair pay while keeping our tax rate flat for the coming year. Smart growth and economic development continue to pay dividends for our community. I want to thank all who participated in the budget process this year.”

The approved budget, it was noted, supports key initiatives, such as Competitive pay for the City Workforce, Fully funds the School Board budget, Funding to allow the Library to open for two additional weekend hours, An additional School Resource Officer, A new three-person rapid response crew that will focus on pedestrian and bike safety, Expansion of photo traffic safety enforcement programs, Adding to the Affordable Housing Fund

With no changes to the current real estate tax of $1.23 per $100 of

assessed value, the average homeowner’s real estate tax bill will increase $364 or 3.4 percent due to rising assessed property values.

To keep up with inflation, the sanitary sewer rate will increase 3 percent to $10.48 per 1,000 gallons, which equates to a $15 increase per year for a household. The stormwater fee will increase by 4 percent to $20.05 per 200 square feet of impervious area, which equates to about $11 increase per year for a household.

The proposed budget invests in the City’s workforce by funding recommendations from a classification and compensation study, a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and step increase for police, a 6 percent merit increase for all other employees, and professional development opportunities.

The FY2024 General Fund bud-

get, inclusive of Schools and General Government, totals $119.16 million, which is a 5.6 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

The Capital Improvements Program (CIP) provides a plan for investment in City schools, parks and fields, library, government facilities, transportation, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. The six-year CIP totals $154 million, and provides funding for transportation ($93 million), sanitary sewer ($24 million), facilities and parks ($25 million), and stormwater improvements ($12 million).

The CIP relies heavily on federal and state grants. No new taxpayer supported debt is proposed until FY2027 in the General Fund. Debt issuance is planned only for the Sanitary Sewer Utility Fund in FY2024 to be paid by developer connection fees.

Approved School Budget Includes Benefits To Significantly Impact Staff

Board is pleased with the new

budget as it aligns with our strategic plan. It also includes pay scales that reflect data from

our recently conducted salary study and standardization of our extra pay for extra duty pay rates. We remain committed to competitive benefits, salaries, and hourly wages to recruit and retain the best talent and experience in the Northern Virginia region.”

One of the significant actions taken in the FCCPS Strategic Plan, ‘Investing in Our People,’ is designed to ensure the district offers market-competitive compensation and the best working conditions in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the schools’ statement noted.

In April, the School Board received the results of a compensation study conducted with the Segal consulting group. The study indicated that the cost to bring all employees to the new salary structures is approximately $2.1 million — or 6 percent of payroll — and can be completed in the coming fiscal year.

Moreover, the approved budget includes benefits that will significantly impact staff.

Falls Church Chamber Networking Luncheon

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Tuesday, May 16 11:30 to 1:15

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These include: six weeks of paid parental leave for employees with a new child, an increased payout of sick leave upon separation from FCCPS from under $3 an hour to under $16 an hour, providing the same employer-paid health benefits that full-time employees receive for permanent employees who work less than full-time, continuing significant investments to support teaching and learning through one-time and pandemic funding, and instructional materials for the Meridian High School Sustainability Academy.

“I would like to thank Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, our Chief Operating Officer, Kristen Michael, and our Director of Finance, Mechelle Coppock, for their countless hours dedicated to this thoughtful budget,” Ms. Downs said. “I would also like to acknowledge the City Council, the Falls Church City General Government staff, and City Manager Wyatt Shields and thank them for their sup -

www.FallsChurchChamber.org/events/calendar/

Falls Church Chamber Networking Mixer

Join us for delicious food, refreshments, raffle prizes, and great networking with local business leaders and chamber members. Hosted by Mark Werblood, Esq. This event

port of our schools and commitment to our revenue-sharing agreement.”

The School Board conducted three budget work sessions and three public hearings before the final vote on the budget. The Approved FY 2024 Budget exemplifies the School Board’s dedication to investing in its staff and supporting student learning.

At Tuesday’s meeting, in addition to approving the budget, the School Board recognized numerous City-based businesses for their role in supporting the schools. The recipients of the Virginia School Boards Association’s “Business Honor Roll” included 30 North Studio, Moore Architects, and the Biscuit Factory.

Honored as partners of the Business In Education (BIE) Partnership were Balanced Female Fitness, Integrity Tire and Auto Repair, the Pimmit Hills Pollinator Company and Ryan and Wetmore PC, and as “Rookie of the Year,” Harvey’s Restaurant.

by Parisa Dehgani-Tafti

Four years ago, I ran for Commonwealth’s Attorney on the simple idea that we could build a more fair and just legal system while still keeping our community safe. I am proud to say that since I took office, we have made that idea into a reality. I have kept every promise

I made to implement criminal justice reform here in the City of Falls Church and County of Arlington, helping to make our community one of the safest in the country.

As promised, I have expanded opportunities for diversion for lower level crimes and non violent crimes.

I helped create a mental health docket and expanded our drug court, quadrupling the number of people served by it. These diversion programs get people the treatment they need rather than simply incarcerating them and ignoring the underlying issue. This both makes our community safer, and is the right thing to do.

I have also worked to make the legal process easier on victims and survivors. I reorganized the office to implement a victim-centered prosecution model. This means that only one prosecutor or team is assigned to

each case so that victims aren’t being shuffled around between different prosecutors at every stage. Further, I have helped empower victims by creating a restorative justice program for appropriate cases.

I have used my lobbying power as a prosecutor to advocate for safer gun laws and criminal justice reforms. I supported Red Flag laws, ending the death penalty, decriminalizing marijuana, and many other legislative efforts. More than once, I have convinced VACA (the statewide Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ lobbying group) to see the other side of an issue and refrain from opposing reforms. That’s why I’ve earned the endorsement of local progressive legislators like Delegate Marcus Simon.

Of course, my office aggressively prosecutes serious crimes like rape, murder, and gun violence. Under my supervision, the office’s trial conviction rates on violent felonies have nearly doubled over those of my predecessor. The overall trial conviction rate is also significantly higher. And we have achieved these increases even as we take a higher percentage of cases to trial. My focus on addressing serious crime is

why I have earned the endorsement of Senator Dick Saslaw, who has written some of Virginia’s toughest sentencing laws for violent crimes.

As you may know, before becoming the Commonwealth’s Attorney, I spent many years working at the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project. In doing so, I saw the harm that results—both to the accused and to crime victims—when the system gets it wrong. That’s why I created a conviction review unit to review old convictions for mistakes. That unit has already helped overturn one wrongful conviction.

To prevent errors going forward, I have also made strides to even the playing field with the defense and make sure trials are a fair fight. Immediately upon taking office, I ended my predecessor’s outdated policy requiring defense attorneys to hand-copy documents and began providing open-file electronic discovery. And, I was one of the first offices in the country to stop using peremptory strikes in jury trials except in limited circumstances. This is a commonsense way to prevent discrimination in jury selection.

Many of these accomplishments have been possible because of the

broad discretion I enjoy as a prosecutor. If that discretion falls into the wrong hands, the work can be undone. For example, on day one of my tenure, my office stopped asking for cash bail. That policy could be reversed just as quickly. That’s why this race is so important.

I am the only person in this race who has the balanced perspective that comes from being on all sides of the criminal justice system—I’ve been a public defender, a reform prosecutor, and an innocence protection attorney. I am the only one who has years of experience managing

Monday, May 29, 2023 Falls Church, Virginia

offices of attorneys. I am the only one who has dedicated my career to making our system more fair and just, and the only one with a record of reform. It’s why people like Congressman Don Beyer and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan have endorsed me. They know that I don’t just talk the talk, I actually walk the walk. We’ve come so far in three-anda-half short years, and we can’t afford to go backward. I hope I can count on your support for re-election to protect our progress on June 20th or before via early voting.

Memorial Day Parade Program 2023

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Hailing Falls Church

Forward’s ‘Fab 5’

The News-Press is delighted by the news reported last week that the first civic organization dedicated to a comprehensive approach to making Falls Church a better place, an even better place than it is now, has formed. The “Falls Church Forward” group held its first public forum last Sunday with a speaker from the AARP on cornerstones of a livable community for persons of all ages. Led by this new, young and vital group, over 80 people showed up and the excitement associated with the new organization was palpable. The group already has plans for more meetings that are being announced, including a contingent in the annual Memorial Day parade later this month.

It is hard to overstate the importance of this development for the future of Falls Church. It has been 15 years since the City’s original community-wide association, the Citizens for a Better City (CBC), was the dominant force here. With responsible leadership, the CBC for decades led the City by recruiting and campaigning for the best candidates seeking to serve either on the City Council or School Board and hosting with the F.C. chapter of the League of Women Voters, the Chamber of Commerce and other groups forums and other educational initiatives that helped set the tone for developing the City’s consensus to expand its potential for quality education, neighborhoods and services with a robust if measured pro-growth component to pay for schools and services. It all meant so much for the creation of the kind of vital Little City we enjoy today.

But when the CBC ceased to continue with that kind of leadership roughly 15 years ago, while maintaining an important if diminished role, developing consensus on important policy matters was severely challenged. Now comes Falls Church Forward, with its founding fivesome of young, talented and energetic leaders. Led by the community organizing efforts of F.C. Vice Mayor Letty Hardi, other key figures have joined the effort, including former Councilman Ross Litkenhous, homegrown community organizer Pete Davis, and two powerhouse women: Justine Underhill, who has already announced that she will be running for City Council this fall, and Planning Commissioner Andrea Caumont. Brief bios of all five appeared in last week’s News-Press

In addition to obvious talent and dedication, this core group, indeed a “Fab 5,” is most clearly defined by its relative youth and vitality, not bogged down by old ways while retaining respect for what’s gotten us here.

Falls Church Forward lists five key areas of emphasis: 1. Housing for all, where neighbors of all ages, incomes and family sizes can live, learn, return and retire, 2. Community businesses where neighbors eat, meet, celebrate, create and make memories, 3. People First Places connected by beautiful streets and plazas serving multiple modes of moving and gathering, 4. Climate Resilience inviting green spaces and more, and 5. Welcoming Culture, a community co-created by and for everybody, not just a privileged few.

To repeat, We are delighted!

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

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial content

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5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

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

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NIMBY’s Need Respect From

Editor,

To get directly to the point: You call yourself editor of a community newspaper. You run ads for businesses you want your local readers to support. Yet you continually refer in your editorials to dedicated residents of Falls Church by using the intentionally divisive term — NIMBY. You don’t describe Council members or Planning Commission members as acting NIMBY, when they critique a proposal. Why call residents who spend time to care about their community and want to make suggestions to improve proposals such as T Zone revisions? These are not blanket opposition positions, but thought out suggestions for improvement. That is the purpose of vetting proposals through a process in the City. Maybe you have forgotten that. Express an opinion about a proposal in your editorials. Show respect to the good residents of Falls Church. Use your editorial perch to respectfully and responsibly debate issues of importance to all Falls Church community members.

Leslie Rye

Got Beef?

Memorial Day Speaker Poor Choice?

Editor,

Just noticed in The Focus on Falls Church Newsletter that the Keynote Speaker for the Memorial Day Ceremony in Falls Church this year is State Senator Chap Petersen.

Regardless of one’s position on Mr. Petersen’s candidacy for the Virginia Senate, it seems ill-advised to give one candidate in a contested election an opportunity to speak at this event.

While I realize that the actual ceremony is not a formal city event (as it is ‘hosted’ by the Falls Church Veteran’s Council), it has all the trappings of being something put on by the City government and is publicized by the City as part of its overall Memorial Day activities.

If it is too late to find an alternative speaker for the Memorial Day Ceremony, I believe that the keynote speech should be dropped so as to remove any suggestion that the Falls Church City government is favoring one candidate over the other in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 37.

Bill Brew

Falls Church Forward Looks To Make F.C. an AARP Livable City

by Brian Reach Falls

Last Sunday, the newly-formed Falls Church Forward held their first public event at the Falls Church Community Center, co-hosted by the Falls Church League of Women Voters and the Falls Church Human Services Advisory Council (HSAC). An estimated 75 persons attended, a far bigger turnout than organizers had anticipated.

The program featured AARP Virginia Community Ambassador Jane King, who discussed AARP’s “Livable Cities” program, suggesting The Little City should seek recognition as one, and what changes might be necessary to qualify.

Author and Falls Church local Pete Davis, one of the leaders of Falls Church Forward,” kicked off the event by introducing the organization, a citizen group of activists advocating for the future of The Little City, and the five pillars of focus they have identified as foundational to a vibrant community: affordable and diverse housing,

community businesses, people-first streets and spaces, climate resilience, and a welcoming culture.

“The ticket to being a part of our city is being able to [afford] a house or a unit in our city.” said Davis of the first pillar while explaining how becoming an AARP Livable City aligns with the group’s advocacy work.

King began her presentation by providing a brief overview of key Falls Church demographics related to her presentation: an extremely low 2 percent poverty rate, $147,000 median income, $811,000 median home value, and a commuter breakdown with over 60 percent or residents driving alone to work every day in a car.

King explained that AARP’s Livable Cities program aims to make communities more livable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. There are currently 732 communities in AARP’s Network of AgeFriendly States and Communities (NAFSC) across nine states and one territory. If the City of Falls Church were to be accepted, it would

be the sixth AARP Livable City in Virginia, with nearby Arlington and Alexandria currently accepted, as well as Roanoke, Grayson County, and Albemarle County (Charlottesville) to the southwest.

AARP rates communities across eight “Domains of Livability” across physical and social infrastructure: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, civic engagement and employment, communication and information, respect and social inclusion, social participation, health and community services, and housing.

Throughout the presentation, the program’s goals were introduced within the context of their alignment with the five pillars of Falls Church Forward. Housing was identified as the most difficult barrier to overcome, which readers will likely agree is our biggest challenge as we look to the future. According to AARP, an aging U.S. population combined with more seniors choosing to stay in their homes is creating a challenge for communities. King added that investments

should be made in early stages of development to, for example, ensure that outdoor spaces and buildings are accessible and safe for older residents. “We’re looking at building codes, zoning, etc.,” she said of the variety of possible ways a community can accommodate seniors, “so as people hit their older years they can either stay in their homes or have someplace to live in the community.”

This includes accessible and affordable housing, reliable transportation, walkable streets, and green spaces. King also emphasized the importance of community engagement and the need to build a strong social fabric to support people in their later years, referencing a recent report that shows a

Continued on Page 10

THE FIVE PILLARS identified by Falls Church Forward as foundational to a vibrant community, on display. (Photo: Brian Reach)

Goodwin Living Teams Up With Local High School to Benefit Seniors of All Ages

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

As graduation approaches for a number of high school seniors, residents at Goodwin Living Alexandria and seniors at Wakefield High School in Arlington are benefitting from each other educationally and socially.

For the past few years, Goodwin Living has partnered with Communities in Schools — a non-profit organization that works with schools across the country in establishing relationships between public high schools and community partners. The program they have created “Seniors for Seniors” allows Goodwin residents to assist Wakefield seniors with their senior projects — a requirement for graduation — by providing support and guidance.

Jackie Ruoff, Wakefield’s coordinator for Communities in Schools, said this specific program allows residents and students to work together virtually on the senior’s research paper and a 25-minute presentation. This includes figuring out which “areas of focus” students need support in, as well as working

on time management, writing, editing and presentation practice.

“Students at Wakefield have learned that there are people in our community who are willing to support them, even if they have never met them before,” Ruoff said.

Students who join the program often have “extra barriers” and lack of “key players” in their support systems. For Goodwin residents, Ruoff said they have a chance to help the next generation of students, as well as support the community around them.

“In this particular program, resident volunteers play a key role in shaping students’ world view,” Ruoff said. “They show students that there are people out there who are strangers — at the start — and totally willing to step up and give their time to push students to be their best.”

Goodwin residents and husband and wife Pat and Irma Canan have been involved with the program since the fall of 2021, and are currently helping their third Wakefield senior, Khristel Perez. Both Pat and Irma were previously involved in education, as the former was a high school physics teacher and the latter

was a director of international programs for higher education.

“It’s just something that really drew us,” Irma said when asked about first finding out about the program. “[Pat and I] wanted to do something that would give back to the community.”

Reflecting on being both a former high school teacher and student, Pat said he thinks this program would have been beneficial for himself in order to have a more “structured effort and magnitude” when graduating. For Irma, her previous work with international programs grew her interest in people who are learning to function in a different language. She said Khristel has taught her that there is “hope for the future.”

“She’s been really fun to work with,” Irma said when talking about Khristel. “I think that her project isn’t some mechanical effort to try to fill the requirement, it’s passiondriven.”

For Goodwin residents who aren’t currently involved with the program, Pat said it is a good way for senior citizens to work with kids and help them “along a path.”

“That’s one of the things about

Care as Unique as You

retirement is there aren’t many opportunities to contribute to the community as we had when we were working,” Pat said. “It’s exciting and fun to have this opportunity.”

Khristel Perez got involved with the program after realizing she was behind on her project and got in contact with Ruoff to partner her with a Goodwin resident. Although the first meeting between her and the Canans was different due to it being through a Zoom call, Perez said it turned into an “overall

great experience” as they got to know each other and discuss their thoughts on her project.

“Overall I was excited about the opportunity but also a bit anxious about meeting new people,” Perez said, “but the welcoming and supportive nature of the Canans made me feel comfortable and grateful for the support being provided.”

Perez’s project is primarily focused on creating a “comprehensive” travel planning website that is

GOODWIN LIVING residents Pat and Irma Canan are currently helping their third Wakefield senior. (Photo: Goodwin Living)

Program Provided Framework for Future

Continued from Page 7

loneliness epidemic sweeping the country with similar health effects to smoking. “Loneliness can lead to death; it is that simple.” King said.

After King’s presentation, the attendees were split into small groups to discuss and rate Falls Church in each of the domains. Groups generally agreed on several points. First, they love the culture of Falls Church and rated civic participation extremely high. Second, the proximity of Falls Church to DC and highways was positive, but the ability to get around locally was negative, with narrow, blocked, or missing sidewalks criticized, and many suggesting bringing back “The George” shuttle of the past.

Though a brief detour, some invoked the dissatisfaction many had with the City’s communications during the T-Zone discussions over the winter. Otherwise, communication was ranked highly, with the News-Press being mentioned as one factor.

Most consistent, however, was the extremely low ranking of housing affordability and diversity. Between a lack of inventory, eyepopping home sale prices, soaring inflation, and an already high cost of living, most feel the city has become too expensive for most families to live in. One noted that most current residents likely purchased their homes for a small fraction of their current value, and speculated that current rates would have kept many out.

Another mentioned that, though smaller units are technically becoming available, they are mostly extremely expensive rentals. Most expressed strong disinterest in transitioning from owning to renting, with many uninterested in leaving their homes at all. “Could the city set up a grant fund to make [existing] houses more accessible?” asked one resident, an idea that organizers said was worth considering.

The AARP Livable Cities program provided a framework for discussing the community’s future, and created an opportunity for residents to voice opinions about how to make Falls Church a more livable, equitable, and inclusive community. The impressive turnout showed how dedicated our residents are to the Little City being inclusive in a big way, and made it clear that Falls Church Forward has tapped into a desire among residents to be more proactively involved in the decision-making process.

Falls Church Forward will need to engage with residents and city government further to pursue inclusion as one of AARP’s Livable Cities. This includes exploring solutions to make housing more affordable and diverse, improving local transportation options, increasing green spaces, and perhaps even establishing endowment funds to prioritize shared values moving forward. This meeting was an excellent step towards expanding the livability of Falls Church for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Senior Mentors Impact Senior Students

Continued from Page 8

specifically designed to “cater to the needs of young travelers who are budget conscious.”

The goal of her project is to create a “convenient one-stop-shop” for travel planning, making it easier and more accessible for young people to “explore the world while staying within their budget.”

The Canans have helped Perez with her project by assisting her in improving her essay by offering suggestions and feedback, as well as sharing their own knowledge and experiences with the traveling topic. She said the couple has been an “incredible source of support and guidance” for her.

“My mentors have had a significant impact on me,” Perez said. “Not only have they provided me with valuable advice and assistance, but they have also become friends to me.” By the end of the program, Perez said she hopes to have completed her senior project and gain a “wealth of knowledge” about her topic, as well as build a strong relationship with the Canans and learn from their experiences.

“Looking to the future, one of my main goals is to reflect on my high school years and be proud of how much I have accomplished,”

Perez said, “especially regarding this project, which has become one of the most significant projects I have worked on and has inspired me to pursue a career as a software engineer.”

COMMUNITY MEMBERS break out into small groups to discuss how the Little City ranks across AARP’s “Livability Domains.” (Photo: Brian Reach)

Mother’s Day: Not Just Another ‘Hallmark Holiday’

BY BRIAN REACH FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

On Sunday, May 14, we all celebrate the love, sacrifice, and dedications of Mothers. Though the modern second Sunday holiday was created in the early 1900s, some form of Mother’s Day has been around since ancient times, usually celebrated in the Spring (appropriately a time of “rebirth”).

Early celebrations of Mother’s Day, or of motherhood in general, date back to ancient Greece, with annual “Great Mother of the Gods” festivals celebrating Rhea, celebrated in late March.

Romans also celebrated Cybele, a fertility goddess sometimes used interchangeably with Rhea, on the Vernal (Spring) Equinox in late March. Romans also celebrated Cybele during the Megalesia festival in early April.

Christianity later introduced Mothering Sunday, set on the

fourth Sunday of Lent, when people would return home to their “mother church.” This faded into a tradition of children presenting mothers with flowers and gifts, which was eventually formalized in the U.S. in the 1900s.

In 1908, American Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day in Grafton, WV to honor her late mother. Jarvis handed out white carnations to all the mothers in attendance.

Just six years later, the idea had gained enough steam for President Woodrow Wilson to officially declare the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

The tradition has remained largely the same since, with a tradition of giving cards, flowers, gifts and, perhaps most importantly, phone calls and visits to one’s mother.

On this Mother’s Day, I would like to take a moment to recognize the amazing mothers in my life. First and fore-

most, to my own mother, thank you for your unwavering love and support, for making me My Little Pony cakes and letting me wear pink way before it was cool, and all the effort you’ve put into giving my sister and me the best lives possible.

To my Mee Maw, I’m so proud to be your (first) grandkid! I love you ‘like a rock,’ and I can’t wait to see you soon! Keep tap dancin’ until then! Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to my late grandmother on my father’s side, who successfully raised him and nine other children in New Jersey with very little money, but with an abundance of heart.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the love and sacrifice of mothers all around the world. From ancient goddesses to modern-day celebrations, the idea of honoring mothers has been a part of our culture for thousands of years. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

A SLIGHTLY YOUNGER Brian Reach (left), News-Press reporter and writer, with mother Debbi Reach on Holden Beach in North Carolina in the mid 1980s. (Photo: Michael Reach)

Greyhounds Win Aided by First Career Home Run Mustangs Perfect at Home This Week, Spring Season Nearing

BY ERIKA TOMAN

In the game of the week, the Greyhounds (coached by Chris McCormack) defeated the Red Robbers (coached by Joe Greiner) by a score of 7 – 3. The game was tied at three in the bottom of the fifth when Davis Nicholas singled, scoring the goahead run.

Help Oak Street Finalists Get to Worlds

A team of Oak Street Elementary 3rd and 4th graders has advanced to the World Finals of Odyssey of the Mind, an academic problem-solving and creativity competition, for the first time in almost twenty years. They will represent FCCPS in East Lansing, Michigan, at Michigan State University from May 24-27, 2023. Please help their team offset the $3000 competition registration cost and get them to Worlds with their GoFundMe page: www. gofundme.com/f/oak-street-team-toodyssey-of-the-mind-worlds.

Register for FCEF Silent Auction

The FCEF Gala & Auction event is on Friday, May 19, but the silent auction opens a week earlier. Register at https://fcedf.auctions. networkforgood.com for a bidder

The standout play of the game was Rocky Marx’s first career home run, tying the game in the fourth inning. Pitcher Kellan McCormack earned the win after entering the game in the fourth inning, allowing just one hit, no runs, and notching five strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. The Greyhounds starter Asher Sequeira allowed only three hits while striking out eight batters over three and a third innings for a solid outing. Eight hits from Marx, McCormack, Sequeira, Nicholas, and Henry Upton helped fuel the win.

The Red Robbers’ starting pitcher, Teddy Greiner, delivered a great outing, going three and a third innings while striking out six batters. Reliever Xander Wagner pitched one and two third innings chalking up five strikeouts. Key offensive contributors for the Red Robbers included Greiner, who went two for two, John “Tig” Fatzinger and Aiden Ortiz each contributed a hit.

The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League is entering the last two weeks of regular season play with the playoffs starting the last full

week of May. The league encourages all community members to enjoy a Majors Division game during their 75th anniversary season on Saturdays starting at 2:00pm, with games throughout the afternoon and evening, at Westgate Elementary’s Art Eagle Ballfield.

Majors Division Season

Standings as of May 7

Hammerheads

(sponsored by Chandler’s Heating and Plumbing)

7-6

Red Robbers

(sponsored by The Mount Rushmores)

8-5

Cherry Bombs

(sponsored by Anthony Wilder)

9-4

Greyhounds

(sponsored by Davis Laine, LLC)

8-5

Smurfs

(sponsored by Don Beyer Volvo)

6-7

Ranch Falls Church

(sponsored by NDI Custom Homes)

1-12

BY RYAN MCCAFFERTY

With regional playoffs set to begin as soon as two weeks from now for several Meridian athletic teams, not a single one of the school’s varsity squads lost at home throughout all of the first week of May, and only took one loss in total. Here’s how the various teams stacked up.

Though baseball did take the week’s lone loss in the aforementioned Tuesday night affair at William Monroe by a score of 2-5, they rebounded on Friday by beating Warren County 2-0 on the road. That brings their overall record to 11-4. Softball faced the exact same schedule as their baseball counterparts, with the girls sweeping their road trip as they beat Monroe 1-0 and then Warren County 7-3 to improve their record to 9-4-1.

Soccer racked up plenty of wins this week, going a combined 4-0-1 as they also both played William Monroe and Warren County. The boys were

on the road for both of their Tuesday and Friday games, and beat Monroe 4-1 and then Warren County 10-1. The girls faced those two teams at home, playing Monroe to a 0-0 draw and then beating Warren 7-0, and they also faced Seton on the road on Thursday, who they beat 4-0. The boys are now 9-3 on the year while the girls are 7-2-2.

Lacrosse swept up this past week, as the boys played Fauquier on a neutral site at Liberty-Bealeton on Monday and won 10-9, then traveled to Culpeper County on Friday and won 14-7 to improve to 8-4 on the season. The girls, meanwhile, hosted Fauquier on Monday and Culpeper on Thursday and dominated both matchups, winning the former 23-2 and the latter 25-5 as they moved to 8-3.

Finally, girls’ tennis won its only game this past week as they beat Skyline 9-0 on the road on Monday, and now sit at 5-7.

number, browse the items up for bid, mark favorites and get ready to bid. If one can’t attend the gala event on May 19, they can still bid and win items in the auction.

Henderson Recognized For Sustainability Goals

Henderson Flex teachers recognized several students who spent Quarter 3 digging into various topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals. These students went above and beyond in their topics, including subjects like Equitable Education, Math Strategies and Endangered Animals, to share their knowledge with others.

Featured students included: Caroline Flajser, Diana Yerkin, Hana Ozuna, Mia Vukovic, Layla Kozbelt, Aditi Narain, Lillian Henderson, Kenton Scheifele, Evanny NajeraSanchez, Linnea Mirza, Aila Balsano, Chloe Zullo, Edan Thomton, Wyatt Hutchins, Luis Gabriel de Carvalho.

Junior Fundraising for Childhood Invites All

Susan Rotherham, a junior at Meridian, is hosting the “Ice Skate Against Childhood Cancer” fundraiser event on Friday, May 19. Thanks to the generous FCCPS community, the event was a huge success last year, raising over $2,500 to support families in their fights against pediatric cancer. The turnout from Meridian students and families was a big part of the success.

REVIVE! Training Today

REVIVE! is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. REVIVE! provides training on recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose emergency using Naloxone. This training is one hour long and will be held today from 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m at the Central Office (150 S. Washington St. Ste 400). It covers understand-

ing opioids, how opioid overdoses happen, risk factors for opioid overdoses and how to respond to an opioid overdose emergency with the administration of Naloxone. All participants will receive access to their own REVIVE kit and a Narcan/Naloxone kit with two doses. Students can attend with their parents or guardians. Please contact Rebecca Sharp (rsharp@ fccps.org) via email with questions or concerns.

6th Grader Recognized For Mythology Exam

In February, Lila Perlberg, a 6th grade student at MEHMS, participated in the Pegasus National Mythology Exam. The Pegasus National Mythology Exam strives to make mythology accessible to all students. Lila scored 39 out of a possible 40 points, earning her a Gold Medal and being recognized as Summa cum Laude.

MHS had its ‘Masquerade in Monte Carlo’ prom last Friday night, with Alexander Werner and Ailene Neal (pictured above) being crowned senior prom king and queen. (P����: K��� R������)

ROCKY MARX . (P����: M��� V������)

The Importance of Grandmas In Male Supremacist Society

This weekend marks two events that pay homage to the power of women. There is Mothers Day on Sunday. Everybody in the restaurant business shares in honoring the wonderful occasion, as do all of us, maybe their biggest day of the year. The other is a more personal remembrance for me, marking the birthday of my grandmother, Ethel Pedersen Brun, of purebred Norwegian stock who married the son of French Hugonot immigrants at a very young age. She was born in 1895 and lived to over 100 until 1996. She bore my mother, her only child, in 1914.

Ethel (we called her “Mimi,” as I shall henceforth in this column) was almost the exact age as Rose, the heroine played by Kate Winslet in the 1997 film, “Titanic,” and also the same age as the daughter, Katrin, played by Barbara Bel Geddes in the classic 1947 film, “I Remember Mama.” That is a far more vivid reference, being as Mimi grew up in San Francisco in a community of Norwegian immigrants, such that it is hard to imagine that she didn’t know the Hanson family that was the subject of Katrin’s serialized memoir that originally went by the title, “Mama’s Bank Account.” It was a best selling book, a play, a movie and, in the 1960s, a TV series.

Mimi’s parents came right off the boat from Norway in the 1880s, moving to Philadelphia, Valley City, North Dakota, and eventually San Francisco, where Mimi met and married Jean Adolph Brun, my elegant granddad with a big nose, poor hearing and gigantic snoring when sleeping. He was the son of a French immigrant family from Limoge that founded a winery in Napa Valley.

Mimi and Bapa moved in right next door to where our family lived in Southern California in the early 1950s in order to provide the moral and monetary support my struggling parents needed to raise three boys.

Mimi’s birthday was one of

the special ones we always celebrated together by firing off a few so-called “Happy Pleasantlies,” little paper canisters whose end you pulled to make it pop thin paper streamers out the other. Among famous family stories was one about the time a streamer that lit on my head had caught fire from the candles on the birthday cake and my hair was mildly singed.

While it was doubtful, I suppose, that we all could have made it without the influence of Mimi and Bapa next door, it was much later that Mimi played her biggest role in my life. That was in the first weeks and months after I launched the Falls Church News-Press as a weekly general interest newspaper inside the D.C. beltway. Based on a paltry line of credit from a new local bank that needed to fulfill its mandate to serve its community, the paper was launched by me in the teeth of a recession, no less. I struggled, and so many others were constantly urging me to bail out.

In that time there was only one person in my life who staunchly encouraged me to keep plugging because she knew doing a newspaper was my dream. I spoke by phone with her at least twice a week just to keep her spirits up as she was in her upper 90s. But it was she who returned the favor a million times over by insisting, I mean insisting, that I hang in there and keep my dream alive. No one, not even my loving mother, was so firm in buoying my spirits. Mom out of love urged me to curb my suffering. Not Mimi. She knew.

On the general theme of the importance of grandmothers, Mother Nature enables women to live far beyond child rearing age because of the wisdom they impart to adult children and grandchildren. “By living longer, women can provide care and wisdom that boosts the physical and emotional health of their descendants,” argues neuropsychiatrist Dilip Jeste in his book, “Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion and What Makes Us Good.”

More proof of the indispensable role for assisters for the survival of our species, ameliorating against the pure, cruel male supremacist procreative and social controlling impulses.

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Spring blossoms came with major adjustments for our county, particularly for the underprivileged. On the upside, we have the region’s lowest unemployment rate (2.1 percent), and I spot quite a few “we’re hiring” signs along Langston Blvd.

But with the declared pandemic officially ending on May 11, certain population sectors have been dealing with the federal cutoff in Covid benefits for months. Virginia’s planned yearlong “unwinding” of Medicaid benefits began on May Day, and the enhanced federal SNAP (food stamps) benefits averaging an extra $90 monthly ended in February. Add in a drop in rent relief and you get the “benefits cliff” that hits Black, Latino and Asian Arlingtonians the hardest.

The Arlington Food Assistance Center in early March provided groceries to “a historic number of families in a single week,” I’m told by its CEO Charlie Meng. During the week ending March 12, it served 3,055 families, “the first time in 35 years that the number of families served surpassed 3,000 in a seven-day period. As inflation continues and families grapple with the end of the pandemic-era boost in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the need for local food assistance is greater than ever,” added Meng, who recently expanded operations into Alexandria. “Our families cannot get a break. First it was the pandemic, then inflation, and now the loss of SNAP benefits means they are worse off than they were before March of 2020.”

Arlington’s programs to address the unhoused, through a partner-

profit PathForward, served 1,070 persons, according to the county’s just-released annual report on Homelessness Continuum of Care. That rate would have been higher without $20 million in state, federal and local money that aided more than 3,400 households during Covid, it calculated.

“The total number of individuals served in fiscal 2022 was almost identical to pre-pandemic levels,” said Human Services Department Director Anita Friedman. “Without strong eviction prevention efforts, we would have seen many more households upended and in crisis. Nonetheless, for those households, it is traumatic, and we remain committed to working alongside them as they return to housing stability. We will also continue to address critical gaps, including in areas of racial equity, immigrant and refugee households, and the aging population.”

Since 2018, there has been an 84 percent increase in providing emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence and their children.

Nonprofits “are seeing really dire things,” said Anne Vor der Bruegge, director of grants initiatives at the Arlington Community Foundation. “Even though the pandemic emergency phase is ending and people are moving on, those benefits are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Those temporary programs, she said, gave “a lot of flexibility to folks, for example, relaxing work requirements for people with housing grants

because people were not able to get to work or lacked child care. Combine it with inflation, and the gap between actual and living wages is now even larger.”

Her team also sees new pressure from evictions as state and federal rent relief is scaled back.

“To Arlington’s credit, the county has put as much as it can find into rent relief, but it’s still a serious situation.” With the fiscal 2024 budget providing $4.6 million for eviction prevention, Vor der Bruegge said “Arlington is the only local jurisdiction that stepped up significantly to help renters still in arrears.”

***

Get ready for a dust-up between Glencarlyn neighborhood preservationists and Virginia Hospital Center.

The hospital in January signed a letter of intent to purchase 5.8 acres of county land at 601 S. Carlin Springs Rd., where it will construct a behavioral health and rehab facility. But a working group from the civic association is concerned there’s no spelledout plan to preserve the marked spring owned by 18th century landowner Moses Ball, on adjoining land retained by the county. A movement is afoot to seek historical designation so that archaeologists might explore the stream. VHC did not respond to calls. The county Historic Preservation program says it awaits further information.

***

The News-Press apologizes for misnaming YIMBYs of NoVa in last week’s print edition.

Community News & Notes

PHRA Invasive Plant Removal Workday Coming Soon

Concerned Poplar Heights Recreation Association members and the Board will be conducting another invasive plant removal workday on Saturday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. Please consider donating some time to help them continue their work in removing invasive plants in PHRA’s wooded areas.

Envision

Route

7 Bus Rapid Transit to Hold Meeting May 16

Please join the Transit Research Center for a community open house. Enjoy local baked goods and join the conversation to better understand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and what that could mean for this community. Engage with project team staff and provide feedback on draft concepts developed to improve transit service in Falls Church. The meeting will be on Tuesday, May 16 from 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. at Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the lower level conference room.

Bike Everywhere Weekend to Raise Awareness

“Bike & Walk Everywhere Weekend” on the weekend of May 19 — 21 will build on Bike

to Work Day in Falls Church City, with the same spirit of raising awareness and excitement around trying biking or walking for transportation. Bike Falls Church has lined up exciting destinations — public spots like Bike to School Friday and Bike to the Market Saturday, places of worship, and many local businesses. There are a few more days to add other destinations, if one knows an organization that might want to participate.

Bike Falls Church will share the map of destinations, social media hashtag and other info with participants closer to the weekend. This is a Bike Falls Church piloted event that they hope the City will take on in future years, making it an official part of realizing the goals of Mobility for All Modes in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the Bike Master Plan. They hope locals take the chance to get on a bike to visit a local business or other destination.

Cauldron Announces Final Season at Pearson Square

The 2023-24 Season will mark Creative Cauldron’s final season at its current home in Pearson Square, before mov ing to a new black box theater in the

Broad and Washington proj ect. Commenting on the season line up, Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull said: “It is a season filled with the stories of dreamers and doers. It has exciting ‘Bold New Works’ and regional premieres, but also some revivals from the musical theater canon, shows with appeal for every generation, and of course, there will be music!”

Save the Date for FCCPS Celebration of Excellence

On Monday, May 15th, the FCCPS Celebration of Excellence will be held at Meridian High School on the third floor learning stairs. The event will recognize employees nominated for and winners of local, regional and national awards. The reception begins at 4:15 p.m. and the program begins at 4:45 p.m.

Civil War Show and Sale Coming Soon

A Civil War Books, Relics and Memorabilia Show and Sale will be held on Saturday, May 20th from 10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. at the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge (8421 Arlington Blvd). Admission is $5.00 per

person. Vendors are welcome. Additional information may be obtained by sending an email to dhakenson@verizon.net and/or mayo5304@cox.net.

F.C. Arts Presents “Excellence in Arts” Scholarship

With a stated mission to “ensure the arts are an essential part of the cultural environment,” Falls Church Arts has since inception focused on the visual arts, bringing exhibition opportunities and the chance to learn, share, and grow.

Their Excellence in Art Scholarship is a new offering meant to recognize and encourage those who display an early dedication to making art. In

2023, they are offering $1,000 scholarships to as many as three students.

A student is eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship if the student meets all of the following criteria: Exhibits excellence and creativity in the visual arts fields of drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, or sculpture; is in the final academic year of their secondary education at a Northern Virginia high school and plans to attend an accredited post-secondary institution and further their artistic pursuits there. Special consideration will be given to applicants whose art work and activities have benefited other

CUTTING THE CEREMONIAL ribbon to mark the opening of Chasin’ Tails restaurant at Founders Row were the following (l. to r.) F.C. Council member Marybeth Connelly, sous chef Tony Truong (in rear), Owner/ CAO Boaz Lyn, F.C Mayor David Tarter, CEO/co-founder Tuyet-nhi Le (holding scissors), F.C Council member Debbie Hiscott, President/co-owner Cece Vo, Chairman/co-founder Di Dang, COO/ owner Ashley Kim (hidden behind Di Dang) and CFO/co-founder Au Dang. (Photo: News-Press Photo)

BIKE & WALK EVERYWHERE WEEKEND will build on Bike to Work Day, with the same spirit of raising awareness and excitement around trying biking or walking for transportation. (Photo: FCCPS)

THE 100 BLOCK of W Broad Street received fresh plantings last week courtesy of the Village Preservation and Improvement Society supported by City staff. (Photo: Ellen Gilmore)

students, their school or members of the community.

For additional information, contact: Maureen Budetti (mrbudetti@gmail.com) 202288-9291 or Marty Behr (behrmarty29@gmail.com) 703975-0762.

Memorial Day Parade and Festival Schedule

The Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up for their 41st Annual City of Falls Church Memorial Day event. This community tradition will include a Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Falls Church Veteran’s Council, a 3K Fun Run, civic, merchant, crafter, food vendors, live music, kids entertainment, and a parade.

On Monday, May 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. the Beyer Auto Group 3K Fun Run will begin at Great Falls Street at Little Falls Street Rollerblades. Bicycles are not permitted.

The festival will be held from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Children’s rides and amusements will be present, as well as vendor booths with food and crafts for sale.

From 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., there will be music on the main stage, with the Coozies performing at 9:15 a.m. and the City of Falls Church Concert Band performing at 12:30 p.m.

From 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse will be provided. At 11:00 a.m., the Memorial

Day ceremony will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial outside the Community Center. The Keynote Speaker will be State Senator Chap Petersen.

Finally at 2:00 p.m., the parade will be led by Grand Marshal Rebecca Tax.

Registration is Open for Summer Classes

The Summer 2023 Brochure (on http://www.fallschurchva. gov) is full of exciting programs for all ages.

Children can choose from various classes such as Floor Hockey, Cheer, Chess Club, Chemistry Creations and more.

Adults can find fun activities like Line Dancing, Tai Chi and Qi Gong, Barre, and more.

Senior citizens can join one of their many clubs or activities, such as chair volleyball.

Additional pickleball classes have been added.

Registration is already open for City residents. Registration opens Monday, May 8, for nonCity residents. Summer Camp registration is also open.

New USGS Rain Gauges in Place

The City of Falls Church and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently installed and will maintain new rainfall and stream flow gauges within the City.

These gauges are part of the USGS National Water Dashboard, which displays all

of the USGS gauges in the country. The gauges are available for public use and allow community members to monitor near real-time conditions for rainfall and stream gauge height, with the gauges updating rainfall amounts in inches every five minutes.

In addition, the “WaterAlert” tool allows users to set threshold conditions for the gauges and receive alerts.

AAUW Book Sale & VPIS Bazaar Coming Soon

Come to the AAUW Used Book Sale/VPIS Attic Treasures Bazaar May 19 — 20 at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street, just off Route 7 in the city of Falls Church — 10 a.m. — 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. Saturday. There is something for every reader and bargain hunter with hundreds of books alongside furniture, jewelry, and must-have household items.

The book sale benefits scholarship programs and grants for local women, and the Attic Treasures Bazaar supports cultural events and green initiatives in the City of Falls Church. For more information visit http://fallschurcharea-va.aauw. net/booksale and http://VPIS.org.

Falls Church Garden Club Presents Plant Sale

On Saturday, May 13th from 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m., the Falls Church Garden Club will host its plant sale at the Falls Church

Community Center. Learn everything about gardening, plants, pots, tools, gifts and decor.

FCGC is a non-profit organization. To find out more, visit www.fallschurchgardenclub.org for more information.

Inova Bloodmobile Returns to Falls Church

The Inova Bloodmobile

returns to the City on Monday, May 29. It will be set up outside the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street) from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. during the City’s 41st Annual Memorial Day Parade.

One can visit the donor portal at inovabloodsaves.org/ donor/schedules/drive_schedule/32944 or call 866-256-6372 (TTY 711), sponsor code 0053, to schedule an appointment.

FALLS CHURCH NATIVE Nathan Hamme shows off his new portrait added to the legendary walls of The Palm restaurant in downtown D.C. His mug is positioned to the right of the N-P’s Nicholas Benton, with an anonymous face sandwiched in between. Benton and Hamme are frequent lunch companions there. (News-Press Photo)

FALLS CHURCH AUTHOR Philip Clark (right) read from his latest book, a collection of the poetry of the late gay activist Walta Borawaski at the Little District Books bookstore in D.C. last weekend, and is shown signing a copy for one of about 30 people who crammed into the place. (News-Press Photo)

SARINA WINTERS (bottom left) , Girl Scout Ambassador from Troop 3054, presented a Philips HeartStart FRx AED Complete Value Package with American Heart Association training and certification included for 10 people to the Falls Church City Homeless Shelter to the Homeless Shelter Executive Director, Julene Jarnot (bottom right), as a result of her Gold Award which she recently completed. (Photo: Mike Winters)

THIS WEEK IN THE LITTLE CITY

THURSDAY MAY 11

FCA Arts Scholarship Application Open

The Falls Church Arts Excellence in Art Scholarship is a part of the FCA greater mission to encourage and support art in Northern Virginia. Three $1,000 scholarships seek to provide financial support to students who have exhibited excellence in the visual arts and express an interest in pursuing art in college. Details and application at bit. ly/FCNP23fcs. Deadline June 2.

Guided Tour: Suffragist Memorial

Join AARP Virginia for a guided tour of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, which commemorates the millions of women who engaged in the suffragist movement that allowed most women to vote. Free tickets available at bit. ly/FCNP0523sm. Occoquan Regional Park (9751 Ox Rd., Lorton, VA), 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.

Retirement Board Quarterly Meeting

Retirement Board quarterly meeting. City Hall (300 Park

Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Botanical Happy Hour + Plant Swap

To participate in the plant swap, please bring a plant or plants to exchange. Seeds, bulbs, cuttings, propogations, etc. are also welcome! Labels will be available to include name and details on plants. Healthy, pest-free plants only, please! Email questions to info@ botanologica.com. Free tickets at bit.ly/FCNP0523bo. Botanologica (817 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Dear Plastic: A Toxic Love Story

The Embassy of France invites you to the screening of the documentary

“Dear Plastic: a toxic love story” and a subsequent debate with its director Dorothée Adam and science and policy experts. Free tickets at bit.ly/ FCNP0523dp. Embassy of France (4101 Reservoir Rd. NW, Washington, DC), 6:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting

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

FRIDAY MAY 12

Invention-Con at U.S. Patent Office H.Q.

Have a great idea you want to commercialize? Come to Invention-Con 2023: Building Tomorrow's Innovation, with free daily programming May 10-12. Learn from experts on how to use intellectual property to achieve success, discover resources available throughout the innovation ecosystem, and connect with experts who can help you develop a strategy for taking your idea to market. Tickets at bit.ly/FCNP0523ic. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (600 Dulany St., Madison Bldg., Clara Barton Aud., Alexandria, VA), 12:00 p.m.

Spring into Art Show and Sale

McLean Art Society features over 25 of their talented artists at this year’s “Spring Into Art” show and sale, Friday through Sunday, with a wide variety of art genres on display including oil, watercolor, pastel, and acrylic paintings, as well as sculptures, artists’ cards, and more. Church of the Covenant (2666 N. Military Rd., Arlington, VA), 5:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

State Senate-37 Candidate Forum

Register early at bit.ly/FCNP37sb

as seating is limited. Candidate forum between News-Press endorsed Saddam Azlan Salim and "incumbent" Chap Petersen, both seeking the Democratic nomination to represent the newly-drawn VA Senate District 37, which includes the City of Falls Church. Candidates will respond to moderated questions, followed by a networking meet and greet. Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center (3159 Row St., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Audrey: The New Musical

Audrey follows a reluctant Hepburn from her days as a ballerina-turned-spy in Nazi-occupied Holland, to her heartbreaking attempts to create the family that the war robbed from her. Following her accidental revolution of style, sexuality, and singledom for a generation of women in a certain little black dress, Audrey re-examines the life of a legend through song, dance, and the technicolor lens of her most iconic screen performances. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

Outdoor Movie: LegallyBlonde

Kick off the weekend with GMU’s Cinema at Mason Square outdoor movie series! Bring your family and friends, a blanket, lawn chairs, and snacks for a fun movie watching evening. Free and open to the public. Free popcorn provided! This week's movie is Legally Blonde. Mason Square Plaza (3351 Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA), 8:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

My Generation Band

My Generation Band performs. Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m.

Too Extra

Too Extra performs. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY MAY 13

F.C. Garden Club Plant Sale

Shop a wide selection of perennials, shrubs, native plants, herbs, small trees for sun & shade of all types, plus tools, garden accesso-

ries, yard art, vases, and books. More at fallschurchgardenclub. org. Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Kenneth R. Burnett Bldg., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Lives, Loves, & Loss:

Remembering the Families

Spend the day at Mount Vernon exploring the lives and loss of enslaved couples Boatswain and Myrtilla and Hercules and Alice through a special guided tour and family activity. A special tour, self-guided map, a family activity, and Slave Burial Ground Commemoration will all honor their lives, share their loves, and mark their loss. Program included with admission; add-on tour reservations at bit.ly/FCNP0523ll. Mount Vernon (3200 Mt. Vernon Mem. Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA), 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Mother's Day Festival

Enjoy Mother’s Day with a festival featuring special drink menus for mimosas and wine spritzers, plus a sampling of over 100 Biers, vendors to treat mom to something special, live music, lawn games, a dog park, and more! Shipgarten (6579 Colshire Dr., Tysons, VA), 1:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

May Outdoor Music Series

Tysons Community Alliance is bringing live music to Boro Park with a May Music Series. Enjoy Pictrola Trio as this week's performer. Free to attend. The Boro Park (8350 Broad St., Tysons, VA), 1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.

Fairy Tales & Fables

"Once Upon A Time…" a familiar starting point to some of our favorite stories, so beloved that many composers were inspired to set them to music! 50% of proceeds support Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic Tickets at bit.ly/FCNP0523ft. United Baptist Church (7100 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA), 2:00 p.m.

Mary Lou Williams

Festival: Next Jazz Legacy

The debut performance from the second cohort of the Next Jazz Legacy program, a new national apprenticeship program for women and non-binary improvisers in jazz, and a program for a more inclusive jazz future. Free to attend, arrive early and consider a free reservation at bit.ly/FCNP0523jz. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 6:00 p.m.

VIEW AND SHOP A collection of artwork from over 25 McLean Art Society members at their Spring Into Art Show and Sale , this weekend in McLean. (Courtesy Photo)

EVENTS, MUSIC, ART & THEATRE

SUNDAY MAY 14

In Focus: Hawaiian Voyaging and Dance

This celebration demonstrates the importance of voyaging and dance to Native Hawaiian culture. Learn knot-tying techniques and enjoy dance performances. The National Museum of the American Indian (Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC), 10:00 a.m. — 5:30 p.m.

Garten Flea Pop-Up Market

This indoor pop-up market highlights 25 local and regional vendors selling everything from vintage clothing to handmade goods and art. Free, open to all ages, dog-friendly, and ample parking. Expansive food and craft beer menu will be available. Tysons

Biergarten (7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, VA), 12:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Jennifer Cutting and OCEAN Orchestra

The ancient Irish festival of Beltane ("May Day") signaled the end of winter and the coming of spring. Come hear the local award-winning Folk and Celtic ensemble OCEAN Celtic Quartet in a program of traditional and original music celebrating the return of the sun and the greening of the land. McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA), 5:00 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

Flower Power Happy Hour Band

Flower Power Happy Hour Band performs a special Mother's Day show. JV's Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

MONDAY MAY 15

FCCPS Celebration of Excellence

At the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) Celebration of Excellence, FCCPS recognizes employees nominated for and winners of local, regional, and national awards. Meridian High School (121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church), 4:15 p.m.

City Council Work Session

City Council Work Sessions are held the first and third Monday of the month, with the excep tion of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to al low Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not gener ally invited to speak. Watch the meeting at www.fallschurch va.gov/CouncilMeetings or FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Veri zon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

TUESDAY MAY 16

EHLS Scholarship Meet & Greet

Learn more about the English for Heritage Languages Speakers (EHLS) scholarship, offering training in advanced English and career skills for U.S. citizens college degrees who are native speakers of Amharic, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Balochi, Bambara, Chinese Mandarin, Hausa, Hindi, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Kurdish, Korean, Persian Dari, Persian Farsi, Punjabi, Pushto/Pashto, Russian, Somali, Tadjik, Tamashek, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, or Vietnamese. Free to attend. Woodrow Wilson Library (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Out In Tech: An Evening with AI

Join Out in Tech DC and Axios HQ for an all-star panel discussion on tech ethics, AI, and ChatGPT — everything ranging from the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence to new cutting-edge advancements in the field of AI (and the potential for unconscious bias). More at outintech.com. Axios HQ (3100 Clarendon Blvd., Ste. 1300, Arlington, VA), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Envision Route 7 BRT

Community Open House

Enjoy local baked goods and engage with project team staff to better understand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and provide feedback on draft con-

CELEBRATE HAWAIIAN culture, learn about voyaging traditions, and enjoy dance performances this weekend at the National Museum of the American Indian.

cepts developed to improve transit service in F.C.. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Lower Level Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY MAY

17

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

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

Planning Commission Meeting

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

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting

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

(Photo: Halau Pua Ali‘i, courtesy of artist)

Faces of Falls Church

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Saturday was a beautiful day for outdoor activities, and the community didn’t disappoint. Hundreds of residents turned out for Culmore Community Day, held in the parking lot at the Woodrow Wilson Branch Library, for live entertainment, children’s activities, prizes and lots of county services. You could test for differences in the taste of tap water and bottled water, visit with uniformed public safety personnel and get a free ticket for prize drawings. Hidden Oaks Nature Center hosted a booth with an albino corn snake, ladybugs, tadpoles and a live toad. Wherever one turned, there was an interesting booth or activity for children and adults alike.

foot raised bed has a blend of 50 percent native Virginia topsoil and 50 percent organic matter, and is contaminant-free. Each raised bed can accommodate two gardeners; bright pink ribbons demarcated the plots already leased. The wooden boxes are made from Wolmanized Outdoor Wood, which is coppertreated to be safe and economical for use in vegetable and flower raised bed gardens.

sible from Magnolia Avenue). Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ green-spring/plots for more information and to register for a plot. You must be a Fairfax County resident to participate. Vegetable Garden Plant Clinics (free) will be held at Hogge Park from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, June 10, July 15, August 19, and September 23, 2023.

In July 2017, when Kathryn was 2 years old, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called MPS I (also referred to as Hurler’s Syndrome) which affects 1 in 100,000 individuals. People with MPS I can’t make a specific enzyme, which is needed to break down sugars in their cells. These sugars then build up and cause damage throughout the body, including issues with their heart, bones, joints, ears, eyes, internal organs and cognitive impairment. There is no cure for Hurler’s Syndrome, but there are treatments to prevent cognitive decline and lessen the effects of the disease on the body, and prolong life. These include IV enzyme treatments and a bone marrow transplant. Kathryn was transplanted in 2018 at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. and was admitted for eight weeks, followed by a year of semi-isolation at her home in Falls Church. Currently, Kathryn is a happy and social 8-year old. She loves riding her scooter and attending Girl Scouts with her friends. Kathryn also enjoys educating her peers about MPS I and rare diseases in general. She recently helped teach a lesson on rare diseases and inclusion to her first grade class at Glen Forest Elementary School. May 15 is National MPS Awareness Day and she encourages everyone to wear purple, the MPS Awareness color, on that day to support all individuals around the world with MPS. (Photo: Laura Spencer)

Let us know who in the community makes you smile or makes The Little City feel more like a home by emailing ktoland@fcnp.com. The News-Press reserves the right to use its discretion on who to feature.

The same afternoon, and within walking distance of the library, the Fairfax County Park Authority hosted the formal ribbon-cutting to open the Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park on Glen Carlyn Road. The new six-acre park includes walking trails, a children’s playground with a soft “floor” instead of the traditional wood chips, a half-basketball court, two pickleball courts and the most beautiful raised-bed garden plots in Fairfax County! The raised beds are encircled by a tall black metal fence to keep out deer and unauthorized visitors. Each six by nine

Bluestone paths between and around the garden beds are six feet wide, and can accommodate wheelchairs and a variety of garden equipment. On Saturday, a young woman in a wheelchair was busy planting her first herb plants and had measured off the rest of her plot for other crops. A demonstration garden by the Fairfax Master Gardeners was already planted with French radishes large enough to harvest, along with snow peas — which will be replaced by beans later in the season — and onions. Water taps at both ends of the garden plots augment rainfall, and a large shed holds larger tools for the gardeners’ use. All a gardener has to bring are gloves, small tools like trowels and the seeds or plants. Gardeners who live nearby don’t even have to use a vehicle (although there is a nice new parking lot acces-

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of May 1 - 7, 2023

Weapon Law Offenses/Driving Under the Influence, E Fairfax St, May 1, 1:08 PM, a male, was arrested for Weapon Law Offenses and Driving Under the Influence.

Fraud, Roosevelt Blvd, May 1, 2:04 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Counterfeiting-Forgery, S Washington St, May 3, 1:38 PM, a check which had been placed in a USPS mailbox at 900 S Washington St on February 27, 2023 was intercepted by unknown suspect(s) and altered.

Credit Card Theft/Fraud, E Broad St, May 3, 3:24 PM, an incident of Credit Card Theft and Fraud was reported. Trespass, E Annandale Rd, May 3, 6:23 PM, a male was issued a summons for Trespass.

Credit Card Theft/Fraud, Founders Ave, May 3, 7:59 PM, an incident of Credit Card Theft and Fraud was reported.

Hopefully, the weather next Saturday, May 13, will be a repeat, as the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, hosts an Open House from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Indoor and outdoor features include police and K-9 demonstrations, the fire department’s “Jaws of Life” junk car, and the Crime Solvers program. The Office of Emergency Management, Sheriff’s Department, Department of Family Services, and Park Authority are among several other participating county agencies. The Open House is free, and fun for the whole family. I look forward to seeing you there.

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Shoplifting, S Washington St, May 4, 12:31 AM, unknown suspect took items of value without paying. Suspect described as a female, wearing a multicolored black and white jacket.

Destruction of Property, Ellison St, between midnight and 8:50 AM. May 4, unknown suspect(s), broke the driver side and rear driver side windows of a Jeep Wrangler.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, May 4, 10:01 AM, two unknown suspects took items of value without paying. Suspects described as males in their 20s wearing face masks. They fled in a silver Toyota Camry occupied by two additional individuals. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Fairfax City earlier the same day and had been involved in a shoplifting in Vienna, VA also on the same day as this incident.

Larceny from Motor Vehicle, W Broad St, May 4, 8 PM, unknown suspect removed items from an unsecured vehicle.

Credit Card Theft/Fraud, W Broad St, May 4, 9:22 PM, an incident of Credit Card Theft and Fraud was reported.

Theft of Vehicle Parts, E Fairfax St, between 10 PM, May 6 and 8:45 AM, May 7, unknown suspect(s)removed all four wheels and tires from a 2020 Honda Civic.

The Weekly Diplomatic Reach

by Brian Reach

A High-Profile Endorsements for Salim in Senate Race

In perhaps his highest-profile endorsement yet, Saddam Salim, the News-Press endorsed candidate in the race to represent Falls Church in the Virginia Senate, was endorsed by Eileen Filler-Corn, the first ever female or Jewish Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and person “exploring” a run for Governor.

“As Speaker of the House of Delegates, I worked with Governor Northam and Democratic leadership to pass historic gun safety legislation to keep our communities safe. With each passing week it becomes even more clear that we must take further action to curb our nation’s gun violence epidemic, including passing an assault weapons ban.” said Filler-Corn in a statement sent by the Salim campaign on Tuesday.

She continued, “We need leaders in the Virginia Senate who will vote on the side of Virginians, not the gun lobby – Saddam Salim will be that leader. I know he will work to expand our progress to make our communities safer, and so much more. I am proud to endorse Saddam in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 37.”

Petersen Campaign Threatens Legal Action Over Use of “Fairfax Senator”

The campaign for Chap Petersen, a Virginian presumably born without the title “Fairfax Senator,” has contacted the campaign of opponent Saddam Salim threatening legal action if they use the terms “Fairfax Senator” and “Chap Petersen.”

Sources say that certain variations of the website FairfaxSenator.com, which serves as Petersen’s campaign website, were purchased and redirected to a page on the Salim website criticizing Petersen’s voting record, bit.ly/chapcrap, which includes abundant references. A full briefing is available at bit.ly/ChapCrap (case-sensitive).

Sources claim these variations included FairfaxSenator.org, though it no longer does, and we were unable to confirm while any redirect was active. A brief GoDaddy search shows multiple variations of the domain still available for purchase.

One can currently purchase all three of fairfaxsenator.info, fairfaxsenator.co, and fairfaxsenator.us for under $15.

The Salim campaign responded in an email, saying:

“All of what we’ve put on the campaign website salimforsenate.com/chap is linked to sources and all of it is factual, verifiable information. Senator Petersen claimed this website was deceptive, but it is clearly marked as our campaign website – what the Senator resists is the idea that he is accountable for all of his record, not just the part he likes to campaign on.

“He has threatened to sue us for using

Falls Church

Business News & Notes

the term “Fairfax Senator,” which he claims is his as a common law trademark. We believe only the people of the district have the right to decide who is the Fairfax Senator – that is what democracy is all about. Voters choose who becomes the Senator in Fairfax, not Chap Petersen. He can claim a trademark and sue anyone who uses the nickname he’s given himself, but he still has to earn the title in the eyes of voters.”

This is petty, but also signs that, perhaps, the Petersen campaign is getting worried about the primary, for which early voting has already begun This is also surprising given the amount of money the Petersen campaign has, the number of half-baked websites linked to from his advertisements... how could you not buy the .org?

Come on!

Falls Church’s Memorial Day Celebration Tainted By Petersen Plug

Though neither a current representative of the City of Falls Church, nor a veteran, it appears that Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), who is running in a primary for which voting has already begun to represent the area, has been selected by the Falls Church Veteran’s Council, an IRSrecognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization, as the Keynote Speaker for the City’s Memorial Day Celebration, a non-partisan community event that has taken place for over forty years.

The IRS website and numerous legal sources make clear that this is not just inappropriate, but an actual violation of the law, putting the organization’s nonprofit status in potential jeopardy.

According to the IRS, a 501(c)(3) may only engage in nonpartisan voter outreach such as voter registration..

A candidate in an election may be invited to speak in a non-candidate role, but the role must be clarified in any announcements and invitations, all mention of the campaign or candidacy should be avoided, and the speaker must commit to appear only in a non-candidate capacity.

If a candidate is invited to speak in a candidate role, all other candidates must be given an equal opportunity to appear at a similar speaking invitation or event, and the host charity must make plain that it does not support or oppose either candidate, and disallow any fundraising or distribution of campaign materials. The Salim campaign confirms they were not contacted about a speaking opportunity.

The News-Press has reached out to the Falls Church Veterans Corporation (EIN 23-7084674) for comment via email and phone, but has not received a response.

The News-Press would also like to take this opportunity to recognize that current Falls Church Delegate Marcus Simon (D), who has represented The Little City for a decade is, in fact, a veteran. Simon has never been invited to speak at the event.

Applications Open: America’s Top Small Business

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a new awards program for small businesses, America’s Top Small Business (ATSB), formerly known as the Dream Big Awards. The awards will recognize small businesses that do big things in their industries and communities through innovation, job creation, and commitment to being part of a thriving business ecosystem. Ten top businesses will be selected in each of the seven regions and one finalist will win America’s Top Small Business of the Year Award and a $25,000 cash prize. Learn more via the link.

BlueHuki Receives Top Certification

Local marketing agency, BlueHuki, has received the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) National Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification. This is considered the gold standard for women-owned businesses. Founded in 2022 by Heather Pressler, a MIT graduate and Johns Hopkins Ph.D. Ph.D., the agency runs custom campaigns, provides SEO and content, online ads, websites, and social media. Recently Google solicited and Dr. Pressler participated in a research study for Google Ads. Earlier this year, BlueHuki was named a finalist for the Best in Falls Church’s “New Business” category.

Dinner at Dominion: Human Trafficking

The Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club is hosting Rotary Action Against Slavery at Dominion Wine and Beer on Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Regional experts on human trafficking will present an overview of the issue with signs and resources. Learn why the area has become a hotspot; how it is impacting the community and economy; and what can be done to combat it. There is limited seating and advanced dinner reservations should be directed to Ava Nguyen, ava.b.nguyen@gmail.com.

Hispanic Small Business Opportunity

PepsiCo, Inc. announced its eighth iteration of the Greenhouse Accelerator program with this year marking the first-ever Hispanic edition, Juntos Crecemos. The program will help Hispanicowned food and beverage businesses grow, collaborate, and innovate. Ten brands, products, and/ or food service concepts will be invited to join the six-week program in June and receive $20,000 in grant funding. Applications close on May 15. Details are available at https://greenhouseaccelerator.com/juntos-crecemos/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MO_ Newsletter&utm_term=2023-05-03+MO+Newsletter&utm_content=5/3/2023

Cybersecurity Safety with Internet and Email

Tuesday, May 16, 12:30 – 1:30 pm – The SBDC is hosting a free webinar with tips and insight on cybersecurity. Participants will learn best practices for surfing the internet and proper email usage without all of the risks. Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Exert, will lead this session. Register to receive the Zoom link. https://clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop. aspx?ekey=900430025

BAE Modernizes HD Thermal Camera Core

BAE Systems has enhanced its Athena 1920 infrared imaging product into a small, lightweight version to capture high-definition imagery under poor visual conditions. This will support missions which need 360-degree situational awareness, space-based surveillance and threat detection. It possesses the function to allow broad-view night vision when used in several platforms, and in real-time.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on May 11, 2023 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following item:

Variance application V1639-23 by Mitch Gershman, applicant and owner, for a variance to Section 48-263(3)a. to allow a second-story addition above a non-conforming side-yard setback of 8.1 feet instead of the required 10 feet maximum at premises known as 305 Rollins Street, RPC #52-309-099 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1B, Medium Density Residential.

Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@fallschurchva.gov until 4:30 pm on May 11, 2023. Agenda and application materials will be available the week prior to the scheduled hearing at: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/BZA

Information on the above application is also available for review upon request to staff at zoning@fallschurchva.gov.

Legal Notice

Truist Bank, located at 5203 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310, is in possession of assets owned by the decedent, Daniel Mountain, who at the time of his death was domiciled outside of Virginia. In accordance with Va. Code Ann. §64.2-609(A), Truist Bank hereby gives public notice of its intention to deliver the decedent’s assets to the Administrator of decedent’s estate, Chris Mountain, who has qualified as Administrator in accordance with the law of the decedent’s domicile. Delivery is to be made after the lapse of thirty (30) days from the completion of due publication of this notice, pursuant to the Code, once a week for four successive weeks. Inquiries, including any notice of the appointment of a personal representative for decedent in Virginia or legal notice of any lien or encumbrance upon decedent’s assets, should be directed to Truist Bank at the address above.

ABC NOTICE

Takumi J Llc. Trading as Takumi, 310 Washington St. S B, Falls Church VA 22046. The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

HELP WANTED

Part time bookkeeper / administrative aide to run accounting software. Would like someone with accounting experience. Will train on software.

Also general secretarial, light typing, data entry Will help coordinate shipments to domestic and overseas customers.

General computer skills, word processing, willingness to learn.

Flexible hours 3-5 hours a day, salary based on qualifications. Email nick@tranzglobal.com

AUCTIONS

Real Estate Auction! 3,060 SF House on 10 Acres. Auction Closes May 11th @ 3:00 PM 5555 Trottinridge Rd, Redoak, VA 23964. For more information call Dudley Resources at (804) 709-1954

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

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Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery

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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) 3679753.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE PETITION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A PLAN FOR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION GRID TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS PURSUANT TO § 56 585.1 A 6 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2023-00051

On March 31, 2023, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed a petition with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for approval of a plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects (“Petition”) pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia. Specifically, Dominion seeks approval of Phase III of its plan to transform its electric distribution grid (“GT Plan”), which consists of proposed projects in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as work performed in prior years for certain Phase III projects.

Dominion states that Phase III of the GT Plan includes the continuation of the following previously approved projects: (i) completion of the Company’s deployment of two foundational GT Plan investments – advanced metering infrastructure and the customer information platform; (ii) continuation of the following three grid infrastructure projects – mainfeeder hardening, targeted corridor improvement, and voltage island mitigation; (iii) continuation of the following three grid technologies projects – a distributed energy resource management system, voltage optimization enablement, and substation technology deployment; (iv) continued investments in telecommunications and physical security; and (v) continued investments in cyber security and customer education to the extent needed to support other proposed projects

Dominion also requests approval of two new projects. First, the Company proposes to deploy a new outage management system (“OMS”) to replace an operating system developed over 30 years ago. According to the Company, the new OMS would leverage field condition information coming from intelligent grid devices, automated restoration schemes, smart meters, and system models to provide more accurate and timely outage event analysis, more effectively manage outage restoration activities, and better communicate outage restoration information to customers and emergency responders at the state and local levels.

Second, Dominion seeks approval of a process to evaluate energy storage systems as non-wires alternatives (“NWA”). More specifically, the Company is seeking approval of a program structure and process so that NWA solutions identified would be deemed reasonable and prudent without additional regulatory approval. Dominion asserts that approval of this process would enable it to gain experience with this integrated distribution planning concept in a manner that would provide useful information as the Company moves forward with NWAs and that may result in the integration of energy storage systems that can dynamically respond to changing grid conditions. The Company also requests approval of costs for software needed to support the process.

The Company represents that, in preparing the GT Plan, it evaluated each proposed project to determine whether there were any environmental justice concerns.

The total proposed cost associated with Phase III of the GT Plan is $1.0987 billion in capital investment and $70.6 million in operations and maintenance expenses. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Petition and supporting documents in full for details about these and other proposals.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on the Company’s Petition. On July 17, 2023, at 10 a.m., the Hearing Examiner assigned to this case will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before July 12, 2023, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting

On July 18, 2023, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Petition from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff.

To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.

An electronic copy of the public version of the Company’s Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Vishwa B. Link, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or vlink@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the public version of the Petition and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/Case-Information

On or before July 12, 2023, any interested person may submit comments on the Petition by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00051.

On or before May 31, 2023, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00051. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before June 12, 2023, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00051.

Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.

The public version of the Company’s Petition, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

Where To Find The News-Press

• 24 Hour Fitness, 1000 E. Broad St.

• 450 W. Broad St. Lobby Building

• 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd.

• 7 Eleven (Box), 201 S Washington St.

• Amazing Smiles, 444 W. Broad St. – D

• Arlington Hospital Center (Box), 1701 N. George Mason Dr.

• Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd.

• Arlington Hospital Center ER (inside), 1702 N. George Mason Dr.

• Bakeshop. E Fairfax St.

• Borek G Turkish Mom’s Cooking. 315 S Maple Ave.

• Bowl America, 140 S. Maple Ave.

• Box at Federal Credit Union, 1226 W. Broad St.

• Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W. Broad St.

• Brown’s Hardware, 100 W. Broad St.

• Burke & Herbert Bank, 225 W. St. Broad St.

• Bus Stop (Box), Lee Hwy. and Hollywood Rd.

• Café Kindred, 450 N. Washington St.

• Celebrity Deli – Graham Park Plaza, 7263A Arlington Blvd.

• Central Library. 1015 North Quincy Street.

• Cinthia’s Bakery, 5860 Columbia Pike.

• City Hall. 300 Park Ave.

• Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington St.

• Crumbl Cookies, 1106A W. Broad St.

• Cuates Grill 502 W. Broad #5t.

• CVS, 1150 W. Broad St.

• CVS (Box), 134 W. Broad St.

• CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd.

• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St.

• Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

• Dominion Wine and Beer, 107 Rowell Ct.

• Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W. Broad St.

• East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St.

• El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy.

• Elevation Burger, 442 S. Washington St.

• Eaves Fairfax Towers, 2251 Pimmit Dr.

• Exxon Gas Station, 400 W. Broad St.

• Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B W. Broad St.

• Falls Church City Public Schools, 800 W. Broad St.

• Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd.

• Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.

• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310

• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Lobby

• Five Guys, 913 W. Broad St.

• Flippin’ Pizza, 800 W. Broad St.

• Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax

• Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St.

• Giant Food, 1230 W. Broad St.

• Giant Food, Loehmann’s Plaza

• Goodwin House, 3440 South Jefferson St.

• Happy Tart. 410 S. Maple Ave.

• Harris Teeter, 301 W. Broad St.

• Harvey’s, 513 W. Broad St.

• Hillwood Cleaners, 165 Hillwood Ave.

• Hilton Garden Inn, 706 W. Broad St.

• Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2300 Pimmit Dr.

• Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2311 Pimmit Dr.

• Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 W. Broad St.

• Islamic Center, Leesburg Pike and Rio Dr. Bus Stop

• Java Loco Coffee & Tea.

• Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, 1136 W. Broad St.

• Lazy Mikes Deli, 7049 Leesburg Pike

• Ledo Pizza, 7510 Leesburg Pike

• Liberty Barbecue, 370 W. Broad St.

• Lil City Creamery, 114 W. Broad St.

• Lincoln. At Tinner Hill Apartments, 455 S. Maple Ave.

• Long Foster Realtors, 6299 Castle Rd.

• Lost Dog & Cat Rescue, 6801 Wilson Blvd

• Madison Apartments, 600 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Mark’s Pub, 2190 Pimmit Dr.

• Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike

• Mary Riley St.yles Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave.

• Medical Building, 405 N. Washington St.

• Medical Building, 407 N. Washington St.

• Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley

• Merrill House Apartments, 210 E. Fairfax St.

• Metro Diner, 4711 Lee Hwy.

• Moby Dick House of Kabob, 444 W. Broad St.

• Modera Founders Row. 110 Founders Ave.

• Mom’s Organic Market, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax

• Multicultural Center. 701 W. Broad St.

• Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike

• N Virginia Av & W. Broad St. (Box), 105 N. Virginia Ave.

• N. Washington & E. Columbia St., 106 E. Columbia St.

• Northern Virginia Immigration Law, 180 S. Washington St.

• Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates, 107 N. Virginia Ave

• Northgate Apartments (lobby), 450 N. Washington St.

• Northside Social, 205 Park Ave.

• Falls Green Apartments, 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave.

• Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr.

• Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave.

• Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd.

• Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike

• Pizzeria Orso (Tax Analyst building), 400 S. Maple Ave.

• PNC Bank, 402 W. Broad St.

• Point of View, 701 W. Broad St.

• Post. Office, 800 W. Broad St.

• Preservation Biscuit 102 E. Fairfax St.

• Professional Building, 313 Park Ave.

• Quick Copy, 417 W. Broad St.

• Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St.

• Read Apartments, 402 W. Broad St.

• Rembrandt Assisted Living, 6669 Gouthier Rd.

• Roosevelt Towers, 500 N Roosevelt Blvd.

• S. Washington & W. Broad St. (Box) 101 W. Broad St.

• Safeway, 5101 Wilson Blvd.

• Safeway, 2500 N Harrison St.

• Safeway – Route 29, 7397 Lee Hwy.

• Sfizi Café, 800 W. Broad St.

• Silver Diner, 3200 Wilson Blvd.

• Sislers Stone, 7139 Lee Hwy.

• Smokey’s Garage, 1105 W. Broad St.

• Solace Outpost 444 W. Broad St.

• Sonic Car Wash, 1050 W. Broad St.

• The Spectrum, 444 W. Broad St.

• The Spectrum Cleaners, 444 W. Broad St.

• Starbucks, 244 W. Broad St.

• Sunrise of Falls Church, 330 N. Washington St.

• Super A Market, 2800 Graham Rd.

• Taco Rock, 116 W. Broad St.

• Target, 500 S Washington St.

• Target – Skyline Mall (Box), 5107 Leesburg Pike

• Tasty Dumpling, 112 W. Broad St.

• The Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W. Broad St.

• The Byron Apartments, 513 W. Broad St.

• The Falls Church Episcopal, 115 E Fairfax St.,

• The Kensington Falls Church, 700 W. Broad St.

• The Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W. Broad St. #103

• The Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy.

• The UPS St.ore, 1069 W. Broad St.

• Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd.

• Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave.

• Unity Club, 116-B W. Broad St.

• UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr.

• US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd.

• Verso Founders Row, 105 Founders Row

• Westlee Condominium 2200 N WeSt.moreland

• Wendy’s – Bus St.op, 7391 Lee Hwy.

• West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd.

• Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr.

• Yayla Bistro, 2201 N. West Moreland St.

Paid for and authorized by Chap Petersen for State Senate